Connections Fall 2020
MA GAZI NE O F T HE EPIS C O PAL AC ADEM Y
Honoring THE CLASS OF 2020 Page 8
Healthcare Heroes Page 18
Annual Report of Gifts Page 23
Using EA’s 3-D printers from his home, Louis Beardell ’23 has crafted over 1,000 face shields to provide to health care professionals. Read more about how EA students have helped our community through the COVID-19 pandemic on page 49.
CONTENTS
Features 8 Tribute to Our Newest Alumni The Class of 2020 18 Healthcare Heroes Alumni on the Front Lines
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23 Annual Report of Gifts For Fiscal Year 2019-2020
Departments 2 By The Numbers 4 Around the Virtual Green 12 Then & Now: Classroom Computers 14 Faculty Spotlight: 2020 Retirements 22 In Memoriam
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Annual Report of Gifts 24 Financials 26 The Advocate Council: Leadership Gifts to Operations 29 Alumni Gifts 36 Parent Gifts 42 Parent of Alumni Gifts 44 Student & Grandparent Gifts 45 Supporting Remote Teaching & Learning 46 Faculty & Staff Gifts 48 Friend Gifts & Gifts in Kind 49 EA Students Give Back 50 EITC & OSTC Scholarship Support 53 Gifts to Capital & Endowed Funds 54 Named Funds 60 G ifts from Corporations, Foundations, & Organizations 61 Memorial & Honorary Gifts 66 The Bishop William White Society 68 The Episcopal Academy Parents’ Association 70 Gifts to Horizons at EA 72 Leadership
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EDITORIAL T EAM Connections, the magazine of The Episcopal Academy, is published three times per year. We encourage readers to submit feedback, stories, and photos from your days at Episcopal. Alumni can also submit personal and professional updates and photos to be included in a future issue by visiting episcopalacademy.org/classnotes. The Episcopal Academy 1785 Bishop White Drive Newtown Square, PA 19073 Office of Communications 484.424.1478 mgodin@episcopalacademy.org Office of Alumni Engagement 484.424.1772 lmaloney@episcopalacademy.org
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Editor-in-Chief: Michele Godin Managing Editor: Jessica More P '34 Contributing Editors: Courtney Brinkerhoff-Rau P ’16 ’19 Kate LaBrake Julia DePillis ’17 Contributing Photographers: Michael Leslie Mark Tassoni Courtney Brinkerhoff-Rau P ’16 ’19 Jessica More P '34 Donna Beardell P '23 Lauren Berry Maloney '10 Design: Open Haus Studio Production: The Chambers Group
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BY THE NUMBERS
Summer at EA During a typical summer, EA’s campus is bustling with activity as hundreds of students descend upon fields, courts, theaters, and classrooms. EA continues to serve as a second home for countless students who excitedly attend specialty day camps, academic courses, enrichment programs, and sports clinics and camps each summer. As it became evident that the COVID-19 pandemic would result in canceling all in-person activities, administrators and faculty rallied to design new, online programs to help keep students active, engaged, and learning.
143
for-credit and enrichment courses offered
3,293
classroom seats filled
303
sections allowed popular courses to run multiple times
85%
of EA students enrolled in summer courses
30
for-credit courses for Upper School students
2,600+
synchronous learning hours
“ These courses have kept me very occupied during summer and during quarantine, and I feel like I am really learning a lot which will prepare me for courses that I will have to take in the future.” Gabriella Burke ‘27, What is a Scientist? course
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Courses were offered from various disciplines, including STEM, classical and world languages, English and language arts, history, performing and visual arts, culinary arts, and athletics. See some of the course offerings below.
Advanced Trigonometry Grades 9-12
Kid-Friendly Foodie Fun Grades K-5
Beginner’s Guide to the Brain Grades 6-9
Magical World of Harry Potter Grades 3-5
Medical Problem Solving Grades 9-12
Zero to Zen: Beginners’ Yoga Grades 3-5
Backyard Biology Grades 7-10
What’s Your Story? Intro to Podcasting Grades 6-8
Financial Literacy Grades 10-12
“ I feel like [Guest Speaker] Dr. Paul Burton gave us insight into the mechanics of the development of vaccines, which is crucial in this unprecedented time. Listening to his expertise in this given topic allowed for some clarification into the uncertainties in the development of the vaccine.” Emily Staid ‘22, Immunology and Microbiology course
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Eighth Grade English Students Escape a Desert Island Learning Bio, Block by Block, with Doc Biology teacher Dr. Katie Malcolm kept class interesting and engaging with her video series, Bio Block with Doc, which she made with the help of her videographer fiancé. Using red licorice, gummy bears, and toothpicks, Dr. Malcolm illustrates how DNA contains the genetic code for all living things. “The videos kept me entertained and attentive while learning biology, which has become my favorite class,” reflected Nardos Solomon ‘23. Scan with your cell phone camera to watch a lesson.
Students in Mark Luff, Hon.’s and Heather Dupont, Hon.’s 8th grade English classes were tasked with working in groups of four to work their way through puzzles to escape the fictional desert island from Lord of the Flies by William Golden. Last year, Mrs. Dupont and Mr. Luff worked together on a real breakout game, which they decided to recreate for a virtual environment last spring.
AROUND THE VIRTUAL GREEN
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The Junto MacBean Bowl Debates Held Virtually In the first round, eight teams debated in virtual breakout rooms on whether the federal government should temporarily mandate the wearing of face masks in public. In the second round, the four winning teams debated whether the United States should abolish the Electoral College. The final two teams debated whether the United States should enact a universal basic income. As is tradition, Junto alumni served as judges and named Lauren Bassett ‘20 and Molly Limaye ‘21 this year’s winners. The fourteen alumni guest judges were: Jessica Bai '16, Meagan Berry '09, Jack Brinker '16, Bella Echevarria '16, Jack Freese '11, Brad Hahn '11, Kyle Henson '11, Schuyler Kresge '18, Jimmy McEntee '11, Michael Quinlan '14, Emma Sargent '18, Wilson Smerconish '16, Grace Smith '19, and Chris Stein '16.
ER Doctor Breaks Down COVID-19 for AP Stats In between her hectic shifts as an emergency room medical resident, Dr. Jackie Anderson visited the AP Statistics virtual classroom. She shared her experiences on the frontline treating patients with COVID-19, statistics associated with the pandemic, and early results of retrospective studies. Students then analyzed the spread of the disease locally and globally, and compared statistics, including incubation time, of the seasonal flu to COVID-19.
Learning About the Life Cycle With the help of butterflies, scarlet runner beans, sunflowers, and baby chicks, Kindergarten students made daily observations, drew pictures, and wrote like scientists in their "Living Things" journals. This year, each teacher kept their caterpillars, and students could observe the changes during their online classes. Students were also each mailed bean and sunflower seeds to grow their own plants, and Teaching Assistant Myonie Williamson set up a live stream video from her house so that families could view the progress of chicks hatching from their eggs.
Chapel Continues to Serve Students In an effort to keep students’ connection to Chapel strong during distance learning, school chaplains posted a few Chapel reflections each week and held virtual Chapel services. The Vestry and Chapel Councils continued to partner with school chaplains to plan and produce inspiring services. Students also continued to complete community service projects, such as sewing or 3-D printing face shields, donating food and other supplies, and sending letters of appreciation to healthcare workers and get-well cards to elderly members of our community. Read more on page 49.
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Quaran-things Documented by Young Photographers Lower School art students were tasked with demonstrating their most essential quarantine items through a Gregg Segal-inspired self-portrait that captures this time in history. Scan with your cell phone camera to see the photographs.
Three Cappie Awards The Domino Club’s fall production of Walk Two Moons won three Cappies awards. Arnie Shiva ‘20 won for Comic Actor, Katie Locke ‘22 won for Lead Actress, and the overall production was awarded “Best Play.”
Perfect Pitch The transition to an online environment this spring did not stop EA’s talented vocalists and musicians from delivering moving performances for the community. Scan with your cell phone camera to watch.
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Dora Khayatt Competition Students submitted paintings, drawings, sculpture, woodworking, and photography that were completed throughout the school year, including pieces made during the shift to remote learning. Scan with your cell phone camera to visit the online gallery to view the artwork and the announcement of this year’s winners.
Fiddler on the Roof Virtual Production The cast and crew of the Domino Club’s spring musical, Fiddler on the Roof, were halfway through rehearsing for the production when campus closed in March. The club worked hard through the remainder of the school year to compile a video with some rehearsal footage and athome performances. Scan with your cell phone camera to watch the virtual production.
EA Boats Continue to Race Virtually “The rowing team is still competing!” explained Varsity Rowing Coach Molly Konopka, Hon. Boat company Rowers Choice set up virtual racing for teams throughout the country this spring. EA’s U19 Boys’ 4x boat won the final round of virtual racing in the Brentwood Race Series. “This virtual ergometer rowing race has reinvigorated the purpose and drive to improve for our team by giving us goals and competition against other schools and clubs,” explained Co-Captain Owen Maier ’20.
Inter-Ac Honors for Two 2020 Grads Caroline Burt ‘20 & Maurcus McDaniel ‘20 were awarded the Inter-Ac Athletic Directors’ Awards for their outstanding play and commitment to academics. Caroline was captain of the tennis, squash, and lacrosse teams and will play lacrosse for Yale University. Maurcus captained the football team and played on the basketball team. He will play football at The University of Pennsylvania.
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Celebrating
THE CLASS OF 2020
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“ THIS IS MY HOME, BUT WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL IS THAT THIS IS OUR HOME.” – JOCELYN ANDREWS, VALEDICTORIAN
For the 136 members of the Class of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic not only cut short on-campus learning, but threatened the loss of treasured milestone events. While everything from spring sports to prom had to be canceled, the Episcopal community knew that Commencement—in some form— must be held. It would have to be delayed a full month due to state restrictions on large gatherings. It would have to look very different than ceremonies of the past to keep families safe. However, the resulting event would be a testament to the grit, resilience, and spirit of our incredible senior class. Greville Haslam Head of School Dr. T.J. Locke welcomed families as they gathered for the 235th Commencement exercises on Saturday, July 11. At this outdoor event, students sat with their parents a safe six-foot distance from other families; trios of chairs dotting the full expanse of the Clark Campus Green on the only sunny day of the weekend. “We are all very proud of you and grateful that each and every one of you came to this school,” shared Dr. Locke. “We have missed you dearly these last few months. A school campus without students is a very lonely and uninteresting place.” Valedictorian Jocelyn Andrews and salutatorian Erin Boyle highlighted the challenges the Class of 2020 has faced and the unique traits that define their class. Jocelyn Andrews told her classmates, “For our class, the rose-colored glasses that so often tint high school memories with a unique nostalgia were pulled off early. The question was, how would we respond? And, as we had long been taught by Episcopal, we responded to defeat with grace.” Erin Boyle recalled the day she toured EA as a prospective student and her four years in Upper School. “I was excited to come to school every day because of the incredible community and sense of home I had, every time I turned around the circle,” recalled Erin. “[It was] the little memories you were making without even knowing you were making them.” Senior members of the Vocal Ensemble serenaded attendees with a moving rendition of Rivers and Roads, and, before presenting 24 senior awards, Head of Upper School Mike Letts, Hon. reminded the class “to always believe in yourselves as much as we believe in you.” “What truly defines our class…and what Episcopal has taught us, is our response to defeats, disappointments, and setbacks. Failing to acknowledge that COVID-19 was a source of various disappointments for our class would be remiss. However, this particular setback, and Episcopal’s response, have made evident so many of EA’s greatest gifts to the Class of 2020,” remarked Jocelyn. “This is my home, but what makes it special is that this is our home. That is a feeling that is very rare, and we are very lucky to have found here…especially at such a young age.” The ceremony ended with an instrumental version of Episcopal, Episcopal. “So much joy, so much school spirit, you have given us indelible memories,” said Dr. Locke. “We look forward to learning even more from you for many years to come. Thank you for all that you have given to our school.” While the Class of 2020’s Commencement exercises looked very different, they achieved their purest purpose. Seniors were finally able to celebrate their shared experiences as EA students—at a distance, but together.
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THEN & NOW:
Classroom Computers The Class of 1970 met with their 3rd grade pen pals over Zoom and discussed how technology has changed at EA over the years.
The 3rd graders welcomed very special guests to their virtual classrooms in May. Four members of the Class of 1970, who had been scheduled to celebrate their 50th Reunion on campus that weekend, were able to meet their pen pals “face-to-face.” Jim Rogers ‘70 visited with the class of Alison Keffer, Hon. Mr. Rogers, whose father, grandfather, and three sons all graduated from Episcopal, was thrilled to meet two of his pen pals in Mrs. Keffer’s class and speak with the rest of the students about the school he loves. The other alumni visitors were Doug Keith ‘70, Ron Rothrock ‘70, and Jim Vick ‘70. The 3rd Grade Pen Pal program began in 2012 with the 3rd grade Class of 2021 and the 50th Reunion Class of 1962. Each year, the students write letters to their assigned pen pal, asking about what school was like 50 years before, and sharing stories about new EA traditions, discussing classroom projects, and inviting the alumni to visit their classrooms each May during Alumni Weekend. Since then, some of the participating alumni enjoyed the experience so much that they have continued the tradition, writing to new third grade students and returning to meet them year after year. This year, the students were fascinated to learn that, though they have become completely dependent on computers in their current virtual classrooms, there were no personal computers for students to use at Episcopal when Mr. Rogers and his classmates were students. He recalled that the General Electric computer housed on the third floor of the Upper School was really a teletype machine that linked up to a computer in Valley Forge that was larger than a house.
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“For the second year in a row Episcopal has secured the use of a General Electric Computer,” Dave Fenimore ’68 wrote in the Scholium in 1968, “and it hardly has the chance to cool off from eight till five.” Students from second through the sixth forms were able to use the rather noisy computer, which cost $30 an hour to operate and was described in the Scholium as a “fascinating tool of modern science.” And, in 1969, History Teacher Mr. Latham, Hon. partnered with the Mathematics Department and McBee Business Solutions to create student and teacher schedules via a computer program, saving countless hours of conflict checking by hand. The process was so new that they ran a series of simulation runs in March to ensure it would work properly. Mr. Rothrock shared with Jennifer Tierney ‘91’s class how different daily life was as these new technologies were emerging. “We didn’t have cell phones or the internet, yet,” Mr. Rothrock said, “I took the train from Bryn Mawr to the Merion campus. If my mom wasn’t there to pick me up, I would use a dime to call her on a payphone.”
Today, it is hard to imagine how schools could operate without technology, especially amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic. As schools around the world were forced to close campuses and transition to an online environment, the use of technology became even more essential in the education sector. Teachers were able to leverage a plethora of technology platforms and software, including Zoom, Google classrooms, Floop, Flipgrid, Studymate, Peergrade, and more, to engage with their students and offer synchronous and asynchronous lessons. Technology has also enabled students to remain connected to one another, even when thousands of miles apart. Students in the 3rd grade were able to video conference with their classmate, Kira, who has been living in China for the year while her mother
was a guest professor in computer science at the Shenyang University of Technology. Students also gathered online regularly for game nights, workout sessions, and more. Though today’s young scholars may not realize this yet, the connections they are building with classmates today at Episcopal may result in unique bonds and lifelong friendships. “All of you know each other very well,” Mr. Rogers said to Mrs. Keffer’s class. “If you can, imagine being 60 years older and still knowing your friends that you know today. That’s what happened to me.” The Class of 1970 is a very tight-knit class and spent the past year eagerly awaiting their 50th Reunion. While the on-campus portion of their Reunion was postponed to Spring 2021, the class enjoyed connecting through a recent virtual reunion to celebrate the milestone.
Jim Rogers '70 visited with the 3rd grade class of Alison Keffer, Hon.
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Celebrating 337 Years of Service to EA Thirteen beloved members of the EA community retired at the end of the school year with a combined 337 years of service. “The dedication and commitment by this group of retiring faculty and staff have been tremendous,” shared Greville Haslam Head of School Dr. T.J. Locke. “We thank them all and wish them joy and happiness in retirement. They will all be greatly missed!”
John Smith, Hon. – Head Athletic Trainer (44 years) As EA’s head athletic trainer, John Smith, Hon. was a permanent fixture on EA’s sidelines, taking care of hundreds of students over the years. He taught physical education, helped to maintain the weight room, and jumped in to assist student-athletes for decades. When John first joined EA at the Merion Campus, 292 student-athletes were under his care. Fortyfour years later that number doubled, as EA Athletics grew to field nine teams each of the three seasons. John was an enthusiastic fan, especially for the football team, and encouraged all student-athletes to display humility in victory and grace in defeat. His sons, John and Kevin, graduated from EA in 2002 and 2005, respectively.
Lynne Hay, Hon. – Upper School History and Psychology Teacher (40 years) Lynne Hay, Hon. was among a small group of early female faculty members who helped pave the way for others at EA. During her tenure, Lynne served many roles and impacted thousands of students. Most recently, she served as an enthusiastic and passionate history and psychology teacher, highly sought-after advisor, and Model UN advisor. Lynne was also the director of admission for 23 years and introduced EA to thousands of families. She has been a guiding mentor for new teachers and a regular on the sidelines and in the theater, cheering on her students. Her children, Catherine ‘03 and “EA lifer” Alex ‘04, attended EA, and Lynne believes she owns more blue and white clothing than the entire Main Line. Lynne and her husband, Tom, dedicated their lives to education and independent schools and inspired their children to continue that tradition.
Tim Kent, Hon. – Classics Teacher, Tennis and Squash Coach (37 years) Tim Kent, Hon. was a quintessential teacher-coach-mentor at EA. “Magister Kent” instructed generations of what he fondly called “young scholars” in Latin and Greek. One long-time colleague shared that Tim always found the best in every student and was “an inspiration to all of us on how to work with teenagers.” A natural coach who developed both athletic talent and core values, Tim also made a lasting impact on EA Athletics. He coached squash and boys’ tennis and taught his players that acting honorably was non-negotiable when representing the Blue and White, both on and off the court. Tim also coached golf and introduced EA to platform tennis (paddle). Affectionately referred to as “TK,” Tim celebrated 10 Inter-Ac championships. Tim met his wife Maude, who recently retired from the Middle School math department, at EA in 1983. Their daughter, Mia, graduated from EA in 2008. 14
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George Wattles, Hon. – Middle School Math and History Teacher and Multi-Sport Coach (35 years) George Wattles, Hon. has inspired thousands of students, mentored countless faculty members, and served as a pillar of the EA community. A true gentleman and scholar, George played many roles during his time at EA. Past history and math students relied on his patient, steady, and routine approach in the classroom. He had a special knack for embracing and celebrating the challenges sometimes faced by Middle School students. George’s passion for athletics translated into a stellar EA coaching career, including lacrosse, track, soccer, and tennis. One of his greatest joys while traveling the country to referee NCAA lacrosse games was running into his former Middle School student-athletes. George’s colleagues describe him as someone who listened deeply and responded with a wealth of experience and an absence of judgment. They also commend him for his brilliant sense of humor and impeccable comedic timing.
Gina Buggy, Hon. – Athletic Director and Varsity Field Hockey Coach (34 years) First hired in 1986 to build EA’s girls’ athletic program, Gina Buggy, Hon. was named the athletic director for both the boys’ and girls’ programs in 1993becoming the first female athletic director in the Inter-Ac League. Under her leadership, EA’s athletics program thrived. EA teams are consistently nationally ranked and have earned countless championship titles. Gina inspired thousands of student-athletes and coaches. She led the varsity field hockey team to 12 Inter-Ac titles and four PAISAA championships. Last spring, Gina received the Michael F. Mayock Distinguished Teacher-Coach Award, which recognizes those individuals who impart the highest level of integrity, professionalism, and concern for the total education of Inter-Ac student-athletes. She has been an enthusiastic supporter on the sidelines, often tucked away from sight to better focus on the players and the action on the field. Gina ends her coaching career with an impressive 478-97-11 record.
Naomi Knecht, Hon. – Middle School Art Teacher (28 years) Naomi Knecht, Hon. spent 28 years cultivating creativity in EA students, leveraging the imagination of students and continually developing whimsical and engaging multi-media projects. Naomi challenged her students to think critically about art and inspired them to create countless beautiful pieces. Her talents were evidenced in the halls of the Middle School that displayed her students’ works. Many of her own beautiful pieces highlight her bright and energetic palette that brings subjects to life. Over the years, Naomi has worn many hats at EA, including parent, teacher, advisor, and acting department chair. She dutifully served as the In Media Res yearbook advisor, working tirelessly to photograph Middle School events and collaborating with students on the yearbook design and layout. Her daughter, Kimberlee, graduated from EA in 2005.
Michele Alfano, Hon. – Lower School Teaching Assistant (24 years) Michele Alfano, Hon. helped to challenge and nurture hundreds of EA’s youngest students in the Lower School. Throughout her career, her students have always come first. Michele is known for her warm and caring nature, along with her pleasant and quiet manner that brought a soothing sense of calm in the classroom. Michele made a point to make all children feel special. The kindness and compassion that she exuded helped make EA’s Lower School a very special place. Michele is looking forward to spending more time with her children, Justin ‘99 and Devin ‘03, and grandchildren. Fall 2020
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Rev. Bert Zug ’78 – Middle School Chaplain (21 years) As an alumnus, past parent, and teacher, Rev. Bert Zug kept Episcopal close for nearly all of his life. Bert has a unique knack and passion for youth ministry, as witnessed throughout his years as Middle School chaplain and religion teacher. He took great pride in teaching every student for all three of their Middle School years. He was especially passionate about working with 8th grade students on their faith papers. He took great joy in helping students explore their feelings and beliefs and assisting them in how to best articulate their faith stories. He also shared his musical talents in Chapel and wowed the community each year during Scrooge Chapel with elaborate costumes and passionate acting. EA’s campus has greatly benefited from his ongoing sustainability work. Bert’s support of the annual Can Drive provided food and other necessities to thousands of needy families. His children, Jamie and Teddy, graduated from EA in 2003 and 2006, respectively.
Rob Trumbull, Hon. – Upper School History Teacher (20 years) Rob Trumbull, Hon. uniquely brought history to life, making it approachable and interesting for his students. Many students who claimed history was not a favorite subject suddenly found themselves intrigued and engaged due to Rob’s passion and instructional approach. In recent years, Rob worked with fellow teachers and the Harvard Business School to closely study the HBS Case Method and developed ways to apply it in high school history classrooms, including his own. He has also served as a beloved and soughtafter advisor. Rob has coached JV baseball and Middle School softball, and he advised the Young Democrats and World Affairs clubs. He worked hard over the years to build an impressive Model UN program. His positive attitude and love for school life have been contagious. His children, Rosie and Jon, graduated from EA in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
Betsy Welch, Hon. – 2nd Grade Teacher (18 years) Betsy Welch, Hon.’s impact on her young students is long-lasting. Scores of former students, who she proudly refered to as “Welchians,” visited annually. Betsy had a gift for meeting each student where they were and finding ways to inspire and empower them to grow as both people and learners. She constantly worked on ways to build maturity and develop leadership skills. Through her calm and steady approach, she found the perfect balance in creating a structured and loving classroom environment. Many students credit Betsy for their love of books and returned to her classroom to read. She was also deeply passionate about community service. From organizing magic marker recycling efforts, to packing up lost and found items for donations, to mobilizing groups of students to make greeting cards for those who are sick or in crisis, Betsy truly lived the Stripes.
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Celebrating 337 Years of Service to EA
Fran McLaughlin, Hon. – Middle School Learning Specialist (15 years) Fran McLaughlin, Hon. helped countless students successfully navigate their Middle School years as the division’s learning specialist. She worked closely with students, faculty, and parents to help ensure success inside and outside of the classroom. Fran often put in extra hours when a student needed to meet one-on-one, sometimes with a weekly meeting before school, and always was willing to go above and beyond. She worked hard to find ways to relate to every individual student as their biggest fan and strongest advocate. With her caring and thoughtful approach, Fran worked closely with faculty to find the best ways to engage a student. Her patient and giving nature inspired those around her, and her positive energy and sense of humor brightened everyone’s day. Her work training puppy Einstein, through the Seeing Eye program, also brought much-added joy to campus.
Ellie Duffy – Lower School Administrative Assistant (12 years) Ellie Duffy dedicated her time at EA to make sure all Lower School students were safe and well cared for. From the first day of school to the last, she faithfully welcomed students with a fun greeting to start the day. Ellie’s love for all of EA’s students was evident by her warm smile. She took the time to get know each one and their family. Students were always her first priority. Ellie approached her responsibilities with perfection and precision. She was a bright light for many, always displaying ultimate school spirit and embracing and nurturing the joy of Lower School. Along with Ellie’s kind demeanor, her creative Halloween costumes will be especially missed!
Tracie Lee – Faculty Recruitment Coordinator (9 years) Tracie Lee was the first point of contact for many of EA’s new employees. She considered everyone at EA her family, and her connections to the Blue and White run deep. As a parent, Tracie quickly immersed herself and invested countless volunteer hours to help strengthen the school. She helped in classrooms and the library, welcomed new families, planned community gatherings, coordinated fundraisers, and much more. Tracie served many leadership roles in the EAPA, including president, and provided invaluable counsel to school leaders. Her husband Ned ‘79 and sons Zander ‘08 and Mac ‘10 are alumni. Tracie’s commitment to EA, strong relationships, and impeccable interpersonal skills led to her officially joining the staff as faculty recruitment coordinator nearly a decade ago. Since that time, she has helped guide and welcome more than 300 new faculty and staff members.
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As COVID-19 continues to spread, healthcare workers across the nation are putting the wellbeing of others before their own. Many of these “healthcare heroes” are members of the EA alumni community. These alumni inspire us with their vigor and selflessness, and through sharing their stories, they give us a small look into what it means to be a healthcare worker during these unprecedented times. To see the full-length features and additional alumni stories, please visit episcopalacademy.org/healthcare-heroes.
Nicole Cannon ‘17 Nikki was inspired to become a nurse after watching her grandfather suffer through complications from uncontrolled diabetes in the final years of his life. While she is currently overseen by a registered nurse doing routine patient care assignments, she knows that the warmth of a friendly face in the hospital can make a world of difference to a patient, especially one who is isolated from friends and family in the current healthcare environment. When we spoke to Nikki in April, Jefferson, like many hospitals, was not allowing any patients to have visitors. “This is very challenging for many patients as they may feel lonely and socially isolated,” Nikki shared, “Keeping these patients company, taking the time to talk to them, and getting them in contact with their family members and other loved ones really improves their time in the hospital.”
Nursing Student, Drexel University Surgical Trauma Unit Nurse Extern, Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
While many of us have been able to quarantine at home with family, many healthcare workers cannot. Part of staying safe for Nikki means eliminating face-to-face interactions with her loved ones while she’s working in the hospital and living in a one-bedroom apartment on Drexel’s campus. “When I come home from work, I immediately shower, wash my scrubs, leave my work shoes by the front door, and wipe down any materials I had at work with me with disinfectant (phone, ID badge, pen, etc.).” She is grateful that she has technology to help her keep connected with her family and friends.
David F. Friedman, MD '75 In his clinical role as the associate director of transfusion, David performs exchange transfusions and cell collections for his pediatric oncology patients, services that cannot be postponed or canceled due to the pandemic. Luckily, CHOP has not experienced the same shortages of other hospitals in the region. “Thankfully, children are less severely affected than adults,” said David. “CHOP has not been overwhelmed or even highly stressed by the onslaught of sick patients that adult hospitals are seeing.”
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
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David had the following message for the EA community. “If you are a person who knows they had COVID-19 infection, has recovered, and could otherwise be a blood donor, you should consider donating.” The antibodies in the blood of recovered patients have begun to be used by doctors to fight the virus in current COVID-19 patients. To learn more, you can fill out a Donor Eligibility Form on the American Red Cross website.
J. Robert Williams, Jr., MD ‘72 From mid-March through the end of May, Robert cared for patients in intensive care units that were full of COVID-19 patients. As a resident in Thomas Jefferson University’s Internal Medicine program, he saw his first HIV case in 1982. “At that time, we didn’t know what it was and had no idea how to treat it,” he said. Decades later, the present COVID-19 pandemic reminds him a bit of the HIV/ AIDS epidemic. “In those early years, we often felt helpless and confused like we sometimes do today,” he shared. “Clinical studies are scarce and information is primarily observational right now. We often find ourselves trying things out of sheer desperation.” Robert—like all health care providers this past spring—was stunned at the ineffectiveness of many standard treatments to provide any relief for his patients who entered into complete respiratory failure. “My advice to everyone is to respect this illness.” he said. “It catches you off guard and can be very lethal.” Robert and other health experts attribute the summer decrease in COVID-19 cases and deaths in our area to the many sacrifices each of us has made and continues to make. “People’s lives have turned upside down, some lost jobs and businesses while trying to prevent the spread of infection,” he said, “They are the true heroes in this pandemic, the ones who protect their fellow citizens.”
Consulting Physician, Infectious Diseases, Jefferson Health New Jersey
Jeffrey Kuch, MD ‘66 Jeff typically sees many geriatric patients; however, the coronavirus pandemic has made it more difficult to conduct this ongoing primary care. “Half my patients are over 65,” Jeff shared. “They are sheltering in place.” Jeff and his colleagues no longer see most of their routine patients in person. The VA has been encouraging patients with existing routine appointments to use the VA appointments tool to request a telehealth appointment online. But as immune-compromised veterans have expressed fear of going to the VA for care at this time, the VA is also encouraging patients who need urgent care not to delay seeking treatment. Concerns have begun to emerge that treatment delays and postponed preventative care have already impacted the health of older Americans. This past spring, when patients needed to be seen in-person at the Clinic, Jeff and his colleagues utilized a triage tent to screen them for COVID-19 symptoms, and if COVID-19 was suspected, the patients were examined in their cars. With his family visiting and businesses closed, the extra family time has been the silver lining for Jeff. “There has been plenty of evening and weekend time for projects. I really love what I do and intend to keep going as long as I can help my patients,” he said.
Primary care physician, Veterans Affairs Clinic in North Carolina
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Loren Mead, MD ‘08 Since March, Loren has been treating COVID patients and training alongside physicians in the emergency room and intensive care unit. Witnessing his colleagues’ hard work and dedication to their patients—while putting their own health at risk—he was moved to co-found a nonprofit, Abaton, with the mission to protect health care workers and first responders in low resource settings.
Resident Physician, Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and President, Abaton
Since the pandemic began in March, prices for N-95 masks and other PPE have sky-rocketed. Using open-source technologies, Loren and his colleagues have developed disinfection devices, such as the Arca, which received emergency use authorization by the FDA. The Acra uses aerosolized hydrogen peroxide to clean PPE at 1/60th the cost of commercially available products. Abaton is working to continue to expand access to PPE disinfection technologies to rural and low-resource communities, community hospitals, nursing facilities, and first responders. “The outpouring of support Abaton has received has been heartwarming during an otherwise tumultuous year,” shared Loren. “I am grateful to the numerous EA alumni who have already given donations to help our mission to protect frontline workers.”
Gregory D. Snyder, MD, MBA '05 While Greg is currently providing care for COVID-19 patients who may require intensive care and ventilation, his expertise in telehealth has also enabled him to work toward keeping as many patients as possible out of the hospital. “I am designing a COVID strategy for a company called Medically Home that provides acute, inpatient-level care in people’s homes,” he shared. “Now more than ever, this is top-of-mind for patients and providers.”
Attending Physician, General Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts
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For Greg, this pandemic has brought into focus how delicate and fragile our globalized ecosystem has become and how it has forced young people to have an understanding of the role they play in public health. The pandemic “highlights how individual actions lead directly or indirectly to health outcomes for others,” Greg said. “My age cohort may not feel as ill as others will with COVID-19— although we are seeing cases of many young patients with severe disease— but our actions directly or indirectly affect our parents and grandparents.” Greg is prouder now than ever before to be a doctor and to work alongside his courageous colleagues. “COVID-19 has tested and will continue to test everyone in unfortunate ways, but I truly believe that there is a reason for optimism despite terrible events. My personal life has demonstrated this to me, as has my professional life. I look forward to continuing to care for patients, together with the families and loved ones they are so fortunate to have, as we go through this event together.”
Jon Stallkamp, MD ‘92 P ‘24 Jon is currently one of three physicians who rotate as the incident commander for Main Line Health’s COVID-19 response. In this role, he leads a team of 12 who coordinate the health system’s logistics, source personal protective equipment (PPE), set infectious disease policies, make modifications to electronic health records, deploy technology to help patients keep in touch with loved ones, streamline processes, educate staff, and help care for and manage the health of employees who test positive for the virus. “Your heartfelt gratitude has been the greatest type of support we have received,” Jon said, “But, one other thing I would ask is that if you can, please support your local hospital.” While hospitals are pouring resources into the fight against COVID-19, they are losing revenue from procedures and patient visits that have had to be canceled or postponed to make room for COVID-19 patients. “All hospitals around the country have lost a huge part of their income stream,” he said. “While the government has offered some support, it will never make up for what has been lost.” That being the case, his team has not been discouraged. In fact, they have been more devoted than ever. “I am incredibly inspired by my fellow healthcare workers who continually put themselves in harm’s way to help care for others during this very difficult time. When I see so much caring and amazing work provided by everyone—from the bedside nurse to the environmental service worker to the physician—it reinforces why I picked medicine as a career,” Jon said.
Regional Vice President of Medical Affairs for Main Line Health, Bryn Mawr Hospital and Lankenau Medical Center
Alexandra Hahn, MD '09 In late March, COVID-19 cases were rising faster in Louisiana than anywhere else in the world. Within days of admitting their first coronavirus patient at Ochsner, Allie's daily life changed dramatically. Allie and her other fellow residents were quickly transitioned to the 100 new ICU beds and tasked with caring for COVID patients for a week at a time. As surgical residents, she said, they were somewhat prepared for the transition given their extensive surgical ICU experience. But, "caring for these patients is quite different than caring for our traditional post-surgical ICU patients," she said. Despite being mentally and physically drained, Allie continued to feel incredibly blessed. "I'm so fortunate to be surrounded by so many incredible doctors, amazing and tireless nurses, fearless respiratory therapists, and all of the people who have stepped up and out of their traditional line of work to serve however the hospital needed," she said. "I have been nothing but impressed and proud of my co-residents and friends. As always, this community has come together— even in a time when we cannot be physically close—and found ways to support each other."
General Surgery Resident, Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana
Fall 2020
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In Memoriam* 1940 Forrest L. Gager, Jr. July 31, 2020
1952
Ross L. Campbell March 24, 2020
1958
John M. Knight, Jr. June 26, 2020
1944
Robson L. Greer, Jr. August 14, 2020
1952
Craig A. TenBroeck April 20, 2020
1963
Stephen V.R. Cammann January 15, 2020
1945
Edward S. Buckley, IV September 23, 2019
1953
Capt. E. Schuyler Lott, III July 28, 2015
1968
William P. Lander June 2, 2020
1947
Hayward K. Kelley November 1, 2016
1955
George Challis November 28, 2019
1975
Jeffrey V. Stanton June 20, 2020
1948
Arthur Judson, II May 1, 2020
1955
Dana T. Lerch February 18, 2020
Honorary Alumni
1949
Glen N. Gordon, Jr. May 15, 2020
1955
William M. Rawle April 19, 2020
1949
Hunter G. Hannum April 5, 2020
1957
Alfred R. Elwert March 24, 2020
1949
George R. Wallis February 18, 2019
1957
Edward T. Goodman July 25, 2020
1951
David Acton July 27, 2020
1957
John J. Stetzer, III July 31, 2020
Susan E. Norcross, Hon. March 27, 2020 Rev. James A. Trimble, Hon. September 7, 2020 * Notification of passing was received between March 30, 2020 and September 8, 2020.
CALL FOR CLASS NOTES
Please visit episcopalacademy.org/classnotes to submit your Class Notes by October 30 to be included in the next issue of Connections magazine.
SAVE THE DATE
Classes ending in 0,1, 5, and 6 are invited to reunion together during Alumni Weekend 2021 (Thursday, April 29 - Saturday, May 1, 2021). Visit episcopalacademy.org/aw21 for more details as they become available in the coming months. For now, please save the date for what is sure to be a very special weekend.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Episcopal’s Alumnifire platform is the best way to connect with members of the EA community. Alumni, parents, past parents, faculty, staff, and friends of EA are welcome to network and leverage the connections we each have to help community members thrive professionally. Visit episcopalacademy.alumnifire.com to sign up.
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The Episcopal Academy
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS 24
Financials 26 The Advocate Council: Leadership Gifts to Operations
29
Alumni Gifts
36
Parent Gifts
42
Parent of Alumni Gifts
44
Student & Grandparent Gifts
45
Supporting Remote Teaching & Learning
46 48 49 50 53 54
Faculty & Staff Gifts Friend Gifts & Gifts in Kind EA Students Give Back EITC & OSTC Scholarship Support Gifts to Capital & Endowed Funds Named Funds
60
Gifts from Corporations, Foundations,
61
Memorial & Honorary Gifts
66
The Bishop William White Society
68 70 72
& Organizations
The Episcopal Academy Parents' Association Gifts to Horizons at EA Leadership
To view the remainder of this publication electronically, please contact alumni@episcopalacademy.com for a PDF containing the 2019-2020 Annual Report. "ALUMNI HOUSE"
BY: LINDSEY DEMYUN '21
Fall 2020
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