Governor's, The Archon Magazine

Contents

Education for Life Experiencing Government at Work

Gary Satow’s innovative approach to AP US Government and Politics brings our system of govern ment to life by allowing students to engage with and experience government in action firsthand.

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50 Women of Govs Her Story in Her Words

The 50 Women of Govs project shares the unique stories of Governor’s women—students, faculty, staff, and friends— celebrating their courage, passions, leadership, and impact on the Govs community.

WITH TRUE COURAGE 38 BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

Discover how With True Courage, The Campaign for Governor’s is fueling innovation for the next generation at Govs

43

FOR OTHERS

James Tikellis ’72— Investing in our bright future

FROM

Megan Tran’s Award Winning Essay

The Deafening Silence of Burdens

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are the longest running, most presti gious recognition program for creative teens. Megan Tran ’22 won a coveted Gold Key for her essay, “The Deafening Silence of Burdens.”

ONLY AT GOVS

around campus

MILESTONE

PUBLISHER

Peter H. Quimby, Ph.D. ’85, P’14

Head of School

EDITORS

Lindsay McPherson Batastini

Director of Marketing & Communications

Ola Russell P’21,’23

Associate Director of Marketing & Communications

Caley S. Lynch

Assistant Director of Communications

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bridget Burns

Emily Cretella

Kristen Walsh

COPY EDITOR

Liz Pease

Sadagursky/MCC

ACADEMY ARCHIVIST

Sharon Slater P’16,’20,’24

CARDINAL RULES

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Porter Gifford

Carly Gillis

Jackson Hurd-Messom ’22

Tom Kates Paul Rutherford William Tangorra

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

Leslie Dickey

DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI & PARENT ENGAGEMENT

Samantha Howson P’17

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

TEACH AND LEAD

Meet senior Hanna Freund ’23

Meet Tracy Stickney P’23,’26, science teacher and varsity field hockey coach

Governor’s, The Archon Magazine is published two times a year by The Governor’s Academy. Letters are welcome from alumni, parents, and friends of the Academy.

Cover: Environmental science teacher Erika Mitkus was appointed the inaugural director of the Bass Institute in spring 2022. Read the story on page 38.

Letter from Dr. Quimby

Just ten short years ago we launched our celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Academy’s founding. Many of you will recall that celebration as a wonderful reflection on the rich history of the Academy and the far-sighted individuals who played a part in making Govs the great school it is today. The school’s very first teacher, Master Samuel Moody, was a visionary—it’s said that he shocked his students and the community when he hired a teacher for dancing! But Moody was also a tireless and inspiring instructor whose graduates would go on to play leading roles in founding our new nation.

In celebrating the Academy’s 200th anniversary in 1963, then Headmaster Val Wilkie highlighted the need to continue to innovate—“to stand still is to fall behind,” said Wilkie—and launched the school’s first major fundraising campaign, which funded key campus renovations, new facilities, and initiatives. He also ushered in the first class of women, launching an exciting new era in the long history of our school.

Governor’s has always embraced change. It’s in our DNA to see what’s possible, challenge ourselves, embrace new ideas, and innovate. When Governor Dummer bequeathed his 450-acre farm on the banks of the Parker River to start our school, he knew the value and potential of this fertile farmland surrounded by salt marsh, if not its ecological importance. Back in 2013, I committed to ensuring that the Academy would continue to innovate and develop as the finest school of its kind in the nation. Now, just ten years later, we are poised to open the doors on a state-of-the-art research facility on the banks of the Parker River, and in response to the challenges of a global pandemic, we have identified creative solutions to problems and leveraged new technologies in ways that will forever enhance our curriculum and pedagogy.

In this issue you will read about faculty member Gary Satow, who teaches his students by having them participate in local government; and Bass Institute Director Erika Mitkus’s vision for using the Bill ’67 and Peter ’71 Alfond Coastal Research Center to reimagine curricular innovation at the Academy. It is gratifying to see students’ passion for learning ignite when they experience place-based education.

As we continue to meet the challenges of tomorrow, I hope you’ll notice that our magazine has evolved as well. Our updated masthead—Governor’s, The Archon Magazine—and refreshed design reflect the educational excellence and strength of community that is embodied in our school name—honoring our extraordinary legacy while declaring our forward momentum, and the joy and spirit of possibility within our Governor’s community.

This is an exciting time for our community. We continue to aim high, invest in the future, and lay the foundation for future visionaries to discover new ideas that will change our school, and our world, for the better.

Peter H. Quimby, Ph.D. ’85, P’14 Head of School

Right: Annual Cardinal & White Day football game—a cherished Govs tradition

Only at Govs

1 Dr. Emily Allen’s AP Physics students taught Bresnahan Elementary School students about the physics of sound as exhibitors at the STEAM Expo.

2 Sophie Harris ’25 and Nyla Palmer ’25 studied together in Nannie B. Phillips dorm.

3 Members of the Class of 2022 jump the wall, a time-honored Govs tradition.

4 The first girl won the Morse Flag in 1977, six years after girls were first admitted to GDA. Since then, 27 girls have been distinguished with this honor, including Maura Fiorenza ’22.

5 Students in the sustainability afternoon program partnered with Essex County Greenbelt to build an osprey nest platform on the banks of the Parker River, across from the future site of the Alfond Coastal Research Center.

6 On Memorial Day, decorated veteran and Govs Associate Director of Auxiliary Services Rafael Rivera spoke to students about the importance of honor, duty, and service.

7 Govs organic garden supplies our dining hall with with vege tables throughout the growing season. Students planted seeds indoors and set the seedlings out once the temperatures were warm enough for the tender young crops to thrive.

The Milestone

Speaking for the Bees

In the fall of 2019, Govs biology teacher Roberta (Bert) McLain P’07,’09 and students in AP Environmental Studies were about to embark on a novel experiment funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). McLain and the students were searching for a way to protect America’s bees and crops from a potentially catastrophic threat—Colony Collapse Disorder, a phenomenon in which entire colonies of bees disappear or die, leaving the queen behind. The threat isn’t just to our nation’s honey supply; the USDA estimates that one in three mouthfuls of food we eat depends on pollinators, primarily bees.

As part of a USDA research effort, McLain and her students were feeding some of the bees in the Govs apiary medicated patties that scientists hoped would combat the Nosema fungi, which scientists suspect may be part of the reason for Colony Collapse Disorder. The pandemic disrupted the research, but McLain reports that preliminary test results show promise. “We confirmed that after three years, the freeze-dried probiotic bacterium innoculant in the medicated patties worked, in that it survived and flourished in the bees. It’s a little hard to confirm too much because it was one experimental hive and one control hive but the results look very promising.

“We’ll repeat the study this fall and report our findings to the USDA,” says McLain. “It’s gratifying that despite the interruptions in our research, present and past students are still highly engaged in this real-world research,” she adds.

Being Muslim at Govs

Faith is important to Arissa Ibrahim ’24 and her family; it’s woven into their everyday life. “I turn to my faith in moments of despair and stress and it inspires me to help others,” she says. She is glad to see growing curiosity about Islam and Muslim traditions, and Ramadan is especially important to her: “I love celebrating with my family and friends. We often go to open houses to celebrate and have lots of different dishes,” she adds. But too often, the perception of Muslims is negative and people can be wary of Muslims and make assumptions. “This has happened to me at Govs and in my hometown,” says Ibrahim. “People make assumptions about the association between Islam and terrorism. The root of most of these misconceptions is the lack of education and awareness of Islam and its history,” she adds. “I think our community would be more enlightened and open-minded if there were more opportunities to experience and cele brate different cultures and their holidays. It would decrease misunderstanding, bring the community closer together, and allow us to celebrate everyone.”

In fact, Ibrahim, joined by fellow practicing Muslims Amina Cifric ’24 and Ryana Riaz ’24, hosted an open event on campus last spring inviting our school community to learn more about their faith. “Arissa, Amina, and Ryana did an excellent job of debunking some common misconcep tions about Muslims and Islam,” said Dean of Multicultural Education Edward Carson. “They created a safe and open environment and encouraged people to ask questions. We learned a lot in just one session, particularly about Ramandan, and that Muslims are quite diverse and have flexibility in how they choose to worship.”

Carson and Ibrahim are spearheading a new Muslim affinity group this fall for anyone who identifies as Muslim or supports Islamic culture and values. “This affinity group will be a wonderful way for more students to learn about Islam from peers—something they might not otherwise experience in a classroom,” says Carson. “We look forward to welcoming more members of our community into the conversation.”

Opposite

“I turn to my faith in moments of despair and stress and it inspires me to help others.”

Arissa Ibrahim ’24

Spring Concert

Govs large ensemble groups, including the Jazz Band, Academy Orchestra, Academy Singers, and The First, performed a variety of classical, jazz, and contemporary selections. It was a thrilling performance by our student musicians and faculty and a bittersweet farewell to Arts Department Chair and Director of Choral Music Currie Joya Huntington, who conducted his last concert at the Academy. The final piece in the concert was a thrilling combined choral-orchestral performance of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” from The Sound of Music performed by The First and the Academy Singers along with guest faculty and staff singers and the entire Academy Orchestra. During his ten-year run at Govs, Mr. Huntington elevated everything he touched and dedicated himself wholly to the betterment of the Academy and its students. Our community will miss him dearly and wishes him well in his next endeavor.

Top: Arts Department Chair and Director of Choral Music Currie Joya Huntington conducted the final piece performed by The First and the Academy Singers along with guest faculty and staff singers and the entire Academy Orchestra.

Bottom: Amalka Stuck

Spring Dance Show

Govs dance company put on a captivating and emotionally grip ping spring dance show, Increase, choreographed by dance faculty

to a wide range of music including Nina Simone, Reyna Biddy, Abby Anderson, Ricky Martin, Peter Gregson, and Beyoncé. Special thanks to Govs Theater Tech and film crews, the A Cappella Club, and the Arts Department faculty.

Spring Drama

In years prior, Govs Spring Drama has been a studentdirected show. This spring, we returned to that grand tradition by presenting “The One-Act Play that Goes Wrong” by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields. It’s never easy to intentionally make mistakes and pretend to be a bad actor, but the actors studied hard and achieved it spec tacularly. The Spring Theater Tech Crew also executed an incredibly technical play perfectly. The show was produced by Arts faculty member Paul Wann P’94, directed by Erickson Kuo ’22, and assistant directed by Alex Gibbs ’22.

Govs dance company performs at the Theodore G. Bergmann Theater for students, families, friends, faculty, and staff.

Above: Alex Gibbs ’22

Welcome, New Board Members

Rob DeLena ’87, P’21

Rob DeLena ’87, P’21 gradu ated from Trinity College and Northeastern University School of Law. After practicing corporate law for several years at Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP and Peabody & Arnold, DeLena founded a small recruiting company called Legal Staffing Solutions, and for over twenty years has advised law firms, lawyers, and law students on legal hiring. He served as Academy President during his senior year, received the Governor’s Alumnus of the Year award in 2019, and served as Governor’s Alumni Council President from 2017–2022. DeLena lives in Sudbury, Massachusetts with his wife Mary Beth P’21, daughter Abigail ’21, and son Ryan.

Christina Gentile P’25

Christina Gentile P’25 graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, Georgetown University Law Center, and University of Massachusetts Lowell’s School of Education. Gentile has extensive experience in the area of special education law, including working at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, acting as a Guardian Ad Litem in New Hampshire, and conducting numerous special education law trainings and presen tations. Most recently, she was the Director of Student Services for a Massachusetts north shore school district. Gentile lives in West Newbury, Massachusetts with her husband Jason Gesing P’25 and sons Henry ’25 and Harry.

Leslie L. Lacy ’91

Leslie Lacy ’91 graduated from Lafayette College and Louisiana State University Law. As a chil dren’s attorney for Mental Health Advocacy Service in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Lacy has been the voice for over 1,000 children in foster care. In addition, she brightens children’s smiles through Fostering Hope Louisiana, the nonprofit she founded with her husband, Dr. Fred Lacy, which procures orthodontic braces for children in foster care. Lacy is the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Legal Advocate Award from the National Association of Counsel for Children and the 2021 Governor’s Non Sibi Sed Aliis award. Lacy lives in Prairieville, Louisiana with her husband and three teenage daughters.

Evan Trent ’98

Evan Trent ’98 graduated from the University of Chicago (BA and MBA). He serves as COO of HBR Consulting, leading the firm’s information technology, legal, marketing, and talent teams.

Over the past fifteen years, Trent has served in a variety of senior management roles for startups, private equity portfolio companies, and publicly traded corporations. He was selected as a 2018 fellow for Leadership Greater Chicago and serves as chairman of the board for Open Books, and chair of the governance committee and board member for The Arts & Business Council of Chicago. Trent lives in Chicago, Illinois with his wife Kerry Walsh.

TRUSTEES OF THE GOVERNOR’S ACADEMY

James M. Pierce ’72, P’08, President

James L. Rudolph ’68, P’05,’12, Vice President

Elizabeth Tuthill Farrell ’84, P’14,’17,’18,’22, Secretary

Steven G. Shapiro ’74, P’09, Treasurer

William L. Alfond ’67

William H. Brine, III ’80, P’09,’14

Byung Soo Baik P’18,’23

Frank Cousins P’20

Colin Cross ’74

Rob DeLena ’87, P’21

Jonathan J. Doyle P’08,’09,’19

Milan Gary ’12, Alumna Trustee

Christina Gentile P’25

Phillip S. Gillespie P’22,’25

Stephanie Ginsberg ’85, P’20

Lucy Armstrong Henkes ’87, P’21,’23

Stephen G. Kasnet ’62, P’95

Leslie L. Lacy ’91

Mitzi Lawlor P’19,’21

Karen Ruth McAlmon, MD, FAAP P’13

Thomas M. Mercer, Jr. ’61

Jen Migliore ’10, Alumna Trustee

Paul Nardone ’86, P’19

Molly Scharfe Prinn ’95, P’23,’25

Spencer L. Purinton ’75, P’13,’14,’20

Peter H. Quimby ’85, P’14, ex officio

Archie Seale ’93

Evan M. Trent ’98

Saundra E. Watson ’93

ALUMNI COUNCIL

Saundra E. Watson ’93, President

John Heald ’64, Vice President

Allison Williams ’89, Vice President

Ariel Aggarwal ’09

Sean Backus ’18

Namita Bhattacharya ’15

Jonathan Bird ’10

Rob Curran ’02

Amy Daniels ’92

Eliza Dorsey ’14

Patrick Farrell ’14

Naomi Fink ’99

George Freimarck ’72

Daria Grayer ’00

Jennifer Migloire ’10, Alumna Trustee

Andy Ramirez ’98

Pam Toner ’74

Angela VanArsdale ’03, ex officio

Chris Webster ’09

Jennifer Wong ’04

Holly Zheng ’18

Abigail DeLena ’21, Collegiate Representative

Ethan Stern ’22, Collegiate Representative

Generations

EDUCATION

“Tell me and I forget; teach me and I may remember; involve me and I will learn.” This adage has never been truer than in Gary Satow’s innovative approach to AP US Government and Politics. He brings our system of government to life by allowing students to experience government in action firsthand.

FOR LIFE

GARY SATOW WANTS YOU TO CARE ABOUT SOMETHING

As long as you understand politics, you can see politics anywhere.

That’s what Associate Academic Dean and history teacher Gary Satow set out to instill in AP US Government students when the class originated in 2017. Since then, the course has evolved into one of the most vibrant examples of experiential, placebased learning on The Governor’s Academy campus.

“Beyond checking off AP curriculum requirements, beyond learning about branches of government and rules and regu lations, I want students to understand the important role government and politics play in all of our lives,” Satow said.

It’s a class that both challenges student intellect and encourages legitimate engage ment—and it all began out of student interest. “A group of students wanted AP Government offered in senior year,” said Satow. “I’ve always been interested in government and politics, so I jumped at the opportunity.”

Satow quickly realized, however, that the standard AP content was somewhat repet itive of prior Govs history courses—which

include Global Citizenship, World History, and US History, among others—and much was intuitive and culturally embedded in student experiences. “I recognized that I had a lot of time and space to be creative,” Satow said.

He began expanding the curriculum beyond AP requirements to incorporate current world events, as well as local and state politics. He created “Election Tuesdays” (“Pick any random Tuesday and there’s some sort of election happening in the country that we can review,” he said); began following major international elec tions; and opened discussions on global conflicts and their connections to America’s political incentives and foreign policies.

“We never waste a good opportunity to hit pause and connect what we’re studying to what’s happening in the world,” Satow said.

Through it all, Satow aims to make politics relevant and tangible. “We look at political processes and actions at every government level, all the way to the local level, where we can see these decisions in action and understand how they have a real impact on our lives,” he said.

“I TELL STUDENTS THAT GOVERNMENT CAN BE MESSY, AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN’T WORK IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE MAJORITY. HOWEVER, AS THE PRIMARY STAKEHOLDER IN YOUR OWN LIFE, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT, TO BE OBEDIENT WHEN NECESSARY, AND ALSO DISOBEDIENT WHEN APPROPRIATE.”

GARY SATOW

The class has covered everything from gun violence, to food nutrition labels, to plastic bag bans in Newburyport. They’ve attended town meetings and local budget referendums. One year, he concluded the course by exploring court cases and lawsuits involving independent schools. Students examined precedent cases and reviewed Govs student handbook and enrollment contracts to see how the school would fare in a similar case.

“I asked the students, ‘if you were a judge, how would you decide this case, based on the precedent?’,” Satow said. “The kids really dug in and enjoyed it.”

Another way Satow helps students expe rience politics? By bringing politics directly to the classroom.

Each year, as part of Govs Visiting Professional Seminar Series, Massachusetts Republican State Representative James Kelcourse works directly with students to provide hands-on experience with state

Massachusetts Republican State Representative James Kelcourse works with students to provide hands-on experience with government, including access to and insights from fellow state representatives, state senators, and many other public service leaders.

As of the printing of this issue, James Kelcourse is a former State Representative, and now a member of the Massachusetts Parole Board.

government—and he brings in his own guest speakers, such as Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs Beth Card, and Democratic State Senator Diana DiZoglio, to provide additional perspectives.

“Working with students at The Governor’s Academy is something I look forward to, and a favorite part of my week,” said Kelcourse.

“The students are engaged and always ask lots of great questions, and the ideas they come up with help me better serve the communities I represent at the state level.”

Students learn about legislative priorities, such as special education funding, green initiatives, and transportation. They conduct scholarly research on peer-reviewed articles and develop proposals for bills or earmarks for the state budget related to these legisla tive priorities.

“Students take the research in whatever direction they find meaningful and really pursue the change they want to see in the

Gary Satow engages his students in student-centered, discussion-based classes. He sees his role as that of a facilitator, opening new lines of inquiry driven by students’ interests and curiosity.

world,” said Satow. “It’s been a wonderful way for our kids to actually touch the government.”

In past years, students have explored food insecurity, how it correlates with mental health, and how to invest in solu tions. Others used their own experiences during the COVID pandemic to advocate for increased funding for public school counselors. One student even found a peer-reviewed study about using artificial oyster reefs to mitigate storm surge damage on beaches. She proposed an earmark, and it made it into the final state budget.

“James Kelcourse helps reinforce to students that government does work—and that government is really important. I want them to recognize that a lot of the things we see around us are a result of government funding,” said Satow.

As part of this understanding, Satow’s personal goal is to make voters out of all Govs 18-year-olds. “Every other year is [a federal] election year, so we try to get the kids involved,” he said. “I enjoy helping students register to vote, and getting them informed on the issues.”

During an election, students can access shared resources about each election, the registration process, precinct information, voter information, and candidate details, down to the local level.

“Kids appreciate having easy access to this information, because voting for the first time can be pretty intimidating—especially if you’re looking at a big ballot with a bunch of names you don’t recognize. What do these people stand for? What are their poli cies? We try to make it a little easier for them to understand,” he said.

Satow also wants students to recognize that while government is not perfect, it plays an essential role. “I tell students that government can be messy, and sometimes it doesn’t work in the best interest of the majority,” he said. “However, as the primary stakeholder in your own life, it is your

CURRENT AND PAST STUDENT ACTIVITIES: Voter Information

In election years, research candidates, ballot questions, registration, precinct information, and absentee voting

Legislative Priorities

Delve into critical topics ranging from food insecurity to gun violence to environmental concerns

Town Meetings

Understand the warrant of issues that go before the town and watch the process unfold in a directdemocracy format

Supreme Court

Examine cases that have been argued but not decided

responsibility to understand government, to be obedient when necessary, and also disobedient when appropriate.”

That’s why Satow believes it’s equally important to teach students about their own civil liberties. “I want students to know what rights they have in real-life situations,” he said. “One of the core values of government is critical thinking, and if all we’re doing is looking at our government and talking about its branches and checks and balances, we’re not really doing our job.”

“Mr. Satow genuinely cares about his students and loves the material he teaches,” said student Ceceilia Rhodes ’22. “It’s a very balanced mix of historical and modern events, and the class is mostly discussions. It has given me a lot more hope for our government.”

Satow hopes students leave his classroom as two things: lifelong voters and citizens who care about something.

“They don’t need to care about everything, but they need to care about something. And it doesn’t need to be from my world view—it needs to be from their heart,” he said. “They need to care about something enough to take action, whether that be donating money, marching, becoming more informed, or getting a job in the field. They just need to care.”

As for Satow, he’s putting these lessons into practice. “I’m here because I care about education and about young people. That’s what’s in my heart, and that’s what energizes me. I think the students can sense that.”

HER STORY IN HER WORDS.

Begun in April 2022 in honor of the anniversary of the first women students at the Academy, the 50 Women of Govs project shares the unique stories of Governor’s women—students, faculty, staff, and friends—and celebrates their courage and the challenges they faced, their hard work and the passions they discovered, their leadership and the impact they had on the Govs community. The project showcases the diversity of thought, backgrounds, and experiences of women who have called Byfield home over the last five decades. Through June 2023, we will share their stories in our magazine, on our website, in our newsletter, on social media, and in spaces on campus. Enjoy the second magazine installment of 50 Women of Govs stories.

AMY (RUSSELL) BONNEROT ’89

Bonnerot’s passion for running began on the trails in Byfield. She lives in Chicago with her husband and daughter.

GOVS

One of my favorite things was learning the skills to be a student athlete. When I went on to Boston College and ran cross country and track, I didn’t struggle with balancing academics and an involvement in sports. I am grateful to Governor Dummer for instilling independence and a high level of expectation. I also loved the community. Coach David Abusamra and his family warmly invited the cross country team over to Boynton House for popcorn parties before big races, and the Bragdons had open houses Saturday nights at Mansion House. I was a day student, and events like these were so important in connecting me to the boarding community.

PASSION

Running is still a big part of my life. If I’m not running, I don’t feel balanced. I enjoy competing and training in a team atmo sphere. Whenever I move cities, I’m always looking for a running group or team to join. A place doesn’t feel like home to me until I’ve found a “running family”.

CHALLENGE

Anytime I’ve stepped into something challenging, for example when I started graduate school, or the first time I lived and worked in New York City—something where I’ve had to raise my level—I’ve found that I understood how to do that from my time at GDA. You can’t be passive there. You have to be engaged within the classroom. It’s where I learned how to express my ideas, and that helped me adapt whenever the environment around me changed.

COMMUNITY

My community is centered around my family, and right now my community involvement is through my daughter’s school. My husband is French, and my daughter attends the Lycée Français de Chicago. It’s a French international school, and a place where parental involvement is important. That has been my focus lately.

I’VE BEEN AT GOVS FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS. I’M STILL TEACHING BECAUSE I REALLY CARE ABOUT THIS SCHOOL AND WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.”

Amy (Russell) Bonnerot ’89

Lynda Fitzgerald P’93,’00

LYNDA FITZGERALD P’93,’00; FACULTY

Fitzgerald has many “firsts” in her time at Govs: first female Dean of Students, first female Dean of Faculty, and first female Assistant Head of School. She currently teaches English at Governors.

GOVS

In the mid-eighties, there were girls who wanted to play ice hockey, but there was no team. I had never played hockey myself, but I decided I wanted to help them. It was a struggle and we had to work hard for some years to convince people we belonged on the ice. These girls were so passionate and that’s what drove me then, and throughout my tenure at Govs.

PASSION

My passion is for people to work hard, be honest, and be true to themselves. Outside of school, I love the outdoors, traveling, and being a mother. In 1996, I took a leave of absence from Govs to be the Dean of Students for Semester at Sea, a collegiate travel abroad program. My daughter and I traveled around the world on a large ship that served as a classroom, and visited ten different countries. This experience changed my life and gave me a valuable awareness of other cultures.

CHALLENGE

One challenge as Dean of Students was meting out consequences for kids who got in trouble. Young people make mistakes and that’s part of their developmental process. But I wanted people to recognize that we weren’t punishing students. We were giving them a consequence for their actions and an opportunity to grow.

COMMUNITY

I’ve been at Govs for almost forty years. I’m still teaching because I really care about this school and working with young people. Govs has been really good to me, and I hope I’ve reciprocated by showing leadership, dedication, compassion, and loyalty. I find joy in working with adolescents. They are our future; I like being part of their world and watching them go on to thrive.

MARIENNA MURCH ’02

Murch practices biotech and phar maceutical regulatory and compliance law. She lives in Albany, California with her family.

GOVS

My senior year, we had flexibility to come up with our own activity in place of a sport. I built a wooden and fiberglass kayak. The idea came out of another experience that stuck with me, the outdoor program. We did activities like camping, kayaking, and a ropes course. In retrospect, where else would you be given the flexibility to do that?

PASSION

I collect succulents. It feels like more of a hobby, but I suppose it is bordering on a passion, given how many I’ve amassed. It’s in the hundreds. They fill most of our yard. A nice thing about being in California is it doesn’t freeze here. You can propagate them, so I’ve grown the collection that way. And they’re resilient, which I need if I’m busy at work.

CHALLENGE

In college, I found out I have ADHD. There are certain things I have to do differently to stay on track and get through my day-to-day, and my work. It’s also a challenge because the characteristic symptoms of ADHD are not really traits you want to see in your lawyer—things like losing track of deadlines, misplacing things, being sometimes forgetful or impulsive. It’s a challenge, but it doesn’t mean I’m not capable of my work.

COMMUNITY

At work I’ve been involved in pro bono matters. It’s important to have that as part of my job. I also try to share my experiences with people who are thinking about law school, are in law school, or just started at the firm. I try to show that there are different paths and ways to be successful. Being a lawyer is not what you see on TV. If that’s all you’ve been exposed to, you have no way of knowing there are different ways to find your voice.

Marienna Murch ’02

YU JIN LEE ’06

Lee is a jewelry designer and founder of the online retail store Kyekhem. She lives in Seoul, South Korea with her husband, also a Governor’s alum.

GOVS

My time was doubly special for me because I am currently married to my husband who I met at GDA. He was also a student there! But more related to school, it was when I was doing my jewelry show, and everyone was very supportive of it. The show was successful, so I was able to have a great portfolio for college. I majored in fashion design at Parsons School of Design, and jewelry continued on as my side job since 2004.

PASSION

My passion changes a lot, but now I really want to do something for the environment. If there are any materials that I can access that can be better for the earth, I would love to pursue that. There are materials coming out every day. I would like to explore those and someday I could become more environmentally friendly with my jewelry and products.

CHALLENGE

During COVID I had a challenge of my jewelry factories closing down because of lockdown. Problem solving is always the most challenging, work-wise. I mean COVID was COVID, but sometimes it’s trying to create something new and creative with materials that are available to everyone. When I put out something that’s too new, people don’t look into it. I have to make something that’s useful, or more accessible. Balancing those things, and making something new and creative on top of that, is a challenge.

COMMUNITY

When I started my kids’ accessories line, I thought about children without mothers. Growing up, I realized having a mother to guide you was very important. I thought, maybe I should help children without mothers to not feel as lonely. So I wanted to donate ribbons and necklaces to orphans. This Christmas, I’m going to do the same thing, and also maybe design a product where a percentage of the profit goes to donation.

THE AMOUNT OF LOVE AND CARE AND INTENTION THAT PEOPLE PUT INTO BEING A REALLY STRONG COMMUNITY AT GOVS IS SPECIAL.”

Ariel (Shapiro) Aggarwal ’09

Yu Jin Lee ’06

ARIEL (SHAPIRO) AGGARWAL ’09

Aggarwal is Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Esperanza Academy. She lives in Somerville, Massachusetts with her husband.

GOVS

The amount of love and care and intention that people put into being a really strong community at Govs is special. Something that I always remember is that whenever there was any type of performance—whether it was performing at the Guild talent show or an end of term concert—everybody would always show up to support their friends. That way of showing up for people has really stuck with me.

PASSION

You could ask my parents this too, but I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, since at least I was in kindergarten. It’s a lifelong thing. I’ve always loved—even when I was a kid working with my peers on something—seeing that moment when they got it and realized that they could do it. That was really cool. Teaching and learning in general, and making connections with people through teaching and learning, is a passion.

CHALLENGE

In terms of my career, now as Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Esperanza Academy, the biggest challenge is overcoming educational inequity and fighting for the opportunity for our kids to have an excellent education. And to achieve their potential. That’s the main thing my work has been focused on, and that Esperanza focuses on as well.

COMMUNITY

I think Esperanza Academy takes a lot of the same understanding of community that we have at Govs, and works with it at a younger age. One of my favorite parts of my job is being an advisor. My first class just graduated, and we were with them as the advisors from fifth through eighth grade. That’s a time in our day and in our program when we really work on building intentional community. That’s their family at school.

ABBY KATZ ’15

Katz is pursuing her PhD in Behavioral and Social Health Science at the Brown University School of Public Health.

GOVS

Govs helped me with learning how to find community. I was at a point developmentally where I needed to really think through my identity, and who I was, and where I fit in. There were a lot of incredible organizations I was a part of at Govs that helped me, like Spectrum, and an affinity group for Black and Latinx students facilitated by the Office of Multicultural Education.

PASSION

I am passionate about using food as a lens to talk about sociopolitical issues impacting Black and Latinx/e youth. When you’re a young person, you’re constantly facing external forces through marketing and social media that feed into decisions you’re making about food. I’m passionate about the ability for kids to be kids. Decisions that could have long-term consequences on their health are not in their hands. They’re in the hands of policy, society, parents, and teachers.

CHALLENGE

My greatest challenge has been carving out space for myself. Food studies as a field is not widely known or understood. When I got to college, I couldn’t find a major that encompassed everything I was interested in. Developing an individualized major, which in retrospect is such a great privilege, was also a huge challenge. From that point forward, I’ve continually had to carve out space for myself in places that don’t understand the topics I’m interested in.

COMMUNITY

I’ve had incredible mentors my entire academic career, so I try to make myself available for people who are interested in the programs or institutions I’ve been a part of. Being connected to the BIPOC at Govs Alumni Collective has also allowed an opportunity to connect with current students, share experiences from being on campus, be a sounding board for their ideas, and, as much as possible, be present for them.

Abby

’15

THE SCHOLASTIC ART AND WRITING AWARDS ARE THE LONGEST RUNNING, MOST PRESTIGIOUS RECOGNITION PROGRAM FOR CREATIVE TEENS. MEGAN TRAN ’22 WON A COVETED GOLD KEY FOR HER ESSAY, “THE DEAFENING SILENCE OF BURDENS.” WHAT FOLLOWS IS MEGAN’S WINNING ESSAY IN ITS ENTIRETY.

BY MEGAN TRAN ’22

HER VOICE cracked when she spoke.

“Please forget Dalat,” my mother begged. “Study in Saigon and help your brother go to university there, too. I can’t let the war take him away from me the same way it took your father.”

All I could do was cradle her and let the torrent of her tears soak through my shirt. Her fists clenched and I could hear her silently yelling, suffocating with each breath she took. I stroked her back, up and down, trying to calm the silent war within her mind.

“Promise me,” she hushed. As I held my mother and quieted her until she fell asleep, I cried myself because I knew that my dreams were ending.

The afternoon Nhuân and I arrived in Saigon, the thunderous grey clouds and rain that felt like hail on my skin

greeted us. The empty streets and distraught faces of travelers reminded me that soldiers, fathers, sons, and brothers were dying every minute. We trudged through the rain, finding a xích lô willing to drive us in this angry weather as mud splattered on the back of my legs with each step. We planted ourselves onto the wooden seats of the vehicle and hugged our luggage, fearing for the worst. Our only shield from the bucketing rain was our conical hats that were more like sieves.

As my eyes battled with the stinging rain, I glanced over, blinking, to greet my pale-faced brother. His chest rose and fell in an inconsistent pattern as his breath hitched on the third inha lation. I touched my already wet face and realized my tears, like a tributary,

had become one with the rain. As the vehicle ran over a dead rat in the middle of the road, we jolted in our seats and grasped for each other’s hands; his ice-cold, wrinkled fingers grabbed ahold of mine as if begging God for mercy.

Our home for the next two months was the motel room I rented near the best polytechnic school: my brother’s dream. I lifted several piles of worn-out shirts from the surface of my suitcase to reveal an envelope labeled: Xuân and Nhuân.

“This money, you’re going to use it to take classes before the university enrollment exam in two months,” I whispered to him.

“But that’s not enough for you.”

“Don’t worry about me. As long as I can study here, I’ll be fine. Don’t forget, I’m one year older than you. I know what I’m doing.”

“No I don’t want…”

“War or school?” I interrupted.

His gaze immediately dropped to the bare floor as his feet shuffled from side to side along the lines of the tiles. He grudgingly clutched the money in his palm and slipped it down his tattered jean pocket. I released a long sigh and fell backward onto the twin bed that sat in the middle of the room as the four bleak walls stared back at me, returning my despair. My last thought before sleep overtook me was the blurred image of my dream school we had passed on the way here.

The morning before Nhuân left for his first preparatory class, he yelled as he sprinted out the door, “I’ll be home to help you with the housework!”

But by the time the sun had set and the darkness of the world engulfed us

again, he returned home with only one job left on the to-do list: homework. The ten minutes we spent sitting at the shaky wooden table at dinner was not enough, but I comforted myself—at least I knew he was going to make it home. The smell of warm, barbeque chicken swarmed the motel room, almost overpowering the frostiness. I stared at the two pieces of chicken and scoop of rice on my paper plate as I swallowed the saliva accumulating in my mouth. I picked up the plastic fork and looked at my brother who had devoured his plate down to the last grain of rice.

Please help your brother, mother’s voice reverberated in my brain. I pinned the piece of chicken on my plate and hovered it over his. Nhuân stared at me, pleading with his eyes, and nudging my arm back ward towards my side of the table. I narrowed my gaze at him and attempted to give him the face; the face my mother used to give me when I refused to do the dishes.

Mother would be proud, I thought. Her words were like the Bên Thành market’s clock, chiming in my head every fifteen minutes as if defeating the desperate voices inside of me. At night, while Nhuân sprawled across the floor snoring, my tears flooded the bed as I held my breath to silence the hiccups. I

wrapped my arms around my thinning body and peered outside the window at the summer school across the street; I yearned to be standing under the bell that rang inside the classrooms at the stroke of noon as boys and girls swarmed out into the fields like moths.

Two months quickly passed and the nervous stomach pains jabbed me awake. Test day. My brother left earlier that morning for his exam but sent a motorcycle service for me. Three blaring honks outside penetrated the door and I scrambled around the room to grab a pencil I’ve only used once to write a chore checklist. I twisted the doorknob and my palms slipped off, leaving a coat of sweat behind.

Halfway through the ride, the motor cycle’s engine emitted the sound I dreaded most; the sound of my educa tion career ending. The long hand on my wristwatch pointed to the fifty-five

minute mark, counting down each second as the chances of my getting into my dream school vanished to almost nothing. As the driver pushed on the gas pedal to restart the engine, I stood under the unbearable heat on the soulless street, scrunching my eyes to look up at God:

“Are you kidding me?” I threw my arms in the air toward the sky.

My veins were throbbing while I stood shaking my head in disbelief. As if He was listening to me, the engine roared back to life like a bear rising from hibernation. For the first time, the sound of rumbling engines comforted me. I couldn’t help but wrap my arms around the driver who cried out inside my grip.

At ten past one, the lawns were empty. My eyes darted from door to door, searching for room 316; it felt like wandering inside a maze of mirrors.

“MOTHER WOULD BE PROUD, I THOUGHT. HER WORDS WERE LIKE THE BÊN THÀNH MARKET’S CLOCK, CHIMING IN MY HEAD EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES AS IF DEFEATING THE DESPERATE VOICES INSIDE OF ME.”

Out of the corner of my eyes, a young man, whom I reckoned was not a student, emerged from behind the trees to the far left of the building.

I scurried towards him and waved my admission ticket yelling, “Hello! Sir! Where…hold on…Where is…Sorry…”

I bent down and put my arm on my knee, “Where is this?”

He furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head, “How’d you even get through the school gate at this time?”

He eyed me up and down. Perhaps it was the look of despair and despera tion written on my face or that he was late as well, but without a word, he gestured for me to follow. The door to 316 screeched open as all brown eyes shifted to stare at me like hungry pred ators. I walked to the empty seat at the front of the room and his feet immedi ately followed behind mine as he said to the class, “Sorry I’m late everyone— please take a seat.”

I wiped the trickling sweat off my forehead and looked to my left and right, scouting my competition. The bell rang on the fifteen-minute dot. I took a second to let the harmonious tune recur in my ears before the tip of my pencil made its first mark.

That afternoon, the rain accom panied my brother and me to the test center like it did on the first day of our arrival. Nailed onto the school wall were ten lists of ten different universi ties, each with fifty names imprinted on them. I skimmed through the list slowly, afraid to reach the end without seeing the four-letter word I carried my whole life: Xuân. Beside me, my brother screamed. A cry of joy I hadn’t heard for months because the screams of loneliness had muted it. I continued

down the list… Number twenty-four… Still no name. Number thirty-seven… No name. My brother and his friends circled me, all anxiously staring at the tiny piece of paper. Number forty-five… Forty-six… Forty-seven… Forty-eight… Forty-nine. And there it was, written in blue ink at the very bottom was my name. I looked up to the foggy sky with tints of orange from the setting sun hidden beneath the clouds of rain as I opened my mouth and shrieked.

My hands entwined with Nhuân’s under the welcoming, soft Saigon rain. I couldn’t help but think to myself: There’s still color.

“Megan was in a class of strong writers, but I always wanted to read her papers first. She never settled for the easy topic; she always chose subjects that allowed her to dive into ideas and themes with depth. ‘The Deafening Silence of Burdens’ seems so smooth because she is a precise writer, but Megan is working hard to represent the time and place as well as her grandmother’s perspective.”

Tom Robertson, English teacher, P’16,’20,’24

Cardinal Rules

Boys Lacrosse Chases an ISL Championship

In the the first year of the ISL play offs, the boys varsity lacrosse team outperformed all the way to the championship game. Under the leadership of Tucker Sampson and Tom Woessner, the eighth-seeded team beat undefeated Belmont Hill in the quarterfinals and third-seeded St. Sebastian’s in the semifinals to advance to the championship game. Though Nobles took the champion ship, Govs had a tremendous season.

Above: Senior (Boys) Lacrosse Trophy winner

varsity lacrosse team

Honoring Our Accomplished Athletes

At the Annual Awards Convocation on Tuesday, May 24, eight members of the Class of 2022 were honored for their athletic accomplishments. Four athletes received watches in recognition of their earning twelve varsity letters—one for each season during their four years at Govs:

Maura Fiorenza Soccer, Hockey, Softball

Jillian Fisher Soccer, Hockey, Track & Field (Outdoor)

Nick Johnson Football, Skiing, Lacrosse

Lily Shannon Soccer, Hockey, Lacrosse

Receiving blankets in recognition of earning at least nine varsity letters were four additional athletes:

Aleah Ghiasuddin Cross-Country, Track & Field (Indoor), Track & Field (Outdoor)

Kelly Harty Volleyball, Hockey, Lacrosse

Emily Moore Soccer, Basketball, Lacrosse

Tre’ Elijah Williams Football, Track & Field (Indoor), Track & Field (Outdoor)

Congratulations and thank you to these athletes for their dedication and vast contributions to Govs athletics!

Top, left to right: Claudia Asano Barcomb and Class of 2022 athletic award recipients, Lilly Shannon, Jillian Fisher, Maura Fiorenza, Nick Johnson · Bottom, left to right: Claudia Asano Barcomb with other Class of 2022 athletic award recipients Emily Moore, Kelly Harty, Aleah Ghiasuddin, Tre’ Elijah Williams · Below: Blanket recipient Aleah Ghiasuddin ’22

Spring Forward

Govs athletic teams returned to the track, court, course, and field this spring—their first full season since 2019. Led by the Class of 2022, whose last normal season was during their ninth-grade year, the baseball and softball teams had winning records, 11-7 and 10-5, respectively. The varsity track & field team hosted New Englands on the Bennett H. Beach ’67 Track. The girls team placed 4th and the boys team placed 7th in New Englands (Division II). Baseball Coach James Cramphin and Boys Lacrosse Coach Tucker Sampson were selected as ISL Coach of the Year for their respective sports.

Girls Varsity Lacrosse

Congratulations to the girls varsity lacrosse team for qualifying for the ISL championship quarterfinals.

Girls Varsity Lacrosse Coaches Award winner Emily Moore ’22 (pictured right).

The Oscar B. Gilbert Distance Running Award (boys varsity

winner Bear

Top: Boys Varsity Tennis Coaches Award winner Kevin Yao ’24 · Bottom: Girls Varsity Tennis Most Valuable Player Emily Storer ’22

Top: Varsity Softball Most Valuable Player Claire Stone ’22 ·

Louis Quinzio Coaches Award (varsity golf) winner Thomas Huard

Top: The Dalton Hamor Trophy (MVP Boys Varsity Baseball) winner Colin Elliott ’22 ·

Alumni Coaches at Govs Come Home

Govs is proud to have many alumni return to teach, work, and coach at the Academy. We caught up with a few busy coaches to hear about what inspires them.

“My favorite part is seeing the joy— and sometimes awe —an athlete has when they set a new personal record for themselves.”

“I enjoy watching our athletes work hard and make progress over the course of a season. It is worthwhile to see them achieve a goal they thought they couldn’t reach and how they can use their bodies and minds in ways that promote team work, sportsmanship, preparation, and hard work.”

Jeff Kelly ’85, P’17, Boys Varsity Cross Country Coach

Govs Alumni Coaches

LAURA BEOHNER ’09 Varsity Softball Coach

AMY BLOCK ’06 Math Department Chair Girls Varsity Soccer Coach

SEAN COLGATE ’92, P’25 Facilities Staff (Former) JV Baseball Coach

JAMES GOODHART ’78 Boys JV Lacrosse Coach

JEFF KELLY ’85, P’17 Latin Teacher Boys Varsity Cross Country Coach

BRIAN MCGUIRK ’04 Boys Varsity Hockey Coach

JACK NORTON ’17

Interim Language Teacher Boys JV Soccer Coach

CECI REYES ’12 Director of Student Activities and Ninth Grade Dean Girls Varsity Basketball Coach

RAMON TEJADA ’05 Language Teacher Boys JV Basketball Coach

Opposite page, far left top: Ceci Reyes ’12, Girls Varsity Basketball Coach · Opposite page, far left bottom: Girls Varsity Track & Field Coaches Award winner Ella Pike ’22 · This page, above: Brian McGuirk ’04, Boys Varsity Hockey Coach · Right: Will Batchelder ’22 · This page, below: Amy Block ’06, Girls Varsity Soccer Coach

“As a teacher, there is nothing more important than making meaningful connections with your students. Coaching provides me the opportunity to solidify those connections in a competitive environment where I get to understand each individual at a more personal level … you can apply all of the ups and downs of a season to life lessons and observe how the camaraderie and sportsmanship shape their personal growth.”

Ramon Tejada ’05, Boys JV Basketball Coach

“I enjoy supporting students in their growth and development of their many passions inside and outside the classroom.”

Amy Block ’06, Girls Varsity Soccer Coach

Teach and Lead

Meet Tracy Stickney P’23,’26

TRACY is a phenomenal teacher, moti vating coach, collaborative colleague, and thoughtful neighbor. What sets her apart is her genunine kindness.

Since my first day at Govs, Tracy made me feel like I belong. While everyday she finds ways to inspire and surprise me, her welcoming smile makes me feel as though I’ve known her forever. Tracy teaches me what it means to be a great teacher every time she talks about her students. She supports her classes as they learn the abstract concepts of chemistry and has innovative ideas for how to ignite a passion for place-based learning and science for all students. Tracy also inspires me as a coach with the thoughtfulness and care she brings onto the field. Did you know that she writes a personalized and encouraging note to each field hockey player before every game? She champions all of our successes and helps others when they stumble with a quiet word of encouragement.

We always talk about the amazing community we have here at Govs. Tracy is at the heart of our community.

Dr. Emily Allen, Science Department Chair

HOW MANY YEARS AT THE ACADEMY?

This will be my 23rd year. I began at Govs as a coach in 2000 and started teaching in 2001.

My first day of teaching was 9/11.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:

I have taught chemistry, Life Skills, and biology. I am currently a dorm parent and the Head Varsity Field Hockey Coach. During my tenure, I have also coached JV field hockey, varsity girls basketball, varsity hockey, JV girls tennis, JV lacrosse, and intro hockey.

FAVORITE BOOKS:

My all time favorite book is The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman and The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore are also favorites.

FAVORITE MUSIC OR ARTIST:

Alicia Keys is my favorite musician, but I listen to anything from Keith Urban to Afrobeat. In the lab, it is fun to play anything from jazz to broadway to Afrobeat; it helps students to be comfortable and think clearly!

ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS:

I love being with my family and watching my kids play sports. I enjoy traveling and seeing new places around the world.

PASSIONS:

Cycling, gardening, birding, nature

EDUCATION DEGREE:

Wake Forest University, BS

Meet Hanna Freund ’23

HANNA is a senior who hails from Winchester, Massachusetts. An engaged scholar and athlete, Hanna plays varsity field hockey and varsity lacrosse. She is the co-head of Strong Women at The Governor’s Academy (SWAGA), and is immersed in a variety of extracurricular activities, ranging from academic to socially oriented.

WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU MOST ABOUT GOVS?

I would say it’s the strength of our community. When I arrived as a new sophomore, I quickly became friends with people from all grades. This feeling of belonging is palpable in the dining hall, where students and faculty sit around large tables and converse. It’s also tangible when the school gathers for Senior Chapel Talks. Walking around campus means waving to everyone I pass and always being met with a smile.

WHO DO YOU LOOK TO AS A MENTOR?

I look up to our Head of School, Dr. Quimby. As a boarding student, I got to know Dr. Quimby as one of our dorm parents. Despite being one of the busiest people on campus, he always found a way to bring us freshly baked brownies on Thursday nights. He would also sit with us for hours, talking and giving us his full attention. I greatly admire Dr. Quimby’s work ethic and kindness.

WHAT CLASS HAS CHALLENGED YOU THE MOST?

My Honors Chemistry class sophomore year. It was fast-paced and the subject matter was difficult, but it ended up being one of my favorite classes. The challenging subject matter made it even more rewarding when I finally understood it. My teacher was excellent at offering extra help, as most teachers at Govs are. I made the most of my resources, such as office hours and the Learning Center. Through extra hours spent studying and consistent work outside of class, it was a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

WHAT ARE YOUR PASSIONS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM?

I love being involved in various extracurricular activities. I am a co-head of SWAGA, a female affinity group on campus. I am also involved in Community Facilitators, a group dedicated to discussing campus diversity, equity, and inclusion. Outside of school, I am a part of the National Leadership Council. I am also a part of the Harvard Model Congress, peer tutors, and a dorm proctor. I love being immersed in all areas of life at Govs!

WHAT WAS YOUR MOMENT OF COURAGE AT GOVS?

Running for Academy president. I was surprised when I was nominated to run for the role during the spring of my junior year. I was not initially planning on running, but felt compelled to take advantage of the opportunity. So, I wrote a speech and delivered it in front of the whole school. Although I did not win the election, I am grateful that I decided to seize the opportunity and put myself out there. While nerve-racking, running for Academy president gave me confidence. I can do things that are challenging and unfamiliar, even when the outcome is unknown. By being courageous, I learned this valuable lesson.

WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE ON CAMPUS TO SPEND YOUR FREE TIME?

The Pescosolido Library, or Pesky for short, is a beautiful building where students can gather to study independently or together.

Throughout the day, I stop in the library to print something, chat with my advisor (who is also the librarian), work independently on homework, or collaborate with classmates. The library can be a productive environment, but also a place where you can catch up with friends and faculty throughout a busy day.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW STUDENTS?

Get involved on campus. Your education and experience at Govs will mean much more if you invest your time and energy into commit ments outside the classroom. Join a club, run for a leadership position, or try a new sport. All of these things will help integrate you into the community and provide you with further connections to members of Govs.

“While nerve-racking, running for Academy president gave me confidence. I can do things that are challenging and unfamiliar, even when the outcome is unknown.”

Commencement

Congratulations, Class of 2022!

The Governor’s Academy held its 259th Commencement exercises on May 29, graduating 104 seniors. After a chal lenging two and a half years, the Class of 2022 families were thrilled to be in Byfield to celebrate the students’ accomplishments.

After receiving their diplomas, graduates followed the faculty to Little Red Schoolhouse to say “goodbye, for now” and then walked to Mansion House together to jump the wall and take their metaphoric leap into the next chapter of their lives.

Delivering the Commencement address this year was Dr. Susan Baldridge, Professor of Psychology at Middlebury College and incoming Executive Director of the Association of Boarding Schools (TABS). In her address, Dr. Baldridge offered two suggestions. First, she encouraged the class to choose their habits and be consciously intentional about their choices. Second, “Decide what person you want to become and make the choices that allow you to be that person,” Baldridge said.

The Morse Flag was awarded to Maura Fiorenza, making her the twenty-seventh girl to receive the Morse Flag since the first female students graduated in 1973. The Thorndike Hilton Cup and the Peter W. Bragdon Head of School Cup were awarded to Eliana Mlawski of Weare, New Hampshire, and the Academy Prize was awarded to Aleem Ogunsanya of Sicklerville, New Jersey.

Left top: Graduates leap over the Mansion House wall in celebration. Far left bottom: Tre’Elijah Williams ’22

Right: Dr. Peter H. Quimby ’85, P’14 introduces Commencement speaker Dr. Susan Baldridge.

Class of 2022 College Destinations

American University Arizona State University Bentley University Boston University Bowdoin College Carnegie Mellon University Chapman University Clemson University Colby College

Colgate University College of the Holy Cross Connecticut College Cornell University Dartmouth College Drexel University Elon University

George Washington University Georgetown University

Hobart and William Smith Colleges Indiana University Bloomington Johns Hopkins University Kenyon College Lewis and Clark College

McGill University Merrimack College

Middlebury College

New York University

Northeastern University Northwestern University Occidental College

The Pennsylvania State University—University Park Princeton University Providence College Reed College

Rochester Institute of Technology Rollins College Skidmore College Smith College

Springfield College

St. Lawrence University

Trinity College

Trinity College Dublin Tufts University Union College United States Naval Academy

University of California, Davis University of California, San Diego University of Colorado Boulder University of Connecticut University of Denver University of Florida University of Massachusetts

Amherst University of Massachusetts Boston University of Miami University of New Hampshire University of Pittsburgh University of South Carolina University of St. Andrews University of Toronto University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Warwick University of Wisconsin, Madison Villanova University Wake Forest University Wellesley College Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Top left: New graduates toss their caps at the end of the Commencement ceremony.

Top: Graduates leap over the Mansion House wall in celebration.

Center: Seniors pose for photos with friends before the ceremony.

Bottom: Dr. Peter H. Quimby ’85, P’14 with Morse Flag winner Maura Fiorenza ’22.

WITH TRUE COURAGE: THE CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR’S

Building for the Future

Reunion Weekend Event Celebrates Construction of Alfond Center and Establishment of the Bass Institute

On the Friday of Reunion Weekend, more than 120 alumni and friends gathered to mark a historic occasion: the ground breaking for the Bill ’67 and Peter ’71 Alfond Coastal Research Center, named for trustee and lead donor Bill Alfond and his late brother Peter; and the establish ment of the Bass Institute, named for lead donors Bob ’67 and Anne Bass GP’26. Construction of the new facility began this spring, with an expected opening in spring 2023.

Erika Mitkus, appointed as the inaugural director of the Bass Institute last spring, shared her vision for the Center and the Institute in remarks over Reunion Weekend. Mitkus has taught biology and environmental science at the Academy since 2018 and is an experienced research scientist. Here is an excerpt from her remarks.

“The Bass Institute and Alfond Coastal Research Center together represent an enormous opportunity for the Govs community. This is not merely about building a new science building or a one-off fieldwork project that students will dutifully complete and then move on. Rather, the Bass Institute represents a new lens through which we can bring the powerful tools of experiential and place-based learning to bear on all aspects of our school. We all know about Govs’ legacy, and no one can argue that our school is not grounded in place and history. Through the Bass Institute, we can also cement our reputation as a school on the cutting edge of education in the twenty-first century. “There is already a groundswell of excitement for these next steps among our faculty and students. Faculty have told me they are eager to pursue projects or lines of inquiry that more deeply connect their students to tangible, messy problems that need solving in the real world. Students will have the opportunity to work alongside experts in the field, present their work publicly in the community, and channel their interests and questions about our ecosystem into customized projects. By focusing our curriculum on complex questions that have deep connections to the place we live in, students will learn that true learning doesn’t fit into neat boxes where science never intersects with writing, and art and math never meet.”

Above: Erika Mitkus delivering remarks at the groundbreaking event Left: Trustee Bill ’67 and Joni Alfond

Opposite page: Director of the Bass Institute Erika Mitkus

Above: Hardhat tour with Erika Mitkus, Head of School Dr. Peter H. Quimby ’85, P’14, and Trustee Bill Alfond ’67

A Legacy of Enduring Friendships

Class of 1971 fundraising committee completes class gift in memory of Peter Alfond ’71

Reunion marked the culmination of two and a half years of hard work by the Class of 1971 Reunion Committee. During the weekend, the committee celebrated the establishment of The Class of 1971 Peter Alfond Scholarship Fund at a special luncheon. This scholarship fund honors their late classmate, Peter Alfond, and is one of the largest class gifts in Academy history. The class gift was enhanced by a generous challenge grant provided by the Harold Alfond Foundation, adding $2 for every $1 the class raised.

Formed in 2019, the group maintained its fundraising efforts and outreach throughout the challenges presented by the pandemic, which included the post ponement of their 50th reunion last year. The committee persevered through these

obstacles with a lofty half-million dollar fundraising goal and commitment to establishing the scholarship fund. In-person meetings with classmates became Zoom gatherings, and the group continued to successfully connect with classmates through emails, calls, and letters.

Creating those connections through tough times is a testament to the classmate the group sought to honor with their gift. Peter Alfond was known among the Class of 1971 for his kindness and inclusivity. He was someone who helped people to connect, and like many of his classmates, Peter established lifelong friendships that began at Govs. These values are part of his legacy and continue to be part of the Academy's enduring qualities today.

With the additional generosity of the Harold Alfond Foundation, established by Peter’s father in 1950, this gift will fully fund the endowed scholarship, providing the annual revenue to support a full-tuition scholarship for a student each school year in perpetuity. That the support from Peter Alfond’s classmates and the Alfond family’s philanthropy can be combined in such an impactful gift is a fitting tribute to Peter’s memory.

Class of 1971 Reunion Committee, left to right: Mike Fish, Mike Mulligan, Ted Northrup, Sam Tamposi, Barry Burlingham, Tom McMeekin, Michael Hoover, James Fleming (not pictured)

Peter Alfond ’71

Campaign Update

Steadfast and Dedicated

Members of the Academy’s annual giving societies—the Phillips Society and 1763 Society—know the value of participation and leadership. And they’re making a differ ence year after year.

PHILLIPS SOCIETY

More than 1,222 individuals have donated to Governor’s for at least two years in a row, earning them a spot on the Phillips Society honor roll. And over 110 alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends have been exceptionally loyal, giving each year for twenty-five years or more. These gifts, including those to the Governor’s Fund, have enormous impact.

1763 SOCIETY

Likewise, the 1763 Society supports vital priorities across campus. With member ship totaling over 251 last year, this society salutes leadership donors—those who annually give $1,763 or more. There were 96 new members just last year.

1,222+

donors have given for at least two years in a row

251

donors gave $1,773 or more last year

donors have given for 25 years or more

new donors joined last year

The Bass Challenge

$10 MILLION MATCHING GIFT CHALLENGE

Bob ’67 and Anne Bass GP’26 believe in creating transformative change with their philanthropy. The Bass Challenge matches $1 for every $2 contributed of endowment and current-use leadership gifts of $50,000 or greater committed by December 31, 2023.*

60

donors have joined the Bass Challenge, with gifts ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000

The Bass Challenge invites alumni, parents, and friends to invest in the future of the Academy. Learn more about our vision and priorities at thegovernorsacademy.org/ wtccampaign.

*Payments on multi-year commitments must be received by December 31, 2025.

15months remain to pledge a Bass Challenge-eligible gift

For Others

DR. JAMES TIKELLIS ’72 INVESTS IN THE ACADEMY’S FUTURE

Dr. James (Jim) Tikellis ’72 and his wife Lou Ann have joined the Academy’s Schoolhouse Society by thoughtfully including The Governor’s Academy in their estate planning. Tikellis cites his deep connection to Govs, along with confidence in the leadership and direction of the school as the motivation behind this planned gift.

Tikellis arrived at Govs as a ninth grader in 1968 after taking the initiative to research boarding schools when he was just thirteen years old. He traveled from his hometown in Delaware to visit schools in the northeast; Govs was the final stop on his tour. Tikellis remembers vividly the moment he arrived on campus and knew instantly that Govs was the place for him. “There was some thing about the faculty and leadership that was unique—I was sure that I would receive a great education and quickly sensed how well Head of School Val Wilkie and Admission Director John Witherspoon could relate to and understand the students. I just knew I belonged here,” said Tikellis.

Tikellis thrived during his time at Govs. Today, Tikellis enjoys seeing the Academy move forward in new and innovative ways while he continues to support the excep tional faculty and students. “The writing and critical thinking skills that I was taught at Govs were the foundation for my future. We were taught to express ourselves well by exceptional teachers like John Ogden, who was always leading by example.”

On his decision to include Govs in his estate plans, Tikellis shares that it’s the seamless leadership and vision throughout

the years that inspires confidence in his planned gift. “Times have changed, but it’s been on an upward and steady trajectory throughout the decades,” says Tikellis.

The enduring friendships from his time at Govs continue today and staying connected to Govs and each other means a great deal to Tikellis and his classmates. “These were formative years and I made lifelong friends. When we get together now, it’s like no time has passed.”

Estate gifts like bequests, trusts, and other planned gifts have remained important investments in the Academy’s future. The school would be a different place today were it not for the thoughtful and generous support from alumni and friends like the Tikellises, who have included bequests in their estate plans to support the Academy’s bright future.

“I have a deep attachment to the school, and I feel that if you invest in something, you leave it to people that you have faith in. I feel the leadership at Govs has consistently stayed true to the mission.”

James ’72 and Lou Ann Tikellis

Alumni Highlights

Right: Members of the Class of 2017 enjoy a round of croquet on Mansion House lawn. L to R: Kate Settlemeyer, Taylor O’Connor, Griffin Harris, Kate Whittier, Harrison Gray, Caroline Healey, Olivia Hardy, and Nick Colstad.

A Watershed Moment

Left: The Class of 1972 surprised Board President Jim Pierce ’72, P’08 with a class gift that will name the aquatic lab in the Alfond Coastal Research Center in his honor. L to R from Class of ’72: Peter Conway, Jim Pierce, Peter Franklin.

Above: Katie McKay ’12, Andrew Coleburn ’12, Emily Shea ’12, Tom Roberston P’16,’20,’24

Below: Chris Terry ’95 wins first place in the Annual Pie Race.

Reunion Weekend 2022

Thank you to everyone who came back to Byfield for Reunion Weekend this year. The weekend was full of smiles, hugs, great con versation and remarkably beautiful weather. And there was much to celebrate—from breaking ground for the Alfond Coastal Research Center, to honoring so many of our multi-talented and loyal alumni, to simply reconnecting with old friends. It was a great weekend of good food, good fun, and many laughs. We’re already looking forward to doing it all over again next year!

Left: Milan Gary ’12 clocks a fast time, placing her second in the annual Pie Race.

Athletic Hall of Fame

Right: Congratulations to our Class of 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees: Randy Light ’59, Alex Carpenter ’11, Vanessa Russell Tripp ’02, Jim Cavanaugh ’94. Also among the inductees are Robert Francois ’04, who was unable to attend, and Jay Cooke, III ’64, who passed away in July of 2021.

Olympic Gold Medalist

Above: Olympic Gold Medalist Alex Carpenter ’11 (second from left), pictured with Kelly Harty ’22, Meg Cole ’22, and Dr. Peter H. Quimby ’85, P’14

Above: Peter Franklin ’72 goes yard during the reunion softball game.

Left: Guy and the Greasers got the band back together for Reunion and rocked the house!

Above, left to right: Dawn Goldworm ’97, Brandi Hall ’97, and Sam Goldworm ’97

Below: Old Guard leading the Parade of Classes

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

CLASS NOTES DEADLINE

Please send your news and updates for each issue before the deadlines below to either your class secretary or classnotes@govsacademy.org.

Fall issue: June 15

Spring issue: January 15

CLASS NOTES GUIDELINES

Governor’s, The Archon magazine, may edit class notes for clarity and brevity, and to match the magazine’s editorial style. Class secretaries may also choose to edit submis sions. To respect the privacy of our alumni, we do not publish engagement or pregnancy announcements. Wedding and birth announcements will continue to be featured in class notes and photos. These notes are intended for The Governor’s Academy and are not to be used elsewhere.

Class Notes

’46

Bill Silver billsilver@comcast.net

Bill Silver: It was an all-male school then and I joined the Glee Club so that I could meet some girls. I was on the wrestling team and joined the rifle club. I actually became a member of the NRA, which was the first and last year of my membership. Of course, we only had 22 caliber bullets and single shots at a time in those days. Now,76 years later, things got a lot worse instead of better. Marcia and I have been married for 70 years and have three sons, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren—so far! After graduating from Tufts University and then NYU Dental School and Columbia Orthodontic PG, I joined the US Air Force and spent the next two years in Japan. Back to Boston and then wonderful Miami Florida! After retirement in 1989, I chose to work at the Miami Dade Medical Examiner Department where I am Deputy Chief in Forensic Odontology and was a First Responder doing dental ID at the World Trade Center and Katrina disasters. That’s just a short sketch of the past 93 years. I am looking forward to more—if possible. I wonder how many of my classmates are still around and may want to join me on the tennis court!?

’47

classnotes@govsacademy.org

David Wilcox: Living in a CCRC near my 3 daughters, in reasonably good health at 93. Lost my wife, Jane, 3 years ago.

’49

Manson Hall Kenneyhall@hotmail.com

Manson Hall: My first effort to

reach anyone found Mina Otis, Tom Otis’s wife, on her cell watch ing Tom and his daughter about to finish a golf game at 4:00 p.m. instead of enjoying his cocktail on a sunny day in South Dartmouth, MA. We agreed to talk later, and when we did Tom admitted that he still played tennis and golf and now pickle ball. Tom also boasted that his granddaughter had graduated Summa Cum Laude from Boston College and that a grandson was a tennis star and about to enter Franklin & Marshall College. I like to hear about good books to read and Tom recommended British author Jeffrey Archer’s The Clifton Chronicles, (a 7-book set that follows the Clifton family through the decades). I phoned Finley Stay and spoke to, I believe, his wife who reported that Fin was “out” with their son installing some electrical line and that he was in good health. Rick Tyler and wife Ann, who summer near Rick’s old stomping grounds in Maine, picked up immediately when I called to say he and Ann were both well and enjoying their outdoor interests. Rick plays tennis Monday, Wednesday and Friday and golf on Saturday. They have a stable full of sons and grandkids, some of whom will visit them in Maine from the Salt Lake and Idaho area. It sounded as though Rick had put away his skis, not because he was not up to skiing but rather the road traffic, parking fees and long lines made it no fun. Your secretary and wife Ann have returned from winter in Naples, FL to North Chatham on Cape Cod. It is here that our children and grandchildren are able to come down for golf, tennis and, of course lots of sailing and beach. I try to play tennis too, to keep up with more active class mates but the Boston Globe and The New York Times use up most of the morning. Guess I will look into Tom Otis’s The Clifton Chronicles I caught Bill Judson in New York City, he and his wife often stay out

on Long Island in South Hampton. Of course, retired but still doing tennis when the spirit moves and watching golf. Bill claimed his wife enjoys travel so they have traveled a good bit over the years, the UK etc. Bud Frame are you out there, I hope? Let me know.

’51

George McGregor classnotes@govsacademy.org

Mrs. Perkins would not believe the gymnasium that exists on the cam pus today! We can all remember the Lang Gymnasium, especially if you played basketball and ran afoul of the unforgiving brick walls. The building was also used for many other activities including com mencement, dinners and glee club concerts to name a few.

The first gym was built in 1887. John Wright Perkins was the Headmaster (1882–1894). It was made possible thanks to the inspi ration and efforts of Mrs. Perkins, who recognized the need and was instrumental in securing the funds to build the gym. The Structure was built by “honest farmers” who put “some of their ruggedness into the structure.” It was located behind the Mansion House. In 1925, this first gym became a dormitory, Perkins, and was moved to the corner of Elm Street and Middle Road, with a brick addition attached in 1944. In 1956, it was moved again to its present location on Middle Road.

A gift of $22,000 in 1922 by William Lang created the Lang Gymnasium. Over a period of time the ath letic program had outgrown the facilities of the Lang Gym, and there was a desire to raise money to memorialize the hundreds of alumni who served our country in World War II. In 1944, a plan was put in place and in 1945, a special issue of The Archon outlined the plan to raise funds for a memorial gym. Sixteen acres of land were purchased bordering Morse Field to the north. Although $125,000 was raised, rising prices bogged down the wherewithal to build, and a new effort chaired by trustee Phillip Morgan, along with faculty members Arthur Sager and Buster Navins, spearheaded the new effort. Out of the blue an alumnus,

who wished to remain anonymous, agreed to underwrite the entire remaining cost of the gymna sium. Alumni Gymnasium was completed in the spring of 1950.

Admiral William “Bull” Halsey presented at commencement a dedication plaque placed in the lobby of the gym listing the names of the alumni who served in the war, with a special section for those who gave their lives. At a later date, with the anonymous donor’s permission, it was announced the benefactor whose gift enabled the gym’s completion was trustee Morris Frost (who also made the gift to build the Frost Library Building dedicated in 1957). In 1992, the Pescosolido Field House was added to the Alumni Gym building at a cost of $3.4 million.

Dave Bullock: I still mow the lawn and look forward to getting in the salt water very soon since swimming is better exercise than mowing. Also hoping to make the reunion next year, with luck aplenty.

’54

classnotes@govsacademy.org

Dick Michelson: I continue to look forward to and enjoy the 4-5pm eastern time TGA Zoom sessions involving TGA faculty, students, grads, etc. Unfortunately, I often am the oldest online participant/ attendee. Tune in! These sessions always remind me how blessed I am to have been able to attend Governor Dummer Academy/TGA. This appreciation is witnessed by my long-time participation in the TGA “School House Society,” which I recommend to all TGA graduates. Just include TGA in your will or provide for some other current or future means (e.g., scholarship, grant, etc.) to help present and future students at TGA as part of your Governor Dummer/TGA legacy. Join me! Bad W(h)ine: Unfortunately, my wife Judy was diagnosed to have frontal temporal dementia in 2015; she continued to live at home ... until March 2021. Since then Judy has been living in an (excellent) memory care facility 3 miles from our home, making frequent and spontaneous visits possible. Dr Pauline Boss’ phrase “Ambiguous Absence” well

describes our situation. NO wine/ alcohol helps! Good W(h)ine: TGA has come a long way since my good fortune of 1951–54 atten dance—student diversity, quantity, and quality; facilities; academics; finance$; faculty and staff, etc. Pour $ome more legacy!

’55

George Gardner george.gardner3@gmail.com

Phil Angell: My wife, Rosie (Rosalie) of 58 years passed away last March. I am selling our NH condo to be full time in Venice, FL.

Peter Scott: River trip from Moscow to St Petersburg in August was cancelled. Good news! I don’t want to give Putin 50 cents. Instead I will have spine surgery to relieve a pinched nerve. Otherwise all is well. Looking forward to our next in-person reunion.

’57

Lyman Cousens lymancousens@comcast.net

Well, we had a reunion, such as it was. Five 1957 stalwarts made it, led by Class President Peter Cadigan and his wife Deb, all the way from Eugene, Oregon. Additionally, Gene Bouley and wife Kay, Max Ule and Sally Vaun, Skip Dickerson and yours truly enjoyed the weekend. The School really rolled out the “red carpet” with great food and drinks, and the entire event was very well orga nized. The highlight of the weekend was the groundbreaking of the Bill ’67 and Peter ’71 Alfond Coastal Research Center, just down the road on the Parker River. The foot ings are already in and the Center will be a fantastic addition to the School. Ned Stone’s donation of a painting of the Parker River will be displayed at the Center when construction is completed. “Gift of the family of Ben and Nancy Stone.” Nice!

Speaking of paintings (well, litho graphs), John Bissell’s donation was on full display at the Bergmann Theater where the Annual Meeting was held. I had the honor of saying a few words at the church service

for classmates Mel Blake, Frank Gleason, Bill Hallenbeck and Charlie Tutt, who passed away over the past five years. Miss you guys! Overall, it was time well spent and the School went out of its way to make it so.

So, what else is new? Truth is, not much! Gene Bouley has recovered nicely from shoulder surgery, and the question for Gene is, what next? Lots of replacement value in Gene’s body! John Bissell had his best art show ever in artsy Dubuque, Iowa, selling 20 of his beautiful litho graphs. Skip Dickerson and his family (among other classmates) have fortunately recovered from Covid. Our condolences to Jeff and Sandy Fitts and their family on the loss of their adopted grand son in a tragic accident on Lake Winnipesaukee over New Years. Jeff reports he was sorry to miss 57’s reunion. Family comes first. I am already looking forward to having our 70th!

Finally, over the last few months I have heard from several of our classmates who were unable to attend Reunion due to physical limitations, many who were regular attendees. To them and everyone else, we wish you good health and hope to see you in 2027.

’58 REUNION

Thomas Grose: Still married to Missy with 4 children and 11 grand children. Still living in Christmas Cove Maine and London England. Still working in my company, Stock Market Index. Still have not caught COVID

’59

Randy Light crlight23@gmail.com

Chip Mason: “In the midst of an ever changing pandemic and intense heat wave, I continue to Zoom with my book club of 35 years, known as “The Guys Who Read.” Also, belong to a STEM ori ented group who discuss scientific information and political prattle. Finally taking retirement courses. My mantra continues to be: main tain your sense of humor.”

Walter Cannon: “My life has not changed much lately. Our kids are approaching adulthood which is alarming since we must be getting very old. I am healthy and am keeping busy by restoring another airplane, a 1946 Piper J-3 Cub. The restoration projects are my psycho therapy and satisfaction, especially when they become flyable. They were built in the forties and are still in good enough shape to restore back to like new condition. It is a very satisfying project keeping these old and famous airplanes alive. I am reasonably healthy but a bit short of memory. I have stopped flying gliders but continue to fly my Piper Super Cub, usually with a younger pilot in the back seat. Being retired in California is very nice. The weather is never a problem so outdoor activities such as long hikes up low mountains are very good for my wife’s and my health. One granddaughter is start ing medical school this fall. The fourth generation of a physician in our family. I thank Randy Light for keeping our class up to date. The isolation has kept me away from people with the Covid illness.”

I [Randy Light] have not been as fortunate as Walt. I contracted Covid, which took me out of commission for a period of time.

On a more positive note and as I mentioned to Ferg Jansen, I was surprised, but greatly honored to be inducted recently into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

I heard from Alan Stone about a past Toledo, Ohio connection that we have as well about some thoughts that he had on the diffi culty of reconnecting by class notes and reunions with classmates after so many years have passed since our GDA graduation.

Bob Pouch stays in contact with Erna Nash, Roy Nash’s widow. GDA recently acknowledged Erna as well as Charlie Langmaid and Topper Terhune as having “gener ously supported” the school’s new Alfond Coastal Research Center and Bass Institute.

’60

John Elwell johnelwell@verizon.net

Peter Stonebraker: Denise Axtell, whom you and several classmates met this past Fall, and I are still seeing one another. In February we enjoyed 2 1/2 weeks of sunshine and warmth in Florida. We stayed at The Villages, where we rented a home from one of Denise’s classmates. Recently connected with son Eric and his family in Boulder, Colorado. Daughter Katja’s daughter (my granddaugh ter) will graduate from HS this weekend and has been accepted at John’s Hopkins for the fall in the bio-medical research program.

Left: Tom Grose ’58 and Missy Grose · Right: Class of 1962 at their 60th Reunion

’62

Tom Tobey

ttobey13@gmail.com

Hello GDA Class of ’62, Although I was unable to attend our 60th reunion because my wife and I were celebrating our 50th anni versary, I have heard from several people that the reunion was well attended and a great success. Peter Butler summarized the events of the reunion in an email which follows:

“We had a beautiful spring week end. Twelve members of our class were able to attend: Ham Agnew, Ray Bird (& Joan), Peter Butler (& Marie), John Davagian, Denis Golden, Jim Gordon—winner of the distance prize (Woodinville, WA)—Bob James, Ben Jameson (& Ellen), Peter Machinist, Bob MacLaughlin (& Rene), Bill McPhee, and Tim McNally (& Maureen). We had several group get-togethers where we could compare medical conditions and replacement parts. However, for a bunch of 78 and 79-year-olds, we all seemed to be doing pretty well. Friday afternoon was the ground breaking for the Alfond Coastal Research Center and Bass Institute. This new building will be dedi cated to teaching and researching the environment. It will be a very unusual facility close to the Parker River, enabling students and others to get out and get dirty in the marshes and mud. The facility will be a great addition to the school. Saturday morning brought the Pie Race, the Parade of Classes around the milestone, and Peter Quimby’s presentation on the state of the school. COVID 19 made the last two years a struggle, with many students at home and most classes conducted over Zoom. But the school has survived—applications are up, and the school is flourishing (in no small part due to the inclusion of women). On Saturday afternoon, we had a chance to remember classmates who passed since our last reunion in 2017— Steve Barkin, Burke Lahey, Pete Kelly, Charlie Pyne, & Mark Johnson. Later, Jim Gordon read a poem he commissioned remembering Mark. It reflects the friendship that GDA times fostered for so many of us and is a tribute

to the special friendship between these two classmates. Saturday night was our reunion dinner in the new Pescosolido Library, and then time to party under the tent in front of Phillips. The band was terrific, and a few of us partied until midnight. After returning home Sunday, I slept for 10 hours. We had an excellent turnout, and several classmates had planned to come but canceled at the last minute. I hope we can all stay in touch. Ham Agnew has volunteered to help organize a Zoom call. I will see if we can set something up for July.”

Several members of the class who had intended to come were unable to make it due to various circum stances. David Lorenson had a total reverse right shoulder replace ment at Brigham and Women’s at the end of May and after much agonizing, decided it was unwise for him to try to attend. He writes, “I now have artificial hips and artificial shoulder so slowly going bionic.” Nick Strater and his wife Jean, who had hoped to be in Byfield, recently had some recent medical issues. His wife broke her hip for the second time, and to add insult to injury, someone “t-boned” Nick in his truck. The truck was totaled, but Nick escaped with “a mucked-up ankle that is starting to mend.”

We hope you all stay healthy (or as healthy as you can) and look forward to a strong turnout for our class Zoom session in July.

’66

Jim Connolly

jim@connolly.legal

As a member of the Old Guard, I went to the Friday night dinner on Reunion Weekend and spent a pleasant evening with Ford Schumann and Len Johnson I’m including a picture of us with my wife, Grace, and Len’s wife, Christine, so you can see how young we all look.

Ted Caldwell writes that Ted and his wife Jane visited Jeff Weber and his wife Linda in their Guilford, CT home. Ted joined Jeff on a ferry that he pilots out to the Thimble Islands. Like all boat captains, Jeff said that he has never hit a rock or

Let’s Get Together!

Alumni, parents, and friends of Governor’s—join us for a festive evening to celebrate the gifts of friendship and community with good food, drinks, and great conversation! We look forward to connecting with you. Register for events on our website by scanning the QR code below.

NYC: October 3

Chicago: October 19

Bay Area: November 8

Seattle: November 10

Empathy and Acceptance

In Alyson Gerber ’02’s latest book, Taking Up Space, twelve-year-old Sarah Weber is a star player on her school’s basketball team. She’s athletic and strong and seems confident in herself. Sarah has a healthy appetite and eats like a typical teen with her friends, but at home, her controlling mother projects her own obsession with food restriction that soon affects Sarah’s mental and physical health. “In a thoughtful and powerful way, Gerber explores how quickly Sarah falls into a pattern of disor dered eating,” (New York Times Book Review). In Taking Up Space, Gerber takes a straightforward approach in her story to address adolescent body image and mental health issues and supplies a positive representation of construc tive approaches to an often misunderstood condition.

Gerber is also the author of the critically acclaimed novels Braced and Focused, and her new middle grade mystery series, The Emmet Society, will be in stores in spring 2024. Gerber has an MFA from the New School in Writing for Children. She is a graduate of Connecticut College, The Governor’s Academy, and The Pike School, and now lives

run aground, and he held true to his word.

And the ever-energetic Tim Keeney writes: I am enjoying the daily challenges of being First Selectman in Somers, Connecticut, my home town. Hope every classmate is enjoying life to the fullest. Best Regards. His youngest daughter, Grace, graduated from Providence College Summa Cum Laude.

’67

Ben Beach benhbeach@gmail.com

Rich Brayton spent a lot of his summer at the family’s getaway in Inverness, located on Tomales Bay about an hour from his Sausalito home. His kids visited from Denver and LA and brought along Rich’s two grandchildren.

“I am just enjoying retirement,” Don Gay wrote in June. “I have been singing this summer and traveling to see the grandkids, but mostly staying home. I will be refereeing girls volleyball this fall.” Based on their reunion performance, anyone hosting a karaoke party would be well advised to invite Don and Emily to sing “My Girl.”

Speaking of former lacrosse standouts, in June, Lew Rumford’s barber asked how Lew spends his days. “I told him my answer would be too embarrassing as I cannot account for my time and yet I always feel like I have too much to do,” Lew emailed. “Something is wrong with my formula. Finding quiet time to read a book has become so much harder than I would ever have predicted.” Of course, his three grandchildren receive some of Lew’s attention. The third, Carter Bethune, arrived in May and lives in Raleigh.

Lew Ingham’s neighbor Fred Burchsted, a long-time research librarian at Harvard, wrote in June: “Still happily working with no immediate plans to retire. The work is still fun and with pleasant colleagues. We are excited about our summer travel plans. We’re staying home. Like always. I attack the shrubberies in the back yard from time to time.”

Gene Romero is a volunteer for the local conservation commission and, on occasion, gives presen tations to fellow citizens about local nature and its benefits. “My fondness for all classmates has increased after the pleasure of see ing some at the reunion. We really are a band of brothers!”

In June, Mick Doolittle and Laurie were in Charlotte to spend some quality time with Delaney, their fourth grandchild. “Please give my regards to those at the reunion who remember me,” Mick said. “Even though it was only one year, GDA (as I’ll always call it) has a special place in my heart and memories.”

“The big news at our Hatteras museum,” Joe Schwarzer wrote, “was the June 29 opening of our commemorative Battle of the Atlantic exhibit. Four U-boats and 78 merchant ships lie off our coast.” Joe recommends Viral, a book by Matt Ridley and Alina Chan on the origins of Covid-19.

“Business is good, back to preCovid level,” Wil Poon reported from his Minuteman Press store in Glendale, California, in June, “but I’m having a lot of supply issues, especially paper. I don’t expect to return to Hong Kong in the near future with the quarantine policy still in effect.”

On Reunion Weekend, Wil’s neigh bor Alan Rothfeld and his wife Ruth were in McCook, Nebraska, for the 25th annual Buffalo Commons Storytelling and Music Festival. As Alan explained it, “This was on the dare of someone we met there last year on part of

our quest to drive all of US Route 6, the nation’s longest highway, from Provincetown to Long Beach, California. My usually shy wife unexpectedly signed up for their open mic night. She told the story about how we ended up there while all our ‘fancy friends’ were renting villas in Tuscany, hiking the Cotswolds in England, and taking cooking courses in Lyon, France. Ruth got an ovation but, unfortunately, there were no prizes. Otherwise, we are both working, babysitting and ferrying six grand children and awaiting the arrival of our seventh in August. We are truly blessed, and our formerly orderly house cursed, that they all live within 10 miles of us. Life is good.”

Another of our five Californians, Web Pearce, reported, “We still have two German Shepherds, but they are getting old (10 and 12). Otherwise, I’m just trying to deal with old-age ailments. Go to the gym a few times a week. Don’t travel. Mostly play on my computer (video games, programming in Python, and handle my movie/TV show library). Most days I watch TV to see how the country is truly going to the dogs.”

Bill Alfond wrote, “Joni and I were fortunate to travel with the Liverpool soccer team to Stade de France to face Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final in Paris.” The Alfonds had another pleasant summer in Maine, “enjoy ing all the grandchildren and a family white-water rafting trip. We ended our summer with a bang, traveling to Italy with our entire family (15) to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary!”

Reid Pugh’s youngest son, Doug, has just built a house a few miles from Reid’s in St. Augustine. “He, his girlfriend, and my four-yearold grandson will be living there once their furniture arrives from Richmond, so I will have the luxury of having one of my three grandchildren very close by,” Reid said. “It’s a very wonderful change for me.”

After a two-year pandemic-related delay, Tom Taylor reported, “We finally were able to enter and exit Scotland for our golf trip without quarantining. We played North Berwick (pronounced Burick) and two lesser courses in the East Lothian area east of Edinburgh. We also played three links courses on the west coast of Scotland. This trip followed another trip originally scheduled for 2020 that included a cruise from Istanbul to Venice. We have continued to spend a lot of time with our five grandchildren, both in Florida, where we spend our winters, and in Little Compton, RI, where we spend our summers.”

“Linda and I have been busy with the outdoor summertime chores,” Doug Curtis wrote in late June. “My first planting of corn is already knee-high, and we should have an abundant supply thru mid- to late October. Lindsay ’97 is arriving from London July 5 for a two-week visit that we are really looking forward to. A move back to the states, perhaps remotely working from the Newbury area, may be in the future.”

“After hiding in my house for the past couple of years, it’s time for some short trips to Rocky Mountain

National Park,” Phil Congdon wrote from Colorado. “An oppor tunity for fresh air and great views from the highest continuous road in the country. I’ll probably get an opportunity to get stuck behind someone going 10 mph because there’s a guard rail, and maybe I’ll see someone trying to take a selfie with an elk. Possible Darwin Award winner?”

Chuck Davis is having fun with his first grandchild, Nolan, who will turn two late this year. During the summer, Chuck managed to spend a good bit of time in Vermont.

Another relatively new grandfa ther is Anthony Gerard. Birch will celebrate his first birthday in December.

In June, with Oklahoma tem peratures topping 100 degrees some days, Rick Jensen wrote, “I am trying to help my neighbors’ grandkids with their golf. I had forgotten all the bad swing habits that boys develop at that age. I see my teenage swing in all of this mess. Limited success has come from wearing the boys down—with 200-plus range balls—and only then can any learning begin. I think that may have been Coach Witherspoon’s technique. Of course, Bill (Alfond) will recall the “meadow muffin fight” that erupted quickly one afternoon in ’67. Probably Roy Meyers started it. Today, given the plentiful muffins in the nearby pasture, I have kept that episode from the boys. Once was enough!”

“Now that all five of my grandchil dren are either playing instruments

Left: Len ’66 and Christine Johnson, Ford Schumann ’66, and Grace & Jim Conolly ’66, P’08 in Byfield at Reunion · Center: Paul Hemmerich ’67 and wife Bart training for their ride from the Canadian border to Portsmouth on a late spring day · Right: Mary, Grace, and Tim Keeney ’66 at Grace’s graduation

and/or singing,” Ray Huard said, “I’m starting to learn sound engineering to support our family music studio. Maybe they will let me play drums on one of their recordings.”

In May, Scott Cameron returned from a long stay in Thailand “to see kids and grandkids.” By June, he was in Victoria, BC. “Vancouver Island is a great place to be in the summertime,” Scott said, “but I will be back in Thailand right after Christmas. I really like the vaga bond thing!!”

At this year’s National Senior Games, Sid Bird won a gold medal in racquetball singles and a bronze in doubles. His wife Mary turned in her best time yet in the 40K bike race. “We are competing again this summer to qualify for next year’s nationals in Pittsburg,” Sid reported in June.

“Arthritis has slowed me down a bit,” Joe Story wrote. “I’m in the middle of a project rehabilitating a house. Business is improving at the Cask and Flagon. It’s very different. I can’t find any way to blame it on Putin. The world is changing too dramatically.”

Mike Rogers’ work was on display at the Remis Lobby during Reunion Weekend, and one piece will be selected for permanent display in the library. He joins his wife Deirdre as a hospital chaplain at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott. Mike continues to draw, paint, garden, and hike.

Another of our artists, David Marsh, wrote in June that he con tinues oil painting, shifting from Southwest reds/grays to Northeast blues/greens. He recently attended an outdoor painting workshop in Chatham, which turned out to be a Covid-spreader. “I’m now savoring the battery-acid taste of Paxlovid,” he said, “but things could be a lot worse. Headed to paint in the last frontier (a/k/a Alaska) in August, so studying up on mitigating mosquito swarms and Kodiak bears. Life is good. Hope to be able to write again! :)”

Bart and Paul Hemmerich also were in Alaska during August, enjoying a long-awaited road trip.

The loop included campgrounds near Denali, kayaking near Seward, and watching the occasional calving of a glacier. After a thorough briefing by Ray Huard’s Southern Belle girlfriend Joanie, Paul and Bart are headed down to Nashville this fall to bike tour the Natchez Trace all the way to Jackson, Mississippi, with a detour over to Vicksburg.

Jeff Forte was in Harbor Springs, Michigan, for most of July and August, and then headed to Aspen and Utah for fall fishing. “Otherwise,” he reported, “we’ll be back in Mount Dora (Florida) on the lake, chilling. BTW, the Key West fly-fishery (for tarpon, bone and permit) is pretty bleak. Overuse, cruise ships, jet skis, and poor management have taken their toll. A reminder of why we pulled up stakes there. The tragedy was very visible on its way to the pres ent. And avoidable. Next problem will likely be ocean-related: storm or sea level rise.”

Jeff’s Moody House roommate, Dan Morgan, was in Thessaloniki, Greece, for a quick five-day visit to the American Farm School, where he serves on the board of trustees. “I will hurry home,” Dan reported, “because, happily, we will be joined by all the children and grandchil dren for July 4th.” He added, “The reunion was terrific. It was so great to reconnect with so many good friends.”

Bill Dougherty also enjoyed our 55th reunion. He was especially impressed by the head of the science faculty (Emily Allen) and her colleague (Erika Mitkus), who will be heading up the educational content of the new Bill ’67 and Peter ’71 Alfond Coastal Research Center. The Bass Institute, working in tandem with the facility, will be the intellectual center. Anne and Bob Bass were the lead funders.

Three days after running the Pie Race 5K at our reunion, Mac Barnes emailed, “I ‘ran’ another 5K.” Twice during the next three days, he rode his bicycle eight miles. “Then I ‘ran’ a 5K here in Red Bank. By then, my muscles were screaming. So please stand with me that I continue to exercise as I have made a good beginning.”

Looking toward the summer, Jeff Harris wrote in June, “Planning to get together with most of the family at Long Sands in York Beach this August. Finished prepping and painting my 20’ Grand Lake canoe for a fishing expedition in Maine with my angler grandson. And planning a road trip with my 14-year-old granddaughter—desti nation yet to be finally determined, though leaning toward Great Smoky Mountains.”

“With the Covid risk declining, I’m looking forward to friends and family visiting this summer,” Edwin Beatty wrote from Albuquerque. “The forest fires north and west of the city have been devastating, and the smoke and dust have affected air quality here at times. I continue to be very busy working on the board of the co-op where I live. We’re making progress addressing management and maintenance issues that had been long put off.”

’68 REUNION

Ted Nahil tednahil@gmail.com

As you know, we lost Jay Shay on May 14. We were fortunate to have him back in the fold following our 50th reunion, a fact not lost on a good number of us. Winsor White: “Good company and a great friend. I carry fond memories. Shared many laughs. We went through a lot together.” Marc Tucker: “Jay was a great classmate: quick-witted, humorous, kind, and supportive. We stayed in sporadic touch over the years but were able to spend some quality time together at our 50th when he decided it was time to really reconnect with his high-school roots.” Dan Look: “How sorrowful to lose another classmate. I have fond memories of playing football on the line next to Jay as we open huge holes for Tucker to walk through. I smile when I remember his antics at the grill.” I too remember Jay’s wit at the grill! Others who communi cated fond memories included Art Veasey, Jon Williams, CF Spang, Bill Degen, Don Hayes, Peter Barkin, Dave Mitchell, and Chris Page. Jay’s brother, Michael, ’69, let us know that Jay was happy to have attended the 50th and was looking forward to the 55th and 60th. I

know I speak for us all when I say we will certainly miss him next year in Byfield.

Shortly after our last deadline passed, the Annual Day of Giving arrived. In typical fashion, we did a decent job of making our contributions, but a comment by Dan Look struck me as quite funny. After making his donation, he wrote to the group to announce that fact, noting: “Had to scroll down a LONG way to find the class year.” Yup, we’re way down on the list at this point! Other participants included (but were not limited to…) Jay Worthen, Jon Williams (who donates for two classes!), Dave Mitchell, Elliott O’Reilly, Tuck, Grande, Roger Smith, Chris Page, Chuck Johnson, Peter, Bubba, Harry Kangis, and Simon McCulloch

Birthdays continue to tie us together. In the past few months, Josh Burns, Bill Degen, Ted Brooks, Winsor White, yours truly, and Steve Parker all celebrated another milestone. Josh wrote, “Many thanks for the birthday wishes which are appreciated! …. What I do remember and will never forget is that ’68 is Great!” Billy D wrote on FB, “Thank you to all my classmates who wished me birth day wishes. It meant much to me. Love you all.” Ted Brooks wrote that he is “…back in Minnesota in early May from Arizona. Hopefully a regular summer, last year was a drought of sorts.” After Tuck wrote to Winsor, “Happy Birthday Winsor!

To our class’s other poet laureate,” he replied, “I’m glad somebody enjoys my scribbling!” And Rob Lord wrote, “I am grateful for your introducing me to Zappa in junior year! The only concerts I attend at this age are his son Dweezil’s.” To which Winsor replied, “You introduced me to Jimi Hendrix (who I had the pleasure of seeing live twice) so we’re more than even on Zappa.” I also would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the birthday wishes back in April, a group that included everyone mentioned above and below in addition to Ross Raymond and Rick Kaye-Schiess!

In mid-April, Art Veasey reported: “We dined lavishly at Davio’s in Lynnfield. JLR was a great host

as the restaurant owner Steve DiFillippo has a long association with Jim. A great evening as always.” Jim’s comment was wonderful: “Great dinner. Good to see every one, Nice photo, we are looking younger and younger each year!”

I got a pleasant surprise via Rick Kaye-Schiess that included a long, detailed update from Boots Brown! Here is Boots’ update: “Sharona and I love San Miguel and are beginning the process of moving there full time. It was un poco loco, selling our SMA house so fast after having poured so much love and energy into it for 3 years, but…. we will build a house that really fits us and our lifestyle. We were so lucky. The lot we bought is amazing, a rare find in SMA, but now, still looking for our architect. We are working with two who are giving us preliminary plans to see if we are on the same page, and they got the concept of what we want. We will work with them this summer via ZOOM, then head back down late next Fall to finalize. The years and time we spent remodeling our 1st home was a gift. We traveled all over Mexico, and really learned to love the country. We had so many fabulous adventures traveling thru Oaxaca, Veracruz, Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacan, Guerrero, Colima. We have been to Oaxaca City 3 times, incredible, and also explored the beautiful Coast of Oaxaca. Killer beaches and towns. Found many paradise-perfect beaches also in Nayarit and Colima. Just as fabulous were the mountain towns of Veracruz and Oaxaca, they take you back 100 years when you enter. A truly rare experience to go into

these villages and interact. Many times, our objective in these little pueblos was to search out artisans we had read about. There is still so much amazing, incredible artwork being done in Mexico by these artisans. We filled our house with pieces we collected, ceramics, weaving, embroidery on blouses, shirts etc., graphic art (engraved pieces), constantly we were over whelmed by so much talent. Last spring, we did a trip to Chiapas to do a 8 day river trip on the Usumacinta, largest river in Latin America, making up a good part of the border between Mexico and Guatemala. We have some stories of the border! We were based in Palenque and spent 10 days after the river trip exploring amazing Mayan Ruins all thru the Yucatan. I was fortunate enough to do a private Grand Canyon River trip last spring after getting back from the Usumacinta. It was my 11th trip down the Grand and I think the best of them all. We had been in Mexico for most of the 4 years before 2020, so it was fantastic being back here for most of 2021, enjoying our house, friends, and this amazing part of the USA we live in. We spent a lot of time in our camper in SW Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, losing ourselves in the beauty of the desert, canyon country. On our Usumacinta River trip last Spring we were in the jungle the entire time and passed thru one off the deepest canyons in Mexico. The river used to be run commercially, but with the conflict in Guatemala the river trips became too dangerous. We were the 1st commercial trip in years to do it and our river guide hired a

boat with two gunmen to follow us for protection. The jungle was filled with Howler Monkeys screaming at night and during the day when we would pass. We found jaguar prints in our camp one morning after waking up the night before to their cries. Two of our camps were at magnificent Mayan ruins you can only reach by the river, no roads into them. It was very mystical sleeping in such a powerful place. Saw many macaws, toucans and river crocs. Amazing adventure.”

Looking forward to the next update, Boots!! Rick, by the way, is working on his article about Wentworth Cheswell, which will be published in an upcoming edition of the Lt. Governor!

Chris Page commented on my mentioning our road trip last fall, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: “I loved hearing about your road trips and various places you’ve been. I attended a series of music lectures recently and the presenter raved about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—he’s been four or five times. I’ve got to get there... and to Nashville.” In early May he also wrote: “My wife (Joanne) and I are leaving tomorrow on our first plane vacation since the Pandemic started. We’re really excited—it’s a cruise on the Snake and Columbia Rivers—but nervous about the Covid exposure. We’ve been very lucky and healthy—hope our luck holds on.” And he wrapped it up with the photo below and a final update: “We had a great cruise on the Snake and Columbia Rivers.

Here’s a picture of Joanne and me in Hell’s Canyon on the Snake which looked more like heaven.

Unfortunately, reality hit at the end with both of us coming down with Covid. It is a hell of a disease, as you know. Hope you’re fully recov ered. [More on that comment in a little bit.] I’m hoping all our other classmates are well and looking forward to seeing them at our 55th reunion next year.”

It was nice to hear from Roger Smith, too, who wrote in while watching the French Open and NBA finals: “Still enjoying the end of spring in CT after coming north from Punta Gorda in early May. And Jon Williams wrote: “I’m still at it in Colorado homebuilding industry. We are now living in Denver to be closer to grandchil dren. The ‘Marshall Fire’ in Boulder County, last December was a shock. At least one house that I built was destroyed, and a couple others that used my structural system were lost as well. (Our elevated garage decks survived the conflagration!) We are looking forward to a vacation in Connecticut this summer, to introduce our grandkids to the lake house where I spent the best times of my youth. (Yes, even better than my time in Byfield!) We will also join our family’s traditional Independence Day celebration, complete with Revolutionary war cannonry! I hope you are staying cool in Fla this summer. Remember to call when you next come to Colorado. All GDA mates are wel come to stop by when in the area. Thanks for keeping us all in touch. As our ranks are thinning, it is important that we all appreciate each influence we’ve had on each other.” Thanks, Jon, all around!

Left: Chris ’68 and Joanne Page at Snake River · Right: Members of the class of 1968 at Davio’s: Chris Page, Jay Worthen, Wayne Barbaro, Jim Rudolph, Steve DiFillippo, Steve Robinson, and Veas

We learned that Tom Jacob’s family had a memorial service in Camden, Maine, for him on June 16. Tuck reported that it was perfect weather and that he and Rob Lord were there, along with Steve Cox’s brother, Sandy, who golfed with Tom on many occasions.

Don Hayes wrote in with this update in June: “Currently in Albuquerque, providing grandpar ent day-care to two: a six-week-old and a 20-month-old. Boy, do I like nap-time! As time (and weather) permits, we’re trying to explore New Mexico, but still drive to and from LA and know the best rest stops on US 40. Looking forward to Covid’s decline so professional day-care, airline reliability, and international travel can be con strued as normal. Thank you, Ted, for all your efforts at GDA (the preferred acronym – and T-shirt when available).” Harry Kangis wrote: “I just returned from my Williams 50th Reunion, and it was a wonderful reminder that 50+ year friendships are a true gift. It’s also a reminder that big number reunions and anniversaries are coming our way quite frequently these days. Julia and I will celebrate our 45th Anniversary in August. At Reunion, our rag-tag golf team set a record as the first 50th reunion class to win the weekend best-ball golf tourna ment by delivering 8 birdies, 3 of which came from a former football player in my foursome who smoked a joint during the entire round—the 60’s still live! With 4 Pfizer shots coursing through our bodies, we hope to finally take our thrice delayed Croatia/Slovenia trip this October. I look forward to being there for our 55th next June.”

Dan Look sent in a thoughtful update, too. “Not sure where the last notes ended. (Senior moments). Anne and I have had a busy winter and spring. Unfortunately, a significant amount of our travel was related to friends and family who are battling a disease or have succumbed to one. Not a great chapter in our lives, but the reality. Fortunately, we were able to see all of our friends. My son-in-law’s grandfather was laid to rest at Arlington this May. Full honors for a Navy captain, nuclear sub driver. A beautiful and moving ceremony. As we followed his caisson through

Arlington, I was struck by how we as a nation are more attentive to our deceased veterans than the living. Both should be equally honored. This disparity has been highlighted as we open our project, Abrams Assisted Living, for home less seniors and veterans in DC. So much work to be done. Anne and I are heading to NE for the summer and then to France for three weeks to celebrate our 50th anniversary. We are renting a car in Paris and hitting the road. I hope to see some of the class this summer while sailing on Windshadow in home waters. I continue to marvel at the lessons and friendships from GDA that continue to sustain and inform me today. What an incredible foun dation for life from masters and classmates. Thank you for keeping us aligned and informed.” Dan also sent in the incredible picture above:

“Sea trials (OK, Bay trials) Saturday 5:15 sunrise from Windshadow on Chesapeake Bay. Crescent moon and Venus atop the mast. Not a bad way to start the day.”

Terry and I continue to enjoy life in Florida, our family, our friends, and our new house. We’ve been in it for a year now, seems like yes terday! We celebrated a couple of milestones this year, too. Terry cel ebrated what I like to call a “speed limit” birthday—they’re the ones that end in a 5 or a 0. I managed to pull off a terrific surprise party, much to her initial chagrin and ultimate joy. And we celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary in May. After laying low for a good amount of time, I went to a convention (for work, so I had to go) in Las Vegas and, as Chris implied earlier, I came back with COVID-19! Two shots, two boosters, and I still got it. It was nasty; I can’t imagine how bad it would have been without

the inoculations! We are looking forward to a week vacation with our entire family—our Florida grand sons, daughter and son-in-law, and our Colorado granddaughters, son and partner—in early July. We are also planning a trip to New England in early fall if we can make the details work out. That’s a topic for the next edition! I am looking forward to our 55th next June. Can’t wait to get back for that and see everyone! Please, in the meantime, keep the updates coming, take care, and stay safe! See you in Byfield next June!

’69

Billy Clyde coachbclyde@gmail.com

Billy Clyde: Still trying to get back into the swing of everyday life. Golf, grandchildren, and time at the chi ropractor seem to dominate these days. Hope your holiday over the Fourth was time well spent.

Bob Amsler visited family in Western New York and again managed to stop in at Cuba Cheese for some local nourishment.

Top: 2022 Govs Reunion with classmates from 1970 · Center: The Film Noirs (from left): Barkley Simpson ’70, his wife Tawnyn, brother-in-law Bill, and sister Valerie · Bottom: 15 of the 25 members of the Class of 1971 celebrating at Reunion

Chesapeake Bay photo by Dan Look ’68

Been there and heartily endorse the experience. Bob is off to Skaneateles for the summer.

Doug Macdonald reports that their last child will be married later this summer. My wife and I will be there in western Massachusetts to celebrate.

Mike Shay, living in Connecticut, checked in to say all is well.

Peter Dorsey has done much to preserve delicate landscapes in the Essex County area of the North Shore. His dedication to this work and his farsightedness regarding the restoration and preservation of ecosystems is laudable. Peter says so much with his actions. He has worked extensively with the Essex County Greenbelt, which is a private land trust. Since 1961, they have protected over 18,000 acres either by acquiring it or through Conservation Easements, where owners essentially donate the deve lopment rights to the Greenbelt. He has served on their Board of Directors off and on for 25 years. Currently he is on the Land Protection and Stewardship committees. His latest volunteer activ ity, as of this year, is as an Osprey Spotter. Osprey populations here on the North Shore of Boston were endangered 40 years ago due to DDT effects, but now they have made a comeback, due in part to the program where he is now involved, and because the use of DDT was banned. The Greenbelt has erected 50 Osprey platforms over the years in several towns in the salt marshes in towns along the ocean (Govs just put up an Osprey platform in the Parker River marshes near where the new coastal research center is going to be built. The students are going to be the monitors of that one!), and the Osprey have built big nests on them with sticks and marsh grass. Every few days he goes to his assigned platform, and observes the goings on of the one male and one female Osprey that have made their nest there. These extraordinary birds have a 5 foot wingspan; mate for life and migrate every year to Cuba and South America! Currently the two he is watching are taking turns sitting on their eggs, and catching fish for one another. That is all they eat. The 2 or 3 eggs should be

hatching soon! He bought a fancy pair of binoculars at a store near GDA in Newburyport with which to keep tabs on them. If you go to ECGA.org under “What we do” and “Osprey Program”, you can see a live “Osprey Cam,” which shows another nest site in Gloucester (a solar-powered camera which is always on when it is sunny allows viewers to see the nest and the Ospreys up close). He has enjoyed learning about these special raptors during Covid-caused slow times in his residential real estate activities.

’70

Terry Nolan nolan_t_e@hotmail.com

Barkley Simpson: This April (2022), my wife, sister, brother in law and I attended Dapper Day at WDW’s Hollywood Studios as “The Film Noirs” As always, my wife, Tawnyn, did an “AHH-Mazing” job making all of our outfits...and yes, I helped with shopping and accessories! We placed 2nd out of 7400 entries and won a trip/ cruise aboard the brand new, all immersive Galactic Starcruizer, which we will be taking in 2023. We are super excited and will definitely be brushing up on all of our Star Wars characters. After Disney, we drove to visit my best friend from Govs/best man at my wedding, Guy Swenson. We then attended the Governor’s Reunion week end together. What an emotional time being back on campus and spending quality time with my classmates.

’71

James Fleming jamesflemin817@gmail.com

Twenty-five classmates from the class of 1971, plus one former master and coach showed up at the Academy on June 10–12 for the 50th anniversary, one year delayed. It was quite a festive and amazing event as we joined the classes of 1972 and 1970. Present were Ted Northrup, Barry Burlingham, John Clayman, Julian Ellis, Mike Fish, Bill Frost, Mike Hoover, Joe LaPaglia, Tom McMeekin, Art Moher, Jeff Molitor, Mike Mulligan, Andrew Nelson, Rick Nietsch, Eric Peters, Jim Pinfold,

JUNE 9–11, 2023

Save the Date to Celebrate!

June 9–11, 2023

Celebrating the Academy’s graduating classes ending in 3 and 8.

Reunite with classmates, faculty, and friends during a weekend filled with activities for alumni and families of all ages. A schedule of events and registration will be available this winter.

Uncovering Earth’s Story

Lyle Nelson ’10 grew up in Gloucester, Massachusetts, a coastal town with a wellknown fishing heritage. Homeschooled from a young age, hands-on learning sparked an early passion in Nelson for natural science—a precursor to the fieldwork he would do. He spent days snorkeling, fishing, and exploring tide pools. It was the beginning of what he describes as an obsession for the North Atlantic Ocean. “My bedroom was full of home aquariums containing a succession of fish and invertebrates collected from local eel grass flats, and my parents’ freezer was intermittently packed with dead herring to use for lobster bait,” he recalls. After Govs, Nelson went on to study at Harvard, where an introductory Earth science course opened his eyes to the field of geology, a departure from what he learned in the oceans north of Boston.

Now a Ph.D. student at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, Nelson’s work sends him to remote corners of the world in places like Arctic Alaska, Death Valley, Mexico, South Africa, and Namibia to map out and interpret ancient rock layers.

“Our planet is this amazing, massive, three-dimensional puzzle, and then when you are probing deep time, it adds another dimension of complexity,” Nelson says of his work. “I’m exploring how all of these combined dynamic forces and stochastic processes have interacted for the last 4.5 billion years to create the incredible physical and biological diversity of Earth that we can observe today. I find great joy in solving tiny pieces of this puzzle and trying to get a little closer to the truth of what happened here.”

Peter Richardson, Sam Tamposi, Bob Veasey, Mike Wellman, Ellis Withington, Brad Young, Dave Shove, Jim Page and your humble servant. Marshal Clunie and wife Janet arrived for dinner on Saturday. Michael Reid sent a message to the class regretting he was unable to attend, as did Mike Moonves and Bill Dubocq, and many other classmates. Most of us are retired. Many have grown chil dren and some have grandchildren. There were so many reminiscences, stories, and jokes that some of us were hoarse by the time we got home. Julian Ellis gets the award for having travelled the farthest, from London. He has written a book which I have just started. Stay tuned for a review. Art Moher and Bob Veasey flew in from Chicago. Jeff Molitor gets the award for having stayed away the longest: this was his first visit to the campus since we graduated. Brad Young gets the award for having been out of touch the longest. Welcome back, Brad. Turns out Brad has had an interesting life working and travelling around the country and the Caribbean and raising a family. And the award for staying out in the cold the longest goes to Justin Doyle: he’s still out in the cold. Come in from the cold, Justin! Scott Collins was leading a group of University of Mexico students to Paris, France at the time of the reunion. Scott Seaver, normally a resident of Newburyport, is now mostly living in Fort Lauderdale and also sent his regrets. Mike Mulligan is temporarily living in the house where he grew up in Newburyport while he builds a house on an old farm in Vermont. After consistently missing class reunions because he was running class reunions as head of school at Thacher School, he is now retired and was happy able to attend this reunion. Rick Nietsch, my former neighbor in Connecticut, is now living full time on Nantucket. John Clayman continues to build yachts in Rhode Island (seatonyachts. com). Jim Pinfold has been living in Barcelona for many years where his wife has been teaching. Jim has been dividing his time between Barcelona and Sri Lanka, where he works with and supports several schools. The reunion was full of events. At the Annual Meeting in the Wilkie Performing Arts Center,

Ted Northrup advised all attend ees the results of the fundraiser for the Peter Alfond Scholarship Fund: $421,000 had been raised by the class, which will be matched by the Alfond family.

Mike Hoover wrote: “Our 50th Reunion was a blast with 25 classmates returning to Byfield, over 30% of our graduating class. For many, it had been 50 years since they last set foot on campus to view a covered hockey rink, a renovated Arts and Theater Center, a new library, new dormitories, and a Student Center. For the first time, we could finally enjoy camara derie free from the shadow of the Vietnam conflict which dominated our final three years.

As I look back on my career in international banking with Manufacturers Hanover (now part of J.P. Morgan Chase) and U.S. Trust (now Bank of America) as an Equity analyst and Energy Fund Manager, my greatest accomplishment is survival, given a host of unfriendly takeovers and oil market volatility over a 40-year period—sufficient to put four children through private college at Emory University in Atlanta! Someone accurately likened college tuition to driving BMWs off a cliff every year.

Ted Northrup reports: “It was great seeing so many classmates return for our 50th (actually 51st) reunion at the Academy during our recent Reunion weekend. Being able to catch up with Barry Burlingham, John Clayman, Julian Ellis, Mike Fish (my cousin-in-law), James Fleming, Bill Frost (we consider him a member of the Class of ’71), was very enjoyable and it was fun talking about the good old days at the Academy. It was also an honor being a member of our Reunion Committee organizing our Reunion Weekend efforts and successfully creating the Peter G. Alfond Memorial Scholarship Fund to GDA (sorry—it’s still GDA to me) as our 50th Reunion Class Gift. This scholarship will fully fund a student’s tuition at the Academy. We all feel that Peter would be very pleased with our efforts and this honor. It was great to catch up with Marshall Clunie and Chris Harlow (former teachers) who also attended our dinner. As

I noted at the Alumni meeting (Saturday AM), Mary-Pat and I randomly met Robert L. ‘Boots’ Chouinard on Omaha Beach on D-Day June 6, 2022 (4 days prior to Reunion Weekend). He landed in Normandy on June 11, 1944—lives in Salisbury, MA and is a former (15 year) employee of GDA. The ran domness of meeting him continued as we sat in the booth next to Boots the day after reunion (breakfast) at Angie’s Diner in Newburyport. He continued to talk about how much he enjoyed working at the Academy and following GDA sports teams. And we again had an opportunity to thank him for his service during WWII. He is truly a member of the Greatest Generation. I would be remiss if we did not continue to ‘plug’ the scholarship fund we set up in Peter’s name. We can all continue to donate to the Academy in the name of the fund. The stronger the fund, the better it is for the Academy. Further, through out our fundraising efforts, we identified a number of classmates who have identified the Governor’s Academy (and specifically the Peter G. Alfond Memorial Scholarship Fund) in their will through their personal Planned Giving program. Our efforts to support the Academy didn’t end on June 12, 2022. Personally, I thought everyone looked great, the Academy facilities and grounds were spectacular and our honoring and remembering our classmates who have prede ceased us was very meaningful. Hopefully, we’ve reconnected some relationships and our paths will cross more in the future. We hope those who could not attend will continue to keep in touch with fellow classmates and the Academy as we continue through ‘the 4th quarter of our lives’—as one class mate so aptly put it. Great seeing everyone. Great being back at GDA. It was an enjoyable weekend.”

Barry Burlingham: Currently the development officer for the Danforth Art Museum in Framingham.

’72 George Freimarck gfreimarck@gmail.com

Peter Conway: Things are going fine for the PRC family. Obviously, a

highlight for me and a number of ’72 classmates was our 50th Reunion. To say that it went perfectly and was a blast is an understatement. It was so much fun seeing old friends and hearing how things are in their lives. I must give a shout out to the Reunion Committee and Tom Trafton’s team. I’ll pat all of us on the back and give everyone a big WELL DONE!! The highlight being George Freimarck’s Alumnus of the Year award and the dedication of the Alfond Science lab in Jim Pierce’s name. Jim Tikellis, Hal

Curtis, and especially Peter Franklin, that presentation was flawless. A weekend that will be thought about and remembered for as long as I live. A new occurrence from the Reunion: my oldest grand daughter heard about my new mon iker, “Grand Poobah”. It comes out a little different from her mouth—

“Grand Poop Ba” (of course, the emphasis on the 2nd word) To the Governor’s, thanks so much for our 50th Reunion. You helped create memories for a lifetime. Best, Peter Conway (Grand Poobah).

Class of ’ 71—Top: John Clayman, Barry Burlingham, Bill Frost, Bob Veasey, Mike Hoover · Center left above: Andrew Nelson and Jim Page · Center left below: Jeff Molito, Andrew Nelson, John Clayman · Center right: Bill Frost, Jim Pinfold, and Ted Northrup · Bottom: Rick Nietsch, Mike Wellman, Brad Young, John Clayman, James Fleming

Further bits and bytes: Madoc, aka “Michael” Batcup, was our English Speaking Union exchange student senior year, and delight fully, decided to return when heard about our 50th. As we began the parade of classes on Sat morning, Madoc reminded those of us who are readers of the incomparable David Cornwell historical novels (Sharpe’s Rifles, The Last Kingdom) that those at the front of the column were the “Forlorn Hopes”, the guys going into the teeth of a fortress’s defense first, and almost certain to

die. Of course, the head of our col umn was the “Old Guard.” Hope to be among them some day. Madoc reminded us also that 50 years ago, he gave a speech at the precommencement dinner, holding up a puppet. Wonderful all this, and terrific Madoc made the decision to come back and see us all.

So, who travelled farthest, Batcup, Swenson or Martin? Thank you, fellows, for being among us at this happy Milestone!

And now, comments from a num ber of 50th reunion participants:

Ben “Muskie” Pearson: I want to thank you and the whole commit tee for such an over the top 50th reunion. Of course, just connecting with classmates and hearing their stories is the meat of a gathering like this but now seared in my brain is Ace Pierce “letting his hair down” on stage with Guy and the Greasers. Even Mrs. Muskie was impressed. I suspect there are not many 50th reunion moments in GA history that rival that. Please pass this on to the rest of the committee.

Amazing job, sign me up for the 55th. Ben, aka Muskie.

Bill Connolly: Great reunion!

Peter Phippen: Great to see those who made it back (as well as some from the ’71 class). Sorry I didn’t hit many of the events but it was fun to catch up with people. It was a great time!

Richard Hackel: A blast was had by all, I believe. Not that I’ve been to any other 50th reunions, but I think this weekend exemplified what a 50th reunion should be like: good vibe, good food, acres of fun and truly meaningful re-connects.

Cameron Hosmer: Ya put together a great event. I had a big smile all day on Sunday driving home to Ovid, N.Y. Thanks, Tunk

Tim Traver: So great to reconnect with friends and classmates not seen for many years.

Tim put together a wonderful note on the band: It was so good catch ing up with folks who were able to make it back to the 50th reunion. Thank you, George Freimarck and members of the reunion committee for all the hard work. One of the highlights for me was a musical blast from the past: two command performances by our own 50s/early 60s rock and roll dance band, Guy and the Greasers (G&G). Here is a short report for the record on the G&Gs at the 50th. Full disclosure: I became a member of the new Greasers 10 months before the reunion. The Greasers had just started meeting weekly on Zoom to relearn the old Greaser song

list. Zoom proved a less-than-ideal forum for learning to sing and play together thanks to the pesky laws of physics. Small differences in transmission speed between partic ipants leads to latency that makes trying to play music together nearly impossible, as many people learned during the pandemic. Nevertheless, we forged on. Guy and the Greasers was the creation of Mark Hoffman ’73 (“Guy”) and Andy Lappin (“Anthony”) back in 1970. They’d watched the Woodstock Concert movie in 1970 and were inspired by the crowd’s very positive reaction to the band Sha Na Na. Sha Na Na’s songs were borrowed mostly from the 1950s and early 1960s. Short, fast-moving twists and other rhyth mic dance beats that got everyone up and dancing. Mark and Andy decided to gather a few friends together and hold an outdoor music festival, which they called Wanasquam (after an ancient native village that had existed in the area). The original band was Andy Lappin (“Anthony”) on guitar and vocals, Mark Hoffman ’73 (“Guy”), Chris Swenson (“Big Louie”), Bob Benson (“Butchy”) and Carl Steiner (“Frankie”) all on vocals, Richard Hackel (“Ricki”) on guitar, and Norman Baratelli ’73 (“Norm”) on drums. At some point they all took on ’50s Greaser perso nas. Obviously, they were destined for fame. From that first outdoor show began a four-year odyssey of Saturday night performances at area high schools. They began refining their styles. Guy, the cool front man in a gold jacket (initially, costumes were rented, though band members bought their own “points”—black leather shoes with dangerously pointy toes). They drove around in a car with fins and frequented late-night diners, sometimes with a robot (the band’s mascot) in tow. Chris (Big Louie) sang Chuck Berry’s Johnny Be Good, and a few others, including Bobby Lewis’s Tossin and Turnin, which was #1 in 1961. Everyone sang Jelly Roll Gum Drop—a favor ite penned by Frank Zappa from his album Rubin and the Jets. Guy sang songs including Duke of Earl by Gene Chandler. Anthony was soon channeling Elvis (“The King”), on hits such as Hound Dog and Don’t Be Cruel. Eventually, Bob Benson, Carl Steiner and Norman Baratelli left the band and new members

Top: Class of

Crane, Jablonski, Bouchard, Sekora, Pearson,

Joe Sekora (“Nikki Skins”) on drums, Jay Bethel ’73 (“Chico”) on vocals and Peter Dinatelli ’74 (“Dino”) on surf guitar came on board. Due to a combination of strong vocals (backed by 4-part harmony), combined with a hard driving rhythm section with guitars, bass and drums, Guy and the Greasers gained a reputation as a high energy ’50s dance phenome non with a funny bone. They took themselves about 80% seriously, producing Guy and the Greaser coloring books and holding dance contests with prizes. Geoff White ’73 (Dominic) loved the band, and eventually graduated from volunteer security officer, to band MC, and finally to singer, singing songs like Little Anthony and the Imperials’ Tears on my Pillow.

Flash forward 50 years! The Greasers played two concerts on the Governor’s campus during Reunion 2022. The first was Friday night in the cavernous hall in the French Student Center to SRO crowds. The second concert was under the giant circus tent in the center of campus, Saturday night. Both were enthusiastically received. Reunion crowds were bopping and twisting to the rock n’ roll music. A surprising number of original Greasers stepped up to make Mark Hoffman’s dream of reconstituting the Greasers and playing at the 50th reunion a reality. It was a far-flung group, comprising Andy Lappin (Chicago), Joe Sekora (Florida), Chris Swenson (Seattle), Geoff White (Sydney, Australia), Richard Hackel (small island off the coast of Maine), Mark Hoffman (greater Boston) and me, the new guy (Vermont). There were many challenges, chief among them— notwithstanding the problem of transmission latency (for Zoom band rehearsals)—was age. After 50 years, the body when called upon cannot always be relied upon. And playing rock and roll is surprisingly hard work. Aside from our voices sounding like bleating sheep, a few of us were rusty to non-existent on our instruments. The band’s new lineup included Josh HoffmanSenn (Mark’s young nephew) and Rich Hackel on rhythm and lead and me on bass. Mark Manuelian ’73 came back to the group as chief engineer (assisted by his wife Debbie who was promoted

A Natural Gift for Leadership

Lemuel L’Oiseau ’21 is a natural leader. As a student at Govs, peers gravitated towards L’Oiseau for their warmth, authenticity, and generous spirit. Last fall, Govs Dean of Multicultural Education, Eddie Carson, contacted L’Oiseau, then a first year student at Swarthmore College, to be a keynote speaker at the 2022 AISNE (Association of Independent Schools of New England) conference. “Lemuel was a real role model at Govs—inspiring others to feel comfortable expressing their identity and engaging in sometimes difficult conversations,” says Carson.

AISNE’s values square perfectly with L’Oiseau’s: equity, inclusion, and service. “I was nervous about speaking at the conference,” recalls L’Oiseau. Carson assured L’Oiseau that they could be transformative for other students if they spoke from the heart. L’Oiseau added, “I thought about my identities and how I felt during my middle and high school years compared to now,” said L’Oiseau. “I used to worry about people’s reactions if I wore or said a certain thing. I made an active choice to start being myself. I receive things a lot differently today.” L’Oiseau hoped to inspire other students to feel the same way. “I urged students to seek multiple inputs from diverse people and practice being authentic, knowing that it’s not going to be perfect,” they said. “I still need to reconcile how I feel inside with how I act. To honor who I am and not worry about being accepted by everyone.”

“I think Lemuel’s presentation inspired other students to be leaders for positive change and inclu sivity on their own campuses,” said Carson.

to Roadie). Mark, who is WGBH’s senior engineer, was there at the beginning in 1970, record ing some of the band’s earliest shows. His recordings still sound fresh after 50 years, and you can hear them on the band’s website, guyandthegreasers.com. The final assistance we needed came in the form of professional voice coach Timm Adams, thanks to Andy. Yes, we were blessed with four solid days of singing in the same room under the direction of Timm. Stop singing and the larynx gets out of practice. The muscles weaken. Stop singing for 50 years and you have a real problem. But it isn’t only the voice. It’s the brain. While music is amazingly sticky, staying with us long after other memories have faded, it can be extremely trying to remember that background vocal line you sang 50 years ago. Timm had us all working overtime to learn our parts. The moral of the story “from a guy who knows” is that we quickly learned, as we did at GDA, how much we needed each other, and how adaptable and flexible we all needed to be as we worked together, despite the chal lenges, to bring these songs—24 of them—back to life and back to our classmates. I think we got there, in the spirit of fun, anyway. I have always thought that one of the dis tinguishing traits of our class year was coming of age during a period of flourishing popular music. There was so much good music you could hear on the floors of all the dorms, on the radio, on vinyl and on field trips to Boston: from Hendrix to the Who to Paul Butterfield live at Lenny’s on the Pike: we all soaked it in. There was also tremendous social change going on around us. We were changing and so was GDA. Considering these times of struggle and rapid social change, we had the best accompanying music. So-called Greaser music, early Rock and Roll, with its roots in Blues and Gospel, was the precursor to our own (the music of the late 1960s early 1970s). The ’50s were a more innocent time. That music took a little of the hard edge off life. And you sure could dance to it. You can hear Guy and the Greasers and view images from the 1970s and 2022 band line-ups by visiting the Guy and the Greasers website at guyandthegreasers.com.

’73 REUNION

Glen Winkel drwink@me.com

Greetings to the Class of 1973, yup and that means in 2023, it will be 50 (FIFTY) years since we graduated from the Academy! I hope many of you have made plans to attend our 50th reunion (June 9–11, 2023), it’s going to be a reunion to remember. COVID is behind us (hopefully), and the future is bright and many, many years and memories have transpired in the past 50 years. For many of you that have attended several reunions in the past, you know how coming back to Byfield brings back such poignant mem ories of when we were just kids in high school. And I know for me it gave me a perspective to see a better take on the “whole” of life and how many concepts and ideas and visions for the future did or didn’t come true. As they say, “the best laid plans of mice and men…” Life is both uncertain and unpre dictable, yet fascinating in so many ways. If you haven’t yet made plans to attend, look over your calendar and mark off that weekend. If you are on the fence, choose to come and see old friends from long ago. And for those who really, really want to attend, but don’t know if that will be a possibility, our prayers go out to you (you know who I am referring to).

The call for class notes came out earlier than usual, and since there will likely be only one more class notes prior to our reunion, IF you want to know more about reunion planning or perhaps even help with planning our reunion, make sure to send me your email, so you will be on the list. Currently, only about half of the class of 1973 is on my email list, so if you are reading The Archon now, slip me an email, before it slips your mind to add yourself to the reunion email list, so you’ll have updates on events we are planning. More towards the end of these notes:

From halfway around the world, Geoffrey White writes in from Australia, “I am well and semiretired in Sydney where I teach banjo. Love the work as I have been playing for almost 50 years. I have three grown daughters: Brittany age 39, Kiera age 37 and Taysa age 35. I have two grandsons: Aiden, age 13 and Finn, age 5. All doing well. I was at the Academy for the 50th reunion of the Class of 1972 and two performances of Guy and the Greasers…we had lots of fun and everyone seemed happy to see us after all that time. I am looking for ward to the 50th of the Class of 1973 reunion next year!” Can you believe that after 50 years, Guy and the Greasers are back!!” And it’s a good bet that they will also be playing at our 50th reunion as well.

Walter Rivera writes in from the state of New York, “I plan to attend our milestone reunion. I am still serving as a state judge in the NYS Court of Claims and entering my second year of a two-year term as President of the Statewide Latino Judges Association. I recently stepped down from teaching law at Haub Law at Pace University after six years. There is mandatory retire ment from the Court of Claims at age 70 and it is fast approaching. While there is a way to extend the time past age 70, I have given thought to what retirement entails. Looking forward to seeing everyone at our 50th reunion.” Walter, so great to hear from you and great pictures of the grandkids!

With the full family on display, Bob Phillips posted a great picture and writes: “Looking forward to seeing you at the reunion next year. Hard to believe it has been 50 years. Attached is a picture of the Phillips boys including my son Jefferson (class of 2003, who will be cele brating his 20th at our 50th) and his sons Owen and Ben (in the cap from his kindergarten graduation) and my son Jamie with the newest member of the family, his son Jaxon. Still working at the company we started several years ago. Slowly turning over day-to-day operations to our younger partners so I can spend a bit more time on the golf course. Can’t wait to hear Guy and

Left: Walter Rivera ’73 with his two youngest grandsons, Marco and Samuel · Right: Bob Phillips ’73 and sons Jefferson ’03 and his sons Owen and Ben and other son Jamie with his son Jaxon

the Greasers again and relive some of those olden days. Stay well and see you soon.”

Finally, Mark Hoffman sends in a concert report from Reunion 2022: Three members of the Class of 1973 performed as members of Guy and the Greasers at Reunion 2022. The band kicked off the Reunion weekend with a Friday Concert in the cavernous hall of the newly renovated French Student Center. There was a crowd of over a hun dred clapping and bopping to the sounds of the band’s unique blend of ’50s rock n’ roll.

The Greasers performed a dozen of their best songs to the enthusiastic crowd. They were all dressed in their gold jackets, pointed shoes and “Guy and the Greasers” T-shirts (bearing the original band logo from 1970 of a heart with an arrow through it). Copies of the newly updated “Guy and the Greasers Coloring Book” were given out as prizes to the crowd for the best dancers.

Saturday night the Greasers took the stage, under the big tent, set up on the Quad. The band performed a dozen of their best songs, as the crowd twisted and bopped to the classic ’50s music. Esteemed members of the band’s fan club were on the dance floor to show their support: Dorcie Barry, Carol Salloway, Ginny George and Sally Brown ’74, all looking sharp as ever!

Mark Hoffman (aka “Guy”) and Geoff White (aka “Dominic”) have been singers with the band for

over 50 years. Mark Manuelian (aka Voce del Teatro) handled the technical aspects (sound, record ing, equipment setup) and his wife Debbie also assisted as official “Roadie.”

The band also includes Class of ’72 members: Andy Lappin, Richard Hackel, Chris Swenson, Tim Traver, Joe Sekora and Mark’s nephew Josh Hoffman-Senn

A lot of work went into bringing the band back together after 50 years. Greaser band members were scat tered around the world in places such as Australia, Seattle, Chicago, Florida, Maine, Boston and Vermont. The band gathered every week for Zoom rehearsals and also gathered in person in Maine and Boston for band practices. The Greasers hope to play Reunion 2023 with the Class of ’73 support. You can hear the band’s songs and view pictures of the band and fans at guyandthegreasers.com

I hope that report spiked your brain with some dopamine and brought back some vivid memories of days of yore! The Greasers are also going to be one of the main acts at our 50th reunion in 2023, so you definitely must come back to hear them perform! We are also working on a photo-recreation contest, with Christian Steinway publishing copies of old photos from the early ’70s. So, some of you might want to participate in the photo contest. Finally, we are working on a special T-shirt that you will definitely want to keep, a bit of tongue in cheek fun that plays with the “name change”. We’ll

be submitting various designs via email for you to vote on and order T-shirts in time to wear at reunion. Who knows—with all the attacks on freedom of speech, perhaps they won’t let us wear them on cam pus?? Have I gotten your attention yet? So once again, please send me your email to get on the reunion email list, so you can be aware of any updates, changes, plans, T-shirts and other fun stuff we are planning for June 2023. I look forward to seeing a full house of the class of 1973.

Your humble class secretary, Glen Winkel, proud member of the GDA class of 1973.

’74 Pam Toner ptoner@optonline.net

Rick Atwood: All good, life is good. Had my run with COVID-19 over Thanksgiving last year. That sucked, everything tasted like butter, weird. Off to Alaska in July, going to fly in and rent some off road KTMs. My brother John and couple of riding buddies are going to take two weeks blasting around Alaska, Yukon and NW Territory. Do some fishing, flying onto Denali Glacier and other stuff. Gotta keep doing this before I can’t. Hope all is well and enjoy the day.

Steven Epstein: Nothing better than grandchildren! Jane holds Elinor who joined us in October. Ben stands to my right and Max, his brother, is on my knee.

Tom Huffsmith: I’m spending most

of my time in the UK and France developing several projects includ ing a mixed-use housing project in Nottingham and a luxury residen tial project in Cannes. My daughter is living in Steamboat Springs and holding down the home fort while I travel. My older son is living in NJ with his wife, and my younger son is living in Tampa and he is engaged to be married next year. I’m hoping to visit Shelley Smith and Jeannie Baer before the end of this year.

’75 Pam Pandapas pamrobfine@msn.com

Pam Pandapas: After returning from Idaho, the rest of my winter was quiet. Since then, I have welcomed the warm weather with my usual gardening and outdoor projects. I also recently enjoyed a 3-day sailing trip to Provincetown, MA with my brother and sister-inlaw on their boat. It was amazing fun! Rob and I have enjoyed a couple of great concerts and, at this writing, have a couple more on the schedule. I will be celebrating my birthday with Elton John and tens of thousands of his closest friends! We also look forward to bike-riding day trips, trips to the Rhode Island beaches, and other summer fun.

Steve Dunfey: I have been a freelance writer for many years now. I write quite a bit about music and am active in the Seacoast Jazz Society, which covers Newburyport to Portland, Maine. I have also written for Modern Drummer mag azine and Not So Modern Drummer

Left: Steven Epstein ’74 and his wife Jane with their grandchildren · Center: Jamie White ’75 and Spencer Purinton ’75 · Right: Dave Bohman ’75 and Rob Squire ’75 at the Woods

Named in honor of former Academy Board President James Duncan Phillips, the Phillips Society recognizes the loyalty, ambition, and dedication of donors who move the Academy forward.

Joining the Phillips Society is easy. All donors who have made a gift of any amount to the Academy for two or more consecutive fiscal years are welcomed into the society, and you remain a member each year that you make a gift.

Members are acknowledged in the Academy’s Annual Report on Giving, in special Academy communications, and at regional gatherings and events.

magazine. I also write about politics. In particular, I am writing about former congressman Al Lowenstein, who was assassinated in 1980. Lowenstein was a political activist prominent in the 1960s and 1970s. He had thousands of friends and contacts all over the country, including myself. He was the fea tured speaker at a fundraiser for my re-election to the New Hampshire legislature in 1978. I encourage anyone who knew Lowenstein or followed him to contact me at scdunfey@comcast.net. All are wel come at that address. I regularly see Scott Williams ’74 and Bill Skaff ’74 who were a year ahead of me at what was GDA at the time.

Mike Sapuppo: Check out the pic ture of my latest toy. I took a couple of lessons on Maui and just had to have one!

Mike Ponce: As of this writing, Jen and I take off to drive the truck out to Bondurant, Wyoming just south of Jackson Hole. We are picking the girls up in Bozeman, Montana. Then we are heading out to meet my brother and two sisters and all our kids to lay my mom and dad to rest in the Snake River. We all loved Maine, but we really loved fly-fish ing! Dad passed about 6 years ago, and Mom will be two years this October. COVID got in the way so we are just now able to get around to this event. Jen’s business is thriving. Annie is on the Dean’s List at SCAD and headed to the South of France for a semester in Lacoste. Lindsay has finished her fresh man year at Tyler School for Art at Temple. I am still disrupting the Health Benefit sector, concentrating on the Cannabis Industry. We head to MDI in August for a wedding and the rest of the summer will be tending to my bees, garden and chickens. If anybody is in the Philly area, stop by for a glass of wine. Cheers!

Barry Miller: Karen and I love being grandparents. Now that I am officially retired, we intend to

Recognizing those whose consecutive giving is like clockwork

spend more time in that role. Last week (June 10) IFP provided a great send off for me. My best and last 25 working years were logged there. We’re enjoying Greenwich for the summer.

Greg Pope: The Greg Pope family celebrates arrival of our 4th grand child, Joshua Fultz, by our daughter Liza. Now, with 4 under the age of 6, life is busy. We are back and forth between Anacortes, WA and Boston to assist with and enjoy these grandchildren. To share an interesting story, my new company, Chalkless, is being tested by MLB as a solution to the 75-year-old “Mudded Baseball.” That is correct, river mud from the Delaware River is used for making baseballs less slippery! Not being a baseball fan, I did not have a clue. Chalkless was developed in my backyard in West Newbury to enhance my grip during warm weather platform tennis play. Over four years of development, my business partner and I selected the final formula and started marketing it for all sports as a new form of grip enhancement. A friend who knows Dan Duquette, (former Red Sox manager) arranged for us to meet him; this has led to Chalkless being pilottested on Division 2 Minor league Texas and Southern League play for this season. Who knows? Maybe we will become the new solution for gripping a baseball for the next 75 years! It has been a fun project with meeting all the people at MLB and working through a real problem in baseball. I hope all is well with everyone and look forward to the next reunion!

Starr Cutler Gilmartin: The start of tourist season in Maine has been busier than normal with house guests and travel…which is not a bad thing! I just got back from a hiking and biking trip in Portugal. This trip was planned prior to the pandemic but was postponed three times. It was well worth the wait. An extra benefit of the tour was that my bike companion happened to be a newsworthy celebrity. But my lips are sealed! I hope you all have a wonderful and healthy summer.

Jamie White: I suppose we are each at that magic milestone of retirement age and are all in vari ous stages of decisions or thoughts

about what’s next in life. As for me, I crossed that dreaded threshold in May but have no intention of retir ing just yet. Nevertheless, I’ve taken a few steps in adjusting. My son, Matt (GDA ’17), is living and work ing in London while my daughter, Charlotte (GDA ’20), heads to Italy in the autumn—so I am indeed an empty nester. Consequently, I have moved full time to my home in the backwoods of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and am trying to transition my archi tectural practice there. No Florida with white shoes for me (sorry, Dave Bohman). I have Spencer Purinton as a weekend neighbor, who is in the process of building a second home in the area. My son, Matt, refers to my new lifestyle as “slow livin.”

Sam Gilliland: All’s well down here in CT despite the strange pictures Mr. O’Leary has been circulat ing. The only real news I have to report is that I, along with my two partners, changed firms in early March and are now part of RBC Wealth Management in Stamford. Fortunately, the move has gone well and should put any rumors of my retirement to rest for a while. All my girls are still hard at work. Beth, my beautiful wife, has a big celebrity memoir coming out this fall, while daughters Anne and Charlotte are slaving away at pri vate equity firms in NYC and Leigh heading to USC for business school in late July.

Dave Bohman: I am feeling good about winning two more Broadcast Awards from the Florida Association of Broadcast

Journalists! One is for having the best Investigative Reporting Series in Florida while the other is for a story that we did exposing police brutality and a cover up, which we called “Go Dead.” If you’d like to watch, go to wptv.com/ news/local-news/investigations/ go-dead-2-riviera-beach-policeofficers-fired-for-body-cameraviolations-after-suspect-ends-upbeaten. I’m living in North Palm Beach and enjoying Florida, though the next few months are going to be sweltering. I’m also playing a lot of golf, running a few 5K road races (David Abusamra and Mike True would be proud), and doing a few trivia contests during the week. Speaking of running, I got to spend a weekend with Rob Squire watch ing the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic, and celebrating with a few beers at Tiger Woods’ restaurant.

Guesses and the answer to the “Rich and Sam” Photo:

Barry Miller: Looks like Sam’s and Rich’s commentary on Rodin’s The Gates of Hell. Rather than the traditional depiction of Dante’s Inferno, theirs is filled with hope, caring and promise as they jour neyed through Ingham Dorm. This is clearly evidenced by their care for the she-wolf which is warmly wrapped on an apparently cold day. Mike Ponce: It seems that Sam and Rich have been cast out to the Greenwich graveyard for GOYs that make $10 million and under in Greenwich, Conn. They have escaped with their lives but are amongst their peers of Goy hedge fund managers who have been slaughtered by the mighty! They are plotting to use their secret weapon, the asset platypus, which will cause turmoil to the markets to get revenge so they can maintain their stature in a totally ridiculous place to live!! As seen by a totally reason able Philly guy!!! Charlie Albert: Looks to me like Sam is nudging his basset, entirely justifiably, towards The Rainbow Bridge....prompted by a magus. Unless he is behind the door, I have no idea what O’Leary has to do with it. Spencer Purinton: Thinking they are visiting a cemetery in CT. Perhaps they are paying their respect to a famous ‘Dummer’ graduate and his faithful pet?? Bill Shaheen: You’re right, he does resemble Prince

Charles. Peter Richardson: Rich is returning to the acting career that began in 1979 in a GDA produc tion written and directed by Susie Fowler. Unable to locate Susie, Sam graciously offered himself as a stand-in. To avoid a large crowd, they are rehearsing in a Greenwich cemetery, with a strangely attired creature serving as the only audi ence. If Rich can make it laugh, they will deem the show ready for prime-time.

The Answer: This past winter, Sam and Rich were on a walk in a graveyard near where they both live and couldn’t help but to stop at the mausoleum of some eccentric family who has posted two marble dogs, dressed in winter coats, on either side of the door. The sartorial canine statuary was bizarre enough to warrant a class notes citation, we thought. Winner: As the two who came the closest to the correct answer, we proclaim Spencer Purinton and Pete Richardson as the winners. A donation will be made in both their names to the Annual Fund. Any more bizarre capers to share here?

’76

Carol Goldberg carolanngoldberg9@gmail.com

Steve French: We sure don’t hear much from class of 76! So here is a little something. I have been lucky enough to stay married to the best roommate I’ve ever had for 41 years now! We have 3 great kids and they have produced 7 grandchildren for us! It’s a pure joy that they are all close by and we can be a part of their lives. I still do hardwood lumber although we have a great team that now does most the work, and no the prices are not going back down any time soon if ever. I also enjoy the great pleasure of golf almost every week of the year with Ric O’Brien, Dave Higgins, Dave Phippen ’77, and sometimes Tom Balf, or Nick Caldwell fill in. I still hit a tennis or paddle tennis ball whenever I can and try to get out fly fishing on the Merrimack this time of year as well! I’ve had a few bumps along the way like most of us have but life is very good! Best to all and hope to see some of you back on campus where lots of excit ing new stuff going on. Cheers!

What are Rich ’75 and Sam Gilliland ’75 doing here?

’77

classnotes@govsacademy.org

Joseph Pietrafasa: Writing this just prior to the 45th reunion which unfortunately I cannot attend. With an 11-year-old (that’s right), summer vacation in Florida is from mid-May to 1st week in August so we make every moment of our home and getaway in Colorado. Older kids are all doing great...another grandchild due in September. If anyone is visiting south Florida please get in touch. Best to all...even Phipp.

’78 REUNION

M. Phil Graham chanter53@gmail.com

Tom Driscoll drisclaw@yahoo.com

M. Phil Graham: Greetings, all. I have been doing my share of social izing and generally enjoying getting

out more so far this year! Family, friends and even a few larger social events have been my pleasure since the turn of the year. As one high light I went to a wedding shower, yes, a wedding shower. I cannot attend a longtime choir member’s wedding in August out of state, and I was told it’s modern and ok for men to attend. Yikes! I enjoyed it, and there were other men there as well, ha. All good! M Phil Graham, still in Concord, NH—leading the local church choir.

Alexandra Mackey-Smith Keirstead writes, “I have moved to a private practice group in Fairfax VA specializing in EMDR and IFS trauma therapy. I continue volunteer work with the Virginia Community Response Network, providing recent trauma therapy to frontline workers and disaster survivors. My husband James and I moved to Stephens City, VA, close to family and enjoying the Virginia mountains and Shenandoah Valley. Visitors welcome!”

Paul Cook: All is well beyond these disturbing events and their daunt ing implications. I plan on working another three years and am sure that my work will remain highly charged and interesting. (All in all, I would prefer to live in uninteresting times characterized by democratic peace, prosperity and tranquility. But we play the cards we are dealt.) Jenny continues to teach at the International School of Brussels, my younger son Julian graduated in person from Bates a few weeks ago two years after graduating online due to COVID. He works as an envi ronmental economic consultant and is based in Brooklyn. Julian and I went to the much delayed European Lacrosse Championships this spring in Wroclaw, Poland. Julian played attack for Belgium and I coached. It was probably the swan song for both of us. Julian lives a few blocks down the road from his brother Lorenzo, who continues make a living as a song writer and musician in New York’s Indie scene under the name Petite

League—a moniker that alludes to growing up with his feet planted on two continents. He puts out an album a year, designs the art for these albums and for others, tours when Covid allows, and produces the odd video—including this one that he did in spring with his band, all of whom were his roommates at Syracuse 6 years ago: youtube. com/watch?v=0wd0lAYvVt8. I will be traipsing about Gloucester and Rockport in the second half of July to see my Mom and meet the boys and their girlfriends and hope to see the gang at some point.

’81

Kathryn Shilale

Keller Laros: Met up with Steve Perry ’79 to watch Hawaii Prep Water Polo in Kailua-Kona.

Jenn Schaeffner has co-founded a new digital news site, Marblehead Beacon, that focuses on local

Left: Steve French ’77 in Boca Grande Florida with wife Deb and grandchildren Catherine, Charlie, and recent arrival Margot · Middle top: Julian, son of Paul Scott ’78, graduating from Bates · MIddle bottom: Paul Scott ’78 and son Julian at the European Lacrosse Championships · Right top: Lorenzo, son of Paul Scott ’78, and his band Petite League · Right center: Keller Laros ’81 and Steve Perry ’79 · Right bottom: Alexandra ’78 and James Keirstead visiting Barbara Mackay-Smith ’82 in San Francisco

Marblehead government, politics, education, and culture. Check it out at marbleheadbeacon.com.

’86

Paul Nardone paulbnardone@gmail.com

Heidi Charde: My family and I are moving to Zurich, Switzerland in August of 2022. Would love to see any GDA alums passing through!

John Huard: Our oldest (Thomas ’22) graduated. To say I was excited would be saying it mildly. We were blessed to have both sets of grandparents in attendance and to see the Govs community in full bloom—grateful to see a couple ’85s, ’86s and ’87s along the way. Very proud of Thomas on what he has accomplished and what lies ahead. Our youngest (Connor ’24) completed his first year at Govs and looking forward to two more years. We cannot thank the Govs commu nity enough. Go Govs!!

’87

Carla English carla_english@yahoo.com

Rob DeLena reports that his tenure at President of the Alumni Council has come to an end. “It was an incredible experience. I started as a back bencher and slowly moved into leadership roles as Secretary and then as President. Along the way, I made so made great friends, from gentlemen who attended the academy in the 1950s to the vibrant group of young men and women who jumped the wall in May. I also was privileged to see the hard work and dedication of the Advancement team, the administration, faculty, and staff members who ensure that every alumni event is a success. It was a heck of run and I’m excited to see where Saundra Watson ’93 takes the council in the coming years.”

’93 REUNION

Ingrid Cunney icunney@gmail.com

Shawn Markey stmarkey58@yahoo.com

John Shea: I’ve traded my football and softball spikes in for a pair of

loafers. Apparently, New England dog shows require a more distin guished look in their rings and my whippet Trey would not be denied his moment. Over the last 6 months, I’ve enjoyed participating in a challenging sport profoundly outside my comfort zone. And what do you know, he quite literally dragged us to AKC Champion sta tus and a national owner-handled ranking within his breed! He even has a “Team Trey” led by my sister Elizabeth Shea ’90 and fellow classmate Shawn Markey ’93. With guidance from my breeders Kathy Marie and Debbie Davenport, you may just see Trey trotting on TV come Thanksgiving.

Kristen Ambrosi: Living in Fairfield, CT and navigating lots of life changes. I am working as an expressive abstract painter of both commissions and collec tions. Excited to be rebranding my art business as I prepare for an exhibition at the end of the sum mer. Teaching yoga, meditation, harmonium lessons, and teacher training workshops, and I was for tunate to assist a beautiful retreat in Costa Rica this spring. I spent many masked months during the pandemic working with residents at a local senior living community; whether chair yoga or art lessons, walks or conversations, the connec tions created there were mutually beneficial. Grateful for sustaining friendships with Ilse Abusamra and Erin Rich ’92

’95

Mike Noon michaelcnoon@aol.com

Todd Robbins, Spanish teacher at Osbourn Park High School, is the 2021–22 Prince William County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. He is currently serving in his 16th year at Osbourn Park High. Robbins connects with students in the classroom by sharing the story of how his love for Spanish began. After completing his undergrad uate studies, he joined the U.S. Peace Corps and served two years in Guatemala. It was there that he learned Spanish and fell in love with Latin American culture.

Robbins takes part in activities out side of the classroom, serving as a disc jockey at several school events.

Row 1: Nino Balestrieri ’01 and his family · Row 2, left: John Shea ’93’s champion Trey wins a hound group in Brooklyn, CT · Row 2, right: Todd Robbins ’95, Teacher of the Year · Row 3, left: John Huard ’86, Thomas Huard ’22, and Sarah Huard · Row 3, right: Erin Rich ’92, Kristen Ambrosi ’93, and Ilse Abusamra ’93 · Row 4: Class of 2001 Ashlee (Nantoski) Lazarri, Jordan (Runnion) Babcock, Megan (Rothwell) Saia, Tiana (Grasso) Rick, and Caitlin (Cooper) Haire

’00

Catherine Correia catherine.correia@gmail.com

Mark Lipman: Hi all, I hope you are staying well and weathering life’s wilderness. I have been busy as a therapist in psychiatric hospital settings near Boston, as well as hav ing a private practice. I am also still making music and am currently recording an album. In my free time, I’m learning how to forage from Diana Burnell, and I still keep in touch with Eve (Seamans) Trafton and Catherine Correia. I catch up with Paige Ramsdell and Jessica Watson ’01 when I can as well. You can find more about my music and the album at marklipmanmusic.com.

’01

Caitlin Haire caitlin.haire@outlook.com

Was great to hear from everyone! Lots of updates from across the country—love seeing where life has taken us all, geographically and otherwise.

My youngest son turned one at the end of April, so we’re keeping active chasing him and his 3-yearold brother around. We’ve been traveling a lot—Disney World, Hawaii, Los Angeles, and my husband and I just returned from a trip to Amsterdam. I was also lucky enough to spend a recent weekend on the Cape with Jordan (Runnion) Babcock, Ashlee (Nantoski) Lazarri, Tiana (Grasso) Rick, and Megan (Rothwell) Saia Was great to just relax and catch up—we all could use more of that. Big thanks to Megan for hosting us all! Special shout-out to Jess (Ross) Stratton, who was supposed to join us. She was so missed, but definitely there in spirit.

Nino Balestrieri writes, “My family and I are well. I don’t know where the time goes. Time just flies by. We are flying out to visit the Boston area this July for some family time and my BIG 40th. My wife, Jen, has been on the frontlines, working nonstop as a nurse in the emergency room. She is ready for some relaxation. We celebrated our 12-year anniversary this last year.

I have served for the past 16 years in the fire service and promoted to Captain in 2018. We have 3 kids Anthony (11), Nino (10), & Olivia (10). They are nonstop. Both boys are playing ice hockey and lacrosse. Olivia figure skates, does gym nastics, and dances. Have a great summer. Go GOVs!”

Maria Collins hopes everyone is doing well and is having a great summer. She just got back from a wonderful family vacation in Hawaii and is settling into her new home in Batavia, Illinois AND settling into life with 13-year-old and 10-monthold daughters, “...wild!! Definitely keeping us on our toes! If anyone is ever in the Chicago area, reach out!! I would love to catch up:).”

Katy Brox-Down is living in South Hamilton with her four children Lilarose (7), Penelope Belle (6), Graham (4) and Daphne Eloise (2), and her two dogs, George and Ezzy.

Lauren Bonaventura moved to Atlanta last fall, and truly loves the city. She recently got to see Alyssa Chirlin on a trip to Denver last year and it was fantastic seeing her. She shares her warm regards for the GDA community and passes along her best. She loves seeing all the social media posts that make her feel like she knows what’s going on in everyone’s life (same, Lauren!)

’04

Leslie Clunie

lesley.clunie@gmail.com

Jessica Long: I am currently in DC completing a fellowship in Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology.

’05

Nicole Zografos nicolezografos@gmail.com

Brendan Giblin: I moved to Vancouver, BC Canada and have been living there for a year now. My wife Julie and I are expecting our first child in July. Our daughter will be the first dual citizen in our family. Despite being on the other side of the continent I remain a loyal Celtics fan and still have my season tickets.

The Bulfinch Group is pleased to

announce that Andrew Guyton has been named a Leaders Club qualifier by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian). Leaders Club is one of the highest honors annually awarded by Guardian to financial professionals who demonstrate outstanding service and dedication to their clients.

’11

Katie Reilly katiemacreilly@gmail.com

Nora Kline nora.k.kline52@gmail.com

Victoria Caruso is starting her residency in Internal Medicine at Baystate Medical Center. She also got engaged on Match Day, which was all the more reason to celebrate! Haley Gould began a

new job as a software sales account executive at Ironclad in New York City. Jeremy Gold recently got married at Govs surrounded by friends and family. Congrats, Jeremy! And Nora Kline finished her fourth year in her clinical psychology Ph.D. program. She will continue her clinical training at Brigham and Women’s Pain Management Center next year.

’19

classnotes@govsacademy.org

Alexander Tollman: I will be heading down to Hampton, VA to join the NASA Langley team for the summer! Huge shout-out to the engineering course that Mr. Soule taught for sparking my interest in electrical engineering and exposing me to tools and projects that have given me a huge leg up.

Top

Alexander Tollman

NASA Langley Research Center

right: Lauren Bonaventura

Alyssa Chirlin

Center

Andrew Guyton

In

Mysteries from the Archives!

As the Govs archivist, one of my missions is to chronicle our rich history and ignite curiosity about what came before us. Consequently, for over ten years, I have been emailing “History Mysteries” several times a month to all students and employees. While lots of people just send in their guesses, others do intensive research. So, here is your chance to test your skills by looking at one of the questions answered by students through the years. See how well you know school history!

—Sharon Slater P’16,’20,’24, Archivist and History Teacher

Question:

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, trolley lines traveling to Georgetown, Ipswich, and Newburyport made campus their central exchange point. Where was the trolley stop?