spring bridge 09

Severn THE BRIDGE

SPRING 2009 For Severn School Alumni and Friends

vintage severn

our favorite summer photo from the 50’s

SPR I N G 2009

spring 2009

departments

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Campus News

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Adios, Señora

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Thank you, Mr. Thompson

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People of Color Conference

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From the Archives

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Remember Me? Fallen Heros from the Class of 54

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Synthesis and Scholarship: the Severn Fellows Program

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In the Zone: the Learning Resource Center

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Legacy Photo

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Alumni Weekend

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Athletic Hall of Fame

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Severn Sports

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Alumni Baltimore Reception

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The Best Book Ever!

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Class Notes

EDITOR The Bridge is published three times each year. We encourage all of our readers to respond with comments, suggestions and information. Please contact: SEVERN SCHOOL Pamala Heffner, Editor, The Bridge The Boone House 116 Maple Avenue Severna Park, MD 21146 p.heffner@severnschool.com 410-647-7701 ext. 2260 © 2009 SEVERN SCHOOL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Severn School does not discriminate against any person in admission, employment, or otherwise because of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or age.

Severn School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and approved by the Maryland State Board of Education.

On the cover: Highley Thompson ’88, Chris Lamon ’84, and Kirk Jay ’87 managed to keep smiling after the Alumni Lacrosse Game, Alumni Weekend ’09

T H E B R IDGE

from the headmaster At the beginning of each school year, the Middle School holds student council elections. If

you were to visit campus during “campaign” week, you would find the halls abuzz with excitement, posters and flyers covering every inch of space on the walls, and campaign managers (many times five or six per candidate) excitedly promoting their contender. One enterprising young sixth grader even sought me out to ask my advice for his platform. Prior to his inquiry, it had been over 30 years since I had considered the notion of leadership and its relationship to Middle School student council. It was not surprising, however, that many of his suggested planks were remarkably familiar to those espoused when I was in middle school – the promise of a soda machine in every classroom, no homework Wednesdays and “get out of detention free” cards. To be honest, I wasn’t much help to the young man. There were few, if any, concrete planks I could suggest at the time.

This conversation and my failure to help the young man resonated with me as I crafted my remarks for the Student Council induction ceremony a week after the elections.

“Leadership has been and remains an important part of a Severn School education. It is not simply on our admission materials and letterhead, it is the essence of what we do here everyday. There are three words that are at the root of my notion of leadership: service, sacrifice, and humility. I’ve been in schools for many years, and I’ve always believed that helping others to be their best is a higher honor than being the best. This carries over into how I see my role as Headmaster here at Severn. It is an honor for me to try and make this school the very best it can be. I hope to do this by serving the mission of the school, making sacrifices every day for the sake of the school and being respectful and humbled by the talents of the amazing people with which I work. I see it as my job to make others around me taller. Obviously, this is in the figurative sense and not in the literal sense. What I mean is that I want others to stand tall for what they believe in, to allow them to be in the spotlight, to not be threatened by other’s success and to make sure they are celebrated appropriately. If they are better, then the School is better.

This is what I would ask of the new student council members and of all of you because you certainly do not need a title in order to lead - make other people around you taller, make other people around you better by serving your position with humility and sacrifice.”

It is hard to convey to Middle School students – and, for that matter, to any age student – that leadership is hard. It requires that you give of yourself; it is a long race run on obscure paths, not a sprint before a cheering crowd; there will be times one must persevere in the face of resistance and criticism; one will be asked to do what needs to be done rather than what one wants to do; and, at times, one must swim upstream for something in which he or she believes. There is no one algorithm for successful leadership. It does, though, require courage.

Over the past decade there has emerged a preoccupation with leadership.

A simple Google search turns up nearly 35 million results for the “art of leadership.” While it may seem cliché - but clichés come about because they are true - Severn’s purpose is to instill the qualities one needs to lead. This is as true today as it was when Rolland Teel headed the School.

Students are taught that while it is easy to have conviction as a spectator on the sidelines, it takes courage to be active in one’s own education and to show passion for people and ideas. This may not be as popular to a sixth grader as no homework Wednesdays, but the activity and passion the students exhibit each year during campaign week indicate to me that today’s Severn students are well on their way to being effective leaders of their and our future.

Go Admirals!

Doug Lagarde 4

Josie Cipriano ’09 leads the chant during the 2008 presidential election

SPR I N G 2009

from the chairman of the board For all of us in the Severn community this is a bittersweet time of the year as we have had to say farewell to a group of talented, engaged, and intelligent seniors. With their departure, we are offered a chance to reflect and are reminded that these students came to us as children and have left us as confident and competent young adults.

2008-2009 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mrs. Pamela Hoehn-Saric, Chair Mr. Lee S. Owen, Vice Chair Mrs. Marjorie A. Corwin, Secretary Mr. John R. Soderlund, Treasurer Mrs. Kimberly Corbin Aviles ’79 Mr. John Bremer Mrs. Debbie Chartier Mrs. Carolyn D. Crawley Mr. Michael DeStefano ’84 Mrs. Dianne W. Feldman Mr. Raymond J. Herman Mr. Donald Hug Mr. Gorton Parker (G.P.) Lindsay ’73 Mr. Christopher McCleary Mr. James A. Nolan ’62 Mr. Wilson H. Phipps ’74 Mr. Robert W. Rabbitt ’82 Mr. Robert L. Roth Mr. Steven R. Schuh ’78 Mr. J. Adger Stokes. Jr., Immediate Past Chair Mr. Christopher A. Taylor ’71 Mr. William F. Utz Mrs. Pamela Drain Waltjen ’77 Mr. E. Marc Williamson ’80 Mrs. Nancy J. Wooddell Mrs. Liz Mann Carlin ’74, Asst. Secretary Mrs. Julie Pinnix-Fish, Asst. Treasurer HONORARY TRUSTEES Mr. Thomas L. Carter ’53 Mr. H. Franklin Knipp, Jr. SEVERN SCHOOL ADMIRALS PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Mrs. Sharon Blaszczak

Through their experiences at Severn, these students developed their own values, established their individual identities, and learned to lead with conviction of character. These 100 graduates are going to move on to new communities where they will continue to encounter challenges and opportunities and to demonstrate the leadership skills they have acquired here at Severn. We firmly believe that the Severn experience has strengthened and reinforced each student’s confidence in their own unique identity and values and his/her courage to lead.

At Severn, students face a myriad of challenges; academic, moral, physical, and personal. Each has experienced moments of great success and accomplishment as well as times of struggle and difficulty. Throughout these times, caring adults have helped shepherd them and turn these hurdles into teachable moments. Teachers have helped students overcome obstacles, explore new opportunities, and do the right thing. The guiding hands of dedicated faculty, engaged parents, and fellow students transform promising children into young men and women of character and courage.

As author Gail Sheehy observed, “The secret of a leader lies in the tests he has faced over the whole course of his life and the habit of action he develops in meeting those tests.” While we don’t wish hardship on our students, we hope that we have instilled the “habits of action” to meet the inevitable challenges they will face in life.

We will miss the leadership of the Class of ’09 and their contributions to school spirit, academics, sports, and the Severn culture. We look forward to the growth that rising classes will no doubt demonstrate as they take on more leadership responsibility. We welcome the new students who will be joining us next year, students whose identities and values will be shaped during their formative years as students at Severn.

Pamela Hoehn-Saric

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T H E B R IDGE

MISSION Severn School challenges its students to pursue excellence in character, conduct and scholarship, to marshal the courage to lead, and to develop the lasting desire to serve and achieve.

We believe this is best realized in a community where adults model these qualities and where each student is known and valued.

PHILOSOPHY Severn School believes in educating the whole person in a student-centered, supportive educational community that values the dignity, self-worth, and potential of each individual.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT ­In support of the mission of Severn School, we seek to create and sustain a thriving, diverse community in which human differences are understood, respected, and seen as vital reflections of our larger society and world.

As a community of learners, we value human diversity as a rich, living educational resource for fulfillment of our mission. Our diverse community includes (but is not limited to) the dimensions of gender, race, ethnicity, economic status, religion, physical ability, and sexual orientation.­

OOPS!

Our corrections and apologies for mistakes and omissions in the Fall 2008 Bridge In the ‘Letters’ section of the Winter ’09 Bridge, the correct spelling is David & Debra Myers - alumni parents (Kaitlyn ’06) and mock trial advisors, Debra a former APA president, and Dave a frequent and fabulous Bridge contributing writer.

My personal apologies to these dedicated Severnites. - ph Ashleigh Jobson ’05 was missed in the alumni athlete listing. She is the goalie for the University of Maryland Women’s Polo team. See pg. 28 for more on Ashleigh.

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around campus

For the second time in three years the Severn School Mock Trial team made their way into the State Championship match. Disappointingly, they could not quite match their 2007 success as the team dropped a one point heartbreaker to Allegheny High School, which was competing in their third consecutive final. Severn claimed the Circuit Five Championship after defeating Centennial High School of Howard County and then Severna Park High School, whom they met for the second time this year. In the semifinals The Admirals edged perennial power and former state champ Richard Montgomery by a point, then came up just a single point short in a well-tried and televised final against Cumberland County.

Assisting Mrs. Susan Jackson this year was Judge Michael Wachs (Allie ’08 and Sam ’11) who was instrumental in the team’s success. Mrs. Jackson stated that, “Judge Wachs has given up every Saturday morning since late November and many evenings to help the team prepare and practice. He is committed to teaching the kids and helping them become the best they can be. Without him, we could not have been this successful, and the team knows it – in fact, they affectionately call Judge Wachs ‘Papa Wachs’!”Also contributing were Mr. Erik Nyce (Caroline ’09) and Mr. and Mrs. David Myers (Kaitlyn ’06).

Team members included seniors Casey Cronin, Shannon Kiddoo, Olivia League, Evalyse Limon, Caroline Nyce, Noah Pyles, and Kate Williams; juniors Robert Hoehn-Saric, Max Schechter, and Kelsey Wooddell; sophomores Catherine Darden and Cody Moran and freshmen Reilly Dunn and Natalie Peelish.

Logan McNamara ’09 at the Lincoln Memorial

Living History Upper School History Department Chair John Bodley and his AP U.S. History class attended the celebration of President Lincoln’s 200th birthday at the Lincoln Memorial. At the ceremony, Logan McNamara ’09 was awarded the Frederick Drum Hunt Outstanding AP History Student Award by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. This award includes the presentation of a $1,000 savings bond.

The Hunt award is presented by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, a fraternal order founded by officers of the union army after the death of President Lincoln in 1865. The Military Order of the Loyal Legion is a patriotic society founded in 1865 on the day following Lincoln’s assassination, organized

by United States Army and Navy officers.

Membership is limited to such officers and their direct male descendants. Fred Hunt ’30 was a civil war student (as a nine-year old boy, Mr. Hunt was in attendance at the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in 1922; he was part of an audience that included Robert Todd Lincoln, son of the President) and a longtime promoter and patron of research by Severn students.

h h h

SPR I N G 2009

Leading Ladies Leaving Every year we say good bye to departing faculty, but this year we say good bye to a select group of women who collectively have been with Severn for more than 75 years. We wish them all the very best and extend our sincerest thank you’s for all that they have done for Severn School.

Brian Mark Weber and Dr. Jackie Baugh

Connected to the Classroom Severn English teachers, Dr. Jackie Baugh and Mr. Brian Mark Weber spoke at the Developmental Education Association of Maryland’s (DEAM) Spring Conference in May at Montgomery College. This year’s conference theme was, “Getting Connected: Technology and Developmental Education.” Their presentation at this state-wide convention shared their uses of technology at Severn with educators across the state. Mr. Weber focused on effective use of technology in a variety of educational venues ranging from in the classroom to distance learning; Dr. Baugh presented a developmental approach to literary criticism which she developed and pilot-tested. One of the attendees at their session said the “methodology really appears to engage students and connect to their assumptions, beliefs, and values.” Both of our teachers were not only pleased to present at this conference but also for the opportunity to hear “The methodology about the pedagogireally appears to cal successes of colengage students leagues around the and connect to their state. They brought assumptions, beliefs, back to campus supand values.” plemental websites, instructional strategies to engage students in the classroom, and materials which will directly enhance the English curriculum at Severn. In addition, they brought back technology initiatives which schools across the state are currently investigating to keep their students educated via courses conducted online.

Linda B o u rd e l a i s e joined the Severn Middle School staff in 1992 as the Paideia Program Director, Language Enrichment Specialist and Linda Bourdelaise English 6 instructor. Linda has nurtured and guided her three children (Neil ’98, Tara ’01 and Chase ’04) and countless others through the halls of Severn School, many of whom she also guided through the streets of Europe in her role as the 8th grade trip coordinator. She leaves Severn as the Middle School Assistant Head. Middle School Guidance Counselor Rande Schneider writes, “I will miss her optimistic outlook and positive energy.”

Kay Franey started at Severn School in 1993 in the newly founded department of human development. Kay, an alumni parent (Sarah Kay Franey ’92 and Emily ’94) instituted and developed the Life Skills program designed to increase student’s self-awareness and to teach skills they can use throughout their lifetime. Friend and colleague Toni Michelsen writes, “In Kay’s 17 years of teaching at Severn, she has been a tireless advocate for helping teenagers make wise decisions, develop a sense of responsibility, and live healthy and well-balanced lives.”

Severn also says farewell and good luck to the following faculty and staff who are leaving this year: Debby Hoskin Karl Ervin Jen Burns Tereza Belyna

Susan Barkes joined Severn’s faculty as a Middle School Spanish teacher in 1993 and is still greeting students in that language. Susan is also an alumni parent - her children Megan ’99 Susan Barkes and Hunter ’01 are part of the Severn family. Former Middle School Head Laura Kang tells The Bridge that Susan “... is known for her gentleness, her passion for the Spanish language and culture, and her deep insight into children and what makes them tick.”

Linda Stone, Assistant Head Librarian, who has spent her professional life as a teacher and a librarian, joined the Severn staff in 1995. Linda once stated that “librarians are the original search engine.”

Fellow poet Bob Linda Stone Kennedy tells The Bridge, “Linda Stone has been a true colleague.

She is a great cook, a great traveller, an aficionado of fine music, and a wordsmith of distinction.

Linda and I have shared many a meal, poem, concert, and travelogue. I shall miss her.”

Julie Pinnix-Fish became the business manager at Severn School in 1995. Besides the general business and physical plant duties that Julie managed, she oversaw the financing and construction of three major Julie Pinnix-Fish buildings on campus during her time here. Julie and her daughter Molly ’13 are returning to her home state of Alabama. Advancement Director Molly Green writes, “I will miss Julie’s smile and her positive attitude towards Severn and life in general.”

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T H E B R IDGE

Adios,Señora

For 33 years Claudia McLaughlin has educated and entertained countless Severn students and faculty it is almost hard to imagine Severn School without her , but the Beloved Spanish Teacher and Language department head is indeed retiring and she will be truly missed

from friend and colleague, Latin teacher Thomas Heslin “After the blur of 23 years of working together, it is nearly impossible to come up with an anecdote or two that adequately captures Señora. She is a complex character who demands several chapters’ worth of print. What I think of first is her tiny yet powerful voice demanding in impossibly clear diction, “Get to school, you miserable kids!”, or “WHAT is the meaning of this?!?” I also think of the regal hand wave with which she summoned and dismissed those of us who entered her room, or the music pouring out of that room, or of the sombreros and ojos de dios and other cosas Latinas that transformed her room into a part of the world where Spanish is spoken, lived, and enjoyed.

I will miss Señora’s joy. I will miss her wickedly quick sense of humor and her clever and incisive comments. I will miss a fellow lover of language, and and a fellow lover of teaching.

She leaves Severn a better school.” from friend and colleague, Science teacher John Beckman “I have had the privilege and honor of knowing and working with Señora for the past 20 years. My first impression of Señora was that she was very strict. I noticed that students were afraid to pass her in the hallways, fearing a verbal assault on their interpretation of the dress code, which was rarely up to Señora’s standards. I have to admit that I rarely notice if a student is wearing a belt or a tie, let alone what type of shoes or style of shirt they may have on, so to me it was amazing that anyone could be so keen eyed and knowledgeable of the intricacies that are Severn’s dress code. It didn’t take long however, to realize there was more to Señora than her amazing ability to spot dress code violators.

(a.k.a. Señora McLaughlin) Mrs. Peterson believes that “a good teacher must develop enthusiasm for the subject matter, and display a willingness to work and a desire to achieve.” A good student should show “critical thinking and a questioning mind.” She feels that Severn “has a spirit, a sense of common interests,” most likely due, she feels, to the small size of the school body.

- excerpt from the 1977 Navigator, Ms McLaughlin’s first year at Severn School

When you get to know the students who have had Señora as a teacher and spend time with her outside of a school setting, you get to understand what lies beneath. Students who have had her in class will tell you that her bark is bigger than her bite and that she has a wonderful sense of humor, is passionate about her subject, and truly cares about the success of her students. My daughter commented that “she would teach us how to speak the language in funny situations and was always willing to help anyone who needed it.” I have enjoyed getting to know Señora and working with a colleague who is professional, caring and genuinely interested in the success of her students. She will be greatly missed.”

Señora tends to the dress code of Headmaster Lagarde

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Thank you, Mr. Thompson SPR I N G 2009

From 6th grade to high school graduation, from English teacher to Upper School Head, Severn School has been home to Highley Thompson since 1981. The Severn community wishes Highley all the best in his move to Chestnut Hill Academy outside of Philadelphia.

Friend and colleague, Molly Moore Green ’83, writes about their long relationship.

It is with a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat that I bid Highley Thompson farewell…after 25 years as an integral part of the Severn School family…and my own family.

and was thrilled to welcome him back to Severn as a Middle School teacher. He taught math and latin and quickly become one of the Middle Schooler’s favorites.

Highley and I literally grew up together. Our two families have always been close. From the mountains of Roanoke, Virginia, (where Highley and I were both born) to the waters of the Chesapeake Bay where we have both lived since 1979, the Moore and Thompson families are interwoven. From holiday celebrations, birthday parties, ski vacations, weddings, funerals and even a stint “living together” (3 Moore kids, 3 Thompson kids, Anne Moore and Linda and Johnny B Thompson - it was crowded) to sharing our careers here at Severn, Highley and I indeed have a long history.

With school administration in mind, Highley headed to Charlottesville in 1994 for his master’s degree in school administration. He didn’t stay away long though…and picked up his Severn career as an Upper School teacher this time in 1995. As is typical in independent schools, Highley did a myriad of jobs before becoming the Upper School Head in 2005, the first Severn School alumnus to hold that post.

Highley began his student years as a bright eyed 6th grader – eager to learn and happy to be a part of the Severn community. With a solid group of friends Highley was an outHighley (L) with Roberts Moore ’88 on his first day at Severn School, 1981 standing student and athlete during his years as a Severn student. Severn’s Middle School (or Junior School as it was called in those days) was still young…and the oldest Severn students were intimidating to our young Thompson. I have a vivid memory of him being thrown in the trashcan by an over zealous Upper School student. Perhaps this is why he is so adamant about Upper Schoolers behavior around our youngest students.

Always one to seek new challenges, Highley is taking his next challenge as the Upper School Head and Assistant Head of School at Chestnut Hill Academy outside of Philadelphia. While we are all proud of Highley’s accomplishments, we will certainly miss his bright smile and infectious laugh. There is no one who can take his place.

Perhaps the most important thing that Highley and I have shared is our passion for the Severn School community. It is an interesting thing to build your career in the school where you grew up. There are really no skeletons in the closet for us. Our lives are an open book.

During our time at Severn we have seen the school grow and change to meet the requirements of a new age. Severn has been extremely good to both of us and allowed us to grow and develop as educators and leaders. In return, I hope that we have both helped Severn become the excellent school we are today. Personally, I will miss him more than most. Highley is like my younger brother. Our family history together is long and deep. I will miss you, Higgy…but you will always be part of the fabric of my life  and the life of Severn School.

- by Molly Moore Green ’83

Highley always knew that he wanted to teach. He came to interview at Severn in the spring of 1992 with Louise Williams, head of the Middle School. Louise had been impressed with Highley as a student Upper School Head, Highley Thompson ’88 in 2009

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T H E B R IDGE

people of

c o l o r In December 2008, six Severn students and their chaperones, Librarian Laurie Wachs, and Middle School English teacher James White, attended the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Attendees Mona Khacho ’11 and James White, Middle School English Teacher share their thoughts on this amazing opportunity.

Student attendees of the People of Color Conference Saakirah Vester ’09, Ebony Cromwell ’11, Kelonte Adams ’10, Dominique Thompson ’09, Tre Duncan ’11 and Mona Khacho ’11

THE PEOPLE OF COLOR CONFERENCE was an experience that was truly life changing and eye-opening. I am forever grateful that I had the chance to participate in such a wonderful program. I got the opportunity to discuss issues that concerned me in a welcoming environment. I, myself, am considered “the minority of the minority” because of my Middle Eastern background. At the conference, I met many others who were also Middle Eastern and we discussed many of the discriminative problems we faced in the world. During our discussions, I came to the conclusion that people are discriminative based upon ignorance, and that it was my job, as well as others, to spread knowledge and to educate people about different cultures, with the hope that people would be more accepting and open to other types of races, ethnicities, and cultures. After learning this, I decided that from there on, I would inform others about my culture and 10

my background. This is the only way to help make our communities more diverse and open to diversity. This would also help prevent slanders and aspersions made based on the ignorance towards those of another race, culture, gender, or whatever difference there may be. So, upon coming back, the biggest lesson I learned from the conference was to EDUCATE and SHARE with others in order for everyone to be well-informed. This is the biggest step to take towards becoming a more diverse community.

Although it was not the objective of the conference, one of the things I learned during this experience was how to be independent. I am also sure that my peers who went, Kelonte Adams ’10, Ebony Cromwell ’11, Tre Duncan ’11, DominiqueThompson ’09, and Saakirah Vester ’09, agree with this. The moment we arrived, we were dropped off and told to register. Register?? Alone? Without

the guidance of our chaperones? This was when we first realized that we needed to get things done on our own from there on. So, we registered, without the help of anyone, on our own, six teenagers who have always been dependent on their parents to do everything for them. From there on, we learned a lesson of how to be self reliant. Every morning, we would have to wake up on time to be able to make it to breakfast, if not, you were out of luck. As responsible and independent as I thought I was, I came to realize that I still had a lot to learn about the responsibilities of life. After breakfast, missed or not, we would have to get on the bus to make it to the conference hall. At the conference hall, we had our schedule in hand and map in other and we had to get to the appropriate place at the appropriate time. I was busy at all times and had to travel from one place to the other in a MILE-LONG conference hall. I felt like an important business woman who had “places

SPR I N G 2009

to go, and people to see.” My biggest lesson was how to become more self-reliant and more responsible. I learned how to manage my time efficiently to always try and be at the right place at the right time!

One of the most memorable things we did was go out the night that we arrived. It was Dominique’s birthday, and being her 18th, it was only fitting to celebrate big! Mrs. Wachs and Mr. James had a surprise in mind, reservations at Nola, one of EMERIL’S franchises. It was a great time, with food so rich and exquisite.

When we left the restaurant and decided that since tonight was the only opportunity we had to go out, we decided to buy some souvenirs. We explored the rich, deeplyrooted culture in New Orleans that was like a country in itself. We had a great time out that night, and I would repeat the experience in a heartbeat; meeting new people, discussing issues that concerned me and others, traveling to another part of the country, and being able to express my opinions in an environment where it was okay, where everyone was accepting of every type of person. Thank you Severn for this wonderful opportunity. I learned a lot about diversity and about myself at the same time.

- Mona Khacho ’11

Dominique, Saakirah. Ebony and Mona

Laurie Wachs and James White were the fortunate People of Color chaperones

LAURIE WACHS AND I were privileged to be selected as chaperones and attendees for the NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) and Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) in New Orleans last December. The overall purpose of the conference was to provide students with learning and leadership opportunities around issues of diversity so that they might return to their schools and share their knowledge. The adults were provided with many seminars and classes aimed at helping us as educators and mentors. The students did a wonderful job and have great stories to tell; however, I must recount my singular experience.

At the conference, I learned a new word: Hapa. Hapa is a Hawaiian word that refers to someone of mixed Asian or Pacific Islander ethnicity. Until this conference, I had never known there was term to describe me that was not pejorative. My time at Severn marks one of the very few occasions to work with someone like Mecael Yuan (Middle School French and ceramics) who, like me, is part Chinese. I grew up with a strong self-image of being, for all intents and purposes, well, “white.”

At the conference there were “Family Groups” set aside for adults to mix with others of the same ethnic identity. It was a time for sharing stories, swapping strategies, and community kvetching.

On a lark, I attended the “Asian/Pacific Islander Family Group” because, even though I was not raised in a Chinese home, I was always curious about what it is like. Imagine my surprise and awe when I entered a room with hundreds of teachers just like me. I mean just like me. Not everyone was full-blooded this or that; many were enough generations removed to be thoroughly American. All were teachers like me. Never before have I had the opportunity to meet and converse with so many Asian Americans in one place.

The conference gave me copious materials on how to recognize and promote diversity in our school, great reading lists, and fantastic ideas for lessons. I listened to a personal hero of mine, Sidney Poitier, and met progressive, exciting educators from around the country.

I was privileged to engage many different teachers and educators in a variety of topics. By the end of the conference, I was energized to bring ideas back to Severn. I felt a stronger connection to the young people we brought with us.

The one thing I learned, however, never to be forgotten is a word. Hapa.

- James White 11

T H E B R IDGE

‘Severn School challenges its students to pursue excellence in character, conduct and scholarship, to marshal THE COURAGE TO LEAD, and to develop the lasting desire to serve and achieve. We believe this is best realized in a community where adults model these qualities and where each student is known and valued.’

the

- Severn School Mission Statement

courage to lead

Faculty Emeritus, Robert W. Gray; Kelly ’09 and Kevin Crumrine ’04; Zack Lank ’08 in Les Misérables

JUST IN CASE the formative years for middle and high schoolers are not difficult enough, let’s add this concept . . . the courage to lead. Volumes have been written on leading - but what happens when we add courage to the mix?

Actually, courage seems to make the whole idea of leadership a little bit easier to swallow. The definition of courage from The American Heritage Student’s Dictionary works very well; “The quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger or hardship with confidence, resolution and firm control of oneself.” It is the quality of mind and spirit, this integral part of the Severn experience, that enables our students to face leadership dead on. From command of a classroom, to commanding our troops, to a command performance, leadership and the courage required will rise to the top.

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From the Archives by Brian Mark weber

A discussion of the word leadership evokes many different ideas and though we often believe that we know what the word means, its elusiveness often inhibits us from teaching our young people how to become leaders. Today in education we often speak about the need to create leaders, yet there is no real consensus about the process of becoming a leader or about the qualities which a leader must possess in order to be successful and effective. We must also keep in mind that leadership in itself is not necessarily good unless those who follow are directed toward an objective which is right and just.

above the interests of the nation, organization, or company. Courage without character may inhibit one from gaining the respect and admiration of those he or she wishes to lead. How do we produce students who are confident and courageous while humble and selfless at the same time?

One of the most important aspects of good leadership is the experience of failing. We live in a time when failure is not an option and is dismissed as antithetical to human development, yet the mistakes made by our young people will enable them to learn and grow in a multitude of ways. Parents and educators must remember that our young people are imperfect, that they will make mistakes and choose the wrong path from time to time, but this should be viewed not only as an opportunity to teach them right from wrong, but

it is today. During the first four decades of Severn’s existence, the world presented many challenges and obstacles to the young men who would leave Severn and enter the Naval Academy or West Point. Political, military, and economic instability around the world necessitated a Severn education which ensured that these men would be fully prepared with the courage, discipline, and moral character needed to face the threats of the future.

The solutions to our problems today are no less daunting or complex. In the future we will need leaders who are capable of making important decisions founded upon their ability to connect with others in a compassionate way, to know what is right based on character derived from life experience, and the humility to act while remembering that the lives of others will be impacted both directly and indirectly.

Leadership may be defined broadly as someone who develops strong connections with others, encourages them to view the world in a different manner, and convinces them to take a step in a new direction. The transformative As we cannot truly know what is process of becoming a leader is a dramatic step which necessitates a certain During the first four decades of Severn’s existence, the world good unless we also know what is degree of courage. Merely conform- presented many challenges and obstacles to the young men not good, our students will not be ing to the way others act and think who would leave Severn and enter the Naval Academy or able to make the right decisions is not courageous; however, sharing West Point. Political, military, and economic instability if they are not familiar with the thoughts and ideas which are vulner- around the world necessitated a Severn education which ramifications of making the wrong decisions. The courage to lead, alable to the scrutiny of others demands ensured that these men would be fully prepared with the though on some level based on amconfidence that our ideas are good courage, discipline, and moral character needed to face the bition and personal interest, serves and our intentions are noble. Before threats of the future. the greater good on a much higher teaching our young people that couralevel when an individual remains geous leadership is merely about the level of one’s confidence, we should consider as an important experience in making sound firmly connected to the ideals of compassion, that taking a risk and acting independently judgments. Courageous leadership in itself humility, and character. Leadership which does not necessarily result in true leadership. may take one down a path which is not good is purely based on self-interest is built on a Many leaders throughout history have led for the individual or for those who follow, weak foundation, for serving one’s self does others down a destructive path based on con- but courage tempered by compassion, hu- not take courage. For nearly a century Severn fidence and self-interest alone. The courage mility, and character may be channeled more has produced men and women who have to lead must be strongly connected to other effectively and appropriately into leadership. entered some of our nation’s finest colleges, important values if we are interested in creat- These experiences will enable our students to universities, and military academies. Many ing the best leaders. For example, courage lead effectively for the good of the individual of these graduates proceeded to become leaders in the fields of business, education, and without human compassion may lead one and for those who follow. the military. If our young people will indeed to make decisions without understanding or We tend to think that the world today is become true leaders of the future we must recognizing the impact such actions have on more complex than it was nearly a century instill values in them which will continue to the lives and careers of others. Courage withago, but one only need to study history to see serve them throughout their lives. out humility may result in leadership based that the world into which Severn was born on self-interested motives which are placed was just as complex and challenging then as

13

T H E B R IDGE

remember me?

This spring, members of the class of 1954 gathered at Seven School to celebrate the shared experiences of 55 years and it can be said there was a moment dedicated to two classmates who shared the experiences of Severn, the Naval Academy and ultimately made the supreme sacrifice in service to their county.

One came from California for just a year, the son of a career Marine officer, with the desire to follow in his father’s footsteps, the other matriculated from Connecticut, seeking not just the Navy blue uniform of his father, but the stars of flag rank.

Graduating from Severn in the spring of 1954, Edward R. Browne of San Diego, and Carl J. Peterson of Bridgeport, and several class mates traveled south along the banks of the Severn to “Boat School” where Severn meets the tide.

Although Ed Brown would be assigned to 5th Company, and Carl Peterson to 11th Company, there was much they shared. Plebe summer was pretty much the same for all. As First Class Midshipmen, they responded to the parade commands of Brigade Commander (later Admiral) Charles Larsen in the fall and future National Security Adviser John Pointdexter during June Week. They may have shared stories about Severn School with Captain Slade Cutter ’31, who chaired Navy’s Physical Education Department in 1957-58, or chuckled at the adventures of a particularly rowdy classmate over in 17th Company named John Sidney McCain. They heard the graduation address of President Eisenhower and hurled their midshipman covers (hats) in the air with the last “Hip-Hip Hurray,” although Ensign Peterson would replace his anchor with the shield and eagle of a US Naval Officer and 2nd Lieutenant Brown would achieve his goal of wearing the Marine Corps Globe and Anchor.

Despite the shared experiences, each man brought his own set of skills to the banks of the Severn. Carl Peterson was a sports fan, a lacrosse player, a crew member of the racing boat Freedom, and although he “never attained stars in academics, through seriousness and application, he proved himself a useful man with the smoking slipstick (slide rule).” (Lucky Bag 1958). Ed Browne was a student and musician whose intellect allowed him time to “utilize a talent for beating a snare drum for both the “Hellcats” and the Concert Band” and was “known to have more answers than the slide rule” and an “ability with books that was known far and wide.” (Lucky Bag 1958) Ultimately MIDN Browne would stand 8th in the Class of 1958.

Although Ed Browne had achieved his goal to follow the footsteps of his dad as a Marine officer on graduation day, he was clearly a career Marine, entering the artillery branch of the Corps. At the same time Carl Peterson was performing duties as a surface warfare officer with gusto, taking back to back sea tours, two tough staff positions, then serving as Operations Officer on the USS Ogden, planning for eight amphibious assaults with ingenuity and tenacity.

While every Navy and Marine officer has ambition and dreams of a successful career, the very nature of the profession requires a journey into harm’s way, and sometimes the dreams are cut short by the requirement of sacrifice for one’s country.

By July 1967 Captain Ed Browne was “in country” as the skipper of Battery D, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines. An outstanding leader, even

by Marine standards, and upbeat about his mission, Captain Browne was described by a member of his command as “next to my father, the finest man I have ever known. . . fair and direct, he demanded competence and focus . . . I think of him nearly every day. Semper

“...I knew them fairly well at school. They were just regular guys playing sports and walking to class. It is a shame we do not pay closer attention to our classmates while we are with them and attempt to pick out . . . their best attributes because once we go our separate ways . . . memories fade and true heroes become diluted with career and family all too quickly.”

- Brent Taylor ’54

14

SPR I N G 2009

We have shared the incommunicable experience of war. We felt, we still feel, the passion of life to its top. In our youths, our hearts were touched by fire.

- Oliver Wendall Holmes Jr.

Fidelis.” While supporting the 9th Marines in the opening stages of Operation Kingfisher, an interdiction effort near the DMZ, Captain Browne’s battery came under rocket fire from enemy positions, one round of which required the ultimate price of the Severn alumi’s call to duty.

In December 1968, LCDR Carl Peterson volunteered for duties in Vietnam and subsequently assumed command of River Patrol Squadron 57 (RIVPATRON 57) operating as part of the brown water Navy in the Mekong Delta. Leading his men in quick reaction strikes as part of Operation Giant Slingshot, his successes led to a surge in counter-attacks by the enemy. On April 2, 1969, LCDR Peterson was aboard one of his craft enroute to his command vessel when it was struck from ambush by a B-40 rocket, mortally wounding him.

A shipmate of LCDR Peterson would many years later say of Carl Peterson that “the passage of time has only increased [his] value as an officer, gentleman and Naval hero.”

In death, the two Severn alumni would share one last honor. LCDR Carl J. Peterson’s name is engraved on Panel 27W, line 001 of the Vietnam Memorial and the name of Captain Edward R. Browne is carved in the black marble at Panel 24E, Row 5.

As is so often the case, there are footnotes to history and those who make it.

By some twist of fate, despite extensive service by members of the USNA class of 1958, only four members of the class were killed in Vietnam, and half of that number were Severn graduates.

In an awards ceremony at Memorial Hall in 1998, Major Richard Alexander, USMC, USNA ’58 received a long delayed and much deserved Marine Corps Commendation Medal. During the ceremony, under the auspices of classmate ADM Larsen, Major Alexander touched, with deep emotion, on the sacrifice and dedication to duty of his classmate, Captain Edward Browne, USMC. LCDR Peterson was honored in a different manner, as the Navy named a Spruance Class destroyer for him. DD-969 was commissioned in July 1977 and served Carl Peterson’s country and his Navy for 25 years prior to being decommissioned in 2002.

We honor both men for their service and their sacrifice. There is no doubt that Mr. Teel, among so many others, was proud to know them.

- by David H. Myers

Ed Browne in the Post Graduate Class of 1954 and Carl Peterson

15

T H E B R IDGE

synthesis and Scholarship

W

hat do you get when you combine one’s knowledge of American literature, a love of writing, and a flair for the dramatic? What happens when polymer science and physics cross paths with skateboarding? Who can predict where science leaves off and psychology begins in the study of memory? And what comes of a mixture of anatomy and clay, with dash of humanity tossed in for good measure?

Eight members of the Class of 2009 asked those very questions at the outset of their senior year, and then spent several months seeking, developing, discovering, and building answers to these questions and many others. The eight students comprised the inaugural class of the Severn Fellows Program, which was launched for the 2008-2009 school year for the purpose of inviting students to transcend the curriculum and embark upon scholarly pursuits of their own design.

In the spring of their junior year, rising seniors learned of the opportunity to develop their own unique independent projects for their final year at Severn. Interested applicants were encouraged to think big and to consider uniting two or more fields of study in order to find that point where their passions might intersect. A faculty committee reviewed eighteen applications and carried forward the eight projects that will forever mark the program’s first year. Each of the Severn Fellows was paired with an adult mentor, either on campus or in the community, and all of them entered into the program with the knowledge that they would not receive grades or academic credit for their work: they were encouraged to seek knowledge for its own sake, and to feel the joy of scholarship that can neither be quantified nor evaluated. And boy, did they ever: Kristin Boulier ’09 worked with science teacher Eric Witzel to study the finer elements of DNA science, even extracting her own samples and analyzing them with electrophoresis. She continued her studies into the early summer at the Center of Marine Biotechnology in Baltimore.

Inspired by Auguste Rodin, Casy Chehayl ’09 set out to create a life-size sculpture that might capture the same level of humanity. While working with so much clay presented its challenges, it also offered Casy the valuable opportunity to discover her own style as she brought anatomy and art together.

Ian Duncan ’09 demonstrates his longboard skills

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Amidst the commitments of being a three-sport athlete and a dynamic leader in many areas of the campus, Katie Dickerson ’09 found time to investigate the work of nongovernmental organizations as they battle the

SPR I N G 2009

John Turner, Academic Dean, developed the THE SEVERN FELLOWS PROGRAM, “... inviting students to transcend the curriculum and embark upon scholarly pursuits of their own design.”

spread of AIDS in the developing world. Katie even extended her study as she traveled to Ghana to work in a rural clinic in the two weeks before graduation.

Ian Duncan ’09 saw the Fellows Program as an opportunity to study structural polymers and their application in recreational sports. Ian designed, built, and tested a series of wood, fiberglass, and carbon composites before settling on a final design that allowed him to build his own longboard – from scratch.

Ariel Mitchell ’09 was quite certain of her project from day one as she linked her interest in Mark Twain to her intuitive understanding of theater and even enlisted a Stanford professor to serve as her mentor. Her original play Cut in Twain chronicles the last few years of the author’s life and has drawn rave reviews from those who have been privileged to read it.

Noah Pyles ‘09 was inspired by his junior-year experience in Marc Buckley’s Current Issues class and set out to study the impact of the teachings of Muslim cleric Sayyid Qtub upon both revolutionary and terrorist movements in the modern Middle East.

very first memories that we all have inside of us – and even conducted experiments on local schoolchildren as part of her efforts.

The 2009 Severn Fellows shared their work with the school community on May 12-14 as they each delivered multimedia presentations to an audience of classmates, teachers, parents, and guests. The scope and production of each talk reflected the work of each Fellow: Noah, for example, presented a lecture that offered an overview of Islamic history so as to offer context to his work with the writings of Sayyid Qtub, while Ian displayed a series of his trial fiberglass plywoods before rolling across the floor of Roche Lecture Hall on his final product. And Kristin’s slideshow included action shots of her kitchencounter extractions of onion DNA – who would have thought that meat tenderizer is the key to the process?

As the presentations came to a close on the final afternoon, it was easy to sense that end of these projects is only the beginning for these inaugural Severn Fellows. A brilliant play, a one-of-a-kind guitar, and a deeper understanding of childhood memory - these early successes merely suggest the great things to come as these scholars continue to synthesize ideas and pursue knowledge for themselves and others.

And the beat goes on, as the 2010 Severn Fellows were recently selected. They will begin their work this summer in fields as diverse as photojournalism and naval engineering, and they will look forward to sharing their work and their talents with the Severn community next May.

Ever heard of a musician who actually builds his own guitar? C.J. Soderlund ’09 did, working with the staff of Paul Reed Smith Guitars to learn both the art and science of manufacturing guitars before building his own working instrument.

Kaleigh Spollen ’09 worked with Professor Lowell Groninger of UMBC as she investigated the science behind human memory.

Specifically, she investigated the phenomenon of early episodic memory – those

- by John Turner

The first Severn Fellows gathered during senior week prior to their picnic. From left to right, Katie Dickerson, Ian Duncan, Ariel Mitchell, CJ Soderlund, Kristin Boulier, Noah Pyles, Casy Chehayl, Kaleigh Spollen

17

‘Zone’

in the Learning

Resource Center

The opening of school year 2008- 2009 also included the opening of the Learning Resource Center, a designated space designed to build and serve a community of learners. At year’s end, Susan Jackson, Learning Resource Center Director, reflects on this extremely successful initiative and the students and faculty it served.

The sign on the bulletin board outside the door reads “Learning Zone,” but it certainly doesn’t adequately describe what happens here every day.

If one were to take a snapshot of a recent day in Severn’s new Learning Resource Center, he or she might see: • Chris, sprawled out on one of four mod-looking upholstered chairs, reading Flyboys, a book Mr. Buckley assigned for Global Studies.

• Ashley, working with Macy on a biology question about DNA. • Ms. Francis, guiding Nick through a calculus problem.

• Alex, discussing Langston Hughes’ childhood and its influence on his poetry with Katie.

• Rob, finishing a Spanish test in one of the silent study rooms.

• Noah, searching the web for information about Edward Hopper, an artist he will include in his art journal.

• Bridget, Lindsey, and Jack at one of the study tables, quizzing each other on their knowledge of modern presidents and policies.

• Nate and Erik, listening intently to Mr. Lenham as he explains a Chemistry concept.

The scene is always changing, depending on the difficulty of an assignment, the closeness to a due date, or the schedule during any given quarter. However, the scene is never different. The Learning Resource Center is the place to be; it is a place where kids and teachers are building a true community of learners, a place that strives to fulfill its purpose - to “serve both students and faculty … a community that supports and rewards its members for their desire and willingness to grow – a willingness to identify their strengths as students and faculty, then to set goals to become better at what they do” (Learning Center Purpose Statement).

When I came to Severn School seven years ago, Margaret Foster, Severn’s Upper School Learning Specialist, and Susan Gregg, retired Study Skills Director, had already implemented and built a successful program to help students with learning differences. I felt good about what we were doing to support these students, but felt we could do even more. What about the many students who might need occasional support in math or writing, for example? Margaret and I shared our thoughts about a space where students could come and work with teachers and share their knowledge with other students.

It was in October, 2007, that John Turner, Severn’s Academic Dean, brought together a learning resource center task force, a committee of interested staff including teachers, as well as admissions and college counseling professionals. As we sat together at our first meeting, we outlined

our goals, our questions, and our plan of action. A short four months later we shared our completed plan with Highley Thompson, Upper School Head and Headmaster Doug Lagarde, and in the fall, after a summer of construction and planning, we opened the Learning Resource Center. Students wandered in, some apprehensively, questioning this purpose of this new space – Was it a place for kids with “learning issues?”

Should I be seen in such a place?

Beth Francis, our math resource teacher, and I wanted more than anything to create an environment that wasn’t intimidating. We added peer tutors to the scene, students who would come to the center regularly to work with interested students. When they weren’t helping someone, they were getting help – from each other or from available teachers. Soon students of all ages and abilities were dropping by and coming back. This community of learners grew and is still growing.

Besides helping to create a community of learners, the center is helping to create a community of leaders; it supports the school’s mission, that leadership, along with character, conduct and scholarship, “is best realized in a community where adults model these qualities and each student

“... it is the students themselves who pursue their knowledge in this space, and they do so with energy and passion”

is known and valued.” Beth and I are present and supportive, but we are not “in charge” of the learning that takes place in the learning resource center. To be sure, it is the students themselves who pursue their knowledge in this space, and they do so with energy and passion. They are the true leaders when it comes to their learning; watching them grow is so very exciting!

Severn’s learning resource center still has challenges to face. One of our goals for next year is to better serve middle school students and, thus, help to connect the middle and upper schools more effectively. A change in the middle school schedule will allow more time for us to work with these students. Another goal is to support the importance of continued learning for teachers by offering teacher development opportunities.

I was thinking the other day about Ashley. I never knew her very well.

I had heard that she was a great cheerleader, but beyond that I knew little. I know so much more about her now. Ashley has a gift for biology as well as cheerleading, and she has been regularly sharing that gift with a few struggling junior biology students. I was also thinking of Jack. I didn’t know he was bilingual until someone suggested he could mentor a Spanish speaking sixth grader. Patient and caring, Jack immediately connected with this boy. These seniors, and many others, have been an integral part of the learning resource center’s first year success. They have also been an integral part of my own faith in Severn School’s mission. It is alive and well and living in many places within our school walls – one of these places is the learning resource center!

- by Susan Jackson, Director, Learning Resource Center

Paving the way for the Learning Center Pam Hoehn-Saric is an educator in the truest sense of the word. Pam is passionate about teaching, learning, and Severn School. Through her work as chairman of the Education Committee, Pam worked hand in hand with the School to make significant improvements to our educational program. As a former teacher, Pam was particularly interested in teachers being continually educated on the many different ways students learn. She was also interested in seeing Severn dedicate more resources to help students and teachers in a variety of ways.

Pam has worked extensively with the Education Committee, the Learning Center task force and the school administration on this initiative. Through the generosity of the Smart Family Foundation, Pam and her family have stepped up to provide the endowment funds necessary to name and bring the Learning Center to life.

As chairman of the Board of Trustees, Pam has been a champion for Severn’s Strategic Plan and its focus on people and programs. There is no greater example of this dedication than her commitment to name the learning center.

The Hoehn-Saric Family Center for Academic Excellence will have its official ribbon cutting and naming ceremony in September of 2009. A special thank you to Pam and all of those who have helped make this dream a reality.

“The success of the Learning Center is a tribute to the excellent teachers, Susan Jackson and Beth Francis, who are devoted to helping students with different learning styles and a powerful statement that Severn School is committed to providing support to enable all students to achieve their personal best. The Learning Ccenter has become a hub for students teaching students, study groups and individual and small group tutoring sessions.

In its inaugural year, the Learning Center has exceeded expectations. We look forward to the integration of Middle School students, extended hours and the involvement of Margaret Foster, a learning specialist.

We hope to see opportunities for teachers to work collaboratively, to explore their pedagogical techniques and to find opportunities for curriculum development and interdisciplinary study.”

- Pam Hoehn-Saric

T H E B R IDGE

severn school

2009

Athletic Hall of Fame

On May 1st Severn began Alumni Weekend ’09 celebrations with the induction of three outstanding athletes to the Severn School Athletic Hall of Fame. Prior to the induction ceremony, the School unveiled the long awaited Athletic Hall of Fame plaque that now hangs in the Edward St. John Athletic Center. Congratulations to the Hall of Fame’s newest members and be sure to check out the very handsome tribute to these fine men and women.

Tom Dawson `59 presents an original lacrosse watercolor by noted artist Guy Fairlamb on behalf of the Class of 1959 at the Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony; the newly installed Athletic Hall of Fame plaque

Cindy Petty ’77 h Truly a Lady Admiral pioneer, Cindy Petty was one of the first women to attend Severn for six years. As a three sport varsity athlete for four years, Cindy amassed many athletic honors in her field hockey, basketball and lacrosse careers. In her senior year, Cindy was a big contributor in taking the field hockey team from a previous 50/50 season to an undeafeated one. She was the second top scorer for varsity basketball with 102 overall and led in points per game with 14, 16 and 24 points.

Cindy was also the co-captain of the varsity lacrosse team and high scorer with 31 goals. She went on to play field hockey at Colgate University and returned to coach field hockey and lacrosse at Severn, earning the Arundel Sun’s Girls Lacrosse Coach of the Year in 1982.

Josh Sims ’96 h Josh was a four sport athlete at Severn playing, soccer (fresh-soph) football, basketball and lacrosse. Some of the awards he received while at Severn included First Team All County Lacrosse ’95 & ’96, Washington Post and Baltimore Sunpapers First Team All Metro ’96, Kimball Ground Ball Award ’95, and Second Team All County Football. He also was a recipient of the Severn School Scholar-Athlete Award, a member of the National Honor Society and winner of the Stewart Chemistry Award. Josh attended Princeton University where he was a three-time first team All-American, three time first team All Ivy League member, and two-time NCAA Midfielder of the Year. In 2000, he was captain of the Princeton Tigers Lacrosse Team, CLUSA’s Sportsmen of the Year, and First Team Academic All American. He also was named on an NCAA Top-8 honoree from a national pool of athletes in all sports for excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship. Josh and his wife Meghan Bauer Sims ’96 have two daughters. He is the co-founder and president of Icon Lacrosse and is the mountain/desert states sales manager for Warrior Lacrosse. He has played lacrosse professionally for the Baltimore Bayhawks, the Denver Outlaws and the Colorado Mammoth.

Dennard Melton ’98 h Dennard played varsity basketball and football from grades 9-12 at Severn.

Some of the awards he received at Severn include the MVP Award in basketball ’94 -’97, the MVP Award for football ’96 -’97, First Team All County Football Team ’95 - ’97, Washington Post All Metro Football and Basketball ’97 -’98. Dennard also broke the Anne Arundel County touchdown record with 65 touchdowns. In the MIAA individual records Dennard scored the most points in the league at 412 with 65 touchdowns and 11 two points between 1994 and 1997. He went on to play football at James Madison University where he achieved All American status in 2003/’04. Dennard is currently an assistant varsity football coach at Severn.

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welcome to the weekend alumni wekend 2009

SPR I N G 2009

Severn School Athletic Hall of Fame ­ 981/Charter Members 1 Milton R. Roberts ’37 Clayton “Buddy” Beardmore ’58 Coach Paul J. Kesmodel Coach G. Parker Lindsay Coach* Coach Captain Robert H. Woods 1982 Richard R. Pratt ’32 Coach William J. Hoover 1983 Vernon R. Selby ’22 Charles R. Zimmerman ’25 Everett W. Smith ’33 Jiles E. Freeman Jr. ’43 Charles “Chooch” Turner ’68 1984 Edmund Turner ’26 Gordon P. Chung-Hoon ’30 John M. Brenner ’36 John H. Giddings ’50 H. Craig Hubbard ’63 1985 Slade D. Cutter ’31 Lee M. Curry ’57 C. Alan Pastrana ’64 1986 John F. Pendergast ’37 Lawrence McCormick Jr. ’40 Edmund L. Turner ’50 David B. Pickall ’68 Coach Richard E. Webster 1987 John “Jack” Jones ’49 Bruce C. Burns ’61

Charles P. Goodell ’65 Peter H. Eldredge ’68 Anne “Sandy” Barbour ’77 1988 John C. Hampson ’30 Stephen H. Swift ’37 George H. Turner ’68 G. Parker Lindsay Jr. ’73 1989 Ericsson Reed ’31 L. Warren Klauer ’38 Harold T. Smith Jr. ’68 1990 Charles J. Schwartzberg ’56 Stephen L. Clagett ’65 David E. Cloud II ’68 1991 H. Timothy Albrecht Jr. ’53 Michael A. Clark ’65 Harry W. Hurst III ’69 David L. Wright ’69 Coach Sheila J. Keifer 1992 Blair “Buzz” Hall ’47 Richard D. Bennett ’65 Thomas H. Vitzthum ’82 Amy A. Zimmerman ‘82

1996 Stephen C. Rexford Sr. ’62 C. Douglas Carter ’65 Ann Wallace Riefe ’76 1997 Amy Santin Lathrop ’87 Coach Peter L. Dewald Coach Lynald E. Silsbee 1998 Betty Waters Phipps ’75 Howard C. Petty ’82 Andrew H. Burns ’88 Kathryn O’Connor Guest ’88 Amy J. Hewitt ’87 Athletic Director Fred L. Hewitt III 1999 Ralph M. MacMurray III ’58 * Brian D. Holman ’79 Catherine M. Herrick ’86 John R. Quinn ’87 2000 John L. Mehlig ’33 * Matthew Strohm Evans ’60 Joseph D. Stewart ’60 Leroy M. Sparks ’71 Abigail F. Janssens ’81

1993 R. Edward Strange ’70 Wendy E. Jones ’83 Coach Julian A. Domenech Sr.

2001 J. Randolph Coupland III ’37 William W. Hargrave, Jr. ’50 Megan Mylander Hanson ’80 Willie H. Mitchell ’82

1995 Wilson H. Phipps ’74 Alix Dickey ’79 Coach James Doyle

2002 Donald L. Nichols ’52 Stacey Hendricks Manis ’81

Ryan K. Wade ’90 Suzanne Weinberg Isidor ’91 2003 Robert H. Kesmodel ’62 Leslie Buono Whitman ’81 James C. Beardmore ’82 2004 Douglas Trettin ’82 Joan Chidester Craft ’94 Coach John C. Bodley 2005 Clifford H. Eley III ’52 C. Stuart Kiehne ’79 John Vereen ’95 2006 James B. McKinney ‘55 James C. McNealey ‘87 Milford H. Marchant ‘92 2007 Joseph N. Schaller ‘78 Joel F. Wallenstrom ‘87 Katherine Graw Lamond ‘96 2008 James W. Mealey ‘69 * Michael K. DeStefano ‘84 Jason Zachary Wade ‘92 Coach Karen Quarles 2009 Cynthia A. Petty ’77 Joshua S. Sims ’96 Dennard L. Melton ’98 *posthumously

Headmaster Doug Lagarde, Bill and Joann Sims accepting on behalf of their son Josh ’96, Dennard Melton ’98, Cindy Petty ’77, and Bruce Burns ’61, Chairman of the Athletic Hall of Fame

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T H E B R IDGE

ssing on the severn experience the

legacy photo

passing on the severn ex

LEGACY FAMILIES WITH STUDENTS CURRENTLY ATTENDING SEVERN

Kim Corbin Aviles ‘79 Tom Aviles ‘15

Fred Azar ‘58 Ginger Steele Jenkins ‘81 Chelsea Jenkins ‘10 Buddy Beardmore ‘58 Susie Beardmore Morris ‘85 Clay Morris ‘10 Hunter Morris ‘12 Logan Morris ‘13 James Brown ‘81 Kate Hoffman Brown ‘81 Bridget Brown ‘10 Chase Brown ‘12 Meredith Brown ‘14 Scott Bruther ‘81 Kyle Bruther ‘15 Bruce Burns ‘61 Darren Burns ‘82 Callie Burns ‘14 Scott Burns ‘73 Caroline Burns ‘09 Cathy Hewitt Carper ‘81 Kelsey Carper ‘09 Shane Carper ‘12 Mark Carroll ‘83 Mackenzie Carroll ‘10 Katie Carroll ‘11 Elizabeth Carroll ‘14

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passing on the severn experience the

legacy photo

Front Row: Callie Burns ’14, Logan Morris ‘13, Clatyon Morris ‘10, Hunter Morris ‘12, Zach Domenech ‘14, Mark Carroll ‘83, Elizabeth Carroll ‘14, MacKenzie Carroll ‘10, Katie Carroll `11, Chris Kiehne ‘12, Kelly DeStefano ‘11, Bob DeStefano ‘74, Andrew DeStefano ‘14, Tom Aviles ‘15, Hamilton Tyler Jr ‘14, Jake Koch ’13, Ed Koch ’67, Alec Green ‘13, Molly Moore Green ‘83, Cassie Whitehead ’15, Brad Whitehead ’73

Ross Cohen ‘76 Adam Cohen ‘09 Mark Cohen ‘12 Val Stewart D’Ambrogi ‘79 Stewart D’Ambrogi ‘09

Jerry Davis ‘71 Becca Davis ‘10 Jeff DeLude ‘79 Mike DeLude ‘09 Coleman DeLude ‘12

Mike DeStefano ‘84 Jack DeStefano ‘09 Kelly DeStefano ‘11 Brian DeStefano ‘14 Bob DeStefano ‘74 Bobby DeStefano ‘12 Andrew DeStefano ‘14

Tony DiJulio ‘83 Alex DiJulio ‘11

Julian Domenech ‘84 Zach Domenech ‘14 Laurie Craig Ewald ‘83 Anna Ewald ‘13

Tom Foard ‘78 Drew Foard ‘10 Allie Foard ‘12 Chester Goudy ’52 Jason Utz ’13

Bob Graw ‘85 Tori Graw ‘13 Maddie Graw ‘15 Molly Moore Green ‘83 Alec Green ‘13 Bill Greenfield ‘70 Aaron Greenfield ‘14

Rick Haefner ‘78 Patrick Haefner ‘13

SPR I N G 2009

xperience the

legacy photo

passing on the severn experience the

lega

Bob Rabbitt ‘82 Ryan Rabbitt ‘11 Olivia Rabbitt ‘12 Taylor Rabbitt ‘15

Denise Tray Rosson ‘78 Louis Rosson ‘10 Chuck Roydhouse ‘79 Chuck Roydhouse ‘10 Scott Schuh ‘83 Allie Schuh ‘11 Rob Schuh ‘15

passing on the severn experience the

legacy photo

Back Row: Denise Tray Rosson ‘78, Darren Burns ‘82, Bruce Burns ‘61, Julian Domenech ‘84, Louis Rosson ‘10, Nick Manis ‘12, Stacey Hendricks Manis ‘80, Maddy Graw ’15, Bob Graw ’85, Tory Graw ’13, Justin Kiehne ‘09, Stuart Kiehne ‘79, Mike DeStefano ‘84, Jackson DeStefano ‘09, Bobby DeStefano ‘12, Brian DeStefano ‘14, Ross Cohen ‘76, Adam Cohen ‘09, Mark Cohen ‘12, , Kimberly Corbin Aviles ‘79, Hamilton Tyler ‘81

Buzz Hall ‘47 Josie Cipriano ‘09 Rocco Cipriano ‘12 Bona Hurst-Ellis ‘73 Nick Ellis ‘12

Robin Ricks Jabin ‘78 Rod Jabin ‘78 Addie Jabin ‘09 Allison Flinchum Jaccard ‘85 Luke Jaccard ‘15

Steve Jones ‘61 Kasey Andrews ‘11 Hans Kaiser ‘76 Heinz Kaiser ‘11

Ed Koch ‘67 Jake Koch ‘13 Bill Kuethe ‘50 Rick Kuethe ‘77 Kathy Eldridge Kuethe ‘81 Mike Kuethe ‘09

Dick Lazenby ‘38 Stuart Kiehne ‘79 Justin Kiehne ‘09 Chris Kiehne ’12

Liz Angell League ‘76 Olivia League ‘09 Sophie League ‘11 Cedric Lewis ‘82 Kaila Lewis ‘13

David Littlepage ‘72 Erin Littlepage ‘12 Stacey Hendricks Manis ‘81 Nick Manis ‘12 Julie Katcef Maseritz ‘85 Jenna Maseritz ‘12

Steve Schuh ‘78 George Schuh ‘10 Mary Anne Koubek Smith ‘83 Anneliese Smith ‘14 Elizabeth Smith ‘15 Mandy Baker Spollen ‘87 Kaleigh Spollen ‘09

Ham Tyler ‘81 Hamilton Tyler ‘14

Brad Whitehead ‘73 Cassi Whitehead ‘15 Larry Wilbur ‘74 Kathryn Wilbur ‘12 Woody Wooddell ‘73 Kelsey Wooddell ‘10

The Legacy Photo is of Severn alumni with CURRENT students

G.P. Lindsay ‘73 Garrett Lindsay ‘11 Caroline Lindsay ‘15 23

T H E B R IDGE

welcome to the weekend alumni wekend 2009

Alumni Weekend2009

Class of 1959 with Headmaster Doug Lagarde and Ashley Rose McLaury, daughter of Edwin ‘Okie’ McLaury ’59 Amy Hackman Hilliard ’94 and Michael Calabrese ’94

Alumni parent and former admissions associate, Anne Habeck and Alumni Director Denise Tray Rosson ’ 78

The Class of 1984

Chuck Rogers ’97, Rachael Taft ’99 and Tracey Hartman Norm Masterson ’59 and Pat and Tom Dawson ’59

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Tom Bodor `86 and Margo Weinress Murray `85

Lots more alumni weekend photos on our website www.severnschool.com

welcome to the weekend alumni wekend 2009

The Class of 1954 shares yearbook memories with Alumni Director Denise Tray Rosson ’78

SPR I N G 2009

From the Class of 2004 Travis Jenkins, Erin McCord and Allie Fitzgerald

John Fry ’44 and Carl Christoph ’44

Some members of the Class of 1989

Several of the late G. Parker Lindsay’s family members attended the Kesmodel-Lindsay Brunch - from L-R (rear) Julie and Lindsay Dixon (grandson), Dudley Dixon Jr ’93 (grandson) and Kellay St. John, Blythe L. Larimore (daughter), Gorton Parker Lindsay ’74 (son) with grandchildren and great-grandchildren

From the Class of 1959 Monty Baker, Jack Norris and John Leimkuhler

Guests at the Kesmodel-Lindsay Brunch shared warm and humorous memories of their days at Severn School

Visit the media gallery in the quick links column, www.severnschool.com

25

T H E B R IDGE

severnwintersports

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE 2009 VARSITY SWIMMIN’ WOMEN ON THE B CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP AND AN UNDEFEATED SEASON OF B CONFERENCE MEETS

Swimmin’ Women Dominate

Farnham, and Laura Brown’12 set a new record (1:54.44) and earned All-county honors. In addition, Caroline Burns and Kendall Farnham earned All County individual swimming honors and Caroline, Kendall, Margot Farnham,’12 and Laura Brown also

The varsity Swimmin’ Women had an amazing season again this year, winning the B Conference Championships and going undefeated in B conference meets. We worked hard and had a lot of fun. The season began in November with switching practice locations weekly and doing dry land workouts twice a week in the gym. Before one dry land workout, the team met in the team room to discuss the goals for the season. It was quickly decided that the team goal would be to win the B conference this year. Reaching the goal was truly a team effort. Every swimmer in the championship meet scored points for the Admi- Louis Rosson’10 rals. In addition to winning the earned All County honors for the 400 free conference, The Swimmin’ Women also set relay. This is a truly special team that spent four new school records this season: Kend- a great deal of time together in the pool, on all Farnham ’10 set a new record in the 200 the bus, in the gym, and at numerous team IM (2:09.78) and 100 Fly (57.27), Caroline events. Congratulations to all of the 2009 Burns ’09 set a new record in the 100 Back Varsity Swimmin’ Women!

(58.83), and the Medley Relay Team of Car- Carolyn Cosentino, Coach oline Burns, Sarah Bouchard ’11, Kendall

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Boys’ Varsity Swimming After graduating 10 of our eighteen swimmers from the 2007-2008 swim team, we began our season with a lot of questions. As the season progressed, we found more and more good answers to those questions. We opened our dual meet season with 13 varsity swimmers, a number that, through hard work and unprecedented improvement, grew into a squad of 18 by the time championships came around. This team averaged two personal improvements per swimmer at each meet, and turned in a solid 3 win and 3 loss record in its league meets. The overall improvement really was in evidence at the championship meet; the team took third place though seeded fourth. The team chose team captain Louis Rosson ’10 as its recipient of the Daniel B. Robinson Players’ Award. Jack Bremer ’12, who set new team standards in the 200 yard Freestyle, the 200 yard Individual Medley, and the 100 yard Butterfly, was the recipient of the Coaches’ Award.

- Doc Heslin, Coach

SPR I N G 2009

Boy’s Basketball

Girl’s Basketball

The 2008-2009 Varsity Men’s Basketball team, with six dedicated seniors, had a very rewarding season. The Admiral’s had some great wins against quality conference opponents Gilman, Friends, AACS, Boys’ Latin, Glenelg Country, Mount Carmel, Archbishop Curley, and St. Mary’s. Severn started the season by playing some tough A conference schools and also traveled to North Carolina to be part of a highly competitive Christmas Tournament. The overall record for this year’s varsity squad was 14-11 and 9-5 in the MIAA B Conference. Ben Montgomery ’09 was the recipient of both the Players’ and Coaches’ Awards. The Admirals met one of their preseason goals, making the playoffs, but fell short of making it to the championship game. They showed their competitiveness throughout the year and continued to grow as a team and improve their basketball knowledge and skill sets. It was a transition year under new head coach Stan Brudish who looks forward to next season, with his five returning players and a good core group of players coming up from the JV team.

The 2008-2009 Severn Girl’s Basketball team completed another highly successful season going 21 - 5. The Admiral girls tied for first in their division of the IAAM B Conference.

They were the Queen Anne County Holiday Tournament champions. The girls were undefeated going 6-0 against AA County public schools. Four seniors graduate from this team, Leanne Hug, Katie Dickerson, Caitlin Sheehan and Richa Davis. They will be greatly missed. This senior class won 80 games over their four years. Katie Dickerson was the Queen Anne County Holiday Tournament Most Valuable Player and made the All-Tournament team. She set a tournament and Severn School record scoring 37 points against North East High School from Cecil County. She was selected by the opposing coaches as an IAAM All Star. She was also a third team All Anne Arundel County selection by the The Capital. Leanne Hug was also selected to the Queen Anne County All Tournament team and by opposing coaches as an IAAM all star. She was a first team All Anne Arundel County selection by The Baltimore Sun and a second team selec-

- Stan Brudish, Coach

tion by The Capital. Both Katie and Leanne were selected All Metropolitan Honorable Mention by Digital Sports. Juniors Aura Payne, Leah Cranmer, Raven Owens, Liz Harbeson, sophomores Cassie Quigley and Jahaira Ryan and freshman Alexa Kunowsky all contributed this year and will return to lead the team next season.

- Chuck Miller, Coach

Sailing The Severn School Varsity Race Team came out on top at the Central League Team Race Championship with a final record of 9-1 in a very competitive event. Many races were very close and could have gone either way, and the team’s consistent and overall solid play made the difference. The team beat Broadneck, Annapolis High, Archbishop Spalding, Severna Park High, and Gunston.

Congratulations to the sailors; Kaylee Schwitzer ’11, Kelley Merryman ’10 Scott Houck ’11, Amanda Salvesen ’10, Terry Duncan ’11, Mike Saldi ’11, Lydia Whiteford ’11, Ian Duncan ’09 and Kelly DeStefano ’11.

- Tom Sitzmann, Coach

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE SEVERN SENIORS WHO HAVE COMMITTED TO PLAY A SPORT WITH THE FOLLOWING COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES

From left, front row: Toi Garcia - Auburn University Gymnastics; Emmy Aras - George Washington University Lacrosse; Caroline Burns - James Madison University Swimming; Sean Sheehy - United States Merchant Marine Academy Lacrosse; Stewart D’Ambrogi - Ohio State University Lacrosse; Adam Cohen - UMBC Lacrosse; Jon Gren - Bowdoin College Football; Noah Pyles - Bowdoin College Football.

From left, back row: Stevie Kirkup - University of North Carolina Lacrosse; Dave Schellie - Roger Williams College Sailing; Lindsay Higham - University of Florida Lacrosse; Nick Verklin - Denison University Lacrosse; Alex Jones - Brown University Lacrosse; Brad Kennedy - Hamilton College Football & Lacrosse; Van Eney - Randolph-Macon College Lacrosse; Shannon Lane - Villanova University Lacrosse; Elizabeth Adam - Stanford University Lacrosse.

Not pictured: Katie Dickerson - Emory University Basketball; Ben Montgomery - MIT Basketball

Severn acknowledges that we have many fine athletes that will play their respective sports at colleges and universities around the country. This listing is of only the students that committed to play on a team at the time of their acceptance.

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T H E B R IDGE

alumni sports by dave myers Jamal Jones ’05, a tri-captain in his senior season with the St. John’s Red Storm, started all 14 games (through May 3). Jamal had tallied six goals and nine assists for the 5-9 Red Storm. David Henry ’08 is in his first season with the Holy Cross Crusaders of the Patriot League. David saw action in 14 games for the 3-12 Crusaders (see photo right).

Dennis Rosson ’07 led the 8-7 St. Mary’s College Seahawks with 28 goals and 19 assists, including four goals in an upset of then #5 Salisbury, and an earlier four goal game against Wooster. His efforts earned Dennis 2nd Team All-CAC honors at his attack position.

Ashleigh Jobson ’05 finished her fourth season as goalie for the University of Maryland Women’s Water Polo team as the Terps claimed third place in the CWPA Eastern Championship. (This is a Division I team at Maryland.) Starting 26 games for the 16-13 Terps who went 8-1 in the CWPA South division, Ashleigh posted a sterling .463 blocking percentage and grabbed 42 steals as she finished an outstanding career as a four year starter noted for her consistency.

Going into the year she ranked second in school history with over 500 blocks.

The No. 1 ranked Georgetown University coed sailing team lived up to its ranking by turning in a 48-point victory at the Truxton Umstead Regatta held at the U.S. Naval Academy. Evan Aras ’07 and Caila Johnson won the B division(420/FJ).

Jamal Jones ’05 & David Henry ’08 at Holy Cross

Virginia’s goalkeeper lead the Atlantic Coast Conference in save percentage, stopping .544 percent of shots faced, and was ranked 12th nationally. As we go to press, Lauren and the Lady Cavaliers (11-7) will be visiting Duke (14-5) with fellow Severn alumna Jess Adam ’04 in first round NCAA tournament action. Jess started all 19 games for the Blue Devils, tallying 5 goals and 10 assists from her midfield slot as she wraps up her outstanding collegiate career.

Another former Admiral net-minder, Kristen Reese ’06, had a great year at Cornell as well, as she picked up her second Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week award for the season and third of her career. Additionally, the junior was named National Defensive Player of the Week by Womenslacrosse.com in April. During the Big Red’s 9-7 year Kristen made 115 saves and posted a .498 save percentage.

On the diamond at College Park, Terrapin freshman Sander Beck ’08 posted a 2-0 mark in 30 appearances, including two starts, totaling 17.2 innings while striking out 15.

In February, redshirt sophomore Lauren Benner ’06 was named the Womenslacrosse. com Defensive Player of the Week for her performances in Virginia’s 16-7 victory over Richmond and 14-11 upset win over No. 3 Syracuse. Lauren posted a .538 save percentage in the two games, including a career-high 12 saves in the win over Richmond. She followed up that performance stopping nine shots at the Carrier Dome, holding the Orange to their lowest point total of the season - four goals below their average. At the time 28

Wrapping up a stellar collegiate lax career in a big way, Sarah Meisenberg ’05 was a key player as her Lady Diplomats of Franklin and Marshall captured their second national Division III title in three years with a classic 11-10 overtime win over perennial powerhouse Salisbury (avenging F&M’s only loss of the year).

In a heart stopping thriller, Sarah scored F&M’s first goal after the Seagulls had drawn first blood, creating the first of six ties. She added a second tally with ten minutes left in the half to give F&M a 3-2 lead (one of six lead changes), but saved the best for last.

Down by one late in the game, F&M knotted the see-saw contest with 1:02 left. Then, just over two minutes into OT, Sarah’s pass to teammate Blake Hargest set up the title clincher.

The game marked the third national final in three years for F&M, who dispatched defending champion Hamilton to reach the finals.

Former Severn goalies Brian Phipps ’06 (L - Univ. of MD) & Woody Johnson ’07 (2nd from L Air Force) with 2 former St. Mary’s goalies (Jason Carter & Matt Sanders) in FL

Christina Shields ’06 (Penn State) & Lainey Rosson ’08 (Univ. of Miami/Ohio) at a club lacrosse tournament in Pittsburgh Lauren Benner ’06, UVA goalie

SPR I N G 2009

BALTIMORE ALUMNI RECEPTION

BALTIMORE alumni reception

Chris Taylor ’71, Erin Domenech, Julian Domenech ’84, Mark Carroll ’83 Tom Foard ’78 and Steve Fromyer ’74

Director of Campaign Giving, Mary Salsich, Middle School Head, Gray Smith and his wife, Sarah Sandberg

alumni reception

< Brothers Ron ’00 and Bill ’02 Staines

Adam Williams ’92, Graham Shafer ’90, Drew Bauer ’91

Sean Murphy ’02, Ben Staines ’03, Bill Staines ’02

Brianna Creed & hostess Donna Bagley

Host Charlie Bagley ’71 and Dave Wright ’69

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T H E B R IDGE

the best book EVER! In a departure from our standard summer reading suggestions, librarian Linda Stone has collected votes for the best book ever read by students and staff at Severn School. Below is a sampling from the overwhelming response to Mrs. Stone’s inquiry. For the complete list, please go to our website and select library in the quick links column. Happy reading!

Animal Dreams, by Barbara Kingsolver.

Recommended by Mary Coutts, Librarian

Epic, by Conor Kostick.

Recommended by Amanda Roche ‘09, for her sisters

Anathem, by Neal Stephenson.

Recommended by James White, MS English

The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls.

Recommended by Jerry Fish, Buildings and Grounds

The Bastard of Istanbul, by Elif Shafak.

Recommended by Natalie Mardirossian ‘12

The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss.

Recommended by Pam Heffner, Advancement

The Book of Story Beginings, by Kristin Kladstrup.

Recommended by Freyja Heimberger ‘11

I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith.

Recommended by Linda Stone, Librarian

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak.

Recommended by Sam Meisenberg ‘11

Less Than Zero, by Bret Easton Ellis.

Recommended by Gray Smith, MS Head

Brisingr, by Christopher Paolini.

Recommended by Ryan Rabbitt ‘11

A Man Rides Through, Stephen R. Donaldson.

Recommended by Jean Hopkins, US Spanish

The Caves of Steel, by Isaac Asimov.

Recommended by Mary Jo Weiss ‘10

Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon.

Recommended by Allison Hall, Advancement

The Chewing-Gum Rescue and Other Stories,

by Margaret Mahy.

Recommended by Tori Richardson ‘11

Pretty Little Liars series, by Sara Shepard.

Recommended by Tessa Babcock ‘13

Childhood’s End, by Arthur C. Clarke.

Recommended by Kristin Boulier ‘09 The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth’s Children series),

by Jean Auel.

Recommended by Laurie Wachs, Librarian Don’t Stop the Carnival, by Herman Wouk.

Recommended by John Bremer, Trustee The Door into Summer, by Robert Heinlein.

Recommended by Eric Witzel, US Science Dune, by Frank Herbert.

Recommended by Susan Jackson, US English; Evan Fistere, US Math; & Renie Sotiropoulos, US History Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card.

Recommended by CJ Soderlund ‘09 & Kristin Boulier ‘09

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The Sand Pebbles, by Richard McKenna.

Recommended by James Maloney, MS Math & Science The Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini.

Recommended by Jane Merrill, MS Computer Time and Again, by Jack Finney.

Recommended by Sarah Markhovsky, College Counseling Twilight saga, by Stephanie Meyer.

Recommended by Caroline Ponatoski ‘11, Addie Jabin ‘09, Andree LaTortue ‘09, Lauren Michael ‘13, Anne McGarvey ‘13, Boo Devanny ‘13, Kaila Lewis ‘13 & Lauren Morrell ‘12 The Water-Method Man, by John Irving.

Recommended by Will Lagarde ‘12 With Malice Towards None, by Stephen Oates.

Recommended by James White, MS English

SPR I N G 2009

severn school

Class Notes

it is with sorrow we note the passing of these severn friends

John ‘John Dale’ Hodapp ‘34, 9/29/2008 William Sawyer ‘35, 10/31/2008 Lewis Graham ‘39, 11/29/2008 Philip Doherty ‘41, 1/14/2009 Phineas ‘Phin’ Dixon ‘44, 12/22/2008 David Fulton ‘44, 6/9/2008 Ray ‘RB’ Riggan ‘54, 12/1/2008 Doug Spear ‘57, 4/23/2008 Peter ‘Pete’ Labyak ‘58, 2/27/2009 Joseph Abella ‘60, 1/27/2009 Humbird Johnson ’65, 4/29/09 Garry Jenkins ‘80, 2/8/2009 Husband of Virginia Steele Jenkins ‘81, Father of Robert Travis Jenkins ‘04 and Chelsea L. Jenkins ‘10 Suzanne Turcotte, Grandmother of Hamilton Tyler ‘14 William E. Dixon, Father of W. D. Dixon ‘67, Grandfather of Eugene H. Merkert ‘04 and John M. Merkert ‘06 Thomas McAvoy, 1/10/2009, Father of William D. McAvoy ‘76 Jan Dudley, 1/22/2009 Grandmother of Elizabeth B. Blackwood ‘08, Patrick F. Blackwood ‘07 and Cameron D. Blackwood ‘11 Jill Myers, 1/26/2009, Grandmother of Theodore M. Dowling ‘09 Doris Zimmerman, 2/3/09, Mother of William Zimmerman ’67 Gabriel Mendelman, 2/10/2009, Father of Joel Mendelman ‘84 Gordon ‘Gordy’ Loetz, 3/27/2009 Father of Gordon Carter Loetz ‘06 and Chase E. Loetz ‘07

Distinguished Alumnus 2009 Rear Admiral Edward K. Walker ’50

W

e are pleased to announce that Rear Admiral Edward K. Walker Jr. ’50 will receive the Rolland M. Teel Distinguished Alumni Award for 2009. Chosen by the past recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award and Headmaster Doug Lagarde, RADM Walker graduated from the Naval Academy in 1954 and embarked upon on an illustrious 34-year military career that culminated in his role as Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command and 35th Chief of Naval Systems Command and 35th Chief Supply Corps.

RADM Walker received numerous awards throughout his military career including the Distinguished Service Medal. He was a qualified submariner and earned a masters degree in business administration and financial management from the George Washington University. He received the First Navy Supply Corps Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

Admiral Walker is a frequent guest lecturer in Upper School History classes

RADM Walker will be honored on November 13 at the School’s Founder’s Day assembly. All alumni are invited to attend. We will have more information forthcoming in the Fall edition of The Bridge and on our website: severnschool.com.

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T H E B R IDGE

1929

more from Arthur Tagland ’38 on Severn the second installment of Art Tagland’s Severn memories

An interesting observation made

by Edwin Shuffle ’29; “My question may seem a bit trivial.

In the winter ’09 issue of The Bridge, pg 12, Bruce McCandless was listed as being in the Class of 1928. In a past issue, it was 1930. Please advise if I am wrong but he was first academically in my class of 1929, Tom Morton was second and little ole me was third. Thanks. Edwin Shuffle, Jr. Ed. note: We’re looking into this, Mr. Shuffle, but cannot answer definitively at this time.

photo left: dining hall waiters from the 1960’s; right: students in dining hall 1930’s

S

“

tudents were allowed to wait on tables in the dining room if they wanted to. I did not know about this when I first went to Severn, but I requested this assignment my second year and got one of the jobs. Each waiter handled four tables of four students each. We served meals for breakfast, lunch and supper.

We ate after all other students and the faculty had finished their meals. Pay was very good. I recall that we received 35 cents a meal – that’s $1.05 a day – a capital sum in 1937. We were paid once a month and this provided extra spending money. We needed a Social Security number for this job.

The waiter job had certain fringe benefits.

With certain desserts, for instance, we could take a little from the plate of each of the 16 students we waited on. They never missed it, but the 16 little stolen helpings added up to a very sizable portion for the waiter. This might not seem like much of a fringe benefit when you compare it to the fringe benefits our politicians have today, but after all, we were only being paid $1.05 a day and had to eke out our benefits wherever we could find them.

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The dining room, kitchen, and food service was under the direction of Mr. Gibbons. Mr. Gibbons lived in an apartment above the dining room with his wife. He was always present in the dining room at meal time. He purchased the food, supervised food preparation, ensured that the food came out of the kitchen in a timely fashion and that the waiters did their job properly. He was a persnickety man in his dress and mannerisms. He always wore a suit, complete with jacket, shirt and tie. This type of dress was, of course, worn by all our instructors, but Mr. Gibbons was always neater. As a group, the students thought Mr. Gibbons was something else – and they gave him a bad time.

Occasionally during a meal the students would start staring at Mr. Gibbons’ feet – as if something was wrong with them. No matter where he went in the dining room all the students at nearby tables stared. This unnerved poor Mr. Gibbons. As I look back on it, I feel he almost had a nervous breakdown during these occasions. As a group, the students were not always gentlemen.”

1939 Captain William Thomas Sawyer died October 31, 2008, at the age of 90. Bill spent a year at Severn and at age 16 entered the Naval Academy. He graduated with distinction, standing 10th in his class. Bill was assigned to the USS Quincy and then went on to MIT where he received his SM in naval architecture and marine engineering in 1944. n Leland Hall’s son Todd asks about his Dad; “Leland Lloyd Hall served in World War II in France behind the German lines. He spoke French (without an American accent) and German. He worked for the ASA (Army Security Agency) which later joind one or two other organizations to become the NSA. Most of his military records are just stamped “classified”, so I’m not sure exactly what he did. I do know that he had a strong background in mathematics. He died in 1983 of cancer in Jackson, MS. Does anyone know anything further?”

SPR I N G 2009

1940 Frederic Harwood stopped at the Severn campus while visiting his son in Bowie. His wife, Martha had died quite recently.

They had lived in CT until a year ago when they moved to St. Petersburg, FL. He was at Severn for only one year and loved it.

The sole purpose of attending Severn was to get into the Naval Academy. Unfortunately. he flunked the test - he was too short. He went back to the hotel (Carvel Hall) with his mates and they tried to stretch him - put a line on his ankle and one on his chin. He went back and the second day he was tall enough, but flunked the eye exam. While at Severn he was the quarterback for the football team, wrestled and played lacrosse. He remembers sneaking out of his room from Teel Hall, and riding in the Packards to the games. Frederic’s parting words when he left The Boone House were that he is now looking for a woman who will wash and iron for him!

with John Fry representing the boarding students and I the day students. On our 60th we had five members of the class show up. Death has taken three of them and so John and I remain.

John won in his age group in the “Salute to the Legends” 5K run.

I have no information on how many, if any, were entered in his age group. I know my knees wouldn’t have taken 100 yards.

So on behalf of all his classmates, “Well Done!” I did have the opportunity to talk with Casey Hernandez ’47, Larry’s younger brother. He is the spitting image of his brother. What I didn’t realize was that Larry died at the age of 30. If you ever get a chance, stop by Severn. Not a building is standing from our day. In its place is a beautiful campus that would make you all proud. Gone is the Toonerville Trolley, gone is the drug store where everyone headed to play on the pin ball machine, gone is anything to remind us of our stay there. Except the name - Severn!”

1946 Send notes to: Hugh “Dick” McLean

P.O. Box 1735 Borrego Springs, CA 92004 hugh-mclean@hotmail.com

A brief message from Peter Wood: “ Warm greetings to all my classmates.”

Frederic Harwood ’40

1947 Send notes to: Blair “Buzz” Hall

1944 Send notes to: Karl J. Christoph, Jr.

230 W. Laurel St. #802 San Diego, CA 92101 619-231-9514 radmx@msn.com

From Karl Christoph; “I believe our class was the senior class represented at the recent reunion weekend. It was the 65th anniversary of our graduation,

666 Maid Marian Hill Sherwood Forest, MD 21405 410-849-2134 blairhall@aol.com

A short note from Buzz Hall; “Three members of the class of ’47, George Boaz, Casey Hernandez, and Buzz Hall made it to the reunion and had a great time. Hopefully next year we’ll get organized and find more classmates to join us.”

1948

1954

Send notes to: Bill Fisher

Send Notes to: Jack Kelly

8722 Higdon Drive, Vienna VA 22182 703-938-7487 wgf50929@yahoo.com

69 Westview Drive Norwood, MA 02062 jmkelly@norwoodlight.com

From Bill Fisher; “Winter is gone, spring is here and summer is just around the corner. I hope this finds everyone well and sassy.

Since the last issue of The Bridge I have a new right hip and am loving it. I hope to soon get back on the tennis court. As promised in the last issue here are some older notes that I had not been able to include previously. Dan (Roy) Gichner sends; ‘Sorry that I could not make the Severn reunion this time around, maybe the next. I missed my other high school reunion last year and would have been able to rub elbows with Warren Buffett (Berkshire). Some opportunities are lost forever, but others take their place.’ Dan’s note was dated 10 May ’08. He lives in Bethesda, MD and the high school he is referring to is Woodrow Wilson. My wife Mary Catherine is a ’50 graduate of Wilson. I have a nice update (now a year old) from Don Smith that I will try to include in the next Bridge.

Unfortunately Mary Catherine and I were unable to make this year’s Alumni Weekend. I’m sure it was a great success. Enjoy the summer where ever you may be.

Take good care. Bill”

1952 Send Notes to: Nick Goldsborough

5101 River Crescent Dr. Annapolis, MD 21401 ngoldsborough2@verizon.net

From Brent Taylor: Dear classmates and friends, I am sad to report that Bobbi Riggan said in her Christmas card to Bruce Hawtin that RB (Ray) had died on December 1 as a result of liver failure caused by the drugs he was on for his heart replacement. ‘We had him for an extra 20 years’ she wrote.”

1958 Send notes to: John Eller

767 Madison Street Monterey, CA 93940 johnceller@aol.com

Retired Navy Captain Peter Labyak lost his battle with melanoma on February 27, 2009. A ’62 graduate of the US Naval Academy, he enjoyed a distinguished 30 year naval career, in which nearly half was spent on sea duty aboard seven ships and included 10 major deployments in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. Among his awards were the Legion of Merit (3), Meritorious Service (2) and various Viet Nam campaign decorations. He was considered a sub-specialist in anti-submarine warfare, oceanography and marine engineering. Upon retirement from the Navy in 1992, he taught at Great Bridge Middle School North for five years. He then began a third career and became an exhibiting professional artist. By 2008 he had achieved a reputation as an accomplished miniature oil painter at both local and national level. Check out Peter’s work at petelabyak.blogspot.com

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T H E B R IDGE

‘Okie’s’ Girl

1960

THE DAUGHTER OF ED “OKIE” MCLAURY ’59 SENDS AN SOS TO THE

Send notes to: Neil Perron

SEVERN COMMUNITY AND RECEIVES MORE THAN SHE EVER IMAGINED

“I am so thankful to everyone who is willing to give me information about my father Ed “Okie” McLaury ’59. He passed away five years ago after many health issues. I have his senior yearbook and I know that he was on varsity tennis team and on the Navigator and Anchor staffs. I miss him a lot and wasn’t able to speak with him much after the age of 10 ... Everyone tells me I look and act exactly like him which makes me proud to be his daughter. While I cannot speak on behalf of Okie, I know that he would be touched that his classmates are all so willing to reach out to me when he cannot. I thank each and every one of you from Okie McLaury the bottom of my heart.” -Ashley Rose McLaury So began the note that started a chain reaction from members of the Class of 1959 who fondly remembered their friend and classmate Okie McLaury. In true Severn style, the fellows from 1959 stepped up to help Ashley Rose on her quest to discover more about the father she rarely saw growing up and who died when she was 13. Now 18 and a rising sophomore at the University of Michigan, they invited Ashley Rose to attend their 50th class reunion at Severn in May. She spent a full day with his classmates and was regaled with stories and anecdotes about her dad that she will treasure forever.

Monty Baker ’59 said after the reunion, “Okie McLaury was a veteran, husband, and father. His daughter Ashley Rose represented him well at our 50th reunion and we were very happy to have her with us. She looks and acts so much like Okie it is remarkable and uncanny. She is a delightful young lady with a great future. I am proud to have met her and to have been Okie’s friend.”

“My deepest thank you goes out to the entire Severn community for welcoming me to the reunion at the beginning of May. My dad’s classmates are all wonderful men who graciously shared their stories and memories with me. I learned that my dad had his same easy charm and charisma that he had until very late in his life. I only hope that I can carry some of his grace through in my own life. Thank you again to every member of the class of 1959 for sharing what they remember with me.” - Ashley Rose

1253 Dogwood Road Arnold, MD 21012 nfp1@comcast.net

Donald Creed was at the Baltimore Alumni Reception and reports, “The Baltimore Alumni Reception was informative and interesting for us. I especially appreciated presentations and discussions on the new and innovative education initiatives Severn School is pursuing today and will embark on in the future.”

Don’s date was his daughter Brianna Creed. She is an English teacher in the gifted and talented program in Howard Country Schools. She has a master of secondary education from U. of Md. with graduate studies at Johns Hopkins U. and University of Cambridge, England.

1962 Send notes to: Robert Kesmodel

11 Island Avenue Unit 806 Miami Beach, FL 33139 Office 305-538-2004 rkesmodel@gmail.com

Steve Rexford writes: “We moved from CT to PA in June.

Our 10th Grandchild is due in April 2009. Consulting in human resources and executive coaching. Still on the lacrosse field - old, old timers tournaments -Vail, CO is the next stop.

We are off I-81 Southwest of Harrisburg.”

1963

Monty Baker, Ashley Rose McLaury and Fred Prickett ’59

34

Ed Rapson tells the Bridge: “I do so much enjoy hearing about what’s happening on or about campus. There have been so many changes on campus and in the Severna Park area. It’s been a long time since I attended there - ‘63 to be exact. Fond memories of classes and fond memories

of instructors, fellow students and classmates, some of whom became friends for albeit a very short period of time. I have been back on a number of occasions to visit and have enjoyed memories relived of those days when I was a student. Some of my visits were at special class reunion times, other visits were more impromptu, but always a good time - full of nostalgia. It does disappoint me somewhat that there is such sparse news from our class and very little interest shown in participating in updates by the majority of my former classmates/ dorm mates.

I know I am just as guilty as anyone for neglecting to participate in any kind of updates. We live our lives and view things from far away with all the good intentions but seldom take the time to attend to these matters. Some friends names come to mind: my roommate, of course Chuck Lingerfelt - Ashville NC., Dick Alderman, Ray Tolerton Arlington,VA., Gerry McEntee - Alexandria, VA, “Baby” Phillips, Christopher Staley, Steve Trussell, Eddie Shute, from the Swathmore area I believe. And there were three Kelly’s. Chemistry Prof. Cmdr. Seagar kept them straight by calling them #1, #2, or # 3. Their middle initials were what organized them in that way. There was Sam Banks, Frank Barbieri ’62 - Horsham, PA., “Brooks” Channing, Lee Knight - Rochester, NY, Ron Kaderli, Andy Mance, John Carroll ’62 - Palm Beach, FL. and last but not least Franklin Spinney who made the cover of a magazine one time back in the ’80’s. They were all friends some close some less so, but all important to who we were and would become. To those I have omitted

SPR I N G 2009

I would say that they have not been forgotten or overlooked and are just as integral to my thoughts and memories as always. May you all have happy, productive lives. Digressing for a moment I especially remember the rather formal dining hall: assigned seating, with white tablecloths and napkins and student waiters, all wearing white starched serving coats, each assigned to two or three tables. We, the ones being served, always had on a shirt, tie and jacket. These student waiters were not only busy but excellent at their duties. Wow! Can you imagine that today? How lucky I was to have received my preparatory education there, during those times. It wasn’t a lengthy period, but a memorable one in so many ways. It is a memory that will always stay with me as one of my most treasured. I look forward to a return visit this spring or summer to see more changes. I’m gratified that after all these years that the school is still prospering. I hope that the food is still as good now as it was then. I would really enjoy hearing from any of my old friends by phone, e-mail, of course, the old standby, snail mail.

Ed Rapson, Jr. erapson@twcny.rr.com 315.469.0955 4701 Broad Rd. Syracuse, NY 13215

Event at the Maryland Club in December. Regaling the more youthful alumni with war stories about “A, B, C and D shacks”, some of the legendary teachers of time, and the hand crafted wooden lacrosse sticks that led to the vaunted Maryland Scholastic Association Championship over Boys Latin, Dick magnanimously treated all attending ‘65 alums to dinner at the L’Hirondelle Club after the event. Perhaps more hungry alums will take advantage of the Judges largesse at the next local alumni event. It’s not too early to begin planning our 45th (can you believe it) reunion next year. It would be nice to hear from missing alums who get the Bridge. Note to Tom Stevenson: Time to dust off your magic wooden stick for the Alumni lacrosse game. Please email Sandy at sandyclark@yahoo.com for ideas about next year’s get together.” n We’re sad

to pass along this information from Gannett News; “The Wicomico County Bureau of Investigation said the body of Humbird Lynn Johnson was found inside his apartment on the 1000 block of Beaglin Park Drive on April 29. Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputies went to Johnson’s home at about 9:43 a.m. after somebody was asked to check on him.

Detectives said late Saturday that Johnson had been killed several days prior to police finding him.

Police did not disclose how Johnson died or a possible motive in his death.”

1966 Send notes to: Richard Templeton

108 Annapolis Street Annapolis, MD 21401 kron2000@aol.com

Received this update online on Ty Ford: “From 1969 until 1986, Ty was engaged in radio broadcasting, working in a

Headmaster Doug Lagarde, Toby Lagarde, Sandy Clark ’65 and Dick Bennett ’65 at the Baltimore Alumni Reception

1965 Send Notes to: Sandy Clark

528 4th Street SE Washington, D.C. 20003 sandyclark@yahoo.com

From Sandy Clark: “At what was the Class of 65’s most exclusive (in terms of attendance) reunion, Dick Bennett and Sandy Clark joined Headmaster Lagarde and Toby Lagarde at the Alumni

uniquely wide range of modalities, often simultaneously as an announcer, production director, chief engineer and operations manager at radio stations in Laurel, MD, Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. He left broadcasting in 1986 to build his private practice, Technique, Inc.. His practice includes writing, audio and video production and AFTRA/SAG talent work.

He currently teaches narration for the prestigious AFTRA/SAG Conservatory in Washington, D.C. He operates a digital audio recording studio in which he records and produces spoken word and music. He has produced syndicated radio programs, public affairs radio programs, countless radio commercials, audio tracks for corporate industrial videos, and music productions for bands, musical groups and singer/songwriters. He mixes live sound and works as a videographer and location audio recordist for film and video shoots. He has written hundreds of audio/video related articles and two books; “Advanced Audio Production Techniques” and “Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide.” He re-wrote the NAB’s handbook on radio commercial copywriting and has twice updated the microphone chapter in the weighty NAB Engineering Reference Manual. He is a singer/songwriter and a long standing member of the Baltimore Songwriters Association. He plays acoustic and electric guitars and writes and performs original compositions.

From the Class of ’59, Fred Prickett and Lehr Jackson catch up on the last 50 years during Alumni Weekend

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T H E B R IDGE

1968 Send notes to: Shannon McDowell

3 South Cherry Grove Ave. Annapolis, MD 21401 shannonmcdowell2006@comcast. net

Bruce Hunter writes: Had three more granddaughters come into the world in 2008. Sallie Gooss born 4/23, Abbie Kimble born 8/14 and Rainie Hunter born 9/13. That brings me up to 12 grandchildren. Christmas will break my budget!

1969 Send notes to: Nick Codd

P.O. Box 843 Severna Park, MD 21146 nickcodd@verizon.net

1972 Send notes to: John Norton

13 Botany Court Emerald Hills, CA 94062 650-361-8062 john@declarity.com

Lots of news from John Norton: “September 2008 was tough for Cliff Carr and his family. During that month, his wife Linda lost her father, and afterward, while they were driving home from Maryland, a storm destroyed their Texas beach condominium. ‘On the way back to Dallas we learned that Hurricane Ike changed its path, and the eye went right over our property in Galveston. The building is still standing, but there was a lot of damage. We had to strip it down to the studs. I am trying to rebuild it as we speak. I hope to have it open maybe in August or September. 2009 is proving to be somewhat kinder. Our property management company is holding its own. Dallas did not have the downturn in real estate like the most of the country; of course, we did not have run up 36

in price either. I am now working on my fifth start-up technology company, which is proving to be harder then expected due to the economy. My children are all doing well. I have to chuckle, I have three boys and one girl, and my girl gets the sports scholarship to play soccer in college.’ n Jim Green retired as a master sergeant in February 2003 from the Army National Guard.“I had a total of 29 years in the Guard, with over 21 of them being active duty. I was extremely lucky and ended up in the Field Artillery.

I worked most of my career in a Brigade Tactical Operations Center as a Targeting NCO. Since retirement, I have been playing Mr. Mom, with occasional employment with the Guard. I’ve gone back to work for them in various capacities due to deployments.

Dawn, my wife of 28 years, and I have three children. Jennifer, 19, just completed her sophomore year in college. Jessica, 13, is in 7th grade, and John, 12, is in 6th grade. Jessie and John keep me running between softball, football, soccer, wrestling, volleyball, and baseball. I have figured out that the only reason I let my girls play softball, is that I do not have a life of my own.”

(There seems to be a trend developing here in these notes about attitudes towards daughters and

sports. I will keep my head down out of the line of fire.) Jim and his family live in Hixson, TN, just north of Chattanooga In the accompanying photo of Jim and his family, you will see his mother, Carol. As the daughter of Carol and Robert Hill, she had the pleasure of living with her parents in an apartment above the Severn Dining Hall.

Bob Hill was a math and science teacher at Severn from 1944 until 1963. She lived there for just over a year before escaping to college. Jim says: “Mother still tells my kids about growing up there, especially her stories about the Dining Hall and about how her mom would take care of the “sick boys”, when needed. My dad was in the Naval Academy at the time. Although Dad passed away in March, Mom is doing well.” n Geoff Guttmann writes: “My wife, Mary, and I have two boys, 14 and 11-years-old.

Mary is a RN at the Community Medical Center on the telemetry unit and is finishing her BSN at Lakehead University, Ontario, Canada, via distance education.

My oldest boy, David, just finished his first year in competitive swimming and has improved his times throughout the season. He starts high school next year! My youngest boy, John, is in fifth grade and doing well. He hopes

Green Family Christmas 2008. From left to right, Jesse, Dawn, Mother Carol, Jim ’72, John and Jennie

to be a lawyer some day as he says he has the gift of gab!” Geoff is one of the founding members of the Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton, PA. “I am in the process of working on two books, one related to Craniofacial Embryogenetics and Development, and the other is a chapter on vascularembryology in Rutherford’s Textbook of Vascular Surgery. And Mr. John Meskow, our biology and chemistry teacher, said I couldn’t get the biology correct.” Take that, Mr. Meskow. “I am also very busy helping set up the Masters of Biomedical Science program, a one year technical advanced biology program, with my fellow faculty. I serve as chair of the Admissions Committee for the MBS program. I saw the writeup in the last Bridge. It is good to see the other alums of 1972 doing well and enjoying what they do. Cheers!” n David Gehrdes is a teacher, athletic director and coach of the varsity women’s lacrosse team at Annapolis High School. Two of his daughters, Katie who is finishing her freshman year at the high school, and Emily, who will be attending Stonehill College next year in Easton, MA where she’ll be playing Div II lacrosse, are members of his team. David is married to Mary Alice Gehrdes, Digital Film and Video and AP Computer Science teacher at Severn.

They have two more children.

Erin, is in sixth grade at St. John the Evangelist in Severna Park and Brian is finishing his first year at Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA where he is a member of the Div III Ursinus Men’s Lacrosse team. (Read more in Mary Alice’s article pg. 37)

SPR I N G 2009

A

Tribute to a Man and His School

MARY ALICE GEHRDES, AP COMPUTER SCIENCE & DIGITAL FILM AND VIDEO INSTRUCTOR, AND JOHN NORTON ’72 COLLABORATE TO CREATE THIS LOVING TRIBUTE FOR DAVID GEHRDES ’72

Mary Alice and David Gehrdes ’72 with children Brian, Emily, Katie and Erin

T

he three-sport athlete who graduated from Severn School in 1972 was described in the ’72 Severn Yearbook as an “All American Kid.” Becoming a three-sport coach at Annapolis High School as well as a teacher and then athletic director, The Capital sports reporter, Bill Wagner, wrote an article last spring that described David Gehrdes ’72 as “the absolute epitome of the boy next door – handsome, clean cut, upstanding and honest.” Some things don’t change even after 37 years. And some things seem to come full circle. It was many years ago and my memory and his don’t always agree, but he does agree that he got a call one night during a Severn alumni fund drive and the caller was a Severn faculty member who had meant a lot to David while he was a student at Severn. Often a man of few words, David was on the phone for a long while, and I could hear him asking questions of the people they both would know, getting caught up on some of them, asking about someone named Mr. Domenech. After he hung up, he started to tell me some of the stories of what he had loved about those school days and the people he had known. The caller, Mr. Bob Gray, wanted to know about David, and David was able to share that he had become a teacher, too, as well as a soccer, wrestling, and lacrosse coach, and that he was married and the father of four kids. After the call, my husband started sharing stories about the Spanish club that was moderated

by Mr. Domenech; David talked about the bands he and the other Spanish club officer, Davies Storrs ’73, brought to the school, and the good times he shared with friends at Severn including a trip to the Eastern Shore with a student friend who was a relative of Frank Perdue and the chicken feathers that got plucked on that outing. Da-

vid mentioned a book that I had seen on one of our bookshelves, The History of Severn, and told me how he and a few other boys from the school had written the history their senior year with Mr. Gray. He told me how much he liked working with Mr. Gray. And I asked about a plaque that I’d seen with his high school mementos, the G. Parker Lindsay Scholar Athlete Award. He only said that it had been an honor to receive it at his graduation; I would learn more about the meaning of the award at the first graduation I attended as a faculty member at Severn in 2006. In 2005, while working part-time as a computer instructor at the community college, I heard about an opportunity to teach computer science courses full-time at Severn. I had never been to the school – we’d driven past it on occasion, but living life fully with four children had kept us immersed in life close to home in Annapolis. I called David and asked if I should apply.

Without a minute’s hesitation, he replied, “That would be a perfect job. You will love it there.” A week before Thanksgiving of 2005, I stepped on the campus for the first time for an interview with Upper School Head Highley Thompson ’88. I started teaching Digital Film & Video and AP Computer Science in December 2006. At the end of one of the school days in that first week of teaching at Severn, David came to the school to visit and give me his personal tour, telling me about rooms I knew as Middle School classrooms that he remembered as the boarders’ sleeping space. He showed me Memorial Gym where he had wrestled on the stage; he told me what the campus had looked like back then, including one building on Maple that had burned down while he was there; and looking at the view of the Severn River from my classroom at the back of Teel Academic Center, David pointed out where his senior project would have been, - steps he’d made of landscape timbers for students to walk to the shoreline from that top part of the hill that had long since become overpowered by bamboo. I think the inscription on the G. Parker Lindsey award sums up so well the kind of person David Gehrdes has been all these years since graduating from Severn. The words that have been echoed down through the years at Severn graduations read, “The G. Parker Lindsay award is given to the student who has followed Mr. Lindsay’s example of selfless commitment on the field and in the classroom.”

Whether teaching CPR in a sports medicine class, fitness for life in a freshman PE class, or making the most of the potential student athletes bring to their sports, David has often been described as a tough but fair coach, intense and competitive, but always someone who treats kids with respect and kindness.

- Mary Alice Gehrdes

h h h h h

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T H E B R IDGE

1973 Send notes to: Bona Hurst Ellis

513 Point Field Drive Millersville, MD 21108 410-987-3949 rellis@msn.com

1976 Send notes to: Catherine Clarke

104 Castletown Road Lutherville, MD 21093 410-823-7777

Mark Burdett writes: “Entering my 10th season with the Ravens.

Appreciate all Severn School’s support for the team.”

1977 Send notes to: Pam Drain Waltjen

9006 Moss Cliff Court Laurel, MD 20723 301-776-7499 ppp@toad.net

1978 Send notes to: Denise Tray Rosson

Severn School The Boone House 116 Maple Avenue Severna Park, MD 21146 d.rosson@severnschool.com

This in from Steve Roberts; “Hello from Wisconsin. I recently received an announcement about the May alumni weekend. One of these years I do plan to attend. Unfortunately, it wasn’t this year. If you’re hurting for news from the Class of ’78 ... here’s an update from me (E. Steve Roberts, class of 78, transferred in 76 due to my parents move to Ohio). I’ve become a Wisconsinite, having lived in La Crosse and Madison since 1992. After serving 26 years in the U.S. Army and the Wisconsin Army National Guard, I’ve retired, but continue to work for the Wisconsin Guard full time as a force protection officer in a civilian capacity. Was fortunate

38

to see much of Asia during my service, and served in Afghanistan. Upon my return I finally decided to ‘settle down’ and get married. Susan is a news producer in Milwaukee, and we live in Marshall, a small community between Madison and Milwaukee. I’ve received The Bridge the last couple of years, and like hearing about former classmates and their accomplishments. I can be reached at steve.roberts2@verizon.net

for Charter Communications.

He lives in North Carolina with his wife of 17 years and two children and two very dumb dogs.

1979

Whit Rardin ‘82, Hailey, Pierce Tyler and Melissa Rardin

Send notes to: Kim Corbin Aviles

1983 Send notes to: Molly Moore Green

123 Hatton Drive Severna Park, MD 21146 m.green@severnschool.com

1984 Send Notes to: Susan Leonard

Susanleonard1921@mac.com

1985 Send notes to: Julie Katcef Maseritz

197 Cinnamon Lane Edgewater, MD 21037 julie12@comcast.net

443 Maryleborn Road Severna Park, MD 21146 kaviles@csalaw.com

1981 Send notes to: Stacey Hendricks Manis

211 Mount Oak Place Annapolis, MD 21409 410-349-8822 maniss@comcast.net

Sarah Corey Quisenberry was promoted to Director, Discovery & Records Management in the Law Department of Norfolk Southern Corporation.

1982 Send notes to: Tracy Tischer

504 Riverview Ct Annapolis, MD 21401 410-266-4595 tracyctisher@hotmail.com

Hugh Whittaker Rardin had his latest book published in October, It’s Always Windy On Trash Night!. The book follows the nutty humor that Whit writes about regularly. His new book will be released this summer. Whit is an award winning humor writer and does national cartoon voices for cable shows, voice overs, as well as television commercials

the Garry Jenkins ’80 Memorial Chili Cook Off Garry L. Jenkins Jr. ’80, a lifelong resident of Arnold and a welcome regular on the Severn campus, died on February 8, 2009. Gary attended the University of Maryland and was a project manager with Power Max in Silver Spring. He was the former president of the Severn School Alumni Association, coached Broadneck Little League, was an active participant in the Polar Bear Plunge, a member of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, and a huge sports fan. Garry married his high school sweetheart, Virginia “Ginger” Steele Jenkins ’81, his son Travis graduated Severn in ’04 and his daughter Chelsea is a member of the Class of ’10. One of Gary’s favorite events at Severn was the Annual Chili Cook Off held during Homecoming Weekend. He holds the record for Best Overall Chili, taking the trophy in 1998, 2000, and 2008. We applaud Garry for this feat and for all of his Severn spirit and are proud to name the Chili Cook Off in his honor – The Garry Jenkins ’80 Memorial Chili Cook Off. He will be greatly missed at Homecoming and at all Severn events.

SPR I N G 2009

From Hugh Rardin ’82

Rardin makes his point in an irreverent look at life’s idiosyncrasies and craziness as only he can scrutinize.

Jumping from one topic to another in a harebrained tour of our mundane lives and the things that most people think about but never talk about, Rardin delivers a tome that is sure to tickle. Spanning the gamut from the brutality of boredom to the excitement of discovery in a book that flows from the obvious to heart wrenching recollections of a childhood wrapped around a father who did more than his share of bonding, you will laugh, love, yawn and cry.

- Amazon.com

Jay, Scott Kerridge, Ian Robb Patrick, Elise Franco Marbury, Mandy Baker Spollen and myself. The sun came out and the food and music were great! It was really fun to see everyone’s families and watch all of the kids playing together (the next generation of Severn students!). It was a nice family event - my daughter really enjoyed the moon bounce and face painting, and she can’t wait to come back next year. If you are in the area next year, I highly recommend that you try to attend this event. It was great to visit with old friends and to tour the beautiful campus. Here is a note that Cathy Merrill Williams sent to me: “I am living in Washington DC having a lot of fun publishing Washingtonian Magazine and serving on several non-profit boards. My husband Paul and I have two boys ages 4 and 2 who love Annapolis and can’t wait for July and August when we move out there for the summer. I hope this summer we have a few less visitors so that I have time to see some Severnites!”

1988 1986 Send notes to: Sara Tabasi Toomey

150 Longfellow Drive Millersville, MD 21108 410-315-7728 charleysangels@verizon.net

Send notes to: Drew Burns

706 Laurel Lane Severna Park, MD 21146 dburns@pcmgc.com 410-846-5570

1989 Send notes to: Holly Hodson

668 N. Coast Hwy. #408 Laguna Beach, CA 92651 949-497-8770 holly@fijigirl.net

Lots of news from Josh Hallett: “Okay, so I want to nominate myself for the biggest class loser award. When the 10 year reunion came around, I was deployed to Kosovo while on active duty in the Marines. I got off of active duty in 2004, and started flying for Fedex and I promised myself I would not miss the 20th reunion. Well, as you can see, from the picture below, it looks like I might just have to wait until 2019 for the 30th, as I was activated as a reservist, and am currently deployed for 7 months flying in Afghanistan and Iraq. I can’t buy a break. I am wondering, who is behind all of this? Anyway, I saw in the last Bridge that Matt Stader is also deployed, over here, so I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for him.

Stranger things have happened.

As a matter of fact, I have run into Randy Russell ’87 while involved with an exercise in Greece, and I recently saw Andrew Plummer ’91 while serving in New Orleans right after Hurricane Gustav rolled through the Gulf. Severn alumni are everywhere! Life has been good to

me so far on this deployment.

We have been very busy flying in support of the transition of our national focus from Iraq to Afghanistan. In my off time, I have been training for the Coeur D’Alene, ID Ironman triathlon I will be running in soon after my return. I am hoping to qualify for The Ironman Championships in Hawaii, but the competition is tough in “our” age group, so we’ll see. It is a lofty goal, if nothing else.

My wife Wendy and two sons Connor and Hayden stopped by the Severn Campus over the Christmas holiday, to see where I went to school. They were very impressed and I too was impressed when I saw the pictures. It has come a long way in 20 years. I still remember the times there so fondly and wish I could reconnect with everyone in May, unfortunately duty calls, and I’ll try and make it to the next one. Best wishes to everyone, and thank you Holly for keeping our class together, if only in print and pictures.”

1990 Send notes to: Blairlee Sommers Owens

419 Prince George Street Laurel, MD 20707 blairleeowens@comcast.net

1987 Send notes to: Penny Leatherwood Kennedy

penny.kennedy@gmail.com 410-439-5982

Penny Leatherwood Kennedy tells The Bridge; “It was great to see some of you at the Alumni Picnic - our class had a nice turnout. In attendance were the following classmates: Mariam Bahrami, Tina Dennis, Kirk

Mandy Baker Spollen ’87, Sallie Luck ’86, Penny Leatherwood Kennedy ’87 and Sam Bradshaw ’86

Josh Hallett ’89

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T H E B R IDGE

1991 Send notes to: Heather Clark Piskorowski

4371 Westminster Place Saint Louis MO 63108 heatherpisko@comcast.net or to

Matt Sarro

3051 Aberdeen Road Annapolis, MD 21403 mattsarro@yahoo.com

A very happy Drew Bauer writes: “Our little guy, Wilson Treffert Bauer (we call him Tref ) was born at 11:09 pm, May 4th.

He is a healthy 7 lbs. 12.5 oz. and doing great. Mom was absolutely incredible.

1992 Send notes to: Jennifer Molesevich

305 S. Clinton St. Baltimore, MD 21224 jennpm1@msn.com

1993 Send notes to: Dave Sobel

3171 Colchester Brook Lane Fairfax, VA 22031 703-280-2628 dave@evolvetech.com

Dave Sobel sends this in: “I heard from Shelly SmithVoithoffer. She caught me up on her updates. She was married on May 18, 2002 to Brandon Voithoffer and is the mother of three beautiful little girls. She writes: “My first daughter Savannah Marie was born Feb 27, 2003 weighing in at 4 pounds 5 ounces. She was born a month early, and is healthy and tall like her Daddy. My second daughter Madison Grace was born March 15, 2005 weighing in at 6 pounds 11 ounces and my third daughter Kaitlyn Grace was born July 14, 2008 weighing in at 5 pounds 3 ounces. They are all healthy and happy. They definitely keep me busy. My oldest daughter Savan-

nah is attending kindergarten at Annapolis Area Christian School and my daughter Madison will be heading there next year for pre-K. My family and I are all doing very well.” n Brad Fowler and Amy Noble Fowler welcomed their second son, Jackson ‘Jack’ James Fowler on July 18, 2008 at 7:54 am. Big Brother, Bowen ‘Bo’ Wills Fowler who is two and a half, is a GREAT big brother!

1994

1995 Send notes to: Darcy Watt Gurganous

703-327-1089 drwatt21@hotmail.com

Stephen Ziehm tells The Bridge: My wife Amy and I adopted a son, Elijah, from the Russian Far East city of Khabarovsk in March. Elijah is two years old.

Send notes to: Michael Calabrese

calabrese_michael@hotmail.com

1996

This from Michael Calabrese: “The Class of 1994 had our 15 year reunion in April. Despite our various babysitting and naptime issues, many of us were able to attend either the picnic, reception or both. We caught up with the Lawrence family, GB, his wife, daughter and son enjoyed the moon-bounce and balloon animals. Dolph Habeck and his wife Emma made an appearance all the way from England! Robin Borchardt Cooper also enjoyed the picnic festivities with her husband and son. The dinner reception was also fun. Sara Quinn Pugh, Amy Hackman Hilliard, Julie Pizzi Couch, Brian Hill, Eric Alexander and I enjoyed the food and music

Send notes to: Erika Huebner

4709 Spring Hill Road Savannah, GA 31404 912-691-1639 erika@designstudio13.com

1998 Send notes to: Dan Ericson

910 M Street NW #408 Washington, D.C. 20001 ericson@gwu.edu

1999 Send notes to: Jennifer Scott

1650 21st Rd. N. Apt 2 Arlington, VA 22209-1160 jenscott@alumni.virginia.edu

2000 Send notes to: Jane Friend

Jfriend12@gmail.com

Jane Friend sends in this news: Anne Fitzgerald and Zach Schneider are got married on Memorial weekend. n Justis Bro-

1997 Send notes to: Gussie Habeck Melendez

augustamelendez@gmail.com

Stephen Ziehm ‘95, wife Amy and baby Elijah

Brad Fowler’s ’93 children, Bo & Jack

Drew Bauer ’91 and baby Tref

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with our respective spouses... I’m happy to report a good time was had by all! Hope to hear from you soon.”

Shelly Smith-Voithoffer’s ’93 girls, Savannah, Madison and Kaitlyn

Dolph ’94 and Emma Habeck

SPR I N G 2009

gan and his wife, Ginny, had baby girl ‘Zoey’ on 1/9/09. n Scott MacMullan says, “I will be in Baltimore this summer working for Judge Dick Bennett ’65 if anyone wants to meet up for lunch or dinner. Also, I am very excited to see my old team Villanova beating up on the Towson Tigers in lacrosse. (Sorry Todd.)

I hope everyone is well.”

2001 Send notes to: Helen Birney

helenwb@gmail.com

Gaurav Singal shares news on his engagement to Shikha Mangla, an internal medicine resident in Chicago: “We’ll be getting married in April of 2010.” n Tom Simmons passed the Maryland Bar and was sworn in as an attorney in December. He will be finishing his clerkship for the Honorable William C. Mulford, II in August and will joining the law firm of Buck, Migdal, and Myers in downtown Annapolis. n Abi Osborne had another baby: “Joshua Peter Osborne was born February 23, 2009 at 5:57pm. He weighed 7lbs 3oz and was 20 inches long. Sarah (3 1/2) and Jeremiah (almost 2) are loving their new brother.” n After working in NYC for 2 years at Morgan Stanley, Matt Larkin

became a causality of the execution style lay-offs. He shared further, “I have since taken a job at Incapital LLC in Boca Raton, FL where I have worked for about a year now. I live in Fort Lauderdale and am enjoying the weather in South Florida!” n Adriana Normand is living in Savannah, GA, managing a carriage tour company. She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with an illustration major, and also does freelance work with that. Her site is www.AdrianaNormand.com. n Shawn Howard sends this news;:“Life is pretty good! I currently live in Sandusky, Ohio. I work for Cedar Fair Entertainment Company as a ride operations area supervisor. I also work in the corporate office in the investor relations department.” n As for me, Helen Birney, I will have graduated with my master of arts degree in media studies May 22.

Even though I will not be pursuing a career in media studies, my experience at The New School has helped me establish priceless professional relationships and has also taught me how to think outside the box. So where has this led me? I will be an associate teacher for The Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn, NY, an in-

dependent school that reminds me a lot of Severn without the uniforms. Believe me, this is the last thing I ever thought I would be doing, but for the next 1-2 years I’m really looking forward to teaching children in unconventional ways (I have no practical experience except that I am currently substitute teaching, nor do I have an education degree) and also learning how to manage large groups of people (so they’re little people, but don’t we all act like children sometimes?). I will also continue freelance work in video production when I am not teaching. Even MORE importantly, I am engaged! My girlfriend of 2 ½ years proposed to me April 18. Her name is Nora McCaffrey, an event planner and aspiring catering business owner from New York. We are planning a wedding for August or September 2010.

2002 Send Notes to: Kristi Jobson

kristi.jobson@gmail.com

Lots of news from Kristi Jobson: “Congratulations to Camille Kelly Esmacher and her husband Tom, who recently welcomed their baby boy Luke Vincent Esmacher into the world! Luke was born on March 12, weighing 8 lbs, 14 ounces and measuring 21.5 inches. n

Charles D. Reed is getting married in Dallas this May to Beccah Sullivan. The bride and groom met as undergraduates at Wake Forest. Several Severnites will be making the trek down to Texas for the celebration, including coBest Men Gary Gambarani and Matthew Allen and groomsmen Matthew Larson, Billy Delancey, and Joe Freburger. n Congrats are also in order for Matt Larson, who is graduating from USC Law in May. Once he finishes the California bar exam this summer, he is moving to San Francisco and working for Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal practicing Patent Litigation in their Silicon Valley Office. n An update from Katie Helms: ‘I’m still in the Annapolis area. After graduating from VT, I was lucky enough to score a great job here.

I work in sales for Hobo International - a handbag company that was founded by a woman from Annapolis - and work with 4 main regions. Things are going really well and I’m traveling several times a year to NYC, LA, Vegas, and the occasional Dallas trip for trade shows and to work with our stores and new collections. It’s been a really great experience and the industry is certainly a fun one! Other

Justis Brogan’s ’00 baby Zoey

Some members of the Class of ’99 with Upper School History Department Chair, John Bodley (R)

Camille Esmacher’s ’00 baby Luke

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T H E B R IDGE

than my 9-5, I’ve been enjoying some quality outside time playing kickball with friends I knew from childhood and watching the Caps play some hockey. I also am taking up golf - who knew golf is so much fun to play?! Just yesterday I decided that I’m going to “train” for a race later this summer, I don’t know exactly which one, but it’s getting me re-motivated to run, which is nice and much needed. I ran the 2.2 on the trail and had lots of Severn preseason flashbacks - I could actually hear “sprint hard through the finish” as I was running the last stretch. Isn’t it so weird how things like that come back so clearly? After that I walked around Severn which looks so different now, but I still felt really at home. I can’t wait to get an official tour of the new gym.’ n Emily Schneider is living in DC and loving it. She finished her masters in special education this past summer, and her third year of teaching a self-contained autism classroom! Emily says she loves her students and will be back with them again this fall.”

She and her fiancé, Wes Stinchcomb from Kent Island, met through work - they both work at Aeroterm US, Inc, a real estate management company in Annapolis. The got engaged January 10 and they are planning a wedding for November of 2010.

Julia is living in Annapolis and has continued painting beautiful works of art. You can check out her work online at www.jdeckmangallery.com.”

2004 Send Notes to: Jenn Presswood

jennpresswood@gmail.com

News on Marcelo Garcia: Marcelo has finished his Architecture degree at the University of Maryland and went for months of severe training to become a 2nd Lieutenant for the Marines. He is living in Quantico, Virginia for now. In two months he will be heading to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for a more specific Combat Engineering training.

Marcelo Garcia ’04

2005

2008

Send Notes to: Tyler Williams

Send Notes to: Annie Weber

Willitr0@sewanee.edu

acw5133@psu.edu

or

or

Jenessa Del Sesto

Stephen Sexauer

jmdel87@aol.com

stephen.b.sexauer@vanderbilt.edu

2006

Annie Weber sends in this news:“Carey Ward, a freshman at UMD majoring in communications and social influence, would like to let people know that she passed the portfolio review at VT and got into the graphic design program, but shortly after getting accepted into the program she decided that she wanted to be closer to home and transfer to UMD where she is majoring in communications and social influence.”

Send Notes to: Courtney Dunn

ctd231@nyu.edu

Sent in from Courtney Dunn: “Lindsay Hall is rounding up her semester in Valencia, Spain, and is looking forward to spending 6 weeks in Ecuador doing volunteer work this summer. Courtney Byce is currently studying abroad in Paris, JP Kokkinos is studying in Prague. Chris Hughes, George Broadbin, Sean Quinn, and Keri Houser are all spending the summer of 2009 in NYC working and participating in various internship opportunities. Margaret Reid will be working in D.C., Lauren Benner will be spending part of her summer abroad on a sailboat traveling through Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, and Shelly Cox received a grant to study in India.”

2003

2007

Send notes to: Laura Lutkefedder

Send Notes to: Samantha Goldman

llutkefedder@gmail.com

srgoldma@syr.edu

Laura Lutkefedder sends this news: “Congratulations to Julia Deckman on her engagement!

Graham Ellison

or

ellisogc@eckerd.edu

2009 The Bridge welcomes new Class Secretaries, Katie Dickerson and Justin Kiehne.

Congratulations to The Class of 2009 and welcome to the Alumni Association!

save the date!

NOVEMBER 7 HOMECOMING SEVERN VS. ST. MARY’S (RIVER CLASSIC)

NOVEMBER 13 FOUNDERS DAY & DISTINGUISHED ALUM CEREMONIES

Julia Deckman ’03 with financé Wes Stinchcomb Emily Schneider ’02 and students

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APRIL 30 MAY 2, 2010 ALUMNI WEEKEND

SPR I N G 2009

More to Life than Lax We are delighted to reprint a letter from Peter Henry, proud dad of Dave ’08.

What a great story!

“The Holy Cross lacrosse team has been involved with the Big Brother/Big Sister program in Worcester, MA for several years. In fact, everyone on the team has a little brother, and every Monday the team goes and visits the little brothers - to play a little ball, help them with homework, or just hang out.

Dave’s little brother is Nicholas, a third grader. It’s a long story, but Nicholas does not have a Dad and he has a very hard time relating to adult men. When Dave first met Nick last fall, he would hardly even look at Dave much less talk to him.

But over time, Nick warmed up to Dave, and now they are best buddies. The director of the program told me recently that Dave has had a tremendous impact on Nick and they love spending time together.

On Easter Sunday Holy Cross played Marist (who else but another Catholic school do you play on Easter Saturday?) but it was also the day that the team invited all their little brothers to campus for the game and an after-game barbecue. It was pretty special and it’s hard to tell who enjoyed the day more, the Big Brothers or the Little Brothers.”

- Peter Henry

Dave Henry ’08 with Little Brother Nick

In our efforts to become a ‘greener’ community, Severn will be mailing ONLY ONE BRIDGE MAGAZINE PER

HOUSEHOLD. We will be glad to mail copies of the magazine to anyone outside of your household if you would please supply us with the address. Please contact Alison Hall, Database Manager, at 410-647-7701 ext. 2256 if this is a problem and please be patient with us as we make the move to conserve.

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Drexel University’s High School Photography Contest received more than 3,000 entries this year. The judges selected 125 photographs, from across the country, including the above photo from our own Mia Katz ’10 to exhibit at Drexel’s Photography Gallery in Philadelphia. “This image is called Apple,” explained Mia. “It was taken at the Apple store in New York City. The blue is the tint of the glass, and the footprints are people walking up and down the stairs; the entire Apple store is underground.”

201 Water Street Severna Park, MD 21146 www.severnschool.com 410-647-7700

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #12 Severna Park, MD

HEY, ALUMNI! Graduated? Moved out of your parent’s basement?

Taken a job on the west coast? We want to make sure that The Bridge gets to wherever it is you’re going!

Update your info at www.severnschool.com or contact Alison Hall, Database Manager, 410-647-7701 ext. 2256, or e mail a.hall@severnschool.com

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