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THE BRIDGE is published for alumni, parents and friends by Severn School's communications office. We encourage all of our readers to respond with comments, questions and information. 201 Water Street, Severna Park, MD 21146 410.647.7700 or info@severnschool.com © 2019 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 Association of Independent Schools (AIMS), and is approved by the Maryland State Board of Education. Douglas Lagarde, H EADMASTER Tom Carter III '85, B OAR D OF TR USTEES CHAIR Nicole Anderson, E DITOR Erin Lewis, AS S O C IATE EDITOR Carrie MacVean Grimes '91, ALUMNI DIR ECTOR Carolyn Campion, CONTR IBUTING WR ITER Darshan Kharod '03, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CHAIR
[ON THE COVER}
POSSIBILITY
noun
unspecified qualities of a promising nature; potential.
M IS S IO N STATE ME NT 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.
H EADM ASTER'S M ESSAGE
"The ability to choose well is arguably the most influential tool for controlling your future. It really is a superpower."
CHOICE IS YOUR SUPERPOWER
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M ES SAG E F R O M HEA DM AST ER DO UG L AGARDE
Did you know Headmaster Lagarde is a woodworking artist in his spare time? Our 3rd graders visited his workshop for a lesson and demo...they were amazed to see woodworking in action!
HEA DM AST ER' S M ES SAG E
Throughout this issue of The Bridge, you will
a choice and thus, you can impact the outcome.
before choosing.
students using the foundation forged here on
influential tool for controlling your future. It
question gets at the root of all understanding.
have led to success. At this year's Convocation,
choice is a powerful force in controlling one's
lets us get from who we are today to who we
The first weeks of school are always filled
choice has on your potential and your future
raise a lot of questions. What and who is new?
because your future is uncertain. If the future
going to make a team, performing group or
much at all. There will be situations for which
passions change this year? And I imagine you
fate take over. As much as you might want this,
around in your head this morning.
still making a choice. In my opinion, not a good
a crystal ball that can tell the future and give
to unfold. In other words, there are many
reveal more than your likes and dislikes, they
bring forth excitement, but also apprehension
you choose to tell the truth; if you choose to
good because they show that you care about
reliable friend; if you choose to be genuinely
fact, that nervousness is a signal that your body
that you are a person of superior character. If
to meet your future unknown challenges
negatively on your character as well.
need to know that you will not always make
find many stories about alumni and current
The ability to choose well is arguably the most
Water Street to make choices in their lives that
really is a superpower.
I spoke to the entire student body about how
our lives, in every question we face. Choice
destiny.
want to become in the future. The impact
with anticipation and excitement and often
cannot be overstated. Indeed, choice has power
Will I do well in my classes this year? Am I
was predetermined, choice wouldn't be worth
meet new friends? How will my interests and
you want to opt out of making a choice and let
have many additional questions bouncing
choice is universal and choosing to opt out is
one, but a choice nonetheless.
No one here – at least I don't think – has
Choice is embedded in every aspect of
Choosing is not just a private activity but
us a detailed account of how the year is going
a public one as well. The choices you make
unknowns ahead and those unknowns can
also provide insight into your character. If
and nervousness. All of these emotions are
be respectful and kind; if you choose to be a
what happens this year and in your future. In
interested in others, you show the world
is preparing itself physically and emotionally
you choose the opposite of these, it reflects
successfully.
nervousness can be so strong that it becomes
the right choice. There will be times when
control over a situation. Let me assure you, you
disappointing to you and others. Superheroes
may realize. I would even suggest you have an
at something, they routinely make the choice
At every moment you have the ability to choose
to respond to difficult situations, to failure,
in the driver's seat; it puts you in charge, in
and my hope is that you choose to renew your
with disappointment this year.
I do worry, though, that at times the
But, how do you choose well? First, you
overwhelming, and you feel as if you have no
your choices are unsuccessful and will be
always have control, more control than you
aren't always successful either, but after failing
immense amount of control in every situation.
to strive forward and try again. They choose
how to act or how to respond which puts you
with renewed effort. You always have a choice
control.
commitment and effort when you are faced
superpower more consequential than being able
being able to make yourself invisible or any
gave a speech a few years ago when he was the
Regardless of the situation you find yourself in
which he provided a strategy for choosing well.
Choice is a like superpower. It is a
But, again, how do you choose well?
to fly, having extraordinary strength or speed,
University of Virginia President James Ryan
other superpower for which you might wish.
dean of the Education School at Harvard in
or problem you have to solve, you always have
That strategy involves asking specific questions
The first question is “Wait, what?” This
It clarifies crucial aspects of a situation and
provides a better understanding of it so that you can choose more wisely. The second
question is “I wonder why?” This question
activates your curiosity and allows you to probe
deeper to further clarify the situation. The third question is “Couldn't we at least?” This gets
your mind thinking about potential options and provides momentum forward. And the fourth question is, “How can I help?” This question is at the heart of choosing right whether it
is “How can my choices help me?” or “How
can my choices help others?” If this attitude is central to your decision-making process you
will choose correctly far more often than not. “Wait, what?” Clarifies.
“I wonder why?” Activates curiosity.
“Couldn't we at least?” Initiates momentum. “How can I help?” Assures your choices will
improve yourself and the Severn community.
As this year unfolds, my hope for everyone
here and for Severn is that we all use our
inherent superpower — the power of choice
— to make ourselves and our school the best
versions they can be. I hope that we all choose to tell the truth, choose to work hard, choose
to meet challenge with resolve, choose to be a
constant not a variable, choose to unplug from our devices and listen attentively to a friend, a mentor or the world itself, choose to meet
disappointment with renewed determination, and choose to be grateful. In other words,
choose to matter both for the sake of your own futures and also that of Severn's.
Choice lets you make a positive difference
in your own life and in the lives of others. If that isn't the most important and powerful
superpower, I don't know what possibly could be. Don't let the future happen to you. You
control it because you have a choice. Use your power wisely to shape a successful future.
Please continue to share with us how
choice has shaped your life and that of others you have encountered.
WINTER 2019 3
SEVERN NEW S FROM CAMP U S
technology and business consulting services
across a variety of industry domains including telecommunications, network design, product development, and financial management and
control. Kent's work at Accenture also included the design, development and implementation
of manufacturing planning and control systems, distribution and logistics systems, property management systems, and cost accounting
systems. Kent's career at Accenture was focused on designing and implementing technology and operations solutions to drive business
process improvements, and increase operating
results. After leaving Accenture in 2004, Kent entered public service as a member of the
senior executive service with the United States Department of Justice, where he served until 2013 as the deputy chief information officer. His pivotal work at the DOJ was dedicated to directing the computing environment,
Kent L. Holtgrewe '73 named 2018 Rolland M. Teel Distinguished Alumnus Severn School is pleased to announce the 2018
After graduating from Severn School in 1973,
recipient is Kent L. Holtgrewe '73. This award,
where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Rolland M. Teel Distinguished Alumni Award named for the founder of Severn School, is the highest honor the school bestows upon
an alumnus/a. The award recognizes alumni
who have demonstrated outstanding service to humanity, service to community, professional achievement, or service to Severn School.
While at Severn School, Kent was a
dedicated scholar and athlete. He competed
on the varsity football and basketball teams,
and was a member of Severn's Varsity Club. As a Severn student, Kent was a member of the National Honor Society and was nationally
recognized in both the “Who's Who Among American High School Students” and the
“Outstanding Teenagers of America” programs.
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Kent attended the University of Virginia,
environmental science. For his post-graduate
work Kent attended the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business where he earned
a master's in business administration. Kent is a certified public accountant and has served for several years as a Severn School trustee and finance committee member.
Mr. Holtgrewe has had an outstanding
career in corporate consulting and public service. Kent was a founding partner of
Accenture PLC, a $40 billion professional
services company providing a range of services
in strategy, technology, and consulting to clients in 120 countries around the world. During his
twenty-five years with the company, he directed
including IT policy and planning, oversight of key technology systems, management of DOJ's IT efforts at the Organized Crime
Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), direction of DOJ support to the Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC) and, later, the National Counterterrorism
Center (NCTC), direction of DOJ efforts
supporting the Joint IED Defeat Organization ( JIEDDO), and management of DOJ support to FBI's Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC). During his tenure at
the DOJ, Holtgrewe worked for Attorney
Generals Ashcroft, Gonzales, Mukasey and Holder, and directed transition activities
related to departmental leadership changes.
He also served as executive director of DOJ's
Integrated Wireless Network providing tactical communications for FBI, DEA, US Marshals, ATF, and various components of Homeland Security.
Pictured: Headmaster Doug Lagarde, Board of Trustees Chair Tom Carter '85, Kent Holtgrewe '73, Alumni Association Chair Darshan Kharod '03
S EV ER N N EWS F ROM CAM PUS
Millard Grant Recipients Take Severn Across the Country and the Ocean This summer, Millard Travel Grant recipients Ms. Vicki Dabrowka and Mr. Frank Donn traveled across the country and across the ocean to bring a new perspective to their classrooms. From all things innovation in Silicon Valley to music that promotes social good in London, both trips inspired our teachers to return energized and ready to share their experiences with our community.
Lower School Technology Specialist Ms. Vicki Dabrowka spent a week in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay areas of Northern California. While the entire trip was memorable, Ms. Dabrowka notes her visit to Seesaw as a particular highlight. Seesaw is a tool for building, collecting and sharing student digital work that Ms. Dabrowka introduced to Severn two years ago. During her visit to Seesaw, she spoke with co-founder Carl Sjogreen (a student of our very own Headmaster Lagarde at his former school!) about entrepreneurship, leadership, the role of technology in the classroom and more. Ms. Dabrowka keeps our Lower School on the cutting edge of what's new in educational technology. And the unforgettable memories from her trip now inspire her teaching in the classroom. Whether creating new ways for students to showcase their designs with Seesaw or planning 2nd and 3rd-grade virtual field trips to the Computer History Museum, Ms. Dabrowka is bringing that good Silicon Valley tech-spiration home to Chesapeake Campus. Upper and Lower School Music Teacher and Director of Instrumental Ensembles Mr. Frank Donn spent a week in the Hackney neighborhood of London visiting and playing with Drum Works, a Samba drumming program. Mr. Donn has worked with Drum Works teachers Sam and Ross through Creative Connections, the organization's US counterpart, for the past eight years on annual music projects for Baltimore City Schools. He was excited to see his friends and colleagues in action abroad. During his stay, Mr. Donn attended Drum Works sessions at two high schools and the Barbican Centre, a world-class performing arts complex, where he played drums with the groups and helped support community outreach classes. Drum Works is an inclusive program for students and adults — any community member can take part. Through music education and performance they seek to teach their members that “positive action, hard work and commitment achieve amazing results everyone can be proud of.” (from the Drum Works website) The energy and synergy of this organization are difficult to capture in words. Even as a visitor for a short period of time, Mr. Donn could see the positive impact this program has on the lives of its members.
WINTER 2019 5
SE VER N STORIES
Strategies to Manage Time, Tasks, Stress and School During our fall parent forum hosted by the
counseling office, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. John Persampiere shared practical strategies to help families move their children toward independence in a variety of academic and social situations.
Executive functioning is a set of skills that help
Severn School to Host Julie Lythcott-Haims Author and Educator: April 9, 2019
us manage time, tasks, and emotions as we move
REGISTER ONLINE AT BIT.LY/SEVERNSCHOOLEVENTS
inhibition, working memory, emotional control,
Severn School is proud to announce the 2019 David Astle Memorial
prioritization, time management, and
bestseller How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and
through daily life. These skills include: response sustained attention, task initiation, planning meta-cognition.
Building Task-Oriented Skills: Step 1. Develop a plan with a specific set of
directions; Develop a way to directly monitor performance and how to determine that the
task is complete; Provide encouragement and feedback as your child successfully works
through the steps; Problem-solve with your child when something doesn't work.
Step 2. Provide the same information without
Lecture Series speaker, Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of New York Times Prepare Your Kid for Success. She is also known for writing Real American, a critically acclaimed memoir detailing her personal battle with low selfesteem that American racism inflicts on people of color.
On Tuesday, April 9, 2019 Lythcott-Haims will deliver a keynote
address to the Middle and Upper School discussing Real American. Her visit will culminate in the evening with her “How to Raise an Adult”
keynote address for Severn parents, alumni, and the greater community.
The David Astle Memorial Endowment, begun by Senator and
Mrs. Astle in 1998, funds this annual lecture series through which
knowledgeable and/or inspirational speakers are invited to share their expertise, experiences and messages with the community.
directly monitoring your child through a
checklist, an audio recording or picture cues. Step 3. Begin to transfer responsibility to
the child, ask “What do you need to do to accomplish this task?”.
Step 4. The transfer is complete and the child
now asks themselves, “What do I need to do?" when given the task.
Read more online at bit.ly/strategiesforyou
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Add these books to your reading list!
S EVERN STORIES
EVERY SEVERN STORY TIES US TOGETHER.
FALL SEVERN EDUCATION SERIES:
FEATURED VIDEOS TAKE A PEEK AT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM'S 'TERRAPINS IN THE CLASSROOM' PROGRAM IN ACTION! WATCH | BIT.LY/SEVERNVIDEO
Our Responsibility to Meet the Needs of Every Student In the Hoehn-Saric Family Center for Academic
Excellence (Learning Resource Center) both Ms.
Susan Jackson and Mr. Bob Laffey are committed to making sure students are put in positions to
be successful. This can take many forms, but the
common denominator in all that we do is meeting
SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE US | FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM SEVERN STORIES NEWSLETTER EMAIL | INFO@SEVERNSCHOOL.COM ADMIRAL'S CLUB PODCAST LISTEN | BIT.LY/ADMIRALSCLUBPODCAST
the needs of our students. Our primary focus is
to ensure that they remain at the center of every
decision we make, every lesson we plan and every assignment we give. With our support, our hope
is that teachers continually ask themselves, “Is this
what is best for my students?” Or, more importantly, “Is this what is best for all of my students?”
Read more at bit.ly/responsibilitytostudents
WINTER 2019 7
What Can We Learn from a Terrapin? This past September, we welcomed
reptilian friend. Students measure
develop a connection and a sense of
name they will campaign for,
School, a tiny terrapin from the
digital calipers to measure its
as humans impact with our actions.
for the big day.
our newest Admiral to Severn
National Aquarium's Terrapins in
the Classroom program. Both our
first and eighth-grade classes have participated in this program over the years, giving a head start to
hatchling terrapins before releasing them to their home on Poplar
Island in the spring. This program supports the health of our local
ecosystem and brings us together as a community. What can we
learn from a terrapin? As it turns out, quite a lot.
After our terrapin spends a
few weeks in its new home, 8th graders in Ms. JoAnna Josey's
science classes begin feeding and tracking the growth of our new
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food, feed the terrapin and use
growth. They keep track of any
changes and submit this scientific data to the National Aquarium
as official documentation for the program.
Ms. Josey also teaches our
eighth graders about the Poplar Island Restoration Project and how rebuilding the terrapin
population plays a part in the
overall health of the Chesapeake Bay. At the end of the year, a
group of these eighth graders
will return the terrapin to Poplar
Island and release it into its home habitat. As our students care
for the terrapin and learn about local environmental issues, they
empathy for the living creatures we
The baby terrapin also travels
to the Chesapeake Campus to
visit with our first grade. Ms. Josey, Ms. Wong and Ms. Custer talk to the classes about the Chesapeake Bay and the animals that live in
and around it. Each student then observes the hatchling, making
note of any special markings or characteristics.
After spending some time
getting to know our new friend, our first graders must name the terrapin. Rather than just pick
a name, they create a “name the terrapin� campaign to present to our eighth graders on Teel
Campus. Each class chooses a
breaks into groups and prepares
Our first graders then present
their speeches and posters and
the eighth graders vote on their favorite name. It's a great way to build camaraderie between
our Middle and Lower Schools. Our eighth graders support and
model good audience etiquette for our first graders, while our first
graders gain confidence through presenting to their older peers.
We are pleased to officially
present Swirly, a tiny terrapin who teaches us about community and sustainability, our connection
to each other, and to the greater world.
S EVERN STORIES
Getting Jazzy for the Elizabeth Wegner Musicians in Residence At the end of October, our Lower School was proud to host Mike Noonan and the Unified Jazz Ensemble for our
2018 Elizabeth Wegner Musicians in Residence Program. For four days, members of the group worked with kindergarten
through fifth-grade students to
prepare for a group performance
on Friday. Chesapeake Campus
buzzed with rhythmic, jazzy energy
for a week of learning, performing
and fun!
The residency began on Tuesday, October
23, with a performance for all Lower School
students and faculty. Mike Noonan (trombone and vibraphone), John Pineda (bass violin),
and Frank Russo (drums) played traditional
jazz standards along with improvised children's songs. As they performed each piece, they
talked about their instruments, each member's
simple household items like boxes, bird seed,
and empty canisters while demonstrating how
sound can change depending on the size, shape, and materials used.
After rehearsing as a group during the
workshops, Mr. Noonan encouraged our students to share what they had learned
with their families and practice at home. He also asked that every student create their
own percussion instrument to bring to the performance on Friday.
On the last day of the residency, the full
trio performed several songs for our parent and faculty audience. They asked each grade level
to stand with their homemade instruments and play along in the call and response style. They even jammed with our Early School students
without a rehearsal — that's improvisation in action!
role in the group and how improvisation works
The Elizabeth Wegner Memorial Fund was created
but tap their toes to the infectious rhythms!
unique musical opportunities for our Lower
in jazz. Our students and teachers couldn't help
On Wednesday and Thursday, Mr.
Noonan and Mr. Russo held workshops for
our kindergarten through fifth-grade students.
They explored the “call and response” technique using different beats and patterns. They talked about the many ways to create sound using
to continue Mrs. Wegner's legacy by providing
School students. Mrs. Wegner taught music in our
community for 14 years before her passing in 2014. She sought to provide a nurturing setting in which children of any age can joyfully develop their own talents in making, composing and performing music.
WINTER 2019 9
SEVERN STORIES
108 seniors gave a 'dollar of dedication' to the Severn Annual Fund in honor of faculty, staff, or coaches who made an impact on their time in Upper School ... the first class to do this in Severn School history!
Our Upper School Promise to Be There They want to be
At the end of the summer, over 80 sophomores,
positions are expected to attend, the retreat
upstanders rather
for a three-day leadership retreat. The goal of
where any interested student can participate.
than bystanders.
juniors and seniors gathered on Teel Campus
the three days? To choose an adaptive challenge for the entire Upper School to work toward
They understand that
throughout the year. This year the theme is "Be
they have the power
part in shaping our school community.
to build their own
There," a call for every student to take an active
The retreat involves a series of discussions
and workshops on effective leadership; some
community and they
are student-led and some are led by faculty.
embrace it.
get to know each other better and develop
It's also an opportunity for our students to
relationships outside of their normal circles. At the end of the retreat they decide on an adaptive challenge for the year. Although students in elected and club leadership
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is open to all students. It's a voluntary forum
The retreat begins Thursday evening with
dinner organized by Upper School prefects
followed by an opening ceremony with remarks from Head of School Mr. Doug Lagarde and Upper School Dean of Students Mr. Marc
Buckley. Over the next two days our students brainstorm ideas, join together to share and diverge again to even further develop those initial ideas.
“The retreat offers our students a unique
opportunity to learn valuable leadership and organizational skills in an engaging
environment where they assess the strengths
and challenges of our community and set out to
S E VERN STORIES
improve it through the selection of an adaptive
include: Taking the Initiative, Active
The kids feed off of the energy of faculty and
challenge. The group meets twice more, once
challenge or goal that they set for themselves. each other and we all leave the three days
feeling excited about the beginning of the school year," shared Mr. Marc Buckley.
An adaptive challenge is an open-ended,
long-term goal that can be integrated into
all aspects of life in the Upper School. The
challenge informs student council and club activities during the year. Past challenges
Appreciation, Respect, and Unity.
Our students want to create the best
experience they can for everyone in the Upper School. They want to support each other in
clubs and sports, be there emotionally for their peers, and be aware of what's going on around them. They want to be upstanders rather than
bystanders. They understand that they have the power to build their own community and they embrace it.
The three-day retreat is only the first
step in working toward this year's adaptive in the fall and once in the winter, to make
plans, check-in, and talk about what's worked and what hasn't. The whole experience helps our students take ownership over their time
at Severn. They learn to work toward a large
common goal with many moving parts. They learn to value diverse perspectives and make
positive change in their own lives and the lives of those around them.
WHEN THE CLASS OF 2019 CHALLENGED THE SEVERN COMMUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE SEVERN ANNUAL FUND IN DECEMBER, PARENTS WILL AND ERIN CASTLEBERRY '22 '22 '24 SWIFTLY DROVE THE CHALLENGE HOME WITH A $25,000 MATCH. CHECK OUT THE RESULTS!
SUMMER 2018 11
THE POSSIBILITIES OF PHILANTHROPY
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F EAT UR E | S E VERN STORIES
Philanthropy is defined as the desire to promote the welfare
of others through a gift of time or treasure for humanitarian
purposes. It is so much more than simply donating to a cause. The spirit of philanthropy — that which changes lives, fosters progress, and improves our world — lies in the meaning and intention behind the gift. It is not only the gift but the giver that makes this positive change possible.
In an inspiring display of collective action, the Class of
2019 showed the Severn community that the philanthropic
spirit is alive in our younger generations. Every member of the senior class gave a 'dollar of dedication' in honor of a faculty
or staff member who has impacted their life. “I give to Severn in dedication to the teachers here that have helped me grow
as a student and as a young man," Owura Berko '19 reflects. "The teachers here have taught me life lessons outside of the classroom that have benefitted me today, and it is something that I'll forever be thankful for."
For our seniors, the act of giving gave them the opportunity
to have a voice. Perhaps it's no surprise that philanthropy comes naturally to our soon-to-be-alumni; after all, Severn School's very foundation was built upon a grand philanthropic gesture.
“PHILANTHROPY IN ITS GRANDEST FORM IS THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE.”
– DOUG LAGARDE, HEADMASTER
In 1914 Mrs. Susan Teel and her husband Rolland used a small family inheritance to open Severn as a boarding prep school for
young men taking the USNA entrance exam. WINTER 2019 13
F EATURE | SEVERN STORIE S
"I GIVE TO SEVERN BECAUSE THIS SCHOOL CHANGED MY LIFE. MR. TEEL WAS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN MY LIFE. HE AND THE SCHOOL CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR ME."
— STEPHENS MILLARD '51
A HISTORY OF PHILANTHROPY AT SEVERN
In 1914 Mrs. Susan Teel and her husband Rolland used a small family
inheritance to open Severn as a boarding prep school for young men taking the
USNA entrance exam. Running on a modest budget during those early years, Severn relied on tuition to stay afloat. There was no annual fund, no endowment
and no significant capital enhancements. As the school slowly began to grow, Woods Hall was built in 1955 with Memorial Gymnasium constructed less than a decade later in 1963.
The 1980s ushered in a new era of philanthropy at Severn with a momentum
that has continued to energize the school through the decades. The creation of
a development office with defined fundraising goals and objectives enabled the school to evolve and stay relevant in an era of educational reform. Private funding allowed the school to explore the art of what was possible, transforming that small boarding school into the vision of Severn as it stands today.
During Headmaster Lagarde's tenure, Severn also established its endowment,
a marker of growth as significant as the improvements to the physical space. From 2006 to 2018, the endowment grew from approximately $4.5 million to $15 million, ensuring Severn's legacy for its second century of operation.
"IN MANY WAYS, THE PHYSICAL SPACE, WHICH HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF OUR PHILANTHROPY IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, IS A THIRD MEMBER OF OUR LEARNING TEAM. YOU HAVE THE FACULTY MEMBER, THE STUDENT, AND THIS SPACE. IT IS CRITICAL TO HAVE SPACES THAT ADD TO THE EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION OF A STUDENT AND THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FACULTY."
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— DOUG LAGARDE, HEADMASTER
1984 [HEADMASTER DONNELLY/SHEPPARD] TEEL HALL IS RAZED AND THE OLD TEEL ACADEMIC CENTER IS EXPANDED 1999 [HEADMASTER CREEDEN] MCCLEARY STUDENT CENTER COMPLETED 2002 [HEADMASTER CREEDEN] CREEDEN HALL COMPLETED
2007 [HEADMASTER CREEDEN/LAGARDE] EDWARD ST. JOHN ATHLETIC CENTER IS COMPLETED
2013 [HEADMASTER LAGARDE] SEVERN SCHOOL EXPANDS TO SERVE PRESCHOOL THROUGH FIFTH GRADE WITH THE ADDITION OF CHESAPEAKE CAMPUS
2015 [HEADMASTER LAGARDE] NEW TEEL ACADEMIC CENTER COMPLETED
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F EATURE | SEVERN STORIE S
PHILANTHROPY AT SEVERN TODAY
The Severn community's history of generosity inspires a growing
philanthropic culture today. Faculty, students, parents, trustees and alumni all give back to the school, each with a personal story behind that giving.
MARC BUCKLEY, UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER, DEAN OF STUDENTS, AND CURRENT PARENT
“I have given for 16 years as a thank you. I have been to Turkey and Israel on Millard Travel Grants and I appreciate the
buildings and resources that come from philanthropy. All that being said, everything changed when my child came here.
That experience has really solidified to me that this is a big family and that people look out for one another here. This is the kind of community I want to support.”
ERIN CASTLEBERRY, CURRENT PARENT
“One of the reasons we chose Severn for our kids is because we really liked their approach to developing the whole child. One of the reasons we chose to chair the Severn Annual Fund this year is because of the focus on creating financial
opportunities for kids who might not be able to afford to go to Severn and also creating experiences for faculty to enrich their teaching through programs at Severn. It is important because the more we expose our children to, the bigger the world becomes to them and the more they have the opportunity to really hone in on what feeds their soul." KENT HOLTGREWE '73, DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AND CURRENT TRUSTEE
"I enjoy playing a small role assisting the remarkable change Severn has undergone and continues to undergo. I first
stepped foot on campus in 1969. The changes I've witnessed in the subsequent 50 years are astonishing. It's been great fun witnessing Severn's steady ascension into the ranks of the country's elite independent schools. Let's endeavor to see this extraordinary progress continue."
Private support continues to have a far-reaching impact. It provides resources that attract the best, brightest and most
compassionate faculty; allows the school to create and maintain programs and facilities like the Upper School Leadership Labs and clubs, the Graw Innovation Center, the Malone Schools Online Network, the Health and Wellness Survey, and more. It enables Severn to fulfill its mission to “know and value” each and every student. Director of development and
current parent Shannon Howell shared, "The reason the Severn community chooses to invest in this school is that our
donors have a common value: they believe in the importance of a truly great education. They understand that the unique moment of learning shared between a student and their teacher, coach or mentor can be life-changing."
"PHILANTHROPY ALLOWS US TO THINK BIG; IT ALLOWS US TO TAKE RISKS; IT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR SEVERN TO BE WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE TO ULTIMATELY SERVE ITS MISSION AND ITS STUDENTS. IT ALLOWS US TO SHAPE THE FUTURE, RATHER THAN BE SHAPED BY THE FUTURE.” 16
THE BRIDGE
— DOUG LAGARDE, HEADMASTER
F EAT UR E | S E VERN STORIES
PHILANTHROPY FOR THE SEVERN OF TOMORROW
Progress is a fast-moving train, and as a leader in the educational community, Severn needs continued philanthropic support
to thrive. The successful evolution of Severn's physical campus and academic programming over the last 20 years is proof that its
community embraces philanthropy, both in action and in spirit. But what comes next? According to Headmaster Doug Lagarde,
“A priority is to look at Chesapeake Campus, identify the capital needs and make sure that the campus and its facilities are up to par with Teel Campus.�
"Philanthropy at Severn creates unique, invaluable experiences for today's students," development director Shannon Howell
Philanthropy is part of the foundation of Severn School, woven into its very fabric. This enduring generosity enables the
reflects. "What's more, a Severn education is something that appreciates over a lifetime for all Admirals and for their families."
Severn community to benefit from exemplary programs, state-of-the-art spaces and the secured promise of future opportunities. Philanthropy at Severn will continue to have a transformative impact for every Admiral, through the next century and beyond.
LITTLE LEGACIES ANCHOR AT SEVERN
18
THE BRIDGE
BY CA R R I E M ACV EA N G R I M ES ' 9 1
Working adjacent to the Severn School archives in Alumni House has led me
to become relatively well-versed in the lore of our school history, and the stories
we tell and retell ourselves over time to affirm our collective identity as a com-
munity. Of all of these interwoven Severn narratives, one story has played the
starring role in my mind of late. I'm not quite sure if this can be attributed to my active imagination, the magical quality of the mist rising off of the Severn River on a frosty December morning like today, or the vintage black and white Severn
photos which peer back at me when I'm in the archives. As the story goes, the Teels began their teaching adventures in a brick boarding house on the corner
of Maryland Avenue and Prince George Street in historic Annapolis. They soon discovered there were many distractions for their students “in town,” and sought a more bucolic setting in which to prepare them for the Naval Academy. Do you
know what's coming next? Yep, it's the story about crossing the river. And I love it. As the Severn School website tells, “In 1914, a 28-year-old teacher and his young wife crossed the river from Annapolis to open a boarding school…the Teels selected Severna Park (then just a small railway stop in Boone, Maryland) because
of its accessibility by train, rural atmosphere and remoteness from 'town life' near the Academy.”
It's a bit like the meet-cute in great film,
house of six young men would transform over a
it's the Teels and the banks along Water Street.
girls, among them preschoolers! Some of today's
except instead of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, I envision them in a wooden rowboat (I realize
there is technically no evidence of them arriving
by boat, but in my mind's eye it's clear, so just hu-
mor me here.) Young Rolland Teel rows, looking dashing in his herringbone suit (he has set his
bowler hat in the hull) and Susan dons an ankle
length skirt and high collared cotton blouse. She has a fresh-picked white flower nestled in
the loose bun at the nape of her neck. When the Teels came ashore, what do you think they said? What did the landscape reveal to them?
Were they drawn to its beauty? Its remoteness? The way the breezes shifted the river's current or
the grassy knolls and maple trees, spread out like an empty canvas? Did the possibilities of it all simply capture their imaginations?
In 1914 the Teels could never have predict-
ed that their original Boone, Maryland school-
century into two campuses serving 862 boys and littlest Lower School Admirals are part of a very
special cohort of the next generation of legacy children and grandchildren of alumni, who will
help to carry the lore of Severn forward to fu-
ture generations. Those who stay for thirteen
years or more will be our legacy “lifers.” A “lifer” is an independent school term of art for a stu-
dent who has gone to the same school for his/ her entire K-12 experience. If you add in their
parents' (and for some, grandparents') alumni
ties to Severn, some of our legacy families will collectively amass decades of Severn history! Like the Teels, the Severn stories we write today
as a community will long outlast us all; and the
experiences of our “Little Legacy” Admirals will
colorfully contribute to the next chapter of our history.
WINTER 2019 19
F E ATURE | SEV ERN STORIE S
LUCY CARTER CHINEA '90 SCARLET CHINEA '31
THIRD GENERATION'S THE CHARM
What drew you to Severn's Lower School for Scarlet? We have a history as
We appreciate how the school shares that information with
tour the Lower School, I was so impressed by the feeling of community
a family at Severn (my, father, brother and I attended). When I went to
that it has and the support that the teachers give their students. We were also impressed with the technology and the opportunity for Scarlet to
start Spanish in preschool. She comes home and teaches me! The small
classes and the attention to detail in her education are so important to us.
What did you think when you heard about Severn merging with a
Lower School? I was very excited about it! I had such a wonderful experience as a Severn student. To be able to start my child here at age three and build connections from those early years for an entire lifetime is just such a special and amazing experience. We tell Scarlet how
lucky she is and that she will know these friends for the rest of her life!
How would you describe Scarlet's experience relative to your own?
I see similarities in that she is getting attention in small classes —
that is something I really valued at Severn as a student. I also see
her forming lifelong friendships already. The lessons that Severn
as a whole instills in the kids at such a young age are so important.
20
THE BRIDGE
us as parents so we can reinforce the same values at home. How do you think a next generation of “Little Legacy Admi-
rals” shapes the narrative at Severn? I feel it enriches the oppor-
tunities that Severn has to offer, just starting at a younger age. I think that's wonderful. I also love how the kindergarteners
interact with older students. Severn's administration fosters interactions between both campuses as much as they can, making strong connections between the Chesapeake Campus
and Teel Campus. It really is one school. Older and young-
er students can see the school through each other's eyes.
What do you hope your daughter will get from her
Lower School Severn experience? Being able to work in groups and
having leadership skills. Finding value in what she is learning, appreciating the outdoors and being excited about her education.
What are three words your family would use to describe Severn
School? Lifelong friendships, value in education, self-acceptance.
What drew you to Severn's Lower School for braces structure, which I attribute to Severn. She Harper? She was really young when we started
hockey with at Severn. You never know who
is invited to be inquisitive but also understand you are going to run into! Lots of moments take
looking (only two at the time) and I felt like boundaries. She is challenged to problem-solve you back in time. My class at Severn had a very she needed more, she always wanted more. She and we appreciate how communicative the Low- unique spirit; we are all very open people. We
needed something more rigorous ... I wanted er School staff is; this allows for a truly cohesive just celebrated our 30th reunion and it was a her to be in a structured learning environment
experience between home and school. It makes
great time!
a love of learning through play. When we first
fort. Harper just loves school. She has an early
Legacy Admirals” shapes the narrative at Severn?
where she could be free to flourish and still build
things more seamless and it feels like a team ef-
How do you think a next generation of “Little
interviewed at Severn, it felt warm and friendly. foundation of loving school and wanting to go I think it can only make Severn stronger, bigger,
What did you think when you heard about to school — what more could you ask for as a better and more forward-thinking. My daughter
Severn merging with a lower school? I thought
parent? When I attended Severn, I was very so- will have a powerful endearment to the school
school so complete ... it's a great advantage to
stand how to organize my study and social skills. sense of the Severn legacy for future alums who
proach.
Harper and I share a strong sense of curiosity!
it was a very logical excellent step. It makes the cial. Severn gave me the foundation to under- by the time she graduates. There will be a greater have one school for all ages. It's a better ap- Severn also supported my inquisitive nature. attend all the way through ... of more alumni
How would you describe Harper's Severn ex-
What is interesting about being a legacy family
wanting to send their kids to Severn, starting in the Lower School. It's going to continue to
perience relative to your own? At an early age, parent at Severn? There are always “blast from the build a bigger, warmer, more connected group of school is about learning appropriate behavior and being encouraged to be inquisitive. She
tells me she wants to be a leader and she em-
past” moments as an alum being back at Severn. people who support the school today and in the I just ran into an alumna who I played field future.
CURIOUS & CONNECTED
SHANNON HODGES '88 HARPER DUNCAN '32
SUMMER 2018 21
SERENA FLOOD '02 VANESA FLOOD '28
22
THE BRIDGE
WE ARE ONE SEVERN
What drew you to Severn's Lower School for Vanesa? When I was
"VANESA WANTS TO BE A FUTURE LEADER. NOTHING
initially searching for schools for Vanesa, Severn Lower School
WOULD MAKE ME HAPPIER THAN TO SEND A CONFIDENT,
was still Chesapeake Academy. It wasn't until I met with admis-
COURAGEOUS, CONSCIOUS, SECURE, SMART, CREATIVE
Academy would become Severn's
AND EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT YOUNG WOMAN OUT INTO
sions that I learned Chesapeake
Lower School in the fall of 2013.
THE WORLD AND HAVE HER SEIZE HER DREAMS. SEVERN IS
Whenever I am researching programs for my children, I seek out
HELPING ME INSTILL THESE QUALITIES IN HER."
the best. I narrow it down by using
proximity to our home. The mis-
sion statement and diversity play a pivotal role in decision-making
as well. That is what landed us on
Vanesa is very enthusiastic about
hatred, bigotry and ignorance.
with her peers, attends as many
That first day I dropped her off,
that she wants to graduate from
diverse” from the ground up. The
activities that interest her, absorbs
Chesapeake Academy's doorstep. bold letters of Character, Civility, and Creativity adorned the bricks
out front. Vanesa was so excited!
Then I met Mrs. Zemo and Mrs. Spears and I knew I had made the
right decision. Severn was her new school home. But, I didn't choose Severn just because I am an alumna
— I chose it because it is the best school program in Anne Arundel
County that fits our family's needs.
What did you think when you
first heard about Severn merging with a lower school? Honestly, it just made sense, but I was also surprised
it took Severn so long to do it. A lower school seemed like a logical next step for Severn to continue to
be competitive in the indy school
market for this area. By doing this, Severn really filled that void for a
great private school in our area that goes from PS-12.
How would you describe Vanesa's experience relative to your own? I truly
want Vanesa to have her own individual experience with Severn. Of
course, I am here to help her navi-
gate and answer all her questions.
attending Severn and is adamant
Severn in 2028. I attended Severn
from 1998-2002; it's a very different place now. When I go on campus today, the only building
I recognize is the McCleary Student Center. That change represents Severn's growth to me. What
Severn lacked when I attended, it has continued to make up for each
year. The mission statement has
expanded. The curriculum has expanded. Diversity is important. The
administration is highly qualified.
How do you think a next gen-
eration of “Little Legacy Admirals” shapes the narrative at Severn? Our children are growing up in turbulent times. Severn leads with character, conduct, and scholarship, but
that's not enough. Children aren't just practicing fire drills in school
anymore. They are learning how to survive school shootings. Our
country is plagued by national
tragedies that are fueled by hatred and overwhelming ignorance. So how can this next generation shape
Severn's narrative? We can't nor-
malize things like racism, violence,
Severn must also be “intentionally
best way to ensure that our children become good citizens is to
have classrooms that are representative of the real world. That needs
to start in preschool. Black, white, brown, Asian, Pakistani, Muslim, atheist, awkward, jock, trans — we
are one Severn. We respect each
other. We have compassion for one another. We love our neighbors as
we love ourselves. There's no better way to teach that than to small
children who can grow together and become adults who change our world.
What do you hope Vanesa will
get from her Lower School experience? Vanesa wants to be a future
leader. Nothing would make me
happier than to send a confident, courageous,
conscious,
secure,
smart, creative and emotionally intelligent young woman out into
the world and have her seize her dreams. Severn is helping me instill
these qualities in her. I don't want
Vanesa to have any regrets or miss
events as she can, participates in everything that Severn has to offer
and gets the best possible education in the process.
What would your advice be to
other Severn alumni who are considering the Lower School for their child?
What I love most is how
Severn caters to the whole child. In preschool, Vanesa did a butterfly unit; she was an expert on metamorphosis, the chrysalis and all
the things that butterflies do. Her
teachers made the unit interactive with real life insects. She created
sculptures in art class. She went butterfly hunting on the nature
trail. Severn has allowed Vanesa
to learn through play, touch, art, technology and textbook. The focus in the Lower School is confi-
dence, creativity, and character, and
Vanesa has grown beautifully in all
of these areas. Even in the face of adversity, she is fair, just, confident and highly creative in her problem solving.
any opportunities. It is important for me that she forges relationships
WINTER 2019 23
R O T U N D A
R O U N D U P
Severn's Centennial Rotunda, at the entryway of Teel Academic Center, boasts two
story interior walls which are inscribed with the name of every Severn graduate. Rotunda
Roundup is our new format for Class Notes, where we celebrate the stories of our alumni.
24
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DO YOU KNOW... When this photo was taken and who is in it?
We know it's from an Alumni Weekend celebration —
and based off our history lesson on page 15, before 1984. Let us know at info@severnschool.com.
WINTER 2019 25
R O T U N D A
R O U N D U P
1943 Mason Wells '43 recently wrote us in response to the summer Bridge: "Dear Mr. Lagarde, I just finished reading the Summer 2018 Odyssey issue of the Severn magazine. I was so impressed
with the change in Severn School since I was a student there in
1942-43 that I had to sit right down and write to you. I graduated from Marblehead High School (Mass.) in 1942. It has always been my dream to attend the US Naval Academy. I carefully chose my
high school curriculum so that I would qualify and studied hard and got excellent grades, particularly in March. I failed math on the Academy entrance exam — I was crushed!
My neighbor's son, Rodney Rose graduated from Severn and was
then a midshipman, volunteered to take me on a visit to Severn and the Academy. We had lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Teel and toured Severn which, at the time, specialized in getting young men to pass
the Academy's entrance exam. I immediately enrolled at Severn where I learned how to think through math problems. I shall be
ever grateful to my Math teacher, Mr. Hawkins. The next year, I got a 4.0 on the Academy's math test, which led to a successful 33-year career in the Navy, Class of 1947.
I think that was had mostly boarding students at Severn then. I
lived upstairs in a dilapidated old house with the math classroom downstairs. My roommate and best friend was Jack Williams, a future four-star Admiral from Ilwaco, Washington. I treasure my days
at Severn and my friendship with the Teels which lasted long after I left Severn.
After I retired from the Navy in 1976, I took a job as executive
vice president of a small 70-person environmental consulting firm in Gainesville, Florida. We expanded to about 1,500 people with one of the best environmental labs in the country and offices all
around the world. Les, my wife of 66 years, and I have grown to love Gainesville and have become diehard Florida Gators.
HEY, YOU! YES, YOU. We miss our alumni and want to hear all about your life after
Severn. Recent trips, internships, research projects, stories with classmates, new job or address, babies, weddings, and
graduations — we want to know! Email your class secretary (find on pg. 62-63) or drop us a note on Facebook
26
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I quit work when I was 70-years-old and we started traveling
around the world. We haven't missed many places. I am now 94 and have settled down with Les at a wonderful CCRC, Oak Hammock at the University of Florida.
You must be very proud at how Severn has matured and grown
into of the finest preparatory schools in the country!"
2018
M I S S I O N
I N
M O T I O N
Ben Elstner '18 recently finished a trip to India, where he established a chess program for chil-
dren at a local orphanage. “Last spring, I visited
the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission in Banbasa, India on an outreach program. Before
I arrived, the words bearing the website title, indianorphanage.com, evoked little more than
images of a dull institution. But after spending a week on this orphanage in a small village
on the other side of the world, I came to see
a glimpse of the place as defined by its people. From Danny, a young boy with a mischievous
smile who refused to let go of my arm, to Sa-
loni and Shivani, the twins who I finally learned
the Severn extracurricular program. I was for-
the community itself was one of the closest and
interests outside of the five subjects taught in
to tell apart after the better part of the week, most welcoming families I have ever seen.
As soon as I left the Mission, I knew I
wanted to go back. But I wanted to do more —
I wanted to find something else that I could of-
fer to this place. That's when I thought of chess. I thought that playing in chess tournaments
when I was at Severn was such a valuable expe-
rience because it gave me an opportunity to use my brain outside of schoolwork. Even though
I have not competed for the last few years, my appreciation for chess was largely supported by
tunate enough to be able to develop and pursue the classroom, and I wanted to bring this opportunity to others. Chess helped me to think
critically and find creative solutions. I believe
that this experience that was such an important part of my early education gave me something of value to offer to the kids at the orphanage.
I organized a weeklong after school program for
students at the school on the Mission's grounds. I have reached out to several high school students at the orphanage to help me run the program, hopefully broadening the impact. The
camp began Monday, October 29th and concluded with a formal tournament the following
Saturday. I am providing chess boards and all the materials necessary for the program, which I
will then donate to the school to allow the kids to keep playing after the camp ends."
WINTER 2019 27
R O T U N D A
R O U N D U P
Bill Zimmerman '67, Dick Bennett '65, Holly Carroll, Ted Walker '50, Nicolle Teixeira
1950 Robin Pirie '50 recently played in the World Masters squash championships in Charlottesville. There were 755 players from around the world, but just 15 in the 80+ category. He said, “To my surprise I won my first match, but then met the current US
national champion in the second round, with predictable consequences. Great fun, and a chance not to miss since they won't be
having another one of these in the USA for a decade or more.” | Rear Admiral “Ted” Walker Jr. '50 joined us on campus this fall for our Distinguished Alumni Awards event honoring recipient Kent Holtgrewe '73. Walker enjoyed catching up over dinner with fellow Distinguished Alumni Bill Zimmerman '67 and The Honorable “Dick” Bennett '65.
28
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F A B U L O U S
F I F T I E S
1952 Alex Morris '52 wrote in to share news about a recent article he read with fondness about classmate Brig. Gen. Ward LeHardy, USA (Ret.) '52 from a recent issue of Military Officers Association of America
Magazine. LeHardy's lifetime of service and adventure was highlighted
in the article, including time spent in duty stations in Germany, Italy, and Panama, and a five year trip around the world via sailboat with
his wife Judy. Their adventures were chronicled in their book “Once Around: Fulfilling a Life-long Dream to Sail Around the World.” The LeHardy's live in Fredericksburg, Va.
1953 Stan Bass '53 shared that “I left the USAF in 1977 due to family con-
WHAT
LEGACY
WILL YOU LEAVE?
siderations and accepted a position with GD, Convair Division in San Diego. After selling the Ground and Sea launched Cruise Missiles, my
partner and I started an executive search company called Spectrum Consultants which we operated very successfully for about 15 years. I
play a lot of golf at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club and stay in contact with my three sons and their families. If you head my way, give me a
shout at stanbass@roadrunner.com.” | John Fisher '53 shared, “Cathy
and I are comfortably settled in a little cottage in the Fishbowl Com-
pound in Palo Alto. Two of our daughters and their families live in the
other two houses in the Compound. Another daughter lives just a mile away. Still another daughter lives in Newport Beach, Calif.; our oldest
daughter lives in Philadelphia, close to our old family farm, Cedarcroft, in Milton, Del. Cathy and I play duplicate bridge twice a week, dabble in a family bluegrass band, enjoy any form of puzzles, read a lot, and
deal with the challenges of our “mature” age.” | Nic Frank '53 wrote in
to say, “Good to hear from you folks. After graduating with the USNA Class of 1958 I was assigned to a destroyer out of Long Beach. A year
later, I went to submarine school and then to a submarine out of San Diego. Went ashore in 1966 and, given my submarine experience, was
assigned to The Naval Intelligence Support Center in Washington D.C. as head of the Anti Ship Missile Branch. I resigned my commission in
1971, spent a year with a local contractor, and then took a civil service
job at The Naval Weapons Center, Port Hueneme, Calif. to establish
their intelligence and analysis group. My wife Susanne and I have three children and four grandchildren. Last year we moved to a retirement community located in Anaheim, Calif. — one of our best decisions.
I have great memories of Severn: friends, playing lacrosse, riding in the old Chrysler limos to ball games, Mr. Teel, Mrs. Teel's receptions, the
great instructors (especially Mr. Peters) and the endless boarding school
CONTACT HOLLY CARROLL ABOUT YOUR PLANNED GIVING OPTIONS
4 1 0. 64 7.7 7 0 1 E XT 2 25 9 OR H. CAR R O L L @SE VE R N SC HOOL.C OM
pranks and antics. Thanks for getting in touch!”
WINTER 2019 29
R O T U N D A
R O U N D U P
1959 Don Trumpy
'59
and
Carol
Trumpy
organized the sixth annual Class of '59 Christmas cocktails and dinner party which was
held at Annie's Steak and Seafood restaurant
on Kent Island Narrows December 13, 2018. Those who attended had a great time getting together! The next '59 event will be a luncheon
sometime in April and Monty Baker will email details when they are decided. They are start-
ing to make plans for the 60th reunion which will take place this October 5, 2019 at Severn's Reunion Homecoming.
1962
1966
1977
Randy Albury '62 reported in from NSW Aus-
John Horne '66 wrote in to share: “After a
This update came in from Pete Pfeiffer '77:
gree from the University of New England (in
eventual master's degree in organization devel-
self in Stage 4. My firm, RSM set up a founda-
tralia that he will be receiving an honorary de-
Australia, not the one in Maine). The ceremony will be on October 27th. Randy will be receiving
an Honorary Doctor of Letters (HonDLitt) for service to higher education in Australia. Marc Ebersberger '62 reported in that he has recently
retired from FDIC currently living in Ellicott
City, Md. but considering a move to the Eastern Shore. He should check with Big Daddy Ron
Engle '62 who is on the town council in Easton. Carrie MacVean Grimes '91 had a chance to catch up with Ron earlier this year and he is doing very well as a retired state trooper. She also
spoke to John Hudson '62 who told me that he
has had a successful recovery from his hip sur-
gery. John and Lida are still in Norfolk but are considering a move south to be close to their
daughter. Bob Cushman '62 reports no damage to their place from Hurricane Michael and all is well. Bob is keeping busy as a board member for
their neighborhood association. Paull Phillips
'62 reported all is well and looking forward to a Florida winter in Naples.
30
THE BRIDGE
stretch in the USAF after high school and an opment from American University in Washing-
ton, DC, I worked as an independent consultant
in Maryland, Virginia, DC, Pennsylvania area.
In 1995 I moved with my family to Tempe, Ariz. and continued my consulting practice. I "retired" five or six years ago and became a
Park Ranger at the Phoenix Zoo. Believe me, Rangers at the zoo deal with the full slice of hu-
manity and situations that span the range from weird to just plain hard to describe. Found out I had to work out regularly to keep up up with
demands of job and younger rangers. Currently, summer in Arizona will soon be on us and this week it will hit 102 degrees. Yes, it really does
get to 115-118 degrees in the summer here. Not your prime tourist season. �
"Severn classmates: As I fight cancer, I find mytion to support Veteran's children whose parent was either KIA or severely wounded. This group is called Folds of Honor and I have been
working with them as leader for our Veterans group. Please consider giving in my name for their education. Real heroes fight cancer!
Information about these scholarships for spouses and children of America's fallen and disabled
service members at: rsm.us/2LcGBvr - RSM Peter A.S. Pfeiffer Scholarship for Courage. "
AN E M T I OES WHAT D AL? R I M D A N TO BE A
(L-R) Vandy Howatt '84, Courtney Luiza Charpentier '84, Susan Meredith '84, Carrie Duvall Davis '84, Susan Rothman Kolko '84
1984 Carrie Duvall Davis '84 wrote in with this reunion news: “In August, five of us recon-
nected in North Carolina! Courtney Luiza Charpentier '84 and husband, Dave hosted us at their farm in Hiddenite, NC. I came from Florida, Vandy Howatt '84 flew in From
DC, Susan Rothman Kolko '84 from Beverly Hills, and Susan Meredith '84 from An-
napolis! Highlights included visiting with over 25 cats on the farm, horseback riding, yummy, healthy meals, and only a “few” cocktails. There was lots of laughter and conver-
sation catching up on 35 years of kids, romances, jobs, family, highs and lows. Courtney and Dave were amazing hosts, opening their incredible log home to us. Their farm is full
of love and care, a wonderful place for the animals that are fortunate to be there! Chick-
ens, horses, cats, and a lucky dog! Susan rode a motorcycle for the first time with Dave, Vandy crossed the mile high bridge in spite of her fear of heights, and Vandy and Carrie showed off their culinary skills preparing meals for the group! We ate farm fresh eggs for breakfast, celebrated new romantic relationships, exciting life 'restarts' and our lifelong admiration for each other."
CONTACT NICOLLE TEIXEIRA ABOUT YOUR SEVERN ANNUAL FUND GIFT
4 1 0. 64 7.7 7 0 1 E XT 2 35 7 OR N.TE IXE IR A@SE VE R N SC HOOL.C OM
WINTER 2019 31
R O T U N D A
R O U N D U P
My wife Teresa and I had purchased a boat
in Europe at the end of 2017. The boat was supposed to be delivered to the Caribbean, but HurIan Thompson '85, Doug Merrill '85, Matt Finlay '85, Rob Kyle '85, Tom Carter '85 and Peter Rosenberg '85
ricane Irma had other ideas. Our marina was de-
stroyed, and we had no home for the boat. We decided to take delivery in the Mediterranean and sail it there during the summer of 2018.
But that meant we needed to get the boat
home ourselves. That's when I called classmates Tom Carter '85, Doug Merrill '85 and Rob Kyle
'85. In addition to our shared secondary education, we had also spent our childhood summers
together at Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis. Sailing was in our blood.
Rounding out the crew were Peter Rosen-
berg, who taught sailing with us at SSA back in the late 80's, and Ian Thompson, a professional
skipper recommended by a friend of Doug Merrill. The six of us would rotate on the helm according to a watch schedule taped to the salon wall. S E T
S A I L
1985 Matt Finlay '85 writes: "An Atlantic crossing on
a sailboat presents several challenges. Wind and
waves are the most obvious ones, but no less important, and no less difficult to master, are the
complexities of picking a compatible crew. In
the middle of the Atlantic on a sailboat, there's nowhere to go. Everyone must get along. It's as simple as that.
There are plenty of strategies for picking this
crew. Most require time on the water, testing potential crewmates for seamanship and good hu-
mor. But this takes time and doesn't always work. After a couple of weeks in big swell and hot con-
ditions, people often behave differently than when under less pressure and closer to home.
Another strategy is to go with what you
know: your oldest and dearest friends. This is how
it came to pass that four members of Severn's class of 1985 spent 17 days this fall sailing 32,000 nau-
tical miles from Las Palmas in the Canary Islands to St. Lucia in the southern Caribbean.
32
THE BRIDGE
And it's a good thing that the crew con-
sisted of reasonably accomplished sailors. The trip
was harder than any of us had imagined. Night watches were particularly difficult, especially if clouds covered the stars that we used to steer the boat. When the seas were up or confused, steering required constant vigilance. It was easy to become
disoriented looking at instruments all night long.
There were plenty of highlights as well. We
witnessed scores of fantastical sunsets and were
frequented by pods of dolphins which frolicked at the bow. We watched as a huge minke whale
lumbered around the boat and showed us his
belly. We caught a large Dorado and feasted on
a fresh honey glazed baked fish that night. And
when the sailing was good, it was really good. There were times that each of us was reluctant
to relinquish the helm at the end of our watch. There's just something special about going down-
wind in a fresh breeze with the spinnaker up, surfing on the swell. Smiles were ear to ear at such times.
It was an experience that each of us will take
to our graves. It was made doubly special by the fact that the bonds which held together our crew were forged at Severn 35 years ago."
1986 Kathryn Leonard '86 wrote in to say, “I'm pleased to tell you I'm about to get published for my second children's book, “The
Adventures of Bandit and Hadgi.” My dream is coming true to be a children's book illustrator!”
Check out more of her art at kathrynleonard.com/
W E D D I N G
B E L L S
O N
C A M P U S
Drew Burns '88 and Robyn Formica '87 tied
Did you ever imagine you'd get married at Severn
mer. They wrote in to share their reflections:
No ... the school was not near as beautiful as it is now.
dance. Callie Burns '14 sang a beautiful song to
What was a highlight of your Severn wedding day?
mica '18, Vivian '24 and Tori Miller '24, Karin
at a place our families consider to be very special.
naughton '83, and Bruce Burns '61 were also
Were you high school sweethearts when you were at
brother Darren Burns '82 was ordained just for
Robyn was much too sharp and focused to date
School as a whole and Doug Lagarde, Angela
a bit academically. Took me 30 years to catch up.
for helping make our wedding day extra special.”
What's the sweetest part about marrying a fellow Severn
the knot on Severn's campus late last sum“We had Severn alumni and students in attenstart the ceremony. Duffy Burns '17, Josie ForFormica Tator '91, Stephanie Formica Con-
School when you were students back in the 80s?
That we were able to have an intimate ceremony
present. Robyn and I were married by Drew's
Severn? We were in school at the same time but
this event! Robyn and I want to thank Severn
a boy with a mullet who let's just say ... struggled
Hysan, Shannon Howell and Terry Del Prete
alum? We attend events together and it feels like a
second home for us. Severn School past and pres-
1988 Mick Arnold '88s local firm
Arnold Packaging recently cel-
ebrated its 85th year in business
and completed the acquisition of
World Class Packaging, a regional packaging solutions provider.
Mick has served as an alumni
mentor and is parents to current Severn students Brooke '20, Grace '22, and Olivia '26.
ent is full of fantastic teachers, coaches, administra-
tors, students and alums and many are our friends. What are three words you two would use to describe
Severn
relationships
School?
Community,
caring,
WINTER 2019 33
BLU E GOAT: T H E L I FE CHAN GI N G P OW E R O F BE I N G YOURSE L F
I N S EAR C H O F EXC EL L EN C E: L E S S O N S FR O M AM ER ICA' S B EST R U N C OM PAN IES
CO U RT CR E E D E N ' 9 7 | In July of 2017
TO M P E TE R S '60 | The "Greatest Busi-
typing. As a financial advisor, I wanted to look
In Search of Excellence has long been a must-
I sat down at my computer and just started
more closely at the personal struggles that so
many clients shared with me over the years. I
found that the people we compare ourselves to and measure our lives against are often trying
just as hard to figure it all out as the rest of us.
Many of us are so worried about who we think we are supposed to be, that we often forget
who we really are. As the pages started to flow, something different was happening. I couldn't stop writing. Over the course of 12 days, I
ness Book of All Time" (Bloomsbury UK), have for the boardroom, business school, and
bedside table. Based on a study of forty-three of America's best-run companies from a diverse array of business sectors, In Search of
THE P OWER O F B ELIE F R IDG L E Y
G O L DSBO R OU GH
'78
The Power of Belief challenges our belief systems and asks us if what we believe is the
truth. Perhaps if our beliefs are not the truth, then we can be encouraged to find our own
truths. If we can find our own truths, then
we can find ourselves and our own happiness.
Excellence describes eight basic principles
MO M B O S S : B AL AN CING EN TR EP R EN EUR S HIP, KIDS & S UC C ES S
ple-oriented,
NICO L E F E L ICIANO '8 8 | Learn how to
of management — action-stimulating, peoprofit-maximizing
practices
— that made these organizations successful. U N LO C K IN G THE HEART O F
|
be a super mom and a great business woman in a step-by-step guide to developing, incubating,
and marketing your business without taking the joy out of family life with kids - being an active
finished the last few sentences and realized I
HE A L I NG
we have from worrying about everything going
Licensed
moment to look in the mirror. Instead, I was
Hypnotherapist Bridget Hughes M.Ac., L.Ac.
others, I wasn't living the life I wanted to be. It
that unlocks our Inner Molecules of Medicine
to get my own attention and finally realize the
to heal. Using a meditation she calls a Feeling
This book was my soul yelling at me to wake up,
stories of her students, patients, and recollec-
out of me in just a matter of days. Each chapter
to health to bring it all to life, Hughes unlocks
For me, it served to help me finally realize the
Hughes demonstrates, when we learn the skills
IS S UES IN MAR ITIM E CY BE R S EC UR ITY
this book I've changed everything about how
healing, our efforts ripple out and touch our fam-
J O E DIR E NZO '7 7 | While there is litera-
had written a book. I set out to shift the focus
B RIDG E T HAR GADO N HUG HE S '91 |
on in the world around us to finally taking a
teacher, and National Board Certified Clinical
holding up a mirror to myself. Just like so many
NBCCH urges us to cultivate a state of heart
was a wake-up call. A challenge. I was trying
and engages our HeartMindBody connection
truth. I was still just another sheep in the herd.
Mantra® as the tool, and the heart-touching
to take stock of what is going on and it poured
tions from her own journey from chronic illness
serves as a guidepost to help get back on track.
a door to a place we can all come home to. As
truth, I am not yet a Blue Goat. From writing
for unlocking our own dormant resources for
I look at the world and the journey I am on. I
ilies, our community, and the global community.
hope it changes your life like it did mine. 34
THE BRIDGE
Acupuncturist, Speaker, Qigong
parent while succeeding as a woman business
entrepreneur. Where Sophia Amoruso's #GirlBoss left off for young millennials breaking
into the business world, Mom Boss picks up and continues the mission for all the entrepreneur-
ial moms out there. Mom Boss proves that being successful isn't about degrees or sacrifices, it's about balance and power. It's where instinct
meets intelligence. Every mom has it in her to be a badass business woman. Nicole Feliciano charts the course for building a successful
career without sacrificing being a great mom.
ture about the maritime transportation system, and about cyber security, to date there is very
little literature on this converging area. This
pioneering book is beneficial to a variety of
TOWA R D AN UR B AN EC O LO GY
child due to "aggressive" behavior. Hopefully, by
K AT E O R F F '8 9 |
creatively educating small children how to behave
risk analysis, national security, cyber threats, or
Kate Orff, 2017 MacArthur Fellow, has an op-
around dogs, more pets can stay with their families.
lems ranging from the technical area to policy;
world: we can bring together social and ecological systems to sustainably remake our cities and
J E NNIF E R G E BE L E IN '89 | "We sat
vate sector interested in a clear explanation of
landscapes. Part monograph, part manual, part
out on the deck for an hour after the detectives
manifesto, Toward an Urban Ecology reconceives
left, not talking, listening to the crickets chirp-
fense issues impacting the maritime community.
urban landscape design as a form of activism,
ing and the night-birds chittering in the back-
demonstrating how to move beyond familiar
ground as they settled down to sleep. The water
and increasingly outmoded ways of thinking
lapping up against our dock was just beginning
SHA RITA MA N I CK A M ' 9 7 |
about environmental, urban, and social issues as
to relax my nerves when the phone rang, my
So set your mind and focus on the dreams you will
separate domains; and advocating for the syn-
husband picked it up, listened for a second and
pursue, And you will be unstoppable, there's noth-
thesis of practice to create a truly urban ecology.
then somberly held out the receiver to me..."
ing you can't do! RAD Girl Revolution begins
In purely practical terms, SCAPE has already
with several uplifting verses like the one above,
generated numerous tools and techniques that
and ends with an enthusiastic mantra that will
designers, policy makers, and communities can
E BO NY F LOWE R S '99 | An auspicious
help your girls reaffirm their confidence and
use to address some of the most pressing issues
debut examining the culture of hair from the
self-worth. If you enjoy empowering books
of our time, including the loss of biodiversity, the
Rona Jaffe Foundation Award–winning cartoon-
such as Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, She
loss of social cohesion, and ecological degrada-
ist. Hot Comb offers a poignant glimpse into black
Persisted, and Little Leaders which celebrate
tion. Toward an Urban Ecology features numer-
women's lives and coming-of-age stories as seen
the achievements of the inspiring women of
ous projects and select research from SCAPE,
across a crowded, ammonia-scented hair salon
the past, then you will love RAD Girl Revolu-
and conveys a range of strategies to engender a
while ladies gossip and bond over the burn. The
tion which helps young girls picture themselves
more resilient and inclusive built environment.
titular “Hot Comb” is about a young girl's first
STA RT N OW : T H E C R E AT I V I T Y JOURN AL
K A RA H AMILTO N '93 + | Smokey, the min-
her family has just moved into. Throughout Hot
iature apricot poodle, is blessed. But can it last?
Comb, Ebony Flowers re-creates classic magazine
With the arrival of a new baby, he struggles to
ads idealizing women's need for hair relaxers and
adjust to his new place in the family. After sev-
products. Realizations about race, class, and the
eral failed tactics, he ingeniously teaches the baby
imperfections of identity swirl through these sto-
how to behave around him so they may co-exist
ries and ads, which are by turns sweet, insightful,
peacefully. He realizes that there's enough love
and heartbreaking. From her black-and-white
for everyone in the family, and also gains a new
drawings to her color construction-paper collages,
best friend.We've heard the sad stories. The once
Hot Comb is a propitious display of talent from
beloved pooch is given away after the birth of a
a new cartoonist who has already made her mark.
audiences, as a text book in courses looking at maritime policy; as a source of research prob-
timistic and transformative message about our
and for practitioners in government and the prithe array of cyber risks and potential cyber-de-
RAD GI RL RE VOLU T I O N
becoming the inspiring women of the future!
KATE CR E E D E N N EC K E L ' 9 4 | Pour ideas, doodles, and dreams into these hand-illustrated pages to spark creativity. Made in NYC by artist Kate Neckel, this journal is quirky, encouraging, and tough enough to handle all kinds of mistakes. It's a fresh and irresistible take on creative how-to, packed with inspiring prompts and perfect for would-be artists of all types.
THE D EVIL IN K EY LA RGO
HOT C O M B
perm — doomed ploy to look cool and stop seemA N E W L EAS H O N L IFE
ing “too white” in the all-black neighborhood
WINTER 2019 35
R O T U N D A
R O U N D U P
ADMIRAL ARCHIVES ADVENTURES Don Trumpy '59, John Leimkuhler '59, and Tom
Dawson '59 recently paid a visit to the Severn School archives, hosted by volunteer archivists Carol Duncan and Nina Paradiso '98. Don recently came across some archival treasures related to the book “Box Kit
to Bali: The Last Great Adventure of A U.S. Navy
Pilot”, which tells the epic adventure story of George “Bee” Weems '38 and his father, renowned navigator
P.V.H. Weems, as they flew a De Havilland Dragon Rapide from England to Australia with two other
men in 1950. Bee's amazing account was written just
before he died in a plane crash at the age of thirty,
and edited for publication by Gwen Manseau in 2013. The story takes the reader around the world on the
eve of the Cold War in a plywood plane, landing into political turmoil and hazardous conditions at nearly every stop. Sixty years later, all the photos and materi-
als he carefully saved from this escapade have been
brought together and supplemented with fascinating notes and biographical details that provide historical context and bring this story to life.
Some of our Retired Admirals
enjoyed a luncheon reunion this
fall! All are enjoying retirement!
(Front L-R) Carole Coss, Sheryl Burman, Anne Hewitt, Lolly Schorreck. (Back L-R) Kathy Fegan, Rande Schneider, Claudia McLaughlin.
36
THE BRIDGE
Joe Burke '94, Jackson Burke '25.
Megan Calabrese '25, Michael Calabrese '94
L O C K E R
L E G A C Y
S P O T L I G H T
In September of 1987, Severn School welcomed a new group of sixth graders, the future class of 1994. With alphabetic locker assignments, Joseph Burke '94 and Michael Calabrese '94 met that
September morning and began seven years as “locker buddies” and started a lifelong friendship. Over those seven years, Joe and Mike began each day at their lockers, gathering text books for
their first classes. They played sports, attended parties and made many memories at Severn. They went to different colleges but remained fast friends, with frequent weekend visits, Widespread Panic concerts and even a partnership in a summer business. Since then, Joe and Mike have both gotten
married, established thriving businesses and each has been blessed with two beautiful and intelligent children. Unbeknownst to one another, Joe and Mike both had designs on a vicarious return engagement with
Severn School via their respective elder children, Jackson and Megan both age 11. Wouldn't you know, alphabetical locker assignments are still the norm at Severn — on a morning in September of 2018, on her first
day of 6th grade, who should Megan Calabrese '25 find as her “locker buddy?” None other than Jackson Burke
'25. Joe and Mike couldn't be prouder of their children and hope the two are lucky enough to enjoy a similar Severn School experience as locker buddies and hopefully life-long friends.
WINTER 2019 37
R O T U N D A
R O U N D U P
1991 Legacy families and friends spotted on the Severn! Tref Bauer '27, (son
of Drew '91 and Amy '90) Ryan
Cowell '26, and Nate Long '26 are current students at Severn. The other
two boys are Sam and Graham Long, Nate's brothers and sons of Kristin '91 and Matt Long '91, both alumni.
1990 Jason Weeks '90 wrote in: “My
family is doing great! We live up
in Shrewsbury, Penn. with our kids (Griffin, 13) and (Addison, 8).
Renee and I celebrated our 14-year wedding anniversary on October
2. I am the sales director at gotügo portable restrooms locally here in
Glen Burnie, Md. It was great see-
1991
'90, and Robin Atkins Cotgreave
Lari's 50th with a safari trip to Kenya with stops in Amboseli, Lewa Wilderness, and Masai Mara.
ing Pete Cotgreave '90, Rolf Hill
Matt Baker '91 reports that all is well in Texas. Matt, wife Lari, and daughter Liberty recently celebrated
'90 at my sister's (Melissa Weeks
"It was a trip of a lifetime. Liberty is in 8th grade at St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin, it has been
Foote '93) Christmas party last December!” Above: Melissa Weeks Foote '93, Jason Weeks '90, Robin Atkins
Cotgreave '90, Pete Cotgreave '90 and Renee Weeks
38
THE BRIDGE
great to reconnect with Annie Shorreck Wilkerson '92 who has her kids in the same school ... SSTX
is the closest analog to Severn School you will find in the Austin area. Beyond that, life is good at Dell Technologies where I am the SVP of strategy for Dell EMC. If you are ever in Austin, reach out! It has been great to host folks from the Severn family over the years."
1991
1992
Carrie MacVean Grimes '91 hosted a holiday
Katie Burrows '92 wrote in with a reminder about her family's annual fundraiser, which is sched-
Helman Madden '91, Melissa Allen '91, Me-
Foundation (burrows-hill.org). The Burrows-Hill Foundation to Fight Friedreich's Ataxia was es-
reunion dinner for beloved classmates Cheryl
lissa White Morsberger '91 and Nikki Huber-
feld '91, who were all in the Annapolis area over the holidays. Heather Clark Piskorowski '91, who was not in town, was missed!
Below: Melissa Allen '91, Nikki Huberfeld '91,
uled for April 7, 2019 at the Navy Stadium Akerson Tower. The event benefits the Burrows-Hill
tablished to raise public awareness of FA, to raise money for research to find a cure for FA and assist those affected by FA. | Sarah Franey '92, Emily Franey Flanagan '94 and Claire Wagner '95 led the charge on a Friendsgiving Alumni Social at McGarvey's over the long Thanksgiving weekend. Many alumni were in attendance and plans are underway to make it an annual tradition!
Cheryl Helman Madden '91, Carrie MacVean Grimes '91 and Melissa White Morsberger '91
WINTER 2019 39
R O T U N D A
R O U N D U P
1995 Dr. Brad Graw '95 married Dr. Grace Chiou
September 29 at Harley Farms Goat Dairy in Pescadero, California. Many Admiral alumni
were present! Left: Bob Graw '85, Ethan Feldman '95, Jason Moran '92, Dave Pizzi '95, Carrie Cole
Pizzi '95, Kate Graw Lamond '96, Jason Scott '95, Brad Graw '95, Steve Millard '51, Ben Andrew '92, Blake Nolan '95
1996 Laure Thebaud Fisher '96 and Erika Hueb-
ner Rollins '96 were guests on our November
Admirals Club Alumni Podcast. They shared memories about their early days of friendship
at Severn, and working together today at CallTrackingMetrics in Severna Park.
1997 Amy Crone '97 wrote in with this update: “In
the spring, my husband and I purchased a 12acre farm in Harwood, where we moved with our
two kids in April. We have sheep, chickens and a horse right now and are loving the old farm
house (built in 1821) which we are renovating as well. The transition to a new school has gone well for our first and third grader and they are playing soccer this fall. I continue to run the nonprofit
Maryland Farmers Market Association that I
founded, working with farmers and markets
across the state as well as consulting for national projects to connect technology and farmers.�
1998 After five years at Baltimore's Four Season Wit and Wisdom, executive chef Zach Mills '98 has teamed up with two longtime friends to launch
the True Chesapeake Oyster House in the historic Whitehill Mill development along Jones Falls. | Warren Price '98 and his wife welcomed a baby boy (their second son) in July!
40
THE BRIDGE
JANE FRIEND '00
WAS RE C E N T LY H ON ORE D AS DECE MBER'S ED U CATOR OF T H E MON T H BY T H E ANNE ARU ND EL COU NT Y P U BLIC S C H OOL DI STR I CT. JANE WORK S AS T H E C OORD IN ATOR O F EL EM ENTARY REA D IN G AN D IN T E GRAT E D LE ARN IN G .
2000
T. Baxter Denney '00 has accepted a new posi-
and all the amazing things this area has to of-
the Barcelona-based technology company. After
surgical organization, the American Society of
tion as chief marketing officer with Red Points, working with New Relic for five years, including the last two years living in London with his
wife Sarah, they have now relocated to Barce-
lona for this new position. | Ashleigh Korves
'00 recently moved to Santa Rosa, Calif. with her husband, Julian. She joined Northern California Medical Associates as one of two podiatric foot and ankle surgeons for their organi-
zation. They are loving the weather, sunshine,
fer. Ashleigh is also now secretary of a national
Podiatric Surgeons. | Brandon Stalker '00 and his wife, Becky, have two kids Michael (3) and
Evelyn (6). They reside in Columbia, Md. and just celebrated the one-year anniversary of their restaurant, Evelyn's. Suzie Stokes Erbe '00,
Jeff McMahon '00, Scott Parker '00, and Laura Kessman Iversen '99 are all regulars — come in and catch up!
WINTER 2019 41
42
THE BRIDGE
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: ADMIRAL ATHLETES IN SPORTS B Y A N D
C A R R I E
M A C V E A N
C A R O LY N
G R I M E S
' 9 1
C A M P I O N
WINTER 2019 43
SANDY BARBOUR '77
Perched comfortably on a settee in her cozy, yet elegant offices at the Bryce Jordan Center's
impressive facilities in bucolic Happy Valley, Pennsylvania, Penn State Athletic Director Sandy Barbour '77 smiles coyly when asked about the ways in which her humble beginnings as a field hockey player on the muddy fields along Maple Avenue have shaped her phenomenal career in collegiate athletics over the last forty years. Growing up as the daughter of Naval aviator
Henry and avid community volunteer Nancy, Barbour and her family moved every three years, calling Virginia, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Belgium (among others) home along the way. These globe-trotting adventures brought the family back to Annapolis from Brussels in 1974, when
Sandy enrolled at Severn as a sophomore. Among other valuable lessons, a military childhood 44
THE BRIDGE
taught Barbour how to navigate transitions and
ment, teamwork, personal responsibility, time
in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in physical
be shy, you have to make friends. When I moved
athletic field serves as another classroom space
team, and played two varsity seasons of wom-
find her way socially in new settings. “You can't
to Severn from Europe in 1974, I joined the first class of girls at Severn who had been together
for years…I walked into a group of folks who
knew each other really well.” Barbour credits
her strong upbringing by lovingly firm parents,
along with her immense passion for sports, with equipping her with the tools she needed to make her mark at Severn and beyond. “Did sports help me make friends? Absolutely.”
management, risk-taking and integrity. The
where lessons are experienced emotionally and intellectually. Barbour's eyes twinkle when she
reminisces about her teacher-coach Don Wood, “Coach Wood was 'the guy'— he was so hard on us! He held us accountable in the classroom and
on the field. Accountability is key. Why have
rules if you're not going to hold kids accountable to them?”
education. She was captain of the field hockey en's basketball. Barbour subsequently went on to earn advanced degrees at both University of
Massachusetts (an MS in sports management
in 1983) and Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management (an MBA in 1991). Between her
graduate programs, Barbour served as assistant field hockey and lacrosse coach at Northwestern and held the position of director of recruiting
services before being promoted to assistant ath-
B A R B O U R B E L I E V E S T H AT S E V E R N ' S S M A L L C O M M U N I T Y W A S K E Y T O K E E P I N G S T U D E N T S O N T R AC K W H I L E S T I L L A L LO W I N G F O R R I S K-TA K I N G . S H E R E M E M B E R S T H E R E B E I N G A N I N T R I N S I C U N D E R S TA N D I N G T H AT “ W E W E R E I N T H I S S M A L L C O M M U N I T Y T H AT H A D S A F E T Y N E T S S E T U P F O R U S …W E G O T T O T R Y O U R W I N G S O U T A N D I F W E C R A S H L A N D E D , T H E R E W A S S O M E B O DY T H E R E T O P I C K U S U P A N D D U S T U S O F F A N D S E N D U S O N O U R M E R R Y W AY.”
While the Severn of the '70s may have
appeared on the surface to be vastly different
from our school today, Barbour reflected with nostalgia upon the enduring characteristics and values of this community. “My experiences at
Severn academically and athletically were such
that we weren't just classmates or teammates. The bonds and closeness created by athletics built an affinity for community. All of the
most important people in my life at school were
teachers and coaches. Thanks to them, I discovered who I was. Karen Quarles (hockey and basketball coach/PE teacher) and Don Wood
(softball coach/science teacher) stand out as people who really influenced me.” Having the
anchor of teacher-coach role models at Severn
created a sense of accountability for students in all facets of school life. The teacher-coach, long considered an exemplar of independent school pedagogical practice, is known for its unique
dual function in the school community, allowing adults to inspire and connect with students
through universal values of practice, commit-
Barbour also recalls her Severn teammates
letic director for Northwestern's intercollegiate
classmen like Joni Adrian Morgan '75 and
duction to trying to achieve athletic success at
as important sources of inspiration. “Upper-
Betty Waters Phipps '75 were good students and accomplished athletes who I really looked
up to…watching them leave Severn and go off to college was inspiring.” Severn School memories on and off the field are happy ones for Bar-
bour, highlighted by being part of a community of student-athletes who “traveled in a pack from
fall sports to winter sports to spring sports.” Barbour believes that Severn's small community was key to keeping students on track while still allowing for risk-taking. She remembers there
being an intrinsic understanding that “we were
in this small community that had safety nets set up for us…we got to try our wings out and if
we crash landed, there was somebody there to pick us up and dust us off and send us on our merry way.”
The confidence and skills Barbour honed at
Severn led her to spread her wings at Wake For-
est University, where she graduated cum laude
programs in 1984. “Northwestern was my intro-
a really rigorous institution. Being there taught me about the struggle to achieve athletic excellence.” In 1996, at the age of 36, she became one
of the nation's youngest collegiate athletic direc-
tors at Tulane and quickly led the university to a
series of staggering accomplishments including
twelve conference championships in three years. In retrospect, Barbour sees her Tulane chapter
as one at “a great place with a great academic
reputation. We had a shoestring budget and were trying to compete…what a phenomenal
time that was! When I became the athletic di-
rector we made a football coaching change, and then we went from 2-9 to 7-4 to 12-0.” Barbour laughs, “Back then, I was in my 30s living
in New Orleans — and we were a great team! We were too young and stupid to realize what
we were doing was impossible, so we just did it anyway!”
WINTER 2019 45
From 2000-2004 Barbour was the deputy
sities in the nation; she's also a female athletic
culture she described as “the ultimate life les-
grams. In college football, the Power Five con-
when a decision had to be made, you knew what
Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I, the
biggest career break came in 2004 when she
States. Barbour is one of only five female ath-
U.C. Berkeley. During her decade-long tenure,
first female athletic director at Penn State. As a
most successful periods in the school's history,
“my primary challenge was that there were really
modernization and revenue growth. Despite all
I'm most proud of. I started at Tulane, then Cal,
she takes the most pride in are the students she
who came before me. But those who did, cer-
to be serious about your education at Berkeley.
are lots of women in collegiate athletics, in lots
students are terrific — working to change the
want to be known as a great athletic director, not
medals or national championships.” Students
cess will lead to opportunities for other women
what she refers to as her “why.” A devotee of
in a role that they aspire to, they will think 'I can
Barbour firmly believes that “Everything starts
erything — passion, enthusiasm, execution, the
with students, parents, coaches, administrators,
from understanding our purpose…for me it is
replete with bright spots. “I've been really fortu-
director of athletics at Notre Dame, a school
director at one of the nation's Power Five pro-
son in the power of a mission-driven institution;
ferences are athletic conferences in the Football
the decision would be based on our values.” Her
highest level of collegiate football in the United
was appointed athletic director of Pac-12 force
letic directors in the Power Five. She is also the
Barbour led Cal athletics through one of the
woman coming up in the industry, Barbour says
marked by championships, innovation, facility
no other women who I could follow. That's what
of the big-picture benchmarks for success, what
then Penn State ... there were very few women
worked with at Cal, “I love those kids. You have
tainly helped me to get where I am. Today there
It's the most rigorous place I've ever been. The
of positions and at lots of different levels. But I
world, to cure cancer, and to win Olympic gold
a great female athletic director. I hope my suc-
have always been at the heart of Barbour's work,
and girls…and that if they see someone like me
Simon Sinek's 2009 bestseller Start with Why,
do that too.'”
with 'Why?'…why do we do what we do? Ev-
a multitude of opportunities to flex her “why”
ability to make a difference, impact — all stems
and faculty. She feels lucky to have had a career
all about our student-athletes. Our vision is to
nate…there are hundreds of bright moments in
prepare students for a lifetime of impact. How
At Penn State Barbour has been afforded
my career. But they all revolve around witness-
ing or being a part of students having the light bulb go off and realize 'I can really do that! I can
make my dreams come true.'” Her own dreams of a life in athletics started with her father Henry, who instilled in her a powerful sense of purpose. “The advice from my dad was always 'find
something you love to do and pursue it. Don't just do a job.'” When she reflects back upon her
journey from the grassy fields of Severn School
to the sidelines of Beaver Stadium, it all gravitates back to her deep love of sport. “Look at sport today — all the ways in which it serves as
a bridge to a healing moment, a place of unity instead of separation, love instead of hate. Sport is really, really powerful. For young kids it's a
place to be a part of something bigger than you. Creating life lessons, bonds, friendships, finding commonalities in unlikely places. Sport is a
place where we learn that it doesn't matter what our differences are…we are a team with a goal in mind. If you can play, you can play.”
When she's not in Happy Valley, Penn.
watching the Nittany Lions play, you can also
find Sandy serving the U.S. Olympic movement, where she is one of eleven inaugural members of the United States Olympic Committee's Collegiate Advisory Council. The Council guides and
strengthens Olympic sport programming at the collegiate level.
do we contribute to that?”
With her 2014 appointment as the ath-
letic director at Big Ten powerhouse Penn State, some might say Barbour is positioned at the zenith of collegiate athletics. The enormity of the
role is not lost on her; despite the steadfast drive
and ambition that has marked her ascent, she admits “I don't know if I could have dreamt big
enough, that it would be Penn State.” With an athletics staff of over 300, Penn State supports
800 student athletes across 31 intercollegiate varsity programs and the athletics department
generated over $144 million in net revenues in 2016-17. But Barbour is more than just an ath-
" LO O K AT S P O R T T O D AY — A L L T H E W AY S I N W H I C H IT SERVES AS A BRIDGE T O A H E A L I N G M O M E N T, A P L AC E O F U N I T Y I N S T E A D O F S E PA R AT I O N , LO V E I N S T E A D O F H AT E ." — S A N DY B A R B O U R ' 7 7
letic director at one of the largest public univer-
Carrie MacVean Grimes '91, 46
THE BRIDGE
Sandy Barbour '77, Shannon Howell
MARK BURDETT '76
What might the future hold for a basketball and
state-of-the-art complex that will include a
nizations. When I started out in sales, I made
sibilities? For Mark Burdett '76, the answer is
trails, and parks, 24 turf fields, an indoor sports
ally found my way into the business.”
lacrosse athlete at Severn? What are the possports media and marketing.
Mark is currently president of the major
league lacrosse team Chesapeake Bayhawks. His
role is to build the business side of the organiza-
tion and increase the team's media exposure. He also serves as the point person for Chesapeake
Park, the sports complex proposed for the old Crownsville State Hospital property. Mark loves
his job, especially his work on Chesapeake Park.
“Chesapeake Park is the culmination of
my professional experience – business, media, sports, branding. We have a chance to build a
10,000-seat stadium, 360 acres of green space, facility, and a memorial to the patients of the
sure to stay close enough to sports that I eventu
He got his first big break a few years later
Crownsville Hospital Center. To build this
while working at WJLA Television as a station
del County in this way is a gift and a dream
broadcast partner of the Washington Redskins.
youth sports complex and impact Anne Arunto me. I believe in it wholly, and I am really excited about it.”
Mark's first experiences out of college
were in radio and television sales for differ-
ent D.C. stations, one of which broadcast Washington Bullets and Washington Capitals games. Mark explains, “As a sports fan, I was
always envious of people that ran sports orga-
manager. At the time, WJLA was the official
While he was there, Dan Snyder bought the Redskins and started making a lot of changes to
the business. Mark explains, “Everybody loved the Redskins in those days, and I felt the power
of the brand. Dan was looking for help on the
corporate sales and business development side. Not only was I the station manager, but I was a
big sports fan. One thing led to another and he hired me.”
WINTER 2019 47
Mark served as vice president of broadcasting there for one year, when
he got a call from one of his boyhood friends and fellow Severn classmate,
Steve Bisciotti '76. Steve had just bought the Baltimore Ravens. Mark explains, “He calls me up and says, 'Listen, Mark, you can't work for the Redskins ... I'd like you to come work for me.'” Mark agreed, and so the rivalry began! He spent the next 12 years with the Ravens.
Mark had an impressive run as vice president of sales and develop-
ment with the Ravens. During his 12 years, he helped build the Ravens
into a top tier brand that is still one of the most sought-after, positive, winning brands in sports. And to top it all off, Mark adds, “I started with a Super Bowl ring and I ended with a Super Bowl ring.”
Mark's move to the Bayhawks in 2017 pulled him out of semi-retire-
ment. His friend Brendan Kelly, owner of Bayhawks, had been working to build the team franchise, consulting with Mark along the way. Eventually he asked Mark, “Hey, why don't you come on and run it?”
For two years, Mark Burdett has been “all in” at the Bayhawks, work-
ing tirelessly to take this organization to the next level. His motivation
behind it all? Mark explains, “I think sports are one of the greatest tools
to bring people together and to teach life lessons. I think that when you
provide the right environment, more kids participate, more kids benefit, more kids grow and that is a good thing for our country and our society.”
Severn Athletics provided the “right environment” for his love of
sports to grow. “Because of its size, Severn allowed everyone to grow into
themselves. Whether it was the drama club or the lacrosse team, everyone
needed to be involved or none of it would work because of sheer numbers. So everyone got a chance to be involved; every coach and club leader was
recruiting.” That small size meant he could have leadership roles on the basketball and lacrosse teams and work with coaches who had his best
interests at heart. His senior year, head acrosse coach Kurt Kimball transi-
tioned Mark from an offensive player to a defensive player. Mark explains, “It was the best thing that happened to me.” Mark credits Coach Kimball for getting him to the University of Maryland, where he was recruited by legendary Men's Lacrosse coach Clayton “Buddy” Beardmore. “I owe
coach Kimball for that great opportunity. He is a friend of mine to this day.”
For a successful businessman who can clearly envision the future of
a brand, Mark can also clearly look back on the school experience that shaped who he is. “Looking back at Severn, the thing that stands tallest is
the lifelong friendships. My best friends are still my high school mates.” And of course, that includes Mark's wife, Nan Hiltabidle '77! While Mark
may have sported a burgundy and gold jersey once, switched to purple, and now wears navy and light green, underneath it all, his blood still runs maroon.
48
THE BRIDGE
EVAN WASHBURN '03
What might the future hold for a multi-sport
athletics was a rare mixture of challenge and
me see options that were realistic for my future.
Evan Washburn '03, the answer is sports jour-
it before high school, but Severn welcomed me
they were able to quickly shift me to lacrosse. I
Severn athlete? What are the possibilities? For nalism.
Evan is a CBS sports reporter, host and an-
alyst. From August to February, Evan is an NFL reporter. From February through March Mad-
ness, he covers college basketball. Every spring, he is a college lacrosse analyst. And finally, every summer, he calls lacrosse games for the Chesa-
peake Bayhawks. Sounds like the perfect job for
inclusion. Things like football…I never played to the team. I was able to build confidence by
getting involved.” And lucky for him, a lot of his
When I realized that basketball wasn't for me, always remember that fondly.”
With the help of Severn connection Drew
teammates were guys he grew up with on the rec
Larkin, the father of classmates Nick Larkin '03
Phipps '03, Michael Biles '03, Kip Turner '03,
light film to the University of Delaware's men's
fields and competed against as a kid — Michael and Zach Goldman '03 to name a few. They remain his best friends to this day.
Just before his senior year, Evan made a
and Tyler Larkin '03, Evan showed his highlacrosse coach Bob Shillinglaw, a Severna Park
High School graduate. Evan was accepted to the University of Delaware and so began his journey
a lifelong sports enthusiast like Evan!
bold move to switch focus from playing col-
life — going back to as early as I can remember.
guidance from coaches Mr. Tank Duckett and
at Delaware. According to Evan, “I'm a pretty
would have more opportunities at Division 1
When I got to Delaware, I thought, ok, if I am
“Sports have always been my focus — my
It's always where I have felt most comfortable, and where I gleaned the most self-confidence.”
For a kid who loved sports, Severn athlet-
ics was the perfect fit for Evan. While focusing
on basketball, he was also able to play soccer, football and lacrosse. Evan explains, “Severn
lege basketball to playing college lacrosse. With Mr. Jamie McNealey, Evan realized that he schools with lacrosse. Evan commented, “This is where Severn was really helpful to me. Severn
created this atmosphere where they were behind me, pushed me in basketball and then helped
into the world of college lacrosse.
Evan had a very successful lacrosse career
intense guy when I get locked in on something. here, I am going to be the best lacrosse play-
er I can be.” As a 4-year letter winner, Evan's hard work on and off the field earned him first-
team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors
WINTER 2019 49
and the UD Sportsmanship Award in 2008. A
days a week and do whatever they needed. Evan
puts on a different hat and becomes a college
the NCAA Final Four during the 2007 season.
was going to do, it became my life. I spent all my
poetic. I get to lay out my opinion and be more
standout defender, he led Delaware to a berth in
In spite of all his successes, Evan went
through a lot physically at Delaware. His sopho-
more year, he tore his ACL and suffered a staph infection after the surgery. On Senior Day, the
last home game of his college career, he tore his other ACL. “I was planning to play professionally in the MLL that summer, but that injury changed everything.”
With no chance of playing professional la-
crosse, Evan had to come up with a second ca-
explains, “Once I locked in that this was what I time at that station and became friends with the
reporter and producer that worked in Baltimore. I just started tagging along with them wherever they would go — whether it was Orioles games
or Ravens games — carrying gear, doing what-
I stay involved with sports for my career?'”
Evan added more to his resume reel when
ESPN sportscaster and father of Nick Elsmo lacrosse games. He sent it to ESPN and CBS
College Sports, hoping for his break into sports broadcasting on a national level.
ule that is sometimes tough on his family. Just the AFC Championship game in 2016 when his wife unexpectedly went into labor five weeks early. Evan was in a meeting with Tom Brady
and Bill Belichick when his father-in-law texted him a picture of his newborn son Hudson. “One day, my son is going to get a real kick out of that story!”
What are the possibilities for Evan now? Is
spring of 2012 as a college lacrosse analyst and
do more studio hosting. What I do now as a live
sports journalism. Kip, a successful college la-
by August 2012 he was signed on as a CBS
an announcer named Joe Beninati — the same
While certainly exciting and a hard-earned
there more in store for his future? “Sure, in this
started working for CBS College Sports in the
crosse player from UVA, had gotten to know
And the rest, as they say, is history. Evan
It was another Severn connection, Kip
Turner '03, that got Evan's foot in the door of
Bayhawks games.
ask his wife Kate! Evan was in Denver covering
three years.”
'07, invited him to help as an analyst for college
It was really as simple as asking myself, 'How do
the summers, he announces all the Chesapeake
to start sending out. That was my life for two to
experience in the field. Evan explains, “I wasn't
turned the volume down and announced games.
restricted by the rules of sports journalism.” In
dream come true for Evan, this job has a sched-
news reports so that I had at least a resume reel
yet another Severn connection, Leif Elsmo '69,
one of those kids who sat in front of the TV,
of a gas bag than a reporter who is otherwise
ever. They were nice enough to let me do fake
reer plan. Sports broadcasting had always been
in the back of his mind, but he didn't have any
lacrosse analyst. “I go up into the booth and wax
NFL reporter.
Evan's job requires the discipline, com-
business there are always next steps. I'd like to remote reporter is to take the viewer through what is happening. A studio hosting job offers more dimension and personality. There are not a
Joe Beninati who is now the play-by-play an-
mitment and game-time intensity of a college
at the time and announced a lot of Kip's college
day through Thursday at home preparing for
ing pad for a rewarding and exciting career in
everything about the players, the coaches, their
academic experience, the athletic experience
nouncer for the Capitals! Joe lived in Annapolis games. While Evan rehabilitated his knee that
summer, Kip called him and said, “Hey, I know
Joe Beninati. I can give you his number. Maybe
he can help get you an internship or something.”
One cold call later, a connection was made.
By Winter 2009 Evan started an unpaid intern-
ship at Comcast Sports Net in D.C. Right from the start, Evan threw himself into the job. Evan
told his bosses that he was going to be there five
athlete. As an NFL reporter, Evan spends Mon-
his assigned weekend game. He needs to know schedules and their playing styles. Friday and Saturday, he is on site at the host city, preparing
for game time on Sunday. Starting in February, he covers college basketball in a similar capacity. “I've been lucky enough to do the NCAA
tournaments the last four years, which is an unbelievable experience.” Once that's over, he
lot of those jobs, so it will just take time.”
For Evan, Severn athletics was the launch-
sports journalism. “On top of the social and
at Severn prepared me in a way that was rare. I was not the most gifted athlete, but I had a
good work ethic and intensity. With those traits
and enough athleticism, I could participate in
Severn sports to gain the necessary knowledge and confidence for the career I now hold.”
" T H E AT H L E T I C E X P E R I E N C E AT S E V E R N P R E PA R E D M E I N A W AY T H AT W A S R A R E . I W A S N O T T H E M O S T G I F T E D AT H L E T E , B U T I H A D A G O O D W O R K E T H I C A N D I N T E N S I T Y. W I T H T H O S E T R A I T S A N D E N O U G H AT H L E T I C I S M , I C O U L D PA R T I C I PAT E I N S E V E R N S P O R T S T O G A I N T H E N E C E S S A R Y K N O W L E D G E A N D C O N F I D E N C E F O R T H E C A R E E R I N O W H O L D .” — EVAN WASHBURN '03
50
THE BRIDGE
JOSIE OWEN '08
What might the future hold for a Severn field
ey. She picked up her first field hockey stick in
Games, one as a freshman and one as a ju-
sibilities? For Josie Owen '08, the answer is sales
friends were doing it so that's how I got into it.”
“I think we were one of the last teams to beat
hockey and lacrosse athlete? What are the posmanager for Nike.
6th grade! She explains, “I was so bad, but all my
Josie continued playing both sports in
nior. She also remembers beating McDonogh. McDonogh before they started their 198-game
Josie has worked in various roles for Nike
high school. In lacrosse, she was a 4-year var-
West Coast lacrosse specialty sales representa-
award and a senior captain. She was also named
ticular coach that made her high school ath-
U-19 and was a Tewaaraton honoree. Despite
ropoulos. She explains, “Coach S was my coach,
over the past four years. She started off as the tive and more recently moved into the role of territory sales manager for Nike team. In this
position, she sells team sports gear — uniforms, practice packs and team apparel — to high schools in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri. “My favorite part of
this job is building relationships with teams and coaches because sports in high school were such
an important part of my life. I feel passionate about this work and it's really fun!”
Severn athletics started for Josie in middle
school where she played lacrosse and field hock-
sity starter, a 3-year winner of the Team MVP
All-American, Academic All-American, USA these honors, Josie highlights the relationships
with her teammates as the most memorable. “High school sports were very special because all of my best friends played with me. Moni-
ca D'Ambrogi '08, Kelsey Hughes '08, Becca
Steinberg '08, to name a few. We were good friends on and off the field — that's what made it really fun!”
Some of Josie's best memories include
playing in two IAAM Championship Lacrosse
winning streak!”
More than the wins, Josie values a par-
letic experience very special, Coach Renie Soti-
my homeroom advisor and my history teacher. From freshman year, she was awesome. Hon-
estly, one of my favorite coaches to this day to play for. I learned a lot from her not just about
lacrosse but also about being a responsible teenager, having my ducks in a row, and prioritizing
things. When I look back on my high school experience, Coach S made a bigger impact on me than anyone else.”
Like many of her '08 teammates, Josie con-
WINTER 2019 51
tinued her standout lacrosse career at the col-
also gave shout-outs to English teacher Mr.
sity of Virginia, where former Severn teammate
Buckley for shaping her experience at Severn.
legiate level. Her path took her to the UniverLauren Benner '06 took Josie under her wing
and helped her acclimate to the college and the
team. Josie explains, “Between Severn and UVA, we were teammates for four years. We are still
All three Severn teachers would be proud to
she does, especially the market travel where she
know that Josie majored in history with a minor in media studies.
Upon graduating UVA, Josie knew she
wanted to go into sports branding and market-
and then after. She has been a good stable force
ing. Josie spent the next two years getting her
in my life for a really long time now.”
Josie had a very successful lacrosse career
at UVA despite an ACL injury her sophomore year. In 2012, she was named Second Team
All-American, All-ACC team, All-ACC Tour-
nament team, and was nominated for the very prestigious Tewaaraton Award. Josie led her
Four years later, Josie is still at Nike, serving
as both the West Coast lacrosse rep and a terri-
best friends to this day. We live out in Denver
together. She has been my rock through college
Richard Zmuda and history teacher Mr. Marc
ing. She also knew that she needed more trainmaster's in strategic communications from the University of Denver. It was an easy move for Josie. Her dad lived in Colorado along with
good friends Lauren Benner '06, Allie Frank
'06, and Brooks Laufman '06. Still connected to lacrosse, Josie was a volunteer assistant for the
tory manager for Team Nike. She loves the work
can build relationships with athletic directors and coaches. The beauty of working for a big
company like Nike is that the opportunities are endless.
So, what might the future hold for Josie at
Nike? For one, she wants to explore being on the product side of the business, developing the product from the beginning. “Everyone at Nike
talks about making the athlete better and how
we can do that with the product we are building. That has piqued my interest.”
And, if she's shooting for the moon, she
women's lacrosse team while she was at DU.
would also like to explore collegiate sports mar-
Amidst these recognitions, being named a se-
in the marketing department of Human Move-
uct to one of 23 partner colleges that are fully
was a great honor and a great ending to my
company that puts on a lot of 5k races, color run
team offensively in 2012, scoring 77 points. nior captain was perhaps the most special. “That sports career there.”
Josie's academic career at UVA was just as
successful and she credits Severn for giving her
the foundation for that success. Josie explains,
Josie's first job out of graduate school was
ment Management, an outdoor entertainment races, Spartan races and triathlons. Within nine months, however, a new opportunity came her way.
“It was a 'stars aligning' kind of moment.
“I loved school, and that started at Severn. At
A UVA lacrosse alumna emailed me out of the
a liberal arts setting. I ultimately landed in his-
rep position opening up at Nike. She walked
UVA, I was able to explore different topics in
tory, primarily because I love to write.” Josie was
grateful to one teacher in particular for teaching her the fundamentals of writing. “I am so thank-
in that role. But, yes, being able to manage our most important collegiate partnerships — that is a very cool area of Nike.”
Despite how far away she is, Josie still feels
to see the new building and the athletic facili-
lucky.”
Lucky she was! Josie stayed in Denver
footwear basically, and the territory they as-
THE BRIDGE
to be there, and so there is virtually no turnover
me through the application process. I got really
really influential in developing my writing skills
52
decades down the line. Everyone at Nike wants
very connected to her Severn roots. “The next
working for Nike in a field she knew backward
which helped with my success in college.” Josie
outfitted by Nike. Josie explains, “That job is
blue and told me about a West Coast lacrosse
ful that I learned how to write at Severn. I especially remember classes with Dr. Baugh. She was
keting. This role would involve selling the prod-
time I am back in town, I want to set up a tour ties. They had just built the new gym when I left
Severn in '08 so there is a lot I still haven't seen.”
Well, Josie, we hope you do come back so
and forwards, lacrosse. “I sold uniforms and
we can thank you once again for your many con-
signed me was 'everything west of Florida!'”
in your new career!
tributions to Severn athletics and cheer you on
M E N T O R I N G
M A G I C
Alumni Mentors partnered this fall with Dr.
dent's selected field of interest; (3) the founda-
dents who have an interest in their field. What a
Alumni" assignment their seminar class, Ameri-
professional in a given field; (4) the opportunity
efit from the wealth of experience garnered by
Jackie Baugh's juniors for an "Interview with
can Public Address. This assignment was designed to answer the essential question, "What
is the role of public speaking in a given profes-
sion?" by ascertaining the role of public speaking in each student's desired profession. Dr. Baugh asked students to consider the four communication channels, (writing, reading, speaking, and
listening) and examine what percentage of a given profession's workday is spent in each. Ben-
efits of this "real world" assignment included: (1) the opportunity for a high school student to conduct a professional interview; (2) a bird's eye view of a typical communication day in the stu-
A L U M N I - S T U D E N T
tion of a potential relationship with a successful
to extemporaneously share the interview experi-
ence and information garnered with the class; (5) insight on conducting and data gathering through interviews.
Alumni Director Carrie MacVean Grimes
'91 sought out alumni who worked in each stu-
wonderful opportunity for current juniors to benSevern School graduates in their respective fields!
And, yes, as soon as I see Carrie's matches, I have a big smile on my face because I fondly remember the alums as Severn students."
dent's preferred field of interest. Students then
Are you interested in being an alumni mentor?
Facetime with their alumni mentor match. Dr.
com. We are currently seeking local alumni men-
conducted interviews both on campus and via
Baugh remarked, "I am very beholding to the
Severn alums who — very generously — take time out of their busy professional and personal
Simply drop a note to c.grimes@severnschool.
tors to host seniors for mini-internships as part of their Independent Senior Projects this May.
lives to give back to current Severn School stu-
M A T C H E S :
| Robin Howie '20 & Sarah Holt Russell '00: Animal behavior
| Maddie Hawkins '20 & Kate Graw Lamond '96: Surgeon
| Margaret Kistler '20 & Darshan Kharod '03: Criminal justice
| Ian Munroe '20 & Stevie Kirkup '09: Finance
| Matthew Beagan '20 & Nichole Marks '00: Television production/storytelling | David Fitzgerald '20 & Chris Ellis '83: Aerospace
| Blake Misner '20 & Mike Calabrese '94: Finance | Peter Baldwin '20 & Sam Klein '01: Finance
| Ashley Urban '20 & Evan Washburn '03: Sports broadcasting | Nick Kidder '20 & Brad Graw '95: Orthopedic surgeon
| Taylor Layden '20 & Scott MacMullan '00: Criminal justice | Nicky Bradford'20 & Jen Presswood '04: Marketing
WINTER 2019 53
R O T U N D A
R O U N D U P
2001 Matt Nicholson '01 and his wife, Casey, welcomed second son, Holt, to their family in July. Holt, big brother Thomas, mom, and dad are all doing well and relocated to Bethesda this fall. | Brandon Wright '01 and his
wife, Laura, welcomed a daughter, Elizabeth (Liza), to their family in September. She joins big brother Jack, who turned four in December. | Karli Bowler Houston '01 followed up with a great photo after son Finn's first
birthday in September. She, husband Ryan, and Finn are all doing well. (Pictured left) | David Roahen '01 married Jaime Cohen in September on
the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis. After living in Boston for 10 years, he and his wife and dog will be moving home to Maryland next spring to
begin a three year residency in endodontics at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in Baltimore, with hopes of practicing in Annapolis afterwards. (Pictured above)
54
THE BRIDGE
2003 Schuyler Sutton Gavula '03 and her hus-
band Danny welcomed a new baby girl, Lola Catherine, on October 27. Mom, dad and big brother Oliver are all happy
and healthy, living in New York City. | It was great to see Tyler Larkin '03, his
wife Amanda and baby boy Bowen at the
Severn Homecoming Alumni Tailgate. Tyler is the athletic director at Indian Creek School. (Pictured below)
2005 Ashley McCarl Harrison '05 was re-
cently back on campus with her family for Homecoming, serving as a judge at the Garry Jenkins '80 Memorial Chili Cookoff ! | Sarah Meisenburg '05 and Renie
Sotiropoulos met up in Israel where Ms. Sot watched Sarah play vs the Euro Stars. “I think the last time we posed like this
on a lacrosse field it was on Severn turf !” exclaimed Ms. Sot. (Pictured left)
Admiral Alumni Top 40s are ambitious younger alumni who are drivers of ingenuity and
creativity. They are all different, but they are all high achievers. They include business people, entrepreneurs, artists, designers, athletes,
community organizers, politicians, lawyers,
medical professionals, teachers, inventors and
more. They give back to their communities and
elevate Severn School's mission, whether it be in their career or volunteer work.
Any nominee must be a graduate of Severn
School from the Class of 1997 or later. We are looking for a cross-section of alumni from the wide range of industries — technology, arts,
finance, media, health care, non-profit, etc. —
who are proven leaders and innovators in their field. The selection committee will also look
for community and volunteer involvement that speaks to the nominee's willingness to help
others. This includes their commitment and
contribution to their home communities and the community of Severn School.
N O M I N AT E YO UR C L AS S M AT ES, LEARN M O R E A N D STAY T UN ED F O R T HE TOP 4 0 R EV EA L AT:
BIT.LY/SEVERN40UNDER40 WINTER 2019 55
R O T U N D A
R O U N D U P
2006 Carter Loetz '06 achieved national notoriety on Good Morning America and People magazine when he and his fiancé
had to postpone their Charleston wedding due to Hurricane Florence. (Pictured top right) | Sean Quinn '06 got married
in September 2017 to Sophia Smith from Washington, DC. They live in NYC together. (Pictured middle right) | Ashley Barry DiLernia '06 wrote in to say “Michael and I got mar-
ried at St. Anne's Church in Annapolis on June 30, 2018. Our reception was at St. Johns College. Severn crew who at-
tended the wedding included Jenna Thompson Howell '06, Becky Price Gilmor '06, Jessie Krone Kehl '06, Katie Bates Hall '06, Shelly Cox '06, Mack Gilmor '06, Laura Lutkefedder '03, and Katie Robey '03. (Pictured opposite page)
2008 Marvin Smith '08 and his wife Kortnee welcomed a baby
girl, Mia Naomi, on October 30. Mia joins big brother Maddox. The family is happy and healthy! (Pictured opposite page) | Trey Mullady '08 got engaged to fiancé Mandy in
New York City. They will be getting married in September in South Carolina! (Pictured bottom right) | We loved seeing
Christina Tran Elliot '08 back on campus recently with her daughter Madison! (Pictured opposite page)
2011 Torey Cole '11 is leading the charge on launching a Young Alumni Mentoring Network in partnership with Alumni
House. Other alumni including Crystal Tran '11, Chellie
Schou '11, Caroline Code '11, Andrew Igler '11 and Kaila
Lewis '13. To jump on board email Alumni Director Carrie MacVean Grimes '91 at c.grimes@severnschool.com. | Bart Repasky '11 made a surprise visit to Severn Alumni House this fall, while he was back in town. Bart is currently living
in Thailand! | Jamie Mullady '12 became engaged on August 10, 2018 at Indian Hill Country Club in Chicago. Tommy surprised her with a mid-golf proposal followed by celebration with friends and family who were hiding!
56
THE BRIDGE
WINTER 2019 57
R O T U N D A
R O U N D U P
2012 Jenna Maseritz Aliff '12 and John Aliff '12 got married on Kent Island on
October 20, 2018. Kathryn Wilbur Brothers '12, Erin Littlepage, '12 and Grace Rudder '12 were all bridesmaids, and Jake Ashworth '11 was a groomsmen. | Chloe Snow '12 and Jai Lakhanpal '12 got engaged on July 8 in Turks
& Caicos. | Margot Farnham '12 is working on her PhD at University of Delaware and is an NSF fellow. | Jack Bremer '12 is an industrial engineer for Amazon Robotics in Denver and has a dog named Packer. | Monique Dalton
'12 is working on the electrical design of the OmegA rocket for Northrop
Grumman. She has been on TV a couple times and had an article written
about her work. | Tiffany Cromwell Scott '12 got married on January 14, 2018 and started a new job as a School Clinician with the Children's Guild. |
Harmony Roche '12 is working at Fiore Chiropractic as a Technical chiropractic assistant and has adopted two crazy mutts. | Ryan Webster '12 is a Realtor at Re/Max United Real Estate in Upper Marlboro, Md. He's also a musician that plays shows throughout DC, MD, and VA. Ryan and Alec Green
'13 were spied back on campus this fall headlining our Alumni Tailgate on the front lawn of Alumni House! Everyone enjoyed the live music! This past year
Ryan opened for the Eli Young Band. He will be getting married on October
26, 2019. (Pictured bottom right) | Rocco Cipriano '12 is in Nashville playing guitar and managing bands. | Jenny Sledge '12 got her masters degree and
started her PhD. She is a dean's doctoral fellow, one of ten at her university. Jenny is getting married November 2, 2019, at the Peabody Library. Eva Bilo
'12 and Kaitlin Creamer '12 are two of her bridesmaids. | Teisha Miles '12 is the new coordinator for housing operations at Loyola University Maryland
working with resident assistants, supervising graduate students and handling
lots of conflict. She is currently finishing up her master's in negotiations and conflict management. Teisha also started Teisha J Photography earlier this year and business is booming. | Kimberly Carrette '12 is in her first year at
Howard University College of Medicine, working towards getting her MD. | Lauren Morrell '12 is in Cape Town, South Africa for the next three years, part-time working towards her masters in sustainable development, and parttime doing corporate sustainability consulting work for her previous client
back in California. She is learning to speak Afrikaans and learning to surf. |
Caroline Schaeffer '12 recently caught up with us from Edinburgh, Scotland where she is earning her masters in screenwriting at Edinburgh Napier University. (Pictured top right) | Did you see Alexa Kunowsky '12 playing lacrosse
in the Nike/Dick's Sporting Goods commercial “Play Like You Own It." Alexa currently lives in Austin, TX.
58
THE BRIDGE
CLASS N OT ES
Caroline McCleary Barnes '12 married Grant Barnes in Louisville, KY on September 22, 2018. Hunter Morris '12 and Liza Bart Dolan '12 were bridesmaids, and Caroline's sisters, Kelsey McCleary '08 and Caitlin McCleary Horn '04, were maid and matrons of honor.
WINTER 2019 59
R O T U N D A
R O U N D U P
2014 David Jaklitsch '14 started school at the University of Baltimore School of Law, Anthony Roccograndi
'14 started school at the Charleston School of Law, and Cole Smith '14 started school at the University
of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. | Mikayla Walker '14 is attending the University of
Maryland School of Public Health. | Rebecca Hattar '14 is pursuing a master of public policy at the University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. | Jack Munroe '14 is working
as a client services coordinator at Fox Sports Media Group in Chicago, Ill. | Kasie Lilly '14 is working as a marketing analyst for S&P Global Ratings in NYC. The Severn Alumni team had a great time catching up with her at the fall Big Apple alumni
social! | Courtney Rainey '14 is teaching math, and coaching field hockey and lacrosse at Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, Va. | Jarid Ryan '14 is finishing up his last season of football at the United
States Naval Academy, and is looking forward to his commissioning.
2015 Kate Reed '15 was awarded the prestigious Rhodes
Scholarship for study at the University of Oxford. She
was among 32 recipients of the prestigious fellowships, which fund two to three years of graduate study and
will begin her studies in October 2019. Reed's research
focuses on the relationship between the U.S. and Latin America, and how shared histories shape the present. She is a two-time recipient of Princeton University's Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence and was
elected to Phi Beta Kappa this fall. After earning her degree at Oxford, Reed plans to pursue a Ph.D. in his-
tory and hopes to work as a professor and educator, thinking about the ways history can help create a more empathetic present and future.
60
THE BRIDGE
2016 Maddie McDaniel '16 was a starting sophomore attacker of
the James Madison University lacrosse team that won the
2018 Division 1 Women's Lacrosse National Championship. Maddie scored a key goal to tie up the final game against
Boston College, after which JMU never trailed. On the
way to the championship, JMU went 22-1 beating Virginia, Florida and UNC. Maddie scored 28 points, had 11 ground balls and 23 draw controls to round out the season.
2018 Trevor Marvin '18 stopped by campus during Homecoming
Spirit Week. He is a freshman at USC in California. Great to see you back at Severn, Trevor!
Jacob Mandish '16, Charlie Marculewicz '18, Tyler Perreten '16, Joel Mandish '18, Jacob Jarosz '18 face-off in lacrosse between Navy and Naval Academy Preparatory School.
WINTER 2019 61
C L A S S
S E C R E T A R I E S
1947
Buzz Hall
blairhall@aol.com
1974
Cheryl Ritchie
goldengirl@goldenresults.com
1952
Nick Goldsborough
ngoldsborough2@verizon.net
1976
Catherine Clarke
catherineclarke@verizon.net
1953
John Fisher
cplusji@yahoo.com
1978
Denise Tray Rosson
drosson@glenelg.org
1954
Jack Kelly
jmkell333@gmail.com
1979
Kim Corbin Aviles
kaviles@csalaw.com
1958
John Eller
johnceller@aol.com
1981
Stacey Hendricks Manis
maniss@comcast.net
1959
John Leimkuhler
jwleimkuhler@verizon.net
1982
Tracy Tischer
tctischer@gmail.com
1960
Joe Stewart
kingspoint300@yahoo.com
1983
Molly Moore Green
m.green@severnschool.com
1961
Bruce Burns
blmburns@comcast.net
1984
Carrie Duvall
carrieduvallcre@gmail.com
1962
Robert Kesmodel
rkesmodel@gmail.com
1985
Julie Greer Katcef
julie@graceryanhomes.com
1965
Sandy Clark
sandyclark@yahoo.com
1986
Sara Tabasi Toomey
charleysangels@verizon.net
1966
Richard Templeton
templetonrk@gmail.com
1987
Amy Tate
tateamyb@icloud.com
1968
Shannon McDowell
shannonmcd49@verizon.net
1988
Drew Burns
drew.burns831@gmail.com
1969
Nick Codd
nickcodd@verizon.net
1989
Holly Hodson
holly@hollyhodson.com
1972
Joan McDaniel
jmcdaniel22@cfl.rr.com
1990
Blairlee Meade Owens
blairleeowens@me.com
1973
Bona Hurst-Ellis
rellis@msn.com
1991
Heather Clark Piskorowski heatherpisko@gmail.com
1991
Matt Sarro
62
THE BRIDGE
mattsarro@gmail.com
S AV E T H E DAT E
R E U N I O N H O M E C O M I N G 4 S & 9 S OCTOBER 5, 2019
1992
Jennifer Molesevich
jennpm1@msn.com
2007
Graham Ellison
ellisogc@eckerd.edu
1993
Dave Sobel
dave@evolvetech.com
2007
Samantha Goldman
SamanthaGLax@gmail.com
1994
Mike Calabrese
mike@severnfinancial.com
2008
Steve Sexauer
stephen.b.sexauer@gmail.com
1995
Darcy Watt Gurganous
dwgurganous@gmail.com
2008
Annie Weber
acw5133@gmail.com
1996
Erika Huebner Rollins
erika.rollins@calltrackingmetrics.com
2009
Katie Dickerson
kdickerson22@gmail.com
1997
Sean Songer
sean.songer@gmail.com
2009
Justin Kiehne
kiehnej@dickinson.edu
1998
Dan Ericson
ericson@gwmail.gwu.edu
2010
Mackenzie Carroll Kirkup
mackenzie.o.carroll@gmail.com
1999
Jen Scott Gatewood
jennifer.lecompte.scott@gmail.com
2011
Beanie Antonini
beanslacrosse@hotmail.com
2000
Jane Friend
jfriend12@gmail.com
2011
Katlyn Flynn
katlynivy@yahoo.com
2001
Matt Nicholson
mtnicholson3@gmail.com
2012
Kaya Gordon
kagg.12@gmail.com
2003
Laura Lutkefedder
llutkefedder@gmail.com
2012
Grace Rudder
grace.rudder@gmail.com
2004
Jen Presswood
jennpresswood@gmail.com
2013
Haleigh Bass
haleigh.bass@richmond.edu
2005
Janessa Del Sesto DiMenna janessadimenna@gmail.com
2014
Cole Smith
colesmith@maryland.edu
2005
Tyler Williams
tylerwilliams0@gmail.com
2015
Eva Caruso
ecaruso@g.clemson.edu
2006
Katie Bates Hall
hall.julia.k@gmail.com
2016
Jacob Mandish
jemandish@gmail.com
2006
Carter Loetz
gcloetz@gmail.com
2017
Isabella Roccograndi
berocco@terpmail.umd.edu
2018
Rebecca Stamato
rebecca.stamato@icloud.com
2018
Victoria Decker
vdecker313@gmail.com
WINTER 2019 63
W E
R E M E M B E R
1947
1953
away June 11, 2018. He started his career as
October 1, 2018 in Scottsdale, Ariz. After
Edmund Sullivan Jr. of Seminole, Fla. passed a chemical engineer in New York and moved to Florida in 1971, where he became an
successful investment advisor for 48 years. Ed enjoyed fishing, traveling, and spending time with his family. He is survived by three sons, one daughter and six granddaughters. 1949
John Joseph Engberg, Sr. passed away
November 15, 2018 at the Wicomico Nursing Home in Salisbury, Md. A graduate of Loyola
College and University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, John owned Hayman's Pharmacy then later worked at PRMC and Nanticoke
Memorial Hospitals. Growing up in Arnold, Maryland, John developed a lifelong love
for the Chesapeake Bay and fishing. After
retirement he made his hobby a career when
he became a charter boat captain in Crisfield,
Maryland. He was a member of the Somerset County and the Maryland Charter Boat
Associations. Everyone will remember him
for his sense of humor and his ability to find a
joke for every situation. John is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Marjorie Rae Bowen Engberg; three children; six grandchildren;
four great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Peter Grasselli passed away July 1, 2018 after a long race against dementia. He had a busy
life; as a music teacher/marching band director
Western Maryland College, now McDaniel College, in Westminster and received a
bachelor's degree in 1957 in English and
psychology from the University of Miami
in Florida. From 1958 to 1960, he served in
the Army. He was a research assistant at the Army Medical Research Laboratory at Fort Knox, Ky., and assisted in training monkeys that would later be sent into outer space.
After being discharged in 1960, he returned to Baltimore and went on to work for the
Baltimore Life Insurance Co., Defense Security Agency in Arlington, Va. and ISM Publishing
Co. in Coral Gables, Fla. Wainwright obtained a master's degree in business from the
University of Miami, and returned to Baltimore as a benefits consultant for Alexander
& Alexander. He was named director of
communications and business affairs in 1973 at the National Association of College and
University Business Officers. Mr. Wainwright and his wife were European travelers and
enjoyed hiking through the Alps, journeying to the Far East and exploring Egypt and Israel.
He spent years studying piano and played the
organ. Wainwright authored two books, "How to Solve Crosswords, a Handbook," and an
unpublished memoir, "Memories of Baltimore, 1935-1962." Wainwright is survived by his
wife, son, daughter and three grandchildren. 1954
in area bands, took up running in his 50s and,
December 16, 2018 at his home in Annapolis.
at age 83, won a Bronze Medal in the National Senior Olympics. He will be sadly missed by
wife, Carol; daughter, Diana; cat, Shadow; and so many friends.
John Engberg passed away November 15, 2018. THE BRIDGE
graduating from Severn, he attended then-
at Pickerington H.S. He was also a winning
motorcycle drag racer, sang and played trumpet
64
Charles "Abbie" Wainwright Jr., passed away
Thomas L. Carter, Jr. passed away on
After attending Severn, Tom attended the
University of Maryland College Park where he
was on the varsity swim team and a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He later
made a career in mortgage banking eventually
owning Old Bay Financial Services. He was
athletic director and football coach along with
Va., while actively volunteering with The
Bankers Association of Maryland as well as
the 1960s. After graduating, Russell sold
before becoming an illustrator and artist, and
the Chesapeake Lacrosse, and coached the
accomplished artist, author, and beloved
team. Rusty loved everything about sports.
about golf, running, nature, helping others, and
Catterton Russell, three children, and six
that typically hides behind a cell phone screen.
Buddy Beardmore as lacrosse coach during
First Tee, a youth development organization,
sporting equipment, worked as an official with
author. Ginger was a brilliant young woman,
Annapolis Elks Lodge little league baseball
member of her community. She was passionate
Rusty is survived by his wife of 36 years, Lyle
building a sense of community in a generation
grandchildren.
A true lady from a different era, her gentle
friends and family and was an avid dog and
1986
missed by all.
lived on Sullivan Cove in Linstead where. Tom
passed away October 4, 2018 at his home in
2015
an Eagle Scout, a graduate of Severn School
Annapolis. After attending Severn, Kelsey
Naval Academy where he played lacrosse and
where she played lacrosse and was on the
as a Surface Warfare Officer and then as a
at the University of South Carolina where she
Hawkeye. He served in multiple locations and
loving young woman who loved her parents,
service before his retirement in 2011. John also
with a special place in her heart for her dog,
& Mary in 2011, and enjoyed his post-Navy
to the Annapolis SPCA, where she celebrated
Stanley Wealth Management in Virginia
sponsored six Naval Academy Midshipmen
brother, neighbor, coach and true friend.
to Kelsey; they remain a significant part of the
Maryland Hospital in Baltimore. After
1997
her seven McGill cousins, calling themselves,
standout at Annapolis High - a dominant
on December 28, 2018 at her home in
Mill Creek and it was not unusual to find her
proud to serve as president of the Mortgage
Chairman of the Board of Severn School. Tom grew up in Round Bay and loved the Severn River. There were many tales of good times
on his boat, "Sea Easy." He had a love for the stock market, was a member of the Paradise
Lost Investment Syndicate, Merchants Club, US Naval Reserves and the Navy League.
Tom very much enjoyed the company of good wildlife enthusiast, especially for all those who
is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ann Haslup Carter; his son and Severn School Board of
Trustees Chair, Tom Carter III '85, P'16, P'20;
his daughter, Lucy Carter Chinea '90, P'31; his grandchildren, Sarah Carter '16, Emma Carter '20, Aidan Carter '20 and Scarlet Chinea '31 and one sister. The family would be pleased
for donations to be made in Tom's memory
to Severn School's Andrew Brereton Carter
Financial Aid Fund. The fund was established in April of 1973 in memory of Andrew
Brereton Carter to provide financial aid to current and incoming students. 1963
Charles “Rusty” Russell III passed away December 28, 2018 at the University of
attending Annapolis High as a two-sport
lineman in football and intimidating crease
defenseman in lacrosse, Russell continued his
athletic career as a fifth-year senior at Severn, which had a college preparatory program at
the time. Pastrana and 1963 Rhodes Trophy
winner Mike Busch were among the notable
local athletes who followed Russell to Severn School, which featured Parker Lindsay as
CDR John Bernard Quinlan, USN Ret.,
nature, friendly smile, and gracious ways will be
Norfolk, VA. John grew up in Bowie, MD, was
Kelsey McGill passed away July 16, 2018 in
and a 1991 graduate of the United States
graduated from St. Mary's High School
ice hockey. John had a successful Naval Career
track team. She was entering her senior year
Carrier Based Naval Aviator, flying the E-2C
was studying Hospitality. Kelsey was a fun
received many awards for his distinguished
friends, and family. She was an animal lover,
earned his MBA from The College of William
Tinkerbell. Kelsey always gave special attention
career as a financial advisor with Morgan
her 8th birthday. Over the years, the McGill's
Beach. He was a loving husband, father, son,
who played a special role as mentors and sisters McGill family. Kelsey loved spending time with
Ginger Mignon Marie Doyel passed away
"The Cousins Club." She loved her home on
Scottsdale, Ariz. After attending Severn,
on her jet ski with her special friends.
School, and attended the University of
Faculty
golf team and graduated as the valedictorian
on September 5, 2018. For two years, he was a
Ginger began her professional career working
was a friend to both faculty and students. His
Ginger graduated from St. Mary's High
Richmond where she founded the women's
Michael-Allan “Dash” Navarro passed away
of the Jepson School of Leadership in 2001.
positive and energetic presence on campus and
with The Pew Foundation in Charlottesville,
warmth, expertise and patience is missed.
WINTER 2019 65
[ M U G ] S H O T S In 2013, digital brand strategist Peter Thomson's article entitled “How 50 Cups of Coffee Can Change Your Life” went viral
on Inc.com with its manifesto that “the biggest changes in your life will only happen through the people that you meet and conversations you have. Human beings create and convey meaning through stories and conversations.” Thomson credited
the iconic career manual What Color is your Parachute as well as other bloggers like venture capitalist Mark Suster and writer
Megan Gebhart with sparking his ambition to “conspire, debate and swap stories” with interesting people over coffee. Shorter than a lunch, less suggestive than a cocktail, a coffee invitation is quintessentially uncomplicated and devoid of pretense. “Mug Shots” is a new series in which Carrie MacVean Grimes '91 shares Severn nostalgia and inspiration through coffee and conversation with Admiral Alumni.
A L E X
A D A M S
' 1 0
"Academically you experience a strong mix of studying, self-improvement, growth and
competition at Severn which pushed us all to be better. I took a lot of history classes
that fueled my passion for political science. • Be open to opportunities, whether they knock on your door or not. Grow with your process, always be open to learning, always be open to new experiences. • Ms. Sot (Renie Sotiropoulos) set me on the path that I
am on now. She always wanted her students to get better and always gave us options about how to push our knowledge of things further."
C H E R Y L
R I T C H I E
' 7 4
"If you cared for someone from Severn at that time, you carry a piece of them in your
heart forever. One of my favorite songs is James Taylor “You've Got a Friend.” That will
be the music of their lives when it comes to Severn. • My 1974 time capsule would have the insignia from my cheerleading uniform, some stories I've written about Severn, a dog-eared copy of the 1974 Navigator, a little green vase I cherish from a Severn friend of mine, and a ring a classmate gave me on my sweet 16."
D A N E R I C S O N ' 9 8 "I participated in musical theater and drama. We learned to do more with less. To us it
didn't matter that "The Great Room" was a carpeted room in a basement. • Tom Heslin
was my mentor. He was a kind, brilliant, empathetic man. He did so much more than teach Latin. You could talk to him in confidence, and he dispensed advice and tough
love. Because of him, one of my majors in college was classical humanities. • Words of wisdom of the class of 2019: Obtain as many different kinds of experiences as possible."
H O W A R D
P E T T Y
' 8 2
"You have been given a gift. You're now prepared to go into the world and perform at
whatever level you choose, doing whatever you choose. There are no limits. Within your class, there will be leaders of your time. Look around at the qualities of the people you are graduating with. Consider what it takes to be successful. Keep your class camaraderie and spirit alive. • Severn in three words: Enduring, quality, relationships."
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THE BRIDGE
M E L I S S A
A L L E N
' 9 1
"Severn in three words: Positive, influence, opportunity •
Words of wisdom for the class of 2019: Travel, travel, travel. Don't be afraid to do the work. Don't judge."
D O U G
M A Y E R
' 0 0
"Severn felt like home from the moment I set foot on cam-
pus. I had a lot of memories of going to Severn with my dad, Doug Mayer '73, when I was a young child — going to lacrosse
games, walking past the old gym, under the old bleachers, hang-
ing out in front of the gym after school, and playing soccer and lacrosse. • Words of wisdom for the class of 2019: You have a lot more time than you think. It's important to be aggressive and
ambitious. Go after what you want. At the same time, know
that you are only competing with yourself. Don't let others determine where you feel your place in this world."
R O B I N
P I R I E
' 5 0
"I commuted from Annapolis on the train every day with my
friends Eddie Turner '50 and Tom Hamilton '50. We'd come
up on the train, go to classes and have lunch; our locker room
was in the basement of old Teel Hall. • There were single family
homes that were converted into classrooms on campus, the A, B, and C “Shacks”. B Shack had the science labs, math classes, and it was where Mr. Hill taught physics and chemistry. I spent
a lot of time there. Mr Halstead gave his math classes in Teel Hall. C Shack was dormitories. The basement of B Shack was Paul Kesmodel's “shop” where he kept sports equipment and
athletics jerseys. • The Korean War broke out in 1950, just about the time we were getting set to graduate."
K A T E
M Y E R S
' 0 4
"I remember we were meeting for the Fed Challenge team, and Mr. Bodley was our advisor. We met every day for months, including weekends. One time, when he forgot to show up we
drove over to Round Bay and knocked on his front door. He answered the door in his pajamas ... eating breakfast! •
Highley
Thompson
and
Mr.
Connelly
were
the
moral compasses of the school. They always did the right thing, and they made school feel safe and clear. They
embodied the values they talked about. • Three words to describe Severn School: Character, tradition, family."
W A N T T O G R A B A C U P O F C O F F E E W I T H C A R R I E ? E M A I L H E R A T C . G R I M E S @ S E V E R N S C H O O L . C O M
WINTER 2019 67
UPCOM I NG
EVENTS
'Moroccan Moonlight' APA Auction | March 8 Tickets available online at bidpal.net/severnschoolauction
Early School Mini Makers Event | April 4 Register online
Reunion Homecoming Weekend | October 5, 2019 Save the date for next October! M OR E IN F O R M ATI O N AND D ETA IL S AT SEV ER NSCHOOL . COM
68
THE BRIDGE
View more photos from the school year at flickr.com/severnschool
WINTER 2019 69
201 Water Street • Severna Park, MD 21146 www.severnschool.com • 410.647.7700
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“I want them to know the library is a resource for them, no matter what their interests are. There is something here that will make them feel happy, take them on a journey, answer a question, or help them understand themselves and others. There is something for everyone.” — Ms. Pilar Okeson