PARK
pioneer WINTER EDITION
|
2022
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
I
am pleased to share with you the latest edition of the Park Pioneer. Within the pages of this year’s magazine, you will hear from school leadership, meet a few of our dynamic faculty members, learn about our current seniors — the Class of 2022, and much more. This year’s edition also contains the 2020/21 Report on Giving in which we celebrate the hundreds of donors who so generously supported Park last year.
In the midst of all of this, Park was able to strengthen and grow, thanks to increased enrollment, generous donations, and strong leadership.
The 2020/21 school year certainly looked different for all of us at Park. We were challenged in ways we’d never before experienced as we continued to work through the complications brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. We were laser-focused on ensuring our students were safe and cared for during this difficult time, whether they were learning on campus or from home. We were reminded again and again that Park matters and that our community is second to none through all the incredible support that you, our wonderful community members, provided in so many ways. And in the midst of all of this, Park was able to strengthen and grow, thanks to increased enrollment, generous donations, and strong leadership. It was quite a year, to say the least. Right before last year’s Pioneer went to print, the School announced that Keith Frome was named Acting President and Lisa Conrad was named permanent Head of School. Both Keith and Lisa have now been in their new roles for more than six months and their impact on the School has been immediate and remarkable. As we work to get back to a new normal and plan for more Park School events, I hope you’ll have the opportunity to meet them both soon. Should you have questions or comments, please contact me anytime at kruppel@theparkschool.org or 716.839.1243 x130. Thank you, one and all, for continuing to believe in and support Park! With appreciation,
Kim Ruppel Director of Development
PARK
pioneer Head of School: Lisa Conrad Acting President: Keith Frome Pioneer Editor + Designer: Kim Ruppel Contributors: Elle Bader-Gregory ‘22, Jason Bird, Emma Cejka ‘23, Lisa Conrad, Keith Frome, Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66, Jaime Herbeck, Jarret Izzo ‘03, Harry Lipsitz ‘10, Finn Maras ‘22, Kim Ruppel Printing: Zenger Group The Park Pioneer magazine is published annually by the Development Office at The Park School of Buffalo. © Copyright 2022 The Park School of Buffalo. All rights reserved. No content from this publication may be reproduced or reprinted in any form without the express written consent of The Park School.
On the cover: Art teacher Kyle Polaske and Park’s Kindergarten class explore one of the outdoor classrooms on campus for artistic inspiration.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
A Dynamic Leadership Duo: Messages from Lisa Conrad and Keith Frome
5
A Letter from Jason Bird, Board of Trustees President
6
Strategic Plan Preview
7
A Tribute to Gretchen Gross
8
A Tribute to Teresa Miller
9
Admissions & Family Engagement
10
Legacy Students at Park
11
Meet Keith Frome
13
Art is in Everything
17
A Day in the Bungalow
23
Faculty Focus: Meet Dr. Brianna Cornelius, Steve George ‘97, and Carl Lew
26
Introducing The Class of 2022
31
Kadimah Scholars @ Park: An Update
33
The Hertha Ball Writer-in-Residence Program
34
Alumni Association News from Harry Lipsitz ‘10
35
Class Notes
38
In Memoriam
39
2020/21 Report on Giving
49
Reunion 2022
50
From the Archives
LISA CONRAD
I
Head of School
t is truly a pleasure to serve as the Head of School here at The Park School. The last 17 months have brought in uncharted waters in education and required us to focus on the health and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff more than ever before. But every day, I am reminded of what an exceptional place we have here at Park.
Our students are active, engaged creators of their own educational experience, demonstrating how thoughtful, caring, confident, creative, and courageous they can be on a daily basis. They use their voices to share their knowledge and tackle big questions, both inside and outside the classroom. Each student’s story and learning experience is unique and encouraged at Park, nurtured by a highly committed and dedicated faculty and staff. This school year, we are continuing with our COVID-19 protocols and these protocols have proven to be successful. Everything we do during our day – whether it’s wearing a mask, wiping a desk down, staying socially distant during lunch, or bundling up to be outside – contributes to our success. Our students are in-person, and we are slowly re-introducing events and activities that are traditions at the School. Go-to-school nights, plays, and concerts have returned, and it feels good - REALLY good - to be able to do these things. We had the opportunity to host Scholastic author Claribel Ortega earlier in the fall, and she held an in-person book talk with our students and their families. Shortly before this publication went to print, we held our first choral and instrumental concert with a live audience in nearly two years, and while it looked different from before the pandemic, the joyful energy was still there. We have also added to our sports programs this year, with the inception of Middle School cross country and a basketball team for students in Kindergarten through Grade 2. In early December, our Grades 3 and 4 basketball team won their game in triple overtime by a score of 6-4. While it was heartwarming to see our students’ happiness at their victory, the real joy came from seeing our community come together again in the gym to support one another. You see, these events are happening because of Park’s proven track record of implementing strategies to mitigate any potential outbreaks of COVID. We have a strong community of individuals who work together to ensure our students are receiving the best education possible, while also staying healthy. There is no doubt that this pandemic has challenged educators and students in ways we never thought possible. But amidst these challenges, we saw our community step up and answer the call to be brave, responsible, understanding, and kind when faced with this invisible threat. Park has always sought to do more than transform our students as learners. We have also worked to teach our students to be good, kind, and caring people who will go out and help improve our world. Never have the fruits of that labor been more apparent than they are right now. These lessons will last well beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Perhaps the most important lesson of the pandemic was realizing just how capable we are. We learned how to keep our community healthy, communicating constantly and setting up weekly testing clinics. Teachers learned to prepare lessons and teach them to students in-person and remotely. Our students learned to adapt to new settings - including playing sports without spectators, and instruments without an audience. While those were not easy things for any of us to do, we did them together and we are a stronger community because of those experiences. And at the end of the day, Park’s community is our most valuable and treasured asset.
Describe Keith in three words: Intelligent, kind,
and multi-talented (he writes poetry, raps, plays the guitar, writes actual books, and cycles). Can I say four? He is quite funny. Can I say five? Well-dressed is on the list too.
What has it been like working with Keith these past six months? I used to say that Park got the
Tom Brady of school leadership when Keith came on board. I still feel that way. Any time I need guidance, advice, or I just want to ask about what he would do in certain situations, since he has a great deal of leadership experience, I walk away feeling like I am able to see things so clearly. He gives great perspective on so many things, and I am so thankful. I also continue to admire his demeanor with our Park students, from our littlest ones to our oldest, and how he treats each with such respect and kindness. I’ve watched him jump right in at Park, dressing up for Halloween, attending sports games, and most recently, breaking out the warm winter clothes so he can be outside and walk the campus, greeting our students every day. Even though we have different responsibilities, he often asks me “how can I help?” or “what can I do?” and I appreciate that so much.
Keith is great at...listening. I know this from personal
experience and from watching him with faculty, staff, and admin. It is a truly wonderful trait!
KEITH FROME Acting President
T
here are two narratives that have guided me as an educator throughout my career. The first story can be found in Kierkegaard’s fable of the Knight of Faith in his book Fear and Trembling. I told this story to the Park faculty when I met with them for the first time the past summer. Kierkegaard, a 19th-century Danish philosopher, describes two knights —both poor and humble — who desire a beautiful and wealthy princess. The first knight understands that he will never in his lifetime win the hand of the princess. Nevertheless, he also acknowledges that he loves the princess and to be authentic to that love he dedicates his life to wooing her and her alone, knowing that success is impossible. Kierkegaard calls this first knight the knight of infinite resignation. We admire this knight, for it is courageous to dedicate your energies to a pursuit which you know from the outset is worthy but perhaps futile. The second knight is equally poor and powerless and as unlikely to win the hand of the princess. This second knight knows that his love is authentic and he decides to dedicate his life to pursuing the princess’s hand. The difference is that this second knight awakens every morning fully expecting the seemingly impossible to happen. He greets each day as the day when the princess will take his hand in marriage. Kierkegaard labels this second knight the knight of faith. The second story is about generosity. Franz Kafka is regarded by many to be the defining novelist of the 20th century who captured modernity’s sense of the absurd and alien nature of everyday life through classic stories like the “Metamorphosis” where the hero wakes up one morning to discover that he has become a giant insect.
Describe Lisa in three words: Energetic; engaged; empathetic.
What has it been like working with Lisa these past six months? Having been in the school
leadership business for quite a while, and witnessing much exhaustion and cynicism, I have been so refreshed to work with a young leader who brings such enthusiasm and hope to her work and to her profession. Lisa is a happy warrior who dedicates every waking hour to creating a sense of place for her students and faculty. I choose the word “place” very deliberately because in education we use the word “space” a lot but space is empty while a place is full; space is general and a place is particular (while we may go to space, we always visit a place); space is anywhere and a place is somewhere. A place is where you make meaning and sow community. We don’t ever invite people to a “space at the table.” We tell them: you always have a “place at the table.” Lisa works very hard to ensure everyone has a place at the Park table.
Lisa is great at...digging in, rolling up her sleeves,
unflinchingly facing challenges, and solving problems.
Needless to say, Kafka was a serious writer on a serious mission. During the last year of his life fighting tuberculosis and struggling to write and finish several novels, he took a walk in a local park in Berlin and came upon a small girl weeping on a bench because she had lost her doll. Kafka told her that the doll was not lost but that it had embarked on a journey and the doll had in fact recently sent him a letter. The child stopped crying but told Kafka she needed proof (she was an evidenced-based child as it were) so Kafka promised that the next day he would return with the letter. He spent the rest of the day composing a letter from the doll - taking great care to recreate just the right voice of a doll on a long voyage. He returned to the park the next day with the letter and read it to the girl. The letter explained that the doll had grown weary of living with the same family year after year and that the doll needed to have different experiences. Kafka stopped his own work to write a daily letter from the doll and delivered it to the girl for nearly three weeks, each missive precisely calibrated to lead the girl to finally understand that the doll, like all people, had to leave home in order to grow and to individuate. The last letter explained that the doll had met a young man and married him. Kafka died within the year; his manuscripts left unfinished. These two stories orient my moral compass as an educator. When I adopt the knight of faith attitude, the seemingly impossible, over time, starts to happen. Or, at least, it begins to budge. Kafka’s letters from a lost doll represent the ultimate artistic sacrifice because he understood the terminal nature of his illness. Time was very precious to him. Kafka chose to use his time and talent to heal rather than to seek fame (he ordered all of his unfinished manuscripts to be burned upon his death). I have found my new colleagues at Park to possess an abundance of talent and, like most educators, very little time. They all do possess generosity and faith. Like Kafka, they choose to funnel that talent — one student at a time (such is the pleasure and privilege of schools that are small by design) — to stretch and to grow and to heal, to burrow back, that is, to the root of the word “opportunity” which refers to favorable winds that blow a vessel safely back to port. And like Kierkegaard’s Knight of Faith, they come to this magical campus looking for and expecting the impossible to happen.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2021/22 Board of Trustees Greetings Park Community, The ways individuals and institutions respond when facing adversity are character defining moments, full of insights. The Park School Board of Trustees and I could not be prouder of the way the School has collectively worked together to embrace the challenges that have come with navigating COVID-19 over the last two years. The energy and focus exhibited by faculty, staff, and administrators to safely facilitate a quality in-person academic program for Park students have taken a level of collaboration and teamwork only evident in high performing organizations. This deserves to be acknowledged and prominently recognized. I would like to formally thank Keith Frome, Acting President, and Lisa Conrad, Head of School, for their commitment and leadership. Dr. Frome has significantly enhanced Park’s ability to deliver strategically, infusing our efforts with valuable perspective as we collectively build a sustainable and thriving future. Mrs. Conrad has been a confident and engaging academic leader, determined to take advantage of tactical opportunities that deliver value for students and families at every turn.
Jason Bird, President
Sheryl Davies, Vice President
Cecily Rodriguez, Secretary
Cheri Carter, Treasurer
Christie Witt Berardi
Madeline Connors ’11
Sustainable excellence in all strategic areas is the mission of the Park School Board of Trustees, which ultimately is manifested in student outcomes. Park students are innovators and value creators in the making. Our rigorous and nurturing experiential learning environment is an incubator for socially conscious entrepreneurs, scientists, technologists, artists, engineers, and philanthropists-to-be. These are the everyday returns on the investments made possible by all the tangible and intangible contributors to the organization.
Gil Dickoff
The Board of Trustees and I take great pride in our role, responsibility, and privilege in serving The Park School, and with over a century of successful outcomes and so much promise in cultivation, I believe our greatest chapter is being written today, and our best days are yet to come. I look forward to further engagement with all of you and hope to see you on campus soon.
David Taylor
David Draper
Joel Moore ’99
Melissa Archer, Park Parents Association Representative
Stay positive, test negative, and I wish you all a rewarding 2022. Harry Lipsitz ’10, Alumni Association Representative
Jason L. Bird, President Park School Board of Trustees
Isaiah Davies ’22, Student Representative Macarena Fritz-Cefaratti, Faculty Representative Beth Jeswald, Faculty Representative
A Comprehensive Plan for PARK A Preview of the Strategic Plan
After an inclusive conversation with hundreds of stakeholders about the potential and possibility of the School, Dr. Keith Frome has assembled a vision for Park’s future. Through focus groups with alumni, parents, students, faculty, administrators, trustees, former trustees, foundation members, former parents, and key supporters, these conversations yielded a remarkable consensus on Park’s values and assets; its challenges; and its incredible potential to fulfill its historic mission in the 21st Century. Read on for a preview and watch for the official Plan for Park to be unveiled later this year.
Philosophy
Promotion Take charge of crafting and telling Park’s story and how the School lives its values through a variety of media.
Pipeline Strategically leverage the school’s resources to create alternative revenue streams to defray the costs of its core educational programming.
The principles of progressive education are more relevant than ever for young people as they face the challenges of the 21st Century.
Each of the six tenets informs the others; all are essential to the success of the Plan for PARK.
Program Align and support all programs to ensure they carry out the school’s mission and follow the methods and principles of progressive education.
People
Deliberately nurture a diverse and inclusive school community and install administrative and financial structures to attract talented students, staff, faculty Commit substantial and trustees. resources to the design and maintenance of the campus as a complex of instructional settings aligned with the scope and sequence of the educational and extracurricular programs.
Physical Plant
Remembering
Gretchen Gross
Board of Trustees member Gretchen Gross passed unexpectedly on December 18, 2021. She was an active member of the Park community, and a generous and passionate leader in Jewish Buffalo and throughout Western New York. She is preceded in death by her husband, Park graduate Gordon Gross ’49.
I had the distinct privilege to be one of Gretchen’s friends. Gretchen was a bright light in so many lives. She was positive, enthusiastic, inquisitive, smart, generous, and so much fun. She gave her leadership and passion to every organization in which she volunteered. She was magical. Her passing is a great loss to humanity. --Trudy Mollenberg, President, Park School Foundation Gretchen was one of the first people I met in Buffalo over 20 years ago, when I worked for her as a college student, and we were reunited through Park. Gretchen considered her Board service at Park to be a way for her to honor Gordy’s legacy, since Park was such a big part of his life. Diving in was the only speed Gretchen knew, so she unsurprisingly made an impact right away. Gretchen was authentic, and she demonstrated servant-leadership as well as anyone, it was just the way she lived. --Jason Bird, President, Park School Board of Trustees Though I did not have the privilege of knowing Gretchen Gross for a long time, I did have the blessing of serving with her for the first six months of my tenure here when she was a Park trustee and a member of the Board of Visitors. Even though our time together was tragically short, I - as have countless others - was irresistibly drawn into her gravitational pull which consisted of a bewitching brew of enthusiasm, verve, intelligence, love of learning anything and everything, and the spirit of a great teacher who wants to help everyone grow and be their best. Gretchen’s passion for Park and education in general was infectious. She threw herself into Park’s strategic planning process and the vision grew more ambitious and audacious to match her appetite for what could be done at this school. Gretchen’s faith in the Park community and its capacity to be a great school continues to feed my confidence; I will be dedicating my work on finalizing, communicating, and implementing our strategic plan to Gretchen’s memory. With gratitude for Gretchen’s work and legacy. --Keith W. Frome, Ed.D., Acting President The passing of Gretchen Gross has left a huge void within Park. Gretchen’s energy and love for Park was unmatched, and her kindness and generosity will not be forgotten. I am forever grateful to Gretchen for her commitment to making Park a place that thrives for children academically and socially for many years to come. --Lisa Conrad, Head of School Gretchen was a force for good in Western New York. Though I only worked closely with her for the past two years, I immediately valued her enthusiasm, insight, and ability to ask the right questions at the right time. I’ll never forget the joy and light she brought to every meeting and event. It was a great privilege to know her. --Kim Ruppel, Director of Development It is a deep loss on both a personal and professional level. Gretchen attended my concerts when I performed with her grandsons when we were Upper School classmates. She welcomed my family to Buffalo’s Jewish community. She was an integral member of the Park Board. Her legacy continues to inspire me and impact her community. --Jarret Izzo ’03, Director of Admissions & Family Engagement
Remembering
Teresa Miller
Teresa Miller passed away on August 6, 2021. She was first and foremost parent to former Park students Seychelle ’16, Miles, and Croix. She also served on Park’s Board of Trustees from 2012 until 2016 and was an active member of the Park Parents Association.
Teri was a beloved member of the Park community and a wonderful friend to so many. She was a fixture at her children’s athletic matches and school events, and could almost always be found courtside with a camera in hand. Professionally, Teri spent over two decades in higher education. Most recently, she served as SUNY’s Senior Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Chief Diversity Officer. In every role, Teri worked to raise awareness about the needs of underrepresented students, sought transformative change through innovation, and demonstrated her commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. Teri will be forever remembered as a vibrant, compassionate, and loving member of our community. --Lisa Conrad, Head of School It is an honor and a privilege to have known Teri Miller. It is even greater to have called her my friend. The trouble I have in putting this to paper is not in the lack of words, but that there are so many. Teri was so very much – to so many. She was a giver, a do-er, and a scholar. She was a friend, a mother, and a teacher to all. No, that doesn’t do it. Those are nouns, adjectives… Teri was a verb. She was Action. She DID. She Believed. She Taught. She Helped. She Healed. She Gave. She Cooked and she Shared and she Laughed and she Coached and she Loved. She Enlightened, she Stood Up and she Stood For and she Showed Up. She Blessed us all with her presence and her gifts. She used everything she was for the growth and good of others. She was a living example of kindness, dignity, and respect. The legacy of her contributions is enduring. Her greatest legacies though (in her own words) are her children – Seychelle, Miles, and Croix – who all attended The Park School because Teri believed in Park’s mission. Teri touched so many lives, here at Park and beyond. She brought people together, and together we will remember her incredible impact on us all. --Susanne Francis, Former Trustee Teri Miller was powerful and generous. She didn’t do anything halfway, not the law, prison reform, racial justice, making SUNY a better institution, and most of all, motherhood. I see her legacy in her children, especially Seychelle, whom I had the privilege to teach for four years. I loved Teri’s toughness, the rigor with which she thought, and I was lucky to be encircled by her warm embrace. I miss her greatness. I miss her husky voice. I just miss her. --Kerry Reynolds, Park Faculty, 2007-2019 Teri was a dynamic trailblazer who was not afraid to take on any cause that she believed in, even when it was unpopular to do so. I will miss Teri as a strategic thought partner, fellow Park School community and Board member, and most of all as a friend. She was an inspirational force in the justice seeking community and her legacy lives on through all of us who were privileged to know her. --Jason Bird, President, Park School Board of Trustees Teri Miller not only distinguished herself as a professional in the field of law, she was an amazing role model for students at the University at Buffalo and at The Park School of Buffalo. She was an actively involved parent with her own children and Park students interested in responsible legal reform. She took the time to mentor a few students in her work at the Attica Correctional Facility, allowing them to see the challenges in equity, diversity, and inclusion coupled with the effects of poverty and the sad journey to prison for people often denied access to their rights because of the socioeconomic aspects of their lives. Teri’s influence will be long remembered and celebrated for her impact on her community and the people with whom she interacted. --Karen Miller, Park Faculty, 1990-2021 Teri Miller was the best of us: a brilliant scholar and professor; a fierce advocate for equity, inclusion, justice, and social change; and a loving mother to Seychelle, Miles, and Croix. No matter how long we’d known each other, I was always struck by the vitality of Teri’s intellect, the generosity of her spirit, and her deep and abiding kindness. We always, always laughed together, and I never left a conversation with Teri without a smile on my face. That’s what I’ll miss and remember most. --Charles Hartney, Director of Grades 7-12, Co-Coordinator for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Find Your
Spark By Jarret Izzo ‘03
I
looked at the four third-graders in front of me. “Who wants to see some tigers?” I exclaimed. All four simultaneously screamed, “me!” It was Zoo Day in 2002 during my senior year at Park. Zoo Day is a time-honored Park tradition where the senior class takes the Lower School students to the Buffalo Zoo. As I explored with my third-grade group, I saw the Zoo through new eyes. The wonder and curiosity of young children is contagious. Something sparked inside of me, although I did not know it yet. Fast forward ten years. I was sitting in a cubicle staring at my computer screen. I worked for a public relations firm in Boston, Massachusetts. I had a fantastic boss, brilliant colleagues, and, on paper, it should have been the perfect job. But something was missing. Where was the spark? I told my colleague an interesting fact about tigers from an article that I had read. She politely nodded, but I knew she could care less. I needed a change. So, I quit my office job and went to graduate school for education. When I started teaching in a secondgrade classroom at an independent school in Andover, Massachusetts, with a similar philosophy to Park, I knew I had made the right decision. I spent the next four years teaching second and third grade at the Country School in Weston, MA. I loved it there but ultimately decided to move back to Buffalo to be close to family, and began teaching in the Starpoint Central School District.
The Class of 2003 alumnus returns to Park as the school’s Director of Admissions & Family Engagement. of the most detrimental effects of COVID - particularly for kids. From the school-wide outdoor barbeque to the outdoor Auction we are planning for the second year in a row, Park continues to innovate to keep our community engaged while staying safe. I’m thrilled to welcome prospective students during campus tours and shadow visits. One thing that I am always impressed with is the enthusiasm and warmth of our students who volunteer to host a shadow. What is more, Samantha B. ‘22, designed, illustrated, and edited an interactive coloring book to give to prospective Lower Schoolers. As an alumnus, I give families a good sense of the school when I take them on a tour of our one-of-a-kind campus, but nothing substitutes for their experiencing our community for themselves. A few months ago, my kindergarten-aged daughter came home from her first Zoo Day. She couldn’t contain her excitement. “Dad! My senior took us to see the tigers!” I hope you’ll join me at one of our open houses throughout the spring to see the spark for yourself.
When I had the opportunity to return to Park as Director of Admissions & Family Engagement, I could not turn it down. A year and a half of remote and hybrid instruction in the public schools had underscored for me the importance of community and connection. And there was nowhere I could think of that fostered those two things more than Park. And there was something else. I was talking to a friend who was unhappy in his career and wanted to make a change, but he couldn’t bring himself to take the leap. “How did you do it?” he asked. My answer was one word: Park. As I thought about what gave me the courage to find my true passion, it was what I learned here. I had to be a part of that. One of the aspects of my job I am most excited about is family engagement. Isolation and disconnection have been some
Jarret (right) with classmate and fellow Park parent Chris Berardi ’03, pictured in the 2002 Spark Yearbook.
It means so much when alumni choose to send their children or grandchildren to Park. Pictured below are the current legacy students for the 2021/22 school year. Interested in learning more about how your child can thrive at Park? Contact Jarret Izzo, Director of Admissions & Family Engagement, at jizzo@theparkschool.org. Back row: Kevin Coppola ‘32 (son of Kevin Coppola ’03); Roman Berardi ‘33 (son of Chris Berardi ’03); Ryan Koessler ’31 (son of Lisa Gelman Koessler ’93, grandson of Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66) Front row: Dominic Coppola ‘33 (son of Kevin Coppola ‘03); Cecily Izzo ‘34 (daughter of Jarret Izzo ’03), Gabriel Coppola ’36 (son of Kevin Coppola ‘03); Emme Koessler ‘33 (daughter of Lisa Gelman Koessler ’93, granddaughter of Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66) Not pictured: Mia Giglia ‘36 (granddaughter of Elisa Morgulis Appelbaum ‘84)
Back row: Charlie Stewart ’26 (son of Ryan Stewart ’98); Kaylie Birkmayr ‘26 (daughter of Liz Birkmayr ‘84); Talia Cerrato ’27 (daughter of Marnie Benatovich Cerrato ’90); Grace Kregg ’27 (daughter of John Kregg ’87); Finnegan Cook ’26 (son of Collin Cook ’93) Front row: Keeghan Cook ’29 (son of Collin Cook ’93); Ella ’28 and Van Stevenson ’28 (children of Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ’97) Not pictured: Georgia Nelson ‘29 (daughter of Christina Leed Nelson ‘93)
CHECK OUT PARK AT ONE OF OUR UPCOMING OPEN HOUSE EVENTS! • Tuesday, March 1 at 9am • Tuesday, March 15 at 9am • Tuesday, March 29 at 9am • Sunday, May 1 from 10am-12noon The Admissions Team: Jarret Izzo and Emily Fee.
MEET KEITH FROME Get to know Park’s Acting President. By Elle Bader-Gregory ’22 How did Dr. Frome begin his journey in the field of education, and what led him to Park? Throughout his career, Dr. Frome has embraced the titles of student, teacher, poet, and CEO. He began studying philosophy at the University of St. Andrews, in the hopes of someday facing a room full of students as a philosophy professor. Wondering what practical uses he could have for a philosophy degree, Dr. Frome took a leave of absence to explore other possibilities. He was a poet and editor for a publishing company in New York City, and for a time taught English to middle and high school students. Realizing he could combine his love of philosophy and education into a set of practical skills and experiences, he transferred to Harvard to continue his studies, focusing on education, religion, and philosophy. He taught and worked as an administrator at Harvard before transferring to Columbia to complete his doctorate. After graduating, Dr. Frome was the assistant headmaster at the Browning School in NYC before moving to Buffalo to become the headmaster of the Elmwood Franklin School. During his decade at Elmwood Franklin, Dr. Frome founded an organization called College Summit (now known as PeerForward) with his longtime friend, designed to provide college counseling resources to students from underserved rural and urban areas. Dr. Frome’s motivation to be an educator is personal. Despite wanting to further his education, Dr. Frome was unsure of how to proceed. He said, “I had no guidance or counseling about what to do after high school, and I never applied to college. No one helped me.” After high school he was living and working in Connecticut, taking classes at a local community college. Using local library resources, he taught himself how to apply to college and was accepted into two institutions. He became an educator because he “doesn’t want anyone to go through that … everybody in their life needs someone to nurture them and to nag them to be what they want to become.” PeerForward grew rapidly, and in 2009 President Barack Obama shared his Nobel Peace prize with the organization. Dr. Frome has traveled to high schools across the country, expanding PeerForward, and mentoring more students. He returned to Buffalo to take on yet another challenge, helping to expand the King Center Charter School on the East Side of Buffalo. Dr. Frome officially joined the Park community as Acting President in July of 2021.
What makes Park School unique? Dr. Frome has made several local connections over the years, which ultimately drew him to Park School. His interest as an educator lies primarily in Park’s dedication to progressive education and lifelong learning. Park School was founded by Mary Hammett Lewis, based on the ideals of her professor, philosopher John Dewey. Dr. Frome studied John Dewey as a philosophy student at Columbia, and said: “his works were foundational to my program at Columbia.” Over the years Dr. Frome has met many people with their own stories about Park School. Early in his career Dr. Frome was hired and mentored by Steve Clement (think Clement Gym). Lastly, Dr. Frome is invested in the leadership of Park School, and the great work they are doing.
What does a “Great School Year” mean? For Dr. Frome, a great school year is an academic year in which “everyone is working towards achieving their potential” and “every day is a day of growth.” A great school year also properly challenges all students, in a good way. He believes that “growth is the greatest pleasure, and you can’t grow unless you are challenged.”
What are some of Dr. Frome’s proudest accomplishments in education? Dr. Frome is most proud of the expansion of the King Center Charter School, and being part of the founding team for College Summit (PeerForward). As Dr. Frome says, “everyone should go to college.”
Dr. Frome’s term as Acting President at Park is slated for two years. What does he hope to accomplish during this time? There are two steps to Dr. Frome’s strategic plan for his term at Park. 1) Facilitate a comprehensive, transformative strategic plan for the School. 2) Start raising money to complete this plan. Fundraising will go towards improving several aspects of campus, and the plan will include “everything from new buildings, to renovating the campus, to new playing fields, to new programs, to really integrating the entire campus into the curriculum, attracting and retaining the best talent, both in the faculty and in the student body.” On a more personal note, Dr. Frome hopes to “get the message out that Park is a great place and an historic place in Buffalo.”
What was Dr. Frome’s favorite subject in high school and university? In university, Dr. Frome was a philosophy major and specialized in the philosophy of religion, which is still one of his greatest passions. In high school, Dr. Frome’s favorite subject was English. He knew he loved literature after reading Leslie Fiedler’s essay on Huckleberry Finn as a junior in high school. Leslie Fiedler, a past professor at the University at Buffalo, became Dr. Frome’s selfprofessed “intellectual hero.”
A favorite memory from this school year: The gratitude service before Thanksgiving break, and “Listening to Dr. Cornelius perform What A Wonderful World.” Dr. Frome believes it is important for the whole school to gather regularly to express our shared values of understanding, empathy, and compassion that form the foundation for Park’s community. He hopes to continue these short services, “a message and a song,” throughout the school year.
Fun Facts About Dr. Frome: • He is an avid reader and book collector. • Dr. Frome’s favorite author is Ralph Waldo Emerson, who happens to be the subject of the book he edited: Hitch Your Wagon to a Star and Other Quotations from Ralph Waldo Emerson. • He has two dogs, McKinley and Nikki. • One of his biggest regrets from school is never learning Latin. • He once danced with Mick Jagger. • Dr. Frome is very musical. He plays guitar and writes his own songs. • Dr. Frome’s favorite way to spend his free time is cycling on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. • In Buffalo, his favorite biking event is The Ride For Roswell.
Above: Dr. Frome with this interview’s author, Elle Bader-Gregory ‘22. Below: A younger Dr. Frome at an early teaching job.
There is art in
EVERYTHING By Jaime Herbeck
In her 21 years at Park, art teacher Kyle Polaske has embodied art in everything she does. Through ideas and projects that have been sparked by students’ questions, inspiring collaborations with fellow teachers, and the simple act of observation, the theme remains the same: there is art in everything. We sat down with Kyle to get a sense of how she approaches each cohort, tapping into their imagination and innate curiosity, and what the future might hold. Spoiler alert: it’s bold, it’s raw and real, and the magic of art is present every day here at Park.
Lower School (PreK through Grade 4):
With our youngest Park friends, Kyle introduces basic art words and talks about colors, shapes, lines, and so much more. Here the foundation is laid for creating art through various techniques and mediums, whether working with crayons, markers, paint, clay, or printmaking. There is a big emphasis on storytelling, where Kyle shares fun stories
Pictured, clockwise from top: Kindergarten students gather to learn more about the art activity for the day. A Kindergartner pauses while drawing a likeness of his owl sculpture. Students created clay owls and were asked to interpret their creations on paper before hanging their owls in the natural landscape outside of the art studio. Completed owl sculptures with an owl drawing in progress.
about artists and talks about why they did what they did in order for these budding artists to begin talking about their own artwork. At the core of working with Lower School students, Kyle encourages their ability to explore and experiment, to use their imaginations and hands to create, and to have fun asking questions and trying something new. She doesn’t want students to only know how to draw a line, or what a line or a shape looks like, but also how they could use a line to create a shape, to then create a form, to then build a sculpture out of it. The beauty of engaging these young creators is to have them see the whole process and be excited about the possibilities.
Middle School (Grades 5-8):
At this level, students want to try everything; they have unique ideas and can build on the skills they already have. Kyle wants Middle School students to be able to recognize artists and their work, to be challenged by a project and really get them thinking, and to try new things, as well as develop what they already know they love to do. Within the framework and principles of design, they get to work collaboratively, listen and compromise, and be observant of the world around them. Encouraging students’ imaginations and independent ideas is a big driver in developing their confidence to show and share their unique artistic perspective. With this age group, Kyle wants them to see that an idea or an interest of theirs can turn into a plan or design, which can lead to a great end product. Examples of past Middle School projects include:
“The Art of...Storytelling”
Students designed and painted a cartoon character based on themselves and positive parts of their personalities. As a group, they then created a play that included all of their individual characters, bringing them to life on stage using voice, body language, expressions, and movement. The students led the narrative, designed and built the set, and coordinated an awe-inspiring performance.
“The Art of...a Journey”
In parallel to what students had been reading in English class, they brought to life a project on labyrinths. Through a process of individual ideas and working together through compromise on a cohesive design, students found a space on campus, cleared the area, planned out the design with string and more, then used their physical strength to build a path, lug stones, create a wall, and so much more. At the end of the project, they took the journey of walking their own labyrinth path. Students also discussed the ups and downs of the process and the fact that everyone is different and everyone’s journey means something different to them.
“The Art of...Building”
As the new Knopp-Hailpern Science Center was under construction from 2016-2019, students had a great opportunity to see the whole design/build process right before their eyes! They could see the steps taken at every level of construction and had the chance to ask the project manager questions along the way. Tapping into that moment in time, Kyle’s 8th graders were challenged with a “card creation.” They had to come up with a creative design, keeping in mind craftsmanship, details, and structural integrity. They were given a platform to build on, recycled playing cards as building material, and only scissors and glue guns for tools. They sketched out their ideas, came up with a plan, experimented, learned from their mistakes, and ended up creating something way more interesting than they originally imagined. It was
a challenge, because no one had ever tried this before, and it was successful not only because of the outcomes, but also because they saw how the process of building is more involved than you think, even on a small scale. Inspiration for the future: The art of...movement (involving a ball and dance), cooking (involving designing cakes), working with your hands (involving sign language), words (involving the written word and what that looks like), math (involving many ways it’s used in art), growing (not only in skills, but also in things like plants and vegetables), and so many other ideas or interests that students have.
Pictured, top to bottom: Students in Grades 5 and 6 work on an art, writing, and botany project for which they chose plants to research and recreate as artwork, all to be compiled into one cohesive book.
Mrs. Polaske gives drawing tips to a Grade 8 student as he sketches out an idea.
Upper School (Grades 9-12):
With the senior cohort, Kyle motivates students to truly learn how to use the power of observation and their experiences in life and the world around them as a point of inspiration. In 9th grade, there is a required studio art class which is filled with both new students and students who have been at Park for many years. This studio setting serves two purposes: to assess where our newest students are and where they need to go, and then for current students to continue to build on everything they have experienced at Park so far, and really push themselves farther (with the guidance of the art teachers). Beyond the required studio art where students touch upon all the basics here at Park, students can really choose their own adventures in art. We have projects in drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, woodworking, metalworking, glass work, photography, design, and independent courses based on student interests, which in the past have included architectural design and model building, pottery, stained glass design, murals, animation, fashion, and more.
Looking Ahead
Going forward, Kyle would like to develop classes with a focus on student interest but at the same time continue to teach the methods, have discussions, bring in artists to talk, introduce new ideas, experiment, and explore. Students will develop skills and push their own ideas beyond what they think their limits may be and create a style and process of their own. Some of the classes going forward will be: Urban Art (with a possible artist in residence and creation of a new mural on campus); Looking Through the Lens of Design (photography and how to use the photos); and The Culture of Art (art around the world and what inspires it in various cultures). She would also like to create more groups in the Upper School to work on special projects like designing and creating gardens, creating larger sculptures around campus, and designing a gallery space on campus. As Kyle puts it, “There are just so many possibilities!”
Pictured, top to bottom: A Grade 11 student adds to a large scale monochromatic painting of LeBron James. Upper School students experiment with watercolors and painting to different styles of music. A Grade 12 student works on ideas for an acrylic painting series in “Drawing & Painting” class.
Pictured, clockwise from top left: PreK students add to a collaborative collage. Upper School students work on large scale paintings. Grades 5 and 6 students try their hands at making Polynesian boats. They later raced them in Park’s stream. A Middle School student works on a clay animation video project.
A MAGICAL DAY IN PRE-K Park’s PreK program in the Bungalow continues to thrive while offering a magical, enriching experience for our youngest friends. Read on to experience a day in the life of our Bungalow students.
Park’s PreK in the Bungalow is a unique, hands-on, experiential, multi-age (ages 3-5) program. Children in the Bungalow (affectionately known as the “friends”) get the opportunity to learn as younger friends with older children and then as leaders who guide their younger friends. PreK is also a part of the larger Park community in which students participate in school assemblies, travel to daily specials, and engage in outdoor education experiences on campus. This play-based program is a strategic balance of free play and teacher directed gathering times. The energy the friends expend during free play times gives them the staying power to sit through and engage in gatherings. This program is based on the belief that the most genuine learning at the early childhood level comes through experiences. The teacher’s role during free play, aside from creating intentional learning centers, is to facilitate, support, and assess. Throughout the day, you’ll notice several deliberate blocks of free play, during which the friends can engage in activity centers. Each center is created to enhance learning: • Open-ended writing centers allow children to learn letter formation, sound/symbol associations, and left to right progression through exploration. Children are also being creative and solving problems. • The block centers allow children to develop STEM skills. In addition, children create real life scenarios. For example, this year the friends created a zoo. After they built the zoo they made labels for the different areas. • The science discovery table is filled with materials that enhance scientific inquiry. The teachers often put games and materials from their gatherings in this area to allow children to revisit lessons • The puzzle table strengthens fine motor skills, spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and problem solving skills.
8:00 | Arrival & Morning Free Play The PreK cohort arrives at the Bungalow and takes part in cubby organization. Friends sign in by putting a “pocket pal” (in winter, for example, a snowflake) by their name on a wall chart and sign their name in the daily attendance book. Free play takes place throughout the muscle room and calendar room. PreK friends also learn about pet and plant care with Mrs. Drozda and Mrs. Wiese. Students take ownership of caring for Herbie, their pet rabbit, by helping to feed him, refill his water, and give him lots of love! They also help to keep the many plants around the Bungalow hydrated.
9:20 | Morning Meeting At the Morning Meeting, our PreK friends are led by the VIP through the daily calendar, weather, and helper assignments. There is also a question of the day, which may be related to the Letter of the Week or may be as simple as “What color socks are you wearing today?”
9:40 | Snack
10:10 | Special - Art The Bungalow bunch travels around our beautiful (yet snowy!) campus to take part in various specials, including art, gym, library, and music. On this particular day, they headed to Kimball Hall to work on art with Mrs. Polaske and Mr. Loomis. Our budding artists are in the process of creating their own paper mâché “buddies” that are inspired by an animal, critter, imaginary character, or anything! They made newspaper into a ball, covered it with paper mâché, painted a base color, and next will add detailed designs, eyes, feet, and whatever else inspires them!
11:00 | VIP Tell & Show and Letter of the Week The VIP program is an essential component of the daily rhythm in PreK. As VIP, each child gets to lead the class through the activities of the day, bring in a healthy snack to share with their friends, and choose a special item from home to Tell & Show their class about. From November through May, our PreK friends focus on a Letter of the Week. They have take-home letter journals they work on and bring back to share. Each student also chooses an item from home that begins with the Letter of the Week to reveal in their letter boxes.
11:40 | Gross Motor Free Play Our Bungalow friends enjoy ample time outdoors to roam and play in all types of weather. You might find them trying to ice skate on a makeshift frozen ice patch, splashing in puddles, collecting pine cones, or engaging in some serious sand play together. They also enjoy Park’s new playground, installed in Fall 2021!
12:15 | Gathering Hands-on Ice Experiment: Gathering always begins with a book to set the stage for the activity to follow. With this hands-on element, our PreK friends became scientists as they worked to extract a surprise from individual ice sculptures. By slowly melting their cube, sphere or cone, they excitedly explored states of liquid, transformation, and cause and effect.
1:00 | Lunch In pre-COVID times, our PreK friends traditionally shared lunch family style in the kitchen. Now students are spread out to allow for social distancing and safety measures while eating. Despite the distance between them, there is no shortage of curious conversation amongst our youngest Parkies!
1:30 | Fine Motor Free Play After lunch, friends choose their own free play adventure, from arts and crafts, puzzles, and word play, to working solo or together on imaginative creations with blocks, Legos, or train sets. This helps to build the students’ imagination and creativity, as well as problem solving skills.
2:20 | Storytime, Closing, & Rest After a very busy day, our PreK friends are content to spend some quiet time resting, reading, or listening in on storytime.
3:00 | Dismissal Another day of learning and fun has come to a close! The PreK friends gather their things, bundle up, and get ready for pick up.
A special thank you to our Bungalow faculty: Amy Wiese, Molly Drozda, and Jennifer Fenwick! Their dedication brings this special program to life. Their love for our students sets this program apart.
Dr. Brianna Cornelius
Park’s Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging strives to give everyone a stake in the school’s growth and evolution.
Describe your personal path and how you found your way into your current role at Park. How has your path been influenced by your own personal experience and background? I am originally from Memphis, TN and from a military family, so we moved around a lot. During my junior year of high school, I found out about the Memphis Rotary Club, which actively scouted students across the city to go to prep schools over the summer across the country. I ended up at Phillips Exeter Academy in NH. My time there really drives my approach to education. That is the reason my classroom is set up the way it is… with the Harkness table and style that really drives a lot of what I do. My history class is a seminar, currently we are rewriting the Constitution. Because of my experience at Exeter, I visited a small college in Maine called Bowdoin. I ended up there, studied abroad in France and learned about sociolinguistics. I was a romance language major, studying French and Italian and intended to become an international lawyer until I realized the world didn’t need another lawyer. I ended up at the University at Buffalo for my masters program in sociolinguistics. I completed my PhD in South Carolina and came back to Buffalo after, and have been here ever since. What does DEIB mean to you in the context of the world climate right now, and through the lens of The Park School? For me, the B for Belonging precedes everything else. If we can start there, everything else will fall into place. If people feel like they belong here, that they are safe, they are seen, and they are valued, then everything else falls into place. That puts the focus on the people. How do students internalize their experience here? What are the implications for the work that I want to do? I’m a people-first person. So I ask students and staff alike: How do you feel at this moment? Do you feel like you belong? When we talk about real change, it’s all about the people. Usually diversity is last. Don’t increase diversity for the sake of assimilation. B first and then D for diversity at the end. Equity & inclusion go hand in
hand for me. Equity for me is associated with real estate and home ownership, so I follow that reference in that people want to feel like it’s their space… like they’re at home. I want that for everyone here at Park, to have a stake in Park’s growth and evolution. To me equity is not just a DEIB concern, it’s vital to Park’s survival. When we all feel like we own a piece of the pie, we are going to take care of it and have a personal sense of investment. Equity is crucial to me. Inclusion is making folks feel like they belong, like they’re supposed to be here. People can’t feel like they belong if things aren’t equitable. Where are you directing your DEIB efforts at Park in this present moment? I am trying to balance the events and what we see on the surface with more structural and systemic change. It’s the stuff that no one sees. My goal is to develop a reporting system, so that if an incident occurs, then there’s a tracking system and we have a procedure for handling it. This is so we can hold ourselves accountable. We want people to be heard. This important work is often invisible to most faculty and staff and so they might assume nothing is being done, but there is always work being done behind the scenes. We started a program called Nourish to address food insecurity and other needs on campus.. We set aside money from the DEIB budget to supplement nutrition with students. We found that when kids were coming by to get a snack or warm drink, they were hanging around, so it’s apparent that they needed to be fed in a number of different ways. This is our first attempt at nourishing not only their bodies, but their spirits as well. I’ve noticed kids already feel more comfortable since the program began. This is just one of the many ways we can establish open lines of communication with students to understand who they are, what their unique experiences are, and to nurture those relationships. What is required reading for any human living in this moment? • A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
“If people feel like they belong here, that they are safe, they are seen, and they are valued, then everything else falls into place.” • The Constitution • Becoming Kuan Yin: The Evolution of Compassion by Stephen Levine What is one project you’re working on with your students that you are excited about? My 8th grade history class is currently rewriting The Constitution. I assign students different identities, and they need to transport themselves into this person’s reality in the late 18th century. For example, I might have a white male student playing a runaway enslaved woman. They get to imagine what probably went on behind closed doors in establishing this country. Then we reimagine what our country might have looked like if these demographic groups had representation in the room. They find out just how much debating goes into political compromise. It’s designed for my students to get a solid understanding of why things are the way they are and how they could be different in the future. What has been your favorite Park moment so far? Watching everyone come together for the Halloween Parade and watching the little ones feel like the most important thing in the world. How do you spend your free time? I make all of my own personal care products, shampoo, soaps, lotions, etc. to avoid any unnecessary toxins in the body. What is one thing you would like the Western NY community to know about The Park School? We are HERE. And we are trying. What I mean by that is Park isn’t trying to be as good as everyone else. Our goal collectively is always to excel. On this path that we’re on, we are headed in the right direction together, as ONE.
Steve George ’97 Park alumnus and history teacher cherishes the freedom he is given to be creative, compassionate, and flexible. Describe your personal path and how you found your way into your current role at Park. How has the School evolved from your lens as a student here through today as a faculty member? I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and I am still a Steelers fan. In 7th grade, we moved to Buffalo when my dad got a job here. I was a good student, but I hated public school, really anything other than academics. I felt at odds with the social pressures and the cliques. My mom heard about Park, so when we toured the school it made an incredible impression on me. I felt an immediate difference in all of those ways that were previously stressful. I felt more comfortable, like I could be myself, with all of those peer stressors lifted. In some ways my experience hasn’t evolved, it has stayed the same because the Park community is always present. To be a member of the Park community is to be compassionate – it goes hand in hand with teaching. The hook on a daily basis is trust and belonging. I promote compassion as it is 100% deliberate for me. That is where the real learning begins. I deliberately and consistently think about the best way to be, and then model that way of being with my students. There’s a unique opportunity at Park to be a bit more human and compassionate with my students… you don’t have that kind of flexibility at other schools. In some collegeprep schools, the idea that you’d be close with a teacher might be frowned upon. A teacher may be considered a “distant sage on the stage.” It’s very deliberate at Park and this thread goes back to the school’s roots with Mary Hammett Lewis writing about her experience at Park in An Adventure with Children. It’s about engaging with them, experiencing learning alongside your students, and that’s the core philosophy of Park. Structurally, we have always been more flexible than many other independent schools. Can you describe a unit or project that your students are working on that you are excited about? How did the idea come up and how have students responded so far?
“To be a member of the Park community is to be compassionate – it goes hand in hand with teaching.” “
One thing I’m proud of, and that allows me to be excited about class, is the shift in the history department to an elective model similar to college. It allows me and other teachers to have more flexibility and creativity in the classroom. Kids are able to choose their elective/focus by semester. That way I can customize a class that’s important for the moment. For example, I created a Mass Media in Politics class, where “post-truth’’ was the word of the year. We delved into the existence of misinformation, disinformation, and how to attempt to filter out misinformation. My next class is Personal Economics, similar to personal finance. From start to finish, the class is a simulation: students run their life in a realistic, financial way. They start with college, create a degree that they value, do their taxes, pick a job, try out some investments, and finally, buy a house with considerations that are now the norm due to Covid. Then they present their financial experience to the entire class. It’s great to gain insight into the humans they are becoming, and will evolve into. Have you observed your influence on the future choices of any of your former students? A number of students of mine have continued on in political science and history. Most importantly, I simply want my students to be compassionate people. In order to cultivate compassion, I believe students should hear conflicting opinions, biases, and real feelings on a subject. I’d rather kids be exposed to biases, disagree with me, and then find compassion and understanding as the takeaway. In evaluating history or politics… I feel that history and historians generally value compassion. From a history or politics perspective, what is required reading in your opinion? As long as you have a basic understanding of U.S. history, Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States. Beyond
that, I would recommend biographies: Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, American Lion by Jon Meacham, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin, T.R.: The Last Romantic by H.W. Brands What has been your favorite Park moment so far this year? I’m a little surprised at my answer here. My favorite moments this year were the Back-to-School Night and the Board of Visitors events, for the same reason. In both cases, I was able to catch up with old friends from Park! What’s your favorite spot on campus and why? I really like Hamlin for the same reason that many do not. It’s old, and it shows its history. While I know that’s not always functional, I really appreciate that. You can look at old photos of kids taking classes in these exact places. Also, when I went to school here those two front rooms (where Keith Frome and the Development Office are now) were both history classrooms. They are both great rooms, with great light and some unique architecture, so I would pick them as my favorite places.
Steve (right) was an accomplished member of the varsity soccer team while a student at Park.
Carl Lew
Park’s new Librarian looks forward to growing the Library program at the School. Carl came to Park in August 2021. He has a BA in History and MA in Public History from Duquesne University. He earned his MLIS from the University of Pittsburgh. Carl also served with AmeriCorps as the Regional Disaster Preparedness Lead for the American Red Cross in Northwest Arkansas during 2019. Describe your personal path and why you found your way to Park. Why did you become a librarian? I got into library work after completing my undergraduate degree in Pittsburgh, PA, where the phrase “Free to the People” is etched in stone above the front entrance to their main public library. This idea was and remains very near to my heart. As I began working in a Library setting, I began to see the value of Libraries in their ability to foster literacy, storytelling, the art of listening, and for the freedom that learning affords. The idea of becoming someone who encourages life-long learning, for its own sake or any other purpose, was very appealing to me when I started. As time went on, I met some phenomenal people who encouraged me to earn my Masters in Library and Information Science so I could become a bona-fide librarian. My way to Park was a bit circuitous. I came back to Buffalo in the Fall of 2019 and began work on the Bookmobile of Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. This lasted for a few months until COVID grounded us. As society started to open up when vaccines rolled out, I was hired at the Grosvenor Room at the Central branch downtown as a Special Collections Librarian. And while that job was the job I was “supposed to do” – based on my educational and professional background – I thought it would be a fascinating and positive challenge to work at Park and become a School Librarian. Park is such a unique place and I couldn’t pass up the offer. Embracing the work that goes into keeping a library running from a day-to-day standpoint was very appealing to me. I had also researched John Dewey in the past – often thinking about how Americans assign value to things, experiences, and each other. Our current social model, in my general view, prioritizes conformity and materialism, which is driven by a consumer culture on hyper-drive. I feel like Park challenges that state of affairs and I wanted to become a part of the school’s story.
What are the challenges of being a Librarian? There is a concept in archives called “The Silence of the Archives.” In the Western world, our archives are essentially created by people like me – white men. And they were literate white men who generated records, so one has to keep in mind that this class of content creators was extremely narrow. This situation in turn influences how we think about, discuss, and learn history, at least in a broad sense. And this isn’t just an issue of the past - it bleeds into the present day. But with the Civil Rights Movement and the “new history” that came out of the 1960s, scholars began digging into sources not so much for what they say, but for what, and who, they leave out. Simultaneously, as people expanded their knowledge of cultures beyond Western Europe and (white) America there was a rethinking of how history is written, and, for librarians, what libraries can do to promote broadminded learning, understanding, and feeling. It is important through all of this to recognize that history as a subject, and libraries as institutions, are dynamic, not static or passive. To create a new historical interpretation isn’t to erase an old one. Multitudes of voices need to coexist if we are to have a truly robust pluralistic democracy. Ensuring access to these multitudes is a big challenge currently facing librarians, but it is our raison d’être, so I think we’re up for it. Can you share your vision for the future of the Library at Park? Also, what does a library look like in the future? Among my goals for the future of Park’s Library is growing the collection, increasing circulation, and revamping the look of the library space by cozying up corners of the library to encourage reading nooks and invite students (and faculty!) in. I want the library to be an engaging space that offers a robust print collection and digital environments that extend the footprint of the library. I’d love to showcase interesting projects created by current and former students and have founding documents available for examination.
“ Embracing the work that goes into keeping a library running from a dayto-day standpoint was very appealing to me.”
My ideal library, as you might be able to guess, maintains and promotes a robust and wildly-diverse print collection. Books are the backbone of a library. Digital collections are becoming increasingly embedded in libraries for good reason they enhance the experience and highlight special collections. A library is a place where you engage with people from all walks of life, either in person or through books and other media. All of these pieces come together to make a library. Library of the future - Libraries will continue to exist and they will be greatly enhanced by digital environments. Many librarians are currently engaged in some fascinating work in this area. But the human element of walking in and conversing with librarians and patrons about an interesting topic in a noncommercial setting is crucial. The library can and should be a central location for a community. The relationships built there can create a real sense of togetherness. So no matter where or when they are whether they are floating in the sky or in deep space or are living buildings (with rain catchers, rooftop gardens, etc.) in the Earth-bound cities of tomorrow, libraries will always promote discovery and community. What has been your favorite Park moment so far? It’s a series of moments…I’ve enjoyed getting to know Lower School students, and seeing them grow and engage differently with the books and lessons. Otherwise, my favorite thing to do is walk around the pond and through the woods. In the Fall, I saw a dinosaur (also known as a great blue heron) emerge from the marsh and fly overhead. I was stunned and couldn’t help but smile. What’s your favorite book? Any book that I’m currently reading is my favorite book! That’s a cop-out you say? Well if I had to choose, for fiction, it would be The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. For nonfiction: Our Declaration by Danielle Allen.
2022
(the class of) They’ve spent the last two years going to school during a pandemic and have handled the never-ending changes with grace, kindness, and good humor. Park’s Class of 2022 will graduate on Friday, June 17. Learn a little more about the members of the class here.
ELIJAH Years at Park: 13 Plans for next year: Go to college, hopefully at Dartmouth. Favorite Park memory: Probably Immersion to Italy in 2019 or winning in sectionals for golf. What will you miss about Park? The Park community and teachers, we all have a really close tight-knit bond that will be hard to replicate elsewhere. How did COVID change your perspective about school? COVID has changed a lot of my perspective, but Park hasn’t changed much through it. Online school is not fun and real-life school is; there are just some events and activities we haven’t been able to do.
ELLE Years at Park: 13 Plans for next year: I want to attend college and study psychology or creative writing. What will you miss about Park? I am going to miss the campus and all the open outdoor spaces. How did COVID change your perspective about school? Covid-19 and virtual learning made me appreciate how important hands-on learning is to understand lessons, especially in math and science class. What is your favorite spot at Park? My favorite spot is the comfy chairs in the library, next to the window that looks out at the Knopp-Hailpern building.
SAMANTHA Years at Park: 12 Plans for next year: My plans for next year are studying hard in college as a marketing major and making new friends. Favorite Park memory: Going on immersion to Quebec. How did COVID change your perspective about school? It made me realize how hard the School tries to provide the best education for students. What is your favorite spot at Park? The outdoor classroom or the KnoppHailpern Building.
Years at Park: 4
Years at Park: 14
JACK
Plans for next year: I plan to major in sports management at college.
Plans for next year: Hopefully go to college to study mechanical engineering.
Favorite Park memory: Playing middle and high school soccer.
Favorite Park memory: Definitely sliding down a hill in a canoe. When we don’t have sleds around, we use anything we can get our hands on. White boards, canoes, cardboard trays, etc.
What will you miss about Park? I’m going to miss all my friends and playing on the soccer team. How did COVID change your perspective about school? COVID taught me that we have a great system of learning at Park to help engage students.
QUINN
What will you miss about Park? The small class sizes, which is a rarity for high schools to offer. I have trouble focusing in large-scale environments, so it’s been easier here to ask questions and gain understanding. What is your favorite spot at Park? Wherever it’s not extremely cold or extremely hot.
Years at Park: 5
Years at Park: 11
Plans for next year: College. I’m looking at going out west, with Stanford, U of Utah, and the UC schools topping my list.
ISAIAH
What will you miss about Park? I’m going to miss the community. Here, we have a unique culture where we can feel like friends with everyone; both with all our students and with teachers and faculty.
Plans for next year: I plan to attend a college to study finance. Favorite Park memory: Taking our semiannual immersion trip, where I went to Rome and Florence in my freshman year.
IZABELLA
How did COVID change your perspective about school? I am grateful for Park. As COVID set in, I saw my friends go online for a full year... but we were able to have normal school. Seeing that has made me much more grateful to be at Park.
What is your favorite spot at Park? I love the back patio of the dining hall! So many great memories from spending time out there during the nice weather.
Years at Park: 3
Years at Park: 6
Plans for next year: Go to Ryerson University to pursue environment and urban sustainability.
Plans for next year: Attend college. What will you miss about Park? I am going to miss all the friends I’ve made as well as the fun classes.
Favorite Park memory: Bonding day.
TRISTAN
How did COVID change your perspective about school? It made me value education more. What is your favorite spot at Park? The Knopp-Hailpern Science Center.
How did COVID change your perspective about school? It made me realize that while learning is something we can do anywhere, we are very lucky to be able to go to school in person.
OLIVER
How did COVID change your perspective about school? Rather than change my perspective, COVID reinforced my mindset and determination to succeed when faced with challenges.
Years at Park: 4
JAYLA
Years at Park: 3
Plans for next year: Attend college as a forensics major.
Plans for next year: I’m going to UB, undecided on my major.
Favorite Park memory: Playing different sports like volleyball, soccer, bowling, joining different clubs, making friends, and going to basketball games.
Favorite Park memory: Ceramics class with Mrs. Polaske. I like making things.
What will you miss about Park? I’m going to miss my friends in grades below me, and I’m going to miss my favorite teachers.
ODILLA
What will you miss about Park? The teachers. What is your favorite spot at Park? The library, because it’s usually very quiet.
How did COVID change your perspective about school? I thought that being out of school was going to be a good thing, but it made learning a lot more difficult.
Years at Park: 3
JORDAN
Years at Park: 1
Plans for next year: I am planning to go to a local college.
Plans for next year: Attend college for a theatre design and technology program.
Favorite Park memory: Winter Carnival because it’s a lot of fun competing against one another on our teams.
Favorite Park memory: Bonding day.
What will you miss about Park? The teachers. How did COVID change your perspective about school? Live in the moment and have fun in class. It made me appreciate being with my classmates and having that learning experience.
What will you miss about Park? The teachers and students.
FINN
What is your favorite spot at Park? The art building.
What is your favorite spot at Park? The waterfall.
Years at Park: 9
BEN
Years at Park: 4
Plans for next year: I am leaning towards enlisting in the military, specifically the U.S. Air Force.
Plans for next year: Go to college.
Favorite Park memory: My freshman year was memorable since our soccer team had a great IAC Championship game and went on to States. We got to travel to New York City as a team, and being there with everyone was a lot of fun.
What will you miss about Park? The teachers.
What will you miss about Park? Having the campus to learn in and from, plus getting to see everybody. How did COVID change your perspective about school? I realized you shouldn’t take things for granted, even the simple things.
Favorite Park memory: Bonding day freshman year.
JA’ONNI
How did COVID change your perspective about school? I appreciate the space that Park provides. What is your favorite spot at Park? The waterfall.
Years at Park: 8
Years at Park: 9
Plans for next year: Attend college.
Plans for next year: I plan on attending college for business or engineering.
Favorite Park memory: Quebec immersion trip.
Favorite Park memory: Going to the state tournament in NYC for soccer.
What will you miss about Park? The beautiful campus.
ANGELINA
What is your favorite spot at Park? The Commons or the Library with the comfortable chairs.
LOGAN
What is your favorite spot at Park? The children’s section of the library.
Years at Park: 4
Years at Park: 8
Plans for next year: I plan on attending college and studying neuroscience. I’m interested in Human Behavior and Psychology.
Plans for next year: Doing a 4+1 program in criminal justice to get my masters and also majoring in dance to continue on with ballet. I hope to go to Mercyhurst University.
CHLOE
Favorite Park memory: My first day on campus in fifth grade when I walked in and my teacher just smiled at me. I knew right then and there that this was going to be my home.
LYLLA
What will you miss about Park? All the people and the teachers, I feel like the teachers are my friends, yes they are still our teachers but we can talk to them outside of class about anything.
What will you miss about Park? The bonds I have with many different teachers and how I’m able to go talk to anyone of them about what I’m feeling or if I’m stressed about something. I always get a great outcome. Favorite Park memory: My favorite memory is winning the league championships last year with my basketball team and forming closer bonds with my teammates. We were undefeated the entire season.
Years at Park: 8
SAM
What will you miss about Park? The availability of all the teachers and the amount of effort a teacher puts in to help students.
Years at Park: 3
Plans for next year: I am going to go to UB or Buffalo State.
Plans for next year: After graduation, go back home to China.
What will you miss about Park? My classmates since most of us have been together since 1st grade. And then the physical location.
Favorite Park memory: Bonding day.
What is your favorite spot at Park? When I was younger, I would’ve said the wooded area where Knopp-Hailpern stands now. We used to have recess there. In 6th grade, we hollowed out a log as a team and worked on it constantly. It was a fun project. Now I would say Knopp-Hailpern itself for the open spaces.
What will you miss about Park? The teachers and friends.
JUSTIN
How did COVID change your perspective about school? Before COVID, going to school was painful. After COVID, going to school is a pleasure. What is your favorite spot at Park? Room 6 in the Library Learning Center.
Years at Park: 9
Years at Park: 7
Plans for next year: Next year I hope to attend the University of Rochester to study applied mathematics and education.
Plans for next year: My plans for next year are to pursue a studio art and or a creative design major while also continuing to play sports.
Favorite Park memory: Fifth grade with Mrs. Marchewka. During recess she was always happy to join in on whatever we were doing.
ELI
What will you miss about Park? I’m going to miss my friends the most as I’ve grown up with them since the third grade and they’ve always been in my life.
EMEKA
How did COVID change your perspective about school? COVID really made me think about how much my friends support me. Without seeing them everyday it felt like a key part of my day was missing and I was eager to get back to it.
How did COVID change your perspective about school? Being online I felt as if I was not getting the full experience to better myself as a student. At home I was able to get a lot of art pieces done, which I am proud of, but it was such a hassle to learn through a screen. I pray in person learning stays in action for the rest of the year.
Years at Park: 4
Years at Park: 12
Plans for next year: Go to college.
Plans for next year: Probably going to college to major in bioinformatics or auditioning for ballet companies.
What is your favorite spot at Park? Ms. Ilic’s classroom. It was a cool environment, so it was great to sit there and talk to her. She didn’t judge.
CHRIS
How did COVID change your perspective about school? Life is short, because I lost a lot of people to COVID. I value life in a different way.
What is your favorite spot at Park? Everywhere at Park is awesome.
JESSAMY
Favorite Park memory: Having Chinese food with Mrs. Johnson. What is your favorite spot at Park? The Library.
How did COVID change your perspective about school? I am grateful to Park that the school did a lot of things for COVID protection to make sure students are safe at school.
How did COVID change your perspective about school? Our school is very special in that we can do things like staying open during COVID. I feel very safe and that the administration cares for my health.
Plans for next year: I applied to 11 colleges, so I’m waiting to hear back.
Plans for next year: Learn to cook.
What will you miss about Park? All the teachers and my friends.
What will you miss about Park? The close relationship with my teachers.
Years at Park: 4
Years at Park: 3
SHAON
What will you miss about Park? I am going to miss how the school operates where everyone on campus knows each other. I think that is a great thing to have at a high school where you can build those social skills in preparation for college.
TONY
Favorite Park memory: Help from the teachers and students, because everyone here is so kind. Mrs. Johnson always organized activities for us international students. I remember going out to dinner, going ice skating, going to Darien Lake. What will you miss about Park? The campus, the environment. It’s a huge campus but everyone is connected to it. How did COVID change your perspective about school? There’s so much to do at Park from events to activities, but COVID has taken a lot of those things away. It makes you see the importance of those kinds of things.
Scholars Program @ A conversation with Michal Shmuel-Lewis and Nirit Weiner Tell us about your background and experience and what led you to Park. Michal Shmuel-Lewis (MSL): I am an ENL teacher and a certified school counselor in NY state, and came to the US in 2001. At Kadimah, I taught Hebrew and coordinated the Hebrew program. In 2019, the school closed, and started the Kadimah Scholars program at Park. We designed a new program to fit the structure and format of a private school. There were more than a few challenges in adjustment, but the administration and Park faculty were very supportive and welcoming, and Nirit & I made it work to the best of our ability and the students’ needs.
Always Leading
Nirit Weiner (NW): We moved to Buffalo four years ago. I worked at the Kadimah Academy for two school years. When the School closed and formed a partnership with Park, we came over.
How has the Kadimah Scholars program evolved since coming to Park? MSL: Right from the beginning, I had the freedom to design and create a Kadimah program in the way I envisioned. The first year was a learning experience with a lot of trial and error. We had to adjust to teaching so many grades, K-12. There were lots of lesson plans, though it has been a big advantage to create the curriculum ourselves. Since this program is completely new and we do not have an exact model to look at, Nirit and I plan the curriculum according to our students’ needs, levels, and schedules. We have to be flexible since we get new students every year, and since COVID added some obstacles as well. We are lucky to have the support of the Kadimah Board, as well as The Park School. We do the most with what we have, and give our students the best Jewish and Hebrew education, as well as enhance the program with creative, cultural activities. NW: For example, during the holiday festival of Sukkot, we built a Sukkah outdoors and planned activities for the students while teaching them about the Jewish traditions of the holiday. This was all outdoors, masked, and without external parent attendance. Our people survived 40 years in the desert, and we will survive this pandemic.
Is there one lesson or project that stands out to you as being particularly resonant with students? NW: Two projects from last year stand out. Our 10th grade students learned about tenement houses in New York City, where Eastern European Jewish settlements started on the Lower East Side. We learned about Jewish delicatessen culture, and took a virtual tour of a tenement house via the Tenement Museum in New York City. We learned how
to make pickles, and the students loved making their own versions. Students were surprised by how popular and how many delis there were in Manhattan. Katz’s deli on the Lower East Side is a notable one. The other project was with our 1st graders. Using the computer lab, we created a map of the land of Israel. We then took a virtual field trip to Israel, created Israeli passports and airline tickets, had to pack suitcases, and built our own makeshift plane. One parent even sent goodie bags for the plane! Students visited the Western Wall and wrote notes and wishes to leave in the wall. They did a dinosaur dig, rode on a camel, went snorkeling in the Red Sea, and went to a biblical zoo. We also printed Israeli money and got to shop in an Israeli store. It was an incredibly immersive and impactful experience for our students. MSL: For Passover, we did an activity in class that mimicked the crossing of the Red Sea. We divided the class into two groups, where one represented Egypt and the other represented Israel. The kids dressed as slaves, and were holding little baby dolls that were meant to represent children, and crossed from one side to the other. When they arrived in Israel, they sang ‘we were slaves to Pharaoh and now we are free.’ Since we could not do a Model Passover Seder last year in a big group due to Covid, we organized a variety of activities with each grade level. We explained what each food on the
Seder plate symbolizes, as well the actions and traditions of the holiday using the Hebrew language. At the end of the unit, we created a slideshow which we sent to parents and the community. We make an effort to create the spirit of Judaism in our classes. I see myself as a medium of the Jewish/Israeli spirit.
What are your plans for the coming year within the Kadimah program? NW: We will likely repeat our “field trip” to Israel with our 1st graders, which would be so much fun. Additionally, the February holiday Tu-Be-Shvat is a celebration for the birthday of the trees in the land of Israel. There are seven holy plant species in the bible: fig, olive, pomegranate, dates, wheat, barley, and grapevine. We honor this holiday to hold gratitude for the environment and the earth. To this end, we are working on a greenhouse project to study the greater meaning of Hamotsi, a Jewish blessing over bread which gives thanks to God for bringing forth bread from the earth. This blessing importantly draws attention not just to the privilege of having food to eat, but is also a statement of faith for a time to come when ALL will have enough to eat . For this project, we planted winter wheat. It will be a year-long process where students plant the seeds, wait for the wheat to sprout, and then move the plants outside to winterize them. These initial steps have been taken by our Kadimah students, and now the seeds are housed in outdoor growing containers in front of Hamlin Hall. Once the wheat is ready, we will harvest and grind our own flour in an attempt to understand the laborintensive process of growing and preparing our own food. Finally, we will make our own bread, thereby honoring this vital cycle and the celebration of food brought forth from the earth. MSL: It is always nice to see students shine in a leadership role, and take ownership of their Kadimah studies by sharing that knowledge with their fellow classmates. We are planning on hosting a Passover Model Seder for all Park middle school students led by the 6th and 7th grade Kadimah Scholars’ students. My goal is to train my students to teach their peers and become leaders and ambassadors in Park and in the broader Jewish Community. We also dream of taking our Kadimah Scholars on a real Immersion field trip to Israel someday.
What is one thing about you that the Park community would be surprised to know? NW: I envy all the students that go to Mrs. Polaske (one of Park’s art teachers) because I think the best place on campus is the art studio in Kimball. Also, how easy it is to collaborate with fellow teachers at Park. It is a real strength here, just how collaborative and flexible everyone can be. MSL: The level of collaboration between Nirit and me and the Park teachers. Thanks to the open communication and the willingness to help and be flexible, we are able to take the program to a higher level for the students and enhance it in many different ways. For example, Park’s music teachers helped prepare students to play Hanukkah songs on their instruments and sing Hebrew songs; the art teachers trained us to lead candle making and Hanukkah decoration workshops with the students, and science teachers guided us in using the Greenhouse so we can do experiments and involve our students in experiential learning. These are just a few examples of the productive collaboration that makes the Kadimah Scholars Program so successful. Nirit and I are very thankful for that and want to say Todah Rabbah (‘thank you very much’ in Hebrew) to all of our Park friends.
Above: Nirit and a Kadimah Scholar make Hanukkah cookies in December 2021. Below: Kadimah Scholars plant winter wheat and white tulips, which are plants mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Students will harvest the wheat this spring as part of their bread making project.
ABOUT THE HERTHA BALL WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM Hertha Ball was a longtime volunteer at Park and parent of alumna Tina Ball ’70. The Hertha Ball Writer-in-Residence program was started at Park in 1999 in honor of Mrs. Ball’s 90th birthday. It has enabled the School to bring in noted authors to work with students and the public through targeted donations to the School. Mrs. Ball passed away in 2013 at the age of 103.
Author Claribel Ortega Wows Students and Faculty During Hertha Ball Writer-in-Residence
With Tina’s help, Park is thrilled to have relaunched this special program in October 2021, with plans already in the works for another author visit in May 2022.
Author Claribel Ortega visited Park on October 15 and 16, 2021 as part of the school’s Hertha Ball Writer-in-Residence Program. Her debut middle grade (ages 8-12) novel, Ghost Squad, was named one of NPR’s Best Books of 2020 and was one of Barnes & Noble’s Monthly Picks for October. During Claribel’s visit to Park, she met with students in Grades 3-7, guiding them through her writing process, themes, and influences while also challenging students with writing exercises. After her visit, she commented that Park students were curious, well-spoken, confident, and engaged while working with her, and the process was truly enjoyed by all. A community-wide meet & greet and book signing with Claribel was held on October 16 in the Gretchen & Gordon Gross ‘49 Family Center for Campus Inquiry. More than 40 people attended and enjoyed hearing about Claribel’s journey to become a published author and the many challenges she faced along the way.
Author Laurie Halse Anderson visited Park in 1999 as part of the Hertha Ball Writer-inResidence Program. Above, she is pictured on the left with Hertha, Tina, and Joey Ball.
“Claribel Ortega’s writing echoes Park’s mission in that both create and celebrate a diverse community where a deep sense of belonging is a common thread,” Dr. Keith Frome said. “We hope hearing about her experience as a writer has inspired our students and unlocked new perspectives.” Claribel is a former reporter who writes middle-grade and young adult fantasy inspired by her Dominican heritage. She is a Marvel contributor and has been featured on Buzzfeed, Bustle, Good Morning America, and Deadline. Ghost Squad is out now from Scholastic and is being made into a feature film. Her forthcoming books include Witchlings (Scholastic) and the graphic novel Frizzy (First Second). You can find her on Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok @Claribel_Ortega and on her website at claribelortega.com. Park celebrated Hertha’s 100th birthday at an all-school birthday party in the Dining Hall in 2009.
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION UPDATES Dear Fellow Alumni, I hope you had a happy holiday season, in all the ways you may celebrate! This is an appropriate time to share some of my hopes and goals for the Park Alumni Association as we proceed through 2022. The past two years have been, to say the least, difficult. Yet I think in many ways Park School, like so many of us, has come out stronger and more resilient. Our Alma Mater has done a remarkable job riding out this storm, still committed to our current students and families, and serving as an example to other schools in Western New York. This year, we plan to reintroduce—when it is safe—larger social events for alumni. And our hope is to make this year’s Reunion the biggest and best ever! Save the date: June 17 and 18, 2022. Recently, I looked through some old school photos and was struck by the relevant events in our past. It is apparent Park has a history of weathering crises. During the 1918 pandemic, students truly embraced the outdoor campus model, and the School utilized it fully, capitalizing on our uniquely-featured setting. Rest assured Park School is still a place that problem solves in such ways, prioritizing the continued education of students, even as we endure a global pandemic. Should you have any questions or ideas, I’d welcome a conversation. Please feel free to email me at theharrylipsitz@gmail.com. I look forward to seeing many of you in person at the next Park event! With warmest regards,
Harry Lipsitz ‘10 Alumni Association President
MEET HARRY LIPSITZ ’10 HOW MANY YEARS WERE YOU AT PARK?
I started at Park School in first grade. Proudly graduated as a member of the Class of 2010!
WHAT IS YOUR FONDEST PARK MEMORY?
Some of my fondest memories include winter carnival, participating in plays, playing on the golf and basketball teams, and of course the immersion trips I got to experience, Montreal and Quebec, and then later to Costa Rica.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PARK TEACHER?
My favorite Park teacher is a real tough one. In Lower School it might have gone to Andrea Frankfurt as my first grade teacher who welcomed me to Park and always made everyone feel so loved and appreciated. My middle school favorites were a tie between Lisa Wood, Charles Wise, and Matt Krieb, all of whom really challenged me to think in so many critical ways. In Upper School, I would say Jeremy Besch, Steve George, Kelly Aja, Kyle Polaske, and Steve Powell as they really instilled confidence and gave me the support and encouragement to pursue my real interests in life. There are so many other staff and faculty at Park that I appreciated, so it’s truly hard to narrow it down.
WHAT IS YOUR GOAL FOR THE PARK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION?
My goal for the Alumni Association is to improve upon the way the School stays connected to each alum. I want to make alumni events as well attended as possible. I think Park is such a special place and I know many alums keep Park in their hearts well after they have left the School. I want to do my best to help the School showcase its incredible progress especially amidst a pandemic. There is so much to be proud of and I want to celebrate more of the accomplishments of many of those who make up Park’s strong alumni body. My hope is to reengage and reconnect as much as possible within the alumni community.
WHY DO YOU FEEL IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ALUMNI TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE SCHOOL? I think it’s important to stay connected to Park as an alum because it’s a humble reminder of where we all came from, and I personally find it uplifting when I hear about success at the School and amongst the student body in any way! We should be proud of those who follow in our footsteps there. We all know how special a place Park is and the kind of person the School churns out is someone to be proud of. A Park Schooler is someone who does good and the world needs more of those people now.
WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST HOPE FOR PARK?
My biggest hope for Park is that it can continue its strong momentum and success it has had, growing the student body but still offering the special attention and support that each student gets, and just continuing to flourish. The campus looks incredible if you haven’t seen it in a while.
TELL US A FUN FACT ABOUT YOURSELF! Harry Lipsitz and classmate Tony Paik ’10 on location at a video shoot during their senior year at Park.
According to global statics I am one of six people named Harry Lipsitz in the Northern Hemisphere.
CLASS NOTES • 1952 •
Joan Plumb Reeves writes, “No real news except we are doing better than most places in terms of dealing with the pandemic. All double-vaccinated, dancing outside in driveways and entertaining on porches but not looking forward to winter. Still hoping to attend the 70th reunion of the class of 1952 next June, with a little luck!”
• 1954 •
Susanne Hecht Goldstein shares, “Life is great and mostly warm and sunny here in Los Angeles. I enjoy life, music and extension courses at UCLA with my doxie. We certainly were prepared to go forth, learn and enjoy when at Park. I never saw myself so able to enjoy the outdoors and all things interesting and beautiful. My best wishes for the future of all at Park School.”
• 1955 •
Judy Cochran Glenn shared that her son, Chris Glenn, son of Sturgen Glenn ‘54 and Judy Cochran Glenn ‘55, welcomed a son, Garrison, on November 4, 2021. Judy lives in Burlington, VT.
• 1958 •
Charlie Little shared the following sentiment, “The more time goes by, the more I realize that (besides my family) the folks I most want to stay in touch with are my Park classmates and the people in the classes on either side of us. So I began a simple e-mail thread. It includes those of us who are left and a couple of folks from nearby classes. On this thread Tim and Jerry and I can reminisce about a famous basketball game. Sue can bring us up-to-date on her archaeological work. Gail sends info about the amazing rivers and wetlands in Alabama (who knew?). Pat gives news of sugaring in Vermont and Guy shares photos of the gorgeous furniture he makes. Janet posts hilarious jokes, many appropriate to our age group, and Betsy keeps us appraised of doings at Park. Of course there’s more. These are just a couple of examples. But I feel blessed that I can keep in touch with my Park pals, and Park itself, in this way.”
city just a bit south and west of Cleveland. I now read a lot and am still a deacon in the Episcopal Church, Diocese of Ohio, doing volunteer service here and there. And I have occasionally traveled with my best friend here and there. And that is that.”
• 1962 •
David Laufer writes, “My wife Ellen and I are enjoying weekly visits with our 2 year old twin grandsons, Jake and Zach. We are also beginning to meet some of the other residents in the condo building we moved into in McClean, VA last February, just before COVID.”
• 1963 •
Susan Womer Katzev shared an update: “I’m living on the coast of Maine, just completing publication of the ancient Greek ‘Kyrenia Ship’ whose excavation was directed by my late husband Michael Katzev. The ship is preserved in the crusader castle of Kyrenia, Cyprus.”
• 1965 •
Janice Pantera Miller writes, “Stewart and I are enjoying living in Greenville, SC. Our family is growing. In the past year and a half we got a new grandson and granddaughter. That makes six now. Kids keep you young. It is wonderful thinking I spent my whole childhood at Park, 1950-1965.”
• 1967 •
Joe Allen and Greg Schneider are preparing for the Class of 1967’s 55th Reunion in June 2022 and hope for a good turnout!
• 1968 •
Steven Caprow now has two beautiful granddaughters, Jayne and Mara. His daughter Jillian just got married and his son Jake is expecting a baby. Steve is proud to have recently accomplished a rim to rim hike of the Grand Canyon with his kids.
• 1961 •
Howard Bloom’s The Howard Bloom Institute announced its Honorary Advisory Board, which includes a former governor, five scientists, two theater luminaries, and important figures from the US, India, Vienna, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Some of the board members are actors Harry Hamlin and Jeff Bridges, and former NYS Governor David Paterson. The Howard Bloom Institute is an institute dedicated to helping us see everything inside of us and everything around us in a whole new way. One initiative of the Institute is the establishment of the new discipline of Omnology, a field dedicated to those whose range of disciplines allows them to see the big picture. An honorary advisory board that goes from scientists to politicians to performers exists because, in fact, all of its members are omnologists. “Hello from Jane Trager, Class of 1961. My god has it been that long!? Yes. I finally retired February 29, 2020 - I think - after all, old age makes one forgetful - after 21 plus years working at a correctional facility with drug addicts and alcoholics. I loved the challenge and the men and women who were remanded to the facility. I have lived in Elyria, OH, for a long time - a small
Steven Caprow ‘68 with his daughter at her recent wedding.
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• 1971 •
John Lipsitz is no longer involved in day-to-day management at Lipsitz, Ponterio, & Comerford, but he’s still fighting the good fight every day, representing folks exposed to toxins in the workplace.
Pioneers in Florida: Doug Doolittle ‘76, Elizabeth Rand ‘79, Lissa Griffis Davis ‘76, Janet Bryce Wettlaufer ‘76, Spencer Allen ‘76, Cheryl Skuller Wald ‘75, and Leslie Bunis Ohl ‘75
John ’71, Devin ’02, and Harry Lipsitz ’10.
• 1973 •
Debra Givens was appointed to the Court of Claims, 8th District. She is the first female and first person of color to hold this position!
• 1974 •
Cynthia Pearce LeMay successfully defended her Ph.D. dissertation at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, GA, graduating from the International Conflict Management Program in December of 2020. She is currently teaching at the Michael A. Leven School of Management, Entrepreneurship and Hospitality at Kennesaw State while completing a book on Millennials and intergenerational conflict in the workplace that will be published by Routledge/ Taylor Francis in 2022. Her sister, Cathy Pearce Williams ‘71 was a constant source of support and encouragement during Cynthia’s Ph.D. journey.
• 1975 •
Leslie Bunis Ohl shared, “My husband, Charlie Ohl, and I relocated to the west coast of Florida in October of 2020 after 40 wonderful years in Buffalo. One of the best things about the move to this area of Florida is that there are a number of Park School folks that either live here full time as we do, or are here for part of the year. Now that fall is in the air, those that have been away are back again and we found that with visitors Cheryl Skuller Wald ‘75 and husband Joe in town, it would be a great opportunity to gather the Park School gang! Patty Koren Witt ‘72 who lives here full time with husband, Greg, was unable to join us this time.
• 1976 •
Georgia Moseley writes, “I recently retired from Children’s OB after 39 years. My other passion is Seniors. I am now providing Home Care and Transportation in most Buffalo areas.”
• 1993 •
Sarah Hezel writes, “Hello Park friends! My family and I relocated to Oak Park, IL in 2020 to step into my new role as Vice President of Design & Exhibits at the Shedd Aquarium, Chicago. It has been an honor to create and share amazing content about our beloved aquatic critters with audiences around the globe.”
• 1999 •
Jamie Obletz was named president of Delaware North’s Sportservice business segment which serves stadiums and arenas around the country. He joined Delaware North in 2016 and most recently was president of the travel division at Delaware North.
• 2000 •
Congratulations to Lindsey Ross, who was named to the 20 Under 40 list by the National Association of Spine Specialists. She is a neurosurgeon at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. In 201617, she served as a White House Fellow, a prestigious position where she worked for the Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that also included roundtable discussions with top government leaders.
• 2002 •
Like many of his colleagues in the education field, Devin Lipsitz, is meeting the challenges of pandemic teaching. He is currently teaching a special education class of second graders who have been diagnosed as being on the Autism
spectrum. This is Devin’s third year of looping up with the same students. He has developed a strong bond with both his students and co-teachers. Despite many of the difficulties that have occurred during the past two years, including remote teaching, shutdowns, and unexpected quarantining, he continues to work towards providing a safe and effective academic environment for the eager young learners under his care. Devin credits The Park School with providing him the drive and stamina necessary to reach the neediest of students and families.
• 2007 •
Ed Hasegawa is now working full time for Island Divers on Oahu as an assistant diver master instructor, expecting his full instructor certification in a few months. He takes a group or two out diving a day, five days a week and is often out diving on his days off. Check out his Instagram: edward_ hasegawa (Island Divers Hawaii) for underwater and topside marine life videos and photos.
• 2019 •
Quentin Johnson and Jackie Connelly were named to the Fall 2020 Dean’s and Merit lists at Canisius College.
• 2020 •
Nicole Ellegate was named a Presidential Scholar for the spring 2021 semester at Clarkson University. Presidential Scholars must achieve a minimum 3.80 grade-point average and carry at least 14 credit hours. Nicole is majoring in innovation and entrepreneurship.
• 2021 •
On September 25, 2021 during a Pinning Ceremony, Alexis Katsabekis was accepted into the Regiment of Midshipmen and sworn into the United States Navy Reserve at The United States Merchant Marine Academy, where he was appointed and currently attends school.
• 2010 •
Katherine Karrer worked as a horse wrangler on the set of Paranormal Activity 7, which was filmed in Buffalo.
• 2014 •
Jeremy Jiang completed his master’s degree in Data Analytical Engineering from Northeastern University Seattle.
• 2015 •
Bjoern Opdenberg graduated from Georgia State University during the Spring 2021 semester. He earned a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree with a concentration in Sport Administration.
• 2016 •
Gabriel Montone graduated Kenyon College in December 2020 with a degree in Philosophy and a focus interest in Cognitive Science. After graduating, he assisted Mr. Fedirko, teaching the Neuroscience Education Initiative at Park! He has also written, recorded, and self-produced several albums currently streaming on all platforms. Gabriel is in the midst of working on a full length novel -- a psychological thriller of sorts incorporating many philosophical themes. He says, “I am presently training to become a teacher and assistant at the Aurora Waldorf School, and hope one day to return to Park and teach!” Jamie Bommer was named to the Dean’s List at Buff State for the Spring 2021 semester.
• 2017 •
Mike Jeswald graduated cum laude from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, OH, with a Bachelor of Science in Physics.
• 2018 •
Tyonna Acoff and Simone Havis-Walton were named to the Spring 2021 Dean’s and Merit lists at Canisius College. Alexis Katsabekis ’21
IN MEMORIAM
We extend our condolences to the families and friends of these members of the Park community. We also gratefully acknowledge the families who recognized their loved one’s deep connection to Park by designating the School as a recipient of memorial gifts.
Jean Hamill Bellanca ’50 February 23, 2021 A.M. Hinke Boot February 15, 2021 Mother of Mark Boot ‘86 and Maren Boot ‘84 John Boot May 15, 2020 Father of Mark Boot ‘86 and Maren Boot ‘84 Norma Bradley December 5, 2021 Mother of Jerilyn Bradley Schnitzel ‘80 Michael Burwick ’64 October 27, 2021 Brother of Robert Burwick ‘67 Elisabeth H. Clarkson November 21, 2020 Mother of Alison Clarkson ‘73, David Clarkson ‘75, and Andrew Clarkson ‘77 Janet Dimet March 19, 2020 Mother of Lauren Dimet Waters ‘85
Edwin M. Johnston January 30, 2022 Father of Sarah Johnston ‘82 Step-father of Fred Schoellkopf ‘84 Robert Laffler ’50 January 13, 2021 Brother of Jack Laffler ‘49 Madeleine Evans Maldonado ’47 July 10, 2020 Sister of Cecilia Evans Clement ‘45 and Jane Evans Meyer ‘50 Joseph McMahon Father of Joe McMahon ‘83 Grandfather of Lucas McMahon ‘13, Daniel McMahon, and Jonathon McMahon John Medige January 21, 2021 Father of Thomas Medige ‘77 (d) Arthur M. Meyer ’42 April 20, 2021 Father of Alden Meyer ‘70, Carey Meyer ‘83, and Megan Meyer ‘85 Faculty member from 1948-1965
Edward G. Draper December 25, 2021 Father of Board of Trustees member David Draper
Teresa Miller August 6, 2021 Mother of Seychelle Mikofsky ‘16, Miles Mikofsky, and Croix Mikofsky Board of Trustees, 2012-2016
Robert Gallivan February 12, 2022 Father of Seamus Gallivan ‘96 and Maggie Gallivan Cecchini ‘99
Phillip W. More ‘72 February 1, 2022 Son of Martje Vissert’Hooft More’47
Peter Gozelski June 15, 2021 Father of Luke Gozelski ‘20
Frederick Harris Nichols ’54 December 18, 2021 Father of Pamela Nichols Marcucci ‘81
Gretchen S. Gross December 18, 2021 Board of Trustees Wife of Gordon Gross ‘49 (d) Step-mother of Debra Gross Weiner ‘73 Grandmother of Kyle Weiner ‘04 and Jordan Weiner ‘04
Andrew Parke ’51 July 4, 2020 Brother of Robert Parke ‘45 (d) and The Rev. David Parke ‘46 (d)
Richard Haynes February 20, 2021 Husband of Nan Lipsitz Haynes ‘73
Barbara Roehl ’65 March 14, 2021 Sister of Robert Roehl ‘66, Frederick Roehl ‘71, and James Roehl ‘76
Janet Jarvis Hicks ’70 December 19, 2021
Mary Scheu Teach ’41 October 5, 2021 Mother of Nancy Teach ‘68 and Donna Teach Young ‘69
Carolyn Hopkins September 2021 Daughter of Rick Hopkins ‘78
Jonathan J. Perez ’82 February 9, 2021
Jeffrey Traeger ’62 July 27, 2021
Peter Hopkins ‘85 September 29, 2021 Brother of Rick Hopkins ‘78 and Allison Hopkins ‘82
Patricia Dodd Ulmer ’54 October 25, 2021 Sister of Barbara Dodd Murray ‘60 and Kela Dodd Wilson ‘63 (d)
Frederic Houston December 10, 2020 Father of Virginia Houston Meenan ‘83
June Watt March 10, 2021 Retired Faculty
John Lee Hurley, Sr. October 25, 2021 Father of Barbara Hurley ‘81
Sylvia Lyman Whitcher ‘43 January 23, 2022
Margaret Irwin Jewett ’44 March 31, 2021 Mother of Adrian Jewett ‘73
Joe Slade White May 5, 2021 Father of Noah Cosimano-White ‘17
A PARK EDUCATION IS TRANSFORMATIONAL. WE COULD NOT PROVIDE THE FULL PARK EXPERIENCE WITHOUT THE GENEROUS COMMITMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU! The donors listed within these next pages represent gifts made to Park during the 2020/21 fiscal year, July 1 through June 30, for the Annual Fund, scholarships, special projects, events, and The Park School Foundation. We are extremely grateful to all of our supporters for their dedication to Park and their gifts to the School, both of which continue to enhance the wonderful Park experience for all students. Every effort has been made to present an accurate listing of all donors who made gifts to the School during the 2020/21 fiscal year. If your name was omitted or incorrectly listed, please accept our apologies and let us know so that we may correct our records.
In 2020/21 you gave
$976,687
to support PARK.!
2020/21 GIVING SUMMARY Unrestricted Annual Fund
$305,902
Restricted Annual Fund
$441,998
Special Events
$ 84,825
Gifts to Park School Foundation
$
Park School Foundation endowment distribution to support scholarship, professional development, and more.
$143,212
TOTAL
750
$976,687
2020/21 REPORT ON GIVING BOARD OF TRUSTEES
FOUNDATION BOARD
Jason Bird, President Sheryl Davies, Vice President Cecily Rodriguez, Secretary Cheri Carter, Treasurer Christie Witt Berardi Madeline Connors ‘11 David Draper Gretchen Gross David Taylor Harry Lipsitz ’10, Alumni Association Rep Isaiah Davies ’22, Student Rep Macarena Fritz-Cefaratti, Faculty Rep Kyle Polaske, Faculty Rep Therese Smith-Cramer, PPA President
Martin Berardi, President Trudy Mollenberg, Vice President Gerald Cornish Linda Angert Kahn ‘62 Andrew Morrison ‘81 David Rich ‘63 Jason Bird Lisa Conrad, Head of School Kim Ruppel, Director of Development
FACULTY AND STAFF Zubaida Altikriti Amber Anderson Khaterah Assar Cheryl Benzinger Macarena Fritz-Cefaratti Marnie Benatovich Cerrato ‘90 Lisa Conrad Brianna Cornelius Max Davis Adrienne DeGroat Margaret Diamond Angela DiSalvo Molly Drozda Bill Fedirko Jennifer Fenwick Nancy Fernandez Rocio Fritz-Kelley Steve George ‘97 Mary Gjurich
Shira Goldberg Kate Haq Charles Hartney Marcus Hutchins Samantha Hutchins Tanja Ilic Jarret Izzo Beth Jeswald Jodee Johnson Bob Keller Hex Kleinmartin JoAnne Leugemors Caitlin Littlefield Andrea Martzolf Karen Miller Jerry Miraglia Tanya Okoniewski Monica Padmanabha Kyle Polaske Bill Rider
Kim Ruppel Apryle Schneeberger Anna Scirri Michele Shadden Michal Shmuel-Lewis Susanne Spatzer Suzanne ThepaultHasselback Britton Thomas Sara Thomas Jose Vega Bethany Ward Kevin Wartinger Nirit Weiner Amy Wiese Lisa Wood Rachel Wright Emily Yang Jordan Yendall John Zamojski
MARY HAMMETT LEWISLeadershipCircle
Every contribution to Park is received with gratitude and directly supports our students, faculty, and campus. The generous members of our Mary Hammett Lewis Leadership Circle listed below demonstrate a profound commitment to the School with their cumulative gifts of $1,000 or more during the 2019-20 fiscal year. We are exceedingly grateful for this generosity.
$20,000 + FOUNDERS COUNCIL
$2,500 - $4,999 CENTENNIAL CLUB
Buffalo Jewish Federation Peter C. Cornell Trust at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Kadimah NYSED/SORUS The John R. Oishei Foundation
Bruce Baird and Susan O’Connor Baird Gerald and Michelle Cornish Warren and Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66 Joan and Guy Gunzberg ‘58 Fung Eng and Carol Hasegawa The Humston Family Joyce, Vicki ‘88, Robert ‘90 Greg and Lisa Gelman Koessler ‘93 J. Eric Maki ‘78 K. Michael Maloney ‘78 Andrew Morrison ‘81 Patricia Burns Richardson ‘88 Trevor and Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ‘97 David and Anne Taylor Stefanie and Richard Vogel ‘68 Linda Kittinger Wadsworth ‘56 (d) Susan Weissgerber ‘66
$10,000 - $19,999 TRUSTEES COUNCIL Melissa and Allan Baumgart Martin and Sarah Berardi Jason and Sheryl Davies Deborah and Timothy J. Finnell ‘58 Johnston Family Foundation Peter and Evviva Lajoie Roy and Jean Manno Carolyn and Robert L. Montgomery, Jr. ‘55 VIYU Foundation
$5,000 - $9,999 FACULTY COUNCIL Daniel Cox ‘67 Van and Trudy Mollenberg Thomas L. Munschauer ‘71 Wendy Pierce Rev. and Mrs. David A. Rich ‘63 Christina Schindler Alma Scully Susan and Jan Suwinski ‘59 Paula M. Wardynski ‘75
$1,000 - $2,499 ORANGE & BROWN CLUB Anonymous Howard and Lana Benatovich Richard and Dorothy Hoffman Bergman ‘72 Jason and Grace Bird George Brady ‘58 Michael Burns ‘73 Anna Buxton ‘18 Susan Caldwell ‘64 Stephen Clement ‘62 Rebecca and Collin Cook ‘93 Stephen and Shelley Coppola Stephen Cornell Gregory Frank Daniel David and Katie Draper Janet Currie and Donald Dudley ‘77 Sanford Eisen and Linda Johnson
Joseph and Trish Emhof Gretchen Gross Hilary P. Harty ‘61 Michael Helmstetter ‘82 Rebecca and Jarret Izzo ‘03 Kenneth and Linda Angert Kahn ‘62 Barbara and Mark Karrer ‘73 Todd Levin ‘86 and Karen Baker Levin John Lipsitz ‘71 and Maria Scrivani D. Jeffrey Lischer ‘82 Judith Warren Fegley Little ‘64 Amos W. Marvel ‘93 Claire McGowan Janice Pantera Miller ‘65 Marion Heinrich Mudd ‘47 Greg and Laura Mulvey Douglas Levi Obletz ‘73 Theodore Okie ‘51 William W. Pfeifer ‘83 David A. Rich Jr. ‘88 and Terri Cockrell Rich ‘88 Nena and Ted Rich ‘88 Julianne Rizzo Heather and Donald C. Roberts ‘59 Kimberly and Andrew Roberts ‘90 Cheryl Rosenberg Eugene Setel ‘46 (d) Barbara Sicherman ‘51 Reed and Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stevenson A. Mark Taylor ‘83 Donna Vogel ‘68 Elizabeth DeWees Walker Scholarship Fund at The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Helen V. Walker Fund at The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Carl Weissgerber ‘65 Robert J. Wilson ‘55 Max Zelikman
ALUMNI AND STUDENTS 1940
1956
1962
Sally Keating Walsh
Sara Wyckoff Hurley Gabrielle Stevens Kimmel Linda Kittinger Wadsworth (d) James Whitehead
Stephen Clement III Grier Livingston Curtis Linda Angert Kahn David Laufer Ann Pedersen Locey Gail Sanford Lutz
1942 Arthur Meyer (d)
1946 Eugene Setel (d)
1947 Taddy Taylor Dann Lois Farber Dopkins Clara Monroe Lautz Marion Heinrich Mudd
1948 John P. MacKenzie
1957 David Colton Richard Robbins Peggy DeWitt Stokes Nancy Townsend Wyman
1958 George E. Brady Gail Haddaway Bramer Margaret Kimball Chapin Keith Clark Charles Eaton Timothy J. Finnell Guy Gunzberg Charles Little Linda Buerk Matt Janet Aberdeen Mueller Patricia Burns Richardson Carl Wagner Lisbeth Walls
1963 Raymond Bernhardt David G. Brock Lucinda Smith Johnston Susan Kimber Kiviat Philip Marshall Karen Seeberg Marshall Rev. David A. Rich Eleanor Staniland Stofan
1964
Thomas H. Speller, Jr. Donna Vogel Richard Vogel Lorna Walker Jane Weintraub
1969 Peter Alt Richard Lipsitz
1970 Elizabeth Danahy Stephen Greene Alden Meyer Francis T. Riforgiato Brian Rowe Douglas Taylor Jennifer Wood
Susan Caldwell Chris Eggleston Lisbeth Alpern ‘64 Judith Warren Little Gary Mols Janice Wolf Shultz Sarah Roberts Strouss
1971
1959
1965 Leonard D. Carrel Suzanne R. Hirsch Janice Pantera Miller Carl Weissgerber
Joan Plumb Reeves
Charles Cheney Leslie Fisher Curtiss Susan Berryhill Hill Jerome G. Jacobstein Thomas H. Krakauer Jean Matzinger Donald C. Roberts Ellen Levy Schwimmer Jan Suwinski Terry Wilson Vaughan
Dorothy Hoffman Bergman David Munschauer
1953
1960
1949 Marguerite Morey Zabriskie
1950 Ruth Glascock Jones Patricia Morey Pratt Vera Monroe Charlotte Keeney Valaer
1951 Theodore Okie Barbara Sicherman
1952
David Bunis Barbara Hurwitz Davis Karl Heilborn
1954 Dale Casto Guy Kaldis Sheila Bleichfeld Ross
1955 Greta Benjamin Berkson Judith Cochran Glenn David Lyon Robert L. Montgomery Jr. Donald E. Wallens M.D. Robert Wilson
Michael F. Dozoretz Rosalind Kimball Moulton C. Bradley Tashenberg
1961 Michael Alpern Nicholas Guthrie Hilary P. Harty Lucinda Jackson Hylkema Scott Moss David Patton Arthur Roberts Susan Russell William O’Neil Stroman
1966 Patty Cohen Gelman Amy Greene Frank Mecklenberg Karen Simon Neiman Karen Vogel Nichols Ellen Davis Smythe Susan Weissgerber
1967 Joseph W. Allen Carolyn Clement Clark Daniel C. Cox Gregory D. Galloway Deborah Hoffman Kulok
1968 David C. Carter John E. Clark, Jr. Susan West Cutter James Morrison John and Debbie Smith Sheedy
Cathy Cohen John Lipsitz Thomas L. Munschauer Maud Naroll
1972
1973 Michael Burns Alison H. Clarkson Mark Karrer Douglas Levi Obletz Patty Koren Witt
1974 Miles C. Borzilleri Cynthia Bradley Crippen Pamela Glick Martha Robinson Higgins
1975 Louisa Herrick Crosby Peter Koekkoek Jennifer Smith Mike Dann Cheryl Skuller Wald Paula Wardynski
1977 Sarah Connaughton Donald Dudley
Douglas Goldstein Carl F. Henzelman III DeWitt C. Ivins Michael Serotte Anne Robinson Wadsworth
1978 Patrick Cohn John Hoyt J. Eric Maki K. Michael Maloney Spencer Patterson Peter Smith
1979 Jennifer Wettlaufer Sednaoui
1980 Peter Brason Jeffrey Duryea Jerilyn Bradley Schnitzel Eugene Sorets
1981
1986 Todd Levin
1988 Vicki Humston-Casas David A. Rich Jr. and Terri Cockrell Rich Theodore W. Rich D. Charles Roberts Jr.
1989 Glenn Goldman
1990 Marnie Benatovich Cerrato Robert Humston Olivia Okereke Andrew Roberts
1993 Collin Cook Lisa Gelman Koessler Amos Marvel
Carl Bentzel Andrew Morrison H. Paolo Reichlin Carolyn Hoyt Stevens
1997
1982
1998
Michael Helmstetter Sarah Johnston Amy Potts Knapp D. Jeffrey Lischer Wendy Newman Pratt
1983 Christopher R. Adams Candace Lynn Bell Heather Marks Palmer Stanley Panetski William Pfeifer A. Mark Taylor
Stephan George Wende Mollenberg Stevenson
Elisa Morgulis Appelbaum Jeffrey Goodman Donald Katz
1985 Lauren Dimet Waters
Anonymous Evan Smith
2006 Elizabeth Schreiber Allison Taylor
2008 Chelsea Coyle
2010 Harry Lipsitz
2011 Madeline Connors
2014 Khari Seals
2015 Trevor Cornish Liana Ellegate
2016 Seychelle Mikofsky
2017
Monica Karwan
Michael Jeswald Lily Martzolf
1999
2018
Elizabeth Gerbush Joel Moore James Obletz
2001 Nevin Murchie
2002 Sara Schmitt
1984
2005
2003 Christopher Berardi Kevin Coppola Jarret Izzo Rebecca Taylor McNicol
2004 Kate Peck
Anna Buxton James Ellegate
2020 Aaron Davies Nicole Ellegate Jack Wille
2022 Samantha Balconi Isaiah Davies Izabella Ducato Oliver Grant Ja’Onni McClerkin Angelina Mirzoian Logan Pecora Lylla Schindler Jessamy Zarragoitia
2025 Myles Cerrato
2027 Talia Cerrato
2028 Gabriel Wille
2030 Paolo Cefaratti
2032 Ophelia Cefaratti
DONORS TO THE PARK SCHOOL FOUNDATION OF BUFFALO Hertha Ball Fund Frederick and Carolyn Astmann David and Marilyn Weintraub Fund Jane Weintraub ‘68 Cheek Fund John P. Mackenzie ‘48 Foundation Unrestricted James Morrison ‘68
PARENTS & GUARDIANS Anonymous Andrew and Lori Abramowitz Amber Anderson Fred and Melissa Archer Amanda Bachara Lynne Bader and Nancy Jackman Elizabeth Baker Diana Balconi Cheryl Benzinger Christie Witt and Chris Berardi ‘03 Jason and Grace Bird Kari Bridges and Joan CofieldBridges Michael and Carly Brown Tanya Burnett Tara Catalano Nathan and Macarena Fritz Cefaratti Louis and Marnie Benatovich Cerrato ‘90 Jon Chan and Joyce Lin Matthew and Amanda Colebeck Jeff and Lisa Conrad Rebecca and Collin Cook ‘93 Alyson and Kevin Coppola ‘03 Tirice and Therese Smith Cramer Gregory Frank Daniel Danser Family Jason and Sheryl Davies Jason and Adrienne DeGroat Sam and Christina Akers DiCenzo Mark and Sarah DiVincenzo Fred Dotolo and Molly O’Neil Andrew and Kelly Dunn Joseph Enis Jonathan and Judith Epstein Bill and Nadejda Fedirko
Eric and Brenda Feldstein Alex and Nancy Fernandez John and Theo Ford Renee and David Fortuna Elizabeth Foy Grace Friel Tom and Denise Gabbey Nathan and Laura Gordon Josh and Shane Grant Janeen Greene Frank Gullo David Harvey and Stanley Fernandez Andrew and Jennifer Hebrank Ralph Higbie and Lisa Lane Shelley Hirsch Joe and Stephanie Huffnagle Marcus and Samantha Hutchins Marc and Katherine Izzo Ben and Corrie Stone Johnson Harmony Johnson Matt and Jodee Johnson Greg and Lisa Gelman Koessler ‘93 Evviva and Peter Lajoie Henry and Sume Lee Caitlin Littlefield and Craig Voigt Kenneth Lott Ruth and Benjamin Lubick Matthew Mann and Hailey Banack Sofia Maxick Barbara Miller and Thomas Williams Arsen Mirzoian Narenda Kumar Neppalli and Silpa Mandava Joseph and Shenuka Nesarajah
Ravi and Monica Padmanabha Joe and Amy Pecora Donald and Elisabeth Piccolo Kris and Kyle Polaske Ari and Jamie Potash David Reisman and Elizabeth Abramson Cecily Rodriguez Tim Schiesel and Shauna Bream Christina Schindler Paul and Apryle Schneeberger Annette Slaughter Christopher Smith Jeanne Stanczyk Trevor and Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ‘97 Stewart Family Strathearn Family Yves and Suzanne ThepautHasselback Eric and Heather Thomann Britton Tisdale and Winnie Su Daniel and Lori Trock Tamara Van Wey and Beth Shapiro Eric and Amy Washington Scott and Nicole Weinstein Everett and Mandy Weiss Manuel and Tina Welch Scott and Laura Wexler Kevin and Amy Wiese John and Cheralyn Wille Andrew and Jennifer Wiss Victoria Yuzbasheva Nestor Zarragoitia and Timothy Chevral Michael and Sheryl Zorn
Osvaldo Fritz and Loreto Munoz Warren and Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66 Charlotte Gendler William Gregory Donald and Patricia Harvey Phillip and Sandra Hasselback Mary Hebrank Tim and Cindy Henderson Cindy Hirsch and David Kowalsky Kenneth and Paula Koessler Dee Kysor and George Crafts Joseph and Gloria Lewis Bill and Anne Metzger Van and Trudy Mollenberg
Sam and Denise Nasca Randy and Cindy Oppenheimer Stan and Karen Polaske Ted and Theresa Rajewski Joseph and Rene Reuther Susan Schneeberger Nancy Schwendler Irving and Gail Sterman Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stevenson Arlene Stone Alan and Karen Wexler Edmund and Sharon Wiese Gerald Williams Ralph and Nancy Witt
GRANDPARENTS Thomas Anderson Kenneth and Candace Bachara Howard and Lana Benatovich Martin and Sarah Berardi Gerald and Sandra Berdysiak Dianne Block Tony and Emily Brady Edward and Sandra Brown Kathleen Chapman David and Marlene Cichon Carole Colebeck James and Michele Conrad Ronald Cook Stephen and Shelley Coppola Sanford Eisen and Linda Johnson
PARENTS OF ALUMNI & PAST STUDENTS Mark Abramaitys Robert Adams David Anderson and Sharon Hauselt Isabelle Appleton Kenneth Barnes Allan and Melissa Baumgart Howard and Lana Benatovich Martin and Sarah Berardi Richard and Dorothy Hoffman Bergman ‘72 Diana Bower Richard Campbell Cheri Carter Greg and Allison Sagraves Connors Ronald Cook Alison Cooper Stephen and Shelley Coppola Gerry and Michelle Cornish Taddy Taylor Dann ‘47 Rosemary Elliott Joseph and Trish Emhof Fung Eng and Carol Hasegawa James and Judith Fanning Robert and Nan Gallivan Warren and Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66 Willard and Daisy Genrich
FRIENDS
Lloyd and Connie Gerbush Pamela Glick ‘74 Lori Glickman and Rodger Van Dam James and Maryruth Glogowski Michael and Susan Hartney Marie Houston Joyce Humston Patricia Iuvino Michael and Wendy Izzo Michael and Beth Jeswald Kerry Maguire and Charlie Jones Barbara and Mark Karrer ‘73 David Koplas Connie Laport Todd Levin ‘86 and Karen Baker Levin James and Patricia Linehan John Lipsitz ‘71 and Maria Scrivani Gary Lucinski Michael and Andrea Martzolf Martha McCluskey and Carl Nightingale Trudy McMahon Arthur Meyer ‘42 (d) Karen and Tom Miller Van and Trudy Mollenberg Sandra Morrison Sanford and Margery Nobel
Chinwe Okereke Jane Oles Bill and Liz Parke William Perry William W. Pfeifer ‘83 Wendy Pierce Gonzalo and Nancy Rey Rev. and Mrs. David A. Rich ‘63 Julianne Rizzo Heather and Donald C. Roberts ‘59 Marie Robinson Cheryl Rosenberg Trini Ross Larry Scheur Michele Shadden Roger and Joan Simon A. Warren Smith Jr. (d) & Gretchen L. Smith (d) John and Aileen Spero Reed and Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 Thomas and Patricia Symons Jane Taylor David and Anne Taylor William and Anne Robinson Wadsworth ‘77 Sue Wardynski Lisa Wood
Park is fortunate to receive support from many friends of the School each year, including former faculty and staff members, grandparents of alumni, neighbors, and local and national foundations.
Amazon Smile Frederick and Carolyn Astmann Bruce and Susan O’Connor Baird Alden Bentley Erik Bohen Buffalo Jewish Federation Jo An Campbell John and Katherine Collard Bill Conrad Peter C. Cornell Trust at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Stephen Cornell Megan Davies Bonnie Dell Omar and Susanne DeWitt Debbie DiMatteo Shelley Drake Anna Driver Education Collaborative of WNY EPA Colleagues of Mike Burns Terence Gabriel David Gregorio Tom and Beth Gruszka
Mary Hartney Patrick Hilmey Stanley Hupkowicz Suzanne Jones Kadimah Michael Kistner Matthew Kochan Richard Krause and Rosalind Rivers Roy and Jean Manno Claire McGowan Liz McPhail Greg and Laura Mulvey Ellen Narins Samantha Nasca NYSED/SORUS The John R. Oishei Foundation Christian Plumb Ernest Ramirez Irv and Marilyn Ruppel Marc and Tracy Ruppel & Family Alan Saltzman Howard Schneider Alma Scully
Thomson Reuters Heather E. Timmons Edward Tobin James and Julie Topolski & Family United Way Marsha Villano VIYU Foundation Elizabeth DeWees Walker Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Helen V. Walker Bequest at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Jack Walsh Valerie Warren Jacquelyn Weaver Fred H. & Lorene L. White Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Mason Wille Kimberly Wooten Barbara Yendall Max Zelikman
MEMORIAL AND HONORARY GIFTS
We extend our thanks to the many Park friends who designated their gifts in memory of or in honor of family members, friends, classmates, and teachers.
IN MEMORIAM 1956 Classmates Sara Wyckoff Hurley ‘56 Hertha Ball Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Astmann Leonard Bell ‘66 Leonard D. Carrel ‘65 Jean Hamill Bellanca ‘50 Clara Monroe Lautz ‘47 Vera A. Monroe ‘50 Poppy Morey Pratt ‘50
Carolyn Hoyt Stevens ‘81 and Reed Stevens Jane Taylor Thomson Reuters Heather Timmons Ed and Christine Tobin Dolph and Jeannette Cheek John P. MacKenzie ‘48 Marion H. Mudd ‘47 Debby Bleichfeld Cohen ‘55 Ellen Levy Schwimmer ‘59
Donald Bradley Jerilyn Bradley Schnitzel ‘80
Margie Cook Ronald H. Cook
Ann Burns David Anderson and Sharon L. Hauselt Amanda Bachara Alden Bentley Mr. and Mrs. David Bower Michael Burns ‘73 Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Coppola Megan Davies Anna Driver EPA Elizabeth Foy Terence Gabriel Warren and Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66 David Gregorio John Hoyt ‘78 Barbara and Mark Karrer ‘73 John Lipsitz ‘71 and Maria Scrivani Claire McGowan David A. Patton ‘61 Christian Plumb Rev. and Mrs. David A. Rich ‘63 Kim Ruppel Lawrence Scheur Howard Schneider Eugene Sorets ‘80
Helga Doblin Joan Plumb Reeves ‘52 Lucinda Dudley Jennifer Smith ‘75 Peter and Miriam Enis Joseph Enis Miriam Enis, Ozzy and Talula’s Beloved Grandmother Joseph Enis Myra Falk Mr. and Mrs. David Bower Carole Foy Elizabeth Foy Gordon Gross ‘49 Gretchen Gross Mary Matzinger Guffner ‘59 Susan Berryhill Hill ‘59 Lynn Marion Gunzberg ‘62 Gail Sanford Lutz ‘62
Anne and Phil Harty Hilary P. Harty ‘61
Torrey Rogerson ‘60 John and Katherine Collard
My Grandmother, Anna Johnson Cynthia B. Crippen ‘74
Paula Kahn Saltzman ‘60 Dr. Alan R. Saltzman
Caroline Saunders Kritzer ‘61 Lucinda Jackson Hylkema ‘61
Janet Williams Schulz ‘50 Clara Monroe Lautz ‘47 Vera A. Monroe ‘50 Poppy Morey Pratt ‘50
Robert Laffler ‘50 Ruth Jones Glascock ‘50 Molly McMahon Trudy McMahon Bryan G. Meadows ‘61 Grier Livingston Curtis ‘62
Helene and Edward Seeberg Karen Seeberg Marshall ‘63 Eugene Setel ‘46, Gordon Gross ‘49, and Warren MacKenzie ‘49 John P. MacKenzie ‘48
Arthur Meyer ‘42 Charles C. Cheney ‘59 Leslie Fisher Curtiss ‘59 Jerome G. Jacobstein ‘59 Thomas H. Krakauer ‘59 Jean Matzinger ‘59 Heather and Donald C. Roberts ’59 Ellen Levy Schwimmer ‘59 Terry Wilson Vaughan ‘59
Nina Glickstein Skuller ‘51 Cheryl Skuller Wald ‘75
Julian L.S. Morrison Andrew A. Morrison ‘81
William G. Staniland III ‘61 Eleanor Staniland Stofan ‘63
Daniel Oles Mr. and Mrs. Willard A. Genrich, Jr.
George Urban ‘61 Michael R. Alpern ‘61 David A. Patton ‘61
Morris Reichlin H. Paolo Reichlin ‘81 Ann Louise Jones Robbins Richard Robbins ‘57 Barbara Roehl ‘65 Suzanne R. Hirsch ‘65 Karen S. Neiman ‘66
Ann Cutter Sist ‘63 Susan West Cutter ‘68
Kent Smith ‘75 Miles C. Borzilleri ‘74
June Watt The Humston Family David and Marilyn Weintraub Jane S. Weintraub ‘68 Molly Bleichfeld Weissfeld ‘59 Ellen Levy Schwimmer ’59
IN HONORARIUM Class of 1968 David C. Carter ‘68
Peter Dow ‘50 Gail Sanford Lutz ‘62
Sam Koplas ‘18 David Koplas
Park School Pond Mason C. Wille
Class of 1970 Elizabeth Danahy ‘70 Francis T. Riforgiato ’70
Benicio Fernandez ‘35 Dr. and Mrs. Irving Sterman
Jordan Lewis ‘22 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lewis
Ember Perry ‘34 Bill and Anne Metzger
Class of 1981 Andrew A. Morrison ‘81
Keith Frome Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Clement III ‘62
Ms. Littlefield Jonathan and Judith Epstein Gabriel D. Wille
Shaina Potash ‘23 Ari and Jamie Potash
Autism Awareness Carl B. Wagner ’58
Seamus Gallivan ‘96 and Maggie Gallivan Cecchini ‘99 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gallivan
Avi Lubick Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin J. Lubick
Avi’s Teachers Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin J. Lubick Jack Benzinger ‘22 Cheryl Benzinger Noah Benzinger ‘25 Cheryl Benzinger Martin Berardi Katherine Peck ‘04 Jason Bird Trudy and Van Mollenberg Giada Conrad ‘31 and Jeffrey Conrad ‘28 Jeff and Lisa Conrad Lisa Conrad Jeff Conrad Trevor and Wende Mollenberg Stevenson ‘97
Patty Cohen Gelman ‘66 John N. Walsh III Stephan George ‘97 Marsha Villano D. Cameron Hartney ‘98 & E. Matthew Hartney ‘00 The Rev. and Mrs. Michael Hartney
Mary Lucinski Gary Lucinski Virginia Houston Meenan ‘83 Mrs. Frederic K. Houston Seychelle Mikofsky ‘16 and Teresa Miller H. Paolo Reichlin ‘81
Dr. Haq, Ms. TC, and Mrs. Hutchins Jonathan and Judith Epstein
Trudy Mollenberg John N. Walsh III Sally Keating Walsh ‘40
Glen Herman Jack Wille ‘19
Ethan Oppenheimer Cynthia Oppenheimer
Charlotte Heussler Cheryl M. Rosenberg
Mrs. Padmanabha Gabriel D. Wille
Whitney Holloway ‘83 Isabelle S. Appleton
Park Faculty and Staff Carl Nightingale and Martha McCluskey
Kim Ruppel Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Irving Ruppel Julie Topolski The Schneeberger Family Cindy and Tim Henderson Susan Schneeberger AJ Spero ‘19 John and Aileen Spero Parker, Camden, & Knox Venator and Ryan Campbell Jo An Campbell Sally Keating Walsh ‘40 John N. Walsh III Lyssa Wexler ‘23 and Zachary Wexler ‘21 Mr. and Mrs. Alan Wexler Anthony Wilson Jonathan and Judith Epstein
PARK Giving Day 2021 Thank you for showing your love for Park!
255 gifts received
Donations totaled
$58,515
for our school and campus.
Who donated? Alumni (1947-2018 represented!), Current Students, Current and Past Parents, Current and Past Grandparents, Faculty, Staff, Trustees, and Friends.
100% of faculty and staff made a gift. $7500 Challenge
$1000 Challenge
from the Foundation Board matched 59 gifts totaling $14,880!
from an anonymous alumnus matched 30 gifts totaling $6,431!
$1250 Challenge
40 first time givers
from the Board of Trustees matched 13 gifts totaling $1,661!
supported Park on Giving Day.
By exceeding the 100 gift goal for the day, Mrs. Conrad prepared a homemade spaghetti lunch for all students, faculty, and staff last May!
Gifts ranged from
$1 - $5,000 Every gift matters!
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Many thanks to our attendees, volunteers, donors, and sponsors for supporting Auction 2021! A special thank you to our wonderful chairs, Fred & Melissa Archer, Janeen Greene, and Tirice & Therese Smith Cramer, who dedicated months of hard work to make sure the event was not only a huge success, but also a safe and fun night out for everyone.
$130,245 DOLLARS RAISED (GROSS) 32 EVENT SPONSORS $26,825 RAISED DURING
FUND-A-NEED TO SUPPORT A NEW PLAYGROUND
1,000 ESTIMATED VOLUNTEER HOURS
THANK YOU TO OUR AUCTION 2021 SPONSORS & ADVERTISERS: Diamond Presenting Sponsor Bengal Machine
Silver Sponsor Moog, Inc.
Platinum Sponsors M&T Bank Mollenberg-Betz Inc. Christina Schindler
Bronze Sponsors Howard Benatovich, DDS & Joshua Grant, DDS Christmas Central OSC Charitable Foundation Rich Products Corporation United Insurance Agency, Inc.
Gold Sponsors Buffalo OB/GYN Jason & Sheryl Davies Eastman Foundation Hodgson Russ LLP
Decorations Sponsors Fred & Melissa Archer Cheryl Stein
Faculty Table Sponsors Buffalo Jewish Federation Len-Co Lumber Scott & Nichole Weinstein Cocktail Sponsor Mr. Smith Agency Wine Raffle Sponsors NOCO Excelsior Orthopedics After Party Sponsor Fred & Melissa Archer
Full Page Ad Lawley Insurance Pratt Collard Buck Advisory Group Rich Products Corporation Thomann Asphalt Carolyn Hoyt Stevens, Realtor Webster Szanyi LLP Half Page Ad Allied Mechanical NOCO Park Parents Association
SAVE THE DATE! AUCTION 2022 IS SET FOR SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2022 AT PARK
FROM THE ARCHIVES Take a stroll through the advertiser pages of the 1962 Spark yearbook, which commemorated Park’s 50th anniversary. Many Buffalo-area businesses showed their support for the school through these ads, and while some are now just a memory, others are still thriving! We look forward to celebrating the Class of 1962 at their 60th Reunion in June as Park enters its 110th year.
4625 HARLEM ROAD AMHERST, NY 14226
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 812 Buffalo, NY
THEPARKSCHOOL.ORG
RETURN ADDRESS REQUESTED
JUNE 20 through AUGUST 26
PARK
Visit www.parksummercamp.org to register!
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