Final 2019-2020 Annual Report by Buxton School

Buxton School

Newsletter & Report on Philanthropy for fiscal year 2019 - 2020

www.buxtonschool.org

Contents p.3 Letter from the Director, Franny Shuker-Haines p.4 Letter from the Head of School, Peter Beck p.5 In Memoriam, Diana Hitt Potter ’50 p.6 Urban Intensive Trip p.7 Reflections on Distance Learning p.8 Thank You David Denhard p.12 Graduation 2020 p.13 – 24 Report on Philanthropy p.25 Our Board of Trustees p.26 Planned Giving

Buxton Newsletter & Report on Philanthropy

Letter from the Director, Franny Shuker-Haines 2019-2020: A Year Like No Other for a School Like No Other

There aren’t many new ways to say that we are living through a defining moment in our history. Looking back on 2019-2020, what stands out to me is how strong Buxton was and is in spite of historic challenges. We had a truly beautiful fall term, defined by the proactive way the junior and senior classes entered the year, determined to caretake the school’s culture and each other. They wanted to make it a great year—not having any idea how challenging that goal would end up being—and they made it so. We had a triumphant 2019 Fall Arts Weekend, not knowing it would be Dave Denhard’s last before he retired. We had a funny, inventive, generous, and spirited “Secret Sangster/Friend/Cephalopod” week (yep, we’re moving away from “Secret Santa”). We had a robust winter term, enriched by our winter study miniclasses, some of them taught by visiting alums and a Bennington College intern. We prepared for our Urban Intensive Trip to D.C.—and, we just pulled it off: as we were finishing up our time in Washington, COVID was creeping into our lives and, on the bus ride back home, we knew we would have to close early for spring vacation and then wait and see what the spring term would bring. And what it brought was Buxton’s first—and, hopefully, only—distant term. And as hard as it was to be apart, it was nothing short of inspiring how much we were able to stay together: senior services every Sunday night; daily clubs and activities; students making art, writing papers, having discussions, and

taking care of each other, all from afar. The seniors managed to make the yearbook, including a virtual “hell weekend.” We even had graduation, almost as usual: every senior gave a speech—from bedrooms, front porches, living rooms, and basements—and we sang Calabro’s “Alleluia.” It was stunning in spite of everything. You will read all about these accomplishments and more in this report. And now we are back: on campus and in person, and, wow, does it feel good. What has been laid bare by school-in-the-time-of-coronavirus is this: what truly matters in education is what Buxton has been doing and fostering and valuing for over 90 years: Young people crave and need real contact, honest relationships, community connection, creative inspiration, and an education that matters. Alumni and friends of the school have given us so much support and hope during this crazy time. When we reached out last spring to tell you that we needed you more than ever, you came through. I can’t tell you how much that meant to all of us. And, to be honest, we’re not out of the woods yet: COVID continues to present us with unprecedented challenges and expenses. So: next time we come around asking for a helping hand, we know we can count on you. And that is a very good feeling indeed.

Franny & Timothy in their 2020 yearbook photo

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Letter from the Head of School, Peter Beck What We Do

I want to start with a story not from Buxton. One day a sculptor was visiting the Pittsburgh classroom of Margaret McFarland. McFarland was a teacher, a counselor, and a mentor to Fred Rogers—and the visiting sculptor wanted to know what to teach. “Don’t teach the kids sculpting,” said McFarland. “Love clay in front of them.” I guess that story is literally not from Buxton, but I think about it almost every week here. Our teachers love their subjects in front of our students. Love photography, love reading, love understanding the way the world works, should work, or can work. We don’t try to teach aesthetic and intellectual curiosity to them, we try to be curious in front of (and with) them. We don’t try to teach community engagement to the students, we try to be engaged in our community in front of (and with) them.

It’s like the classic piece of writing advice: show, don’t tell. Or as James Baldwin put it, quoting an old song, “I can’t believe what you say, because I see what you do.” What all the adults do here at Buxton, is at least as—probably more—important than what we say. And what is everyone doing? Being themselves, showing up, experimenting, collaborating, trying, then trying again. I am so humbled and grateful to be working with this group of adults. I want to close where I should have started: with an explicit note of appreciation to every adult working on this campus, making Buxton possible. And a deep, deep word of welcome to all the incredible new faculty and staff members who are already doing so much and loving so much—in front of, and with, all of us.

Buxton Newsletter & Report on Philanthropy

In Memoriam Buxton School is sad to announce that Diana Hitt Potter ’50 passed way on March 22, 2020. Diana was one of the school’s greatest cheerleaders and benefactors—and was one of the longest-serving members of the school’s board of trustees. Diana was a great wit, a wonderful storyteller, and a keen observer of the world around her. Her devotion to Buxton was inspirational, resulting in multiple members of her family attending the school, including her son Horatio Potter ’82, his wife, Liz Potter ’82, Diana’s grandniece Caty DioGuardi ’01, and others. And her largesse toward the school allowed Buxton to build its gem of a theatre and the arts complex she asked be dedicated to Ellen Geer Sangster, to whom Diana was devoted. Diana is remembered by many at Buxton. Grae Fincke ’61, whose father Ben, ran the school for many years, and who himself has served on the Buxton board for decades—and was board president for a dozen years—says:

I first met Diana in 1956 when she was supervising study hall and I was a misbehaving 13-year-old: a memory we both shared fondly. She had a wry, sometimes acerbic humor, under which was a warm-hearted and deeply felt wish to see the world in a better place. Buxton, I always felt, was where she could see that wish fulfilled. She had a vivid and vibrant life-long attachment to Buxton’s founder, Ellen Sangster, whose vision informs Buxton to this day and to whom Buxton’s art complex is dedicated. Diana was a major force in giving life to the vision for that complex and bringing it to fruition, and it is no accident that it is dedicated to Ellen’s name. I was a beneficiary of Diana’s kindness, support, humor, and friendship for the many decades that she and I shared membership on the Buxton Board. That friendship though, was not bounded by Buxton’s walls, and my deep attachment follows her to this day. Bill Bennett, Buxton’s director emeritus, also remembers Diana:

My connection to Diana began in 1979, when her son Horatio was a sophomore at Buxton and I was his English teacher. It grew into a close relationship that lasted 41 years until her quite sudden death in March. Along the way, Diana introduced me to the Metropolitan Opera, and we saw many wonderful performances together. I was often a guest in her house in Tyringham and in Cape Cod. Above all, we were friends. The Diana I knew read voraciously, followed news closely, had very strong opinions about pretty much anything and everything, could be impatient and peremptory and did not readily tolerate those she considered foolish. But, if you were her friend, she was loyal, supportive, witty and insightful. She loved Buxton and valued her time there, her close relationship with Ellen Sangster, and what the school stands for—uniquely and generously. I miss her more than I can say. In 2003, Buxton ran an article about Diana and her relationship to Buxton in our newsletter. We encourage everyone to read it here. We also hope you will join us in mourning this amazing, charismatic, and fascinating woman—and cherishing the connection we all have to her through the school.

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urban intensive trip

by Timothy Shuker-Haines, Faculty What is perhaps most surprising about our 2020 Trip was how unsurprising it was. I’ve always experienced Trip as a series of anxieties about potential problems. Will the restaurant have a kitchen fire on the night before our reservation for 100, giving us 8 hours to find another venue? (this happened in Toronto). Will I get a 7 AM knock on the door informing me that the student who was making arrangements for breakfast for the week had never called to confirm the vendor? (this happened in an earlier DC Trip). COVID just added another layer of worry. Yet it was almost possible to forget a pandemic was making its first inroads into America. There were hints. We took a lot of hand sanitizer and doled it out when people were using the Metro. The group meeting with the Iranian embassy found itself unmasked talking to a group of people wearing masks and wondering which group was doing the right thing. Would offering one’s hand be a sign of friendly respect or a violation of hygiene? The rules were very unclear. The only major effect of COVID was on our final play performance. Our play, to be performed at three retirement/nursing homes, was a shortened version of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge interspersed with accounts of the experiences of contemporary asylum seekers. The Monday and Tuesday shows went well. Thursday morning we got a call that only essential members of the cast could come to the site that evening, and we came up with a plan for those staying behind. The afternoon brought a second call with a new policy of no guests at all. I drove out to the pizza joint where I had pre-ordered 30 pizzas to be delivered to the playsite and brought them back to the hotel. A quick nighttime tour of Washington monuments was planned. It all worked out. It was a great trip. Groups studied all kinds of issues both international and domestic. An added bonus was the ability to walk from the hotel to the Smithsonian museums. But all along, we were watching the COVID news get worse and worse. By the time we were on the bus back to Williamstown, Berkshire County had its first case and we made the decision to abbreviate post-Trip week and send students home three days early. At the time, we had no idea that that would be the last we would see each other in person until September.

Reflections on distance learning

Buxton Newsletter & Report on Philanthropy

by Lizzy Beck, Faculty It’s the last day of August. Five students have returned to school, and together we’re beginning to practice how we’ll be living in the semester ahead: masks, temperature checks, dinners outside, walks on the trails. For half a year, Buxton’s landscape has been depopulated—I’ve been here with a small group of on-campus adults and our families—and now, with the arrival of even a few students, things suddenly feel right. Restored. And yet, I have distance, not presence, to thank for some of the important shifts in perspective I’ve undergone since March. Distance afforded me the opportunity to do critical self-reflection about who I am and who I want to be, about how and what and why I teach, and about the kind of Buxton I want to return to. Our semester apart also helped me see this community as the privilege it has always been. I’m more full of gratitude than I usually am at the end of summer, a time that can be marked by trepidation for teachers. It’s from this position of privilege and gratitude, and with an awareness that many others are not yet able to safely or comfortably return to school, that I offer these reflections on what I appreciated about distance learning.

The Buxton student–and the Buxton experience–is like no other. We welcome diversity in all facets and believe that people thrive when differences are honored. We encourage our students to engage not just with each other but also with the world beyond our doors. We believe that young people can be trusted to live lives that are balanced, ethical and productive.

Distance learning asked all of us to be creative and flexible. Morning announcements came via email. Rec committee played games virtually. Math team ate lunch together. We shared songs and poems every day. Teachers and students created new clubs that inspired us to do home fermentation, walk, run, and write letters, watch movies together, and explore scientific journals and contemporary short fiction. We lit candles in our own homes to celebrate senior services. Our indefatigable seniors graduated on YouTube. And even when I was challenged by it, I appreciated the presence of home. In my sophomore English class, we began each day with a check-in about the sights, smells, sounds, and occupants of our home environments: shimmering wallpaper, loud cats, breakfast and houseplants and dirty socks. Our family members floated in and out, onscreen and off. My two toddlers took turns interrupting. At Buxton, we so often emphasize the on-campus community that we’re invested in building together, and we don’t always make space to share the places we come from. This awareness of our home communities, of family, of being from somewhere, is something I’d like to carry forward into this new year.

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thank you david denhard! by Deanna Dement Myers, Director of Development

Earlier this fall, I had the pleasure of sitting down with David Denhard, the now retired longtime Buxton music teacher, mentor and friend. It was his first visit back to the campus since the spring. He had been home most of the summer, like the rest of us, going through almost four decades of paper—music, writings, and other collected work from teaching several generations of students. I asked him what the school was like when he started 38 years ago. “It couldn’t have been a stranger time.” David says. “We were expected to do everything that needed to be done.” In David’s case, that meant everything from instrument instruction, leading chorus, running orchestra, and playing music for theatrical performances. Over the years, courses like composing, musical history, and music theory were also part of his class load, but the most important lessons David taught weren’t always about music. We asked a few former students to tell us about David in their own words. “When I met him I wasn’t a musician,” says Edward Aubry ’85. “When I started to take an interest in music, Dave was very excited for me; he had the kind of energy that made me want to learn from him. The energy went both ways— it was fun for him for someone to be suddenly interested in his field. [Dave showed me that] the Buxton environment was a place where you can learn what you want to learn.” Aubry has been back to every reunion since he graduated, mostly to catch up with David. He has since gone on to be a high school math teacher, using many of the lessons learned at Buxton. “One of the things I try to give my students is that you don’t have to be one thing. You don’t really have any idea when you are going to use something you have learned. By using reasoning and connection, you can learn every day of your life.”

Another former student, Christopher Werler ’88 says this, “Dave cared. He was there. Solid. He was a rock for so many students, available to anyone who wanted to talk.” Now located in San Francisco, Christopher was never a music student. “For my four years of teenage developmental angst, sorting through the world, the meaning of life, and who I am, Dave was always available to talk, listen, validate thoughts and feelings, share his own. I imagine others like me out there in the world, alumni I have never met, now grown adults going about their lives, who were forever impacted by the treasure of having known Dave.” Johanna Flacks-Dunning ’88 writes, “Though the Buxton campus itself was the wellspring for so much imagination, I have fond memories of conversations with Dave. He had an occasion to say with the tenderest emphaticness that bringing children into the world is the greatest affirmation of optimism.” A mother herself, Johanna knows, “How right he was that centering around children forces—in a good way—commitment to optimism, and it also generates optimism. I am grateful for Dave’s mentoring, for his memorable evocative compositions for all-school plays. Equipping children with musical education as a tool for self-expression, selfsoothing, community, and joy generation. I am most grateful for how Dave has fed my optimism.” “I think of David and his warm, unsentimental approach to humans of all ages often.” One of Buxton’s newest Trustees, Rebecca DeCola ’00, remembers David this way: “He pushed me as a self-oriented adolescent and a young and dumb faculty member to slow down and recognize the people in front of me or the problem at hand with greater honesty and care. Never grandstanding, he offered a lifted eyebrow, gently sarcastic nudge and chuckle, or a well timed, plainly posed question. I feel so lucky to have had the pleasure of having him as my teacher and working alongside him as a young teacher—what a true gift.” Jacob Spector ’02 also has great memories of learning from Dave: “I practically glued myself to him the moment I got to Buxton in 1998! We talked about music from all over the world, how we could build a piece of music the way a craftsman makes a chair, and how Duke Ellington should go down in history as one of America’s great composers.” As a working musician, Jacob remembers, “No matter how busy Dave was, he’d give any of us his full attention and at a moment’s notice. When I went to a couple prestigious music schools after Buxton I was blown away again. None of my teachers were as talented, kind-hearted, or as rich with knowledge as Dave.” cont’d on next page

10 As an incoming freshman and an international student, Yi-Bing Zhang ’02 wasn’t sure how she would fit in the American culture. “I quickly found connections in the music program led by Dave and Ed. The few of us found comfort, peace and humor from the time we spent in the shed.” “It’s been a decade since I was Dave’s student,” writes Henry Birdsey ’13, “but he left the deepest impression on me of all the teachers I’ve had. He constantly encouraged me to do things I wasn’t very good at, or didn’t know anything about. He taught me to write a piece of music when I couldn’t even read a single note on a staff.” Henry currently is a sound engineer, composer, and musician. “Dave was brilliant because he understood his position as a teacher in a very broad sense. He’s a very rare breed in the world of music education at large, where so much emphasis is put on standards of proficiency and professionalism. Instead, he showed us how many languages and universes of music exist outside of what you find in music theory. For all the years I had class with Dave, on his blackboard he’d written ‘go slowly’ in five different languages. A decade later, somehow I’ve absorbed that very idea, both figuratively and musically.” Sophie Lane ’19 met David on the second day of school, and “immediately I felt his love for music matched mine. I wanted to learn from him, so much so that I dropped my defenses and started composing and singing with him twice a week. The safe space for voice cracks, bursts of laughter, and musical tangents was an absolute haven for me.” Sophie is currently studying music at McGill. “Over the four years that I worked with Dave, I learned more about myself as a musician, a person, and a student than I had ever thought possible.” Current Buxton students who were fortunate enough to have had David as a teacher got the opportunity to have one final musical send-off at graduation this past spring. Evan Spencer ’21 has an especially poignant relationship with him. “In my first year, David saw that I was comfortable with my instrument and gave me a couple of solo pieces for fall and spring arts. I started doing little things, and I started to realize I really love music, playing music. I never thought it was something that I could really do, it was just a hobby until then.” As the years progressed, Evan learned, “you didn’t really need to know music theory to make something worth listening to. Dave guided us with prompts to create our music.” Thinking about his fellow learners, “We all made incredibly different things, all amazing, that felt right to the person writing it. That is really what he wanted to teach us—when people talk about music, they analyze the chord structure, counterpoints, whatever—but you don’t need to know that stuff to make music that truly speaks to you.” David taught students in and out of the classroom to think freely and be willing to create something that has a positive impact on the world. He credits the small size of Buxton, which encourages collaboration; he was able to show that music wasn’t an addendum, it was actual education. Thank you, David, for your ability to connect us to each other and the world through music.

Reminder to Alums: In response to reports of sexual impropriety and abuse at Buxton in the past, Buxton has set up a therapy fund to help former students pay for counseling. The fund can be accessed through Buxton’s dedicated therapy hotline administered by RAINN, the nation’s leading anti-sexual violence organization. As we announced to the Buxton community in October, the hotline and benefit is initially set to run for a year, at which time we will assess potential next steps. To access the hotline, please call RAINN at (833) 987-2329. If you have any questions, please reach out to Deanna in the alumni office at (413) 458-4970.

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Graduation 2020 by David Bluestein ’08, Faculty The final year in high school is always a big deal. Across the world, members of the class of 2020 found their final months of school suddenly pivot onto their computer screens. It was clear graduation was going to be different for the class of 2020 but we were determined to make Buxton’s online graduation synonymous to the one we all imagined before the pandemic. As expected, the students’ speeches were just as meaningful, personal and heartfelt as they would have been during a normal year.

Kalapos ’13 (Teaching Fellow) put the prologue over a collection of stills and clips of our campus, edited the recorded speeches together, and added slides of fun scenes from the year, the video that emerged was perfect. We even managed the traditional director’s speech that references everyone else’s, and a slideshow of the diplomas as Franny read the names of each graduate.

When it premiered on June 13th, the live chat we set up brought everyone together through their tears, What we finally landed on went better than hoped cheers, and love for the graduating class. And while for. The seniors wrote wonderful speeches on a huge it may never match the love we felt that summer range of themes, each one moving in their own way. evening, we can rewatch the video over and over on On the cusp of his retirement, David Denhard wrote the Buxton YouTube channel. The class of 2020 is and recorded a beautiful prologue and led a small now off pioneering a whole new set of college and life chorus of faculty members in recording the traditional experiences, and we are proud of them and grateful All-School-Chorus piece, “Aleluia.” When John for all they have done for our community!

ANYONE can be a PHILANTHROPIST. every gift matters

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LIFETIME GIVING RECOGNITION WE HONOR THESE DONORS WHO HAVE GIVEN TO BUXTON AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS. THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE HELPED COUNTLESS STUDENTS AND PROVIDED ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR PROGRAMMATIC AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES AT BUXTON. $2,000,000+

$200,000+ Henry and Mary Flynt** P’74,’77

Wrinkle in Time Foundation Andrea Currier ’74, President

Christa Lancaster P’01 Nancy Newberger P’09 Charlie ’72 and Shelly Yedlin P’03

$1,000,000+ Gerald and Sheree Friedman P’01

$100,000+

Diana Hitt Potter* ’51, P’82

Paul Brooke ’63 and Kathleen McCarragher P’97 Andy and Roberta Denenberg P’08

$250,000+

Adam ’78 and Pamela Emmerich

Anonymous

Grae Fincke ’61 and Heidi Urich P’93

Cynthia Croatti P’02, ’05

Daniel and Patti Holland P’08,’11,’14

Jane Greenberg ’77 P’07 Horatio Potter ’82 and Elizabeth O’Connell Potter ’82

Ken and Nina Peek Rothchild ’47 Tony Rousmaniere ’91 Estate of Mattie Sydnor

*Deceased

Ann Wiener* P’79,’80

annual fund giving levels dorm supervisors Dorm Supervisors take on the biggest leadership role in the dorms, handling the logistics of work jobs and room cleanup and also acting as “big brothers” and “big sisters” to the new students. Dorm Supervisors are de facto liaisons to the faculty and staff and represent the rest of the students. Anonymous Peter and Lizzy Beck Ronald and Cynthia Beck Nick Brown ’02 Andy and Roberta Denenberg P’08 David Donaldson ’80 Adam ’78 and Pamela Emmerich Grae Fincke ’61 and Heidi Urich P’93 Gerald and Sheree Friedman P’01 Jane Greenberg ’77 P’01 Daniel and Patti Holland P’08,11,14 Nicholas ’82 and Cami Lenett P’19 Chunhang ’93 and Lily Liu Nancy Newberger P’09 Diana Hitt Potter* ’51 P’82 Tony Rousmaniere ’91 Tom and Mimi Rutledge P’16 Daniel Simons ’02 and Barbara Berska ’01 Estate of Virginia Hall Smith Justin Theroux ’89 Wrinkle In Time Foundation Andrea Currier ’74, President

the forge Gifts of $5,000 - $9,999 A beloved campus building built by students many moons ago! Also the name of a student publication that solicits input from all students.

kitchen Krew Gifts of $2,500 - $4,999 On Saturdays, the students take over the kitchen! It’s a chance for people to share recipes, learn kitchen skills, and make their favorite foods. Yum! Bill Beardsley ’56 Lou Bluestein P’08 Kevin and Beth Ellingwood P’15 Mary Holland ’08 New Ground Fund P’07 Horatio Potter ’82 and Elizabeth O’Connell Potter ’82 Thomas and Moira Ripley P’99 David Rubin ’70 Katherine Shorey Herold ’78 Robert and Nancy Vaughn* P’01

senior service Gifts of $1,000 - $2,499 Sunday nights are a special time on campus because a senior delivers remarks to the entire school community. Everyone dresses up for these occasions! Anonymous Danny Adler ’68 Yasmin Aga Khan ’69 Mark Alkiewicz ’86 Robert and Deborah Andrus G’20 Roger and Julia Bolton G’21,23 Grant Brown ’75 P’14 Liam Brown ’14 Tobe and Margaret Carey P’02 Sammy Chamino ’07 Timothy Collins and Kirsten Dahl Collins P’17 W. Bayard Cutting ’76 Hannah Dancing ’02 and Amma Boateng Barbara Davis ’66 Patricia Dinner G’20 Meg Ellingwood ’15 Adam Falk P’14 Josh Fincke ’93 Robert Flynt ’74 Michael Freed P’99 Lynne S. Gilson and Joel Schuman P’98 Nicholas Glass ’83 Owen Goldfarb and Priscilla Fairbank P’05 Doug Green ’73 Henry and Elizabeth Harrison P’93 Lucinda Hodgson ’90 Brenda Harris Jews ’82 Charles and Jane Jones G’20,22 Karen Jones Clark and Stephen Clark P’04,07 David Kelso Walter Kernan ’74

ANNUAL GIVING LEVELS: GIFTS JULY 1, 2019 - JUNE 30, 2020

Gifts of $10,000+

C. William Bennett Paul Brooke ’63 and Kathleen McCarragher P’97 Joseph and Marie Field G’16 Catharine Fincke ’68 Jeff Franzen P’12 David Gardner and Phyllis Guerra P’18 Dorianne Hutton Samuels ’71 Anne Lawson P’21 Robert Levy ’67 Ed Martin ’72 P’08 Jessica Mezzacappa ’85 Ken and Nina Peek Rothchild ’47 Alan Salisbury ’54 Michael Schulder and Nancy Field P’16 Marilyn and James Simons Charitable Fund Charlie ’72 and Shelly Yedlin P’03

ANNUAL GIVING LEVELS: GIFTS JULY 1, 2019 - JUNE 30, 2020

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Jeffrey Ladd ’73 Siiri Lane ’96 P’21,24 Joan Lawson G’21 Jean MacFadyen ’73 Jill Machol ’64 Mark and Mardi Manary Alexander ’03 and Connie Matisse Frosty Puestow Montgomery ’59 Michael and Hannah Moore P’08 Robert and Celia Morris P’90 William Morse Julie Neisser ’74 Ellen Petersen P’88 Temple Peterson P’21,24 Elizabeth and James Pickman P’95 Lindsay Potts ’73 Josh Reisner ’95 Greg Roach and Robin Meyer Bruce and Lori Rosenblum Jeffrey Shumlin ’78 Peter Shumlin ’74 and Katie Hunt James Stockman ’60 Valerie Swarbrick G’16 Katherine Sweet ’79 Frank Wood ’79 Venn Sage Wylde ’96 Robert Yedlin ’03

stove stokers Gifts of $500 - $999 Keep the fire burning! There are fewer wood stoves on campus now, but several buildings still have wood-burning stoves, and stoking those stoves is as important as ever. Breck and Lani Arnzen P’13 Jeffrey and Julie Bath P’21 Theresa Bensew P’08 Yoseff Ben-Yehuda ’06 Linda Burlak and Lawrence Smith Crystal Campbell P’80 G’07,08 Laurance Clark ’79 Christian Dauer ’83 Kevin Donaldson ’84

Geoffrey Feldman ’71 Nancy Glowa ’73 Robert and Cora May Howe P’77,79 Frank Jackson and Amy Podmore P’11 Joanie Kemsley ’71 Marlyn Klee P’87 Dayle Klitzner Kellner ’71 Simmone La Corte and Nicholas Heldfond P’20 Giselle Lora ’14 Margaret Mandel P’00 Harry Maurer P’07 Allen McCullough ’76 Janet McGhee P’11 Bonnie and David Miller P’98 Zhana Morris ’90 Jonathan and Sigrin Newell P’93 John Parkinson ’80 Katherine Perls P’91 Dan Poteet ’04 Christopher Pratt ’76 Philip Rickey ’78 Charles Schiff and Christine Califra Schiff P’19 David Skutch ’78 Katherine Sloss P’07 Peter ’74 and Jane Smith P’09,14 Randy Smith and Tina Cohoe P’12 Howard Sollins and Barbara Resnick P’05 Jacob Spector ’02 Nathan Spencer and Jennifer McLean Spencer P’21 Edward Stockman ’66 Jim and Cindy Tuite P’04 Rebecca Vitali-DeCola ’00 West Oil Company Shirley Wright P’85 Isaac Zaur and Sarah Kaufman

rec committee Gifts of $250 - $499 One of the most coveted leadership roles at Buxton is to be in charge of “Rec Committee.” This group of

students takes charge of generating an all-school activity every Friday night. Whatever the activity, whether silly or serious, the value of these Friday nights is that we are making exciting things happen together. Adams Community Bank AmazonSmile Foundation Ed and Mary Ambrose P’81,85 Ralph and Elisabeth Arlyck P’94 Alex Azima ’67 John Benjamin ’86 Lea and Pamela Carnevali P’13 Don and Susan Churchill P’79 Philio Wigglesworth Cushing ’74 Terrence Fina and Elizabeth Young P’20 Waring Fincke ’64 Winfried and Silke Fuchshofen P’13 Dickson and Mary Glass P’01 Mickey and Jackie Herbert P’13 Torre Johnson ’03 Otis Kidwell ’41 Jennie Campbell Kristel ’80 P’08 Maggie Laurie ’94 Patricia and Jay Lorsch P’90 Alice Mackler ’50 Robert Martel ’55 Maureen McMahon O’Mara ’64 Jacob Mitchell ’00 Randel Orzano and Gretchen Hachmeister P’20 Christian Parenti ’87 Gregory Prestopino ’65 James and Karen Shepard P’10 Pamela Skyrme G’08 Alex Smith ’99 Marilyn St. John P’00 Christopher and Mary Stone P’00 Ingrid Strong ’77 Anne Undeland P’18 Viola van der Meulen and Jim Morrison Dirk van Loon ’57 Anthony and Gisela Walker G’22 B. Harton Wolf ’62

Buxton Newsletter & Report on Philanthropy

the gate Gifts of $100 - $249

Arjun Achuthan ’86 John and Leslie Akula P’03 Adam Ambrose ’68 Genna Lewis Anderson ’51 Kendra Archer ’04 Peter and Christa Aubrey-Smith P’96,99 Edward Aubry ’85 Bernard and Cecelia Bandman P’99 Mr. Thomas Bauhs Elizabeth McIntosh Bauman ’89 John and Margaret Bergen Dan Bernstein and Efrat Levy P’09 Laura Bethea ’94 Henry Bolter P’88 Mark Boyer and Barbara Millen Boyer P’83 Michael Brandt P’03 Lynnea Brinkerhoff and Michael Pergola P’16 Alexander Brooks ’74 Anthony Brown P’09 Jennifer Brown Knoche ’93 Hetty Jo Brumbach ’60 Suzanne Robinson Buchsbaum ’74 Thelma Bullock P’85 John Burgess ’66 Marga Cooper Sproul ’63 Paul Cooper ’66 Margaret Davis ’71 Art Desimine and Liz Weiss P’15 James and Heather Drumm P’97 Alex Elliott ’80 Margaret Marcy and Timothy Emerson P’15 Sandra Feck G’21,24 Stephen and Alicia Fitch P’21 Robert and Carol Foresta P’00 Steven Freed P’99

Daniel Moses ’98 Peter Neuman ’84 Daniel and Mary O’Connor G’22 David Oliver and Roberta Bonisson Machado P’11,17 Overland Summer Camps, Inc. Daniel Pacheco ’01 Bruce Pandolfini and Roselyn Abrahams P’04 Neville Bryan Peltz ’69 David Plettner-Saunders ’70 Lorna Post G’11,14 Iso Rabins ’99 Madeline Rapp ’17 Kevin Reilly Michael Relihan ’79 Daria Walls Rice ’89 Matthew Sokolowski Roberts ’80 Dirck Roosevelt ’73 Judy Rosenthal ’56 Amanda Ross ’84 P’17 Tara Rullo ’92 Michael Sand ’83 Benjamin Sapadin ’09 Anthony Schneider ’98 Franny and Timothy Shuker-Haines P’16 Perrin Siegel ’86 Michael Silverstein ’04 Christopher Skutch ’81 Jane Sobel P’81,83 Heather Spear ’90 Ann Kohns Steadman ’55 Jonathan Sylbert ’76 Joel Teenyanoff and Jill Glassmith P’14 Mercedes Tompkins P’14 Clint Ulmer ’07 Erika Vesely Visnevskaia Jeff Von Arx ’87 Lawrence Warbasse Ian Warren ’01 Beatrice Weinberger ’76 Emma Weisman ’99 Robert Wheten P’07 Julian and Stephanie Wilkins P’18 Stephen and Donna Wyatt Nancy Yedlin ’71

ANNUAL GIVING LEVELS: GIFTS JULY 1, 2019 - JUNE 30, 2020

The Gate is not only a beloved dorm but also the very first building that visitors to campus come upon. It was the “Gate House” to the old Sangster Estate.

Robin Gardner ’18 Steven Germain and Laura Impert P’05 Ray and Karen Goldsteen G’23 Junior Gomez ’07 Prudence Grand ’61 P’89 Richard Green and Gina Qualliotine P’16,18 Andrew Gross and Linda Koenig P’15 John Guenther ’61 and Melody Tilton P’89 Candida Harper and Ulysses Lieblich P’09 Lois Harrison P’20 Jack Heard ’05 Tina Howard ’82 Maria Huffman P’94 Pierre and Marie-Claire Humblet P’05 Daniel Janczewski and Amanda Maguire P’20 Lawrence Johnson ’59 Lily Johnson ’07 Michael Kemsley ’70 Sarah Koshar ’05 and Rodolfo Velazquez Marjorie LaRowe G’00 Reese Laughlin ’82 Gregg and Alison Lerman P’23 Judy and Philip Lescarbeau Natasha Lisman P’96 Nan Lombardi P’87 Mimosa Lynch ’03 Francis Magai ’16 Ronald and Patricia Malvin P’08 Michelle Berman Marchildon ’78 Katherine Drew Margolin ’70 John Martin P’70,72 G’08 Sidney Massey Jim and Lee Maxwell P’19 George and Carolyn McLellan P’91,98 Malcolm McPherson and Kelly Gross P’19 Jennifer Merriam ’88 Scott Michalowski P’21 Thomas Miller ’14 Smokey Minot ’62 John Moortgat ’51 Peter Morgan ’68 Shannon Morgello ’19

ANNUAL GIVING LEVELS: GIFTS JULY 1, 2019 - JUNE 30, 2020

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18 Steve and Doe Zottoli P’02

Gifts under $99 Anonymous Sherif Ahmed ’08 Qiana Alexander ’96 Alyssia Alexandria ’79 Edward Allen ’67 Frederick Allen ’71 Pat Anderson ’55 Rosetta Annin ’55 Kwang Arnzen ’13 Alexander Aubrey-Smith ’96 Stephanie Goldstein Begen ’72 Tal Birdsey P’13 David Bluestein ’08 Ann Brown ’85 Candace Brown P’96 Heather Brown P’07 Joey Carey ’02 Alfred Carroll, Jr. G’20 Joseph and Alana Chernila P’21,23 Sarah Cooke P’17,20 Janet Corrigan P’13 Amy Dalsimer ’87 Alexander de Havenon ’75 Joseph DeCola P’00 Andrea DeMayo Deanna Dement Myers P’16,19 Mae Dement G’16,19 Annie Dutka ’03 Tess Eastment ’92 Sara Emerson ’15 Sophie Fels ’92 Steven Forman and Constance Eeghen P’09 Annette Freeman and Cooper Boyd P’12 Sarah Freeman ’96 Hilary Glass ’01 Jessica Grindstaff ’96 Jewel Grutman G’20,22 Will Harris-Braun ’17 Bonnie Holden Anne Holmes P’22,23

Bradley Howard ’06 Emelie Kenney P’08 Suzanna Konecky and Matthew Ball Matthew Kramer and Chiara Carrino ’06 Matteo Lanzarotta ’13 Ming Lash P’99,01 G’20 Meirav Levy-Bernstein ’09 Bill Low ’70 Kelly MacAskill ’97 Janet MacFadyen ’71 Rowan Magee ’06 Hisako Matsumoto Katharine Maunz and Peter Hawkins P’20 James and Naomi McCann P’11 Kate and Hugh McLean G’21 Mark Meachem ’72 Lena Meginsky ’17 Alice Mello P’14 Mark and Susan Merrett P’99,01 Bernard and Jennifer Mirling P’91,98 G’10 Peter Mitchell and Suzette Barclay P’00 Anne O’Connor P’22 Kelly Polan P’10 Carol Davis Preston ’61 Joan Howard Ramos ’56 Ben Ripley ’99 Zoe Rosenbloom ’10 John Sears ’59 P’90,94 Paul Sears ’63 Jerome Segal and Naomi Nim P’08 Patricia Sempowich Alison Bidlack Smith ’76 Epy Smith ’14 Mark Smith Design Inc. Kimberly Sobel ’81 and Jeffrey McGowan Jacob Sollins ’05 Mary Stipanowich Jefferson Strait and Robin Brickman Mark Sylbert ’77 Jinx Tong Maria Vincent Peter and Barbara Waksman P’06 Gerald and Mary Jane White

Rand Wilson ’72 Dina Wolkoff Paul and Stephanie Wright P’17 Rebecca Wu-Norman ’98 Lindsey Wyatt * Deceased

special thanks to these businesses Adams Community Bank Mark Smith Design Inc. Overland Summer Camps, Inc. Stop & Shop West Oil Company

first time donors John and Margaret Bergen Jennifer Brown Knoche ’93 James and Heather Drumm P’97 Sara Emerson ’15 Joseph and Marie Field G’16 Ray and Karen Goldsteen G’23 Jewel Grutman G’20,22 Lois Harrison P’20 Anne Holmes P’22,23 Lily Johnson ’07 Torre Johnson ’03 Charles and Jane Jones G’20,22 Matthew Kramer and Chiara Carrino ’06 Gregg and Alison Lerman P’23 Michelle Berman Marchildon ’78 Sidney Massey Hisako Matsumoto Kate and Hugh McLean G’21 Thomas Miller ’14 Shannon Morgello ’19 Temple Peterson P’21,24 Dan Poteet ’04 Madeline Rapp ’17 Paul Sears ’63

Buxton Newsletter & Report on Philanthropy

Patricia Sempowich Michael Silverstein ’04 Mary Stipanowich Anthony and Gisela Walker G’22 Lawrence Warbasse Gerald and Mary Jane White

gifts in-kind Greg Roach and Robin Meyer

We believe the information in this report is accurate. Please accept our apology for any error. If you have a question regarding your giving anywhere in this report, please contact the Development Office at 413-623-6158 or email deanna@ buxtonschool.org and we will be happy to review your record and make any necessary changes.

estate giving C. William Bennett Lou Bluestein P’08 Paul Brooke ’63 and Kathleen McCarragher P’97 John Churchill ’79 David Dickinson and Ann Morse P’02 Lynne S. Gilson and Joel Schuman P’98 Susan Prentice Gould ’57 Medarda Kerr Michael Kroxta ’75 Frosty Puestow Montgomery ’59 Philip Rickey ’78 Matthew Sokolowski Roberts ’80 Ken and Nina Peek Rothchild ’47 Fred Savard ’79 Laura Doyle Stochholm ’49 Edward Stockman ’66 Helga Maurer Wagner ’64 and Paul Wagner

GIFTS TO THE ENDOWMENT Pat Anderson ’55 C. William Bennett Grant Brown ’75 P’14 Liam Brown ’14 David Donaldson ’80 Grae Fincke ’61 and Heidi Urich P’93 Nancy Glowa ’73 Frank Jackson and Amy Podmore P’11 Walter Kernan ’74 Nicholas ’82 and Cami Lenett P’19 William Morse Nancy Newberger P’09 Horatio Potter and Elizabeth O’Connell Potter ’82 Daniel Simons ’02 and Barbara Berska ’01 Wrinkle In Time Foundation Andrea Currier ’74, President

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alumni Class Giving alumni class giving 1941 Otis Kidwell 1947 Nina Peek Rothchild 1949 Evan Sachs 1950 Alice Mackler 1951 Genna Lewis Anderson John Moortgat Diana Hitt Potter* 1954 Alan Salisbury 1955 Pat Anderson Rosetta Annin Robert Martel Ann Kohns Steadman 1956 Anonymous Bill Beardsley Joan Howard Ramos Judy Rosenthal 1957 Dirk van Loon 1959 Lawrence Johnson Frosty Puestow Montgomery John Sears 1960 Hetty Jo Brumbach James Stockman

1961 Grae Fincke Prudence Grand John Guenther Carol Davis Preston 1962 Smokey Minot B. Harton Wolf 1963 Paul Brooke Marga Cooper Sproul Paul Sears 1964 Waring Fincke Jill Machol Maureen McMahon O’Mara 1965 Gregory Prestopino 1966 John Burgess Paul Cooper Barbara Davis Edward Stockman 1967 Edward Allen Alex Azima Robert Levy 1968 Danny Adler Adam Ambrose Catharine Fincke Peter Morgan 1969 Yasmin Aga Khan Neville Bryan Peltz

1970 Michael Kemsley Bill Low Katherine Drew Margolin David Plettner-Saunders David Rubin 1971 Frederick Allen Margaret Davis Geoffrey Feldman Dorianne Hutton Samuels Joanie Kemsley Dayle Klitzner Kellner Janet MacFadyen Nancy Yedlin 1972 Stephanie Goldstein Begen Ed Martin Mark Meachem Rand Wilson Charlie Yedlin 1973 Nancy Glowa Doug Green Jeffrey Ladd Jean MacFadyen Lindsay Potts Dirck Roosevelt 1974 Alexander Brooks Suzanne Robinson Buchsbaum Andrea Currier Philio Wigglesworth Cushing Robert Flynt Walter Kernan Julie Neisser Peter Shumlin Peter Smith

1975 Grant Brown Alexander de Havenon 1976 W. Bayard Cutting Allen McCullough Christopher Pratt Alison Bidlack Smith Jonathan Sylbert Beatrice Weinberger 1977 Jane Greenberg Ingrid Strong Mark Sylbert 1978 Adam Emmerich Michelle Berman Marchildon Philip Rickey Katherine Shorey Herold Jeffrey Shumlin David Skutch 1979 Alyssia Alexandria Laurance Clark Michael Relihan Katherine Sweet Frank Wood 1980 David Donaldson Alex Elliott Jennie Campbell Kristel John Parkinson Matthew Sokolowski Roberts 1981 Christopher Skutch Kimberly Sobel

Buxton Newsletter & Report on Philanthropy

these buxton alumni gave back to the school last year. Any gift, large or small, makes a big difference for the current students and the future of the school. 1982 Tina Howard Brenda Harris Jews Reese Laughlin Nicholas Lenett Elizabeth O’Connell Potter Horatio Potter

1990 Lucinda Hodgson Zhana Morris Heather Spear

1983 Christian Dauer Nicholas Glass Michael Sand

1992 Tess Eastment Sophie Fels Tara Rullo

1984 Kevin Donaldson Peter Neuman Amanda Ross

1993 Jennifer Brown Knoche Josh Fincke Chunhang Liu

1985 Edward Aubry Ann Brown Jessica Mezzacappa

1994 Laura Bethea Maggie Laurie

1986 Arjun Achuthan Mark Alkiewicz John Benjamin Siiri Lane Perrin Siegel 1987 Amy Dalsimer Christian Parenti Jeff Von Arx 1988 Jennifer Merriam 1989 Elizabeth McIntosh Bauman Daria Walls Rice Justin Theroux

1991 Tony Rousmaniere

1995 Josh Reisner 1996 Qiana Alexander Alexander Aubrey-Smith Sarah Freeman Jessica Grindstaff Venn Sage Wylde 1997 Kelly MacAskill 1998 Daniel Moses Anthony Schneider Rebecca Wu-Norman 1999 Steven Freed Iso Rabins Ben Ripley

Alex Smith Emma Weisman 2000 Jacob Mitchell Rebecca Vitali-DeCola 2001 Barbara Berska Hilary Glass Daniel Pacheco Ian Warren

Junior Gomez Lily Johnson Clint Ulmer 2008 Sherif Ahmed David Bluestein Mary Holland 2009 Meirav Levy-Bernstein Benjamin Sapadin

2002 Nick Brown Joey Carey Hannah Dancing Daniel Simons Jacob Spector

2010 Zoe Rosenbloom

2003 Annie Dutka Torre Johnson Mimosa Lynch Alexander Matisse Robert Yedlin

2014 Liam Brown Giselle Lora Thomas Miller Epy Smith

2004 Kendra Archer Michael Silverstein 2005 Jack Heard Sarah Koshar Jacob Sollins 2006 Yoseff Ben-Yehuda Bradley Howard Rowan Magee 2007 Sammy Chamino

2013 Kwang Arnzen Matteo Lanzarotta

2015 Meg Ellingwood Sara Emerson 2016 Francis Magai 2017 Will Harris-Braun Lena Meginsky Madeline Rapp 2018 Robin Gardner 2019 Shannon Morgello

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memorial gifts In Memory of Netta Burlak

In Memory of John B. Lawson

In Memory of Owen Sweeney ’20

John and Margaret Bergen Mary Stipanowich Gerald and Mary Jane White

Joan Lawson G’21

In Memory of John Lisman

Malcolm McPherson and Kelly Gross P’19 Shannon Morgello ’19

In Memory of Ben and Magda Fincke Waring Fincke ’64

In Memory of Virginia Hall Smith Allen McCullough ’76 Smokey Minot ’62 Peter Morgan ’68 Zhana Morris ’90 Neville Bryan Peltz ’69 Lindsay Potts ’73

Natasha Lisman P’96

In Memory of Hazaiah’s Uncle Willy, Bill Tompkins

In Memory of Kathryn C. Merriam

Mercedes Tompkins P’14

Jennifer Merriam ’88

In Memory of Tim Wohlforth

In Memory of Sally Todd Nelson Nancy Glowa ’73

Patricia Sempowich

HONORARY GIFTS In Honor of Jonah Horace Beck and Penelope Mahira Beck Ronald and Cynthia Beck

In Honor of C. William Bennett Andy and Roberta Denenberg P’08 Mark Sylbert ’77

In Honor of Lou Bluestein’s birthday Marilyn and James Simons Charitable Fund

In Honor of Lisa Bolter Martino Henry Bolter P’88

In Honor of Ezra Caldwell Heather Spear ’90

In Honor of Margo Cardner David Kelso

In Honor of David Denhard Kelly MacAskill ’97

In Honor of Sara Emerson Margaret Marcy and Timothy Emerson P’15

In Honor of Ben and Magda Fincke Grae Fincke ’61 and Heidi Urich P’93 Robert Levy ’67

Buxton Newsletter & Report on Philanthropy

In Honor of the birth of Arthur Stanley Maple Freed son of Emily Maple and Steven Freed ’99 Michael Freed P’99

In Honor of Benji Lenett ’19 Nicholas ’82 and Cami Lenett P’19

In Honor of Micah Manary and Franny and Timothy Shuker-Haines Mark and Mardi Manary

In Honor of Lessie Melvin Lindsay Potts ’73

In Honor of James Palmer Mulligan Lynnea Brinkerhoff and Michael Pergola P’16

In Honor of Anna Peirce Julie Neisser ’74

In Honor of Dana Roy Lily Johnson ’07

In Honor of Ethan Scheurer ’84 Siiri Lane ’86 P’21,24

In Honor of Derek Yiu Sara Emerson ’15

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SANGSTER SOCIETY

Buxton’s Sangster Society recognizes the outstanding generosity of those who have made a planned gift to Buxton. This important commitment is a critical step to ensuring the vitality and financial stability of the school.

Anonymous

Michael Kroxta ’75

C. William Bennett

Frosty Puestow Montgomery ’59

Lou Bluestein P’08

Philip Rickey ’78

Paul Brooke ’63 and Kathleen McCarragher P’97

Matthew Sokolowski Roberts ’80

John Churchill ’79

Fred Savard ’79

David Dickinson and Ann Morse P’02 Lynne S. Gilson and Joel Schuman P’98 Susan Prentice Gould ’57 Medarda Kerr

Ken and Nina Peek Rothchild ’47 Laura Doyle Stochholm ’49 Edward Stockman ’66 Helga Maurer Wagner ’64 and Paul Wagner

If you have included Buxton in your estate plans please make us aware of your intentions for our records. We will only share your intention in our reports with your permission.

Buxton Newsletter & Report on Philanthropy

Our Board of Trustees Arjun Achuthan ’86 Julie Bath P’21 C. William Bennett Grant Brown ’75, P’14 Sammy Chamino ’07 Grae Fincke ’61, P’93 David Gardner P’18 Nancy Glowa ’73 Frank Jackson P’11 (faculty trustee) Walter Kernan ’74

Cami Lenett P’19 Yolanda Lawrence ’00 William Morse Nancy Newberger P’09 Amanda Ross ’84, P’17 Tom Rutledge P’16 Franny Shuker-Haines P’16 Daniel Simons ’02 Rebecca Vitali-DeCola ’00 Derek Yiu (faculty trustee)

*this reflects the Trustee list as of November 1, 2020, not the members during the 2019-2020 fiscal year

planned giving: gifts for the future Retirement Plan Gift Name Buxton as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or other retirement plan. Buxton will receive the balance of your plan, tax free.

Gift in your will Include a gift to Buxton in your will or trust. Indicate a specific amount or percentage of the balance remaining in your estate. Will or Trust

2 Your Family

Retirement Plan

Gift from your donor-advised fund

Gift of appreciated stock or other assets

Name Buxton as a beneficiary of the balance of your donor-advised fund.

Your appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds are transfered to Buxton. Buxton either keeps or sells your securities and uses the proceeds if sold.

Give to a donor-advised fund

1 2

DonorAdvised Fund

Income tax deduction

Gifts of real estate or personal property You deed your home, vacation property, or any other valuble property (including antiques or artwork) to Buxton. Buxton will decide to keep or sell it.

Property or Home

Stock Market

Gift of Life Insurance Your life insurance policy is transfered to Buxton. Buxton can cash in the policy or hold it. You may also elect to transfer a life insurance policy now if you no longer need it and you will receive an income tax deduction.

Life Insurance Policy

WAYS TO GIVE BACK TO BUXTON VISIT “SUPPORT BUXTON” ON OUR WEBSITE sign up for a monthly gift or a one-time gift

SEND A CHECK, PAYABLE TO BUXTON SCHOOL 291 South Street Williamstown, MA 01267

APPRECIATED SECURITIES AND PLANNED GIVING write to the director of development at deanna@buxtonschool.org

LOOK INTO YOUR COMPANY’S MATCHING GIFT PROGRAM

Buxton School 291 South Street Williamstown, MA 01267

If this publication is addressed to your child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumni and Development Office of his or her new mailing address at (413) 458-3919, ext 116 or deanna@buxtonschool.org Thank you!

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