Bulletin - Fall 2017

the Gunnery

S P R I N G 2 0 17

B U L L E T I N

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS BY ANH QUOC PHAM ’17: “In my drawing, I depict global warming and its possible consequences. The boy, a young survivor of world-ending calamities, is looking through a cracked window in an abandoned factory. The space behind the glass, which is flooded as a result of rising sea levels, is being reclaimed by nature. Even with the elaborate machines in the drawing, humans cannot fight against the effect of natural disaster caused by pollution; therefore, we need to take action to undo the damage we have inflicted on the environment.”

the Gunnery SPRING 2017

Freshman Program. . . . . . . . . . 4 Stray Shot Through the Ages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 In Tribute to George (and Paula) Krimsky ’60. . . . . 38

Message from the Head of School. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Trustee News . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 15 On Campus . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 16 Off Campus . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 21 Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 22 Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 24 School Store. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 26 Alumni Profile . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 28 Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 31 Bequest Society . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 40

ON THE COVER: The Troubadours perform at the winter concert.

From the

Head of School Dear Gunnery Community,

A

T A RECENT MEETING of boarding school Heads of School, the topic turned to strategic planning. We compared notes on our schools’ experiences with different types of processes and the various purposes strategic plans serve.

The conversation reminded me of three things: our school exists within a very competitive market; there are different types of plans for different phases in an institution’s life cycle; and I never want to create a strategic plan that is really just a glossy sales document by a different name.

“Planning for the school’s next five years required that we admit and explore our weaknesses at least as much as we celebrate and build on our strengths.”

– Peter Becker

With guidance from Linda Campanella of SOS Consulting Group, we created a strategic plan over the course of eight months that is what I describe as an “operational” plan. By that I mean it is not a “moonshot” plan (to borrow from Elon Musk) and it is not a “BHAG” plan (from Jim Collins’ and Jerry Porras’ Built to Last: “Big Hairy Audacious Goals”). We began the planning process in January of 2014, in the middle of my third year. It was clear by that point that, while we will pursue some ambitious goals down the line (indeed, we already are), we needed strategy and tactics for how to improve on some pretty obvious things first: our teaching and learning culture; faculty compensation and professional development; financial aid; and our buildings on campus. The analogies flow thick and fast: if you want to build the Statue of Liberty, you need a plan for building its foundation first; artists and athletes need to master foundational skills and habits before they can perform at more complicated levels; an army that wants to take a capital city needs to make sure it first plans its supply lines and how it will get to its target’s outskirts.

Moreover, though this sounds down-in-the-mouth, it accords with a less often cited part of Jim Collins’ work. Collins entitles the fourth chapter of Good to Great “Confront the Brutal Facts (Yet Never Lose Faith)” and goes on to write, “Leadership does not begin just with vision. It begins with getting people to confront the brutal facts and to act on the implications. Spending time and energy trying to ‘motivate’ people is a waste of effort. The

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real question is not, ‘How do we motivate our people?’ If you have the right people, they will be self-motivated.” I am as much of a skeptic of the leadership genre as anyone and have seen it applied to education with mixed results. But it’s just common sense that, to use another analogy, you have to gauge the challenge ahead of you before you climb a mountain. Planning for the school’s next five years required that we admit and explore our weaknesses at least as much as we celebrate and build on our strengths.

The plan that emerged, which the board approved in October of 2015 and which we have been executing and measuring ourselves against since, reflects this common sense approach. As we publish it this spring, you will see that its five major goals reflect our real institutional priorities. In all honesty, I fear it may leave readers wondering where the flash is. But the discerning reader will see that there is more than enough ambition embedded in the plan.

Among other things, it calls for a campus master plan, which we have recently completed and will soon publish, that will be a first for the school in its scope and exciting, long-term implications. Moreover, and even more pressing, the plan points to goals we have recently started to set for significant investment in our people—our faculty, first and foremost, as well as in our students via financial aid. These are other ways of talking about pursuing the goal of an endowment of at least $75 million.

That may seem like a shocking number to some of you, but, for comparison’s sake, I’ve included here the net endowment of a handful of similar schools.

We have already made significant headway on our strategic plan.

I shared some of that with you in the fall Bulletin [And this Bulletin includes more information about our freshman program, one example of a tangible tactic of our goal for improving teaching

School

# of Students

Endowment

Debt

Net Endowment

Berkshire

399 $117,828,000 $23,162,000 $94,666,000

Canterbury

320 $20,000,000 $18,416,581 $1,583,419

Groton

380 $350,000,000 $71,500,000 $278,500,000

Holderness

280 $46,230,000 $9,821,000 $36,409,000

Millbrook

310 $32,000,000 $17,503,024 $14,496,976

Pomfret

350 $40,669,000 $17,185,000 $23,484,000

St. Andrews

310

$197,000,000

$39,145,000 $157,855,000

St. George’s

370

$124,652,000

$40,753,000

Salisbury

307 $51,892,000 $48,036,000 $3,856,000

Suffield

415 $43,591,000 $12,728,000 $30,863,000

Thacher

260 $138,000,000 $38,192,441 $99,807,559

$83,899,000

Westminster 390 $91,430,000 $52,851,000 $38,579,000 Westover

204 $61,000,000 $11,579,719 $49,420,281

The Gunnery

298

$22,000,000

$7,720,000 $14,280,000

and learning at the school.] As you look to your mailboxes and inboxes for the plan, I look forward to your questions and observations. I do not think Frederick Gunn ever wrote a strategic plan (and there are plenty of days when I think it would be great to roll the clock back to 1860 or so) but I think he would appreciate the short-term practicality and long-term ambition of the one we’ve created for his school today.

Here’s to a great spring, and to all of you my thanks for the ways you support this great school.

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Freshman Year

Where the journey begins!

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane.

For some of you this may be a quick jaunt and for others, this may be a daylong hike back in time; plan for snacks and bring plenty of water.

Think back…you’re once again fourteen years old and you’re “brand new” to a boarding school. This is your home-away-from-home now; where you’ll eat and sleep, where you’ll learn, where you’ll make lifelong friends whom you’ll stay up with (confiding in) until 2:00 a.m., and where you will experience some of the best and some of the most challenging days of your life. You don’t know anyone aside from some overly enthusiastic adults you met in Admissions and an upper classman who led you around campus when you were here for a tour so long ago. Maybe all you had was a Skype interview and have never stepped foot on campus. You may be a twentyminute drive from where you grew up or you may be thousands of miles from your home and now you’re in uncharted territory.

WELCOME TO THE GUNNERY. NOW WHAT?

Annual school walk through Steep Rock.

year | 5

FRESHMAN

‘‘

I think that our class is

Over the course of her tenure at The

(Learning for Ethical Engagement, Active

Gunnery, Dr. Anna Carew-Miller has

Citizenship and Dedicated Service,) a

witnessed different approaches to how we

four-year curriculum based on the mission

work with the youngest members of our

of the school. With a goal each year to

community. She has always loved teaching

move the students toward college and

freshmen because their minds are so

their future life, the freshman curriculum,

tight-knit and support each

open and ready, unencumbered by rising

Pathways, centered on self-awareness

other no matter what.”

expectations and pressing goals;

—emotional, physical and intellectual.

on the precipice of adulthood, but

Students learned to make healthy choices,

with lots of growth still to come.

behave responsibly, and acquire executive

For several years, The Gunnery has been

function skills to become intentional in

focused on the other end of the student

their approach to learning and living.

pool—the sophomores, juniors, and

Although Pathways provided a critical

seniors—creating the LEADS Program

building block, Carew-Miller felt that a more intentional approach was needed to account for the diversity of backgrounds new to the boarding school experience and

unique to other classes at The Gunnery because we are

—CHRISTINA GUERRERO-GOMEZ

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‘‘

We have a bond that no class before us has ever had. We can tell who’s having a tough day or who doesn’t feel good and we know all these things as a group. There’s a lot that can be said by just being together and not talking, just body language and gestures and the connection that comes with that.

We hold the door open for each other, we share thoughts and ideas and a smile goes a long way when you’re having a bad day. I’m honored to be part of the unique class of The Gunnery 2020!”

— L U C A S R O S AT I

the requirements of the child still resident

says Carew-Miller. “Just that year or two

in the young bodies and minds of the

in age makes a huge difference in their

9th graders.

independence, social life and academic

Questions she considered were: What

life. They need more sleep than older

changes in our program could capture

students, and they needed to be taught

that natural curiosity, energy and urge to

how to effectively study. In order to see

learn? How could we provide foundational

them succeed, all of this needed to be

skills and habits, which would promote

taken into consideration.”

scholarship and character? How could

This past fall, after a year of planning,

we be sure to give students an enduring

Carew-Miller’s intentional approach was

means of becoming their best selves

put into action as we rolled out our new

as they navigated the treacherous road

Freshman Program. The genesis of this

through their teens?

idea came from a committee meeting four

“We recognized that a thirteen or

years ago when Carew-Miller saw the

fourteen year old student is having

benefits to be experienced by students

a very different experience than an

here for four years with a curriculum that

incoming sophomore or junior,”

could be built upon in every subsequent

year | 7

FRESHMAN

Study hall in the dining hall

year. The foundational skills and attributes would be instilled freshman year at The Gunnery.

In collaboration with our new freshman team, made up of faculty who work directly with the freshman class, the group outlined a detailed plan and curriculum for the class of 2020. Along with CarewMiller, the team includes, Laura Donorfio (Freshmen Co-Dean and World Languages & Cultures Department Chair), Monte Blaustein (Science Faculty), Alisa Croft (Math Department Chair and Head Dorm Parent in Graham House), Becca Leclerc (Director of Outdoor Programs), Hannah Gorman (LEADS Department Co-Chair), Lindsey Dirats (LEADS Department

Analyzing artifacts at The Institute of American Indian Studies

Co-Chair), Jen Hart (History faculty), Jim Balben (Head Dorm Parent in Teddy House and History faculty). The team

English the students read an archaeological

in Connecticut in earlier eras and they

is also supported by Dr. Brian Konik

mystery which corresponded to what

were able to see and learn about artifacts.

(Director of Counseling) and Carolyn

they were learning in history about

The students experienced a “day in the

Ross (Director of the Center for

early peoples and migration. They then

life� of archaeologists and participated in a

Academic Support).

went on a field trip to The Institute for

spirited debate about the Kennewick Man

The curriculum was designed to integrate

American Indian Studies Museum &

who was discovered in Washington state

the different disciplines to reinforce

Research Center in Washington where

in 1996.

concepts and themes. For example, in

they learned about the people who lived

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Hannah Richards prepares to drop her device for the egg drop Physics Challenge Left: Hadley Townsend at Girls’ Varsity Hockey practice

15-minute break for snacks and to

when you don’t), classroom expectations,

move around.

healthy relationships, and mindfulness.

“We are creating habits,” observes Carew-

“Mindfulness is new to the curriculum this

Miller. “There’s an automaticity now about

year,” said Hannah Gorman, Co-Chair of

how students are approaching their work.

LEADS and a Pathways teacher. “One way

It’s no longer a question of ‘will I do it?’

we focused on this was reducing stress

but it’s now a question of ‘when.’”

around final exams. This was their first

Another difference in the Freshman

experience with it and we didn’t want

Program is the Pathways curriculum and

them to dread it. We worked on how to

the skills and thought processes which

plan things out ahead of time for studying.

are taught in this LEADS course. Each

One day we had them bring in something

freshman takes this class in the fall. The

to organize so that they would be less

The Freshman Program has also taken

focus is on experiential learning that

stressed. The class tackled the organization

a new approach to study hall, which

addresses those things that directly apply

together. For example, one student brought

Carew-Miller sees as the most tangible

to their lives. The overarching concept

in his backpack. Essentially we wanted

improvement so far. Rather than have the

still focuses on developing self-awareness,

them to realize that being stressed is okay,

freshmen study from 8-10 p.m. as the rest

but the approach is different. The idea

but there are ways you can minimize it.”

of the school does, they started the year

is for the students to develop a comfort

The freshmen practice mindfulness

by holding study hall from 7-9 p.m. The

level with class participation to preclude

beyond the classroom too. They took it to

students sit in a room together for two

their taking refuge behind desks or with

crew practice out in the middle of the lake,

hours with adult proctors who help them

technology. The class sits in a circle of

and they practice it during study hall.

learn how to best utilize their study time.

chairs so that they are all looking at one

The first hour is silent unless consulting

“These students trust each other,”

another and are part of the discussion.

remarked Lindsey Dirats, Co-Chair of

Some of the things they discussed this

LEADS. “They recognize and embrace

fall included academic merit (knowing

their differences. There have been times

what it looks like when you achieve it and

when they have actively disagreed in a

with faculty, and the last forty-five minutes they can work in small groups or meet with peer tutors. They also have a

class discussion, but they’re still willing

Thank you to our freshmen who

to share with each other because they

contributed to this feature story. We

feel comfortable.”

appreciate the involvement of: Aurora

The social challenges of being a freshman

Aviles of Kent, Conn.; Lenaijah Ferguson

were something that Carew-Miller also

of Baltimore, Md.; Christina Guerrero-Gomez

wanted to take into consideration with the

of Miami, Fla.; Nathaniel Ince of

program. “We wanted to make sure the

New Milford, Conn.; Lucas Rosati of

students had the chance to bond early on,”

Agawam, Mass.; Hadley Townsend of Rye,

said Carew-Miller. “We fulfilled that plan

N.Y.; Aris Wang of Beijing, China.

with ‘campfire chats’ and leadership games we held at the beginning of the trimester.”

The freshmen have had the opportunity to spend a lot of informal time together as a class, through field trips, the freshman class trips in the fall, and the winter trip to Lake Placid. In Lake Placid, the students were thoughtfully placed into groups with Prefect leaders. That experience also helped them bond, and these groups get together for non-academic programing days on campus and work together as a team.

“Success breeds success,” says CarewMiller. “And these freshmen are already off to a successful start with their Gunnery experience.”

year | 9

FRESHMAN

‘‘

At The Gunnery I’ve met a lot of different people and I love being part of a community that’s just like a family.”

—HADLEY TOWNSEND

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STRAY SHOT

THROUGH THE AGES The sharing of the latest Stray Shot find in our fall Bulletin piqued the interest of many alumni whose accounts were told over the winter on Peter Becker’s blog (www.gunnery.org/blog). Paula Krimsky, our beloved archivist, went digging for photos and recounted her stories to put together the following timeline. As always, if you have more details to add to our ever evolving story, please send them to strayshot@gunnery.org.

1959

T. RODERICK DEW ’59, editor of the Stray Shot magazine, persuades father to purchase beach ball-sized Civil War cannon ball from antique store and donate to The Gunnery in honor of his graduation. [Photo of Jonathan Whittle ’80—faculty child born 1960—for size]

1975 WYKEHAM RISE GIRLS with the help of faculty member Pam Taylor steal the ball and roll it down the aisle at commencement, Glen Nalven ’76 captures it for The Gunnery.

1972

HUTCH BEASON and PAT MOORE ’72 drop the ball from their 2nd story window in Gunn and it rolls down Rte. 47 into the Mayflower Pond. Rule established “ball must stay on campus.”

1969 P.T. CLARKE ’70 says that at one time he took the ball home to Maine but he returned it in ’69. He remembers it being painted with quasi-psychedelic colors.

1968 DEAN LEMCKE welds ball to T-bar and cements it in the wall in front of Gibson because of various shenanigans. In 1968, Fred Zonino ’70 and friends (Johnstone, Post and Clark) pry it off with a crowbar. Subsequently recovered by Dean Lemcke from a melting snowdrift.

1977

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STRAY

BALL RUMORED to be lost in Rumsey pond during a party there. This part of the history is still very murky. We think a second ball was introduced around this time and placed in the hands of Ed Zyskowski ’78 and his team (possibly with initials SE, BSH, and LMA) according to Phil Dutton ’81.

Scott Schereschewsky ’76 thinks his brother, John ’74, had the ball in 1976 and, indeed, the name, “Sherry” is etched in the ball.

EDGAR AUCHINCLOSS ’82 admits to stealing it from his brother Leonard ’84’s room and absconding with it in his mother’s car, storing it briefly at Scott Craig ’82’s house on the Green.

1979

1980 POPPY BALDWIN ’80, BEN O’NEIL ’80, MELISSA (VARLEY) O’NEILL ’80, AND MITCH MAGNOLI ’80 etch their names deeply into the ball and feature it in the Red and Gray.

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1987 1987 DOUG DESALVO ’87 had the ball at the end of school year 1986. He lodged it at the lake house of a dorm parent for safekeeping and convinced his father to help him steal it away after graduation that summer. He and Jay Gervasoni ’87 handcuffed and blindfolded Steve Curry ’87 to show him the ball down in the stream behind the tennis courts. Steve then hoodwinked the team and stole it, having spent the night filing through chains.

COURTNEY FEBBRORIELLO ’93, editor of the Stray Shot, remembered researching the ball’s history in her senior year and uncovered photos of Headmaster Michael Eanes H’90 P’90 GP’20 holding two similarly sized cannon balls in the company of members of the class of 1987: Steve Curry, Pietro Belluschi, and Ray Whitney, III.

1991 1997 According to PETER FEEN ’99: in 1997 the Stray Shot was stolen from the head’s office by the senior class and passed down by Dean Scherza ’97, DJ Bulawa ’97, and Andy Marchetti ’97 to Mike Okun ’98, Francisco Pauly ’98, Josh Feil ’98 and Brian Hutchinson ’98. Feen, Jack Dempsey ’99, and Ted Stonbely ’99 impersonated the members of the class of 1998 and took possession from maintenance which was engraving the names on the ball. Pauly ’98 threatened to take the ball to Venezuela and the ball disappeared.

Supposedly, MATT HOLLOWAY ’71 presented the lost ball to the new head of school, Susan Graham in a school meeting in 1991.

2004

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STRAY

THE KEEPERS OF THE BALL in the class of 2004 included Mark Rhoads and Max Sirkin, who lost it at the Prize Night dinner. The commencement speaker, Patrick Dorton ’86, presented the ball to Justin Sherman and Andrea Marron, prefects of the class of 2004.

2002

2009

SHANE O’MARA ’02 spent a good part of his senior year trying to locate the ball rumored to have been taken by the hockey team in 1997; a book of his research is in the archives. Unsuccessful, he prevailed on Judy Stevens, sister of Roger Netzer ’71, to purchase a much smaller ball to reinstate the campus game. The new ball was approximately 30 lbs. and the size of a softball. He presented the ball at the senior picnic in May. [Photo of 2008 group: Priyanka Shetty, Erin Kelly, LB Schmidt, and Lindsay Lincoln with 30 lb. ball]

50TH ANNIVERSARY of the gift of the ball. Josh Johnston ’09, Joe Mashburn ’09, J.P. Gould ’09, and Kevin Tarsa ’09, working as a team, found the 30 lb. ball, digging it out from under a bush near Gibson. Anonymous alumnus presents “1997” ball to Jim Graham which is also presented by the 2009 team at Prize Night. The 2009 team enlists Phil Dutton ’81 and Russ DeGrazia ’11 to plumb the depths of the Rumsey pond with an underwater metal detector and a crane to search for ball #1. Unsuccessful.

2009 AT THE ADMINISTRATION’S BEHEST, Charlie Finnemore makes an elegant glass case for permanent display of the ball in the Admissions reception area. During Alumni Weekend, the ball is stolen and a wooden replica is installed.

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2013

THE 2013 TEAM OF ALEC CORNELL ’14, SKYLAR CLARK ’14, LUKE PERDA ’14, AND OLIVIA JUDD ’14 grace the cover of The Bulletin after finding the ball at the top of Steep Rock.

2013

2010

AT A JANUARY SCHOOL MEETING, Patrick Baker ’89, Scott Schwind ’89, Van Wilshire ’89, Brandon Dufour ’02 and Alie (Noto) Carlin ’97 of The Gunnery Council presented the “lost” 2009 ball which was promptly stolen by the prefects, Ian Riley ’13, Tristan Kishonis ’13, and Wyatt Clark ’13 with Tom Burger ’13.

THE LAST RECOVERY TEAM FOR THE 30 LB. BALL consisted of Sean Marks ’10, J.J. Noel ’10, Connor Ahearn ’10, Brandon Lundie ’10, Justin ’10 and John Charles ’10, and Stuart Orfuss ’10. That ball is now missing.

2016 IN SEPTEMBER OF 2016, freshman Michael Zhang comes across a long-lost ball exposed in a stream behind the tennis courts. With the help of class of ’20: Jarred Drickler-Bourgart, Mary Carew-Miller, Will Hambley, and Cailin Kessman and faculty Chip Miller, Jess Baker, and archivist Paula Krimsky, etched names and initials are identified from as far back as 1977 with many names from the eras of 1987 and 1997. This year being a reunion for those three classes, we expect some lively stories to be offered.

Who knows where the

STRAY SHOT will turn up next!

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TRUSTEE

TRUSTEEnews

I

n January 2017, we were fortunate to have four new members join our board who are passionate about The Gunnery and share our vision for the future. Here’s a little bit about each of them.

LAURENCE D. PAREDES P’20 received a B.A. (Economics) from Hobart College where he was also a member of the lacrosse program (player and coach–B Team). He is also a graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law where he received his J.D. Paredes is currently a Managing Director at BlackRock and General LAURENCE PAREDES Counsel and Corporate Secretary P’20 of BlackRock Capital Investment Corporation. Prior to his current role, Paredes served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Porter Novelli, Inc. He has previously served as a Trustee of the Rye Country Day School (which he attended) as well as the President of the Rye Country Day School Alumni Executive Board. Paredes lives in South Norwalk, Conn., with his wife Elisabeth, their daughters, Halle and Presley, and son Cole ’20.

NEIL TOWNSEND P’18 ’20 is a Partner at the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. He works in the Corporate and Financial Services Department and is CoChair of the Private Equity Practice Group. Townsend has consistently been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for his work in the area of Leveraged Buyouts and NEIL TOWNSEND Private Equity Law. He received P’18 ’20 his B.S. from Tufts University, his J.D. from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, and his high school diploma from Thayer Academy. He is active in the alumni networks of and in fundraising activities for both Tufts and Villanova. Townsend resides in Rye, N.Y. with his wife, Elizabeth, and his three children, Will ’18, Hadley ’20 and Bobby, who is 11. He enjoys participating with his kids in their activities, good wine, dancing with his wife, and tennis, golf and fishing with anyone who wants to come along.

LEN NOVICK P’18 received his B.S. from Syracuse University and has worked at Estreich & Company since 2001. Novick has chaired multiple charity events benefiting The Lustgarten Foundation, raising awareness and critically needed funds for pancreatic cancer research. He is also a member on the board of LEN NOVICK P’18 directors of the Jordan Matthew Porco Foundation, a mental health organization whose mission is to help prevent suicide among college age students. Novick resides in Laurel Hollow, N.Y. with his wife, Melissa and their children, twins Zach ’18 and Sami, and Josh, who is 14.

CYNTHIA URDA KASSIS P’19 has spent the past thirty-three years working at Shearman & Sterling representing borrowers and lenders in project, finance and joint venture transactions worldwide. She consistently ranks as one of the leading project finance lawyers by Chambers & Partners, IFLR 1000 and CYNTHIA URDA Legal 500. She has been named KASSIS P’19 “Dealmaker of the Year” by The American Lawyer for her work on the historic Panama Canal expansion financing and the Quintero LNG project in Chile, “Projects/Energy Lawyer of the Year” by Chambers USA (Women In Law), “MVP in Project Finance” by Law360 and “Latin America Legal Star” by Latin Business Chronicle. In 2016, she was named “Project Finance Lawyer of the Year” by Who’s Who Legal for the second year in a row. Who’s Who Legal has also named her among the “most highly regarded individuals in the world” in the field of project finance and in mining. Kassis received her B.A. from the University of Virginia, her M.A. from the University of Notre Dame and her J.D. from American University. Kassis lives in Washington, Conn. with her husband, Jay, and their son Michael ’19.

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ONcampus Eagle Scout Service Project Helps Washington Community

W

hen Brendon Vejseli ’17 thought about what he would choose for his Eagle Scout Service Project and his Senior Service Project, he knew that he wanted to do something to improve the Washington, Conn. community. After being at The Gunnery nearly four years, Vejseli felt that he wanted to make a difference in a place that means so much to him.

Monte Blaustein, science teacher at The Gunnery, knew that the Inlands Wetlands Commission was looking for someone to remediate a section of shore along the Shepaug River in Washington. The Commission had been looking to address this for a number of years and Blaustein thought it was the perfect project for Vejseli.

Vejseli started by going to his first of many town meetings to ask if he could put together a proposal for the project. Once he had the Commission’s approval, he embarked upon the process of building a plan. With help from Stephen Wadelton, vice

Jenna Sittler Works on Project FishTales Mural

F

or Jenna Sittler ’18, artistic expression of all types is a natural fit. Since arriving at The Gunnery, she has taken courses in graphic design and drawing, has had drum lessons and is currently performing in the jazz band.

Sittler even took a media course over the summer at American University, which provoked an interest in filmmaking.

Two years ago, Sittler jumped at the opportunity to work with Danielle Mailer, a local artist with a studio in Goshen.

Mailer, who Sittler had been working with since she was in the fourth grade, was undertaking a mural in Torrington on the

chairman of the Inlands Wetlands Commission, Susan Payne, chairman of the Conservation Commission, Dirk Sabin, landscape architect and Ken Quirke, Eagle Scout project mentor, Vejseli worked through early August and then presented his plan to the town.

He chose 72 wetland perennial plants to add to the area and created a topographical map of what the space would look like.

During the planning phase, Vejseli faced the challenge of planting along the steep slope of the Shepaug River shore, and he also had to account for the potential rising of the river. With the help of Sabin, they were able to come up with a solution. They wanted

Gunnery junior Jenna Sittler doing touch-up work on mural elements in the studio of Danielle Mailer.

ABOVE: The completed project LEFT (left to right): Brendon Vejseli ’17, Scott O‘Neil ’17, Tim Cervera ’17, Connor Croke, Karl Kuegler, Aedan Manning, Dillan Vejseli

campus | 17

ON

the space to look as natural as possible so a fence was out of the question. As a solution, they decided to strategically place rocks up against the bed where erosion could occur; the rocks also prevent runoff. He also decided to use mulch to help keep moisture in and to prevent the plants from moving.

Late last summer, Vejseli, along with fellow Gunnery seniors Tim Cervera and Scott O’Neil, The Gunnery Green Club, and Boy Scout Troop 140 out of Oakville, Conn. put the plan into action.

Everyone worked together to pull out weeds and plant all of the plants selected by Vejseli.

Vejseli received his Eagle Scout on December 8th and The Green Club has taken over maintaining the plants and area. Vejseli hopes that they can eventually expand upon what was done and make the area even more beautiful and sustainable.

“I was involved with many aspects of the mural,” said Sittler. “From sanding and prepping it for paint, to painting many coats. My favorite thing to work on was the touch-up work and making it look finished and ready to be displayed. I really enjoy painting, it’s so relaxing.”

The completed “FishTales” mural on the Staples building over the Naugatuck River.

Staples exterior wall directly above the Naugatuck River. Sittler had previously worked with Mailer on three other public art pieces around Connecticut; aluminum murals of a mountain lion at Scoville Memorial Library in Salisbury and a cat and horse in downtown Torrington.

Mailer’s mural, Project:FishTales, took two years to complete with the help of forty people including Sittler. The trout theme was chosen to represent the revitalization of the once-polluted Naugatuck River.

This time, Sittler was excited to be trusted to freehand the design for a couple of the fish that were going to be painted.

FishTales was officially unveiled by the Mayor of Torrington, the local historical society and the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council in a public ceremony on October 7th.

Sittler’s artistic aspirations are far from complete. She loves to sketch and work with ink and pastels. She also would like to write a novel and illustrate a graphic novel some day.

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The Gunnery Gives Back

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HROUGHOUT THE YEAR, Gunnery students consistently support organizations and causes that are important to them, from Becky’s Home Orphanage in Ghana, to participating in the National Day of Silence, spreading awareness and supporting

causes such as ALS and cancer, and buying Bracelets of Hope to help the young adult community in Kenya.

Spurred by the holiday season, in November and December, The Gunnery spread cheer and hope to the local community by hosting a Giving Tree for Friends in Service to Humanity (FISH) of Northwestern Conn., filling “Blessing Bags” for Trinity Church Soup Kitchen in Torrington and the Harwinton Food Pantry, and holding a head shaving fundraiser for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

Back row (L to R): Robin Vidito, Director of Events at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Emmett Shaughnessy ’19, Christian Kummer ’18, Sean Douglas ’19, Lincoln Turner, Sam Thompson ’18, Cole Varney ’18: Front row (L to R): Greg Simmons ’17, Ben Judd ’17, Jim Balben, Noah Williams ’17, Alex Wilkins ’17

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ed by James Balben, Prefect Advisor and history teacher, the community raised over $2,600 for the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Students and faculty volunteered to have their heads shaved and donors could put money towards each individual; the two people with the most money donated for them to shave their heads, would, and the highest donors were able to do the shaving. It was promised that, if the community could raise $2,000, all of the participants would have their heads shaved. Before

Thanksgiving break, the community gathered to see that promise fulfilled and to cheer on their favorite volunteers.

In early December, The Gunnery community sponsored twenty children whose ages range from 2 to 17, by creating a “Giving Tree” filled with the gift wishes of each of these children. All of those children’s wishes were fulfilled through the dozens of new toys and gifts that were purchased by Gunnery students, faculty and staff. As Dr. Jennifer Wojcik, Director

of Diversity and Arts Chair, said to the student body, “At this time of year for celebration and giving, it is important to support our local community members who are less fortunate.”

Also in December, Eva Jones ’17, spearheaded “Blessing Bags” after being inspired by a summer program she participated in at Yale University in New Haven, Conn.

“As someone who had grown up in Washington, Connecticut, I had rarely

seen a homeless person,” said Jones. “In New Haven there were many homeless people. Initially, I was scared, but as time went on I saw them as people just like you and me. I was eager to take on this project this holiday season.”

The students collected items that will be going to Trinity Church Soup Kitchen in Torrington that feeds 250 people every day. Some of the kits will also be going to the Harwinton Food Pantry to help people who are making emergency housing transitions.

The Troubadours, Gunnery’s student vocal performance group, held an “ugly sweater” celebration at the Holiday Concert on December 13th and sold “Candy Cane Grams” to raise money for Save the Children. Gabby Lescadre ’18, a member of the Troubadours, took over the Ugly Sweater fundraiser this year because not only does it support a great cause, but it gets the student body into the holiday spirit that brings the community together.

Save the Children’s proceeds reach 185 million children in 120 different countries including the United States.

“I love the way The Gunnery community cares for the world around us,” said Lescadre. “It’s so easy to get caught up in our everyday lives. Giving is so important, not only now, but year round, and our community never forgets. It’s so exciting to see everyone celebrating our school and world, especially in ridiculous sweaters.”

The Troubadours continued their annual tradition at Holiday in the Depot on December 9th in downtown Washington.

The familiar red jackets and joyful singing brought smiles to the faces of the Washington community on a chilly winter evening.

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The Gunnery Honors the Washington Lions Club This past November, The Gunnery hosted their annual town party, welcoming Washingtonians to help honor the Washington Lions Club with the “Friend of the Green” Award. The award is given to a person or group that has contributed to the well-being of the town of Washington through their volunteer efforts. The party was held in Virginia Hamilton Solley Hall, which was festively decorated for the occasion.

Head of School, Peter Becker, welcomed the guests, acknowledging with gratitude the relationship of John Quist, President of the Washington Washington and The Gunnery. Becker Lions Club with Peter Becker introduced the Washington Lions Club and their president, John Quist, who accepted the award on the group’s behalf. Becker talked about the involvement of the Washington Lions Club in many local organizations including Lions Eye Health and Research, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Parkinson’s Research, Domestic Violence Prevention, the Washington Fuel Fund, New Milford Hospital, nursing organizations, college scholarships to area high school students and the purchase of eyeglasses for local residents in need.

Quist explained the 75-year history of the organization, starting with their first meeting on June 4, 1941. One of the first civic projects the Washington Lions Club undertook was the purchase and support of an ambulance. Support of the ambulance association is the largest project they have undertaken and still continues today. Over the past 10 years, the Washington Lions Club has raised one million dollars from the generous residents of Washington for the Washington Ambulance Association. Thanks to the generosity of the town, the Washington Lions Club were recently able to donate another ambulance to the association.

A unique feature of the Washington Ambulance Association is that it’s a complimentary service offered by the association because of the generosity of their supporters including the Washington Lions Club.

Past winners of the Friend of the Green Award include town volunteers and employees of Washington including Sheila Anson (2015), Laurie Lamarre and the Institute of American Indian Studies (2014), Joanna Torti of the After School Arts Program (2013), the fire department and Washington Town Hall employees with First Selectman Mark Lyons and Fire Chief Mark Showalter accepting (2012), Kirsten Peckerman, board member of Steep Rock (2011), and Phil and Gretchen Farmer P’05, board members of the Gunn Memorial Library and Museum (2010).

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“ Women on the Edge” Speaker Series Inspires Students

(L to R): Max Italiaander ’17, Olivia Epley ’18, Sally Kohn, Bart McMann, Brendon Vejseli ’17

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his year The Gunnery’s Speaker Series, “Women on the Edge,” featured three women who inspired discussions on campus and ignited interest and attendance from the Washington community.

We kicked off the year with Sally Kohn, CNN political commentator and columnist, on October 6th. Kohn spent time in the afternoon with students in an open forum discussing politics and issues facing our society. The overarching theme of her talk was to warn students as young adults to not be oblivious to what is going on around them; whether it be about an election or even just within their group of friends. She directed students to take action on things they would like to change, big or small. This presentation generated healthy dialogue on campus about the presidential election and encouraged students to work through differing opinions amongst their peers.

On November 14th, author Andrea Wulf spoke to The Gunnery community, and about 50 friends and neighbors, about her latest book, The Invention of Nature, which is about Alexander Von Humboldt (1769– 1859). An international lecturer with five books to her credit, Wulf captivated her audience with illustrated tales about her following in Von Humboldt’s footsteps in South America and Russia and hunting for his original drawings and manuscripts in archives worldwide. Her thesis was that Von Humboldt shaped our still current concept of nature as the web of life through making connections globally and combining scientific research with art, imagination and poetry.

To cap off our speaker series, engineer and television host, Deanne Bell visited

ABOVE: Deanne Bell RIGHT: Andrea Wulf signs a book for a student after her lecture.

campus on December 10th and spoke about her unconventional career path and finding a career that aligns with your personal goals. As many millennials would attest, sometimes the path less taken is more fulfilling, something Bell discovered for herself after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Students and faculty alike were captivated by her story

of how she worked at Raytheon right out of college for three years and then decided to travel on her own for a year. When she returned from her trip abroad Bell decided to make her engineering career path uniquely her own. Bell encouraged students to “imagine and innovate the impossible.”

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Lasse Becker, Lori Galletto ’90, Sangjun Baek ’12, Peter Becker, Gunny Lee ’16, Brad Vick ’97, Jen Hart, Doug Greene ’73, Charlie Baum ’71, Katie Lyons ’83, Charles Thomas ’84, Liz McKenna ’03, Len Auchincloss ’84, Sam Joslin ’16 in Washington D.C.

We made it to Denver this past fall and had such a good time we didn’t get a group photo. We were happy to see Teague Purcell ’01, Mark Hough ’75 and Chris Magee ’04 at Sloan’s Lake Tap & Burger owned by Juan Padro ’92 (see his profile on page 28).

We had a great group of alumni get together in Boston in December!

Front Row (L to R): Nick Collins ’02, Aaron Townsend ’04, Brandon Drumm ’03, Bob Bellinger ’73, Mallory Farmer ’05 Middle Row (L to R): Olivia Collins, Michael Bates ’65, Francis X. Macary III ’03, Jack Reynolds ’68, Peter Becker Back Row (L to R): Scott Wyn ’79, Aaron Levy ’12, Sean Gilligan ’80, Peter Lorenz ’03

Some of the members of the class of 1968 got together this fall in Washington to start planning for their 50th reunion next year.

(L to R): Steve Baird, Roy Simpson, Alex Bellinger, Edsel Ford, David Coburn, Jack Reynolds, Kim Bellinger, Dale Kesten, Bob Savarese, Judd Murkland, Chris Babcock and Rick Bernard

ABOVE: Peter Becker, Consultant, Eun Jung Kim P’18, Soyeong Oh P’18, Sean Brown and Misun Cha P’17 in Korea RIGHT: Peter Becker and Hanjiang Xu P’20 in Hong Kong

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GUNNERYarts Thornton Wilder’s Our Town Produced at The Gunnery

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hornton Wilder’s Our Town, presented by The Gunnery Dramatic Society the weekend of November 10, 11, & 12 was a moving and well-mounted production. One audience member commented that she “had not been to a better production.”

The minimal staging and stark lighting allowed the actors plenty of room to exhibit their considerable talents and the stage manager, Christian Kummer ’18, whose monologues, although cut to reduce production length, were still very long, and pitch perfect as he walked into and out of the play-within-a-play, speaking freely to the audience.

Gunnery seniors, Brendon Vejseli, Ollie Williams, Eva Jones, Lexi Nanavaty and Max Italiaander were honored for their contributions to The Society at the Thursday performance. The protagonists, a young couple, falling in love and, at length, after marriage, separated by death were played by Nanavaty and Vejeseli. The town’s newspaper editor, and Nanavaty’s father Charles Webb was played by Robert Taylor ’18, her mother by Sabryna Coppola ’18. Williams and Jones played Vejseli’s parents, Clare Costello ’18, his sister.

Additional townspeople who brought the story of the small town to life are the gossipy threesome including the alcoholic choir director Stimson, played by Halo award winner Gabby Lescadre ’18, Louella

Soames played by Lois Bachman ’19, and Anne Weston played by Bella Byrne ’18.

Sam Johnson ’19 played both Nanavaty’s brother who died from a burst appendix and Joe Crowell who delivered newspapers and died in WWI. Marcos GuerreroGomez ’18 played the milkman, Aurora Aviles ’20, the paper girl, and Italiaander, the undertaker. Cansu Dilek ’19 played Mary Elizabeth Forbes.

Director Elizabeth Hawley Dayton ’08 led the adult production team of Al Chiapetta, Technical Director and Set Construction, Oksana Protenic, Character Development, Sarah Albright, Producer, and Terry Hawley, Costume Design and Stage Props.

Written in 1938, Our Town takes place in a small town between 1900 and 1913.

Director Dayton, commented, “So many of the themes are so relevant today and especially recognizable in a small town like Washington.” An actual antique map of Washington was used as a stage prop for the stage manager to set the vision for the play.

This year has been an exciting one for our performing arts students with some outstanding achievements.

Tim Cervera ’17, Ollie Williams ’17, Gabby Lescadre ’18 and Charlotte Xu ’20 were accepted to the Northern Regional Honors Chorus and they performed January 13th and 14th.

Lexi Nanavaty ’17, Christian Kummer ’18 and Sabryna Coppola ’18 participated in Russell Sage College’s Theatre Honors weekend (January 13–15) in Troy, N.Y. where they were taught by college faculty and Theater Institute at Sage (TIS) actors/ teachers in musical theatre, audition techniques, devised theatre and stage combat.

Tim Cervera ’17, Chandler Richards ’17 and Stephanie Jung ’18 performed with the UConn 1st Chair High School Honor Band on February 25th.

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Elvis Lives!

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porting one of the largest casts in recent years, the Bye, Bye Birdie set was backed by an eight foot record. The lead characters in The Gunnery’s production were: Conrad played Tim Cervera ’17, Rose, Albert’s girlfriend was played by Sabryna Coppola ’18, Kim and Albert played by sophomores Katie Nemergut ’19 and Sean Douglas ’19. Albert’s mother Mrs. Peterson was played by Lois Bachman ’19; Christian Kummer ’18 and Lexi Nanavaty ’17 played Kim MacAfee’s parents. A highlight of the production was the dance choreographed by freshman Hannah Richards ’20 who performed it with Miranda Smith ’20.

Two Seniors Accepted in CT Regional Scholastic Art Awards Show

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arly this year, Anh Quoc Pham ’17 and Miranda Yang ’17 were accepted into the CT Regional Scholastic Art Show. Their work was exhibited in the Silpe Gallery of the University of Hartford in January and February.

Pham submitted a digital piece called Through the Looking Glass (found on the inside cover) and received a Gold Key for his piece. The winners of the gold key award have their artwork submitted digitally to the National Level Scholastic Art Awards. A national jury will choose works for exhibit in the National Show to be held in June 2017.

Yang received a Silver Key for her submitted portfolio of photographs, called Serendib, from her trip during the summer to Sri Lanka, shown here. The CT Regional Scholastic Art participants number 130 schools submitting work in 16 different categories.

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GUNNERYathletics Boys Varsity Football Goes Undefeated

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fter a year of planning with area schools including Millbrook, Pomfret and Forman, The Gunnery kicked off its first season of eight-player football. The goal of this shift from traditional eleven-player was to provide a viable, long-term alternative to the game in its traditional form. With the declining interest in football in the pre-collegiate years and the trend toward sport specialization, fielding competitive teams is difficult for many independent schools.

The team went undefeated this year, and, thanks to their defense, shut out their opponents in two of their games. They finished their inaugural season with a 48-0 victory over Pomfret.

Kyle Searles ’17 earned Offensive MVP honors for his play at quarterback and Sakhia Kwemo ’17 earned Defensive MVP for his play at linebacker.“I was proud of how hard the team worked this year. Despite eight-player being new to the players, we had the same goals as any other football team,” said Steve Gritti, Head Coach. “Any time that a new player had success the team celebrated like we won a game. In one game, one of the players intercepted a pass and ran it all the way back for a score.

The team talked about that for weeks.”

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Vinnie Crea Signs Letter of Intent In front of family and friends, Vinnie Crea ’17, of Ewing, N.J. signed a National Letter of Intent to play Division I Lacrosse at New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Crea is a 2-year starter and received the All-League Honorable Mention last year.

Said, Head Coach, Mike

Eight-player football is full-pad, full-tackle football and is popular among West Coast independent schools, and in small towns—towns with small high school populations—around the country, including in Texas, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Eightplayer football preserves all the football-specific experiences of the eleven-player version, but requires a smaller roster and is played on a slightly smaller field. High school participants in eight-player teams have gone on to compete in college and even professional football.

Kwemo, who played the eleven-player game at The Gunnery last year, felt that “no matter how many people are on the field, the game is still the same.” He has played twelve-player football in Canada, traditional eleven-player and now eight-player.

“All of my favorite moments this year include an underclassman making a big play,” noted Kwemo. “I strongly believe that football is the ultimate team sport and that you are only as good as your weakest link.”

Athletic Director, Mike Marich, said that the goals of eightplayer football were accomplished this year.

“The students had a really positive experience and their eyes were opened to what a fun and exciting sport football is,” Marich commented. “We hope that other schools will join us in this new endeavor.”

Marich, “I am incredibly proud of Vinnie for his accomplishments in the classroom and on the field.

He is a driven lacrosse player who has pushed himself to achieve his goal of playing Division I lacrosse. I am excited to see his skills and passion for lacrosse translate to the next level.”

Fall 2016 Athletics Record Cross Country Boys Varsity

11–2

Cross Country Girls Varsity

4–4

Field Hockey Girls Varsity

5–10–1

Field Hockey Girls Junior Varsity

4–6

Football Boys Varsity

5–0

Soccer Boys Varsity

2–13–2

Soccer Boys Junior Varsity

1–10–2

Soccer Boys Highlander

5–8–1

Soccer Girls Varsity

8–7–2

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t re NOSWcha ool Sto the

Key chains Blanket

Pennant

Wine Glass

Belt

Shop Online!

The Gunnery online school store is now open.

www.Gunnery.org/Store

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SUPPORTINGthe gunnery A MESSAGE FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

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ver the last year I have used this space to reference impending changes to the Alumni Association. While much of the work has been done behind the scenes, members of the Gunnery Council have been transitioning to leadership positions within the Association. We will form eight sub-committees, chaired by former Council members, providing opportunities for every alumnus to become more involved with each other and the school. The committees are Regional Clubs and Events, Mentoring and Networking, Young Alumni, Gunnery Fund, Admissions, Alumni Weekend, Nominations and Awards, and Executive and Governance. If you would like to serve as an active member of one of these committees, please contact me, Omar Slowe ’97, or the Alumni & Development Office.

We are always looking for new and exciting programs and venues for alumni events. Please let us know if you have an idea for one in your hometown. This summer we have events planned in

Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Chicago, Madison, Conn. and Portland, Maine. Check the Alumni Events page on the website for more details (www.gunnery.org/ AlumniEvents), including how to RSVP. Please try to join us for one of these events this summer.

Laura Eanes Martin ’90 P’20

Alumni Weekend is June 9–11 this year! Invitations are in the mail, and the online registration is live (www.gunnery.org/reunion). Come back to see the wonderful additions to campus, reconnect with old friends, or make some new ones.

Warmly,

Laura Eanes Martin ’90 P’20

Download The Gunnery Alumni mobile app today Stay connected with your fellow alumni.

Whether you’re at home or traveling pull up the app and see who is nearby on the map!

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ALUMNIprofile Juan Padro ’92

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f you want to meet a true son of Frederick Gunn in this his 200th year, you have to look no further than Juan Padro ’92; not that that would be the first description that would spring to mind. Juan is a highly successful restaurateur, who with his partners has opened four restaurants in Denver since 2010 and has wracked up a 1 string of national, state and local awards covering most of the aspects of this very competitive business in the years since. His soon-to-be-opened fifth entry on the Denver scene Señor Bear is already on the Zagat “most anticipated openings” list.

Juan credits his Gunnery roots with helping him to his success in a business he loves, “Initially it was just an investment, we were diversifying our portfolio. Then I made the conscious decision to leave corporate America and be in an environment that I love and turns out we were pretty good at it. And, honestly, I would have never had the courage to make a decision like that if it wasn’t for what I had learned at The Gunnery about making my dreams possible.”

His restaurants all seem to bear Juan’s stamp and have been recognized for their own personality. Highland Tap has won a lot of awards locally for burgers, wings, craft beer and Happy Hour.

Juan was named new restaurateur of the year by the restaurant association. And in 2015, Zagat named it to the top 15 burgers in America. In keeping with The Gunnery spirit, Juan told Tom Hollinger in 2014 that the meat and vegetables on the menu were grown and raised on his own farms.

Old Major, a higher end entry, also won a lot of awards.

Bon Appetite named it one of America’s 50 best new restaurants.

It was also listed in the top 25 Denver restaurants at #10. It won best bar program (Mr. Gunn, a staunch member of the temperance movement in the 1860s might have had to bite his tongue about that).

Bar Dough has been receiving a lot of recognition as well. It was named for having the best chef in Denver and best Italian in Denver Eater. Zagat named it to the most anticipated openings in America for 2015.

2 1 Some handmade pasta from Bar Dough.

2 The Sklar brothers from ESPN making pizzas at Bar Dough.

Sloan’s Tap and Burger opened in the fall of 2016 to great reviews. It has been recognized for its craft beer program and as one of the best places to watch games. Sloan’s was also the site of The Gunnery’s alumni gathering in October 2016.

“I would have never had the courage to make a decision like that if it wasn’t for what I had learned at The Gunnery about making my dreams possible.”

If you ask Juan about his business, he always refers to “we” and “us.” The accolades are great, but what animates him, he says, are his people, “I am most proud of our retention rates and the fact that we let employees earn into the business: some with profit sharing and some with equity. Eight people have equity in our

A new urban plot Juan is turning into a garden in his neighborhood.

company now, and there are more to come. And we still employ our first two employees.”

As such a man-about-town in Denver, one might wonder what prepared Juan for the restaurant business. Well, for a start, he credits The Gunnery with “saving his life”.

“And I don’t say that lightly,” he says. “Before Gunnery, I was going down a slippery slope, hanging out with the wrong people at home and not focusing on school at all. Coming into the environment, it seemed like people really cared about me as a person, invested in me when there were probably better options, and helped me find some passion in school.”

Originally from central Massachusetts, Juan was recruited to play hockey at The Gunnery. He went on to play two years at St. Olaf in Minnesota and finished at the University of Massachusetts with a degree in history. Some Gunnery faculty and staff who influenced him were Andy McNeil, Tom Adolphson, Russ Elgin, Matt Holloway, and Ed Small. Said Juan, “Ed Small was someone whom I thought really understood me and the challenges I was facing as a kid and he was very patient with me. He was around me a lot in sports.”

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Some of his favorite memories of The Gunnery are playing hockey with his younger brother, Miguel, and firing a Civil War musket in Andy McNeil’s American Civil War class. He also is proud to be in one of the first classes under the leadership of The Gunnery’s first female head of school, Susan G. Graham.

3 Laurent Gras, 3 Star Michelin Chef and Juan 4 Juan with Maynard Keenan from Tool who is also a winemaker at their Italian restaurant.

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THE GUNNERY CLASS

CLASSnotes WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE YOU LAST WERE IN TOUCH WITH US? Drop us a line and tell us your news! Submit class notes to krimskyp@gunnery.org or fill out the form on our website under the alumni section.

1948

1955

Robert Hyde wrote enclosing a photo of his grandchildren Maggie and Will Hyde ages five and one. “Thanks for the recent Gunnery Bulletin. Great pictures of today’s life ...

Vibrant!”

David Bancroft is now 99% retired from his

1953 John Phelps, Esq. seems pleased with the

direction The Gunnery is moving.

While Christine Steiner was in Colorado last fall, she met up with Chip Freeman and his wife Helene. Chip said they have been in Aspen for over 30 years and he and his wife love going to the music festivals there. Their grandson Max Freeman ’13 graduated from The Gunnery (and has an update under the class of 2013).

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Law Firm. “But I’m still traveling, drinking wine, chasing our eight grandkids, and rooting for our SF Giants.”

1957 Robert Johnson took an extensive trip last

year: “I sailed on the Bark Europa in March and April, from Punta Arenas, Chile, to Cape Horn, to the South Shetland Islands, to South Georgia Islands, to Tristan da Cunha Islands, and eight weeks later ended up in Cape Town, South Africa. I then spent three weeks in Southern Africa visiting Cape Town and Kruger National Park and Botswana and Victoria Falls seeing all the animals there.”

2017 events May 9

FOUNDERS DAY REGATTA on Lake Waramaug

May 13

SPRING FAMILY DAY (Grandparents welcome too!)

May 28

PRIZE NIGHT

May 29

COMMENCEMENT

June 9–11

ALUMNI WEEKEND

September 8 CONVOCATION October PARENTS 20 & 21 WEEKEND

1 Robert Hyde ’48 with his wife, Faith, and grandchildren, Maggie (age 5) and Will (age 1) 2 Chip Freeman ’53 and wife Helene

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attendance at the service for George Krimsky on 1/28/17. “Truly a sad day. It took place in the Dining Hall, with Paula and family, and loads of friends and former colleagues. Many spoke, with warmth and lots of laughter.

captains of the varsity hockey teams in their respective senior years.

Happy to report that Sam Herrup also appeared, so we could share memories of our great senior soccer season, with George at left wing. How could Sam and I not recall George in Wally Rowe’s English class? He was smart, funny and irreverent to the end. George did not suffer fools gladly, which was core to his charm. Marcia and I saw George and Paula more in recent years, and we stayed in touch by phone or email. We will miss him. I urge others to share current or past memories.”

“Kids are 12 now and skiing like demons.”

1961 Walter Blogoslawski is looking forward to

retiring after serving more than 45 years in government service for the NOAA, U.S. Fisheries service, Milford Lab, Milford, Conn.

1963

1976 Breck Perkins and Polly Spring WR ’77 write

1981 In 1990, Phil Dutton travelled to S.D. with fellow classmate Hilary Cousins to document and observe a commemorative ride by the Lakota Sioux, in remembrance of the Wounded Knee Massacre. The photos Dutton took while observing the ride and spending time with current members of the Lakota tribe were on exhibit in the Tisch Library this fall.

1982 The class of 1982 will be celebrating their 35th reunion in June! To get in The Gunnery spirit they’ve all been spending some quality time with Frederick Gunn. Here’s a few of the highights so far:

Tom Hambury writes that he and Charlie

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Cohen got together in New York for a beer.

“We last saw each other at graduation—a bit more than 53 years ago. Charlie wanted to point out that the picture shows he can still outdrink me (note his empty glass).

We plan to meet again in 25 years or so, giving me time to do some training.”

3 Charlie Cohen ’63 and Tom Hambury ’63 4 George McClelland ’70, Maddie McClelland and Vinny McClelland ’69 5 Bonnie Carlson-Phillips takes Fred along on a walk with her dog in Rockville, Maryland.

Fred Fields writes, “I am enjoying ‘retirement’

but still have my license and accreditation.

I do pro bono work by representing San Francisco tenants who are facing eviction in our overheated rental market where landlords try any trick to evict rent control tenants so they can triple the rent, or more. It’s very satisfying to be able to help some usually elderly tenant stay in the apartment she’s lived in for 30+ years. All my best to everyone.”

1960 Jeff Marsted is pleased to report his

Otto Kinzel III reported: “I retired as Family Court Judge on 11/1/2016 and we moved to Mass. after 30 years in Vt. Now much closer to our kids and granddaughter.”

John “Rusty” Chandler gave a succinct report, “Alive and well!”

1970 To the left is the photo of George McClelland, Maddie McClelland (niece of George and Vinny) and Vinny McClelland ’69 being presented with the Huidekoper Cup after winning the pond hockey tournament in Wilson, Wyo. Vinny and George were

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CLASS

1993 Courtney Febbroriello, owner of the very successful restaurant, Metro Bis, in Simsbury, Conn. sent wonderful photos of the old stray shot and the replacement in the hands of former headmaster Michael Eanes, Steve Curry ’87, Ray Whitney ’87 and Pietro Belluschi ’87. Printed on the back of the photo of the two cannon balls together is “Recovered by Matt Holloway ’71 and presented to Susan Graham.”

Courtney, who was editor of the Stray Shot Literary Journal during her senior year, had done some sleuthing about the cannon balls because the “great treasure hunt” which we have almost annually now was non-existent during her year. Thank you, Courtney!

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1994 Geoffrey Zampiello: “Amanda and I are

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proud to introduce Emma Taylor Zampiello who was born December 5, 2016. Big sisters, Sidney 9 and Morgan 3, are thrilled to welcome her to the family!”

1996

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Krystalynn Schlegel shared with us details of her fantastic trip she took in August of 2016.

“My trip was to celebrate the 100th birthday of the National Park service and I left on that day, 8/26/2016...I visited Crater Lake, Mt. Rainer, Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks and Craters of the Moon National monument. I traveled over 3800 miles in 18 days towing my 1965 vintage Northwest Coach Little Dipper travel trailer and with me, my companion for the entire trip was my dog, Madison, who celebrated his 16th birthday in Glacier National Park.”

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In September, the Boston Business Journal named Sean Stellato, Owner of SES, All-American Fundamental showcase as one of their voted “40 Under 40” young professionals.

10 6 Sarah Scheel Cook brought Fred for a horseback ride in Rockmart, Ga. on a beautiful winter day.

7 Edgar Auchincloss spends some time with Fred in Conn.

8 Fred gives Doug Francis some real estate tips in Vienna, Va. Looks like Fred’s getting into the Class of ‘82 spirit!

9 Emma Taylor Zampiello, daughter of Amanda and Geoffrey Zampiello ’94 10 Krystalynn Schlegel ’96 with Madison

He had four of his clients play in the 2017 Super Bowl and at least three of them left that game happy!

1999 Sarah Sladen was named Director, Collaborative Learning & Action at Making Cents International. Since joining the organization as Deputy Director in January 2016, Sarah has supported the efforts of their Knowledge Management Platform for

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14 11 Nate Ebner, Bill Belichick and Sean Stellato ’97

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12 Brandon King, 2016 Olympian Nate Ebner, Ryan Allen and Sean Stellato ’97 13 Caitlin Barnes ’02 (center) with wife Kat Merino and daughter Graceyn Wyatt Merino 14 Elizabeth (Hawley) Dayton ’08 and Scott Dayton ’08 welcome Eliza Rae Dayton

2002 Caitlin Barnes sent news of her new daughter, Graceyn Wyatt Merino, with wife Kat Merino: “I married Kat Merino in April 2015 and we are so in love with our little angel born 7 lbs., 1 oz. and 21.5 in. at 6:44 p.m. on July 3, 2016. I’m in my sixth year of teaching elementary school in New Canaan, Conn. and giving private hockey lessons at Stamford Twin Rinks and coaching local youth hockey teams. We are enjoying every single minute of being new moms!”

12 Youth Economic Opportunities and managed the delivery of the 2016 Global Youth Economic Opportunities Summit. In her new role, Sarah will lead all aspects of Making Cents’ Youth Economic Opportunities Network (YEO Network), a global hub dedicated to facilitating and advancing knowledge exchange, collaboration, and action among the full range of stakeholders working for and with young people. Sarah will oversee the YEO Network’s strategy and innovation as well as key initiatives to advance the field, including the Summit, the YouthEconomicOpportunities.org learning hub, and year-round convening and virtual learning events.

13 Sarah began her career in youth development as a counselor at Seeds of Peace, a leadership and conflict resolution program for youth from the Middle East and South Asia as well as youth from immigrant communities in the U.S. In addition, Sarah has supported youth programs in South Africa such as Grassroots Soccer and Ikamva Youth. Sarah has a Master’s Degree in International Development with a focus on youth and conflict from the School of International Service at American University.

2008 The class of 2008 was doubly blessed when Scott and Liz (Hawley) Dayton welcomed Eliza Rae Dayton to the family on February 2, 2017. Eliza weighed in at 6 lbs., 6 oz. and 19.5 inches.

2009 Chris Sheahan was finishing his Masters in a

program for Ohio State when he wrote Sarah Hauser about his years since he was a PG at The Gunnery. “For the second year, I am studying at Sun Yat-sen University (China) and writing a thesis here and then I will return to the U.S. After I finished college, I

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15 15 From the archives: Chris Sheahan ’09 at prom in 2009

lived in Taiwan for a year on a scholarship before returning to the States as a Chinese teacher at Cushing Academy. After one year of teaching, I decided to continue my Master’s studies and returned to school.

I started studying Chinese in my freshman year of college. When I was a PG at The Gunnery, I had met a lot of great people from Taiwan and Hong Kong and it really made me want to study Chinese. I actually went to prom with a girl from Taiwan and I was prom king that year too. Needless to say, even though I had only spent one year at The Gunnery, it made a large impact on me.

At Cushing, I even got to work with Coach Martin’s sister and his brother-in-law was my mentor there. I visited The Gunnery last summer to see what was different and it was great to be back for a visit. My parents live 40 minutes away so I imagine I will have to visit some time when I return home soon.”

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16 Anthony D’Elia ’12 (left), Will Baker and Keith Nicholson of Shoots Media

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Anthony D’Elia was on campus in February with his colleagues and film crew from Shoots Media. After graduating from Stonehill College last year he has been working as the Executive Producer for the company.

Tommy Burger has a really full plate having returned to Indiana University while staying on staff for the Allman Brothers Museum in Nashville and doing some work for Greg Allman’s band. “I mostly just do their social media posting currently and their venue research since I’m in Indiana. I have to go down to Nashville, Tenn. (about three hours from IU) a good amount to get some of the work done for them and have to be present at a lot of events, like the NAMM Conference in Anaheim, Calif. in January. I added on Music Business as a double major because I’d like to do work in that area, so now I’m doing both history and music business. It bumps back my graduation a semester to add on music business, but I think it will be worth it as it’s been a really fulfilling job. I also have been playing guitar for about a year and a half now, and am starting to put together some pieces of a band in Chicago (with another Gunnery alumnus, Corey Tesch ’11).”

Tommy’s article about his Gunn Scholar subject, Ben Foulois, was published in the Connecticut history magazine, Connecticut Explored, in February.

Isabela Bagi, who plays tennis and hockey

for Holy Cross, was featured on the college website for her summer internship at Pfizer.

“I have an internship working at Pfizer, a major pharmaceutical company in Groton, Conn. I work specifically for Global Science and Technology (GS&T) in the Comparative Medicine (CM) department. My group specializes in bone diseases (arthritis, osteoporosis, etc.). One of the major studies I worked on last summer was to find a suitable model for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in rats.

If successful this would allow for easier and more humane testing of potential medications for this aggressive and debilitating disease. I was truly blessed to be given this opportunity because it has allowed me to use equipment, engage in several important studies and watch/help on studies that are dramatically changing the lives of people every day. Not to mention, the myriad people who have gone out of their way to include, educate and welcome me to all of their knowledge have left me eternally grateful.”

Marc Cibelli and Anthony Bird are making

their mark as senior captains of the Skidmore hockey team. In an article in November by Tim Costello on the USCHO website, he quotes coach Ray Hutchinson as saying, “Marc and Anthony have been great,” noted Hutchinson. “Really all the upperclassmen have had to be with so many new faces in the room. They haven’t had a lot of success here, but want to leave their mark on the program

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Wyatt Clark is a senior and part time student

17 Charlie Kissel ’13 (right) with his brothers at a wedding rehearsal dinner

2013

18 Christopher Davis ’13 proposing to his soon to be wife, Kaley.

and have it a better place than when they came. They lead by example and have a ton of desire and not an ounce of quit in them.

It has been exciting to see that translate to the young players on the ice. The team has a willingness to compete for 60 minutes or more and the outcomes so far have been a direct result of that.” (Submitted by Steven Cornell ’77)

Skidmore reported that both Anthony and Marc earned post-season honors in February: “Captain Anthony Bird is a repeat first-team selection after earning the honors in 2016.

The co-captain is sixth in the league, leading all Thoroughbreds with 21 points. His 11 goals finished third in the NEHC, and is third among all Division III players with four shorthanded goals.

Co-captain Cibelli earned an all-league spot for the first time in 2017. He is tied for the Thoroughbred lead in assists with 12, and is third on the team with 16 points.”

at Tufts University who will be graduating in May with a degree in Quantitative Economics, Psychology, and a minor in Finance. In addition to being a part time student, he is also working almost full time for Merrill Lynch’s Private Banking and Investment Group in Boston, where he plans to work full time when he graduates. He looks forward to coming back to visit The Gunnery before he starts life as a working adult.

Charlie Kissel is finishing up his last semester

at High Point University in N.C. studying Strategic Communications, focusing on sales.

He just recently accepted a sales associate position for Quoizel in Charleston, S.C. starting in June. As the only trainee for the company, he will prepare to take over one of the 23 territories nationwide. “Very excited but it will definitely take some time getting used to living away from my friends in the fraternity house.”

Michael Cohen writes, “Currently in my

last semester at Lynn University in Boca Raton, so graduating in May! I have been living in South Beach, Miami for the past two months, where I’m just finishing up my fifth week interning at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. They have been having me do a rotation throughout the hotel, gaining lots of education about how each department within each division complies amongst one another to make the resort perform at its full capability. I started in the Human Resources

Department, where I got to learn about how vacant jobs are recruited, new employees are trained, employee relations, and their benefits. I am finishing up my third week of Revenue Management and Reservations, waiting to hear where my next move is. I am obtaining school credits for this, which makes the internship even more beneficial. Once graduated in May, I hope to either attend Graduate School for Hospitality Management, or begin to work full time here if it is offered.

My ultimate goal is to start a chain of resorts based around health and wellness for the millennial age group.”

Christopher Davis notes, “I am finishing up my senior year at Salve Regina University and just bought a house in Newport, R.I. I work in real estate here and am getting married this summer to a woman I met my freshman year in college.”

Erin Sullivan reports, “I am at Connecticut College, graduating this May with a major in Government and a minor in Environmental Studies. I spent three years playing on the Varsity Ice Hockey team, but had to stop playing this year due to too many concussions. I am on the Residential Education and Living Staff as an Independent Living Coordinator for apartment-style housing. I recently accepted an offer to work as a Legal Assistant at Skadden Arps in their New York City office. I hope to get back to The Gunnery soon to visit the campus that I loved so much.”

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2013

Max Freeman said, “Life is going well. I think about The Gunnery all the time and still keep in touch with a few of my old classmates.

I am currently a junior at the University of Delaware majoring in Economics. This summer I will be interning in New York City at UBS in their graduate talent program for wealth management in the Americas. I will be graduating in 2018 and looking forward to pursuing a career in financial services.”

2014 Sumana Al Gharbi wrote that she has joined

a bioinformatics lab at Berkeley and is doing some side research with a startup. “I guess that is the best way to decide what I want to concentrate on.” She was happy to hear about the new students from Bahrain who arrived this year.

Proud mom, Julie Clark sent news of Skyler Clark’s academic and athletic successes

at Washington College. The soccer team made it to the semi-finals of the Centennial Conference (for the first time) with a record of 10–7–2. Skyler also made The Centennial Conference Men’s Soccer Academic Honor Roll along with nine of his teammates. He has also taken on a second sport joining the Washington College Varsity Lacrosse team as a midfielder face-off guy. He is majoring in Biology and Chemistry with a minor in theater.

Samantha Walther, hockey goaltender for

the Hamilton Continentals made news on their website: Walther is tied for the NCAA Division III lead with eight shutouts. She is third with a .955 save percentage and seventh with a 1.14 goals against average. Walther has been nearly invincible in NESCAC competition. She also made the NESCAC all-conference first team.

2015 Regan Butler wrote that she is currently

working on the Judicial Council at George Washington University, working on psychological research pertaining to dot recognition and reading comprehension, and teaching lectures as an undergraduate TA for Psychology 101.

19 19 Kristen (Lanesey) Wright with husband, Joe and children Hunter (age 4) and Scarlett (age 4 months)

2016 Missing the Christmas tree on the quad, Gunny Lee wrote Sarah Hauser in December, “I am studying international affairs at George Washington University. I just took the final exam for Intro to International affairs today.

For now, I am thinking of staying in the States, but I will think more about it after I serve my military duty next year.” He sent his regards to his friends at The Gunnery.

CURRENT AND FORMER FACULTY Kristen Wright married Joe Lanesey on

October 1, 2016 in Bantam. The happy couple celebrated with their children, Hunter, 4, and Scarlett who was born in June.

IN MEMORIAM The Gunnery community is saddened by the loss of many cherished sons and daughters this past year and sends its condolences to their friends and families: Mr. John R. Lyman ‘43 10/31/2014 Mr. Clare F. Beames III ‘48 2/1/2016 Mr. James F. Ward ‘48 2/7/2017 Mr. Anthony L. Keating ‘57 9/2/2013 Mr. George A. Krimsky ‘60 1/20/2017 Mr. Mark E. Lowell ‘74 2/7/2017 Mr. David O. Modell ‘80 1/13/2017 Mr. John W. Crystal ‘97 7/24/2013 Ms. Ashley E. Gibson ‘97 9/17/2016

On Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, George Krimsky ’60, husband of Gunnery faculty member Paula, died after a yearlong battle with cancer. George was the consummate journalist and friend, whose life and death generated worldwide attention. The entire school community feels the Krimsky family’s loss as our own, prompting this special tribute in the Bulletin magazine, our flagship publication to which Paula will forever be connected.

G INSET: The young Krimsky family, Paula, Alissa and George, awaiting their flight out of the Soviet Union upon being expelled by the government. (Paula notes that Alissa took her first steps during that stay in the Moscow airport.)

eorge and Paula Krimsky have been actively involved with The Gunnery for decades. George grew up in nearby Roxbury and graduated from the school in 1960; since then, he was the glue that kept his class together. After attending Middlebury College, he joined the U.S. Army in 1962. Following three years of military service, which included Russian language training and a year in West Berlin, he returned to civilian life and joined The Republican newspaper in Waterbury, Conn., as a reporter. George and Paula were married in 1970 and began a life together that took them all over the world due to George’s exciting (and sometimes terrifying) life as a journalist. He spent time on the west coast, in the Middle East, and in Europe, covering everything from Charles Manson’s arrest and trial to the Lebanese civil war and dissident activity in the Soviet Union. In 1978, George was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

George and Paula moved with their children, Michael, and Alissa, to their favorite place, Washington, Conn. in 1996.

George wrote, with co-author Chandler Saint, Making Freedom: The Extraordinary Story of Venture Smith, about a colonial era slave in Connecticut who became a millionaire.

In 1998, Paula joined The Gunnery to work on the school’s sesquicentennial celebration, and among many roles has served as communications director, archivist and historian.

Being a descendant of Hamilton Gibson (Headmaster from 1922–1937), Paula’s own history and affinity for The Gunnery run deep. In addition to her communications and archivist roles, Paula is an advisor to the Gunn Scholar program. She has uncovered and celebrated the rich history of The Gunnery, most notably for finding a poem from Harriet Beecher Stowe, who was a friend of Mr. and Mrs. Gunn. Most recently, Paula put together an extensive exhibit that celebrated the life and legacy of Frederick Gunn, marking his 200th birthday in October 2016.

PHOTO BY JIM SHANNON/REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

In Tribute to George (and Paula) Krimsky ’60

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1 George and fellow classmates celebrating at their 55th reunion in 2015

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2 A Gunnery soccer celebration, c. 1959, George on the far right.

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Excerpted from Associated Press, Jan. 21, 2017 11:36 PM ET Journalist and author George Krimsky, who covered Charles Manson’s arrest, the Lebanese civil war, and dissident activity in the Soviet Union, and co-founded a center for international journalists, has died at age 75. He had a career that spanned nearly five decades, much of that spent abroad or working in international affairs.

Krimsky grew up in New York, California and Connecticut, where he graduated in 1960 from The Gunnery. After attending Middlebury College, he joined the Army in 1962.

Following three years of military service, during which he studied Russian and lived in Germany, he returned home and took a job as a reporter for The Republican newspaper in Waterbury.

In 1969 he began working for The Associated Press in Los Angeles, where he covered Manson’s arrest, a deadly 1971 earthquake and the slayings of at least 25 migrant farm workers, among the worst serial murder cases in U.S. history.

He later worked for the AP at its New York headquarters and then, in 1974, was posted in the Soviet Union as a correspondent. His Russian ancestry and command of the language gave him access to political dissidents including nuclear physicist Andrei Sakharov, the 1975 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Krimsky held secret meetings with Josef Stalin’s grandson Josef Alliluyev, who pleaded with Krimsky to help him arrange a visit to the U.S. to see his mother after she left him to seek her freedom in the West. In the end, Alliluyev’s defection never happened, and Krimsky was expelled from the Soviet Union after a false charge of espionage.

Keith Fuller, who became the AP’s president in 1976, denounced Krimsky’s expulsion.

“From the facts before me, I can discern only that his sin was to be an aggressive reporter,” Fuller said then.

Krimsky later was stationed in the Middle East, where he was based in Beirut during the Lebanese civil war.

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He left the AP in 1985 to help establish what became the International Center for Journalists, a training and help facility based in Washington, D.C. The AP’s vice president for standards, John Daniszewski, said Krimsky was regarded as one of the AP’s finest foreign correspondents. “He reported bravely and truthfully from Moscow, seeking out dissidents and ordinary Russians at a time when Western reporters were under constant surveillance,” Daniszewski said Saturday. “His eventual expulsion was a mark of honor, and by founding ICFJ he went on to champion a free press globally.”

Krimsky worked as an independent media consultant, a journalism trainer, a reporter and a columnist before retiring in 2012.

3 Iconic image of George Krimsky (camera in hand) and his Lebanese guide dodging shrapnel upon the outbreak of war in Beruit in 1978.

This photo appeared in publications throughout the world, including the International Herald Tribune.

4 George Krimsky stands on Krimsky Bridge in Moscow, c. 1969.

He co-authored the book “Hold the Press: The Inside Story on Newspapers,” which explained the newspaper industry to regular people, and wrote “Bringing the World Home: Showing Readers Their Global Connections,” a newsroom handbook.

H ONOR ING TH E K R IMSK Y S Since George’s passing, a new fund was established by classmates and the school to help move the school’s archives to a secure, newly renovated location in the Tisch Schoolhouse. If you are interested in supporting or learning more about The Krimsky Archives, please contact Kiersten Marich, Director of Leadership Giving, at (860) 350-0171 or marichk@gunnery.org.

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BEQUESTsociety

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he Gunnery benefits annually from the support of thousands of alumni, parents, and friends who give to the school in large and small ways.

Perhaps the most poignant of these gifts are the bequests which often cite the reasons why a particular alumnus wants other students to benefit from experiences which altered and enhanced his or her life. Sometimes alumni wish to honor their teachers, coaches, and mentors. Sometimes a friend or relative wants to memorialize someone whose life was changed at The Gunnery.

Our students are surrounded by the results of this generosity of our alumni and friends; Whether it be Virginia Hamilton Solley Hall where the students eat every day, or the garden bench which commemorates a favorite staff member, or Bourne Hall which came from a grateful father and mother. The original donor of the Stray Shot (see page 10) felt strongly enough to will his entire financial portfolio to The Gunnery. The gifts can be physical as in land or art, or financial as in stock or IRAs; they can be directed as in scholarships or capital projects, or undirected as in “best use.”

Donors who make bequests become members of the H. Willets and Samuel Jackson Underhill Society. If you played baseball, soccer, or lacrosse on Underhill field, you enjoyed the benefits of the bequest of these two brothers.

Planning to designate a portion of your estate will someday have a tremendous impact on your school, and can be made today without changing your current lifestyle. For more information on the bequest society, please contact Sean Brown, Director of Alumni & Development at browns@gunnery.org or (860) 350-0183. ​

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SCHOOL OFFICERS TRUSTEES Peter W.E. Becker, Head of School Gerrit Vreeland ’61, Chairman Joan A. Noto P’97, Vice Chairman Jonathan M. Estreich P’06, Vice President Peter S. Twombly ’74, Secretary Patrick M. Dorton ’86, Treasurer William Bardel Robert Bellinger ’73 William Graham Cole Sarah A. (Scheel) Cook ’82 Gretchen H. Farmer P’05 Peter R. Houldin ’92 David E. Kaplan ’81 P’13 ’15 Jonathan S. Linen ’62 Francis X. Macary ’77 P’03 ’05 ’07 ’15 Len Novick P’18 Larry Paredes P’20 Kirsten Peckerman Roy B. Simpson, Jr. ’68 Cynthia Urda Kassis P’19 Omar Slowe ’97 Richard N. Tager ’56 William T. Tolley P’08 ’14 Neil Townsend P’18 ’20 Daniel Troiano ’77

TRUSTEE EMERITI Leo D. Bretter ’52 P’88 David N. Hoadley ’51 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Laura Eanes Martin ’90 P’20 BOURNE ADVISORY COUNCIL Peter W.E. Becker Stephen P. Bent ’59 Leo D. Bretter ’52 P’88 Edsel B. Ford II ’68 Jonathan S. Linen ’62 William S. Smilow ’82 Jonathan M. Tisch ’72 Gerrit Vreeland ’61 Roy S. Walzer ’65 P’86 PARENTS FUND CHAIR Chris Kachur P’17 ’19 PARENTS COUNCIL CO-PRESIDENTS Rick and Lisa Judd P’14 ’15 ’17

GUNNERY COUNCIL Omar Slowe ’97, President Peter J. Bergen ’84 Sheila M. Boyd ’91 Alessandra L. Carlin ’97 James Estreich ’06 Bobby Gordon ’87 Peter S. Lorenz ’03 Laura Eanes Martin ’90 P’20 William S. McKee ’06 Nicholas Molnar ’72 Elizabeth R. Newman ’93 Juan D. Padro ’92 Altan R. Sadik-Khan ’06 Emma J. Schereschewsky ’94 Krystalynn Schlegel ’96 Scott A. Schwind ’89 Jonathan P. Sullivan ’98 Steven Vitale ’92 Jin Young (Clifford) Yang ’98 MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE CONTACT Ken Mason, Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications masonk@gunnery.org

ALUMNI & DEVELOPMENT OFFICE CONTACT Sean Brown, Director of Alumni & Development browns@gunnery.org ADMISSIONS OFFICE CONTACT Sara Lynn Leavenworth, Director of Admissions leavenworths@gunnery.org CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Paula Gibson Krimsky, Sean Brown, Jess Baker PHOTOGRAPHERS Jess Baker, Phil Dutton ’81, Bob Falcetti, Ken Mason DESIGN & PRODUCTION CEH DESIGN – Bethel, CT

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The Physics teams (21 students composing 6 teams) took home 1st and 3rd place overall at their first Physics Olympiad in March.

THE GUNNERY BULLETIN | SPRING 2017

PAID Hartford, CT