3 Head of School 4 Village Green 18 Athletics 52 Class Notes DEPARTMENTS
from the EDITOR
Aspirando et perseverando. For a phrase so central to the identity of Avon Old Farms School, it is remarkable how quietly it entered our history. It is printed in the Deed of Trust as fact: this is the school motto. There isn’t a definition or a reasoning. More astonishing still is that the origin story of our beloved mascot seems to be something of a happy accident—one that Mrs. Riddle embraced. And yet, perhaps that is fitting. Our founder, Theodate Pope Riddle, was never one to ask for permission or explain herself. Theodate trusted her instincts and moved with conviction.
That spirit is one that has defined Avon for nearly a century. To that end, for this edition of The Avonian, we’re taking a deep dive into our school motto: aspirando et perseverando. What do these words ask of Avonians? How do they shape the rhythms of daily life on this campus?
At Avon, aspiration is not merely about ambition. It is about curiosity, growth, and the courage to imagine something greater. Perseverance, meanwhile, carries us through challenges, urging us forward when the path is uncertain. You will see this throughout the pages that follow. In our story on the College Counseling Office, we see how aspiration takes the form of possibility—students encouraged to explore who they are and who they might become, supported by counselors who understand that the journey matters as much as the destination. Our community profiles offer further proof that the Avon story is, at its heart, a human one. Each story reveals a different expression of the same enduring values: the practices that sharpen both skill and character; the creative risks that transform into beauty; the mentorship that shapes lives long after graduation; the teaching that challenges boys to think deeply and act with integrity.
We are scholars, artists, and athletes. We are students, faculty, staff, and alumni. We are individuals, but we are also a community bound by a shared purpose. Nearly a century after Mrs. Riddle set pen to paper, her words continue to guide us—not as a relic of the past, but as a living promise. Together, we aspire. Together, we persevere.
The Avonian is published for the alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends of Avon Old Farms School. It is distributed to approximately 7,000 readers. All rights reserved.
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Dear Avonians,
As we celebrated the Class of 2026 at Commencement just a few days ago, we were reminded not only of how far these young men have come but also of the values that shaped their journey: aspirando et perseverando.
At Avon, aspiration is not defined by a single achievement or milestone. It is reflected in steady academic effort, in the willingness to attempt something unfamiliar, and in the discipline required to improve. Over the course of a school year, and over four years in particular, our students learn that growth is intentional. It comes from setting a high standard and working consistently to meet it.
Perseverance reveals itself just as clearly. Adolescence brings both confidence and uncertainty, success and setbacks. What defines the Avon experience is the understanding that challenge is part of the journey. With the steady guidance of teachers, coaches, and advisors, our boys learn to persist through demanding coursework, competitive seasons, and the responsibility that accompanies high expectations. Over time, that persistence becomes resilience.
Watching our graduates step forward with confidence and purpose affirmed what we know to be true. The Avon journey unfolds gradually. The integrity, discipline, and self-awareness our seniors carry into the world are the result of years spent aspiring toward something greater and persevering through the work required to achieve it.
As you will read, this issue is dedicated to our school motto, and for nearly a century after Mrs. Riddle established this school with bold conviction, her guiding words remain a living charge. As we look toward our centennial in 2027, we do so with gratitude and confidence in the generations who will follow.
Aspirando et perseverando,
JIM DETORA P’12 Head of School
FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
village green
Theodate’s FARM FEAST
On Monday, February 2, Avon Old Farms School recognized our Founder’s birthday in a new way—but actually, not so new, as you’ll come to learn. The community gathered in the Refectory dressed in Vespers and waited for the bell to ring before taking their seats.
There were the usual waiters and serving spoons, but a few things in the room on the night of February 2 were special: first, students noticed Mr. Art Custer P’04, ’05, ’10 standing before a podium. And second, although perhaps less noticeable, were a few special guests taking places at the head table.
Below, you’ll find Mr. Custer’s speech, which should provide the necessary enlightenment:
On October 7, 1927, so—about 10 days into the first year at school—Bill Merritt, Class of 1931, wrote a letter to his mother. The first paragraph could have come from a student at any school: questions about what Dad was up to and expressions of gratitude for Mom’s earlier letter. The second paragraph, though, clearly came from Theodate Pope Riddle’s new school: “Today we have farming,” Bill wrote, “the thing I like best… We go out and run the tractors and plow up the fields for the next year.” He went on to say, “Although we may go out and learn all about the cows—I mean how to test them.”
Plowing fields and testing cows was not part of the standard curriculum for independent schools in those days, but Theodate did not want her school to be just like the others. In particular, she wanted the Men of Avon to learn the value of hard work, and preferably to get their hands dirty while they learned it.
Farm work at school was not some sort of flash in the pan in Avon’s first year, nor was it limited to students like Bill Merritt, who liked it the best. It was expected of all Avonians throughout the Founder’s Era. Five years after Merritt wrote that letter, the school published a prospectus that outlined the community service requirements. It read in part: “Every boy in the first four forms (grades 7–10) is obliged to give eight hours weekly to some sort of work for the common benefit. … He may choose to work in the
forest, or at the poultry run, the stables, the shops, or the power plant. … At least one week during the year, he will take his turn at the Farm, helping with the chores and sleeping at the farmer’s house.” Some of you are currently pondering whether you might be willing to do a few farm chores in exchange for a week off from classes, so let me assure you that isn’t how it worked. The boys at the farm woke up early, as farmers do, and did farm work until it was time to leave for campus. They attended classes as usual and then returned to the farm for more work. The farm, by the way, was Sub-Edge Farm, which you can see from the athletic fields, so it is not as though they spent much time in transit. Toward the end of their week of farming, the group would be taken to Hill-Stead, where they would enjoy a special tea with the founder. It is this unique aspect of our founder’s vision and our school’s
history that brings us together this evening. Theodate’s Farm Feast is a gift of John Zappone ’82 and his wife, Mary. They have created this event for a number of reasons: one is to give the students a memorable and tasty mid-winter treat; another is to highlight the benefits of local, sustainable food sources and especially the school’s historical connection to Sub-Edge Farm. Tonight’s beef comes to us specifically—and quite intentionally—from Sub-Edge. Lastly, the Zappones wanted to celebrate a founder who thought it was important for growing boys to get their hands dirty and that waking up with the sun and completing farm chores before breakfast could be a valuable part of their education. What better time for such a feast than on the founder’s birthday?
Happy Birthday, Theodate! At the end of the meal, the community sang Men of Avon before heading off into the winter night.
Avon Old Farms School Highlighted in NEW BOOK ON HOLISTIC EDUCATION
Avon Old Farms School is honored to be featured in Elevate: 16 Boarding Schools and the Practice of Holistic Education, a newly published collaborative book examining how boarding schools live out their missions in practice.
Authored and edited by Jake Weld and Jeremy McGeorge, Elevate brings together reflections from independent boarding schools across the country, each invited to tell its story in its own voice. The project is not a ranking, comparison, or marketing exercise. Rather, it is a thoughtful inquiry into the structural and cultural conditions that make holistic education possible.
At its core, Elevate asks enduring questions: How do governance decisions shape culture? When do constraints protect purpose rather than diminish it? How is authority exercised in ways that preserve both responsibility and community life? What obligations do institutions incur—to students, to families, to faculty, and to their own stated missions—when they claim to educate “holistically”?
Participation in this project reflects something deeply familiar to the Avon community: since our founding, we have believed that education is more than academic instruction. It is the formation of character. It is life lived in community. It is the steady alignment of mission, leadership, faculty commitment, and student experience. To be invited into this volume affirms the seriousness with which Avon approaches that work.
Each chapter in Elevate stands as an institutional reflection on how a school understands authority, responsibility, structure, and community life. The result is a collection of lived perspectives and a broader exploration of holistic education in action. The book is written for educators, trustees, parents, and school leaders who seek to understand not only what schools claim but also how those claims are sustained in practice.
For Avon, this moment is less about publication and more about participation in a wider professional conversation. Boarding schools
operate within a distinctive community where learning extends beyond the classroom, where faculty serve as mentors and role models, and where governance decisions ripple directly into student life. To contribute to a shared reflection on that reality is both humbling and energizing. The book formally launched in March and is available for purchase on Amazon. We are grateful to have been included among schools recognized for their sustained commitment to holistic education, and share with the greater world our mission to develop boys into men of strong moral character with conviction.
COLLEGE BOUND How
Avon’s College Counselors
Deliver the Right Fit, Not Just a List
Applying to college is one of the first major steps an Avonian will take on his own. He’ll be the one filling out the application. He’ll be the one sitting for a standardized test. He’ll be the one writing the personal essays. But beyond that, he’ll be sharing some insight into who he is and why a college would be lucky to have him as a member of their community. It’s the culmination of his life’s work up until that point, which is why it can feel so big, so important, and so stressful. Add this to an increasingly competitive world of college admissions, societal pressure to get in somewhere with name-recognition, and persist-
ing through a rigorous boarding school experience, and we begin to understand why so many feel overwhelmed.
Enter the Office of College Counseling. At Avon, that happens to be in the brightly lit and recently renovated Barnes Lounge space above the Refectory. With a staff of five—seven, if you count the office pups, Penny and Rosie—Avon is equipped with strong resources to ensure that each Avonian is able to explore his options, have his questions answered, and feel supported on his path to success beyond Avon. But don’t get the wrong idea: as busy as the office is, Dean of College
Counseling Kate Barzun ensures that this process remains student-driven.
“We want the boys to take ownership of this process, but we also recognize that this is a very big, sometimes intimidating task.” Barzun continues, saying she knows applying to college is never going to “be a breeze,” but with three out of Avon’s four counselors coming to the school as faculty members first, it should be no surprise the office has a philosophy of teaching boys about the process as a core tenet—not doing the hard work for them. “As an office, we still see our roles as educators, and applying to college is a very big lesson in becoming an adult.”
LESSON 1
Perhaps the first lesson offered by college counselors is a lesson in reframing success. The world of the College Counseling Office is just that. Counseling. Advising. It’s not the world of college placement that existed for the previous generations, where prestige, ranking, and the name of the school on a diploma was what opened doors. Today, counselors work to ensure success reaches beyond the acceptance letter and ensures a match between school and student that equals happiness, confidence, and self-discovery. They help students discover the right fit, not just build a list.
“We work with students who have big aspirations, and we love that,” explains Barzun. “Sometimes our job requires explaining that highly selective schools can have admission rates in the single digits and that a rejection from these institutions isn’t necessarily an indication of not being a strong enough candidate. Our students are admitted to some of the most competitive universities each year, which is incredible, and they deserve it. But we always stress that finding a school that is genuinely excited about them is what matters most.”
During those times, Barzun likes to reframe the process not as simply applying to schools, but rather finding the right match. “I use a relationship analogy quite a bit to get students to see that they want a healthy match with their college: I want our boys to be in great relationships where the college is just as excited for them as they are for the college.”
LESSON 2
A second lesson is to start early when planning for big things, laying down a foundation for success. The philosophy of college planning traditionally starts second semester junior year, except for maybe some standardized test preparation. “The problem is that as college admissions have become increasingly complicated, competitive, and stressful, gatekeeping the process was only spinning up the anxiety in a way that isn’t necessary,” explains Barzun. That’s where Avon as a school and a character-building experience comes into play.
At Avon, students don’t just learn a set curriculum inside the classroom. They learn how to be a good community member, a good brother to their peers. They are challenged to try new things and find out what inspires them. From the college office, Avonians are encouraged to think about which type of community they will thrive in and how to ensure they become a person those communities would fight to have. “We begin programming in freshman year by reinforcing what the boys are hearing from their other campus mentors: You’re here to learn and to grow into a young man who will be a credit to his future communities. Freshman year is about getting involved and starting to discover your passions. Lean into what excites you and makes you unique.”
The journey of self-discovery, engagement, and risk-taking continues throughout sophomore year, and by the end of it, our students have been
assigned a college counselor. This allows families who have early questions about the process to have a go-to contact who will be with them throughout the entire process and can account for all of the details along the way.
Above and beyond starting early, the members of the College Counseling Office also aim to dispel any unwarranted feelings of anxiety about the process by being familiar community members who work in an inviting space. Administrative Assistant Christie Reif lives on campus and manages standardized testing, which ensures she’s a familiar face. Rob Werner and Jamie Perry P’21 also live on campus, teach English courses, and coach. Rob is the head dorm parent for Eagle dorm, and Jamie is a dorm faculty member in Elephant and on a duty crew. Jonathan Barden has advisees, is the public address announcer for many of the varsity athletic contests, and works on a duty crew. And finally, Kate Barzun lives on campus, also has advisees, is an administrator on duty (AOD), runs the scoreboard during varsity basketball games, and more. “Over the years, I’ve actually made a choice to set up shop here in the College Counseling Office at times when I’m the AOD so students who want to check out on the weekends need to come and familiarize themselves with our office,” Barzun said. “That way, when the college process begins in earnest, it’s not an unfamiliar or intimidating space.”
LESSON 3
The third, and perhaps most important, lesson is that college counseling is all about finding the right fit, and that only happens through real conversation, not checklists. By the time the second semester of junior year rolls around, some action steps need to start taking shape, but those are entirely reliant upon how a student frames himself.
“I used to teach, and although I do miss it, there’s value in dedicating myself full time to leading the College Counseling Office. I still get one-on-one time with the boys where I can ask them to tell me about what matters to them, what motivates them, and what worries them,” Barzun said. “And if that meeting is the first time we’ve sat down together, the ball is entirely in his court. He can frame his story without any outside influences.”
In those early meetings, counselors focus on helping students think about what really matters for their success at the next level: What
learning environments do they thrive in? What type of community, culture, or geography do they see being happy in? This might also be the place where reality steps in with some harsh truths. “In our profession, the phrase ‘dream crusher’ gets tossed around,” Barzun said. “There’s no such thing as a ‘safety school’ anymore. ‘Likely’ means that, based on standard data, a student has a 75 percent chance or higher of getting accepted. ‘Target’ means they fall into the middle 50 percent of acceptances. ‘Reach’ means you’ve got a 25 percent chance or less of acceptance. ‘Unlikely’ means no matter how smart you are, who you know, or what special skill you have, the admission rate is so minuscule that no one’s chances are very good. At that point, it’s not even about the individual being admissible or not—most of our boys would be academically successful at any of the highly selective schools, but those institutions have the advantage of being highly selective, ultimately
basing admissions decisions on institutional goals they don’t have to define to us.”
In addition to assisting students create a list of schools where they would thrive, educating students and families about the challenges around a changing admission landscape, athletic recruiting, increasing financial strain, and a focus on ROI highlights the value of knowledgeable, dedicated college counselors who become true partners with families, with the student always at the helm. The counselors also put in a large amount of work developing relationships with college admissions representatives, ensuring schools understand how Avon is developing our students. “We all travel all over, visiting campuses and making connections. In addition to supporting the boys during the college process, we’re also exceptional advocates, writers, salesmen, representatives of our school, diplomats, and more.”
We all travel all over, visiting campuses and making connections. In addition to supporting the boys during the college process, we’re also exceptional advocates, writers, salesmen, representatives of our school, diplomats, and more.
— KATE BARZUN, DEAN OF COLLEGE COUNSELING
Each person in the office has their own specialty as well: Rob Werner is the international admissions and service academies guru and came to Avon with prior college counseling experience. Jonathan Barden is the NCAA liaison and has broad experience in college admissions at the small private college and large state university levels, which is invaluable for understanding the other side of the work. Jamie Perry manages the ESU program and has been an educator for more than 25 years. Together, the team is a well-oiled machine that not only carries on the work our faculty do in challenging
Avonians to discover their best selves, but also in ensuring all possible opportunities exist for them to explore while deciding their next step in life.
One example of this happened just a few years ago. A student transferred to Avon as a standout hockey player but he had no strong goals of attending college because of financial concerns. He came from a farming family and knew he’d always have a future there or he would enlist in the military to gain valuable life skills and leadership experience. He would love to continue to play hockey at the next level, but he wasn’t holding out hope for a school to recruit him and offer a
full-ride. “I asked him to just give me a chance to show him some new places that I believe could be an excellent opportunity. Places that would be so thrilled to have him as a part of their community,” Barzun shares. “He agreed, but I don’t think he had much faith in what we’d turn up.”
That student did have options. One of those options included a full-ride, with a spot on the hockey team. He enrolled, and it was in college that he discovered a love of engineering. After a year, he called Avon’s college office looking for help in transferring to a school with a stronger engineering program. “All the credit goes to him and his willingness to give me a chance,” says Barzun. “But being able to show him there are many ways to approach the college process, and having him fully embrace that, was
When they finally have their acceptances in hand, they are proud of the work they’ve put into this process. It is their news to celebrate with their friends and family.
— KATE BARZUN, DEAN OF COLLEGE COUNSELING
really lovely. This is an incredibly vulnerable time for our boys, and we need to be mindful of that.” College doesn’t have to be a financial burden or an impossible dream, and the self-discovery in the process goes far beyond mere admission.
“Once colleges begin releasing decisions, we’re actually some of the last to know,” shares Barzun. “Of course we want to know, but the fact that they don’t come tell us first is actually proof that we’ve succeeded in
our goal of having the students own this process. This is the last step of the educational journey at Avon, and it’s a reverberation of what Avon focuses on from the start: accountability, responsibility, engagement, personal growth, and intellectual curiosity. When they finally have their acceptances in hand, they are proud of the work they’ve put into this process. It is their news to celebrate with their friends and family.”
The goal is to ensure that, come May, every student has college options that we know will be a good fit. Counselors know they’ve done their job if each boy will be happy in his new community. In the end, college counseling is more than finding the best college—it’s about helping our boys discover who they’re ready to become.
This year, the Fund for Avon goal is $3.4 million to support Avon’s operating budget and directly enhance campus life for every student. Gifts go to work immediately, strengthening academic programs, campus stewardship, financial aid, and the overall student experience. The Fund for Avon is not an extra. It is essential. T he F und For Avon Be ALL IN before June 30, 2026 of Annual Fund donors made a gift of $500 or less. 74% was the median gift size for the Fund for Avon. $150 raised annually. $3M+ EVERY GIFT, LARGE OR SMALL, MAKES AN IMPACT GIVE BY JUNE 30 to support Avon students and programs. Every gift counts. Give now at AvonOldFarms.com/give. PARTICIPATION IS POWER
FEATURED ARTIST
Philip Yu ’26
The Avon Old Farms School community can be compared to genres of music. Our origins hail from different parts of the globe. We influence one another, blending elements of our cultures and traditions, which helps drive our growth and development. We all have many similarities, but as our founder Theodate Pope Riddle famously said, “The ways in which we differ are far more important than the ways in which we are alike.” All of our individual instruments contribute to the collective choir that is our village in the woods, and who better to serve as an example of this fact than our featured artist for this edition: Philip Yu ’26.
Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Philip first picked up an instrument when he was five years old. His elementary school required students to learn music. With his mother’s background as a classical vocalist and the school’s band playing primarily classical music, he began learning the cello. “My mom liked that type of music and liked the cello. My dad loves music too. I grew up in a good environment for playing music,” Philip says.
For the next five years, Philip continued to improve his skills with the cello, playing in the school’s
concert band as well as taking on the extra role of playing in the school’s worship band, which performed during chapel. While learning the cello taught him to read music and other core elements of the craft, it wasn’t exactly the best-suited instrument for the type of music Philip enjoyed most. He preferred rock, funk, and jazz-fusion. Songs from artists like Casiopea and Marcus Miller appealed to him more than the classical pieces he had spent his early childhood performing. “All people listen to music, but everyone wants something different from it. My preference is a focus on rhythm, songs with a nice groove,” Philip explains.
In pursuit of performing this type of music, Philip took up the bass guitar in fifth grade. Unfortunately, he only had a brief period to play his bass within a band, as the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible for large group performances. Of course, being someone with a passion and talent for music, Philip continued to practice on his own, improving every day.
When it came time for Philip to decide where the next step in his musical and academic journey would be, he knew early on he and his family were looking primarily at
American schools. He applied to dozens of institutions, but as he began narrowing down his selection, Avon’s song sounded sweeter than the rest. “My parents were wary about an all-boys school at first. But we knew a few Korean families who had students here, and when I talked to them, they told me that with the all-boys environment it feels more like a family, the Brotherhood is real here,” Philip recalls. “Then I started looking up more information about the school, and I saw some videos from football games and stuff like that. It looked like nothing I had ever seen in Korea. I started to get excited about it. Also, I really liked the campus.”
He arrived on campus as a freshman in the fall of 2022. He spoke English well but was otherwise in a completely unfamiliar environment. He felt apprehensive and unsure of himself in the first few days after moving in. Then, shortly after the thirds soccer season got underway, he was surprised to find that his teammates—the majority of whom were American—voted him to be their team captain. “That experience was really good because it made me realize that the other students really care about me. They always try to be nice to me and make sure I am
I started looking up more information about the school, and I saw some videos from football games and stuff like that. It looked like nothing I had ever seen in Korea. I started to get excited about it. Also, I really liked the campus.
—
PHILIP
YU ’26
Mr. Raposo likes to have us solo. … When he first asked me to do that I was nervous. …Now, I can really jump right into a solo. It was a great experience for me as a musician, and it trained my ear a lot. I didn’t get this type of music education in Korea.
— PHILIP YU ’26
comfortable.” It also helped to have other Korean students he knew to look up to as role models.
Feeling more comfortable, Philip began to branch out. He continued to play soccer throughout his four years at Avon, working his way up to JV, where he was once again elected captain his senior year, and even donned the number 10 jersey, traditionally reserved for the team’s best player. He also wrestled his first three years on campus, qualifying for the New England tournament his junior year. “I tried wrestling, and it was really hard. But it was very rewarding to be a part of that team. Everyone is going through things together, you fight together.” He adds that participating in sports at Avon made him more comfortable talking with other guys
and gained him many new friends. “It also helped me get in really good shape, which I am happy about.”
Last fall, he joined the yearbook staff, putting together the music section and assisting with the rest of the production. He is also a very active member of the AV Club. In this role, he has learned some of the elements of sound design and production through his job setting up microphones and the projector for Morning Meeting.
Of course, Philip’s main focus at Avon, and why he’s our featured artist, has been music. He started off on bass with the Beginner Jazz Ensemble, and although he had more experience playing his instrument than most of his classmates, there were several elements of music he would be learning for the first time from
Instrumental Music Director David Raposo P’22. “Mr. Raposo likes to have us solo. I was used to just following along to written music. When he first asked me to do that I was nervous.
I wasn’t confident. Now, I can really jump right into a solo. It was a great experience for me as a musician, and it trained my ear a lot. I didn’t get this type of music education in Korea.”
Playing the bass, Philip quickly worked his way up to the Honors Jazz group his sophomore year, and then the Elite Jazz group his junior and senior years. He also began expanding his repertoire. During his sophomore year, the Chamber Ensemble needed a drummer. This particular group is a classically-oriented ensemble that covers music from Mozart to movie scores. Clearly, he impressed with his
drumming abilities because the following year, when it became clear the Elite Jazz group had a vacancy in the drummer position, Raposo called on Philip. “I asked him because I know that he loves music and was looking for another way to get to make music with some of his classmates and friends,” Raposo explains. “He is really versatile and aware musically. His emotional intelligence and musical IQ are both very high. I think they are directly related, to tell you the truth.”
This desire and drive to expand on
his talents led him to take up another instrument: the piano. “I just want to make music, and piano is essential to understanding music. Each instrument I learn helps me to be better on other instruments. Learning piano, for example, has helped my improvisation skills on bass,” says Philip. For Raposo, it isn’t just Philip’s musical talent that impresses him. “Philip is honestly one of the humblest human beings I have met. He is aware of how much there is to learn, and he appreciates all styles of music. He has
The music students here know the real musicians. Phil is one of those musicians. It’s been a pleasure to teach and know him.
— MUSIC DIRECTOR
DAVID RAPOSO P’22
an understanding of how to work hard. Philip is a quiet leader on campus and in our class. He always strives for excellence. He listens more than he speaks. I admire his maturity and dependability—two things that often go hand in hand.”
Philip plans to continue his music education after graduating from high school, but his plans involve expanding into new realms of the art form he hasn’t yet pursued—a trend that has defined his education at Avon. He has decided to enroll at Johns Hopkins University to study computer music, a combination of digital music and computer science. “I don’t want to just be simply a musician. I am going to try to keep developing myself.” He has already taught himself multiple coding languages in preparation for his future computer science classes and has experimented with making original music.
Most importantly, Philip has left an impact on other musical artists here at Avon, enhancing the symphony that is our school. “The music students here know the real musicians. Phil is one of those musicians. It’s been a pleasure to teach and know him,” Raposo concludes.
athletics
2026 NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONS
The Winged Beavers secured another New England Championship win this winter. Entering the Elite 8 Tournament as the eighth seed, the team aspired and persevered defeating Dexter Southfield, Hotchkiss, and St. Mark’s.
Avon’s Defense of the Multi-Sport Athlete in a World of Specialization
You become a better overall athlete—different sports develop different skills that end up helping each other. And it helps kids learn how to be part of a team. You might be the star in one sport and a reserve player in another, and that experience teaches you how to relate to the people around you and be a better teammate no matter what your role is.
— DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS GEOFF BARLOW ’98
It was once common for Avonians—and students at all other schools—to compete in multiple sports throughout the year. A fall season on the soccer field might be followed by winter hockey and a spring spent on the baseball diamond or track. These multi-season varsity athletes were celebrated for their versatility, school spirit, and commitment to teamwork. In fact, a poster celebrating these athletes used to hang outside of Avon’s equipment cage. Over time, however, this tradition has become far less common. Increasing pressure to specialize early has reshaped youth and high school sports, leading many students to focus on a single sport year-round rather than participating in several.
While specialization can offer benefits, such as advanced technical skills and exposure to elite competition, it also comes with notable drawbacks including burnout and overuse injuries. Mentally, the constant pressure to perform in one sport can lead to fatigue and loss of enjoyment. Multi-sport participation, by contrast, often promotes overall athleticism, balance, and long-term engagement in sports. There are also social and developmental advantages to being a multi-sport athlete, like forming relationships with a wider range of teammates and coaches, building diverse relationships across campus. It encourages adaptability, leadership, and a stronger sense of school community—all traits that coincide with being a Man of Avon.
To that end, this spring, instead of highlighting one standout athlete as we usually do, this article will feature a few of Avon’s multi-sport athletes.
Tucker Harris ’26 is a senior from Ferrisburgh, Vt., who grew up playing soccer and hockey before picking up lacrosse in middle school. He wasn’t born into a hockey family. His parents signed him up to play at five years old, but by the time Tucker was eight, his talent had already started to show and he began to take it more seriously.
He continued to play until the COVID-19 pandemic put a temporary halt on team sports in his area. In order to keep up with the sport he loved, Tucker enrolled at Cardigan Mountain School for middle school. It also allowed him to try his hand at a new sport: lacrosse. “I wasn’t really that good at first, but then I started competing at a higher level, which raises your interest and skill level,” he explains.
As his talent in both sports continued to build, he began considering where would be the best place for him to further his development. If it had come down to purely legacy, Tucker would’ve ended up at Phillips-Andover, where four generations of his family had attended including both his parents. As it turned out, he was allured by Avon. “I toured other schools but fell in love with Avon because of the brotherhood environment, and obviously the hockey here is second to none. It was a difficult decision, but once I
was here, I knew it was the right one.”
Tucker has truly embraced his school community. He serves as a peer counselor, Big Brother, dorm monitor in Eagle, admissions ambassador, and is a frequent volunteer with the Special Olympics. Of course, he has also been a member of the varsity hockey and lacrosse teams for three years, playing the center position in the winter and long-stick middie in the spring. Although he loves both sports, it’s no debate that hockey is his main focus. “It’s always been that way. I’ve just been doing hockey for way longer.”
James Towers ’26 came to Avon primarily for lacrosse. “I knew I needed to get out of public school. I fit in with the guys at Avon much more.” The competitive environment was the perfect place for James to continue with the sport that he was essentially born to play. His dad, Andrew, was an all-star at the professional level and continued to coach the sport throughout James’s childhood. “I’ve had a stick in my hand since I was three,” James shares.
Even with such a strong foundation in lacrosse, James never limited himself to just a single sport. Before the age of 10, he was already comfortable wearing a different helmet, playing football for his New Canaan town team. “Football and lacrosse, they don’t correlate too much,” James reflects. “But it’s definitely made me tougher.”
While at Avon, James has been fully focused on athletics. He plays wide receiver for the varsity football team and was an integral part of this year’s undefeated, championship-winning team. He is even more of a decisive factor in the spring, when as an
underclassman he was a standout player for the varsity lacrosse team his first two years. Refusing to take a season off, and fully embracing the title of multi-sport athlete, James spent the winter season playing intramural basketball.
In June 2025, James committed to continue his lacrosse career at Brown University, the same school where his father once won the Ivy League Championship and set school goal-scoring records.
For Matthew DeFilippo ’26, his foray into a second sport didn’t become a serious endeavor until he arrived at Avon as a freshman. A local boy from Farmington, Matt was no stranger to Avon. He had attended Kingswood Oxford for middle school, and his cousin Bryan Sweeney ’04 played multiple sports during his time at Avon. Ultimately, Matt’s decision was still primarily made with athletics in mind. “I knew the baseball team was better here,” he says.
It was natural for baseball to be a factor in Matt’s decision of where to attend high school, as it has been a major part of his life since he was a child. “As young as I can remember, I was hitting wiffle balls over the hedges with my dad,” he shares. In his first two years at Avon, the varsity team won back-to-back Founders League Championships. His career won’t end at Avon either, as he’s been committed to playing at Boston College since his sophomore year.
While baseball has always been a part of Matt’s life, football was a new addition that
began at the JV level as a freshman. “My dad and I have always loved football. I started my freshman year, and I was pretty good, so I stuck with it.” By the next year, he was a member of the varsity team and this past fall played both sides of the ball to help lead the team to an undefeated championship.
Matt has also been active outside of sports. He serves as a Big Brother and is a member of the Riddlers, Avon’s elite choir ensemble, proving that at Avon there are opportunities to pursue other extracurriculars even with multiple athletic commitments. At other schools, and in the larger scope of youth sports, this isn’t always the case.
An Increased Pressure to Specialize
When Director of Athletics Geoff Barlow ’98 attended Avon, he was just one of many students who played multiple sports. Since then, he’s seen firsthand that the percentage of students who join more than one team has dropped noticeably. “The decline has been pretty consistent over the last 20 or so years,” Barlow says, adding that it’s often the case that students have already narrowed themselves to a single sport before they reach high school.
In his experience working in the realm of athletics, Barlow says the increasing pressure on younger athletes to specialize in one sport often comes from parties who do not have the best intentions. “Much of that pressure comes from people looking to profit off youth sports. They sell parents on the idea that their kids will fall behind if they don’t specialize—and meanwhile, they continue to make more money off the system they’ve created.”
Even if these pernicious influences don’t reach a student directly, they may be felt through comparison with their teammates. “No one is forcing us to not play a sport if we want to,” Tucker explains. “But you feel like you’re going to fall behind if you don’t. I know a bunch of guys who want to play another sport in the fall, but then you miss out on club hockey or workouts. It’s just the way it is now.”
Matt says that his parents and his future coaches at Boston College have never discouraged him from playing a sport other than baseball, but admits his other youth team coaches and trainers told him he should stop playing
football. In fact, Matt felt the pressure and initially told the Kevin J. Driscoll ’72 Head Football Coach Jon Wholley that he would not be returning to play his senior year. “I told him I wasn’t going to play. I didn’t do any of the football workouts in the winter, and even into the summer I didn’t think I was going to do it because I had to prepare more for baseball. But then my parents talked to me and made me realize this will be my last year ever playing football, and I’ll be playing baseball for at least the next four.”
The fear of injury can also be a reason young athletes choose to drop their secondary sport. When Tucker broke his hand playing lacrosse his sophomore year, it prevented him from trying out for a national hockey camp. He briefly considered quitting lacrosse altogether, but decided against it. “I thought about it, but when spring came back around and all my friends were playing, I wanted back in.”
Why Some Ignore the Pressure
For Tucker, one of the reasons he chose to come back to lacrosse is simply because it’s fun. Having fun, paired with the competitive mentality of a multi-sport athlete, made it an easy decision in the end. “Some of my hockey teammates who specialize ask me why I play lacrosse. I tell them it’s something that’s enjoyable to me, I like competing, and sometimes it’s nice to have a break.”
The National Strength and Conditioning Association has shared their findings that diversifying sports actually leads to less injuries; better overall physical, emotional, and mental health; and leads to a greater interest in physical activity. Our students have their own anecdotal evidence that supports these findings as well. “I think it definitely makes you better at your main sport. It gives you a different level of athleticism,” James shares. “Even off the field—watching film and other forms of preparation in football has benefited how I practice and prep for lacrosse.”
At Avon, it’s no secret we embrace the benefits of a brotherhood, but it may be surprising for some to find that it’s also a reason some students choose to play a second or third sport. “That’s actually one of the main reasons,” Matt says. “Building friendships with other kids is a big reason why I liked staying on the football team. Sports are a great way to form a bond.”
The relationship aspect isn’t limited to teammates. It also includes connections with coaches. “Even if it’s not your main sport, I would tell everyone to play football here. You have to experience playing for Coach Wholley,” James says.
Where AOF Stands on the Matter
While Avon as an institution ultimately leaves the decision up to each family, it’s strongly encouraged that our boys participate in multiple sports. In fact, it’s required that underclassmen have an afternoon activity all three seasons, with sports making up the majority of options to fulfill this commitment.
Sportsmanship is one of the school’s four core values. By the time Avonians graduate, they are ready to take the traits they’re taught through participation in athletics to uplift those around them and benefit the world at large, and participation in multiple sports only provides more opportunities to instill these values. Additionally, the support system that Winged Beavers are surrounded by when they take to the field, court, pool, ice, or track is second to none. As discussed elsewhere in this edition of The Avonian, Captain Avon and his army create an electric atmosphere that unites students, fosters school pride, and makes every game an unforgettable experience for both players and fans alike.
Avon’s commitment to a holistic education includes programming designed to promote overall wellness. Providing the opportunity to compete in a variety of athletic endeavors is just another aspect in achieving this goal. Evidence shows that multi-sport athletes are at a lower risk for overuse injuries and muscle fatigue and are more likely to find enjoyment in physical activity, which in turn leads to healthier habits in the future.
For Barlow, there are a myriad of reasons the school encourages increased participation even beyond the obvious health and wellness benefits. “We would love for kids to play multiple sports. You become a better overall athlete—different sports develop different skills that end
up helping each other. And it helps kids learn how to be part of a team. You might be the star in one sport and a reserve player in another, and that experience teaches you how to relate to the people around you and be a better teammate no matter what your role is,” Barlow says.
In conclusion, the decline of the multi-season varsity athlete reflects broader changes in the culture of youth sports. While specialization may be necessary or beneficial for some students, it has reduced opportunities for athletes to explore multiple interests and develop holistically. Re-embracing multi-sport participation— when possible—can help restore balance, promote physical and mental well-being, and preserve a valuable tradition in high school athletics.
Just take it from our current students. James, Matt, and Tucker all strongly recommend being a multi-sport athlete. “I would definitely say try as many sports as you can whether it’s varsity or not. If nothing else, it keeps you in good shape, but it also makes you better athletically overall and is great for meeting new people,” James says.
ANDREW KIBLER ’26:
Carrying On the Captain Avon Legacy
For alumni from the Pierpont era, family members that haven’t had the privilege of attending an Avon sporting event, or anyone else unfamiliar with the iconic campus character—Captain Avon is the leader of the Avon Army. He is also the head of the Spirit Club. One senior is selected every year to serve as Captain Avon. This student must uphold the school’s core values: brotherhood, scholarship, integrity, and sportsmanship. He must also be energetic, passionate, and inspiring. Organizing away-game attendance, leading chants at competitions, and acting out motivational skits at Morning Meeting are all responsibilities of Captain Avon—all carried out while donning the signature red cape.
This year, the honor was bestowed upon Andrew Kibler ’26, a four-year boy from Los Angeles. Andrew’s almost 3,000-mile journey to a village in the woods of Avon, Conn., began when some family friends recommended he consider New England boarding schools for his high school experience. After touring several, he still wasn’t sure, but once he met more members of the AOF community, he was convinced. “It came down to revisit day. The admissions team, specifically Mickoy Nichol ’14, made it an easy choice. The interactions made me want to be a part of the community.”
While an adjustment period is common for young students, especially those traveling far from home, that wasn’t the case for Andrew. “I just loved it from the beginning. I never secondguessed my decision. There’s nothing that made me feel like I missed out on another school.”
Since then, Andrew has truly embraced being a part of the community. In addition to his role as Captain Avon, he plays lacrosse, was a dorm monitor his junior year, and serves as a Big Brother and admissions ambassador. “Being part of the admissions team is probably my favorite role I have here. I love talking
about Avon. I could talk to families about this place for hours. I want to help bring the right kids here.” This is a task his teachers appreciate for filling their classrooms with students eager to learn and is also a way Captain Avon can make sure the Avon Army is filled with energetic supporters.
Additionally, Andrew has been a member of the Student Council since his junior year. In this role, Andrew’s biggest initiative has been to revamp the school’s Compass Program (formerly Prep4Ward). “I’ve been meeting with administrators throughout the year just to try to make that program more impactful. For example, having more career-based learning opportunities or hands-on activities that are specific to an all-boys environment.”
His commitment to bolstering the community is best personified through his role as Captain Avon. The larger-than-life character has become a symbol of Avonian pride. He says all the hours spent attending Avon games of every sport and at every level, from varsity to fourths, meant he was ready for the job. “I’m a loyal guy by nature. I’ve really bought into the school and love the
school. I want to help Avon maintain the best appearance to others,” Andrew shares. “I’m also pretty outgoing. I love talking to people and being out in the community.”
Andrew says he closely observed those serving as Captain Avon during his four years at Avon and took notice of what to do and what not to do, noting that his freshman year Captain Avon Drew Freni ’23 was particularly memorable in the role. Although he has what it takes, Andrew was still really surprised to find out he had been chosen. “Honestly, it didn’t really hit me until the first football game of the year against Brunswick. I just looked at the crowd behind me and realized this is happening. I felt unprepared, but at the same time it all felt totally natural.” Since then, he has continued to rally his peers to support their brothers.
Perhaps the most memorable example from this school year was the trip to Westminster School for the iconic “Westy Monday” hockey game, which this year took place on a Friday due to heavy snow. With nearly the entire student body in attendance and Andrew at the helm, the Avon Army brought a barrage of noise that was rewarded with a win on the ice. “We started the year strong and that momentum continued through the winter season,” Andrew shares.
The varsity soccer team was co-champion in the Founders League, and varsity football capped off a historic undefeated season with a win in the New England Championship. Winter began with varsity hockey winning the Christmas Hockey Classic, and the success continued as they finished the season as NEPSAC Elite 8 champions. The wrestling team was also crowned Founders League champion for the first time since 2012. Although the spring seasons were still ongoing at the time of writing, it’s without doubt that those athletes had the support of their peers behind them.
Our teams saw success in every season, with the Avon Army providing motivation throughout. While this year had plenty of highlights for Avon athletics, Andrew is just as concerned with what’s ahead. “I want to create a lasting effect. The same way I took notes from the Captain Avons I’ve seen, I want the next guy and the guy after that to be watching me. If I set the right tone, the trend will continue.”
Andrew, who will be attending Villanova in the fall, offered advice for the Captain Avons who will come after him: “Start by getting to know everyone at school. It’s helpful to know a lot of kids in different groups and different grade levels. Then, have fun with it. It’s a position you can really make your own.”
CAPTAIN AVON THROUGH THE YEARS
FEATURED AVONIAN
PJ Reed ’26: An Avon Legacy
Growing up in Southport, Conn., it was common for PJ Reed ’26 to get in the car with his dad and drive 65 miles to the campus of Avon Old Farms for an alumni reunion, a football game, or just to see the campus in spring. Regardless of the purpose, it was always a trip PJ looked forward to. For his dad, Peter Reed ’88, it was a chance to introduce his son to his beloved alma mater. It also, perhaps, was a time to lay the foundations of a future to come. While PJ attended great schools like Timothy Dwight Elementary School and then Fairfield Country Day School, he admits he wasn’t ever the best student. Perhaps it was because he didn’t feel challenged enough to stay engaged. Perhaps returning home at the end of the
day gave him enough separation from his schoolwork that it was easy to leave it behind. Whatever the reasoning, when the COVID-19 pandemic descended upon the world, it became apparent that something would need to change to ensure PJ reached his full potential. He didn’t want to rush going to high school, so he stayed at Fairfield Country Day for ninth grade. But there was always that thought of Avon Old Farms just lingering in the distance.
PJ and his family decided he would repeat his freshman year at a new high school, and then complete four years in his new community. He looked at a few options, but Avon was always the front-runner.
“The formal application process began with an interview with Mr. Webb. That really made it feel like not just another campus visit, but a serious decision. That visit also turned Avon into not just my dad’s school, but possibly my school.” An added bonus was how Avon already felt like home. “I felt like I belonged
here. There were some faculty members who already knew my name because they knew my dad. I knew the campus.”
PJ admits he was a late bloomer and repeating his freshman year gave him extra time to develop— physically, emotionally, and in who he wanted to become. “I came to Avon at a good point in time for me to take advantage of all the opportunities.” PJ says he felt like a guy in the background at Fairfield, but at Avon, he was forced to buy in. PJ set aspirational goals. He discovered passions. “Joining teams, clubs, and groups was a good thing because it helped me gain confidence and public speaking skills. It helped me realize what my strengths are and how I could contribute to the culture at Avon.”
PJ started by joining the Special Olympics Club as a freshman. He found that he really enjoyed the community service aspect of the club, helping others and getting a sense of fulfillment out of it. From that, PJ says he found himself
wanting to give back to the Avon community too. He decided to run for Student Council and was elected his freshman spring. “I was seen differently by my peers and faculty after that. The title really made me into a campus leader. That encouraged me to do more and lead by example, so I got engaged in a variety of different clubs. I joined different teams. I felt more inclined to branch out and expand my interests.”
For example, PJ had always enjoyed lacrosse. But at Avon, he picked up a football and a squash racket for the first time as well as his lacrosse stick. In addition to volunteering with the Special Olympics, PJ joined the Student Activities Club to assist with weekend activity planning. At this point in his Avon journey, PJ also began to lean into a passion that may run in the family.
“My grandfather is a CFO at a biotech company, and when I was 15, he introduced me to a sort of investment game. He gave me an
Joining teams, clubs, and groups was a good thing because it helped me gain confidence and public speaking skills. It helped me realize what my strengths are and how I could contribute to the culture at Avon. — PJ REED ’26
Since the time I was just a little kid, I had shirts and hats with the Winged Beaver on them, and my dad always explained that an Avonian should aspire to soar high and have the wisdom of an eagle, but also know that it takes hard work, determination, and the will to persevere through adversity like a beaver when things didn’t go your way. — PJ REED ’26
initial amount of money, and we would make trades to see who could do better.” While it wasn’t initially his central focus, his grandfather began to comment on how PJ was doing well with his investments. He began to take it more seriously and started to explore strategy, reading articles to learn terms and draw inspiration from current events. “My mom has always told me that he and I think in very similar ways, so when he told me I was doing a good job, it incentivized me to try harder and see how far I could take it.”
At Avon, PJ felt like he had ample opportunity to explore the world of finance to help him excel with his personal investments. As a sophomore, he enrolled in the Introduction to Personal Finance Intersession course. The next fall, he wanted to join Avon’s Advanced Independent Project (AIP) program, but was sad to hear that the alumnus who usually
ran the finance AIP wasn’t available that term. Committed to pursuing the path, PJ took initiative and reached out to someone who had presented a guest talk during his Intersession course: Avon parent Charl Malan P’26. “He replied enthusiastically and prepared a whole 10-week plan for the AIP. I learned so much from him. It was a really incredible opportunity and helped me determine that I probably want to pursue a career in private equity.”
PJ also enrolled in micro- and macroeconomics courses with Mr. Tim Roller, finding them more applicable to his goals than any other elective course. As a senior, he took Avon’s leadership class, which explores leadership through three dynamic lenses: military special operations, entrepreneurial business, and championship-level sports. He also joined the Junior Achievement Club as a junior, which he became president
of as a senior. Last fall, he joined the new Entrepreneurship Club on campus. “They’re complimentary clubs, and I’d actually love to see someone next year combine them. In the Entrepreneurship Club, we are exposed to a variety of guest speakers and learn about business concepts and lingo. In the Junior Achievement Club, we developed a business plan, created a product, managed sales, and ran marketing.”
What seems like a lot to balance may be the key to PJ’s success: he says being busy is what motivates him to be productive. “When I have things to do and places to be, I am better at keeping myself on track and the routine helps me stay really focused.”
PJ has remained an active member of Avon’s Student Council, and as a senior, he played a large part in bringing student leadership to the forefront of campus in a lot of ways. This year, Morning Meetings are
entirely run by the Student Council on Fridays. The Council also gives weekly updates during these meetings to be transparent about what initiatives they’re focused on as a group. Overall, the key objective has been to create a culture of engagement. PJ explains that in a world where staying in your room is easy, it’s been important to push the narrative that showing up for your brothers is meaningful. “When you see Captain Avon cheering at the thirds soccer match, we hope that those players will feel like supporting him when his team is out there next.”
Showing support of the community also means showing up to non-athletic events. Anything can be fun when enough people buy in, and that’s when
memories are made. “I’m never the loudest guy at the table, but I try to connect the dots between the Council and other areas on campus, specifically as it relates to Student Activities and my role within that club.”
When it comes to next steps, PJ wanted to aim high. “Since the time I was just a little kid, I had shirts and hats with the Winged Beaver on them, and my dad always explained that an Avonian should aspire to soar high and have the wisdom of an eagle, but also know that it takes hard work, determination, and the will to persevere through adversity like a beaver when things didn’t go your way.” To PJ, that meant to dream big, set high goals, and then be prepared to do the work to make it happen. He believed that without the determination to pursue them, dreams would die in vain.
One of PJ’s dreams was to attend The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He enrolled in an intensive three-week summer program on Penn’s campus, applied Early Action, and waited. He was denied admission this fall, which wasn’t the outcome he wanted, but it was one he was prepared for. “In my first meeting with my college counselor Mr. Perry, he told me Penn was highly aspirational. But he never
was going to stop me from giving it a go. When the letter came, it certainly brought me down, but that’s when I knew it was time to be a beaver. I needed to set my sights on another outcome and revisit other schools on my college list.” PJ knows that Mr. Perry wouldn’t steer him wrong, and in April he was still deciding between between Wake Forest, Villanova, and Boston College.
“Avon helps you aspire and persevere by always supporting you in your endeavors. It’s the camaraderie in the dorms and the small classes where you know you can try and fail. I know at Avon there’s always someone who will help me get back up and keep moving forward. I know I’ll find my next community that will support me just like Avon has.”
In his senior spring, PJ began to look back on his time at Avon, and also look ahead. What started as his dad’s alma mater has become his school too, which PJ says has bonded them in a new way. “He’ll always be my dad of course, but it’s extra special that we now have this shared experience as Avon Brothers. I know he wanted me to have my own Avon experience, but our paths were very similar—he was vice warden, I was vice warden. I know it meant so much to my dad for me to have this opportunity, but I am even more grateful that he allowed me to have it at Avon. My godfather, James Patten ’88, was my dad’s AOF roommate. To know that my Avon relationships will last a lifetime—just like his friendships—has given me such an appreciation for not only my time at Avon, but for the community we can now share forever.”
ASPIRANDO et PERSEVERANDO
To Aspire and To Persevere
BY JACQUELINE KELLER
How best to awaken aspiration and develop perseverance is the earnest and enduring purpose of Avon Old Farms.
— FROM THE 1927 SCHOOL CATALOG
On a cold day this winter, a senior stood at the podium in the Chapel, unfolding a speech he had rewritten four times. Public speaking did not come naturally to him, and only a year earlier he might have avoided the stage entirely. But as he looked out at his classmates— brothers who had encouraged him through setbacks both academic and personal—he began anyway. At Avon Old Farms, moments like these are not accidents. They are the product of a century-old belief captured in three Latin words: aspirando et perseverando. To aspire and to persevere.
When Theodate Pope Riddle founded Avon Old Farms in 1927, she was not simply building a school— she was advancing a philosophy. A pioneering architect and philanthropist, Theodate believed deeply in the transformative power of education and envisioned a place where academic rigor, a focus on character, and strong leadership would shape boys into good men. From the materials she used to the physical layout of campus buildings, Avon Old Farms was indeed constructed
specifically to foster an enduring community of boys.
Theodate believed in educating the whole boy and preparing boys to become responsible and well-rounded citizens. A century later, while many of the details of daily life have changed, that same culture persists. Where many faltered, Avon stood strong as a pillar of single-sex education, leaning into our traditions as a way to survive. Avon has always pushed not only our students but also our faculty to aspire and to persevere, just as our founder always intended. But where did that motto come from exactly?
Interestingly, in Avon’s Deed of
Trust, it is stated simply that the school device shall be a Winged Beaver, and the motto shall be “Aspirando et Perseverando.” Where icons are concerned, the Deed of Trust defines the Winged Beaver as a symbol of aspiration and perseverance. Whereas Mrs. Riddle deeply reasoned so many aspects of school life, our symbology was largely left to be interpreted at face value.
When coming up with a fantastic character for her school, one might think that the Winged Beaver was entirely of Theodate’s own imagination. However, some signs point to the creature being somewhat of a happy accident. In a 1921 article with the Hartford Daily Courant, Theodate described that the school seal would repeat ideals set forth in stone on the tower entrance to the school: two youths would carry shields: one would display a crest with an eagle representing aspiration, and on the other, a beaver standing for perseverance. “The Latin motto reaffirms these thoughts: Asperando et Persecerando [sic]. Boys, Mrs. Riddle affirmed, should be taught to think, to act, to be.” Somewhere along the
way, the two typical New England fauna were combined.
In Gordon Clark Ramsey’s Aspiration and Perseverance, it is written, “So far as one can determine, all the imagery connected with statuary, and all the classical and Shakespearean quotations around the School, were chosen by Mrs. Riddle herself. Yet, the imagery did undergo some evolution. Originally, according to the Hartford Courant
interview, the beaver was not to have wings, but was to be accompanied by an eagle. Thus, the eagle was to represent ‘aspiring’ and the beaver ‘persevering.’ … What finally put the wings on the beaver has not been recorded.”
Central to Theodate Pope Riddle’s vision that has endured the test of time was the cultivation of character and leadership. She believed that education should not only challenge
the mind but also shape the values of integrity, responsibility, and hard work. In the same Hartford Courant article mentioned previously, Theodate is quoted as saying, “How can we make our children understand that achievement is one of the most precious things in the world? … We can do this only by giving the boy opportunities to achieve.” The piece continues with, “She agreed profoundly with Dr. Engell’s recent pronouncement of the need to get students used to ‘prolonged endeavor,’ and she regretted the fact that there is no satisfactory polite synonym for ‘guts,’ which was exactly what she meant.”
Today, we talk a lot about having grit. Not to be confused with being strong, tough, or rash, at Avon, grit means persevering through adversity. Having ‘guts’ also can be associated with taking risks. It takes guts to get up in front of your classmates and deliver a speech, hoping to be chosen to represent your peers on the Student Council. It also takes guts to go for the Hail Mary pass that might win a football game. Theodate also said, “Cultivation is greatly to be desired, but we frequently see it coupled with feebleness of will-power. But the boy should have his will developed by being taught to use it. … The object of Avon School is to … supply opportunities for the boys to grow in initiative and will-power.” Those with grit overcome tough challenges. Those with grit get back up when they fail and learn from their mistakes.
Stories like this are woven throughout the Avon experience. The New England Championship Hockey team that started as an
8-seed and won it all—that was a team that aspired and persevered. Wonjae Cho ’25, who took risks with his sculpture and spent years refining his craft, ultimately won two Gold Medal National Awards in sculpture and received an award for best in show out of all 12th graders in the country. He was an artist who aspired and persevered.
In 1984, when Ramsey wrote the history of Avon Old Farms School, he chose Aspiration and Perseverance as the title. In that history, Reed Estabrook Jr. ’36, former president of Avon’s Board of Directors, wrote: “It would be a hypocrisy to claim that we have not had failings, shortcomings, internal disagreements, and honest differences of opinion as to how the School should be run and what its
philosophy should be. This is a story of how problems were met and by and large overcome over the years, and it’s a story of our accomplishments.” And so, in that way, it seems not only the students of Avon Old Farms, but the institution itself has found a spirit to aspire and persevere. From the times where many single-sex schools faced declining admission rates and either closed their doors or merged with other schools to facing a global pandemic head-on, never wavering when we knew our students needed us most, Avon endured.
“For me, the motto itself is perfect—both for the students and for the school,” comments School Historian Art Custer P’04, ’05, ’10. “We try to inspire the boys to set lofty goals and then work hard to achieve them, and we try to do the same thing as an institution. Aspirando and perseverando complement each other; neither one is enough on its
1934 HARTFORD COURANT ARTICLE
“Mainly the impression given by Avon Old Farms is that it offers the opportunity for the living of a well-rounded life that encourages individual development along the lines of aptitude, taste and talent. If it is a boy interested in the outdoor physical world, it is his in which to experiment; if he prefers an artistic fight and the world of the mind, he receives stimulation that may energize him to original creation.
But the emblematic insignia of the school is not a bird without symbolic meaning. No matter what the field of activity, whether it has to do with horses, birds, stagecraft, science, printing or painting, the Avon student is early taught that no aspirations in any field can be realized without work. This is explained in ‘The Winged Beaver.’”
If you have a beautifully simple idea, decide to do it as nearly to perfection as possible, chart your course, and then be willing to stick to it, it’s still possible to be successful in spite of all the problems…
GORDON CLARK RAMSEY’S ASPIRATION AND PERSEVERANCE
own, but together they are almost undefeated. It reminds me of Calvin Coolidge’s famous quotation about persistence; he might have said ‘aspiration alone is just fantasy and perseverance without goals is like running on a treadmill, but aspiration and perseverance are omnipotent.’
I should add that, at the dedication of the massive wooden version of the old school seal, one of the Gryboski brothers—I think it was Rob—made that very point—that the ‘et’ is the crucial word in the motto.”
A century later, the motto still shapes daily life at Avon. From a hesitant freshman learning to advocate for himself to a senior preparing to lead beyond the Avon Village, students are asked to stretch and to persist when the path becomes difficult. Aspirando et perseverando defines what it means to be an Avonian. In the classroom, on the playing field, and in life, it’s easy to define excellence: high grades, Scholastic Gold Keys, Ivy League admissions, attention from athletic recruiters. Perseverance is often what cements excellence, and as a community, Avonians rely on one another to push beyond the norm. In an age of instant gratification, in a culture that avoids discomfort, amid rising anxiety in today’s youth, it seems that now more than ever society needs leaders who know how to aspire and persevere.
Theodate’s pioneering vision and our enduring motto continue to guide the Avon experience: cultivating young men who aspire boldly, persevere relentlessly, and engage fully in a community committed to learning, character, and growth. It is
this integration of tradition, ambition, and resilience that shapes not only exceptional scholars but also people who know how to lead when it matters. This vision has formed a brotherhood that knows it can rely on itself, even years after boys spread their wings and soar beyond our village in the woods.
Several years ago, a then-current parent was talking at an open-house event, sharing what she had seen develop in her son over his time at Avon. She said, “An Avon education isn’t about the next four years, it’s about the next 40,” expressing exactly what Avon hopes to achieve with our students. It was astonishing how poignant that sentence was, and we’ve heard student ambassadors repeating it on campus over the years.
In Ramsey’s Aspiration and Perseverance, Estabrook said, “The vision was always there, and the school has attracted people over the years who were willing to make it their vision too. If you have a beautifully simple idea, decide to do it as nearly to perfection as possible, chart your course, and then be willing to stick to it, it’s still possible to be successful in spite of all the problems…”
One hundred years after Theodate first imagined her “indestructible school for boys,” her vision endures not because it resisted change, but because it prepared generations to meet it. To aspire is to imagine what might be possible. To persevere is to do the hard work required to reach it. Together, they remain not just Avon’s motto, but its promise for the century ahead.
1927 SCHOOL CATALOG ON CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT:
“It is impossible to overestimate the value in the development of character that is due to the overcoming of obstacles. A boy’s enthusiasm is thoroughly aroused when he has brought a task to completion as the result of patient and prolonged endeavor. Many parents are conscious of the sober fact that it is practically impossible for them to provide in modern homes occupations for their boys and girls which are in any way suitable equivalents for the invaluable tasks that necessity imposes. So long as there is no solution for this important educational defect, and so long as even slight obstacles are smoothed away from the path of youth, as is now too frequently the case, just so long will many of our young people approach maturity with weakened moral fibre.”
Charting a Course: Kate Barzun’s Time at Avon Old Farms
Some people wait for the wind to change. Others scan the horizon, adjust their sails, and search for a breeze on which they can catch a bit of momentum. During her 17 years at Avon Old Farms, Kate Barzun has forged ahead, embraced change, and challenged the school to evolve while remaining anchored to what matters most: doing what’s best for the boys.
For those who haven’t caught the current quite yet, Kate and her husband, Brian, enjoy boating. Both grew up on the water and never strayed too far from the shore.
During the summers they live on their trawler, Nostos, leisurely making their way from one mooring and anchorage to the next, at a steady 9 or 10 knots. Named for the Greek term for “homecoming,” the
name is symbolically rich—a nod to Kate’s love of literature as well as the boat’s status as a true home for the couple.
Boat living is a refreshing way to spend a summer, especially after living the rest of the year on the campus of Avon Old Farms, where Kate has served the school in many roles since 2009. “There are probably some who will take offense to this, but I’ve always felt that it’s important to keep myself grounded in people and things outside of my work,” Kate explains. Many choose to, and thrive in, the boarding school world: living where they work, raising their children in a community where colleagues are neighbors. Kate certainly has done that like so many others have. She and Brian were married in Avon’s
chapel. They lived with their daughter, Maddy, in Diogenes. But she knows there is a world beyond the walls of Avon, and that knowledge perhaps lets her be the very best in ensuring our community forges ahead. “I enjoy our time on the boat because it’s a separation, and it’s healthy to give yourself space every once in a while when one’s job can be all-consuming.”
Kate also believes that coming to Avon after gaining some experience outside of prep schools and learning to set boundaries was beneficial. “I’ve come to see a real need in bringing outside perspectives to boarding school life. Otherwise, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and burnt out. If we hire young folks right out of college, I think it’s getting harder and harder to ensure they stay engaged.”
All of this being said, Kate was no stranger to prep schools, or even single-sex education, when she first took a job at one. “In fourth grade, I
started at an all-girls independent day school. I found my voice, my independence, and my sense of self. From there, I attended an independent boarding school where I learned how to critically think, problem solve, and discover and defend my own opinions. I value that school for giving me all the skills I would ever need to be a successful learner.”
In college, Kate studied English but had already decided that she didn’t want to do the stereotypical English major thing and go into teaching. “I remember going to the career advising center on campus, sitting down with someone and saying, ‘Hi, I’m an English major, and I know I don’t want to teach.’ They looked at me and said, ‘Okay, have you considered teaching?’ So, being
in Hartford, I did the next logical thing: I interviewed at an insurance company. It sounded dreadful.”
Unsure of her next move, Kate decided to focus on her education and got creative with how to cover the cost. She took a secretarial job at Trinity College, where she had completed her undergraduate degree, and began pursuing a Master of Arts in English Literature. She then added some undergrad evening classes at Trinity to her schedule as a teacher. Turns out, she really did enjoy teaching.
She briefly taught adults at Northwestern Community College and in 2005 began teaching at Miss Porter’s School. “I think I was a unicorn candidate for them without realizing it. Now I know that an open
teaching position in the summer means a place is pretty desperate to fill it. But, at the time, I saw a role open, applied, and then went on to explain that I had attended an all-girls middle school, attended prep school, had taught at the college level, enjoyed sports and would be happy to coach, and didn’t have enough experience to negotiate very hard. They offered me the job pretty quickly, and I happily accepted.”
Miss Porter’s helped Kate develop her appreciation for and joy in teaching high school students. But, as much as she loved the work, it didn’t fit her personality. Kate likes to tease, joke, and talk about sports. In a world of teenage girls, that sometimes worked, but not often enough. After four years, she decided to head a few miles down the road and see how she felt about teaching all boys.
“When I applied for a faculty role at Avon, I visited campus on a Tuesday or a Thursday morning. Then-Dean of Faculty Art Custer was taking me on a tour, and the very first stop of the day was Chapel,” she explains. “Within seconds of stepping inside, I witnessed a playful scuffle dissolve into laughter. I could tell immediately that I was where I was meant to be.”
While Kate knows it was the right
Then-Dean of Faculty Art Custer was taking me on a tour, and the very first stop of the day was Chapel. Within seconds of stepping inside, I witnessed a playful scuffle dissolve into laughter. I could tell immediately that I was where I was meant to be.
move, the transition to Avon was hard. In addition to some big changes in her personal life, she had moved from a home with a nice yard at Porter’s to the Village Green apartments at Avon. It was a drastic downsize, she was right in the middle of things, and on top of that, the culture at Avon was incredibly different from what she knew. “Porter’s had much more of a day-school feel, with the majority of people leaving for the day by 3 p.m.
At Avon, it became apparent to me very quickly that there was no off-switch. I would work all day and all night, fall into bed exhausted, and rise the next morning, less than enthusiastic to do it all again.”
And yet, she’s still here. That’s due mainly, Kate says, to Avon’s willingness to evolve: it is a place steeped in tradition, but it isn’t a place that
— KATE BARZUN
refuses to change.
“I’ve always admired Avon’s commitment to doing what’s best for the boys. At the end of the day, that keeps us true to who we are as a school while still allowing us to innovate in the right ways,” Kate explains. Over the years, Kate has vocalized her thoughts on several pieces of innovation, both large and small. She was in early talks with then-Provost Jim Detora P’12 about online courses, bringing her own experiences to the table. When it came time for Avon to launch online offerings, Kate let it be known that she was interested in the role.
While she enjoys teaching, her career goals included management and administrative responsibilities. “My grandfather was a renowned educator and historian at Columbia
University, so education has deep roots in my family and at a very high level. So it wasn’t that I didn’t revere teaching, but rather I had a very high bar set. I also have two highly-educated physicians as parents, a husband who has his own successful career, and my sister is a highly skilled financial professional. To me, that was always a reminder that I could try other things within my profession and figure out how to have my greatest impact.”
She had applied for academic dean roles, but had missed out. Instead of getting frustrated, she got curious and expanded her idea of what the future might entail. “In a small workplace, there are always multiple people interested in the same openings. I was aware that there were people ahead of me with more experience, longer tenure, etc. who landed the roles. At that point, you have to ask
yourself: do I stay here and try something else, or do I go somewhere new to find the role I want.”
Kate realized that she didn’t need to leave Avon in order to grow; she simply needed to seek out opportunities where she was and make her aspirations known to those who could help her along her journey. The online program was an opportunity to gain some leadership on campus, and Kate took it. In 2013, she became the director of online programs. Over the next decade, she steadily expanded her leadership, seeking advice and heeding it along the way, always prepared for the next move.
“In order to stay, I needed to evolve and strategize a career trajectory at Avon that was achievable given the landscape,” she says. In the boarding school world, there’s often a culture of working hard, staying quiet, and waiting to get tapped for an opportu-
I wanted to stay at Avon because of how self-aware the school is and how willing we are to assess the landscape and adapt without diminishing our values in order to meet the changing needs of students and families. —
KATE BARZUN
nity. But that’s not to say you can’t advocate for yourself, let your aspirations be known, and let people know you’re hungry for more. She added roles from launching online learning to being assistant director of college counseling, chairing the English Department, becoming the first female faculty to run a dormitory (Diogenes), and ultimately becoming dean of college counseling, her current role.
“I wanted to stay at Avon because of how self-aware the school is and how willing we are to assess the landscape and adapt without diminishing our values in order to meet the changing needs of students and families.” Kate believes there are great leaders at Avon who know that things have to change in order to be the best school for boys. “What’s best for the boys is to be surrounded by people who are happy to be here, who are passionate about their work, and who can lead by example. Jim Detora, for example, navigated us through COVID, and we came out ahead. That could have been a very dark period for us, but because he’s an innovative thinker, it didn’t turn out that way.”
If anything is a sign of embracing Kate’s perspective, it’s this: when Avon knew that former Headmaster Ken LaRocque H’19, P’01, ’10 would retire, there was a public search for the next
“I really appreciated that Avon took that search public because I knew that we needed to find the very best leader. That happened to be an internal candidate, but keeping the door open to other opportunities was an excellent sign that we as an institution know that there’s a much larger world out there, with great things to offer. I hope that as we head toward the centennial, and whatever happens after that, the school continues to grow and evolve. That’s why I’ve stayed.”
Today, Kate is the dean of college counseling, leading an office of five. She is a rotating administrator on duty, with responsibilities for the entire school six times a year. She and Brian, who works in Hartford, live in the Gatehouse with their two Cavalier King Charles spaniels, and Brian volunteers with the Nimrod Club every weekend. But, when breaks in the school year come, they love heading out on Nostos to chase the reminder that something else lies just beyond the horizon. And then, come fall, she’ll find her way home to Avon once more.
Peter Reed ’88, P’26
Adds a Parent’s Perspective to His Avon Story
Sometimes, a soul yearns for peace—to find a place of permanence in a world of movement, a place to settle, a place to call home. For Peter Reed ’88, P’26, that place was, and remains, Avon Old Farms School.
As a child, Reed moved every few years— Iran, Connecticut, London, Hong Kong, Washington, D.C.—following his father’s work with IBM’s international division. By the time he enrolled at Rectory School for eighth grade,
he was accustomed to transition. But boarding school life suited him. Inspired by visits to Avon to compete against its teams, Reed enrolled as a three-year sophomore from Hong Kong, alongside Rectory classmates James Patten, Bear Smith, and David Stichter. Reed says he quickly assimilated to life at Avon. He was involved with the Student Council, Spirit Club, Social Affairs, varsity football, varsity lacrosse, the Riddlers, and
dorm leadership. He recalls living in Elephant Dormitory and making the varsity lacrosse team his first year on campus. He also has fond memories of European History class with Mr. Tom Giella, who was also his football coach, and studying D-Day with Mr. Chandramouli Narsipur.
“The relational learning that happens at Avon—knowing your teachers also as coaches and dorm heads—makes a strong impact on young men,” he says. “When my mentors had more confidence in me than I did in myself, it inspired me to push harder, and good things tended to happen.”
Reed thrived at Avon. He became a monitor in Pelican Dormitory and received the Skip Flanagan and the Louise B. Adams awards his junior year. As a senior, he was elected vice warden of the school. At graduation, multiple awards were bestowed upon him, including the F. Reed Estabrook Award and the Order of Old Farms.
While Reed was a strong athlete and loved lacrosse and football greatly, he also was a founding member of the Riddlers, recognizing that students needed to actively rally against the idea that Avon was just a school for athletes. Working with leaders of the Avon fledgling music program at the time, Jim Balmer and Mary Nelson, Reed helped to solicit the interest of a number of singers who may have otherwise thought competitive athletics and a cappella singing didn’t mix.
After Avon, Reed added to his family’s legacy at Hamilton College, captaining the lacrosse team and majoring in government. He began his career in insurance with the Fireman’s Fund and then worked at Chubb before a serendipitous Avon reunion led to a slightly different opportunity.
Reed was working in Chubb’s Chicago office. He was newly married to his wife, Elisabeth, of Southport, Conn., and they were thinking about settling down and starting a family. One day at work, the elevator opened and before him stood his old history teacher and
The
power of the network and staying connected—that’s what has stayed with me most. If you’re intentional about it, those friendships become currency later in life. I’d advise all Avonians to never waste it.
— PETER REED ’88, P’26
football coach from Avon, Tom Giella.
“Tom was a larger-than-life guy, and even as his student, I recognized him for the great role model that he was,” shares Reed. “After a couple of years of teaching, Coach Giella left to pursue an MBA from the University of Chicago. We hadn’t stayed in touch. Years later, he was working right there in the Sears Tower with me.”
The two men decided to reminisce over drinks. It turns out that Giella was a partner with the executive search group Korn/Ferry International, and he just happened to be looking for an associate who could work alongside him, in effect, a mentee who he could teach the business to…someone like Reed. “I worked with Korn/Ferry, thanks to Tom’s introduction, for 10 great years,” Reed says. “I gravitated toward the insurance division, as that was my background, and in 2010 made the move to Cardwell Partners, a premier provider of executive search, where I am now the managing partner of the Global Insurance Practice.”
Even as his career flourished, Avon remained central.
“The power of the network and staying connected—that’s what has stayed with me most,” Reed says. “If you’re intentional about it, those friendships become currency later in
his professional capacity. “It’s in my DNA,” he says. “If I can help another boy receive the Avon experience I had, that’s success.”
Still, nothing shifted his perspective more than watching his son, PJ ’26, choose Avon.
“There was never a mandate that Avon be in his future, of course,” Reed explains. PJ, who attended an all-boys junior high and considered several schools, ultimately chose Avon with his parents taking a hands-off approach. Yes, Avon was very familiar to PJ, who was a frequent visitor to campus with his dad. But the choice was all PJ’s, as was what he did here once he enrolled. “I am immensely proud of him for charting his own path here.”
That pride, Reed says, is rooted not only in PJ’s accomplishments (vice warden, varsity athletics, Riddlers, Head of School List) but in his full embrace of the Avon brotherhood.
— PETER REED ’88, P’26
What I became from my experience at Avon wouldn’t have happened without the mentoring and coaching I received.
life. I’d advise all Avonians to never waste it.”
That belief drew him back early and often. Today, Reed lives in Southport, where he says he found the permanence and continuity of community that his soul yearned for. Their family home, luckily, is not too far from Reed’s original oasis: Avon Old Farms. He and classmates capitalized on any opportunity to return and attended several reunions, football games, and other special campus events. Invited to join the National Council in its formative years, Reed eventually served as chair and remained an active member until 2024. “What I became from my experience at Avon wouldn’t have happened without the mentoring and coaching I received,” he says. “I felt indebted—not just financially. I owed something back.”
A self-described connector by nature, Reed also became an ambassador for the school, referring prospective families and even hosting candidate interviews on campus in
“When I see PJ with his crew, I see myself,” Reed says. “I remember being one of those 10 guys. Those friendships are not casual. They’re forged in dorms, on buses, in locker rooms, in late-night study sessions. They’re built through shared challenge.”
Reed believes deeply that those bonds will shape PJ’s future in ways he may not yet fully grasp.
“I hope he understands that if he invests in those relationships, that network will become more powerful over time,” he says. “In your life, in your career, in moments when you need perspective or opportunity, those men show up. That’s not theoretical for me. I’ve lived it.”
As someone who has built a career in executive search and talent management, Reed sees the practical implications as well. “The Avon network is real,” he says plainly. “It’s thoughtful, it’s responsive, it’s loyal. But it only works if you nurture it.”
There is also something more intangible about Avon. Reed recalls the first time PJ came home after enrolling—he and his wife both picked up on a subtle but unmistakable shift. “It was a 180,” he says. “The way he
carried himself. The way he looked us in the eye. The fact that he had an opinion and a point of view at the dinner table. It was clear Avon was already leaving its mark.”
That growth, Reed believes, is amplified by the brotherhood itself—a community of boys learning to challenge and support one another across differences.
“One of the things I see more clearly now,” he says, “is Mrs. Riddle’s belief that the ways in which they differ are far more important than the ways in which they are the same. The boys come from different backgrounds, different parts of the world, and they really do get to know one another. That range PJ has developed—that’s a credit to the school and to the brotherhood.”
In many ways, their journeys echo each other—but PJ’s experience is distinctly his own. A four-year student, he has pursued academic challenges his father never imagined.
“As an alum, I operated for years on memory—35-year-old data,” Reed admits. “Having your son live it is the ultimate proof of concept. It’s not just nostalgia. It’s all true— and more.” As Reed explains it, Mr. Trautman was experimenting with a lot of things: sports, arts, academia. But over the years, Avon has mastered them and built a talented faculty who have advanced the Avon experience in ways Reed never thought possible.
Now, as PJ prepares to graduate, Reed begins yet another chapter of service—this time as a member of the Board of Directors. Having spent his career advising boards on CEO succession and talent management, he looks forward to contributing meaningfully, particularly as Avon approaches its centennial and plans for the future.
“I advise boards all the time,” he says. “To serve on one, especially Avon’s, is a unique honor. It’s the next extension of my long-standing commitment to give back.” If anything, PJ’s departure only deepens that resolve. “Now that he’s leaving, I’d better
As an alum, I operated for years on memory— 35-year-old data. Having your son live it is the ultimate proof of concept. It’s not just nostalgia. It’s all true—and more — PETER REED ’88, P’26
double down and find new ways to stay connected,” Reed says with a smile. Reflecting on his own experience and now PJ’s, Reed is quick to express gratitude. “I owe sincere thanks and appreciation to the Avon faculty who had such an invaluable impact on me and who continue to shape my son’s experience today,” he says. “And I’m equally grateful to my classmates and friends who have blessed me with the strength—and the lifelong benefits—of the Avon brotherhood.”
For a man whose early years were marked by constant motion, Avon provided permanence. Today, watching his son step into the same brotherhood that shaped him, Reed sees continuity—friendships that will stretch across decades, a network that will open doors and steady him in life’s inevitable transitions, and a shared bond that will always bring him home.
class notes
A GROUP OF ALUMNI FROM THE 90S WENT TO THE 2025 WORLD SERIES TO WATCH GEORGE SPRINGER ’08 PLAY FOR THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS. LEFT TO RIGHT: NICK DEANS ’91, P’27, JASON PARKER ’91, TONY MINELLA ’94, CHRIS HETHERINGTON ’91, AND ROB DOWLING ’91, P’22.
MENDELL ’52 AND GERARD DE GUNZBURG ’65 IN NAPLES, FLA. IN JANUARY 2026.
50s
’59 CHARLES “CHUCK” W. DAVIS
Class Ambassador waretec@hotmail.com
60s
’61 GEORGE “JEFF” F. HENSCHEL
Class Ambassador gfhjr@aol.com
’63 JACK R. STOKVIS
’65 PERRY BENSON Class Ambassador pbenson@jacobswyper.com
’66 MICHAEL D. BARKER
Class Ambassador barkermike@aol.com
Class Ambassador smarts@mac.com ’64 JONATHAN MITNICK Class Ambassador johnmit3@cox.net
’68 CHASE F. DONALDSON Class Ambassador cfdifly@gmail.com
’69 DAVID F. COLEMAN
Class Ambassador davidcoleman1150@gmail.com
SETH
ANDY SCHORR ’67 AND ART CUSTER P’04, ’05, ’10 ON CAMPUS IN DECEMBER 2025.
FINLAY MATHESON ’63 SHOWING OFF SOME AVON GEAR IN JANUARY 2026.
JOHN WENDLER ’68 AND HIS WIFE, DEB, OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOUSE IN TENNESSEE.
BRUCE BERRY ’69 AND HIS WIFE TOGETHER IN JANUARY 2026.
MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1969 SPENT TIME TOGETHER. LEFT TO RIGHT: DAVE COLEMAN P’01, ’03, BRUCE BERRY, AND RICHARD FIELD
70s
’71 TIMOTHY R. BEEBLE Class Ambassador tbeeble@gmail.com
’72 KEVIN J. DRISCOLL Class Ambassador driscollk@avonoldfarms.com
’73 JOHN R. BOURGET Class Ambassador witan@aol.com
’74 EDWARD “TED” P. MOLLOY Class Ambassador tmolloy@arraysoftware.com
’74 RICHARD T. CONNELL Class Ambassador rtconnell@outlook.com
’74 BRUCE R. ANSCHUTZ Class Ambassador branschutz@gmail.com
’75 THOMAS B. BYRNE Class Ambassador tbyrne@thomasbyrne.com
’77 JORGE E. CONSUEGRA Class Ambassador jconsuegra29@gmail.com
’77 STUART D. BEATH Class Ambassador sbeath@internationalfuel.com
’78 JOHN M. GARVEY Class Ambassador jmgarvey@garvspace.com
’79 ANTHONY M. GRAY Class Ambassador tgray@tonygray.net
AL O’CONNOR ’75 AND TIM TRAUTMAN ’75, P’03 AT AL’S WEDDING IN BEAUTIFUL TUSCANY.
AL O’CONNOR ’75 AND ANNE STUDEBAKER GOT MARRIED IN SEPTEMBER 2025, WITH A GROUP OF ALUMNI IN ATTENDANCE. LEFT TO RIGHT: PETER EVANS H’18, P’98, SUE EVANS H’18, P’98, ANGELA FOLINO, TIM TRAUTMAN ’75, P’03 , ANNE STUDEBAKER, AL O’CONNOR, FRIENDS.
NICK WELLS ’70 AND AVON SENIOR MAJOR GIFT OFFICER BARB DAVIS IN FLORIDA IN JANUARY 2026.
DUNCAN BROATCH ’73, P’09 VISITED RON PROTASEWICH ’73 IN DUXBURY, MASS. THEY SPENT THE DAY CRUISING THE BAY IN RON’S BOAT AND ENJOYING THE BEST DUXBURY OYSTERS AT THE ISLAND CREEK OYSTER BAR.
TED MOLLOY ’74, STEVE PATSOS ’75, TIM TRAUTMAN ’75, P’03, AND GEORGE GIANNONI ’74 AT A CHRISTMAS LUNCH.
TIM TRAUTMAN ’75, P’03 AND ANGELA FOLINO GOT MARRIED IN ST. GEORGE’S, BERMUDA, ON OCT. 11, 2025.
CLASS OF 1975
For Reunion Weekend 2025, Class of 1975 alumnus TOM BYRNE had AOF hats custom embroidered for his classmates. Pictured here are AL O’CONNOR, STEVEN PATSOS, GEOFF ANDERSON, and TIM TRAUTMAN P’03 wearing their hats.
Faculty kids from the 70s gathered for a group photo at Reunion Weekend in September 2025. Pictured from left to right: TIM TRAUTMAN ’75, P’03, PETER RICE ’76, P’15, JORGE CONSUEGRA ’77, P’11, and ANDY CONSUEGRA ’80, P’14.
THE
CELEBRATED THEIR GOLDEN REUNION ON CAMPUS IN THE FALL OF 2025. LEFT TO RIGHT: JEFF GLAZE P’07, TOM BYRNE, TIM STRAUS, JASON BEEBLE P’05, MIKE CERCONE, TIM TRAUTMAN P’03, RICHARD THOMPSON, JOHN CARPENTER, RANDY BECKER, AND DAVE JACK.
DOUG BEATH ’76 AND JORGE CONSUEGRA ’77, P’11 SPENT TIME TOGETHER AT REUNION WEEKEND IN 2025.
CONSUEGRA ’77, P’11 AND TUCKER BRADSHAW ’77 AT TUCKER’S BIRTHDAY PARTY IN JUNE 2025.
THE CONSUEGRA SIBLINGS GATHERED FOR A DINNER IN COCONUT GROVE, FLA., IN FEBRUARY 2026. RIGHT TO LEFT: JORGE CONSUEGRA ’77, P’11, ANA CONSUEGRA CUMMINS, ANDY CONSUEGRA ’80, P’14, AND JULIE CONSUEGRA ISLAMI. ANA AND JULIE ARE FORMER FACULTY CHILDREN.
JORGE
MARIA CONSUEGRA P’11, STU BEATH ’77, P’06, ’07, ’09, AND JORGE CONSUEGRA ’77, P’11 HAD DINNER TOGETHER IN ST. LOUIS, MO., IN MAY 2025.
JORGE CONSUEGRA ’77, P’11 AND BILL COLLINS ’85 MET FOR A WALK IN GREENWICH, CONN., OCTOBER 2025.
80s
’80 BRIAN R. MAITLAND
Class Ambassador brmaitland366@gmail.com
’80 THOMAS E. DAVEY
Class Ambassador thomasdaveyjr@gmail.com
’81 WILLIAM “BILL” B. MAAG
Class Ambassador william.maag51@yahoo.com
’81 MICHAEL T. SYMES
Class Ambassador symesm@icloud.com
’81 SAMUEL “COLEY” C. BOOKBINDER
Class Ambassador samuel.bookbinder@wfadvisors.com
’82 EDWARD P. STEWART
Class Ambassador epstewart4@gmail.com
’83 WILLIAM “BILL” E. ESCHERT
Class Ambassador billeschert@gmail.com
’84 JOHN S. GORDON Class Ambassador falconatlfan@gmail.com
’85 SAM L. RUBENSTEIN Class Ambassador srubenstein127@gmail.com
’85 WILSON “TRACE” M. ALFORD Class Ambassador wm.alford3@gmail.com
COLEY BOOKBINDER ’81, proud Class Ambassador for his class, partnered with the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders to host a special charitable giving event in support of autism awareness and advocacy. The event brought together alumni, community leaders, and supporters to raise funds and promote inclusion for individuals and families affected by autism. The evening featured appearances by the Eagles Cheerleaders, interactive activities, and opportunities for guests to learn more
about autism programs and resources. Proceeds from the event will benefit local and national organizations dedicated to improving the lives of those on the autism spectrum.
“This event is about more than fundraising—it’s about creating a community of support and understanding,” said Coley Bookbinder. “We are honored to collaborate with the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders and everyone who shares our commitment to making a difference.”
TONY TATTERSFIELD ’81 AND HIS WIFE FROM THE IU FOOTBALL GAME.
BARB DAVIS AND TONY TATTERSFIELD ’81 IN FLORIDA IN JANUARY 2026.
TRACE ALFORD ’85, MICHAEL CONROY ’85, P’22, DEVIN GRAHAM ’28, AND DREW GRAHAM ’85, P’28 SPENT TIME TOGETHER AT THE 2025 REUNION WEEKEND FOOTBALL GAME.
AVON REPRESENTATIVES CHRIS WEBB AND BARB DAVIS VISIT WITH ANDY LEBUHN ’85.
KEN RINKER ’86 AND KEVIN DRISCOLL ’72, P’08 IN
DJ, DAUGHTER, DAKOTA, AND DAVID’S MOM, DIANA COOPER P’88, IN OCTOBER OF 2025.
’86 HENRY D. KRUPNIKOFF Class Ambassador hkrupnikoff@gmail.com
’87 HAROLD “HAL” R. BEACHAM Class Ambassador hal.beacham44@comcast.net
’87 WILLIAM “WHIP” P. BURKS Class Ambassador whip@vtharvest.com
’88 PETER D. REED Class Ambassador pdreed18@gmail.com
’88 SHAWN E. ATKINSON Class Ambassador shawnatki@gmail.com
’88 ROBERT A. GRYBOSKI Class Ambassador gryboski@gmail.com
’89 ROBERT M. WILEMAN Class Ambassador rmw@wilemanagency.com
RYAN HANKARD ’92, TOM GRESH ’90, P’16, ’23, KEVIN DRISCOLL ’72, P’08, BRENDAN LYNCH ’88, P’17, ’24, AND BRIAN REGAN ’88 GATHERED FOR DINNER TOGETHER.
KEVIN DRISCOLL ’72, P’08 AND BRENDAN ANDREWS ’90 IN NEWPORT
LUKE ARCHAMBAULT ’04, JOHN RUAN ’92 , AND HOST BRIAN WILHELM ’92, P’26, ’28 PLAYED A ROUND OF GOLF TOGETHER IN OCTOBER 2025.
90s
’90 PETER J. DECKERS Class Ambassador deckersp@avonoldfarms.com
’92 WILLIAM “BILLY” P. AUSTIN Class Ambassador wpaustin55@gmail.com
’95 TIMOTHY J. MCANDREW Class Ambassador tim.mcandrew@alliant.com
’95 ANTHONY D. SILVESTRO Class Ambassador tony.silvestro@insperity.com
’95 DANIEL P. FITZPATRICK Class Ambassador dpagfitz@gmail.com
’98 J. “ANDREW” A. CORRIGAN
Class Ambassador jamesandrewcorrigan@gmail.com
’99 CHRIS J. GATEMAN
Class Ambassador cgateman@gmail.com
’99 DAVID R. GRYBOSKI
Class Ambassador david@ghgdevelopment.com
SALLY DANE SPERRY P’29, JACK SPERRY ’29, AUSTIN SPERRY ’96, P’29, AND BROOKS SPERRY P’96, GP’29 FROM THE FIRST DAY OF AVON’S FOOTBALL CAMP IN THE FALL OF 2025.
NEWPORT BEACH.
DAVID COOPER ’88 WITH HIS WIFE, SIMONEE, THEIR SON,
BEACH.
GEORGE SPRINGER ’08, LUKE ARCHAMBAULT ’04, AUSTIN SPERRY ’96, P’29, AND ROB DOWLING ’91, P’22 PLAYED A ROUND OF GOLF TOGETHER AT THE FLORIDIAN IN JANUARY 2026.
P’08 VISITED
’07 KENNETH TRENTOWSKI Class Ambassador ktrentowski@gmail.com
’07 JONATHAN R. HASPILAIRE Class Ambassador jonathan.haspilaire@gmail.com
’00 DANIEL J. SEIDEN
Class Ambassador seidend@gmail.com
’01 CHRISTOPHER D. COLEMAN
Class Ambassador christopherdcoleman@gmail.com
’01 CRAIG P. CHESTER
Class Ambassador cpchester@gmail.com ’03 JAMES T. TANG Class Ambassador jamesttang@gmail.com
’04 LUKE R. ARCHAMBAULT Class Ambassador archambaultl@avonoldfarms.com
’05 JOHN C. MORI
Class Ambassador johncmori@gmail.com
’07 CASEY R. COONS Class Ambassador caseycoons4@gmail.com
’08 PETER J. HOLST-GRUBBE Class Ambassador holstgrubbep@gmail.com
’09 CONOR R. CUMMINGS Class Ambassador conorcummings@gmail.com
’09 JAKE R. BOURGAULT Class Ambassador jake.bourgault@gmail.com
PIERCE FORD ’09 welcomed son Spencer Patrick Ford in November 2025.
WILL BEATSON ’02 AND JOSHUA BRUFF ’01 SPENT TIME TOGETHER IN OCTOBER 2025.
EMILIO RANALDI ’98 SPENT TIME AT THE TRACK IN PALMER, MASS., IN OCTOBER 2025.
MILTON WILLIAMS P’20, ’23, SARAH BLANCHARD P’24, STRAT DENNIS ’00, AND SENIOR MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER BARB DAVIS TOGETHER IN NYC.
KEVIN DRISCOLL ’72,
MARIO BÁRCENAS ’01 IN PANAMA. THEY SPENT TIME WITH MARIO’S FOOTBALL TEAM, THE FIGHTING OWLS.
A GROUP OF ALUMNI GATHERED FOR DINNER IN NYC IN OCTOBER 2025. BACK: LUKE ARCHAMBAULT ’04, RUSS LALLIER ’03, AND DJ CIABURRI ’03. FRONT: JAMIE TANG ’03, MIKE MULLIN ’91, P’27, AND SARAH BLANCHARD P’24.
LUKE ARCHAMBAULT ’04, RUSS LALLIER ’03, KEVIN DRISCOLL ’72, P’08, AND DREW WIDGER ’98 AT STADIUM XV DURING THE AVON OLD FARMS CT WINGED BEAVER CLUB RECEPTION.
ERIK DAVIS ’04, KEVIN DRISCOLL ’72, P’08, AND EMIL DAVIS ’09 ON CAMPUS IN THE FALL OF 2025.
PIERCE MCKELLAR ’05 AND CYDNEY BOTT GOT MARRIED ON MARCH 1, 2026.
10s
’10 PATRICK D. HAMPTON Class Ambassador pdavishampton@gmail.com
’11 HARRISON M. LYONS Class Ambassador lyons.har@gmail.com
MATTHEW LIPTROT ’11 graduated from Columbia Law School in May 2019. He married Marcela in August 2020. They welcomed their first daughter, Livia, in October 2023 before moving to Dallas in June 2024. Matt now works for Haynes and Boone, LLP (one of the big Dallas-based law firms). The couple just welcomed their second daughter, Julia, in October 2025.
’12 CONNOR P. DOYLE Class Ambassador doyle12187@gmail.com
’12 MICHAEL A. NICOLIA Class Ambassador michael.nicolia@gmail.com
’12 JEREMY D. ROSS Class Ambassador jeremyross101@gmail.com
’12 RYAN K. YEN Class Ambassador ryan.kho.yen@gmail.com
BLAISE DRISCOLL ’08, KEVIN DRISCOLL ’72, P’08, MIKE RECCHIA ’07, AND PATRICK MILLER ’07 AT THE WEDDING OF PAUL SEVERNI ’07 AND ISABELLA HUTTON IN NEW YORK CITY.
MARGIE DRISCOLL, BRAYDEN DRISCOLL, STEPHEN DRISCOLL ’11, AND SOPHIE DRISCOLL ON CAMPUS IN THE FALL OF 2025.
HARRY LYONS ’11 AND OLIVIA CRANFORD TIED THE KNOT ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2025.
BLAISE ROSATI ’11, JIM DETORA P’12, BRIAN DOYLE P’12, ’14, AND DARNELL DAVIS ’12 ON CAMPUS IN OCTOBER 2025.
20s
’20 JORDAN E. BERNARD Class Ambassador bernard.jordan03@gmail.com
’20 LUCAS G. MACKAY Class Ambassador lukegmack31@gmail.com
’20 AUGUSTUS “GENTRY” G. SHAMBURGER Class Ambassador shammyg12@gmail.com
’21 DAVID A. HADEN Class Ambassador hadenda23@gmail.com
’21 SAAGAR S. MOTUPALLY Class Ambassador saagar.motupally@gmail.com
’13 WILLIAM M. WHITE Class Ambassador william.white1994@gmail.com
’14 MICKOY R. NICHOL Class Ambassador realmickoy@gmail.com
’14 RYAN D. PHILLIPS Class Ambassador rydphillips@gmail.com
’15 EDMUND “TAMAS” T. TAKATA Class Ambassador edmundtakata@gmail.com
’16 BRADY M. WILLIAMSON Class Ambassador williamsonbrady6@gmail.com
’16 MATTHEW T. HORTON Class Ambassador mhorton@hortongroupllc.com
’16 ALESSIO R. MARCOGLIESE Class Ambassador alessio.marcogliese@gmail.com
’21 PATRICK “PJ” A. NEAL Class Ambassador peejneal7@gmail.com
’21 AIDAN J. PATTERSON Class Ambassador aidanjp20@gmail.com
’21 CHRISTOPHER “CJ” J. BALDINI Class Ambassador cjbaldini@gmail.com
’22 NIKHIL SATPATHY Class Ambassador nikhilsatpathy@gmail.com
’22 JAVIER CALDERON Class Ambassador javiercsuarez4@gmail.com
’23 JACK P. GINTER Class Ambassador jginter@falcon.bentley.edu
’23 PETER F. SIANA Class Ambassador peterfsiana@gmail.com
’23 PATRICK M. DALLAHAN Class Ambassador patrick.dallahan@gmail.com
’24 HUDSON MILLER Class Ambassador huddymills05@gmail.com
’24 TAIYO MINAMI Class Ambassador taiyo.minami.373@gmail.com
’24 SHIKHAR S. MOTUPALLY Class Ambassador shikhar.motupally@gmail.com
’24 CHASE R. WEISLEDER Class Ambassador chaseweisleder@icloud.com
’24 JOEL M. TAYLOR Class Ambassador joelmtaylorjr@gmail.com
’24 JOAQUÍN ACUÑA GIRAULT Class Ambassador joaquinacunag05@gmail.com
’25 JOHN “JACK” M c DERMOTT Class Ambassador jmcdermott2025@gmail.com
’25 PETER T. C. MOK Class Ambassador mokpeter07@gmail.com
’25 EMORY R. SIRMAN Class Ambassador emorysirman58@gmail.com
’25 EDWARD “TEDDY” A. LISTER Class Ambassador teddylister@icloud.com
’25 LOGAN W. GLASS Class Ambassador loganglass927@gmail.com
LOGAN GLASS ’25 (left) met up with Marketing Director Jacqueline Keller in Covent Garden this March while she attended a conference in London. Logan has been studying in England as part of Avon’s ESU program before heading off to the University of Miami this coming fall. While in the UK, Logan made trips to 14 countries in the European Union.
’25 OWEN R. CALLAGHAN
Class Ambassador owencal310@gmail.com
’25 BEN R. BRESLAV Class Ambassador bbreslav02@gmail.com
’25 MUHAN “MIKE” YAN Class Ambassador mikeyan233@gmail.com
’25 SAMUEL HOUSTON Class Ambassador samhouston3443@gmail.com
’25 DOMINIK SEDLAK-BRAUDE
Class Ambassador dsedlakbraude@gmail.com
CODY DOYLE ’14 WITH HIS SON, CALVIN, AT HOME THIS SUMMER.
ZACH PELTZ ’21, KEVIN DRISCOLL ’72, P’08, GREG PELTZ ’21, AND THEIR COUSIN IN MIAMI, FLA.
LOGAN GLASS ’25, JAVI CALDERON ’22, CHRISTEL ROONEY P’18, AND ANDREW THRESH ’22 GOT TOGETHER IN LONDON IN OCTOBER 2025.
YOUNG ALUMNI GATHERED IN DECEMBER 2025 BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS HOCKEY CLASSIC TOURNAMENT. LEFT TO RIGHT: CHUCK BLANCHARD ’24, ARTHUR MIRANTE ’23, STEPHEN PECK ’23, MAGNUS TURCOTTE ’24, HUDSON MILLER ’24, AND ALEX PELLETIER ’24.
ALUMNI GATHERED AT THE OLYMPIC CLUB IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., IN FEBRUARY 2026. PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: AVON CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR STEVE KIRSCHE, JEFF HODGKINSON ’10, BRUCE SEIDEL ’60 (FRONT), JON USICH ’89, TIM ORR ’85, AND THAYER MULLINS ’04.
YOUNG ALUMNI GATHERED IN STOUT, N.Y. IN OCTOBER 2025. PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: JONATHAN RENGER ’23, DERON KOPPEL ’24, WILL BEATSON ’02, JAMIE TANG ’03, JOSHUA BRUFF ’01, TAIYO MINAMI ’24, AND MATTHEW TROTTA ’24.
P’07 AND CASEY ’07 COONS WITH THEIR FAMILY
RAY SWEETLAND, CHARLIE DECKERS ’87, GLENN SIEBER H’19, P’17, EVAN DECKERS ’18, AND PETER DECKERS ’90, P’18, ’20 AFTER THE TAMPA BAY BUCS VS. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS GAME ON DECEMBER 7, 2025.
GEORGE SEIFERT’S SON, CHANDLER KURTZ, GOT MARRIED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2024. LEFT TO RIGHT: LUKE TIEDEMAN ’13, ARMOUR MELLON ’84, P’13, GEORGE SEIFERT ’62, P’13, CHANDLER KURTZ ’13 , AND HENRY MELLON ’13.
AND
THE SCHOOL HAS LEARNED OF THE FOLLOWING DEATHS:
DONALD M. DAVIDSON ’38
MICHAEL W. MCGLONE ’55
PETER RAND ’56
GRAFFLIN “COOKIE” COOK III ’58
ROBERT G. FERRIER ’58
JEFFREY G. SCHLEIN ’58
JOHN R. NISSLEY ’65, P’10
VERE GAYNOR ’66
FREDRIC G. FEARN JR. ’68
BRIAN T. MULLINS ’68, P’04
STEPHEN J. WARD ’80
BANKS T. ADAMS III ’81
ROGER C. GIBBONS ’83
PRIYA “RAVI” DASWANI ’88
STEPHEN M. WYSOCKI ’01
CHRISTOPHER M. STANTON ’08
HENRY ’71,
DURING THE SUMMER OF 2025.
JIM DETORA P’12
KEVIN DRISCOLL ’72, P’08 SPENT TIME WITH OUR ALUMNI IN PANAMA.
PARTING SHOT
2026 ALUMNI HOCKEY The last Saturday in February was a busy, hockeyfilled day at Avon Old Farms. Forty alumni players returned to the rink, joined by more than 150 family members and friends, to honor Coach John T. Gardner across two exciting games. Afterward, the community gathered with Mrs. Gardner in the Susan Casey Brown Auditorium to celebrate the legacy of the greatest high school hockey coach in the United States.
500 Old Farms Road
Avon, Connecticut 06001
www.avonoldfarms.com
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