BrewsterConnections
Inside:
Honoring Excellence, Loyalty:
Nick Harris, David Smith
Receive the Brewster Medal
at Museum of Fine Arts Event
Curvey Family Donates
Lakefront Property to Brewster
BrewsterConnections
Brewster Academy
2008-2009
Board of Trustees
Daniel T. Mudge, President
(Tapley-Ann ’98, Ashley ’02)
Spring 2009
Leslie N. H. MacLeod, Vice President
(Todd ’97)
Inside
Roy C. Ballentine, Treasurer
(Brian ‘97, Susan ‘94)
Head of School
Helen S. Hamilton, Secretary
Michael Appe
Dr. Michael E. Cooper
2 A Message From the Head of School
Director of Admission
and External Affairs
4 Honoring Excellence and Loyalty:
Lynne M. Palmer
Nancy M. Black
(Nicole ’02, Robbie ’05)
Editor
Christopher Britt ’02
President, Alumni Association
Marcia Eldredge
Director of Communications
C. Richard Carlson
Estate Trustee
Assistant Editor/Layout/Design
Peggy Comeau
Assistant Director of Communications
David L. Carlson ’54
Candace Crawshaw ’64
Contributors
Claudine Curran
(Alex ’06, Gen ’11)
George J. Dohrmann III
(George ’05, Geoffrey ‘12)
Peter Ford ’80
Douglas H. Greeff
(Hilary ’11)
Michael Keys
(Matthew ’04)
Nick Harris, David Smith Receive the Brewster Medal
7 Curvey Family Donates Lakefront Property to Brewster Donation Creates Scholarships, Experiential Learning Opportunities
10 20th Annual Trey Whitfield ’89 Memorial Lecture
Make A Difference: Be Spiritual, Loving, Caring, and Sharing
12 Student Art Accepted, Awarded at Juried Exhibit
Steve Burgess, Matt Butcher, Mike
Cooper, Deb Gurka, Beth Hayes ‘81,
Matt Hoopes, Doug Kiley, Lynne
M. Palmer, Bob Richardson, Shirley
Richardson, Martha Trepanier ’83,
Kim Yau
14 Race: A Matter of Illusion
Brewster Celebrates Diversity
Photography
Chris Byers, Jee Eun Choi ‘10, Peggy
Comeau, Andrea Cooper, Marcia
Eldredge, David Fox, B.G. Hodges ‘66,
Paul Horton, Jaime Laurent, Phil Stiles
Rex V. Jobe
(Reagan ’01)
17 Head of School Holiday
18 On Top of Their Games
Commitment to Team at Heart of Excellence
20 Through Their Eyes:
Students Capture Images of Campus, Wolfeboro
24 Selected Student Artwork and Poetry
Outcroppings Literary Journal
Barbara Naramore
James E. Nicholson
26 Performing Arts Highlights
Arthur O. Ricci
Estate Trustee
Students Bring Urinetown to Stage
The Reverend Nancy Spencer Smith
Estate Trustee
30 Brewster on the Road
Shawn K. Smith
(Susan ’08)
32 Welcome New Trustees and Director of Development
Steven R. Webster
(Brooke ’08, Tori ’11)
34 Hoopla: Arthur M. Hurlin Award Winners
Through the Decades
A.B. Whitfield
(Trey ‘89)
BrewsterConnections
is published twice a year
and mailed to alumni, parents of
students, and friends of
Brewster Academy
80 Academy Drive
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
www.brewsteracademy.org
Trustee Emeriti
Walter N. “Rink” DeWitt ’54
(Kate ’86)
P. Fred Gridley ’53
(Deborah ’81)
Grant M. Wilson
(Grant ’87, Kirsten ’88)
On Brown Field, Photo by Jee Eun Choi ’ 10
Departments
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44
52
54
Around Campus
In the News
Class Notes
In Memoriam
Writing Brewster’s History
Cover Photo by David Fox
Rotunda, Museum of
Fine Arts, Boston
A Message From the Head of School
Spring
As We Look Toward
Greetings from a snowy, blowy,
and cold Wolfeboro! As I write this
letter for the spring issue of BrewsterConnections, outside there is more than
a foot of fresh new snow, with winds
whipping across the lake making it
look like a lot more. Inside my office
the wind whistles, finding its way
through every nook and cranny not
already plugged up in anticipation of
the cold northwest winds, making for a
chilly cacophony of sound ... in stereo!
Oh what a place we live and work. Yet
upon further reflection and consideration of the vagaries of life in New
England in winter, it really isn’t all that
bad. Having spent my entire life in
the Northeast, this time of year always
seems to bring with it that last vestige
of the throes of winter as thoughts
turn to the spring and what lies ahead.
Shaking off one season, especially
winter, is not easy as the storm that just
passed reminds us. But for this year, in
particular, that does not seem to be the
case, for we have much to celebrate –
and celebrate we did.
We enjoyed commemorating and
celebrating excellence in service to
Brewster with the first awarding of
what we have called the Brewster
Medal. It was a wonderful opportunity
for us to recognize two individuals
who have significantly impacted the
Academy. For more on the Brewster
Medal, please see page 4.
You also will read in these pages (7-9)
our thoughts on just how transforming
the Curvey family gift will be for the
Academy. We certainly knew that the
lakefront land and acreage was a boon
for the school, but not until we really
got our arms around the possibilities
did it truly begin to sink in. I think
without winter, we would not have
the same perspective of contemplation
and reflection as we have had as we
consider the various possibilities that
this gift will provide the school. What
started as some loosely configured ideas
about how our academic and summer
programs could benefit, has now begun
to take a shape and direction that will
further define Brewster Academy and
its program. Without sounding too
pretentious at this point, who would
have thought that we might begin to
consider the possibilities a freshwater
institute would offer the school and
what that could do to grow our presence
in New Hampshire, around the Lakes
Region, and potentially beyond. In
addition, what does a leadership development center mean for the school as
we address a hue and cry from society
about the future need for moral and
ethical leadership? These kinds of
considerations begin to get the blood
and creative juices flowing and warm
the soul on these cold, blustery days
and nights.
You see that’s what winter does to
you. While it would be easy to hunker
down and brace oneself against the
periodic blasts, it is much better to
take advantage of the time provided by
having to stay warm and contemplate
our good fortune and how that can
translate into a number of wonderful
possibilities. Perhaps the early settlers
were on to something when they stuck
Punxsutawney Phil’s head outside to
see whether he would see his shadow,
for six more weeks of contemplation
and planning is not all that bad when
one considers how life changes when
there’s more daylight and time for
outside pursuits … yet even then, what’s
to say we can’t contemplate just as well
swinging a golf club or throwing a fly …
Enjoy this issue of Connections!
Michael E. Cooper
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BrewsterConnections
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BrewsterConnections
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20092009
A view from the shoreline of the Beaver Brook campus,
donated to Brewster Academy by the Curvey family.
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3
Honoring
Excellence
and Loyalty:
Nick Harris
and David Smith
Daniel Mudge, Bill Whelan, and Mike Cooper
Receive the
Brewster Medal
On Saturday, January 24, the Brewster Medal celebration was held at the Museum of
Fine Arts in Boston. More than 100 guests attended this inaugural event to recognize
the recipients of the Brewster Medal and to share and celebrate their Brewster
moments, past and present. The first recipients of the Brewster Medal were Henry F.
“Nick” Harris, alumni parent, and David M. Smith, Headmaster Emeritus.
The Brewster Medal was established
to recognize extraordinary people
who have demonstrated distinguished
service to Brewster and dedicated
themselves to the advancement of the
mission of Brewster Academy and the
vision of John Brewster. In awarding
this honor, criteria for recognition
includes:
• Loyalty of service and/or support to the Academy
• Personal characteristics that reflect the Brewster Principle
• Commitment of excellence in personal and professional pursuits
David Smith, Mike Cooper, Penny Harris, Lamont Harris ’84, and Nicholas Harris
4
Spring2009
2009
BrewsterConnectionsllSpring
BrewsterConnections
Rebekah Seaman ’97 and Robert Bierweiler ‘38
Dr. Michael E. Cooper welcomed guests
and honorees to the event and began the
ceremony by posthumously recognizing Harris for his long, loyal partnership
and generous support of Brewster and
his caring, compassionate, and vibrant
spirit. The Harris family has had a long
relationship with Brewster that began
in 1981 when Lamont Harris ‘84 joined
the Brewster community as a sophomore and was followed soon after by
his brother Henry ’88. Nick and Penny
Harris were active and appreciative parents who recognized the importance of
a strong partnership with Headmaster
Smith and were committed to ensuring
that the quality of program and needs of
the school would be supported. Smith
and Harris communicated often about
the vision and direction of the school,
and Harris was instrumental in providing the financial foundation and personal endorsement needed to support the
school’s first master plan created by the
board of trustees. The Harris’ unwavering support saw the completion of capital projects including Harris House – a
boys’ dormitory – and the Harris Hall
amphitheater in the Academic Building.
Cooper applauded Harris’ extraordinary
example of partnership and extended
service to the school beyond his active
parent years and held his example out to
all as a model for what Brewster Acad-
Molly Childs ‘03, A.B. Whitfield, Matt Keys ’04, Janie Whitney, Patricia and Michael Keys
emy deserves and demands for its continued growth and success in the future.
Harris’ wife Penny, along with their son
Lamont and his son Nicholas, were present to receive the Brewster Medal on behalf of Harris who passed away in December 2006. Lamont thanked Cooper
for the honor and shared with attendees
his father’s passion for Brewster and
belief in Smith’s vision for the school. It
was a partnership that worked well, Lamont said. Nick appreciated the amazing
location and campus and was impressed
with the school’s intention for beautification through the master plan, he added.
Lamont recognized that his father was
more comfortable providing support
behind the scenes, and the irony of Nick
not being present for the party. Lamont
assured guests that “it really means a
lot to us to know that dad’s generosity
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has made a difference in so many lives
that have passed through the halls of
Brewster.”
Daniel T. Mudge (Tapley-Ann ‘98 and
Ashley ‘02), president of the board of
trustees, presented the second Brewster
Medal to David M. Smith – the youngest and longest serving headmaster of
Brewster Academy, from 1974 to 2003.
Smith’s distinguished career and trans-
5
Curvey Family Donates
Lakefront Property
Amy Reiner, Andrea Cooper, Renny Merritt,
Jane Taft, and Mike Cooper
forming leadership took Brewster Academy from a quasi-public school with
fewer than 100 students to an incredibly successful independent school with
a student body of 360. Through Smith’s
tenure he served as a classroom teacher,
coach, dorm parent, dean, student advisor, headmaster, and parent (Tim ‘91,
Dan ‘93, James ‘95) with the strength
and partnership of his wife Sheila, who
served as associate director of admission.
Mudge spoke of Smith’s absolute devotion to the most personalized approach to
students and belief that there was always
a better way to educate young people.
“Through David’s dedication and leadership the implementation of an intentional
model of education to advance each student’s academic and social growth came
to be in 1992 and is still the foundation of
what drives the Brewster experience and
success of today.”
Smith acknowledged the privilege of being the recipient of the Brewster Medal
and his heartfelt belief that it has been his
honor since the first moment he became
a teacher to the moment he was asked
to become headmaster at Brewster. He
Robert and Mimi Tambone and Kathy Mudge
66
The view through the trees
on the Beaver Brook campus
to Brewster
David Smith and Dan Mudge
Donation Creates Student Scholarships,
Experiential Learning Opportunities
By Marcia Eldredge
talked about the trust that families put into their relationship
with the school and how it compelled him to make a difference
for each child. “We wanted to
do it better, something that other Trustee David Carlson ‘54 and Sheila Smith
schools couldn’t do,” he said.
Smith described the incredible relation- Cooper thanked the recipients and famiships like the one he had with the Harris lies for their distinguished contributions
family and a few other significant fami- and recognized trustee Michael Keys
lies that allowed him to bring this vision (Matthew ’04) for his involvement in
and model for education to fruition. He making the Brewster Medal a reality. The
also recognized the importance of those event was a lively and celebratory mix of
partnerships continuing today with Mike decades and dedication to Brewster and a
Cooper to ultimately solidify Brewster’s commemoration that the Academy looks
forward to hosting again.l
position and educational value.
Molly Childs ‘03, Roy Ballentine, and Michael Keys
BrewsterConnections
BrewsterConnectionsllSpring
Spring2009
2009
On December 17, 2008, Brewster received
the largest single donation in the history
of the Academy: 11 acres of lakefront
property on Lake Winnipesaukee valued
at $6.3 million. This generous gift came
from former Fidelity Investments President James C. Curvey and his family.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity
that we never anticipated coming our
way,” said Head of School Dr. Michael E.
Cooper. “We intend to honor the legacy
of the Curvey family in helping to open
up educational opportunities for talented
students.”
The Curvey family has long been
committed to seeing that a quality education is extended to as many students
as possible. The family views the land
donation as an opportunity for Brewster
to extend a “first-rate education” even
further into the community, especially in
the Alton area where the land is located
and where the Curveys have summered
for many years.
“As summer residents for the past 20
years, we feel committed to this community and are pleased that this gift will
help to demonstrate that and enhance
the first-rate education students receive
at Brewster,” Curvey said.
This gift to Brewster Academy represents
the continuation of the Curvey family’s longstanding support of education
through the creation of scholarships. In
1999, Curvey established a scholarship
program at his alma mater, Villanova
University. Originally, this program
provided financial assistance to students
from Curvey’s hometown of Mahanoy
City, Pennsylvania, to attend the university. The program was expanded in 2002
and again in 2005 with gifts from Curvey
totaling $6 million, creating an endowment that now provides four scholarships
annually to Villanova-bound students
from five high schools in Schuylkill
County, Pennsylvania.
Scholarships will go to three local
students per year for their four years at
Brewster, starting in fall 2009. Ultimately,
12 students at a time will benefit from
this gift.
The generosity of the Curvey family
continues a tradition of generosity for
the Academy. In 1887, by bequest, John
Brewster (1812-1886) donated 42 acres of
land, including one-half mile of frontage
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on Lake Winnipesaukee. With this land,
Brewster Academy was founded along
the southeastern shore of the lake.
Beaver Brook
The 11-acre wooded property, known
as the Beaver Brook satellite campus,
includes 615 feet of shoreline and seven
cottages spread throughout the property,
ranging in size from 521 square feet to
2,024 square feet. The natural setting has
great potential to expand and enrich a
number of Brewster programs to benefit
students, including academics, character education, leadership training, and
outdoor skills.
“The property will expand the Academy’s lakefront resources and provide
the setting for more hands-on educational opportunities that complement
and supplement the school’s mission and
strengthen the school’s core curriculum,”
Cooper explained. “The opportunity
for a satellite campus with a focus on
experiential learning programs will
only enhance what students have come
to expect from a Brewster education –
experiential, team-based, cooperative
learning,” he added.
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Summer at Beaver Brook
The results of a 2005 marketing study
conducted by an outside firm for Brewster
showed that the Academy would benefit
by taking greater advantage of its location by offering more programs that focus
on the outdoors and the environment.
At that time the school had no academic
While these new offerings would add
value to Brewster’s educational program,
the opportunities also fit well with the
school’s emerging educational program
emphasis on the role of project-based
learning, Cooper explained. Having a
natural laboratory that allows for the
“As summer residents for the past 20 years, we feel committed
to this community and are pleased that this gift will help
to demonstrate that and enhance the first-rate education
students receive at Brewster.”
classes specifically focused on its freshwater location; it had been some time
since freshwater ecology was part of the
curriculum. Given the study recommendation, the school added a freshwater
ecology course that is becoming an
increasingly more popular offering and
important presence for the school.
kinds of problem solving and application
of learning that is hands-on significantly
reinforces Brewster’s position on the
importance of “learning by doing,” he
added. As Brewster continues to develop
this aspect of its educational program,
having a location in which to expand
what the school currently offers, and that
provides a direct tie-in with an emerging
program is not only exciting but energizing as well, Cooper said.
Co-Curricular Offerings
The Academy has a strong commitment
to – and a growing reputation for – developing the character of its students, and
throughout the year students participate in programs intentionally designed
to foster good character. In addition
to supplementing its character education program, the property also affords
Looking east from the shoreline of the Beaver Brook campus
With the addition of the Beaver Brook
property, the school has an opportunity to create a freshwater laboratory
of significant proportions and expand
the depth and breadth of the courses
offered. While there are research sites
around Lake Winnipesaukee sponsored
through the University of New Hampshire’s Lay Monitoring Program, there is
no laboratory facility directly connected
to an academic program. Combining
Brewster’s interest in and commitment
to freshwater ecology with the potential
of partnering with a New Hampshire
institution of higher learning would
allow Brewster to sharpen its focus on
an increasingly important topic, the environment.
8
Brewster the chance to build upon its
student leadership program. Currently
student leaders participate in annual
training at an off-campus facility; the
nearby Beaver Brook campus (about
a five-minute drive by boat or car) will
keep students “on-campus” and extend
opportunities to all students throughout
the school year.
The site also offers the potential for
Brewster to develop a field leadership
course similar to those found on many
college campuses. A field leadership
course would provide an opportunity
for students to develop their leadership
skills through an experiential learning
program on campus. Evidence shows that
students who have the chance to participate in programs of this nature not only
develop their leadership skills, but add
to their overall personal development
in a team-oriented manner, according to
Cooper.
The Beaver Brook campus is a three-season property with each season
bringing its own attributes. While spring and fall may offer Brewster
expanded curriculum options and potential educational research
partnerships, summer is full of its own potential.
Sitting on the eastern edge of New
Hampshire’s largest lake, directly across
from a loon sanctuary, this is a summer
paradise. People come from all over the
country and from around the world to enjoy
Lake Winnipesaukee in the summer. It’s the
beauty of the area, sparkling water, fresh
air, and the warm days and cool nights that
draw people.
In the past, Brewster’s Office of Summer
Programs has offered a variety of programs –
academic, developmental, camps, and sports
– and events like craft fairs, concerts, and
weddings that offer a range of constituents
options from one end of the summer to the
other.
The satellite campus begs for something
more – programs that reflect and take
advantage of the look and the feel of the
compound and its premier location on
Lake Winnipesaukee. With summer just a
few months away, the Office of Summer
Programs has already begun to broaden its
thinking about what to offer for 2009 and
beyond to add to an already vibrant summer
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One of the seven cottages at Beaver Brook.
The current outdoor skills program
and the school’s recently expanded
recreational and instructional fitness
curriculum could expand their offerings with the building of ropes courses,
climbing walls, and other team-building
structures throughout the property.
Additionally, the woodland setting offers
an environment conducive to contemplative study and retreats for faculty and
students enrolled in Brewster’s academic
year and summer programs as well as
outside educational groups for both
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BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
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99
Amanda Graham ’10 (a Trey Whitfield
School graduate), accompanied on
piano by Brewster music director Andy
Campbell, also performed a solo – Mary
Mary’s “Can’t Give Up Now,” which
included the chorus,
20th Annual
Trey Whitfield ’89 Memorial Lecture
Make A Difference: Be Spiritual,
Loving, Caring, and Sharing
“I’ve come too far from where I started from
Nobody told me the road would be easy
and I don’t believe
He brought me this far to leave me.”
A.B. Whitfield and Mike Cooper entertained the audience (and the choir) with a duet.
By Peggy Comeau
A.B. Whitfield, COO of the Trey Whitfield School in Brooklyn, New York, was
the honored speaker on Monday, January 19 at the 20th celebration of the short
but compassionate life of his son Trey, a
member of Brewster’s Class of 1989.
by such a team of caring, passionate teachers who are led by Head
of School Mike Cooper.
“Brewster Academy is not just
academics, it teaches the spirit,
too,” said Whitfield. He advised
In his address, Whitfield talked about
the students that they too could
how Trey had come to attend Brewster
make a difference in the world if
– on the recommendation of a teacher
they learn to be spiritual, loving,
at another school Trey was attendcaring, and sharing adults.
Brewster’s
staff and
The choir comprises talented and inspiring singers.
faculty spent a
lot of time helping
Speaking on the day that pays tribute
Trey succeed, so
to the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
when Trey came
Whitfield reminded the community that
home on breaks,
“History was made on this campus 20
he would in turn
years ago, when a group of Brewster
spend his time
students led by Trey and [former teacher
helping children in
and now activities director] Tim Radley,
the nearby projects
‘stormed the capital’ of New Hampshire
and poor neighto insist that the state recognize and
borhoods. “Trey
worried more about celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day,
which proved successful.”
everyone else than
A.B. Whitfield and Janie Whitney proudly listen to the Trey Whitfield School
about himself,” his
choir. Seated to their left are former Brewster faculty members Bob and Shirley
Whitfield explained that Brewster is a
father declared.
Richardson, Barbara Douglass, and Dr. Joyce Ferris.
second home to the faculty, staff, and
choir of the Trey Whiting who was about to
field School because
become the director of
they are always
admissions at Brewster
welcomed with open
Academy. The teacher
hearts. They all look
thought Brewster would
forward to their yearly
be a better fit for Trey.
visit, and are honored
Whitfield stated that
that Brewster continthe teacher was right,
ues to recognize Trey’s
because Trey flourished
impact on the school
at Brewster – academiso many years after
cally, socially, and in
he died. “We consider
sports. Whitfield went
it a privilege to come
on to tell the students
here each year,” stated
that they should realize
Whitfield.
how lucky they are to be
at Brewster being taught The males in the audience were asked to stand and sing along with the choir.
10 10
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
In the audience at Anderson Hall were
former faculty members who knew Trey
at Brewster – Barbara Douglass, Dr.
Joyce Ferris, Bob and Shirley Richardson, and Rev. Harry Widman. Michele
(Giannone) Talwani ‘89, a friend of
Trey’s, and her daughter Hope, 6 1/2,
also traveled to Brewster to attend the
memorial lecture.
After sharing a poignant video chronicling “Trey in action,” as Whitfield put
it, he introduced the choir– who were
there to entertain and inspire – led by
choir directors Donna White (Whitney
’07) and Bobby Banks (Syreeta ’99), who
accompanied them on piano.
The choir sang several spirited songs
alternating with soulful hymns, highlighted by several solos. The young
people also performed an oratorical
piece with great passion.
Soloist and Trey Whitfield School
alumna Amanda Graham ’10
The finale of “What the World Needs
Now is Love” included lots of audience
participation – first all the females in the
audience were asked to sing together,
then the males were asked to stand and
do the same. Then as a surprise to both
Whitfield and Cooper, they were asked
to come up on stage and sing the song
together, to the delight of both the choir
and the audience. They performed with
gusto and good grace, and the audience
gave them a standing ovation at the end.l
One of the choir’s talented soloists
Friends support soloist Amanda Graham ’10
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Freshman Award
Visual Arts:
Hannah Rafalowski-Houseman ’12
“Can You See Me?” Print
Student Art Accepted,
Awarded at Juried Exhibit
“Thank you to everyone who
submitted a piece. It takes
a lot to give your feelings
and work to a jury who will
decide if they think you’re a
winner.
Excellence in 3D Award
Heather Richardson ’12
“Ripple” 19-inch clay pot
Yutaka Morino ’11
Untitled Watercolor and graphite
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But your art stands alongside
the great art of the ages as
a message of what it means
to be human, to learn about
and express the human
experience, and no one can
take away the incredible,
powerful feeling you had as
you made your pieces.”
~ art teacher Sharon Lee
The artwork of eight students in Lee’s visual arts
classes was chosen for display in the 29th Annual
Friends of the Arts Juried High School Art Exhibit at
the Silver Arts Center at Plymouth State University
(PSU) in Plymouth, New Hampshire, during the
month of February.
Brewster students earned two of the top eight
awards. Hannah Rafalowski-Houseman received
the Freshman Award for her print “Can You
See Me?” and Heather Richardson earned the
Excellence in 3D Award for her 19-inch clay pot
Michelle Ling ’11
“Different Cups” Acrylic, graphite, and chalk on paper
Morgan Robinette ’12
Untitled Watercolor and Sharpie markers
“Ripple.” Pieces by Taylor Booth, Celeste Eaton,
Lennon Brooks, Michelle Ling, Yutaka Morino,
and Morgan Robinette also were chosen for
display.
art educators, including a PSU art department
faculty member, judged the entries.
The pieces were selected from more than 200
submissions from public and private high schools
throughout central and northern New Hampshire.
A panel of New Hampshire artists, sculptors, and
In making their decisions, the judges consider how
each piece reflects the student’s imagination; skill
and technique; and powers of observation and
inquiry. Shown on these pages are the Brewster
student works that were accepted by the judges to
be part of the exhibit.l
Lennon Brooks ’10
“Untitled Series” Pen and ink on paper
Celeste Eaton ’11
“Would you like a cup of tea?”
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Acrylic, graphite, charcoal, and pastel on paper
Taylor Booth ’11
“Chisachuro”
19-inch clay vase
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While Grupo Fantasia members took a break, Spanish teacher
Jaime Garzon led students at the Foreign Language Festival
Brewster Celebrates Diversity
Race: A Matter of Illusion
Exploring Different Cultures
Not Just for January at Brewster
By Peggy Comeau
“After all we are one race ... the human race.”
~ Nancy Burson, American artist, photographer,
and creator off The Human Race Machine
January was a month for celebrating diversity on the Brewster
campus where students who represent 17 countries and speak
10 languages had a variety of opportunities to understand
that there is more to race than meets the eye. “The goal is to
consider where the idea of race came from, how it takes hold
in our mind, and why it matters,” said Director of Residence
Life Jaime Laurent.
The Human Race Machine:
A New Way of Looking at
Ourselves
For 10 days in January Brewster
hosted the Human Race Machine
(HRM), which allowed users to
envision themselves as different
races. This machine looks very
much like a photo booth at a mall.
Inside, a camera captures the
viewer’s image, and the viewer
is instructed to digitally map the
edges of his or her facial features.
Using a morphing program similar
to the one used by the FBI to age
the faces of missing
children and adults,
The HRM generates
onscreen photos of
what the viewer would
look like as a member
of different races,
including Asian, White,
African, Hispanic,
Middle Eastern, and
Indian.
The face of School Counselor
Anne Marie Allwine morphed
with the features of another race.
The HRM was created
by Manhattan artist
and photographer
Nancy Burson as
a response to the
announcement several
years ago that the DNA
of any two humans
is 99.97 percent identical. This remarkable
discovery occurred
during the Human
Genome Project, a
DNA- research inquiry A student explains to a friend how facial features
are superimposed.
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coordinated by the U.S.
Department of Energy and the
National Institutes of Health.
Mundiamo Assembly
Members of the club Mundiamo hosted a February assembly
that included a video of students, faculty, and staff announcing
significant dates and accomplishments of African Americans
in this country’s history. Four students were then invited on
stage to participate in a Black History Jeopardy game. Max
Brilliant ’10 (Baltimore, Maryland) was the Jeopardy champ
with Geoffrey Cook ’12 (Andover, Massachusetts) earning
second place. The assembly concluded with a performance by
the Dance Team and some guest faculty dancers. A Jazz Club
dinner took place that evening – featuring a live jazz band –
followed by a Motown Dance in the Pinckney Boathouse.
As Burson states on her
website, “There is no gene for
race. … the machine is really
a prayer for unity. It’s about
seeing through our differences
to sameness, it’s like stepping
into someone else’s skin.”
After using the HRM at
Brewster, student Hannah
Pope ’11 (Baltimore, Maryland)
said, “We all look at race as a
separator too often. We have
to realize that since we are all
human we should look past the
color of the skin or the age of
the person and into the character and hearts of people.”
Diversity Dinner 2008
French teacher Jen Weeks tries out the Human
The ability of the machine to
Race Machine.
change people’s perceptions
about each other was illustrated in the 2003 PBS series, “Race:
The Power of an Illusion.”
“The races really differ very little from one another - that’s quite a striking point that’s come out of the comparative (genetic) studies that have been made,’ said scientist
Leroy Hood, one of the original participants in the Human Genome Project. “
“(In the 19th century) Science … took to developing elaborate racial categories that treated Africans, Indians and Europeans as separate species. At one time, Irish people were not considered white, nor were Jews, Poles or southern Europeans,” said Richard White, a former UW history professor now at Stanford University.
Foreign Language Fair
Early in January, to celebrate the cultures of French- and
Spanish-speaking peoples, the teachers in the Foreign
Language Department organized a fair with lively Latin
music, language games, and delicious food and prizes. A
professional dance instructor provided the opportunity
for the students to learn to Samba, Rumba, and Merengue.
The foreign language students created original games that
reinforced their French and Spanish skills.
BrewsterConnections
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Spring2009
2009
Black History Jeopardy Champ: Max Brilliant ’10 (fourth from the right)
With nearly 350 students
and staff expected at the
community meal, Chinese
and Taiwanese students
began preparing their native
cuisine in early afternoon.
Huge strawberries dipped
in a sweet sugar coating
topped off the meal.
In October 2008 the Chinese and Taiwanese students
planned the program and menu of a community dinner
for their classmates. Popular music videos from China
and Taiwan played while students and faculty enjoyed
the ethnic fare, and the Asian students shared information
about their countries and cultures.
Shi-Hao Tseng ’11 and Tso-Hsuan Lin ’12, both of Taiwan, gave
instructions on the use of chopsticks.
Yong Min Lee ’11, Joo Hyun Chae ’11, Jia Chung ’09, Su Min Kim ’10, and Jee
Eun Choi ’10 display their flag while preparing the library’s Korea display.
Country Displays in the Library
Starting in January, a homeland country of Brewster
students has been celebrated each week in an exhibit at the
Kenison Library. Japan, Korea, Thailand, Jamaica, the United
Kingdom, Dominica, Germany, China, Trinidad, Mexico,
Italy, Taiwan, Canada, and Bermuda are all on the list of
those being spotlighted with colorful displays prepared by
the students. Members of the ESL class also helped with the
various exhibits, especially Michelle Ling ’11 of Hong Kong.
When Ling was asked why she liked working on the displays
for the different countries she replied, “To let more friends
know about my country.” Raylene Davis, the director of
international student programs stated, “Although I consider
myself very well versed on a variety of cultures and countries,
doing this has expanded my knowledge a great deal and
hopefully those who have viewed the displays have learned
something as well.”
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Local Middle Schoolers Participate
in Race-Themed Program
Catching big air by the lake
The graphics from the
PBS documentary
“Race: The Power of an Illusion.”
These were posted on the wall
by the HMR and were part of
the program presented to the
visiting middle-school students.
(See box at left)
Group knitting – a nice break
Improv was fun
“Brewster Big
Friends” played
with faculty kids
Brewster student leaders created an interactive program promoting tolerance
for visiting area middle school students. Some of the presenters were: (l-r)
Jordan Weaver ’11, Stephanie Menezes ’11, Po-Wei Lin ’10, Devan Bailey
’09, Ashley Rose ’11, William Zhang ’12, and Ting-Chun Lin ’09.
On January 15, student leaders hosted 75 Kingswood Regional Middle School
students for a presentation promoting tolerance and a discussion of issues
surrounding the concept of race. The
visiting students viewed video clips
from the PBS documentary “Race: The
Power of an Illusion” and participated
in activities that challenged perceptions
and assumptions typically made
about race. The students also had
the opportunity to use The Human
Race Machine after the program. The
Brewster students had lunch with their
guests in the Estabrook and discussed
A visiting middle school student aligns his with them the perceptions that had been
facial features on the screen of the Human
changed as a result of the presentation.
Race Machine in preparation of morphing
his face.
The Brewster students who presented
the program were assisted by Charlie
Hossack, director of student development, and Jim Carey, director of dining
services and community life parent, and included:
Devan Bailey ’09 (Cheshire, England)
Keshia Blair ’11 (Queens, New York)
Gen Curran ’11 (Hollis, New Hampshire)
Tom Holstrom ’10 (Woodside, California)
Sakari Joseph ’11 (Brooklyn, New York)
Dexter Lin ’09 (Kaohsiung City, Taiwan)
Po-Wei Lin ’10 (Kaohsiung City, Taiwan)
Daniel Lopez ’10 (Wolfeboro and Oaxaca, Mexico)
Stephanie Menezes ’11 (Brazil and Massachusetts)
Peter Recht ’09 (Norfolk, Massachusetts)
Ashley Rose ’11 (Kingston, Jamaica)
Lena Rukhadze ’10 (Wolfeboro)
Chanita Susewi ’10 (Bangkok, Thailand)
Jordan Weaver ’11 (Washington, D.C.)
William Zhang ’12 (Beijing, China)
Head of School Holiday
Students’ hard work was rewarded on February 26 with a Head
of School Holiday. After a morning sleep-in, students gathered
for the Senior Auction in the Smith Center. All students then
participated in two hours of activities that included outdoor
options such as building snow sculptures, riding the new
snowboarding rails, cross country skiing, sledding, capture the
flag, and skating on the outdoor ice surface on Memorial Field.
Students who preferred the warmth of the indoors chose from
knitting, a movie, Texas Hold’em, cooking, doodling, lacrosse
on the turf, improv, the climbing barn, or traveling to a local
retirement community to play bingo with residents (this was a
popular one!) among other options. l
Form is everything!
Hiroshi and friend
Some
challenged
themselves
in
the
Climbing
Barn
Texas Hold’Em in the Estabrook was popular
Mickey made an appearance
Pottery ...
... and Doodling
In the Art Building
Ice skates, optional
Cross-country skiing on the groomed trails on campus
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Girls’
Soccer
Field Hockey and Soccer
Returning 10 players from its undefeated
2007 New England Championship squad,
Brewster Academy girls’ soccer set high
goals for the 2008 season as the team
looked to repeat as Lakes Region and New
England Champions.
While the Bobcats
were disappointed in
their quest for a repeat
New England title, the
youthful side accomplished much, including a
second successive league
title and the third best
record in team history.
On Top
of Their
Games
The field hockey team made its seventh straight appearance
in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council
(NEPSAC) Class C tournament this fall while the soccer team
made its seventh appearance in nine years. Together the teams
count four championships in seven years.
A consistency within the coaching staff of both teams has
helped to shape the teams’ successes. Head field hockey coach
Kim Yau and assistant coach Janis Cornwell have led their
team for seven seasons. Head soccer coach Matt Butcher has
led his team for eight seasons and Laura Cooper has been the
assistant coach for 10 years.
Both head coaches also count teamwork – and specifically the
players’ commitment to the team-first approach – to their
successes. “The team’s success over the past seven seasons
is attributed to us all being grounded in the importance of
teamwork, and our performance, attitude, and commitment
is at the heart of our approach,” Yau explained. “It goes way
beyond the athlete and calls upon our whole character.”
through the season, the Bobcats had their
first league loss in two years to New
Hampton School, but Brewster finished
strong, winning its final four league games,
including a New Hampton rematch to
secure the Lakes Region crown. During the
season Brewster also put forth a resilient
performance to earn a big win against
Class A Phillips Exeter
Academy. For the second
year in a row, Brewster
triumphed over Groton
School in the NEPSAC
quarterfinals, but in the
semifinals, Brewster
bowed out to eventual
champions St. Luke’s
School.
Led by captains Kristina Vikdahl ’09
(Stragnas, Sweden) and Joanna Lawlor ’10
(Lexington, Massachusetts), the Bobcats had
a strong year, posting a 14-1 record in the
regular season and finishing 15-2 overall.
The regular season loss came after a record
24 consecutive wins (going back to the final
game of the 2006 season).
Despite graduating its goalie and three of
four fullbacks from the 2007 side, Brewster
played strong team defense throughout the
season, and newcomer Taylor Booth ’11
(Epping, New Hampshire) posted 11
shutouts.
Brewster faced several strong opponents in
the Lakes Region League this year. Midway
Field Hockey
It was another exciting year for the varsity
field hockey team captained by seniors
Megan Edson (Wolfeboro), Kathryn Fox
(Limerick, Maine), and Megan Doyen
(Ortonville, Michigan). Three wins against
Gould Academy, Hebron Academy, and Kents
Hill School at the start of the season set
the tempo for the Bobcats. The spirit of the
team was reflected in sophomore Chelsiea
Goll (Winthrop, Massachusetts) and Doyen,
who received sportsmanship pins awarded
by Kents Hill following the game.
The first non-league competition against
Class B Cushing Academy foreshadowed the
season to come. With just under one minute
Butcher and Yau offered the following reviews of their seasons:
BrewsterConnections ll Spring
Spring 2009
2009
BrewsterConnections
Never losing heart, Brewster showed its true
colors to rebound with four straight Lakes
Region wins. The last in-season win against
New Hampton School in overtime was a
game filled with passion and led to the
Bobcats sealing the Lakes Region Championship. The Bobcats ended regular season
play with a 9-5-1 record and won the
fourth seed bid in the Class C New England
Tournament.
The post-season dream continued for the
seventh consecutive year, and the Bobcats
set their sights even higher. Brewster drew
Ethel Walker School in the quarterfinals and
pulled out an exciting 2-1 win to advance
to the semis. Brewster then met Millbrook
School in the semifinal competition – and
what a game it was! The start was delayed
by thunder and lightening but the team
was not fazed and stayed focused and fired
up. Following a fast-paced, high-energy
60 minutes it came down to the fate of
overtime once again. The Bobcats held onto
the faith and showed the strength of their
belief in one another to win 1-0 in double
overtime.
Brewster advanced to the finals for the
second time in Brewster field hockey
history and faced KUA. The game was filled
with excitement and intensity as the lead
changed three times. Despite Brewster’s
tremendous heart and fight, KUA pulled
ahead to take the championship. It was a
well fought game and a phenomenal season.
We will never forget our championship
journey and our season of hope! l
“The girls of the Brewster soccer program have achieved
success because of their tremendous athletic ability, tenacious
passion for competition, and selfless concern for the team,”
Butcher said. “They set high goals and work diligently to
achieve those goals.”
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on the clock, the team recorded its first
overtime and tie of the season against the
Penguins with an amazing aerial shot. The
next five games found the team teetering
back and forth between wins and losses.
Brewster lost to a skilled Phillips Exeter
squad, beat Tilton, lost to Class A Northfield
Mount Hermon, beat Lakes Region rival
Kimball Union Academy (KUA), and then lost
a heartbreaker to Proctor Academy.
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Chelsea MacNeil ’11
“Wolfeboro Fall Foliage”
Marlee Walker ’11
“Chamberlain” Assignment: Promote Wolfeboro
Assignment: Promote Wolfeboro
Jared Boudreau ’10
“Train Station Door”
Assignment: Capture the Feel of New England
Sarah Hafey ’11
“Lonesome” Assignment: Shadowing
Digital Photography Class:
Through Their Eyes
2nd Place, 2008 Drexel University High School Photography Contest
Sarah Hafey ’11
“Audition”
Unassigned
“I liked it because it looked very artistic without any editing.”
Armed with Canon Rebels, the students in Steve
Burgess’ digital photography classes search the
campus and the town for opportunities to take A+
photos. This new course on this year’s menu of
Visual Arts offerings has inspired emerging student
photographers and even produced an award-winning
print by sophomore photo student Sarah Hafey.
Kelly Sharlow ’10
“Flags” Assignment: Composition
“For their first assignments, students would just
take pictures of themselves,” said Burgess, laughing.
“After becoming familiar with the cameras, their
creativity took over and the students started
producing very artistic photos.”
Their portfolios now represent assignments with a
focus on framing, bracketing, depth of field, lighting
elements, and various themes, as well as other
photography techniques.
Hafey’s “Audition” won second place in the 2008
Drexel University High School Photography Contest.
This black and white photo with an emphasis on
lighting effects was taken on campus in the Rogers
Building. In all, 3,100 photographs were submitted for
the contest by students from across the country.
John Wadlinger ’11
“Vote” Assignment: Promote Wolfeboro
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Included on these pages is a sampling of student
work on a variety of assignments. l
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Gwen MacDonald ’10
“Slipping Through the Cracks”
Chun-Yi Chen ’10
“Rest” Assignment: Black and White
Assignment: Depth of Field
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Around Campus
al
orm
F
r
te
Win
Tennis Anyone?
ouse
H
e
e
Coff ainers
Entert
Arrrrrgh!
re Their Loot
Lawlors Captu
er ciation
h
c
Tea Appre
Dance Club is Accepting Me
mbers
val Champions
Team Thomas: Winter Carni
Adaptive B
obcats
lls
Deck the Estabrook Ha
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Language F
air Antics
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Fun at Spencer House
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The Point of a Poem
~ Grace Apfeld ’10
The point of a poem
To show them your world
They need to
Need what you need
Feel what you feel
Know what you know
Emotions
Notions
For them to interpret
But how?
How do they understand?
How can they understand?
How would they ever understand?
The point of a poem,
The words of your heart
The truth is they can’t
The real point of a poem
Is not for them, but for you
For me, the dreamer
So that the writer can begin to understand
Them
“Concentration” ~ Alex Comeau ’10
“The Red Apple” ~ Elena Rukhadze ’10
The Things I Miss Every Day
~ Hannah Rafalowski-Houseman ’12
Outcroppings
The Brewster community eagerly
awaits the Outcroppings literary
magazine each year for the variety
of poems, stories, artwork, and
photographs submitted by the
students (and some of the faculty and
staff). This publication is produced
by students with the help of Sarah
Anderson, who teaches English and
journalism. The 2008-2009 editor is
senior Ryan Cooper.
“Red Pepper” ~ David Nieman ’11
Rushing from class to class
Caught up in my life
But I don’t notice
What I should
Life’s Beauties
The simple things
A sunny day
Warming your face
A warm breeze
That tugs on your hair
Wonderful friends around us
Who tells you that they care
Seasons
A change in nature that is unique
The second chances we have
A chance to redeem our selves
The opportunities we are given
To go places others cannot
The physical ability we have
To be able to run one to two miles
These are the things that
I miss every day
Do you?
Pencil
~ Jae Hyun Kim ’09
She is skinny,
Wearing a tight brown dress.
She is dancing softly
Following the music, a waltz.
Dancing on a great
White floor,
Her shoes leave a black trace
Where she has moved.
Her trace makes beauty
In words.
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BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
“Masked Man” ~ Courtney Piper ’11
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Students Bring
Urinetown to Stage
Afternoon Drama Class
Performs Animal Farm
Students in the fall afternoon drama class performed
“Animal Farm” in mid-November. George Orwell's
1945 satire on the perils of Stalinism has proved
magnificently long-lived as a parable about totalitarianism anywhere. This dramatization retained
both its affection for the animals and the incisiveness
of its message. Cast members were Gen Curran ‘11,
Graham Kasprzyk, Liza Paradis ‘10, Hannah Pope
‘11 , Jordan Weaver ‘11, Sean Hammond ‘09, Hannah
Carter ‘11, and Peter Recht ‘09.l
The cast: Standing l to r: Sean Hammond '09, Ally Reiner '10, Amanda Graham '10,
Beth Duffy '11, Liza Paradis '10, Eric Burns-White, Gen Curran '11, Mark Deering
'09, David Nieman '11, and Hannah Carter '11; Kneeling: Anna Parker '09, Ryan
Cooper '09, Matt Stavis '11, and Grace Apfeld '10.
Officer Lockstock (Mark Deering), Mrs. Millenium (Genevieve Curran),
and UGC Secretary (Ally Reiner) perform “Don’t Be The Bunny.”
What on earth would propel
director Phil Atkins of Brewster
Academy to pick “Urinetown” for
a musical? Why choose a show
that features the lowest, dirtiest
urinal in town as the keystone of
the stage? The songs have shocking
titles like “It is a Privilege to Pee”
and “Snuff That Girl.” So why
spend a few hours in February
watching this musical?
Sean Hammond as Squealer spins Napoleon’s
orders.
HOWL Concert at UNH
This production had the elements of a good plot, but often
stepped outside of what I think most people would expect in
a musical. To be honest, I think the
songs and the set were my favorite
parts of this show.”
The musical is based on the
book written by Greg Kotis, who
traveled through Europe on a
dime-sized budget. Most of his
dimes were spent in pay-per-use
toilets. “Urinetown” is a satirical
and thoughtful jump into a world
examining abuses of government,
social-economic confrontations,
and small-town politics.
“To sum it up, I like the lighthearted perspective of the show
on plays of the past,” said David
Bobby Strong (Ryan Cooper) and Hope Cladwell (Anna Parker) take
Nieman ‘11, who played the role
the lead in the Act One Finale.
This is a Broadway show that beat
of the “yes man,” Mr. McQueen.
all the odds. Reportedly starting
“There were several parodies throughout the show of musicals out as a community theatre production with a $300 budget,
such as ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’ ‘West Side Story,’ and ‘Big River.’ it grew to be the first musical opening in New York after
the 9/11 attacks. “Urinetown the Musical” won three Tony
Mr. McQueen (David Nieman), Senator Fipp (Liza Paradis), and Caldwell
Awards and was nominated for 10. l
B. Cladwell (Eric Burns-White) run UGC headquarters.
The cast sings about the woeful life they live.
Liza, Gen, and Hannah make fictitious allegations about
Snowball as they are caught up in the hysteria of suspicion.
Holiday Concert
The music department brought the
community Make We Merry, a holiday
concert at Anderson Hall. The concert
featured the HOWL chorus, Chamber
Orchestra, the Wind Ensemble,
Jazz Band, and numerous solos. The
collective and individual talent of all
these performers was a delight for all
who attended. Their beautiful music
and voices left eveyone in the holiday
spirit. l
On Saturday January 24, the HOWL
chorus returned to the University of
New Hampshire to perform with the
UNH Concert Choir, the UNH Symphony
Orchestra, and a few other New
Hampshire high schools. They rehearsed
all day for the concert that evening. They
performed “A Sea Symphony” by Ralph
Vaughan Williams with the text from
Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” called
a “spectacular work” by Brewster Music
Director Andy Campbell. The students
who performed in this concert included:
Grace Apfeld
Zack Baum
Joo Hyun Chae
Seo Hwa Cho
Jun Hyeg Choi
Ryan Cooper
Genevieve Curran
Mark Deering
Toni DiGeronimo
Elizabeth Duffy
Celeste Eaton
Amanda Graham
Sean Hammond
Soo Hyun Hong
BK Kang
Mayu Kudo
Daisy LePere
Daniel Lopez
Rebecca Mariseau
Stephanie Menezes
Tabitha Moore
TJ Moore
Hannah Mufson
David Nieman
Liza Paradis
Anna Parker
James Perkins Jr.
Brittanie Pierce
Hannah Pope
Peter Recht
Morgan Robinette
Lena Rukhadze
Nina Schäedlich
Jennifer Schonfeld
Kate Silvia
Addie Simmons
Hilary Simpson
Matt Stavis
Tim Stiles
Molly Stripling
HOWL chorus performed at the Talent in the House All-School Assembly in October
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In the News
In the News
Hafey Awarded Second Place
in National Contest
Sophomore Sarah
Hafey’s (Fairfield,
Connecticut)
photograph
“Audition” earned
second place out
of 3,100 submissions in the 2008
Drexel University
High School
Photography
Contest. This black and white photo
with an emphasis on lighting effects was
taken on campus in the Rogers Building.
See photo on page 20 l
Field Hockey Players Named
to Academic Squad
Four Bobcat field hockey players were
selected to the 2008 National Field
Hockey Coaches Association High
School National Academic Squad.
They are Megan Doyen (Ortonville,
Michigan), Megan Edson (Wolfeboro),
Kathryn Fox (Limerick, Maine) and
Hilary Simpson (Wolfeboro). Nominees
were seniors who had earned a GPA of
3.5 out of 4.0 through the first marking
period of the 2008-09 academic year. l
Boston Globe All-Stars
Three field hockey players and one
soccer player were named to Boston
Globe All-Star teams in the fall. Megan
Edson ’09 (Wolfeboro), Kathryn Fox
’09 (Limerick, Maine), and Jessie Anne
Howard ’11 (Kingston, Ontario) were
named to the All-New England Field
Hockey Team (Class C). Edson and
Fox also were two of the 2008 Brewster
team’s three Most Valuable Player
recipients.
Joanna Lawlor ’10 (Lexington,
Massachusetts) was named to the New
England Preparatory School Athletic
Council Boston Globe Soccer All-Star
Team. Lawlor, who is both a fullback
and a forward, earned the Most Valuable
Player Award for the Brewster team in
2008. l
New England All-Stars
Seniors Shaka Pilgrim (Arima, Trinidad)
and Devan Bailey (Cheshire, England)
were selected as members of the
New England
Preparatory
All-Star first and
second soccer
teams, respectively.
Both students
joined the varsity
team as sophomores. “They have
been the most
skilled tandem in
the league for the
Devan Bailey ’09
past three years,”
said coach and
faculty member
Mike Zahn.
Pilgrim plans
to play soccer
in college while
Bailey will focus
on college basketball next year. l
me, and I’m really looking forward to playing Brewster
lacrosse for another year. I think that we should have a
very fun and successful season,” Billings said. To read
the article, go to the boys’ lacrosse page at
www.brewsteracademy.org. l
Nada Performs in Conservatory Festival
Shaka Pilgrim ’09
Mentoring Through Sports
Brewster Academy and Erin Quirk ’09
(Boston) appear in the fall 2008 issue of
Challenge Magazine,
published by
Disabled Sports
USA. An article
on mentoring
features the local
Huggins Hospital
Adaptive Sports
Youth Mentoring
Through Sports
program, which
some Brewster
students participate in as mentors to
children with special needs. “Being able
to watch these kids grow and count to
10 for the first time was amazing,” Quirk
said. “I really enjoyed knowing that I
helped someone do that, and I loved
seeing how excited they were to see us
everyday.”
The Huggins program is directed by
Jen Fraser (Marlee Walker ’11) who
organized an Adaptive Sports assembly
for Brewster in the fall, which included
student and faculty participation in
wheelchair basketball. l
Lacrosse Journal Features
Billings
Megan Doyen ’09
Hilary Simpson ’09
28
Kathryn Fox ’09
Megan Edson ’09
Jessie Anne Howard ’11
Joanna Lawlor ’10
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
The March issue of New England Lacrosse
Journal profiles
Nate Billings ’09
(Hanover, New
Hampshire) as he
prepares for this
fourth season as the
Bobcat goalie after
being diagnosed
with testicular
cancer last summer.
After two surgeries
and chemotherapy,
Billings learned in November that he
is cancer free and is now focused on
the upcoming season. “I am thankful
to have the whole experience behind
Cellist Kanji Nada ’09 (Tokyo, Japan) participated in
a Contemporary Music Festival at
the New England Conservatory
in January. Nada’s Conservatory
instructor invited him to play in
the concert featuring the music of
composer William Bolcom, who
attended the concert. Bolcom had
kind words of encouragement
in his critique of Nada after the
performance, said Andy Campbell,
Brewster’s director of music. “For
Kanji this is a significant achievement
and will be a wonderful performance memory for the
young cellist,” Campbell added. l
Published in Tech & Learning
Science Department Chair Bruce Gorrill is the subject of
an article in the February issue of Tech & Learning magazine. The focus of “The Science of Class Collaboration”
is on how Gorrill uses the latest Web 2.0 technologies to
engage students and create collaboration-based projects. l
National Prep and NEPSAC Semifinalists
For the second year, Brewster
earned a spot among the
top eight preparatory school
basketball teams in the
country at the National Prep
Championship and for the
second year, the Bobcats
(ranked #4) were stopped in
the semifinals by #2 ranked
Hargrave Military Academy
(90-78). Brewster advanced to
the semifinals after defeating #3
ranked Notre Dame Prep 97-89
in the quarterfinals.
University of Oklahoma-signee
Andrew Fitzgerald (Baltimore)
(#12 on right) was named to the
National Prep Championship
All-Tournament First Team.
The team also earned a berth –
and the chance to defend their
2008 title – in the New England
Preparatory School Athletic
Council Class A tournament,
but lost in the semifinals to
Bridgton Academy, 68-58. l
Conquering the Seven Summits
Former Wall Street
investment banker Bo
Parfet ’95 set out in 2003
on an around-the-world
adventure to conquer
the highest mountains
on every continent.
His recently published
book, “Die Trying: One
Man’s Quest to Conquer
the Seven Summits”
(co-authored with New
York Times best-selling
author Richard Buskin)
details Parfet’s physical
and personal journey.
Learn more at
www.boparfet.com. l
Some members of the girls’ team: (in front) Megan Colpitts ’11; (middle, l to
r): Assistant Coach Jen Weeks, Kim Martel ‘10, Kiana Nauheim ‘10, Olivia
Zweber ‘11, Megan Doyen ‘09; and (in back) Sarah MacDonnell ’11,
Division I Quarterfinalists
Douglass Releases Seventh CD
“Battler,” the seventh CD by singer/songwriter Gregory
Douglass ’99 was released in March. “Douglass’s evocative, alternative sound has been compared to Tori Amos,
Jeff Buckley, and Rufus Wainwright,” writes cdbaby.com.
Douglass will be on a tour promoting the CD through
2009. For more information, see
www.gregorydouglass.com. l
l
The Brewster girls’ varsity hockey team earned a berth in
the NEPSAC Division I tournament but was stopped in the
quarterfinals with a 2-1 loss to Loomis Chaffee School. The
team ended the season with an impressive 22-4 record in
regular season play. Earlier in the season, the team won the
E.G. Watkins Tournament at Cushing Academy. The tournament is considered one of the top prep school tournaments in
the country and draws an impressive field of talent. l
www.brewsteracademy.org
l
29
Brewster on the Road
Join us at the next Brewster reception – you might be surprised
to learn which Brewster alumni are living in your neighborhood!
Business Manager Bob Simoneau and
Director of International Student Programs
Raylene Davis traveled to Asia with The
Association of Boarding Schools Asia Travel
program in October.
From left to right: Will White ‘05, Brian ‘97 and Kristi Standish, Doug Shilo ‘03, Lynne
Palmer, Joe Rizzo ‘03, Mike Cooper, and Martha Trepanier ‘83.
Bob Simoneau and Wendy Chen (Coco ‘11) at the Chiang
Kai-Shek Democracy Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan.
... and Seoul
While in Seoul, Davis and Simoneau enjoyed the Rosehill Grille with
Dr. Dai Seok Choi and Yeon Ho Huh, parents of Young Min Choi ‘11.
It was a fabulous time in Falls Church,
Virginia, on January 31 for the fourth
annual Washington, D.C., alumni
gathering. Thank you to former
Brewster faculty and staff members Seth
and Carrie Ahlborn (Ashley ‘00) for
graciously hosting this reception.
Tiffany (Burns) Monroe ‘99 and Sarah
Brodsky ’99 were finally able to make
it this year. We reminisced about the
many trials and tribulations at Brewster
in the late 1990s. Whether it was cuttingedge cell phone technology, disciplinary
policies, Mr. Huss’ many virtues, or “the
docks” – we covered it all.
Travels in Asia
In Taiwan ...
Doug Kiley Travels to Northern Virginia for Alumni Reception
Martha Trepanier ’83
Reports From Texas
The Weisberger family (A.J. ‘10)
gave Brewster a warm Texas
welcome at a January reception
in Houston. Mike Cooper, Lynne
Palmer (T.J. ‘08, Jess ‘09, Brady ‘12),
and I greeted guests at the El Patio
Restaurant and Club. With more
than 70 alumni spread across Texas,
former classmates Doug Shilo ‘03
and Joe Rizzo ‘03 were surprised
to see one another at the Houston
reception. Will White ‘05, home on
break from studies at Wake Forest
University, Brian Standish ‘97,
Kit and Page Haines (Cal ‘12), and
Charles Fry (Peter ‘83) were among
those attending. Standish and
wife Kristi, who also attended, are
expecting their first child in March.
Mike shared a presentation on how
Brewster is preparing students
for success in college and work
Special thanks to Geoff DeMeritt ’98
and Skip Dale ’62 for making the trek
from farther afield – Chestertown,
Maryland, and Park Hill, Maryland,
respectively. We hugely appreciate when
alums make the trip to reconnect with
Brewster. Congratulations to Geoff who
is getting hitched this October.
for the event to be held at the top of the
Washington monument next year. Bring
your Dramamine!
Our perennial guest Jeff Goldberg ’97
was awarded a plate of lasagna for
perfect attendance at the Annual
Brewster DC alumni event. (hasn’t
missed any of them!) He is arranging
Marilise Hyacinth ‘99, Tyler Sandberg ‘02,
and Jake Harrington ’99 earned a BMP
for not showing up and are in danger of
losing Citizenship (just kidding, thank
your for considering. Come next year!)
Standing l to r: Seth Ahlborn, Geoff DeMeritt ’98, Tiffany Burns Monroe ’99, Sarah Brodsky’s guest, Jeff
Goldberg ’97, Skip Dale ’62, and Doug Kiley. Seated, l to r: Jeff Goldberg’s guest, Kirsten Wilson `88,
Sarah Brodsky ’99, and Carrie Ahlborn.
And thank you to Kirsten Wilson ’88
for attending. We always appreciate
attendance from anyone from the class
of ’88, as nationwide that was clearly
one of the best graduation years ever in
the history of high school.
Doug Kiley is chair of Brewster’s history
department (and, we assume, he graduated from
high school in 1988).l
Deb Gurka in the Big Apple
in the 21st century. Educational
consultants and prospective
families joined the alumni and
current families to learn more
about Brewster.
From Houston, Lynne and I
traveled to Dallas and connected
with prospective families and
alumni Heidi Starr ‘82, Jonathon
Clark ‘85, Bob Bishop ‘47, and
Reagan Jobe ‘01 along with
trustee Rex Jobe, wife Sharon,
and educational consultant Rhea
Wolfram. In Dallas, Betty and Steve
Silverman (Cody ‘05) and Mitch
Wolf ’90 rolled out the red carpet to
welcome Brewster friends. Thank
you!
Martha Trepanier ’83 is the associate
director of development. l
Heidi Jessop ‘96, Liz Chapman Benno ‘95, Michael Kirschner ‘95, and Derek Murphy ‘77.
Special thanks to Erica Sager `97 for orchestrating a fabulous alumni
event at the Stone Rose Lounge in Manhattan on February 18. More
than 40 alumni were treated to a magnificent view overlooking Central
Park while they reminisced about their days at Brewster.
Deb Gurka is an assistant development director. l
Check out our photo gallery from this event and others at www.brewsteracademy.org.
30
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
l
www.brewsteracademy.org
l
31
Welcome New Trustees
The Brewster community recently welcomed four new members
to its board of trustees. Along with a wealth of experience, the
four share a passion for education and an interest in growing
Brewster’s reputation as a leader in secondary education.
Chris Britt ‘02
Chris Britt, a member of Brewster’s Class
of 2002, graduated from Stonehill College
with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He
worked for the Hilton Corporation while
attending college and after graduation. He
then advised
the principals
of Internet
Real Estate
Group LLC
primarily
working in
the area
of Internet
domain
sales. In 2007 he founded and is now
CEO of Boston-based Priviley Consulting
Services LLC, a full-service accounting
firm. Articles about his entrepreneurial
spirit have appeared on Boston.com and
FinancialWorld.com.
Chris is currently working on his MBA at
Harvard Business School and lives in Boston.
He became a board member in 2008
and is president of the Brewster Alumni
Association.
Douglas H. Greeff
(Hilary ’11)
Doug Greeff is
the executive
vice president
of finance
and CFO
of Heyman
Companies
in New York
City. Previously
he served as the senior financial executive
for four major Heyman entities, including
32
two operating companies, a real estate
management company, and a merger
arbitrage business. He has held numerous
executive positions with Revlon, CitiGroup,
and Ernst & Young. Greeff is a graduate of
the New York University School of Business
Administration’s Master’s of Accounting
Program and holds a bachelor’s degree in
economics from Williams College.
He resides in New York City and became a
board member in January 2009.
A.B. Whitfield
(Trey ‘89)
A.B. Whitfield is COO of the Trey Whitfield
School in Brooklyn, New York, which he cofounded with wife Janie Whitney, a former
member of the
Brewster board
of trustees.
They are the
parents of
the late Trey
Whitfield ’89.
Update About Economic Challenges
From Mike Cooper
As we move through this academic year, we are
fortunate not to be facing any extraordinary financial
issues. As a result of some of the unknowns in
today’s economy, however, we have delayed a few
decisions as we wait to finalize our budget. One of
these is a salary freeze. We have committed to our
faculty and staff for next year by moving forward
with letters of appointment as we feel strongly that
Naramore grew up in the Washington,
D.C., area and lives in Wolfeboro with
her daughter Maya. She became a board
member in 2008.
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Whitfield is
an alumnus of
Elizabeth City State University, a member
of their Sports Hall of Fame and received
All-CIAA honors in three sports in his
junior year. Following college, Whitfield
played professional football for the 1967
championship Dallas Cowboys and the
Denver Broncos. He later founded A. B.
Whitfield Photo Productions, specializing
in corporate photography and sports
production.
Whitfield, along with Whitney, co-founded
the Trey Whitfield Foundation, which
provides financial support for talented
young men and women who are committed
to their educational paths. They have
worked closely in supporting the successful
placement of students at Brewster for more
than 20 years. Each year Whitfield and
Whitney, along with students and staff from
the Trey Whitfield School, return to Brewster
for the annual Trey Whitfield Memorial
Lecture. (See story, page 10).
Whitfield resides in Elmont, New York, and
has been a board member since October
2008.
To learn more about how Brewster is faring in today’s
turbulent economy and the specific challenges the
Academy is facing, please read my letter at:
www.brewsteracademy.org/headlines.
Welcome Jim Bastis Brewster’s New Director
of Alumni and Development
Barbara Naramore
Barbara Naramore is president of
Consolidated Group Marketing and the
owner of the popular Wolfetrap Grill and
Raw Bar and associated businesses in
Wolfeboro. She and her late husband John
C. Naramore
have been
very strong
supporters
of Brewster
Academy. At
the time of
his death in
2006, John had
been a board
member for
three years. In memory of her husband,
Naramore established the John C. Naramore
Scholarship Fund at Brewster and it
continues to grow with strong community
support and fundraising from the annual
Bobcat Open Golf Tournament.
we need to commit to this vital component of our
school – those who interact and work with students
every day and who help define our school and the
program we deliver.
“During the interview process, I came
to realize that Brewster Academy is
a special place. Now that I am here,
that sense has been confirmed in the
short time I’ve been on campus. With
its history and uniqueness, Brewster
Academy should prosper well into the
future. It is our office’s goal to talk to as
many alumni as possible and to tell them
how well the Academy is doing in today’s
social and economic environment.”
~Jim Bastis
On February 2, the Brewster
community welcomed Jim Bastis
as director of alumni and development. Bastis brings a wealth of
experience in the field of fund raising
management to this position. His
background includes development
office management, capital campaign
supervision, major gift solicitation,
annual fund direction, long-range
planning, and planned giving.
With a bachelor’s degree in communications, Bastis began his career as
an account executive with a leading
New York advertising agency, then
moved to the nonprofit world as
assistant director for the National
Catholic Office for Radio and
Television. He later joined his alma
mater, St. John’s University in New
York, as assistant to the director
of public relations, then became
director of news information for the
Archdiocese of New York, where he
worked closely with New York and
national media. When he was asked
to establish the first office of communications for the Diocese of San
Diego, Bastis and his family moved
to California, and his career in fund
raising began. As director of communications and editor of the diocesan
newspaper, Bastis successfully
spearheaded the diocese’s annual
stewardship campaign.
Bastis went on to join Community
Counselling Service in San
Francisco, a fund raising consulting
firm, as vice president. Here he
planned and guided capital and
annual campaigns for various
clients – directing feasibility studies,
l
www.brewsteracademy.org
l
leadership training programs,
prospect identification activities,
and donor solicitations.
Most recently Bastis served as vice
president for institutional advancement at Valdosta Technical College
and as executive director of the
Valdosta Technical College
Foundation. Prior experience
includes directing institutional
advancement for other colleges
and universities. He also has
directed capital and annual fund
campaigns for three independent
schools: La Jolla Country Day
School, Trinity-Pawling School,
and The Benjamin School.
A member of the Association of
Fundraising Professionals, Bastis
also has been a Certified Fund
Raising Executive since 1985. He
has long been involved with the
Council for the Advancement
and Support of Education and
the National Association of
Independent Schools.
Bastis resides on campus with his
wife Ann.l
33
Hoopla
Hoopla
The Arthur M. Hurlin Award Winners:
Seven Decades of Brewster’s Best
We’ve all passed them hundreds of times, probably not
stopping to read their names, but perhaps, like myself, you’ve
wondered who they were, what they did to deserve such an
honor, and what they did after leaving Brewster. As you open
the heavy oak doors to the Academic Building, directly to
your left are four columns of bronze plaques framing a larger
plaque announcing:
Here in enduring bronze
Is recorded annually the
Name of that member of
The graduating class who
Has done most for the welfare,
Good name, and progress of
Brewster Free Academy
This roll was initiated and is
Maintained in memory of
Arthur M. Hurlin
Of the Class of 1902
Who was Arthur M. Hurlin and why did his classmates
decide to honor him?
Hurlin was an outgoing, fun-loving yet hard working student
from Wolfeboro who was much loved and respected by his
classmates. He graduated from Brewster in 1902 and from
Harvard University in 1906; he then taught at Harvard for five
years and at the Mason School of Music in Charleston, West
Virginia, until 1926. Upon his death his classmates decided to
create this award honoring both him and those selected after
him. The first presentation was made in 1932 to Donald A.
Shaw.
To satisfy my curiosity, and hopefully yours, I was able to
reach a member from each decade since the award was first
presented. I asked them what winning this award meant to
them and to relate some memories of their days at Brewster.
It is my hope that these memories will bring these rows of
plaques to life, and they will have more meaning than just a
listing of years and names.
These honored students
exemplify what Brewster
students, regardless of
their decade, have strived
to do – to serve others and
themselves with the best
they can do in all that they
undertake.
Let me end in my usual
manner of begging all
alumni to write me with
their thoughts and tales.
If there is a special area
of interest that you feel I
should investigate to see if
other alums are involved
and how they are doing,
please let me know.
I can be reached:
•by e-mail at islesman@batelnet.bs
•by fax at 1-242-335-0535
•by leaving a phone message in New Hampshire at
603-544-2222
•or you can write to me at my mail-forwarding address:
Matt Hoopes, P.M.B. #100
411 Walnut Street
Green Cove Springs, Florida 32043
Have a very happy ‘09! All best wishes,
Matt Hoopes was a faculty member from 1975 to 1996.
During this time he and his journalism students founded
The Brewster Browser, the Outcroppings literary
magazine, and the BAPA (Brewster Academy Photo/
Address) book. Since his “retirement” from the classroom
in 1996, Hoopes has worked as the Young Alumni
Correspondent from his hilltop banana farm on the island
of Eleuthera, The Bahamas, helping to keep the alumni
connection alive. In each issue he brings life-after-Brewster
stories to the pages of his Hoopla column.
34
This photo of Matt Hoopes appeared in
the 1977 yearbook and was snapped by
Yong Hak Huh, winner of the Hurlin
Award that year.
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Arthur M. Hurlin Award Winners
The 1930s: Patricia MacMartin ’36
Retired Research Technologist
Patricia MacMartin wrote to Brewster last year
saying that she had finally retired from the
University of Washington Medical School after
32 years of service as a research technologist. She
added that she was now enjoying retirement in
the beautiful city of Seattle.
When asked who her favorite teacher was she
said, “Mr. [Robert] Page! I took his classes in
sciences in my freshman year and then I had
him as my chemistry teacher for my senior
year. With my interest in science, I took all the
science courses that Brewster offered.”
When she was contacted by mail and telephone,
memories of Brewster and Wolfeboro came
flooding back. While Patricia has been in Seattle
most of her life, she fondly remembers her days
at Brewster although she no longer corresponds
with her former classmates. “Living out West, I
just fell out of touch.” Even though her younger
brother still lives in Wolfeboro, her last visit to “She who loveth instruction loveth
knowledge” appeared beneath the
the East Coast was “ages ago.”
One of her memories of her Brewster days
was of being the manager of the girls’ hockey
team. “I especially enjoyed the long bus rides
through the New Hampshire countryside as
we would travel to other schools to play.”
As far as winning the Hurlin Award, she said
she was stunned. She really had no idea of the
award at the time or what it meant and wasn’t
certain about how she came to win it. “I wasn’t
the most popular girl in my class, but I did earn
high grades. I enjoyed the faculty and got along
well with them, so maybe that was it?” While
she was pleased to win the award, she said, “I
don’t think winning had an affect on my life,
not really.”
yearbook photo of Marion Patricia
“Pat” MacMartin. She was active in
operetta and school plays, managed the
field hockey team in her senior year,
and enjoyed swimming. According
to the list of senior superlatives, she
was voted “The Most Talented,” “The
Teachers’ Pet,” and “The Best Student.”
Her essay “The March of Medicine”
appeared in the 1936 Senior Year Book.
After Brewster Patricia attended the University
of New Hampshire, graduating in 1940 with a
major in zoology. She then moved to Hanover,
New Hampshire, and continued her education
– and later worked – at the now-defunct
Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital School of
Nursing, which had been part of Dartmouth
Medical School.
Patricia seemed to enjoy talking and thinking
about her days at Brewster, now some 73 years
ago, and while she said she was getting a little
forgetful, she certainly remembered her senior
year and winning the Hurlin Award. l
Hurlin Award Winners Through the Years
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
Donald A. Shaw
Elizabeth Manning
Elmer D. Piper
Ralph F. Wiltsey
M. Patricia MacMartin
Gordon Carlisle
Robert F. Thurrell Jr.
L. Winston Hamm Jr.
Francis P. Flitner
Howard E. Bean
David P. Flitner
Lee A. Albee
Hayes W. Sawyer Jr.
Bessie Willand
John J. Ballentine
Robert T. E. Bishop
Roger L. Williams
Nancy Reissfelder
Daniel F. Ford
Ruth F. Roberts
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
Fred W. Goodwin
Richard A. Smith
Lawrence A. Thurrell
Frances E. Stevens
Dianne Rogers
Willard L. Fuller
John W McDermott Jr.
Kilburn E. Culley Jr.
Bonnie A. Stinchfield
Joyce E. Brown
Janna D. Vaughan
Ronald T. Dore
Angela M. Piper
Bettina W. Clough
James Franklin Taylor
Robert N. Black Jr.
Bruce F. Draper
Richard P. Brown
H. Styles Bridges III
Anne B. Vodola
l
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
Michael M. Morse
Robert F. Bayles
Kevin W. Devries
Keith T. Brady
Sara Widman
Yong Hak Huh
Stephen T. Pike
Janet M. Moody
John R. Abbe
Peter D. Engisch
Thomas D. Esty
Jonathan S. Hibbard
Ronald G. Burt
Douglas T. Rothstein
Gretchen D. Hobbs
Sair J. Goldenberg
Marie B. Garland
Corey Anne Schillereff
Lauren Kristen Sheahan
Susan Elizabeth McLean
www.brewsteracademy.org
l
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
William Joseph Meehan
Melissa Dawn Bernardin
Christopher Bruce Gorrill
Ron T. McCormick
Kevin Andrew Ginestet
Gordon Ira Kaywin
Nathan Michael Pickowicz
Douglas Ian Amber
Dennis Warren McNally
Katherine E. Thornton
Marona Graham-Bailey
Daniel Edward Slipp
Matthew Michael Keys
Rachael Lee Jeffers
Joseph Paul Montana
Elizabeth Lynn Siracusa
Teraysa Marie White
35
Hoopla
Hoopla
Arthur M. Hurlin Award Winners
The 1940s: Nancy (Reissfelder) Hoppe ’49
“... I realize the award has given me a place
on which to hang my confidence.”
Of course there are many things that
influence your life events but I’ll just
name a few things that the Hurlin
Award probably had a hand in: graduating from Syracuse University with
both a bachelor’s of arts and master’s
degrees; teaching first grade to 33 kids
who had never attended kindergarten
– and loving it; becoming president
of the League of Women Voters in
Marion, Ohio, and becoming active in
progressive politics and causes; taking
on leadership roles in community
theater, the American Association of
University Women, and a local mental
health clinic.
Retired Teacher, Political Activist
During her years at Brewster, Nancy Reissfelder ’49 was an honor student
and served as the Class of 1949 president, vice-president, and treasurer. She
was the editor-in-chief of the SYB [Senior Year Book] and on the staff of the
Brewster Briefs – a weekly column published in the local newspaper, The
Granite State News, discussing Brewster events and accompanied by an
editorial. She also was a member of the Outing Club, Glee Club, the Band,
and a cheerleader. She was voted by her peers “Most Likely to Succeed.”
From the time I was old enough to
think about it, I knew that I would go
to Brewster Free Academy, as it was
referred to locally then. My mother,
Pauline (Burleigh) Reissfelder, a native
of Tuftonborough, had graduated
from Brewster in 1926. Her wondrous
stories about her time in Wolfeboro, the
school, her teachers and friends, and
the excitement of learning – and doing
things like dancing in the streets and
dating a boy who played in the band –
made it all sound so inviting and easy.
But now when I think about being at
Brewster I can’t help but remember
a defining moment in my life that
happened just three months before I
would set foot in those hallowed halls.
In the middle of the night on June 6,
1945, our family awoke to a fiery inferno
that swept through our lovely, spacious
home in Center Ossipee and changed
our lives forever. My mother was hospitalized for a year in Boston with second
and third degree burns; our family
became temporarily homeless and
nearly destitute; and I had to take on the
role of part-time surrogate mother to my
three younger siblings. I have come to
realize that this one event and its ramifications were probably what planted
the seed of much of my political/philosophical thinking and my quasi-pacifist
leanings. That seed would ripen and
start to grow during my four years at the
Academy.
36
So in September 1945 there I was
entering Brewster Free Academy, a nearhomeless, commuting “townie” wearing
hand-me-down clothes and packing a
refurbished E-flat alto saxophone. But
from day one I was always made
to feel special and encouraged to
do my best to further develop my
talents and capabilities. As I recall,
every one of the other students
at Brewster was treated the very
same way. I assume that tradition
lives on.
an excuse to take a break or two from
rational reflection. Headmaster and Mrs.
Rogers were always kind and caring
– I even stayed with them for a short
time when transportation to and from
Ossipee was not available. Mrs. Hatch,
who donated her time and tremendous
energy to the school so that we could
have a band and orchestra, provided us
“musicians” with a fun-filled, robust,
challenging, and memorable extracurricular adventure in music. And
finally, Florence Page, whose words and
My fabulous teachers helped me
and the other students pursue a
well-rounded and meaningful
education. To me Burtis Vaughn
“Headmaster and Mrs. Rogers were always kind and caring –
was Mr. Brewster – an amazing
I even stayed with them for a short time when transportation
teacher, friend, adviser, advocate,
to and from Ossipee was not available.”
linguist, and musicologist. He
taught me to love language and
teachings – always somewhat elusive
to see it in the context of history and
to me – stimulated me for life for the
human behavior. Barbara Zulauf was
pursuit of knowledge and appreciation
beautiful in every way – an advisor, a
of literature and poetry.
personal and social maven who exuded
perfection and energy, a real role model.
As for fellow students who had a lasting
Tom Gunn was full of love for his
effect in my life, I am sure that everyone
students and teaching – besides being a
with whom I came in contact – and there
most effective teacher, he was my friend
were so many – left an indelible positive
and a fellow “townie” from Ossipee.
mark. But some – all good, giving,
Hugh Masters, Larry Bartnick, and Tom
and dear friends – who come to mind
Hurst all helped me understand science
immediately are: John Ballentine ’48
and love math and see how those disciwho led the way for me to explore going
plines could apply to real life. Anthony
to Syracuse University; Irene Welch ’49,
Genewich, our guidance director,
my grade school pal and chauffeur
helped me choose a college – Syracuse
our junior year; Janet Richardson ’49
University – and find a scholarship so I
and her family, who took me in when I
was able to go. He also warned me that
needed a place to live my senior year;
I had “too much intellectual curiosity.”
Willard Stockbridge ’47 who was my
That phrase has stayed with me all
“ride” freshman and sophomore year;
these years and I sometimes use it as
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Nancy (Reissfelder) Hoppe ‘49, politically
active in both Florida and national
politics, co-founded “Pinellas for Hillary,”
a county-wide grassroots organization
aimed at getting Florida’s votes counted
in the presidential primary. She made
two trips to Washington, D.C., to rally
and protest to the Democratic National
Committee about the cause. She was
subsequently elected and served as a
delegate for Hillary at the Democratic
National Convention.
Ann Merrow ’49, outstanding student,
fellow “Ossipee-ite” and role-model
since first grade; Charlie Hatch ’47 who
played the saxophone – and still does
– with professional finesse; and last but
not least Jimmy Wallace ’47, a brilliant,
multi-talented musician and the “boy
I dated who played in the band,” thus
following in my mother’s footsteps.
And how did the Hurlin Award
influence my life? That’s a question I
had never really asked myself but as I
think about it now I realize the award
has given me a place on which to hang
my confidence. When well-intentioned
things weren’t going as I had hoped or
I was striving for a goal that seemed
intellectually insurmountable and I
was beginning to lose faith in my own
judgment, I’d remember the honor that
came with that beautiful plaque with
all our names on it, and my confidence
would come bounding back.
With a move to St. Louis in 1973 after
a divorce, my life was then consumed
with making a living, teaching, retail
sales, working in the food and beverage
industry, and raising my three growing
children. In 1984 I married Ed Hoppe
and became more politically active and
involved. After Ed’s death 11 years later,
I relocated to Florida; and now, with my
companion Phil, I have become even
more involved in Democratic politics,
supporting and working for Bill Clinton
and later Howard Dean and in between,
lots of local candidates.
I have ridden the waves on five cruises
with members of The Nation magazine
and exchanged ideas with such notables
as Victor Navasky, Katrina vanden
Heuvel, Molly Ivins, and Calvin Trillin.
On our last cruise – to Alaska – I was
asked to participate in a panel/debate
as an advocate for Hillary Clinton, my
choice for presidential candidate in the
primary. Another woman and I had to
stand up to the champions of all the
other Democratic candidates at the time
and argue Hillary’s case in front of some
of the smartest, most avid, and well
informed political liberals in the United
States and some foreign countries.
Hurlin must have been with me – it
went very well. In 2008, I attended the
Democratic National Convention as an
elected delegate for Hillary.
While I was a student at Brewster, I
probably didn’t appreciate enough the
wondrous physical beauty of the place.
I thought the rest of the world looked
pretty much like that spot on the hill,
because I’d never strayed far from home,
just 15 miles up the road. But now when
I go back I’m awed by the panoramic
views, the ever changing landscape, the
lake, the islands, and the new buildings set
perfectly into this beautiful tableau. I now
realize how very fortunate I was to have
the chance to go to this glorious place to
study and learn. l
Mr. Vaughan and the Girls Glee Club in 1949. “To me Burtis Vaughn was Mr. Brewster – an amazing teacher,
friend, adviser, advocate, linguist, and musicologist.” (Reissfelder is in the front row, the third girl from the left)
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37
Hoopla
Hoopla
Arthur M. Hurlin Award Winners
Arthur M. Hurlin Award Winners
The 1950s: Lawrence “Larry” Thurrell ’54
The 1960s: Janna (Vaughan) Kasarjian ’62
Retired Chemical Engineer
After Brewster I attended the University of Maine in Orono –
the only campus at the time – where the first semester proved
to be far too easy due to the good training at Brewster. In fact, I
got used to socializing quite a bit before I realized that studying
was the priority.
Anyway, they gave me a bachelor’s degree in chemical
engineering and since there were no jobs in that field in
Wolfeboro, I migrated to Wilmington, Delaware, and worked
for Hercules Inc. and its related companies until I retired in
1993.
Throughout those years I got to know more things about
pentaerythritol, methanol, dimethyl, terephthalate, disproportionated rosin, and polypropylene than anyone would care to
learn! During those years my family and I moved and moved –
our residences included Framingham, Massachusetts; Chicago;
Charlotte, North Carolina; Cleveland; and three
times in Wilmington, where we now reside. The
most meaningful “accomplishments” since my
Brewster days: wife Helen, four children, and
12 grandchildren!
Winning the Hurlin Award
Regarding my winning of the Arthur M. Hurlin
Award, I’d have to say that I felt pleased,
humble, and proud – if all those emotions can
fit in a millisecond?
At the same time, however, I don’t think
receiving the award changed or affected my
life after Brewster. I do think that the standards
established by my family and Brewster influenced me more than anything else. One’s own
integrity, ability to think for oneself,
and helping out have been key
factors in what little I have done
over the years.
Brewster Memories
There are many, many events that
bring fond memories of my days
at Brewster. While many of them
involve multiple classmates – such
as the scrap drive during the Korean
War – others included just one other
friend and myself. Paul Fogg and I
mired my father’s tractor and Jeep
in the swamp trying to pull out
the Christmas tree that was finally,
with the help of Mr. Erickson and
the Wolfeboro Electric Company,
placed in front of the Academic
Building.
38
Larry Thurrell was a class officer for the
four years he attended Brewster, serving as
treasurer in his first two years and president
in his junior and senior years – in addition
to being Student Council president as a
senior. An honors student, he was voted
“Most Likely to Succeed” by his classmates.
He was a member of the yearbook staff,the
senior play committee, and on the
soccer team for four years.
“I do think that
the standards
established by
my family and
Brewster
influenced me
more than
anything else.”
I remember cleaning the Masonic Hall for one of
our school events. Art Britton borrowed a floor
waxer from Huggins Hospital and he and others
worked hours shining that floor. The town folks
were great to us. Whenever we needed their help
or to borrow some equipment, they were always
willing to help. I don’t think our class ever shied
away from a project because it was too large or
overwhelming. Because of our spirit and the
overall sense of cooperation, we accomplished
numerous undertakings as well as created many
fond memories.
Favorite Teachers
Recalling classes and teachers – and many come
to mind – I’d have to say that Jane
Baker and Burt Vaughan stand out
for me because of their love for the
English language and all its tenets.
From the proper use of the parts of
speech and vocabulary, to the authors
and their literary works, Miss Baker
and Mr. Vaughan made everything
worth knowing. They also, by their
own actions, made “getting involved”
rewarding.
I wish that everyone who has attended
(or will attend) Brewster Academy
has the wonderful memories of their
Brewster years as I have of mine.
Upon retirement Thurrell established
Summit Consulting, providing his services
for the polypropylene industry. l
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Teacher of English as a Second Language
When asked by Matt Hoopes to write
about what it meant to win Brewster
Academy’s Hurlin Award, I was a little
puzzled. After all, I won the award in
1962 and that was a long time ago. Matt
patiently explained that he was writing
an article on Hurlin Award winners
over the decades for BrewsterConnections
magazine and that I had been tapped
to represent the ‘60s. After getting past
“Who did the tapping?” and “Am I the
only one from the ‘60s still living?” I
agreed to give this assignment a stab.
After all, the individuals who won in the
late ‘60s are mere babies, so surely I could
handle this more graciously – and I even
considered the assignment a compliment
of sorts. (Which in truth, I have from the
beginning.)
Happy Years
Although we often look back on our early
years through rose-colored glasses, my
four years at Brewster Academy were
among the happiest of my life. It was a
more innocent time, or so I’ve come to
believe, and the school for me was magical
then. Thinking back, an ever-changing
Janna Vaughan was a member of the National Honor Society. She also
served as yearbook editor and on the staff of the Brewster Briefs – a
weekly column published in the local newspaper, The Granite State
News, discussing Brewster events and accompanied by an editorial.
Vaughan was a varsity cheerleader, a member of the Glee Club, and
voted both “Most Intelligent” and “Best Dressed.” According to the
1962 yearbook she liked “French, American history, fried clams, parties,
clothes, and little children,” but disliked “apathetic people and math.”
would do without you,” after I had helped
her through a difficult assignment.
and represent and learn. Opportunities
abounded for the willing; talent was
optional.
And through all this time, I was also
learning so many valuable life skills and
lessons, I just thought I was enjoying my
school years to the fullest. Winning the
Hurlin Award was something I had never
even thought about until I actually received
it. But when I did, the feeling of pride,
of validation, and of being appreciated,
were overwhelming. Those feelings have
stayed with me – at times boosting me up,
or consoling me, or moving me forward
throughout my life. For this I am forever
grateful.
“... my four years at Brewster
Academy were among the
Teaching and Advocating
happiest of my life.”
Today I am a teacher of ESL
collage of images comes to mind: the
campus, the ivy-covered main building,
the smell of books, the Friday night
dances, chapel, Glee Club concerts, the
yearbook, my fellow cheerleaders and I
yelling ourselves hoarse, and the lake – of
course, the lake. I ask you, how often does
one’s memory of English class involve
views of a spectacular lake? Mine do! But
since I loved Mrs. Tilton’s English class, I
actually paid attention, too – really!
So you see, feeling as I did – being involved
in the life of my school, being proud of it
and trying to give it my best and savor all
aspects of it – was a natural thing for me.
It was what I wanted to do, and I reveled
in the opportunities I had to write and sing
and cheer and act and organize and edit
(English
as a Second Language) in West Milford
Township, New Jersey. I resisted the idea
of teaching for many years – in fact, it was
a later-in-life decision to enter the field
and a second career for me. I suppose it
had seemed akin to going in the “family
business,” and I wanted my own identity.
[Ed. Note: Janna’s father was Brewster
Academy principal Burtis Vaughan.]
But teaching has fit me like a glove; I thrive
on it and actually believe that, at least some
of the time, I make a difference. There are
bad days, discouraging days, of course.
However, there are also days such as the
one when a shy little Russian student’s first
words said to me were “I love you.”
One high school student once told me with
tears in her eyes, “I don’t know what I
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All dedicated teachers have had similar
experiences. These experiences are what
keep teachers
going. The role
of being an
advocate
for
your students,
however,
is
particularly
necessary and
demanding
when
your
students
are
from
other
countries. These
students must
negotiate their
way through a
strange and scary world each and every
day. They listen to words that they can
neither pronounce nor understand. They
are in need of guidance, and it has been
my experience that their appreciation is
boundless.
Winning the Hurlin Award
To the extent I succeed and have succeeded
in my role as a teacher – and in all the other
roles in which life has cast me – this can
all be attributed to those years at Brewster
Academy when I gave my heart and soul
and was unexpectedly awarded for it with
the Hurlin Award. It was a moment of
recognition that will stay with me always.
In fact, everything that I am that is good
and that I am proud of at this point in
my life goes back in part to my days of
learning at Brewster Academy. To the best
of my ability, I still give my heart and soul
to all I attempt. My years at my beloved
school taught me well. l
39
Hoopla
Hoopla
Arthur M. Hurlin Award Winners
Arthur M. Hurlin Award Winners
The 1970s: Yong Hak Huh ’77
The 1980s: Marie Garland ’88 Head of Direct Investment, Hong Kong Monetary Authority
that day onward, I worked hard toward
that goal. (Five years ago when I visited
Brewster with my wife and my children,
I was able to point to my plaque on the
wall as one of my achievements early in
life.)
Yong Hak Huh was editor-in-chief of the
1977 yearbook and, as one of the
photographers, took most of the photos
that appeared between its covers. He was
also president of the Student Council and
valedictorian of his class.
As I did with each of the award winners, I
asked Yong whether he had any indication
that he might win the Hurlin Award. His
answer was far more direct than any of
the others’.
Rather immodestly, I can claim that I was
pretty sure that I would win the prize.
The moment I first saw those names
engraved on the plaques displayed by
the entrance of the Academic Building on
my arrival as a junior at Brewster in the
fall of 1975, I set myself a personal goal
to have my name engraved there. From
As I was the first Korean to attend
Brewster, I also felt duty-bound to do
well and not give my countrymen a
bad name in that remote corner of the
world. Having first to overcome the
language barrier, I think I worked harder
than anyone in my class just to keep up.
Fortunately, I was awarded for this hard
work with top grades in all my classes.
I still cherish the memories of learning
fencing and lacrosse, two sports that to
this day remain unfamiliar to most of
the world population. I was also elected
president of the Student Council in my
senior year. And so, yes, I was pretty sure
I’d reach my personal goal and would
win the award.
While I can barely remember what I did
a few years ago, it is strange to me that I
can still recount what I did day by day
during my two years at Brewster even
after more than three decades.
Just days after the new Student Center
was housed in the gym, someone slashed
a sofa cushion. As Student Council
president, I ordered the Center closed for
a few days as punishment for the entire
community. It seemed like a good idea
to me then – I felt that if someone could
40
Ph.D. Organizational Communication
Berenson,
Chuck
Henry,
Chuck
Michaels, Barb Mathews, Meg Crandall,
and Lara Dowdall. Being recognized
among such an amazing group was a real
honor. It also illustrated an important
saying – you are who you play with.
not take care of a good thing, they didn’t
deserve it. Looking back, I wish I had
found a better way to persuade my peers
that vandalism cannot be tolerated, rather
than resort to what must have seemed a
very authoritarian measure.
Marie Garland was co-editor of the
yearbook and The Brewster Browser;
vice president of the Student Council;
and a member of the Judicial Board
and the Quality of Life Committee. She
was named Most Valuable Player as
co-captain of the girls’ varsity basketball
team, and Most Improved Player in girls’
varsity lacrosse. She was chosen by her
classmates for the categories of “Most
Likely to Succeed,” “Thinks the Most,”
and “Done the Most for Brewster.”
In addition to the classroom learning,
Brewster offered extraordinary freedom
and opportunity to develop myself
through extracurricular activities and
competitive sports. I took up photography and taught myself how to develop
and print black and white pictures in the
darkroom. I doubt that it would be much
of an exaggeration to say that I took 99
percent of the photographs for the 1977
Winnipesaukean yearbook, and I also
doubled as chief editor.
Huh threw himself into the study of
photography, including trick photography,
while at Brewster.
Mr. Harry Widman, who taught me
history, and Mr. Walter Hertz, who
taught me French and economics, were
more than my teachers. Together with
both their families, they were more like
my proxy parents. Mr. Widman gave me
summer jobs at his camp on the lake as a
dishwasher for Geneva Point, and he also
taught me so much through his generosity. Mr. Hertz instilled in me a passion
for learning French and also taught me
globalism, which eventually led me to
study at the Paris Institute of Political
Studies and inspired me to study for a
master’s degree in international affairs
at Columbia University. I will always be
grateful to both of them.
BrewsterConnections
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BrewsterConnections
l Spring 2009
continued on page 43
I vaguely recall being a little disheartened
during the prize-giving part of our graduation. While I had won a subject-area
award, I wondered if the faculty considered
that my work had been properly recognized as a result of that award or whether
I had a chance at one of the big prizes. I
knew Jon Konheim won as valedictorian,
and the faculty award which I had hopes
of winning went to Randy Berenson.
Listening to the wording of the next to be
presented, the Hurlin Award, I had never
realized that it was the top award. There
were so many talented and committed
people in my class, and I slowly realized
that my goal of getting one of the major
awards just wasn’t to be. But when I heard
my name announced, I was awed and a
bit overwhelmed. I remember committing
the purpose to heart: “… given to that
member of the graduating class who has
done the most for the welfare, good name,
and progress of Brewster Free Academy.”
Good name. Progress. Didn’t that mean I
had to keep achieving forever?
There were many of my classmates that
certainly could have won the Hurlin
Award; those who immediately come
to mind were Jon Konheim, Randy
I used to play Sunday morning basketball
against the guys because when you
play against people who are better than
you, you get better – you play up! I was
fortunate to be surrounded by people
who could challenge me. I couldn’t have
done half the things I did at Brewster if
I hadn’t been surrounded by amazing
friends. Today, as then, I know I need to
work with people who challenge me, or I
will stagnate.
that doing well on a test isn’t the only
thing that measures the success of a high
school curriculum. The Hurlin Award
recognizes the top all-around student.
Brewster’s teachers knew their students
individually and understood each one’s
strengths and weaknesses and that is
the key factor in how Brewster impacted
my life. Just recently, a former classmate
was bemoaning the fact that Mr. Friend
always made him re-write his work. As
a teacher myself, I now realize that it was
because Mr. Friend knew that the first (or
second or third) draft was not my friend’s
best work. The best teachers know when
a student has produced his or her best.
And Brewster’s faculty don’t just know
I have a lot of good memories of my their students academically – they get
Brewster years – playing basketball, to know their students’ character. I did
traveling to the Soviet Union with something stupid my first year, but I
classmates, Mr. [Mike] Gefers’ math immediately confessed to Dean [Chuck]
classes, [Mr. Matt] Hoopes telling ghost Esty. He had to uphold the school’s
stories in class, Mr. [Peter]
Friend making tea in his
classroom, convincing Dr.
[Joyce] Ferris to let me audit
typing, learning Robert’s
Rules of Order (knowledge
that’s served me extremely
well in my career) in Mrs.
[Barbara] Douglass’ car
on the way to the Youth
in Government meeting in
Concord, spending time at
Chuck Henry’s Cohasset
house, Winter Carnival,
and making “Good Egg
Award” certificates every
week (whose dumb idea
was that?)
Marie Garland ’88, husband Kyle Kubick, and their children Maia
Garland Kubick, 5, and Cole Garland Kubick, 6 weeks.
My best memories have
to do with all the valuable
things I learned outside of classes – developing insights that would be useful in
other things I cared about such as student
government or playing on a team. I think
that also relates to the Hurlin Award in
that it recognizes “smart in practice” and
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disciplinary rules, even though Ron and
Sue Nentwig pointed out that as a day
student, I would be punished at home.
continued on page 43
41
Hoopla
Hoopla
Arthur M. Hurlin Award Winners
The 1990s: Gordon Kaywin ’97
Co-President, Sargent Hall Productions
My feeling upon hearing my name read
off as the winner of the Hurlin Award was
one of great fulfillment. It was a validation
that hard work is always recognized.
This confirmation is something I’ve tried
to remember throughout my adult life.
Some of my most
vivid
memories
now 11 years later
include sitting in
the computer lab
with Topher Grace
and Dave Simon
while they toiled
away on the Avid
(film, video, and
audio
editing)
machine Brewster
had bought for
them – I tried to
convince Dave to
help me make a
fake I.D.
I also remember
going down to
the Corner Store
with Topher to
buy
Halloween
costumes, but all
they had left were
children’s
sizes.
When we got back
to the dorm, I was shocked to see that
Topher’s child-size Spiderman costume
fit him like a glove! [Ed. Note: Ironically,
in 2007 Grace would appear in the movie
Spiderman 3 as the Eddie Brock/Venom
character.]
The completion of the Kaywin Fitness
Center – an addition to the gymnasium
– was very rewarding and again showed
that when a person puts his or her mind
to do something, and works hard at
accomplishing it, nothing can stop them
from succeeding.
I often reminisce with Topher about our
senior dorm parent, Mr. [Steve] Cotterall.
42
… he had a tremendous impact on us. At
times during study hall he would come
into our room and get into Topher’s bed,
distracting us from our homework. It was
so funny and strange that we both had
no choice but to laugh. He always had a
knack for lightening up the atmosphere
at Brewster, and it made us relax and not
take things too seriously.
My life after Brewster has been extremely
rewarding. I moved out to Hollywood
upon gradation from college and began
working my way up the entertainment
ladder. Again the work ethic I established at Brewster helped me succeed
in this very competitive environment.
After I had learned many different areas
of the business, Topher and I decided to
partner and start a production company
which we happily
named
Sargent
Hall Productions.
[Ed. Note: Sargent
Hall was the dorm
where
Kaywin
and Grace shared
a room.] Our first
movie comes out
this spring, and
we have several
other projects in
development.
Again, much of
my life traces
back to Brewster
Academy and my
experiences there.
It is truly a special
place.
Those of you who personally know
“Gordo” already know these wonderful
qualities about him: he’s totally void
of ego and he’s way too humble as well.
While these are certainly distinguishing
attributes to have, I still feel the need to
expand on the extensive work Gordon did
for the Academy.
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Probably only fellow members of the
Class of ‘97 are aware that Gordon
was responsible for the building of the
fitness center. He sums it all up above in
one sentence, which certainly does not
do his work justice. He realized it was
something that was needed, convinced
the board of trustees of the value of the
project, and raised matching funds to pay
for the building. On completion, appropriately enough, the center was named in
his honor.
In doing the research for this article I
contacted former Headmaster David
Smith who immediately became excited,
saying “Gordon Kaywin was truly one of
our special ones.” While I know Gordon
will not appreciate all this attention,
I would like to quote more of Smith’s
Gordon Kaywin ’97 was
instrumental in creating the
Kaywin Fitness Center. While
at Brewster, Kaywin also was
a member of the Judicial Board
and the 6 To 8 Club.
Smith continued, describing the All-School
Assembly following the opening of the
center. “Gordon delivered one of the greatest
student addresses, again without a hint of
ego. His message was, ‘Don’t sit back and
complain about what isn’t. If it should be,
it could be. Get up, get out, and make it
happen. The school will support you in the
effort. This is our school, and we need to
contribute toward making it the best.’”
Gordon’s earning the Hurlin Award was
indeed validation that hard work is always
The architect’s rendering of Sargent Hall, where Kaywin and Topher
recognized! l
Grace shared a dorm room. Their production company – Sargent Hall
Productions – is releasing a movie in spring 2009.
The 1970s: Yong Hak Huh ’77
The 1980s: Marie Garland ’88
continued from page 40
continued from page 41
Professionally, I had a very rewarding career for more than
20 years as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan in New
York, Seoul, and Hong Kong, and most recently at the Hong
Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. My specialization
was in mergers and acquisitions, and I racked up more than
2.5 million frequent flyer miles during my banking career.
Fortunately, I left investment banking for good about a year
before the bubble burst.
About six months ago, I joined the Hong Kong Monetary
Authority, the de facto central bank of the territory, as head of
direct investment. I help manage the Authority’s 180 Billion
USD in reserves. More than the proud fact that I am the first
and only Korean working for the Hong Kong government in
a senior role, I get up every morning and thank the stars that I
have a challenging and rewarding job when other investment
bankers are falling like leaves in the late autumn in New
Hampshire.
praises. “Here before me was an example
of a student who genuinely saw both
a need and a solution, and further, he
wanted to partner in helping to make it
happen. Through his connections with
his hometown fitness center, he made
recommendations about the equipment
and supporting materials. He would help
to determine the costs and he would do
all he could to raise the money necessary
to bring the vision into place.”
Dean Esty made it clear that I should
not take this incident as an indictment
against my character. His faith in me,
and the Nentwigs’ support, made me
realize I had a choice to be a troublemaker or a productive individual. I
probably punished myself harder and
longer than the eight-week discipline
probation stint did, and both the dean
and the Nentwigs most likely knew
that long before I did. I learned then
that who you are today isn’t who you
have to be tomorrow.
As for my life after Brewster, I had an
assortment of short-term jobs while
earning my bachelor’s, master’s, and
doctorate degrees. I was a graphic
Marie Garland ’88 was
designer, a submarine tour guide,
Sophie in the play “The
a collectible dolls salesperson, a
White Liars” at Brewster,
bartender at a Laundromat called
one of five productions in
which she appeared.
“Suds and Suds,” an assistant at a
law firm, a marketing director for an
architectural firm, a development assistant, and a teaching
assistant/graduate research assistant.
After teaching for nine years at Ithaca College, I started a
consulting practice, Phronesis Consulting Group LLC, to help
non-profits and government agencies understand organizational cultures.
Huh gave the valedictorian speech at the outdoor
Commencement that year. On his right is the Rev. Harry
Widman; on his left, Headmaster David Smith.
I have a beautiful family with my wife of 26 years, Min Jun,
a 22-year-old daughter, and an 18-year-old son. My daughter
followed my footsteps and graduated from Columbia
University last year. My son is in high school and is applying
to a college in the United States. l
l
In 2000 I married Kyle Kubick, whom I met in graduate school.
Our daughter Maia Garland Kubick was born February 11,
2003. She loves music and art, and I cried at our first parentteacher conference, because I was so proud of her. Our son
Cole Garland Kubick was born November 11, 2008. So far he
loves sleeping and eating. We also have an 8-year-old Lab mix,
Harper, and an 11-year-old orange tabby cat, Winston. l
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43
Class Notes
Catherine
(Irish)
Dillon
writes, “Wow! 60 years! I went
to UNH and met Loren Dillon
there – I graduated in 1952,
he graduated the year before.
We were married in St. Cecilia’s Church in Wolfeboro in
1953 and lived in Dover, New
Hampshire, where our daughters Nancy and Lora were
both born. In 1956 we moved
to North Dakota where Loren
worked for the Bureau of
Indian Affairs (BIA), then to
Nebraska and Montana where
daughters Althea and Roberta
were born; then on to Indiana.
Our adopted son Dennis was
born in 1966. We never dreamt
that we would be living in
Idaho for the rest of our lives.
Loren retired from the BIA in
Catherine (Irish ’48) Dillon and husband Loren with their children,
1983 and retirement is the best!
left to right: Althea, Dennis, Roberta, Lora, and Nancy
I worked in a credit union for
10 years and retired in 1990.
1935
Leona (Bickford) Morgan writes that she Over the years we have managed to fly,
and her late husband Neal Morgan ’26, drive, and travel by train to the East to visit
along with their two sons, Daniel ’60 and family and friends. Remember, we made
the 50th Reunion. Sorry we didn’t make the
Michael ’64, all graduated from Brewster.
60th, but we were there in spirit!”
1948
Joe Ford decided not to run for re-election to the Lee, New Hampshire, board of
selectman last March. He retired after a
record 30 years of service.
1949 Reunion!
In August 2008 Nancy (Reissfelder) Hoppe
topped off her years of political activism
when she attended the Democratic National
Convention in Denver as an elected delegate
for Hillary Clinton. As a Clinton supporter
she received a great deal of attention from
the media in the United States and many
other countries. (See more in Hoopla, page
36.)
1955
Paul Willson writes, “We’ve just retired
from serving with New Tribes Mission
Aviation in McNeal, Arizona. I am hoping
to contact as many as possible of my class to
get together. We have not been together to
my knowledge since graduating in 1955.”
1958
Vivian Isaacson hopes to rally the ‘58 troops
to return to campus for Reunion 2010. She
is also looking forward to Reunion ’09 and
hopes to see many friends.
1963
Red Sox fan Bob Ware ’58 and wife Corinne at
their winter home in Florida
44
Len Parks and his wife have been working
hard to establish the Madrona Center in
Anacortes, Washington, and welcome you
to take a look at their web site – www.
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Save the Date!
Reunion 2009 l June 5-7
Nancy (Reissfelder) Hoppe ’49
was a Hillary Clinton delegate
at the 2009 Democratic National
Convention. Later that same
evening Clinton announced her
support for Barack Obama.
madronacenter.org. The center promotes
ways of living that reduce people’s impact
on earth and boosts local and regional
community strength. Len said that he really
didn’t know what art was when he was at
Brewster but invites classmates to see what
he is doing now.
1964 Reunion!
Richard Tasker has moved back from Hong
Kong to New Jersey. He has twin boys who
were born in 1982.
1973
Hugh Crowther, Gary Webber ’74, and
John Wyshak had a summer Southern Cali-
Tell Us How You’re Doing!
We want to know what you’re up
to. Whether it’s a new address, a
job change, a marriage, a new baby,
or any other news you’d like to
share with your classmates, please
drop us a line (and/or a photo) and
we’ll try to include it in the next
BrewsterConnections.
Send your news to: Office of Alumni
Brewster Academy
80 Academy Drive
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
or e-mail us at:
alumninews@brewsteracademy.org
fornia reunion at the Wyshak family home
in Calabasas. Dining on exotic MiddleEastern food and enjoying panoramic
views, the Webber, Wyshak, and Crowther
families enjoyed a night of music, games,
and fun. “We reminisced as we reviewed
our Brewster experiences while looking
through our Class of ‘73 yearbook and the
feelings that have withstood the sands of
time ... 35 years.”
1974
Reunion!
James Lund writes, “After Brewster I went
to Syracuse University, majored in art for two
years, went home to New York City to work at
an architectural company, going to art school
at night. I went back to school in Albuquerque,
New Mexico, for a couple of years then to
Miami where I finished art school at the
University of Miami and began a family.
I’m an art director/graphic designer, and
I’ve worked in advertising and publishing,
creating material for numerous large companies and have worked for several magazines
and newspapers. With a partner, I ran a small
Miami ad agency for several years. I just relocated back to Florida from Newport Beach,
California. I have three daughters: Rhya,
27, and my twin girls Caroline and Emily,
25. Rhya is in medical school in California;
Caroline manages a hair salon in Ohio; and
Emily is a nanny in North Carolina.”
writes that “Life is wonderful! Gene is a
fantastic golfer (and teacher). Our days
are spent working out, walking the beach,
golfing, yoga, and doing a little bit of
work.”
1980
Larry Reaven writes that he still runs a golf
club and is a scratch player. He owns and
rides six horses and says “Hey!” to David
Rukin, Bess “Scribner” Cornett, and Beth
Hayes ’81. Go Bucks!
Matt Keeney writes that because of the
economy, he is looking for work but
keeps busy with his church, running the
PowerPoint presentations at the services,
and the movie night twice a month. His
kids are doing well – Bryant is a blue belt
in TaeKwanDo and Hannah is in dance
classes.
Lori (Marsten) Bowen and husband Greg
share their Tuftonboro, New Hampshire,
home with two dogs and two cats. Lori has
traveled extensively over the past few years
and has loved every minute of it.
1981
Vickie (Liebman) Curtis and her husband
Tom have two sons. Chad, 18, is in college
at SUNY Cortland; Hunter is 5 and will
start kindergarten in September 2009.
John Huckins, wife Laura, and their
daughter Ana live in Virginia Beach,
Virginia, with their dog, three cats, a fish,
and a guinea pig.
Beth Hayes enjoys her work at Brewster
where she’s been for almost 18 years. She
is Director of Special Events and Alumni
and Parent Programming. Her sons Joe,
11, John, 9, and Tommy, 9, are great and
her husband Dino was recently elected as
a New Hampshire State Representative. “I
love the fact that my niece Ellen Hayes ’10
is here at Brewster with me.”
Wanted: Boys’ Lacrosse Alumni
The 2009 boys’ lacrosse team is
challenging all former boys’ lacrosse
players to a match on Sunday, May 17.
”The 2009 team members are
already bragging on how they
will be ‘blowing out’ the alums,”
boasted coach Bill Lee.
1979 Reunion!
Keith Magovern and wife Linda share their
house in Foxboro, Massachusetts, with their
dog Hershey. Keith is a senior engineer at
Jacobs Global Building in South Boston. He
is a site engineer and is licensed in civil engineering in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, and Connecticut. Keith is a member
of the American Society of Civil Engineers,
is a Navy veteran, and a member of the
American Legion Post 93 in Foxboro.
Game time is 2:30 p.m. on Palazzo
(formerly Lakeside) Field and a
cookout will follow.
If you can’t play – perhaps due to an
old lax injury – your attendance is still
welcome as a possible coach, game
helper, or even storyteller during the
cookout. Alumni who would like to
play or attend should contact Bill
Lee at 603-569-7122 or bill_lee@
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Mike Shanley writes that he has a new
home, a new dog, and a new cat. He reports
that “After the hurricane in New Orleans I
worked for the Red Cross in food distribution for 30 days. Hardest job I ever did, but I
loved helping my fellow Americans.”
Janet Yarbrough-Moody is living in Miami
with the love of her life, Gene Gatti. She
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45
Class Notes
Scott Croteau is still living in Wallingford,
Connecticut, and working for Munger
Construction. He says wife Marisa and his
two girls Ashley and Monique are all doing
fine. “I can’t believe I have a daughter in
college! I’m into remote control hobbies
again – cars, trucks, and more recently, gas
powered boats (50 m.p.h.) on the water.”
David Gorfine sent in his New Year reflections …”My boy is almost 14, daughter Lib
is 12. In seven years, they will be out of my
home, my mortgage will be paid off, and
I’ll be able to concentrate on what really
matters in life: Where can I buy the best gin
and have quiet time with my martinis? I am
now working as a network engineer at the
University of Massachusetts in Boston. So
far, they spoil me rotten there. The work
is interesting and challenging and feels
important. Also, they serve an “inflation
fighter” lunch for $3 on Wednesdays, so I’m
good. I made it to 10 p.m. last night, while
my children stayed up to bring in the new
year. May we all get what we want in the
coming year ... especially if it is either deep
fried, covered in chocolate, or comes in fire
engine red.”
Class Notes
Andy Weiner writes, “So after more than
five years at Brinks Inc., I accepted a position in September with Diebold Inc. as a
frontline ATM technician for the Northeastern Massachusetts, Southern New
Hampshire, and Seacoast areas. The pay
will be a bit better, but the benefits are
phenomenal – they give me a 2009 Chevy
1988
Andrew Tempesta writes that he went to
Plymouth State College after Brewster. Upon
graduation, he joined the U. S. Marine Corps,
became a helicopter pilot, and was on active
duty for eight years. “I then became a sales
rep for a couple of companies but realized
corporate America was not my thing. I
retired from the Marine Reserves in 2007.
My wife Susanna and I and our three kids
moved back to Pensacola, Florida, in 2000.
We have owned an Army Navy store for
four years and are doing well. I basically
46
Chris Freeman is teaching history courses
at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Lauren (Sheahan) Zelko writes, “After 16
years, it’s wonderful to be living back in
New Hampshire. We love our beautiful,
peaceful town in the Monadnock Region,
where I homeschool our children. Life is
full of little pleasures: watching the metamorphosis of a caterpillar, raising chickens
from eggs, swimming, skiing, etc.”
Members of the Class of 1983 – Pam Wallace,
Martha Trepanier, and Julie Trask – 25 years later.
for a non-profit in Concord that provides
grants to benefit low- and moderate-income people. I recently graduated from
Leadership New Hampshire, an educational experience designed to increase
civic engagement and strengthen New
Hampshire communities. I look forward
to our 20th reunion in June and hope lots
of my classmates will be there.” Michele
and daughter Hope traveled to Brewster to
attend the Trey Whitfield memorial lecture
on January 19.
Cobalt. I am going on nine years of wedded
bliss. Our daughter Rachel turned 6 on
Halloween and started kindergarten and
Hebrew school recently. Other than that, I
am a Facebook addict. Look me up there.”
1982
The Stefan Mandanis ’85 family
as a son – Clausen, 1. We’ve been having a
blast with the kids, although it’s exhausting!
On our way through Miami last April we
got in touch with Ted Latham, who looks
exactly the same as he did 20 years ago. I
see Randy Berenson ‘88 is tutoring math
students. I am planning to go to the 20th
Reunion in June and hope others from our
class will also make it!”
Hal Feinstein writes that he is a working
chef and caterer in the Saratoga County
New York region and has been raising his
daughter as a single parent for the past five
years. He is looking forward to attending
his 20th class reunion and is excited to see
everyone.
Willy, 8, and Silas, 3, are the sons of Barbara
(Mathews) ’88 and John Hamblett ’87
Ethan, Taylor, and Jordan with their parents Amy and Jonathan Clark ’85
Brad Appel writes, “Life here in Denver is
great. My wife Tanya and I have two daughters, Eloise, 6, and Claire, 4. I’m ‘on hold’
as a home builder with the poor economy,
but at least I’m able to spend time with my
family now. I see a lot of Todd Willens who
Ellie and Cameron Seefried, children of Kim
(Boyce ’90) and Charlie Seefried
Human Services and two licenses in professional counseling. She also has a stepson.
Kim would love to hear from friends from
the past, so please feel free to e-mail her at
therapist1972@hotmail.com.
1992
Erica (Cohen) Lewy writes, “My husband
Michael and I had our first daughter, Hazel,
on April 14, 2008. She’s a very happy baby
with a great disposition. Anyone in the
Boston area who’s interested in reconnecting
is welcome to contact me at liasynthis@
hotmail.com.”
A summer 2009 wedding in Wolfeboro is
planned for Lee Edwards ’91 and Osi Shvarts
from Amatz, Israel. Edwards works at DSG
Centers Inc. in Santa Monica, California.
Randy Miller writes that he
is operating a small business
in Rochester, New York, and
that he has fond memories of
Brewster.
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Heath Lachman owns and operates Topps
Bakery in Bronxville, New York, but says
that he doesn’t bake.
Kit Van Wagner and her dog Vega live in
Rhode Island. Kit is looking forward to six
weeks in New Zealand this winter working
on a boat. She will definitely be at the 2009
Reunion and hopes to see all her classmates
there.
1989 Reunion!
Michele (Giannone) Talwani
and husband Jameel share their
lives in Concord, New Hampshire, with their 6-year-old
daughter Hope Isabella; their
chocolate Lab, and two kittens.
Michele writes, “I am the
director of external relations
moved here from D.C. a year ago. I also talk
to Jay Howren and will be going to Virginia
to visit him in a few weeks.”
1990
1985
Lillie and Glen, children of Cristine and Colin Foster ’85
Matthew and Christopher, sons of Catherine and
Mark Hamilton ’83
Alexis Schmidt writes, “I’ve been married
to Katie for seven years, and we have two
daughters – Kayla, 4, and Malia, 3 – as well
turned a hobby into a business and so I’m
doing something I really enjoy and living in
a warm climate to boot!”
Paul Maxey writes “On February 2, 2008, I
was sworn in as chief of police of the Lower
Frederick Township Police Department in
Zieglerville, Pennsylvania. I have worked
in law enforcement for the past 16 years
and have held various positions in patrol,
criminal investigations, and administration.
I continue to have a great friendship with
fellow classmate Derek Kaloust. Derek is a
corporate attorney/business owner. I wish
the best to all fellow Brewster alumni!”
Paul and wife Vickey were expecting their
fourth child in October 2008.
1991
Kim (Terry) Winbery and her husband Ben
are now residing in Macon, Georgia, and are
very happy. Kim holds a Master of Arts in
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Andrew Workman writes, “I have been
working in Singapore and had hoped to be
in the Volvo Ocean Race as the company
I’ve been working with had a sponsorship
in the race, but the invitation never came. It
was fun to watch and the boats were really
amazing. When I leave
here, I’m going to take
some time in June and
head to Boston and
then up to New Hampshire.”
Heather
(Kelley)
Little
writes,
“In
March of 2007 we
added a little girl,
Emma, to the family.
Her big brother John
absolutely
adores
her. I wish that I had
been able to make it
to Reunion. I hope to
make the next one,
family and all. We
are waiting for the Born in April 2008, Hazel is
construction industry the daughter of Michael and
to get going again Erica (Cohen ’92) Lewy
47
Class Notes
Class Notes
down here – it has been a tough couple of
years but looking better all the time! I hear
from Tiffany (Hatt) Liebsch and Michelle
(Widder) Vickers all the time – they are
busy moms also!”
Andy Homan ’92 and wife Courtenay with Colleen, 7,
Bridget, 4, and Guiness. Baby Maeve, 1, was sleeping.
Michelle (Widder) Vickers, husband Joe,
6-year-old Cameron, and their yellow Lab
Hannah live in Palmetto, Florida. Michelle
writes: “Cameron started kindergarden this
year, and I am a wreck! Can’t believe how
fast it goes by. The tree farm is doing well,
and we are hoping to move to our 30-acre
property in Thomasville, Georgia, soon.
Still see my sidekick Heather (Kelly) Little,
and we haven’t changed a bit! Miss the
North but love the South!”
Chris Lamb is a sergeant with the New
Hampshire State Troopers, living and
working out of Wakefield, New Hampshire,
and he writes that all is well.
1995
Russ MacAlpine writes that he moved back
to New Hampshire in November 2008.
Aimee (Savard) Bentley writes, “I was
married in July 2008 and became a registered architect in September. I am working
on a 48-story high-rise in Boston that is
proposed to be retail and high-end condos.”
Aimee received her Master’s of Architecture from Boston Architectural College in
2007, and she works for Elkus Manfredi
Architects in Boston.
Elizabeth (Palmer ’93) Traverso with husband
Michael and their son Hugo
Vinson Massif, Elbrus, Carstenz Pyramid,
Kosciusko, and Everest in just over four
years. Find out more at www.boparfet.com.
Eric Roy and wife Jennifer had a son on
April 17, 2008, and they live in Belmont,
New Hampshire.
Shawna Allison writes, “I gave birth to my
second child, a girl named Ella, on October
20, 2008. After many complications, she
arrived very early but healthy. Her big
brother Eligh, 5, is happy and proud to be
a big brother. My husband and I are still in
Pasadena, California, where I work for a
law firm. Hope everyone is doing well.”
Ned Goss writes, “I just got back from the St.
Petersburg National Offshore One Design,
racing a Melges 24, and we took eighth
overall. I have also been racing a Fireball and
an Olympic 49er. I did the trials for the 2004
games and will try again for the 2012 games.
In December 2006 I bought Ocean Sailing
Academy, a sailing school I had been working
for since 1997. I got sober November 13, 1998,
and was married in October 2005, and I’m
living a dream. My sister Farleigh ‘97 lives in
California with her husband and 2-year-old
daughter.”
Mark Fine, wife Kimberly, and 2-year-old
son Max moved to Baltimore, Maryland,
and the couple is expecting their second
child in May 2009. Mark is now working
with the Harlem Globetrotters as the senior
marketing director and loves it.
Laura Petrielli-Pulice and husband Tom are
living a good life in Chicago with their dog
Diesel. “My business is doing really well
and although there is no really big news,
we are having a great time. Please visit my
website at www.vexclothing.com.”
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Bridget (Buckler) Demers writes, “I was
married on October 18, 2008, to Christian Demers at the Grappone Conference
Center in Concord, New Hampshire. My
brother Robert ‘Bob’ Buckler ’98 was a
groomsman, and my aunt Betina Goodall
‘63 was also there.”
Bo Parfet writes that his book, “Die Trying: One
Man’s Quest to Conquer the Seven Summits” was
published in February 2009.
in Orange County, California, and were
excited about their first Christmas in it with
their 2-year-old daughter Lucy.
Ted Newman writes, “Not much new here –
just moved out of N.Y.C. to grand suburbia
with my long-time girlfriend. Life is good,
can’t complain.”
Mindy (Keiser) Hall and her husband
Andrew moved to Vero Beach, Florida, with
their 3-year-old son Jackson and their dog
Jake. Mindy recently passed her last board
exam for the American Board of Pediatric
Dentistry.
Aimee Savard ’95 and husband Ryan Bentley
Aubri (Dow) Keating writes, “My family
and I are living with my in-laws while
Shamus is building a house in Wolfeboro.
Tegan, 11, is in fifth grade and doing really
well! Enjoying having a baby girl!” (Tatum
turned 2 in January.)
Fred Piehl ’95 and wife Tammy with Riley
1997
Jaclyn Escott Callison and husband
Patrick welcomed daughter Sasha Mae on
September 2, 2008. “Being a mom is the
best, and she is such a joy. We are blessed
with a very beautiful baby. My e-mail is
Jaclyn.Callison@gmail.com.”
Maria Thibodeau writes, “Life is well with
me ... In November of 2008 my partner
Kelly and I got married. I’m still living in
the Los Angeles area, and I’m currently in
my fifth year of teaching.”
Bo Parfet ’95 writes that his book, “Die
Trying: One Man’s Quest to Conquer the
Seven Summits,” was published in February.
He climbed Kilimanjaro, Aconcagua, Denali,
Adam Seamans writes, “I’m still working
at sea and trying to spend as much time
as possible with my wife Lorna. It’s been a
crazy couple of years with work and life, but
things are going well.”
David Swartz ’95 and wife Ayda with their sons
Bradley, 10, and William, 5.
Fred Piehl and wife Tammy live in sunny
LaJolla, California, with their dog Riley and
are doing well.
48
1996
At Dan Smith’s October 2008 wedding in Boulder,
Colorado: brother James ’95, bride Inese, Dan ’93, and
brother Tim ’91.
Jason Brauer writes that he has had six
different addresses in the past two years.
He says he moves because of his business,
not because of anything sketchy! He is
presently in Puerto Rico, but only for three
months, and then will be on the move again.
He told Hoopes that he’d been working in
the Bahamas for three months opening a
hotel in the Turks and Caicos and loved it,
even with the hurricanes. Jason has been
married for four years.
Jessica Ridgeway and husband Seth Lewis
report (at the time of this submission) that
they were expecting a baby in January 2009.
“We are planning a home birth here in the
redwoods. I am loving my job at Live Earth
Farm teaching sustainable agriculture, etc.
I got a raise! ... Calling Leidy Churchman –
what’s up with you? Coralia Miller – I owe
you a letter big time!”
Katie Cassani recently opened a second
restaurant in Florida. She has a son named
Graham and loves catching up with
Brewster buddies.
Johanna (Dunkel) Weber wrote, “I was
married in August and live in Washington,
D.C., with my husband Keith. Our wedding
celebration was attended by fellow
Brewster alumni Rebekah Seaman, Jenn
Cullen, Myles Price, and my brother Will
Dunkel ‘03. I’m a marketing manager for
the National Building Museum in D.C.”
Farleigh (Goss) Barnhart writes that she
and husband Sean just bought a house
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Patrick and Jaclyn (Escott ’96) Callison and
daughter Sasha Mae, born in September 2008.
49
Class Notes
Class Notes
2000
Save the Date!
Reunion 2009 l June 5-7
1998
Christina Felix writes, “My husband and I
are close to our seventh wedding anniversary. We are in sunny Northern California
with our daughters Sydney Rae, 2, and
Genevieve, 7. We recently added another
female to the house, an English bulldog
named ‘Sake’ ... she was a gift from Breanne
(Lowery) Vasquez ‘97. I specialize in on-site
event hair artistry, so this wedding season
has been very busy.”
1999 Reunion!
Doug Amber writes, “I graduated law
school in the fall and plan to take the California bar exam in February 2009. After that,
I will be working at Marcus & Millichap
where I interned the past year, specializing
in multi-family real estate development.”
Bridgitt J. Anderson writes, “I am the president of Black Law Students Association at
Valparaiso University for 2008-2009. I also
received the ‘HA’ (Honors A) in jurisprudence this past summer.”
Oakley Smith still lives in Lincoln, Vermont,
with wife Katherine.
Meredith Crumley writes that she is back
on the East Coast doing non-profit work.
“I intend to pursue my master’s degree in
social work or law school; still working on
[a] career that I thought I would have a year
or two ago. I’m still into sports and would
enjoy getting back into coaching.”
Susan (Rakich ’97) Rizzo and husband James at
their June 2008 wedding.
50
Mari Kawamura has been living in Tokyo
for the past few years and working as a
marketing advisor at NTT DoCoMo, a
cell-phone company. He hopes everyone is
well.
2005
Jamie Fergus-Jean lives in Los Angeles
and is the department manager at a guitar
center in Pasadena. He also started a business called Attack Mode Productions.
2006
Abi Putnam can’t wait for her 10-year class
reunion.
Ashley Ahlborn ‘00 married
Allison Fox on July 5,
2000, in Wisconsin. Among
Brewster attendees were
Megeen Simoneau ‘02,
Mary Kate Fellows Russell
‘00, Megan-Ryan Dupuis
‘00, and Brian Baum ‘00.
Also pictured are Ashley’s
father and stepmother, Seth
and Carrie Ahlborn, former
Brewster faculty and staff
members.
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Zach Nims writes that he received his
degree in construction management from
Colorado State University. “I have come
out with a documentary called “Home –
The Aramco Brats’ Story” which is doing
very well. It is a documentary that tries to
help improve Arab and American relations.
Our second film is being shot right now.
We have premiered our first film all over
the United States and were invited back
by royal invitation of Prince Turki to Saudi
Arabia to premiere the film in Riyad. We
went back in October 2008 to show the film
in other areas in Saudi Arabia. Other than
that we are releasing a CD called ‘Tunes
from the Dunes,’ which is a compilation
album featuring multi-national artists. It
Class of 2003 athletes: Allison Pouliotte and Carissa
Vilders returned to the Brewster fields as coaches.
Maggie Weeks is a junior at Simmons
College. She was captain of the field hockey
team and was lauded in the local news for
being instrumental in helping the team
through a rebuilding season. The team
earned the 2008 North Atlantic Conference
Sportsmanship Award, and Weeks received
the Team Spirit Award.
2008
Georgia Christoforou writes, “I am
currently living in Greece and working at a
five-star hotel in the Peloponnese. I am also
teaching Spanish to children at a learning
center.”
Hannah Byers joined the U.S. Coast Guard
in December 2008 and graduated from
basic training in February. She is stationed
in Miami for her first unit and will train
in law enforcement, border control, search
and rescue, and alien immigration. l
2003
Former Bobcat field hockey players Allison
Pouliotte and Carissa Vilders were back on
the field coaching Brewster’s jv field hockey
team in fall 2008. Vilders also is the girls’
varsity lacrosse assistant coach this season,
working with head coach Laura Cooper.
Laura Guerin writes that she spent last
summer back East and she is now on the
West Coast again but plans to move to
France with her boyfriend, Dax. “We find
out soon when and where we’ll be. Hoping
to see more of the world.”
2004 Reunion!
Jamie Foster is living in New York City and
is working on a singing career as an operatic baritone. He graduated from Hofstra
University with a bachelor of science degree
in music business.
Brenda Noiseux ’96, Susan (Rakich ’97) Rizzo,
KrisEmily (Anderson ’96) Olds, and Alison (Michaud
’96) Laszewski at Susan’s June 2008 wedding.
Holly O’Donnell will graduate in May
2009 with a degree in accounting from
Assumption College. She plans to work at
Alexander, Aronson, Finning & Co., P. C.
after graduation.
Curran Robinette will graduate from
Western State College of Colorado this
year and is applying to graduate school to
pursue a master’s in marketing.
Griffin Irving is working at the corporate
bond desk at ICAP in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Singer/songwriter
Gregory Douglass ’99
performed for Brewster
students in January. He
released his seventh CD,
“Battler,” in March.
Vanessa Dewey writes, “After receiving
my B.F.A. in graphic design, I moved to Los
Angeles. It will actually be four years now;
I currently live in Los Feliz. I am a graphic
designer for Mattel – I get to work with
Barbie and the 5-year-old in me is simply
loving it. I also finally started doing freelance to keep the creative juices flowing.”
have one year of NCAA eligibility remaining
and will finish at Chaminade University.”
Hunter Strupp lives in Washington, D.C.,
and will marry Brittany Emens in June
2009.
2001
Ali Sierpina ‘98 visited California twice this
summer. “I keep in contact with Breanne ‘97,
Jill K., Cheryl Siekmann ‘99, James Trinko
‘97, and Farleigh (Goss) Barnhart ‘97.”
has a distribution deal with Megastar in
Saudi. So things are going very well.”
Coast Guard Trainee Hannah Byers
Joel Smith graduated from the University of
Washington in spring 2008 and is pursuing
his master’s in education in Honolulu. “I
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51
In Memoriam
In Memoriam
Pop Whalen Remembered …
March 31, 1927 - October 10, 2008
“Pop got the most out of the kids … with love, respect, and understanding.”
~ Dave Pollini ’57, former teacher and coach at Brewster Academy
By Beth Hayes ‘81
In Memoriam
Class of 1916
Carl L. Morgan
Wolfeboro
Class of 1936
Marguerite F. Fogg
January 22, 2009
Bradenton, Florida
Class of 1940
Everett T. Lemery
November 28, 2008
Wolfeboro
Class of 1941
Howard E. Bean
January 11, 2009
Wolfeboro
Class of 1942
Candace “Anita” Hale
July 4, 2008
Wolfeboro
Class of 1955
Caroline E. (Letteney) Swift
January 15, 2009
Madison, New Hampshire
Former Faculty
Paul “Pop” Whalen
October 10, 2008
Cornish, New Hampshire
52
In mid-February David Pollini ’57 and
Mal Murray – both former teachers
and coaches at Brewster – joined me for
lunch in the Estabrook. The men visited
campus to help me learn more about a
popular former member of the Brewster
community who had recently passed
away – Paul Whalen, affectionately
known as “Pop.”
Paul “Pop” Whalen arrived at Brewster
in 1954 when, as it is today, teachers
at boarding schools wore many hats.
Whalen taught business courses and
coached basketball, football, and baseball;
he later became athletic director.
Whalen and his beloved wife Winnie
also were houseparents, usually for a
dorm filled with postgraduate students.
It was his role as housefather that earned
Whalen the endearing nickname “Pop.”
“He was like a father,” is a common
response about Whalen from students
who had been under his watch. It was no
surprise when the boys in the dorm also
began calling the Whalen’s son, whose
name also was Paul, by the nickname
“Pip.”
Pollini first met Whalen when he was a
Brewster student. In 1971, when Pollini
returned to Brewster to teach biology
and coach baseball and soccer, he found
a mentor in his former teacher and coach.
“As a coach, Pop was like a brother,
friend, and a father all rolled into one.
Always there to help, always there for a
good word. He was hard to upset, so even
tempered. Never a yell … kids didn’t
want to disappoint him. Pop got the
most out of the kids that you can get …
with love, respect, and understanding,”
Pollini recalled.
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Winning Team: Members of the 1958 undefeated baseball team and their coach, Pop Whalen
(center), at the 2008 Reunion.
his graduate studies were completed,
Whalen arrived at Brewster to teach and
coach.
The skills and challenges that Whalen
offered his students were consistently
matched with his kindhearted words
and infamous laughter. “Pop showed me
everything [about working with adolescents] … how to coach, how to teach,
how to deal with kids,” Murray offered.
Whalen also taught Pollini and Murray
how to parent their dorm kids. “He did
everything smoothly, didn’t have to jump
on kids. Pop took everything in stride. He
knew when to give kids a second chance
and kids realized that,” Murray said.
Whalen Establishes Brewster’s
First Ice Hockey Program
Whalen had attended Boston University
as both an undergraduate and a graduate,
earning a master’s degree in education.
As an undergraduate he played on
BU’s hockey team, earned All-American
status, and played in the first Beanpot
hockey tournament, an annual Boston
tradition that continues today. Soon after
Whalen was eager to share his talent for
hockey and his enthusiasm for the game.
It wasn’t long before he flooded a portion
of Memorial Field, and Brewster’s first ice
hockey program surfaced. In our conversation, Pollini and Murray recalled these
frigid nights with very warm memories.
Murray recalled a story about how
Whalen enlisted some of the faculty –
most of whom were not skaters, much
less hockey players – to scrimmage with
him against the Bobcats because the team
needed the practice. Murray recalled
how Whalen skated around everyone,
tucking in behind the net, and passing
deftly to Pollini and Murray who were
waiting in front of the net. “All we had
to do was pop [the puck] into the net. ”
Murray said.
instead to go where he could play more
than the 20 games the young Brewster
squad had on its schedule that season.
“This is who Whalen was – always
putting the player, the person, ahead of
the school and ahead of the hockey team,
to where they would be most successful,”
Murray said.
Whalen’s love of teaching and coaching
– and his love of hockey – not only had
a profound affect on Brewster Academy
but also on the town of Wolfeboro. When
Wolfeboro built an ice arena, the rink
was named the Pop Whalen Ice Arena in
honor of him.
In 2001 Brewster inducted Whalen as the
first member of the Academy’s Athletic
Hall of Fame.
Whalen returned to campus faithfully
each year for Reunion, including the
2008 Reunion last June. And
at each Reunion “Pop”
was surrounded by his
former students and
players who admired
and loved him for all
he had done for them
– and meant to them – as
teenagers. l
Murray also shared a story about the
day when Whalen told him that Robbie
Ftorek (who would go on to play in the
Olympics and for the National Hockey
League) was interested in attending
Brewster as a new student and hockey
player. Whalen said he advised Ftorek,
however, not to attend Brewster but
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53
Writing Brewster’s History
Writing Brewster’s History
1960s Trustees’ Decision: Brewster Will
Remain an Independent School
Carr went on to state that in his opinion, Brewster Academy had
no obligation to provide secondary education to students from
Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro simply because they were the towns
mentioned in the will.
By Bob and Shirley Richardson
In the spring of 1961, Principal Burtis Vaughan voiced a concern
to Brewster’s board of trustees: “The large eighth grade enrollments in the surrounding towns have posed a problem for next
year, for after careful count I have estimated that between 315
and 325 students will be enrolled on opening day next fall. We
are being taxed to our capacity …”
Overcrowding Creates Challenge for Brewster
Brewster was attempting to provide an educational program for
more than 300 students in a facility designed to accommodate
fewer than 250. In addition, Vaughan had been approached
by school superintendents of several other neighboring towns
who inquired if Brewster could take their day students in the
fall. There was at the time no other high school in the area, so
local students attended Brewster Academy – or traveled north
to school in Conway or south to Rochester, both of which were
more than 25 miles away.
Vaughan calculated that to limit class sizes to the 15 pupils he
preferred – should he keep accepting the increasing numbers of
students – Brewster would have to become strictly a day school,
and he did not like that idea. He wrote to the trustees:
“If Brewster Academy increases its enrollment to the point that it serves as a regional [public] high school for
this area, we may as well drop our dormitory plans, as our admissions talking point is small classes and individual attention. … Brewster Academy has been and is
unique in its campus, its facilities, and its standing. The
Principal feels that it should be kept this way.”
The Decision’s Origins
Principal Vaughan and a few of the trustees had met with the
Wolfeboro School Board and its superintendent of schools in
the early spring of 1960 to discuss the issue of overcrowding
at both Brewster Academy and at Carpenter School, which
served grades one through eight. The outcome of this meeting
produced two options:
Bob and Shirley Richardson were long-time faculty members who
retired in 2004. Bob came to Brewster in 1965 and wore many hats
during his 39 years, including history teacher, director of studies,
college admissions director, dorm parent, and coach. Shirley joined
the faculty in 1974 and throughout her tenure taught English,
history, ESL, and learning skills. From 1984 to 2004, Shirley headed
the College Office. Since their “retirement” the Richardsons have
embarked on “writing Brewster’s history.”
54
The Estate Trustees Respond to the Academy Trustees
In his response to the Brewster Academy board of trustees,
John Carr (John ‘66), a trustee of the John Brewster Estate and a
Boston attorney, responded that the annuity payment of $10,000
would not be affected no matter what was decided.
Members of the Board of Trustees Executive Committee: (standing) Col. Hugh
Wilkin, Dr. Harold Gregory. (seated) Principal Burtis Vaughan, Chairman
Howard Avery ’22, Adelaide (Robinson) Hughes ’26.
• Wolfeboro needed to erect a new building – or buildings – to house its junior high or high school students; or
• Brewster needed to expand and become a large regional high school.
Of even greater concern was the news that New Hampshire
had published a code of rules for all public high schools in the
state that dictated they be comprehensive schools – offering
vocational, commercial, and college preparatory tracks to all
students.
The Brewster Academy board of trustees, led by Chairman
Howard Avery ’22, decided they needed to discuss several
issues with the John Brewster Estate trustees, including:
•whether the income from the Brewster estate would be affected if the Academy reverted to its original status as a private school without state regulation or state accreditation;
• what obligation Brewster had to provide secondary education to students from Tuftonboro beyond what was
stated in John Brewster’s will;
•the impact of tuition paid to Brewster by Wolfeboro or
any other town, should Brewster become the local public
high school.
Avery and the board composed a letter to the Estate trustees
asking for clarification.
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
Carr continued, “Nowhere in the will is there anything at all
which says how the school shall be run; what its curriculum
shall be; and what its objective from an educational standpoint
shall be.” He went on to say the money was to be “… expended
wholly for the salaries of teachers, for instruction and educational purposes of said school or academy, so nearly as possible
to make instruction and education therein free …” – and he
continued, “The very language of the will indicates clearly …
that the education furnished cannot be totally and entirely free
of cost to the student. … the bounty of the trust is not intended
to relieve the taxpayer’s burdens but rather to enhance and
enrich the benefits to the students.”
The issue was discussed at the Brewster Academy board
of trustees meeting on April 7, 1962, and the decision was
reached:
“From information available at this time it is the
consensus of the Trustees that Brewster Academy
revert to its former status as a private academy
not later than the fall of 1965.”
The trustees elected to honor John Brewster’s will and trust
and keep Brewster a truly independent or “free” school. The
town of Wolfeboro would have to make arrangements for the
secondary education of its children by other means.*
Reverting Back to an Independent School
The board of trustees and Vaughan began organizing a
transition committee comprising the principal, the dean, three
trustees, and a member of the dormitory faculty. An administrative assistant was hired to help the principal with facilities,
foundation bequests, and all other matters relating to returning
Brewster to its private status. The committee also voted to
hire an architect to make recommendations for a long-range
building and campus plan.
The trustees were eager for professional advice on how to
proceed through the transition. Dr. Gordon O. Thayer, a friend
of trustee Adelaide Hughes ’26 and the headmaster of Thayer
Academy, reviewed the school’s academic, athletic, and admin-
Principal Burtis Vaughan and family at home in Lord House. In front of
Vaughan is son David ’72; behind David is Jo Anne ’65; and Janna ’62
(see Hoopla, page 39) is behind Virginia Page Whiting Vaughan.
istrative structure. He emphasized the importance of having an
education committee that would work closely with the principal,
report directly to the trustees, examine the curriculum, and do
the hiring and firing.
It was decided that a student who had a diploma from
another school could not participate in interscholastic sports at
Brewster other than managing a team or helping in the athletic
department. Dropping the postgraduate athletic program
would allow Brewster to return to the Lakes Region Preparatory
League. The committee recommended that Principal Vaughan
be the director of admissions, responsible for meeting with
educational consultants and headmasters of the League who
might help with the challenges of enrolling younger students.
In 1963 Vaughan traveled extensively to try and recruit new
students, but the results were discouraging. Brewster had no
history nor reputation as a independent (private) school; the
library facilities did not measure up to those in most New
England “prep” schools; and few students wanted to be the
first to enroll in this “new” private school. But the headmasters
of other New England independent schools were supportive,
believing that Brewster had great potential to be successful after
experiencing a few lean years once the local students stopped
enrolling at Brewster and went to the new public school starting
in the fall of 1964.
Enrollment for the 1963-1964 school year at Brewster was the
highest ever, at 366.
The New Dormitory Building is Planned
*A local study team subsequently created the Governor Wentworth School District
– the largest school district in the state – comprising the towns of Brookfield,
Effingham, New Durham, Ossipee, Tuftonboro, and Wolfeboro, to educate grades
one through 12 in these towns. Kingswood Regional High School in Wolfeboro was
built as a result and opened in fall 1964.
l
Principal Vaughan had realized early on that should Wolfeboro’s school board plan to build a new public high school,
more effort would have to be made to increase the boarding
student population at Brewster. In his annual report to the
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55
Writing Brewster’s History
trustees in June 1962 Vaughan expressed his hope that the
trustees would study the costs and design of a new dormitory.
“We would certainly need to have 125 boys on campus by the
fall of 1965,” he stated, and went on to describe his summer
plans to visit educational consultants in Boston and New York
to attract more four-year students.
The board of trustees had
been receptive to the idea of
constructing a new dormitory to house additional
residential students for the
1964-65 school year, but
time was passing and the
enrollment figures called for
an additional 50 students. As
the early summer drew on,
it became obvious that the
funds needed for the new
structure would be difficult
to raise in such a short time.
At the June 15 meeting it
was voted to accommodate
only 40 boys by reducing
Trustee Dr. Harold Gregory and Principal the size of the structure and
Burtis Vaughan examine the architect’s
the total cost to $175,000.
plans for the new dormitory to be built
Trustee Hughes passed out
near Brown Hall.
pledge forms to the trustees
and turned in her own for $5,000; trustee Justin Tibbetts ’92
contributed $10,000.
The Class of 1964 donated $500 to the school for a new
library and dormitory. The new dorm would be located
east and south of Brown Hall and have a flat roof in case
another floor needed to be added later. The building was
to be named Sargent Hall, after Herbert B. Sargent who
had taught science, math, and mechanical drawing at
Brewster for 52 years, from 1894 until his death in 1946.
He and Mrs. Sargent had lived their entire Brewster
days in the house across South Main Street from Lord
House.
Brewster boarding and day tuitions at the time were both well
below the national average for independent schools.
As Vaughan had anticipated, Brewster’s enrollment was
greatly impacted by the transition. The total enrollment for
the upcoming 1964-1965 school year was 132, with 96 dorm
students and only 36 day students. Vaughan soon decided
that he could not realistically drop the postgraduate program
because of the boarding income it generated, but he would
still broaden the search for younger students. An increased
enrollment of boarding students would be absolutely necessary
for the 1965-1966 school year.
The course of study had been changed, with college preparatory subjects in the five major academic areas stressed. The
half-credit courses required of all classes in music appreciation,
history of art, history of religion, and ethics were to continue.
The board of trustees appointed a candidate search committee
and began accepting applications for Vaughan’s replacement.
On September 12, 1964, the committee arranged for Mr. and
Mrs. Wilfred E. Paro from Berwick Academy to join the board
meeting to answer questions, and for Paro to share his ideas for
Brewster’s future.
Paro suggested that a form letter be used for teachers, doctors,
and ministers to write evaluations of the applicants. Personal
interviews between the headmaster and the director of admissions with the parents – and with the applicants – should
follow. Decisions should be made by a board comprising the
headmaster, the director of admissions, and a few faculty
members.
Vaughan Submits His Resignation
As the June 1964 meeting was drawing to a close, Burtis
Vaughan read his letter of resignation to the board of
trustees, to be effective July 1, 1965. Several trustees
asked him to reconsider, but he would not – his desire
was to take up teaching Latin and coach soccer and go
back to working directly with students. Trustee Hughes
made a motion to accept Vaughan’s resignation with
deep regret.
The new Sargent Hall dormitory was completed on October 2, 1965.
Vaughan would spend the year working to stabilize the school
before he left. He wanted to increase the enrollment in the
lower grades, complete the new dormitory, implement a more
intense college preparatory curriculum, and limit the number
of postgraduate students.
He was faced with raising tuition at a time when Brewster was
competing with other independent schools for students. The
56
Gifts for the Future of Brewster Academy
Mr. Paro was also asked about his views on the issue of enrolling
postgraduates. Paro stated, “The PG comes to school for study.
If he has the time, he may participate in athletics. If he can
succeed in both, he may participate in both.”
Mr. Paro was hired as the first “headmaster” of the redesigned
Brewster Academy. l
BrewsterConnections l Spring 2009
You may want to make a special gift to
Brewster Academy. Bequests and charitable
trusts are two common ways to make a
gift that provides for the Academy’s future.
Brewster is grateful for gifts of this nature
that reflect a deep and abiding concern for
Brewster Academy’s heritage.
That’s why the 1887 Heritage Society was
established. This giving society provides an
opportunity for alumni and friends to gain
recognition for including the Academy in
their estate plans.
For example, some of these gifting vehicles
include bequests, charitable remainder and
lead trusts, annuities, real estate, insurance
policies, IRAs, and 401 (k) plans.
To learn how you can include Brewster in
your estate planning, please contact
Jim Bastis
Director of Alumni and Development
603-569-7140
or jim_bastis@brewsteracademy.org.
Brewster Academy
80 Academy Drive
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
postal
indicia
Parents of alumni:
If this magazine is addressed to your son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at
your home, please e-mail us at alumninews@brewsteracademy.org with his or her new address.
EXPECT TO LIVE
In a community where you grow strong in mind, body, and spirit.
A community you help create, together with new friends from across the world.
A community where everyone respects everyone else and everyone has fun.
EXPECT GREAT THINGS.
OF US. OF YOURSELF.
Office of Admission • 800-842-9961 • admissions@brewsteracademy.org