The Riparian - Fall 2014 by The Rivers School

VOL. XXIX • NUMBER 2

Riparian THE RIVERS SCHOOL • FALL 2014

Ocean Blue by Tali Sprofera ’16

EDITOR

Christine Martin, Director of Communications and Stewardship CONTRIBUTOR

Jimmy Kelley, Communications Assistant PHOTOGRAPHY

Joel Haskell, Jimmy Kelley, Tim Morse, Chip Riegel

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DESIGNER

PRINTER

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Edward V. Parsons

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

Janice H. Hicinbothem

ASSISTANT DIREC TOR OF ADVANCEMENT

Heather Jack

COORDINATOR OF PARENT REL ATIONS

Amy Dunne

ALUMNI PROGRAMS COORDINATOR

Meg Speranza

THE RIVERS SCHOOL 333 Winter Street Weston, MA 02493-1040 781-235-9300 www.rivers.org

Rivers Welcomes Board President Davis and Trustee Dagres Living La Vida de España Romania Trip: Carrying on the Tradition Faculty Travel Far and Wide Centennial Celebrations In the National Spotlight Farewell to Tom Olverson INSERT:

Amanda Wait & David Gerratt, NonprofitDesign.com Signature Printing & Consulting, Brian Maranian ’96

Message from Head of School Ned Parsons

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2013–2014 ANNUAL REPORT ON GIVING: The Rivers School and The Rivers School Conservatory Parents Rock the Rafters at Annual Auction REUNION 2014 The Rivers Golf Tournament to Benefit Financial Aid BJ Dunne ’06: Words of Wisdom Andrew Delinsky ’93 Heads Peck School Class Notes Coast to Coast Connections

RIPARIAN: “One that lives or has property on the bank of a river or lake.” The Riparian is published twice a year for The Rivers School alumni, parents, students, faculty, and friends. To save on the cost of mailing the Riparian, Rivers has consolidated multiple mailings addressed to the same household so that your home will receive only one copy. If you have reason to receive additional copies at your address, please call Chris Martin at 781-235-9300, ext. 230.

Fall 2014 • Riparian • 1

Message from the Head of School

The Values We Share Ned Parsons officially began his tenure as Rivers’ eighth Head of School on July 1, 2014 and has spent the last several months learning about the school by meeting with many members of the community. Here he shares his observations on his first 100 days. By NED PARSONS Dear members of the Rivers community,

irst and foremost I want to thank the entire community for the extraordinary welcome my family and I have received since our arrival at Rivers in July. I have been extremely impressed by the closeness of this community and the depth of the shared commitment to Rivers that I’ve felt in everyone I’ve met. This is an incredibly exciting time in the history of The Rivers School, a history shared by students, alumni, faculty past and present, parents, and trustees. As we head towards our centennial year in 2015, now is the right time for us to consider past, present, and future. I reflect on my first 100 days here at The Rivers School, and the same pattern rings true; just as we celebrate our past and begin building our future, I think back to what drew me here, to what I’ve discovered in these first 100 days, and then ahead to what I see as the work and the promise of the future. A little over a year ago I began the process of looking in earnest at the opportunity to lead The Rivers School, and it didn’t take me long to see from a distance the elements of a great school evinced on the website and in the writings made available to me. I knew I would need to find a special place if I were to leave the home my wife Lisa and I had built elsewhere. And here it stood before me, a school that valued what I valued, one that worked every day to bring to life a mission which called to me. In Rivers, I saw: • a school that values excellence. Rivers values more than just excellence in output but excellence in approach as well, whereby students and faculty are held to high standards in every facet of their work and students are challenged to discover their talents, to grow and to maximize their potential. • a school that values relationships. Rivers puts relationships at the center of the school, optimizing the learning environment for each child by intentionally building powerful opportunities for student-faculty collaboration inside the classroom and across the campus. • a school that values innovation. The culture of creativity and innovation is a vital component here and the faculty are supported and encouraged by the administration to put their considerable talents to work for the students and the program.

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• a school that values student voice. Students are valued at Rivers for their opinions and ideas, for their potential and their power. They are encouraged to find their voice, to develop the leader within, on their way to becoming fully actualized citizens of their communities and the world. I am pleased to say that what I observed throughout the entirety of the interview process has come to life for me since I arrived on campus—I have never encountered a more collegial, innovative, creative, and joyful school community in my nearly 25 years in schools. My time on campus thus far has made abundantly clear to me that the values extolled in all I read about this community’s accomplishments are not mere words. I have seen The Rivers School mission come to life daily in the classrooms, on the playing fields, in the recital halls and studios across campus, as students engage, faculty create, and our relationships thrive on the bedrock of mutual respect and shared purpose. I am honored by the opportunity to lead the Rivers community during this exciting time as we work together to build our collective future. That future will be informed, but not weighed down, by our past; rooted in our stories, while encouraging the next generation’s narratives; mindful of past success and eager to embrace the opportunities before us. Please join me in the years ahead as we fashion the vision for that future. You can be sure that the future we build together will be founded on the strengths of the community as manifested over a century of teaching and learning, brought to life in Rivers’ steadfast dedication to Excellence with Humanity.

Rivers Welcomes Board President and New Trustees

obert J. Davis was reelected in June to the Rivers Board of Trustees and appointed Board President to succeed Clinton P. Harris. As the father of three Rivers alumni, Davis is well versed in Rivers’ mission and philosophy. After joining the Board in 2003, he served on a number of committees, including Facilities, Committee on Trustees, Athletics, Major Gifts, and the Executive Committee before retiring briefly in 2013. Most recently he was a member of the Head of School search committee. Davis has been a managing partner at Highland Capital Partners since 2001, currently focusing primarily on digital media. Prior to joining Highland, he served as chief executive officer of Terra Lycos and president and chief executive officer of Lycos, Inc. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Northeastern University, an M.B.A. from Babson College, as well as honorary doctorate degrees from both Bentley College and Northeastern. Davis has served on the boards of several public and private sector companies including the Children’s Hospital Trust Board and the Board of Advisors for the Boston College Carroll School of Management. He and his wife Rita live in Southborough and are the parents of Brian ’06, Michelle ’08, and Daniel ’13. Todd Dagres is a founder and general partner at Spark Capital, a venture capital firm that “partners with exceptional entrepreneurs seeking to build disruptive, world-changing companies.” With twelve investment professionals and offices now in Boston, New York, and San Francisco, Spark has now raised five funds that total approximately $1.8 billion. Spark Capital was one of the earliest investors in Twitter as well as in Tumblr which was bought last year by Yahoo. Previously Dagres was a general partner at Battery Ventures, senior technology analyst at Montgomery Securities and Smith Barney/Robinson Humphrey, vice-president of communications at the Yankee Group, and business development manager at Digital Equipment. He has also produced several feature films including Pretty Persuasion, Transsiberian, and Nothing Left to Fear. Dagres has a B.S. in psychology from Trinity College and an M.B.A. from Boston University. He has three children, including Ava in Rivers’ Class of 2019, and recently joined Rivers’ Marketing Committee. He is on the President’s Advisory Board at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the board of the Children’s Hospital Trust, and is the founder of the Face of an Angel Foundation for Children with Vascular Lesions.

Robert J. Davis

Todd Dagres

Board of Trustees 2014–2015 PRESIDENT: Robert J. Davis

Term Trustees Dennis Baldwin Benjamin R. Bloomstone Robert E. Buonato ’81 James F. Carlin ’81 Louise Cummings ’98 Todd A. Dagres Howard G. Davis ’70 Ben D. Fischman Mark R. Florence Clinton P. Harris Stephen M. Jennings

Daniel A. Kraft Hongmei Li Barbara V. Ligon Deborah H. McAneny Daniel R. Revers Alan D. Rose ’87 Solomon B. Roth Laurie Schoen Mark S. Schuster ’72 Andrew P. Slifka Laurie Slifka Richard L. Smith

Steven J. Snider Michael P. Stansky Eric M. Wolf Life Trustees David M. Berwind Charles C. Carswell Stephen R. Delinsky Peter A. Gaines G. Arnold Haynes Harriet R. Lewis Thomas L. Lyons

Honorary Trustees of the Corporation Roy S. MacDowell, Jr. Joan T. Allison Joel B. Sherman Thomas P. Beal Frances B. Shifman Richard A. Bradley William B. Tyler ’43 Marie Fitzpatrick Joan A. Vaccarino Louis J. Grossman ’67 Cai von Rumohr Joshua M. Kraft ’85 Joan C. Walter Warren M. Little ’51 Frank S. Waterman III ’41 Virginia S. MacDowell Dudley H. Willis Deborah S. Petri Frederick G. Pfannenstiehl Fall 2014 • Riparian’59 • 3 A. Tozzer Spalding ’62

Living La Vida de España By CHRISTINE MARTIN

or a dozen Rivers students, classes didn’t end with the last exam in June. Rather they spent the first two weeks of summer break immersed in the Spanish language and culture as participants in Rivers’ Summer Session in Spain program. Now in its twelfth year, the program is based in Cádiz, one of the oldest cities in western Europe and the oldest continuouslyinhabited city in Spain. While it is facilitated by the Spanish organization, Centro Mundo Lengua, the program itself has been designed by Rivers to maximize the students’ exposure to daily life in a foreign country, to explore the history of Cádiz, and to encourage students to make connections and comparisons to our own culture and history—all while gaining fluency in Spanish. “Students apply for the program in December,” said program director and Spanish teacher Melinda Ryan. “The faculty look for proven motivation and diligence in the language but also at the student’s level of involvement and leadership in Rivers life in general. It is a super intensive immersion, for which our students need to have shown a high level of commitment to their academic work and the maturity to make good decisions as they represent Rivers as global citizens.” The applications are reviewed not only by the language faculty but also by the students’ advising teams to ensure that the whole group is able to rise to the challenges of the rigorous schedule and to living and studying in a no-English environment. The program accommodates 12 sophomores and juniors, all of whom have finished Spanish III or Spanish IV. When the students are accepted into the program, they essentially take an extra course at Rivers for the second half of the year, meeting once a week to prepare for the program. They study specific vocabulary targeted at the situations in which they will be living, as well as the history of the area around Cádiz and its pivotal role in Spanish and world history. They also go over the logistics of living in a foreign city with a host family. The faculty work with Mundo Lengua to find host families who live in the old part of the city so that the students can experience the city’s rich history and culture even while they are walking around. At every turn, students discover Roman and Phoenician ruins and and connections to our own history; in fact, Columbus’ voyages to the New World have many connections to Cádiz. Once in Cádiz, the students attend classes in the morning. Afternoon classes take the students out of the classroom and on site to live the culture of Spain in museums and historical sites, by cooking traditional food, or taking Sevillanas dancing lessons,

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View from the Torre Tavira: Front, l to r: Liz Webber ’16, Anne Jennings ’16. Middle: Pete Simmons-Hayes ’15, Mady McEachern ’16, Kaitlyn Foley ’16, Aimee Schecter ’15, Alex Gaither ’15, Sapriya Valoth ’15. Rear: DJ Gardner ’15, Ross Carter ’16, Matt Appelbaum ’16, Kyle Katamba ’15

Visiting the Roman ruins at Baelo Claudia

Matt Appelbaum and teacher Álvaro Fernández Valls discussing trade during the Roman era at Baelo Claudia

while practicing their language skills in a native-speaker, rapid-fire, Spanish-only environment. “The diversity of lessons really helped with the learning process,” commented DJ Gardner ’15. “No two days were alike which really created an atmosphere in which you needed and wanted to pay attention. We would go and interview strangers, watch videos, and talk with (Spanish) students, which really helped my understanding of the language.” “We made paella for lunch one day,” added Aimee Schechter ’15. “We bought all of the ingredients in the open-air market before cooking. I had to buy a kilo of red peppers and others had to buy tomatoes, lemons, etc. We went back to school and put all of the ingredients in a huge paellera with rice, olive oil and spices… It was delicious.” Students live in pairs with families who may be retired grandparents, or young families with children of their own. They have to learn to navigate the dynamics of family life in small, older homes where they may have to wait their turn for a shower. Perhaps one of the most enriching experiences is “sobremesa,” the time after dinner when the Spanish will remain at the table and talk, a concept foreign to many American families who eat on the go. “Alfonso and Ana were loving and friendly and we really felt at home,” said Kaitlyn Foley ’16 of her host family. “The food was delicious and we got to try a lot of new things.” Students’ learning extends beyond Cádiz to Granada and the renowned Alhambra, as well as Gibraltar which gives the students the sense of how close Spain is to Africa and what a strategic location it has been throughout history as a gateway between Europe and Africa.

Pete Simmons-Hayes during class at the open-air market in Cádiz

“It is one thing to learn a lot of history in class,” commented Kyle Katamba ’15, “but to see it in person was really cool. At the Alhambra and in Granada, the mix of Muslim and Christian cultures really highlighted the changes that occurred after the Reconquista.”

Paella for dinner!

Unlike most other foreign students enrolled in immersion programs through Mundo Lengua, Rivers students must take a final exam on their coursework and are graded not only on academic performance, but also on their academic leadership, their assimilation of the culture, their level of motivation, their independence and reliability, and their contributions to the group experience. “The language immersion aspect of the Rivers Summer Session in Spain trip is extraordinary,” said Director of Admissions Gillian Lloyd, who served as a chaperone. “As a non-Spanish speaker, I was amazed at my growth in comprehension over the two-week span of the trip. You can just imagine for students who are studying Spanish the significant learning that emerged from living and learning in Spanish all day, every day. We were not in a large, urban European city where the English language is heard on every corner. Indeed, Spanish was almost always the only language spoken—hearing the cadence and beauty of the language all around us deepened the language appreciation and acquisition. And, the town of Cádiz—so rich in history and so beautiful in architecture and setting—added so much to the cultural learning experience.” “I would recommend this experience to anyone who is willing to put the extra time in, because there is plenty done during this program that can be viewed as a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Pete Simmons-Hayes ’15. “While it is great to see beautiful things like the Alhambra, it is even better to get something out of it that will always be with you—a language.” “The family, food, people—everything was just amazing!” concluded Gardner, speaking, it’s fair to say, for the entire group. Fall 2014 • Riparian • 5

Romania Trip a Tradition By JIMMY KELLEY

he summer of 2014 marked the 16th time Rivers has sent students and faculty to Romania where they have provided companionship, support, and a helping hand to countless children through Romania Children Relief. The service trip is an opportunity for members of the Rivers community to take part in a genuine service learning experience while furthering the school’s mission to prepare students to be citizens of the world. The 2014 trip included five Rivers students and two members of the faculty. Maura Crowley ’14, Kate Everett ’16, Holly Glass ’17, Ruby Jean ’16, and Lilah Knisely ’17 joined Director of Athletics Jim McNally as first-time volunteers while Head of Upper School Patti Carbery has been on seven of the trips since initiating the program in 1999. “The mission of the trip is to extend service learning and to supplement the work we are already doing locally and regionally by providing an international experience,” Carbery said. “But it was also to take students to a place where there was a genuine need. The fact that it is a beautiful country with a fascinating history only adds to the job this trip has done to help us create global citizens.” 6 • Riparian • Fall 2014

When the trip began it had been 10 years since the fall of Nicolae Ceaușescu’s regime, but the country was still feeling the effects of the orphan crisis spurred by this totalitarian regime and its legislation which made abortion illegal and incentivized having five or more children. Carbery was impressed with the mission of RCR and the work they were doing to prevent the abandonment of Romanian children while supporting an improved foster care system, giving birth to a partnership that remains strong today. RCR operates programs in a pair of Romanian cities, the capital of Bucharest and the smaller Transylvanian city of Bistrita. This summer’s group went to Bistrita and provided services to two sites RCR serves within the city, as well as an after-school program called Open Doors. Their assignments ranged from direct care of small children to completing projects that help move the sites forward. The breadth of service and opportunity offered by the trip stood out to McNally and moved him to take advantage of the opportunity. “There are three things that you get out of this trip: the first is that this is a truly life-enriching experience,” McNally said. “Then, you have the experience of working in tight quarters with other members of the Rivers community on a project to help

others. But the third thing is you experience the travel and see the development of a country like Romania. The range was eye-opening—you see people who have nothing, and then later you walk into a store almost exactly like a Home Depot. Really, the trip has so much to offer beyond just the service part—it’s a community experience for us and an incredible opportunity to travel.” One of the sites the group worked in was a placement center with children of varying ages and needs, and for McNally, whose background is in activity and athletics, this was the most fun. The days there were spent doing different creative activities like tie-dying t-shirts, decorating boxes, or taking the kids to the park.

“The fact that it is a beautiful country with a fascinating history only adds to the job this trip has done to help us create global citizens.” “For me, having worked at camps during the summer, tie-dye is something I’ve done a lot,” said Kate Everett. “But for the kids we were with it was completely new, and they wore their shirts the rest of the time we were there. It was so cool to see something we did be so appreciated and have such an effect on them.” These activities also gave the faculty on the trip an opportunity to learn more about the students outside of the academic or athletic environment they had previously encountered them in, and vice versa. “It’s one of the best teaching and community experiences you can have,” Carbery said. “We lived in a hostel in Bistrita, cooking together and having a close-knit experience with kids who are so open to it. So much of the program’s success can be attributed to the kids we attract to the program. I am incredibly grateful to the many students who have given their heart and vacation time to this experience. This year’s group included some fantastic students who worked tirelessly and represented Rivers in the best way possible. We should all be proud of them.” It is those students—and faculty—who spread the message of the trip and encourage new students to take advantage of what is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Plans are already being made for this year’s upcoming service trip to Romania. “It’s a genuine service learning opportunity in a place that will take you out of your comfort zone and challenge you to think about yourself and how you see the world,” Carbery said. “Particularly for students who have an interest in service learning, it adds to something you have already done in your life and helps you understand what it means to give and to serve others.”

Liar’s Bridge in Sibiu

Lilah Knisely ’17, Maura Crowley ’14, Holly Glass ’17, Kate Everett ’16, tour guide, and Ruby Jean ’16

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Faculty Travel Far and Wide

ivers’ faculty look forward to summer as much as their students do, and for a number of fortunate teachers, that meant travel and study funded by a Faculty Enrichment Grant. The program is intended to allow teachers to pursue either personal or professional interests that will in turn enrich their teaching and mentoring. For some, their grants enabled them to pursue long-standing interests. Others had adventures that left them with an increased understanding and appreciation of other cultures, enabling them to bring a first-hand, global perspective to their classes. Three teachers travelled to Europe. Science teacher Kathleen Nicholson toured natural wonders of the country, including hot springs, glaciers, and geysers while looking at climate change and current sustainability practices, including the use of geothermal energy as a renewable energy source. Math teacher Sam Poland also visited a wide variety of natural sites in Iceland before heading to England and Ireland. Math teacher Elizabeth Wendorf returned to Italy to refresh her ability to communicate in Italian. On the other side of the world, math and science teacher Rod Tayler was also looking at the effects of climate change on the low-lying Cook Islands in the South Pacific. He taught a high school class on water conservation, observed firsthand many of the effects of climate change, attended a political rally, and visited gardens and research facilities. He also met with government officials on one island to discuss environmental problems such as the effect of exotic species of wood on the water supply and to brainstorm solutions such as burning the wood as an energy source to reduce their dependence on diesel. English teacher Mac Caplan and math teacher Kristin Harder both headed south of the border. Mac Caplan participated in an annual medical and public health brigade trip to Honduras,

Kathleen Nicholson at the edge of a volcano in Iceland 8 • Riparian • Fall 2014

Sam Poland above a glacier in Iceland

organized by the Organization for Community Health Outreach. His activities with the group ranged from filling prescriptions at a local clinic to meeting with a local coffee purveyor to investigate whether OCHO could import and sell coffee as a way to generate funds while reinvesting in the local economy. Kristin Harder visited Cuba to study the history, culture, and politics through formal and informal tours and meetings. She visited historical sites, such as Hemingway’s home and the Che Guevara memorial, saw crumbling architectural gems, as well as community projects dedicated to beautifying neighborhoods during the extended economic recession. She was impressed by the high literacy rate (in a country with only one state run newspaper) and the return to organic farming (necessitated when Soviet fertilizer supplies dried up). “This year’s projects showed the wide range of faculty interests and were clear evidence of the faculty’s passion and dedication to the craft of teaching and their eagerness to grow by learning,” commented Spanish teacher Melinda Ryan, who chairs the Faculty Enrichment Committee. “We can all look forward to vicariously enjoying their journeys as grant recipients share their experiences with students and colleagues throughout the coming year.” The recipients of these various grants all expressed their thanks to Rivers for the opportunity to continue on the journey of being life-long learners, honing well-developed skills, discovering new ones, and most importantly recognizing both the differences and similarities of people around the globe. Mac Caplan summed up his experience, and the others would agree, “Thank you to the school for supporting my trip. It was an incredible experience for me and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in it.”

Elizabeth Wendorf in front of a Greek Temple in Sicily

Kristin Harder and her husband in a community sculpture garden in Cuba

Centennial Celebrations Both The Rivers School and its oldest active alumnus, F. Gorham Brigham, Jr, will celebrate their centennial birthdays in 2015. This summer history teacher Dave Burzillo and I had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Brigham, Class of 1933, on a wide range of topics, from his childhood recollections of life at Rivers through a professional life that extended into his 90s. —Christine Martin, editor

he open-air philosophy of Mr. Rivers’ Country Day School for Boys was tailor made for someone like Gorham Brigham. Poor health had forced him to spend second grade at home with a tutor after a year at the Chestnut Hill School. His father, a general practitioner, believed the fresh air, daily exercise, and wholesome food Mr. Rivers’ school offered would be beneficial for his son. So Brigham was enrolled in 1924. “Yes, the open-air classrooms were cold, although by the time I arrived, the teachers had installed heaters near their desks. Couldn’t have the teachers catching cold!” commented Brigham. “Even now, I remember the food as being extremely good.” Brigham recalled being disappointed that he lived close enough to the campus on Dean Road in Brookline that he had to walk to school, rather than ride each day with Mr. Rivers or one of the other teachers who made the rounds of neighboring towns collecting children for school. He rattled off the names of teachers, names which still reverberate at Rivers, like Mr. Sheehan, Mr. Leydon, and Mr. Gallagher, who was his adviser on The Current. He recounted with a mischievous gleam several brushes with discipline in his early years. “There was a boy in my grade who was misbehaving so I reported him to the teacher. Not only did she discipline him, she punished me for tattling on him,” he said about one incident. “There were boardwalks connecting the various one-room classrooms, and part of my punishment was to ‘walk the boardwalk’ that afternoon.” Brigham was about to start the 9th grade, when Headmaster Rivers had a serious heart attack. “My father was Mr. Rivers’ personal physician,” said Brigham. “He advised Mr. Rivers to move to a single level home in a warmer climate if he wanted to prolong his life. It was good advice because after moving to Santa Barbara, Mr. Rivers lived another 19 years. Good for Mr. Rivers, but much to the chagrin of the new headmaster Mr. [Clarence] Allen who had agreed to pay Rivers a pension for life when he assumed leadership of the school. Mr. Allen did a very good job as headmaster, and he had a good faculty behind him.” As was common in those days, Mr. Brigham went to boarding school (as a day student) for his final years of high school, but

later reunited with many of his Rivers classmates as a 1937 Harvard undergraduate and a 1939 Harvard Business School graduate. With his MBA in hand, he began work at Price Waterhouse, only to be called to active duty in 1940 as World War II was unfolding. “I came home from work one day in September and my mother was crying. I had received a notice saying I had to report the next day,” recalled Brigham. “I spent the next five years on active duty in Washington DC. I met my wife there on a blind date, got married, and had four children, one of whom, Bill, graduated from Rivers in 1964.” Brigham served on the staff of General George Marshall until 1946 and Marshall personally decorated him with the Legion of Merit. After the war, he returned to the Boston area where he worked for several companies as CFO before moving into financial services at a number of banks including Citizens Bank, where he was named senior vice president at the age of 83. In addition to his professional accomplishments, he also co-founded the Carroll School, located first in West Newton, and later in Lincoln, with the goal of providing an academic environment geared toward students with learning disabilities. “I retired when I turned 90,” he said. “I drove myself to work every day, but I would leave at 4:30 in the morning to avoid rush hour traffic.” Brigham was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 by the Boston Business Journal for “the legendary professional and mentoring relationships he built over the lunch table.” The Rivers School wishes F. Gorham Brigham the very best on his 100th birthday in January 2015 and for many years to come. Fall 2014 • Riparian • 9

Campus News

In the National Spotlight Rivers’ students are a talented group, garnering athletic, artistic, and music awards on a regular basis. This past year, however, several Rivers students were recognized at the national level for their accomplishments in a variety of fields.

Incongruous Triad by Savannah Knisely

On the Field

Maclaine Lehan ’14 and Trevor Davock ’15 both earned AllAmerican distinction from the National Soccer Coaches Asso- ciation of America (NSCAA) for their play last fall. Both were also named Boston Globe All-Scholastics. Maclaine, who is now enrolled at Brown University, added the NSCAA All-American honor to her 2013 Independent School League Defensive Player of the Year award and a NEPSAC Class B Championship. It was the second consecutive season in which Maclaine won the Defensive Player of the Year award, completing a two-year run in which Rivers allowed just nine goals and completed two undefeated regular seasons. Trevor earned his All-American status by leading the ISL in scoring, netting 25 goals in league play with five assists for 55 total points. Trevor was also named ISL Offensive Player of the Year for his part in leading a Red Wings offense that outscored its opponents 40-11 in ISL play.

Her latest coup is a National Gold Key for a ceramics piece entitled “Incongruous Triad.” After winning a Gold Key at the state level, an honor only about 6.5 percent of entries nationwide earned, Savannah’s piece was judged in New York City alongside nearly 16,000 state honorees from around the country. Savannah was the Self-Portrait by only student from Massachusetts to earn Savannah Knisely a National Gold Key. The piece is now part of a travelling exhibition titled “Art.Write.Now.Tour” which opened in Providence, R.I. in September 2014. “The beauty of the piece was the assignment was very openended,” said ceramics teacher Tim Clark. “Savannah decided she wanted to create a piece she could use to serve appetizers and something to hold it. The complexity and variance of the individual structures within the piece contributed to the acclaim it received. Each element of the piece fit the broader structure but was still distinct in its glazing and shape.”

On the Stage

Trevor Davock ’15

In the Studio

Maclaine Lehan ’14

Savannah Knisley ’15 has received recognition in both the Boston Globe Scholastic Art and Small Independent School Art League competitions each year since she entered Rivers as a freshman. Not content to focus on just one medium, she has won Gold Key and First Place awards in both drawing and ceramics, with a woodworking award thrown into the mix. 10 • Riparian • Fall 2014

John Nydam ’15 has been selected from a nationwide pool of candidates as the lone pianist for the All-National Honors Jazz Ensemble. He earned the opportunity to submit an audition for the All-National ensemble after he was selected as an All-State pianist for Massachusetts in the spring. He will travel to Nashville for a week in October where he will join the ensemble to rehearse before performing on October 29 at the historic Grand Ole Opry House. “I feel very honored to have been selected,” John said. “Jazz pianists from across the country were competing for one piano slot in the Jazz Ensemble, so I was not sure if I would win. I am really looking forward to getting to know and playing with some great high school jazz musicians from across the U.S. Instru- mentalists and singers for the All-National Mixed Choir, Concert Band, and Symphony Orchestra will all be in Nashville during the

Campus News same week, so there will a great cross section of musicians.” As a member of both the Gold Medal- winning Select 1A Combo and Big Band, John also earned individual recognition in the form of an Outstanding Musicianship award at the MAJE All-State competition, John Nydam ’15 a Superior Musicianship award at the Berklee Jazz Festival, and an Outstanding Soloist award from the Charles Mingus High School Jazz Competition. He has also won two composition competitions. Last year he won the Oklahoma City University Bass School of Music’s national high school competition for an electronic piece he composed. This year, he was one of six finalists in the MATA Jr. competition, and his original piece for a mixed quartet will premier in New York City in November.

On the Air

Pianist Derek Wang ’16 shared his considerable talent with a national audience on Sunday, June 8, when he made an appearance on NPR’s “From the Top.” The show is the preeminent showcase for America’s best young classical musicians and is hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher O’Riley. Derek travelled to Tacoma, Washington in April to tape his performance of Prokofiev’s “Toccata in D minor, Op. 11.” “From the Top” is broadcast on more than 200 radio stations throughout the country, reaching more than 200,000 listeners. In the interview following his performance, Derek spoke about his love of music and different experiences that have deepened that love and pushed him to the level he has reached. O’Riley commented that he had never heard someone “relish and enjoy performing” Prokofiev’s piece as much as Derek had. His experience in Tacoma extended well beyond the recording studio, however. “The other performers and I visited three schools —an elementary school, middle school, and high school—in the Tacoma area to share our lives and music with the kids,” Derek said. “Those school trips made for some of the most amazDerek Wang ’16 ing experiences: jamming with the kids to Prokofiev, hearing each of their

personal and fresh reactions, and opening up worlds for all of us through the power of classical music. There is nothing like seeing the eyes of a third grader light up at that moment when the music means everything to him.” By the end of the trip, he said, he felt as though he had known these other young performers for years after sharing such a powerful experience with them.

In the Laboratory

Rivers senior Jack Reid readily admits that he didn’t know much about spectrometry when he began his summer internship at Bruker Daltonics. He spent the next six weeks studying the compound polyethyleneglycol and its ability to covalently bond to peptides. PEGylation, as it is called, has become an increasingly important process due to its positive effects on proteins and Jack Reid ’15 peptides used in biotherapeutics. PEGylating peptides improves stability, reduces dosage frequency, enhances protection from degradation, and more. “I was testing whether or not mass spectrometry is a good way to measure how well the PEGylation process goes,” said Reid of his research. “If a mass spectrometer could tell how much PEG, how much peptide, and how much PEGylated peptide was in the sample, it would be a good way to test PEGylation. “At the end of my internship, I submitted the abstract of my experiment to the SciX Conference, the premier national conference for Analytical Chemistry and Applied Sciences,” said Reid. “It has been accepted, so I will go to Reno in late September to present my experiment to researchers from across America. That will be a great honor and an even better experience.” Rivers’ business and science internships are structured so that the participants are engaged in meaningful research, often comparable to that of their college-age counterparts. This is not the first time a Rivers student has had his or her summer research presented at a national conference, a real tribute to the caliber of work they are assigned. Whether they are on the stage, in the lab, or in the studios, Rivers students are committed to being their best selves. It’s gratifying to have their efforts so publicly recognized.

Fall 2014 • Riparian • 11

Bidding a Fond Farewell

n impressive cross-section of nearly 500 people—alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, and current and past parents—gathered in late May to celebrate the tremendous impact that Tom Olverson had since he arrived at Rivers in 1997. After a lively reception marked by the enthusiastic reunion of faculty and former students as well as parents who shared a deep appreciation for Tom, the guests enjoyed a dinner program that covered a gamut of emotions. Laurie Schoen, trustee and emcee for the evening, presented Tom with parting gifts, including a bound collection of reflections from the Rivers community and a poem written by Rivers alumnus and parent Jim Lowell ’79. Assistant Head of School Jim Long and trustees Bob Davis and Dan Kraft added their thoughts and thanks to Tom. Board President Clint Harris announced the establishment of The Olverson Fund, a financial aid fund, “to recognize Tom’s 17 years of leadership, during which academic excellence, supportive relationships, innovative thinking, character development, and the overall quality of each student’s experience have become central to the mission of the school.” “We wanted to find a meaningful and long-lasting way of recognizing Tom’s impact at Rivers,” said Harris during the program. “Student financial aid has always been among Tom’s highest priorities, enabling Rivers to welcome students who are as diverse and talented as possible.”

Dan Kraft presenting the Olverson jersey

Rick Smith and Clint Harris

Laurie Schoen presenting Tom Olverson a book of reflections

Tom Olverson and Sally McGinty

Mac Caplan and Jack Birger ’08

Tom Lyons, Bob Davis, Cai von Rumohr

The faculty flash mob Dana Cushing, David Olverson ’02, Feryal Sacristan, Bill McGinty ’02 with Chris Laakko ’02 in front 12 • Riparian • Fall 2014

Superheroes Rule at Annual Auction

he Parents’ League Superheroes Auction drew legions of caped crusaders last May, all on a mission to support Rivers’ faculty and students. Nearly 400 parents, faculty, and staff, dressed as their favorite avenging characters, contributed more than $200,000 in support of student technology, professional development, and diversity initiatives. The co-chairs of this year’s supercharged event were Claudine Sheinkopf and Carol Kirson, aided and abetted by sidekick and honorary co-chair Jodi Slifka. A supporting crew of more than 100 volunteers transformed the MacDowell Arena into Gotham City, guided by the creative genius and carpentry skills of Philip and Ellen Ades. Bidding was fast and furious for tickets to all manner of games and concerts, parties featuring Baddest Burger and Cool Cow pop-up trucks, and a coveted Boston Marathon number. As the evening wound down, bidders raised their paddles one more time in support of a variety of diversity initiatives aimed at making the Rivers experience as inclusive and rewarding as possible for all students. A total of $78,100 was donated to this important cause.

Honorary Chair Jodi Slifka and Andrew Slifka

Bidding before the bell

Heads and Tails winner Jerry Branka

Phil and Ellen Ades

Carol and Steven Kirson, Eric and Ginny Churchill, Carole and Edward McCaffrey

Xiru Zhang and Tom Olverson Director of Diversity John Bower

Auction Chairs Claudine Sheinkopf and Carol Kirson

Fall 2014 • Riparian • 13

Reunion 2014

n May 17, The Rivers School Campus Center was abuzz with alumni from seven decades remembering good times and catching up on the latest news. The evening program featured a dinner and awards ceremony that recognized not only alumni, but also retiring faculty. The awarding of The Rivers Cup, given annually to an alumnus who has displayed extraordinary dedication to the school and its mission, is always a highlight of the ceremony due to its surprise factor. The 2014 recipient of the award was Howard “Dave” Davis ’70 for his efforts and dedication to the growth of music and arts programs at Rivers, as well as his service as a member of the Board of Trustees. “When Rivers decided to launch the Conservatory Program for its talented and dedicated musicians, Dave was one of the first to offer his financial support,” said Alumni Council President Larry Glazer ’86. “Dave then went on to establish a financial aid fund to support students with a strong interest in the arts.” The 2014 Alumni Excellence Award was presented to Joshua Kraft ’85 for more than 20 years of service to the youth in Boston

through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, where he is the current president and CEO. “Since your time at The Rivers School, when you forged strong and lasting relationships with both your classmates and teachers, you have recognized and valued the power of relationships to shape the lives of the people around you,” said former English teacher Jack Jarzavek in presenting the award. Retiring Director of Community Service Jeanette Szretter was recognized for nearly three decades of service to the school. Whether it was as a Spanish teacher, advisor, community service advisor, or friend, nearly every alumnus in the room could remember some way Ms. Szretter had touched their experience at Rivers. Classmates Doug Wooldridge ’90 and Mike Handler ’90 both received the Distinguished Alumni Awards for their service to the Alumni Association over the years. Finally, departing Head of School Tom Olverson was recognized for his 17 years of service to the school and all of the strides the school has made both physically and programmatically during his tenure.

Dave and Lisa Raftery ’93 with Marc Rosen ’94

Sarah Parkinson ’09, Adrienne Anderson ’09, Courtney Griffin ’09 with Melinda Ryan Josh Kraft ’85 accepting the Alumni Excellence Award from Jack Jarzavek

Joel Holzwasser, Milt Yanofsky, John Codman, John Neilson, Sturdy Waterman, Sal Giglia, all Class of 1974 14 • Riparian • Fall 2014

Bill Whittemore ’69 and Cary Corkin ’69

Jon Baker, Kevin Hurley, Dan Goodness, Jeff Cross, Lars Carlson, Steve Dubbs, Josh Kraft, Marius Gallitano, Doug Stocklan, Mike Hoban, all Class of 1985 Jeanette Szretter with Laura Blackett ’09, Becca Nichols ’09, Meggie Woodruff ’09

Doug Wooldridge ’90, Matt Tobin ’90, Mike Handler ’90

Dave and Bridget Garsh, Classes ’99 and ’00

Larry Glazer ’86 presenting the Rivers Cup to Dave Davis ’70

Todd MacDowell ’99, Melissa Bennet ’99, Nicky Constant ’99 Larry Glazer ’86 and retiring Head of School Tom Olverson

Fall 2014 • Riparian • 15

Annual Golf Tournament a Huge Success

n May 12, more than 150 Rivers alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and friends gathered at Charter Oak Country Club in Hudson for the 14th Annual Rivers School Golf Tournament to Benefit Financial Aid. The tournament raised more than $90,000, all of which will go toward tuition assistance to allow deserving students to attend Rivers. “The impact of having these students as part of the Rivers community is felt every day,” said Bruce Clifford ’83, chair of the Golf Tournament Committee. “It is felt in the classroom, on the playing fields, and in the diverse perspectives they bring to their daily interactions with students and teachers.” The ongoing success of the tournament is due to the hard work of the Tournament Committee and the generosity of Tournament Sponsor Bill Whittemore ’69 and the Daley Family, Pat ’84 P’13,’15,’18 and his brother Fred P’12,’14,’16, who once again donated Charter Oak for the day. This year’s honoree was Lewis Cohn ’81, who was recognized for all of the support he has given the Golf Tournament Committee over the years. One of the highlights of the afternoon program was the annual Super Raffle drawing. Howard Leeder ’84 won the grand prize: a round of golf for four at the prestigious Liberty National Country Club in Jersey City, N.J. as well as a two-night stay in Manhattan. After 14 years, the tournament has raised nearly $1 million and has played a significant role in supporting dozens of Rivers students who have gone on to attend top colleges around the country. Alan Rose ’87, Alex Davis ’87, Larry Epstein ’87 16 • Riparian • Fall 2014

John Carlin ‘83, Bruce Clifford ‘83, Steve Masiello ‘83, Mark Reardon

John Parsons, Mike Stansky, Greg Stoller ‘87, Tony Solomons

Stephen Baldini ‘96, Scott Bartfield ‘96, Brian Maranian ‘96, Tim Head ‘96

Tom Olverson and BJ Dunne ’06

Alan Ashenfelter ’05, BJ Dunne ’06, Scott Barchard ’06, Ned Parsons, Brad Karelitz ’04

Matt Tobin ’90, Lewis Cohn ’81, Bruce Clifford ’83

Words of Wisdom for Athletes (and Non-athletes!)

BJ Dunne ’06, the youngest head varsity basketball coach in the NCAA, was the invited speaker at Rivers’ Varsity Awards Evening in June. He recounted in detail the lows and highs of his first season at Vassar College, where the team went from being ranked 375th out of 418 Division 3 teams to winning a spot in the Liberty Conference championship, where they lost by one point in double overtime. His personal journey to that moment in his career had its own highs and lows, and he left the audience with the following advice:

ver the course of my athletic career as a player and coach I have learned that good things don’t come to good people, they come to those that work. I have also learned five things that have kept me going through tough times and have gotten me to where I am today. I would like to share them with you. The first is, believe. As a student-athlete there are going to be plenty of times in your life and career where there is doubt surrounding your ability or your team. But if you believe in yourself, your teammates, and your vision then nothing can stop you. Belief got me through all the hardships and allowed me to face adversity with clear eyes. Secondly, you have to dare to be different. The moon has already been discovered. Rivers taught me how to be me, how to be unique. In a world that is dominated by social media it is hard to stand out when everyone wants you to act, dress, and be a certain way. It is hard to not listen to those voices but if you truly believe in your vision you will dare to be different and step outside your comfort zone. Next, you must always remember where you’re from and how you got to this point. It’s all about the journey and not the destination, because your journey will teach you a lot about

your destination. Find some time during the day, whether it’s before a game or before you go to sleep, to think about your journey. I do this every night and every morning. I take five minutes and I let the pain of my broken arm, the pain of being cut as a senior wash over me. I remind myself of how I felt at my lowest points and how that has motivated me to become a successful coach. And make sure to never lose sight of Rivers, it is an important path in your journey. Always dream and dream big. In my office I have a streamer from the 2013 Division 3 National Championship game—that represents my dream. I believe that the most dangerous people are the ones that dream in the daytime because they act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible. I am sure some of you dreamed of a Division 1 scholarship and achieved it. To you, congratulations. For others your dream was to put on a college uniform. Congratulations to you. Now what is your next dream? Are you dreaming with your eyes closed or open? Keep dreaming and don’t let anyone put a limit on your dreams because in the end they are yours and only yours.

Focus all of your time and energy on the things you can control, like your attitude, your work ethic, your preparation, your friends, your belief, your dreams. I believe that mental toughness is all about your ability to control what you can control. Lastly, control what you can control. Don’t waste your time and energy on something you have no say or control over. Focus all of your time and energy on the things you can control, like your attitude, your work ethic, your preparation, your friends, your belief, your dreams. I believe that mental toughness is all about your ability to control what you can control. I hope these five things help and resonate with you as much as they have with me. Best of luck to all of you. I hope you discover your story, and I hope you make sure it gets heard. For some of you your athletic careers are just beginning, for some they are ending, and for others you are taking your talents to the next level. Take advantage of everything and everyone that Rivers has to offer. Take part of Rivers with you and leave part of you behind. And always remember that passion, energy, and enthu- siasm are highly contagious, so don’t be afraid to share them on your path to greatness.

Fall 2014 • Riparian • 17

Andrew Delinsky ’93 Heads Peck School By JIMMY KELLEY

hile Rivers welcomed Ned Parsons as new Head of School this fall, The Peck School in Morristown, NJ celebrated the installation of Rivers alumnus Andrew Delinsky ’93 as its new Head of School. Delinsky joins Peck after 17 years of working in independent schools, the last 11 having been at The Bullis School in Potomac, MD. His career began locally, first in the admissions office at Concord Academy and then as an English teacher at The Fay School, before moving south to The Saint Alban’s School in Washington, D.C. After St. Alban’s, Delinsky joined Bullis in 2003 as an Upper School English teacher before becoming the Upper School Dean of Students in 2005 and Upper School Principal in 2007. He spent his final year at Bullis as the Assistant Head of School. Through all of his travels, Delinsky never forgot what Rivers meant to him. “Rivers was the perfect school for me,” Delinsky said. “I was a shy work-in-progress and Rivers instilled in me the confidence and maturity I needed to thrive.” The experiences he had with faculty while at Rivers were particularly important to Delinsky. From small interactions on campus to the passion with which they taught their classes, the Rivers faculty was a major part of his experience. “I still remember after my first fall report card came out, one of my teachers, Mr. LaTour, stopped me on campus just to say ‘Hey, you did great.’” Delinsky said. “The teachers were the type of people who would see you sitting alone on a bench and take the time to stop and ask what was going on. They truly took an interest in us as students.” Beyond the faculty, Delinsky counts experiences on the athletic fields and in the English classrooms among his fondest memories of his four years on Winter Street. He was a member of the varsity basketball and baseball teams, as well as several clubs including Red Key and The Rivers Edge. 18 • Riparian • Fall 2014

Throughout his professional career, Delinsky maintained a relationship with Rivers through former Head Tom Olverson and developed a respect for the way he looked at schools, empowered faculty, and engaged parents. Delinsky believes that Parsons is more than capable of continuing that tradition of excellence and leading Rivers into the future, after meeting Parsons at NAIS’ Institute for New Heads this summer. “Ned is a very impressive guy. I believe he can be an educational visionary for Rivers and lead the school into the future,” Delinsky said. Peck feels similarly about Delinsky, calling him “a warm, passionate, educational leader of unquestionable integrity who will inspire and lead Peck into the next chapter of its exciting history.” We wish Delinsky the best of luck as he begins the next chapter of his own exciting history and hope he continues to draw on the foundation he received at Rivers.

Student Alumni News News

Class Notes Mary and John Hurwitch ’59 at the reunion

1954

Rolly Hopkins, founder of New England & New York Real Estate Journal, just celebrated 51 years publishing the New England edition and 25 years of the New York edition. “My English teachers, Mr. Leydon and Mr. Gallagher, would be proud. Mr. Gallagher had a son Greg in the class of ‘55 with my cousin, Billy Elwell. By the way, I attended Rivers’ nursery school in 1940. Our 1949 Junior Football team went undefeated 6-0. Hardy Ellis was the coach and some of the players I recall were Doug Gray, Johnny Trott, George Benway, Dick Lumpston, Happy Snow, Bill Nickerson, Ernie Lamb, and Teddy Alcaide was the manager. Ahhh, to be a teenager again.”

1958

Dave Lamb’s book Stolen Season, the story of his 11,000-mile journey by RV through baseball’s minor league, has been reissued as an ebook. Check it out at www.DavidLambWriter.com. His wife, Sandy Northrop, has finished her fourth documentary on post-war Vietnam. You can view it at www.RetroReport.org, scroll down to “Agent Orange: Last Chapter of the Vietnam War.”

1964

Pete Heins emailed that during a recent appointment at a local hospital on Whidbey Island, near Seattle, WA, he discovered his phlebotomist had roots in eastern MA and that her stepfather Horace Houser had gone to a private school in Brookline, MA during the early 1960s. “I told her that I’d spent grades 7 and 8 at the old Rivers campus in Chestnut Hill, and she said her stepfather had gone there and was class of 1962. I remember him from my early days at Rivers: small world!”

1965

John Bottomley wrote, “I am in my 27th year as executive director of The Fuller Foundations which includes a charitable foundation and Fuller Gardens in North Hampton, NH. It features 1700 rose bushes in bloom by mid June! Steps away from the Atlantic Ocean. Come take a peek! Nina and I are celebrating 39 years of marriage this year. We have two children: Lisa, who lives in NH and Tim and his wife Lauren who live in Charlestown. If anyone from the Class of 1965 or for that matter any Rivers alums are in the area stop by!”

1966

Court Dwyer emailed, “Busy summer of 2014 for class of ‘66 in Maine. Several classmates made it to Rod MacPhie’s in Kennebunk for mini Maine ‘66 reunions in July and again in August: Steve Cline, Tom Swaim, and myself. No one took pictures! Suzanne and I attended fellow classmate

Si Balch’s daughter’s wedding in Brooklyn, Maine, again in July. Beautiful spot, beautiful wedding: again no pictures! We just see so much of each other, I guess, it’s not as much of an event as it used to be to warrant pictures. We have a full 25% of our class who live or summer in Maine. Suzanne and I also spent some time in August at Dewey beach in Delaware with our daughter, her husband and their son, one of our three grandsons, and saw their new house in Loudoun County, VA. Si and his wife Lila and Suzanne and I attended a Paul Stookey concert in September together. I have been active with a lot of volunteer work since retiring, including acting as a docent for the Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse (FPPL), giving tours and conducting historical information sessions on the lighthouse from April to October. I also do several things for AARP, including income tax assistance in the winter and teaching an ‘over 50’ refresher driving course which earns graduates a break on their auto insurance. In addition, I continue my work with the Maine State Society Sons of the American Revolution, this year acting as their secretary and treasurer.”

1967

Andrew Flake wrote, “Still living happily and productively on Martha’s Vineyard. Paid my last tuition bill for one of our three daughters. June and I had dinner in LA with Bob Haberman and his wife after 47 years!” Lou Grossman wrote, “We had a very busy summer. In April/May Patti and I were blessed with our 6th and 7th grandchildren (five grandsons and two granddaughters.) Our newest grandson is in Needham, MA and our newest granddaughter is in Lafayette, CA so we’ve been traveling coastto-coast. When we weren’t traveling we spent time at our condo in Lee, MA relaxing in the Berkshires and enjoying all the culture in the area. I have two sons in the real estate business with me so I’m trying to “smell the roses” as time permits. I’m also thinking about an encore career doing philanthropic work and family business coaching. Finally, I spent a lovely time reminiscing about Rivers Country Day School at David Feldman’s 70th Birthday party which was attended by many Rivers alums! That’s all for now.”

CLASS OF 1969 Bill Whittemore, Erik Johnson, Cary Corkin Bob Lider wrote, “I’ve retired from JPMorgan Chase but will continue as an adjunct professor in the Graduate Program at SIM University in Singapore. My permanent home will be in Naples, Florida.” Skip Shaw emailed, “Loving Colorado, enjoying my work. My daughter, Lindsey, and her husband, Ryan, are having their third child, and live in Boston. Christopher is an EVP of the George F. Young Foundation in Dallas.”

1969

Cary Corkin hosted members of the Rivers Robotics team in May for a special behindthe-scenes tour of The Entwistle Company in Hudson, MA, where he is president. With a host of large military contracts, most of the products Entwistle makes are on a much larger scale than what the team works with every day in the robotics lab. The facility houses every aspect of the design process from engineers who work on developing designs, to machinists who create the materials for executing the design, to military inspectors who make sure the design fits the bill for the contract.

1972

Drew C. Bililies is President/CEO of the Alternative Leisure Co. Inc. of Bedford, begun in 1983 to provide recreation, travel, and leisure opportunities to children, teens, adults, and seniors with disabilities. Drew is married to Maria and has a son, Charles, a graduate of Cornell and owner of Souvla, a restaurant in San Francisco, and a daughter Alexia, a graduate of WPI and the University of Copenhagen and a specialist in disaster management. Drew and Maria have been married for 35 years and reside in Bedford, MA.

1973

Bernie Torri emailed, “After providing dance music to various Rivers Day Camp open houses, Camp Director Ed Schreider asked if I could give a DJ skills session at camp for the summer. Ed was my CIT counselor back when I was a student and then a counselor myself. So after a 39 year break,

Fall 2014 • Riparian • 19

Student Alumni News News CLASS OF 1974 Front, l to r: Joel Hozwasser, Jean Cotter, Sturdy Waterman Back, l to r: Nick Vantine, John Codman, John Neilson, Sal Giglia Not pictured: Bob Tremblay, Milt Yanofsky

I returned to Rivers Day Camp as a special counselor. Given my WRSB roots at Rivers, I agreed to a weekly DJ Fun class. Good to see Russ Halloran and Jim Navoni from the ‘70s. The spirit of Paul and Mark Licht (from Florida) can be felt. It was fun to be back on campus.”

1977

Joe Ansaldi and his wife of 30 years, Eileen, had dinner with Jack Jarzavek in Dublin. They have lived in Ireland for twenty years. Their 23-yearold daughter is working in London, and their 19-year-old son will got to university in Japan in the fall. Jeffrey Lowenstein wrote, “I received the prestigious Dr. Robert Burke Award from the Metropolitan District Dental Society for my volunteer efforts. I am currently the editor of the Metropolitan News: “All the News to Smile About” and will be district chairperson (once again) in June 2015. I am also working on a dental talk radio show with Rivers classmate John Sperber and Sophia Perry.” Neil J. Rosen and his wife, Nancy, have lived in Virginia Beach for the past 14 years. Neil is currently a hybrid asset-management property consultant. He works with lenders, investors, syndication firms and developers to optimize the value of an operating asset (see www.njrrcs. com). Nancy is an event planner for the Sheraton Oceanfront. They have three boys, Scott (26), at Care Core National—a health benefits provider in Hilton Head, SC; Matthew (18), a freshman at Virginia Tech, enrolled in the Pamplin College of Business (he has an opportunity to walk-on and pitch fall ball for the baseball team); and Daniel (16), a junior who will play varsity baseball this year. Stephen Simmons has tapped into the popular “Farm to Table’”movement in his two-year-old restaurant, Lincoln Park, in San Anslemo, CA, adding his own spin with a “Grapes to Glass” philosophy. Located just south of both Napa and Sonoma valleys and twenty minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge, he builds his menu and wine and beer list by utilizing the most local resources possible—diners know just how far their food and drink have traveled in order to reach them. Simmons has been a chef in the Bay area and beyond for the past 25 years, including Casa Madrona, Lark Creek Inn, and his own Bubba’s Diner. Eleven years ago he became the food service director at George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch and Letterman Digital Art Center. Today he still oversees the Lucas campuses as well as Lincoln Park.

20 • Riparian • Fall 2014

Steven Simmons ‘77

Norm Dobbs, Jack Jarzavek and Joe Ansaldi ’77 in Dublin.

1986

Bill Bullard wrote, “My wife and I with our twin boys just completed a month-long, rollercoaster road trip across the United States and Canada. We visited 28 states, 13 parks, and drove 9,200 miles over 31 days. Amazing trip! Only sorry we didn’t visit Rivers along the way!”

1987

Greg Stoller wrote, “We’re incredibly pleased that our daughter, Emily, just began Rivers in 6th grade, with her older brother, Bradley, who is now in 8th grade. I’m honored to be chairing the Career Development Committee, and we look forward to a productive year. Two years ago we began a TV show project on entrepreneurship which is slowly beginning to gain steam nationwide. Check out our latest episode at http:// www.bclob.com/category/media/video.

1991

Carolyn Kavanagh-Gaither emailed, “2014 has been by far our most trying year since my husband and I started living overseas. After finally managing to secure a paid position in Nigeria as a relocation consultant, my children and I chose a self-imposed evacuation in the wake of the Ebola crisis in West Africa. At first, we toured Ireland and the UK in an effort to create a great holiday out of a bad situation only

CLASS OF 1989 Kevin Clark, Chris von Rumohr, Niall Carney to return to a government enforced shut down of every school in Nigeria. I returned to Houston with our children and have been home schooling them since—out of a hotel. I think I finally understand the meaning of ‘hardship.’ Still, we love this life and are hoping to return to Nigeria to finish our assignment. If not, we will certainly welcome our next assignment with open arms. Stay tuned…!”

1994

Mark Szretter is engaged to Alicia Leece, planning on getting married in summer of 2015.

1998

Ian and Meg Meropol welcomed a new addition to their family, Tess Hayes Meropol, born on June 13th. Tess is the second daughter for Ian and Meg. Anna Rose was born in March of 2012.

Student Alumni News News

Connecting Coast to Coast

ummer is a great time to kick back and relax. Alumni on both coasts took time out to reconnect with old friends at a number of gatherings hosted by Rivers. The Boston Summer Social drew dozens of alums to Tia’s on the Waterfront, in what is becoming a new tradition. Perfect skies, fun food and drinks, and plenty of conversation were on tap for the evening. Mid-summer brought opportunities for alumni in both Los Angeles and San Francisco to come together. Bay area alumni met for delicious brunch at Spruce in San Francisco one Sunday in July, while the LA group met a few evenings later at Luxe Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills for dinner.

Paul Croce ’97, Omar Kennedy ’03, Myles Lee ’57, and Neil Drachman ’81 in LA

Introducing the Rivers Alumni App No matter where you live or how busy your schedule is, you will be able to connect with other alums and keep up-to-date on the latest Rivers and alumni news. Download the “EverTrue” app from the iPhone app store or Google Play store to your mobile device, or scan the QR Code. Choose The Rivers School as your community, and follow the prompts.

Elizabeth Kohn ’05, Victoria Russell ’05, Brian Davis ’06

For more information, email the Alumni Programs Coordinator, Meg Speranza at m.speranza@rivers.org, or go to https:// www.rivers.org/evertrue.

Richard Miller ’75, Leslie Abrams ’92, Mike Mabardy ’89, Carl Narcisse ’02 in SF

Brad Karelitz’04, Kaleigh Hunt ’09, Meggie Woodruff ’09, Jacqueline Gannon ’09, Will Cushing ’05

Jennifer and Jason Gorman ’92, Jo-Ann Lovejoy and Monty Lovejoy ’76, Greg Cahill ’77

THE RIVERS MOBILE APP F O R A LU M N I , P O W E R E D BY E V E R T RFall UE

2014 • Riparian • 21

Student Alumni News News CLASS OF 1994 Philippe Moufflet, Peter DiBona, Beth Grannan, Mark Szretter, Sara Masucci, Marc Rosen, John Gaines

Marc Stroum emailed, “My wife Britney and I welcomed our first baby girl, Avery Jane Stroum, into the world on August 29. She has been an absolute joy, and we couldn’t be happier. We can’t wait to bring her over to Rivers for some events this year. In addition to Avery we ‘bit the bullet’ and left our condo in the city for a house in the burbs.”

2000

Ed Lewis married Caroline Holden on September 13 in Newport, RI. In attendance were classmates James Bernson, Robbie Choate, Pete Carberry, Paul Nadaff, Ricki Askin, Jeremy Belcher, Jess Toochin ’01, and sister Charlotte Lewis ’02.

2001

Sarah Amsbary, daughter of Bruce T. Amsbary (Director of Finances and Operations), was married to Bret Eytinge in Seattle, WA on April 26, 2014. Her bridal party included Dana Amsbary ’05 (Maid of Honor) and Melissa Davis ’01 (Bridesmaid). Jill Hoffmeister married Dave DeMello in Newport, Rhode Island on Sunday May 25. At the wedding (pictured bottom right) were: Back l to r: Ali Grabler Stein, Liz Soule Leary ’98, Kathryn Jigarjian Fagin, Liam Harty, Danielle Levine, Charlotte Lewis ’02, Mike Moody; front l to r: Becca Soule, Donnie Nicholas, Sean Irving, David DeMello and Jill Hoffmeister DeMello, Amelia Hutchinson and Monica Walsh Mosseri (all ’01). Adam Staley wrote, “My wife Shannon and I welcomed identical twin girls, Emerson Diane and Elena Margaret, into our family. All four of us are doing well, living in Minneapolis, and looking forward to our eventual trip back to Boston.”

CLASS OF 1999 Todd MacDowell, Dave Garsh, Nicky Constant, Melissa Bennet, Dave Lyons

The Stroum ’98 Family

Nathan Steven Townley was born on March 6th, the same birthday as his mom, Lisa Townley.

Melissa Davis ’01, Sarah Amsbary ’01, Dana Amsbary ’05

Nathan, son of Lisa Townley ’01

David and Jill Hoffmeister DeMello ’01 and guests

Ed Lewis ’00 and Caroline Holden 22 • Riparian • Fall 2014

Student Alumni News News

Parker, son of Bill McGinty ’02

Gregg and Julia Robinson ’02

Jackson ’10, Myrhia ’04, and Gus ’07 Brewer

2004

2002

Jeff Handler and his wife, Laura, welcomed their daughter Sarah Grace Handler on June 27th. Charlotte Lewis got engaged to Michael Aylward (St. Sebastian’s ‘02) on August 28 in the presence of Edward Lewis ‘00, Jess Toochin ‘01, Kathryn Jigarjian ‘01 and Jill Hoffmeister ‘01. “An unforgettable surprise proposal in front of family and dear friends.” Bill McGinty and Feryal Sacristán, both Rivers faculty members, welcomed son William “Parker” on August 10. Dave Olverson is a NYC blogger, ukulele player, and investor. He writes for The New York Budget, where he explores ways to save money and make money while enjoying the best of what city life has to offer. He also produced a video on YouTube recently entitled “Spend Less Than You Earn and Invest the Rest.” Julia Robinson wrote, “I recently got married to Gregg Robinson of Cape Elizabeth, ME. The wedding took place on Saturday, August 23rd at the Lyman Estate in Waltham, MA. It was a beautiful day and memorable night celebrating with fellow alumni CJ Yanofsky ’04, Caitlin Tierney ’02, and of course, my brother Matt Williamson ’98.

2003

Ashley Pooley has been living in San Francisco, CA since 2009. She is currently working at LinkedIn as an account executive.

Rhia Brewer was married in Islesboro, Maine on July 26, 2014 to Blake Foster. This Rivers family includes parents Richard and Laura (longtime faculty member) and brothers, Gus ’07 and Jackson ’10. Samantha Hubball ’07 was her maid of honor. Jesse Comart emailed, “I met my wife Marissa in college and we were married in Beacon, NY in the Hudson Valley. We currently live in New York City.” Andrew Joyce emailed “I’m a third year associate in the litigation practice group of Schulte Roth & Zabel, a Manhattan-based law firm. I’ve been at the firm since I graduated from Columbia Law in 2012. My work focuses on securities law disputes, white collar crimes, and complex commercial litigation. I’ve been in New York City for five years now and always try to explore the city when I can, but nothing beats going back to Massachusetts to visit friends and family!” Brad Karelitz emailed, “I’m thrilled to share that I was married on July 26th in Buffalo, NY! Cara and I met when we were at Union College together, and we dated for six years. Cara is an English teacher at the Boston Latin School, and I’ve recently been promoted into an Institutional Business Development role at Columbia Management, where I’ve now been working for six years.”

Marissa and Jesse Comart ’04

Justin Tardiff will be starting in the MBA program at Wash U in St. Louis. He is very excited to be leaving Texas and moving to St. Louis.

2009

Jillian Dempsey emailed, “This year I’ve been playing professional women’s hockey for the Boston Blades in the CWHL (Canadian Women’s Hockey League) and coaching for a U12 team based out of Newton and running on-ice skills sessions/private lessons. My Teach for America training started this summer with Institute in Lawrence. And I’ll be an elementary school teacher at Community Day Arlington in Lawrence, MA for the next two years. I am really looking forward to it.”

2010

Leah Brady graduated from Providence College in May 2014 with degrees in marketing and psychology. She is currently working for a marketing services firm in Wakefield, MA. Christian Dallmus emailed, “I started my first full time job in July with VCE, the Virtual Computing Environment Company as an Associate Delivery Specialist. Basically I will be traveling up and down the east coast to clients where I will be installing, managing and configuring converged infrastructure systems.”

2005

Will Cushing just finished his first year of law school at Boston University

2007

Miles Jacoby is making his broadway debut understudying the lead role in “The Book of Mormon.”

Fall 2014 • Riparian • 23

Student Alumni News News

Join the Rivers community to celebrate excellence in teaching at the

2014 Chair Affair

CLASS OF 2004 Front, l to r: Lyz Schuster, Jennifer Grabler, Rhia Brewer, Samantha Hubball, Stephanie Bailey, Devin Ferreira. Back, l to r: Brad Karelitz, Annie Weiss, Mike Swersky, Tim Choate, Jon Fainberg, Jack Maloney

Alexander Kotsatos ’05 and Anna Kelemen-Kotsatos

Thursday, October 24, at 6:30 p.m. in Bradley Hall Taste fine wines, enjoy tasty hors d’oeuvres, and catch up with old friends and faculty.

CLASS OF 2009 Front, l to r: Megan Delaney, Jeff Rautiola, Jamie Lapides, Will Sahakien, Jacqueline Gannon, Olivia Rochman, Becca Nichols, Meggie Woodruff, Kaleigh Hunt, Becca Duffy, Ben Meiseles. Middle, l to r: Adam Roth, Phil Seidl, Marisa Fox, Liza Warshaver, Emily Creedon, Sarah Parkinson, Rachel Howe, Janey Ades, Adrienne Anderson, Maddy Levitt, Rebecca Yau, James Lovejoy, Laura Blackett, Rob Margolis. Back, l to r: Bryan Ginsberg, Steve Manning, Ben Foley, Cathleen Connors, Courtney Griffin, David Goscinak, Marc Torrice, John Matthews, Domenic DelFavero, Andrew Navoni, Stefen Laukien

Tickets $100/person

($30 FOR ALUMNI CLASSES 1999–2011)

All proceeds to benefit the John B. Jarzavek Teaching Chair, held by Visual Arts Department Chair David Saul. To reserve tickets go to www.rivers.org/Page/Chair-Affair 24 • Riparian • Fall 2014

Kate Smith emailed, “I graduated from Princeton in June and am now living in New York (within a few blocks of Deb and Michelle Edelman, also ’10!) and working in the Industrial practice at Spencer Stuart, an executive search consulting firm.”

2011

Evan Gallagher just completed a pretty long trail ride in Vermont…11 Days and 168.6 miles! He got stuck with a nasty blister though, so he is completing the trail this fall. Carlie Tarbell was honored as America East Defensive Player of the Week in September. She is the senior goalkeeper for the UNH Field Hockey team.

Student News In Memoriam William B. Bond ’43, February 8, 2014 Arthur R. Chute ’49, April 21, 2014 Rev. Edward S. Gleason ’51, December 17, 2013 David McCutcheon ’74, June 4, 2014 Eric J. Rubin ’76, January 21, 2014 Currier Smith ’35, June 22, 2014 Spencer E. Streetman ’00, September 14, 2014 Blair F. Weille ’49, February 12, 2014