Westminster Bulletin Spring 2020 by Westminster School

Spring 2020

Westminster Bulletin

Learning All About Theater Relating Science to Life Experiences Leadership by Example

Members of the Dance Ensemble rehearse in Werner Centennial Center.

Westminster Bulletin

SPRING 2020

FEATURES

Relating Science to Life Experiences

Learning Every Aspect of Theater Through Dramat

Leadership By Example

D RTM N T SMessage 2 E P AHead of E School

From the Archives

Supporting Westminster

11 Athletics

Martlets on the Move

Enthusiastically Alive in the Present Moment

Class Notes

In Memoriam

Building Relationships in a New Community

Closing Thoughts

Hill Headlines

On the cover, a scene from Dramat’s production of “The Little Mermaid.” Spring 2020

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear Members of the Westminster Community, On an afternoon during this pandemic, alone in my office on our empty campus, and reflecting upon the remarkable stories and images in this edition of our spring Bulletin, I felt at once as if I was recalling experiences so familiar and so distant. The experiences are familiar because I recall them vividly; in fact, I was present at the community occasions and know personally the featured students, faculty, parents and alumni. Yet, the experiences feel so distant, because I cannot help but feel that they are from another world — a world that at the moment feels too far away, a world which celebrated relationships and community, a world for which we yearn in our current isolation. That yearning affirms our conviction to move forward together, to learn the life lessons from this pandemic that will forever better inform our perspective. Always meaningful to our school community, today, Grit & Grace shines a light for our way forward.

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In her closing thoughts for this edition of the Bulletin, History Department Head and soon-to-be Director of Studies Betsy Heckman concludes: “I teach my courses with one foot in the past and one foot in the present, hoping that my students will be as well prepared as possible to face the ever-changing world that awaits them with an open mind.” In that spirit and with particular thanks to Darlene Skeels, Director of Communications, whose inspiration and dedication prepares each fabulous edition of our Bulletin, I invite you to enjoy these stories and images. Martlets fly highest when they soar together!

William V.N. Philip P’06, ’09 Head of School

HILL HEADLINES

New Dean of Faculty Westminster faculty member Jessica Keough will assume the position of dean of faculty July 1. She will succeed the current dean of faculty, Mark de Kanter ’91, P’19, ’22, who will become associate head of school on the same date. Appointed to the Westminster faculty in 2008, Jess has filled many roles during her tenure, including history teacher, dean of students, dormitory head, associate admissions director, head coach of First Girls’ Ice Hockey and student advisor. In 2017, she won the Swayze Award, presented to a member of the faculty for outstanding contributions to the life of the school. In addition, Jess has served on the faculty at Pomfret School and Hebron Academy. “Jess’ passionate energy and commitment to excellence across all of her endeavors inspires students and colleagues alike,” said Head of School Bill Philip in making the announcement. “Underscoring her highly respected stature in our school community, Jess’ colleagues rely on her guidance, both informally and formally, for example, by frequently inviting her to participate in their professional growth reviews.” Jess earned a B.A. at Trinity College and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies at Wesleyan University. While at Trinity, she completed a legislative internship program at the Connecticut state capitol and was named a Long Walk Society Scholar. She also captained the field hockey and ice hockey teams. Jess is a graduate of Tabor Academy, where she captained the field hockey, ice hockey and lacrosse teams. As a corridor supervisor, Jess lives in Kelter House with her

Jessica Keough

husband, Jay, who serves as associate director of admissions, and with their sons, Francis and Patrick. “Jess deserves our appreciation for her already remarkable legacy of accomplishment and our enthusiastic congratulations for the leadership role she will now assume,” said Head of School Philip. “I am grateful for the various opportunities for growth I’ve had at Westminster over the years,” said Jess. “I am humbled by this appointment, yet at the same time, eager to put my mark on the position. My vision of the role embraces a holistic approach. I will draw on my experiences as a teacher, advisor, coach and dean of students to be a visible, supportive leader and a resource for our faculty. I look forward to the good work ahead.”

Large Delegation Participates in Yale Model U.N. Students in Westminster’s Model U.N. headed to New Haven Jan. 23 to participate in the 46th Yale Model U.N. conference. The 23 Martlets had spent weeks preparing. Their committees represented a broad range of issues, from the past to the present. The group lucked out with a number of assignments to smaller, specialized committees that permitted the experienced crew ample opportunities to participate. In addition to the committee sessions, highlights of the weekend included Yale Day events, which allowed students to sample Yale academic and cultural life, and a group dinner at Prime 16 in New Haven. Many delegates put forth a great deal of effort in their committees and took leadership roles in dealing with their assigned topics. Two students distinguished themselves this year: Qifei Min ’22 in the Arab League earned outstanding delegate honors, and Daniel Pinckney ’20 in the CDC crisis committee earned best delegate honors. “Once again, it was a rewarding and enriching experience for the Martlet MUNers,” said Betsy Heckman, the group’s advisor and head of the History Department.

Right, Westminster students who attended the Yale Model U.N. Conference, and above right, Daniel Pinckney ’20 and Qifei Min ’22 display award certificates from the conference. Spring 2020

HILL HEADLINES

Thinking About Other Communities Westminster held an all-school Diversity Day Jan. 30. The morning kicked off with a faculty meeting where Lisa McGrath, director of diversity and multicultural affairs, who organized the day’s events, welcomed everyone and introduced guest speaker Princess Sirleaf Bomba, an advocate for social justice and education for nearly 25 years. Princess began her presentation on the topic “Our Cultures, Our Perspectives and Our Impact” by saying: “I will share things I have learned along the way that are more personal and not all research driven. I hope this will resonate with you.” She involved faculty members in group discussions about race and culture. “Who is in our circle and who we are with shape how we see the world,” she said. She shared highlights of her career and stories about those with whom she has worked. She encouraged faculty members to “break the silence” by opening up more with others and reaching out to people of color. “Hidden identities matter,” she emphasized. She also underscored the importance of demonstrating empathy to success in working with students. “Sharing your identity will help you communicate with them,” she said. “Children only seek help from the people they trust.” Princess is the director of unity and diversity at The Wheeler School, an independent day school in Providence, R.I. Before that, she was an educational services coordinator for the Department of Children, Youth and Families and began her career as an admissions professional for Rhode Island College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree and an M.A. Following the faculty meeting, students gathered in Gund Dining Room to sit with their advisory group. They responded to questions and played some games that highlighted how first impressions can be wrong and the importance of getting to know others in order to build a stronger community. Princess shared details about her life in Monrovia, Liberia, as a child, the violent coup in her country and how her “life was turned upside down” when she came to the U.S. She encouraged the students to tell their story, saying, “We all have interesting stories.” After the meeting of advisory groups, students attended breakout sessions conducted by their peers and faculty members in Armour Academic Center on a range of topics related to introspection and reflection, identity and connection, community and society, and history and the arts. They then attended an all-school meeting in Werner Centennial Center, where Lisa thanked everyone for their participation in the day’s activities, saying it provided an opportunity to think about other communities. Two excerpts from the film “Girl Rising” were shown under the leadership of the student group All is One Feminist Alliance, and the day concluded with students meeting with their advisory groups once again.

Top, guest speaker Princess Sirleaf Bomba; above right and above, students respond to questions and participate in discussions. 4

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HILL HEADLINES

Cirque Mei Gives Awe-Inspiring Performance Cirque Mei, from the People’s Republic of China, gave an awe-inspiring performance for members of the Westminster community in Werner Centennial Center Oct. 15 as part of the Graham Gund ’59 Visiting Artist Series. Cirque Mei features traditional and contemporary Chinese circus acts in a colorful and lively celebration of the internationally renowned Chinese circus

arts. The performance featured a company of elite circus artists and acrobats showcasing popular Chinese circus routines involving hoop diving, a lion dance, collective bicycle skills, flying meteors, foot juggling with umbrellas, contortion and ladder balancing. The troupe was founded in 1976 and supports a community of more than 130 performers who tour throughout China and the world.

Members of the Gund Family established the Graham Gund ’59 Visiting Artist Series fund in 1991 in honor of Graham Gund ’59 at his 50th birthday. Income from the fund underwrites the cost of bringing outstanding artists to Westminster to enrich students’ understanding and appreciation of the performing arts. The visiting artists perform in Werner Centennial Theater.

Spring 2020

HILL HEADLINES

Educators Discuss Preparing Students for Life After High School Westminster hosted educators from around the region Jan. 6 for this year’s Westminster Teaching Symposium titled “To College and Beyond: Preparing Students for Life After High School.” The keynote speaker was Wendy Fischman, project director of Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The mission of Project Zero is to understand and enhance learning, thinking and creativity for individuals and groups in the arts and other disciplines. Wendy joined Project Zero in 1995 as a researcher with Project Co-Arts, a study of educationally effective community art centers. Since 1996, she has managed various aspects of the GoodWork® Project, specifically focused on the meaning of work in the lives of young children, adolescents and novice professionals. She has written about education and human development in several scholarly and popular articles and is the lead author of “Making Good: How Young People Cope with Moral Dilemmas at Work.” Wendy co-developed the Good Work Toolkit, a

Wendy Fischman delivers the keynote remarks.

curriculum designed to introduce students and teachers to the concept of “good work.” Most recently, she has been involved in the management of a large, national study on liberal arts and sciences in the 21st century at 10 college campuses. Before coming to Project Zero, Wendy taught humanities to middle school

students and evaluated school reform programs facilitated by a governmentsponsored regional laboratory. She received a B.A. from Northwestern University. Wendy began her presentation by giving an overview of the Good Project. “I come to you as a researcher and a participant,” she said. She discussed how

Above left, Tim Quinn ’96, chief academic officer and dean of faculty at Miss Porter’s School, and above right, Nick Pinkerton, director of counseling services at Southern Connecticut State University, give presentations. 6

Westminster Bulletin

HILL HEADLINES

good work is “at once excellent, engaging and ethical.” “It is important for people to find value in work and enjoy it,” she said. She shared highlights of major findings of the study and the genesis of the Good Work Toolkit. Following this, she discussed a large-scale national study that is documenting how different groups think about the goals of college and the value of a course of study emphasizing liberal arts and sciences. She shared some of the issues identified from the research and offered takeaways for those in the audience. After her presentation, those attending the symposium had a chance to attend two breakout sessions given by educators on related topics. Nick Pinkerton of Southern Connecticut State University spoke about “How Student Mental Health Trends Inform Our Work Moving Forward”; Joe DiChristina and Jody Goodman of Trinity College spoke about “Helping Students Transition to College”; and Tim Quinn ’96, Amy Rogers and Lesley Skendarian of Miss Porter’s School spoke about “Miss Porter’s School’s Senior Seminar, Designing Your Life: Purpose, College and Career.” Following the morning’s presentations, participants shared lunch in Armstrong Dining Hall.

“The hope is the symposium will spark ongoing, productive conversations about what we do and how we do it, and from our follow-up discussions, there is every indication it will do just that.” The symposium was sponsored by the Westminster Teaching Initiative (WTI), which was formed in 2010 to enhance teaching and learning at Westminster by encouraging collaboration and dialogue among faculty members and departments about curriculum and pedagogy. The purpose of the symposium is to widen the circle of sharing and allow teachers from area schools to come together, converse and learn from one another. Westminster faculty member Charlie Griffith P’11, ’14, ’17 serves as director of WTI and planned the symposium.

Charlie Griffith P’11, ’14, ’17, who serves as director of the Westminster School Teaching Initiative, welcomes educators to the symposium.

Members of the Westminster faculty concluded the day by further discussing the morning’s presentations in afternoon group meetings. “The hope is the symposium will spark ongoing, productive conversations about what we do and how we do it, and from our follow-up discussions, there is every indication it will do just that,” said Charlie.

Above left, Jody Goodman, Trinity College assistant dean of students and director of the Bantam Network, and Joe DiChristina, Trinity College vice president for student affairs and dean of campus life, lead a breakout session. Above right, educators participate in a discussion about helping students transition to college. Spring 2020

HILL HEADLINES

Ross Gay Visits as 20th Westminster Poet Westminster celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Westminster Poet Series with a visit by award-winning poet Ross Gay March 2-3. Each year, the English Department invites a major poet to campus to give a reading and visit English classes. A professor of English at Indiana University, Ross is the author of three books of poetry: “Against Which,” “Bringing the Shovel Down” and “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude,” winner of the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2016 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. His collection of lyric essays, “The Book of Delights,” which was released last year, received wide acclaim. Ross is also a co-author of the chapbooks “Lace and Pyrite: Letters from Two Gardens,” and “River.” He is a founding editor of the online sports magazine Some Call it Ballin’, in addition to being an editor with the chapbook presses Q Avenue and Ledge Mule Press. The recipient of numerous fellowships, he earned a B.A. from Lafayette College, an M.F.A. in poetry from Sarah Lawrence College and a Ph.D. from Temple University.

Ross Gay gives a reading to students and faculty in Werner Centennial Center.

During a reading for students and faculty in Werner Centennial Center, Ross talked about writing daily essays for “The Book of Delights,” and he read a number of the pieces. The book was an all-school summer reading selection last year. Students also studied Ross’ poems in “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude,” as well as selections from his earlier books of poetry. During class visits, he responded to questions and read requested poems or essays. “I really like writing poems and am really lucky,” he told the students. He shared that he is a voracious reader and does not write to a specific audience. “I am writing to anyone who would listen.” When asked for writing tips, he replied, “A good idea as a writer is to be interested in the question and be motivated by what you don’t know and not what you do know.” He also advised

Ross Gay meets with students in an English class. 8

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writing about things that surprise as well as from a place of love. He described how his writing process for poems and prose is different. “I never write poems on the computer, but I will write prose on the computer.” He said that he edits multiple drafts, perhaps as many as 35. “In my first drafts, I get a feeling for something, and then in revisions, I figure out what I want to say.” He added: “I am growing when I am writing. I am always trying to write what I don’t know how to write.” “One of the great things about the Westminster Poet Series is that all of the 20 poets who have visited Westminster since 1999 have been very good poets with very interesting personalities,” said English teacher Michael Cervas P’96, ’01, ’10, who directs the series. “But without a doubt, Ross Gay was the most engaging of the poets we have had so far. Even students who think they don’t like poetry really liked Ross. His poems are so real and so interesting that young readers don’t even know that they are in the presence of one of the best of the younger American poets. That’s a win-win situation for all of us.” Izzy Bailey ’21, who takes both AP Literature and Composition, and Study in Creative Writing, said: “I love how Ross Gay is able to use a seemingly simple, colloquial voice to convey complex themes. It’s also super cool how he uses enjambment to show the connectivity of the poem’s themes and just the natural flow of life.” She also liked hearing him read his poems out loud. “I could hear the places

HILL HEADLINES

in the poem that he meant to be emphasized,” she said. “I really enjoyed how carefree and approachable he was in class. He answered all of our questions and taught us a lot about writing, but also just life in general. The most important thing I learned was that everyone should practice finding the small delights in everyday life.” Daniel Pinckney ’20, who also takes two English classes, Literature of Values and Study in Creative Writing, found Ross’ poetry both “accessible and profound,” saying it is a balance that is difficult to maintain. “His celebration of the mundanity of the world around us and the large implications of small moments bring joy to every subject he explores,” said Daniel. “His poems, while overwhelmingly positive, do not shy away from difficult and heavy subjects that we must all grapple with. He takes on systemic racism, our fleeting lives and the loss of the natural world with humor and levity, suggesting that we do not ignore these issues, but do not let them consume our lives either.” Discussions with the poet in class were also rewarding. “As always, it was wonderful to be able to pepper a living writer with questions about their work, process and relationship with writing,” added Daniel. “Mr. Gay’s visit was no different, but he brought a vibrance and energy to explaining and engaging with his work that made his visit to my English classes so memorable. He was able to clarify certain aspects of his poems, offer different insights into the world as a whole and share with us his process of writing. He spoke often of training his delight muscle to recognize the beauty and joy in the mundane world, something I found especially topical in our modern world, where we are inundated with negative news and often overlook the simple delights of our day-to-day existence. It was inspiring to hear from a poet who has grappled with our own modern problems and has found a way, through writing, to share his experiences with the rest of us.”

English teacher Michael Cervas P’96, ’01, ’10, who directs the Westminster Poet Series, with Ross Gay.

Charlie Graeber ’87

Alumnus Author Discusses Latest Book Award-winning writer Charlie Graeber ’87 visited Westminster Feb. 18 to discuss his most recent book, “The Breakthrough: Immunotherapy and the Race to Cure Cancer,” which was released a year ago and was shortlisted as the 2019 Medical Book of the Year by the British Medical Association. He is also The New York Times bestselling author of “The Good Nurse,” which is about perhaps the most prolific serial killer in history. Students in AP Biology, Biology Honors and some other science courses, as well as numerous faculty members, attended Charlie’s talk. He began his presentation by sharing how he got involved in journalism and writing long-form narrative nonfiction after starting out as a poet. He spoke about what prompted his interest in writing about immunotherapy and cancer and how he conducted research for the book. “I didn’t have a specific interest in cancer and tend to write about what is interesting,” he said. “A large part of my job is finding experts who know a lot. I wanted there to be a story.” Charlie traced the early history of using the immune system, which was not understood, to try to fight cancer up to the present, where much progress has been made. “We have gone from the world is flat to the world is round in biology,” he explained. He told the students if they are interested in science, it is a great time to be in it. “The door is wide-open.” He shared how there is a lack of awareness of recent advancements in immunotherapy. “The reason this is important is because people don’t know about it,” he said. “It is moving so quickly.” He has been speaking around the country on the topic for the past year. Charlie is a contributor to The New Yorker, New York Magazine, GQ, Outside, Bloomberg Businessweek, The New York Times, National Geographic Adventure, American Cowboy, Vogue, Men’s Journal and numerous online publications. He has appeared as a guest on “60 Minutes,” “Fresh Air,” “CBS This Morning,” “The Joy Behar Show,” PBS, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera and other media outlets. He has received many prestigious awards for his work. Spring 2020

HILL HEADLINES

Winter Performing Arts Concert Members of the Westminster community enjoyed a concert in Werner Centennial Center March 5 that featured dynamic performances by the Concert Band, Jazz Band, Dance Ensemble, String Ensemble, Chamber Choir and Chorale.

Westminster Bulletin

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Fall Season Highlights First Boys’ Cross Country First Boys’ Cross Country had a rebuilding year, after losing a number of top runners over the past three seasons without building the same depth behind them and then losing a few more to other circumstances. Given these challenges, the steadfast leadership of captain Daniel Pinckney ’20 was inspiring; he was a positive role model in every way. The young team members improved significantly, with many novices counted on as scoring members of the squad. Hopefully, this group will form the nucleus of a successful program in the years to come. Pinckney was named a NEPSAC All-Star for cross country.

Daniel Pinckney ’20

First Girls’ Cross Country First Girls’ Cross Country had a record-setting season. They were nearly undefeated in dual meet competition (sustaining one loss to Williston Northampton), won the Founders League championship and placed third overall at the Division II NEPSTA Cross Country championships. The girls’ win at the Founders League was a historic one; it represented the first time any Westminster cross country team — girls or boys — has taken home the first-place plaque. Westminster’s “top eight” were influential in securing the team’s place in the record books. The squad, led by captains Bethany Winters ’20, Miranda Douglass ’21 and Olivia Goldstuck ’21, included Annabelle Smith ’21, Laura Mittelman ’20, Bella Tawney ’22, Janessa Yan ’22 and Simone Routledge ’23. Smith was the team’s consistent first-place finisher. Bethany Winters ’20 At the Founders League, Smith, along with Douglass, Mittelman and Goldstuck, earned All-League honors (top 15). Winters’ lifetime-best performance was monumental in finalizing the team’s 59-54 victory over runner-up Loomis Chaffee. Smith and Douglass received All-New England honors the following weekend for their top-20 performances, while the Martlets secured another record-setting third-place team finish. The team looks forward to another memorable season next year, as six of the top eight runners will be returning.

Karen Newton ’20

First Girls’ Field Hockey First Girls’ Field Hockey had a great season, culminating in its first Founders League title since 2009. A fall-preparation trip to Bermuda set the tone for a wonderful team ethos, and that energy, combined with the talent of this group of girls, resulted in a superb set of results. Westminster went into its last regular season game with a record of 11-2-0 and made it to the NEPSAC Class A semifinals, where the team lost to Sacred Heart, 3-1. The team was also the WNEPSFHA Class A winner. WNEPSFHA recognized Casey Winslow ’21 and Sam DeLeo ’21. Claire Taylor ’21, Megan Rittenhouse ’20 and Karen Newton ’20 were recognized by NEPSAC, and a NEPSAC honorable mention went to Abby Munger ’20. Tatum Courtmanche ’21 and Mckenzie Bloom ’23 were named All-Founders.

Spring 2020

First Boys’ Soccer First Boys’ Soccer had an extraordinary season by making the New England playoffs for the first time in 10 years with a record of 8-6-2. Preparation started with an international preseason trip to the U.K. The Sixth Formers, led by co-captains Ryan Messina and Will Lynch, helped take the program to new levels within the NEPSAC soccer conference. The team enjoyed big wins over strong teams such as Hotchkiss, Suffield and Brunswick. The team also had some exciting ties against Deerfield and Berkshire. Finishing the season undefeated in its last five games helped the Martlets secure the eighth seed for the New Englands. Westminster would go on the road to face nationally ranked South Kent in the first round. Though the game would end in a loss, it proved to be a valuable experience for the large core of players who will be back for the 2020 campaign. Lynch and Messina were named All-Founders League. Xander Cardia ’21 and John Picard ’22 were named All-NEPSAC. Representing Westminster in the WNEPSSA All-Star game was Percy Sibanda ’20, Cardia and Picard. Representing Westminster in the NEPSAC All-Star games were Sibanda and Cardia, who were also named to the WNEPSSA All-Star Team and the NEPSSA All-Star Team. Picard and Cardia were recognized as making the All-NEPSAC Team. The Connecticut Soccer Coaches Association also named Cardia to the All-State Team.

Ryan Messina ’20

First Girls’ Soccer The First Girls’ Soccer season was one of tremendous growth and progress. It began with the team’s first international preseason trip to the U.K., which allowed for a strong start to the season and continued cultivation of the team’s culture of hard work, selfless play and commitment to the process. With a record of 4-8-4, the season was the team’s most successful, recordwise, in years. The four regular season ties were against playoff-bound teams. But beyond the statistics, the growth the coaches witnessed within the team and by each player was impressive. Players came to practice and games each day, melding a fierce competitive spirit with good humor, making this season one to remember. WWNEPSSA recognized captain Jaclyn Laplante ’20, Eliza Roach ’21, Bianca D’Onofrio ’23 and Jillian Gregorski ’23 as All-Stars.

Jillian Gregorski ‘23

First Boys’ Water Polo In season two, First Boys’ Water Polo went farther than many expected. All members of the 2018-2019 team returned, and the program added about 10 players. The team opened the season with a tough game against Williston Northampton School, where it was clear Westminster had a great deal of learning to do in order to be competitive in the league. From there, games against Andover, Deerfield, Suffield, Loomis, Staples, Choate and Hotchkiss were opportunities to develop and grow as a team. The group exhibited amazing perseverance, despite the challenges of facing stronger and more experienced opponents. The camaraderie at practice was great, and the desire to learn was apparent. A surprising, convincing win against Eaglebrook School helped the team gain confidence. Two wins against Wilbraham and Monson Academy again reminded the team of what it felt like to win and set it up for success. The Martlets defeated Deerfield 9-5 in their own pool, earning their first league win. It was a great way to culminate the second season for Westminster water polo. Max Larock ’22 was named to the All-NEPSAC Team.

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Justin Parsons ’20

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Winter Season Highlights First Boys’ Basketball After losing two key players, First Boys’ Basketball came together and battled hard for the rest of the season. Some team members went through a series of injuries but still showed mental and physical toughness. A highlight of the season’s second half was a tight game on the road where Westminster beat The Gunnery. Coach David Pringle is proud of this group of young men, especially captain Jack Devlin ’20.

Jack Devlin ’20

First Girls’ Basketball First Girls’ Basketball really had two separate seasons. Although Westminster’s final record was disappointing, not long before that, the Martlets were riding high and feeling optimistic. Westminster garnered two wins in the holiday tournament at Ethel Walker, culminating the first third of the season with a resounding 22-point win over Kent. The Martlets continued their winning ways with a solid team effort against Hopkins and found itself at 4-4 — or .500 — that late in the season for the first time in five years. But then, due to a tougher schedule, injuries and illness, they lost 11 games in a row. The Martlets did bounce back with a 38-point win over Canterbury. Westminster will miss departing Sixth Formers co-captain Bethany Winters and 2019 MIP Allison Kijanka. Bella Tawney ’22 was named a NEPSAC All-Star. Bella Tawney ’22

First Boys’ Swimming and Diving

Max Larock ’22

First Boys’ Swimming and Diving finished its dual meet season with its best record (9-2) since 2006 and finished second at the NEPSAC Division II championships. Max Larock ’22, Eddie Shin ’21, Jason Shi ’21 and Layton Harmon ’21 broke the school record in the 200 medley relay (1:39.11), and Owen Huang ’23, Shi, Harmon and Larock were NEPSAC champions in the 400 free relay in school record time (3:16.71). Larock was Founders League champion in the 100 backstroke and set a new school record (53.07).

Spring 2020

First Girls’ Swimming and Diving First Girls’ Swimming and Diving finished the season with its best dual meet record ever (10-2), a fourth place finish at the NEPSAC Division II championship, and set nine new school records, out of 13 events. Lucy Benoit ’23 broke the NEPSAC Division II and Founders League records in the 200 IM (2:05.60) and 100 backstroke (56.62), winning both events at both meets. Over the course of the season, she also set school records in the 200 freestyle (1:57.19) and 100 butterfly (58.45). Ellie Thorson ’21 broke the school record in the 50 freestyle (25.13), and Cecilia Raymond ’20 set the school records for six-dives (242.30) and 11-dives (411.90), earning All-American consideration. The 200 medley relay team of Benoit, Angelesia Ma ’20, Katherine Ashe ’21 and Thorson set a new school record (1:54.49), and the team of Ashe, Campbell Swift ’21, Thorson and Benoit broke the school record in the 400 freestyle relay (3:47.48).

Angelesia Ma ’20

First Girls’ Squash First Girls’ Squash took another step forward this season. Following up on last season’s Division III championship at the HEAD U.S. High School Team Squash championships, the girls earned a berth in Division II (which Westminster hosted), taking 13th place. A week later, at the NEPSAC New England B Tournament, the girls secured 14th place, which was two better than last year and four points out of 11th. The highlight of the weekend was the title won in the No. 7 flight by Eve Cathcart ’20. Eve Cathcart ’20

First Boys’ Squash The First Boys’ Squash season opened with a 7-0 win at Salisbury, a close match against Berkshire and an exciting 4-3 win against Loomis with George Hartmann ’23 winning the deciding match. Little did the team know that there would be seven more 4-3 matches during the season, the most the team has ever had. Five of those were wins and three were losses, including one against Millbrook when two players were out and captain Mac Dye ’20 went to 10-12 in the fifth game before all was decided. One week, Travis Paulsen ’20 won the deciding match against both Loomis and Suffield with the team watching. At the HEAD U.S. High School Team Squash championships a 4-3 win against Darien High School moved the team into the semifinals where it barely lost 4-3 to St. George’s and ultimately placed fourth of 16. In the NEPSAC Tournament, the team drew Loomis. The 4-3 result was familiar, but the key match fell to Dye. A spirited 5-2 loss against Choate was close enough to hope to reach the finals, but, ultimately, the team finished fourth. Travis Paulsen ’20 14

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First Girls’ Hockey First Girls’ Hockey had its best season in years, finishing with an 18-7-1 record. The team earned a spot in the Elite 8 of the NEPSAC Girls’ Ice Hockey Tournament for the first time since 2014 and won the Founders League championship for the eighth time in program history. Highlights were decisive wins over Loomis, Kent and The Hill School. Much of the success of the team was due to the commitment of Sixth Formers Taylor Adams, Jenny Guider, Abby Munger and Megan Rittenhouse. Mandy Busky ’21 and Rittenhouse were recognized by NEPSGIHA and received honorable mention as All-New England hockey players. Taylor Adams ’20

First Boys’ Hockey After back-to-back Elite 8 NEPSAC Boys’ Ice Hockey Tournament berths in the last two postseasons, this season’s Martlets were looking in from the outside. First Boys’ Hockey muscled through a challenging season record-wise, losing 12 games by one goal or with an empty net goal. At 7-17-1 on the year, it would have been easy to throw in the towel in January. But through the leadership of four-year players and captains Ned Blanchard, Ryan Pineault and Jake Monroe, as well as other Sixth Formers Charlie Flam, Ben Huisman, Matt Lewin, Quinn Armstrong, Sean Hurley, Wyatt Pastor and Darion Benchich, January and February saw hard work and team unity in practice, on the bus and during games. Ned Blanchard ’20

Visit www.Westminster-School.org/page/Athletics/Athletics-Schedule for the latest game results and team schedules.

Spring 2020

Relating Science to Life Experiences Nearly two decades ago, Westminster took the bold step of changing its science curriculum to offer physics as the first course for new students. The sequence changed from students taking biology, chemistry and then physics to students taking physics, chemistry and then biology. Westminster was an early adopter of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;physics firstâ&#x20AC;? concept that is designed to introduce students to the discipline most fundamental to the workings of the universe, so they can build on that knowledge in their subsequent coursework. Current courses in the Science Department include Physics, Physics Honors, AP Physics, Chemistry, Chemistry Honors, AP Chemistry, Biology, Biology Honors, AP Biology, Astronomy, Neuroscience, AP Environmental Science, and Human Anatomy and Physiology. The curriculum is designed not only to prepare students who will eventually work in scientific fields but also to provide nonsciencefocused students with an appreciation and understanding of scientific knowledge. Twelve faculty members teach in the department, with many having long tenures at Westminster.

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A Standout Program “Physics first is a standout program,” said Lee Zalinger P’05, ’07, ’09, who serves as head of the Science Department and has taught at Westminster for 10 years. “Part of the reason we teach physics first is because it is so easy to connect it to the everyday lives of students. For students to learn the skills you want them to exhibit, it is important to teach to their own experiences.” Lee teaches Chemistry, Astronomy and Physics Honors this academic year but has also taught Biology and Algebra 1. He has been teaching for 34 years, mostly in independent schools, including two years at Kaohsiung American School in Taiwan. He is a graduate of Colby College where he majored in geology and biology, and he earned an M.A.L.S. from Wesleyan University. “We offer many AP courses and have added rigorous non-AP electives for students who are not ready for APs,” he explained. “This year, we added Neuroscience as an elective, Greg Marco teaching Chemistry Honors. which is a whole year about the brain.” With the arrival of the DNA revolution, he says first-year high school years, including when physics first was “Part of the reason we students are not developmentally ready adopted, led the Westminster faculty who to study such things as gene editing in and planned the curriculum teach physics first is because researched biology. “Physics first dovetails with their change. They visited other schools that algebra and geometry studies, and it is had already switched their curriculum to it is so easy to connect it very concrete,” he said. “A lot of public the physics first model, and they created a to the everyday lives of and private schools have adopted physics transition plan at Westminster. first. We have Physics Honors and AP “We had to offer two levels of students. For students Physics for students who want more physics for the first two years to make the advanced knowledge in the subject. A shift,” he explained. “We had returning to learn the skills you greater number of Westminster students students who had already taken biology, want them to exhibit, it is take physics than in schools that do not and they still had to have a physics course offer physics first by a huge margin.” to them. We also had new Third important to teach to their available Science teacher Greg Marco P’08, Formers taking physics. Faculty members ’11, who previously served as head had to step outside their comfort zone and own experiences.” of the Science Department for 10 teach different classes to make it happen

On opposite page: top, Lee Zalinger, head of the Science Department, teaching an Astronomy class in the Class of 1957 Planetarium in Armour Academic Center; and below, students conducting lab work. Above, science teacher Stacy Ciarleglio with students in a Human Anatomy and Physiology class.

and that was very positive.” Greg emphasized that Westminster’s goal in reordering the curriculum was to improve how its science courses are woven together. “If you are teaching a chemistry subject like the electron structure of the atom, and students don’t even know what electrical charges or electrical forces are, it is like someone waving their hands and saying it is magic,” he said. “Whereas when students have taken physics before taking biology and chemistry courses, it is easy to refer to what they have already learned in physics. It is sequential and makes sense. Almost all of our students take physics, chemistry and biology at the very least, with most students taking a fourth or fifth science course before they graduate.” Spring 2020

Learning to Think Like a Scientist

Science teacher Stephen Mayfield working with a student in a Chemistry class.

The results of the change have been extremely positive. “We have had far greater enrollment in our science courses than we had before this transition,” said Greg. “We have also created a pathway for the most outstanding science students to do a lot of in-depth, high-level science courses while they are still in high school. We have had students take all four AP science courses during their time at Westminster, and we never saw that before in the older model.” While the idea of physics first is not new, he said the main drawback for schools in adopting the model is the scarcity of physics teachers. “The problem is there aren’t enough physics teachers nationwide when you are teaching physics to freshmen and you need a significantly greater number of physics teachers. They just don’t exist.” Greg’s path to teaching science stemmed from two very good high school science teachers who inspired his interest. Following graduation from Colby College with a major in chemistry and biology, he went directly into a Ph.D. program in biochemistry at Ohio State University, where he soon realized he enjoyed the teaching assistant component associated with the degree program more than the research. He ended up transferring to the University of Maine where he earned an M.Ed. in science education. His first three years of teaching took place in public schools in Maine. Since his appointment to the Westminster faculty in 1989, Greg has taught all disciplines of science and currently teaches Chemistry Honors and Biology Honors. “I like teaching the more quantitative subjects, with chemistry and physics as my favorites,” he said.

Amanda Rappold teaches all levels of physics at Westminster, including AP Physics. She brought 12 years of experience teaching science at Williston Northampton School when she was appointed to the Westminster faculty in 2014. Before Westminster, she also spent two years at Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, Pa., teaching science and serving as the Science Department chair. Her interest in physics was prompted by her professors at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she earned a B.S. and an M.Ed. In teaching physics, Amanda says there is a problem-solving structure that applies to many aspects of life. “You have to figure out how to get from where you are starting to where you want to go, breaking down steps along the way,” she said. “Students really learn to think, and it gives a purpose to math. Students learn fundamental laws of nature in macroscopic systems and then see how those laws of nature inform how microscopic and more complex systems behave in subsequent science courses.” During class, Amanda often combines conceptual discussions with physical activities and math. “I change discussions about every 20 minutes,” she explained. “I try to move the class at a pace that keeps the strongest students engaged and challenged, while not losing the students who are less confident.”

Amanda Rappold with students in AP Physics. 18

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She regularly holds discussions in her classes about everyday things such as airbags, crumple zones in cars, how football pads and hockey pads function, and the forces at work in catching balls. “Since most of our students are involved in athletics, they can picture thinking about force, acceleration and mass in the activities in which they participate,” she said. “And students on my swimming team get an extra helping of it because all swimming is basically force analysis.” Her goals for her students are twofold: “I want students who come into my classroom to leave after the year more interested in science than when they got there and more confident in their ability to become scientists and to think like a scientist,” she said. Susie Bailey, who also teaches physics and is in her second year teaching in the department, brought with her to Westminster 16 years of experience working at HDR Engineering in Boston, where she focused on bridge and tunnel design that included Science teacher Shawn Desjardins teaching a Biology class. work on the Central Artery Boston Tunnel Project, commonly known as the Big Dig. She earned a B.S. in civil engineering at the University of New Hampshire and an M.S. in structural where she was co-chair of the student engineering from Northeastern University. outreach committee. In her outreach Susie has extensive experience in work, she mentored students in model “Since most of our students STEM (science, technology, engineering bridge competitions and volunteered to and mathematics) outreach to students. are involved in athletics, bring after-school engineering programs to During her master’s degree program, area schools and groups. She is currently she served as a program manager for a they can picture thinking working on a certificate program through STEM program that introduced middle Tufts University to teach engineering to about force, acceleration and high school girls to engineering. And high school students, and she serves as while she was working in transportation and mass in the activities in advisor to Westminster’s SWENext (Society engineering, she was involved with of Women Engineers) student club. the Boston chapter of Women’s which they participate.” Susie incorporates frequent lab work Transportation Seminar (WTS), into her Westminster courses. “With every new concept, we do a lab,” she said. “The idea behind a lab is that you can prove the concept that has been introduced with a hands-on experiment. I enjoy showing students how things they interact with every day apply to what we are learning.” She is also a champion of encouraging students to meet with their science teachers when they are struggling with a concept. “Once students realize teachers are here to help them, it works to their benefit,” she said. “It is important for them to learn early to use their teachers to ask questions and seek help.” On occasion, she shows videos of projects from her engineering career in class to stimulate student interest in science-related careers. She hopes to be a role model for students thinking about pursuing science in college and beyond, especially young women. Susie Bailey with students in a Physics class. Spring 2020

Challenges of Learning Science Lee says teaching science can be challenging because science is hard. “We try to communicate to students that science is always changing,” he said. “If you are going to study science, it is a slow process, but it’s always growing and self-correcting. Every year in Astronomy, I have to change what I am teaching because we know new information. Even though I have been teaching for a long time, some of the subject matter I am teaching this year is brand-new.” At Westminster, every science classroom is attached to a lab space and every discipline has its own prep room. “We try to do as much lab work as we can,” said Lee. “Armour Academic Center has wonderful spaces with lots of natural light. We even turn the geothermal heating and cooling system in Armour into a lesson in physics.” With younger students, he works with them to learn how to write lab reports. “You can’t ask them to do this if you haven’t taught them how to do it,” he said. “It builds confidence as they become more independent doing this by the end of the year.” Teachers often use content from the internet that is current and readily available to demonstrate scientific concepts. “YouTube is full of excellent science videos that are between two and 10 minutes long,” said Lee. “And the fact that every picture NASA has ever taken is available to my astronomy curriculum is incredible. We get pictures right from the Hubble Telescope, and we watched the first all-female spacewalk live in class.” Since the internet often perpetuates scientific hoaxes, students are cautioned that just because they find information

Lee Zalinger has a wide selection of celestial images he can project on the dome of the Class of 1957 Planetarium to teach his Astronomy class.

online, it doesn’t mean it is true. “We teach them to look for credible sources for information,” he said. “The ability to visualize and have mental models that can be demonstrated has grown,” added Amanda, who also likes the option of using animated images from the internet in her courses. In AP Physics, Amanda does not use a textbook. “AP Physics went through a massive overhaul about five years ago,

Science teacher Grant Gritzmacher guides students in AP Environmental Science on the use of a microscope.

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Students in AP Biology on a February field trip to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Science teacher Mark de Kanter ’91 with students in AP Biology.

and textbooks have not yet caught up,” she said. “I use a prep book for structured review.” For science classes that do use textbooks, most students prefer a paper copy rather than a digital copy. “We tried to go paperless in the Science Department, but students want their screens and paper side by side,” said Lee. Field trips provide a way for teachers to take students off campus to augment lessons in the classroom. Westminster students in AP Biology have journeyed to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City for decades for a day of biology. During their visit in February, they performed a lab exercise focused on neuroscience and measuring neural signals, and they toured the permanent exhibits that provided a walking tour of vertebrate evolutionary history. Similarly, AP Environmental Science spent a class period in October doing a stream ecology lab that included collecting macroinvertebrates from Salmon Brook in nearby McLean Game Refuge. And students studying astronomy don’t travel far at all when they view the universe from the school’s planetarium and observatory.

“In my Astronomy class, students do projects where they have to make two 10-minute presentations to their classmates. They are not only learning about astronomy, they are learning how to present information to others. Presentation skills are important to every career.” And in AP Biology, students lead class each day by first discussing their response to a specific question in small groups, after which they share their insights with the entire class. Mark de Kanter ’91, P’19, ’22, who teaches AP Biology, sits with the students and acts as a scribe of their thoughts as much as a presenter of information.

Gaining Other Skills Besides gaining scientific knowledge, students learn other skills in their science classes. “We have worked presentations into many of our courses, and students are graded on their presentation skills as well as their science content,” said Lee.

Science teacher Bill Sistare with students in AP Environmental Science who are taking measurements for a lab assignment. Spring 2020

Science teacher Tom Wiseman presents information to students in a Neuroscience class.

Students also learn how to collect, display and analyze data in their science classes. “We try to teach our students to be independent thinkers using analytical tools,” said Lee. “We want them to be able to evaluate critically whether something makes sense and is reasonably true. We also work on bolstering mathematical problem-solving skills.” In most courses, the emphasis on memorization is reduced. “There used to be a lot of students who were very successful in science because they could memorize, and we have taken that away,” said Lee. “They have to think and that can be a bit of a wake-up call.”

Science teacher Nancy Urner-Berry ’81. 22

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“We want them to be able to evaluate critically whether something makes sense and is reasonably true. We also work on bolstering mathematical problemsolving skills.”

Strengths of the Department

Lee points to the camaraderie among faculty members in the department as a real strength. “We like working together and we support each other,” he said. “I think the students pick up on that enthusiasm. We have a very experienced department, with numerous faculty members serving or having served in administrative roles.” Bill Sistare is director of studies, Greg Marco was the former dean of faculty and director of studies, Mark de Kanter is the current dean of faculty, Tom Wiseman is director of academic technology, Grant Gritzmacher is a form dean and Nancy UrnerBerry ’81, P’11, ’16 was a form dean. Many are also first team coaches. Most of the department’s faculty members were trained in the sciences, not just in teaching science. “We are a very content-savvy group,” said Lee. “I am sometimes leery of an education major teaching science because they have not had enough time to take adequate science coursework.” A regular part of department meetings involves faculty members talking about science and pedagogy. “Every meeting someone does what we call a five-minute musing,” said Lee. “For example, Stephen Mayfield spoke about dark matter, and at another meeting, we talked about what the Earth would be like without a moon. We all take turns.” The department will have its first endowed chair next year funded through gifts to the Soar Together Campaign by Bob Bynum ’69, who has had a career as an electrical engineer, working for high-tech companies in Alabama and California. The new endowed chair will underwrite Lee’s salary as department head. “The department is going to walk a little taller, knowing that we have an endowed chair,” said Lee. “We are very appreciative of the support.”

Supporting Girls Interested in STEM In 2018, Westminster students worked with science teacher Susie Bailey to establish a branch of the Society of Women Engineers (SWENext) on campus. Susie was a member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) in college. “It is a great network to navigate engineering and what is involved,” she said about being involved with a SWE club. High school clubs are called SWENext and college and professional groups are called SWE. Westminster’s club is under the umbrella of the University of Connecticut (UConn), where there is a SWE chapter. “I created SWENext after attending an engineering program at UConn the summer after my Third Form year,” said Allie Masthay ’21. “Several of the program leaders were involved with UConn’s branch of SWE and gave me advice about starting a high school branch. I talked with Simonne Ponce ’21 about this because we are both very passionate about supporting girls and women in science and math fields. This was the perfect opportunity to do that, and we have been co-heads of the club for the last two years.” SWENext at Westminster has about 17 members this year and meets monthly. Students organize and plan the STEM-oriented projects for the meetings. This year, they conducted a tower-building competition using pasta and marshmallows, built tin can robots to focus on engineering and robotics, and constructed Stirling engines. Last year, the club hosted a catapult-building contest and brought in some UConn students to help. “It is inspiring to see so many girls attend the meetings and get excited about the projects,” said Allie. “The tin can robot project was especially exciting because all of the girls got a tangible result afterward. The whole reason Simonne and I started the SWENext branch was to create a safe space for girls to learn about the STEM fields and so far it is a success.” “I really enjoy being a part of a club that explores so many different aspects of the STEM fields and allows each of us to try experiments we normally wouldn’t conduct in the classroom,” added Simonne, who plans to pursue a career in a STEM field, particularly physics or engineering. “There is so much freedom and opportunity to conduct our own projects and to delve into the different opportunities that the STEM fields have to offer, whether it is chemistry, physics, engineering or environmental science.” Top and bottom right, students working on STEM-oriented projects during meetings of SWENext, and center, Allie Masthay ’21 and Simonne Ponce ’21 serve as co-heads of the club.

Spring 2020

Learning Every Aspect of Theater Through Dramat Above, Director of Theater A-men Rasheed directing students in Werner Centennial Center. 24

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More than 50 students auditioned for roles in this winter’s production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” They were part of a long tradition at Westminster of wanting to take part in a production of the Westminster Dramatic Association, known as Dramat. A-men Rasheed, director of theater at Westminster, selects a play and a musical each year for the theater program to perform by taking into consideration the pool of student talent available and the desire to have as many students participate as possible. In recent years, Dramat has presented “Pippin,” “The Servant of Two Masters,” “Anything Goes,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Urinetown,” “Peter and the Star Catcher” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”

Students rehearsing for “The Little Mermaid” in Werner Centennial Center.

This year, two very contrasting productions were selected. The Greek tragedy “Euripides Medea” was presented in November, and Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” was performed in February. A-men is in his 10th year on the Westminster faculty, having held a variety of previous teaching and professional theater positions. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theater at Central Connecticut State University, a Master of Fine Arts in acting from New York University and a Master of Science in Education in educational theater from City College of New York. He is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association. In addition to serving as theater director,

he teaches Introduction to Theater and an Independent Study in Theater, serves as a form dean, and is the program director for Westminster’s Hartford Partnerships and Horizons programs. With so many students auditioning for roles in recent productions, there are often numerous callbacks. “In the past four or five years, this process has become much more difficult because I have so many talented students from which to choose,” said A-men. “We have a large number of students with a passion to perform. I’ve had students come back multiple times for callbacks because I don’t want to choose someone without really examining the best person for the

role. A lot of thought and consideration goes into the decisions.” For those students who audition and are not cast in a production, he finds those conversations difficult. Students can go from having a lead role in one show to having a more supportive role in another. “It is important to know how to be in a supportive role because a lot of the real work comes out of those who support others in lead roles,” said A-men. “Those in supporting roles depict reactions such as empathy and help tell the story. Every single component is important. There are no small parts in theater.” During rehearsals, A-men likes to observe what students bring to their parts. “I let them flail a little bit before I start chiseling away and getting really specific with them because I want to see what they have to offer and how they are working with other people,” he said. “I encourage them to bring forth their ideas, and then I am able to counterbalance that with what

“Those in supporting roles depict reactions such as empathy and help tell the story. Every single component is important. There are no small parts in theater.” A student with the state-of-the-art lighting equipment for the theater. Spring 2020

Euripides Medea Dramat presented the Greek tragedy â&#x20AC;&#x153;Euripides Medeaâ&#x20AC;? Nov. 7-9 in Werner Centennial Center. In this version by Ben Power, Medea is a wife and mother who is abandoned by her husband, along with their two children, to seek a new life. She exacts an appalling revenge and destroys everything she holds dear.

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I am looking for. When we start adding the lights, the sound, the costumes and all of the other elements is when I do a major part of my directing.” The goal for every show is to be as professional as possible. “We try to get as close to professional theater as we can with our productions and that excites the students,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like high school theater sometimes and that is remarkable onstage and backstage. The cast and crew work so hard and take so much pride in the work they do.” Further enhancing the professionalism of the productions is the opportunity to work in Werner Centennial Center with its three-tiered theater, music rooms, dressing rooms, practice rooms and technical shop. A-men tries to determine a student’s interests in the theater program early, so those interests can be cultivated. “Students have the opportunity to learn about every aspect of theater through Dramat,” he said. “I think it is the nature of our school. The involvement piece is key, so we try to get them learning and doing as much as they can in that environment. And students more experienced in the program are encouraged to pass on what they have learned to newer students.” Dramat attracts students who participate in multiple school activities. “When I first started, the students who were involved were known as ‘theater students,’” said A-men. “Now, students in our program have a more robust and well-rounded affiliation with many other school pursuits, including athletics.”

A-men teaching students in an Introduction to Theater class.

A Great Example of Community David Chrzanowski, head of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, is deeply involved with the musicals. David was appointed to the Westminster faculty in 2001 and has a bachelor’s degree in music from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in music from Yale. He also serves as director of music, and teaches Music History and Theory, AP Music Theory, Chamber Choir and Chorale. In preparing for the musicals, he participates in auditions and collaborates with A-men on casting. “It is a real-world process and students work hard on the

Head of the Visual and Performing Arts Department David Chrzanowski rehearses with Eva Pfeiffer ’21 and Izzy Bailey ’21 for their roles in “The Little Mermaid.”

auditions,” he said. He also teaches the leads their solo parts and those in the ensembles all of the choral parts. During scene work, he often provides piano accompaniment that previews the role of the orchestra in the actual performances. David’s biggest challenge in rehearsing for the musicals is pulling the musical parts together within the time available for preparation, usually seven-and-a-half weeks. “Even though the students are driven to succeed, sometimes they have to work beyond the bar of just being good enough,” he said. “Often, they don’t even know what they can do and need a little push to realize they can actually do something really good.” For David, Dramat connects directly to Westminster’s core value of community. “With students in the cast, the orchestra and in tech, we can have close to 50 students working on a production such as “The Little Mermaid,” he said. “That is an eighth of the school belonging to a group that has an end goal of the performances in mind. A team atmosphere develops because everyone knows they are working together. The students who are actors and singers are supporting students who are doing the technical side of things. Musicals are one of the greatest examples of community that we have at Westminster.” Spring 2020

Transporting the Audience to a Different World Critical to the success of any Westminster production is the work of the technical theater team under the direction of Bill Liebert, who serves as technical director and has worked professionally in many facets of theater throughout his career, including with Universal Studios. In designing the set, Bill hopes to transport the audience to a different world. “I also want to make the set a playground for the actors and the director with multiple levels, entrances and exits,” he said. Set design begins with Bill and A-men talking about ideas for the production and what they want to accomplish. This collaboration continues throughout rehearsals. Bill creates sketches and 3D models, which he shares in more final form with students working in technical theater, also called tech. This gives the students a vision of what they are building and an opportunity to share any ideas they might have. “The models I create for each show come from the fact that Walt Disney Imagineering uses models in its previsions,” said Bill. “I enjoy making models and picked up the hobby from my father, who always had a plastic ship model he was working on.” The models for Westminster set

As part of the technical crew, Maris Cathcart ’23 applies paint to a set piece for the musical.

designs provide scale and dimensional references as well as sight line and lighting orientations. “The models illustrate the footprint, so I can see what the audience members would see if they were sitting on the first tier or up in the third tier,” he explained. “There can be special challenges working in a three-level theater.” The students who select technical theater as their afternoon program work with Bill six days a week to build sets in a workshop located at the rear of the theater. After undergoing extensive safety

“The models illustrate the footprint, so I can see what the audience members would see if they were sitting on the first tier or up in the third tier. There can be special challenges working in a three-level theater.”

Above left, a model for a set in “The Little Mermaid” that includes King Triton’s throne; and, above right, Jackson Davies ’22 testing a special effect for the musical. 28

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“A show has so many moving parts. The flexibility with which you can try out new things in Dramat has allowed me and other members to develop artistically and diversify our skill sets.”

Teddy Bailey ’23 applying “barnacles” to a pillar behind King Triton’s throne for the musical.

training on the shop’s tools, students perform woodworking, apply plaster and paint, and add details with such materials as spray foam. “They work on the full workshop construction all the way through the advanced arts and crafts,” said Bill. “We even use our 3D printer to create such things as rosebuds on a cake. I really love the details and think people notice them. How can you not find joy in creating these environments?” During performances, students in tech assume roles moving set pieces on the run crew, execute special effects, and serve as lighting and sound operators. “They learn how to design lights and work with our state-of-the-art LED light board,” said Bill. “Others learn how to control the live sound of the microphones. For ‘The Little Mermaid,’ we created more special effects than we have ever used before. Students are getting a professional theatrical experience.” Outside resources are often brought in to help with productions, especially the musicals. A choreographer works with students on dance sequences and a costume designer from Trinity College helps with the costumes. For the orchestra, David recruits professional musicians to augment student and faculty performers.

Surrounded by People with Passion The Dramat student organization is made up of students who have worked at least 100 hours on school productions. Members who devote 400 hours are designated Williams Hill Players. This year’s co-presidents of Dramat are Chris Turino ’20 and Dylan Foster ’20, who have been involved with theater since arriving at Westminster. They meet with Dramat members regularly, help A-men with the daily tasks of running the program and make announcements about

shows at schoolwide assemblies. Chris, who was involved in theater growing up, knew he wanted to participate in the theater program when he was considering Westminster. During his four years on campus, he has served as an actor, a technical crewmember, an assistant stage manager and, more recently, the stage manager for both shows this year. “What I like most about my involvement in Dramat is that I am surrounded by people with passion,” said Chris. “The work ethic of our actors

Phalla Phoap ’20 and Jackson Davies ’22, who received extensive safety training, perform woodworking on a set piece for the musical. Spring 2020

Dylan Foster ’20, far right, who is co-president of Dramat and served as assistant director of “The Little Mermaid,” works with members of the cast on a scene for the musical.

and tech members is incredible and never ceases to amaze me the closer we get to the performances. We are all committed to the theater in some capacity and grow closer because of it.” Chris hopes to stay involved with theater in a recreational setting after he graduates from Westminster. “I’m very grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to explore all areas of our program,” he said. “A show has so many moving parts. The flexibility with which you can try out new things in Dramat has allowed me and other members to develop artistically and diversify our skill sets.” Dylan, who has been active in theater since elementary school, selected Westminster because of the theater program. She has been involved in every Dramat production since arriving as a Third Former and took A-men’s Introduction to Theater and an Independent Study in Theater courses. This year, she has served as a teaching assistant for Introduction to Theater, played a leading role in the fall play, and was assistant director of both the play and the musical. Dylan found inspiration for her role as co-president of Dramat from those who held the position before her. “They were wonderful mentors and leaders,” she said. “Dramat has always been such a home for me, and the idea that I am responsible for cultivating that environment for other people is such an honor.” Her participation in Dramat has had many 30

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“The program’s workload pushed me to become a better performer and taught me new life skills. It made me a better public speaker, a better listener and a better leader.”

benefits. “The program’s workload pushed me to become a better performer and taught me new life skills,” she said. “It made me a better public speaker, a better listener and a better leader.” Dylan plans to pursue theater in college and professionally. A-men appreciated being able to turn to the co-presidents this year for assistance with many aspects of running the productions. “I had confidence in them and knew that the work that needed to get done would be accomplished,” he said.

Balancing Seriousness with Fun

Chris Turino ’20, who is co-president of Dramat and served as stage manager for the musical, confers with A-men during a rehearsal.

A-men views those in Dramat like a family. “I try to keep the atmosphere as light as I possibly can,” he said. “We also enjoy each other’s company. While we joke with one another, we take the work very seriously. And when it comes to showtime, everyone is ready, both the tech and onstage people.” He says the best feeling in the world is when the curtain closes on a performance, and he hears a roar of exhilaration from the cast and crew about what has been accomplished. “When I first arrived at Westminster, I was more inclined to make sure that people outside Dramat liked what we were doing with our productions,” he said. “Now, I am more focused on the students involved with the productions enjoying what they are doing. The greatest reward is if they feel really good about the experience.”

The Little Mermaid Dramat’s production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” played to packed houses Feb. 21-23 in Werner Centennial Center. In this love story for the ages, Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above. To do so, she bargains with the evil sea witch Ursula to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this fishy fable captures the heart.

Spring 2020

Leadershipâ&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192;by Example One of the greatest honors at Westminster is to be elected head prefect. The head prefect serves as the president of the student body, helps foster school culture, leads student government meetings and assemblies, and gives an address at commencement, among other duties. Fifth Formers who are interested in serving on the Prefect Board or being named head prefect or junior prefect as Sixth Formers write essays for students and the faculty to consider before voting on the candidates. Members of the Prefect Board, the junior prefect and the head prefect are announced at the Lawn Ceremony the night before commencement. It is always a suspenseful moment for those in attendance. While the daily responsibilities of the head prefect have evolved over the years, those who have held the position often credit the leadership skills they acquired in the role as a significant influence on their life. Four holders of this esteemed position share their thoughts about the rewards and challenges of occupying such a highly visible position in the Westminster community.

Head Prefect Megan Rittenhouse â&#x20AC;&#x2122;20 gives announcements during family-style lunch.

Westminster Bulletin

Peter Greene ’64 Peter Greene served as head prefect during a milestone year at Westminster. The school celebrated its 75th anniversary in May 1964 with a convocation that included a groundbreaking ceremony for Baxter Academic Center, panel discussions and an address by the president of Williams College. It was a time of major progress for the school that included the opening in 1962 of Andrews Memorial Chapel. Peter arrived at Westminster as a Fourth Former with the goal of attending hotel management school at Cornell University. He grew up in White Hall, Ill., an agricultural town of about 3,000 people, and decided to look at independent schools because his local high school did not offer adequate language study for admission to college. As a Westminster student, Peter participated in Dramat, the John Hay Vestry, the Choral Club and the Athletic Committee. He was also a member of the first football, swimming and tennis teams, and served as president of his class as a Fifth Former and head prefect as a Sixth Former. “It wasn’t an office that I particularly ran for since we didn’t write essays back

then,” said Peter about being named head prefect. “I think from knowing classmates, being on the corridor and talking about issues, it just evolved. It was voted on by the faculty, the Fifth Form and on a lowerweighted basis by the Third Form and Fourth Form.” He found out the news, when he was brought onto the Sixth Form Lawn during the Lawn Ceremony by the previous head prefect, Steve Squibb ’63. As head prefect, Peter scheduled and oversaw Sixth Form meetings and Student Council meetings, met weekly with the headmaster, attended faculty meetings when he was invited, represented the student body in Athletic Committee meetings, gave the morning prayer at breakfast, presided over the daily assembly before lunch and led the procession at nightly chapel. Some of the restrictions of student life on the Hill stand out in his memory. “Unless you were in the Sixth Form, you couldn’t even have a radio, and we couldn’t go off the Hill except during limited times,” he said, recalling a path to town that went alongside the hairpin driveway and the geographic boundaries for how far students could venture. During his tenure as head prefect,

Peter Greene ’64

the Prefect Board undertook some new initiatives. “We encouraged all Sixth Formers to be responsible in their positions as corridor prefects and to assist the corridor masters in maintaining orderly conduct in the dorms,” he said. “The Prefect Board along with the Student Council also got the faculty to approve a change in the radio policy, so all students were allowed radios.” He characterizes student life at the time as relaxed, although major national and international events were unfolding. “The Vietnam War was in its early stages, and we were all affected by

“We encouraged all Sixth Formers to be responsible in their positions as corridor prefects and to assist the corridor masters in maintaining orderly conduct in the dorms.” A highlight of Peter’s tenure as head prefect was celebration of Westminster’s 75th anniversary with a convocation and a groundbreaking ceremony for Baxter Academic Center. Spring 2020

the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963,” said Peter. “Headmaster Pete Keyes spoke at chapel the night of the president’s death about how the country was grieving and that we had a system that would still allow everything to go forward.” Serving as head prefect put Peter in frequent contact with the headmaster. “By being in close proximity on a regular basis with Headmaster Keyes, I realized the complexity in running a school, as it was much more than just classrooms and sports,” said Peter. “Headmaster Keyes was a great influence in guiding me when issues arose that I needed to deal with as head prefect. Disciplinary issues sometimes put me at odds with underclassmen and faculty.” Peter’s regular interactions with the faculty were also helpful. “I spent time with the faculty on a different level at faculty meetings and Athletic Committee meetings, but certainly not as their coequal,” he said. “I also learned speaking skills and to be interactive with adults as well as classmates.” He was surprised, however, when some faculty members expected him to report back to them about student behavior, rather than

“Headmaster Keyes was a great influence in guiding me when issues arose that I needed to deal with as head prefect. Disciplinary issues sometimes put me at odds with underclassmen and faculty.” allowing him as head prefect to try to resolve issues. Peter credits his experience serving as head prefect as assisting his admission to Cornell, where he earned a B.S. in hotel administration. “The head prefect role helped round me out as an individual,” he said. “I was able to adjust to college life on a more mature level than many other freshmen.” At Cornell, he served in leadership roles in a fraternity, was active in organizations within the Hotel School, rowed crew and participated in intramural sports. Following graduation from Cornell

The prefects in 1964: Stephen Perry, Ed Cosden, Stephen Hoyt, Peter Greene and Skip Standish. 34

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and two years of service in the U.S. Army, Peter entered the hotel management field. “Rather than going to more of a line position or lower supervisory position, I was quickly in a management position and responsible for hotel development and management at a very early age,” he said. Peter now has more than 50 years of hotel experience as an owner, financier, developer operator and broker of hotels. He has specialized in repositioning, conversions and development of boutique and urban hotels, and currently serves as first vice president for CBRE Hotels, where he performs advisory work on hotel transactions and development as a commercial broker. He is also active in Chicago-area civic organizations such as Lawrence Hall, a community-based youth services organization, as well as some business organizations and the Cornell Hotel Society. Recently widowed, he lives in Evanston, Ill., and has two children and two grandchildren. Peter has stayed involved with Westminster over the years, returning to campus frequently. He has attended multiple reunions, served on the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association, and attended special events on and off campus. He has also supported and promoted the Stephen T. Perry Memorial Scholarship Fund, a scholarship program his class created in memory of their classmate Stephen Perry ’64, who was killed in Vietnam. Their goal is to endow the fund. “If we don’t get it done now, it will not get done, and we want to make sure there is something in perpetuity to honor Steve,” said Peter. Although the physical appearance of the Westminster campus and its programmatic offerings have changed since Peter was a student, he believes there remains a continuity in the interactions between faculty and students that is a critical aspect to a Westminster education. “Faculty are involved with students in the dorms, in the classrooms, in sports and in the new dining hall,” he observed. “There is almost a camaraderie, although not of peers. It is a great thing about the school. I think students learn more that way, not just about academics but about everything.”

“There was not any homesickness. There were people around all of the time, whether it was friends or teachers. I also liked being in a classroom where teachers were interested in you and always engaging. My prior school was the exact opposite.”

Tom McCargo ’82, P’21 Growing up in Sewickley, Pa., Tom McCargo knew he would follow the family tradition of attending boarding school. He went from a private middle school near home where he was not challenged to Westminster where he had to learn how to work hard on academics by digging in and engaging with his teachers. “I enjoyed being at Westminster right away,” said Tom. “There was not any homesickness. There were people around all of the time, whether it was friends or teachers. I also liked being in a classroom where teachers were interested in you and always engaging. My prior school was the exact opposite.” During his four-years as a Martlet, Tom served as class president for three years and was elected head prefect. He played on the first teams for soccer, squash and lacrosse, and was a member of the John Hay Society. “It was a period of optimism, as the country had pretty much turned the corner economically,” he recalled. “Some big events included the change from the Carter administration to the Reagan administration, and the Iranian Revolution. Students kept somewhat in tune with what was going on.”

Tom’s role in student government evolved, and he did not campaign for the office of head prefect. “I had no idea I had this leadership ability, and I wasn’t looking for it,” he reflected. But he did take it very seriously. Student leadership at the time was focused on student life and not on

changing such things as school rules or the class schedule. “It was about serving in a day-to-day leadership role by setting an example for the school and engaging students in all forms and making sure you reached and helped younger students, such as when they might be sitting at the lunch table by themselves,” he said. “It

Top, Tom McCargo ’82, P’21, and above, officers for the Class of 1982: front row, Susie Childs, Tom McCargo and Susie Werner; back row, Ted Wood-Prince, Charles Bingham, Colin Flinn and Gordon Brooks. Spring 2020

was leadership by example and how to behave and how to treat others, which is part of the ethos of the school. It was about making sure that people were staying in school and, if people were getting out of line, helping them or finding them help.” Tom is proud that his classmates seemed generally happy. “We had a really strong class with a cohesive group of people who got along well and had strong leadership,” he said. “It was not just me. I was fortunate to be the person who was a leader of this leadership group.” He did find it uncomfortable as head prefect, however, when classmates’ conversations quieted when he entered a room. “From a leadership standpoint that was tough,” he recalled. “You can’t always be everybody’s friend all of the time, even though you like them, and they are good people. They were not mean to me, but sometimes they looked at me like I was checking on them and that was a hard place to be as a 17-year-old.” Tom learned more about how the school operated by working closely with Headmaster Don Werner. “It was an incredible experience to see how he thought about and gave consideration to issues by looking at all the angles,” said Tom. “It was a life-changing experience for me.” When student discipline matters came up, Tom often participated in discussions with faculty members. “They cared about what I thought,” he said. “I was actively engaged in the conversation, as they were, on the merits of a student about whom we were deliberating.” Tom’s student leadership roles at Westminster were foundational to his early involvement in governance at the University of Vermont, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history. As a freshman, he was appointed a twoyear student member of the Board of Trustees with full voting privileges. “It was fascinating because the board was highly political and dealt with the state Legislature,” he said. “It was the start of my public service on boards of directors. I’ve been on a lot of boards since then, but I knew early on how the public side of things worked.” 36

Westminster Bulletin

Students on campus in 1982.

A graduate of the Entrepreneurial Management Program at Carnegie Mellon University, Tom lives in his hometown of Sewickley with his wife, Sara, and their children, Grant ’21, Fife, Lucille, Meriwether and Augustine. He is co-founder and president of Urban Villages Inc., a real estate investment and developer that develops and manages primarily urban sites, combining historic and modern structures, and builds assets that are generational. He is also president of Graham Companies, a diverse real estate business headquartered in Pittsburgh that is involved in investment, development, property management, leasing and ownership of various types of real property. Tom is in his second stint as a Westminster trustee. He first served on the board from 1996 to 2008, during which time he chaired the Strategic Planning

“What I have learned in my life is that I don’t really sit on the sideline. I am not an activist, but if something is not correct I am willing to stand up and try to fix it.”

Committee. He was reappointed in 2017 and says his tenure as head prefect has informed his role as a trustee. “Being a trustee is about trying to help and do what is right for the school,” he said. “And what is right for the school is fostering great character in students. Instilling character is more important than it has ever been and the biggest challenge.” During his first term on the board, Tom was most interested in the financial side of running the school, whereas now that he is a Westminster parent, he is more concerned with pedagogy and student life. Tom is active in civic life in Pittsburgh. He is on the board of directors of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Community Capital Corporation, which focuses on preserving and dealing with older buildings, and the Sewickley Heights Borough Council, where he is in charge of planning and zoning architecture reviews. He has helped reorganize boards and pushed for tough decisions. “What I have learned in my life is that I don’t really sit on the sideline,” he said. “I am not an activist, but if something is not correct I am willing to stand up and try to fix it.” For Tom, leadership continues to be about leading by example and watching out for others. “It is not about the win; it is about helping the person who is having trouble,” he said. “Anybody can be an allstar but how do you help everybody get there? It is about how you treat others.”

Suzanne Daglio Armstrong ’94 Two decades after the first girls were admitted to Westminster, Suzanne Daglio Armstrong was elected the first female head prefect. “I was excited, but it felt like a lot of responsibility,” she said. “As a high school student, with as much maturity as you can have at that age, I initially tried to downplay the female part because I was nervous about being able to perform the role. Part of it might have been that Westminster was steeped in tradition and had started as a male school. But I learned over that year and subsequently a paradigm shift for what leadership can look like. I embraced my qualities and decided they didn’t have to look like everyone else’s before me.” A day student from Granby, except for her last trimester when she lived in Squibb House, Suzanne learned about Westminster from visiting campus when her brother, Michael Daglio ’89, was a student. “I would not have had any idea what the school had to offer if I hadn’t attended his games and events,” she said. “I was impressed.” Her involvement in student government activities started in middle school. “I thought it would be fun to help mobilize a group of people, bring people together and connect others,” she said “I don’t know if I necessarily meant to seek it out, but it just happened.” She continued in student leadership roles at Westminster, being awarded the Butler Bowl for character and leadership

Earlier in her tenure with Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, Suzanne Daglio Armstrong ’94 was part of a multidisciplinary team that delivered primary care to the homeless on the streets.

as a Third Former and serving as president of her class for three years before being elected head prefect. She also played first team soccer, hockey and lacrosse, serving as captain of her soccer and hockey teams. In 1993, she was named an All-State soccer player. She also was a member of Black and Gold and the John Hay Vestry, and was an officer of Serving Our Neighbors. Suzanne found a way to balance her leadership roles, busy sports schedule and rigorous academic course load. “My dad took a photo of me in high school holding a candle burning at both ends because that is how I operated,” she recalled. “It was good to learn how to manage many things.” Suzanne felt honored to be elected head prefect because it was the result of a vote by the whole school. “It felt good to know that people had confidence in me,” she said. “Leading up to it, I had been in leadership positions, and it seemed like a natural progression. There were other very good candidates, so I wasn’t

sure it would be me. The ability to set an example and a tone for the school seemed like a good challenge.” She appreciated the backing from her friends. “My female friends were supportive about the fact that I was the first female, and our class was pretty unified overall,” she said. “It was a good experience all-around. I don’t think anyone treated me differently.” Running assemblies was unsettling at first. “It seemed like a big deal at the time speaking in front of everyone,” she said. “Standing up in front of the whole school with a microphone and calling on classmates taught me a lot about public speaking, composure and facilitating things.” A major initiative on which she worked with the Prefect Board was trying to do away with study hall for Sixth Formers. “I remember sitting in front of the faculty trying to argue for it with our

“Standing up in front of the whole school with a microphone and calling on classmates taught me a lot about public speaking, composure and facilitating things.”

Suzanne, second from left, who served as co-captain of First Girls’ Soccer, is shown with coaches Dick Adams, Scott Berry and Bob Hill, and co-captain Megan Lawson ’94. Spring 2020

Sixth Form officer group,” she said. “The faculty were hard on us because it was a major change.” A milestone campus event during her Westminster tenure was the appointment in 1993 of Graham Cole as Westminster’s seventh head of school. “I remember how helpful he was to me,” she said. “I had almost an open door policy with him, and he was really supportive. Observing more closely what he was like as a leader was very beneficial.” Suzanne’s leadership style focused on keeping things lighthearted, so it was challenging when peers were unhappy with school decisions. “People would look to you to fix it or tell you why it needed fixing,” she said. “I tried not to get upset or blow things out of proportion. Listening was very important. Mostly, it was about setting an example and trying to represent the mission and values of Westminster.” Following graduation, Suzanne earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in education at Bowdoin College. She worked for four years at a startup software company and then decided on a career change to the health care field. She completed a three-year program at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, where she earned

An image from the 1994 Spectator of students gathered in the shape of ’94.

an R.N. and M.S.N. and became a family nurse practitioner. For the past 13 years, Suzanne has worked for the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. The first eight years there, she was part of a multidisciplinary team that delivered primary care to the homeless on the streets. Three years ago, she became the director of nursing for the program’s two respite medical facilities, one a 104-bed facility and the other a 20-bed step-down unit. “A large part of the role is to help connect the multidisciplinary team to give really good patient care to a vulnerable population,” she said. “Most of the patients have a severe history of trauma.” Suzanne applies leadership skills she

learned at Westminster to her current work. “I have to listen to people and hear what they are saying,” she said. “I also have to be honest, even if it is going to be hard to hear, but, ultimately, that is what people want anyway.” Suzanne lives in Milton, Mass., with her husband, Brian, and their children Henry and Olivia. She brought her entire family to her 20th Westminster reunion last year. “It was fun and great to see the faculty,” she said. “I was struck by how different the campus looks, but seeing familiar faces makes you feel nostalgic and at home. The school has done a nice job of preserving the feel of a smaller closeknit community. I think that is the school at its best.”

Megan Rittenhouse ’20 What first brought Megan Rittenhouse to Westminster was hockey, but it turned out to be much more than that. She was a standout hockey player from Florida who had recently relocated with her family to Shelton, Conn. After some unfulfilling time at her local high school, she sought a school where she could be more involved and invested. “As I toured Westminster, I noticed how much the school had to offer, whether it was academics, athletics or the arts,” she said. “I also noticed how close everyone was and the sense of community came through instantly. I felt welcome as soon as I stepped onto campus and was grateful for that.” Megan Rittenhouse ’20, second from left, at the 2019 Lawn Ceremony where her election as head prefect was announced. 38

Westminster Bulletin

Megan welcomes students back to campus last September during the first assembly of the year.

While at Westminster, Megan has played on the first teams for field hockey, ice hockey and lacrosse, serving as a captain of all three teams. She is also a member of Black and Gold and has been involved in student government for the past two years. “Students from past years really influenced my decision to get involved in Student Council,” she said. “I hadn’t been a part of student government previously, so I decided to try something different and have been more involved at Westminster because I love the school.” She decided to seek the office of head prefect in part because the head prefects from previous years had been close friends who motivated and inspired her. “I wanted to do that as well because it is a great feeling when many people look up to you and see you as someone who has influenced their time at Westminster,” she said. In an essay about why she wanted to be head prefect, Megan focused on the importance of finding happiness when it is needed most. “Have a positive mindset about your challenges no matter how insignificant they might seem; looking for the benefits will make them that much more bearable,” she wrote. Like some of her predecessors, she was concerned about the amount of public speaking involved as head prefect. “I hadn’t really done any public speaking beforehand, so that was a worry for me,” she said. “But once I did more of it, I became more comfortable.”

“This office has helped me grow by enabling me to build new relationships and putting me out of my comfort zone. ... Doing things I am not used to has showed me things I like that I never thought I would.” She has stretched in other directions as well. “This office has helped me grow by enabling me to build new relationships and putting me out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I am not a person who likes attention that much, but when you are head prefect, you cannot hide. Doing things I am not used to has showed me things I like that I never thought I would. Westminster is a unique place, and I find something new about it each and every day.” There are many behind-the-scenes duties as head prefect, including hearing feedback from classmates about what is working and where she and Student Council could do better. Megan meets

with the Prefect Board weekly and Student Council twice a month. “These are times to make sure things are going well, whether it is in the classroom or in the dorm or elsewhere,” she said. “We discuss any concerns or things that seem to be a hit on campus.” Megan has looked to faculty members for guidance, especially Jessica Keough and Tim Joncas ’00. “They are very good resources,” she said. “Balancing athletics, looking for college, completing school work and performing head prefect duties has been challenging. As head prefect, you feel the need to be everywhere at once, but that is not possible. It isn’t about pleasing everyone because that will never happen. Showing support is the best thing I can do.” Megan finds many rewards in her leadership role. “The position is already a great honor, but the greatest benefit is seeing people genuinely happy to be at Westminster,” she said. “Making people feel comfortable brings this community together.” Next year, Megan will be attending Colby College, where she is considering studying psychology or economics, and will play ice hockey and field hockey. As for seeking a role in student government, she is hesitant at this point. “I’d be interested but might spend some time getting used to where I am and then decide whether or not to do it,” she said. Spring 2020

Enthusiastically Alive in the Present Moment Since his appointment to the Westminster faculty in 1986 as head of the English Department, Michael Cervas P’96, ’01, ’10 has taught all levels of English; coached basketball, soccer, track, baseball, golf and squash; worked as a corridor supervisor in Alumni House; and presided as department head for three decades. He is retiring at the end of the academic year. This year, Michael has taught Fourth Form English, Creative Writing and a Sixth Form elective, coached boys’ squash, supervised the community garden and served as the faculty advisor for The Martlet, a school arts and literary publication. His interest in teaching literature by living writers led him to found the Westminster Poet series in 1999

and the Friday Nights at Westminster series in 2009. He continues to direct both. Michael is the author of four books of poems: “Inside the Box,” “Captivated,” “A Wilderness of Chances” and “Even Here.” He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1972 at the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in English at Brown University. He and his wife, Deb, are the parents of Josh ’96, a graduate of Amherst College; Emily Autumn ’01, a graduate of the University of Puget Sound; and Anne ’10, a graduate of Harvard College. They also have three grandchildren. Michael shares his thoughts about his 34-year tenure at Westminster.

Top, Michael Cervas with students in his Creative Writing class, and above, in 1987. 40

Westminster Bulletin

Where did you grow up?

Were you recruited to be the head of the English Department?

I grew up in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pa., called Mount Troy. I went to St. Aloysius Catholic School through grade eight and then to North Catholic High School for two years and graduated from North Hills High School in 1968.

Yes, and I was the department head at Westminster for 30 years.

What were some of your goals for the department? I’m not a top-down person, so I wanted to lead a department largely through my desire to forge a group of diverse individuals who were all fully committed to the life of an English teacher. I tried to be a role model for pedagogy and creativity, encouraging us to meet often to talk about how to teach language and literature and sometimes even sharing our own writing.

What led you to Notre Dame?

I was hoping to go to Princeton University, but my father convinced me Michael with Ted Kooser, who served as the to look at a couple of schools in Indiana Westminster Poet in 2006. Michael founded because his company had a scholarship the Westminster Poet series 20 years ago. program good at four schools, including Purdue University. When we were in Indiana, he suggested we visit Notre Dame. It was a rainy morning in West Lafayette, and when we got to South Bend, the sun broke through the clouds, the director Did you change the curriculum early on? of admissions took me on a personal tour and I applied that day. From the very beginning, we had conversations that led to Where did you start your teaching career? gradual changes in the curriculum. I believe in the value of change. One of the worst things that can happen in an English Right after Notre Dame, I spent five years at Brown University program is for it to get fossilized, for teachers to teach the same on a Danforth Graduate Fellowship where I earned a master’s books or the same concepts in the same way. I’m experimental, degree in English and worked on a Ph.D. I realized I didn’t want but I don’t impose that on other people. to be a college teacher, had a newborn baby and needed to have a job. While at Brown supervising the student writing center, the headmaster at Cincinnati Country Day School (CCDS) interviewed me for an English teacher position and invited me to visit. I was impressed by the faculty and students at CCDS and accepted the job.

What were your responsibilities at Cincinnati Country Day School? I taught one middle school English class and three upper school English classes. I also coached middle school cross country and upper school basketball and did some work in the College Counseling Office.

What brought you to Westminster? After eight years at Cincinnati Country Day School, I was still the junior member of the English Department, and there wasn’t going to be a lot of upward mobility any time soon. Deb and I were hoping to return to New England which we had grown to love, after living in Providence when we were first married. I interviewed at a number of schools and fell in love with Westminster. Don Werner was very persuasive when talking about the strengths of the school, and the teachers I met really impressed me.

What is your vision of a good English program? My vision of a good English program is that it will be as varied as possible in terms of the books and authors that are studied and the kinds of activities that take place in the classroom. For me, it was important to balance classic authors with diverse contemporary writers from every part of the world and also to balance traditional expository and analytical writing with personal and creative writing. I’m happy that the department continues to work together to initiate and manage changes.

Michael gives a reading from his first book of poems, “Inside the Box,” which was published in 2007.

Spring 2020

Michael with his children, Josh ’96, Anne ’10 and Emily Autumn ’01, at the 2010 Lawn Ceremony.

What led to the launching of the Westminster Poet series 20 years ago? In the 1990s, we were teaching books of poems by contemporary and modern poets and decided it would be really wonderful if we brought some of those poets to our campus. I called Linda Pastan, who was the poet laureate of Maryland, because I was quite fond of her poetry and had been using it in my classes. She said she’d be delighted to visit and that initiated the program. We didn’t have enough money in the department to invite a poet the next year, but we did find funding going forward. Our second poet was Billy Collins, who had just been named U.S. Poet Laureate. We’ve welcomed a poet every year since, and this year, Ross Gay was our 20th Westminster Poet.

How has this program enriched student learning? It was a game changer for me to be able to bring to Westminster poets whose work I loved, and then have them engage in conversations with our students. Students have been able to see these poets as living human beings and not just people who wrote text on a page. I spend a lot of time thinking about which poets would work well with high school students.

We now have three concerts and six readings during the academic year. We have had Pulitzer Prize-winning and National Book Award-winning novelists, poets and nonfiction writers, in addition to talented singer-songwriters. It has been fun to curate this program and see how it has become an important part of school life.

What are the biggest challenges students face in studying English? Social media, the internet and the omnipresence of video have created new challenges. Those things are antithetical in some ways to the solitary activity of sitting down and reading a poem, an essay, a story or a novel. Students’ lives are busy and filled with powerful distractions, which are very seductive. Spending an hour alone with a book can be a challenge. Our visiting writers help energize students to understand the value of reading. I don’t think there is any reason for English teachers in the early 21st century not to expect students to do the hard task of reading challenging works of literature.

How did the Friday Nights at Westminster series get started? The success of the Westminster Poet program led me to suggest that the opening of Armour Academic Center would be an opportunity for us to expand our intellectual and cultural offerings to our students by creating something that we envisioned at the time as Friday night experiences that would include concerts, lectures and readings.

Westminster Bulletin

Michael and his wife, Deb.

Michael spends time with some books in Armour Academic Center.

What was the focus of your sabbatical year in 2005-2006? My first book of poems was a product of what I was able to do during my sabbatical year. I used the sabbatical as an opportunity to read books from many different genres. From that reading, I generated some writing of my own and went back to the poems I had been writing since the middle 1990s and revised them, putting them into a shape that allowed me to go to a publisher. I’m happy the sabbatical program is back because of the powerful impact it had on my own life.

Do you have a favorite sport you have coached?

What are your plans following Westminster?

Ever since I discovered the game of squash, it has been my favorite sport and the only one I really play now. Sports have been an important part of my life, and I have happily coached a number of sports at a variety of levels. The value Westminster placed on both academics and athletics drew me to the school. I wanted my children to have the experience of playing on teams in high school, which they all did. Coaching has allowed me to teach students in nonacademic ways.

I will continue to work with Westminster’s visiting writers programs. Deb retired last year, but she has a part-time consulting contract that allows her to continue some of the work she’s been doing for decades in the Simsbury school system. We recently bought a condo in Hartford. We hope to spend more time with our grandchildren and do more traveling. I plan to play music, read books, write, play squash and be more active as a volunteer.

How has being at Westminster changed your life? When did your interest in music begin? I started taking piano lessons when I was 7 and quit when I was 12 because I didn’t want to practice. Fortunately, when it became cool to play in a band in high school and college, I was able to pick it up again. Early on at Westminster, I began playing piano with faculty members Dan Aber, Peter Newman ’80 and Scott Reeves. It was the start of the Dan Aber Quartet, which has continued on and off to the present. I also play music with faculty members Grant Gritzmacher and Mary Kennedy. And everybody knows I like to play music in my classroom that relates to the books or poems we are studying. Music has always been an important part of my life. I like going to concerts, listening to music, playing music and sharing music with my students.

Michael gives opening remarks at a Friday Nights at Westminster reading.

I have been at Westminster for 34 years because the community is incredibly warm, respectful and friendly. I can’t imagine a better place to raise a family. I have loved being in the classroom, on the squash courts and in the lives of students and colleagues in ways that bring me great pleasure. I resisted looking for other jobs because I have always thought it would be difficult to find a better community. At the end of the school day, I often ask myself questions. Did I have fun? Did my students have a good experience? Did we learn something together? And if the answer is yes, I am happy and grateful for the laughter, intelligence and sparks of imagination.

How would you like to be remembered at Westminster? I hope the one thing that people will say about me after I retire is that I was always passionate about whatever I was doing. I would like to be remembered as a person who worked hard to be enthusiastically alive in the present moment and who welcomed students, friends and colleagues into that experience.

Spring 2020

Looking Forward to Building Relationships in a New Community Associate Head of School Nancy Spencer P’13, ’15 will be leaving Westminster at the end of the academic year to become head of school at Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, Fla., effective July 1. Appointed to the Westminster faculty in 2005, she has served in a leadership role in the Westminster community for 15 years.

Nancy Spencer at family-style lunch.

Nancy grew up in Washington, D.C., and is a graduate of the National Cathedral School for Girls. She earned a bachelor’s degree in American studies from Brown University and a master’s degree in American studies from Yale. She also holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Nancy brought with her to Westminster experience in teaching, coaching, admissions,

marketing and college counseling. She is married to faculty member John Sandoval, who teaches in the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Westminster. They are the parents of Stan ’13, a 2017 graduate of Columbia University, and Sally ’15, a 2019 graduate of Dartmouth College. 44

Nancy shares some thoughts about her time at Westminster and becoming a head of school.

Westminster Bulletin

When did your interest in working at schools begin? In my senior year at Brown University, I became interested in working in school admissions. My first two years out of college, I worked as assistant director of admissions at Madeira School, a girl’s boarding school in McLean, Va. I was able to travel, meet people and work in education, which appealed to me.

What led you to graduate school?

“One of my major duties is recruiting and hiring for open faculty positions. We look for people who are deeply committed to students and boarding school life and who understand it is a way of life and not simply a job.”

I attended graduate school at Yale to earn a master’s degree in American studies and to write a master’s thesis. I had not written a thesis as an undergraduate and wished I had. The irony is that it was about Ethel Walker, who founded The Ethel Walker School in Simsbury. It was titled “A Search for Autonomy: The Founding of Ethel Walker’s School, 1911-1917.” I wanted to write about girls’ secondary education, and there was not a lot of literature about it. Yale’s Sterling Memorial Library had 60 years of correspondence between Ethel Walker and her sister, who was married to a famous historian named Charles McLean Andrews. I was able to access those letters to write the thesis.

When did you start teaching? I wanted to teach, so I went to Albuquerque Academy in Albuquerque, N.M., to teach AP U.S. History. My first year, I taught four classes, and the second year I was the assistant college counselor and taught part time. The third year, I became the 11th grade class dean. While working there for four years, I met my husband, John.

that year, I wanted to return to a school setting, so I took a job at Bullis School, where I served as director of admissions and financial aid, leading an office of five people and still teaching history. Our daughter, Sally, was born while I was there, and John taught at Bullis as well.

What brought you to Westminster?

After nearly a decade at Bullis, I wanted to stretch some different muscles, so I started looking at other positions, mostly division heads and assistant heads of day schools. Graham Cole, who was Westminster’s head of school at the time, called me, and we met to discuss Westminster, which, ultimately, had openings for the assistant head of school and an art position. John and I interviewed in February, and I accepted the position as assistant head of school, and he was appointed an art teacher. Our children were 8 and 11 at the time. As assistant head of school, my role focused on hiring, the marketing office and some stewardship for the Advancement Office related to letter writing.

What are your major responsibilities as associate head of school? In 2012, I was named associate head of school by Head of School Bill Philip, so my role has evolved, while including most of my initial responsibilities. I’m in charge of the daily running of the

Why did you choose to earn an MBA and work in the for-profit realm? My application essay to Northwestern University was about how independent schools don’t train their leaders to be good managers. They tend to promote good teachers. To run schools effectively, managers need to understand how innovations work. While in business school, I got seduced into thinking I should try something outside of education, so I did an internship at Ben & Jerry’s as the company’s first MBA intern. I liked it but didn’t enjoy marketing consumer products. When John was appointed the head of the Art Department at the Peddie School in New Jersey, I spent a year as a management consultant and did not like that either. Consultants come up with ideas and move on to the next project. In my opinion, they leave when it gets interesting. It was an important learning experience, however. My strengths are implementation and making things work.

When did you return to employment in schools? After the birth of our first child, Stan, I worked part-time for IES, which is an independent school placement service. At the end of

Nancy in Gund Reading Room. Spring 2020

Nancy teaching the course Outsiders in American History, which she created.

school when he is not on campus and provide support to him in whatever needs to be done. I think of myself as a chief operating officer. One of my major duties is recruiting and hiring for open faculty positions. We look for people who are deeply committed to students and boarding school life and who understand it is a way of life and not simply a job. Successful candidates have a good sense of humor, enjoy being around students and possess a passion for their academic subject. I am proud of my work chairing two different Schedule Committees, which looked at how we use time at school and led to schedule changes. The most recent Schedule Committee created protocols for how we run family-style lunch, starting with the philosophy behind it and the logistics. I rolled out the changes by talking to students, parents, trustees and faculty about how family-style lunch was going to work. I also chair the Discipline Committee, the Technology Committee, the Food Committee and the Major Plant Committee and serve on a number of other committees related to school operations. Off campus, I co-chair the western New England assistant heads and deans of faculty group that gets together once a year. It’s a formidable group of administrators from all sorts of schools. Among other responsibilities, I oversee the daily and yearly school calendar, the Marketing Department, Culture Draws and the NEASC Decennial two-year and five-year interim evaluation reports. I create agendas for and run faculty meetings, organize all aspects of Commencement Weekend, book guest speakers and singing groups, and organize crisis drills for safety planning. It is a broad portfolio involved in school administration.

What are the biggest challenges in serving as associate head of school? The biggest challenge is trying to make everybody feel heard. There are many different demands on the school, and people feel passionately about various issues. My role is often to listen and to do what’s in the best interest of the school. It’s about balancing people’s expectations and desires.

What are some of the rewards of this role? One of the things I’ve loved best about this job is mentoring new faculty members and helping to develop administrators. I am proud to see new faculty grow, thrive and put down roots on campus. One of Westminster’s strengths is that people can take on administrative roles. Similarly, I have enjoyed my relationships with faculty and students. This has been my first real foray into boarding schools,

What is your overarching management philosophy? I tend to be open and accessible. While my style is to delegate and support people, I like to gather thoughts from a diverse group of people, analyze any data and move forward with decisions. 46

Westminster Bulletin

Nancy with her husband, John Sandoval, and their children, Stan ’13 and Sally ’15, soon after their arrival at Westminster in 2005.

and the intensity of the relationships is so much deeper than what I’ve seen elsewhere. You get to know people well, and they get to know you. As an example, the relationships I have formed with my advisees have been outstanding.

Have you always been a classroom teacher while at Westminster?

“This has been my first real foray into boarding schools, and the intensity of the relationships is so much deeper than what I’ve seen elsewhere. You get to know people well, and they get to know you. “

My first year, I taught U.S. History, and then for the past 14 years, I’ve taught one section of the Sixth Form elective Outsiders in American History, which I created. Westminster gave me back my teaching identity and that connection with students.

What are some Westminster milestones that stand out from your tenure? The 125th anniversary celebration was amazing. Also having former faculty member Dick Adams as a mentor and friend has been wonderful. Added to that, the opening of Armour Academic Center set the school on a new trajectory.

What distinguishes the student experience at Westminster? Our students are known. The connections they develop with their peers and with the adults in the school community are life altering. I saw this in my own children when they were students. Westminster is a school where students have connections that reinforce their whole school experience.

What enticed you to stay at Westminster for 15 years? I have stayed because it is a wonderful community where I have been able to take on challenging projects and opportunities with many people. I have been able to grow and develop both personally and professionally.

Why was the Westminster campus a good place to raise your children?

Westminster was a good fit for our children because they had an opportunity to be challenged academically and excel athletically. I am eternally grateful to my colleagues who taught them, coached them and helped them through their adolescence. Stanley graduated from Columbia University with a degree in mechanical engineering and earned a master’s degree in aerodynamics at the University of Southampton. He is currently a performance engineer with Ed Carpenter Racing in Indianapolis. Sally majored in Spanish and works for the National Basketball Association in its digital media department in Secaucus, N.J.

Did you learn anything new about Westminster from a parent perspective? I gained a much better understanding of how hard our students work when I saw my own children going through school. I also saw firsthand the extent to which faculty colleagues extend themselves on behalf of students and how fond students are of their teachers.

What are you looking forward to about serving as head of Shorecrest School? Shorecrest is a vibrant day school community of 1,019 students located on 28 acres in the heart of St. Petersburg. Most students come from the St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay areas. I’m looking forward to getting to know a new community and building on the school’s existing strengths. I’ll be able to develop relationships with parents and families in a different way than I have at Westminster since students start there at age 3 and go all the way through 12th grade. We bought a home in St. Petersburg, which is a very arts-oriented and entrepreneurial city.

Why is the school a good match for you? Shorecrest is deeply committed to the whole child and supports all kinds of learning. It’s a self-described progressive school that prizes student-centered education and project learning, which I find really appealing. Half of the graduating class has been there since age 3, which tells you a lot about family commitment to the school.

What will you miss most about Westminster?

Stan, Nancy, Sally and John at a recent event.

My 15 years at Westminster went by so quickly. I’ll miss the people, the sense of camaraderie and the values of Grit & Grace. Westminster is a school where people pull together. There is an incredible sense of collegiality. People genuinely give each other the benefit of the doubt, and everyone’s working in the best interests of students. There is a real trust among colleagues as we work toward the same goal and on the same team.

Spring 2020

From the Archives

Debate Clubs Westminster’s earliest Debate Clubs, the Senior Debating Society and the Junior Debating Society, were created by the school’s founder, William Cushing. The two clubs began to take shape in 1890 and lasted for more than 20 years. An article in the May 9, 1964, issue of The Westminster News states: “Cushing’s reasons for having debating as an activity: It teaches one to speak in public; it teaches one how to address the chair; and it teaches one how to plead for or against some proposition in public assembly, with practical acquaintance with parliamentary procedure.” Formal debates with other schools did not take place until the early 1940s. Stopped by World War II, intramural debating resumed in the early 1960s. Debate Clubs have continued to exist as a student activity over the years.

Above, the Spartan Debating Team circa 1928-1930. The Spartans and the Athenians were rival groups on campus that competed with each other during many school activities, including debates.

Left, a school debate 1963-1964.

Above, the Debate Club in 1981, and near left, in 1992.

Left, an excerpt from an article in the May 9, 1964, issue of The Westminster News about an April 18, 1964, Westminster-Choate debate. 48

Westminster Bulletin

SOAR TOGETHER CAMPAIGN RECEPTIONS

Parents of Alumni Reception, New York City Parents of alumni gathered at Aquavit in New York City Oct. 14 for a reception hosted by Catherine and Håkan Swahn P’22. Last fall, Chris Beck P’08, ’13 joined the Westminster Board of Trustees as an ex-officio member representing the parents of alumni.

Doug Poling P’13, ’16, ’18, Jon Deveaux P’14, ’16 and Jennifer Poling P’13, ’16, ’18

John and Della Leathers P’05, and Håkan Swahn P’22

Peggy Smyth P’16, Jon and Amy Meltzer P’17, Berney Smyth P’16 and Curt Brockelman ’86, P’19

Liz and Bill Armstrong P’04, ’06, ’07

London Chris Campbell ’91 and Alex Gerson ’07 hosted 20 alumni at a reception at The George Club Oct. 2 that was also attended by Head of School Bill Philip.

Bill Brewer P’17, ’21, Powell Holly ’82, Kelly Stedman P’18, ’21 and Erika Brewer P’17, ’21 Spring 2020

SOAR TOGETHER CAMPAIGN RECEPTIONS

Asia SEOUL Hae Young Lee P’18, ’20 hosted a dinner reception for fathers in Seoul Nov. 11.

Chul One Chey P’21, Hae Young Lee P’18, ’20, Giong Bak P’22, Bill Philip P’06, ’09, Chang Yong Ha P’21, Jinwoong Shin P’21 and Yu Seoung Kim P’20

SEOUL Euny Kwon and Hae Young Lee P’18, ’20 hosted a Nov. 12 reception in Seoul for alumni and parents.

Hae Young Lee P’18, ’20, Jungwook Kim P’19, Jin-Pyung Kim ’94, Juhee Lee P’23, Tim Randall, Hyunjung Hwang P’22, Miles Bailey ’94, Bill Philip P’06, ’09, Eunhee No P’23, Euny Kwon P’18, ’20, Jeeyeoun Park P’21, Seoung Yuhn Yoo P’20, Jiyeon Lee P’22, Sookjin Han P’21, Hyun Jin Lee P’21, Eun Lee, Young Gang Kwon P’21 and Yumi Wang P’21

Westminster Bulletin

SOAR TOGETHER CAMPAIGN RECEPTIONS

SHANGHAI A reception for alumni and parents was held Nov. 14 in Shanghai.

Weiqing Hou P’22, Mickey Hong P’22, Sylvia Xiong P’20, Eileen Shen P’23, Jun Wu and Vivien Yang P’21, Bill Philip P’06, ’09, Jason Manasse ’93, and Yi Zhu and Danying Lou P’23

HONG KONG Eva Fang and David Lie P’17, ’19, and Emma Liu Hu P’19 hosted a reception Nov. 18 in Hong Kong for alumni and parents.

Charles Hu ’04, Rick Gould P’09, ’11, ’13, ’17, Ronald Yeung ’13, Miles Bailey ’94, Bill Philip P’06, ’09, Kevin Chau ’79, Tim Randall, Emma Liu Hu P’19 and Theresa Lu P’23

BEIJING Sabrina Wu and Bin Shi P’21, ’21 hosted a reception Nov. 20 in Beijing for alumni and parents.

Zhen Zhang P’23, Jian Yuan and Chun Yang P’23, Han Cao and Wenzhong Liu P’23, Miles Bailey ’94, Sabrina Wu P’21, ’21, Bill Philip P’06, ’09, Eileen Shen P’23, Tim Randall, Bin Shi P’21, ’21, and Hua Jiang and Xueen Li P’21

Spring 2020

SOAR TOGETHER CAMPAIGN RECEPTIONS

Boston A reception for alumni and parents took place Dec.10 at the Downtown Harvard Club of Boston. Numerous faculty members traveled to the event from campus.

SK Lee ’18, Wonjune Kang ’16 and Mark de Kanter ’91, P’19, ’22

Katherine Howard ’03 and Peter Ulrich P’09, ’10

Tony and Pamela Burk Pane P’19, ’22, and Roy and Haia Karina Lurie P’22

Jenny Philip P’06, ’09, Heather Frahm ’86, P’23 and Hilary Neumann Zeller ’88

Westminster Bulletin

Ann Gund, Bill Philip P’06, ’09 and Graham Gund ’59

JP Morais ’06, Martha Payne ’94 and Tom Nelson ’81, P’23

SOAR TOGETHER CAMPAIGN RECEPTIONS

Jordan Barnes ’16, Scott Reeves P’03, ’05, ’05 and Ashton Kille ’15

Cal Groton ’79 and Hendon Pingeon ’79

Ashley Jeffress ’09, Jamie Peterson ’89 and Newell Grant ’99

Whitney Smith Jiranek ‘93, Jamie Oldershaw ’92 and Sean Devlin ’01

Erin Clark ’05, Ellie Deveaux ’14, Jules Stafford ’03 and Katie Deveaux ’16

Will Danforth ’09, Kevin Boyle ’10 and Cris Gomez ’10

Spring 2020

SOAR TOGETHER CAMPAIGN RECEPTIONS

New York City A reception for alumni and parents took place Dec. 16 at the New York Yacht Club. Many faculty members attended the festive event.

Alex Wolf ’19 and Jess Keough

Tom Eaton ’85, Curt Brockelman ’86, P’19 and Pete Olney ’85, P’22

Spike Richey ’63, P’94, GP’22, David Cristini P’22, June Richey P’94, GP’22 and

Katie Hill ’11, Betsy Heckman and Madeline Purdy ’13

Yuki Mitsuda ’17, Alex Colon ’13, A-men Rasheed and Yvonne Pruitt ’14

Beth Richey Cristini ’94, P’22

Charlotte Gould ’13, Caty Pooley ’13, Emma Conlon ’13 and Madeline Purdy ’13

Westminster Bulletin

Erinn Sullivan Davis ’00, Emily Rotando LaFemina ’00, Kirsten Sichler Webb ’98 and Mike Innes ’98

SOAR TOGETHER CAMPAIGN RECEPTIONS

Alie Philip Preefer ’09, Molly Shea ’06, Kate Philip Kaufman ’06 and Andrew Kaufman, and Kelsea Wigmore ’07

Steve Owen P’22, Andrew Douglass ’87, P’21, ’22, Beth Higginbotham Sherrer ’91 and Duncan Sherrer

Jamie Adams ’92, P’23, Kelso Davis ’94, Derrick Logan ’93, Miles Bailey ’94, Beecher Scarlett ’94 and Rachel Adams P’23

Stuart MacKenzie ’11, Robbie Hamblett ’11, Grant Kugler ’11, Olivia Frank ’11 and Greg Lafaire ’11

Mike Reddy ’04, Drew Malbin ’04, Greg Marco P’08, ’11 and Ned Reeves ’05

Nancy Urner-Berry ’81, P’11, ’16, Natalie Kirschner Tallis ’81, Margie Boll Blue ’81, Tom Nelson ’81, P’23, Sarah Miller Haun ’81 and Alex Durrell ’81

Ben Kleinschmidt ’14, Ben Shively ’14, Morgan Heck ’14 and Mark Pfister ’14

Rob Horsford ’89, Chris Herman ’91, Miles Bailey ’94, Hank Forsyth ’92 and Derrick Logan ’93

Spring 2020

SOAR TOGETHER CAMPAIGN RECEPTIONS

San Francisco Kim and Ian Morton ’87, P’22, and Tori and Dave Kistler ’87, P’22 hosted a reception Jan. 29 in San Francisco for alumni and parents.

Chris Beck P’08, ’13, Emma Beck ’08, Rosie Williams ’12, Minjea Yoon ’08 and Kim Morton P’22

Sarah Holmes ’13 and Susanna Baker ’15

Bob Bynum ’69 and Dave Kistler ’87, P’22

Sam Hocking P’23, Caroline Prezzano, Paige McCoy Meuse ’92, Freda Kong P’22 and Jennifer Hocking P’23

Westminster Bulletin

Megan Van Linda ’94, Caleagh and Peter Creech ’07, and Tori Kistler P’22

Brad and Susie Werner Berenson ’82, and Mike Hanley ’78

Doug Prezzano ’93, Issie Duff ’85, Jeff Turnbaugh and Will Lyon ’87

SOAR TOGETHER CAMPAIGN RECEPTIONS

Charleston, S.C. Margie and Dick Bondy ’67 hosted a reception Feb. 4 in Charleston, S.C., for alumni and parents.

Dick Bondy ’67 and Kate Dehne ’00

Jack Westerfield ’71, P’87, Margie Bondy, Park Westerfield P’87 and Bill Philip P’06, ’09

Matt Chapdelaine ’97, Alex Daigle ’00, Rob Moran ’97 and Melissa Horne ’00

Margie Bondy, Rob Moran ’97, Boo Kenan Morton ’95, Kate Dehne ’00, Janet Bowler Bates ’01, Dick Bondy ’67, Michael Spalding ’74, P’08, ’12, Matt Chapdelaine ’97, Melissa Horne ’00, Alex Daigle ’00, O.P. Jackson ’70, Bill Philip P’06, ’09 and Jack Westerfield ’71, P’87

Spring 2020

SOAR TOGETHER CAMPAIGN RECEPTIONS

Edge Society, New York City The Edge Society Dinner, hosted by Catherine and Håkan Swahn P’22, was held Feb. 25 at Aquavit in New York City.

Bryan Martin ’86, and Meredith and Rob Horsford ’89

Alan Breed P’11, 15, and Gaily and John Beinecke ’65

Tom Lennox P’16, ’18, Lara Trafelet P’23 and Jane Kessler Lennox ’88, P’16, ’18

Renée Lynch Carrel ’84 and Mike Carrel P’19, ’21, Tom McCargo ’82, P’21 and Greg Hoogkamp P’21

Ben Wurts P’22, Kristin Ursano P’23, Erik Oken P’22 and Tony Ursano P’23 58

Westminster Bulletin

Erika Brewer P’17, ’21 and Carolyn Hoogkamp P’21

Bill Brewer P’17, ’21, Jen Patton ’90, P’21 and Powell Holly ’82

Alisa Brockelman P’19, Tom Bradley P’19, Jennifer Oken P’22 and Ashley Bradley P’19

Alison Pappas P’22, Brad Raymond ’85 and Soledad O’Brien P’19, ’20, and Will Pappas P’22

Scott McCausland ’87 and Kristen McCausland P’14, ’16, ’19, and John Timken ’99

SOAR TOGETHER CAMPAIGN RECEPTIONS

Chicago Karen and Tuey Connell ’86 hosted a reception March 3 for alumni and parents at the Soho House in Chicago.

Peter Greene ’64, Joe Johnson ’75 and Stephen Bartram ’03

Blake Swift P’19, ’21, Karen Connell and Chris Beck P’08, ’13

Kevin Matzke ’84, Jackie Griesdorn-Matzke ’85, Courtney Cooper Mathy ’92 and Coco Hatch Harris ’90

Sean Bosack ’86, Tim Dwyer ’88 and Ivana Dwyer P’18, ’22, Elena Molloy and Andrew Overbye ’09

Spring 2020

ALUMNI EVENTS

Executive Committee of the Alumni Association The Executive Committee of the Alumni Association spent a day on the Hill Nov. 8. The group attended an English class taught by Scott Stevens, chapel and family-style lunch. Representatives of various departments, including Advancement, Athletics, the Business Office and the Health Center, provided updates and answered questions. The day ended with a conversation with Head of School Bill Philip.

Front row: Lauren Bontecou Reichart ’97, Coren Caisse Moore ’93, Whitney Smith Jiranek ’93, Rebecca Leach Thornton ’95, Aileen Daversa ’90, Suzanne Jarrett Melan ’90 and Natalie Tallis ’81 Back row: Stan Keating ’81, Michael Innes ’98, Harvey DeMovick ’90, Jamie Oldershaw ’92, Hunter Smith ’68 and Sean Devlin ’01

Alumni Hockey Alumni returned to Westminster Feb. 22 to participate in a hockey game at Jackson Hockey Rink. After a competitive game, they enjoyed lunch, and many stayed to watch First Boys’ Hockey play Berkshire.

Front row: Brad Woodruff ’11, David Hallisey ’13, Dave Schneider ’98 holding Luke Schneider, Lou Shipley ’81, Steve Theall ’83, Ethan Holdaway ’13, Kevin Kelly ’81 and Phil Lauderdale ’02 Back row: Kyle Eckerson, Carl Nastro ’78, Sean Bosack ’86, Drew Simeon ’15, Xavier Morin ’13, Sean Orlando ’13, Ryan Ward ’96, Jordan Dewey ’08 and Owen Kaplan ’22 60

Westminster Bulletin

ALUMNI EVENTS

Legacy Gathering Many Westminster alumni who have children attending Westminster gathered on the steps of Cushing Hall with those children during Parents Weekend in October. Unfortunately, not everyone was able to able to be present. This year, 46 alumni children are Martlets.

Westminster is on Alumnifire, a career networking community powered by Westminster alumni. • Build your professional network • Search and post job opportunities • Share your industry experience • Gain local knowledge in a new city • Reconnect with classmates

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Spring 2020

Supporting Westminster

Forming Relationships That Last a Lifetime The friendships Ryan O’Donnell ’98 made at Westminster School were built to last a lifetime. When he thinks back on the big moments of his life, the same friends have always been there for him: Steve Richard ’98, Colin Heffernan ’98, John Randall ’98 and Tommy Blake ’98. And last spring, when Ryan faced open-heart surgery, he knew those classmates were planning to visit after his procedure, and he looked forward to catching up with them. What he didn’t know is that they’d help save his life. Just days after the surgery and leaving the hospital, Ryan’s wife and three young children came down with the flu. Since it would have been extremely risky for Ryan to be exposed to the virus, his close friends packed him up and gently moved him to a nearby hotel that offered a suite large enough for those friends and Ryan. For four Ryan O’Donnell ’98 with his wife, Whitney, and their children, Lochlain, Rory and days, his friends took care of him. A Fallon, and their puppy, Maisie. time that could have meant life or death is full of memories of lifelong friends trying not to laugh too hard at each other and watching old movies and March Madness. Two years ago, Ryan and his wife, Whitney, joined the Thring Society because they believe in Westminster, its mission and Grit & Grace. But he also knows that many of the most important people in their lives came from his time on the Hill. They hope their children will one day attend Westminster and build relationships just as strong as Ryan’s. Ryan joined the Thring Society by allocating a percentage of his 401(k) to Westminster. He hopes that as time passes his allocation will grow. But until then, he knows he’s found a way to give back to an institution that has given him so much, including lasting relationships.

The Soar Together Campaign aims to support the people and programs of Westminster by increasing endowment for financial aid, faculty support and programs. If you want to find a way to give back to Westminster for all that it gave you, contact: Jennifer Keyo Director of Planned Giving (860) 408-3039 jkeyo@westminster-school.org

Westminster Bulletin

Laser-Focused on Conservation For Nick Dilks ’92, the land along the Farmington River in Simsbury was a haven for bird-watching, fishing and exploring during his years at Westminster. A lifelong naturalist, Nick is co-founder and managing partner of Baltimore-based Ecosystems Investment Partners (EIP), a private investment firm that mobilizes capital to deliver large-scale ecological restoration and conservation. “We balance the notion of restoring and protecting, while allowing development at the same time,” explained Nick. “My job is to execute projects that restore and conserve resources paid by the development that is occurring.” Through its investment funds, EIP acquires, restores and permanently protects priority conservation properties and sells the credits generated by them to customers who must offset their unavoidable environmental impacts. Since it began in 2006, Nick’s firm has restored more than 44,000 acres of wetlands and 176 miles of streams in 13 states. Each project that uses EIP’s credits and offsets must undergo a rigorous approval process before mitigating is even an option. “No one is allowed to wantonly waste resources,” said Nick. “There has to be an economic justification, and they must demonstrate they cannot avoid the impact and have done everything feasible to minimize it. Projects and their offsets must be approved by multiple federal, state and local agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” Nick’s father, Peter Dilks ’63, was a founder of the firm Public Financial Management in Philadelphia, where Nick grew up. “He helped not-for-profits get financing for public works projects and taught me about doing business for a good cause,” said Nick. “We can develop land and still engage in environmental protection. I awoke to that notion when I was 16 or 17 years old and have pursued it ever since. I am passionate about the environment, but I didn’t want to say no to everything since that does not address jobs or human welfare issues.” At Westminster, Nick was founder and president of the Environmental Awareness Club and the Outing Club, and was a gifted artist noted for his drawings of North American birds. “I had been laser-focused on conservation since before I attended Westminster,” he said. “My father and uncle were both great outdoorsmen, and my grandmother was a naturalist and bird-watcher.” In addition to his many outdoor endeavors as a Martlet, Nick played football and hockey, served as junior prefect and was co-editor-in-chief of The Westminster News.

Among his favorite teachers was science teacher Bill Sistare. “You need rigorous underpinnings of good science in my field,” said Nick. He also reflects fondly on outdoor activities with faculty member Scott Stevens, saying, “He was very encouraging to me as a young person.” Nick attended Duke University, where he earned a B.A. in environmental science and policy in 1996. He then joined The Conservation Fund, serving as vice president of real estate while concurrently completing his MBA at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. Following his tenure at The Conservation Fund, he co-founded EIP in 2006. EIP is now one of the largest sources of capital for conservation and restoration in the United States. When asked about where he thinks EIP will be focused in the coming years, he replied, “Water quality is one of the preeminent environmental problems we can address and it is understood that large-scale restoration of our streams and wetlands is how we can get water quality back.” Among EIP’s most recent projects is a restoration benefiting the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. “The Chesapeake Bay is experiencing water quality issues associated with fertilizer runoff and the resulting algae blooms extracting oxygen out of the water,” said Nick. EIP and its partners were able to reduce nutrient and sediment discharges to the bay by restoring over 76,000 linear feet (almost 15 miles) of streams in the upper Chesapeake Bay watershed. In recognition of its work, the Chesapeake Conservancy named EIP a Champion of the Chesapeake. Nick’s wife, Martina, and their children, Margaret and Peter, join Nick’s passion for the outdoors and love to fish, hunt and hike. They are also part of the next generation of the Dilks family spending time on the family’s farm in northern Maryland, where they often see Nick’s uncle, Charlie Dilks ’59. Nick said that when he first visited Westminster, he knew it was the place for him. “I am gently introducing the idea of boarding school to our children,” he said. “They are curious but don’t understand. I didn’t at their age, either.”

Nick Dilks ’92 hiking in England with his daughter.

Spring 2020

Making a Difference When Alex Lavoie ’06 joined startup transit company Via as New York City general manager in 2014, the on-demand rideshare company was operating in a small fraction of the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Within a year, Via was serving all of New York City. Now, Alex is global head of operations for Via, which does business across North America and in more than 20 countries, providing services far beyond the scope of the typical rideshare company. Via can be found in Seattle, Los Angeles, Berlin and London, to name a few locations. Alex graduated from Harvard in 2010 with a B.A. in economics, and started his career at Goldman Sachs as an investment banking analyst. He was there two years before joining TPG Capital, a private equity firm where he specialized in technology, media and telecommunications, and first became interested in the rideshare industry. “In college, I had worked on entrepreneurial projects and subsequently began exploring joining a startup,” he said. In his early days with Via, Alex recruited drivers, got feedback from riders and hired staff. “From the beginning, my job with Via was not limited to finance,” he said. “I liked being part of an early team that was building a product our customers would use on a regular basis for their day-to-day transportation.” Currently, in New York City alone, 40,000-50,000 passengers share Via rides each day. Beyond direct-to-consumer transportation, Via works on behalf of government agencies to provide transit services that increase access to transit hubs, improve paratransit, create equitable public transportation in transit deserts and optimize poorly performing bus routes. “Via has become an integrated part of the public transit system for many cities around the world,” said Alex. This year, Via will expand by managing New York City’s fleet of more than 10,000 school buses. “We are providing software that is both a rider and parent app,” explained Alex. “It will let parents and school administrators know where buses are going and when children board and disembark. This will help bring the city much-needed transparency to manage safety and increase efficiency.” A technology-related career was not on the horizon when Alex was a student at Westminster. During his Sixth Form year, he was a research assistant for a surgeon at the University of Connecticut, where he worked on a study related to the effects of smoking on postsurgical orthopedic outcomes. “I considered majoring in the life sciences in college but ended up studying economics,” he said. Alex came to Westminster as a day student from Avon. Several of his friends had older siblings attending Westminster, and Alex’s father encouraged him to visit. 64

Westminster Bulletin

Alex Lavoie ’06

“It was the only place I applied,” said Alex. “I found tremendous friends and mentors at Westminster. It was an immersive experience academically, but also one where I learned the value of balance.” As a student, Alex was the recipient of numerous academic awards and served as editor-in-chief of The Westminster News, a class officer all four years, co-vice president of the John Hay Society and co-president of Black and Gold. He also sang in Chorale, was a member of Serving Our Neighbors and Model U.N., and played first team squash and baseball, and second team soccer. “I enjoyed the level of engagement with other students,” said Alex. “We were always busy with classes, sports and extracurricular activities,” “Mark de Kanter ’91, who I had for physics and AP Biology, was the best teacher I’ve ever had at any level,” said Alex. “I’m still in touch with him, and he is a great mentor and friend. Also, great coaches like squash coach Peter Doucette always motivated me to practice more.” Alex lives in Brooklyn Heights and travels frequently to Lake Tahoe. He enjoys biking, hiking and spending time in the outdoors. Each week, he and Ned Reeves ’05 play squash at the Harvard Club in New York City. Alex and Ned were varsity squash teammates at both Westminster and later Harvard. Alex attends many Westminster alumni functions. He recalled an event held early in his career when former Headmaster Graham Cole encouraged him to try different career paths outside of finance. “In a subtle way, he pushed me to think about the impact I could have,” said Alex. “I have found a calling working in technology and the public sector where I can make a difference.”

Helping Bring Home an Oscar The fictional Eastland School, the setting for the 1980s American sitcom “The Facts of Life,” inspired Angela Killoren ’88 to pursue a boarding school education in the United States. She was a student at the Seoul Foreign School in South Korea when she approached her parents about studying abroad. “Boarding school looked like so much fun, and I was persistent with my parents,” said Angela. Her reluctant father allowed just one option: Westminster. “My dad was aghast, but he had a friend who was teaching drama at Westminster, although that friend left shortly after I arrived.” Her bicultural upbringing and cross-Pacific career have led Angela to her current role as chief operating officer of CJ ENM, a subsidiary of South Korean conglomerate CJ Corporation and one of the world’s largest entertainment and media companies. This year, CJ has had unprecedented success as the studio behind the film “Parasite,” which won four Oscars, including becoming the first foreign-language best picture winner at the 2020 Academy Awards, in addition to more than two dozen international film awards. “I had been at CJ for almost 10 years and ‘Parasite’ was the film I was waiting for,” said Angela. “My dream was for us to win South Korea’s first Oscar, and I just felt this was the film that would translate.” After the film’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the summer of 2019, Angela met with Neon, “Parasite’s” U.S. distributor. “I was adamant about preparing for a broad Oscar campaign and everyone seemed shocked,” she said. Angela was pushing Neon on the film’s U.S. awards potential, and CJ guaranteed the initial budget for campaign efforts. “They projected “Parasite” to become the No. 1 Korean movie in the U.S., which meant $2.5 million at the box office, but we believed in much more,” said Angela. “We just needed to give it traction.” Behind the scenes, Angela worked to move “Parasite” through the awards circuit. “I was surprised how similar this was to a political campaign,” she said. “I would meet people and share all the ways why I believed our candidate was the most worthy. The director, Bong Joon Ho, was the best spokesperson of all! As chief operating officer, the most important thing I could do was look into the future and marshal resources.” By midwinter, “Parasite” had grossed more than $50 million in the U.S. and nearly $230 million globally. “It’s become the highest-grossing Korean film ever,” she said. Angela’s link to the entertainment industry goes back to her time at Westminster. “I did theater tech with Dramat and learned a lot,” she said. “I loved the camaraderie, the problem-solving and the production side.” She also performed with Chorale, Camerata and Choir; was a member of Black and Gold and the Language Club; was business manager of The Westminster News; and played soccer and volleyball. Following graduation, Angela took an unexpected gap year, deferring her admission to Columbia University to serve as a volunteer translator for the 1988 Summer Olympics in South Korea. She filled the remainder of the year with an internship with the Korean Broadcasting System. “I bamboozled my way in and helped produce an English language education show and then worked in news and scripted drama,” she said.

After earning a B.A. in East Asian languages and cultures with a focus on Chinese history from Columbia, Angela joined Bear Stearns for six months, before returning to Korea, where she joined her mother’s public relations firm. “I introduced Korea to people who had never been to the country, primarily corporate clients of international conglomerates,” she explained. When the opportunity arose to join a new entertainment venture by Cheil Jedang (now CJ), a founding investor of DreamWorks, “it was a cross-cultural dream come true!” After moving to Los Angeles with her husband, Po-Wen Shaw, in 2005, Angela became associate director of the Center for Asian Pacific Leadership at the University of Southern California, which focused on creating civic leadership networks among Asian American professionals, primarily in the finance, media and political arenas. And in 2011, she joined CJ E&M as senior vice president of marketing in the Los Angeles office. Within a year at CJ E&M, Angela organized the first K-pop convention in Irvine, Calif., featuring popular music originating in South Korea. “Our first KCON event felt like a handmade effort with an amazing concert on top of workshops, panels, food and merchandise,” she said. In 2014, CJ introduced K-pop stars BTS in the U.S. Now, CJ’s K-pop conventions are held around the world and have crossed the millionth visitor threshold. They include dance covers, Korean beauty and fashion. “The fans are so dedicated,” said Angela. “But KCON is about creating a community experience that transcends any single band.” Angela and her husband, who is an architect, live in Los Angeles with their 11-year-old son, Gabriel. Soon, Angela says CJ will be producing English language movies. “Korean language dramas on Netflix are popular around the world, and shows like “Masked Singer” and “The Good Doctor” are remakes of Korean programs,” she said. “U.S. productions of film and television is our next big thing, so we are staffing up. It is such an honor to be able to translate culture for people.”

Angela Killoren ’88 with Bong Joon Ho, the director of “Parasite,” which won best picture at the 2020 Academy Awards. Spring 2020

Managing Nursing Services to Meet Emergency Needs

Torrey Trzcienski ’99

More than 100,000 patients enter the doors of Hartford Hospital’s Department of Emergency Medicine each year where nurse manager Torrey Trzcienski ’99 leads a team of 135 nurses to coordinate patient care. The emergency room and trauma center operate at capacity daily. “The emergency department is about managing crisis,” said Torrey. “Some people may just need a BandAid, but we have to realize that the people coming in can’t manage their problems on their own and need us. Every day, we determine what is the best way to optimize our resources to safely, compassionately and efficiently care for our patients.” Torrey’s grandfather, who was a Hartford Hospital physician, steered her toward a career in nursing rather than her original plan to become a doctor. “He told me that he would support my choice to pursue medical school, but that I would be frustrated by modern-day health care,” she explained. “He said he often heard physicians say that if they knew then what they know now they would not have entered the field. He did not hear nurses say that.” After graduating from the University of Connecticut in 2004 with a double major in history and biology and prepared for medical school, Torrey followed her grandfather’s advice. She participated in the Nursing Accelerated Second Degree program at UConn and joined the nursing staff of Hartford Hospital in 2007. “I loved bedside care, but I also wanted to be able to change things and make care better,” said Torrey. She subsequently became a charge nurse and then a nurse educator. “My supervisor told me I was a great educator but could also be a great manager.” Torrey was named a nurse manager before earning her master’s degree in nursing leadership and administration from Sacred Heart University in August 2008.

Westminster Bulletin

Including the nurses under her supervision, Torrey has 260 direct-report employees. “Most of what I do is teaching, coaching and mentoring, but the fourth part is cheerleading,” she said. “When they are frustrated and tired, they need to know they are doing hard work and doing it well.” Torrey’s work begins well before she arrives at the hospital each day. During early morning phone calls, she and her team formulate a plan to handle the day’s safety and bed management decisions. “It’s not just the here and now; it’s also about the 30,000-foot view,” she explained. “It’s how we interact with the rest of the hospital and how we deal with the patient population. There is a significant psychiatric volume. Every hospital in the country has that challenge since resources for the psychiatric population are difficult, especially in crisis.” Torrey came to Westminster her Fifth Form year, joining her cousin Justin Scull ’99. Though boarding school was a tradition in her family, she first studied at a public high school near her Connecticut home and abroad in Germany. As a Westminster student, Torrey served as editor of the yearbook, worked on the Martlet, was a member of the Debate Club and the Jazz Ensemble, and was a volunteer tutor. She also played soccer, basketball and softball. Her time at Westminster influenced her future studies. “Faculty members Dick Adams and Charlie Griffith were the reason I became a history major,” she said. While at UConn, Torrey had the option to study abroad again in Germany. Instead, inspired by 9/11, she chose to participate in Semester at Sea in spring 2002. “Most people responded to the tragedy by staying near home,” she said. “I wanted to see the good things that the rest of the world had to offer.” She visited the Bahamas, Cuba, Brazil, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Singapore, Vietnam, China and Japan. She also met her future wife, Melanie LaMere. “We had to prebook our excursions before departing and had by chance signed up for all the same experiences,” said Torrey. “We were together all semester.” After graduation, Torrey convinced Melanie to relocate to Connecticut from Iowa, and the couple married in 2011. They are parents to 5-year-old Charlotte and 4-year-old Benjamin. Over the years, Torrey has served on Westminster reunion committees and as a class agent. She continues to embrace Grit & Grace in her daily life. “Don’t ever let them see you sweat, and do your work with honor and integrity,” she said.

Class Notes Send alumni news and class notes to Aileen Daversa ’90, Director of Alumni Relations, Westminster School, 995 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, CT 06070 or via email alumninotes@westminster-school.org • Send updates to contact information to spierson@westminster-school.org

1954

1959

Dave Hubby is in charge of a fundraising

dinner for his local public television station, UNC-TV.

1962

1955

Will Farnam and his husband, Cal,

continue to travel as much as they can. In December, they visited Rome, taking in some of the iconic sights in the movie “Roman Holiday,” followed by Florence and London, where they attended the Miss World Competition.

David Allen is living in the Willamette

Valley of Oregon, having moved from Bend, Ore., in fall 2018. He says there is a lot of rain, but they are much closer to family.

1958 Nannette Orr, Henry Orr’s widow, has moved to Lincoln, Mass., near her daughter and family. If any classmates are in Boston or the surrounding area, she would enjoy getting together with Henry’s past friends.

his family for 50 years. “Life is very satisfying, and I am very content,” he writes. “Enjoy receiving news from dear old Westminster School.”

Charlie Dilks ’59 and Jen Bihldorff ’90 met on a fly-fishing trip with mutual friends in Andros, Bahamas, in February.

Wistar Silver recently moved to Pine Run

retirement community in Doylestown, Pa. He describes it is a wonderful facility and very close to his old Bucks County home, only eight minutes from where he raised

Trump Bradley ’55 and his wife, Carol, front row center, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family, including two great-grandchildren, in July at Doolittle Lake in Norfolk, Conn.

1966 Will Holbrook and his wife, Rana, and Scott Glickenhaus and Kathy Bentley

enjoyed a great time visiting with Brian O’Donnell and his wife, Mary Ellen, in Puerto Vallarta. Brian hosted the Holbrooks for a week, and Scott and Bentley for two, with an utterly fantastic setting at Vidanta, enhanced by fine cuisine and outstanding golfing opportunities. The friendship is still going strong since they first met on the Hill as Third Formers in 1962.

Brian O’Donnell ’66, Scott Glickenhaus ’66 and Will Holbrook ’66 in Puerto Vallarta.

Spring 2020

CLASS NOTES

Surgeons (ACVS) as an ACVS Foundation Honored Mentor. He has also been nominated for the legends award for his laser surgery work and the introduction of it to veterinary surgery.

1969 Hilly Ebling and his wife, Cathy, spent a

February weekend in New York City with Caleb Rossiter and his wife, Maya, being tourists and watching “Love Actually.”

Members of the Class of 1966 initiated the installation of a plaque in Armstrong Dining Hall to express their appreciation for the “moms” on campus “who made immeasurable contributions to the development of our hearts and minds during our most formative school years.” They also sent cards, see cover above, to the families of the moms listed on the front of the card.

1968 Keith Barrand married Maggie Aug. 9,

2018, and they are currently enjoying retired life in Ringwood, N.J. They travel frequently, enjoying children and five grandchildren, and doing some real estate investing locally. Keith’s daughter Liz just announced her engagement to Bryan Prekopa with the wedding set for May 2021. Tim Cottrell is proud to announce that

his daughter Page and son-in-law Chris Dow are having their first child and his first grandchild in July. They are both teachers at Chicago City Day School. Tim and Judy are living in Carbondale, Colo., outside Aspen. He says to say hi when you get to Colorado. Jake Horne writes: “Having three

grandchildren has made me alter my future plans. The deep concern I have for the world they inherit from our generation is going to be full of incredible opportunities and frightening transformations in America and the 68

Westminster Bulletin

world. … There is no retirement in my future. Too much to do, and a limited amount of time to do it. My life has been a long trajectory of thinking about my place and obligations to society. Even before Westy, this was ingrained into my sensibilities. Westy reinforced that sense of noblesse oblige, and it has hung with me since. “I adore my three girls and three grandchildren, as I believe we all do our own. I owe them more of me, my sense of the wonder of the world, and an understanding of how to be grounded in that affection and responsibility for future generations. Have fun in our brave new world!” Hunter Smith shared: “This February,

Sally and I celebrated 10 years of marriage and the wonderful blending of our two families, now with four children between 44 and 34 years old, and four grandchildren between 5 years to 9 months. Life is good!” Lloyd “Jock” Tate was honored this year

by the American College of Veterinary

David Patlovich ’69 and Peter Anlyan ’69 on the Pinellas Trail in St. Petersburg, Fla.

1970 A celebration of the life of Will Luckey was held Sept. 21 on Martha’s Vineyard at Will’s home. Members of the Class of 1970 who attended were Chip Cappelletti, Tim Goodman, Peter Hitt, O.P. Jackson, Gary Mah, Ben Parsons, Matt Pook, Chris Rice, Bill Stetson and Evan Stewart.

CLASS NOTES

1971

1981

Doug Dobbin and his wife, Marian, visited Arch Montgomery at his camp on

Liz Brown writes: “I was very fortunate to rendezvous with Sarah Miller Haun, Kim Wilkes Tirrell, Ellen Pulver Flatt and Natalie Kirschner Tallis, who all gathered

Upper Saranac Lake. Doug is fit and well, having mostly retired from the world of veterinary medicine but occupied with overseeing his farm on the Maryland Eastern Shore. Jeff Sturman writes: “Dori and I live in

Williams, Ariz., and love it. I work on the Grand Canyon Railroad, and Dori works for Bearizona Wildlife Park. Hope this finds classmates happy and healthy. I am still painting and so is my brother Rett.”

1974 Bill Counihan retired after 30 years with

Aunef Electron.

1977 Cindy Gould is now working on the new

Marvel addition to Disneyland.

for a weekend in early February at Sarah’s family home in Vermont. We shared a lot of laughs, life stories, tips for parenting teenagers, work/life balance thoughts and book recommendations. Sarah still lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., and is enjoying her new job with the Natural Resources Defense Council. Ellen lives outside of Philadelphia and has recently joined her family’s real estate development firm. Natalie, who lives in Darien, Conn., is forging her way as a sustainable fashion consultant. And Kim resides in Marion, Mass., and does client relationship management with a local investment advisor firm. I am living in Belmont, Mass., and work as an independent consultant doing evaluation and research work for public health and social service clients. It was so great to spend time with these ladies. Plans for a repeat performance are in the works! Please let Margie and me know what you are up to.”

Kim Wilkes Tirrell ’81 Natalie Kirschner Tallis ’81, Ellen Pulver Flatt ’81, Liz Brown ’81 and Sarah Miller Haun ’81 gathered in Vermont in February.

1984 Laura Munson, New

York Times bestselling author and founder of the acclaimed Haven Writing Programs, will be touring the U.S. throughout 2020, doing events for her new novel, “Willa’s Grove.” For more information about Laura, her book events and her Haven Writing Programs, visit lauramunson.com. She would love to see Westminster alumni out there on the road.

Martlets attended longtime St. Lawrence University men’s lacrosse coach Don Leet’s induction into the Intercollegiate Mens Lacrosse Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Baltimore Dec. 6. Front row, Tim French ’80, Don “Smoach” Leet, Sam Hovey ’83 and Charles Santry ’80; back row, John Fowler ’76, Jon Seymour ’76, Jed Stevens ’81, Alex Gray ’86, Tim Robinson ’85, Elliot Gray ’89 and Brad Rhine ’90.

Spring 2020

CLASS NOTES

1986 Kimberly Smith Guerster and Alex Gray

ran into each other and caught up at a Lakes Region NEPSAC alpine ski race where Kimberly’s daughter was skiing for Proctor Academy. Alex was coaching the Cardigan Mountain School alpine team at Mount Sunapee.

1988 Hadley Pollet and Stephanie Lynch Douglass met for lunch in Greenwich,

a letter to Pete advocating for equal pay for women. Pete featured Lia’s letter in his women’s rights platform launch, and Marile and Lia had the opportunity to introduce him to an audience of 1,800 people at a Boston event in October.

1991 Bruce Mackenzie and his wife, Courtney,

welcomed their second child, Anna Alexandra Mackenzie, Nov. 18. Anna’s brother, William, is very excited to have a baby sister.

Alex Lifton Misczynski was featured in

the November 2019 issue of Architectural Digest. Alex and her husband, Michael, founded Atelier AM, an interior design firm that has been named an Architectural Digest AD100 firm. AD100 is an annual survey of the top names in interior decoration, architecture and landscape design.

1992 Jamie Adams and his daughter, Eva,

attended the National Girls Hockey League Championships in St. Louis

Conn., in February and are planning to collaborate on a jewelry launch for Hadley’s brand.

1989 Steve Rodman completed his second half-

marathon Jan. 11 in Disney World. He writes: “It was a lot of fun with characters every half mile, lots of crowds to support the runners and running through two parks. And flat. Maybe we should try to get a group of Westy alumni to run it together.” William and Anna, children of Bruce Mackenzie ’91 and his wife, Courtney.

Jamie Adams ’92 with his daughter, Eva, and Sydney Daniels ’13 at the National Girls Hockey League Championships in St. Louis.

1993

Steve Rodman ’89 after completing a halfmarathon at Disney World.

1990 In addition to running her own marketing agency, Marile Haylon Borden spent months working as the Massachusetts grassroots lead for the Pete Buttigieg campaign. Her 13-year-old daughter, Lia, got in on the action when she wrote 70

Westminster Bulletin

Several generations of the Childs family gathered for Thanksgiving in West Hartford. Sam Childs ’66, front, first on left; Jamie Childs ’93, third from left; Bill Childs ’54, top of stairs; and Ellen Childs, widow of David Childs ’52, left, bottom of stairs.

CLASS NOTES

Feb. 14-17. It was a great experience for Eva and her teammates. Jamie was thrilled to run into other Martlets, including Sydney Daniels ’13, and Alexis Hartstone Bridgett ’92 and her daughter, Flynn. Eva and Flynn faced off against each other during the tournament.

1997 Sarah Nathan Sullivan and her husband,

Sean, welcomed William “Willie” Henry Sullivan Aug. 26. Big sister Molly, big brother Charlie, and mom and dad are all so in love.

Molly and Willie, children of Sarah Nathan Sullivan ’97 and her husband, Sean.

Julia and her baby brother, Jackson, are children of Amy Cordner Caldwell ’98 and her husband, Keegan.

Clem Rinehart ’98 pictured with his wife, Lauren; daughter, Lucy; and the latest addition to the family, Stella, born Jan. 30.

Finn Reigeluth born July 18 is the son of Chris Reigeluth ’99 and his wife, Ashley.

1998

2000

Amy Cordner Caldwell and her husband,

Hanna Foster Robinson writes: “After

Keegan, welcomed Jackson Ray Caldwell Nov. 10 in Boston. He joined older sister Julia to make a family of four.

completing a 200-hour yoga teacher training, I am currently teaching yoga at Gritty Buddha Studio in Glen Cove, N.Y., which has a motto, not so ironically, “Grit, Grace, Gratitude.” I am proud to live by and teach these precious principles

1999

Ryan Balavender ’99 married Meghan McFee on Block Island Sept. 14. With Ryan, center, are Newell Grant Jr. ’99, John Timken ’99, Nicholas Berno ’99 and Brian Mitchell ’99.

Spring 2020

CLASS NOTES

to my surrounding community. I am also a nutrition consultant for The Green Vale School, where both of my children attend.”

2001 Lara Glaister married Nick Ferrarone

June 15, 2019, in Lyford Cay Club, Nassau, Bahamas.

Tim McCormick started his second season

as a lead security supervisor at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. He is excited to be managing one of the four main entrances and exits to the worldrenowned concert venue. The season runs from April to November, and he is looking forward to being part of many memorable concerts this year.

2004 Emily Gailun Oakford and her husband,

Wesley, had their third child, a boy named Sumner Oakford, Aug. 19. He joins siblings Grace and Walker.

2002

Lara Glaister ’01 and Nick Ferrarone at their wedding.

Jack Reigeluth ’02 and his wife, Kate, welcomed their son, Ben, Oct. 8. Above, Jack and Ben.

Martlets pictured at the wedding of Lara Glaister Ferrarone ’01 last June include Mercedes Fernandez-Edge ’01, Lindsay Leal ’01, Lara, Georgiana Bland ’01, Kate Parker ’01 and Julia DeCiantis Lyon ’01.

Westminster Bulletin

Rebecca Ferrel Greeley ’04 and her husband, Michael, welcomed Seamus Stephen Greeley born April 30, 2019.

Mimi Pitney Melvin ’04, her husband, Rory, and their son, Win, welcomed Shields born June 29, 2019.

CLASS NOTES

2005

2006

Eleanor Paige Borghard was born to Lauren Eder Borghard ’06 and her husband, Tom, Dec. 30.

Kiley Murphy ’04 and Chris Giordano were married Sept. 28 in New York City.

Araina ’05 and Fred Linton ’03 with their daughter, Makayla, born Aug. 4.

2007

Fred Dirkes ’04, Chris Oetting ’04, Brian Hamilton ’04 and Teddy Levine ’04 at the September wedding of Kiley Murphy ’04.

Leigh Armstrong Young ’07 and Alex Young ’07 with their daughter, Riley, who was born Jan. 15, and big brother, Cooper.

Spring 2020

CLASS NOTES

David Earl ’06 married Allison Hyde Aug. 17 in Vermont. There was a large Westminster contingent. Front row, Luke Earl ’98, Kit Earl P’93, ’98, ’03, ’06, Lindsay Earl Peterson ’93, David Earl ’06, Allison Hyde, Peter Briggs P’01, ’05, ’07, Tally Briggs P’01, ’05, ’07 and Erica Briggs ’07. Back row, Dan Briggs ’01, Wes Connell ’00, Reid Acton ’08, Vern Connell ’99, Kyle Eckerson, Margaret Earl Turgeon ’03, Scott Stevens P’07, ’09, ’12, Nick Stevens ’07, Amy Stevens P’07, ’09, ’12, Kevin Briggs ’05, Tom Earl P’93, ’98, ’03, ’06 and David Bruce ’95.

2009 Kendall Deflin has co-founded Backline,

Liza Winship ’07 and Ben Schein were married Sept. 14 in Napa, Calif. They are pictured with her father, David Winship ’75, and her stepmother, Tracy Huntington.

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a hub for music industry professionals and their families to easily access mental health and wellness resources. The 501(c) (3)-pending organization has partnered with leading support organizations and care providers to streamline access to services and educational resources that promote mental and physical health through therapy, meditation, yoga, nutrition and more. The website’s main feature is a free case management program, wherein trained mental health professionals work one-on-one with individuals to connect them with mental health resources specifically catered to the music industry’s work and lifestyle. This summer, Backline will be activating backstage at music festivals nationwide, delivering original workshops that address the top stressors of working in the music industry.

CLASS NOTES

Ashley Jeffress ’09, center, with her bridesmaids, including Ali Bragg ’09, third from left; Caroline Scott ’09, second from right; and Caroline Moran ’09, far right.

Chris Eckerson ’09 and Taylor Preusse were married Sept. 21 in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

Benjamin Mandell ’10 played Tom Buchanan in a production of “The Great Gatsby” in January.

2010

2015

In December 2018, Benjamin Mandell was invited to Breckenridge, Colo., to perform as grown-up Ralphie in a stage production of “A Christmas Story.” He returned to Breckenridge this January to play Tom Buchanan in a production of “The Great Gatsby.”

2012 Randy Doyle is in Seattle working for

Amazon as a software engineer, following his graduation in 2016 from Swarthmore.

Ashley Jeffress ’09 and Adam Ladd were married Sept. 12 in Sonoma Valley, Calif.

Sally Sandoval ’15 and Eliza Christman ’15 at the NBA holiday party in New York City. Sally is a production trainee at the NBA, working in the content/media department.

Spring 2020

CLASS NOTES

2016

2018

In 2020, Preston Eppler started a team for the charity Cycle for Survival to raise money for rare cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering. On Feb. 8, Preston and his friends at Santa Clara University rode stationary bikes at Equinox in San Francisco to support the cause, after fundraising for more than three months. His team raised $6,922, placing them at No. 10 overall for most donations raised by a team in the San Francisco area. Preston writes: “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t extremely proud of myself, as this is a charity that I hold very dear to my heart because of all that it does for people, like my mom, who are battling rare cancers.”

Teagan Stedman was part of a team of

students from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science that engineered blood vessel receptors to signal life-threatening conditions. The project, which is called FlowGlo, seeks to use receptors that exist within the walls of human blood vessels to detect shear stress,

a warning sign that a blood vessel may be narrowing. iGEM Registry of Standard Biological Parts, a repository of genetic parts that can be mixed and matched to build synthetic biology devices and systems, will include the team’s work.

2019

2017

At a 2019 mini-reunion in New York City are, front row, Lily Carrel, Jane Ogden, Reese Poe, and Ondine Finley; second row, Isabel von Bargen-Burke, Greta Baker, Caroline McCausland, Shannon Keefe, Georgia Swank, Martina Daniele and Sofia Raymond; and, back row, Annabel Bradley and Blake Cote.

Dan Aber P’16, ’18, ’20, Adrian Enchill ’17 and Simon Aber ’18 at a Celtics game in November.

Emmett de Kanter ’19, Alex Wolf ’19, Cléa Guerrand-Hermès ’19 and Caroline Kelter ’19 at St. Andrews in Scotland.

Westminster Bulletin

CLASS NOTES

Martlets attending Bowdoin College had dinner in October in Brunswick, Maine, with Director of Alumni Relations Aileen Daversa ’90. Attendees were Aaron Rubin’15, Aileen, Emma Stevens ’16, Lucy Noel ’18 and Ellen Gyasi ’16.

Hilary Burrall, director of The Westminster Fund, hosted dinners for young alumni in Boston and Saratoga Springs. Martlets at Northeastern University gathered in Boston Jan. 26. Attendees were Matt Swenson ’17, Paige Brackett ’16, Lukas Dudzik ’19, Simon Aber ’18, Elaina Comia ’19 and Audrey Froelich ’19.

Martlets attending Boston College and Boston University gathered Jan. 27 for dinner, along with a few Martlets from Tufts. Attendees were Chris Whipple ’18, Mia Poling ’18, Paul McNamara ’18, Jeevan Palaniyandy ’19, Tarek Mourad ’19, Drew Brownback ’19 and Jimmy Zhang ’18.

Westminster alumni attending Skidmore College had dinner Nov. 10 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. They included Natalie Wilson ’18, Jordan Claprood ’18, Anissa Joseph ’17 and Taina Cotto ’16.

Spring 2020

CLASS NOTES

Martlets attending Hamilton College and Colgate University met for dinner in Hamilton, N.Y., in January with Aileen Daversa ’90, director of alumni relations. Front row, Wick Carter ’19, Shannon Keefe ’19, Annabel Bradley ’19 and Jane Ogden ’19; and back row, Elisabeth Morin ’18, Kate Neilsen ’18, Ally Marenco ’18, Katherine Ogden ’16, Kate McCausland ’16 and Elizabeth Casey ’18.

Every Martlet Can Make a Mark Make your mark on Westminster and support the present and future generations of Martlets who make their marks – at Westminster and on our world. You may direct your gift to any of these priorities. Visit gift.westminster-school.org to make your gift. The Westminster Fund closes on June 30.

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In Memoriam

1946 Carl J. Austrian Jr. died June 27 in New

York City. A clinical psychologist, he graduated from The Hill School and Williams College and did postgraduate study at Columbia University Teachers College. He served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. He was predeceased by his son and survived by his wife, Jane, a stepdaughter, two stepgrandchildren, a brother, two nieces, a great-niece and a great-nephew.

1949 Charles Templeton Kellogg died

Nov. 20. He was born and lived in Waterbury, Conn., his whole life. He was the grandson of former Connecticut Gov. Charles A. Templeton. Chuck attended Waterbury public schools before Westminster and graduated from Princeton University in 1953, where he participated in ROTC. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany as an officer during the Korean War. After earning his MBA from Columbia University, Chuck joined Hubbard-Hall as a fifth generation family member of the chemical distribution company. His leadership roles included president, CEO, treasurer, and for the last five years, as chairman and chief financial officer. Chuck was dedicated to charitable activities and public service. He served on the Governor’s Task Force on Brownfields and on numerous boards of directors, including as chair. He was most proud of his participation in the Waterbury Oversight Board in the 2000s, where he helped lead the nearly bankrupt city out of receivership and into years of surplus budgets. He won many awards for his volunteer service and business expertise. Chuck competed in 10 marathons and played golf into his 80s. He and his family traveled extensively, including many bike trips throughout the world. Summers were spent in Rhode Island.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Martha; four children; seven grandchildren, including Oliver Frantzis ’22; his sister; his brother, Peter Kellogg ’59; many nieces and nephews, including Lt. Col. Hunter Kellogg ’86; and great-nephews Duncan Kellogg ’15 and Andrew Skipp ’07.

1955 David Arthur Werblow died Feb. 20 and

leaves behind his wife, Virginia, two sons, three grandchildren, three stepchildren, six stepgrandchildren and his former wife. After spending his formative years on a farm in Shaftsbury, Vt., he graduated from Westminster, NYU and Columbia University. He first taught in Australia and then spent multiple years teaching in the Connecticut Community College system, first at Norwalk Community College and then at Middlesex Community College. He built sailboats, restored cars and was a two-term president of the Connecticut MG Club. He traveled extensively into his 80s.

1956 Henry Ingersoll Brown III died Nov. 21.

Born in Philadelphia, Jerry attended Chestnut Hill Academy until his family moved to Wilmington, Del., where he attended Tower Hill School until ninth grade. After attending and graduating from Westminster School, he earned a B.A. at Williams College and an M.A. at the University of Pennsylvania School of Architecture. He spent his entire working career as an architect at Anderson, Brown, Higley and Associates in Wilmington. Jerry spent almost every summer in Greensboro, Vt., fishing and enjoying the beauty of the Northeast Kingdom. He married Caroline “Cookie” Schutt, his high school sweetheart, in 1961. The two were soul mates until Cookie predeceased Jerry in 2010. He leaves behind three children, four grandchildren and two sisters.

James Stuart Reyburn died Dec. 3.

Following Westminster, he earned an Associate of Arts degree from Mitchell College and a B.A. in English from the University of Connecticut. He started his career as a reporter for the Norwich Bulletin and then worked at Shell Oil, where he produced employee and marketing magazines. He also served as editor at Croft Educational Services and then at the National School Board Association, Board Policy Division. In 1976, Jim joined General Dynamics Electric Boat as a news information specialist in the public affairs department. After 14 years at Electric Boat, he pursued freelance writing with his work appearing in numerous publications. He also wrote two books. Jim served as a crewmember aboard the former Camelot Cruises on the Connecticut River and, later, with a business partner, founded Thames River Cruises. Subsequently, Jim joined Fox Navigation and crewed on the Fishers Island Ferry. He also operated a tour boat on the Mystic River for a year. A United States Coast Guard veteran, he held a 100-ton Coast Guard master’s license for 20 years. He was a member and board member of numerous organizations, sang for 25 years with the New London chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America and acted in community theater productions. Jim is survived by two daughters, four grandchildren, two sisters, two brothers, his former wife, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Maury Reyburn ’32, and his uncle Lt. Col. John Reyburn ’31. Dick Clement shared: “My fondest memory of him is acting in the play “My Three Angels,” in which he and I were two of them, actually convicts, along with Frank Sands. He and I shared the vote for best actor in the class poll. We were also in the Harmonaires, singing barbershop sometimes at a local hostelry for a free dinner.”

Spring 2020

In Memoriam Frank Sands writes: “Jim was a valued classmate. He had a great sense of humor, was an actor, and we had fun in the 1954-1956 years at Westminster.”

1963 Rick Cooper died during the summer. The

Bulletin has no additional information.

1965 Timothy Jackson, a lifelong resident of

Dedham, Mass., died Nov. 18. Born in Boston, he attended Dedham Country Day School and the Fay School before Westminster. An accomplished ice hockey player, he graduated from Hamline University. He spent more than 40 years working at Dedham Country Day School, coached youth ice hockey, served on the board of the Dedham Community House and was an active town meeting member. Tim started at Dedham Country Day as a teacher, and during his career, served as the head of the upper school and business manager. His time at the school culminated with the redesign of the schoolhouse before his retirement in December 2015 and the business office being named after him to honor his four decades of service to the school. Tim enjoyed spending time with his seven grandchildren, sailing his boat on Buzzards Bay, and perfecting his woodworking craft in the shop he designed and built on Tobey Island. He leaves behind his wife, Susan, two sons, two daughters, seven grandchildren and his sister. He was predeceased by his brothers, former faculty member Mike Jackson ’49 and John Jackson ’55. He also leaves behind nephews Mike Jackson ’75, John Jackson ’78 and Tim Jackson ’82, as well as grandnephews Nat Jackson ’04 and Sam Jackson ’08.

Westminster Bulletin

1966 Huston Huffman Jr. died Dec. 11. He

was a resident of Oklahoma City since 1949. Until his retirement in 2019, he was a partner in H. Huffman & Co., an independent oil and gas firm, which he had managed since 1977. Before joining the company, he had a successful career with First National Bank & Trust Company of Oklahoma City. After Westminster he attended the University of Oklahoma. Huey was an active civic leader and volunteer, having served on a number of local boards, commissions and committees. He was also a member of numerous professional, trade and civic organizations. In his younger years, he was an avid offshore sailor, competing in numerous long-distance races in the North Atlantic. He enjoyed competitive croquet, competing nationally; golf; visiting his children and grandchildren; and many summers vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lexy, three daughters, eight grandchildren, a sister, two brothers, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Glenn Craft writes, “I only have positive memories of Huey, one of those rare and gentle souls who always put a smile on everyone, including the faces of those he met.” Reginald Morgan shared: “Huey was a solid soul and had a great sense of humor. I will miss him at our reunions.” William Holbrook writes: “We are lucky to have had this good man in our lives. Carpe Diem, my friends.” Greg Islan shared: “Huey had a special place in my heart as I learned a lot from having him live next door to me Fourth Form year. It is very sad to lose him.” Robert Hawes writes: “One of the original gang of 14 eighth grade rebel scholars. So many fond memories both during school and summers. I laughed in his presence.”

Richard Stewart writes: “He was a notable character in our class. He lived on the long corridor in Memorial House junior year. You always got to laugh when you ran into Huey.” Jody Vaill writes: “How very sad. A friend, father, classmate, son, husband, boss, dad, neighbor, leader, granddad, patron, client, uncle, mentor, brother. A good guy. A fun guy. A kind guy. A smart guy. A serious guy. A caring guy. A giving guy. No more important than any of our other Westminster brothers. But a special guy, nonetheless. Lost before we could once again say ‘Hey!’ or catch that twinkle in his eyes. Always that twinkle.”

1969 Christopher Hale Porter died Jan. 7. He

attended Mooreland Hill School before Westminster and received his bachelor’s degree from Kent State University. He then graduated from The New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences, receiving his degree in mortuary science. Chris became the fifth generation in his family to own and operate Porter’s Funeral Service Inc. He took great pride in the service he provided to families over the years in their most dire time of need. His commitment to the military and veterans was deep-rooted. He donated many electronic bugles so that “Taps” would be played for veterans’ burials across the area. He was honored with The Distinguished Citizen Award by the Marine Corps League and the Legion of Honor Award by The Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation. Chris was active in numerous organizations and donated countless funds to area charities and youth organizations. He loved playing Uno with his family, traveling, swimming, sailing, golfing and, above all else, spending time with his wife. He is survived by his wife, Peggy, four children, four grandchildren, a brother, a sister, and several nieces and nephews. Dirk Dreux writes: “And de fideli is pretty much how I remember Chris. .... He was a true, Land of Steady Habits, what you see is what you get, Connecticut Yankee. Plainspoken. Straight, no chaser.

All fact, no brag. A Christian gentleman. Think Squire Weston, yet more approachable and with a better sense of humor.”

1970 Will Luckey died Aug. 17 on Martha’s

Vineyard. He was known on the island as a piano, guitar and voice teacher for students of all ages, but he had a particular gift for bringing out music in young people. Will moved to the Vineyard in 1963, and attended the West Tisbury and Vineyard Haven schools before Westminster. He went to Colorado College, but gave up school to help form the band Magic Music, which developed an enthusiastic following with University of Colorado students in Boulder. The band lived in school buses in the canyons of Colorado and was asked to open for and tour with Cat Stevens, but they were told after playing their first set that they were fired because “they were too good.” Will spent several years touring with the band and then returned to Martha’s Vineyard where he performed in another band and worked as a roofer. After an accident, he thought he could not play guitar again and pursued a degree in music from Berklee College of Music, specializing in piano, which, in turn, launched his career in teaching. Years later, Lee Aronsohn, the co-creator of “Two and a Half Men,” produced a documentary of the Magic Music band, its music, and its amazing journey called “Forty Years in the Making: The Magic Music Movie.” The band reformed again 45 years later and released an album. Will is survived by his wife, Diane, his sister, three children and two grandchildren.

1971 Duncan John Draper died Nov. 27 in

Nova Scotia. His unusual ability to fix anything was the impulse behind a life of constant involvement in homebuilding, cars, antique furniture and all things mechanical. Duncan was raised primarily in Fairfield, Conn., and Marblehead, Mass., with several years of childhood spent living abroad in London, Brazil and Taiwan. When Duncan grew into the American countercultural and political movements of the 1960s, he did so with a deeply humanistic and borderless perspective. He carried this through a life of social justice advocacy. For many, Duncan’s truest expression came through music. He was a talented multi-instrumentalist from a young age, beginning with boogie-woogie piano as a child and continuing at Berklee College of Music. For many years, he worked as a musical accompanist for modern dance companies and schools and taught music in a variety of settings. Duncan was more than a resident, but an invested contributor to the culture, community and causes of the San Geronimo Valley and wider Marin County, Calif.; Marblehead, Mass.; Belfast, Maine; and his final home, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. He is survived by his wife, Naomi, two sons, two sisters and a brother. Richard Pepe died Jan. 25. Following

Westminster, he graduated from the University of Miami and Hospital of Saint Raphael’s School of Nurse Anesthesia. He practiced the art of anesthesia with an exceptional skill that was highly praised by his peers in the profession. Besides his love of family, he was passionate about his dogs, music, history, classic film, the Miami Hurricanes, art, literature, “Doctor Who,” and anything involving electronics and computers. He was an accomplished amateur videographer and music editor. He leaves behind his wife, Patricia, a daughter, three brothers, several nieces and nephews, and many cousins, including John Golia ’68 and Robert Golia ’72.

Bill Bartholomay shared: “While my class at Westminster was small, and we crossed paths daily, I was not that close to Rik. I do remember, however, that we shared an English class together taught by Mr. Burdett, and that one of the segments focused on ‘Macbeth.’ We were tasked with memorizing and presenting the soliloquy beginning with ‘Is this a dagger which I see before me...’ Being an absolute ‘nimnal’ when it comes to anything Shakespeare, I remember trying to hide under my desk to avoid being called upon. It is one thing to know the words; it is another to understand them. To my relief, only two classmates were selected to present: Jack Stull and Rik. Jack was a good old southern boy, and his interpretive presentation would have won an award at any NASCAR rally. Rik, on the other hand, got it and delivered the lines as they were meant to be heard. To paraphrase something I heard long ago: Any musician can play the notes, but the gift is in interpreting them. I think that it speaks to Rik’s insight and being able to see and express things, as others did not.”

1979 Preston P. Test died Feb. 9. He attended

Chestnut Hill Academy before Westminster and then the University of Delaware. While at Westminster, he excelled at swimming and set the school’s 50-yard swimming record that still stands to this day. In recognition for the longevity of his accomplishment and to honor his legacy of his unwavering commitment to the school’s swimming and diving program, Westminster recently created the Preston P. “Pete” Test ’79 Swimming Award to recognize the most valuable swimmer and diver for boys. Pete continued swimming in college and for years in the Masters Program. While at college, Pete took flying lessons at Wings Field and was hooked. His career began as a traffic reporter in the early days of Shadow Traffic in the Philadelphia market. He moved on to be a pilot for Ransom Airlines, Pan Am Express, US Airways and, ultimately,

Spring 2020

In Memoriam advanced to the rank of captain at American Airlines, flying domestic and international routes. Pete was happiest when home with his family. He leaves behind his wife, Kim, a daughter, a son, a sister, three brothers, and numerous nieces and nephews. Dave Maclean writes: “I will always remember Pete as the keeper on our great ’78 soccer team. That team was loaded with scoring talent including Mats Alba, Art Dague, Tim French ’80, Dan Bates ’80 and many others I can’t remember. I

played defense and our job was to hold it together while the offense sliced and diced; we were a good team, maybe not Westminster’s best, but a good team. I remember Pete’s encouragement and steadiness behind me when we were struggling to fend off enemy attacks. I remember taking a collective deep breath with him when the ball went over the line for a goal kick or a corner kick. I did not know Pete well, but I remember him as always kind and always smiling. He was very good teammate, and I bet he was well loved during his life cut too short. There is a picture of Pete in the ’79 yearbook laid out horizontal stopping a shot. No offense to the swimmers, but that is how I will remember him.”

1988 John R. Bryan of Redondo Beach, Calif.,

died Dec. 20. Born and raised in New York City, he attended the Buckley School before Westminster. After a distinguished high school career, he followed in his mother’s footsteps at Vanderbilt University, earning a B.E. in mechanical engineering. At Vanderbilt, John served as an officer of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, discovered his passion for lacrosse and found the love of his life, Fiona. He went on to earn an MBA from the University of Missouri Trulaske College of Business. John was a passionate, inventive and visionary leader in smart grid technology, renewable energy and energy storage, working for XCel Energy, CODA Energy Storage Systems and, most recently, as vice president of commercial applications at EPC Power. He was deeply committed 82

Westminster Bulletin

to innovating new business models for clean technology, improving processes and efficiency and advocating for policy changes to create a sustainable, clean energy future for his children and the planet. His raw intelligence, drive and selfconfidence were balanced by his humility, integrity and brilliant sense of humor. John is survived by his wife, Fiona, three children, his brother and his mother. James Smith writes: “John was my first Westminster roommate. I was a newbie from way up in the Canadian backwater, and I’d never lived with anyone other than my family. I remember being pretty uncertain and off-balance those first days. John was a steady, normalizing influence. He knew the ropes and was a dedicated student. He gave me license to be just a little louder than him (which was my nature), but also inspired me to be as equally dedicated. We played JV football together that fall, and he was our best player. He played varsity the next year. Plus, he had a Macintosh. This was 1986, and I’d never even seen one before, so that was pretty cool. We drifted to our own social sets as you do in high school, but I am thankful for those first few months. I thought I was pretty much the funniest person ever, but he always found a way to put me in my place. His dry wit flashed up at the strangest times, over lunch or a walk to class, and I probably appreciated him most at those times, even if it meant I was getting the raw side of a gentle insult.” Doug McLearn shared: “The first thing that I remembered about John was a time senior year when he was standing in the first floor hallway of Memorial dormitory. He had a huge smile on his face. I don’t remember the reason or the exact circumstances, but I remember him well and that smile seemed to personify him while we knew him at Westminster.”

1991 Ginna Foster Cannon died Dec. 7. She

grew up in New York City, attending The Chapin School before Westminster. She received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and an MBA from

Columbia Business School. She worked in the publishing industry before taking a cross-country road trip in search of a new place to live, discovering Nashville and moving there in 2006. She continued her education and received a Master of Liberal Arts and Sciences from Vanderbilt and a Ph.D. in historic preservation from Middle Tennessee State University. She was the director of cultural heritage and tourism for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, and chairman of the Rutherford Arts Alliance. She leaves behind her husband, Mark, a daughter, a stepdaughter, parents, stepparents, sister Laing Foster Rikkers ’88, and several nephews, nieces, cousins, uncles and aunts. Mary Peck ’90 shared, “When you spent time with Ginna, inevitably you laughed a lot, shared big ideas, talked about books and pop culture gossip, and left feeling very lucky to have such a special friend in your life.” Jen Bihldorff ’90 remembered that Ginna “was an amazing blend of intellectual fire, artistic passion and kindheartedness. It was inspiring to watch from afar as she put those things into practice in her life. This is such sad news; it’s impossible to process.”

Former Faculty and Staff Richard Bergen died April 9 in Hartford.

A graduate of Kingswood School in West Hartford and of Denison University, he began his career as a volunteer for VISTA, where he worked with the Chippewa Tribe to found several communitybuilding initiatives in northern Minnesota. He then became a science teacher, sharing his love for nature and all things living with his students, before becoming an exceptional photographer, first for the Hartford Courant and thereafter started his own firm. He taught photography at Westminster for a number of years,

and for decades, he photographed Westminster events and members of the school community for the Westminster Bulletin and other school print and online communications. Both in and out of work, Richard never did things halfway: He became a master woodworker and spent countless hours both building fine furniture and offering guidance to anyone who asked; he built and maintained a professionalquality koi pond in his backyard; and he loved riding his motorcycle through the winding roads of rural New England. He adored his many summers spent on Squam Lake in New Hampshire with his family, reveled coaching his sons’ lacrosse teams and sharing his many passions with them, and had a limitless supply of empathy and generosity for everyone he met. He overcame many challenges with both grit and grace and was deeply appreciative of his family and many friends who loved and supported him throughout his illness. Richard was the father of two sons, Connor of Evanston, Ill., and Leland of Boston, Mass. He cherished their mother, Eileen Flaherty of Bloomfield, Conn. Richard was predeceased by his parents, and by his brother Gordon. In addition to Connor, Leland and Eileen, Richard leaves his brother and his wife, Hunt and Jane Bergen, and his sister and her husband, Elizabeth and Jeff Von Kohorn. Faculty member Jane Toner writes: “I have had the pleasure of knowing Richard for over 20 years, as we worked together often at Westminster and beyond while sharing a common passion for the art of photography. His professional photographic work was unsurpassed in the region. He had a diverse playbook, specializing in many aspects of commercial, event and marketing work. I truly admired his creativity, attention to detail, knowledge of his craft and adaptability to the ever-changing technology that was so inherent in contemporary professional photography. More importantly, he was a compassionate friend and selfless mentor and often a voice of reason when life became challenging. I will miss his warm,

welcoming presence, felt by all, on his many visits to Westminster’s campus. Whether it was photographing a dance performance, a musical, candid scenes for our marketing materials, Grandparents Day, graduation events or proctoring endless AP exams, he loved his time at Westminster. It surely was where he felt comfortable and connected. Many of us at Westminster will miss his inclusive presence, his exceptional work and, most of all, his wonderful sense of humor!” Faculty member Darlene Skeels writes: “I enjoyed working with Richard on photo shoots for the Westminster Bulletin and other Westminster communications needs for 13 years. He took the necessary time to make everyone he was photographing feel comfortable and to capture wonderful images. His photographs helped bring stories to life. I am especially grateful for his friendship. As Richard faced his illness with optimism and courage, he expressed appreciation for the many relationships he formed with members of the Westminster community over the years. He will be greatly missed.” A member of the Westminster faculty from 1961-1967, Richard Thomas Flood Jr. died Oct. 30. He was a graduate of Noble and Greenough School and Williams College. Known to everyone as ‘Floodo,” he was an icon in the independent school world, especially in New England. After serving on the faculty at Pomfret School and Charterhouse School in England where he was a Fulbright Scholar, he served as college counselor, varsity hockey coach, French teacher and baseball coach at Westminster. Following Westminster, he returned to his alma mater, Noble and Greenough, and concluded an impressive service to schools as headmaster at Salisbury School. After retiring from Salisbury School, Floodo created Dick Flood Education Services, inspiring young educators to find jobs in independent schools. Floodo was a Hall of Fame hockey coach who led Nobles across three decades. He founded the Summer Europa Cup, which graduated dozens of NHL and Olympic stars. Westminster’s First Boys’ Hockey team continues to compete in the annual

holiday Flood-Marr Hockey Tournament in Massachusetts. He is survived by his three children, including former faculty member Katherine “Kassy” Brewer Fritz; seven grandchildren; and his brother. He was predeceased by his wife, Sally. Priscilla Nye MacMullen, who died March

21, 2019, graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy. A National Merit Scholarship recipient and winner of the Cox Medal, she won varsity letters in three sports. Polly attended Yale University, where she majored in French and later earned a master’s degree at Middlebury College. She was an extraordinarily committed French teacher who taught for four years at Westminster and then returned to her alma mater, where she devoted her life to teaching, advising and mentoring students. She was involved in countless ways outside the classroom as a dorm head, coach of girls’ lacrosse, a part-time college counselor, and a member of the admissions and discipline committees. In 1999, she was awarded with the Rupert Radford ’55 Faculty Fellowship award. Polly leaves behind her mother, father, stepmother, two brothers, a sister, and six nieces and nephews. Mary Ellen McDonald died Oct. 25. She

attended St. John’s University, where she met her husband, Tom, to whom she was married for 59 years. During her career, Mary was a teacher in New York City, the assistant to former Westminster School Headmaster Don Werner and the executive assistant to the CEO of Executive Risk. Mary loved her time at Westminster, where she made lifelong friends and had great admiration for the faculty and staff. Upon retirement, Mary and Tom moved to North Hutchinson Island, Fla., followed by Bluffton, S.C. Besides her husband, Mary leaves behind four children, including Katherine McDonald Finn ’88, and four grandchildren.

Spring 2020

Closing Thoughts

One Foot in the Past and One Foot in the Present By Betsy Heckman, Head of the History Department “Betsy, what do you want to be when you grow up?” From the age of 4 until high school, my response to this classic question was consistently, “the first woman president.” Throughout my childhood, I was a newshound, obsessed with our political leaders, past and present. I volunteered in campaigns, spent some time in the Texas Senate as a page and ventured into the messy world of middle school politics. At some point in high school, I realized I was more of a behind-thescenes person than a candidate, but my interest in government did not diminish. I became increasingly engaged not just in American politics but the affairs and interests of other countries. This turn toward the international began when I was 11, and my parents took my brother and me to Europe for six weeks. It was the single most important event of my life. We traveled across the continent by train, and I awakened to the world. I was fortunate to have supportive parents who encouraged me to follow my passion, which led to summers abroad in high school, a year in Paris in college and a summer working for the State Department in Scotland in graduate school. Over the course of my studies in international relations, I became increasingly concerned that discussions surrounding the current political situation at home and abroad lacked the appropriate historical context to make good sense of what was happening. With the excitement of the end of the Cold War, people seemed to forget that history and identity mattered. There was a desire to see the world through a simplified lens; democracy and the West had won. Much of my graduate work had focused on the power of nationalism in different country contexts, both in the past and present. I was convinced that despite the harmonious atmosphere, nationalism never disappears, and it is necessary to study carefully each nation in its own context and not make simplistic assumptions. In order to understand why countries are where they are today, it is crucial to look at their past and seek to understand what makes their story unique. As I finished graduate school, I was further concerned that despite how connected the world was becoming, people had less of an understanding of one another. I was also a bit lost as to what to do with my career. I decided on a whim to look into an option that I thought had potential: teaching. I knew that no 84

Westminster Bulletin

matter what career I chose I wanted to make a difference. I began to think that the best way I could achieve this was by helping young people have a better grasp on the world around them. It was becoming smaller and more complicated. In order to navigate this new global order, young people needed to have an authentic understanding of not just the present but the past. I became more convinced that my calling was to work with students when their mind was just opening and when they were beginning to think critically about their surroundings and the world in which they live. I wanted to teach history, so that young people could better understand the world and the people who live in it. I felt like I could have the daily impact that I desired while also potentially having the ability to shape the future. I could help students become thoughtful and educated global citizens. This initial calling continues to inform what I do every day at Westminster. Through teaching government and history, and serving as advisor to Model U.N., I have been able to directly combine all of my interests and goals by pushing students to engage and think about the challenges the international community faces. I also insist that students try to see other countries and people from their perspective instead of from our own. In addition, as head of the History Department, I have shaped the curriculum with an eye toward the present and future. Our courses push students to think critically about the past and reflect on implications for the here and now. Taking on the role of director of studies next year, I further hope to mold the school’s academic life and encourage students to think beyond Williams Hill. My goal is that Westminster students graduate with a great deal of knowledge but, more importantly, with the understanding that nothing is simple. Countries do not make decisions or take actions in a vacuum. They are affected by the international climate as well as their own internal dynamics, political culture and history. Likewise, the decisions leaders make will have consequences well beyond their own borders. With this in mind, I teach my courses with one foot in the past and one foot in the present, hoping that my students will be as well prepared as possible to face the ever-changing world that awaits them with an open mind.

TRUSTEES 2019-2020 John S. Armour ’76 Emeritus Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. Elisabeth M. Armstrong P’04, ’06, ’07 Emerita Dallas, Texas Stephen W. Bailey ’89, P’21, ’23 Alexandria, Va. Beth Cuda Baker P’09, ’12, ’15 New Canaan, Conn. Christopher M. Beck P’08, ’13 Ex officio Harpswell, Maine William D. Brewer P’17, ’21 New York, N.Y.

Heather Frahm ’86, P’23 Boston, Mass. Joseph L. Gitterman III ’55, P’86, ’86, ’90 Emeritus Washington Depot, Conn. Powell W. Holly III ’82 Fredericksburg, Va. Robert T. Horsford ’89 New York, N.Y. David H. Hovey Jr. ’78, P’09, ’11, ’14 Simsbury, Conn. Martin R. Irani ’83 Encino, Calif.

Curtis F. Brockelman Jr. ’86, P’19 Greenwich, Conn.

Moyahoena Ogilvie Johnson ’86 Vice Chair of the Board Bloomfield, Conn.

Zooey Brown P’15 Batesville, Va.

Jeffrey E. Kelter P’12, ’14, ’19 Locust Valley, N.Y.

Renée Lynch Carrel ’84, P’19, ’21 Edina, Minn. Edward V. Dardani Jr. P’14, ’18 Waccabuc, N.Y. John H. Davis P’05 Emeritus Longmeadow, Mass.

David W. Kistler ’87, P’22 Tiburon, Calif. Bernhard L. Kohn Jr. ’66, P’92 Bloomfield, Conn. Hae-Young Lee P’18, ’20 Seoul, South Korea

Lori P. Durham P’13, ’15 Denver, Colo.

Jane Kessler Lennox ’88, P’16, ’18 New Albany, Ohio

William C. Egan III ’64, P’92, ’95, ’00, ’02 Emeritus Jackson, Wyo.

Douglas F. Londal P’17, ’19 Bronxville, N.Y.

Madeleine Ekholm P’19, ’20 Greenwich, Conn. Jacqueline J. Ferro P’20 Chicago, Ill. Colin S. Flinn ’82 Sanibel, Fla.

Westminster Bulletin SPRING 2020

Published by:

Westminster School 995 Hopmeadow St. Simsbury, CT 06070 (860) 408-3000 This magazine is produced twice a year by the Marketing and Communications Office.

Bryan Martin ’86 Larchmont, N.Y. Thomas W. McCargo ’82, P’21 Sewickley, Pa. Andrew D. McCullough Jr. ’87 Houston, Texas

Address Class Notes to:

Aileen Daversa ’90 Director of Alumni Relations Westminster School 995 Hopmeadow St. Simsbury, CT 06070 Or submit via email: alumninotes@westminster-school.org To update contact information: spierson@westminster-school.org In keeping with our support for a diverse community, Westminster abides by all applicable federal and state laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry and/or disability.

T. Treadway Mink Jr. ’77, P’11 Emeritus Greenville, S.C. Elizabeth A. Moran ’06 Ex officio Seattle, Wash. Ian M. Morton ’87, P’22 San Francisco, Calif. Joan A. Nolan P’20 Ex officio Wayzata, Minn. John A. Nolan P’20 Ex officio Wayzata, Minn. James H. Oldershaw ’92 Ex officio Lexington, Mass. Mary Minns Peck ’90 Denver, Colo. William V.N. Philip P’06, ’09 Head of School Ex officio Simsbury, Conn. C. Bradford Raymond ’85, P’19, ’20 Chair of the Board New York, N.Y. Susan M. Ryan P’12 Smithtown, N.Y. Thomas D. Sargent II ’77, P’10 West Hartford, Conn. Samuel Thorne ’46, P’74, ’76 Emeritus Bedford, Mass. Kirsten Sichler Webb ’98 Greenwich, Conn. Benjamin D. Williams IV ’81 Carpinteria, Calif.

Editor

Darlene Skeels Director of Communications and Publications dskeels@westminster-school.org Director of Marketing and Communications

Jeff Kennard P’19

Class Notes Coordinator

Aileen Daversa ’90 Director of Alumni Relations Photography

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John Johnson Art Direction & Design Winsted, Conn.

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Westminster Bulletin Spring 2020

Articles inside

Class Notes

In Memoriam

Martlets on the Move

Supporting Westminster

Building Relationships in a New Community

Enthusiastically Alive in the Present Moment

Athletics

From the Archives

Learning Every Aspect of Theater Through Dramat

Leadership By Example

Hill Headlines

Head of School Message