SUFFIELD [2014-2015 Fall/Winter]

suffield

FALL/WI NTER 2014

MANAGING EDITOR Maeve Ryan CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tobye Cook Seck ’88 ART DIRECTOR / PHOTOGRAPHER Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88 EDITORIAL STAFF Charlie Cahn, Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88, Linda Colo, Tobye Cook Seck ’88, Kris Halpin, Alison Vigneau

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 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

PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88, John Marinelli, Tobye Cook Seck ’88, Kim Wiggin

Kate O. Cleary ’88 | Cambridge, Massachusetts

CONTRIBUTORS Beth Bailey P’10, ’16, Vinnie Bottone, Charlie Cahn, Billy Cordes ’16, Bella De Simone ’16, Brinley Ford Ehlers ’86, Susannah Ferris ’15, Margaret Figueroa Hern ’82, Owen Hern ’15, Amelia Hern ’17, Baek Kang ’16, Matt Kertanis ’16, Harry Melendez III ’07, Philip Mactaggart P’17, Betsy McComb P’04, ’06, Jonathan Medwid ’96, Phil Riegel ’87, Bronya Shillo ’03, Jerry Tang ’17, Maeve Ryan, Kim Wiggin, Alison Vigneau, Kyle Vigneault ’09, Christian Wilkins ’15

Andrew Fabricant P’14 | New York, New York

SUFFIELD is published by the Marketing and Communications Department of Suffield Academy for alumni, parents, and friends of the school.

All publications rights reserved. Contents may be reproduced or reprinted only by permission of the editor. Opinions expressed do not reflect the official position of Suffield Academy.

Philip Mactaggart P’17 | Millbrook, New York

Michael J. Daly ’59, Trustee Emeritus | Longmeadow, Massachusetts George B. Daniels ’71 | New York, New York Matthew P. Fine ’95 | New York, New York Samuel S. Fuller ’41, Trustee Emeritus GP’04, ’05, ’06, ’08, ’09 | Suffield, Connecticut Valisha Graves ’81 | Brooklyn, New York Matthew W. Greene | Wilton, Connecticut Walter Harrison | Hartford, Connecticut Kathy G. Hoffman P’13 | Avon, Connecticut Christopher M. Houlihan P’05 | New York, New York Christopher T. Jensen P’07, ’09, ’11 | Riverside, Connecticut Kenneth H. Landis P’16 | New York, New York Karen L. McDonald P’12 | New York, New York Jeffrey K. McElnea ’67, P’12 | New York, New York Patricia Q. Moore P’09, ’14 | McLean, Virginia Tracy Orr O’Keefe ’85 | Westfield, New Jersey Steven R. Sheresky P’12 | Rye, New York Hope G. Smith P’12 | Locust Valley, New York

COMMENTS May be addressed to Maeve Ryan mryan@suffieldacademy.org

John M. Tremaine ’66, Trustee Emeritus P’94, ’03 | New Canaan, Connecticut

SUFFIELD is printed by Allied Printing Services, Inc. About Allied: FSC Certified, EPA Partnership & ISO 9001. The fundamental principle of Allied’s environmental policy is to minimize any negative impact to the environment, while conserving natural resources. Using educational and administrative controls, we continuously assess our processes and practices to identify areas for education in energy, waste, and emissions.

Jacqueline R. Williams P’04, ’07, ’08 | New York, New York

www.suffieldacademy.org

Suzy B. Vogler P’11 | Cornwallville, New York and San Francisco, California Jeffrey White ’65 | Westport, Connecticut

MISSION Suffield Academy is a coeducational, independent secondary school serving a diverse community of boarding and day students. Our school has a tradition of academic excellence combined with a strong work ethic. A commitment to scholarship and a respect for individual differences guide our teaching and curriculum. We engender among our students a sense of responsibility, and they are challenged to grow in a structured and nurturing environment. The entire academic, athletic, and extracurricular experience prepares our students for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and active citizenship.

NON-DISCRIMINATION Suffield Academy does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, physical attributes, disability, age, or sexual orientation. We administer our admissions, financial aid, educational, athletic, extracurricular, and other policies so that each student is equally accorded all the rights, privileges, programs, and facilities made available by the school.

Copyright 2014 | Suffield Academy, Suffield, Connecticut 06078

FALL 2014 SUFFIELD

FEATURES 16 To Be a Tiger: What Makes Suffield Unique?

SUFFIELD asks current students and tour

guide leaders why our school is in demand 26

The Evolution of Study Hall Reflections on why study hall is such an important part of the Suffield experience

27

Exploring Conviction at Suffield How this year’s school theme is unfolding on campus

41

Ghana Trip 2014 Suffield returns to the JoshKrisDan Home of Refuge

CAMPUS NEWS 2 Headmaster’s Column 6 Master Plan Update 12 Reunion 2014 24 Color Course 34 Fall Chapel Series 47 Fall Sports Overview 60 Alums in the News 77 Alumni Authors PROFILES 32 Bronya Shillo ’03

Creator of Fishers Island Lemonade 55

Class Agent Brinley Ford Ehlers ’86

56

Legacy Family The Herns: Margaret Figueroa ’82, Owen ’15, and Amelia ’17

CLASS NOTES 60 News from the Classes of 1951 - 2014

HEADMASTER’S COLUMN CHARLES CAHN III

M

y friend David Erdmann was the admissions dean at Rollins College for 29 years.

He visited Suffield several times to help the school and me. Dave used to love telling the classic parable about a pair of beachcombers walking along the shore after a weather catastrophe. The beach was covered with thousands of starfish. One reached down to pick up a starfish and throw it back in the sea. The other remarked: “Why bother? There are thousands of starfish beached here; you can’t possibly make a difference.”

The first pointed out to the surf and said, “It made a difference to him.”

American independent schools embrace an intentionally inefficient staffing model. The quality and volume of adult guidance make these experiences expensive. In our case more than 140 adults help only 410 students. Yet Suffield’s magic rests in going beyond close focus on each student. It is the kind of attention paid to students and the culture of the school, about adults who are encouraging and nurturing.

Dave Erdmann tragically died in a fishing accident last spring in Florida.

His life and career were remarkable. I met him at Essex Institute, a summer program he helped lead for admission professionals in Grafton, Vermont.

Dave was an admissions guru. He seemed to take a genuine interest in everyone he knew, which naturally helped him build a large network of friends and allies.

I have a piece of paper in my office desk from my first encounter with Dave nearly 20 years ago. It lists items he asked us to be mindful of as we grew in our lives and careers: Headmaster Charlie Cahn

R Love kids R Have high standards R Read widely R Learn from others R Take risks R Be lucky R Establish credibility (be believable with data) R Demand zero defects R Encourage team play R Avoid cynicism R Remember that a good idea is where you find it Dave’s points were about successful people and communities. He knew our mission was challenging, especially because we work with adolescents.

Specifically, adolescence refers to the developmental stage between childhood and adulthood, usually between ages 11 and 19. While some see it as a phase that needs to be outgrown, in reality this is a formative, complex time in human development.

Neuro-psychiatrist Daniel Siegel writes extensively about adolescence. He’s an expert. Siegel highlights the challenge teenagers face maintaining internal balance in a period filled with new ways of seeing the world and making decisions.

2

SUFFIELD

This is a key time, when new desires and drives (emotional intensity, creativity, social engagement) help develop core character traits.

Siegel also offers helpful advice for parents and educators. Essentially he says we have a choice—to either “go on an exhausting ‘war footing’ for several years, or take the time to understand the impact of what’s physically happening and use this as a guide.” He claims the goal is to be open—receptive and responsive instead of reactive. That’s how we can learn “to connect rather than correct.”

A guiding principle at Suffield is that adolescents benefit from being around adults, even if they are more interested in peer relationships during this time in their lives.

Yet the principle that most distinguishes Suffield is blending high expectations with encouragement, and clear boundaries with room to experiment and grow. Adolescence is unpredictable, and our children will never cease to amaze and surprise us in ways that can be both beautiful and frustrating. They create or say remarkable things one moment, and the next they make us wonder, as parents and educators, about whether they understand what we are trying to teach.

Dave Erdmann always emphasized how each student is unique and important. He inspired me to make the priority connecting, not correcting. Suffield has secured a compelling position in the independent school landscape by providing challenge and encouragement.

Fall / Winter 2014

3

CAMPUS NEWS

EDITOR’S NOTE Our Spring/Summer 2014 article on Dish Crew prompted a lot of responses from Suffield alums who recalled their own experiences in the work study program. Two classmates from the Class of 1964—Mark Loether and Peter Arango—wrote in to tell us about their memories working on Dish Crew back when Ap Seaverns was Suffield’s headmaster.

Dear SUFFIELD: Once again I read the latest issue of SUFFIELD cover to cover in one sitting. Great snapshot article on the Dish Crew experience. Back in the dark ages of the years 1960-64, working on the crew meant eating a separate meal in a grubby room downstairs across from one of the walk-in coolers. If you were a tad late, there was no headwaiter to report your sin.

There was no dress code per se, and frankly, I don’t even recall if we had aprons. Certainly there were no rubber gloves as shown in one of your photos. I think each shift had about 5 or 6 of us: one at the silverware/glasses station, one at the “pit” garbage disposal area, one loading the dish machine, one unloading same, and a couple putting the cleaned items in the cupboards. I don’t recall if there was an “inspector” per se.

While serving dishes were of a stainless steel gauge destined never to wear out, all dishes were china with the school’s colors and seal embossed on them, and glasses were real glass.

There were times when the storage shelves would collapse and many dishes would break.

If a glass were dropped, we would count the number of times it would “bounce” before it shattered...all to great applause.

A real challenge was getting the dish machine belt running again after it invariably jammed at least once each shift. Another was unclogging the disposal when an errant piece of silverware fell in.

A bigger challenge was to be had by the guy loading the machine—when the guy unloading the machine would yell and then launch a dirty—and hot—dish back at him in the air to be caught and then reloaded. The work jobs were more extensive in those days, and I think those of us on any Dish Crew got first dibs on whether we would just continue…which we usually did.

Mark E. Loether ’64

4

SUFFIELD

Dear SUFFIELD: I had forgotten about the hole in which we ate before the shift, but the issue of “dress code” did come up when I refused to wear shoes during one tour of duty.

I was frequently the pot washer (that post required less agility/ flexibility/intelligence than one of the line jobs where Mark and others performed so well) and that meant standing for hours in collected pools of soapy water.

For some reason, my shoe shining ability had been questioned, and I had spent hours bringing my tie-up oxfords to a gleaming sheen (no way I was going to plop those babies into pot water!).

The headwaiter didn’t come at me, but I think one of the “chefs” was aggrieved by the decision and “persuaded” me to meet the minimal health code.

Actually, pot washer was a better slot for me. As Mark correctly remembers, the tables were set with Suffield china… set before each meal by a crew that travelled with a rolling cart of glasses and dishes. I can’t remember why I was asked to take that cart across the lobby, but I hit the Suffield seal at full tilt and dumped almost the entire load of dishes, thereby sealing my fate as perpetual washer of pots.

All of which brings to mind a question: Am I right in remembering that we could not wear loafers during the week and that the only shirts acceptable in the classroom were white or blue? No stripes? That seems a bit primitive, even for my own self-serving memory.

Did we wear coat and tie in study hall? Of course, Mark and the others on this reply never had to go to study hall, but Harvey Ferris and I spent way too much time hoping a “townie” would ring the Bell so that we could burst from the room and find freedom.

Thanks again for jogging memories.

Peter Arango ’64

PAUL SANDERSON’S NSCAA HALL OF FAME PLAQUE NOW ON CAMPUS

Family members of former Suffield headmaster Paul “Sandy” Sanderson visited campus to present Headmaster Charlie Cahn with a plaque recognizing Paul’s inclusion in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Hall of Fame. Paul was posthumously inducted as the 44th member of the NSCAA Hall of Fame several years ago, and his family wanted a plaque recognizing this achievement to reside at Suffield Academy.

Paul Sanderson worked at Suffield from 1952 to 1978, serving as a teacher, coach, director of admissions, assistant headmaster, and headmaster. He earned a reputation as one of the nation’s finest soccer coaches. He passed away in 1986. Paul’s wife, Gail, visited campus on September 12 with sons Paul ’74 and David Sanderson and daughter Kate Miserocchi.

Paul’s reputation as Suffield’s soccer coach and his team’s accomplishments were memorable and legendary. The Suffield boys’ varsity soccer teams he led were consistently among the best in New England. Paul played a leading role in helping establish the Western New England Prep School Soccer Association (WNEPSSA), serving as the inaugural president, and later as vice-president of NSCAA. Despite being notorious for squinting at games due to his bad eyesight, he never missed a move anywhere on the field. Paul was a widely admired and revered coach.

In 1978, Paul helped found the American Secondary Schools for International Students and Teachers (ASSIST), a program that provides opportunities for international students to attend American independent secondary schools.

CAMPUS NEWS

VINNIE BOTTONE RETIRES Vinnie Bottone joined the Suffield Academy community as a carpenter in 1993. Twenty-one years later he is retiring from his position as assistant director of physical plant. He has seen the campus and its facilities change remarkably over the past two decades.

When asked about his years at Suffield Vinnie spoke to the school’s progress and growth. “When I first came here there was not much money to spend on repair and maintenance work. When Bill Kotchen ’60 took over as Board president, more resources were dedicated to maintenance. This has continued to grow since Charlie Cahn became headmaster.”

Vinnie remembers the days when the maintenance garage and office were in the spaces where music and counseling now reside. He has seen the maintenance crew grow from a three-person staff (Vinnie, Jerry Moore, and Ray Knight) to a 19-person team. “It will be tough to leave the people here,” says Vinnie. “They’re like family.”

When asked about his plans for retirement, Vinnie said he is not entirely sure but he hopes to visit his sons in Texas and Vermont.

“I’m looking forward to winter,” he adds. “I’m waiting for that first snowstorm where I can just sit back, light a fire, and watch it fall.

If Charlie calls my beeper I’ll remind him of the new number to call.”

BETH BAILEY P’10, ’16 JOINS DEVELOPMENT

PHILIP MACTAGGART P’17 NEW TRUSTEE

Beth Bailey is Suffield’s new assistant director of development. Beth worked in Suffield’s Academic Office for 16 years before taking on her new role last summer.

Philip Mactaggart P’17 is President of Western Heritable Investment Company and director of Mactaggart Heritable Holdings (MHH) in London and Glasgow.

She is excited about the new opportunity. “I knew my job as registrar inside and out, but I was ready to challenge myself in a different area,” Beth said. “This is a great opportunity in another part of the school.” Beth is eager to support Suffield’s development efforts and connect with alumni and friends around the world. Beth’s brother is a Suffield alum (Robert Dahms ’83). She and her husband Byron have two sons, Dan ’12 and Ben ’16. “I have loved watching our sons go through the Suffield experience. It has made me even more proud and excited to help the school.”

He focuses on real estate investments and real estate management. MHH rents out top-end commercial properties mostly in London and New York and operates several English hotels. Philip is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania. He has three children including Ian, a member of Suffield’s Class of 2017. Philip will be on the Board’s Investment Committee and Construction and Maintenance Committee.

Fall / Winter 2014

5

MASTER PLAN UPDATE

Construction continues to unfold on a major expansion of Brewster Hall and conversion of Stiles Lane to a central campus walkway. The 2014 summer phase was extensive, involving shutting down Brewster Hall to install new building infrastructure and new life safety systems. The ceilings and floors in the dining hall, lobby, and Cone Lounge were replaced, as was the building’s roof. The Stiles Lane repurposing began with utilities going underground and the

6

SUFFIELD

WIRELESS INTERNET INSTALLED THROUGHOUT CAMPUS A MAJOR, WIRELESS INTERNET PROJECT HAS BROUGHT ACCESS TO NEARLY EVERY INDOOR SPACE ON CAMPUS, INCLUDING SUFFIELD’S 13 DORMITORIES. The project was made possible through a lead gift from Suffield grandparents Monte and Billie Mayo and George and Kathy Krar, and proceeds from the Fund-aNeed portion of the 2014 Parents’ Association Auction. The school previously had wireless access in most academic buildings, but as phones and tablets have become more popular, students and faculty wanted more mobile connectivity all over campus. This initiative addresses that issue and gives Suffield the foundation to implement other network-based projects on a larger scale. Director of Technology Jason Healy noted, “We are very excited about the increased coverage and capacity of the wireless network that this project provides. It’s great for the school.”

relocation and replacement of sewer and water lines. Since the academic year began, the focus has been on the addition to Brewster. If all goes according to plan, the new facility will be open in the fall of 2015.

Fall / Winter 2014

7

balance barn officially opens

Trustees, faculty and staff members, and students attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 26 to officially open Suffield’s Balance Barn. This is a 2,000 square foot healthy lifestyle center on the western tip of campus. It houses activities and classes including yoga, pilates, barre, and meditation.

The lead donors asked that the space be named in honor of Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88, P’18 for her many contributions to the school and her vision for the Balance Barn. Trustee and donor Fred Powers ’83, P’14 thanked everyone involved and spoke of the benefits of the new space and the programs that will be offered. Three students shared comments—Frances Bingham ’15, Maggie O’Shea ’16, and Callie Platt ’16. Maggie said, “People can be consumed by the competition of school, sports, and everything else. The Balance Barn inspires us to live a more mindful and tranquil life.” Frances added, “Hillary’s kindness and zen way of life have helped translate into this beautiful barn.”

Hillary extended thanks to everyone involved in making her vision a reality, and noted the Balance Barn is the third point of a triangle on the western tip of campus, along with the Courtney Robinson ’88 Outdoor Leadership Center and the Parker Regan ’12 Pond. She feels this helps make the area well suited for activity and reflection. Programs are in full swing in the Balance Barn. More than 200 people have already taken part in programs that include early morning, afternoon, and weekend yoga classes and evening meditation.

Hillary completed her yoga teacher training at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Suffield alum and yoga instructor Bobby Hoyt ’87 is volunteering his time and expertise during the 2014-15 academic year to teach yoga and help Hillary implement new programming.

Suffield would like to thank all the donors who made the Balance Barn possible, especially Fred ’83 and Lauren Powers P’14, Wendy and Dick Bingham P’15, Lee Baldwin ’88, P’18, Susan and Shell Evans P’88, and Andrew and Fairley Pilaro ’88.

8

SUFFIELD

NEW CREW FACILITIES Suffield has added crew as a spring term athletic option. A new crew facility is now located in the Appleton Seaverns Athletic Center. It includes state-of-the-art rowing tanks and ergonomic machines. The team will train in the spring at the Mount Holyoke Boat House.

Gifts for the program funded all the equipment, the boathouse membership, and the conversion of the space previously used for riflery into a rowing center. The gifts also include an endowment for ongoing support, repair, and replacement costs.

Faculty member Thomas Salamone, who is coaching the crew team commented, “These ergs and tanks will allow us to train in all-weather conditions. The team is excited to get out on the water this spring, and they’re dedicated to building a strong program. Suffield will enjoy crew and this great space for many years to come.” Suffield’s state champion riflery team will now practice at the Hartford Gun Club in East Granby, Connecticut.

Fall / Winter 2014

9

CAMPUS NEWS

ADOLF DEHN ART EXHIBIT

ALUMNI REGISTER

Suffield’s Tremaine Visual Arts Center featured the work of Adolf Dehn during the months of October through December, with two exhibits for parents, alumni, and friends. Dehn was a prolific artist and late uncle of faculty member Andy Lowe. His work has been featured in over 100 museums including The Smithsonian, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, The Art Institute of Chicago, and The British Museum. More than 50 pieces of Dehn’s work were on display at Suffield.

Born in 1895 in Waterville, Minnesota, Dehn moved to New York through the support of an Art Students League scholarship. Twenty years before his death in 1968, he married his second wife, Virginia Engelman, an artist from Connecticut. He and Virginia traveled the world together, and he created paintings and lithographs using a broad range of media such as watercolor, oil and wax, and casein. His work featured the people and landscapes of India, Afghanistan, the Caribbean, Venezuela, Guatemala, Mexico, and Morocco. Critics note that his work tells stories about culture, and the depictions are both thought-provoking and ahead of his time. An exhibit on December 4 invited guests to purchase Dehn’s work, with part of the proceeds going to the Suffield Academy art department. If anyone is interested in viewing Dehn’s collection, contact Andy Lowe at alowe@suffieldacademy.org.

At each Reunion, alumni are asked to sign the Alumni Register as a record of attendance. The first recording in this big book dates back to June 1900 when graduates from as early as 1838 were in attendance. Almost every Reunion since has a page or more of alumni names with their class years, addresses, occupations, remarks, and (since 2009) email addresses.

ap seaverns society: Recognizing Exceptional Donor Loyalty to Suffield Academy

AP SEAVERNS SOCIETY

10

SUFFIELD

The Ap Seaverns Society was established in 2014 to officially recognize Suffield’s most loyal annual donors. It recognizes alumni, parents, and friends who have contributed to Suffield Academy for five or more consecutive years. To maintain membership in the Society, gifts must be made to Suffield each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) without interruption. During the 2013-14 academic year, 1,381 constituents qualified as members of the Ap Seaverns Society. Members of the Ap Seaverns Society will be recognized in the Suffield Academy’s Annual Report.

CAMPUS NEWS

FOOTBALL TEAM JOINS NEW LEAGUE Suffield’s varsity football team is now competing in the Class A Independent League. This includes eight prep schools: Phillips Andover, Phillips Exeter, Loomis Chaffee, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield, Cushing, Worcester, and Suffield. Head football coach and co-athletic director Drew Gamere ’93 said, “This is an exciting challenge, as this football league is regarded as the strongest in New England. Being invited to compete against these schools reflects the strength of Suffield and our football program.”

SUFFIELD LEGACY STUDENTS

Back Row Harry Hildreth ’17, Alex Dufresne ’15, Kyler Armata ’15, Colin Pittorie ’16, RJ Suller ’15, Owen Hern ’15, Anthony Deni ’15, Hayden Childs ’15, Nick Vardakas ’18, Nick Alfano ’15 Middle Row Sarah Raymond ’16, Aubrey Dufresne ’18, Caroline Pape ’16, Megan Varney ’17, Annabelle Pape ’16, Peyton Cahn ’18, Eva Hafner ’18, Carlin Molander ’18, Susan Mellekas ’16, Riley Miles ’17, Amelia Hern ’17, Casey Kaplan ’17 Front Row Miles Johnson ’16, Olivia Stanley ’16, Kyle Reddish ’16, John Killam ’18, Owen Kinne ’18

Fall / Winter 2014

11

CELEBRATING THEIR 50TH REUNION, THE CLASS OF 1964 RANG THE BELL TO COMMEMORATE THE EVENT, AND REMEMBER DECEASED CLASSMATES.

1964

1969

1974

1979

1984

1989

1994

1999

1964 Row 1 Rusty Barton, Walter Thompson, Paul Wessells, Nick McConnell, Franklin Hardy Row 2 Geoff Huntting, Bill Hartigan, Al Vyce, Nat Stevens Row 3 Mark Loether, Peter Larom, Tom Webster, Ned Smith Row 4 Jack Bruso, Willie Tigner, Jim Rosenstein Row 5 Oak Acton, Jon Booth, John Malcolm 1969 Row 1 Peter Kircher, Charlie Anthony, John Ludwig, Scott Stilwell Row 2 Dave Bloom, Sandy Orr, George Ferris, Tom Berry Row 3 Dan Tisch, Dave Sperry, Greg Putnam 1974 Row 1 Ned Higgins ’73, Tom Leonard, ill Shipley, Tyrone Miller, Tony Page Row 2 Bill Aldrich, Chris Richter ’73, Jim Knight ’73, Kevin Armata, Jim Hogg Row 3 John Kennedy, Elmar Noeth, Mike Havran, Brent Anderson, Ken Turnbull ’73, John Moritz, Ed Turner 1979 Row 1 Stephen Dutcher, Renee McDaniel Margolis, Laurie Mackey Wilson, Ruth-Anne Kennedy, Andy Rarus Row 2 Fred Abberley, Lisa Palomba Deni, Jennifer Rockwell, Brian Benson 1984 Row 1 Michelle Kaminsky, Hope Higbee Philson, Geoff Hoyt, Barbara Kinne Hoyt ’86, Helen Nickerson Row 2 Shelley Frazier Pelletier, Rena Bartlett, Kevin Kinne, Kelly Kinne Patterson ’82, Muffy Pedersen Hazard ’85 Row 3 Paul Dean, Scott Owsiany, David Sargalski, Steven Mercik 1989 Row 1 Lars Cherichetti, Mai Perry Skyles,

REUNION

2014

Reunion weekend brought over 260 alumni back to the Suffield campus. The events kicked off on October 10, with a reception at Gay Mansion where alumni caught up with their classmates as well as former and current faculty members. Some notable former faculty members in attendance were Dennis Kinne, George Pervear, and Abe Samii. Saturday’s events included sunrise yoga at the new Balance Barn, the Courtney Robinson ’88 5K Run, student-led campus tours, a Class Agent meeting, Headmaster Charlie Cahn’s State of the School presentation, and an alumni tailgate, while the Tigers competed on the athletic fields.

THE FOLLOWING ALUMS WERE RECOGNIZED: First to Register Will Taylor ’04 Furthest Traveled Elmar Noeth ’74 from Franconia, Germany; Giga Dietze ’04 and Josef Vainboim ’00 from Sao Paulo, Brazil Courtney Robinson ’88 5K Run Winners Hannah Wolcott Reid ’04 (women) and Jake McComb ’04 (men) Fuller Cup Class of 1964 for having the highest percentage of donors to the 2013-2014 Annual Fund Reunion Attendance Award Class of 2009 with 38 in attendance Trustee Award Class of 1969 for donating the most dollars to the 2013-2014 Annual Fund Following Headmaster Cahn’s remarks about Suffield’s history and the shared bonds of everyone in Brewster Hall, alumni enjoyed dinner and dancing as they reminisced about their years at the school. The Band of Love, led by Jay Cook ’78, performed throughout the evening. The weekend ended with a Sunday brunch in Brewster Hall. Suffield thanks all alumni and their families for being part of a memorable and successful Reunion.

2004

2009

Rose Yap Thomas, Sarah Birmingham Drummond, Matt Kotchen, George Pervear Row 2 Dennis Haviland, Oren Leff, Peter Cherichetti, Jeff Gildersleeve Row 3 Denny Kinne, Tom Burton, Dan Lawry 1994 Row 1 Jill McNaughton, Linda Grosyzk, Carolyn Tribble Hudkins Row 2 Eric Feijo, Scott Sartwell 1999 Row 1 Amy Groszyk Sheiber, Jeff Beaudette, Katherine Harvey, Patrick Stone Row 2 Seamus Durkin, Brooke Dolara, Larry Griffin, Arun Masih 2004 Row 1 Kate Braden, Theresa Lamontagne, Jess Aiken, Hannah Wolcott Reid, Jen Lamontagne, Brie Edwards Row 2 DJ Lanz, Brendan Moriarty, Jeannie LaPlante, Jules Okai, Allie Markowski, Jake McComb, Mac Pohanka Row 3 Will Taylor, Bobby Lally, Giga Dietze, Bryce Homick 2009 Row 1 Phoebe Madden, Shelly D’Aleo, Lexa Mish Carignan, Liz Monty, Emily Conklin, Maureen Wyse, Ali Vicino Row 2 Cordelia Brady, Kate Pistel, Maria Azambuja, Kaitlin Ventriglia, Anne McGovern, Lexi Lee, Meg Murphy Row 3 Chelsea Kane, Madison Graney, Whitney Tuthill, Kyle Vigneault, Alex Gazis, Sam Stone Row 4 Joe Pugliano, Kevin Dawson, Mike Jacobs, Pat Sullivan, John Camerota, Charles Reeb Row 5 Ryan Sonberg, Adam Jacobs, Jeff Papai, Tim Bautz, Eric Spazzarini, Alex Olsen, YK Kim, Tom Casey

REUNION

2014

Tiger to be a

16

SUFFIELD

What makes Suffield unique?

Suffield ’s admissions applications are at an all-time high and more and more families are requesting campus tours. Why is it that the Academy continues to thrive year after year?

there was something about charlie cahn’s leadership. i’ll never forget how natural and comfortable he seemed during jack’s visit, saying hi to the students and showing them around campus. there was also something about the tour and the way people treated us. we looked at a lot of other places, but it felt like suffield was right. we wanted jack to make his own decision and we’re so happy he chose suffield. -polly akers p’18Fall / Winter 2014

17

the sense of community… it just felt right. -john kuzmeski ’17

this place reminds me of home. people care about me and i know i can be successful. -lucky daniels ’15

T

is the question SUFFIELD set out to answer. We thought a good place to look would be with the admissions tour guide leaders, students responsible for helping organize campus visits for the more than 1,000 families pursuing the admissions process this year. What do these students hear when showing guests around the school? Maybe, we thought, these themes would point to why Suffield is in unprecedented demand.

There are clearly some features that distinguish Suffield: a compelling Leadership Program, a gorgeous campus with new facilities seemingly perpetually under construction, good teachers, an innovative approach and commitment to college counseling, and a history of academic excellence.

There is also an unwavering commitment to blending tradition with appropriate evolution. Legendary headmaster Ap Seaverns voiced words in 1971 that remain true about Suffield today: “We must make intelligent, thoughtful changes while preserving the standards, ideals, traditions, and values that are meaningful and worth saving.” Unwavering traditions include Saturday morning classes, a dress code, small class sizes, required evening study hall for boarders and afternoon activity for all students, weekly school meetings, and sit-down lunches. These time-tested features are clearly appealing to families, especially in light of the complexity of modern culture.

Yet SUFFIELD wanted to know more about why interest in the school has accelerated so dramatically in the last few years, with applications increasing by nearly 50 percent in the past decade.

18

SUFFIELD

suffield has a very comfortable atmosphere. i like how the students and faculty interact. i feel comfortable here. -zack santora ’15

i liked the small size of the student body and it seemed like a great opportunity. suffield just called to me. -alexis corcoran ’17

everyone seemed friendly and outgoing. i also liked how the classrooms were set up. there is meticulous attention to detail on this campus. -norm cotteleer ’18

it felt like home when i came for revisit day. i just really liked it. -cian beaulieu ’18 Fall / Winter 2014

19

i could see myself excelling at suffield because of the diversity on campus and the leadership program. -jonathan Lopez ’17

Sharing the Story Suffield annually selects a dozen of its most accomplished tour guides to serve as tour guide leaders. They help host families and work with the admissions office in assigning and training student guides.

Their comments highlighted recurring themes. Alessandro Togni ’15 remarked, “The notion of family seems to often arise.

The sense that everyone here is supportive of each other and it is a safe, happy place to grow.”

Nick Alfano ’15 echoed similar thoughts. “Guests can tell,” he said, “that people here form genuine bonds and are not overly competitive with each other. It is obvious when walking around campus that students collaborate rather than compete.” Nick also said visitors realize something special must be going on here by all the activity and construction. “They always say it can’t be a coincidence that new facilities are going up everywhere. It is a sign of strong leadership and positive momentum.”

Owen Hern ’15 commented, “The genuine passion students have for Suffield is obvious when I am showing families around.

It is the same feature that stood out for me when I was looking at prep schools.”

How is the spirit generated? “Much of it starts from the top,” said Hannah Bellorado ’15. “We can see the passion Mr. Cahn has for Suffield and it inspires others to help make the school great.” It is also generated by students who are not concerned with showing their pride. At Suffield they are confident, joyful, and humble. People here know their individual contributions add to the fabric Suffield’s community. They are expected to not just be part of the family, but to help sustain the welcoming atmosphere.

As one student said, “When I returned to campus for Revisit Day and told Headmaster Cahn how excited I was to attend Suffield, he said ‘Welcome to the family.’”

“Every tour I give solidifies how grateful I am to go to a place like Suffield,” said Kim Meunier ’15.

We concluded our research by speaking with Headmaster Cahn about Suffield’s current momentum. “We benefit from being clear about our identity—what we do and do not do. It is easy to get stuck in a relative competition with other schools and forget the most essential point, which is helping each student here flourish and thrive.” It is hard not to be inspired by the atmosphere at Suffield. You can see it in the way the tour guide leaders describe how it feels to be at the school and share it with guests.

20

SUFFIELD

CHRISTIAN WILKINS ’15

CHRISTIAN WILKINS ’15 CONCLUDED HIS REMARKABLE SUFFIELD FOOTBALL CAREER AS THE TIGERS EARNED ANOTHER NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIP. CHRISTIAN IS A 2015 UNDER ARMOUR ALL AMERICA SELECTION AND WILL PLAY IN THE UNDER ARMOUR ALL-AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL GAME IN ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, ON JANUARY 2. HE IS THE TOP RANKED COLLEGE RECRUIT IN NEW ENGLAND AND IN THE TOP 100 NATIONALLY. Christian came to Suffield as a ninth-grader and has excelled as a student-athlete and campus leader. In addition to receiving All New England honors in all four years for football, Christian has earned this recognition for three years in track and field and two years in basketball.

Christian said, “I have loved my experience at Suffield. The school has helped me grow and develop in all ways. It is a special place filled with fantastic, kind people. I’m proud of all that our team has accomplished and even more proud of how much we all care about the school and each other.”

Head football coach and co-athletic director Drew Gamere ’93 commented, “It has been a pleasure working with Christian over the last four years. Not only has he emerged as an elite athlete, but he has also developed into an outstanding young man and leader on our campus. He genuinely loves Suffield, and he is committed to helping the school succeed in any way he can.”

Christian has received football scholarship offers from hundreds of universities and colleges across the United States. He is in no rush to make a decision, thoughtfully weighing options as he enjoys his senior year at Suffield.

Headmaster Charlie Cahn commented, “Literally everyone at Suffield loves Christian, and for good reason.

He is unpretentious, thoughtful, and kind to people all around our community. He’s an exceptional person.”

Fall / Winter 2014

21

PARENTS’ WEEKEND Parents and families of Suffield students visited campus for a series of activities from October 9 to 11.

In addition to meetings with teachers, parents attended athletic contests, a Performing Arts Showcase, and a discussion with various school leaders. Headmaster Charlie Cahn gave the State of the School presentation and noted that a primary reason for Suffield’s success is the shared sense of values between parents and the school. He said, “Our clarity about being an academically challenging school that is encouraging and nurturing has helped lead Suffield to great success.”

01

02

04

03

01 Phon Leeswadtrakul ’15 and Prao Leeswadtrakul ’15 with parents Suchada and Sombat 02 Rhiannon Fletcher ’15 with parents Rees and Donna-Mae 03 Owen Kinne ’18 with mother Tracy Kinne and grandmother Joyce Keating 04 Jim Diao P’16, Calvin Moore P’16, Carmen Pena P’16, Kay De Simone P’16, Blanca Ruiz Diaz P’16, and Cathy Clarke GP’16

GRANDPARENTS’ DAY Over 130 grandparents attended Suffield Academy’s annual Grandparents’ Day, held this year on October 21. The day included class visits, lunch in Brewster Hall, and an address from Headmaster Charlie Cahn. The Grandparents’ Association is led by Harvey and Arline Steinberg GP’09 and supports the speaker series on American history, as well as other initiatives at the school.

01

02

03

04

05

06

01 Jordyn Gonsor ’15 and her grandparents, Beth and John Gonsor 02 Maxwell Toczydlowski ’17, Ben Toczydlowski ’17, and their grandparents, Dee and Bob Romejko 03 Jules Mandirola ’17 and her grandmother, Ruth Clark 04 India Shay ’18 and her grandparents, Joseph and Connie Shay 05 Oliver Martin ’15 and his grandparents, Marion and Terry Martin 06 Christian Wilkins ’15 and his grandmother, Bessie Wilkins

SPECIAL OLYMPICS AT SUFFIELD Students involved with Suffield’s cross country and soccer programs ran with guests from the Special Olympics of Connecticut (SOCT) on October 16. A Suffield Leadership class taught by Tim Cleary helped organize the event. Emma Repka ’16, Callie Platt ’16, Katie Kuzmeski ’16, Hunter Newman ’16, Nick Pellegrini ’16, Jimmy Liao ’16, Femi Adetola ’16, Will Moryto ’16, Derek Dai ’16, Miles Johnson ’16, Kiersten Ness ’16, David Gingold ’16, and Naoki Takahashi ’16 worked on all the arrangements.

Marc Mercadante, the SOCT senior director of Community Impact, said, “We partnered with Suffield after Callie, Emma, and Katie reached out to us. Once we got a sense of their passion and enthusiasm, we knew this would be a great fit and a wonderful opportunity to support our Special Olympians. Suffield students are the type of people we want to become our next leaders, board members, and volunteers.” Katie Kuzmeski ’16 added, “The run had a great turnout of Special Olympic athletes, as well as Suffield Academy volunteers. This was a memorable event that everyone enjoyed, and we look forward to partnering with Special Olympics again in the future to raise awareness about intellectual disabilities.”

2014 COLOR COURSE SPOUTS OF WATER—WHICH INCREASES ACCESS TO IMPROVED AND AFFORDABLE CLEAN WATER—WAS CHOSEN TO RECEIVE PROCEEDS FROM STUDENT FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES DURING THE 2014-15 ACADEMIC YEAR. SUFFIELD HAS SUPPORTED MANY IMPORTANT CAUSES DURING THE PAST DECADE THROUGH ACTIVITIES INCLUDING DANCE MARATHONS, OBSTACLE COURSES, AND PERFORMING ARTS TELETHONS. This year’s first fundraising activity was a night-time Color Course on the academic quad. Students traveled through obstacles as peers and teachers threw sidewalk chalk paint. Dean of Students Greg Lynch said, “Our students have loved this event and it was great to have it at night this year. We used UV-colored paint and black lights, and connected it with a dance party on the turf field. It was successful for many reasons, but mostly because so many people got involved.”

Senior class president Emily Lowe added, “This year’s Color Course was legendary! Hosting it under the lights brought real intensity to campus. From the obstacle course to the slip’n slide to the rave (DJ’d by two students), it was a great way to kick-off efforts to help Spouts of Water.”

For more information about Spouts of Water, visit: www.spoutsofwater.org.

24

SUFFIELD

EVOLUTION OF STUDY HALL

THE EVENING

The structure is one of the best parts about Suffield. It helped me immensely with schoolwork and even proper meal times!

College life has shown me just how important that structure was for my academic growth. -Victoria Kiarsis ’13

I can clearly recall one time when we filed into study hall and sat down, and there was a full glass of water placed upside down on the proctor’s table up on the raised dais. Needless to say the teacher who had the duty that night was not pleased—the only way to remove the glass was to have the water go all over the place.

-Mark Loether ‘64

SUFFIELD IS A PLACE WITH RICH TRADITION. NOWHERE IN SCHOOL LIFE IS THE KEY CONCEPT OF EMBRACING TIME-TESTED FUNDAMENTALS MORE CLEAR THAN THE EVENING STUDY HALLS. THEY ARE A PERMANENT ASPECT OF THE SUFFIELD EXPERIENCE.

FOR MORE THAN 180 YEARS, SUFFIELD’S BOARDING STUDENTS HAVE HAD STRUCTURED NIGHTLY STUDY TIME. WHILE SOME OF THE RULES HAVE EVOLVED, PRIMARILY AS TECHNOLOGY HAS EXPANDED, THE ESSENTIAL ASPECTS OF SUFFIELD’S EVENING STUDY HALLS REMAIN UNALTERED. SIX NIGHTS EACH WEEK, STUDENTS HAVE QUIET STUDY TIME FROM 8 TO 10 P.M. IN EITHER THEIR DORM ROOMS, AT THE LIBRARY, OR A MONITORED STUDY HALL IN CENTURION HALL. THERE IS NO MUSIC; PHONES ARE OFF; AND THE INTERNET IS USED ONLY FOR ACADEMIC WORK. Max Parks ’15 came to Suffield Academy from a public school in Westchester County, New York. He said the hardest part about study hall is the “no phone” rule. “That’s my method of freedom,” he noted. Max commented that at his previous school, study hall was just a formal way of saying “free period.” It was time to hang out and socialize. Not surprisingly, it took Max some time to get accustomed to Suffield’s evening study hours.

We asked several alumni to share their memories about Suffield’s study hall. Alums spanning the Classes of 1962 to 2014 shared consistent sentiments about both the restrictions and the valuable lessons Suffield’s formal study hall provided.

While it often takes distance to see the immense value of this structure—with dorm parents and proctors regularly checking on everyone—Max sees it already. “I’ve given into it because I know it will help me in college,” he said. “I know it’s making me a better student.” Given a course load that includes AP Economics, The Civil War, Probability and Statistics, and Writing about Literature, Max’s homework load varies nightly. While two hours might not be enough to get it all done, it certainly helps.

History teacher Andy Lowe has been at Suffield for 35 years. He echoed the notion that study hall has not changed over the years because the structure works well. “If anything,” Andy said, “during my years here study hall has gone from structured to more structured. It is now more restrictive in terms of going to the library during study hall. There is no more Student Union option for the 30-minute post study hall down time—which limits coed socializing, among other things. Teachers continue to be available for extra help or time with advisees. This is an important feature of Suffield’s support system for students.”

28

SUFFIELD

While study hall may still be required, students seem to have more flexibility. We had none. And if you were caught playing tennis against the basement wall, there was a special time and place for Saturday night study hall. In my case this led to roughly 30 straight nights of confined study one way or another, which was at least as memorable as the Saturday night 16mm Memorial Hall study hall movie. -Alec Lyall ’62

My favorite memory of study hall was during my freshman year in Kotchen Dorm. Mr. McKenzie was on duty our first night of study hall, and he caught me texting (my mom, who I was telling how much fun I was having with my new friends) and Mr. McKenzie appeared in the door. He gestured for my phone and I gave it to him. At lights out he generously gave it back to me and told me to call my mom. -Izzy McDonald ’12

When I first arrived at Suffield, the study hall seemed more like a punishment than anything else. But it quickly became a routine that was vital to my success. As a junior and senior I was a resident of Spencer Hall. Every once in a while when we were all about to hit that home stretch at 9:30 or so, you could start to smell the sweet aroma of baked goods. That’s when everyone would begin to realize that the moment 10 o’clock hit, the Pentz’s would be inviting us into their home to have some of Mrs. Pentz’s famous brownies. -Trevor Dalglish ’07

A glimpse at the study hall rules today and 50 years ago shows how Suffield has managed change while retaining tradition. The 2014 Student Handbook uses the following language about evening study hours.

Boarding students study in their rooms Sunday through Friday evenings from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. If they are unable to study effectively in their dormitory rooms, however, students are assigned to a centralized, closely supervised study hall in an academic building.

Day students may be placed in evening study hall at the request of their parents.

There are specific guidelines for managing evening study hours regarding passes for extra help or library use, but the general guidelines remain unaltered: quiet, supervised time for study with restricted use of technology.

EVENING STUDY HALL GENERAL GUIDELINES: • Study hall begins at 8:00 p.m. with students settled and ready to study.

• Students studying on “The Hill” who wish to seek extra help from a teacher or study in the library must have a signed pass from their teacher or the academic dean to bring to the supervisor of evening study hall.

• No video games may be played. No music may be played and no headphones used, except by permission of the academic dean.

• Students are expected to use computers during evening study hall only for the purposes of academic course work. Computers are not to be used at all after lights-out. If a student abuses his or her computer privileges during study hall, any member of the dorm team may restrict a student’s access to the school network.

The 1968 Student Handbook outlines a similar evening study hall philosophy. Some of the specifics were of course a bit different, yet the principles have remained the same. Instead of restrictions on video games and the Internet, the 1968 rules spoke to illegal reading of newspapers and magazines.

The purpose of supervised study hall is to enable a student to apply himself to his work under conditions of maximum quiet and minimum distraction. To make this possible, the following rules apply: 1. Regular school dress including jacket and tie must be worn.

2. There shall be no communication between students.

3. The only reading material to be used are textbooks for class. This means no newspapers, magazines, or other books are allowed in the study hall.

Fall / Winter 2014

29

I always wondered what study hall at SA would be like if we had social media. I remember always getting caught using AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) as a freshman and sophomore, but it was the only time I could chat with my friends and family back in the city. I remember struggling in Mrs. Ellerton’s biology class as a sophomore, but I would meet with her for extra help during study hall, and this helped me boost my grades. I learned not to be afraid of asking for help. -Emilio Martinez ’02

In his 34 years at Suffield, math teacher Dave Godin has seen how technology has affected study hall. “It offers better access to research but is also a great form of distraction,” he noted. “It’s the good and the bad.”

Andy Lowe also commented on the impact technology has had on both research and study hall, saying, “The Internet has contributed in ways beyond measure to the efficiency and quality of research that used to be provided only by library resources and reserve readings. That has been a welcome change to what can be accomplished during the study hall hours.”

Suffield’s formal Mandatory Evening Study Hall (MESH) or “The Hill” has remained largely unchanged over the years, aside from changing locations—from Memorial to Brewster to Tisch Auditorium and now Centurion Hall. Alumni will recall “The Hill” as something to be avoided. While it’s known as a destination for the students who struggle to focus and need extra guidance, its main purpose is to provide structure for those who need it.

30

SUFFIELD

january 7, 2014 Dear Sirs: On October 5, 2014 I became a Centenarian.

According to GC Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary a liberal translation: a person living to celebrate his 100th birthday. In honor of this event I’m enclosing a check for $100.00.

My 5-year Latin teacher, Charles Rayment would have been proud, even though he went to Harvard, and I graduated from Yale in 1937. Congratulations to Charlie Cahn and company for continued success.

Spencer Montgomery Jr.

SPENCER MONTGOMERY ’32

100-YEAR-OLD ALUM REMEMBERS SUFFIELD Dedicated Suffield alum Spencer Montgomery ’32 turned 100 years old on October fifth. Spencer’s grandmother, (Jennie Spencer), father (Spencer Montgomery Sr. ’04), mother (Kathryn Barber Street ’07), siblings (brother Street Montgomery ’34, sisters Ruth Montgomery Tryon ’39 and June Montgomery Parker ’41), first cousins (Sydney Fuller ’35, Nathena Fuller ’37, Frances Connelly ’39, and Sam Fuller ’41), and granddaughter (Tulia Montgomery ’94) also attended Suffield. His father, Spencer Sr., was a trustee of the Academy for 59 years.

Spencer graduated from Yale University in 1937. He worked for the Travelers Insurance Company until World War II when he joined the United States Air Force, serving as a navigator and rising to the rank of major. In 1947 Spencer joined The Montgomery Company in Windsor Locks becoming president in 1962 and named chairman in 1984. The Montgomery Company was originally established in 1871 to manufacture cotton yarns but shifted to producing electrical wire around World War I. The company had much success as new inventions helped the company to survive.

The Academy’s George M. Montgomery Scholarship was created in 1947 in honor of Spencer’s grandfather. It provides scholarships to academically qualified students from the state of Connecticut. The most recent recipient of the scholarship is Haven Williams ’16.

Fall / Winter 2014

31

Find Your Island

by Jonathan Medwid '96

Bronya Shillo ’03 found her island. Have you found yours?

In addition to its reputation for academic excellence, Suffield Academy has a strong history in athletics, which serve as a vital part of school life. Here students develop a strong sense of discipline and commitment to others which carries into all areas of the community. At 6 feet, 2 inches tall, Bronya was very strong on the basketball court, but Suffield proved to have much more to offer her.

During her junior year, Bronya discovered the SOLO program, led by faculty member David Rockwell ’58. Bronya remembers Rocky as a mentor and an important person in her development at Suffield. She modestly admitted to me that she was not the most decorated scholar and credits faculty members like Rocky and Kim Wiggin, chair of academic support, with vital guidance that helped nurture her next ventures.

After graduating from Suffield, Bronya spent her freshman year at Green Mountain College in Vermont but then transferred to Salve Regina in Rhode Island, choosing a major in international marketing. She spent her final year at Salve Regina enlisted in a nine month program she described to me as “Rethinking Globalization.” She traveled to Africa, India, New Zealand, and Mexico. The goal was to pursue in-depth study of various economic, religious, and agricultural practices. It is in talking with Bronya that I realized these experiences had a profound impact on her personal and professional goals. She worked for Patagonia, Under Armour, and Mystic Solar, a company specializing in the application of renewable energies. However, four years ago Bronya returned home to Fishers Island, New York, where she has been a teaching assistant, basketball coach, and school librarian. She is again part of a small community.

Merely seven-miles long and located within the Long Island Sound of New York state, Fishers Island has only 236 year-round residents. It can be reached by ferry off the coastal waters of New London, Connecticut. It is a beautifully quiet island most famously known for The Fishers Island Club, a highly decorated private golf club that consistently ranks among the top 10 finest golf courses in the United States. Now, thanks to Bronya Shillo, Fishers Island is claiming fame for another reason.

The Pequot Inn is the only public restaurant on Fishers Island. It was established as a boarding house under its original name, the Elliot House, in 1903. Bronya’s parents, Greg and Debi Shillo, purchased it in 1996 and began the process of reviving it.

Open seasonally (for six months a year), The Pequot Inn is a beloved, unique establishment. Bronya and her sister Kate ’00, now share the responsibility of helping lead the family-owned business with their parents.

I had the opportunity to work as a bartender at The Pequot last summer, living with other staff members in the upstairs hotel rooms (mine was #6, to be exact). Each afternoon at 4:15 we met downstairs for our “family” meal. Our staff came from a variety of locations, including New York and Connecticut but also Moldova, Turkey, and Romania. I could not help but think of Fuller Hall or my lunches in Brewster’s dining hall, living and eating surrounded by foreign languages and dialects.

Yes, The Pequot Inn is truly a unique establishment. So, too, are the Shillo family members, each an entrepreneur in their own right. Greg Shillo partners an accounting firm with offices in Farmington and Simsbury Connecticut, but he spent nearly all his weekends on the island assisting us behind the bar. Kate Shillo, though based in New York City, also spent her weekends on Fishers Island, opening Fishers Island Summer Shack on the second floor of The Pequot Inn. The store boasts a selective collection of beachwear and accessories. Adjacent to the inn, Debi Shillo also unlocked the doors to her own boutique called Fishers Island Gourmet.

32

SUFFIELD

It is Bronya’s most recent business endeavor, Fishers Island Lemonade (FIL), that has created the biggest stir. FIL is based on a recipe that originated at The Pequot Inn over 10 years ago. Vodka, whiskey, lemon juice, and honey-derived sweeteners are mixed in 15-liter buckets and kept in a bubbler behind the bar. It has been so popular that three years ago Bronya had a vision of canning the drink, and she closely examined the requirements of bringing it to distribution. It has taken the last two years for Bronya and her distiller to perfect its flavor, and for her to develop the overall marketing campaign. The yellow striped can was inspired by a Giorgio Beverly Hills beach towel Bronya remembers from her mother’s house on the island. The can was designed by Kate’s good friend, Camilla Benbassat, founder of the design agency Avec. FIL is distributed in a can rather than a bottle because it chills more quickly in an icy cooler, remaining fresher, and the beach friendly can does not shatter like glass.

Imprinted on the FIL can are the nautical coordinates of Fishers Island, a mysterious wasp, and following statement of purpose: “For years we have been mixing up a summertime favorite, the FIL—it’s the bee’s knees. We set out to share our refreshingly classic yet effective giggle water for all to enjoy responsibly, wherever you go... the beach, the ferry, the 7th green, sailing, or at your favorite watering hole. Here’s to summer never ending...”

Giving back to her community is important to Bronya and is a foundation of FIL. This is why the can also displays the mark of 1% For The Planet, a non-profit organization established by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia. In support of the organization, FIL donates 1% of each sale to the Henry L. Furgeson Museum on Fishers Island. With elaborately devised exhibitions and educational programs, the museum celebrates the island’s history and promotes its present and future well-being.

In only its first month of sales, over 700 cases of FIL were sold, and at The Pequot Inn we could barely keep it in stock. There are now over 100 accounts in Southeastern Connecticut, and last summer over 25 cases were sold per month at a popular new restaurant in Mystic called Red 36. Still, it is evident that Bronya’s goal is not to have FIL be just another spiked beverage found in your local store or bar. FIL is a conceptual lifestyle. It represents a memory and an attitude. It reminds us to kick back and relax as if we were on a beach on an island. Bronya’s hope is that when we open a can of FIL we taste the flavor of summer, feel the warmth of sunshine, and perhaps a cool breeze from the ocean. It certainly reminds me of my summer spent on Fishers Island. It helps me recall the bonfires at South Beach, the lighted disco floor of late night dancers, rumors of paddle boarding around the island during high tide, waiting in the stand-by line for the ferry, pink and turquoise sunsets behind the Race Point lighthouse, trophy-sized striper fish, the salty scent of sand and seaweed, fresh farmed oysters, the outstandingly gorgeous golf course, and the eclectic and internationally unusual family we all became at The Pequot Inn. Bronya Shillo found her island. She now invites you to try Fishers Island Lemonade and find it, too.

Fishers Island Lemonade

is currently sold throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island and can be found in parts of New York this fall. To locate Fishers Island Lemonade or to sign up for the FIL newsletter, please visit the FIL website www.filemonade.com or friend FIL on Facebook.

Fall / Winter 2014

33

fall chapel

34

SUFFIELD

This fall’s Chapel series speakers included a former Olympian, a Holocaust survivor, a healthy lifestyle advocate, and two authors. The diversity of our speakers complemented Suffield’s 2014-15 school theme as speakers gave their account about what it means to live life with conviction.

These presenters made us think about our own beliefs and how necessary it is to stand up for what is important in our own lives. To learn more about our speakers, visit www.suffieldacademy.org/chapel.

jamie ford author Jamie’s novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, was chosen as this year’s community text. Focusing on the theme of conviction, it tells the tale of friendship and love between a Chinese American boy and a Japanese American girl during the internment in World War II. During his Chapel presentation, Jamie addressed the fact that his novel has autobiographical threads; his father was Chinese, his mother American. Jamie also remembers stories his Chinese grandfather, who was only 13-years-old at the time of Pearl Harbor, told him about the cruel treatment of Asians on the US Pacific Coast during the internment of Japanese Americans in the 1940s. One of Jamie’s mentors was the journalist, historian, and human rights defender Walt Woodward. Walt defended the Japanese during Pearl Harbor and ignored threats claiming this was an act of treason. The controversy that surrounded Walt inspired Jamie. “He embodied conviction,” said Jamie.

“We should all stand for something.”

tyler hamilton former olympian Tyler feels fortunate to help adults and students prepare for the decisions they will face in their lives. After 14 years of using banned performance-enhancing substances while part of the United States Postal Service cycling team, Tyler has now turned his story into a message of hope, encouraging people to stay true to themselves and prepare to make challenging decisions in inevitable moments of conflict. Suffield loved hearing from one of America’s elite athletes. In 2010, Tyler was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury investigating the use of performance-enhancing drugs in cycling. The following year, Tyler admitted to using banned substances while competing and returned his Olympic gold medal. As he told the Suffield community, he knew coming clean would set him free. “Being forced to testify gave me clarity and the courage to take back my life,” said Tyler. In 2012, he published a memoir called The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-ups, and Winning at All Costs. His tale of redemption was a powerful message for the Suffield community.

Fall / Winter 2014

35

fall chapel

marion blumenthal lazan holocaust survivor In 1942, when Marion Blumenthal was just nine years old, her Jewish family was transported from Holland to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany. During her compelling chapel presentation, she recounted numerous stories about what life was like at the camp: the tight sleeping quarters, the filthy conditions and horrible odors, and the mental anguish and torture. “The continuous horror and fear cannot be put into words accurately,” said Marion. Six years later, Marion’s dream of immigrating to the US came true when she arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey, with her mother and older brother. Marion’s perseverance has inspired countless other people to stand up for themselves. “Despite all of the terrible things that have happened to me, my life today is full and rewarding,” she noted. Marion’s central messages to the Suffield community were universal: be true to yourself and don’t blindly follow a leader; never judge a group based on the action of one individual; and be kind, good, and respectful to one another.

tom clavin author Tom’s conviction for conveying the truth covers a broad range of topics that include the Vietnam War, baseball and the DiMaggio brothers, and Red Cloud, the American Indian who defeated the US Army in a war. As Tom explained, he chooses stories he feels “have to be told.” Tom always knew he wanted to be a writer and credits his mother for teaching him how to write and his mentors for supporting him. During his chapel presentation, Tom emphasized that hard work and energy were required to forge his career as a full-time author.

“It didn’t happen overnight,” he commented, “but you can get lucky. I go into every situation with an open mind and without an agenda.” Tom added, “One story leads to another. After a certain point, I don’t look back. I’m focused on what I’m working on now and on what I want to do next.” Tom is the author and co-author of 16 books, the former editor-in-chief of The Independent, and has written for various publications including The New York Times, Newsday, Good Housekeeping, and Men’s Journal.

alycia darby healthy lifestyle advocate Throughout the course of her professional career, Alycia Darby has worked at developing the strengths that have helped her become a successful entrepreneur. Alycia, who was the 2014 Miss California International, used examples from her own life to demonstrate that believing in our strengths is what makes us successful. A former trainer, counselor, TV host, coach, and public speaker, she has recently focused her energy on her “Flex Your Life” motto, which inspires people to get what they want by using tools they already have. The four-step FLEX strategy involves Finding your mission, Looking for your strengths, Exploring your resources, and EXecuting your mission.

36

SUFFIELD

EXPLORING CONVICTION AT SUFFIELD NOVELIST LOUISA MAY ALCOTT ONCE SAID, “HE WHO BELIEVES IS STRONG; HE WHO DOUBTS IS WEAK. STRONG CONVICTIONS PRECEDE GREAT ACTIONS.” THIS YEAR’S SCHOOL THEME AT SUFFIELD IS CONVICTION. IT IS A FIRMLY HELD BELIEF, AN UNSHAKABLE FEELING THAT NEEDS NO PROOF OR EVIDENCE.

Fall / Winter 2014

37

The annual school theme serves as a touchstone throughout the academic year—a shared intellectual experience—and helps raise awareness of pertinent and timely issues.

A coinciding community text is chosen, and the theme is examined through vehicles both in and out of the curriculum.

Suffield Academy’s history is filled with moments of conviction. It led Suffield’s trustees to keep the school open in 1952, after initially voting to cease operations due to dwindling enrollment and financial challenges. The trustees had conviction that Ap Seaverns could strengthen the school once again. In a speech then-headmaster David Holmes ’60 gave at an event honoring Ap in 1999, he said, “No one, not even the trustees, anticipated the greatness that resided in Ap or the immense and immediate impact that he would have on the destiny of the school. In his quiet and relentless way, he was a force of nature with a driving ambition to create a truly excellent school.”

Conviction is ambition. Conviction is relentless.

Forty-two years after Ap’s tenure at Suffield, the school still upholds his convictions. His words from a talk 1959 resonate today. He said, “We must make every endeavor in the future to assist each student in acquiring a proper sense of values, ideals, and standards, as we do our very best to develop responsible leaders and citizens of tomorrow.”

Part of this process in the twenty-first century has been to challenge our students to see the world with a wider lens. Headmaster Charlie Cahn is helping carry forward this conviction as the school’s leader, and it is remarkable to see the 2011 Campus Master Plan unfold. During the 2014 Reunion weekend, Charlie commented, “The buildings constructed during Ap’s tenure are now being brought into the modern era. We have raised $60 million in the past seven years to strengthen this historic institution, and our ambition continues to be great.”

Conviction is growth. Conviction is strength.

Suffield’s exploration this year is focused on how people form convictions and how they impact our lives. For example, when we are told to do what is “right” by others, how do we know it is right for us? Conviction is being explored across all of our programs.

38

SUFFIELD

“IT’S NOT UNTIL IT COSTS YOU SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW IT’S SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE IN.” For example, students in Melinda Fuller’s Art 1 class created large-scale paintings to depict their convictions in life. Quinn Egan ’16 and Eva Crouse ’17 connected their present-day convictions to their ancestors. Quinn, a distant relative of former US President John Adams, portrayed the president in his painting and explained that his conviction is “his pride in his family history and origins.” Eva holds several swimming records and painted herself diving into a pool. She commented that it was her grandmother who piqued her interest in swimming. Eva’s conviction lies in the confidence, fulfillment, and sense of purpose she has gained from competing on the local and national levels.

The community text this year is Jamie Ford’s historical novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, which highlights the controversy that can surround conviction. As Jamie commented in his chapel presentation, “It’s not until it costs you something that you know it’s something you believe in.” Jamie added that conviction is a theme close to his heart. “When you think about,” he commented, “love and conviction are two of the most important actions for the younger generations to uphold.”

Other chapel speakers who focused their presentations on this theme included Holocaust survivor Marion Blumenthal Lazan, author Tom Clavin, former world-class cyclist Tyler Hamilton, and healthy lifestyle advocate Alycia Darby. In vastly different ways, they all spoke about how their convictions shaped their lives.

From Marion’s conviction to see life as full and rewarding despite the traumatic experiences she endured as a child to Tyler Hamilton’s conviction to live his life with honesty and integrity after the poor decisions he made while a pro-cycler, the Suffield community understood how convictions shape people’s lives.

THE CONVICTION OF OUR STUDENTS SUFFIELD STUDENTS ARE LIVING EXAMPLES OF CONVICTION AT AN EARLY AGE. HERE ARE SOME OF THEIR STORIES.

BILLY CORDES ’16 SPREAD KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY Billy established “Billy’s Lids 4 Kids” (BL4K) to provide custom hats for kids undergoing cancer treatment. He paints hats for pediatric cancer patients and delivers them to Baystate Children’s Hospital and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Billy says the Suffield community has been especially helpful this year. As he is busy with schoolwork and exploring colleges, he’s constantly trying to find people to be guest artists. “By involving the Suffield community, it allows more people to help out with this great cause. Mr. Butcher, in particular, has been very generous by offering to help paint hats.” Last summer BL4K was recognized as an official 501c3 non-profit charitable organization. For more information, visit www.billyslids4kids.org.

BAEK KANG ’16 TAKE ACTION AND MAKE GLOBAL CHANGES Baek spent part of last summer at the Spouts of Water factory in Uganda, learning how water filters are made and teaching children about clean water. When he returned to Korea, he organized two fundraising efforts to continue his support of Spouts of Water. He also brought the cause to the Suffield community, and was chosen by the student body to receive support from various efforts during 2014-15 academic year. Baek said, “I was shocked by how children suffer simply from lack of water. We have all the critical necessities and often complain about insignificant things. If they can live happily with just a bottle of clean water, we should always be thankful and feel blessed with the great opportunities we have.”

JERRY TANG ’17 STEP OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE Jerry organized a group of volunteer tutors to teach lower-grade students in a remote mountain village in Guizhou State, China. His eight-person team of volunteers came from different boarding schools around the United States. Jerry commented, “It took us seven hours to drive there from Guizhou’s state capital, but what I witnessed in the village motivated me to try harder at everything in my life.”

40

SUFFIELD

BELLA DE SIMONE ’16 GO AFTER WHAT YOU WANT Over the summer, Bella attended a five-week program at Babson College in Massachusetts for aspiring entrepreneurs. She then worked as an intern for New York State Senator Jose Peralta, the first Dominican-American elected to the New York State Senate. Though it made for a busy summer, it was an important step for Bella toward pursuing her dream of one day working in politics. “I wanted to get a firsthand look at what a political career would entail. I learned how to behave in a professional work environment, as well as produce work quickly.”

SUSANNAH FERRIS ’15 HELP PEOPLE HOWEVER YOU CAN Susannah traveled to Vietnam last summer and participated in an international work program helping Vietnamese union workers build houses. “At first I didn’t think we were having that much of an impact but then I learned not to underestimate the little things we can do.

Everything makes a difference, even moving bricks.” Susannah commented that her Suffield experience allowed her to go to Vietnam and face her fears of not knowing anyone. “Suffield is a community where we all support each other,” she said, “so I carried that positive mindset with me to Vietnam.”

MATT KERTANIS ’16 WORK HARD AND SET GOALS Matt lives in Suffield, Connecticut, and has been working in the tobacco fields of Hinckley Farms (in Westfield, Massachusetts) for several years. When Matt isn’t at school, he’s at work. Now one of the field managers, he said that despite only having two days off since he’s been in high school, he loves the work. “It has helped me develop my work ethic, and it makes me appreciate what a beautiful campus we have here at Suffield.” Matt also looks to his soccer coaches Justin Pepoli and Dave Kayiatos for inspiration. “I try to model their coaching styles,” said Matt.

“People like to listen to others when they are upbeat.”

h g

a n a

summer 2014

On behalf of everyone from Hearts of the Father we want to say a very big thank you to all of you for the gifts you gave us. We love and appreciate them.

To all my lovely friends in Suffield Academy: There are many people that come to our home but you are truly awesome. We love you from the bottom of our hearts.

Last summer fifteen Suffield students and faculty members returned to Ghana’s JoshKrisDan Home of Refuge, the flagship program of Hearts of the Father Outreach (HFO). Suffield students and faculty members had previously traveled there in June 2013.

During the 2013-2014 academic year, HFO was the beneficiary of proceeds from several campus-wide fundraising events including a color course and student telethon. HFO was founded by John Moritz ’74 and his wife Libby in the wake of their own horrible personal tragedy, the loss of their three children: Joshua, Kristen, and Daniel. The Moritz’s have worked tirelessly to provide homes for orphans in some of the most impoverished parts of the world, including Ghana.

This year’s group was joined by John’s brother, Peter Moritz ’72. They spent nine days working in Old Ningo, clearing land for athletic fields and installing new soccer goalposts and a basketball hoop. “We painted much of the home’s interior. After a joyous, music and dance-filled worship service the entire group visited a beautiful local beach. On the final night we prepared and served an ‘American’ dinner consisting of pasta, fruit salad, and garlic bread,” said trip coordinator and Suffield’s Director of Academic Support Kim Wiggin.

The group presented HFO with Suffield Academy’s donation of $60,000. The funds will be used to help build a new water system and a primary school, which will enable more children from the home and other parts of the community to receive formal education.

The days were highlighted by the children’s return from school each afternoon. JoshKrisDan was filled with dancing, singing, and playing. The home’s soccer team dressed in Suffield uniforms during their weekly game—the jerseys Suffield students brought during their 2013 visit.

This relationship has brought great meaning to members of the Suffield Academy and JoshKrisDan communities. Moving letters have included words of gratitude and joy.

Members of the Suffield Academy community plan to visit Ghana again in November 2015.

May you be blessed wherever you are now and forever.

I really appreciate you and your gifts and also the team you brought.

Not all people could or would do that.

Fall / Winter 2014

43

01

02

03

per forming ar ts

04

Fall arts events began with a musical showcase with the women’s choir, chamber singers, two campus jazz bands, and students in an advanced vocal techniques course.

Suffield’s fall one-act festival featured three pieces from students in the Acting Techniques course, the first of three elective courses in drama. This course provides an overview of the skills used in varied dramatic settings, from classical to contemporary, and tragedy to comedy. Students develop and explore characters of their own creation through a series of improvisations with classmates.

Upcoming events include the winter musical In the Heights, the winter guitar show, and the dance concert.

05

01 Maisie Puris ’15, Stephanie Greer ’15, Alex Manolfi ’15, David Johnston ’15, Greg Pentz ’15, Amanda Baildon ’15, Piper Holliday ’15 02 Inigo Ugarte ’16, Caroline Pape ’16, Piper Holliday ’15 03 Jim Krueger ’16, David Emerson ’17, Joe Islam ’16 04 Jim Krueger ’16 05 Joo Hyun Kim ’16, Baek Kang ’16, Seung Ho Hyun ’15, Hannah Arthur ’17, Edwin Wallace ’16 06 Amanda Baildon ’15 07 Front row: Rena Ricke ’16, Audrey DuFresne ’18, Ashley Sarris ’17, Hattie Bauchiero ’18, Bailey Hyland ’18, Frances Bingham ’15; Back row: Gray Johnson ’15, Graham Shannon ’17, Rob Johnston ’17, Ben Toczydlowski ’17, Bradley Klimczyk ’16, Carlos Salguero ’18, Jack Samenuk ’18, LJ Luba ’17 44

SUFFIELD

06

07

2015

ENTER TO WIN

AUDI Q5

THE SUFFIELD ACADEMY PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION RAFFLE 2015 AUDI Q5 Number of tickets _________ @ $100 each $ _______________________________ 2015 Annual Fund tax deductible donation $ _______________________________ Total amount enclosed: $ _________________________________________________ Name (print) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone (state regulations require one name only)

Address City ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ State _______________________ Zip

PCheck (payable to Suffield Academy) PCharge my PVISA PMC PAMEX PDISCOVER Name on card (print) ___________________________________________________________ Card # __________________________________________________ Expiration Billing Address Signature

Please mail ticket request to: Auction Committee Suffield Academy 185 North Main Street Suffield, Connecticut 06078 For all raffle inquiries or to order tickets by phone: Please call Penn Sullivan at 860.386.4465 or email psullivan@suffieldacademy.org

CAR NOT REDEEMABLE FOR CASH Tickets cost $100 each / Drawing to be held on Friday, April 24, 2015, at 9:00 PM at Suffield Academy / Winner need not be present Tickets are limited to 1,000 and will be sold on a first come, first served basis / All ticket monies received after the 1,000 will be returned to purchaser All federal, state, and local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the responsibility of the winner and must be paid before winner takes receipt of the car Winner is responsible for vehicle transfer and registration

ALUMNI SPORTS DAY Suffield hosted the annual Alumni Sports Day on September 6. Alumni, parents, and students gathered on the fields and in the pool to cheer on matches and races in cross-country, water polo, and soccer. Over 50 alumni returned to campus to give the current students some tough competition in preparation for their fall seasons. The alumni were victorious in the water polo match with a 19-13 win, but boys’ varsity soccer was able to hold the alumni to just one goal in a 3-1 victory.

01

02

03

04

10TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING The Suffield Academy Alumni Association and Parents’ Association hosted the 10th annual Golf Outing at the Suffield Country Club on October 24. The outing was played in a scramble format, and activities were arranged on each hole. These included a marshmallow long drive contest, a group oil painting, and two chipping contests. It was a spirited, memorable event. While the outing was focused far more on fun and camaraderie than competition, there were some contest winners. The closest to the pin winner was educational consultant Chris Overbye. James Michel P’12, ’17 won the chipping contest, and Sandy Field won the putting contest. The longest drives were recorded by Joyce McLennan P’18 and Brian Hetzel ’97. Four groups carded the low score of 58. Sponsors of the outing included Pretzelmaker, Footjoy, Kellogg’s, Fishers Island Lemonade, Coca-Cola, Windsor Marketing Group, The Hoffman Auto Group, Cordes Orthodontics, Carillo & Howland Insurance, Alfano & Flynn LLC, and Westfield Bank.

01

05

02

03

04

06

ALUMNI SPORTS DAY 01 top Kevin Kinne ’84, Joe Fleming ’92, Eddy Akel ’75, Jeff McGowan ’75, Brian Hetzel ’97, Scott Owsiany ’84, Jim Knight ’73, Alex Gazis ’09, and Khadim Diouf ’07 bottom John Corallo ’85, Brendan Moriarty ’04, Basi Ugarte ’10, Paul Faude ’10, Jordan Dubey ’04 and Adam Pistel ’08 02 top Craig Beall, Leonard Zaleski ’82, Mitch Zaleski, Brian Swider ’93, Anthony Rousseau ’04, Garison Beale ’01, Thomas Cyran ’08, Evan Ciecimirski ’10 and Nick Allen ’10 bottom Kait Sheridan, Sarah Ellerton ’06, Kristen LaPlante ’06, Theresa Lamontagne ’04, and Jeannie LaPlante ’04 03 Eddy Akel ’75 and Joe Fleming ’92 04 Neil MacKinnon ’75 and Sam Stone ’09 GOLF OUTING 01 Joe Palomba ’80, Frank Mitchell P’10, Mark Palomba ’77 and Gerry LaPlante P’04, ’06 02 James and Vinnett Michel P’12, ’17, Kevin Forbes, and Harold Forbes P’15 03 Members of the Class of 1984: Paul Dean, Geoff Hoyt, Scott Owsiany, and Kevin Kinne P’18 04 Sue Walsh P’09, ’10 giving her best Picasso impersonation 05 Marsha Rupp, Joyce McLennan P’18, Sandy Fields and Mary Jo Toczydlowski P’17 06 Stan McLennan P’18, Kelly Kinne Patterson ’82, P’13, Beth Bailey P’12, ’16, and Tobye Cook Seck ’88, P’16

FALL SPORTS

Fall / Winter 2014

47

SUFFIELD FOOTBALL

2014 NEPSAC CHAMPIONS

SUFFIELD WON A NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE KEN O’KEEFE BOWL AT CHESHIRE ACADEMY. In a classic finish, the Tigers scored the winning points with 1:40 left in the fourth quarter on a beautiful 47 yard touchdown pass from Endy Sanchez ’15 to Tahj Michel Herring ’16. The Class of 2015 won championships in each of their years at Suffield, and this was Suffield’s sixth New England title in the past seven years. Captains Christian Wilkins ’15, Trent Bellows ’15, Drew Mahoney ’15, and Endy Sanchez ’15 led a talented senior class that included Andrew Chuma, Trent Crossan, Lucky Daniels,

48

SUFFIELD

Tristan Grush, Owen Hern, Stanley Moreau, Tucker Newman, Will Shackleford, Matt Sussman, Alec Turer, Mike Yerardi, and Jackie Zhang. In addition to the 31-28 bowl victory over Cheshire, the season was highlighted by victories over Phillips Exeter, Loomis Chaffee, Salisbury, and Phillips Andover. Head coach Drew Gamere ’92 said, “We had a remarkable group of seniors that displayed great leadership throughout the season. They embraced the opportunity to take on a challenging schedule and played their best when it mattered most. I am extremely proud to have coached this group of young men.”

Fall / Winter 2014

49

LAUREN BONK ’16 SUSANNAH JOHNSON ’18

ALLIE DIMAURO ’16 ANN E. KING ’15

KIMMIE MEUNIER ’15

INDIA SHAY ’18

VOLLEYBALL A successful volleyball season concluded with a second straight New England tournament appearance. The team’s 10 wins were highlighted by victories over Canterbury, Williston Northampton, Worcester, Kingswood-Oxford, and a memorable win at Wilbraham & Monson after Suffield had fallen behind two games to zero. The team was led by seniors Aaliyah Davidson, Ann E. King, Kelly Taylor, Ingunn Ukvitne, and captain Katie Kuzmeski ’16. Several players will return next season, including NEPSAC All Stars Ryder Mosby ’17 and Susannah Johnson ’18.

FIELD HOCKEY In a season highlighted by victories over Miss Porter’s and Kingswood-Oxford, the field hockey team showed spirit and resolve. Seniors Kimmie Meunier and Rebecca Fregonese led from the backfield and were named Western New England League All-Stars. They were captains, along with Sarah Apkin ’16. Other seniors included Frances Bingham, Diana Wallace, and Ali Walsh. A strong core of young players will return next year as Suffield aims to build on late season success and return to the New England tournament. Head coach Ali Vigneau said, “The girls showed consistent effort and grit. They stayed positive throughout the season, handling adversity well and helping position the program for a bright future.”

50

SUFFIELD

ROBBIE HEUMANN ’15

BECCA TITTERTON ’15 EMMA REPKA ’16 JORDYN GONSOR ’15

MIKE BARIT ’15

GIRLS’ SOCCER A young Suffield team navigated a challenging schedule and showed great promise for the future. Seniors Abby Blyler, Kelsey Burke, Jordyn Gonsor, Marysa Massoia, and Becca Titterton led a team that started five freshmen and six sophomores. Emma Repka ’16 was the top scorer with 15 goals. Head coach Kristin Runey commented, “This group was a pleasure to work with as they encouraged and pushed each other to excel.”

BOYS’ SOCCER Suffield narrowly missed the New England tournament and had exciting wins against Taft, Kingswood-Oxford, Hopkins, and Canterbury. Unfortunate injuries to key players followed a strong start of two victories and a tie against Deerfield. Captains Mike Barit ’15, Robbie Heumann ’15, and Trevor Lyne ’16 led the team, and Trevor played in the New England Prep School All-Star Game. Other seniors finishing their Suffield soccer careers were goalkeepers Bradley Gibson and Anthony Deni, as well as Kyler Armata, Luca Lorenzoni, and Andy Colby. Suffield finished ranking 10th of the 26 NEPSAC Class B teams. Head coach Ricky Warren commented, “While at times it felt as though the odds were against us, our team never gave up. Perseverance and determination helped carry us through the season.”

Fall / Winter 2014

51

KIERSTEN NESS ’16

AIDEN CLARK-LONG ’15

QUIN EGAN ’16

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY Led by head coach Beth Krasemann, Suffield’s runners showed steady improvement all season, and everyone on the team ran a personal best time at the season-ending New England Championship. Kiersten Ness ’16 earned All-New England accolades and competed in the season-ending All Star Race. The team will miss the leadership of nine seniors including captains Emily Lowe, Susannah Ferris, and Rhiannon Fletcher, as well as Hannah Bellorado, Kira Demitrus, Grace Hopkins, Lindsay Reilly, Amanda Silverstein, and Molly Tettemer. A season highlight was a second place finish at the Gordy Glover Invitational (out of seven teams).

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY With a new coaching staff and a strong senior class, boys’ cross country saw great success this year. Senior captains Aidan Clark-Long, Nick Alfano, and Hayden Childs led the team, and the season was highlighted by a victory over Salisbury in the final home meet. Aidan Clark-Long finished 15th at New England’s and qualified for the season-ending all-star meet, where he ran his fastest 5K of 16:56. Brendan Forbes ’15 ran over two and a half minutes faster than last year. Head coach Melissa Stellato said, “We improved every week and were able to beat Berkshire and Westminster in finishing ninth at New England’s. Those two teams topped Suffield earlier in the year, but every boy ran significantly faster by the end of the season. It was a successful, positive experience.” Other senior runners included Daniel Faucetta and Joshua Reagan.

WATER POLO The boys’ water polo team began the season with an inexperienced, dedicated group and a new coach, Evan Ciecimirski ’10. The Tigers improved dramatically as the season unfolded, finding success against Hopkins, Loomis Chaffee, Williston Northampton, Choate, Hotchkiss, and Phillips Andover en route to a 10-7 record. The Andover win sent Suffield to the championship tournament as one of the top four teams in New England. Captains Riggs McDermott ’15 and Ralph Koo ’15 led the team, along with fellow seniors Jonathan Bismarck, Kaison Ifill, Ben Intarapuvasak, Phon Leeswadtrakul, Eric Rueben, and Zack Santora.

52

SUFFIELD

support suffield

www.suffieldacademy.org/donate leadership

creativity

determination

inspiration

individuality

Please help support Suffield’s students by making a donation to the 2015 Annual Fund. The Annual Fund supports each aspect of life at Suffield Academy—all focused directly on our students.

self-reliance 53

SUFFIELD

KOREA RECEPTION A reception for parents, alumni, and prospective families took place at The Shilla Seoul Hotel in Seoul, Korea on December 4. It was hosted

by Suffield’s Korean Parents Association, led this year by Mr. and Mrs. Sun Kwon Kim P’15. Trustee Suzy Vogler P’11 joined Headmaster Charlie Cahn in representing the school. The event included remarks from James Park ’11, Sun Kwon Kim P’15, and Headmaster Cahn, a video featuring Suffield’s Korean students, and a raffle with various Suffield items. Headmaster Cahn said, “It is great fun spending time with our Korean parents and alumni. We love celebrating our friendships and commitment to the school.”

02

03

01

01 Suffield parents, alumni and prospective families 02 Sun Kwon Kim P’15 speaks with parents 03 Min Goo Oh P’17 04 Charlie Cahn with trustee Suzy Vogler P’10 and Ivy Kim 04

NEW YORK RECEPTION Board of Trustees President Daniel Tisch ’69 P’01 hosted a reception for alumni, parents, and prospective parents at the Harmonie Club in Manhattan on November 10. Headmaster Charlie Cahn thanked everyone in attendance for their support and interest in Suffield. He spoke of the faculty’s close focus on each student and the enthusiasm and pride of the extended Suffield Academy community. “Suffield’s clear focus and compelling value proposition have led to high levels of support and interest. Thank you for making it a priority and helping us thrive.”

01 Tim Bautz ’09, Adam Pistel ’09, Brian Hetzel ’97, Harry Melendez ’07, Matt Werblin ’08, Khadim Diouf ’07, Roshard Bryant ’09

01

02

02 Mariah Gonzalez ’10, Will Boyle ’10, Alyssa Palomba ’10, William Granruth ’10, Mary Mitchell ’10 03 Edward Sazo, Kay De Simone P’16, George Daniels ’71, Leo Letendre ’71, Diane Letendre 04 Fred Powers ’83, P’14, Lisa and Brett Ersoff P’08, ’12, ’15

03

54

04

SUFFIELD

NEW ALUMNI ANNUAL FUND CHAIR

Brinley Ford Ehlers ’86 is the alumni chair of the Annual Fund and has been a Class Agent for over twelve years. “From the moment I stepped onto the Suffield campus in 1983, I knew this was the school for me. It felt like a warm and welcoming community…like a family…I felt instantly comfortable.”

Brinley entered Suffield as a sophomore after attending The Foote School in New Haven, Connecticut.

Brinley recalls her close friendships with classmates, as well as with faculty and coaches. “Some of my Suffield friends are among my closest friends today.” Three faculty members who had a profound influence on Brinley were Gordy Glover, Joyce Wilson, and David Rockwell. “They helped mold me into the person I am today. They pushed me in the classroom and on the playing fields. In fact, I am pretty sure my interest in becoming a teacher stemmed from the excellent teachers, coaches, and role models I had at Suffield.”

After graduating from Suffield Academy, Brinley earned a BA in sociology from American University. In 1992, having completed her master’s in education from Lesley University, she began her teaching career. In 1995 Brinley was appointed as a middle school math teacher at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, Connecticut, where she has been teaching and coaching field hockey and tennis ever since. Brinley is married and has twin daughters who currently attend St. Luke’s.

Brinley’s advice to current students is to “try everything…play a sport…perform in the play…sing in a group…but most importantly, come back after you graduate and keep in touch with your friends and faculty.”

As a product and a veteran teacher of independent schools, Brinley understands and appreciates the need to give back.

Besides helping Suffield, she also serves as a class agent for The Foote School and is involved with the annual fund and alumni at St. Luke’s School.

“I love being a Class Agent because I enjoy staying connected to the school and my classmates. Suffield helped shape who I am today, and I feel the need to give back. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go to boarding school. The school has gotten stronger in the last 30 years...the Leadership Program, the use of technology, the strong athletic programs, the beautiful campus….I am so proud to have attended Suffield.”

Fall / Winter 2014

55

legacy profile

the herns

margaret figueroa ’82, owen ’15, and amelia ’17

what made you choose suffield? margaret I happily followed in the footsteps of my older brothers, David ’75 and Fran ’79. owen I chose Suffield because I grew up hearing wonderful stories from my mother about her time here, and when I visited I loved the campus and the close-knit community. amelia I have been hearing stories about Suffield for as long as I can remember from my mom and her brothers, and of course from my brother too. I chose Suffield because of the sense of community. When I was making my decision for high school, my brother kept telling me how Suffield is like a family. When I was on campus for my tour and Revisit Day, I realized he was right. In addition to the caring atmosphere Suffield has to offer, I knew I would be able to pursue all of my interests. I can be involved in academics, music, sports, and plenty of extracurricular activities all at once…something I would not have been able to achieve at another school.

what was the best/most memorable part of the suffield experience? margaret Although there are countless precious memories I hold dear regarding my time at Suffield, I feel the unique tradition of Suffield’s sit-down, family style meals exemplifies what makes Suffield so special and unique among its peer schools. It was in the Brewster dining hall that the real sense of community—that “family” aspect of Suffield—was both evident and nurtured.

Because of the ever-changing assignments of tables, mealtimes continually brought us together with different students, faculty, and the faculty families, fundamentally knitting the community together through those meals. I can think of no better way to know members of this community with whom I might not otherwise have had the benefit of crossing paths. As for the best part of my experience, Suffield has given me the blessing of precious, lifelong friendships. owen The most memorable part of my Suffield experience has been being a part of a school with so much spirit, especially during events like night games for soccer, football, and basketball, and fundraisers like Dance-a-thon and the Color Course. amelia Music has been a big part of my Suffield experience. I have made so many friends from being involved in the guitar show, the musical, the women’s choir, and the jazz band. One of the best parts is finally putting on a great show after lots of hard work and rehearsals!

how has Suffield affected your life in a positive way? margaret In my personal view, it’s an absolute gift in the life of an adolescent to be able to face challenges in all aspects of life—whether they be academic, social, or athletic—in an encouraging and supportive environment of adults and peers. It is no small thing to have the freedom to go through the process of self-discovery without the fear of failure or judgment at such an uncertain time in our lives. This was Suffield’s gift to me: to be a part of a community that provided me the tools to develop into the person I was meant to be. It is deeply rewarding to witness this same process unfolding for Owen and Amelia in their time as Suffield students. owen Suffield has definitely taught me a lot of things that I will use throughout my life. I’m sure that the friendships I have made here as well as the relationships I have built with teachers, will last a long time. I have a different worldview now since having friends and classmates from all over the globe. amelia Suffield’s diverse community has exposed me up so many different types of people from different backgrounds. Not many people can say that they go to school with students from 30 countries all over the world!

56

SUFFIELD

who was the most influential faculty member? margaret It is simply impossible for me to name just one, as so many of my wonderful teachers and coaches played a part in shaping my life. Mr. Pervear was certainly among the most influential. As a teacher, he was very methodical and precise. He made me believe that I could actually be a science student! Far more than this, however, he was a gifted human being who exemplified integrity, ethics, and a principled life to his students both in and out of the classroom.

Mr. and Mrs. Connors, both individually and together, were so very important to me. Mr. Connors—as a learned, brilliant man whose razor sharp intellect was matched only by his wit—inspired me academically and challenged me intellectually. Mrs. Connors was a great confidante and friend. Our bond was cemented my freshman year as I shelved books in the library for her in my work squad role.

To this day I have wonderful memories of the warmth of their living room in Pomeroy, surrounded by their immense collection of books. I can even now see them dancing so elegantly when the dining hall was transformed into a dance hall for Triad weekend.

I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention Jock Burns, Mr. and Mrs. Lindfors, Mrs. Samii, Wasky, Gordy, and Mr. Downes, who each hold a special place in my heart. owen I have loved having Mrs. Henle for calculus in junior year and currently for AP Statistics. She is very knowledgeable and passionate about the material she teaches, and she is always available and willing to meet with me for extra help sessions when I need them.

She’s just an all around great person. amelia Although I am only a sophomore, I have already benefited from the close student-faculty relationships fostered at Suffield. My incredible advisor, Mrs. Bailey, and my math teacher last year, Hat Thomsen, have given me a great deal of guidance and encouragement.

Mr. Gotwals and Ms. Kane have really helped me develop musically. These and many other teachers and faculty members have made an impact on my experience, and I look forward to creating more of these relationships in my years left at Suffield.

what was your favorite place on campus? margaret Although difficult to name just one, a place that stands out in my mind is the staircase outside of Holcomb Hall (this was before beautiful Centurión Hall and the new Holcomb Science Center). I shared many good conversations, study sessions, and peaceful moments sitting on those steps in every season, gazing out at that unparalleled western view alongside Bell Hill. owen My favorite place on campus is the Parker Regan ’12 Pond by the SOLO barn. The whole campus is beautiful to me, but that particular spot is a great place to spend time and be peaceful. amelia I love the music center. I spend a lot of time during my days down there, and it has become my favorite place on campus.

Thank You Alumni Class Agents This year, 240 alumni are volunteering their time as Class Agents to help the school. They come from 67 graduating classes spanning 1946 through 2014. Our Class Agents are full-time professionals, retirees, stay-at-home parents, and students, but they still make time to give back to Suffield Academy. Class Agents play a vital role for our school, contacting classmates to communicate campus news, encouraging them to submit class notes, asking for Annual Fund support, and thanking them for their donations. We extend a heartfelt thanks to our 2014-15 Class Agents.

2014

Kevin Cournoyer Julie Doten Sam Feldman Charlotte Hinrichs Shivang Jhunjhnuwala Griffin Manos Briana Matthews Brice McAllister Zach McCormick Jono Nelson Alexis Sarris Denny Smythe Izzy Thompson

2013

Georgina Blakeley Andrés Fernández Vílchez Jay Fields Jamie Johnson Wynn Mason Chris McCormick Paul Metscher Noel Nakamura Jay O’Brien Jay Prasad Emilio Rocha Mike Simmons Jordan Stanley

2012

Reed Barbe Katherine Battle Colin E Dowd William Evangelakos Jameson Everett Josh Galant David Huang Taylor Jett Connor Kaplan

58

SUFFIELD

Caroline Leonard Izzy McDonald Alex Porter Carly Smith

2011

Joe Begley Serge Derby Kachenta Descartes Colin E Dowd Karoline Hegbom Didi McDonald Shamier Settle Lester Taylor

2010

Michelle Autuori Justine de Chazal Mariah Gonzalez Tom Leonard Alyssa Palomba Lucas Traber

2009

Tom Casey Rosemary Chandler Liz Monty Amy Samenuk Sam Stone Kyle Vigneault

2008

Becca Bathrick Kirsten Chalke Thomas Drummond-Hay Joel Glassman Rebecca Joslow Barbara Kaplan Kaela Keyes Isy Zellweger

2007

Mike DiPietro Sydney Greenberg Katy Heydinger Matt Jones Harry Melendez Catherine Mis Erik Osborne Meredith Rarus Rob Zammito

2006

Alison Leonard Eric Litmer Luke McComb Gina Petrone Chris Stafford

2005

Rick Devlin Dan Fisher Steph Shaker Casey Shanley

2004

Kate Braden Jake McComb Alex Naboicheck Anthony Rousseau Andrew Scully William Taylor

2003

Lindsey Pell Lydia Pillsbury Lindsay Rousseau Eric Yale

2002

Sari Biddelman Alison Carey Hilary Golas Rouse Lynx LaCroix Erin Orr Ligay

2001

Paige Diamond Kate Dineen Greg Hearn Russ Hearn Ashton Jones

2000

Michael Coleman Carmine Petrone Andrea Rich Manny Simons Meagan Ward Jenkins

1999

Steven Darling Maura Deedy Larry Griffin Mark Soticheck Patrick Stone

1998

Mickey Allen Sarah Fletcher Meaney Sarah Hotchkiss

1997

Amy Blake Cook Lewis Dunn Brian Hetzel Danielle Therriault

1996

Tabitha Bliven Heidorn Ryan Dowd Fatimah Guienze

1995

Leigh Murphy Bryson Tillinghast

1994

Eric Feijo Alison Kennedy Auciello Scott Sartwell

1993

Alexa Economou Rice Pam Eisen Lauren Roginski-Strelec Marla Zide

1992

Marigrace Canter Morris Ntsekhe Moiloa Wadiya Peterson Wynn

1991

Kim Ames Ide Pat Kennedy Andy Roebuck

1990

Kelli Chamberlain Tosone Peter DaPuzzo Amy Newman Vaughn Courtney Wilson Nixon

1989

Tom Burton Michelle Motta Stewart Jed Nosal Aimee Scherer Hodgkins Rose Yap Thomas

1988

Beth Buoniconti Fernandez Kate Cleary Patrick Dorsey Jack Warren Jenn Yamzon Jordan

1987

Betsy Coughlin Tod Jeff Martini Phil Riegel

1986

Sean Federowicz Brinley Ford Ehlers Kristin Hostetter Pandit Niko Mosko

1985

Andy Glover Michelle Hashioka Lord Jinnie Lee Schmid Jack Way

1984

Shelley Frazier Pelletier Michelle Kaminsky Hossein Pourmand

1983

Bob Churchill Marybeth DiBuono-Riley

1982

David Carangelo Elaine Coombs Holmes Margaret Figueroa Hern Madeline Phillips

1981

Jack Ferraro Susan Goodwin Fera Valisha Graves Chris Kennedy Alison Welch

1980

Jim Hagan Mary Carroll Graham Lewis Joe Palomba

1979

Matt Cartmell Ruth Kennedy Renee McDaniel Margolis Lisa Palomba Deni Bob Stanley

1978

1976

Ralph Adler Scott Craig

1975

Carey Fiertz Jim Plante Mark Teed

1974

Blair Childs Bud Hancock Tom Leonard

1973

Jody Cranmore Jim Knight

1972

Chip Spear John Therriault

1967

1957

Chris Harlambakis

Ralph Jennings

1966

1956

Charlie Claggett Bruce Fletcher Chris Frost

Peter Olin John Taylor

1965

Al Gesler Bob King

Tim Hemingway Bill Kelly

1964

Jon Booth Tom Webster

1963

Sandy Prouty

1962

1953

Dick Landers

1952

Gary Miller

1951

Sam Marks

Paul Connor Andy Spector

1950

Pierre Genvert Leo Letendre Doug Rebert

1961

1949

1970

1960

1971

Kit Warner Chris Weeden

Jerry Kargman Mike Menzies David Holmes

Lisa Longo Ed Palomba

1969

1959

1977

1968

1958

Charlie Alfano Bob Clark Ed Kaplan

1955

Greg Putnam Tyler Bumsted Tom Christian

Lee Miller Bob Harrison

1948

Gene Spaziani

1946

Sandy MacNabb

Paul Grimmeisen Mike Sheridan

Fall / Winter 2014

59

ALUMS IN THE NEWS JULIAN FLETCHER ’09

ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

After finishing his career at Southern Methodist University, where he set the national record in the 100m breaststroke in 2012, Julian Fletcher ’09 represented Bermuda in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, last July.

Julian recently accepted an offer to join the University of Southern California’s Elite Team whose coach, Dr. David Salo, is regarded as one of the most accomplished breaststroke coaches in the world. At 23 years old, Julian looks forward to training with the best of the best and continue to represent Bermuda at the highest level.

On October 25, Kirk Dixon ’82 was inducted into the St. Lawrence University Athletic Hall of Fame. A three-time track All American and the 1984 NCAA Division III outdoor 400-meter champion (with a time of 47.67 seconds), Dixon set records both indoors and outdoors.

He was a member of the 4x400-yard Distance Medley Relay team that still holds the NCAA record in that event.

During his time at St. Lawrence, Dixon also returned kicks for the football team. Since graduating in 1986, Kirk has won awards as an international freight salesman for the Department of Homeland Security and D.B. Schenker.

NORMAN RIKER ’88

60

KIRK DIXON ’82

BERMUDA NATIVE JOINS USC’S ELITE TEAM

REMINGTON PERRY LYMAN ’12

CONNECTICUT COLLEGE HEAD WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH

NATIONAL RIFLERY CHAMPION COMPETES IN SPAIN

Norm Riker ’88 led the Connecticut College Women’s soccer team to its best-ever season. The Camels made their first appearance in the NESCAC Championship game, beating Williams College in penalty kicks. This was Connecticut College’s first conference championship across all sports.

They beat Swarthmore in the NCAA Division III tournament before falling in double overtime to Montclair State. Norm has been the head coach at Connecticut College since 2011. He was previously head women’s soccer coach at both Wittenburg University and Vassar College.

As he did while he was a four-year captain of the Suffield Riflery Team, Remington Lyman ’12 continues to impress with his skill in competitive target shooting. Now a junior at Ohio State University, Remington’s latest accomplishment was his recent win at the USA Shooting National Championships in Fort Benning, Georgia, last June, where he won the Junior Men’s Prone Rifle Crown. Remington’s win brought him to the International Shooting Sports Federation’s World Championships in Granada, Spain, in September. He scored a 611.0 in the 50-meter Prone Rifle Position, placing him 35th overall.

SUFFIELD

Pete Larom ’64 and Mark Loether ’64 singing a duet at their senior prom

class notes

1951

CLASS AGENT Sam Marks

BOB REYNOLDS Having been retired for 22 years, I find myself still busy and enjoying the wise and joyful elderly residents in this beautiful retirement village in North Central Florida.

I do tours for visitors looking for wisdom in their move when they choose a retirement home. I also show the areas where the new buildings are planned for the future expansion over the next 10 years. One hundred and one years ago the plans were laid for Florida’s first orphanage. Now we have residents who are older than that enjoying their later years. My health is fine.

1955

CLASS AGENTS Al Gesler Bob King

AL GESSLER I cannot believe this year will be 60 years since graduation. Hope many classmates will be able to return to campus next fall.

WALTER HOESEL Well 1955 is a long way in the past.

After formally retiring from teaching after 40 years, I then became a staff member at the Wilderness Awareness School. If interested, you can find us at wildernessawarenessschool.org. The transition followed quite naturally after the Outdoors Club at Suffield. I quickly became one of seven Elders for the school and maintain that position today. I was slowed down by a physical collapse in September 2012 which resulted in four weeks in the hospital and four weeks in

rehab. Katy and I have been married for 53 years and we celebrated with our family on a cruise to Alaska! I have two children: Chris, the director of maintenance for Jack Harter helicopters on Kauai, and Lisa, an independent business consultant. I have two super-talented granddaughters. There have been many pinnacles in my life but my two years at Suffield rank in the top five!

Go Tigers!

1956

CLASS AGENTS Peter Olin John Taylor JON KLARFIELD I continue as director of the Journalism Program at Boston University College of Communication, hoping to adequately prepare young journalists to offset the trend of silly, beautifully coiffed television “news” and inane social communication.

Fall / Winter 2014

61

fatality that they always tell you about prior to surgery became a reality. I hope all are well from the Class of 1957.

will take another four to Paris and Venice.

Melinda and I highly recommend traveling with grandchildren without their parents!

1958

1959

GORDON “MAC” MACALISTER First of all, congratulations to Rocky on his 50th year at Suffield; what an amazing life journey in academia. Second, at 75, I am still relatively active and continue my love affair with the Rocky Mountains of Colorado (my home), New Mexico (my past home), and Wyoming (perhaps some day). My 2010 Jeep Wrangler “Blue” and I wander the plains and high country with cautious abandon. Retirement continues to be a joyful luxury of picking and choosing only those things that interest me. Time, as we seniors know so well, is a precious commodity. Happily, just about every moment of the journey is one of astounding gratitude. Best to all at SA and, of course, my classmates of 56 years ago. What fond memories!

ELIOT MAG We had an exciting event in the Mag family this past month. We attended the wedding of my son Saul and his bride Bekah Goldman in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It was a gala and joyous event; we adore her family, whom we have known for about a year, and the wedding was an opportunity to introduce them to some of our relatives whom we get to see all too infrequently. The bride is a third-year rabbinical student in the Boston area and my son is an executive with Fidelity Investments working out of an office in southern New Hampshire. They will make their home in Auburndale, Massachusetts. I seem to be working hard in retirement (from the retail business). I am a certified mentor with SCORE, an organization that provides advice and counsel to people looking to start a small business or struggling with an existing one. We see clients in two different locations (Manchester and Rocky Hill, Connecticut) and participate in a comprehensive day seminar, which covers the basics of starting and operating a successful business venture. In addition, I serve on the executive committee of our local synagogue, Temple Beth Torah, in Wethersfield. Like so many smaller religious institutions, we are facing the challenge of membership retention amidst a climate of ever-rising costs. My wife of 47 years, Kathi, is a certified master gardener, and spends many hours each month donating her time and skills to the Shade Garden at Elizabeth Park. And, of course, we follow the activities of our two grandsons, Jack and Ben, and when we can, attend their various soccer

CLASS AGENT Mike Sheridan

Gordon “Mac” MacAlister ’58 with “Blue” in Colorado

JOHN STUBBINGS After graduating from the Academy, I attended The University of Virginia, eventually earning three degrees. My life has been an incredible adventure since then. I was assistant superintendent of schools in Alexandria, Virginia, during the time when schools were under court order to desegregate and played a role in implementing a plan that resulted in the movie, Remember the Titans. It was an exciting time to be there. Six years later, I took a cross-country motorcycle trip of 13,300 miles, visiting 26 US states, Mexico, and Canada. Later in life, I moved to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, became enthralled with sailing, and eventually took my sailboat to Key West and back. I have been lucky enough to travel to England, France, Spain, Italy, Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. In 2004, after seven years of competing, I won the “Ernest Hemingway Look Alike Contest” in Key West. We return every year now and I am a judge! In 2006, my life partner Beverly Shields and I were fortunate to spend a week in Cuba at the Havana Jazz Festival.

We now enjoy traveling in our RV with our three dogs. What a journey this life has been. Thanks, Suffield Academy.

PAUL SULLIVAN Melinda and I have decamped from Maui, Hawaii, and purchased a home in Naples, Florida (Port Royal), where fellow classmate Jay Tompkins also has a home. We hope to connect this winter. I run an endocrine clinic once a month for The Malta House of Care in Hartford, Connecticut. The MHC provides health care for those patients without health insurance. My son Paul is also a physician and volunteers with me on the van. Two Drs. Sullivan pushing forward the frontiers of medicine. Needless to say, it is a great treat for me. Finally, we are having a wonderful experience taking three or four of our grandchildren (we have 10) on trips to Europe. Last February we took three to Venice and Florence. This December we

CLASS AGENT Paul Grimmeisen

JOHN TAYLOR Retirement has given me a chance to enjoy watching my grandchildren grow up. I am still catching baseballs as one learns to pitch. He had a good outing in Little League with 12 strikeouts. One grandchild is at Brown University as a freshman and enjoying his first year. There is also one playing the piano, one a freshman in high school starting a wellness club, and one starting in kindergarten.

1957

CLASS AGENT Ralph Jennings JACK LOCKE My wife passed away during back surgery in August. That infinitesimal chance of Jack Plotkin ’59 and wife Susan on the Schilthorn in Switzerland 62

SUFFIELD

matches, track meets, and baseball games, depending on the season.

JACK PLOTKIN Susan and I went on a weeklong language school retreat in Verona, Italy, during October. My Italian needs a bit of work while hers is buonissimo. In June we did a bike trip in Brittany, followed by a week in the Swiss Alps. This has been a fun travel year for us.

1960

CLASS AGENT David Holmes HUNTER BROWN I plan on attending Reunion next fall. My wife Tillie and I are very well. We’re off on a long flight to New Delhi for just a couple of days before going on to Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan. The trip will be a month long with lots of hiking but no trekking. We’ll be staying in fine hotels; I insist on creature comforts in the evenings! Hope to see some of my classmates next fall at our 55th Reunion.

1962

CLASS AGENTS Paul Connor Andy Spector TIM MADISON Retirement continues on a very active and busy schedule. I am still running a full-time financial planning practice in Alpharetta, Georgia, as a certified financial planner—one of the four percent of CFPs in the metropolitan Atlanta area as judged

by Five Star Professionals and Atlanta magazine—a distinction I have held since 2009. Though retired from both GE and The Coca-Cola Company, the financial planning practice keeps me busy 50 hours per week, but it is something I truly enjoy doing. In my spare time, I teach the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class at our church. My wife Linda and I do as many things as we can with our three children

Members of the Class of 1964 Nat Stevens, Jack Bruso, Franklin Hardy, Paul Wessells, John Malcolm, Rusty Barton, Jim Rosenstein during their 50th Reunion weekend this fall

and eight grandchildren, five of whom live in Georgia and three in Maryland. Last fall we had the joy and privilege of attending the 50th anniversary of the start of soccer at the University of Vermont. I was part of the team that started the club program in 1963 and later became Yankee Conference Co-Champions in the 1965 season. What a thrill to reunite with all the old teammates.

My soccer skills as a goalie were honed at Suffield Academy with Coach Sanderson. I follow Suffield soccer online weekly.

1963

CLASS AGENT Sandy Prouty

Suffield student, we hope. The proud parents are Sam ’96 and Erica Lee. Susan and I are heading to Naples, Florida, for part of the winter to avoid the bulk of the cold weather. My brother Charlie ’64 attended his 50th at Suffield with David Bloom ’64.

GEORGE HATHAWAY I’ve just published my fifth book, Leadership Secrets for Everyone: Being a 21st Century Leader. Every one of us is a leader at some time and in some role in life. Thus, we all need to adopt the skills needed to positively affect the thinking and behavior of others we lead. Here are 140 practical leadership behaviors that will ensure success in the 21st century. Thanks, Mr. Banks.

DICK ANTHONY Susan and I welcomed the birth of a grandson, Bodhi Lee Anthony. A future

IN MEMORIAM

ROGER C. NEACH ’58 7.10.14

JOHN K. HUMMEL ’51 10.18.14 Fall / Winter 2014

63

proud of what you guys did. All I had to do is show up. It was so good to see everyone.

JACK BRUSO It’s hard to imagine what could have made this a better 50th Reunion. Your cheerful bus drivers provided transportation from our lodgings to and from events. A student guided campus tour in the rain created a clash of memories of “old” Suffield to the bigger, shinier, brighter campus. We relived hearing of JFK’s death and watching the news on the small TV in the snack bar.

Vietnam, politics, favorite teachers, Ap Seaverns, dorm antics, current families, and absent classmates were all discussed.

Seeing Coaches Kinne and Pervear was an unexpected treat. Mostly, we realized we had shared a remarkably formative time in our lives. Suffield was a truly special place then, and it remains so now. Finally, thanks to my classmates for making this such an enjoyable gathering. Special thanks to Tom, Jon and Mark, our organizers. And to Franklin Hardy for the shirts and cigars.

Ron Martinez’ ’65 daughters, Liliana and Marina, during Marina’s visit to Morocco

1964

CLASS AGENTS Jon Booth Tom Webster RUSTY BARTON I have to admit that I was a bit anxious about Reunion before I got there. Would I be able to recall names, recognize faces, be able to re-bond? Well, I needn’t have worried; everyone was so gracious and the bonds re-formed immediately. I think my favorite part of the weekend was our class meeting. I was blown away by what everyone in this class has accomplished in their lives. It was inspiring to hear everyone’s life story. I loved the slide show Nat put together; it’s so much fun to see old pictures of our time at Suffield. Not to brag, but I think our class was the star of Reunion.

It seemed the photographer was following us everywhere we went! We won the alumni support award with an amazing 84%, sang the school song around the school seal, and danced. Our overall spirit was something to experience. I was touched by our memorial service at the Bell for our classmates who have left us; that was special. I’m also still marveling at the extent the Academy went to make all Reunion classes feel welcomed and appreciated. The food was amazing… need I say more? I know it worked on me.

I really do feel appreciated as an alumnus and want to get the 30-year pin, 40-year pin, etc. Finally, a huge thanks to everyone who had a hand in organizing our class Reunion: Mark, Tom, Nat, Jon and all the others who worked behind the scenes to get such a large percentage (50%) of us to show up. I’m

64

SUFFIELD

LEO FERNANDEZ PUJALS This is the first time that I write news for the school publication! Our year has been full of events for the family. My son, Carlos Centurion ’97, had his second child, a lovely daughter, Isabella. Carlos’ first born was a son, Alexander. My son has started a new business, BattleFrog, an obstacle course race series designed by Navy Seals.

Look out for one of their events this coming year on the East Coast. He currently has a Spanish tapas bistro-bar in Coral Gables, which some consider part of Miami. My other two children who graduated from Suffield, Alberto ’12 and Andres ’13, are doing well at Babson College and Wake Forest University, respectively. Jazztel, a business that I presided over was quoted on the Madrid Bolsa (stock exchange) was included in the IBEX 35, making me the only businessman that can claim that achievement twice in a lifetime. I am writing my memoirs in Spanish. The book will be presented on November 17 in the building that houses the Madrid Bolsa. I have included a chapter expressing my experiences at Suffield Academy. The English translation hopefully will be available

by Christmas 2014. Hopefully, more than one Spanish reader will consider applying to Suffield Academy in the future. As a hobby, we breed Spanish purebred (PRE) horses at our farm in Spain. We are hoping to improve the breed so that they can compete at the same level as the German and Dutch warm bloods. My wife Marilina and I are living in Lyford Cay in the Bahamas. However, we spend quality time with each one of our children during the course of the calendar year. Unfortunately, we were unable to make it the 50th Reunion but my best to all.

PETER LAROM Being back at Suffield with 21 classmates from the Class of 1964 was full of treasured moments, both during the weekend and reliving moments from 50 years ago. I

loved singing the old school song, but with the amended language: “In each one’s heart there’ll be a spark, for friendships formed at old Suffield.” Ringing the Bell while we remembered the four classmates no longer with us was a sobering but important occasion, made more satisfying by watching Suffield trounce Exeter in the football game. There was an afternoon of sharing, both what engaged us now as well as what stirred us in the early 1960s at Suffield. A hilarious time was had by the Class of 1964 as we tried to remember all the nicknames of teaching staff... ‘Wasky’, ‘Gordy’, ‘Peevy’, ‘Sandy’, ‘Mase’, all with deep affection and gratitude. A classmate and I designated the spot where we were standing when we heard that President Kennedy had been shot. We were reminded of that day when the Cuban Missile Crisis was so critical that we gathered in Brewster Hall with Headmaster Appleton Seaverns, who led us in a discussion of how we would utilize the emergency shelter, which I believe was in the basement beneath us.

Suffield is grand now, and our final hope for the weekend was that the present students would have great appreciation for the wonderful resources, academic and social, that are there for them at this school, and that their time at Suffield will enable them to truly “be,” and not just to “seem.”

1965

CLASS AGENTS Tim Hemingway Bill Kelly TIM HEMINGWAY We had a fun time with Larry and Molly Hyde when they visited us in Michigan over the 4th of July holiday. Larry’s golf game is much better than mine. Our son Graham now teaches at Vanderbilt University. Mark your calendars for our 50th Reunion in 2015.

JIM LO DOLCE My wife Donna and I are doing well. We continue to work together in my family medicine practice (Donna is my medical assistant) owned by St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse, New York. In addition to providing patient care, I have continued with a special interest in healthcare IT. I have cut back patient care to four days per week, and in May 2015 will cut back to three days for at least another couple years, health permitting. We both do enjoy good health and remain active. We now have seven grandchildren between us, located in Colorado, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York. I continue to be able to be competitive on the links. We had another good sailing year on Lake Ontario, both US and Canadian sides. I have had the pleasure to spend more time with Jon Booth ’64 and his wife. Jon retired from an administrative position at Syracuse University a couple years ago and lives a couple miles away.

We have done some sailing together both

01

02

01 Alan Steacy ’69 02 Charlie Gallucci ’70 (far left) as Leonato in the Columbus Civic Theater’s production of Much Ado About Nothing

on his boat in the Adirondacks and on mine out of Sackets Harbor. Last fall I attended an enjoyable soccer event for my alma mater, Columbia University, at Baker’s Field in Manhattan. In October, another former Columbia teammate and Suffield alumnus, Len Renery ’67, was honored by induction into the Columbia Athletic Hall of Fame. Len was a two-time Division I first string All American, and went on to have a memorable professional career, mostly with the NY Cosmos. It was fun linking back up with Len last fall at Reunion. I hope we can arrange for a good turnout for our 50th on October 9-11, 2015. It will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime event.

RON MARTINEZ My family (wife and one daughter still at home—Cecilia, age 16) and I are spending the 2014-15 academic year in Bologna, Italy, which we’ve done twice before in 2010-11 and 2005-06. Our eldest daughter Liliana (23) is currently in Casablanca teaching English and working on her already very good Arabic by mastering the Moroccan dialect known as Darija.

Our daughter Marina (20) is a junior at Swarthmore, majoring in biology, but will be spending the spring semester in Buenos Aires.

at Lincoln Center. My book, Max Starkloff and the Fight For Disability Rights, has just been published by the Missouri History Museum and University of Chicago Press.

1967

CHRIS HARLAMBAKIS Just returned from Reunion 2014. If you haven’t seen the campus, you wouldn’t believe the changes. It was the Class of 64’s 50th. Remember? They were seniors when we were freshmen. Of course, there were only 42 of us in the fall of 1963.

It was great reuniting with some of our idols.

Our 50th is around the corner. Oh, and I almost forgot the football score: Suffield 21; Phillips Exeter 0.

ALAN STEACY Hale to all of the aging Class of ’69 boomers!

Lots of great Academy “daze” memories.

And yes...I’m still alive and kickin’. My wife Sharon and I live in Framingham, Massachusetts, where we raised our three boys, Josh, Alex and Brandon (the only one married...so far). All live nearby and are doing quite well. After 30+ years of working the family merchandising business, Display Associates, I’m prepping to transition into the world of copywriting and direct-response marketing. So beware, that next piece of “junk mail” you find cluttering up your inbox just might be mine. Make every day great.

1969

1970

CLASS AGENT Chris Harlambakis

CLASS AGENT Greg Putnam

CLASS AGENTS Charlie Claggett Bruce Fletcher Chris Frost

SANDY ORR It was great to re-connect with my classmates of ’69. We were still recognizable! Through the magic of the video shown at dinner Saturday evening, we were all 17 again. Terrific job to all involved with Reunion weekend. Even though I’ll be five years older, I’m looking forward to our 50th.

CHARLIE CLAGGETT My oldest daughter Elissa is expecting our first grandchild in February. Middle daughter Julia just started her first job in development at Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, California, and our youngest daughter Phoebe is a finalist in the NewSong Contest and will be performing

GREG PUTNAM To those who came, I thank you. To those who had other commitments, we missed you. Our 45th Reunion was a time of camaraderie and reflection. It was great being back at Suffield with ’mates and appreciating the quality of our school. Though few in number, we represented the class

1966

with pride and vigor and once again walked away with the Trustee Award for largest total donations for a Reunion class the third time in a row! Congratulations to us all and many thanks for your continued support. Now, onward to our 50th. Attendance is mandatory.

Be well; stay well.

CLASS AGENTS Kit Warner Chris Weeden JOHN BISHOP Now retired from 42 years of public service with five grandchildren, my wife and I continue to be very busy. Let’s hope the Class of 1970, after 45 years, can get together once again and share our diverse experiences for Reunion on October 9-11, 2015.

Fall / Winter 2014

65

01

02 01 Richard Romeo ’74 beats the goalie one-on-one for the goal in 1973 02 Matt deGarmo ’73 living the dream and driving a vintage vehicle

1971

CLASS AGENTS Pierre Genvert Leo Letendre Doug Rebert BRUCE BAYNE Greetings to the members of every class that attended school when the Class of ’71 studied at Suffield. I trust that all are healthy, wealthy, and wise. The high note of my summer, indeed of my life so far, happened when Stephanie (my wife) and I were lucky to usher in the birth of my son Christopher’s first child, finally making me a grandfather. Chris and his wife named her Brenna Margaret Bayne. Brenna arrived on September 8th weighing seven pounds, two ounces, and was nineteen inches tall. She’s beautiful. In other news, I have been writing since 2000. Two short stories, my memoirs, and two novels are the sum of my product.

The most recent creation is my second novel. On October 20th, I finished polishing it. I named it The Drive-Thru. Its action surrounds the life of a woman whose father, while he lived, operated an illegal, all-night liquor store in a fictional New England town named Pine Grove. Look for the selection to be offered at amazon.com sometime after December 1. Here’s a hint. My pen name is “A. H. Wellewood.”

1972

CLASS AGENTS Chip Spear John Therriault MAC RAND This past July 27, I competed in the Lake Placid Ironman Triathlon, covering 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of cycling, and a full 26.2-mile marathon. The next day I did it again—the whole thing—for a total of 281.2 miles. The reason for doing this “back to back” was to raise money for the Leukemia

66

SUFFIELD

& Lymphoma Society, and I was fortunately able to surpass my goal with contributions totaling almost $32,000. I lost an older brother to leukemia years ago, and he has been my inspiration when I race on behalf of this very worthwhile cause. My wife Ann, youngest daughter Faith, and I moved to Lake Placid two years ago and love it. We will become grandparents for the first time this coming March and can’t wait to enjoy that new chapter in our lives.

but coming back to Suffield served as a reminder of what the school made possible for me. I have a great life, family, and business, and it is all thanks to Suffield Academy. Suffield not only gave me a life, but it saved my life! Thank you, Suffield.

1973

LENNY WEISER-VARON I was prompted to return to my 40th Reunion

by Elmar Noeth; given that he flew in for the occasion from Germany, I couldn’t say no to the relative hop, skip, and jump from the Boston area. I was pleasantly surprised to have a chance to reconnect with the great and irrepressible Mr. Samii and to see Mr. Pervear, both models of high school teaching at its finest. Most of the other ’74ers at Reunion were members of the fabled wrestling team way back when (which, if memory serves, I was not part of), and it was good to see how those bonds have endured over four decades and how, though mellowed and citizens of adulthood, we are all still recognizably ourselves. The Saturday night filet mignon and wine dinner was even better than remembered in my nostalgic recollections of boarding at Suffield. Enjoyed revisiting Bell Hill and the various halls we all trudged through umpteen times and seeing the inevitable change wrought by time. A much appreciated time at a much appreciated place.

CLASS AGENTS Jody Cranmore Jim Knight MATT DEGARMO I’m one of the lucky ones who makes a living doing what they love. I’ve been brokering rare vintage cars for 27 years now, and it’s still fun every day. It’s a serious affliction that began even before my Suffield days. I recently acquired a very rare car that I took on a 1,000-mile rally in northern California with my brother. I’ve been in pretty regular contact with John Woodruff, and I always enjoy reading about what my other classmates are up to.

JOHN HICKEY Our family is well, and our business is very good. Oil and gas production in Colorado contributes to our country’s energy independence. Daughters Emily, Katie, and Ali are healthy, happy, and keep us busy.

1974

CLASS AGENTS Blair Childs Bud Hancock Tom Leonard TYRONE MILLER I’m not known for being very serious,

SPENCER TULIS Life in the Finger Lakes Region of New York is great. I am still the chief photographer at Finger Lakes Times. My daughter Chelsea is an attorney living in Saratoga Springs.

1975

CLASS AGENTS Carey Fiertz Jim Plante Mark Teed JEFF MCGOWAN I went on a family trip to Italy, Paris, and London this spring. I was able to stop by

01

02

04

06

03

05

07

08

09

01 Jeff McGowan ’75 back on campus for Alumni Sports Day this fall 02 Melissa Price, Penry Price ’87, Charlotte Price, Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88, P’18, Peyton Cahn ’18, Harrison Cahn, Charlie Cahn P’18 at Camp Fernwood Cove 03 Jim Kaiser ’82, Robert Dahms ’83, and John Killeen ’82 gather at Jim’s 50th birthday party this fall 04 Alan Hopps ’82 flying back to Dubai for Flydubai this past summer 05 Jennifer Starr ’79 06 Jay Cook ’78 playing with the group The Band of Love at Reunion 2014 07 Graham Lewis ’80 sporting his SA Dinner Dish Crew jacket 08 Brian Greenho ’86 playing saxophone on the far left and Scott Lewis ’86 playing guitar on far right in the Connecticut woods: “no trees were harmed” 09 Mac Rand ’72 receiving his medal at the finish line after completing his second Ironman Triathlon in two days totaling 281.2 miles for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Fall / Winter 2014

67

01

02 01 David Bowser ’93 and his family after running a Color Run 5k this fall 02 Sam Clark ’11 and Patrick Kennedy ’91 met during Sam’s summer semester at sea voyage

Suffield for the alumni soccer game in September, and it was a blast. I almost scored! Hopefully I can make it back for our 40th.

1979

CLASS AGENTS Matt Cartmell Ruth Kennedy Renee McDaniel Margolis Lisa Palomba Deni Bob Stanley BILL KIEGER II Ann, Hana, and I are doing great in Boulder, Colorado. Settling in after two and a half years and loving it.

RENEE MCDANIEL MARGOLIS It was so great to see Fred Abberley, Brian Benson, Ruth Kennedy, Lisa Palomba Deni, Steve Dutcher, Laurie Mackey Wilson, Andy and Lisa Rarus ’80, and Jennifer Rockwell all at our 35th Reunion. Thanks to everyone who made the effort to get there. I cannot wait to see you all again in five more years at our 40th. I sure hope we get a huge turnout. To those of you who didn’t come, plan ahead ’cause we missed you!

LISA PALOMBA DENI I had a wonderful time catching up with fellow classmates at our 35th Reunion. We had a blast catching up and seemed like we, in fact, are a lot alike in our own little way, a way that I still treasure. We all really are caring and loving people. Perhaps SA helped develop that kindness in us so long ago. It was awesome, and I’m choosing not to think it was that long ago. Hope to see more at our 40th!

68

SUFFIELD

JENNIFER STARR I’m currently living in Bloomington, Indiana. I have my own business as a personal trainer and work with all ages of people from 14-95 years old. I’ve enjoyed traveling to numerous countries, horseback riding, and gardening. I have such fond memories of Suffield. Maybe someday I will return for Reunion!

1984

CLASS AGENTS Shelley Frazier Pelletier Michelle Kaminsky Hossein Pourmand ED MASTELLA It was great seeing and catching up with my classmates and learning what they’re doing and how their families are doing. Just as nice was catching up with former teachers Mr. Samii, Mr. Prevear, Mr. Butcher and Mr. LaPlante. All in all, it was a great time!

JAY MULLINS All is well with the Mullins family in New Hampshire. My two daughters, Megan and Sally, are keeping my wife Jenny busy with play rehearsals. Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan are the productions this fall. My days are kept busy running an investment management firm DL Carlson Investment Group. Plenty to do during the volatile fall months. Looking forward to the snow falling so I can get back to racing at Pats Peak.

Hello to all my friends at Suffield.

1986

CLASS AGENTS Sean Federowicz Brinley Ford Ehlers Kristin Hostetter Pandit Niko Mosko SCOTT LEWIS I’ve been keeping my head above water as a freelance art director/designer in the greater New York area, consulting for organizations such as UNICEF, UN Women, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. I’m still in touch with various SA alumni, including Dave Eckhardt, Tom Harris ’87, and Brian Greenho. On occasion, I sit in with Brian’s band, Ride the Huffy.

1989

CLASS AGENTS Tom Burton Michelle Motta Stewart Jed Nosal Aimee Scherer Hodgkins Rose Yap Thomas DENNIS HAVILAND Had a great weekend at our 25th with Dan Lawry, Rose Yap, Sarah Birmingham, Mai Perry, Tom Burton, Jeff Gildersleeve, Matt Kotchen, Denny Kinne, Oren Leff, Peter and Lars Cherichetti. I hope I didn’t forget anyone, but it was great to see you all after so long and great to see our football team doing so well. Merely playing Exeter was unthinkable in our day. Beating them 21-0 was amazing. Exeter was almost an hour late for kickoff, and once they found the campus, they still couldn’t find the end zone. Thank you, everyone, for a great weekend. It brought back fond memories of a very special place and time.

1990

CLASS AGENTS Kelli Chamberlain Tosone Peter DaPuzzo Amy Newman Vaughn Courtney Wilson Nixon SUZANNE BENKO RAINWATER Although I only attended Suffield for one year (1988-89), it was highly memorable, and it is good to be in touch with so many Suffield folks again over the past couple years. I recently got re-married (after being widowed for 14 years) on March 22, 2014, to my longtime friend Trevor G. Rainwater.

After 16 years of being stationed mostly on the West Coast, I left active duty Coast Guard and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where my husband is from. I am currently in a reserve status as a lieutenant commander in the US Coast Guard Reserve. Although I received my J.D. in 2000, I recently decided to go back to school at the University of Tulsa to get my master’s in Energy Law. In addition to being a mom to a fabulous eight-year-old stepdaughter, I will be expecting my first child, a boy, at the end of February. I am hoping to make it back to the Northeast with my family now that I am a bit closer, and visit some old friends after not being in Suffield since the 1990s.

STEVE CANTER I cannot wait for my 25th Reunion next year! I’m still in touch with the Yaps, Pete DaPuzzo, John McMorris, and Keith Franco.

Family and friends are doing well.

01

03

1993

CLASS AGENTS Alexa Economou Rice Pam Eisen Lauren Roginski-Strelec Marla Zide DAVID BOWSER I recently ran a Color Run 5K with my wife Tanya and my children Zoe, Becca, David, Ferris, and Trevor. It was definitely loads of fun and good training for the NYC marathon, which I ran in November. The Bowsers still reside in the farmlands of Flemington, New Jersey. As of this fall, I am working at Puppet Labs. All is well.

1994

CLASS AGENTS Eric Feijo Alison Kennedy Auciello Scott Sartwell SCOTT SARTWELL It was great to come back to Suffield and see classmates and catch up. I believe that we all agreed that although the campus had changed so much, it still had that same familiar feeling. I hope we do not have to wait another five years to catch up again.

1995

CLASS AGENTS Leigh Murphy Bryson Tillinghast SOFIA FRANCISCUS After working for 11 years all over the world as an environmental and engineering compliance manager for a major cruise line, I am finally settling down in beautiful Ann Arbor, Michigan. I just adopted the most precious Silke terrier-something-doodle mutt from the Humane Society with my better half and had a baby grand Steinway move in.

It’s official, I’m growing roots!

1997

CLASS AGENTS Amy Blake Cook Lewis Dunn Brian Hetzel Danielle Therriault CLASS NOTES BY CLASS AGENT BRIAN HETZEL Maya Richards Adams writes, “I have served five years active duty in the United States Navy as a lieutenant. I am currently stationed at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, working in medical disability for our wounded, ill, and injured service members. I am married almost four years to a wonderful man, Damon Adams. I look forward to our 20-year Reunion.”

02

04

01 Jillian McNaughton ’94 and Linda Groszyk ’94 taken in 1994 02 Jillian McNaughton ’94 and Linda Groszyk ’94 at Reunion 2014 03 Kevin Powers ’95, David Clarke Colton ’94, Chip Colton Jr. ’61, and Brian Powers ’93 at David’s wedding in August 04 Sandy Klemmer ’98 Fall / Winter 2014

69

01

02 01 Curtis Dubay ’98 and his family during Easter 2014 02 Allie Markowski ’04, Amy Groszyk Sheiber ’99, Martha Groszyk ’93, and Linda Groszyk ’94 at Reunion 2014

Ali Al-Ghanim checks in from overseas. “I still live and work in Kuwait at the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development. I got married late last year, and on December 1st I celebrated my first wedding anniversary.

Work has been extremely busy, and I’ve managed to successfully organize two high level technical directors meetings here in Kuwait, one of which was in Saudi Arabia and the other in Sudan, and have helped with organizing meetings and workshops in both Vienna and Paris. I am currently helping to plan two more meetings in Kuwait for this year and one in Paris for late January of 2015. Other than work, I spent time with my wife in Paris, the Maldives, and Oman, as well as taking my boat (Margaritaville) out to one of the local islands here in Kuwait.”

Travis Berger writes, “I just started a new company this year with my wife called Monthly Express (www.monthlyexpress.com) and now live in Delray Beach, Florida. We are expecting our first boy in April of next year!

Got to see a bunch of SA folks this year in San Francisco: Eddiemae, Daniele, Katie Kuyper.

Marc Bertinelli we see often and love it!

Looking forward to our 20th Reunion!”

Betsy Boardman has made her way back to school and can see the graduation line in sight. “I am in my last year of law school at the University of Maine School of Law in Portland, Maine. I hope to practice in the areas of juvenile, family, and/or bankruptcy law. I love living in Portland and hope to stay in New England forever and ever!”

Alison Moncrief Bromage has returned to her home state. “My husband, daughter and I moved back to Connecticut from Vermont this year and settled on the shoreline, in Stony Creek. My family and I have luckily found ourselves as Harlan Fichtenholtz’ ’96 neighbor! I work as a writing tutor at Yale University. I am still close with Blake Peters, and we see one another as often as we can. Looking forward to hearing everyone’s news; sending warmth and admiration!”

Rob Champagne reports in from Lebanon, Connecticut, “I recently moved with my wife

70

SUFFIELD

Desiree and two sons, two and seven years old. We live in an antique farmhouse out in the country. I have my own real estate appraisal business, which I started about 10 years ago.”

Something that shouldn’t surprise anyone, Mike Cirelli is still taking pictures and they are pretty incredible. “I am living in Manchester, New Hampshire, and recently opened a photography studio in one of the Mill buildings. I also published a book of photographic portraits on iTunes called Visiting: 100 Portraits. If anyone is in the area, please stop on by.” Check out his work at www.michaelcirelli.com and www.cirelliworks.com.

While I don’t see George Colli in person that often, he is a constant presence on the news. “I’m currently working as an investigative reporter for WVIT-TV, NBC Connecticut in West Hartford. I’ve also had a chance to co-host a Sunday morning political show, “Decision 2014,” which is running through the 2014 election. I’m living in Suffield, not far from campus, so if anyone is heading to SA for a game or a weekend, I’d love to hear from you.”

Kim Klopfer has traded coasts, and currently resides in Long Beach, California.

“I am a fourth grade teacher for gifted students. This August I started working on my doctorate in educational leadership at University of Southern California (USC) with a concentration on teacher education in diverse societies.”

Wendy Allegrone Leslie says, “I have two kids and am pregnant with my third. My son Nico is four and my daughter Arianna is two and a half. I am a little over three months pregnant, due at the beginning of May, and we are having another girl. My life is crazy with my family and running my Boys & Girls Club, but it’s awesome! I go home to Western Massachusetts every few weeks.

Because you all know that ‘Dalton rules.’ Did I really used to say that, so horrible! I live in Framingham, but we are looking to move soon.” Yes you did say that, Wendy, and we

all loved it, especially Megan Lawler.

Shinya Nagase writes, “Moved back to the US, living in West New York, New Jersey with my family (Noriko, Eiki, Shuri) and working for Becton, Dickinson and Company. Met with Carlos Centurion and ran the 15km BattleFrog (OCR mud run) for the first time, and it was a great lifetime experience!”

Beth Burke Roberts is now back in Massachusetts. “This summer I started my dream job at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Half of my job involves seeing patients in the Allergy and Immunology Clinic, and the other half of my time is spent overseeing peanut desensitization clinical trials in allergic children. My husband Rich, our son Burke, and I moved from Glastonbury, Connecticut, to my home state of Massachusetts for this opportunity.”

My old roommate, Randy Steketee, writes that his family just got a little bit bigger.

“Darien Alexander, our second son, was born on June 27. We moved out of New York City to Ridgewood, New Jersey, to be closer to my in-laws. I also opened my own law practice, Steketee Firm, with an office on Maiden Lane in New York City specializing in real estate, wills and trusts, estate planning, and asset protection in New York and New Jersey.”

Doug Williams Jr. currently resides happily in East Hartland, Connecticut, where he works for TechniArt—Team Massachusetts, “leader in home efficiency/green energy products as well as the number one retailer of LED bulbs in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts is currently ranked number one in energy efficiency products, statistically in the United States.”

Again, it was great to hear from so many of you. I live and work in West Hartford, Connecticut, and started a small educational consulting firm last year with two other boarding school veterans— www.educonct.com. I recently met up with Jacky Chen, Carlos Centurion and Taka

Nishimura in New York City and had a blast.

It’s hard to believe that our 20th Reunion is coming up in a few years—time sure does fly.

Best to everyone—Brian Hetzel.

J.J. FADOIR After having lived 30+ years in Connecticut, I decided it was time for a change. I moved near Portland, Maine, at the end of 2013, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

1998

CLASS AGENTS Mickey Allen Sarah Fletcher Meaney Sarah Hotchkiss CURTIS DUBAY In January, my wife Johanna and I welcomed our second son, Patrick. He and his older brother Theodore (3) are keeping us on our toes. Our one-year-old golden doodle Auggie adds another element to the excitement. We are still living in Washington, DC. SANDY KLEMMER Hi, SA! I have stayed put in Boston since finishing my bachelor’s at Tufts University and master’s in nutrition at Boston University.

For nearly six years now I’ve been a clinical dietitian at Mass General Hospital and still love the daily challenges of ICUs. I also have a private nutrition practice, where I see mostly eating disorder and weight management clients. However, the biggest love of my life is yoga, and with my registered yoga teacher certification, I am excited to offer yoga therapy integrated into nutrition counseling. When I’m home visiting my parents, I make a point to drive through the SA campus—looking good!

Sending my best to Class of ’98.

SARAH FLETCHER MEANEY This summer I married Doug Meaney at Harkness Chapel at Connecticut College with a beautiful tented reception at Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington, Connecticut. It was a wonderful celebration with our friends and family.

2000

CLASS AGENTS Michael Coleman Carmine Petrone Andrea Rich Manny Simons Meagan Ward Jenkins DREW CATANESE Things are going well! I am enjoying being a father to my three children, Isabel (5), Gemma (2), and Marco (born May 27). We live in Columbia, South Carolina, where I am a financial advisor with the firm Waddell and Reed.

2001

CLASS AGENTS Paige Diamond Kate Dineen Greg Hearn Russ Hearn Ashton Jones ASHTON JONES Kristin and I joyfully welcomed our daughter, Carolina Shaw Jones, on May 25, 2014. We are living in Boston, and I am working at an investment fund where I oversee operations for our Australian and UK funds. Looking forward to getting back to SA for a visit soon.

Also, as a Class Agent, I’d be remiss not to say, please send in your donations!

2002

CLASS AGENTS Sari Biddelman Alison Carey Hilary Golas Rouse Lynx LaCroix Erin Orr Ligay

Ashton Jones ’01 with wife Kristin and their daughter, Carolina

EMILIO MARTINEZ After being in real estate for nearly 10 years, I joined Douglas Elliman this past summer and regret not making this decision earlier in my career. Working for the nation’s fourth largest real estate company has given me the resources needed to help people in ways I’ve never been able to before.

Needless to say, I’m very happy. My son, Major Maddox Martinez, started first grade this year and my wife and I celebrated our 15-year anniversary.

SARAH RABBETT GAMERE So far, 2014 has been a very big year for my family! I graduated in May with my master’s in nursing and will soon be starting a position as a nurse practitioner. In late June, Andrew Gamere ’93 and I were married in Connecitcut with many of our Suffield friends in attendance. Finally, in August we had a beautiful baby boy named Caysen.

We are currently living at Suffield, enjoying every minute watching Caysen grow, and spending time together as a new family.

Kat Bucceri ’03 and her son Michael

2003

CLASS AGENTS Lindsey Pell Lydia Pillsbury Lindsay Rousseau Eric Yale KAT BUCCERI I have recently started my second year working as a special education paraprofessional for the Regional School District #1. I am also in my second year of school at Grand Canyon University’s online program, earning my bachelors’ degrees in

elementary education and special education.

My son Michael turned four this past June and is doing wonderfully. We are still living in the northwest corner of Connecticut and are loving life!

MATT WENTWORTH I received my master’s in software engineering this past spring from Brandeis University. I am working at Pratt and Whitney as a software engineer, and my wife, Libby, and I are the proud parents of Geoffrey Duke Wentworth, who was born on August 24, 2013.

Fall / Winter 2014

71

01

02

03

04

05

06

01 left to right: Chelsea Kane ’09, Amy Samenuk ’09, Maria Veronesi ’09, Cordelia Brady ’09, Whitney Tuthill ’09, Theresa Lamontagne ’04, and Mallory Fergione ’04 02 left to right: front row: Barry Cleary P’02, ’05, Ryan Cleary ’05, Erin Wash Cleary, Tim Cleary ’02, Laurie Cleary P’02, ’05, back row: Billy Chapman, Jake Donnelly ’05, Carolyn Rosca ’05, Whitney Tagliavini, Ryan Allen ’05, Colin Dudunake ’05 03 left to right: Randy Harris ’09, Alex Ersoff ’08, Robert Fleishman ’09 and YK Kim ’09 04 left to right: Matt Siretta ’08, Phil Williams ’08, Will Wilcox ’04, Kelly Van Ingen ’06, Louis Heilbronn ’06, John Bloemsma ’08 and Harry Williams ’07 in Easthampton, New York 05 left to right: Kim Wiggin P’06, Caitlin McNabb ’07, Matt Wiggin ’06, Stephanie Fox ’06, Lauren Coleman ’06, Steve Fox ’74, Mark Teed ’75, and John Moritz ’74 at Steph Fox’s wedding in September 06 left to right: Becca Joslow ’08 of Pas de Deux Bridal and Bridgette Faupel ’09 of Loverly team up for a launch party during New York International Bridal Week

72

SUFFIELD

the power of the flowers Louis Heilbronn ’06 continues to create. This young American, discovered last year in the Galerie Polaris, is unequaled in creating images that are seemingly insignificant, but whose continuity recounts a story which is as sensual as it is ambiguous. With “From Flowers and More,” these are the flowers-by which he questions romantic pretensions, and which punctuate his voyage through the real world. Wild or cultivated, caught inside wired fences or scattered in a nameless landscape, they bring forth unexpected touches of colours, like bursts of life between the most contemplative of images: melancholic portraits and landscapes without substance or quality, places which one might otherwise find unremarkable. From the United States to France, from an abandoned house in ruins, to a sumptuous dinner. Louis Heilbronn has his camera’s eye on hidden meanings as he allows for a sense of suspense. We never truly know where we are, but we’re ever in a state of anticipation. The photographer often sees the world through a window, a fence, a fog or a brilliant sunlight, as if nothing in his images were as they were, but always transmitted, digested, filtered. In his presence, we stop for a moment, as if greatly moved by the sheer intensity of these sensations, but not deceived before complex “tableaux” which depict the day to day and the humdrum.

(Originally published in the November 2014 issue of the French magazine Le Monde, written by Claire Guillot. Translation by Demetrius Toutounas)

2004

CLASS AGENTS Kate Braden Jake McComb Alex Naboicheck Anthony Rousseau Andrew Scully William Taylor DAVID DUFF Howdy! It’s been an exciting fall out here in California. I am happy to announce that I am recently engaged to my love, Joanna. We are extremely happy and excited for our future together. I hope everyone is doing well! Shout out to the Lax team—good luck this year!

MAC POHANKA As co-founder of Noble Signs in Brooklyn, New York, I have expanded my work to include hand-painting, neon, gold-leafing and branding. I also art direct for film and design, and have built several installation pieces this year for art exhibitions at the Chanel Nexus Hall on the Ginza in Tokyo, Japan, and the Garis and Hahn gallery in Manhattan, New York. This summer Noble Signs also designed, built, and opened our first restaurant, Seoul Chicken, in partnership with chef Chaz Brown in New York City.

2006

CLASS AGENTS Alison Leonard Eric Litmer Luke McComb Gina Petrone Chris Stafford CASEY SULLIVAN I am back in New York City and working for JP Morgan.

2007

CLASS AGENTS Mike DiPietro Sydney Greenberg Katy Heydinger Matt Jones Harry Melendez Catherine Mis Erik Osborne Meredith Rarus Rob Zammito

Peter Aldrich and Ben Rego after two years of great experiences and fun. I just started a new job at a start-up called DraftKings, which is a daily fantasy sports company based in Boston. It is a dream job come true, and I couldn’t be happier.

MATT JONES Hi, Suffield! I hope everyone is well and a special shout out to all my ’07 classmates.

Quick update, all is great with me. I am still living in Boston and am coming up on three full years with the Oracle Corporation this December! I currently cover Healthcare payers and providers in nine different states up and down the East Coast. I still do not know where all the time has gone; it will be just another year and a half until I will be celebrating my five-year college reunion! I recently took a weeklong cruise with family at the end of June through the Mediterranean, making stops in Istanbul, Turkey; Mykonos, Greece; Athens, Greece; Malta; Sicily, Italy; and Salerno, Italy, and docked back in Rome, Italy. It was an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will never forget! Keep in touch and KASA.

TREVOR DALGLISH A lot has changed in the past few months for me. I am moving into a new apartment in Boston, which means I am parting ways with

Fall / Winter 2014

73

01

02

03

01 Mike Budness ’11 and Taylor Peucker ’11 after Trinity College vs Colby College football game this fall 02 Tara Keady ’11 and Peyton O’Connor ’11, seniors at Saint Michael’s College 03 Andrés Fernández Vílchez ’13 and Jay Prasad ’13 conquer obstacle course Battle Frog

2008

CLASS AGENTS Becca Bathrick Kirsten Chalke Thomas Drummond-Hay Joel Glassman Rebecca Joslow Barbara Kaplan Kaela Keyes Isy Zellweger CHERELLE ALLEN-BERUBE Melinda and I met back in 2003 in freshman English class. We lost contact until December of 2011 when we reunited. We started dating January 1, 2012. Melinda has an eight-yearold son, Frankie, whom I consider my own.

We got engaged December 21, 2012, and were married on May 1, 2014. Hope everyone at SA is doing well and quick shout out to the Class of 2008.

2009

CLASS AGENTS Tom Casey Rosemary Chandler Liz Monty Amy Samenuk Sam Stone Kyle Vigneault LEAH DELANEY Upon graduation from the University of Vermont in 2013, I have spent the past year living in Bangkok, Thailand, teaching at an international school and traveling extensively through Asia. I have even traveled a little with classmate Arielle Kempinsky.

74

SUFFIELD

BRIDGETTE FAUPEL Working at Loverly in New York City as an ad operations manager and style coordinator.

I recently ran into Becca Joslow ’08 during International Bridal Week.

PATRICK HARRIS I was very happy that I was able to attend my 5th Reunion this past October. It was great to see old friends and favorite faculty members, whom I have not seen in a while. It just felt good to be back on the Suffield campus and to be able to experience it for the first time with my fiancé and son. My favorite part of Reunion weekend was experiencing how members of the Suffield community were so eager to embrace my new family. It was also great to see another victory by the Suffield football team. It’s amazing to see the dynasty that Coach Gamere and his staff have put together over the past few years, and it makes me feel really proud to have been a part of it from the beginning in 2008. Coach Gamere and the football program have done so much for my career, and my future. I am so glad that they are able to experience their great success. I hope that it continues long into the future!

2010

CLASS AGENTS Michelle Autuori Justine de Chazal Mariah Gonzalez Tom Leonard Alyssa Palomba Lucas Traber CHLOE WEISBORD TERRES Since May 2010, my life has been a roller coaster, to say the least. I opted not to attend college after graduation and started my quest

for self-awareness and discovery. I went on adventures that took me all over the country: Utah, Oregon, and California—just to name a few. Most importantly, I began the work to overcome what has always been my greatest obstacle: PTSD. Through my own search for answers, I was introduced to one of the most amazing young women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, Christina Meredith. She is the founder of a non-profit organization called Strength For Our Daughters. The organization focuses on trauma awareness, an issue that is near and dear to my heart.

We are hoping to create a safe haven for young women who have experienced abuse or are in the foster-care system. Our goal is to create a space where they can receive basic necessities, education, quality healthcare, and advocacy that will foster self-resilience and aid them in becoming strong, independent women.

I feel so fortunate to be a part of this and hope to help facilitate positive change in the lives of young women who are on their own quest for answers.

2011

CLASS AGENTS Joe Begley Serge Derby Kachenta Descartes Colin E Dowd Karoline Hegbom Didi McDonald Shamier Settle Lester Taylor LORENZO BERNARDEZ All is well here at Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut. Things have seemed to fall into place for me these last couple of years. Academically, I have been doing

much better. I am buckling down and taking school seriously. After battling back from two knee surgeries, baseball looks promising this season. I am finally healthy and up and running again. I had a very good fall season; I was on the leaders chart in hits this fall. One thing I want to say to all of you is that when faced with adversity do not shy away from it.

Stand up on your own two feet and face it, knowing that things will always get better and be all right. Hope to see you guys soon.

SAM CLARK We went on a 66-day voyage to 12 countries in Europe and Scandinavia (England, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Poland, Estonia, and Czech Republic). It was easily the greatest adventure of my life. It was a continuation of the great environment of Suffield but on a ship. It was great connecting with Patrick Kennedy ’91 and especially cool that he was promoting his product Spikeball (www.spikeball.com) all around the world; he’s a true entrepreneur and now a role model.

KAROLINE HEGBOM I am currently in Malawi taking a course through my school, which focuses on agriculture and sustainability. It is truly amazing—I love it! I look forward to reuniting with my Suffield classmates next summer.

TARA KEADY Peyton O’Connor and I are seniors at Saint Michael’s College in Vermont and love it here.

We have been orientation leaders together for the past two years and are also townhouse neighbors this year. We love Saint Mike’s but still reminisce about Suffield.

DIDI MCDONALD Hello to everyone at Suffield! I am in my senior year at Cornell and have just signed on for my first job in human capital management at Goldman Sachs. I am also enjoying my free time by doing triathlons with my family.

My senior year at Cornell reminds me a lot

of Suffield, as I am living with 15 other girls!

I know I will stay just as close with them as I have with my Suffield friends. I saw Erica Robbie, Tori Schirmer, Kara Glassman, Katherine Perry and others from Suffield this summer. It is so much fun staying in touch and seeing everyone.

TAYLOR PEUCKER I am in my junior year at Colby and loving the Maine weather. I’ve been doing a bunch of outdoor activities this fall such as hiking Mount Katahdin, hitting the shops in Freeport, and watching Mike Budness tear up the football field. I hope everyone at Suffield is doing well.

KRIS SITTHEEAMORN I’m graduating with a degree in geology this coming May and just now starting to look for work.

ALI SULLIVAN I am now a senior at Trinity, where I am double majoring in economics and philosophy.

2012

CLASS AGENTS Reed Barbe Katherine Battle Colin E Dowd William Evangelakos Jameson Everett Josh Galant David Huang Taylor Jett Connor Kaplan Caroline Leonard Izzy McDonald Alex Porter Carly Smith

year, serving as co-president of Emerson’s black student organization, EBONI, and as an assistant for the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. I’d like to think my work with Mrs. Warren and MCA allowed me to excel in these areas. Other than that, I’ve just been busy applying to internships and jobs for the summer.

IZZY MCDONALD I have been enjoying an amazing semester so far in Barcelona! I have been traveling with many of my friends from college and I am lucky enough to be abroad with Bailly Gestal.

I have already seen Maire Casey in Paris and will soon visit her in St. Andrews. I also ran into Lohen Parchment at Oktoberfest.

It’s been a great semester so far.

CARLY SMITH I am currently taking a gap year and working in Washington, DC. I hope to transfer schools in the fall so I can pursue my dreams of being a teacher. My friends and teachers from Suffield have been such an incredible support system through this transition. I hope everyone is doing well from the Class of 2012!

TERESA SWEENEY It’s been a rather bumpy road while studying design. I’m in my third year of college and I’ve already studied at Northeastern, transferred to Drexel, and transferred back to Northeastern. Talk about whiplash. I am now a design major with a concentration in experience and web design. Between working at Flour Bakery, exploring the city with my friends, and studying design, Boston has welcomed me back with open arms.

Take care, SA!

TAYLOR JETT I’m a junior at Emerson College and things are going really well. I’ve been pretty busy this

01

02

01 Members of the Class of 2011 in New York City: Spenser Rose, Mike Lisi, Lorenzo Bernardez, Andre King and Joe Bruno 02 Class of 2013 Fuller room #1 in Miami this summer: Andrés Fernández Vílchez, Nick Hudson and Emilio Rocha

Fall / Winter 2014

75

2013

CLASS AGENTS Georgina Blakeley Andrés Fernández Vílchez Jay Fields Jamie Johnson Wynn Mason Chris McCormick Paul Metscher Noel Nakamura Jay O’Brien Jay Prasad Emilio Rocha Mike Simmons Jordan Stanley MARIAM IBRAHIM Things are much the same here at Princeton.

My sophomore fall has been pretty pleasant so far; despite taking five classes, I find that I have much more time on my hands than last year. There’s just some sort of intrinsic knowledge that comes with having a year under your belt. I’m enjoying classes much more than before, as more of my work is specific for my major. I still managed to fit in a French literature class and a creative writing class for balance and really enjoy the two (my creative writing professor was in the movie Minority Report with Tom Cruise; if you’ve seen it, he and his identical twin brother—also a poet—played the precog twins). In addition to being a campus tour guide, I’m also now in the women’s

01

mentorship program, which I’ve found really rewarding. Long story short, I stood up in one of my engineering classes a few weeks ago, looked around, and realized I didn’t see any girls in sight (of the 45 people in my major—mechanical and aerospace—only nine of us are girls, and that’s considered an extremely high number). I never was as aware of my gender until I was in a class with as many boys as there were; I joke to myself that it’s a bit like a locker room.

Outside of the boys’ club, the trees on the leaves remind me of Suffield everyday. Two of my roommates, who are from California, still haven’t grown accustomed to seasons and are in awe of foliage. I, on the other hand, take every moment possible to remind people my high school’s trees were, in fact, much more stellar. The best part is that one of the new freshmen, Audrey Dufresne ’18, is an old friend of mine from my fencing club, so she keeps me posted now and again on Suffield (usually after I prod her to do so). The nostalgia is real! I already feel old and wistful.

VICTORIA KIARSIS I’m doing well and living in a great apartment in Brookline while working at Ralph Lauren and taking four courses. I’m busy but I like being busy. My idle time is spent watching Breaking Bad or cleaning the apartment.

Hope everyone is doing well from the Class of 2013.

02

2014

CLASS AGENTS Kevin Cournoyer Julie Doten Sam Feldman Charlotte Hinrichs Shivang Jhunjhnuwala Griffin Manos Briana Matthews Brice McAllister Zach McCormick Jono Nelson Alexis Sarris Denny Smythe Izzy Thompson JOSH HILLMAN The first few months of being a college student have been great! I have enjoyed my time writing for the school newspaper and wrestling with the varsity team, both of which SA prepared me for. I’m looking forward to returning to Suffield to watch the Tigers this wrestling season. Good luck to all student athletes!

CHARLOTTE HINRICHS I joined the club lacrosse team and start most games. We play schools such as Duke, Wake Forest, High Point, and UNC. RJ Currey and I have lunch together at least once a week. It’s nice to have a little bit of familiarity here when we are both so far from home.

03

01 Josh Hillman ’14 with his mother, Kathy this summer 02 RJ Currey ’14 and Charlotte Hinrichs ’14 at Elon this fall enjoying the football team’s final home game, wearing pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness 03 Amanda Leonard ’14 and Jono Nelson ’14 representing SA at the University of Colorado

76

SUFFIELD

ALUMNI AUTHORS JASON SOKOL ’95 AUTHOR

All Eyes are Upon Us: Race and Politics from Boston to Brooklyn Jason Sokol ’95 had a second book published this year. All Eyes are Upon Us: Race and Politics from Boston to Brooklyn details racial equality and political liberalism in the Northeast. It highlights how political victories following World War II obscured the segregation and racism in the region. Jason argues that people of different races forged interracial coalitions and demanded that the region live up to its promise of equal opportunity.

He aims for All Eyes are Upon Us to be symbolic of America’s conflicts and eagerness to live up to its highest ideals. Jason is an assistant professor at University of New Hampshire and author of There Goes My Everything: White Southerners in the Age of Civil Rights. He lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

1

JARED DUBEY ’00 CO-AUTHOR Taking the Reins

SUFFIELD profiled Jared Dubey’s ’00 accomplishments as an investor for UBS Global Family Office back in the summer of 2013. His latest venture is the new book Taking the Reins: Insights into the World of Ultra-Wealthy Inheritors. The book gives insight into some fo the challenges that very wealthy young people face in managing family estates. It digs deep into these inheritors’ behaviors and provides statistics on their interests, missteps, and successes. As Carl Liederman writes in the forward of the book, “With the right advisors, this generation can quite literally transform the world for the better.”

MICHAEL CIRELLI ’97 PHOTOGRAPHER Visiting: 100 Portraits

Professional photographer Michael Cirelli ’97 recently released a book entitled Visiting: 100 Portraits.

The book, which is available in paperback and in a digital version on iTunes, is a compilation of 100 color photographs that Michael took while visiting the friends he’s made throughout his life. Referring to the conversations that accompanied the visits, Michael writes, “I found these interactions to be much more authentic and genuine than the most commonly used social media methods. There is something to be said for two people sitting in a room, face to face, asking how the other is doing.” Michael is an award-winning photographer and has been featured on TheKnot.com and in several bridal magazines.

JENNY TEICH ’15 AUTHOR

The Clock Cycle (The Terminal Series) Suffield senior Jenny Teich ’15 recently self-published her first book. Jenny got the idea for her novel at the end of exam week during her sophomore year. She then spent the next two terms doing an independent writing special in lieu of a sport so that she could focus on completing her book. “I’ve always loved writing,” said Jenny. “My family and the Suffield community have been so supportive in helping me get this book out there. I’ve been honored that everyone has believed in me and despite that I’m attempting to do this as such a young age, everyone has treated me with so much respect.” Spoiler alert: The Clock Cycle is about not putting too much emphasis on the timing of things. “We shouldn’t let time dictate our lives,” explains Jenny. Stay tuned for the sequel.

Fall / Winter 2014

77

01

02

weddings

04

06

05

07

08

11

10

03

12

13

09

births 01

02

01 To Joanne Suh ’03 and TaeHoon Lee, a girl, Soo Min Lee on 03.06.14 02 To Tara Klevay Slabe ’02 and husband Tim, a boy, Holden Sawyer Slabe on 06.22.14 03 To Jeff Depelteau ’02 and wife, Brooke Loder Depelteau, a boy, Bryson Asher Loder on 08.22.14 04 To Drew Catanese ’00 and wife Pauli, a boy, Marco James Catanese on 05.27.14 05 To Samantha Peterson Lynch ’98 and husband, Roger, a girl, Riley Myles Lynch on 07.25.14 06 To Sarah Rabbett Gamere ’02 and Drew Gamere ’93 a boy, Caysen Neal Gamere on 08.19.14 07 To Caroline Powers Jackson ’07, and husband Scott, a girl, Jane Elizabeth Jackson on 06.08.14 08 To Ashton Jones ’01 and wife, Kristin, a girl, Carolina Shaw Jones on 05.25.14 09 To Randy Steketee ’97 and wife Miriam, a boy, Darien Alexander Steketee on 06.27.14

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

WEDDINGS 01 Carolyn Rosca ’05 to Kevin Johnson on 06.07.14 02 Ryan Cleary ’05 to Erin Wash on 08.02.14 03 Beth Tyler ’77 to John Kindl on 09.06.14 04 Bill Geas ’04 to Angelica Then on 09.28.14 05 Matt Capone ’07 to Christina Coro on 08.09.14 06 Emily Leech ’08 to Cynthia Hammond on 06.28.14 07 Suzanne Benko ’90 to Trevor Rainwater on 03.22.14

08 Andrea Rich ’00 to Bryan Rabatic on 08.02.14 09 Stephanie Fox ’06 to Juliana Eagles on 09.13.14 10 Sarah Fletcher Meaney ’98 to Douglas Meaney 10.12.14 11 Josef Vainboim ’00 to Danielle Burd on 06.15.13 12 Cherelle Allen ’08 to Melinda Berube on 05.01.14 13 Drew Gamere ’93 to Sarah Rabbett ’02 on 06.22.14

engagements

01

02

05

01 David Duff ’04 to Joanna Parmer 02 Cheikh Khadim Diouf ’07 to Phyleka D. Diouf 03 James Newman ’96 to Nadia Kiesel in Nantucket 04 Cassie Daniels ’07 to Jose Diaz in the Dominican Republic 05 Tom DeCosmo ’05 to Audrey Suskind

03

04

SUBMIT CLASS NOTES FOR THE WINTER EDITION OF SUFFIELD www.suffieldacademy.org/classnotes Or send your class notes and photographs to Harry Melendez III ’07, Development Associate Email hmelendez@suffieldacademy.org Mail to Harry Melendez, 185 North Main Street, Suffield, Connecticut 06078 Deadline for winter submissions March 1, 2015 Note If submitting digitally through email, please send a high-quality JPEG file (preferably 1MB or larger) to suffield.magazine@gmail.com If submitting prints through the mail, please send a photo-lab quality print.

80

SUFFIELD

suffieldacademy.org/bookstore

Suffield Academy 185 North Main Street Suffield, CT 06078