Berkshire Bulletin Winter 2026

The Driveway: A Point of Inflection

The Trustee Invocation delivered by

Jim Hooper ’69

on October 2, 2025

I think many of us who have spent time here remember that feeling we had driving up this driveway on our first visit . . . I still think of my first visit every time I come to campus, and I believe this is one of many things that we all have in common at Berkshire.

To me, our entrance is more than a strip of asphalt or just a driveway—I see it as a breadcrumb trail that leads many of us to learn about life’s possibilities, ourselves, and our own potential. I think that the trip up from the School’s entrance has been a transition point in the lives of many people in the Berkshire community—not only students, but also faculty, staff, parents, and trustees alike. My mathematician wife calls it a “point of inflection.”

As I remembered Berkshire’s driveway, I started thinking of our road as a sort of gate or door—on the other side of which lies a world of personal growth and self-discovery. Today, 425 Berkshire students find their way up our breadcrumb trail and use their own “key of imagination” to unlock Berkshire’s door. And before them, more than 10,000 alums, faculty, staff, and trustees have done the same. Constantly using these “keys of imagination” to unlock the opportunities here is a hallmark of Berkshire, and is one of the defining qualities of what this place is all about.

So, for this invocation—and on behalf of our students and their families, and our entire community—let us ask the following:

May they be safe.

May they be healthy.

May Berkshire help them to discover the best that is in themselves.

May they be known well and understood.

May they be remembered.

And may our work here today help keep our driveway well-traveled and well-illuminated, with a bright line of promise for all those who use their own keys of imagination to choose Berkshire as their home.

James L. Haskel ’86, P’20,’22,’25 CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Pieter M. Mulder P’22,’26 HEAD OF SCHOOL

Andrew Bogardus P’23,’24 DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

Merideth Leonard DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Bulletin Editors: Lucia Q. Mulder P’22,’26

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Megan Tady FREELANCE EDITOR

Class Notes Editor: Robin Gottlieb DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

Class Notes Coordinator: Sue Delmolino Ives P’15

Design: Hammill Design

Printing: Qualprint

Photography: Advancement, Berkshire School Archives, Communications and Marketing

Class Notes: berkshireschool.org/classnote

All other alumni matters: alumni@berkshireschool.org

Published by Berkshire School’s Communications and Marketing and Advancement Offices for alumni and friends of the School.

Berkshire School admits students of any race, color, religious affiliation, national and ethnic origin and qualified handicapped students to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students. We do not discriminate in violation of any law or statute in the administration of our educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.

To

let us know at alumni@berkshireschool.org.

Horses bring Elle Herrington ’22 & Ned Toffey ’82 together.

’08 on

John Harker ’97, Zsuzsanna Bago-Horvath ’96, and Alex Arjoon ’11

LETTER TO ALUMNI & FRIENDS

Dear Berkshire Bears,

What a reunion it was!

It is with great pride and excitement that we present this special issue of the Berkshire Bulletin, which highlights Reunion Weekend.

Reunions are more than just a return to campus— they are a return to friendships, to late-night conversations, to the beloved faculty who challenged and inspired us, and to the community that helped shape who we are today. Whether you celebrated your fifth or your 50th reunion, this issue highlights the joy and energy that filled campus last June, when a record-breaking 750 alumni and friends returned under the Mountain for the Multi-Year Reunion. Alums attended spirited receptions and class dinners, Master Classes, and heartfelt awards and dedication ceremonies, making for a memorable weekend.

To the alumni from the Classes of ’4s + ’9s, ’0s + ’5s, and ’1s + ’6s who joined us in person: Thank you for bringing your energy, enthusiasm, and spirit back to campus. To those who celebrated from afar, we hope this issue brings a little bit of that reunion magic to you, wherever you may be.

And to all alumni looking ahead to their own milestone celebrations at the next Berkshire Reunion scheduled for June 2028, we hope this edition offers a glimpse of the fun, friendships, and connections that await you.

Inside these pages, you’ll find features on fellow alumni, event highlights, Class Notes, and more. Don’t forget to check out the calendar on page 50 to see when your next Berkshire Reunion will be held. It’s never too early to save the date, and if you’re interested in joining a Reunion Committee to help plan your class’s celebration, I’d love to hear from you!

In the spirit of staying connected and ensuring future generations can experience the same magic under the Mountain, we are thrilled to share an extraordinary opportunity to support Berkshire: The Match That Moves Us. Thanks to the generosity of a loyal alumni family, all eligible gifts to the 2025–2026 Annual Fund will be matched dollar for dollar. This is a powerful way to honor your class and stretch your impact even further for our Bears. You can read more about this match on page 56.

Best wishes,

Save the Date: June 2028 Multi-Year Reunion Celebration for the Classes of ’2s + ’7s, ’3s + ’8s, ’4s + ’9s,

Robin Gottlieb Director of Alumni Engagement

SEEN AROUND

1. The Bears close out the 2025 season with a hard-fought 14–13 win over Noble and Greenough to claim the NEPSAC Bob Souza Bowl, finishing with an impressive 7–0 record in the Evergreen League.

2. Resilience in Action: Ana Alvarenga ’15, Jay Cronze ’09, Burke Bogardus ’23, and Emily Liu ’20 return to campus for a Pro Vita panel exploring the habits and mindsets that build lasting resilience. Moderated by Will Reynolds ’26 and Nathalie Fenton ’26, the conversation was a deep dive into one of Berkshire’s core values.

3. Educator and AI consultant Eric Hudson spent two and a half days on campus in a residency designed to engage faculty, staff, and students in meaningful conversations about a human-centered approach to artificial intelligence at Berkshire.

4. Winter arrives under the Mountain.

5. Members of the Class of ’91 celebrate the holiday season at the New York Yacht Club. More photos on page 23.

New Board of Trustees Members

Benjamin “Ben” Harris P’27,’28 is the head of the industrial real estate group for Rockpoint, a real estate private equity fund based in Boston, Mass. Prior to joining Rockpoint, Harris was CEO of LINK Logistics, Blackstone’s U.S. industrial real estate platform, and before that president of Gramercy Property Trust, a publicly traded REIT based in New York.

Harris is a graduate of Dalhousie University and the University of King’s College in Canada, where he received joint science degrees in economics. He previously served on the board of Rippowam Cisqua School in Bedford, N.Y., and is currently on the boards of Sonida Senior Living and StorageVault Canada Inc.

Harris grew up in Connecticut and Ontario, Canada, and lives in Bedford with his wife, Laura, and their three children: Lulu ’27, Teddy ’28, and George. He enjoys coaching skiing at Catamount on the weekends.

Angela Lange Meredith-Jones ’87, P’25,’25 is a longtime Berkshire volunteer. Experienced in the world of art galleries and museums, she works in the visual arts in New York City and has held positions at Tony Shafrazi Gallery, Anton Kern Gallery, and the Museum of Modern Art. She has also enjoyed notable freelance curatorial and collection management opportunities with private individuals in the field.

Born to German parents in New York City, Meredith-Jones came to Berkshire as a ninth grader in 1983 after attending schools in Europe. She holds a bachelor’s in art history and German literature from Bennington College and a master’s in art history from CUNY Hunter College. She has been involved in philanthropic and volunteer activities in New York City and Orient, N.Y.

In addition to Mirabelle ’25 and Caspar ’25, she has an older daughter, Ella, who is currently a college senior. Meredith-Jones recently returned to her work in clay—a medium she was first introduced to at Berkshire.

Caroline Mutter P’28 has actively engaged Berkshire families in her roles as an Annual Fund advocate and admission ambassador. A senior global financial services executive and trailblazer for women in finance, she served as managing director and co-head of fixed income syndication at Goldman Sachs from 2009 to 2014 and has held leadership roles within the women’s networks at Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse First Boston. Mutter earned her bachelor’s from Wellesley College and led the Wellesley College recruiting team at Goldman Sachs for more than a decade. She has served as president of her condominium board and on the boards of The Gateway School and the World Cup Dreams Foundation.

A U.S. Ski & Snowboard Alpine Level 300 race coach, Mutter has been a driving force behind the Windham Mountain Club Racing Team since 2014. She chaired the Rip Van Winkle Council and was appointed by NYSSRA as head New York state coach for the U12/U14 Piche Invitational Race Series. Driven by the

belief that positive athletic experiences nurture lifelong leadership and resilience, Mutter serves as head alpine coach at Hotchkiss and assistant coach at Berkshire.

Mutter and her husband, Paul, live in Windham, N.Y., and Sharon, Conn., with their sons, Tiger and Dax ’28.

Álvaro Rodríguez Arregui ’85 is the co-founder and managing partner of IGNIA, the leading venture capital firm based in Mexico, investing in world-class technology entrepreneurs who address the needs of the emerging middle class across Latin America. A former senior lecturer and current executive fellow at Harvard Business School, he has spent the past four years teaching M.B.A. and executive education programs on entrepreneurship and financial inclusion. For more than three decades, he has been at the forefront of financial inclusion, having served as chairman of Compartamos Banco (Gentera), the largest microfinance institution in the Americas. He also chaired Accion International, the Boston-based global pioneer in microfinance and inclusive finance.

Rodríguez Arregui serves on the boards of the Social Progress Index (which he co-founded), ITAM Epic Lab for Entrepreneurship (founding board member), and the Oxford University Saïd Business School Global Council. A lifelong athlete, he is a decorated rower, having won medals at the Pan American Games and U.S. Elite Nationals, and represented Mexico at the World University Games. He holds a B.S. in economics from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

James “Jed” Scala ’85 has served in a number of volunteer roles for Berkshire, including Advisory Board co-chair, Distinguished Alumni Nominating Committee chair, and Reunion Committee chair. He was also a member of the Hail Berkshire Campaign and Centennial committees. In 2011, he was honored as Berkshire’s Kellogg Volunteer of the Year.

Scala spent much of his professional life at American Express, where he served as a general manager and marketing executive. He managed multibillion-dollar credit card portfolios, led the launch of new businesses and products, and developed innovative services for both consumers and small businesses. After American Express, Scala led the payments and commerce solutions division at Fifth Third Bank, later becoming head of consumer banking products and enterprise payments. Most recently, Scala served as chief marketing officer at OneMain Financial before retiring in 2024.

Scala returned to Berkshire for three years after graduating from Williams College to teach art history and photography, coach skiing and lacrosse, and serve as house head of Memorial. He later earned an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. Scala and his partner, Paula Wardynski, live in New York City and the Berkshires, where he cycles, hikes, skis, and enjoys working on their 225-year-old farm property.

David Cieslowski ’92, Jimmy McKee ’15, Steph Holmes ’06, Tim Locke ’82, Matt Crowson ’05, Duke Blackburn ’72; Back row, from left: Justin Torre ’07, Becky Zavisza McCabe ’05, AJ Grimm ’06, Alex Watts ’02, Tyler Wilmot ’12, Whit Watts ’98, Pieter Mulder P’22,’26 (faculty), John Shaker ’71, Chris Reichart ’98, George Plamondon ’28, Walker Annis ’29, Kevin Soja P’26,’28 (faculty)

THE PUCK DROPS HERE

Bears from across decades face off in annual hockey game.

By Robin Gottlieb

Over 40 alumni returned to campus in January for the annual Alumni Hockey game. Whether competing on the ice or cheering from the stands, the energy was high for all three periods of play. In a hard-fought contest, Team Gray ultimately secured a 9–6 victory over Team Green, with David Cieslowski ’92 and Matt Crowson ’05 anchoring the goals. The festivities began with a family skate, followed by a post-game reception in the Jackman L. Stewart Athletic Center, where Co-Chair Chris Reichart ’98 announced this year’s award recipients: Steph Holmes ’06, winner of The Elizabeth Hayes McGraw Alumni Hockey Player of the Game, and Cieslowski, who earned The W. Ross Hawkins Alumni Hockey Player of the Game.

CAMPUS CENTER DEDICATIONS

In October, Berkshire formally dedicated the Campus Center and celebrated the new spaces named after members of the Berkshire community, as well as those carried forward from the original building.

Board of Trustees Chair Jim Haskel ’86, P’20,’22,’25 welcomed the crowd gathered on The Gulotta-Quilty Terrace and called the space “a place that creates community and invites connection,” saying that while the Campus Center is new, it preserves a “feeling we’ve all known in our time here at Berkshire.”

Ribbon cuttings were held for The McLanahan Bookstore, the Miller Family Dining Room, the Picotte Family Fireplace, and the Rovensky Student Center. A student quartet performed before dinner and guests enjoyed all the bells and whistles of the new servery, including fresh pizza from the Class of 2025 Hearth Stone Oven.

“The Campus Center has become the heartbeat of campus,” said Haskel. “It possesses all of the architectural beauty and indoor/outdoor offerings of a state-of-the-art facility and grounds, but even more powerful is the way that it gives you a sense of the Berkshire spirit.”

Flying the Same Skies

After reading the Berkshire Bulletin’s aviation issue, American Airlines Captain Chris Whitlock ’82 wrote to the magazine about a serendipitous flying experience in December 2022. Whitlock, who earned his B.S. from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1986, was scheduled to pilot a round-trip flight from Miami, Fla., to the island of Aruba. As he settled into the cockpit of the Boeing 737, he engaged in small talk with his first officer—also known as a co-pilot—and made a surprising discovery: his co-pilot was a Berkshire alumnus, Brian Brown ’12.

“Imagine our surprise when we realized that we were both Berkshire alumni!” Whitlock wrote. “It was truly a wonderful surprise, and we had a great couple of flights together while sharing our Berkshire experiences. Fun fact: It turns out that I even knew and flew with his father, now retired from AA, back in my co-pilot days.”

Both Whitlock and Brown continue to fly professionally, and Brown is now a 737 captain as well. Keep an eye out for them when you take to the skies.

A REUNION

for the Record Books!

A remarkable 750+ alumni and friends gathered at Berkshire for a multi-year reunion celebrating the classes ending in ’4s + ’9s, ’0s + ’5s, and ’1s + ’6s. Alums from across the country and around the world returned to the Mountain to reconnect with old friends and faculty and rekindle their Berkshire spirit!

50-Year Club Lunch

On Friday, alumni from the 50th reunion classes and beyond enjoyed a special luncheon inducting the Classes of ’74, ’75, and ’76 into the 50-Year Club. The newly inducted alums received a special Berkshire tie or gold necklace as a keepsake.

Alumni Volunteer Receptions

The Regional Advisory Board and the DEI Alumni Council—two of the most active alumni committees—both held receptions during Reunion Weekend. Members from each committee were available to chat with attendees and offer a glimpse of the work they do on behalf of the School.

Paint and Sip

Alums tapped into their creative sides during the Paint and Sip class!

Master Classes

Reunion Weekend festivities included Master Classes taught by current faculty and two alumni. Lisa Roberts ’91 and Touré Folkes ’95 stepped back into the classroom to teach.

1 Lisa Roberts ’91, here with Abdul Fox ’89, shares her passion for healthy living in her class Wellness: Food as Medicine.

2 Alums have a blast playing improv games with Berkshire’s theater director Jesse Howard. 3 Touré Folkes ’95, a hospitality innovator and founder of Turning Tables in New Orleans, leads a mixology class.

4 Berkshire Director of Music Clive Davis shares his knowledge of small-batch craft brews in Homebrewing 101.

Alums Honored With Awards

During Reunion Weekend, Berkshire proudly honored two outstanding alumni: Garry Morfit ’61 received the Distinguished Alumni Award and Tracy Wenzell Davlin ’86 was recognized with the Kellogg Volunteer of the Year Award.

Distinguished Alumni Award: Garry Morfit ’61

The Distinguished Alumni Award is Berkshire’s highest honor conferred on an alum, recognizing an individual whose professional and personal accomplishments bring distinction to Berkshire—and who demonstrates a lasting commitment to the School. Garry Morfit embodies all of this and more through his passionate work with Veterans.

Morfit is the founder of Healing Towers, an organization that has supported disabled Veterans on their paths to healing for 18 seasons and over 5,000 days of service. Through free, therapeutic fishing trips in Ketchikan, Alaska, Veterans find camaraderie, peace, and purpose in the outdoors. The program has had a life-changing impact on many who served.

After Berkshire, Morfit attended the University of Arizona and Cornell’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration. He launched a 20-year restaurant career—starting with a converted caboose-turned-bar and

“Garry is kind and caring, a gentle soul, and a very funny man. I could not ask for a better fishing partner or a better friend.”

John Ellwood ’61

eventually helping open seven themed restaurants. In 1989, he became a licensed boat captain, and for the last 19 years, he’s combined his love of fishing with service to Veterans.

A devoted alum, Morfit has served on Berkshire’s Board of Trustees and reunion committees, and he is a member of the John F. Godman Society.

Classmate John Ellwood ’61 said, “Garry’s devotion to these Veterans has been instrumental in improving their quality of life and, in some cases, saving their lives. On a personal level, Garry is kind and caring, a gentle soul, and a very funny man. I could not ask for a better fishing partner or a better friend.”

Former faculty member Bill Gulotta, who has been on 10 Healing Tower excursions with Morfit, added, “Garry has dedicated his energy, his love, and indeed his life to serving those who served our country on the field, in the air, and on the seas in battle. The Veterans he brings to Alaska leave with renewed self-worth and lifelong friends.”

Head of School Pieter Mulder, who presided over the award ceremony, said of Morfit, “It’s been my great pleasure to spend time with Garry in Florida during my travels for Berkshire. His wry wit and self-effacing manner are something we could all learn from.”

healingtowers.org

Kellogg Volunteer of the Year: Tracy Wenzell Davlin ’86

Tracy Wenzell Davlin has shown unwavering dedication to Berkshire School, earning praise from Head of School Pieter Mulder as a “loyal, passionate, and hard-working volunteer”—the very spirit of the Kellogg Volunteer of the Year Award.

Davlin began her official alumni service in 2019 when she joined the Berkshire School Regional Advisory Board as chapter ambassador for the Boston region. In that role, she helped organize and promote numerous alumni events, strengthening connections throughout the Berkshire community.

In 2023, Davlin stepped into a larger leadership role as co-chair of the Regional Advisory Board (alongside Kit Landry ’10), now working with all nine regional chapters to coordinate alumni programming and increase engagement through proactive outreach and collaboration.

Professionally, Davlin began her career at Lehman Brothers in New York City, where she rose to assistant vice president on the institutional equity syndicate desk. After relocating to Wayland, Mass., with her family, she applied her talents to various volunteer roles, including the Garden Club, special events committees, her local PTO, and the St. George’s School Parents Committee. She is also a certified Professional Tennis Registry teacher and coach. Today, she and her husband, Bill, divide their time between Boynton Beach, Fla., and Tannersville, N.Y.

Regional Advisory Board Co-Chair Kit Landry ’10 remarked, “Tracy is dedicated to ensuring that the Regional Advisory Board has an impact and that its members feel valued and empowered. I am so pleased that she is getting this well-deserved recognition.”

Classmate Lara Gutsch Dario ’86 added, “Tracy does not wait for things to come to her; she takes the initiative and makes things happen. Her commitment and passion for Berkshire School are truly inspiring. It is no surprise she is being honored with the Kellogg Volunteer of the Year Award.”

Naming Spaces

Campus Center dedications honor members of the Berkshire community.

Wolf Landing

The north entrance to the Campus Center now has a name befitting its stately presence: Wolf Landing. The space was named in honor of Tom Wolf, Class of 1944C, and his wife, Bobbie, in recognition of their unwavering dedication and love for Berkshire—and on the occasion of Wolf’s 81st reunion.

Wolf has been a consistent donor to the Annual Fund, giving for 80 consecutive years—with just one exception, while serving abroad in the military. In 2019, during his 75th reunion, Berkshire established The Tom Wolf Society in honor of his extraordinary loyalty and in recognition of young alumni who join him in giving back every year.

In addition, the Wolfs have generously donated many pieces of art from their extensive collection, and in 2021, they established the Tom ’44C and Bobbie Wolf Scholarship Fund. A member of the Godman Society, Wolf has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees, the Alumni Council, the Alumni Association, and served as a class agent. He is the 1994 recipient of the Kellogg Volunteer of the Year Award.

“It truly is my great privilege and honor to be here for this important dedication,” said Head of School Pieter Mulder.

“Tom has such a rich connection with Berkshire, knowing every head of school in its history … Today we recognize two remarkable people who set the standard for their engagement, loyalty, belief, and generosity shared with Berkshire School.”

The Gulotta-Quilty Terrace

The Gulotta-Quilty Terrace was named in honor of two beloved faculty members: Bill Gulotta and Peter Quilty. Together, they have a combined 62 years of service to Berkshire with a reach that has spanned thousands of graduates.

From 1979 to 2015, Gulotta taught history and coached cross country, softball, and baseball, leading 12 athletic teams to undefeated seasons and 15 to championship titles. Gulotta was honored as Educator of the Year by The 21st Century magazine thanks to a nomination from his advisee, Jillian Hooper Joseph ’97.

In a 2015 interview with the Berkshire Bulletin, Gulotta reflected, “The segment of my job at Berkshire that stands as the most important part of my career is the time between the bells that commence

and end any class period … It is the interaction between teachers and students that makes this a great life. When a student tells me that a class period was exciting, interesting, or simply ‘cool,’ it makes my day.”

Quilty has taught science at Berkshire since 1999, while also serving in many other roles, including advisor and assistant head of school. He has also coached football, boys and girls hockey, and track and field. Perhaps most notably, Quilty served as dean of students for 17 years, a role to which he upheld high, fair standards and demonstrated a compassionate understanding of young people.

The 2025 recipient of the Aliis Non Sibi Award, an honor chosen by

each year’s graduating class, Quilty exemplifies the spirit of its motto: “For others, not themselves.” One student who nominated him shared, “Mr. Quilty cares so much for every student, especially the seniors, and he goes above and beyond to help people and make them feel proud of their accomplishments.”

In closing, Head of School Pieter Mulder said, “Today, we’re reminded of the deep impact both Bill Gulotta and Peter Quilty have had on Berkshire School—not just through their many roles and achievements, but through the way they’ve shaped this community with their hearts, their humor, and their unwavering commitment to students.”

The Billingsley Balcony

The extended Billingsley family joined friends, alumni, faculty, and staff for the dedication of the Billingsley Balcony in memory of Charlotte Billingsley ’20, who passed away in 2022. Head of School Pieter Mulder shared remarks about Charlotte’s legacy at Berkshire as a student who “modeled the highest standards of effort and integrity for herself and her fellow Bears.”

Mulder also announced the Charlotte C. Billingsley Endowed Scholarship, established in 2025 by her family, friends, and classmates to honor the life and legacy of a beloved Berkshire Bear. The scholarship supports students who embody the spirit of leadership, achievement, and warmth that Charlotte shared so generously with the community. By providing tuition assistance in perpetuity, the fund ensures that Charlotte’s remarkable impact continues to inspire future generations of Berkshire students.

Dory Driscoll, Charlotte’s advisor, said, “This balcony, with its amazing view, is a wonderful place to take a moment anytime and remember the strength and brilliance Charlotte Billingsley shared with us. We will remember Charlotte not just in name, but in purpose.”

Classmate Tess Haskel ’20 remarked, “Charlotte was an incredible friend to all and was really good at taking care of people and putting their needs before her own … This will not be the only day to remember the beautiful, radiant Charlotte. We’ll celebrate her every day for the star she is.”

Remembering Charlotte Billingsley ’20

A four-year student from Rye, N.Y., Charlotte was an exceptional student, celebrated by her teachers for her genuine curiosity, her dedication to every detail of her academic work, and as a student who modeled the highest standards of effort and integrity for herself and her fellow Bears.

Charlotte was elected to the Cum Laude Society and was the recipient of the Peter Lance Anderson Award at commencement, given to the student who best exemplifies the qualities of personal excellence, integrity, and academic scholarship. She was also a four-year member of both the alpine skiing and crew programs, elected as co-captain of the crew team in her senior year. She was recognized for her extraordinary leadership in rowing when the School established the Charlotte Billingsley ’20 Award for Career Achievement, presenting the inaugural award to her sister, Campbell ’24.

After graduating from Berkshire, Charlotte attended Bowdoin College, where she majored in physics, minored in Arabic, and won a gold medal at the New England Rowing Championships. Her legacy as a student and an athlete will live on in our hearts.

BEARS BEYOND BERKSHIRE

BOSTON

Bears

NEW YORK CITY

Over

SAN FRANCISCO

BUILDING IMPACTFUL CAREERS

Alumni share insights in a panel discussion.

By Robin Gottlieb

An inspiring group of Bears gathered in New York City to speak on the panel Beyond the Mountain: Berkshire Building Impactful Careers. After opening remarks from John Diebold ’07, AVP at Antares Capital, moderator James Demmert ’82, founder and CIO of Main Street Research, led a conversation showcasing the diverse and evolving career paths of five alumni from various industries.

Panelists represented four decades of Berkshire graduates—Angela Lange Meredith-Jones ’87, Nina Bradley Clarke ’90, Nicholas Farina ’04, Michael Harrison ’04, and Allison Fox ’11—whose careers span the arts, social media, hospitality, marketing, and technology. Together, they reflected on their professional journeys, shared perspectives on emerging industry trends, and emphasized how innovation, creativity, and adaptability continue to shape their work.

The audience included alumni exploring new career directions as well as those seeking to stay ahead in a rapidly changing professional landscape. After the panel, guests enjoyed a networking reception and shared stories about life under the Mountain—an energizing reminder of the strength and reach of the Berkshire community.

“People are still going to want that human connection [in an AI world]. I think it’s super important that you’re authentic, that you’re yourself, and that you’re engaged with your audience.”

Nina Bradley Clarke ’90, podcaster and influencer

“In the art world, creating artwork or an exhibition is also a bit about hospitality. How do we invite the viewer in, and how do we help somebody understand what an artist’s piece of work is about?”

Angela Lange Meredith-Jones ’87, art historian, art advisor, and ceramicist

Michael Harrison

“Be open to new things. And also say yes to everything, especially early in your career. You may find out that you like something that you never expected, and you’ll end up having a more diverse background.”

Allison Fox ’11, senior manager of business development and strategy, Microsoft

“Don’t be afraid to send the email, send the text, or make the call. Most people want to help those they’re connected to—whether that’s a fellow Berkshire alum, someone you met through an internship, or a friend of a friend.”

Michael Harrison ’04, senior executive vice president and general manager, starpower

“It’s ultimately about making people feel genuinely cared for. Even when something goes wrong, you have a 95% chance of turning somebody into a lifelong customer if you fix what you did incorrectly the first time.”

Nicholas Farina ’04, vice president of operations, EOS Hospitality

A Shared Love of Thoroughbreds

Ned Toffey ’82 and Elle Herrington ’22 work together at Spendthrift Farm.

By Kaitlyn Kupiec

The rolling bluegrass of Kentucky has long been home to champions, but this past summer, it also served as a homecoming of sorts for two Berkshire graduates.

Spendthrift Farm General Manager Ned Toffey has overseen Kentucky Derby champions and some of the sport’s most celebrated stallions, including 146th Kentucky Derby winner Authentic and seven-time reigning champion general sire Into Mischief (pictured above in both photos).

Ted Noffey, a colt by Into Mischief whose name came from a misspelling of “Ned Toffey” on social media, earned the 2025 Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Male after going undefeated in four consecutive stakes races, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Toffey has led the Lexington farm since 2004 and was named Kentucky’s Farm Manager of the Year in 2024.

This past summer, he welcomed a familiar face: fellow Berkshire alum Elle Herrington of Hillsdale, N.Y.

Herrington joined the 1,200-acre farm as an intern while preparing for her senior year at the University of Kentucky (UK), where she studies equine science and management. She has ridden on the UK’s eventing team since her first year and keeps her two mares in central Kentucky. Piper is boarded at a personal farm in Somerset, Ky., while Jazz is a lesson horse at Creek’s Bend Farm in Franklin, Ky.

The connection between the two alumni had existed for years. Toffey grew up in Great Barrington and graduated from Berkshire alongside Herrington’s aunt, Allison (Herrington) Neumann ’82. Toffey’s wife, Katie, and Herrington’s mother, Carrie, were high school acquaintances at Monument Mountain.

A dinner with the Toffeys last year introduced the possibility of an internship. Herrington needed to fulfill a requirement for school, and Toffey was looking for marketing and administrative help.

“We talked about our expectations of each other,” Herrington said. “It really fell into place for all of us.”

But marketing and admin help quickly turned into much more. Herrington started in June and worked across nearly every corner of Spendthrift’s operation. She shadowed veterinarians during pregnancy checks, spent time in the breeding shed, assisted with marketing and accounting projects, guided tours for visitors, and helped prepare for Spendthrift’s signature Breeders’ Party. From stuffing envelopes and gift bags to hand-sealing hundreds of Blanton’s bourbon bottles with wax, she discovered the scale and the detail behind such an event.

Leading tours, Herrington said, became one of the most rewarding parts of her summer. “Spendthrift tours are not exactly a vital part of the business, but I think it’s important for people to come to the farm and see what goes on before the racetrack,”

Herrington explained. “Thoroughbred racing gets a lot of bad press, but I always tell the guests that if I were a horse, this is exactly where I would want to live. These horses live better than most people.”

Her experiences this past summer deepened her appreciation for the Thoroughbred industry, and she continues to help out at Spendthrift and attend sales. Herrington also hopes to stay in Kentucky for at least a few years after graduating.

“Living in Lexington for the past three and a half years has helped me develop a knowledge and interest in Thoroughbred racing, but before my internship, I genuinely didn’t think I was interested,” Herrington said. “I didn’t understand all that went on behind the scenes. Specifically, being at the sales and looking at yearlings and 2-year-olds to buy or sell is something that I naturally like and understand.”

Toffey was glad to see that interest take shape. “[Elle] told me she was beginning to think about this industry as an area where she may want to work, and I think that’s probably the best thing I could have heard,” Toffey said. “This is an industry where the demographic is a little bit older, so we need all of the energetic, enthusiastic young people that we can get.”

As for advice for current students, Toffey said: “As a Berkshire alum, you’ve got a wonderful education already in place, but at the same time, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, get in the middle of things, and get hands-on experience. Combine that with a Berkshire education, and you become a really valuable person.”

—AND BEYOND SOBER IN Central PARK

Sober coach and non-alcoholic beverage expert Rachel Hechtman ’08 is helping redefine what it means to have fun—without alcohol.

By Megan Tady • Photographs by Jami Saunders

Rachel Hechtman is at the forefront of the alcohol-free lifestyle movement. As a certified alcohol-free life coach and non-alcoholic (NA) beverage consultant, she’s built a career helping others reimagine their relationship with drinking—without shame, pressure, or rigid labels.

Through her growing platform @SoberinCentralPark, Hechtman guides clients on sober journeys and helps brands navigate the booming NA beverage market, which surpassed $1 billion in global value in 2023. Often,

she’s tapped to curate the NA beverage selections for events or to consult on NA best practices for venues or companies.

“My main mission is to show people that they don’t need booze to have fun,” she says. “For a lot of people, me included, having replacement beverages that taste good, aren’t water, juice, or soda, and make you feel like an adult is a really important part of staying sober.”

In the last few months, she curated drinks for Coffee & Chill, which draws up to 900 attendees; collaborated with sober DJ events; provided offerings for

a wellness event at the Moxy Hotel; and sponsored beverages for Mountainside’s Between Wars Veterans’ mental health screening at The Whitby Hotel.

Hechtman’s expertise was born out of her own experience. She struggled with alcohol in college at Dartmouth and in adulthood, turning to it to cope with ADHD and depression. “I just liked to numb it all,” she recalls.

In early 2021, Hechtman decided to ditch alcohol for 30 days—which has now become five years. Her company’s name—Sober in Central Park—stems

This entire journey has pushed me so far outside my comfort zone and reminded me how amazing being sober is, and how mindset is everything.”

from all the walks she took in the park with her dog, George, during the first year of her sobriety when she needed a new outlet for her anxiety and cravings.

At first, she stood at the entrance of the park, gazing in, intimidated by its sheer size and scope. Eventually, though, she and George took a few tentative steps inside the park, only to quickly flee. “But my dog was like, ‘This is not going to work for me.’ And he pulled me further and further in,” she says. “And as my sober journey continued past those first 30 days—and I realized I didn’t want to start drinking again—we kept exploring it more.”

One hundred days into her sobriety, Hechtman posted about her journey on social media, receiving a flood of support—as well as questions about getting and staying sober. “A traditional 12-step program wasn’t right for me, but I still wanted the accountability of a community, and I wanted to be able to offer the accountability back to people, which is why I’ve become a sober coach,” she says. “I think I was supposed to go through all those hard times so I could help others now. It just feels so aligned.”

Hechtman’s deepening knowledge and growing social media platform has made her a sought-after voice in the NA space. Beverage brands frequently send her their latest

Rachel Recommends

alcohol-free products—like canned or bottled ready-to-drink beers, spirits, mocktails, and botanical alternatives—hoping she’ll feature them on Instagram or promote them at events. She’s immensely proud of her new professional direction as a sober event planner and NA beverage consultant.

“Now I have my own business, and I help brands spread the message that sophisticated, functional nonalcoholic beverages are an option,” Hechtman says, who used to work in nonprofits and event planning. “I knew nothing about NA beverages before I got sober, but now I’ve created a little NA beverage empire. It’s so much harder than I ever could have imagined, but it’s also amazing.”

Spreading awareness about NA beverages is a personal mission for Hechtman. Two years into sobriety, she was mistakenly served a martini instead of an espresso mocktini at a restaurant on the Upper East Side— an experience that left her physically shaken and emotionally triggered. “The second I took a sip and felt the vodka go down my throat, I felt sick to my stomach,” she recalls. “When you’re sober, being served alcohol is one of your biggest fears. One sip can trigger a relapse.”

After learning that others in her sober community had faced similar incidents, she partnered with a bartender and the restaurant’s owners to revise their menu and service protocols. The experience also inspired her to co-found Sobar Secure, an accreditation program that helps bars and restaurants promote, safely serve, and, in some cases, develop their non-alcoholic beverage offerings.

5 NA Beverages to

Curious Elixirs No. 2—Spicy Pineapple Ginger Margarita This is my favorite NA drink. Every ingredient offers a health benefit—and the result is delicious.

Leilo These highly functional kava drinks taste great and promote relaxation.

Hechtman says her Berkshire education helped her develop the resilience that’s carried her through the ups and downs of the last five years, and she credits a Berkshire teacher with helping her receive an ADHD diagnosis that transformed her focus and confidence. As one of the first students in the school’s Advanced Math/Science Research program, she says she learned “that I can do hard things.”

In 2024, she was brought on to consult for the launch of Soft Bar, a non-alcoholic bar and café in Brooklyn founded by Summer House star Carl Radke. The project was featured on the show and in People magazine.

Three Spirit When I drink Three Spirit’s Nightcap, I can always count on a great night’s sleep.

Noughty/Jøyus/ REWINE/Giesen I couldn’t pick just one favorite NA wine, so here are a few fantastic brands.

Now, whether she’s guiding clients through their first 90 days or popping up with her non-alcoholic bar at wellness events around NYC, Hechtman continues to enjoy life alcohol-free. “In fact, it’s so much better,” she says. She recently co-led a sober adventure trip hiking the 46-mile Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, writing on Instagram: “This entire journey has pushed me so far outside my comfort zone and reminded me how amazing being sober is, and how mindset is everything.”

Go Brewing Go Brewing is my NA beer go-to—lots of awesome flavors (and some that are entirely gluten free)!

And yes, she still walks in Central Park with George whenever she can. Her favorite spot? Oak Bridge. “It has a beautiful view of the city with the water and the row boats,” she says. “I took a picture there every day for the first year and a half of my journey, and you can see the seasons change through the pictures. I just love it.”

THREE QUESTIONS

By Robin Gottlieb

1JOHN HARKER ’97 dedicated 22 years to the United States Coast Guard, serving in law enforcement, search and rescue, and homeland security missions across the globe, including counter-narcotics patrols in the Caribbean and deployments to the Arabian Gulf during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. After retiring in 2022, Harker transitioned to the private sector as fisheries affairs manager for the renewable energy company Avangrid, where he worked on offshore wind and global fisheries initiatives. In March 2025, Harker returned to public service as harbormaster for the town of Harwich on Cape Cod—fulfilling a lifelong dream.

What inspired you to join the United States Coast Guard? The Coast Guard always seemed intriguing and unique to me growing up. I was fascinated by its evolution and the wide variety of missions it undertook, especially those in the late 1990s. The diversity and adaptability of the service truly impressed me. That ultimately convinced me to enlist, initially with the common

mindset of “just doing my four years and getting out.” But shortly after completing basic training in September 2000, the adventure began—and my life began to change in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Serving in a branch roughly the same size as the New York City Police Department, I quickly learned how versatile and adaptable one needs to be, and I started to see the range of opportunities available.

What ultimately drew me to the Coast Guard was this unique combination of missions— particularly the chance to grow within the fields of homeland security and law enforcement, all while contributing to vital life-saving operations.

What motivated you to return to public service as harbormaster for Harwich? If you know anything about harbormaster positions in New England, you know they’re typically held for a long time. These roles rarely become available—and this particular one is a position I had been watching for over 10 years. Becoming a harbormaster was the perfect fit for me. It combined public service, community involvement, search and rescue, public safety, and the opportunity to truly become part of a local community. There was no better way for me to apply my experience, knowledge, and career aspirations than by serving as a harbormaster in this region.

What are some of your fondest memories of your time at Berkshire? Whenever I reconnect with a classmate or attend a reunion, the bond we formed more than 25 years ago still feels as strong as ever. The comfort, trust, and sense of family we built together on the Mountain—tossing frisbees between classes in the valley, forging camaraderie through sports on the ice and field, and sharing in memorable dorm-room antics—remain deeply ingrained in our hearts and minds.

FOR THREE ALUMS

2ZSUZSANNA BAGO-HORVATH ’96, M.D., PH.D.,

is an associate professor of pathology and deputy head of the subdivision of breast and gynecological pathology at the Medical University of Vienna. Her focus is on researching prognostic and predictive factors that govern the progression and therapy response in breast cancer. She grew up in Hungary and came to Berkshire in 1994 as an American Secondary Schools for International Students and Teachers (ASSIST) scholar. Bago-Horvath says, “Attending Berkshire was one of the best times of my life.”

Can you describe the clinical and research components of your work in pathology? In my clinical work, I read histological samples. I look at tissues under the microscope that were surgically or bioptically removed from patients, and present a diagnosis. This diagnosis then informs my colleagues on how to treat a particular patient. As a researcher, I contribute to the design and analysis of clinical trials. As a translational researcher, I try to learn from tumor samples to understand which patients benefit the most from certain therapies and what causes treatments to fail. In both cases, I love to look at the images in my microscope. It is just a momentary picture, but it holds all the information about how this particular condition evolved and how the body is dealing with it.

What are the promising medical breakthroughs on the horizon in breast cancer research? The use of artificial intelligence is about to revolutionize the way we think about diagnostics. Until now, experienced doctors have developed their own “neuronal network” in their brains to come to the correct diagnosis when reviewing X-ray images or histological samples. As always, there are disparities regarding the availability of well-trained medical personnel and fluctuations in daily performance influenced by factors such as fatigue. AI can “learn” how doctors come to their

conclusions and is available around the clock. Of course, more eyes see more, and human supervision is always required, but these developments have the potential to drastically improve diagnostics and patient care.

What was your experience coming to Berkshire as an international student? A whole new world opened up for me. I came from a postcommunist country, and Berkshire’s student-centered approach was quite unusual. The education, with its emphasis on each student’s strengths and potential, advanced my career in a way I never dreamed of. My mother is a practicing doctor, and before I went to Berkshire, I thought I would follow in her footsteps. Afterward, though, I could see that there were so many more opportunities. I hope that many more international students will enjoy their time at Berkshire and broaden their horizons.

Bago-Horvath with her husband, Zoltan, and children, Sarah and Daniel, at Disneyland Paris

3ALEX ARJOON ’11 is the founder of Reel Guyana, a documentary film company that captures his home country of Guyana’s culture, heritage, and environmental challenges. Reel Guyana has partnered with UNESCO, Conservation International, and the Ministry of Education, and has expanded to offer marketing, video production, and social media services for corporate clients including HBO, CNBC, and National Geographic. His latest documentary, Releasing the Giants, follows the Indigenous community of Apoteri as they rescue endangered giant arapaimas stranded by low water levels.

What inspired you to start a production company documenting Guyana’s natural landscape?

I spent much of my childhood traveling with my mother, who is an environmentalist and sea turtle conservationist, and I was exposed to many powerful stories—especially in Guyana’s rural communities—that many Guyanese never get to see. I felt compelled to share that side of the country.

My early work focused on climate change and rising sea levels. Guyana sits about six feet below sea level, and much of our population and infrastructure are along the coast. I documented vulnerable coastal areas using my camera and drone, witnessing

firsthand how high tides and strong winds overtopped seawalls, and this became my first feature documentary, Coast Land. Now, my work includes ecotourism, socioeconomic conflicts in remote regions, and conservation efforts around our national animal, the arapaima. Having some of this work recognized internationally has been incredibly meaningful and something I’m very proud of.

What environmental challenges in Guyana have you highlighted through your films? Guyana is a country that has very recently begun producing oil, and as a result, we’ve seen rapid development over the past few years. While

development brings opportunity, it also comes with serious trade-offs that aren’t always fully considered. Through my films, I aim to offer a meaningful perspective on how we can preserve our culture, environment, and social fabric amid these rapid changes. It’s important to me that Guyanese remember where we came from and who we are—because those things may look very different in the years ahead if we’re not intentional about protecting them.

How did your time at Berkshire influence your path into filmmaking and media production? I didn’t fully recognize it at the time, but Berkshire planted the seeds for my creative journey. I took a digital music class where we created beats using Logic Pro, and although I had to drop it due to scheduling conflicts with my AP classes, it opened my eyes to creative possibilities. I later took a Photoshop class, which further pulled me into that world. At the time, these felt like casual elective courses, but in hindsight, they were incredibly important. They sparked a creativity that I hadn’t been able to express before, and I’m grateful for that exposure.

Class Notes SHARE

1946 80 th

1948

George Church III jayneme3@gmail.com

Jon Shackleton Miller writes: “In June, my correspondence with Richard Rhodes, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb (1986), was published on the internet by Quora. Rhodes said: ‘It’s an open question whether [General Leslie R.] Groves [head of the Manhattan Project] would have bombed Germany had a bomb or two been ready. Doubtful, for a funny reason—he was determined not to deliver the first atomic bomb in a British bomber, and there weren’t any B-29s in Europe.’ I would also like to note that I won the Excellence in Physics award at Berkshire in 1948.”

1951 75 th

1953

Herb Roskind writes: “I’m in Phoenix teaching at Arizona State University and leading the Wiseguies (Wise in Disguise) Lifelong Learning group. I also attended my hockey-player grandson’s graduation in Vancouver.”

Hello!

1954

Richard M. Davis dandkdav@msn.com

1955

Frederick C. Twichell ttwichell@thacher.org

Terry Twichell writes: “I am still mobile, no longer playing golf, but reading a lot. Currently plowing through the 1,000-plus pages about Mark Twain. Interestingly, Mark Twain and my relative Joe Twichell were very close friends. In other news, former Berkshire faculty member Al Nelson passed away. He was married to my sister, Sue, who has also recently passed.”

1956 70 th

Daniel C. M. Crabbe

crabsail@icloud.com

1957

Thomas B. Anderson III tom.anderson@sonoma.edu

Walt Henrion writes: “Many thanks to our classmates for annually supporting the Class of 1957 Faculty Fund. Due to the bullish stock market, the June 30 market value of our combined endowments (Faculty Fund and Faculty Chair) now totals close to $1M.”

Mac Odell writes: “I was sad to miss our last reunion, but enjoyed driving out in the antique 1937 Ford that was my graduation gift, then 20 years old and worth $50. Proud to celebrate with Twiggs, enjoying fond memories of Art Chase and his antique Chevy for collecting sap to be boiled down to syrup in our equally antique Sugar House. Now that venerable Ford is

YOUR NEWS!

a class note

working overtime at every local protest. I retain sanity and joy during these senior years by promoting our Great Himalaya Trail—a 1,000-km conservation and ecotourism trekking trail from one end of Nepal to the other—an income generator for some of the poorest and proudest people in the world. Now looking forward to visits from classmates at our Exeter, NH, cottage.”

1959

G. Alexander Creighton lifeosunshine@gmail.com

1960

Joseph D. Bodak, Jr. jdbodakjr@hotmail.com

Stephen P. Norman steve@spnormanco.com

Steve Norman writes: “I enjoyed our joint 65th reunion with the Class of 1961. Nice to see a good turnout from our class. I’d give Dave Edson the prize for youngest looking.”

1961 65 th

Peter R. Kellogg pkellogg@iatre.com

1962

Andrew S. Berkman andrew.berkman.44@gmail.com

1963

Peter V. K. Parsons pvkp2@msn.com

Peter Parsons writes: “I have been so busy working on Berkshire projects, my blood is turning dark green. My humble apologies for failing to keep my own classmates informed and up to date. Planning for reunion was a three-year project, and now I’m working with 13 Berkshire alumni from the classes of 1944–2025 on two significant projects. First, I am helping form a team to create a Berkshire School Veterans Memorial. I’m also working with other dyslexic alumni to create some unique support organizations to support others with dyslexia worldwide. It’s fun stuff and work that’s extremely gratifying. I have been in touch with Chat Wetherill, who has thrilled me with stories of landing his F-4 on carriers in the South China Sea in the late ’60s, as well as Carl Miller, Bill Hand, Charlie Steber, Paul Olinski, Kelly ‘Dick’ Kellogg, Ray Garrison, Hawley Chester, and even Bill Mackay ’64 from our freshman year, and more than a few others. You can reach me at 617-557-4888 or, for all matters dyslexic, at 617-557-4885. Have a wonderful holiday season and remember the Mountain that gave us our best rewards.”

1966 60 th

Harlan J. Swift, Jr. timswifty@gmail.com

1967

Bob Mustard writes: “The highlight of the year was skiing the French Alps (La Clusaz) with family last winter. Lowlight has been that, in spite of much play, I have been unable to lower the winter handicap at Eastward Ho! Come play anyway.”

1968

L. Keith Reed lkreed.mt@gmail.com

Keith Reed writes: “We recently had a spur-of-the-moment visit from Marion and Skip Murfey, who drove out of their way to Three Forks after traveling through Wyoming. It was great to see them and to show them a few local highlights.”

1969

Chris Bell writes: “Our daughter, Mackenzie, had our second granddaughter, Lila, on Labor Day, September 1, 2025. She and her husband, Quinn, are continuing on the Broadway tour of Shucked, but Mackenzie has been benched for now. Lila joins Lenny, who is almost 3 years old.”

K.C. Clow writes: “I’m finally home after almost seven-and-a-half months in hospitals, then rehabilitation from pneumonia and a lung infection. I have gained seven pounds and, with therapy, am walking pretty well with a walker. Hopefully, I’ll be able to use just a cane soon. Thanks to all the Bears who have reached out to me; it really helped.”

1970

Robert L. W. McGraw berkshire.blackrock@gmail.com

Jeff Byrne writes: “I was presented with the International Ski History Association’s (ISHA) Lifetime Achievement Award at their annual awards banquet in March during Skiing History Week. I was honored and humbled. Berkshire sport participation taught me valuable life skills, which supported my professional life. I was

Byrne ’70 (left) receives the International Ski History Association’s

a coach, teacher, and administrator in my early career at three private schools. The sport has taken me throughout the world as a coach, presenter, games administrator, and senior vice president for the NYS Olympic Regional Development Authority in Lake Placid.”

Bayard duPont writes: “The picture of the airplane on the latest Bulletin takes me back a few years! I got my pilot’s license as a senior in 1970 and went on to get a mechanics license in 1973. I spent my whole working life in aviation, ran a small airplane and helicopter repair shop in Pennsylvania for 28 years, and then moved on to running the customer service department at a U.S. helicopter manufacturer for 20 years. I have flown a helicopter in 31 countries and just returned from a summer flying helicopters in bush Alaska.”

Robin McGraw writes: “Over the summer, my wife, Buzz, and I fished in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. I was in Bozeman, MT, over the Fourth of July weekend with the Warrior For Life Fund (WFLF) hockey team tournament. The tournament, made up of retired and active Navy SEALs and retired NHL players, competed to raise awareness and funding for the WFLF foundation. I coached the SEALs, and my first draft pick was Kevan Miller ’07. Kevan is now a cattle rancher living in Pony, MT, with his wife, Hailey; daughter, Reme;

Robin McGraw ’70, out of Soul Fly Lodge, landed this permit in the Berry Islands of the Bahamas. He is “happy to hunt ‘El Diablo’ with anyone who wants to go.”

Robin McGraw ’70 is vice chair of the United States Fencing Foundation.

and son, Wyatt. Both Kevan and I are on the board of trustees of the WFLF.”

1971 55 th

Kevin J. Bruemmer kevin.bruemmer@gmail.com

William S. Cushman bcush@cush.net

John M. Shaker jshaker001@gmail.com

1972

John Y. G. Walker III jwalker2353@gmail.com

1973

Henry O. Johnson henry@henryjohnson.com

Rex S. Morgan, Jr. rexsmorgan@gmail.com

Michele Robins michele.robins@gmail.com

Leon J. Weil, Jr. jerryweil.tennis@gmail.com

Stay connected at berkshireschool.org/bearsden.

Stowe Shoemaker writes: “After 10 years as dean (2013–2023) of the Harrah College of Hospitality and two years with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Foundation, I am returning to a faculty position in the College of Hospitality.”

1974

Louise A. Clement luluinsf2005@yahoo.com

Walter Baker writes: “I continue my work as managing director of Cornerstone International Group’s Washington, D.C., office, where I lead executive search and leadership advisory engagements for global clients. I also serve as vice chair of the International Executive Resource Group, a nonprofit organization of C-level global executives. I continue to enjoy life in Northern Virginia. My wife, Susan, and I just celebrated our 40th anniversary and are amazed at the joy of being grandparents.”

Dirk VanDerwerker writes: “Does the English department still teach All the King’s Men, 1984, Animal Farm, and It Can’t Happen Here? These titles are even more relevant today than they were in the ’70s. Visiting with classmates at the 2025 reunion was wonderful. But where were you, Lou?”

1975

Chris Forman writes: “Thanks to all who made the reunion this year amazing. Such a huge attendance for the ’75’ers. Special lifetime event to reconnect with so many people. Berkshire School today is so fabulous. Truly blessed to have had that experience. An unforgettable weekend. Go Bears.”

Joe Fusco writes: “The 50th reunion was a raging success! Our class had a record turnout and even donated significant funds to the school. It was so great to see everyone, and we should be proud. There was a poignant memorial gathering for missing classmates. As usual, Berkshire went all out with a fantastic weekend. We really have a special group as 1975ers, as demonstrated by the regular gatherings of classmates in between reunions. Recently, my wife, Karen Parker ’74,

and I enjoyed a visit from David Peck and Hayden Cadwallader. Betsy Batchelar Klesse is moderating a very cool discussion about our school years in the Berkshire Class of 1975 group on Facebook; be sure to check it out.”

1976 50 th

Stephen H. Hassett shasse01@gmail.com

Carole Alden Duplessis writes: “In August, I rode in the Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hill climb. A finish of 2:23 gave me a second place in my age group. It’s a 7.6-mile route with an average 12% grade.”

1978

Birney B. Boehland bbboehland@gmail.com

1979

Robert D. Thomas bthomas@wwsg.com

1980

Ralph J. Lamberto uticaeyedoc@icloud.com

Kurt Kristensen writes: “I had another great visit with Michael Bruno down New Orleans way. It’s pretty amazing how we’ve led very different lives until this point, and note we are both renovating homes for fun. Michael is my go-to guy for all things electrical!”

Lynn Tavernier McCall writes: “After many years in restaurant ownership and residential real estate, I’m delighted to announce the realization of a lifelong dream: the publication of my debut mystery-thriller, The Lost Hours. Set in Rhode Island, the novel was a finalist for the Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award. Academy Award-winner Peter Farrelly, director of Green Book, wrote: ‘It’s as if Dennis Lehane and F. Scott Fitzgerald co-wrote a book together.’ Barry

The Lost Hours, written by Lynn Tavernier McCall ’80

Forshaw of Crime Time calls it ‘one of those thrillers for which the reviewer’s cliché is apropos—it is, simply, unputdownable.’ Published by Crooked Lane Books, The Lost Hours is available in bookstores everywhere. I’d love to hear from readers! LynnTavernier.com”

1981 45 th

Sue Ann Stanton sasroyale@yahoo.com

1982

Andrew Champagne (802) 540-0717

James E. Demmert jamesdemmert@gmail.com

Rosemary G. Fitzgerald rose@spiderwebstudio.com

Andrew Champagne writes: “It’s a great privilege to be a class agent for our beautiful Class of 1982. I’d like to see more of our alumni involved in supporting and caring for our beautiful school. One Day for Berkshire is one of the most important dates of the year. I would love to see all my classmates participate on February 12, 2026. I hope to see you under the Mountain soon.”

1983

Glen Leibowitz writes: “I sit in my office in Jerusalem, Israel, and think about what I would want my classmates to know about my life. I want them to know how happy I am to live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I also want to share how isolating and

Leibowitz ’83 and his wife, Amy

difficult it is to live under constant threat. We live our lives as best as possible in an increasingly hostile world. I look forward to visits from my two 1-year-old grandchildren. Granddaughter Gal lives nearby in Rehovot, and grandson Rafi lives in Palo Alto, CA. In October, we traveled to New York and got to see Michael Garrett and some other friends in that area.”

1984

Debra Drucker druckerdeb@yahoo.com

Willa Devoti Worsfold ’84 and Izette Swan ’84, from JV basketball captains to lifelong friends

Willa DeVoti Worsfold writes: “I had a blast at my first reunion this year (which clearly means I’m 19 again). Travel buddy Izette Swan and I loved the multi-year format—like speed dating with excellent classmates. Over the years, I’ve lived in and raised my family from Sheffield to Chicago to Boston, and at long last washed ashore in midcoastal Maine. Planes, trains, yoga mats, and more moving boxes than I care to count later, I’m happy to be here, and even happier to stay in touch.”

1986 40 th

Anthony S. Clifford tclifford11@gmail.com

Ann C. Zimmerli-Haskel azh@me.com

Erik C. Zimmerman erikzimmerman46@gmail.com

’86

1987

Janna Klyver Cord jcord3214@gmail.com

Angela Lange Meredith-Jones ameredithjones@gmail.com

Jennifer G. Nichols nifnichols@gmail.com

Graham Goff writes: “When not working, I’m on my bike traversing Montana and beyond. In August, I completed my sixth Montana Bike Odyssey in 15.5 days. This was my sixth year making the 1,750mile pilgrimage around Montana. After 10,500 miles of riding the route, I’m starting to wear in a groove out there. As always, it’s an incredible privilege to spend time cycling across these beautiful Montana landscapes with their everchanging weather.”

Thomas Maddock writes: “I have been named the color commentator for the New Mexico Ice Wolves of the North American Hockey League and 3HL teams for the 2025–2026 season. With my extensive experience and enthusiasm for hockey, I am set to bring valuable insights and excitement to the broadcasts.”

Angela Lange Meredith-Jones writes: “Last December, together with Julie Sproul Cullen, Tessa de Movellan Wohl, Annalisa Hinckley Savin, and Alex Raby, we attended the Berkshire holiday party at The Campbell in New York. We met up with Bobby Moran and saw Jeff Anderson there before heading out to dinner.”

the Berkshires. Unlike my athletic years at Berkshire, I prefer not to exercise and instead enjoy playing cards, drinking beer, and generally having a good time with old and new friends!”

1988

James D. Watt, Jr. jdwattjr@gmail.com

Ellie Glaccum writes: “My daughter graduated from Gettysburg College in May and is now in graduate school at George Washington University for a master’s in art history. Every time I went to Gettysburg, I thought of Harry Cohen and Courtney Chiang Dorman, whom I visited there in college. We just went to visit my niece in Paris and spent about six hours in the Louvre. Unfortunately, we were in the 16th-century French, Italian, and Dutch painting section and missed all the jewels.”

Email alumni@berkshireschool.org

Jen Nichols writes: “I am enjoying living in Portland, ME, and hope to see some Bears soon!”

Karen Wibrew writes: “After 25 years in Colorado, I am returning East. I recently joined the University of Pennsylvania’s fundraising team as director of international development. I would love to connect with alumni in the Philadelphia area and Europe.”

Tessa de Movellan Wohl writes: “I continue to thrive on the manufacturing side of interior design at Connecticutbased TWENTY2 wallpaper and textiles (twenty2.net). I love being an empty nester with my husband of a million years and cherish every second with our two grown kids when they visit home in

Chris Kemper writes: “Still living and developing communities in Sarasota, FL. Kids are in college now and enjoying the empty nest with my wife of 23 years! Learning to play padel and trying to restore a ’69 Jeep with YouTube’s help. Trying to stay hurricane safe and enjoying the beach from time to time. Drop me a note if you are ever in Florida! Cheers to ’88.”

Wally Long writes: “I continue to call Bozeman, MT, home, where my wife and I enjoy the mountains, whitewater, and outdoor life. Professionally, I’ve been leading Summit Philanthropy for the past few years, and the consulting practice continues to thrive as I partner with nonprofits to strengthen their fundraising and build leadership and board capacity. It’s been deeply rewarding work, and I’m grateful for the chance to support organizations making a difference in our world.”

Emily Mautner Sullivan writes: “While I didn’t graduate from Berkshire, my two years there helped shape the values that guide me today. I’ve been married to my husband, Sean, for almost 30 years, and we live in Idaho, where I work part time for PreCise MRM, a division of FORCE America. I also direct Happy Jack Cats, Inc., a volunteer-run kitten rescue nonprofit committed to ending kitten overpopulation through spay/neuter education and responsible adoption.”

Jamie Watt writes: “After 10 years in Toronto, last year we moved our home base to Foxbard Farm in Shelburne, MA, a Black Angus, hay, and timber operation that’s been in my wife’s family since the 1940s. Our 13-year-old daughter is with us, while her brothers (22 and 24) work and study in Canada. We love this new chapter as we learn, manage, and plan for the future of the farm. Check us out at foxbardfarm.com.”

Marlo Doherty Zarka writes: “I met Jen Sellon Dyer in Tuscany for our second annual Italian getaway. We laughed our way through Garda, Bologna, and Siena. We’re enjoying so many adventures building on our 40 years of amazing memories as friends. Bellissima!”

1990

Natalie Bradley Clarke ninabclarke@gmail.com

Katharine Cutler Coughlin katecoughlin1@gmail.com

Natalie Dillon natdillon28@gmail.com

Cheryl Connolly Lewis writes: “I was recently inducted into the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame for my playing time at Denison University. It was such an honor, and the awards ceremony was shared with high school All-Americans from across the state of Ohio. Find more information at: ohlaxhof.com.”

1991 35 th

John K. Fretz jfretz@outlook.com

Jeffrey Zelman writes: “I had a great time catching up with fellow classmate Dan Alden. On May 18, Dan and I participated in the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) in Great Barrington, MA. The DGR is a global event to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and men’s mental health on behalf of Movember. Dan has hosted the event for three years, and we had about 20 riders for this year’s ride.”

Every gift supports a Berkshire experience.

1993

Tenley E. Reed tenley@mac.com

1994

Joan H. Frantz jfrantz8888@gmail.com

Hazim Enani writes: “After Berkshire, I went to Roger Williams University and pursued a career in banking. I progressed to recently becoming head of corporate coverage. I live in Saudi Arabia with my wife, and we are blessed with three children. Life has been full with both family and career, and I enjoy traveling and staying active in my free time. I’m grateful for the experience our school gave me and look forward to reconnecting with classmates and seeing where life has taken everyone.”

Joanie Frantz writes: “My 13-year-old son, Nick, and I welcomed a 16-yearold German foreign exchange student, Lilly, into our home for the fall semester of her junior year. She’s attending Fort Collins High School, and it’s been fun to be a ‘parent’ of a high schooler! I have been keeping in touch with the Class of ’94 via WhatsApp, and everyone seems to be doing well. Congrats to Anne Bruder on her recent appointment as head of school at Hotchkiss!”

1995

Jem Holland writes: “Hello, my fellow Bears! I’m living here in Viera, FL, about an hour east of Orlando. I am a substitute teacher for elementary school and a stay-at-home dad of three amazing, wonderful, inordinately fastgrowing girls. My wife, Jennifer, is an engineer with a NASA contractor, and we all enjoy the beach, beautiful weather, and wonderful people here on the Space Coast. I haven’t made a reunion yet, but this being my 50th year around the sun, I may show up for the next one. Hope everyone is doing well, and I look forward to reading the updates. Love to all.”

1996 30 th

Katie C. King katiecking@yahoo.com

Jules A. Lemire juleslemire@gmail.com

Dylan B. Mattes dylan.mattes.nyc@gmail.com

Seth J. T. Sanders sjtsanders@gmail.com

1997

Kristina Thaute Miller kmiller@salisburyschool.org

Julie Rubinstein Bronder writes: “Greetings from Nice, France! My husband Nik and I, along with our dog Koval, are settling in here for the foreseeable future on a little sabbatical, as we’re calling it. Reach out if you find yourself traveling to Europe, and maybe we can plan a little alum meetup!”

1998

Lauren Levin Budz lauren98@aol.com

Malinda L. Lareau mlaurenlareau@gmail.com

1999

Michael D. Gutenplan michaelgutenplan@gmail.com

Sarah Cushwa Divine writes: “My boyfriend Dave, my 18-year-old son Nathaniel, and I finally moved closer to my teaching job after I had been commuting an hour each way for 20 years! Over the summer, we bought a house in New Milford, CT, where I continue to teach kindergarten, and we love it!”

CT

Michael Gutenplan writes: “Hi Friends! Miguel and I got married in Palm Springs! Thank you for all the wonderful notes on Facebook and socials! (You can find me @amazingmentalist.) A huge congratulations to Scott Gordon on the birth of his son, Mark Roger Gordon.”

2000

Matthew D. Boynton boynton_matt@yahoo.com

2001 25 th

Nicolas B. Emery emery.nicolas@gmail.com

Shannon M. Flynn flynnshannonm@gmail.com

Peter A. Kearney, Jr. pkearneyjr@gmail.com

Eyes, a horror rom-com written by Phil Murphy ’01

Phil Murphy writes: “I wrote a movie called Heart Eyes that was released in theaters in February 2025. It’s a horror romcom inspired by a bad first date I went on in 2021. The movie is currently streaming on Netflix.”

Caity Roesler writes: “I’ve been making a lot of changes in the past few years to ensure I have the time to pursue my art. I recently published my new online store, ccartvt.com, featuring my pop and fiber art. Still living in rural Vermont with my partner, Mike; dog, Dory; and a cat, Max, who thinks he’s a dog.”

2002

Jaclyn Brander Marshall jbrander@gmail.com

Matthew P. Sposito matthew.sposito@gmail.com

2004

Faye Abrams Klein abramsfv@gmail.com

William C. Stern wcstern1@gmail.com

Kraig D. Strong kskraigstrong@gmail.com

2005

Matthew G. Crowson matthew.g.crowson@gmail.com

2006 20 th

Courtney Kollmer Siemborski eric.courtney.siemborski@gmail.com

2007

Casey A. Larkins casey.larkins@gmail.com

Allison A. Letourneau aletourneau@berkshireschool.org

2008

Erica Ginsberg Murphy eginzie@gmail.com

Mary E. Pace maryelizabethpace@gmail.com

Abigail I. Tufts abigail.tufts@gmail.com

Kayla Arsenie Fitzgerald ’08 visits campus in April 2025.

2009

Kelly Wallace Abbott kellyabbott05@gmail.com

Molly Ryan Rubins mollyrubins1024@gmail.com

2010

Charles B. H. Brey cbrey11@gmail.com

Kelsey A. Markiewicz kelsey.markiewicz@gmail.com

Shannon E. Nelson senelson913@gmail.com

Tyler J. Reighley tyler.reighley@gmail.com

Alexandra Colbert Roselli alexbroselli@gmail.com

Yuan Shen shenyuan1991@gmail.com

professional side: I celebrated my 10year anniversary with Google, where I have had a wide variety of roles. I’ve also founded and led an internal consulting service that blends AI (DeepMind) with program management tooling that is used by over 90,000 Googlers across the company.”

Sadie St. Germain writes: “I currently run St. Germain Design Co., a branding and design studio I founded in 2020 and operate out of my home in New Hampshire. With over a decade of experience, I help clients bring their unique stories to life through memorable visual identities. My work includes projects for Farm Aid Festival, Slash, Heritage Home Service, Rocky Neck Fish Co., and The Taphouse on Winnipesaukee, among others across New England and beyond. Website: stgermaindesign.co.”

Jacob Weiner writes: “I recently got married in London to Sky Swanson and am looking to move to the UK full time with Google in the near future. On the Visit

2011 15 th

Arthur M. Copstein acopstein@gmail.com

Margaret A. Fiertz maggiefiertz@gmail.com

2012

Samuel C. Maher samuelcmaher@gmail.com

Berkshire’s LinkedIn: Engage with a professional network of alumni

Berkshire Alumni Directory: Connect with classmates and friends

Events: Stay informed about gatherings across the country

Alumni Spotlight: Learn more about what Berkshire alumni are up to today

Ways to Give Back: Make a gift or volunteer … and more!

GET CONNECTED TODAY

berkshireschool.org/alumni

Births & Adoptions

Ali and Andrew Allen ’89 are thrilled to announce the birth of their daughter, Annabelle, on April 2, 2025, in Morristown, NJ. The family hopes she will be a future Bear! Ali and Annabelle are pictured here in Dark Harbor, ME.

Niki Benedetto Stein ’09 and her husband, Max, welcomed a baby girl to their family in March 2025: Martha “Molly” Jane Stein. Jack (3) is a proud big brother!

Whitney Colbert ’10 and Bethany Brausen welcomed their first baby girl, Hadley Elizabeth Brausen Colbert, to the world on July 25, 2025.

In June, Katharina Kreke Peña ’12 and Marco Peña welcomed their second daughter, Stella. Big sister Sofia is her biggest fan.

Olivia “Livvy” Ryan Stone, daughter of Lexie Altman Stone ’08 and Hunter Stone, was born August 26, 2025, in Marblehead, MA.

Kira von Steinberg-Magalhães ’13 and Abraão Magalhães announce the birth of their son, Björn, born in July. He weighed in at 9.2 pounds and was 21.5 inches.

Jake Elowitz ’14 and Rachel Elowitz are thrilled to announce the birth of their first child, Ella Elowitz.

2013

Harriet Waldron Monks hattiewaldron@gmail.com

Chase Gerber Ordway writes: “I launched my residential interior design studio in Austin, TX, in May 2025. My work is guided by intuition, natural materials, and thoughtful detail. I create warm, refined spaces that feel personal and lived-in with a focus on how people really live. In addition to interior design, I am also a wedding stylist, bringing the same care and attention to creating meaningful, beautiful moments for my brides and their guests.”

Chase Gerber Ordway ’13, founder and designer of ECO STUDIOS

Kira von Steinbergs-Magalhães writes: “I’m currently working as a TH-73 flight instructor for the U.S. Navy’s advanced helicopter program. I also recently won the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Federation’s World Championship for Master 1 Women’s Brown Belt in the Super Heavyweight division, only four weeks after giving birth to my second child, Björn. I subsequently earned a BJJ black belt after eight years of training.”

2014

Jacob A. Grant jacobgrant.jag@gmail.com

Emily M. Hubbard emilymhubbard1@gmail.com

Emily Hubbard writes: “Over the summer, I reunited with Sydney Beldock, Serena Menges, Ali Malecka, and Eloise Morrow, and coincidentally, Gregg Beldock ’79, for our annual reunion trip. We’ve been doing this every year since we graduated from Berkshire, and it’s definitely one of the highlights of my year!”

2015

Andrej P. Bogdanovics andrebogdanovics@gmail.com

Hannah Z. Honan hannahzhonan@gmail.com

Grayson G. Keith graysonkeith203@gmail.com

Mackenzie Lancaster Keith mackenzie.lancaster13@gmail.com

Chelsea A. Leeds chelsea.a.leeds@gmail.com

Chelsea Leeds writes: “So excited for classmate Caroline Welch, who got married in November.”

2016

10 th

Peter D. Bahr peteydb@gmail.com

Natalie C. Harrington natalieharrington17@gmail.com

Lane W. Mayher lane@mayher.com

Anne M. van ’t Wout annemijn@vantwout.net

Karin M. Vantine miavantine97@gmail.com

You Were Young and So Was I (2025) by Eliza McKenna ’16

Eliza McKenna writes: “I had my firstever solo exhibition of new artwork this summer. The body of work was developed over a year of meeting, interviewing, and photographing strangers experiencing grief. I printed these images on bronze sheet metal, giving them a whole new sculptural presence. As grief is often concealed in American culture, it was intensely affirming to put these emotions into physical form.”

Devon Powers writes: “I married Laura Fazekas on September 21, 2024, in Roaring Gap, NC.”

Georgia McLanahan ’16, Lara Schefler McLanahan ’86, Jake McLanahan ’16, Molly Flanagan, William McLanahan, and Brooke McLanahan ’19 at Jake’s wedding

2017

Andrea L. Cass andrealaurencass@gmail.com

Margaret P. Curran maggiecurran99@gmail.com

Benjamin W. Dixon benwdixon@mac.com

Juliana L. Kokot julielkokot@gmail.com

Amir Ghani writes: “I recently wrapped filming on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey—the highest budget film of all time. As a set lighting technician, I was feet away from stars like Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson, carefully lighting them to Nolan’s specifications. I can’t wait for the Berkshire community to see the film in July!”

Kai Walker writes: “I married Andrew Pitcher in Tuscany, Italy, on May 13, 2025, after nearly 10 wonderful years together! We now call New York City home and were overjoyed to celebrate with family, friends, and many Berkshire alums. The wedding was a beautiful reflection of our journey, filled with love, laughter, and the joy of a decade shared.”

2018

Isabelle W. Maher isabellewmaher@gmail.com

Losseni Barry writes: “I recently graduated from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education with a master’s in education, particularly human development and education. I’m currently on a path of pursuing data-driven research, and my more immediate goal is to earn both a JD and a Ph.D. in neuroscience. Or, a JD and an MD specializing in neuroscience. I hope to stay connected with Berkshire and support more as an alum this year and moving forward in my journey. I appreciated being a Berkshire student in a myriad of ways and hope that the future continues to stay bright. Go Bears!”

2019

Gohta Aihara gohta.aihara@gmail.com

Daniel A. O. Akomolafe dakomolafe8@gmail.com

Danielle R. Malarney dmalarney4@gmail.com

Elizabeth B. Nutting enut8089@uni.sydney.edu.au

James H. Schoudel jayschoudel@gmail.com

Elias E. Sienkiewicz eliassienkiewicz@gmail.com

Aichen Yao aichenyao07@gmail.com

2020

Katherine R. Aiello kateaiello2@gmail.com

Ashanti S. Bruce ashantibruce@gmail.com

Giang H. Le giangle1605@gmail.com

Nathan J. McShane mcshanenate@gmail.com

Emmanuel F. Roldan-Lezcano emmanuelroldan22@gmail.com

2021

5 th

Angela B. Ansah angelaansah@gmail.com

Reid C. Curran reidcurran2@gmail.com

John W. Fiore jwf203@gmail.com

Abigail R. Hayes abby.hayes@yale.edu

Nam H. Nguyen hngnam25@gmail.com

Sophia R. Pasquale sophiarpasquale@gmail.com

Engagements & Weddings

on

Aichen Yao ’19 married Hedi Wang on September 17, 2025, in Seattle, where they are living. They came to the East Coast for part of their honeymoon and visited Berkshire. Aichen really loves and misses the New England fall.

Logan Bell ’15 married Adam DuComb last March. They celebrated with many fellow alums at Rainbow Ranch Lodge in Big Sky, MT, where they have lived for the past six years.

2012

2017

On

2022

Alexander C. Byrne acbyrne8@gmail.com

Natasha G. Fertig tishfertig@icloud.com

Alice M. Fisher alice.m.fisher@icloud.com

Christian D. Kim christian.d.kim@gmail.com

Amanda C. Miller acmiller80@gmail.com

James E. Nemeth jnemeth240@gmail.com

Madison H. Rabb mrabb26@amherst.edu

DeVon C. Thompson devont922@gmail.com

2023

Chandler P. Gilbane chandlergilbane4@gmail.com

Jessica A. Lomo naajessie10@gmail.com

Aidan J. Pesce aidan.pesce@gmail.com

Justin P. Price justin.price@gwu.edu

Justine A. Rabley justine.rabley@yahoo.com

Adelaide A. Robertson addierobertson2004@gmail.com

Xuan De A. Shen andrewxdshen@gmail.com

2024

Zamia A. Barradas zamiabarradas200@gmail.com

William C. Faucett willcfaucett@gmail.com

Max E. Guryan maxguryan@gmail.com

Gracyn D. Kurrle gracynkurrle@icloud.com

Asher M. Lefkoff asher.lefkoff@icloud.com

Mary R. O’Keefe mosie0405@gmail.com

Kyron D. Stevenson kyronstevenson7@gmail.com

Mei Lin Zhao celinameilinzhao@gmail.com

2025

Ellie J. Grimmett elliegrimmett@icloud.com

Elliot J. Haskel eli.haskel@gmail.com

Riki A. Ishiyama riki32311@gmail.com

Madeleine E. Jenks maddsjenk123@gmail.com

Bailey A. Luts bailey.luts@gmail.com

Michkael J. McKenzie michkaelmck@gmail.com

Trevor J. Sullivan Weinstein trevorsullivanweinstein@gmail.com

Mia L. Zayas Echevarria mialuna2019@gmail.com

Former Faculty

Paula Pevzner ’73 and Carole Maghery ’72 (two of Berkshire’s first female students) with their French teacher, Marianne Hubert Stein, Berkshire’s first female teacher, at Grand-Place of Brussels, Belgium

Peter and Lynn Kinne connect with Blake Addison ’82 in Lahaina this past September.

In Memoriam

The Berkshire School community extends its sincere condolences to the families of the following alumni and friends of the School. To send obituaries or remembrances of classmates or family members, please email alumni@berkshireschool.org. To view the obituaries for those listed below, please go to berkshireschool.org/inmemoriam

ALUMNI

Charles B. Hamon ’55 September 6, 2025

Neville H. Simpson ’57 October 23, 2025

Peter W. Ware ’60 August 2025

Robert S. Wolcott ’62 December 19, 2025

Robert R. Knoth ’63 August 29, 2025

Timothy P. Kelly ’76 October 31, 2025

John C. Lindgren ’88 July 25, 2025

FORMER FACULTY & STAFF

Gunnard Alan Nelson, Jr. September 24, 2025

A. Wesley Petersen September 29, 2025

A note to our readers: The list of names is reported from July 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. For the names of alumni who have passed since, please visit www. berkshireschool.org/inmemoriam. If we have missed someone, please accept our apologies and email us at alumni@berkshireschool.org.

BOWPIE’S LITTLE GIRL

Remembering Jane Cluett Hansen

By James Harris

Seaver Burton Buck: Mr. Buck to his students, Burt or Burtie to friends, and, when an ersatz beard hid his stern visage, Santa to faculty children. But to a very select few—his five grandchildren—he was simply Bowpie. Jane Cluett Hansen, the only granddaughter of Seaver and Anne Allen

Buck, died last October at the age of 92. As the eldest grandchild who was 18 when Seaver Buck died in 1950, Jane knew and remembered him the best. She made no secret of her reverence for the man: armed with bundles of family photographs, letters, and newspaper clippings, Jane was always at the ready

Jane, a very modest soul, treasured this photo of her romping in the fountain behind Glenny House, her grandparents’ home.

to help Berkshire School sustain and burnish the legend of her grandfather and the school that he founded.

No surprise, then, that she shared Seaver Buck’s most trademark characteristic: perseverance. (Remember, this was the man who endured a hardscrabble childhood in rural Maine, who earned his degree from Harvard at age 29, and who roasted hot dogs on the embers of his school building that had just burned down.)

Jane wasn’t far behind when it came to pluck. In 1957 she left America with her new husband, John E. Sichel, and took up residence at Solbjerggaard (Sun Mountain Farm), a working farm in Denmark where she learned a new language and brought up five children. Following the sale of the farm and Jane’s subsequent divorce, in 1987 it was back to the states for Jane and her second husband, an affable Canadian-Dane by the name of J. Arthur Hansen.

Dinner’s ready!

Climbing the family tree

Caroline Buck Cluett, Jane’s mother, was born when Seaver Buck was senior master at the Hackley School and was married three decades later beneath a majestic willow on the back lawn of Glenny House, the headmaster’s residence. While Jane’s uncles, Allen ’30 and Seaver Jr. ’34, had both attended their father’s school— coeducation at Berkshire was years into the future—she herself attended Emma Willard and the House in the Pines high schools, then graduated from Russell Sage with a degree in physical education.

Jane and Arthur, who died last April, ended up in an enchanted house— more like a cobbled cottage—in the middle of the middle of nowhere: five miles from “downtown” Petersburgh, N.Y., beneath the towering Taconic mountains. If you hadn’t been warned there was a Danish flag on the mailbox, you could be driving up and down Potter Hill Road for hours.

One entered through the kitchen, where the smell from the stove was always intoxicating. (If you were lucky enough to come during the holidays, Pfeffernüsse—small cookies spiced with white pepper—washed down with glögg were the order of the day.) A few steps down was the living room, where Arthur and Jane—who called each other George and Charlie—held court in adjoining arm chairs before a wood stove, with the forest beckoning beyond the windows.

I have many memories of Jane Hansen—her somber mien, her sudden giggle, her long hugs. But the most

indelible one was planted in that very room on a summer afternoon in 1997. Ever the Berkshire School matchmaker, Jane had invited archivist Twiggs Myers and me over to meet her 91-year-old mother. Now despite having taught at Berkshire for 44 years and being its historian, Twiggs had never met Caroline Buck Cluett, at that time the last surviving child of Seaver Buck. It was all he could talk about on the long drive north from Sheffield.

After introductions were made, Twiggs plopped down on the sofa next to Caroline and put his arm around her. The two of them immediately broke into “The Berkshire Hymn”— all three stanzas, and Caroline remembered every word. If you had seen Bowpie’s little girl beam, you wouldn’t forget it either.

From 1994 to 2012, James Harris was director of communications and taught English at Berkshire School.

Now for Jane’s cohort of siblings, all of whom survive her. Brother Allen is a retired machinist in Averill Park, N.Y. He recalls sitting with Seaver Buck in the 1940s in a Queen Anne wing-back chair and smelling his grandfather’s pipetobacco breath. Allen never attended Berkshire—“my marks weren’t good enough,” he laughs—but brother John, now in a retirement facility in Kentucky, graduated in 1953. Don Buck ’66 got the teaching genes and is a retired high school Latin instructor in Hanover, N.H. His brother, Peter, a retired typesetter and coffee importer who lives in Boston, chose to attend Thacher School, which offered him an athletic option unavailable at Berkshire, then or now: horseback riding.

From the Archives

A HOME FOR THE ARCHIVES

Archivist Bebe Clark Bullock ’86 had been preparing to transfer primary sources and archival materials from the basement of the Kellogg Alumni Center to new display cases in the light-filled Fentress Reading Room in Berkshire Hall for months. Her goal? To curate a collection of memorabilia for alums to enjoy over Reunion Weekend.

Bringing history to life, one story at a time Mulder is an American studies major at Wesleyan University with an interest in narrative nonfiction and storytelling. While she had some archival research experience, collaborating with Bullock was the first time she had access to archives that were as extensive and as thorough as Berkshire’s. Mulder found the volume of materials to explore thrilling—and even a little daunting.

With time running short and a seemingly unending amount of riches to choose from, Bullock called in some help from a fellow alum. Enter Phoebe Mulder ’22, who assisted Bullock with research and display design during the weeks leading up to the event.

“It can be overwhelming to make sense of everything that’s been preserved in the archives,” said Mulder. “History as we know it requires someone sifting through the past and making a story out of it. The part of this project that I found

most satisfying was getting the chance to tease out the narratives that I thought were interesting but also reflective of the broader history of the school, and then to do that history justice.”

In the captions at right, Mulder describes photos depicting the Glenny House fire from 1918 and the surprise dedication of Godman Dormitory in Headmaster John Godman’s name in 1953. These two pivotal moments in Berkshire’s history each illustrate the spirit and resilience of the community—as alive in decades past as they are today.

1: “Glenny House was the main school building in the early years; everything happened there. It burned down in 1918. During the fire, students ran inside to get radiators, bed frames, and anything else they could possibly salvage.

The School was in its infancy, and it could have been the end of Berkshire; the fire was that devastating. And yet it wasn’t. Students slept in the cabins on the Mountain and ate in the gym, and school life continued as normally as possible. Letters in the yearbook describe the fire, and the tone is super resilient and determined. Everyone responded to the tragedy with complete cool and confidence in Berkshire as an institution. Mrs. Buck served as a rock, cooking dinner and making sure that all of the students were fed and in school.”

2: “When working on a display about campus growth from the 1950s to the ’70s, when Headmaster John Godman was leading Berkshire’s expansion, I found a very special article from a 1953 issue of The Green and Gray about the naming of a new dorm.

The article described a secret plan devised by the prefects to surprise Mr. Godman. Students and faculty snuck out of class, crept past a meeting that Godman was in, and gathered outside the newly built dorm. When Godman arrived, they surprised him by revealing the dorm had been named after him.

Through this primary source, you can see that students cared enough to enact this little secret plot and then write about it in the newspaper. That moment of mischief and generosity brings a human element to the time period.”

3: Chairman of the Board of Trustees James C. Kellogg III ’33 congratulates Mr. Godman at the dedication of Godman Dormitory.

YOUR ANNUAL FUND GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

This fiscal year, The Match That Moves Us is yet another reason to give—and a chance to see your impact stretch even further for our Bears.

Thanks to the generosity of a loyal Berkshire alumni family, eligible gifts to the 2025–26 Annual Fund will be matched dollar for dollar.

Paying It Forward

Giving back in a way that works for you

“I thought that giving something back that was given to help me would be a way I could help others.” —Tom Bolmer ’70

Here’s how it works:

Increase Your Gift This Year:

If you gave last fiscal year (ending June 30, 2025) and increase your giving this fiscal year, the increase will be matched 1:1.

Join The 1907 Society:

If you gave last fiscal year (ending June 30, 2025) and increase your giving this fiscal year to $1,907 or more, then your entire gift will be matched 1:1.

Rejoin After Time Away:

If you did not make a gift last fiscal year (ending June 30, 2025), your gift this year will be matched 1:1.

Make A First-Time Gift:

If you’re a first-time donor, your gift(s) will be matched 1:1.

Let your gift move us forward—together! MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY!

Having benefited from the Jacob F. Schoellkopf IV Scholarship Fund, Tom Bolmer ’70 wanted to provide other students with the same opportunities he received. Tom chose to use his IRA and make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to Berkshire, which not only reduced his IRA required minimum distribution but also avoided federal income tax on the amount of his QCD. Thanks to Tom’s forward-thinking generosity, generations of students will have the chance to experience a Berkshire School education.

There are a variety of planned gifts that may work for you. Whether you’re considering ways to defer a gift until after your passing, reduce your tax burden, supplement your retirement income, or provide a revenue stream for Berkshire, you may be surprised to learn of the flexibility that comes with a planned gift.

Discover how a planned gift can support you, your loved ones, and Berkshire for years to come. Find resources and up-to-date information at berkshireplannedgiving.org.

To begin the conversation, contact Director of Planned Giving Jeff Leyden at (207) 624-2044 or jleyden@berkshireschool.org.

BERKSHIRE SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2025–2026

OFFICERS

James L. Haskel ’86,  P’20,’22,’25 Chair Westport, Conn.

Roney Eford ’91 Vice Chair Atlanta, Ga.

M. Casey Herman ’82 Vice Chair and Treasurer Chicago, Ill.

Pieter M. Mulder P’22,’26 Secretary Sheffield, Mass.

Robert S. Boyd

Assistant Treasurer Salisbury, Conn.

Amy Cullett Controller Pittsfield, Mass.

TRUSTEES

Peter Barkan P’27 Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Susan Block Casdin P’26 New York, N.Y.

Kenneth R. Coard ’85, P’22,’23 Southampton, N.Y.

Katharine Cutler Coughlin ’90, P’20,’22,’24 Dedham, Mass.

James E. Demmert ’82, P’25,’25 Sausalito, Calif.

James D. Feeley ’92, P’25,’27 Nantucket, Mass.

Peter B. Freund P’26,’26 Bedford, N.Y.

Kenneth M. Gammill, Jr. P’16,’19,’20,’22,’27 New Canaan, Conn.

William J. Grace III ’82, P’28 New York, N.Y.

Benjamin P. Harris P’27,’28 Bedford Hills, N.Y.

Jennifer Hayes Johns ’86 Longmeadow, Mass.

C. Kirk Kellogg ’87, P’16 Palm Beach, Fla.

Matthew J. Kopel ’09 Rumson, N.J.

Nicholas C. Kunkler ’09 Wellesley, Mass.

Ann Brackbill McKee P’15,’19 Darien, Conn.

Angela C. Lange Meredith-Jones ’87, P’25,’25 New York, N.Y.

Robert W. Moran ’87, P’24 Chatsworth, Calif.

Caroline B. Mutter P’28 Windham, N.Y.

Álvaro Rodríguez Arregui ’85 Cambridge, Mass.

David T. Rondeau ’78 Haworth, N.J.

James C. Scala ’85 Great Barrington, Mass.

Hillary Beard Schafer P’25,’27 Rye, N.Y.

Matthew E. Sharp P’22,’26,’29 New York, N.Y.

Nicole Picotte Smith ’09 Huntingdon Valley, Pa.

Thomas D. Steiner P’10,’12,’12 Longboat Key, Fla.

Lauren Walsh P’23 Riverside, Conn.

Leon J. Weil, Jr. ’73, P’06,’13,’13 Great Barrington, Mass.

TRUSTEES EMERITI

Davis G. Anderson ’68, P’09

Bruce D. Benson ’57

Mary M. Bradley P’90

Hans L. Carstensen III ’66

Lo-Yi Chan

Alice Ehrenclou Cole ’76

James E. Hooper ’69

Peter R. Kellogg ’61, P’85,’87, GP’16

Lara Schefler McLanahan ’86, P’16,’16,’19

Stephen P. Norman ’60

Chip Perkins ’73, P’14,’14

John E. Thompson, Jr. ’68

John W. Watkins, Sr. ’73, P’06,’07,’13

245 North Undermountain Road

Sheffield, Massachusetts 01257-9672

Address Service Requested

For Parents of Alumni: If this magazine is addressed to a student who no longer lives at home, kindly call us with the correct address: 413-229-1225

Winter Carnival Fun

Prefects, pictured here after the ice skit competition, organized a decades-themed Winter Carnival this year, complete with tug of war, relay races, trivia, and more. Congratulations to this year’s winners, Stanley and Mac/Senior House!