VA Life Summer 2013 by Vermont Academy

V E R MO N T AC A D E M Y

LIFE Summer 2013

OUR STUDENTS’ BELIZE EXPERIENCE

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Vermont Academy BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Michael A. Choukas ’73, P ’94, Chairman Mr. David E. Robinson ’77, Vice-Chairman Col. Richard I. Stark, Jr. ’74, Secretary Chris Cota ’66, Treasurer Mrs. Corina Luther Belle-Isle ’80 Ms. Carolyn Blitz P ’12 Mr. Mark Candon Mr. Casey Cota ’89 Ms. Carrie Dunn ’91 Mr. Stuart Eisenkraft ’74 Mr. Whitney Gay ’67 Mrs. Penny Gendron P ’10, ’12, ’15 Mr. David Holton ’68 Mrs. Mary Helen Holzschuh P ’12 Ms. Penny Horowitz P ’98 The Reverend Peter Howe P ’07, ’10 Mr. Steven E. Karol ’72 Mr. Timothy Lord ’69, P ’05, ’10 Mr. Donald G. McInnes ’59 Hon. George P. Moser, Jr. ’48, P ’79 Mr. Marvin S. Neuman P ’03 Mr. Lee Ryder ’90 Ms. Carolyn Salzman P ’11 Mr. Kevin J. Seifert ’80 Mr. S. Tylor Tregellas Ms. Nikki van der Vord P ’14 Mr. Andrew Ward ’93

EMERITUS TRUSTEES Robert M. Campbell ’37, P ’65, ’68, ’70 (2), ’80, ’82 W. Gene Hays Jr. ’55 Hugh Pearson ’54

HEADMASTER EMERITUS | Mr. Michael Choukas Jr. ’46, P ’73 HEAD OF SCHOOL | Sean P. Brennan EDITOR | Maryann McArdle CONTRIBUTORS | Dr. Erin Cohn, Chris Marks, Sean Brennan CLASS NOTES EDITOR | April Worden DESIGN | Square Spot Design PHOTOS | Conor McArdle, Maryann McArdle, Christine Armiger, Liz Olmsted. Cover Photo: Matt Carras ’14 Vermont Academy Life is published two times a year by Vermont Academy, Saxtons River, VT. Vermont Academy Life reserves the right to edit all material that it accepts for publication. Please email submissions, letters, and comments to valife@vermontacademy.org. Fax (802) 869-6268, or mail to Managing Editor, Vermont Academy Life, P.O. Box 500, Saxtons River, VT 05154-0500. By providing a supportive community and close personal attention to its students, Vermont Academy develops confident, active learners and respectful citizens.

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03 WASC: WRITING & SPEAKING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM This new program at VA provides even more opportunities for students to have their voices heard, through both written and spoken word.

06 THE FREESKI PROGRAM AT VA Only in its third year, the VA Freeski team has won a Lakes Region Championship title and has attracted student-athletes from across the country.

09 JOURNAL ENTRIES FROM BELIZE Read first-hand accounts from VA students about their life-changing trip to Belize during March break.

CONTENTS 02 head of schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letter 14 a year in photos 16 class notes 24 in memoriam

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head of school’s letter To the Vermont Academy family, Welcome to an early summer edition of Vermont Academy Life. We will be working towards a twice per year publication schedule going forward, and you can plan on receiving the next edition in November and another in May of 2014. In this issue you will find our “Year in Review” photo spread with some captions from yours truly, an article about our vibrant new Writing and Speaking Across the Curriculum program, an insightful look into our Freeskiing program and some of its participants, and a look at our Belize program through journals of the students on the trip. As you will see, we remain very busy around here! I’d like to take this opportunity to provide some follow-up about our decision to cancel the football program for next year. I want to thank everyone who contacted me by email or phone after the announcement. I have tried to respond to each person directly, and if for some reason I did not get back to you, please reach out again. Responses were varied, but the clear majority went along these lines: disappointment about losing a long-standing, historical program; appreciation for looking out for the well-being of the school as a whole; and an anecdote or two about experiences playing or watching games here at VA. I want to reinforce a few points. We will continue to celebrate the great memories that alumni have from their years at Vermont Academy. At alumni events and reunion weekends, we will continue to honor those who have accomplished great things in the athletic arena with our Athletic Hall of Fame. We will continue to evaluate the sustainability of all of our programs, strengthen those that need attention, and cut those that are not working. In sum, we need to be responsible about running this institution and to make responsible decisions accordingly.

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summer 2013

Sean P. Brennan Head of School

Writing

AND SPEAKING AC ROSS TH E CU RRICU LUM

Look into the classrooms and around the campus of Vermont Academy these days and you may notice a subtle difference. Students are putting pen to paper and fingers to keyboard more frequently. They are finding more and more opportunities to have their voices heard, at community meeting and during class time in every subject. These changes are a result of the Writing and Speaking Across the Curriculum (WSAC) program, a new initiative launched at VA this academic year, to great success. To be sure, writing and speaking have always been an important element of a Vermont Academy education. This year, however, cognizant of the vast importance of these skills for students’ future success, the faculty have made a concerted effort to place greater emphasis on writing and speaking in the classroom. Any employer will tell you how crucial it is that their employees be able to communicate effectively, through both clear writing and confident speaking. No matter what major our students choose in college, or what field they enter as adults, these skills will be central to their success. Teachers in every department across campus have therefore begun to incorporate more opportunities for students to write and speak, both formally and informally. Assignments range from in-class freewriting warm-up exercises, to creative writing based on prompts, to extended research papers with formal arguments. Students give presentations and lead class discussions. While you might expect such assignments in humanities classes, teachers of math and science are likewise making greater use of writing and speaking in their instruction. Math teacher Russell Mayhew, for example, recently asked his pre-calculus students to write a project in which the students described the problem-solving strategies and technical steps of a complicated problem involving Ferris wheels and snow globes. “Math is practically useless if you cannot communicate it effectively. Math class offers a great opportunity for students to strengthen their ability to write clearly and efficiently,” Mayhew says.

Written by Erin Cohn, WASC Program Coordinator & History Dept Chair

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Dr. Cohn working with a student in the Writing Center.

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While students are reaping the benefits of these opportunities in every subject, the WSAC program also extends beyond activities in the classroom. A key element of the program is the new Writing Center, which is situated in the middle of Proctor Hall, near Learning Skills, and offers ample opportunities for students to get extra help with their written work. The Center is staffed by ten writing tutors, half of them students and half faculty. Students can come to the Writing Center at any stage in the writing process, from initial brainstorming to final polishing, and tutors will assist them in improving their work. “The focus of the tutoring session is on the writer, not the piece of writing,” says Julia Tadlock, who tutors in the Writing Center in addition to teaching theater at VA. “Instead of fixing the paper for the student, our approach is to ask questions that will help the student reflect on his or her own work. That way, we hope, the student will become a more independent and knowledgeable writer.” The opportunity to tutor peers has been particularly transformative for student tutors. “I do my best writing when I read it aloud and have another pair of eyes to look at my piece,” says tutor Wyeth Olmsted ’15. “Being part of the Writing Center has enabled me to be that ‘other pair of eyes’ for someone else. It is a key part of the writing process and I’m glad I can provide that for other students. I’m proud to be a part of the first-ever Writing Center at VA and look forward to seeing it grow and thrive in the years to come.” In addition to the Writing Center, the WSAC program has developed a wide range of opportunities for students to share their writing with an audience. Every week, we announce a new all-school weekly writing prompt and encourage students and faculty alike to submit pieces. The WSAC committee then chooses the best of the submissions to be read aloud at Community Meeting. Perhaps the most popular weekly prompt was the “six-word memoir”: community members were asked to write their

To view a video of the “Six-Word” Memoir Project, visit:

www.vermontacademy.org/sixwords life story in just six words, resulting in some wonderful short pieces that revealed a lot about their writers. We then compiled a sampling of the memoirs in a video that we showed at Community Meeting (and which is now available on the VA website). Along with the weekly prompt, students also have opportunities to submit work to the school’s new literary magazine and the VA Voice, the student newspaper. This year, sophomores also had a chance to exercise their public speaking skills through their participation in the Poetry Out Loud competition, a national poetry recitation event created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. In their English classes, all tenth-graders completed a poetry workshop with local poet Veranda Porche, and then committed two poems to heart and memory. The students performed their poems and were judged on how they interpreted the meaning of the poem and delivered it to an audience. Through the process, Jamie Lumley ’15 became Vermont Academy’s first Poetry Out Loud champion, with George Atkins ’15 earning runner up. Both of these young men represented VA at the state-level Poetry Out Loud competition in Barre, Vermont, in mid-March. Opportunities such as the weekly writing prompt and Poetry Out Loud have gone a long way toward encouraging students to have their voices heard, through both their writing and their speaking. These initiatives also help to build community, both within the school and between the school and our surrounding area. As we encourage our student writers and speakers, we are continually searching for ways to connect them to a wider readership and audience. Several of the weekly writing prompts have been linked to writing competitions, for example, and we’re proud of the success our students have achieved. Several pieces of writing by VA students have been published in local newspapers, and a poem titled “Winter Warriors” by Leyte McNealus ’14 was selected for performance in the Vermont Stage Company’s production of “Winter Tales” at FlynnSpace in Burlington. The Writing Center has also worked to forge ties with the local area. In early March, a group of tutors took a trip to Hanover to meet with the director and student leadership at the Student Center for Reading, Writing, and Information Technology (RWIT) at Dartmouth College. The opportunity to compare notes with college-level writing tutors was invaluable, and the experience left all of the VA Writing Center’s staff with myriad ideas and a great deal of inspiration. Our hope is to maintain a connection with RWIT so we can continue to learn from their example as our Writing Center grows. The WSAC program has accomplished a great deal in its first year, and we are thrilled to see all of the ways in which students are growing as writers and speakers. We have established a firm footing and have already begun to transform the school’s curriculum to reflect a new emphasis on these two skills. Of course, there is still much work to be done. As we move forward, we hope to provide more extensive professional development opportunities to the entire faculty to help us reflect on how and why we teach writing and speaking, as well as to coordinate our instructional practices across departments. We also look forward to seeing the Writing Center grow, as it becomes better integrated into our teaching and students’ study routines over time. Ultimately, we believe that this commitment to both writing and speaking will not only inspire our students to find their voices, but will encourage them to use those voices as, in time, they venture beyond the Vermont Academy campus. va

SIX-WORD

MEMOIR PROJECT The entire VA community was given the challenge of writing their memoir in only 6 words. Here are a few examples...

Lost in the world, without handbook. - QWYEN AUSTIN ’13

Tried “real world,” left for Vermont. - SIMON JARCHO

Life keeps getting better and harder. - ADIN ASCHER ’16

I don’t know if I’m indecisive. - EAMON O’KEEFE ’13

Was born in the wrong decade. - ROSS HOLZSCHUH ’13

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summer 2013

Written by Chris Marks

“Find your voice,” challenged Head of School Sean Brennan, addressing the Vermont Academy community in September. The idea of finding one’s voice is a fitting theme for a year in which the school is launching many new programs designed to help students with their communication skills, such as the Writing Center and WSAC (Writing and Speaking Across the Curriculum). But a distinct, unique, and effective way of expressing oneself can sometimes develop unexpectedly, as is evidenced by two members of yet another of Vermont Academy’s fledgling programs—the freeski team. Freeski is the latest incarnation of a type of downhill skiing that has been both rebelling against and reinventing itself for decades. Freestyle skiing was born over eighty years ago in the form of acrobatics and ski ballet, and later evolved into aerial and mogul skiing, which became Olympic sports in the early ’90s. Historically, it seems that as soon as the latest version of the sport is embraced worldwide and the Federation Internationale de Ski develops rigid judging criteria for it, the innovative and rebellious young freestylers get bored and look for a new way to express themselves by pushing the limits of what can be done on skis. Hence the birth of freeski in the late ’90s—a sport where skiers ride twin-tipped skis; can ski as well “switch” (or backward) as they do forward; and jump, flip, and spin on a variety of axes over terrainpark jumps measuring as long as 100 feet. Perhaps the most distinct feature of the sport is the inclusion of rails—metal railings set up throughout a trail. Inspired by urban landscapes and designed in ever-increasing levels of difficulty, they challenge balance, courage, and creativity as to what is possible while skiing on metal. Vermont Academy icon Warren Chivers was known for embracing and teaching all disciplines of sports on snow. In homage to Mr. Chivers’s vision, and in an effort to offer exciting and competitive athletic programs, VA officially welcomed freeski in the 2010–11 school year. Now in its third year, the freeski team has already garnered a Lakes Region Championship title. It has also attracted to the school a handful of charismatic, talented, driven young men and women, among them Sage Vogt ’13 and Miranda Holson ’14, both of whom have achieved a great deal in their time at the Academy. Freeski team coach Chris Marks actively recruited Vogt from his home in Seattle after witnessing his skiing skills firsthand on a VA team trip to Whistler, British Columbia. Vogt finally succumbed to the recruiting pressure for his junior year, turning down an attractive opportunity to ski and finish high

school in Aspen, Colorado. Although it was virtually unheard-of for a west coast skier to choose the relatively flat and snowless east coast as his skiing home base, Sage was attracted to the east coast vibe and the energy of a new and growing VA program. “I came to VA to basically hang out and ski,” says Vogt. Skiing was his focus, and he originally intended to do little else during his time in Vermont. Fast forward to November of Vogt’s senior year as he is writing his college essay for early admission to Colorado College, now looking back on a resume which lists AP courses, VA Writing Center tutoring, captaining two varsity sports, and other leadership positions, including dorm proctor. The essay he writes depicts the transformation he experienced while at Vermont Academy. Self-described as formerly inwardly focused, selfish, and concerned only with skiing, Vogt tells a story of how his short time in Vermont taught him to care for others, value diversity, challenge himself to take risks, try things he had never done before, and thrive in positions of leadership. Vogt cites recognition of his talent as a freeskier as a catalyst for his discovery that he had, in fact, much more to say and do in life. Vogt’s teammate Miranda Holson of Pomfret, Vermont, was the sole member of her 2013 freeski team to qualify for and travel to Park City, Utah, for the USSA Junior National Championships in slopestyle—a freeski event in which competitors complete a course containing five consecutive rail and jump features. With the competition looming on Thursday, day three of training on Wednesday had Holson feeling unprepared, discouraged, and questioning why she had even made the trip to Utah. Wednesday morning, three skiers were carted off the course after having been blown beyond the landing of the final jump by a monster tailwind. These conditions and injuries scared just about every competitor away from training for the day, leaving Holson all by herself to battle the unpredictable course and, even

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Vogt cites recognition of his talent as a freeskier as a catalyst for his discovery that he had, in fact,

much more to say and do in life. PHOTOS (l to r): Sage Vogt ’13 slays the dragon at Okemo. Miranda Holson ’14 ponders a slopestyle performance.

worse, her own demons. With every mistake Holson made, she questioned her ability even harder. And with every harsh word she aimed at herself, she skied even worse. But after a particularly gnarly crash that left her dazed and gasping for air, Holson retreated to the base area and sat on a rock with a glass of water, quiet and reflective, for almost twenty minutes. It seemed unclear to her coach whether or not she had been defeated, but she returned to the course and took five more runs for the day. Each was exceptionally good. Holson competed the next day and skied better than she had at any point in her life. While that was still not as good as she had planned or hoped, it was good enough for sixth place out of the twenty-eight female skiers from all over the nation. Over the four days that Holson skied in Utah for this event, she quickly learned an extremely valuable lesson in sports and in life—the value of positive self-talk. One might even say that in learning to quiet the negativity she had been directing at herself, and learning to replace it with positivity in a very short amount of time, she had found her voice. While an organized freeski program is new to VA, freeskiers are not. Two former students of note—Evan Williams ’08 and Ian Compton ’08—both attended VA before a coach was available to them. But at a time when the new sport of freeski was just starting to take the world by storm, the lack of an organized program did not hamper the passion or the development of these two talented Wildcats. They have both gone on to find great success in the industry—Evan as a professional skiing filmer, competitor, and now manager of Nordica’s professional team; and Ian as a professional skier himself with Line Skis. As for the sport of freeski beyond VA, 2014 marks its first-ever inclusion as an Olympic sport in Sochi, Russia. For many who have watched this sport grow and progress since the late ’90s, this is an exciting step forward. Does this mean that another revolution is forthcoming? Probably. But for now, freeski provides a few Wildcats with an exciting outlet for their skiing athleticism, creativity, and energy, and has helped a few of them to meet Mr. Brennan’s challenge—find your voice. va

summer 2013

Written by 7 VA Students

Ten Vermont Academy students and two faculty members spent a life-changing two weeks in Belize over March break. From snorkeling through the beautiful Hol Chan Marine Reserve, to exploring ancient Mayan caves and hiking through unspoiled rainforest, to helping Mayan villagers rebuild a demolished nursery, students learned first-hand about the rich ecological diversity of this small Central American country. Here are their firsthand accounts of the adventure.

SNORKELING SN S NO N O OR RK R KE K E EL LI L IN I NG N G

CHRIS IAMONACO ’16: The day we went snorkeling was one

of my favorite days in Belize. We woke up that morning and started off with a nice walk down to a bakery, where we got some cinnamon buns that were very good. We took another short walk over to the snorkeling tour shack, where we were fitted for flippers and given a mask. We then met up on the dock with our captains, who gave us a short briefing on what we were going to do that day. We all climbed aboard the boat and took a quick sail over to our first stop. There we saw many types of coral and fish that were very colorful and really fascinating to look at, with all of their complex designs and shapes. After that, we moved on to our second spot—shark and ray alley. We saw giant nurse sharks and stingrays and even a huge school of fish. Our final stop was the barrier reef. At the barrier reef we saw huge green sea turtles and underwater tunnels that went through the reef itself. Overall, it was an amazing, eye-opening experience.

ACTUN A ACT CTU UN N TUNICHIL TU T UN U NI N IC I C CH HI IL L MUKNAL M MU UKN KN NAL NA AL CAVE AL CA AV VE V E

QWYEN AUSTIN ’13: After an hour’s drive in a new, clean van,

we arrived at a trail in the jungle. Our guides gave us water and food, and we began our hour-long hike through the jungle to reach the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave. I was terrified during the entire walk, because the guides told us that there could be snakes wandering on the paths. The journey also involved walking through three rivers that came up to my waist, and the snakes could have been in the water.

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When we reached the mouth of the cave, the guides told us that in the past only the Mayan priests and greatest warriors could enter the cave. Before the priests could enter the cave they had to “ascend the mind,” which they did by taking hallucinogenic mushrooms, others plants, or frogs. Once they entered the cave, it was said that they were entering into Hell. When we entered the cave, I asked Leslie to hold my hand so that I wouldn’t feel so frightened. Each of us had a headlamp, but the cave was so dark that the lights seemed to do nothing. The cave ceiling was stories above our heads and the formations above resembled chandeliers and curtains. When our lights hit the formations, they sparkled, because of the salt. During the first half of our journey in the cave, we were swimming and wading through crystal-clear water. We had to cross over giant rocks and maneuver through water that was suddenly, without warning, very deep. In the second half of the journey, we climbed up a rock to the second level of the cave. This is where we began to see ancient ruins left behind by the Mayan people. At first we saw tiny broken pots, but as we moved further into the cave, there were more and larger pots throughout the area. Our guide told us that the pots had originally contained offerings to the gods in hope of rains, and that they were broken because the Mayans wanted to release the spirits trapped within them. As the gods denied them rain, the offerings became more extreme. So as we traveled deeper into the cave, we saw the human remains of those who had ultimately been sacrificed to the gods.

IGUANA I IG GU GU UA AN AN NA A SANCTUARY S SA AN AN NC CT C TU UA AR A RY R Y

MAGGIE MCKAY ’16: The Iguana Sanctuary and medicinal

plants tours were new experiences for me, and they definitely had their high and low points. The high point was learning about the many different medicinal plants that all grow in this climate. Not only were some delicious, but they hold really beneficial aspects for us humans. Their usages vary from birth control to providing an extra couple hours of life after you are bit by a snake. We were introduced to one plant that Chris couldn’t seem to get enough of—; “allspice.”. It’s known to provide energy, but also, when you bite into its leaf, it releases a gel-type substance that numbs your mouth and tastes strongly of cinnamon. We came across this plant more than once throughout our travels, and every time Chris would take as many leaves as possible and munch on them.

PHOTOS (l to r): Maggie, Ms. Armiger, Julian, Chris and Aiden get friendly with the iguanas at the sanctuary. Ms. Armiger grinds cacao beans on a metate

at the Ixcacao Chocolate Farm

We then had an opportunity to sample some termites! At first I was dead against it, but after seeing Julian’s satisfaction with them, I decided to try one. The tour guide claimed that they came in seven flavors. When I heard this, I thought it was a joke, but I was soon proved wrong. Mine tasted like carrots, and others varied. After the tour, we got a lesson on iguanas and learned some pretty interesting things about them. We proceeded into the cages at the sanctuary and the guide gave us a chance to hold them. I don’t think I saw Aidan that happy for the rest of the trip. The baby iguana cage was petrifying. We were brought into the baby cage, and our tour guide started dropping iguanas on people left and right. I did my best to keep my distance, and did a good job till the very last few minutes, when he noticed me. He asked me if I wanted any, and I caved in and said I would gladly take one in my hand. He grabbed at least five iguanas. He put one in my hand, and when I gracefully asked him to take it back, he proceeded to put all five on me. I just froze where I was, trying my best not to scream. I remember my whole face crunching up, and praying the man would be aware of how scared I was. Soon enough he took them off, but it was quite an experience!

I IXC IXCACAO XC X CA AC CAO CH C CHOCOLATE HO OC COL OLA LA AT TE T E FARM FA F AR A RM R M

JULIAN STOLPER ’15: After four hours of being lost and

running out of gas, we arrived at Juan and Abelina’s house, the owners of Ixcacao Mayan Chocolate. Their house was located in a pretty cool place; we had to drive down a winding

dirt road into the jungle to reach it. When we arrived around 10:00 pm, their house seemed kind of big, but I learned that half of the house was an eating area and kitchen for guests and volunteer workers like us. Our dinner was set up as a buffet, with delicious chicken, tasty rice, and rich black beans. They also had fresh hot chocolate out on the tables. This was the best meal I had had yet on the trip. During dinner Juan and Abelina introduced themselves and then showed us to our rooms full of bunk beds, which reminded me of summer camp. There were two rooms, one for the girls and one for the boys. We all picked our beds and settled in. Most of the beds had mosquito nets, although mine did not, but I didn’t really have any trouble with bugs. After a restful night, we got up and went to the dining area for some breakfast. They had made us fresh eggs, beans, and homemade tortillas, as well as fresh coffee, hot chocolate, and ginger tea. After breakfast, we got ready to go to Juan’s farm. When we reached the farm, we met up with another group that was taking a tour of his farm. In that group was Ms. Tadlock’s (Vermont Academy’s theater teacher) brother. That was a cool coincidence. Juan showed us his crop and told us about his sustainable farming techniques. He told us he does not use chemicals but allows different plants and bugs to work together and take care of each other. One of my favorite parts of the tour was the sugar cane. He pulled it out at the root and cut us each a piece. We sucked on the roots and pure sugar came out. It was the sweetest thing I have ever had. The sugar cane was growing on top of a big hill, so the view was amazing.

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PHOTO: Cat checks out a glasswing butterfly.

LESLIE BOTEY ’14

“Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved to try and catch butterflies, but there aren’t many in the city. Being in the structure with these elegant creatures made me feel like a little kid again—alive and connected to nature.”

BIG BI B IG ROCK IG RO R OC CK K FALLS FA F AL A LL L LS L S& BUTTERFLIES B UT U TT TE ER E R RF FL F LI L IE I ES

LESLIE BOTEY ’14: On March 14th we decided to go to the butterfly gardens. When we got there, we were surrounded by the smell of different flowers and the sounds of birds. We stopped for a moment to look at the guinea hens. There were flowers everywhere, and hummingbirds would zoom by my head and startle me. The garden outside was full of colors and little baby chicks! The butterflies were enclosed in a screened wooden structure so that the light can reach the plants inside. When I entered, it was a beautiful sight to see. The butterflies were flying everywhere and it was very peaceful. There were suspended plates filled with sugar water for the butterflies. I remember getting closer for a better look and being mystified by the glass-winged butterflies. They looked like little figurines instead of live insects, because they were so still that I could actually see through their wings! I tried to stay as still as possible and several butterflies attached themselves to me. It was so nice being able to see them up close. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved to try and catch butterflies, but there aren’t many in the city. Being in the structure with these elegant creatures made me feel like a little kid again—alive and connected to nature. After our beautiful tour of the butterfly gardens, we decided to go for a swim at Big Rock Falls. Little did I know we were going to have an adventure to remember. The road was bumpy and muddy. There were trenches about a foot deep on either side of the road, which meant we had to drive carefully because we could possibly get stuck like last year’s group. And we did. At first, we only had one wheel stuck but then we got both of the right-side tires stuck. So we had to wait until someone got some rope to pull us out. When they got there, we all got behind the van, and in one glorious moment we pushed and pulled the van out of the trench. By the time we got back into the van, we were badly in need of a swim, because most of us were covered in mud. I personally thought the worst was behind us; boy, was I ever wrong! I thought we were only going to have to walk a little bit because I could hear the water nearby. We walked a way into the forest and suddenly there was an almost vertical path down that seemed to stretch down forever. I only had flip-flops on and slipped on multiple occasions. I had to go barefoot most of the way. It was the scariest thing I had done— even more frightening than when I went into the caves. Finally, we got to the falls. They were beautiful and had (you can laugh here) big rocks which you can jump into the river from (hence the name). I had the pleasure of watching everyone else jump while I enjoyed the calmer water downriver with Maggie, Cat, and Yiwei. We stayed there for about two hours and hiked back up to our van. It was an incredible experience.

MAYAN MA M AY A Y YA AN A N RUINS RU R UI IN NS N S

AIDEN THERRIEN ’16: When we arrived at the Xunantinuch Mayan ruins, I was

initially unimpressed. We saw a small set of what appeared to be stairs and I figured the rest of the ruins would be more of the same—just small parts of long-collapsed structures. I was so wrong. We went up a trail and entered into a huge courtyard.

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PHOTOS (l to r): Chris and crew help to rebuild a fruit tree nursery in San Benito Poite. Mr. Williams takes in the view at the Xunantinuch Mayan ruins.

Almost immediately we all heard an indescribable noise. It was howler monkeys. Our group split up and mine went to the smaller structures first. After looking at a few, Mr. Williams, Julian, and I ventured off into the woods to go find the howler monkeys we kept hearing. Mr. Williams decided it would be a good idea to take off his shoes to connect with the ground in the jungle. I admired his bravery, but I had no idea what lay beneath and decided I’d rather not step on some tropical insect or lizard. Then we saw them. The howler monkeys were big and made deep grunting noises. They would lounge around in the trees with their tails wrapped around the trunks, munching on the leaves. There were also babies climbing and hopping from tree to tree. After a good fifteen minutes of observation through binoculars and taking photographs, we moved on to see the other ruins. There were Mayan hieroglyphics engraved on the side of the temple. As I walked up the back, I didn’t realize how high up we were until we made it to the top. You could see for miles in any direction, even into Guatemala. The scenery was absolutely beautiful. Mr. Williams again took off his shoes to reconnect with the rock; I joined him this time. The rock was incredibly smooth and cool. At the top of the temple, we lounged around and enjoyed the peace and tranquility. It made me realize what a massive achievement it was to build the temple. After a while, we made our way down. It was a wonderful day. Seeing wildlife in its natural habitat and observing the beautiful ancient architecture made for an experience I won’t forget.

KAYAKING KA K AY A Y YA AK A KI IN NG N G

CAT KAMINSKY ’14: It was our last full day in Belize. We

were staying in a beach town called Placencia. Even though we were leaving the next day, Ms. Armiger still made time for one more adventure. She suggested kayaking to the mangrove trees. Anyone who wanted to could come. I ended up being the only girl. Aidan, Chris, Matt, Julian, Justin, Ms. Armiger, Mr. Williams, and I walked a little ways to a place where you could rent kayaks. Everyone paired up into groups of two, and Ms. Armiger and Mr. Williams took the singles. As we started to paddle out to the mangroves, I took in every bit of the beauty—the turquoise waters, the sea breeze, the sun, and the mangroves in front of us. After what didn’t seem like very long, we arrived at the mangrove trees. It could be considered an island of sorts. It was just a cluster in the water and it was fascinating. For those of you who don’t know what mangrove trees are, they’re trees that have visible roots. The roots grow above the water. The water near the trees was shallow but beautiful. It was abundant with starfish, too—so many starfish! We kayaked around the cluster and eventually found ourselves in what looked like the middle of the ocean, but it was very shallow. I was floating in turquoise water looking out at the horizon, with mangrove trees beside me. It was one of the most memorable moments in my life. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip, and it was a fantastic way to end our Belize adventure. va

ver mont academy

a year in photos nov.

sept.

oct. feb.

apr

jan. SEPTEMBER: The Vermont Academy community

gathers prior to the start of classes each year for our Hayes Orientation and Outdoor Program, named in honor of A. Reed Hayes III ’64. During these three days of orientation, classes bond as the school’s culture is conveyed to newcomers. This year we added a great new competition to the event: the “Wildcat Games,” in which grade levels compete against each other for the coveted title of champion. Here, members of the freshman class, dressed in their team’s color of pink, celebrate their victory in the puzzle solving segment of the games. OCTOBER: The mood is festive and costumes are

the norm during Vermont Academy’s Spirit Week. Held each fall during the week of Halloween, every day has its own theme: pajama day, class colors day, cowboy day, and, of course, Halloween. We were seeing double on Twin Day with over thirty sets of twins, and even one set of “Gangnam Style” triplets! NOVEMBER: November’s production of the musical

Urinetown was a smash hit! Under the direction

of Julia Tadlock, our theater arts program continues to gain strength. One of Vermont Academy’s great qualities is its small size, affording students the opportunity to “do it all!” There’s a place for everyone, whether it’s on stage or on the field, or both. In this picture, Ross Holzschuh ’13 hams it up in his lead role as Bobby Strong.

years in a row, and they’ve gathered some very passionate fans along the way. The fans’ support and excitement made a real difference this year in Williams Gymnasium and at many other athletic events over the winter season. Here, they storm the court following a tremendous buzzerbeating one-point win over longtime rival KUA!

DECEMBER:

FEBRUARY: As one of the oldest Winter Carnivals

One of the year’s most anticipated events is our annual Kurn Hattin Christmas party, when kids from Kurn Hattin come over for dinner and a holiday celebration. Vermont Academy students, dressed for the evening as elves and Mr. and Mrs. Claus, deliver gifts. Other VA students serve as hosts for the Kurn Hattin students, and help them as they unwrap their presents. Always a special, heartwarming night, current students and alumni fondly remember this party in particular, as well as all the great work we do throughout the year with Kurn Hattin Homes. JANUARY: Playing in one of the most competitive leagues in the country, our boys’ basketball team has made the postseason tournament three

in America, Vermont Academy’s celebration of all things winter stands out as a great tradition. The theme for this year was “’90s television shows” and Alumni 2 (“South Park”) won for the boys while the Day Student Girls (“Power Rangers”) took top honors. The three-day extravaganza is filled with stong, competitive spirit and terrific memories. Some of the chilliest come from making snow angels during Sunday morning’s Polar Bear Run! APRIL: Earth Day is another great tradition at VA. We celebrate by doing green-up activities in and around campus (here, our students do a little spring raking with students from the Saxtons River Montessori School); we eat a

march

dec. may

Maple sugaring season in Vermont is always highly anticipated. Two years ago, Governor Peter Shumlin came to campus to ceremonially tap the first tree of the season. While we did not have that kind of fanfare this year, we did have excellent results. A new reverse osmosis process was put in place, and a long season of cold nights and warmer days yielded a great haul of sap. When you’re on campus, stop by our bookstore and pick up some of our very own Vermont Academy maple syrup!

delicious localvore lunch (this year, local roasted pig and beef brisket barbecued by members of our maintenance staff); and we have lots of music and fun-filled afternoon activities. We were doubly blessed this time with a beautiful, warm spring day. MAY:

For May, I include a photo of me with several members of the Class of 2013, which was taken during our “freshman” year in 2009. I have to say that I feel particularly connected with these seniors. I arrived here along with many of them in my first year as head of school, and I have watched them grow from hesitant freshmen to confident seniors. Their myriad accomplishments are so appreciated, and they go out into the world ready to take on whatever college and life may throw at them. There are very few dry eyes at any Vermont Academy commencement, and I know that this year will be especially emotional for me. I will miss you all!

class notes

c|n

CLASS OF 1938 Our 75th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now! Robert O. Beardsley Jr. wrote: “I’m still walking half a mile at a time on the Springfield Bike Path when it’s open, and plan to play a little golf this summer. I think very fondly of my time at Vermont Academy. It was a great year!”

Class Volunteer: J. Whitney Brown 53 Conanicus Avenue, Apt. 2G, Jamestown, RI 02835, whitleo621@cox.net

Class Volunteer: George Bentley 180 Main Street, Apt. B106, Walpole, MA 02081 BetsyBentley@comcast.net

Class Volunteers: Richard Leary, PO Box 518, New London, NH 03257; R. Duke Powell, 217 Rivermead Road, Peterborough, NH 03458, rdukepowell@comcast.net

CLASS OF 1943 Our 70th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now! R. Bruce MacLeod has been married for 61 years this year! He and his wife have four children, two grandchildren, and four wonderful in-laws. He retired in June 2000 from machine tools and related fields.

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Class Volunteer: Franklin Pierce Jackson 120 Indian Trail, Scituate, MA 02066, fpjackson@comcast.net

As of this past spring, Malcolm R. Speirs is still the Director of Tennis at the Shadow Cliff Recreation Club in San Antonio, TX. He has been a fixture at the club for 34 years. “Everybody knows Malcolm. He’s like everybody’s grandfather,” says board member Marilyn Koch. He also stays busy as a non-degree–seeking student at Texas State University– San Marcos. He travels the world to attend tennis tournaments, with some recent destinations including the Australia Open with side trips to Fiji and new Zealand; the Davis Cup tournaments in Seville, Spain; the Shanghai Masters (China) and Kremlin Cup (Moscow); South Africa, Dubai, Brazil, and Argentina.

Class Volunteer: William Reoch 1935 Bridgepointe Circle, Unit 62, Vero Beach, FL 32967, reochwg@earthlink.net

Samuel L. Davis wrote: “At 83, I still live in Marblehead, MA, with my wife of 62 years, Anne.”

summer 2013

John P. Duncklee wrote: “Writer. All my published works, twentyeight books and around two hundred short stories, novellas, articles, and poems, have been acquired by the Special Collections Division of the University of Arizona Library. Currently I have contracts for six novels and a trilogy of short stories. Malcolm Speirs stopped by a while back and spent a night. We had a great time reminiscing about our VA days back in the forties. He is still in San Antonio and still teaches tennis there.”

Class Volunteer: Robert Taft 105 Kaufmann Drive, Peterborough, NH 03458, RTaft@ftfl-law.com

CLASS OF 1948 Our 65th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now! George P. Sperry wrote: “Still above the sod at 83. Retired physician. We have a Von Mauer store in Dayton; reminded me of good old Chuck.” John D. Curran Jr. (newspaper excerpt) Family honors mom in 5K—A local family has been walking competitors’ socks off at the Duke City (New Mexico) Marathon in honor of a mother lost to cancer. Grandfather John Curran, son Jonathan Curran, daughter Maellen Blodgett, and grandson Silas Blodgett competed in the Duke City Marathon’s 5K (3.1 miles) race walk October 21, and each won in his or her age group and, in Jonathan’s case, overall. They walk in memory of Barbara “Bobbie” Curran, John’s late wife and Jonathan and Maellen’s mother, who died of lung cancer in 2005. “It’s a nice family tradition,” Maellen said. Bobbie would have loved the race, she said, either joining in or cheering from the sidelines. “She didn’t race walk, but I couldn’t keep up with her,” Maellen said. John said his late wife was a typical British woman who walked everywhere briskly. John, 81, and the Rio Rancho resident among his Albuquerque-dwelling relatives, placed first in his age group and 18th overall with a pace of 12:36 a mile. A total of 377 people competed in the race walk. Jonathan, 51, averaged 9:16 a mile to take first overall in the race walk. Maellen, 47, topped her age category and came in 13th overall by covering each mile in 12:07. Her 21-year-old son, Silas, took the highest place in his age group and ninth overall with a pace of 11:38 a mile. Emily, Maellen’s daughter who just turned 14, ran the 5K and placed seventh in her age group. Since the marathon is at the end of October and Bobbie died October 16, Maellen said it’s a good time to commemorate her. Maellen said her father invited her to walk with him in the Miracle Mile cancer fundraiser in 2005, starting the annual

CLASS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

tradition. After a couple of years, they moved to the Duke City Marathon race walk. Jonathan said he was already training as a race walker to keep up with the Cibola High School and Kumon Learning Center students he teaches, so he joined the group. Silas came on board four years ago, thinking, “I’ve never raced before. It’ll be fun.” He usually runs the 5K but chose the race walk this year because he hadn’t trained. Several of John’s other grandchildren and Maellen’s husband, Monty, have participated in the past. John’s second wife, Nora, cheers the family on from the sidelines. Their race walk this year got off to a rocky start, with John getting shingles three weeks before. Plus, the medication for the ailment had a side effect of “inappropriate happiness,” he said. Still, he felt like he walked faster because of it. “If I’d have been a race horse, they would have accused me of being doped,” John said. Maellen said she was afraid he’d giggle through the whole race. John said the fall he took three minutes before the start helped prevent that. He tripped over a concrete step and scraped his wrist. He and Maellen applied pressure with a cloth, and he finished the race before having the injury treated. Because Silas hadn’t trained, he planned to take it easy but changed his mind. “I couldn’t help it,” he said. Maellen said she waved at him from some distance ahead when a turn in the course brought them within sight of each other. A little while later, her son glided on by, smiling. The family talked Jonathan into participating this year. Having placed first overall in the race walk three times before, he wasn’t satisfied with his performance. “My time wasn’t very good,” he said. “Just enough to take first.” Nonetheless, he and his family speak of the excitement of pulling ahead and the fun of the event. Dick Leavitt’s Six-Word Memoir: Thanks that Vermont Academy was available. (See page 5 for sidebar on the “six-word memoir” project.)

Class Volunteer: Robert Scholl 470 Park Road Extension, Middlebury, CT 06762, scholllaw@sbcglobal.net

Class Volunteers: Webster Walker, 210 Southport Woods Drive, Southport, CT 06890; Robert Anderson, 345 Westbrook Road, Saint Helena Island, SC 29920, rbanders@islc.net

Winston E. Wood wrote: “We’re back in Vero Beach for eight months. We were blessed to have two lovely granddaughters recently—we now have nine grandchildren. I turned 80 last June (2012) but still play tennis two to three times weekly and some golf.”

Class Volunteer: Richard van Riper 67 Transylvania Road, Roxbury, CT 06783, vanriper@charter.net

CLASS OF 1953 Our 60th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now! Michael B. King wrote: “Since retiring, I have kept busy with community service projects. I am a trustee of the Park Theatre Restoration Project, Jaffrey, NH, and the Sharon Art Center, Peterborough, NH. I also volunteer with the Monadnock Adult Care Center in Jaffrey. I have three grown sons and six grandchildren.” Richard L. van Riper wrote: “Staying busy! Still nursing three vehicles through old age. All fenders are on at the moment. I continue to make crafts using brass and copper scrap accumulated during my 51 years in the business. I love photography, cutting wood, working out, and a good book by a warm fire with Mary. Looking forward to our 60th! Yikes!”

Class Volunteer: Donald Megathlin 925 Main Street, PO Box 125, Cotuit, MA 02635 capemegathlins@verizon.net

Class Volunteers: Donald Scholl, 895 Copes Lane, West Chester, PA 19380, don@dbscholl.com; W. Eugene Hays, 104 Cortland Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789, intlfruit@aol.com

Stephen A. Brink wrote: “Recently became a grandfather in August 2011. Still in regular contact with Malcolm Speirs ’46. Missed reunions the last few years because of grandfather duties, hurricanes Sandy and Irene, etc.” W. Eugene Hays Jr. wrote: “Florida was pleasant this winter— some cool nights, but acceptable. Hope all my classmates had reason to stay warm and well. When May rolls around, I’ll return to my NH farmhouse. I would love to welcome any of the VA alumni of 1953-56 to visit. Just give a call, 603-522-9541. Stay well.”

Class Volunteers: Peter Hickey, 253 Rainbow Drive, #15396, Livingston, TX 77399, phickey37@juno.com; Frederic Nichols, 23500 Cristo Rey Drive, Unit 302D, Cupertino, CA 95014, fnichols56@gmail.com

Richard J. Massucco wrote: “Well, ski season is about over; I’ll be done patrolling at Stratton on the 14th of April. Now it’s time to clean up the yards in Otis, MA; Branford,CT; and Ludlow, VT. Still selling custodial supplies, and hopefully VA will become a customer. Have developed southern ski areas and have sold a lot of ice melt to these areas, plus custodial supplies and floor maintenance equipment. Having a great time doing this. Never a dull moment! So life is great, busy, and on we go.”

ver mont academy

Joe E. Aulisi wrote: “My wife, Jill, and I moved to Aiken, SC, from New York several years ago. After settling in, I began a third career. I am now an associate with Charlton Hall, an auction house in Columbia, SC. We deal in fine art, period furniture, jewelry, and the like through four or five auctions a year. It’s been great fun and rewarding too—a 180 from running a New York–based business for 30 years and a museum for 12 years. If anyone has anything sell, I’d be delighted to discuss the possibility with you. My advice to all y’all, as we say in the South: never retire.”

William H. B. Fenn wrote: “Having retired four years ago, I have become a caregiver for my 95-years-young mother. I also volunteer with Meals on Wheels three days each week. My route covers two hours of driving.” E. Bulkeley Griswold wrote: “Though our main home is still in Wilton, CT, I spend summers with my wife, Lila (50 years of marriage coming up this August), in Harwich Port, MA. We are often visited by our three children and their spouses, and our six grandchildren. I’m still active in the alternative asset area as a managing general partner of Centripetal Capital Partners, a limited partnership of HNW families investing in a broad array of private equity opportunities. I serve on a number of boards related to these companies and others. I continue to try and give back to others as an important aspect of my life. I’ve been a board member and head of fundraising for an interesting public/private partnership, Wilton Commons, providing affordable housing/congregate living for financiallyin-need area seniors. Through a combination of $2M of private gifts; $2.5M—including a 5-acre, 99-year, $1 land lease— from the town of Wilton, CT; and $7.0M in Federal and State mortgages and grants, we are a month away from opening a 51-unit apartment project with monthly rents, including utilities, ranging from $650 to $1,300. Interesting template for towns with affordable senior housing needs. While spending only a relatively short time in Saxtons River, I’ve always relished my senior year at Vermont Academy and the many rewarding experiences I had there. Keep up your outstanding educational stewardship.”

Class Volunteers: Leslie Lewis, 6 Alpine Trail, Pittsfield, MA 01201, buddy456@me.com; Robert Luke, 77 Hillside Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932, rdhl322@hotmail.com

CLASS OF 1958 Our 55th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now!

summer 2013

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Class Volunteers: Donald McInnes, 75 Waterside Avenue, Falmouth, MA 02540, dgmc@flash.net; Peter Myers, 53 Thibault Pkwy, Burlington, VT 05401, peter.myers@lmsre.com Class Volunteers: George Yeomans, PO Box 33, 106 Masquesatch Road, Westport Point, MA 02791, gyeomans106@yahoo.com; Penn Lardner, 20705 Meadow Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476, richardlardner@ sbcglobal.net; Dan Brown, 13 Foxborough Drive, Gilford, NH 03249, danbrownnh@gmail.com; Ronald Stewart, 919 Maumee Avenue, Mansfield, OH 44906, marqprint@aol.com Class Volunteer: John Anderson 304 Murphree Street, Troy, AL 36081, athtrain@troy.edu

Glenn A. Baxter writes that he is keeping very busy publishing physics papers and doing advanced scientific research with his physics colleagues around the world in the Belgrade Lakes Institute for Advanced Research and the NPA. He greatly enjoys his time as a member of a four-part a cappella singing group called the Belgrade Lakes Loons, very similar to the 1960-1961 Vermont Academy V-8s, with whom he sang during his senior year. Glenn also sings in the local church choir in Belgrade Lakes, Maine. Gregory J. Chase wrote: “I have finally retired…well, almost. I’m still consulting some, here and there, in the concrete industry. Otherwise, it’s six and a half months in Venice, FL, and five and a half months on Cape Cod every year—not bad duty. Hope to play in the annual VA golf tournament this year, so watch out! Bobbie (my bride) and I bought a travel trailer this past spring. It’s the first time camping for us, and we’ve been making three night trips once or twice a month ever since. It’s a whole different world! Keeping active, keeping fit, still chasing chicks on the Cape and in Venice. Gotta go now!”

Class Volunteers: Peter Flatow, 3 Thomas Road, Westport, CT 06880, flatowp@coknowledge.com; Richard Weeks, 4242 N 119th Street, Lafayette, CO 80026, dick_weeks@hotmail.com

Steven V. Ruddell wrote: “Loving living on Kauai. Maybe it’s the trade winds, or maybe it’s the fragrant plumeria, paklan, puakenikeni, stemademia, and gardenia. Maybe it’s the year-round growing season with our own avocado, coconut, breadfruit, citrus, Surinam cherries, papaya, and mango. Or maybe it’s the garden of chard, lettuces, and variety of herbs. Perhaps it’s the stunning beaches or river kayaking. Or maybe it’s just the lovely community of conscious, environmentally sensitive friends and neighbors. Whatever it is, it adds up to a great choice for this Indiana boy! I’m only sorry to have missed our reunion and would love to hear from any of you that would enjoy sharing. Aloha from the Garden Isle.”

CLASS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

Class Volunteers: Stanley Wilkinson, 227 Whetstone Road Harwinton, CT 06791, budw@ride-ct.com; Thomas Hinman, 50 Baston Road, North Yarmouth, ME 04097, thinman14@gmail.com

Robert S. Berman wrote: “Alive and well! I’m a financial adviser at Northwestern Mutual in the Boston office. Visited the VA campus for our 40th reunion, toured the campus with my fiancée, and was very pleased with all the improvements made to the VA community. Jen and I live in Newton and together have five children.”

Glenn A. Baxter ’61

73 CLASS OF 1963 Our 50th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now!

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Davis L. Dimock wrote: “I am still mixing physical work, physical art, politics, and philosophy. All is well.” Class Volunteers: Townsend Hoopes, 96698 Arrigo Boulevard, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034, toho33@gmail.com; David Young, 13006 Avenue, DuBois SW, Lakewood, WA, dmy32544@aol.com

Class Volunteers: Craig Baab, 637 Cloverdale Road, Montgomery, AL 36106, baablaw@aol.com; Augustus Clement, 4815 Rushford Plain, Colorado Springs, CO 80923, voicedocgc@hotmail.com

Class Volunteer: Richard Janis 1739 Maybank Highway B8-337, Charleston, SC 29412, rick.janis@gmail.com

Class Volunteers: Whitney Gay, 9 Park Street, Winchester, MA 01890, whitclaud@aol.com; Richard Moulton, 109 Moulton Drive, Huntington, VT 05462, rwmjr@gmavt.net

Class Volunteer: Richard Sacknoff 24 Buckman Drive, Lexington, MA 02421, rsacknoff@yahoo.com

CLASS OF 1968 Our 45th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now!

Class Volunteers: John Hoder, 95 Riverscape Lane, Tiverton, RI 02878, rfhoder@aol.com; Mark Russell, 8 Sweet Fern Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107, mark.russell@rbc.com

Class Volunteers: Bernard Hoyes, PO Box 961, Palm Springs, CA 92263, hoyes@earthlink.net; Richard Patterson, 5 Nibang Ave., Old Saybrook, CT 06475, rpatterson@durhammfg.com

Class Volunteers: John Brucato, 12 Whip O Will Lane, Milford, MA 01757, jbrucato@gmail.com; Charles Gunn, 9 Emery Road, Henniker, NH 03242, cgunn@tds.net

CLASS OF 1973 Our 40th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now! Lane A. du Pont is working as an illustrator and photographer.

Class Volunteers: Richard Stark, 2007 N. Upton Street, Arlington, VA 22207, ristarkjr@aol.com; William Reid, 394 Walnut Street, Putnam, CT 06260

William B. Reid is living in Putnam, CT, and is now working as chief ranger for the Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor. He hopes fellow VA alumni from 1974 will keep in touch with VA and looks forward to seeing many of them in 2014 for their 40th reunion! Reese H. Harris IV is living in Carlsbad, CA, and works for a marketing company that develops e-books and marketing solutions for small corporations. He and his wife, Shawn, recently celebrated 26 years of marital bliss by retracing their relationship origins in Southwest Colorado. They have a 22-year-old son, Benjamin, who is a line tech at a corporate jet FBO in Irvine and a student at Chapman University. Reese and Shawn are guardian parents to a 17-year-old girl, Tabby, who is a senior at Carlsbad H.S. They spent New Year 2013 carving up Mammoth Mountain on some very good snow conditions.

Class Volunteers: Daniel Quartin, 108 Carriage Hill Drive, Newington, CT 06111, d_quartin@cox.net; James Bamman, 2 Reeves Avenue, Guilford, CT 06437, jmbbam@comcast.net

Daniel J. Quartin wrote: “I’m working as the project manager on a $14M industrial project in Waterbury, CT. At one time it was an 800,000-sq.-ft. brass mill. We’ve taken down about 200,000 sq. ft. of the building and are renovating a portion of the existing building. It’s a very large abatement, demolition, and renovation project considering the economic times and how slow the

ver mont academy

construction industry is. Other than that, many of our classmates are on Facebook and stay in touch through the social media. Enjoy hearing what they are up to these days.”

Class Volunteer: Sean Bersell 1213 N Maryland Avenue, Glendale, CA 91207, VA77@mindspring.com

Class Volunteer: Emily Colson 1619 Boros Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28303, emcolson@gmail.com

CLASS OF 1978 Our 35th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now!

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Class Volunteers: Diane Wilder, 807 Aubrey Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003, dwilder@haverford.edu; Jane Ogden, 3714 County Road 103, Carbondale, CO 81623, janevermont@gmail.com; Peter Hamilton, 31177 US Highway 19 N, Apt 301, Palm Harbor, FL 34684 Class Volunteers: Lawrence Echanis, RR 4, 33533 Wilgus Cemetery Road, Frankford, DE 19945, echanis@mchsi.com; Karen Galloway , 885 County Road, Walpole, NH 03608; G. Ewing Buta, 141 Oak Tree Drive, Canfield, OH 44406, ebuta@advancedcaststone.com

Class Volunteers: Foster McKeon, 10 Old Orchard Road, Easton, CT 06612, foster374@aol.com; Kathryn Carver, 75 Nice Way, Colchester, VT 05446, carverdan@myfairpoint.net

Class Volunteers: Thomas Oxholm, 1079 Firetower Road, Colora, MD 21917, tcoxholm@gmail.com; Andrew Griswold, 8 Whitman Road, Medford, MA 02155, av.gris@verizon.net

Class Volunteers: Scott McKeon, 783 Cherokee Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045,scott.mckeon@acegroup.com; Daniel Dougherty, 22 Shattuck Street, Natick, MA 01760, dougherty.doc@gmail.com; Keith Canning, 126 Hersey Street, Portland, ME 04103, kcanning@pinestatetrading.com, Dora Sudarsky, 2 Bay Court, South Burlington, VT 05403, dsudarsky@msn.com, Adam Tschorn, 6310 Maryland Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90048, adam@adamtschorn.com

CLASS OF 1983 Our 30th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now! Daniel P. Dougherty wrote: “I recently joined a start-up software firm out of Austin, TX, called Socialware. We provide compliant social media usage for financial professionals to outlets such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The best part is that I now often see classmate Chris Courtney on my visits to Austin.” John F. Pendexter wrote: “This is Jay, aka John, JP, Pointy, Sam Johnson. I am currently living in Jamaica Plain, MA, and have a lovely and wonderful fiancée (she’s seen the campus) named Vanessa who I am marrying in June. She has a great family and soon we hope to get a house together. Currently I am not gainfully

summer 2013

employed but am volunteering at the MSPCA in the vet clinic in order to get hands-on experience. Recently I took a class in veterinary assistant training, and although having done quite well in the course, I had no luck landing employment because the course wasn’t industry approved or acknowledged and the certification requirements recently changed. So that’s why I’m volunteering. I continue also to be a professional artist and have a website at www.jayzart.webs.com. I sell originals and prints of scenery and animals. I also have done commissioned pieces that people were quite pleased with. In addition, I recently started doing portraits of pets. I plan on putting samples on my website, and I hope it turns into a full-fledged business. Recently I took a great course at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and did my first trompe l’oeil and a successful still life. For fun I still ski, hike, and go running, but not as much as in the old days. Hey, I’m no spring chicken, but sometimes (to the detriment of my health) I still think I am. I am trying various things to help slow the aging process a bit until I get realistic.”

Class Volunteers: Mark Culkin, 823 Tequesta Drive, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417, mjculkin@verizon.net; Michael Gerity, 39 Chapman Ter., Middletown, NJ 07748, geritym@msn.com

Stefan Pepe and his wife, Sabrina Rodriguez, welcomed a baby boy in July 2012. His name is Henry. The family lives in Brooklyn.

Class Volunteers: Christopher Stevens, 92 Bullard Street, Holden, MA 01520, cstev118@aol.com; C. Charles Schafer, 41 Larchwood Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764; Andrew Bigelow, 1002 W Altgeld Street, Chicago, IL 60614, ajbigelow@hotmail.com

Andy J. Bigelow has been living in Chicago with his partner, Brian, and their two teenaged sons, Malik and Fernelis, since 2006. He has taught history at the Francis W. Parker School for seven years, after 12 years of teaching in the suburbs of Boston. He gets to the east coast once a summer and often sees Jeff “Milk” Milne and his god-daughter, Maddie Milne. Andy has done the Chicago Triathlon three times and loves a good half marathon twice a summer. All is well! Love the Class of 1985!

Class Volunteer: Chris Wall 141 S. Waiola Avenue, La Grange, IL 60525, cgwall@sbcglobal.net

Sandra Wilson P ’86, P ’87 wrote: “Brother and sister, G. Branden (Brandy) Wilson ’86 and Georgiana (Georgie) Wilson Gray ’87, are both busy working, raising their families and remembering fondly their years at Vermont Academy. Georgie is in Cleveland Heights, OH, and Brandy still lives just a few miles from Lake Placid, NY. In their spare time, Georgie plays women’s hockey and Brandy enjoys skiing Whiteface with his family.”

Class Volunteers: Michelle Wells, 232 West 74th Street, #3B, New York, NY 10023, michelle@hoxton7.com; Billi McCullough, 5460 S Jasmine Street, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, brmccullough@hollandhart.com

(bottom): below: Britton Inglehart ’03

PHOTOS

(top, l to r): Conor Aiello, Jillian Aiello, Libbey Hunnewell ’98 and kids.

Scott W. Ansevin-Allen wrote: “I live in Keene, NH, with my wife, Andrea, and our three children: Cutler, Greyson, and Madelina. For the past 15 years I have worked at Franklin Pierce University, currently in the role of assistant dean for student involvement. Any local VA alumni interested in forming a monthly/quarterly supper club or service group, please be in contact.”

Class Volunteers: Bay Mackall, 31 Gibson Avenue, Narragansett, RI 02882, baymackall@msn.com; Charmion Handy, PO Box 439, Hartley Hill Road, Saxtons River, VT 05154, charmion_handy@yahoo.com

CLASS OF 1988 Our 25th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now!

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Class Volunteer: John Kemper 143 Beattie Road, South Londonderry, VT 05155, jakemper@verizon.net Class Volunteers: Ann Jones, 21 Maple Street, Woodstock, VT 05091, anndanjones@gmail.com; Lee Ryder, 2361 S. Columbine Street, Denver, CO 80210, lryder@univhousing.com; Jamison Gagnier, 37 Peterson Road, Duxbury, MA 02332, j.gagnier@hermesfundmanagers.com; Mary Dean, 2 Hanson Road, Canton, CT 06019, hotmary@mail.com

Scott D. Aiello wrote: “The past year has been great in the Aiello house. Conor (20 months) has grown up rapidly and is now a “big” brother to his sister, Jillian Clare (3 months). Needless to say, sleep is at a premium, and these future VA kids are ready to go. Hope all is well and everyone has a great spring and summer.”

Class Volunteer: Amy Howard 317 29th Street, Apt 206, San Francisco, CA 94131, amyh294@gmail.com

Class Volunteers: Elizabeth Adams, 24 Central Ave., Rutland, VT 05701, ReillyVT@yahoo.com; Mark Engelke, 181 Hillside Avenue, Chatham, NJ 07928, markcengelke@aol.com

Class Volunteers: Noel Chipman, 62 Collins Landing Road, Unit 61, Weare, NH 03281; Adam Garner, 900 S Lamar Blvd, Apt 203, Austin, TX 78704, adam_k_garner@yahoo.com

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Class Volunteers: Kathryn Turner, 20385 Belmont Park Terrace, Unit 114, Ashburn, VA 20147, kathryn.abernethy@ gmail.com; Alexander Law, 2721 Black Oaks Lane, N Plymouth, MN 55447, alexhlaw@yahoo.com

CLASS OF 1998 Our 15th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now!

John P. Murtha wrote: “I just bought my dream home in Silverthorne, CO, with my wife, Mallory. Plenty of extra bedrooms for guests! Close to Breckenridge, Copper, and Keystone ski areas.” Class Volunteers: Erika Gustafson, 34 Wedgemere Rd., Medford, MA 02155, gutentuf@hotmail.com; Alison Johnson, 2415 W Wilson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625, harmon2476@gmail.com

Class Volunteers: Sarah Weilbrenner Viteri, 61 Gutzon Borglum Rd., Stamford, CT 06903, sweilbrenner@gmail.com; Erin Kennelly, 100 DiNardo Hall, Bridgewater, MA 02325, ekennelly@gmail.com; Aaron Walsh, PO Box 385, Marlboro, VT 05344

Ramsey N. Hoehn wrote: “My wife, Nifer, and I are living in Burlington, VT, during most of the winter months, while I balance my work with tennis in FL on a part-time basis. We spend our summers running a tennis program at Fishers Island, NY. We’ve been spending lots of time at the hockey rink these days with our eight-year-old, Woody. Our backyard project this year is an ice rink. Let us know if you’re in the area!”

CLASS OF 1993 Our 20th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now! Class Volunteer: Meghan Giroux 165 Black Fly Hill, Jericho, VT 05465, meghan.giroux@gmail.com

Class Volunteer: Kirk Vaughan 2145 Pine Drive, Raleigh, NC 27608, Kirk.Vaughan@gmail.com

Class Volunteers: Andrew Tyson, 2205 3rd Avenue Apartment 3G, New York, NY 10035, mr.andrew.tyson@gmail.com; Katherine Dawes, 243 Moria Place, Aston, PA 19014, katherinefdawes@gmail.com; Sarah Murrow, 1166 Nanticoke Street, Baltimore, MD 21230, sarah.ramian@gmail.com Class Volunteers: Jeannlis Sanchez, PO Box1123, Soundview Sta Bronx, NY 10472, tiatula973@gmail.com; Grayson Holden, 1722 Virginia Street, Berkeley, CA 94703, grayson.holden@gmail.com

ver mont academy

share your news! Please submit your notes to classnotes@vermontacademy.org or directly to your Class Agent.

Libbey M. Hunnewell wrote: “On Saturday, March 23, we welcomed our second child, Hayden Trystan. He joins twoyear-old Hunter, and daddy Stephen made it back from Afghanistan just in time!!! We are closing on a house north of Boston in May, and I will continue my job as a PE and health teacher at John Glenn Middle School in Bedford, MA, where I have been for nine years now. Hope everyone is well!”

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Class Volunteers: Corey Esau, 2 Mason St., #2, Marblehead, MA 01945, Corey.esau@hotmail.com; Alexandra Walsh, 159 South St., #1R, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, alexandraguard@ gmail.com; Matthew Cotter, 41 Service Road, East Sandwich, MA 02537, capecotter11@gmail.com; Devin Finigan, PO Box 193, Sedgwick, ME, 04676, devineyre@hotmail.com; J. Andrew Guard, 159 South St., Ste. 1R, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, jandrewguard@gmail.com; Kristin Dubak, 561 California Rd., Bronxville, NY 10708, kmdubak@gmail.com Class Volunteers: Robert Bergman, 95 Settlers Dr., Hancock, ME 04640, robergdawg@yahoo.com; Amber DiPasquale, 12102 Green Ledge Ct., Apt. 202, Fairfax, VA 22033, amber.m.dipasquale@gmail.com Class Volunteers: Eliza Cross, One Park Lane, #303, Boston, MA 02210, elizascross@msn.com; Britton Inglehart, 47329 Westminster Park Road, Wellesley Island, NY 13640, binglehart@gmail.com; Andrew Robinson, 816 S Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21230, andrewrobinson01@gmail.com; Amy Olsen, 1118 River Cir., Victor, ID 83455, amyvelte@gmail.com; Kyle Nelligan, PO Box 500, Saxtons River, VT 05154, knelligan@vermontacademy.org; Christina Flood, 67 Main St., Apt 11, Brattleboro, VT 05301

CLASS OF 2003 Our 10th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now! Britton F. Inglehart wrote: “I have recently returned to the States after four years abroad in South Korea, where I was teaching ESL/EFL (English as a Second Language & English as a Foreign Language) to South Korean elementary and middle school students. Upon my return to the States I traveled in Vancouver, BC, and took the VIA Rail to Toronto. The train ride was amazing; we went through the Canadian Rockies up to Edmonton and then continued on. Afterwards I spent a month in Toronto getting my CELTA certification. Now I am welcoming spring and busy substitute teaching at a local public school while job searching! I miss all of my fellow VA classmates and hope to see you all soon!” In 2011 Matthew S. Neuman received an MFA at Boston University. He now lives in the Brooklyn area and has a studio in the Bronx. Matt’s interest in making art has led him in many directions, including painting, sculpture, print making, ceramics, and even costuming. His current body of work uses a unique combination of painting and building techniques to craft colorful, geometric paintings that have a strong material and sculptural presence. Since moving to Boston in 2009, Matt has exhibited his work at galleries and museums, including NKG, 808 Gallery, 22

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and the Danforth Museum of Art. After finishing his MFA, Matt’s paintings were featured in Alpha Gallery’s annual “New Talent” exhibit recognizing Boston’s best up and coming artists. Matt’s work has been reviewed in the Boston Globe, the Boston Art Review and the Aspen Times. A quote I like: “You can never make what you want. You can only make what you would have wanted if you had thought of it before” - Richard Diebenkorn

Class Volunteers: Hillary Talbot, 3913 Westminster West Road, Putney, VT 05346, hillarytalbot@gmail.com; Jean-Daniel Lussier, 988 rue Guy-Burelle, Laval, QC H7W 0G5, Canada, jl24@calvin.edu

Elizabeth L. Bookwalter wrote: “I married Francis Evarts Fairman V, an electrical engineer from Saint Paul, MN. We got married on 10/6 at my parents’ house in Putney, VT, and are currently living in St Paul, MN. Oddly enough, when I first met his parents, I found out that his dad had played soccer with Mr. Mooney at Yale! Small world.” On August 1, while on a sunset carriage ride on Stowe Mountain, Melissa Russ said “yes” to Nicholas C. Platner. The future bride is the daughter of Charri Robinson and the late Edward Russ, both of Bethel. She is a 2004 graduate of Whitcomb High School and a 2008 graduate of Norwich University, where she earned her Bachelor of Nursing degree. She is employed by Fletcher Allen Hospital as a nurse on the cardiothoracic floor and also is a representative in her unit practice council and is the cochair of the hospital practice council for her unit. The future groom is the son of Brian and Beverly Platner of Lyme, CT. He is a 2003 graduate of the Vermont Academy and attended the University of Denver for business. He owns and runs his own promotional company, which donates all profits made to the benefit of Vermont charities, such as the Vermont Relief Fund. He is currently studying for his private pilot’s license. The couple has picked September 14 as their wedding date. Their wedding will be held at the Von Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, where their guests will enjoy a weekend full of celebration.

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Class Volunteers: Laura Gage, 592 3rd Avenue, Apt. 2RS, New York, NY 10016, laura.gage1@gmail.com; Corbin Vreeland, PO Box 1374, Bridgehampton, NY 11932, cvreeland@ gmail.com; Robert Harlow, 23 Northwood Ave, West Springfield, MA 01089, Robert.harlow@jetblue.com; Lauren Zwicker, 115 Jenny Ln., Brattleboro, VT 05301, laurzwick@gmail.com Class Volunteers: Zachary Jandl, 20 West Canal St., #332, Winooski, VT 05404, zjandl@mvphealthcare.com; Austin DeLonge, 55 Magazine St. #22, Cambridge, MA 02139, austin.delonge@gmail.com; Calvin Stowell, 1 Charlestown Rd, Claremont, NH 03743, cstowell@dosomething.org Class Volunteers: Cassandra Howe, PO Box 2242, Hillsborough, NH 03244, cassandrahowe1@gmail.com; Alexandra Moran, 812 Hancock Avenue, Natchitoches, LA 71457; sprtgrl1288@aol.com; Kelli Morin, 18 Hathorn St., Apt. 2, Somerville, MA 02145, Kelli.morin@gmail.com; Kaitlyn Schiro, 63 Londonderry Dr. , Greenwich, CT 06830, kait.schiro@gmail.com

(right): Vermont Academy crew Lesley Tkaczyk ’05, Joe Castano ’05, Leelee Bookwalter Fairman ’04, Ida Specker ’05 and Brittany Langston ’05 at Leelee’s October wedding.

Kaitlyn T. Schiro wrote: “I am now a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology with a BS in Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing. I have been working full time at Avon Products in fragrance marketing for the North American region. I’m still residing in Greenwich, CT.”

Class Volunteer: Paulina Borrego 73 Pertshire Road, Brighton, MA, 02135, Paulina.Borrego@EF.com

CLASS OF 2008 Our 5th Reunion is September 27- 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now! Konwathara ni “Nani” Jacobs married Clifford “Shooter” Dailleboust on Saturday, November 10, 2012, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Kanawake, QC. Jane M. Paar (newspaper excerpt) It’s Paar for the course—Grad hopes to play Olympic rugby in ’16 Former Wauwatosa East student Jane Paar tried a multitude of sports in high school but didn’t really find what she wanted until she got involved with rugby. However, when it came to her future, the 2007 graduate knew exactly where she was going. “I dabbled in sports,” said Paar, who graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May and has been commissioned in the United States Marine Corps. “I swam, I dove, I played lacrosse, ice hockey, but there was no sport I loved. I played soccer and swimming my whole life. I got sick of it. But I was in good shape.” Then a friend introduced her to a “cool sport” in Brookfield, Maryland, and she played her junior and senior years. Paar not only enjoyed rugby, but she was good at it. She had been certain she wanted to join the military, specifically the Marines, since her freshman year. “There are a lot of opportunities to do anything in the military,” Paar said. Paar was a member of the Milwaukee Composite Squadron of the No. 5 Civil Air Patrol during her high school career and received several honors for her performance. She used her athletic skills to receive the Commander’s Sword, the top honor at the Wisconsin Cadet Academy boot camp, in 2006, where she outperformed officers of a high rank, making the award unprecedented. After an extensive and comprehensive application process, she was accepted into Vermont Academy for a post-graduate year, one of the foundation programs for the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, after graduating from Tosa East in 2007. She received full tuition and funding for her

PHOTOS

(left): Jame Paar ’08 makes a tackle during a rugby training camp.

education at Vermont Academy to prepare her for the rigors of the Naval Academy. While at the Naval Academy, Paar was a starter on the rugby team since her freshman year, being named captain as a junior and senior. She was also named president, since rugby was a club team run by students, and she was in charge of the budget and planning. “I had a big staff,” Paar said. “It was a good learning experience.” After graduating from the Naval Academy this spring, Paar had planned on spending two weeks with the Olympic rugby team in Colorado. She was hoping to make the team and be eligible for the 2016 Olympic rugby team in Rio de Janeiro, but she sustained a knee injury during Marine Corps training. Paar explained the types of rugby teams that were available. “There are 15 players on each side, and you play for 80 minutes,” she said. “In the U.S., we have 7-on-7, and each game is 14 minutes, but we play multiple games in one day.” There could still be a happy ending for Paar, since her coach Rick Suggit coaches the 7’s, a team headed to England and Amsterdam in the next six months. “He works with players, knows the Marines, and knows I will be in training for the next six months and I couldn’t attend,” said Paar, who has basic training and then officer training. “The U.S. Olympic Training Center is in Chula Vista, CA, and that’s were the rugby team will be training. The next step is to prepare for the World Cup.” Paar pointed out that the Marines have a National Athletes Program which might make her available to train with the rugby team and be eligible for the next Olympics. Having military players on these teams is high visibility and great for recruiting. Paar did point out that currently the Marines rugby team is all male. “But they are trying to get it (a woman’s team) started,” she added.

Class Volunteer: Ashley Greenwood 13 Gaskill St., Mendon, MA 01756, agreenwood@assumption.edu

Class Volunteers: Sophie Yingling, PO Box 247, Truro, MA 02666, syinglin@student.umass.edu; Brooke Wilcox, 152 A Monument Hill Rd, Springfield, VT 05156, bawilcox@vwc.edu; Kerrin Lundberg, 336 Deer Hollow Dr., Napa, CA 94558

Class Volunteers: Kelly Johnson, 60 Orchard Drive, Eastham, MA 02642; Adam Hennick, 109 Marie Curie, Dollard-desOrmeaux, QC H9A 3C5 Canada, hennick_13@hotmail.com

Class Volunteers: Shelby Johnson, 6 Leominster Rd., PO Box 774, Sterling, MA 01564, shelbu579@gmail.com; Thomas Savoca, 47 Circle Dr., Ridgefield, CT 06877, tsavoca878@aim.com

ver mont academy

i|m

in memoriam

Alexander M. Taft | 1944

Kenneth Vance Watson | 1970

Alexander “Zandy” Taft, 85, died at RiverMead on March 29, 2012. Mr. Taft was born in Greenville, New Hampshire, on May 19, 1926, the son of Mary (McKaig) and Chamberlin Taft. He attended Greenville Public Schools and Vermont Academy, graduating in 1944; and Dartmouth College with the class of 1949. He served in the Army and was discharged to take over the family businesses, the Greenville Electric Lighting Company and New Hampshire Electric Equipment Company. He was a director of Wilton National Bank; chairman of the Greenville School Board for 17 years; a member and chairman of the Mascenic Regional School Board; and past president of the New Hampshire School Board Association, serving two terms. He was also the northeast director of the National School Boards Association. He was a member of the New Hampshire Legislature from 1959 to 1966, and was the majority floor leader from 1965 to 1966. He served on the staff of Gov. Walter Peterson for four years as coordinator of federal funds and director of state planning. He was also a member of Gov. Peterson’s military staff. Later he was a vice president of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Hampshire; in addition to other administrative duties, he served as its legislative liaison for 21 years before his retirement in 1995. Zandy enjoyed spending time with his family, skiing, golfing, fishing, and traveling. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Eileen (Carroll) Taft; his son, William Chamberlin; his daughters, Mary McKaig Taft of Hooksett and Kimberley Carroll Taft Layman, of Nantucket, MA; his grandchildren, Hannah, Kyler, and Lili of Medford, OR; and his brother, Robert Taft, of Peterborough, NH. Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the National MS Society.

Dr. Kenneth Vance Watson died of heart failure at his home in Hattiesbury, Mississippi, on January 18, 2013. A professor of nineteenth-century British literature, Watson joined the University of Southern Mississippi English faculty in 1986. Born October 4, 1952, in Bellows Falls, Vermont, Watson attended Deerfield Academy and Vermont Academy and took an A.B. at Kenyon College. He earned his master's degree at the University of Vermont, and his doctorate in English at Duke University. Ken is survived by his son, Caleb Watson; by his mother, Priscilla Watson; as well as his sister, Virginia Watson.

Robert F. Ley | 1950 Robert F. Ley was born May 10, 1932. He died January 15, 2013, at Overlook Medical Center, Summit, NJ. Bob attended Vermont Academy, class of ’50. He received his BA from Colgate University, class of ’54, and his MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, class of ’57. During his lifetime, Bob was privileged to live and/or work in many parts of the world. He spent time in the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, the West Indies, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Bob was married to Monica Alleyne, May 10, 1963, in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. Their son, Richard, was born in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. In accordance with Bob’s wish to do something for humanity, his body was donated to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, in the pursuit of science.

John B. Tompkins Jr. | 1956 John B. Tompkins Jr., 74, of Fort Myers, Florida, died on February 10, 2013. He was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, on September 30, 1938. He graduated from Vermont Academy and attended St. Lawrence University. His education was interrupted by his two years in the Navy aboard the USS Ft. Snelling. Subsequently he graduated from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. Upon completion of college he moved to Albany, New York, to work at Montgomery Ward and then started a long career as an underwriter and in personal lines insurance systems development as an assistant director in the home office of the Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, Connecticut. Upon retirement in 1990, he moved to Fort Myers, where he continued his interest in antiques, firearms, and books. He is survived by his sister Elizabeth. Memorial donations in his name may be made to the Guilford Historical Society, 236 School Road, Guilford, VT 05301.

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Mr. Terry Ridley | 1974 Terry Ridley, second of six sons of Fay Hope (Hampton) and the late Moses Ridley, was born on November 26, 1956, and entered into eternal rest on November 22, 2012. Terry attended Lincoln High for two years and received a scholarship from A Better Chance, Inc., to attend Vermont Academy. After graduating from VA, he attended the University of Vermont, where in 1979 he received a bachelor of science degree in history/secondary education. He then received a scholarship to Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned a master’s degree in urban and regional planning in 1981. Returning to New Jersey, he attended Rutgers Law School as a parttime evening student while working as a law clerk for the firm of Ashley & Charles. Upon admission to the New Jersey Bar following his graduation, he was employed as an assistant prosecutor in the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor. After three years with the prosecutor’s office, Terry returned to Ashley & Charles as an associate. In October 1991, he took a senior associate position with the Housing Authority of the City of Newark. He was a member of the American Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, among others. He loved to read, write, travel, and watch sports. Terry is survived by his wife, Sekina Rodgers; daughters Monique Nicole and Lauren Marie; mother Fay Ridley; five brothers, Moses Jr. (Stephanie), Michael, Bruce, Derrick, and Troy (Tama).

Mr. Paul J. Galok Jr. | 2003 Paul Joseph Galok Jr., 28, of Amherst, MA, died March 24, 2013, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA, after suffering an apparent heart attack. Born in Pittsfield, MA, on September 16, 1984, a son of Paul J. Galok Sr. and Laurie J. Campbell Galok, he was educated in Lanesborough schools and attended Mount Greylock Junior and Senior High School, where in eighth grade he played varsity hockey. He was a 2003 graduate of Vermont Academy, where he lettered in three sports, hockey, baseball, and football. He also attended Paul Smith College in Paul Smith, NY, and Berkshire Community College. At the time of his passing, Paul was employed by Olde Hadleigh Hearth and Patio in South Hadley, MA. An avid hockey player, he started with the Pittsfield Boy’s Club Youth Hockey program and went on to play at Vermont Academy and in men’s leagues in West Springfield and with Team U-Mass and the MassConn Braves. He was a Boston Bruins and New England Patriots fan. He enjoyed water skiing, snow skiing, and snowboarding. He loved dogs and cats, music, and especially being with his family and friends, and fishing with his grandfather.

In talented, wise, experienced, enthusiastic, VA alumni

members are already linkedin with VA

students soon to become college students and VA alumni

senior VA graduates serving as program advisors

LinkedIn subscribers worldwide

The Vermont Academy Alumni Association is organizing the Alumni Network and Mentor Program on LinkedIn. Crafted specifically for Vermont Academy alumni, the program will support communications among VA graduates seeking advice about college choices, graduate school opportunities, employment, career advancement, job searches and more. Importantly, participants in the mentoring program may participate in on-campus programs with currently enrolled students.

So, do the math! Consider the opportunity! Join the Vermont Academy Network and Mentor Program and, connect with the best!

TO JOIN: Go to www.vermontacademy.org/linkedin to join today!

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SAVE THE DATE! VERMONT ACADEMY

REUNION WEEKEND Sept. 27-29, 2013

GET INVOLVED! JOIN YOUR REUNION COMMITTEE...

If you would like to assist in promoting your reunion, receive a class list, or have questions please contact April Worden at aworden@vermontacademy.org or by calling 802-869-6223. LODGING

Fall is a busy season in New England. We recommend that you make your hotel reservations early. To find a listing of local inns and hotels please go to our website at www.vermontacademy.org/lodging.

For more information or to register, visit: www.vermontacademy.org/reunion13

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