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This year Reunion weekend will offer a unique opportunity to celebrate with classes ending in ’0, ’1, ’5 and ‘6 - double the alumni, double the fun! Highlights include class gatherings on Friday night, golf outings, a traditional New England Lobster and Clambake, and sunset cocktails followed by dinner under the reunion tent on Saturday evening. We look forward to welcoming you back to Cory’s Lane!
SUMMER 2021 ALUMNI BULLETIN
PORTSMOUTH ABBEY
PORTSMOUTH ABBE Y SCHOOL
FOR CLASSES ENDING IN ’0, ’1, ’5 AND ’6
2020
PORTSMOUTH ABBE Y
PAID
Providence, RI Permit No. 30
SEPTEMBER 17 – 19, 2021 Please mark your calendar for a weekend of fun and nostalgia with your family, friends and classmates. For more information, please contact Carla Kenahan at 401.643.1186 or at rsvp@portsmouthabbey.org.
1950 u 1951u1955u1956 u 1960 u 1961 u 1965 u 1966 u 1970 u 1971 u 1975 u 1976 u 1980 u 1981 1985 u 1986 u 1990 u 1991 u 1995 u 1996 u 2000 u 2001 u 2005 u 2006 u 2010 u 2011 u 2015 u 2016
SUMMER 2021 ALUMNI BULLETIN
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT of BOARD OF REGENTS
Very Reverend Michael G. Brunner O.S.B. Prior-Administrator Portsmouth, RI Mr. W. Christopher Behnke ’81 P’12 ’15 ’19 Chairman Chicago, IL Mr. Christopher Abbate ’88 P’20 ’23 Newport, RI Ms. Abby Benson ’92 Boulder, CO Mr. John Bohan P ’20 ’22 Newport, RI Dom Joseph Byron O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Mr. Creighton O. Condon ’74 P ’07 ’10 Jamestown, RI Mrs. Kathleen Cunningham P’08 ’09 ’11 ’14 Dedham, MA Mr. Gang (Jason) Ding P’18 Qingdao, China Dr. Debra Falvey P’18 ’20 Plaistow, NH Mrs. Frances Fisher P’15 San Francisco, CA Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan ’75 P ’06 ’09 ’11 ’19 Tiverton, RI Mr. Patrick Gallagher ’81 P’15 Providence, RI
PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL
Mrs. Meg S. Healey P’91 GP’19 ’21 ’24 New Vernon, NJ
Brother Sixtus Roslevich O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI
Mr. Thomas Hopkins ’85 New York, NY
Mr. Felipe Vicini ’79 P ’09 ’12 ’19 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Mrs. Cara Gontarz Hume ’99 Hingham, MA
Mr. William Winterer ’87 Boston, MA
Mr. Peter M. Kennedy III ’64 P’07 ’08 ’15 Big Horn, WY
EMERITUS
Mr. William M. Keogh ’78 P ’13 Jamestown, RI Dr. Mary Beth Klee P’04 Hanover, NH Mr. James Knight ’87 Greenwich, CT Ms. Anne-Marie Law P’19 ’21 ’24 Duxbury, MA
Mr. Peter M. Flanigan g ’41 P ’75 ’83 GP ’06 ’09 ’09 ’11 ’11 ’19 ’19 ’21 Purchase, NY Mr. Thomas J. Healey ’60 P’91 GP’19 ’21’24 New Vernon, NJ Mr. William K. Howenstein g ’52 P ’87 GP’10 ’17 ’21 ’22 Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Mr. Barnet Phillips IV ’66 Greenwich, CT
Father Edward Mazuski O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI
1,500 DONORS | $1,851,195
Ms. Devin McShane P’09 ’11 Providence, RI Abbott Gregory Mohrman O.S.B. St. Louis, MO Mr. Philip V. Moyles, Jr. ’82 P ’22 Annual Fund Chair Rye, NY
g Deceased
Mr. Emmett O’Connell P ’16 ’17 Stowe, VT
Jim Farley ‘81, CEO, President, Ford Motor Company, in front of Ford’s Piquette Street Plant in Detroit, Michigan As a boy, Jim would sit with his grandfather Emmet Tracy and pore over issues of Automotive News during Christmas and summer breaks. They would drive past automotive landmarks, including the Packard Plant, Ford’s Piquette Street Plant and the Ford Rouge Plant where Jim’s grandfather had once worked. Mr. Tracy died in 1998 at age 98, never having seen his grandson work at Ford. (Paraphrased from the Detroit Free Press, October 1, 2020) Photo © Ryan Garza/ Detroit Free Press/ ZUMA Wire
Portsmouth Abbey thanks the 1,500 alumni, parents, and friends who helped us surpass our goal of $1.85M by contributing $1,851,195 to the 2020-21Annual Fund. Your support enriches the lives of all those who live, work, and study at the School and helps to fulfill our mission of helping young men and women grow in knowledge and grace. A special thank you to Class Agents, Reunion Committee members, Parents’ Association leadership, and other volunteers whose dedication of time, talent, and treasure made these achievements possible.
ON MISSION Revisiting Portsmouth Abbey School’s Guiding Document by Mary Beth Klee, Ph.D.
In September 2019 the Board of Regents embarked on a task
tank, the Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture. Deeper
that we take seriously and do infrequently: revision of the
reflection on the essence of Benedictine education were the
School’s mission statement. We embarked with caution. Be-
fruit of all of these.
cause the mission statement is, after all, the School’s guiding document – a well formulated statement of its identity, aspirations, and goals. All Board policy decisions, all strategic planning, all program and hiring decisions, and ultimately all teaching decisions should be made against the benchmark of mission. Mission statements are, therefore, a bit like constitutions, and to co-opt the wisdom of Thomas Jefferson, “prudence, indeed, will dictate that mission statements long established should not be changed for light and transient causes.” Ours had served us well for nearly a generation. A great deal of thought had gone into its 2003 formulation by the School’s first-ever Board of Regents. Every year Regents had in some way at various decision-making junctures (fiscal, strategic plan, current crisis) revisited the mission statement and
Our mission review subcommittee consisted of fellow Regents Abbot Gregory Mohrman of St. Louis Abbey, our Prior-Administrator Fr. Michael Brunner, former Headmaster Dan McDonough, Abbey Regents Dr. and Deacon Tim Flanigan ’75, Cara Hume ’99, Bill Keogh ’78, and Mary Beth Klee P ’04, as well as our Board Chair Chris Behnke ’81. We were blessed to corral insights from key administrators Meghan Fonts, Nick Micheletti ’04, Matt Walter and Paula Walter as well as Director of the Portsmouth Institute Chris Fisher. In December 2020, after sixteen months of deliberation (fifteen versions and four presentations to the full Board for feedback), the Board of Regents approved our new formulation. The forty-six-word mission statement is this:
“found it good.” But a generation in the life of independent
Portsmouth Abbey School helps young men and women grow in
schools is a long time, and each year has brought new chal-
knowledge and grace. As a Benedictine boarding and day school, we
lenges. Both principles of best practice and the Board’s desire
embrace the Catholic faith while nurturing reverence for God and the
to position the School fruitfully for the future prompted a re-
human person, love of learning, and commitment to community life.
assessment. A three-paragraph “Vision Statement” follows, fleshing out The Regents, who are custodians of mission, sought to pre-
those key tenets as illuminated by Benedictine monastic and
serve the historic pillars of “knowledge and grace.” That was
educational tradition. What did we mean by reverence for
non-negotiable, but we wanted three substantive enhance-
God and the human person? Love of learning? Commitment
ments in the new mission statement: a more direct avowal of
to community life?
our Catholic and Benedictine identity, grounded in the truth of Jesus Christ; a warmer tone; and a clearer articulation of the
On the surface the new mission statement bears striking
sort of community we seek to be. In format, we sought greater
similarity to the old. But out of the gate, the novelty of the
concision. The former mission statement was two-hundred-
formulation is the word “embrace.” As a Benedictine boarding
ninety-six words long. Could we sum it up in less than fifty
and day school, we embrace the Catholic faith… Portsmouth Ab-
words? Could we then elaborate in a “vision statement”?
bey School does not simply educate in an historic and abstract Benedictine Catholic tradition. We embrace the Catho-
The whole process was slow, deliberative, involved many it-
lic faith, grounded in the truth of Jesus Christ, as the path to
erations, and many people’s insights. The reformulation ben-
human flourishing. This is our guide moving into the twenty-
efited from numerous developments at Portsmouth Abbey
first century. We stand ready because of that faith to be a sign
School itself during the past twenty years: strong, mission-
of contradiction to the times.
driven leadership by both Head and Board, the School’s fortified alliance with St. Louis Abbey, an increased number of
How so? We spell it out in the “vision statement.” To a divid-
monks at the School, as well as the creation of our own think
ed and contentious world, we answer that “Catholic means
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 1
universal, and we welcome students from all backgrounds, as
What characterizes the community in which we pursue these
Jesus was welcoming to all people.” To a nihilistic world that
goals? The third section of the vision statement explains that
frequently treats human beings as objects or reduces personal
it is the shared life of study, prayer, and play undertaken in a
identity to race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, we affirm
context of “friendship and joy.” Is that a shift for Portsmouth
the “inherent human dignity and infinite worth” of each our
Abbey School? Maybe a small one. Fifty or sixty years ago,
students. To an acquisitive world that exalts material gain or
the ethos at Portsmouth Abbey School may have been de-
personal pleasure, we respond that “God is at the center of the
scribed as one of “rigor and discipline” or “structure and or-
human search for meaning” and our task is to help students
der.” Friendships were born and joy was experienced to be
“in their search for God as the foundation of their lives.” In-
sure, but perhaps at a time when authority and a firm hand
deed, we exist in pursuit of grace, and wish for our students
trumped “see how they love one another other.”
“the regenerative power of Christ that lifts hearts and transforms lives.”
Today’s Portsmouth Abbey School community is a “see how they love one another” community. “Called to live in mu-
Portsmouth Abbey School is first and foremost an academic
tual service to each other, we seek the growth of our mem-
institution, and for us “love of learning,” the School’s second
bers as individuals, while advancing the common good.” We
objective, is not simply a hackneyed educational mantra, but
encourage our entire Abbey family – students, faculty, staff,
the historic heart of Benedictine work. It was Benedictine
monks, parents, and alumni – to live out that commitment.
monasteries that preserved civilization and classical learning
We are proud that students of many colors and creeds from
from Viking raiders and “barbaric invasions.” It was medieval
America and from around the world call Portsmouth Abbey
Benedictine monks in their scriptoria, who painstakingly tran-
home. And as a family does, we seek to create a sense of be-
scribed, illuminated, and preserved manuscripts from antiqui-
longing for all. We hope our students will grow as individuals
ty. On craggy mountainsides and windswept islands, monks
and learn that their greatest joy is in service to others. And
prayed, worked, and amassed libraries that would nurture the
we strive, as the vision statement concludes, to “nurture the
mind and heart of Europe for centuries to come. Monaster-
talents of each of our students for energetic leadership” both
ies became “schools of the Lord’s service.” That phrase, from
in service to our own community and the world they will
the Rule of St. Benedict, described the monasteries them-
inherit. Inspired by the School’s mascot, we are eager to see
selves, but also a new reality. Benedictine monasteries formed
each of our students take flight. Go Ravens!
schools to educate the young, and Portsmouth Abbey School stands in a long line of heirs to that tradition. Portsmouth Abbey School grounds our educational endeavors in the historic Benedictine ethos, which in the words of Jean Leclercq inspires a “love of learning and the desire for God.” The vision statement explains: “Love of learning is grounded in wonder, undertaken in humility, and fueled by the hunger for truth.” In today’s world, the search for truth (“veritas” is, after all, the School’s motto) has itself become counter-cultural. Perhaps you have your truth and I have mine. Portsmouth Abbey School affirms “veritas” over “visum” or “quod spectat” truth over point-of-view, the truth over my truth. To that end, we pursue a close reading of classic texts, promote keen observation of the physical world, celebrate beauty in the fine arts (visual, music, theater), and recognize that mind and body are best trained together, as a single body-soul project. We aspire to human excellence and commit to being guided in our academic program by “the things that matter: truth, goodness, and beauty.”
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Mary Beth Klee, Ph.D. has served several terms on the Portsmouth Abbey Board of Regents for a total of 14 years. She chaired the Board’s first mission review in 2002-2003, and this revisit in 2019-2020.
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 listing of upcoming alumni events here on campus and around the world, and find out more about Reunion and 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).
On Mission: Revisiting Portsmouth Abbey School’s Guiding Document by Mary Beth Klee, Ph.D. 1 New Regents
4
Save the Date for the Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture
5
Providence Symposium Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2020
6
To submit class notes and photos (photos must be original high-resolution jpegs), please email to: classnotes@portsmouthabbey.org or mail to Portsmouth Abbey Office of Development and
Bon Voyage, Madame Brzys by Megan Tady 16
Alumni Affairs, 285 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth, Rhode Island 02871.
Alumnus Profile: James D. Farley, Jr. ’81
22
Save the Date for the Abbot’s Reception
31
Student Leaders of Lectio Divina, the Living Word
32
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.
Commencement: The Class of 2021
10
His Story by Director of College Counseling Corie McDermott-Fazzino 35 Alumnae Profile: The Indefatigble Heuer Sisters by Kristen Walsh 36 Meet the Incoming Ravens
39
The Enduring Questions Persist by Daniel McQuillan 40 From the Office of Development & Alumni Affairs:
42
Meet New Senior Development Officer Stephanie Garcia Earp’02 The David Quentin Kearney’50 Endowed Scholarship Fund
Acting Headmaster: Matthew Walter Interim Director of Advancement: Patty Gibbons Editor/Art Director: Kathy Heydt Photography: Kate Lucey, Andrea Hansen, Louis Walker, Marianne Lee, Katie Blais, Kathy Heydt Individual photos found in alumni profiles have been supplied courtesy of the respective alumni.
Save the Date for the 21st Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
45
Abbey Athletics
46
In Memoriam
50
Milestones 54 Class Notes
58
Save the Date for Parents’ Weekend
72
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
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NEW REGENTS
Thomas A. Hopkins ’85
James E. Knight ’87 B.S., Business Administration, Georgetown University MBA, Finance and Marketing, Columbia University
Tom is a director, portfolio manager for Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Equity Research Portfolio Group. Other stops include JPMorgan, Bear Stearns and Salomon Brothers, all of which have focused on equity sales and research. He has been ranked six times as a top equity analyst by Institutional Investor and three times by The Wall Street Journal. Tom was also a Toigo Fellow through the Robert Toigo Foundation as part of his MBA program and continues to be involved with the fellowship as a mentor. The fellowship is designed to create a network of career connections, training and support to diverse business school graduates interested in launching careers in finance. Tom has been an active supporter of Portsmouth since reengaging with the School about five years ago with a focus on the Annual Fund and the Science Building campaign. He is a member of the Class of 1985 which continues to set records for participation in Reunion, the Annual Fund and other School initiatives. Tom has also served as a mentor to two young alumni of color, helping them secure internships on Wall Street and offering guidance during their college careers. Tom lives in New York with his wife, Michelle.
B.A., Economic and Fine Arts, St. Lawrence University MBA, Finance and Marketing, Fordham University Jim is a director at Alex. Brown where he provides comprehensive wealth management guidance for individuals, family offices and institutions, specializing in equity sales and portfolio management. Jim is an active member of his community, serving on the boards of the Greenwich Tree Conservancy, the Greenwich Skating Club, YESS (Young Executives Servicing Schools), the Staunton Farm Foundation, the Greenwich Leadership Forum, and Round Hill Club. He has also been involved in the St. Michael’s Men’s Association which is responsible for various community service efforts on behalf of the parish. At Portsmouth Abbey, Jim served as president and head prefect of the School during his SixthForm year. After graduation, he was elected to the Alumni Leadership Council and has served as a class agent for the Class of 1987 for many years. Jim has also hosted School receptions in the New York area. Jim lives in Greenwich, CT with his wife, Alison (St. George’s School ’87), and their five sons, Jimmy, Jr., Jack, Charlie, Whit and Will. Learn more about Jim at https://www.alexbrown.com/ jamesknight/about-us/bio?_=James.Knight.
Learn more about Tom at https://www.linkedin.com/ in/thomashopkins/.
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
THE PORTSMOUTH INSTITUTE INVITES YOU TO THE ANNUAL
Providence Symposium:
RECLAIMING THE CATHOLIC IMAGINATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021 HOPE CLUB PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND FEATURING KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
ROBERT ROYAL Author and editor-in-chief, The Catholic Thing JAMES MATTHEW WILSON Poet, Professor of Humanities and Founding Director of the MFA in Creative Writing University of Saint Thomas, Houston
Lecture begins promptly at 5:30p.m. Reception to follow. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER: PORTSMOUTHINSTITUTE.ORG/PROVIDENCESYMPOSIUM summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 5
Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2020
The long-awaited Commencement weekend for the Class of 2020 took place in June 2021 with Prize Day on Saturday, June 12 and graduation on Sunday, June 13, along with a full roster of traditional Sixth-Form celebratory events. The Class of 2020 began the morning with a concelebrated Mass under the tent on the Holy Lawn, followed by Commencement exercises. Chancellor and Prior-Administrator Very Reverend Michael Brunner, O.S.B. delivered the invocation and then addressed the graduates: “On behalf of the monastic community of Portsmouth Abbey I welcome you to this Commencement ceremony of the Class of 2020. I thank this class for persevering through their most unusual senior year and surviving what was surely an unusual freshman year in college. We really missed your being on campus for your last trimester here, so thanks for bringing us all together to celebrate you today.” Father Michael paraphrased the inaugural words of President John F. Kennedy: “The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who
Top: The Class of 2020 Middle: David Appleton ’20 and John Owen Habib ’20 and Alex Wei ’20 congratulate Mauricio Garcia Gojon ’20 on his graduation. Bottom: Graduates enjoy John Perik’s ’20 commencement address.
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
serve it, and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to serve the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.” Board of Regents member Christopher Abbate ’88 P ’20 ’23 addressed “the most battle tested, flexible, resilient group of individuals to ever graduate from Portsmouth Abbey School, the Class of 2020!” He told the graduates, “I would be remiss if I did not comment on the spiritual elements of Portsmouth Abbey that have remained with me today and served me well during many challenging periods.” Mr. Abbate noted the main source of his inspiration taken from the Abbey: “For me, it is the tremendous example set by the monastic community. Anyone who has spent time with these men know that they are tremendously gifted and could have been successful doing anything they wanted to. Yet they have chosen to take a vow and serve, and importantly to serve here at Portsmouth Abbey, which you have had the great fortune to benefit from. So, whether or not you are religious, I would submit that when challenges beset you in the future, thinking about these men and what they’ve dedicated their life to will help ground you and point you in the right direction.” Former Headmaster Dan McDonough followed by recognizing several cherished faculty members who have retired within the past two years: Chemistry Teacher Janice Brady, French Teacher Nancy Brzys, and History Teacher Cliff Hobbins. Mr. McDonough then addressed his comments to the “Seventh Form – the Class of 2020,” praising them for their courage and endurance throughout the most trying months of COVID-19. Quoting Pope Francis’ Easter homily of 2021, he said, “’It is always possible to begin anew, because there is always a new life that God can awaken in us in spite of all our failures. From the rubble of our hearts… God can create a work of art; from the ruined remnants of our humanity, God can prepare a new history.’ I hope you will remember that no matter what happens to you in the years to come, God put YOU here, in this time, for a reason.” Graduate speakers John Perik ’20 of Jamestown, RI and Katherine Driscoll ’20 of Portsmouth, RI fondly recalled the sweeter moments shared at the Abbey. John noted, “Portsmouth Abbey taught me that in life there are people who you can’t live without. It teaches you to appreciate the routine, which
Top: Eloise Abbate ’20 with her parents, Chris ’88 and Catherine, and brothers Michael ’23 and Benedict. Chris, a member of the Board of Regents, delivered an address to the graduates. Middle: Rafael Borromeo ’20 was joined in celebration by his parents, Ricardo’92 and Trina, and his brother, Tito. Bottom: Graduate Ceci Bohan ’20 celebrates with her dad, John, a member of the Board of Regents, her mom, Anne, and her sisters, Lily, Caroline ‘22 and Elizabeth.
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 7
Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2020
Guest Commencement Speaker Harvard University Professor of Astronomy Dr. Karin Öberg and graduate Commencement Speakers Kate Driscoll’20 and John Perik’20
at times might feel old but in the end, it’s made us all who we are today. Last March when we were forced to go online, I first realized that I completely took the routine for granted. Ultimately, I came to realize how important all of the small moments are. The walks to class, the Dunkin’ stops, the library, the walks to the upper lot, the assemblies, the sports practices, every cross-campus encounter. In the end, all of those small moments made up the greatest routine. And together all of us made that routine so enjoyable… so precious.” Kate spoke of how she came to treasure the Abbey community, “For me, as a recruited athlete at Holy Cross, I lost my freshman season to COVID-19. So, there was no escape. But there was a silver lining. Time, distance, and my college experience gave me an intense appreciation for the importance of community. Especially the Portsmouth Abbey community. As my fellow college freshmen reminisced about high school, I noticed a difference in our experiences. They made few comments about their high school community. In comparison, a supportive and tight-knit community was at the heart of my experience at the Abbey. I am reminded of a quote from Maya Angelou: ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ To the Class of 2020: I am grateful for your friendship and support. Thank YOU for how you made me feel.”
and her conversion from agnosticism to Christianity, “Practicing the scientific method is a wonderful way to realize that there are objective truths in the world, that there are ways to discover them, and that your mind is capable of recognizing these truths…. Pursuing the truth is a path towards breaking free of our own self-centeredness. And so is being kind.” Dr. Öberg left the graduates with words of inspiration, “And today is a good day, a beautiful day, to celebrate the courage you have all shown the past year, the truths you have already pursued and won here at Portsmouth, and the kindness you have shown towards one another. I am so very honored to be celebrating this with you. Congratulations Class of 2020!” Visit the Portsmouth Abbey School website to read the commencement speches in full and to view a gallery of photos from the weekend: www.portsmouthabbey.org/learn/school-life/ commencement-2020-review
Guest Commencement Speaker Harvard University Professor of Astronomy Dr. Karin Öberg described her rigorous training in astrophysics, her students who have inspired her in her career, Andrew Coombs ’05 addressed the Class of 2020 at their Sixth-Form dinner.
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Photo: Elizabeth Benestad Clockwise from top left: Members of the Class of 2020 stop for the traditional beach photo on their way to their Sixth-Form dinner; Biology Teacher Mitch Green ’11 and Head of the Modern Language Department Nancy Brzys were the recipients of the Dom Peter Sidler Award for Excellence in Teaching, honoring a full-time senior and a full-time junior faculty member who has exhibited sustained excellence as a teacher at Portsmouth Abbey School; the Sixth-Form stone quote was unveiled and will be placed in the Healey Fountain Plaza on lower campus; Head Boy for 2019-20 Patrick Conlan ’20 rejoices in receiving his diploma; from left, Mauricio Garcia Gojon, Sean Smith, Ethan Leviss, Dean Simeone, Danny de Oleo Peguero and Joshua Chen reunite for the long-awaited graduation ceremony; members of the Class of 2020 on the trolley to the beach.
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 9
THE CLASS OF 2021
Kylie L. Almeida
John Morgan Healey
Warren Domyou Noubi
Augusta Marie-Isabel Ambrose
Pablo Enrique Herrera Camargo
Udenna Ikem Nwuneli
Steve Mark Andonian
Nathaniel Allen Hopkins
Sean Michael O’Hara
Margot Evans Appleton
Ella Katherine Howlett
Dierdre Niamh O’Rourke
Matthew J. Balzano
Emma Sharples Humphrey
Joseph Thomas Parella
Andrew Frederick Busch
Michael Kalil Hyder, Jr.
Ava May Park
Matthew L. Cevetello
Xingyu (Carl) Ji
Ellie Catherine Richard
Zhilin (Cassiel) Chen
Minsung (Charlie) Kang
Moussa Rabih Salibi
Anthony Chiu
Markus Alexander Keller
Diego Armando Sanabria Bobonis
Woongjae (Roy) Chung
Benjamin Shealy Kendall
Mark C. Schroeder
Andrew B. Damasio
Hyunjae (Hayden) Kim
Delaney Kyra Shaw
Yue (Christine) Dong
Avery Paige Korzeniowski
Jamie Elizabeth Shipman
Christopher A. Dring
Noah Steven Kreinz
Julia B. Sisk
Sarah Elizabeth Dugal
Hallie Millar Kreppein
Thomas Emmet Smith
Leah C. Eid
Alexander Leef
Lily Grace Sones
Matthew K. Farah
Elizabeth Lindsay LePage
Olivia Grace Stephenson
Meghan M. Farnham
Haoyuan(Andrew) Liu
Ella Rose Stookey
Ziyu (Patrick) Feng
Benjamin Nicholas Liuzza
Victoria Paige Travassos
Beau Grayson Fenley
Martha Frances Lohuis
Daniel Michael Twomey
Joshua Ferreira
Madeleine Maureen Lunson
Evan Andrew Ventura
Delia Marie Filippone
Sarah Nicole Machado
Michelle Lin Victorine
Laura Hesse Fink
Davis McNulty Mattaliano
Ryan Wahib Wahba
Luke Alfredo Fonts
Aidan J. McAvoy
Griffin Aloisius Wallace
Aron Christian Garza
Kaelyn Magdalene McCarthy
John Henry Walsh
Luc Armand Giommi
Lucia Hope McLaughlin
Alexandra Katherine Walsh
Trevor Scott Gittus
Casey Elisabeth Motta
Ziyun (Joy) Wang
William S. Glasson
Noah M. Muroff
Mary Rose Whelan
Jacob Asher Gouveia
Marcos A. Navarro
Bangjie (Brian) Xiao
Jayson Louis Hausladen
Victor Manuel Nin
Danielle Tibiwa Zabasajja
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
DESTINATIONS Portsmouth Abbey School Commencement took place on Sunday, May 30, 2021, with 87 graduates receiving diplomas, five attending remotely.
Amherst College
Providence College (2)
Barnard College
Purdue University
Bates College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2)
The exercises began with a benediction by the School chancellor and prior-administrator of Portsmouth Abbey’s Monastery of St. Gregory the Great, the Very Reverend Michael G. Brunner O.S.B. His prayer for the graduates concluded with, “Father, watch over them, protect them, provide for them, guard them, guide them and give them your grace to enable them to persevere till the end.”
Boston University (6)
Rhode Island School of Design
Bristol,
Rhodes College
Vice-Chair of the Board of Regents William Keogh ’78 P’13 followed, citing the remarkable legacy of the School’s founder, Reverend John Hugh Diman O.S.B., who also established St. George’s School in 1896 and Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in 1912. Mr. Keogh noted, “In 1926, his crowning achievement was he founded Portsmouth Priory, now Portsmouth Abbey School – and the third time was a
Clark University
charm.... What motivated Diman to found so many schools? Was it fame, glory or money? No it wasn’t. He called it the ‘spirit of social service.’” Mr. Keogh’s parting words for the graduates were, “On behalf of the Portsmouth Abbey School Board of Regents, we love you and we wish each of you a life that is full of love, the practice of love and promise for the future.”
Denison University
University of the West of England Brown University Bryant University Case Western Reserve University Catholic University of America
Colby College College of the Holy Cross College of William and Mary Connecticut College (3) Davidson College
Drexel University Elmira College Emory University Fairfield University Fitchburg State University Florida State University Fordham University (2) George Washington University Georgetown University (2) High Point University Johns Hopkins University Marist College MCPHS University Montclair State University Northeastern University (2)
Sacred Heart University Saint Anselm College Salve Regina University (2) Santa Clara University Soka University of America Texas A & M University-College Station Texas Christian University Texas Tech University The College of Wooster The University of Alabama The University of the South University of Califorina– Davis University of California– Berkeley University of California– Santa Barbara University of Chicago University of Miami (2) University of Rhode Island (3) University of Richmond University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Wisconsin– Madison Universiy of Illinois– Urbana-Champaign United States Naval Academy (2) Villanova University Wake Forest University Wofford College United States Military Academy (2)
Northwestern University The graduates process into the Commencement tent led by Kylie Almeida (left) and Augusta Ambrose.
Ohio Wesleyan University
PAGE 11
Former Headmaster Dan McDonough followed with a final message to the Class of 2021, concluding with, “Now, as you walk away, I have two things to say to you. First, no one knows better than you, after the last year-and-a-half, just how quickly things can change, so live in the present. Don’t let yourselves be paralyzed by the past. Don’t let yourselves be fearful of the future. Either of those can destroy the present for you – but only if you allow it. And second, even when living in the present you can have problems that seem overwhelming. Never forget that God welcomes hearing from you in your own words every day. You can be sure, regardless of what you say, and the emotions you feel saying it, that he will actually listen to you.” The guest Commencement Speaker was Kerry Alys Robinson, founding executive director and partner for global and national initiatives at Leadership Roundtable. In her congratulations, Ms. Robinson reminded the graduates to be grateful to their parents and to the Portsmouth Abbey community: “During your time here, you have been afforded a worldclass education and have been given an orientation and formation in the particular charisms of the Benedictines.” She asked the graduates to extend their gratitude beyond the walls of the Abbey, reminding them that “life does not have to be perfect for us to find reasons to be grateful. In the midst of tremendous human suffering there can be found compassion, mercy, altruism and love. Be aware of such grace and human kindness. It is everywhere, even and especially when there is concomitant human anguish and loss.” Ms. Robinson also spoke of vision, leadership, and perseverance in telling the story of her greatgrandfather John Raskob, who announced in the late 1920s that he would finance and build the tallest building in the world, the Empire State Building. Shortly after his announcement The Great Depression took hold; nonetheless, he led the project through those dark times, hiring thousands in the process.
Top: Prior-Administrator Very Reverend Michael G. Brunner O.S.B., presided over the concelebrated Mass for the graduating class. Middle: Vice-Chair of the Board of Regents William Keogh’78 P’13 addressed the graduates and their families at Commencement. Bottom: Nancy Brzys, who retired at the end of June, received a standing ovation as former Headmaster McDonough recalled her 39 years of service to the Portsmouth Abbey School and community.
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“It took forty years before the building reached full occupancy. Most people scoffed at the folly of his imagination and conviction. But John Raskob was a remarkable leader of profound vision. He knew that he did not need to live to see the results of his vision and hard work for it to have value for others.” In conclusion, Ms. Robinson conveyed her hopes for the future of the Class of 2021: “Six hopes. May they be six blessings: Gratitude. Leadership. Legacy. Contemplation. Joy. Abundance. And may in the decades to come, you, too, be able to look back and marvel at how much your experience at Portsmouth Abbey School set you on a path of fulfillment and meaning.” Following the guest speaker were the two graduate speakers, elected by a vote of their classmates: Leah C. Eid ’21 of Tiverton, RI and Pablo Enrique Herrera Camargo ’21 of McAllen, TX. Leah expressed her appreciation for having experienced the beauty of the Abbey campus, the friendships she has made, and the memories she will take with her. “Taking something for granted usually has a negative connotation. However, today I am going to try my best to persuade you to see this idea in a more positive light…. Taking something for granted, or a place for granted, or memories for granted, means you’ve been blessed enough to get used to something good. You’ve been blessed enough to get used to good friends, a beautiful campus, and random conversations in line at the dining hall. Not everyone at every school can say the same, but we as a community can. You make the fondest memories from what you take for granted. For better or for worse, with or without a global pandemic, at some point in time, high school had felt endless, so Top: The Commencement Speaker was Kerry Alys Robinson, founding executive director and partner for global and national initiatives at Leadership Roundtable.
Photo: Elizabeth Benestad
Middle: Retired teacher J. Clifford Hobbins received resounding cheers and applause as former Headmaster McDonough congratulated him on a legendary teaching career spanning more than four decades. Bottom: English Department Head Michael St. Thomas (left) and Humanities and English teacher Daniel McQuillan were the recipients of the Dom Peter Sidler Award for Excellence in Teaching, honoring a full-time senior and a full-time junior faculty member who has exhibited sustained excellence as a teacher at Portsmouth Abbey School.
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as the end approaches us, we are left with bittersweet memories, gain, and loss. With the experiences, knowledge, and grace I’ve picked up from this place, I plan to continue taking Portsmouth Abbey for granted, and I urge you to do the same.” Pablo recalled the challenges of the pandemic and the strength that comes from enduring hardship. “Instead of friends, teams, common rooms, and classmates, we had Zoom. We had to face a pandemic and adapt. But even these difficulties and the other consequences of the pandemic will form us for the rest of our lives. Maybe more than anything we will remember all the mistakes and disappointments we had to go through during high school. Like the awkward things we said at our very first Green Animals picnic and immediately wished we could take back, and those freshman year outfits – really, every time we set a goal for ourselves and then found that we had come up short or failed. All these setbacks felt like the end of the world at the time, but we eventually grew from them and came out as better people. By making mistakes and learning from them we eventually stop pretending to be somebody we’re not. Even our disappointments can serve as the fuel to make us original. So, as we move on and continue to make memories and mistakes, we know they’ll help us write the story of our lives, a story only we can write, a success story that will be filled with the people you love.” Please visit our website page: www.portsmouthabbey. org/commencement 2021 to see photo galleries, video and to read speeches in full.
Top: Leah Eid ’21 was elected by her classmates to deliver one of the graduate speaker addresses. Middle: Danielle “Tibi” Zabsajja ’21 and her family celebrate her graduation day. Tibi received a Headmaster’s Award for those members of the Sixth Form who have been a force for good in the School through their good will, personal example, and effort. She also was awarded the Science Medal for Excellence in Infectious Disease. Bottom: Graduate Joseph Parella ’21 (center) celebrates with his family, from left: cousin Sarah Sienkiewicz ’13; aunt Lisa Sienkiewicz; dad Joseph Parella; cousin Alex Sienkiewicz ’18; brother Matthew Parella ’23; brother Peter Parella ’19; uncle Frank Sienkiewicz and mom Gail Parella. Joey was awarded the Baseball Coach’s Trophy and was inducted into the Portsmouth Abbey Athletic Association.
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Above: Augusta Ambrose ’21 with her parents, Douglas and Sheila. Gussie was the recipient of the St. Gregory Award, given to those who have taken a leadership role in serving beyond our campus on behalf of others in need. She also received the William Barry McCoy’67 Memorial Award for interest and growth in things of the spirit and for influence upon his or her classmates. Top right: Pablo Herrera ’21 was elected by his classmates to deliver one of the graduate speaker addresses. Middle right: Three generations of the Healey family gather for a legacy photo, from left, Rev. Joseph G. Healey, MM ’56, John M. Healey ’21, Thomas J. Healey ’60 and T. Jeremiah Healey III ’91. Bottom right: Lucia McLaughlin ’21 with her parents, Sean and Laura. Lucia recieved the Bishop Ansgar Nelson Award for excellence in Latin and civic spirit and the St.Gregory Award, given to those who have taken a leadership role in serving beyond our campus on behalf of others in need. In addition, she was awarded the Dom Luke Childs’75 Memorial Medal for the graduate who best exemplifies those qualities of citizenship which were so prized by Dom Luke: intelligence, virtue, and concern for others. Below: Julia Sisk ’21 shows off her diploma. She was the recipient of the William Griffin Kelley Memorial Trophy for the graduate who has made a most significant contribution to the life of the School. She also received recognition as a Red Key tour guide, was awarded the Hannaford Family Trophy for Girls’ Lacrosse, and was inducted into the Portsmouth Abbey Athletic Association.
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Bon Voyage, Madame Brzys
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
EARLY ON IN HER TEACHING TENURE, NANCY
Thank you, Ms. Brzys, for being such an
BRZYS GAVE SOME SERIOUS THOUGHT TO WHAT
incredible teacher, role model and friend
KIND OF FRENCH TEACHER SHE WANTED TO BE. Blessed with her own positive educational experience, she recalled a particularly poignant remark made by one of her favorite teachers, who said to her: “You’re not going to remember anything, and you’re not going to have good memories, if you’re afraid.”
to me. Any tough days I had at the Abbey were easily remedied by seeing you; you always brought a smile to my face! I am so grateful to you for everything you’ve done for me, and I feel very lucky to have been in your class, and to have experienced the Abbey while you were there. I couldn’t have done it without you!
That struck a chord with Nancy. “As I was developing my educational philosophy, I kept thinking about how some old-school teachers believed they had to ‘put the fear of God’ into their students or ‘show them who’s the boss,’” she recalled. “But I think, especially with language, you need to get kids to take risks. And in order to take risks, they need to feel safe. To feel like it’s okay to make mistakes. And that’s hopefully what I did in my classroom.”
– Bissou, Amie Conlan ’19
It’s exactly what she did in her classroom for 39 years at Portsmouth Abbey, introducing generations of students to a new language and culture that they would remember for a lifetime because they weren’t afraid to take chances. Instead, they were emboldened.
Keating ’05
___________________________________ Congratulations to Ms. Brzys on an incredible career. Her mark on the Abbey will stretch forever, and she made every student feel both welcome and special from their first day on. God Bless. – Jack ___________________________________ CONGRATULATIONS
on
retirement
and to a long-lived career of teaching French, being an affiliate, houseparent, advisor, listening ear, friend, and
This summer, the Abbey bids a bon voyage to Madame Brzys as she retires as the head of the Modern Language Department and the international student advisor. The School celebrates her tenure, her achievements, and her lasting impact on hundreds of students.
so much more. Ms. Brzys was a foundational part of my time at Portsmouth Abbey and holds a very special place in my heart even to this day! She always knew how to put a smile on my face. She is the sweetest, most kind-hearted, enthusiastic, goofy, witty, (I could go on forever), woman that I know.
Nancy arrived at the School in 1982 nine years before coeducation. “It wasn’t easy at first,” she recalls, about being among the first female faculty members on campus. “We were outsiders, and the students
– Nicole Kerno ’14 _____________________________________ I have fond memories of Ms. Brzys as my teacher because she made learnNancy on campus in the 1980s
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ing French look so easy and fun. I still keep my French textbooks. Thank you for the positive impact you made in my life while at Portsmouth Abbey. I wish you a happy, peaceful and fulfilling after-Abbey life. – Miguel (Mike) Bichara ’94 _____________________________________ The very first day I entered Nancy Brzys’s French 3 Honors class, she greeted me with her dazzling smile and instantly all anxiety or fear dissipated. When I initially toured the Abbey, even before deciding to apply, I was told over and over again how Portsmouth Abbey is more than a school, it’s a home. Your friends become your siblings, and your teachers become your
tested us.” During her first year, as she was washing her hands, boys let a mouse loose in the bathroom and closed the door, hoping to rile her – but Nancy was unflappable, quickly earning students’ respect and admiration. Being the faculty member who organized precoed dances – and thus brought girls to campus – didn’t hurt, either. When the Abbey went coed, Nancy was instrumental in helping to smooth the transition and support the new female students. John Cummings ’83 wrote about Nancy, “As the stage was set for a sea change to transition from a traditionally same-sex institution, your abundant grace and carefree humor were instrumental in easing concerns from top to bottom. From start to finish, in all your roles there, what a tremendous job you’ve done for the many students, some of them our daughters, and
parents. I am so thankful for the three years of French class I got to take with Ms. Brzys, as she taught me so many priceless lessons. Despite Ms. Brzys’s retirement, she imparts a legacy of 39 years that will continue to live on at the Abbey. Congratulations Ms. Brzys, I am so excited for what this next stage has in store for you. Félicitation et bonne chance! – Molly Longson ’17 _____________________________________ I am certain I speak for many, if not all, in saying how fortunate we are to have known you, and had you nearby at Portsmouth Abbey. Your arrival was a breath of fresh air, and the pleasant breeze seems never to have abated. Obviously, the indoctrination you received by the class of 1983 did not result in the frequent “new faculty retreat.” Instead of one and done, you went on to a long and successful career at the Abbey. That alone is an amazing feat of discipline and persistence. Hopefully, our hijinks with the yearbook produced that first year were more a source of amusement than angst. For
The Social Committee with Nancy in May 1997 at Hammersmith Farm in Newport, RI
anyone who later expressed complaints about
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Nancy with the Social Committee at Prom 2000 at OceanCliff in Newport, RI
the finished product, let me clarify for the record. As advisor, you judiciously invoked your veto power over a few rare (and raw) submissions that might have ended your career prematurely, but not before enjoying some good laughs. We sure had a great time doing it, and had even more fun with your assistance. Yearbook or not, we all recognize that we were blazing a trail in the early 80s that probably looks more like Main Road today.
Chaperoning
social
events
must have been like herding cats for you as our boys knew every inch of that campus, and you had a measuring device to keep things at proper distance. What is quite mundane by current for the community at large. Merci beaucoup is simply not enough in bidding you adieu.” And José Vicini ’96 concurred, “Thank you, Ms. Brzys, for nurturing those young ladies at the Manor House during the first years of coed at the Abbey, many of whom are still my friends. Thank you for being a beacon of light and supporting student life. You brought such a warmth to the Abbey.”
standards, was pushing the envelope back
Nancy served as a houseparent in the Manor House from 1991 to 2001. During her last year, she was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy– and she was deeply touched by the support she received from the Abbey community. “Other people did my dorm duty for me,” she said. “Somebody was always bringing me meals because I didn’t have the energy to cook.” She was adamant that she at least wanted to keep teaching. “I needed to have something to do, and to have a little bit of control over my life,” she said. This year, she celebrated her 20-year anniversary of being cancer-free.
Abbey she was running the social committee and
One could say that Nancy wore a lot of berets at the Abbey. She’s served as the yearbook advisor, director of student activities, dean of student life, assistant headmaster of student life, and dean of faculty. Her favorite role,
She is more than a teacher and an advisor to me.
then, and you, Nance, always kept your cool. – John Cummings ’83, son of ’63, parent of ’99 _________________________________________ I remember Ms. Brzys always treating students with such kindness and care. While I was at the went above and beyond to give students special experiences to enjoy. I would like to thank her for giving so much of her time and energy to the School community over the years. I wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement. – Jamie Cannarozzi ’06 _________________________________________ I am grateful to be writing about Ms. Brzys as she retires, for she cared for me with true love. She helped me overcome and survive. Thank you for being my advisor and a great mentor. Your love and kindness will always be with me. – Sarah Kim ’16
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I am so, so excited for you and cannot wait to hear about all of your fun adventures! While a student
Nancy with alumna and former Portsmouth Abbey Spanish teacher Caitlin Villareal ’12
at the Abbey, I did not have a super strong connection with you, but I am so happy and fortunate to have been given a second chance to form that bond as a faculty member years later. I cannot thank you enough for being such an amazing department head, mentor and friend in my three years of teaching at the Abbey. You have made an unforgettable impact on my life. I so miss living right down the hall from you in Manor House, but if these last few years away have shown me anything, it’s that I will have you in my life forever - and I’m so grateful for that! Wishing you the happiest retirement. You deserve it! – KK Villareal ’12 __________________________________ Your presence at the Abbey will be missed. I still remember that you were the first person from the Abbey that I spoke to when I was 12 and looking at independent schools. I knew nothing about the school or the culture; I just knew you, and all I had was your word. You were a kind face on campus and a wonderful educator, and I hope you can relax and enjoy some ample spa time now that you don’t have to worry about 300+ teenagers haha. Thank you again for your service and for being a light to all of us. – Horace Allen ’09 __________________________________ As a Third Former in a French class full of Fifth Formers, Ms. Brzys was incredibly supportive and helpful in my first year at the Abbey. I continued my French studies and ended up in an independent study with her in my Sixth-Form year. It was so nice to be able to spend one on one time with her, and her guidance helped shape my years at the School. I always felt that she was looking out for me, even when my choices weren’t the best! I truly
she says, was advising the Student Council and the Social Committee. “I loved helping the students plan things and come up with ideas that made their lives better.” But, of course, it was in the classroom where Nancy particularly shined. While she was always challenging her students, she also pushed herself to evolve as a teacher, to never remain stagnant. “To learn a language, you cannot be a passive learner,” she said. “I realized that students needed to really use the language in order to learn it, so I had to grow as a teacher to incorporate all of the language skills. Every day, we did listening, speaking, reading, and writing – and everybody did it.” Molly Longson ’17 says Ms. Brzys always went above and beyond to make the Abbey feel like home for everyone. “She was so welcoming. She made sure to decorate her classroom with the cutest French posters, corresponding them with the changing holidays and seasons. During exams, she would ease our worries by passing along a container filled with sweets and offering us an encouraging, ‘Bonne chance!’ She motivated her students to take pride in their work and taught us how to cultivate a deep appreciation for both the French language and French culture.”
thank her for that. Thirty-nine years is an amazing
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
For many students, Nancy introduced them not only to France, but to all of the Francophone countries in the world, and she taught them the historical importance of the country, dismantling, as Kevin Legein ’12 said, “my stale conceptions of an artsy country famous for wine and cheese. It was her course that laid my foundational understanding of French history, which remains a favorite reading topic to this day; from our chapter on the great Druidic menhirs to Louis-le-Grand and down to the present day, she unfurled a richer history of that civilization.”
accomplishment, and I wish Ms. Brzys all the best
Students wrote in the 1994 Gregorian, one of many yearbooks that were dedicated to Nancy during her time at the Abbey, “Not a day seems to go by when Miss Brzys fails to say hello. Her cheerful smile, enthusiasm and interest greet us in the hallways, in her office or on the playing fields. When a student has a problem or a parent has a concern, she is often the first person consulted. In the dorm, she adds that kindly touch – by making cookies, that special birthday card, helping with homework, chatting in the common room. Whenever
one brings an inner smile of appreciation. Intel-
we need her, she is always available. Without her, life at the Abbey would not be the same.”
in her retirement. Thank you for everything, Ms. Brzys! I hope your retirement brings many trips to France and a lot of relaxation. – Tara Tavares Winston ‘98 _____________________________________________ My experiences with Nancy Brzys ranged from casual conversations at Abbey sporting events to formal speeches in support of The Ali Fund. Many descriptive terms come to mind, and each ligent, clever, personable, interesting, grounded, kind, empathetic, gracious and engaging immediately come to mind, but the list is a very lengthy one. I am fortunate to have Nancy as part of my life experience. I treasure each memory and am enriched by them. She represents the best of the Abbey’s culture. Nancy’s natural presence, commitment to her core values, and service to others serve as a role model for all of us. – Sam Sacco, parent of Ali ‘05 and Libby ‘09 _____________________________________________
As Nancy looks forward to her future – spending time with her parents in Western Massachusetts, traveling again, and remaining open to new opportunities– she’s also reflecting with great fondness on her nearly four decades at the Abbey, 30 of which she spent living in the Manor House.
Each
experience
with
Nancy
reflected
her
“The Manor House has great views of the Bay, and it has beautiful gardens that Father Damian planted,” she said of her favorite spot on campus. “As I prepare to leave, I’ll look out at the open water and the open space and think about all the people, how beautiful it’s been, and how much it’s meant to me over the years. It also faces west, and that’s the way the sun goes down, so it’s a good place to look out as my career sets.”
Her kindness was shown to us in many ways over
thoughtfulness, kindness and devotion to the Abbey and the students. She has been a champion for the Ali Fund in memory of our daughter, Ali, a Fifth-Former who passed away suddenly in 2003. some difficult times. Nancy made certain that our other daughter, Libby, was taken care of at the first funeral she attended after Ali died. Nancy always supported us. Her help with the Ali Fund will be missed. Nancy was so helpful and gave a lovely speech at every Ali fund event. She is one of the most pleasant people we have ever met. Nancy touched our lives in many ways.
Bonne chance et bon vent, Madame Brzys!
– Ann-Marie Sacco, parent of Ali ’05 and Libby ’09 – Megan Tady
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James D. Farley, Jr. ’81 CEO, President, Ford Motor Company
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
ALUMNUS PROFILE – JAMES FARLEY ’81
“The smallest considerations can mean a lot in times of need,” he said. “Sometimes, it’s the simplest things that make a difference.” Farley will stay for the morning shift, working the breakfast line, scrubbing the stove, talking with the regulars. His enthusiasm never fails to impress the center’s executive director, Father Tim McCabe. “Jim is truly the salt of the earth,” McCabe says with a laugh. “He’s so grounded – he knows who he is, and he’s comfortable in his own skin. He’s as comfortable talking with the homeless as he is in the executive boardroom, and that’s amazing. When he comes down to the center – and he comes as often as he can – he always takes the attention off himself and puts it on others. He’s just Jim.” Away from the center, Jim Farley, Portsmouth Abbey ’81, is very much in the spotlight. In fact, in October 2020, that light shone even brighter after he was named CEO and President of Ford Motor Company, the iconic automaker that’s synonymous with Detroit. It’s a company that’s been part of the Farley family for years; Jim’s grandfather, Emmet Tracy, was a longtime Ford employee, one of the first to help build the Model T. It was Tracy who nurtured Farley’s love of cars when they spent time together at the family’s summer home in Northern Michigan. “When my grandfather was hired for a manufacturing Mornings start early at the Pope Francis Center in Detroit,
job in 1913, it changed my family’s life,” Farley said.
and the pace never slows.
“He was proud of his work, of his company. When I’d
The center, which has served the city’s homeless community for more than 30 years, provides essentials like meals, showers and shelter seven days a week. This
visit him during the summer and on school breaks, we’d drive past the Rouge and Piquette plants and he’d tell me their history and about the vehicles they produced.
weekend, Jim Farley is assisting behind the counter,
“At night, there were no bedtime stories. Instead, we
quickly and efficiently handing out essentials – warm
flipped through pages of Automotive News - and I was
socks, hot coffee and a quick smile.
enthralled. Cars, to me, have always been works of art.”
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ALUMNUS PROFILE – JAMES FARLEY ’81
His childhood friend was a great athlete – and competi-
SUMMERS IN MICHIGAN
While Farley spent his early years in Argentina and on
tive even then, Buhl said.
the East Coast of the U.S., it was those summers on
“Oh, sure, he was really competitive – but we all were,”
Lake Michigan that truly made a lasting impression. Fun
he said. “There was a whole group of us, and we’d
and ingenuity were constant companions.
make up competitions all day along.”
“We’ve been buddies since we were in grade school, and we’d spend the days in the summer just riding our
LESSONS FROM PORTSMOUTH ABBEY
bikes and making up games,” recalled his longtime
During the school year, Farley lived with his family in
friend, former IndyCar racer and Detroit native Robbie
Greenwich, CT, and the bright teen-ager found that
Buhl. “We didn’t have much down time.”
good grades came easily – maybe a little too easily. Enter Portsmouth Abbey.
The two were rarely bored, he recalled. “We would spend hours – seriously, hours – putting together these little
“My parents wanted me to go to Portsmouth because
gas-powered, remote-control boats that we’d run in the
of its rigorous academic curriculum,” Farley recalled. “At
harbor. We spent way more time figuring out how to
the time, I wasn’t having to work that hard to get good
put them together than running them. But they’d run –
grades.” That soon changed, he recalled with a laugh.
they’d run like hell. Then they’d crash, and they’d break, and we’d figure out how to put them together again.”
“At Portsmouth, we were busy – so busy. I started to learn what hard work really was. I learned about discipline and how to manage a schedule. We would have two hours of homework every night, and we went to school six days a week. I worked really hard. I took Latin, Hebrew, Greek. In my first-year English class, we read Russian literature. And then there was the algebra!” His teachers demanded perfection – and many times, they got it. “I had so many teachers who were the absolute best teachers, and they just weren’t satisfied unless you were absolutely perfect,” Farley said “Abbot Caedmon Holmes was the only person I ever met who spoke Latin – he spoke and read and wrote Hebrew and
Jim on vacation with his family
PAGE 24
Greek. We read all the Greek tragedies
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Emmet Tracy’s Ford Motor Company employee pass from March 1918. Mr. Tracy, one of Ford’s earliest employees, was a factory worker while the Model T was being built.
Jim visiting his grandfather Emmet Tracy, while on Christmas break from UCLA, circa 1989. Mr Tracy, who lived in Grosse Pointe, was an early employee of Ford Motor Company.
in Latin, and we read the Old Testament in Hebrew. Ab-
day. He talked about the incredible personal guilt he felt
bot Holmes was a very talented, studious, introspective
from inventing this device that could kill humanity, and
man – and he simply was not satisfied unless you could
what it felt like knowing you had that responsibility.”
conjugate a verb perfectly.”
Farley eventually found time to get a part-time position
He also fondly remembers his economics teacher, Cliff
as a draftsman with Raytheon Technologies in Ports-
Hobbins. “He was so terrific about markets and capital-
mouth, which manufactures sonar and detection sys-
ism,” he said. “Having that knowledge made me feel so
tems for the Navy.
comfortable going into the business world.”
He also learned more than a few life hacks that would
Farley soon found himself enamored of learning – about
come in handy, he noted. “As a freshman, you would
everything around him, not just assigned schoolwork.
serve the cafeteria meals a few nights a week - and
He became an expert at time management, finding a
you’d wear a coat and tie,” he said. “You wouldn’t have
few extra hours to go off campus during the week and
much time to get ready. I can probably put on a coat
attend free lectures at the U.S. Naval War College in
and tie in less than three minutes.”
nearby Newport, Rhode Island.
His competitive drive was honed at Portsmouth. “There’s
“I heard a talk by Edward Teller, the father of the hydro-
no use doing something unless you’re going to try your
gen bomb, the most destructive force on the planet,”
hardest and be your absolute best,” he said. “I really
Farley said. “I remember that lecture as if it was yester-
fine-tuned my commitment to excellence there.”
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ALUMNUS PROFILE – JAMES FARLEY ’81
Jim with his wife, Lia, and their children
A STEADYING SPIRITUALITY
And perhaps even more importantly, Farley said, he found a steadying spirituality that has stayed with him throughout his life. “I would go to Vespers, where the monks sing, and it was absolutely beautiful,” he recalled. “I found it very moving. I’d actually go to church quite a bit, all alone, and feel very comfortable there.” Even in difficult times, he said, his faith has stayed strong. “I’ve had challenging times, both personally and professionally, and I’ve always had that personal spirituality to pull me through. One of the monks told me that being religious doesn’t mean going to church all the time – Jim with his cousin Emmet E. “Tripp” Tracy III, a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender and radio and TV color commentator for the Carolina Hurricanes
PAGE 26
what’s more important is in your heart. That is something that has really stayed with me, and really impacted me throughout my life.”
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Jim discusses the company’s customer-focused strategic ambitions and actions at a Ford event for financial analysts and stakeholders.
Left: Ford’s priorities include leadership in electric vehicles and connected services.
After Portsmouth, Farley received a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, then earned his MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he met his wife, Lia. The couple now have three children. Farley started his career working at IBM for several years before accepting a job in 1990 to work in Toyota’s fledgling Lexus division. He’d spend more than 20 years at the company, honing his observation skills by adopting Toyota’s philosophy of genchi genbutsu, which is broadly translated as “go and see for yourself.” While he moved up the ranks, he balanced work and life issues that would test his faith and personal convictions, including the death of twins born prematurely and a fatal overdose that would end the life of his famous cousin, comedian Chris Farley.
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ALUMNUS PROFILE – JAMES FARLEY ’81
Bill Ford, Idris Elba, Jim Farley and team gather at the launch of the Mach-E.
“I don’t ever take things for granted,” he notes. “And I
edented focus on new products, a strong brand and
think you learn from your struggles. The most valuable
increased cost efficiency. In 2016, he led Ford’s European
time for me is when I’m struggling. It’s a truism in work
operations to record profitability, record margins and
and it’s a truism in life. Comfort does not equal progress.”
increased sales.
In 2007, Farley was recruited by Ford, taking a circu-
Leading Ford’s strategic transformation into a higher-
itous road to the top after serving stints that included
growth, higher-margin business by leveraging smart,
president of global markets, where he was responsible
connected vehicles and breakthrough customer experi-
for overseeing Ford’s business units in The Americas, Eu-
ences, Farley then served as president of New Business-
rope, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific.
es, Technology and Strategy.
He then served as executive vice-president and president
He was appointed president and CEO of the historic
for Ford Europe, Middle East and Africa. In that role, he
company in October of 2020 – just as the company was
led Ford’s business transformation in Europe, executing
pivoting from creating mobility solutions for the future
a plan to achieve profitable growth through an unprec-
to quickly and efficiently manufacturing Personal Protec-
PAGE 28
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
Jim with automotive legend Carroll Shelby in Monterey, California.
tive Equipment for a country caught in a COVID-19 crisis. “I feel like I’ve been preparing for this job my whole life,” he said. “I’m so honored and excited to be doing what I do. I love coming to work every day.” AWAY FROM WORK – AND ON THE TRACK
Of course, Farley doesn’t work constantly. On rare time off away from work and family, he’ll chill at the racetrack, finding relaxation at speeds exceeding 200 mph. He’s raced his vintage Ford GT40 at Le Mans in France, and his garage also includes a Cobra and a Lola 298. “Racing encompasses all the key facets of other sports – teamwork, strategy and split-second timing,” he said. “It can be heartbreaking and thrilling,
all at the same time. When I’m racing, I’m absolutely focused. The sounds, the smells, the feeling of living in the moment – it’s all therapeutic for me. It’s my yoga. I feel privileged to participate, the adrenaline rush is immense, and the absolute and complete focus it takes to drive is the ultimate stress-reliever.” Long-time friend Robbie Buhl isn’t surprised Farley loves to race; it was the level of dedication that caught him by surprise. “Racing is an art – it’s not just about driving. It’s about studying the dynamics of the car and finding how you can get the most from it,” he said. “There are so many aspects to this sport that are incredibly interesting, so it didn’t surprise me that he got into it. What surprised me was his passion. This isn’t just, ‘Oh, I like to drive, and I enjoy racing.’ He’s at another level altogether – just consumed by it. And of course, racing is what I love so it’s been really fun for me to see how bitten by the racing bug he’s become.”
Jim at Le Mans
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 29
Jim speaks at the ‘Built for America’ event at the new Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, MI, where the all-electric F-150 Lightning will be produced.
LONG DAYS, BIG DECISIONS, BRIGHT FUTURE
versations with him,” McCabe said. “He leads from the
Most days, though, Farley spends immense amounts of
head, yes, but he leads from the heart.”
time on the phone, in meetings, studying charts, models and market conditions, and making deals and decisions that can impact thousands who rely on and do business with Ford Motor Company. “He feels the weight of every decision, knows the impact of his words and his position,” says friend Father Tim McCabe, executive director of Pope Francis Center.
And Farley has advice for those just starting their high school journey, perhaps on the campus of Portsmouth Abbey. “Success comes from failure, and awkwardness equals growth,” he said. “If you’re feeling awkward, you’re growing. And if you’re making mistakes – and you’re learning from them – you’ll be very successful in the fu-
“Sometimes, when people rise to executive positions,
ture. At Portsmouth, I struggled, and I grew more there
they don’t connect with people who work with the com-
than probably anywhere else. So, don’t be afraid to try
pany. You have wealth and privilege, and it disconnects
the harder thing. It’s worth it.”
you. But Jim is fully cognizant and truly feels the impact of his work. There’s no barrier. There is nothing cold about him. I know that’s true because I’ve had those con-
PAGE 30
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
– Diane Majeske
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 31
STUDENT LEADERS OF LECTIO DIVINA, THE LIVING WORD. groups over the years. The Abbey’s close relationship with the members of the Manquehue Apostolic Movement of Santiago, Chile, has inspired more participation in Lectio since the first three Manquehinos established an annual winter residency on campus a decade ago. Manquehinos express and live out the Benedictine values, fostered in Lectio Divina, which they put into practice in their school teaching and their relationships with the young. Over the past two years at Portsmouth Abbey School, students themselves have taken the lead and guided their peers through the steps of Lectio each week. Abbey students have described Lectio Divina as “praying the Bible in a personal way to connect with God and your friends outside of the classroom.” In a recent interview, Head Girl-elect Marron Gibbons ’22, who has been a Lectio Divina leader of the Fourth-Form girls in Manor House over the past year, shared some inLectio Divina Leader Marron Gibbons ’22
THE PRACTICE OF LECTIO DIVINA,
or Divine Reading, traces its roots back to the sixth centu-
ry, by which time St. Benedict had made it a regular practice in most monasteries. The quiet prayerful reading of the Bible, along with meditation and prayer, was intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s word. With the motto Ora et Labora (“Pray and work”), daily life in a Benedictine monastery consisted of three elements: liturgical prayer, manual labor and Lectio Divina. And while in its beginnings this prayer method was set aside for monks and religious, today Lectio Divina is widely practiced by many laymen and laywomen. Lectio Divina does not treat Scripture as text to be studied, but as the Living Word.
Q: As Lectio Divina leader for the girls of Manor House what are your responsibilities?
Once a week we will have a meeting of all of the Lectio Divina leaders on campus, about a dozen of us. We meet to come up with ideas of how we want to lead Lectio that week. During exam week we will talk about readings that will help with stress. We are slowly learning how to lead people of our own age group, and sometimes that can be intimidating. For now we are trying to create the environment that we, as students, know the other students all want.
Q: When did you start to participate in Lectio, and what originally drew you to it?
At first, I accidentally walked into the Common Room meeting, and Cata, one of our Chilean Manquehue visitors, who
At Portsmouth Abbey, Lectio Divina has been practiced by our monastic community since the monastery was founded in 1918. Lay faculty have also met for Lectio Divina readings and have shared the practice with student
PAGE 32
sight into her experience:
was leading the group, asked me to stay. She was really amazing. It wasn’t that much of a choice at first, and it was initially a little intimidating because everyone had already done it before, so I didn’t share at that meeting. I just lis-
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
tened to everyone else and what they had to say. After that
them much otherwise unless we were on the same sports
first meeting, I knew I wanted to keep going.
team or in classes together. So it’s just really nice to get to know someone on a deeper level and to have a space and
Q: Why is Lectio important? I think Lectio is important, especially at the Abbey, because we have our required Masses and we have our formal classes about religion and faith but I think Lectio is a chance to have an informal encounter with God, and I think that’s really necessary when it comes to our individual faith
an opportunity to talk to them about these kinds of things. Even though I’m leading them, we all learn about and from each other, and that’s really interesting. I think the adults at the Abbey are all so supportive and it’s such a great environment. They definitely keep Lectio
journeys.
more formal, which has its own benefits because you enter
I can’t emphasize enough how strong the sense of com-
With the students, we are able to be more casual, and ev-
munity is within Lectio. The Abbey is an amazing place, but it can be overwhelming at times. Having friends to listen to us and keep us in touch with our faith is such a special and valuable thing, and I’m not sure everyone realizes that!
Q: Has the experience met your expectations? Were there any surprises?
that head space more easily, and it’s taken very seriously. eryone feels more comfortable being vulnerable because you wouldn’t necessarily say something to your teacher that you would say to one of your friends, so it’s kind of nice to have a little bit of both.
Q: What are the rewards of leading a group of fellow students in Lectio?
It definitely did meet my expectations because I originally thought that Lectio would be a nice break in the week where I would have the opportunity to relax, but Lectio always makes my week. The things we talk about in those meetings I find myself reverting to throughout the week,
I think it can be really rewarding to see how other people’s lives are being affected by Lectio. When we were recruiting new people, some of them were understandably hesitant to try it out. There were two girls who said they weren’t very religious, and I said that’s fine because you don’t nec-
and they are very helpful.
gious to do Lectio. As it
Q: Has attending Lectio changed the way you see the world and/or relate to your friends and
has progressed I have seen
them
through
their Echos – where we share what the reading
family?
means to us in our per-
I think that Lectio has
sonal lives – talk more
definitely changed my re-
and more about God
lationship with my friends
and their relationship
and with other people on
with God, and it’s just
campus because I lead
really cool to see that
the Fourth-Form (sopho-
progression in some-
more) girls, and I wouldn’t really be interacting with
essarily have to be reli-
body else. The Lectio student group in St. Brigid’s Common Room
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PAGE 33
Sharing treats before Lectio Divina in St. Mary’s House
We had a big group
Q: Can you please walk us through a
this
typical meeting? First
we
might
to 13 girls at times, and we met in the new science building Com-
– just something fun
mons. Or if it was nice
to get everyone talk-
outside,
COVID-19
we’d
meet
there, which was very
this year especially, we
peaceful. If everyone
have not had many op-
was really busy, we’d
portunities to just hang out and have fun – when we’re not talking about classes or doing sports, so it’s just fun to do activities together. We’ll all make food; we’ll bring in cookies to share. Then we start off with a moment of silence, and I like that because it’s such a rare thing to be in a room full of people and have it be quiet on purpose, and it’s not awkward. There’s meaning to that quiet, and it’s just really nice. And then we recite the reading. Each week we will prepare what the reading is for that week, so for Easter we talked about joy and happiness and life. Then Christmas is when we are preparing for Christ. And as I mentioned, during exams we’ll talk about stress, and we do plan it so it’s for a young group. Then everyone chooses a line that speaks to them personally. One of the most important things in Lectio is that you speak in terms of I, me, my, because each reading is considered a personal letter from God. I think
just do the Lectio, so would spend about 20 minutes, but other times it could go an hour if we all just wanted to hang out.
Q: Do you see yourself continuing with Lectio beyond your time at the Abbey?
I will continue leading next year at the Abbey and hope to continue in college. We have done Zoom meetings with the Manquehue group from Chile, and we talk about how to lead Lectio even after our time at the Abbey. I know a couple of alumni Lectio leaders because last year’s grade was the first group of Lectio leaders to work and train after they graduated, and they all lead groups at their schools now.
Q: How would you advise a student who is thinking about engaging in Lectio but may be nervous or skeptical?
I would say, first of all, just try
that this is how God is calling to
it!! You’ll never know if you
each of us because we can have
like it unless you try it. Also
the same line that we both enjoy
never feel pressured into hav-
but for two completely different
ing to share because no one
reasons. It’s just interesting to hear
will judge you no matter what
what people have to say. Then we
you say or if you decide to
will close with a Hail Mary and our
say nothing at all. It’s really
intentions, and each dorm has its
rewarding to just go and hear
own patron saint, so we pray to
what other people have to say.
them.
Marron with Manquehinos Cata and Alvaro at their baby’s Christening in 2019
PAGE 34
is
House group had up
start
bracelets the other day
With
which
awesome. The Manor
with a game. We made
ing.
year,
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
HIS STORY
BY DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING CORIE MCDERMOTT-FAZZINO
My son, Wyatt, is approaching three and firmly in the ‘why?’ stage. We have gone down many twisted rabbit holes together: the construct of time; the death of our dog, Banjo; validation of my particular snack choice that day. “Why mommy, why?” he repeats, in a doubly asked question revealing urgency and innocence. I rarely tire of his questions. They are just plain fun to answer, rhetorical exercises inviting new ideas and terms. It makes his preschool teachers chuckle to discover he knows that “smoke dissipates” after filling our kitchen that time his dad overcooked dinner. That “dry ice sublimates” when you remove it from the Omaha Steaks packaging and douse it with water. That the ocean has a “tidal range” making the sea crash with varying intensity and reach as it yields and swallows up the shoreline. Wyatt’s curiosity is palpable as he parses out what he can control and what he cannot. He is in a constant state of discovery as he figures out his priorities, his values, and himself. I’m sure the influx of information is dizzying. Most of the time, it delights him. In the quiet hours, I can hear him chanting a new phrase to himself, consumed with wonder: “Investigation. We did an investigation.” But there are also times when he explodes in defiant frustration: “I can’t like this!” Learning about the properties of the world and his corresponding place in it is both exciting and overwhelming. And messy. Often, just as Wyatt thinks he has it all figured out there’s an exception, something he cannot control. His instinct is to double down with toddler intensity.“But I want the sun to come up!”he once shouted in an effort to avoid bedtime and will daylight into existence. I try not to lie to him in these moments. It seems cruel to do so. Instead, I offer my best advice based on experience and give him the space to process… and possibly throw an excellent temper tantrum. Navigating the college process can feel just as dizzying for students – especially over the last year in a world upended by pandemic. Quite honestly, I’m shocked that no students threw a proper fit in our office in response to the pressures. The catalogue of factors out of the student’s control is epic these days: enrollment objectives; financial optimization; institutional priorities; imploding (and by extension, confusing) standardized testing; tuition discounting; marketing schemes; cookie tracking websites. Did you know that
1 From Who Gets in and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions by Jeffery Selingo
College Board’s Student Search Service sells a student’s name, on average, 18 times over his or her high school career to various colleges? 1 Those names are sliced and diced in a variety of ways: high SAT scores to find qualified applicants; low SAT scores to gin-up application numbers and drive down admit rates; zip codes to find more full-pay applicants; particular ethnicities to increase campus diversity; certain potential majors to help balance out program distribution. It’s insane. And completely out of the applicant’s control. Then there is the sheer cost of college. Also, out of control. Many financial aid professionals frame the family contribution to the college bill not as what the family can afford, but what the family can absorb. Much like purchasing a car or house, the expectation is that families use past (did you save?), present (how much do you make?), and future (how is your credit score for taking out loans?) income to manage the cost of college. I can’t like this. We are honest with our counselees about the college admissions landscape. It is, ultimately, the humane thing to do. But we also proceed with compassion and help students refocus energy on factors they can control: their academic record, their résumé, their interests, their story. College reps – those road warriors who read each application and know the Abbey well – often report back about how much they enjoyed reading Abbey student essays. Learning about a high schooler in his or her own voice grounds an otherwise data driven process in the human experience. We also help support the student narrative with our contribution to the story. The counselor recommendation letter captures the student in context, provides important background information, and offers particular insights into each student’s life, academic and otherwise. As an office of English teacher-counselors, we are particularly well-suited for these tasks. Taco night is like a holiday in our house. Wyatt is a foodie – quite possibly the only toddler on this planet who eats almost everything. Last summer, in an effort to lure him inside for dinner, I used the secret weapon word: “You want tacos?” He sprinted to the dinner table without stopping. As he devoured his meal, I asked him, “Is it good?” He mumbled an inaudible response. “Good, right?” I repeated, imposing my opinion on his answer. Wyatt looked at me, appalled, “No, mommy, I said it was great.” And there you have it: in a world where he controls so little, Wyatt still found space to have an opinion, to control his story. It’s not much, but it’s something– a trend to build on.
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
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ALUMNAE PROFILE – KERI ’15 AND KATELYN ’17 HEUER
The Indefatigable Heuer Sisters Keri Heuer ’15
Katelyn Heuer ’17
Finding Their Rhythm Sisters Keri Heuer ’15 and Katelyn Heuer ’17 have a lot in common. Both are accomplished pianists who performed at Carnegie Hall. They are STEM scholars who find balance through creative outlets. They agree that new experiences at Portsmouth Abbey – though sometimes uncomfortable at first (a new sport or public speaking) – are accompaniments to their lives. Yet each is forging her own path: Keri is a PhD candidate in astrophysics at Drexel University while Katelyn recently graduated from Bucknell University with a computer science degree and is starting a job as a computer scientist at the U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center. Sitting down to talk with Katelyn and Keri, one sister’s answer often seamlessly transitions into the other’s, like musical notes coming together to form a chord. Take the recitation assignment in their respective English classes – an impactful memory for both. “I would ask to go first every single time because I was so nervous and couldn’t just sit there waiting,” Keri says. “I didn’t enjoy public speaking, and though Mrs. Bonin would challenge me to get more comfortable, she would balance that with letting me go first. I
PAGE 36
slowly got better and ended up really enjoying doing the recitations.” Katelyn would also ask to go first when she took the same class with Mr. Barron two years later “just to get it over with.” But, she adds, “I eventually realized that, with practice, everything was going to be ok.” It’s that approach that helped both sisters get through their respective Carnegie Hall piano performances at age 16 (even though neither got to perform first). “I was one of the oldest people there and one of the second to last to perform,” Katelyn recalls. “It was really scary, seeing people leave one-by-one and I was just standing there. But I realized I was there to share something special.”
Working in Harmony Keri and Katelyn arrived at the Abbey having mostly focused on activities that were more individual in nature for the pianists and avid readers. It wasn’t long, though, before they both learned how to use their talents for a broader purpose, even in unexpected ways. Katelyn was co-captain of the Junior Varsity Field Hockey team during her Fourth-Form year. “I wasn’t
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
necessarily very good at field hockey, but the fact that my peers saw me as a leader is something that really stuck with me.”
especially serving as a day student prefect in my SixthForm year. It was fun mentoring girls and being a role model. “
It was likely Katelyn’s loyalty that earned her the role. “I can relate to a lot of people and no matter what happens, my team knew I would be there for them.”
Though she chose to attend a large university for undergraduate studies, Keri made sure that she carved out smaller communities while at Cornell. “I joined a sorority and was New Member Coordinator during senior year, something I wanted to do because of my time as a prefect at the Abbey. That’s something I definitely want to carry over into my professional life. Being a scientist and doing research, communication is very important to learn from each other and support each other.”
Her creative outlet came from being a Chamber Ensemble member. Some of Katelyn’s favorite songs today are rooted in that experience. “Mr. Bentley understood the type of music I liked and suggested pieces to me that I had never heard of but ended up being some of my favorites.” Keri was part of the Abbey’s orchestra, Sinfonia, and a member of the Girls’ Track team. The latter – which marked the School’s athletic requirement – is something she admits she was initially hesitant about. “I had never really played sports before, so I wasn’t expecting to like it. But I ended up learning a lot of life lessons from it: I got to experience the camaraderie of a team sport and built leadership skills being a captain.” Keri was team captain for track, a tri-varsity athlete, and she received the Scholar-Athlete award at the conclusion of her Sixth-Form year. Though Keri had been playing piano since she was four years old, she evolved from the individual performances that marked recitals growing up. “Being a part of the orchestra at the Abbey allowed me to share my love of music with other people.”
Hitting the Right Notes Being part of something bigger than themselves is a Benedictine principle that resonates with both Keri and Katelyn. “I didn’t really have a sense of community before the Abbey, especially because I had so many interests and was in all of these different groups that it was hard to share things with people,” Keri recalls. “I had never really felt like I belonged somewhere until I came to the Abbey,
The Benedictine principle of discipline is something that informed Keri’s experience at Cornell. “I remember I was terrible at time management before the Abbey because I always liked doing so many different things and being active,” says Keri, who majored in physics with a minor in creative writing. “But I learned how to be able to manage my time and be able to pursue my interests while still putting 100 percent into everything I did.” As an undergraduate researcher, Keri studied the correlation of galaxies in galaxy clusters with the gravitational lensing of the Cosmic Microwave Background. She spent two summers as a research assistant for NASA’s NuSTAR Group in Columbia’s Astrophysics Laboratory and was also a Smithsonian Fellow in High Energy Astrophysics at the Center for Astrophysics, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Harvard College Observatory. Katelyn chose a smaller college, attending Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. “At the Abbey I especially liked being at a school where everyone knew each other, and if they
Keri performing at Carnegie Hall at age 16
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
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ALUMNAE PROFILE – KERI ’15 AND KATELYN ’17 HEUER
Keri as an Abbey student
didn’t, they would still smile or wave. I wanted to carry that into college, and it’s something that I also want in other areas of my life.” She went into Bucknell knowing that she wanted to major in computer science, but her choice for a double minor in math and history is something that she may not have had the confidence to do if not for a teacher willing to answer any questions. “I didn’t love math and I wasn’t very good at it,” Katelyn modestly says. “But Algebra 2 Honors with Mr. Moffie was my favorite class at the Abbey. The way he taught showed that he really cares about every student. He encouraged me to stick with it.” That perseverance also landed her a spot as a National Science Foundation STEM scholar during her first year at Bucknell. Students selected for the highly competitive program do undergraduate research in the STEM fields. Katelyn worked with a professor to explore the relationship between novel objects and dominance hierarchies in Capuchin monkeys. Her work included writing code to analyze and sort CSV data files.
Coding, Katelyn says, is “a cool concept” that she enjoys. “Being able to come up with a solution to a problem is very rewarding to me. It’s important to take a step back, think about what you’re doing, and look at the big picture. It might sound very counterintuitive to step back, but it’s part of the process of figuring out what you are supposed to do.” Keri agrees with the approach, saying that she learned to “avoid tunnel vision and look at the bigger picture” in Mr. Zelden’s Humanities class. “I vividly remember when I was crying in the middle of a test and Mr. Zelden put a sticky note on my desk that said ‘breathe.’ Now it’s the first thing I do, take a step back to zoom out and come up with an approach – and remember what I’ve practiced and what I know.” (Keri kept the sticky note; it hangs on the wall of her bedroom at her parents’ house.)
Encore Performance
A doctoral candidate at Drexel, Keri is a researcher and graduate teaching assistant in physics; in 2020 she was awarded the Physics Department’s Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Award. After Keri completes her PhD program, she plans to continue to do research but also hopes to teach. Her interest in astrophysics is partly due to fascination.
These days, the sisters show no signs of slowing down in their respective STEM disciplines. At the U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Katelyn works in the Combat Systems Department, starting in a rotational role in the Naval Acquisition Development Program that includes exposure to different departments.
“Astrophysics makes you think about time and space,” Keri explains. “Observing things really far away, like stars and black holes, puts things into perspective and inspires me to ask a lot of questions. For me, astrophysics also feeds my artsy side because it is like storytelling; I use science to figure out the story of the universe.”
Katelyn, upon her graduation from Bucknell University
– Kristen Walsh
PAGE PAGE 38 38
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 39
The Enduring Questions Persist by Daniel McQuillan “Morning, Mr. McQuillan.”
week it was which Jonas brother did I once unknowingly stand
I turn from the whiteboard. “Hey, good morning. How we do-
next to for ten minutes in a restaurant. This week, I’ve got noth-
ing?”
ing. My life, I remind them, is only so interesting.
“Good. Tired.”
“Ok, limited time, so let’s get right into it.” I focus on a few
Soaked from a winter’s rain, the young man settles into his
things. First, the guardian angels’ worry when, after the fall of
seat. Despite his tiredness, he sounds happy to be here, hap-
Adam and Eve, they make “righteous plea” about “their utmost
pier than usual.
vigilance” in the Garden of Eden. I am struck, once again, by God’s response. “Be not dismayed / Nor troubled at these tid-
“I did the reading.”
ings from Earth / Which your sincerest care could not prevent.”
I turn back again. “Yeah?”
Indeed, a response we need to hear, one that urges us to recog-
“Yeah,” he says, a smile peeping over his mask. “It was good.”
nize our pandemic anxiety and simultaneously think beyond it.
“Good. I’m happy you liked it.”
Easier said than done.
I prepare the day’s technology. Never in my life have I seen a
God “colleagues” mercy and justice. “What do we think that
classroom so outfitted with devices: a podcast microphone, Blue-
means?” We discuss Milton’s use of that word. Some students
tooth headphones, a projector, a pull-down screen, an Apple TV,
offer their interpretation, noticing a kind of “mixing” tone.
HDMI cables, MacBook adapters, an external webcam, my lap-
A few lines later, we read how mercy tempers justice. Mercy
top, and a desktop computer. And, lest I forget, the whiteboard.
and justice. They are not separate in God, but one. Milton, the
The hybrid classroom, Portsmouth Abbey edition.
great monist.
Students enter one at a time, then in pairs. Zoom notifies me
Next, the great existential question. Where art thou, Adam? My
that two people are in my waiting room. All students, those here
theology hat is on. “Why do you think God asks this question?
and at home, hope for a “no-quiz day.” Not today. Not when
After all, it’s a useless question, at least from God’s perspective.”
we’re reading Milton.
God knows exactly where they are and why they’re hiding.
I ask them to ready their quiz pads. “Your name, Book 10, Para-
Adam needs to say it. Better yet, he needs to hear himself say
dise Lost. Distance students, you know the drill.” Two of them
it. Students reflect on this point. I notice one girl really start to
nod. One signals with a thumbs-up. A few girls talk. It’s good to
think. She looks up, off to the right, then back at her book. I
see humans conversing, unmediated by screens. The bell rings
point out it’s not all dreary for the world’s first couple. From an-
and two students arrive late. “Ok – Good morning, everyone.
other perspective, Milton reminds us that God, the Divine Res-
Let’s stand for prayer.” They all rise, even one of the distance
cuer, comes to and searches for us. That’s grace. I think they’re
learners. I wonder, more out of curiosity than anything else,
getting it.
who actually prays. For some, it seems to mean something; the
We look at Adam’s throwing Eve under the bus. “She did it,”
others are kind enough to maintain a respectful silence. I won-
says Adam. The original blame-game, the first finger-point, a pa-
der if, somehow, their silence joins with our prayers.
thetic attempt to shift guilt. If Adam was created to know God
“Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know You...” One voice
and be strong, why doesn’t he put that strength to use? “Why
chimes in. They all know it, so why don’t they say it? I slow
didn’t he wake up, grab that demonic viper, and throw it out
my pace. That, for some reason, calls the group into prayer. We
of Eden?” Students speculate, some more than others. I’m just
finish, and I pray that St. Thomas Aquinas, that stout old Do-
happy to see them thinking. I tell them we have to move on, but
minican, intercede on my behalf. How often he’s been invisibly
we’ll pick it back up during Friday’s plenary session, the weekly,
present this year, God only knows.
student-led discussion.
We take our quiz, and, to their disappointment, I don’t give a
“Ok, so what happens when Satan returns to hell, to Pande-
“Random Bonus Question about Mr. McQuillan’s life.” Last
monium?” Five hands shoot up. I expect this, partly because of
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
the reading-guide question I gave, but also because of the scene
wasn’t what I expected. No two classes are ever the same, es-
itself. I call on one young woman. “When he gets back, Satan
pecially in a pandemic.
turns into a serpent permanently.” Yes, I think, but I’m looking for more. “And what else?” “The other demons...” Her mask muffles her voice. “Sorry, can you repeat that?” “Sure. I said the other demons turn into serpents too.” Demons transformed into the image and likeness of their leader. I note this transformation, this becoming what they’ve chosen. “What does this remind you of?” One student says Dante’s Inferno, how the sinners suffer in death what they chose in life.
Humanities, Portsmouth Abbey’s flagship liberal-arts course, looked different this year, but its aim remained the same: to introduce Fourth-Form students to the great thinkers of the Western tradition. We read from Augustine, Aquinas, Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, Joyce, Turgenev, Shelley, Descartes, Freud, and Marx – just to name a few. We asked the enduring questions: What does it mean to be human? Does God exist? What is truth, goodness, beauty? How am I to live well?
We look again at Milton’s language. After seven years of highschool teaching, I find that slow, careful reading goes two ways: either students get really into it, or they resist it. Those who can slow themselves down, shift away from the instant-click mindset, will unpack the meaning. I ask them to stretch their minds. “You got this. Think.” Milton writes that the demons are “acces-
In seminars, we shared words in agreement and disagreement. Teachers directed students in the close reading of texts. Students refined their writing in small-group workshops. Plenary invited students to think out loud, make distinctions, and disagree without getting too emotional.
sories / To [Satan’s] bold riot.” I point out the legal tone of acces-
Despite the masks, the WiFi issues, the distanced desks, and the
sories. We look at a few more lines.
hybrid format, we managed to learn. Minds were opened. As-
Two minutes left. “Ok, let’s stop there for today.” Papers ruffle; bags are zipped; quizzes are placed on my desk. “Who wants to
sumptions got challenged. Alternative views were considered. Truth, goodness, and beauty were pursued.
be the spritzer for today?” No one. “Ok, Ben will spritz. Thank
How will next year look? Time will tell. One thing is for certain:
you, Ben.” Ben spritzes and the kids wipe down their chairs.
this course and these books – and their power to transform the
Students in my next class shuffle in. Two students ask me if their
minds and hearts of young people – await a new crop of Fourth-
responses for question two counts. A distance student tries to get
Formers. I, for one, look forward to doing it all again.
d
my attention. Between the cleaning, the questions, the entering and the leaving, the classroom is a pandemonium of sorts. It’s February, and I’m still getting used to this.
Daniel McQuillan earned his M.A. of Philosophy at Holy Apostles College and Seminary, with a concentration in Thomistic Studies.
I teach another class, attempting to mimic the good work we
He teaches Humanities at Portsmouth Abbey School and coaches
did in the first section. We end up focusing on different lines. I
boys’ lacrosse.
try to balance their interest and questions with my focal points. The conversation goes well, better than I at first think, but it
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
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OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI AFFAIRS
PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT STEPHANIE GARCIA EARP ’02 HAS JOINED THE OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI AFFAIRS AS A SENIOR DEVELOPMENT OFFICER. STEPHANIE COMES TO US FROM PENNFIELD SCHOOL WHERE SHE SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT FROM 2014. How did you end up at Portsmouth Abbey as a student? I first stepped foot on the Abbey’s campus in 1997 as an eighth grader in the midst of my high school application process. I had visited other high school campuses and assumed this visit would be similar to the others. I was wrong. It just so happened that on that day, a huge storm was hitting Aquidneck Island. I recall the wind and rain were so strong that they rendered our umbrellas useless and within ten minutes of my campus tour, I was completely soaked. In fact, I have a vivid memory of siting in the Manor House, waiting for my interview and desperately trying to wring out my clothes in the hopes of being a bit more presentable. Yet despite the awful weather, I immediately fell in love with the school. The students and faculty were so warm and inclusive, and there was something special about the school that made me feel right at home. Funny enough, it’s been almost twenty-five years since that day, and I felt that same feeling of returning home while on my recent tour of the campus.
fellow Ravens on the athletic fields, the everyday experience at the Abbey was rather spectacular. I believe your most recent Commencement speaker Kerry Robinson said it best when she reminded us that with every decade that has passed, you gain an increased appreciation of the gift received at the Abbey. I couldn’t agree more.
What are some of your fondest memories of your time at the Abbey?
What did you do upon graduating from the Abbey?
I have so many wonderful memories of my time at the Abbey that selecting just a few is difficult. One of the most incredible experiences of my life was being awarded the William Haney fellowship the summer of my Fifth-Form year. This granted me the opportunity to live aboard a sailboat in the Mediterranean Sea working along side marine biologists as we tagged and monitored the migration patterns of dolphins and whales. It was truly remarkable and I often wonder if the Haney family realizes the magnitude of their gift and its positive impact on my personal and professional life.
After leaving the Abbey, I went on to receive a BA from Bates College and then an MBA from the University of Rhode Island. It was during an internship in Business School that I found myself drawn to the world of nonprofits. The internship was with a nonprofit based out of Washington, D.C. dedicated to helping orphans in Haiti. The work was very fulfilling. After receiving my degree, I volunteered with local organizations addressing issues ranging from truancy reduction to ovarian cancer awareness. These experiences ultimately led me to pursue a career in the Advancement profession. I feel very fortunate to have chosen this field and love the work I do.
I’d also say that some of my fondest memories come from what we would have considered to be just our mundane daily life. Whether it was listening to Mr. Hobbins’ riveting impersonations of Winston Churchill, eating lunch with Father Paschal in the Stillman Dinning Hall, or cheering on my
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Your husband is an alumnus. How did you meet? Tom was a Sixth-Form student when I began at the Abbey. I first met him while ordering one of the Abbey’s famous
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
chocolate chip cookies at the Tuck Shop. I don’t know which was more memorable, the delicious cookie or meeting him. I never built up the courage to talk to him while at the Abbey but luckily our paths crossed later in life. Today, we are very blessed to have a beautiful family together. We have fouryear-old identical twin boys, Max and Leo, and a two-year-old daughter, Paloma. It’s hectic and busy in our household these days but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Tom’s father, Ralph Earp, was the School’s physician from 1994-2013; his mother, Barbara Earp, served as a School nurse from 1996-2010. His three siblings Michael Earp ’96, Kevin Earp ’98 and Martha Sbano ’00 also attended the Abbey.
Why did you choose a career in development at independent schools? Having attended and benefitted from independent schools in my own life, I recognize their importance. I’ve also come to learn that the health of independent schools relies heavily on the vital need for philanthropy. As the director of advancement at an independent school, I’ve enjoyed witnessing firsthand how the results of successful fundraising efforts can positively impact the students, faculty and programs.
Why did you apply to become Senior Development Officer at the Abbey?
What do you hope to accomplish in your role as Senior Development Officer? My number one goal is to inspire and encourage philanthropic support of the Abbey. For many, the Abbey played a critical role in shaping who they are today. What if I told you that you could play a critical role for the Abbey? What if you could make an impact at this school? What would that look like? I hope to demonstrate that through philanthropic support these aspirations can be achieved. I would say that my biggest opportunities would be the expansion of the Hall Manor Society and a focus on endowment growth. Piggy-backing on those opportunities comes the challenge of educating constituents of the myriad of giving options, their tax implications and the various strategies for donors at any level to give smarter.
I’d say that some of my fondest memories come from what we would have considered to be just our mundane daily life. Whether it was listening to Mr. Hobbins’ riveting impersonations of Winston Churchill, eating lunch
This is a really exciting time at the Abbey. The Office of Development & Alumni Affairs has experienced tremendous success under the leadership of Matt Walter and his team. Thanks to the team’s robust efforts, there has been an emergence of a strong philanthropic culture at the school positioning it for future success. To become a member of his team is really a dream come true. As senior development officer, I’ll have the privilege of partnering with community members to find opportunities for them to make a significant impact at this wonderful school and ensure its on-going success. This shared experience is a win-win. What greater job is there?
What else should our alumni and the extended Portsmouth community know about you?
What about the Senior Development Officer position do you find most appealing?
I love to travel and experience new cultures. This is most likely attributed to growing up in a multi-cultural household with a Spanish father and an American mother.
Where do I start? At the top of my list is getting to know the broader Abbey community. I can’t wait to meet with individuals and learn about their experiences and connections to the School. While I have my own story, it’s only a small brushstroke in what is the full picture of the Abbey’s history. Seeing the School through the eyes of others is both exciting and essential. It will serve as an invaluable tool as we advance towards the school’s next chapter. Speaking of the next chapter, the School’s 100th anniversary is not too far off. What a phenomenal opportunity to reconnect and celebrate our School.
with Father Paschal in the Stillman Dining Hall, or cheering on my fellow Ravens on the athletic fields, the everyday experience at the Abbey was rather spectacular.
Today, we travel to Spain whenever possible so that our own children can experience the rich culture firsthand. I know I’m biased, but it’s one of the best places in the world!
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
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OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI AFFAIRS v PLANNED GIVING
As David Kearney ’50 approached his 90th birthday last May, a few members of his family decided it was time for a unique birthday present. “We were looking for ways to acknowledge his 90th birthday,” said Will Ingraham, father of David’s grandchildren Maggie ’15 and David ’17. “The Abbey figures prominently in his life: four of his brothers went there; one brother, Father Damian ’45, stayed on to become a revered member of the faculty and monastic community; and two of his grandchildren are alumni. His daughter, Jennifer, and I thought this would be a fitting way to honor David while contributing to a cause dear to him.” Jennifer adds, “For my father to be recognized for all that he has done for Portsmouth and for our family and community means the world to him. He has never wanted any type of recognition for anything he has done; everything is done through the kindness and generosity of his heart. He’s an amazing human being and the most selfless person I’ve ever known. And I get to call him my Dad. I’m so blessed.” Will and Jennifer chose to establish the David Quentin Kearney ’50 Endowed Scholarship Fund with the aim of bringing a Portsmouth Abbey education within reach of some qualified students who might not be able to afford it otherwise. “Ultimately, we hope it will be awarded to a student in need but who also shares the same attributes as my father,” Jennifer said. “We would like to see someone who is humble, kind and generous to others and who has a strong faith and dedication to Portsmouth Abbey.” The School’s Board of Regents recognized the signal event by issuing a proclamation in David’s honor which reads [in part] as follows:
PAGE 44
[WHEREAS, David Quentin Kearney graduated from Portsmouth Abbey School in the Class of 1950 and has been a devoted alumnus of the School for many decades; and WHEREAS, David has served the School and his classmates as a Class Agent for many years and has been an enthusiastic and consistent presence at School and Class functions; and WHEREAS, David has been a faithful benefactor to the School through support of the Annual Fund, capital projects and endowed funds, and is a member of the Loyal Raven Society and the Hall Manor Society; and WHEREAS, David has been a humble servant to all through the practice of his Catholic faith; NOW, THEREFORE,] the Portsmouth Abbey School Board of Regents does hereby proclaim May 15, 2021 as a day of honor and recognition for Mr. David Quentin Kearney ’50 on the occasion of his 90th birthday. The Board of Regents further proclaims that David is a treasured Son of the Abbey and expresses its deepest gratitude for his service to his class, to the School, and to the greater Portsmouth Abbey community. David was appropriately surprised to learn of the gift and the proclamation saying, “I am humbled by this wonderful birthday gift and by the Board of Regents’ proclamation. My only hope is that the scholarship will allow deserving students to receive the same excellent education I received during my years at Portsmouth.” The David Quentin Kearney ’50 Endowed Scholarship Fund joins with several dozen others to help fund the more than $5 million in financial aid awarded by the School each year.
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
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AT H L E T I C S WINTER TERM 2020-21 ATHLETICS AWARDS Boys’ Basketball Raven Award: Luke Fonts ’21 Captains-elect: Charlie Baughan ’22, Mason Holling ’22, Lucas Pagliarulo ’22 Girls’ Basketball Raven Award: Julia Sisk ’21 Captains-elect: Maggie Abbruzzi ’22, Gwen Bragan ’22, Marisa Scartozzi ’22 Boys’ Ice Hockey Raven Award: Alex Leef ’21 Captains-elect: Jack Baird ’23, Toby Oliveira ’22, Michael Patko ’23,
JULIA SISK ’21
Jake Ierfino ’22 Girls’ Ice Hockey Raven Award: Elizabeth (Lulu) LePage ’21 Captains-elect: Lillee Dougherty ’22, Isabella DiReda ’23, Jacqueline Martin ‘22 Boys’ Squash Raven Award: Flynn O’Connell ’22 Captains-elect: Flynn O’Connell ’22, Will Hurlburt ’23 Girls’ Squash ALEX LEEF ’21
Raven Award: Lily Sones ’21 Captains-elect: Isabel Altamirano ’22, Hannah Best ’22 Wrestling Ravens Award: Sean O’Hara ’21 Captains-elect: Merritt Coward ’23, Darrell Opoku-Kwateng ’22, Blake Rossiter ’22, William Wahlberg ’22
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P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
WINTER TERM ATHLETICS 2010-21
JUNIOR VARSITY AWARDS
LUKE FONTS ’21
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 Basketball Award: Chris Dring ’21 Girls’ JV Basketball Award: Natalie Johnson ’23 Girls’ JV Squash Award: Charlotte West ’24 Boys’ JV Squash Award: Nicholas Hutchens ’24 Boys’ JVB Squash Award: Cheonjung Kim ’23 Girls’ JVB Squash Award: Elena Cristiani ’23 Boys’ JV Ice Hockey Award: James Meko ’24
FLYNN O’CONNELL ’22
Girls’ JV Ice Hockey Award: Julia FitzGerald ’22 JV Wrestling Award: Waverly Compagnone ’24
LULU LE PAGE ’21
LILY SONES ’21
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
SEAN O’HARA ’21
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SPRING TERM 2021 ATHLETICS AWARDS Baseball The Baseball Coach’s Trophy: Joey Parella ’21 MIP: Sean O’Hara ’21 Captains-elect: JJ Humenay ’22, Michael Abbate ’23, Matt Parella ’23 Girls’ Golf The Dorment Family Golf Trophy: Kaely McCarthy ’21 MIP: Kenza Domyou ’22 Captain-elect: Marron Gibbons ’22 Boys’ Lacrosse The Frost Family Boys’ Lacrosse Trophy: Aidan McAvoy ’21 MIP: Ryan Rosenau ’22 Captains-elect: Charlie Baughan ’22, Mason Holling ’22, Toby Oliveira ’22, Parker Polgar ’22 Girls’ Lacrosse The Girls’ Lacrosse Trophy: Julia Sisk ’21 MIP: Bella DiReda ’23 Captains-elect: Martha Wilson ’22 Sailing The Robert Price Sailing Trophy: Alex Adams ’22 MIP: Niamh Whelan ’24 Captains-elect: Alex Adams ’22, Ben Bredin ’23, Claire Fink ’22, Charlotte West ’24
Softball Softball Coach’s Trophy: Lulu LePage ’21 MIP: Ali Walsh ’21 Captains-elect: Gwen Bragan ’22, Sarah Edwards ’23, Dani Longuemare ’23 Boys’ Tennis The Boys Tennis Coach’s Trophy: Duke Fagan ’22 MIP: Fletcher Reilly ’23 Captains-elect: Duke Fagan ’22, Donald Migliori ’22, Flynn O’Connell ’22 Girls’ Tennis The Girls Tennis Coach’s Trophy: Ava Park ’21 MIP: Caroline Bohan ’22 Captains-elect: Isa Altamirano ’22, Hannah Best ’22 Boys’ and Girls’ Track Boys Track Coach’s Trophy: Ben Kendall ’21 Girls Track Coach’s Trophy: Margot Appleton ’21 Boys MIP: Benny Liuzza ’21 Girls MIP: Delia Filippone ’21 Captains-elect: Payton Foley ’22, Brogan Murphy ’22, Nolan O’Reilly ’22, Lisie O’Hara ’22, Zina Onwudiwe ’22, Marisa Scartozzi ’22
KAELY MC CARTHY ’21 JOEY PARELLA ’21
Photography by: Louis Walker (www.louiswalkerphotography.com) PAGE 48
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
SPRING TERM ATHLETICS 2021
ALEX ADAMS ’22
MARGOT APPLETON ’21 JUNIOR VARSITY AWARDS The Portsmouth Abbey Junior Varsity Award is presented to the team member who best exemplifies the spirit of Abbey Athletics. The award recognizes hard work, individual improvement, sportsmanship and a willingness to do what is best for the team.
SIXTH FORM VARSITY AWARDS 2020-2021 The Sixth Form Blanket is awarded to those student-athletes who have been consistent participants the School’s athletics programs during each of the three seasons in their Sixth-Form year. Meghan Farnham
XC, Basketball, Lacrosse
Avery Korzeniowski XC, Ice Hockey, Track Alex Leef
Soccer, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse
JV Baseball Award: Drew Pepi ’24
Lulu LePage
Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Softball
Boys’ JV Lacrosse Award: Grayson Stephenson ’23
Martha Lohuis
Field Hockey, Squash, Tennis
Girls’ JV Lacrosse Award: Grace Connaughton ’23
Aidan McAvoy
Football, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse
JV Sailing Award: Joseph Poon Tip ’24
Victor Nin
Football, Basketball, Baseball
Boys’ JV Tennis Award: Nicholas Hutchens ’23
Warren Noubi
Soccer, Squash Tennis
Gitls’ JV Tennis Award: Julia FitzGerald ’22
Sean O’Hara
Soccer, Wrestling, Baseball
Boys’ JV Track Award: Sean Oh ’24
Joey Parella
Golf, Basketball, Baseball
Ava Park
XC, Squash, Tennis
Delaney Shaw
Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse
Julia Sisk
Volleyball, Basketball, Lacrosse
Girls’ JV Track Award: Waverly Compagnone ’24 BEN KENDALL ’21
DUKE FAGAN ’22
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IN MEMORIA M
CHARLES CARROLL CARTER ’45 Charles Carroll Carter, 92, a global advocate for urban transportation, died May 14, 2021 of natural causes in his home in Washington, D.C. after 19 years managing Parkinson’s Disease. He is survived by Rosemary, his wife of 64 years. Carter founded, published, and edited MASS TRANSIT, the first international trade magazine devoted to all forms of public transportation in cities, organized industry trade shows and conventions, and founded the International Mass Transit Association which advocated for more effective funding of global transit projects by the World Bank. Born on August 6, 1928 in Philadelphia, Carter was raised in Washington, as the fourth of six sons born to Anna Carroll Montgomery and James Newman Carter, Jr. He was a descendent of the Carters and Lees of Virginia, and the Carrolls of Maryland. In 2018, the United States Capitol Historical Society published Creating Capitol Hill: Place, Proprietors, and People, Carter’s 15-year effort to document the history of how the Capitol Building was built on Carroll family property. An active and lifelong Catholic, Carter advised James Cardinal Hickey, Archbishop of Washington, on key fundraising projects, was a Knight of Malta, and served as President of the Charles Carroll House in Annapolis. As President of the Greenwell Foundation at Greenwell State Park in Hollywood, Maryland, Carter carried out Philip Greenwell’s vision for a beautiful, and fully accessible place with no admission charge for those with developmental disabilities and their families to enjoy. Carter was raised and educated by his maternal grandmother Mary Ella Horsey Montgomery who lived on the same block as St. Matthew’s Cathedral on Rhode Island Avenue. He attended the Calvert Hall School, the Portsmouth Priory School, the Belmont Abbey School, and graduated in 1945 from the Georgetown Preparatory School. He was a proud graduate of the Class of 1949 of the University of Notre Dame. Carter received a commission in the United States Air Force where his duties ran from serving as a purchasing officer to a Judge Advocate. He later was awarded an MBA from the American University. Carter married Rosemary Connelly Casey (the daughter of Emma Constance Connelly and Samuel Brown Casey) on November 24, 1956, at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Pittsburgh, and started his work life building houses on Old Hickory Road off Little River Turnpike in Annandale. His lifelong passion for trains led him to study the railroad right-of-way in the Washington area and some of his maps were used in the original
PAGE 50
studies for what would later become the Washington Metro. After serving as the President of the Sommerfeld Machine Company in Braddock, PA, Carter served on the Pittsburgh Urban Transit Council. Active in Republican politics, Carter was appointed as the Deputy Administrator of the Urban Mass Transit Administration in 1968, and later served as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Transportation in the Nixon and Ford Administrations. Carter is survived by his wife Rosemary, daughter Constance Thérèse Carter (and her husband Gordon T. Dale), son Charles Carroll Carter, Jr. ’77, daughter Anna Montgomery Carter Saint John (and her husband John Saint John), daughter Joan Carter, son Adam Augustine Carter ’83 (and his wife Elisabeth Carter), and son Samuel Casey Carter ‘84(and his wife Nancy Dubé). Carter also has 14 grandchildren: Dr. Charlotte Carroll Lawson (and her wife Bethany Michelle Lawson), William David Lawson V, Henry Carter Lawson, Samuel Lee Carter, Luke Montgomery Carter, Nina Casey Carter, Blaise Carroll Carter, Fiona Catherine Carter, Rosemary Constance Jermakian, Claire Katherine Jermakian, Kirby Catherine Carter, Casey Elizabeth Carter, Lucy Carroll Carter, and Charles Carroll Carter II. His first great-grandchild, Elliott Louise Lawson, was born in November 2020. His only surviving brother is Francis Montgomery Carter of Alexandria, Virginia and lately of Asheville, NC. He was predeceased by his brothers James Newman Carter III ’42, Warwick Montgomery Carter ’44, Williams Carter, and Dr. Robert Lee Carter. Together Carter and his brothers owned and managed the Lee Heights Shops in the 4500 block of Lee Highway in Arlington for over 50 years. Carter was a member of the Chevy Chase Club, the Metropolitan Club of the City of Washington, the Society of Colonial Wars in the District of Columbia, and the Lee Society. Portsmouth Abbey will keep Carroll and his family in their thoughts and prayers. May God grant him eternal rest.
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
IN MEMORIA M
JAMES CRAY MEADE ’45 James Cray Meade, an energy and civic leader, died Monday, August 3, 2020, at his home with family by his side. James was born in Pittsburgh, PA, raised in Uniontown, PA, and graduated from Portsmouth Priory School in Rhode Island. After enlisting in the U.S. Navy and serving as a radio radar technician, he graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology with a degree in Chemical Engineering, followed by a graduate degree in business from Babson Institute in Boston. He met his wife, Virginia Wood from Mexico City, while working in the oil and gas industry in Texas. They eventually moved to Oklahoma City and raised five daughters. James was an avid sportsman. He encouraged his daughters, later his sons-in-law, and grandchildren, to snow ski, sail, scuba dive, and fly fish. Family was important to him. He organized many trips around the world, always with an educational component. He was a true Renaissance Man and could discuss almost any topic with expertise and enthusiasm. In 1957, James partnered with Snee and Eberly, from Pennsylvania, and his brother, Bud, to create an oil and gas company,
now known as Meade Energy Corporation. He was a well-respected operator in Oklahoma and instrumental in the development of the Arkoma Basin. His love of history, education, and art was legendary, which led to his generous support of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Colonial Williamsburg, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. Virginia and he shared a strong interest in the arts, and James was integral in the merger of the Oklahoma Art Center and Oklahoma Museum of Art. He served as the first president of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, then continued as a lifetime board member. Giving back to the community was important to him, and he established a lecture series that attracts speakers from around the world. He was honored with the Stanley Draper Award in 2011 and as King of the Beaux Arts Ball in 2013. James is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Virginia Wood Meade, and their children. The Portsmouth Abbey community offers its prayers and condolences to the Meade family.
BOB LEWIS, JR. ’63 Bob Lewis Jr., died on March 23, 2021, at the age of 76. Bob
tered an 8-and-7 decision in the opening foursomes session of
was the 2021 recipient of the USGA’s Bob Jones Award and a
the USA’s 19-7 win at The Los Angeles Country Club.
veteran of a combined six Walker Cup Matches as a competitor and captain; he was three-time USGA runner-up, including the 1980 U.S. Amateur. Lewis, who competed in 31 USGA championships, was one of the game’s best amateurs to have never claimed a USGA title. Nevertheless, his skill, integrity, competitiveness and sportsmanship made the Ohio native one of the most respected people in the amateur game.
Lewis later captained the USA in the 2003 and 2005 Matches, losing the former at Ganton Golf Club in England and then winning the latter at Chicago Golf Club, with both matches decided by a single point. Lewis called that 2005 competition “the greatest Walker Cup that ever was played.” The two-day event came down to the last singles match after Great Britain and Ireland had positioned itself for a possible tie and retention of the
Lewis, who received the Bob Jones Award on March 19, played
Cup. Nigel Edwards, whose chip-in on the 17th hole two years
on four victorious USA Walker Cup Teams – 1981, 1983, 1985
earlier had led to GB&I’s win, watched his 35-foot birdie putt
and 1987 – compiling an impressive 10-4 overall mark. In the
just miss on the 18th green at Chicago Golf Club. Jeff Overton
1983 Match at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) in England, he and
then calmly two-putted from 18 feet to secure the win for the
partner Jim Holtgrieve, the man who defeated him in the in-
USA Team, which also included Brian Harman, J.B. Holmes,
augural 1981 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Bellerive
Michael Putnam, Anthony Kim, Matt Every, Kyle Reifers, Nich-
Country Club in St. Louis, posted a 7-and-6 victory in the first
olas Thompson, Lee Williams and Billy Hurley III.
foursomes (alternate-shot) session, a record margin that stood until 2017 when Collin Morikawa and Norman Xiong regis-
“I’m so proud of my team,” Lewis said after the 2005 competition. “It’s the way you dream about going out as captain.”
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IN MEMORIA M
Lewis was born in Warren, OH, and was influenced to take up
to pull out a three-point victory. Two years later at Pine Valley, he
the game by his mother, who carried a 1 handicap. Although he
registered the decisive 13th point in his Sunday singles match as
played in numerous junior tournaments, Lewis excelled in foot-
the USA pulled out a two-point win.
ball and baseball at Portsmouth Abbey School, which did not have a golf team at the time.
Besides the Walker Cup competitions, Lewis also represented his country in a pair of World Amateur Team Championships, help-
When he enrolled at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL in 1963,
ing the four-player team that also included Holtgrieve, Nathaniel
Lewis decided to re-engage with competitive golf by walking on to
Crosby and Jay Sigel to the championship in 1982 at Lausanne
the team. After graduating, he claimed the 1968 Ohio Amateur on
(Switzerland) Golf Club, and finishing second in 1986 at Lagunita
his 24th birthday. He also helped run the family business, Welded
Country Club in Venezuela.
Tubes Inc., a steel tubing manufacturing company that his father founded in 1958.
The selections to those USA Teams as well as his high finishes in the U.S. Amateur enabled Lewis to earn seven invitations to the
In 1970, Lewis decided to give professional golf a try and earned
Masters Tournament, where he finished as low amateur in 1987.
his playing privileges for 1971 at the PGA Tour’s Qualifying
He also qualified for three U.S. Opens (1978, 1983, 1986).
School. In his rookie season of 1971, Lewis made eight of 12 cuts. By the end of the 1974 season, Lewis, who enjoyed limited success in the play-for-pay ranks (he made 26 of 47 cuts in official events), quit professional golf and returned to the family business. Though he won the 1972 Hope of Tomorrow Open, an unofficial event, Lewis’ best finish in four years on the PGA Tour was a tie for eighth in the Shrine-Robinson Open Golf Classic. He would find much more success as an amateur, once he completed the three-year process of reinstatement in 1978. That same year, he won the Ohio Open as an amateur, the first to do so since Jack Nicklaus in 1957, and qualified for the U.S. Open at Cherry Hills Country Club.
That summed up Lewis’ golf life – fiercely competitive on the course but affable off it. Five-time USGA champion and nine-time USA Walker Cup competitor Jay Sigel told Global Golf Post: “You could sense his keenness for competition. Afterward, the intensity would melt away; he would have a glass of wine and laugh.” His character was also exemplified by service in his local community, where he volunteered as the head golf coach at Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio. Lewis served as an important role model who was tireless in his behind-the-scenes efforts to build long-term financial support for the program. Additionally, Lewis was a member of the board of the North-
Two years later, he reached the championship match of the U.S. Amateur at The Country Club of North Carolina, losing the 36hole final to future major champion Hal Sutton, 14 years his junior. The next year at The Olympic Club, he advanced to the semifinals, falling to Brian Lindley, 3 and 2. Later that year, he advanced to the final of the inaugural U.S. Mid-Amateur. In 1984,
eastern Ohio chapter of Boys Hope Girls Hope, a program that provides at-risk youths with support to develop into successful adults. He also played a leading role in establishing the “Values and Visions” education endowment in support of Catholic education in his home county, which has provided more than $2 million to support local education opportunities.
Lewis again reached the final of the U.S. Mid-Amateur. That year,
Lewis was inducted into the Ohio Golf Association Hall of Fame
he was the stroke-play medalist in both the U.S. Amateur and U.S.
in 2002 and into the Northern Ohio Golf Association Hall of Fame
Mid-Amateur. In 1986 at Shoal Creek, he again reached the semi-
in 2003.
finals of the U.S. Amateur, losing to eventual champion Stewart “Buddy” Alexander, 6 and 4.
All of this led to Lewis receiving the Bob Jones Award, the USGA’s
Those results earned him berths in the Walker Cup Match, where
the personal character and respect for the game.
highest honor, given annually to an individual who demonstrates
he distinguished himself as a fierce competitor. In 1981 at Cypress Point Club, he lost his Saturday singles match to future U.S. Se-
The Portsmouth Abbey community offers prayers for Bob and ex-
nior Open champion Roger Chapman. He won both of his singles
tends it deepest sympathy to the Lewis family.
matches in 1983 at Hoylake as the USA rallied in the final session
– excerpted from article by David Shefter, senior staff writer for the USGA.
PAGE 52
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
IN MEMORIA M
ROBERT RAINWATER Robert Stephen Rainwater, 72, died
Bob was loved by his students for his love
peacefully at his home in Providence
of learning, natural curiosity and kindness.
on March 11, 2021. Bob was born in
A passionate and dedicated teacher, his fam-
New York City on July 27, 1948, the
ily can recall his many late nights devoted to
son of Leo James and Emma Louise
figuring out some better way to present some
(Smith) Rainwater. His father, a physi-
particular aspect of the subject that he felt his
cist at Columbia University, shared the
students were struggling to understand. In the
1975 Nobel Prize in Physics. Bob grew
2016 yearbook, which was dedicated to him,
up in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, where
students wrote,” He was passionate about sci-
he graduated from high school in 1966.
ence, and his energy and enthusiasm for his discipline were infectious. Who doesn’t re-
He attended Cornell University in Ithaca,
member conducting the slinky experiment in
NY, graduating in 1970 with a degree in
the hallway?!”
physics. Afterwards, he attended Teachers College at Columbia, graduating in
In addition to his Abbey work, Bob was an
1972. Upon graduation, Bob embarked
avid gardener, and he enjoyed biking, often
on a career teaching high school physics. After spending 12 years in the Connecticut public school system, he joined the Portsmouth Abbey School faculty where he taught for 30 years, until his retirement in 2015. He made Conceptual and AP Physics come alive for generations of students, and he developed the Advanced Topics course at the request of a handful of students who wanted to continue with physics beyond the extant program. One student remarked,
cycling the 54-mile round trip from his home in Barrington to Portsmouth Abbey School. A voracious reader, he consumed science fiction, fantasy and the classics. He also displayed his artistic temperament with, among other things, his elaborate sand castles in the summer, gingerbread houses at Christmastime, and a privet hedge maze in his yard.
“Despite the hours of preparation for this class, he relished the
Sam Choi ’16 said of his former teacher and mentor, “Mr.
challenge. It was an opportunity for him to learn and investi-
Rainwater was always an inspiring man. His Conceptual
gate along with his students.” In addition, Bob was a pioneer
Physics class inspired me to enter the science fair with a proj-
in introducing the Physics-First program, which many schools
ect on the tidal locking mechanism. He helped me unlock
adopted years later.
my potential in the science field and further fascinated me
Outside the classroom Bob instituted and moderated many activities: the Annual Boat Contest in the Winter Garden, the
in his Advanced Topics in Physics class… I will continue to miss him.”
Astronomy Club, Future Problem Solvers, Robotics and the
Two of Bob’s daughters, Sarah and Nellie, graduated from
Russian Club among them. On Halloween he would read a
Portsmouth Abbey in 1995 and 1998, respectively.
scary story to the students during lunch. Over the years he also mentored students who competed in the Rhode Island
Portsmouth Abbey School extends its prayers and sincere
State Science Fairs. Several, including Brian D’Urso ’94 and
condolences to Bob’s family. May he rest in peace.
Sam Choi ’16, moved up to national competitions. Every year he would bring in his father’s Nobel Prize Medal to inspire his students. As advisor to the Astronomy Club he often took to the podium during school assemblies to drum up enthusiasm for an upcoming celestial spectacle.
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 53
MILESTONES
NECROLOGY
James N. Barrett, Jr. Father of David J. Barrett ’91 January 8, 2021 Elizabeth S. Bolles Mother of Paul H. Bolles ’83 and former Portsmouth Abbey houseparent Katherine Bragan, grandmother of Allison L. Bolles ’13 and Gwenyth S. Bragan ’22, and mother-in-law of faculty member Jay Bragan March 23, 2020 J. Christopher Bottkol ’61 Brother of Matthew S. Bottkol ’66 May 29, 2016 Philip H. Brady, Jr. ’56 Brother of the late Henry W. Brady ’59 and William S. Brady ’73 December 8, 2020 J. Rory Brophy ’57 Brother of the late A. Blake Brophy ’44 and the late Frank C. Brophy ’47 June 16, 2021 Stanley W. Burke III ’66 May 22, 2021
C. Carroll Carter ’45 Brother of the late J. Newman Carter ’42 and the late Warwick M. Carter ’44, father of C. Carroll Carter, Jr. ’77, Adam A. Carter ’83, and Samuel Casey Carter ’84, and uncle of Warwick M. Carter, Jr. ’82, Charles E. Carter ’82, Prescott C. Carter ’84, and George E. Carter ’85 May 14, 2021 Garvan Cavanagh Son of the late Michael G. Cavanagh ’64 and nephew of Lawrence D. Cavanagh, Jr. ’61 June 19, 2021 Tricia A. Cerutti Mother of Helena C. Cerutti ’24 June 26, 2021 Henry J. Chojnowski Grandfather of Crystal G. Chojnowski ’20 June 23, 2017 Michael H. Conlin ’61 November 2020 William W. Corcoran ’48 Brother of Michael R. Corcoran ’46 January 19, 2021
F. Michael Busch Grandfather of Andrew Busch ’21 January 4, 2021
Lindsay K. Cunningham Sister of Portsmouth Abbey School faculty member Paige E. Cunningham June 4, 2021
Frank R. Camera Grandfather of Marlayna C. Camera ’22 April 2, 2021
Georges de Gramont ’54 March 20, 2021 Fal de Saint Phalle ’64 Brother of Pierre de Saint Phalle ’66 and Marc de Saint Phalle ’84 February 28, 2021 Patricia A. Ellis Wife of Stephen D. Ellis ’59 December 9, 2020
PAGE 54
Priscilla Esquivel ’99 July 2, 2019 Charles F. Geib, Sr. Father of Paul M. Geib ‘92 and grandfather of Sydney E. Welch ’16 January 10, 2021 Robert A. Gentry Father of Brian J. Gentry ’91 June 18, 2021 Patricia A. Goodrich Grandmother of Matthew N. Liuzza ’20 and Benjamin N. Liuzza ’21 July 7, 2021 Philip S. Grant ’40 May 17, 2017 Joseph W. Griffiths, Sr. Father of Joseph W. Griffiths, Jr. ‘86 May 21, 2021 Wayne L. Kennedy Father of Matthew L. Kennedy ’10 May 19, 2021 Robert C. Lewis ’63 March 23, 2021 Joan F. Madden Widow of Richard B. Madden ’47, mother of John R. Madden ’77, and sister-in-law of the late Robert T. Madden ’50 May 18, 2021 John A. Marcinek Grandfather of Crystal G. Chojnowski ’20 December 15, 2020 Edward J. McCague ’43 February 25, 2019
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
MILESTONES
Cheryl A. McCarthy Former Portsmouth Abbey librarian, widow of the late David R. McCarthy, grandmother of Julia A. FitzGerald ’22 May 16, 2021 Mary Anne McGinness Widow of the late Neil McGinness ’58, mother of Henry J. McGinness ’90, and sister-in-law of the late H. James McGinness ’50 April 2, 2021
Roger L. Putnam, Jr. ’40 Brother of the late William L. Putnam ’41 and Michael C.J. Putnam ’50, and uncle of the late James M. Finnerty ’68, Charles P. Finnerty ’69, and W. Lowell Putnam ’72 June 20, 2019 Robert S. Rainwater Former Portsmouth Abbey Physics teacher and father of Sarah L. Rainwater ’95 and Nellie Y. Rainwater ’98 March 11, 2021 Dr. Richard A. Ramos ’62 April 25, 2021
Edward F. McHugh ’49 Father of Edward F. McHugh III ’85 January 22, 2021 James C. Meade ’45 Brother of Knighton T. Meade, Jr. ’46 and grandfather of Jessica M. Fox ’01 August 3, 2020 Vincent Millard ’64 Brother of Charles E. Millard ’63, John F. Millard ’68, Daniel J. Millard ’69, and James M. Millard ’78 and great uncle of Nicholas D. Nadalin ’17 June 19, 2021 Craig R. Milliken Father of Kelly F. F. Milliken ’17 January 25, 2021 Heather G. Monty Mother of former faculty member Elizabeth Moffie and mother-in-law of current faculty member Elliott Moffie June 12, 2021 Helen A. Nigrelli Grandmother of Alexandra J. Ruhfel Marshburn ’03 and David E. Ruhfel ’08 January 15, 2021
Daniel K. Read, Jr. Father of Daniel K. Read III ’79 May 14, 2021 Blasdel A. Reardon ’54 May 30, 2021 Beverly D. Shanley Grandmother of Portsmouth Abbey faculty member Paige E. Cunningham December 19, 2020 Tina Smith Wife of Peter F. Smith ’60 November 24, 2020
David M. Sturges ’68 Brother of Thomas R. Sturges ’62 and Peter Sturges ‘66 April 2, 2021 Vahram K. Tashjian ’49 July 18, 2014 Terrence S. Toppa Father of Michael T. Toppa ‘88 May 10, 2021 Silvia M. Vasquez Sandoval ’11 Sister of David Vasquez ’08, niece of Carlos E. Vasquez ’63, and cousin of Juan A. Vasquez ’95, Pablo A. Vasquez ’99, Daniel Vasquez ’01, and Maria L. Ruiz ’13 April 19, 2021 Joseph P. Woodford Father of Kyle F. Woodford ‘01 December 6, 2020 Shirley H. Wu Widow of Stephen L. Wu ’55 April 5, 2021 Stephen L. Wu ‘55 April 7, 2020
Paul B. Silvia Father of Caitlin M. Silvia ’07 February 19, 2021 Otto L. Spaeth ’51 January 13, 2021 John H. Stookey Grandfather of John Stookey ’18 and Ella R. Stookey ’21 January 31, 2021
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 55
MILESTONES
BIRTHS 2001 A girl, Lily Grace Hogg, to Lisa and William Hogg February 17, 2021 A boy, Cabot Richard Squire, to Meghan and Alexander Squire May 18, 2021 2002 A girl, Clare Edith Fitzgerald, to Nora and Jamie Fitzgerald January 28, 2021 2003 A girl, Emma Caitlin Ruggieri, Morgan Jetto ’03 and Kate Butlein on their wedding day
WEDDINGS 2003 Morgan Jetto to Kate Butlein January 4, 2021
to Matthew and Shannon (Maher) Ruggieri March 1, 2021
Nora and Jamie Fitzgerald ’02 holding their daughter, Clare Edith
2005 A girl, Avery Diane Beaulieu, to Thomas and Jennifer (Hubbard) Beaulieu March 9, 2021 A girl, Chelsey Elba Coombs, to
2005
Yessica Pinales and Andrew Coombs
Andrew Coombs to Yessica Pinales
March 29, 2021
September 19, 2020
A girl, Adelyn Harper Pratt, to Kyle Pratt and Amanda McDonnell May 28, 2021 A girl, Katerina Walsh, to Stephen and Elena (Fedyszyn) Walsh January 2021. 2006 A girl, Cecilia Grace Arroyo, to Christina and Patrick Arroyo
New daughter, Emma Caitlin Ruggieri, with her brother and parents, Matthew and Shannon
March 2, 2021
(Maher) Ruggieri ’03
A girl, Margaret Laura Smith, to Brenden and Abigail (Rich) Smith February 4, 2021
PAGE 56
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
MILESTONES Margaret Laura Smith, daughter of Brenden and Abigail (Rich) Smith ’06
2010
Faculty/Staff
A boy, Walker Percy Shephard Caplin,
A boy, Wyatt Joseph Morrissette, to
to Catherine (Malkemus) and
Whitney and Sean Morrissette
Daniel Caplin
May 25, 2021
February 23, 2021 A boy, Jay Winthrop Tracy, to Christian and Amelia (Bradley) Tracy April 7, 2021 2013 A boy, Owen James McGlone, to James and Ann (Gallagher) McGlone June 3, 2021
2007 A boy, Monti Leonard Eisenman, to Michael and Elizabeth (Monti) Eisenman May 18, 2021 A girl, Naomi Powers Garner, to Danielle Herschler and Stephen Garner March 15, 2021
Charlotte Janeway Murphy, daughter of David and Mia (O’Donnell) Murphy ’09
2008 A boy, George Christopher Roussinos, to Andrew and Kathleen (Behan) Roussinos February 25, 2021
Pearl and Jay Winthrop Tracy, children of Christian and Amelia (Bradley) Tracy ’10
2009 A girl, Avery Grace Andrews, to Mallory and Ryan Andrews January 18, 2021 A girl, Ryan Avery Deck, to
Owen James McGlone, son of James and Ann (Gallagher) McGlone ’13
Robert and Alicia (Turner) Deck January 28, 2021 A girl, Charlotte Janeway Murphy, to David and Mia (O’Donnell) Murphy February 27, 2021
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 57
CLASS NOTES
51 I
70th REUNION – SEPT. 17-19
Dan Donahoe writes from AZ, “Inasmuch as only five of 18 of us (27%) in the Class of ’51 are still alive, I was very sad that those that had ‘passed’ (really dislike that word) were among my closest pals. Such is life. Portsmouth Abbey (then just a Priory!) had certain monks, daylighting as teachers, with incredible backgrounds before entering the priesthood. One was a P-51 fighter pilot who fought in WWII and another a nuclear physicist working at Los Alamos, NM developing the atomic bomb. These men and others like them were my introduction to experienced, bright and enthusiastic Catholic teachers. It made all the difference in my outlook with a Portsmouth education as I matriculated to Harvard. Portsmouth Abbey School deserves its reputation as the leading Catholic prep school in the U.S.
54 I Jacques de Spoelberch ’54 ‘survived’ his 85th birthday and continues actively working with writers to place their works with publishers.
Jacques de Spoelberch survived his 85th birthday in fair to fine to good spirits. He continues actively working with writers to place their works with publishers.“My compliments and cordial best to the Abbey’s alumni, support
Fr. Joe Healey’56 plans to return to Nairobi, Kenya, once the pandemic is under control.
personnel, and wondrous Benedictine clergy.”
56 I
65th REUNION – SEPT. 17-19
Fr. Joe Healey is presently living in New Vernon, NJ awaiting the COVID-19 pandemic to cool down before returning to Nairobi, Kenya in East Africa. “There is a saying ‘go digital or die.’ So now my Maryknoll missionary ministry is online/virtual/digital. I am actively moderating the following websites and Facebook pages: Small Christian Communities (SCCs) Global Collaborative website https://www. smallchristiancommunities.org; Small Christian Communities (SCCs) Facebook page https://
PAGE 58
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
CLASS NOTES
www.facebook.com/www.smallchris-
leaving Southern California and moving
tiancommunities.org; African Proverbs,
up to the Monterey Bay area to be closer.
Sayings and Stories website https://www.
We are looking forward to our new and
afriprov.org; African Proverbs, Sayings
next journey in life!!! Should be fun and
and Stories Facebook page https://www.
exciting.”.... Tom Healey shares, “It has
facebook.com/afriprov.”
been an interesting year, with more Zoom
58 I
and Microsoft teams meetings than I
John Tepper Marlin writes: “I was in
As you can probably relate, finding the
Oahu, HI in early 2020 and tried to engi-
perfect mask that would not fog eye-
neer a visit with classmate John Charlot,
glasses or slip off was another thing none
but he is on the Big Island, Hawai’i, and it
of us could have imagined. I did grow a
was harder to get to him than I thought
COVID beard! Thankfully, both Meg and
when I looked at a map of the islands.
I survived getting infected and are now
Instead, we have had some long conver-
fully vaccinated. In October of 2020, after
sations and some emails. His father Jean
many years of hobbling and delaying the
Charlot wrote and illustrated The Dance
inevitable, I had my right knee replaced.
of Death (Sheed & Ward, 1951), with
We all come to learn that we are not
homage to José Guadalupe Posada. I liked
invincible to the vicissitudes of advancing
the book, but it is not in print any more. I
years. Happy to report that our two chil-
asked John if it could be repackaged and
dren and nine grand children are all doing
republished and he encouraged me to try.
well. Our grandson, Jack, just graduated
He said the problem is the theme. Who
from Portsmouth Abbey in May with the
would want this as a gift? I was happy
Class of 2021. We all look forward to
to have it.” John and his wife, Alice, also
resuming normal activities.“
Tom Healey ’60 is happy to report that he, Meg, their two children and nine grandchildren are all well.
could have imaged or wanted to have.
celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in September sharing a few weeks in the Loire Valley, France. Alice is a Baldwin and
61 I 60th REUNION – SEPT. 17-19
Wellesley alumna.
Lawrence Cavanagh retired 10 years
60 I 60th REUNION – SEPT. 17-19
haven’t gone back to sea (yet). Done a
Peter Dean is looking forward to his
Portsmouth and look forward to contact-
delayed 60th Reunion. “Life is good!!!
ing everyone ahead of our 60th Re-
ago. “Despite promises to my wife, I lot of travel, however. I’m class agent for
All three daughters, their husbands and families plus 6 1/2 grand kids (one due this October) are living in and around the Santa Cruz, CA area. After years of them nagging us to move closer, we are
Lawrence Cavanagh ’61 on the Camino de Santiago
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 59
CLASS NOTES John “Moe” Cadley continues to record and perform his music with his wife, Cathy, in and around the Upstate New York area.
union.” ... Pen Jones is proud
ard, Russ MacMullan, John Newlin,
to share that his granddaugh-
Chris Ogden, Dave Panciera, Frank Pe-
ter Alie Rusher rowed in the
zza, John Reid, Gene Renz, Geza Sere-
2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
nyi, and Peter Trundle have attended
Alie is a Stanford graduate and
one or more of the past four Zoom meet-
medical student. She was row-
ings. It has been wonderful to see every-
ing in the two- seat in the U.S.
one’s faces, to hear everyone’s voices, and
Women’s Quad Four.
to see those bushy beards during these
62 I
mini-reunions. During one of these Zoom
Chris Ogden writes, “The recent deaths of several classmates - now nine gone from an original 44 - prompted Class Agent Geza Serenyi, with the organizational and technical skills for which he is well and rightly known, to arrange a series of virtual mini-reunions on Zoom for the Priory boys of 1962 to consider what we had and have while we are able. Launched in January 2021, the monthly gatherings so far have brought a lively hour of chat about all things Portsmouth and personal. The reaction so far: surprisingly positive. The goal: add more ‘62ers and keep it going. If other classes are doing this, good for you. Pen Jones’s ’61 granddaughter Alie Rusher (second from right) rowed in the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
PAGE 60
If any were thinking about it: here’s the nudge.“... Geza Serenyi
meetings, Chris Ogden asked us which colleges are current Portsmouth graduates attending. Although it was not easy, I did find the matriculation website: https:// www.portsmouthabbey.org/community/ parents/college-counseling-parents/matriculation This year, 87 graduates will be attending 65 different colleges, all of which are on this list. Clearly, the school is doing a good job of training each new generation of youngsters in strong values and strong academics. The Class Agent reminded everyone that the school is very much worth their continued support. Due to fair winds and following seas, your Class Agent will be taking a brief summer vacation from Zoom, so there will be no mini-reunions in August. I will be sending out a Zoom invitation for our September meeting late in August. Enjoy your summer vacations. I am looking forward to seeing you again in September.”
63 I
shares a class agent update: “COVID-19
John “Moe” Cadley is beginning record-
has encouraged us to come up with
ing on his 6th CD of original songs, and
creative ways to prepare ourselves for our
he hopes to have it out by late summer.
upcoming 60th Reunion. For the last four
He continues to perform his music with
months, we have been having monthly
his wife, Cathy, in The Cadleys, in and
mini-reunions via Zoom for the Class
around the Upstate New York area. At
of ‘62. Fourteen of our class members,
75 his fingers are still working and his by
including Vin Buonanno, Rick Doherty,
now surgical attachment to the guitar
Jack Griffin, Conn Hickey, Peter Leon-
has not diminished, As Moe says, “I hate
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
CLASS NOTES
golf, sailing, hiking, gardening, sports,
thoroughbreds and missing my deceased
shuffle board, and most people. What
classmates Tom Shevlin and Ned Skae.
else am I gonna do?” Check him out at
I have been thinking of Bill Crimmins and
www.cadleys.com and maybe pick up a
the influence he had on our classmates.”
CD or two. .... Robert Curry writes from NC, “At an event to honor a Georgetown
65 I
classmate killed 50 years past in Viet-
Charles Carignan writes from Florida, “I
nam, I saw Chris Dorment and his wife and, for the first time since graduation on Cory’s Lane (!), Mike Toohey. Other members of the class I’ve encountered of late are John McCabe and two who started with us, but didn’t finish: Tony Oppersdorff and Ned Moran. All report they’re thriving, as am I.”... Ted Howard shares “In January I volunteered for the Novavax Phase Three study of a new COVID-19 vaccine. I received two shots, placebo or real deal unknown to me or the local physician supervising the study. Today I completed the ‘crossover’ to a longer-term study. I received two more shots, again placebo vs. real deal unknown to me. What they did tell me is either the two January shots or the two April/ May shots were the real deal. Well, I survived. Now I can get back to my fully vaccinated tango community without fear of infecting my family. We had it quite easy: retired, no dependent children, no outside responsibilities. We were amazed at the challenges some families met: jobs, children in school, elderly family cut off. Well wishes and prayers for the Portsmouth community across the world. Be well, be strong, be safe. Prosper.”... Bob Skinner and his wife, Libby, celebrated their 50th anniversary with their sons, Peter, David, and James and their daughter, Elizabeth, plus friends and family on Friday, June 4.... John Sullivan is still living in Maine and riding horses at 75. “I am racing
55th REUNION – SEPT. 17-19
survived a stage-four cancer a couple of years ago, so Gale and I were motivated to relocate to a continuing care retirement community in Naples, FL, called Moorings Park, where we are under the umbrella of a ‘lifecare’ contract. It was quite an adventure. All is well now, prognosis is excellent, but you never know!”... After 12 years (post retirement) of teaching adult basic education and GED, Bill Chase is retiring for real this summer. He and Pat live in coastal North Carolina.... Stryker McGuire is retiring in September after 10 years at Bloomberg, a stint at the London School of Economics, and 30 years at Newsweek. He and his wife, Julie, will continue to live in London.
66 I
55th REUNION – SEPT. 17-19
Jon Gilloon is tapping into his Iowa
Stryker McGuire ’55 is retiring in September and will continue to live in London.
roots, “I bought a farm near Shreveport, LA and am busy learning about crops and tractors, bailing hay and vegetables gardens. It’s quiet and one can see the stars at night. Hope to bring my daughter’s family onboard on the back 40 acres, where they will build their house. Visitors welcome!”... Charlie Lamar writes in, “Our third grandchild graduated high school in May, on her way to U of Alabama. Her two older siblings are in college now - ‘Ole Miss and SMU. Meanwhile, our fourth grandchild turned two in January and looks forward to the arrival
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 61
CLASS NOTES
of her own sibling in August. Big age difference between the moms! Carole and I bought an RV and are happily glamping in some surprisingly wonderful state parks in Louisiana, Florida and Texas so far. We are vaccinated, but still seeking adventure in our Bayou Bateau.”
67 I Benedict Fitzgerald appeared briefly in the PBS American Masters documentary on southern Catholic author Flannery O’Connor. His parents, Robert (a distinguished classicist at Harvard) and Sally (who edited Flannery’s posthumous collection of letters “The Habit of Being”) Ben Fitzgerald ’67 appeared briefly in the PBS American Masters documentary on Southern Catholic author Flannery O’Connor this year.
were close friends of Flannery’s, and Ben himself wrote the screenplay for The Passion of the Christ. He corresponded frequently with Father Julian.... Peter Monks married Rita Irma Rodriguez from Madrid in October of 2019 and now lives in Madrid, Spain. He has been practicing Tibetan Buddhism and classical guitar.... Bill Rives continues to play court tennis at the Newport Casino. Recently he played with Jamie MacGuire, John Murphy (father of former Abbey Cross Country record holder Leah Murphy ’00), and John’s grandson James Chamberland. Jamie graciously offered to take their picture and therefore was unable to be included in the photo on the opposite page.
70 I
50th REUNION – SEPT. 17-19
Thomas Danaher and his wife, Mallory, have been in NYC since last year’s Peter Monks ’67 married Rita Irma Rodriguez, from Madrid, and they now live in Spain.
COVID-19 outbreak. They’ll remain in NYC this summer assuming good fortune holds. Thomas is making headway distributing his anti-malaria bednet. He’s accepting volunteers to meet the larg-
PAGE 62
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
CLASS NOTES
est manufacturer in the world but warns: “they’re in Tanzania and you could run into Bill Gates.” Mallory is extremely busy fighting Marxism in all it’s forms. She’s become especially popular on radio and podcasts and also writes extensively.... Jamie MacGuire’s new book, The Marsh Decades, was published this past spring, just in time for the 140th (or 141st, depending upon who’s counting) anniversary of the Isle of Wight. Jamie describes his book, “The Marsh Decades is a memoir of the 25 years our family spent on the Isle of Wight (IOW), but also of the nearly seventy years I have lived in our little corner of Long Island. It includes chapters on the IOW, CYC, Lawrence School and Lawrence Woodmere Academy, Dario and the Hunt Club, our
Bill Rives ’67, left, continues to play court tennis at the Newport Casino.
precious wetland ecology, and many other friends and neighbors. It also contains an appendix that lists the owners of all the houses on the Isle of Wight going back in
72 I Bill Maher ‘70 was surprised to get a
time. You can find The Marsh Decades as
drive-by visit on his birthday in August
well as Jamie’s sixties memoir, Out of Time:
by Peter Tovar at his beautiful home
Surviving the Sixties on Amazon.
in Taos, NM. Bill celebrated his birthday
71 I
with a decisive victory over Peter on the
50th REUNION – SEPT. 17-19
links at Taos Country Club (Peter got a
Denis Hector noted that fellow classmate
new hat).“Thanks to the beautiful and
Outerbridge Horsey was mentioned
ever-charming Brook Maher for welcom-
in The New York Times for his work on
ing yet another of Bill’s itinerant Ports-
the Washington, D.C. Historic Preserva-
mouth mates with literally no forewarn-
tion Review Board’s campaign to preserve
ing. And she plays a mean ukulele to
“Marabar,” the sculpture outside the
boot.”... Robert Newcombe, and his
National Geographic Society’s headquar-
wife, Debbie, celebrated the marriage
ters there.... David Moran spent a week
of their daughter Laura to Matt Kirby in
in April with Tim Tully at his house in
Cancun, Mexico, in May 2021, after the
Naples, FL. Tim and Brownie spoke highly
wedding had been postponed due to
of Florida’s vaccination rollout. David got his
COVID-19. Robert retired in 2020.
with ease, one of the benefits of increasing seniority, in Connecticut. “The children are now more willing to visit, which is a bless-
74 I Gregg Dietrich moved to Newport
ing, and are less likely to worry about our
four years ago after leaving Bonhams
continuing activities of teaching (David) and
Auctioneers in New York City to focus
bookselling (Fanny), which is a relief.”
on his art consulting business, sailing,
Bill Maher ’70 and his wife, Brooke, in Taos, NM. Peter Tovar ’72 snapped the photo during a visit last summer – along with the rattlesnake warning!
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 63
CLASS NOTES
Gregg Dietrich ’74 has been living in Newport for four years, focusing on his art consulting business, sailing and having fun.
and having fun. Shortly after moving to
the community at large stand for a higher
Newport, Gregg was retained by Eldred’s
way of being and a higher ideal based on
Auctioneers in East Dennis, MA, as senior
the teachings of Jesus Christ and respect
business consultant and specialist in
for and appreciation for the sanctity of
American & European Art with specialties
the individual human life from conception
in marine art and antiques. During the
to death. In these times of growing nihil-
pandemic, Gregg’s son, Wills, moved to
ism, same as it ever was, Portsmouth’s
Newport, and they rode out the first part
message and presence in our world is
of the pandemic together. Gregg worked
as relevant as it ever was. Portsmouth
with the Abbey Sailing Team in the fall of
graduates continue to contribute to our
2020 and spring of 2021 coaching them
society, culture, and world. From William
in racing tactics, boat handling and un-
Ruckelshaus ’51 back in my day to Sean
derstanding the rules both for fleet racing
Spicer ’89 today, as well of the legions of
and team racing. “It is so much fun work-
others in our ranks who quietly go about
ing with, and coaching the Abbey Sailing
the business of living to make the world a
Team. They are smart, work hard but
better place, I am proud of my association
also know how to have some fun!” As
with the School. I am grateful for what
assistant sailing coach, Gregg is working
the School imparted. It taught me, more
with his long-time friend Jonathan Harley,
than anything, to be open, willing, and
the head coach of the Abbey sailing team
teachable, to not be a prisoner of ego,
and former director of Olympic Sailing at
self and past narratives of existence and,
U.S. Sailing.... Phil English was reelected
most importantly, to embrace and live
co-chairman of the Institute for Represen-
more fully in the moment - the present
tative Government, an NGO which works
moment. Life is good. Life is precious. Life
with the State Department to facilitate
is a gift.”
fact-finding visits by international delegations of leaders from emerging democra-
76 I
cies to the United States. He and his wife,
Chris Cooke writes in from England,
Chris, are splitting their time between
“I can’t believe that the class of ‘76 is
Washington, D.C., and their home in Erie,
actually looking at a 45th Reunion! It’s
PA.
incredible to think how quickly time has
75 I
Phil English ’74 was reelected co-chairman of the Institute for Representative Government.
PAGE 64
45th REUNION – SEPT. 17-19
gone by, but I certainly look forward to 45th REUNION – SEPT. 17-19
attending the reunion this fall in Ports-
Charles Macdonald writes that he is
mouth. It’s been an incredible couple of
looking forward to his 45th class reunion
years, and we’re very thankful for new
in September “to see my old friends,
additions to the Cooke clan, including
make new friends and be at the School
Sophia, our granddaughter, who arrived
that, arguably, was the single most posi-
two years ago to join her brother Louis
tive, productive and influential factor in
and her older sister Isabella. With their
my life that continues to nurture, guide
parents, Graham (my son) and Carro,
and pave the way for maintaining and en-
they have a house in our village in the
hancing my character, integrity, relevance,
Cotswolds. We’re blessed to get to see
purpose and meaning of my life. Ports-
them so often, particularly during this
mouth Abbey, the monks, the chapel, and
very difficult global pandemic that we’ve
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
CLASS NOTES
all been living through. My son Nick is living in the States and is a founding partner with a really interesting HR tech startup, and my daughter Caroline is living in London, where she’s a management consultant. Lesley and I spend most of our time at our Old Rectory in the Cotswolds, where Lesley has been developing a beautiful garden in addition to her other
83 I Bill McCann is producing a film titled, The Liberator, which tells the largely unknown story of Irish champion Daniel O’Connell, who agitated peacefully for the rights of Irish Catholics in the early 1800s.
work as a garden/interior designer. People
84 I
often ask me, ‘When are you returning
Marc de Saint Phalle lives between Sun
home?’ This is such an interesting ques-
Valley, ID and NYC with his wife, Karen,
tion, because after 30 years in the United
daughter, Claire (18), and son, Remy (16).
Kingdom, it’s hard for me to tell them
He’s a partner and the head of private
where home is. But I do feel that a part of
investments of Summit Rock Advisors,
my home will always be in Portsmouth, RI
an investment firm in NYC that caters to
at Portsmouth Abbey, and I look forward
a select number of family and charitable
to returning there at least for a little
clients. Marc was so pleased to catch up
while. I wish all my classmates well, and
at his last reunion in 2019 with several
all others associated with Portsmouth,
classmates like Brian Hetherington,
as we emerge from this very difficult
Patrick Neligan, Andy Godfrey, John
last year, and perhaps we can celebrate
Cummings, Charlie Matthews, Tom
new beginnings when we see each other
Sexton, and David FitzSimons. He
this fall.... Robert O’Donnell became a
hopes to see many others at the next
first-time grandfather with the birth of his
reunion in 2024.
granddaughter, Charlotte, daughter of his daughter Mia O’Donnell Murphy ’09.
81 |
87 I Bing Howenstein shares, “My
40th REUNION – SEPT. 17-19
After working 28 years within the equity trading sector of the financial services industry, and after having served 21 years as an US Army aviator, Mike McCauley has retired as of January 2021. With his free time, Mike volunteers with a few charities, is spending more time on Martha’s Vineyard, and is working to improve his golf and paddle skills. He recently celebrated his 32nd anniversary with his Boston College sweetheart, their four children, and extended family.
son Bo just finished his freshman year at the Abbey and loved it. I look forward to visiting in the fall!” Bing recently started a new chair company, all33.com and, during COVID-19, started a new crowd-funded charity called intellihelp.org where donors delivered over 2.5M meals to those in need across the US. “Sign up to help or donate to help spread the word!”.... Buff Winterer, Paul Baisley and Jimmy Knight kicked Bing Howenstein ’87 with his son Bo ’24, who just finished his Third-Form year at the Abbey.
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 65
CLASS NOTES
off summer 2021 in the fog
play volleyball, lacrosse, and water polo.
on the Newport Country Club
We get out of ‘Dodge’ as much as we
golf course. They played in the
can to spend time in the high Sierras and
Portsmouth Abbey Scholarship
love getting to the beach for surfing; we
Golf Tournament the next day
also recently returned to sailing (great
with Abbey faculty member Kale
COVID-19 activity). All-in-all we feel very
Zelden at The Aquidneck Club.
blessed every day. I hope you and your
88 I
families are all doing well.”
Cameron Taylor’s son Bruce C Taylor, III, will be attending Ports-
93 I
mouth Abbey School in the fall.
Fred Aziz is currently stateside pre-
He is reclassifying as a sopho-
paring for a three-year assignment in
more and will spend three years
Ankara, Turkey, where he will be work-
on campus, like his father.
ing in the U.S. Embassy representing the U.S. Department of Commerce. “I have
Buff Winterer ’87 (l-r) with Abbey pals Paul Baisley ’87 and Jimmy Knight ’87 kicking off summer in the fog at Newport Country Club
90 I
30th REUNION – SEPT. 17-19
been in the Foreign Commercial Service for eight years and have spent time in
Joe Bell writes, “Greetings from Los
Abu Dhabi UAE, Jeddah Saudi Arabia,
Angeles, CA. I’ve never written in but
and Amman, Jordan. I will be joined in
thought I’d take the opportunity in
Turkey by my wife, Babylonia, and my
this issue for no particular reason other
two daughters, Naomi (7) and Layla (6).
than, I suppose, to attempt to resolve
During my global travels I recounted many
my long delinquency in staying in touch.
lessons learned in Mr. Hobbins’ classroom
Perhaps recently turning 50 is a motivat-
and congratulate him on his remarkable
ing factor...A quick snapshot to catch
service to the Abbey and his retirement.
you all up on 20+ years: I am a reliability
Mr. McDonough’s math lessons have also
engineer and systems engineer working
resonated when working on global trade
military satellite communications systems
issues. Hope to visit Cory’s Lane soon. I
development for the Air Force. I am a
can be reached at fwaziz@gmail.com at
captain in the Navy Reserve and currently
any time.”
the commanding officer of an Office of Naval Research unit. This is a new arena for me having spent most of my career
95 I
with the Navy’s submarine rescue team.
John Plummer, his wife Marina, and
My wife, Andrea, is a professor of medi-
their three wonderful kids: Siena (10),
cine at UCLA and runs a highly productive
Jack (8) and Caroline (5) continue to live
research laboratory focused on Type II
in Warwick, Rhode Island. Siena and
diabetes. Sons Stoddard (12) and Maxson
Caroline both started Catholic school
(8) are thriving and growing up way too
this year at Saint Rose of Lima School in
fast; they are on the swim team and also
Warwick (5th Grade and Pre-K). Jack
Fred Aziz ’93 is on a three-year assignment in Ankara, Turkey working in the U.S. Embassy, representing the U.S. Department of Commerce.
PAGE 66
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
25th REUNION – SEPT. 17-19
CLASS NOTES
made the Apponaug Babe Ruth Baseball League Minors this year! John and Marina continue to work as attorneys in Providence, RI.
96 I
25th REUNION SEPT. 17-19
Kevin McGoff has set up a charity to cure a rare form of muscular dystrophy that inflicts his three - year-old son. “We have a web-site www.collagenviresearch. com, and we’re looking for a huge launch in a few months, hoping to get some folks with BIG social media followings to give us a shout out.” Please consider supporting Kevin and his family’s efforts.... Steve Pietraszek has taken the job of director of enrollment management for the Culver Academies in Culver, IN. Culver Academies is a boarding school with an enrollment of over 800 students, composed of three schools: Culver
Five-year old Caroline (left) and ten-year old Siena, daughters of John’95 and Marina Plummer, both started Catholic school this year at Saint Rose of Lima School in Warwick, RI. Their son, Jack, is eight and made the Apponaug Babe Ruth Baseball League Minors this year.
Military Academy, Culver Girls Academy and Culver Summer Schools and Camp. Steve leaves Portsmouth Abbey as director of admission after serving in roles from teacher, coach, houseparent, and various positions in admissions for the past 17 years.
97 I Mary Alice Clancy has lived in the UK for over 17 years and has taught in universities in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. “If there are any alums who are interested in studying in the UK, or have any questions about Northern Ireland my area of study -- please feel free to get my contact information from the alumni office.”... In May 2021, Daniel Hughes visited with Pablo Cuellar and his wife, Itziar Gonzalez-Cosio Viramontes, in
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 67
CLASS NOTES
a banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Naples, FL, where he will advise high net worth individuals and families and provide personalized banking, lending, estate planning and investment services. “Anyone interested in the J.P. Morgan Chase’s famous “palladium card” should get in touch with me : )”
98 I Leslie Heller shares, “This spring I received my real estate sales license, and have joined the team at Williams & Stuart in Cranston, RI. I’d love to help any fellow Abbey alum considering selling or buying a home in Rhode Island.”... Dan Tortorice was promoted to associate proIn May 2021 Daniel Hughes’97 visited with Pablo Cuellar’97 and his wife, Itziar Gonzalez-Cosio Viramontes, in Mexico City.
Abby Smith’06 with her husband and daughters, MacKenzie and new addition, Maggie
Mexico City. “We were able to travel out
fessor with tenure in the economics and
for the day to Xochimilco, where brightly
accounting department at the College of
colored boats take locals and tourists
the Holy Cross.
around the canal system for food, drink, and mariachi music.” Dan is also excited
03 I
to share that he was recently admitted to,
Evan Piekara published Case in Point:
and will be attending, the Medical College
Crafting Your Consulting Career, in April,
of Wisconsin in Milwaukee in August....
and was named a 2021 Washington Busi-
Colin O’Higgins has taken a position as
ness Journal 40 Business Leaders under 40 in the Washington D.C. Metro area. He’s been enjoying time with his wife and daughter and is looking forward to catching up with friends in person!.... Morgan Jetto married Kate Butlein on January 4, 2021 on Cumberland Island, GA. “After an extended stay down south during COVID-19, we’ve resettled back in New York City and are looking forward to reconnecting with everyone.”
04 I Aaron Byron recently transitioned from an active duty Army career as a counter-
PAGE 68
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
CLASS NOTES
intelligence officer to a more relaxed one
January 2021, and my husband and I are
in the Army Reserves. “I was hired into
both teaching at the University of Virginia.
a technical project management track at
I am currently a joint post-doctoral fellow
Applied Information Sciences (and IT con-
at the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten
sulting company) for a new civilian career
School of Public Policy and Global Policy
and will begin Cornell Johnson’s executive
Center, and Oludamini is a professor in
MBA program in NYC this fall. I can’t say
the Religous Studies department. We are
I’ve met up with anyone from the Abbey
also settling into our new home, enjoying
recently, but then again it was kind of
the views of the Blue Ridge mountains,
difficult with all the moving around and
and looking forward to the (relatively)
deployments! I hope all is well back at
warm year-round Virginia weather! Much
PAS and look forward to visiting again
love to our Portsmouth Abbey family! “
Above left: Naseemah Mohamed and her husband are both teaching at the University of Virginia. They recently welcomed the newest member of the family, Sakinah Ayokari Ogunnaike. Above: Katia DaSilva graduated this past May from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
someday.”
11 I 10th REUNION
08 I Naseemah Mohamed writes from Charlottesville, VA, “Despite the challenges of the pandemic, our Mohamed-Ogunnaike family had much to celebrate and be grateful for over the past year. We welcomed our newest member of the family, Sakinah Ayokari Ogunnaike, in August 2020, I graduated with my doctorate (DPhil) in Comparative and International Education Policy from Oxford University in
SEPT. 17-19
Katia DaSilva graduated this past May from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “I received my MD and also completed my master’s in bioethics and started an OB/GYN residency at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC, in June. .... LT Phil Youngberg is coaching the U.S. Naval Academy’s Offshore Sailing Team this summer in events throughout the Atlantic
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 69
CLASS NOTES
Rhoads MacGuire ’13 and Isabel Keogh ’13 became engaged at Big Bend National Park in April.
Gabrielle Fontes ’12 graduated with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, with thesis, from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
seaboard. He will also be a commander of a Yard Patrol (YP) Training Craft around the Mid-Atlantic region. YPs are crewed by midshipman as they enhance their leader-
LT Phil Youngberg ’11 is coaching the U.S. Naval Academy’s Offshore Sailing Team this summer in events throughout the Atlantic seaboard.
ship, seamanship, and navigation skills in a safe and controlled learning environment that mimics that of the fleet.
12 I Gabrielle Fontes graduated with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, with thesis, from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. “I’m honored to have been awarded the American Association of Feline Practitioner’s Outstanding Senior and the Eyles family award. I matched, and will be staying at Tufts for my first year of practice, as a small animal medicine and surgery rotating intern.”
pian novel following a brother and a sister as they strive to maintain their humanity - whether through literature or music - in an inhumane world. The second novel, Glass Bottle Season (published by Bound to Brew Press), recounts a boisterous summer in Newport, RI, in which the protagonist’s job at a ritzy wine shop thrusts him into the aristocratic company of the city’s old money, mansion-hopping, wedding-going, and heavy-drinking seasonal residents.... Rhoads MacGuire proposed to Isabel Keogh at Big Bend National Park in April, and she accepted. They are tentatively planning for a summer 2023 wedding .... Rasaanh Matra shares: “In 2019, I came back home to my family in Massachusetts after four years of being away and focusing on music. After one year, the coronavirus
13 I
hit and I was so grateful to be home with
Fletcher Bonin has had two novels ac-
improve globally, I look forward to recon-
cepted for publication this year. The first, entitled Vulture, and published by Rebel
PAGE 70
Satori Press, is a post-apocalyptic, dysto-
the ones I love. Now as things continue to necting with the world and sharing my gift
P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
CLASS NOTES
Rasaanh Matra ’13 has been travelling, performing his music and enjoying his adventures. He returned to campus for the 20th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament and performed for our guests.
of music. My latest and truly noteworthy performance was for the 2021 Annual Portsmouth Abbey Scholarship Golf Tournament. I was so happy to see my friends. As
is in her second year with the Teaching As-
a special surprise I wore a modern couture
sistant Program in France (TAPIF) program,
formal bespoke outfit designed by Dion
teaching conversational English at the
himself for top-of-the-line red carpet events
Lycee Pierre de Coubertin in Calais, France.
such as the Emmys or Oscars. I wore this while I performed to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation for Portsmouth Abbey. I hope to share more news of even greater successes to come and I look forward to visiting again soon.”
Hannah Banderob ’17 and Fr. Chris Clay ’92 attended Palm Sunday Mass together, shared lunch, and spent a couple of hours at the Clay family farm in Kentucky.
17 I Connor Baughan served as senior lacrosse captain at Bentley University this past year and was named a NCAA Division II All-American; he was also named to USA
14 I
Lacrosse Magazine’s All-America Second
Christopher J. Sullivan, Jr. was awarded
opportunity to meet with Fr. Chris Clay
the President’s National Service Award for
’92 this past spring. They attended Palm
his work with America Corps in Texas and
Sunday Mass together, shared lunch, and
Missouri. Sully is currently working in Bos-
enjoyed a couple of hours at the Clay fam-
ton for Plymouth Rock Assurance Company.
ily farm while she was conducting a school
15 I
visit in Kentucky .... Marcel Smith gradu-
Team.... Hannah Banderob had the
5th REUNION SEPT. 17-19
Helen Nelson graduated from Franklin &
ated from Wheaton College this past May with a degree in economics.
Marshall College in Lancaster, PA and now
summer Alumni BULLETIN 2021
PAGE 71
Marcel Smith ’17 graduated from Wheaton College in May with a degree in economics.
Emily Byrne ’18 graduated from Skidmore College with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.
18 I Dan Sliney was awarded the Hobart College Joe Arnitz ’66 Sportsmanship Award given to the Hobart StudentAthlete for superior sportsmanship in the athletic arena by demonstrating fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one’s teammates and competitors.... Noelle Brown received the Cheryl A. Ruggiero Scholarship from the Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accoun-
tants. This scholarship is awarded to en-
of Science (MSc) program in literature
courage high performing female students
and modernity: 1900 to the present, at
to enter the public accounting profes-
the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh,
sion.... Emily Byrne graduated from
Scotland, where she will begin in Septem-
Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs,
ber of 2021.... Sam Ding is the co-founder
NY a year early, magna cum laude, with
and chief marketing officer of D!ng, an
a Bachelor of Arts in English literature.
integrated social media app that helps you
She also received English departmental
connect more efficiently by presenting your
honors for her capstone titled “Simulat-
online presence with a sharable profile.
ing America: Ludocapitalism of the 1990s in Wall Street Kid and Animal Crossing.” Emily has been accepted to the Master
PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL
PARENTS’ WEEKEND 2021
PAGE 72
WELCOME BACK! OCT. 21,22 & 23 P ORTSM O U T H A BB E Y S C HO OL
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT of BOARD OF REGENTS
Very Reverend Michael G. Brunner O.S.B. Prior-Administrator Portsmouth, RI Mr. W. Christopher Behnke ’81 P’12 ’15 ’19 Chairman Chicago, IL Mr. Christopher Abbate ’88 P’20 ’23 Newport, RI Ms. Abby Benson ’92 Boulder, CO Mr. John Bohan P ’20 ’22 Newport, RI Dom Joseph Byron O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI Mr. Creighton O. Condon ’74 P ’07 ’10 Jamestown, RI Mrs. Kathleen Cunningham P’08 ’09 ’11 ’14 Dedham, MA Mr. Gang (Jason) Ding P’18 Qingdao, China Dr. Debra Falvey P’18 ’20 Plaistow, NH Mrs. Frances Fisher P’15 San Francisco, CA Dr. Timothy P. Flanigan ’75 P ’06 ’09 ’11 ’19 Tiverton, RI Mr. Patrick Gallagher ’81 P’15 Providence, RI
PORTSMOUTH ABBEY SCHOOL
Mrs. Meg S. Healey P’91 GP’19 ’21 ’24 New Vernon, NJ
Brother Sixtus Roslevich O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI
Mr. Thomas Hopkins ’85 New York, NY
Mr. Felipe Vicini ’79 P ’09 ’12 ’19 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Mrs. Cara Gontarz Hume ’99 Hingham, MA
Mr. William Winterer ’87 Boston, MA
Mr. Peter M. Kennedy III ’64 P’07 ’08 ’15 Big Horn, WY
EMERITUS
Mr. William M. Keogh ’78 P ’13 Jamestown, RI Dr. Mary Beth Klee P’04 Hanover, NH Mr. James Knight ’87 Greenwich, CT Ms. Anne-Marie Law P’19 ’21 ’24 Duxbury, MA
Mr. Peter M. Flanigan g ’41 P ’75 ’83 GP ’06 ’09 ’09 ’11 ’11 ’19 ’19 ’21 Purchase, NY Mr. Thomas J. Healey ’60 P’91 GP’19 ’21’24 New Vernon, NJ Mr. William K. Howenstein g ’52 P ’87 GP’10 ’17 ’21 ’22 Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Mr. Barnet Phillips IV ’66 Greenwich, CT
Father Edward Mazuski O.S.B. Portsmouth, RI
1,500 DONORS | $1,851,195
Ms. Devin McShane P’09 ’11 Providence, RI Abbott Gregory Mohrman O.S.B. St. Louis, MO Mr. Philip V. Moyles, Jr. ’82 P ’22 Annual Fund Chair Rye, NY
g Deceased
Mr. Emmett O’Connell P ’16 ’17 Stowe, VT
Jim Farley ‘81, CEO, President, Ford Motor Company, in front of Ford’s Piquette Street Plant in Detroit, Michigan As a boy, Jim would sit with his grandfather Emmet Tracy and pore over issues of Automotive News during Christmas and summer breaks. They would drive past automotive landmarks, including the Packard Plant, Ford’s Piquette Street Plant and the Ford Rouge Plant where Jim’s grandfather had once worked. Mr. Tracy died in 1998 at age 98, never having seen his grandson work at Ford. (Paraphrased from the Detroit Free Press, October 1, 2020) Photo © Ryan Garza/ Detroit Free Press/ ZUMA Wire
Portsmouth Abbey thanks the 1,500 alumni, parents, and friends who helped us surpass our goal of $1.85M by contributing $1,851,195 to the 2020-21Annual Fund. Your support enriches the lives of all those who live, work, and study at the School and helps to fulfill our mission of helping young men and women grow in knowledge and grace. A special thank you to Class Agents, Reunion Committee members, Parents’ Association leadership, and other volunteers whose dedication of time, talent, and treasure made these achievements possible.
285 Cory’s Lane Portsmouth, Rhode Island 02871 www.portsmouthabbey.org
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
Address Service Requested
2021
This year Reunion weekend will offer a unique opportunity to celebrate with classes ending in ’0, ’1, ’5 and ‘6 - double the alumni, double the fun! Highlights include class gatherings on Friday night, golf outings, a traditional New England Lobster and Clambake, and sunset cocktails followed by dinner under the reunion tent on Saturday evening. We look forward to welcoming you back to Cory’s Lane!
SUMMER 2021 ALUMNI BULLETIN
PORTSMOUTH ABBEY
PORTSMOUTH ABBE Y SCHOOL
FOR CLASSES ENDING IN ’0, ’1, ’5 AND ’6
2020
PORTSMOUTH ABBE Y
PAID
Providence, RI Permit No. 30
SEPTEMBER 17 – 19, 2021 Please mark your calendar for a weekend of fun and nostalgia with your family, friends and classmates. For more information, please contact Carla Kenahan at 401.643.1186 or at rsvp@portsmouthabbey.org.
1950 u 1951u1955u1956 u 1960 u 1961 u 1965 u 1966 u 1970 u 1971 u 1975 u 1976 u 1980 u 1981 1985 u 1986 u 1990 u 1991 u 1995 u 1996 u 2000 u 2001 u 2005 u 2006 u 2010 u 2011 u 2015 u 2016
SUMMER 2021 ALUMNI BULLETIN
