SUFFIELD [2015 Spring/Summer] by Suffield Academy

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

elifor P ycageL ART & DESIGN DIRECTOR Tobye Cook Seck ’88, P’16

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88, P’18

EDITORIAL STAFF Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88, P’18, Linda Colo, Tobye Cook Seck ’88, P’16, Charlie Cahn III P’18, Kris Halpin, Alison Vigneau

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PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88, P’18, Tobye Cook Seck ’88, P’16, Highpoint Pictures, Jonathan Medwid ’96, Risley Sports Photography, Alison Vigneau

Daniel R. Tisch ’69, P’02, President | New York, New York Jackson W. Robinson ’60, Vice President | Boston, Massachusetts Frederic B. Powers III ’83, P’14, Secretary | Greenwich, Connecticut Charles Cahn III, Headmaster | Suffield, Connecticut

Susan W. Autuori P’06, ’08, ’10, ’13 | West Hartford, Connecticut Nancy A. Brooks ’87 | Boston, Massachusetts Cindy M. Burke P’13, ’15, ’17 | East Longmeadow, Massachusetts Dennis W. Chalke P’08, ’12 | Longmeadow, Massachusetts Andrew C. Chase | Deerfield, Massachusetts Kate O. Cleary ’88 | Cambridge, Massachusetts Michael J. Daly ’59, Trustee Emeritus | Longmeadow, Massachusetts George B. Daniels ’71 | New York, New York

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Tracy Orr O’Keefe ’85 | Westfield, New Jersey Rye, New York | o ?Steven ylevR. itiSheresky sop efP’12 il ru yd etc effa dleiffuS sah woH

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environmental policy is to minimize any Jacqueline R. Williams P’04, ’07, ’08 | New York, New York negative impact to the environment, while conserving natural resources. Using ?uoy rof rebmem ytlucaf laitneulfni tsom eht saw / si ohW educational and administrative controls, we MISSION oc sronnoC .srM dna .rM dna ,raevreP .rM ,eyN .rM ,llewkcoR .rMSuffield ,notlim aH .rMis:aem rof ytlucafindependent laitneuflnisecondary ynam erschool ew erserving ehT n geM Academy coeducational, aa diverse continuously assess our processes and .ylkciuofq academic tsom dnexcellence im ot community of boarding and day students. Our school has a tradition practices to identify areas for education combined with a strong work ethic. A commitment to scholarship and a respect for individual btoof dna essorcal htob n hcaoc ywaste, m nee b semissions. ah eH .efil ym ni devlodifferences vni dna eguide m otour luteaching fpleh yrand ev n eeb sahWe ,roengender sivda ym ,etoour oFstudents .rM el K curriculum. among ay sense ini energy, and responsibility, and .ytinummoc dleiffuS eht ot etubirtnoc ot em rof syaw doog tofuo erugfi dna ,sthey htgnare ertchallenged s ym dnatotsgrow redninua ,structured erutam eand m nurturing depleh environment. sah eH

ON THE COVER Lily pads greet the summer sun on Suffield’s Parker Regan ’12 Pond.

The entire academic, athletic, and extracurricular experience prepares our students for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and active citizenship. NON-DISCRIMINATION ?supmac no ecalp etirovaf ruoy si tahW Suffield Academy does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, creed,

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We administer our admissions, financial aid, educational, athletic, extracurricular, and other

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A STORY UNFOLDS

MOMENTS IN SUFFIELD HISTORY

Like any organization dating back nearly two centuries, Suffield’s history is filled with memorable and important moments. The story dates back to the mid-1820s, when the Connecticut Baptists announced their intent to charter a private school. Whichever town could raise $10,000 would receive the charter. The residents of Suffield, eager to have a school in their town, were successful in raising the funds. Despite its founding links to the Baptist Church, the institute quickly moved towards a non-denominational model, and in 1833 was renamed Connecticut Literary Institute, locally known as CLI. This was the only high school in town, and local tax dollars helped pay for each student’s tuition. A boys’ school initially, Connecticut Literary Institute became coeducational in 1843. In 1916 the name was changed to Suffield School and then to Suffield Academy in 1937. Suffield Academy served as both a private academy and the town’s only high school until 1939, when Suffield, Connecticut built a separate public high school. Suffield Academy again became a fully independent boys’ school for boarding and day students. With the new public high school in place, the Academy faced the financial consequences of losing 145 local students and $25,000 in tuition payments from the town. This led to serious questions about the school’s viability. John F. Schereschewsky (1939 to 1941) and Conrad Hahn (1941 to 1952) led the school, and the enrollment during this period dropped to double digits. The position and future of the Academy were grave. It had been weakened by the town’s new plan, America’s economic depression, and the diminishing effects of World War II. It was this landscape that Ap Seaverns inherited when he became headmaster in 1952. Here we trace some of the key moments in Suffield Academy’s history since that time.

MOMENTS IN SUFFIELD HISTORY 1952

1953

1955

1956

1957

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1960

1961

1958

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1966

1964

1967

1968

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1970

1972

1974

1976

1987

Trustees vote to “cease operations” but change course five days later and hire Appleton Seaverns as the school’s 19th headmaster * North Building is remodeled and named Edward A. Fuller Hall Sherman Perry Gymnasium opens * Three cottage dorms open on east side of campus, named for Karl Kulle, William Fuller, and Charles Bissell A film about Suffield Academy—“For the Minds of Men”—is produced by Sterling Movies Cue & Curtain drama club established and actor/comedian Bob Hope visits campus *

M M

1990

1991

1994

1995

1996

1998

1999

2000

1989

LP Bissell Infirmary built and dedicated Gay Mansion purchased by Ap Seaverns “COGS” (Chorus of Good Song) established * Construction begins on Holcomb Hall (science) Brewster Hall opens; former dining facilities in Fuller Hall converted to offices * Fields House purchased (later named Barnes House) New Suffield Bell added to Bell Hill (old Bell moved into Fuller Hall) * Dick Miller ’61 starts a new tradition of forbidding people to walk on the school seal in Brewster Hall * Dedication of Spencer Hall 52 acres purchased beyond Muddy Brook Construction begins on pool and wrestling room Curtis House acquired and made a dormitory School purchases faculty apartment building and houses on Day Avenue The school officially becomes completely independent, separating from the American Baptist Board of Education Ski team established * Lacrosse started as intramural sport Seymour House purchased

M M M

2004

2005

2006

2002

David Holmes ’60 named headmaster Bill Kotchen ’60 follows Jack Billhardt as president of Board of Trustees Suffield begins Laptop Computer Initiative * Four faculty houses on Day Avenue completed Tremaine Visual Arts Center opens in building formerly known as Bissell Infirmary * New quadrangle created behind High Street buildings School purchases 40 acres with farmhouse and barn on Hill Street Ulrich Squash Courts constructed * Courtney Robinson ’88 Outdoor Leadership Center opens * Centurion Hall opens Charles Cahn III named headmaster-elect Leadership Program begins David Holmes resigns; Charles Cahn III appointed 25th headmaster * Appleton Seaverns Athletic Center dedicated Daniel Tisch ’69 follows Donald Opatrny as president of Board of Trustees

2008

Guttag Music Center opens *

2009

Tisch Field House opens *

2010

Swimming pool is extensively renovated *

M M

Hoffman College Counseling Center opens *

2011

Appleton Seaverns resigns; Paul Sanderson named headmaster *

2013

M M

2014

Paul Sanderson resigns; Ken Lindfors named headmaster *

Jeanice Seaverns Performing Arts Center opens *

2015

= Photo shown

David Hursty resigns; Mason Nye named interim headmaster

Ken Lindfors resigns; David Hursty named headmaster

School purchases 219 North Main and names it in honor of Nathena Fuller

M M M

2007

School buys Kent Library

Suffield Academy returns to coeducation as 40 girls enroll *

Gay Mansion restored and dedicated

Synthetic Turf Field constructed Rockwell Hall and Health Center constructed Boys’ Athletic Locker Room dedicated in memory of Alex Steinman ’87 *

Suffield begins four-year college counseling program Dedication of Parker Regan ’12 Pond New science building opens * Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88 Balance Barn opens * Crew Center opens in Ap Seaverns Athletic Center Brewster Hall expansion/Stiles conversion completed * Fred Powers ’83 follows Dan Tisch ’69 as president of Board of Trustees

’00

’60

’10

’74 ’52

’04

’61

’11 ’94 ’56

’07

’77 ’61

’13

’96 ’57

’68

’87

’08 ’14

’58

’72

’89

’99

’09

’15

SUFFIELD Summer / Commencement 2015

FEATURES 1

Suffield History We look at key moments in Suffield Academy’s history since 1952.

Alumni Leadership Day Jay Tompkins ’58, Mike Sheridan ’58, and Gerard Hall ’77 are honored with the school’s most prestigious alumni prize.

30 2015 Commencement Suffield celebrates its 182nd graduation.

ON THE HILL 7

Master Plan Update

Headmaster’s Column

10 Board of Trustees 12 2015 Parents’ Association Auction 15 Alumni Council of Advisors 16 Amazing Race 18 Leadership Projects 20 Chapel 28 College Update 44 Performing Arts 46 Gooch-Vincenti Scholar: Oskar Kvaternik ’16 47 Visual Arts Exhibit 50 Spring Athletics 60 Prom

PROFILES CLASS AGENT 62 Tim Hemingway ’65 ALUMNI 24 Neaves Terry George ’96 and Union Vale Estate 56 Mike DuPont ’00 and Newport Nautical Timbers LEGACY 49 Alums in the News 63 The Reddishes: Megan Kampmann ’77 and Kyle ’16

master plan update

Stiles Walk C

onstruction continues this summer on the expansion of Brewster Hall and conversion of Stiles Lane into a central campus walkway. The work on Stiles is nearly complete, as all of the utilities have been buried underground and the road has been transformed into a design created by Peter Morrow Meyer from Raycroft/Meyer Landscape Architecture in Vermont. Peter worked for many years with Dan Kiley, who created the landscape plan for Suffield’s academic quadrangle in the mid 1990s. Stiles has a series of terraces and walkways with granite and brick paver inlays, creating patterns and meeting spaces. Brick seating walls with limestone caps and lighting help define areas and break up the grade, and they are contrasted by various species. Peter Morrow Meyer described the goals in saying, “Trees and plantings are interspersed, and there are three distinct areas on the east-west axis. The first is a Brewster Hall ‘Fore Court’ to the west of the addition to Brewster, the second a ‘central campus node’ near Spencer Hall, and the last a ‘Terminal Plaza’ near Tisch Field House.” Tulip poplars line the walkway from Brewster Hall to Tisch Field House, and honey locusts with integrated landscape lighting will be on both sides of Brewster’s new entrance. Other species include magnolias and redbuds that will provide a variety of colors and a fern leaf beach by Tremaine Visual Arts Center. Peter Morrow Meyer noted, “The lines of tulip poplars with their high canopy help shape a beautiful western view.” This summer’s focus will be on finishing the ground floor of Brewster Hall, housing the student union, snack bar, social areas, day student lockers, the dean of students’ office, and several food storage and preparation areas. In all, Brewster will expand from 27,000 to 40,000 square feet. “This has been a massive undertaking for the school,” said Headmaster Charlie Cahn. “It will be a great space for our students and faculty and will preserve the wonderful tradition of community lunch through the next era of Suffield’s history. Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible.”

Summer / Commencement 2015

HEADMASTER’S COLUMN Charles Cahn III

his issue highlights Suffield’s 2015 Commencement and remarks from guest speaker Alan Alda GP’15. Graduations are family events symbolizing the turning of chapters in the lives of students and parents. They are about life’s passage.

I recently heard a fictional account about a graduate on campus for his 25th prep school reunion. He wanted to thank the headmaster for inspirational personal advice he shared at commencement, words that helped shape the graduate’s adult life. Of course the headmaster could not remember the advice, and sadly had only vague recollections of the graduate. “Perhaps you could refresh my memory,” the headmaster said. “What was it I said that inspired you so much?” The graduate looked intently at the headmaster and replied, “When you gave me my diploma you shook my hand and said, ‘Keep moving. Just keep moving.’ I think about this advice every day.”

SUFFIELD

This phrase—keep moving—speaks to how we pursue goals at Suffield, always trying to improve as people and as a school. Alan Alda highlighted our motto: Esse quam videri (To be rather than to seem). “It’s a motto that asks you a serious question,” he said. “Do you do or just look like you do? From what I’ve seen, Suffield is a school that not only asks you that question—it gives you a chance to answer it.” I’ll never forget author Jay McInerney’s words at a Suffield graduation describing the high school years as the hardest, most anxiety ridden, and most challenging of his life. We are saddled with increasingly serious academic responsibilities at just the moment we are undergoing the awkward physical and psychological transition from childhood to adulthood. As commencement rolls around each year I also think of a letter a parent sent me as his son prepared to graduate. He spoke of the family’s decision to enroll their son at Suffield (not falling through the cracks), his initial adjustment (bumpy), and the faculty members that helped him grow and mature. His freshman year was a trying one. There were many reasons for his mediocre performance. He was a small fourteen-year-old. He was not sure if he wanted to be home with his friends or at Suffield. He was simply young and insecure, and probably a little homesick. We, of course, were worried we may have made the wrong decision. The low point of the year was the little mess he got into skiing. I know he thought he let you down. His sophomore year was one of transition. He was distraught about getting his last dorm choice, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him. He had some veteran teachers that gave him some extra help, a little kick in the pants, a pat on the back, and the confidence to put in the extra effort. The father went on to discuss his son’s many successes as a student, athlete, and actor, closing with words all parents can understand. Despite his faults, he is a good kid. I love him to death. I could strangle him sometimes but would die a thousand painful deaths for him. He has grown immensely at Suffield but still has a ways to go. I cannot wait until he is through with his education. He will have a rude awakening about money, saving, and finances. I hope he can handle the non-structured environment in college. He seems to genuinely care about Suffield. I think he will miss it, but it will probably be years before he fully realizes what Suffield has done for him. One of the great rewards of being an educator must be having a positive impact on a student’s life. I remember when you were recruiting our son, you stressed that Suffield’s great strength lies in the personal concern and support shown each student. You were certainly telling the truth. Yes, a faculty member’s purest motivation is making a positive difference in the lives of students, helping them genuinely develop as people. At Suffield, where our destinies are thrown together in a unique way, we see this growth up close. So we celebrate our good fortune as another academic year passes, knowing this community with its beautiful surroundings has a valuable purpose of people striving together to reach common, worthwhile goals.

“This phrase—keep moving—speaks to how we pursue goals at Suffield, always trying to improve as people and as a school.”

Summer / Commencement 2015

on the Hill

board of trustees update

Dan Tisch ’69, P’02, Charlie Cahn P’18, and Fred Powers ’83, P’14

uffield had a momentous Board of Trustees meeting on May 1 and 2, 2015, as three members concluded their service, three were chosen as new board members, and Fred Powers ’83, P’14 was elected as board president as of July 1.

Jackie Williams, Matthew Greene, and Karen McDonald concluded their service at the meeting. Jackie was on the board for 12 years, serving as part of the executive committee from 2006 to 2014. The Williams family has passionately supported Suffield. Jackie and Gene’s three sons are all graduates: Gene ’04, Harry ’07, and Philip ’08. Jackie has also been an active leader in the New York community, serving as president of the women’s board for the Boys Club of New York and on the executive committee of the special projects committee of Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital. She is on the board of Freedom Institute, helping families and individuals dealing with addiction. Jackie worked in publishing for Condé Nast Publications. Board president Dan Tisch said, “Jackie brought to the board the perspective of a connected parent who sought for Suffield to continue to deliver the excellence in the educational experience that benefited her three sons.” Charlie Cahn noted, “Jackie always brought good judgment, optimism, and concern for everyone here to our meetings and discussions.” Matt Greene joined the board in 2006. He is president of Matthew Greene Educational Consulting, LLC, and works in affiliation with Howard Greene & Associates. He is the author of several books about colleges and college admissions, and has co-hosted several programs on these subjects on PBS. Matt is frequently quoted on educational issues in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and interviewed on NPR radio programs. He lives in Wilton, Connecticut with his wife Margaret and their four children. Matt noted, “I learned a great deal about leadership from Charlie Cahn, Dan Tisch, and others on the Suffield Board, and learned even more about all that is involved in running an outstanding school, one that knows its mission and focuses every day on achieving it.” Dan Tisch commented, “As a member of a highly regarded educational advisory practice, Matt Greene helped the Board of Trustees understand the secondary school marketplace and thrive in this environment.”

SUFFIELD

on the Hill

Karen McDonald P’12 joined the Suffield board in October 2009. Originally from Farmington, Connecticut, Karen spent much of her life in the Boston area and has lived in Manhattan for the past 15 years. She has worked for several companies, including her own, as an interior designer. Karen has served several non-profit organizations including Phillips Exeter Academy, Fessenden School, The Park School, New Yorkers for Parks, City Parks Foundation, the Japan Society of New York, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Unit, and the Harvard Council on Asia. She currently serves on the board of the Noguichi Museum and chairs the development committee. Karen has three children, and her daughter Izzy was in Suffield’s Class of 2012. She commented, “I always looked with great pleasure at the opportunity to head to Suffield for our board meetings. The privilege of watching my daughter grow up—and truly thrive at Suffield— gave me a vantage point to share what I thought was working so very well, what might be improved, and even what we might dream of attaining. To his immense credit, Charlie Cahn was always very welcoming, receptive, and very responsive to trustees’ perspectives and points of view. My daughter and I experienced firsthand the Charlie Cahn brand of caring and will never forget it.” Dan Tisch said, “The Suffield Board of Trustees is a combination of parents, alumni, and educators. The perspective of parents is important in our deliberations and Karen McDonald always balanced the immediate perspective of a parent with the long-term focus of the institution.” Three new board members will begin their service in the fall of 2015: Jared Carillo ’00, James Michel P’12, ’17, and Monica Shay P’18. They will be profiled in the next issue of SUFFIELD.

Karen McDonald and her daughter Izzy ’12

As noted in the winter/spring issue of SUFFIELD, Dan Tisch ’69, P’02 will remain on the Suffield board but pass the presidency on to Fred Powers ’83, P’14. Dan became board president in 2006. He leads Mentor Partners in New York. He previously worked at Salomon Brothers in New York, holding various positions in the equity and risk arbitrage departments, including managing director. Dan is also a trustee and member of the executive committee at New York University. Fred worked with his three brothers in leading Powers Fasteners, a family-owned company that provided innovative fastening solutions for more than 75 years. It was sold to Stanley Black & Decker in 2012. He has been on the Suffield Board since 1996, serving on the executive committee and chairing the development committee. Dan said, “I know that the school will continue to grow and thrive under the leadership of Fred Powers. He brings the necessary qualifications and perspectives (as both a parent and a graduate) to help Suffield continue to evolve and grow, while staying true to its mission. I look forward to helping him succeed.” Fred remarked, “I have some big shoes to try and fill after the great leadership of Dan Tisch, Don Opatrny P’02 (president from 2003 to 2006), and Bill Kotchen ’60, P’89, ’90. I enjoy working with Charlie Cahn, and look forward to being his partner in helping Suffield continue to flourish.”

Jackie and Gene Williams with their three sons: Harry ’07, Philip ’08, and Gene ’04

Matthew Greene

Summer / Commencement 2015

on the Hill

Parents’ Association Auction

uffield family members visited campus for Parents’ Weekend on April 24 and 25. Parents attended classes, met with faculty, and watched athletic contests. More than 250 parents, trustees, and faculty also attended the 16th Annual Parents’ Association Auction. The event raised more than $320,000 for support of the Brewster Hall expansion and an endowment for faculty travel grants. Congratulations to the winners of the 2015 Audi Q5 raffle—the Sacco family—who have had three children at Suffield and a fourth enrolling in September. Suffield is grateful to everyone who helped make the auction successful and wants to again thank co-chairs Kathy Doten P’14, ’16 and Janet Rosenkranz P’15, ’17.

Pictured above: Penn Sullivan, Janet Rosenkranz P’15, ’17, Kathy Doten P’14, ’16 From left to right: James and Monica Shay P’18, Hillary Cahn ’88, P’18 and Lee Baldwin ’88, P’18, Trustee Kathy and Bradley Hoffman P’13

SUFFIELD

on the Hill

Parents’ Weekend

Pictured above: Mac ’16 and Katharine Dickerson From left to right: Jennifer, Aubrey ’18, and Paul Sanford, Franz and Tish Krieg P’17, Lindsay ’15 and Donna Reilly

Summer / Commencement 2015

on the Hill

earth day Suffield students participated in various environmentally related activities with their advisors in April. These centered on learning and teaching the principles of Earth Day and included enhancing campusrecycling areas, switching light bulbs, exploring the nature center at nearby Northwest Park, planting seeds and flowers, making signs about recycling, sustainability practices, and environmental organizations, and volunteering at a local nursery (Goodyear Farms).

chill on the hill On a beautiful spring day, Suffield held its annual Chill on the Hill. The many attractions included inflatable jousting, a dunk tank, a bounce house, a rock wall, bungee trampolines, an obstacle course, and airbrush tattoos. Several Leadership classes sponsored events to help raise money for charitable causes. These included face painting, tie-dye t-shirts, and a dart toss game with various prizes. A cookout with a live acoustic band playing on the Tremaine Arts Center terrace concluded the event. It gave students a relaxing opportunity to unwind as they prepared for the final stretch of the 2014-15 academic year.

SUFFIELD

on the Hill

From left to right David Appleby ’05, Meredith Rarus ’07, Matt Shifrin ’05, Susan Korte ’02, Ted Fuller ’05, Sari Biddelman ’02, Kellyn McGarity ’02, Paige Diamond ’01, Anna Childs ’07, Steve Marangos ’07, Russ Hearn ’01, Eric Litmer ’06, Alison Leonard ’06, Katie Hoffmaster ’03, Laura Monty ’08, Mike DiPietro ’07, Brie Beaudette ’07, Matt Wiggin ’06, Michael Tisch ’02, Manny Simons ’00, Kip Moncrief ’02, Alexandra Garrison ’03, Peter Snedeker ’02

alumni council of advisors Suffield’s Alumni Council of Advisors was created in 2011 at the suggestion of Michael Tisch ’02 as an avenue for younger alumni to be active at the school. Michael and fellow alums Peter Snedeker ’02 and Colin Riendeau ’01 wrote a proposal to create the council, which was accepted by the Board of Trustees. For the past four years, a group of dedicated alumni volunteers have returned to campus for fall and spring weekends. They focus on various initiatives and give suggestions to school leaders about Suffield’s direction and future. Session discussions revolve around items including marketing and communication, development, curriculum, and campus master planning. In addition, two council members are invited to shadow the fall and spring meetings of the Board of Trustees. Director of Development Phil Riegel ’87 commented, “It has been a tremendous experience for me to watch these young alumni, who care so deeply about our school, come back in this role. Their input has helped shape some major decisions, and we are fortunate to have such dedication and investment from this young group of professionals.”

robotics The ‘Suffield Academy Robotics Fair’ was organized by Min (Chris) Choi ’16 and held in April. Elementary and middle school students were invited to attend and learn about robotics and engineering. Participants used LEGO MINDSTORMS kits (purchased with funds donated by the Lombardo family P’12, ’14) to build and program robots capable of completing several challenges. These ranged from simple instructions (driving a certain distance or turning a certain amount) to more intricate programs that involved reading values from sensors and taking appropriate action. Students from Suffield Academy’s Introduction to Computer Science (Honors) course worked with LEGO MINDSTORMS as part of their regular course work. Several of them volunteered time to help participants build and program their robots, including Chris Ennis ’17, Megan Varney ’17, Jason Louro ’17, and Edwin Wallis ’16. Opatrny Chair of Technology Jason Healy oversaw the event.

Summer / Commencement 2015

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Gray Johnson ’15 and other students worked with Dean of Students Greg Lynch this spring to plan and execute Suffield’s “Amazing Race.” Modeled after the popular award-winning television show, the race included physical, mental, and memory challenges. This first elimination leg of the race featured challenges such as shooting basketball foul shots and memorizing banners in Kinne Court, and subsequent legs involved climbing at the SOLO barn and activities on the high ropes course. The six legs of the race were based on different regions of the world, including Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. Challenges centered on the culture in each region, and students from these parts of the world were used as judges and supporters. All areas of the Suffield campus and most of the school’s facilities were used in creating a challenging course for the participants. A crew of students led by Jason Louro ’17 filmed the race and created a version of the popular TV show for Suffield Academy (shown weekly during community lunch). Greg Lynch said, “Gray did a great job creating and organizing this event. It provided excitement on campus throughout the spring, and members of the Class of 2016 are eager to help lead it again next year.” Daniel Bennett ’16 will help spearhead these efforts.

Summer / Commencement 2015

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The hard work of these students and teachers benefits both our school and our community.â&#x20AC;?

SUFFIELD

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Sophomore leadership projects

Community service projects are a central part of the sophomore Leadership Program curriculum. Students plan the logistics of the projects with their teachers and TAs during the winter term, and the projects are executed each spring. This year’s efforts included volunteer work in elementary schools, and with homeless support organizations, local farms, and animal rescue shelters. Each section of sophomore Leadership highlighted its projects with displays in Centurion Hall on May 19. Leadership Program Director David Rockwell ’58 said, “The hard work of these students and teachers benefits both our school and our community. Our sophomores learn all the positive aspects of helping others and accomplishing valuable goals. This has become a key and successful part of our Leadership Program.”

Summer / Commencement 2015

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Spring

Chapel Kent-Davis Speaking Competition

A great Suffield tradition continued with the annual Kent-Davis Speaking Competition. Thirteen Suffield seniors competed in two categories: 1) writing quality and presentation, and 2) excellent oratory skills. The Emmett Kent Public Speaking Prize is awarded to a student who presents an original speech in three minutes or less, and the Charles G. Davis Oratory Prize is awarded to a student who presents an adaptation of an original piece of writing, authored by someone other than the writer. This year’s Kent Competition participants included Frances Bingham, Abby Blyler, Kira Demitrus, Piper Holliday, David Johnston, Jesse Phillips, Kim Meunier, Jenny Teich, and Ingunn Ukvitne. The Davis speakers were Amanda Baildon, Stephanie Greer, Lindsay Hayden, and Alex Mainolfi. Lindsay Hayden won the Davis Oratory Prize for beautifully delivering part of Eve Ensler’s “Manifesta to Young Women and Girls,” and Abby Blyler received the Kent Prize for her talk about how we are writing essays each day through our lives, and about using meditation and other strategies to manage a focus on perfection.

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Andrew Beiter

Andrew Beiter spoke about the devastating effects of genocide around the world. His unique approach was demonstrated by an exercise involving a Jerry can full of water. Andrew asked Suffield students to pass the can around the chapel while thinking about the children in Africa who carry these multiple times a day. “Put yourselves in their shoes,” he commented. After showing the Water is Life’s First World Problems video, Andrew then said, “I can tell by your silence that you get it: we live in a beautiful world here.” Andrew is the co-founder and board president of the Educators’ Institute for Human Rights in Rwanda, the founder of the Summer Institute for Human Rights and Genocide Studies of Buffalo, a regional education coordinator for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, a consultant for Kerry Kennedy’s “Speak Truth to Power” program, the coeducation director of the Robert H. Jackson Center, and the coordinator for the Next Generation Education Initiatives of the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo. His overarching goal is to educate students by broadening their knowledge of historical mass genocide. “I come to you not as an expert but as a human being,” he commented. His three pieces of advice—which he hopes will change our world—are 1) to ask every student to work backwards from their deathbed (i.e., how they would like to be remembered?); 2) find their issue and passion; and 3) start small but dream big.

Sabbatical Presentations

Andy Lowe’s grant found him looking for the “presence of the past in the present.” He is interested in how a country’s past is intertwined with the present, as seen both in iconography and everyday life. Andy’s travels took him to greater Bangkok, Southwestern Thailand, and much of Honshu, Japan. He noted that Japan and Thailand have a related—and rare—distinction: before World War II neither country had to suffer any period of prolonged occupation or colonization by a foreign power. He said, “This legacy has endowed each of them with a unique sense of destiny and national pride, despite the ravages of the mid-century Pacific War.” In the classroom Andy sees many opportunities to expose students to the enduring Thai and Japanese world views, even as they embrace continued modernization and global integration. Music teacher Tom Gotwals began his chapel presentation with a performance of J.S. Bach’s Prelude in C Major from the Well-Tempered Clavier. He explained how, inspired by an academic committee conversation about electronic textbooks, he spent his summer digitizing his music theory materials. With the aid of a new laptop and a new digital piano, and with help from colleague Beth Bailey, Tom converted the musical scores he uses in class to PDFs. After slicing them up (digitally, of course), he synchronized his own recording of the Bach and a commercial recording of a Beethoven symphony to video of the passing measures and pages of the written music. The resulting music videos were used in class to help students learn to follow musical scores during performances, helping as an aid to both harmonic and formal analysis. After briefly discussing the role of jazz in last summer’s community text (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet), Tom ended his presentation with a performance of Charlie Parker’s Yardbird Suite and Thelonius Monk’s Straight No Chaser, ably assisted by staff members Bill Arnold on drums and Jeff Giglio on guitar. Summer / Commencement 2015

alumni leadership awards o

n May 4, three Suffield alumni were honored on campus during the school’s 13th annual Alumni Leadership Day Awards program. The Alumni Association created the program to honor Suffield graduates who have displayed notable leadership in their professional careers or in humanitarian endeavors. The Alumni Leadership Awards Committee is comprised of alumni, students, and faculty members. This year’s committee members were Ed Kaplan ’77, David Rockwell ’58, Phil Riegel ’87, Harry Melendez III ’87, Anthony Deni ’15, Tyler Ersoff ’15, Drew Mahoney ’15, Drew Martin ’15, Camille Mason ’15, Endy Morales ’15, and Ali Walsh ’15.

Gerard Hall ’77 opened the event by describing his postgraduate year at Suffield. “I was very welcomed by the community. I welcomed it, and because of that it was a transformative experience. Seeds were planted by the teachers I met here and by being exposed to things I had never been exposed to before.” He reminded the students that “as you are going through this you don’t realize the impact of what you are absorbing.” Gerard said the foundation of his professional success was tied to making a connection between live scoring systems and standard television computer graphics equipment. He created the first interface between live timeless scoring and graphic equipment, leading to an exclusive agreement with ESPN and continued success in his field. Mike Sheridan ’58 began his remarks by saying, “If I break down crying it’s not because I’m sad; it’s because I’m really happy to be here.” He described his three-year experience as a Suffield day student and his love for both school and sports. His advice was about the importance of “pivoting” as life evolves. He referenced a Heraclitas quote: “No man ever steps in the same river twice.” Mike said, “Everything is changing and you don’t ever really know where you are going.” He reflected on his experiences after Suffield at Amherst College. “I thought I should do something practical,” Mike said, “and for some reason I thought I would be a chemical engineer. I was really fascinated with the way atoms fit together to form molecules. That was interesting to me.” Mike then described his love of athletics and playing football and baseball at Amherst. Unfortunately, the 3 p.m. baseball games conflicted with the end of his chemistry classes. “And I was the lead off batter,” he said. So in his junior year, Mike switched his major to geology, largely because he had more flexibility with his schedule. Four years later, he had a PhD in Geology from Stanford. “I liked the arrangement of atoms and the structure,” he commented. “There is something really aesthetic about minerals.” Yet Mike’s focus would change again. He headed off for a job at Arizona State University, earning a NASA grant to study the origins of life, but shortly after found himself at Volcano Hekla. Mike thought, “Why am I studying minerals and rocks when I can

SUFFIELD

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study this?” He commented, “I went to study these active phenomena, which have brought me to the most explosive volcanoes in the world.” Mike now dedicates his professional life to using his experience and modern technology to perform probability analysis of active volcanoes, how serious they could be, and how people can escape their damage. Jay Tompkins ’58 spoke of arriving at Suffield in 1954, when the school was “near bankruptcy.” He said, “It was just after the Korean War and 10 years after World War II. A lot of our teachers had been in the war one way or another.” He reminded students that Suffield was not coed at the time and how wonderful it is to have a school full of young women and men. “Try to imagine what this was like with no computers, cell phones, or televisions,” Jay said. “TV was just starting, it was very expensive, and you could hardly see the screens.” He said Suffield was not nearly as strong a school in his years as it is today, but a big difference was that the American job market was wide open when students of his generation were finishing college. He remarked that “jobs were everywhere when I graduated from Williams. It was not nearly as competitive as today in that area.” Jay was eager to remind Suffield students that their time here is one of great opportunity. “You have the care of this wonderful faculty and you have a chance to experiment. What I feel you have to do is find yourself here, find the confidence in yourself to feel like you are ready to move on when you graduate. Dream big dreams about your life—there is no reason not to dream—but realize you have to think about it all a little earlier than your predecessors did.”

Gerard Hall ’77

Gerard is the founder and CEO of SMT, the award winning purveyor of high-tech solutions that integrate real-time sports data and 3-D visualizations into live television broadcasts. Gerard played soccer at Suffield, earning all-WNEPSSA honors. He earned an AB in economics at Harvard and won the prestigious St. Andrews Scholarship to study at Edinburgh University, where he pursued an MS in encryption theory. Gerard wrote scoring systems for the PGA TOUR, Indy Car, and X-Games, and is responsible for creating all scoring formats for every sport in the X-Games. In 1995, Gerard changed sports television by creating technology that displayed persistent, on-air, graphic scoreboards during sports telecasts. In 2001, he patented technology for the yellow first down line. SMT wrote the official scoring systems for the NBA, NHL, PGA TOUR, NASCAR, Masters, British Open, Olympic tennis and golf, and all four tennis Grand Slams. SMT enhances 3,000 telecasts per year, including the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby, Indy 500, Stanley Cup, NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, Olympics, and Crossfit Games. Gerard turned watching live sports on television into a great professional career.

Mike Sheridan ’58

Following his four years at Suffield, Mike attended Amherst College and earned a bachelor’s degree in geology. In 1965, he returned to Amherst to teach mineralogy and petrology classes after completing a master’s and PhD in geology at Stanford University. He then moved to Arizona State University for 24 years, where he developed a passion for volcanoes after volcano Hekla in Iceland erupted in 1970. Mike taught volcanology and petrology at ASU and has performed extensive research on volcanoes in Latin America and Italy. He contributed to numerous collaborations as a visiting professor in Japan, Mexico, and New Zealand. In 1990, Mike moved to University of Buffalo as chair of the geology department and assembled one of the best volcanology teams in the country over the next 20 years. Mike “retired” from UB in 2006 and took a position as director for the Center of Geohazard Studies. In this role, Mike organized an international conference in Colombia to discuss tensions surrounding the volcano Nevado de Ruiz, which killed over 30,000 people after erupting in 1985. His work has evolved into studying the most dangerous volcanoes around the world, including Italy’s Mount Vesuvius, and focusing on disaster prevention and forecast management and mitigation.

Jay Tompkins ’58

Jay is owner and president of Saga Investment Company Incorporated, a money management, venture capital investment firm that offers financial advice to small private and not-for-profit organizations. Prior to founding Saga, he worked at Morgan Stanley from 1967-1993, focusing on investment banking, including mergers and acquisitions. During his last five years at the firm, Jay headed the Asian Equity business, which was headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. In addition to his successful career in finance, Jay was named the vice chairman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which fulfills wishes of children with lifethreatening or terminal illnesses. He was later named chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Region. Following his four years at Suffield, Jay attended Williams College and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1962. He then served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy and earned his master’s in finance from Columbia University Graduate School of Business in 1967.

Summer / Commencement 2015

the land, the people, the light: A Look at Neaves Terry George ’96

BY JONATHAN medwid ’96

It is loud. It is really loud. It is the sound of hands slamming tiles on a dried wooden table, echoing in a concrete room. The peeper frogs are chirping wildly with equal volume, and it just rained.

There is the unmistakable sweet smell of burnt coconut coals in the air. I hear cheers of laughter in a foreign tongue I still do not understand. Patois is an unwritten language, learned from parents or friends but not taught in school. It is a French Creole dialect that, at this time, sounds aggressive as their hands continue to slap dominoes on the table like the crack of a whip. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cricket match is playing on a tired, old television, and a gecko sits patiently on the windowsill, hunting for its dinner. I am at the bar drinking a Piton, the mystic mountain brew, named after the iconic and majestic Piton mountains. This is a gathering ground, a shack built with broken concrete cement and a haphazard tin roof. It also sells necessities and local bread, even toilet paper, to many that still do not have running water in their homes. I am sitting quietly as an observer while beginning to write this story on my iPhone, which seems very odd to me in comparison. I am undistracted by the noise, the heat, the language, and the laughter. I am simply mesmerized by this scene that has now become so common to me but to many is still so entirely foreign, while attempting to acknowledge and explain how I got here and how it is that I met Neaves Terry George â&#x20AC;&#x2122;96. Neaves was born on March 14, 1977. Being one of five brothers and sisters, he grew up in a modest Caribbean style house made of cinder blocks, mixed cement, and a similar tin roof located in a small community of Choiseul known as Ravineau, on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Running water and electricity were luxuries he did not yet have until his family moved to Union Vale Estate Ltd. in 1986, a 238-acre cocoa plantation located in the town of Soufriere. His mother, Miss Josephine George, served as the estate manager of Union Vale Estate Ltd. St. Lucia is represented well by its motto: The Land, The People, The Light. Named after Saint Lucy of Syracuse by the original French settlers, it is now a sovereign island on the eastern side of the Caribbean Sea, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, with Martinique visible to the North.

Summer / Commencement 2015

...Because I am friendly and like initiating conversation, Suffield fit me perfectly. The atmosphere helped open new parts of my personality... Nearly 175, 000 Lucians, of mostly African or mixed African-European heritage, occupy the island of 238 square miles. At its highest point, Mount Gimie rises to nearly 3,120 feet above sea level, making the volcanic island of St. Lucia more mountainous than any other in the Caribbean. However, it is the Gros and the Petit Piton mountains on the southwestern side that form the island’s most famous landmark. Tourism remains a vital part of St. Lucia’s economy as the government tries to revitalize the banana industry. But to me, St. Lucia’s gold is its cocoa, and yes, it does grow on trees. Located in the town of Soufriere and nestled below the Gros Piton, Union Vale Estate Ltd. spans over 238 acres of hilly land. It is owned and operated by World’s Finest® Chocolate, the Chicago-based parent company. At once entirely dedicated to the growth of cocoa, the estate now boasts an impressive amount of diverse horticulture, including the Julie mango and salmon trees, the Jamaican arkee and moringa trees, papaya, sour oranges, banana and cinnamon trees, cherry plants, coffee, lemons and limes, grapefruit and pineapple, tangerines, sweet potato and dasheen, ores, cucumber, coconut, sweet peppers, watermelon, tomato and avacado, bamboo, red cedar, and even soursop, all beautifully cared for by a staff of 30 full-time employees. Union Vale Estate Ltd. provides World’s Finest® Chocolate with close to 20% of its entire supply of cocoa used to manufacture their product. There is an average of about 30 beans in each pod of cocoa. The cocoa is harvested numerous times during the course of a single year, fermented, dried, and transported in bags. Each bag of dried beans weighs 160 pounds, and, on average, Union Vale Estate Ltd. produces about 100 bags per year. It was in 1939 that Edmond Opler Sr. started the Cook Chocolate Company, and in 1972 the company officially changed its name to World’s Finest® Chocolate, a pioneer in the sale of chocolate products as charitable fundraising. Although this third-generation family-owned company began by selling packaged cocoa powder, it now proudly crafts its own chocolate directly from the cocoa bean. Neaves arrived at Suffield Academy in 1992, and although his soccer skill was extremely underdeveloped, his cheetah-like speed was not. Oh, was he fast, dominating in both the 100-meter as well as the 200-meter races in the spring. He received the track team’s most valuable player award consecutively in 1994, 1995, and 1996. More impressively, he remained undefeated as the New England long jump champion throughout his entire career. I met Neaves on the soccer field the very first day I arrived as a Suffield student. We were virtually inseparable as friends, and like Peter Pan to his shadow, I must have stitched him to my shoes. His outgoing personality, insatiable laughter, and heartfelt kindness seemed contagious, and it would prove nearly impossible not to smile along with him. He attended Suffield Academy through the support of a scholarship created by Edmond Opler, Sr. and World’s Finest® Chocolate. In his own words, Neaves described to me how this happened. “When I was 9 years old, I used to show my schoolwork to Mrs. and Mr. Opler Sr., and they were quite impressed with my performance. I used to admire lots of things about the United States on television. In March of 1991, my mom came to me and told me that Mrs. and Mr. Opler Sr. were going to send me to school in the States. It was like a dream come true. Then, sometime in early 1992, the late Pat Opler took me to interviews at Westminster, Deerfield, Suffield, and the Gunnery. Suffield accepted me first, and I accepted them immediately.” Suffield Academy builds unique and meaningful life-long relationships, and if you are reading this article you may already understand why. When I asked Neaves whether or not he had a favorite teacher, his response was as naturally respectful and personable as he is himself. “I did not have one favorite teacher. I had favorite teachers—I developed a special relationship with everyone I encountered. However, I owe my experience, and my acceptance to Suffield Academy to the most charming Judy Killam Campbell ’83. From the very first time we met each other, we had a special connection. She was the reason I chose Suffield, and it was her influence that got me accepted.” At Suffield, students develop strong connections with faculty. This is the foundation of a community based on personal and caring relationships. Here, students have as much of an impact on faculty as faculty have on students.

When we graduated in 1996, Neaves and I both enrolled at Wesleyan University, where his soccer skills greatly improved. Choosing to major in earth and environmental sciences, he was again awarded the same scholarship to attend Wesleyan. Throughout all the years at Suffield and Wesleyan, he would spend his holidays with my family. He had his own room, and my family became an extension of his own. I met his mother, Miss Josephine, as well as the Oplers for the first time at our Suffield Academy graduation, and again at our graduation from Wesleyan. Miss Josephine also stayed with us in our home and shared the same laughter, smile, and infectious kind heart. From 2003 to 2004, Neaves was employed as a concrete plant operator and supervisor for the Lagan Holdings construction company in St. Lucia. From 2006 to 2011, he maintained the same position for C.O. Williams Precast Ltd. However, when Miss Josephine passed away in 2010, he was asked by the Opler family to take over the management role at Union Vale Estate Ltd. He, of course, accepted the responsibility. The philanthropy and generosity of the Oplers and World’s Finest® Chocolate are inspiring and rewarding. It is no coincidence that the Oplers pioneered a company dedicated to the business of fundraising, or that they continue to support the local economic and educational growth of St. Lucia. It is a family owned and operated business that treats its employees like family. I met Neaves at Suffield Academy in 1993, over 20 years ago. For what the Oplers, Miss Josephine, and Suffield Academy have given to him, all should be equally proud of the better man he now is because of it. When he reflects on his life and the opportunity to attend Suffield, Neaves speaks with respect and gratitude for what he believes was an invaluable experience. It is clear to me that the diversity at Suffield depends on individuals like Neaves to share and support such a dynamic community. For it is not just the experience here that matters, but also how it continues to impact and influence our lives as we live beyond it. “Suffield Academy is a diverse prep school, and this enabled me to meet people from all over the world. Because I am friendly and like initiating conversation, Suffield fit me perfectly. The atmosphere helped open new parts of my personality. Much of my job presently deals with managing the hospitality of American tourists, and skills I learned at Suffield have helped tremendously. It is sometimes very touching to read the numerous positive comments that guests write about me and their experience here on Union Vale Estate Ltd.” Two years ago the Opler family of World’s Finest® Chocolate tore down the house that Neaves grew up in on Union Vale Estate Ltd. and built him a bigger one in its place. As active manager, he now lives there with his wife Christine and daughter Terrisa, and they will soon be joined by a new son. I visit as often as I can to see his infectious smile and his loud laughter. It is really loud.

CLASS OF

2015

SUFFIELD

after sa amherst college babson college bentley university berklee college of music brandeis university clemson university colgate university college of charleston connecticut college cornell university elon university georgetown university hamilton college hampshire college lafayette college middlebury college new york university northwestern university parsons the new school for design pitzer college southern methodist university tufts university university of california, berkeley university of massachusetts, amherst university of north carolina at chapel hill university of richmond university of southern california university of st. andrews university of vermont wesleyan university xavier university

As detailed in the last issue of SUFFIELD, the Class of 2015 was the first graduating class to experience the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four-year college counseling program. They took full advantage of the extensive resources and programming, and found great success throughout the college process. They submitted over 1,000 applications to nearly 300 different colleges and universities. This class was ambitious and thoughtful in their college choices. They will head to a vast range of schools in September, from private colleges near Suffield to some of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest universities. Below is a sampling of schools they chose.

Class of 2015 Baccalaureate

Nick Alfano ’15

{baccalaureate speaker}

ello everyone, and an early congratulations to the Class of 2015, the largest and most attractive in Suffield’s history. We have all done this before. Leaving Suffield and everyone here for the summer, knowing that we would return in the fall. We had this security net in which we knew we’d see another sunset, eat another buffalo chicken sandwich, and most importantly, see our friends again. Today, we know that is not the case. This is the last time we will all be in the same room together, and we won’t be coming back to see each other. The more I pondered this sobering thought, the more I realized all may be okay. We are ready to move on as a class. This class is ready for bigger things, and I think that’s extraordinary to find in a group of students who have truly been committed to their high school. Christian is ready to move on as a student athlete, while Prao is ready to light up New York with her artwork, and Forbes is just ready to rule the world. They have all stayed dedicated to their responsibilities at SA and have shown pride in doing so. Think about all the great things members of this grade have done and records we hold. We won New England titles in football, skiing, swimming, basketball, and softball. We invented the Amazing Race. Thanks, Gray. I think our class has more students inducted to the Torch and Cum Laude society than any other class in history. I did do a fact check of this by counting the names on the brown panels in Fuller. And lastly, we hold the record for getting the union speakers taken away the most amount of times. All of these accomplishments point to the fact that every one of us grew up here.

Now, I have had Mr. Pentz as an AP Economics teacher this past year, and whether that’s a good or bad thing, I’ve yet to figure out, but I know he feels a certain way about this statement. Right before March break he brought something up to my class. And forgive me if this isn’t perfect, Mr. Pentz, but he said something like this: that if you graduate at the end of May like we all will tomorrow, and come back to campus by mid-October, something must be wrong and you haven’t been willing to open a new chapter of your life. Legend has it no one has ever won an argument with Mr. Pentz, but I don’t agree with this statement. No matter what our deepest feelings are about Suffield, whether we’ve spent nine months here or 17 years, we will always remember it. Some may remember Greg’s great lunch announcements, others will think about the kindness of Victor in the equipment room, and all of Tou Tou’s students will remember the random Spanish names they were given throughout the year. However, there’s one thing every member of the Class of 2015 can’t deny: we will all remember the people, certain faculty, and friends we love and couldn’t have lived without. And memories deserve some attention. Suffield is our home, it has been for all of us at one point and that will never change. There is nothing wrong with visiting home. With hours left at 185 North Main, we can finally stop looking into what the future holds for the first time in a year, and just enjoy this one last moment together. In closing, I’d like to quote Lou Gehrig, the famous Yankees first baseman. And yes, I’m still a Red Sox fan. “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth” to be a part of the Suffield family. Thank you, and God bless to the Class of 2015.

Summer / Commencement 2015

Ann Selvitelli

{baccalaureate speaker}

n our website and indeed in our every day approach to life at school, there is the overarching philosophy that guides us. At the foundation of our approach is a feeling that each student is unique. While we have defined academic requirements in nine specific areas, the focus of our program is on the distance each student travels during their time at Suffield. We provide small classes with supportive, encouraging teachers. And as I hope you have experienced during your time at Suffield, that driving philosophy also guides how we approach athletics, leadership, the arts, dorm life, and all aspects of the Suffield journey. So here we are, on the eve of your graduation from Suffield, and each of you has traveled a unique path and is poised for a new journey. Each of you will head off to college next fall with some common skills in your toolboxes, as well as your own individualized experiences and teachings to guide you along the way. You have prepped for this. You are ready. It is almost time to say goodbye. Most of you started here four years ago as much smaller, unsure, yet eager freshmen. Our school theme that year was GRATITUDE. In the end, I think as a class you were very grateful to complete your first year of high school, had started meaningful, important friendships, began to appreciate what Suffield had to offer, and were happy to think that a new set of freshmen could struggle with the lunch trays in the fall.

The next fall our class grew. And grew. We welcomed more sophomores to our fold, became more comfortable with trying new things, and began to really feel a part of something special, if it wasn’t there already. Perhaps it was only fitting that our school theme that year was IDENTITY. Sophomore year was a time for figuring it out. Trying out different roles. Who am I? Where am I going? We all developed a deeper sense and understanding that who you are is unique to you. You will keep evolving. Your identity will take on new and exciting dimensions in high school and beyond. The next fall you returned as juniors. We were joined by a dozen or so brave souls, and the long awaited “future” suddenly seemed to be just around the corner. Our theme that year was RESILIENCE. No better theme for the year when words like test prep, campus tours, and official transcript could stop you cold in your tracks. You discovered a great deal about yourself. Perhaps most importantly, you had to figure out how to tell others who you were and where you wanted to go. It wasn’t always easy, and some embraced the task faster than others. But in the end, I think you each started to define the parameters of your future and put a voice to those instincts. Even with setbacks and disappointments, you embraced the elasticity of resilience and persevered. And before you knew it…it was here. Senior Year. You returned to campus sun-kissed and relaxed from the summer’s fun, met our new postgraduates, assured that your classes this fall would never rival that of the junior year, and ready to lead the school. We logged endless hours in college counseling together, editing essays, polishing up the resumes, and meeting with college representatives. You rode through the waves of early decision, early action, restrictive early action, priority apps, and 27 other types of college applications. As we explored the school’s theme of CONVICTION, your more ripened intellect began to truly appreciate the difference between a strong belief in something versus a courthouse ruling. You were challenged by difficult decisions and became more in touch with your own personal convictions. At times, you may have realized that what you believe does not necessarily align with the person next to you. And that wasn’t always a bad thing. And then all of a sudden, here we are. Preparing to say goodbye. But in my family I am not the only one who hates goodbyes. We often prefer “see you soon!” It’s more glass half full, you know? When we cross High Street later tonight and line up to greet one another, please remember it is not actually goodbye at all. You will take Suffield with you, and we hope you will come back to visit often. When you go, I am comforted by the fact that I know you have learned so much during your time here at Suffield—both in and out of the classroom. You will hopefully leave with gratitude in your hearts, a strong sense of identity, resilience in your soul, and a conviction to work hard and make this world a better place. Thank you for listening and see you soon.

SUFFIELD

Kimmie Meunier ’15

{baccalaureate speaker}

am so lucky to have the great opportunity to speak tonight, something I never thought I would be able to do when I arrived here four years ago as a scared freshman with a million questions. The days of my cowardice about entering the union—or worrying about where to sit in the dining hall—honestly seem like they were just last week. Has anyone noticed how much faster time has been going by? When I got in trouble when I was younger, my mom would send me to the stairs to sit for 10 minutes. 10 minutes! When you are five years old 10 minutes feels like a millennium. I remember sitting there each time plotting my escape. I just simply could not waste ten whole minutes sitting on those cold, hard, wooden steps. And somewhere in between 30 and 45 seconds, I would run to my mom, apologize, and beg to return to the family room. And when you’re five, a year is an eternity. After my birthday I would sit, drenched in longing, staring at the ominous 365 more days until the next celebration. Today I laugh at myself because years are rushing by so fast I feel like I can’t even see them pass. They are like cars on the highway, just blurred movement. It is not hard to tell that as we’ve grown older time has changed. And it makes sense. Once, a year was just ⅕ of your life and now a year is just ⅛ .

So one day we’re five years old and a year seems like an eternity, and then suddenly we’re 18 and we stand on the cusp of graduation after nine months of school that has felt something like a blurred couple of days. We made it here. Here we are. Standing on the precipice of our high school graduation. And we’re all about to jump into some unknown. And what we might have planned for ourselves might not happen. And what our parents might have planned for us might not happen either. Because sometimes you realize that you’re not even interested in business. You couldn’t care less about politics or the economy. And that’s okay! Don’t do things that will just make you financially stable. Do things that make you mentally stable. Your happiness is worth more than any paycheck…more than any beach front estate you think that you need. Do what you want to do, what you really want to do, because a very wise man named Patrick Meagher once said, “Some people are so poor, all they have is money.” And before we know it we’ll be right back on this campus. With five more years under our belts, five more years that probably passed even faster than the last four just did. Time isn’t walking or even jogging by anymore. It’s sprinting. So make the most out of the years you have here on this planet. If you thought high school went by fast, college will go by immensely faster. Join clubs, take new classes, get involved in what you like to do. Live. I am asking you to live. Because time is fleeting and life isn’t permanent. So get out there. We are a talented and mixed group of individuals that comprise the Class of 2015. We have so much potential, determination, and ability. Do not let these qualities go to waste. Make these next years count. And when we see each other again in five years, we can rejoice in our successes. I’m excited to see what we have coming for us in the future! Thank you, and congratulations to the Class of 2015.

SUFFIELD

182nd Commencement

Alan Alda GP’15

{commencement speaker}

oted actor, writer, and director, Alan Alda was Suffield’s 2015 Commencement speaker. One of his granddaughters was a member of the graduating class. Alan’s distinguished career includes dozens of credits on stage, screen, and television. He is best-known for his long-running portrayal of Hawkeye Pierce in the hit television series M*A*S*H and his portrayal of Arnold Vinick on The West Wing. Alan has received 31 Emmy Award nominations, two Tony Award nominations, and an Oscar and BAFTA nomination for his role in The Aviator. His three books have been New York Times bestsellers. Alan has a passion for science and education. He hosted the award winning series Scientific American Frontiers on PBS for 11 years and for more than two decades he has worked to help broaden the understanding of science. He helped found the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University, where he is a visiting professor, helping develop innovative programs that enable scientists to communicate more effectively with the public. He originated The Flame Challenge, an international competition where scientists compete to explain complex concepts so that 11-year-olds can understand them. Below are excerpts from Alan’s speech at Suffield.

One of the things I admire about Suffield is its motto: Esse quam videri. “To be rather than to seem.” For instance, to be a good person, rather than just to be seen as a good person. It’s a motto that asks you a serious question: Do you do or just look like you do? From what I’ve seen, Suffield is a school that not only asks you that question—it gives you a chance to answer it. My granddaughter Livvie is graduating today, and under the auspices of the school she has been to Africa three times. Two of those times to help an orphanage improve its water supply and build on its ability to care for its children. They didn’t just seem to be concerned about children thousands of miles away, they went there and met them, danced with them, laughed with them…and then came home and raised money to dig a well for them. Livvie wrote her family, as many of her classmates did, asking for support in this real effort to help real people they had met and bonded with. Livvie wrote us and said: As you all know, I’m very passionate about the experience I had in Ghana this past summer. I’m sure you guys have heard and seen pictures of fundraisers that Suffield has hosted to raise money for the orphanage. Next week we are doing the biggest fundraiser yet, with a goal of $60,000 in order to build a well when we go there this summer. It’s really important to me, and I appreciate all the support! It was the best fundraising letter I ever got. I saw the genuine excitement in the telethons produced on the web and in the photos from the trips to Ghana. This personal connection to the lives of other people is just one of the lessons you’ve learned here, but a lesson like this is one that will sustain you all your life. I hope you keep this momentum going—doing good and not just seeming to do good, as you move on from here. And keep in mind, it’s good to have a sense of time. Don’t stop because you don’t get results right away. And don’t stop trying because success seems far away. Every day, for instance, we see in the news that racism is still a painful reality—that simple human justice is still on the far horizon. For us to make it all the way to that horizon, we need a kind of impatient patience. A purposeful restlessness that knows that although things take time, things will happen in time only with constant effort. It’s easy to forget this because we live in a world that moves so fast. Sometimes we get energized by a story that moves us, but then another story comes along and suddenly the wind is pushing us in another direction. I’ve learned the value of sticking to it when I know I’m on to something. It’s a kind of impatient patience. The kind that doesn’t settle for the way things are, but keeps looking, as long as it takes, for ways to make them better. It includes a healthy respect for time. Things do take time. I’m a little afraid that we’re losing our sense of that. A couple of days ago, I was at another of my grandchildren’s graduation from Carnegie-Mellon University, and I told his class a story. I think it’s a really interesting story. And I’d like to tell it to you.

SUFFIELD

A few years ago the Internet was flooded with copies of a graduation speech the great writer Kurt Vonnegut had just given at MIT. It spread across the country in a few hours. It was quoted everywhere. I’d like to read some of it to you. Here are a few words for the graduating class: 3 Wear sunscreen. 3 If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now. 3 Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine. 3 Sing. 3 Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts. Don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours. 3 Floss. 3 Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how. 3 Stretch. 3 Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You’ll miss them when they’re gone. 3 Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out. 3 Be careful whose advice you buy. 3 But trust me on the sunscreen. Now, the thing about this charming piece by Kurt Vonnegut is that—it wasn’t written by Kurt Vonnegut. It was written by a newspaper columnist in Chicago called Mary Schmich. Some unknown person had started sending it around as a speech by Vonnegut. According to Schmich, “It went to Italy and France, to Israel and Brazil, to places I didn’t know had electricity. Even Mr. Vonnegut’s wife, the photographer Jill Krementz, received it, emailed it to several friends, then asked her husband: Why didn’t you tell me you spoke at MIT?” He said: Because I didn’t. Somebody said it was one of the most widely distributed pieces of email in the history of the Internet. But, after only a few hours of bouncing around the world, it was identified as a hoax. In a flash, the Internet was flooded with retractions. By the end of one extraordinary day, vast numbers of people had accepted and then rejected a world-wide hoax. And that’s what makes this Internet event a great image for the age in which we live. There are probably just as many lies going around now as ever before, but these days they’re traveling at the speed of light. And with the help of an engine for repetition that works on a scale unheard of in the past, the lies stick. People are still sending around the talk, thinking it was written by Vonnegut. So, big deal, you may be thinking. It’s just a few jokes about youth and beauty. But think about it...it could be selling you anything. It could be a cult religion that could separate you from friends and family, or a quack medicine that could leave you paralyzed. Being able to know what’s true and what’s a lie is a lot harder to do than ever before. Now, more than ever, you need to know who you are and what you believe in.

Who you are is a tough one...because most of us have many people inside us. But in your finer moments, you aspire to things that make sense in the long run. Even while you’re enjoying a momentary distraction, somebody in you knows that down the road there’s going to be something that will take some hard work. And that when it comes your way you won’t be able to wing it...you’ll have to be prepared. That’s the somebody who’s the best and smartest you. That’s the one who knows that the deepest pleasures come from learning how to do something difficult, and that it’s worth putting in the time to learn it. Let yourself be all the yous you are, but don’t let them crowd out the smart one. As for what you believe in, your values really are not so much what you say as what you do. The more you bring those two things in line with one another, the easier it may be to get where you’re going. You may tell yourself you’re going to Chicago, but it’s hard to get to Chicago if you keep buying tickets to Las Vegas. I think we don’t realize how important time is. When we couldn’t communicate at the speed of light, we probably didn’t think about it that much. But things do take time. Chemical reactions take time. Mourning a loss takes time. In fact, all the transitions in our lives take time. Getting in shape, physically or mentally, takes more than a weekend, no matter what they tell you in the brochure. It takes time for a species to adapt to changes in the environment, and that’s what makes us one of the most dangerous animals that ever lived. We can make changes in the environment that are so rapid that nature doesn’t have time to replace the species we kill with others that are adapted to the alterations we’ve made in their habitats. Now, I don’t want to kid you into thinking, I’ve done it, it’s a cinch. I’m still working on all this. But this is what I aspire to. And I thought I’d pass it on. So, as you make the transition from this page in your life to the next chapter...I wish you all what I wish for Livvie: health, happiness, resilience, love, laughter, patience, cash, strength, being—not seeming—and plenty of time. But, if all else fails...floss and wear your sunscreen.

SUFFIELD

Gregory Pentz ’15

{commencement speaker}

hank you, Mr. Cahn, trustees, alumni, family, friends, faculty, and, of course, the soon-to-be esteemed alumni of the Class of 2015, because let’s face it: today you’re kind of a big deal.

Had you been a member of the Class of 2005, you would remember Greg Pentz as the little boy hopping around on the side lawn of Spencer Dorm fighting imaginary dragons or storming castles. I have often been called a “unique” thinker. Luckily, this has worked in my favor more often than not, as I like to think creativity and humor are what bring me and others to Suffield’s podium today. Although I confess there was a time when I didn’t want to attend Suffield Academy at all. Even as a faculty child, I had my sights set on bigger things: I planned on attending Hogwarts. In fact, I received for my birthday, when I was six or seven, a Harry Potter card from my family in a fancy Hogwarts envelope, and I honestly thought it was my admissions letter with my destiny inside. While my mother thought my subsequent confusion adorable, I thought it was tragic. I was supposed to move away, become a member of Hufflepuff (because no one ever bothers to watch Hufflepuff; in Hogwarts, Hufflepuff watches you) and fulfill my dream as a boy wizard fighting the forces of darkness…in Britain. I share with you this story of my misguided, heroic youth because I think this is what I want you to take with you as we part: not the hopping around on the lawn part, you’ve already missed your window of opportunity for that NOT to be weird, but the importance of feeling comfortable with using your creativity and imagination in your lives. Whether it’s in the classroom, on stage, or on the field (and Mr. Gamere, I have a final pre-game question: Will this be an away graduation?—Christian Wilkins, my roommate in Ghana, I consider that to be your shout out), seeing a different way of doing things often leads to some amazing outcomes. It can lead to game-winning plays, publishable writing, gallery-worthy creations, and an offbeat sense of humor that the ladies can’t resist. Am I right? Awwwwww yeah. In any case, each of you has the ability to fail. No, that’s not it. Each of you has the ability to sound like a motivational speaker. No, wait, here it is: not counting those of us off to Richmond or NYU, we are all headed in different directions after lunch. Until I see you again, I hope you find the courage from our time together to use your imagination and creativity to see things in a new way for yourself and others. When I was young, unbeknownst to me, my parents apparently nicknamed me ‘Calvin’ after Bill Watterson’s leading character in his comic strip, “Calvin and Hobbes.” This was because of my imagination and my penchant for following it, sometimes to my family’s chagrin. In this comic strip, Calvin has a stuffed tiger, Hobbes, who is his imaginary friend. Where others see only a stuffed tiger, Calvin has a companion, an accomplice, and, at times, a conscience. As I said earlier, my wish after these ceremonies end is for you to tap into your inner Calvin and carry your imaginary Suffield tiger with you on your future adventures. It will not always be a cakewalk. You may be labeled, ridiculed, or judged as Bohemians, but that will likely come at the hands of people who have yet to realize that they owe much of their society to Bohemians. My wish, my hallucination as I sit in my chair, dazed from sleep deprivation and groggy with dull repetition after another night of homework is, apart from all that potential anime fan fiction that I thought was funny at 1 a.m., that instead of being more like me, the subject of much of this speech, admittedly, is that you surpass me in your creation. Tame your tigers and carry them with you for help and support. Do not use me as an example, as my tigers still occasionally terrorize me. Instead, use whatever spark of brilliance you know, perhaps from some part of you yet unknown, that you were meant to realize, if you have not already. Use that to prove that things can be improved. I’ve been living at Suffield Academy since I was three years old, but it was never my home until you all came along and gave me classmates, friends, and potential subjects. Thank you all for coming over to my house to play for these past four years. Now get off my lawn! Thank you.

182nd Commencement

Charles Cahn III

{commencement speaker}

efore I bring this event to closure, I want to recognize someone whose influence on Suffield has been massive. Dan Tisch has been president of Suffield’s Board of Trustees since 2006, and he will pass this role on to Fred Powers on July 1. Fortunately for Suffield, Dan will remain as a trustee, but this will be the final time he has the privilege I know he has cherished of handing out Suffield diplomas at commencement. Suffield has been so fortunate to have Dan lead the Board. He has made our school a priority in all ways and his impact—on our campus and, most importantly, our culture—has been historic. He has been an absolutely great partner to me in leading Suffield. I would like to ask you to please join me today in thanking and recognizing Dan Tisch. Thank you. As we close our commencement, let me share some brief final remarks with the members of our Class of 2015. First, we are proud of you and have high expectations of you as you move on. You have shown cohesion, loyalty to each other and to Suffield, and compassion as people. I am optimistic that you will have fruitful and interesting life journeys, and I appreciate your many contributions to our school. As you head off, try to remember a few ideas we have sought to instill in you. 3 First, an important way to evaluate your life is by the distance you travel, as students and as people. So work hard. I think you’ll find that your destiny will be more a function of effort than intellect. As Bradley Whitford said, “Fall in love with the process and the results will follow.” 3 Second, always be yourselves and be proud of who you are. As I mentioned last night, Mark Lewis commented that “the person who you’re with most in life is yourself, and if you don’t like yourself, you’re always with someone you don’t like.” 3 Third, remember to love. Love is good. Don’t be afraid to show your love—to your parents, your siblings, and your friends. 3 And, finally, be positive. Everyone likes being around positive people. You may not be able to fully change reality, but you can change your attitude towards it, and this, in turn, changes it quite a bit. We close this celebration each year by quoting Robert Frost, who wrote, “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” Suffield extends this offer to you, and we hope you will return often like the many alums who have come to watch you graduate today. Members of the Class of 2015, we salute you and wish you well!

SUFFIELD

Performing Arts

Spring Play Three performances of Noises Off and a performing arts showcase highlighted spring activity in the theater. The show was selected as the Best Play at the 2015 Connecticut Halo Awards Ceremony in late May. This marks the third consecutive year that Suffield has taken home the top prize for Best Play. Noises Off is a hilarious show about the challenges of theater, including backstage drama that most audiences do not see. It is essentially a play within a play. Act One is set at the final dress rehearsal for the play Nothing’s On, and we see the cast members hopelessly unready, and baffled by entrances, exits, missed cues, missed lines, and bothersome props, including several plates of sardines. The second act shows a matinée performance one month later from backstage, providing a view that emphasizes the deteriorating relationships between the cast that lead to offstage shenanigans and on-stage bedlam. The play falls into disorder before the curtain falls. In Act Three, we see a performance near the end of the 10-week run when personal friction has continued to increase. The actors remain determined at all costs to cover up the mounting series of mishaps, but it is not long before the plot has to be abandoned entirely and the more coherent characters are obliged to take a lead in improvising somehow towards some sort of end. It’s a funny, high-paced play that included 12 student actors and many more students involved with set design and technical aspects of the production. The cast included Jesse Phillips ’15, Amanda Baildon ’15, Alex Mainolfi ’15, Stephanie Greer ’15, Piper Holliday ’15, David Gingold ’16, Joe Islam ’16, Greg Pentz ’15, Katie Madrak ’16, Jim Krueger ’16, Ashley Sarris ’17, and David Johnston ’15. Suffield’s theater program and actors were nominated this year for six Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards and 14 Connecticut Halo Awards. These recognize outstanding high school theater accomplishments in the state. In addition to being selected as Best Play, Noises Off’s Alex Mainolfi ’15 earned Best Supporting Actor in a play as Frederick/Philip. The fall musical In the Heights also saw two Halo winners with Casey Lampert ’15 earning Best Set Design and Katherine Kalill ’17 winning Best Comic Female Performance as Daniela.

01 Amanda Baildon ’15, Greg Pentz ’15, Alex Maniolfi ’15, Stephanie Greer ’15 02 Katie Madrak ’16 03 David Gingold ’16, Joe Islam ’16 04 Piper Holliday ’15 05 Cast and crew of Noises Off

Spring Guitar Show The spring guitar show took place in May. This performance included over 15 student musicians, covering popular tunes such as “Gravity,” “I Want You Back”, “Oye Como Va”, and “This Love.” Jeff Giglio led the group of musicians and “Tom Gotwals’ Chamber Ensemble class joined in for one of the songs.

Performing Arts Showcase The May Performing Arts Showcase offered the community a great opportunity to see the depth and diversity of musical talent at Suffield. There were performances by the Chamber Singers, Women’s Choir, Advanced Vocal Techniques & Staging (AVTS), Advanced Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and a boys’ choral group called Work Jobs.

06 Audrey Dufresne ’18, Ashley Sarris ’17, Rena Ricke ’16, Anabelle Pape ’16, Drea Breck ’18, Bailey Hyland ’18, Hattie Bauchiero ’18, Frances Bingham ’15 07 Katherine Kalill ’15, Oskar Kvaternik ’16 08 Will Robideaux ’16, Graham Shannon ’17 07

Gooch-Vincenti Scholarship

Oskar Kvaternik ’16

skar Kvaternik ’16 from Slovenia is the first recipient of Suffield’s prestigious Gooch-Vincenti Scholarship. Oskar is an outstanding pianist, bass guitarist, and student of music theory and composition.

The scholarship was established through a generous gift from long-time Suffield faculty member Bradford C. Gooch. It provides tuition for a rising senior that excels in the arts—not just as a good artist, but also one with the potential to pursue a career in the field and whose passions and talents elevate the quality of artistic life in the Suffield Academy culture. In creating the scholarship, Brad noted, “I don’t want it to be a ‘best-of-the-year prize’ but something for a student whose talent and passion knock your socks off, whose work gives off that special frisson of wonder and delight.” In addition to honoring artistic excellence that elevates life at Suffield, Brad’s gift aimed to symbolize his personal love for Suffield Academy and recognize Mario Vincenti, who taught visual arts at Suffield from 1956 to 1994. The chairs of the visual arts and performing arts departments, music teachers, and the teachers of creative writing and art history can make nominations for the Gooch-Vincenti Scholarship to the headmaster. When presenting the honor at chapel on May 18, Headmaster Cahn spoke of Brad’s immense contributions to Suffield as a faculty member from 1960 to 1996. Brad taught English and art history, and some of his greatest passions were coaching soccer (the 1988 girls’ team was undefeated New England champions), teaching art history, and leading choral groups including Glee Club, COGs, and Gloria Singers. It was fitting that the Gooch-Vincenti Scholarship was awarded preceding the annual Kent-Davis Prize Speaking contest, as Brad advised the program for 25 years. Brad’s wife Mary joined him for the visit and presentation. Mary had a distinguished career in independent schools, including Suffield, Brooks, and Groton where she retired as assistant head of school. Brad commented, “I am so pleased to have been able to do this and excited that Oskar’s musical talents and passion will elevate Suffield’s entire school community next year.”

SUFFIELD

SPRING 2015

Visual Arts Exhibit A

n exhibit showcasing the vast artistic talent in Suffield’s Class of 2015 was held in Tremaine Visual Arts Center during the spring term.

It included work from eight seniors: Andy Colby, Rhiannon Fletcher, Amy Hong, Grace Hopkins, Robbie Heumann, Prao Leeswadtrakul, Kelly Taylor, and Ali Veitch. Visual Arts Department Chair Bill Butcher commented that all of the pieces were “highly original and experimental.” Six of the seniors’ pieces used mixed media while two (Kelly Taylor and Andy Colby) focused on ceramics. Ali Veitch ’15, headed to Syracuse University in the fall, created a provocative three-dimensional piece that features a paper mache head surrounded by red paint and shards of glass. It definitely sparks a conversation. “It took me two years to completes and there are about 10 layers to it,” she said. The materials used in the piece make it both literally and figuratively dangerous to absorb. When asked what inspired her to go in this direction, Ali noted, “The art teachers here give you a lot of freedom to experiment and discover your own creativity.” Amy Hong ’15 is headed in a different direction. The Shanghai native admits she was drawn to art after recognizing that other disciplines did not challenge her in the same way. She’s grateful to her parents for supporting her decision to attend Parsons The New School for Design this fall. “My inspiration comes from everywhere,” Amy commented. “I like to draw before I think. Often random lines and shapes become an idea.” Her favorite piece in the exhibit was a pair of overalls painted with resin and suspended on wire. The idea for the sculpture was a process, she explained. “It’s an expression of motion and a commentary on freezing time. Mr. Butcher helped me open my mind and think outside the box.” Robbie Heumann ’15, off to Skidmore College, had never picked up a paintbrush before his sophomore year at Suffield. Art teacher Melinda Fuller describes Robbie as “a natural,” and this year he was a teaching assistant in the art department. The exhibit served as a great way to highlight the artistic talent on Suffield’s campus and thank these seniors for their hard work and commitment.

Summer / Commencement 2015

CLASS OF 2015 / SPRING ARTS EXHIBIT Andy Colby 06 Rhiannon Fletcher 08 Robbie Heumann 10

Amy Hong 05, 09, 11, 13 Grace Hopkins 04 Prao Leeswadtrakul 03

Kelly Taylor 12 Ali Veitch 02, 07, 14 Jackie Zhang & Andrew Robitaille â&#x20AC;&#x2122;17 01

spring

athletics

Crew Suffield Academy’s inaugural crew season was a great success. Both new and experienced rowers and coxswains trained to get the season off to an exciting start, rowing in traditional sprint races against MacDuffie School and various clubs from the Pioneer Valley region. In addition to the new on-campus rowing center, the team uses Holyoke Rows boathouse in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on a stretch of the Connecticut River. Coach Tom Salamone remarked, “I could not be more proud of the rowers and coxswains this season. They all worked to ensure both personal and collective strength, fostering a positive attitude that upheld the team at all times.” Team awards went to Mark Porter ’15 (MVP), Liz Sacco ’17 (most improved), and Caroline Bauchiero ’15 and Jake Carlson ’17 (coach’s awards). Returning rowers and coxswains are excited about next year and anxiously look forward to getting back on the water. Photo: Caroline Bauchiero ’15, Jonathan Bismarck ’15, Jerry Tang ’17, John Lee ’17, and Jake Carlson ’17

SUFFIELD

Girls’ Track & Field This year’s girls’ track team relied on big performances in posting a 9-5 record. It could have been even stronger, as three of the losses were by six or fewer points. All-New England seniors Rhi Fletcher, Jordyn Gonsor, Susannah Ferris, Aaliyah Davidson, and Cami Rocha were season-long multi-event point scorers and their contributions will be greatly missed next year. Underclassmen Bailey Hyland ’18, Yasmin Geradeau ’17, Amelia Hern ’17, Melissa Malley ’17, Kiersten Ness ’16, and Rena Ricke ’16 also brought in big points for the Tigers. Valuable points from Tori Tryon ’18, Hannah Arthur ’17, Katie Burns ’16, Adriana Caceres ’16, Livvie Caligiuri ’15, Kelly Taylor ’15, and Ashley Sarris ’17 came at key times to push the squad into the win column in some very close meets. Head Coach Heather Dugan is excited about the progress the team continues to make and looks forward to welcoming some new talent next spring. Photo: Rhiannon Fletcher ’15

Boys’ Track & Field The boys’ track team finished with an 11-3 record. Highlights included Tahj Herring ’16 tying his own school record in the 100m dash and later combining with teammates Ellis Christmas ’16, Elijah Hutchinson ’18, and Kaison Ifill ’15 to break the 4x100m relay record. Kaison capped off an impressive track career by breaking the elusive 2:00 mark in the 800m run. Elijah Hutchinson ’18 showed great promise in the long jump and sprints, competing in four events at the New England championship meet. The graduation of numerous seniors, including All-New England contestants Jahi Locke, Stanley Moreau, Aidan Clark-Long, Alex Mainolfi, and Kaison Ifill will leave some holes to fill next year, but head coach Heather Dugan is looking forward to the continued improvement and contributions from the returning athletes and new additions. Photo: Kaison Ifill ’15, Tahj Herring ’16, and Kyle Barrett ’16

Boys’ Lacrosse Boys’ lacrosse finished 8-7, buoyed by a strong 4-0 start. Oliver Martin ’15, Nick Miers ’15, and Hunter Newman ’16 served as the team’s captains. John Kuzmeski ’17, Hunter Newman ’16, and Tucker Newman ’15 were named first team all league, and Conor Keough ’16 and Oliver Martin ’15 were named honorable mention. The team graduates 10 seniors: Max Beitler, Tristan Grush, Matt Kertanis, Luca Lorenzoni, Oliver Martin, Nick Miers, Tucker Newman, Easan Portman, Alessandro Togni, and Michael Yerardi. The entire defense and goaltender Kuzmeski return, however, so the team’s future looks bright. Photo: Luca Lorenzoni ’15

Girls’ Lacrosse Faced with the challenge of replacing eight seniors, the girls had a productive season and laid the foundation for future success. Senior captains Sarah Apkin, Hannah Bellarado, Kelsey Burke, and Rebecca Fregonese provided the Tigers with strong leadership. Highlights included a dramatic come from behind win against Kent with the go ahead goal scored with two seconds left on the clock. Earning honors as New England Prep School Women’s Lacrosse Association (NEPSWLA) all-stars were Hannah Bellorado ’15 (two time recipient), freshman Bridget Carey, and sophomore Casey Kaplan. Additionally, Bridget Carey and junior Katie Kuzmeski earned Western New England Prep School Women’s Lacrosse Association (WNEPSWLA) All-star honors. Photo: Hannah Bellorado ’15

Softball The Tigers concluded a successful season with an 11-5 record and third appearance in four years in the Western New England tournament. Season highlights included consecutive 1-0 victories over Loomis Chaffee and Williston Northampton. The team dropped a hard fought 3-2 extra inning game against Taft in the tournament. The Tigers were led by seven strong seniors: tri-captains Marysa Massoia, Drew Martin, Kira Demitrus, and Jen Moller, Emma Moran, Molly Tettemer, and Amanda Baildon. A solid nucleus of upperclass players will return next season including Ally DiMauro ’16, Kaitlyn Nigro ’16, and Becca Collins ’17. Photo: Jen Moller ’15

Baseball The baseball team’s goal this season was to extend its successful run of eight-straight Western New England Prep Baseball League playoff appearances. After the team opened the spring with an 0-5 record, that goal seemed to be fading quickly. However, the Tigers went 6-2 over their next eight games to put themselves back into postseason contention. This improved play was sparked by the starting pitching of Danyal Panjwani ’15 and the hitting of postgraduate Will Shackelford ’15. In the end, the team missed the playoffs but showed great character in rallying from a disappointing start to finish the season strong. Postseason accolades went to several Tiger players, including Trevor Lyne ’16 and Zach Mooney ’17 (Underclassmen All-Star Game); Lyne and Mike Manoogian ’15 (Second Team All-League); and Shackelford and Panjwani (First Team All-League). Photo: Trevor Lyne ’16

Summer / Commencement 2015

Girls’ Tennis Senior captain Caitlin Marshall led this year’s team and was the 2015 recipient of the Joyce Wilson Award. She is the lone graduate, so the future looks bright. Caroline Pape ’16 played in the number two spot, and Emma Landis ’16 and Annabelle Pape ’16 were the number one doubles pair. Jules Kim ’16 and Abi Mulren ’17 were strong in the number three doubles role, and Chloe Rogalin ’17 and Kate Rookey ’18 helped the ladder in a numerous ways. Photo: Caroline Pape ’16, Caitlin Marshall ’15

Boys’ Tennis Co-captains Robbie Heumann ’15 and Andy Bicknell ’16 led the varsity team to a competitive season highlighted by wins against Westminster and Pomfret. Outstanding team camaraderie and energy helped each player go toe to toe with some of the top stars in the league at Deerfield, Hopkins, and Taft. The team faced some injuries to key players, including Save Boonsoong ’16, Teem Durongkapitaya ’17, and Nikhil Ghosh ’15, yet strong performances in singles from Ping Virameteekul ’17, Frederick He ’15, Tarm Durongkapitaya ’15, Neal Prasad ’15, Daniel Mittelman ’17, and Baek Kang ’16 were instrumental to their success. The versatility of underclassmen Andy Bicknell ’16, Sasha Derby ’18, and Peter Kelley ’17 also have the team optimistic about 2016. Photo: Peter Kelley ’17 54

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Golf Suffield’s team included multiple freshmen and sophomores and made steady improvement all season, finishing with a record of 7-7-1. Seniors Frances Bingham and Pun Chotruchsakul provided great leadership all season long, while junior Naoki Takahashi and freshman Bryan McLennan shot low scores throughout the spring. The season was highlighted by wins over Berkshire, Northfield Mount Hermon, Pomfret, Salisbury, and Williston, along with a strong 14th place showing to close at a windy Kingswood Invitational Tournament, led by Naoki Takahashi’s 78. With six members of the team who saw varsity action this spring returning next year, the future looks bright for the Suffield Academy golf program. Photo: Bryan McLennan ’18

Girls’ Water Polo The girls’ water polo team had its most successful season in eight years, finishing the regular season of play with a record of 11-4 and earning the #1 ranking in the league. Led by seniors Lindsay Hayden, Pure Maleenont, Becca Titterton, and Ali Veitch, the team qualified for the New England final four tournament for the first time since 2007 and lost a close championship game to Choate, 6-4, to finish in second place. This loss broke a 10-game winning streak dating back to the third week of the season. Pure Maleenont, Becca Titterton, and goalie Isabella Pesaresi ’17 were named to the all-tournament team. Photo: Becca Titterton ’15, Lindsay Hayden ’15, Pure Maleenont ’15, Megan Varney ’17, Ali Veitch ’15, and Shaun Johnson ’18

Timber Mike DuPont ’00

by Phil Riegel ‘87

ulling into the mill yard of Newport Nautical Timbers, I am reminded of a battlefield out of a colonial period movie. It looks like huge fallen soldiers are lying everywhere. It’s a beautiful day in Bristol, Rhode Island, and as I get out of the car, Mike DuPont ’00 and his wife Meg, who serves as the marketing director for the company, greet us. As soon as Mike starts talking, the “soldiers” start to transform and come to life. The piles consist of white oak, black walnut, butternut, cherry, Atlantic white cedar, reclaimed wood, and many more varieties. All of the wood—some pieces as long as 50 feet and as thick as four feet—is sorted by type and by years in the yard. Depending on the type of wood and its intended purpose, some is covered and some is left exposed to the elements. Mike is quiet and reserved, just as I remember him from Suffield 15 years ago, but his enthusiasm and passion for what he does show through instantly when he starts

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explaining what we are seeing. Mike begins by describing his work at a macro level. “We are a specialty sawmill providing wood for boats, homes, and furniture,” he commented. “We serve anyone who is looking for exceptional, sometimes large format wood milled by a builder for builders. Many of our clients are looking for air-dried wood for use in restoration projects, boat building, and new construction.” I am surprised to learn that air-dried means at least one year in the yard per inch of wood thickness. Mike came to Suffield as a sophomore after graduating from Indian Mountain School. He felt as though he had seen part of the curriculum before. “My last year at Indian Mountain and first at Suffield were very similar. For example, I was placed in Art I and instantly felt like I had been there and done that! Fortunately, with the help of Hillary Cahn I was allowed to switch into her photography class. This played to my strengths, as it was more hands-on and free form. I wasn’t the best student in a traditional classroom setting.” Mike’s preferred learning style becomes even more evident when asked about his influences at Suffield. He lists off most of the faculty in the art department, including long-time art teacher and department chair Bill Butcher and ceramics teacher Andy McKenzie. “I have always liked to work independently, preferably outside and with my hands.” Mike noted. Mike was set on his current path by a unique experience working at the storied loft, Hathaway, Reiser & Raymond, a full service sail, rigging, and spar shop in Stamford, Connecticut. He loved the work and being outside into late October. As part of a family with a long sailing history in both Darien and Fisher’s Island (Mike’s grandfather was heavily involved in the America’s Cup), this was a natural fit. The experience led to his application to the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) in Newport, Rhode Island. IYRS is a private school focused on training highly skilled craftspeople and technicians in boatbuilding and restoration and marine systems. Upon completion of his degree Mike went to work for a boat interior company and spent the next several years building custom wood interiors for yachts. He noted, “I left IYRS with an unbelievable knowledge of hand tools, and working on these boat interiors really gave me a great deal of experience.” In 2007 Mike struck out on his own and started DuPont Designs. He had a line of Adirondack chairs, but everything else he did was by referral and custom to the project. It was a perfect entry into Mike’s next venture and taught him a great deal about website presence, marketing, and the daily necessities of running a personal business.

“Part of our mission at Mystic Seaport is to pass on the skills and techniques of traditional shipbuilding and historic preservation to the next generation, and projects such as this enable us to fulfill that goal while at the same time supporting an important member of the history museum community,” said Steve White, president of Mystic Seaport. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to help restore Mayflower II, so she can continue to tell the story of the Pilgrims and their brave journey to America.” Mayflower II’s future vitality depends on continual preservation. The significant restoration of the 57-yearold wooden ship is scheduled for completion prior to 2020–the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival. The celebrated ship is a major exhibit of Plimoth Plantation and a leading tourism attraction in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, drawing millions of people from around the world to Plymouth’s historic waterfront to learn about the United States’ early Colonial history.

mysticseaport.org

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These combined work experiences in boat-building and furniture-making helped Mike realize how difficult it could be to get the quality wood he needed for his clients, especially for the jobs that required larger pieces. As he found himself sourcing more and more of the wood he needed for himself, he hatched the idea for his next venture.

Mindful of the environment, Newport Nautical Timbers works closely with landowners across the country to selectively harvest timber from trees that have reached the end of their life cycle. These trees are treated to the highest of standards, from felling to sawing and delivering.

newportnauticaltimbers.com

Mike teamed up with another IYRS grad and started Newport Nautical Timbers as a unique venture filling a very specific niche market for builders and architects of all kinds. After about a year Mike bought out his partner, and he is now the sole owner/operator of the business. When I asked Mike about some interesting projects he has worked on, Meg stepped in as the marketing director to brag for her humble spouse. It just so happens that Newport Nautical Timbers was recently contracted to source the exterior planking for the hull of the Mayflower II, an exact replica of the original ship Mayflower. The Mayflower II was built using all the ancient methods employed on the original ship in Devon, England in the 1950s and sailed across the Atlantic in 1957, recreating the original voyage taken 337 years earlier. This is a project Mike has been interested in since he first heard of the restoration, and I could feel the sense of satisfaction and excitement he has for this new challenge. In April of 2015, Mike and Meg headed to Denmark to hand pick the wood directly from the Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Forest, which was planted over 800 years ago to ensure there was always wood for the kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s warships. Each year, certain trees at the end of their lifecycle are cut from the famed forest, and builders from around the world apply to buy the precious wood for restoration projects. After Mike had sourced all the wood for the project, which is scheduled to last for five or more years, he and Meg traveled to Germany to have it milled and sent to the US, where Mike will carefully store it. Mike is an excellent example of the talented artists Suffield Academy is known to produce, and I, for one, will keep a sharp eye on his burgeoning company. I get the sense this is just the beginning of an amazing career.

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alums in the news pat and tim kennedy ’91 spikeball—shark tank success Spikeball, a venture the Kennedy brothers have partnered on with friend and owner Chris Ruder, was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank in May. Claimed the next great American sport, Spikeball is played two vs. two and is described as “sort of like volleyball and foursquare, but on steroids.” Spikeball can be seen everywhere—in backyards, on beaches, college campuses and in select Dick’s Sporting Goods stores around the United States. There are 250,000+ players in the US and 1,000 nationally ranked teams. In a battle between Sharks Kevin O’Leary and Daymond John, Ruder eventually agreed to have Daymond join him and the Kennedys on their quest to spread the Spikeball fever.

dan matchett ’08 featured at new england air show As he grew up in West Suffield, Dan always enjoyed going to the Great New England Air Show to check out the planes, talk to the pilots, and learn about military aviation. He attended Boston College and joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in hopes of one day fulfilling his dream and becoming a military aviator. Last May, he was offered the opportunity to fly a T-38C Talon from Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas to Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts and partake in the airshow. However, this time he was the one answering the questions and showing others how incredible and rewarding aviation can be. Dan is currently stationed in Texas as a T-38 instructor pilot in the Euro-NATO Joint-Jet Pilot Training Program. He and his fianceé, Keegan, will be getting married in Connecticut in November.

martin sbriglio ’74 earns honorary doctorate Martin Sbriglio ’74 was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters at the May 21, 2015, St. Vincent’s College’s commencement ceremonies. Martin is stepping down as chair of St. Vincent’s Board in 2015. He has been a trustee since 1997. Martin is CEO of Ryders Health Management, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation company. He is also a licensed nursing home administrator. He is a past recipient of the school’s Humanitarian Award (1990) and the Vincentian Award for Service to the Community (2005).

maddy carpenter ’11 northwestern’s 2014-2015 big ten medal of honor Maddy earned Northwestern’s 2014-2015 Big Ten Medal of Honor. This is the conference’s most exclusive award, recognizing academic and athletic excellence. A first-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior, Maddy helped lead the Wildcats to a Big Ten title for the second straight year. She was recognized as the Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten Tournament and twice was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. Maddy helped the Wildcats to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 20 years. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, she graduated with a degree in anthropology and will serve as an assistant coach at Dartmouth next season.

george gomez ’08 wins mcdonald’s ray kroc award In April, George Gomez was one of 142 managers selected to receive the Ray Kroc Award, an annual performance-based prize recognizing the top performing McDonald’s restaurant managers in the country. George said, “I’m very excited about this honor. I’ve wanted to win this award for the past 10 years. Growing up in the McDonald’s business, I knew about the Ray Kroc Award from a very early age and have aspired to win it since I was 14.” Named after McDonald’s Corporation founder Ray Kroc, the award was established in 1999 to honor hardworking managers in both corporate-owned and independently owned and operated restaurants—those who make Ray Kroc’s vision of excellence come to life in restaurants for customers each day. After his time at Suffield, George went on to Cornell University and majored in hospitality management.

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PROM 2015

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sail away

Suffieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2015 prom took place on a cruise boat in the Connecticut River. Students and faculty went aboard the Mystique, of Lady katherine cruises, and enjoyed a

beautiful spring evening with plentiful and diverse dining options on three decks.

Summer / Commencement 2015

Tim

Hemingway ’65 by Betsy McComb P’04, ’06

“G

o see Ap Seaverns at Suffield Academy.” An acquaintance pointed Tim and his parents to Suffield when they were looking for a small, structured boarding school for Tim to attend. So in the fall of 1962 Tim Hemingway came to Suffield as a sophomore.

“The family environment helped me feel right at home,” Tim said. “I was surrounded by people who sincerely cared about me.” Tim credits the team of excellent faculty for helping mold him into the person he is today. Leon Waskiewicz, George Pervear, Dennis Kinne, and Brad Gooch were all role models who taught him to use his brain and his brawn. “The building blocks of my career were formed at Suffield.” When Tim wrote reports and letters to his employees throughout his career, he used the same system of composing an outline he learned in his English classes here at Suffield. The formulas he learned in math and statistics were the basis for the financial statements he prepared for his company. Brad Gooch inspired Tim’s love of music and the arts. “One of my most memorable experiences at Suffield was representing the school as a member of the Glee Club and COGS under the direction of Mr. Gooch. We had opportunities to perform at school functions and at organizations outside the school. We even sang at the Bushnell with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.” Known as a prankster during his years at Suffield, Tim recalls a time in Spencer Hall when he turned everything in Larry Hyde’s room upside down. Larry and Tim remain buddies to this day. After graduating from Suffield, Tim attended Johns Hopkins University. In 1966 Tim was drafted and entered the USAF. His tenure in the military was short, due to a knee injury that originally occurred while playing football at Suffield, and he was honorably discharged a week before his squad was deployed for Vietnam. Tim earned a BSBA from Babson College in 1970 and an MBA in Finance from Suffolk University in 1971. While at Babson, Tim started his own painting and mowing business to pay for his education. Tim met his wife, Anne, during college. They have been married for 47 years and have two children (Kristen and Graham) and three grandchildren. Tim and his wife now live in Holland, Michigan, but have also lived and worked in Brazil (where their two children were born), California, and Texas. Tim worked for SAF Holland for 31 years in various roles, including general manager of Texas Operations, Vice President International, president of Holland USA, and president of Global Aftermarket Business for SAF Holland. Tim also served on the board of directors for TMD Friction, Luxembourg. “In 1954, when I was eight years old, my mother made it clear that there is always something that we can do to help others. My father was a class agent for Princeton, and he instilled in me that a community is only as good as what you give to it.” The importance of doing your best and giving back to others has carried forward with Tim to his life today. He serves as the president of the Holland Board of Public Works, which is owned by the citizens of his community and supplies the electricity, water, sewer treatment, and fiber optics to over 28,000 customers. Tim was appointed to this volunteer position when he retired from SAF Holland in the beginning of 2009. He also is a trustee and volunteers with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holland. “It is a great way to give back to the community and still keeps me very active.” Tim’s advice to current Suffield students is: “Success takes dedication, perseverance, and stick-to-it-itiveness. Commit yourself to what you are doing. Always strive to be the best you can be. When in doubt, never hesitate to ask for help and advice. Follow your heart and pursue your dreams, not what others think they should be.” Tim believes in Suffield Academy and its mission. “Being a Class Agent is a way I can stay connected and give back to a place that I hold dear to my heart.”

“Being a Class Agent is a way I can stay connected and give back to a place that I hold dear to my heart .”

Legacy Profile

The Reddishes Megan Kampmann ’77 and Kyle ’16

Megan Kampmann Reddish attended Suffield for three years, graduating in the Class of 1977. In 2011 she brought her son, Kyle ’16, for an interview. He is now part of Suffield’s rising senior class. SUFFIELD spent time with Megan and Kyle to learn about their bonds with the school and how their time at Suffield has helped shape them. What made you choose Suffield? Megan I attended Suffield from 1974 to 1977. I was in the first female class of sophomores. It was an exciting time to be part of the transition from an all-male to coed school. I had looked at many larger boarding schools but felt at home after visiting Suffield. For some reason it felt more personal to me, and less intimidating. Kyle My mom was always telling me about it from a young age, and when I was in seventh grade I really started exploring the idea. I came for a visit and liked it a lot. I also applied to two day schools in Philadelphia, but knew I wanted to come to Suffield if I got in. What is/was the most memorable part of your Suffield experience? Megan The most memorable take away from Suffield was navigating adolescence in an environment and community where I

could deal with challenges and triumphs with such support from teachers and peers.

Kyle The friendships I have made here have been the best part of the experience. The school has stretched me in positive ways,

personally, academically, and athletically. Competing in sports has been great—mainly football and lacrosse—and being a dorm proctor has offered me a positive challenge. It has helped me find ways to lead in the dorm and on campus. I have also become more of a reader at Suffield and have benefited from the English courses.

How has Suffield affected your life positively? Megan The most positive effect of Suffield for me has been the legacy of Kyle attending. I love returning to the campus for a game or a parents’ weekend, seeing so many of the amazing changes, but still sensing that feeling of community that is part of the tradition of Suffield. Kyle I have become more independent and mature by being here. I notice I have become more outgoing and not as reliant on others to get things done. I have been forced to get help when I need it, make decisions on my own, and grow in real ways. Who is / was the most influential faculty member for you? Megan There were many influential faculty for me: Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Rockwell, Mr. Nye, Mr. Pervear, and Mr. and Mrs. Connors come to mind most quickly. Kyle Mr. Foote, my advisor, has been very helpful to me and involved in my life. He has been my coach in both lacrosse and football. He has helped me mature, understand my strengths, and figure out good ways for me to contribute to the Suffield community. What is your favorite place on campus? Megan I like the view from the lower fields looking up at the school on a fall day with a beautiful autumn sky. Magical. Kyle I love being in the academic quad on nice spring and fall evenings. This is where we can all hang out, throw around footballs or frisbees, and just be social. It’s a happy place.

Suffield Academy 185 North Main Street Suffield, Connecticut 06078

thank you alumni for exceeding 40% participation in the Annual Fund for the 5th year in a row! the students, faculty, and trustees are honored to have your loyal support.