QuakerMatters Wilmington Friends School
Fall/Winter 2016-2017
Homecoming 2016 Honored Alumni
• Chip Connolly ’79 • Fred Sears ’60 • Lizzie Goodfriend ’00
Coach T’s 300+ Wins State Champ in Cross Country News from School & Alumni
QuakerMatters Wilmington Friends School
Fall/Winter 2016-2017 From the Head of School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 For Alumni & Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 From the Archives: Reminiscences, Howard Starkweather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Homecoming 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Reunion Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 WFS News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Fall Sports & The Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Football Run to the Finals And Coach T’s 300th Win . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 In Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 8 In Closing: Into the Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside back cover
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chair Vice Chair Treasurer Secretary Jennifer G. Brady Karen-Lee Brofee Denise H. Chapman Erin Brownlee Dell ’89 Scott W. Gates ’80 J. Harry Hammond Susan Janes-Johnson Omar A. Khan ’90
Susan Kelley Dorothy Rademaker Christopher Buccini ’90 Russ Endo Daniel Klein Matthew Lang ’08 Christopher Lee ’82 Rosalind McCoy-Gardner Deborah Murray-Sheppard Laura K. Reilly David Tennent Harvey Zendt
Alumni Association Board Liaison
Thomas S. Scott ’70
Home & School Association Board Liaison
Debbie Pittenger
ADMINISTRATION Head of School Assistant to the Head of School Associate Head for Finance and Operations Assistant Head for Academics Head of Lower School Head of Middle School Head of Upper School Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Director of Development Strategic Marketing Manager
Kenneth Aldridge Ann Cole William Baczkowski Michael Benner Annette Hearing Jonathan Huxtable Rebecca Zug Melissa Brown Chad O’Kane Susan Morovati Finizio ’87
ALUMNI BOARD 2016-2017
On the cover: Homecoming 2016 This page: Justin Beneck ’17 and Devonte Church ’17 after winning the opening round state tournament game at Milford. Read more about the 2016 football season on page 28.
Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters
Christopher 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 Raven Harris ’06 Jamie Jenney ’94 Meredith Jones Joppa ’00
Joshua Klein ’98 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
CLASS OF 2017 STUDENT LIAISONS Jayna Jones Drew Mangan Sadie Proud Professional photography by Billy Michels ’89, Elisa Komins Morris, Larry Kuhn, and Antonio Celso Hunnicutt Cortada. Design/layout by Jacquelyn Quinn Dickey. Please send any comments or corrections to info@ wilmingtonfriends.org.
From the Head of School Dear Friends, Homecoming 2016 had a familiar, and very Quaker, feeling to me. Though, except for our actual Meeting for Worship, the events were hardly characterized by silence or stillness, there was a quality of Meeting in the entire weekend—a sense of community with a foundation and aspiration. There was a purposefulness about it. On Homecoming, we reflect on our Friends School lives and those lives are reflected back to us, with a connection of past, present, and future. We all understood Chip Connolly’s remarks about Friends and family, about Friends as family. We recognized Lizzie Goodfriend’s value of being inspired to learn about the world and about herself. And we shared the Class of 1966 and Homecoming Meeting for Worship speakers’ gratitude for people who made a lasting difference in their lives and in the life of the School, including friends we remember in this issue, graduate and longtime trustee Howard Starkweather ’44, teacher Nona Smolko, and alumnus Bill Quillen ’52.
Below, left, Ken with Alumni Award recipients Fred Sears ’60, Lizzie Goodfriend ’00, and Chip Connolly ’79. Below, with Coach Bob “T” Tattersall, following Coach T’s 300th career win, a milestone never before achieved in Delaware highschool football.
That same common foundation and purpose were there in each reunion, and as we joined in service and stewardship, in cheering our teams to a 4-0 Homecoming weekend, and in sharing the joy of the world’s finest halftime band. Alumni Service Award recipient Fred Sears summed up much about the Friends School community when he said, “I feel people just know when they meet a Wilmington Friends School graduate, that they are meeting someone they can trust, someone who is open and genuinely concerned about the well-being of other people, someone of character, and someone who can be counted on to do what they say they are going to do.” Thank you to all who helped make Homecoming 2016 a festive, Quaker community event. We have celebrated much since, including a wonderful fall musical, student leadership and community service, the work of an inspirational faculty, and the success of our fall student-athletes, including a state championship in cross country and football reaching the state championship game with a community of fans behind them. And of course, we celebrated Coach Bob “T” Tattersall becoming the first Delaware high-school football coach ever to reach 300 career wins (303, to be exact). Every member of our school community brings a valued voice to our common purpose. Please continue to share your voice with us through the winter and spring and all the celebrations to come.
Above, left, with alumni from the Class of 1941, Tom Marshall, Nancy Jessup Wells, and Betsy Callahan Carter. Above, with True Blue alumni Tom Scott ’70 and Tim Bayard ’62.
In friendship,
Ken Aldridge Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters
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FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS
From the Alumni Board Clerk Chris Lee ’82 Dear Friends, This fall, we celebrated yet another fantastic Homecoming and Reunion weekend. I’ve had the opportunity to participate in many Homecomings while serving on the Alumni Board, and it just seems to get better every year. The number of opportunities to reconnect with friends, family, classmates, and members of the Friends School community, along with the excitement it brings, is truly inspiring! The weekend’s events kicked off on Friday with a luncheon honoring the 50th+ reunion classes and 1748 Society members at the DuPont Country Club. Ben Osbun ’66, Dick Cooch ’66, and Dave Smith ’66 represented the 50th reunion class and spoke about their experiences at WFS. Later that day, we cheered on alumnae at the all-new Alumnae Field Hockey game. It was great seeing these players back on the field! Following the field hockey game, the celebrations moved to the Library Learning Commons as we honored the 2016 Alumni Awardees, as well as the School’s most loyal donors, at the True Blue and All Alumni reunion reception. Lizzie Goodfriend ’00 was awarded Young Alumna of the Year; Fred Sears ’60 was the recipient of the Outstanding Service Award; and Arthur G. (Chip) Connolly III ’79 was the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. All are truly inspirational. Thank you for letting your lives speak! For those of you who made it back to campus, I hope you were able to tour the middle and upper school building. Things might have looked quite different compared to when you were a student! The School completed a major construction/renovation project in the summer of 2015—a project that has since been honored twice for design and building excellence— including the Global Learning Center (GLC), Library Learning Commons, Ira T. Ellis Jr., ’52 Design Lab, renovated third floor, and Middle School Design and Flex labs. These facilities quickly have become essential in supporting and advancing our academic programs. In closing, I would like to thank all the alumni who helped make Homecoming and Reunion Weekend a success! It was great to see the smiling faces of classmates catching up, exploring campus, and uniting to watch some Quaker athletics, which went undefeated for the weekend! Thank you for all you do in support of WFS,
Chris Lee ’82
Above, Lyn Smith and Chip Connolly ’79 at the Smith McMillan 5K. Right, Gail Porter Anderson ’56 and Nancy Spargo Goodridge ’56 at the 50th+ Reunion and 1748 Society Lunch. Far right, Max Okolo ’18, fresh from a soccer win.
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Class Agent Program This year, the WFS Alumni Office has been working to revamp our Class Agent program. Class Agents play a critical role in keeping alumni engaged with the School by sharing news about both the class and school events, encouraging support of the Annual Fund, and helping to plan reunions every five years. A huge thank you to those who have already volunteered. If you are interested in being a class agent, please email Sherry Brilliant, sbrilliant@wilmingtonfriends.org. We would love to have you! Here is a list of our class agents—so far… Richard Heald ’46 Marie Berl Ferguson ’47 Alice Mearns Ivy ’48 Chick Altmaier ’51 Eleanor Alexander Poorman ’53 David Hillegas ’55 Ellen Winthrop Jennings ’55 Cynthia Pyle Woolley ’56 Thomas Baker ’57 Andy Hess ’58 Fleet Davis ‘61 Alfred Freeman ’61 Irving Cox ’62 Leslie Kirkman Reed ’64 Pamela Perkins Young ’64 Janet Martin Yabroff ’64 Ben Osbun ’66 Carol Mumford Osbun ’66 Carol Bancroft Morley ’68 Thomas Scott ’70 Barbara Baganz Simpson ’71 Wendy Vaala ’73 Margaret Adams Hunter ’74 David Geoghegan ’75 Alexandra Ranck King ’75 Thomas Marston ’75 Andy Atkins ‘76 Christina Papastavros Fay ’76 Daniel Fleming ’76 Elizabeth Hukill ‘76 Marianne Cordrey Cotsell ’77 Tam Cox DeFer ’80 Carolyn Gates Connors ‘81 Martha Lemons Sherrill ’81 Christopher Lee ’82 Meg Gehret Erskine ’83 Susie Tattersall Davis ’84 Martha Poorman Tschantz ’85 Lisa Tigani Taylor ‘86
Oliver Yeh ‘86 Julia Gordon Beverly ’88 Beth Lubaroff Pfeifer ’88 Holly Nielsen Bennett ’90 Brian Mand ‘90 Max Walton ’91 Rebecca Brand ’92 Jay Bakhru ’93 Amy Curran Harper ’94 Megan Ferrara White ’95 Erin Bushnell ‘96 Kristen Facciolo ’96 Olivia Kurtz ’97 Kristin Chandler ’98 Jaclyn Mraz ’01 Sara Titone ’02 Stephanie Bonnes ’04 Abigail Hughes Strange ’04 Stanita Clark ‘06 Linda Donatoni ’06 Kaitlyn McEnroe ’07 Michael Anderson ’08 Elizabeth Connolly ’09 Javier Horstmann ’11 Samantha Perillo ’11 Lindsay Reese ’11 Elizabeth Aleman ’12 Taylor Warrington Purcell ’12 Keiko Endo ’12 Virginia DeWees ’12 TyLisa Johnson ’13 William Maguire ’13 Peyton Beard ’14 Bevyn Mannke ’14 Maria Rizzo ’14 Meryl Gatti ’15 Molly Harper ’15 Drew Harper ’16 Jessica Saunders ’16 Demetria Ruhl ’16 Joslyn Gardner ’16 Andrew Conces ’16
FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS
Planned Giving
Meg Gehret Erskine ’83 For Meg Gehret Erskine ’83, the ties to Wilmington Friends School run very deep. She is a daughter of two alumni, Amanda Spackman Gehret ’51 and John Gehret ’51, and the parent of two alumni and two current students (pictured with Meg in the middle: Peter ’21, Anna ’18, Meredith ’13, and Jake ’15). Meg grew up in Alapocas, and now again resides in the neighborhood. She is a “lifer” in the truest sense of the word. Meg credits both the impact of her Quaker education and the lasting friendships she’s made at the School as the primary reasons WFS is so special to her. Though she graduated in 1983, Meg never really left. She’s held just about every volunteer position at Friends, from class agent to Trustee to Clerk of the Alumni Board. She still plans and hosts her reunions every five years, and has thoroughly enjoyed the many hats she’s worn as a member of the Friends community.
“I have left a bequest to Friends to show my appreciation for the impact it has had on my children and on me. I hope these funds will help the future generations of Friends students.”
When it came time for Meg to update her estate, she said it was an easy decision to make WFS a part of her legacy plan. “I have left a bequest to Friends to show my appreciation for the impact it has had on my children and on me,” she explained. “I hope these funds will help the future generations of Friends students.” Like all legacy gifts, Meg’s bequest is part of the soul of Wilmington Friends, providing support for the School in perpetuity. We’re grateful to Meg for the many ways that she supports Friends. Planned gifts inspire future generations of leaders, critical thinkers, and doers who go out into the world and let their lives speak. For more information about making a planned gift at Friends, please contact Chad O’Kane, Director of Development, at 302.254.3853; cjokane@wilmingtonfriends.org.
WFS 2017 Used Book Sale (UBS) We need your help! The WFS Used Book Sale is right around the corner – and you can help us make it a success. Friday, February 24 – 12:00-5:00pm: WFS Community only - Alumni Welcome! Saturday, February 25 – 8:00am – 12:00pm: Open to the Public
Please Join Us for this New Event! Wilmington Friends School West Gym 7:00 to 10:00pm • For all adult Friends School community members • To benefit Wilmington Friends School • Please visit wilmingtonfriends.org for more information or to purchase tickets
Located in the MS/US Meeting Room We need Books! Clean out your closets, shelves, and basements and donate your well-loved books to our sale. The drop off sites are located: LS – To the right of the main entrance under the photos MS/US – Through the arches and around to the right, by the Athletic Wall MS/US - Java Nook Look for the UBS Donation signs. We DO accept books without covers and/or missing a few pages. We DO NOT accept reference books (think Encyclopedias). Alumni families are welcome to donate books through Friday, February 24th. Thank you for your support!
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—From the WFS Archives—
Reminiscences from Howard Starkweather ’44
Before his death on September 8, 2016 (see “In Memory” for obituary), Howard Starkweather, 1944 graduate and longtime Trustee of Friends School, had prepared a talk to commemorate the founding of Wilmington Monthly Meeting—specifically, remembering his time at Friends School. Although, sadly, the talk had to be presented by another reader, Howard’s reminiscences were a highlight of the celebratory potluck dinner, which followed Meeting for Worship at Fourth & West on September 18. Our thanks to Howard’s daughter, Mary Starkweather White, for sharing the text with us, and we are pleased to share it with the School community. My story begins the fall of 1932, when the first Quaker president was in the White House. It was in the depths of the Depression, and there was severe hardship in the neighborhood of the meeting house. The unemployment rate was 25%. There was a soup kitchen one or two blocks down Fourth Street.
Howard’s eighth grade class photo (1939-40 school year). Howard is in the top row, second from the right; it will not surprise those who knew him that he is the only one in a three-piece suit. His future wife, then Mary Focardi, is in the front low, far left in the dark dress.
I did not go to kindergarten. A lot of children today learn to read in kindergarten. I learned to read children’s books in first grade by the Christmas break. My first grade teacher was Ruth Pusey, whose family ran a water-powered flour mill in Ashland near the Delaware Nature Center. First and second grade were halfday programs. I got a ride to school from Helen Speakman, the financial secretary at the School. I rode with her in the morning. My father, who was then working at the DuPont Experimental Station, picked me up during his lunch hour and took me home. The second grade room was on the second floor overlooking Fourth Street. One day in art class, we each had a water jar to rinse out our brushes. One classmate dumped dirty water out the window. The next thing we knew, the head of school appeared before us, very agitated. The dirty water had fallen on a poor man, walking by. That second grade memory stood out for me. 4
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My family built a house in Westover The lower school playground was behind Hills in the summer between second and the main building. Geographically speakthird grades. I then went to school on ing, the transition from coastal plain to the school bus most of the time but was piedmont occurred during one block from responsible for getting home on my own. Tatnall Street to West Street. An alley ran My family took me on a trial run one north from Fourth Street between West Sunday afternoon. I had to walk to pick and Tatnall then turned right towards up the #10 trolley, Tatnall. There either down Fifth were simple houses I attended the School at Fourth Street four blocks there. I have seen a to Market or description of the & West for five years. The new walk along West property that said School at Alapocas opened when that neighbors in Street to Delaware Avenue beyond that area had the I was in the sixth grade. 10th Street. The right to use the trolley line ended common pump. at the intersection of Kennett Pike and The school playground was at the second Rising Sun Lane near Tower Hill. From floor level of the houses. Some of the resithere I had to walk one mile, 1/2 mile on dents were upset that children could look Kennett Pike and 1/2 mile in Westover in the windows. Hills. Thinking back, it seems remarkable I attended the School at Fourth & West to me that an eight-year-old was allowed for five years. The new School at Alapocas to do this, but I never had any trouble opened when I was in the sixth grade. If with the trolleys. The Wilmington trolley one looks from School Road, there are system was extensive. There was a double two wings stretching out. The sixth grade track down Fourth Street, and we heard room was in the right wing on the second the trolley during Meeting for Worship as floor. We could see some of the construcit came up the hill.
One of the things that strengthened the School academically was the addition of the International Baccalaureate program a few years ago. tion of School Road. Initially, they tried to do this as a WPA project. The WPA did a lot of good work, but this project was not an example of it. We watched the men lean on their shovels all year. Over the summer after sixth grade, a regular contractor quickly finished the project. Then the development of houses could start. It was considered a desirable location, and the lots filled quickly. I’d like to make some comments about the School at Fourth & West. There were two windows in the wall across from the meeting house gate, part of the original meeting house (which was then the school property). The original meeting house faced Fourth Street. When I was there, the building was well filled in. The newest part was the gym on Fifth Street, which is now an apartment building. There has never been a successful project to build on the rest of the former school property at Fourth Street.
One of the things that strengthened the School academically was the addition of the International Baccalaureate program a few years ago. It is not the same as Advanced Placement, but it does involve enriched courses and one of the signal components is a course on the theory of knowledge. I sat in on an IB class, and I’d say that the discussion was similar in quality to what I would have with the students’ grandparents. The discussion I attended was on a different level from that of most teens. They talked critically about issues in a way far beyond their years. In my judgment, Wilmington Friends School is equipping students to deal with issues and problems at a level beyond test scores. History Note: During the Depression, the Class of 1933 had no girls (since families thought they could only afford to educate boys), so there was no senior girl to be queen of the May. So a pseudo-May Day was run with elementary school children.
When the School was located across from the meeting house, the connection between the institutions was stronger, even literally. The meeting got its heat from the steam pipe under West Street running from the School. I’d like to address some financial and educational factors. When the School was located downtown, the families of Friends got an automatic 50% discount in tuition. Once the School was at Alapocas, that stopped because there was a campaign to raise funds to build the School. When the School was across from the meeting house, most of the Meeting children attended the School. Afterwards, that was less general, until recent years when more opportunities for tuition aid became available from the meeting, the School, and the Yearly Meeting. Speaking educaThe discussion I attended was tionally, when I was at school, on a different level from that of there was a special most teens. They talked critically teacher with an office who proabout issues in a way far beyond vided training for their years. students having difficulty in reading and math. This practice continued at Alapocas. Many of the students who got extra help were from Meeting families. Years later when I was on the board of trustees, I was not aware of the program continuing, although it did continue in the upper grades while I was still a student. There were points between lower and middle school and between middle and upper school when some students were counseled out for academic reasons. This is in contrast to George School, which does have a program for special needs students. Regarding the quality of students who graduated, in my judgment, most of the people in my class and adjoining classes were pretty good. Year by year, I have read with interest about the college choices of graduates. The number of students who go to competitive colleges varies a lot from year to year. Note: of the students who go to UD, a number are accepted into the honors program. When I was a trustee, I asked for data on SAT scores by distribution (not by name), and I’d say the number of students scoring above 500 (the median) was fairly large, but the number of those in the 600s and 700s (the top 1/6 of the population) was less than I expected.
Groundbreaking at the new Alapocas campus in 1936.
The following poem (to accompany a tune that may come to you) was written by fifth grader Howard Starkweather in the spring of 1937, when he and the other students, apart from the class of 1937, were looking forward to starting the next year in the new School at Alapocas. Many, however, were remembering the School they were leaving behind, as was Howard.
Old Friends School By Howard Starkweather, Fifth Grade Should our old Friends School be forgot And never brought to mind? Should all the fun and frolic here And days of auld lang syne? We’ve wandered down the dim old halls Into the bright sunshine, And never have I seen a school I’ve liked as well as mine! We’ve worked and studied through the years, The future in our mind, But we’ll go out remembering The days of auld lang syne. So we’ll lift a song in praise now For that old school of mine.
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2016
Homecoming
50th+ Reunion and 1748 Society Luncheon The School hosted a luncheon at the DuPont Country Club to honor alumni celebrating their 50th+ reunions and to thank the members of our 1748 Society, which recognizes planned gifts. More than 90 guests attended. Alumni from around the country, as far away as Alaska, gathered to celebrate their reunions for the Classes of 1966, 1961, 1956, 1951, 1946, and 1941.
even Vatican II—your senior year in high school was a tumultuous time of division and change in this country and around the world.” He noted that both “We Can Work It Out” and “Yesterday” were top hits of 1965-1966. Ken mentioned leaders who had encouraged compassion as a way to move forward from those challenging times, making a connection to the Quaker values taught in the 60s, and today, at WFS. School have
Head of School “...we at Friends Ken Aldridge and Clerk of the rededicated ourselves to the civil Toward the end Alumni Board of his remarks, classroom. This is nothing new, Chris Lee welKen said, “...we comed everyone, of course, but I hope through the at Friends School and three members have rededicated weekend, you will see expresfrom the Class ourselves to the of 1966 spoke sions of it, and that you will civil classroom. in honor of their This is nothing recognize the culture and com50th reunion. new, of course, Dick Cooch, Ben munity of Friends School as but I hope through “Ozzie” Osbun, the weekend, you cause for bold and intelligent and Dave Smith will see expresoptimism.” gave remarks sions of it, and that about their time at you will recognize Friends and the era the culture and they grew up in, and paid special tribute community of Friends School as cause to those in their class, and others who for bold and intelligent optimism. And were influential at WFS, who have passed I hope, too, that you will share your away. wisdom with us—of how in the tumultuous times of 50 years ago, civility was Ken spoke about the tumultuous times cultivated as a value by leaders and by so of the 60s and said, “The [Vietnam] war many of the people they served.” and demonstrations about it, the Black Power movement, second-wave feminism,
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Top, 50th Reunion speaker David Smith ’66 and Ken Aldridge; above, Sue Pardee Thompson ’56 and Ed Prohl ’56; below, Anna Vreeland Davis ’66 and Matt Lang ’08.
2016 Alumnae Field Hockey Game Left, Cynthia Pyle Woolley ’56 and Art Weber ’56.
The Alumnae Field Hockey game, led by Alice Zino ’78 along with a dedicated committee, was a great addition to our Homecoming line-up of activities this year. About 20 alumnae came out to the game to play or cheer. Past coaches Ellen Millick, Lee Bush, and Brian Fahey participated, along with current WFS varsity coach Scott Clothier. Players and committee members were encouraged to donate new or gently used field hockey equipment to the George Read Middle School team. Amy Baker Deitrich ’88, a member of the planning committee who also played in the game, is the coach at George Read. Special thank you to Alice, our entire committee, and all who joined us!
Right, top to bottom, Patty Wyatt ’61, 1748 Society members Mary Henderer and Harry Hammond, and other guests enjoy the luncheon remarks; below, 50th Reunion speaker Dick Cooch ’66
Planning Committee: back row, left to right - Joan Pearce Snyder ’78, Alice Zino ’78, Natalie Bloom ’06; front row - Lisa Townsend-Raber ’77, Ellen Millick, Margy Millick Fris ’78, and Ellen Rudawsky Stevens ’78.
Planning Committee: Natalie Bloom ’06 Scott Clothier, faculty/ current varsity field hockey coach Valerie McKinley Daugherty ’78 Amy Baker Deitrich ’88 Brian Fahey, former faculty and coach
Margy Millick Fris ’78 Amy Gibbs Heller ’78 Amy Magness Larnick ’79 Nancy Magness ’79 Ellen Millick, former faculty and coach Carol Quillen ’79
Joan Pearce Snyder ’78 Ellen Rudawsky Stevens ’78 Sara Titone ’02 Lisa Townsend- Raber ’77 Alice Zino ’78
Below, 50th Reunion speaker Ben “Ozzie” Osbun ’66.
Players from the Classes of 1978-2015, along with former coach Brian Fahey, joined in a spirited game on Homecoming Friday.
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2016
Homecoming
Fred Sears ’60 and his wife, Jo Ann Tigani Sears ’67.
True Blue/All Alumni Reunion and Awards Reception Our reception on Friday evening of Homecoming weekend was attended by more than 150 friends, and featured entertainment by the WFS Jazz Band, led by Christopher Verry. This annual event honors our True Blue donors (who have given to the School for 10 or more consecutive years) and our reunioning alumni; a major highlight of the evening is the presentation of the Alumni Awards. In opening the awards program, Ken Aldridge recognized the many True Blue donors and alumni in attendance. He expressed gratitude for Friends alumni representing Quaker values in their everyday lives, wherever they may be. Before introducing each alumni award recipient, he mentioned that the award winners exemplify the “most distinctive qualities of a Friends School graduate—integrity, a commitment to excellence with responsibility to the common good, and an active value of peace and social justice.”
Arthur G. (Chip) Connolly III ’79 Distinguished Alumnus Award Chip Connolly “represents not only the ideals of Friends education, but also the ideals of a family that has meant so much to our School and to our broader community,” Ken began. Not only have five generations of Connollys lived on School Road, 14 family members have attended WFS. Among them are Chip and his
wife Katy’s three children, Elizabeth ’09, Caroline ’12, and Gil ’14. Chip referenced his family’s connections to the School in receiving his award, noting, “I bring this history up, in part, to explain how important Wilmington Friends School is to my family and how it has shaped so many of our lives.” To honor the importance of WFS to the Connolly family, Chip and his uncle, Chris, created a fund in memory of Chip’s father, Art Connolly, to assist students and families facing adversity. We are grateful for their generosity with the Fund and in many other ways. Chip was and is still known as an “influential leader by example, assertive but not aggressive, with an uncompromising commitment to excellence in partnership with great compassion and humility,” Ken said in his introduction. As a founder and managing partner of Connolly Gallagher, LLP, Chip has worked for his
Chip was and is still known as an “influential leader by example, assertive but not aggressive, with an uncompromising commitment to excellence in partnership with great compassion and humility.”
firm to exemplify these ideals. He has been recognized as a Delaware “Super Lawyer” and is serving on numerous non-profit Boards, including The Ministry of Caring, Sacred Heart Village II, and the Agawam Council. Chip was also a member of the WFS Board of Trustees from 1995-2004. Friends School is greatly served and deeply honored by Chip’s leadership, as well as his family’s commitment to the School. Chip closed his remarks by saying, “I will always be proud to be a Wilmington Friends School Quaker, proud that my father and his brothers went here, proud that my cousins went here, and proud that my children went here.”
Fred Sears ’60 Outstanding Service Award In his introduction of Fred, Ken said, “As pretty much everyone in the Wilmington area knows, Fred Sears has been recognized for outstanding service many times before tonight, spanning his leadership in the business community to his tenure on City Council to his tremendous stewardship of the Delaware Community Foundation. We are adding to a crowded trophy case.” A few of Fred’s honors include: the Good Neighbor Non-profit Leadership Award, the Goldey Beacom Ethics in Business Award, and most recently, induction into the Delaware Business Hall of Fame. Friends School is proud to recognize Fred as a graduate and as a great leader in our city and our state. We were especially pleased to welcome both Fred and his wife, Jo Ann Tigani Sears ’67, back to campus to accept his award. Fred spoke of how his Friends education has influenced his remarkable career. He credited the School’s Quaker philosophy and spirit with playing a major role in his commitment to community service and his commitment to equal rights for all people. He spoke of his many Friends School friendships and the support he has received from these relationships
Chip Connolly with his wife, Katy, their daughter, Elizabeth ’09, and Chip’s mom and great WFS fan, Joan Connolly.
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Sixth Annual Alumni Art Show “...Fred Sears has been recognized for outstanding service many times before tonight, spanning his leadership in the business community to his tenure on City Council to his tremendous stewardship of the Delaware Community Foundation.” throughout his career. Fred said, “I feel that people just know when they meet a Wilmington Friends School graduate that they are meeting someone they can trust, someone who is open and genuinely concerned about the well-being of other people, someone of character, and someone who can be counted on to do what they say they are going to do.”
Lizzie Goodfriend ’00 Young Alumna Award Truly a global citizen, Lizzie Goodfriend traveled from Ethiopia to accept her award. She is a member of the BBC Media Action’s Africa Programme, serving as the Communications Director at the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency. And the projects she has worked on during her career have been genuinely transformational. She has worked in Afghanistan, Liberia, the UK, and Nigeria, before moving to Ethiopia,
and has focused on using media and other civic platforms to promote, among other goals, gender equality, post-conflict justice, and increased access to health care. Lizzie spoke about her Friends School experience and how it influenced her professional career. She credited the School with instilling a desire to explore other parts of the world, to give back, and to try to make a difference. Lizzie also paid special tribute to former WFS teacher Nona Smolko, who passed away this fall. She recounted a story of receiving her first “C” in Nona’s class and how the experience taught her a lot about herself. Ken remarked, “Lizzie embodies the ideals of a Quaker School graduate—a hard-working, collaborative, practical leader, who is herself led by values measured in the good of all….We are proud to welcome Lizzie Goodfriend home and recognize her as one of our own.”
Thank you to our alumni and student artists who exhibited work this year for Homecoming. The Art Show is appreciated by the entire school community and provides an elegant setting for our True Blue/All Alumni Reunion & Awards Reception. Our 2016 alumni and student artists:
Donald “Chick” Altmaier ’51 (Alumni Art Show founder) Myla Brilliant ’17 Isabel Crowther ’17 Remy Davis-Tinnell ’17 Ian Hartley ’17 Sally Kinsey Kauffman ’81 Michael Melloy ’76 Alyssa Nathan ’17 Meryl Richardson Nolan ’56 Dick Rosenbaum (Spouse of Jane Dieckmann ’51) Evelyn Wakeley ’17 WFS Middle School
Members of the WFS Jazz Band at the Reception. Several members of the band are also student-athletes, including volleyball players who competed on the same evening as this performance.
“Lizzie embodies the ideals of a Quaker School graduate—a hardworking, collaborative, practical leader, who is herself led by values measured in the good of all...” Lizzie Goodfriend ’00 with her brother, Joe, and parents, Judi and Steve.
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2016
Homecoming
The 21st Annual Smith McMillan 5K Run & Walk Homecoming Saturday started, as it has for the past 21 years, with the Smith McMillan Memorial 5K in memory of Jonathan Bacon Smith ’83 and Wendy Smith McMillan ’77. All proceeds from the event go to Financial Aid Endowment at Friends. Despite the cold, rain, and wind, we had more than 200 runners and walkers sign up for the race, and we raised more than $7,000 in sponsorships. Thank you! Our entire community thanks Katy Connolly and Diane Nolen for chairing, and the event committee. Special thanks to all of the volunteers, with an extra nod to the “day of” team, who arrived bright and early and endured the weather to set up, assist with registration, and keep the course safe. Again, thank you!
COMMITTEE: Katy Connolly – co-clerk Diane Nolen – co-clerk Cassandra Aldridge Sherry Brilliant Denise Chapman Chip Connolly ’79 Elizabeth Connolly ’09
Above, as always, student and family support of the 5K – including members of both the middle and upper school cross country teams – was deeply appreciated. Right, many thanks to race committee Co-Clerks, Diane Nolen and Katy Connolly, and to the entire committee, including Wendy Cutler (center). Below, Kelly Osbun Rubincan ’97 with parents Ben Osbun ’66 and Carol Mumford Osbun ’66, and Kelly’s children, Elise and Logan.
Adam Cutler Wendy Cutler Sarah Driscoll Stacy Gatti Susanne Handling Amanda Singleton Hay ’95 Jane Hollingsworth Susan Kelley Dawn Manley Lynne Nathan Mike Nolen Michelle Silberglied Sarah Singleton Turick ’95 Lisa Townsend Raber ’77 Helen Yeh
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Above, three generations of WFS runners: Bill Robinson ’52, his daughter Dina Robinson Anderson ’84, and her children Harry ’20 and Lily ’22 (father, Chris Anderson ’79).
2016 division winners: Overall Male: Alex Hallenbeck ’07 Overall Female: Leslie Knight (faculty) Top Alumnus: Brett Fallon ’11 Top Alumna: Amanda Singleton Hay ’95
SPONSORS Racer
Donors
Top Female Staff: Leslie Knight and Rebecca Zug
Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists Jamie Nicholls & Fran Biondi ’83
Top Male Walker: Tim Caspar (faculty spouse)
Strider
Top Female Walker: Ayesha Silman (current parent)
Alpine & Rafetto Orthodontics Connolly Family Connolly Gallagher LLP Dalton and Associates, P.A. Hayman Creative Promotional Products Agency, Inc. PNC Bank Delaware ThinkIt Partners, LLC
Aldridge Family Chapman Family Connolly Family Cutler Family Gatti Family Hay Family Handling Family Hollingsworth Family Johnnie’s Dog House Manhattan Bagel Manley Family Nolen Family Piccolina Toscana Raber Family Turick Family Yeh Family WFS Business Office WFS Home & School Association
Top Male Staff: Mike McKenzie
Student age top finishers: Male 10 & under: Kevin Dolan, Collier Zug, Quinn Green Female 10 & under: Anna Maansson, Ellie Driscoll, Olivia Agne Male 11-12: Andrew McKenzie, Peter Connelly, Rohan Mandayam Female 11-12: Aubrey Nisbet, Ellie Criscimagna, Kira Agne Male 13-14: Jimmy Butterfield, Teddy DeVoll, Luke Munch Female 13-14: Leah Agne, Morgan Shilling, Hannah Blackwell Male 15-16: Connor Nisbet, Donovan Aldridge, Harry Anderson Female 15-16: Mary Agne, Lucy Knudsen Male 17-19: Andrew Slomski, Ryan Fischer, Jack Hanson Female 17-19: Sarah Gooderham, Hannah Kushner, Jayna Jones
Pacesetter First American Title Insurance Company FoldFast Goals Kelley Family Massage Envy Concord Pike Nolen Associates Pantano Real Estate, INC. Voith & Mactavish Architects
Left, parent of alumni Carl McMillan ’79, Lyn Smith (mother of Jon Smith and Wendy Smith McMillan, and former WFS staff member) and parent of alumni Sue Brogan McMillan. Below, committee members and intrepid “day of” volunteers Susan Kelley and Lisa Townsend Raber ’77 help Annie Stern Gallagher ’69 and others at the registration table.
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2016
Homecoming
More Saturday Events
This year’s lower school Homecoming Service Bake Sale raised money to send school supplies to Liberia. Thanks to all of our volunteers, bakers, and patrons.
Before Meeting for Worship, Matt Meyer ’90, just before his election as New Castle County Executive (see page 34), with parent of alumni and former staff member Dede Wolcott-Neff, and parent of alumni and former faculty and administrator Bill Neff. The WFS community Homecoming Service Project again involved a collection of goods for The Ministry of Caring. The Ministry identified priority needs, from baby care items to adult winter coats, and our current and alumni families responded generously. Thank you!
Gathering for lunch and a little warmth in the Homecoming Tent, Fleet Davis ’61, Connie Roberts Amend ’61, Rick Hill ’61, Lynn Hill, Bill Amend ’59 (front) Fred Freeman ’61.
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Barb Wolffe Pollard ’86, Eleanor Stuart Patton ’86, Carrie Friess Kirkpatrick ’86, John Peters ’86, Elaine Logothetis Jack ’86, Lisa Borin Ogden ’86
Right, Ben Osbun ’66 and Ken Aldridge (who went to Wooster, if you note Ben’s hat), ready to cheer on the Quaker athletic teams. Below, on the sidelines of the field hockey game, Mandy Michels Lockley ’96, Gigi Diaz Peterson ’96, Nicole Stevenson Black ’96, Erin Bushnell ’96, Jenn Perry Rodell ’96.
WFS parents John and Sue Ann Kane and Concha and Don Morton ’94 warmed up in the Homecoming Tent. Don is also an upper school history/social science teacher and coach.
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2016
Reunions 1941 At the 50th+ Luncheon: Thomas Marshall, Nancy Jessop Wells, and Betsy Carter Callahan.
1946 Far right, at the 50th+ Luncheon: Dick Heald and Anne (Nancy) Chapman Berl.
1951 At the 50th+ Luncheon: front row – Betsy Cranston Baxtar, Art Littman, Peter Bailey, Mary Beth Baison, Donald (Chick) Altmaier, Biddy Miller Jenkins; back row – Charlie Davis, Jay Mastan, Bob Landon.
1956 At the 50th+ Luncheon: front row – Meryl Richardson Nolan, Madge Ellis, Sue Pardee Thompson, Arthur Weber; back row: Nancy Spargo Goodridge, Cynthia Pyle Wooley, Gail Porter Anderson, Ed Prohl.
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Many thanks to all of our alumni who hosted and helped to plan Reunions in 2016.
1961 At the 50th+ Luncheon: Stephen Burnett, Patty Wyatt, Fleet Davis, Connie Roberts Amend, Fred Freeman.
1966 The 50th Reunion Class: back row – Bill Lawrence, Jim Cochran, Dave Smith, Roger Brown, Dick Cooch; front row – Ben Osbun, Carol Mumford Osbun, Ginny Marston Burawski, Tom Kenworthy, Anna Vreeland Davis.
1976 At the home of Debbie Pearce: front row – Mary Anne Magness Leroy, Debbie Pearce, Sandra Scholl Donahue, Mike Melloy, Christina Veith, Herve Siplet; middle row – Biddy Hukill, Carol Dumont Kerby, Todd Whitaker, Diana Millick Hodgson, Judith Gelb, Becky Alderfer, Candy Deitcher Schachat, Kay Hewlett Ambrose, Conny Johann Mincks, Lee Garrett; back row – Jeff Poorman, Andy Atkins, Andy Bodenstab, Lisa Letang Bradford, John Kurth, Richard Laird, Tim Gibbs, Dan Fleming, Tom George, Mark Mathias, Marty Bowers, Nels Pederson.
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2016
Reunions 1981
At Cromwell’s American Tavern and Taqueria: front row – Cindy Bergman, Michele Redfearn-Wenzel, Terry Romanoli, Matt O’Brien; back row – Adam Balick, Sally Lynch Poulsen, Carolyn Gates Connors, Bob Boone, Ned Bancroft, Todd Anderson, Linda Cashman, Mary Jane Laberee Lang, Tom Lang; missing – David Veith.
1986 At Kid Shelleen’s: front row – Jackie Christian King, Mary Khine, Stu Abelson, Melanie Clouser Mulvena, Clarissa Anolick Bush, Kris Greene Ursomarso; second row – Bill Hardy, John Curran, Elaine Logothetis Jack, Lisa Tigani Taylor, Susan Harper-Shahidi, Liz Kline Anglada, Lee Davis, Lisa Borin Ogden, Barb Wolffe Pollard, Peter Goldman; third row – James Heaton, Tom Donaghy, Joe Wahl, Tom Raiber, John Peters, Amy Labowitz Johnson, Jody Gibson Coghlan, Robert Gates, Beth Melloy Butler, Rob Friz, Eleanor Patton, Carrie Friess Kirkpatrick, Jeff Henderer; back row – Oliver Yeh, Nick Brown, Steve Quimby, Hendrik-Jan Francke, Toby Beck, Rob Buccini, Jon Layton, Peter Wright.
1991
At the home of Sean Healy: front row – Amy Hill Dean, Erin Young Atwater, Sarah Schenck Maheshwari, Melissa Chambers Riggs, Marla Matthews Chandler, Ashley Cattermole Gillerlain; back row – Dave Harper, Fred Huntley, Bill Masten, Craig Wright, Tom Kuon, Geoff Parker, Sean Healy, Herb Matter, Rob Tattersall.
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1996
At the home of Kristen Facciolo: front row – Catherine Wiedwald Stenta, Jared Love, Erin Bushnell, Gigi Diaz Peterson, Meg Ting Ryan; back row – Clay Hill, Jennifer Perry Rodell, Nicole Stevenson Black, Shawn Breck, Mandy Michels Lockley, Ashley Turner Rust, Nancy Davidson Wood, Andrew Clemmer, Jarrett Rademaker, Meghan Rice Jodz, Kristen Facciolo, Katie Measley Van Druff, Randy Nurse.
2006
At BBC Tavern and Grill: Raven Harris Diacou, Alex Diacou, Naomi Hamermesh Scheinerman, Linda Donatoni Cross, Michael Zink (de la Veaux), Naomi Nix, Katie Hunt Weaver, Dianne de la Veaux, Kate Walczak, Willie Kalema, Therese Quinn, Michelle Ramos.
2011
The Class of 2011 had its Fifth Reunion in November at Catherine Rooney’s: front row – Julia Horwitz, Leah Rizzo, Cindy Tanzer, Sabrina Lessner, Ellen Rodowsky; middle row – Erin Conces, Keya Joshi, Katrina Sotiropoulos, Jess Swain, Jess Venetianer, Sandy LoFaro, Matt Skibicki, Brian Hoscheit, Jordan Beard, Hannah Epstein, Joe Geoghegan, Michael Leff, Dan Carbone; back row – Javier Horstmann, Rebecca Casper-Johnson, Sarah Galinat, Caylnd Johnson, Brett Fallon, Matt Davis, Jermaine Young, Austin Schoenkopf.
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WFS News & Events Special Olympics Football
QUEST Term Service and Leadership Trip 2016
QUEST Term engages students in an experiential learning model to increase their understanding of global issues as well as to practice strategies to mitigate the impact of related challenges. The summer 2016 El Paso trip was an examination of worldwide immigration issues through the lens of the U.S.-Mexico border. The summer 2017 QUEST Trip will be to the Dominican Republic, once again partnering with the DREAM Foundation in a literacy program for young people living in poverty.
For the fourth year, WFS football partnered with Special Olympics Delaware for a pre-season clinic. The clinic also received a nice write-up in the online publication, Town Square Delaware, which began: “Most high school football teams around the state of Delaware spent Sunday enjoying a welcome day off from the first week of preseason football practices. But inside the gymnasium at Wilmington Friends School, head coach Bob Tattersall’s coaching staff and players gathered for a different kind of team get-together. For the fourth consecutive year, the school’s coaches and players hosted a football clinic for Special Olympics athletes and coaches from the three area programs in New Castle County. ‘I thought it was important for our players to take the time to do something for others, something bigger than themselves or the game,’ Tattersall said.”
In addition to the QUEST trips, WFS takes summer languageculture-service trips to Spanish- and French-speaking countries; a trip to China is booked for spring break 2017.
Parents Continue EDR Service
Friends parents have continued to provide a meal once a month for Emmanuel Dining Room Jackson Street, and also to serve lunch on designated days. Many of our volunteer chefs and servers involve their entire families in what has become one of the most treasured, recent traditions at WFS.
SYA
We welcomed back senior Piara Biggs, who spent last year in the School Year Abroad program in France. Junior Atim Kilama is participating in SYA China for the 2016-17 school year.
The Home & School Picnic is an annual all-school community event in September. This year’s Picnic included a drive for The Food Bank of Delaware, which collected 246 pounds of donations.
IB Group 6 (Arts) to the Opera and NYC
Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters
Fourth Grade at Echo Hill
Fourth graders visited the Echo Hill Outdoor School for a day of team-building adventures, including a trust walk (eyes closed) and working in small groups to build a shelter and make a safe outdoor fire.
“The Art of the Possible”
Three eighth graders and four seventh graders participated in an off-campus diversity program, “The Art of the Possible: Overcoming Adversity.” The program was sponsored by the Multicultural Resource Center and the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools, and featured Robb Armstrong, a graduate of the Shipley School and creator of the syndicated comic strip “JumpStart.”
Annual Visitors
In an annual partnership, a group of eight teachers from Germany visited the middle/ upper school campus in October. Our guests were teachers of English and other world languages who have a particular interest in Quaker education.
As part of the Sounds of Learning program at Opera Philadelphia, designated IB performing and visual arts classes attended a special performance of Puccini’s Turandot at the Academy of Music. A later field trip took the students to New York City, where they visited The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Whitney Museum, walking part of the High Line on the way. In the evening, they saw a new production of Fiddler on the Roof.
A sample summer harvest from the WFS campus organic garden - 41 pounds of cabbage, squash, carrots, and cucumbers, all delivered to Emmanuel Dining Room.
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Food Drive at the Picnic
rescheduled (due to weather) second day of the trip included activities at the Philip Merrill Environmental Education Center.
Fifth Grade in DC
On an overnight trip to Washington, DC, fifth graders had a chance to visit the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American History Museum, and the Capitol. They spent the night at Sandy Spring Friends School. A
Visiting teachers from Germany with WFS World Languages Department Chair Bradey Bulk.
WFS NEWS
Third Grade Field Trip to DSWA
You took them where? Yes, the Delaware Solid Waste Authority has become one of our most anticipated field trips. At DSWA’s Environmental Education Center, students learn in an interactive program about what happens to both trash and recycled materials after they leave home or school.
Volleyball Cancer Awareness Event
Middle School Cross Country
In addition to all of the varsity success in fall sports (pages 26-29), the middle school boys’ cross country team won the Independent Conference. Unlike other sports, cross country is able to include a middle school division in its conference championship event. Friends students finishing in the top 10 included Max Leffler 1st, Luke Munch 2nd, Sam Boulos 4th (son of Tim Boulos ’91), and Livy Zug 10th.
For the past several years, the WFS upper school volleyball teams have hosted a cancer awareness event, often inspired by a member of the community who has suffered from the disease. This year’s event was in remembrance of George Patrick, grandfather of tri-captain Alexandra Musi and avid Quaker volleyball fan, who passed away two years ago.
Quaker Minutes
This fall, we launched a new feature on the school website and social media. “Quaker Minutes” are very short videos—literally, about a minute each— that feature members of our school community. The “minute” refers both to the video’s length and to the Quaker tradition, in which minutes are used not only to summarize what happens at a meeting but also to share information and to express support or concern. Please check out the Quaker Minutes on our home page, www.wilmingtonfriends.org.
Diwali at Lower School
Thank you to the Friends parents of Indian heritage who visited lower school to host a Diwali festival for students in preschool, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten. Each class visit began with a story from the Indian culture, and then children had the chance to dress up in beautiful, colorful Indian clothing, paint diyas, and choose from various Indian foods. There was Indian music playing, lights, and a great feeling of celebration. Many other parents take the time to share cultural and religious traditions with our students, adding greatly to our sense of community.
Annual Monarch Migration
Middle school teacher Dave Gertler recorded a “Quaker Minute” video about two beautiful binary years (see it and other minute videos on the school web site).
First graders embarked on their annual Monarch Migration Parade around the lower school campus. The migration is the culmination of an interdisciplinary unit among Art (making the butterfly wings), Spanish (learning about Mexico and the Día de Muertos celebration), and Science (learning about and rearing Monarchs).
Special Thank You Many of the best photos in our magazine, and on our web and social media sites have been taken by Friends parent Elisa Komins Morris and parent of alumna Larry Kuhn. Both are professionals and share their work for the School’s use with generosity and grace. We would not look as good without them. Appropriately, Elisa took the photo of Larry, and Larry took the photo of Elisa. Thank you, friends.
WFS Night at BBC
Thank you to everyone who supported WFS Night at BBC on November 3, 2016. It was a great community event, and raised money for school programs, as well. Thanks again for your support.
GLC Project Honored—Twice
The Global Learning Center project at Friends received an award for design excellence from the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). And the project also received an honorable mention in the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Excellence in Construction Awards. Congratulations to our own on-campus project managers, Associate Head of School Bill Baczkowski and Director of Facilities Ray Carbone.
Senior Service Project 5K
Senior Kalyn Nix, daughter of Sheldon Nix ’74, organized the “Race to Get Rid of the R-word” 5K at Rockford Park in late October. The goal of the 5K was to educate teens and their families, to advocate for the equal treatment and respect of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and to introduce local schools to programs like Best Buddies.
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Did you know that the Friends mascot is a
blue kangaroo? You do if you are a classmate of Nina Belloli Smith ’74 and Dorothy Connolly Mraz ’74 (pictured with balloons and friends, from the 1974 yearbook). They were the originators of the Blue Kangaroo. Dorothy sewed the costume, and Nina wore it to football games and threw penny candy from her pouch. The Blue Kangaroo remains part of Friends’ Spirit Week leading up to Homecoming and attends a variety of athletic competitions.
FLAT KANGAROO SNIP IT, SNAP IT & SHARE IT
Help our mascot “hop cheerfully” throughout the School and over the world. Cut out the Blue Kangaroo on the opposite page; snap a picture of yourself with her; and share your picture (and location of it) with us during the month of February using your favorite social media tool. Tag Wilmington Friends School Alumni or #WFSflatkangaroo so we can all follow our friendly blue mascot as she pops up everywhere —highlighting the worldwide impact of a Friends education. Not a social media regular? Not a problem, you can still join the fun. Just email the you-and-kangaroo image to sdriscoll@wilmingtonfriends.org. We will be happy to share and tag it for you.
Dónde está Coco el Canguro?
Inspired by Trader Joe’s “Where is Froggy Joe?, “Coco el Canguro” is hidden each week somewhere in the lower school by Spanish teacher Lara Munch. When students spot Coco, they submit a slip with their names, homebase classrooms, and where Coco was found. Each week, one slip is randomly chosen, and the “winner” is announced at Lower School Gathering. Kangaroo art (opposite): Thanks to Peyton Beard ’14, the original creator of this image.
Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters 2020 Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters
FOLLOW THE FUN!
#
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Encourage your followers to do the same!
Follow the fun by “liking� Wilmington Friends School Alumni on Facebook, and/or following @Wilmington_friends on Instagram and @Wilmfriends on Snapchat and Twitter.
FOLLOW THE FUN!
#
L419203_insert.indd 2 1/31/17 9:58 AM
Encourage your followers to do the same!
Follow the fun by “liking� Wilmington Friends School Alumni on Facebook, and/or following @Wilmington_friends on Instagram and @Wilmfriends on Snapchat and Twitter.
WFS NEWS
Senior Honored for Stroke Awareness Work
Senior Alicia Thompson (daughter of Alison Egan Thompson ’81) earned the 2016 RAISE Award from the National Stroke Association for Most Impactful Community Fundraising Effort. Alicia coordinated stroke awareness efforts at school and organized last spring’s successful fundraiser, “Dan’s Dash,” named for her dad who recovered from a ruptured aneurysm and hemorrhagic stroke.
September Service In an annual September tradition, students in grades 9-11 did service projects in their advisory groups at various off-campus sites.
Lunch & Learn with Katy Kenney
Leading up to the upper school production of Into the Woods (see In Closing for photos), English teacher Katy Kenney gave a lunchtime presentation for students about the historical and social significance of fairy tales. As an example, Katy traced the Red Riding Hood tale through different time periods and national interpretations.
Ethics Bowl
The WFS upper school Ethics Team, with faculty advisor Ellen Johnson, traveled to Villanova for the third annual Delaware Valley Regional High School Ethics Bowl in November. Our 2016 team (with only two students who had been to an ethics bowl before) achieved a school record score, best ever in six years of competition.
One Love Fundraiser
Seniors Blair Atkins (daughter of Andy Atkins ’76) and Sadie Proud organized a One Love “Powder Puff” Football Tournament and Bake Sale. All proceeds went to the One Love Foundation, which works to raise awareness of relationship violence. Four teams of upper school girls, each coached by guys from the WFS football team, competed with fierce but friendly spirit. Teacher and parent Don
Morton ’94 and parent and alumnus Andy Atkins ’76 were the volunteer refs; teacher Ildiko Miller and parent Hanan Urick volunteered to work tickets; and many others contributed as bakers, players, coaches, volunteers, and paying spectators.
Seventh Grade in DC
The WFS seventh grade trip to Washington, DC, celebrated its 17th year with an itinerary that included visits to the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the National Museum of American History. Students also walked along the Mall and saw the National Museum of African American History, Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. They also had a chance to visit with Col. Bruce Hollywood at the National Japanese American Monument. Col. Hollywood serves as Executive Director of the Japanese American Veterans Association, on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs National Veterans Day Committee, and on the Board of Directors for the Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters
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WFS NEWS National Japanese American Memorial Foundation. He also had been a White House Fellow for the prior six months.
ACDA National Honors Choir
Eighth grader Isaiah Gaines and seventh grader Gianna Martinelli were selected by audition for the American Choral Directors’ National Junior High/Middle School Honors Choir. Isaiah and Gianna will be going to Minneapolis in March to rehearse and perform with students from across the country.
YMCA of Delaware Youth in Government
Nine WFS eighth graders were among 60+ student delegates who spent a day in Legislative Hall in Dover as part of the Youth in Government program. They learned about the legislative process, parliamentary procedure, and wrote and debated their own bills. Friends student Matt Banschbach received one of just five “Outstanding Delegate” awards for embodying the YMCA values, and classmate Emily Fenimore received an award for “Outstanding Legislation.” Emily’s bill was one of only eight judged important enough to be heard by the full House, and one of only six signed into law. Emily’s proposal was to mandate solar panels at public schools to protect the environment and to direct energy savings to educational programming.
Halloween Parade & Service A beloved Friends tradition, seniors and their first grade buddies (dressed to match/complement) led the Halloween parade at lower school. Then a group of 35 upper school students, led by the Service Committee, went to the AI duPont Hospital for Children to help with a party and hallway trick-or-treating for patients. Special thanks to senior Chris Wallace and juniors Natalie DePaulo and Hailey DiCindio for leading the service effort.
We Stuffed the Bus
An all-school service project supported the “Stuff the Bus” Thanksgiving food drive for the Food Bank of Delaware. Our collection bins were overflowing, with more than 601 pounds of donations. The Home & School Service Committee was critical to the success of this effort, with special thanks to Nancy Gise for her help and for delivering the donations.
Seventh Grade Service
Each seventh grader—or often a small group of students working together— completes a “stewardship project” of their choice. Students then make presentations about the projects to the class.
WFS Fourth Grade Receives Top Delaware Day Award
Congratulations to the WFS fourth grade on earning the George Read Award in the 2016 Delaware Day Competition. The Competition is hosted annually by the DE Department of State/ Office of the Secretary of State, and requires a four-panel display of original student work, addressing selected questions about Delaware history and the U.S. Constitution. The George Read Award is a top Signers Award. The WFS entry included a three dimensional picture of what our students called “the Delaware Five rock band,” representing the five DE delegates who signed the Constitution—George Read, John Dickinson, Gunning Bedford, Jr., Richard Bassett, and Jacob Broom. WFS students submitted answers to the history questions via recorded music, poems, bar graphs, written text, and animated figures. 22
Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters
WFS NEWS tion on November 19 for the Delaware Junior All State Chorus. Matthew tied for the highest score in the bass section. Upper schoolers Jack Hanson and Emily Rossi were selected for Senior (high school) All-State Choruses. Jack will be in the Mixed Chorus, and Emily will be in the Women’s Chorus. Jack and Emily also sang at the inauguration of Delaware Governor John Carney.
Mitten Trees
A beloved holiday tradition in lower school continued with the Mitten Trees this year. Students and adult members of our community were invited, as always, to hang mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves on the trees. After providing meaningful decoration at lower school through December, the donations were delivered to neighbors in need through The Ministry of Caring.
Bead for Life
Sixth Grade Pie Bake
Sixth grade students, parents, and teachers made Thanksgiving apple pies, complete with decorated boxes featuring holiday good wishes, for the Sunday Breakfast Mission.
Half the Sky, an upper school committee focused on global women’s issues/opportunities and supporting education for girls, held its annual holiday Bead for Life fundraiser. Bead for Life is an organization that sells jewelry and other products handmade by women in Uganda. All
Food on Fridays
All-State Chorus & Inauguration
The upper school Link Crew works with all ninth graders and with students new to Friends—not just in September, but throughout the year—to help ensure a comfortable transition and to help answer and get answers to any questions.
Kind to Kids Toy Drive
The Home & School Association organized a holiday toy drive to benefit Kind to Kids, an organization that serves Delaware children living in foster care and in poverty. Once again, our donation bins overflowed.
Diamond State Classic
Just before press time, a bit of exciting news in winter sports—actually, three pieces to one great story. The WFS girls’ basketball team won its bracket at the Diamond State Classic tournament in late December, beating St. Mark’s and Cape Henlopen. Junior Natalie DePaulo was named as the bracket MVP (and then as the News Journal’s Athlete of the Week), and senior Jayna Jones received the B+ Foundation Sportsmanship Award. Carolyn Gates Connors ’81 is the head coach of the varsity girls’ team at Friends.
Learning Lab in Second Year
Lower school has continued its service program, Food on Fridays, every week. The donations go to the Lutheran Community Services Food Bank, in partnership with the eighth grade’s service there (except for Thanksgiving, when lower school helped to Stuff the Bus). Middle school students Matthew Banschbach, Isaiah Gaines, Giana Martinelli, and Juliana Melnik were selected by audi-
proceeds go toward helping these women to learn entrepreneurial skills and toward sending girls to school.
Juniors Hareena Houston and Mary Agne with a display of Bead for Life items at a winter concert.
Friends hosts a weekly, free Learning Lab program for children ages 18-36 months and their parents or caregivers. Launched last year, the program has continued to be successful with two sessions, 9:30-10:30am and 10:4511:45am, every Thursday. Learning Lab is led by our early years music teacher, Liza Conces. Alumni families have been regular participants; please send any interested families (including your own) our way!
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WFS NEWS
Scenes from the Winter Concert Series In addition to the concerts at School (seven in all), Friends students also performed off campus at the Country House, Fairville Friends, and the Brandywine River Museum. Applause for our studentmusicians and for our Performing Arts Department!
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Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters
WFS NEWS
MOAS Leadership Senior Sadie Proud served as President, the top position, of the 35th Model Organization of American States (MOAS) annual conference in Washington, DC. Sadie presided over the opening and closing of the General Assembly, attended by all delegates, and over meetings of the General Committee, which dealt with the topmost-level issues. Sadie was elected as President at last year’s MOAS annual conference, after giving a three-minute speech at the closing General Assembly, by a country-by-country vote of the General Committee delegations.
Friends senior Sadie Proud presided as this year’s MOAS President, the top leadership position at the annual conference. Friends students at the 35th MOAS conference in Washington, DC, with advisors Javier Ergueta, Betsy Cepparulo, and Helena Antolin Cochrane. (Missing - Natalie DePaulo.)
Javier Ergueta was recognized at the conference for 15 years of service as an MOAS advisor.
In all, 22 WFS students participated in MOAS this year, representing Antigua and Barbuda and Nicaragua. Football players who were part of the group had to skip the conference as they were still in action in the state tournament (and one delegate had to leave before the group photo). In addition to the success in student participation and leadership, upper school teacher Javier Ergueta received special recognition from the MOAS national organization for 15 years of service as an advisor. Delegation leaders Izze Rios and Daniel Lin representing Antigua and Barbuda.
Among many wonderful art displays at School this year: “Automatic drawing” and the circle—a contemporary take on a surrealist concept—by IB HL students; and “3D organic forms” created by third graders, who start with geometric shapes and by folding paper produce these beautiful works of 3D art.
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FALL SPORTS
Fall Sports & The Band For the second year in a row, Quaker fans were treated to a 4-0 Homecoming weekend, with the cross country teams again generously supporting the early morning Smith McMillan 5K. To the further delight of fans, the fourtheighth grade band, under the direction of Christopher Verry, performed at halftime of the Homecoming football game for the 11th year. (Please note, student-athletes are mentioned who have made at least verbal commitments to play college sports; it’s early, and others are also likely to play.)
Cross Country
Congratulations to State, County, and Conference Champion—and Delaware’s male high-school Runner of the Year (including both Division I and Division II, and needless to say, first team all-everything)—sophomore Connor Nisbet.
Volleyball
Congratulations to Quaker volleyball on a great 10-win season, earning a share of the conference title and advancing to the quarterfinals of the state tournament. Sisters Alyssa and Dani Nathan not only made first team All State, but also led the state in multiple statistical categories. All-State First Team Alyssa Nathan ’17 Dani Nathan ’19 All-DISC First Team Alyssa Nathan ’17 Dani Nathan ’19
The Quakers celebrate a great point.
All-DISC Second Team Alex Musi ’17 Katrina Skibicki ’17 All-DISC Third Team Delaney Martin ’18 Head Coach: Barb Fitzgerald Seniors Katrina Skibicki (#39) and Alex Musi (#13) in action. Alex is planning to play volleyball at Dickinson. Senior Alyssa Nathan (lower right) was named to the All-State first team for a second year, and finished high school with 1,907 assists. She will continue her volleyball career at Swarthmore.
And congratulations to the guys’ team for finishing fifth in the DII state meet, with senior Andrew Slomski 14th overall (out of 182 runners). Junior Fiona Saunders was the top finisher for the Friends girls at states, and four of the varsity girls ran their race in the afternoon and performed in the musical that night. Head Coach: Paul Nemeth
Connor Nisbet ’19 picked up a lot of hardware as state, county, and conference champion. 26
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Seniors on the 2016 Quaker Cross Country Team – (front) Hannah Kushner, Jennifer Kielhorn, Lena Urick, Isabel Crowther, Margaret Sullivan, Lindsay Weber, Sarah Gooderham, (back) Jayna Jones, Andrew Slomski, Nick Gauthier, Nick Brennan-Martin, Gustavo Silveira, Caroline McGinnis (daughter of Julie Tattersall McGinnis ’82). Missing: Katie Bodycot, Alyssa Fulginiti, Rachel Ramirez.
Seniors Andrew Slomski and Jayna Jones on the course for the Quakers.
FALL SPORTS
Field Hockey
After a great 11-1-2 season, the Quakers had a decisive 3-0 win in the first round of the state tournament, and gave the #1 seed all it could handle in the quarterfinals, 0-1. Senior Simone Veale, named first team All State, plans to continue her field hockey career at Williams.
2016 WFS field hockey seniors – Briana Lloyd, Lydia Yeatman, Simone Veale, Blair Atkins (daughter of Andy Atkins ’76), Remy Davis-Tinnell, Evelyn Wakeley, Elena Kirifides, Christina Aleman (daughter of Tracey Porter Aleman ’87 and John Aleman ’84), Megan Flanagan (daughter of Sharon Mulrooney Flanagan ’84).
All-State First Team Simone Veale ’17
All-Stater Simone Veale plans to continue her field hockey career at Williams.
All-State Second Team Blair Atkins ’17 (daughter of Andy Atkins ’76) Emma Davis ’18 All-DISC First Team Simone Veale ’17 Blair Atkins ’17 Anna Erskine ’18 (daughter of Meg Gehret Erskine ’83) Emma Davis ’18 All-DISC Second Team Christina Aleman ’17 (daughter of Tracey Porter Aleman ’87 and John Aleman ’84) Alice Irwin ’18 Lydia Yeatman ’17
Quaker D on a corner.
Thank you, parents and fans.
Soccer WFS soccer recorded eight wins, including two over conference rival Tatnall. With 17 freshmen and 10 sophomores on the roster, the Quakers are building toward even more success in the years ahead.
The 2016 WFS soccer squad, featuring five seniors, 12 juniors, 10 sophomores, and 17 freshmen.
All-DISC First Team Dan Manley ’18 Oryem Kilama ’20
Two of the talented underclassmen on this year’s squad, freshmen Oryem Kilama and Evan Arai, with tricaptain, junior Max Pickles at left.
All-DISC Second Team Chad Connors ’18 (son of Carolyn Gates Connors ’81) Jacob Jaworski ’20 Max Pickles ’18 John Blackwell (GK) ’18 Head Coach: Rick Sheppard
Above, celebrating a goal on Homecoming Saturday. Left, tri-captain Chris Lee ’18 (son of Chris Lee ’82). Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters
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FALL SPORTS
The Band Always a great entrance, always a great show – thanks to Chris Verry and the fourth-eighth grade band members for the best halftime show anywhere, for 11 years running. This year, the show featured an Olympic theme, complete with a “ring” formation.
FOOTBALL What a run! Quaker football reached the championship game at UD for the first time since 1984, won the conference championship outright, finished 11-2 overall, with both losses to undefeated state champ Woodbridge. The final was a close one, 9-14 (to Woodbridge). In its sweep of conference opponents, Friends beat Tatnall 18-14 (Homecoming), St. Andrew’s 47-0, and Tower Hill 35-0. Other key in-state wins included 21-14 vs. St. Elizabeth (regular season), 8-7 at Milford in challenging weather in the opening round of the tournament, and 20-6 at St. Georges in the semi-final. The November 5, 2016 win vs. Morrisville (PA) gave Coach Bob “T” Tattersall his 300th career win (see pages 30-31). Thanks to the players, coaches, families, alumni, and fans - we had a great crowd at Homecoming, the Tower Hill game, and throughout the tournament. Left, Senior Greg Smith (son of Rob Smith ’75) with a great catch vs. Tatnall. Right, Andrew Jaworski on the tackle in the sleet, cold, and wind at Milford in round 1 of the state tournament. Below, Senior Owen Sheppard had a pick-six in the championship game at the University of Delaware.
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FALL SPORTS
WHAT A RUN! Left, dominant defense was at the heart of the Quakers’ outstanding season. Below, Henry Gise finishes a long TD run in the Homecoming game. Bottom, Captains Matt Denney, Henry Gise, Justin Beneck, and Andrew Jaworski take the field for the big Homecoming win vs. a strong Tatnall team.
All-State Third Team Justin Beneck ’17, QB Andrew Jaworksi ’17, FB First Team All-DISC Offense C – Jason Saville ’18 G – Chris Wallace ’17 OT – Matt Denney ’17 RB – Henry Gise ’17 FB – Andrew Jaworski ’17 QB – Justin Beneck ’17 K – Jacob Jaworski ’20 First Team All-DISC Defense DT – Matt Denney ’17, Joshua Payne ’19 DE – Daniel Adebi ’18 LB – Andrew Jaworski ’17, Henry Gise ’17 DB – Devonte Church ’17, Owen Sheppard ’17 Honorable Mention Offense G – Dalton Ramsey ’18 OT – Sean Cochran ’17 TE – Liam Harron ’19 RB – Owen Sheppard ’17 Honorable Mention Defense DE – Dalton Ramsey ’18, Jeff McAbee ’18 Academic All State Justin Beneck ’17 Sean Cochran ’17 Matt Denney ‘17 Henry Gise ’17 Andrew Jaworski ’17 Chris Wallace ’17 Daniel Adebi ’18 Mike Coons ’18 Jason Saville ’18 Nick Sotiropoulos ’18 Manny Adebi ’20
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TATTERSALL HITS 300 WINS WITH LITTLE FANFARE Brad Myers, The News Journal, November 7, 2016 (Reprinted with permission) Photos by Elisa Komins Morris and Larry Kuhn ALAPOCAS – Bob Tattersall didn’t want anyone to know. He didn’t want any buildup. But he knew there was a good chance he would earn his 300th victory as Wilmington Friends’ football coach on Saturday. So underneath his jacket, he wore the same Friends sweatshirt he wore on Nov. 10, 2001, when he reached 200 wins. After the Quakers easily dispatched Morrisville (Pennsylvania) 48-6, Tattersall’s family came onto the field with blue balloons spelling out “300.” Friends athletic director Dick Kittle presented him with a specially painted game ball. Then Tattersall gave a brief speech, unveiled the historic shirt and did what he does best: Started thinking about the next game. “Later, much later, that’s when you think about things like this, really,” Tattersall said. “What was really nice was to have people here and get it done, so we can focus on finishing the season.” The Quakers (8-1) will finish the regular season at home this Saturday with a 2:00pm kickoff against archrival Tower With alumnus player Peter Townsend ’75, who has continued to work with the Quakers as the team’s sideline doctor.
Hill. Then it’s on to the DIAA Division II playoffs, where Friends has reached the semifinals the last two seasons. But this was historic, so even Tattersall had to stop and reflect a little. He is the first high school football coach in Delaware history to reach 300 victories. Butch Simpson, who retired after last season to end a 39-year run at Newark, is second with 284. “What it really speaks to is so many people contributed over the years,” Tattersall said. “All of my coaching staff have been players. The program over the years, the consistency, that speaks about what you’re trying to do.” Tattersall is in his 49th season as the Quakers’ coach. He played and coached under the legendary Bill Cole Sr. at William Penn, then coached basketball at Friends before adding football. His first win came against H. Fletcher Brown Vocational High at Baynard Stadium in 1968. One of his longtime assistants, Bill Harman, was a senior on that team. In fact, all but one of Tattersall’s current assistants played for him. And they span the decades – Harman from the ’60s, Doc Townsend from the ’70s, Mike Coleman from the ’80s, Don Morton from the ’90s and Chris Loeffler from the 2000s. “I think that says a lot, that guys want to come back and coach with him,” Morton said. “He empowers his coaches more than any other coach
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Football is family, from left: Will Davis ’20, Susie Tattersall Davis ’84, Dianne Tattersall, Ellie McGinnis ’14, Ryan Tattersall ’25, Julie Tattersall McGinnis ’82, Coach T, Robby Tattersall ’23, and Caroline McGinnis ’17.
that I’ve worked with. When we go into meetings, he listens to every one of us. We all have ideas. I’ve worked for people who run it more like a dictatorship.” Passion remains He continues to seek knowledge from all corners. “The passion for the game is still there,” Kittle said. “He’s still a student of the game. He’s still going to clinics, he’s still studying, and he’s adding.” But Tattersall, 76, doesn’t add too much. You don’t build a 300-150-7 record by giving your players too many things to remember. “We’re doing the same things that we’ve done for 49 years,” he said. “Trying to incorporate the same principles, the same foundation. You’re going to have ups and downs...but our kids still respond to the old guys.” They certainly responded on Saturday. Fullback Andrew Jaworski rushed for five touchdowns – all in the first half. “It’s amazing. Both he and Coach Harman, it’s great to play for both of them,” Jaworski said. “Ever since I was a freshman, I always knew that they were known as the legends. That’s what
FALL SPORTS
Celebrating with the 2016 team.
they’ve lived up to, and it’s great to play under them.” Morton knows what it was like. He started high school at William Penn, then transferred to Friends in the 10th grade and graduated in 1994. “He’s the best coach I’ve ever played for,” Morton said. “I’ve been involved with sports for 35 years. I played football, baseball, wrestled, played basketball, and he’s by far the best coach I’ve ever worked with and played for.” Attention to detail The Quakers don’t always have the most speed, size or talent, but they get in the right places on defense and often execute the coach’s three-back offense to perfection. And every so often, they throw in a wrinkle. “The thing that I find amazing is the commitment to his goals, the attention to detail and his evolution,” Kittle said. “He starts with his basic offense, and he just adds to it every year. “Nobody outworks him. There are maybe some people who work as hard, but nobody outworks him. His offense starts with a base, then he adds the complexity.” Tattersall didn’t want anyone to know he was closing in on 300, because reaching 200 was a struggle. He went into the 2001 season with 198 wins, a fact With Dianne, who has been there for every game.
trumpeted by The News Journal. But the Quakers struggled through a 2-7-1 season, and he didn’t reach the milestone until Mike D’Amico carried 34 times for 222 yards in the season finale, a come-from-behind, 14-13 win over Tower Hill. “It put an extra burden on the players that they shouldn’t have had,” Tattersall said. No. 300 came much more easily, but it also came with the inevitable questions. How many more? How much longer?
With alumnus player Don Morton ’91, who is a current assistant coach and upper school history teacher.
As usual, Tattersall attempted to deflect them with humor.
With Rob Buccini ’86, key player on the Quakers’ 1984 championship team.
“To me, it was always like buying a car. If you start thinking about buying a car, you’re going to buy a car,” he said. “If you start thinking too soon about retiring, then you probably should.” He still has the energy to keep going. He plays tennis early in the morning twice a week. “You only keep doing it if you know you’re still being effective,” Tattersall said. “Are kids still listening? Because that would be cheating if they aren’t.” They’re still listening. “He’s always filled with energy. It’s amazing,” Jaworski said. “Sometimes he’ll go at you and it’s like, ‘Whoa, where did that come from?’ But it’s always great, it’s always positive.” Coaching grandsons He used to coach the sons of his former players. Now, he’s coaching their grandsons. In fact, one of his own grandsons, William Davis, is a freshman on this year’s team. But his reach is much longer. “He takes our team in like a family,” Jaworski said. “We definitely embrace each other, and he really helps with that, especially during preseason. He’s always with us.” The Quakers put together a 37-game winning streak in the 1970s. They won a state championship in 1984. They have lost close games in the semifinals (14-0 to Laurel, 20-15 to Howard) the last
two years. They are rolling along at 8-1 this year, so perhaps a state title would be a good way to end it. But don’t count on it. Tattersall, a 2015 Delaware Sports Hall of Fame inductee, isn’t slowing down. “If I’m in that good a shape when I’m 76, I’ll be all right,” Morton said. “He’s pretty spry. He’s a great role model. A great role model for how to live your life, how to treat people.” How many more? How much longer? Who knows? “You hope, at the right time, you’ll know,” Tattersall said. “I’ve got some people around me that would probably tell me it’s time, and I would listen to them. “I don’t have a timetable. I think that wouldn’t be smart. But I’ll know, or somebody will tell me.” Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@ delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ
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CLASS NOTES
1953
Many thanks to Dick Roberts and his wife, Priscilla, for hosting our WFS Denver regional reunion in October 2016. (See page 35.)
1956
At the Class Reunion hosted by Gail Porter Anderson: front row - Meryl Richardson Nolan, Cynthia Pyle Woolley, Isabel Robinson McGraw; back row - Jack LaMothe, Nancy Spargo Goodridge, Gail Porter Anderson, Arthur Weber, Sue Pardee Thompson, Bob Crowe, and Ed Prohl.
Condolences to Kay Amend Slocum on the death of her husband, Gary, on October 20, 2016.
1957
Judy (Robert ’57) Hoopes wrote of her granddaughter, Ellie Halpin ’17, ”she transferred as a junior and has had a wonderful experience and loves the School…which I think is a real credit to Friends, as that’s a difficult time for anyone to change schools.” Ellie makes three generations of the Hoopes family for WFS; her mother, Stephanie Hoopes, is a member of the Class of 1982. Pete and Chris Shields, Paul Erbach, Jacquie Bostick Coyle, Caroline Schwartz Sutton and Alice McGoven Doering gathered for a “picnic” lunch and conversation at Tom and Sue Baker’s on the Saturday of Reunion Weekend. The folks signed cards for Lynne Autman Erbach, Sally Smith Lambert, and Judy Hoopes, who had been unable to attend. Amy Baker Deitrich ’88 and her family arrived at the end of the lunch in Gertrude, the 1934 Chevrolet, known as “Dirty Gerty.” This was the car that Tom and Butch Burris drove to Friends in high school. Amy was the goalie in the alumnae field hockey game the during the 2016 Reunion Weekend at WFS. Poss Pragoff is busy in California as he is about to publish his second novel, Down to the Wire. It is a political spoof “designed as an antidote to today’s toxic campaigns.” Poss’s first novel, a Cold War espionage fable titled Spy Lie Die, is selling well on Amazon and Kindle. He has commenced a California tour, autographing copies at bookstores in the Bay Area, particularly those convenient to where he lives in wine country. Poss is always willing 32
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to host a classmate who wants to come share in the Sonoma County bounty.
1965
Leslie Davis Guccione, after living in Massachusetts for 40 years (with a stint in Pittsburgh, PA, and Summitt, NJ), has returned to Delaware. Leslie has moved to Sharpley and continues to work as a freelance writer and editor. She reports, “one happy marriage, three children, and six grandchildren.” Ron Pownall and family held the Ron Pownall ’65 is in the bottom row, far left, and PhylPownall Family Reunion at his lis Pownall ’69 is in the second row, far right, in this Dad’s place in Charlton, MA, last photo from their most recent family reunion. summer. Usually, the event is in Little Britain, PA, near the family The American Psychological Association farm, but the cousins decided to take a trip (APA) has recognized Marci Lobel, Ph.D. as a to New England in 2016. Ron reported, “a Distinguished Leader for Women in Psycholrousing three day success, with 29 people in ogy. The award, which was announced at the attendance.” (See photo.) APA’s 2016 annual convention, cites Marci’s “distinguished and vital contributions to 1969 social psychological theory, to understanding Phyllis Pownall stress, and to a theory of gendered racism. (See 1965.) Dr. Lobel’s work has focused on coping and reproductive health, especially for African American women. Insights from her scholar1971 ship are integral to identifying disparities in William Gant with maternal mortality and neonatal health and Nancy Gant and help to underscore the importance of intended grandson Quinn pregnancies for maternal and neonatal health. Cessna. Her landmark research illuminates psychosocial factors related to stress resistance, health 1976 behaviors, and resilience during pregnancy. Mary Ann Magness Leroy organized the Dr. Lobel’s outstanding abilities as a scholar, “20x2” reunion party for the Class of 1976 at teacher, leader, and mentor have truly made the Vicmead Hunt Club. Classmates expressed her a distinguished leader for women in psyspecial thanks to Mary Ann and to Debbie chology.” Marci is a professor in the DepartPearce for hosting and putting together such ment of Psychology at Stony Brook University a nice gathering. Clear consensus—everyone and Director of the Doctoral Program in had a blast! Andy Atkins wrote of the photo Social and Health Psychology. (below) taken at the event, “Notice the expressions—and especially the one of Herve Siplet (one of our foreign exchange student’s in 1976) with his arm around Chuck Veith’s FS Jersey.... Chuck passed away in 1998.”
1978
Belated condolences to the family of John Burt and Audrey Whiteside Burt on the 2013 death of Don Kuesport. Don was the husband of John’s mother, former staff member and administrator and great WFS supporter Cynthia Burt Kuesport.
Members of the Class of 1976 and guests at the Vicmead Hunt Club: front row - Christina Veith, Todd Whitaker, Biddy Hukill, Mary Ann Magness Leroy, Sandra Scholl Donahue, Lisa Letang Bradford; second row - Conny Johann Mincks, Becky Alderfer, Carol Dumont Kerby, Kay Hewlett Ambrose, Candy Deitcher Schachat, Barbara Burr Leonard, Lee Garrett; third row - Chuck Veith’s WFS football jersey, Herve Siplet, Jesse Eisenman, Judith Gelb, Diana Millick Hodgson, Dan Fleming, Dru Reed Mogge, Andy Atkins, Andy Bodenstab, Mike Walker; back row - Tim Gibbs, Mark Mathias, David Adler, Tom Moore, Nels Pederson, Tom George, and John Kurth.
CLASS NOTES
Q&A With Susan Woolley Levine ’88 conducted and recorded by Virginia DeWees ’12, Alumni Office Susan Woolley Levine ’88, PhD, works in a San Francisco hospital, where she evaluates adults in order to diagnose a number of different diseases. She specializes in dementia, but also consults on inpatient rehabilitation units to evaluate patients with traumatic brain injuries, tumors, strokes, and other acute illnesses. In addition to seeing patients each day, Susan is a researcher specializing in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and has published extensively on the neuropsychology of ALS. Indeed, she is recognized as one of the foremost experts on the topic. Susan has been invited to speak and teach all over the world about ALS. She also developed and published a clinical research tool that doctors and nurses use internationally (it has been translated into multiple languages) to detect which ALS patients have dementia or cognitive impairment. Thanks to Susan for taking the time to share some of her experiences with us. What led you to become a neuropsychologist? I majored in psychology as an undergraduate at the University of Virginia. At that time, I was impressed with how applicable psychological principles were to a variety of fields like medicine, marketing, and the law. I hoped that a major in psychology would offer up several possible career paths. Once I started my PhD work in California, I learned about the sub-specialty of neuropsychology, which involves the assessment and treatment of patients with brain injury or neurologic disease. Training to become a neuropsychologist required learning about the brain (neuroanatomy) and different conditions like stroke, dementia, and neurodegenerative diseases. It involves combining knowledge of psychological principles, diagnostic procedures, neurology, and statistics. During my PhD training, I worked as a neuropsychological research assistant at the VA on a neuroimaging study involving Alzheimer’s disease. My grandmother (Frances Hullihen Woolley, WFS Class of 1927) suffered from Alzheimer’s. Neurodegenerative diseases like dementia became my area of interest and remains my primary area of focus today. After receiving my PhD, I worked for several years before obtaining board certification in clinical neuropsychology.
Susan (second from left) with mother Cynthia ’56 and sisters Lisa ’82 and Laura ’81. At last count, six generations of the family had attended Wilmington Friends (including Susan’s father, Clark ’57).
professions, your knowledge base expands year to year. It is rewarding to be exposed to new disease states and face novel diagnostic dilemmas, which ultimately make me a better neuropsychologist. What did you do upon graduating from WFS?
I did not go directly into neuropsychology! While completing my BA at the University of Virginia, my research and clinical focus was domestic violence, specifically female victims. I started the first court-based referral program in Albemarle County, where both victims and perpetrators were required to meet with me for education and referrals. I also studied in Perth, Western Australia, for a semester. After graduating, I moved to St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where I lived for nearly two years. I had always dreamed of living on an island, and I figured it was better to do that while I was young, rather than later after “In medicine and other healthestablishing a career and family. So I worked care professions, your knowlthere, saved some money, and had a wonderful time. I then moved to San Francisco, because edge base expands year to year. I knew that the Bay Area would offer a lot in It is rewarding to be exposed to terms of graduate training and clinical experinew disease states and face novel ence. I worked in a law firm while I applied to graduate school, and started my PhD program diagnostic dilemmas, which in clinical psychology at age 24.
ultimately make me a better neuropsychologist.”
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? Despite putting patients through hours of tedious tests in order to determine a diagnosis, I often receive genuine thanks and appreciation at the end. I think patients feel listened to and accepted, regardless of whether they are upset, angry, confused, or afraid. Many patients enter the assessment with trepidation and leave with a sense of gratitude. It is also very rewarding to support family members who are stressed and worried. What advice would you give to students interested in a health-professions career? I suggest that you gain experience through internships or volunteer positions in fields that you are interested in. This will provide good exposure so you can start to understand what topics and patient populations are of most interest to you, and which careers may tap into your unique strengths the best. A career in health care is compelling because you continue to learn over the years, making you a better clinician over time. In other professions, youth is valued but older professionals feel stress when competing with new graduates. In medicine and other health-care
Are there specific experiences from your time as a student at WFS that inspired you to go into your current career?
Being a student at WFS honed my ability to listen to others intently and to be present. Those qualities are essential to being a very good psychologist, in my opinion. Also, psychologists are expected to adhere to explicit ethical standards, which is familiar given the WFS focus on community responsibility, integrity, and equality. What is your favorite WFS memory? There are a lot of memories. I even recall my first day there, entering kindergarten. I loved our class trip to Mystic. I planted a knife (why a knife, I cannot recall) underneath a tree with Tori Storm to mark our time there and serve as a memento that we would someday dig up. We haven’t done that yet, and I’m not even sure the tree is still standing! Do Quaker principles play a role in your life and career? If so, how? Sure. The ability for introspection that was supported by Meeting for Worship has provided me with an excellent ability to listen to patients intently and to be present with them. I noticed that many people do not feel comfortable listening, sitting in silence, or looking inward. I am often told by patients that I make them feel very comfortable because I am patient. I think my patience stems, in part, from the peaceful and non-judgment environment honed by those years at Friends School. Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters
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CLASS NOTES
1982
2000
Stephanie Hoopes (See 1957.)
1986
Tom Raiber wed his longtime partner, Lisa Leana, in a small ceremony on November 12, 2016; they hope a larger event will follow in September 2017.
Andrew Milford produced and co-wrote the documentary Who Is Billy Bones? about the Los Angeles punk rock pioneer. The film features interviews with musicians including Mike Dirnt (Green Day) and, when we last checked in, was airing on television network KCET and on LinkTV nationwide.
2006
1990
Matt Meyer was sworn in as New Castle County Executive on January 4, 2017, having won the fall primary and general election. Matt’s mother Ellen is holding the Bible, and Judge Charles H. Toliver, IV, administered the oath.
Justin DePhillips has just been hired by Disney as the sous chef at Narcoossees at the Grand Floridian, one of Disney’s five signature restaurants.
Pictured at BBC enjoying their tenth reunion over Homecoming Weekend, Willie Kalema, Therese Quinn, Raven Harris Diacou, and Kate Walczak.
Above, also at the BBC Reunion, Dianne de la Veaux, Michelle Ramos, Raven Harris Diacou, and Naomi Hammermesh Scheinerman.
1996
The Class of 1996 shared both happy memories and memorial tributes with a bonfire at Bellevue State Park during Homecoming weekend. Pictured are Dirke Hill, Clay Hill, Nicole Stevenson Black, and Mandy Michels Lockley. (Photo at right.)
2007
Courtney Nix recently got married in Jamaica to Christo pher DeMuro.
Philadelphia Area Reunion On September 23, 2016, alumni and friends in the Philadelphia area gathered at the University Barge Club on Boathouse Row for a beautiful evening. Friends spent time enjoying the great view, great refreshments, and great company— and getting to know Head of School Ken Aldridge. Erin Bushnell ’96, Mandy Bartoshesky ’93, and Margaret Ting Ryan ’96.
Right, Elissa Cashman Dalton ’07, Haley Cashman ’09, and Lauren Galinat ’07. 34
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Lauren Galinat ’07, guest Eric Miller, Anna Haslinsky ’07, Brooke Sheppard ’07, and Brooke’s fiance, Nathan Politi.
Rob Seiberlich ’97 with his wife, Nasim, and daughter, Farah.
Matthew Lang ’08, Matt’s wife, Liz, Hunter Witmer ’10, Ernest Higginbotham ’10, and Reed Salmons ’10.
CLASS NOTES Laura Wolf resides in Afton, VA, where she is in her fifth year teaching Elementary Special Education. Her focus is the integration of students with disabilities in the standard education setting. Laura was recently engaged to Neil Richardson of Richmond, VA, and they are planning a June 2017 wedding in Virginia. Neil and Laura are avid mountain bikers. Together, they started a mountain biking club in their community to create opportunities for people to ride together and increase trail advocacy.
Colorado Connections Head of School Ken Aldridge and Director of Development Chad O’Kane traveled to Denver in October 2016 for a regional reunion in the Centennial State. Priscilla and Dick Roberts ’53 hosted area Friends at their beautiful loft in historic Lower Downtown Denver (LoDo). We had a wonderful turnout of alumni (and spouses), spanning six decades, from 1953 to 2001. Thanks to those who were able to join us, and special thanks to Dick and Priscilla for graciously opening their home to all of us. For those who couldn’t make it, we hope to see you next time in Colorado.
2008
Mike Anderson is pictured in a Big Oyster Brewery news release photo. The Brewery recently celebrated its one-year anniversary of distribution sales in Delaware; Mike Anderson is the brand manager and special event coordinator. Mike wrote, “Our Big Oyster beers have been enjoyed at over 80 establishments statewide to date.”
Alexa Pierce-Matlack started working in the fall of 2016 at the University of Delaware as an adjunct professor in the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences. She also just earned a PADI Open Water Scuba Dive certification.
soccer with two goals in the October 1, 2016 game against Juniata College. The goals helped lift the Cardinals to a convincing 6-0 shutout victory and gave Lindsay her 50th goal in her career at Catholic. Lindsay was also selected for the National Soccer Coaches of America All-Mid-Atlantic Team.
2012 2009
Patrick Quinn’s video “Space is a Place on Earth” was included in a group video exhibition, “We are the Stars,” at the Delaware Contemporary (formerly the DCCA). He submitted the piece under one of his aliases, Quentin Quinn. Patrick, an IB HL Visual Arts student at Friends, flew in from LA for the opening.
2010
Josh Leviton performed on “America’s Got Talent” in July 2016. And Josh and his partner, Ilan, known as The Jewish Beatboxers, are still going strong. They have had millions of online views of performances, have performed in many concerts, and have done many interviews. Josh began his beatboxing career as a student at WFS. Austin Willheim Schoenkopf moved to Bogota, Columbia, in June. He plans to return stateside in 2017 (or later).
2011
Over Thanksgiving weekend, the Class of 2011 gathered at Catherine Rooney’s to celebrate its fifth reunion—and took a selfie!
Sara Woodward graduated from Randolph College in the spring of 2016 and was immediately hired as the College’s Sustainability Coordinator and Assistant to the Director of Building & Grounds. The Randolph magazine published a great article about Sara, proud to claim her as “one of our own,” as is WFS.
2013
Lindsay Aleman became The Catholic University of America’s all-time leading scorer in women’s Jimmy Carney ’15 in action with the Northeast Region Champion Tufts University rugby team, hoping for a match up with Ian Furman ’15 whose Elon University team is also in the running to make the Final Four.
2015
One-time tri-captains of Quaker football (with Tommy Rhodes) Ian Furman and Jimmy Carney may be meeting again on the rugby pitch. Jimmy’s Tufts University team won the Northeast Region of the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) Men’s Championship Cup, and Ian’s Elon University team is still alive in the Mid-Atlantic South Region. The four regional winners, with Tufts’ ticket already punched, will play in the Championship Cup Final Four at Infinity Park in Glendale, CO, in April. Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters
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CLASS NOTES Macon Sheppard, a student at Georgetown University, served as tour guide when middle school teacher John Hanson his son, Jack ’18, visited the Capitol in the summer of 2016. John said, “Macon had the pull to allow us to see a view of the Mall from the balcony in Senator Reid’s office—really cool! Macon did a great job as a tour guide and is an impressive representative for WFS.”
Macon Sheppard ’15, middle school teacher John Hanson, and Jack Hanson ’18 on the office balcony of then-Democratic Leader, now-retired Harry Reid.
Join Us.
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Class of 2001—Where Are You Now? Erin DeCou attended Skidmore College and received a BA in Anthropology. She then earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration (Community Development) from Rutgers University. After living in Philadelphia for 10 years, Erin has recently moved to Greenfield, MA. During her time in Philadelphia, Erin worked in the nonprofit community development sector and served as Executive Director of a youth organization called Neighborhood Bike Works. She wrote about her move to MA, “I am about to start working at Smith College in the Urban Education Initiative, where I’ll be coordinating and raising funds for after-school programs in Springfield and Holyoke, MA.” As for her thoughts about her WFS education, Erin wrote, “I still think about several of the courses and teachers I was lucky to interact with at WFS. Peace, Justice, and Social Change with Mr. Reynolds stands out as a special class that helped me think more broadly about my place in the world and my responsibility toward making it better, more just, and more compassionate. I also loved several of my English classes and teachers, and credit WFS with making me a strong writer and a dedicated reader. I think Friends gave me a space to explore subjects I found interesting, and affirmed the importance of social justice and working with and for other people, not just for myself.” Erin is a volunteer with the Center for New Americans.
“Peace, Justice, and Social Change with Mr. Reynolds stands out as a special class that helped me think more broadly about my place in the world and my responsibility toward making it better, more just, and more compassionate.”
Nihad Heto attended Grinnell College where he studied International Relations. Nihad lives in Grinnell, IA, and works at Grinnell College in the Major Gifts division. He is married to his college sweetheart and has a “beautiful 18-month-old daughter,” Lyla. Nihad spends his volunteer time coaching youth soccer. The one word that he uses to describe his time at WFS is “acceptance.” George Hughes received a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and his MD from Georgetown University. George completed his residency in Chicago as an Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine trained physician. He and his wife, Michelle, welcomed their first child, Theodore, in January 2016. (Happy birthday, Theodore.) George’s one-word memory from WFS is “compassion.”
Theodore, son of George Hughes, is “happy and full of life.”
Gregory Reid Johnson earned a BA in Psychology from Georgetown University. He is living in Austin, TX, with his wife, Jee, two dogs, Hugo and Luna, and one cat, Charlie. He works as an independent sales contractor for a residential contracting company in Austin. Reid wrote of his time at Friends, “The academic focus on cultural diversity, languages, and writing at Friends shaped my future as a world traveler and a student of psychology. It also taught me to be independent, to have an open mind, and to continually strive to be a thoughtful, understanding, and multifaceted person. More importantly, the Quaker traditions and practices at WFS instilled in me many of the core values that continue to be integral to my identity today. During the years following my graduation from college, however, my observation of these Quaker values progressively waned due to my addiction. Addiction is a disease that greatly alters behavior and that results in isolation, self-centeredness, and spiritual detachment. In short, I became rather un-Quakerly. In many ways, my addiction—the experience that I’ve had of progressive spiritual disconnected-
CLASS NOTES
ness and subsequent Jamie Rubens studied “Perhaps the most valuable reemergence into Economics at Deni“the light”—has son University and thing that I took from my time also defined who went on to receive at Friends is the foundation on I am. Perhaps the a Master’s degree in most valuable thing Special Education which my spiritual program of that I took from my from the University recovery has been built. It is time at Friends is the of Southern Confoundation on which necticut. He teaches remarkable to me how closely my spiritual program middle school math the core values of my recovery— of recovery has been and coaches the built. It is remarkable honesty, love, conscientiousness, varsity girls’ soccer to me how closely team at The Walker compassion, and service—paral- School in Marietta, the core values of my recovery—honesty, GA. Jamie volunteers lel those that I learned while a love, conscientioushis time with a group student at Friends.” ness, compassion, called Haiti Goals, an and service—parallel organization founded those that I learned following the 2010 while a student at Friends.” Reid lets his life earthquake in Haiti. He wrote, “ The group speak by helping other addicts in Austin. He works with the rural villages that often do not initially got involved in a 12-step program receive immediate aid using soccer as a ‘carrot’ in Wilmington, DE, but he wrote that it was to encourage and support long-lasting develin Austin that he got sober. He gives back by opment and leadership in their villages.” Jamie sponsoring others who are early in recovery. said the influence of his Wilmington Friends School education can be seen in the way he He also runs education and support groups in a local in/outpatient mental health facility. runs his advisory: “In my advisory, I have tried to continue certain practices I experienced at WFS into our meetings. We have had ‘quiet Carl LoFaro received a BA from the Unireflection,’ to mimic Meeting for Worship and versity of Delaware. He went on to earn a try to reach consensus when making decisions Master’s degree in Social Work from the that affect the advisory as a whole.” Jamie University of Maryland. He is married to his uses the word “home” to describe his WFS “wonderful wife,” Deborah, and they share experience. their home with two “rambunctious cats.” Carl is the Manager of Veteran and Military Emily Ernst Schluter earned her undergraduate Family Services at the Jefferson Center for degree in Art History from the University of Mental Health in the Denver Metro area. Delaware and her MA in Museum Education He volunteers his time as a peer mentor with from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia. the First Judicial Veterans Treatment Court. Emily works at the Guggenheim Museum, He is also Vice-Chairman of the Clear Creek where she celebrated her 10-year anniversary County Veterans Coalition and a member in the spring of 2016. She works with a group of Lakewood Elks Lodge 1777 Veterans of Gallery Guides who serve a dual role in Committee. Carl provides pro-bono clinical supervision to new social workers and is an education and security. Emily lives in Brookactive mentor on LinkedIn’s Veteran Mentor lyn, NY, with her husband, son, cat, and dog. Network. Carl remembers his time at WFS as Her son, Jack. was born in May 2015. a time that “encouraged a passion for learning and the idea that an individual has the Mary van Ogtrop attended Haverford College ability and responsibility to make a positive where she earned her BA. She then went on impact on their community.” He recognizes to the University of San Francisco where she the emphasis that he places on collaborative earned her MFA in writing. After a halfwork in adulthood as a benefit of his Friends decade in San Francisco, where Mary worked experience. for a music company and “enjoyed all the fresh air California had to offer,” she has Carl remembers his time at moved back to Philadelphia with her husband of four years, Rawle Anders. When we heard WFS as a time that “encourfrom Mary, she was expecting their first child aged a passion for learning and “any day now!” Mary is happily working as a freelance copywriter and editor. She plays the idea that an individual has lacrosse whenever she can and stays in close the ability and responsibility to contact with her great friends from WFS. She wrote of her WFS experience, “I appreciate make a positive impact on their my Friends education more and more as I get community.” older—as I consider the kind of well-rounded, thoughtful education I’d like for my child, and as I find myself engaging in moral and intellectual debates. Turns out, Friends instilled in me a yearning to hear both sides of a debate and
an ability to thoughtfully articulate my side (at least, I’d like to think so). Friends gave my classmates and me the freedom to determine how we felt about social and moral issues for ourselves, and we’re now more engaged citizens because of it. Meeting for Worship played a crucial role in developing these traits and abilities, as did the conflict resolution training we received in Rick Grier-Reynolds’ ‘Peace, Justice and Social Change’ course. 2016 is a ripe time for disagreements and debates, and I feel Friends prepared me well in advance.”
Emily Ernst Schluter and family.
“I appreciate my Friends education more and more as I get older—as I consider the kind of well-rounded, thoughtful education I’d like for my child, and as I find myself engaging in moral and intellectual debates. Turns out, Friends instilled in me a yearning to hear both sides of a debate and an ability to thoughtfully articulate my side (at least, I’d like to think so).”
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IN MEMORY
1944 Howard Warner Starkweather, Jr. (see also pages 4-5) died on September 8, 2016. He graduated from Haverford College (A.B.), Harvard University (M.S.) and Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, now part of New York University (Ph.D.). Howard was a research chemist for the DuPont Company from 1952 to 1993, accruing 14 patents and writing more than 90 articles and book chapters. He received two international chemistry awards: the Mettler Award and Special Recognition for his exceptional contributions to thermal analysis in the field of polymer physics from the North American Thermal Analysis Society. Howard was a past Clerk and active committee member for Wilmington Monthly Meeting, and a former Clerk and longtime member of the Wilmington Friends School Board of Trustees. The Starkweather Award for Community Service is named for him. He was also a past President of the DEXSTA Federal Credit Union. Following retirement he continued to volunteer. He served as Treasurer for the board of The Hickman, taught classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and tutored for the Cathedral Choir School of St. John. He greatly enjoyed his time at Kendal and at the time of his death was taking part in the Budget & Finance Committee of Kendal Friends Meeting, the men’s group, the laughter group, and the men’s discussion group. Howard was a loving, patient, kind, steadfast, and inspiring son, brother, parent, friend, and Friend. He was intellectually curious all his life and exercised the highest level of integrity in stewardship. Not least, he was unfailingly compassionate and committed to caring. He was the devoted husband of Elizabeth Focardi Starkweather, also Class of 1944, from 1948 until her death in 2000 and took loving care of her through a 12-year illness. He is survived by his sister, Mary Starkweather Cramer; his children, Mary StarkweatherWhite (Earl), John Howard Starkweather
(Melissa), and Catherine Starkweather (Daniel Oldman); two grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held at the Fourth & West Street Meetinghouse in early October. The family kindly directed memorial donations to Wilmington Friends School, as well as to the Meeting, The Hickman, and Kendal at Longwood.
1947 George Armstrong Elliott III died on January 28, 2015 in Rockville, Maryland. He was 85 years old. George had three careers after graduating from Colgate University. First, he spent 10 years covering politics for newspapers in the Wilmington/Baltimore area. Then, he went to work for Spiro T. Agnew as administrative assistant, press secretary, and speechwriter. George also served as a speechwriter for Governor John H. Chafee of Rhode Island, Governor Albert H. Quie of Minnesota, and Representative Margaret M. Heckler of Massachusetts, among others. George was also a Ford Foundation fellow at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism from 1963 to 1964. Finally, the ink in his veins turned to watercolor. By 1993, George was fully engrossed and learned as a Chinese brush artist. Family members were all gifted one of his fine brush paintings. He served as President of the International Artists Support Group, which helps artists show their work in China, Russia, India and Egypt. Many of his paintings were donated to the group. George was survived by his wife of 49 years, three brothers and a sister, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
1952 William Tatem “Bill” Quillen, age 81, died suddenly and peacefully on August 19, 2016. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Marcia Everhart Stirling Quillen ’56; his brother, Robert James Quillen, Jr ’47; and his nephew, Robert Irvine Quillen ’79. Bill is survived by his daughters, Carol Everhart Quillen ’79 (George McLendon) and Tracey Tatem Quillen ’80 (John Carney); his grandchildren, Caitlin Everhart Lohrenz, Samuel Quillen Carney ’13, and James Tatem Stirling Carney ’15; his sister-inlaw, Barbara Flinn Quillen ’47; his niece Anne Quillen Donecker ’73 and her family; and his Tatem and Quillen cousins, including Elizabeth (Betty Jane) Quillen Brustad ’48, Sherrie Quillen ’53, and Nancy Quillen Wright ’55. Bill grew up in New Castle, where his father and uncle and then his brother ran Quillen Brothers Ford from 1926 through 1982. For Bill, New Castle was essential to his identity, and his father and brother remained his heroes and role models of “usefulness” throughout his life. He was a lifelong member of and adulthood leader in the New Castle Presbyterian Church. Bill considered his Quaker education and the friends it brought him another foundation of his identity. He was legendary for keeping his Friends classmates in touch with each other, and greatly enjoyed their
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recent tradition of annual reunions in Florida. He graduated from his equally beloved Williams College in 1956, received his LL.B. from Harvard Law School, and an LL.M. from The University of Virginia School of Law. He was grateful to Marcia’s parents for sharing “The Pink House” in Ocean City, NJ, so generously with him, and he enjoyed his time there from 1959 through summer 2016. Bill was a devoted follower of University of Delaware football, the Phillies and Eagles, and the original Blue Rocks. He was always among the most loyal—and loudest—Friends School sports fans and loved his bleacher buddies. As he said, “I fell in love with the School in seventh grade when someone handed me a football uniform.” He also played basketball and baseball, and received the School’s Spirit Cup, not for the best athlete but for best representing the spirit of Friends athletics. He was especially proud to have had a chance to nominate Coach Bob “T” Tattersall for the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame. Bill was more than once accused of not being able to hold a job, with the recognition that he always had a good one. He started as an officer in the JAG corps of the United States Air Force and then served as a law clerk to Judge Charles Terry, before working as an Associate at Richards, Layton & Finger. He became counsel to then-Governor Terry who appointed Bill, at just 31 years old, to the Delaware State Superior Court. He went on to serve as Chancellor and as a Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court. He had what he described as an 11-year “frolic” in the private and political sectors—working at Wilmington Trust; serving as a Partner at Potter, Anderson & Corroon; running for Governor in 1984; serving as General Counsel of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, then the world’s largest charity; and teaching at Widener University. He returned to full-time public service when he was appointed as Delaware’s Secretary of State by then-Governor Tom Carper, who completed the professional circle by appointing Bill once again as a Judge on Delaware’s Superior Court. After what many thought was his retirement, Bill found new and valued colleagues at Drinker Biddle & Reath and at the firm then known as Seitz, Ross, Aronstam & Moritz. At the time of his death, Bill was working on a biography of Collins J. Seitz with Judge Seitz’s son, Supreme Court Justice C.J. Seitz (parent of alumna). The family designated memorial donations to Wilmington Friends School and the New Castle Presbyterian Church.
1956 Ira F. B. Doom passed away on January 13, 2016 in Roanoke, VA. In addition to his parents, Ira was predeceased by two sisters, Patricia Doom Pell ’52 and Nancy Stuart Doom. He is survived by two stepdaughters, two nieces, and his caregivers, John and Carol Crounse. Ira was employed by various state and local public transportation agencies. He founded the Bedford Ride program and retired as the operations manager. Ira enjoyed dancing at many local establishments around Smith Mountain Lake.
IN MEMORY
1964 Victoria Milliken Buccino passed away suddenly on August 6, 2016. Vicki was born to the late Howard and Ellen Wyatt Milliken ’35 of Wilmington. She moved to New Orleans to attend Newcomb College, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1967. A competitive athlete, Ellen was nationally ranked in tennis and badminton as a teenager and was a skipper on the Tulane sailing team. She was an avid US Masters swimmer for her last 30 years, consistently ranking in the top 10 nationally for her age group. “Miss Vicki” taught swim lessons for 35 years, was a former president of Tulane University Women’s Association, and a member of Muses. She is survived by her loving husband, Salvatore; two children; three grandchildren; and her sister, Elisabeth Milliken Head ’59.
1968 John Bound Wyeth passed away on December 7, 2016 in New York City. His sense of humor, patience, and selfless concern for others remained intact throughout his battle against cancer. He was one of five brothers who, as boys, roamed the woods and fields around their house in Mendenhall, PA. Growing up in the heritage-rich Brandywine Valley left him with a lifelong love of history and storytelling. He was part of a family of artists and scientists, and his interests were appropriately eclectic — from early films and photography to ragtime music and astronomy. At Friends, John played tuba in the band. At Syracuse University, he majored in theater and began his playwriting career in earnest, having three one-act plays produced and winning First Prize in the Elmira Little Theater Playwriting Contest. He received a Schubert Playwriting Fellowship for graduate school at Carnegie Mellon, where he earned an MFA. After graduate school, he moved to New York, where a number of his plays were performed off-off Broadway. He had a longtime creative relationship with the Love Creek Theater Company. He was a finalist in the Samuel French One Act Play Contest. Most recently, he worked at Harlem Link Charter School. John loved New York, especially Central Park, old buildings, and abandoned train yards. He also loved the stories that make NYC the amazing City it is. He was a walking encyclopedia of theater, literature, art, classic movies, history, and weather phenomena. You did not want to face him in a game of Jeopardy. He was also one of the kindest, funniest, and most sincere people on the planet. He was a great husband and a wonderful father to his daughter and auxiliary dad to her cousins. Because he never lost touch with his own childhood, he always had a taste for play. He frequently starred in the faux-Hollywood videos that his daughter and her cousins would produce during holidays. He was a favorite uncle to all of his nieces and nephews, encouraging them in their studies and interests as they grew to adulthood. As a husband, he was an unfailingly kind, completely supportive and always interesting partner. He brought a fresh
perspective to everything he did, whether critiquing movies or fixing household problems. (This usually involved inventive applications of duct tape.) John is survived is survived by his wife of 24 years, Deirdre, and his daughter, May. In addition, he leaves three brothers: N.C. Wyeth III ’63, Andrew N. Wyeth ’66 and David Wyeth ’71; and eight nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Howard Wyeth ’62.
Former Faculty Nona Smolko, Wilmington Friends teacher Teacher 1980-1999, died on October 15, 2016, in Raleigh, NC. Many of Nona’s former students and colleagues attended Homecoming Meeting for Worship to share memories and gratitude.
Lisa Layton McKeeman, age 60, died on December 20, 2016, of complications following a kidney transplant. Lisa leaves her husband, Sam, and her son, who lives in Toronto with his wife. Lisa also leaves a sister, Nancy, and her family in Chevy Chase, MD, as well as a number of cousins with Friends School connections, including the Tjersland family.
A convinced Quaker, Nona began teaching at Friends in 1980, after teaching at St. Mark’s High School and the University of Delaware. She had an immediate impact, impressing students and colleagues alike with her vitality, her passion for literature, her sense of humor (including a remarkable facility for puns), and her personal warmth. She was a very popular advisor and a much-valued member of the college guidance team. In her first year, she generated interest among the upper school students in having a literary and arts magazine and was the founding advisor of Prism, which continues to this day.
Lisa was outgoing, communicative, enthusiastic, trusting, and positive. In spite of multiple medical issues that would have overwhelmed many others, she looked to the future with enthusiasm and valued each new acquaintance. Lisa had the ability to make friends within five minutes. She loved animals, travel, and learning. Seemingly small things, such as a sunset or the sparkle of light on water, thrilled her. Joy came from many directions. She valued her Quaker heritage and education, and attended Friends for all of her primary and secondary education.
In 1987, Friends adopted the grade advisor system, and Nona was part of the first upper school team as 11th grade advisor. She continued in that position until 1992, when she became advisor to the Whittier Miscellany. Under Nona’s guidance the newspaper competed in and garnered many awards at the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Tournament, the Temple Press Tournament, and other competitions. In 1994, Nona became Head of the English Department and continued in that position until her retirement from Friends.
1975
A memorial and celebration for Lisa will be held in May in Camden, ME.
She left Friends, “bravely at age 50,” her husband said, to begin a new chapter of her life, as a clinical social worker. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Delaware, with a Master Degree in English, Nona earned her Master’s in a two-year program at Bryn Mawr, got her license, and practiced for 10 years Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters 39
IN MEMORY through Jewish Family Services of Delaware. Battles with Parkinson’s Disease and rheumatoid arthritis could not keep Nona down; she was riding a stationary bike at Planet Fitness two days before she was admitted to the hospital, where her brave and buoyant spirit was finally overcome. Nona touched many lives as a teacher and social worker, and also as a wife, mother, grandmother, informal advisor, writer, chef, decorator, and artist. She is survived by her husband Joe, their two children, and three grandchildren. (See photo on page 39.)
University of Colorado Buffaloes. George declined an opportunity to play professional baseball in order to pursue a career in business. George is survived by his wife Lisa Olinger Cattermole; children Drake Cattermole ’88 and Ashley Cattermole Gillerlain ’91 (also former faculty); grandchildren Madison Elizabeth Gillerlain ’16, Drake Zachary, and Katrina Elizabeth Cattermole; son-in-law Paul Gillerlain; brother Paul S. Cattermole; sister Jean Cattermole Mihura; and many nieces and nephews. Rayman Michael Hendricks, age 79, passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 17, 2016. He was survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Marilyn Nugent Hendricks of Kennett Square, PA; son R. Matthew Hendricks ’79 of Wilmington; and grandson Rayman A. Hendricks, II of Prescott, AZ.
Former Trustees George Reid Cattermole, age 75, passed away on October 9, 2016. George was born and raised in Denver, CO, graduating from Regis Jesuit High School. He attended The University of Santa Clara for one year; and returned to Colorado to graduate from The University of Colorado with a degree in Psychology. Upon graduation, George enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and served in the Aleutian Islands. In 1966, George joined DuPont as a salesman in the Explosives Department, covering the southwest. He always said that was his favorite job. He was then transferred to manufacturing at the Potomac River Plant where, he authored “The Blasters Handbook,” which is still used today. In 1977, the Cattermole family moved to Sydney, , where George had been promoted to President of DuPont Australia. Some of his fondest stories were about his adventures with the tough miners of Australia and New Guinea. In 1980, the Cattermoles moved to Wilmington, where George served as Director of International Operations of the Freon Division and Director of Worldwide Marketing for Freon Products. George later ran DuPont’s Inter-Department Marketing Committee and led the Corporate Marketing Program. After retiring from DuPont in 1999, George joined the board of Outlast Technologies Inc., a Boulder, CO, technology company. He was named Chairman of the Board and shortly thereafter became President and CEO. In 2008, George was appointed Chairman of the Board of Charles & Colvard Ltd., a publicly traded company based in Raleigh, NC. He officially retired last year. George was a talented athlete. In 2002, he was inducted into the Regis High School Hall of Fame - Honorable Mention Best Athlete All-Time. During his first year in college at Santa Clara University, George played football and baseball. George’s most memorable game was his 4-1 victory over Stanford as a freshman pitcher. After transferring to the University of Colorado, he was affectionately known as “Cannonball Cattermole.” He was inducted into “The Living Legends” for the 40
Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters
Mike was born in Salt Lake City, UT. Attaining the honor of Eagle Scout at the young age of 16 brought him much joy. He graduated with honors from Pocatello High School in Pocatello, ID, and from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. Mike and Marilyn married in 1959 and relocated to Johnston, SC, where Mike started his career at Milliken. Mike and Marilyn then relocated to Salt Lake City where Mike started a distinguished career with Hercules Incorporated. Relocating to Wilmington in 1967, Mike continued his career with Hercules. During this time, he and Marilyn immersed themselves in the Wilmington community. Mike enjoyed his work travels to Asia, South America, and Europe. He became the first President and Chief Operating Officer of Himont, Inc., a joint venture of Hercules and Montedison, S.p.A. of Italy. He retired from Himont after more than 30 years of service to Hercules/Himont. He subsequently served on the Board of Trustees of Wilmington Friends School and as Board Chair for three years. In retirement, Mike and Marilyn traveled extensively. Mike and Marilyn relocated to Kennett Square, PA, in 2016. Mike’s passion for history and science was well known and fueled his intellectual appetite. He loved his family, especially his grandson, Ray. Always openminded, generous and compassionate, Mike’s presence will be greatly missed by friends and family; he made a difference in our worlds. The family kindly designated memorial gifts to Wilmington Friends School.
Friends of Friends Leon Russell Mintz , 81, of Gordon Heights, died on October 27, 2016 surrounded by his family. He and his wife, Ellen, founded The
Philip S. Mintz Endowment for Vocal and Performing Arts at Wilmington Friends School. Leon was born in Allentown, PA and grew up in Emmaus. He was a graduate of Emmaus High School (1953) and Lehigh University (1957). In 1958, Leon married Ellen LaRowe in Wilmington, DE. He spent his career as a federal Internal Revenue Service agent and worked in both the Wilmington and Philadelphia offices. He was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church (Hillcrest). In addition to Ellen, his wife of 58 years, Leon is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Mintz Beckett ’81 (Thomas) of Berwyn, PA; two grandchildren; three sisters; and nieces and nephews and their families. His son Philip Mintz ’84 died in 1994. The family asked that in lieu of flowers, we remember Leon fondly and do something kind for someone else. Margaret Penix Scott (Muff) of Wilmington passed away on October 20, 2016. She was born and grew up in Kentucky, graduated from the University of Kentucky, and received a Masters in Education from the University of Kentucky at the age of 20. She met her husband while working on the Manhattan Project at the University of Chicago. After their marriage they continued their work in Oak Ridge, TN. At the end of the war they returned to the Chicago area where her husband completed his PhD. Subsequently they moved to Wilmington, DE, St. Simons Island, GA, and back to Wilmington where they remained. In each location, Muff was actively involved in community activities and charitable organizations, social groups, women’s groups, garden clubs, and the Episcopal church. In Wilmington, she was associated with the Wilmington Flower Market, Lenten lunches at SAAMS, the Cathedral Choir School of Delaware, the National Cathedral Association of Delaware, the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Wilmington Friends School, Wilmington Garden Day, and a very active board member of St. Michael’s School and Nursery. As a member of Christ Church Christiana Hundred, she served as a the head of the Women of Christ Church, member of the Altar Guild, the Green Show Committee, Tuesday Prayer Group, St. Juliana’s Guild, Sunday School teacher, Chairman of the Diocesan Christian Relation Committee, and Chairman of the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief. She is survived by her son, Robert Bates Scott, Jr. ’63 and his wife, Kathy; her daughter, Ann Scott Black ’65, and her husband, Steve; her son, Thomas Stanley Scott ’70 (WFS Trustee) and his wife, Betsy Lord Scott ’70; her grandchildren, Robert Bates Scott, III, Julie Ann Scott, Joshua Cranston Black, Clarissa Ann Black, Clayton Douglass Scott ’15, Alexander Young Scott ’16, and Matthew R. Tucker; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. At Friends, Muff was an avid fan not only of her children and grandchildren but of all of our students’ endeavors. The family kindly designated memorial gifts to Friends School and to St. Michael’s School and Nursery.
IN CLOSING
Into The Woods Upper School Fall Musical
Congratulations to our cast, crew, pit band, tech team, parent volunteers, designers, and directors (Margaret Anne Butterfield, Lauren Gutstein, Sara Gaines) on an incredible production of a challenging piece—Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim. They had us at “I wish.” And thank you to our audiences.
Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
101 School Road Wilmington, DE 19803 www.wilmingtonfriends.org
PAID Permit No. 1249 Wilmington, DE
Upcoming Events Friday-Saturday, February 24-25 Home & School Association Used Book Sale (See page 3 for details.)
Friday, March 3 Eighth Grade Musical Saturday, March 4 Quaker Quiz Night Wednesday, March 8 Fifth Grade Musical Friday, March 31 Home & School Parents for Multiculturalism Event
Friday-Saturday, April 7-8 Upper School Spring Play Tuesday, April 25 IB & Visual Arts Major Exhibition Reception Friday, May 12 Lower School Grandparents & Special Friends Day Saturday, May 20 Spring Fling Saturday, June 3 Commencement
Fall/Winter 2016-2017 • QuakerMatters
On school picture day, Harry rocked it. (Photo by Elisa Komins Morris) Top left, the new front door sign at lower school welcomes all in English and in the three other world languages taught at Friends.