QuakerMatters Wilmington Friends School
Summer 2017
Summer 2017 Contents 1 From the Head of School 2 From the Alumni Board Clerk 3 2017 Alumni Awards Announced 6 From the Archives 8 Commencement and The Class of 2017 18 Comings & Goings 20 Quaker Pride 21 Spring News & Events 34 Class Notes 41 In Memory 45 In Closing TOP LEFT: Jordan Carter ’17, Trustee Laura Reilly and Laura’s son, Ian Hartley ’17 LEFT: The Rocanelli Veale sisters, Elena ’14, Olivia ’11, and Simone ’17 On the cover: Anthony Burgos-Harris ’17 and Alyssa Nathan ’17 with their diplomas.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
ALUMNI BOARD 2017-2018
Chair, Susan Kelley Vice Chair, Dorothy Rademaker Treasurer, Christopher Buccini ’90 Secretary, Russ Endo Jennifer G. Brady Susan Janes-Johnson Omar A. Khan ’90 Karen-Lee Brofee Daniel Klein Denise H. Chapman Matthew Lang ’08 Erin Brownlee Dell ’89 Zachary T. Dutton ’06 Christopher W. Lee ’82 Deborah Murray-Sheppard Scott W. Gates ’80 David Tennent Richard Grier-Reynolds Noreen Haubert Harvey Zendt
Christopher W. Lee ’82, Clerk Matthew Lang ’08, Vice Clerk Melissa Fagan Billitto ’87 Erin Bushnell ’96 Stanita Clarke ’06 Carolyn Gates Connors ’81 Alexandra Poorman Ergon ’77 Joseph Gutierrez ’07 Jamie Jenney ’94 Joshua Klein ’98 Erika Kurtz ’99 Jonathan Layton ’86 Adrienne Monley ‘02 Katharine Lester Mowery ’02 Raymond Osbun ’71 Kristin Dugan Poppiti ’03 Richie Rockwell ’02 Thomas Scott ’70 James Simon ’60 Martha Poorman Tschantz ’85 Josiah Wolcott ’97
Alumni Association Board Liaison , Thomas S. Scott ’70 Home & School Association Board Liaison, Debbie Pittenger
ADMINISTRATION Head of School, Kenneth Aldridge Assistant to the Head of School, Ann Cole Associate Head for Finance and Operations, William Baczkowski Assistant Head for Academics, Michael Benner Head of Lower School, Julie Rodowsky Head of Middle School, Jonathan Huxtable Head of Upper School, Rebecca Zug Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Melissa Brown Director of Communications and Strategic Marketing, Susan Morovati Finizio ’87 Director of Development, Chad O’Kane
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Thanks to Stacy Gatti and John Sullivan for photo contributions. Professional photography by Elisa Komins Morris, Larry Kuhn, and Billy Michels ’89. Please send any comments or corrections to info@wilmingtonfriends.org.
Blair Atkins ’17 celebrates commencement.
From the Head of School Dear Friends, Here at Friends, we keep pretty busy during the summer, but it’s also a time for us to catch our collective breath, to regroup and reflect after all of the late spring activity that comes with another school year ending: the year’s last round of concerts; field day; fifth graders sitting down with their families for one last lower school meeting for worship; faculty and staff retirements; Final Assembly and Commencement for the Class of 2017. Spring is vibrant, exciting, and noisy in the best possible way—not unlike the birds in the ivy-covered wall outside the middle/upper school’s main entrance—and it is also full of endings. But this summer, when I had time to reflect, what I found myself contemplating most wasn’t endings or goodbyes, but continuity--the sense that the story of our community is ever unfolding. One of the great privileges and pleasures of my job is traveling to other cities in order to meet with alumni. A recent trip took me to Boston, where I met an alumnus who had graduated from Wilmington Friends many decades before. As he shared memories of his time here and as he eagerly asked questions about the present and future of the school, it occurred to me that often, in very real ways, students don’t actually leave Friends, or more accurately, Friends doesn’t leave them. They stay connected, carrying their time here—their experiences, knowledge, friendships, and Quaker principles– with them into the world, so that the story of Friends continues well outside the stone walls of the school. In his commencement address, Governor John Carney called this connection “loyalty” and advised our graduates to maintain their friendships, to stay in touch with their teachers, and to hold fast to our school’s foundational Quaker values—the SPICES—as they embark on the next leg of their journey. This sense of connection holds true for faculty and staff, too. At the end of this school year, five members of the Friends family retired and, when I did the math, I realized that together they represented over 100 years of institutional memory. At our last full staff meeting in June, the retirees’ colleagues took the theater stage to honor them. As they and the retirees themselves spoke, the gratitude in the room was palpable. Everyone shared anecdotes, some funny, some poignant, and even as we said goodbye, it was clear that the connections between these people and the school to which they had dedicated so much time and thoughtfulness would be deep and lasting. The Quaker faith includes a belief in “continuing revelation,” the idea that Truth is not static or finite but is immediate, organic, and constantly revealing itself with a piece of it living inside every person and every experience. The story of Friends School is similarly alive and growing, not in a linear manner, but like ivy spreading out in all directions, continuing to reveal itself in Boston and in all the other places members of our community journey when they leave. And, of course, as we prepare to start the 2017-2018 school year, it continues here at 101 School Road with all of us. In friendship,
Ken presenting Paisley Dianastasis ’17 her diploma; with QUEST Big Ideas Speaker Arn Chorn-Pond; visiting friends at lower school.
Ken Aldridge
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From the Alumni Board Clerk Dear Friends, On behalf of the Wilmington Friends School Alumni Association, I want to extend congratulations to the Class of 2017. This year’s commencement had special meaning for me as my son Christopher was one of the graduates. He received his Friends School diploma on the front lawn of the school, 35 years after I received mine in the very same spot. I am thrilled to welcome him and his classmates as the newest members of the WFS Alumni Association and look forward to celebrating future milestones with them. I wish the members of the Class of 2017 the best of luck as they begin the next chapter after WFS. Please keep in touch! It was another wonderful year at WFS, and I am once again honored to be part of such a special community. We celebrated successful athletic seasons, academic achievements, and service commitments. We reached our Annual Fund goal and raised over $1,010,000. Thanks to your support, Friends will continue to offer strong programs in support of our Quaker values. Please check out the Annual Report, included in this edition, to read about all that we accomplished together. Looking forward to the year ahead, I hope you can attend Homecoming on October 27-28. Each year during Homecoming, the Alumni Board is honored to recognize a couple of alumni who are “letting their lives speak.” I am pleased to announce the 2017 Alumni Award Recipients: Distinguished Alumnus Award: The Honorable Walter Stapleton ’52 Outstanding Service Alumnus Award: Tim Gibbs ’76 We will celebrate our honorees on Friday, October 27, during the All Alumni and True Blue Donor reception. This event has continued to grow each year and is a great opportunity to see the School and its many changes, see old friends, and meet new ones. More details about Homecoming can be found on our website wilmingtonfriends.org. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you on campus soon. Sincerely,
Chris Lee ’82
WHAT IS THAT? Do you recognize the image in this photo? If you do, or would like to make a guess, email us at alumni@ wilmingtonfriends.org for a chance to win WFS gear. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. Please contact us by October 15, 2017.
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2017 Alumni Awards Announced
Each year, the Wilmington Friends School Alumni Association presents recognitions for outstanding achievements and service. As representatives of all Friends alumni, our honorees exemplify the qualities of a Friends School graduate, including integrity, a commitment to serve others, and an active value of social justice.
The Honorable Walter Stapleton ’52 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Award
Tim Gibbs ’76 2017 Outstanding Service Award Recipient
Judge Walter Stapleton ’52 is a pillar of the Wilmington community, serving as a federal judge for 46 years. Beginning his legal career as a successful corporate attorney, his decision to shift his focus to public service was strongly influenced by his experience at WFS. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Judge Stapleton has been involved with numerous non-profit organizations, including Wilmington Friends School.
Tim Gibbs ’76 has dedicated his life to serving the community, both through his professional and volunteer roles. Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Delaware Academy of Medicine/Delaware Public Health Association, Tim has worked tirelessly to improve several healthcare initiatives through the non-profit sector. His Quaker background has inspired his passion to help the underserved and those who are in need.
After graduating from WFS, Judge Stapleton continued on to Princeton University for his B.A., Harvard Law School, and the University of Virginia for a Masters degree in the Judicial Process. He began his legal career as an Associate at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, and later was promoted to Partner. He briefly served as the Deputy Attorney General of the State of Delaware, and then began his appointed career in the judicial system, being appointed Judge to the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. He later served as Chief Judge of the District Court and Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Walt is still with the Third Circuit, currently serving as a Senior Judge. Along with his professional positions, Walt has served on numerous judicial committees, many of which required appointment by the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, and taught at several prestigious Law Schools, including Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, and Duke.
His exposure to, and passion for, community service started which he was a junior at WFS with his volunteer work at the Alfred I. dupont Institute for Children where he worked directly with patients and in the research laboratories. Tim went on to receive his B.A. from Earlham College, non-profit management certification from the University of Delaware, and a Master’s in Public Health from Arcadia University.
Judge Stapleton has been the recipient of several awards. He was recognized as “Classmate of the Year,” by his Princeton class, given an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Delaware, and also received the Delaware State Bar Association First State Distinguished Service Award. In 2014, Judge Stapleton received the prestigious American Inns of Court Professionalism Award, “given to a person who demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and dedication to the highest standards of the legal profession.” This award is given to one lawyer or judge from each circuit, and the 13 recipients are honored at the United States Supreme Court. In addition to Judge Stapleton’s impressive professional career, he’s also been involved with several non-profit organizations. He’s served as a Board Member for WFS, American Baptist Churches, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Delaware, and Buck & Doe Trust, Inc. (a natural resource conservation in the Brandywine Valley). Judge Stapleton was also an active member in the Republican Party in New Castle County and a founding member of the Big Brothers Association of Northern Delaware. He is currently actively engaged with Silverside Church of Wilmington as a member and officer. Judge Stapleton reflects fondly on his time at WFS, and credits the school with teaching him “things that are important to a meaningful life,” one of the reasons he chose to send his children to WFS. He learned the importance of service to others and what it means to be committed to one’s work, as well as more pragmatic skills like writing persuasively yet tersely, editing, and thinking through difficult problems. He gained an appreciation for silence and freedom of thought, and he hopes WFS “will continue the tradition it has created and maintained so well in the past.” We are humbled to call Judge Stapleton one of our own and are thrilled to honor him with the Distinguished Alumnus award.
In the late 80s, he led a groundbreaking project and managed the founding of Delaware’s first transitional housing and hospice care facility for people with HIV/AIDS. Upon the project’s merger with Catholic Charities in the early 90s, Tim coupled his passion for human services with his technology skills, and became the Executive Director of Catalyst Project, an organization focused on helping non-profits effectively use technology. While working at Catalyst Project, he collaborated with the University of Delaware and helped established Delaware’s first network for non-profits, Diamondnet, as well as the first online version of the Delaware Helpline database (now called Delaware 211). During this period Catalyst operated a computer recycling and upgrade facility, and did substantial work in the field around preparation for “Y2K.” During this time, he was also a member of the Washington, DC, Information Technology Roundtable, a group that worked on privacy settings and platform interoperability for the early internet with the Brookings Institute. Many of the initiatives set by this group have allowed us to experience the internet as it is today. In his current role at the Delaware Academy of Medicine, Tim oversaw the organization’s move from Wilmington to Newark, and has worked to restructure their program and mission. These efforts led to the Delaware Academy of Medicine being named Delaware’s affiliate to the American Public Health Association in 2013. In 2015, under Tim’s direction, the Academy started publishing the peer-reviewed “Delaware Journal of Public Health,” assuring the sector a dedicated voice for these issues in our state. Tim is an active volunteer and is a Board Member for the Delaware Stroke Initiative and the Delaware Community Foundation Development Team. He serves as Delaware’s representative to the American Public Health Association Council of Affiliates, and is currently the Region 3 coordinator for the APHA (Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, DC, Virginia, and West Virginia). He is also involved with American Planning Association, and the National Academy of Medicine. Some of his most rewarding and challenging work is working with people in recovery from addiction. Tim served on the WFS Alumni Board for five years and is a loyal and dedicated alumnus. The School is grateful for his involvement, and we are honored to present him with this year’s Outstanding Service Award.
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Class Agents
The following is a list of Class Agents and their respective class years. Thank you to all of our Class Agents who help communicate about important WFS happenings. We appreciate your hard work and support. Richard Heald - 1946 Marie Berl Ferguson - 1947 Alice Mearns Ivy - 1948 John Beekley - 1949 Donald Altmaier - 1951 Fred Pardee - 1952 Eleanor Poorman - 1953 Cornelia Geesey Gromadzki - 1955 Jim James - 1955 Ellen Winthrop Jennings - 1955 David Hillegas - 1955 Cynthia Pyle Woolley - 1956 Thomas Baker - 1957 Andy Hess - 1958 James Simon - 1960 Fleet Davis - 1961 Alfred Freeman - 1961 Irving Cox - 1962 Pamela Perkins Young - 1964 Leslie Kirkman Reed - 1964 Janet Martin Yabroff - 1964 Ben Osbun - 1966 Carol Mumford Osbun - 1966 Carol Bancroft Morley - 1968 Anne S. Reese - 1969 Roy Wilkinson - 1970 Thomas Scott - 1970 Barbara Baganz Simpson - 1971 John O’Brien - 1972 Wendy Vaala - 1973 Margaret Adams Hunter - 1974 Richard Horwitz - 1975 Sandy Ranck King - 1975 Thomas Marston - 1975 David Geoghegan - 1975 Andrew Atkins - 1976 Christine Papastavros Fay - 1976 Daniel Fleming -1976 Marianne Cordrey-Cotsell - 1977 Nancy Kuniholm Aronhalt - 1979 Chip Connolly - 1979 Tam Cox Defer -1980 Scott Gates - 1980
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Martha Lemons Sherrill - 1981 Christopher Lee - 1982 Meg Gehret Erskine - 1983 Susie Tattersall Davis - 1984 Robert Hoopes - 1985 Martha Poorman Tschantz - 1985 Tracey Porter Aleman -1987 Mariza Vergara Barbe - 1988 Beth Lubaroff Pfeifer - 1988 Julia Gordon Beverly - 1988 Kim Massih Dolan - 1989 Brian Nilstoft -1989 Brian Mand - 1990 Max Walton - 1991 Rebecca Brand - 1992 Peter Morrow - 1992 Thomas Segars - 1993 Jay Bakhru - 1993 Amy Curran Harper - 1994 Megan Ferrara White - 1995 Erin Bushnell - 1996 Kristen Facciolo - 1996 Olivia Kurtz - 1997 Kristin Chandler - 1998 Erin Facciolo Wehler - 1998 Erika Kurtz - 1999 Katie Wolf Martinenza - 1999 Meredith Jones Joppa - 2000 Jaclyn Mraz - 2001 Sara Titone - 2002 Elizabeth Hopkins Denenberg - 2002 Jamie Jacobs - 2003 Abigail Hughes-Strange - 2004 Stephanie Bonnes - 2004 Alisha Wolf Emerson - 2005 Kristen Mraz - 2005 Stanita Clarke - 2006 Linda Donatoni - 2006 Katie McEnroe - 2007 Laura Wolf - 2007 Michael Anderson - 2008 Elizabeth Connolly - 2009 William Rodowsky - 2009
Kristin Lang - 2010 Jesse Paul - 2010 Javier Horstmann - 2011 Samantha Perillo - 2011 Lindsay Reese - 2011 Taylor Warrington-Purcell - 2012 Elizabeth Aleman - 2012 Virginia DeWees - 2012 Keiko Endo - 2012 Kendall Flanagan - 2012 Nicholas Napoletano - 2012 Patrick Schlecker - 2012 William Maguire - 2013 TyLisa Johnson - 2013 Katherine Halpern - 2013 Christopher Palmer - 2013 Margaret Snyder - 2013 Peyton Beard - 2014 Bevyn Mannke - 2014 Maria Rizzo - 2014 Kenji Endo - 2014 Meryl Gatti - 2015 Molly Harper - 2015 Wyatt Thompson - 2015 Andrew Conces - 2016 Joslyn Gardner - 2016 Drew Pittenger - 2016 Demetria Ruhl - 2016 Jessica Saunders -2016 And introducing our new Class Agents from the Class of 2017, Sadie Proud and Lena Urick.
Save the Dates! Homecoming Weekend, October 27-28, 2017 Celebrating Class Years Ending in 2 and 7
11:00am Presentation by Ken Aldridge; Library Learning Commons
Friday, October 27, 2017 11:30am 50th + Reunion and 1748 Planned Giving Society Luncheon to Celebrate Classes of 1967, 1962, 1957, 1952, 1947, 1942, 1937 and 1748 Planned Giving Society Members The DuPont Country Club 5:00pm Alumni Field Hockey Game
11:15am JV Field Hockey Game 11:30am Homecoming Lunch (runs until 2:00pm; all welcome) 12:00pm Varsity Boys’ Soccer Game
6:30pm True Blue and All Alumni Reunion/Awards Reception and Art Show; Library Learning Commons
12:00-2:00pm Self-guided tours of the MS/US Campus; Jones House
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Kids’ Corner; West Gym
8:00am Homecoming Service Project (TBD)
1:30pm JV Boys’ Soccer Game
8:30am Smith McMillan 5K Run/Walk Main entrance of MS/US
2:30pm Varsity Football Game (Halftime Show by 4th-8th grade band) FUN FACT -- it’s Coach T’s 50th season!
10:00am 15+ Meeting for Worship, honoring current and past faculty/ staff with 15 or more years of service to WFS ~ all welcome MS/US Meeting Room
8:00pm Upper School Homecoming Dance
10:00am Varsity Field Hockey Game
Evening reunions off campus for all classes ending in 2 or 7 arranged by class representatives. For more information about Homecoming 2017 or your Class Reunion, please contact alumni@wilmingtonfriends.org or 302.576.2980.
WFS is Coming to a City Near You! More information to come about the following Regional Reunions:* October - Philadelphia • November - Washington, DC December - Southern California • March - Atlanta April - New York City * tentative schedule Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
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From the WFS Archives Digging through the Friends School Archive Folders By Terence Maguire WFS Archivist My work as Friends School archivist involves scanning images relevant to the fifteen reunion classes that meet each October Homecoming and gathering them into online folders for the reunion organizers to access. In 2017, the earliest such folder is for the class of 1942, then 1947, 1952, and so on, to 2012. I include scans of the graduation class photos and programs, theater presentations and photos, sports team photos, and other items pertaining to that class’s experience at Friends. Going through the Material Archives folders is something like an archaeological dig, with papers and photographs being the artifacts, rather than shards of pottery or crude tools. These artifacts give one a sense of what a typical school year was like for the Friends School community. In other folders, it is a single striking “discovery” that stands out. The Material Archives folders of 1941-42 and 1946-47 were particularly interesting for those two reasons.
1941-42 For the seniors in 1941, the biggest event appeared to have happened just before their return: a tornado hit the Friends School campus on August 25, destroying a barn and trapping four persons in a car; one young woman, a guest visiting the Farm
House (now the Jones House), was killed. A banner headline of the Wilmington Morning News loomed over photos of destruction on campus. A few days later, Headmaster Wilmot Jones sent out a letter about the opening of school, apparently delayed because of the clean-up. The folder also contains a notice about the new third floor laboratory, a gift to the school by the grandchildren of T. Clarkson Taylor, a much-revered head of school in the 19th C. Training rules for athletics were included, as well as an invitation for the Home and School Dinner on October 14—price, $1.00. Ten days later the Friends-Tower Hill game was played, and we have a copy of the line-up on both teams in the folder, as well as a 3” x 4” schedule for fall sports. A yellowed clipping from the Wilmington Every Evening from late November celebrates Coach Fenton Cary’s undefeated football season, Friends School’s first since 1914. On the 1941 team was Jim Mullin, and also in this folder was the obituary of his grandfather of the same name, who had married his classmate sweetheart Mary Mendenhall—class of 1891. 6
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In that 1941-42 folder one finds many small clippings about the engagements and marriages of former Friends School students, and about Margery Van Trump’s debutante tea party at her parents’ home. JHR, a mimeographed junior high newsletter, Charles Biggs (’46), editor, came out occasionally, bearing news of sports, information about new teachers, and an assessment of a fire drill. The 1942 folder contains some echoes of broader concern with the world. There are small news clips about talks by Principal Wilmot Jones, his wife Barbara, and former Principal Charles Bush, in different venues around north Delaware, elaborating plans for world peace, urging a “union” of English-speaking nations and a banding together of democratic countries that foreshadows the United Nations. Nonetheless, the folder has invitations for a kindergarten Christmas program and for a performance of Christus Parvelus, a Christmas Morality Play performed in Latin, under the guidance of Frances Baird, class of 1913, a Latin teacher at Friends for almost forty years.
Jones indicated that radios would be available for “those who care to hear the President’s message to Congress… A short ‘warning bell’ will sound, just before the speech is expected to begin.” We can imagine those pupils bent over, listening to FDR intoning the famous words, “a date which will live in infamy…” Before those performances, however, came December 7, 1941. The tornado of late August was no longer the great event of the year. There is a half-page carbon copy of a December 8 memo from Principal Jones to all upper school teachers, to be “read aloud in class.” It urged that “teachers and pupils can best do their parts by keeping their minds…on their school jobs, today and every day.” Jones indicated that radios would be available for “those who care to hear the President’s message to Congress… A short ‘warning bell’ will sound, just before the speech is expected to begin.” We can imagine those pupils bent over, listening to FDR intoning the famous words, “a date which will live in infamy…” A related document is a mimeographed letter of December 15, from a Wilmington-wide organization that discusses air raid drills and urges parents not to come to or call the schools. “ALL OUR LINES OF COMMUNICATION MUST BE KEPT OPEN.” There are small newspaper clips of former Friends students joining up and getting commissions, including Aureta Lewis, class of 1935, among the first WAVE officers in the Women’s Reserve. A large news clip shows Fay Lauritsen ’40, in the uniform of the Delaware Red Cross. The JHR newsletter contained urgings for Friends School kids to be involved in scrap metal drives and for parents to carpool to conserve gasoline. Other clips tell us that James Shelnutt ’41, is heading for Annapolis, from which H.H. Ward ’39, is graduating (apparently early). One of the last clips in this folder is about Coach Fenton Cary joining up and
becoming an ensign in the Navy. Life at Friends in many ways appears to have gone on as usual. We find a crude mimeo of a 10th grade dance on February 14 (with no mention of Valentine’s Day!). The winter and spring sports schedules are included, as well as the program for the March 27 Whittier Play, the comedy “You Can’t Take It with You.” A Spring Informal Dance is announced for April 17, with the curiously specific admission fee of $1.65 per couple. Tiny clips proclaim Friends baseball’s triumphs over St. Andrews and Tower Hill. And there is a colorful program for that Friends School custom of the 1930s and ’40s--very strange from our modern Friends School perspective--May Day, complete with a May Queen, her court, and Maypole dancing. Among the last items in this folder are news clippings about a loss strongly felt by the Friends School community: that of Arthur Harmon, the enormously popular and well-respected bus driver and maintenance person who had been with the school for almost 40 years. The first photographs of Mr. Harmon show him with the horse and carriage that brought Friends School students to the school in the early years of the 20th C. The final items in the 1941-42 folder include a program for the Final Assembly and another for graduation, on June 9 and 10th. Final Assembly was presided over by senior Charles W. Stockly, President of the Whittier Literary Society (then a kind of student government, as well as publisher of the literary magazine/yearbook The Whittier Miscellany). The graduation speaker was E. Newbold Cooper, Principal of Girard College. This folder does not contain the names of those members of the class of 1942 who joined the war effort, though the June issue of the Whittier cites the fact that both English teacher Robert Black and science teacher Herschel Loomis were leaving for that reason.
1946-47 The most striking item in the 1946-47 Material Archives folder is a packet of memorial tributes following the death of an extraordinary person at only 51. Fritz Giessler taught German, mechanical drawing, and shop at Friends from 1938 through 1947. A Quaker since 1920, Giessler attended a World Conference for Friends held at Swarthmore in 1937. The next year, though not Jewish, he fled with his family from Germany. He became a member of Wilmington Monthly Meeting, though he held off on that process until the two local Quaker meetings, Hicksite and Orthodox, had become reconciled. He was, according to an article by legendary teacher and administrator Ted Savery, actively involved in “the Friends Committee on Race Relations, the Friends Yearly Meeting Peace Committee of Philadelphia, and the Wilmington branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.” Savery went on to spell out ways in which his friend’s efforts to stand up for rights were a constant inspiration to colleagues, students, parents, and all who came into contact with him.
and great respect for this gentle immigrant, “always kind and thoughtful.” Teeple, who graduated as WWII was ending, recalls that some classmates had reservations about the German Kiessler, despite that man’s opposition to all that the Nazis stood for. Altmaier said Kiessler was very methodical, a person who insisted that pupils do things the right way, but that he was never harsh. He had much concern for each individual and for his work. Giessler had wished to become an American citizen early on, but his stance as a conscientious objector was a barrier to his citizenship. Once the war was over, that was lifted, and he became a citizen in May, 1947—only four months before his death. At his Memorial Service in September of 1947, a great many people from Wilmington Monthly meeting, the Board of Managers, and others paid tribute to this man of determination and integrity. Many cited George Fox’s phrase that Giessler believed there was “that of God in every individual.” Giessler lived in Arden, north of Wilmington, and had been selected to be on their Board of Education shortly before his death. Donald Stephens of Arden, stated that “his life should inspire us to do what he did. He saw serious threats to our democracy in the growing racial tensions of this country. His eyes were clearer than ours because he experienced the terror of seeing democracy wiped out in his homeland.” The Reverend Arthur R. James, minister of Shiloh Baptist Church, spoke of Giessler’s commitment to the NAACP. Giessler attended a Washington Conference of that organization with James. “He came to our houses as a friend. He talked with our young people…God grant that we will … bear the torch he has lighted for us.” Ruth Maris recalled that she once told him, “ ‘Fritz, you must continue to be our conscience.’ Death hasn’t changed that.” Headmaster Wilmot Jones summarized the memorial meeting well: “Friends and others from many walks of life paid eloquent tribute to the courage, sincerity, and deep personal conviction of one who, having seen liberty destroyed in his homeland, sought to secure it for all in his adopted country.” In 2017, this country is in turmoil, roiling about immigration and the resurgence of prejudice. It is a good time for Friends School to learn about and re-honor this teacher of long ago and of relatively brief tenure, who so thoroughly embodied Quaker values and truly, in George Fox’s words, “let his life speak.”
Fritz Giessler taught German, mechanical drawing and shop at Friends from 1938 through 1947.
Giessler had wished to become an American citizen early on, but his stance as a conscientious objector was a barrier to his citizenship. Pat Zolper ’47, never took shop or German, but she remembers that when she had completed her first serious oil painting, Giessler offered to build a frame for it. Once done, the painting hung in Assistant Principal Clara Dewsnap’s office for years. Rod Teeple ’45, and Don Altmaier ’51, have fond memories Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
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The Class Of
2017
Back row: Dan Goodman, Jayna Jones, Anna Cauchy, Jake Nolen, Alex Musi, Jordan Perkins, Kalyn Nix, Nick Gauthier, Arthur Surmont, Chris Wallace, Ryan Kirkpatrick, Jordan Carter, Andrew Jaworski, Nick Brennan-Martin, Andrew Slomski, Allie Fulginiti, Paisley Dianastasis, Gustavo Silveira Fourth row: Lydia Yeatman, Erica Rodi, Tess Beardell, Alicia Thompson, Katie Bodycot, Katy Shannon, Ellie Halpin, Lena Urick, Sean Cochran, Sarah Gooderham, Matt Denney, Greg Smith Third row: Sarah Balick, Alyssa Nathan, Justin Beneck, Will Bodycot, Chris Lee, Megan Flanagan, Blair Atkins, Matt Tornek, Emily Rossi, Ian Hartley, Lindsay Weber Second row: Ted Ganter, Briana Lloyd, Hannah Kushner, Will Gatti, Sarah Shaw, Ethan Moser, Myla Brilliant, Matt Hinderhofer, Margaret Sullivan, Evelyn Wakeley, Anthony Burgos-Harris, Jenny Kielhorn, Henry Gise, Caroline McGinnis, Owen Sheppard, Isabel Crowther, Peter Durgin Front row: Elena Kirifides, Katrina Skibicki, Zachary Horowitz, Remy Davis-Tinnell, Drew Mangan, Piara Biggs, Zachary Cutler, Christina Aleman, Devonté Church, Simone Veale, Owen Ganse, Sadie Proud, Rachael Ramirez
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The Class Of 2017 Congratulations to the Class of 2017! Members of the class are listed below with college choice, service project/agency, and senior exploration topic. Christina Aleman
DeVonté Church
Blair Atkins
Sean Cochran
Sarah Balick
Isabel Crowther
Theresa Beardell
Zachary Cutler
Justin Beneck
Remy Davis-Tinnell
Piara Biggs
Matthew Denney
Katherine Bodycot
Paisley Dianastasis
William Bodycot
Peter Durgin
Nicholas Brennan-Martin
Megan Flanagan
The George Washington University Service: Camp Possibilities Exploration: Yoga instruction Franklin & Marshall College Service: Elks Swim Club Exploration: Physical therapy James Madison University Service: Educational Enrichment Center Exploration: Creating a cookbook Connecticut College Service: Safety Camp Exploration: Magazine production University of Delaware Service: 76ers Camp Exploration: Yoga Middlebury College Service: Refugee Camp Exploration: Taekwondo University of Delaware Service: AI Dupont Hospital Exploration: Orthopedic surgery Pennsylvania State University Service: Rittenhouse Park Day Camp Exploration: Sports writing Champlain College Service: DelMarVa Council Boy Scouts of America Exploration: Game design
Myla Brilliant
Mount Holyoke College Service: Camp Possibilities Exploration: Photography
Anthony Burgos-Harris
Cabrini University Service: Elwyn Specialty Care Exploration: Traveling for cultural and visual persuasion
Jordan Carter
University of Delaware Service: United Way Exploration: Physical fitness
Anna Cauchy
University of Delaware (Honors Program) Service: Rescue Horse & Rehab Exploration: Eventing (professional equine groom)
University of Delaware Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Professional sports teams Washington College Service: Food Bank of Delaware Exploration: Traveling to Japan Boston University Service: Camp Imagine Exploration: Orthopedic surgery The George Washington University Service: PACT Exploration: Commercial real estate The College of William and Mary Service: Highland United Methodist Church Exploration: Interior design University of Delaware Service: Educational Enrichment Center Exploration: Sustainable farming Franklin & Marshall College Service: France Trip Exploration: Making a sand mandala Hobart and William Smith Colleges Service: First State National Historical Park Exploration: Canoeing Boston College Service: Camp Possibilities Exploration: Shadowing a judge
Alyssa Fulginiti
Villanova University Service: Ronald McDonald House Exploration: Triathlon
Owen Ganse
University of North Carolina at Wilmington Service: Wilmington LAX Exploration: Fly fishing and stream ecology
Edward Ganter
University of Pittsburgh Service: Delaware Nature Society Exploration: Chemical research
William Gatti
University of Delaware Service: Appalachian Service Project Exploration: Fly fishing
FROM THE TOP: Graduates line up to greet family and friends; Students posing before commencement~ (front row) Briana Lloyd, teacher Ildiko Miller, Caroline McGinnis, (middle row) Rachael Ramirez, Jayna Jones, Margaret Sullivan, Simone Veale, Lydia Yeatman, (back row) Justin Beneck, Ryan Kirkpatrick, Owen Sheppard, Henry Gise, DeVonte’ Church; Zachary Cutler receives his diploma from Ken Aldridge; Jordan Perkins shows his diploma.
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The Class Of 2017 Nicholas Gauthier
Jennifer Kielhorn
Henry Gise
Elena Kirifides
Sarah Gooderham
Ryan Kirkpatrick
Daniel Goodman
Hannah Kushner
Elizabeth Halpin
Christopher Lee
Ian Hartley
Briana Lloyd
Matthew Hinderhofer
Andrew Mangan
Zachary Horowitz
Caroline McGinnis
Andrew Jaworski
Ethan Moser
Jayna Jones
Alexandra Musi
Columbia University Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Marketing and advertising University of Pittsburgh Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Cooking Occidental College Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Zero-Waste living University of Delaware Service: Therapeutic Horse Riders Exploration: Cyber security Colby College Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Cultural exploration comparison Eckerd College Service: Delaware Nature Society Exploration: Writing science fiction Hampshire College Service: QUEST Service Trip to the DR Exploration: Living off the land The George Washington University Service: QUEST Service Trip to the DR Exploration: Learning the modern Hebrew language FROM THE TOP: Students posing before commencement~ (front row) Katie Shannon, Lena Urick, Remy Davis-Tinnell, teacher Sarah Stock Patterson, Paisley Dianastasis, Jenny Kielhorn, (back row) Andrew Slomski, Anna Cauchy, Greg Smith, Alex Musi, Isabel Crowther, Drew Mangan; excited after receiving their diplomas, Jake Nolen, Matt Denney and Anna Cauchy; Katrina Skibicki receives her diploma from Ken Aldridge. BELOW FROM LEFT: Will Gatti and Ethan Moser; Jayna Jones; Ryan Kirkpatrick, Chris Lee and Daniel Goodman; Tess Beardell receives her diploma from Ken Aldridge.
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Colgate University Service: QUEST Service Trip to the DR Exploration: Orthopedic surgery Swarthmore College Service: Special Olympics Exploration: Surgery
Bucknell University Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Service trip to Belize The Catholic University of America Service: Holy Trinity Greek Festival Exploration: Taekwondo University of Maryland, College Park Service: Appalachian Service Project Exploration: Technology cleanse Lehigh University Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Hiking University of Tennessee, Knoxville Service: QUEST Service Trip to the DR Exploration: Nutrition and fitness University of Delaware Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Speech therapy and psychology Pennsylvania State University Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Entertainment journalism Claremont McKenna College Service: Latin American Community Center Exploration: Interning at the American Civil Liberties Union University of Delaware Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Filmmaking and the film industry Dickinson College Service: WFS MS Camp Exploration: Surgery
Sean Cochran, Anthony Burgos-Harris, Jordan Carter, Owen Ganse, and Jordan Perkins.
Alyssa Nathan
Swarthmore College Service: Brandywine Volleyball Exploration: Architecture
Kalyn Nix
Princeton University Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Volunteering with the B+ foundation
Jake Nolen
University of Delaware Service: Appalachian Service Project Exploration: Investment management
Jordan Perkins
Gwynedd Mercy University Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Sports management
Sadie Proud
Haverford College Service: Camp Possibilities Exploration: Krav Maga
Rachael Ramirez
American University Service: Camp Tockwogh Exploration: Interning for Congress
Erica Rodi
University of Pittsburgh Service: Bellevue State Park Exploration: Genetics
Emily Rossi
University of Mary Washington Service: Imagination Players Exploration: Effects of exercise on physical and mental health
Kathleen Shannon
College of William and Mary Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Professional chef
Sarah Shaw
Northeastern University Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Baking
Owen Sheppard
Elon University Service: Habitat for Humanity Exploration: Camping
Gustavo Silveira
University of Delaware (Honors Program) Service: Food Bank of Delaware Exploration: Industrial Biosciences
Katrina Skibicki
University of Miami Service: Brandywine Volleyball Club Exploration: Raising puppies
Andrew Slomski
University of Delaware (Honors Program) Service: Faithful Friends Exploration: Leatherworking
Gregory Smith
James Madison University Service: Police Athletic League Exploration: Coaching/supervising children
Margaret Sullivan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Service: Special Olympics of Delaware Exploration: Teaching Chemistry
WFS “lifers”: (front row) Emily Rossi, Sarah Shaw, Alyssa Nathan, Simone Veale, Christina Aleman, Hannah Kushner, Caroline McGinnis, Alex Musi. (back row) Ian Hartley, Ethan Moser, Chris Lee, Andrew Jaworski, Will Gatti.
Simone Veale
Williams College Service: Camp Arrowhead Exploration: Knitting
Evelyn Wakeley
St. Olaf College Service: QUEST Service Trip to El Paso Exploration: Teaching art
Christopher Wallace
University of Miami Service: WFS Lower School Camp Exploration: Marketing and PR
Lindsay Weber
Macalester College Service: Urban Promise Exploration: Yoga for stress-relief
Lydia Yeatman
Pennsylvania State University Service: Boys & Girls Club Exploration: Dog training
Myla Brilliant and Isabel Crowther.
Piara Biggs walking out to Commencement.
Chris Wallace receives his diploma from Ken Aldridge.
Arthur Surmont
Ghent University Service: AZ Zeno Hospital, Belgium Exploration: Finance
Alicia Thompson
University of Delaware (Honors Program) Service: ASPCA Exploration: Cooking
Matthew Tornek
University of Pennsylvania Service: Hospital of University of Pennsylvania Exploration: Fly fishing
Lena Urick
Bucknell University Service: Community Volunteers in Medicine Exploration: Social work
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2017 Commencement Speaker: Governor John Carney The Honorable John C. Carney’s address to the Class of 2017: Most of you know that my family is full of die-hard Friends School champions. My father-in-law, Bill Quillen, was the Class of ’52. Before he passed away last year, he was an enthusiastic fixture on the sidelines of Friends sporting events, especially in football. Bill and Coach T, both New Castle boys, rehashed every game by phone on Sundays, whether Coach T wanted to or not. My mother-in-law, Marcia, a 1956 graduate, loved her bleacher buddies and her theater audience buddies including a number of parents of this senior class. Of course you all know my wife Tracey, Class of 1980, the pen behind the Monday message for the better part of her 15 years working here -- Friends School has been her second home for most of her life. Our son Sam, Class of 2013, and Jimmy, Class of 2015, were lifers here. Our whole family has such affection for this wonderful place. Through my relationship with Wilmington Friends, I’ve learned that it is more than just an education in academics. It’s a way of life. It teaches you to see God in everyone, and to recognize each moment as the continuing revelation of truth - And Friends School asks you not only to learn in that big-picture way, but to act on it. To have “a conscious responsibility to the good of all.” Not every school has taken on such a lofty mission, and carried it out with such fidelity. As an adopted member of the Friends family, it’s a real privilege to be invited to speak here today. Plus it means I don’t have to watch the Phillies. I want to start by congratulating the students and parents of the Class of 2017. Graduating from Wilmington Friends is no small feat. From a sport almost every season to your IB classes to the fall musical to community service to study abroad to robotics, Link Crew and other clubs and committees to your senior projects. It’s exhausting just thinking about it. The academic rigor of this school is something that I’ve always been impressed with. I remember I was trying to help Sam with 7th grade math homework he got from Robin Lebauer, and I was completely stumped by it – and this is after I had served as Delaware’s Secretary of Finance. 12
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One thing that I think sets you, Friends students, apart is the sense of being at peace with yourself. Knowing who you are and being poised and confident about it. You will need that sense of equilibrium as you set off into the increasingly challenging and unpredictable world we live in today. My son Jimmy was in Sue Geoghegan’s pre-K class – and I want to congratulate Sue on her retirement this year. She’s had an incredible career of dedicated service to this school. Let’s give her a round of applause. Well Jimmy was home practicing how to write his name for an assignment, and I saw he’d written the “C” in “Carney” backwards. I said “Jim, you’ve written the “C” the wrong way.” He looked up at me totally unfazed and said “Doesn’t bother me, Dad. Does it bother you?” At Friends, you’ve learned to know what matters and what doesn’t. How you should act, and how you shouldn’t. You are well-equipped to enter the world beyond this campus, and I hesitate to try to improve on the foundation you’ve already been given. But it wouldn’t be a graduation speech without a little advice, so I do want to leave you with something to think about. Being an elected official forces you to come face to face with some hard truths from time to time: who your friends are. What you really believe. As our former Vice President, Joe Biden, used to say, “What you’re willing to lose an election over.” One of the guiding principles that I’ve clung to over the years is loyalty. I learned the importance of it early in life in the neighborhood I grew up in and through the many sports teams I played on over the years. Loyalty ends up being the answer to the questions I’m confronted with almost daily. I have to make a decision that I know will disappoint a friend. Out of loyalty to my friend, I call him first so he doesn’t read about it in the newspaper. I’m getting pressure to support a policy that would be politically popular, but isn’t the right thing to do. Out of loyalty to my principles, I don’t support it. It’s Friday night, and I’ve had a long week. Do I drive down to Sussex County and go to that chicken dinner at the VFW? Yes. Why? Not just because I like the chicken and dumplings but
because the people cooking the chicken are among my earliest and strongest supporters. Now Tracey might say I take this loyalty thing too far. I still have my football jerseys from St. Mark’s and Dartmouth College taking up room in our closet and my old out of date lacrosse sticks down in the basement. I can’t throw them away because of loyalty to my teams! Seriously though, loyalty to your friends. And more important, loyalty to your principles, will go a long way toward keeping you, you. Over the past fourteen years, you’ve been given a clear set of principles. And you’ve even got an acronym – SPICES – to help you remember them, so no excuses there. Simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, stewardship. Be loyal to these principles. You’ve made friends here with people who know you – the real you – better than anyone else ever will. It’s the you that exists before the world gets in the way and tries to make you something else. Be loyal to these friends. Stay in touch with the people sitting to your left and right. Make time for them. When one of them needs help down the road, reach out and help them. Just like my in-laws Bill and Marcia Quillen did throughout their lives. In my campaigns for elected office, my longest and most loyal supporters are my high school and college friends and teammates. Every time Wilmington Friends graduates another class of students, I feel optimistic, because I know it will make the world just a little bit better. You’re graduating into a society where Quaker principles seem hard to come by. Many of our nation’s leaders don’t seem to share these values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, stewardship. But you are graduating with a roadmap to make the world a better place. Seeing God in every one, and seeing each moment as an opportunity to learn, to serve, to collaborate, to lead, to contribute. It’s a vision that contrasts so dramatically with what we hear daily out of our nation’s capital. St. Augustine, an early Christian theologian, said this: “If we live good lives, the times are also good. As we are, such are the times.” Follow the map you’ve been given. Be loyal to it. The times we live in will be better for it. Bill Quillen was famous for keeping in touch with his Friends School classmates over the course of 60-some years. His favorite thing in life was cheering for his beloved Quakers in every athletic contest, and there was nothing better than a victory over Tower Hill. These connections brought him great joy. But they also kept him grounded in the Quaker spirit. You will likely never spend time in a place that is more grounding and aspirational; more ethical and open-minded; more demanding and more accepting than this School, whether you have been here for 14 years or for three.
Governor Carney addresses the Class of 2017; Governor Carney, WFS Board Chair Susan Kelley, and Head of School Ken Aldridge
Your task now is to take the values you learned here out into the world. There’s a verse in the Bible that some of you might be familiar with. It reads: “Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket. Rather, they put it on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” The Class of 2017 is that lamp, ready to be put on a lampstand, to give light to a world that sorely needs it. Congratulations to you and your families. Tracey and I look forward to seeing the mark you will make on this world. Go Quakers. Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
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Alumni Families
The Class Of 2017
The Class of 2017 included 10 children of alumni.
Christina Aleman
Daughter of Tracey Porter Aleman ’87 and John Aleman ’84
Blair Atkins
Daughter of Andy Atkins ’76
Sarah Balick
Daughter of Adam Balick ’81
Megan Flanagan
Daughter of Sharon Mulrooney Flanagan ’84
Ellie Halpin
WFS Trustee and Alumni Board Clerk Christopher Lee ’82 and Christopher Lee ’17.
Daughter of Stephanie Hoopes ‘82
Christopher Lee
Son of Christopher Lee ’82
Caroline McGinnis
Daughter of Julie Tattersall McGinnis ’82
Kalyn Nix
Daughter of Sheldon Nix ’74
Greg Smith
Son of Robert Smith ’75
Alicia Thompson
Daughter of Alison Egan Thompson ’81
Maddie Balick ’19, Adam Balick ’81, Sarah Balick ’17 and Sam Balick. 14
Andy Atkins ’76 and Blair Atkins ’17.
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Katrina Nix ’19, Jacqueline Nix, Kalyn Nix ’17 and Sheldon Nix ’74.
Robert Smith ’75, Greg Smith ’17 and Susan Smith.
Lindsay Aleman ’13, Chessie Aleman ’12, Christina Aleman ’17, John Aleman ’84 and Tracey Porter Aleman ’87.
Sharon Mulrooney Flanagan ’84, Megan Flanagan ’17, Kendall Flanagan ’12, and James Flanagan ’14. Shannon Tattersall, Dianne Tattersall, Rob Tattersall ’91, Helen McGinnis ’14, Julie Tattersall McGinnis ’82, Caroline McGinnis ’17, Bob Tattersall, and Will Davis ’20.
Daniel Thompson, Alicia Thompson ’17, Lindsay Thompson ’14, and Alison Egan Thompson ’81.
Stephanie Hoopes ’82, Ellie Halpin ’17, and Robert Hoopes ’85.
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2017 Final Assembly
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In addition to the named awards, students in grades 9-12 received 141 commendations for service and leadership that had a positive and lasting impact on the School.
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Rachael Ramirez ’17 and Nicholas Gauthier ’17 were chosen by their classmates to speak for the Class of 2017 during Final Assembly. Ken Aldridge with Margaret Sullivan ’17, recipient of the John Marshall Mendinhall II, Class of 1939, Memorial Award, recognizing the graduating senior considered to have done the most for Friends School.
The Charles W. Bush, Class of 1900, Award honors juniors who “most clearly demonstrate the School’s ideals of character, scholarship, and service.” Pictured with Ken Aldridge are the 2017 Bush Award recipients Evie Kortanek ’18 and Jack Hanson ’18. Michael Coons ’18, Jack Coons ’18, and Hailey DiCindio ’18 received the 2017 Howard W. Starkweather, Jr., Class of 1944, Award, recognizing students who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to community service.
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Ikechukwu Daniel Adebi ’18 received the 2017 Robert P. Hukill, Class of 1949, Science Award. Daniel is pictured with Jane Hukill, Robert’s widow. At this year’s Final Assembly, the School recognized the third Malone Scholar to graduate from Wilmington Friends, Gustavo Silveira ’17. The Upper School Foreign Language Award recipient was Abby Kleman ’18. Rebecca Zug with the Wyeth Brothers Performing Arts Award recipients, Emily Rossi ’17 and Sarah Gooderham ’17. sented to Myla Brilliant ’17, Evelyn Wakeley ’17, and Alyssa Nathan ’17.
11 Luke Wales with Cecilia Ergueta ’18 and Gustavo Silveira ’17, recipients of the Jordan Wales ’97 History Award.
12 Hannah Kushner ’17 and Gustavo Silveira ’17 shared the Eden Wales Freeman ’99, English Award.
13 Chris Lee ’82, Clerk of the Alumni Board, accepted the 2017 Class Scroll from the newest WFS Class Agents, Lena Urick ’17 and Sadie Proud ’17.
14 The Chamber Singers performing. 16
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Ted Ganter ’17, recipient of the Amanda Spackman Gehret, Class of 1951, Memorial Mathematics Award, with Meredith Erskine ’13, Amanda’s granddaughter.
10 The Wyeth Brothers Visual Arts Award were pre-
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LEFT: 1980 yearbook dedication photo of Dick Kittle. RIGHT: Trish Kocher, Sue Geoghegan, Dick Kittle, Annette Hearing, and Marcia Halperin.
Comings & Goings RETIREMENTS Dick Kittle 42 Years Dick joined WFS in 1975 and taught social studies and history in the middle and upper schools for 40 years. From 1991 through 1996, he was also the 8th grade dean, and from 1996 to 2001 he taught PE. In 2010, Dick added Assistant Athletic Director to his title until 2015, when he became our full-time Athletic Director. During his tenure, Dick also coached multiple teams including upper school football, upper and middle school wrestling, upper school baseball and upper school girls lacrosse. Dick has a calm demeanor and dry sense of humor that should never be mistaken for aloofness. Throughout his years here, he has shown that he truly cares about his students both in the classroom and in the gyms and on the fields. Matt Lang ’08 notes, “Dick Kittle has a truly charismatic personality that allowed him to interact effectively with all WFS constituencies. He could 18
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easily adapt to a variety of situations. During any given day Mr. Kittle could play the role of intense football coach, thoughtful teacher, and joking friend. His ability to navigate these different roles made him a special mentor for his students and players.” Says Acting Athletic Director Jeff Ransom, “It has been a true honor and a privilege to be mentored by Dick Kittle. He is the father you learn from, the coach you respect, the grandfather you adore, and the friend you will have for a lifetime.” And finally, from colleague Coach Tattersall, “In 1975, Richard joined the football team as a line coach. He proved his loyalty for the next 35 years by losing to the backs every year in the annual BACKS versus LINE CHARADES competition. Except in those years when the line cheated!” Dick and his wife, Sharon, are the parents of WFS alums Jenny ’02, Mindy ’02, and Jon ’04 and they have two grandaughters. We are grateful to Dick for his 42 years of creating history at WFS.
Marcia Halperin 30 Years Marcia has been our consulting psychologist since 1987. She also has a practice in Wilmington as a psychologist focusing on the evaluation, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional and behavioral health issues. Marcia’s deep concern for the success and wellness of our students is the foundation of her extraordinary sense of what makes children tick. She has been able to observe and shed light on situations that were sometimes challenging, helping everyone involved feel comfortable and ready to go onto the next step. Marcia and her husband Norm are the parents of two WFS Alums, Lauren ’02 and Jeff ’05. Thank you to Marcia for all she has contributed to the WFS community.
Sue Geoghegan 17 Years Sue Geoghegan began her teaching career at WFS in 2000 and was an associate
teacher for two years -- in second grade and in prekindergarten. She then was hired as a lead teacher in prekindergarten where she stayed until this year when she moved to kindergarten. Sue’s kind and caring approach to teaching provided children the room to try new things, take some risks, make some mistakes, and begin their journeys in life to becoming confident and independent learners. Sue and her husband David ’75 are the parents of three WFS alums, Jim ’05, Sara ’08, and Joe ’11. We thank Sue for the many lives she has touched at WFS.
Trish Kocher 10 Years Trish began her career at Friends in 2007. At first she was a volunteer with the Jones House, then quickly moved into the role as Administrative Assistant for the Alumni/ Development Office. In this role, not only was she a solid support for the office, but she was a friend to many alumni and volunteers. After spend-
RIGHT: Julie Rodowsky greets students at lower school drop-off. BELOW RIGHT: Chris Loeffler ’00 helping one of his fifth grade students.
ing five years with the Alumni Development team, Trish joined the Admissions Office as the administrative assistant and has seen the office through a number of changes in the application process. She has been a valuable resource and friendly face for our visitors, has tackled changes in the enrollment management system, and has enhanced Admissions events with her creativity and thoughtfulness. Trish and her husband Glenn are the parents of WFS alum James ’13. We thank Trish for her professionalism and her willingness to put in extra time and effort to everything she does.
Annette Hearing 6 Years When Annette came to Friends as Head of Lower School in 2011, she quickly got to work on understanding the challenges and needs of the faculty. As one faculty member put it, “she renewed our belief in ourselves as a vibrant, committed, engaged community.” Annette guided the integration of the tenets of Reggio Emilia into our Early Years program, strengthened the student support process at lower school, initiated the transition to “departmentalizing” math and word study/ writing in grades 1-4, and encouraged teachers to pursue professional development relevant to their own goals and those of the school. Upon Annette’s retirement, she and her husband, John, are looking forward to spending more time with 8 grandkids. We are grateful to Annette for her engagement, dedication, and friendship.
NEW POSITIONS Julie Rodowsky Head of Lower School Julie Rodowsky came to Friends in 2002, starting as an Associate Teacher in lower school. She was quickly recognized—in her work with students, parents, and colleagues—as an exceptional educator, and moved into a lead teaching position. Julie took on her position as Assistant Head of Lower School in 2014. Within lower school, Julie has served as a team coordinator, faculty clerk, a member of several search committees, and a member of our Master Planning Committee this year. As part of the all-school leadership team, Julie was a key
contributor to our 2007-2008 Strategic Planning process, served on the Program Committee for our PAIS accreditation, and has been a leader on the Curriculum Steering Committee and the Schedule Committee. As a particular service to the Head of School, Julie represented lower school on the Faculty Staff Advisory Committee. In addition, she has been a valued advisor to colleagues in all divisions and an enthusiastic participant in professional development, with a deep investment in programs related to our mission as a Quaker school as well as to current research in classroom best practices and the power of play.
Chris Loeffler ’00 Assistant Head of Lower School Chris Loeffler ’00 has been named Assistant Head of Lower School. Chris graduated from WFS in 2000, which gives him a unique perspective as a former student, and he worked as an associate teacher for a year before beginning his lead teaching experience in 2006. He has
taught at both the third grade and fifth grade level. While working as a lead teacher, Chris got his master’s degree in education with a concentration in curriculum studies and with a certificate in peace education; he has coached as an assistant varsity football coach here at WFS since 2006 and has been the head coach of the boy’s basketball team since 2014; Chris has also been the site director for the middle school summer camp since 2013. In addition, Chris has been an organizer, attender and presenter at EdCamp Delaware and has presented at two national curriculum conferences. His interest in curriculum development has led to the successful adoption of Genius Hour in our fifth grade program and the successful implementation of a simulation experience Chris designed for the third grade Native American studies.
Board of Trustees Thank you to the Trustees who completed their terms of service in June 2017, J. Harry Hammond and Laura K. Reilly. For the term beginning July 2017, we are delighted and very fortunate to welcome:
Zachary Dutton ’06
Zachary Dutton ’06 has served for four years as field staff and then as Associate General Secretary for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, where he has gained crucial insights into non-profit management, community organizing, and organizational development. He is a graduate of Haverford College and Harvard Divinity School.
Rick Grier-Reynolds
Rick is a former WFS teacher, Department chair, administrator, athletic coach and IB Coordinator. He is currently a consultant for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, Delaware Cocoordinator for the Alternatives to Violence Project, Board Chair of Cadbury at Lewes (CCRC) and an active teacher at the Osher/Lewes Academy of Lifelong Learning. Rick is a graduate of Trinity College (B.A.History) and Harvard University (M.Ed). Rick and his wife, Rachel, reside in Lewes, DE. Rick is the parent of WFS alums Pliny ’97 and Gordy, who attended WFS through 1993.
Noreen Haubert
Noreen currently serves as a Home and School parent representative for the WFS Class of 2018, continuing her extensive school-related volunteer service. She has also served as a co-opted member of the marketing and ASI committees of the WFS Board of Trustees. Noreen is a graduate of Villanova University, where she pursued a double major in Communications and English and was a member of the Villanova Women’s Lacrosse team for 3 years. Noreen and her husband, Bill, are the parents of WFS student Brendan ’18 and alumni Connor ’13, Graham ’14, and Patrick ’16. Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
THANK YOU! The Home and School Association at
WFS seeks to provide support to the School by building community amongst parents, faculty, and administration. This year, under the wise and capable leadership of Athena Ruhl and Karen Taormina, was no different.
QUAKER PRIDE
by Tracey Quillen Carney ’80
I WAS a student at Friends for 13 years (1967-1980), a parent for 15 years (27 if
you count each kid separately), and a member of the administrative staff from 2002 until February 15, 2017. Ken Aldridge and I had discussed the timing of my departure last summer, and he was generous enough to recognize the unique opportunity I would have if my husband, John, were elected Governor of Delaware. When I was five months into that unique opportunity, someone asked me, “What do you miss most about Friends?” Without a beat, I answered, “The kids.” Friends has a remarkable administrative team, a group of smart, experienced, insightful professionals who, for all of their talents, never take themselves too seriously and never stray from a collaborative approach to leadership. There is an inspiring teaching faculty, from my fellow retiree, Sue Geoghegan, in the early years program to upper school leaders like Ildiko Miller, whose passion for math is contagious—even to me. Both Sue and Ildiko are also among the colleagues who embody and elevate the Friends mission, including bold exploration (like Sue’s experiences on the Pacific Coast Trail) and service as essential to education (like Ildiko’s creative and dedicated leadership, toward the end of my tenure, of the Upper School Service Committee). My one regret about leaving mid-year is that I did not have an opportunity to thank all of my colleagues formally; I do so now with my full heart.
Home and School supported some of our old favorite events like the Gifts and Greens Sale, the Used Book Sale, and the Scholastic Book Sale, but this year added some new events like a mum sale in the fall, and a BBC guest bartending night. They also supported our parents by providing informative speakers such as Dahra Williams, Ph.D, who spoke to our community about the current topic of screen smart parenting and provided guidance on how to help our children navigate social media in a healthy way. Also this year, Home and School, along with QUEST supported a refugee settlement effort by Jewish Family Services of Wilmington, DE. Through all of this fun and hard work, H&S was able to donate over $27k to the 2016-17 Annual Fund. The group is already working on some events for the 2017-2018 school year, like the Home and School Picnic on September 16, another BBC night in early November, and more parent awareness speakers to bring knowledge and understanding to our community. Our new Home and School presidents will be Anne McWalter and Kendra Okolo. We look forward to their leadership. Thank you Home and School for your hard work to build community and raise funds for WFS.
As for the kids, they are, after all, what the School is about. And I don’t know how anyone could spend an hour or more in the halls of Friends School without feeling hopeful about the future. I miss the occasions when the students have each others’ back, when they comfort and cheer each other, when they get that “aha” look in their eyes, when they share their talents without being self-centered, when they lead by example, when they ask questions I never would have thought of at their age. I miss their appreciation for our support of them; these kids, almost without exception, know how lucky they are. I’ve met more than a few successful adults who never seem to recognize the role luck has played in their lives. I miss how nice the kids were to me and to my parents, who were faithful Quaker fans from the theater to the bleachers. There is just nothing like Quaker education. It is the ideal foundation to develop intellectual curiosity and agility in partnership with a value of excellence that includes the common good among its measures. I will always be grateful to be a Quaker school kid, as my Mom and Dad were throughout their lives. It’s too late to make this long story short, but if I could it would come down to this: thank you, and I hope always to live up to being an alumna (in all kinds of ways) of Friends School. Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
Athena Ruhl, Ken Aldridge, and Karen Taormina pictured at the H&S Volunteer Thank You Breakfast in May. Clifford the Big Red Dog visits the Scholastic Book Fair.
Spring News & Events
Student Trips to National Museum of African American History and Culture Over Mid-Winter Break, teachers Amanda McMillan-Williams and Jerome Bailey led student members of the middle school African American Affinity groups on trips to Washington, D.C. to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Repeat State Mock Trial Champs! For the second year in a row, WFS won the Delaware Mock Trial competition. What a great team effort! The team was awarded at least one gavel in every round, and of the ten possible gavels, WFS was awarded seven:
Pre-K in the Outdoor Classroom Research has shown that children who play and learn in natural landscapes experience real benefits in cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. On Wednesday mornings, WFS pre-k classes came together for outdoor learning. The students have worked together to define boundaries, establish rules, and create a natural space where they are free to answer their own natural inclinations to explore, discover, and learn.
Best lawyers: Allie Fulginiti ’17, Nick Gauthier, ’17 and Simone Veale ’17. WFS went into the finals undefeated, both in terms of absolute wins (4-0), but also in terms of winning every single ballot from each of three scoring judges in the first four rounds (12-0).
Peace March
Poetry Out Loud Winner Cecilia Ergueta ’18 won the State Championship at the Poetry Out Loud Competition at the Smyrna Opera House. Cecilia showed tremendous poise and passion in her recitation of three diverse and challenging poems, winning against some truly excellent competition. She then went on to represent the State of Delaware in Washington, DC at the National Competition in April.
Best witnesses: Danny Nakamura ’19 (2 awards), Kat Nix ’19, and Fiona Saunders ’18.
3rd Graders Go on Google Expeditions Third graders were the first class to use the new Google Expeditions kit to explore national parks in the library as part of their integrated social studies unit. Students “visited” Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and more.
Lower school held its annual Peace March in January. The March is led by kindergarten students, who choose their own messages and make signs based on Quaker testimonies (e.g. “Respect others,” “Work it out”). The Peace March is part of lower school’s commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and is followed each year by Meeting for Worship and service activities. Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
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Social Justice C O L LO Q U I U M
WHEN Peace teacher Betsy Cepparulo decided to organize a
new colloquium for her ninth grade students, it was natural that she draw on both her experience as a lawyer and her passion for social justice. She also thought locally, turning her focus to issues facing the city of Wilmington, and, in this way, came up with the topic of poverty in Wilmington, specifically as it pertains to social justice. Betsy assembled a group of eight panelists with expertise in areas representing multiple facets of the issue of urban poverty; among these panelists were the president of a company that developed the largest school-based mentoring program in the state; a Teach for America Delaware manager; an assistant public defender; an emergency medicine physician; and Lieutenant Daniel Selekman, a Wilmington police officer and Friends School parent. Betsy’s hope for the colloquium was that it would humanize social problems that her students had studied in class, that it would put faces to them, make them “real,” and she was delighted to watch exactly this unfold. The students listened with great interest, as the panelists offered their views on the causes of poverty and described the work they do both to protect the rights of Wilmington’s poorest citizens and to give them a fair chance at success.
But the students did more than simply listen. In the spirit of what Betsy calls, “new brains addressing old problems,” during the second part of the colloquium, the students had the opportunity to devise their own solutions to the problem of poverty in their city. They broke out into small groups, and, with guidance from the panelists, worked for twenty minutes to come up with a plan. The results were impressive and creative, especially given the time limitations: a rehabilitation bill for the formerly ABOVE: Betsy addressing the students before the panel discussion. RIGHT: Students working in small groups to devise solutions to an aspect of poverty.
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incarcerated, an education bill for creating equity in graduation rates, a rap about inequality. Student Annabel Teague’s group proposed regularly scheduled community dinners so that people from the North Wilmington suburbs could connect--on equal footing and in an open and friendly way--with people from downtown Wilmington. Afterward, Annabel said, “We were excited about our idea because it’s important for people from different neighborhoods and backgrounds to realize what they have in common. We’re all human beings. We can help each other and teach each other things.” If the students were energized by the panelists, the panelist were, in turn, impressed with the students. One panelist told Betsy that they were far more open-minded than he had anticipated, and he found them polite and eager to learn. Some of the students even began to talk with the panelists about possible internship opportunities. Betsy hopes that the colloquium will mark the beginning of a lasting partnership between nonprofit organizations in Wilmington and Wilmington Friends School students. And she definitely plans to do it again next year.
6th Graders Stuff Unit As part of their “Stuff” unit, 6th graders were tasked with answering these essential questions: What happens to all my stuff over time? How can I make better decisions about the stuff I need and want? How can I reduce the amount of stuff in my life?
Sara Pennypacker visits Lower School LS students enjoyed author Sara Pennypacker’s reading and booksigning. Pennypacker is the author of several beloved children’s series, including “Clementine” and “The Amazing World of Stuart.”
QYLC Delegation Faculty advisors Ellen Johnson and Mary Woodward, along with six students -- Mary Agne ’18, Cecilia Ergueta ’18, Sarah Gooderham ’17, Lucy Knudsen ’19, Kat Nix ’19 and Evelyn Wakeley ’17--represented WFS at the Quaker Youth Leadership Conference in Brooklyn, NY, in February.
The culminating activity was a waste reduction project called the Red Carpet Project, where students developed, implemented and documented an action plan to reduce waste. Some focused on waste produced at home, while others took a broader approach towards reducing waste in the community, including a petition to support Delaware’s proposed legislation to ban plastic bags. The students who organized the petition were pleased to receive a thoughtful response from the office of Senator (and WFS parent) Chris Coons. To conclude the unit, students presented their projects to their peers in a gala format, Ted Talk style, through video, pictures and letters.
Bad News Bots The WFS high school robotics team, “The Bad News Bots,” competed at the Diamond State FIRST TECH Challenge Championship held at Delaware State University. The Bots had an excellent day, making it to the semi-final round in a highly competitive 24-team tournament with teams coming from DE, PA, MD, NJ, and VA.
Music in the Parks- 2017 Congratulations to our 7th & 8th grade musicians who had the following success at Music in the Parks in Hershey: MS Mixed Choir earned 1st place, superior rating; MS Concert Band earned 2nd place, excellent rating; Junior High/ Middle School Choir earned overall winner.
Egg-quation Hunt For the 6th grade egg-quation hunt, 50 eggs containing algebraic equations were hidden in the Meeting Room waiting to be found and solved. Students worked in pairs, and once an egg-quation was solved correctly, the pair could choose a piece of candy and continue the search. The challenge of finding the eggs, solving problems together, and earning candy motivated students to work as quickly as possible while remaining accurate.
QUEST Big Ideas Speaker: Arn Chorn-Pond Arn Chorn-Pond was featured as this year’s QUEST Big Ideas Speaker. ChornPond experienced firsthand the worst atrocities of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime. Taken to a work camp, where his talent for playing the flute helped keep him alive, Chorn-Pond witnessed torture, starvation, and mass murder. He was later rescued from a Thai refugee camp and brought to America by the Rev. Peter Pond, a New Hampshire clergyman, whose family adopted him. In his talk, Chorn-Pond expressed the importance of connections between one another, and how important they are in maintaining a healthy, viable world. 7th grade students were fortunate to have Chorn-Pond join them in class to talk about his past and his hopes for the future. Special thanks to alumna Liz Krahmer Keeting ’77 for sponsoring Chorn-Pond’s visit.
Chamber Singers Perform at Naturalization Ceremony Tenth and eleventh grade members of the Chamber Singers sang “The National Anthem” at the Naturalization Ceremony in Wilmington in the spring. Parent Sherry Fallon presided over the ceremony and parent Yvonne Takvorian Saville was one of the main speakers. Their sons, Chase Fallon ’19 and Jason Saville ’18, were part of the ensemble.
Spring Into Service 5K Students in 5th grade and middle school take part each year running, walking or helping out with the course in the Spring into Service 5K. This year, students collected arts and crafts, recreational goods, backpacks and board games for Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center’s summer program. Hilltop’s executive director, Councilman Jea P. Street, addressed the students before the 5K, letting them know about Hilltop’s programs and thanking them for their donations. Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
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US Science Olympiad The WFS Science Olympiad Team had a strong performance in the 60-team event at Del State. Congratulations to Daniel Adebi ’18 and James Tallman ’19 for their 2nd place finish in the Astronomy event, and to Ted Ganter ’17 and Andrew Slomski ’17 for their 6th place in Wind Power events.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH Students in each division participated in learning and activities for Black History Month. In particular, during Lower School Gathering, Annette Hearing read a story about John Coltrane, an African American saxophone player, and played some of his music. 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders went to see the play “Jackie Robinson” at the DuPont Theater. In middle school, the student Diversity Committee created a bulletin board in the hall recognizing notable African Americans, and members Mariah Aldridge ’21 and Olivia Delgado ’21 gave a presentation about Black History Month to the MS Business Meeting. All middle schoolers also took a field trip to the movie theater to see the film “Hidden Figures.”
1st Grade Circus First grade students performed in their very own circus for the lower school community and their parents. Inspired by visits from community members who shared their cultures with the students, the circus was infused with music from around the world. Students worked together to control diabolos, balance rolla bollas, create dance steps, and sync performances.
Keeping the Arts Alive Earlier in the spring, the WFS community collected art supplies to donate to Shortlidge, Warner, and Highlands elementary schools. When the Home and School Association delivered the donations, the art teachers at the schools were extremely excited to receive such a wide array of supplies. In their words, “These supplies will go a long way in keeping our art programs alive.”
2nd Grade Wax Museum At the second grade Wax Museum, each student was in character, standing as a wax figure and wearing a red button. When a visitor pressed the red button, the “wax figure” became animated and talked a little bit about who they were. There was a wide range of influential and inspirational people present, including Ben Franklin, Jane Goodall, Misty Copeland, Albert Einstein, Rosa Parks, and many more! Visitors had a wonderful time learning about so many prominent figures in history and of today.
Upper school students also created a bulletin board celebrating prominent figures. In addition, the student Diversity Committee hosted a book chat about the book, “Just Mercy”.
Lego Llamas Rock! In the regional robotics competition, the WFS middle school team, Lego Llamas, earned 1st place in the robot game, brought home two trophies, and advanced to the championship. At the Lego League Championship Tournament at Delaware State University, the team came in 10th out of 26 teams and won the Judges Award for overall effort.
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China Trip Over break, middle and upper school students traveled to China for 10 days of culture and exploration. The students, along with their WFS chaperones, visited Beijing, Xi’an, Gullin, Yangshuo, Shanghai and Suzhou.
Trip to NYC Fifth graders visited Ellis Island and the Lower East Side Tenement Museum in New York City as a culminating activity for their immigration unit in social studies.
All State Accomplishments in Music All State Chorus - Jack Hanson ’18 and Emily Rossi ’17 performed in the Senior Choir ensembles for the All State Chorus. Matthew Banschbach ’21, Isaiah Gaines ’21, Gianna Martinelli ’22, and Julee Melnik ’22 performed in the All State Chorus concert for middle school.
QUEST Term Service Trip 2017 Twenty students traveled to the Dominican Republic as part of this year’s QUEST Term service trip. The students participated in the DREAM Project, an organization which focuses on providing quality educational opportunities for children in the DR. In addition to helping with renovation projects at a local school, the WFS kids worked directly with young children on literacy through projects, music, and games, creating connections that all students involved will remember for a long time to come.
National History Bowl Two WFS teams competed in the National History Bowl championship in Arlington, VA. This is a large competition (144 teams competed) for which many schools prepare as if it were a varsity sport. (WFS does not, so we’re effectively not in the running for top honors.) The varsity team received a plaque for winning (5-0) the afternoon consolation bracket.
All State Orchestra - Luann Ji ’20 performed with the All State Orchestra as first chair violin in the second orchestra. Junior All State Band - Teddy DeVoll ’21 represented WFS in the Junior All State band on the clarinet.
4th Grade Market Day Fourth graders learned about a market economy and discussed topics such as entrepreneurship, methods of allocation, resources, scarcity, supply and demand, and competition. The unit culminated with two Market Days on which students sold a product that they made themselves. Each class voted on and designed their own currency and society name, and students received wages for things such as completing homework on time and arriving to school on time. On Market Day One, students could spend a certain amount of money. After Market Day One, each student determined whether they made a profit or earned a loss by subtracting their material costs from the revenue they earned. Parents were invited to Market Day Two for which students could alter their product design or change their selling price in an effort to increase their profit.
MS Diversity Conference Nine middle schoolers, along with teachers Jerome Bailey and Karen Horikawa, attended the MS Diversity Conference at the Haverford School. The conference focused on issues of diversity, social justice and activism, and was sponsored by the Multicultural Resource Center (MCRC) and Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS). Students heard the keynote speaker, Mr. DeVon Jackson, Associate Director of Intercultural Affairs at Villanova University, speak about making connections across lines of difference and having the courage to be brave and take action. The purpose of the conference was to shine light on various forms of diversity (race, gender, ableism, etc.) and lead students in brainstorming conversations for making their school communities more inclusive and aware.
Refugee Family Update In coordination with Jewish Family Services and in partnership with Wilmington Monthly Meeting, the Wilmington Friends School community has had a significant impact on the lives of refugee families that have recently settled in New Castle County this spring. WFS and WMM volunteers have provided donations ranging from goods to services, sharing their time to make these families feel welcome and at home. Given the enthusiastic response from the community, we hope to continue our work with JFS and Wilmington Monthly Meeting to help prepare for future families seeking refuge in our state.
Student Service at the Material Resources Center in Ephrata, PA 7th graders visited The Material Resources Center (MRC) and Ten Thousand Villages in Ephrata, PA, to perform service and learn about the broader concept of global service and fair trade. The students boxed canned meat to be sent to the Ukraine; packed school kits for kids in Tanzania; and packed recyclable paper and cardboard to be sold in bundles to recycling companies. Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
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Upper School Art Exhibit In April, there was a Visual Arts Reception and opening for the IB Visual Arts and Visual Arts Major Senior Exhibition. Student-artists were on hand to introduce their work. Congratulations to Myla Brilliant ’17, Anthony Burgos-Harris ’17, Isabel Crowther ’17, Remy Davis-Tinnell ’17, Ian Hartley ’17, Alyssa Nathan ’17, and Evelyn Wakeley ’17. The exhibit was in the Gallery, Library Learning Commons, and around the middle/upper building, and stayed up until the beginning of June.
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RaNdOM
ACTS of KINDNESS
“It’s Not a Stick” Following Lower School Gathering where Annette Hearing read “It’s Not a Stick” by Antoinette Portis, each class chose a time to go outside so each student could collect a stick that captured his or her imagination. The photos and captions on the walls shown above represent the imaginations of every child at lower school of what their stick could be.
A paintbrush -Maya
A saxophone -Collier
A golf club -Thompson
The founders of the Upper School Random Acts of Kindness Committee (RAK) started “RAKing” their fellow classmates in middle school when they decided to post notes of encouragement on their fellow students’ lockers. Once they formalized the upper school committee, they continued posting the encouraging notes, but organized several more ways to “RAK” the community. They began by handing out treats once a month to a group of randomly selected students (random yet organized, so all students received a treat by the end of the year). One student said, “It was really helpful to me if I was having a bad day, and I'm sure other people could agree that it helped them through the day to know someone was thinking about them.” RAK also carried on the Secret Snowflake tradition (encouraging kids and teachers to sign up for a winter gift exchange), but on the first day they asked participants to bring in goodies for the maintenance, grounds, kitchen and custodial staffs.
The Uplifting Public Message Project In English and social science, seventh graders study themes of great challenge, with special attention to people who exhibit qualities of resilience and courage. Inspired by Anne Frank’s optimism and positive outlook, 7th Grade Visual Arts students, led by teacher Paulo Machado, designed public messages to inspire resilience, mindfulness, and hope. Succinctness, clarity, and readability were some of the technical targets for this project.
Making sure not to miss the faculty, RAK funded a free Goodie Cart treat coupon for all lower school teachers and a free Java Nook drink coupon for all middle and upper school teachers. To fund their initiatives, the committee held both a bake sale and a carnation sale. The committee visited Lower School Gathering to give short talk on Random Acts of Kindness, and also met with all of the middle school students, talked about the goal of the committee and had them write thank you notes for all non-teaching staff. For their school year finale, RAK funded a “fixins bar” for the yearbook ice cream social event, complete with edible cone cups, sauces, and sprinkles.
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Spring Concerts
LEFT and BELOW: Upper school pops concert
Clockwise from LEFT: 6th grade band; 6th grade choir; 7th and 8th grade band; upper school choir; Chamber Singers.
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ABOVE LEFT: 3rd, 4th and 5th grade choir. ABOVE RIGHT and RIGHT: Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. BELOW LEFT and MIDDLE: Preschool and Pre-K concert. BELOW RIGHT: 4th and 5th grade band.
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Winter Sports 2016-17 Boys’ Basketball Led by coach Chris Loeffler ’00, the Quakers had a 12-8 record and made it to the state tournament for the first time in four years. One major highlight, the boys had a huge comeback win over Sanford, beating them 50-45. Another was Jordan Perkins ’17 reaching 1000 points. He also was named one of the Top Ten New Castle County players and played on the Blue/Gold Team this year.
All State 3rd Team: Jordan Perkins ’17 All Conference 1st Team: Jordan Perkins ’17 2nd Team: Justin Beneck ’17, and Timmer Farley ’19 Honorable Mention: Max Okolo ’18
Girls’ Basketball The Quakers, led by coach Carolyn Gates Connors ’81, had a 12-8 record and made it to the State tournament. Earlier in the season the girls team All Conference won the cup Diamond State 1st Team: Natalie DePaulo ’18, Classic Tournament. Natalie DePaulo ’18, was named Margaret Sullivan ’17 Athlete of the Week and Jayna 2nd Team: Jayna Jones ’17 Jones ’17 made the Blue/Gold Team this season. Honorable Mention: Megan Flanagan ’17
Winter Track Winter track, led by coach Paul Nemeth, had the following successes at States: • Dani Nathan ’19, high jump, 4th place • Aaron Brick ’18, 400m run, 7th place • Girls 4x200 relay--Pen Trainer ’18, Fawn Palmer ’19, Olivia Finizio ’19, Evie Kortanek ’18--set a WFS record • Boys 4x200 relay--Oryem Kilama ’20, Peyton McNeill ’19, Jordan Carter ’17, Aaron Brick ’18--set a WFS record.
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In addition, Chris Wallace ’17 set the WFS shotput record at 38’9” at Haverford College.
National Signing Day Six seniors participated in National Signing Day, finalizing commitments to play college sports: Sean Cochran, Washington College, swimming; Alyssa Nathan, Swarthmore, volleyball; Alex Musi, Dickinson, volleyball; Simone Veale, Williams, field hockey; Blair Atkins, Franklin & Marshall, swimming; and Andrew Jaworski, Colgate, football. In addition to the students who participated in signing day, three more seniors will continue their athletic careers in college: Justin Beneck, football, University of Delaware; Margaret Sullivan, basketball, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Jordan Perkins, basketball, Gwynedd Mercy University.
Swimming The team was led by Conference Coach of the Year, Robin Lebauer. The girls’ team went 10-1 and the boys’ team went 6-5. The boys’ and girls’ teams both earned winning records. The girls’ team earned CoDISC champions with St. Andrews, making it two years in a row they have earned that title. Blair Atkins ’17 was featured in “The News Journal” as Athlete of the Week. At States, the boys finished 11th place (highest ever) and the girls finished in 12th place. Ashley Chompre ’20 was this year’s State Champion in the 100 Fly (school record). All State 1st Team: Ashley Chompre ’20 All Conference 1st Team: Blair Atkins ’17, Ashley Chompre ’20, Sam Huo ’18, Kate Saber ’20 2nd Team: Sean Cochran ’17, Jake Luckangelo ’18, Nathaniel Ruhl ’18
Wrestling
All Conference 1st Team: John Blackwell ’18, Malik Chenault ’19, Matt Denney ’17 2nd Team: Jack Coons ’18, Nathan Crock ’19, Matt Hinderhofer ’17
Led by coach Don Morton ’94, the Quakers had a 9-3 record and sent four members of the team to the state tournament: Matt Denney ’17, Matt Hinderhofer ’17, Jack Coons ’18, and Luke Munch ’21. Matt Denney ’17, John Blackwell ’18 and Malik Chenault ’19 were DISC champions. The team also had its 8th straight win over Tower Hill.
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Spring Sports 2017 Baseball Led by coach John Roskovensky, Quaker baseball went 9-9 this season. All Conference 1st team: DeVonté Church ’17 2nd team: Henry Gise ’17, Joey Mullen ’19, Matt Taormina ’19, Dalton Ramsey ’18, Jack Hanson ’18, Eddie Micheletti ’20, Will Davis ’20
UNDEFEATED SEASON!
Girls’ Lacrosse Led by coach Jessica Franklin, the Quakers went 7-8, and Blair Atkins ’17 and Simone Veale ’17 each scored her 100th goal this season.
Boys’ Lacrosse
All American: Eric Pincus ’18
1st team: Blair Atkins ’17, Anna Erskine ’18, Simone Veale ’17
Led by Coach of the Year Jake Rashkind, the Quakers had their first undefeated Boys Lax season in Friends School history! They went on to the State tournament with a win over Charter in the first round and then a win over Tower Hill in the quarter finals to move on to the semi-finals where their journey came to an end. Eric Pincus ’18 and Matt Tornek ’17 each scored his 100th goal this season. In addition, Will Gatti ’17, Owen Sheppard ’17, and Matt Tornek ’17 represented the North at the Delaware Senior All-Star Game.
2nd team: Ada Plumb ’18,
Academic All American
Honorable Mention: Ajala Elmore ’20
Matt Tornek ’17
Academic All American Simone Veale ’17 All State 2nd Team: Blair Atkins ’17 All-Conference
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All State 1st team: Eric Pincus ’18, River Harper ’18, Peyton McNeill ’19, Will Gatti ’17 2nd team: Nate Ruhl ’18 3rd team: Chad Connors ’18 All Conference 1st team: Eric Pincus ’18, Peyton McNeill ’19, River Harper ’18, Matt Tornek ’17, Will Gatti ’17, Chad Connors ’18, Owen Sheppard ’17, Nate Ruhl ’18 2nd team: Jake Nolen ’17, Ryan Kirkpatrick ’17, Nick Redd ’20, Wyatt Skinner ’20
Soccer The Quakers, led by coach Scott Clothier, went 7-6-1 this season and made it to the State tournament. In addition, Megan Flanagan participated in the Blue/Gold Senior Game.
Megan Flanagan ’17, Katrina Skibicki ’17, Maggie MartelliRaben ’18 2nd team: Christina Aleman ’17, Lisa Dobber ’19
All State 2nd team: Sloan Maas ’18 All Conference Coach Powers with Jake Nolen ’17, Owen Ganse ’17, Eric Pincus ’18 and Jack Coons ’18.
1st team: Sloan Maas ’18,
US Lacrosse Coach and Players Help Launch Ferris School Team Coach Lee Powers and members of the boys’ lacrosse team helped to organize and continue to work with players in the new lacrosse program at Ferris School. Last spring, the program was featured in a News Journal article.
Tennis The boys’ team finished the season with a 5-10 record, and Ryan Chompre ’18 played the top seed in the DIAA Tournament Quarter Finals. The head coach is Jack Rowell. The girls’ team, led by coach Ken Dill, finished the season with a record of 9-6. They
made it to the third round of States: singles, Ashley Brooks ’18 and Alicia Thompson ’17; and doubles Samantha Conner ’18 and Luann Ji ’20. Tennis does not have all-conference teams or recognitions other than final placement in the state.
Track & Field Great Showing for Quaker Track & Field, led by coach Paul Nemeth, at Meet of Champions where 17 Delaware high schools competed in Dover. Dani Nathan ’19 took 1st in High Jump (5’ 4”); Connor Nisbet ’19 took 2nd in the 3200; and Aaron Brick ’18 took 6th in the 400. All State 1st Team: Dani Nathan ’19
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Class Notes
CLASS OF 1941 Tom C. Marshall ’41 was written up in Hemmings Motor News in February 2016. Tom runs the Marshall Steam Museum as part of the Auburn Heights Preserve, a state park dedicated to preserving Delaware’s industrial history. The museum’s highlights include the world’s largest collection of operating steam cars, including Stanley Steamers and a 1916 Rauch and Lang Electric Car. More information about the museum can be found at AuburnHeights.org. CLASS OF 1953 Alison Lunt Steadman and her husband, John, returned from a 7-week trip to Australia and New Zealand. They visited with AFS classmate Peg Barraclough Nepia–Muru and her husband Selwyn in Auckland, N.Z. Congratulations to Sue McGovern Herdon and husband, Roy, who celebrated their 60th anniversary with their family in Arizona. Frannie Walker Altmaier and Chick Altmaier ’51 have also reached 60 years of marriage and are now living in a cottage at The Country House, Wilmington, DE.
Reminder to classes ending in 2 and 7, this is your reunion year. We hope to see you at Homecoming!
John Bonifaz ’84 speaking at the Pacem in Terris, 50th Anniversary: 100 Years of Peace and Justice Speaker Series.
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In other Country House resident news, Tom Herlihy spent spring break in Costa Rica with his son, Glenn, Glenn’s wife, and Tom’s grandson. Lawyer Tom is still working! Priscilla Bowdle Lamont reported she and her husband, David, are gradually downsizing their house of 42 years. They are hoping to move to a smaller house in their Woodstown, NJ neighborhood to be near friends, their daughter, and their granddaughter. Marjorie Wesp Montgomery took a few moments as she nears her 82nd birthday to ponder how WFS helped her grow up. Marjorie lives in a retirement community in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Duane Montgomery. She recently wrote these thoughts, “I am grateful to Friends School for introducing me to the Quaker faith, which has influenced me in countless ways. I learned to meditate in that old dusty non-air-conditioned gym. (I recall a hot spring morning when the doors were open to a breeze, and a dog wandered in, looked around, made not a sound, but must have felt the ‘good vibes’. He lay down and studied the faces, no doubt amazed that we were all so silent, and all awake. Time passed, and
he stayed in place until the end. I decided that day that if a dog could learn to be still and meditate, then so could I.) Later I taught my daughter and two sons to be pacifists, and they did limit their fighting, with each other (at least as far as I know.) “I am grateful for the overnight camping on a church floor in a poor neighborhood. We helped with painting homes, and heard about the way some folks had to stretch a dollar to survive. Also the great trips -- to Dover to see our Capital and participate in Girls State. Ellie Alexander Poorman was elected State Lt. Governor and I was State Treasurer. We also went to Washington, DC (stayed in Blair House!) to ride the underground Senate carts and see Congress in session, and to New York City to see the United Nations in session. All the above opened my eyes to the largeness of our world, and to the work that so many do to make this world fair and better. “I was timid and unsure of myself when I entered Friends in tenth grade. I had not wanted to leave Buffalo, NY where I had many friends. But your predecessors were warm, welcoming, encouraged whatever leadership abilities I had, and made me feel needed. I was especially pleased to be chosen Co-Chair of the Honor Committee along with Don Garrett*. I was totally amazed to receive the Bush award in 11th grade, and the Mendenhall in 12th. WFS gave me the confidence that helped me survive a painful divorce in 1974 and become a Unitarian Universalist minister in 1976. Finally, WFS taught me to love learning. I graduated from Wellesley College in 1957, along with Carolyn Weber and Maris Fisher Krasnegor, and also Union Theological Seminary in 1958 (Bachelor of Religious Education). I then received my Masters in Theology from Perkins School of Theology, SMU, in 1976. In retirement, I play pop tunes on piano for many events, and introduced Life Long Learning to this retirement community via Great Courses. “THANK YOU, WFS, FOR ALL YOU DID FOR ME; THREE OF THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE.” Ellie Alexander Poorman and Joel Poorman returned to Brazil after 42 years for the celebration of Grandson Garrett Poorman’ s wedding to Tielly from Curitiba, SC, Brazil. They had a great, happy wedding reunion at a beautiful beach resort in Santa Catarina including all 4 of their children and 7 of 11 grandchildren.
*deceased
WFS Alumni and Special Friends Connections gathering for dinner at the Methodist Country House.
Pictured right to left are, Cornelia Gromadzki ’55, Terry Walbert (parent of WFS alumni), Janet Lemons (parent of WFS alumni), Joan Altmaier (spouse of WFS alumni), Tom Herlihy ’53, Rod Teeple ’45, Ellie Poorman ’53, Geney Geoghegan (spouse of WFS alumni and parent of WFS alumni), Alan Craig (past trustee and parent of WFS alumni), Diane Teeple, Joel Poorman, and Lou Gromadzki.
CLASS OF 1965 Leslie Davis Guccione wrote, “I’m back. After 45 years I returned to Wilmington in June, 2016. Wait, there’s more! I’ve bought Jon Williams’s Sharpley childhood house! “Gerry/Vivian Lessey Pas (whom I hadn’t seen since 1972) and I missed the 50th reunion, but reconnected via the gift committee. I was delighted to host her for a March weekend, when she arrived from WI on the way to her brother Bob Lessey’s ’62 in MD, for her family reunion and that big birthday we’ve all hit. We had a lively visit with 90-yearold Violet Richmond. Gerry had also arranged to see Roland Woodward and Jon. The coincidence came to light when I sent them directions to my house. In fact, turns out Bob Lessey dated Sarah Williams ’61, and spent much time at this house too. Jon arrived with 1960s photos and answers to many of my new homeowner questions. Our fabulous 5 hour gab-fest, of course, included their wonderful wives Faith and Carrie. To quote Sherry Brilliant at WFS when I sent in this blurb, ‘Very strong WFS vibes in that house.’ It’s great to be back!”
Rolan Woodward ’65, Vivian Lessey Pas ’65, Leslie Davis Guccione ’65 and Jon Williams ’65.
Vivian Lessey Pas notes, “I was back east from Wisconsin in late March, and spent the weekend with classmate Leslie Davis Guccione. I had a chance to go visit retired teacher Violet Richman, whom I have loved and kept in touch with for all these years! She lives at Kendal in Kennett Square, and still has the warmest laugh I have ever known. Very happy day!” CLASS OF 1969 Congratulations to Louise Baldwin for winning the inaugural President’s Award for distinguished service in international education from the University of Michigan. Louise is senior associate director of The International Center and director of immigration services and compliance at the University of Michigan. Peter Close was inducted into the Earlham College Athletic Hall of Fame for his prowess as a soccer player. Peter was a four-year starter on the Earlham men’s soccer team. He was selected as the team’s co-captain in 1972, and led his team to two NAIA tournaments in his four-year career at Earlham.
Former WFS teacher Violet Richman and Vivian Lessey Pas ’65.
CLASS OF 1970 Roy H. Wilkinson notes, “My big news is that I am celebrating one year of being cancer-free after prostate surgery in 2016. I urge all male classmates of every year to get screened.” CLASS OF 1974 Peter Kelemen is working in the al-Hajjar Mountains in Oman on a project to study how the rock formations in the area transform carbon dioxide from the air into limestone and marble. He and a team of 40 scientists have formed the Oman Drilling Project in order to understand the process. They are working to answer the question of whether or not this natural scrubbing process can be used to clean the earth’s atmosphere of CO2 found in greenhouse gas, which is driving climate change. The $3.5 million project has global support, including the support of NASA. CLASS OF 1984 John Bonifaz was in Wilmington, DE in May speaking at the Pacem in Terris, 50th Anniversary: 100 Years of Peace and Justice Speaker Series at Westminster Presbyterian Church. John is a Bostonbased attorney, President and co-founder of Free Speech for People, founder of the National Voting Rights Institute, and a current board member at the Access Strategies Fund, a Massachusetts foundation “promoting electoral reforms to increase the participation of underserved communities in politics.” John received a MacArthur Fellowship in 1999. He is a 1987 graduate of Brown University and a graduate of Harvard Law School cum laude.
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CLASS NOTES CLASS OF 1999 Jenny Lamb ’99 writes, “I live in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn with my husband, Clark Fredricksen. We got married in June 2016, in Kiawah, South Carolina. I've been working at Pandora for the past 8 years. Clark is from Seattle, and works at eMarketer.”
Big sister Felicity Joppa ’31 holding baby sister Verity Joppa.
Matthew Titone notes, “I moved to Venice Beach 11 years ago via NYC and started my own design studio here called ITAL/C about 5 years ago. We also run a surf culture brand through the studio called Indoek. Just this month, my first book was released called ‘Surf Shacks’ published by Gestalten. It's a large 288-page coffee table book featuring 42 creative surfers and their homes. (I wrote/ edited, illustrated, and designed it, and shot about 90% of the photography in it.) My wife Courtney and I also just had our first kid 8 months ago, his name is Milo (after my dad). I am loving being a dad.” CLASS OF 2000 Meredith Jones Joppa and her husband, Andy, welcomed their daughter, Verity Gwendolen Joppa, on October 6, 2016. Verity joins big sister Felicity '31. CLASS OF 2004
Justin Hugelen-Padin ’04 and his wife, Laurel McKnight.
On June 25, 2016, Justin Hugelen-Padin was married to Laurel McKnight. The wedding was held at Oberod Estate in Wilmington, DE. The couple enjoyed a honeymoon in France and Iceland and are currently living in Silver Spring, MD. Justin works as a Web Development Manager for the Better Business Bureau and Laurel is the World Languages Department Chair at Cabin John Middle School in DC. CLASS OF 2008
Mike Anderson ’08, who is the only salesperson for Big Oyster Brewery.
Lindsay Schmittle ’09 was recently featured in an article in “Landenberg Life.” Photo courtesy of “Landenberg Life.” 36
Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
As the only salesperson for Big Oyster Brewery, Mike Anderson spends his time keeping in touch with the brewery’s more than 100 restaurant and bar customers in Delmarva. Mike has also been generously donating his time and Big Oyster beer to community charity events like WFS Quaker Quiz Night. Thanks, Mike! Sophie Day is a graduate student completing a Masters in Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania. She has done clinical work with men convicted of sex offenses as well as policy research related to the laws currently on the books. Her article, “Sex Offender Registration:
Why Fear Isn’t Smart Policy,” has been published in the May 4, 2017 edition of “The Crime Report,” and can be found at TheCrimeReport.org. Morgan Dorsey is a member of the class of 2019 at the Maurine H. Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University. Reity O’Brien writes, “I'm currently in my second year at Vanderbilt Law School in Nashville, looking forward to a summer job at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley, and McCloy in New York City. I hope to practice litigation after graduation and am particularly interested in financial regulation, consumer protection, and criminal justice. Until then, I'll be soaking up the music and food scene in Nashville! And studying…” CLASS OF 2009 Hannah Brilliant graduated from Harvard University with a Masters Degree in Education from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education in the Teacher Education Program. Becky Jennings has recently become a Certified Surgical Technologist. Lindsay Schmittle was recently featured in an article in “Landenberg Life,” put out by Chester County Press. (The article can be found at chestercounty.com entitled “Finding Beauty in the Old Ways” 4/20/17.) Lindsay runs a letterpress company in Landenberg called Gingerly Press. On March 24, 2017, Lindsay started her next big project called, “The Printed Walk; Georgia to Maine.” She plans to hike the 2200-mile Appalachian Trail and for each 100 miles that she finishes, she is creating a print to represent it. Lindsay hopes to complete her project in August or September of this year and then find a gallery to show the completed body of work. CLASS OF 2010 Sam Finkelman will begin a Ph.D. program at the University of Pennsylvania. His Ph.D. will be in Modern European History and his primary research areas will be the history of Jews in the Soviet Union and dissidence in post-Stalin USSR. Jake Glassman starred in Adam Szymkowicz’s Off-Broadway play, “Rare Birds,” directed by Scott Ebersold. The play was well reviewed and ran from March 23, 2017 to April 9, 2017 in NYC. One reviewer said, “With a seamlessly
CLASS NOTES talented and committed cast, and a set, costumes, lighting, sound, and projections precisely conceived and executed in high-end Off-Broadway style, director Ebersold has fashioned a fine ‘issue’ entertainment that doesn’t feel message-y at all. It’s a winner from start to finish.” The play is described as a “play about adolescent violence and your mother’s new boyfriend.” Jake toured earlier this year in the US and Canada playing Percy Jackson in “The Lightning Thief,” based on Rick Riordan's novel. More information about Jake’s work can be found on his website www.jglassman.com. CLASS OF 2011 Becky Hodge visited the 8th and 11th grade biology classes in the spring. She shared her experiences as a grad student at Emory University working on projects with the World Health Organization and with the Centers For Disease Control. She is working in the field of epidemiology and she studied infectious diseases combining her skills in computer analysis, field-work, biometrics, and lab studies. Javier Horstmann is now working as a staff assistant for Delaware Governor John Carney. He is very happy with his new job. In addition to working in the Governor’s office, Javier is also working toward getting his Masters in public administration from the University of Delaware. Julie Ly will attend the Winterthur/ University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation as a member of the Class of 2020. CLASS OF 2013 Lindsay Aleman, who just graduated from The Catholic University of America and played women’s soccer for CUA, was presented the outstanding senior
student-athlete award for the athletes who have made the biggest contribution to their sport. Lindsay made three-time Catholic and Landmark All-Conference Selection, was the Landmark Offensive Player of the Year as a junior after helping the team gain its second-straight league title and NCAA Appearance, and was selected to the Landmark All-Decade Team. Malcolm Delpeche and Marcus Delpeche are active members of a group called ‘Green Dot’ at Bates College. Green Dot is a group that promotes bystander intervention in fighting power-based personal violence such as dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The Delpeche brothers inspired their teammates on the Bates Basketball team to get involved and become Green Dot certified as well. Christopher DiMaria writes, “Some big news I’d like to share with you: I graduated college! This past weekend I graduated from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University with a major in Broadcast and Digital Journalism and a minor in Political Science. I was also among the five Newhouse students to graduate in the inaugural Sports Communication Emphasis; it's a new program that was established last year, and the class of 2017 was the first to be eligible to graduate under that designation. “Even bigger news, I graduated cum laude! I finished my college career making Dean's List in four of my last five semesters on my way to graduating from the BDJ program with honors. I was reflecting on this accomplishment today, and I remembered four years ago sitting in the college guidance room with Kathleen Martin and Ms. Smith. They had such faith in me and told me that they were sure I could make Dean’s List at SU. “Next up for me is the beginning of my career; I start my first job as a news reporter at ABC 7 in Buffalo on July 5! I’m in a one-year program in which I will work as an employee of the station, but the real focus of my job is to develop
my skills, that way I can be recruited by other stations to move up to an even bigger market for my second job. The program I’m in only takes four Newhouse grads every year, and I’m so fortunate to be on that list this year beside three very talented colleagues of mine.” Fiona Iyer is a student at Minerva Schools, a university trying to revolutionize higher education. She has published an article in huffingtonpost.com on 2/23/2017 entitled “How to Build a Future of Food That Works,” that talks about the role of collaboration and technology in the future of food production. Lauren Kerrigan will be attending LSU Graduate School to study equine reproductive physiology and endocrinology. Elise Lankiewicz, who swims for Davidson College, qualified for the NCAA Swimming Championships, March 15-18, in Indianapolis, IN. When asked about her experience at the NCAA Championships, Elise wrote, “NCAAs were such a blast, my team and the whole Davidson community has given me so much over the last couple of years so I was really proud to have the opportunity to represent them on the national stage. It was also just such a thrill to get to compete against Olympic gold medalists and world record holders. There’s nothing I love more than racing so going up against the nation’s fastest swimmers was the best possible end I could have imagined to my swimming career.” Elise is only the third swimmer from Davidson to qualify for the NCAAs.
Friends travel to see Sean Kirkpatrick ’13 play at Holy Cross
Jake Glassman ’10 (seated) starred in the Off-Broadway play, “Rare Birds.”
Lindsay Aleman ’13 (left) is pictured at the Catholic University Athletic Award Ceremony. (photo courtesy of CUAcardinals.com)
Chris Loeffler ’00, Martha Poorman Tschantz ’85, Ted Kirkpatrick, Jeff Ransom, Jay Tschantz, Laura Kirkpatrick and John Hanson attending the semi-finals of the Patriot League Lacrosse Championships to watch Sean Kirkpatrick ’13 play for Holy Cross.
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Cav Salvadori was a gold medal winner at the CAA Championship Track meet held at UD on May 6, 2017. Cav won the 300 meter steeplechase whilst running for William & Mary. CLASS OF 2014
Alumna Profile: Leslie Davis Guccione ’65 Author Leslie Davis Guccione ’65 shares her career path as a writer and reflects on her time at WFS. She is the author of several novels including “Come Morning,” a story about the Underground Railroad, which she researched entirely in the WFS library and dedicated to her class. She also wrote “The Chick Palace,” her last women’s fiction romantic comedy, which was an experiment via e-books and hit #1 for Barnes & Noble’s NOOK. What did you do upon graduating from WFS? I headed off to a classic women’s liberal arts college~~in my case, Queens College in Charlotte, NC, the unofficial partner to all-male Davidson. (Both are now co-ed and QC is now Queens University of Charlotte). During my WFS years I was a painting student of Carolyn Wyeth’s & senior year I did a lot of creative writing for my English teacher, Sarah Longstreth. At QC I majored in art (a combo of art history and fine art) with creative writing on the side, including Sigma Upsilon, a national literary fraternity, the college magazine and newspaper. How did you get your start as a writer? I got my professional start after graduation. I lived at home for a year & landed the perfect first job: commercial art and copy writing for Sam Shipley’s* advertising agency, Shipley Assoc., in the Independence Mall on Rt 202. I had no training in either so it was seat-of-thepants, on-the-job-training. I gravitated to copy writing. (Radio & newspaper ads, brochure copy etc). After a year I moved to friends already settled in Boston. I freelanced (including designing one of Ron Pownall’s first rock star poster projects) and after a stint as a travel consultant (map marker) for AAA, I landed a public relations/copy writing position for the Massachusetts Heart Assoc., and from there copywriter for a fundraising firm specializing in non-profit accounts. To this day I’m proudest of my letters written on behalf of Ted Williams and other Red Sox players for the Dana Farber Jimmy Fund. Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
As with so many writers, my path to publishing was circuitous, to say the least. After a solid ten years of PR and copywriting I made the leap. Fellow author Carla Neggers gave me solid business advice and I interested agent Denise Marcil in two manuscripts of genre fiction, a mystery for teens (Young Adult fiction) and an adult romantic suspense (Women’s Fiction). She sold both. By the mid1980s we were off and running. Twenty years later she still represents me. What are you currently working on? In the 90s I added teaching to my schedule and spent fourteen years as a mentor/adjunct lecturer in Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction program. I’m still at it as a freelance editor/manuscript consultant which means I’m currently working on someone else’s WIP (Work in Progress). It is far more fun to critique other’s people work! What advice would you give to students who are interested in writing? The industry has changed drastically in the past 5 years but the core advice stays the same: Read, read, read, wide and deep, especially work currently being published. Write, write, write. Get all that brilliance out of your head. Take courses; attend conferences. Both allow you to network & learn the basics in whatever genre appeals to you. Don’t quit your day job. How were you influenced by your experience at Wilmington Friends School? Encouragement was constant, especially from Miss Longstreth and our beloved librarian, Miss Woodall. What’s your favorite WFS memory? As a newcomer Junior year, being accepted by classmates. *deceased; parent of alumna Amy Shipley ’87
Jamie Martelli-Raben was named to the spring Dean’s List with Distinction at Duke University. He is a junior majoring in Economics. CLASS OF 2016 Joslyn Gardner has really enjoyed her first year at Pomona College. Pomona immediately pushed her out of her comfort zone starting with the orientation adventure which was comprised of camping, hiking, biking, and kayaking for four days in the mountains. For anyone who knows her, they know this is not her forte! Then, the classes pushed her to think more critically about systems of oppression and how it affects people. She notes, “It’s amazing to see students take this knowledge out of the classroom and use it to hold the administration accountable.” She advocated for the rights of black students, and hopes to get more involved in activism groups on campus next year. She is a member of the judiciary board, club tennis team, and the Black Student Union. She is looking forward to being an RA/mentor for the class of 2021. Maddie Ireland writes about her freshman year, “I am finishing up my freshman year in Italy, where I’ve been studying on NYU’s Florence campus as part of their Liberal Studies program. I love Florence so much, but I will be spending my sophomore year in New York City. As of now, I am also intending on spending my junior year in Madrid, Spain with NYU as part of my thesis research, but that is not definite quite yet.” Kelly Hartwick writes “I am currently finishing up my first year at Drew University, deciding on studying either international relations or economics, but definitely minoring in Chinese studies. I am a Baldwin Scholar, and I am the treasurer of Drew Poets Society, the poetry club on campus. I am also a Drew tour guide, and I have an internship with GenZ Publishing, in which I am an editor and do PR work. I am traveling to St. Petersburg, Russia, over the summer to study abroad. And I plan for my sophomore year at Drew to be just as great and exciting as this past year has been!”
Eleanor Napoli ’16 in early morning practice, third from the right in a white hat.
Miles Katzen sent a reflection of his time in IB visual arts at WFS school. He wrote, “I am taking an entrepreneurship class called ‘Creativity and Design Thinking.’ After the first class meeting, it became clear how well-prepared I am for this class after taking art in high school. My professor stressed the importance of creative ways to solve problems, which is something I learned at WFS. I remember how instrumental Ms. Mellow was when I was making my piece with the fishes and American flag canvases in that she taught me ways to complete the piece that I never would've thought of doing on my own. Ms. Mellow also told me not to fall too much in love with something because I can always paint another canvas so I should just take a good idea when I have it and roll with it. These are skills that I know will translate well to not only my entrepreneurship class but for the rest of college and my life as a whole.” Noah Landis joined 8th grade Spanish students to share (entirely in Spanish) his experiences in Cuba during the fall of 2016. Noah was able to offer a firsthand glimpse into a variety of topics, including music, religion, sports, food, technology, government and the emotion on the Caribbean island as the Cuban people bid farewell to Fidel Castro. He also offered the class their first Salsa lesson (lesson 2 in Salsa dancing took place on the MS trip to Puerto Rico in June!).
¡Muchas gracias, Noah! Jodi Lessner’s article entitled “The Fundamental Necessity for Free Civil Legal Aid for Fair Trials” was published in the Columbia Undergrad Law Review. In this article, Jodi argues that free legal aid should be applied to civil cases for lowincome Americans in the same way that it is applied for in criminal cases. Eleanor Napoli notes, “This past year at college has been insane; I have loved every moment of it. I believe that the school I attend is one of the best kept secrets in the North East, St. Lawrence University. While many confuse it with Sarah Lawrence College, I assure you it's very different. It is located in the remote North Country (Canton, NY) about an hour and a half from Lake Placid and just below the Canadian border. While I was originally recruited to run Cross Country and play lacrosse here, my first week of school I decided I wanted to try something new so I joined the rowing team. Being part of the rowing team has been one of the hardest yet most rewarding thing I have ever been apart of. Going to Wilmington Friends School from second grade through my senior year, I learned a lot about teamwork, hard work, and positivity. These are all things that have helped me make my adjustment to college, particularly being successful on my team. It's not always easy getting up every day at 5:30am every day of the year, but because I have surrounded
Join Us.
Noah Landis ’16 joined 8th grade Spanish students to share (entirely in Spanish) his experiences in Cuba during the fall of 2016.
myself with strong, persistent, and kind women, it becomes such a non-issue. “Outside athletics, I changed my major to Communications and am working to get involved with Public Relations one day. I have also recently become an orientation leader (OL) for the incoming freshmen. During my time at Friends I was a Link Crew leader and eventually became the clerk of that club so being appointed an OL resonated a sort of pleasant dèja vu. I am also an Admissions Ambassador at SLU. Here I host overnight guests, give tours, and write blogs for the university. “I have always loved meeting new people and getting very involved in my surroundings. At Friends I was part of so many clubs and I took that passion of "serial club joining" and applied that to my college experience. Choosing the right college is hard, but when you find it, hold onto it because it honestly has been one of the most incredible years of my life. I have learned to take my past and apply it to my everyday life. Each day I strive to become something exceptional and I believe that this is something that each day, every person can achieve.”
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Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
Friends in Beantown Boston area alumni and friends gathered in the photography studio of Ron Pownall ’65 at Brickbottom Artists Building on May 4th for a regional alumni event. With the backdrop of photos of iconic rockers that Ron has photographed through the years-including Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, and Mick Jagger-- guests had the opportunity to mingle with friends and to meet Head of School Ken Aldridge, Head of Middle School Jon Huxtable, and Director of Development Chad O’Kane. A wonderful time was had by all. Thank you to those who joined us, and to those who were unable to make it, we hope to see you at the next Boston area event. Special thanks to Ron for graciously opening his studio for the event, and for the keepsakes he gave out at the end of the night.
ABOVE LEFT: Pam Appleby Waxlax ’83, David Kaiser ’83, Ken Aldridge, Fred Rapkin ’65, Ron Pownall ’65, and Susan Tomases ’83.
LEFT: Ron Pownall ’65, David Kaiser ’83, Kerry Lewis Shrives ’85, Cassandra Aldridge, Pam Appleby Waxlax ’83, Susan Tomases ’83, Megan Cairncross, Adam Cairncross ’02, Ken Aldridge, Mary Ting Hyatt ’03, Wilbur Hyatt, Charlotte Hutton DeBell ’67, Tim Snyder ’67, Lauren Mraz ’02, Ian Harrington ’73, Jon Huxtable, Phyllis Pownall ’69, Chad O’Kane, and Fred Rapkin ’65.
Jones House Interns -- Thank you! This spring, three upper school students served as interns in the Alumni/Development Office. Tony Bennett ’18, Kat Nix ’19, and Sean Brady ’20 gained a depth of real-world experience through developing skills in writing, social media, web content development, fundraising, event planning, video production, networking, and more. Their efforts as interns have made a great impact on the greater WFS community in supporting the School’s mission to help students let their lives speak.
Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
Sean Brady ’20
Kat Nix ’19 Tony Bennett ’18 (pictured here in the Domincan Republic on the WFS QUEST Term service trip).
to William MacClean Shoemaker, Jr. and Mary Hickman Gawthrop on December 26, 1923 in Kennett Square, the youngest of three children.
In Memory 1940 Frances Diver Burt was the 4th of eight children and was born in Wilmington, DE to Carolyn P. and Frank W. Diver on November 3, 1922. She grew up in Wilmington and graduated from high school at the Wilmington Friends School in 1940. Frances spent her childhood summers with her family in Buck Hill Falls, PA, a community which became very important to her for all the ties she formed there, the most important of which was her friendship and love of her future husband, Donald, whom she met there when she was 13 years old. After high school, Frances attended Connecticut College in New London, CT for 2 years. As a part of the World War II war effort, she acquired her certification as a medical librarian in Philadelphia and became the chief medical librarian at the Greenwich Hospital, in Greenwich, CT, where she remained until the end of the war. On August 21, 1948, Frances married Dr. Burt in Buck Hill Falls, while he was serving in the US Army at the Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, NE. Shortly afterwards she gave birth to their first daughter. As Dr. Burt’s military service was up, they moved to Flushing, NY, where their 2 sons were born. In 1954, the family moved to Morristown, NJ, where their youngest daughter was born. They made Morristown their home for the following 60 years, and Frances quickly became involved in community service and continued to do so until their move to their apartment at the assisted living facility of Parker at Stonehouse in Highland Park, NJ in 2014. Frances worked for several years as Dr. Burt’s receptionist and accountant, then moved on to become a member of the Morristown Memorial Hospital Women’s Association (MMHWA) helping to organize the foundation of the nurse scholarship committee there. She was active in that group for the rest of her time in Morristown, both with the scholarships, the annual Mansion in May event and the Candy Striper programs. Frances was an active member of the Morristown Presbyterian Church as a Sunday school teacher and member
of other committees. She was also a member and president of the Washington Valley Twig, a neighborhood branch of the Women’s Association, as well as the Washington Valley Community Association and the Washington Valley Home Economics Club (member since 1957). She is survived by her husband Donald, her brother Richard Diver ’47, her children Evelyn, Donald Jr., Robert and Carol, her 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Albert J. Tigani, Sr. passed away peacefully on March 6, 2017 at the age of 95. He was born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1921, son of the late Frank and Angelina Tigani. “Albie” was a graduate of Wilmington Friends School and attended the University of Delaware where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He left school early to join the Army in 1942 and served for three years during WWII. In 1943, he married the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betty” Plummer. Albie and Betty enjoyed traveling with friends and spent many winters in Florida. They were members of the Wilmington Country Club and The John’s Island Country Club in Vero Beach, Florida. Albie and his brother, James, founded NKS Distributors in Wilmington and built the business into the largest beer and liquor distributorship in Delaware. He also served as a member of the board of Dixon Ticonderoga for many years. In retirement, Albie continued to work part-time at the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce until he was 88. In addition to his parents, Albert was predeceased by his son Albert J. Tigani, Jr. ’64, his wife Betty, three brothers and his sister Carmella. He is survived by his loving daughter JoAnn Tigani Sears ’67 (Fred Sears ’60), his daughter-in-law Sarah Spraker Tigani; four grandchildren (J.J. Sears ’97) and six great-grandchildren. In his later years, he especially enjoyed visits from his great-grandchildren with “Old Pop Pop.” 1941 Charles “Chuck” Gawthrop Shoemaker, age 93, passed away on February 24, 2017, at Kendal at Longwood, Kennett Township, Pennsylvania. He was born
At the age of six he moved with his parents to Wilmington, Delaware where he attended Alexis I. duPont School then Wilmington Friends School. In the late 1930s the family purchased a property on Marshall Bridge Rd. in Kennett Square where Chuck continued to live until the late 1990s. He graduated from the George School in 1942 and that fall entered Swarthmore College and enrolled in the Naval V-5 program. Chuck received his commission in February 1945, began active service as a flight cadet in the Naval Reserve in June and was training as a carrier-based night fighter pilot for assignment to the Pacific when the war ended. In May 1945 he married Joann (Jody) Brosius of Wilmington. In 1946 he matriculated to the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1948, he joined Joseph Brosius, his father-in-law, in the family lumber business, Brosius & Smedley, Co. and in 1966 was instrumental in merging it with the company of his boyhood friend, James T. (Bud) Eliason, of J.T. & L.E. Eliason Inc. to form Brosius-Eliason Co. of New Castle and Wilmington, Delaware. At the time of Bud’s death Chuck became Chairman of the Company and continued in that role until 2008. As a lifelong resident of Kennett Township he served twelve years as a Supervisor and, having earned the Boy Scout rank of Eagle while at Wilmington Friends, served as Scoutmaster of Troop 57 and on its board, and the board of Wilmington Friends. A birthright Quaker, Chuck was a member of the Kennett Monthly Meeting of Friends where he served as Treasurer, Auditor, Clerk of the Trustees, and member of several committees including one that restored and maintained Old Kennett Meeting. He and Jody were members of Kennett Golf and Country Club and a charter member of Greenville Country Club where he enjoyed tennis. For many years he and Jody sailed from the Chesapeake Bay to the coast of Maine in their Concordia Yawl “Condor.” Chuck was a member of Wilmington Power Squadron, the Quiet Birdmen Association, and the George Washington Society. He is survived by two sons, Peter Townsend of Massachusetts and Joseph (Jay) Shoemaker ’69 of Portland, Oregon. He was predeceased by his son, Charles, Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
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in 2007, and wife Jody in 2012. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Andrew, Charles, Anna, Sarah, Alexandretta and three great grandchildren. 1947 Roger Alan Graves, age 87, a resident of Aurora, IL, formerly of Wilmington, DE and Columbus, OH, passed away peacefully in the early morning, Sunday, November 27, 2016 surrounded by his wife of 62 years, Gaile Graves (nee McCargo) and family. The family felt fortunate that he spent the Thanksgiving holiday with so many of his 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren engaging in the family festivities, watching Ohio State defeat Michigan and driving around to see the first Christmas lights of the season. Surrounded by loved ones, he spent his last night playing joyfully--even whistling--with one of his grandchildren. Alan was born March 10, 1929 in Wilmington, DE to Dr. George DeWitt Graves and Gladys (nee Beal) joining his older sister Carol. Upon graduation from the Friends School in 1947, Alan attended The University of Delaware. While there, he enrolled in ROTC, joined Sigma Phi Epsilon and was a member of the Blue Hen Cheerleading Squad. After graduating in 1951 with a BA in Psychology, Alan was commissioned and proudly served in the US Army (7th Army) as an Anti-Aircraft Artillery Unit Commander stationed in Germany during the Korean War (1951-1953). Upon his return, Alan earned his Masters Degree in Industrial Labor Relations at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. While working on his thesis, he met and married his wife, Gaile, on November 13, 1954 in the Anabel Taylor Chapel on the Cornell Campus. Alan and Gaile renewed their wedding vows 50 years later in the same spot with family and friends. A career employee of the General Electric Company, Alan held a variety of executive positions in Industrial Labor Relations and Human Resources for over 34 years. His GE career moved him and the family to multiple manufacturing and headquarter locations throughout the US, with his final assignment in Worthington, Ohio where he resided for 30 years. During his career, Alan served as a strong advocate for the career development of women and minorities. He was instrumental in creating innovative training and leadership programs that were promoted across the General Electric Corporation. Alan also held a variety of leadership roles within non-profit service organizations. He served as the Executive Director of the Association of Retarded 42
Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters
Citizens (ARC) and was an early advocate for establishing residential housing alternatives for adults with special needs. Alan was active with Kiwanis, Jaycees, Habitat for Humanity, The Alzheimer’s Association of Columbus, Ohio and was formally recognized by the American Red Cross Blood Services for his faithful participation. Alan was fortunate to have enjoyed just as many retirement years as working years, taking up long distance bicycling in his sixties. Together with his wife, Gaile, he cycled across multiple states and European countries. His favorite and most adventurous trip was a six-week, coast-to-coast cycling tour over his 68th birthday from San Diego, California across the US to St. Augustine, Florida. In the past few years, as his health declined, he spoke a bit less and listened a bit more. And while age may have taken some of his physical abilities, Alan’s integrity and caring compassion continued to be a source of strength for those he loved. Survived by his wife of 62 years, Gaile and their children Diane (Robert) Johnson of Ridgefield, CT, Gary Alan (Heather) Graves of Naperville, Amy (Tom) MacDonald of Naperville and the late Scott Graves, Alan will be sorely missed by his grandchildren Lindsay (Jeffrey) Johnson Ricotta, Lisa (Dustin) Johnson Lowery and Robert Johnson; Daniel Graves, Renee Graves, Adam Graves, Andrew Graves, Paden Anderson and the late Julie Graves; Heather MacDonald, Ian MacDonald and Ashley MacDonald; and great-grandchildren Katelyn Ricotta, Rachel Ricotta and Benjamin Lowery.
1952 Thomas Withers Putney, of Wilmington, DE and New Limerick, ME died February 14, 2017 of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Thomas was born in New York City to Marguerite Barber and Ellison Putney. He was a graduate of Wilmington Friends School Class of 1952 and Earlham College. After college, he entered the United States Naval Air and was on active and reserve duty for 23 years. He was the President and CEO of Wilmington Blue Print, Inc., founded by his grandparents Winifred and Dick Ward in 1934. Thomas was a member of the Photographic Society of America, the North East River Yacht Club, and the Wilmington Travelers Club. Thomas is survived by his wife Mary R. Putney and their children Laura Putney Wright ’80 and her husband Andy, Anne M. Putney ’84, Katie Bloom and her husband Andy, Rob Somerville and his wife Erica, and seven grandchildren: Tristan, Ted, Asa, Alta, Nola, Leo and Levi. He was predeceased by his parents, his twin brothers Hilton and Hugh, and his son Thomas B. Putney ’84. 1953 William “Bill” J. Wier, Jr., “Wilmington Bill,” died in Wilmington Hospital on Sunday, January 15, 2017 from complications of pneumonia. He was the son of the late William J. Wier, Sr. and Helen Millard Wier. After Wilmington Friends School, Bill graduated from Colgate University and Yale Law School. He
worked in the DuPont Legal Department and with the US Attorney. He continued in private practice with Connelly, Bove, and Lodge; Murdoch and Walsh; and Bader, Dorsey, and Kreshtool on a variety of cases.
daughter, Molly Ruzicka; her brothers, David M. Autman ’53 and Stephen Glenn Autman ’66; her nieces, Sabra Horvat, Dawn Autman and Lisa Dolph; as well as three grandnieces, Elizabeth Hill, Mackenzi and Madison Semans.
Bill and Betty, his wife of 50 years, loved to travel to a wide range of places including Africa, Central and South America, including the Galapagos, Far East, and Europe. His trip collections include countless masks, wall hangings, and artifacts. These fill in spaces next to his multitude of books.
Ms. Erbach was a graduate of Wilmington Friends School, Grinnell University and earned her masters degree from the University of Indiana. She received additional education at the Alley Theater in Texas.
Bill was predeceased by his sister Suzanne. Besides his wife, he is survived by dinner table partner Zoe the dog. 1955 Walter Bacon McDaniel, Age 79, passed away Monday, April 10, at Beaumont in Bryn Mawr, PA. Born March 1, 1938 in Wilmington, DE, Walter was the only child born to Mary Rose McDaniel and Herbert Chambers McDaniel. His father’s uncle, and surrogate father, was Walter Wolfkiel Bacon, the Mayor of Wilmington from 1935 to 1941 and the Governor of Delaware from 1941 to 1949. Mr. McDaniel is a graduate of the Wilmington Friends School and Amherst College. He also did graduate work at the Wharton School of Business and Thomas Jefferson University. He worked as a Vice President at Butcher and Singer in Center City, Philadelphia from 1965 to 1990. He was the sole proprietor of Metro Antiques in Center City from 1990 to 2006. An avid tennis player and board game aficionado, he was the 2013 Backgammon Champion at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. Mr. McDaniel is survived by his 4 sons Walter Keith McDaniel, Jeffrey Bacon McDaniel, Jonathan Chambers McDaniel, and Christopher Conner McDaniel; and 1 granddaughter, Camilla Wren McDaniel. 1957 C. Lynne Autman Erbach of Wilmington, Delaware passed away in the early hours of January 13, 2017. Ms. Erbach was the daughter of the late Edythe M. and G. Francis Autman, Sr. Lynne was preceded in death by her oldest brother, G. Francis “Franny” Autman, Jr. ’50. She is survived by her devoted husband, Paul A. Erbach;
Ms. Erbach’s extensive career included serving with the USO in Europe, executive directorship of The Children’s Theater of Baltimore, MD, the first Production Manager of the popular Broadway musical “Dames at Sea” and an extensive tenure in talent management at WNET TV in New York City during its production heyday. Lynne will be fondly remembered for her adventurous spirit and warm heart. 1969 Charles H. Moore III, 65, passed away peacefully at home in Coronado, California on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 following a courageous battle with melanoma. Born on November 13, 1951 in Ithaca, New York, he was the son of Charles H. Moore, Jr. and Nancy M. Quinn. Charles married Rita Horgan in Hawaii on August 30, 1991. Charles grew up in Chester County, Pennsylvania and graduated from the Wilmington Friends School, where he was an All-State Delaware soccer player. He attended Trinity College in Connecticut and the University of Delaware. Charles worked in technical sales with his uncle. He and Rita lived in Delaware and Arizona prior to settling in Coronado, California. They enjoyed 26 wonderful years together. Charles and Rita particularly enjoyed their visits to the island of Anguilla in the Caribbean. They are devoted to their Labrador retriever, Elvis. Charles was an avid sports fan and especially enjoyed horseracing, golf, tennis and football. Charles had a large and loving family. He is survived by his wife, Rita Horgan Moore, of Coronado, CA; his mother, Nancy Quinn of Sarasota, FL; his father and stepmother, Charles and Judith Moore of Laporte, PA; his brothers, James (Richard) Moore of Rockport, MA and David Moore of Lake Tahoe, NV; his sister, Susan Moore of Billings, MT;
his half-brother, Brian (Diane) Moore of Rockledge, FL and half-sister, Amanda Moore of Long Beach, NY; adopted brothers Kevin (Mariangela) Moore of Cranford, NJ and Christopher (Louise) Moore of Rochester, NY and adopted sister Margi Moore of Ocean View, DE; and his stepsisters, Colleen Quinn of Wilmington, DE; Sherrill Quinn of Buffalo, NY and Christine (Greg) Quinn of Hammonton, NJ. In addition, he is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his stepfather, James Quinn. 1974 Carol Powers Weitzenkorn of Pottstown passed away on March 22, 2017 at age 60 after a courageous four-year battle with brain cancer. Carol was a devoted wife and mother, cherished sister and sister-in-law, committed volunteer, an avid cyclist and triathlete, and a friend to many in the Chester County area. She was a “Sports Mom” of the highest caliber and never missed any of her sons’ athletic contests, no matter the weather. She contributed countless hours to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Pottstown. She was a member of Synagogue Hessed Shel Emmet and the Synagogue Sisterhood. She was also a member of the Suburban Karma Guild. An avid traveler, Carol visited Italy, Greece, Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile, Romania, Turkey, Ireland, Mexico, and Canada. She also loved hiking and camping, especially in her beloved Adirondack Park in upstate New York. Carol was born on April 10, 1956 in Salem, New Jersey. She graduated from Wilmington Friends School in 1974 and received a B.A. in Education from Gettysburg College in 1978. After working in the Washington, D.C. area for several years she moved to Pottstown, working first for Commodore International (yes, she had a Commodore 64 in her attic) and then, for many years, The WordTech Group. Carol is survived by her husband Gregg, of Pottstown; sons Aaron, of Phoenixville, and Nate, of Pottstown; brother Mike Powers (Jacquie) of Ithaca, NY; sister-in-law Laurie Weitzenkorn (Jake Fisher) of Wheaton, MD; brothersin-law Andy Weitzenkorn, of Pottstown, and Marc Weitzenkorn (Kat), of Cape Coral, FL; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, William and Jean Powers, and brother, Stephen Powers.
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1998 Brandee “DeeDee” Ford departed this life March 7, 2017 in Raleigh, NC. Daughter of Golden Ford-Jones (Michael) and Ralph Ford; sister of Collins and Courtney Ford; granddaughter of Jesse Ford, Sr., Elsie Marie Ford, Ramona Ryle, and Ivory Collins, Jr. (Mauritta). She also leaves to cherish her memory: aunts, Ivy C. Edwards (Thomas), Tiana Lawson, Karen Edwards (Ricardo), Sandra Toliver (Flenard), Gwendolyn Medley (Billy), and Roxanne Tillman; uncles, Jesse Ford, Jr. (Rose) and Gregory Ford, Sr. (Deborah); “sister” cousins, Amber, Aften, Amera Edwards, and the “C-4” Crew; a host of other relatives and friends. TRUSTEE Rosalind Ann McCoy-Gardner, a resident of Hockessin, DE died Sat., July 1st after a lengthy illness. Rosalind received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Information Science and her graduate degree from Claremont Graduate School in Claremont, CA. She was a treasured member of the Wilmington Friends School Board of Trustees, where her colleagues trusted her input and were welcomed by her warmth. Rosalind was born in Philadelphia, PA and was the daughter of James John McCoy (deceased) and Peggy Marie McCoy. She is survived by her husband of 24 years; George Gardner, and their three children, Joslyn ’16, Jonathan ’16, and Sydney Gardner ’16; two brothers, James John McCoy Jr, Nathaniel Dwayne McCoy, and sister Deirdre Fisher and a host of other family and friends. FORMER TRUSTEE Jean Reeder Dew, formerly of Chadds Ford, PA, passed away on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at Simpson Meadows in Downingtown, PA. Jean was the beloved wife of Thomas R. Dew ’42 with whom she shared forty-five years of marriage prior to his passing in 2002. Jean was born in Langhorne, PA on May 22, 1930 to William and Grace Reeder. She graduated from high school at George School in Newtown, PA and earned a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Earlham College in Richmond, IN. Prior to her marriage and
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children, Jean taught elementary school in Bucks County, PA and Greenville, DE. After a career break to raise her family, she returned to teaching in the late 1970’s in the Garnet Valley and Chichester, PA school districts. Jean enjoyed her family and watching her kids sporting events. She was ahead of her time, snapping thousands of pictures to record every event, long before the advent of smartphones or Facebook. She loved children, animals (especially cats) and the Philadelphia sports teams. Jean was a member of Wilmington Friends Meeting. As a member of the Meeting and a parent, she was devoted to Wilmington Friends School and served as a trustee of that institution for multiple terms. Jean is survived by her son, Thomas R. Dew, Jr. ’75 and wife, Lisa; son, Kevin Dew ’79 and wife, Lynda and five grandchildren - Ryan, Colin, Madison, Ian and Molly. FORMER FACULTY Elizabeth “Betty” F. DeBoer, age 88 of Lewes, DE, passed away on Friday, December 23, 2016, at Beebe Healthcare, in Lewes, DE. She was born Thursday, August 23, 1928 in Montclair, NJ, daughter of the late Edward W. Sr. and Mildred (Atwill) France. Mrs. DeBoer was a 1950 graduate of University of Delaware with a degree in Home Economics. She later returned to UD and obtained a Masters Degree in Elementary Guidance. Mrs. DeBoer
was a member of the Lewes Yacht Club. She was a local artist, watercolor being her favorite medium, and taught beginner’s painting at Biggs Museum and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UD, Lewes. She loved water aerobics and her once-a-week bridge club, but more than anything, she cherished the time she spent with her family. In addition to her parents, Mrs. DeBoer was preceded in death by her brother, York France. She is survived by her beloved husband of 67 years, who served for 10 years in the DE National Guard, Samuel DeBoer; her daughters: Debbie Kee and her husband Ed of Lincoln, DE, and Donna Nacchia and her husband Joseph of Wilmington, DE; her brothers: Edward Watson France, Jr. of Bradenton, FL, and Robert France of Penndel, PA; her grandchildren: Veronica and Samuel Nacchia, Karey Kee Henderson, and Jessica Kee McKenzie; and her great-grandchildren: Reilly, Michael, and Casey McKenzie, and Ivy and Aven Reed, who all affectionately referred to her as “Mom-Mom Beach.” FRIENDS OF FRIENDS Georgie Stapleton, wife of Walter Stapleton ’52, passed away on January 17, 2017. Gary Slocum, spouse of Catherine “Kay” Amend Slocum ’56, passed away on October 20, 2016.
IN CLOSING
s t r A g in m r o f r Pe
Making a Man Horse
HONK!, Jr
The Fifth Grade Musical this year was “HONK!, Jr.” This year’s student-led production was an original piece, “Making a Man Horse” (described as “a Western caper”), written by Matt Byer ’18 (pictured above left with Jay Handwerk ’18), and directed by Emily Rossi ’17 and Leah Johnson ’18.
Guys and Dolls
All in the Timing: Six Comedic One Acts by David Ives
Eighth graders in this year’s musical, “Guys and Dolls.”
Students perform in this year’s upper school play.
Thank you to the teachers in our Performing Arts department!
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Non-Profit Org.
101 School Road Wilmington, DE 19803 www.wilmingtonfriends.org
U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1249 Wilmington, DE
Homecoming October 27-28, 2017 • Visit our website to register for the Smith McMillan 5K • Reunions for classes ending in 2 and 7 • Alumni Field Hockey Game, Friday, October 27
If you have questions or would like to volunteer for the Smith McMillan planning committee, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@wilmingtonfriends.org or 302.576.2980. We hope to see you soon.
Top left, Friends singing in the preschool/PK spring concert. Above: Students on the QUEST Term service trip to the Dominican Republic were able to present our service partner, the DREAM project, with a check for $1,200 from funds they raised at the 2017 Spring Fling kids’ corner.
Summer 2017 • QuakerMatters