stony brook
The Bulletin of The Stony Brook School
WINTER 2016
the
Strategic Plan issue
plus: our most successful main event ever, homecoming weekend highlights, swimming returns, and more 1
Why I returned to The Stony Brook School:
“When the opportunity arose
to head back to SBS as a staff
member, I knew it would
be a special experience.
In my new position as
admissions associate, I provide
current and prospective
students the same experience
I value so highly as an alumnus.”
Tory Abrahamsen ’10
Considering a Stony Brook education for your child?
stonybrookschool.org/apply
photo © bruce jeffrey
stony brook
The Bulletin of The Stony Brook School
WINTER 2016
Vol. LXXXV No. 2, Winter 2016
head of school
Joshua Crane P’18, ’20
assistant head of school
Jane A. Taylor P’99, ’01
editor/art director/designer
Rachel Estrada Ryan
managing editor
Sara Kristin diPierro
director of annual giving
Alex Edwards-Bourdrez ’72
the stony brook board of trustees
S. Michael Koh ’88, Chair
Elaine M. Kanas P’09, Vice-Chair
J. Douglas Kirk ’79, Secretary
Henry Ho ’78, Treasurer
J. Scott Pavao P’10, ’14, ’20,
Director of Finance/Assistant Treasurer
Diane W. Bennett P’14
Bruce Bohuny P’17
Rebecca Haile Swanson ’78
Ethan F. Harris ’71
Nathan Hart
Jocelyn Hathaway Hutzler ’82, P’12, ’17
Wendelyne Horst Murphy ’82
John Lindsell ’70
SPECIAL FEATURE:
The Strategic Plan 4
14
ALSO FEATURED
14 the main event
Read a recap of our most successful fundraising event to date.
DEPARTMENTS
18 Campus Life
22 Athletics
24
Homecoming 2015
28 Alumni Log
34
Flow of The Brook
Front and inside cover photos © Bruce Jeffrey
24
The Stony Brook Bulletin, USPS #522-440, is
produced for all alumni, parents, and friends
of The Stony Brook School. The Bulletin is
published by The Stony Brook School, Inc.,
Stony Brook, New York, three times a year.
mission statement
The Stony Brook School is an independent
college preparatory school (grades 7-12) that
exists to challenge young men and women to
know Jesus Christ as Lord, to love others as
themselves, and to grow in knowledge and
skill, in order that they may serve the world
through their character and leadership.
send address changes to:
the stony brook school
alumni office
1 chapman parkway
stony brook, ny 11790
phone 631-941-1550 fax 631-941-1557
email alumni@stonybrookschool.org
website www.stonybrookschool.org
alumni portal alumni.stonybrookschool.org
printed by Corporate Color, Deer Park, NY
3
4
photo © michael cao ’18
Strategic Plan
for The Stony Brook School
For almost a century The Stony Brook School has been a place
where vision and tradition meet—vision for Christian education
and a strong tradition of implementing that vision. But vision
precedes tradition in the same way that character must be
established before career. As Proverbs 29:18 says, “Without
vision, the people perish.” So it is with high hopes that we
articulate our vision for Stony Brook, to set its compass and keep
it on a good course.
The next several pages identify The Stony Brook School’s core
mission, statement of practice, and vision for the future.
It concludes with seven strategic imperatives that will serve as
benchmarks for our growth in the near term. From this visional
basis we will both renew and safeguard the Stony Brook tradition
that so many of us—students and families, faculty and staff, and
our broad base of supporters—hold dear. We expect our
centennial to be a bright occasion.
5
SBS Strategic Plan
OUR MISSION
The Stony Brook School is an independent
college preparatory school (grades 7-12) that
exists to challenge young men and women to
know Jesus Christ as Lord, to love others as
themselves, and to grow in knowledge and skill,
in order that they may serve the world through
their character and leadership.
OUR PRACTICE
We believe school should be a place where young
people embark on a passionate quest for truth,
beauty, goodness and self-discovery, informed by
relationships with adults of character and faith
who know and love them. Our founding Head
of School Frank Gaebelein believed that “all
truth is God’s truth.” With this in mind, we
are confident that sincere inquiry will lead
students into discovering the heuristic power of
the Christian narrative. We want our students
to be deeply and thoughtfully engaged in the
world around them, to be prepared to meet
contemporary challenges with well-trained
minds and hearts. Further, we recognize our
School’s commitment to excellence in the liberal
arts, and we are confident that it will remain
at the center of what we do.
Photo of Carson Auditorium
taken by photography student
Michael Cao ’18.
6
SBS Strategic Plan
OUR VISION
FOR THE FUTURE
By 2022, we see
Stony Brook students:
The Stony Brook School turns 100 in
the year 2022. This milestone will be a
testament to God’s faithful preservation of Stony Brook. Yet milestones do
not just celebrate the past; they can also
be inflection points towards a brighter
and more verdant future. Our planning
efforts have sought to answer the following question: Who do we want to be
when we turn 100? Through a 15-month
process initiated in 2014, Stony Brook
undertook an exhaustive study to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing the School. Out
of that process emerged clarity around
two essential components—a vision for
the School in 2022, and the strategic
initiatives that must be undertaken to
achieve it.
• Exploring matters of faith and
philosophy on their quest for truth,
beauty, and goodness;
• Preparing to become leaders in
arenas of business, politics, research,
medicine, education, social service,
and the church, and doing so with
cultural sensitivity, moral seriousness,
and intellectual integrity;
• Hosting and winning competitions
focused on using entrepreneurship,
engineering, and technology to serve
others and solve 21st century problems
around the world;
• Undertaking service-learning projects
locally, regionally, and globally,
inspired by passionate teachers who
are exemplars and mentors;
• Growing from transformational
experiences as scholars, artists, athletes
and leaders;
• Matriculating to college knowing who
they are and how to use their gifts in
service to others;
• Benefiting from excellent facilities
designed to reflect the values and
aspirations of the institution;
• Serving as models and ambassadors to
other schools who are also seeking to
foster the development of character, a
love of learning, and a commitment to
faith seeking understanding;
• Spending 100 hours a year outside of
class during an extended definition of
“the school day” in areas in which they
have discovered a passion;
• Returning from college grateful for the
literacy they have about faith and
religion that their peers do not seem
to have.
As the guide to this future,
the following strategic
imperatives are based on
the recommendations of
Stony Brook’s Strategic
Planning Committee
and leadership.
1. The Arts
2. Financial Sustainability
3. Mentoring Students
4. STEM
5. Facilities
6. Partnerships
7. Faculty
7
SBS Strategic Plan
1. The
Arts
Rationale:
Stony Brook students routinely express
profound appreciation for their studies in
core disciplines like history and science.
We want to raise the profile of the arts so
that more of our students also see the arts
as a vital part of their education.
We recognize that technical competence
alone cannot be the goal of 21st century
education, and that the world needs
“technicians” who are thoughtful about
the moral, spiritual, aesthetic, and cultural
dimensions of human creativity.
Creativity, critical thinking, problemsolving, and cultivating a love of beauty
are central to education, and the
arts have always been necessary in
cultivating these qualities in students.
Action Steps:
• Invest in faculty development and facilities
for the arts.
• Develop curriculum and scheduling options
to promote the arts and incentivize student
participation in the arts.
• Develop curriculum that helps students to
reflect critically, philosophically, and
theologically about the arts and about
human creativity.
• Incorporate the arts/humanities into the
STEM initiatives, creating STE[A]M.
• Network with other schools who are on the
forefront of STE[A]M initiatives.
8
© bruce jeffrey
Advance the arts at Stony Brook
with programs that enhance student
creativity, promote the marriage of
technology and art, and challenge
students to discover the true, the good,
and the beautiful.
2.
Financial Stability
Create financial sustainability for the
next generation of Stony Brook families
and students.
Rationale:
As a historic school that continues to
provide a challenging Christian education
to a diverse student body, The Stony Brook
School occupies a vital place on the
educational landscape of America and
beyond. Ensuring its financial health into
the future, a future which is debt-free and
financially enabled to achieve the ambitions
of its academic, athletic and residential
programs, is a priority for the School.
Action Steps:
• Moderate tuition increases, relying on
alternative sources of revenue while
strengthening the culture of philanthropy,
charitable giving, and endowment-building
to balance the budget.
• Develop a financial plan that establishes
metrics for student population, staffing, and
expenses yielding greater efficiencies and a
positive cash flow budget.
• Develop a net tuition strategy around
financial aid that grows enrollment,
captures talented students, and generates
additional tuition.
SBS Strategic Plan
3. Mentoring
Students
© michael turek
Further “Character Before Career”
through a robust student mentoring
system for all students that stresses
personalized learning, health and
wholeness, leadership training, cultural
intelligence, and spiritual and character
development.
Rationale:
In our age of anxiety, a “character before
career” education is more vital than ever.
Character education has always been centered on strong relationships between faculty
and students at Stony Brook, and we want
to support these relationships with greater
intentionality. Further, we believe that all
students are made in the image of God with
dignity and worth and are called to love and
serve others. Our program will intensify mentoring, helping students to a better knowledge of themselves and their world, and so to
gaining wisdom and confidence about their
choices regarding school and life.
Action Steps:
• Train and empower teachers, staff, and
residential dorm parents to take a larger
role in counseling and mentoring students,
challenging students to cultivate virtue and
a thirst for wisdom and knowledge,
assisting students to practice serving and
leading others, and helping students to grow
in faith.
• Develop a health and wholeness curriculum
that helps students gain a critical distance
from the pressures they experience related
to success and performance. We will
encourage our students to respond with
maturity and self-control to the various idols
of our culture: media, materialism,
consumerism, anxiety-driven performance.
• Assist students to better understand their
strengths and weaknesses, to monitor their
growth and well-being.
• Expand staffing in counseling and
mentoring to help students leverage their
strengths, gifts, and passions, and develop
skills and habits that contribute to their
well-being and the well-being of others.
• Promote a robust theology of difference
and inclusion that, in conjunction with
our School’s mission, will direct us as we
cultivate cultural intelligence within the
context of our diverse community and as
our students prepare to serve the world.
9
SBS Strategic Plan
4. STEM
Further a world-class Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Math
(STEM) program.
Rationale:
The Stony Brook School opened its first
STEM lab in March 2015 with the full
expectation that it will be the cornerstone of
a world-class STEM program on The Stony
Brook School campus. We are committed to
providing both the latest technology and the
time for our students to be able to innovate,
create, and design. We recognize the need
to encourage all students to explore STEM
education, especially students who tend to be
underrepresented in this field. Stony Brook
has a fantastic opportunity to lead
secondary education in training students to
marry STEM capabilities with the ethical
and character considerations that are at the
heart of The Stony Brook School’s program.
Action Steps:
• Create robust programs, facilities, and
scheduling that allow students to explore
STEM / STE[A]M related subjects and
activities.
• Hire and train the best STEM-adept
teachers in this field, who also are trained
to address important ethical dilemmas and
responsibilities within the area of STEM.
• Improve, integrate, and invigorate teaching
and learning through strategic deployment
of technology and carryover into real-world
engagement and problem-solving.
10
5.
Facilities
Develop inspiring facilities that support
the mission of The Stony Brook School,
enabling us to deliver on the promise of
21st Century education, and increase our
visibility in the community.
Rationale:
The Stony Brook School believes that
excellence honors God and inspires people.
As such we must develop facilities that
contribute to the overall vision of excellence
we are seeking for every aspect of our
campus. In addition, our classroom and
residential spaces need to facilitate and
support our curricular aims of character,
creativity, critical thinking, collaboration,
communication and cross-cultural
competency.
Action Steps:
• Develop a master plan for our facilities
(examining every inch of campus to
determine optimal usage) and conduct a
feasibility study (to determine our capacity
to fund a capital campaign for an
ambitious plan).
• Design and launch a capital campaign
focused on campus renewal that supports
the mission and the program evolution
anticipated by this strategic plan.
• Repurpose Johnston Hall, then address
the necessary renewal or replacement of
dormitories, faculty housing, and arts
and other facilities.
SBS Strategic Plan
6.
Partnerships
© bruce jeffrey
Develop and deepen partnerships in
areas where outside entities can bring
world-class resources to The Stony
Brook School to benefit its students.
Rationale:
Stony Brook has remarkable geographic,
cultural, and academic resources in close
proximity to its campus. We have exciting
opportunities to create partnerships that can
extend the reach of the classroom and can
help students contextualize their education.
• Re-think staffing and scheduling for
afternoon programming that includes
athletics, the arts, clubs, service,
and internships.
• Engage significantly in the local and metroNYC area with businesses, research centers,
museums, and universities to deliver on the
promise of college and life preparation.
• Develop a robust partnership with Stony
Brook University in every aspect that is
beneficial to The Stony Brook School in
order to prepare our students for college
and arrange for course work, research
opportunities, cultural enrichment, and
college awareness and orientation.
© bruce jeffrey
© bruce jeffrey
© michael cao ’18
Action Steps:
11
SBS Strategic Plan
7. Faculty
Retain, recruit, and reward the best
faculty members in the world.
A teacher at The Stony Brook School must
be many things: a follower of Jesus Christ,
an effective mentor, a community builder,
a passionate scholar, an inspiring coach, a
thoughtful theologian, and a model of
biblical literacy. Our mission depends greatly
on our people. Therefore, the School will
make employing and rewarding outstanding
faculty a key priority. Hiring and
development will emphasize excellence,
which will be judged on three levels:
© bruce jeffrey
Rationale:
Action Steps:
• Re-engineer compensation and benefits
to compete for talent by meeting NAIS
salary benchmarks.
• National searches will be conducted to
fill vacancies.
• Cultivate the School’s Teaching Fellows
Program and develop relationships with
Christian Union and ministries with
significant presences on college campuses in
order to attract the best and brightest
mission-appropriate candidates, and
capitalize upon this pool to increase
diversity in the hiring of faculty and staff.
• Expand the professional development
program to build capacity in our teachers.
• Character
Stony Brook School teachers will
demonstrate exceptional character as
they model godly living before the
community.
• Competence
Stony Brook School teachers will
demonstrate skilled and engaging
teaching, depth of knowledge of their
subject material, a deep understanding
of adolescents, and cross-cultural
competency.
© kristin hensel ’16
• Culture fit
Stony Brook School teachers will
contribute positively to the life of the
School by wholeheartedly embracing
Stony Brook’s mission, values, and ethos.
12
SBS Strategic Plan
What’s next
for The Stony Brook School ?
These are exciting times for the The Stony Brook School.
With clear vision and growing investment in our School,
we feel the wind at our backs. The accomplishment
of our strategic goals will position Stony Brook well
for the next hundred years of growth and impact.
Soli Deo Gloria!
—Joshua Crane, Head of School
© leslie paige
13
The Main Event
fundraiser and auction
14
The Stony Brook School and SBS
Parents hosted parents, alumni, and
friends of the School at The Main
Event fundraiser on October 22,
2015, at The Old Field Club.
This sold-out event featured live
and silent auctions, raffle baskets, a
seated dinner, and music from local
jazz musician Tom Manuel and his
band from The Jazz Loft.
All proceeds benefited Operation
Classroom Redesign, an initiative
to transform a number of our
classrooms into spaces of creativity
and collaboration.
all photos on this spread © bruce jeffrey
The Main
Event: Oh
What a Night!
1
3
2
Photos:
1. Premier Sponsors Wayne Leung
and Angela Chui
2. Joshua Crane welcoming guests.
3. Rob Taylor ’67 and
Assistant Head of School Jane Taylor
4. Amanda Cunningham ’11 embraces
Jennifer Crane
5. Janine Harrigan, Christine Reilly, and
Patrick Harrigan, president of SBS Parents
4
5
Through the
generosity of
our sponsors,
auction donors,
and our guests,
the school raised
over $100,000...
making the
evening
our
most
successful
fundraising
event
to date.
15
The Main Event
all photos on this spread © bruce jeffrey
10
6
11
12
7
Photos:
6. Jennifer Tharp, Kimberly Thornbury,
Cris Cunningham and Sean Cunningham
7. Courtney (right) and Michael Cox ’07
8. Cris Damianos ’77 and Helayne Damianos
9. Academic Dean Sean Riley and Emily Riley
10. Alonzo and Dianne Toney
11. Bob McCarroll ’82 (right) with the evening’s
auctioneer, Allan Newman
12. Jane Snyder bids on an auction item
At right:
Former faculty member Tom Manuel (playing horn)
and his band from The Jazz Loft (Stony Brook, NY)
8
16
9
thanks to
The Main Event
sponsors
for a complete list, turn to
the inside back cover.
17
campus life
NEW FACULTY, NEW STAFF, NEW ROLES
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10
11
7
6
5
8
4
3
2
all photos on this page © bruce jeffrey
1
13
18
14
16
15
Katelyn Kishkunas (1)
Christine Loo (5)
Tory Abrahamsen ’10 (12)
Learning Specialist
Director of College Counseling
Admissions Associate
A graduate of Wheaton College, Katelyn
majored in English, minored in geology,
and played soccer for the school’s Division
III team. After graduating, she worked as a
teacher at Caribbean Mountain Academy and
Jarabacoa Christian School in the Dominican
Republic, followed by the SciTech STEM Discover Academy in Aurora, Illinois.
Amy Tietjen (2)
AP Psychology
Amy holds a BA in communications from
Palm Beach Atlantic University and an MS
in education with a specialization in school
counseling from Baylor University. She taught
psychology at the University of West Georgia,
served as counselor in a variety of contexts,
and worked as a residence hall director at
Baylor University. She is the author of the
children’s book Birds I’ve Met through
the Alphabet.
Mark Tietjen (3)
Chaplain and Bible Chair
Mark graduated with a BS in finance from
Palm Beach Atlantic University prior to
earning both an MDiv and a ThM from
Princeton Theological Seminary. After that,
he studied philosophy at Baylor University,
earning an MA and a PhD. Before coming to
Stony Brook, Mark was the program director
of the philosophy department at the University
of West Georgia.
Jason Webster ’05 (4)
Director of the Frank E. Gaebelein
Office of Equity and Inclusion,
Entrepreneurship
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Jason graduated
from Gordon College with a BA in sociology.
Following graduation, he worked on city, state,
and federal initiatives to improve academic
performance and achievement in Boston’s
lowest performing school. Most recently, Jason
finished an MBA in consulting and entrepreneurship from Wake Forest University in 2014.
Christine (“Chris”) comes to Stony Brook
from Archbishop Molloy High School in
Briarwood, New York, where she built a
comprehensive four-year college counseling program for graduating classes of 200
students. She holds a BA in American history
and an MA in social work from the University of Pennsylvania and a college counseling
specialized certificate from the University of
California San Diego.
Sarah Fay (6)
AP and Regular Physics
Sarah hails from Illinois and is a sixteen-year
teaching veteran. A graduate of Calvin
College with a BS in physics, she also has an
MA in educational leadership from
Northeastern Illinois University.
Margaret Morena (7)
Middle School Mathematics
Margaret brings 23 years of experience with
her as a former principal, assistant principal,
and math and science teacher. She holds a BA
from Dowling College and an MA from Stony
Brook University.
DJ (8) and Danielle Cronrath
(not pictured)
Co-Directors of Residential Life
Although not new to the SBS staff, husband
and wife team DJ and Danielle have assumed
new roles in residential life.
Jackson Loo (9)
Academic Technology Coordinator
Jackson, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, has over 25 years of corporate and
volunteer IT experience.
Mollie Jones (10)
English Teaching Fellow
A graduate of Rollins College in Florida,
Mollie studied English and philosophy, while
also running cross country for the college’s
Division II team. Mollie served as an intern
at The Geneva School in Winter Park, Florida,
and received a number of awards as a student
for her writing.
Kim Sparacio (11)
Development Associate
A graduate of Briarcliffe College, Kim has
actively volunteered in fundraising for private
schools over the last 15 years, as well as
provided administrative support to her
family’s business.
Tory graduated from Liberty University with a
BS in communication arts/digital media.
He will focus on admissions travel, marketing,
social media initiatives, and website
enhancements.
John Thiele (13)
AP Chemistry and Middle School Science
John joins us from Rock Quarry Middle
School and Shelton State Community College
in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. After earning a BS in
natural resource studies at UMass-Amherst,
John graduated with an MS in biology from
the University of Alabama.
Cara Dixon (14)
Director of Counseling Services
An experienced counselor and researcher,
Cara earned a BA in psychology and an MA
in clinical counseling from Eastern University.
Prior to SBS, she served as school counselor
for Smithtown Christian School and as a
private counseling consultant.
Jennie Donovan (15)
Director of Student Support Services
After graduating from UVA with a BA in
psychology, Jennie earned an MEd in community counseling from Boston University
and an MEd in the teaching of students with
moderate disabilities from Cambridge College.
She has served as a learning specialist at Stony
Brook since 2010. Prior to SBS, Jennie worked
as a mathematics teacher, special education
administrator, and department chair.
Nancy Cippitelli (16)
Assistant Director of Admissions
Nancy joins us from Harbor Country Day
School in St. James, New York, where she
supported the Admissions Department and
three division heads. Nancy holds a BS in
education from Wagner College and a
master’s in education from Jones
International University.
Lydia O’Brien (not pictured)
Registrar
Lydia joins Stony Brook from North Central
University in Minnesota, where she served as
associate registrar. She holds a BS in
intercultural studies from Northwestern
College and has completed work towards
an MA in professional counseling from
Liberty University.
19
campus life
all photos on this page © bruce jeffrey
FALL,
OUTDOOR
ADVENTURE
CLUB
STYLE
Among the many new initiatives for the 2015-2016 school
year is the ambitious Outdoor Adventure Club. Founded and
led by its president Ben DiRuggiero ’17, the Club has already
canoed in Stony Brook, mountain biked in Avalon Park, and
explored the beautiful beaches of Fire Island. An Eagle Scout, Ben moved to Stony Brook from Georgia
two years ago and wanted to share his love of nature with the
Stony Brook community. With its motto, “Go, Explore, Grow,”
the OAC’s mission is not only to enjoy the outdoors, build
relationships, and avoid the excessive use of technology, but
also to perform service in the local community and beyond.
A beach clean-up was the first community service
activity of the year. The club has been extremely well received. More than 120
people signed up during orientation, and most activities
have been filled to capacity. Ben has focused on planning
excursions that require participants to act as a cohesive team,
challenging and encouraging one another to rise above
themselves. Club members also learn and refine outdoor
skills such as chopping wood, building fires, cooking camp
meals, and constructing tents and shelters.
20
MORE NEWS & NOTES
© 2015 res gestae
© sbs archives (retrieved by david hickey ’08)
Yujin Kim ’16 Named Finalist
in Siemens Competition
Senior Yujin Kim was named a regional finalist in the prestigious Siemens Competition in
Math, Science & Technology. Nationwide, only
97 regional finalists from 20 states were announced. Yujin’s project was mathematics based
and has applications in computer graphing. It
dealt primarily with spheres of influence graphs
and Euclidean space. She had one teammate
from Virginia and was mentored by Dr. Dan Ismailescu, a mathematics
professor from Hofstra University.
Samantha Taveras ’16 Honored by
National Hispanic Recognition Program
THEN
AND
NOW
Pictured above:
Former faculty member
Pierson Curtis (at left)
bonds with students over
a campfire. Curtis was
an avid outdoorsman
and often held dinner
outside during the
1960s, which became
known (and loved) as
“PC’s Cookouts.”
© bruce jeffrey
Learning to start a fire and cook over an
open flame are basic outdoor skills that never
go out of style.
Senior Samantha Taveras has been honored by
the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) for her score on the PSAT.
Samantha’s score placed her in the top 2.5% of
Hispanic students nationwide.
Each year, the NHRP honors about 5,000 of
the highest-scoring students from over 250,000
Hispanic/Latino juniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT. To be eligible for
recognition, students must take the PSAT/NMSQT in October of their
junior year, be of at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino heritage, achieve
the minimum required test score, and have a cumulative grade-point
average of 3.5 or higher by the middle of junior year.
Stony Brook Awarded Grant
from the Maclellan Foundation
Pictured below: Doug DiRuggiero, father
of Outdoor Adventure Club founder Ben
DiRuggiero ’17, helps continue a tradition.
Stony Brook has been awarded a grant from the Maclellan Foundation
in support of a “STEAM in Christian Categories” project proposal,
which outlined an internal design competition at SBS. The STEAM
(science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) design
competition will identify a local or global problem, analyze the problem
in light of Christian theological categories, and then design possible
solutions to those problems using knowledge and skills from the
STEAM disciplines. The grant will allow the School to purchase
materials and award prizes for the competition. Nearly every SBS
student will participate. Once the concept is proven internally, Stony
Brook will seek funding to make it an interscholastic, national event.
© jane taylor
© bruce jeffrey
Welcome New Board Members
Three new members joined
the SBS Board of Trustees
this year. (Pictured l to r:
Bruce Bohuny P’17, Rebecca
Haile Swanson ’78, and John
Lindsell ’70)
21
athletics
First Swim Meet
The start of a whole
new season at SBS
Join us in honoring the memory of the man who started it all:
The pool’s founding donor, John “Jack” Swanson ’47 (1929-2015)
READ JACK’S OBITUARY ON PAGE 33
22
WE ARE... THE STONY BROOK BEARS
The Swim Team Returns—and Shatters School Records
all photos on this spread © bruce jeffrey
by dan hickey ’04, associate director of athletics
Ten months ago, the Swanson pool
was dry and dusty. Since then, the pool
was resurfaced and refilled, the deck around the
pool was retiled, new clear glass windows were
installed, and a fresh coat of paint was applied
to the walls.
Even more exciting, the swim team was resurrected after a twelve-year hiatus, filling the long
dormant Swanson Natatorium with familiar
echoes. Coach Marc Danin brought a wealth of
experience, knowledge, and skill to the program
and daily sharpened our fifteen swimmers.
Their hard work culminated in a thrilling
60-33 victory over Class AA William Floyd in
the season opener. Despite the team’s collective inexperience and small numbers, the girls
were competitive in every single meet, never
losing by more than 17 points. They closed the
season with a 54-40 victory over West Babylon,
during which two school records fell. In front
of a standing room-only crowd, Rebecca Crane
broke the 50 freestyle record set by Amanda
Shapiro ’04 with a time of 25.67. Not to be
outdone, her older sister Rachel broke a record
of her own, the 23-year-old 100 backstroke
time set by Christina Haag ’92, with a time of
1:04.64.
After an exciting regular season, a number
of Bears qualified for the Suffolk County
Championships. The 200 Medley Relay team
achieved their best time of the season as Kate
Jones, Rebecca Crane, Rachel Crane, and Francine Leung raced to a time of 2:08.36. Eighthgrader Rebecca Crane surged to a 25.88 performance in the 50 freestyle, just 0.21 seconds
off of her own school record time. Her mark
gave her a 13th place finish out of 31 swimmers.
Sophomore Rachel Crane achieved a lifetime
best in the 200 individual medley, finishing in a
time of 2:21.63 to place 13th out of 22 swimmers. She followed that up with a scorching
performance in the 100 backstroke, cruising
past her own school record by 1.66 seconds in
time of 1:02.98.
In the final event of the day for the Bears, the
400 freestyle relay team narrowly missed resetting a 13-year-old school record by just 1.37
seconds. Rebecca Crane, Josie Levy, Francine
Leung, and Rachel Crane earned a time of
4:06.09, leaving them just a few strokes away
from the 2002 time of 4:04.70 set by Lisa Cook
’05, Caitlin Kevins ’04, Caitlin McQuilling ’03,
and Amanda Shapiro ’04.
The girls treated us to many memorable
moments this fall. The future looks bright for
the youthful Bears, who return all five swimmers who qualified for the County Finals, as
well as other strong contributors.
Special thanks must be given to the Swanson
family, whose generous support made the
dream of a refurbished pool a reality. The mark
they have left on the history of Stony Brook
Athletics is indelible.
23
Homecoming 2015
Take a selfie.
Stay awhile.
24
welcome
home
all photos on this spread © bruce jeffrey
The class parade
and kids’ events,
the sunny day and
time with friends...
This year’s
Homecoming
was all about
family fun.
25
I have perceiv’d that to be with
those I like is enough,
To stop in company with the rest
at evening is enough,
To be surrounded by beautiful,
curious, breathing, laughing flesh
is enough,
To pass among them or touch any
one, or rest my arm ever so lightly
round his or her neck for a
moment, what is this then?
I do not ask any more delight,
I swim in it as in a sea.
Save the Date for
Homecoming 2016!
Weekend of October 1-2
Want more Homecoming pictures?
You can view all Homecoming 2015 photos and access free digital downloads on our SmugMug page.
Go to stonybrookschool.smugmug.com/201516/Homecoming (password: “bears”) to see the complete album.
26
all photos on this spread © bruce jeffrey
Excerpted from:
WALT WHITMAN,
“I Sing the Body Electric”
alumni log
SBS Alumni Log
1930s
1930
On May 6, 2015, John Smart ’30
celebrated his 100th birthday.
He was publicly recognized by his
hometown of Malverne, New York,
and was selected as the Grand
Marshall of the 2015 Malverne
Memorial Day Parade.
1940s
1945
Mayor Jacques Istel ’45 and his
wife, Felicia, were featured in a
PBS piece in April 2015 for their
town of Felicity, California, which
is home to the Museum of
History in Granite.
1950s
1950
Former faculty member W. Terry
Harrison ’50 published a new
book titled The Apostle Paul
Returns, where he explores the
debate regarding the authority of
the Apostle Paul.
Ben Moss ’54 participated in a
group show at the Hallie Ford
Museum of Art in Salem, Oregon.
He was joined at the opening
reception on September 11, 2015,
by members of his extended family
including nephew-in-law Paul
Murray ’77, daughter Jennifer
Moss ’84, and nephew Ben
Miller ’80. (Pictured l to r: Paul
Murray ’77, Jennifer Moss ’84, Ben
Miller ’80, and Ben Moss ’54) (1)
28
1955
In March 2015, Dianna and Dick
Burcaw ’55 and Billie and John
Green ’55 visited Al Stalb ’55
and his wife, Suzie, while in St.
Petersburg, Florida. (Pictured l to r:
Dianna Burcaw, Dick Burcaw ’55,
Billie Green, John Green ’55, Alan
Stalb ’55, and Suzie Stalb) (2)
1960s
1963
In November 2015, Donald
Allport Bird ’63 gave a keynote
address at an international conference at China Youth University in
Bejing. He writes, “This will be my
fifth trip to China. The title of my
speech ‘It Isn’t the Gale, It’s the Set
of the Sail’ is similar to the one my
dad gave when he addressed the
SBS faculty in 1962.”
1964
In May 2015, Lew Flagg ’64 connected with Bob Langworthy ’62
in Freeport, Maine. Bob was in
town for his granddaughter’s ballet
recital, and his son’s family attends
the same church as the Flaggs.
Lew writes, “He wasn’t staying
long enough to have dinner, but he
promised he’d be back for a longer
visit in the future.” (Pictured l to r:
Lew Flagg ’64 and Bob
Langworthy ’62) (3)
1965
In July 2015, Glenn Ogden ’65
performed in his first International
Barbershop Competition. He
writes, “Eighteen months ago, we
created a competition chorus of
about 100 men from all over North
Carolina and South Carolina. We
heard lots of great choruses and
quartets at the competition and
learned more about how our
society is working with youth to
foster music in our schools.”
1966
Mark Govertsen ’66 is teaching
AP History at Coral Springs
Christian Academy in Coral
Springs, Florida.
1967
In August 2015, Rob Taylor ’67
connected with Philip Snyder ’79
in New Mexico. Philip is working
as an anesthesiologist in Albuquerque. (Pictured l to r: Rob
Taylor ’67 and Philip Snyder ’79)
(4) Rob also organized a Stony
Brook team to run in the Hercules
on the Harbor 10K in Stony Brook
on October 25, 2015. Proceeds
from the race benefited Stony
Brook Hospital Cancer Research
Center. (Pictured l to r: Jonathan
Hicks ’02, Tesella DeLorme
Hicks ’02, Director of STEM
Education Stan Winston, Current
Parents Ciska and Ian Haynes,
Cianka Haynes ’17, Rebecca Taylor
Canosa ’01, Rob Taylor ’67, Jose
Canosa, and Head of School Joshua
Crane) (5)
Richard “Dick” Malmstrom ’67
and his wife, Linda, travelled
through Watkins Glen, New York,
and had lunch with former Head
of School and baseball coach
Donn Gaebelein and his wife,
Norma. He writes, “We exchanged memories of all our years
together at ‘the Brook’ and of our
Ivy League championship year in
baseball. Donn remembered many
details about our season that I had
forgotten! It was a time I’ll always
cherish.” (Pictured l to r: Richard
Malmstrom ’67 and former Head of
School Donn Gaebelein) (6)
1970s
1975
Janice Harrison Sanders ’75 and
her husband, Peter, are living in
Las Vegas, Nevada, after retiring
from the military and teaching.
They have two daughters and four
grandchildren.
Don Lockerbie ’75 finished his
role in March as chief operation
officer and co-executive producer
of the Miami Beach Centennial
Concert that was held on March
26, 2015. His next project will be
consulting on the stadiums and
temporary Olympic venues for
the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio
de Janeiro. He writes, “By the way,
Colonel Thad Gaebelein came
down to serve as my security consultant. Great fun!”
1976
On July 10, former faculty
members Michael and Carol
Harvey ’76 visited Stony Brook
while on a tour of the Northeast
with three of their children, Jenay,
Jillian, and Jake. The family lives
in Sarasota, Florida. (Pictured l to
r: Assistant Head Jane Taylor, Jake
Harvey, Carol Harvey ’76, Michael
Harvey, Maureen Kluge
Hanley ’87, Director of Annual
Giving Alex Edwards-Bourdrez ’72,
Jillian Harvey, and Jenay Harvey)
(7)
1
9
5
2
6
10
3
8
in May 2015. Lisa continues to
teach at the San Francisco
Writers’ Grotto.
7
4
1980s
1980
Diego Vega ’80 hosted Bill
Strong ’80 at his home in Miramar, Florida, in late June 2015.
(Pictured l to r: Diego Vega ’80 and
Bill Strong ’80) (8)
William O’Byrne ’80 and his
family moved to Colorado in July
2015, after serving 22 years as missionaries in Russia. His employer
remains Church Resource Ministries in California, but his position
has changed from foreign field
staff to ministry team director.
1981
John Evans ’81 and his wife,
Elizabeth, continue to serve at Africa International University/Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School
of Theology, where John teaches
two PhD seminars and
one master’s course. He recently
finished Guide to Biblical Commentaries (10th edition), which is
expected be published this year.
Daria Lamb ’81 is working in Palo
Alto, California, at the Institute for
the Future, a technology-focused
think tank that forecasts societal
shifts in the next 10-50 years. She
writes, “It is a dynamic place to be,
and I can’t wait until the driverless
cars can take my daughter to her
two-a-day basketball practices!”
1982
Teresa Morgan ’82 is living in
Florida and working as a
rehab coordinator at Florida
Presbyterian Homes.
1984
Lisa Wanzer ’84 has been accepted
as an affiliate artist at the Headlands Center for the Arts in California’s Marin County. During her
one-year tenure, she will complete
her essay collection, Jaywalking.
She recently completed her fiction
collection titled Gelatin Prints
1985
William Beckwith ’85 lives in
Northern Virginia with his wife,
Edita, and two children, Preston,
7, and Sandra, 5. He writes, “I am
working on mobile wireless industry competition and spectrum
issues at a national agency. I also
operate my private law practice,
which focuses on estate and small
business planning. Any classmate
who is ever visiting Northern
Virginia should look me up!”
1987
Jack Raplee ’87 is working on a
book about diners in Queens titled
As Diverse as the Menu.
1990s
1991
Former faculty members Dr. Drew
Rideout ’91 and his wife, Christy,
and their family served in Niger in
June and July. Drew is a medical
missionary with Samaritan’s Purse
International. (Pictured l to r:
Christy, Micah, Anika, Drew Rideout ’91, and Rayna Rideout) (9)
11
1993
I Shan “Jenny” Chen ’93 and her
husband, Zakk, visited campus
with their daughter, Chloe, and
son, Andre, in June 2015. The
family lives in Taiwan. (10)
The Sea Wolves, by author Lars
Brownworth ’93, was a New York
Times Bestseller in June 2015.
Lars’s website describes, “In The
Sea Wolves, Lars Brownworth
brings to life this extraordinary Norse world of epic poets,
heroes, and travelers through the
stories of the great Viking figures.
Among others, Leif the Lucky who
discovered a new world, Ragnar
Lodbrok the scourge of France,
Eric Bloodaxe who ruled in York,
and the crafty Harald Hardrada
illuminate the saga of the Viking
age - a time which ‘has passed
away, and grown dark under the
cover of night’.” (11)
29
alumni log
Moving On...
Three beloved couples are moving on from The Stony Brook
School at the end of the 2015-2016 academic year. We wish all six
of them the very best in their new adventures!
1994
Alistair Green ’94 and his wife, Katie, welcomed a baby
girl, Evelyn Margaret, on November 9, 2015. He writes,
“Mom and baby are doing great. We thank God for this
wonderful blessing!”
Emily Litman ’94 traveled to Fiji with the Fund for Teachers in
July 2015 to explore the country’s ecosystems and learn about
conservation education. She teaches mathematics at Learning
Community Charter School in Jersey City, New Jersey. Emily
writes, “We also set up a partnership with a school called Naleba
School in a small village to encourage cross-cultural exchanges
between our students.” (Pictured l to r: Emily Litman ’94 and her
colleague, Joan Buonafide, who also went to Fiji) (12)
1999
Nora Henderson Messier ’99 and her husband, Graham,
welcomed Emma Ruth on February 9, 2015. Emma joins her
older sister, Zoey Marie, who was born on October 21, 2011.
Barbara and Thom Brownworth
Ben Taylor ’99 and Han Joon Kim ’99 connected in Washington,
DC, on April 24, 2015. (Pictured l to r: Han Joon Kim ’99 and
Ben Taylor ’99) (13)
Gerald Tilma ’99 is working for The University of Texas at
Austin as a software developer.
2000s
2001
Anne Evans ’01, her husband, Sean, and big sister, Maevie,
welcomed a baby girl, Honor, on July 12, 2015.
Jean and George Linzee
all photos © bruce jeffrey
2005
Isom Chapelle ’05 and his wife, Cristina, welcomed a baby
boy, Isaac, on July 9, 2015. Isom writes, “He’s healthy, fun to be
around, and surprisingly strong. Cristina is recovering well, and
Jason Webster ’05 was the first Brooker to see him in person.”
(15)
Michael Hickey ’05 and his wife, Betsy, welcomed a baby girl,
Nora Antoinette, on June 4, 2015.
Doug and Cheryl Hicks
30
2004
Rebekah “Bekky” Petek Altug ’04 is serving in Uganda with
ChildVoice International. She writes, “Life is good. I’m enjoying building relationships with the women, playing with the
children, and living in the simplicity of nature. I’m also learning a
lot about joy, laughter, and friendship, as well as sickness, death,
and changes.” (Pictured: Rebekah Petek Altug ’04, far right, with a
colleague and Ugandan children) (14)
2006
Eric Waxman ’06 is now a captain in the US Army. He is
stationed at Ft. Louis in Washington, where he serves as an
artillery officer. Before his current position, Eric served at
bases in Tennessee and Georgia.
2009
On May 14, 2015, John Kanas Jr. ’09 was the guest speaker at the
Senior Luncheon at the Three Village Inn. John is currently Vice
President of Commercial Private Banking NY for BankUnited.
(Pictured l to r: John Kanas Jr. ’09 and Head of School Joshua
Crane) (16)
14
12
16
17
15
13
Samantha Lee ’09 is studying
at the University of Pittsburgh
for a master’s degree in applied
developmental psychology with
a specialization in children with
special needs and child life. She
writes, “It’s very exciting!” She
hopes to attend medical school in
the future.
2010s
2010
In May 2015, Agnes Kauer ’10
connected with David
Hickey ’08 and Anna Linzee
MacDonald ’97 in Vienna,
Austria. Agnes provided a tour
of the city to David, Anna, and a
group of SBS students. (Pictured l
to r: Anna Linzee MacDonald ’97
Agnes Kauer ’10, and David
Hickey ’08) (17)
2011
After graduating from Harvard
in May 2015, Kara Lee ’11
worked at Spotify for the
summer in their Global Label
Relations Operations.
Jessica Winston ’11, her brother,
Tiger, and father, Stan, ran a half
marathon in Philadelphia on
March 29, 2015. Stan is a cancer
survivor and serves as Director of
STEM Education at Stony Brook.
Marci Winston, Jessica’s mother,
writes, “I had to share how proud
I am of my children and husband
and how grateful to God I am
for life today! Never take it for
granted. It is a gift to be shared!”
(Pictured l to r: Jessica Winston ’11,
Stan Winston, and Tiger Winston)
(18)
2014
Wheaton College sophomore
Daniel Bennett ’14 worked for his
college’s archaeology department
last spring. He spent six weeks in
Ashkelon, Israel, and during
summer 2015 worked on a project
on Roman amphitheaters at
The Institute for the Study of
the Ancient World at NYU.
Faculty and Friends
History and Bible Teacher
Dr. Jason Radcliff and his wife,
Alexandra, welcomed a baby boy,
Nicholas Forrest, on June 24, 2015.
(19)
Co-Directors of Residential
Life DJ and Danielle
Cronrath ’05 welcomed a baby
boy, Liam Gregory, on June 25,
2015. (Pictured l to r: Jacob, DJ,
Liam, and Danielle Cronrath ’05)
(20)
18
19
20
21
Associate Director of Athletics
Dan Hickey ’04 and his wife, Jami,
welcomed a baby boy, Jack Oliver,
on October 17, 2015. (21)
Teaching Fellow Luke
Trouwborst married Alessandra
Haynes on August 1, 2015, in
McKinney, Texas. (22)
22
31
in memoriam
Obituaries
Alumni
William H. Hazlett ’35 (Kingston, PA) on July
11, 2015.
John F. Conforte Jr. ’38
(Canadian Lakes, MI)
on November 29, 2014.
A graduate of Lehigh
University and Adelphi
University, John served
in the US Marine Corp
during World War II in
Japan. After returning to the United States,
John joined the overseas division of General
Motors and served in South America and
Europe in both sales and finance. He was an
active board member for many years on the
Canadian Lakes Association Board, WaltonErickson Library, and God’s Helping Hands
Pantry. He was predeceased by his wife, Anne
Marie. He is survived by three sons, including
Jeffrey Conforte ’67, one daughter, and several
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
George W. Moffitt ’40 (Bryn Mawr, PA) on
April 26, 2014, after a long illness. He is survived by his wife, Nancy.
Eligio Broglio ’42 (Wellington, FL) on June 10,
2015. Eligio joined the
Air Force after attending
Amherst College and
served as a pilot during
World War II. After the
war, he joined his father
at The Swan Club restaurant in Glenwood
Landing, New York. They sold the restaurant in
1964, and he entered the harness horse racing
business, where his racing stable won many
of the top races. He was president of the first
publically traded harness horse company, Standardbred Pacers & Trotters. Eligio was active in
many charities, most notably the Vinceremos
Therapeutic Riding Center, where he served as
president for eight years. He is survived by his
wife, Iseult, two children, ten grandchildren,
and nine great-grandchildren.
Duncan W. Buell ’46 (Philadelphia, PA) on
April 24, 2015. He graduated from Yale University with a degree in architecture and worked
for Louis Kahn in Philadelphia. He later started
his own firm, Buell Kratzer Powell, LTD. He is
survived by his wife, Sallylou, a brother, Douglas Buell ’58, and two grandchildren. He was
preceded in death by two sons, Ely and Gordon.
32
Hugh. T. Kramer ’48
(Austin, TX) on April 29,
2015. The son of missionaries, Hugh spent his
first 14 years in Guatemala before attending
The Stony Brook School.
After serving in the US
Navy, Hugh attended the University of Arizona
and later moved to New York to pursue an
MBA at New York University. He worked for
an accounting firm for a year and later joined
IBM, where he would work as an executive
for 45 years and live in 17 different countries.
Hugh served as a trustee and ordained elder for
several Presbyterian churches, helping set up a
Portuguese outreach program for the growing
Brazilian community in Pompano Beach, Florida. He was preceded in death by his first wife,
Elizabeth. He is survived by his wife, Marsha,
two step-daughters, and three grandchildren.
Bruce S. Parker ’60 (Coto De Caza, CA) on
January 1, 2015.
Joseph “Joe” A.
Lyons ’62 (Petoskey,
MI) on July 15, 2015.
Joe earned degrees from
Fairleigh Dickinson University and started his career in human resources
at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, where he ultimately became
director of personnel. In November 1979, he
accepted a position at Bay Medical Center in
Michigan. He served the hospital for 31 years,
retiring in December 2010. He is survived
by his wife, Carrie, a daughter and a son, a
daughter-in-law, a sister, and three grandsons.
John A. Vassilaros ’64
(Bridgehampton, NY)
on July 10, 2015. He attended Parsons College
and later joined the military reserve, becoming
a member of the Army’s
elite Green Beret Special
Forces. John was the third generation to join
Vassilaros and Sons, a leading coffee roasting
house in New York City. He became the company’s president in 1994. Believing in helping
those in need, John was a board member of
the 52nd Street Project, an organization that
introduces inner-city children to the world of
theater. He is survived by his wife, Alexandra,
his mother, three sons, and four siblings.
Eric J. Nord ’70 (Crotonon-Hudson, NY) on July
9, 2014. After graduating from Wittenberg
University, he explored
a culinary career but
later found his passion
in executive recruiting.
He worked for Knightsbridge, Hewlett Packard,
and Deloitte. He is survived by his wife,
Andrea, and a daughter, Kelsey.
Tyrone “Tally” Taliaferrow ’71 (Bronx,
NY) on May 18, 2015. After attending SUNY
Brockport, Tally returned to New York City and
played in multiple rock bands. He performed at
many iconic New York and British venues. An
advocate for peace and justice, Tally was active
with Seeds of Peace, a peace-building youth
organization in New York City. He is survived
by his two children, two grandchildren, and a
brother.
Wayman Gooden ’72 (Newark, NJ) on August
4, 2015.
Jeffrey W. Reeder ’72 (Boise, Idaho) on June
11, 2015. He is survived by his parents, William
G. and Joyce Reeder, three sisters, including
Heather Reeder Bott ’74, and several nieces and
nephews.
Ofiji R. Parris ’94 (Brooklyn, NY) on
June 1, 2015.
Faculty and Friends
Arlene A. Barton (Monterey, VA) on August 2,
2015. She was the wife of former faculty member Alexander James “Jim” Barton. Daughter
Sandie Barton Sinnett writes, “The Stony Brook
School was a very important part of our lives
for many years. Until her death, Mom loved
to get the Stony Brook Bulletin and the annual
letters from the recipients of the MacLennan
Biology Award, an award that she funded.”
Ronald Bratone (Setauket, NY) on April 1,
2015. He was the father of Todd Bratone ’82.
Former Board Member
Elisabeth Elliot Gren
(Magnolia, MA) on June
15, 2015. Born in Brussels, Belgium, to missionary parents, Elisabeth
attended Hampden Dubose Academy in Florida
before earning a degree in classical Greek from
Wheaton College. She began her missionary
work in Ecuador in 1952, learning three different languages there. In 1953, she married Jim
Elliot and together they worked with the Quichua and Auca tribes, until Jim was killed by
the Aucas in 1956. Remarkably, Elisabeth and
her daughter, Valerie, returned to live among
the Aucas two years later, where she served
as a language translator. Upon her return to
the United States, Elisabeth began writing
and giving speeches, focusing on themes of
suffering, trusting God, obedience, and the
shaping of a Christian family. Elisabeth was
preceded in death by her husbands, Jim Elliot
and Addison H. Leitch. She is survived by
her husband, Lars Gren; a daughter, Valerie
Shepard; eight grandchildren, including Colleen Shepard ’04; four great-grandchildren;
and five siblings, including David M. Howard
’45 and Philip G. Howard ’38.
Elizabeth S. Evans (Farmington, CT) on
May 13, 2015. She was the mother of Linda E.
Evans ’80.
John W. Helfrich (Denver, CO) on August 2,
2015. He was the father of Andrew
Helfrich ’85, James Helfrich ’80, and
John Helfrich ’74.
Former Board Member Ralph D. Howell Jr.
(Lansdale, PA) on June 26, 2014. Ralph was
a principal at E.W. Howell Co., in Babylon,
New York, until 1984. The most notable of his
construction achievements were the restoration of the US Trust Co., The Shermerhorn
Row Block at South Street Seaport, and the
Hotel Plaza Athenee, New York.
Lucy D. Kinne (Charlottesville, VA) on April
21, 2015. She was the mother of Thomas
Kinne ’78 and Lucy Kinne Wallace ’76.
Former faculty member Jane Lauber (Sarasota, FL) on June 4, 2015. She was the mother
of Pamela J. Kok ’74 and mother-in-law of
Stephen R. Kok ’74.
Dean C. Picton (Pompano Beach, FL) on
November 28, 2014. He was the father of
Kenneth Picton ’68 and Thomas Picton ’65.
Charles Rampone Sr. (Setauket, NY) on May
31, 2015. He was the president of Ramp Motors in Port Jefferson, New York. He was the
father of Wayne Rampone ’73 and grandfather of Charles Rampone ’99 and Christopher
Rampone ’01.
Ruth Schultz (San Jose, CA) on April 3, 2014.
She was the mother of David Schultz ’85.
Dorothy Shepherd (Summit, NJ) on September 28, 2014. She was the mother of George
W. Shepherd III ’66 and Timothy N.
Shepherd ’71.
Richard Tiedemann (Smithtown, NY) on
August 11, 2014. He was the father of Keith
Tiedemann ’79.
John “Jack” P.
Swanson ’47
(Hendersonville,
NC) on April 13,
2015. The middle
child of five
siblings, Jack
suffered as a
young child from a serious throat
condition which affected every aspect
of his daily life. He was educated at
first by tutors at home and visited his
family’s bakery with his father often
during these years. There he learned the
many facets of bakery life and learned to
appreciate people of all ages and backgrounds, something that would serve
him the rest of his life.
After recovering from his illness, he
followed his two older brothers to The
Stony Brook School, where the School’s
motto “Character Before Career” molded Jack. Jack attended Bucknell University, where he met his wife, Mary Jane,
and established his first company that
delivered sandwiches to student dorms.
In 1951, he began his career with S.B.
Thomas Bakery, and he continued to
take on additional responsibility within
the company until his retirement. Later,
he became a consultant to several small
businesses and start-up companies.
Jack was a family man and delighted
in raising his two children. He loved
coaching Little League and teaching
Sunday school and cared deeply for his
extended family. After early retirement,
Jack increased his volunteer efforts
and was a valued board member for
many organizations. The cause of
quality education was among his top
philanthropic efforts, as was evident in
his financial support of Stony Brook.
His wife and two children, Kate and
John, write, “In word and deed, Jack
has left us a strong Christian example
to follow. His strength, determination,
and great capacity to love will guide our
footsteps. And as much as he always
has, he will continue to support and
encourage us from above. For this we
give great thanks to God.”
Jack is survived by his wife, Mary Jane;
a daughter, Kathleen and her husband,
Hayes Mizell; a son, John P. Swanson
Jr. and his wife, Amy; four grandchildren, Paul Swanson, Anna Swanson,
Alan Swanson, and Mark Mizell; and a
brother, George Daniel Swanson ’51.
Norman “Norm”
A. Koop ’65
(Woodstock, VT)
on October 7,
2015.
A former board
member, Norm
attended Eastern College, Eastern
Baptist Seminary, and Princeton
Theological Seminary, earning the
degrees of Master of Divinity and
Master of Theology. While in seminary,
he served as student assistant at Tenth
Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.
The first church that he pastored was the
historic Deerfield Presbyterian Church
in New Jersey.
In 1990, Norm moved to Woodstock,
Vermont, to pastor the First
Congregational Church, where he
and his wife, Anne, celebrated 25 years
of ministry this spring. His outreach
in the community included the local
prison as well as Dartmouth College.
Norm enjoyed spending summers
with family on Lake Mascoma in New
Hampshire. He was preceded in death
by his parents, former United States
Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop
and Elizabeth Flanagan Koop. Norm is
survived by his wife of 47 years, Anne;
his three children, Charles Koop ’93,
Tina Koop Bazala, and David Koop;
seven grandchildren; a brother, and
a sister.
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33
flow of the brook
PILGRIMS, AND PATHS, CROSSING
Stony Brook alums reunited last summer in the midst of three intensely personal journeys.
by laura collins ’79
Last summer, three middle-aged Brookers
decided, independently, to walk nearly 800
kilometers of a medieval pilgrimage route
across northern Spain. Following an early
Roman trade route, pilgrims have walked
this path ending in the northwestern city of
Santiago de Compostela since the 9th Century.
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is
built on what are believed to be the bones of
St. James the Apostle, and it is to this shrine
that millions have journeyed.
Thanks to Facebook, we became aware of each
others’ plans to walk; though we were drawn
there for different reasons, coincidence meant
we’d walk at the same time. Karen Russell ’75
and I had never met, and Jay Munro ’79 and I
had not seen each other since our graduation
36 years ago. On May 28th, I met Karen in
the French village of St. Jean Pied de Port and,
following a late night of sharing Stony Brook
memories, we each started our westward walk
over the Pyrenees mountains. Two days later,
Jay left from the same village, and three weeks
after that we ran into each other in the city of
Leon. What follows is a bit of my story.
My early retirement this January provided an
ideal time for a personal journey that would
involve significant physical, mental, and
emotional strength. Each pilgrim carries a
pack with everything they need, and I quickly
learned how little that truly is. A change of
clothes, a silk sleep sack, minimal toiletries,
water, snacks, and trekking poles were all I
carried for the 40 days that I walked. Along
the way there are albergues, or hostels, where
pilgrims spend the night. Bunk beds and
shared bathrooms quickly became familiar
accommodations. For less than ten dollars a
night, a pilgrim has a place to sleep, and for a
few dollars more, a simple dinner.
Laura Collins ’79 graduated from
George Fox College in Newberg,
Oregon. She’s lived in Oregon ever
since, and has two children and two
step-children. Last January she
retired from a career in financial aid
at Willamette University. With her
husband, Sam, she enjoys traveling
and hiking throughout the United
States and abroad.
34
Most mornings I walked alone. Afternoons
were spent resting, doing laundry, treating blisters, and getting to know other pilgrims. I met
people from Bolivia, Korea, South Africa, the
Netherlands, Japan, New Zealand, Germany,
Italy, Iran, and Latvia. Cultural, generational,
and gender barriers dropped away. Stories,
food, and wine were shared, and each morning
we wished each other a “buen camino.”
After three weeks of walking, I detoured onto
the Camino Invierno, a path not as popular as
the Camino Frances. I hadn’t realized that “not
as popular” meant “not really used.” For eleven
days I walked alone, without encountering a
single other pilgrim. The villages are small and
far apart, but the local people are kind and
eager to assist those walking alone.
One day, I entered a tiny village early in the
morning and an elderly woman came out of
her barn to greet me. She was hunched over
and wore all black, which is the standard outfit
of a widow in Spain. She asked if I was walking
alone, then launched into a stern scolding in
Spanish—the message was clear from her furrowed brow and pointing finger. A bit baffled,
I pointed to myself and then folded my hands
and said, “I pray.” She brightened and said,
“Sí.” Then I pointed to her, folded my hands
and pointed to myself: “You pray for me?” The
woman became radiant and patted my arm,
“Sí!, Sí!” She sent me on with her blessing.
Another day, I passed through a hamlet and
saw a driveway covered with rows of oats
spread to dry. At the end of the rows, a very
old man, with only one working arm, was trying to unfurl a mess of black plastic. I dropped
my pack and went to help. I took hold of the
plastic and pulled it towards the edge of the
oats, asking “Sí?” to be sure that he wanted
them covered. I realized then that he could not
communicate. He had no teeth and his whole
body trembled. I spent 30 minutes pulling and
dragging and tucking, until finally all of the
oats were covered with the plastic sheet. Before
leaving I patted his back and said “Adios,” and
he looked at me with tears in his eyes. He had
no words, but his message touched me deeply.
Karen, Jay, and I had our own goals in terms
of the distance we planned to walk as well as
what we hoped to gain from the pilgrimage.
The three of us never walked together, but
Karen and I met up several times during the
first weeks, and to my surprise, soon after arriving in Santiago de Compostela I passed an
outdoor cafe and Jay jumped up from a table
with a joyous welcome.
There is a connection I describe as “family,”
that Stony Brook alumni share regardless of
when we attended. The Camino provides a
similar connection for those who walk it.
Karen, Jay, and I are fortunate to now be
connected by both of those rich and
blessed experiences.
After arriving in Santiago de Compostela, I
decided to continue to Cape Finisterre, once
believed to be the end of the world. A marker
indicating 0.0 kms confirmed the end of my
journey. After 40 days and 600 miles, it is hard
to express the experience in just a few paragraphs, but I suspect that Karen and Jay would
agree—that we have been forever changed.
Thank You
from
and
The Main Event
committee
The Stony Brook School
Premier Sponsors:
Mr. Wayne Leung and Mrs. Angela Chui
Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Taylor Jr. ’67
Platinum Sponsors:
Bronze Sponsors:
Mr. and Mrs. Sean P. Cunningham
Mr. Armand DeRose
Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. McCarroll ’82
Flair Designer Boutique
Pioneer Asphalt Paving, Inc.
Munch Repair Service
Mr. Richard Sobelman and Mrs. Lorraine Vigliarolo
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Sray
Stafford Associates
Kevin A. Seaman, Esq.
GPC Contracting, Inc.
Sage Dining Services
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sanders
Ms. Joy Mega and Mr. John Mega
Jet Sanitation Service Corp.
Austin & Co., Inc.
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bilfinger
Silver Sponsors:
Friend Sponsors:
The King’s College
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Nye
In Honor of Walt Gale ’54
SBS Parents Executive Board
Mr. Peter Maglione and Ms. Christine Reilly
Ms. Suzanne Cosgrove
WFC Architects
Both is Better LLC
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Bennett
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony E. Burke
Mr. and Mrs. William D. Adams
Dr. Peter Tonge and Dr. Nicole Sampson
Edward Jones of Stony Brook
Baldwin Automotive
Lobel’s of Sunrise, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Scanlon Sr.
Minuteman Press
New Galaxie LLC
Dr. and Mrs. Mark Tietjen
George Rehn CPA
Ms. Shella Ng
Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Watts ’52
Gold Sponsors:
The Bulletin of
The Stony Brook School
stony brook, ny 11790
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Permit No. 522-440
Alex Radin ’93
“Things Necessary”
Oil on Birch Wood Panel
30” x 45”
2012
In the painting titled Things Necessary I
was thinking about the kinds of things we
value in life and attempt to pass down to
future generations. While there is nothing
inherently wrong about the material things
we pass down, I thought about how we can
sometimes emphasize these items and lose
perspective about what’s really significant.
Nature often provides me with many tangible
reminders of what really is important in life.
I chose Grandma’s china as the subject
because it often resides behind a glass
cabinet, rarely gets used, must stay in the
family, and never gets chipped or damaged
in any way. This is juxtaposed against the
backdrop of helicopter seedpods spiraling
down from a great maple tree. Each single
seedpod contains everything necessary for
that tree to pass on its inheritance to future
trees, and it will drop at just the right time.
—Alex Radin ’93
36