SUFFIELD 2021-2022

Art & Design Director

Tobye Cook ’88, P’16

Creative Director & Photographer

Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88, P’18, ’22

Features Writer

Danielle Barthel

Contributors

Jonah Ball ’22

Steven Ball ’83, P’22

Danielle Barthel

Lauren Burton ’22

Tom Burton ’89, P’22

Charles Cahn III P’18, ’22

Caroline Greco ’22

Michael Greco III ’21

Stephen Greco ’21

Stephanie Dellaquila Greco ’88, P’21, ’22

Chris Hostetter ’21

Dan Hostetter ’88, P’21, ’22

Paige Hostetter ’22

Andrew Kotchen ’90, P’22

Grace Kotchen ’22

Rachel Lloyd

Jonathan Medwid ’96

Gabriella Nuñez ’22

Ron Nuñez ’86, P’22

Mark Sollinger ’76, P’22

Samantha Sollinger ’22

Hailey Suller ’22

Kaitlyn Suller ’22

Karen Knapps Suller ’88, P’22

Photo Contributors

Michael Cirelli Photography ’98

Tobye Cook ’88, P’16

Highpoint Pictures

Jackson Kent ’22

John Marinelli Photography

Mark McCullagh ’81

Risley Photography

David Spitzler ’81

Design Contributor

CEH Design, Inc.

Bethel, Connecticut

Suffield Academy Board of Trustees

Charles Cahn III P’18, ’22 [Head of School] Suffield, Connecticut

Frederic B. Powers III ’83, P’14 [President] Greenwich, Connecticut

Susan W. Autuori P’06, ’08, ’10, ’13 West Hartford, Connecticut

Vicky Bauer P’19, ’21, ’25 Southborough, Massachusetts

Nancy A. Brooks ’87 Boston, Massachusetts

Cindy M. Burke P’13, ’15, ’17, ’19 East Longmeadow, Massachusetts

Robert Byrne ’72 Incline Village, Nevada

Jared D. Carillo ’00 Glastonbury, Connecticut

Andrew C. Chase Deerfield, Massachusetts

Kate O. Cleary ’88 Cambridge, Massachusetts

George B. Daniels ’71 New York, New York

Ann Durhager P’17, ’18 Warwick, Bermuda

Matthew P. Fine ’95 Riverside, Connecticut

Michael Gingold P’16, ’18, ’21 West Hartford, Connecticut

Valisha Graves ’81 Brooklyn, New York Walter Harrison Wellfleet, Massachusetts

Russell C. Hearn ’01 Dallas, Texas

Kathy G. Hoffman P’13 Avon, Connecticut

Daniel C. Hostetter Jr. ’88, P’21, ’22, ’26 Osterville, Massachusetts

Christopher M. Houlihan P’05 Stonington, Connecticut

Andrew Kotchen ’90, P’22 Irvington, New York

Kenneth H. Landis P’16 New York, New York

James P. Michel P’12, ’17 Bloomfield, Connecticut

Tracy Orr O’Keefe ’85, P’24 Westfield, New Jersey

Jackson W. Robinson ’60 [Trustee Emeritus] Little Compton, Rhode Island

Ali R. Salehi P’12 Westfield, Massachusetts

Monica Shay P’18, ’20 Southborough, Massachusetts

Hope G. Smith P’12 Palm Beach, Florida

Daniel R. Tisch ’69, P’02 [Trustee Emeritus] New York, New York

Michael J. Tisch ’02 New York, New York

John M. Tremaine ’66, P’94, ’03 [Trustee Emeritus] Vero Beach, Florida

Suzy B. Vogler P’11 Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Jeffrey White ’65 Westport, Connecticut

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff ’89, P’23, ’25 New York, New York

Mission Suffield Academy is a coeducational independent secondary school serving a diverse community of day and boarding 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.

In late April we held our 2022 Parents’ Association Auction—our first live extended community event since 2019. The spirit in Brewster Hall reflected how much we all missed celebrating Suffield. We raised funds for upcoming campus projects and to help a student from Ukraine join our community this year. What a gift—making a Suffield Academy experience possible for a talented young person whose life has been forever altered by the tragedy of war.

This issue of SUFFIELD captures stories from the complicated, challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like all organizations, Suffield Academy was tested in new ways. While the period required us to recalibrate and operate in more restrictive ways, Suffield has emerged stronger than ever. How did this happen?

First, our faculty immediately pivoted from the traditional Suffield experience to a new landscape, staying resolutely focused on doing all they could to help our students thrive. The commitment of these talented educators was never more evident than during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Second, recent investments in our campus—the new Memorial Building, Brewster Hall, Holcomb Science, Brodie Hall, and Powers Hall—helped keep on-campus programs uninterrupted throughout the pandemic. Expansive space and a limited student enrollment led to no need for hybrid programs or reduced density.

Most importantly, our core philosophy blending encouragement and support with rigor and structure remained unwavering. While the isolation led us all to wonder when we would return to pre-pandemic rituals, our firm agreement on the fundamentals shaped community life. As always at Suffield, each student is needed, known, and cherished. A confluence of factors—clarity of purpose, a faculty resolutely committed to meeting students where they are and helping them travel great distances, and a magnificent program and physical plant—shined during a period when all we knew as true and certain was severely tested.

When Hillary and I began leading Suffield 18 years ago our most fervent goals were to build immense community spirit and help young people navigate adolescence in a genuinely caring environment. We learned again during the past two years that challenging times bring new opportunities—as painful as they may initially seem. Suffield was stress tested in ways we would have never imagined and emerged healthier than ever, making historic contributions to students and families at a pivotal time. Thank you for your collective love of this special school perched atop Bell Hill. d

While the isolation led us all to wonder when we would return to pre-pandemic rituals, our firm agreement on the fundamentals shaped community life. As always at Suffield, each student is needed, known, and cherished.

New England Association of Schools & Colleges Reaccreditation

Suffield Academy completed the decennial reaccreditation process with the New England Association of Schools & Colleges [NEASC] in the spring of 2021. The process includes a year-long self-study focusing on 14 standards ranging from infrastructure to program, faculty, administration, health and safety, governance, enrollment, experience of the students, and mission. Each faculty member was assigned to one of the standard committees. During the self-study process all of Suffield’s constituents were surveyed: students, parents, alumni, trustees, faculty, and staff. The self-study has the 14 standard committee reports and a section on goals for the future. Faculty member Ben Morgan ’06 served as self-study chair.

The second part of the process was hosting a NEASC Visiting Team comprised of 8-9 educators from peer schools. The team spent several days on campus and analyzed the self-study. They then submitted a Visiting Committee report to NEASC along with major commendations and recommendations. Suffield’s Visiting Committee had teaching and administrative faculty members from Groton, Hotchkiss, Kimball Union, Middlesex, Miss Hall’s, New Hampton, St. Paul’s, and Vermont Academy.

Suffield was in full compliance with all standards and received an extremely positive report from the Visiting Committee. The summary included the following comments:

That Suffield is strategically aligned to a mission and vision of excellence combined with a strong work ethic is evident from its thorough self-study, meetings with all constituencies, and the feel that exists on their beautiful campus. While the school has gone through an impressive physical and financial transformation over the last 15 plus years, they have remained grounded and committed to a diverse community in the fullest sense of the word. Suffield is an active community with extensive student leadership responsibilities, community commitments, and opportunities, on top of classes and co-curriculars. The students are happy and welcoming. They genuinely appreciate the opportunity to be at Suffield and carry a strong sense of responsibility to community and others. Simply put, the place feels good.

The major commendations and recommendations for the school to focus on in the future are below:

Commendations

» Suffield’s senior administrative team—led by an inspiring head of school—serve as excellent leaders of the students and faculty.

» Suffield Academy has an unwavering sense of self and who they best serve, drawn from their mission statement which guides and inspires the community in all areas of school life.

» The synergy that has been created between Head of School Charlie Cahn, the Board of Trustees, alumni, and parents is inspiring, resulting in transformational change for the school, particularly in the areas of admission and advancement.

» Suffield offers an exemplary model for self-improvement through effective and ongoing strategic and campus master planning efforts.

» There has been a thoughtful introduction of coursework to address inclusivity and social justice, reflecting the school’s commitment to individual differences and responsibility to community.

» The Suffield faculty is deeply invested and makes considerable, noteworthy efforts to provide individual attention and care for student needs through all school programs.

Recommendations

» We endorse Suffield’s desire to continue building endowment to be less dependent on net tuition to support financial aid, operations, and faculty compensation.

» Given the school’s commitment to excellence in teaching, we encourage Suffield to further refine their stated document about teaching excellence at Suffield and use this as a benchmark within the existing annual faculty evaluation system.

» In Suffield’s continued effort to ensure all community members excel and are cherished—a clear strength of the School—the committee recommends that Suffield more formally document efforts aimed at diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff is the New York Times bestselling author of Melania and Me, written following her experience as Senior Advisor to the First Lady. She has previously held positions at Sotheby’s and Vogue where she was the Director of Special Events, producing the Met Gala, and then as the Founding Fashion Director of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts where she produced Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. She graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Stephanie lives in New York City with her husband, David, and their three children. Two of them attend Suffield Academy: Tyler ’23 and Alexi ’25.

Stephanie serves on Suffield’s Marketing & Communications Committee and Development Committee.

Front [left to right] Sophie Lawry ’25, Cormac Sullivan ’22, Jonah Ball ’22, Harrison Cahn ’22, Paige Hostetter ’22, Avery Freeman ’24, Katie O’Brien ’24, Ellie Ruffa ’24, Ava D’Angelo ’24, Siena Dagnoli ’24, Shea Braceland ’24, Leelee Sammis ’24, Sloane Hafner ’23, Sara Broad ’23, Olivia Horowitz ’23, Finn O’Keefe ’24, Sophia Tosone ’22, Allie Zeytoonjian ’24, Sage Hodgkins ’25, Claire Mastella ’25, Brendan Mastella ’23, Tyler Wolkoff ’23, Helena Ladah ’23

Back [left to right] Griffin Santopietro ’24, Elizabeth Cerrato ’25, Campbell Hudkins ’25, Lauren Burton ’22, Sophia Molander ’22, Grace Kotchen ’22, Paige August ’22, Nina Artioli ’22, Caroline Greco ’22, Samantha Sollinger ’22, Alexi Wolkoff ’25, Lauren Dobler ’25, Hailey Suller ’22, Kaitlyn Suller ’22, Gabriella Nuñez ’22, Carson Gall ’23, Charlie Riegel ’24, Benjamin White ’25, David Bowers ’24, Thomas Bowers ’22

New Trustee

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff ’89, P’23, ’25

Legacy Students [2021-2022]

New Athletics Performance Center

Suffield Academy has a new state-of-the-art Athletic Performance Center in the Ap Seaverns Athletic Center. The 4,800-square-foot space supplements Suffield’s fitness center and enables larger groups and teams to comfortably train together. It facilitates physical fitness training for our student-athletes including lifting, core fitness, agility drills, and sport-specific training.

Chris Setian ’09 joined the Suffield faculty in 2021 and he oversees the strength and conditioning programs. Chris previously led strength and conditioning programs for male and female athletes privately and at Brown, Yale, and University of New Hampshire. He is guiding and training athletes to be stronger, faster, and more fit—to help reach their full potential at Suffield and beyond. He is working with teams and individuals in sport-specific training.

The new center has five power racks with bench presses and platforms, weights, drive sleds, plyo boxes, turf training space, three Keiser functional trainers, and a sound system. HVAC enhancements enable for heating, cooling, and proper ventilation. The project was funded by gifts to Suffield for parents of female and male athletes. Co-Director of Athletics Drew Gamere noted, “We have been working to enhance our strength and conditioning offerings for several years and now have world-class program for our students. The space is fantastic and Chris will be a great leader of the program.”

Honoring Diversity

Suffield’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance [GSA] sponsored the celebration of the National Day of Silence last spring, where students took a vow of silence for a day. The vow is intended to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ students. Spring also featured Ally Week on Suffield’s campus, an event held annually in support of the LGBTQ+ community. Community members were encouraged to show their support by wearing a specific color each day [red on Monday, orange/yellow on Tuesday, green on Wednesday, etc.] and there were activities each evening promoted by the GSA—from cookie decorating to an intersectionality conference to a visit from professional strongman Rob Kearney, the only openly gay strongman in the world.

Grandparents’ Day [2021-2022]

More than 170 Suffield Academy grandparents were on campus last fall. Beautiful autumn weather helped make the 2021 Grandparents’ Day fun and successful. Grandparents attended three morning classes with their grandchildren, were welcomed to campus by Head of School Charlie Cahn, and then had a delicious lunch in Brewster Hall.

A Return to Bell Hill

Welcoming Families Back to Campus for Parents’ Weekend [2021-2022 Fall & Spring ]

The parents and families of Suffield students returned to campus for Parents’ Weekends in both the fall and spring last year—the first time since 2019. Families joined their children for classes, advisor meetings, and lunch, and it was great to have the warm, positive energy of so many visitors on campus.

Parents’ Association Auction

On the evening of April 22 more than 200 parents attended Suffield’s 22nd Parents’ Association Auction. There were about 200 items available to be bid on including front row Commencement seats, tickets to see the Miami Dolphins and visit with Dolphins star Christian Wilkins ’15, and vacations in Florida, the British Virgin Islands, Park City, Utah, and Bangkok, Thailand. In addition to the auction items, 800 raffle tickets were sold to win a 2022 Ford Bronco. This year’s winner was a former Suffield Academy parent. Proceeds from the auction supported Suffield’s next campus master plan. In addition, a special fund-a-need portion of the event supported financial aid for a student from Ukraine who enrolled at Suffield for the 2022-2023 academic year. Total fundraising proceeds from the evening exceeded $370,000. The Suffield Academy community thanks everyone who supported the event, especially auction chairs Kerri and Marty Milne P’22, ’25 and the parent volunteers who donated their time to the auction.

Sustainability at Suffield

In 2020 Suffield Academy installed a 600-kilowatt solar power array that produces 800 kW of energy per year. It is located on the western portion of campus and connects to the Ap Seaverns Athletic Center. The array covers around a quarter of Suffield’s annual use, and the system can be expanded over time. The school has a power purchase agreement with the system owners to buy electricity for five cents per kilowatt for fifteen years, with the option to extend twice for five additional years. This rate is less than half of the power rate Suffield Academy currently pays. The system maintenance costs are built into the rate and there are performance guarantees in the agreement related to the minimum of kilowatts delivered from the system. The school can buy out of the contract at various points. A live feed of the energy production is on display in Tisch Field House with a virtual dashboard on Suffield Academy’s website. The project was made possible by an upfront payment funded by a lead gift from the Willow Springs Foundation, as well as from proceeds from the 2019 Parents’ Association Auction. Trustee Suzy Vogler P’11 and her family help lead the foundation and have made Suffield a major priority in their philanthropic efforts. The solar array was dedicated to the Willow Springs Foundation during the fall Board of Trustees meeting on October 1, 2021.

An additional major gift has helped with a variety of energy reduction projects including a recent energy audit performed by The Stone House Group. While Suffield’s campus size has increased by 71% over the past decade, greenhouse gas emissions from energy have declined. Metric tons of carbon emissions went from more than eight per square foot to under six. The school works closely with Stone House and others to build on environmental stewardship.

Suffield Academy is focused on responsibly using resources and increasing awareness about the school’s carbon footprint. Sustainability initiatives include educational programs, campus construction choices, and various school awards and annual activities.

Other commitments to environmental responsibility include a comprehensive dining waste composting program, where Suffield partners with local company Blue Earth Compost to turn food waste into fertilizer, and the YETI for Everyone Initiative, where Suffield students, faculty, and staff are given a reusable tumbler to help eliminate the need for single use dining items.

Students and faculty are helping lead environmental initiatives as well. The recipient of the 2022 Robinson Environmental Prize was Ben Warner ’22, who is planning to major in environmental studies at Colorado College. Environmental Science teacher Amy Norris said, “Ben’s consistency and excellent quality of his work demonstrated a true interest in the material and willingness to put it into practice.” In terms of Environmental Science projects, Amy and her students added to their trial pollinator on the Holcomb Hall garden rooftop, which they began last year with the aim of investigating which pollinators are in danger and how communities can transform their properties to help wildlife. Students also wrote papers about how you need evidence to back up an opinion, defending their opinions about public school lunch nutrition, farming and ranching methods, electric and hydrogen-powered cars, hydroponics, food waste, GMOs, and cultured meat. d

The Suffield community participated in two week-long campus-wide electro-contests last fall and winter. The annual contests aim to highlight and reduce the community’s energy consumption and CO2 emissions, organized by Stacy Yurkovskaya ’23. Stacy first recorded the initial baseline weekly energy use by dorm and then re-recorded the percentage of reduced energy usage when contest was completed. Below are the results:

First

First

Enhancing Student Health Awareness

Presentations from Wellness Experts

College Counseling hosted two guest speakers for Suffield students in early 2022. In February, former collegiate football player Trevon [Trey] Bryant spoke to a group of Suffield’s male students about body and mental health issues. Trey expressed understanding for the boys in the room, having been in their shoes himself, and shared the insecurities he felt as a student-athlete and the mental health issues he went through, including anxiety and depression after receiving a life-changing knee injury in college. To overcome insecurities and focus on being the version of one’s best self, he laid out key phrases for the boys, like “words are value” and “comparison is poison for success” when it’s used as a way to judge oneself. He asked them to consider the impact of their words on others and themselves, tying in the effects of social media, from how it propagates popularity comparisons to how it can give one a false sense of identity and reinforce body dissatisfaction. His final takeaways were for listeners to become consistent, develop discipline, and embrace themselves in order to take care of and respect their bodies and minds.

In April, Health and Performance Coach Laura Christoph spoke to a group of female students about health and wellness. Laura touched on topics like nutrition and caring about what you eat, exercise, mental health, the role of diet on mood, and the body’s muscle tone, movement, and mass. Campbell White ’22 attended and said, “Ms. Christoph offered very helpful advice about healthy eating and how to balance your plate to get all the nutrients you need every meal to stay healthy.” Nadja Meite ’24 said, “I think the event was good, especially for girls to learn more about our bodies.” Katie Pieper ’24 said, “Ms. Christoph taught us about how what we put into our bodies affects our strength and physical appearance as well as our mental states. Overall, I learned how to improve my nutrition to support myself and help me reach my peak performance.”

Chill on the Hill

In May 2022, Chill on the Hill returned to Suffield. On the fields west of Tisch Field House, students and faculty spent the afternoon listening to music, playing games and having water balloon fights, eating street tacos and bubble tea, jumping on inflatables, and genuinely enjoying a beautiful late spring day on campus.

Dave Godin was awarded NEPSAC’s Distinguished Service Award, an honor given annually to a person who has contributed significantly to New England Independent School Athletics and Physical Education through enthusiasm, dedication, leadership, and vision.

Dave’s involvement in the athletic world began in earnest in high school, where he was a three-sport varsity athlete in football, basketball, and track. Upon graduation, he attended Brown University and Springfield College where he played both football and lacrosse. He has remained a Suffield Academy faculty member since 1980—his first job out of college. Dave has coached basketball, football, and lacrosse. He was the head varsity boys’ basketball coach for nineteen years [1989 to 2008] and the team won the Class B New England championship in 1993. Dave succeeded Dennis Kinne as Athletic Director in 2001, a position he held for nine years. He has taught math since he began his career, and he also served as the Dean of Students and Assistant Business Director. Dave was the first president of the NEPSAC boys’ basketball coaches association and has been very active in NEPSAC during his tenure, serving as District 4 treasurer, vice president, and president, NEPSAC president from 2011-12, and a member of the executive board.

Dave is the second Suffield faculty member to receive this award following Dennis Kinne in 2002-2003. Dave named Dennis as his mentor in his award acceptance speech. Co-Athletic Director Drew Gamere ’93 cited Dave as “one of the truly great people in NEPSAC whose enthusiasm and positive energy have had a profound impact on everyone that he works with—students and colleagues.”

Teaching in a pandemic could have led to a terrible, horrible, no good year, but that didn’t stop Rachel Lloyd’s class from making the most of their hybrid learning experience. In May 2020, students in Ms. Lloyd’s English I classrooms tried their hand at crafting their own six-word memoirs about being students during the pandemic. Six-Word Memoir, a program created by Larry Smith, is inspired by Hemingway’s six-word story, “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” The program tasks individuals with a simple challenge: can you tell your life story in six words? Since its creation in 2006, more than 1.3 million stories have done just that, including several stories written in Ms. Lloyd’s class.

As the warm weather settled in and vaccines became available, a sense of relief flooded Memorial 212. It was with this mindset that Ms. Lloyd’s students reflected on their pandemic learning experience and explored how they overcame the challenges of navigating a new school, multiple schedule changes, time differences, and periods of remote learning. Students first read through examples of six-word memoirs and then used the following prompts to jumpstart their own: What does social isolation feel like? What do you miss the most or least about school? What have you discovered? What advice do you have? While the class got to work quietly behind the façade of their masks, they quickly began to share their six-word quips, groaning when their perfect sentence came out to seven rather than six words and laughing when another classmate’s story was just a little too relatable. The goal was only to post one six-word sentence, but students couldn’t and wouldn’t stop there as they were inspired and creatively challenged to narrow their experience down to its core. Larry Smith himself noticed the diligent effort Suffield’s students made and choose two, along with one of Ms. Lloyd’s, to be published in the recently released A Terrible, Horrible, No Good Year: 500 Stories on the Pandemic Stories such as Keyvanna Bennett ’24’s “Same movie watched over ten times” reflect the repetitiveness of life during COVID whereas Jack Caron ’24’s “Rona ruins school, so does Monday” illustrates the ways life has stayed the same. Others, like Ms. Lloyd’s “Are you okay? Now onto Shakespeare” demonstrates the difficulty of navigating social emotional learning while staying true to the curriculum. Ms. Lloyd also joined founder Larry Smith on Connecticut Public Radio’s “Here and Now” on November 1, 2021. In the interview, Ms. Lloyd shared her students’ and her own six words and discussed the sense of camaraderie that this project brought to the classroom that helped bring levity to a long and taxing school year.

Each year students in the top 5% of Stanford’s senior engineering class are presented with the Frederick Emmons Terman Engineering Scholastic Award for their distinguished academic performance. Former Suffield graduate Kao [Ruangrawee] Kitichotkul ’18 was selected as a recipient in 2022. To celebrate the achievement Stanford hosts a luncheon on campus for both recipients and faculty members from their high schools who were influential in guiding them during the formative stages of their scientific/engineering lives. Kao selected Paul Caginalp as his influential faculty member for this honor and Paul attended the luncheon at Stanford with Kao on April 30, 2022. Regarding his achievement and how he selected his faculty mentor, Kao said, “I am happy to receive the award but what matters to me is the opportunity to reflect on how I reached this point in my academic career. I have found a passion for scientific research, and Mr. Caginalp’s Research Methods class at Suffield played a significant role in this discovery. I still use what Mr. Caginalp taught me even now in my research.”

PAUL Caginalp

Paul Caginalp & Kao [Ruangrawee] Kitichotkul at the Terman Award ceremony

diplomacy

WITHOUT

technology

in

this age of cutting-edge technology and burgeoning social media platforms, it seems more important than ever to connect to the world around us in more personal and direct ways. It is easy to retreat into oneself in today’s ever-changing global climate, however, some issues that plague our country and world can only be solved through active, informed discussion. It is in that way that a Model United Nations [Model UN or MUN] serves as a powerful educational tool offering highly valuable benefits to students. In fact, the benefits of MUN go well beyond the classroom. Over the years Suffield’s student population has grown to encompass more than thirty-five international countries and nearly twenty domestic states annually. The world as such has become a global village and no age is too young to begin preparing for the future. A MUN program therefore serves as an ideal steppingstone into a greater global conversation.

In its purest form a MUN conference is a simulation of a real-life United Nations event, where students are tasked with solving a global issue through research, drafting, lobbying, and debating to pass resolutions. Students take on the roles of delegates, speakers, and chairs representing various countries working together with the common goal of reaching a solution for the assigned agenda. The topics at MUN are a reflection of real-world issues discussed by the United Nations and range from subjects regarding the rights of religious or racial minorities to climate change, commodities, or food poverty. Participation in these events results in furthering students’ development in leadership, problem-solving skills, research, writing, and public speaking. Moreover, developing possible solutions acceptable to the majority of student representatives imparts skills of negotiation, conflict resolution, cooperation, and diplomacy.

The National High School Model United Nations [NHSMUN] is the world’s largest Model United Nations conference with hundreds of schools and thousands of delegates attending from around the world. NHSMUN is known for its diverse, prestigious attendees, world-class staff, and engaging committee simulations. NHSMUN provides students with opportunities to interact with high-profile, relevant United Nations figures including an in-person visit with diplomatic representatives of the countries the students are representing.

Suffield Academy was just one of four schools to be awarded a prize for excellence while attending in March 2020. Director of Development and faculty advisor Phil Riegel ’87, P’20, ’24 commented on what it was like experiencing the NHSMUN conference in New York for the first time. “It was truly an unbelievable experience but what really struck me was how many teams attended from abroad, including South and Central America and Italy. These were large groups of 25 to 30 students with Suffield on a smaller scale in comparison. The robust schedule developing proposals and plans kept our student-delegates extremely busy with four-hour sessions both in the mornings and afternoons. Another thing that really stood out to me was that the conference specifically banned the use of technology with the common goal of leveling the playing ground between teams and schools who may not have access to similar advancements. We therefore saw droves of hand-written briefs in binders and all of the teams there taking this event very seriously. What most people do not realize is how important MUN is to our international population and how familiar they are with it. MUN is an outstanding example of active citizenship and diplomacy— the essential foundations of our diverse learning here at Suffield.”

In 2021 the conference was held remotely, but in 2022 fourteen Suffield students attended the 69th session of Harvard Model United Nations in Boston. More than 4,200 delegates, 350 faculty advisors, and 240 Harvard undergraduates gathered to tackle important international issues. Suffield’s country was Cyprus and students were assigned to nine different committees including the Disarmament and International Security Committee, the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee, and the United Nations Environmental Programme.

Suffield students received several special commendations. Saud Shawwaf ’23 and Grace Kotchen ’22 won an award for Diplomatic Commendation in the United Nations High Commission for Refugees; Steven Wang ’23 won an award for Diplomatic Commendation in the Special Summit on Terrorism; Sean Wilson ’24 won an award for Diplomatic Commendation in the United Nations Environmental Programme; and Guru Anand ’25 and Zeno Dancanet ’22 won prizes for Outstanding Delegates in the European Union. Attendee Ben Reimer ’22 said, “Having the chance to participate at such a highly regarded Model UN conference at Harvard was an incredible experience. After engaging in four days of debate I not only gained a better understanding of my topic of drone proliferation but also improved my collaboration and teamwork skills.” Saud Shawwaf ’23 said, “I think MUN is important because it focuses on key skills including awareness about current affairs, public speaking, and research. At NHSMUN we participated in many diverse and engaging simulations where we tackled real-world problems affecting all nations.”

A member of Suffield Academy’s Class of 1966, Bruce Cohen has been instrumental in the success of Suffield’s MUN experience. He explained that the idea to initiate the endowed Model UN gift to Suffield was birthed by a conversation he had with Head of School Charlie Cahn during a dinner they shared at Bruce’s Class of 1966 Reunion.

engaging

four days of debate I not only gained a better understanding of my topic of drone proliferation but also improved my collaboration and teamwork skills.”

“AFTER

in

“About a year prior to our 50th Reunion I was looking over my will and realized I had made provisions for certain contributions to the schools I attended, but I decided I would rather take action now while still able to see my support come to fruition. While I always support Suffield’s Annual Fund it was at this time more important for me to invest in what I consider to be a personal cause. I was always passionate about the arts and public policy and had a lot of meaningful experiences as a legislative attorney on Capitol Hill and at the U.S. Department of Labor. When Charlie came back to me with an idea to reinvent and reestablish the Model UN at Suffield I didn’t just like the idea, I LOVED the idea. Together we discussed it in more depth and detail and Phil agreed to come on as faculty advisor. We are now history in the making.”

Bruce attended the University of Michigan [“Go Blue!”] where he studied political science, psychology, and art history. After graduating in 1970 Bruce went on to earn a law degree at American University in Washington, D.C. While there he worked part-time for a senator from Michigan and after earning his degree worked another three years for a United States congressman. It was soon thereafter he exited Capitol Hill and transitioned to the executive branch labor department. He then accepted a position in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor where he would remain for over thirty years, receiving multiple promotions over a long and impressive career before retiring as the Deputy Associate Solicitor for Legislation and Legal Counsel. “Ever since I can remember I was always interested in public policy and political science,” he said. “Over the years I’ve worked in disciplines such as pension law, equal opportunity employment law, labor relations, and did a fair amount of speech writing for Department of Labor officials. All of these disciplines coincide with the fundamental purposes of the Model UN program.”

Needless to say, Bruce was thrilled about the support and enthusiastic response from the Suffield students who have joined Phil in attending the NHSMUN conference. “The more I read about the NHSMUN, the more excited I was to greet the students at the conference in New York,” said Bruce, referencing the 2020 conference. “I arranged other meetings to coincide with the calendar dates. I met up with Phil and the group, enjoyed a lunch together, and attended multiple NHSMUN sessions. I can say wholeheartedly the Suffield students blew me away with their dedication and initiative. They were active leaders in their work sessions, each of which had well over one hundred fellow student participants. They had obviously done a lot of research and planning and rightfully deserved to be awarded their prize for excellence. I am very proud of all of them if that is all I can say. I am hopeful and quite certain there will be more students like them who are actively engaged in Model UN, a relevant and vital complement to Suffield Academy’s Leadership Program.”

Bruce concluded, “When this all began I wanted my name and gift to remain anonymous because I felt my identity was secondary to the benefits of the program or efforts made by Suffield students. However now I hope that by acknowledging my contribution and publicly applauding the efforts of the students, it may inspire others to generate additional support for this program and the development of additional leadership opportunities of equal importance and service to the Suffield Academy community and to the world in these troubled times.” d

“MUN is an outstanding example of active citizenship and diplomacy—the essential foundations of our diverse learning here at Suffield.”

for the love of nature

zThe SOLO program began in 1996 under the leadership of longtime Suffield faculty member David “Rocky” Rockwell ’58. During his fifty-four year tenure at Suffield, Rocky’s responsibilities ranged from history teacher [and department chair] to dorm head to coach [skiing, football, track and field] to Director of the Suffield Academy Leadership Program. SOLO tied together many of Rocky’s passions as an educator.

In the summer of 2012 Josh Hillman ’14 went on a ten-day trip to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee with Suffield Outdoor Leadership Opportunities [SOLO]. The group went backpacking, biking, and tubing. They saw deer, bears, waterfalls, and gorgeous views. And Josh knew then that the course of his life was permanently altered. As a three-season athlete at Suffield he was never able to choose SOLO as his afternoon activity, but after enrolling at Springfield College he focused on Experiential Education in the Outdoors. This led to his work as a park ranger and volunteer ski patroller at Butternut in Massachusetts. When an opening for the Director of Suffield’s SOLO program appeared, Josh felt he found the perfect fit and jumped on the opportunity. He is thrilled to now be part of the Suffield faculty, leading SOLO forward and helping inspire a love of the outdoors.

DAVID ROCKWELL ’58

zPrior to the creation of SOLO, Rocky had been taking students on hikes and summer road trips to places like Zuni, New Mexico, Colorado, New Hampshire, and Maine. The most extensive was in the summer of 1994 when he led a group of eight out west to sites including Glacier National Park, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone— camping, hiking, and rafting across the country. Travel remained a big area of emphasis in SOLO for Rocky, and it’s a facet of the program that Josh plans to resume. He hopes to travel with students on extended trips to U.S. National Parks to take advantage of the beautifully preserved land and put their hands-on learning into action. He has already offered several weekend camping trips and activities for Suffield students. Josh said, “We are seeing students take the skills they are learning in SOLO and really applying them to areas on and off campus.”

The relationship between SOLO and the Leadership Program was also vitally important to Rocky, and this connection has been closely maintained. Josh and Director of College Counseling & Leadership Ann Selvitelli have established milestone events for each grade, formally linking leadership classes with the SOLO program. These have included events at the Courtney Robinson ’88 Outdoor Leadership Center [SOLO’s on-campus home which includes a 30 x 60-foot indoor rock-climbing wall and outdoor high and low ropes courses] and also class activities including whitewater rafting trips.

Several Suffield faculty members are trained and certified to lead ropes course activities. Next to the Robinson Outdoor Leadership Center and Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88 Balance Barn, Parker Regan ’12 Pond is used for canoeing and kayaking in the warmer months and ice skating in the winter. There are also several miles of hiking trails on campus which SOLO participants help maintain.

In the 2021-2022 academic year SOLO had twelve students participate in the fall program and nine in the spring program. Rather than having a traditional SOLO offering in the winter, various advisee groups, athletic teams, and student organizations used the outdoor center.

Josh feels that part of the beauty of SOLO is in its inclusivity—every student and group is welcome and benefits from the team building exercises. Josh has also helped rekindle Suffield’s Outing Club, initially started in 1960 by faculty member David Sawyer. The goal of the club is to host engaging and useful weekend activities for Suffield students including rock climbing, hiking, canoeing, ice skating, and other outdoor activities.

SOLO is a distinguishing program for Suffield Academy with a rich history and exciting future. Josh’s overarching goal is getting all Suffield students into nature several times each year to help them recognize the benefits of being outside and appreciating the natural world. He is helping establish plans for each grade to take part in an annual SOLO event and to further enhance the school’s great outdoor learning facilities. Regarding participation in SOLO Josh commented, “Students will have an experience that leaves them wanting more—and also realize how enjoyable and meaningful these outdoors activities will be for them.” The program is intended to help students foster a healthy relationship with nature so that regardless of how their career paths unfold they will have this foundation and consider the environment in life decisions. d

Students will have an experience that leaves them wanting more—and also realize how enjoyable and meaningful these outdoors activities will be for them.”

Summer Reading

One of the most effective ways of improving reading achievement levels in students is by offering them engaging and comprehensive reading materials. When schools close for the summer, the routine of reading is often set aside and resumed again in the fall. Summer learning loss or setback, most commonly known as the “summer slide,” can be hurtful to academic achievement. It is therefore critical to develop consistent and strong summer reading habits that can provide a foundation for academic success.

Suffield encourages students to read outside of the classroom and beyond the school year, and values the shared experience of all faculty and students reading an annually selected community text. Suffield’s summer reading program promotes an extension of the school’s diverse educational environment and encourages reading as a lifelong habit. At a minimum, students are asked to read the community text in addition to at least one other book from the school’s annually updated summer reading list. While Suffield’s summer reading concept is not new to the school’s programming, its design and execution have recently changed. Students were previously provided a list of required summer reading and formally assessed on their reading comprehension within the first two weeks of school. Assessments ranged from written essays to multiple choice quizzes to a combination of both. The program was successful but dated—Dean of Academics & Faculty Sara Yeager therefore envisioned an evolution to the program.

“We had been thinking about this program for a few years and set up a committee of students and faculty to brainstorm ways of revising it,” explained Sara. “Some of the best preparation one can do for college is to become a skilled reader, if not a passionate one… It is one thing to require summer reading, but it is an entirely different phenomenon to inspire engagement in reading on its own. We discovered that our students did not necessarily want to be told what to read but instead wanted more freedom in what they could read. So, we opened the selection process up to the faculty and asked for recommendations of titles covering a wider range of topics… Our intent was to remove the program from the classrooms altogether to encourage the pleasure of reading on its own.”

Sara’s committee envisioned the program in the style of a book club. “Our goal is to inspire reading for its intellectual and personal growth and not because it is a required part of our academic curriculum. We wanted to find a better way of engaging our students,” said Sara. As a result, the updated format divides students into groups based on their book selection[s] and they meet with the faculty advisor who nominated that book. These meetings are informal gatherings or talks often held at the faculty advisor’s campus residence.

A CORE BELIEF is that a diverse and inclusive educational atmosphere helps students grow in positive ways and prepares them for college and life.

DI VER SI TY

suffield

is very proud of our close-knit, diverse school community. The school’s mission centers around promoting a warm campus climate based on mutual respect, generosity, kindness, and genuine concern for others. A core belief is that a diverse and inclusive educational atmosphere helps students grow in positive ways and prepares them for college and life. Over the past two years Suffield has sought additional ways to ensure that topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion are core parts of the educational program. This has led to some curriculum review, new course offerings, and continued professional development opportunities related to race and equity. Liz Warren, Suffield’s Cultural Diversity Director, said, “Diversity and social justice relations are not new; they’ve existed for thousands of years. However, recent cultural issues in America have further heightened the need for continued education around these topics.”

Suffield has focused even more closely on how to best oppose systemic racism and create ongoing systems for recognizing and exploring DEI topics on campus. A DEI Faculty & Staff Council acts as a liaison between school leaders and a DEI Advisory Group. The council includes faculty members Ann Selvitelli, Gis-Xi Nahmens, Jazzy Mercure, Kareem Nulan, Kate Bashaw, Molly Vianney, Paul Caginalp, and Phil Hodosy. The advisory group consists of Liz Warren, trustees Fred Powers and Valisha Graves, Head of School Charlie Cahn, and Dean of Academics & Faculty Sara Yeager.

DEI initiatives can be found in all aspects of Suffield Academy, from student programming to faculty professional development programs to various parts of the academic curriculum. The 2020-2021 community text assigned to all students and faculty was Ta-Nehesi Coates’ Between the World and Me, used in conjunction with the year-long school theme of empathy. As a member of the academic committee— consisting of academic department chairs and other faculty leaders—Liz Warren has met with academic departments to discuss topics of ensuring safe, inclusive classroom experiences for all students. She commented that, “Diversity is not merely skin deep, but rather a larger umbrella to include both our internal and external diversity. I look to embrace the differences that make each person stand out in a crowd and foster awareness around it.” An African History track is now offered in the junior year area studies history program [along with European History, East Asian History, and Latin American History]. New elective courses in the English and history departments include Black Lives Matter and Current Black Voices.

“Diversity is not merely skin deep, but rather a larger umbrella to include both our internal and external diversity. I look to embrace the differences that make each person stand out in a crowd and foster awareness around it.”

The performing arts department also showcased their support for these initiatives, performing Clybourne Park as their fall 2020 stage production. In 2015, the senior class read the play as part of their required summer reading, and Tom Dugan, Chair of the Performing Arts Department, had been wanting to do this play with Suffield students for some time. “It turns out that now could not be a more relevant and resonant moment for this play. Intersectionality. Race. Class. Gender. Gentrification. Privilege. The struggle for racial, social, economic, and housing justice. Clybourne Park is designed to start conversations,” said Tom. The play centers around a struggle between neighbors over territory and legacy that forces observers to consider how—and if—our views on race have evolved. Tom said, “I believe we still have much to learn. This show was a steppingstone as we continue the conversations about equity.”

Beyond the academic program Suffield is always focused on helping support each student in the community. A student of color mentorship program connects young alumni with current students. Campus affinity groups include Students of Color, AAPI, the Latin American group, the Multicultural Association, Sister Sister, and Young Brown Men. There are also two adult affinity groups: the Faculty of Color group and AWARE [Alliance of White Anti-Racist Educators].

Liz Warren also helps lead a wonderful series for Suffield faculty

DEI discussions about topics including race and inclusive

colleagues stemming from the series, advising them on how to

lunar new year

This year’s Lunar New Year celebrations at Suffield included creating tiger origami and sharing a dinner celebration on the fourth floor of Memorial Hall. As food is a very important part of this holiday, celebrants enjoyed some of the best Chinese and Korean food from the area.

entitled Courageous Conversations, which helps sustain continuous

classrooms. The DEI Faculty & Staff Council created a helpful guide for

have difficult, important conversations with students. d

Dove Youth Development

Suffield Academy students annually select a charity to support with a series of campus-wide fundraisers. Students nominate several organizations and a school-wide vote determines the recipient. The fundraising activities provide Suffield students a platform to give back as leaders. Nominated by Hannah Skalski ’22 and Devon Carty ’22, the 2022 charity was Dove Youth Development, a community of hope and love that engages and inspires Dominican and Haitian children living in poverty to discover new ways of being and living through education. Between Color Wars in the fall, the performing arts department’s performance “All Together Now,” Telethon—Suffield’s livestreamed talent show, which showcased musical acts including performances by the Beginning and Advanced Jazz classes and Chamber Ensemble, covers of well-known songs in student groups and as solos, instrumental interludes, and some original performances; dances and student-made videos addressing mental health issues; game shows; sports tricks and highlights; and so much more!—and spring Charity Week, donations exceeded $20,000 for Dove Youth Development.

Kent-Davis Speaking Competition

A Showcase of Excellent Oratory Skills

A great Suffield tradition continued with the annual Kent-Davis Speaking Competition. The intention of the competition is to showcase excellent oratory skills. Below are excerpts from the winning speeches.

EMMETT KENT PRIZE

Awarded to a student who presents an original speech in three minutes or less. The Class of 2022 participants included Hannah Cote, Clementine Ceria, Josh Mingo, Grace Kotchen, and Trent Hieber.

WINNER

Grace Kotchen | “The Checklist”

I might have my life controlled by my brain, but that does not mean I am not the same person. OCD makes me stronger while dragging me down at the same time. At some point, we all need to learn from the voices in our heads. They might try to take control of us, but we can try to silence them, or we can choose to learn from them. In order to learn from them, we have to accept them and know that we are the ones in control. I know how to take control.

CHARLES G. DAVIS PRIZE

Awarded to a student who presents an adaptation of an original piece of writing, authored by someone other than the writer. The Class of 2022 participants included Campbell White, Matt Balise, Nailah Estrada, and Eli Wiener.

WINNERS

Matt Balise | “The Ultimate Resource” [Tony Robbins] And I’m here to tell you what you already know. Resources are never the problem—it’s a lack of resourcefulness is why you failed. Because the ultimate resources are emotional states. Creativity, decisiveness, passion, honesty, sincerity, love, these are the ultimate human resources. And when you engage these resources, you can get any other resource on Earth. Resourcefulness is the ultimate resource.

Nailah Estrada | “My Short Skirt” [The Vagina Monologues]

My short skirt is not proof that I am stupid or undecided or a malleable little girl. My short skirt is my defiance. I will not let you make me afraid. My short skirt is not showing off, this is who I am before you made me cover it or tone it down. Get used to it. My short skirt is happiness. I can feel myself on the ground… But mainly my short skirt and everything under it is mine. Mine. Mine.

Annabelle Oman Be kind to yourself Miranda Gao Face real-world problems by confronting the situation bravely Lauren Carey Talk to everyone—you never know who could surprise you Jina Lee I have come to realize that this is the life I wanted Eli Wiener I have had five roommates at Suffield—each has brought a unique piece to life Connor Smith Dive headfirst into everything this school has to offer Grace Kotchen Time flies—never rush your time at Suffield Ryan Jacobson Meet as many people as you can and participate as much as possible

Max Henderson Even when times seem dark and hard, things can and do get better Frank Roberts Be present in everything you do Cormac Sullivan Interact with your advisor as much as possible Alex Chen There is no limit on human potential and opportunity Fiona Johnson Thank you Suffield for being a home that I can count on Zeina Lee It is really important to express true gratitude Izzy Choi My Suffield career truly began when I first entered the music center Hannah Cote Some of the simplest tasks that we do on a daily basis are a privilege

Dylan Achatz Life is full of choices that define you Matt Shiffman I am so thankful to have you guys in my life Zeno Dancanet I will forever be impacted by her Giselle Ciriaco I truly would not be where I am if it weren’t for you Gabriella Nuñez I plan to continue the Nuñez Super Bowl tradition Kaitlyn Suller Go outside your comfort zone Cooper Choate Watch where you’re walking Bennett Simpson Stay for dinner

Devon Carty Suffield has become so much more for me than just a place to learn Steph Karmitz Thank you Suffield for becoming my home away from home Karrah Hayes Remember to cultivate your gardens Catherine McCarthy Not a swimmer, just a girl who swims Maeve Moylan Every day you make me smile, by just being yourself Sophia Tosone Suffield allowed me to grow as an individual, influenced by my mom’s support Jason Yuan Suffield has been an incredibly special place for me Katya Yurkovskaya A catastrophic mistake a Suffield student can make is not making friends

Frankie Pisco Time flies—you look back at who you’ve become with nothing but happiness Suleni Sabio-Arzu Brown Dreams cannot be achieved, only goals can Nate Schoen Photography is a way for me to illustrate my thoughts and emotions

Calla Woodworth My life came with a blanket of security from a world of biases and bigotry Libbie Foster I’ve found what was missing in my life Nina Artioli It’s always great to try something new and make friends as you go Paige Hostetter Suffield has been a unique and unforgettable experience Paige August Through my songs, I express my emotions Hailey Suller We dive headfirst despite the fear and the danger

Theo Bass My life for the past four years can closely relate to a roller coaster ride Thomas Bowers Always keep a positive attitude Will Kainen Make sure to cherish your friends

Nico Menéndez-Featherston Don’t be caught being the fourth of four—be the one of one Jack Morse Most importantly, I learned the importance of non-conformity Connor Slade My dad has defined and shaped me Samantha Sollinger The staff at Suffield are essential to our community Avery Rappaport I am grateful for every opportunity you have given me

Damien Crain The importance of having a positive atmosphere

Jae Park We only have around 25,915 days to spend on this earth Lauren Burton I write songs to help get my thoughts out Bella Lutton Cailey is ready for nearly anything

Hannah Van Dyke It’s the simplest things in life that are so important Alex Shorin Home is where you feel needed and safe

Damien Trites I have developed a large interest in musical composition and sound design Jack Lynam I have learned to never underestimate the power of time

Cole Vandevanter The sense of community established here allows for growth and success

Jake Wolinski Your biggest rival can also be your best friend

Sophia Molander We have been matching our outfits to a theme of the day for over a year Manoush Pajouh We draw inspiration from the various sources around us Ashley Parrow Olive Garden holds a pretty big piece of my heart

Hope Selvitelli Traveling inspired me to step out of my comfort zone Fedor Vlasov Living in a democracy has really opened my eyes Tessa Heick Don’t take yourself too seriously

Ava Cieplinski The ocean has always been my place of solitude & escape from the world Juliana Colaccino I learned how to be good alone Lorcán Doull The foundation of any community is based off of true, authentic connection Nailah Estrada Gracias por todo Campbell White I have made amazing memories here that I will forever remember Clementine Ceria I am playful with language because I appreciate it Ford Cary My high school experience has been the most developmental phase of my life

Sean Clarke This year was a good year for me both personally and athletically Paul Fuller A strong bond was formed with our teammates and the PGs on our team Colby Spencer Suffield had a very welcoming energy Benedikt Vollert What is it that makes you imperfect, that makes you human? Yugo Lee We became really close this year through our crazy experiences Josh Mingo Never, please never, lie to yourself Henry Shiftan Great friends bring out the most important parts of ourselves

Caroline Greco Six people have molded me into who I am Ella Miller I learned core values that will benefit me for a lifetime Hannah Skalski I can do anything through hard work and determination Jackson Kent I found myself grateful for the experience Jaiden Willems Growth is the process of evolving into who you are becoming Jonah Ball Your roommates determine how your school year is going to go Henry White Counting your losses as lessons will always change the outcome of your future

Matt Balise When you get your butt knocked down, get up and keep going Harrison Cahn An essential part of the human condition is sharing and spreading joy Henry Chiocchi I have had the opportunity to mature and learn important life lessons Michael Greystone It always comes back to the camaraderie Declan McNamara Suffield helped me become a better student, athlete, and friend Tyler Milne The work you put into something will equal the reward that you receive Max Schwartz Success is failure turned inside out Christian Williams Jones The ones who leave the greatest impact are family

Finn Donelan I had the unique opportunity to have a fresh start with a new group of people Jack Fletcher I found that looking at my own personal progress over time made me proud Harrison Hochberg Anyone can be as good as they want to be as long as they work hard Alijah Lovelace Growth involves patience, wisdom, and the potential to be flexible Tyler McLaughlin Darcy You were the spark that ignited the flame in me Paul Quinlan Make the most of every day and cherish your time at Suffield Ben Reimer My experiences as a sportswriter have shaped me as a writer, and self-advocate Erik Winikur I learned to find the balance between firm and fun Mansfield Owsley That summer, I learned about humility

Noel Batista Suffield taught me to think deeper, be independent, and to prioritize hard work Spencer Dessart Don’t be afraid to be yourself Frankie Ferrentino It’s not how you start that matters but how you end Uno Sanguansin Find your own second family here Zander Desnoes I value my advisor and the friends I’ve made at Suffield Kelsie Nemeth I hope you forever continue to be you Vasundhra Vasanthan No matter how small, an act of kindness never goes to waste Luke Violich-Czinczoll There are special people here Ben Warner I live for that next adventure Brynn Bergin Confidence in yourself allows you to find the right path Aurora Prescott I don’t think a simple thank you would be enough

Tyler Cooper Always be honest to yourself and others Trent Hieber I collect coins and like to write Sander Abell I’m grateful for the opportunities my parents have worked so hard to afford me Trey Bischoping For as long as I can remember, I’ve been trying to be like my dad Oliver Roberts Dogs will love you more than they love themselves Harper Reuss I have learned to love myself and appreciate the happy moments in life Chloe Ku You are all very important people to me

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Camille Abatjoglou It is okay that I am not perfect Rylie DeSabato Home is not a place, but a feeling

50 th Night

One of Suffield’s great traditions, 50th Night serves as a time to reflect on and appreciate the remarkable journeys of each graduating senior as they head into their final weeks before Commencement.

Senior Celebration Day

123 seniors graduated in the Class of 2022. They will head to more than 80 different colleges and universities. Their college choices reflect the depth and breadth of talents, interests, and ambitions found in this impressive graduating class. There is an interesting range of schools—from small liberal arts colleges to large research universities to art or engineering schools and international universities. Below are some examples.

Arizona State University

American University of Paris

Babson College

Bates College Boston College

Bryant University

Bucknell University

California State University, Bakersfield

Carnegie Mellon University

Case Western Reserve University

Catholic University of America

Chatham University

Clemson University

Colby College

College of the Holy Cross

Colorado College

Cornell University

Denison University Dickinson College

Duquesne University

Elon University

Emerson College

Fairfield University

Fordham University

George Washington University

Georgetown University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Southern University

Hamilton College

High Point University

Howard University IE University

Indiana University, Bloomington

Lehigh University

Loyola Marymount University

Marquette University

Merrimack College

Middlebury College New York University

Northeastern University

Occidental College

Pitzer College

Providence College

Santa Clara University

Skidmore College

Springfield College St. Lawrence University

Syracuse University

Texas Christian University

The American University of Paris

Trinity College

Tufts University

Tulane University of Louisiana United States Naval Academy

University of California, Los Angeles University of Colorado, Boulder University of Denver

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

University of Massachusetts, Lowell University of Miami University of Michigan

University of Pennsylvania University of Richmond University of Rochester

University of San Diego

University of San Francisco

University of Southern California

University of Virginia, Main Campus University of Wisconsin, Madison Vanderbilt University

Vassar College

Villanova University

Wake Forest University

Western University Williams College

the Class of 2022 Baccalaureate

Suffield Academy’s 189th Commencement for the Class of 2022 was preceded by a dinner for seniors and their parents and a Baccalaureate service. Following are excerpts from the evening’s speakers.

Charlie Cahn, Head of School

As I mentioned at the opening of this gathering, a vital item we have tried to emphasize at Suffield—and we hope you will take with you as you move forward—is to err on the side of kindness. For better or worse, regret and failure come with human existence—feelings of our being less than we want as people—but being encouraging and kind make up for many of these regrets. “There is overwhelming evidence,” Nathaniel Branden said, “that the higher the level of self-esteem, the more likely one will be to treat others with respect, kindness, and generosity.” We hope that despite the immense challenges of the past few years, your time at Suffield has helped you feel great about yourself and where you are headed. Confidence and optimism will help you treat others with respect and kindness.

“We hope that despite the immense challenges of the past few years, your time at Suffield has helped you feel great about yourself and where you are headed.”

There are two key things that you can do in this world that are essential to a full and happy life: you can learn and you can love. What did you learn while you were here?

I learned that Government and Politics may not be a strong suit for me. I learned there is an artistic side to me that I did not know existed. I also learned that it is okay to ask for help when you need it, whether that is academically or emotionally. Learning is so embedded in our lives that we rarely consider what it means. It is the process of gaining new skills, knowledge, understanding, and values. It is something you can do by yourself or with other people. You did not have to learn anything extreme during your time here. You may have learned in an academic building, you may have learned who you truly are, you may have learned how to forgive. Not a day went by without you learning something new. Continue to learn because the more you learn both in and out of a classroom, the more you will grow as a person. Our time here may be up, but that does not mean the support ends. As we roll down this unfamiliar road just remember that Suffield Academy will always be a home to you.

Matthew Fava, Co-Class Advisor

This is your last night together as students at Suffield Academy and it can be emotional. Whether you have been here for one, four, or even eighteen years, you have likely made everlasting memories and forged life-long relationships. It is truly bittersweet.

Embrace those emotions. Tell the people in this room how much they mean to you. Express your gratitude in ways you never have. Then, at tomorrow’s graduation, you celebrate. After all the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, you finally get to ring the bell. As you move on to incredible institutions of higher learning there will be much to learn about yourself and the world around you outside of the classroom. So, to paraphrase Mark Twain, study hard but make sure you do not allow your academics to get in the way of your education.

Giselle Ciriaco ’22

be up, but that does

Beth & Volker Krasemann, Faculty Members

It is a great pleasure for us to speak tonight. In a way, this is our senior speech—well, senior citizen speech. Between the two of us we taught or coached just about every one of you in history and—can I get a collective groan—physics. Just like you, we will be leaving Suffield in a few days. Just like you, we will say goodbye to friends and to a place that we called home. For you it was a second home, but for us it was our home. We spent 20 years here, saw Suffield grow immensely, and did our small part to contribute. We raised our children here. They attended Suffield Academy to learn from our great colleagues and graduated one and three years ago.

So, I imagine that many of you, like us, have competing emotions right now. We feel sadness, excitement, fear, anticipation, and some anxiety.

My three lessons are Newton’s three laws, and I will start with the third: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, everything you say or do has consequences—for you and for others. Of course, one cannot foresee all the consequences our actions might have, but we can resolve to choose actions that are selfless and benefit others. Reflecting makes us choose more wisely. I want to pass on these simple rules by Louise Penny for you to consider. Before answering or before speaking, you might ask yourself these three questions: [1] is it true? [2] is it kind? [3] does it need to be said? Keep these in mind, especially before posting anything on social media. In this context the third law could be rewritten to reflect this Chinese proverb: Nothing we do changes the past, but everything we do changes the future.

My second lesson is this: our understanding of history never stops. Just imagine students in 2050 reading their history textbooks. For the year 2020 alone, there may be a chapter for every month. Historians are constantly uncovering primary sources and confronting evidence to present new interpretations of past events. They must constantly ask themselves, what am I missing? Are there other ways to interpret these events? What driving questions must I ask that will cultivate greater understanding?

We are presenting the last lesson together. It is on Newton’s first law. Objects at rest stay at rest and objects in motion stay in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. This is called the law of inertia and should be familiar to all of you at about 7:45 in the morning, when it is time to get up. This lesson is about moving and not moving, exercising and not exercising. A full and meaningful life requires active engagement that challenges your mind, intellect, and body. d

“Our time here may

not mean the support ends. As we roll down this unfamiliar road just remember that Suffield Academy will always be a home to you.”

Graduates, I know that the last four years might have felt like you have been running on a treadmill, where you imagined that the faster and longer you ran, the more you could achieve. College applications seemed to demand high grades and test scores, multiple extracurricular activities, sports excellence, volunteer work—just do, excel, achieve. A treadmill is great for exercise, but poor for making any forward progress. Uniformly, my students would tell you get off that treadmill.

Maurie M c Innis P’22 x Commencement Speaker

In college, what gave them peak experiences and were fundamental to their flourishing was first, academic exploration; second, passionate commitment to a select few organizations or activities; and third, peer and mentor relationships. First, academics. Don’t play it safe. In high school, you have taken what you’ve been told to take. In college, you can learn anything and be anyone. Not everyone ends up changing their whole life plan like I did, but a broad and diverse undergraduate education prepares you not only to solve problems, but to know which problems to solve.

Second, experiences. For better or worse, you have had the importance of extracurricular activities drilled into you. However, you never, ever, ever have to apply to college again; graduate schools do not care about your extracurricular activities. So do what you want—not what looks good. Recognize that quality beats quantity. Be a human being rather than a human doing. The deeper rewards come from doing a small number of things with intention and purpose.

Third, invest extravagantly in human relationships. The last four years have given you a potent lesson about human bonding. Today’s gathering is the antithesis of quarantine and the opposite of Zoom. Class of 2022, for the last time, recognize who is with you at this moment in this place. Your teachers. Teachers don’t just teach your classes and give you tardies; they guide you through the vibrant world of education. They coach your teams, cheer from the sidelines, advise your clubs, and live with you in the dorms, tucking you in at night. They had many career choices and they chose to come to Suffield Academy and help catalyze your growth and development. Your loved ones. We are proud of you not because of your transcripts, extracurricular activities, or SAT scores. What gives us pride is that you are becoming what we hoped you’d become—mature, responsible, caring, and independent young adults.

Suffield Academy is an extraordinary school because of Mr. Cahn and the Trustees’ ambition. Their stewardship has resulted in beautiful facilities, a dedicated faculty, and that special Suffield community spirit. And especially, your fellow members of the Class of 2022. These are the individuals with whom you have navigated the choppy seas of adolescence, the people you watched walk into class late with a bagel and coffee and wished you had thought of it; with whom you shared your DoorDash order in exchange for their going to get it from the driver; and the people with whom you will always share a special bond because of two things: the way that the pandemic altered your high school experience and the inherent depth of relationships afforded by boarding school.

“Do what you want—not what looks good. Recognize that quality beats quantity. Be a human being rather than a human doing. The deeper rewards come from doing a small number of things with intention and purpose.”

I’ve recommended that you get off the treadmill and follow your curiosity academically, curate high impact experiences, and invest abundantly in relationships with peers and mentors. Not exactly earth-shattering advice, but, in my experience as a professor and administrator, far, far too seldom followed. I will conclude with an exhortation to you, Suffield Academy Class of 2022. College is a magical time when your neuroplasticity collides head on with fertile human relationships in an intellectually stimulating community. Use these abundant resources and opportunities to craft the best version of yourself. I ask you to imagine not where you want to be working or what you want to be doing, but instead who you want to be. d

As we close our ceremony I want to reiterate that we are proud of you and have high expectations of you as you move on. You have really done beautifully here, showing dedication to each other and to Suffield, persistence in the face of adversity, and compassion as people. We have been through a lot together, and collectively we have helped distinguish Suffield during a complicated time. We extend our gratitude and thanks to you for your ability to pivot and adapt to changing circumstances while always reflecting your devotion to growing as students and people. As you head off to the next parts of your life journeys, please try to remember a few ideas we have sought to instill in you. These are among Suffield’s most cherished core values.

First, as you know, we feel a vital way to evaluate your life is by the distance you travel, as students and as people. Hard work matters. You will find that your destiny will be more a function of effort than intellect. “Diligence,” as Ben Franklin said, “is the mother of good luck.” Second, be yourselves and be proud of who you are, and be inclusive and loving to others. The best way to be happy is to like yourself, and the easiest way to like yourself is to do things that make you proud. And third, as I mention each year and feel most strongly about—always keep in mind the immense importance of good will, and of being uplifting to others. “Three things in human life are important,” Henry James noted. “The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” d

Charlie Cahn x Head of School

“We feel a vital way to evaluate your life is by the distance you travel, as students and as people... You will find that your destiny will be more a function of effort than intellect.”

Wiener x Class of 2022 Speaker

People often forget that we were a school during the American Civil War. Take yourself back to 1863. Imagine getting asked what your post-graduation plans were back then. “You going somewhere for college?” “No, I’m joining the Union!” If you don’t believe me, ask retiring faculty Brett Vianney. He was one of those students.

We are more than just the biggest class. We just so happen to be, according to some unnamed faculty, the most “interesting.” We hail from 15 different countries and 13 different states. While we unfortunately didn’t have a student from either of the Dakotas, we still had enough difference to feel like everyone was bringing a unique perspective to the table. And why wouldn’t we? Some members of our class have accomplished amazing things. Even before graduating today, Sam Sollinger studied and got her assistant nursing license and can now legally practice in 45 of 50 states. Will Kainen has had times fast enough to make pro swim meets since junior year. I made out with Dr. McInnis’s daughter during Young Frankenstein

From the outset, we were destined to be a class that accomplished unique feats. But let’s take a minute to reflect on why. Why are we who we are? What is it in our life that has helped us achieve so much? It’s support. Look around you. The 123 of us in this class are supported, whether we see it or not. Let’s start with the obvious. Our family and friends, seated behind you. They are responsible for you being here. And whether or not you had a good experience at Suffield, they gave you this opportunity. You now have a high school diploma, or a second one for the PGs, because of your time at Suffield. For many this has been an incredible journey, where we learned to become independent thinkers, leaders, and empathic members of society. We understand the idea of community, know the value of education, and realize just how much it costs to have front row seats at graduation. Suffield is good at this. They should be. After all, they’ve been doing it since 1833. Your parents know this. They know you will be a better person because of your time at this school. This is their support. Thank you, parents, for your support.

“This has been an incredible journey, where we learned to become independent thinkers, leaders, and empathic members of society.”

Now, let’s move in front of you and behind me, to the faculty and staff of this school. Take a look at this group. Take a good look. They have been our teachers, dorm parents, coaches, directors, advisors, tablemates, and honestly our friends for our time here. If we succeeded, they were there to cheer us on and applaud our work. If we messed up, they were there to send us to detention to get us back on track. Their job is more than just teaching. They are here to support us unconditionally and they always will be. After we leave today, think about those faculty or staff members you may need in the future. For me, I know I can always call up my advisor Mr. Dugan. He will answer the phone. He told me that just the other day. He said, “Eli, I will always answer the phone. Whether it’s because you’re calling to tell me you’ve been nominated for a Tony or that you need me to bail you out of jail.”

Class of 2022, at the beginning of the year we were reminded of our school motto, “Esse Quam Videri,” which roughly translates to “seven of you will go to Tulane.” In reality, it means “to be, rather than to seem.” Let’s try and embrace our motto by actually being supportive rather than seeming supportive. d

Eli

Farewell, Brett

The impact of these eleven words spoke volumes across longtime faculty member Brett Vianney’s freshman English I classroom. His students had impressed him during class on an admissions revisit day, and it was important to him to recognize their efforts. This thoughtfulness and simple acknowledgement of his gratitude embodies Brett as a teacher, coach, colleague, mentor, family member, and friend—and perfectly articulates how he has built a forty-two-year career encouraging and mentoring students at Suffield Academy.

Brett first found himself on Suffield’s campus in the fall of 1966 as a new freshman. He grew up as one of four children in Milford, Connecticut during the baby boom, and when his local high school was put on academic probation because of overcrowding, Brett’s parents were prompted to look into prep schools for their children. Brett’s older brother went to Wilbraham & Monson Academy, and when it was time for Brett to decide he narrowed his top two choices down to Westminster School and Suffield Academy. As so many things are, his final decision was influenced by connections. Brett was at his grandparents’ house one day, as was their friend Dudley Rockwell, and Dudley mentioned that his son David was working at Suffield Academy. That fact, plus the recent addition of the pool and the wrestling room at Suffield, made up Brett’s mind. And in one of those “it’s a small world” moments, David Rockwell [“Rocky”] became Brett’s freshman dorm parent in Bissell House.

“I was proud of you and I wanted you to know.”

Teacher, coach, advisor, friend… Brett Vianney is the reason why prep schools succeed and their graduates flourish. On behalf of the decades of students who were fortunate to know Mr. Vianney, thank you. [Todd Wilson ’83]

Mr. Vianney was a father away from home to me. His leadership—a masterful recipe of wisdom, love, and humility—imbued me with a spirit of determination. I knew he was in my corner, urging me forward, confident of the outcome. When I felt defeated, his intense gaze and slight nod communicated his absolute conviction I would prevail. It was Mr. Vianney’s love, mentorship, and confidence in my potential that propelled me to the unimaginable. [Gavin Clough ’98]

I will always look back on your classes as some of the most memorable of my Suffield career. [Ali Walsh ’15]

I can confidently say that Brett Vianney was not only the best teacher I’ve ever had, but also one of the best people I’ve met. The care and support he gave to every single one of his students made him a role model, someone wise I could go to with any kind of question and get an answer. He was always optimistic about life and found beauty in every little moment. I try to carry that same optimism through my first year of college. He has made such a positive impact on Suffield Academy. [Reece Apgar ’21]

Mr. Vianney has a way of making everyone feel welcome, and reminding us that we deserve to be in the arena. Throughout my four years as a Tiger he encouraged me to take risks by throwing javelin, discus, and shot put. As a freshman I placed last at New England’s for shot put, but as a senior, through Coach’s high standards and support, I broke our school record and went home a New England Champion. I’m 28 now, and it’s a day we’ll cherish forever. [Taylor Peucker ’11]

I am forever grateful for the level of support that you provided me during my time in and out of your classroom.

[Abby Blyler ’12]

I always enjoy my visits to Suffield, but the Reunion and celebration of Brett was a special treat. Mr. Vianney, aka. Bad Brett, and I go back a long way. Young Mr. Vianney earned his Bad Brett moniker the old-fashioned way: by doing unto others often. His brothers of “the row”—Jungle Jim, Hard Howard, and Chuckles Callahan—anchored a team of like-minded playmates: Proud Peter, Lean Lee, Slick Mick, Nasty Ned, Crusher Kim, Pugnacious Paul, and Sanguine Sandy. The pomp and show of wrestling belies a rather serious journey into an unambiguous, unforgiving experience that challenges one’s physical and mental toughness; it’s a drama played out alone in the center of a mat, one-on-one, for all to see. Brett had a great attitude and embraced challenge with his trademark energy and enthusiasm. He was a ferocious competitor; smart, tough, and fearless, always on the attack, fighting the good fight, grateful for the opportunity, and at peace with the outcome, he always did his best. I understood as I grew to know Brett that he was hard-wired to be positive and upbeat with good intentions, qualities that have served him and so many others well. During Brett's hiatus from Suffield, I regularly cited him for “best practices” in wrestling and life. A wonderful husband and father, a gifted teacher, mentor, and coach, a true son of Suffield Academy, Bad Brett morphed into Mr. Vianney and his legacy speaks for itself. Punto finale. Buono Fortuna, Coach [Frank Peraino]

Brett had an excellent experience as a student at Suffield. Though he was a self-proclaimed “classic underachiever,” he felt supported by wonderful teachers and coaches throughout the years. He found his senior English teacher Mason Nye to be the most phenomenal English teacher he’d ever had—a true role model for Brett’s future career. Brett said, “He just exuded passion and was animated in front of the classroom and made me fall in love with poetry and literature.” After Suffield, Brett completed his undergraduate degree at University of Connecticut and began a managerial role in an optical laboratory in New York after graduation. It wasn’t until his ten-year reunion in 1980 that he thought about returning to Suffield as a teacher— and it just so happened there was an opening in the English department. Days later, Brett interviewed with Headmaster Ken Lindfors and was hired to begin in the fall of 1980.

Teaching was a new frontier for Brett and there was certainly trial and error in his early days. He recalls that at first he gave his students the answers to his questions too easily—but today he loves exploring for answers with his students. His passion for teaching is clear in many ways: in his desire to read work that resonates with his students, like adding The Poet X and The House on the Cerulean Sea to their curriculum over the past couple of years; in his excitement about new technology available in the classroom, where they can go on virtual tours of museums and hotels from the stories they’re reading [like The Count of Monte Cristo]; in his enthusiasm for working with his students each day. He says, “I get up in the morning, I can’t wait to see the students.” He’s been able to work with a variety of ages across his tenure, from his enthusiastic and goofy freshmen to his sophomore Honors class, where he loves helping to move students on as writers and thinkers, to postgraduates, who he’s been working with each fall for the last decade.

Brett has had the unique experience of seeing Suffield evolve across five decades in his different roles here. He’s so impressed with the campus now, and tells prospective students and parents, “You are here at the end of a plan, and you are reaping the benefit of a decade of beautifying this campus.” He has watched expansion happen, from the addition of two turf

“Simply put, Brett’s dedicated, encouraging, and inspirational teaching profoundly impacted many, many Suffield Academy students.”

fields and the ropes course to the renovation of the science building and Memorial Hall to watching the infirmary become the Tremaine Visual Arts Center and how the Performing Arts Center used to be maintenance, just to name a few. He’s watched athletics change, from increasing options for students including non-competitive activities, to the ebb and flow in popularity of certain sports like wrestling.

When thinking about the highlights of his time at Suffield, he laughs and tells a story about being asked this question many years ago and getting in trouble when his answer was not immediately “meeting my wife.” His friendships with other faculty members like Dave Godin [who started teaching at Suffield the same year as Brett] and Andy Lowe have been immensely important to him. And the feeling is mutual. Dave Godin says, “Brett is one of the most caring, thoughtful, honest human beings I have ever met. He is the consummate educator who takes pride in developing both writing skills and an appreciation for literature in each and every student. Whether it is in his coaching or his

teaching, Brett is always ‘The Student.’ He is always looking at different approaches to teaching the readings in his PG Literature class. At the same time he keeps up with trends and techniques used in track, in particular those techniques used in throwing the javelin, discus, and shot put. In both teaching and coaching, Brett assesses his approach and adjusts his delivery to fit the times and his students or athletes. Having both started our educational careers here at Suffield Academy in the fall of 1980, Brett and I became close friends from the start. I can say I have been blessed to have such a wonderful friend for the past 42 years.” Brett is grateful for his relationship with the Suffield community and says, “It’s a beautiful world, it’s an idyllic world, and it’s special.” He’s helped keep this community beautiful himself, mowing lawns, creating the cross-country trails, and helping maintain the walking trails on Suffield’s property. He says, “If I noticed something needed to be done, and I could do it, I would do it. I feel really invested in the school, and proud of the school.”

Retirement is well-earned, but Brett won’t be going far. His wife, Molly Vianney [history department] will continue working here for several more years. Brett and Molly met at Suffield after she began teaching history and coaching field hockey and lacrosse here after graduating from Smith College in 1988. They were married on March 13, 1993, in the middle of the blizzard of the century. Not long after, they had their first daughter Grace in 1994 and then Caroline in 1995. “And that was the beginning of our life together,” says Brett.

As for what he has planned next, Brett hopes to spend time with his parents, who are 94 and 96; he loves outdoor activities like sailing, kayaking, and hiking and would love to spend time doing them with his brother in Branford, as well as getting together with his siblings as a group; he and Molly will continue to spend time in the Ogunquit area of Maine and do more traveling [they have traveled to Hawaii, Bermuda, Sanibel Island, and Salt Lake City

“If I noticed something needed to be done, and I could do it, I would do it. I feel really invested in the school, and proud of the school.”

I want to personally thank you for being such an inspiring English teacher. You helped me realize that I can achieve more than I believe. [Lohen Parchment ’12]

He was the smile and kind word when there did not seem to be one around…he was the teacher who saw the strength in each of us even when we did not. He was the teacher who always had the bad dad joke ready when one was needed. Mr. Vianney was the teacher that represents Suffield—he understood us and made us all better. [Oren Leff ’89]

Both Mr. and Mrs. Vianney were my favorite faculty members at Suffield with their clear dedication to us students, love of what they taught, and interest in their students’ lives beyond the classroom or riflery range. I am eternally grateful to have had Mr. Vianney during such a formative period of my life and wish him the absolute best in retirement. He should leave with pride knowing his efforts and care were not lost on those that he interacted with in any capacity while at Suffield. [Matt Tolosky ’10]

I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for me. You have helped me in so many ways, especially as a writer and as an athlete.

[Christian Wilkins ’15]

I am one of the many former Suffield Academy students who can look back and thank “Mr. Vianney” for their love of literature and confidence in writing. For me, that started when he used to read Nancy Drew books to me before bed when I was five and continued ten years later when he broke down complicated and rewarding works like Othello to my sophomore English class. I am so proud of my dad’s forty-two-year career at Suffield Academy and so honored to share part of that journey with him. [Grace Vianney ’12]

Mr. Vianney was first my teacher and then my coach, and the entire time he was one of my favorite mentors at Suffield. Mr. Vianney was always so kind and helpful, especially while sharing his wisdom and adventurous stories. You could always count on him to have a positive energy that was quite infectious. But one of the best things about him was how much he cared. He is so passionate about his job and it was amazing to be one of his students and see it. [Tori Tryon ’18]

What made Mr. Vianney so special goes beyond his incredible teaching skills. He brought forth a positive attitude and warmhearted spirit that made everyone so happy to be in his class. He truly cares about his students and wants them to succeed and flourish in the classroom. [Caroline Walsh ’20]

Mr. Vianney is an excellent steward of Suffield Academy. “V” was influential to myself and the Class of ’87 for his teaching, coaching, and mentoring. Connecting with V regularly on campus visits over 35 years since graduation is always a highlight. He takes personal interest in the lives and experiences of all current and former students which is unique, appreciated, and indicative of the school’s mission. Thank you, V, for all that you have done to nurture and support me and the Suffield Academy community; you have changed lives. [Nancy Brooks ’87]

over the last few years]; and he will spend more time with Grace, who lives in Salt Lake City working for an HMO, and Caroline, who lives in Suffield and works at the Tiger Den. For he and Molly, Brett says, “We’re just finding ourselves now in a wonderful time in our lives.”

Fittingly, Brett received Suffield’s 2022 Alumni Leadership Award. At the ceremony Dean of Academics & Faculty Sara Yeager and Head of School Charlie Cahn both spoke about Brett as a Suffield student and faculty member. Sara said, “Brett Vianney is a man of infinite kindness, wisdom, and Tiger pride. Simply noting his forty-two-year teaching commitment to Suffield demonstrates his selfless devotion to young people. Most impressive is that he’s always thinking of others and how he can make our community a better place.” Charlie spoke about

Brett’s years as a Suffield student, where he had great success on the wrestling team, and about how Brett offered Charlie his first job at Suffield in the English department. He said, “Simply put, Brett’s dedicated, encouraging, and inspirational teaching profoundly impacted many, many Suffield Academy students. As a faculty member, he has made a historic, truly significant impact on the school and on the lives of others.”

After accepting the award Brett took to the podium to speak about how he found his niche as a Suffield Academy student as a wrestler, a proctor, and as both an English and geology student. Upon returning to Suffield, he said, “During the 1980s I discovered how much I truly loved being a teacher, sharing my passion and knowledge with my students. It is the comments I have received from students, and even their parents, sometimes during the year, sometimes right after graduation, and sometimes years later telling me how I impacted their lives... It has been a very, very special lifetime.” The Suffield Academy community was thrilled to further celebrate Brett’s monumental career at the 2022 Alumni Reunion in October. d

“We’re just finding ourselves now in a wonderful time in our lives.”

It was an excellent year for Suffield Academy teams as the school’s storied athletic tradition proudly continued. Soccer and skiing championships were highlights during the 2021-2022 academic year. After a 9-5-2 regular season including victories over Taft, Loomis Chaffee, and Williston Northampton, the varsity girls’ soccer team won the Class B New England championship, defeating Pingree School. Suffield’s boys’ ski team finished an undefeated league season with a Brigham Ski League Championship. The Tigers captured both the Carl Williams Slalom and David Rockwell Giant Slalom titles.

Several other Suffield teams participated in select postseason tournaments including volleyball, boys’ water polo, girls’ and boys’ squash, girls’ basketball, boys’ tennis, baseball, and softball. The crew team qualified for the New England tournament, and Suffield student-athletes were top finishers in the boys’ and girls’ New England track and field, boys’ cross country, and boys’ and girls’ swimming championships.

2021-2022 GIRLS’ VARSITY SOCCER NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONS

BRIGHAM SKI LEAGUE CHAMPIONS CARL WILLIAMS SLALOM & DAVID ROCKWELL GIANT SLALOM TITLES

UNDEFEATED LEAGUE SEASON [BOYS’ ALPINE SKIING]

Art on Stiles

In the spring of 2022, the 2nd Annual Arts Festival took place on Stiles Walk. The festival was a celebration of the work of our senior visual and performing artists and also featured the work of our spring Art Special program. There were exceptional live music performances and a wide array of artwork for sale through each artist.

Guitar Show Fourteen Suffield Academy students performed in the 2022 spring guitar show. They worked hard on an extensive set list and made lasting friendships, thrilled to be together onstage without pandemic restrictions. Bradford C. Gooch Music Chair and performing arts department faculty member Tom Gotwals said, “The students put together a very ambitious set list for our spring show and did a fine job of finishing the arrangements.” Stephen Sondheim Award Winner

Young Frankenstein Best Musical

Dancing by a Cast in a Musical Best Chorus by a Cast in a Musical

Dance Show Suffield’s performing arts department showcased their annual winter dance performance, SADC Live! Sixteen dancers expressed themselves through beautiful and creative movement, with a wide range of styles taking place across the stage.

“

Young Frankenstein was the perfect show to welcome our live audiences back into the Jeanice Seaverns Performing Arts Center.

It provided non-stop laughs from beginning to end. There was incredible energy in the theater each night. The entire company really enjoyed the experience and it was a pleasure working with them.”

-

Tom Dugan, Performing Arts Department Chair

Suffield Academy had two great theater performances in the 2021-2022 academic year. The fall musical was Young Frankenstein, which had the three-show packed-house audiences laughing at every turn. It featured 28 students in the cast and 23 student crew members.

The 2022 spring term was highlighted by The Play that Goes Wrong. The title says it all, as even before the play officially begins things start off on the wrong foot, from a missing dog to a missing CD. The problems escalate throughout the hilarious murder mystery extravaganza

by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer. The play was the final mainstage production for six of Suffield’s graduating seniors: Eli Wiener, Lauren Burton, Trent Hieber, Tyler Cooper, Katya Yurkovskaya, and Nailah Estrada. Also in featuring roles were Sean Wilson ’24, Gabby Diaz ’24, Isabel Rodriguez ’25, Sophie Lawry ’25, and Luna Kwon ’23 as stage manager.

written

Golf Outing

Suffield’s 2021 Golf Outing took place at the Suffield Country Club. Over 60 alumni, parents, and friends came together on the beautiful fall afternoon—there was no shortage of sunshine and fun on the course. The tournament was a scramble format that included numerous prizes for hole-in one, closest to pin, longest drive, putting contests, and a raffle. A dinner at the club concluded the event.

Sports Day

Suffield Academy alums returned to campus for athletics events in September 2021. Alumni participated in a cross country run and water polo and soccer scrimmages, and the day concluded with a reception at Gay Manse, commemorating the long-lasting bond that exists between Suffield athletes and the school, coaches, teammates, and friends who’ve helped foster a great love of sports and community across the years.

Suffield Academy’s pool was named in honor of longtime faculty member Andy Lowe. Andy will be celebrating his 44th year at Suffield and has been an inspirational teacher and coach. Hundreds of alumni, parents, and friends attended the dedication. In his introduction, Head of School Charlie Cahn said, “Andy’s inspiration, dedication, positive spirit, and love of Suffield and our student- athletes make him an incredibly special person.” Six speakers then reflected on the impact Andy has had on them and on Suffield. David Spitzler ’81 explained what it was like to be one of Andy’s swimmers. He highlighted the inspiring, encouraging traits of his coach, stating, “My experience, while exceptional, is not unique.” Shaun Johnson ’18 summed the dedication to Andy Lowe up in a perfectly succinct way: “Thank you for being a person who is so easy to celebrate.”

SU FFI EL D CO NN EC T

The program invites alums to speak with interested students about their careers, college major choices, and experiences at Suffield. The goal is to expose current students to life beyond Suffield and provide guidance from alumni professionals working in various fields. Juniors preparing for the college application process are heavily supported by Suffield’s college counselors and alumni mentors. Suffield Connect allows alums to support other graduates and to utilize the trusted Suffield Academy environment to expand their professional networking.

By fully integrating with social networks, and cultivating a culture of helping and giving back, alums can again benefit from being a part of the Suffield Academy community.

Below is a sampling of alumni who met with our juniors remotely during the 2021-2022 academic year:

Juan Arreaza ’06

Associate General Counsel

Find what you’re passionate about, get good grades, and then study your butt off.

Denison Smythe ’14 Marketing Coordinator

There is no right way to pick a college...wherever you go is probably the right place to be.

Dan Bennett ’16

Production Coordinator

Trust the process. The right opportunity is going to come to you when it’s meant to.

Callie Jacobs [Aldrich] ’10

Associate Creative Director

You should never go to a school because you think it’s prestigious. You should always go there because what they’re offering is what you think is the best path for you.

Brendan Moss ’08 Chief of Staff

Being able to read something and write your opinion, or summarize something in a clear and succinct way, is a skill that will carry you to whatever you choose to do.

Mariam Ibrahim ’13

M.B.A Engineering Student

Whatever interests you, do it.

Tyler

St. Pierre ’07 General Manager

It’s really important to know who you are, own it, and be excited about it.

Peter Derby ’14

Investment Associate

The search process should be organic and you can make decisions as you’re going.

Spotlight On

Ball  Steven ’83 · Jonah ’22

Burton  Thomas ’89 · Lauren ’22

Greco  Stephanie Dellaquila ’88 · Michael III ’21 · Stephen ’21 · Car oline ’22

Hostetter  Dan ’88 · Chris ’21 · Paige ’22

Kotchen  Andrew ’90 · Grace ’22

Nuñez  Ron ’86 · Gabriella ’22

Sollinger  Mark ’76 · Samantha ’22

Suller  Karen Knapps ’88 · Hailey ’22 · Kaitlyn ’22

Merriam-Webster states that tradition is “the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction.” There couldn’t be a truer definition of what it means to be a legacy at Suffield Academy. When children of graduates begin their own Suffield journeys they have heard many stories from their parents about their favorite places on campus, the best food in the dining hall, the faculty members who made the greatest impact on their high school experience, and the things they loved to do in their free time with their friends. While each generation differs, consistency across the years can be found at Suffield as the core philosophy remains essentially timeless. The legacy profiles in this issue of SUFFIELD highlight these wonderful generational bonds.

Ball

Steven ’83 · Jonah ’22

From an early age Steven Ball looked forward to boarding school, ready to spread his wings beyond the familiarity of his local high school in Merrick, New York. His father was a boarding school graduate—from Blair Academy in New Jersey—and although Steven considered Blair he felt it wasn’t the right fit. Instead, it was Suffield that felt like home.

From his advisor Phil Currier, who Steven often looked to for advice, to spending time with his friends and thriving in the routine of academics and sports [he played varsity football, basketball, and lacrosse], Steven’s high school memories made coming back to Suffield to visit his son a joy. He loved walking around, especially through the dining hall [“Drove my son crazy,” Steven quipped], and is hugely impressed with the campus today. He’s even a little jealous, especially of the athletic building, saying, “What Charlie Cahn and the Board have done in the last ten years is remarkable.”

to lift, definitely helped keep him on track. He also loved playing broomball his junior and senior years. Of his first ever game he recalls, “There were so many people supporting and cheering us on. My team, The Lion’s Den, took the win in our first game.” Jonah’s next step will be studying business administration and entrepreneurship at the American University of Paris.

Steven and Jonah have a slew of shared commonalities from their years at school. They both fell in love with Suffield the day they toured campus. From his tour Jonah remembers, “Everyone was so kind and people on campus were so inclusive.” The friendships they made here they both cherish—Steven was thrilled to stay in touch with his classmates through Zoom all throughout the pandemic.

Suffield taught me to be an individual, taught me kindness and consideration of others, and taught me not to be afraid to be on my own.”

Jonah Ball was proud to be a legacy at the same high school his father attended. He hopes that someday his own kids will find their place at Suffield, discovering the joys of being somewhere small and inclusive where everyone wants to make you feel at home. In addition to his friends and fellow students, it was his faculty advisor Sean Atkins who was an integral part of Jonah’s community. “He helped guide me through my journey at Suffield to make sure I was the best person I could be,” Jonah shared. Staying active was also hugely important to Jonah; Tisch Field House, where his daily routine included going from sports practice

But possibly most life-changing was the independence and individuality that father and son found at Suffield. Jonah’s time on campus taught him to stay organized and independent, leading him to land on the high honor roll, participate in lacrosse, and become a headwaiter, dorm proctor, and student tour guide. Jonah noted, “You learn to get all your work done on your own time because sports and commitments take up a lot of your day and study hall usually isn’t enough time.” Steven shared that Suffield “taught me to be an individual, taught me kindness and consideration of others, and taught me not to be afraid to be on my own.” After graduation Steven attended Tulane University where he received his bachelor’s degree in finance. Today he works in the real estate and construction business. When they’re together, Jonah loves the memories his family makes when they create a home cooked meal and eat as a family, and Steven loves traveling together, those meals Jonah mentioned, and being on the beach with his family. d

BurtonThomas ’89 · Lauren ’22

Thomas [Tom] Burton grew up in Suffield, enamored with the school’s campus before he was even old enough to attend. When he finally became a Tiger, Tom immediately sensed he was in a place that would help him grow. He recalled the strong influence his English classes and teachers like Nina Scott, Brad Gooch, and Gordy Glover, had on his development, sharing, “They taught me a love for storytelling and its impact on our search for meaning.” He also fondly reflected on “the Bell at sunset on the apex of the hill overlooking the beauty of the western ridge. It reminds me of the past and the building blocks of character that shaped who I am today.”

Tom knew that going to SA would expand his horizons beyond his little corner of Connecticut, exposing him to classmates and teachers from all over the world who would help him envision and achieve his goals. He feels he was right. His education at Suffield led him to attain his B.A. from Boston College and his J.D. from Boston College Law School so he could start one of the nation’s first clean energy and sustainability-focused law practices nearly twenty years ago. As a parent he was grateful to see that the supportive and nurturing community he so valued was still alive and well. He said, “Suffield is a special community of people who support one another, work together collaboratively, and assist one another to succeed. The Suffield spirit extends well beyond the physical campus into our broader community.”

Fourteen years after her father’s graduation, Lauren Burton entered Tom’s world. When it came time to begin her high school education, Lauren wanted something different than a public school experience. Like her father, Lauren applied solely to Suffield, which stood out to her because she could pursue both athletics and theater which she says is “something that public schools often do not offer because of conflicting time commitments.” She is proud to be a legacy, noting that it gives her a shared sense of history and community with her dad. She recalled, “Every year, my dad shared many stories... These stories often involved many of the same people, showing how important friendships grow and last.”

Every year, my dad shared many stories... These stories often involved many of the same people, showing how important friendships grow and last.”

Over her four years at Suffield Lauren found comfort in the sanctuary of her dorm room, in the advice and support from her faculty advisor Chelsea Kane, and through her friends and teachers. She was nominated for several Halo awards, was the vice president of the student body, and in 2021, her soccer team won the Class B NEPSAC championship. [Here, Tom jumps in to say, “I would like to take credit for the first girls’ soccer NEPSAC Championship in thirty-five years. As a two-year Tiger B soccer alum my genes certainly played into Lauren’s performance.” To which Lauren said, “Uh, no, Dad…”] Lauren is attending Loyola Marymount University this fall, studying theater so that she can focus on what she loves most: performing.

As a family the Burtons enjoy time together at home. Tom said, “I cherish our dinner conversations, our debates around the table, and how we each bring different perspectives to the issues of the day. We honor those perspectives and seek to understand them in pursuit of higher knowledge.” Lauren agreed, “Whenever I’m home we always have family dinners and talk about school and important conversations that spark different ways of thinking.” d

Greco

The Greco family’s ties to Suffield Academy run deep and began almost seventy years ago with Stephen Dellaquila, Class of 1956 and later a trustee. Steve’s daughters Susan Dellaquila White ’84 and Stephanie Dellaquila Greco ’88, the next generation, followed in his footsteps more than thirty years later.

Steve’s first grandchild, Jay O’Brien, led the third generation when he entered Suffield Academy in 2009. Jay, Stephanie’s nephew, is currently a reporter in the Washington, D.C. bureau of ABC News. Stephanie’s niece and nephew are current Suffield students—Katie O’Brien, Class of 2024 and Benny White, Class of 2025. Stephanie’s three children all recently graduated from Suffield Academy. Michael and Stephen graduated with the Class of 2021 and Caroline graduated with the Class of 2022.

“Suffield Academy changed my father’s life,” said Stephanie. “He was the seventh child of immigrant parents and the first in his family to attend college. With the help of former Headmaster Appleton Seaverns, Suffield Academy made that possible. My father was always so proud of graduating from Suffield. The school means so much to him and he is always eager to share his pride with all of us. Both of his daughters are Tigers, and now

all three of my own children are proud Suffield graduates. Our family shares a long-held and deep bond with the school. It’s almost always a certainty that a Suffield story will find its way into conversation or the school will at least get a mention.”

Many members of the Suffield community had a notable influence on Stephanie’s life. In particular, Stephanie names longtime English teacher Brett Vianney, former faculty member Barry Cleary, and Mary Pratt from dining services. “Mr. Vianney, as I still and always will call him, really challenged me and taught me how to write, think, and analyze. He gave me a foundation of skills upon which I have built a career. His grading system motivated me to work harder in school and nurtured my work ethic. His famous, or infamous, comment ‘Excellent work: B!’ is still a metric by which I judge my efforts today. Mr. Cleary was part of our family for so many years. I turned to him for advice and guidance.

Stephanie Dellaquila ’88 · Michael III ’21 · Stephen ’21 · Caroline ’22

I admired the example he set as an educator and person. He was always there with support and a solid plan to help me navigate whatever was in front of me. Although Mary Pratt—known in Suffield lore for Mary’s Mac and Cheese—was not a faculty member, her joy for life continues to leave a lasting impression on me. Yes the Suffield Academy campus is breathtaking, but the authentic beauty of Suffield is in the people.”

Brett Vianney continued to impact the lives of the Dellaquila-Grecos, as Stephanie’s son Stephen also had Mr. Vianney for English. “It is great to listen to the amazing stories my mom has from Mr. Vianney’s class and how much she loved him as a teacher,” said Stephen. “One of my favorites is when she tells stories about the time everyone in Mr. Vianney’s class had to memorize a Shakespeare sonnet and recite it in front of the entire class. My mom often credits that experience for giving her the confidence to speak publicly.” Stephen continued, “I feel like my life changed dramatically because of Suffield, both in and out of the classroom. I went to Suffield as a very quiet freshman and finally broke out of my shell because of the experiences and support of the school. I learned how to become both a better student and person. Everyone’s friendly nature makes it such an easy place to feel comfortable and be yourself. The people at Suffield support one another and the tight-knit community makes it such a special place.”

As a varsity athlete, Stephen played football, squash, and baseball. Stephen also excelled in the classroom. His lifetime favorite subject has always been history but while at Suffield he also developed a love for Chinese. The Bell Hill quad is his favorite place on campus where he spent countless days and nights with friends. “The pandemic presented many challenges on campus, but spring at Suffield was always great and especially memorable,” he said. “Suffield helped us make the most of our senior year despite the pandemic. We had the opportunity to play baseball again. I could spend quality time with my friends, in person, again. In any other year these experiences would be routine, but for me, they were the most memorable parts of my four years there. I miss cheering my friends on at games and all those spring nights being outside.”

Stephanie’s son Michael also excelled in academics, while playing and loving sports at Suffield. On the field, varsity baseball during the end of the pandemic was outstanding. In the classroom, Michael flourished in history and Chinese. He credits his threeyear Chinese teacher Andrew Yuan ’05 for sparking his interest in the study of Chinese, which is a focus for him in college and potentially a career. “Mr. Yuan was an example for me when it comes to learning and having fun at the same time. I always looked forward to class,” he said. “Stepping outside my comfort zone was difficult for me prior to Suffield. The more time I spent with my fellow students and my teachers, the easier it became. Early on, mentors, like Mr. Cleary, had a big impact on me. Suffield helped me grow into someone willing to put myself out there…eager to meet and interact with new people. When I reflect, Suffield taught me many very important life lessons.”

With their extended family history at Suffield, Michael, Stephen, and then younger sister Caroline never imagined attending high school anywhere else. In fact, beginning with their toddler years, the Grecos spent many days on campus. They attended preschool at the Tiger Den, spending time in their mother’s office, attending afternoon athletic practices, and sharing in many of Suffield’s traditions. “I grew up on this beautiful campus and always loved the school,” said Caroline. “I watched my cousin and my brothers take their first steps on campus as freshmen, ring the bell, and go to prom. My grandfather gave all of us our diplomas at graduation. Suffield is a part of our family and I am so proud to be among the third generation to attend.”

Recipient of several academic and athletic prizes, Caroline’s favorite place on campus is the turf field. She noted, “Whether it was winning a field hockey game, cheering on the sidelines of a Saturday night football or lacrosse game, or huddling at midfield with friends when campus was quiet, I loved spending my time at the fields. Some of my favorite memories were hanging out with my friends after school on the turf.”

Arriving as a shy, quiet person, Caroline said Suffield helped her mature into a more outgoing person. “The sense of community makes Suffield one of the most special places,” she said.

The real beauty of Suffield is in the personal growth that occur s during your time and the people who significantly impact your life.”

“Whether you are an alum or a freshman, everyone shares the same bond and helps make this welcoming, inclusive community an environment. I will miss all the little things like crowds at the football games, hanging out in the student union, sit-down lunches, and walks to CVS with my friends. I will miss the little things that make Suffield, Suffield.”

Since graduating from Suffield, Stephanie has spent the better part of her career helping to grow early-stage companies and is currently CEO of Mizzi Cosmetics. About the evolution of Suffield’s physical plant and prosperity of the school she said, “The campus is truly spectacular. From the amazing team of Charlie and Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88—with her own family

legacy and passion and vision for Suffield along with Charlie’s drive and dedication—you get nothing short of the very best.”

Stephen added, “Growing up on campus and knowing the ins and outs of the school definitely made me look at Suffield from a different point of view. Arriving as a freshman with most of the faculty already knowing my name was a huge sense of comfort. It was an honor to continue our family’s legacy.”

The Greco family lives in West Hartford, Connecticut. Stephen attends Boston College with an interest in political science and economics, Michael attends the College of Holy Cross with an interest in political science and Chinese, and Caroline is enrolled at Clemson University. d

Hostetter

Dan ’88 · Chris ’21 · Paige ’22

Dan Hostetter ’88 lives in Osterville, Massachusetts and is the managing director at Datasite, a leading SaaS provider for the mergers and acquisitions industry. He is on Suffield Academy’s Board of Trustees and is an active real estate investor. Dan grew up on Cape Cod with his older sister, Kristin ’86. He explained, “Suffield is three hours from the Cape so the logical sense would have been to go to a school closer to home. But the experience and community at Suffield were too appealing so there was no question I would also be a Tiger.”

After graduating from Boston College in 1992, where he studied economics and French, Dan spent the next twenty-five years living abroad. He moved to Paris while with Citibank, then to London for nearly eleven years while growing Datasite, and finally to Hong Kong in 2008 for another eight years to further extend the business. “I had already learned the French language and had a very influential professor of European history at BC who encouraged me to follow the momentum and opportunities happening abroad in international banking and business. I was married to my wife Liz on the Cape in 1998, and our children were real troopers along this great journey abroad.”

Arriving at Suffield as a self-described “very immature and young fourteen-year-old boy,” Dan said the school had a very positive effect on his development and future. “Suffield taught me leadership skills and independence and opened my eyes to living abroad,” he commented. “It was tremendously impactful

to meet and live with interesting international students from around the globe. We had a wonderful community of people filled with diverse backgrounds all sharing a common goal. This sense of community is what always resonated with me and is what makes Suffield Academy such a special place. It is a school centered on important core values and educates its students to be well-rounded individuals. Whether it is in athletics or the arts or academics, I love the end product at Suffield. The faculty help shape young men and women ready to take on anything in the real world.”

As a freshman Dan lived in Bissell House, which at the time was well-known for being the farthest dorm from the dining hall. As a result of several master plans and significant construction, students no longer live on that side of campus and now reside in well-defined academic and dormitory quads. “It is extraordinary what Charlie Cahn has done with his vision and ability to raise

funds to make Suffield Academy an overall first-class campus and one of the very best independent schools in New England,” said Dan.

Dan lived in Fuller Hall both his junior and senior years and today cherishes those memorable times spent among his now lifelong friends. “We had a great group of guys from all different backgrounds and parts of the world and built very strong relationships. Of course, we did many stupid things like all teenagers do but it was an immensely fun, positive experience. I was more into sports than academics—played football, golf, and tennis—but I’d say that at the time I definitely reveled in the social life at Suffield.”

Paige Hostetter ’22 entered Suffield as a freshman boarder from Boston and immediately recognized Suffield as a warm, welcoming, and spirited community. “From the very start Suffield was a lot of fun,” she said about her initial few weeks on campus. “Some of the first events I remember were school dances, Tiger Games, and Color Wars. These were great ways to be introduced to the community and meet new friends. I could tell immediately I was going to love my time here.”

While Paige is admittedly dispassionate about sports, she enjoyed participating in the school’s three-season athletic program as a member of the varsity tennis and JV volleyball and squash teams. She earned academic honors or high honors each term and was a Chinese teaching assistant and dorm proctor. She developed a fondness for biology in her junior year with faculty member Kristina Braithwaite. “Mrs. Braithwaite is an excellent teacher,” said Paige. “She is super optimistic and passionate about what she does. Her enthusiasm really made a difference in keeping us engaged and actively participating in class. This is the kind of structure and support system I am going to miss about Suffield. I feel, however, that we were well prepared for college and beyond. Independence has always been a big part of my life, and I think personal responsibility and time management are skills fostered at boarding schools.”

Students often warmly remember the faculty members who leave lasting impressions on their adolescent lives. For Dan it was his math teacher, tennis coach, and Dean of Students, the late Phil Currier. He recalled, “Phil was a great man and mentor. He was tough but fair and kept us on track. Now as a parent of teenagers I appreciate how difficult it is to manage kids at this stage in life. They are far from home and the Suffield faculty really does a great job in staying keen on what they are going through daily.” Paige recognized her faculty advisor Mary Mitchell ’10 for supporting her in all aspects of life at Suffield. “Ms. Mitchell is someone I trust and was always there for me,” said Paige. “She is very reliable and honest. She is brutally honest actually, but only when necessary and always with my best interests in mind.”

Suffield is a community of friendships where we all grow up together and share these unique moments in time. Whether it is in your clubs or sports or dorm, there are so many inclusive groups.”

Paige is proud to be a legacy. “It is comforting to know both my dad and aunt also went to school here,” she noted. “It’s funny because I was looking at an aerial photo of campus in a 1988 yearbook the other day and couldn’t help but notice all the changes to campus since they were here as students…but the experience itself seems very much the same.” She added, “Suffield is a community of friendships where we all grow up together and share these unique moments in time. Whether it is in your clubs or sports or dorm, there are so many inclusive groups.”

Chris Hostetter ’21 matriculated to Suffield as a sophomore after attending Fessenden School, an independent boys’ boarding and day school for pre-Kindergarten through 9th grade. “After visiting several high schools I chose Suffield for two main reasons,” he said. “First, I simply fell in love with the campus as soon as I stepped foot on the grounds. Secondly, I appreciated the balance between athletics and academics. I believe Suffield does an exceptional job providing students an equal amount of push on the fields and in the classrooms. Of course, my father and aunt both went to Suffield so that was also a factor, but there was no real pressure for me to follow in their footsteps.”

While at Suffield Chris played football, lacrosse, and squash, and rowed crew. His time on the football team created one of his most memorable Suffield experiences. “I still remember showing up on the very first day of preseason and the kind welcome I received,” he said. “It was a very heartwarming day for me because I immediately felt like I was part of something special. In that moment I found a home with the team and at the school…I quickly learned a lot from my teammates and coaches, especially Coach Thomas Foote. He really helped me get into the rhythm of athletics. The training at Suffield was very intense and hands-on,

and he helped me adapt to the routines and schedules. I was a tall, skinny sophomore and somewhat intimidated by the school’s programming at first, but there are so many faculty members like Mr. Foote who make the time to ensure we have the healthy balance I spoke about earlier.”

As a student Chris regularly made the honor roll and was a tour guide leader for the admissions office in his senior year. Like his sister, he is a proud legacy, saying, “Being a legacy at Suffield was a really fun experience. It is crazy to think that some of my dad’s teachers are the same faculty members who taught me. I think it is very telling about the school that so many faculty have dedicated their entire careers to being at Suffield. Being a legacy feels important because Paige and I carried on what our dad started. I hope that when we have children of our own we can provide them with the same opportunities that Suffield provided to us.” He added, “I am so grateful for so many things about Suffield but especially the friendships I made there. What sets Suffield apart is that it is a genuinely happy place. When you walk around campus you see smiling faces and I think that says a lot about the environment that the faculty and staff and students create together. In my opinion it is unparalleled.”

Dan concluded, “I am very proud to have had so many great years at Suffield and thrilled our kids continued on with it. Reuniting with the school after living abroad just seemed like a natural thing to do. I could not help but notice what Charlie and his team were doing with the school and wanted to be a part of its trajectory. Now as an alum and trustee I am so happy my children made the decision to follow in our family legacy.” Dan and Liz Hostetter’s youngest daughter Brooke joined Suffield’s Class of 2026 this fall. d

Kotchen

Andrew ’90 · Grace ’22

Andrew Kotchen followed in the footsteps of both his father [William Kotchen ’60] and brother [Matthew Kotchen ’89] by attending Suffield Academy. He knew he wanted to be part of the community that his father, who became a trustee in Andrew’s junior year and Board President in 1994, was instrumental in guiding to a period of growth and stability.

Andrew was so compelled by how his father spoke of Suffield that when it came time to choose where to begin ninth grade there were no other schools on his list. Thirty-two years after he walked the stage at graduation he and his wife Emily watched their daughter, Grace Kotchen, earn her diploma in May. Thrilled by this he said, “Having gone to the school over thirty years ago and seeing our daughter thrive in the same environment brought me incredible pleasure. Everyone that goes to and works at the school seems to have a special spark that creates an engaged community—one that wants everyone to find their own successful path forward.” Andrew found great value in the relationships he had with other students and faculty on campus and recalls

enjoying time spent sitting and having conversations outside of Brewster, an area that captured the energy and pace of the school. His time at Suffield also significantly influenced his personal growth. It was at Suffield where Andrew discovered his creative side, which had a direct impact on his career trajectory—today he leads an architectural and design firm, Workshop/APD, based in New York City, Greenwich, and Palm Beach. He recalled, “For the few that made the arts their focus at the school at that time, the passion, dedication, and creative energy that faculty members Bill Butcher and Mario Vicenti brought to the program was special.” In fact, after Suffield Andrew received his B.A. from Lehigh University and master’s from the University of Michigan, both in architecture. All of these positive experiences led to Andrew’s proud commitment to the school; he received the Alumni Leadership Award in 2009 and is now a trustee, like his dad was for many years.

Grace enrolled at Suffield as a freshman, and second-generation legacy, after visiting campus at the encouragement of her father. She recalled an immediate sense of belonging, saying, “I stepped on campus and felt like it was where I needed to be.” She loves that the Suffield community wordlessly encourages you to greet every person you see—no one is left out, including faculty, staff, and students, and a simple greeting can always put a smile on someone’s face. In her four years here the community helped her become a more confident version of herself in everything from social aspects to sports to academics. Though the transition to high school came with a few challenges, Grace quickly realized that Suffield was a place she could grow and try new things. She became a proctor and a mentor and feels she became a stronger writer and student in general thanks to the support of her teachers including Justin Pepoli, Cam McMillan, and Molly Vianney. She was also grateful for her advisor Ann Selvitelli, who supported her through all her ups and downs.

As she begins her next steps at Wake Forest University, endeavoring to study psychology or marketing, Grace will miss the friends she made at Suffield and the support she received from day one. This will especially extend to her faculty role model Hillary Cahn, who “definitely pushed me and was one of the people that made sure I was always happy, supported, and tried my best in everything.” She will miss her many close Suffield friends including those she

The cracks and splits in concrete are sculptural elements representing the fragility of life as both students and faculty members navigate the common intellectual state of education and learning.”

made in her sophomore year in Rockwell Hall. They became very close and had an unforgettable year together. She will also miss the view from the fourth floor of Memorial Hall, where you can see the whole campus and reflect on your time at school. In sum, Grace noted that Suffield “is where I have become my best self in how much I grew during those years.”

Attending the same high school allowed Grace and Andrew to bond over their shared experiences, most significantly being on Suffield’s alpine ski team. Though neither Kotchen had raced competitively before Suffield, it turned out to be a pivotal choice— Grace really started to feel at home at Suffield after joining the team in her freshman year. It changed her whole school experience for the better and further cemented her appreciation of being a legacy. In their downtime, the Kotchens enjoy spending time with their family, traveling together to ski in Vermont or Park City over the winter, and summering on the beach in Nantucket.

The Kotchen family name carries a lasting legacy at Suffield, beginning with William “Bill” Kotchen ’60, Andrew’s father, who was appointed a trustee in 1989 and served as Board President from 1994 to 2002. Formally dedicated by Suffield’s Board of Trustees on February 13, 1999, The William J. Kotchen Quadrangle on Suffield’s campus recognizes Bill’s profound contributions, leadership, and service to Suffield Academy. Included in the school’s master plan to create a residential village located entirely on the northwestern portion of campus, the space is conjoined by a

communal lawn and comprised of Rockwell Hall and Hornick, Roe, Tompkins, Adib-Samii, and Kotchen Dormitories.

While Bill’s vision was instrumental in developing the quad, Andrew—along with his brother Matt and sister Liz—did not feel the space fully commemorated what their father envisioned. Therefore, in recent years Andrew began designing a concept to create a more intentional gathering area for Kotchen Quad residents. The resulting seating area consists of four concrete block benches of various sizes and heights. “I wanted to capture a blend between the school’s traditional vernacular and some non-traditional, modern design themes,” explained Andrew when describing his sketches. “The brick is configured with various textures and patterns to emphasize daylight and shadows. The cracks and splits in concrete are sculptural elements representing the fragility of life as both students and faculty members navigate the common intellectual state of education and learning. The blocks call attention to the past and present and to all the generous minds who helped shape and lead Suffield to its many successes. Speaking on behalf of my brother and sister, we hope this additional feature rightfully honors the life and endless contributions our father made to the school we all love so dearly.”

The accompanying plaque reads: “In recognition of William J. Kotchen ’60—President of the Board of Trustees—For his vision, leadership, and tireless efforts in bringing this residential village to reality.” d

Nuñez

Ron ’86 · Gabriella ’22

Ron Nuñez arrived at Suffield from Windsor, Connecticut at the beginning of his sophomore year, after the Catholic high school he had been attending closed. His brother Richard ’85 wanted to go to the same school as Ron, and switched to Suffield from Loomis Chaffee the same year.

Ron settled right in, delighting in his physics class with faculty member Bob Powell, a brilliant teacher who made everyone feel welcome and essential in his class. He also connected with his faculty advisor Bill Desalvo, who taught him to “keep it light” while making sure his students knew the depth to which he cared about their success. Proud of his school, Ron ultimately became a tour guide leader, highlighting Suffield’s determination to nurture wellrounded students by sharing, “Suffield is a place that believes in balancing academics and sports, and each student is assigned to a work detail.” As a parent Ron is incredibly impressed with the leaps and bounds forward that the campus has taken in the past 35 years. He says, “The Board of Trustees’ vision to invest in the campus over the years has been remarkable; the reconstruction of Memorial Hall was awe-inspiring, from the demolition to the final coat of paint. I encourage everyone who has not been to campus lately to witness for themselves the amazing changes that have occurred since your last visit.”

Rachel Lloyd, who was always there to cheer her up and help her through any challenges, and all the friends she made at school. She noted, “My dad has always talked about how he found his best friend at Suffield, just like how I found some of my best friends [here].” Gibby hopes to study political science or international affairs at Catholic University.

Their collective Suffield experiences had the perk of bringing Gibby and her father closer together—they now even have the same class ring.

Gabriella “Gibby” Nuñez chose to become a Suffield legacy because there were a “variety of sports, a nice warm community, and teachers that genuinely want to help you.” She loves that she and her dad now share a special second place to call home. During her time at Suffield she was proud to have made the honor roll all four years—even high honors in her junior year—and will always remember her boat on the crew team having an undefeated season when she was a junior. As she moves on to college Gibby will miss the warmth of the Suffield community, her faculty advisor

Their collective Suffield experiences had the perk of bringing Gibby and her father closer together—they now even have the same class ring. But that’s not the only thing the two have in common. Ron, now the president and COO of Industrial Supply Plus, Inc., and Gibby were both very fond of Brewster Hall: it was the dining hall [and fish tacos!] that stood out for Gibby, and the student union—the center of the action at school and location of the distinctive senior lounge—that stood out most strongly for Ron. They are both forever grateful for their Suffield friendships—two of Ron’s friends, Luis Pimentel ’86 and Bill Kogan ’85, even do business with his father now. For both father and daughter, sports were also a joint passion. Gibby joined the basketball team in her freshman year, never having played before, and loved it so much that she stayed on the team all four years. Ron loved his time on the football team, a place he found himself after realizing that the soccer team would require five mile runs in practice! The Nuñez family now lives in Suffield [as per a suggestion by longtime faculty member Andy Lowe], and they most like having family dinners and traveling together. d

Sollinger

Mark ’76 · Samantha ’22

Mark Sollinger grew up in Bedford, New York and decided to become a Tiger after his visit to campus made him feel the great vibe and strong sense of school spirit in the students and faculty. After enrolling he loved everything from the dining hall— where sit-down lunch and assistant waiters were the keys to a successful meal [“You always wanted to have a fast assistant waiter,” he recalled]—to activities like sledding down Bell Hill to the sense of accomplishment and pride he felt when ringing the bell after every athletics win.

attended, but if he could pass along any advice to today’s students it would be to show their pride in Suffield whenever possible. Sometimes you don’t realize how pivotal your experiences are in the moment, and Mark acknowledged, “I think most [students] will get it after they graduate and move on to other things.”

There is nothing more rewarding than being able to ring the bell after a game.”

Sports were a big priority for Mark during his time at Suffield, and he clicked with hockey coach Bill Stone right away. From making hockey captain to attaining four varsity letters in one year to the memories he has from his senior year running track, he wishes he could bottle the way he felt in those moments.

Outside of his sports memories, one of the greatest things he learned at school was how to speak his mind…and when to close his mouth. This came from both social experiences and from teachers like Barry Cleary, David “Rocky” Rockwell, and Brad Gooch who each left a lasting impact on him. These faculty members were instrumental in guiding him to ultimately continue his education at Ohio Wesleyan as an economics and English major. Mark notes that Suffield has changed in many ways since he

Mark is now self-employed in the watersports business in the Caribbean, where his daughter Samantha was born and raised. When she became old enough to attend Suffield there was nowhere else she applied, as she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps. There were several parallels between Samantha’s time at Suffield and Mark’s. Suffield allowed her to experience what it’s like being part of a team, both in terms of feeling a sense of community and in terms of sports. She reiterated, “There is nothing more rewarding than being able to ring the bell after a game. I think it’s really important to try and carry on traditions on campus,” echoing her father’s passion for tradition. Like Mark, Samantha was on the varsity track team, and she also played varsity volleyball. But one of her favorite parts of school was participating in strength and conditioning, working out with coach Chris Setian and the strength team.

Samantha is proud to be a legacy at Suffield Academy—she believes it says a lot about a school when people come and love it so much that they want their children to have the same experiences. And the people she met at Suffield helped make her time here special, from staff member Kathy Nai who “showed me my self-worth and was always the sunshine on a dark day” to members of the dining staff [she will especially miss Jill Hill’s chocolate chip cookies] to the grounds and maintenance staff with whom she had many meaningful conversations. Being at Suffield gave her the opportunity to meet people with different views and backgrounds and supported getting her to the next step in her educational journey. Samantha is attending High Point University to study nursing this fall. d

Suller

Karen Knapps ’88 · Kaitlyn ’22 · Hailey ’22

For Kaitlyn, Suffield stood out because of its academically and athletically challenging reputation, and because she too could tell that the school offered students many opportunities. She said, “Suffield has countless different clubs and levels of classes varying from cooking and baking to Girls for Stem and from conceptual to AP classes, and this part of Suffield stood out to me.” Kaitlyn will take so many memories with her from Suffield, from big things like the girls’ soccer team winning the New England championship for the first time in thirty-five years to small moments like sitting under the bell watching a Suff-set with her friends, going to CVS to get snacks for a long bus ride, or working in the ceramics studio.

Kaitlyn Suller and her twin sister Hailey graduated as Suffield legacies this year. They followed their mother Karen Knapps Suller, uncle Paul Grimmeisen ’59, aunt Sarah Knapps Saven ’96, uncle Chris Saven ’94, and brother R.J. to Suffield.

When the family gets together they enjoy comparing their experiences of having some of the same teachers, walking down the same hallways, and eating in the same dining hall at sit-down lunch. But they also share the things that made Suffield unique for each of them.

Karen, who today works in technology sales at The Hartford, gained crucial foundational study skills that helped her through college, made friendships that have lasted to this day, and had the support of faculty members like Phil Currier, who believed in her throughout her time at Suffield. She’s especially nostalgic for the pep rallies, the bonfires, and the ringing of the bell on Bell Hill after sports victories—school spirit was a huge part of her campus experience. As a parent she appreciates how “the capital changes to the campus have been impressive but it has been able to keep the same look and feel from when I attended Suffield.” She’s also impressed with the classes and resources available to current students.

Hailey’s connection to Suffield began in her childhood, from both sledding down Bell Hill and watching her brother play soccer. Being a legacy allowed her to continue the journey of many of her family members, but in her own way. She said, “We all got to share our own experiences and stories from a place that helped us grow and develop into the people we are today.” Her growth has included trying new sports like field hockey and lacrosse, and taking classes she might not normally have chosen like photography and forensics. She grew to love photography so much that the darkroom is one of her favorite places on campus.

Karen, Kaitlyn, and Hailey all feel a strong connection to the Suffield community. Hailey and Kaitlyn both valued their excellent relationships with faculty. “Every teacher I ever had at Suffield wanted me to succeed. They were willing to put both the time and effort into helping me…while making learning a fun experience,” Hailey said. Faculty member Melina Lopez-Touceda was a particularly bright light for her, as both a teacher and a coach. Kaitlyn acknowledged there won’t be another school where teachers are as willing to come in and help you at any time of day and do it with a smile on their face. She said Dave Godin did this for her—he was always there for extra help and “is the sweetest, most caring teacher, and he has made the most significant impact on my life.” Karen enjoys the fact that her peers are now sending their kids to Suffield as well. In fact, two of her daughters’ close friends have parents Karen knew while at school. As they begin their next adventures, Hailey plans on becoming a nursing major at Duquesne, Kaitlyn is attending Springfield College to study exercise science and play soccer, and Karen is looking forward to a move to Florida. d

We all got to share our own experiences and stories from a place that helped us grow and develop into the people we are today.”

Suffield Classmates

MAKING A Splash

Under the tutelage of longtime Suffield Academy swim coach and faculty member Andy Lowe, swimming teammates from the Class of 1981 David Spitzler, David Pite, and Mark McCullagh cultivated a passion for swimming at an early age. Remarkably, they have kept their passion for swimming alive even forty years after graduation in truly varied ways.

Shown above: David Spitzler ’81 swimming the “True Width” of Lake Tahoe

Lifelong athlete David Spitzler ’81 swam competitively at Tulane University after graduating from Suffield. Several years ago he got involved in cold water swimming, easing himself into this aspect of the sport by competing in 5K and 10K cold water races. Before long he was looking for a new challenge both in terms of the length and duration of the swim, and in the intensity of training. In early 2020 he began training for a “marathon-distance” swim. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, all pools were closed—which were critical for training—so he rescheduled his swim for the summer of 2021.

On August 6, 2021, David took on the challenge of swimming the “True Width” of Lake Tahoe in 65°F water, at an altitude of over 6,200 feet, without a wetsuit. The rules of such marathon swims are governed by the Northern California Open Water Swimming Association and specify that swimmers may only wear a Speedo or basic swimsuit, a swim cap, and a pair of goggles—anything beyond these items would disqualify them from having their swim ratified. David began the swim about 90 minutes before sunrise to take advantage of the calm waters and successfully completed the 12-mile crossing with a time of 5:56:32. “Just finishing was my primary goal. Finishing in under six hours exceeded my expectations,” David said, crediting Andy Lowe and many Suffield classmates for kindling his love of competitive swimming and seeking out and embracing new challenges. “Swimming has remained a constant positive force in my life.” As for his future plans, David will continue open water marathon swimming and attempting new challenges, though he hasn’t yet chosen what’s next.

Dave Pite ’81, who spent his postgraduate year swimming at Suffield and continued the sport all four years at Tufts University where he was elected captain in his senior year, has remained in the swimming field all these years later. Speaking about his Suffield coach he said, “Andy Lowe instilled in me and most of the swimmers at Suffield a dedication and love for the sport that still exists to this day.” Dave has three children, two of whom were very successful in Connecticut USA and CIAC swimming and in NCAA college swimming. He initially taught and coached his kids in swimming, yet when they moved on to training with a USA swim coach he realized the best way to remain involved and on deck with them was to become an official. Dave is now the Connecticut Swimming Officials Chair [he oversees Connecticut’s approximately 250+ USA swimming officials] and is on Connecticut Swimming’s Board of Directors. He is also a meet referee. In that capacity and as Chair he is ultimately responsible for the refereeing and officiating of both the Age Group and Senior championship meets in Connecticut every year, as well as other championship meets. “

Swimming

has remained a constant positive force in my life.”

[DAVID SPITZLER]

Andy Lowe instilled in me and most of the swimmers at Suffield a dedication and love for the sport that still exists to this day.”

[DAVE PITE]

As Chair Dave oversees the Officials Committee, which helps him with everything he is responsible for in his position including certifying people by tracking their progress in the Officials Tracking System, evaluating officials or appointing someone to evaluate them, setting protocols, coordinating the annual officials meeting to set the agenda for the year, and setting up instructional clinics for current and incoming officials. He attends monthly Board of Directors meetings to assist with the smooth operation of Connecticut swimming. Dave achieved an N3 certification level as a referee from USA Swimming in 2016 and received the Phillips Service Award in 2017 for outstanding volunteerism after officiating more meets and sessions than anyone in the state for the previous decade. Though he has stopped swimming competitively himself, Dave has continued to apply Andy Lowe’s philosophy of being dedicated to your sport by being the best he can be as an official and swimming leader.

Mark McCullagh ’81 grew up minutes from the Suffield Academy campus—close enough to even go home for lunch a few times [which David Spitzler can vouch for!]. He was the third of four siblings to attend Suffield [along with his brothers Chuck ’78 and Neil ’87 and sister Linda ’80]. His wife Mary’s twin brothers—Tim and Pat Kennedy ’91—also attended Suffield. For Mark it was Andy Lowe’s presence in the classroom and on the pool deck that cemented a friendship that continues today. “I can absolutely say that my involvement in swimming was secured to Andy’s inspiration, coaching, friendship, and guidance at Suffield,” Mark said. “Swimming has been a thread throughout my life since the day I first met Andy on the Suffield soccer fields on a hot August day.” Andy convinced Mark to focus his efforts in the pool instead. Mark did and never looked back. He noted, “The sport has been a great source of friendship and community for me and for my family.”

Mark swam at Boston College, where he met his wife Mary [also a swimmer at BC]. Their three children swam through college as well. Mark was a USA Swimming Official in North Carolina for many years and he and Mary continue to swim with a masters team. They also became involved with Swim Across America around 1988 and have seen the nonprofit organization evolve and grow over the last thirty

years. It was the perfect venture, a place where their shared passion for swimming and the mission of Swim Across America merged. SAA has raised over $100 million for earlystage cancer research, clinical trials, and patient support. There are 21 open water charity swims and nine Swim Across America research labs demonstrating the commitment and partnership of the SAA beneficiaries. Mark and Mary remain committed to SAA and its mission, and the hope it gives to those whose lives have been touched by cancer. Mark is now hoping to get his goal of swimming across the English Channel back on track after his 2020 plan was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He looks forward to using that project to raise more awareness for the cause of Swim Across America.

Andy Lowe, the coach who continues to inspire his current and former students both in the pool and beyond, has been involved in the swimming world since his freshman year of high school at Loomis Chaffee. His own mentor, Bob Hartman, founded the Loomis swimming program and was “a very enthusiastic and supportive guy that got me really interested and engaged, wanting to do my best for him,” explained Andy. Loomis did not have a pool of their own, so in a funny turn of events Andy spent three years traveling to Suffield with his team to practice in their pool. After graduating from Stanford University, where he swam and also learned how to play water polo, Andy came back to Connecticut and worked for one year for Aetna Health Insurance before being approached for a swimming coach and history teacher position at Suffield [where, at the time, he was renting Suffield’s pool for practices for the year-round club swim team that he and a friend created]. Forty-two years later he has taught hundreds of athletes and history students, brought the sport of water polo and an academic business track to Suffield, and has four children who learned the joy of swimming even though they were only able to commit to it in their high school years. Andy raved, “Certainly I was proud of what they did.”

Andy remains in touch with all three of his former swimmers from the class of 1981. He described David Spitzler as “highly competitive and very athletic and talented across numerous sports,” so he is not surprised by his determination to pursue such effortful challenges. He recalled that Dave Pite has always had a love of the sport and is proud to know that he’s become an excellent official who is quite well-respected. He is impressed with Mark’s long-term dedication and continued commitment to Swim Across America and its philanthropic endeavors. These longstanding relationships have evolved beyond that of coach and athlete. Andy said, “They all became important people in my life after they graduated.” d

“

The sport has been a great source of friendship and community for me and for my family.”

—MARK M c CULLAGH

2000 Manny Simons, Mike Pohorylo, Meag Ward Jenkins, Betsy Cowan Neptune, Drew Catanese

2005 Andy Yuan, Ted Fuller, Jared Mickelson

2006 Christin Peters Tate, Kristen LaPlante Beall, Matt Wiggin, Ben Morgan, Eric Litmer, Alison Leonard

2010 Front row Francisco Pujals, Billy Glidden, Sheree Morrison, Bridget Walsh, Alyssa Palomba Middle row Tommy Uszakiewicz, Alex Anderson, David Sambor, Mary Mitchell, Taylor Tucker Back row Chloe Terres Bereolos, Michelle Autuori Derby, Tyler Arnold

2011 Front row Joe Bruno, Jay DiPietro, Kachenta Descartes, Jose Rivas, Patrick Tolosky, Emily Leishman Middle row Harry Land, Shamier Settle, Tommy Jensen, AJ Placanico, Jason Spazzarini, Justin Robinson-Howe Back row Joe Begley, Graham Lowe, Serge Derby, Colin Dowd, Lorenzo Bernardez, Griffin Murray

2015 Left photo Jesse Phillips, Riggs McDermott, Oliver Martin Right photo Front row Rhiannon Fletcher, Sarah Apkin, Abby Blyler, Tristan Grush, Mike Barit, Diana Wallace, Becca Titterton, Frances Bingham Second row Kelly Taylor, Ashley Gambrel, Marysa Massoia, Jennifer Moller, Jordyn Gonsor, Piper Holliday, Hannah Bellorado, Livvie Caligiuri, Endy Morales Third row Amanda Baildon, Kira Demitrus, Molly Tettemer, Lydia Swain, Drew Martin, Caitlin Marshall, Sarah Pickup, Emily Lowe, Drew Mahoney Back row Greg Pentz, Nate Rosenkranz, Alessandro Togni, Anthony Deni, Brad Gibson, Owen Hern 2016 Front row Rena Ricke, Maura Eagan, Caroline Pape, Katie Kuzmeski, Emma Tryon, Baek Kang, Adriana Caceres Ruiz Diaz, Ben Bailey

Middle row Oyikwan Asante, Kaitlyn Nigro, Meg Williams, Cecilia Arntze, Annabelle Pape, Caty Seiler, Kiersten Ness

Back row Miles Johnson, Joe Islam, Taj Herring-Wilson, Jim Krueger, Trevor Lyne, Dan Bennett, Jeremy Carrasquillo, Niklas Hess, Kyle Barrett, Nick Pellegrini

class notes

1940 Betty McDonald

Hello, Suffield. I doubt there are many of my classmates still living, but I say hi to all students at Suffield Academy. In November, I will celebrate my 99th birthday, if I live that long. It was always my husband, Dean, who wished he could live to be 100 years old, but he died in 2008 when he was only 85 and left me to hold the torch to reach the age of 100. I am well, happy, and content in my 800-square foot cottage, built on my granddaughter’s side property in Shoreline, Washington. I live a quiet life with the help and care of my granddaughter Jenny and the companionship of my extra lovable and loving grey kitty Misty. I need the help of a walker now to move around but am thankful there are aides for people who live so long. I remember Suffield in the spring, especially when the trees and greenery came to life and the smell of warm days and evenings were so prevalent

and lovely. I doubt I will ever visit Suffield again, but it will always be a source of happy remembrances. Hello to any of my classmates who have reached the ripe old age of 98.

1948 Eugene Spaziani

I wrote two feature wine articles for the spring and summer issue of the American Wine Society Wine Journal magazine. I have written many for them and others through the years.

1953 Harold Henry, Jr.

I celebrated my 86th birthday on September the 13th and I am living at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing in Springfield, Massachusetts. It sure is great to be alive and in relatively good health. My goal is to hit 100. Wish me luck.

1955

Robert King

I am still active with King, King & Associates, CPAs.

1956 Rich Brenner

My daughter was elected to the Maine State Senate in November 2020 to replace the retiring senator. It was her first attempt at public office. Liz and I celebrated our 55th anniversary and continue to split our time between Florida and Maine.

John Ferguson

Appleton Seaverns gave me every break in the world while attending Suffield Academy. In more depth, he was the institution. Often enough he appeared late at night walking the grounds pondering the economic challenges Suffield was facing. Graduation day I cried and still tear up

knowing life would never be the same.

If Mr. Seaverns had asked me to stay, I would have been content becoming a permanent fixture, even if it meant becoming head of transportation or bussing the students to sporting events. I’m not sure I would ever be qualified teaching an algebra course. Considering life’s seasons on my graduation date, snowflakes are on the horizon, but my feelings for Suffield remain tight and secure within my very being.

I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart Marcia for 59 years.

I’m

1958 Thomas Elmer

The picture of the campus is of a place in dreams. When I was a student, most of what is pictured was not even imagined. I became a great-grandfather twice in the last two years, so have entered a new stage of life with new faces to keep me going. My wife Pam, our Aussiedoodle Mac, and I are still enjoying the front range of the Rockies from our home a few miles away. Too many people have decided Colorado is the place to be, so congestion in housing and on roads gets worse and worse. Time to move back to Maine, though the congestion is building there as well. Congratulations to the leadership of Suffield for continuing to pursue its dreams.

David Rockwell

Bonnie and I continue to enjoy retirement on the coast of Maine. We were proud to see our grandson Harrison graduate from Suffield in the Class of 2022. He will follow

his sister Peyton ’18 to the University of Michigan. I wish all of my classmates good health and peace.

1959 Chip Farnham

We made another move in Taos, which turned out to be a beautiful home and brought us much closer to the city. We have a wonderful renter that has made us so happy. The home is warm and open to the yard and road. We can walk to most anywhere so we keep quite fit. Folks here are most accommodating and enjoy being a help to us. With peace and light.

Samuel Jones, Jr.

I did not graduate from Suffield. I left in the middle of my junior year, for reasons best left unexplained. I went to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1963. I then spent four years in the U.S. Navy, where my final rank was Lieutenant Junior Grade. Then it was on to law school at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1970. I practiced law in

Washington, D.C. [my hometown] for 24 years, then finished as a financial advisor at Smith Barney [later known as Morgan Stanley], retiring in 2012. I have a wonderful wife, have been married now for 37 years, and have three children and four grandchildren. Life has been good to me. My memories of Suffield are all positive. My best friends were Ed Kelch, my roommate, and Jack Marinaccio. My favorite teacher was Leon Waskiewicz, who also coached me on the sub-JV basketball team. My favorite headmaster was Ap Seaverns. My biggest regret: that the “corner” [and its pinball machine] is no longer there. My best wishes to all.

Eliot Mag

We survived the pandemic by diligently following the guidelines, but it was a tough year. Now, fully vaccinated, my wife Kathi and I are looking forward to a return to more normal social interaction with friends and family. My volunteer activities at Hartford Hospital have resumed after being halted due to the new protocols being observed, and we look after our two-year-old

Bob Houghton

1957 David Szymanski

now a retired dentist.

SOLO Leaders: Bill Sullivan, Steve Goodwin, Josh Hillman ’14, David “Rocky” Rockwell ’58

grandson weekly, which is a treat for both us and my son and daughter-in-law. We celebrated our first grandson’s graduation from Coventry High School, and he will be continuing his education at George Washington University. He completed an outstanding high school career as an athlete and scholar and was named class valedictorian.

1960

Al [Buster] Walden Life has been good—57 years of marriage, two sons [one graduated Suffield in 1984 and both graduated from St. Lawrence University], and two granddaughters [one graduated from St. Lawrence University and the other just graduated from Colgate; both are employed with Goldman Sachs]. Elaine, my wife, and I spend our time between Franklin Lakes, New Jersey and Lake Placid, New York. Suffield really got me kick-started. Thanks.

1961

Thomas West

In March 2021, I wrote a memoir section, “Visual Thinker and Medical Visionary,” for an upcoming book on the career of the former director of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the late Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D. I continue to prepare my own papers and media for deposit in the archive of the National Library of Medicine. Also, I’ve continued to participate in the meetings of the Stockholm-based global Zoom organization, WHOLE, that focuses in various countries on the talents of those with dyslexia. A year old in June, the organization includes academics from Oxford, Cambridge, and Sheffield universities in the U.K., along with professionals and advocates from the U.S., Sweden, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Iran, and Singapore. In late June 2021, I participated in a two-day Zoom conference organized by the Dyslexia Association of Singapore as part of a panel discussing how the strengths of dyslexics are supported in several countries. In recent months, I’ve continued to be as busy as ever despite the pandemic. I’ve been asked to deposit my three books, blog postings, and research papers in a permanent archive for the History of Medicine section of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, NIH. One of my major activities has been to prepare an explanatory descriptive listing of publications, presentations, and events that now runs to over 60 pages. The overall focus of the collection is the recognition over recent years of the connections between increasingly powerful computer graphic systems and a renewed interest in visual thinking among highly creative scientists along with the distinctive visual strengths often seen among dyslexics and other different thinkers. This review of invited presentations and workshops

over some 30 years indicates the serious interest in these trends by a diverse range of high level organizations, including the Confederation of British Industry in London; the Netherlands Design Institute in Amsterdam; a meeting of 50 Max Planck Institutes in Göttingen, Germany; the first Diversity Day conference for the staff of GCHQ, the code-making and code-breaking descendants of Bletchley Park [World War II code breakers], in Cheltenham, England; scientists and artists at Green College and at Magdalen College within Oxford University; the Royal College of Art in London; a conference at the University of Uppsala before the Queen of Sweden; the University of California at Berkeley; the Arts Dyslexia Trust in London; a meeting of visualization scientists and artists sponsored by MIT and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles; the International Symposium on Dyslexia in the Chinese Language organized by the Society of Child Neurology and Developmental Pediatrics in Hong Kong.

1962 Andy Spector

I am enjoying retirement after 32 years with Morgan Stanley and am keeping busy by doing community service.

Tony Hull

Brought up and educated in verdant Suffield, I’m now in the arid and beautiful mountains of Northern New Mexico between Santa Fe and Albuquerque and am a professor of physics and astronomy at The University of New Mexico. This follows a career in California serving as Chief Scientist of an aerospace company, Principal Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and leader of the optical finishing of all the mirrors for the James Webb Space Telescope [JWST], NASA’s

Phil Collins ’62 and Cari Cyr ’17

sequel to Hubble but much larger and more powerful. JWST was launched in December 2021. The pandemic adjusted my world away from extensive lecture travel in the U.S. and Europe. I remain busy consulting and continue to engage in developing significant NASA missions, and in August, I chaired an international telescope conference in San Diego. My interests extend to cultural astronomy and include extensive archaeology field research in Chaco Canyon. I chaired the Maxwell Museum Conference, Astronomy and Ceremony of the Prehistoric Southwest. I also enjoy growing, woodworking, and painting, and many of my resources go to horse and dog rescue causes. I often think back to my Suffield experience, formative to me growing into a man. How great to be nudged to play sports. At Penn I continued to wrestle and rowed on the heavyweight crew. We had exceptional teachers at Suffield. The list includes the study of mathematics with Charles Ferrot from the perspective of philosophy. He reset my math trajectory to become a strength. Memorable are the joys of English History with the drama of Paul Sanderson, and Mason Nye’s depth opening the meaning of literature, critical thinking, and writing. John Page allowed my senior thesis to dig into prime sources on the unrecorded Shaker Community in Enfield. Suffield was perfect for me, and I am grateful. I look forward to hearing of classmates. Six decades have passed, yet it feels like we graduated yesterday.

Ken Kirk

Hi all, I’m enjoying retirement in Santa Fe. Following 40 or so years in D.C. in the water arena, I’m still involved in water issues with the City Water Conservation Committee and the County Water Policy Advisory Committee, and I chaired our Water Co-op for two years. Water is

precious and we need to conserve this valuable resource. I stay in touch with Con O’Leary and Don Livingston and hopefully there are other alumni who settled in the land of enchantment. Would welcome hearing from them.

Robert Jehu

I’m retired in New Hampshire, still participating in the “Last Man Standing” contest with my fellow cohorts.

1963

Richard [Dick] Anthony Susan and I have lived in Naples, Florida for the last five years. We are still going strong after 52 years. I just finished my second book and will most likely publish it privately and will donate proceeds to either The Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, or the Westerly Hospital Foundation. It adds on to a few memories [including SA] from my first book and some new recollections, including my survival from terminal brain cancer. We still summer in Rhode Island to catch up with Elisabeth and Sam [Suffield grads] and their children. Thank goodness we have come out of the social hibernation relating to COVID.

Bill Breslau

I am now residing during summers at a beautiful lake in Woodstock, Connecticut and in winters in Woburn, Massachusetts near my children and grandchildren. I’m still working part-time after 48 years as counsel at a Vernon, Connecticut law firm. Life is good.

Robert Horne

I’m still playing pick-up soccer at 74. Hope everyone is following science and not politics in combating COVID-19. Be well.

Denis Moonan

Locked out of the Kingdom of Tonga, where we left our Sceptre 43 sailboat in December of 2019, I have spent most of the time in Southampton, New York renovating a 70-year-old garage/apartment with my son Tavis who returned from five years in Hong Kong with our first grandchild last October. While based in Camden, Maine since 1971, having spent most of the time teaching, with a bit of home design/ construction and sheep farming, cruisingstyle sailing has dominated my time since 2007, mostly in the Caribbean until 2017, when we entered the Pacific. Pam and I have recently purchased a pocket cruiser which we will sail down to North Sea Harbor this summer. I’m hoping to connect with the classmates who reside on or near the New England shore and hoping for a more formal post-pandemic reunion with those of us still vertical.

Peter Potter

I’m retired and moved from Fort Lauderdale to Palm Beach, Florida. It is cooler in temperature, less congested, and the residents tend to be more friendly.

1964

David Newbold

I have been retired for the past 9 years following a career with UCSD as a computer instructor and manager of the campus Information Commons. My wife Margaret and I have done quite a lot of traveling, both national and international, but have had to cut back due to COVID-19. But we stay busy at home with what seems like an endless series of projects. I am really impressed with all the wonderful innovations at Suffield, both with the physical plant and in academics. Makes me wish I was 60 years younger.

In Memoriam

George E. Martinez ’49 A 01.05

Louis F. Morin ’48 A 01.17

Reginald N. Barnard ’59 A 01. 25

Charles H. Black III ’66 A 03.01

2022

Dr. William F. Holmes ’59 A 04.19

John W. Judson ’69 A 04.25

James E. Crowley ’56 A 06.11

Silvio “Tom” Martinelli ’42 A 06.15

2021

Peter A. Tufts ’61 A 01.01

William C. Jordan ’63 A 01.14

Joseph LaRocco ’47 A 01.21

Susan Yoo ’86 A 02.08

Donald Bankhardt ’48 A 02.12

Marshall L. Seymour ’54 A 02.17

John Perkins ’51 A 03.02

Spenser Rose ’11 A 03.26

Richard F. Goosman ’60 A 03.29

Gerald “Jerry” Holton ’50 A 04.14

Jay M. Drury ’66 A 04.22

Charles Demers ’49 A 04.29

Robert Peskin ’46 A 05.15

Braeden Garrett ’99 A 05

James M. McCandless ’63 A 03.18

John Lepper ’57 A 05.26

Bintou Ojomo ’07 A 05.31

John T. “Jack” Marinaccio ’59 A 06.18

Alan Schpero ’46 A 07.17

Edward P. “Ted” Woytowicz ’95 A 09.12

Victor F. Nadaskay ’51 A 09.25

Paul Hickey ’75 A 09.27

2020

Frederick George Ashman ’50 A 06.07

David R. Cobb ’70 A 07.13

Ronald J. Bianchi ’60 A 07.24

Walter F. Hespelt ’49 A 07.29

Robert L. Oldershaw ’65 A 08.09

Andrew J. Kowalsky, Jr. ’53 A 09.01

Chester A. Kuras ’47 A 09.08

William N. Macartney III ’60 A 09.14

Roger E. Varnum ’55 A 10.25

Charles E. Beers, Jr. ’56 A 11.04

Michael E. Simmons ’13 A 11.07

Harold N. Remington, Jr. ’50 A 11.07

Robert Bashevkin ’48 A 12.11

Helen Colgate Smith ’79 A 12.15

Thomas Parkinson ’67 A 11.29

Jack Hamren ’09 A 11.30

Wilfred D. “Weedy” Hoyt ’64 A 12.05

Richard Greene ’56 A 12.20

Elon M. DeAngelis ’98 A 12.21

David Poverman ’50 A 12.15

Philip D. White ’99 A 12.24

2019

Richard J. Hanwell, Jr. ’61 A 10.22

Former Faculty

Kenneth Lindfors [Head of School] A 08.13.22

Matthew Growhoski A 05.05.22

Norman B. Fiedler [Coach] P’89, ’90, ’92, ’95, GP’17, ’21, ’24 A 04.12.22

Edward J. Lakomec A 11.20.21

James M. Carlisle A 09.14.21

John W. David A 06.11.21

Rev. Peter W. Mercer P’87, ’89 A 04.25.21

Joseph J. Connors P’86, ’88 A 01.27.20

Former Trustees

Lawrence M. Noble, Jr. P’85 A 02.21.22

John F. Ferraro A 01.11.22

Peter Symasko

I’m still happily working as an architect on Cape Cod and following a parallel career as a risk analyst and maritime security consultant overseas. I still remain in contact with Tijan Sallah, who resides in Bathurst and Dakar and is enjoying the life of a retired diplomat in an airconditioned bungalow.

1965

William Milliken, Jr.

I was elected the chair for a two-year term on the Washtenaw Community College Board of Trustees in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and I look forward to overseeing the process of setting the policies that will continue to enable WCC faculty and staff to provide all of our students with the best possible learning environment. In addition, I run my own Ann Arbor-based business, Milliken Realty Co., and last year, I was appointed to a six-year term on the Mackinac Bridge Authority. I currently sit on the executive committee of the National Association of Realtors and am a former president of the 30,000-member Michigan Realtors. Along with six years of service on the board of the WCC Foundation, I have an extensive history of community involvement, including director of Republic Bank, a board member of New Detroit, and chair of the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce.

Joseph Field

I am still plugging away as a Senior Consultant at Pillsbury. The family is well. My boys are in San Francisco and New York. My stepdaughter is in Rhode Island. I have not traveled since early March 2020 and do not miss it. I hope Jim LoDolce can organize a class Zoom call soon.

Butch Fuller

Jenn and I are eating at home and watching a lot of TV. Thankfully, our two children and two grandchildren are in Boca Raton and everyone is healthy, safe, and ten minutes from our house. Could not ask for more.

Timothy Hemingway

Our extended family has adjusted to the new normal and so far all are safe and well. Life is pretty quiet but I have had the opportunity to be in contact with members of the Class of 1965.

James LoDolce

2022 finds me still alive. I weathered the pandemic without catching it and got a vaccination early. I am still doing parttime professional work handling disability evaluations for the VA system. It has been an eye-opener to see what our veterans experience. I am still living in the Syracuse area. I visited Bill and Sue Kelly for a few hours on my way through Connecticut earlier this year. I stay in touch with Jon Booth and Tom Webster ’64. My wife and I are still sailing our Freedom 40/40 on Lake Ontario, and in fact got home from some exciting sailing in strong winds after a trip this year. I’m still golfing several times per week, with an ever-rising handicap.

John MacArthur

My family is all well. I have four grandchildren who keep me young. I’m still working and providing benefits to companies of southern New England.

1966

Jim Hochschwender

Greetings from Arlington. It’s been a long year and a half, spent mostly at home finishing all those little and not-so-little jobs around the house that kept getting put off… And finally, our first grandchild [Lucca Vega-Costa] arrived with his

parents and we’ve been 100% smitten ever since. We always look forward to seeing Fred and Nita Doepke on their way to Connecticut. And we’re excited to get together with Bruce Cohen and John Dinin over more delicious crabs.

Charlie Claggett

Thanks to the pandemic, the Class of ’66 has met several times via Zoom. It has been wonderful to reconnect with the boys I knew at age 19 who are now old geezers in their 70s. In 1966 we had our entire future ahead of us. We were looking forward to new experiences in college, and then what? What would we find in the “real world,” a world filled at the time with the war in Vietnam and civil strife? Now looking back, our world and our lives have unfolded in many different and sometimes surprising ways. And our Zoom reunions have enabled us to get together once again to laugh, share stories, and appreciate our time together at Suffield. If you’ve not received a Zoom invitation, it means we don’t have your current email address. Please email me at ceclaggett@gmail.com. We’d love to see you and catch up.

John Dinin

Being retired, I expected life to be a little slower paced. That does not seem to be the case. We have reconnected with Bruce Cohen but due to COVID concerns, our visits are all virtual.

1967 Chris Harlambakis

I want to thank Jeff McElnea, Bob Hazen, Len Renery, Tony Menkel, Peter Van Arsdale, and Leon Lombardi for participating in our 2020 COVID-19 Zoom phone call in November. It was fun catching up. Just ask the guys.

1968

Graham McBride

After 35 years of teaching biology and environmental science in university and high school, I finally retired. However, I am still involved with grading AP Environmental Science exams [since 1998] and I am teaching and advising at Port Royal Sound Foundation in South Carolina where we retired. It was great to get back to our cabin in Canada this summer for some intensive fishing and canoeing.

1969 John Groo

I am still living in Mesa, Colorado with my wife Sarah and trying, with limited success, to act like a retired person.

1971 Henry Lee

It has been a short 50 years. I have had many interests and mini careers; builder, bartender manager, tuxedoed waiter,

licensed land surveyor, renovator, and even a small period as a minister, but through it all, the loves of my life have been my sweetheart Genevieve and our two boys, as well as building and maintaining our 95-acre property in the middle of Vermont. Nowadays I tell folks my job is “Grounds and Maintenance” since my “retirement” is very full. A couple of years back we got a great chance to buy a condo in Hawaii—we spend many of the winter months there and we nicknamed it Just Desserts. Metaphysics, psychological probings, and self-awareness

01 Ted Bumsted

Pete Menicke 03 Tom Cannon 04 Dave Richardson 05 Chris Richter 06 John Woodruf

Bart Roe 08 Len LaSalandra

Kent Peterson

John Simons

Ned Higgins

Fred Rose

Mark Zirolli

Roofus Hoffman

Roger Williams

Tom Allen

has brought me to a philosophy of letting life come, in all its hardships and joys, and letting gratitude wash over me whenever it visits my heart. I look forward to hanging out with all my ’71 classmates that can make it so we might step back and forth between then and now and hopefully share a laugh together.

Flip Sheridan

Since letting go of my final business in 2019, Jane and I are totally enjoying this chapter in Highlands, North Carolina. Our two dogs and four grandkids love swimming in our ponds and exploring the property that backs up to NFS. My golf game is improving and we’re getting into croquet on the lawn, too.

Harold “Pierre” Genvert

I retired in June 2021 after 40 years of practicing urology. My wife and I sailed our boat up to New York City and Long Island Sound from the Chesapeake Bay and visited old friends there. I was sorry to miss the 50th reunion but had grandchildren commitments. Our daughter Margot ’07 and her husband Alex had their first child Henry Barrett Tanenbaum on July 5, 2021. They live in Brooklyn, New York.

Paul Liistro

The year of 2020 was remarkable for all. I’m in the long-term care industry, where patients and staff were on the front lines. We are pleased to report that the development of effective vaccines will make the difference.

Sam Rapp

I am officially retired and planning on spending my time traveling and enjoying my two grandchildren and visiting friends and family.

John Loether

On June 25, 2021, I retired after 43 years as a working professional in the field of historic preservation. Time flies.

1972 Pete Montgomery

Who was that handsome surgeon in the epic How William Shatner Changed the World? None other than the renowned Dr. John R. Adler ’72, Neurosurgeon— check it out on Roku’s free offerings. I’m up here in the Litchfield Hills, Warren technically, since 2005 following careers in menswear, Wall Street, private banking, mortgage banking, Silicon Valley [the former ROLM HQ campus now sits under the Levi Stadium], telecommunications, and fruit trees, of course. After finding a family genealogy, I discovered that in planting an heirloom apple orchard at the Litchfield Law School, my great-greatgreat-grandfather had attended the school from 1787-89. Since then, Montgomery Gardens and Heirloom Orchards have been cited in several Connecticut and Litchfield publications and have curated orchards for New England landowners.

William “Bill” Scott

I have retired from Phillips Academy and moved to Maine.

1973

Ted Bumsted

After a 45-year career in technology sales & leadership, I have retired from northern Virginia to Savannah, Georgia with my wife Susie. I’m playing lots of golf and enjoying a region packed with much natural beauty and history. We have both replaced our work careers with volunteering so the schedules remain full. As we all faced the pandemic, Ned Higgins and I decided to test everyone’s new comfort with Zoom to

try to reconnect with our classmates.

After 1 year we reconnected with about half of our class. This has been great fun and most rewarding. Our class has spread far and we have Zoomed with members in Austria, the U.K., New Zealand, and all over the U.S. Each Zoom session includes a catch up on the decades and then inevitably goes back to stories of our times at Suffield. It’s sometimes eye-opening and always entertaining.

Leonard LaSalandra

I want to thank Ted Bumsted for reconnecting me with our 1973 class and never pressuring me into financial obligations during the past year. Looking forward to our 50th reunion in 2023.

1974 Bob Cole

Karen and I are thriving in upcountry Maui, enjoying all it has to offer: fresh foods from the local avocado, banana, and mango trees, pineapples from the fields next door, and of course the local fish, fowl, and cattle. We take advantage of our reduced work schedules by hiking, swimming, and cycling. The star gazing is amazing up the “hill,” as we live on the slopes of Haleakala. I have been training for the “Cycle to the Sun” bike race. It was canceled in 2021 but is rescheduled again for this year.

1975 Pia Bungarten

I hope everyone at Suffield—students, faculty, alumni, and all their families— are well and getting through these extraordinarily hard days of pandemic stress in many forms. We are okay; our work has doubled but we are grateful for being healthy so far. Best wishes; stay healthy and well.

Paul Hugo

Hello to everyone, Diana and I are still based in west Michigan and loving life. Officially retired, we spend about half the year traveling in our motor home. We are officially snowbirds as we visit Florida for the winter. This summer’s big event was an 8.2-mile swim around the world-famous Mackinac Island on August 22. I have learned to truly enjoy open water swimming, much more interesting than following the stripe on the bottom of a pool. I still fish every chance I get, fly my RC planes, and cycle often. If you are ever in the area, look us up.

1977 Rick Smith

I’m spending lots more time at our second home in Melbourne Beach. We are a fiveminute walk to the beach and have our boats out back on a deep-water canal that leads to the Indian River Lagoon and Indian River. We’re spending much time with our seven grandkids and enjoying life. I managed to catch lunch with my roommate of many years ago, Jack Aguirre; we had a wonderful time catching up. Anyone in the area, please drop me a line.

Bob Clark

I retired in May of 2021 to spend more time with my granddaughter Kristina Clark.

Sara Whitaker

Since October 2014, I’ve owned property in North Carolina and since January 2015, I’ve lived in Weaverville, NC. I’m still a professional massage therapist [20 years]. Challenges for me physically began in October 2018 when I fractured my right wrist. March 2019 I had carpal tunnel surgery and then May 2019, fusion of

C4-C6 of the neck and carpal surgery on the other wrist in November 2020. I will persevere.

Cynthia Richter

After 41 years of teaching high school art, I retired as of June 2021. As many educators have said “you’ll know,” and dealing with in-person, hybrid, and virtual classes due to COVID-19, I knew it was time. I am now spending my time volunteering at Beardsley Zoo and joining Monroe Rotary and the Monroe Women’s Club. Never a dull moment.

1979 Brian Green

In these times of negative energy brought on by political divisiveness, racial divides, COVID, and all the other uncertainty in our world, I thought it might be a good time to remind people that neither the media, the politicians, nor anyone one else can get you down, if you don’t let them. You and you alone control your attitude. A positive attitude is contagious...pass it on. I hope you are all happy and healthy [allpositive.world]

1980

Stephanie Thomases Hutchison

I just love keeping up with fellow “Suffieldites” on social media. It keeps the wonderful bonds between old friends strong, and even creates new connections with those we may not have known well [for whatever reason]. While differing opinions are what makes the world interesting, in this crazy year, it’s been a true blessing to share a common foundation with almost all of my Suffield friends.

Steve Cotnoir

I’m enjoying a semi-retired lifestyle, splitting time between my lake house in western North Carolina and my home in Orlando. Looking forward to reconnecting with old friends.

1982

John Killeen

Hello everybody. I’m teaching at Wentworth and Endicott and coaching at the Liverpool Club. My son Jack got married this summer. I went to a Red Sox game with Lee Vardakas ’82

Gregory Lynam

Our family enjoyed a few weeks at the North Carolina Outer Banks beaches this summer now that COVID is better controlled. My wife continues to work parttime in anesthesiology and won the Dr. USA pageant last year. My solo practice in plastic surgery continues to do well in Richmond, Virginia and one of these days I need to hire my replacement. Of our three daughters, Mirabella [17] and Gabriella [15] had no interest in boarding school, so we will have to see if our youngest, Valentina, is up for it. I still keep in contact with Steve Abramson and we are trying to coordinate a Vegas trip get together. Wishing you all the best.

Robert Smith

All is well. Our daughter Alex graduated from the University of Richmond in 2022 and our son RB [Williams ’20] was just named a 2022 Marshall scholar.

Vicky Lane

I hope all is well with everybody as we navigate these precarious times. I was on a brief hiatus from flying at Delta due to the pandemic but returned to work in April 2021. My daughter Erica ’09 married her

fiancé Dr. Steve Burison in August 2020 in Somers, CT. It was a beautiful and small gathering of family members. A more formal gathering took place in Bermuda in July 2021. My best to all of the Suffield Academy community.

1983 Michael Sabellico

I just was remarried on May 15, 2021. Lupita and I had a beautiful ceremony on Coronado Beach followed by a very small reception at the University Club Atop Symphony Tower in San Diego. We are planning a big bash for some time next year when the COVID restrictions ease.

1984 Charlotte Post

I’m living on the intercostal in Beaufort, North Carolina, working remote for Cisco Systems. I’m searching for strength in my heart and mind for peace and comfort that

I’ll be OK now that I’m an empty nester. My daughter Corbin and her husband Robin welcomed their first child Alba in February 2020 and daughter number two arrived November 2021. Lucy just moved to Denver with E&Y where she will join my other daughter Georgie who works at the REI flagship store. Luke moved to Sealy, Texas to attend the Tuner School at Hennessey Performance. Looking forward to a Suffield Reunion soon.

Helen Nickerson

I got a new hip in the spring of 2021 so I am getting fully restored like a classic car. Cheers!

Stephen Sheinkopf

My wife Jennifer and I have recently moved from Rhode Island to Columbia, Missouri.

I have been appointed as the Thompson Professor of Child Health and Executive Director of the Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of Missouri. We’ve left

a lifetime on various coasts to a new adventure in the middle of the Midwest.

Kerrin Fuller Rowley

Missing everyone in the class of 1984. I would love to hear from you, especially if you are in the Boston area. I’ve been selling real estate for the past 16 years and am 100% certain it was what I was meant to do. I LOVE it! Out of four kids, three are out of college, one is at UVM. I’m still playing sports daily between tennis, paddle tennis, and pickle ball, anyone else?

1986 Brinley Ehlers

I can’t believe it’s been 35 years since we graduated from Suffield. I just finished my 26th year teaching and coaching at St. Luke’s School. My twin daughters just graduated from there and now attend the University of Alabama. My husband and I wonder what we will do with our empty nest.

Members of the Class of 1988 from left to right: 01 Kirstin Muller, Matt Rembe, Aya Murata, Bess [Lumpkin] Celio, Tracy [Hays] Kroll, and Cindy Fontana 02 Kirstin Muller, Aya Murata, Cindy Fontana, Tracy [Hays] Kroll, and Bess [Lumpkin] Celio

1987

Kathy Giles Jones

Unbeknownst to us Diane Cullen Page ’87 and I were both in Atlanta this past week with our sons while they were playing in the 16u National Baseball Championships. Diane’s son Brady plays for The Virginia Stars and my son Seamus plays for The Route 2 Blue Sox from Massachusetts. Diane saw my post on Facebook that I was headed to Atlanta for baseball and she texted me and we met up for dinner. Unfortunately, neither team made it to the second round, but we all had fun!

Leslie Sills

Hi Suffield friends, I am living in Dillon, Colorado, have two teenagers, and work at the Summit School District as a technology support member.

1988

Aya Murata

Upholding the tradition we started in 2001 of gathering every other summer, our COVID-delayed reunion was of course awesome. Friends for 37 years and spanning our locations of California, Illinois,

Georgia, Florida, and Massachusetts, these opportunities to connect in person are so incredibly special. Last summer we rendezvoused in Albuquerque, New Mexico which also allowed for a visit with fellow classmate Matt Rembe ’88 at his most amazing Los Poblanos [if you haven’t been, you must—he just opened up their new spa facilities]. Catching up with Kirstin, Cindy, Tracy, and Bess was wonderfully rejuvenating. Thankful that Suffield brought us together all those years ago. For me, we are now empty nesters with our youngest son at Berklee College of Music [our older son is now a senior and majors in sculpture at Rhode Island School of Design] and I’m launched into my 31st year working at Phillips Academy. I hope this finds you all taking care and staying healthy.

1990

Steve Marshall

After a crazy year of commuting between Boston and New York, I’m back living on Boston’s North Shore. I’m currently the Head of Data Studio for BNY Mellon, where I’m creating a no-code environment for data exploration. My daughter Lucy is a rising junior at Miss Porter’s, and my son

Brooks is entering 7th grade. It’s all going too fast! I hope everyone is doing well.

Reid Ricciardi

Still living the good life in Raleigh, North Carolina. After nine years at North Carolina State [hard to believe], I’m currently leading the Advancement Division-Talent Management office. I was grateful to have family close by during the pandemic and that everyone in our orbit stayed healthy. Like some in my SA class, I’m approaching a milestone b-day...can’t quite wrap my brain around that. I’m using it as an excuse for checking off some bucket list items this fall: western parks, Formula One race, Packers game at Lambeau. Cheers to all at SA!

1991 Jessica Waterhouse

Just received approval for starting my nonprofit animal sanctuary called Mazolu Animal Sanctuary this past spring. This has been a dream of mine for a while. Super excited to start this. We have 34 animals already.

Kathy Giles Jones ’87 and Diane Cullen Page ’87 with their sons in Atlanta

Brian Rose ’01, Erik Hansen ’01, and Hillary Rockwell Cahn ’88

Lisa Dagnoli

After working for our family business for 22 years, we sold our company. I am looking for my next adventure but enjoying spending time with my four kids. My oldest daughter Siena ’24 is entering her junior year at Suffield and she loves it. Best decision she made!

1998

Briana Seferian

I graduated from Yale in May with my MBA in Sustainability.

2002

James Cramphin

I was named the Independent School League Coach of the Year for baseball. I coach at Governor’s Academy outside of Boston.

2003

Kevin Kuo

I am currently assisting over a dozen students applying to college and graduate school from Taiwan. So far, so good. It’s my first admissions cycle but with my past experience in the U.S. and Canada, I feel I settled down in the role fairly easily. More importantly, my bosses are from Canada and China, and we have similar backgrounds. I think for workplaces in Taiwan, having a supportive boss that you can get along with is more important than salaries and benefits. I am excited about my first year as a consultant. I hope with a few more years of training, I will really have something in me that I can contribute to Suffield’s upper-class students.

Marcus Thompson

I am a 2008 Seton Hill Graduate. I currently work as Community Development Manager for Skanska Building USA, a global construction management firm based out of Stockholm, Sweden. In this role I form strategic relationships with community partners to facilitate the achievement of goals as it pertains to diversity and inclusion spending and participation. Prior to joining Skanska, I held the title of HYPE [Harnessing Young Professional Energy] Programs Director for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. While in this position, I led personal growth and leadership development initiatives for all young professionals in the three-state, sixteen-county MSA. In my free time, I serve on several boards, including as President of the Great Parks of Hamilton County Board of Commissioners. I also serve as President of the Board of Trustees for the Center for Addiction Treatment, am a board member for the Council on Child Abuse, am a member of the Cincinnati Zoo Ambassador Council, am a mentor, and serve on the Board of Directors for the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative. One of my favorite philanthropic positions is serving as a volunteer at Saturday Hoops, a growing group of local youth from all walks of life who get together on Saturday mornings [January through May] for fun, faith, and positive role modeling through a variety of activities. Last year I was given the honor of Distinguished Alumni by my Alma Mater. I have also been recognized as a Forty Under 40 Award Recipient [2018] by the Cincinnati Business Courier and am a graduate of United Way BOLD [2015], Leadership Central Kentucky [2016], and C-Change, a leadership program run through the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber [2019]. I earned a B.A. in Business Communications. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio with my wife Ashley, son

Zechariah, and dog Miley. We welcomed a baby girl last September.

Eric Yale

My wife Emily and I welcomed Oliver Max to the family on December 12, 2021.

2004 William Taylor

Greetings from the Virginia Piedmont. Since May of 2020, I graduated from business school, was promoted at work, became treasurer at my church, and most recently, became a father. My daughter Gloria was born at home on May 12, 2021. Mom and baby are happy and healthy. Brendan Moriarty ’04, my freshman year roommate and best friend to this day, is Gloria’s godfather. I cannot wait to bring baby Glo to campus and show her where her father and godfather once thought they were hotshots.

Jessica Aiken Scola

I live with my husband, James, and our three sons, Aiken [1], Wesley [5], and Teddy [3]. I’ve been awarded eight Mary Kay cars since my career with the company began in 2011, and currently have a pink Cadillac.

2006 Chelsea Allison

My husband and I welcomed our second child Emmett James Allison in February. I’m proud to say I just graduated with my Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and I sat for the exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in June. I have accepted a faculty position at Springfield College, and I will be heading back to New England after 15 years of being in Tennessee. My family and I are excited about our new adventure. Hope to see some SA alums soon.

Joanna Scholtz

I married Ryan Weldon on May 15, 2021 in Newport, Rhode Island at the Castle Hill Inn. Jennifer Mais ’06 was by my side and Jackie Iacovazzi [Barrieau] ’06 helped us dance the night away. I’m still working at D1 Capital and we currently live in Manhattan with our dog Winnie.

2007 Meara McCarthy Delis

I am a Captain in the USAF presently stationed in Panama City Beach, Florida. My next deployment will be McDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. I am married to a Navy man [Beau Delis]. I have a daughter, Arllys, and a little boy born in December.

2008 Amar Khalsa

I am still a social worker at Boston Children’s Hospital for the inpatient neuroscience unit. COVID was interesting to say the least, but we got through it. I also got married this year which was nice. His name is Trevor, and he is an occupational therapist. He works at Spaulding Rehab in Boston, Massachusetts. Hope everyone made it through this year with their health and sanity.

Tom Cyran

I received my M.B.A. degree with honors and a concentration in finance from Boston University in 2020.

2009 Phoebe Madden

Since moving to Lusaka, Zambia in 2015,

I have acquired a passion for travel within Southern Africa. I have traveled extensively in South Africa, a beautiful country with lots of things to do, from Cape Town to driving the garden route, while also traveling in Zambia, going on safaris, and the famous tiger fishing to the mighty Victoria Falls. With this passion, I have started my own luxury travel company, African Tails. I would love to book your next trip of a lifetime. Follow us on social media @AfricanTails_ or email me at phoebe@african-tails.com

2010 Cory Crosbie-Foote

I graduated from Vanderbilt Law and just passed the New York bar. A newly minted lawyer—thanks Suffield.

2011

Lorenzo Bernardez

It’s been ten years since I left Suffield Academy; man, has it been one hell of a journey. Quick recap: Four years of college, two knee surgeries, and I found my purpose in life is helping the youth. I left Suffield with a very promising baseball career and that faded away quickly. For young athletes: enjoy the game you love, but have a life outside of the game. It will help with the times when you are injured and can’t play. 2015: graduated college and lost my dad. Talk about bittersweet. 2016: failed out of grad school and got to spend the summer in D.C., interning with preschoolers. 2017: I won coach of the year and got to live in the Hamptons coaching baseball. I got three contracts to play baseball and three contracts revoked [they signed a different player]. 2018: signed my first professional contract to play in Austria. 2019: won a championship in Austria. 2020: became a dad and a teacher. 2021: no longer teaching, back to coaching, and I am the president of “Slice of Excellence,” where we trade report cards for pizza. Embrace adversity and keep moving forward.

01 Class of 2006 Joanna Scholtz and Jennifer Mais at Joanna’s wedding

02 Mike DiPietro ’07, Ned Booth ’06, Steve Marangos ’07, and Joel Glassman ’08 at the 2021 NYC Marathon

Shamier Settle

This summer I was presented with the opportunity to take on a new role and said, yes! After nearly four years working at the Fiscal Policy Institute [FPI] as a State Policy Fellow and Analyst, I will be moving on. My time at FPI was filled with incredible experiences like writing op-eds and economic reports that were published and quoted by the New York Times and others, testifying in hearings about the New York State budget, being interviewed about my research on the economic impact of student loans on older New Yorkers, and so much more. I am sad to say goodbye to this phenomenal organization but I am looking forward to beginning my new role as a Structured Products Analyst with Credit Suisse.

Madalyn Carpenter

Earlier this year I got engaged to Sam Libby and adopted a black lab mix named Pancake. I am the assistant field hockey coach at College of the Holy Cross.

Tara Keady Nault

My college sweetheart Matthew Nault and I tied the knot in Stowe, Vermont on June 5, 2021 surrounded by our closest family and friends. I’ve been working at Harvard Business School since 2018, and Matthew has been at John Hancock since 2014. We now live by the ocean in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

2012 Remington Lyman

I have been buying and selling real estate for investors. I am also buying myself. It has been very fruitful. If you are looking for a job, move to Columbus, Ohio and do it with me. If you are looking to obtain financial freedom but do not want to move to Columbus, buy and sell real estate using me as your realtor. Go Tigers! Go Bucks!

2014 Nicole Matysiak

I’ve found myself back in Suffield, but this time, it’s as a Connecticut resident. Living down the street from the academy is lovely. I graduated in 2020 with my master’s in communication disorders and am currently working as a Speech-Language Pathologist in outpatient pediatrics. I never thought I would be working with children, but it has been the best experience so far. Wishing my former classmates joy, success, and good health.

2016 Dan Bennett

It’s hard to believe it’s been five years and a pandemic since the Class of 2016 graduated. I am currently in New York working as a Production Coordinator at ViacomCBS supporting Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.’s on-air promos, marketing, and social media content. As the industry has reopened, we’re keeping busy with new show launches like the iCarly and Rugrats reboots. It’s also been great seeing the city come back from a very difficult time. I hope everyone is doing well.

Isabella DeSimone

I graduated from NYU in 2020 and started my job in finance in New York City a couple of months ago. I have been doing lots of yoga, trying new food places, traveling domestically, and am hopeful to be on campus to see familiar faces soon.

Lauren Bonk

I graduated college in May 2020 with a degree in communications and a minor in creative writing.

Ally DiMauro

I now attend Washington University in St. Louis. I am pursuing my Ph.D. in cancer biology.

Colin Pittorie

I just began my first year [of 3] in graduate school at Quinnipiac University, working toward my doctorate of physical therapy. Thanks to everyone at Suffield who helped me get here, especially Mr. Zwirko

2017 Isabelle Ricke

Both myself and Jeremy Greer ’17 are double grads. Suffield 2017—go, Tigers! Wake Forest University 2021—go Deacs!

Caleb Wurster

I graduated from The University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and was selected in the 15th round of the MLB draft to play for the Miami Marlins.

Anna Wilson

I recently graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Washington University in St Louis. I am currently in a two-year post-bacc program in regenerative medicine at the Neurofibromatosis [NF1] Center at WashU’s Medical Center under the leadership of David Gutmann, M.D., Ph.D. I was recently interviewed for Phi Beta Kappa magazine.

2021 Mason Kumiega

This summer, I built off my experience learning Spanish at Suffield by spending time one-on-one with a native speaker to practice speaking. Thank you to Ms. Nahmens who helped me reach this level of proficiency.

04 05 01 02 03

01 Izzy McDonald ’12 to Chris Piper c 12.31.20

02 Lexi Walston ’07 to Peter Aldrich ’07 c 09.25.21

[front] Lexi Walston Aldrich ’07, Taylor Walston McMahon ’10

[back] Caroline Powers Jackson ’07, Harry Melendez ’07, Adam Jacobs ’09, Peter Aldrich ’07, Bill Adlrich ’74, Callie Aldrich Jacobs ’10, Mike Jacobs ’09, Trevor Dalglish ’07, Tom Skalkos ’07

03 Bronya Shillo ’03 to Mitchell Belanger c 10.11.21

04 Tara Keady ’11 to Matthew Nault c 06.05.21

05 Patrick Tolosky ’11 to Jessica Nichols c 06.20.21 Erich Seifert ’11, Jaclyn Chalke ’12, Matt Tolosky ’10, Patrick Tolosky ’11, Jessica Nichols Tolosky, James Anderson ’11, AJ Placanico ’11, Jason Spazzarini ’11 Photo: Cait Bourgault Photography

06 Joanna Scholtz ’06 to Ryan Weldon c 05.15.21

07 Chris Wheeler ’08 to Elisa Folden c 07.17.21

06

09 Kristen Keyes ’10 to Dan Carucci c 10.17.21

10 Reagan Teed ’08 to Will Gorham c 10.10.21 Will Gorham, David Teed ’77, Reagan Teed ’08, Mark Teed ’75, Christina Fraziero ’07, Michael Vallides ’08, Nate Michalewicz ’08, Joey Teed ’12, Steve Fox ’74

11 Michael Sabellico ’83 to Lupita Gonzalez c 05.15.21

12 Amar Khalsa ’08 to Trevor Bryant c 05.21.21

13 Michelle Autuori ’10 to Serge Derby ’11 c 09.03.21

14 Autuori/Derby Wedding Chelsea Lines ’10, Taylor Walston McMahon ’10, Ginny McDermott Broadwater ’10, Jackie Autuori ’13, Kim Autuori ’06, Michelle Autuori Derby ’10, Justine de Chazal ’10, Jay DiPietro ’11, Brodie Vogler ’11, Mike Dipietro ’07, Pam Autuori ’08, Callie Aldrich Jacobs ’10, Melanie Watson ’10, Tyler Arnold ’10, Sasha Derby ’18, Serge Derby ’11, Peter Derby ’14, Fred Tritschler ’11, John Ferguson ’11

15 Aysha Moore ’97 to Bradley Manwaring c 08.02.20

16 Alyson Powers ’10 to Garrett Hoyt c 10.18.20

17 Rip Furness ’08 to Sarah Cousins c 05.28.22

Members of the Class of 2008 Taylor Williams, Adam Pistel, Ben Fish, Rip Furniss, Matt Werblin, Harrison Smith, Chris Wheeler

01 Calder “Cal” Oslo Wilson-Rarus [Meredith M. Rarus ’07 and Daley Wilson-Rarus] c September 2021

02 Calbert “Cal” Landon Egan [Sara Marie Miga ’04 and Eric Egan] c May 6, 2021 He joins big brother Ned [3.5 years old].

03 Arthur William Terceira Garzia [Amy Terceira ’99 and Anthony Garzia] c January 13, 2021

04 Frederika Pierce Arntzen Fulton [Hannah Arntzen ’08 and Griff Fulton] c June 6, 2021

05 August Gottwald Traber [Lucas S. Traber ’10 and Grace Traber] c May 5, 2022

06 Gloria Taylor [William Taylor ’04 and Jacqueline Langholtz] c May 12, 2021

07 Sibyl Judith MacGregor [Rebecca Joslow MacGregor ’08 and Justin MacGregor] c April 1, 2021

08 Haze Helena Hobart [Sarah Zellweger ’04 and Tom Hobart] c February 28, 2022

09 Griz Thomson [Delaney McGowen ’10 and Basil Thomson] c March 24, 2021

10 Oliver Max Yale [Eric Yale ’03 and Emily Yale] c December 12, 2021

11 Harry Harris [Grace Sickles ’09 and John Harris] c February 5, 2021

12 James Mackworth Piper [Izzy McDonald ’12 and Chris Piper] c January 30, 2022