Reunion 2015

BY LIZ ISDALE P’16, ‘22, DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Why I love RHS… “The People and The View.” With this simple phrase, Terry Coes summed up Reunion 2015. While we lost Terry on June 13th, on Reunion Day, his spirit was with us as we celebrated the alumni and the community of Rocky Hill School. All in attendance enjoyed the laughter, remembrances, and camaraderie of being together on that very special day.

Belinda Snyman shared a special message in honor of her colleague and very good friend, Barbara Cardano. With a career spanning 34 years and extensive experience in teaching mathematics in diverse educational settings—from Lautoka, Fiji, to charter, public, and independent schools in Rhode Island, Barbara made a lasting impression on students, parents, and colleagues. After 16 years at Rocky Hill, we bade her farewell, knowing that she will remain in our hearts forever.

Paul Tukey shared his heartfelt words for his colleague, Terry, that included many funny remembrances. Dennis Wu ’10 was asked by Mr. Coes months prior to Reunion to come back to RHS and help us celebrate his retirement. The entire speech was shared in a draft with Mr. Coes and his family prior to his passing. The following is the concluding paragraph of Dennis’ speech.

It was a beautiful summer moment in time and the campus’ scalloped shores did not disappoint. The Alumni Association meeting was well attended, a new slate of officers was elected, and the decision to establish an alumni scholarship fund to support alumni families sending their own children to Rocky Hill School was a major accomplishment. The alumni lacrosse games were great fun for alumni and spectators. Thank you to all who participated.

The Alumni Reunion reception celebrated milestone classes ending in 0 and 5 and the 80th birthday of Rocky Hill School. The Reunion Committee offered a special silent auction featuring Red Sox tickets, RHS pottery, and an amazing assortment of items that raised $1,500 for the Alumni Scholarship. There was a special dedication of two trees placed on campus. A cherry tree was placed near the Head of School’s house in memory of Richard Thorpe ’78. A flowering dogwood was placed near the southwest portico of the Alan F. Flynn, Jr. Academic Center in memory of Martha Shaw ’80 and in honor of Sarah Shaw Siskin ’78 . Thank you to Janina D’Abate ’78 who spearheaded the donation effort of both trees. Flik Dining offered reunion attendees a spread of delicious locally grown fare, and the birthday celebration cake donated by Antonio’s Bakery was delightful.

Two long-standing faculty members were celebrated for their commitment and careers at RHS:

“Mr. Coes has been at Rocky Hill School for 41 years. By a gross estimation of taking an integral of a saturating exponential function assuming a 20-student class size in 1974, and a 40-student class size in 2015, that accounts for about 1,443 students whose lives Mr. Coes had shaped for the better. And that is not including all the teachers, parents, and administrators that had the fortune to get to know Mr. Coes over the years. And, if one day a student asks about the person whose photographs adorn the halls of Rocky Hill, many will jump to tell them about Terry Coes: a photographer, a diehard Red Sox fan, a loyal friend, an adapter to change, a leader in his field, an author, a husband, father, and now grandfather, a beloved colleague, an endeared teacher, an inspiring person. Mr. Coes, I know for a fact, and you can write a mathematical proof to prove me wrong on this, but I know, that we will miss you tremendously. Mr. Coes, we thank you.” A video of Dennis’ speech can be found on the Rocky Hill website.

Looking forward to 2016, celebrating classes ending in 1 and 6. Please save the date for Reunion on June 11, 2016. #ThenNowAlwaysRHS

(7) Tree Planting Ceremony in memory of Richard Thorpe ‘78 - Jason Dittleman, Cathy Buchanan, Sam Dumas ‘79, Peter Verrechia ‘78, Trixie Dumas ‘81, Janet Thorpe ‘80, Nancy Thorpe, Gil Thorpe, Janina D’Abate ‘78, Karl Wadentsten ‘78, Sarah Siskin ‘78, Tyler Thorpe, Allison Thorpe, Quinta Thorpe-Furtado, Jeff Clark ‘79, Jen Young Schnell ‘79, Betsy Blanchard Rafferty ‘79, Sven Wadensten ‘13, Paul Tukey.

(8) Kati Coes Swanson ’02 and Kevin Swanson; (9) Coes Cubes; (10) Alumni Lax; (11) Class of 1985 - Ken Brodin, Rich Clark, Linda Wadensten, Lori Sinape, Jessica Seigel;

(12) Gerry Unger and Xiaotian “Dennis” Wu ’10; and

(13) Former and Current Faculty in attendance - Mary Wright, Emi Flynn, Paul Tukey, Roxanne Card, Maria Emmons, Patty Pontarelli, Liz Isdale, Pat McNally, Jason Piccirilli ‘92, Motia Holowinsky, Els Shine, Donna Tocco Grenaway, Alan Flynn, Peter Hanney, Peter Branch, Barbara Streuli, Belinda Snyman, John Hughes, Kathy Geiersbach, Ernest Drew, Ken Geiersbach, Richard Dixon, Barbara Cardano, Gary Monnier, Gerry Unger, Matt Gnolfo, Sam Dumas, Trixie Dumas, Sarah Taylor, Beth DeGerlia.