Northwood Magazine 2026

HONORING OUR PAST. INSPIRING OUR FUTURE. The Alumni Magazine of

Living Our Core Values

THE NORTHWOOD ETHOS AT ITS BEST

INTEGRITY CARE

MONIQUE RAFFERTY ’06

LOCKWOOD FAMILY

bird’s eye view of campus and the lakes beyond.

Left: Lily Pratt ’26 (left) and Reese Combe ’26 (right) performing in the spring 2026 concert. See page 20 for more on Reese’s musical journey.

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From Words to Habits

John Spear ’88 explores the five core values.

Turning Compassion Into Action

CARE program flourishes at Northwood.

Monique Rafferty ’06

a fast-paced, highly competitive business and one that I genuinely love.” 52

Honored Legacy Family

Read about the Lockwoods, our 2026 Honored Legacy Family.

MESSAGE FROM BRADLEY A. OLCH ’69, NORTHWOOD SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR

When I joined the Northwood School Board of Trustees in 2012, my hope was that over the course of my tenure I’d be able to leave the school in a little better position than I found it. That is how each of us who work on behalf of Northwood approach our roles—with a fierce drive to keep the school on a positive trajectory. Northwood is worthy of this attention. For the last decade plus, I have worked hard, first as Chair of the Finance Committee and for the last six years as Chair of the Board, to do just that.

As I prepare to step down from my role as Chair, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve my school, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together: a rigorous and engaging curriculum across all disciplines, a renewed commitment to elite athletics, several new and renovated facilities including the addition of the Innovation Hub on Main Street, a growing endowment and the welcome return of this magazine!

Northwood first and foremost has always been about its people, the Northwood family. From the dedication of the administration, faculty and staff to the support from alumni and their families, you have all created a sphere where the focus can be put firmly where it needs to be—on the education, well-being, and pursuits of our students. We’re empowering our students of today and tomorrow to realize their fullest potential.

Each year, Northwood selects one of our five core values as a central theme. This academic year, the emphasis is on integrity, defined as the adherence to a code of moral or ethical values. It is interesting to note that the crew of Artemis II, whose recent lunar mission captivated the world, named their capsule integrity. According to NASA, the name was chosen because it “embodies the foundation of trust, respect, candor, and humility across the crew and the many engineers, technicians, scientists, planners, and dreamers required for mission success.”

Like NASA, Northwood’s foundation is its people, and I thank you for your incredible support. I encourage you to stay involved, as I plan to do. Let’s keep Northwood on track to become the finest small boarding school in the East.

Best regards,

Bradley A. Olch ’69 Chair, Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Bradley A. Olch ’69, Chair

Karen Miller, Vice Chair

Gregg Heineman ’80, Secretary

Erik V. Berg ’92, Treasurer

Matthew Bette P’16,’22

James Brooks P’86,’89,’95, GP’23

Tanya Allyn Dillon ’86

Dennis Hepworth P’19

J.S. Jewett P’27

Brian Lilly ’85

Charles Lloyd ’67

Bryan Magnus P’27

Ewing Philbin ’66

Michael Ritchie GP’17,’21,’24

Pamela Scheideler ’90

Robert Toomey ’66

Curt Vinson ’76

Emeritus Trustees

Lew Allyn ’57, P’86

Susan Driscoll

Shawn George ’73

Gary Green ’55

Col. G. F. Robert Hanke ’56

John Taylor P’04

TRUSTEE TRANSITIONS

Northwood welcomes J.S. Jewett P’27 to the Board of Trustees, and we wish to extend our gratitude to Samuel Prouty and Oliver Schupp P’24 for their years of service to Northwood.

TO THE NORTHWOOD FAMILY:

As the school year comes to a close and I reflect on my first year as Head of School, there is much to be grateful for and even more to be excited about as we look ahead.

The opening months of the year were centered on our New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) ten-year accreditation process, which culminated in a three-day visit from a team of eight colleagues from other NYSAIS schools. Their work provided a thoughtful and comprehensive look at who we are as a school.

Our trustees, faculty, staff, and students put their best foot forward.

The visiting committee came away with a deep appreciation for the strength of our community; highlighting the dedication of our faculty and staff, the commitment of our students to grow into their best selves, and the meaningful relationships that define Northwood. These relationships have been at the core of our school since its founding 121 years ago and continue to thrive here in Lake Placid.

Throughout the year, I have had the opportunity to travel and connect with dozens of alumni. Time and again, they share what made Northwood so special and, in many cases, how it served as a springboard for their future success. The common thread in their stories is relationships, lifelong friendships with peers and lasting mentorship from adults who challenged them, supported them, and allowed them to grow through both success and failure.

My wife Leigh and I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside a group of educators and staff who are deeply committed to their roles and who make a daily impact in the lives of our students. They also share their appreciation for the Adirondacks, encouraging students to engage meaningfully with the broader community and the world around them.

This year, I have had a front-row seat to the academic and cocurricular excellence of our students. Watching their passions develop through both challenges and successes has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this role. It leaves me inspired each day.

This edition of Reflections is a tribute to our past, a celebration of our present, and a glimpse into the future of Northwood. I hope you enjoy it.

Sincerely,

Gino Riffle Head of School

From Words to Habits

LIVING THE CORE VALUES AT NORTHWOOD

BY JOHN SPEAR ’88

Walk through Northwood’s campus, and you will see our core values— Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Compassion, and Courage—etched in glass in the main lobby, displayed in classrooms, and reflected on banners lining the main drive and student walkways. But what defines Northwood is not where these values are visibly posted; it is how they are practiced. Here, values are not simply stated; they are internalized, reinforced, and ultimately lived.

From the onset of the school year, students are invited to take ownership of these principles. At our first school meeting, student leaders share personal reflections on each core value, setting a tone that is both aspirational and authentic. Shortly thereafter, during the first formal dinner, students and faculty sign the honor code together, a visible and collective commitment that remains on display in the main lobby throughout the year. These early moments signal an important truth: values at Northwood are not abstract ideals, but shared expectations that shape daily life.

That foundation is reinforced through intentional programming. In seminars, assemblies, and classrooms, students are challenged to think critically about what these values look like in practice. Whether engaging in discussions about The Dark Knight’s “Ferry Dilemma,” hearing from leaders such as former West Point hockey coach Brian Riley, or reflecting on college readiness with author Philip Glotzbach, students are consistently asked to connect values to decisions. More recently, leadership coach Marc Guevremont worked with students to explore how values translate into behaviors. How, for example, integrity is not just a belief, but a series of choices made under pressure.

Over time, these layered visible reminders, shared traditions, thoughtful programming, and daily expectations transform values from words into habits.”

Traditions and structures across campus further embed these principles into everyday routines. During orientation, all students participate in a “Core Values Campus Tour” led by peers, where each stop highlights how a specific space reflects a core value. For example, in the dining room, responsibility and respect are practiced through the simple but meaningful act of cleaning up after oneself. In the dorms, hall meetings led by student leaders and faculty establish community expectations grounded in compassion and accountability. These moments may seem small, but together they form the habits that define a community.

At Northwood, the goal is simple and enduring: to help students live these values not because they are required, but because they have made them their own.”

In 1997,

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to act as facilitators. Their brilliant leadership led to wondrously open, thoughtful and productive dialogue, out of which emerged choices which, today as then, reflect the Northwood ethos at its best and inform the daily decisions students, faculty and administrators make. Ed’s vision and the direction of Mark and Naj have had a lasting effect on how we all determine and reflect upon our conduct and its impact on our immediate and broader communities.

Even when students fall short, the language of values remains central. Disciplinary conversations are framed not just around rules, but around the underlying values those rules are designed to uphold. Students are encouraged to reflect on how their choices align with, or fail to align with, the community’s shared standards, reinforcing the idea that growth comes through accountability. Each year, Northwood selects a unifying theme drawn from the core values. This year’s focus on integrity has deepened conversations across campus about academic honesty, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, as well as the importance of consistency in one’s words and actions. Over time, these layered visible reminders, shared traditions, thoughtful programming, and daily expectations transform values from words into habits. They become part of how students make decisions, how they treat one another, and how they carry themselves beyond Northwood.

At its best, a school’s values are not what is written on its walls or in its student handbook, but what is evident in its people. At Northwood, the goal is simple and enduring: to help students live these values not because they are required, but because they have made them their own.

Turning Compassion Into Action

NORTHWOOD’S CARE CO-CURRICULAR

BY LISA WINT

At Northwood, CARE isn’t just a word; it’s a way of life. CARE stands for Community, Action, Responsibility, and Empowerment, and those four values guide everything CARE does, from gratitude initiatives and school spirit to environmental stewardship and service partnerships across the Tri-Lakes and beyond. What makes CARE meaningful isn’t only the scope of its work, it’s the way our students turn compassion into action, year after year.

As CARE’s faculty mentor for the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of watching students grow through service. At its core, CARE teaches students that service isn’t a one-time project; it’s a mindset. Whether raising funds, donating time, cleaning up the community, supporting neighbors in need, or responding quickly when disaster strikes, CARE empowers students to see themselves as capable agents of positive change.

When they give their time and energy for a good cause, they develop a sense of pride and belonging within their community. Watching students realize that their actions matter to individuals and to the community as a whole has been one of the most rewarding parts of my role as a mentor. Northwood School can proudly share that the 2024 Town of North Elba/Village of Lake Placid Distinguished Youth Volunteer of the Year Award was earned by a member of the Class of 2025, and another 2025 classmate was a highly deserving nominee for the same award the following year.

Strengthening the Community Beyond Campus

One of CARE’s most impactful partnerships is with Lake Placid Thrive & Thrift, which operates a food pantry and thrift store serving the local community. Each fall, CARE students run a Thanksgiving food fundraiser, raising around $1,600 annually. Because traditional food drives don’t work well in a boarding environment, students created an Instacart-style order form for students and faculty to select specific items to donate. Students then shop and deliver them to the pantry. With nearly full-school participation, it turns fundraising into a tangible lesson in empathy.

What I like most about CARE is that it makes volunteering accessible and meaningful for students while showing how small actions can create real change.”

—FLORENCE RICHARD ’26 PG

CARE also supports sustainability through end-of-year collections of clothing, supplies, and other items, diverting them from landfills and donating them to the thrift store. Additional community partnerships include making holiday cards for residents at our local nursing home— Elderwood of Uihlein and distributing boxes of winter outerwear after the FISU Winter Games to the Lake Placid Coat Drive and schools across Essex County.

Service Rooted in Connection

CARE’s work with St. Agnes School highlights the value of connection across age groups. Students read with elementary school children and join them for

CARE

began as a student initiative, and what is so vital about CARE is the growth in empathy exhibited by students as they work together on a common goal to serve a greater purpose. I always believed in the importance of integrating Northwood boarding students into the broader community and establishing relationships beyond campus borders. It’s thrilling to see the program thrive.”

—ANNIE EDWARDS, FORMER FACULTY

playground activities, creating connections that benefit all involved. Collaboration with St. Agnes Church has included stacking firewood for elderly parishioners and purchasing Christmas gifts for families in need. CARE plays a key role in the Winter Clothing Drive for the Adirondack Church, placing bins around town, collecting donations weekly, promoting the event, sorting items, and distributing leftovers to schools and thrift stores throughout Essex County. CARE also supports the Tri-Lakes Humane Society by baking homemade dog biscuits, walking and playing with shelter dogs, and collecting supplies to donate. Gratitude extends to first responders as well, through donations to the Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department in recognition of their service to the school and the local community.

Responding

When It Matters Most

CARE acts swiftly when urgent needs arise. Students organized donations for hurricane relief in Lake Placid, Florida (our sister city), supported fifteen local families displaced by a Lake Placid apartment complex fire, and donated funds after the California Palisades Fire to help replace books for a school library destroyed in the blaze.

Caring

for the Environment We Share Environmental stewardship is a pillar of CARE’s mission. Each year, CARE leads an all-school cleanup during co-curricular time, resulting in more than thirty miles of roadside and three miles of lakeshore being cleaned, including Northwood’s adopted two-mile stretch of Route 86. This has become an anticipated spring activity among the student body. Students also volunteer at the Lake Placid Classic Marathon and Half Marathon, help maintain rail trail bike paths, and collect bottles and cans for redemption to fund initiatives.

Gratitude and Spirit Within Northwood

CARE’s impact is deeply felt on campus as well through the creation of gratitude and community-building traditions. At the Thanksgiving formal dinner, CARE collects notes of gratitude that become paper chains decorating the living room throughout the holiday season. Students also lead Teacher Appreciation Week by collecting personalized notes by which students express their gratitude to faculty who have played a special role in their experience.

At the end of the school year, they also organize personalized graduation cards for each senior and thank you cards for the administrative, maintenance and kitchen staff, signed by the whole school to show their deep appreciation.

CARE supports school spirit through festive fundraisers, including Halloween candygrams, Valentine’s Day roses and candy, and winter holiday gifts. A beloved tradition is the Holiday Santa Visit. CARE students shop for, wrap, and handout gifts (dressed as Santa and his reindeer) to every faculty child under the age of ten each year during the holiday formal dinner.

Empowerment Through Action

What sets CARE apart is not just what students do, but what they learn by doing it: responsibility means following through, empowerment comes from showing up, and community is built through consistent, thoughtful action. Through CARE, Northwood students don’t just talk about making a difference—they live it, proving that when values are paired with action, impact follows.

Honoring a Visionary Leader

BRADLEY OLCH ’69 TO STEP DOWN AS CHAIR OF THE NORTHWOOD SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

BY KAREN MILLER, VICE CHAIR, NORTHWOOD SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

A consensus-builder and true team player, Brad led Northwood through complex decisions with clarity and conviction.”

—KAREN MILLER, TRUSTEE

After years of steadfast service, vision, and devotion, Bradley Olch ’69 is stepping down as Chair of the Northwood School Board of Trustees. His tenure marks one of the most transformative eras in the school’s history, driven by ambitious projects, bold decisions, and a deep love for this “little gem in the Adirondacks.” Under his leadership, Northwood experienced the largest and most sustained revitalization in its history.

Brad Olch’s impact is especially evident in Northwood’s physical and programmatic evolution. He pushed for new and improved facilities and the modernization of academic and athletic programs, while insisting that we protect the unique and supportive environment that makes the

school so special. He was central to major capital projects, including the purchase, renovation, and opening of the Innovation Hub on Main Street, now a vibrant center of creativity and collaboration. Under his leadership, the school also completed the turf field and surrounding landscaping, including the stately sugar maples that line the entrance and warmly welcome all who arrive on campus.

With his guidance, Northwood’s outcomes have matched this investment. Our college acceptances have been stellar, our athletic teams have ranked among the top in the nation, and our redesigned academic programming has been praised by many colleges. Brad’s leadership during the

COVID-19 crisis was particularly inspiring. He personally launched a fundraising challenge that kept the school open safely for in-person learning. A consensus-builder and true team player, Brad led Northwood through complex decisions with clarity and conviction. His experience as mayor of Park City, Utah, made him especially effective in leading board meetings and maintaining focus on key priorities. In short, Northwood School is a better place because of Brad Olch’s leadership.

On behalf of the entire Northwood community, we extend our deepest gratitude for his extraordinary service and unwavering commitment to the school’s future.

Student Showcase

In May, Northwood held its annual Student Research Symposium at the Innovation Hub, marking the culmination of students’ yearlong projects. The Advanced Research programs in both STEM and the Humanities teach students how to plan, carry out, and analyze a research project. These courses provide students with the opportunity to dive deeper into a subject that interests them for an entire academic year and distinguishes them in the college application process. Thirty-three students participated this year.

Student presenters (clockwise): Rylie Griffiths ’26 (with faculty family Lia Loomis); Marie-Jeanne Cazes ’26 (speaking with columnist Naj Wikoff ’67); Jacob Slagel ’26; and Anthony Wan ’26

L.E.A.P.: Uganda 2025

BY CLARA BOUTELLE ’26

Northwood School students had the extraordinary opportunity to travel to Uganda as part of our L.E.A.P. (Learn, Engage, Apply, Perform) program. This trip was inspired by a remarkable connection within the Northwood community. When Assistant Head of School and Dean of Students John Spear ’88 shared that Northwood parent Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka P’24,’28 (Uganda’s premier wildlife veterinarian) is married to alumnus Lawrence Zikusoka ’93, P’24,’28 and they had created a non-profit organization in Uganda called Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), it sparked the vision for this experience.

Dr. Gladys worked closely with Dr. Jane Goodall and played a pivotal role in improving both the health of mountain gorillas and that of nearby village communities in Uganda. After John and I met with Dr. Gladys and Lawrence (who leads Gorilla Mountain Coffee) to discuss creating a L.E.A.P. course around their work, it was clear this was going to be a powerful and unique learning opportunity. Under her mentorship, students were able to witness firsthand how science, conservation, and community health are connected. We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Gladys, Lawrence, and the entire team at CTPH. What follows is a student’s account of a journey that expanded perspectives, deepened understanding, and embodied the mission of L.E.A.P.

– Marcy Fagan, Director of L.E.A.P.

One of the first things you notice in Bwindi is the tall green mountains safeguarding the endangered mountain gorillas. Then the vibrant green fades to blue as the mountains get closer to the DRC. On our way to the Gorilla Conservation Camp, beautiful scenes unfolded before our eyes. Beautiful churches and mosques are spread over the countryside. Monkeys and flowers adorned the trees and foliage. Children waved to us as we passed by. Quickly, we all saw what Dr. Gladys and her team are fighting fiercely to conserve.

Northwood chose to come to Uganda through a long-standing connection with Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, one of the country’s foremost conservation scientists. Her husband, Lawrence Zikusoka, attended Northwood in the 1990s, and both of their sons later followed. Through that connection, we were introduced to their nonprofit, Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), an organization founded in 2003 that protects endangered mountain gorillas using a “One Health” approach. The One Health concept emphasizes the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health. It recognizes that the well-being of each is closely linked, and that safeguarding one requires attending to all three.

We began our trip in Entebbe, where CTPH’s headquarters and Gorilla Conservation Cafe reside. We learned about their mission and the importance of conservation in Uganda, but it was in Bwindi, deep in the mountainous region where the gorillas live, that learning became tangible.

After settling into the camp in Bwindi, we all anticipated the day we could walk among the gorillas. The hike to see them

Experience of a lifetime among the endangered mountain gorillas

We learned conservation isn’t intrusion; it’s careful exposure and building relationships.”

—CLARA BOUTELLE ’26

was shorter than expected, maybe twenty minutes, but it felt like entering another world. The forest was thick and impossibly green. Insects I had never seen before crawled around the bush. We tucked our pants into our socks to guard against fire ants, and we wore masks to prevent zoonotic disease transmission to safeguard the gorilla population.

Dr. Gladys explained that we were not visiting a random group. These gorillas had been gradually habituated to human presence over time. We learned conservation isn’t intrusion; it’s careful exposure and building relationships. When we found them, they were simply living. Nothing is contained by glass or

steel. Seeing an animal unbounded by a zoo was truly one of the most beautiful things we saw on this trip. At one point, a female gorilla did a brief mock charge at another. They wrestled and played, but they also showed us that they are just gentle giants with the capacity to love and care for each other.

Later, after the group moved on, we located their night nests. That’s when the science began; we collected fecal samples. They were not hard to locate; they were massive, unmistakable piles, especially from the silverback. Later, we were going to test them for parasites or disease. What might seem unpleasant was essential data. Through this kind of monitoring, CTPH prevents disease transmission between humans and gorillas.

But some of the most powerful lessons happened outside the forest. At a secondary school near Bwindi, we helped start a garden initiative which is one of CTPH’s strategies to reduce illegal forest activity. If families can grow food sustainably, they are less likely to rely on poaching or encroaching on protected land. On one of the hottest days of the trip, we worked alongside Ugandan students, hoeing the soil and turning the earth. Farming is laborious, it is slow, and it is survival. It struck us that food insecurity, the question of where the next meal will come from, is not theoretical in Bwindi. It shapes daily decisions. It determines whether children stay in school or stay home to work. It influences whether families turn to the forest for resources they cannot otherwise afford. I realized how rarely I have had to think about food beyond preference. In Bwindi, food is not a matter of convenience. It is a matter of stability.

We also observed how CTPH educates communities about public health and family planning. In areas where literacy rates are low, written pamphlets are ineffective. Instead, they use a fabric scroll covered in illustrations. Each panel shows a contrast: a father spending wages at a bar versus bringing income home; a family overwhelmed by too many children versus

one that can support and educate each child. It was one of the most innovative teaching tools I have ever seen.

Beyond the formal programs, there were moments of cultural exchange that made this trip feel well-rounded. We visited a primary school where we were shown the grounds. We saw frescoes depicting the anatomy of a human skeleton and another depicting a flower. We also saw an eco project they had recently finished. They used single-use plastic water bottles as bricks, filling each one with concrete. From those eco bricks, they made a compost and recycling center. After the tour was over, we got to enjoy a student performance. They sang to welcome us and again to say goodbye. Each girl danced and sang so beautifully and confidently—that moment was precious. Later, we played soccer with local students, discovering quickly that sport needs no translation. What surprised me most was the visibility of a community. In Bwindi, I saw more people outside, together, than I ever do at home. There were few phones. Interaction was constant.

We left Uganda having learned about conservation science, zoonotic disease transmission, data collection, and sustainable agriculture. But we also learned about interdependence. How human choices ripple outward to wildlife, how poverty intersects with conservation, how education must adapt to context.

Bwindi did not strike me as a place in need of rescue; rather, it embodied resilience, innovation, and a commitment to education.

Witnessing the ongoing efforts of the community and organizations like CTPH, I recognized that conservation here is dynamic and collaborative. Our experience as students was a privilege, offering insights into how local agency and collective determination drive meaningful change.

“Theater is a verb before it is a noun.”

—Martha Graham

BY SCOTT CAMPBELL

IN ONLY HIS SECOND YEAR AT NORTHWOOD, Scott Campbell has already established himself as one of Northwood’s strongest and most popular instructors. Last year, he took over our music instruction and received the Vanderlyn R. Pine ’55 Award For Excellence in Teaching, presented to the faculty member chosen by the students. No surprise—the year before he came to Northwood, he was nominated by his students at the University of Wisconsin (where he did graduate work) as a professor who makes a difference. This year, he added two AP Lit courses to his load. The quiet charisma, subtle sense of humor, and extensive mastery of subject matter you would expect from a Ph.D in Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies have added much to his already substantial contributions here. As the article that follows makes clear, his summers are full, working as an actor, director and musician at various Midwestern theatres. —Stephen Reed

CURTAIN UP

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: two dozen strangers converge on a scenic destination to strive for a shared dream. United in a new place among beautiful trees, they live and work together, put aside their differences, and learn how to make something together that none of them could have achieved alone. The story is a familiar one to anyone who has ever been, known, loved, or supported a Northwood student, but I was actually describing my fifteen-year career as a professional director, performer, and composer for Shakespeare theatre companies.

ACT I

Since graduating from college, I have performed, directed, and written music for over forty plays with theatres in New York, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Summer for me has always meant packing up my bags and traveling to a new place to tell a story with strangers. While reciting iambic pentameter or playing banjo on an outdoor stage may look like an unusual pursuit for a teacher working in a community of elite athletes, I am continuously struck by the overlaps between my journey and those of the students that I teach every day.

Professional theatre contracts unite diverse groups of artists around a single goal. The healthiest companies draw artists from across educational, geographic, class, language, sex, and cultural identities to build ensembles that can bring their authentic life experiences to the story that they wish to tell. It is, in many ways, a utopic vision of the American dream writ large with the best stories emerging from many voices raised together.

Whether leading literary debate in the classroom, guiding a group music rehearsal, or observing practice on the indoor turf, I feel the same sense of

communal striving resonating around me when Northwood is at its strongest. Our students and faculty come from discrete experiences, encounter one another with generosity, and work towards excellence in shared enterprise.

INTERMISSION

When Reno approached me about writing for the magazine, he was especially interested in sharing my unusual path to Northwood. The term unusual here probably has to do with me having a less athletic background than many of my colleagues: I’ve won more degrees than championships and written more songs than I’ve scored goals. Prior to joining the Northwood faculty, I earned a Master of Letters in Shakespeare & Performance from the American Shakespeare Center partnership, a Ph.D in Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies from the University of Wisconsin, and an MA in Arts & Creative Enterprise Leadership from the Wisconsin School of Business. My teaching at the University level included jobs at UWMadison, Northeastern University, Southern Utah University, and Mary Baldwin College. I joined the Northwood community in the fall term of 2024 as a music teacher and took on the AP English Literature and Composition course from Reno starting in fall 2025. While I am still new to the school, I am continuously encouraged by Northwood’s acceptance and celebration of diverse identities and stories, unusual though they may be.

ACT II

Acting is an intensely physical discipline that shares marked overlaps with athletic performance. Performers spend years training their bodies, minds, and breath to allow them to achieve at the highest levels. While this training can be obvious when seeing actors engaged in rigorous stage combat in Romeo and Juliet or throwing their bodies through imagined storms in King Lear, acting theorists and historians have long observed the athleticism intrinsic to all sorts of acting. French director and theorist Antonin Artaud famously called actors “Athletes of the Heart” and Vsevolod

Meyerhold systemized a set of biomechanics for actors needing to develop athletic accomplishment in their works.

Outdoor theatre adds its own external challenges to its practitioners in the form of heat, insects, visiting animals, and unexpected weather. Ask any actor about swallowing bugs or monologuing in a thunder storm, and they will have a story to tell. The American theatre compounds these obstacles by minimizing rehearsal time to meet budget needs. My most recent performing and directing contract allowed a company of twelve actors to share twentytwo rehearsal days to prepare productions of both Twelfth Night and Great Expectations. Overcoming the internal and external challenges of making outdoor theatre requires a team-first philosophy that I strive to maintain in the classroom. A Northwood student who works with me in AP Lit will quickly grow tired of hearing that our class “is not a zero-sum game.” While it may be tempting to see classmates as competitors whose pursuit of class rank, recruitment, or college admission diminishes one’s own chance for success, studying literature and music affords students repeated opportunities to frame their classmates as teammates and collaborators. Daily class contributions enrich conversation, leading to learning and better outcomes for all involved. It is a virtuous cycle whose positive outcomes feed the giver and the receiver alike.

Beyond overcoming zero-sum thinking, students in my classes are encouraged to make something together that none of us could have made individually. More than any other group I have taught, Northwood students are uniquely at ease playing a role that supports an entire group’s success. I can’t help but think that the ease with which students take on the ideas that I honed in the arts must have to do with the similarities between their passions and mine: the dream of two dozen strangers converging on a scenic destination to strive for a shared labor of love.

EPILOGUE

This summer, I will return to my hometown of Buffalo, N.Y. to direct Pericles for the second longest running free Shakespeare festival in the country (shakespeareindelawarepark.org). Over 40,000 audience members attend the summer festival annually, making it one of the largest offerings of its kind in the world. I hope that anyone in the Northwood community who finds themselves in the area will stop by to see art that has been shaped and informed by the students and colleagues with whom I work daily. I look forward to bringing my experiences at Northwood into that production, and to bringing my experiences with the production back with me to Northwood.

Heroic Couplets

BY CLARA BOUTELLE ’26

To craft in verse heroic, pure and bright, I fill each line with passions rich as light. My life I measure carefully in five, Each fleeting thought I hold to keep alive.

I love heroic couplets because they demand balance. Each line is carefully measured; each couplet carefully rhymed. Even within the confines of a strict formula, there still lies a story with a deeply personal meaning. In many ways, these patterns of discipline and emotion define who I am, orderly in method and unpredictable in spirit.

The hour is approaching midnight, and the house is finally quiet. Everyone is asleep, but I sit on my bed with my back against the wall. I’m surrounded by my colorful bedspread, where flowers of yellow, pink, orange, and turquoise blossom, the details illuminated by the soft ambient glow of my lamp. Pages of lined paper cover my bed; some are crumpled, others have scribbles and smudges of ink. My red spiral notebook, college ruled, is full of ideas, rough drafts,

and raw emotions. Nearby rests my leather journal, which holds the final versions of my poems. As I write, The Smiths play softly, singing of bittersweet melancholy, loneliness, and longing—the perfect soundtrack for poetic inspiration.

I start by writing down intense emotions I can’t make sense of, the merriment and melancholy of my day. Last week, it was about weeping, both literally and poetically. I wrote about the warmth of tears tracing my face, and the feeling of heartache escaping from bloodshot eyes—the proof of both pain and healing in weeping. My first draft was just emotion, leaving no room for structure. Lines lounge across the page, with no meaning, and I stare at them for hours, trying to find meaning in chaos.

Then begins the imposition of order. I divide my gibberish into sections, making sure each one builds an overall theme. I then start shaping lines into iambic pentameter, adding figurative language, checking rhyme schemes, and hunting on my phone for the perfect words. Inevitably, I get frustrated when a line refuses to fit, but I always persevere, even if perfection takes hundreds of edits. Where heroic couplets must shine, they demand discipline, and within their structure, I find peace. They help me turn chaotic emotions into something meaningful.

RARELY DOES A COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY make a strong case for admission all by itself. This year’s essay does just that, showcasing a unique talent for both prose and poetry. Clara Boutelle not only describes the intense concentration and patience it takes to craft her poetry in rhyming lines of iambic pentameter but provides both excellent examples of her work and insight into her passion for the process. —Stephen Reed

Beyond my love for creating heroic couplets, poetry has taught me something much bigger about myself. Emotions are unpredictable and uncontrollable; they arrive and refuse to make sense. However, imposing order, translating them into meter and rhyme, creates meaning. My life is the same. I have always found comfort in knowing where I want my life to go. Yet the journey is never linear; emotions, relationships, and setbacks do not follow my plans. My poem about weeping marked closure and reflection. Writing heroic couplets is my way of transforming pain into something I can hold, examine, and ultimately learn from.

So, every time the hour approaches midnight, I will write one couplet after another, and each one I finish will mark a small victory over chaos. Each poem is a balance of the unpredictable and deliberate and a reflection of who I am. Emotions may never make sense, but through meter and rhyme, I come close, and that closeness is enough.

In measured lines, my scattered thoughts take flight, Where chaos bends to form, I find my light.

I may ne’er master chaos or its art, But in each line, I mend a restless heart.

A Grand Welcome

Last summer, Northwood completed a major upgrade to the main entrance of the Allyn Building, Northwood’s central structure, originally built in 1912/14. A couple years earlier, Head of School Mike Maher, accompanied by Board Chair Brad Olch ’69 and Vice-Chair Karen Miller and her husband, Reed ’72, were walking around the Northwood campus, prioritizing possible capital projects. They didn’t get past the entrance before deciding the school would greatly benefit from a new entryway and foyer.

Brad Olch took ownership of the conceptualization of the project, envisioning a more expansive, welcoming, brighter space complemented by a touch of grandeur at the doorway in the form of two large stone piers. His passion for the project kept it moving forward under the direction of Head Maher and longtime head of the Board’s

facilities committee, John Taylor P’04, also a lead donor. Made fiscally feasible by the generosity of another lead donor, the late Charles Morgan ’52, and other friends of the school, the project was completed in 2025 to the unanimous approval of the community.

New Head, Gino Riffle, ensured that the school’s core values were highlighted in the area: etched into five panes of glass above the doorway to the dining hall were Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Compassion, and Courage. A large plaque hangs just inside the entry doors, displaying the Northwood Honor Code and the signatures of each of this year’s students and faculty members, a formal acknowledgement of our commitment to be the best individuals and community we can be.

Our art instructor, Ingrid Van Slyke,

whose aesthetic sense is doubtless the most keen amongst our faculty, praises the project, “This larger, brighter, airier vestibule is a major improvement, providing both a better connection between living and dining rooms and enough area for multi-purpose use, not the least of which would be as a venue to display the art of Northwood students and as a pleasant setting for small gatherings. It further fosters our sense of community.”

Winter Carnival

Deep Lake Placid snow set the stage for this year’s edition of Winter Carnival, a tradition beloved by decades of alumni.

It’s a great day—the competition between teams, fun events, and the chance to work as a unit for a common goal.”

—MATIAS ’28

REESE COMBE, NORTHWOOD CLASS OF 2026 AND A PG STUDENT, combined her passion for country, folk, and pop music performance with her interest in songwriting through her Peak Pathways project this year.

Reese wrote and performed seven original songs for the Northwood community, traveled to Nashville to attend a songwriting workshop with Grammy-winning songwriters, interviewed Caroline Jones of the Zac Brown Band, and plans to release her original album on Spotify this summer.

Breaking Down the College Application Process

BY DAVID MCCAULEY, DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING

What’s the best way to look at the college application process? The application process and all of its elements is, in fact, a science. Thoughtful steps guide students to apply to colleges that are the right fit for them. Most of the pieces that make up the application are tangible: the application itself, the transcript, letters of recommendation, at least one essay in most cases, and each institution’s supplemental questions. Students submit their applications mainly through the site CommonApp.org and our office submits all supporting documents through a platform called SCOIR. In the Northwood College Counseling Office, these are the elements we’ve identified to lead our students through the college application process:

n The SCOIR Self-Assessment known as PrinciplesYou is a 40-minute survey that helps students identify their social and academic behavioral patterns. It is generally the first step in the process and often sparks meaningful conversations with a student’s college counselor.

n College list building is guided by insights gained from each student’s PrinciplesYou assessment and ongoing discussions with their counselor.

n College visits are strongly encouraged during the school year because there is no substitute for experiencing a campus in person.

n Students thoughtfully select teachers who know them well to write impactful letters of recommendation.

n Class selection is carefully aligned with each student’s academic history and their educational goals beyond Northwood.

n The Common App essay is introduced as an in-class assignment during the spring semester of 11th grade for most students.

n The Common Application is opened and completed with the support and guidance of the college counselor.

n Interview preparation equips students for both evaluative and informational interviews.

The College Counseling Office presents a student’s materials and their narrative with mastery, making best use of a student’s heritage, skills, strengths, and experiences.

Our professional relationships with admission officers on the “other side of the desk” run broad and deep. Across our group of college-facing applicants, the office advocates for our students’ acceptance often during strategic points throughout the process. College admission offices allow our engagement in-person, over the phone and in written correspondence. An early common advocacy moment sometimes occurs before any application is ever submitted when the office places a phone call or sends an email to an admission office requesting a “pre-read” of a student’s candidacy to gauge a student’s admissibility and fit, helping students confidently create a reasonable list of prospective schools. Admission visits to our campus also lend themselves to advocacy initiatives. When colleges visit us in person, one of our college counselors sits and reviews with the admissions officer the students who will be in the room during the visit, revealing details about students’ academic, athletic or personal qualities. For remote visits, the office sends excel spreadsheets that list students’ contact details and a quick summary of each candidate’s academic and personal qualities.

This year a new page was added to our college office playbook with a five-college fly-in titled, “The Peak at Northwood.” This event brought Colgate, Cornell, Hobart and William Smith, Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario), and St. Lawrence to campus for a two-day event that presented our programs, research opportunities, students, teaching and college office activities.

We are in the business of creating opportunities for students during their final chapter at Northwood. Their placement is the ribbon on the package that demonstrates the value of their effort and their academic, personal and athletic ambitions. As an office, we define the success of a class by where students are admitted and decide to enroll. In one recent year, six Husky apps were submitted at Boston College, four were admitted and four attended. Another year we sent three applications to Northwestern where two were admitted and attended. In any given year, St. Lawrence will receive about ten apps from our students; most will be accepted and a handful will matriculate. These examples demonstrate that we have a good sense of where students are good candidates, and their acceptances indicate the colleges agree.

Athlete and Analyst

A HOCKEY LIFE IN NICE

BY HENRY M c KINNEY ’16

1:56 PM, Nice, France. We just got back from a road trip to Paris, having captured a much needed three points in a regulation win against Les Jokers de Cergy. Had we not, depression and quiet would have been added to the already draining, though fortunately serene, thirteen-hour bus ride home. Small talk with teammates and reading The Black Swan (a book recommended to me by none

other than Steve Reed, except this time in French) fill my time. I performed well, no points, but well enough to help my team win and satisfy management.

After that trip, returning to my teamissued apartment with a view of the French Riviera on a sunny day off couldn’t feel more satisfying. Sometimes I remind myself of all the effort and progress

It’s a privilege to be able to think about hockey strategy and player evaluation, from both a player’s point of view and an analyst’s.”

—HENRY M c KINNEY ’16

needed to get here: starting out as a B hockey player, then playing on Northwood’s third team, to now playing in France’s top professional league as my occupation, in Nice, of all places, is a dream come true.

That thought quickly passes as my groaning stomach reminds me to eat, and my ruminating brain reminds me to work. With limited days off, it’s important to capitalize on whatever time I have to get my work done for Clear Sight Analytics, an NHL statistics company I work for remotely.

Somehow (with the help of Steve Valiquette, our CEO), I’ve found a way to blend my passion, hockey, and systems thinking skills in my role as a developer at this company. It’s a privilege to be able to think about hockey strategy and player evaluation, from both a player’s point of view and an analyst’s.

This year at CSA has been exciting as I’ve gotten accustomed to the company’s processes and systems. I’ve gained more

responsibility and autonomy. We spent the summer building a player rating system which may have been the most fun project I’ve worked on in my life. My work at Meta, computer science classes at N.C. State, and undergraduate finance classes all provided me with prerequisite knowledge to build such a system. However, before taking on this role, I studied Rob Vollman’s Hockey Abstract which, if you’ve seen the movie Moneyball, is the hockey counterpart to Bill James’ Baseball Abstract

The task carried a lot of responsibility. NHL coaches and GMs use our data, so any claim we make about the value of their assets better have substantiation. Ultimately, the first version of the system has turned out to be accurate and predictive. We have been making little tweaks along the way to ensure optimal calibration. More specifically, we are leveraging data from the NHL API to accompany our proprietary data as we work to make the most inferential system in the industry.

Working on both sides of the field is an odd perspective to have. It’s like the sad adage in economics and finance; for every 1% increase in unemployment there are about 40,000 associated deaths, which we see as just a statistic. Most of us have probably heard that from the film The Big Short, but I checked and it was originally suggested in a book by Barry Bluestone and Bennett Harrison.

On one hand, we are rating players’ performance every night, regardless of how they feel or what’s going on at home with their families. None of the factors matter. In our model, I’m using the law of averages and industry best practices to come up with player evaluations, just as I would a publicly traded company. On the other hand, beyond the statistics, I am fighting daily to keep my job as a player, to preserve my lifestyle and my passion. This is a game I’ve been playing since I was three, and that I’ve treated as my job since I was fifteen and entered Northwood

and saw the traits of professionalism there in coaches, alums, and teammates. That being said, it’s definitely an interesting dynamic. Seeing my own statline some nights creates some cognitive dissonance to the value that I bring.

In my work for today I’ll call the NHL

API, update our database with a new table, and retrieve granular player shift data. That will help us fine-tune our player rating model, as we are now pushing a version with line combinations and ratings, providing insight into which combinations work best, and how to shut down players or combinations on opposing teams.

Being a professional hockey player, professional developer and hockey analyst is a goal I have been working toward for years. Now that it is my current reality, I try to stay

I was fifteen and entered Northwood and saw the traits of professionalism there in coaches, alums, and teammates.”

—HENRY M c KINNEY ’16

in the present. Although it may sound like a lot, it’s a relatively balanced lifestyle, keeping my brain sharp and having friends/ teammates around all the time to keep me motivated, confident and positive.

Henry McKinney ’16 currently plays for Les Aigles de Nice in France. He made the top hockey squad at Northwood by his senior year and challenged himself with AP courses. At Nazareth, College, the hard work paid off: in 2023, he became an All-American forward (with a +/- of +30 in his senior year) for Coach George Roll P’10 and the Empire State Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year while graduating Summa Cum Laude. During his three-year career in Europe, he earned his Master’s degree in computer science. Visit csahockey.com for more details on his work with Clear Sight Analytics.

Heart of the Husky: Celebrating Lisa Wint

BY TARA WRIGHT

As Lisa Wint prepares for a well-deserved retirement, the Northwood community finds itself reflecting on more than a decade of service that has been truly transformative. While many in a boarding school environment are defined by their titles—administrator, coach, teacher—Lisa has spent the last ten years defining herself through her actions, becoming the indispensable “quiet leader” who shows students and faculty alike how to be a genuinely good human with a touch of homemade kindness.

Lisa was instrumental in the foundational years of the Learning Center, a program that opened Northwood’s doors to students with diverse learning abilities. Today, successful alumni across the globe owe their academic confidence to the systems, support, and non-judgmental coaching Lisa provided during their most formative years.

Although CARE may be an acronym for Northwood’s community service co-curricular, for Lisa, care is a verb. She turned “giving back” into a cornerstone of the student experience. Her impact as its mentor can be measured in the staggering scale of her projects, student roadside clean-up days, large-scale food bank collections, and personalized cards written to every resident of the Elderwood Nursing Home. (See article on page 7.)

To those students who have been fortunate enough to have Lisa for Dean, Advisor, or Academic Coach, she is both an advocate and nurturer. As the Team Dean for Northwood’s largest group of students in years past, she has been endlessly supportive, yet she holds her students to the standards of excellence she knows they can achieve.

Lisa Wint has given Northwood a decade of impeccable service. As she moves toward this new chapter, Lisa leaves behind a school that is kinder, more organized, and more deeply connected to its community than it was before she arrived. She is, and will always be, the true Heart of the Husky.

Farewell to Spearsy

BY MARCY FAGAN

At Northwood School, certain people become woven into the fabric of the place. John Spear ’88, known to generations of students simply as “Spearsy,” is one of those individuals. As he prepares to leave at the end of this school year, it feels less like saying goodbye to a colleague and more like honoring a pillar of our community.

John returned to Northwood not just as an alumnus, but as a steward of the school that helped shape him. Over many years on the faculty spanning two chapters (1992-1994 and 2011 to present) he has worn more hats than most: he taught English, AP Psychology, and Journalism, coached hockey (including a stint as Flem’s Assistant Coach) and lacrosse, served as Director of College Counseling, Dean of Students, Assistant Head for School Life and as faculty adviser for The Mirror. In every role, he has led with a steady moral compass, a brilliant mind, and a deeply caring heart.

Spearsy is often a quiet presence, but don’t be fooled, he is a fierce competitor. He doesn’t fill a room with noise, but when he speaks, people listen. Students see him as the steady adult who will sit beside them to solve a problem, listen without judgment, or calmly guide them through the college process. Faculty see him as a person who helps keep the daily operations of the school running smoothly while empowering students to lead. Whether facilitating school meetings and encouraging students to run them or reviving The Mirror so students could find their voice, he has consistently

chosen the path that builds confidence in others rather than drawing attention to himself. He knows how to create space for others to feel proud, seen, and valued.

His steady leadership was never more evident than during the COVID-19 pandemic. John helped steer Northwood through this complex time and, thanks in large part to his organization, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to safety, our boarding school remained largely in-person, providing students with stability and connection when they needed it most.

However, as his longtime teammate and classmate Dave Gatti ’88 reminds us, there has always been more to John Spear than his calm exterior.

“I had the good fortune to play on the hockey team while John was a PG,” Dave recalls, “and I have never met a more composed, respectful, and intelligent person. That is, until the 1988 Capital

District Tournament against St. Michael’s College. The game was tied 2–2 after the first period. Spearsy, steady and buttoned up as ever, was containing their top forwards from the blue line. Then Northwood went up 3–2—and something shifted.”

“A wild beast emerged,” Dave writes. “He became one of the most physical players in the game, imposing his will physically and tactically.” The team went on to win 5–2, “in large part because we had him on D. And then, as only Spearsy could do, by Monday morning he was back in class, composed as ever, as if nothing had happened.” Beneath the buttoned-up exterior is fierce loyalty, deep conviction, and a competitive spark.

We’ve seen that spark in small, joyful ways too. When his half-marathon was canceled during COVID and he quietly ran the 13.1 miles on his own, only to be surprised along the route by cheering friends, he was beaming. One story perfectly captures how deeply

Spearsy is loved by this community. Years ago, one of Northwood’s standout female hockey players transferred to a rival school, and during a heated matchup the opposing crowd began chanting, “We got TT!” It was meant as a boast about gaining a star player. But the Northwood section answered instantly—louder, prouder, and with unmistakable affection, chanting back, “WE GOT SPEARSY!” In that moment, it wasn’t about rivalry or wins and losses. It was a spontaneous declaration of what matters most here: the people who shape this place. Spearsy has always been one of those people. His legacy lives in the confidence he built in students, the trust he earned from colleagues, and the sense of belonging he created for everyone around him. And no matter where life takes him next, that chant will always ring true for those of us lucky enough to have worked or learned beside him: We got Spearsy—and we always will.

ICELAND ICELAND

Join fellow Northwood alumni for an unforgettable 7-day journey through Iceland, exploring dramatic landscapes, vibrant culture, and the science that shapes this remarkable island.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS :

THE GOLDEN CIRCLE – GEYSERS, WATERFALLS, AND VOLCANIC LANDSCAPES • GLACIER LAGOON – FLOATING ICEBERGS AND STUNNING GLACIAL SCENERY • REYKJAVÍK – ICELAND’S COLORFUL CAPITAL, ART, AND CUISINE • ICELANDIC HOT SPRINGS & SPA EXPERIENCES • EXCEPTIONAL ICELANDIC FOOD AND LOCAL DINING •

LEARN ON THE LANDSCAPE: GEOLOGY, GEOTHERMAL ENERGY, AND PLATE TECTONICS •

Learn and explore alongside geology teacher Marcy Fagan, who has been teaching science at Northwood for 20 years, and overseeing Iceland trips with Northwood students since 2017.

Adults only • Limited to 12 participants • Cost: $5,500 per person (airfare not included) Contact faganm@northwoodschool.org for more information.

Established in 1927, The Mirror, Northwood’s student newspaper has been published exclusively online since 2015, which has allowed the students to focus on their writing and reporting skills while expanding their readership. The Mirror’s website, northwoodmirror.com, and related social media accounts average more than 15,000 views each month.

When staff write about national and global stories, they cover them from a uniquely “Northwood perspective.” Their target audience includes schoolmates, alumni, current families, and also prospective students and their families. Mirror alumni often reflect on their time working on the paper, and the positive influence the experience had on their life path. Let us know if you remember your own days on The Mirror staff. Drop a line to the Editor and Adviser on the website northwoodmirror.com.

Girls’ Hockey Takes on the Toboggan Chute

Reprinted from The Mirror, February 10, 2026 by

Anna Monette ’26

The girls’ hockey team had a much-needed weekend off, and although it was mostly full of rest, about half the team took on the toboggan chute in Lake Placid. This was the first time for many of the girls, and although they passed by it daily, they either did not have time or were too scared. It was a fun time for all of us, and we were glad we did it.

Although it was very cold, nine of us bundled up and walked across the lake right after brunch. “I’ve always wanted to do this and even though I’ve been here for three years, every winter seemed to pass by, and I never had the time to do it,” Oceanne Thiffault-Michel ’26 said. “Being a senior I’m so happy I got to do it and even happier I got to experience it with my team.”

Today, The Mirror is staffed by a journalism class taught by adviser, Mr. Spear, as well as occasional contributing writers, photographers, and illustrators. Fifty years from now, when students want to know what life at Northwood was like in 2026, they will read the articles written today for their answer, just as we can glean details from articles written back in 1976. (Happy 50th Reunion year, Class of 1976!)

We are proud to bring to you some recent articles from The Mirror via this magazine. Make sure to follow the newspaper online for the full scoop.

The Mirror’s 92nd co-editors-in-chief are Jack Kroll ’26 and Sasha Luhur ’27.

The Mirror is funded by gifts to the Northwood Fund. Thank you.

We waited about thirty minutes, which was not a warm wait, but it was worth it. “It was definitely a cold wait, especially because we took the lake across, so my feet were already cold, but the wait seemed to pass fast since we were all laughing and talking,” said Ryan Erster ’27.

Being a senior I’m so happy I got to do it and even happier I got to experience it with my team.”

—OCEANNE THIFFAULT-MICHEL ’26

Once at the top, we realized it looked much steeper than it did at the bottom. We separated our group into a sled of five and a sled of four. Once we were up, we all started to get excited. “I did this once before when I was about four years old, so I do not remember anything. I will definitely remember this time, and I will also remember how scared I was before my sled took off. I was on the first sled to take off, and after the guy assured us that we were safe, we were pushed down. I screamed a lot on the way down,” said Lily Pratt ’26.

Once we finished this fun, thrilling adventure, we immediately went to Fresh Tracks to get hot chocolate and end a great day.

Adirondack Science Class Learns About (and Prevents) Road Salt Enviromnmental Damage

Reprinted from The Mirror, January 8, 2026

by Casey Morrissey ’27

As winter settles into the Adirondack High Peaks, few things are as reliable as the steady crunch of road salt underfoot. But in Lake Placid, that familiar winter staple has become a growing environmental concern. Mirror Lake—the village’s centerpiece, both scenic and symbolic—is showing clear signs of stress from decades of heavy salt use, raising questions about how communities can balance safety with sustainability.

Each winter, local and state highway crews apply thousands of tons of sodium chloride to roads and sidewalks to combat icy conditions. When temperatures rise or snow melts, that salt washes into nearby streams and storm drains, funneling directly into Mirror Lake. Because the lake sits at the bottom of a steep, developed watershed, it is one of the most salt-vulnerable bodies of water in the Adirondack Park.

Scientists and local nonprofits, including the Ausable River Association, have been tracking the lake’s chemistry for years. Their findings show a steady rise in chloride levels—now high enough to disrupt the lake’s natural mixing. Mirror Lake typically turns over twice a year, in spring and fall, a process that circulates oxygen to deeper waters. Elevated salt concentrations can prevent turnover. In fact, researchers documented a complete mixing failure in several recent years, meaning deep waters went without oxygen for extended periods.

This lack of oxygen has real ecological consequences. Fish species such as lake trout, which rely on cold, oxygen-rich water, face increasing stress. Aquatic insects, plants, and microorganisms that help maintain water quality are also affected. The lake’s overall resilience weakens as its chemical balance drifts further from natural conditions.

Yet the issue is not simply scientific— it’s deeply intertwined with the village’s identity. Mirror Lake is a hub for recreation,

from Ironman training swims to summer paddling and winter dog sled rides. Its shoreline anchors Lake Placid’s tourism economy. As chloride levels climb, residents worry about long-term impacts on both the environment and the local lifestyle.

What are we doing to help Northwood?

Our Adirondack Science class, taught by Ms. Marcy Fagan, has been helping the maintenance crew shovel before the snow turns to ice. This is very important for reducing salt use at Northwood. Last winter, we achieved a 75% reduction in salt use with this new shoveling team.

Efforts to address the problem are already underway. The Village of Lake Placid and the Town of North Elba have begun reducing salt use by calibrating equipment, improving plow efficiency, and experimenting with brine mixtures that use far less sodium chloride. Some sidewalks in

Our Adirondack Science class, taught by Ms. Marcy Fagan, has been helping the maintenance crew shovel before the snow turns to ice. This is very important for reducing salt use at Northwood. Last winter, we achieved a 75% reduction in salt use with this new shoveling team.”

the business district now use alternative traction materials instead of traditional rock salt. Public education campaigns also encourage homeowners and businesses to limit their salt use.

While progress has been noticeable, experts emphasize that recovery will be slow. Chloride can remain in the water and surrounding soils for years. Still, many see Lake Placid as a potential model for how northern communities can rethink winter maintenance while protecting freshwater resources.

For now, Mirror Lake remains clear, beautiful, and central to village life, but its future depends on choices being made each winter. As one local scientist put it, “What happens on our roads doesn’t stay on our roads. It ends up in our water.”

Northwood Events

Northwood School events are all about connection —rekindling old ones, building new ones. All with your beloved school at the center. What could be better than spending a few hours meeting some new people who have your school in common? We hope you’ll join us at the next event celebrating Northwood!

BOSTON 2025

The Charles River Country Club set the stage for a festive holiday reception on December 4, 2025 as Trustee Bob Toomey ’66 welcomed alumni, family and friends. This classic venue is a stunner, and the company is equally as grand! Catch up with your favorite faculty and celebrate the season New England-style at this annual event in Newton, Mass. See you there next December!

1. Head of School Gino Riffle with Billy Stewart ’69

2. Teegan Wardlaw ’25, Cara Dempsey ’25, Mike Maher, Drew Donatello ’25, Sophia Schupp ’24, Wyatt Wardlaw ’24, Carrie Wardlaw

3. Tommaso Bucci, Steve Reed, Cailey Hutchison Bucci ’15

4. Jay Lumsden ’96 & Trustee Bryan Magnus

TRUE NORTH DINNER 2025

Congratulations to the Class of 1975 on celebrating their 50th Reunion at the traditional True North Dinner last June. We were thrilled to have you back on your campus! The evening also recognized Distinguished Alumnus Medal recipient Jeff Bloch ’75 and our 2025 Honored Legacy Family, the Spiegel Family. We paid tribute to longtime Board of Trustees member, Jim Brooks P’86,’89,’95,GP’23, and announced the creation of the James M. Brooks Award. Conceived by Chair Brad Olch ’69, this honor recognizes trustees who’ve given many years of service and is to be awarded in appreciation to a Board member “whose collegiality, wisdom, and dedication to Northwood School and its governance have exemplified selfless service to the school.” Jim Brooks was the inaugural recipient in 2025. The 2026 honor will be bestowed upon Vice Chair Karen Miller. (See page 44 for more on Jim Brooks.)

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ALUMNI AWAY GAME

The 3nd annual Northwood Metropolitan Alumni Hockey Game took place March 21, 2026 at the Westchester Skating Academy in Elmsford, N.Y. The event was co-hosted by Monique Rafferty ’06 and David Mensi P’15, father of Nicole Mensi ’15. This friendly matchup of the Blue vs. White teams saw twelve Northwood alums and friends of the school in attendance, along with Tom “Brody” Broderick P’19,’22 and several Northwood family supporters. The Blue team was victorious in large part thanks to the tremendous play of MVP goaltender Sophia Kokkonis ’06. Aaron Whiteman ’09 was the White team standout.

2. Jaclyn, Zak Sheikh ’15

3. Stephen Jaye ’98, Tommy Capalbo ’06, Tommy’s friend, and John Lomio ’06

4. Friend of Tommy Capalbo, friend of Monique Rafferty, John Lomio ’06, Tommy Capalbo ’06, Sophia Kokkonis ’06, Sarah Newman, Jessica (Galicezwski) Fellows ’12, friend of the school, Zak Sheikh ’15, Jamie Longo ’04, Aaron Whiteman ’09, Monique Rafferty ’06, Thomas “Brody” Broderick

STAY TUNED FOR INFO ON THE 4TH ANNUAL ALUMNI HOCKEY GAME COMING TO THE NYC AREA IN THE SPRING OF 2027.

We’d love to see you there to skate or cheer on the Blue & White and join us for a social hour afterwards. A special thank you to our organizers and hosts—we hope they’ll inspire you to host a game in your own region. Reach out to alumni@northwoodschool.org to discuss.

NAPLES, FLORIDA

Trustees and alumni gathered in Naples, Florida on January 23, 2026 with Head of School Gino Riffle to kick-off the winter Board meeting.

PARK CITY, UTAH

In February, Jeff Camp ’81 hosted Northwood alumni at his Park City home with Director of Advancement Mike Maher and faculty members Marcy Fagan and Bobby O’Connor in attendance.

1. Hilary Larsen ’22, Host Jeff Camp ’81, Jaden Klebba ’21

2. The whole gang enjoying each other’s company in Park City!

3. Bobby O’Connor, Finn Donahue ’23, Carter Day ’23

HOLIDAY LIVING ROOM

As you know, Northwood and Lake Placid are both experts on doing winter well, and one highlight is our annual holiday gathering in the living room. Celebrate the season with us next year if you are in town—you’ll agree that it’s tremendous fun to “hang out” in the iconic living room again! Don’t miss out on this beloved tradition. All are welcome!

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5. Listening to Head of School remarks

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NEW YORK CITY 2025

We kicked off the holiday season in style on the first day of December as hosts Bernie ’71 and Cynthia Curry welcomed Northwood alumni, parents and friends to the Racquet and Tennis Club in New York City. This always highly anticipated reception at the renowned R&T is vibrant and festive, and this year we welcomed new Head of School Gino Riffle and his wife Leigh.

If you are planning a trip to NYC in 2026, why not make it coincide with this wonderful event? Mark those calendars for December 2026—you won’t regret celebrating all things Northwood in exciting Midtown Manhattan!

SKI FAMILY GATHERING

Northwood alumni, parents and grandparents joined ski coaches and NYSEF staff for a reception at the Hub. We were so grateful for the over forty-five guests in attendance. Trustee Bryan Magnus P’27 shared an update on the ski program.

NORTHWOOD INVITATIONAL RECEPTION 2026

There are many highlights of the annual Northwood Invitational Hockey Tournament, and one standout is the Parent and Alumni reception held this year at Roamers Café in the historic Olympic Center. Parents gathered with coaches, faculty and alumni onsite in the middle of all the hockey action. As always, it’s a great time to showcase our school spirit and cheer on the Northwood Huskies during this legendary weekend. GO Northwood!

4.

POSTGAME

Throughout the year, Northwood also gathers rinkside, slopeside and on the sidelines in support of our student-athletes, and sometimes we get to meet up with families afterwards. In November soccer parents and coaches gathered in Milford, Conn. during the CAN/AM Super Cup which both the U17 and U19 teams won, and hockey families gathered in Boston, Mass. and Rochester, New York

Special Note to Event Hosts

Northwood is deeply grateful to each of our event hosts. We thank you for recognizing the importance of gathering together to celebrate our school. Let us know if you’d like to host an event in your area: alumni@northwoodschool.org or 518.523.3357.

COMMENCEMENT 2025

Congratulations, Class of 2025! On May 17, 2025, Northwood welcomed seventy-nine graduates to the alumni family during our school’s 118th Commencement Exercises. Each rang the Northwood bell to cap off their Northwood careers!

As outgoing Head of School Mike Maher remarked: “During times when the world seems to be spinning out of control, when you might feel confused or disorientated by the rapid pace of change, take a deep breath and draw strength from the values that anchored you at Northwood and by the relationships that you formed with your classmates and teachers. We’ll be here for you, so stay in close touch!”

Coaches’ Corner—The Year In Sports

GIRLS’ HOCKEY

TREVOR GILLIGAN ’03

The Northwood girls’ hockey team has enjoyed another winning season, with a 5318-2 record. They captured the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees Tournament as the only American team in a 16-team field, won the Northwood Tournament for the fourth consecutive year, and narrowly missed out on the Junior Women’s Hockey League Championship, losing in double overtime.

All nine graduating seniors have secured opportunities to continue their careers at the college level—six at NCAA Division I programs, two at Division III institutions, and one in U Sports (Canada).

Eighty-six percent of our players have earned Honor Roll distinction or higher this academic year.

BOYS’ PREP HOCKEY

STEPHEN MALLARO ’06

In a season marked by resilience and enormous improvement as it progressed, Northwood captured two of North America’s top prep tournaments this winter.

The team won the trophy at St. Andrew’s MacPherson Tournament in January, beating the host team in our qualifier bracket and in the finals, 3-2 in both. After finishing second in the Prep Hockey Conference’s Eastern Division during the regular season, we won the league championship playoffs, with victories over St. Andrew’s (1-0), Culver, the nation’s number one rated prep team (3-2) and Shattuck-St. Mary’s, number two nationally (5-1). In those tournaments’ eight games, we allowed only twelve goals, a testament to our strong goaltending and commitment

to great team defense. The season-ender was another victory at the Dallas, Texas, Round-Up Tournament.

BOYS’ VARSITY 18U AAA HOCKEY

JEFF MILLER

The varsity 18U AAA hockey team had a successful season with a record of 31-23. The goal from the first practice in September was to get better every day so that by the end of the year we would be playing our best hockey. The boys worked extremely hard to accomplish that goal, going 17-6 over the second half of the season. As part of that stretch of great hockey, the team swept Culver, South Kent, and OHA during a showcase in Lake Placid. The team also performed well in tournaments, advancing to the finals

of the Albany Academy tournament, and rattling off five wins in a row to make it to the finals of the United Tier I playoffs in March. The coaches are extremely proud of these young men and their development.

16U BOYS’ HOCKEY

SHAWN LYNCH ’13

After a hiatus of a few years, Northwood has reinstituted its boys’ 16U hockey team. There is much good news. The team had a strong record, and after starting near the bottom of the US 16U national rankings, moved up over 100 spots during the winter. At season’s end, we earned an invitation to the finals of the Northern Schools Hockey Conference. As importantly, we have fulfilled another of our goals by preparing these young men to compete on our prep or varsity squads. We are also proud that the boys have proven to be committed academically and have the character to become outstanding future school leaders.

SNOWSPORTS

JULIEN COUSINEAU

Snowsports set a new benchmark this year by earning podium finishes and championships while focusing on discipline, resilience and long-term development as they strive to join the ranks of Northwood’s two competitors in the Milano/Cortina Olympics—Kevin Drury ’06 and Tate Frantz ’23.

In cross country, Max Fey ’28 delivered standout performances at the U.S. National Championship in Lake Placid and followed with a victory at the U.S. Classic

at Holderness and a U.S. Cup Nordic combined win in Brattleboro.

Henry Loher ’26 and Islay Sheil ’28 in ski jumping and Nordic combined qualified for the World Junior championships in Norway after a season in which they and their teammates earned a number of podium spots at events throughout the season.

Freestyle skiing earned multiple podium finishes, including two complete podium sweeps—a testament to the depth, strength and culture of the program. In snowboarding, Max Mortimer ’29 earned second and third places at the Empire State Games.

In Alpine skiing, Leanne Aubut Laurin ’26 gained international experience by forerunning at the World Cup in MontTremblant. Hudson Marshall ’27 is among the world’s top twenty for his age group in slalom and GS. Our FIS team earned their first Nor-Am circuit points. At the U16 level, Luke Wardlaw ’28 was selected for the prestigious U16 Project Gold camp, while Georgianna Larkin ’28 won at the Empire State Games.

An impressive 70% of snowsports athletes earned Honor Roll distinction, while seniors won acceptances at outstanding university programs like Babson, Clarkson, and St. Lawrence. Together, our athletes have met the standard of commitment and success academically and athletically.

SOCCER

JON MOODEY

The Northwood U17 and U19 soccer teams had a great fall season, earning the #1 National Prep Soccer ranking for the first time since the program began in 2018. This milestone comes as a result of the great teamwork and unity shown by the boys on both teams. Following

the prep season, both teams represented partner club Black Rock FC well at the CAN/AM Super Cup, winning both the U17 and U19 categories. Senior captains Noah Moodey and Tziyon Morris were selected for and played well in the High School All-American game. In the winter season, both teams were champions at the Vale College Showcase and the Far Post Invitational. Beyond the excellent results, the boys excelled off the field, taking on key leadership roles in groups like the Head’s Council, Multicultural Student Club, Blue Key Society (Admissions tour guides) and RAs in the dorms.

ROBOTICS TEAM 6300

JEFF MARTIN

The robotics team has been developing technical skills and building robot prototypes for the competitions this spring in both the Applied Robotics class and co-curricular robotics. January marks the start of the robot build season with a new challenge introduced every year. This year’s team has shown exceptional ingenuity and collaboration as they combine individual talents to build a robot up to this year’s task.

We took fifth place at the Hudson Valley Regional competition in March and conpleted our season with a strong effort at the Tech Valley Regional in April.

NORTHWOOD ADVENTURE SPORTS

BOBBY O’CONNOR

The Northwood Adventure Sports Program has had an exciting year. Throughout the winter, we recreated locally, ski touring, ice climbing and building foundational skills in our Adirondack backyard. We further enhanced them by practicing ski touring in the Wasatch Range in Utah, skiing and developing avalanche safety and rescue skills. The spring took us rock-climbing in Red Rocks, Nevada, and Joshua Tree,

California. The final trip will be to Croatia, where we will be sea kayaking and coastal rock climbing. These experiences strengthen technical abilities and build resumes for future careers in the outdoor industry.

Monique Rafferty ’06

Monique Rafferty ’06 serves as Senior Vice President of Marketing at Newmark, a leading global commercial real estate services firm where she leads its marketing strategy across their eastern region. She is an award-winning marketing professional, having been named to Crain’s New York Business’ Notable in Marketing and PR and most recently received Newmark’s 125 Park Award for Excellence. Though busy and based in Manhattan, Monique has stayed involved with Northwood, serving on our Hockey Council and Alumni Advisory Board, as well as appearing on our “Campus to Careers” podcast. A loyal and enthusiastic booster of the school, she exemplifies our core values—Courage, Compassion, Respect, Responsibility and Integrity. We caught up with her recently to discuss her career to date.

Congratulations on your 20th Class Reunion year. Can you believe it has been that long since you rang the Northwood Bell at Commencement? How do you look back on that time of your life?

Time truly flies. I can’t believe it’s been twenty years! It feels like yesterday that I was arriving on campus for my first day. My time at Northwood School remains one of the most memorable chapters of my life. The friendships, the faculty, the hockey, the countless hours spent in the living room—it was such a formative experience. Northwood built the foundation for my adulthood. The discipline, structure, and work ethic that guide me today were deeply shaped there. And there’s something special about going through those years in Lake Placid; it’s hard to imagine a more inspiring setting.

We heard that you got to ring a different bell recently; please tell us about that.

Yes. I recently had the incredible opportunity to attend the opening bell at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square alongside our leadership team at Newmark. It was a surreal and energizing moment standing in Times Square and celebrating the continued momentum of our company. The bell ringing marked an exciting chapter of growth, innovation and expansion for our platform. More than anything, it was a celebration of our people and clients, whose trust and collaboration make milestones like this possible. It’s a moment I’ll always be proud to have been part of.

Discuss your career trajectory to date.

I was fortunate to have a relatively linear career path. Shortly after college, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in real estate. While still in school, I had the opportunity to make a few extra bucks answering phones at a local brokerage in Rye, N.Y. I was immediately fascinated by the business, the speed, the process, the entrepreneurial spirit across every level of the organization. I was drawn to the energy and autonomy of the industry. A traditional corporate environment wasn’t how I envisioned spending my early career; I wanted to be in the field, learning as much as I possibly could. I was later offered an entry-level marketing position at Sotheby’s International Realty under an incredible leader and mentor who became a foundational influence in my career. From day one, I focused on working hard and absorbing everything around me. At the time, I was one of the youngest employees in the firm, so I made it a priority to learn from the experienced professionals around me.

I gravitated toward marketing because I saw that it’s where influence truly lives: in positioning, competitive strategy and alignment. Real estate is driven by relationships and execution, but marketing is where vision turns into strategy and is shaped behind the scenes in partnership with sales and leasing professionals. Marketing sits at the intersection of brand,

teamwork, and leadership— three areas I am deeply passionate about.

Growing up in Upstate New York, it was always a dream of mine to work in New York City. Six years ago, when I was recruited to lead the top market at Newmark, I knew it was the opportunity I had been working toward. Since joining, I’ve grown from Senior Director of Marketing to Vice President, and now serve as Senior Vice President, leading marketing across the East Coast. My role focuses on aligning regional marketing initiatives with company revenue objectives and brokerage growth goals. Based in Midtown Manhattan, I partner with senior leadership and top sales and leasing professionals to position some of the largest and most complex real estate assets in the world. It’s a fast-paced, highly competitive business and one that I genuinely love. The opportunity to blend strategy, creativity, and leadership every day is both challenging and deeply rewarding.

Tell us what a day in your professional world looks like,

No two days are the same, which is one of the things I love most about my role. My work ranges from touring buildings we’re positioning, to strategizing with brokers on business development initiatives, to attending client pitches and advising on asset positioning. I also spend significant time coaching and mentoring my team, collaborating on creative campaigns, planning events, and partnering with ownership groups on how to bring their properties to market most effectively.

What are the most exciting things about the NYC real estate market?

The pace. The competitiveness. The uniqueness of every asset. New York City offers endless possibilities and the opportunity to work with iconic building owners and some of the most accomplished leasing and sales professionals in the industry. The energy is unmatched.

Say yes to projects that stretch you; you never know which experience will spark a long-term passion.

—MONIQUE RAFFERTY ’06

And what would you say are its biggest challenges?

The very things that make the market exciting also make it challenging. In such a competitive environment, everything is amplified. Differentiation is critical, and consistently finding new, creative ways to elevate and outperform the competition requires constant innovation and focus.

Do you have any advice for any Northwood students/alums interested in a real estate/ marketing career?

Take every opportunity you can. Real estate is a multi-faceted industry with countless paths—sales, marketing, finance, research, workplace strategy, consulting and beyond. Say yes to projects that stretch you; you never know which experience will spark a long-term passion. Stay curious, build relationships early, and don’t be afraid to raise your hand. I’m always happy to connect with students or alumni exploring careers in this space.

How would you say hockey and being part of a team enhanced your life?

Hockey has shaped my life in countless ways. It gave me lifelong friendships—many that began at Northwood and remain some of my strongest support systems today. Being part of a team at a young age also accelerated my leadership development. I was fortunate to serve as captain at Northwood and again at

Manhattanville College, which helped me find my voice and learn how to positively influence those around me. The values the sport instilled in me—accountability, trust, resilience, and commitment to something bigger than yourself—continue to guide both my personal and professional life. Those are qualities I prioritize in the people I surround myself with and in the teams I lead.

Would you say it has shaped your professional career too?

Definitely, in ways that go far beyond the rink. The game taught me discipline, resilience, and the importance of teamwork—lessons that translate directly to leading a marketing team and navigating a fast-paced, competitive business environment. I’d say that hockey also instilled a drive to push through challenges, maintain focus under pressure, and think strategically in the moment—all skills that help me plan campaigns, guide my team, and make quick, high stakes decisions. As many of our readers know, in hockey “seeing the ice” means understanding the full rink, anticipating plays, spotting openings, and knowing where to be before the action happens. I approach work the same way: seeing the opportunities before they fully unfold, identifying where my team can make an impact, and positioning ourselves to take advantage of moments that others might miss. It’s about awareness, anticipation and strategywhether on the ice or in the office.

You have always been so connected to your alma mater—why is that important to you?

I don’t think I fully understood the impact Northwood had on me until I got older and realized just how special it truly is. Over the past twenty years, it’s become clear that many of my closest friendships were formed there and they remain some of the most meaningful relationships in my life. The faculty mentors I’ve stayed in touch with, the community, and the shared experience of Lake Placid create

something unique. Every time I return, that feeling comes back. And no matter how much time has passed, when you run into another Northwood alum, there’s an immediate, unspoken bond. There’s something incredibly special about that.

Facebook became available in 2006, so technically you are of the first generation of Northwood alumni able to remain connected via social media post-graduation—previous generations had to keep addresses/phone numbers. Do you see this as an advantage for remaining close to your Northwood schoolmates?

Absolutely. Social media has given our generation an easy and meaningful way to stay connected and follow each other’s journeys in real time so it’s certainly an advantage. At the same time, technology can’t replace human interaction. The strongest relationships are still built by showing up in person, picking up the phone and making the effort to stay truly connected beyond the screen.

Were you friends with other people in other classes at Northwood—why is this an important feature of Northwood?

Absolutely! One of the things I’ve always loved about Northwood is the size—170 students across all grades makes friendships in different classes feel

Every time I return, that feeling comes back. And no matter how much time has passed, and you run into another Northwood alum, there’s an immediate, unspoken bond. There’s something incredibly special about that.”

—MONIQUE RAFFERTY ’06

natural. When you’re living, learning, and playing sports together every day, you get to really know each other. Those relationships develop quickly and deeply, and it’s such a special opportunity to form bonds that often last a lifetime.

If you were marketing Northwood School, what would your strategy/focus be?

That’s an easy one. I’d focus on positioning it not just as a boarding school, but as a high-performance environment that develops disciplined, self-directed leaders. The core of the strategy would center on differentiation: emphasizing structure, accountability, competitive athletics, academic rigor, and early independence as defining advantages.

Rather than marketing tradition alone, I would highlight outcomes—showcasing alumni success, leadership trajectories, and the long-term impact of a Northwood education. Lake Placid itself would be positioned as a strategic asset—a focused, distraction-free setting that fosters maturity and resilience. Messaging would target ambitious students and families who value discipline, competitive edge, and character development.

Why is it important for alumni to stay involved and invested in Northwood?

The strength of Northwood School has always been its people. The friendships,

mentorship, competition, and character built in Lake Placid don’t end at graduation—they are meant to compound over time. As alumni, we are the living proof of what a Northwood education produces. Our careers, communities, families, and leadership journeys are extensions of what started on campus. Staying involved— whether through mentoring students, attending events, supporting admissions efforts, or giving back—ensures that the next generation benefits from the same structure, opportunity, and belief that shaped us. Re-engaging doesn’t require a grand gesture. It starts with showing up, sharing your story, and strengthening the network that once strengthened you.

Will we see you in NYC at the annual Northwood reception?

Yes! Attending the annual Northwood holiday party in NYC is always a highlight for me. The school and alumni hosts do an amazing job selecting incredible venues, and the timing around the holidays makes it perfect to create a trip around this event. Why not enjoy the city with family and friends, all while networking and reconnecting with alums from all walks of life? And, if you are looking for some commercial property while there—I know someone!

The Distinguished Alumnus Medal Honors Excellence Honor and Tradition

Northwood’s Distinguished Alumnus Medal recognizes those alumni who have contributed to our school and our world in meaningful and courageous ways. It is awarded to an alumnus or alumna who typifies the Northwood School tradition of excellence and has brought credit to the school through personal accomplishments, professional achievements, or humanitarian service. This is the highest honor to be bestowed upon a Northwood School graduate.

BRIAN LILLY ’85

2026 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS MEDAL RECIPIENT

After his graduation from Boston University, Brian embarked on a remarkable career in broadcasting. He is the co-founder of Lilly Enterprises, a media company that owns and operates television affiliates in Elmira, N.Y.; Marquette, Mich.; Erie, Penn.; Puerto Rico; Guam; and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Expanding beyond broadcasting, Lilly Enterprises recently acquired Glenora Winery and Inn, a destination in New York’s Finger Lakes region.

In recognition of his contributions to the broadcasting industry, Brian was inducted into the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame in 2018 and was recently nominated as Broadcasting+Cable’s Broadcaster of the Year.

Brian currently serves on the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation Board and the GameSheet Inc. Board as well as on Northwood’s. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of WideOrbit.

As Brian did at Northwood, his son Connor plays hockey. In 2016, Brian opened his home to young athletes, providing a safe and supportive environment where they could learn and grow. As a

billet family for the Erie Otters Hockey Club and for Ukrainian cultural exchange programs, he has helped guide students toward strong educational opportunities and high-quality hockey experiences. Brian sets clear expectations around health, responsibility, and communication, helping each athlete stay focused, developing as students and players, and building the foundation for a successful future.

Brian has been a major factor in the success of our entrepreneurship studies at the Innovation Hub. Program Director Tom Broderick comments, “Brian Lilly’s generous contributions, both financial and programmatic, over the last five years have helped our nascent entrepreneurs pursue their ambitious ideas. Many recipients of the grants he has provided at graduation (the Brian Lilly Entrepreneurial Studies Prize Awards) have continued their studies in innovation, management, and enterprise development, and some have already launched full-time ventures. Mr. Lilly’s leadership and generosity inspires the next generation of graduates to imagine and shape their own futures.”

My dad always says, ‘You can’t fake history,’ and I think that’s such a huge part of our friendship. We’ve seen each other through so many phases of life and transitions.”

—RACHEL RAFFIELD ’15

True Blue

A Lifelong Friendship

At the NYC gathering afterparty last December (yes, our younger alums like to extend the fun, and yes, you should be there next year), we spoke with Nicole Mensi ’15. She mentioned how before graduation, she and Rachel Raffield ’15 made an oath of sorts to visit each other every year, regardless of the number of time zones that might come between their respective zip codes. It’s a promise they’ve kept for more than ten years now.

“Back then we knew life was about to change in a big way,” says Nicole, “but we also knew we didn’t want to lose each other, so we promised to try to meet up at least once a year.” Adds Rachel, “It just started as, okay, we’ve practically been living together so of course we’re going to visit each other,” adding, “Northwood is such a unique experience. You’re essentially living with all your friends 24/7. Having friendships rooted in that time gives you something really rare.” They think many alums would agree that the friendships formed at Northwood are different, they’re built through shared experiences, challenges, and growth. “Those bonds are worth holding onto, even when life gets busy or distance gets in the way,” says Nicole.

How it works:

Nicole and Rachel rotate who travels to whom each year as they’ve settled into their lives on opposite coasts post-college. For example, Nicole traveled to San Diego to visit Rachel in 2024, and this past fall, Rachel came to NYC. As their lives have gotten busier, they say that if you make it a priority, you can make it work. Once a location has been decided upon, they share their calendars and lock in a weekend. It becomes a mini-vacation for them, a much-needed break from work and everyday life. It’s something they both value. “A trip to see each other is simply a given,” says Rachel. “It’s truly a non-negotiable for us. Also, we don’t view using our PTO as a sacrifice or an inconvenience. Life is busy, but this is exactly what we want to spend our time on. And while we don’t have kids right now, we’ve already joked (only halfjoking) that when kids and husbands are in the picture, they’re staying home.”

How they met:

Rachel and Nicole became friends at Northwood pretty quickly when they started their sophomore year together. Says Nicole, “I think a big part of our bond came from being homesick. We connected over missing home and talking about what life was like before.” Rachel adds, “When I first got to Northwood, I was desperately homesick and honestly felt completely out of place. I had a feeling Nicole felt the same way… her face looked miserable, which in hindsight makes me laugh.” One night, they stayed up past lights-out talking about how hard it felt being away from home, being candid about their fears. After that, they felt so comfortable around each other. And, like many a Northwood student will understand, Rachel says, “at some point we became obsessed with being at school and didn’t want to go home at all!”

Even though they usually only see each other in-person once a year, they both agree that it feels as if no time has passed and they just pick up where they left off. Nicole: “Rachel is still one of the first people I call or text when something big (or small) happens in my life. She gives advice honestly and never sugarcoats things, which is exactly what you want in a best friend.”

Rachel adds, “My dad always says, “You can’t fake history,” and I think that’s such a huge part of our friendship. We’ve seen each other through so many phases of life and transitions. And I’m lucky, Nicole is fiercely loyal and would go to the ends of the earth for the people she loves. Those qualities, more than anything, are why our friendship has lasted well beyond graduation. She is also easy to be around which is an unbelievably important quality.”

Yes, other classmates, including Nikki Clover ’14 also join them sometimes. One surprise bonus of their annual weekends: They’ve each become close with each other’s non-Northwood friends, even being invited to their weddings. Nicole says, “It’s really special and convenient that our worlds have blended so naturally.”

Ten+ years and still going strong:

The Mensi and Raffield approach might provide a roadmap for alums of any decade, regardless of how long you’ve been in (or out) of touch with your Northwood schoolmates. Says Rachel, “If weeks go by without talking, it has zero effect on our friendship. I’m notoriously bad at texting back (sorry Mensi) but there’s never any guilt or pressure attached to that. We also have a Snapchat group chat with a bunch of Northwood alums that we talk in almost daily, which keeps us all feeling really connected.” We hope this story will inspire you to reach out and get back in touch with some of your own schoolmates!

If you could talk to your Northwood teenage selves, what would you tell them?

NM: Stop worrying so much—it’s all going to work out. Enjoy the moment and don’t stress about what comes next.

RR : Oh, she’d be getting a full-blown lecture from me. That girl was wild. But in all seriousness, I’d tell her to stop spending so much energy worrying about what other people think or what she believes she’s supposed to be doing. If you work hard and surround yourself with good people, things really do fall into place.

Leading the Way

We are grateful to those who serve or have served on the Northwood School Board of Trustees. We thank them for dedicating their time to this special place called Northwood and for sharing their expertise

and wisdom for the betterment of our school.

JAMES M. BROOKS, ESQ.

Prominent Lake Placid attorney James Brooks has spent more than five decades on the Board of Trustees at Northwood School. His indispensable guidance has been instrumental to the school as it evolved over many different eras. He’s held in such high esteem by his peers, that Board Chair Brad Olch ’69 recently announced the creation of the James M. Brooks Award. It will be awarded annually in recognition of a trustee “whose collegiality, wisdom, and dedication to Northwood School and its governance have exemplified selfless service to the school.” Jim was the inaugural recipient in 2025.

Since joining the Board in 1974, Jim has also served as general counsel for the school, and he remains in that capacity to this day. He also continues in private practice. Jim and his late wife Marcia have three children—all Northwood graduates, James ’86, Cali ’89, and Maureen ’95.

Jim, fortunately for us, you have been involved with Northwood for many decades now. How did you first come to be involved at the school?

I became involved at the suggestion of then Trustee Roland “Bob” Urfirer in 1974. As my children grew up, it was clear to me that the better education would be gained at Northwood. They all graduated from Northwood, went on to graduate from college and are now employed and raising their own families. One granddaughter, Maisie Crane ’23, graduated from Northwood and is now in her third year at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. I credit Northwood with providing them with the solid education they needed to accomplish their many achievements.

How have you seen the school change/evolve over the years?

The school has clearly changed over the years since I joined the Board of Trustees when the Head of School was John Friedlander and the Chair of the Board was Dr. Herbert Bergamini. I’d say the most significant academic and athletic improvements occurred over the recent ten-year term of Head Mike Maher, who, with the current staff, have significantly

enhanced the entire educational program provided by Northwood School. The prevailing curriculum demands provide students with the educational background needed for this changing world.

In terms of Northwood achievements, of what are you most proud?

Becoming co-ed at Northwood was the major key improvement over the years, and that action has greatly benefitted the school.

What other boards have you been involved with? Any as long as your Northwood tenure?

I have been involved with far too many boards over the years ranging from what used to be the Selective Service Board (aka the Draft Board), the Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce, the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Organizing Committee, the American Red Cross and many professional boards of legal groups such as the New York Bar Association, the Essex and Franklin County Bar Associations and the Federated Bar Association of the Fourth Judicial District, to name most of them. The Northwood Board service is certainly the longest, except for my membership in the Essex County Bar Association which began in 1966.

How would you describe a good board member and a successful board?

I would describe a good Northwood board member as a person interested in providing youngsters with the availability of the best education here in the North Country so they can gain access to good colleges and professional schools such as law, medicine or in the science fields and become contributing citizens in their future lives.

If the prospective board member has that specific interest, he or she should be a good board member. They would have the opportunity to contribute to that educational program by membership on the various committees dealing with those functions.

If you have a board made up of members interested in the education of future generations, then you will have a successful board of trustees. Northwood has been able to have such boards over all my years and that is why I remain on the board, contributing my share of assistance to its educational purpose.

“NORTHWOOD, WHAT WERE YOU LIKE IN THE 90s?”

It’s the People, Not the Place

EXCERPTS FROM AN ARTICLE BY ANNA

MONETTE

’26

Anna Monette ’26, reporting for The Mirror, asked seniors to reflect on what makes Northwood so special and discovered that most people had the same answer: “the people” or “the community.”

“It’s the people, not the place,” said Ashton Khory.

Monette writes, “Khory put this perfectly into words, and when you think about it, it’s crazy how automatically over half

the seniors I asked said ‘the people,’ since we are surrounded by people who come from different countries and have so many different backgrounds. Still, we are all so like-minded and came to Northwood for a chance to be better people, and every day we push each other to be better.”

“I would say going to the fire and listening to music, or when the beach is open, and everyone is there,” said Anja

Over time, teammates have become more than just people I play with; they have turned into close friends I can count on.”

—ANNA MONETTE ’26

Robertson. Writes Anna, “Although these may seem like little details, they are what people remember and have such a huge impact.” As Leanne Laurin also said, “Going in town with friends and playing cards in the living room,” showing that it really is the small things that make Northwood so special.”

As for herself, Monette writes, “My favorite part of being at Northwood is the bonds I have built with everyone. Over time, teammates have become more than just people I play with; they have turned into close friends I can count on.” She concludes, “Northwood is such a special place with very special people, and it has given me and many others memories we will never forget.”

The Northwood Fund is Northwood School’s most important philanthropic effort and has an immediate impact on our students, faculty, and programs. Your gift – no matter the size – supports critical aspects of the Northwood experience. Make your gift to the Northwood Fund today and invest in the power of giving. Online: www.supportnorthwood.org Recurring

Graduates of the last decade can become a member of the 1905 Society with a gift of $250 for alumni 1-5 years out, or a gift of $500 for alumni 6-10 years out. The Northwood Fund runs from July 1 - June

Solemnity, Silliness And Sentiment

MY SIDE HUSTLE AS A WEDDING OFFICIANT

BY STEPHEN REED

Not one gratuity out of that crowd. I have taken the greatest joy from the invitations to solemnize the marriages of a couple dozen Northwood alumni and/ or faculty. Not much in my teaching career has been more rewarding than being asked to attend the nuptials of former students and current colleagues, and even more so to act as celebrant. I can’t imagine a better way to acknowledge Northwood friendships that have become lifelong. The memories touch me to this day. In this article, space constraints keep me from mentioning all of the weddings; the focus will be on the most recent—performed at New York’s Public Theater last December—but I do want to hit some highlights of others.

I have taken the greatest joy from the invitations to solemnize the marriages of a couple dozen Northwood alumni and/ or faculty.”

—STEPHEN REED

“By the authority vested in me pursuant to the laws of the State of New York, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Since 1992, I have ended a couple hundred wedding ceremonies with those words. For the first few years, officiating weddings was one of my duties as a local magistrate for the town of North Elba. Starting in the 2000s, I took advantage of a provision that allowed retired Justices of the Peace to perform ceremonies. Weddings had always been the best part of the job—supplementing my hundred dollar a week salary with tips from the happy couples. It definitely beat arraigning drunken visitors to Lake Placid on DUI charges at three in the morning.

There have been some spectacular settings. Most of the weddings have been in Placid or the surrounding area, often on the shores of Mirror Lake or Lake Placid, one at the castle atop Whiteface Mountain, another where Calvin Coolidge vacationed—White Pine Camp near Paul Smiths. The most exotic setting was for Danny Robertson ’08 in England at Loseley Park in Surrey, near London; the ceremony took place amidst a thousand rose bushes. Jen Crowley ’90 was married on Martha’s Vineyard in a ceremony that was named a wedding of the summer on an island that hosts hundreds annually. Erik Berg ’92 was married near Tanglewood in Massachusetts at the Wheatleigh, a five-star luxury hotel in a nineteenth century Italianate mansion. Even more memorable for me are those unique moments that make ceremonies unforgettable. At the wedding on the Vineyard, we had a two o’clock ceremony; it rained until about two minutes before we were to begin. As though God had acted on cue, the clouds broke and the sun appeared. Divine intervention, for sure.

Of course, no wedding is complete without some humor, sometimes intentional, sometimes not. Carrie Wardlaw, from our admission office, married her husband, Tait, one late October at the Canoe Club in Placid. It was about 30 degrees that day with some snow spitting, and we were at the back of a tent with no rear flap. The groom and the groomsmen had tuxes, and I had my robe—no problem for us. The bride and the bridesmaids had nothing substantial enough to protect them from the cold. They shivered throughout the ceremony. I was just about to note “What a way to start a marriage— the bride is frigid,” but some guardian angel helped me resist the impulse.

At the wedding of N.Y. Police Lieutenant Darryl Knight ’04, when I asked the ageold question “Do you take this woman to be…?” He turned to his best man, who gave him a quarter, which Darryl flipped before announcing “I do.” Many weddings are attended by college friends of the couple obviously. Erik Berg’s bride-to-be held a substantial position at Wellington Management for a number of years before they married. Erik and I stood waiting for Jen’s entrance about fifty yards from where she would emerge. As she walked toward us, Erik’s Notre Dame hockey teammates waited until she had almost gotten to us before shouting “Free ride, free ride.” It took us thirty seconds to stop laughing. Sometimes the hilarity starts on the evening before the wedding. After the rehearsal dinner at Josh Bartell’s ’92 wedding eve party at a Lake Placid estate, the guests were treated to former teammates fully covered in shaving cream streaking through the grounds.

But as I said, the focus of this piece is my most recent event, the wedding of Sterling Bray ’14 and Jenna Langbaum at NYC’s famous Public Theater. Sterling works on Wall Street, and Jenna is an author and playwright. Our goal was to make the ceremony somewhat theatrical and unique to honor the venue. An original script was a must. Having read Jenna’s collection of short stories, I was somewhat daunted—she has actual talent; I am a

The wedding of Sterling and Jenna and all the weddings I have attended and officiated have reaffirmed my decision to be a teacher.”

—STEPHEN REED

plodder in prose. After much thought and revision, I came up with an intro that I am somewhat proud of, and I offer it here as a sample of the ceremony:

“Welcome to this happy day and to New York City’s Public Theater, which since the 1960s has been a venue for performances which have delighted countless audiences. Today’s production is called “The Marriage of Jenna Langbaum and Sterling Bray.” Like the great shows of the past decades, we have music, a brace of soliloquies, a script both familiar and fresh, a pair of dynamic and attractive leads, and, most importantly, a happy ending. You are the audience, of course, but also you have been, are today, and will be for years to come—the best of supporting casts. Your friendship, guidance, encouragement and love will forever be appreciated, a crucial part of the long run. Today is but the dramatic prologue to a life in which love’s incredible delicacy is matched only by its incredible strength.”

Other elements of the script included the ceremony of the hands, the reading of e e cummings’ famous love poem, “I Carry Your Heart in My Heart,” warm, wise and witty vows by the couple, the advice of a lifelong bachelor (me) on the keys to a successful marriage, and the traditional vows. The wedding took place

on the smaller stage of the theater, a cabaret, Joe’s Pub. The success of the day owes much to the wonderful theater staff who provided professional music and lighting, and hosted a fabulous reception dinner at the theater’s library on the mezzanine. That meal and the Gatsbyesque party thereafter were the best of times with the couple’s friends, who enjoyed the festivities with an exuberance and “simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission.”

The wedding of Sterling and Jenna and all the weddings I have attended and officiated have reaffirmed my decision to be a teacher; to watch the success of our students beyond the classroom, rinks, fields and slopes and to be part of their memories is both heartening and humbling. Many thanks to all who included me.

Growing Up Northwood

MY ADVENTURES AS A “FACULTY BRAT”

BY LAURIE COLON WOODS ’80

After my dad Bruce Colon accepted a teaching and coaching position at Northwood, my family (Dad, Mom Nancy, siblings Clarke ’82, Lisa ’84, and Eric ’85) moved into our on-campus apartment in August 1968. At the time there was another family with four kids living on campus and a few other families each with two to three kids, so we “faculty brats” had the run of the place! Back then, I had no idea the positive impact this twelve-year experience would have on my life.

Living on campus was an adventure, and we were never at a loss for things to do. We roamed the Old Dorm and explored little known nooks and crannies while trying to avoid being caught in forbidden areas by Headmaster Friedlander or

“Chief” (Bill Kelly). Hopping off the bus after school, we always had a plethora of Northwood athletic practices and/or games to go and watch. In the fall, my brothers went directly from the bus to the football field to “help” my dad, Steve “Reno” Reed and Tom “Buck” Bucken run practice. “Help” meant hauling water buckets and dodging the guys’ playful tackles, of course.

Having the campus as an extended part of our home and neighborhood was such a bonus. We hosted friends in our “front yard” for tennis, or pickup baseball, soccer and football games. Lisa and Trish Friedlander ’84, at two years-old then, were inseparable and would become lifelong best friends. I loved helping my mom serve cookies and coffee during home

game half-times and listening to the latest music blasting from dorm rooms. And, if our regular babysitters weren’t available, my mom could always coerce one of the boys to fill in at the last minute for some extra pocket change.

One of my favorite activities was helping the duty faculty member with mealtime check-ins. Students had to attend and have their name checked off on the printed list. The faculty welcomed my taking over that chore and as a result, I knew every student’s name by October!

This sense of adventure shaped my early years, but I’d have to say it was the people who left the deepest impressions on my life. At the time, Northwood was male only, so living in the close-knit dorm,

Growing up at Northwood instilled in me trust and respect not only for our teachers and coaches, but for the students from all over the country.”

—LAURIE COLON WOODS ’80

we immediately had 120 older teenage brothers whose influence was most often great, and sometimes not so great, but in the end helped us have a better understanding of human nature.

As a grade schooler, high school seemed a long way off and even though Northwood was boys-only, I remember looking forward to going to Northwood one day, and there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that I would attend as a student. Northwood became co-ed in 1971. I ultimately enrolled as an eighth grader in 1975, and in total there were about thirty or so other girls.

As a “boarding day student” I had the best of both worlds. When fellow day students had gone home for the night, I ate dinner and studied with the boarders and then hung out on the female only “flight deck” floor until lights out. Those nights—with stories from their hometowns and hints of homesickness— built bonds across diverse backgrounds. I was one of them, yet had the freedom that came with being a day student—slept in my own bed and could leave campus or drive a car when I wanted. I enjoyed the close-knit community of boarding life while maintaining my independence and family connections at home.

Growing up at Northwood instilled in me trust and respect not only for our teachers and coaches, but for the students from all over the country. Survival demanded openness to understanding different perspectives, personalities, and

interests. I strongly believe growing up and living amongst mostly males helped develop my sense of humor, thick skin, and a resilience that has served me well in life. You do not live through the teasing of teenage pseudo-older brothers without toughening up and taking it with a grain of salt. Those traits helped me thrive in my professional life, having spent my career in the male-dominated sports/event world.

Experiencing life at a prep school where sports were a priority, in a village known for hosting international competitions including the Winter Olympic Games, and with parents who coached with as much passion as they lived, athletic participation and being a sports fan became second nature to me. I am grateful for the joy, tenacity, discipline, and good health that being a lifelong athlete has brought me.

Now, as -ahem- a senior citizen, that foundation inspires me to stay active in pursuing a healthy, long life.

Long before LinkedIn, Northwood connections opened many doors. They helped me land my first job; created lifelong friendships; and even introduced me to my husband! After reconnecting at a Northwood reunion with fellow alum Johnny Woods ’71, we were married in 2021. I encourage alumni to attend Northwood events and reunions. While our Northwood days make up only a short span of time in our lives, it is surprising how impactful the relationships we made were. Those bonds run deep.

Perhaps the most inspiring part of

my time at Northwood was experiencing my late dad, Coach “Bear” Colon in his professional element—highly respected by his colleagues and his students/athletes as a teacher, mentor, and coach. He led as he fathered; insightfully and patiently encouraging and shepherding us, even when he wanted to wring our necks.

Witnessing my dad’s interaction with the student body and hearing ongoing praise for decades after from those who benefited from his guidance, reinforced how fortunate I was to have him as my dad. Little did I know back in 1968, as we unpacked in that on-campus apartment, how profoundly Northwood School, and my dad, would shape us all!

LEGACY FAMILY HONORED 2026

The Lockwood Family

Over seven decades, the depth and breadth of the contributions of this year’s Honored Legacy Family, that of Win Lockwood ’67 and his wife Susan, are extraordinary. Win himself and both his parents, as well as his maternal and paternal grandfathers served on the Northwood Board of Trustees. Win’s three brothers (Todd ’69, David ’73 and Herb ’78 and two sons Charlie ’03 and Courtney ’09) attended Northwood. Prior to the admission of a

NORTHWOOD LEGACY FAMILIES

BY STEPHEN REED

full cohort of women in 1971, Win’s wife, Susan, attended summer school here as did her sister, Leslie and Win’s sister, Francie. Win’s father, Carter, also served as Northwood’s bursar in the 60s.

As impressive as the quantity of connection is, the quality has more than matched it. I will start with the most recent Lockwoods at Northwood—Win and Susan’s sons Charlie and Courtney. At Northwood, Courtney played goalie for

Northwood School’s rich history and traditions date back to its founding in 1905 and the early years of the Lake Placid Club. The family-centric club founded the school for sons of club members. As the school grew and developed, siblings, children, and grandchildren were welcomed into the Northwood family. We celebrate this tradition as we recognize Northwood School’s Honored Legacy Families.

the top hockey squad and was an excellent student, going on to Colorado College for his undergraduate degree. After his first career working in the outdoor industry as a fly-fishing guide and outfitter, managing destinations in Wyoming and Chilean Patagonia, he went on to get a master’s at University of Denver. Today, he works at AEW Capital Management, sourcing debt and equity investments across Mountain West growth markets while overseeing a diversified portfolio spanning Utah, Colorado, and Texas. He and his wife, Isabelle, explore the outdoors with their toddler son. Courtney enjoys archery, elk hunting, chasing wild fish, and training his dog. Of his time at Northwood, he writes,

“The most enduring lessons I took from Northwood center on ownership and perseverance. Living and learning in a close-knit environment meant that effort—or lack thereof—were visible. Hard work and accountability weren’t optional; they were daily prerequisites that formed the invisible foundation of a culture built on excellence and teamwork.”

Older brother Charlie, also a goalie on our top team and the valedictorian of his class, went on to play at Holy Cross where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in mathematics while playing four years of NCAA hockey. He received a second undergraduate degree at Colorado College in chemistry (earning Phi Beta Kappa honors and the Merck Science Prize) before attending the University of Colorado School of Medicine and winning a fellowship at Duke University in his specialty of Hand and Upper Extremity. He is currently an orthopedic surgeon at Intermountain Health Saint Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. Speaking of brothers, Win’s three younger siblings attended Northwood:

The most enduring lessons I took from Northwood center on ownership and perseverance.”

—COURTNEY LOCKWOOD ’09

Todd ’69, skied and played both soccer and tennis; the yearbooks of his era were much enhanced by his creativity and skill as a photographer, a passion that continued throughout his life. A major in photography at R.I.T., Todd became an innovative portrait photographer, widely known for his cinema portraits which combine photography with audio and film. He also recorded some of the first national releases for Phish, the famous rock band from Burlington, Vermont.

Top to bottom: Win

David, who graduated in 1973, also added his creative skill to The Epitome and was an avid outdoorsman at Northwood. After college graduation, he complemented a successful career in financial services with service to New England College as its board chair. Win’s youngest brother, Herb ’78, attended. Northwood from grade eight through ten, and died in 1987. Win, the eldest of the Lockwood clan, attended Colorado College where he met his wife, Susan. His love of skiing, engendered at Whiteface Mountain, led him to earn a Professional Ski Instructor certification, which he has retained for 56 years. In the late sixties he worked as a roughneck and derrick hand, before moving to Breckenridge, Colorado, then only a small mining community with 500 or so residents and began a long career in resort development. This included the reorganization of local government, leadership in community development, private real estate investment and development, national and international marketing, engaging and serving in local politics, and organizing numerous non-profit entities to support the broader communities of Breckenridge and Summit counties. Despite so many irons in the fire, Win has maintained a strong interest

The Lockwood family’s love and service to Northwood are second to none.”

in Northwood through the attendance of his sons, through recommending Northwood to other Colorado families, and through distinguished and generous service as a member of Northwood’s Board of Trustees.

He and Susan, who took summer school art classes at Northwood taught by Bob Whitney, were married in 1972. They brought up Charlie and Courtney in Colorado, built their real estate development business, and engaged in all aspects of the development of their mountain resort community. Like Win, Susan is also an avid Alpine and cross-country skier, golfer, and tennis player. Like son Courtney, she loves fly fishing. She and Win spend vacation time nowadays in Saratoga, Wyoming and South Florida.

The Lockwood family’s love of and service to Northwood are second to none.

Win has written some wonderful recollections of people and events. Scan the code below for an account of his years at Northwood.

In Memoriam

Since 2015, Northwood has held a memorial service during the True North weekend/Reunion to honor the alumni, trustees and faculty who have passed away during the year. Fittingly, this ceremony is held beside the Living Room fireplace where we gather to read their names aloud. Attendees are then invited to say a few words if they wish. We hope this brief but poignant ceremony provides some comfort to families and friends. If you are in town, please take a moment to join us for this important annual tribute.

Edward Nickerson ’43

Donald Arsenault ’53

Mark Vebber ’58

Frank “Brock” Whiting ’58

Beauchamp Carr ’63

Robert Russell Jr. ’64

Scott Benty ’67

Richard “Rik” Cassidy ’67

Nicholas Swann ’69

James Peter Darlington ’72

Daryl Bensman ’78

(The above list represents those whom we learned have passed away since the last publication of this magazine and reflects information that the Advancement Office had by press time. Links to obituaries are provided in the electronic issue of this magazine.)

Dress Code

Decade in, decade out, rest assured school dress code remains a hot topic.

FROM THE CURRENT STUDENT HANDBOOK: DRESS CODE AND APPEARANCE

Northwood School’s class dress code is based on a simple philosophy: school is your job, and your attire should reflect that. Class dress is required during classes (even if you have a ‘free’ period), including during lunch, school meeting, seminar, and in the living room.

Nick Evans ’48 recalls coming to Northwood the year after it re-opened following the Second World War (when the campus was used as a medical rehab facility for the Army 1944-1946). Asked about the dress code during his time, Nick offers, “We followed the pre-war customs of the old school with close ties to the exclusive Lake Placid Club. We wore jackets and ties. Good manners prevailed.”

In the 1960s a wool blue blazer like the one pictured above was required. Many alumni still have one hanging in their closets. Wink Smith ’67 even wore his to reunion several years ago!

The dress code has loosened up considerably since those years, but still it elicits some strong reactions.

In a recent Mirror article by Yosef Spear ’26, student sentiment ran the gamut from “I think it is an oppression of personality” to “I’m chill with the dress code. Lowkey wear the same stuff.” We’re not sure what our current students would think of the dress codes of the twentieth century, but we can guess.

The article also suggests that some students appreciate the dress code because its structure makes morning decision making easier and less stressful. That is, in part, the design of it: students can focus their attention on what they came to Northwood for.

How did dress code impact your time at Northwood and beyond? Looking back, do you view it differently?

“As a member of the Class of 1956 and a proud grandparent of a recent Northwood graduate, I’m happy to share that I have joined the Northwood Legacy Society. Including Northwood in my estate plans is about the indispensable help that Northwood provided to my grandson Quincy ’19. The school recognized Quincy’s potential, and I believe that he has embarked on a productive, and above all, happy life because of the effort that Northwood made on his behalf.”

Tony Pell ’56, GP’19, Former Member of the Board of Trustees

The Legacy Society*

Including Northwood School in your estate or financial planning is vital to the future of our mission and programs. By making your legacy gift, you become an honored member of our Northwood Legacy Society, joining other visionary donors who wish to make a lifelong impact. The Northwood Legacy Society* honors and recognizes individuals who provide for Northwood through bequests, trusts, retirement fund gifts, life insurance, real estate, and other planned gifts. There is no minimum required to join.

If you have any questions or want more information about making a planned gift, please contact Mike Maher, Director of Advancement, maherm@northwoodschool.org.

* formerly known as the Second Century Society

Parents of Alumni:

If this magazine is addressed to a graduate who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please email us at alumni@northwoodschool.org with an updated address.