Tuxedo Park School | 2025 Green & Gold Gazette

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GREEN GOLD

125 Years

A Foundation for the Future

Gazette

2025

Table of Contents Mission Statement......................................................... 1

Alumni Day 2025...........................................................23

Letter from the Head of School....................................... 2

The TPS Distinguished Faculty Award.............................24

Message from the President of the Board of Trustees...... 3

A Fond Au Revior to Madame Kate Vignola / Parents Association......................................................26

New Board Members...................................................... 4 The History of Tuxedo Park School.................................. 6 TPS Spirit of Philanthropy..............................................10 Golf Classic..................................................................11 The Enduring Value of a TPS Education..........................12

A Legacy of Learning: Celebrating John Ham..................27 Graduation Day..............................................................28 Awards / Secondary School Placement / College Acceptances ....................................................32

Your Philanthropy in Action............................................14

Class Notes / Alumni Gathering at The Century Association / Alumni Moms Lunch..............34

Field Day.......................................................................15

In Memoriam.................................................................41

TPS Fund / Alumni Spotlights.........................................16

TPS Art Show................................................................44

Head of School’s Challenge / Distinguished Alumni Award..........................................22

TPS 125th Anniversary Fund..........................................45

Administrative Team Stuart Johnson Head of School Serena Mueller Associate Head of School

Ruth Teague Director of Enrollment Management & Secondary School Placement Coordinator

Nat Modugno Chief Financial & Operating Officer Fiona Duffy Director of Institutional Advancement

Mission Statement Tuxedo Park School... Honors effort and excellence Inspires a lifelong love of learning Celebrates each student Values its traditions and historic community Prepares students for a changing world Nurtures its core values:

Be Kind, Be Fair, Be Responsible

Now and Forever Green & Gold! tuxedoparkschool.org 1

Letter from the Head of School Dear Friends, Welcome to the latest edition of the Green & Gold Gazette! As we continue to celebrate a very special milestone year—the 125th Anniversary of Tuxedo Park School (TPS)—we have much to be thankful for. We began in 1900 as a modest tutoring establishment, catering to Tuxedo Park families who came for ‟the season” and, over the years, the school has taken root in the community, developing a unique character with cherished traditions. Today, TPS serves students from thirty-eight ZIP codes, with about a quarter residing in Tuxedo or Tuxedo Park, and others joining us from farther afield in New York and New Jersey. Wherever they come from, they are all welcomed, celebrated, and incredibly well-prepared for the future. Tuxedo Park School thrives because it belongs to a strong community of committed residents who are proud to support the ‟three pillars” of the Park: St. Mary’s, The Tuxedo Club, and Tuxedo Park School. We are grateful to our neighbors and friends who consistently make giving to the school a priority. Many have sent their children here, and we’ve benefited immeasurably from their presence. So many others support TPS because they know a good school makes our community stronger and happier. Speaking of strength and preparation, our alumni consistently remind us of the value of a TPS education. It has helped to shape them into remarkable individuals. Just recently, we honored Thomas McKay ’61 with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Tom, whose family has deep roots at TPS–his mother, Frances, started the ‟Almost New Shop” which helped to support the school with sales of uniforms and gear–exemplifies a lifelong commitment to TPS. From being an exceptional student and captain of the GOLD Team, to his impressive career in finance after graduating from Princeton and Harvard Business School, Tom has consistently been a good friend to Tuxedo Park School. He has served on our Board of Trustees, joined the Alumni Council, helped launch a rowing program, and continues to oversee our endowment funds pro bono. Our current students are following in these impressive footsteps, and I’m always interested to see where their TPS journey takes them next. Our graduating class from earlier this year has headed off to a distinguished array of secondary schools, a testament to their hard work and the dedication of our outstanding faculty. We saw this spirit reflected in the recent commencement speech by Esi Obeng, an alumna from the Class of 2016. She spoke beautifully about how TPS taught her that attending the school was a privilege, and how the small class sizes, relationships with teachers, and school spirit made her excited to learn. She shared how TPS was a place of belonging for her, giving her the confidence to advocate for herself and others. She powerfully reminded our graduates that ‟success isn’t about never stumbling. It’s about what you do after the stumble.” Esi affirmed that being educated at TPS means our young graduates have ‟the roots to grow and the courage to begin again.” What is it that makes a TPS education resonate with so many youngsters? It’s the spark of curiosity in their eyes, the dedication of our faculty, the support of our families and friends, and the deep, enduring connection our alumni have to this special place. The relationships built here, whether between students and teachers or among classmates, create a lasting ‟second family.” We continue to build engaged critical thinkers who will grow into kind, fair, and responsible young citizens of the world. As we look to the future, we invite you to stay connected, get involved, and continue to support Tuxedo Park School. Your ongoing participation, whether by attending events or contributing to the TPS Fund, is invaluable. It helps us continue to provide the exceptional education that defines TPS, ensuring that the next 125 years are just as impactful as the last. With sincere thanks,

Stuart Johnson Head of School 2

Message from the President of the Board of Trustees Dear Friends, As we celebrate the 125th year of Tuxedo Park School, we thank each of you for your enduring partnership and generosity. Since its inception, Tuxedo Park School, formerly The Tuxedo School Company and later Tuxedo Park Country Day School, has been defined and supported by this special community. As told by Vera G. Brigham in Tuxedo Park School: A History 1900-1990, parents, feeling their children would be happier and would benefit more if they could study as well as play together in this idyllic place, organized a tutoring group to help prepare students for admission to boarding schools. It was also a group of parents who later purchased the schoolhouse and formed the Tuxedo School Company—the rest, as they say, is history. In its early days, the school partnered with Tuxedo Park families to educate their children, many of whom also attended NYC independent schools in the winter. Over the years, families continued their support, allowing the school to grow from its original home to the Tilford House, then to Blairhame, adding arts, athletics, fields, classrooms, playgrounds, and faculty along the way. Through the decades, in good times and bad, this extraordinary community of parents, trustees, alumni, families, friends, and neighbors has come together to support and enrich Tuxedo Park School. In this special anniversary year, we were delighted to present the Spirit of Philanthropy award to Sally Sonne and Don Roberts at the TPS Annual Benefit. Sally and the Sonne Family have been generous stewards of Tuxedo Park School for decades, often at pivotal times in the school’s history. Mr. Roberts, a quiet leader, is a new friend of this school. In this short time, he has made a major impact. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sally and Don once again for their leadership, generosity, and commitment to Tuxedo Park School and to this community. We remain deeply grateful to them and to the many families and individuals who believe in our mission and help sustain it through their generosity. Today, Tuxedo Park School remains committed to academic excellence and students’ well-being. Talented, devoted faculty cultivate a learning environment where every child is known, challenged, and valued. Children benefit from hands-on experiential learning in their classrooms as well as outside—on our fields, in the garden, and nearby nature trails. We continue to honor good sportsmanship, effort, and academic achievement, and joyfully celebrate our Green and Gold traditions. We thoughtfully prepare children for a world shaped by AI and rapidly changing technology in purposeful, developmentally appropriate ways that enhance creativity, collaboration, and independent thinking. Tuxedo Park School students are confident, curious, kind, and well-equipped for the best secondary day and boarding schools, and beyond. This rich educational experience is possible because of your support. Small class sizes, exceptional teachers, differentiated learning, unique offerings, and opportunities require more than tuition alone can sustain. Your generosity directly funds the faculty, resources, and experience for each TPS child. As we look ahead, we remain committed to serving children’s learning needs, honoring the traditions that have shaped our school while thoughtfully embracing innovation that prepares students for the future. These early years are some of the most formative in a child’s education—when curiosity is sparked, confidence takes root, and foundations for future learning are built. Your support—at any level—makes a difference. We are deeply grateful for your continued partnership and all you make possible. With gratitude,

Suzanne Donaghy President

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New Board Members We are pleased to introduce and welcome our newest board members who serve as trustees of Tuxedo Park School. Nick Curcio ’02 Nick, a former Green Team captain, graduated from the school in 2002. He also attended Phillips Exeter Academy, where he is currently the president of the class of 2005. He holds a master’s degree in psychology from NYU and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. His professional background includes experience as an investor, operator, and investment banker, with expertise in raising capital and acquiring and managing businesses. Nick resides in Waccabuc, NY, with his wife, Lauren, and their 2.5-year-old son, Oliver.

Dr. Neesha Duggal Dr. Neesha Duggal, an Orange County native and Goshen High School graduate, is the practice owner of Wurtsboro Dental. She earned her doctorate from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and serves as the NY and NJ regional leader for MDIB, an international women’s dental society. Dr. Neesha Duggal resides in Highland Mills, NY, with her husband, Sai, and their two sons. Her eldest son, Aarin, attends TPS, and her youngest, Shaan, will soon join the kindergarten class. She is actively involved in the school community, having served as a class parent and contributed to school events and fundraising efforts.

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Denise Kilburg Denise, a scientist with a strong background in computer science and research, is the founder and owner of a company holding global intellectual property in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors. She applies her skills to real-world challenges, driven by a passion for creative problem-solving. She holds a BS in Physics and two MA degrees, one in Biochemistry and another in Chemistry. Her scientific expertise is evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals and her ongoing engagement in scientific innovation through her business and volunteer work. As a parent of three students at TPS (currently in second, third, and seventh grades), Denise is deeply invested in the school community. She volunteers her time teaching computer science classes and is dedicated to making STEM accessible and meaningful for students. Denise is excited to serve as a Trustee, supporting the school’s mission and contributing to a learning environment where all children can thrive.

Dr. Jenny Cabas Vargas Dr. Jenny Cabas Vargas, a board-certified Rheumatologist, provides compassionate, patient-centered care at her Goshen, NY, practice. Since 2018, when her son Nicolas started first grade, she has been an active member of the TPS community, serving as a class parent and embracing school traditions. Dr. Cabas Vargas lives in Warwick, NY, with her husband, Dr. Jose Toro, and their son, Nicolas (Grade 8). She looks forward to serving as a Trustee, valuing the opportunities she has experienced within the TPS community.

Since joining TPS in 2019, we have been amazed by the diverse, creative, and loving environment that the school provides for our children. Our goal in consistently giving is to help enhance the breadth and depth of the academic and co-curricular programming at TPS, to support the recruitment and retention of the school’s passionate and dedicated faculty, and to help ensure a socioeconomically diverse student body. Ultimately, we give back to TPS in gratitude for everything the teachers and staff do to create engaged critical thinkers who will grow into kind, fair, and responsible young citizens of the world.

—Allison Taylor, Board of Trustees

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125

YEARS

The History of Tuxedo Park School

Fourteen years after tobacco heir Pierre Lorillard IV opened Tuxedo Park as an exclusive hunting and fishing club for Gilded Age New York society, Tuxedo Park Country Day School was founded. It was first housed in a ‟small, shingled house” (Vera Brigham Tuxedo Park School: A History 1900-1990) at the junction of Tower Hill and Continental roads. Led first by headmaster Leon Bonnet, the school was nicknamed ‟Bunny’s Academy” and was attended by thirty-eight local children. School hours were from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. when children went home for lunch and afternoon activities. The school continued to grow as more families spent a season in the Park. 1914 to 1941

Arthur and Carolyn Eneboe were hired to lead the school and did so with great success from 1914 to 1941. They set a high standard of education for their students, introducing a Cum Laude Society for those who had earned good grades at the end of every month, and gave them a little party. Their classes also included nature walks in the woods surrounding the school, where the children collected and documented wildflowers, and where they recognized and cataloged the birdsong.

When they retired, the community felt the loss and gifted them a silver box engraved with their initials and the names of parents, friends, and students whom they had known. 1941

In 1941, the school had a crisis of enrollment, but the next head of school, Anthony V. Barber, set things back on track with a vision for the future that set us on the course we are on today. He recognized the strengths and weaknesses of the school, noting its strong academics but also its need for more emphasis on athletics, music, art, and drama. On the first day of school in September 1941, there were thirty-five students, fifteen of whom were evacuees from England brought over with the help of an alumnus, Alexander ‟Haddon” Tomes, whose sister was married to the son of Stanley Baldwin, the former Prime Minister.

During the winter season, many students attended schools in New York City, and then on to the finest boarding schools.

‟The English Children,” as they are known to this day, stayed in the Park for four years in a house that became known as ‟The Children’s House,” where they were cared for by a house mother and by the mothers of school chums in the Park.

The Eneboes also emphasized the importance of good manners and public speaking, two qualities that continue to be highly valued at TPS.

After his first year, Mr. Barber had fulfilled some of his goals for making the school more well-rounded. He established the Green and Gold teams, the colors taken from those of The Tuxedo Club, though

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siblings were initially placed on opposite teams. The school soon changed that policy, as it proved too difficult for parents to manage. Plaques to record student successes in academics and athletics were instituted, and the prizes are still awarded today. The next time you visit, look back at the names.

1943

In 1943, Mr. William W. Yardley took over the helm of the good ship TPS. In many of his endeavors, he was assisted by Hans Christian Sonne, whose children and grandchildren have all attended TPS. Mr. Yardley saw the need for better facilities and an athletic field, and Mr. Sonne came to the rescue when he purchased the Tilford House, which became the second school home. The new school opened a boarding department and had terraces where students could play athletics and practice for Field Day. 1947 to 1957

In 1947, the school’s name changed to Tuxedo Park School, and in 1949, it came under the leadership of Mr. Philip Potter, who instituted the Spelling Cup contest, Geography contest, and the Yearbook. During these years, the music and drama departments thrived under the tutelage of Doris Huntington; and the boys’ football and baseball teams played other local schools. In 1956, the parents committee decided to have the children wear a school uniform, with white shirts and green sweaters.

The new school opened in September of 1957 with seventy day students, nineteen boarders, twelve teachers, and a staff of seven. Mary Emily Alexander ’51 (later Kerney) was Mr. Potter’s secretary, later becoming our first alumni relations assistant. 1959 to 1962

Mr. Samuel Hazard was the head from 1959 to 1962. One of his first priorities was to ensure the children had a well-stocked library with current editions. The Parents Association (PA) had its first book fair, and Mrs. Frances McKay started a ski and uniform store that became ‟The Almost New Shop,” raising funds for the new library. In the winter of 1961, in an innovative plan to ensure athletics when the children could not skate, Mr. Hazard turned part of the basement into a gym replete with mats, ropes, and wall ladders. Mr. Hazard also introduced family-style lunches, which are still a treasured tradition and way of life at TPS. He also added the first ninth grade in an effort to increase enrollment, help students mature in a supportive environment, and offer families the opportunity to keep their children close before going off to boarding schools. Public transportation became available to children living in a fifteen-mile radius, a real boon to help enrollment. 1962 to 1980

1957

In 1957, the school relocated to larger surroundings, its current home, ‟Blairhame,” a gift to the school from Joan Blair Overton of her former home.

From 1962 to 1980, Mr. John A. Shepard served as head of school. The school excelled in many ways under his leadership, and the Shepard family was beloved by the entire community. He had a strong vision for TPS, and set off to install new initiatives, like the ski program. He also hired some of the school’s most legendary teachers who made an indelible mark on students' lives, including Mrs. Obolensky (Mrs. O), Mrs. Petrow (Goodman) and Missy Greening (Swan). A prize bowl for skiing was first awarded in 1968, and was later named for Jake Shepard, a beloved Latin teacher and upper school head (and John Shepard’s son) during the nineties and early 2000s. George Warren ’35 designed the new Primary School wing and gymnasium, which opened in 1969, increasing and modernizing space for more students. tuxedoparkschool.org 7

In 1973, the ninth grade spent the winter season at an outwardbound program at the Sterling School in Vermont, the first Green and Gold Gazette was issued by Mrs. Gocek in 1978, and a new science lab for the upper school was built in 1979. Brewster Ely, another beloved teacher of the era, started the first Fathers Club and planned a two-day class trip to Gettysburg for the eighth-grade. 1980 to 1988

While Mr. Andrew McLaren was our head of school from 1980 to 1988, students competed in the Olympics of the Mind, and TPS achieved the level of New York State champions. Mr. McLaren also saw to it that a computer program start. The parents attained the goal of 100% participation in the annual fund—a feat thought impossible at first. Fundraising increased with the aid of parent leadership and the Dream Auction. A new art award in honor of parent Judith E. Feiner was created, and friends and family supported a fund for the arts at TPS. The Margaret E. Smith Writing Award was established as a graduation award in appreciation of the devoted English teacher who retired to Maine.

1988 to 1994

Ms. Patricia Bayliss was the head of school from 1988 to 1994, a teacher from England with a breadth of teaching experience worldwide. She had an excellent knowledge of children, and her goal was ‟to add depth and variety to the intellectual life of the school” (Vera Brigham, Tuxedo Park School: A History 1900–1990). She established a middle school drama program, workshops featuring guest authors, minstrels, and storytellers, and a Hudson Valley studies curriculum for ninth-grade students. She also had great fundraising success in her first year as head, thanks to Joyce Visceglia and Susan Christensen, who raised a record amount as chairs of the Dream Auction. In her final year, Ms. Bayliss oversaw the development of the McLean Music Room, the Davis Theater, and the Judith E. Feiner Art Room. Ms. Bayliss had a keen mind, an excellent sense of humor, and a sharp wit. She retired to England and currently resides in Wales. 1994

In 1984, Joan Blair Overton gave the school ‟The Pink House,” formerly a gardener’s cottage with greenhouses, and is now the head of school’s residence. A new playground was installed in 1987 with funds raised by the PA and the children’s dance-a-thon. Mr. McLaren spoke in the Green and Gold Gazette that year of the immense pleasure the community had in erecting it: ‟Just to be a part of it has been to catch the spirit of a barn raising … the spirit out here for the last four days has been something none of us will forget.” The playground was dedicated to Louise Shepard, ‟who once played here and with whom other children loved to play.”

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In 1994, Jim Burger took the helm and started with four small projects, some focused on curriculum, others on the campus. Jim’s tenure ushered in a new era of innovation and renewal, faculty excellence, and fundraising. It was a time of the most growth for TPS in many ways. Enrollment increased, and the parents took an active role in fundraising. The 100th anniversary led to the Second Century Campaign and the construction of the Middle School wing in 2004 under the leadership of Chris and Bob Dow, who served as Board Chair. Eighth grade became the graduation class, and ninth grade was renamed the Freshman Class.

2015 to 2025

From John Ham’s, Tuxedo Park School: A History 1990-2022: ‟Mr. Burger wearer of many hats: the top hat of Lord Tuxedo (worn on Middle School Mystery nights) a hard hat while overseeing construction, TPS baseball cap on Field Day, and all the metaphorical hats donned during his seventeen years; he was the calm center amid the storm, whether of nature, the world, an upset student, parent, or teacher. His golden retriever, Biscuit, was a perfect symbol of the Burger style, at once calm and dignified but able to join in and have a good time.” 2011

Kathleen MacNamara came in 2011 as our eleventh head of school. She led the school through its Strategic Planning Process and piloted new programs that underscored technology, engineering, and design. She brought back Freshmen surprise trips (Orlando Bloom as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet!), treats, welcomed Ms. McManus’s idea to have the Bear as our mascot, hosted our first historical exhibit, helped to get the Distinguished Alumni and Faculty Awards off the ground, increased enrollment, and, in doing so, raised the profile of the school. The music program under Nina Allbert and Todd Schietroma saw over half the student population engaged in private music lessons and the rest in band or glee group. After four successful years, Kathleen returned to California to lead the Seven Hills School in Walnut Creek.

Todd Stansbery joined us as the twelfth head of school in July 2015. Todd was a head of school who loved to connect with the students. He was often found in a classroom or on the playground. He read to children regularly, and they knew they were always welcome for a chat in his office. A lover of theater, he took “Lord Tuxedo” to new heights on Middle School Mystery Night and encouraged the administration and staff to consider a theme for Halloween. From John Ham’s, Tuxedo Park School: A History 1990-2022: ‟The school was thriving. And then the Pandemic. We are thankful that Mr. Stansbery helped steer TPS during this tumultuous time, opening the school in September 2020 with all sorts of principles in place to keep us safe. Under the most difficult of circumstances, he kept the wheels turning. That was, and is, no mean accomplishment.” Great thanks is given to Mr. Stansbery, the Board of Trustees, and associate head of school, Mrs. Serena Mueller, for their consistent leadership during this challenging time in the history of the school and of our world. 2022 to PRESENT

Stuart Johnson joined TPS as head of school in 2022, bringing his passion for education and his extensive experience at St. Bernard’s School in Manhattan to TPS. Mr. Johnson’s great enthusiasm for lifelong learning, vision for educational progress and deep respect for the traditions of the school provide a strong base for growth during his tenure as the 13th head of school.

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Celebrating the

TPS Spirit of Philanthropy: Sally Sonne and Don Roberts Honored at The Green & Gold Gala On April 26, 2025, The Tuxedo Club was abuzz with excitement for The Green & Gold Gala, our annual school benefit, and everyone came dressed for the occasion! This year, we had the distinct pleasure of recognizing two remarkable individuals, Sally Sonne and Don Roberts, with the TPS Spirit of Philanthropy Award. This award celebrates extraordinary devotion to Tuxedo Park School and our incredibly supportive community. Sally and Don truly embody the spirit of this award through their unwavering commitment to our school and the wider Tuxedo Park community. For Sally, her connection to Tuxedo Park School runs deep. After living in Paris for five years, she moved back to Tuxedo Park in 1976 with her husband Chris ’44 and their four children— Peter ’84, Nick ’85, Matt ’85, and Edie ’90. As a TPS mother, Sally was incredibly involved, doing “the usual” like helping with the Book Fair, benefits, and class trips. She also served on the Board of Trustees and held leadership positions in the Garden Club, St. Mary’s, and The Tuxedo Club, where she organized sailing programs, weekend races, and tennis tournaments. Her dedication extended beyond the school gates, as she volunteered for the Tuxedo Volunteer Ambulance Corps, worked in a soup kitchen, and delivered Meals on Wheels. She even spent many years writing news for our local paper, Inside/Out. Sally understood the importance of supporting the ‟three pillars” of the Tuxedo Park community–the church, the club, and the school– and she has done so with gusto through the years. 10

Sally’s late husband, Chris, was also a significant figure in the school’s history, as was his father, Hans Christian Sonne, who helped secure the school’s affiliation with The Tuxedo Club and opened its second location in 1946 at The Tilford House. Sally’s deep care for education, especially at Tuxedo Park School, is truly inspiring. And happily, Don Roberts, whom she married in 2023, shares that passion and has been a great supporter of Sally and her family as they continue their legacy of philanthropy to TPS. The TPS Spirit of Philanthropy Award recognizes those who show immense love for mankind and devotion to our community. Previous recipients, like Phil and Serene Swirbul, exemplify this dedication. Phil and Serene, who moved to Tuxedo Park in 1968, were deeply involved in the community, with Phil serving on the TPS Board of Trustees and eventually as Board Chair. Serene has also been a tireless and dedicated volunteer across various institutions, always ready to organize, decorate, or simply be present. They were recognized at a previous benefit for their profound impact on Tuxedo Park School and the broader community. Their friends, Susan and Hank Christensen, beautifully articulated their devotion, highlighting Phil and Serene as role models and inspirations.

Golf Classic On another magnificent fall day, we welcomed our faithful friends and golfers to the 30th anniversary of the TPS Golf Classic. The Tuxedo Club professionals made spending the day on the course an extraordinary experience, from the Beginners Clinic to the evening cocktails and dinner, we were treated to their expertise. After cocktails, we honored those who had served as chairs of the Classic throughout our thirty-year history, and we were fortunate to have a few of them present. We extend our sincere gratitude to all who have contributed to making this event a success over the years. Let’s keep playing for TPS!

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The Enduring Value of a TPS Education: Celebrating 125 Years of Building Futures and Strengthening Our Community! As we celebrate our monumental 125th Anniversary in 2025, it’s a truly special moment to reflect on the profound impact a Tuxedo Park School education has had on its students, both during their time here and long after they’ve moved on to new adventures. From fostering critical thinking to instilling a deep sense of community, TPS has provided a foundation that truly lasts a lifetime for over one hundred and twenty-five years. Our graduates consistently tell us how well-prepared they feel for what comes next.

Sofia, now a sophomore at Amherst College, shared how TPS strengthened her quantitative skills and ignited a ‟lasting passion for math” that she still uses today. Beyond academics, TPS helped her grow as a person, finding a love for public speaking and even inspiring her to write poetry. She fondly remembers the annual Gore trip, exploring the mountain with friends and enjoying karaoke nights. Sofia emphasizes that the values instilled at TPS—kindness, fairness, and responsibility—will continue to guide her.

TPS left me with a second family of lifelong friends. –Sofia Salazar ’19

The experience of attending TPS left a deep and defining mark on Sean, who joined the community in 1992, transitioning from a larger, more diverse setting. Though initially feeling like he was in ‟another world,” the alumnus quickly realized the unique and lasting impact the small, close-knit environment would have on both his life and those around him. The strength of the TPS community provided him with the foundation to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy and an author, shaping his perspective on perseverance, self-worth, and the power of positive action. Sean’s perspective shifted and his time at TPS influenced his journey.

Those four years shaped who I would be for the rest of my life, it also shaped the lives of those around me forever. I learned so many things from my teachers but one thing that each of them instilled in me was confidence. Confidence that I could do anything I put my mind to. –Sean Thomas ’96 12

TPS was a ‟second home” filled with lifelong friends for Lana. She credits TPS with giving her a strong foundation in communication, time management, and accountability. Lana continued her education at Lawrenceville and then Princeton University. Today, she is a Private Wealth Investor Services Analyst at TPG, where she helps clients invest across the firm’s private markets platform. Lana is driven by a passion for helping people, which she finds most fulfilling in her client-facing role. Lana hopes to take on a leadership role in financial services while continuing to challenge herself, travel, stay active, and give back to her community through mentoring and volunteering. She is also passionate about fitness and volunteers with the New York Junior League. Reflecting on how TPS shaped her, Lana points to the deep connections forged in the small class environment.

The small class sizes meant I built strong relationships with teachers and classmates, which taught me accountability and collaboration. Those early lessons carried me through high school, college, and now into my career. –Lana Utley ’16

Alix, now the Executive Director of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, traces her lifelong connection to reading, writing, and the arts back to her earliest days at Tuxedo Park School. Attending TPS from nursery school through ninth grade, Alix developed a deep love for the building’s hidden charms, the promise of the library, and the palpable creativity within the art room. These early sensory and intellectual experiences—from the smell of turpentine to watching the ‟big kids” perform—instilled in her an enduring passion that led her to study English and poetry in college, pursue a career as a magazine editor, and eventually dedicate herself to the world of children’s literature and art. She remains grateful for teachers like Mrs. Cox, her kindergarten instructor, who made her feel safe, loved, and excited about school.

I have a lot of sweet memories, but honestly, most of my favorites are more impressionistic than specific—like the smell of turpentine in the art room and the thrill of starting a painting project there. Or going to see the ‛big kids’ put on performances of Oliver or The Music Man. I loved the promise of the library ... It was such a beautiful place to go to school, and the ‛old’ building always felt like it held a million mysteries. –Alix Kennedy ’75

Tuxedo Park School has long prided itself on providing an education that focuses not just on academic rigor, but on character development and community connection. Rick, attended TPS from kindergarten through ninth grade (c. 1968-1978). He remembers a world that was distinctly analog but full of dedicated educators. His lasting impression is of a ‟happy place” created by a cast of memorable ‟characters.” His fifth-grade history teacher, Brewster Ely, later gave him his ‟big break” into U.S. private school education. Now an international educator living in Switzerland, Briggs has a clear perspective on the priorities for today’s children. He stresses the need to actively promote face-to-face communication, reading, and hands-on learning—to develop empathy and resilience in a digital world.

My lasting impression of TPS after fifty years is of a happy place. In that analog world, a lot of committed teachers were working hard to create a rich learning environment. –Rick Briggs ’78

The supportive environment of TPS was immediately transformative for Jamie. Transferring as a shy and quiet sixth grader, she was instantly comforted by the welcoming faculty. This support went beyond academics, with teachers tailoring their methods to her learning style, culminating in her being named ‟Most Improved” student in seventh grade. This nurturing community appreciated her unique characteristics, encouraging her athletic abilities through ski trips and track and field. This foundation led her to pursue a career as a BoardCertified Athletic Trainer, with an ultimate goal of working with the USA Olympic Women’s Gymnastics team. Jamie continues to be served by the school’s core values: Be Kind. Be Fair. Be Responsible.

Looking back on my time at TPS, I realize that it was the community of people at the school that made it so special. –Jamie Flynn ’12

These stories from our alumni and current families powerfully illustrate the lasting impact of a Tuxedo Park School education. The dedication of our faculty and staff, the strong sense of community, and the emphasis on holistic development all contribute to creating engaged critical thinkers and kind, responsible young citizens, a tradition upheld for 125 years. To see more alumni profiles, please visit tuxedoparkschool.org/community/alumni.

Get Involved and Give Back for the Next 125 Years! The continued strength and vibrancy of Tuxedo Park School depend greatly on the involvement of our incredible alumni. As we celebrate this significant milestone, we encourage you to join alumni events to reconnect with classmates, stay informed about school news, and participate in special anniversary events. Furthermore, contributing to the TPS Fund is one of the most direct ways to support the school and future generations of students. Your generosity helps maintain the breadth and depth of our programs, recruit and retain our dedicated faculty, and ensure a socioeconomically diverse student body. It’s an opportunity to pay it forward and ensure that TPS continues to provide the same invaluable experiences that shaped so many of us for the next 125 years and beyond!

We are so proud of our alumni and the incredible paths you forge. Let's continue to build on the strong foundation of Tuxedo Park School together!

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Your Philanthropy in

Action

Your generous contributions make experiential learning a cornerstone of education at TPS, offering students invaluable opportunities from robotics and Python coding to immersive language classes, enriching field trips, and vital public speaking practice. Experience is indeed the best teacher. Visiting authors and artists frequently engage students in hands-on activities, fostering creative and lateral thinking. This past year, visual artist Aurora Robson, celebrated for her work with plastic waste, collaborated with TPS students on a sculpture crafted from collected plastic. We extend our deepest gratitude to the parents and grandparents whose support makes these special learning opportunities possible. Public speaking is highly valued at TPS, with every child encouraged from their earliest days to present on topics and participate in class plays. These presentations often bridge different subjects and divisions, promoting collaboration among students and teachers. Students are confidently encouraged to ask questions and share their opinions. Class plays are an enjoyable and integral component of our public speaking curriculum for both performers and audience members. Friday assemblies provide another crucial platform for public speaking, with each week featuring a different theme, an academic competition, or a performance. Funding sometimes allows for special guests, such as musical performers, dance troupes, or speakers. We warmly invite you to join us at a Friday assembly to witness these enriching experiences firsthand!

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FieldDay

Field Day is one of TPS’s most cherished traditions. Established in 1942 by head of school Anthony Barber, it brings students together for a spirited athletic competition. Field Day also fosters a strong sense of camaraderie, with students supporting each other through challenges and celebrating opponents’ successes. This year, the GOLD team claimed victory, a welcome win after four consecutive years of Green Team triumphs. The Gold flag will fly proudly until next year’s Field Day, when Gold Team Captain Lily and Green Team Captain Nicholas will lead their teams in the games once more.

tuxedoparkschool.org 15

The TPS Fund:

FUTURE

A Foundation for the Tuxedo Park School

of

The TPS Fund is vital to the heart of Tuxedo Park School, directly supporting the innovative programs and dedicated faculty that make our unique educational experience possible. Philanthropy is important because tuition alone doesn’t cover the full cost of a TPS education; gifts to the TPS Fund bridge this gap, allowing us to enhance academic and co-curricular programming, retain our passionate teachers, and foster a diverse student body. It ensures that we continue to provide a creative, joyful, and loving environment that nurtures engaged critical thinkers. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a tangible difference. High participation rates—from alumni, current families, and friends—demonstrate strong community belief in our mission, which strengthens the school’s reputation and helps secure additional support from foundations. By contributing to the TPS Fund, you directly invest in the success of every student and uphold the rich traditions that have thrived for 125 years. Thank you to all of our TPS Fund donors. Your generosity empowers us to continue providing an unparalleled educational experience, fostering a vibrant learning environment where every student can thrive.

Blairhame Club ($50,000+)

Green & Gold Club ($5,000+)

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Donaghy, Pʼ13, Pʼ15, Pʼ16, Pʼ18 Mr. and Mrs. Sean P. Duffy, F, Pʼ00, Pʼ02, Pʼ05, Pʼ07 Mr. and Mrs. John Kilburg, Pʼ27, Pʼ31, Pʼ32 The Stadler Family, Pʼ08, Pʼ09, Pʼ15

A Friend of TPS Mr. and Mrs. Michael Chambers, Pʼ27, Pʼ29 Ms. Jennifer DuBrul, Pʼ18, Pʼ20 Mr. and Mrs. James Greenspan, Pʼ28, Pʼ30 Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kennelley, Pʼ09, Pʼ10 National Philanthropic Trust Mr. and Mrs. Shola Olateju, Pʼ22, Pʼ23 Mr. and Mrs. Peter Regna Mr. John Roberts Mr. Gus Saliba and Ms. Lisa Noroian, Pʼ19 Mr. Sai Sarva and Dr. Neesha Duggal, Pʼ31 Mr. and Mrs. Scott Shaw, Pʼ09, Pʼ10, Pʼ13, Pʼ14 Mr. and Mrs. Steven Van Poucke, Pʼ25, Pʼ29 Mr. and Mrs. Michael Vasseghi, Pʼ13, Pʼ15

The Founders’ Club ($25,000+) Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Baez, Pʼ23, Pʼ29 Mr. and Mrs. David Lazar, Pʼ25, Pʼ29, Pʼ33 Ms. Allison Taylor and Mr. Justin Jennings, Pʼ28, Pʼ31 Siebert Williams Shank Foundation

The Headmaster’s Club ($10,000+) A Friend of TPS Mr. and Mrs. Marc N. Biamonte, Pʼ18, Pʼ21 Mr. and Mrs. Keith Carpentier, Pʼ17, Pʼ20, Pʼ23, Pʼ25 Ms. Anne Christensen ’01 Mr. Andrew Dunn and Mrs. Elizabeth Dunn ’98 Mr. and Mrs. John Gay Jr. ’62 The Meredith and Whitney George Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hargroves, Pʼ30, Pʼ34 Mr. Stuart Johnson, F Mr. George Kress and Mrs. Dawn Angney-Kress, Pʼ22 The Mailman Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Scott Mullins, Pʼ35 Mr. and Mrs. Carl Rivera Mr. Donald Roberts and Ms. Sally Sonne, Pʼ84, Pʼ85, Pʼ90 Mr. Carlos F. Santiago and Ms. Elizabeth Stradar, Pʼ12, Pʼ14, Pʼ16 Mr. Benno Schmidt and Ms. Stephanie Staal, Pʼ29 Mrs. Serene Swirbul, Pʼ71, Pʼ77, Pʼ80, Pʼ85, Gʼ15, Gʼ17 Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Tinari, Pʼ34 Mrs. Stephanie Wegner 16

Evergreen Club ($2,500+) Mr. and Mrs. Les Baquiran, Pʼ27 Dr. Srino Bharam and Dr. Jessica Gallina, Pʼ23, Pʼ25 Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Capella ’79, Pʼ20, Pʼ21, Pʼ24 Mr. and Mrs. Henry N. Christensen Jr., Pʼ95, Pʼ97, Pʼ01 Davis Sport Shop Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Finkelstein, Pʼ13 Mr. Christopher Heffernan and Ms. Emily A. Millen Mr. Douglas Johnson and Dr. Pavlina Tcherneva, Pʼ26 Mr. James Mack and Dr. Jennifer Mack, Pʼ26, Pʼ29 Mr. and Mrs. Gavin Maxwell, Pʼ33 Dr. and Dr. Wilkie Paes, Pʼ27, Pʼ29, Pʼ32 Mr. and Mrs. Francis W. Peverly, Pʼ16 Dr. and Ms. Kshitij Saxena, Pʼ31, Pʼ31 Dr. Ernest Sink and Ms. Paula Giblin, Pʼ23 Mr. and Mrs. Philip Tavani, Pʼ12, Pʼ14 Mr. Wayne Wagner and Ms. Tiffany Davis, Pʼ35

Bears Club ($1,000+)

Quentin van der Lee

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Dr. and Mrs. Michael Angeline, Pʼ27 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Angney Mr. Andrew Arena Dr. and Mrs. Andres Baez Mr. and Mrs. Greg Beard Mr. and Mrs. Howard Bishop, Pʼ20 Mr. and Mrs. John S. Cathcart ’65 Mr. Alexander Chilton Mr. and Mrs. James Christensen ’97 Mr. Joe Commisso ’97 Mr. Christopher Cost and Ms. Joan Marron Mr. and Mrs. Edward Curland, Pʼ07, Pʼ09, Pʼ11 Mr. and Mrs. Todd Darling Mr. Michael P. Devine Duke of Omnium Fund Mr. and Ms. Junod Etienne, Pʼ25, Pʼ30 Dr. and Mrs. Frederick S. Feiner, Pʼ83, Pʼ87 Prof. J. Scott Finn ’69 FLIK Independent Schools Mr. Grant Frauenfelder Dr. and Dr. David Gallina Mr. and Mrs. Cecil George Jr., Pʼ27 Mr. and Mrs. R. Daniel Gladding, Pʼ95 Mr. and Mrs. Archibald L. Gwathmey ’66 Ms. and Mr. Edith Sonne Hall ’90 Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Hansen, Pʼ18, Pʼ20 Mr. Richard Hartman Jr. and Mrs. Valerie Hartman ’89, Pʼ24, Pʼ30 Mrs. Beverly Heissenbuttel, Pʼ00, Pʼ06 Mr. and Mrs. Miguel Hennessy Mrs. Irena Holiat Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Kidde, Pʼ25 Mr. and Mrs. Scott Kimelman, Pʼ13 Mr. and Mrs. Brian Kotch, Pʼ18, Pʼ19 Anne and Jock MacKinnon Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Mallory Jr. ʼ74 Mr. John Maris and Dr. Zaharoula Maris, Pʼ23, Pʼ25 Mr. and Mrs. Matthew McGrath, Pʼ23, Pʼ26 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. McKay ’61 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mueller, F, Pʼ27 Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Nelson, Pʼ33, Pʼ35 Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Neuhauser, Pʼ12 Ms. Alexa Obolensky ’74 Mr. Zuiyue Pan and Ms. Shi Shi, Pʼ28, Pʼ30, Pʼ32 Paramount Mr. Stuart Perilstein Mr. and Mrs. Donald Pierson, Pʼ26, Pʼ28 Mr. and Mrs. Jay Reichgott, Pʼ24 Mr. and Mrs. Dan Rifkin, Pʼ17, Pʼ19 Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rizzuto, Pʼ14, Pʼ16 Mr. Chandler M. Rohde ’10 Mr. and Mrs. Rodger Rohde, Pʼ07, Pʼ09, Pʼ10, Pʼ12 Mr. Yohann Sidhwa Mr. and Mrs. David Slomin, Pʼ18 Mr. Paul Swirbul ’77 Mrs. Ruth Teague, F US Stream International Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Henricus van der Lee, Pʼ09, Pʼ11, Pʼ12 Mr. Peter Van Overstraeten and Ms. Hillary Garris, P’32, P’35

From the Green & Gold Field to the NFL: An Interview with Quentin van der Lee Quentin van der Lee, a proud alumnus of Tuxedo Park School (TPS), often reflects on how the institution shaped his formative years, fostering not just an early love for sports but also instilling crucial life skills. He fondly recalls the vibrant atmosphere of TPS, where activities like flag football, exhilarating ski days, and competitive Green Team events were not merely pastimes but foundational experiences that taught him the invaluable lessons of teamwork and camaraderie.

‟TPS was more than just a school; it was a community that taught me the importance of working together.” Beyond the athletic fields, Quentin credits TPS with providing him with significant leadership opportunities and cultivating a strong sense of public speaking confidence. These experiences, he notes, were instrumental in preparing him for the demands of his professional career.

‟The confidence I gained speaking in front of my peers at TPS has been invaluable throughout my professional life.” He also openly acknowledges his early struggles with dyslexia, a challenge that TPS teachers diligently helped to identify and manage. They equipped him with effective coping mechanisms and learning strategies, skills that he continues to leverage in his current, high-profile role within the NFL's Consumer Products department. Quentin consistently expresses deep gratitude for TPS's profoundly supportive environment, an environment where he was able to grow, forge lasting friendships, achieve academic and personal successes, and ultimately learn life lessons that continue to guide him.

tuxedoparkschool.org 17

Bears Club ($1,000+) (Con’t.) Mr. Joseph Verrillo Reverend Herbert Wentz and Mrs. Sofia Wentz Young Engineers Upper Manhattan

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Vincent Alban An Artist's Eye: A Conversation with Alumnus Vincent Alban For many students, Tuxedo Park School is like a second home, but for Vincent Alban, son of acclaimed art teacher Megan Sweeney, it was truly the case. His experience living on campus and spending significant time at the school made him ‟more disciplined and eager to do well.” He recognized from a young age that being a TPS student was a privilege and knew he needed to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Building a Foundation for Success

A tight-knit community with small class sizes, strong relationships with teachers, and school spirit made Vincent ‟excited to learn.” He felt that TPS laid a strong groundwork for his future education, providing him with essential time management skills and a crucial ‟eagerness to learn” that inspired him to explore interests outside of the classroom, such as joining his high school's student newspaper. His passion for photography, which has led to a career in photojournalism, was ignited during the annual EF Tour trips his mother organized. The trips he took while at TPS, to countries like Greece and Turkey, were especially memorable. The consistent opportunity to travel and document his experiences on these trips ‟kindled that passion” and pushed him to pursue it as a profession.

The Power of Curiosity

Today, Vincent is driven by the unique privilege of his work. It is incredibly fulfilling for him to interact with strangers, see into their lives, and uplift the people he features in his reporting. While his many awards are a nice reminder of how far he has come, he works to ‟stay humble and keep pushing,” always focused on his longterm goal of making photojournalism his full-time career. When asked who at TPS he would thank, without hesitation he said his mother, Megan Sweeney. ‟She set me up for success when she became a teacher at TPS.” Looking ahead, his dream is to work full-time at a large newspaper or news agency.

18

Sustainers (Up to $999) A Friend of TPS Mr. Jeffrey Alario, Pʼ09, Pʼ10 Mr. David Alban and Ms. Megan Sweeney, F, Pʼ15 Mrs. Mary Margaret Alvarez de Toledo ’51 Mr. Sarab S. Anand ’17 Ms. Sarina Appelgren and Mr. Christopher Dieguez, F, Pʼ35 Mr. and Mrs. Kasusik Basu, Pʼ20, Pʼ20 Ms. Christine Bazylevsky Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Beckingham, Pʼ33 Mr. Matthew Belluardo ’17 Mr. Joseph Ben-Moshe and Ms. Daniela Levarda, Pʼ25 Mr. Eric A. Bernhard ’73 Mrs. Terry Berryman, F Billco Landscape Contractors LLC Mr. Shawn Bloom and Ms. Jessica Lederer, Pʼ33 Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bodwell, Pʼ32 Mr. Andrew Boswell Mrs. Kathleen O'Gorman Bower ’55 Mr. and Mrs. Justin Brigandi, Pʼ31, Pʼ33 Dr. Jennifer Briggs ’74 Mr. and Mrs. Debbedo Brown, Pʼ24, Pʼ30 Mr. Keeniun Brumskill and Ms. Josefina Perez, Pʼ30 Mr. and Mrs. James T. Burger Ms. Debbie Burr Camp Ramaquois Campbell Fire Protection Inc. Ms. Jennifer Cannataro, Pʼ33 Dr. and Mrs. Rafael F. Capella, Pʼ74, Pʼ75, Pʼ79, Gʼ05, Gʼ08, Gʼ20, Gʼ21 Ms. Marina Case, Pʼ10, Pʼ09 Mr. Kevin Castel and Ms. Marsha Marseille, Pʼ33, Pʼ36 Ms. Elizabeth Cathcart Peace Ms. Freeda L. Cathcart ’76 Mr. Camilo R. Cepeda ’90 Ms. Cady Cirbes ’09 Mr. David Cooke and Mrs. Ann Doherty Cooke Mrs. Gail M. Corrao, F Ms. Kimberly Corrigan, Pʼ27, Pʼ25 Mr. and Mrs. Terrance Coughlin, Pʼ16 Craftmaster Hardware The Rev. Dr. Edwin Cromey Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Curcio ’02 Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence A. Darby III Mr. Zachary T. Darling ’25 Ms. Theresa Davis Mr. and Mrs. Charles de Casteja Mr. and Mrs. Seth Denberg, Pʼ20 Mr. Roshan Desai ’22 Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Ditchfield-Agboh II, Pʼ23 Mr. Josh Dodgson and Mrs. Catherine Dodgson ’07 Don Bosco Prep

Miss Megan N. Donaghy ’18 Mr. and Mrs. Sean Duffy ’02 Ms. Kathryn B. Dunderdale ’00 and Mr. John Dunderdale Mrs. Najm Duran Mr. and Mrs. Steven Dwek, Pʼ22, Pʼ23 Mrs. Natalie Easter, F Mr. and Mrs. Kevin S. Edwards ’73 Mr. Stephen Ely and Mrs. Jennifer Gregory Ely ’69 Lt. Kazuma H. Engelkemier ’09 Mr. Norman Epps and Ms. Dominique Thys, Pʼ35 Drs. Robert and Virginia Feldman, Pʼ17 Miss Addison B. Fleming ’23 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Fleming, Pʼ23, Pʼ28 Ms. Rita Flynn, Pʼ12, Pʼ15 Mrs. Carly Foster Mr. Kenneth W. Gage and Mrs. Jennifer Airo Gage ’82 Dr. Neil Garofano, F Ms. McKenna Garrison, F Mrs. Nicole Gerace, Pʼ34 Mr. and Ms. Aston Gibson, Pʼ32 Mr. and Mrs. David Glaser, Pʼ08, Pʼ09 Mrs. Jeanine Glendening Glenmere Mansion Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas F. Gmur ’60 Mr. John Gocek Ms. Rochelle Goldberg Ms. Sylvia Goldmann Mr. Cory K. Gorczycki ’15 Drs. William Gotsis and Nancy Linneman, Pʼ11, Pʼ13 Mr. and Mrs. Gary Green, Pʼ80, Pʼ84

Ms. Carol Gregory ’67 Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence J. Groskin Dr. and Mrs. Aleksandr Guchinskiy, Pʼ22 Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Haitkin Mr. John Ham, F Miss Rebecca L. Hartman ’24 Dr. and Mrs. James D. Hays Ms. Ann Heavner Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Helmeset, Pʼ23 Mrs. Edina Hepguler Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hoti, Pʼ28 Mr. George Howard ’58 Mr. and Mrs. Peter B. Humphrey ’59 Mr. Gamal F. Ibrahim, F J. McLaughlin Mrs. Margaret Jackson, F Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Jenkins, Pʼ18 Mr. Ji Jeon and Mrs. Eun Choi, Pʼ22, Pʼ25 Mr. and Mrs. Andrew and Crystal Jimenez, Pʼ27 Ms. Wilhelmina Johnson Dr. Adam Kalkstein and Dr. Yasmine Kalkstein, Pʼ22, Pʼ25 Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Kashevaroff, Pʼ16, Pʼ21 Mr. Elijah I. Kelman ’24 Miss Lylah R. Kelman ’22 Mr. and Mrs. William T. Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. John A. Kerney ’75 Dr. and Mrs. Najmi Khan, Pʼ31 Mr. Charles B. Khuen, F Mr. Dev D. Koshy ’26 Ms. Theresa Kosmidis

Andrea Johnson Baskett-Pee’s From Latin Class to Caribbean Dreams: A TPS Alumna's Journey Andrea Johnson Baskett-Pee’s journey from Tuxedo Park School to becoming an entrepreneur in Jamaica began unexpectedly. A first-generation Jamaican-American, she couldn't have imagined how her early experiences would bridge cultures and create connections across continents. The curriculum at TPS, particularly Latin and French classes, immediately challenged and excited her. Teachers Madame Wolf and Mr. Slater ‟didn't just teach languages; they brought entire civilizations to life in their classroom.” This sparked a lifelong love for travel and cross-cultural connections, reinforced by an extensive European tour. After TPS, she continued her international pursuits at Choate Rosemary Hall and Tulane University. Her career path led her through marketing roles in New York City, including a position at Armani, where she honed her understanding of luxury brands. The entrepreneurial spirit then called her to venture out on her own as a Blue Mountain coffee trader and in commercial real estate. By 2017, she made Jamaica her permanent home, co-founding CRMetry, the first Salesforce consultancy headquartered in the English-speaking Caribbean. Unexpectedly, friends noticed the hidden gems of Jamaica she shared on Instagram. What began as recommendations evolved into ATWASI, a luxury travel company curating authentic local experiences with world-class service.

‟That early curiosity about different cultures laid the foundation for a life spent connecting people across worlds.” Her journey from TPS student to Caribbean entrepreneur, though seemingly unexpected, is clearly connected. Today, she helps visitors discover the real Jamaica, still that excited student who found that learning about new cultures could open entire worlds of possibility. tuxedoparkschool.org 19

Sustainers (Up to $999) (Con’t.) Ms. Mina Kozma Mr. Dean Kripalani Ms. Allison Lamb, Pʼ27, Pʼ33 Mr. William Landau Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Lee, Pʼ25, Pʼ27 Mr. Nicholas Leiss and Ms. Lauren Leiss ’98 Ms. Daniela Levarda Mr. and Mrs. John S. Lindsay III, Pʼ06, Pʼ09 Mr. Robert Lopez Mr. and Mrs. Richard Machado, F, Pʼ21, Pʼ23, Pʼ25, Pʼ30 Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Mahony Mrs. Jacki Maki, F Mr. and Mrs. Baker Mallory ’84 Mr. Troy Mann and Ms. Hally McGehean, Pʼ27 Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. Marchand Mr. Carlos Martinez, F The Masters School Ms. Dorothy Mastropaolo Mr. Edward C. Mattes Jr. ’71 Mrs. Melissa Mazzella, F Mr. Bradley McBride ’74 Ms. Melissa McCoy Mr. Aric McEachin and Ms. Teyanna Smalls-McEachin, Pʼ23 Mr. Fergus McGrath ’23 Mr. Matthew McLennan and Mrs. Melanie McLennan, Pʼ31 Mrs. Maddie McManus, F Mr. and Mrs. Lamont Melvin, Pʼ25 Mr. and Mrs. Rafael Mercedes III, Pʼ25, Pʼ27, Pʼ29

Miss Harper Meyer ’23 Mr. and Mrs. Jay Meyer, Pʼ23 Mr. Nat Modugno, F Mr. and Mrs. Fred Morrisohn, F, Pʼ11, Pʼ12 Mr. Nicholas Morrisohn ’11 Mrs. Carol Mueller Mr. Kenneth Muigai and Mrs. Shanna Sands-Muigai, Pʼ26, Pʼ29 Mr. Finnian L. Murray and Mrs. Emily L. Murray ’90 Mr. Michael Nesbitt Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Nials, Pʼ22, Pʼ24 Mr. Jay Nipe Mr. and Mrs. Jacques Nordeman Mr. Isaac E. Obeng ’22 Mr. and Mrs. James Obeng, Pʼ14, Pʼ22 Mrs. Sherrel Osman, Gʼ26 Miss Isabella Otero Mr. and Mrs. Donald Ottaunick, Pʼ06 Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Pash Mr. and Mrs. Dallas Peltz Jr. ’57 Miss Alexa M. Perillo ’11 Dr. and Mrs. Manuel Perry, Pʼ08 Mrs. Heather M. Petrocelli, F Mr. and Mrs. Silas Pierson Mr. and Ms. Jared Pilosio ’02 Mr. and Mrs. Martin Pomp Mr. James and Mrs. Nina Obolensky Prudden ’76 Mrs. Robin Quiles, F Mr. and Mrs. James Rhatigan, Pʼ29, Pʼ32 Mr. and Mrs. Greg Richards, F, Pʼ25, Pʼ28 Mrs. Robin Rickard

Winston Warme The TPS Journey to a Distinguished Career Dr. Winston J. Warmeʼs distinguished career in orthopedics and sports medicine had ‟modest beginnings” at Tuxedo Park School, where he learned to ‟work and play hard.” Dr. Warme, who attended TPS from 1965 to 1973, remembers a small, close-knit school with about ten students per class. His fondest memories include playing soccer and skiing on Wednesday afternoons. He also notes the demanding and tough nature of his teachers who set high standards and ‟ran a tight ship,” something he respects to this day. After TPS, his educational and career path took a unique turn. After serving as an enlisted Special Forces Medic in the U.S. Army, he attended the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences for his MD. He went on to serve as a physician and residency program director, retiring as a Colonel after 24 years. Today, he is a Professor and the Chief of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery at the University of Washington. Dr. Warme’s dedication to his profession is clear. He chose medicine because he likes ‟fixing things and helping people.” He believes in a team approach to treatment, with the patient as a key player, and he always tries non-surgical options first.

‟I like fixing things and helping people, and I am lucky enough to be able to do that every day I go to work.” Dr. Warme’s accomplishments are a testament to the strong foundation laid at TPS. He has a message for current students:

‟Study hard and apply yourself to school to keep your doors open to future opportunities.” 20

Mr. Alvin Rodolfo and Ms. Claudia Hanlin, Pʼ16, Pʼ20 Mr. Caio L. Rodolfo ’16 Mr. Blake Rohde ’09 Dr. Ericka Rovira, Pʼ28 Mr. and Mrs. Andrej Rusakova, Pʼ35 Mr. and Mrs. Juan Salazar, Pʼ19, Pʼ23, Pʼ25 Mr. and Mrs. Dirk Salz, Pʼ81, Pʼ82 Ms. Madison Scanlon, F Mr. Todd Schietroma and Ms. Debbie Salgado, F, Pʼ17 Mr. and Mrs. William Schroh Jr., F, Pʼ12, Pʼ15 Mr. Christopher Shaw ’75 Mr. and Mrs. Craig Shepherd, Pʼ24 Mr. and Mrs. John A. Shepard Jr. ’73 Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Shepard ’75 Dr. Stacy Shewprashad and Dr. Rawle Shewprashad, Pʼ26, Pʼ32 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Siracuse, Pʼ24 Mrs. James F. Smith, Pʼ79, Pʼ82 Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Sonne ’85 Mr. Todd D. Stack ’19 Ms. Zoe Steinberg-DiStefano, F Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Strobel, F, Pʼ36 Ms. Margaret Sung Mrs. Missy Greening Swan ’54 Mr. and Mrs. Jason Swirbul ’85, Pʼ15, Pʼ17 Mr. and Mrs. Philip G. Swirbul ’71 Mr. John Thompson Ms. Pamela Thompson The Tuxedo Club Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Ullman, Pʼ09, Pʼ12, Pʼ16 Mr. and Mrs. John E. Utley, Pʼ16, Pʼ18 Miss Lana E. Utley ’16 Mr. and Mrs. Angel Valle, Pʼ10, Pʼ14 Mr. Harrison C. van der Lee ’11 Mr. Kelvin Veale and Ms. Emma Harper, Pʼ29 Miss Mary Veale ’29 Ms. Aleah Vir, Pʼ32 Mr. and Mrs. Diego R. Visceglia, Pʼ89, Pʼ91 Mr. and Ms. Jeffrey Vogel, Pʼ22 Mrs. Jackie Wagner, Gʼ18, Gʼ21 Mrs. Shaylynn Walz, F Mr. Christopher Watts ’01 Mr. and Mrs. Michael Watts ’04 Mr. and Mrs. Peter Watts, F, Pʼ01, Pʼ04 Miss Hannah R. Weissman ’11 Westco Closet Corp. Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Whitney, Pʼ07 Ms. Elizabeth Wilkes Ms. Sarah B. Winnett ’74 Mr. Frank Wolfe and Mrs. Marie-Christine Wolfe Parent, F, Pʼ08, Pʼ12 Ms. Alexandra Worme ’71 Mrs. Marie-Claude P. Wrenn-Myers and Dr. Robert A. Myers, Pʼ86, Pʼ89 Mr. Ian D. Wright ’24 Mr. Ching Yam and Mrs. Cheryl Seraile, Pʼ23, Pʼ24 Mr. Joshua D. Yao ’22 Mr. Luis P. Young ’11

Morayo Olateju Seamless Transitions: A TPS Alumnus Reflects on the Journey to Groton For Morayo Olateju, a recent TPS graduate, the transition to high school to Groton School has been seamless, thanks to the solid foundation built at TPS.

From Foundations to Futures

Morayo is adapting well at Groton, managing a rigorous course load that includes Foundations of Global History, Honors Algebra 2 with Quadratics, Latin I, Biology, and Third-Form English. She finds the workload manageable and has ‟plenty of free time to socialize and practice my instruments.” She credits TPS for her preparation, especially in managing academics alongside a social life. The core TPS values, ‟Kind, Fair, Responsible,” are highly valued at Groton, and she attributes her proper demeanor to her former school.

‟The ‛Kind, Fair, Responsible’ principles of TPS are welcomed and appreciated at Groton.”

A Shared Sense of History

Groton, founded in 1884, has an ‟archaic tone” and atmosphere. Ms. Olateju finds that ‟stepping onto the Circle is akin to taking a step into the past, witnessing the thousands of individuals who have lived and graduated in the same shoes as I.” She sees a striking similarity between Groton and TPS, experiencing little struggle in the transition.

‟The two are very similar, and there has been little to no struggle switching from one to the other.”

A Piece of the Heart

Morayo feels a powerful, lasting connection to TPS, describing it as a “home away from home” and a part of her identity.

‟TPS will always be a piece of my heart, and I look forward to visiting campus again soon.” While grateful for her Groton experience, she knows TPS will always hold a special place in her heart.

tuxedoparkschool.org 21

Head of School’s Challenge The Head of School’s Challenge was a special initiative launched for the 2023-2024 school year by our own head of school, Stuart Johnson. Stuart deeply believes in the mission and future of Tuxedo Park School, and his inspiring personal commitment was encouraging to many donors. This challenge was a testament to the power of collective giving and the profound impact each gift made on enriching the lives of our students and supporting our exceptional faculty. Thank you to these dedicated individuals whose generosity truly elevated the TPS experience, ensuring our school continues to thrive for generations to come. Your participation was a powerful endorsement of our 125-year legacy! Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Baez, Pʼ23, Pʼ29

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Jenkins, Pʼ18

Mr. Gus Saliba and Ms. Lisa Noroian, Pʼ19

Dr. Srino Bharam and Dr. Jessica Gallina, Pʼ23, Pʼ25

Mr. and Mrs. John Kilburg, Pʼ27, Pʼ31, Pʼ32

Mr. Carlos F. Santiago and Ms. Elizabeth Stradar, Pʼ12, Pʼ14, Pʼ16

Mr. and Mrs. Marc N. Biamonte, Pʼ18, Pʼ21

Mr. George Kress and Mrs. Dawn Angney-Kress, Pʼ22

Ms. Anne Christensen ʼ01

The Merck Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Donaghy Pʼ13, Pʼ15, Pʼ16, Pʼ18

Mr. and Mrs. Shola Olateju, Pʼ22, Pʼ23

Mr. and Mrs. Sean P. Duffy F, Pʼ00, Pʼ02, Pʼ05, Pʼ07

Mr. and Mrs. Francis W. Peverly, Pʼ16 Mr. Donald Roberts and Ms. Sally Sonne, Pʼ84, Pʼ85, Pʼ90

Mr. Andrew Dunn and Mrs. Elizabeth Dunn ʼ98 Mr. and Mrs. Mark E. Feiner ʼ87

Mr. Tony Romando and Mrs. Brenna Haysom Romando ʼ92 Pʼ27, Pʼ29

Mr. Benno Schmidt and Ms. Stephanie Staal, Pʼ29 Seadream Family Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. John A. Shepard Jr. ʼ73 The Stadler Family, Pʼ08, Pʼ09, Pʼ15 Ms. Allison Taylor and Mr. Justin Jennings, Pʼ28, Pʼ31 Mr. and Mrs. Michael Vasseghi, Pʼ13, Pʼ15

Google Inc.

Honoring a True Friend of TPS: Thomas McKay ’61 Receives Distinguished Alumni Award It gave us great pleasure to present the Distinguished Alumni Award to Thomas A. McKay, Class of 1961, at our annual Alumni Day celebration held on June 7, 2025, at Tuxedo Park School. Tom’s lifelong dedication to TPS, coupled with his impressive achievements, truly exemplifies the spirit of this award. Tom was a student at TPS from 1952 until his graduation from the eighth grade in 1961. His family was deeply involved in the life of TPS, with his two sisters, Bitsy and Mimi, also attending the school. His mother, Frances, served on the Board of Trustees and even started the ‟Almost New Shop,” which later became the “TPS Addendum.” This shop, located in the village, not only helped families with uniforms and gear but also provided significant support to the school through sales of various items, even funding library improvements in 1973. From his earliest school days, Tom was an exceptional student. He excelled in academics, which earned him a spot on the coveted Scholarship Plaque, and for his athletic abilities, he was awarded the Dallas Peltz Award, given to a graduating student by vote of his or her fellow students, for outstanding leadership and sportsmanship. In his senior year, Tom led the Gold Team as their captain. 22

As he left TPS for Exeter, Tom took with him some encouragement from his art teacher, Doris Frye, who witnessed his aptitude and love of art. After a successful secondary school career, Tom pursued his undergraduate studies in Art History at Princeton, graduating magna cum laude. When the world of finance beckoned, Tom worked with the same enthusiasm and eventually started his own hedge fund company in 1990. Headmaster Sam Hazard wrote of Tom as he was graduating, ‟Tommy has left his mark on this school and all of us who have had the pleasure of working with him will take pride in his achievements. I consider Tommy a good friend.” We are proud to say that Tom is still a good friend to Tuxedo Park School. Over the years, he has helped us in countless ways, including serving on the Board of Trustees for eight years, joining the Alumni Council, helping to launch a rowing program for ninth graders, and continuing to oversee the investment of the TPS endowment funds on a pro bono basis. We are incredibly grateful to Tom for his unwavering dedication and all he has done and continues to do for Tuxedo Park School. He truly exemplifies what it means to be a distinguished alumnus!

Alumni Day 2025:

A Jubilee Celebration We were delighted to welcome alumni of all ages back to campus on June 7, 2025, for a joyous celebration. This year, we marked 125 years of TPS and honored two outstanding individuals: Tom McKay with the Distinguished Alumni Award and Todd Schietroma with the Distinguished Faculty Award. Former head of school Jim Burger and retired history teacher John Ham led alumni and friends on an insightful historical tour of the school. They shared fascinating details about areas typically unseen by students and recounted the history of the Blairs during their residency. Their dynamic partnership, often appreciated by students, was on full display. Alumni enjoyed revisiting past decades through photographs salvaged from the archives, experiencing a wonderful musical interlude performed by some of our high school alumni, and catching up with friends and former classmates during a fantastic cookout.

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The TPS Distinguished Faculty Award: Todd Schietroma The Distinguished Faculty Award honors past and present Tuxedo Park School faculty for their dedication, work, and accomplishments. It celebrates honorees who demonstrate a commitment to outstanding education, excellence in pedagogy, and enthusiastic, loyal service to the entire TPS community, fulfilling the school’s mission. This year, Mr. Todd Schietroma, an exceptional music teacher who joined TPS in 2012 and immediately impacted the music department, was a most deserving recipient. Colleagues, alumni, and their families gathered on Alumni Day to honor him. His son, Timothy ʼ17, who attended TPS from fourth to eighth grade, spoke admiringly of his father’s love of his craft, unparalleled work ethic, and dedication to his students. Timothy also coordinated a musical tribute at the ceremony, featuring former students Michael Baez, Wynston Ditchfield-Agboh, Morayo Olateju, and Michael Maris, all from the class of 2023. They performed ‟Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley, the first song Mr. Schietroma taught them as a band.

Upper School English teacher, Mrs. Maddie McManus, also took the podium to pay tribute to her colleague. It takes an exceptional teacher to transform a room filled with buckets, body percussion, steel drums, jazz riffs, and samba beats into a harmonious symphony of diverse, syncopated sounds that ignite creativity, curiosity, and a ton of joy. Mr. Schietroma is an extraordinary musician and arranger, a thoughtful leader, a mentor, and, above all, a teacher whose passion for his craft is matched only by his dedication to his students. He is the kind of educator who arrives early–really early–for morning lessons and stays long after dismissal, to give students the chance to squeeze in one last rehearsal or another lesson. These are students who willingly give up recess and chunks of their lunchtime in pursuit of growth, expression, and a challenge. They are willing to give their time because Mr. Schietroma creates an environment where kids feel acknowledged, encouraged, supported, and inspired. In his band room, everything can transform into an instrument, and anyone can discover their inner artist. He has guided seasoned players through intricate scores while encouraging newcomers to strike their first notes. Regardless of skill level, Mr. Schietroma approaches every learner with a blend of patience, purpose, and a clear vision of their potential. His electives are legendary. In Junk Orkestra, students discover that rhythm can exist in trash cans, elbows, and their imagination. In the Rock and Jazz Ensemble, they dig into the delight of improvisation. In the Tropical Music Ensemble, they uncover melody in steel drums and the richness of culture in every note. Each ensemble reflects Mr. Schietroma’s belief that music should be both accessible and electrifying, that joy and rigor can go hand in hand. Mr. Schietroma embodies the very essence of what it means to be an educator. Having the Achiever mindset means no detail goes unnoticed and no performance is underprepared. His Deliberative nature guarantees a thoughtful pace and safe, inclusive spaces for all. As a true Lifelong Learner, he continually evolves by attending workshops, mastering new instruments, and sharing his insights with others. His sense of Responsibility ensures he is someone we can all rely on, and his Strategic ability gives him the flexibility to adapt while maintaining a keen, unflappable focus. He does not just teach music; he embodies character, integrity, and care. Now, Mr. Schietroma, it is your turn to ‛complete the circle.ʼ As you do, please know that you leave behind more than just well-tuned marimbas and drum racks. You leave behind students who believe in themselves, colleagues who admire you, and a community that will always hear your rhythms echoing throughout our campus: ‛Glory to Green and Gold.’

Mr. Schietroma has been more than just a teacher. He’s been a mentor, a guide, and, for many of us, a reason to keep showing up and giving our best.

—Matthew Machado ’25 24

Nina Allbert, who was director of music when Todd was hired, had this to say about him: I first met Todd when I interviewed him for what he thought was a substitute band teacher. Todd was, at that time, writing and arranging music for commercial use. Halfway through the interview, I knew that he had to be our full-time teacher. Todd jumped right in at the deep end and pulled a band together in two short weeks, ready to perform for Grandparents Day. Todd is a phenomenally creative teacher. Our years together produced the strongest music team I have ever worked with.

Congratulations to Todd Schietroma on the TPS Distinguished Faculty Award. In my 35 years of independent school education, he is the most skilled and dedicated music teacher I have worked with–not just in the way he taught music, but also in how he connected with his students. Each day I worked with him, Todd demonstrated a level of organization and commitment in his band instruction that helped his students grow musically and personally. His creativity and enthusiastic leadership created music that was way above age/grade level. There was not a band concert that did not have the audience in awe. The music was simply ‛rocking!’

—Todd Stansbery, former head of school And a final word from Mrs. McManus that expresses our collective thoughts:

Thank you for these 13 wonderful years. For the music. For the memories. For reminding us that the true maestro in a school is the one who recognizes the unique melodies within each student and knows just how to draw them out.

You will be deeply missed and endlessly celebrated by us all.

Go Bears.

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A Fond to Madame Kate Vignola The Tuxedo Park School community recently gathered to celebrate the remarkable career of beloved French teacher, Mme. Kate Vignola, as she embarks on a new chapter. Kaitlyn Harle, a former student, delivered a heartfelt speech, reflecting on the profound impact Mme. Vignola had on her and her classmates. For Kaitlyn and her classmates, Mme. Vignola was more than just a French teacher and ninth-grade homeroom teacher; she was ‟a mentor, a confidante, and above all, the embodiment of true kindness.” With only nine students in their class, Mme. Vignola created a close-knit atmosphere that allowed each student to thrive. Her genuine kindness and warm smile were a cornerstone of the TPS community.

Madame’s classroom felt more like a family gathering than a typical school environment.

A Legacy of Passion and Inspiration Ms. Harle was so inspired by Mme. Vignola’s passion for education that it became a model for her own life. She explained that Mme. Vignola’s infectious love for the French language and culture gave her the confidence to study abroad in Paris for a semester, an experience that was transformative because of her teacher’s guidance. As Mme. Vignola begins her new journey, the Tuxedo Park School community celebrates her for teaching them more than just French. She taught them ‟how to live with joy and embrace other cultures.” The speech concluded with a final message of gratitude for Mme. Vignola’s patience, laughter, and for enduring their ‟butchered French accents.” She will be missed, but her legacy of joy and passion will continue to inspire all those whose lives she touched.

Parents Association Every parent at TPS is considered a member of the Parents Association (PA), a long-standing organization of school families dedicated to strengthening the TPS experience by fostering strong relationships among students, faculty, and staff. Families enrich our school community in so many ways, such as volunteering at special events, assisting with teacher appreciation, and supporting classroom activities and parties. Families also provide financial support for TPS beyond tuition through initiatives like the TPS Fund, the Green and Gold Gala, and the TPS Classic. The PA facilitates community building and information sharing through meetings, which are typically held before Family Friday activities to update families on school events. The PA also hosts Parent Socials, designed to help parents connect with each other and build community, and often include an educational or informational component.

PA Chairs: Hannelore Chambers (Colin ʼ27 and Oscar ʼ29) • Cheryl Seraile Yam (Sofia ʼ23, Octave ʼ24, and Lorenzo ʼ27) 26

A Legacy of Learning:

Celebrating John Ham Born in Kingston, New York, in 1936, John Ham grew up in a farming family. After graduating from St. Peter’s School, he attended Washington and Lee University for his undergraduate studies. He then pursued graduate work in English at Columbia University from 1958-1959. Following this, John served six years in the army and spent two years working in the financial sector.

John’s teaching career began at Grace Church in New York City (1961-1964) before he moved to Rippowam-Cisqua School in Bedford, NY, where he taught from 1964-1993. During this time, he earned an MA in History from New York University. He then taught at St. Mary’s College in Raleigh, NC, from 1993-1998, before joining TPS in 1998. At TPS, John initially served as director of admissions and secondary school placement, and head of buildings and grounds before head of school Jim Burger recognized his potential impact in the classroom.

John’s career was diverse, primarily focused on teaching English and History, including World History, Ancient History and Cultures, Modern Europe, and regional geography. He was also a skilled mathematician, teaching algebra and economics, and taught literature and poetry to upper school students. His legendary trips to China with the Freshman Class are still remembered. Many alumni are grateful to Mr. Ham for his years of dedication to learning, teaching, and mentoring. Ethan Weinstein ’19 eloquently expressed these sentiments at John’s retirement celebration in June 2024.

year had completed their ninth-grade older siblings, Benny and Becca, two my as intellectual rs and yea y kind y man for entl erstand the concurr ‟I knew Mr. Ham peripherally n experience that I began to und hma rned for the fres retu my we hed n reac Whe I r. l yea unti to kick off the start of the at TPS. However, it wasn’t ks dac ron Adi the to trip a your actions, you prove freshman class to take ted as a young adult unless, by trea force he is. It is tradition for the be will ‛You : rule one ’s evolution in my education e introduced to Mr. Ham ses with Mr. Ham marked an first Monday of school, we wer clas ing Tak rn. retu in ect as fellow intellectuals. maturity and offered resp didn’t engage us as students but He to be otherwise.’ He expected ect. resp ual mut of one s of the classroom, and her relationship toward stacks for further study outside sub from the standard student-teac and , cles arti ks, boo us t ask us to edit it. He sen a French diplomat because Ham enclosed the writings of He would send us his poetry and Mr. ch whi in il ema an ived as a student, they made of months ago, I rece may seem like small gestures, he still does. Even just a couple they ugh Tho .’ king ovo t-pr ugh k interesting and tho he thought I might ‛find his wor olar. sch a me feel seen and valued as s were in our class, and . In my freshman year, four boy ents stud his ut abo ply dee s ch.’ At our ‛Last Will and is a teacher who care nings, with Mr. Ham as our ‛coa Beyond academics, Mr. Ham Run l Coo from team sled Ham kept the flag flying as the Jamaican bob for the four ensuing years, Mr. and , for Halloween, we dressed up een low Hal that flew we Ham the Jamaican flag Testament’ event, we gave Mr. m. roo n on his wall in the freshma day into an enlightening the typical pleasantries of the from erse trav kly quic to is it y understands how eas is just as easy to stumble into Anyone who speaks with Mr. Ham dge to learn from Mr. Ham—it wle kno out k see to e hav ’t heard an incredibly low or literature. You don ory class after recess when we hist discussion of politics, history, for in ing com e wer we r in an attempt to discern the time in our freshman yea stuck our heads in the room it. I remember one particular we sly, tiou epti surr her Rat called Mongolian throat de the classroom. ed, ‛Hey guys! Listen to this. It’s ‛dummmm’ emanating from insi laim exc e, anc entr our g icin not a moment enjoyed, and Mr. Ham, who, upon us on this Mongolian art. It was source of the noise. We found ured lect Ham Mr. le whi m, roo e me appreciate my time r in the ninth-grade was times like that that truly mad singing.’ We stood there, togethe It . ned lear still we , dge wle and maturity fostered a random piece of kno sroom culture of intellectualism although it would seem to be clas His st. dfa stea ains rem each of his students.” the ethos of Mr. Ham lyzed a passion for writing in at TPS. In an evolving world, cata and e, atur liter of y stud a proclivity for the a respect for education, instilled ity y a Junior at Columbia Univers —Ethan Weinstein ’19, currentl

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Graduation Day

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2025 A Milestone Celebration

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Caps Off to the

Class of 2025

Every year, the Pamela McLean Graduation Garden is carefully and lovingly planted by upper school parents in anticipation of the eighth and ninth grade’s graduation and commencement ceremony. There is much excitement, preparation, and inevitably, teary goodbyes as we watch our beloved students move from their TPS home and on to new academic and personal frontiers. Over the years, we have had the pleasure of listening to the insights and hearing the anecdotes of former faculty, alumni, and trustees among our speakers. There are fond memories recounted, sound advice shared, and heartwarming remarks imparted. We sing our school song, rejoice in our students’ successes, and send them off with a rousing chorus of ‟Celebration” from the middle school band. We will miss each of them dearly, and know that TPS will now and forever live in their hearts.

Former head of school, Andrew McLaren, addressed our graduate class in 2022 and shared these wise words: I know for sure that you have had teachers over the years who have loved you–and loved being with you—had high aspirations for you and known you in ways that have sustained, challenged, and reassured you. We celebrate the fact that a little piece of each of them is graduating with each of you today. And I know for sure there’s something special about this place that nurtures community. All the graduating classes I have ever known have collectively contained every imaginable talent, but perhaps above all, they have had the potential for ongoing, loving friendships for life with each other. May you know it too, so that you can say what the wonderful young poet Amanda Gorman wrote a year ago about getting through difficult times together: So, while we once asked: ‛How could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?’ Now we assert: ‛How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?’ May each one of you be happy in your own way and may all of you find your greatest happiness in bringing happiness to others.

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In 2023, Marc Feiner ’87 described how the entire TPS community wrapped its collective arms around him after his mother, Judith E. Feiner, died during his eighth-grade year. I have not forgotten how I was cared for back then. It has inspired me to try to create similarly supportive and strong communities wherever I’ve gone. The education we get when we’re young is what determines how we will interact with our world. For me, and for you, we have been blessed to be raised at this wonderful school by incredible educators and with phenomenal friends. I hope that your TPS stays with you as powerfully and meaningfully as mine has with me. It is the foundation on which everything else is built.

In 2024, Liz Gunnison Dunn ’98 spoke of how a teacher’s words made a difference in her young life. When struggling to complete the mile run in sixth grade, Liz asked Mrs. Kennedy when it would get easier. The response was not comforting immediately but proved to be words that Liz has lived by, ‟It doesn’t get easier, Liz. You just get faster.” I’m passing Prisilla Kennedy’s words on to you today because I know that as you journey into this next phase of your life, each of you will encounter many new challenges. And when you meet those challenges, you’ll have a choice. You can either slow down and walk, or you can hit the gas. You can do the hard thing. And you might just discover, as I have, that hard is where the good stuff lives. Hard can be fun. And if you keep pressing forward, day by day, you can accomplish things you never thought possible.

We were delighted to welcome such a recent grad back to TPS in June of 2025. Esi Obeng ’14 was unsure if what she could share about her journey held any wisdom or inspiration until she started writing. I remember how Mrs. McNamara, our head of school at the time, had routinely emphasized how attending TPS was a privilege, not a right. As the child of two immigrants and someone coming from public school, I was constantly in awe of the opportunities had here. I remember often thinking, ‛Wow, I can’t believe this is school.ʼ Perhaps most importantly, Tuxedo Park School was a place of belonging for me. And as a student who was often the only minority in the classroom, that made all the difference. My time here taught me how I deserved to be treated—with kindness, respect, and dignity —regardless of my background. I have carried that sense of selfworth with me. I’d like to talk about something that isn’t often discussed in moments of celebration: facing failure and hardship. Even though I have no doubt each of you will go on to do incredible things in high school, college, and beyond, you’ll also have moments of disappointment.

One of my clearest memories of that lesson came during Ms. McManus’s eighth-grade English class. We had to memorize and recite passages from Romeo and Juliet, and even though I had practiced, the second I stood up to perform, I burst into tears in front of the entire class. I wanted to give up right then and there. But Ms. McManus told me to take a moment, breathe, and try again. She even had a classmate quietly help me from the sidelines when I forgot a line. It wasn’t perfect—but I finished. What I learned that day—and in so many moments since—is that success isn’t about never stumbling. It’s about what you do after the stumble. It’s about taking a breath, accepting help, and trying again. Resilience is something you’ve already begun to build here. TPS has given you the roots to grow and the courage to begin again. As you move forward, I hope you, too, continue to find moments that make you pause and think, ‛I can’t believe this is school,ʼ or college, or work, or life. Moments that remind you just how far you’ve come, and how far you’re capable of going.

For me, if everything had gone according to plan after leaving TPS, I would have aced every college class, gone straight to medical school, and would be graduating with my MD next year. But that’s not how it happened. College was hard. There was a global pandemic. My plans were derailed. I’ve come to understand this—that my time at TPS wasn’t about being perfect—it was about learning how to keep going when things got hard.

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Shining Bright

The Class of 2025 Awards Other Awards

Class Day 2025 Awards THE HISTORY AWARD Zachary Darling THE FRENCH AWARD National French Contest French National Honor Society Brielle Melvin THE SPANISH AWARD Aaron Mercedes THE LATIN AWARD Matan Kalkstein THE JEFF FEINBERG MATHEMATICS AWARD Matan Kalkstein THE ELIZABETH BETTI SCIENCE AWARD Lucas Bharam THE NINA ALLBERT CHORAL MUSIC AWARD Brielle Melvin

THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AWARDS Directors: Walter Van Poucke Most Valuable: Matan Kalkstein Most Improved: Caden Pierson THE DRAMA AWARDS Directors: Hunter Muigai Most Valuable: Toni Lee Most Improved: Nicolas Toro MARGARET SMITH CREATIVE WRITING AWARD Jahanne Etienne JUDITH E. FEINER ART AWARD Brielle Melvin MOST IMPROVED 7TH GRADE STUDENT Lily Howe MOST IMPROVED 8TH GRADE STUDENT Hunter Muigai ATHLETIC DIRECTORS AWARD Andrew (AJ) Jimenez Jr.

Green and Gold 2024-2025 INCOMING GREEN TEAM CAPTAIN (2025-2026) Nicolas Toro INCOMING GOLD TEAM CAPTAIN (2025-2026) Lily Howe TEAM WINNER FOR THE YEAR Gold 32

FIELD DAY Gold RELAY Green THE NICK TSILIBES SPARTAN CHALLENGE Green

AMERICAN LEGION AWARD Brielle Melvin and Yianni Maris THE CHILDREN’S HOUSE AWARD Ariella Jimenez KENNEDY CUP Toni Lee LORILLARD CUP Tyler Vogel SPELLING BEE Romel Shewprashad GEOGRAPHY BEE Nicolas Toro

Class of 2025 Secondary School Placement We proudly celebrate our graduates, who embark on their freshman year as confident, kind, and civically minded individuals, thoroughly prepared for their future academic pursuits. We also welcome back an accomplished group of ninth-grade students who are ready to lead the student body throughout the 2025-2026 school year!

Graduation Day 2025 Awards THE SCHOLARSHIP PLAQUE Zareef Reza A.V. BARBER PLAQUE Vivienne Schwartz HEAD OF SCHOOL’S CUP Walter Van Poucke G.M. DALLAS PELTZ MEMORIAL TROPHY Tyler Vogel JAMES T. BURGER SCHOLAR 7th Grade: Nicholas Toro 8th Grade: Andrew (AJ) Jimenez Jr.

Elena Ben-Moshe Millbrook School, NY

Matthew Machado Tuxedo Park School, NY

Lucas Bharam Bergen Academies, NJ

Yianni Maris Saddle River Day School, NJ

Zachary Darling Morristown Beard School, NJ

Brielle Melvin Dana Hall School, MA

Jahanne Etienne Tuxedo Park School, NY

Aaron Mercedes Lausanne Collegiate School, TN

Andrew Jimenez Tuxedo Park School, NY

Hunter Muigai School of the Holy Child, NY

Matan Kalkstein The Masters School, NY

Bella Salazar Tuxedo Park School, NY

Edith Kidde Northern Highlands High School, NJ

Vivienne Schwartz Taft School, CT Walter Van Poucke Blair Academy, NJ

Brody Lazar Tuxedo Park School, NY

Tyler Vogel PCTI STEM Academy for Biomedical & Life Sciences, NJ

Toni Lee Tuxedo Park School, NY

College Acceptances Gabi Biamonte Boston College

Valerie Davelman Hunter College

Lauren Luck Tulane University

Zach Brescia Binghamton University

Lauren Edouard Spelman College

Christian Capella Harvard University

Tommy Harle Northeastern University first semester in Rome

Holly Machado Northeastern University first semester in London

Greg Celariste American University Joshua Chung Villanova University

Donia Karandikar Northeastern University Dani Kashevaroff Elon University

Ashley Rosemberg SUNY Albany Emily Sharff University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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Class Notes Jeannie Fenton ’55

1955

Jeannie has great memories of her time at TPS when she was one of four students to graduate in her class. She loves hearing about our students’ daily lives and all the latest news from TPS!

Scott Finn ’69

Christopher Shaw ’75

After thirty years at Andover and five years at St. George’s, Chris Shaw is now part-time teaching economics at local prisons and community colleges. He is delighted to be there and teaching again!

1965

John Gocek ’76 John brought his son to visit TPS last spring, and we spoke about his experience as a teenager volunteering for the RNLI (Royal Navy Lifeboat Institution) in Wales. It was an experience John will never forget!

Scott, having retired as Gresham Professor of Architecture at Auburn University, finds himself with a bit more time to travel these days. We were delighted when he and Charles drove from Virginia to pay a visit to TPS and have lunch with the wonderful Serene Swirbul. Serene is beloved by legions of alumni. Scott was often a visitor to the Swirbul household while a student at TPS! While in the environs of New York City, Scott had lunch with Steel Stillman ’69. Scott tells us they were best friends when at TPS together. Scott also managed to see his favorite teacher, Sofia Obolensky Wentz, her daughter, Alexa, and her partner, Rick. ‟Alexa, Sofia’s daughter and TPS alumna, whom I have gotten to know when we have crossed paths in Rome, arranged the whole thing. And while all of us ‛kids’ were obviously plotting how to pick up the tab for all, Mrs. O excused herself and beat us all to the punch!” Scott said of Sofia, ‟It was a delight to spend time telling tales and stories.”

Alexa Obolensky ’73

1990 Fatima Sanandaji ’94 Fatima reports that the move from Tuxedo Park to Palm Beach is going splendidly—she loves living there. After 22 years working with numbers, she made a bold career move from the world of finance to interior design. Fatima tells us that a move to the world of Palm Beach aesthetic is idyllic. Apart from her design work, Fatima finds time to get outdoors to play tennis and enjoy the beautiful warm weather. She has the best of both worlds when Tuxedo Park friends visit during the season.

1970

Alexa travels to Italy a couple of times a year and, last Thanksgiving, had a big reunion with Susan Rogers, a former classmate, for an Italian feast. It was such a pleasure to see her here on Alumni Day this year!

1975

2000 David Whitney ’00 Having received his PhD in computer science from Brown University in 2019, David is a senior research scientist at Meta (formerly Facebook). His work has taken him on a journey from San Francisco to London, where he has joined a new team.

Jennifer Braswell Briggs ’74 Jennifer is enjoying traveling and, in the past year, made a memorable trip to Greece. She has also recently moved from bucolic New Hampshire to the bright lights and raucous sounds of Manhattan. We loved reconnecting at Alumni Day this past June. Welcome back to New York, Jennifer!

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Sean Duffy ’02 Sean and Lauren Huang were married in Austin, Texas, in September of 2022, at a ceremony where Spencer Van Schaack ’02 served as best man, and Sean Murray ’02 was the officiant. They welcomed little Ava Rose in August of 2025.

Alumni

Catherine Duffy ’07

2005

Catherine and her husband, Josh Dodgson, were married in the church of Pieve dei Santi Leonardo e Cristoforo in Monticchiello, with a reception at La Foce in Tuscany in August of 2022.They welcomed their little girl, Aine Marie, in September of 2023 and live in Brooklyn, New York.

Lauren Gorab ’07 Lauren and her husband, Jamie Shafer, gave their friends and family a weekend to remember in August of 2025, when they were married at Jamie’s spectacular family avocado ranch in Oxnard, California.

Gathering at The Century Association On December 4, 2024, a group of alumni braved the crowds and traffic of the annual Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting to attend a small reunion in NYC. The Century Association, founded in 1847, a place that attracts authors, artists, and ‟amateurs of letters and fine arts,” proved to be the perfect setting for a gathering of minds and hearts in midtown Manhattan. The event saw a good turnout of young professional alumni, who eagerly reconnected with one another and with their former teachers. Conversation flowed freely, accompanied by good-natured banter about the ‟green and gold” teams and their respective merits. While the Green Team alumni boasted higher attendance numbers that evening, the Gold Team’s spirit was undeniably mighty! We look forward to seeing even more of our alumni at upcoming events in the coming year!

Alex Kennelly ’09 Alex and Landin Petersen were married on September 28, 2024, on a perfect fall day in Woodstock, Vermont. Soon after, they moved to Brooklyn and invited Lila, a Lagotto Romagnolo, to join them!

Fletcher Laico ’09 Fletcher, who recently married and is living in Manhattan, is teaching at Connelly Center, an all-girls, full scholarship, independent Jesuit school in Manhattan, as a sixth-grade homeroom teacher.

Gabi Stadler ’09 Gabi and Henry Yanniz were married in October of 2023 at the spectacular Castell de Sant Marçal in Barcelona, Spain. They have made their home in Miami, Florida, and they share it with their dog, Charlie. tuxedoparkschool.org 35

Alumni

Moms Lunch What better way to spend a beautiful May afternoon than with old friends? That’s not to say we are old in the chronological sense–more like dear friends who have known each other a long time! We had much to catch up on in our present lives: ‟How are the kids, the spouse, the grandkids?” And we talked about our time as parents at TPS, taking more than a few trips down memory lane as we laughed our way through a delicious lunch at Valley Rock Inn. Our thanks to Barbara Kashevaroff (Matthew ’16 and Dani ’21), Glenda Coughlin (Theo ’16), and Christine Peverly (Rachel ’16) for all planning, organizing, and execution. Let’s do it again next year!

Class Notes (Cont.)

2010 Ana Hito ’11 Growing up between the wildness of Rapa Nui and an organic farm in upstate New York has given Ana her own particular perspective on life, which she used to great advantage in her work as a food editor at Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop and as a private chef. These experiences ultimately led to her highly successful farm-to-table dinner series, It’s A Dinner, which Ana hosted in her family’s barn in Goshen, NY, as well as in New York City, the Hamptons, and Maine. Ana spends half of her year in New York and half in Rapa Nui, where she enjoys raising her two daughters with her partner, Tomas, on their cattle ranch.

Sarah Laico ’11 Sarah is living, working, and doing lots of climbing in Colorado, where she has remained after studying at Colorado College. In Sarah’s words, ‟ … living in Colorado means every day is a multi-sports day. Being so close to the mountains and getting 300 days of sunshine makes it hard not to ski, bike, climb, run, or hike in some combination practically daily.” Sarah’s adventures prove she is a true athlete who pushes her boundaries, makes the most of every day, and does all that while still having some passion left for her favorite anytime food—donuts!

Schuyler Neuhauser ’12 A love of history and genealogy brought Schuyler and Shelby Carr together the first time: a brief introduction, followed by a long pause. A second meeting at a festive Christmas party a few years later was what cemented the deal! At a small ceremony with family and friends, two old upstate New York families were joined on a pretty November afternoon in Tuxedo Park. They are pictured here with Shelby’s niece, Lexi.

Cole Tavani ’12 Since graduating in 2020, Cole has been immersed in the finance world, working in Manhattan and then Los Angeles. While taking a break to do some traveling in Australia and Southeast Asia, Cole has had many incredible experiences, but one stands out.

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We’ll let Cole take it from here: ‟In November, I spent four nights on a scuba diving boat throughout the Great Barrier Reef. There were 23 total guests on the boat, with a few Americans, and I met Winston Warme ’74 and his wife Jeanne and quickly figured out that Winston also graduated from TPS! Winston and his family have lived in Seattle for many years, but he’s been back to Tuxedo, and we both remembered our time at TPS fondly. The world

is so small. We couldn’t believe it; it was such fun to run into a TPS alumnus in such a foreign, distant place, and we felt we had to let the alumni office know and share a picture.” What a serendipitous experience. Our small school has a far reach into the world! Winston Warme, Class of 1974, is a well-respected orthopedic surgeon, living and practicing in Seattle. He is featured in the alumni profile section.

Sophie Siegel ’13 Sophie graduated from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) with a BA in political science and a minor in theater. While attending FAU, she was the Editor in Chief of the FAU Press. She has worked in the entertainment industry since she graduated, and her focus has been talent acquisition. She currently works for a broadcasting and media production company called Digital Film Tree as the manager of talent acquisition and employment brand. Sophie currently lives in Orlando and is the proud mom of an older Chihuahua rescue.

Alec Valle ’14 While Alec was at TPS, besides being an all-around good student, model citizen, and good friend to all, he was also a great athlete. We could always count on Alec to bring it home for the Gold Team on Field Day. He continues to pursue his passion for running both in his personal and professional life, working as the head men’s and women’s cross-country coach at the New College of Florida.

Nora Santiago ’15 Nora graduated from Swarthmore College in May 2023 with a major in Asian studies and minors in classical studies and art history. In August 2022, Nora relocated to Namerikawa, Japan, where she is employed by the Japanese government’s JET Program (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program), teaching English at two high schools. Nora fell in love with all things Asia while in ninth grade at TPS. She loved Mr. Ham’s Chinese history course and caught the travel bug after her class trip to China, which led her to spend time in Japan during high school and a semester at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, during college. Nora is thrilled to be living in Japan, soaking in the culture, and traveling every chance she gets. She thanks Mr. Ham for sparking her love for East Asia!

Dylan ’15 and Avery Strober ’20 Mom, Jennifer, reports that the boys are doing well in their chosen fields. Dylan graduated from Binghamton University in December 2023—a semester early—with a double major in math and economics. He has accepted a job at Guggenheim Partners as a business analyst and will be married in September! Avery is attending the culinary school at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island, following his passion for cooking since he was very young!

Caio Rodolfo ’16 While at the University of Richmond, Caio took the opportunity to study abroad for a semester. While there, he ran the Singapore marathon, and upon graduation (Cum Laude in Finance), he ran the NYC Marathon 2023 and 2024. In 2023, Caio ran in support of Success Academy. In 2024 and 2025, he participated in their 9+1 program—running nine NY Road Runners races and volunteering at one, which enabled him to qualify for the NYC Marathon. His father, Alvin, did the same thing for 2024 and 2025. Caio makes his home in Wilmington, DE, and Tuxedo Park, and works for Grand Bank as a financial analyst. In his spare time, he DJs and enjoys photography.

Will Zhou ’14 Will is back at TPS and working as an adjunct faculty music teacher, giving strings lessons. On Lunar New Year in 2024, Will led an assembly of wonderfully talented musicians and dancers who entertained and educated our students about aspects of Chinese culture. It is such a pleasure to have Will’s smiling face back at TPS a few times a week.

The Thomas Family

2015

It was great to hear from the Thomas family, who have many moving parts! Mom, Amy Jolin, tells us she is very proud of her children, who are at various stages of their education and early careers. Joseph and Ethan are now firmly ensconced in the workplace. Ellis ’16, who graduated from Bryn Mawr, spent an enjoyable semester in Scotland. Liam ’19 has just completed his sophomore year at Stevens Institute of Technology, where he is studying Computer Science.

Katie Bennorth ’17 Julia Laico ’15 Julia lives in Manhattan and is working for a law firm. Sarah ’11 tells us her sister ‟crushed her LSATs” and is attending law school in New York. We had a great catch-up with Julia at our Manhattan event earlier this year.

Last summer, Katie worked and lived in Manhattan as an intern for Morgan Stanley in their equity research department. After she graduated from the Binghamton University School of Management, she landed a full-time role as an equity research analyst for Morgan Stanley. tuxedoparkschool.org 37

Class Notes (Cont.) Jace Howhannesian ’18 Jace is studying robotics, engineering, and computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Piper Jenkins ’18 The Carpentier Family It was great to see the Carpentier family back at TPS for Alumni Day on June 7 this year. Mom, Kathy, tells us that Ross ’17, who is at Marist along with his sister Kate ’20, spent his freshman year in Florence and loved it. His sophomore year was spent on campus. Then Ross’s first semester of junior year was spent in Asia, where he majored in international business studies. The whole family, including younger brothers Ty ’23 and Cruz ’25, went for a visit, spending some time in Singapore and Korea.

Julia Kirschenbaum ’17 Julia graduated from Florida Atlantic University in May 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in communication with a minor in non-profit management. Now living in Tel Aviv, Julia is participating in the Masa five-month Destination Israel program, interning with Yallagan. She hopes to make Aliyah in the summer of 2026.

Timothy Schietroma ’17 Timothy is excited to announce that he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in history last week! He’s been so grateful to spend four years in North Carolina and pursue both his personal and academic passions in new and exciting ways at Davidson College. Timothy is excited to share that he’s accepted the Colet Fellowship at St Paul's School in London. He’s looking forward to working with students at St Paul’s as they embark on their college search process and continue to work. He’s found a passion for working as a Lead Senior Admission Fellow at Davidson. He could not be more excited for the year in London that is to come before shifting his attention back to the legal field and his goal of attending law school.

Ava Strohmeyer ’17 Ava is immersed in her studies at Duke University and working as an undergraduate student researcher at Visgauss Lab. She is an avid equestrian.

In addition to working part of her summer at her family’s restaurant, Dottie Audrey’s, Piper interned at Black Rock Forest in Cornwall, NY, as a research technician. Piper tells us she ‟worked on various research projects, including but not limited to Beech Tree restoration, archaeological digs, turtle trapping, and mapping deer movement through the forest via ArcGIS. I am returning for my fourth and final year at the University of St Andrews. I will receive my Master of Arts (Honors) in Social Anthropology and Sustainable Development while running our school’s Raising & Giving (RAG) society for charity, and plan to continue furthering my higher education after graduation.” Piper keeps up with many of her TPS friends, including Frederick Pulver ’19, Becca Weinstein, and Camila Arthur ’19.

Camila Arthur ’19 Camila graduated from TPS in 2019, attended The Master’s School for her secondary education, and then decided to take a gap year before heading to college. She did some semisolo traveling around Europe, starting in Madrid, where she met up with her cousin and friends. Then it was off to London to spend time with family, followed by a quick visit to Scotland to see TPS friend Piper Jenkins ’18, who is in her senior year at the University of St Andrews. From there it was on to Italy to explore Rome and Florence, where Camila writes of enjoying, ‟beautiful music in the streets, incredible food, great people (I’m now happy to call friends!), pristine architecture, and the cultural differences experienced firsthand. I am now back to student life, attending George Washington University in Washington D.C.”

Frederick Pulver ’19 Frederick spent a gap year in England last summer, where he went to the boarding school Cobham Hall and traveled throughout Europe. He is currently a sophomore at Vassar College, where he is studying neuroscience. As a former Gold Team member, Freddie’s message to TPS is—‟Go Bears! Go Gold!”

Matthew ’18 and Gabi Biamonte ’21

Emily Rifkin ’19

Matt and Gabi will both be students at Boston University this year, Gabi as a freshman and Matt as a senior. After graduation, Matt will be working in New York in private equity investing. Gabi will study elementary education.

Emily is attending American University as an accounting major in the Kogod School of Business. She reports that she has been having a great experience, has made lifelong friends, joined a sorority, and made the Dean's list!

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Sofia Salazar ’19 Sofia recently completed her sophomore year at Amherst College, where she is pursuing a double major in mathematics and economics, but has tried everything from philosophy to printmaking! She is a member of the Association of Amherst Students Senate, gives campus tours on the weekends, plays on the Amherst Club Volleyball Team, and works at the merch store. She also runs a small business selling handmade pouches, jewelry, and more. Last summer we had the pleasure of having Sofia on campus as she interned at TPS as the Marketing and Communications Intern. This past summer, Sofia worked in NYC.

held at Andover, where I even ran into my sixth-grade homeroom teacher, Mrs. Bryk, who is teaching at Miss Porter’s School! My summer after graduating was spent interning with the civil rights firm Sussman & Associates in Goshen, NY, where I gained exposure and firsthand experience in the field. I spent my first year of college at Vassar, which is a small, close-knit community (like TPS). I enjoyed the year, particularly due to my sister’s presence, who was a junior at the time. Last year, I transferred to Columbia University, where I am majoring in American Studies. I’m thinking about law school, but much can change in a few short years. After all, I wanted to go into medicine when I was at TPS. It was nice to see everyone last year as we said goodbye to Mr. Ham, Ms. Hinshaw, and Mrs. Vignola. I look forward to saying hello again soon!”

2020

Annelise Seligmann ’19 Annelise just finished her second year at Occidental College in LA, where she is a theatre and art history double major. She is part of the school’s improv team, social media manager for the sketch group, and a participant in the theatre shows as both an actor and a technician, where she helps to build the sets and run the shows. She also works at the college day care center, which allows her to connect with professors and community members on a deeper level. Annelise continues to love all things theater—she has been involved in student-directed shows and has worked as an assistant on a main stage.

Judah Gordon ’20 Last summer, Judah worked on campaigns for the Orange County Democratic Party. He found it an exciting job where he met an interesting combination of people with varied skills, and the ability to map voter trends based on data analytics. Judah is currently enrolled at the University of Chicago, where he is studying economics. Judah tells us that his TPS friends are still some of his closest!

Thalia Tsilibes ’19

Luca Rodolfo ’20

Congratulations to Thalia, who has been entered on the Dean’s List for the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University!

Upon graduation from Kent School with Honors and an Engineering Certificate, Luca is attending Purdue University, where he is studying chemical engineering. This summer, Luca enjoyed an internship at Aero Tec Laboratories, a company based in New Jersey, where he worked with their quality control team.

Ally Turner ’19 Ally Turner graduated from Warwick Valley High School in 2023 and is entering her junior year at the University of Delaware, majoring in cognitive science with a pre-speech pathology career path. She has been recognized for academic excellence on the dean’s list and has joined the Alpha Delta Pi sorority this past spring.

Lauren ’21 and Maya Edouard ’23 Lauren and Maya’s mom, Taisha, writes that Lauren thrived in her final year at St. Paul’s School (SPS) as she prepared for college. She gave a stunning performance as the Snow Queen lead in her fourth St. Paul’s School Ballet Company Nutcracker, Act II. She has just started her freshman year at Spellman College. Last year, she debuted as a choreographer with her piece, Pearls, which deeply moved the audience during the SPSBC winter performance. Lauren plans to continue her passion for ballet in college while pursuing a pre-med track.

Ethan Weinstein ’19 It was great to hear from Ethan who writes, ‟Hi TPS, it’s been six years since my ninth-grade commencement. After TPS, I spent my remaining high school days at Phillips Academy Andover. It was certainly a new experience to be living far from home, but it was always nice to see my TPS friends from other boarding schools at sports games (Shoutout Karly and Alex). There was one track meet

Maya, entering her junior year at SPS, has ‛found her stride’ with the St. Paul’s School Theater Company (SPSTC). Selected as part of its inaugural group last year, her proudest accomplishment to date is performing as Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility this past fall. In her first production at St. Paul’s, she served as assistant director for CLUE, where she also handled sound design. Maya has wholeheartedly embraced acting, directing, and screenwriting, and she looks forward to exploring theatre programs in the U.S. during the next school year. tuxedoparkschool.org 39

Class Notes (Cont.) Roshan Desai ’22

Wynston Ditchfield-Agboh ’23

This past summer, Roshan interned with the Rhode Island Football Club before returning to Choate for his senior year and the start of the college process.

In addition to his day-to-day activities at Newark Academy, Wynston had a very eventful year outside of the classroom as both a musician and a track and field athlete.

Like so many of our alumni, Roshan expressed feeling ‟welcomed and loved” while a student at TPS. He feels he made lifelong friends, and he pledges to show his gratitude by supporting the school in any way he can. We are grateful to Roshan for sharing his gratitude not only with the alumni office but also in a lovely note to his former English teacher, Mrs. McManus.

JT Kress ’22 Gold Team captain and 2022 TPS graduate JT Kress spent his summer as an intern at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. JT worked with a research team investigating the application of gene therapy in the treatment of polycystic kidney disease. In his spare time, JT took in the sights and sounds of Baltimore, including watching an Orioles game, visiting Fort McHenry National Monument, and attending the Baltimore Symphony’s performance of Jaws. He also spent a wonderful afternoon with his friends Zoë Steinberg-Di Stefano and Tyler France, a former science teacher at TPS. JT is currently a senior in high school and attends St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Concord, NH. Go Gold!

Sarah Stack ’22 Sarah, a student at Lakeland High School, is an avid soccer fan and plays midfield for her school team. She has been enjoying time on the field since she was five years old and enjoys the friendships she has made over the years. Recently, Capelli Sports asked Sarah to model a new uniform called IFA New England.

He spent the year as a percussion major in the Music Advancement Program at The Juilliard School of Music. Throughout the year, he performed during multiple classical music concerts in NYC, with one of the highlights being a wind ensemble and orchestra concert at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. He also performed jazz music as a member of Chameleon (Newark Academy’s advanced jazz band). This year, Chameleon was named the New Jersey state champion at the annual NJ Association of Jazz Educators (NJAJE) State Jazz Competition. They were also named one of the top 10 high school jazz bands in the world during Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Jazz Band Competition this year. Additionally, during both competitions, Wynston and the rest of the rhythm section were recognized with Outstanding Rhythm Section awards. Wynston also continued to grow as an athlete on the track, breaking school records in three individual events (55m, 100m, 200m) and as a member of two relay teams (outdoor 4x100 and indoor 4x200). He qualified for both the Nike and Adidas Outdoor National Track Competitions and competed in the Adidas Outdoor Nationals this past June. We were so grateful that Wynston agreed, along with former TPS bandmates Michael Baez, Morayo Olateju, and Michael Maris, to take part in the celebration of Mr. Schietroma on Alumni Day, performing with an alumni band. He looks forward to more opportunities to perform as a musician and an athlete this year at Newark Academy.

Solomon Reichgott ’24 Solomon has settled well into the academics and routine of The Hackley School in his freshman year. Mom, Beth, reports that Solomon has great teachers, and while he felt the challenge of ninth grade, he was well prepared for it. As a freshman, he studied Latin III, sharing his class with Michael Baez ’23. Proctored study halls built into the schedule, plus one or two free periods a week, work well for Solomon, who loves getting his work done during the day.

David Siracuse ’24 David is attending Don Bosco Prep and made a smooth transition into his freshman year where he is enjoying his new school. He attends orchestra every day and is a member of the freshman soccer team.

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In Memoriam James Armstrong Cathcart III ’50 James Armstrong Cathcart III died on April 10, 2022, having lived ‟a life full of love, laughter, singing, and dancing.” He was well-loved and has been described as ‟a pillar of the community” for many reasons, not least that he recognized the importance of the Church, the Club, and the School’s role in the life of Tuxedo Park. Jim served on the Vestry of St. Mary’s in Tuxedo, and the board of The Tuxedo Club, acknowledging through service and philanthropy, his good fortune in life. Jim enjoyed his work in the reinsurance business and working at the Holborn Agency Co., where he was a partner, vicepresident, and executive director for twenty-four years. He later established Cathcart and Roundell, where he worked for the next twenty eight years. He was an accomplished athlete and captain of the USC track team. He was named an Atlantic Coast Conference Scholar Athlete and was inducted into the Episcopal High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011. He broke records in the 100-yard dash, the 220-yard dash, and the long jump. In 2022, his 220yard dash record was still unbroken. He is survived by his wife Charlen, and daughters Freeda Lynn ’76 and Jamie Ann ’80.

Bob Dow Remembered by Jim Burger Bob Dow will be remembered for his generosity of spirit, his love for his family, and his incredible support for education. His two greatest loves were firstly for Christina and Lindsay, and much of his involvement with TPS included both. Bob shared a story early in my tenure about a friend who asked him, shortly after Lindsay was born, why he was involved with Tuxedo Park School. Bob’s answer was simple: ‟I want to live in Tuxedo Park, and I want the best possible education for my daughter.” His actions over the following seventeen years did not waver from that goal. Early in my tenure at TPS, Bob and Christina invited me to Renamor for a ‟conversation.” At some point, Bob asked me what area of the school’s program might benefit from some support. I immediately said the science program. Christina asked what I thought about Mathematics … the result was a Mathematics Chair that provided the funds to attract Sharon

Mensing, who was an outstanding contributor to the school as math chair, head of primary school and assistant head. TPS was fortunate to have her valuable and varied talents until she moved on to head a school in Colorado in 2011. Bob’s early interest was in making the school’s finances secure. As head of the Endowment Committee, and later as Board Chair, he moved TPS’ small endowment from a managed fund to a balanced group of low-cost index funds that provided a more secure income stream. As one of the leaders of the Centennial Campaign, Bob helped the school achieve the goals of two new endowed chairs in Science and English, the establishment of the Permanent Endowment, the funding of the Middle School Wing, the creation of the Dow Science Lab, and the Primary Science and Art Rooms. Steve Davis, Joe Amato, and Jonathan Whitney were also very generous in their leadership and financial support. But the crucial gifts came from Bob’s discussion with Shelby and Gale Davis. Those families made the campaign and the success of the following years possible. Bob was a thoughtful mentor and advisor. There were several occasions when his advice and support were of tremendous personal and professional help to me. I will always remember his silence when I came to him with an enthusiastic plan that, in retrospect, was filled with potential problems. His eventual response was for me to think it over first. No more needed to be said! So, in many ways, Bob’s response to that question many years ago has positively affected a generation of TPS children, their families, the faculty, and the staff. As former Board Chair, Phil Swirbul used to say, Tuxedo Park is based on the triad of St. Mary’s, The Tuxedo Club, and Tuxedo Park School. As I left the school in 2011, I hoped that those three legs would stay strong for years to come.

Oscar James Dunham ʼ03 Oscar James Dunham ’03 embodied respect, kindness, and quiet leadership from his days at Tuxedo Park School. Whether in the classroom or on the playing field, he treated teachers and classmates with genuine warmth and integrity. His thoughtfulness left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him. tuxedoparkschool.org 41

In Memoriam (Cont.) Upon graduating from TPS in 2003, Oscar pursued a bachelor’s degree with honors from Howard University. There he served as a mentor to underclassmen and earned praise for his academic rigor and collaborative spirit. After university, Oscar channeled his passion for public service into a career on Capitol Hill. His roles included: director of operations for several congressional offices; director of schedule, a role that required him to manage complex itineraries for high-level events; senior military advocate for Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, where Oscar helped to advance veterans’ issues and defense policy. Colleagues admired Oscar’s strategic mind, calm demeanor under pressure, and unwavering commitment to the common good. He championed every project with the same kindness and respect that defined his student years. Oscar’s sudden passing at age 33 leaves a profound void in his family and for all who knew him. He was a beloved student, a model citizen, and a loyal friend during his time at TPS. We mourn his loss and send our heartfelt condolences to his mother, Victoria, and sister, Katherine ’07.

Portia Hinshaw Ms. Hinshaw came to TPS from Colorado to join the history and math departments. These were both subjects she loved to teach, and her students benefited from her knowledge, skill, patience, and passion. In the few short years she was here, she infused her classes with energy, excitement, and curiosity. She cared deeply for her students, her colleagues, and TPS. Sofia Salazar ’19, a junior at Amherst College in Massachusetts, is studying Mathematics and Economics. At the 2024 Alumni Day, Sofia spoke of Ms. Hinshaw. ‟TPS influenced my life in more ways than I expected. I went in expecting to grow as a student, and I did — I strengthened my quantitative skills, but I also developed a lasting passion for math that has stayed with me. Now a math major in college, I still use the ingrained skills and techniques Ms. Hinshaw taught me back in freshman year.” Portia’s passing has left many with feelings of great loss. We have lost a great teacher, colleague, and friend. We offer our condolences to her son, Jamal.

Martha Wendt Nesbitt ʼ56 Martha Wendt Nesbitt ’56 died on January 26, 2025. Martha, the daughter of Ruth and Henry Wendt, was born March 14, 1942, in New York City. She grew up in Sands Point and Tuxedo Park, NY. Martha attended Tuxedo Park School, The Masters School, St. John’s College in Annapolis, and New York University. She worked for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus in NYC and later in computer program design at Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America. Martha married Michael in 1972 and spent most of their 52 years together in Lakeville, CT, where Martha was an active member of the Colonial Dames, the Cosmopolitan Club, the Millbrook Garden Club, the Berkshire Choral International, a mahjong group, and the Crescendo choral group. She is remembered by her family and friends as the sweetest, kindest, most loving, and thoughtful wife to Michael; mother to Ian, Christopher, and Seth Nesbitt; sister to Nancy Wendt Evans ’58, and grandmother to Caelan, Cosmo, Esperanza, Harper, and Zephyr.

George Mifflin Dallas Peltz IV Dallas Peltz IV passed away on November 1, 2023. He was born in Tuxedo, NY to Emily Winslow Peltz (Sully) and George Mifflin Dallas Peltz III on November 24, 1943 and attended Tuxedo Park School for his elementary education. From there he went on to The Fay School in Southborough, Massachusetts and St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire. He also attended The American School in Switzerland (Franklin University). He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968 where he was a member of the Tau Chapter of Psi Upsilon. Dallas began working at and overseeing his family’s real estate holdings which included Table Rock Farms in Tuxedo, NY. He also acted as president of the Board of Trustees of St. Elizabeth’s Memorial Chapel in Tuxedo for over fifty years–ensuring the physical and financial viability of this church that was founded by his family nearly one hundred years ago. In 1945, Dallas’s mother gave a silver bowl to TPS in memory of her first husband, G.M. Dallas Peltz III. It is a reproduction of a Paul Revere bowl which was given to the Peltz’s as a wedding present. The GM Dallas Peltz Memorial Trophy is awarded to a graduating student by vote of his or her fellow students, for outstanding leadership and sportsmanship. Dallas is survived by his wife, Dorothy Vermeer Peltz, and his daughters Alexandra Peltz, Maria Kennedy, and Nancy Marshall Shanfelt.

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Nick Tsilibes Remembered by Fiona Duffy It is not an exaggeration to say that Nick Tsilibes was loved by all who were fortunate to know him. Nick was an uncomplicated friend, if you were lucky to be his friend. He took time to get to know you, and when he achieved that, he developed fun ways to address you, or in my case, sang an Irish song as he passed by my door on his way to pick up primary school students for gym class. He truly ‟saw” you. We shared many laughs. Nick was a superb storyteller and once he got started, you were in for great ride. His upbeat spirit was infectious. I never heard him say a bad word about anyone. Any issues he may have had, he dealt with them with a good dose of humor. His great ease of being in the company of peers was extended to his students. He loved TPS and the kids whom he coached and taught. He loved the flexibility this school afforded him to teach. He once told me, ‟I enjoy having the educational freedom to teach what the students need … we use the national standards but also customize our program to have each student reach their physical and mental potential in a way that is unique to each student.” He treated them with respect, kindness, and gentle humor. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to help a student achieve success or just feel supported. He did this for his colleagues too. I never knew Nick to say no when asked to help with a project. He showed up with bells on. John Ham, when reflecting on Nick, thinks back to the Pandemic, when Nick had to recreate what a physical education class could be.

When he left us so suddenly, our entire community was bereft. We knew we had been privileged to have been in Nick’s orbit. When we talk of him now, we remember the good times, often giggling but mostly guffawing at some of the cherished memories we shared with him. We hold him in our hearts and extend that love to his ‟rock” Sandy, and his children Thalia and Theo. Some memories of Nick Tsilibes by Jim Burger, former head of school 1994-2011

‟A gentle laugh; the air beneath his running shoes; Winter Games; Cross Country; a quiet word with Jeff on the sidelines; ‛Man Overboard,’ ‛Swab the Deck,’ ‛Dead Bug,’ ‛Shark Attack;’ connections with students young and old; Harrison’s goal; Field Day; breadth of Emptiness? No Absence involvement; kindness, fairness, responsibility; Absence? Potential— Gentle Friend. It births the 10,000 things Nick threw himself into the life of the school. Now appearing, distinct He was a team player working initially with Seen, named, then Dawn Kranzo and then with every teacher Fading-once more in the school to make sure there was clear Enfolded in Absence. communication–the strong bonds of which were valued by all. Gone? No Waiting, expectant No matter what the activity, program, event, or celebration, Nick Tsilibes was there to lend Once more­— his support. Always ready with supportive Nothing, everything suggestions and a positive outlook, he helped All things that will be, projects throughout the school, and far can be, may be— beyond the scope of the physical education Thus Death banished department, flourish. Faculty could trust him Thus Resurrection and would seek his advice, knowing that they Thus Rebirth could count on him for confidential, honest This Second Coming counsel and support.

‟While I was working in the school garden, he Nick’s spirit lives on in the countless students, Not as we would have it would appear followed by a string of children, faculty, and staff who worked with him over But as Absence-presence heading for the Brook Trail Road. Forty minutes the years. Those who knew Nick understand decrees later, they would come back smiling, maybe a that it is impossible to capture his magic in any bit sweaty, but in good spirits. It was a saving JMH April 21, 2022 tangible object. He will always be an indelible grace for the kids and for TPS. Nick always part of my memories.” found a way to do his job, to bring joy, to push students and colleagues to test their ‛limit’ and Zach Rohde ’07 find, to their surprise, that they could do it, whatever ‛it’ happened ‟‛T’ was a light. He had one of the biggest hearts of anyone I have to be. As a teacher, as a man, these were his greatest gifts.” ever met. His influence can best be described through something We have a tradition at the end-of-year faculty lunch, when we he told me my first year at TPS, ‛Speak softly and carry a big stick; gently roast our colleagues who are leaving. We would often ask you will go far.’ That notion of actions speak louder than words, Nick to take on a role in a short skit, sometimes literally minutes was how he carried himself, how he coached on the field, how before performance time. He was a natural. We were all doubling he taught his gym classes, and how we represented TPS. It is over with laughter by the time he was done. one of the greatest lessons I have been taught and, I carry it with me every day.” tuxedoparkschool.org 43

TPS

Art Show

In celebration of Tuxedo Park School’s 125th anniversary, this year’s art show explored various aspects of life in 1900. Fashion, particularly millinery, was a key theme, with third graders decorating period-appropriate hats with handmade paper flowers, while Kindergarten students printed flowers on their own hat drawings. We discovered that women’s hats of the era were often so large and elaborately adorned with flowers that they were colloquially known as ‟second stories” or ‟flowerpots.”

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First graders focused on early automobiles, some of which bore a striking resemblance to horse-drawn carriages, sans the horse. Fourth graders delved into the story of Sergeant William H. Carney, the first African American Medal of Honor recipient, creating drawings and paintings inspired by his bravery. Sixth graders explored the life and artistry of the renowned escape artist and magician, Harry Houdini. The school’s birthday provided a fascinating history lesson for everyone involved!

A Foundation for the Future 2025-2026

TPS 125th Anniversary Fund

The 125th Anniversary Campaign for Tuxedo Park School continues! This past year, we celebrated a significant milestone: 125 years of excellence in education. The anniversary was a unique opportunity to honor our extraordinary and long history, strengthen our programs, invest in our dedicated faculty, and plan for an exciting future. At TPS, we’re not just a school—we’re a community. We believe in a vigorous, hands-on education where every child’s potential is nurtured and celebrated. Our curriculum is both experiential and innovative, and we offer a lively mix of athletics and arts. This creates an environment where learning is an adventure filled with exploration and joy. We’re dedicated to instilling kindness, fairness, and responsibility, ensuring our students leave us as confident, articulate, and curious individuals ready for the challenges of the nation’s top secondary schools and beyond.

Why Your Gift Matters For 125 years, TPS has relied on the generous support of our community. Your gift to the 125th Anniversary Fund is an investment in our mission. It directly supports: • Academic and faculty excellence: We continue to offer exceptional programs and recruit, retain, and reward our outstanding faculty with the resources and professional development they need. • Financial health and vitality: Your support helps us manage enrollment strategically and secure the long-term future of our school.

TPS students are mastering Python coding in our KMac Lab—designing games experimenting with code, and even preparing to program robots. It’s innovation in action, building skills that will serve them well into the future.

• Our historic campus: We can maintain and develop our beautiful grounds to fit the needs of current and future students. • Character and community: You’re helping us fund our cherished character education programs, extracurriculars, and Green and Gold traditions.

How to Contribute Every gift, no matter the size, makes a direct and meaningful impact on our students and faculty. Please consider making a gift that is significant to you and your family. You can support the TPS 125th Anniversary Fund in many ways: a single gift, a recurring monthly donation, a gift of securities, or through a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF). To discuss your gift, please contact Fiona Duffy at (845) 351-4737 or fduffy@tuxedoparkschool.org.

Scan the QR code to support TPS or visit www.tuxedoparkschool.org/125years

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #9161 MONSEY, NY

125 Years

A Foundation for the Future

Mountain Farm Road Tuxedo Park, NY 10987

Preserve. Enrich. Evolve. You can play a vital role in sustaining the distinctive experience of a Tuxedo Park School education.

tuxedoparkschool.org I (845) 351-4737