38 minute read
Athletics
2017-2018 Spartan Girls Soccer Named Team of the Decade
In August, St. Johns’ 2017-2018 Girls Varsity Soccer team was named Team of the Decade by Jacksonville.com.
“The 2017-18 squad might have been the best of the bunch,” the article said. “In the midst of a winning streak that ultimately stretched to 76 games — they hadn’t lost a game in three seasons — St. Johns ran over its opponents by a combined 145 goals while stifling opponents with a relentless possession-based approach.” Longtime coach Mike Pickett ’83 credits that particular team with incredible depth and chemistry along with “a perfect storm of players.”
Early Signing Day
In November, St. Johns was honored to preside over the signing of a whopping twelve members of the Class of 2021 to play sports at the next level: Soccer
■ Paige Crews–Texas Christian University ■ Mia Sadler–Southern Mississippi State ■ Natalie Wilson–Southern Mississippi State ■ Ellie Rosenau–Berry College ■ Alexis Agramonte–Troy University ■ Lauren Weiss–University of North Florida ■ Maddie Moody–Davidson College ■ Lexi Drumm–College of Charleston Baseball
■ Connor Moore–Florida State University ■ Jace Thomas–Flagler College ■ Luke Shannahan–Pensacola State College ■ James Oman–Butler University
Spartan Athletics Teams Faced Repeated Delays
After repeated delays to the start of the fall season as the Florida High School Athletics Association (FHSAA) monitored the coronavirus situation and consulted with experts, St. Johns’ fall sports season finally started on Monday, August 24. “I’m so excited to get this next part of your lives started,” Director of Athletics Traci Peacock Livingston ’90 told students at flag raising on August 17, 2020. “St. Johns is prepared and we are ready to go.”
Senior Nights
St. Johns has a long history of celebrating Senior athletes with Senior Nights—a special pre-game event where seniors are announced with their families to celebrate them and their many contributions to their sport. Where athletic competitions aren’t easily accessible, such as the case with cross country meets, coaches honor their seniors at morning announcements.
Senior cheerleader Brooke Ferris with her parents, dad Vernon and mom, cheerleading coach Tanya Ferris. Photo by Julia Nichols ’21)
Swimming
Both the boys and girls swim teams had tremendous seasons, capped off with competition in one of the toughest district competitions in the state. Spartan girls placed 5th and boys placed 6th overall.
A whopping eighteen Spartan swimmers qualified for regional competition, including: ■ Girls 200 Medley Relay - Emma
Schultz ’23, Amelia Dyer ’21,
Mary Beth Garrison ’22, Ella
Wilkes ’23 ■ Boys 200 Medley Relay- Hunter
Hopkins ’23, Luke Robinson ’21,
Ethan Albright ’21, Sam Hopkins ’23 ■ Girls 200 Free - Katelyn Moore ’26 ■ Boys 200 Free - Ethan Albright ’21 ■ Boys 200 IM - Sam Hopkins ’23 ■ Girls 50 Free - Emma Schultz ’23 ■ Boys 50 Free- Luke Robinson ’21 ■ Girls 100 Fly - Katelyn Moore ’26 ■ Boys 100 Fly - Ethan Albright ’21,
Hunter Hopkins ’23 ■ Girls 500 Free- Mary Beth Garrison ’22 ■ Girls 200 Free Relay - Kali Evans ’23, Katelyn Moore ’26, Amelia
Dyer ’21, Emma Schultz ’23 ■ Boys 200 Free Relay - Luke Robinson ’21, Sam Hopkins ’23, Hunter
Hopkins ’23, Ethan Albright ’21 ■ Boys 100 Backstroke - Hunter
Hopkins ’23 ■ Girls 100 Breaststroke - Amelia
Dyer ’21 ■ Girls 400 Free Relay - Francis
Bailey ’25, Ainsley Costarakis ’25,
Jules Raimondi ’24, Ella Wilkes ’23 ■ Boys 400 Free Relay - Ariel Sauer ’22, Josh Lewis ’25, Emerson Cooper ’23, JD Lewis ’22
Volleyball
Middle School Volleyball played a friendly game against the JV Volleyball team to cap off their season.
Golf
In October, Boys Golf fired off an amazing score of 318, winning the District Championship for St. Johns, with Keystone Heights coming in second with 341. Jack Gosselin ’24 played his lowest 18-hole score yet, carding a 76 and earning him low medalist honors.
Football
Spartan Football faced numerous challenges this year due to the extended coronavirus pandemic and other issues, setting them up for a topsy-turvy season. After starting the season in regular Florida High School Athletics Association (FHSAA) 11-man ball, the team faced many injuries in their first game, leading them to rethink their strategy. The Spartans subsequently swapped to the Sunshine State Athletic Conference (SSAC) 8-man league for the remainder of the season.
“St. Johns Spartans players and coaching staff are beyond thrilled with the opportunity to join the league and compete for the remainder of the season in the SSAC 8 man league,” said Director of Athletics Traci Peacock Livingston ’90 of the transition.
Girls Weightlifting
This year, St. Johns debuted a new Girls Weightlifting team for the first time. The season kicked off in November and continues through the winter season.
It’s exciting to be able to offer a new sport for our talented young female athletes at St. Johns,” said Director of Athletics Traci Peacock Livingston ’90. “Girls weightlifting is a fast-growing sport across the nation, and it really offers numerous awesome benefits to the girls. It’s challenging and fun by itself, is a great supplement to whatever other sports they’re into, and is going to increase their strength, speed, and not to mention their confidence.”
Cross Country
Boys and girls Spartan cross country teams headed into the regional finals, which took place at Cecil Field in early November. Both teams were aiming to qualify for the state meet—Boys for the 5th consecutive year (and 7th of eight), while the Girls were aiming for a 15th consecutive appearance.
After being named District Champion in October, Matthew Stratton ’22 again came out victorious, taking the Regional title as well and assisting the boys in achieving their goal of a trip to State.
Unfortunately, participation limits put in place due to the coronavirus limited State to only the top 5 teams. Spartan girls came in 5th at Regionals, just missing the chance for their 15th consecutive appearance.
At the State Championships, delayed a day by Hurricane Eta, Spartan boys finished in 11th place, beating their 12th place ranking going into the race. Junior Matthew Stratton finished 3rd overall (ahead of his #4 ranking), becoming the Spartans boys all-time leader in top-50 finishes at State with four races in which he has finished in the top 50. Jake Kailes ’21 finished his high school career with his second top-50 finish, running a season PR. Richard Nichols ’24 was the third man home, followed by Walker Cowherd ’22, in his first cross country season. James Wilson ’21 rounded out the team scorers, beating his ranking by a whopping 7 places. Rounding out our team, Adan Herrera ’22 and Cade Zehner ’21 had great runs and pushed several other teams’ scorers down the field. Way to go, Spartans!
St. Johns Presents the Class of 2021
In November of 1962, St. Johns’ founding headmaster, Dr. Edwin P. Heinrich, brought the concept of introducing seniors to the community after attending a similar ceremony when his daughter was a senior at Agnes Scott College. The idea was a combination of a Thanksgiving service with recognition of the seniors’ coming of age, presenting them to the community as adults in their own right, ready to face the world.
Today, the Class of 2021 enjoyed their own Senior Presentation starting with a beautiful brunch at Club Continental. It was an opportunity for them to spend time together as a class with just a few faculty sponsors and administrators joining them, along with brunch speaker Mr. Rod Fisher. They reminisced about their time together at St. Johns and took a lot of photos, and Mr. Fisher regaled them with stories of some of the School’s traditions and history.
Back at St. Johns, the ceremonial portion of the day began at 1:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. After a beautiful prelude by St. Johns’ handbell choir, the seniors’ processional, and a hymn from the St. Johns Singers Treble
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Alexis Agramonte Ethan Albright Paul Allen Julia Andrawis Yashas Aprameya Avery Baskin Gary Bradley III Landon Brafford Tilson Branch Kaley Burnside Fred Cone IV Stephanie Constantino Chloe Crews Paige Crews Chloe Davis Mason Davis Alexander Dimmick Alexis Drumm Amelia Dyer Brooke Ferris Mykel Frazier Emma Harward Natalie Higingbotham Desiree Holmberg Bianca Horen Julia Jones Haley Juskowski Jacob Kailes Jonathan Kats Maggie Kent Allison Korahais Abbey Lantinberg Natalie Lassiter John Linge Gabrielle Loustau Hannah Marshall Spencer Martin Walker Mathews Madeline Moody Connor Moore Julia Nichols John Nowicki James Oman Anthony Porrazzo Alexa Radford Brooke Remolde Isabella Richardson Luke Robinson Ellie Rosenau Gavin Russell Mia Sadler Julia Schildberg Luke Shannahan Jay’d St. John Jason Thomas Alexa Verboort Vincent Williams, Jr. James Wilson Natalie Wilson Anna Wulbern Cade Zehner
Members of the Class of 2021
Following St. Johns’ coronavirus safety protocols, students were masked and socially distanced throughout the Senior Presentation and Brunch (except to eat, of course). We did invite them to take off their masks for just a few seconds while we snapped this quick photo of their faces. (Then the masks went right back on!)
Ensemble, Student Council President Maggie Kent ’21 delivered the invocation. Senior Class President Ellie Rosenau ’21 read Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation of Thanksgiving, which was issued on October 3, 1863 and set the precedent for a national day of thanksgiving in America:
In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed....
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
A saxophone quartet played Danny Boy, and Head of School Valorie Baker made some brief remarks before introducing Senior Class Vice President Julia Andrawis, who delivered a reading from Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes.
A more recent School tradition, adopted just only the past few years, is that the Senior Presentation keynote speaker is selected by a senior class vote. This year, math teacher Mr. Wes Cox was selected.
Mr. Cox summed up his talk with the acronym, PEP. “Not Personal Eye Protection,” said Cox, or pep for those
Congratulations, Seniors and families of the Class of 2021!
sports teams, but “people, who have been there in hard times, remember excellence, and remember your passion.” Peppered with tales of his many world travels and with inspirational quotes from leaders, both famous and less so, Cox’s talk encouraged the Class of 2021 to remember the people who are there for you and have been there for you, to strive always for excellence, and to take the time to find your passion, even if it takes you 28 years of education, travels, and different jobs—like it did Mr. Cox—to find yours.
The seniors stood as Head of Upper School Mrs. Mary Virginia Fisher read each of their names and, finally, Mrs. Baker read the words of founding headmaster Dr. Edwin P. Heinrich, presenting the Class of 2021 to assembled family, friends, and classmates:
As a teacher I present you to the academic world that you may enter it and meet its demands honorably and successfully.
As your Headmaster I present you to your schoolmates so that they may accept you and look up to you as their leaders and their shining example.
As your friend I present you to your parents so that they may accept you as adults who have come into their own and who are to be dealt with from henceforth on an equal basis.
As your fellow human being I present to you your calling in life that you may always have the wisdom to recognize it and the strength to live up to the divine calling in your life.
Commit to St. Johns
Tuition alone does not cover the entire cost of a St. Johns education. That’s why your support of the St. Johns Fund is essential to make our school’s wants and needs a reality, providing the best possible education, environment, tools, and technology for Spartans from age 3 through Grade 12. Your gift is a commitment to the students, teachers, and the St. Johns experience. YOU can make a difference. For more information, please visit sjcds.net/support.
You can also choose to give an unrestricted gift of any amount to benefit the area of greatest need.
Commit to...
The Students
◆ Invest in band instruments, technical equipment, studio tables and more to help students explore and cultivate their creative talents ◆ Provide athletic supplies and field equipment to help our student-athletes develop character, teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking skills.
The Teachers
◆ Offer professional development opportunities for teachers to learn new teaching strategies that extend far beyond the classroom ◆ Provide classroom equipment and resources that enhance the learning environment for teachers and students.
Mr. Ro
Make your gift or pledge today at sjcds.net/give. Reach out to giving@sjcds.net to learn more about how to support St. Johns.
Fund Wish List
◆ Center for Design Thinking & Innovation $70,000 ◆ Brown Gym Lighting & Painting $65,000 ◆ Grades 4 & 5 Play Area Renovation $58,000 ◆ Baseball & Softball Field Irrigation Systems $40,000 ◆ Performing Arts Center Upgraded Sound System $30,000 ◆ Tennis Court Resurfacing & Facility Improvements & Beautification $30,000 ◆ Track Resurfacing $70,000
The St. Johns Experience
◆ Advance hands-on and collaborative student learning spaces, such as our
MakerSpace and 3D Design &
Innovation Lab ◆ Upgrade and add technology throughout campus ◆ Expand our Student Support
Services program, which offers social-emotional support as well as academic enrichment and remediation.
L-R Missy Powers Ingram ’01, Celeste Heller, and Amanda Powers ’01
Alumni Return to Work for their Alma Mater
No one knows St. Johns better than a Spartan themself, and this school year plenty of Spartans returned to their alma mater to continue the traditions and legacies of their time as students. Currently, there are fourteen alumni faculty and staff members and three coaches. There are alumni teaching in every division, coaching multiple sports, leading the way in fundraising for the School, and caring for the health and safety of the student body.
Alumni Hall of Fame Athletes, Traci Peacock Livingston ’90 and Mike Pickett ’83 continue to make an impact on the School’s athletic programs. Livingston, the School’s athletic director, and Christie Jones Slaughter ’05, the assistant athletic director, are quite the team, coaching the Varsity Girls Volleyball team, which advanced all the way to the regional championship this past season. Pickett won his ninth consecutive state title for the Varsity Girls Soccer team in 2020 and the School is anxiously waiting to see what his team can accomplish this year. His newest St. Johns soccer venture includes the help of his daughter, Carson Pickett ’12 and former student Katie Nimitz. They have started coaching soccer to Spartans as young as Kindergarten after school. Jimmy Merritt ’10 and former student Brad Schmidt have dedicated their time and passion to the Boys Varsity Soccer program. Perhaps the most recent alumni to join the coaching staff, Jordan Noble ’20, helped lead the Cross Country team to the State Championship this fall.
Not only do these alumni carry on the St. Johns traditions in athletics, they also bring the beloved St. Johns experience into their classrooms. In the Lower School, there are currently four alumni that make the joy of learning foundational skills come alive: Melissa Powers Ingram ’01, Amanda Powers ’01, Erin Bare Willingham ’98, McCall Cauthen Morgan ’97 and Katie Nimitz open up their classrooms and their hearts every day to their young Spartans. In Middle School, Rachel Robison ’09 teaches Grade 6 English and numerous Latin courses. Ali Gurule ’11 and former student Ashely Chancey both work in the math department. Ali teaches geometry and serves as the assistant to the College Counseling Office. Gayle Simpson
Garrison ’94 and Kristin Hodge Jackson ’00 both teach in the Upper School Social Sciences Department.
“I absolutely love being back at St. Johns,” says Michele Adams-Lentz ’89. She joined St. Johns as the school nurse in August. “I have been an RN for 25 years and an nurse practitioner for 20 and I thank St. Johns and my teachers for the inspiration. My desire to become a nurse and care for people first started in an anatomy and physiology class I took with Mr. Fisher many years ago. Sitting with him and Mrs. Fisher at the girls varsity volleyball games and cheering my heart out for the Spartans this past fall was incredible. Many things on campus are different but some are still the same. For instance, my clinic is Ms. Chamblin’s old Grade 6 classroom.”
When asked about the best part of being back at St. Johns, Adams-Lentz says it’s seeing her son, Tristan Lentz ’22 starting his high school education here. “He is incredibly bright and I know will take advantage of all that St. Johns has to offer.”
Whether it is teaching, coaching, or caring for the students, alumni can be found all over the School’s beautiful campus. From the front office, where Jordan Robbins Rechcigl ’10 and Jean Marie Maierhoffer Petty ’13 can be found in the Development and Alumni Relations Office, to the Michael Pickett soccer field, our alumni faculty and staff members are paving the way for our current and future Spartans.
Erin Bare Willingham ’98
Amanda Powers ’01
Mike Pickett ’83 McCall Cauthen Morgan ’97
Traci Peacock Livingston ’90 (left) and Christie Jones Slaughter ’05 (right). Rachel Robison ’09
Alumni Spotlight
Jim Leano ’89
When Jim Leano came to St. Johns in first grade, he remembers looking over on the other side of the quad with wonder. And then, slowly, over 12 years he made his way over to the other side. He didn’t stop there though. He finished his St. Johns career as the Student Council President and made morning announcements alongside Headmaster Stephen Russey. He recalls St. Johns being a fun place to go to school with every student being on the same campus. He also remembers how teachers like Mr. Joseph Warner, Mrs. Cynthia Landry, and Mr. Grover Howard applied their teachings to real world examples. He practiced analytical thinking, time management, and reading comprehension in a safe and fostering environment. During his time in high school, Jim aspired to go to medical school and to this day he appreciates Mrs. Carol Hart, who made subjects such as chemistry and calculus fun with her vibrant energy.
When he wasn’t in the classroom, Jim spent the majority of his school time practicing his leadership skills through various opportunities like serving as the editor of the yearbook and President of the Student Council. During his Presidency, his big project was to bring scantrons—those electronic test scanners that vastly expedite test scoring—to St. Johns; a gift that was surely appreciated by many of the teachers but only a few students. Through his leadership roles, he learned how to make himself significant and confident all while experiencing how organizations develop and grow. Jim knew even then that those leadership opportunities would not have been available to him at a larger school.
After graduating from St. Johns, he continued on to the University of North Florida, where he was still on the pre-med track. He graduated and took the MCAT, but then discovered that his desire to go to medical school had changed. While working a handful of jobs, Jim decided to return to UNF and pursue his masters in business administration. After taking his first and only business class, business law, Jim found yet another new career path. Before he knew it, he was off to Stetson Law School in St. Petersburg, and there he met the woman who would become his wife, Jennifer.
“Basically lawyers are the ones that know the rule books. Every industry is a game that is regulated by laws and interpretations,” Jim says, and if anyone knows the rules, it’s him.
After graduating from Stetson Law, he and Jennifer moved back to Jacksonville where he worked for the State Attorney’s Office. They later moved to Miami where Jennifer is a real estate lawyer and Jim has his own personal injury practice. “I am always on the side of the little guy going up against the insurance agencies,” Jim said while describing his current job.
Jim and Jennifer still reside in Miami and they now have three beautiful children. Just like the rest of the nation, Jim and his family are adapting to the new normal of school and work during a worldwide pandemic. For example, on a call last fall, he mentioned that he had recently represented a client in a trial before a judge, all done completely over Zoom.
Throughout his twelve years at St. Johns, the School was preparing Jim for a leadership role much bigger than he ever would have realized. “Especially once I became a senior, I appreciated that we were treated like adults—as much as they could do so—and the faculty talked to us similarly,” Jim says as he thinks about all the life talks he had with Mr. Fisher. From hanging out on the senior patio playing his guitar to driving the tennis team home from away matches in his minivan, Jim recalls St. Johns being a great place to hang out. When asked if anything could have enhanced his St. Johns experience, Jim says he wished independent studies, like the School’s fellowship program, would have been available to him during his time. As Jim says, “Maybe my journey to become a lawyer wouldn’t have been as long as the trek from the classroom all the way to the Mike Pickett Field in humid 90 degree heat.”
James J. Townsend Jr. ’75
When asked what word comes to mind when he reflects on his St. Johns experience, Jim Townsend ’75 says ‘nurturing.’ Using the limbs of the Chapel Oak as a metaphor to the sheltered, cozy, and family-like environment of our 66 year-old school, Jim remembers a safe place that was not exposed to social pressures. A place where a student can try anything without the fear of failure. A place where specific clubs, like the debate club with Mrs. Weber, taught him how to be bold and confident, and those skills stayed with him when he briefed former Presidents and Secretaries of Defense. The opportunities to grow and learn within this quiet campus ultimately lead him to 34 successful years of working in defense and foreign policy, mostly on European and NATO issues, in our country’s capital.
Jim believes networking is the best way to succeed in any career. Entering St. Johns in eighth grade, Jim took the time to learn from his peers and teachers. He served as the Vice President of the Student Council, the Senior Class President, and the Editorial Editor of the School Newspaper, The Saints’ Scroll. He also played basketball and was a member of the debate
team. His contributions to St. Johns did not go unnoticed as he was the recipate of numerous awards including awards for the newspaper and student council, the 1974 leadership award, and the best citizen in the class of 1972.
Upon graduation, Jim headed to Duke University and majored in political science, a field of study he had never heard of before. During Jim’s time at Duke, he was constantly learning lessons from others and practiced how to be flexible yet resilient. Much of his college career involved networking with individuals who took an interest in him. After Duke, he earned his masters of arts from the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in international economics and American foreign policy. By then, his network of people had grown and those taking interest in him where individuals who worked at the Pentagon.
Early in his career, Jim worked in foreign military sales at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), as a country director of European security assistance and as the assistant to the DSCA Comptroller. Following his own advice to St. Johns students, Jim continued to gain experience by working in different environments and with different people. By the early 2000’s, Jim was the principal director of European and NATO policy and joined the Atlantic Council in 2006 after a distinguished civil service career at the Pentagon and at NATO.
In 2009, Jim became the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy. After 34 years of working in defense and foreign policy, his work has spanned from the Cold War to Europe’s new challenges including Russia and terrorism. Jim is now an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security where he is a co-host for the podcast “Brussels Sprouts,” and writes for the transatlantic defense news feature “The Dish.” He is also a global fellow at the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute and a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London.
Today, Jim credits his St. Johns teachers for bringing an intellectual mindset to the classroom. To Jim, there was simply no better place to lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning than St. Johns, as the rural Florida setting and smell of oak offered a unique backdrop for his leadership to prosper.
Blair Burke ’10
“St. Johns was a complete wake up call,” says Blair Burke ’10 as she reflects back to her early days at St. Johns as a new Grade 9 student. She remembers being challenged to change her mindset and think outside the box. For many people, changing the way you think about things can be overwhelming, but because of the St. Johns family environment, Blair says she was surrounded by positive influences that encouraged her to step outside her comfort zone. After graduation, Blair continued to try new things throughout her college career and now in her professional career. After
experiencing the city life in Washington DC, Blair has moved back to Jacksonville to continue her career with Marriott International as the senior manager for global portfolio marketing.
Blair contributes much of her success to her St. Johns experience. To Blair, it was the small things that made St. Johns unique, such as the small class sizes, the senior room and senior privileges, and of course, the lack of a cafeteria, which encouraged students to spend their lunch time in a place they love like the deck, or to mix up who they sit with each day. Another unique experience was having Mrs. Carol Hart as teacher because Mrs. Hart also taught Blair’s mom, Evie Johnson Edenfield ’84. Blair had always heard of Mrs. Hart from her mom, and she was thrilled to experience her teaching first-hand.
Blair dreamed about going to the University of Florida and she is confident that it was the way St. Johns approached college applications that helped make her dream come true. Reflecting on the college application process, Blair said, “At the time, I didn’t know how much I appreciated St. Johns and the people who wanted me to succeed.” She thoroughly enjoyed her time at the University of Florida and thanks St. Johns for teaching her the fine balance between academics with extracurricular activities.
While the transition from high school to college flowed seamlessly, Blair took her time to figure out what her career would look like after graduating from the University of Florida. “I changed my major three times from accounting to marketing and finally to event management with a business minor,” Blair said. She took the time to experience different working environments like interning at downtown St. Augustine’s Casa Monica Resort & Spa, in wedding planning. She eventually ended up working as the marketing coordinator at Ponte Vedra’s famous Sawgrass Marriott. The more time Blair spent in her role at Sawgrass, the more she learned about and liked Marriott as a company, and, after working on the regional field marketing team for three years, she moved to Washington DC with the Marriott hotel brand team.
“My experience was uniquely St. Johns,” Blair says as she recalls the memories she made on the St. Johns cheerleading team rooting for her brother and her cousin during football games. Her experience wasn’t all about academics, but more about being well rounded. She found discipline and balance that set her up for success at just 17 years old. Now she uses the same discipline and balance to market one of the world’s largest hotel chains.
Alumni Notes
1950s
Looking for a new and interesting Facebook Group to follow? Charles Keisling ’59 has been administering a group called “Historic Sites.” He taught history at St. Johns for 4 years and another 36 years in Duval County Public Schools. He would love to have fellow alumni as members. His group has members from all over the world on every continent except Antarctica.
1970s
David Brown ’76 has retired after working 35 years for SunTrust Bank. He and his wife, Christine, live in Atlanta, where Christine’s parents also live, and where she works for Cobb County Schools. As soon as the current pandemic is under control, they plan to spend more time traveling, including more extended trips to North Florida and hopefully spending some time visiting friends from St Johns.
William Jack Stevens ’77 is an author, a former Fortune 100 executive, and a lifestyle transformation advocate whose work is influencing the lives of people all around the world. His Argentina Saga Series was just picked up from Hollywood and soon will become a movie or TV series. He recently just did an interview with Authority Magazine and Thrive Global. To learn more about his work, visit williamjackstephens.com.
1980s
▲ Members of the Class of 1980, Kay Blitch
Lyerly, Susan Timby Lindholm, John
Hamilton, Doug Stinson, and Michael Hoff, caught up with each other over the Thanksgiving holiday. Mike Pickett ’83, head coach for the varsity girls soccer team, was named as one of the Top 100 coaches by MaxPreps.com, a premier ranking site for high school sports.
1990s
▲ Gayle Simpson Garrison ’94 along with her daughters, Mary Beth ’22 and Jane ’25, traveled to Tallahasseee in November to witness her husband, Sam Garrison, get sworn into the Florida House of Representatives.
2000s
▲ Teddi Longardt Bair ’03 and her husband, Chris, celebrated the holiday season with their two children, George and Mims. They currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia.
▲ Austin Hudson ’03 and his wife, Laine along with stepson, Gray Powers, were excited to welcome their new son and baby brother, Austin “Mitchell” Hudson II on Friday, July 17, 2020. He weighed 6.8 lbs and was 18.5 inches long. They reside in
After graduating from Florida State University in 2019, Parker Bryant ’15 is working at Marineland Dolphin Adventure in St. Augustine.
Parker is a Marine Mammal Specialist at Marineland Dolphin Adventure, a little south of St. Augustine, where she helps take care of 14 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. On a day to day basis she aids in their health through a number of different voluntary husbandry behaviors, meaning that they choose to participate in their own healthcare. Marineland also offers programs for guests to come and interact with the animals through a variety of different ways whether in the water with them or poolside. This not only helps exercise animals but also provides the opportunity for visitors to get up close and personal with this beautiful species in a safe manner. “While I help people’s dreams of swimming with dolphins come true each and every day,” said Parker, “I also get to spend my time with 14 of the cutest faces you’ll ever see!” - Parker Bryan ’15
Nashville, TN where Austin is working for a Mergers and Acquisition Co.
Michael Rios ’05 was the New York Associate Casting Director for HBO Max’s original series The Flight Attendant which premiered on Thanksgiving Day 2020. He is currently working on a series for Starz called Hightown.
2010s
Brooke Chancey ’08 married Kyle Shivers on October 23, 2020. Her sister Blake Chancey Boyer ’05 was a bridesmaid.
▲ Meagan Eddy ’08 and Garrett Bishop ’13 were married on December 5, 2020 in Fleming Island.
Nicole Gear ’08 graduated from UCLA Anderson School of Management with a masters of business administration. During her time at Anderson, she launched a technology startup that was acquired in April.
Matt Gray ’09 and his wife, Allison, are expecting their first child. They have recently moved back to Jacksonville after living in Texas.
▲ Blair Burke ’10 is engaged to fiancé Bolling Cranford. He proposed at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island in August after their relocation to Jacksonville from Washington, DC. ▲ Chelsea Cutlip ’10 married Ryan Ledonne on October 10, 2020 at the White Room in downtown St. Augustine. Fellow alumni Becca Staples ’11, Kelsey Coon ’11, and Sidney Reynolds ’11, served as bridesmaids.
Ishaan Madhok ’11, Sean Bowles ’11, Alex
Herndon Bowles ’11, Katie Young ’11, and Lexi Buchanan ’11 were all guests at the wedding.
▲ Elizabeth Greenhalgh ’11 is engaged to Jordan Clark.
Tyler Chancey ’12 and Jillian VanKempen Chancey ’12 welcomed their first child.
▲ Carson Pickett ’12 was named Australia’s Westfield W-League Player of the Year! ▲ William Stokes ’12 recently graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South with a masters of divinity degree after receiving his bachelor’s degree with honors in music and history, also from Sewanee, in 2016. William was ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Florida in October by Bishop John Howard. He now serves as the assistant rector at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Ortega, where he oversees children and youth ministries and helps shape the Christian formation programming.
▲ Madison Duff ’13 and his wife, Madi, welcomed their second son, Beckett William Duff on September 30, 2020. Beckett is the little brother of Greyson.
▲ Yesha Patel ’14 graduated from the University of Miami doctor of physical therapy program in July. (pic: Yesha.Patel) ▲ Savannah Wofford ’14 graduated from the University of North Florida’s school of nursing. She recently accepted a position with Baptist Beaches in the critical care unit as a registered nurse and has completed her first couple of weeks of residency! She’s excited to embark on this new chapter of her life with such an amazing team. ▲ Zhanee Anderson ’16 came to St. Johns in December to shoot some videos as a part of her pursuit of her masters of fine arts degree at the University of Miami. She also spent some time chatting with St. Johns’ Journalism Fellows, telling them about her work and studies and what she loves about it. Zhanee graduated from Valdosta State University in May.
Alumni, please send your updates for Alumni Notes to Director of Alumni Relations Jean Marie Maierhoffer Petty ’13 at jpetty@sjcds.net.
Alumni Gatherings
On November 19, 2020, St. Johns hosted a multi-year alumni gathering via Google Meet for the first ever virtual alumni happy hour. The mixologist taught the attendees how to make four holiday cocktails, but the fun really started when alumni were challenged with naming a new drink created just for St. Johns. Thanks to Owene Courtney ’73 for thinking of the name, we now have the “Heinrich Maneuver” as the School’s signature cocktail. The recipe follows, in case you’d like to enjoy some school spirit(s) in the comfort of your own home. Cheers!
The Heinrich Maneuver 2 oz. banana infused rum 1 oz. Coco Lopez 1 oz. pineapple juice 1⁄2 oz. orange juice
Shake, serve with ice in a tall glass, and enjoy!
▲ Brooke Arnett ’16 and Brandon Livingston ’17 are engaged! Brandon proposed in St. Augustine over the summer and the couple plans to get married in fall of 2021.
Aaron Mylrea ’19 spent his summer in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia working on sustainable farms.
▲ Elizabeth Stoeber ’20 enjoyed her first season as a Gatorette at the University of Florida. Her debut game was against South Carolina and the Gators won 38 to 32!
In Memoriam
Gay Culverhouse ’65 passed away on July 1, 2020. Gay was the first alumnus awarded Alumnus of the Year in 2002, and was a former Board of Trustee member. She is the former president of the Tampa Buccaneers.
Michael Kuhling ’68, brother of Robert
Kuhling, Jr. ’66
Nina Van Nortwick ’70, sister of Clare
Gilmore ’70, Wallace Van Nortwick ’68,
and William Van Nortwick ’63
George David West, father of Helen Van Wagenen ’71 and grandfather of Hilary Van Wagenen ’98 and Haley Van
Wagenen ’03.
John Hart, husband of former teacher, Carol Hart, stepfather of John Hart ’85, and father of Steve Hart ’91, Colleen Hart McDaid ’95, and Caryn Hart
Lucas ’91.
Thomas Miller ’89
Ash Tisdelle, father of Genevieve
Tisdelle Williams ’99, Sandra Tisdelle
’01, and Catherine Tisdelle ’06
Mark Pass, father of Gabrielle Pass’17 and Peret Pass ’07
John Clayton Chappell ’71
By Calhoun Chappell ’70
On June 4, 2020, John Clayton Chappell ’71, died peacefully of cancer while surrounded by family and loved ones in Sandwich, MA. John was a wonderful husband, father, friend, brother, son, grandfather, nephew, uncle, cousin, and overall fun guy. He was a fighter and outlived his prognosis by several months.
Knowing that his time was near, he organized his wishes lovingly and with great humor. Per his request, his family dressed him in his tuxedo with the cuff links, studs, cummerbund, black tie, and dress shirt on the morning just before he passed. He asked that the outfit be rumpled a bit so he would appear to be heading from a fun formal party to a post-party breakfast. His dogs were close by, as usual. A drinking straw was placed in his mouth so that he could enjoy his final taste of his favorite Scotch. He listened to music by Beethoven, Aretha Franklin, and Dionne Warwick as he left this world. He died with a smile on his face.
John was married in 1976 to Robin Jane Newman. They lived in Jacksonville until they moved to Westfield, NJ, so that John could commute to Columbia University in New York City, where he earned his MBA degree. Robin and John raised two sons: Keith Chappell, now an emergency room physician at Cape Cod Healthcare in Massachusetts, and Brad Chappell, an award-winning teacher of special needs students at Addison Mizner Elementary School in Palm Beach County, FL. Also surviving John are two brothers, a niece, and four grandchildren.
The position that John loved most was working for Generoso Pope, who owned the National Enquirer until his death, after which the tabloid was sold to American Media. John was chief of circulation and also was the organizer of the lavish parties for the paper’s advertisers held at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach FL. After leaving American Media, he worked for Banker’s Life Insurance until he retired.
Our family appreciates the love and support of a number of friends from St. Johns who were able to communicate with John and his family a few weeks prior to his death The family wishes to thank Larry Knight (’71); Elizabeth Denmark Parsons (’70); Sandy Israel
(’70); Bobby Knight (’70); Margie Hardwick (Bartram, ’71); Neil Bird (’71); Caroline Newton Frazier (’71); Bill Kirill (Bolles, ’70); John Brown (’71), Rusty Newton (The Hill
School, ’72), Helen Newton Hartung (’69); Frank DeGrim (’71); and Robert Pavelka (’71).
We all miss his laughter and the times in which we were fortunate to have him near. He was a wonderful, kind, and loving man who was heartily loved by many. Rest in peace, John.
Founders Day 2020
On September 14, 2020, the School celebrated its 67th anniversary. This year’s Founders Day offered different opportunities than prior years. The day featured a new virtual component which allowed the St. Johns community near and far to participate in the celebration. The celebrations began at flag raising with the Middle School chorus and St. Johns Singers performing the “Founders Song.” This was especially special because it was the first live vocal performance of the school year. Following flag raising, Head of Lower School, Mr. Otis Wirth, and Head of Upper School, Mrs. Mary Virgina Fisher, announced the 2020-2021 Senior and Grade 1 Buddies.
But the celebrations didn’t stop there. At lunch time, all students were treated to an ice cream treat by the Cool Scoops ice cream truck. What better way to receive ice cream than from an ice cream slide? To end the day long celebrations, students watched a video of current students, alumni, and current and former faculty and staff members answering the question, “What is your favorite spot on campus and why?” The video, created by technology fellow Jona Kats ’21, featured many familiar faces including Mr. Rod Fisher, Mrs. Carol Hart, and Carson Pickett ’12.
On September 14, 1953, Dr. Heinrich and his wife, Dorothea, founded St. Johns Country Day School with the hopes of providing a superior college preparatory education to students of all ages. It’s safe to say their dream came true, and St. Johns looks forward with a vision and commitment to continued excellence in academics, arts and athletics for years to come.
Published by
St. Johns Country Day School Mail: 3100 Doctors Lake Drive Orange Park, FL 32073-6997 Phone: (904) 264-9572 Email: info@sjcds.net Web: sjcds.net
Head of School
Valorie Baker vbaker@sjcds.net
Director of Alumni Relations
Jean Marie Maierhoffer Petty ’13 jpetty@sjcds.net
Director of Communications
Regan Minners rminners@sjcds.net
Director of Development
Jordan Robbins Rechcigl ’10 jrechcigl@sjcds.net
St. Johns Country Day School Board of Trustees — 2020-21
Officers:
Rick Gregson, President Richard C. M. Wilson, Vice-President Brad Crews, Secretary Allan E. Wulbern, Treasurer
James W. Branch Steven W. Conner Nicholas K. Courtney Margaret Rood Gibbs Daniel W. Hodges Joseph E. Lemieux, Jr. John Maierhoffer Robin McMullen Eugene B. Nichols Pamela Petty Craig Phillips Daniel Towers
Members:
Trustee Emeritus:
Dr. Steven B. Kailes Dr. Arjav Ted Shah Sharon J. Suggs
Headmaster Emeritus:
Stephen F. Russey
Ex Officio:
Valorie Baker Head of School
Save the Date!
Contact Director of Alumni Relations Jean Marie Maierhoffer Petty ’13 at jpetty@sjcds.net to add or correct your mailing address, or for more information on these upcoming events: ◆ Saturday, April 10: St. Johns’ Gala & Auction, “A Night in Old Havana.” ◆ Friday, April 23: 15th Annual St. Johns Spartans Golf Tournament ◆ Friday, May 14: Spring Fling
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ORANGE PARK, FL NON-PROFIT CORP. PERMIT NO. 58
Sophomore Shannon Hodges takes photos for Chalice during Spirit Week last fall.
