Hotchkiss Magazine | Summer 2022 by The Hotchkiss School

Summer 2022

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

AS OF JULY 2022

Robert R. Gould ’77, Co-President

Elizabeth G. Hines ’93, Co-President

Robert Chartener ’76, P’18, Vice President

Rebecca van der Bogert, Vice President

Raymond J. McGuire ’75, P’21, Vice President

EMERITI

Howard C. Bissell ’55, P’82

John R. Chandler Jr. ’53, P’82, P’85,’87, GP’10,’14,’16,’22

John R. Chandler Jr. ’53, P’82, P’85,’87,

GP’10,’14,’16,’22

Thomas J. Edelman ’69, P’06,’07

Raymond J. McGuire ’75, P’21, Vice President

David B. Wyshner ’85, Treasurer

Roger K. Smith ’78, P’08, Secretary

Charles Ayres ’77

Joseph P. Baratta P’24,’26

Craig Bradley, Head of School, ex officio

Anne Matlock Dinneen ’95

John Grube ’65, P’00

Brooke Harlow ’92, Co-President, Alumni Association, ex officio

Alex Hurst ’97

John Khoury ’95, President, The Hotchkiss Fund, ex officio

Annika Lescott-Martinez ’06

Nisa Leung Lin ’88

Michael J. Mars ’86

Cristina Mariani-May ’89, P’23,’25

Paul Mutter ’87, P’26, Co-President, Alumni Association, ex officio

Carlos Pérez ’81

Thomas S. Quinn ’71, P’15,’17,’19

Christopher R. Redlich Jr. ’68

Thomas R. Seidenstein ’91, P’24

Timothy P. Sullivan ’81, P’13,’16

Rhonda Trotter ’79

Richard M. Weil ’81, P’23 ,’25

U. Gwyn Williams ’84, P’17,’19

Thomas J. Edelman ’69, P’06,’07

Lawrence Flinn Jr. ’53, GP’22

Dan W. Lufkin ’49, P’80,’82,’88,’23

Robert H. Mattoon Jr.

Dr. Robert A. Oden Jr. P’97

Kendra O’Donnell

Jean Weinberg Rose ’80, P’18

John L. Thornton ’72, P’10,’11,’16

Francis T. Vincent Jr. ’56, P’85

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

AS OF JULY 2022

Natalie Boyse ’09

Rafael Carbonell ’93. VP and Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Weijen Chang ’86, P’22,’24. VP and Chair, Admission and Engagement Committee

Julia Chen ’16

Ernesto Cruz III ’01

Marita Bell Fairbanks ’84

Danielle S. Ferguson ’97, VP and Co-chair, Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Carlos Garcia ’77

Whitney Gulden ’12

Brooke Harlow ’92, Co-President of the Alumni Association

Cameron Hough ’09

Julia Tingley Kivitz ’01

Robert Kuhn ’75

Keith Merrill ’02

Nick Moore ’71, P’89,’01,’06, VP and Chair, Nominating Committee for Membership

Paul Mutter ’87, P’26, Co-President of the Alumni Association

Honey Taylor Nachman ’90, P’21,’23

Daniel Pai ’19

Mark Pierce ’67, P’13

Gigi Brush Priebe ’77, P’06,’09

Blake Ruddock ’12

Marquis Scott ’98, Vice Chair

Adam Sharp ’96. VP and Chair, Communications Committee

Richard Staples ’74, P’10,’12

Tom Terbell ’95, VP and Chair, Nominating Committee for Awards

Sarah Thornton-Clifford ’76, P’07,’23

Madison West ’05

Clara Rankin Williams ’89

Lisa Bjornson Wolf ’82

Whitney PakPour Zeta ’04

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

HOTCHKISS MAGAZINE AVAILABLE ONLINE

Hotchkiss Magazine has always been available online as another way to connect with your classmates and learn about current Hotchkiss happenings. Due to privacy restrictions, the electronic editions do not include Class Notes.

If you’d like to opt-out of the printed publication, please email magazine@hotchkiss.org with your name and address, and we will remove you from the list. You will still have access to the electronic version of the magazine available at hotchkiss.org/magazine.

Craig Bradley, Head of School

Tom Seidenstein ’91, P’24, Past President, Alumni Association

Robert R. Gould ’77, Co-President, Board of Trustees

Elizabeth G. Hines ’93, Co-President, Board of Trustees

John Khoury ’95, President, The Hotchkiss Fund

Cover photo

Lake Wononscopomuc by Scott Barrow Cover

photo of Lake Wononscopomuc by Scott Barrow

5 Enduring Gratitude

HEAD OF SCHOOL Craig W. Bradley

CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS

OFFICER

Hope Reisinger Cobera ’88, P’24

EDITORS

Catherine Calamé

Darryl Gangloff

MAGAZINE DESIGNER

Julie Hammill

CONTRIBUTORS

Robin Chandler ’87, Linda Dunbar, Julia Elliott, Jeffrey Hinz, Anthony Hu ’25, Roberta Jenckes, Dan Lippman ’08, Kira Nickerson ’25, Helen O’Neill ’23, Erin Reid P’01,’05, Nancy Somera PLEASE SEND INQUIRIES AND COMMENTS TO:

The Hotchkiss School 11 Interlaken Road Lakeville, CT 06039-2141 Email: magazine@hotchkiss.org Phone: (860) 435-3122

The Hotchkiss School does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, religion, race, color, sexual orientation, or national orientation in the administration of its educational policies, athletics, or other School-administered programs, or in the administration of its hiring and employment practices.

Hotchkiss Magazine is produced by the Office of Communications for alumni, parents, members of the faculty and staff, and friends of the School. Letters are welcome. Please keep under 400 words. We reserve the right to edit and publish letters.

Hotchkiss in Hollywood

The First Family of Ultimate

SUMMER 2022 1

MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE 2 From the Head of School 4 From the Board of Trustees 5 Enduring Gratitude 7 Campus Connection 37 Progress Toward Equity 55 Class Notes 67 In Memoriam 72 Parting Shot

Celebrating donors at Maria Hotchkiss Dinner 8 Graduation 2022 Saluting Bearcats at 130th Commencement Ceremony 46

Alumni discuss their work in TV and film 52

Titcomb siblings play a leading role in the sport

A Place in the Sun

THE MORNING OF JUNE 3 dawned

behind a curtain of rain. The Commencement stage and hundreds of chairs dripped on Harris House lawn as we hopefully watched the skies. Then, as if in a gesture of congratulations to the Class of 2022, the clouds parted to reveal a beautifully sunny day. A lovely Commencement ceremony followed, including a memorable address by Adam Sharp ’96 (see p. 9). At its conclusion, seniors walked across the stage for the last time as Hotchkiss students, cheered on by hundreds of family members, friends, faculty, staff, and schoolmates (see p. 8).

Just as the rain gave way that morning to clear blue skies, so certain challenges of this year have given way to joy. Like the rest of the world, this spring we continued to manage COVID, with numerous cases among students and campus adults. Thankfully, none of them were serious. Despite this, it has been a spring filled with joy—a Head of School holiday on May 12, the Main Building harmlessly ransacked by senior pranks, emotional “last clap” for retiring faculty (see p. 33), athletic triumphs large and small (see p. 12), delightful performances on stage and screen, and innumerable special moments.

This spring we resumed on-campus reunions, welcoming hundreds of friends from classes ending in 2s and 7s; those who graduated in 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2016; and BIPOC (Black, Indiginous, People of Color) alumni for a reunion and celebration of Patricia Redd Johnson’s shining legacy at Hotchkiss (see p. 37).

In mid-June, we were delighted to invite the Class of 2020 and their families, who were not able to participate in a traditional Graduation due to COVID, to a special Baccalaureate ceremony as part of a unique two-year reunion celebration.

All of this joy was experienced in

MAGAZINE2 FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Noam Ginsparg ’22, cellist, and Kenny Zhang ’22, pianist, performed a magical musical piece for a thrilled audience during commencement ceremonies.

community: students, families, and alumni enjoying Hotchkiss as they have for 130 years.

One of the many lessons of the pandemic that I, personally, will never forget is that of interdependence. No matter our place in the community, we are dependent on one another in myriad ways. A community like ours operates successfully because we draw together. It is thanks to this drawing together that we fared relatively well during the pre-vaccine period of greatest risk of COVID infection. Equally, it is thanks to the commitment of alumni who remain connected to Hotchkiss year after year and generation after generation that the School continues to thrive.

As I shared with the Class of 2022, one of the important qualities every Hotchkiss graduate carries with them for the rest of their lives is a fundamental understanding of what it means to be part of something larger than oneself.

I hope you enjoy the stories on the following pages. As always, I thank you all for the many ways in which you contribute to the Hotchkiss community.

Stay safe, be well, and keep in touch!

All good wishes, Craig W. Bradley

Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme

You asked us to identify any of the other people in the two-page photo of the performance of Le Bourgeios Gentilhomme performed in 1967. The person with the feather in his hat is me, Demetrie G. Comnas, Class of 1967. I was portraying the role of the Maître à Danser (the dancing teacher). I do not remember who the two other actors are in the background.

DEMETRIE COMNAS ’67

I have just perused the electronic edition of the Spring 2022 Hotchkiss Magazine. As usual, it is a premium piece of communication, for which I thank you. On pp 50-51, in the article on Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, I note that the lead confronting Peter Beaumont in the chair is Demetrie Comnas ’67. Dem remains one of my good friends today. He lives in Florida and would be thrilled to see his picture. Thanks to all the staff for this outstanding publication, to which I look forward quarterly.

ALAN HAAS, FACULTY 1962 TO 1966

Peter Beaumont had to have been one of my favorite Hotchkiss masters. He had the famous musical chairs as one of his pedagogical tools. I realize that that photo of him in The Prodigious Snob was taken two years after I graduated, namely in 1967. Other Hotchkiss masters who made a difference in my life? Prentiss K. Stout, Charles Garside Jr. (my first cousin), Dr. Peter Randolph (husband of my first cousin, Helen Garside Randolph), Mr. Haas, and George Norton Stone (although I stank at math; those were the days of the dubious “new math”). One day I went in desperation to Mr. Stone and said, “Mr. Stone, I am terrified of my Math III final. I just know I am going to bomb it. I will get a failing grade unless I get some honest help from you.” Mr. Stone was kind enough to give me some needed coaching. At the end of our session he said, “Ted, you know that the last problem will be a lulu of a word problem. Before you attempt to do it, take three cleansing breaths. Obviously it will be on concepts that you have been going over all year. Then pray, if you have to. Read the problem three or four times. Take up your pencil. Show your work. Godspeed.”

SUMMER 2022 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

EDWARD F. (TED) WILSON ’65

Editor’s Note: If you have an interesting photo and would like to test your fellow alumni about it, please send it to magazine@hotchkiss.org.

“One of the important qualities every Hotchkiss graduate carries with them for the rest of their lives is a fundamental understanding of what it means to be part of something larger than oneself.”

A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

BY ROBERT CHARTENER ’76, P’18

The Board of Trustees met on campus on May 6 and 7 and discussed many School issues, including the following:

Admissions results – We received 2,421 completed applications in early 2022 and accepted 270 students. This was the most selective year in memory: 11% of applicants were offered admission. While the number of applications declined compared with the prior year, this was probably due to COVID risk that saw campus visits drop from about 4,000 to just 400. The vast majority of admitted students and families saw Hotchkiss for the first time when they attended revisit days. (The School will offer in-person visits this coming fall, along with virtual interviews.) Hotchkiss yielded 63% of the students to whom it offered a place, a figure that has grown steadily and consistently from 2017 when 46% of admitted students matriculated. About 35% of new students will receive financial aid, 41% are students of color, and 13% are international students. We will welcome about 599 students in the fall, a slightly higher number than we had anticipated.

College placement – Test-optional policies continued this year, dramatically changing the demographics of applicant pools and the composition of incoming classes. Colleges continue to take a larger percentage of new students from early admission as opposed to regular decision: over 90% of our seniors applied for early admission, which includes Early Decision, Early Decision II, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, and Rolling Admission. The most popular colleges this year were Chicago and Columbia (with eight students attending each), Georgetown (seven), Cornell and Princeton (five each), and Bucknell, NYU, Colby, Wesleyan, Stanford, UVa, and Brown (four each). Hotchkiss appointed Serena Oh Castellano as the

new director of college advising; she is replacing Rick Hazelton P’19,’22, who will lead the Center for Global Understanding and Independent Thinking. (Tom Drake, who will reach the remarkable milestone in 2022-23 of 40 years at Hotchkiss, will return to full-time teaching after running CGUIT for several years.) Most recently the director of college advising at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York, Ms. Castellano has held previous positions at St. Paul’s, Princeton, and Wellesley.

Emissions work – The Stone House Group has been assisting Hotchkiss with its plans to reduce its carbon emissions. Hotchkiss already has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions within the Eight Schools group and has a leadership position among schools and universities. Notably, Hotchkiss has reduced its net emissions by 47% since 2007, the main drivers being our biomass heating facility, solar panels, and significant conservation and efficiency projects like campus-wide LED lighting. There was a discussion about purchasing carbon credits versus upgrading heating/cooling systems, replacing oil heating and hot water systems with greener alternatives, and relying increasingly on local farming and local sourcing. The board expressed a strong desire to maintain its leadership position by improving systems, and in the near term Hotchkiss will not seek to purchase carbon credits or offsets.

Dormitory renovations – The Memorial Hall renovation began in June, and the building will be closed for the entire 202223 academic year. We are also beginning the next phase of dormitory renovations with the remodeling of Tinker, which will take place over three summers but will not necessitate the closing of Tinker during the academic year. A renovation of part of the MAC is also being done this summer.

No-chance policy – The board reviewed the faculty’s recent decision to eliminate the no-chance disciplinary policy at the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year. The policy has been in place for over 40 years, but there is a strong feeling that Hotchkiss’s expanded health programs, increased faculty attention to reducing substance use, and problems with appropriate enforcement argued for a change in the policy. The new policy was in place when School started in September and is published in The Almanac

DEI progress – Dr. Lisanne Norman ’94 and Kinyette Henderson, a Walter Crain Fellow, have been appointed co-directors of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The DEI committee expressed particular approval of recent faculty hiring and of admission efforts to acquaint historically underrepresented applicants with Hotchkiss.

Faculty retirements – John Cooper P’08,’11, a mathematics instructor and an Independence Foundation Chair, and Letty Roberts P’12,’15, also a mathematics instructor and the holder of the George and Jodie Stone Teaching Chair, retired this year. Having taught at Hotchkiss for a total of 65 years, they were recognized by the Board of Trustees and gratefully thanked for their many contributions to life at Hotchkiss. The Board also thanked Steve McKibben P’22, an English instructor, dean of community life, and coach, who retired after more than 10 years of service to the School.

MAGAZINE4

Enduring Gratitude Comes to Life at the Maria Hotchkiss Dinner

BY JULIA ELLIOTT

“IGIVE TO HOTCHKISS because Hotchkiss was a gift to me,” says John Khoury ’95, speaking in a video played for attendees at this year’s Maria Hotchkiss Dinner, “and to the extent I can play any role in providing that gift to others, I want to do so.”

Khoury, who named his investment firm Long Pond Capital after the pond at Hotchkiss, gives back to the School by volunteering as president of The Hotchkiss Fund, by giving regularly to the Fund, and through the endowed scholarship he set up in honor of his father, the Charles Khoury Scholarship. “He was a first-generation immigrant to Canada,” Khoury says. “He really valued the education that I [received at] Hotchkiss. I endowed a scholarship in his name to provide that same opportunity, hopefully, to other people.”

For the 158 attendees who gathered this past April in New York City, the evening was a success from the start. It was the first time in two years that major donors, trustees, administrators, and faculty had been able to attend the event in person. “We were thrilled to be together again,” says former trustee Vicky Rogers ’79, P’07 who enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with others face-to-face. “People were happy and proud to be there.”

The Maria Hotchkiss Dinner is the School’s preeminent annual gathering to celebrate its most generous donors. This year’s theme of “Enduring Gratitude” echoed throughout the night. In speeches, presentations, and conversations, attendees were reminded of the School’s immense appreciation for Hotchkiss’s generous donors, the thankfulness of Hotchkiss students who

receive financial aid, and the gratitude that motivates many alumni and parents to give back to the School.

Chloe Field ’11, another dinner attendee, gives back to the School through a scholarship fund. Field’s generosity was motivated by the phenomenal friends she made at Hotchkiss and the ways in which they broadened her perspective on the world—especially her classmate, Petr Placek ’11. Placek was a hockey player who chose Hotchkiss because it allowed him to play high-level athletics while also pursuing a rigorous education. That combination was not available in his native Czech Republic and would have been out of his family’s reach without financial aid. In his honor, Field created the Petr Placek Scholarship.

“The ability to give back and possibly open that door for other students who are incredibly deserving is very important to me and something I was really excited to do,” says Field. “I give to Hotchkiss because Hotchkiss gave me so much.”

“Chloe’s gift was the largest tenth reunion gift on record,” says John S. Reed Jr. ’81, P’12,’14,’18, senior advisor, principal gifts. “That alone to me was moving. And I was also inspired by how sincere, humble, and genuinely grateful both she and John Khoury were about their gifts to Hotchkiss.”

Rich Bernstein ’64, P’92, who was not able to attend the dinner but delivered a video address, is similarly motivated by a desire to pass along to others the generosity given to him at Hotchkiss. Bernstein hopes to extend to future Hotchkiss students the chance to be instructed by expert teachers such as those who taught him and

SUMMER 2022 5

ENDURING GRATITUDE

“I give to Hotchkiss because Hotchkiss was a gift to me.”

—JOHN KHOURY ’95

“The abilty to give back and possibly open that door for other students who are incredibly deserving is very important to me and something I was really excited to do.”

—CHLOE FIELD ’11

his son Adam Bernstein ’92 (now the obituary editor at The Washington Post) to think deeply and critically and to write well. Rich Benstein gives back to Hotchkiss through the Bernstein Family Master Teaching Fund, which supports faculty development, fosters students’ critical thinking, and creates engaging learning environments. “For me, faculty development is critical,” says Bernstein, who serves on the faculty of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “That’s how you encourage and help develop students—[when faculty] learn from each other and have the resources to encourage their own development.”

“Rich is a wonderful man,” says John Weber, leadership giving officer. “He is always enthusiastic and genuinely interested in helping Hotchkiss attract and maintain the highest quality of teaching. What’s so special is that the Bernstein Family Master Teaching Fund is endowed in perpetuity.”

For Vicky Rogers, the highlight of the Maria Hotchkiss Dinner was Head of School Craig Bradley’s remarks, during which he shared the stories of several students who have benefited from financial aid. “Students are what the school is all about,” says Rogers, “and it’s very meaningful to hear the impact of the gift of financial aid, how Hotchkiss is changing students’ lives and the opportunities they wouldn’t have had otherwise.”

Since 2016, the Bernstein Family Master Teaching Fund has supported 11 Hotchkiss faculty members, granting them the opportunity to attend conferences and conduct research across the country and internationally. “It’s been very gratifying for me to see that,” says Bernstein. He also funds the MacLeish Scholars Program, now in its second year, through which students engage in archival research, creative writing, and bookmaking that encourages scholarship, creativity, and hands-on learning (see p. 15).

One student Bradley profiled, Emily Bukowski ’22, said she was grateful for the teachers and her coaches in her life who genuinely root for her success. Richie Mamam Nbiba ’23, who served as head of BaHSA (the Black and Hispanic Student Alliance), co-president of the upper-mid class, and is co-president of the School this year, was quoted as saying that she is grateful to Hotchkiss for helping her find the power of her voice. Billy Meneses ’22, who came to Hotchkiss thanks to New Jersey Seeds, an organization that assists lower-income students in gaining access to excellent secondary-school opportunities, was quoted by Bradley as being most appreciative of Hotchkiss’s warm, joyful, and open community. Mitchell Riley V ’22, who will be attending the Naval Academy in the fall of 2022, said that coming to Hotchkiss was simply the greatest opportunity of his life.

Elie Smith Déu ’89 knows firsthand the power of a Hotchkiss education. “My Hotchkiss experience was positively transformative,” she says. “It had an incredible impact on my life and my decision to go into education.” Déu, who is now head of school at Williamsburg Northside School, a K-8 grade independent school in Brooklyn, attended Hotchkiss on financial aid. She believes that access and affordability are critical for all students and

has made financial aid giving her priority. “My time at Hotchkiss allowed me to realize that I could step into spaces that I hadn’t even envisioned for myself,” she says. “I want to ensure that others have that same opportunity.”

“I, too, feel a deep sense of gratitude,” Bradley stated in his closing remarks. “I am grateful to be together in person for the first time since 2019. I am grateful for your fellowship and good company. Most of all, I am grateful for your enduring support of Hotchkiss.” H

MEET THE ALUMNI in this video by hovering your phone’s camera over this QR code.

MAGAZINE6 ENDURING GRATITUDE

“For me, faculty development is critical. That’s how you encourage and help develop students.”

—RICH BERNSTEIN ’64, P’92

“My time at Hotchkiss allowed me to realize that I could step into spaces that I hadn’t even envisioned for myself. I want to ensure that others have that same opportunity.”

—ELIE SMITH D É U ’89

Dedicating Courage Garden

In November 2020, a group of devoted alumni led a Hotchkiss Alumni Reconciliation Gathering for an opportunity for open engagement and reflection on historical sexual misconduct. Out of this important virtual gathering came the idea to design an enduring space on campus that will provide comfort, beauty, and peace for those impacted by sexual abuse during their time at Hotchkiss and beyond.

As previously communicated, we will dedicate Courage Garden on Oct. 1. The event is open to all members of the Hotchkiss community.

Hotchkiss remains deeply remorseful for sexual abuse that occurred here. For those who were harmed as students, nothing can erase the past. In creating this garden in partnership with deeply dedicated alumni, the School honors the remarkable

grace of the survivors and alumni who initiated this gift. The permanence of the garden and Hotchkiss’s commitment to tend it symbolize the School’s ongoing responsibility to do all we can to create a safe and healthy environment for all members of this community.

Construction of the garden has been underway throughout the summer. With extensive stonework completed and plantings in-place, the garden is truly coming to life.

Join us for the Dedication

Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 1 p.m.

Formal dedication event in Elfers Hall followed by a walk to Courage Garden and a reception

For survivors only: Optional community space available beginning at 5 p.m. at Fairfield Farm

The School is enduringly grateful to alumni who are committed to creating a space on campus for healing and contemplation. This event is being planned in close partnership among members of the survivor community, dedicated alumni, Learning Courage (a nonprofit organization that works with independent schools to reduce incidents, improve responses, and support healing from sexual misconduct and abuse), and the School.

Please scan the code for further information, including a registration link.

Please mark your calendars to join us.

SUMMER 2022 7

There is an ongoing need to support Courage Garden care and maintenance. Please contact Ninette Enrique, chief advancement officer, at nenrique@hotchkiss.org, if you are interested in making a contribution to support this important and enduring enhancement to the School.

CAMPUS CONNECTION

Hotchkiss Salutes Graduating Bearcats at 130th Commencement Ceremony

BY CATHERINE CALAMÉ T HE 130TH COMMENCEMENT

Ceremony for the Class of 2022 took place under clear blue skies overlooking beautiful Lake Wononscopomuc on June 3 in front of hundreds of family members and friends. The event honored 158 senior Bearcats who prevailed through the pandemic, inspiring Head of School Craig Bradley to encourage them to learn from the experience.

“One of the many lessons of the pandemic is that of interdependence. A very important quality you will carry with you throughout your lives, and for which you will be valued and rewarded, is a fundamental understanding of what it means to be an integral part of something larger than yourself—to be part of a team, a community.”

Bradley encouraged the graduates in their days ahead to remember the words of

Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist, neurologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor.

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response,” Frankl said. “In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Co-presidents of the Board Trustees Elizabeth G. Hines ’93 and Robert R. Gould ’77 introduced the presentation of diplomas, after which outgoing Dean of the

CAMPUS CONNECTION MAGAZINE8

Senior Class Andrew D’Ambrosio (newly appointed dean of student life) invited each senior to the stage as diplomas were presented. The Hotchkiss Orchestra played music including an interlude on cello and piano, played respectively by seniors Noam Ginsparg ’22 and Kenny Zhang ’22, before, during, and after the ceremony.

Parting Words from Beloved All-School President Sydney Goldstein ’22

All-School President Sydney Goldstein ’22 was moved to point out how hard the last few years had been for her classmates yet said, “I am extremely proud of how far we’ve come.”

In her address, she expressed gratitude for having spent her high school years on “arguably one of the most, if not the most, beautiful high school campuses imaginable in the middle of a fantastically bucolic area.”

Knowing that challenging and easy times lie ahead for all the graduates, she went on to say, “Let us approach our next experiences with the values of resilience, determination, curiosity, and compassion that we learned as students here. Let’s never let go of the family that we found here, because even though we will all soon drive through the main gates for the last time as Hotchkiss students, we’ll never leave the Hotchkiss community.”

Sydney Goldstein ’22, All-School President

“Let us approach our next experiences with the values of resilience, determination, curiousity, and compassion that we learned as students here.”

—SYDNEY

“Fail Spectacularly!” Advised Keynote Speaker Adam Sharp ’96

The Commencement address offered by Adam Sharp ‘96, president and CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, was equal parts nostalgia, humor, and valuable life advice.

Sharp began by recounting unvarnished memories from his own Hotchkiss experience. He talked about extensive work he did as a part of numerous clubs, which most notably included revitalizing Hotchkiss TV (HTV) in 1994—even as he nearly flunked out of school. He spoke of the Hotchkiss teachers, coaches, advisors, and others who helped put him back on track as he continued to recount experiences from his career.

“That year [at Hotchkiss] proved to be the most important and lasting of my education. It taught me how I could pivot from defeat to pursuing a new victory. And it continues to serve as a humbling reminder that climbing out of a hole is a lot easier when someone is there to lend a hand.”

In stressing the inevitability of stumbles in life, as well as the profound value of learning from them, he offered three pieces of advice:

“First, seek out the fun failures. The failures of little consequence. Seize opportunities to experiment, to play.

To learn your craft in a safe space where mistakes provide more fodder for laughter and learning than fear and expense.

“Second, consider risk. Don’t avoid it. Ask yourself, if this is where I fail, what good can come from it? What new questions can it raise? What opportunities can it present?

“Last, when the unexpected failure sneaks up on you, be honest with yourself and others and candidly ask these same questions in retrospect. When I reflect on each career peak, I realize I wouldn’t have been in the position to even consider those opportunities had I not first been

Adam Sharp ’96, CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, gave the keynote speech at the ceremony.

—ADAM SHARP ’96

cast into the wilderness of the valleys below. The view from the summit helps salve the pain of the journey.”

The candor of Sharp’s reflections, punctuated by numerous moments of levity and a number of good laughs, invited the seniors in the audience to contemplate the value of failure. “The Hotchkiss education is not meant to tell you where to go, but rather to prepare you for a journey on a path of your own making. To negotiate the gravity of necessary failures to stay true to your own charted course.

“And so to the many congratulations and blessings for good luck and future success [that] you will receive in the days and months ahead, I add an equally important benediction: fail spectacularly!”

In their final moments as students of The Hotchkiss School, the senior class stood arm-in-arm for a rousing rendition of Fair Hotchkiss, joined by hundreds of family, friends, faculty, and staff in attendance. H

SUMMER 2022 9

GOLDSTEIN ’22

“The Hotchkiss education is not meant to tell you where to go, but rather to prepare you for a journey on a path of your own making.”

WATCH ADAM SHARP’S FULL SPEECH

2022 Senior Awards

ACADEMIC AWARDS

FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS: THE PETER D’ALBERT ’70 MEMORIAL ART AWARD Reka Ladanyi

THE ROBERT AND SANDY HAIKO PRIZE Hongrui Qiao (Jerry)

THE JOHN HAMMOND ’29 MUSIC AWARD Oliver Chen, Noam Ginsparg, and Kenny Zhang

THE EDWARD KOHNE KLINGELHOFER JR. ’43 AWARD Kiki Henry

THE SARAH T. CRAIG MEMORIAL PRIZE Keeilah Jewell

THE THOMAS P. BLAGDEN ’29 PRIZE Yihan Ding

THE ADVANCED PORTFOLIO ART PRIZE Luke Louchheim

THE ARCHITECTURE PRIZE Charlie McLean

THE ART HISTORY PRIZE Annie Xu

FOR EXCELLENCE IN CLASSICAL AND MODERN LANGUAGES: THE HOEY SENIOR GREEK PRIZE Kasen Mo

THE SENIOR LATIN PRIZE Chase Vermeulen

THE KING TAK LAM CHINESE PRIZE John Nicholson

THE DAVID DEMARAY SENIOR FRENCH PRIZE Jack McGlinn

THE EMERSON BIGELOW ’13 AND JOHN EMERSON BIGELOW ’44 PRIZE FOR CONVERSATIONAL FRENCH Billy Meneses

THE CHARLES E. BERRY GERMAN PRIZE Noam Ginsparg

THE SENIOR SPANISH AWARD Beatrice Conti

FOR EXCELLENCE IN ENGLISH: THE THOMAS H. CHAPPELL ’24 PRIZE Beatrice Conti and Annie Xu

THE TEAGLE ESSAY PRIZE Ein Jun

FOR EXCELLENCE IN HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE: THE PARSONS PRIZE Keeilah Jewell

THE ECONOMICS AWARD Margo Donohue

FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE: THE GEORGE NORTON STONE SENIOR MATH PRIZE Carter Levine

THE SENIOR COMPUTER SCIENCE AWARD Leopold Dorilas

FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE: THE ROBERT B. FLINT ’23 SCIENCE PRIZE Keith Matanachai

THE VAN SANTVOORD ’08 ENVIRONMENTAL PRIZE Eliza Ross SCHOOL PRIZES

THE FIRST SCHOLAR PRIZE Keith Matanachai

CAMPUS CONNECTION MAGAZINE10

MAJOR SCHOOL PRIZES

CUM LAUDE

FALL INDUCTEES

Hannah Biccard

Beatrice Conti

Hannah Goldberg

Stella Ren Annie Xu

SPRING INDUCTEES

Nate Brockington Lydia Bullock

Aron Cha

Madeline Chang

Gigi Day Rahul Kalavagunta

Carter Levine Allison Lin

Luke Louchheim Keith Matanachai

Hannah

Grace

Sydney Goldstein

Fatoumata Bah, Lydia Bullock, Carter Levine, Olivia Taylor, and Huck Whittemore

Billy Meneses

Shannon Meng Elizabeth Oliver

Ilene Park Cooper Roh Sada Schumann

Lize Takoudes

Huck Whittemore

Mazie Witter

Yuki Zhang

SENIOR ATHLETIC AWARDS

Senior class athletes who earned at least six varsity letters in their career at Hotchkiss.

Kira Ackerman Thomas Bailey Jeb Bechtel Mackay Bommer Lydia Bullock Emily Bukowski Will Burke Caroline Corbett Molly Donegan Henry Emswiler

Christain Gallaher Hannah Goldberg Duncan Griffin Jordyn Harrison Will Hedley Ben Johnson Meera Kasturi

THE JAMES T. BRYAN

Huck Whittemore

THE GOSS ATHLETIC

Ellie Traggio

THE ANDREW KNOX

Carter Levine Zoe London Jami Macdonald

Carlos Martinez Charlie McLean John Nicholson Rena Peng Mitchell Riley Kayla Robertson

Fati Salifu Lize Takoudes Ellie Traggio Kayla Uzwiak Nani Veluchamy Huck Whittemore Piper Willinger Owen Zinn-Keane

Eliza Dana and Henry Emswiler

SUMMER 2022 11

THE HEAD OF SCHOOL’S PRIZE Carter Levine THE FRANK A. SPROLE ’38 SOCIAL SERVICE PRIZE Margo Donohue and Billy Meneses

THE WALTER CLEVELAND ALLEN, JR. ’32 PRIZE Margie Bowen, Billy Meneses, and Mitchell Riley THE CENTENNIAL PRIZE Kiki Henry, Jack Johnson, and Fati Salifu THE ALBERT WILLIAM OLSEN ’13 PRIZE Beatrice Conti, Margo Donohue,

Goldberg, and Keith Matanachai THE CHARLES E. LORD PRIZE

Hennessy and Zachary Scrima THE CHARLES DENTON TREADWAY MEMORIAL PRIZE

THE FACULTY PRIZE

’11 ATHLETIC AWARD

AWARD

DWYER ’01 AWARD

Spring Athletic Awards

BASEBALL

THE WILCOX AWARD

Emswiler

THE ARNOLD C. SAUNDERS,

AWARD

BASEBALL TROPHY

BOYS & GIRLS LACROSSE

THE ALEXANDER D. STUART

THE

NELSON

THE KELLY STONE LACROSSE

ULTIMATE FRISBEE

ULTIMATE FRISBEE AWARD

Emiliano Leal

BOYS & GIRLS TENNIS

THE HARTCORN AWARD

Leni Kontokosta ’25

Luke Louchheim ’22

THE ALBAN F. BARKER

TENNIS AWARD

Luke Louchheim ’22 Keith Matanachai ’22

THE GIRLS TENNIS PRIZE Rena Peng ’22

BOYS & GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

THE WYCKOFF AWARD

Huck Whittemore ’22

Kwaku Agyapong ’22 Owen Zinn-Keane ’22

BOYS & GIRLS GOLF

THE BLOSSOM TROPHY

THE GIRLS

AWARD

THE PROBASCO TROPHY

THE DAVID S. BOWEN AWARD

THE GIRLS TRACK AWARD Sydney Jean ’23 Fati Salifu ’22 Kayla Uzwiak ’22

MAGAZINE12 CAMPUS CONNECTION 2022 Senior Awards

___________________________

Henry

’22 Average .352

JR. ’10

Carlos Martinez ’22 THE

Henry Emswiler ’22

’68 LACROSSE AWARD Nick George ’24

COREY II LACROSSE AWARD Jack Morvillo ’22

PRIZE Ellie Traggio ’22 Jordyn Harrison ’22 Jami Macdonald ’22 Eliza Dana ’22 Kwaku Agyapong ’22 Carlos Martinez ’22

Nick Astorian ’22

GOLF

Ilene Park ’22

Christian Waldron ’23 Eliza Dana ’22

Jackson Watson ’23

’23

Ellie Traggio ’22

SAILING

CLASS OF 1989 SAILING PRIZE

Oscar Emus ’23

THE NUNES SAILING TROPHY

Chapman Petersen ’22

ROWING

THE ROWING PRIZE

Emily S. Bukowski ’22

Allison Lin ’22

Nani Veluchamy ’22

FOUNDERS

ALL-LEAGUE AWARD

Varsity Baseball Henry Emswiler ’22 & Quillan Oberto ’24

Boys Varsity Golf Cam Holland ’24 & Alex Zhang ’24

Girls Varsity Golf Eliza Dana ’22

Boys Varsity Lacrosse Teddy Kim ’23 & Wylie Warchol ’23

Girls Varsity Lacrosse Etta Coburn ’24 & Kathryn Wilson ’23

Boys Varsity Tennis Xander Farrington ’24

Girls Varsity Tennis Rena Peng ’22 & Eliza Muse ’23

Boys Varsity Track & Field Chase Dobson ’23 & Anish Reid ’23

Girls Varsity Track & Field Leanna Wells ’23 & Christa Prasertsintanah ’23

THE COACHES AWARD

Boys JV Golf

Shiyao (Marcus) Lam ’23

Boys 3rds Tennis Maadhavan Prasanna ’25, Alistair Taaffe ’25 & Spencer Humes ’24

Boys JV Lacrosse Logan Peloquin ’23 & Michael O’Brien ’23

Boys JV Lacrosse

No Award

Girls JV Lacrosse

Bea Garvey ’24

Girls JV Tennis

Giulia Hurlock ’23, Kate McCormick ’23 & Dasha Post ’23

Girls 3rds Tennis Sydney Goldstein ’22 & Juliet Koch ’24

Girls JV Track & Field Maddie Lykouretzos ’23 & Hanna Sun ’24

Boys JV Track & Field Oliver Johnson ’25, Axel Nzi ’24 & Eliott Hu ’25

JV Ultimate Ellis Burwell ’23 & Isaiah Stephens ’25

JV Sailing Cal Kinnear ’25

Huck

SCHOOL RECORDS/ALL-STAR RECOGNITIONS

BOYS & GIRLS GOLF Founders League Champion: Eliza Dana ’22

BOYS LACROSSE

’22

All-New England West Division 1: RJ Ihlefeld ’22, Jack Morvillo ’22, Andrew Preis ’22 US Lacrosse All-American: Andrew Preis ’22 New England West Division 1 Coach of the Year: Andrew D’Ambrosio

GIRLS LACROSSE

Western New England All-Stars: Zoe Bye ’24 & Avery Doran ’24 All NEPSAC: Jordyn Harrison ’22, Jordan Healy ’22, Jami Macdonald ’22 & Ellie Traggio ’22

All NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Zoe Bye ’24, Etta Coburn ’24, Avery Doran ’24 & Kathryn Wilson ’23 All-American: Jami Macdonald ’22 & Ellie Traggio ’22

BOYS & GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

Founders’ League Champions: High Jump: Paige Dzenutis ’23 200m, 400m: Christa Prasertsintanah ’23 Discus: Kristian Maxwell-Wimberly ’25 Shot Put: Leanna Wells ’23 1500m: Huck Whittemore ’22 Long Jump: Anish Reid ’23 Javelin: Brandon Ciccarello ’22 Girls’ 4x400m Relay: Christa Prasertsintanah ’23, Amber Bretz ’23, Anji Ashaye ’24 & Fati Salifu ’22

ULTIMATE

CT All-Star Team: Jack McGlinn ’22, Ian Marshall ’23 & Alejandro Zheng Zhou ’24

SUMMER 2022 13

Whittemore

2022 Spring Season Wrap-Up

VARSITY ROWING:

USRowing Regionals: Boys Pair: 1st Place; Girls 4+: 3rd Place

NEIRAs: Girls V8: 12th Place; Girls 2V8: 9th Place

VARSITY SAILING: 11-3

New England Team Racing Champions Connecticut State Champions

BOYS VARSITY TENNIS: 10-3

2nd at Kingswood Invitational Tournament

SNETL Champions

GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS: 9-2

BOYS VARSITY TRACK: 6-3

GIRLS VARSITY TRACK: 5-2

Emswiler

VARSITY TEAMS

VARSITY BASEBALL: 5-14

BOYS VARSITY GOLF: 3-5 5th New England Tournament (KIT)

GIRLS VARSITY GOLF: 7-3-3 3rd Founders League Tournament Eliza Dana ’22 Medalist, Founders League Champion

BOYS VARSITY LACROSSE: 10-6 3rd in Founders League Tournament

GIRLS VARSITY LACROSSE: 15-1 Founders League Champions

4th at Nationals (Baker Cup) 2nd at O’Day Championship Chapman Peterson ’22 NE Single Handed Champion (2018, 2019, 2021) Healy Trophy

2nd Founders League Championship, 8th at NE

ULTIMATE FRISBEE: 17-7

4th at NEPSUL, 3rd Connecticut State Championship

JV AND THIRDS TEAMS

BOYS JV GOLF: 9-8

BOYS JV LACROSSE: 1-7

GIRLS JV LACROSSE: 11-1

BOYS JV TENNIS: 9-2

GIRLS JV TENNIS: 5-3

BOYS THIRDS TENNIS: 6-2

GIRLS THIRDS TENNIS: 1-3

JV ULTIMATE: 6-15

CAMPUS CONNECTION MAGAZINE14

Henry

’22 Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team, Founders League Champions

Varsity Sailing Team, New England Team Racing Champions

Henry

’22 FOLLOW HOTCHKISS ATHLETICS! News: Hotchkiss.org/Athletics @HotchkissAthletics @HotchkissSports

Literature Comes Alive for Second MacLeish Scholars Cohort

BY DARRYL GANGLOFF

ATIGHT-KNIT GROUP from the Class of 2023 recently spent two weeks in New York City exploring the connection between research, creativity, and bookmaking as part of the MacLeish Scholars summer residency program. The students analyzed rare manuscripts, diaries, and letters of noteworthy authors in the archives of the city’s illustrious libraries and universities, and they were inspired to construct intricate handmade books filled with their own creative writing.

English Instructor Dr. Jeffrey Blevins established the program in honor of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Archibald MacLeish, Class of 1911, to “make literature come alive for students.” He said the members of the second MacLeish cohort had “enormous opportunities and profoundly rich experiences in the archives,” which in many cases were opened to young students for the first time.

The group resided at Manhattan College and took daily trips to the Berg and Pforzheimer Collections at the New York Public Library, the Morgan Library, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Columbia University, Barnard College, and New York University. Two classmates were granted access to the restricted diaries of Vladimir Nabokov, which “have only ever been seen by a small handful of researchers,” Blevins said.

Richie Mamam Nbiba ’23 explored Black female poets in the Harlem Renaissance and Black Arts Movement. She delved into the archives of Maya Angelou, Michele Wallace, and Ntozake Shange, and she was excited

The 2022-23 MacLeish Scholars and their teachers enjoyed the program’s summer residency in June. Back row, from left: Boris Branis ’23, Amelia Kain ’23, Alex Cheng ’23, Amelie Zhang ’23, Amber Bretz ’23, Lucy Jervis ’23, bookmaker Neil Daigle Orians, Hotchkiss English Instructor Dr. Jeffrey Blevins. Front row, from left: Awa Sowe ’23, Lauren Sonneborn ’23, Richie Mamam Nbiba ’23, Celina Wang ’23, Hotchkiss English Instructor Janan Alexandra.

to discover the unpublished poems of Ann Petry. “As a Black female poet myself, I saw my research as an opportunity to uncover more about those that paved the way for girls like me,” she said.

“This project has increased my excitement for archival research and academia,” noted Amelie Zhang ’23, who focused on the links between literature, politics, and philosophy in the works of Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Aldous Huxley, and Lewis Carroll.

Boris Branis ’23 was fascinated to view the editing process of English Romantic poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Percy Shelley. “By analyzing the original works rather than the polished and perfected versions we see in books, I feel like I have developed a far deeper understanding of and connection with these poets than otherwise possible,” he said.

The students worked on daily writing prompts with poet and Hotchkiss English Instructor Janan Alexandra, and they learned the intricate art of bookmaking with Neil Daigle Orians, who is joining the University of Cincinnati this fall as an assistant professor of art and art history. They experimented with binding and folding techniques as well as paper texture and quality. “This is a tangible form of

critical thinking that can be applied to whatever careers or educational paths they may take in the future,” Orians said.

The group made time to visit a wealth of literary institutions and events, including a poetry slam at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Three Hotchkiss students competed, and Richie took home the top prize and received the only perfect score of the night.

The residency culminated with a reading of their handmade books on a balcony overlooking Manhattan College, the sun glowing on the buildings behind them. This fall, the MacLeish Scholars will return to Hotchkiss and continue their studies with Blevins during a yearlong honors English class. They will expand upon their research and write 40-page essays to “contribute something tangible to scholarship on their authors,” Blevins said. H

The MacLeish Scholars Program is free for all students through the generosity of Dr. Richard Bernstein ’64.

VIEW A VIDEO OF THE MACLEISH SCHOLARS PROGRAM

SUMMER 2022 15

Becoming Archivists

Inaugural Hersey Scholars Complete Harvard Residency Program

BY NANCY SOMERA EIGHT UPPER-MID HOTCHKISS

students took part in a two-week residency program at Harvard University this summer as part of the newly established John Hersey Scholars Program. The program, which is named after Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist John Hersey ’32, is co-led by Dr. Lisanne Norman ’94, co-director of diversity, equity, and inclusion and instructor in humanities and social sciences, and Dr. Thomas Fisher, instructor in history, philosophy and religion.

The Class of 2023 scholars—Sydney Jean, Chase Dobson, Clara Ma, Jack Gross, Taylor Hemelt, Jason Shan, Carrie Cao, and Leyao (Annie) Dong— were selected after a rigorous application and interview process that demonstrated each had strong writing skills, a passion for research, and

the capability to be flexible and work independently on a self-selected scholastic research topic.

The scholars spent three Sundays in April getting tutored on what to expect as archival researchers at Harvard’s Houghton Library and the Schleisinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute. Friendly librarians who, according to Norman, “went above and beyond for our students,” welcomed the scholars to their respective libraries on the first day of the residency program for an orientation to help them get their bearings. Despite these preparations, the young scholars admitted they felt overwhelmed, intimidated, and a little lost when first stepping into the materials rooms. Chase shares, “My initial impression was the

sheer amount of material would make any attempt to fully comprehend my subject futile. However, I was also excited; this was an opportunity to explore history that few people receive.”

As with everything, there is a learning curve to becoming an archival researcher. Although finding the process difficult at first, the scholars quickly settled into a routine. Jack, who is researching the U.S.’s counterculture movement around the drug LSD, admits that dealing with documents that had little to no context (e.g., people’s relations to other figures mentioned, the time period, the publisher, and other information not always made clear) was hard to get used to. “Once I got comfortable with not having a complete story and I got more used to the processes of the libraries

CAMPUS CONNECTION MAGAZINE16

Scholars from left to right: Annie Dong ’23, Carrie Cao ’23, Jason Shan ’23, Taylor Hemelt ’23, Clara Ma ’23, Chase Dobson ’23, Jack Gross ’23, and Sydney Jean ’23

themselves, everything became much more predictable,” he explains.

As Annie recalls, “At first I thought: ‘There’s no way I can do this.’ Receiving my first box, I was so excited and freaking out with adrenaline. Then I just dug in, and I was overcome with a sense of true awe. Later, as we were leaving, one of the librarians referred to us as fellows; that was definitely one of my proudest moments.”

Despite initial challenges, there were pleasant surprises along the way. Carrie, whose topic is the gender barrier women face in various fields of science, says her mother’s experiences as a female scientist influenced her topic selection. She became increasingly passionate about her subject as she conducted her research. “I learned so much more about the history of women in science,” she says. “Being able to read about other women going through similar experiences as my mom gave me hope and a sense of connection to them.”

Chase, who is diving deep into the life of Richard Nixon, learned that archival treasure hunting doesn’t always lead to riches. “I requested a box that had letters between Nixon and a renowned psychologist,” he says. “I expected a possible window into Nixon’s psyche. However, the letters were simply formal correspondence relating to an awards ceremony,” proving dead ends are part of the process, too.

Norman and Fisher, who were impressed with how self-motivated and autonomous the students were, made sure to find time in the schedule for some unscholarly fun outside of the libraries. They took in a Red Sox game, tried new cuisines, visited the Isabella Gardner museum and gardens, and learned more about the history of Boston on the famously popular Boston Duck tour.

The two-week Harvard residency was just the first part of this yearlong program, and Norman could not have been happier with how smoothly it all went. “The students embraced this independent scholar experience,” she says. “I was prepared to do more hand-holding, and we had office hours set up, but they owned it, worked remarkably well as a group, and even shared things they found with each other if they thought it could be helpful to another’s topic.”

The scholars are spending the summer cataloging their foundational research and securing secondary sources. In the fall, they will take a Research Methods class with Dr. Jason Larson to further hone skills and refine their topics and sources before writing a 25-page paper in the spring.

Annie, whose topic is missionaries in China, is excited to incorporate theory and argumentation into her archival discoveries. She says, “I was on the verge of tears while reading letters from Mae Chapin, a Presbyterian missionary to Hainan, sent to her by her sister, informing Mae of her father’s death. This personal connection I’ve formed with my ‘subjects’ will push me to discover as much as I can about the topic—thankfully, I have a whole year to do just that.”

Fisher adds, “The research methods they are learning will be beneficial for the rest of their academic careers.” The plan is to bind the scholars’ work to produce permanent artifacts for future Hotchkiss students to see and learn from. “We are excited to see how this fits into future generations of scholars in this program,” says Fisher. H

The

Scholars

SUMMER 2022 17

Inaugural Hersey

and Topics Sydney Jean ’23 Prison reform and mass incarceration Chase Dobson ’23 Richard Nixon Clara Ma ’23 Historical views of diseases and epidemics Jack Gross ’23 LSD counterculture movement in the U.S. Taylor Hemelt ’23 1900s religious perspectives’ influence on women’s rights Jason Shan ’23 Women’s homelessness Carrie Cao ’23 Gender barriers for women in science Leyao (Annie) Dong ’23 Missionaries in China “This was an opportunity to explore history that few people receive.” —CHASE DOBSON ’23

Science Fair Showcases Student Ingenuity

Creative geniuses turned out for the 2022 Science Fair in June. From drones to bear trackers, and F1 simulators to customized vehicles for kids, Hotchkiss students delivered inspiration and ingenuity.

NICK ASTORIAN ’22 , Frankfurt, GR

Created an electric skateboard (foreground) as well as a mirror that greets you each day with a positive message in addition to the time and temperature, your Google calendar commitments, and alerts from your favorite news source.

2.

TREVOR NEEB ’23 AND JACKSON NEEB ’23 , Washington, D.C.

Built a Formula 1 simulator to demonstrate what it’s like to drive a race car. The driver uses an Oculus Rift for real life experience combined with the movement of the simulator to feel the shifts and turns. Jackson focused on the frame of the simulator. Trevor focused on designing the building the actuators—the parts that make the simulator move.

3.

CHARLIE MACLEAN ’22 , Flossmoor, IL

Charlie designed and built a carbon fiber bicycle frame that is custom to his body type and riding style.

4.

ALEX REPIKOV ’23 , Milwaukee, WI

Alex built a drone that can lift 20 kilos and focused on coding the signals that control the movement of the drone.

5.

LIZE TAKOUDES ’22 , Boston, MA

Lize’s independent study in bear research and behaviors included mounting five cameras with motion detectors around campus to report back to the main database, where she compiled useful data points. She is pictured with Jennifer Rinehart, environmental science teacher.

6.

MARCUS LAM ’23 , Dallas, TX

AND BEN ELY ’24, Grantham, NH

The duo placed in the first Tech Challenge for freight. Their robot includes parts they designed and built from the 3D printers located in the Class of 2017 Engineering, Fabrication, and Exploration Lab.

7.

NICOLE OCAMPO MONTOYA ’23 , Queens, NY

Built an accessibility vehicle for differently abled children to help improve their socialization opportunities. She modified a Fisher Price Power Wheels truck by simplifying the electronics for easier control, created a new seat for added head protection, and designed a roll cage from PVC tubing. Nicole worked with the group GoBabyGo to donate the car to a local family.

8.

ALEX CHEN ’22 , Hong Kong

Alex is showing his circuit board design for an electric guitar pedal to Mike Hickey, instructor in physics. He experimented with several different electronic circuits before designing and building a functional prototype.

9.

PAUL SHIN ’22 , Seoul, South Korea

Paul is demonstrating the unique characteristics of carbon fiber. This material was used in several projects in the EFX Lab, most notably on Charlie MacLean’s bike frame. This example is a test piece, used to determine how to correctly orient the material on the mold part for best adhesion.

CAMPUS CONNECTION MAGAZINE18

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Making Music in Madrid

BY DARRYL GANGLOFF

FOR TWO LONG YEARS, the Hotchkiss Orchestra’s annual European trip was canceled due to the pandemic. The festival made its triumphant return this summer in Madrid, Spain, where more than 20 students honed their craft with world-class musicians, performed a series of concerts for large audiences, and explored the city’s rich culture. “It was our first time in Madrid with our largest group ever, and it went beyond our wildest expectations,” says Fabio Witkowski, head of the visual and performing arts department. “Crowds are not just seeing students on the stage, they’re seeing artists. That transformation is priceless.”

The group participated in seven concerts at a variety of venues over two weeks, concluding with an outdoor performance that included John Williams’s beloved Star Wars scores. Clara Ma ’23 says the final concert was her favorite memory from the

trip. “It was the culmination of all the time and effort we spent in the practice room and rehearsal,” says Clara, who found it enriching to participate in master classes with Aniela Frey, the principal flutist of the Royal Opera House. “I remember playing Georges Bizet as our encore piece and seeing the audience clapping along with Mr. Witkowski. At that moment, I felt joy.”

Bill Wang ’25 was grateful for the opportunity to take the stage as a violin soloist. “These concerts were an unforgettable experience as it was my first time playing with orchestral accompaniment,” Bill says. “I was able to further develop my skills as a performer under the guidance of Mr. Witkowski and other professional musicians.”

Violinist Boffi Lin ’24 agreed, noting she had the opportunity to look at her craft “on a detailed and complex level” and was reminded during her lessons to “return to the basics

before tackling more challenging pieces.”

As a Spanish student and history enthusiast, Kira Nickerson ’25 enjoyed “absorbing the culture” of Spain through its food, language, and architecture. Kira was the only trumpet player on the trip, and she was thrilled to receive advice from two professional trumpeters. “Getting to work with multiple instructors improved my playing dramatically, gave me new perspectives and ideas, and advanced my practice techniques,” she says. “I think some of my fondest memories from Hotchkiss will always be from this trip!” H

SUMMER 2022 19

“Crowds are not just seeing students on the stage, they’re seeing artists. That transformation is priceless.”

—FABIO WITKOWSKI

WATCH VIDEOS OF THE STUDENTS PERFORMING IN MADRID

New Bearcats!

THIS FALL, A GROUP OF 174 DIVERSE , broadly defined, and talented new students join Hotchkiss as freshly-minted Bearcats. From a lifeguard to a published writer to a breakdancer to several nonprofit founders—as well as a student who sees actual bearcats daily!—these newcomers are bringing ingenuity and enthusiasm to campus.

By the numbers, an unprecedented 41 percent of this year’s incoming students self-identify as students of color. Our new Bearcats hail from 27 states and 16 countries. They include low-income students, first-generation applicants, and families from across the U.S. and around the world. They are artists, musicians, writers, engineers, and athletes, to name just some of their passions, and Hotchkiss is thrilled to have them. Let us make a few introductions.

Madeleine (Maddie) Sada ’26 JAKARTA, INDONESIA

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

I started a social enterprise called Petite Souris to support an organization that prevents childhood stunting in Indonesia. I hope to break the poverty cycle in Indonesia by educating and empowering mothers. This will allow them to make the necessary choices to prevent childhood stunting because just one generation of wellnourished children will improve Indonesia’s economy.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself, or let us know what you like to do for fun. Fun fact: Bearcats (binturong) are often spotted roaming around my housing complex in Indonesia. I have even heard them walking on the roof and scratching on the walls. Sometimes, I learn random things for fun, like speed rapping, memorizing flags of the world, and solving Rubik’s cubes.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

Experiencing independence and the traditions at boarding school are what I am most excited about. I am equally as thrilled to live in a dorm and to form bonds with new people through sharing my Indonesian culture with others.

Carter Cain Davis ’26 DECATUR, GA

How did you spend your summer?

I was selected for an international leadership development program called Ivy Leader. The first seven days we spent at Dartmouth College attending private lectures on journaling, creative writing, and South African history. For the remaining 20 days, we traveled to South Africa for a deeper orientation into the culture, history, and traditions. We also completed service work by teaching at a primary school, and then went on safari to observe wildlife and better understand conservation, survival skills, and communal living.

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

I support Books for Africa. Every year I collect hundreds of books and volunteer at their large distribution center in Atlanta. We collect, sort, and ship books, computers, tablets, and library enhancement materials to every country in Africa in collaboration with worldwide donors, publishers, and African partners.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

Becoming part of a new community of passionate learners and explorers. I am super excited about deep engagement with teachers and access to the facilities and resources at Hotchkiss.

MAGAZINE20 CAMPUS CONNECTION

Pahal Bhasin ’26

GURGAON, HARYANA, INDIA

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting. In 2020, I co-founded the student-run global technology-focused registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization called STEAM Bloom (steambloom.com) to plant seeds of quality artificial intelligence (and other STEM fields) education and create awareness about AI ethics and AI alignment for students from underrepresented communities. We provide them with access to world-class resources and hosting outreach events for free. To date, we have impacted 2,000+ students from 25+ countries.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself, or let us know what you like to do for fun. I enjoy singing, writing poems, drawing, and photography.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I am looking forward to making a lot of friends and being a part of an inclusive community.

Victoria (Vic) Fang ’25

BRONXVILLE, NY

How did you spend your summer?

I spent my summer with time for myself, writing my novel, learning a new instrument (the guitar!), trying to keep up with my piano practicing schedule, and preparing for summer camps! They included a writing camp where I stayed on a tall ship for a week and wrote/read literature, and a conducting camp where I conducted the Montclair orchestra. For the final concert I played with the orchestra as well as conducted.

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting. I am the editor in the Back to Bach newspaper, which records the spreading of classical music for children around the world with little or no exposure to it with performances by formed groups in different areas.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I am looking forward to experiencing the strong and warm sense of community that Hotchkiss exudes.

Alláh-u-Abhá (Allahu) Rodrigues ’23

MAPUTO CITY – MOZAMBIQUE

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

Last year, nearly 62,000 people were displaced in Cabo Delgado due to terrorist attacks. To respond, I volunteered for the Plataforma Makobo’s Initiative and coded an interactive map displaying a network of volunteer and public health organizations.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself, or let us know what you like to do for fun.

Every week I receive a visit from a person I’ve never met, a person who technically doesn’t exist. Let me explain. When I started drawing, I came across In My Silence by Jono Dry. Art has taught me the freedom to express my feelings and thoughts, to let go of the need to always do things right, and to just enjoy the present moment. And in this world where everything else moves too fast, that’s exactly what I need.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I’m currently working on building a virtual platform that connects students with mental health conditions with teachers to support them academically and combat the stigmatization in countries like Mozambique, and contribute to the lower prevalence of mental illness and higher rates of access to care for youth in states like Connecticut. I’m looking forward to continuing my project at Hotchkiss and exploring new areas like engineering and robotics.

SUMMER 2022 21

Emily Cho-Sayegh ’26 HOBOKEN, NJ

How did you spend your summer?

I participated in a one-month summer STEM program at NYU Tandon Engineering College, where I worked on smart cities and entrepreneurship. In August, I was part of the Bridge summer program and got to know my new peers!

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting. I have worked with the Hoboken Public Library for more than a year since I created a math tutoring program for grammar school students as a part of an official children’s program.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I am invited to participate in the Math Prize for Girls competition at MIT this October. I am one of the top five female students in New Jersey for AMC10B and a recipient of the Two Sigma Certificate of Excellence.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

As a STEM addict, I am looking forward to working in the EFX Lab with Mr. Boone. I want to be a part of the Robotics Team, as I was the founder of the Robotics Club at my middle school. I am looking forward to learning photography and squash. I also want to continue sailing at Hotchkiss.

Quinn Pollack ’25

MADISON, CT

How did you spend your summer?

This summer I worked two jobs and lifeguarded in my free time. I also played soccer all summer and visited the beach.

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

I am in support of the protests after Roe v. Wade was overturned. I am devastated for the women who have just lost the fundamental right to control what happens to their own bodies. I post on various social media platforms in hopes of raising awareness, and I hope to further develop that activism in the future.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself, or let us know what you like to do for fun.

A fun fact about me is that I did contortion and hand balancing for three years. I can still do some of the tricks!

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I am looking forward to becoming a part of the Hotchkiss community! I’ve always dreamed of being in a diverse, accepting, and supportive environment, and I can’t wait for that dream to come true!

Juniper Rogers ’26

TULSA, OK

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

I know that I want to dedicate my career to helping our world, whether that’s working to prevent plastic pollution or global warming, helping protect endangered species or resources that are running out fast, or fighting the systems that discriminate against low-income communities. I’m often overwhelmed by how many problems humanity is facing, and during my time at Hotchkiss, I hope to find an issue to narrow in on.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I have lived in four states (almost five, if you count Connecticut) and two countries. In my free time, I like to make pie, bake bread, and read!

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I’m definitely excited by the academic challenges offered at Hotchkiss. I’m also looking forward to being part of a more diverse student body, experiencing the boarding aspect of boarding school, and trying new sports, clubs, and activities. I’m especially excited to be able to take both piano and orchestra at Hotchkiss. I’ll be able to take two piano lessons a week, something that will hopefully help me grow in the instrument!

CAMPUS CONNECTION MAGAZINE22

Nabiha Rahim ’26

NEW YORK, NY

How did you spend your summer?

I started my summer with some conferences about AAPI issues regarding the StopAsianHate movement. I also attended meetings for the NYC Commission on Human Rights Council, which I’m a member of, along with going to many TEAK classes, including debate. Debate is something I am very passionate about as well; I have awards from state championship tournaments, too!

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting. The abortion rights movement (pro-choice movement); After Roe v. Wade was overturned, the states now hold power to regulate abortion in a way they couldn’t before. In certain states, millions of women have already lost and will lose the abortion right that they had before. Our country has always been making sure men had rights, but when it comes to women’s abortion rights, that is something our country wants to control.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I am looking forward to gaining more independence and resilience, which I know Hotchkiss will help me with. I am excited to start living in a new environment and meet new people! I am a very social person as well, so I am looking forward to making new friends.

River Schmidt-Eder ’23

POLSON, MT

How did you spend your summer?

I spent my summer honing my social media marketing skills and tried to improve my skills in Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro. Besides working on digital stuff, I also just tried to have fun during my summer vacation.

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

I donated to Feeding America this summer as a part of an awareness campaign.

Let us know what you like to do for fun. For fun, I like to jet ski, play games with friends, and listen to music while playing with my dogs.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I look forward to meeting diverse and ambitious people at Hotchkiss. As a whole, I’m looking forward to having eye-opening experiences during my stay at Hotchkiss.

Arielle Sibley-Grice ’26

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

I support more restrictions on gun use.

School shootings are a completely avoidable plague on our world. If everyone calls for change, future generations won’t have to worry about their safety in places like school, where they are supposed to feel safe.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself. I am a citizen in both the U.S. and Mexico.

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

I am looking forward to meeting new people and joining teams and extracurriculars.

Jackson Powell ’26

PITTSFIELD, MA

Tell us about a project, organization, or cause that you are supporting.

An organization I am currently supporting is the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). I have been a member of this organization for more than two years. They actively do a lot to help try and make communities all over the country places of equality and free of prejudice.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself. I used to do competitive breakdancing!

What are you looking most forward to at Hotchkiss?

At Hotchkiss I am most looking forward to meeting new people, joining the Hotchkiss community and everything it has to offer, along with being a member of the football and basketball teams.

SUMMER 2022 23

Major Jackson’s Poetry with Purpose Brings Us Closer to Each Other

BY CATHERINE CALAMÉ

P OET MAJOR JACKSON VISITED Hotchkiss on May 9 through the Lambert Fund, established by the Lambert family in memory of their son, Christopher Lambert ’76, who had an abiding interest in poetry. Jackson’s poetry focuses on the Black experience and, more recently, the environment, and he frequently weaves the two topics together in his work. He treated the Hotchkiss community to a reading of many of his poems, including “Climate,” “Rethinking Bitcoin,” “Let Me Begin Again,” and “Of Wolves and Imagination.”

Jackson, who is the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair in the Humanities at Vanderbilt University and the poetry editor of The Harvard Review, didn’t plan to become a poet. Although he wrote frequently in his own “book of rhymes” while attending high school in North

Philadelphia, he secretly dreamed of being a rapper. “I found poetry when I needed it, and from a young age I was enthralled by the mystery of existence,” he explains. “As a child I thought an answer, a meaning, was just around the corner. And poetry allowed me to participate in that making of meaning.”

Although he had always kept his work private, Jackson mistakenly handed his book of rhymes to a teacher who was collecting textbooks. Shocked when the teacher asked if he could read one of his poems in class, Jackson agreed and quickly became addicted to hearing his poetry read aloud. The teacher became a “champion for me, someone whose readings and valuing of poems would partially dictate my path in life.”

First working in finance after graduating from Temple University with a degree

in accounting, Jackson became inspired by artists who used their art for activism. Slowly, he felt his ambitions change. He was soon back on the path to poetry, now with a purpose. He has written five books of poetry, the most recent of which is The Absurd Man (2020).

Honored to be editor of Best American Poetry 2019, Jackson discovered that he had a substantial deliverable: “I sought poems that braved human connection; poems that battle the inertia of our daily routines and fixed modes of thinking; poems that shaded in the outlines of contemporary life and generously extended us into a profound understanding of ourselves.” In the role of editor, he came to understand the task of those who serve as literary stewards of American literature. “We have a grand tradition of poetry here in America,” he said, “and it’s important that we have people who understand that history and are able to interweave it with the voices of today.”

Despite the interconnectedness of today’s world via social media, Jackson dug deep into his personal relationship with poetry and discovered that for him, it is the ultimate connector. “We are—without art, poetry and literature—incapable of taking in the full width and complexity of our humanity and are likely to overlook the miracles that are found there. Poetry brings us closer.”

Jackson is the recipient of numerous fellowships, awards, and prizes, including a Pushcart Prize and a Whiting Writers’ Award. He has been honored by the Pew Fellowship in the Arts and the Witter Bynner Foundation in conjunction with the Library of Congress. He lives in Nashville, TN, where he serves as professor of English and director of creative writing at Vanderbilt University. H

MAGAZINE24 CAMPUS CONNECTION

Beal Lecturer Dr. Tyrone Hayes:

From ‘A Boy Who Loves Frogs’ to a World-Renowned Biologist on a Mission

BY CATHERINE CALAMÉ

LIKE MANY CHILDREN growing up near the wetlands of Columbia, SC, Tyrone Hayes spent countless hours lost in nature, discovering and interacting with the flora and fauna near his modest home. The great-great-grandson of a slave, he was fascinated by life surrounding the magical pooled waters, from lizards and cranes to catfish and snakes. To him, the most intriguing aspect of life in the swamp was the metamorphosis of tadpoles into frogs. “I’m still just a boy who likes frogs,” said the professor of integrative biology and co-chair of the department of integrative biology at the University of California-Berkeley during the All-School lecture. “But my responsibility as a boy who just likes frogs is now much bigger.”

Hayes is a groundbreaking researcher whose work has exposed the substantial negative impact of herbicides, and particularly atrazine, on the natural world. He is an outspoken critic of Syngenta, the manufacturer of atrazine. The herbicide has been shown to cause reduced reproduction and spawning as well as tissue abnormalities in amphibians, fish, reptiles, birds, and land mammals— including people. His criticism further extends to the Environmental Protection Agency for what he describes as its failure to mitigate the damage atrazine has caused. Hayes holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in biology from Harvard and a Ph.D. in integrated biology from UC Berkeley.

He visited Hotchkiss on April 28 through the Beal Lecture Series, coordinated by Keith Moon P’13,’16,’20, the E. Carleton Granbery Teaching Chair, Instructor in English, History and Russian Language. The series was established in

1983 in honor of Thaddeus R. (Ted) Beal Jr. ’35 by his close friend, classmate, and former trustee John Shedd Reed ’35. Beal was the stepson of longtime and much revered headmaster George van Saantvoord ’08. Reed created the series because he believed that the Hotchkiss community would benefit from exposure to visiting speakers addressing issues of national or global concern.

During his lecture, Hayes touched upon the glandular impact of atrazine on frogs, which includes malformation of sexual organs and diminished fertility. In fact, everywhere Hayes and his team found atrazine in nature, they found altered frogs. Their findings transformed the way the world looks at the toxicity of synthetic herbicides. It was subsequently supported by other scientists around the globe who have identified similar patterns in fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals.

Hayes has conducted additional work

that focuses on the ways in which humans interact with atrazine, from farm workers applying the herbicide to harvesters and ultimately consumers. The impact of the chemical on human beings disproportionately affects field workers, 95% of whom are Latinx. According to Hayes’s research, this group experiences a greater incidence of subsequent health effects, including breast and prostate cancers.

Due to COVID, the evening’s discussion was the first Beal Lecture in three years. In Moon’s opinion, Hayes was just the right person to get the series up and running once again.

“What I appreciate most about Tyrone’s work are the intense implications of his research on humanity as a whole,” he says. “This is diversity, equity, and inclusion work writ large. I know our students were able to infer broader meaning far beyond [Hayes’s] original interests in frogs and their biology. Tyrone delivers a powerful message of the personal importance of science in each of our lives without ever coming across as heavy-handed. This is a worldclass scientist with a human, down-to-earth way of speaking: our students listened to him with high interest and confidence.”

Understanding the value of curiositybased research that has helped drive his career, Hayes stressed that this generation has the power to alter the curve. “We can change the paths, but only if we act now, while it is still the future,” he said. H

SUMMER 2022 25

SCAN TO SEE A REPLAY OF THE LECTURE Keith Moon, left, instructor in Russian history and literature, and Bridget Dixon Moon, instructor in mathematics, welcome Dr. Tyrone Hayes as part of the Beal Lecture Series.

Charlie Frankenbach Awarded the Lufkin Prize

BY HOPE REISINGER COBERA ’88, P’24

CHARLIE FRANKENBACH P’12,’16, Russel Bigelow Chair and chair of the English Department, was awarded the 2021 Lufkin Prize during an all-School gathering in Katherine M. Elfers Hall on May 3.

In introducing Frankenbach, Dean of Faculty and Associate Head of School Merrilee Mardon noted that a member of the faculty described him as “wonderfully patient with his students, though he is pushing them all the time to understandings they perhaps thought beyond them. [He] has an intellect that should be given the freedom to roam. Students need him, colleagues need him, and the curriculum needs him.”

Another colleague observed that in Frankenbach’s classes, “there is sort of an aura … a magical invitation to be yourself, to take risks, to laugh, and to think. His classroom is not only safe, it is energetic. Charlie combines genuine substance, challenge, and difficult issues with warmth and fun.”

In accepting the award, Frankenbach demonstrated some of the very qualities for which he is known. The packed house responded with laughter and a few tears to his unique mix of provocative eloquence and humor.

“When I list the influential people [at Hotchkiss], my own personal Mount

Rushmore grows each year, newer colleagues joining those long gone as influences, as tributary streams to the river of my time,” he said.

In remembering lessons learned, he harkened back to a colleague who taught him “that fun and humor had to be in the mix [of teaching], along with standards that allow students to discover themselves while, ideally, seeing rigor and the rigor of places like these schools not as mere weight, but as clean, good, combustible fuel for the self.”

Frankenbach read from the autobiography of John Hammond ’29, a jazz musician, record producer, civil rights activist, and music critic. While a Hotchkiss student during the 1920s, Hammond received permission from Headmaster George van Santvoord ’08 to study violin in New York City on weekends. During these days away from campus, Hammond immersed himself in live music played by jazz greats of the time.

“[Graduating] in June of 1929, I was a changed young man. I was convinced that there were no absolutes, that it was impossible for me as a human being to follow any line—a political line, religious line, or a philosophical line. I recognized that there would always be points of view based on others’ experiences which must be considered, and I had learned that dogmatism as a result of insecurity, intolerism, including my own, is always suspect.”

Frankenbach used Hammond’s story to illustrate the manner in which he crafted his own Hotchkiss experience rather than waiting for Hotchkiss to “happen to him.” He encouraged students in the room to do the same.

FRANKENBACH’S ADVICE

n Never wait in line for lunch.

n Sit down at a random table for a meal, and just meet someone you don’t know.

n Wave to drivers who stop for you at the crosswalk on Route 41.

n Go to stuff! Take advantage of the tremendous opportunities Hotchkiss offers.

n Meet your obligations. Show up for classes, practice—and be on time.

n Read poetry. Poetry is powerful. It sounds out all those truths that we all know silently. And when we read it, we know we are in good company.

n Celebrate daily the accomplishments and talents of those around you.

n Match the brightness and abundant promise that Hotchkiss offers with your own. Go for it!

Established in 2006 through the vision and generosity of Dan Lufkin ’49, P’80,’82,’88,’23, the Lufkin Prize is given in recognition of faculty members who make significant contributions to the Hotchkiss community and serve as role models for students. While the prize recognizes excellence in teaching, advising, coaching, and overall service to the Hotchkiss community, the constant demonstration of ethical character, moral leadership, and a commitment to these values are also critical considerations in selecting each year’s winner.

Past winners include Richard Kirby P’08,’09,’14,’15, David Bolmer ’73, Christy Cooper P’08,’11, Sarinda Parsons Wilson P’14,’17, Charlie Noyes ’78, P’03,’07, Letty Roberts P’12,’15, Brad Faus P’10, Ana Hermoso P’16, Keith Moon P’13,’16, and Ginny Faus P’10. H

Charlie Frankenbach, center, receives the 2021 Lufkin Prize accompanied by Dan Lufkin ’49, P’80,’82,’88,’23 and Head of School Craig Bradley.

WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE AWARD PRESENTATION, including Charlie Frankenbach’s acceptance speech.

CAMPUS CONNECTION MAGAZINE26

Hotchkiss Hosts Klingenstein Summer Institute

BY CATHERINE CALAMÉ

MORE THAN 80 DEDICATED teachers

from 27 U.S. states and territories, as well as Australia, Colombia, India, Italy, and Nicaragua, came together at Hotchkiss for the 40th annual Klingenstein Summer Institute (KSI) in July. They join the worldwide network of Klingenstein alumni—including some Hotchkiss instructors—who span the globe, serving at schools in nearly every U.S. state and 70 countries on six continents.

KSI is a program of the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, and is a fully funded fellowship for early-career teachers who have between two and five years of teaching experience. Over the course of an intensive two weeks, participants hone their teaching practice at the intersection of current research in cognitive science, social-emotional learning, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Through these three lenses, they explore essential questions about their classrooms and their school communities. Participants learn from experts in their fields, and they also learn from each other as a cohort where each person brings unique experiences and insights to the whole. They return to their schools with new tools to teach more effectively and insights into how to nurture classroom environments where students thrive.

Samuel Somera, instructor of humanities and social sciences, was a member of the 2022 cohort. He enjoyed its immediate impact, as well as being equipped with tools to bring into the classroom this fall. “In many ways the program was as transformative as it was informative,” Somera says. “Learning alongside other passionate and thoughtful educators who were also navigating their first years of independent school teaching allowed me to explore new perspectives and develop new ideas.

“I left KSI with a better understanding of the purpose and possibilities of independent schools and a greater understanding of teaching and learning,

but most importantly I left with a new network of fellow independent school educators. I am entering the 2022-23 school year eager to get into the swing of things and excited to make positive change in my classrooms, dorms, co-curriculars and among the faculty.”

According to Dr. Nicole Furlonge, professor and director of the Klingenstein Center, Hotchkiss was “the perfect new home” for the institute. “On this idyllic campus, we were able to offer KSI in its fullness—as a time and place for early career educators to learn intensely, soak in feedback, reflect deeply, connect meaningfully with others, and renew their purpose,” she says.

Another faculty member, Kristy Glasheen, instructor in Spanish, participated in KSI in 2017 while she was teaching at Kents Hill School in Maine. She is currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Independent School Leadership through the Klingenstein Center. “It is not an exaggeration to say that KSI was a truly transformational experience for me and the best professional development of my early career in education,” she says.

Claudia McGuigan, associate dean of faculty, assistant director of recruitment, Walter Crain Fellow, and instructor in mathematics, has extremely fond memories

of her experience in KSI. “I cannot overstate the institute’s impact on my career. Without KSI, I would never have had the confidence to pursue the Walter Crain Fellowship at Hotchkiss,” says McGuigan. “What I learned in those two weeks profoundly changed my entire outlook on my role in education. I not only learned how to be a better teacher and role model for my students, but I also learned how to lead, regardless of my position. When I walked away from the two-week program, I left with a strong sense of my mission and purpose for working in independent schools. It may sound terribly cliché, but that fortnight I spent at KSI changed my life.”

Hotchkiss’s pastoral setting made a positive impression on our recent guests in many ways. “It is easy to get pulled into the beauty of Hotchkiss’s campus,” says Furlonge. “But the beauty I will remember from my time on campus this summer is participants studying together on patios in the evening, enjoying the quiet of the library, walking to think as they enjoyed the art around campus, socializing at and in the lake, gathering in the dining hall and at the farm for community meals, and learning in dynamic spaces every day. At every turn, I was witnessing learners at home while learning. What a gift!” H

SUMMER 2022 27

When History Becomes the Present

Russian History and Literature Instructor Leads School’s Response to War in Ukraine

BY NANCY SOMERA

WHEN TENSIONS ROSE TO A

tipping point between Russia and Ukraine, Russian History and Literature Instructor Keith Moon took no time deciding to scrap his planned course lessons and shift the focus to current affairs and the imminent invasion. Typically, the semester unit would involve exploring the steady progression of leaders in Russia with a couple of weeks spent on current President Vladamir Putin at the end. Instead, Moon focused primarily on Putin, the only Russian leader during these students’ lifetimes, while exploring the question: How did we arrive at a point where a political figure like Putin could come into and maintain power?

Just days prior to the February invasion, Evgeny Danilin, a Ukrainian friend of Moon’s living in Kyiv, Ukraine, Zoomed into the classroom for the first of two live meetings during which he offered a firsthand account of the escalating situation. While he expressed concern over the growing hostilities, Danilin was relaxed while talking to the students. “He was in his car, a little Coca-Cola truck that he used for his job with that company, waiting to pick up his daughter from gymnastics,” shares Moon. Just a dad doing normal dad things. Then, on Feb. 24, Russia invaded Ukraine, directly affecting seven Hotchkiss students who have or had family in Ukraine or Russia at the time. Anticipating these students’ needs, Moon—along with faculty members Tom Drake, Alex Ginzburg (who grew up in the Soviet Union), Marta Eso, David Thompson, and a few others— immediately set up a gathering with the seven students to provide a space for them to share their concerns and fears. They also held a broader meeting that attracted a

group of nearly 50 teachers and students, including some from other European countries. During the tension-filled opening days of the war, Moon says, “Many of the students’ questions centered around, ‘Why would Russia do this?’”

Place your phone over the QR code to view the twominute video message from Ukrainian Evgeny Danilin shown at the AllSchool assembly.

CAMPUS CONNECTION MAGAZINE28

Left: Evgeny Danilin Below: Danilin’s wife Katya (on left) and daughters.

Fast forward a few weeks to a second virtual session with Danilin and a stark difference was noticeable. Now visibly scared, he spoke in a hushed tone from a darkened room; no lights were allowed as a security measure to protect people from being targeted by the invading army. He shared that he had put his wife and two daughters, 7 and 3, on a train to Germany (they have since made their way to Kentucky) while he stayed back to care for his elderly in-laws.

Moon describes Hotchkiss students as “being jolted” by the change in his friend’s demeanor. “A student expressed afterward, ‘This is really intense.’ They needed time to digest the reality of being one-degree of separation from my friend.”

Connor Rowe ’23 says his initial reaction to seeing Danilin on-screen again was “one of shock and horror,” adding, “Seeing the struggles of someone in Ukraine rather than only hearing of them showed me that the conditions of the invasion were worse than I could imagine.”

In the months that followed, Hotchkiss’s Russian history class became, according

to Moon, “a Russian present class.”

Students undertook reading projects, drawing connections to what was happening currently, and in the process became “teenage experts on Putin.”

Rowe’s biggest takeaway from Moon’s class this semester was “that there have been and still are a lot of evil people in the world. From the likes of Lenin to Stalin, and now Putin, Russia has had numerous leaders who have been bad human beings. For countries to succeed, their leaders must act morally to uphold a standard for their people.”

On March 29, an All-School meeting led by Moon, which included a prerecorded video update from Danilin, was held in the Walker Auditorium, providing the full Hotchkiss community with deeper insight into the ongoing conflict. Along with acknowledging the many in the community who had made

personal donations to support Danilin and his family, Moon also discussed Putin’s rule over the last 30 years and political positions that ultimately led to war.

Interestingly, it was Moon’s work as a lecturer at the nearby Noble Horizons senior living community that prepared him for the All-School assembly. The eight-week lecture series, coordinated by Caroline Kenny Burchfield ’77, began in March and marked Moon’s 10th year teaching a course at the center.

The 97 residents who participated— the largest attendance ever for one of his series—were well-informed on the history of the region and the significance of the toppling of the U.S.S.R. in the early ’90s. The class centered on The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin, by Steven Lee Myers, a New York Times correspondent who has covered Russia since 2002. Moon says these elder students peppered him with questions, and he’s “grateful for their in-depth questions that helped prepare him” for his Hotchkiss classes.

Moon traveled to Slovakia in August to support the groundbreaking of a new day care center that will aid Ukrainian refugee families (see next page), and he is making plans to bring a top expert to campus in the fall as part of the Beal Lecture series.

SUMMER 2022 29

“A student expressed afterward, ‘This is really intense.’ They needed time to digest the reality of being one-degree of separation from my friend.”

—KEITH MOON

“For countries to succeed, their leaders must act morally to uphold a standard for their people.”

—CONNOR

ROWE

’23

Keith Moon P’13,’16,’20, the E. Carleton

Granbery Teaching

Chair,

Instructor in English, History and Russian Language.

Instructor Travels to Support ‘Symbol of Hope’ for Ukrainian Refugees

R

USSIAN HISTORY AND LITERATURE Instructor Keith

Moon traveled to Slovakia this summer to support a new day care center that will aid Ukrainian refugee families who have children born with intellectual disabilities.

Moon’s trip was inspired by his “two important passions”—helping the people of Ukraine and raising funds for Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT). For almost 30 years, Hotchkiss has supported the organization with a Swimathon, and Moon has served on its board of directors for nearly a decade. He went to Slovakia in August as a personal emissary for SOCT to present a $25,000 gift to Special Olympics Slovakia for the groundbreaking of the child care facility, which Moon says was “one of the great days and honors of my lifetime.”

“The Dream Day Center is a symbol of hope for these refugee families,” Moon says. “The families being served often have overwhelming child care needs. The adults have struggled to find time to work, so the mission is to offer high-quality care for their children while they try to set their lives in some sort of order. Many of the refugees in places like Slovakia have few other resources to help them through a crisis not at all of their making.”

Keith Moon P’13,’16,’20, the E. Carleton Granbery Teaching Chair, Instructor in English, History and Russian Language (fourth from left), joined four Ukrainian refugee families with their four Special Olympics athletes at the Special Olympics Youth Sports Camp in Vršatské Podhradie, Slovakia, from Aug. 15-18. In total, there were 39 athletes involved from Slovakia, Ukraine, and the U.S., as well as Roma children, in swimming, gymnastics, karate, and athletic training.

Showing Our Appreciation on Thank a Donor Day

THANK A DONOR DAY is an event to honor our donor community. After a two-year hiatus, Thank a Donor Day returned to the Dining Hall where students, faculty, and staff members sent hand-written notes to all those who ensure Hotchkiss remains an exceptional school. In addition to a social media takeover by the Blue and White Society, Thank a Donor Day received support throughout the campus with posters and signs as well as emails to the campus community.

To help continue Hotchkiss’s goal to provide an outstanding educational experience to a diverse student body, visit hotchkiss.org/donate.

CAMPUS CONNECTION MAGAZINE30

Chicago Principles Conference Headed to Hotchkiss in November

HOTCHKISS WILL HOST the Chicago Principles Conference on Nov. 4-5, bringing to campus delegates from peer schools, including the Eight Schools Association, a collaborative of eight independent boarding schools in New England. The event will explore ways to support free expression in a secondary school setting, and will also allow participants to hear from educators who are helping students develop the capacities for constructive and open dialogue.

The Chicago Principles emerged from the Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression at the University of Chicago in 2014 “in light of recent events nationwide that have tested institutional commitments to free and open discourse.”

According to the website, the committee’s charge was to draft a statement “articulating the university’s overarching commitment to free, robust, and uninhibited debate and deliberation among all members of the university’s community.”

The resulting “Chicago Principles” have since been adopted by universities and colleges across the country and are now being explored for adaptation at the private boarding school level.

Rick Hazelton, director of the Center for Global Understanding and Independent Thinking and dean of summer programs, is looking forward to bringing these thought leaders to campus. “Critical inquiry into new ideas that often run counter to our political, religious, and cultural viewpoints is at the core of a liberal arts education,” he says. “Helping students and teachers engage collectively, openly, and constructively with difficult and challenging issues is not only the cornerstone of a strong education, but also essential in addressing the polarization and division in American life.”

As the agenda is finalized, proposed speakers include Dr. Leila Brammer, director of the Parrhesia Program for Public Discourse at the University of Chicago, Suzanne Nossel, CEO of Pen America, a leading human rights and free expression organization, and Dr. Denise Pope, founder of Challenge Success, which is affiliated with the Stanford Graduate School of Education. H

Tremaine Art Gallery

Clockwise from top left: T. Klacsmann ’01, Blue Swallows and Black Moths on Gray 2, 2022; Joy Curtis, Ghost Dance, 2020; Nancy Cohen, Bivalve at the Hinge Line, 2017

Reopened to the Public with ‘Fragmentary Blue’ Exhibit

I

N MAY, THE TREMAINE ART GALLERY presented an exhibit featuring the work of 17 artists that highlighted diverse responses to the color blue. It borrowed its title from “Fragmentary Blue,” a poem by Robert Frost that includes the lines:

Why make so much of fragmentary blue

In here and there a bird, or butterfly, Or flower, or wearing-stone, or open eye, When heaven presents in sheets the solid hue?

The group show was curated by Joan Baldwin, curator of special collections at Hotchkiss, with Terri L. Moore, director of the Tremaine Art Gallery.

Exhibited work engaged with the color in a range of media while considering and exploring blue as an expression of mood, hue, or symbol. Artists explored how a color associated with bird’s eggs, the Madonna, with mourning, summer skies, Krishna, hyacinths, and the ocean deepens our understanding of color and mood. Selected work was displayed with a series of poems and text, echoed by a group of blue objects, both natural and fabricated, turning the Tremaine Art Gallery into a multimedia experience where images, objects, color, and words intersected.

Artists included Cynthia Alberto, Mandy Cano Villalobos, Rosa Chang, Nancy Cohen, Ann Conrad Stewart ’81, Joy Curtis, Beth Dary, Grace DeGennaro, Valerie Hammond, T. Klacsmann ’01, Jordana Munk Martin, Caitlin Parker, Sarah Pettitt, Beau Bree Rhee, Dora Somosi, Alyce Santoro, and Janis Stemmermann. H

SUMMER 2022 31

Welcoming Hotchkiss VIPs During Grandparents Day

THE HOTCHKISS COMMUNITY extended a big Bearcat welcome to more than 180 VIP guests on April 23 during Grandparents Day, the first in-person celebration for this group in two years. Visitors arrived on a glorious, sunny day in Lakeville for one of Hotchkiss’s most beloved traditions—a chance for grandparents to come to campus and attend classes, musical performances, tours, and most importantly, special time with their grandchildren.

Grandparent Chairs Toni and James Goodale P’89, GP’21,’23 introduced Head of School Craig Bradley during afternoon tea, during which Bradley joked that all the hugs and love in the room had created “heightened levels of oxytocin” in the air. The School is grateful to the many grandparents who came to campus from near and far, including New York, Mexico, Florida, Colorado, and beyond.

The next Grandparents Day will be held in 2024. H

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VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM GRANDPARENTS DAY

A Fond Farewell for Three Retiring Teachers

BY HELEN O’NEILL ’23, ANTHONY HU ’25, AND KIRA NICKERSON ’25 PHOTOS BY CARRIE CAO ’23

Letty Roberts: Using Positive Psychology

When Letty Roberts P’12,’15 first stepped on campus in 1991 for her teaching interview, she didn’t see any students in class. Instead, she found them relaxing outside in the cool spring weather, running around the lawns and sauntering down to the lake. It was a Head of School Holiday, and that timing, Roberts recalls, helped solidify her decision to accept the job she had landed.

“The Holiday was in spring, everyone was so down-to-earth and friendly. It was a wonderful experience and just a

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Steve McKibben, Letty Roberts, and John Cooper were honored during their retirement dinner in June.

really cool vibe,” she says, adding that the dean of faculty at the time, Marilyn (Sam) Coughlin, was a woman, and “it was important that a woman was in charge.”

Roberts would go on to experience almost 100 more Head’s Holidays. She has retired after 31 years of service to the School as a George Norton and Jodie Stone Chair, Lufkin Prize recipient, and instructor in mathematics. An avid lover of nature, she led the Hiking & Exploration co-curricular and coached field hockey and lacrosse.

Roberts was born in Massachusetts and graduated from Colby College in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in math and psychology. After teaching at Holderness School for six years, she obtained a master’s degree in counseling from the University of New Hampshire.

She knew that she still wanted to teach math but stated her interest in psychology and a degree in counseling would equip her with the special ability to connect with students.

Throughout her 31 years of teaching at the School, Roberts’s desire to connect with students created a unique teaching style that revolved around the idea of positive psychology. One of her many mottos is, “Everything in life [is] a process, and even when you feel stagnant and stuck, you’re still moving forward in some way, even when you don’t have the perspective to see it.”

Another example of positivity is Roberts calling tests and quizzes Opportunities to Excel (OtEs), making the first question of each one based on positive psychology theories, such as, “What is something nice that someone you love has done for you?”

Paige Dzenutis ’23, a student of Roberts, says, “She has given me a new perspective

on how to approach challenging work and that having a positive attitude throughout the learning process is often the most important. She has made me realize how much a teacher can be there for you in more ways than you could ever imagine.”

Another positive concept Roberts used during assessments was letting students take time to reflect before turning in an OtE, citing too many instances where students make careless mistakes. Her main goal has always been for her students to realize their potential so they can achieve as much success as possible.

Connie Cao ’21, a former student of Roberts, says, “Ms. Roberts was one of the most impactful teachers I had at Hotchkiss. She was always smiling and clearly loved teaching. She gave me the confidence to continue studying math and science in college and taught me to always be positive and have a smile on my face.”

For the next chapter of her life, Roberts is moving to Rennes, France, to work with the School Year Abroad program. She expressed excitement about her new journey but acknowledged that it will be difficult to leave her students and fellow faculty. “I’m ready for a different adventure,” she says. “I know I will stumble and fall on my face in France, but I’ve got to leave at some point, and I know it’s

whenever I do it.”

When asked what she will

miss most about the School, Roberts says, “It has been truly an honor and a privilege to have worked here for thirty-one years and to have been there for the high and low moments of all my students. Everything about Hotchkiss is the people.”

Roberts’s love for the community is reciprocated by her friend and fellow math instructor, Liz Dittmer, who says, “Letty is someone that other people want to be around. Her impact on me has been huge. She is always upbeat and positive, and that rubs off and helps make me feel happier.”

Steve McKibben: Overseer of Change

Stephen McKibben P’22, dean of community life and instructor in English, left Hotchkiss at the end of this academic year, representing an impactful career spanning more than 10 years at the School. McKibben had also served as a boys varsity basketball and lacrosse coach.

After graduating from Wesleyan University in 1984 with a B.A. in English language and literature, McKibben went on to earn an M.Ed. from Springfield College, an M.A. from Middlebury College, and an M.Ed. and Ed.D. from Columbia University.

McKibben came to Hotchkiss in 2011 to teach English after a friend introduced him to the School. He strove to make his classroom a safe and welcoming space for all students through his humorous demeanor. “That was my first goal coming

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Letty Roberts

“Everything in life [is] a process, and even when you feel stagnant and stuck, you’re still moving forward in some way, even when you don’t have the perspective to see it.” —LETTY ROBERTS

here; to build a culture of trust, respect, and love in the classroom.”

He also played an integral role as an advisor and a coach. Carlos Martinez ’22, one of his advisees, says, “Mr. McKibben is straight-up and doesn’t sugarcoat things. He maintains a strong connection with the people he’s close to. He’s an energetic person who loves basketball, and although he’s no longer the coach of boys varsity basketball, he’s still involved with the team and cares a lot about each of the players.”

In 2019, McKibben was appointed interim dean of community life. In this role, he made his three tenets of community a priority: goodwill, appreciating others, and “just being a good person.” Dr. Merrilee Marden, dean of faculty and associate head of school, said in the School announcement, “Steve is known for his deep commitment to the wellbeing of our students. [We] have no doubt that his professional experience, coupled with his knowledge of and dedication to Hotchkiss, will enable his success.”

Since then, with his colleagues, McKibben has undertaken major decisions regarding community safety and well-being, including helping to lead the School’s COVID-19 response and considering new initiatives for the School, including policy reform.

Amanda McClure, associate dean of community life, described the role: “What we do is a lot of School-keeping. It’s tending to the everyday, to the biggest and smallest problems on campus, making sure that everything functions for our community,” she says.

McKibben also played a critical role in reforming the Drug & Alcohol No Chance Policy, which has been in place for

40 years, to better align with the School’s values of respect, honesty, and compassion. Reforming the drug and alcohol policy was a goal that he had had since the beginning of his career. McClure adds, “He’s somebody who helped guide the process, invited people to participate, and coordinated what was going on. He really pushed us as a community to move beyond talking and actually enacting a new policy.”

McKibben devoted countless hours attending to students’ concerns and working to improve the student experience, meeting with All-School presidents on a weekly basis and regularly attending StuFac, a space for students to raise concerns and discuss important issues at school.

Sydney Goldstein ’22, All-School president, said, “He’s taught me to be a leader, and almost all of what I try to

John Cooper: Open-Armed Compassion

John Cooper P’08,’11, instructor in mathematics, retired after 34 years of teaching and service to the School. During his time at Hotchkiss, Cooper has taught all levels of math, coached girls varsity hockey and boys lacrosse, and served as a dorm parent in Buehler and Van Santvoord. His children, Corey Cooper ’08, who served as an instructor in English, and Brady Cooper ’11, were born and raised on campus. His decision to come to the School was due to the “blissful pace of life in the Northwest Corner, not to mention the glorious night sky that comes with it.”

Cooper earned a B.S. in psychology from St. Lawrence University and a B.A. in mathematics from the University of Hartford. In fall 1988, he and his wife, Christina Cooper, instructor in English, came to the School after teaching and coaching at The Rectory School and TASIS-England.

In the classroom, Cooper applied math to real-world situations and allowed for discussion and flexible class structure. He helped students explore further math concepts to foster excitement for the future. Sawyer Eaton ’25 says, “One of my favorite things about being in Mr. Cooper’s class is when he starts talking about other fields of mathematics that I don’t understand, like

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Steve McKibben

“Steve is known for his deep commitment to the well-being of our students.”

—DR. MERRILEE MAR DEN, DEAN OF FACULTY

how something can have infinite area in a finite perimeter, or calculus concepts.”

Jason Maier, head of the math department, described Cooper as a dedicated and patient teacher. “[Mr. Cooper] is really caring about each and every student, and he is always there and working with those who need help. He has a huge impact on me, and inspires me with his commitment in the classroom and philosophical insight. I will really miss having him as a colleague and mentor to look up to.”

On the ice, he made valuable contributions through his work in coaching the girls varsity hockey team. His care and love for the sport allowed him to connect with student athletes and fellow coaches. Robin Chandler ’87, former co-director of athletics and current communications project manager, says, “His impact on the girls program has been extraordinary, and our girls have been in his incredible care for the past 30 seasons. He is passionate about the game of hockey and has shared his love of the sport with hundreds of players over the years. I learned more from him about coaching a team, caring for individual players, and loving what you do than any other coach I have worked with in my career.”

Cooper is known for his effusive kindness, empathy, and care for others in all areas of School life. Leanna Wells ’23,

one of his advisees, noted the strong bond they formed in just one year. “He would always take the opportunity to stop me in Main Hallway to spend time talking about how my week or sports or classes were going, which is something I’ll miss most about him,” she says.

More important, Wells is grateful for Cooper’s firm attitude in helping students foster independence and self-reliance, saying, “[Mr. Cooper] valued a laissez-faire attitude and believed that the only way that we would succeed in the things we did both on and off campus and life was if we learned how to fend for ourselves. He always showed a genuine interest in getting to know me and what I wanted to do with my life [after] Hotchkiss.”

In his 34 years at the School, he recounts great memories including friendships formed, listening to the jokes and conversations with students in the math classroom, chatting with students and fellow faculty members in the main building, and raising his children on campus. A few memories that particularly stick out to him are “a time when dogs ran free across campus and lounged in the classrooms, adopting the VS rabbit that had been living in an empty day student’s room, and of course,

beating Loomis in hockey and lacrosse.”

Cooper added that he will miss watching students grow and discover themselves as they navigate their journey in Lakeville and that the School has taught him the value of others’ goodwill. He added that he hopes he has fostered “intellectual wonderment in the classroom as well as personal growth for student-athletes.”

Students and colleagues alike will miss his unwavering support as a teacher, colleague, and coach. Corey Cooper writes, “A math teacher by name, and a wordsmith, philosopher, psychology-nerd, and questioner of all things by nature, my dad represents what many of us hope to someday be able to call ourselves: someone who has positively changed the lives of a vast array of young people in myriad ways, and someone who carries himself with the grace and class that can only be achieved through patient, reflective, and passionate practice.”

After leaving Lakeville, Cooper looks forward to a new chapter in his life, including getting a non-Hotchkiss email account and “learning how to get by without the refined delicacy that is the dining hall’s famous Mulligatawny soup.”

To commemorate these faculty for their contributions to the School, colleagues and friends gathered at Fairfield Farm on June 4 for a celebration dinner and sharing of fond memories. H

Editor’s note: this story was first published in The Record and was slightly updated.“I learned more from him about coaching a team, caring for individual players, and loving what you do than any other coach I have worked with in my career.”

—ROBIN CHANDLER ’87, FORMER CO-DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AND CURRENT COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT MANAGER

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John Cooper

Celebrating BIPOC Alumni and Beloved Administrator Patricia Redd Johnson

BY CATHERINE CALAMÉ

T HE HOTCHKISS ALUMNI Association Board of Governors

recently celebrated BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) alumni during a special two-day event on The Hotchkiss School campus and chose this special occasion to honor Patricia Redd Johnson, former senior associate dean of admission, director of multicultural programs, and advisor to the Black and Hispanic Student Alliance (BAHSA).

The highlight of the event was the heartwarming announcement of a scholarship in her name thanks to a gift from Andre Swanston ’99. The scholarship is a permanent endowment that supports students receiving financial assistance from Hotchkiss. In addition, more than $235,000 was raised by alumni and friends.

According to Swanston, the creation of a scholarship is a fitting tribute to the impact Johnson had on students’ lives, including his own. “Ms. Johnson was the most influential person in getting me and many other diverse students from across the country and the world to attend Hotchkiss. She told me it would change my life, and it did!” he says. “I feel a sense of obligation to pass that good will forward, and couldn’t think of a better way to honor the legacy and impact of Patricia Redd Johnson than to start a scholarship in her name to help afford the Hotchkiss opportunity to aspiring students for decades to come.”

Johnson, currently an educational consultant, made a difference in the lives of students well beyond those who identify as BIPOC. She designed the first Martin Luther King Jr. weekend at Hotchkiss as well as the BAHSA Mother’s Day Picnic, during which parents were invited to cook

foods from their own cultures in an event held at the Hotchkiss boathouse.

“How proud I was to be honored at an Award Dinner by so many BIPOC alumni of The Hotchkiss School,” says Johnson. “I am so proud of who they are and what they have accomplished since they left Hotchkiss. This distinguished group brought back so many fond memories of the time we spent together. What could be more thrilling than to have the BIPOC alumni endow a scholarship that will be held in perpetuity in my name? I grew tearful: The Pat Redd Johnson Scholarship honors me and continues the legacy of my grandparents and parents, who valued education so highly.”

Johnson was raised in Philadelphia, PA, and holds an M.S. from City University of New York, an M.A. from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, an M.A. from Middlebury College, and an A.B. from Lincoln University. In addition, she holds a certificate from Exeter College at Oxford University, earning an Elizabeth Treadwell Fellowship from the English Speaking Union.

Recruiting for Hotchkiss at schools and special programs around the world, she conveyed a genuine sense of interest to prospective Bearcats.

“I remember the day she interviewed me in middle school,” said Brandon Ortiz ’14 at the time of Johnson’s retirement in 2014. “It was after classes, and I was extremely unprepared and underdressed. But none of that mattered to Ms. Johnson. She took the time during our interview to get to know me and my story. Upon entering Hotchkiss, she welcomed me with open arms and the most caring and warm heart. She made sure every time we crossed paths that I was okay and was becoming accustomed to the Hotchkiss life. She is my Hotchkiss mother in every sense of the word.”

In paying tribute to Johnson at the BIPOC reunion, Nailah Ellis ’00 described her as someone who made a difference for everyone she met. “She told us dreamers that we were strong. She told us to be patient, that our success would come. And she told us to follow our passion because we would absolutely, one day, change the world,” said Ellis, adding, “I think of a leader, a protector, an innovator, and at the end of it all, I think of love. Ms. Pat loved us, and still loves us, and it’s reciprocal.”

The Event Committee (chaired by Nailah Ellis Timberlake ’00 and including Isaac Alicea ’20, Larry Braithwaite ’99, Chris Cowherd ’96, Sheria Smith ’01, and Steven Turner ’94) would like to thank everyone involved in helping to produce this important recognition of BIPOC alumni. H

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Brian Lee Young ’05, left, attended the BIPOC reunion in May and fondly remembers Patricia Redd Johnson, right, as a main reason why he succeeded at Hotchkiss and later at Yale and Columbia University.

The Troutbeck Symposium

Hotchkiss Students Elevate Knowledge of Local History

BY LINDA DUNBAR

A DOZEN HOTCHKISS STUDENTS

participated in the Troutbeck Symposium on April 28-29 at the 250-acre Troutbeck estate in Amenia, NY. Inspired by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) conferences held in 1916 and 1933 at Troutbeck, the symposium was conceived by Rhonan Mokriski, a history teacher at Salisbury School, as a student-led collaboration focused on uncovering erased local history through research, art, and conversation.

This year’s event was the culmination of a nearly yearlong project involving more than 150 students from regional public

and independent middle and high schools, including Hotchkiss. Student work from the symposium has enriched the scholarly understanding of local history and its ties to the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights movement by elevating previously unexplored paths.

Mokriski encouraged a multidisciplinary approach focused on “making students learners by doing.” Participating students presented historical research that explored stories of the Spingarn family, who owned Troutbeck at the time of the original conferences and played a pivotal role in the development of the NAACP and

the Harlem Renaissance, as well as other famous and lesser-known activists. This student work revealed largely untold narratives centering on the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community in the local region.

One of the first Hotchkiss staff members to join in planning the symposium was Joan Baldwin, Hotchkiss’s curator of special collections. Baldwin was instrumental in bringing the initiative to the School and recruited additional staff to participate, including Kim Gnerre, assistant director of the Edsel Ford Memorial Library. Gnerre was the force behind the LibGuide, a

MAGAZINE38 PROGRESS TOWARD EQUITY

Olivia Taylor ‘22 “learned so much about the history of the NAACP” through her participation in the Troutbeck Symposium.

research resource designed to be a hub for inquiry. Another faculty member who enthusiastically joined the initiative was Brad Faus, Marie S. Tinker Chair, director of the art program, instructor in art, visual and performing arts, and 30-year veteran of the School. He encouraged his students to lend visual interpretation to their investigation of the history of the NAACP and Harlem Renaissance.

Visiting speakers and special guests shared reflections and work throughout the symposium, including Pulitzer Prizewinning author Dr. David Blight, artist Nona Faustine, author Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries, and Silas Munro, assistant professor at Otis College of Arts & Design and Vermont College of Fine Art, and a partner at Polymode Studio.

In conjunction with the symposium, Dr. Lisanne Norman, Ph.D. ’94, co-director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and instructor in humanities and social sciences, created the course “Early Years of the NAACP and its Local Historical Roots” as an upper-level humanities elective. “My students have done a phenomenal job restoring lost history in a thoughtful, scholarly way,” says Dr. Norman. “They are contributing to changing the narrative of who we are and reconnecting it to what really happened. Students dug in, asking ‘what have we not heard about that we should have?’ and exploring how we open the conversation around American history and enduring elements such as race.”

Critical student questions that explored intersectionality included, “Where are the women?” and, “How has the LGBTQ community participated in civil rights?”

“I centered my research around using art to create political change,” says Billy Meneses ’22. “I focused on the NAACP’s 1935 exhibition, An Art Commentary on Lynching, which was part of the organization’s push for a federal antilynching bill. I was moved by art that could be used to sway crowds of people to support civil rights, a phenomenon that is equally important now as it was back then. I was inspired to create my own piece about

HOTCHKISS STUDENTS SHARE THEIR INTERPRETATIONS OF THEIR ARTWORK

OLIVIA TAYLOR ’22

I had a fantastic time taking this NAACP research class. My focus was on Marcus Garvey and his relationship with W.E.B. Du Bois, which played out not only in The Crisis but also in letters written by NAACP members who regularly wrote in to The Crisis and wrote directly to Du Bois. I learned so much about the history of the NAACP, and the Troutbeck conference was fantastic. I loved seeing other student presentations and documentaries.

EMILIANO LEAL ’23 My project was a children’s book about Ida B. Wells’s life story. When I was first deciding what I wanted to do, I had a conversation with my mom, who is an educator. In that conversation, I came to the realization that Troutbeck is surrounded by schools, but I doubt many of those schools know about Troutbeck, or even use it as a resource. I thought that making a children’s book, with accessible language and vibrant pictures, would be the best way to educate younger students about such an impactful, important, yet often forgotten woman.

AMBER BRETZ ’23 I created a documentary that examines the dichotomy of W.E.B. Du Bois’s identity as a New England aristocrat and Black man. Du Bois had an indelible impact upon African American history, and I sought to highlight the influence that his collegiate experiences at both Fisk University and Harvard University had upon his choice to pursue social activism as a vocation.

FATOUMATA BAH ’22 I explored the presence of the arts, specifically dance styles, in The Crisis’s portrayal of Black rights and the impact this had on readers. I wanted to understand how receptive the viewers were to the usage of dance and its influence on the growth of the NAACP, as well as the impact of the arts and its role in advocating for Black civil rights. It was important to see how Du Bois connected the arts to further his message. It is my hope to shed more light on another [approach] Black people used to share their message and fight for equality.

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the history of lynching, how far we have come, and how far we still have to go in the fight for civil rights.”

“The symposium was an amazing, enriching experience,” says Anika Balwada ’23. “I learned so much from the presentations by both my peers and students from other schools. My project was about Lillian Alexander, who was the treasurer for The Crisis, the NAACP’s official magazine. She was on the board of the NAACP as well as the YWCA. She also founded a housing development in Harlem. The point of my project was to bring light to her work and who she was, as there was very little ever written about her.”

“I am so proud that my students used Troutbeck, the Harlem Renaissance, and the civil rights movement as a touchpoint to concept-driven art that demonstrates a point of view, creating art infused with meaning and depth,” says Faus. “Their artwork is multilayered, taking into account ideas that include uncovering previously erased history.”

During the early decades of the 20th century, Troutbeck was a hotbed of intellectual and cultural change for such influential leaders as W.E.B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, Virginia Alexander, and Ralphe Bunche, among others.

At the time, Troutbeck was owned by Joel and Amy Spingarn. Joel, a founder of Harcourt, Brace & Co. and one of the most

respected literary minds of his day, served as treasurer, president, and chairman of the NAACP from 1913 to 1939. The Spingarn Medal, named after Joel, is the NAACP’s highest honor. Amy, who felt she could be more effective in her work by staying out of the limelight, was also highly active and influential in the work of advancing the cause of people of color. Troutbeck is currently the home and convening place of Charlotte and Anthony Champalimaud, who are passionate in their exploration of the

site’s history and importance and were instrumental in creating the symposium.

According to Annie Dong ’23, her greatest lesson from the Troutbeck Symposium was understanding the importance of collective learning. “While it may be time-consuming for one individual to obtain all the knowledge shared at the conference, the collective efforts of the students there allowed us to learn, listen, and reflect together,” she says. “The sum of all the presentations covered a tremendous amount of breadth and depth, providing me with a much more nuanced understanding of the lives, dreams, obstacles, and tensions of the figures whose names I’d always known but never had time to research. I truly believe that this model of learning must be explored further, particularly for topics related to identity, as it invites critical thinking and collaborative learning, while encouraging students to ponder with empathy and humanity as they consider the works of their peers.”

LEARN MORE!

Read our in-house guide to Troutbeck and supporting resources in the Edsel Ford Memorial Library by scanning this code.

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AAPI at Hotchkiss: Amplifying the Voices of Pan-Asian Students

BY DARRYL GANGLOFF H OTCHKISS STUDENTS CELEBRATED

Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May by hosting a series of informative events on campus, and their important work extends far beyond those 31 days. Their ongoing mission is to foster healing, unity, and visibility for their Pan-Asian peers.

“We must normalize the presence of a vocal AAPI community at Hotchkiss and beyond to truly establish the fact that anti-Asian hatred is unacceptable in all its forms,” says Annie Dong ’23, who identifies as Chinese and founded the Pan-Asian Affinity group last year to create a safe space solely for Asianidentifying students. She felt the urge to act following the Atlanta spa shootings where eight people were killed, including six Asian women. Triple A—the School’s separate Asian American Advocacy club that is open to all students—held a virtual meeting the day after the tragedy, and the emotional discussion inspired Annie to create the permanent affinity group for her Pan-Asian classmates. “It was tremendously healing to witness our shared pain and the nuanced impact the shooting had on all of us,” she says. This year, members of the Pan-Asian

Affinity group, as well as Triple A club participants and supportive faculty, set to work planning programs leading up to AAPI Heritage Month. The events kicked off with powerful All-School and faculty meetings that featured anonymous testimonies from Pan-Asian students. “I wish you understood that I need patience and love when I try to switch between two cultures for my friends,” one student wrote. “I wish you understood that just because I’m less talkative in class doesn’t mean I care any less,” wrote another.

Other AAPI events included students participating in the virtual Asian American Footsteps Conference, where Marcus Lam ’23, Jonathan Cheng ’23, and James Yae ’23 presented a workshop titled “It’s Okay Not to be Okay—A Reflection on Masculine Binaries Within Asian Cultures”; decorating the Main Building with information on the contributions and experiences of Asian Americans; and hosting an AllSchool talk with poet and Bard College Assistant Professor of Written Arts Jenny Xie, whose discussion on multiculturalism and multilingualism was “tremendously insightful,” Annie says. The group also raised

more than $900 for the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum.

Ella Yu ’24 helped organize the AllSchool and faculty meetings, and the wide variety of testimonies taught her that “the Asian community cannot be represented by one voice, as we come from a vast range of cultures with different experiences. All of us need to be heard.” She emphasized that the affinity group has helped her feel confident in her Chinese identity—a feeling she wants to inspire in other students. “I’m proud to say that I have become confident in my Asian identity throughout my years at Hotchkiss,” says Ella, who will soon co-lead the Pan-Asian Affinity group. “I developed a deep appreciation and respect for my culture, something I didn’t have before coming here.”

Parth Jain ’24 was drawn to Hotchkiss due to its diverse student population. He identifies as Indian American, and he immediately felt welcomed and comforted by the Pan-Asian community. He joined the affinity group to make sure that “PanAsian Bearcats can appreciate that they are not alone.” He wants to continue amplifying the voices of students. “My first year being involved in the club’s activities proved that we can create tangible impacts at Hotchkiss,” he says.

Chemistry instructor Pierre S. Yoo, P’21,P’23, is the associate director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and he offers guidance to students working on AAPI programs with the help of Hotchkiss faculty and community members such as Senior Associate Director of Admission Peggy Hsia, Physics Instructor Anju Taneja, and former faculty members Nora Yasumura and Annu Dahiya. Yoo admires the leadership, dedication, and bravery of the School’s young advocates. “It is important in my role to give students space and empower them,” says Yoo, who identifies as Korean American. “This work is an example of what can happen if they are given that opportunity.” H

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Students decorated the Main Building with information on the contributions and experiences of Asian Americans as part of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.

SCAN THIS CODE TO READ STUDENTS’ IMPACT STATEMENTS

Celebrating Philanthropy at Hotchkiss

School is celebrating another successful fundraising year, with $40,716,765 raised—surpassing our goal. The continued support from alumni, parents, and friends ensures the excellence that defines Hotchkiss. Students now and the generations that follow will benefit from your generosity.

Moniti Meliora Sequamur

by each other, let us seek better paths.

GIVING

Hotchkiss Fund:

Support:

PARTICIPATION MATTERS!

CAMPUS CONNECTION MAGAZINE42

Alumni participation: 30% | Alumni donors: 2,678 Parent participation: 85%* | Parent donors: 466 *Highest percentage among our peer schools! Volunteers raised $4,405,920!

The

Guided

“Thank you

for going

above and beyond for Hotchkiss.” Ninette

R.

Enrique Chief Advancement Officer l Facilities: $21,796,305 l The

$6,469,850 l Financial Aid: $5,612,086 l Other*: $4,102,371 l Unrestricted Endowment: $1,545,138 Members contributed $29,647,029!

OVERVIEW Total: $40,716,765 l Program: $1,024,564 l Faculty

$166,450 Hotchkiss donors... Donors increased their giving 922 Donors made their first gift 296 Donors made a gift after not giving in one or more years 562 *This includes multi-year pledges.

SUMMER 2022 43 GIVING CHALLENGES TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! Day of Giving Exceeded our goal! 1,138 donors | $799,532 raised Taft Day We were victorious! 404 donors | $15,882 raised Todd ’89 and Janice S. Pitman Fund 23 donors | $22,475 raised Gifts by classmates and friends to memorialize Todd ’89, who passed away on 9/11. 50th Reunion Fundraising | Class of 1971 Scholarship 44 donors | $608,148 raised LEADERSHIP GIVING SENIOR PARENT GIFT Class of 2022 Memorial Hall Renovation funding the first floor faculty apartment. $784,820 was raised against a $500,000 goal! 177 new funds established to support students, faculty, and staff at Hotchkiss A Little History: 1920 Capital Campaign $20,000 Planned gift from Gerold Hinkley, Class of 1910 2021: $5,000,000 is now worth... 9 new members included Hotchkiss in their estate plans THE HOTCHKISS FUND 3,551 Donors | $6,469,850 Area of Greatest Need 2,629 Donors | $5,218,603 Financial Aid 300 Donors | $829,371 Academics 123 Donors | $122,981 Athletics 186 Donors | $105,090 Arts 74 Donors | $77,402 Faculty Support 54 Donors | $56,672 Conservation & the Environment 68 Donors | $31,913 Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives 117 Donors | $27,868 Your gift truly made a difference in the lives of Hotchkiss students. Thank you! Your Impact of our Trustees and Board of Governors gave last year! 100% donors gave $10,000+ 11 662 total members!

REUNION 20 WEEKENDS 22

Welcome back, Bearcats! Hotchkiss was thrilled to host the Classes of 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2016 from June 10-12 for a special celebration. The Class of 2020 also had a fantastic time at their unique two-year reunion June 14-15.

MAGAZINE44

45SUMMER 2022 CELEBRATING THE 2s AND 7s! SCAN TO VIEW MORE REUNION PHOTOS The beloved tradition returned as we welcomed classes ending in 2 or 7 for a weekend full of memories from June 17-19.

COMES TO HOLLYWOOD HOTCHKISS

BY JULIA ELLIOTT

DAVID THOMPSON, DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS, NOT ONLY LOVES MOVIES, he loves to watch the credits. After watching the 2021 smash Apple TV+ hit Ted Lasso, Thompson immediately made note of one name: Supervising Producer Kip Kroeger ’00. With the help of the alumni office, Thompson reached out to Kroeger to tell him how much he loved the show (when Kroeger was a senior, he lived in Thompson’s dorm). During the conversation, Kroeger mentioned that he and screenwriter Taylor Materne ’99 had discussed talking with Hotchkiss students, and the idea for a panel was born.

“They were eager to demystify the experience of working in Hollywood,” says Thompson. With the input of film instructor Ann Villano, Thompson put together Hollywood Comes to Hotchkiss, a virtual event featuring Kroeger, Materne, producer Claire Brooks D’Oench ’07 and screenwriter Carla Frankenbach ’12.

Several themes emerged during the panel, which was held on April 5. All four alumni agreed that there is no right or wrong way to forge a path in Hollywood—both Brooks D’Oench and Frankenbach attended film school, while Materne and Kroeger did not. They noted that often the lowest-level industry jobs,

like working as someone’s assistant, can be the most instructive by showing how all the pieces work together. Hard work is an absolute must. “All those late nights, the discipline required to find success, juggling various commitments—those skills that they learned here at Hotchkiss paid off in Hollywood,” says Thompson. Passion and an excitement for the work are necessary ingredients. So is finding a mentor, especially when that mentor is Chris Melendandri ’77, founder and CEO of Illumination Entertainment. Both Brooks D’Oench and Frankenbach were especially grateful for Melendandri’s support and encouragement.

The panel was a meaningful opportunity for students and young alumni to hear stories from inside the industry. “A lot of times that one conversation can open up doors and new ways of thinking for students,” says Thompson. “I think it inspired some kids. Here are these really fascinating, dynamic graduates of the school doing really interesting work. They also heard that there is a network of Hotchkiss people out there who are willing and able to share their experiences. It’s humbling and wonderful when members of the larger Hotchkiss community contribute in this way.”

MAGAZINE46

The inspiration:

KIP KROEGER ’00

on How He Amassed a ‘Bag of Tricks’ to Give Him a Competitive Edge

EVER SINCE HE STARTED WORKING IN HOLLYWOOD, KIP KROEGER ’00 has wanted to attend the Emmys . In 2021, the Apple TV+ series for which Kroeger was supervising producer, a comedy-drama about an eternally optimistic American football coach who leads a struggling English soccer team to success, was released to much acclaim. “We were proud of the show,” says Kroeger, “but you never know how people will receive it.” That series, the wildly popular Ted Lasso, was nominated for 20 Emmy Awards and won seven. Not only did Kroeger get his invitation, he took home his very own trophy.

When Kroeger was a student at Hotchkiss, he had no idea he’d end up in television. He enjoyed his science classes and thought he’d probably pursue a career in tech or computers. The closest he got to media studies was one digital photography class in his senior year. He graduated and attended North Carolina State, where he studied computer science and then biology. His summers, however, were spent with Hotchkiss buddy Charlie Ebersol ’01, making music videos, interning in the film industry in Los Angeles, and even shooting a documentary in South Africa. Kroeger had plans to become a computer programmer or maybe a doctor like his father, but he really enjoyed the creativity and community he found in film production. As the end of college and the MCATs approached, Kroeger realized that he needed to follow his passion. Two months after graduating in December of 2004, he drove to LA.

His first job was working as a production assistant on a TV pilot produced by Doozer, the company founded by legendary producer Bill Lawrence. Kroeger’s principle responsibilities were coffee runs and

guarding the set, and he loved every minute of it. “I was working with people who were creative, having fun, and loved their jobs,” he says. “And they taught me so much.” The pilot didn’t get picked up, but Kroeger eventually made his way back to Doozer when he was offered the job as a post-production PA on the beloved medical comedy Scrubs

After 77 episodes of Scrubs and several other series, Kroeger worked his way up to producing TV for Lawrence. His credits include such shows as Undateable, Whiskey Cavalier, The Conners, Roseanne, and Home Economics. The bag of tricks he learned in post-production gives him a helpful edge as a producer—he knows when not to waste time or budget on

Kip Kroeger ’00 and his wife, Tara, attend the season two premiere of Ted Lasso flanked by a giant soccer, er, football—as legions of fans would say.

“The joke about post is that it’s a garbage disposal,” says Kroger, describing work in post-production. “The writing, the producing, the filming, it all lands in post. And sometimes, because of budget or schedule, what was filmed doesn’t totally match up with the original vision, so you have to take what you get and make it into the best possible show.” As an assistant, Kroeger watched every single cut of a show and saw first-hand how editing, color correction, special effects, soundscapes, and music shape an episode. “I learned a lot about the process of making a television show, and I found little pockets of creativity and ways to make an impact, no matter how big or small.”

47SUMMER 2022

Don’t be too hard on yourself if it takes a minute to figure out how to take control of the journey. . . There’s a lot of luck involved, but you can make it happen.”

—KIP KROEGER ’00, SUPERVISING PRODUCER OF TED LASSO

Kip Kroeger ’00, supervising producer of Ted Lasso, prepares for the many Emmys his team will receive at the 2021 ceremony.

costly production challenges that can be shined up in post.

When Kroeger talks about what he loves about his career, he adopts a feel-good tone that would make Ted Lasso proud. “It’s all about the people,” he says. Working for Lawrence has meant being part of what Kroeger describes as a family of producers, editors, and writers who have grown together through many projects. “The way Bill approaches the show,” he says, “there’s room for everybody to share their creativity and infuse a little bit of themselves. Plus, we have a good time.”

Kroeger’s advice for aspiring producers: “Don’t be too hard on yourself if it takes a minute to figure out how to take control of the journey. I floated around a bit. Once I figured out where I was having the most fun and tried to grab a hold of it, that’s where I was able to make my career. There’s a lot of luck involved, but you can make it happen.”

CARLA FRANKENBACH ’12 on Connecting Daily Themes to Her Success as a Writer

CARLA FRANKENBACH ’12 GOT HER FIRST BIG BREAK AS A WRITER in middle school. She was an eighth-grader at the Indian Mountain School (IMS) when she won a short script contest sponsored by IMS alumnus John Avildsen, director of Rocky and The Karate Kid. Avildsen returned to IMS for a day to film her script, acting as Frankenbach’s assistant director. Frankenbach doesn’t remember much about her script, but the experience left its mark. “I’ve always been writing since I was very little,” she says. “That experience showed me this could be a job.”

After graduating from Hotchkiss, Frankenbach attended USC’s film school. While at USC, she also interned at Illumination Studios, headed by Hotchkiss alumnus Chris Meledandri ’77. Still, she saw herself as a scriptwriter, and she aspired to get into a writers room on a TV show. She knew that the best way to do that was as an assistant—writers’ assistants take notes in writers rooms, research new episodes, fact-check, and basically get to witness the entire process of crafting a TV episode. But those positions were nearly impossible to get.

For a year and a half after USC, Frankenbach worked as an assistant for a manager who represented writers. “When you’re an assistant, your boss is your life and it’s a 24/7 job. It’s the hardest job in the industry,” says Frankenbach.

But the job gave her access to coffee dates with her boss’s writer clients and a huge network of other assistants working all over the industry. One of her many networking meetings was with the assistant to John Wells, one of the biggest TV writer-producers in the industry (ER, West Wing), who mentioned that she would be giving her notice that very day. Frankenbach applied for her job and got it.

If Frankenbach has any advice for aspiring TV writers, it’s to check your ego and be prepared to work as an assistant—and work hard. “You can’t come in and ask for favors. You have to find someone who seems like they will be able to help you and prove yourself in a way that may not be related to writing. That’s how the industry works.”

Of course, it helped that Wells was an excellent boss. “There are many bad bosses in Hollywood,” she says. “Because it’s such a high stress industry, you expect to have people yelling at you and general craziness. But John is the opposite. He is such a great mentor.” Another Hotchkiss alum, Cheo Coker ’90, also worked for Wells as a writer on the series Southland

As Well’s assistant, Frankenbach finally got into the writers room. Her responsibilities included writers’ assistant duties on the Showtime series Shameless as well as Animal Kingdom, a dark family crime drama on TNT. After two years, she was asked to write her first episode on season five of Animal Kingdom. “I was so anxious about it,” she says, “but the writers in the room were so supportive.” Production for her episode was put on hold when the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, and Frankenbach had to rewrite the episode to adjust for a cast member who wasn’t available. “It was an interesting first experience!”

MAGAZINE48

— CARLA FRANKENBACH ’12, WRITER FOR ANIMAL KINGDOM

Carla Frankenbach ’12 worked on TNT’s Animal Kingdom (above) and was promoted to staff writer for the final season.

For season six, the final season of Animal Kingdom, Frankenbach was promoted to staff writer and wrote two episodes. Animal Kingdom is a masculine, action-packed show and its tone and subject matter are not instinctual to Frankenbach, but she loved working on it. “As a writer, I get to inhabit these different worlds. Surfing and robbing banks—I would never do that, but I get to drop into that world with Animal Kingdom. Getting paid to come up with these ideas and being part of this group of great people has been amazing—and rare in Hollywood.”

Now that Animal Kingdom is over, Frankenbach and Wells are co-writing a new show that they hope will sell. With the TV industry in flux, it is an anxious time to be working as a freelance writer. Frankenbach says she draws on the discipline she learned through Hotchkiss’s rigorous academic demands and the experience of putting pen to paper in the daily themes writing exercises in her lower-mid year.

“Being a writer in this industry requires creativity, but it’s also the routine of writing every day and finding what you can out of that.”

TAYLOR MATERNE ’99 on How Writing Consistently Brought Him Up the Ladder

POST-COLLEGE, TAYLOR MATERNE ’99

WOULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED himself as the writer of a Netflix hit starring Adam Sandler. He was living in Atlanta, selling insurance to restaurants, when, over drinks at a bar, he and Hobson Brown ’93 convinced themselves that they could write a better boarding school drama than what they saw in the movies. At Hotchkiss, Materne hadn’t seen himself as a particularly skillful writer, but, he says, “I found joy reading and analyzing books and storytelling. I spent a ton of time in the library, reading whatever I found there, probably not doing my homework. I would just get lost in those worlds.”

Materne and Hobson teamed up with writer Jardine Libaire ’91 and wrote the treatment for a TV series about a fictional boarding school that ultimately got picked up as a YA book series, Upper Class. Together, the three co-wrote four books and, although the series never made it to TV, they did get an agent in Hollywood. Materne was excited by the prospect. “I thought, ‘This will be easy. I will go out to LA and write movies or TV shows.’ I look back and think, ‘What a moron.’”

If you’ve seen Materne’s 2022 Netflix release Hustle, a drama about a down-onhis-luck basketball scout played by Sandler, you’ll know that he is no moron. The New York Times called it “a terrific crowd-pleaser” that, according to Variety, “often feels like a true-life drama.” But getting to all those good reviews hasn’t been easy.

When Materne first moved to LA in 2008, he landed a job with another Hotchkiss grad, Stone Douglass ’95, who was financing independent movies. Materne worked as his right-hand man, reading scripts, meeting with actors, weighing in on edits, and attending film festivals. It was an excellent way to learn the industry, but he wasn’t

49SUMMER 2022

Being a writer in this industry requires creativity, but it’s also the routine of writing every day and finding what you can out of that.”

writing. “I was like, ‘I have to buckle down and make this happen.” Materne embarked on what he calls his “hermit time.” He cut down on socializing and focused his energy on writing. “I wanted there to be no excuse for failing.”

Between 2015 and 2017, Materne sold several film and TV scripts, but they all died in development. “It’s heartbreaking,” he says, “but you are always one of five projects in the studio’s world at a time.” A producer friend mentioned he wanted to make a basketball movie, and Materne, a self-described basketball obsessive, wrote a script on spec. “At Hotchkiss, we used to read Slam magazine and watch streetball mixtapes that we snuck into our dorm room,” says Materne. “At Wake Forest, I was friends with a couple of guys who went on to the NBA.” He infused his script with the language of the game, wanting it to feel, above all else, authentic. His script told the story of a washed-up basketball scout, Stanley Sugarman, who discovers a star player in China and brings him back to the U.S. to train for the preNBA draft showcase.

In 2018, LeBron James’s SpringHill Entertainment signed on to the project. A bidding war ensued, and, in May of 2020, Adam Sandler joined the cast, bringing Netflix on to distribute the film. With Sandler behind the project, Hustle was ushered through production, despite the pandemic shutting down everything around them. The China setting was changed to Spain, numerous basketball stars were brought in for cameo roles, and Sugarman became a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers, something Materne never would have presumed the NBA would agree to. Sandler, who had just played a dark, complex character in Uncut Gems, also softened the character of Sugarman. “Adam carries the movie and brings it heart,” says Materne. “The response has been well beyond what I ever imagined.”

Selling Hustle led to a flood of work for Materne. SpringHill hired him to write the script for the NBA 2K20 videogame (“I had no idea what I was doing,” says

Materne, “but I had fun and it was glorious!”), and he has several scripts in various stages of progress, none of which have anything to do with basketball. “I’m constantly trying to learn about new people and be inspired.”

When asked to give advice to aspiring writers, Materne jokes, “Do not do anything that I did!” But then he ticks off a list of suggestions: “Write all the time. Don’t be sacrosanct about your writing— let people read it. Take the criticism and work from there. Find a partner to balance you out and help teach you things. You don’t have to move to LA, but it does help. Get a job working at an agency or management company so you have a network of people your own age who can help you.”

In the end, though, he moves away from the pragmatic: “There’s something beautiful about delusion and chasing your dreams.” H

MAGAZINE50

Taylor Matern ’99 with his wife Lindsey, daughter Emme, and son Arlo at the premiere of Hustle

Being a writer in this industry requires creativity, but it’s also the routine of writing every day and finding what you can out of that.”

— TAYLOR MATERNE ’99, SCREENWRITER FOR HUSTLE

CLAIRE BROOKS D’OENCH ’07 on Why It’s All About Hard Work and Being Rewarded

CLAIRE BROOKS D’OENCH ’07 HAS

KNOWN SHE WANTED TO BE a film producer from the time she was 15 years old. She discovered her “artsy” side at Hotchkiss, where she was a member of the Hotchkiss Dramatic Association for four years, stage manager of 11 theatrical productions, and co-president of the radio station. She describes the scene in the radio room, then newly renovated, as being like a John Hughes movie. “Radio was this very special community,” she says. “We hung out there during lunch and at night. I loved the freedom of being on air, not knowing who was listening, running my mouth with my friends, and playing music we love.”

During her time at Hotchkiss, two summer internships—one at HBO and the other with theater producer Eric Falkenstein ’87—helped cement her desire to become a film producer. She studied film, storytelling and comparative literature at NYU and, in her senior year, she reached out to Chris Meledandri ’77, producer and founder of Illumination Entertainment, about her desire to produce. Meledandri didn’t make her any promises, but he was impressed by her work ethic— Brooks D’Oench managed to complete 12 internships while in college (“In hindsight, I would ask myself, ‘Are you insane?’”). Later that spring, she again reached out to Melendandri to ask for backing for a friend’s senior thesis film. Melendandri agreed and became one of her first financial backers. “It was a very magical moment where I felt very much like a producer,” she recalls. Brooks later invited Melendandri to breakfast to thank him for the support, and he surprised her by offering her a job at Illumination. “Chris was the start of the wildest professional

trajectory I could have imagined for myself,” she says.

Brooks D’Oench headed to LA to work at Illumination, first as an assistant and eventually as marketing and advertising coordinator on The Lorax and Despicable Me 2. After two years and with Melendandri’s blessing, Brooks left to pursue independent producing in the film and event space. She produced her now-husband’s first short film, worked odd jobs in marketing and advertising, and pursued her MFA in film from Columbia University. Along the way, she met Jeremy Kipp Walker (producer of indie favorites The Big Sick and Half Nelson), who invited her to join him in running the Emerging Filmmaker Initiative at Netflix where she produced four short films, three of which are on the streaming site now. Alongside Walker, she also co-produced a Netflix feature film starring Rob Lowe in Atlanta last summer that will come out in 2022.

Brooks D’Oench’s path to producing may seem a little “scatterbrained,” as she puts it, but it may also be what makes her so good at her job. “My producing partner [Walker] told me, ‘You are a diplomatic individual who can talk to anyone.’ The last fifteen years of my life have been training in what some people call professional code switching, from talking about art to someone with a net worth of a billion dollars to talking to a transportation coordinator about rates. If

a producer is meant to be a jack of all trades, I have literally done that.”

This fall, she is set to produce a quirky horror feature that Walker is directing. “It’s like horror meets reality TV show—like Love Island meets Scream,” she describes. She’s thrilled that the shoot is set in Mauritius and that, after her family-friendly work with Illumination, this is a movie for the 18-and-over crowd. “If this film is rated R, I would be very happy,” she jokes. Most of all, she is happy that she has made it to her goal of becoming, as she puts it, a “capital P producer.” To aspiring film producers, she says, “Stay humble but hungry. That’s a hard balance to find, but this industry rewards the longest careers and best reputations to those who do good work with good people.” H

—CLAIRE BROOKS D’OENCH ’07 PRODUCER OF THREE CURRENT NETFLIX FILMS

51SUMMER 2022

The last fifteen years of my life have been training in what some people call professional code switching, from talking about art to someone with a net worth of a billion dollars to talking to a transportation coordinator about rates. If a producer is meant to be a jack of all trades, I have literally done that.”

The First Family of Ultimate

TITCOMBS ’00, ’01, ’03, ’05 & ’11

BY DANIEL LIPPMAN ’08

Many sports games these days are rough-andtumble with referees required on the field to keep athletes in line, make sure they follow the rules, and don’t hurt each other (too much) as they try to dominate their opponent. Not so with ultimate Frisbee, which is self-officiated and where being a good sportsman is not only important but also rewarded.

One family that has played a leading role in making ultimate an increasingly prominent sport comprises five Titcomb siblings: Zahlen ’00, Xtehn ’01, Vehro ’03, Rohre ’05, and Qxhna ’11, all of whom attended Hotchkiss and found their love for ultimate. Driven by passion for the sport, they own two top ultimate professional teams in Seattle, the Seattle Cascades and the Seattle Tempest, which went undefeated during this season and won the first ever Western Ultimate League championship this past spring. The siblings have also racked up medals and media attention over the years. Rohre, whom USA Ultimate Magazine once called the best women’s player in the world, is one of the Tempest coaches. Qxhna is a starting player for Tempest and has won renown for her ultimate career, even garnering the cover of USA Ultimate Magazine. Both Rohre and Qxhna have won Beach Worlds gold medals. All three male siblings have taken home several medals as players for the U.S. Men’s National Team and gold medals for Beach Worlds.

While there had long been an ultimate club at Hotchkiss, it was only once the Titcombs came to campus that ultimate became a varsity sport.

“The boys and Rohre and Qxhna were all remarkable athletes, and they really believe in and embody and promote the spirit of the game,” says David Thompson, director of international programs and varsity ultimate coach.

The Titcombs’ success and love of the sport also led them to found the Five Ultimate apparel company in 2006, which came to life in their parents’ garage and expanded to a full-fledged company with manufacturing in Asia and an office in Europe. The siblings ran it until 2019 when they sold it to another apparel company in their sport.

Growing up mostly in Seattle but partly in Italy and France, their lawyer-investor father John Titcomb ’68 and artist mother Linde Behringer saw ultimate as a way for their children to bond while keeping them occupied.

“When you have five kids and you’re trying to coordinate activities, having something where many kids can participate is a pretty nice thing,” says Qxhna. “My dad was never the type of person who said, ‘let’s throw a baseball in the backyard or kick a soccer ball;’ he was like, ‘let’s throw a Frisbee.’”

Hotchkiss Magazine talked to all five siblings about their careers in ultimate.

Career Aspirations Growing Up

ROHRE: When I applied to Hotchkiss, I had to write an essay about my dreams. What I wrote about back then was wanting to compete in the Olympics and be on the first team when ultimate was in the Olympics. VEHRO: I knew I wanted to be in business, as cheesy as that sounds. I never knew what form that would take until starting this business with my siblings became a reality.

How Hotchkiss Helped Them Succeed

ROHRE: It instilled in me rigor and discipline. And I think that really has helped me be successful as an athlete. And just in life, I think the people around me would describe me as a very resilient person who can take on any challenge and will succeed. And my experience at Hotchkiss was definitely one where I was constantly being challenged. I remember getting to college and thinking, “this isn’t that hard.” And that’s because Hotchkiss really pushed me.

ZAHLEN: Hotchkiss gave me the clear understanding to seek knowledge and try to understand how the world works. For me it’s the idea that you can always learn something. And if you have a question, there’s someone willing to answer it for you. It showed me the path that lifelong learning was possible and a yearning for knowledge was something I enjoyed.

Why They Love Ultimate

VEHRO: The best part of playing ultimate is everyone gets to be the quarterback.

QXHNA: It gives me a competitive outlet. And it allows me to develop skills that are related to confidence building and leadership skills and being part of an environment where you can fail without consequence.

XTEHN: It’s a really accessible sport. You need a Frisbee, you need a mostly flat space, and it’s no contact. It rewards strategy and skill.

53SUMMER 2022

“Seize every opportunity to be uncomfortable.

Because

being uncomfortable means that you’re growing.”

—QXHNA TITCOMB ’01 From left: Rohre, Vehro, Qxhna, Xtehn, and Zahlen Titcomb

ZAHLEN: One of the core elements of the sport is a strong belief in the idea of selfofficiation and integrity coming onto the field. And when you have players that all respect each other at a high level, you can actually achieve great things. You can take that concept into everyday life and solve a lot of problems.

What Made Ultimate a Great Business

VEHRO: For us, it was a product-market fit. And I think that really boils down to the fact that we spent so many years in the sport. As players and consumers, it’s almost impossible to not understand who your target audience is, what they care about, what’s important to them, and how to be helpful and be valuable.

ROHRE: When we started, our mental model at that time was Burton. And we saw what Burton did for snowboarding and what snowboarding did for Burton. Burton is synonymous with snowboarding, and we wanted to create a brand that was synonymous with ultimate.

How Equity is Shaping Ultimate

ROHRE: A lot of the global conversations about gender equity, specifically in the sports world, translate very directly into the ultimate community. We wanted to create access for putting women on the professional field, as close to the beginning of men being on the professional field as possible … to really not create this lagging kind of younger sibling, smaller secondary dynamic that you see in a lot of the other professional leagues out there.

QXHNA: There’s been a lot of conversations within the sport, not just about gender equity, but also about the intersection with racism, classism, and ableism. And honestly, those are conversations that are never ending. We’re at just the start of conversation and starting to figure out how to include social justice and anti-racism in all the work that we do as a sport.

What’s in Store in the Future?

ROHRE: Well, I still have my Olympic dream. So maybe someday? H

54 MAGAZINE

Daniel

Lippman ’08 is a POLITICO reporter covering the White House and Washington and can be reached at daniel@politico.com.

“The best part of playing ultimate is everyone gets to be the quarterback.”

Mounds of Fun!

This photo is from fall 1975, the second fall that girls attended Hotchkiss. Here reads the caption from the 1976 Misch: “It all started with the Orientation Program. New students came to Hotchkiss a day early expecting to find work; what they found were games and activities that made Hotchkiss seem like a paradise. And with warm weather and many fun distractions, that first week of the year was great.” If you can identify anyone in this photo, please email magazine@hotchkiss.org.

SUMMER 2022 55 CLASS NOTES

Christopher K. Ho ’92’92

CHRISTOPHER K. HO ’92 is a celebrated artist, a teacher, a writer, and a leading advocate for Asian and Asian-American contemporary art. In 2021, he was named executive director of the Hong Kong-based Asia Art Archive—a nonprofit responsible for the most important and valuable collection of materials about recent art in Asia.

“Asian art histories remain comparatively invisible,” he says. “My own education at Hotchkiss, Cornell, and Columbia concerned the West. Asia Art Archive is an independent nonprofit that grew from a few shelves of books twenty-two years ago to an onsite and online library of over 115,000 records, all freely accessible to scholars, curators, artists, and the public. We also organize major exhibitions, train teachers from over 250 schools in Hong Kong, and deliver a robust schedule of symposia, talks, and publication launches. The main branch is in Hong Kong with satellites in New York and New Delhi.”

Of his own art, he says, “I live between cultures and continents, and my nomadic experiences deeply shape my work. My sculptural installations often address the complexities of geopolitics and our unevenly de-colonialized, increasingly networked world.”

Ho’s arrival at Hotchkiss was serendipitous. “My family moved from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, with a two-year stop-off in Kuala Lumpur, when I was 4. Los Angeles agreed less and less with me as I approached my teens.”

While at Hotchkiss, Ho was inspired by one particular faculty member: Marjory Reid. “Ms. Reid was my primary art and art history teacher for three years. Decades later, she remains the most influential person in my artistic trajectory. She introduced me to Hofmann, de Kooning, and Stella—touchpoints from which

subsequent understandings of art emerged and evolved. The observational techniques she taught, and the formal analyses she encouraged, remain as useful today as they were in the old Cullman Art Wing.”

Ho’s interest in art began in childhood, but Hotchkiss enabled him to think of cultural production as a career. “As an upper-mid, I co-founded the Hotchkiss Art Society with Brian Hodge. As a senior, I co-edited the art and poetry journal, The Review. Understanding that studio art occurs within an ecosystem transformed art from a purely individual practice into a multifaceted, viable career with multiple points of engagement with the world.”

After Hotchkiss, he graduated from Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning with a B.S. in the history of architecture and urbanism; he then earned a B.F.A. in architecture. He received his M.Phil. in art history from Columbia University in 2003.

Ho ventured into teaching while continuing to create art. He served on the Rhode Island School of Design faculty for more than 15 years and also taught

at several other institutions, including Cranbrook Art Academy, Virginia Commonwealth University, the Maryland Institute College of Art, and Pratt Institute. Of his time spent in the college classroom, he says he “misses the pushback that undergraduate art students give, which forced me to take seriously different, even opposing, viewpoints.”

He continues to enjoy the support of Hotchkiss alumni. “At our last fundraiser, I am grateful that Elaine Kwok ’98 volunteered as our auctioneer, and that board member Dee Poon ’99 hosted a table. Also in attendance were Ann Cha (née Chan) ’94, Erik Leung ’94, Paulo Pong ’96, Alan Lo ’99, Vickie Li ’09, and Jasmine Li ’10.” Ho’s solo project CX 889 opened in June at Vancouver Art Gallery Offsite. “The installation is based on Hong Kong’s old, beloved Kai Tak airport, dismantled one year after the city’s transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China. The title comes from Cathay Pacific’s flight number for its New York-Vancouver-Hong Kong route.” H

MAGAZINE60 CLASS NOTES

June 2022 Alum of the Month:

May 2022 Alum of the Month: Jane Muir ’02’02

thirty-five years as a judge on our state court bench.”

Muir grew up in Miami and came from a boarding school tradition. “I looked at several schools—Hotchkiss was my favorite!”

At first, Hotchkiss challenged Muir and she found herself earning Cs. “It took me until senior year to really succeed academically when I was able to choose courses I was interested in, like languages, neuroanatomy, and modern European history (with Mr. Drake). It must have surprised everyone when I was one of the 16 students who earned a perfect score on the SAT. Working my way up from mediocrity in a highly competitive environment prepared me well for law school.”

Muir enjoys jury trials, drawing on her time in Hotchkiss debate and theater. “The performance is my favorite part. I love telling the story and earning the trust of a jury.”

Active in the voluntary bar, she was elected to president of the Dade County Bar Association. During Muir’s tenure, they initiated an ambitious renovation of their headquarters, increasing its value and the service it can provide to the community. A rebranding was also implemented, enhancing the continued preeminence of the Miami-Dade Bar.

The former president remains involved as a board member. Muir founded a sister nonprofit entity, the Miami-Dade County Bar Foundation, leading the efforts to raise funds and support their work with charitable activities like Dade Legal Aid.

JANE MUIR ’02 recently completed her term as the 105th president of the Miami-Dade County Bar Association—the youngest woman ever to serve in the role. Her career has also included transformative professional recovery after losing a job, founding her own law firm, establishing a nonprofit to support the work of the Miami-Dade County Bar Association and Dade Legal Aid, and earning numerous professional accolades.

She was destined to be a lawyer. “It’s our family business. My mother, father, and brother are all attorneys, and I am the sixthgeneration lawyer on my father’s side. He practices and is also an adjunct law school professor; my mother recently retired after

After earning a dual degree in political science and art history from the University of Florida, Muir enrolled in the University of Miami School of Law. She captained the mock trial team, earned the Evans Memorial Scholarship for excellence in litigation skills, and was admitted to the Order of Barristers for her performance in intramural and interscholastic competitions.

Upon passing the bar amidst the mortgage foreclosure crisis, she soon lost her first job. On the advice of a mentor, she joined forces with her law school trial partner to establish her own firm. From this experience, she gained an affinity for struggling entrepreneurs. Today, she provides legal assistance for small businesses (jmuirandassociates.com) by providing resources that will “help empower and educate everyone about legal procedures and options.”

A fourth-generation resident of Miami, Muir practices in the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida and the United States Circuit Courts of Appeal. She chairs the All-Grove Crime Watch, advocating for crime victims, supports Dade Legal Aid and Legal Services of Greater Miami, and was given a Pro Bono Service Award for Innovative Projects by the Dade County Bar Association.

Recognized as an “AV Preeminent” attorney (the highest level of professional excellence ranked by peers) by MartindaleHubbell, Muir is the recipient of the Florida Bar’s Young Lawyers Division’s Lynn Futch Most Productive Young Lawyer Award, and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce named her Businesswoman of the Year for Philanthropy.

Her message to current students: “Everyone has unique traits and abilities. Play to your strengths and focus on a niche where you are happy.” H

CLASS NOTES MAGAZINE62

April 2022 Alum of the Month: Holly Kelley-Weil ’06’06

HOLLY KELLEY-WEIL ’06 gained a profound appreciation for the natural world from her time in Lakeville. Today, she negotiates environmental policy on behalf of the United Kingdom.

“During my four years at Hotchkiss, I was enchanted by the School’s setting overlooking the lake, with hills and mountains to three sides. I spent hours wandering around the campus trails and wading through the stream that led to the lake.”

The idea of boarding schools came to her at age 11 while hiking the Appalachian Trail with her mother. She subsequently chose Hotchkiss. “If I could have, I would have lived in the Griswold Science building!” says Kelley-Weil. “I took as many science courses as I could—environmental science of course, but also chemistry, biology, astronomy, and my favorite, Chris Oostenink’s limnology course, which helped me to define what I wanted from a college curriculum.”

Another significant Hotchkiss experience was a summer fellowship in Alaska, funded by former Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, L. Mead Treadwell ’74—a 2004 Hotchkiss Community Service Award winner for his efforts to preserve Arctic resources. “I was thrilled and extremely fortunate to work with a local Alaskan nonprofit focused on protecting a critical waterway for salmon populations. This taught me about the challenges faced by environmental advocates, giving me insight into the need for strong government policies to ensure corporations are held accountable for their practices.”

In 2010, Kelley-Weil received her B.A. (environmental science) from Columbia University’s Barnard College, and in 2012, her master of public administration in environmental science and policy from Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Moving to the UK, she took with her a knowledge of sustainability and financial management, micro and macro-economics, statistics, LEED and green technology, and environmental data analysis. “I was eager for a chance to work abroad and to take advantage of my German citizenship, which I had only recently gained through a WWII reparations policy offering citizenship to descendants of Holocaust survivors. I joined a team promoting greater deployment of carbon markets for climate mitigation globally, not knowing that I was embarking on a long-term career.”

The UK’s ambitious climate policies were highly appealing to Kelley-Weil. “There was willingness to explore what more could be done domestically and internationally to halt global warming—a cause the country continues to champion—as we saw this past year when the UK hosted the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.”

She has held a number of positions and taken part in negotiations on climate change, biodiversity, and wetlands conservation. Today, she works in the United Kingdom’s Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs leading negotiations on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) with a focus on Digital Sequence Information and the Nagoya Protocol (a daughter agreement to the CBD).

“As a policy advocate, I sit among governmental parties trying to ensure and inspire forward momentum from the ‘top.’ But it can’t be said too often and too passionately that the bottom-up push is as essential if not more so. Government leadership is critical, but often this momentum is driven by passionate and dedicated citizens worldwide.”

Kelley-Weil is involved in negotiations of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework under the CBD, often referred to as the Paris Agreement for nature. “Biodiversity loss is a global crisis that threatens our well-being. Beyond the intrinsic value, its loss impacts individuals’ health, livelihoods, food security, and so much more. My role is to promote a greater understanding of the interlinkages of biodiversity and other sectors to develop the UK’s positions for these negotiations, and then work to bring other countries onside to support those ambitions.”

Thinking back, she says, “I have my parents to thank for my passion for the environment and sustainability and Hotchkiss for its inspiration. It’s exciting to see how the School continues to connect students to the environment, building a stronger understanding of sustainability and the ways we depend on nature.” H

CLASS NOTES 64

Jessica Riordon Hanson ’86 Organizes Hotchkiss Day of Service in Seattle Area

BY NANCY SOMERA

ON MAY 21, SEVERAL HOTCHKISS ALUMNI and family members joined organizer Jessica Riordon Hanson ’86 for a day of service at Solid Ground’s Giving Garden at Marra Farm in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle. Hanson’s effort to bring alumni together for a community service project was the first since the pandemic began and was much needed after two years of isolation. “So many organizations need help and are coming out of complicated situations brought on by the pandemic,” she says, adding that it was time to re-up the annual event.

The volunteers, who included Nian Wilder ’86, P’17,’20, Challen Parker ’91 and Jessie Parker and their two children, Tristen and Ellery, Chris Simmons ’86, and Matt Wilder P’17,’20, were tasked with weeding, mulching, and helping with other farm chores. Marra Farm, comprising nearly 9 acres of preserved farmland, provides fresh produce to the surrounding ethnically diverse immigrant community.

To get involved, contact Jessica Riordon Hanson

The community connections built extended beyond that single day. Simmons is a local fourth-grade teacher and plans to bring his students to Marra Farms next year. Being at the farm taught the volunteers about the farm’s goals and mission: to provide gardening education, sustainable food production, and environmental stewardship while raising awareness about good nutrition and food justice. South Park has no grocery store, making it a food desert. The in-service day at the farm helped produce healthy food to be distributed to neighborhood residents. It also inspired participants to consider what other steps can be taken in communities that are struggling.

Hanson believes that working alongside other alumni is a great way to strengthen the Hotchkiss bond in the Seattle area. “We want to broaden the number of Hotchkiss alums that will join us next year,” she says. “I’m always grateful when people show up, roll up their sleeves, and get to work!” H

65SUMMER 2022

jessica.hanson@thehatchschool.org.

Look for Event Invitations in Your Email

We welcome you to attend our upcoming in-person events. We are communicating with alumni and parents more via email, and you may view event listings on the alumni and parent calendar at hotchkiss.org/calendar.

As seen in the photos below, the Hotchkiss community recently enjoyed a Hamptons gathering graciously hosted by Ingrid and Tom Edelman ’69, P’06,’07 featuring Head of School Craig Bradley.

Call for Nominations

Alumni Award

The Alumni Award recognizes individuals who, through personal achievement, have brought honor and distinction to themselves and the School. The Nominating Committee seeks candidates who have made significant contributions within their fields, and in so doing have earned the recognition of their peers on a national or international level.

Community Service Award

Please contact Patty O’Connor P’10, associate director of constituent relations, at poconnor@hotchkiss.org if you or anyone you know wish to be included on Hamptons-area invitations in the future.

Presented annually, the Community Service Award honors the service contributions of one or more of its graduates to their respective communities, whether local, national, or international. The Award seeks to recognize individuals who “in the estimation of the Nominating Committee of the Board of Governors of the alumni association, demonstrate through their volunteer and/or vocational endeavors an exemplary sense of caring, initiative, and ingenuity.”

Please visit our website to submit your nominees electronically at hotchkiss.org/alumni/notablealumni-and-awards.

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MAGAZINE66 BOARD OF GOVERNORS

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ROBERT BOND BOTTOMLEY (“BOB”) died on June 7, 2022, in La Jolla, CA, at age 96. A man whose passions fueled his direction in life, he leaves a legacy of goodness to his family, his community, and his country. Passion for learning led him through Hotchkiss, Yale, and the University of Virginia Law School. Passion for his country was made evident by his volunteering during World War II at age 17 with the American Field Service in Italy, where he served as an ambulance driver with the British Eighth Army. His passion for the law led him to join the law firm of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps in 1961 as a senior partner. In his 28 years with the firm, he practiced primarily in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, and real estate. During his time with the firm, he was a mentor to many lawyers and paralegals who joined the firm and is well-remembered as a kind, patient and knowledgeable attorney and teacher.

His passion for Italian opera led him to serve on the board and as president of the San Diego Opera. He had an in-depth knowledge of a large number of operas, serving as a panelist with opera personnel from other cities. He had two beloved homes, La Jolla and the North Shore of Kauai. He and his spouse of 67 years, Eleanor, built friendships and were active in both communities while traveling extensively throughout the world.

Eleanor passed in 2018. For more than 70 years, he was a passionate golfer at La Jolla Country Club, calling the club his home away from home. His greatest passion of all was his family. He leaves behind a daughter and two sons, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

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JOHN CABOT DILLER JR., retired colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, former auditor and author, died in his sleep June 12, 2022, at his daughter’s home in Sun City, AZ, at age 93. Born in New Haven, CT, he attended Hotchkiss from 1943 until graduation in 1947.

He enlisted in the Army Air Force to finance his college education through the GI Bill. He served three years (1946-1949) of active duty, assigned primarily in the Philippines, and was honorably discharged as a buck sergeant.

A 1953 graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he received a B.S. in accounting. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Army Air Force Reserve. He met his wife, Mette Sorensen, a Danish nurse, at the University of Pennsylvania International House. They were married for more than 50 years, until her death in 2007.

They had six children and six grandchildren and lived for many years in Birmingham, MI,

SUMMER 2022 67 IN MEMORIAM

and then Shelby Township, MI. He later moved to Raleigh, NC, and recently to Sun City, AZ. He worked as an auditor/supervisor for the car companies and was also active in the Air Force Reserves. He was an Air Force Academy and ROTC Liaison Officer, active in recruiting and as an advisor to the Air Force Academy Parents’ Club of Eastern Michigan. After retiring from the USAF Reserves in 1983 after 30 years of service, he continued his work as a liaison officer and advisor. Colonel Diller received an Air Force Commendation Medal for his distinguished work as an Air Force Academy Liaison Officer and was honored in 2008 by the Michigan USAFA Parents Club for 35 years of support. An enthusiastic, lively, and active Toastmaster, bridge player, storyteller, and collector of stories, he authored four books: House 579, Crooks and Books, Life on the Ridge, and Jokes for the John. He was in the midst of writing his fifth book, Words from a Life, when he passed. He is survived by five of his children, six grandchildren, a brother, and various nieces and nephews.

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FRANK THOMAS PAGNAMENTA of Santa Rosa, CA, died on May 28, 2022. He was 90. Born on March 27, 1932, he came to Hotchkiss in 1945 and graduated in 1949. He then graduated from Bowdoin College in 1952 and Harvard University in 1954. He was a member of Hotchkiss’s Town Hill Society and True Blue Society. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/fairfield-ca for the Pagnamenta family.

DR. ERNEST JOHN STEINHILBER III (“JACK”) , 91, passed away in the presence of family on June 16, 2022. A retired psychiatrist, he grew up in Frankfort, NY, and had a first job as a paperboy, which led to his lifelong enjoyment of reading the daily newspaper. After a postgraduate year at Hotchkiss from 1948-49, he enrolled at Hamilton College and graduated in 1953. He was the first student accepted to the New York Medical College class of 1957. As an army physician, he spent 1962-1964 as a captain in Newport News, VA. He built and maintained a private psychiatric practice in Concord, MA, where he was also affiliated with Emerson Hospital. Prior to that he worked at Valleyhead Hospital in Carlisle, MA, and for many years consulted with the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Lawrence, MA, and the Lowell District Court. He married Elizabeth J. Sharpe (Betty) in 1966 after they met while working at Boston State Hospital. They raised four children and enjoyed having numerous pets during the years in Concord. After living in Massachusetts for 33 years, Jack and Betty moved

to St. Simons Island, GA. He continued working as a Locum Tenens psychiatrist across the U.S. until 2008. Betty was able to join him for many of these assignments, and they enjoyed adventures that included driving through the scenic paradise on the dirt and gravel roads from Denali National Park to Fairbanks, AK, and going to the opera in Santa Fe, NM. While living on St. Simons, he volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul Society as well as at the International Seamen’s House, where he welcomed crew to the area. He became a grandfather in 1994 and had been known as Papa Jack and then “PJ” for the past 28 years. His large family loved visiting St. Simons, creating many happy memories of walking the beaches, eating out, catching up and celebrating holidays. His family will miss hearing him whistle, his colorful wardrobe, and animated stories. His memory will forever be cherished by his wife, Elizabeth Jean Steinhilber, and four children. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Robert and William, Class of 1954.

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HARVEY N. BLACK JR. GP’07 passed away peacefully on June 30, 2022, with family present. A third-generation Portlander, he attended schools in Portland, OR, and graduated from Hotchkiss in 1951 and Yale University in 1955. After two years in the U.S. Navy, he took up residence in San Francisco, received his JD from UC Berkeley School of Law in 1963, and practiced law in San Francisco and Marin County. There he raised his three children, spending time in Tahoe skiing or sailing San Francisco Bay. In 1993, he returned to Portland, OR, where he stepped into his life’s passion: working with nonprofits to revive and help them thrive. He served on several boards and was especially proud of his 24-year service with the Oregon Humane Society. He led the Yale Alumni Association of Oregon for more than 20 years and was a longtime member of the St Francis Yacht Club. He was happiest on his Grand Banks cruising the Pacific Northwest, BC, and Alaska with his wife and friends. He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy, and stepdaughter. He is survived by his sister, Nancy Bryan; his stepson; three adult children, including Harvey N. Black III P’07; his five grandchildren, including Alexandra ’07; and numerous extended family members. He loved family gatherings, enjoying annual fishing trips in Montana, time in Seaside, OR, and travels through Europe with his children and grandkids. He was an adventurer in spirit with a deep love of history. We will always remember his signature yodeling call to his “troops,” and his love of wine and chicken McNuggets.

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WILSON M. BOOK JR. (“BILL”) , 88, passed over peacefully at home on April 7, 2022. He was predeceased by the love of his life, Jane, and his faithful companion, Dusty; he is survived by his three devoted children, three beloved grandchildren, and three cherished greatgrandchildren. He attended Hotchkiss from 1948-50 and graduated from Saint James School in Hagerstown, MD. He obtained a degree in 1956 from Cornell University, where he joined the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and met his future wife, Jane. He retired from Youngstown Sheet & Tube/LTV after 35 years as a sales engineer. He immediately went on to his second career as the full-time shop assistant and face of Book Racing, until he was forced into his final retirement by the pandemic. He was an avid train watcher and admitted “chocoholic,” who loved Canadian beer, swimming in Lake Muskoka, spending time with his family, watching baseball, reading, and going out to eat. He was a “numbers guy”—full of facts and stats. He was also a “people person,” who collected friends as he made his daily rounds; whenever he met someone new, he always wanted to learn their entire life story.

A native San Franciscan, HARTLEY DODGE CRAVENS died peacefully and without pain at his home on June 2, 2022. He was born in January 1935 to Martha and Malcolm Cravens ’27. He attended the Town School for Boys before coming to Hotchkiss in 1948 and graduating in 1952. He graduated from Stanford University in 1957 and then spent two years in the Navy, serving on the U.S.S. Bremerton in the Pacific. After the Navy, he joined the family insurance firm of Cravens, Dargan, and Co. in San Francisco, where he worked for decades. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Lou Myers; his five children and three stepchildren; and his four sisters. He is also survived by his former wife, Nellie Norris Cravens, and his many loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is remembered for his sense of humor, his gentlemanly qualities, and his kindness. Always a wonderful host, he was an active member and former president of the Pacific-Union Club and the San Francisco Golf Club. He was also a board member of the Cypress Point Club, golf being one of his most beloved passions. He played a mean game of dominoes and left a smile on the face of everyone he met.

NOEL MACDONALD FIELD JR. of Little Compton, RI, formerly of Providence, died peacefully at home on June 12, 2022, at age 88, surrounded by his four children. He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Phyllis

MAGAZINE68

IN MEMORIAM

Campbell Field. Born in Providence in 1934, he lived most of his life in Rhode Island. He immersed himself in his community and left indelible marks on the people he encountered along the way. Described by friends as “scrupulously honest and morally upright,” he will be greatly missed for his positive energy, generosity, and steady friendship. He dedicated his time and efforts to many educational institutions throughout his lifetime. He studied at Moses Brown School before attending Hotchkiss from 1949 until graduation. He then graduated from Brown and Harvard Law School. At Brown, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and held the unique role as keeper of the Brown Bear mascot, a responsibility he adored. He served on the boards of The Lincoln School, Providence Country Day, and Rocky Hill, and as vice president of the Brown chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. He loved being on the water and imparted his passion to his family. Over the years he held many roles at the Sakonnet Yacht Club, from Steward to Commodore, and was a Senior Judge for U.S. Sailing into his mid80s. He served as a judge for regattas ranging from the America’s Cup Trials, Olympic Trials, local NBYA races, and collegiate events. An accomplished sailor in his own right, he enjoyed racing in Sakonnet on Saturday race days with his wife, children, or grandchildren; he won multiple Yngling national championships crewing for his daughter, Ellen. He sailed the Bermuda Race on three boats, including a naval boat during his service in the Navy. He practiced trust and estate law for 42 years at Hinckley Allen law firm in Providence. He approached his role as one of service, saying that he could be considered the “family lawyer” who still made house calls. He dedicated countless hours to organizations he cared about, including Planned Parenthood and The Rhode Island Foundation. An avid cyclist, he pedaled his commuter bike to and from downtown Providence. And, for the past 20-plus years, he cherished his community of Sakonnet Cyclists, often recruiting a “stoker” to pedal on his tandem with him. He kept daily log books of his mileage, and last year, at age 87, he once again pedaled 5,000 miles on his bike. He is survived by a sister and his two daughters and two sons; he will always be remembered by his six grandchildren for his competitive backgammon skills. A cousin, Stowe Tattersall ’68, predeceased him.

ROBERT ANDERSON PEW (“ANDY”) P’78,’79 , a leader of business and charitable causes and great-grandson of the founder of Sun Oil Corp., died June 25, 2022, at Bryn Mawr Hospital from complications of prostate cancer.

He was 85. A scion of the family known for its Philadelphia lineage and widely respected for its philanthropy, he had served as chairman of the Pew Charitable Trusts and was a longtime director of the Glenmede Trust Company. He was the last remaining member of the Pew family to be involved in Sun Oil. Throughout his life, he was an active, disciplined and knowledgeable participant in the greater Philadelphia community, serving as trustee of numerous organizations, including his alma mater Temple University, the Academy of Music, Curtis Institute, Bryn Mawr College, and Bryn Mawr Hospital. In 1968, after his daughter Lili was successfully treated for a life-threatening illness at Children’s Hospital, he joined its board, motivated by gratitude and an appreciation for the unparalleled level of care there. Among his civic activities, he was on the committee involved in planning the Philadelphia Bicentennial in 1976. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Brandywine Conservancy, and as a personal friend to the Wyeth family was also involved in founding the Brandywine River Museum. Notably, he was proud of his volunteer work with young gang members in Philadelphia during the 1970s. He was a proud and humble mentor to many, always asking questions instead of providing answers, inspiring curiosity and asking only in return to leave the door open wider than it had been found. He had no tolerance for unfinished business and as such could be heard remarking, “This sounds like a major symphony ending with one note on a piccolo,” as the situation called for. A longtime pilot, for decades he owned a Piper Comanche and was a trustee and chairman of the board of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for 44 years. He grew up on Long Island and came to Hotchkiss in 1950. After his 1954 graduation he attended Princeton before graduating from Temple University in 1959. Later in life, he received a master’s degree in science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was a Sloan Fellow. While in college, he worked in Sun Oil’s Marcus Hook refinery and after graduation, spent time in the company’s production facilities in Texas and Louisiana. In 1960, he moved to Sun’s Philadelphia office. At Sun, he worked his way up from the auditing and treasury departments to the products group, eventually becoming the company’s corporate secretary and later, a member of Sun’s board of directors. Along the way, in an effort to foster diversification, he formed the Helios Capital Corporation as a successful leveraged leasing subsidiary. In addition to their home in Bryn Mawr, the family had a home in Northeast Harbor, ME, where he loved spending time together with his family sailing on his classic A-Class gaff rigged sloop. In Maine, he had served as a longtime member of the board of the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor. In addition to his wife,

Daria Decerio Pew, he is survived by three sons, including James Cunningham Pew ’78 and Glenn Edgar Pew ’79, and a daughter, and numerous nieces and nephews and extended Pew family members. He was predeceased by his parents and a son, Robert Anderson Pew Jr., and by his brother, Arthur E. Pew III ’51. His family and friends were continuously impressed with his encyclopedic knowledge, quick wit and ability to come up with an original quip for any situation.

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(This tribute was written by Ronald “Rocky” Martinetti ’63.)

CHRISTOPHER BRONSON (“CHRIS”) died in March 2022 at age 86 after a short illness. I met Chris at a Hotchkiss alumni function in Los Angeles, and over the last 10 years of his life we became close friends. Chris had attended Hotchkiss during the last years of the reign of its great headmaster, George Van Santvoord ’08, who was known as “the Duke.” Chris loved all things Hotchkiss, but especially reveled in lunchtime stories about the Duke —his whims as well as his majesty—and the remarkable faculty he had assembled. One favorite was Carle Parsons, a Hotchkiss schoolmate of the Duke’s, who taught Chris, and generations of preps, English composition, and who prompted a favorite expression of Chris’s: “No matter how stupid you were, no matter how lazy you were, Hotchkiss taught you to write.” Given the eccentricities of the Duke and his sometimes colorful court, some of Chris’s stories had an apocryphal ring, but I had been fortunate to have had Mr. Parsons for a remedial summer course in English and so knew of his magic in teaching teenagers the art of writing short, simple, declaratory prose. Chris had a maverick streak in him, and after Yale, he came west to get away from the “confines of Greenwich, Connecticut,” as he put it. In Los Angeles, he found a home working in the county probation department, where he was—not surprisingly—a favorite of Superior Court judges who appreciated his literate, right-to-the-point monthly probation reports. Chris had attended Yale, where he studied Russian, a language that he spoke fluently and whose classics he read in the original, including Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina (a favorite of the Duke’s). Chris’s career path may have seemed unusual to those who, like him, had grown up with the motto: “Hotchkiss, Yale, and heaven.” Yet, George Van Santvoord would have approved. He encouraged his former charges to read widely and learn their “business well and thoroughly and perform expertly,” whatever their calling. He called this his “Postage-stamp view of history.” Among the headmaster’s papers at Yale are letters, reassuring some alumni that fame and fortune were not

SUMMER 2022 69

what he expected of them. To one, he stated: “The size of the stage on which you perform does not matter. As Alexander Pope wrote: ‘Play well thy part. There all honor lies.’” Chris was active in the probation officers’ union and for many years served as secretary. He loved knowledge and sharing what he had learned with others. His lunchtime talks ranged from John Kenneth Galbraith’s price control theories to a history of Nissan Motor Corporation. Once or twice, I recall him quoting a line from Robert Browning’s “The Bishop Orders His Tomb at Saint Praxed’s Church” that he fondly remembered from senior English. In Chris’s life—and accomplishments— can be found proof of the great Duke’s wisdom. Chris’s Hotchkiss relatives, both deceased, were: his father, Norton Bronson ’14, P’50,’55, and his uncle, Richardson Bronson ’16.

FREDERICK OLLISON III (“FRED”), 84, of Grosse Pointe, MI, passed away peacefully at home on June 9, 2022, after a brave battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Stroud Ollison; his brother, Robert Hague Ollison ’59; a son and a daughter, and two granddaughters; as well as two stepchildren and two step-grandchildren. He attended the Grosse Pointe University School before coming to Hotchkiss in 1952. After graduating in 1955, he spent a postgraduate year at Asheville School and in 1961 earned a B.S. degree in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and served at Fort Hood, Texas from 1962-63. In 1964, he joined the family business, Sanders Cleaning Company, where he served as president/owner, 1971-87. He later received his real estate license and enjoyed working at Bolton-Johnston Associates until unofficially retiring in 2020. His community was important to him, as evidenced by his active participation in several organizations. He joined Grosse Pointe Rotary in 1970, served as president 2015-16, was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow, and in 2021 received the Infinite Sky Award, Lifetime of Rotary Service Above Self. He served as president of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial Board of Directors. In addition, he was a lifetime member of the Yondotega Club and the Country Club of Detroit, the latter of which he served as president 1986-87. As a member of The 78 rpm Club, he spent many happy hours sharing his profound love of music. His greatest joy was being surrounded by family and wonderful friends. From entertaining at home, traveling to the Acropolis in Athens, and zip-lining in Alaska, Fred and Sarah’s life together was an adventure. His warmth, quick wit, intelligence and unwavering loyalty will be missed by everyone who knew him.

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Author JOHN HOPKINS , known especially for his colorful and vibrant writing style, died on March 25, 2021, after a fall. He was 82. Since 1979 he and his wife, Ellen, had lived in London and Oxfordshire, England. But prior to this, for nearly two decades Hopkins had lived in Morocco, experiences that he chronicled later in his novels and memoirs. During that time, he was a part of a literary group that included Paul and Jane Bowles, Tennessee Williams, and William Burroughs. In its obituary for Hopkins, The Times (London) noted: “In his novel Naked Lunch set in Tangier, Burroughs called the city the ‘Interzone.’ Bowles wrote that it was a place where ‘every fourth person was a smuggler, a spy or a refugee from justice in his native land.’ Hopkins relished the edge of Tangier and chronicled its glamour, mystery, poverty and opulence in novels such as Tangier Buzzless Flies and Land Without Echoes. He also wrote a memoir, The Tangier Diaries 1962-79. A compendium of fine writing and vividly drawn observations, as a source for future historians it almost certainly offers a truer picture of both the glitter and seediness of the city’s cosmopolitan heyday than anything written by his better-known contemporaries. Others with walk-on parts in the diaries included Jean Genet, Wilfred Thesiger, Yves Saint Laurent, Timothy Leary, Saul Bellow, members of the Beatles and Rudolf Nureyev. On its publication in 1998, Bowles praised its beauty and Burroughs noted poignantly that ‘every page drips with memories.’” Born in August 1938, Hopkins grew up in Far Hills, NJ, where he studied at the Peck School before coming to Hotchkiss. At Princeton he studied political science and played varsity ice hockey. After graduating in 1960, he and a friend from Princeton, Joe McPhillips, traveled to South America with the idea of buying or starting up a coffee plantation in the Peruvian jungle. In Lima, Hopkins began keeping a diary. He and McPhillips crossed the Andes by jungle bus and visited coffee plantations, and slid down the Amazon on a balsa raft, adventures recounted by Hopkins in his first novel, The Attempt (1967). But they decided against a future in coffeegrowing, and two months later they sailed for Naples. In Italy they found work reading to the blind English writer, Percy Lubbock. In Munich Hopkins and McPhillips bought a white BMW motorcycle they christened “The White Nile.” They rode it for the next five months across North Africa in high summer, en route to Kenya. After a horrifying experience where a group of baboons killed 40 dogs at the ranch where they were staying, they flew to France. While teaching there, they met a Yale graduate brought up in Tangier, who suggested they try Morocco and got them jobs at the American School in

Tangier. They planned to stay for a year; Hopkins stayed for nearly 20 years. In 1964, Paul Bowles encouraged Hopkins to find the grave in Algiers of Isabelle Eberhardt, an American journalist.

The resulting travel adventures over the Atlas Mountains and into the Sahara Desert were colorfully captured by Hopkins in his 2019 novel, Land without Echoes. In Tangier in 1977 he met and married Ellen Ann Ragsdale, an artist from Arkansas, and they moved to the U.K. in 1979. John Hopkins is survived by his wife, Ellen, and their three sons. His great-niece is Leila CliffordOng ’07, and great-nephew, Brooks Clifford, is a member of the Class of 2023.

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WALTER I. FLOYD JR. , 82, passed away on March 29, 2022, at home in Star Tannery, VA. Born in 1939 in Pittsburgh, PA, he attended Hotchkiss from 1953 until graduation in 1957. He received his bachelor’s degree from Williams College in 1962, after which he became an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He then spent a 33-year career in the Central Intelligence Agency with assignments in Laos, Cambodia, Cyprus, Greece, and Japan. He spent a total of 13 years in Tokyo, where he met and married Taeko Fukubayashi, the love of his life. In the U.S., he served in the Office of Congressional Affairs as a liaison between the CIA and members of Congress. He particularly enjoyed his last assignment as an inspector in the Office of the Inspector General. He achieved senior executive rank and was awarded medals for merit and honorable service upon his retirement. In 2000 he and Taeko moved from McLean, VA, to Pembroke Springs, a beautiful property in Star Tannery, VA, that Walter had acquired in the late 1960s. The pair decided to start second careers as innkeepers and built a small Japan-inspired retreat that continues to operate as a family-run business. He is survived by his wife, Taeko; three children and three grandchildren; and his siblings, Dan Floyd ’60 and Alison.

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GUYON WOLF TURNER (“GUY”) , age 80, died on June 18, 2022, at home in Audubon, PA, surrounded by family. He had more than 40 years of experience involving corporate finance, venture capital and top management in several firms, creating dynamic growth in the communications industry. Most recently he was executive vice president of Windsor Sheffield & Co. in Haverford, PA. Born in 1942 in New York, NY, he was the son of the late Frank V. K. and Barbara (Buehler) Turner. His grandfather, Huber Gray Buehler, was headmaster of Hotchkiss from 1904 until 1924, when he died less than a week after the

MAGAZINE70 IN MEMORIAM

School’s Commencement. His headmastership was marked by accomplishment and growth for the still-young school, and his work was recognized by his election to the presidency of the Headmasters’ Association in 1914. Guy graduated from Hotchkiss in 1960 and received his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Washington and Jefferson College and his MBA in finance from Rutgers University. He served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant and subsequently worked in executive and management roles at Prudential Insurance, US Radio, WROC (CBS station, Rochester), Viacom, WOLFTV 56 (FOX station, Scranton), Pegasus Communications, and Windsor Sheffield & Co. He also formed many companies, including Greater Philadelphia Venture Capital, a start-up venture capital firm in Philadelphia, KB Prime Media, and Freedom Valley Media. He held numerous professional and civic affiliations including: Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners and Cable Television Advisory Committee, the Foreign Policy Research Institute, ALTV (Association of Local Television Stations) and John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum Association. With his love of history and travel, he joined the Orders & Medals Society of America in 1969 and chaired the 2003 and 2007 conventions. He was a true gentleman and a kind and loving father and husband. He enjoyed reading, following current events and politics, researching genealogy, and mentoring. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Carol Isby Nichols; two daughters; a stepdaughter and two stepsons; and 11 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. He is also survived by the mother of his children, Judith Turner. Other family members who were Hotchkiss alumni include his uncle, Reginald Buehler ’15, and cousin, John Hoysradt ’22, both deceased.

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JOHN DEAN of New South Wales, Australia, died Jan. 25, 2022. He was 77. He attended Hotchkiss from 1961-1962 and received his B.A. and L.L.B. degrees from the University of Sydney. In his Misch II Profile, he described himself as a “lawyer teaching lawyers, qualified Egyptologist, student of ancient languages.” Loved and devoted husband of Judy, proud and loving father and father-in-law to his four children and their spouses, and loving “Grumps” to four grandchildren, he was a man of endless enthusiasms and generosity. He was never at a loss for words, a photo, a story or a joke. “Atque in perpetuum ... ave atque vale.”

68ROBERT JEFFREY WENK (“JEFF”) , our classmate, died on April 11, 2022, two days after a stroke, at Providence Hospital in Seattle, his wife Carol Orion at his side. One of our class leaders academically, Jeff was driven by no ambition but to enjoy life to the fullest, preferably among friends. His library daydreams at Yale were not of worldly achievement but of living in peace on an island far from the madding crowd with a woman he loved. This would define success. Born and brought up in Connecticut, Jeff fell in love with the Pacific Northwest during a two-year break from Yale, relocated there after graduation, and lived in the Seattle area for all but a few years the rest of his life. He earned an MBA from the University of Washington and worked in business and financial analytics for companies in San Francisco and Seattle, among them the Weyerhaeuser Company, where he met Carol. The two married in 1985. In the latter part of his career, Jeff jumped ship and joined Carol in owning and running an upper-echelon catering firm in the Seattle market. A far cry from the humdrum of corporate life, it was a grueling experience, and when they eventually sold the business, Jeff retired. They moved to Camano Island, an hour north of Seattle on Puget Sound, and for the 22 years remaining, Jeff lived the life envisioned from afar in the Yale library. Jeff’s true field of excellence, predictable if undervalued at Hotchkiss, was friendship. Friends were a major source of delight to him, and he actively maintained decadeslong relationships with our classmates John Titcomb, Doug Patt, Ian Lamberton, and Dan Walker, along with many others from every stage of his career. They will remember Jeff as an inveterate solver of crossword puzzles; Bridge Grand Master; gracious host; wine connoisseur; house plant god; lover of bad puns; and grower of giant beets. He had a pilot’s license. More importantly, he was an attentive listener, trusted confidante, and thoughtful advisor. From his Hotchkiss days, Jeff relished a good conversation, and if this occasionally veered toward argument, it never obscured the spirit of friendship. Not one to suffer fools gladly, unless they were funny, Jeff was always interested to hear, and sometimes accept, evidence underpinning views contrary to his own. A lifelong atheist, he had no qualms joining a scripture-study group when asked by a friend. With Jeff, there were no litmus tests for friendship. He was loyal to the core, always ready to help any way he could. To his many friends, his loss leaves an unbridgeable gap in their lives.

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JAMES WALTER HAYES (“WALT”), age 67, passed away at his home in Sarasota, FL, on April 29, 2022. The cause was cardiac arrest. Jimmy, or “Walt” as he was known to brothers and friends, was born in Virginia, MN, on Feb. 11, 1955. After attending Hawken School in Lyndhurst, OH, through 10th grade, he attended Hotchkiss from 1971-1973, excelling in hockey and serving as captain of the varsity team. After his graduation he earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1977 from the University of Virginia and received a graduate degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix. His professional career included 25 years in developing sales and marketing plans for companies involved in the automotive and technology industries. His employers included TRW, A.O. Smith and Yen Enterprises in Cleveland, OH, and BREED Technologies in Lakeland, Florida. As vice president of New Business Development at BREED, he grew government revenue from zero to over $20 million in less than three years. He then went on to found RBH Government Sales and Search, a business development outsourcing company specializing in sales to all federal government agencies. An avid golfer, he was a lifelong fan of sports teams in Cleveland and also a fan of his various Labrador retrievers, from Hazel and Hilda early on to Millie and Maggie in later years. He is survived by his son and daughter, two brothers, and four nephews. He is also survived by his former spouse, Linda Huffman Hayes. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Caraboolad Hayes; parents Dorothy and Scott Birchard Hayes ’44, P’71,’73; and brother, Scott Birchard Hayes, Jr. ’71. Three uncles who were alumni also predeceased him: Gerald Baker ’24, Webb Hayes ’39, and Arthur Hayes ’43.

Former staff

CALEEN “PEACHES” SPEED, 63, of Lakeville, gained her angel’s wings suddenly on April 23, 2022, at her home. She was the devoted mother of Ashley Speed and the loving partner of John Gallagher. Born in Sharon, Peaches was well-known for her bubbly personality and her unconditional love for those in her life. She worked at Hotchkiss in Housekeeping for many years until her early retirement and met her partner, John, while working at Hotchkiss. She loved spending time with friends and family, reading, and arts and crafts.

SUMMER 2022 71

One Last Walk

Retiring Hotchkiss faculty members take their final walk to rousing applause from students, faculty, and staff. Mathletes in arms, John Cooper (top left) and Letty Roberts (top right) together dedicated 65 years to the School (31 for Roberts and 34 for Cooper). Steve McKibben (left), dean of community life and instructor in English, as well as boys varsity basketball and lacrosse coach, dedicated a decade of service to the School and encouraged students to “just be a good person.” See their story on page 33.

MAGAZINE72

PARTING SHOTS

Save the Dates for Fall Reunions!

CLASSES OF 1967 AND 1972 SEPTEMBER 23-25, 2022

CLASSES OF 1960, 1961, 1975, AND 1976 OCTOBER 7-9, 2022

CLASSES OF 1955, 1956, 1990, AND 1991 OCTOBER 14-16, 2022

SAVE THE DATES FOR 2023 REUNIONS:

CLASSES ENDING IN 3 AND 8: JUNE 16-18, 2023

CLASS OF 1973: 50TH REUNION – SEPTEMBER 2023

Hope to see you in Lakeville!

CLASSES OF 1955, 1956, 1990, AND 1991 OCTOBER 14-16, 2022 Visit www.hotchkiss.org/alumni (Events & Reunions) for updates. For more information, please contact Rachel Schroeder Rodgers ’09, assistant director of alumni relations, at (860) 435-3124 or rrodgers@hotchkiss.org.

Visit www.hotchkiss.org/alumni (Events & Reunions) for updates. For more information, please contact Rachel Schroeder Rodgers ’09, assistant director of alumni relations, at (860) 435-3124 or rrodgers@hotchkiss.org.

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 36 PITTSFIELD, MA 11 Interlaken Road Lakeville, CT 06039-2141 (860) 435-2591 HOTCHKISS.ORG