S p e c i a l
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t h
E d i t i o n
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1989 S t. C h r i s t o p h e r ’ s
S c h o o l , R i c h m o n d, V i r g i n i a , M ay
2, 2014
Remembering a Friend How Did I End Up Living in Singapore? Chris Boggs
good. I couldn’t even get the words out. I tried, but all I could do was sit on the sofa and choke back tears.
I
remember the day he died. It was August 4, 1992 and I was living in Charleston, SC with two friends from college. I got home from another hot, humid day of landscaping work and my roommate soon passed me the phone. It was a friend from home and former St. Chris classmate, Jim Baber, and he sounded a little somber. Jim is not what I would call a somber guy, so this tone was unusual and worrying. I took the call in my bedroom. He broke the news that Chris Cullather, a very close mutual friend and classmate from St. Christopher’s, had died after a courageous battle with cancerous brain tumors. After we talked for a few more minutes, I hung up and walked back into the TV room. My roommate asked me what the call was about. He could tell just looking at me that it wasn’t
I know I speak for every one of his close friends when I say that rarely a week passes without something reminding me of Chris. Listening to Neil Peart play drums in a Rush song or hearing the Dead’s Ripple, seeing someone I’m with pack a dip of Copenhagen, eating Cool Ranch Doritos, surfing past a baseball game on TV on a summer night, skiing in Wintergreen – they all remind me of Chris. Twenty-five years after walking off the Terraces and nearly 22 years since Chris died, we are going to memorialize Chris permanently with our class gift. The gift is two part. First, The John Christopher Cullather Memorial Lower School Playground will replace the existing and badly worn playground with a state-of-the-art design into which a great deal of thought was placed by child development, recreation, and health professionals. We will place a limestone monument and bronze plaque dedicated to Chris in a conspicuous corner of the playground for all its guests to see. Second, we will endow a scholarship, also in Chris’ name, with the
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Charles Johannes
F
irst I must mention that I am honored to have the opportunity to share a portion of my experiences for the 25th anniversary of the Pines. Honestly it is difficult to comprehend how 25 years have elapsed given that my memories of St. Christopher’s are still so fresh. The only evidence reminding me that I am not late for first period are commitments my mind makes which my body can no longer meet. Traveling has always been a part of my life including my time as a “Yankee” at St. Christopher’s for 3 formative years from 1987-1989. Like all St. Christopher’s alumni, I was emboldened to take on the world. For those who remember, my father was a chemistry and physics teacher at St. Catherine’s and I am sure a few of you struggled through his class just to meet some of the girls from our sister school. Fortunately for me, my mom was a nurse and realistically the only reason I made it through my youth given my propensity to sustain injuries. I am sure everyone I played soccer with will remember the many hours I spent in the training room. Somehow the combination of chemistry and nursing must have influenced my final decision to major in Chemistry and I set off to get a Master’s degree in Boston with the intent
to pursue what I thought would be a career in sports medicine. However, I was fascinated that organic chemists could synthesize medicines, drive chemical biology and influence fields as diverse as material science, electronics and literally every product that we use day to day (more on this later). I committed myself to become an expert and remained in the program for five and a half years finally earning a Ph.D. in 1998 (yes, that is almost a decade of specialization from St. Christopher’s). My thesis was entitled “Catalytic Asymmetric CarbonCarbon Bond Forming Reactions: Applications in Total Synthesis”. To translate, I was a molecular engiContinued on Page 2
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How Did I End Up Living in Singapore? Continued
neer able to synthesize drugs – a talent recently popularized by TV show “Breaking Bad” (minus the underwear).Yes I wanted to make drugs, just not recreational ones; I wanted to tackle major unmet medical needs like cancer. I skipped a postdoctoral research offer at Cambridge University in England and my jobs at companies such as Eli Lilly to plunge directly into the thick of applied research at a Japanese pharmaceutical company called Eisai. Eisai had a site in Boston (to be near the innovation of the best academics in the world) to pursue a unique approach to drug discovery. I worked for a group called GEFA (Gene Expression and Functional Analysis) and focused my research on the total synthesis of natural products and natural product analogs with anticancer activities. Most anti-cancer natural compounds can only be isolated in small quantities and structural modifications are necessary to improve the durability and selectivity of the compounds to become medicines. Notably, the research conducted on this eventually lead to a marketed drug Halaven in November 2010 for metastatic breast cancer. I published several papers and was an inventor on several patents, but after 4 years I moved to establish a new technology called Diversity Oriented Synthesis (DOS) at an emerging biotech company being spun out of Harvard University, aptly named Infinity Pharmaceuticals (yes, think Buzz Lightyear and “to infinity and beyond”). I was one of the early scientists and helped to raise $20 million in collaborations with Amgen, Johnson & Johnson and Novartis staying with the company for 6 years experiencing what it is like to take a company public (by this time my hair was already turning grey). I wore many hats and had 2 titles: Associate Director of Finance & Business Operations and Associate Director of Chemistry. I even almost went to law school to become a patent attorney! It was here during my premature mid-life crisis at the young age of 37 (with two kids, ages 2 and 5) that I decided to leave and help start a company. At Forma Therapeutics in Boston I was the 1st employee and this decision eventually landed me in Singapore as a Site Head and Director of Chemistry for Forma Therapeutics. I uprooted my family and with only 8 suitcases “moved” to Singapore for what I thought was going to be a 2-3yr adventure. I incubated the company at one of the major universities, Nangyang Technological University (NTU), where I have an Adjunct faculty position. I grew the site to 25 chemists and acquired another company to build up the pharmacology with 15 additional people. Meanwhile the original site in
Boston in combination with an additional site in Connecticut consisted of another 50 people! This was a very trying time in my life and anyone who has started a company can relate to the stress. Combined with normal start-up company stress, I was doing this as a biotech pharmaceutical company which is the most complicated and sophisticated business model to manage and succeed at. I was 12 time zones away which can be translated alternatively to “your job now requires work 24/7”! It was not uncommon to receive urgent emails on a Saturday morning in Singapore when it was still Friday in Boston! I got my revenge on Monday mornings when I reciprocated, and it was Sunday evening in Boston! I was also flying back to the US 2-3 times a year in addition to other locales throughout Europe and Asia. Fortunately there was an all-business class flight operated by Singapore Airlines which flew non-stop from Singapore to New York. It is the longest flight in the world at 19hrs! Clearly work was a focal point in my life and ultimately took a tremendous toll on my marriage despite my commitment to the kids and family life. Part of the decision to move to SG was to have a shorter commute and to spend more time at home. This was easily achieved as my commute was only 20min in SG! In Boston I was routinely away from the house for 13 hours a day, including a 1 hour commute with no traffic! Unfortunately, I had still had evening conference calls due to the aforementioned time zone reality creating a great deal of stress that was hard to mask. Consequently and in combination with other tensions, my wife requested a divorce. As part of the divorce the kids naturally stayed with their mom and were moving to North Carolina. Part of the consideration was that my ex-wife also had Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and was going to have the support of her family and the kids would have a stable environment. This was tremendously difficult for me (and still is). Simultaneously I was shutting down the company in Singapore to move back to Boston and I was approached with a unique opportunity from the Singapore government’s research arm – A*STAR – Agency for Science Technology and Research. They wanted me to stay and hold a joint cross council appointment as Head of Organic Chemistry for the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES) and the Experimental Therapeutics Center (ETC). I rationalized that regardless of being in Boston or Singapore, I would not see much of the kids. I had to process my divorce and move on with my life while still pursuing my dreams. I did not have
much time to make the critical decision, but I decided to remain in Singapore to get a fresh start with a very unique opportunity at the epicenter of emerging markets in Asia. That was late 2010 and over the past 3 years I have enjoyed a fantastic international experience. I work on projects in which chemistry influences companies such as Exxon Mobil, Proctor & Gamble and giant pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline with enviable resources to do the research. My current research division in organic chemistry has 69 people. Interestingly, I think that was the size of the graduating class in 1989 at St. Christopher’s. So what is it like to live in Singapore? For those of you who do not travel much, Singapore is an island country in South East Asia at the southern tip of Malaysia and surrounded on the west and south by Indonesia and to the east by Philippines. It boasts one of the best airlines in the world and from Singapore you can affordably access all Asian countries including Australia in 4 hours! I can get to Bali in less than 3 hours for $100 SGD or about $75 USD. Culturally there are deep Chinese, Malaysian, and Indonesian influences although English is the official language. Today Singapore is one of the most centralized and diverse populations on the planet with highly educated, influential and wealthy people from everywhere including the facebook guys. Over 5 million people live in a land size of (710 km2 about 10 times the size of Manhattan) of which 2 million people are expatriates (only 15,000 Americans). I routinely describe Singapore as Manhattan meets the jungle given that Singapore is located one degree north of the equator. The architecture is fascinating and the streets are the cleanest and safest in the world. The efficient use of land and resources are state of the art and considered a model for the future city planning worldwide. Singapore has only been an independent country since 1965. In less
than 50 years Singapore has risen in the ranks from a third world country to the best city to live in in 2014! It was listed as the coolest city to live in on the planet and unfortunately the most expensive. For example, my meager old 2 bedroom 960 sq ft apartment is $4,000 SGD a month to rent! Given its proximity to countries such as India, China, Japan, Thailand and a diverse western population, the food in Singapore is said to be the best in the world. I don’t recommend one of the delicacies which is known as the “king of fruits” Durian – which has a horrible smell. One can find authentic restaurants as if you were actually eating in the country of origin. The most amazing part of the food is the fusion of all these influences in one location. Universal Studios has a theme park here and there is an amazing zoo with a night safari for the kids. Adults can enjoy the many bars and dance clubs including such other vices as gambling at Marina Bay Sands Casinos which are more profitable than those in Vegas. There is the largest cantilevered building in the world with an infinity pool at the top that drops off as if you are going to swim and fall into the city. When I am not working I do still gravitate to sports and exercise as a hobby especially now that my kids are living in the US. I find time to cycle, practice yoga, play soccer, surf and scuba dive. To cycle, one needs to be up early in the morning (4AM) to get a good 60km bike ride in before work and avoid the morning rush hour. On the weekends one can ride over a bridge into Malaysia and then cycle back for longer distances and hit 200km. Given the diverse culture, I play on a soccer team that consists of over 14 different nationalities (Spain, Holland, Australia, Kenya, New Zealand, England, France, Italy, Sweden, Ireland, Germany, Brazil, Canada and Argentina just to name the ones at the top of my head). I have advanced training in diving Continued on Page 3
Johannes scuba diving
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Singapore Gardens
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including being a rescue diver and I have been to amazing places such as Maldives, Malaysia (Spidan and the islands of the east coast), Indonesia (Manado, Komodo, Bali), Philippines (Malapasqua and Subic Bay) and Thailand (Similan Islands and Phuket). Through diving I have met my current girlfriend who is Chinese and a permanent resident in Singapore although originally from Penang. If you are bored with life in the city, travel to countries such as China and Cambodia for the weekend is really easy. I highly recommend Ankor Wat in Cambodia – the temples there are amazing (think of the scene in Tomb Raider when Angelina Jolie is hunting artifacts). When the deluge of rain comes and outdoor activities are limited I have recently learned to “play” the guitar. Singapore gets all the inter-
national pop stars and bands such as Bruno Mars who was just in Singapore. For the motor enthusiasts, there is F1 where the course literally runs through the business district at night! I am honored to share my journey from St. Christopher’s to Singapore and this occasion has given me opportunity to pause and reflect. As an expatriate one always misses family, but in my opinion family has always been the knowledge of unwavering and unconditional love and support. Personally I am privileged that irrespective of my pursuits, location and means, I am buoyed by my family. I have had to make difficult untimely decisions and forced compromises. To persevere I have relied on all experiences including the special education that I received at St. Christopher’s, both inside and
outside the classroom. As a result I have made my choices with integrity and commitment. I am proud to be an American, enabled to make my decisions freely based on values that do not impinge on others. I may live each day physically away from my kids but wholeheartedly provide unwav-
ering and unconditional support. I only hope that they experience the opportunity and freedom to achieve their dreams and full potential in life. Please look me up if you are in the area and I will be happy to show you around!
Reflections from the Rockies Jamie Gutheridge
A
s the 25th reunion approaches and after reflecting on the stories of my classmates, what impresses me most are the achievements and accomplishments of the Class of ’89. Several of my colleagues have enjoyed success in the legal profession in Richmond, Washington, and Atlanta. Others have fulfilled leadership roles in technology startups and worked for companies like Microsoft and Intel. Many have chosen the medical field and have excelled in this profession in cities like Richmond, Washington, DC, and Seattle. We have a lot to be proud of. As for me, my education at St. Christopher’s prepared me for a favorable academic experience at both the University of Georgia and the University of Colorado, and provided me with an above average work ethic and a modicum of selfdiscipline (at least enough to help compensate for average abilities). For fourteen years after leaving St. Christopher’s, Georgia was my home. Cycling, running, and camping were a large part of my life and my appreciation for the outdoors and the mountains increased. After a brief stint in Richmond,Virginia, I moved to Boulder, Colorado to live in the Rocky Mountains and marry my soulmate, Beth Reece. Of all of my accomplishments since graduation,
marrying Beth has been my greatest and most significant personal achievement. She is a clothing designer for the outdoor industry and has two decades of experience designing athletic outerwear for the active outdoor industry. We spend the better part of our downtime riding, hiking, and running around the foothills of Boulder, Colorado. Since graduating from St. Christopher’s, I have been fortunate to work with many men and women who have served our country. My daily technology consulting responsibilities connect me with people in the DOD and Civilian Federal sectors. My weekend volunteer work with Wounded Warriors and American Freedom Hunters affords me the privilege of working with men and women
Jamie and the American Freedom Hunters
returning from combat. Thanks to grants from Safari Club International, our monthly outings take us into the woods and streams of the Rocky Mountain West to fly fish, pheasant and duck hunt, and recreate. Life has been good to me and my family, and it feels great to be able to give back a bit.
Jamie volunteering with the Wounded Warrior Project
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Nip and Tuck Gordon Lewis Surgery Service. Quickly, I found my place in life. These physicians did some of the most interesting operations, from repairing complex facial fractures, to free flap surgery to repair large cancer or traumatic defects to breast augmentation and facelifts. This seemed like the pinnacle of surgical expertise. No other surgeons operated on as much as the body. I quickly worked to change paths, and after another 8 years of residency training, I finished and began to practice.
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lastic Surgery? How did you get into that? I wish I could say that it was my lifelong ambition, but happily I will say that I “lucked” into one of the best jobs in the world. Boobs!..Yep, I said it! This is what I think everyone thinks about when I say I am a plastic surgeon. Although this is a substantial part of my business, it is not all there is. Plastic Surgery is a specialized field of medicine that lets me really enjoy making people feel better about themselves, but also allows for more traditional medicine, such as treatment for problems related to skin cancer, hand surgery, and to offer breast reconstruction after breast cancer. As a solo practitioner, I also have to run my business, manage staff and work on business promotion. It feels as if there is a never ending list of new and ongoing issues, but I would not change jobs for any other. Near the beginning of the fourth year of medical school, medical students have to decide which direction to pursue with their residency. A friend of mine from medical school, David, knew he wanted to be a neurosurgeon, and Kinloch Nelson, I am sure felt destined for Urology. I, on the other hand, realized I liked the immediate results from surgery and really liked working with my hands, but other than that was not sure what specialty I liked the best. The default choice at this point is General Surgery. I matched to do 5 years of General Surgery in Denver at the University of Colorado. After 5 months I realized this was not a good choice for me, and after a month or two of soul searching, I rotated onto Plastic
Coming out of a residency is liberating but also frightening.You are no longer under the tutelage of another physician. This means no more asking permission to do what you know is right, but also means, the “buck stops here.” As with most physicians, I welcomed this transition. My first goal was to build my practice. Over the years, I have found that my practice has evolved into a great mix. I routinely perform cosmetic surgeries, such as breast augmentation, tummy tucks, and facelifts, but also perform reconstructive surgery. This includes caring for skin cancer, hand surgery, and breast reconstruction. Each of these is very satisfying and each has its own ups and downs. Cosmetic Surgery is some of the most fun and quite enjoyable, and it also has some of the most demanding clientele. Skin cancer is usually very quick, usually accomplished in office procedures, and keeps the days moving along. I love the bond I can form with patients needing breast reconstruction for breast cancer. These patients are undergoing a long emotional process and need frequent visits over many months. I
Gordon stitching Cara Brickhouse, daughter of classmate Todd.
get to know them more than any other group and I value my time with them. Not surprisingly, part of my job is as a psychologist. I do my best to find out everyone’s exact goals prior to any procedure. Most of the time, a person’s goals are very reasonable and are fairly straightforward to meet. Unfortunately there are some people who have unrealistic outcome expectations. I do my best to not operate or treat these people and so far have had very few unhappy patients. I have found it best to under sell and over deliver. This approach leads to the happiest patients, and happy patients make my life easy and fun! As my practice is not entirely cosmetic, the forthcoming changes in healthcare do affect me. This is a big unknown for the future. Personally, I do think that we should offer some baseline healthcare for everyone in the country. I do not feel as though someone should be bankrupted with a visit to the emergency room. How this is structured is beyond my pay grade. I wish I could see exactly
Battle of the Brains
how this is going to affect me, and with time it will become clearer. I am glad I have an outlet outside of insurance which gives me a buffer against any coming changes. A typical week for me involves time in the office and in the operating room. The office allows me the time to see and talk with new and returning patients, perform small procedures (small surgeries, Botox, Dermal fillers) in the office and to run the other aspects of my business. As with most surgeons, the operating room is where I make my income, but is also where I have the most fun. It is truly enjoyable to be able to perform surgery. Whether I am performing a facelift, breast augmentation, tummy tuck or even placing a skin graft on a traumatic wound, it is very enjoyable to be able to be at the forefront in jobs that require manual dexterity. As I stated in the beginning, I got very lucky. I have a great job, happy family and a good life. I would not change it for anything!
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Carl Koenig – A Kind and Generous Man John McNeer
O
ne of my favorite teachers at St. Christopher’s was Carl Koenig. History was always my best subject so I looked forward to class every day. He taught history not as a dry recital of dates and facts but as something alive with colorful characters and events worth learning about. He interacted easily with every boy and it was clear he loved teaching. Mr. Koenig would use different approaches to make history interesting like dividing the class into two teams and conducting a quiz show-like contest with questions from the subjects we were studying. As he asked a question, the first student to bang his desk with his hand got the first chance to answer. I recall well Mr. Koenig’s classroom with important world figures from the 20th Century painted onto the ceiling tiles. I usually sat
under Gavrilo Princip, the Serbian nationalist and member of the Black Hand Gang who shot Austria’s Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand sparking the First World War. I have read historians and others describe how complicated the circumstances were in 1914 and never quite understood why they made this claim. To me, Mr. Koenig made the run up to World War I from Germany’s “Blank Check” to Austria to Russia’s policy of PanSlavism crystal clear. Mr. Koenig had a great sense of humor. I remember that he would sneer and mumble to himself in a humorous manner if someone said something odd or foolish in class that always drew laughter. He liked to play pranks on the students, something we all enjoyed. Mr. Koenig kept a foam brick in his desk and every year he would pull it out turning false ire on a new
Golf Team
student, who was usually sitting quietly minding his own business, for being too loud or disruptive. Mr. Koenig carried the brick in a manner making it appear to have the heft and weight. Then he would launch the brick like a shot put high in the air at the new student who was invariably trapped in one of those old desks where the seat and desk were attached. As the boy cringed, the foam brick fell and bounced lightly off him. The prank was never malicious, everyone including the target of the brick felt like they were in on the joke in the end. Mr. Koenig was a kind and generous man who set an excellent example for his students. He was also universally loved and respected as a teacher dramatically improving the experience at St. Christopher’s.
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proceeds going to benefit a St. Christopher’s family stricken by cancer. The combined cost of these two projects is $400,000, and we have raised even more – a figure that places the class of 1989 third alltime in 25th Reunion gifts. For those of you who pay attention to school publications that report class giving to the Annual Fund, you might wonder, “How in the world did that happen?” After all, we’re usually pulling up the rear in terms of percentage giving (but we rise when it counts – 65% plus of our class showed up to the 20th reunion party). The answer is simple – Chris Cullather. He was only with us 7 years. Chris transferred into St. Christopher’s after Middle School. He came in 9th grade and made friends easily. That’s my recollection. His might have been different, but I know this much – over the next 4 years, Chris would make a lot of very close friends and would impress not only his classmates, but his teachers and coaches, as well. In the words of long time professor, Jim Boyd, “Chris was everything a St. Christopher’s student and alumnus should be – good at everything and loved by all.” He was an excellent musician, first playing drums, and later adding guitar and a little piano. He was athletic, too, playing three years of Varsity baseball for St. Chris in the springtime after blowing his friends’ minds on the ski slopes all winter. Chris was also a scholar. He might not have aced his SAT’s or posted 4.0’s in AP courses, but he wanted to learn, always tried hard, and didn’t shrink from taking classes that stretched him. He was an inspiration to many of our class-
mates to whom getting good grades didn’t come easily.
Chris in action!
Most importantly, Chris had character; and by that I mean something different from being a character. Without a doubt, he was a character, too – charismatic and funny, often in the company of pretty girls, and the kind of guy that other guys want to be friends with. But you couldn’t help but notice very quickly upon meeting Chris and spending even a little time with him that he was a guy you were going to not only like, but also respect. He always worked. He always had some money in his pocket that he had earned. He was a straight shooter who never put on airs or tried to be something or someone he wasn’t. And when we asked friends for words to describe Chris that would adorn his memorial plaque at the Lower School playground, the word that appeared most frequently is “loyal.”You could count on Chris as a friend to always have your back. I have heard Jack Cullather, Chris’ father, speak of the “loving part” of cancer. When I first heard him say this many years ago, I will confess to not understanding. All I could see, especially because we lost our friend when he was so young, was sadness. Working on this Reunion gift has opened my eyes. Seeing the overwhelming response from so many people – classmates, family and family friends, fraternity brothers, our parents, and former bosses – showed me how much love there is out in the world still for Chris even after 22 years. When awful things happen to great people, love moves other people to do great things. Jack Cullather has lived through
not only the death of his son, but also the death of his wife, Jean, to brain cancer. He has dedicated his life ever since to fighting this disease and led the creation of the Cullather Brain Tumor and Quality of Life Center at St. Mary’s Hospital. When he learned of his wife’s diagnosis only a few years after Chris’ passing, Jack asked Jean what it meant and why it was not him who was stricken. Her answer was “so you can stay here and fight this disease.” Jack’s love has been the motivating force behind all his good work since losing Jean and Chris, and he has been an inspiration to people throughout Richmond and beyond. Our class has done something very special with its 25th reunion gift to express our love for a fallen classmate. Money from the Chris Cullather Scholarship will lend much needed financial support to St. Christopher’s families wrestling with the trauma of a cancer diagnosis in the family. And at the Lower School Playground, we
hope that the memorial plaque will remind all those who see it, whether it’s the Lower School boys or children from the surrounding neighborhood, of what a special person Chris was, and how they should strive to emulate his characteristics. The fact that we are giving a playground is fitting. It’s a place where kids will go to play. It’s fun. And so is our class. It will be a place of joy, laughter, and activity. Out there, the Lower School boys will learn about camaraderie, teamwork, competition, helping a friend when he falls, and problem solving. Above all, the boys will establish the building blocks of friendships that will sustain them, and like Chris, maybe even inspire them, for the rest of their lives. While this project carries with it the sadness of losing Chris, we won’t ever forget all our great memories of him, which were until the very end so much fun.
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Staying in the Game Eric Morton
I
n my 18 seasons officiating High School basketball in central Virginia, I’ve heard all of them, from the good to the unoriginal. “Get in the game, ref!”...”Go back to Foot Locker!”...”Don’t quit your day job!”...those are the classics. I don’t even hear them anymore. Every once in a while though, a clever student will get me good during a quiet moment in the gym. A recent favorite was belted out from a baritone resident of the student section at Deep Run High School, “Hey ref! Did your hair gel get in your eyes?!” I have to admit that one kept me chuckling for a few minutes. My man got a wink and a nod that night. I used to be that kid. Anyone who has known me since my days at St. Christopher’s also knows that I have quite the affinity for basketball. In other words, I love me some hoops. So much, in fact, that I even started my professional life in collegiate athletics as a way to stay close to the game and get paid for it. For numerous reasons I’ll spare, my career took a turn to the corporate world where I still get to use my degree daily, just not through the lens of sports. That same career change also afforded me the opportunity to connect with the game from another direction – from a place I formerly called on for comedy. No longer did my evenings consist of hanging sponsor signage and waiting for reporters to file their game stories in the Richmond Coliseum. With the encouragement of some colleagues, I enrolled in the training class offered each fall by the Central Virginia Basketball Officials Association (CVBOA). For really the first time in my life, I felt what it was like to be a
“natural” at something. Even back then, all those hours logged watching games and imitating referees in Chamberlayne Hall were suddenly valuable. I completed the class and started getting game assignments that first season. As the rite of passage dictates, I was fed a steady diet of middle school and girls’ JV games, with maybe a boys’ ninth grade or JV game here and there. My trajectory through the ranks was probably typical for a young official with a good future. The first several years consisted of primarily getting JV games and maybe varsity girls’ games “down in the country.” That’s where you went to do a Group A game at a place like Middlesex or Brunswick. In those days, Groups A and AA girls’ games were played in the fall season. It was common for an up-and-comer like me to get partnered with two veterans for those trips where we would do both the JV and varsity games. I wouldn’t trade those late nights on those country roads for anything. Those conversations are where I learned the nuances of game management and how not to “put crap in the game.” The middle portion of my career finally bore the fruits of dues paying. I began working girls’ varsity consistently and I was getting some private school and country boys’ varsity games. That was also about the same time my family started growing and getting games closer to home was very convenient. Then, on a cold January evening, I got my first Group AAA boys’ varsity assignment, Lee Davis vs.Varina. I knew at the time it wasn’t a good game in the grand scheme of things. Varina was not the team of the previous few years and Lee Davis is perennially bad. But, that evening, it was the Final Four for me. The
Basketball Team
other cool part was that I was assigned to work the game with two veteran legends. I mean, they had literally thousands of AAA boys’ games under their belts and here I was on #1. Well, I guess I did all right, because my schedule has resembled that game ever since. I work about 30 games a season on average. Fast forward to this past March. With about ten minutes to go in the game, I find myself standing in the middle of the floor in the Siegel Center while my partners are discussing something with the official scorer. Since I’m the furthest official from the players, my job is to observe the benches while my partners correct the matter. Funny time to have a flashback – in the middle of crunch time in a Regional Semi-Final where the team losing big throughout the entire game has just cut it to four, and the decent crowd in attendance has just erupted. A trip to the State tournament is on the line and in a game where we eventually called 59 fouls (a huge amount); I’m working the game like it’s the YMCA in July – in the zone. I think what did it was the glance I exchanged with a longtime sports reporter who was covering the game from his seat on press row. I’ve known him since my days in college athletics, our paths crossing several times over the years. His look of approval and appreciation validated the confidence I felt at that moment. For the kids playing, this was the biggest game of their respective lives and we were getting it right. We were “staying in the game.” When the final buzzer sounded and my partners and I exchanged words of admiration in the locker room, I was filled with a strong sense of gratitude. I was thankful
for my family, who has supported this avocation from the beginning. Countless times over the years, my wife Missy has answered the question, “Where’s Eric?” with, “He has a game tonight.” I was also thankful for the notable game assignments I have been offered over the years, like working two State Championship games and many Regional, District, and Independent School playoff games. I also remembered the many veteran officials who taught me something along the way. But after this particular game, I was also inspired. It was at that moment I understood that I’m now one of those veterans who can help the next generation. That is a responsibility I don’t take lightly. I was also touched by the warm comments about our performance shared by the other officials in attendance that evening. A group of basketball officials is one tough crowd to please. I have no plans to hang up the whistle anytime soon. In fact, it’s a goal of mine to one day work a game with my son, Harrison, or even my daughter, Addie. Maybe, God willing, the three of us will work a game together one day, even if it is at that YMCA in July. I look forward to the next time I hear that classic call to action, “Get in the game, ref!” I’ll run down the floor feeling good that I’m definitely in the game. In fact, I never left.
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To St. Christopher’s Forever Bill Walker
I
t’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since the tall pines swayed at our graduation at St. Christopher’s School. It’s hard to believe that our kids are now approaching that same age. In early February, I was asked by our good friend Jim Baber to write a short piece about my travels and my work for Microsoft over the past 16 years. I spent 13 years at St. Christopher’s, 4 years at East Carolina University and 5 years with Ernst & Young LLP in Richmond and D.C. During the last 16 years I have been in Charlotte at Microsoft as a Support Engineer, a Technical Lead, a Team Manager, Escalation Manager, Group Manager and now Director. I’ve travelled the world and seen some crazy stuff. As I moved between my meetings in Redmond, WA talking to Jim on my phone, I told him I’d be happy to do it. So, on the eve of our 25th reunion, I wanted to call out a few experiences I’ve had and perhaps, with some luck, draw a few parallel lessons I learned along the way at both institutions. I was one of the “AV kids even though I wasn’t technically on the AV committee. I especially remember Bob Blanton’s booming voice in 7th grade “who’s on the audio visual committee? Walker?” Anyway, I always loved connecting AV systems and making computers work when the teacher’s couldn’t figure out what was wrong. It’s that same fascination with technology that drives me today. I am the Director for the Windows Enterprise Support business at Microsoft. I work with a team of about 100 software engineers and managers and we are responsible for Microsoft’s ‘Emergency Room’ of Corporate IT departments. When a company’s IT systems fail on a Microsoft component, their IT people call us when they’re out of ideas on how to fix
Student Council
the problem. As the Director for Windows Support, it’s my job to improve Microsoft’s products by collecting and collating data from the customers that call, click, or chat with Microsoft support representatives worldwide. The real challenge is digesting that ocean of data and helping the product guys prioritize their work investments and fight for your particular feature improvement or addition. Microsoft uses a meeting known as “War Room,” where final decisions are made which feature gets funded and gets cut. It’s a very stressful environment and you have to be on your toes. When I prepare for a Windows “war room”, I still think back to my days at St. Christopher’s and Mr. Herzog’s guidance in our public speaking class, “tell ‘em what you’re going to tell ‘em, tell ‘em, then tell ‘em what you told ‘em.” It is really good advice and applies directly to war rooms as much as it did in Public Speaking. Tell ‘em what you’re going to tell ‘em: Cut to the chase, ‘this is why I’m here talking and why you should care.’ Tell ‘em: present rock-solid facts backed by unimpeachable data with confidence. Tell ‘em what you told ‘em: make sure you’ve answered the question you set out to address and wrap it up, don’t use more time than is necessary. A big part of my business is now handled in Bangalore, India, quite literally half way around the world. In the Windows business alone, we employ 250 full-time engineers in India with another 400 vendors, all doing software engineering. From time to time, I travel there to see the teams and talk about future direction, for example. Let’s talk about getting to India for a
moment. 9,000 miles from Charlotte, this journey requires a nine and a half hour hop to Frankfurt, Germany with a ten hour flight to Bangalore an hour after you step off the first plane.You arrive at 2:00 in the morning local time, 2 calendar days after you left, but your body tells you it’s 2pm. Nice. Labor is overabundant in India and one place where this really shines through is in the hotels. The nicer ones have dozens of people ready to get you whatever you might want at 2:00 in the morning or 2:00 in the afternoon. One night I counted 3 gate security guards, 4 doormen, 2 concierges, 2 people at the business desk and 2 bell men, all at 3:00 am. It’s actually a bit invasive at times. When checking in, I had a concierge walk me to my room and discuss every feature of the room. “This is the TV remote control…” as if I’ve never seen a hotel room or a TV before. Anyway, I do have to say the people of India are the nicest people ever. One of my teams took me on a “retreat” at the end of my first visit. A “retreat” sounded great. Some down time at a nice place with a bar and a good Indian restaurant, I’m in.Yeah, well, not exactly what I would classify a retreat. Boy Scout Camp comes to mind. In India, 300 miles from the city, I had a great time and really bonded with those guys. India is a fascinating land of juxtaposed beauty and corruption, progress and poverty. I now have some good friends in India and have seen others come and go. One of my peers there explained the competitive nature of India to me in a conversation about general schooling in India. With 1.2 billion people in the country, it’s a fairly competitive society. In a city like Bangalore, population 11 million, you have to
be in the top .5% of your class at your local school to even have a shot at getting into one of the prestigious universities. That type of competition repeats itself for every job in Indian cities. All of life in India is about competition. It’s a very different world. In 2006 I was asked to go to Reading, England for 6 months as a temporary team manager. I worked with a team that cut across all of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. We covered 27 languages across 6 time zones. While it was challenging working with the different languages (Microsoft’s official language is English so I’m at a slight advantage), the mix of the different cultures and the interplay between them were much more challenging to handle. St. Christopher’s offered European trips with Carol Barkstrom, who was a brave guide to a dozen 13 year olds around Spain and France over Spring Break. It was so cool to be so far away from home with my classmates. Those experiences really showed me that there is a big world out there, and I can now appreciate things more when I do travel. I look back 25 years later and think how grateful I am for the St. Christopher’s experience. The lessons we learned there apply just as much today as they did back in 1989. Happy 25th Reunion gentlemen! And call me if you’re having Windows problems.
Honor Council
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May 2, 2014
RVA 2014 Brian White
W
hen we graduated in 1989, I couldn’t wait to get away from Richmond. I was convinced that our city was irretrievably broken and that my best chance at a good future meant making a life elsewhere. Looking back, I had good reason to be cynical: our city’s staid business community had little patience for our City’s unapologetically politically-charged approach to governing, and many in local government assigned blame for Richmond’s problems on what they perceived as decades of the business community’s unchecked power. The enormous distrust between these groups left Richmond a badly fractured community. While cities across the country were struggling, the 1980’s were a particularly dark time in Richmond. Our violent crime was spiraling out of control, public schools were floundering, and Richmond was hemorrhaging residents. People like me simply didn’t see Richmond as a city that wanted to be better than it was. After graduating from college in South Carolina, I moved to Charlotte, and I thought I’d stay there
forever. After a few years in North Carolina, I was presented with a compelling opportunity back in Richmond. I was conflicted given my bias, but the opportunity eventually proved too exciting to ignore. I was shocked to find a very different Richmond in 2001 than the one I had left a dozen years earlier. A city that had lost more than 20% of its population in just a single generation had begun to grow again.Younger people were now seeing something in Richmond that I never had – Richmond could be cool, and they were making it happen. A new, optimistic generation was changing our city for the better. Shockoe Bottom, a wasteland of abandoned warehouses just a decade earlier, was now the hottest neighborhood in Richmond. Broad Street downtown was changing from endless rows of abandoned storefronts into a bustling arts community. Richmond’s quick recovery didn’t happen by accident. Certainly, our city has benefitted from the national trend of people moving back into cities over the past decade, but Richmond’s urban transformation owes much of its
success to a deliberate strategy put into place by City and Commonwealth leaders when things appeared most bleak for our future. As residents continued to abandon the city in the mid-1990’s, the Virginia legislature passed a state tax credit law to encourage the renovation of dilapidated historic structures, and the City of Richmond passed an ordinance that exempted value of building renovations from real estate taxes for a number of years. With the aid of those tools, developers were willing to take chances renovating old factories and warehouses in neighborhoods like Shockoe Bottom, Manchester, and Scott’s Addition. Perhaps not surprisingly, urban Richmond neighborhoods with the highest concentration of historic industrial buildings, are the fastest growing neighborhoods in the region. The City of Richmond is now growing faster than any of the counties in central Virginia, and downtown Richmond is growing faster than any other part of the city. Shockoe Bottom now boasts higher apartment occupancy percentages and higher rents per square foot than any other area in central Virginia.
I’ve never been more excited for the future of Richmond than I am now. All of the great residential development downtown is finally starting to spur even more city initiatives. Projects like the Capital Trail, the 17th Street Farmers’ Market renovation, the Tredegar amphitheater, and the renovation of the Main Street Station train shed are just a few of the alreadyfunded projects underway to make downtown even better. Finally, the mayor’s Revitalize RVA plan has the potential to be a transformational tipping point for our city (God help me if we’re still arguing about this proposal in May). Families are returning to the city faster than they were leaving 25 years ago. I never thought I’d be here to say it, but Richmond really has become a great place to make your life and raise a family.
The marketing photo of the completed project was taken from inside a unit in our building called The Upper Lofts at Canal Walk, at 10 S. 20th St. - also in Shockoe Bottom.
The construction project is called The Lofts at River’s Fall, located on the 1800 block of E. Cary St. in Shockoe Bottom.
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The Pine Needle
May 2, 2014
A Life in Letters, or, Reading Other People’s Mail Bland Whitley
F
ounded in the 1940s at Princeton University, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson [PTJ] for which I’m fortunate enough to work, was the first modern, comprehensive documentary editing project. Its mission is to publish authoritative versions of all of Jefferson’s correspondence and other writings in chronological volumes. In addition to the tens of thousands of letters that Jefferson wrote or received, the volumes include notes, memoranda, and drafts of documents, such as the Declaration of Independence, published during Jefferson’s lifetime. To date, the project has published 40 volumes, while another venture that spun off from the PTJ and is based at Monticello has published another 10 tomes since its inception at the beginning of this century. Both projects currently publish one book a year, and most volumes are available on digital platforms sponsored by UVA Press and the National Archives. Princeton’s project will extend through Jefferson’s presidency, and Monticello’s “retirement series” documents his post-presidential life [1809–1826]. Our project is currently immersed in Jefferson’s first presidential term. At this point, you might be asking, “so what the hell do you actually do, Whitley?” Many folks assume that ours is essentially an archival project, an assumption made all the easier by the location of our decidedly non-luxurious office in the basement of Princeton’s main library [my wife Sarah calls it the dungeon]. Our collection, however, is nothing but copies of originals that reside in scores of repositories around the country. So, no, I unfortunately don’t get to handle original Jefferson documents. Our job is to make these documents accessible by accurately transcribing them – an often difficult task, given the vagaries of correspondents’ bad handwriting [though not Jefferson’s, thankfully] and the ravages of time on document quality. Most importantly we annotate the documents to help readers figure out what’s going on, providing biographical information on correspondents and explaining obscure references and allusions in the letters. In addition to this research and writing, we attend to the usual nuts and bolts tasks that go into publishing books [or should, anyway] – proofreading, copyediting, and indexing.
Jefferson. There is of course his obvious importance as a revolutionary leader, propagandist and legislator of political and religious liberty, third president, and organizer of that school in Charlottesville. Also key, though, is the huge range of subjects to which a study of Jefferson provides access. He was conversant in everything from practical mechanics and agricultural practice to natural science to architecture to higher political and economic theory. His correspondents ranged from European intellectuals to politically connected job seekers to ordinary citizens looking for help or who just wanted to share some nifty idea or invention. Few barriers separated Jefferson from average Americans and because he led a movement associated with the spread of grassroots democratic and commercial activity, many ordinary folks felt it entirely appropriate to reach out to him. He didn’t respond to all of them, of course, but he not uncommonly sent gracious
communications back. In one of the first letters that I researched, Jefferson offered mechanical advice to a middling Massachusetts-based inventor who wanted to patent a design for a balance for weighing objects. Because of the range of subjects I get to study through Jefferson and because Jefferson’s anal-retentive habit of saving everything provides a good level of job security, I’ve felt fortunate indeed. But there’s also Jefferson’s role as powerful symbol for America. His words have inspired this country’s noblest ideas, but his actions and failures as a slaveholder who professed hatred for slavery underscore the baser contradictions that no less define our society. Now, our project isn’t in the business of providing narrative clarity on these contradictions or offering interpretations of Jefferson – we follow more of a “just the facts” approach. But the comprehensiveness of the Papers affords opportunities to see the man and the culture in which he
operated in all of its diversity. To take one of many examples, on the same day that Jefferson authored the soaring rhetoric that now adorns his memorial in Washington, “I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man,” he wrote up an indenture for the lease of one of his plantations and a number of his slaves to an Albemarle County neighbor. That pairing of the extraordinary and banal defines projects like ours. It humanizes our subjects in ways that may not always make them more likeable but nonetheless make them, to me anyway, more interesting than just mouthpieces for ideals we choose to pull from the past.
Glee Club
If you’re going to spend your time studying one person, you can’t do much better than
Winter Track Team
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The Pine Needle
May 2, 2014
Class of 1989 Surveys (unedited)
Rakesh Agarwal
Jim Baber
Phone Number: • 804-440-8861 Email: • ragarwal117@gmail.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Gauri • Sons: Coher (9), Shaar (7) & Shiv (4) Current Employment: • Radiologist at Virginia Medical Center Best Job in last 25 years: • Current job is the only job in the last 25 years Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 1 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 3 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Lived in Northern,VA and traveled to India, South Pacific Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Mostly education. BA Chemistry, MS Biochemistry, MD VCU School of Medicine, Internship Internal Medicine, Residency Radiology, Fellowship MRI Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Neil Talegaonkar Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Jim Boyd taught me to enjoy math and physics. The English department beat me down, but I deserved it. Dining hall item you remember most: • Try not to remember Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Time management. We were pretty busy back then. Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Best memory – minimester in New Orleans. Worst memory – Pasco’s History class. Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Graduating Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Traveling and living somewhere else Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • Training
Phone Number: • 804-358-2247 Email: • jbaber@Janney.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife-Mary Beth • Caroline (14) & Alex (12) Current Employment: • Financial Advisor Best Job in last 25 years: • Current Worst job in last 25 years: • File clerk while in college Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 4 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 6 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Traveled to Hawaii Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Help start the Tad DuPriest Foundation which honors Tad’s life and raised $ for The Ask Childhood Cancer Foundation which helps families whose children have been diagnosed with cancer, ran the Richmond Marathon, played lacrosse for four years in college and senior year was captain and president of my fraternity.
Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Eric Morton, Chris Boggs, Jack Wallace, Gray McKinley, Billy Walker, Doug Lamb, John Westfall, Rob Norfleet Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Dick Kemper – he was more like a father than a coach. Dining hall item you remember most: • Spaghetti – Yum Yum Good Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Public speaking and writing/English – I use both every day and the Honor Code – Just do what you say you are going to do. Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Vicki Broske stirring the kool-aide with her arm. Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Beating Collegiate in football our senior year and beating Collegiate and breaking their 25 game winning streak in lacrosse our junior year. Mr. Blanton chasing Ackeman after he called him Bubba Peanut or Bubba vs Bo What would your senior quote be today: • “If it is important, you will find a way and if it is not, you will find an excuse.” – “Naw, just do it.”
Lacrosse Team
Caroline, Mary Beth, Alex 2020 and Jim Baber
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The Pine Needle Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Exercise (after college) • Work toward a vocational goal • Travel Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • Eat bad food • Drink alcohol • Use smokeless tobacco
Greg Ballowe Phone Number: • 804-673-3977 Email: • Gballowe@verizon.net Family members (children’s ages): • Wife – Hylah • Son – John 11 and Daughter – Virginia 9 Current Employment: • Self Best Job in last 25 years: • Coaching Worst job in last 25 years: • None Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 6 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 6 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Lived – Allentown, PA & Traveled – Hawaii Notable accomplishments since 1989: • I consider my greatest accomplishments (not family related) to be the relationships, mentoring and support of the kids that I have coached over the last twenty years. Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • None. I see a few guys every now and then. • Will Booker, Jim Baber, Chris Boggs, Rakesh Agarwal, Carter Brooks, Jim Knott, Doug Lamb etc. Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Dick Kemper – He has always helped me see things more clearly. Bruce Nystrom – He treated me as an individual and respected me for who I was. Dining hall item you remember most: • Jimmy James Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • The competition and expectations were more than I was used to when I came from public school. That required me to be more independent and invest more time and effort into my education. That eventually led to three degrees (BS, MS, MBA) following graduation. Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Best – beating Collegiate in football my senior year. Worst – showing up in tenth grade for football practice knowing only one or two people in the school. Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Winning the football award at the athletic banquet. Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • None really – one of the moments I remember more than most is Carter Brooks getting thrown out of chapel by Mr. McVey.
Chris Boggs Email: • cboggs@piainc.net Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Caroline • Sons: Charlie (13) and Sam (11) Daughter: Kendall (8) Two Golden Retrievers: Eli (4) and Grady (2) Current Employment: • Property Investment Advisors, Inc., President Best Job in last 25 years: • President, Property Investment Advisors Worst job in last 25 years: • Assistant buyer, Hecht’s department store Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 4 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 10
Charlie, Kendall, & Sam Boggs with Banks Wallace (son of Jack ‘89 and Jennifer)
Charlie 2019, Kendall, Sam 2021, Chris and Caroline Boggs
May 2, 2014
Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Greece Notable accomplishments since 1989: • I’ve been married for 19 years to my college sweetheart, and we have three kids. Our two boys are at St. Chris now. With my team at PIA, I’ve grown Property Investment Advisors, a real estate private equity fund, into a business managing over $1.5 billion in commercial real estate projects spread across the mid-Atlantic, the southeast, the mid-west, and Texas. We manage money for 32 institutional and high net worth individual clients in 6 funds. Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Jim Baber, Jack Wallace, Bill Walker, Gray McKinley, Chris Schroeder, Eric Morton, Carter Brooks, Doug Lamb, John McNeer, John Westfall, Jimmy Sanderson Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Sandy West – my soccer coach for three years; also faculty advisor to the Honor Council my senior year Dining hall item you remember most: • round personal pizzas Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Time management skills/juggling multiple responsibilities, public speaking, research and writing skills Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • My best memories are time with my friends; playing sports – especially some of the travel to away games, which was always fun; and graduation day – the feeling of having made it through. • My worst memories are tearing my knee apart in a soccer game my senior year, and sitting on the Honor Council (also senior year) when it had to hear a case involving a fellow classmate who had been in school with us since Kindergarten. Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Academic – graduating with high honors. That was tough – I worked my butt off for that. • Athletic – starting on Varsity soccer as a sophomore, earning All Prep as a junior and senior, being elected captain senior year • Other – being chosen by my classmates to serve on the Honor Council senior year
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Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • George Squires, our English teacher in 11th grade, asked H Goodwin a question in class and H got the answer wrong – very wrong. Mr. Squires didn’t say anything at first. Then he moved a chair over next to a tall TV stand (one of those TV stands with wheels to move it from room to room), removed his belt, acted like he was putting the belt around his neck like a noose, then he climbed up on the chair, attached one end of the belt to the TV stand, and acted like he was going to hang himself. I never laughed so hard in class. Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Travel • Pursued hobbies / non work interests • Made more time for friends Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • Work • Stress • Revisit mistakes
Jeremy Brollier Email: • jeremyb@tranben.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Jeanne • Winston (9), Jack (5) and Porter (3) Current Employment: • President, TranBen Ltd. Best Job in last 25 years: • Current Worst job in last 25 years: • Director Ticket Operations, Los Angeles Kings
The Pine Needle Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Lived in San Francisco & Los Angeles. Traveled Europe. Dining hall item you remember most: • Jello!
May 2, 2014
Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • I value the breadth of knowledge that I learned while at St. Christopher’s. Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Worst – missing last soccer game at Collegiate due to mono. • Best – snake hunting trip senior year. Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • Bob Blanton asking “Who lit the match?”
Carter Brooks Phone Number: • 804-359-5501 Email: • carter.brooks@wfadvisors.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Monica • Children:V (11) and Sadie (9) Current Employment: • Wells Fargo Advisors Best Job in last 25 years: • Wells Fargo Advisors Worst job in last 25 years: • Glenwood Nursery Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 5 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 7 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Rio De Janeiro Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Father of two wonderful girls, married to a wonderful woman and achieved top producer at Edward Jones Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Bill Walker, Jim Baber, Todd Brickhouse, George Macon, Patrick Schubmehl, Jack Wallace, Chris Boggs Dining hall item you remember most: • paper thin cheeseburgers
Soccer Team
Billy Cox
Phone Number: • 434-960-8809 Email: • billcox93@gmail.com Family members (children’s ages): • Virginia Addison Cox (12) Current Employment: • President, Cox Renovations, LLC Best Job in last 25 years: • Director of QA/AC Hyosung Corporation Worst job in last 25 years: • Target Manager Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 4 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 7 or 8 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • South Korea Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Class Agent for my VMI class. Six Sigma Master Black Belt
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Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Billy Hoofnagle Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Carl Koenig because his love of history. Gene Bruner because his ability to push you to your optimal performance. Dining hall item you remember most: • ? Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Honor Code and respect for elders.
The Pine Needle Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • My junior year we won the Prep League Basketball Tournament. Everyone stormed the court and we cut down the nets.Sean Moylan 9th grade history teacher, made Carter Brooks stand in the trash can for the entire class period and take notes. Moylan was a Duke graduate and was arrogant and an asshole.
J. J. Freitag Cole Durrill Phone Number: • 314-222-8420 Email: • coledurrill@yahoo.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife – Jennifer • Daughters – Ella (11) and Jamerson (13) Current Employment: • Wells Fargo Advisors Best Job in last 25 years: • Regional Business Director – Wells Fargo Advisors Worst job in last 25 years: • Bank Teller – Nations Bank Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 5 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 15 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Santiago, Chile Notable accomplishments since 1989: • UNC Varsity Men’s Tennis, UNC Junior Varsity Basketball, William & Mary MBA, Wharton – Securities Industry Institute Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • John Chichester, Rob Norfleet, Hobbs Goodwin Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Dick Kemper-believe in yourself, hardwork, confidence, team, work ethic Dining hall item you remember most: • Jimmy James Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Literature, US History Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • 5th grade Lower School music teacher – Mrs. White collapsed during our choir performance at St. Stephen’s and she died that weekend.
Email: • jjf@stanfordalumni.org Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Cari • Milo (5) and Jude (4) Current Employment: • Self-Employed, M&A advisor for technology companies Best Job in last 25 years: • COO, SlideRocket Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 7 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Live in San Francisco • Traveled to Bali Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Family, Captain, Stanford Swim Team and NCAA All-American Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Ron Smith – he made us work, really work but brought a passion to the classroom that was unparalled • Jim Boyd – simply loved what he did • Jay Wood – Intro to Mark Twain has always stuck with me
May 2, 2014
Dining hall item you remember most: • Some sort of orange drink? Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Honor, focus on the fundamentals of writing and public speaking class Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Loved going to school with my brother just a class behind me. Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • 10th grade chemistry teacher, Mr ???, played a prank on Fitzhugh Yeatman when he had trouble blowing up a balloon and brought him a forged typed note from the American Lung Association. Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Travel • Play guitar • Read Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • TV
J. J., Milo, Cari, and Jude Freitag
J. J. & Stanford team NCCA Championship
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The Pine Needle Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • Work in IT • Continuing taking sales technical classes in information technology • Running
Jamie Guthridge Phone Number: • 303-483-3705 Email: • jguthridge@mac.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Beth Reece Current Employment: • Consulting Sales Engineer, Iron Bow Technologies Best Job in last 25 years: • Sycom Technologies, Richmond,Virginia Worst job in last 25 years: • Working for the Washington National Cathedral Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 5 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 7 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • I have traveled to Europe. I live in Boulder, Colorado. Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Two master’s degrees: • Engineering and Literature • Volunteer work for Wounded Warriors and Freedom Hunters and Vets with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI.ORG) Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Fitzhugh Yeatman and Neil Talegaonkar Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Ron Smith. The discipline, rigor, and work ethic required to excel in his courses prepared me for both my academic and professional endeavors. Dining hall item you remember most: • Hamburgers Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • I think that the school’s emphasis on the Liberal Arts and history has stayed with me later in life and my appreciation for history, especially Virginia history, continues to develop. Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • My best memories are the friendships and the classroom experiences. Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • AP Exam Results Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Fishing • Turkey Hunting • Road Cycling
Charlie Johannes Phone Number: • +65 91003557 Email: • Cwjohannes@gmail.com Family members (children’s ages): • Isabella Claire Johannes (11) and Charles Byron Price Johannes (8) Current Employment: • Head of Organic Chemistry for the Institute of Chemical & Engineering Sciences in Singapore Best Job in last 25 years: • Director of Chemistry Forma Therapeutics Worst job in last 25 years: • All jobs have been great Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 4
May 2, 2014
Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Live in Singapore traveled almost everywhere. Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Ph.D synthetic and organometallic chemistry Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Not close enough, distant contact only Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Jay Wood- taught me that I did not have the capacity to write well! Dining hall item you remember most: • Krispy Kreme snack Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Integrity Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Of course beach weeks were the most fun! Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • I don’t have any one isolated incident. Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • No regrets • Perhaps somehow have been able to visit Richmond more Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • Cannot think of anything.
Charlie and girlfriend Erica
Charlie Kirschbaum Phone Number: • 303-681-6994 Email: • ckir71@gmail.com Family members (children’s ages): • daughter – Jordan (8) and son Cole (8) Current Employment: • Kaiser Permanente, Director of Operations Best Job in last 25 years: • Current Job Worst job in last 25 years: • Capital One Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 10 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 17 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Prague, Czech Republic
Charlie, Isabella and Byron Johannes
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Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Father of 2, Director of Operations, Ran a 10k, Lived and worked in Europe Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Anyone on Facebook Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Mr. Squires and Mr. Wood – made English fun Dining hall item you remember most: • Jimmy James Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Work ethic and reading Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Worst – summer reading......Sister Carrie was cruel and unusual punishment. Football and Mr.Trumbo’s history class. Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Beating Collegiate in football. Mr. Blanton’s “ball game” in Latin. Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • Anything senior year history, Brickhouse sleeping in art history and Mr. Trumbo’s junior year history class Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Travel • Time off in any fashion Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • Work • Work • Work
The Pine Needle
Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Graduated college 1993, joined Mensa, never went to a meeting 1996, Married 2001, 1st daughter 2004, 2nd daughter 2005 and started my own company 2005. Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Greg Ballowe, Faiz and Joe Oley Dining hall item you remember most: • Jello Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Constantly making sure my shirt is tucked in. Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Worst – Ms. Abbot’s French class and Best – goofing off in the darkroom Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Starting varsity soccer as a sophomore. 2nd in scoring for the league and All-Prep league 2 yrs in a row
Jim Knott Phone Number: • 389-9725 Email: • JAKnott@comcast.net Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Deborah Anderson Knott • Children:Victoria (Tori) James Knott (10) and Avery Christine Knott (8) Current Employment: • Self employed 9 years – Knott Electrical Services – class B contractor Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 7? Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Lived in Owensville, Missouri and West Palm Beach, FL. Traveled to UK, France, Germany, St. Lucia. Married in Turks and Caicos
Doug Lamb Email: • dougelamb@gmail.com Family members (children’s ages): • wife: Jennifer • Children: Thomas (11), Lizzie (10) and Elloise (7) Current Employment: • McGuireWoods LLP Best Job in last 25 years: • Stand In for the movie The Foreign Student Worst job in last 25 years: • Scrubbing Locker Room Showers at W&L for work-study
May 2, 2014
Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 10 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 13 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Mexican Pacific Coast Notable accomplishments since 1989: • having a family Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Stephen Stalker & John McNeer Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Ron Smith – being creative and independent • Rob Pasco – knowing what’s happening around you • Joe Knox – passion for subject matter • Wayne Booker – possessing confidence • George McVey – listening to all sides Dining hall item you remember most: • Trophy Case and Hugely Disgusting Deep Fryer Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • In the abstract: • friendships, comradery, competition, strong work ethic, personal engagement, honor Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Best: McVey not being quite sure what to make of our entire class; Pine Needle office work sessions and lounging; wrestling road trips; having classes and eating lunch at St. Cat’s; Bob Blanton’s ball game; Carl Koenig’s ceiling; senior lounge discussions; having Will Rosebro and Jay Wood involved with the varsity soccer program; break pledge parties; senior week; beach week; summer weight training program • Worst: four-Q cheering mishap; Mellinger chemistry test stop time witch hunt of Yeatman and Stalker; Knox’s art projector slide-gate; McKinley snapping his leg during a soccer game Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • being editor of, and doing, the Pine Needle Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • Knox hunting us down in the wrestling van for supposedly cutting class early for a road trip; Jimmy Knott driving just about every teacher and coach nuts; Ron Smith regularly taking Tommy Blue to task; John Reid getting mugged in France Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • spent time with family and friends • traveled • read Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • Work
The Pine Needle
PAGE 17
Gordon Lewis
Richard Matthews
Phone Number: • 804-741-1110 Email: • rgordonlewis@gmail.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife – Jami • Two daughters – Emma and Madeline (both 8) and a son Charlie (5) Current Employment: • Plastic Surgeon at Lewis Plastic Surgery Best Job in last 25 years: • Current job Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 6 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 12 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Lived in Denver, CO and traveled to New Zealand Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Kinloch Nelson and Todd Brickhouse Dining hall item you remember most: • Pizza
Phone Number: • 804-592-1471 Email: • matthews215@gmail.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Mila • Children: Matthew (5) Current Employment: • Defense Contractor Best Job in last 25 years: • Navy Worst job in last 25 years: • Navy Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 5+ Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 100+ Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • In terms of distance? Australia • In terms of civilization? Central Asia Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Family Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • none Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Mrs. White – getting to see a side of the world (arts), in which I find myself infrequently. Dining hall item you remember most: • Cottage Cheese
Wrestling Team
May 2, 2014
Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Leaving Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Attending Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • too distant.. Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Remain in closer contact
John McNeer Phone Number: • 804-677-4560 Email: • steer5001@yahoo.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Beth • Children: Mae (3) and Paul (1) Current Employment: • Hunter Country Day School, teacher Best Job in last 25 years: • Teaching Worst job in last 25 years: • Attorney in Winchester Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 8 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 10 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • We have visited Kevin McNeer ’90 in Moscow, Russia Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Stephen Stalker, Doug Lamb, Chris Boggs, Richard Matthews and many others. Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Mr. Towell – Pre-Calculus was the only math class in which I did well. The class was also good preparation for the SAT Dining hall item you remember most: • Sloppy Joes Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • reading, writing, history, English, Latin, public speaking, Minimester painting class Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • 6th and 7th grade Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Causing Todd Morchower, the QB for Collegiate, to fumble, and recovering the ball our senior year on our own 3 yard line.
PAGE 18
Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • Listening to Mr. Pasco read a love letter from Branch Harper to Stephen Stalker forged by Tommy Blue to the entire class in US History in Mr. Boney’s room. Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Teaching • Painting • Exercising Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • Wasting time
Eric Morton
Email: • emmorton@verizon.net Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Missy • Children: Harrison (10) and Addie (5) Current Employment: • Capital One, 18 years Best Job in last 25 years: • Basketball Official – Central Virginia Basketball Officials Association Worst job in last 25 years: • Father of three-year-old (twice) Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 5 or 6 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 5 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • San Francisco, CA
The Pine Needle Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Graduating college, fathering two children, staying married, surviving corporate America, officiating two State Championship games Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Gray McKinley Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Dick Kemper, proved that you can do it the right way and win Dining hall item you remember most: • Earl Woodruff ’s silverware bucket Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • High expectations, accountability, responsibility Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Best – Winning Prep League Basketball Championship in 1988 • Worst – Middle School Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Support displayed by friends as my name was called to receive diploma. Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • Way too many to cite here. A sampling: • Kerry Hurst and the desk, Brooks and the Orange Barrel toss, Knott getting run by Ron Smith, Bob Blanton hanging a 6th grader from a coat hook Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Fight complacency • Read • Exercise Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • Work • Eat poorly • Worry about others’ perceptions
May 2, 2014
Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 5 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Lived in Wyoming on the Wind River Indian reservation for a term in college Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Married Melissa in 1998 and proud father of three great kids. • Graduated from Dartmouth in 1993, cycled across the country in 1994. Finished medical school at MCV in 1998 and then moved to New York for residency in urology at Cornell Medical Center. • Finished residency in 2004 and moved back to Richmond to join Virginia Urology. • Performed first successful robotic prostatectomy in Richmond area in 2005. Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Gordon Lewis. Dining hall item you remember most: • Pizza Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Honor code Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • In Junior English, I was having trouble understanding something in Billy Budd. Mr. Squires got so exasperated with my questions that he climbed on his desk, grabbed his necktie, and jumped to the floor, pretending to hang himself.
Sarah, Kinloch 2018, Garnett 2020, Kinloch & Melissa Nelson
Kinloch Nelson
Eric, Missy, Harrison, Addie and new puppy Denny
Phone Number: • 804-397-0691 Email: • kinloch93@mac.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Melissa • Children: Kinloch (13), Garnett (12) and Sarah (9) Current Employment: • Urologist with Virginia Urology in Richmond,VA Best Job in last 25 years: • Buzzard Worst job in last 25 years: • loan file document checker Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 8
Melissa & Kinloch
PAGE 19
Rob Norfleet
Phone Number: • 804-334-5632 Email: • rfnorfleet@aol.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Beth • Daughters: Carter (14),Virginia (12) and Claire (10) Current Employment: • Managing Director BB&T Capital Markets Best Job in last 25 years: • SAC – Hedge Fund Worst job in last 25 years: • Mortgage loan officer in Atlanta 1993 Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 5 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 6 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Lived – Darien, CT Traveled – Oslo, Norway Notable accomplishments since 1989: • 2013 – Forbes/Starmine top analyst with stock recommendations and earnings accuracy in the engineering and construction space. Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Cole Durrill, John Westfall, Jim Baber, Schroeders and others. Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Richard Towell – made me appreciate math Dining hall item you remember most: • Vicky or Jimmy James Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Honesty, Integrity, good work ethic Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Best: • Watching Bubba Blanton erase the chalkboard with Westfall. • Worst: • First week of Bubba’s Latin class and #2 watching Harrelson play the “Bull game” in Latin class. Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Winning lacrosse prep league, making honor roll and being elected to student council. Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • Too many. Durrill getting busted for lighting a match in Blanton’s class. Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • travel
The Pine Needle
May 2, 2014
Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Preparing me very well for college. Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • I’m not remembering Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Kept up with everyone Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • A little more work/life balance
Daniel Oakey Phone Number: • 434-951-7595 Email: • doakey@snl.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Angie; daughters Victoria (12), Darby (5), and son Hunter (10) Current Employment: • SNL Financial LC Best Job in last 25 years: • Have only worked at SNL Financial LC since college Worst job in last 25 years: • Have only worked at SNL Financial LC since college Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 1 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 2 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Charlottesville,VA Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Great wife and three wonderful kids Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • None, which I clearly need to fix. Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • That’s a tough one. I remember Boyd (Jim), Squires, Knox, Boney, and several others as good ones. Dining hall item you remember most: • I’m not remembering Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Solid work ethic and integrity Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • The special community, which I’m witnessing at my kids’s school now.
Tom Pinckney Phone Number: • 415-425-1372 Email: • tompinckney@gmail.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Sarah Young Pinckney Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (Cotes), (4) Current Employment: • Sr. Director of Strategic Alliances, Cloudera Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 9 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • I spent 10 years at St. C before shipping off to St. Andrew’s in Delaware for three years and then to Princeton. I lived in DC, NY, and now San Francisco for almost 14 years. I get the occasional updates via my parents, facebook, running into people, etc. Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • The ones that I remember most often are Mrs. Wrinkle, Mrs. Prince, Mrs. Lamb, Mr. Koenig, and Mr. Broderick.
Tennis Team
PAGE 20
The Pine Needle Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Tai ji • Meditate • Spend time with my kids Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • Sitting in meetings
Frederick Reeves Email: • frederickreeves@mac.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Lauren • Daughters:Violet (13) and Hazel (5) Sons: Asher (11) and Levi (9) Current Employment: • Rabbi Best Job in last 25 years: • Rabbi Worst job in last 25 years: • Working the production line at a lens factory on Kibbutz Maayan Tzvi in Israel Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 12 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 21 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Traveled to: • Lhasa, Tibet • Lived six months in Beijing (during college). Lived for a year in Jerusalem Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Converted to Judaism in 1997 • Married in 1997 • Became a father in 2000 • Ordained as a rabbi in 2005 • Divorced in 2009 • Remarried in 2012 • Became rabbi of the oldest Jewish congregation west of Cincinnati in 2013 Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Mr. Squires helped me appreciate the power that words can have. Also, dying while he was my teacher left an impact. • Professor Bear. I still quote to my children, “Silly old Xeno, what did he know? Ducks come in flocks, not paradox!” Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • On my honor as a gentleman, I have neither given nor received any help on this paper, nor am I aware of any breach of the honor code. Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • The time I spent at Saint Christopher’s was not what I consider the good time of my life, although I do not directly associate that with St. C. There were other complicating factors. As a result, it is hard really to identify best or worst memories. Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Becoming salutatorian.
John Reid Phone Number: • 703-472-9794 Email: • jrreid2@aol.com Current Employment: • Chief Communications Officer- Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America- NYC Best Job in last 25 years: • Intern to Ronald Reagan Worst job in last 25 years: • They all paid so none were. Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 7 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 14 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Farthest I’ve lived was on the Island of Bahrain in the Middle East. I’ve been camping on Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean-one of, if not THE, most remote inhabited place on Earth. So far I’ve visited 51 countries since graduation and 337 cities. Now I just need to hit Australia and Antarctica to be a 7 continents man! Notable accomplishments since 1989: • So pleased to have worked for President Reagan and have helped craft some of his speeches and writings near the end of his life. Also very proud to have helped advocate for freedom in remote corners of the world with leaders and governments struggling to adjust to Democracy and hostile philosophies/ideologies. Ten years on TV-8 as one of the main faces of early morning TV was exhausting but pretty solid too! Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Thank goodness for Facebook so I feel like I see a lot of good news about almost everyone from St. Chris. Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • I have great respect now for the disciplinarians who demanded work and respect in their classrooms. I see now how difficult it can be to command that from people--especially teenagers. I also have a certain empathy for some of our teachers who must have been struggling with life’s challenges while teaching us. I was too young to appreciate those struggles at that time and I wish I had been more respectful and thoughtful.
May 2, 2014
Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • I am so glad for the small classroom experience. I am glad I was forced to run track – which I never would have done – though I wish I had started lifting weights in high school so I might have had a better body (and body image) as a younger man. Even though I was glad to be in the Glee Club and to have performed on stage in a few shows, I talk to other private school students around the US (and I watch GLEE) and would also place a greater value on a more robust arts program for everyone. Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Gotten married. • Bought more property (land). • Kept a diary. • Written a book. Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • No regrets..... that I’ll admit.
Wil Sakowski Phone Number: • 310-978-9558 Email: • Sakowskimotors@gmail.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife and 2 girls (5 and 7) Current Employment: • I own 2 businesses in Los Angeles, California. Sakowski Motors www.sakowskimotors.com We buy, sell, build, and repair Classics, Hot Rods, Customs, and Motorcycles Worldwide. Ride Free Motorcycle and Classic Car Tours and Rentals www.ridefree.com I lead groups of people from all over the world around Californa, The West, and all over the USA on adventures of a lifetime.
Missionary Society – Stephen Stalker & The Rev. Marshall Ware
PAGE 21
Best Job in last 25 years: • Being a dad to my girls Worst job in last 25 years: • All the paperwork and late nights Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 4 – bouncer at a punk rock club, karate teacher, hot rod shop, motorcycle tour company Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • Richmond,Venice Beach, El Segundo, The Hollywood Riviera / Redondo Beach, Wilmington North Carolina, current Lunada Bay / Palos Verdes Estates California Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Lunada Bay / Palos Verdes Estates / Los Angeles, CA Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Home in Lunada Bay, California. It was huge. 20 foot waves, and some occasional 30 foot giants. Well, can’t say I caught a good wave, but I did not get smashed into the rocks and killed by mountains of water – mission accomplished. My Hot Rod Shop and Motorcycle Tour Company. I really enjoyed teaching full contact karate for years. We are currently filming at my LA shop a car tv show for a major cable channel. I might be starring on a reality show, but you never know with Hollywood. No worries. • But far surpassing anything else is my family. My wife and 2 sweet girls ( 5 and 7 ) Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • When I was living in Wilmington, NC I surfed with Carter Hubard some. And see some folks at the FBYC summer sailing camp. Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Honestly that was so long ago. And those were not the best years for me. Lol But it is all good. Life is a journey. You never know what’s going to happen. Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • I figured out that you have to believe in yourself and forge your own path. I thought the Piranhas were really cool. Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • I did really enjoy the lacrosse, football, and wrestling. • Worst = I only remember the good times!
The Pine Needle Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • A couple of sports moments, and I really liked this clay sculpture we made in art class with a mold of our face. That was probably the first sculpture I had done. Like custom bodywork on a car. Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Surf • Sleep • Love more • Worry less Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • No regrets
Jimmy Sanderson Phone Number: • 804-285-0266 Email: • jsanderson@investdavenport.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Lane Hoofnagle Sanderson • Vaughan Sanderson (10) and Prater Sanderson (7) Current Employment: • Davenport & Company LLC Best Job in last 25 years: • Photographer, Sports Illustrated Worst job in last 25 years: • Peanut Salesman Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 4 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 7+ Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Charlottesville
Spring Track Team
May 2, 2014
Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Married (still) and great kids Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Worst – failing French Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Graduating Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Traveled • Slept Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • Lost hair
Chris Schroeder Phone Number: • 804-878-3166 Email: • cls3434@verizon.net Family members (children’s ages): • Wife – Heather • Children – Christopher 13, Mary 10 Current Employment: • Chronos LC Best Job in last 25 years: • Working on Capitol Hill Worst job in last 25 years: • Working for a really strange trade association in DC, lasted about two weeks. Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 12 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 10 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Italy & Yugoslavia
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Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Getting major legislation passed through Congress Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Jim Baber, Chris Boggs, Jack Wallace, Gray McKinley, Bill Walker, Eric Morton Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Mr. Squires, Mr. Blanton & Mr. Szymendera Dining hall item you remember most: • Tater tots stuck together Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • The organizing skills and preparation that is instilled at the school Your best memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Just being in an environment that stressed honesty and integrity Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Winning the Prep League in Lacrosse our junior year. Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • As a freshman, the senior class putting dollar bills in the hall outside the senior lounge and running through a gauntlet of them to get as many dollars as possible while they beat on me as Mr. Squires laughed. Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Studying • Listening • Investing in Under Armour as a start up. Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • Stressing • Procrastinating
The Pine Needle Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Patrick Schubmehl, Douglas Lamb, Taylor Benson, John McNeer Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • A. J. Bolling – life counselor Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • hard work, strong writing skills and friendships Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • All-Prep Golf freshman year, Honor Council senior year and Missionary Society senior year Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • traveling What would your senior quote be today: • “Be here now.”
Neil Talegaonkar
Phone Number: • 804-306-4137 Email: • ntalegaonkar@t-mlaw.com Current Employment: • Shareholder at the law firm of ThompsonMullan, P.C., Richmond,VA Best Job in last 25 years: • Freelancing at the Martin Public Relations Worst job in last 25 years: • Waiter at Chili’s for 2 days
Stephen Stalker Phone Number: • 804-285-1398 Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Ashley • Children: Carson (5), Campbell (8) and Morgan (9) Current Employment: • McKesson Medical Surgical Best Job in last 25 years: • Current role at McKesson Worst job in last 25 years: • First job at GSK in Raleigh Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 10 at four companies Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 15 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Thailand and Australia Notable accomplishments since 1989: • College and graduate school, successful career in North Carolina and family – 3 kids.
Stephen, Ashley, Carson, Morgan & Campbell Stalker
May 2, 2014
Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 10 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 11 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • The furthest place I traveled to since high school was the Philippines. The furthest place I lived since high school was New Orleans. Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Rakesh Agarwal, Brian White, Jamie Guthridge, Charles Poppell Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • George Squires had a great impact on my because he taught me the importance of streamlining my writing. Dining hall item you remember most: • Mystery meat stromboli Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • St. Christopher’s taught me to question and look behind what was initially presented. It also instilled in me the importance of honor and safeguarding the sanctity of one’s word. Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • Seventh grade history class with Tom Costley. While Mo was in his “that kicks” phase, Costley fired back, “That doesn’t kick, everything does not kick Mo!” Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • I wish I had studied more • traveled more • and just said f*** it more and taken chances. Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • drank less • worried less • listened to people who were more clueless than me less.
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The Pine Needle
Bill Walker
John Westfall
Email: • wwalker@microsoft.com Family members (children’s ages): • Jack (13) and Thomas (10) Current Employment: • Director, Windows Support, Microsoft Corporation Best Job in last 25 years: • Microsoft Worst job in last 25 years: • Microsoft Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 5 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 10 Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Bangalore, India – 8,000 miles away! Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Named Director of Windows Support in 2012 for Microsoft Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Jim Baber, Chris Boggs, Jack Wallace, Chris Schroeder, and Gray McKinley Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Cal Boyd gave me confidence that I could in fact do it. Tony Syzmendera gave me wisdom in how to live life. Ron Smith taught me how to write. Bill Martin taught me to apply myself. Bob Blanton scared me into learning Latin. Dining hall item you remember most: • Green Jello Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • The strong focus on the written word, the drive to be strong in your argument points, to use data to influence your audience Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • I have nothing but great memories really. Sure there were rough days, but my overall experience was wonderful. Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • My proudest moment at St. Christopher’s was being named captain of the Indoor and Outdoor track teams!
Phone Number: • 804-285-4088 Email: • johnw918@aol.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Julilly • Children: Jack (13) and Henry (9) Current Employment: • Sales – Essex Brownell Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Rob Norfleet, Jimmy Sanderson, Chris Boggs, and Jim Baber Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Dick Kemper Dining hall item you remember most: • Jello Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Omit needless words. Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • Best – Beating Collegiate in football senior year. Worst – Pasco Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • See above. Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • Mrs. Burnet finding the spoiled milk carton hidden in her desk placed by Carter Brooks. 5th grade.
May 2, 2014
Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 7 after college Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Lived • Nashua, NH • Traveled to Czech Republic Notable accomplishments since 1989: • Marriage, kids, professional success Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Rives Hardy: • Made geometry interesting Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Ability to write a decent letter Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Traveled
Bland Whitley Email: • wwhitley@princeton.edu Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Sarah Torian • Children: Mason (8) and Anne Pryor (2) Current Employment: • Associate Editor, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Princeton University Best Job in last 25 years: • Asst. Editor, Dictionary of VA Biography, Library of Virginia Worst job in last 25 years: • stamping legal documents at McGuire Woods Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 19 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 15
Brian White Email: • bwhite@swa-co.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Lara • Children: Kaley (11), and Mimi (10) Current Employment: • Historic Housing Best Job in last 25 years: • Historic Housing Worst job in last 25 years: • Recycling center in college Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 6 after college
Brian and Lara White with daughters Mimi and Kaley
PAGE 24
Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Jackson, Mississippi – lived Northwest Italy – traveled Notable accomplishments since 1989: • B.A., William and Mary; M.A., University of Mississippi; Ph.D., University of Florida; a glorious, irresponsible year of slackerdom as a bookstore clerk in Oxford, MS; marriage to Sarah Torian, 2001; births of son Mason in 2005 and daughter Anne Pryor in 2011; privilege of staying not-so-gainfully employed in the field of history without having to teach. Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Unfortunately none really. When in Richmond, I got together on occasion with Brian White and Neal Talegaonkar and interacted some with others. But other than my peripatetic use of Facebook, I don’t communicate with anyone. Wish it were otherwise Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Ron Smith certainly leads the list – his passion for literature and the way he could work into everyday life and conversation continues to amaze me and has provided a model of intellectual engagement. Rob Pasco, whose fact-addled and exasperated, impatient teaching style somehow got me thinking about history in a deeper manner. I’ve taken those lessons with me. Others worth mentioning: • Richard Towell, Nancy Habenicht – from St. Cat’s Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • I would say that learning how to write and to organize arguments has been the most important aspect of the training I received there. Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Precious few athletic achievements, probably the most significant being second place at the Prep League J.V. wrestling tournament as a 98-pound tenth grader! Really, I think my proudest moment was keeping score at the wrestling match against the Cougars our senior year – hands down the most intense and exciting athletic event I’ve ever been a part of. • Academically, I can’t think of anything particularly noteworthy. Otherwise, serving as an editor of the Hieroglyphic.
The Pine Needle Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • Maybe David Boney’s lecture on the Arab attacks in India – great use of props! Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Travel – I’m not exactly untraveled, but there remain too many places that I’d like to see and probably will never get to. • Volunteered more of my time and skills • Kept in better contact with old friends Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • I dunno. Maybe less extended adolescence as a terminal grad student? I suppose, though, that that worked out okay. • Scrimping by on starvation wages – related to above
Lang Williams Email: • wahoolang@yahoo.com Family members (children’s ages): • Wife: Lucy • Children: Harrison (10) and Randolph (7) Current Employment: • Senior Vice President & Principal, CBRE/ Hampton Roads Best Job in last 25 years: • Current job Worst job in last 25 years: • McDells Grocery – Crested Butte, CO Number of jobs in the last 25 years: • 13 Number of different addresses in last 25 years: • 10
Baseball Team
May 2, 2014
Farthest place from Richmond that you have lived in and/or traveled to: • Crested Butte, CO as a ski instructor, Alaska on a family cruise in 2012 Notable accomplishments since 1989: • 1) Marrying Lucy • 2) Being blessed with the birth of Harrison and Randolph • 3) 18 year successful career with CBRE as a leading commercial real estate broker Classmate(s) who you keep in close contact with: • Gordon Lewis Faculty member(s) who had the greatest impact on you and why: • Jim Boyd – some of his sayings I still remember. Joe Knox- loved his history of French art and architecture course. Scott Kennedy – he now is the Headmaster of Norfolk Collegiate where our boys go to school. Dining hall item you remember most: • Pizza Aspects of St. Christopher’s education that have stayed with you, for better or worse: • Writing & communication skills. Math skills. Self-confidence and a bit of ego. Your best and worst memory of your time at St. Christopher’s: • #1: Graduation • Worst: death of Mrs. White in Lower School Your proudest moment at St. Christopher’s (academic, athletic, artistic, other): • Achieving highest GPA 8th to 12th grades; #1 in 8th grade, #2 in 9th to 11th, and #3 in 12th Funniest moment in the classroom you remember: • When we turned our desks facing the back of the room to surprise the French teacher (not Mr. Knox – I forget this teacher’s name? A regular smoker I recall. Mr. Hall maybe?) Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done more of: • Wouldn’t change a thing Over the last 25 years, what are three things you wished you had done less of: • Wouldn’t change a thing
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The Pine Needle
May 2, 2014
The Faculty Remembers The Class of 1989 George McVey
“And what to my wandering eyes should appear” but a surprise moon shot on my 50th year!
Y
es, I remember the Class of ’89 well, not only for the space effort, but for a lot of things. And how about the famous chapel sneeze? Seriously, it was a great class, and I enjoyed every minute of that year.
I still see some of the members fairly regularly, but I have not seen others since graduation. It is a wonderful thing that you are doing – honoring Chris Cullather – and from what I have heard, your efforts have been well rewarded. I look forward to seeing you, but please remember that a few years, a beard, some extra pounds, and my old age means that it is safer to introduce yourself when we run into one another.
For the Class of 1989 Jim Boyd
I
feel rather like the survivor of the tontine who ends up with the bottle of brandy. For the last two years, my name has come last at Commencement in the roll of active teachers called in ascending order of years spent in the classrooms of Chamberlayne Hall. So, in some sense I am a last man standing. A bottle of Hennessy’s best hasn’t been my reward. But there have been many other rewards for survival, two of which are being asked to reminisce about old times and then to write about them. The reminiscing has always been fun, but the writing less so. I take it as a great honor to have been invited to revisit the St. Christopher’s of a quarter century ago and to set down on paper for you some of my thoughts and memories. Borrowed copies of the Raps and Taps for your Upper School years confirm my memory that yours was a strong, strong class in a string of very successful classes. You were a tough lot.You won the Director’s Cup and, on top of that, the coaches of the Prep League voted that your teams had shown the highest level of sportsmanship in the league. You played
hard and you played fair. And you had (and still have, I expect) a gentle side. Dr. Chamberlayne did not have “weak” in mind when he said that we could all be Gentlemen. You dedicated your annual to Anne Townsend. She remains the loveliest, kindest, and gentlest of “North Carolina Girls.” I am sure that you will recall that Mr. McVey’s office was located at the south end of Chamberlayne Hall in the present faculty room. One entered the Headmaster’s office through an anteroom where Mrs. Townsend, at her desk, served as gatekeeper. From time to time a young man with a grievance would huff and puff his way into Mrs. Townsend’s little room in a great hurry to present his case to Mr. McVey. However, the wily Headmaster might ask the young man to wait for just a bit. As he waited to see Mr. McVey, Mrs. Townsend would engage him in conversation. When, eventually, Mr. McVey did invite the young man into his office, he would be a much happier and more reasonable young man. You took care of business in the classroom too. The principal conclusion in the artichoke theory of the curriculum is that in economic hard times as schools discard programs and courses, the last two to go should be mathematics and English. (You decide the order). There were many talented young mathematicians in your midst. J. J., Kinloch, Dan, Stephen, and others could differentiate, integrate and push the symbols around with the best of them. As students in the English classrooms and editors of The Pine Needle, Hieroglyphic, and Raps andTaps, Bland, Lang, Chris Boggs,
and Chris Millner could string words together with the best. On the history and politics side of things, John Reid made us look good and science was strong. The arts flourished through Ampersand and Mrs. Erb’s Glee Club. The St. Christopher’s of today is far more intentional in its efforts to develop the traits of good citizenship in its students than it was twenty-five years ago. That is true of most good schools with which we compete. Your class was a class of really good citizens. It seemed natural. The roles of leaders and followers changed among you according to what conditions prevailed at the time. Were you in the classroom? Were you in chapel … on the athletic field … on the stage? The Honor Council, the Student Council, and the
Missionary Society worked hard and well to uphold the traditions of our school. I always enjoy seeing you here at school or around town. I was interested in rereading the Senior Poll in your Raps and Taps. Although you marked your ballots in jest, I do wonder how well you saw into the future. It makes me sad that l will not shake hands with Chris Cullather in May. I remember one of his last visits to St. Christopher’s. He came in his wheel chair to watch the Saints play baseball. He was happy and cheerful and eager to learn the latest news from the school. He was a good man and a tough one too. You, the Class of 1989, do a very fine thing to honor Chris at your reunion.
The Pine Needle
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May 2, 2014
The Faculty Remembers Continued
An excerpt from the
1989 Commencement Speech Robert F. Norfleet, Jr. ’58 Chairman, Board of Governors
I
t has been our custom to keep the commencement program as brief as possible. The attention span of graduating seniors and their families tends to be rather short, and to subject all of you to an address by the Board Chairman seemed generally unnecessary. When I asked George McVey if he would give me a few moments on the program, he most graciously agreed. He did advise me that brevity would be appreciated, especially by the seniors who undoubtedly have visions of sun, sand and other assorted goodies dancing through their heads. So hang in there fellows just a bit longer; think of this as just one of those post game sessions made famous by coaches Kemper and Smith before you leave the field. St. Christopher’s has long had the reputation as an elite school for children of wealthy, socially prominent people. We have tried hard to dispel this myth, but it seems to persist. St. Christopher’s may seem in the same today as it was several years ago. But change is in the air. .Change is obvious on all fronts –
financially we are in good shape, but we need to grow our endowment and to maintain our Annual Giving Program. Our faculty is strong, but finding top flight teachers is difficult; we need to find ways to increase the levels of compensation and benefits across the board. The concept of a single sex program has obvious benefits, but we must expand and enhance our coordinate program with St. Catherine’s. Our admissions effort is good, especially in the Lower School, but competition for good students is on the rise, and we must sell our school more effectively to broader base with the community. All of us, board, alumni, parents, friends, students and even faculty must accept the responsibility of promoting the benefits of private education. We must work hard to communicate better with each other; we must learn to better serve all types of students, from the bright and energetic, to the less gifted and motivated. Change, however, must be tempered with a continuing commitment to our traditional emphasis on high moral and ethical standards, fair play and
good sportsmanship and on the honor system. We must be careful not to allow change to compromise the basic values which set St. Christopher’s apart from other schools. We can all be proud of what we have accomplished. But to remain fixed in place in today’s world is to invite mediocrity. All of us share in the responsibility to change for the better the Board and Administration must constantly assess the School’s policies and general direction, and the rest of us must take an active part in directing constructive feedback to those entities. Some things, however, never change and I direct these observations to the graduating class. As parents we will never stop worrying about you; we will continue to anguish over your failures and we will be filled with pride over the successes. As parents we will continue to make mistakes and at times, we will always be a little bit too much in your way and in your life. Try to forgive and understand. Other things will stay the same – St. Christopher’s will always be an important part of your life, just as it has been for
thousands of other alumni. Your teachers will continue to follow your development, and you will find yourselves returning to this campus to share experiences with teachers whom you admired and trusted. Finally, it can be predicted that those of you who are determined to do well in college and apply yourselves the first year will succeed. Those of you who take college life casually will produce disappointing results. In conclusion, I wish for all of you the best as you go forward. All of us are comforted that we send you off as gentlemen, well prepared to meet the challenges ahead. Don’t forget your friends, school and family, and be resolved to continue to do your best. My advice to you and your first year at college – work like hell, have as much fun as you can and make a good friend of at least one professor. We are all proud of you. Good luck and Godspeed.
This Class Had it All Bob Blanton
T
he class of 1989 is one of my favorite classes in my forty+ years of serving St. Christopher’s. This class had it all. From high academic achievements and a deep respect for integrity to outstanding athletic performance, the class of ’89 is one of the best this school has produced. In addition, this class also had its characters and had its share of fun along with a profound sense of caring and community. This class produced high academic achievements which
were demonstrated by the outstanding colleges that they were able to select. Stanford, Washington and Lee, Davidson, Duke, North Carolina, Dartmouth, Tulane, Williams, Virginia, HampdenSydney and VMI were just some of the outstanding institutions these young men chose to attend. I remember these young men best in the athletic arena. This class won the Director’s Cup for best overall athletic achievement in the Prep League for 1988-89. The football team had the best record (6-2-1) since 1972. The indoor
track team went 22-1 and cross country was 12-2. All Prep performers included: Van Hardenbergh, Stephen Stalker, Chris Boggs, George Macon, Carter Hubard, Greg Ballowe, John Westfall, H Goodwin, Cole Durrill, Andrew Griffey, Jimmy Sanderson, Jimmy Baber, Gilmer Minor, and John Chichester. My apologies to anyone whom I have forgotten. In closing, I salute the class of 1989 as one of the best and hope the future has been good to them.
Lift up your voices, let us pledge our loyalty To St. Christopher forever, Hail, all hail to thee!
To the Class of 1989 Joe Knox
I
n early November when Jane and I bought our weeklong stay in St. Petersburg, Russia, I had no idea that the St. Christopher’s Reunions were scheduled for the beginning of May (or that the Russians would be massing troops on Ukraine’s border). We expect to have a grand trip, but I will greatly miss seeing
you “old boys” come back. Celebrating their 25th Reunion, I remember the Class of ’89 especially in my 9th –grade French class giving a winning performance of “La Farce de Maitre Pathelin” in the VCU French Play Contest. Still, I remember the Class of ’89 not just in that play, but as making outstanding accomplish-
ments inside and outside of the French classroom. It would be great to see you all and know what you’re doing – maybe not much with theatre or French or diagramming sentences – but I still believe strongly that those things stay with you as they do with me and help you enjoy a rich and interesting life.
The Pine Needle
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May 2, 2014
The Faculty Remembers Continued
Recalling Specific Situations Tony Szymendera
“That teacher just hates me.” – What George Macon said about every teacher he had “Schroeder, don’t let anyone beat you deep . . . . Schroeder, how did that guy get behind you?” – Coach Wayne Booker “Brickhouse, I said I-Right, 32 Dive Left. Left is that way son.” – Coach Wayne Booker
“Right again, Kinloch” – the legendary Frank Soden, Battle of the Brains “Coach, I hit that ball so far I almost hit a geek coming out of the library.” – Fred Ames rounding third “Can I ‘practice’ my presentation for my summer job on you? Promise you don’t have to buy any knives.” – Carter Brooks “Baber, will you please just be quiet for one second.” – What every teacher and coach Jimmy ever had thought.
“Guess I’ll just have to take my exam in my boxers.” Jimmy Knott, British Lit Exam after being informed he was out of dress code in wearing blue jeans to the exam. He took the exam in his boxers.
B
eing able to recall some specific situations and direct quotes, perhaps with a bit of literary license thrown in, tells you a great deal about the impression a group of young people made on a green, newbie teacher back in the late ‘80s. The Class of 1989 brought my first official interaction with the students of St. Christopher’s – British Literature, period 1, 2nd floor Chamberlayne Hall, 20 plus sophomores (somehow another
student kept needing to join the class of the new teacher, funny how that worked.) Maybe it was the waiting for 1st period to start professional wrestling matches in the classroom – complete with Mr. Cal Boyd coming upstairs from his classroom to admonish the class for the noise and my standing behind the open door with my finger to my lips; maybe it was the detailed JV basketball practice plans – with the weekly threats of a team mutiny; maybe it was the wry sense of humor of so many – with the dripping sarcasm that reminded me of home; maybe it was the sheer number of characters – with their fascinating back stories. Maybe it was all of it and more that helped me fall in love with a place and its mission that I obviously haven’t left or deviated from in well over 25 years. The Class of ’89, more than any other, set the tone for me as to what St. Christopher’s was and was supposed to be all about. This was a group that was not only book smart, but wickedly sharp and insightful about the school, their relationships with one another, and even the world around them. Like
most adolescents, they could smell hypocrisy and insincerity and they took delight in pointing it out. They could be tougher on one another than anyone else could. But beneath all of that was a genuine bond and care for one another. Much like brothers, they could give one another a hard time, but should anyone else try, they quickly closed ranks. That closeness is something I have come to expect in St. Christopher’s classes. Similarly, their growth into fine men that I have witnessed over the years is something I have come to value in our Saints. Their wit, their playfulness, and their energy are memorable among the roll call of STC classes. I appreciate their tolerance for a young teacher just learning the ropes!
opener to me, a learning experience of coming to a deeper understanding of the community St. Christopher’s is at its best, especially as I watched your class near graduation. So many of your relationships with one another had a long history. You knew each other so well. You had come to accept each other in ways that did not ignore what irritated you about one another, but that weighed little in comparison to how you treated each other with dignity, support and respect. Seeing you made me think of the apostle Paul saying of those early churches, “See how they love one another.” That’s real community. The combination of being together in chapel in good times and difficult ones, and of seeing how you thrived in support of one another made you a class whose commencement was both a great celebration and sad departure for those of us who remained behind.
THE HONOR CODE
The Community of St. Christopher’s The Rev. David T. Anderson
I
began the year as Lower School Chaplain, history teacher in the Upper School, and assistant coach on the lacrosse team. Sometime during the year, I must have moved into a larger role in the Upper School chapel. Some of you may know that I kept the chapel services we did during my time at St. Christopher’s, and here are a couple of things from those records. It was in March that seventh grader Jamie Van Dorsten ’94
(brother of John ’91) died, just as we were entering into Lent and its Holy Week. I remember that there in chapel we gathered to support one another, to seek to understand that God reaches across such tragedy not as a defeated Lord but as the enduring power of love. So we gathered in chapel as each day began, hopefully with a deep sense of the embracing love and support of God, embodied in each of us being there for one other. In that spring two Collegiate girls were killed in an automobile accident on River Road. Many of us knew the girls involved. The scripture lessons in chapels those days had to do with Jesus calling us away, looking at the life as if the past was what was most important to how we live the present. To see life lived from the future God intends for all of us, where forgiveness and loving-kindness and communion and joy abound, spoke of hope that could touch us even in those difficult moments. Your senior year was an eye-
“I will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do.”
THE HONOR PLEDGE “On my honor as a gentleman, I have neither given nor received any help on this paper, nor am I aware of any breach of the honor code.”
The Pine Needle
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May 2, 2014
The Faculty Remembers Continued
Talented, Determined and Original Polly Wrinkle
T
he kindergarten class of 1989 was unique and very special. It was my first year in kindergarten as well as theirs! I had been teaching fourth grade for five years “upstairs” and this year an opportunity was open in kindergarten, my real love. What a terrific class with which to begin my kindergarten career. Talented, determined and original!!! A challenge, yes, but never did I go home and say, “What have I done?” One episode with this class will never be forgotten. These boys were precocious and clever. It was Christmas and I divided the boys into groups to paint the Nativity mural for the bulletin board. Chris
Boggs and Carter Brooks were at the easel in charge of painting Mary and Joseph. I was helping determine the breadth of the angel wings when Carter came over tugging on my apron, saying, “You’ve GOT to come. Chris is messing up the whole thing!” I said, “Carter, I will be there in a minute,” because, by this time, Palmer had tipped over the silver glitter for the star and it was being paraded all over the carpet. Carter came back two seconds later, face bright red in frustration, and said “You have GOT TO COME NOW, Mrs. Wrinkle, Chris is making Mary and Joseph look EXACTLY THE SAME! It’s not RIGHT! When I got to the easel,
Chris,in his calm, matter-of-fact style said, “Mrs. Wrinkle, Mary is wearing a pants suit!” I stayed 19 more years so I obviously loved you all .Your class will always tug on my heart strings. All my very best wishes and love to the Class of ’89. Polly and Davis Wrinkle with their grandchildren Austen 2026 and Brynn 2028.
Band of Brothers Dick Kemper
“It is a beautiful day somewhere in America” – - – - -
W
hen I think back about this Class of 1989 many words come to mind. You were different from other classes. They did what they wanted when they wanted and for the most part got away with it. You were very talented in many different areas, athletics, academics, the arts. Your class had a great mixture of guys from many different culture backgrounds that came together as a “band of brothers.” There are so many stories that could be told and will be told this weekend. Some can be repeated, some are best not mentioned. But through it all this class was talented, compassionate, spirited, competitive and fun loving. Nothing got you down. I believe that is still true today. And you certainly “did it your way.” “A band of brothers.” Boy, to me that is the title for this group. Look what you accomplished at the school in your four years; winners of the Directors Cup
three times; winner of the VPL sportsmanship award (some wonder how that happened but I have an answer); numerous academic awards, etc. But to me the beauty was watching this class grow from the days in the Lower School to graduation. That was an honor to be a part of – from the Lower School PE days, to the taking away of recess, to the maturity. Some would question that last statement but it was maturity that got the job done. I look with pride of what this class has done since they left “The Terraces” and am amazed at your continue accomplishments. So many continued their athletic careers in college in a variety of sports, football, tennis, lacrosse, runners, swimming, and continue to excel in the classroom. (That is still a debatable subject to this day.) Some are “still running today” by teaching those same lessons and values learned in Lower School PE and high school to their children. It is beautiful to watch and to think maybe I had a small part of that experience. And through all of this the academic lessons and the fun of learning was imparted by the Masters. Now how did this class win three Directors Cups and the Sportsmanship Award? It is a simple explanation. You worked hard, you prepared, you left it “on the field and courts” and when it was over, it was over. You were competitive but knew that you had given your all and there was nothing left to say or do. You know how to win with grace and lose with dignity. Class Top 10: (from many sources) 10. H’s birthday present to Mr. McVey on the fly over. McVey
took it well but the Kindergarteners are still in therapy. 9. Football & Coach Tait and his nicknames and stories about Sanderson (Nissan), Gilmer (you are the QB because I want to ride to the games in your Dad’s fancy car), Westfall ( Westfall, you don’t want to play football, go over there and sit in your expensive air conditioned car), Norfleet ( I guess you start because your Dad is Chairman of the Board), Ames (I cannot wear this jersey it has tire marks on it) and Griffey (You ought to be a running back as you go through the line untouched every time); 4th and goal at Woodberry; pass play; BIG MISTAKE: “Don’t ride that play Gilmer;” scrimmage before the season against Collegiate – awful; but last game of the season against Collegiate – wonderful. 8. What do you mean no recess? Are you kidding me? Set the class on a course for mayhem for the next 7 years at STC; what happen in PE class that got Brooks voted the “Most Obnoxious” his senior year? Playboy magazine in the bathroom in 3rd grade? Who would think of such a thing? (Was it Knott, Bean and Tepper (?) 7. Coach Blanton: Many stories but it was 4th & 1 and I was trying to decide to go for it or kick and Coach Blanton says; “Kick it on outta of here Dick;” my response”Punt team.” Welcome to the Middle School; “You are great – - – you come in, sit down and shut up.” 6. Basketball; “Tune up the heat in the gym,” “Morton get out of here,” “the three OT win over Collegiate and Morton fouls out: Morton hitting 3 threes in row at the Benedictine Classic and going down the court saying, “See what you have missed by not playing me
more?” Durrill for being the best passer on the team. 5. Alvin and his driving: “We have air brakes so we can drive close to the vehicle in front of us;” What side view mirror?” Was that a bridge abutment we almost hit on the way home from VES?” “But officer these boys gotta get home,” or “Let’s go now Red.” “I ain’t driving a bunch of losers home tonight.” 4. Norris and his wearing the mesh practice jersey and were those uniforms really white?” Bubba, Bo and Esau – you fill in the blanks on this one but “Hit him with the shovel Bubba.” (Bubba in a fight with Bo) 3. Lacrosse in your junior year; beating Collegiate to break its 25 game winning streak. 2. The “stupid seven” group. Ended up with about 9 members but who was counting? Called themselves names like Darwin, Euclid and Plato, etc.). I wonder who the “stupid seven” were? 1. How did Booker get the nickname “Chiggar”? Enjoy your weekend and your 25 years since graduation. You were a class that certainly, “did it your way” and the school is still trying to recover. Remember to continue to be that “Band of Brothers” that watches over each other and supports each other in the good times and the bad times, and always remember “It is time to go, Dick.”
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May 2, 2014
The Faculty Remembers Continued
1988-89 School Year Would be One of the Best Years of My Life John Burke
I
n the spring of 1988 I interviewed at small all-boys school in Richmond. My interview was unique for several reasons. For starters, I arrived on Easter Weekend and my first interaction with the school’s community was Easter dinner at the Director of Studies’ motherin-law’s home. My parents and grandparents had trained me well. My interview with the Headmaster the next day was even more interesting. As I struggled to understand the Headmaster’s southern drawl, I was put off as a man named Jimmy James came up from behind, and began to play with the headmaster’s hair – the man never flinched. I was certain that I was being videotaped. Less than five months later, I moved to Richmond to work as an English teacher at St. Christo-
pher’s. Only after twenty-six years do I fully recognize that the 1988-89 school year would be one of the best years of my life. With a small degree of training (a oneweek boot camp at the New Teacher’s Institute), I was thrown into the fire. At the age of twentytwo, I was only four years older than the boys with whom I was working. I showed up on campus in late August and wandered over to pre-season football practice. The size of upperclassmen shocked me. Guys like Griffey, Ballowe, Hubard, Westfall, Brickhouse, Goodwin, and others, were bigger than the linemen at my alma mater. As school opened, the seniors thought it best to test me (and the two other rookies- Wood and Randolph). While full of sarcasm and wit, the Class of ’89 never crossed the line. There were
certainly some interesting moments, but as a group, they were respectful and fair. I’m sure that I learned much more from them, than they did from me. The first assignment I gave to the seniors that year was an argumentative essay. To this day, I will never forget Mo’s “Why Hunters Should Wear Blaze Orange Hats” essay. Hey Yankee, Welcome to Virginia! My memories of that year are special. It was a thick-skinned group, and they were particularly adept and finding and exposing the weaknesses of those around them. Giving it right back became the best means of gaining trust, but they were good sports about the banter we exchanged. They were also compassionate and caring, and were deeply devoted to their classmates. It is perhaps ironic that this
year, as they celebrate their twenty-fifth reunion, I will celebrate the graduation of my own son from St. Christopher’s. I am proud to have been a member of this community for twenty-six years, and I am honored to have been able to maintain friendships with so many of the Class of ’89. Go Saints!
Remembering the Class of 1989 Corydon Baylor
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hen I was first told that the Class of 1989 wanted me to write a “remembrance” article, I was surprised and amused – some might say my name recollection is something below stellar, that I can barely remember the students I had last year, much less ones from thirty years ago, but I will do my best; please do not feel insulted or slighted if I leave anyone out. I had this class my first year of teaching – clearly I had no idea what I was doing, but I liked doing it and thought this group had enough characters to keep me on my toes in and out of the classroom. I guess I will start with the troublemakers – that would be Jimmy Baber, Will Booker, Todd Brickhouse, Tyler Chapin, Billy Hoofnagle, Eric Morton, Rob Norfleet, Gordon Lewis, and Chris Schroeder. I am sure there were others, but these still register in my mind. I seem to recall a “Devil’s Triangle” in one of my classes that I think consisted of Rob, Chris, and Jimmy. I do remember Tyler being a very strange boy and quirky – liable to say anything to get a reaction. Will was a handful, mainly because he treated English as a second and somewhat exotic language. Eric would always be astonished when reprimanded, since, reasonably enough, it was always my fault when he stepped out of line. Todd was the most intimidating to a first-year teacher – I often wondered when, not if,
he was going to be arrested and thrown in jail. The beauty of the ways things work is that these guys now have sons of their own (I guess someone would be gullible enough to marry them and have offspring), and I am pretty sure the apples are not falling too far from the tree. Then there were the choirboys – those that could do no wrong. This group consisted of Kinloch Nelson, John Chichester, Gray McKinley, Roland Reynolds, and Stephen Stalker. These boys were not nearly as interesting as the troublemakers – they always knew the answers and rarely acted out. This is not to say they remained little angels during their Upper School days. Some of the troublemakers and some of the choirboys were excellent athletes. That really didn’t mean too much to me, but I was impressed with how much sway their athletic talent seemed to carry over to the Middle School hallways. This group would include Todd, Rob, Stephen, Cole Durrill, Will Power, and Lang Williams. Of course, I could be misremembering this – until I took up golf and became a golf coach, the whole coaching thing was beyond my understanding, but I do remember athletics as a perplexingly powerful force in the Middle School. Some of my very favorite students were slightly offbeat and had a unique perspective on all things Saint C. This group would
include Will Armstrong, Christian Perritt, Van Hardenbergh, Matthew Rankin, and David Hubbard. Will, Christian, and Matthew were in my homeroom and were exceptionally tolerant of my clueless performance as a first-year teacher, bemused by my lack of expertise I am sure. David was subversive, and I am sure he is on a “no-fly” list in many countries. Chris Lim was strange even by Middle School standards – he is probably a minister now. Then there were kids I remember because of their ridiculous names – not that I have any right to throw stones. I could not believe I actually taught a boy named “H.” I thought he was kidding when he confirmed that his name was indeed a letter. And he had plenty of company: Armistead, Van, Min-Chul, Lang, Trip, and Fitzhugh are not exactly on the top ten lists of baby names. The other Yeatmans that followed were equally unbalanced – Duffey in particular. The final group I recall were fringe players in at least one of the groups mentioned above. Not super smart, not jocks, not juvenile delinquents, but they could hang with the best of the boys I have named. This list would include Tommy Blue, Chris Boggs, Charlie Kirschbaum, Billy Cox, Charles Honey, John McNeer, Gilmer Minor, and Trip Tepper. They had their moments of insanity and brilliance, as do all Eighth Grade boys.
So, there it is. As I mentioned earlier, I am sure I have blocked out many who should be included in the above lists. My apologies, and my thanks for asking me to write this article. Thinking back on what a frustratingly fun group I had my first year reminds me how lucky I have been to do a job I love at a place that treats students as members of an extended family. I have been blessed, and so have you, to be part of Saint Christopher’s.
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May 2, 2014
The Faculty Remembers Continued
Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect. Samuel Johnson Millon Lamb
T
he St. Christopher’s Class of 1989 added new dimensions to the characteristic of curiosity, and they did it with gusto. Not only did they possess a quality that developed into a vigorous intellect, the gentlemen of this class displayed a memorable style. As the sixth-grade English teacher, I became well acquainted with the energy and imagination of this class. They challenged, questioned, and explored most assignments from diagramming sentences to literary analysis. Before problem solving became vogue in instruction, the Class of ’89 created “problems” to solve. In a classroom where creative expression was of great value, the class was never short of material or imagination. I am certain I heard
every possible excuse for incomplete work. However, I do recall that a prized pet actually ate the homework, and the parent brought me the remains. Relatively soon most learned the perils of incomplete work, and scholarship began to emerge. Lifelong teachers have memories of classes they cherish and, indeed, ones they would rather allow to dim. The Class of ’89 with all of its tricks, antics, and excellence made its mark on me. They were endowed with a special spirit. It was a spirit not only of scholarship but also of honor and commitment. By the end of middle school, those young men formed direction. I saw them being generous of spirit and mindful of responsibility to each other. Unlike many teachers, I had a unique perspective on this class. I
will acknowledge a bias for the class. My son, Douglas, entered St. Christopher’s in the sixth grade and graduated in 1989. It was his good fortune to be part of a group of young men with such promise. Indeed, I knew for 7 years what others may have not known, good and bad. As they made their way to graduation, I saw their missteps, but I also saw curiosity, imagination, spirit, and energy serving these Saints to become vigorous and thoughtful leaders, athletes, scholars, and friends. I celebrate their achievements as Saints on their twenty-fifth anniversary.
1989 Dining Hall Staff
What a class! Don Golladay
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hat a class! I taught these guys Algebra 1 and coached them in Bulldog Basketball and JV Lacrosse. Academically, they were a diversely talented group of young men who loved to joke around with me in class. Fortunately, they knew how to settle down and get to work when I was ready. As 8th graders they were the leaders of the Middle School and took that role seriously. While the success of the majority did not go unnoticed, I was most proud of the few students who started algebra not
sure they could succeed and worked hard to overcome those doubts. I am guessing those same men today are stronger leaders due to the determination they developed that year. Athletically, this class earned many victories combining their talent with hard work. At the time, I was a basketball coach of 15 years without a winning season. This class was able to send me into my retirement with my first winning season. They would have been undefeated but for my efforts to overcoach them in the Collegiate game. As expected, this group
went on to become one of the best varsity basketball teams of that era. I was also fortunate to have them on the JV Lacrosse team for two years. After enjoying these guys for those two seasons, I followed them all the way to the state tournament their senior year. I was happy to see so many guys from those teams go on to positions of leadership on the varsity. This class was the last Bulldog Football team Jim Ackerman ever coached. I took over for him the next year and have always stressed the importance of maintaining the
Bulldog spirit. Though I missed coaching this class in football, I do have fond memories of watching them develop into a successful varsity team. Memories fade as the years pass, but there is one thing I know. Whenever a member of the Class of ’89 comes up to me and introduces himself, I get a special feeling of STC pride, knowing there are so many more fine young men out there making a positive contribution in their community.
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May 2, 2014
The Faculty Remembers Continued
Jay Wood’s Reflections (Reduced) on STC’s Class of 1989 on the Occasion of their 25th Reunion Spring, 2014 Jay Wood
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n August, 1988 I began my rookie year of teaching and coaching at St. Christopher’s. Now in my 26th year at STC – still teaching US English and coaching Varsity Soccer – I continue to feel very fortunate to live and work in this community. Below are a series of memories I have about several members of the Class of 1989 from that rookie year. Gentlemen, I maintain a fond appreciation for that year and for the opportunity to work with you, the Class of 1989. Welcome back for your 25th! During the first week of the term – my first at STC, I did not immediately appreciate Andrew Griffey’s massive size. That first few days of class, he had entered the classroom and sat down before I noticed he was in the room. On perhaps the third or fourth day of the school year, I went down to Williams Dining Hall for lunch after 4th Period English had dismissed. As I got in the hot food line, I remember picking up my tray and utensils to discover I happened to be standing directly behind two huge men. At that moment, Andrew Griffey and Greg Ballowe both turned around and greeted me with affable smiles
and noticeably warm tones of welcome. At a towering 5’8 with shoes on, I was wowed by how enormous these seniors were – and how jovial and easy-mannered. On the essay section of my T1 College Rhetoric exam, John Morrisett noted an error in my directions – an error based on style usage – one of the very errors we’d covered Strunk & White’s Elements of Style : the directions asked students to “Compare and contrast the intellectual, sexual, social, and/or political control these characters exert over the protagonist: Pedro Romero, Edgar (son of Gloucester), Linda Loman, [and] Alec Stokes d’Urberville.” John had retained not only the tenet of the expressed concern (about and/or leading to ambiguity and confusion), he had essentially one-upped me by catching the error in my own written work! John, well done. Years later, I got a terrific letter from John – expressing his appreciation for the precision of language expressed in The Elements of Style; indeed, his career (at that point, at least) was working on the Rules Committee for the U.S. Golf Association. Some of his duties entailed his
responding to written questions about the rules of golf. He shared a few examples which made clear how important precision and concision are in writing with clear expression. J.J. Freitag did excellent work in my T2 elective Three American Stylists: Twain, Hemingway, and Salinger. During his senior year J.J. attended school at STC only three days a week – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. As you may recall, Friday-Monday he worked out with his swim coach in Roanoke. One day in the middle of T2, Ron Smith came in for an English Dept. Meeting. While we were chatting, I mentioned that one of the best students I had attended STC only three days a week. Ron pressed me for details and then pronounced that it should be impossible for a student to pass a St. Chris English class if he were missing 40% of the class time. I lobbied that J.J.’s work was terrific – and usually turned in early. Even though I knew that J.J. was an unusually talented student, Ron’s singular response prompted me to fear that I was somehow neglecting the Upper School English Department standard by not failing J.J.
Having now taught 26 years at STC, I am more cognizant that Kinloch Nelson’s intellectual acumen (in my T2 elective Three American Stylists: Twain, Hemingway, and Salinger)was truly exceptional; indeed, he is likely one of the three most talented students I’ve had the chance to work with in the classroom. Basking in the reflection of his intellect was a truly humbling experience – and his manner was so relaxed and self-effacing, I remain impressed that he didn’t alienate his peers by showing off or seeming a ‘know it all” (though I’m certain he did know far more than the rest of us). In some respects, I wish I hadn’t encountered Kinloch until later in my teaching career so that I could more fully appreciate how special a talent he was (and is). Stephen Stalker was a talented student in my T2 senior English elective Three American Stylists. Occasionally, however, even good students can produce weak responses during a testing situation. On the Final Test for the course, students were presented with six passages and asked to identify the one by each of the three writers we’d studied in depth throughout Continued on Page 32
Walker, Cullather, Baber and Boggs
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The Pine Needle
May 2, 2014
Jay Wood’s Reflections Continued
the trimester. The passages were intentionally selected from works the students had not read – I wanted the students to be able to recognize the writers on the basis of the distinct writing styles evident in the passages I’d provided. Again, three of the passages were by the authors we’d studied – and three passages were ‘filler passages’ I’d selected at random.Stephen’s essay was thoughtfully presented; he wrote a sustained narrative discussing the repetition of diction in one passage , identifying the passage as being the one by Hemingway. Unfortunately for Stephen, the passage came from Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax. I have never forgotten the mismatch of a talented student like Stephen and the identification of Seuss as Hemingway – and have shared the anecdote with scores of students in subsequent years about what not to do – though I’ve never divulged Stephen’s name – until now (Happy 25th Reunion, Stephen!). On the last day of senior classes in May, the students in Mr. Burke’s elective challenged the students in Mr. Szymendera’s elective to a basketball game. The highlight of the game was J.J. Freitag’s dunk over Cole Durrill. Afterwards, I heard several seniors comment,“Wow, J.J.’s an athlete!” Yes – that guy training 4 days a week in Roanoke all year – the one who would missed his own high school commencement a week later to compete in the University games in Zagreb Yugoslavia; the one headed to swim at Stanford – yes – he is an athlete…. In this vein, while STC’s Athletic Banquet has always done a fine job of recognizing and celebrating STC’s stand-out athletes, that the 1989 Athletic Banquet failed to recognize and honor J.J. (because
he did not participate in a Director’s Cup sport) looms as one of the great missed opportunities. The 1988 Varsity Soccer Team finished the season with a record of 9-6-2 in a season with swings of wins, losses, and then wins. The Saints dominated the scoreboard early – scoring all 26 goals scored in our first four games: King William (8-0), Steward (12-0), Trinity (3-0) – and Norfolk (1-2). Yes, we scored all three goals in the loss vs. Norfolk (at home). In the Norfolk game, defender Ashby Hackney opened the scoring when he shanked a clear into the roof of the net. Shortly afterwards, defender Billy Hoofnagle also attempted to clear a ball while under pressure. Unfortunately, he hit a rocket into the side panel (one of the best shots I’ve seen) – Keeper Rice Hall ’90 had absolutely no chance on Billy’s shot: 2-0 for Norfolk. The Saints eventually clawed back with one offensive goal. The next day in Chapel, I enjoyed the cynical needling from Señor Nystrom who asked me, “Is it true that STC scored all 3 goals in yesterday’s game – with two own goals by the defense? And you work with the defense, don’t you?” Carter Brooks demonstrated an innate and reflexive capacity for getting under Stephen Stalker’s skin – teasing, taunting, and playing minor and silly pranks until Stephen would bewail, “Shut-up!” or “Cut it out!” See Exhibit A: Carter giving Stephen a professional set of bunny ears in the official Team Photo for the 1989 Raps & Taps (p. 150). In the spring, I served as an Assistant Coach for the Varsity Lacrosse team, along with Assistants David Anderson and John Burke. My favorite Andy Smith sound-bite occurred during the
first time-out in our first home game on Knowles. Too eager to make big plays, the team’s hyped up state of excitement resulted in a series of poor choices and losses of possession. Andy called time out, walked out on to the field, called the boys in, and said, in a calm and poised manner, “Gentlemen, in the past five minutes you have been guilty of a terrific display of cranial-rectal inversion; I suggest we go back to basics and play as you’ve been coached….”My immediate thought was “Did Andy really just say what I think he did?” I glanced at John Burke whose smirk confirmed my suspicion. I next saw sophomore attackman Bryan Norfleet whose blank stare broadcast a state of bewilderment. Needless to say, I’d never encountered as sophisticated a time-out rhetoric while I played in high school or college. John Reid remains the most talented student speaker I’ve seen in Chapel: he delivered singularly terrific and sustained announcements about a range of topics from the VA Lottery to Dress Code & Student Etiquette. His announcements were more like Op-Ed pieces. No students since has exhibited as much poise or flair while making long announcements – (nor as much of a ham’s love of the spot-light). His announcements, were insightful, funny – and all off the cuff. US Chapel was indeed a stage on which he began to articulate his prodigious public speaking talent. Although he was a less polished speaker in Chapel, I fondly recall one announcement made by Todd Brickhouse which proved the most effective heard or seen that year. For some time, seniors had been expressing umbrage at the practice of underclassmen parking in the senior
parking lot. Having made a number of announcements reminding underclassmen not to park in the senior lot – most with a displeasing tone – Todd Brickhouse entered Chapel late one day, with his hands soiled – and a car tire in his hand. In effort to deliver the message with greater force, Todd had waited until Chapel had begun, jacked up sophomore Brad Parrish’s car, removed a tire, and come to Chapel to deliver the tire to Brad – with a public service announcement for the ages! For our first two years in Richmond, John Burke (Honorary Member of the Class of 1989) and I shared an apartment at 3710 Patterson Avenue (the Georgetown Apartments – between Hamilton and 195). As the 1988-89 school year progressed, we began to receive unsolicited but frequent requests – in person from various seniors – initially just for John, but eventually for me, too, to chaperone at Beach Week. Typically, the individual(s) arrived outside our apartment in high spirits an hour or two after midnight on a Saturday night. They were successful in garnering our attention by repeatedly pounding on the door of the apartment, clamoring in loud voices for admittance. John and I remained committed to exercising damage control of this recurring situation: we refused to open the door and encouraged the visitors to leave. Initially rebuffed, the visitors then felt greater license to shout their request that we be chaperones at Beach Week. Yes, it is hard to imagine indeed that the method of solicitation didn’t just ‘sell’ the request any better…. Gentlemen, welcome back!
Ames and Wallace
Wayne Booker
Stephen Stalker and Sandy West
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The Pine Needle
Class Reunions
10th
15th
20th
May 2, 2014
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1989 Pine Needle Staff
May 2, 2014
2014 Pine Needle Staff Senior Poll
Cross Country Team
Raps & Taps
Ampersand
FAVORITE TEACHER • Burke MOST OBNOXIOUS • Brooks SMARTEST • Nelsen MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED • Reid vs. Boggs 13TH ANNUAL LEONARD SLACK • McKinley vs. Johnson MOST POPULAR • Walk BIGGEST PREP • Sanderson BEST DRESSED • Carpenter MOST LIKELY TO KILL • Lim MOST BONERS • Goodwin BIGGEST PESSIMIST • Yeatman WORST DRIVER • Ames vs. McKinley CLASS CLOWN • Baber COCKIEST • Sanderson vs. Schubmehl BIGGEST LADIES MAN • Goodwin THINKS HE IS • Goodwin MOST LIKELY TO BE A ST CAT’S BOARDER • Johannes BIGGEST PSEUDO • Mo vs. Wallace BIGGEST BROWN NOSE • Norfleet BEST ATHLETE • Durnil THINKS HE IS • Mo MOST LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED • Blue BIGGEST PARTIER • Class of ’89 HONORABLE MENTION • Yar & Edward LACKS MOST COMMON SENSE • Kim SICKEST MENTALLY • Brickhouse BIGGEST FLIRT • Walk BIGGEST REDNECK • Ames BIGGEST PERVERT • Brickhouse BIGGEST • Griffey MOST TALENTED • Freitag BIGGEST CON • Blue 2ND ANNUAL WHO’S WHO AWARD • Tittel