Summer 2019
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Editor Karin Storm Wood Managing Editor Angela Johnson Meadows Alumni Editor Tori Gibbs Class Notes Editor Jacque Jones Photography Raoul Brown Tori Gibbs Angela Johnson Meadows Juliana Thomas
Bruce L. Dennis Head of School Karin Storm Wood Director of Communications Tori Gibbs Communications Specialist Angela Johnson Meadows Communications Specialist Sara Shulman Director of Development David Minder Director of Alumni
Layout CZ Design
Susan Moore Director of Annual Giving
The Packer Magazine is published twice a year by The Packer Collegiate Institute, 170 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Nothing herein may be reprinted wholly or in part without the written permission of Packer’s Development Office. The Packer Collegiate Institute © 2019
Aaron Heflich Shapiro Manager of Development Services
Packer is a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). More content at www.packer.edu/magazine
Shriya Bhargava-Sears Manager of Special Events Rebecca Frisch Campaign Associate Communications (718) 250-0264 Alumni (718) 250-0229 Registrar (718) 250-0263 General (718) 250-0200 www.packer.edu
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Board of Trustees Leadership 2018-19 Deborah Juantorena P’19 Chair Cynthia Gardstein ’66 IVAc Vice Chair Karen Snow P’25 Treasurer Richard Story P’17, P’19, P’24 Secretary Steven Fineman P’20, P’29 Reed Lowenstein P’24, P’26 At Large
Alumni Association Leadership 2018-19 Geoffrey Brewer ’82, P’26 President Sasha Baumrind ’00 Vice President Jeremy Schiffres ’07 Secretary Cynthia Gardstein ’66 IVAc Ellin Rosenzweig ’52 Directors Emeritae
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Head’s Farewell
4 On Campus
Above and on the cover: To honor retiring Head of School Bruce L. Dennis, the 2019 May Day Arts Festival featured many of his favorite songs. The Preschool and Lower School Faculty serenaded him with a surprise rendition of “Don’t Stop Believing.”
The new International Symposium provides Tenth Graders with hands-on, community-based learning experiences in Greece and Peru... Maria Nunes will join Packer as the new Head of Upper School… Physical education teacher and coach Dorothy Gurreri retires after 40 years… What’s New at Packer... The Packer community thanks retiring Head of School Dr. Bruce L. Dennis.
10 ONE OF A KIND In his 15 years of leading Packer, Bruce Dennis “strengthened the school in every corner.” Revisit the tenure of our ninth Head of School, with reflections by Paul Burke, Cynthia Gardstein ’66 IVAc, Noah Reinhardt, and Celeste Tramontin. 20 THE DENNIS YEARS
A visual journey though some of the highlights of Bruce’s tenure.
24 Alumni News The former head of the Hispanic Federation Lillian
Rodriguez Lopez ’79 wins the Alumni Achievement Award… Harriette (Hap) Peper Thayer ’64 recognized for service to Packer… Photos from Reunion 2019 and more.
31 Class Notes 48 In Memoriam
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Head’s Farewell
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With the support of our outstanding faculty and staff and the most engaged and wonderful parent body I’ve ever worked with, we’ve made some really great things happen.
It was almost 16 years ago, on Columbus Day 2003, when I first set foot on the Packer campus. I was here for my initial interview as a semi-finalist for the headship, and school was closed for the day. The only people present were the dozen or so members of the search committee, but despite the quiet setting and the absence of children, Packer’s warmth was palpable to me, as it radiated through the near-empty campus. That was the beginning of the journey that brought me, a retired public school teacher, principal, and superintendent of schools, to Packer. Having grown up in Brooklyn, I knew of the School’s outstanding reputation, but I knew little about independent schools or about what Packer was actually like. The interview process drew me in and captivated my interest. I was overcome by the kindness of the community and its unified desire to make a wonderful school even better. And I was so proud to be asked to lead this incredible institution as its ninth Head of School. These last 15 years have flown by as my love affair with Packer has taken root and flourished. I felt welcome and embraced by the community from the very start, even though I knew there was some skepticism about whether a public school guy would really “get” what Packer was all about. At the beginning, I spent a great deal of time meeting with hundreds of teachers, parents, trustees, alums, and Upper School students during five months of entry interviews. Using the information I gathered, the Board and I launched the first of several strategic plans to move this amazing school forward. With the support of our outstanding faculty and staff and the most engaged and wonderful parent body I’ve ever worked with, we’ve made some really great things happen.
Fifteen years later, Packer is an even stronger school because of all that we have accomplished together. Our enrollment has increased by several hundred students, and this has permitted our academic program to grow in exciting new ways. Packer has become more global and interdisciplinary in its focus. We now offer more than $9 million in financial aid annually, demonstrating our commitment to making a Packer education accessible to a diverse community of families. Our financial status is secure and our endowment has more than doubled. We’ve restored every physical space in our nearly two-centuryold campus so that the beauty of our classrooms now reflects the quality of the instruction that occurs within them. We’ve created an extraordinary new Preschool building that is tailored to the learning needs of our youngest children. And plans are in the works for an exciting expansion of our Garden House and enhancement of our treasured Garden. Most significantly, the Packer faculty and leadership team, 80% of whom I hired during my tenure, are among the very finest to be found in any school in the country. Being Head of School at Packer has been the privilege of a lifetime. I am so grateful for all of the trust and kindness I have been shown, for the incredible Boards and the five inspiring chairs with whom I’ve had the pleasure to work, and for the opportunity to serve the remarkable students and families in this outstanding school. I know that Packer’s best days are yet to come, and I look forward to hearing about all of the successes that will mark its extraordinary future. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this School.
Bruce L. Dennis
This spring, Bruce spent time in Cindy Copland’s and René de Jongh’s First Grade classroom, where he was interviewed by members of the Class of 2030 as part of their social studies unit on community.
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On Campus
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While in Peru, students traveled to Patacancha to meet with members of the Awamaki Weaving Cooperation. They drank Yerba Mate, had the opportunity to try on some of the native clothing, and learned how to make string bracelets out of the alpaca wool the weavers dye and spin themselves.
CAMERON LEMLEY
Out of Classrooms, Into Communities: The International Symposium Is Revamped For five years, Packer’s Tenth Graders traveled to the Andalusian region of southern Spain in the International Symposium program. The week-long trip provided an opportunity for students to explore the confluence of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim influences through sightseeing and hands-on workshops. This year, Andrew Parson, International Symposium Coordinator, and Tené Howard, Director of Global Programs and Community Engagement, transformed the Sophomore Symposium experience, creating the opportunity for students to travel in smaller groups to one of four different locations, two in Peru and two in Greece. The re-envisioned program, which launched in January, aims to draw Packer students outside of their comfort zones and allow them to engage directly with children and adults living in those countries. In both Peru and Greece, students began by visiting historic landmarks such as Machu Picchu and the Acropolis. Then they split into two smaller groups to work with local NGOs. In Puerto Maldonado, Peru, students focused on building personal relationships through an exchange with local students, while their peers in the rural Sacred Valley worked with community organizations exploring issues related to healthcare, cooperative economics, and education. On the Greek island of Crete, students studied climate change and sustainability, while their counterparts in Lesvos gained insight on the European migrant crisis and met with refugees of the civil war in Syria.
Following their trip, the sophomores shared reflections about their experiences. Below are a few excerpts. “Learning through both statistics and stories enabled us to get an understanding of how much [the migrant] issue has both rattled and unified the closely knit community on the island of Lesvos.” — Mele Buice ’21 “Going to Puerto Maldonado was nothing like going on vacation. It was about being uncomfortable, living in the moment, and appreciating the life that we all get to live.” — India Brecht ’21 “The bonds and memories the Crete trip classmates made while preparing stuffed grape leaves at a classic Minoan cooking class, learning the traditional Greek kalamatianos circle dance, and tasting ‘real’ honey at a small farm were, without question, unforgettable.” — Lily Crowell ’21 “[The trip to Sacred Valley] gave us a chance to reflect on the always-angry culture in New York City and realize that we are privileged in so many ways that we don’t even acknowledge all of them. I want to be a less easily angered person and be more happy with all that I have.” — Charlotte Agliata ’21
Above: Students in the Greece Symposium group visited the Acropolis and other landmarks in Athens before dividing into smaller groups and heading to Lesvos and Crete.
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New at Packer
Packer Bids Goodbye to Dorothy Gurreri After 40 years of teaching and coaching, Dorothy Gurreri is retiring. She began at Packer as a physical education and health teacher. “I got in the door because I could coach gymnastics,” she said. “And I loved it. Watching kids discover what their bodies were capable of was loads of fun.” Dorothy also served as a Ninth Grade prefect, and when the gymnastics program came to an end, she became a health curriculum coordinator and the chair of the Health Advisory Committee. Eventually she stepped back from those roles to focus on physical education and coaching. She prized her years of working with students. “The best thing I can hear kids say in gym is, ‘I’m sweaty!’ I say, ‘That makes me so happy,’ because they are appreciating how their bodies can move. We talk a lot about fitness and health — why we make our hearts beat faster, why we do activities to calm down, why we stretch. If a student walks away with an appreciation for how to remain healthy throughout their life, it’s a good day.” Coaching and teaching physical education allowed her to work with students at several different times in their childhoods. “That’s the best part. [In conversations about particular students, I can say,] ‘This is where they came from, this is the growth they’ve had.’ You get to interact with them in the exact same capacity, but when they’re at different levels [of ability].” “Dorothy is one of the best educators and people I’ve ever met,” said Bill McCarthy, Head of the Preschool and Lower School. “Anyone who has had the privilege of being one of her students or colleagues can attest to how truly special she is. She is a shining example of kindness, care, patience, and commitment at its very finest.” Her plans for the immediate future are full: her son’s wedding, a possible move out of state. “I’m looking forward to a change. I’m ready for an adventure,” she said. She was grateful for her experiences at Packer. “All the professional development experience, all the confidence administrators had that you could take on certain jobs along the way — I’ve learned so much here. It’s been amazing.”
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An unprecedented 37 Packer teachers, administrators, and staff members attended the 2019 New York State Association of Independent Schools Diversity Conference, “From Self Awareness to Collective Action: Decentering Whiteness in Our Schools.”
AWARD-WINNING SCIENCE RESEARCH For the first time in recent history, a Packer student has achieved national recognition for her science research. Zoe Rutkovsky ’20 placed third at the U.S. Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. Zoe also represented Packer at the New York City Science and Engineering Fair finals, along with Luca Conetta ’19, Leo Portnoy ’20, and Josh Wittstein ’19. Zoe won the Wiesenthal Foundation Award and the Yale Science and Engineering Association Award. Leo placed first and Zoe and Luca both placed third in their respective categories.
EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS Three Packer students received national medals in the 2019 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Amadi Williams ’21 earned a gold medal for her painting “Just Another Break” [below]. Jake Srebnick ’21 received a gold medal for his photograph “Grand Street” and Simone Menard-Irvine ’21 won silver for her poem “Sad Bad Mad.” Four Packer Middle Schoolers and 38 Upper Schoolers received Gold Key, Silver Key, or Honorable Mention in the New York City Region Scholastic competition.
Health Education, Math, and World Languages Welcome New Leaders
Meet Maria Nunes, Packer’s New Head of Upper School Maria Nunes joins Packer in July as the new Upper School Division Head, replacing José de Jesús, who was appointed in 2014. Most recently, she was an upper school dean and a mathematics and economics teacher at The Spence School. “Maria impressed us with her array of leadership experience both in business and in education; her warm, engaging personal style; and her reputation for bringing intelligence, collaboration, and kindness to her work,” said Head of School Bruce L. Dennis about the hiring decision that he and incoming Head of School Dr. Jennifer Weyburn made together. “She seemed to have it all, and to be an excellent fit for Packer as it moves forward.” Maria comes to education after a highly successful business career in strategic planning, marketing, communications, operations, and financial management. She holds a BA from Yale University, an MBA from Harvard Graduate School, and an MS in education from Bank Street College, and is fluent in Portuguese, French, Spanish, and English — in part the result of her roots in the Cape Verde Islands. She was raised in Connecticut speaking both English and Portuguese and later worked in Brazil, France, and Spain. “I’m excited to help Packer maintain a vibrant Upper School community where each of us looks forward to days filled with joy and school pride,” said Maria. She is energized by Packer’s mission, particularly Think deeply. Speak confidently. Act with purpose and heart. “I love the focus on both academic excellence and personal development since I fundamentally believe that the purpose of an education is to strengthen students’ integrity as well as nurture their minds.”
Bridget Londay has been named Health Department Head. For the past three years, she has worked as a health teacher at Packer. She began her career as an emergency room nurse and later spent several years working in health education and community outreach in the United Arab Emirates and Kenya. Bridget holds a BS in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and an MPH from New York University. Ian Rumsey has been appointed Head of the Mathematics Department. He has been an Upper School math teacher at Packer since 2015. He began his career in education as a history teacher at the Marianapolis Preparatory School in Connecticut and later taught math at The Potomac School and The Bullis School in Maryland. Ian has a BA from the University of Connecticut and an MALS in social science and math from Wesleyan University. He is currently pursuing an MEd in independent school leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. Kathryn Ulmer comes to Packer as the new World Languages Department Head. For the past five years, Kathryn was a French teacher and chair of the world languages department at Milken Community Schools in California. Prior to that she was the assistant head of school and head of middle school at the San Diego French-American School. A native of New England, Kathryn spent what was intended to be a gap year in France but became a 13-year stay. At the Université de Nice, she earned a BA in linguistics and MEd degrees in French as a foreign language and English as a second language. Early in her career, she taught French at Loomis Chaffee in Connecticut and Harvard-Westlake in California and English in Cambodia and Haiti.
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A Very Fond Farewell
Over 400 alumni, parents, faculty, staff, family, and friends attended a garden party in Bruce’s honor on May 30.
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RAOUL BROWN
“I have had the privilege of working alongside Bruce,” said Debbie Juantorena P’19, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “I have been awed by his healthy perspective, his calm, and his sense of self.” She spoke before the hundreds of guests who had gathered to recognize Dr. Dennis. Moments before, the Board of Trustees presented him with a plaque to be installed at the Packer Early Learning Center in the newly-dedicated Bruce L. Dennis Atelier and Rooftop. Celebration Committee Chair and Trustee Cynthia Gardstein ’66 IV Ac introduced a surprise tribute video capturing his many contributions to the School [watch the video at www.packer.edu/farewell]. Jason Dennis, who shares his father’s affinity for humor, introduced “the man of the hour. The lion in winter. The headmaster’s headmaster. Your boss and mine, Dr. Bruce Lawrence Dennis.” Bruce then took to the podium. “Teaching in schools has always felt more like a calling than a job. It’s not just what I do, it’s who I am. So the concept of not doing it anymore is daunting.... I’m going to miss this place more than I can possibly express.”
Top: Bruce with former and current board chairs Tony Bowe P’09, P’13, Debbie Juantorena, P’19, Buzz Doherty P’05, P’07, P’13, Ronan Harty P’15, P’17, P’20, Cynthia Elliott P’99, P’05, his wife Barbara Shapiro, and his son, Jason Dennis. Middle left: Bruce with Ann Martinez and Tawanna Carmichael from Packer’s Dining Services. Bottom right: Bruce with Trustee Anthony Guarna and Debbie Guarna P’18, P’20.
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One of a Kind In his 15-year tenure, Bruce L. Dennis led Packer through two successful strategic plans, expanded its academic and cocurricular programs, doubled its endowment, renovated three-quarters of its existing spaces, and expanded the campus beyond Joralemon Street for the first time in its 174-year history. The world beyond the “old grey ivied walls� took notice.
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Sarah Miller ’13, Keegan Mendez ’13, and Danielle Howell ’13 in one of the newly renovated chemistry labs in 2011.
THE EARLY YEARS One of Bruce’s first commitments as Packer’s ninth Head of School was stated even before he was hired. In a meeting with faculty when he was a finalist, he vowed to improve compensation. “The salary scales...were abysmal for an independent school,” said Chris Rush, Lower School Librarian. “People that had been here for a number of years were making less money than people that were coming in. It was not equitable, and Bruce recognized that. He made a promise.” He executed on that promise within a few years of his arrival in 2004. “He made it so that everybody felt that they were valued,” said Ken Rush, former visual arts teacher. “This was a lot better than [his] being a cheerleader. And in return, Bruce demanded the very best from his faculty,” continued Ken. “He was clearly the most gifted administrator that one could imagine, and I think that that was an example of it.” Ensuring fair compensation fulfilled a cornerstone of the 2006-11 strategic plan, Securing Our Future. Another goal of Bruce’s earlier years was setting a course of continuous improvements to the School’s physical plant, which he initiated in 2007 and continued nearly every summer through 2018, thereby minimizing disruptions during the school year.
The award-winning design of the Middle School building, which opened in 2003, Geoff Pierson’s last year as Head of School, had established a remarkable standard for modern learning spaces that showcased the historic architectural details of the structures in which they existed. During Bruce’s tenure, 84% of the campus was renovated with the same respect for Packer’s history, including nearly every Lower and Upper School classroom, the Science Building [above], the visual arts studios, the libraries, and the main hall. Defining Packer’s educational objectives was another goal that Bruce set in the first strategic plan. Along with an ambitious plan to map the entire curriculum schoolwide, Bruce oversaw the creation of a new mission statement. Unlike many such ‘North Star’ documents, the mission statement written by faculty and approved by Bruce and the Board in 2008 has the unusual distinction of being regularly invoked not only by administrators and faculty, but even by students. Its eloquent and memorable coda — Think deeply, Speak confidently, Act with purpose and heart — captures the essence of what a Packer education aims to develop in each child.
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First in Class By Paul Burke, Head of School, The Nightingale-Bamford School In the early winter of 2008 I was summoned to Bruce’s office. I was a dean of students and a history teacher at the time. Packer had been my school for eight years. I loved it. All parts of it. The students, my colleagues — some of whom had become dear friends. The building itself. Packer was that rare school that had ambition in all the right ways. Careful not to be caught up with itself, here was a school that possessed equal parts humility and expertise, a rare sighting in New York’s private school landscape. I loved Brooklyn, too. My wife and I had recently had twin boys, and we were enjoying starting our family on Clinton Street, in the shadow of Packer. It was within this context that Bruce slid me a job description for Head of Upper School at The Nightingale-Bamford School, and said simply, “Apply. You are ready. My Board might kill me, but you need to be a division head, and we simply don’t have that spot available here.” Three years later, I called Bruce from the phone on my desk in Nightingale’s Upper School Office and I said, “Bruce, what do you think? Should I apply for Nightingale’s Head of School post?” He listened carefully and then suggested we meet. He spent no less than seven hours with me, preparing me for my interview at Nightingale. I was not sure I was up for the job, but Bruce thought otherwise. Herein lies the
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brilliance of Bruce the teacher and Bruce the leader: when it comes to growing people, he believes ahead of the evidence. Bruce started his tenure in 2004 by holding a summertime retreat facilitated by the highly regarded school-leadership guru Barry Jentz. Barry introduced Bruce as “the best organizational thinker” he had ever known. I have worked in independent schools for the entirety of my career, and I join with Barry. Bruce is first in class. Bruce understands the totality of school leadership better than anyone I have met. At Packer, Bruce has pushed power out to others, recognizing that the School’s ambitions could only be met by the efforts of many. He also grabbed the reins when the community needed the clarity of one voice, offering words that provide the comfort needed to educate three year olds and eighteen year olds. Throughout it all, Bruce has been Packer’s unabashed front man. Those who have seen him in action know that that other front-and-center Bruce — the one from New Jersey — has nothing on our Brooklyn version. After all, Springsteen must only share a mic with Patty Scialfa or Little Steven, whereas Dr. Dennis found a way to orchestrate Packer’s conspicuously cacophonous band of thousands. He leaves after a historic tenure. Remarkably, and like few schools, the Packer of 2019 is both true and forwardlooking. I give Bruce a lot of credit for this. For the many of us who count Bruce as our mentor, he has given us this final lesson: leave on top.
Surprise! In February, the faculty and staff threw Bruce a birthday party in the Blackburne Library.
UNCANNY LEADERSHIP QUALITIES Many who have worked with Bruce feel that one of his greatest gifts is his recruiting ability. “If had to put a fine point on [his legacy], I think I would say it’s really attracting, retaining, and filling the School with incredible talent,” said Andrea Kelly, former Assistant Head of School and now head of school at Friends Academy in Locust Valley, NY. “Those are the people who are on the front line, they’re in the classrooms, they’re leading and developing the culture of the School. That is the most important asset that we have as an institution,” said Trustee OhSang Kwon P’17, P’22. “And I credit Bruce with having made those hiring decisions.” “Leadership embodies many things,” said former Board Chair and parent Ronan Harty P’15, P’17, P’20, “but I think it’s the ability to inspire, the ability to connect with people, the ability to speak plainly and speak truthfully — and that people trust what you’re saying. Those are qualities that he displayed from the first time that I saw him.” He also invoked Bruce’s compassionate and confident handling of sensitive issues and moments of tragedy over the years. “It’s largely behind the scenes. Consistently it was a calm, methodical, step-by-step [approach]: ‘Let’s analyze what we have here, let’s do what we can right now, let’s be honest about what we’re facing.’ Bruce’s ability to communicate in a time of crisis was magnificent.”
Former Trustee Carla Shen ’95 P’27 added, “Whether he is giving a extemporaneous talk to parents, or presenting to hundreds of prospective [families], or sending email communications about difficult topics, he just has this way with words. He is honest and straightforward, but in the right moments, he knows exactly when to insert just the right amount of humor.” Senior administrators saw Bruce’s deep experience as a school leader on a daily basis. “He does not get rattled. He has seen it all,” said Elizabeth Hastings, Associate Head of School and Academic Dean. “There’s a sense of security and comfort because of his leadership.” Those who worked closely with him also benefited from his legendary mentoring. Andrea Kelly noted that six Packer administrators who worked with Bruce went on to become heads of school elsewhere: Paul Burke, José De Jesús, Martha Haakmat, Bill Knauer, Matt Nespole, and herself. “He’s really good at being able to see what one’s strengths are and being quite candid when it comes to the areas for growth for an individual,” said Semeka Smith-Williams, who was a Lower School teacher and diversity coordinator before Bruce appointed her to be the Director of Diversity and Equity. “He’s been able to groom a lot of leaders in his time here at Packer. That’s something that will definitely be a part of his legacy.”
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A Leader Who Contains Multitudes By Celeste Tramontin, Upper School English Teacher During a recent Chapel, Packer students witnessed a side of our departing Head of School that many had never before seen. A student-made video announcing the reinstatement of the pelican mascot starred a dazzling Bruce Dennis who — realizing that, with retirement looming, he would soon be out of a job — contemplates running for the mascot position himself. On screen, Bruce hesitantly flaps imaginary wings, straps on a plastic beak, and daydreams about donning the pelican suit and thereby representing the School in a new way. Students went wild, most of them taken, I think, by the incongruence of their normally staid leader so gamely appearing in a student mockumentary. For the kids, this was cognitive dissonance rearing its head. For the faculty, this was just Bruce being Bruce. One of the beautiful things about Bruce Dennis is that, in the words of Walt Whitman, he “is large; he contains multitudes.” He is, indeed, that formidable leader that students know him to be. He has ushered Packer through unprecedented growth in his time here: launching the Packer Early Learning Center, instituting a vibrant Upper School Symposium Program including international travel for all Tenth Graders, and helping make the School so strong and so popular that getting a spot in our Kindergarten is akin to gaining entrance to Stanford. But beyond being a visionary leader, Bruce is also pretty darn funny, deeply kind, and unreservedly committed to the people of Packer. 14 | THE PACKER MAGAZINE
Bruce’s sense of humor is readily apparent to anyone who has attended one of his faculty meetings. His annual recounting of his 10 favorite bumper stickers of summer vacation always draws an equal mixture of laughter and groans. (One classic: “My therapist said that my narcissism causes me to misread social situations. I’m pretty sure she was hitting on me.”) He is, as French teacher Adèle St. Pierre admiringly puts it, “totally old school.” But Bruce also is, in the words of History Department Chair Monika Johnston, a true “mensch,” who has shown incredible compassion and generosity to teachers and staff dealing with personal challenges. When English teacher and cancer survivor Teresa Genaro emailed Bruce after her diagnosis, she found him waiting outside her classroom to offer her a hug and words of encouragement (encouragement that was particularly meaningful coming from a man who himself had battled cancer). Bruce’s support for Teresa went beyond mere condolences when, ever the English teacher, he stepped in and taught Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement to her Advanced Topics in English students when her treatments forced her to stay home. He is, as Teresa said, “extraordinary in times of crisis.” Dean of the Class of 2021 Larissa Dzegar echoed Teresa’s sentiments, saying that after her father’s sudden death last year, Bruce’s generosity in giving her the time she needed to spend with her mother was a balm to her and her family. Hallmaster Louis Rios, whose wife Linda Hellew Continued on page 16
GRAHAM HALL-KEOUGH
Under Bruce’s leadership, a wide range of academic expansions were introduced. The Advanced Topics program emphasized student inquiry through a range of high-level courses, including Dr. Sarah Strauss’s Advanced Topics in Conducting Scholarly Research in the Packer Archives, in which students present original research at the Brooklyn Historical Society, where Packer’s archives are housed.
GROWTH AND STABILITY Throughout the 2000s, Packer, like Brooklyn itself, was a fast-rising star. More families in the borough began to seek out an independent school education there. In addition, more Manhattan-based families looked southward for school options. A 2012 New York Times article even noted a debate that had been simmering for several years: could Packer continue to improve upon its programs, and increasingly compete with top independent schools across the city, while retaining its character as a warm, relationship-driven neighborhood school? Trustee Cynthia Gardstein ’66 IV Ac addressed this question affirmatively. “From the alumni point of view, although the School is great deal changed, we have a really good sense that the foundation that we remember is really being nurtured and advanced.” “Bruce has done an amazing job preserving Packer’s core values,” agreed Carla Shen. “[My daughter] is learning the same core values that I learned years ago…. Packer is still committed to a wonderful education, but also to diversity and inclusion and building a really strong community.” Though the 2008 economic recession did slow the growth of admissions interest for a short while, by 2011, the student body exceeded 1,000 for the first time, with 50% of the new
Ninth Graders coming from outside Brooklyn. Bruce and the Board understood that, in light of the significant increase in admissions applications, it was important to ensure that a Packer education would be accessible to a diverse range of families, and through Bruce’s 15-year tenure, Packer’s financial aid dollars have tripled. Similarly, Bruce recognized the importance of schoolwide programming to amplify and advocate for disparate voices and experiences within the community, and in 2011, he made the Director of Diversity and Equity a full-time senior administrative position. One of Bruce’s other key commitments was to ensure that student quality of life remained strong and balanced amid a demanding academic program. In 2008, he created the Health Education Department, which has grown to four faculty members who teach in every division. Today, Packer is a recognized leader in PreK-12 health education and social-emotional development. ENSURING CONTINUED EXCELLENCE In 2011, Bruce and the Board presented Ensuring Continued Excellence, a strategic plan for the next five years. It called for a wide range of curricular expansions, including more student-centered, project-based learning, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities. Many features of a Packer education
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Three Gifts By Cynthia Gardstein ’66 IV Ac, Trustee I learned a great deal when I was a Packer student many decades ago, but I’d also like to think that I’ve learned a thing or two since. Namely, the importance of three things: innovation, inspiration, and aspiration. Bruce Dennis brought these three gifts to Packer, fostering them throughout our School community. During his tenure as Head of School, Bruce continuously demonstrated his interest in innovations in teaching and learning — not just to be different, but rather, to keep Packer and its programs vibrant, dynamic, and reflective of our times. He also knew the importance of adapting new ideas so that they complemented the School’s existing strengths. What a gift! I have observed Bruce serving as an inspiration to all — motivating faculty, parents, students, and trustees. He achieved this in countless ways, often with his (mostly) spot-on sense of humor, and always with honesty, trustworthiness, and vision. His leadership was unwavering, and that has inspired great confidence in those around him, time and time again. What a gift! Aspirations, ambitions, targets — whatever word you use, Bruce urged faculty, staff, and administrators to aim high, which in turn helped our students achieve more. He aspired to his own excellence and nurtured it in others. Bruce never deemed a goal too idealistic or ambitious to pursue. What a gift! Everyone who knows me knows how much I love Packer. Certainly, there have been many changes since I first walked through those wonderful doors on Joralemon Street. Some aspects of Packer may seem unrecognizable to my
fellow alums, but the foundation and values we love have remained firm. I am frequently on campus, and I can say first hand that the School remains committed to striking that careful balance between rigorous academics and personal relationships, a balance that has defined Packer for generations. When Bruce came to Packer in 2004, he promised to help bring Packer “from good to great.” With these three gifts — and many others, of course — he did just that. Packer has never been stronger than it is today. So, thank you, Bruce. What a gift indeed.
Continued from page 14 was Bruce’s assistant for 14 years, called Bruce “the nicest man [he has] ever met,” pointing to Bruce’s generosity and his care for Linda, who has also battled cancer. Bruce is a mensch, indeed. Bruce is also, as history teacher Ryan Carey says: “a man who finds a way to say yes,” and who is willing to “throw in” financially and institutionally when teachers and students are passionate about a project that will enhance student learning. Bruce’s “yes” has led to a new fly-fishing club, increased funding for the debate team, and financed student trips to see Hamilton, The Color Purple, and several off-Broadway shows. When students in the Theatre Matters Symposium proposed holding a cabaret to raise money for refugees, Bruce, without prompting, offered upfront funds so that students wouldn’t have to spend money out of pocket to launch their event.
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Bruce was also willing to “throw in” during the ping-pong craze of 2010. When the School’s purchase of two new ping-pong tables led multitudes of Packer students and staff to become ping-pong obsessed, Bruce was often found in the Atrium Overlook, battling students and faculty alike with his Forrest Gump-like skills. The culmination of the craze occurred on the Chapel stage when Bruce took on a student champ and battled to a thrilling climax (whose ending now escapes me). So, although Bruce joked about becoming the Pelican, in many ways his tenure here has been marked by the symbolic qualities of that odd school mascot. Lore has it that the mother pelican, a symbol of selflessness, will strike her own breast and feed her young her blood to sustain them. Bruce has fed and sustained us for his 15 years here, and we will miss his selflessness, his humor, and his deep humanity.
Under Bruce’s leadership, community engagement evolved into a regular practice of student advocacy on a range of issues. In 2016, Bruce granted the request of these Lower Schoolers, who asked for his help in recreating an outdoor rock garden that had been replaced with a new greenhouse.
developed as a result: the three-year Independent Science Research program; faculty-authored Advanced Topics Courses, which replaced the College Board’s Advanced Placement program; and interdisciplinary electives such as the Scientific and Historical Origins of Race and Gender. Expanding experiential learning that takes place “beyond the classroom walls” was another key commitment of the second strategic plan. Starting in 2014, with the implementation of the Upper School’s Symposium and the Middle School’s WinterSession, regular classes were suspended for several days every January so that small groups of students and faculty could intensively pursue less traditional topics and travel more widely around the city. “Bruce’s vision for global learning has meant getting students out of the classroom and into the field, visiting local community organizations where students can engage with the people who live there,” said Andrew Parson, who runs the Tenth Grade International Symposium. In 2014, the Tenth Grade experienced a week-long cultural immersion in Andalucia, Spain. As of this year, the program brings half the class to Greece and half to Peru, where students interact with locals and focus on immigration, climate change, and other pressing real-world issues. The program is provided to every Tenth Grader at no additional cost [see story on page 5].
More than many other curricular advances of the Dennis years, the International Symposium sets Packer apart. “No other school in the city is doing that,” said Sheila Bogan, Director of Middle and Upper School Admissions. Prospective families have taken note, as have other schools that are eager to follow Packer’s lead. To help support this program and deepen Packer’s international travel program, as well as schoolwide engagement with Packer’s local community, Bruce created the position of Director of Global Learning and Community Engagement. Since 2015, Tené Howard ’97 has led a major overhaul of the community service program from Preschool through Twelfth Grade, emphasizing students’ capacity to be leaders and change agents. “These were parts of our program that Bruce had a passion for. He knew how much they impacted the young people in our School,” said Tené. Bruce also recognized the importance of investing in Packer’s present and future by supporting the growth of the School’s philanthropic programs. Annual Giving more than tripled, from $800,000 to nearly $3 million, during Bruce’s tenure. Through an initiative to double the endowment, which was completed in 2015, Bruce and the Board of Trustees “ensured the School’s continued success and financial security,” said Sara Shulman, Director of Development.
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A Compassionate Confidant and Mentor By Noah Reinhardt, Assistant Head of School and Middle School Division Head When Bruce first came to Packer, he made a point of meeting with as many people in the community as possible. He asked all of us the same three questions: What’s most important about Packer that should stay the same? What’s something that should change? What would take Packer from good to great? Sitting with him that first time, I was anxious because I was introducing myself to my new boss and I wanted him to know how much I knew and understood about the School. I remember thinking how honest that space with him felt, and how important it was to share what I really thought to be true about Packer. I also was aware, as we sat together for the first time, that this was going to be the beginning of one of the most important, sustained relationships of my career. The significance of that relationship has manifested in so many ways over the years. I have had the opportunity to learn from Bruce and to sit with him as he navigated complex decisions and juggled competing agendas and priorities. A number of people have commented on how well Bruce handles crises, and it’s true. That’s one of the things
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I admire most about him. Even in the most strained times, when the path forward is least clear, Bruce does an extraordinary job of rallying people around a common vision and moving forward with clarity and purpose. In addition to Bruce’s ability to stay calm under pressure, I admire his courage and willingness to enter into and to sustain any conversation about anything with anyone, and his ability to do so with full confidence that he will reach the other side of it even if he’s not sure where it will end. On a less important but equally impressive note, I envy Bruce’s ability to speak in full sentences, without tangential asides. Fourteen years into working with him and I’m still not even close. When Bruce talks about his legacy at Packer, he most often talks about the hires he’s made and cites those of us who will carry on the work of the School after he’s gone. What he doesn’t talk about as much is the support he’s given to so many of us, and the growth that so many of us have had under his leadership. I appreciate his willingness to mentor the people who work most closely with him, to talk with us about our hopes and dreams, and to help us realize them in our professional lives, both at Packer and beyond. He is the most supportive mentor that I’ve ever had. Of all of the aspects of Bruce’s legacy, I think that that will ultimately be the most significant piece.
Bruce reads to the Class of 2033 at the new Packer Early Learning Center at 100 Clinton Street.
A BOLD CAMPUS VISION One of the most visible legacies of Bruce’s tenure is reflected in the campus itself. In 2014, Bruce and the Board purchased a two-story building at 100 Clinton Street, where they planned to create the Packer Early Learning Center, a state-of-the-art space for Packer’s Preschool and Kindergarten classes, which for decades had been located in the Garden House on the southeast corner of the campus. “Bruce was a champion for this new space, a champion for allowing us to really create the space according to our vision of how young children learn best,” said Bill McCarthy, Head of Preschool and Lower School. Denise Schwed, Director of Preschool and Lower School Admissions, agreed. He was “so instrumental in making it all happen.” This historic move represented the culmination of Bruce’s vision because it allowed a complete reimagining of the relationship between the Garden House and the rest of the campus. This April, Bruce and the Board presented early plans not only to expand the Garden House but also to redesign the Garden itself. While the specific details of the spaces will be shaped by Bruce’s successor, Dr. Jennifer Weyburn, and groundbreaking is still a year away, the final landmark achievement of Bruce’s tenure “will have a huge impact on Packer’s future,” in the words of Carla Shen.
LASTING LEGACIES As Bruce’s final year as Head of School comes to a close, those who worked most closely with him sought to express his impact. Former Board Chair Tony Bowe P’09, P’13 shared a letter he wrote to Bruce when he stepped down in 2008: “To see great baseball, you go to Yankee Stadium. To hear great musicians, you go to Carnegie Hall. To watch Bruce at work at Packer was to see a great leader at the top of his chosen game.” “He strengthened the School in every corner,” said Andrea Kelly. “His fingerprints are all over Packer and will be for a really, really long time.” “Packer was a great school when Bruce got here 15 years ago. He has only taken it to greater heights,” said Ronan Harty. Current Board Chair Debbie Juantorena P’19 noted how skillfully Bruce balanced the perspectives of the School’s many constituents. “Through it all, his commitment and passion for Packer, and all of us, has been unwavering. He has always been guided by one fundamental principle—doing what he believes is best for Packer.” P A school administrator for most of his career, Bruce will continue to be involved in education as a consultant to Carney, Sandoe & Associates, an international search firm. When he’s not helping schools recruit new leaders, he plans to take piano lessons and spend more time with his wife, Barbara.
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Packer has many beloved programs and traditions, some of them over a century old. Still, you might be surprised to learn how many innovations and milestones originated in...
The Dennis Years STRATEGIC PLAN 2006–11
Securing Our Future calls for competitive faculty compensation, increased annual giving and financial aid, and more.
GLOBAL LEARNING
Partnership with Ndonyo Wasin Primary School in Kenya is established.
Bruce L. Dennis formally installed as Packer’s ninth Head of School. NYSAIS 10-year re-accreditation: “Packer is academically challenging, yet flexible enough to take on new ideas. You give sensitivity to diverse opinions, and attention to
students’ creative, social, and emotional development.”
2004
2005
PHILANTHROPY
The Packer Parent Association honors First Grade teacher Irene Turner with the inaugural Excellence in Teaching Award.
2006
GLOBAL LEARNING
Partnership with ArtWorks for Youth in South Africa is established.
2007
Bruce’s Tenure, By The Numbers
1,500 speeches given 20 | THE PACKER MAGAZINE
2,400 alumni welcomed
“...Think deeply, Speak confidently, Act with purpose and heart”
Enrollment exceeds
1,000 students
A new Mission Statement is crafted by faculty and adopted by the Board of Trustees. Bruce competes in the Upper School ping-pong competition.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
CAMPUS
Health Education Department is created.
The Packer Garden is certified as a National Wildlife Habitat.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Students in the new Independent Science Research Program present their findings at the first annual Science Symposium. PHILANTHROPY
A student scholarship honoring English Teacher Linda Gold is created with a gift by an anonymous donor.
2008
2,250 events attended
2009
STRATEGIC PLAN 2006–11
Ensuring Continued Excellence calls for project-based learning, physical expansion, and more.
2010
2011
185,661 square feet renovated SUMMER 2019 | 21
PHILANTHROPY
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
The Packer Symposium is introduced, giving Upper School students 10 days of intensive learning experiences beyond the regular classroom, along with WinterSession, a similar three-day program in the Middle School.
Packer endowment doubled to
$30 million
Tené Howard ’97 is hired to fill a new senior administrative role, Director of Global Programs and Community Engagement. Bruce takes the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. PHILANTHROPY
Packer Annual Giving exceeds
$2 million
CAMPUS
Packer purchases 100 Clinton Street to build dedicated preschool learning spaces.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
The first team-taught interdisciplinary electives, Video Journalism and Scientific and Historical Origins of Race and Gender, are offered.
2012
80% of current faculty and staff hired 22 | THE PACKER MAGAZINE
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Packer’s NYSAIS 10-year Re-Accreditation Report states: “Leadership... is remarkably strong and marked with extraordinary commitment. The whole tone of the School speaks to a rich combination of optimism and ambition.”
The Advanced Topics Program is created, replacing Advanced Placement classes with facultyauthored courses of equivalent or increased rigor.
2013
2014
454 guests greeted at
2015
his retirement party
CAMPUS
The Packer Early Learning Center opens, housing all of the School’s Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. CAMPUS
Renovation plans for the Packer Garden and Garden House are unveiled.
Boys Varsity Basketball wins the State Championship.
“...an environment in which all students feel safe, challenged, celebrated, and an integral part of Packer”
Justice Anthony Kennedy speaks at Packer’s 170th Commencement. GLOBAL LEARNING
International Symposium takes all Tenth Graders to Greece and Peru for hands-on partnerships with local NGOs.
Packer’s Diversity Mission Statement is adopted.
2016
2017
112 athletics championships celebrated
2018
2019
600 classrooms visited
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Alumni News
First row: Marcus Agard, Nina Gresl, Kaitlyn Vincent, Elizabeth Owens Second row: Mariah Lamm (Guest), Jocelin (Joey) Ludolph, Aviya Hernstadt, Madeleine (Maddy) Yi, Dean of the Class of 2014 Andrew Parson Third row: Tassin Braverman, Catharine Strong, Anna Serena Baum, Allison Rainsby, James (Jamie) Boucher Back row: Joshua (Josh) Kotran, Michael Duffy, Brandon Ortiz, Miles Chinitz, Gordon Waldman, Henry Russell, Brandon Katz
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Bringing the Bronx to Brooklyn — and the World Lillian Rodriguez Lopez ’79 has devoted her career to representing and supporting the Latinx community. She served as the president of the Hispanic Federation for eight years and the chair of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda for three years, and has previously being recognized by People en Español as one of the “25 Most Powerful Hispanic Women” and as one of the “25 Most Influential Hispanics” in the U.S. Lillian now works in the corporate sector, supporting government relations and communications for CC1 Companies, a Latinx-owned food and beverage company with varied enterprises across Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean. She previously served as the director of Latin affairs and as vice president of stakeholder relations for the Coca-Cola Company. She currently serves on the boards of the Latino Community Fund Georgia and La Amistad, among others, and she co-chairs the Hispanic Advisory Council of the Nielsen Corporation. At the 2019 Reunion, Lillian was presented with the Alumni Award of Honor, and shared the story of her path to Packer: When I came here, I was a scholarship student with A Better Chance. I lived in the Bronx. My mother was an elementary school teacher. The day before I was going to start at Packer was the first time I saw the School. It was a Sunday and there was subway track work, so we had to take the bus and two trains to get there. We got in front of the School, this really impressive, beautiful brick building, and my mother looked at me — I’m 13 years old and going into the Tenth Grade — and she said, “You are not coming here. This is too far.” And I looked at my beloved mom and said, “Yes, I am!” My entire experience at Packer was about resilience, opportunity, and experiences. The 70s were tough in the city, but I came to this School, and it was safe, caring, and compassionate like my home, but presented a whole new world for me. I remember singing in the Packer Chorus, and requiring my family to come from the Bronx to hear me at the concerts. I also did contemporary dance here. That’s what Packer was about. It was about enrichment, it was about learning, it was about exploration, and I have carried it all through my career and my life: What it means to take challenges. What it means to experiment and not allow yourself the ‘no.’ Challenging yourself to take it further, to take it to the next step. I would tell my colleagues and teams that I’ve led, “It’s not about perfection — but it is about striving for excellence and being the best person you can be.”
I’ve done a lot of work in diversity and inclusion, and I know a lot about inclusion at Packer. I want to say something to you: it wasn’t always easy. Students would say to me, “What are you going to do for Spring Break? We’re going to Vermont” or “we’re going to Vail” or “we’re going to Italy.” And I would say, “I will be in my house, reading books that I took out of the library.” But it was about learning about different ways of living and using that as aspiration, so that when I could travel, I did, because I knew it was something important that would enrich my family. When I first came [to Packer] in the 70s, we had just come out of the civil rights movement. [White] students would sometimes tease us and say, “Oh, you people. You people always do that.” Victoria (Vickie) Browne-Moore ’79 said, “We need to do something.” Packer allowed us to be in this Chapel to do a skit called “You People” in front of the whole school. And when I think back on that, it shaped my voice. [The skit] taught me the power of communication, but more importantly, the power of inclusion and the power of acceptance. And I’ve carried that throughout my life when I ask myself, “how do we make people feel welcome, how do we create understanding, and how do we allow for each person to value their place in this society?” Thank you, Packer, for that enrichment of who I am, for allowing me to have such an amazing education, and for being one of the few institutions that I value so much in this city. Packer truly cares about students’ education, and also cares about diversity. I am a product of The Packer Collegiate Institute.
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Awardee Harriette (Hap) Peper Thayer ’64 with Alumni Board Association President Geoff Brewer ’82, her former student, and Susan Eisenstein Batterton.
Harriette Peper Thayer ’64 Recognized for Service Packer alumni may know this year’s Joan Buehler Eisenstein ’51 Award recipient as Harriette Peper, Miss Peper, or simply, Hap. Hap Peper Thayer ’64 grew up in Brooklyn in a Packer family. Her mother, Harriette Shaw Peper ’40, was an alumna, and her brother, Franklyn Shawn Peper, attended the Preschool and Lower School. Hap graduated from Packer as a “lifer” and went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Unable to stay away from her first alma mater, she returned in 1968 to serve as a member of the faculty for over a decade — first as a Sixth Grade assistant teacher, then a Middle School social studies teacher, and eventually, as a head teacher. A devoted teacher in the classroom, Hap also dedicated herself to the Packer alumni community as a member of the Alumni Board, a Class Agent, and as a Class Correspondent. Packer’s honorary service award was established in 2006 by the Joan and Howard Eisenstein family in recognition of an individual who demonstrates outstanding generosity, leadership, and service to the school. Susan Eisenstein Batterton, Joan and Howard’s daughter, presented the award to Hap at Reunion, along with Alumni Board Director Emerita Ellin Rosenzweig ’52. The Packer Magazine asked Hap to reflect on her days at Packer and her continued relationship with the School. Which teachers influenced you and how? Mrs. Balsam and Mr. Siok in the Arts Department. (I was an art editor for PCI [Packer Current Items], the student arts and
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literature magazine). Also, Ms. Meg Berger for history; [what I learned from her] carried over to what I taught in the Middle School. How was the transition from being a student to being a teacher? Getting acclimated was hard because many of the teachers I had as a student, and addressed as “Miss,” “Mrs.,” or “Mr.,” wanted me to address them by their first name! What is your favorite space at Packer? The Chapel and the beautiful green Garden with benches and trees. It was 1950 when I entered Packer’s nursery school. Our classroom was in the small building [currently known as the Garden House] in the corner of the Garden. What motivates you to stay in touch with the Packer community and give back to your alma mater? I came back to teach in the fall of 1968, [former Head of School] Jack Skillman’s first year, and taught for 10 years, so I remained close to the School. I got involved with the Alumni Board and I kept writing my Class Notes column. I still correspond with Packer friends all over the country. Looking back, what was your favorite thing about Packer? The ethics, ideals, and self-worth that I was fortunate enough to learn from my experience at Packer have stayed with me my entire life. And of course, the lifelong friends I made.
1974 Diane DeVito Schimmer, Sylvia Regina Ellis, Kristi Pfister-Hill, Sarah Woodfin Wynn, Ellen Segall Weiss, Jean Yglesias, Barbara Freund Santino, Arlene Malins, Susan Kerner 1954 Jeanette Kittel Lendl, Barbara Johnson Cass, Mina Cory Kahofer 1964 IVAc Suzanne Louer Whelpley, Harriette (Hap) Peper Thayer 1969 Nancy Berke Lee, Leslie Peck Addicks 1979 Robert Dewey, Lillian Rodriguez-Lopez, James Cameron, Denise Granowitter 1984 Tati Nguyen, Adam Snyder, Maja Paumgarten Elizabeth (Liz) Gaffney, Victoria (Tori) Wagman
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1999 Front row: Johnny R. Martin-Alexander, Jenny Halper, Susan Birnbaum Fisher, Zoe Lovell-Othen, Joshua Segal Middle row: Katherine (Katie) Koshetz Price, Alexandra Snook, Elizabeth (Liz) Sullivan, Jade Sanchez-Ventura, Adrienne Ellman, Julia Mills Levine Back row: Katharine Critchlow Hylton, Jessica A. Stewart, Sarah E. Henkel, Tom Fennell (former faculty), Katherine Maas, Lucy Kreutz, Gavin Duncan, Mitchell (Mitch) Cadena and his daughter.
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1994 Front row: Alewa Cooper, Daoud Brathwaite, Alexis Aguayo Goldstein, Sebastian Blanck, Deirdre Maloney, Mia Anderson Middle row: Jason Rosas, Jessica Beckett-McWalter, Rachel Benson, Harry (Hank) Simmons Back row: Jessica Levey, Daphne Vardakis Bernstein, Lisa Bordoff Procopio, Elizabeth (Liz) Delsman Hunter
2009 Front row: Annabelle Baylin, Louis Minsky, Julia Stark, Deandra Tan, Matthew Bowen Second row: Heather Croy, Melissa Tandy, Jennifer Miller, Benjamin Marcu Back row: Genevieve Uselander, Tiffany Zarabi-Aazam Javaheri, Chloe Salidore, Gus Bowe 2004 Colin Laughlin, Amanda K. Harper, Alexa Verme, Samantha Wasko Dodds Below right: Former visual arts faculty member Ken Rush led alumni on an architectural tour of Packer’s public and hidden treasures.
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On the Road
1
3
2
4
1. David Minder, former Director of Development Lynn Bunis, Barbara Tate Cerato ’59 IVAc, ’61 Co, and Susan Boecher McConnell ’80 in Miami Beach. 2. Ann Greener Ottaviano ’53, Martha Ann Luther Argue ’62 IVAc, Michele Chisena Schiraldi ’61 IVAc, David Minder, Dorothy Napp Schindel ’59 IVAc, and Peggy Lewis Dennis ’43 in Vero Beach.
3. Diane Sapega Silver ’73 IVAc, Mary Lou Carlstedt Barnes ’55 IVAc, ’57 Co, and Louise Benvenuto ’70 IVAc in Palm Beach. 4. In March, David Minder and Alumni Board President Geoffrey Brewer ’82 (standing) visited Washington, DC for a luncheon with more than 15 alumni representing the Class of 1948 through the Class of 2012.
Alumni Board Welcomes New Members We are proud to announce the two most recent additions to Packer’s Alumni Board, beginning in 2019-20. Ronnette Hope ’07 received her BA at Northwestern and her MLIS at Pratt Institute. She currently works as a library associate at The Chapin School, working with librarians to provide an integrated curricular program for the students. Ronnette has been a dedicated volunteer at Packer, giving her time and feedback to a variety of programs. She serves as a mentor and participant in our Pelicans of Color alumni group, is a past Reunion Chair, and continues to serve as a Class Correspondent. Melissa Tandy ’09 received her BA at Smith College. She now works in accounting for “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” at NBCUniversal Media. Melissa has been an integral part of the Young Alumni Events Committee, providing feedback and participating in programs for recent graduates. Melissa is also a member of the Pelican Society and a Class Agent, and recently served as a Reunion Chair for her 10th Reunion.
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Welcome, Dr. Weyburn! This spring, incoming Head of School Jennifer Weyburn spent several days at Packer getting to know the community. She attended the 137th Packer Reunion and met with parents from all divisions at two informal Q&As. She also spent time with senior administrators, representatives of the Faculty-Staff Advisory Committee, incoming Upper School Head Maria Nunes, and members of the current and 2019-20 Upper School Student Councils. One highlight of her visit was attending a Middle School Chapel, where she participated in a rapid-fire interview with Eighth Grade members of the Middle School Student Council.
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170 Joralemon Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 250-0200 www.packer.edu
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