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THE NEWSLETTER

SUMMER 2026

HEAD OF SCHOOL

EDITORIAL & DESIGN

CHANGE OF ADDRESS?

Samuel L. Schaffer

Erin E. Berg, Kerin E. Maguire, Marcus C. Miller

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THE NEWSLETTER

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Erin E. Berg PHOTOGRAPHY

Gretchen Ertl, Marcus Miller, Mike Pojman, Austin Reid ’26, Adam Richins, Evan Scales, John Werner

julie.garvey@roxburylatin.org. The Roxbury Latin School publishes The

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The Roxbury Latin School

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101 St. Theresa Avenue West Roxbury, MA 02132 Phone: 617-325-4920

The Newsletter SUMMER 2026 | VOLUME 99 | ISSUE II

Features 20

Prize Day & Valete

Closing Exercises 34 Our Little “Jerusalem”

Valedictory Address by Tom Pogorelec ’26

40 “Happiness Is Love. Full Stop.”

Commencement Address by Stewart Thomsen

48 The Class of 2026

Departments

VEX Success Roxbury Latin’s VEX Robotics program had another successful season, competing with top teams from Massachusetts and beyond. In the year’s final regular season competition, a team comprising

RL News

Arts News

Athletics News & Varsity Teams

Alumni Events & Class Notes

In Memoriam

Ramblings

Dylan Pan (I), Casey Chiang (II), Alvin Li (II), Warren Hu (II) and Andrew Giordano (II) placed third out of 40 teams in the qualification round, propelling them to the semi-finals in the elimination bracket. Several Roxbury Latin teams earned high enough “Skills” scores to qualify for the State Championship.

There’s only one right: A “lapelling” case for properly wearing a nametag | by Mike Pojman

RL NEWS

Words of Wisdom SENI OR S PEAKERS SHARE I NS I GHTS F R O M T HE CLAS S ROOM

At Roxbury Latin, boys learn to communicate interpersonally and to express their thoughts and opinions clearly and articulately, both in writing and through public speaking. The English Department begins a sequence in public speaking during an RL boy’s sixie year, with a classmate interview and informal presentation. That sequence continues through a personal speech in Class V, an informative speech in Class IV, a persuasive speech in Class III, and a speech of choice in the fall semester of senior year. The capstone project then takes place during the English 12 mid-year exam period, when students deliver an original speech to their classmates. Each speech offers valedictory “words of wisdom”—a unifying insight, or a collection of insights, gained from, or reflected in, one or more of the texts studied during a student’s time in the RL English classroom. Each year, several seniors are selected to deliver their talks—their “senior speeches”—to the entire school in Rousmaniere Hall. During this school year, six boys took to the lectern to present their speeches to their schoolmates, and to the faculty and staff. Their talks drew inspiration from works ranging from Hamlet to The Catcher in the Rye.

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Mitch Flynn and Nitin Muniappan delivered the first pair of speeches on January 7. Both boys’ essays focused on the wisdom they gleaned throughout their years at Roxbury Latin, based on formative experiences both in and out of school. Mitch shared how his desire to fit in—and his fear of not fitting in—caused him to fixate on and overanalyze every word and decision, ultimately preventing him from making any forward motion, landing him in the place he feared he would be from the start. Nitin spoke of his experience reading The Catcher in the Rye; about the book’s main character, Holden; and how Holden lost his brother to leukemia, all while Nitin’s own brother, Krish, was going through treatment for the same disease. Nitin learned, much like Holden, that rather than being so afraid of the future that you fail to experience the present, it is critical to live in the moment—to enjoy and take advantage of every interaction and opportunity. On February 11, J.P. Ward and Kenneth Foster delivered the next pair of speeches, both highlighting the importance of selfawareness and reflection. J.P. spoke of being aware that he is part of a larger world, and of recognizing the need to take action and remain steadfast in his convictions to seek a just world: “It does no one any good to be a passive subject in an ever-evolving and

Mitchell Flynn (I) “I recognized myself in Hamlet’s struggle, and in the way he thinks and worries and questions so much that he ends up stuck exactly where he began.”

Nitin Muniappan (I) “The choice is not to try and stop the carousel. The choice is to appreciate the moments we still have. The choice is to act with grace.”

J.P. Ward (I) “Justice isn’t about fixing everything; it’s about the responsibility to fix what you can through recognition and the courage to resist.” tumultuous world.” Kenneth also spoke of self-awareness, but the kind that helps to fuel self-assurance. He shared how his hairstyle, when he first started at RL, was unlike that of any other boy in his class. As he grew older, he wrestled with the pressure to conform versus being true to who he was, and expressing that unique individuality. This year’s series concluded with speeches from Preston Bearce and Grayson Lee, on April 24, both eliciting different lessons from J.D. Salinger’s seminal novel. Preston reflected on a time during his Roxbury Latin experience when he faced a choice: Stay at Roxbury Latin and embrace the rigor and challenge, or transfer to a different school where he felt the work would be easier, and the experience less stressful. He realized he needed to change his own perspective, which was getting in the way of his success, and he learned to embrace and love the various gifts that Roxbury Latin offers. Grayson discussed the importance of a change in perspective, too. He realized that it is important to be open and honest, allowing for authentic connections, rather than trying to tackle everything alone, as everyone encounters difficult periods in life, and needs help at one time or another.

Kenneth Foster (I) “It is prudent to remember who you are and to embrace all of your imperfections.”

Preston Bearce (I) “Wisdom is not the result of rejecting reality, but of accepting responsibility for our own circumstances.”

Grayson Lee (I) “It is the process of storytelling and talking about life that helps us reshape our state of mind.”

RL NEWS

Our Spiritual Selves TO R ECOGNIZE A N D C E L E B R AT E T H E D I V E R S E R ELIGIOU S BAC KGRO U N D S O F ROX B U RY L AT I N STU DE NTS , S E V E R A L BOYS WE R E I N V I T E D TO S PE AK IN HALL T H I S Y E A R A BO U T T H E I R S P I R I T UA L IDENTITIES —S H A R I N G T H E I R FA I T H L I V E S A N D TR ADITIONS IN T H E C O N T E X T O F T H E I R R E L I GI O N S ’ S ACR E D HOLIDAYS . A S D R . S C H A FFE R STAT E D BY WAY OF INTRODU CIN G T H E S E R I E S , “KN OWI N G A BO U T VAR IOU S R E LIG I O N S , A N D A FFI R M I N G T H E FA I T H L I V ES OF ONE ANOTHE R , A R E BOT H WO RT H Y P U R S U I TS . BU T IT IS ALS O I N H E A R I N G A BO U T A N D FRO M T H E W ITNE S S E S TO TH E S E D I FFE R E N T FA I T H T R A D I T I O N S THAT OU R OW N JO U R N E Y TOWA R D M E A N I N G A N D F U LF ILLM E NT CA N B E M O ST H O P E FU L LY I N FO R M E D. W E AR E G R ATEF U L TO T H O S E A M O N G U S WH O S H A RE THEIR PER S ONA L E X P E R I E N C E S , T R A D I T I O N S , A N D STOR IES . W E AR E A L L B E T T E R FO R I T.”

In October, Jordan Bornstein (I) shared with the community the historical significance and traditions of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—the Jewish High Holy Days marking the start of the Jewish New Year and signaling a holy period of reflection, introspection, prayer, and celebration. He reflected on memories from his childhood, noting that the holiday meant two days off from school, spending time at his grandparents’ house, and dipping apples in honey. As he’s gotten older, it has become more of a respite in his busy, everyday life, providing the opportunity to reflect on his experiences and move forward with thoughtfulness and intention. Several weeks later, Nayan Patel (III) spoke about the origin and rituals of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights. Nayan

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explained how Diwali represents the journey from darkness to light, from exile to homecoming, from ignorance to understanding, and from myth to meaning. He spoke of how the holiday rests on three main pillars: mythology, ritual, and philosophy. Diwali is rooted in the story of a hero’s epic journey and ultimate return after years in exile. Whether Prince Rama’s defeat of Ravana or Lord Krishna’s defeat of Narakasura, the hero is guided home by a large showing of lit lanterns, inspiring today’s lantern celebration and festival of lights. In February, Habo Baaj (I) explained to the community the meaning of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar followed by Muslims. The site of the crescent moon during the ninth month signals the beginning of a month full of

Jordan Bornstein (I) “We can build each other up by owning our mistakes, repairing what we can, and striving each day to be better members of this community.”

Nayan Patel (III) “Diwali is not just a mythological story to be told, or a ritual to be performed; it is an invitation to look inward and nurture the light that lives inside of you.”

Habo Baaj (I) “What if for one month every year you chose a different kind of challenge—one that had nothing to do with grades, sports, or college, but everything to do with discipline, reflection, and who you are as a person.”

Fin Reichard (I) “Inner transformation is what we attempt to gain by giving up something for Lent. Acknowledging your weaknesses in this way and repenting allows you to work to be a better person.”

introspection, prayer, and religious devotion. The most wellknown practice associated with this time is the disciplined fasting that occurs from dawn to sunset. Often, there is a small meal before the fast begins for the day, and then a larger, communal meal when fast is broken at sunset. Ramadan is also a time of reflection and prayer, often in large gatherings at mosques. The final ten days of Ramadan are the most sacred, as it is believed that it was during that time the angel Jibreel came down to the earth and revealed the first verses of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.

In April, as the final Hall of the series, Fin Reichard (I) spoke about his Catholic faith and the celebration of Easter—the period that honors the death and resurrection of Jesus, and is the most important celebration of the Christian calendar. Fin explained how the Easter season begins with forty days of Lent, a time in which Catholics are asked to give something up or do something extra while also engaging in fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. Toward the end of the forty days, Holy Week begins, commemorating Jesus’s final days and death. When Easter Sunday arrives—following Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday—it is a celebration of Jesus’s resurrection.

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RL NEWS

Smith Scholar Series A HAL LM AR K OF ROXBURY L AT I N ’ S P RO GR A M I S T H E SC HOOL’ S S M ITH S CHOL A R S E R I E S — A V I S I T I N G S C H O L A R SERIES E NDOW E D BY TH E L AT E RO B E RT S M I T H ’ 5 8 A N D HIS WIF E , S ALUA. E ACH Y E A R , O U R V I S I T I N G S M I T H SC HOLAR S ENHANCE OU R C U R R I C U L A WI T H T H E I R INSIGHTF U L PE R S PECTIV E S O N O U R I N C R E A S I N GLY COMPLE X WOR LD. OVE R T H E Y E A R S , T H E S E S C H O L A R S HAV E E DU CATED U S ON S U C H TO P I C S A S E C O N O M I C GLO BALIZATION IN AF R I CA ; M O D E R N I Z AT I O N I N C H I N A , IND IA, AND THE MIDDLE E A ST ; L AT I N A M E R I CA N LIT ER ATU R E ; THE LEG ACY O F WO R L D WA R I ; C L I M AT E CHANG E AND ITS FAR -R E AC H I N G E FFE CTS ; BO R D E R S , BOTH PHYS ICAL AND PH I LO S O P H I CA L ; T H E N UA N C E S OF RACE AND GENDER ; T H E H I STO RY O F T H E C I V I L RIGHTS M OVE M E NT IN A M E R I CA ; A N D T H E P OWE R A N D CONF LU E NCE OF S POK E N WO R D P O E T RY A N D ACT I V I S M .

This year, the three-speaker sequence stemmed from an inquiry led by Nate Piper and Stewart Thomsen, when they surveyed boys in Classes IV, II, and I, to better understand students’ experiences of interdisciplinary learning at RL. In doing so, they recognized the potential for greater synergy between the History Department’s U.S. History course and the English Department’s course in American Literature. From there, Josh Cervas (English Department Chair) and Stewart Thomsen (History Department Chair) proposed a three-speaker Smith Scholar series exploring the literary and historical elements of three enduring works taught in Class II English: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, The Great Gatsby, and Song of Solomon. Roxbury Latin was lucky to host three academic powerhouses, and experts in their respective fields, to speak with students about the historical contexts of each of these classic literary works. This year’s Smith Scholars

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included Dr. David Blight from Yale University, Dr. James Kloppenberg from Harvard University, and Dr. Farrah Griffin from Columbia University. Each of these esteemed professors delivered a Hall to the entire school, and then spent time in classes continuing the discussions, including with Class II boys who had most recently read and studied the three books.

David Blight Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, November 17, 2025 Dr. Blight is the author of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning biography Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. He is one of the world’s foremost scholars of Frederick Douglass and is the Sterling Professor of American History at Yale University. He served as director of Yale’s Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition, and he is

the author or editor of more than a dozen books, which have garnered countless awards over the years. His book American Oracle: The Civil War in the Civil Rights Era— which is an intellectual history of Civil War memory, rooted in the work of Robert Penn Warren, Bruce Catton, Edmund Wilson, and James Baldwin— received the 2012 Anisfield-Wolf Award for best book in nonfiction on racism and human diversity. His book A Slave No More combines two newly discovered slave narratives in a volume that recovers the lives of their authors, John Washington and Wallace Turnage, as well as provides an incisive history of the story of emancipation.

James Kloppenberg The Great Gatsby, February 3, 2026 Dr. Kloppenberg is the Charles Warren Professor of American History at Harvard University, where he teaches courses on American and European thought, culture, and politics. He is one of the pre-eminent intellectual historians in our country and is the author of four books, including Uncertain Victory: Social Democracy and Progressivism in European and American Thought, which won the Merle Curti Prize in intellectual history by the Organization of American Historians. His book The Virtues of Liberalism transformed debates about American political thought by showing the ways in which American thinkers have drawn on and combined ideas from liberal, civic republican, and religious traditions. Reading Obama: Dreams, Hope, and the American Political Tradition, named a Book of the Year by PBS, revealed the roots of President Obama’s ideas in the experiences and intellectual traditions that shaped his sensibility. Finally, Toward Democracy: The Struggle for Self-Rule in European and American Thought was awarded the George Mosse Prize in intellectual history by the American Historical

Association. In it, Dr. Kloppenberg argues that democracy is an ethical ideal rather than merely a set of institutions, and explains why democracy can thrive only when it rests on shared cultural commitments to equality, autonomy, and an ethic of reciprocity.

Farah Griffin Song of Solomon, April 7, 2026 Dr. Griffin is a University Professor at Columbia—an esteemed faculty position that recognizes exceptional scholarly merit and distinguished service, serving Columbia as a whole, rather than delegated to a specific faculty or department. Dr. Griffin’s expansive teaching, research, and writing encompass many cross-disciplinary topics, including African American literature, history and politics, music and jazz, the African Diaspora, 20th century America, and race and ethnicity studies. Dr. Griffin served as the inaugural Chair of Columbia’s African American and African Diaspora Studies and is the author or editor of eight books including Who Set You Flowin?: The African American Migration Narrative; If You Can’t Be Free, Be a Mystery: In Search of Billie Holiday; and Harlem Nocturne: Women Artists and Progressive Politics During World War II. In her most recent book—Read Until You Understand: The Profound Wisdom of Black Life and Literature—Dr. Griffin has taken to heart the phrase “read until you understand,” a line her father—who died when she was nine—wrote in a note to her. She has made it central to this book, in which she shares a lifetime of discoveries and the ideas that inspired the stunning oratory of Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X; the soulful music of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder; the daring literature of Phillis Wheatley and Toni Morrison; the inventive artistry of Romare Bearden, and many more.

N e w s l e t t e r o f T h e R o x b u r y L at i n S c h o o l

RL NEWS

Learning Without Limits ROXBU RY LATIN STU DEN TS A R E S C H O L A R S A N D YO U N G MEN OF STRONG CHAR ACT E R , WH O D E D I CAT E T H E M S E LV E S TO ACADE M IC ACHIEVE M E N T, TO PA S S I O N S O U TS I D E T H E C LASSROOM, AND TO GROWT H A S I N D I V I D UA L S A N D A S MEMBER S OF THE COM M U N I T Y. D E S P I T E A R I GO RO U S , J AM-PACKED S CHEDU LE FU L L O F C O U R S E WO R K A N D EXTRACU R R ICU LAR ACT I V I T I E S , C U R I O U S R L BOYS ST I L L FIND TIM E TO PU R S U E OT H E R A R E A S O F I N T E R E ST, HO NING THEIR INTE LLE CT UA L C U R I O S I T Y A N D BOT H ASKING AND ANS W E R IN G Q U E ST I O N S . T H I S I S C E RTA I N LY T HE CAS E FOR S IX BOYS WH O E X C E L L E D I N A R E A S O F IND IVIDUAL INTER EST A N D WE R E H O N O R E D FO R I T.

Sid Chopra ’28 Sid spent one week in England in April to participate in the World Independent Debate and Public Speaking Championships. Sid—who has a passion for public speaking and is a member of the Debate Club and Model UN, as well as a 2025 Exelauno Day declaimer—joined more than 150 competitors from around the world to compete in four events: Parliamentary Debate, Impromptu Speaking, Interpretive Reading, and either Persuasive Speaking or After-Dinner Speaking. Sid gave stellar performances in each category and secured a spot in the finals in three of the four categories (Debate, Impromptu, and Interpretive Reading), culminating in a win in the grand final of Interpretive Reading, following an interpretation of “The Big Nap” by Simon Rich. His firstplace finish in this category earned him an 11th-place overall finish. Sid’s success at the competition places him among the top three performances by a Roxbury Latin student in the last 30 years.

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Ajay Devendran ’27 Ajay and his budding photography career have been featured a number of times over the last few years, most recently highlighting his photography featured in The Boston Globe. Ajay continues to expand the reach and impact of his hobbyturned-passion, this time using imaging and photography to help combat global pollution. This past April, Ajay was selected as one of the featured student speakers at the annual James Tufts Penner Conference at Thayer Academy. During his presentation, “Using AI for Sustainability: Drone Trash Identification,” he discussed his current project, in which he uses drone imagery and AI to identify trash along rivers and shorelines, thus expediting and streamlining the effort to reduce human-pollution.

Kenneth Foster ’26 Kenneth was recognized by two organizations following his recent graduation from Roxbury Latin. The awards reflect his achievements as a generalist—in athletics and academics, in exhibiting strong character, and in exerting positive influence. Kenneth was awarded the Positive Athlete Award for the New England region—an award that recognizes high school student-athletes who have overcome adversity, exhibited outstanding character, and given back to their communities.

He also earned a gold medal from the Boston chapter of the NAACP Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics for an essay he submitted. With this win, Kenneth represented Boston at the NAACP National Convention in July.

Ameer Hasan ’27 Ameer has been a longstanding member of ECOS (Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students) throughout his time at RL. He was recently selected to lead a workshop at the annual James Tufts Penner environmental conference on his exploration of the feasibility of an edible garden in a school setting. Ameer researched the potential for a garden at Roxbury Latin and learned that there once was a garden, but the infrastructure and maintenance required to keep it running proved unsustainable. This led Ameer to reimagine what a “garden” at RL might mean, to brainstorm ways to earn student and adult buy-in, and to search for spaces to host edible plants, such as herbs, interspersed throughout campus, not just in one centralized location.

Warren Hu ’27 Warren, an active and central member of the RL VEX Robotics team, leveraged his passion for robotics engineering

to make an impression at the Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair in April. The organization released the list of winners for the state-wide competition, in which Warren earned a third-place prize for his project, “Adaptive AntiFall Control for Robots Inspired by Biomimetic Lizard Tails and Reinforcement Learning.” Warren qualified for the state competition following a first-place finish in the Region V contest. In his research, he explored the benefits of a robotic, lizard-inspired tail that automatically balances and steadies vehicles traveling at high speeds over uneven terrain.

Max Kesselheim ’26 Max, the most recent editor-in-chief of the Tripod, has always been fascinated by humor and the way it intersects with society. He was featured on the Roxbury Latin website in September 2024 after an article he wrote, analyzing the use of humor in politics, was featured by the political news outlet The Hill. Max took his exploration of the intersection of politics and humor and created a coding program that analyzed political memes on Reddit to explore their influence on voters. Max’s research project, Framing Policy Through Humor: A Computational Analysis of Reddit Memes, earned him recognition and an award as one of the nation’s top 300 scholars through the Regeneron Science Talent Search.

N e w s l e t t e r o f T h e R o x b u r y L at i n S c h o o l

RL NEWS

Continuity, Excellence, and Music ROXBU RY LATIN BEG AN I TS WI N T E R T E R M O N JA N UA RY 5 W I TH A C ELEBR ATION HONOR IN G T WO I N D I V I D UA L S WH O S E C O M M I T M EN T TO T H E CR AF T OF TE ACH I N G, LOV E O F M U S I C , A N D CA R E FOR TH EI R STUDENTS AND COLLE AGU E S STA N D O U T A S E X E M P L A R S . ROB OPDYCKE, R L’ S DIR E CTO R O F M U S I C S I N C E 1 9 9 9 , WA S I N STA L L ED AS T H E F IR ST K E R RY P. B R E N N A N C H A I R I N M U S I C D U R I N G A M OVI N G , MUSICAL CE LEBR ATION I N RO U S M A N I E R E H A L L . T H E N E W, E N D OW ED C HAIR IS G IVEN IN HON O R O F H E A D M A ST E R E M E R I T U S KE R RY B RENNAN, WHO S E R VED A S R L ’ S D I R E CTO R O F M U S I C FRO M 1 9 7 8 TO 19 8 6 , AND AS ITS HE ADM A ST E R FRO M 2 0 0 4 T H RO U GH 2 0 2 4 .

“This morning I’m pleased to talk about continuity, excellence, and music,” began Mr. Brennan, who delivered the convocation’s address. “In establishing teaching chairs or professorships, RL has chosen to put teachers at the center of school life, at the center of its continuity.” Between the communal singing of “For the Splendor of Creation” and a special rendition of “O Love” by Elaine Hagenberg, performed by the Latonics—with Mr. Opdycke conducting, Mr. Brennan playing piano, and Lev Mamuya ’14 accompanying on the cello—the longstanding tradition of music at RL were highlighted and lauded. The celebration culminated in the debut performance by Mr. Opdycke of his original song “This Old Hall,” written for the occasion (lyrics on opposite page). The ceremony was followed by a breakfast reception that included the more than 50 guests who were in attendance. We are grateful to John and Stephanie Connaughton—whose generous lead gift made this faculty chair possible—as well as to the more than 60 other donors who contributed to this endowed chair fund. 12

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This Old Hall gave us speeches This Old Hall gave us shows This Old Hall told the stories that everybody knows Wherever I go, whatever I do, if I ever forget why I’m called I know I can come home to find it—in This Old Hall

This Old Hall heard the wisdom This Old Hall heard the puns This Old Hall gets electric with Maru a Pula fun Wherever we go, whatever we do, if we ever get tired of it all We’re given a chance to keep growing—in This Old Hall

An opening hymn wakes us up once again, It’s too early to sing, but we try The morning sun shines, in some places it blinds And those hard, wooden seats never lie We hear scholars in residence, poets, and presidents The best and the brightest of all More than words to the wise, I’ll remember our guys Became brothers, in This Old Hall

So much has been given, And so we’re expected to know how to finish that line What started as promise was challenged and tested And slowly came true over time

This Old Hall gave us speeches This Old Hall gave us shows This Old Hall has some secrets even Jarvis didn’t know Wherever we go, whatever we do, if we ever stumble or fall We know there’s a family to help us—in This Old Hall This Hall won a Grammy, published our Time Served with His Holiness, served on the line Helped to reverse the Babe’s decades-long curse With that bloody Red Sock on the mound With Vergil and Xenephon’s Classics declaimed We march forth from Athens to Gaul And those innocent Sixies grow into the Seniors Who lead us, in This Old Hall

In my time… This Old Hall gives me purpose This Old Hall keeps me young This Old Hall hears our voices when our favorite songs are sung O Roxbury! sounds, and the stage is surrounded By answers to Eliot’s call They’re back in the place they first heard it—in This Old Hall This Old Hall had the concerts This Old Hall saw the bows This Old Hall makes me grateful for the boys who fill it now And my colleagues who share the belief that we care For the person you are, most of all I’m grateful that I found a home here I know that I’ll always belong here Because we are all known and loved here: in This Old Hall

RL NEWS

The Beauty of Math

All Bets are Off

On December 9, Dr. Francis Su, mathematician at Harvey Mudd College and former president of the Mathematical Association of America, spoke to the RL community about reframing our relationship with mathematics. Opening with a card trick rooted in mathematical patterns, he argued that all humans are inherently mathematical— and that recognizing math’s wonder and beauty matters more than treating education as a career transaction. “Think about education as something that forms you,” he said, urging students to see learning as characterbuilding rather than resume-padding. Su emphasized that mathematical thinking sharpens how we see the world—detecting deception, appreciating beauty, making better decisions. Dr. Su’s research spans topological combinatorics, game theory, and voting theory, and his public writing has appeared in Quanta, Wired, and The New York Times. He is the recipient of multiple awards for both mathematical writing and distinguished teaching.

On January 13, Dr. Harry Levant, Director of Gambling Policy at Northeastern University’s Public Health Advocacy Institute and former gambling addict, spoke to students and parents about the dangers of modern sports betting. He argued that while gambling has long cultural roots, today’s app-based platforms from companies like DraftKings and FanDuel represent “an entirely new kind of gambling”— one that is dangerously under-regulated. Mr. Levant highlighted deceptive tactics like misleading bonus offers and reward structures designed to mirror addictive video game mechanics. He warned that easy smartphone access and aggressive advertising are creating a public health crisis comparable to the cigarette epidemic. Mr. Levant has testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the issue, and his work has been featured on CBS, 60 Minutes, and CNN. He met with students across multiple grade levels, fielding questions on prediction markets, game theory, and what safer regulation might look like.

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Stay Awake Historian and activist Dr. Yohuru Williams delivered Roxbury Latin’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Address on January 20, urging students to see themselves not as heirs to greatness, but as giants in their own right. Rejecting the familiar “shoulders of giants” framing, Dr. Williams called on young people to wield their collective power responsibly—anchored in human compassion and a commitment to shared humanity. He warned that accumulating knowledge or advantage without regard for others diminishes rather than elevates a person. Drawing on Dr. King’s legacy, he challenged his audience to stay awake and engaged, even without perfect answers. The address, preceded by readings of Langston Hughes’ “I Dream a World” and King’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, resonated deeply across the school community.

Not Everyone Has an Umbrella Dr. Adil Najam, professor at Boston University and president of the World Wildlife Fund International, delivered Roxbury Latin’s Wyner Lecture on February 12, offering a candid assessment of the planet’s environmental future. Celebrating humanity’s extraordinary home, he warned that we are also its greatest threat. He highlighted meaningful WWF wins—doubling mangroves near the Arabian Sea, expanding elephant populations in Zambia, reintroducing a horse species across Europe—but was clear-eyed about what lies ahead. Dr. Najam stated flatly that current science cannot keep global warming below 1.5°C, and likely not below 2°C, the Paris Agreement’s outer limit. The consequences—catastrophic flooding, spreading disease, uninhabitable regions—are already here, and fall hardest on those least equipped to adapt. Using the metaphor of an umbrella, he argued that climate change is ultimately a crisis of inequality: not everyone can afford shelter from the storm.

N e w s l e t t e r o f T h e R o x b u r y L at i n S c h o o l

RL NEWS

A Baker’s Dozen ON APR IL 14, 13 S E N I O R S WE R E INDU CTED INTO T H E C U M L AU D E S OCIE TY. WE OFFE R A S P E C I A L T H A N K YOU TO M E GHNA C H A KR A BA RT I , JOU R NALIST AN D P O D CA ST H O ST FO R NPR AND W BU R, FO R D E L I V E R I N G A POW E R F U L AN D I N S P I R I N G H A L L ADDR E S S ABOU T GR E AT N E S S A N D T H E F U TU R E OF OU R BOYS .

watch meghna chakrabarti’s full address by using your phone to scan the qr code:

Thirteen members of the Class of 2026 were inducted in the Cum Laude Society. Pictured left to right: Mr. Josh Cervas, Nick Glaeser, Colin Bradley, Max Kesselheim, Habo Baaj, Liam Walsh, Tom Pogorelec, Fin Reichard, Dylan Pan, Cole Gustie, Teddy Smith, J.P. Ward, Marco Suri, and Avish Kumar.

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Hope, Resilience, and Reform ON APR IL 21, W E W E R E H O N O R E D TO H E A R I N H A L L FRO M A NTHONY R AY HINTO N , WH O D E L I V E R E D A P OWE R FU L TALK ABOU T HIS EX P E R I E N C E B E I N G WRO N GLY AC C U S ED A ND CONVICTE D OF CA P I TA L C R I M E S H E D I D N OT C O M MI T. MR . HINTON WAS IM P R I S O N E D O N D E AT H ROW I N T H E STATE OF ALABAMA FO R N E A R LY 3 0 Y E A R S B E FO R E FINALLY BEING R EL E A S E D . H I S STO RY O FFE R S H O P E A N D RES ILIE NCE, AND A L S O S E R V E S A S A CA L L FO R C R I M I N A L JU STICE R EFOR M A N D P O L I T I CA L E N GAGE M E N T BY YOU NGER GENER AT I O N S . FO L LOWI N G H I S TA L K, CA L E B FR E YHWOT AND NO L A N CA H I L L O F C L A S S I I P ROV I D E D BR IEF R EF LECTION S A N D FAC I L I TAT E D A Q &A S E S S I O N .

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RL NEWS

March Forth ROXBU RY LATIN ST U D E N TS A N D FAC U LT Y GAT H E R E D IN ROU S M ANIERE H A L L O N M A R C H 4 TO C E L E B R AT E A DISTINCTLY RL T R A D I T I O N : E X E L AU N O D AY. T H E TR ADITION DATE S BAC K OV E R 1 3 0 Y E A R S , WH E N CLAS S ICS MASTE R C L A R E N C E WI L L A R D GL E A S O N INAU GU R ATE D A C E L E B R AT I O N O F T H E C L A S S I C S , IN W HICH GR EEK ST U D E N TS WO U L D B E E X E M P T E D F ROM HOMEWOR K FO R T H E D AY. TO D AY, T H E E V E N T ALLOW S FOR TH E S I N GU L A R A N N UA L P L E A S U R E O F HE AR ING F ROM D E C L A I M E R S O F E V E RY AGE A N D LEVE L OF E XPOS U R E TO L AT I N A N D GR E E K. GL E A S O N CHOS E M AR CH FO U RT H A S A P U N N Y R E FE R E N C E TO XE NOPHON’ S A N A B A S I S A N D I TS U S E O F T H E V E R B “EXELAU NO, ” ME A N I N G “TO M A R C H FO RT H .”

During the morning’s special Hall, boys in Class VI through Class I competed in this year’s David Taggart Clark Competition in Greek and Latin Declamation—reciting ancient words from classic texts that brought to life scenes such as “Epops summons his fellow avians,” “Cicero accuses Marc Antony,” and “Icarus flies too close to the sun.” Classics Department Chair and Exelauno Hall emcee, Jamie Morris-Kliment, welcomed Jay Kardan, Professor Emeritus of Randolph College, to the lectern to announce the results. This year’s winners were Ky Lima of Class V (Lower School Latin), Andrew Kramer of Class IV (Intermediate Latin), Marco Suri of Class I (Upper School Latin), and Aspen Johnson of Class I (Greek). RL extends its heartfelt gratitude to this year’s Exelauno Day judges, the aforementioned Jay Kardan; Andrew Chappell, Head of School of The Derryfield School; and Erin Russo, Latin Teacher at Newton Country Day School.

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Prize Day On May 30, the Class of 2026 took their rightful seats at the front of Hall for the last time. During the traditional and festive Prize Day Hall—which honors a range of prizewinning students and serves to wish ave atque vale to the year’s departing faculty and staff—songs such as Jerusalem and The Founder’s Song reverberated around Rousmaniere Hall. The annual Prize Day Hall is the formal conclusion of the school year for students in Class VI through Class II, during which an impressive roster of prize-winners— honored for academic, athletic, artistic, and extracurricular achievements—earn their plaudits. While some of the major Class I awards were announced at the concluding Closing Exercises, this year’s prize winners are as follows (lists on following pages):

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academic awards

Joseph A. Sasserno French Deturs Nikitas Handrinos (V), Kevin Song (IV), Benjamin Romano (III), Charles Austin (II), Tom Pogorelec (I) Headmaster’s Spanish Deturs Liam Coyle (V), Solon Estes (IV), Sam Ruscito (III), David Comander (II), Denmark Chirunga (I) Isabel M. Fowler History Prizes Grayson Miller (VI), Ryan Kerr (IV), Caiden Crowley (III), Nolan Cahill (II), Max Kesselheim (I) Richard M. Whitney Science Deturs Luben Stolarov (VI), Theo Mashikian (V), Kolby Sahin (III), Warren Hu (II) N. Henry Black Science Detur Avish Kumar (I) Donald L. Whittle Math Deturs Alexander Zhao (VI), Dylan Zhang (V), Andrew Kramer (IV), Kolby Sahin (III), Eric Archerman (II) Islay F. McCormick Mathematics Prize Colin Bradley (I) Anna Cabot Lowell Deturs in English Luben Stolarov (VI), Alexander Nanji (V), Kevin Song (IV), Nayan Patel (III), Flynn Hall (II), Tom Pogorelec (I) Trustees’ Greek Deturs Liam Guadagno (III), Paul Tompros (II), Teddy Smith (I) Anna Cabot Lowell Deturs in Latin Kazuki Tokuda (VI), Theo Mashikian (V), Sahaj Swaroop (IV), Sid Chopra (III), Casey Chiang (II), Nick Glaeser (I)

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extracurricular awards

Beginning Latin Declamation Prize Ky Lima (V)

Joan M. Regan Service Prize Liam Walsh (I)

Intermediate Latin Declamation Prize Andrew Kramer (IV)

Class of 1976 Dramatics Prize Nick Glaeser (I)

Advanced Latin Declamation Prize Marco Suri (I)

Rehder Prize in International Relations Tom Pogorelec (I)

Greek Declamation Prize Aspen Johnson (I)

Albert W. Kelsey Debate Prize Simba Makura (I)

Cameron A. Rylance Music Prize Fin Reichard (I)

Publications Award Max Kesselheim (I)

Ralph F.F. Brooks Art Prize Mitchell Flynn (I)

Robotics Award Dylan Pan (I)

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Class I Athletics Prize Winners

Best Athlete Award Declan Bligh

Scholar-Athlete Award Nitin Muniappan

Sportsmanship Award Ryan Molloy

ISL Award Michael Rimas

Class II Book Award Winners

Holy Cross Nolan Cahill 24

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Brown Flynn Hall

Dartmouth Paul Tompros

Harvard Casey Chiang

Board of Trustees

Front row: Soren Oberg, Derek Ho, Dennis Kanin, Ethan Berman, Mike Giarla, Chris Mitchell, Andy McElaney, Bo Menkiti. Back row: Ara Gershengorn, Matt Fruhan, Ian Lane, Viva Hyatt, Matt Consigli, Monica Neuman, Paul Spinale, Kent Sahin, Will Hughes. (Missing from photo: Justin Connolly, Katherine Craven, Jim Hamilton, Anne McNay, Jay Mitchell, Paul Provost)

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Valete PR IZE DAY IS A L S O T H E M O M E N T WH E N T H E STU DE NTS , FAC U LT Y, A N D STA FF R E C O GN I Z E THOS E ADU LT M E M B E R S O F T H E C O M M U N I T Y W HO AR E LE AV I N G ROX B U RY L AT I N . T H A N KS TO THEIR E N D U R A N C E , LOYA LT Y, A N D COM M ITM E N T, V E RY FE W P E O P L E M OV E O N F ROM R L E AC H Y E A R — A N D WE A R E T H E B E T T E R FOR THAT CO N T I N U I T Y. T H I S S P R I N G, H OWE V E R , W E BID A FON D FA R E WE L L TO FO U R M E M B E R S O F THE FACU LTY A N D STA FF WH O H AV E GI V E N T H E S CHOOL A COM B I N E D 6 4 Y E A R S O F S E R V I C E .

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Matt Golden Matt Golden has brought a deeply personal touch to everything he has done at Roxbury Latin. Enthusiastic and caring, he has infused the community with his personality. And in everything, he has kept boys’ experience at the center. Mr. Golden became Roxbury Latin’s head football coach in the fall of 2022, injecting our team with energy, improving the team’s fortunes and fervor each year, and inspiring his athletes to play harder, and achieve success. He is, at his core, a leader of young men—someone you want beside you in the football trenches, but also someone who understands that coaching at Roxbury Latin is about far more than sport alone. Mr. Golden has led the fifth baseball team to a 22–16 record in his four years at the helm, and he has lent an important hand to the JV basketball and junior wrestling teams. He helped reinvigorate off-season summer workouts and brought new traditions to the community, including cabbage ball, which later found a place in our Health and Wellness classes. Mr. Golden’s enthusiasm is unmistakable. He is unapologetically himself, and that authenticity has allowed him to shine in moments of community life. He has found ways to bring fun, connection,

and personality into the daily life of the school. Days like May Day bring out the best in him, and a personal highlight was directing in Night of Scenes last year. He has emceed Winter Family Nights in Gordon Gymnasium and announced Varsity Baseball games at Polar Park. He has DJ’d half times and made the best fifth baseball walk-up list around. Mr. Golden has made our school feel alive, has enlivened and lightened us, and has brought a visible joy that has mattered. We are grateful for his time here and eager to see his future successes.

Karen Dinon Karen Dinon has been a dedicated and hardworking member of Roxbury Latin’s Business Office for twelve years. Originally from West Roxbury, she came to RL with a career history of supporting students in education, previously working in the financial aid offices of Suffolk University, Bentley College, and Gann Academy. Her work here has combined two of her great skills: meticulous financial accounting and deep care for others. Much of the work of Mrs. Dinon and the Business Office happens out of sight and out of mind of students—ensuring that paychecks are issued accurately, making sure invoices are paid

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on time, preparing for the annual auditors’ visit, and tending to the many financial, legal, and personnel operations of running a school. The invisibility of that work belies its importance: without her, this school could not operate.

We will miss her, but we are also happy that Mrs. Dinon’s retirement will afford her more time for doing the things she loves: spending time with her family (especially her grandson), going to the beach, and playing Mahjong.

Mrs. Dinon’s most defining contribution to RL, however, is in her role as Director of Financial Aid. Our school commits to providing the funds for every admitted student to attend RL, regardless of his family’s means. Mrs. Dinon’s work, therefore, is personal to each of the more than 120 boys each year receiving some form of financial aid. This work requires not only great attention to detail and masterful budgeting, but also kindness, empathy, and a willingness to work with families in stressful situations. Mrs. Dinon has executed these responsibilities with her signature professionalism, thoughtfulness, and grace. Not only does she ensure the coverage of tuition, but she also ensures that every element of our program is available to boys—from school trips, to books, laptops, counseling, athletic equipment, and prom. She makes sure that, during his years here, no RL boy misses out on any opportunity or material need for financial reasons.

Tom Guden ’96

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When Tom Guden was a senior at Bowdoin College, looking for his first job in teaching, former Roxbury Latin Headmaster Tony Jarvis wrote him a letter of recommendation: ‘Unquestionable integrity.’ ‘Impeccable personal qualities.’ ‘Unblemished character.’ These are the words Tom’s teachers used to describe him. Tom is the soul of modesty; he does not ‘toot his own horn.’ But no boy here was more respected and few as deeply loved. In all that he is, in all that he represents, Tom Guden is the embodiment of character, always leading with integrity, kindness, responsibility, and empathy. Beginning at RL in Class IV, Mr. Guden was an intrepid scholar-athlete, establishing his place in the Class of 1996 and

earning the respect and affection of all who knew him. After a successful undergraduate experience at Bowdoin, Mr. Guden began his teaching career at Phillips Andover before returning to RL as Director of Admission. In that role, he established an energetic, welcoming expectation and underscored the school’s commitment to boys from the City of Boston. He had a keen eye for the underdog, and many boys benefitted from his ability to recognize promise in prospective students. During Mr. Guden’s time as Director of Admission, RL achieved its distinction as a need-blind institution. This commitment allowed the school to build

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especially diverse classes, so that RL could honor the ideal of our student body being “democratically gathered.” After seven years in admissions, Mr. Guden took on the role of Director of Development, through which he expanded the achievements of the Annual Fund, and cultivated capital gifts to grow RL’s endowment. As was true in his admission work, Mr. Guden’s development work was about forging relationships. Alumni and parents in the school came to admire and trust Mr. Guden, and eagerly participated in supporting the opportunities and values that set RL apart. During his time in this role, Mr. Guden also added significantly to alumni programs and launched RL Connected, matching older RL boys and recent alumni with opportunities for jobs and internships. What Mr. Guden came to appreciate as a student, he has brilliantly realized for many generations to come. During Mr. Guden’s time as Director of Development, and Assistant Head for Advancement, he has helped raise $55 million in support of RL’s annual operating expenses, and $74 million for the school’s endowment. RL will continue to be grateful for—and we will all continue to benefit from—that remarkable achievement. During Mr. Guden’s 20 years on the faculty, he has also introduced students to the rigors and wonders of the Classics, effectively coached the junior hockey and third baseball teams, ably guided Class IV as dean, and advised a cadre of lucky boys, whom he treated as if they were his own sons.

given his professional life to this school and offered an example of a life well-lived, on behalf of an ideal and a mission that defines the best of who we are and who we should aspire to be.

Stewart Thomsen When Tony Jarvis hired Stewart Thomsen in the spring of 1998, he could not have known the dramatic, enduring effect Mr. Thomsen’s presence at Roxbury Latin would have. For an RL career spanning 28 years, Mr. Thomsen has taught brilliantly, coached passionately, chaired the illustrious History Department skillfully, mentored the debate program prodigiously, led the Model United Nations program globally, and advised empathetically. He also mentored Penn Fellows— including the redoubtable Chris Brown—and along the way, served ably on the admission committee, assumed the role of Director of Professional Development for our faculty, and led student trips to far-flung places, including China and India, that related to the content of the courses he was teaching. And what of those courses? During his time here, Mr. Thomsen has taught ten different courses, including U.S. History, Constitutional Law, Making Sense of the Modern Middle East, Boston’s Place in Human History, U.S. Government and Politics, and World Religions, Philosophies and Multigenerational Histories.

In gratitude for all of Mr. Guden’s selfless care for this school, a group of donors established the Ann (Sardellitti) Guden and Joseph Guden Scholarship Fund—named for Mr. Guden’s parents, both of whom were educators—which will provide financial aid for a boy like Tom Guden: an exceptional and deserving young man who, without financial aid, would be unable to attend Roxbury Latin.

Mr. Thomsen’s willingness—his eagerness—to teach those different courses stems from his own wide-awake fascination with the world, and from his commitment to the historical and cultural awakenings of the students in his care. While Mr. Thomsen could have resorted to a names-and-dates kind of history teaching, he did not. Rather, he strove to teach the interconnectedness of events, the idiosyncratic qualities of diverse places and peoples, the inertia and momentum that marked various eras. He was always more committed to the why than the what. And he influenced a generation of colleagues in his department to do the same.

After these many years of transformative work at RL, Mr. Guden has accepted a position as Assistant Head of School at Dexter-Southfield. In that role, he will expand his experience and become yet more comprehensive in his leadership capacity. They are lucky to have him. And we are sorry to see him go. But we will be forever grateful for this remarkable man who has

Mr. Thomsen has hoped that his students would go on to be informed, broad-minded thinkers, and active, responsible citizens. His co-founding and attention to the Class V Civics course is emblematic of that commitment, as is his staunch support for the Smith Scholars program. Through his debaters, Mr. Thomsen signaled a regard for vivid discourse and the

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marshaling of facts to support well-articulated points of view. Argument animated clear thinking, and underscored the respect required for others’ perspectives. For six years during his remarkable tenure, Mr. Thomsen shared these halls with his son John, Class of 2015; among several father-son or mother-son teams at the school, none more regardfully, joyfully, and winningly navigated this tough passage as did they. Mr. Thomsen’s students, his debaters, his players, his advisees, and his colleagues know well his commitment to respectful, affirming relationships. Everyone in Stewart Thomsen’s orbit has been inspired by his decency, his sense of fairness, his responsibility, his industry, his ethical standard, and his pleasure in school life. We shall miss Mr. Thomsen and his refreshingly enigmatic ways. But we will be eternally grateful for the heads and hearts he has affected during his years with us. While you may have said it softly, Mr. Thomsen, what you said has resonated loudly and clearly and enduringly with all who have had the pleasure of knowing you. We thank you, and we wish you a happy, healthy, well-deserved retirement ahead.

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GRADUATION

Celebrating The Class of 2026 ON M AY 31, T H E 3 8 1 ST Y E A R O F T H E ROX B U RY L ATI N S CHOOL CUL M I N AT E D WI T H C LO S I N G E X E R C I S E S A N D TH E G R ADUATIO N O F T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 2 6 . T H E T R A DI TI O N A L A N D INTIMATE CE R E M O N Y — WH I C H I N C L U D E S T H E S EN I O RS, TH EI R FAMILIE S , TH E FAC U LT Y A N D T R U ST E E S — TO O K P L AC E I N ROU S M ANIER E H A L L . I M M E D I AT E LY A FT E R T H E C EREM O N Y, THE 57 NEW E ST A L U M N I O F T H E ROX B U RY L AT I N SC H O O L CE LEBR ATED O N T H E S E N I O R GR A S S — I N T H E P OU RI N G R AIN—W ITH C L A S S M AT E S , FA M I LY, A N D FAC U LT Y M EM BERS. BE GINNING WI T H O P E N I N G R E M A R KS FRO M H E A D O F SC H O O L DR . S AM S CH A FFE R — WH I C H AC KN OWL E D GE D TH E TRI U M P H S OF THIS PART I C U L A R GRO U P O F BOYS , A N D A L S O N OTED THEIR M ANY, WO RT H Y AC C O M P L I S H M E N TS — T H E C EREM O N Y INCLU DED T H E S I N GI N G O F A M E R I C A TH E B E AUT I F U L , JERU SALEM , A N D T H E FOUN D E R ’ S S ON G . T H E R IN G I N G O F TH E S CHOOL BEL L , C H I M I N G 3 – 8 – 1 , O FFI C I A L LY M A RK ED TH E END OF THE S C H O O L Y E A R .

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Our Little “Jerusalem” valedictory address thomas j. pogorelec ’26

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In the Smith Theater, time stands still after the audience’s applause. Here at Roxbury Latin, the performance doesn’t end. At least not just yet. The cast enters the green room, gathers in a circle—arm around arm—and within a few minutes, the actors begin to sing. They begin to sing “Jerusalem.” I experienced this quintessentially RL moment for the first time during my sophomore year, at the conclusion of The Play That Goes Wrong. Filled with typical, post-show adrenaline, I hustled backstage where the older boys had already begun to form a makeshift circle. I felt someone’s arm wrap around my shoulder. I heard the song’s timeless first few notes, and I went with it. The lyrics flowed, as they do for any of us, at any Hall. The moment felt, as things often do here, oddly right. As I’ve grown older and acted in more productions, I’ve begun to ask myself: Why do we sing this song after every show? Or rather, more broadly, why does Roxbury Latin sing this song at all? For the guests in the audience, “Jerusalem” was originally a poem, written in the early 19th century by William Blake. Set during England’s Industrial Revolution, the poem mourns the destructive and mercenary forces that have corrupted the nation—what Blake refers to as England’s “dark Satanic Mills.” The poet questions whether a new Jerusalem was actually built in England as intended, and he encourages his audience to partake in a sort of cultural revolution. Consider the poem’s final line: “I will not cease from mental fight, nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, till we have built Jerusalem in England’s green and pleasant land.” Blake chooses Jerusalem for its role as the nexus of three major religions. To him, Jerusalem is the physical embodiment of a community’s internal values—values which have yet to be built in his England. Over the past few weeks, as I’ve struggled to encapsulate all that our school is, I’ve realized that RL is not so different from the Jerusalem of which Blake dreamt. Here, we have our own little city: a self-contained, fully-functional operation. And while one might argue that any school sustains itself like a city, I would argue that, given its size and intimacy, RL best fits the description of Blake’s ideal. Here, all the townsfolk know each other, and all the townsfolk help make this city run. Like

Jerusalem, we have our own codified set of ethics: honesty expected in all dealings; diligent use of one’s talents; school obligations are firm commitments. If we strayed from these tenets—whether by parking in the lower lot or committing a crime, dare I say, more severe—we were punished, not with time in prison but with work squads. For three, four, five or six years, we lived in this city. And in this city, small as it is, much was expected of us, the citizens. We entered this school at a strange time. The COVID pandemic and the school’s hybrid learning policy meant that, for each of us, our class seemed to be composed only of the members in our randomly-selected cohort: Cohort A or Cohort B. The rest of our classmates we knew as little Zoom boxes on our computers. The times produced some odd, but deeply nostalgic, moments. We shared daily bagged lunches in the Study Center. We “went to Beaverbrook” on O’Keeffe Field. We learned to plié in virtual ballet classes in the Palaestra. At last, though, the shutdown shut down. With this return to normalcy came an inevitable culture shock. This place showed its teeth; RL became RL; and things got hard, fast. The days of playing Among Us in the Perry Wing were replaced by memorizing verb endings and decorating our books with annotations. As we grew older, the challenges persisted. We took Mr. Hiatt’s absurdly difficult architecture quizzes. We translated dense Latin passages about wars, other wars, and more wars. Even this year—senior year—Mr. Cervas served up not a pop quiz, but a pop in-class essay. Safe to say, we learned the real meaning of good, old-fashioned hard work. Outside of the classroom, we did a lot. We built homes with Habitat for Humanity and tech-tutored the elderly. We sang everywhere from Rousmaniere Hall to St. Peter’s Basilica. We rammed, jammed, and crammed our way to countless medals on National Latin Exams. We competed at the highest stages of debate, Certamen and robotics. We won Exelauno Day a total of 8 times—the most of any class in recent history. And as much as we have distinguished ourselves as a cohort, so too are we composed individually of great talent and renown. Few classes can boast of a graduate who dominates the mat

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like Declan, a graduate who pitches and hits like Braden Place, or a graduate who defends the net like Kevin. Few classes have someone who tickles the ivories like Marco, someone who owns the stage like Simba, or someone who covers a canvas like Mitch. And no other graduating class can claim to have a “Mats,” a “Many,” or a “Massard.” Each of us has his gifts and his quirks, and the particular assembling of our attributes has made this Class of 2026 as distinct and as special and as memorable as we are. I would be remiss if I did not also acknowledge our class’s commitment to the school’s often-cited generalist philosophy. We have a guy who, in the same season, started at wide receiver and starred as Biff in Death of a Salesman. We have a guy who leads the Glee Club and pole vaults thirteen feet high. We have a guy who heads the Tripod and debates to international glory. Those are our guys. The school asked for accomplished generalists, and we delivered. I can safely claim, however, that the most fruitful product, or export, of this little city—of this Jerusalem—has been our brotherhood. The beauty of going to school with 56 other guys is that you share a common experience. All that we lived at RL, we lived together. We all know what it’s like to eat a plate of Gochujang chicken bites and then listen to the bells playing “The Founder’s Song” on a walk back across campus. We all know what it’s like to battle through a Geometry test and then indulge in an expertlybaked batch of brownies from Ms. Delaney. We all know what it’s like to laugh a little too loudly in the library and then cower at a death stare from Mr. Reid. These moments were the pulse of our time here. They were the moments that felt as if they could occur, as the saying goes, only at RL. They formed the connective tissue that bound us together, even when we didn’t realize it. And while we shared these implicit memories—the ones that we rarely verbalized but knew all too well—we also forged our brotherhood through many explicit moments. We had our high points: the free-period basketball games on Fridays and the nailbiting wins over Nobles. We certainly had our struggles: reading quizzes where Mr. Beam practically demanded the

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Whatever we ultimately decide to do with our lives, it will be the values instilled in us here that will guide us like a North Star. For while our Jerusalem was here, at 101 Saint Theresa Avenue, geography does not bound the lessons we learned at Roxbury Latin. middle name of Mark Twain’s best friend’s great aunt, and the eight sweaty minutes of each “Ballad of Little Musgrave.” Through it all, though, we smiled; we laughed; we enjoyed the grind. Who could forget the time when, in front of our entire sophomore homeroom, a certain someone suggested donating How To Get Out of Jail to the Prison Book Program? Or the time when another certain someone took off his shirt in the back of

Dr. Wilson’s classroom for no reason at all? We had many laughs here. Together we lived; we grew; and we became men. Soon, though, we will leave this Jerusalem and find ourselves at schools scattered across the country, physically detached from each other and this nurturing city. We will find a world not in the midst of an industrial revolution, like Blake’s England, but a world in its own revolution, with new sets of problems and even darker, more “Satanic Mills.” Whatever we ultimately decide to do with our lives, it will be the values instilled in us here that will guide us like a North Star. For while our Jerusalem was here, at 101 Saint Theresa Avenue, geography does not bound the lessons we learned at Roxbury Latin. We can take the ethos of RL and implant it anywhere, just as Blake sought to do in England. Honesty, accountability, service, truth—that’s the essence of RL. At reunions, in five and ten and twenty years, we will make pilgrimages back home and renew the values first learned here. As we depart this Jerusalem, it would be nice to presume that we, the Class of 2026, were the reason this place was so great.

It would be nice, but foolish. Because what makes this school truly great runs deeper than just one person, one class or any traditional metric of a school’s excellence. The true greatness of this school lies not in the grades we obtain or in the colleges we attend but in its continuity—the continuity of our ideals and traditions, and our shared commitment to preserving them for classes to come. The greatness of this school is walking into the Study Center during “E-block free” and fist-bumping a group of sixies. The greatness of this school is paying attention on Exelauno Day even when you have no clue what’s going on. The greatness of this school is singing “Jerusalem” after every school play. And sing we did. We passed on the traditions. We took this Jerusalem, and we kept building. And in return for our labor, for our tireless hours, for our civic devotion, this place built us. It is only right to conclude this speech, and our time here, by offering many deserved thanks. To our teachers, thank you for making Roxbury Latin the lucky beneficiary of your time and talent. Thank you for coming to our games, our shows, our recitals—for effectively adopting

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a second family here at school. Thank you for spending hours writing advisor letters about us, and then editing those letters, and then editing them some more. Thank you for putting up with our ridiculous tangents when we were too tired to keep learning. Thank you for knowing us and loving us. To our families, thank you for keeping us level-headed along this crazy ride. Thank you for celebrating and taming the highs, and for mourning and then forgetting the lows. Thank you for patiently awaiting pickup times when even we didn’t know when our school days would end. Thank you for embracing RL in its entirety, for encouraging us to do all that we did here. Thank you for making our lives your lives for the past six years. And finally, to my fellow graduates, thank you. I stand here today with the firm conviction that graduating from The Roxbury Latin School will always endure as one of the greatest honors of my life. Because to be associated with Roxbury Latin is to be associated with this great Class of 2026 and to be associated with you, the newly-minted Men of Roxbury. And howsoever far we might venture from this place, we will always hold our little Jerusalem in our hearts. We, forever bound by our shared toiling in these hallowed halls. We few; we happy few; we band of brothers.

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“Happiness Is Love. Full Stop.” commencement address stewart g. thomsen

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As you have probably figured out from Dr. Schaffer’s introduction, I still work here, but my remaining time can be measured in hours, and this is my final major assignment. It has been the greatest honor of my professional life to work at RL, and I am grateful for this opportunity to share a few thoughts with this distinctive collection of boys who will forever be the Roxbury Latin graduating Class of 2026.

That was then, but this is now. Today these boys are the outgoing leaders of varsity teams that are consistently highperformers in post-season play, sometimes winning it all. They are the producers of one of the finest April Fool’s editions of the Tripod in modern memory. They are a group of giant rabbits in The Drowsy Chaperone, swirling around and tossing preternaturally large carrots over their heads in what looked like some madcap version of an ancient agricultural fertility dance.

Perhaps my fellow teachers would agree that if you advise more than 10% of a sixie class, teach two-thirds of them in their first year, and coach a third of them in a sport that same year,

Clearly, we have been enjoying post-pandemic life here at RL as never before. Life has restabilized in a fundamental way; we can just be with one another again. And we may be as close as

you have crossed over the line from incidental contact to full immersion with a class.

we will ever be to truly understanding the post-pandemic world of the 1920’s with its flappers, the Great Gatsby, and a sometime “Live for today for tomorrow we may die” attitude that seems to follow every major pandemic in human history.

The Class of 2026 has exhibited a sometimes zany, often irreverent, sense of humor from the beginning. Picture this: A section of sixie history in P27. It’s cold out, but the windows are wide open, because fresh air is known to ward off the transmission of COVID-19. I complete my 25-step process for bringing the at-home cohort into the Zoom room for this hybrid history class, and now turn to the in-person cohort in the classroom. Each boy looks like a tiny doctor, and they’re all staring at me, marveling at how anyone as old as I am could possibly have completed this technology routine in under five minutes. They were digital natives. I was not. At some point in the lesson, I remember my duty to engage the Zoom cohort. I turn to the screen of rectangles projected on the cart monitor. No masks on those students; they are all Zooming in from the safety of their own homes. I scan the Zoom room and find my advisee, Max, with a smile on his face, so I call on him. Max is now talking, but we can’t hear him. I say: “You need to unmute, Max.” Max is now laughing, but he doesn’t seem to be trying to fix his sound. I repeat my instruction, but now Max’s face is plastered into the upper-right corner of his Zoom screen. All we can see are his two nostrils and his top incisors. I turn to the students who are in-person and say, “He has no idea what we’re doing right now.” The room erupts in laughter. While a part of me is annoyed by this, there is another part of me that is grateful that we can all have a good laugh in a world that has been turned upside down.

As a graduating senior, you are probably wondering: What does my future look like, and how do I set myself up for success? The simple answer is that you get to decide, and that it’s about much more than what you learn in the next four years. If the average person has three different careers that are relatively unrelated in a lifetime, there will be much to learn when you start each of those jobs as well. Learning is a lifelong process. I imagine too that you are feeling some pressure to be highly successful. I know I did at your age. And what I want for you is what I would want for my own kids, which is to be truly happy, and to leave the world a little bit better than you found it. So I am going to suggest a couple of big questions that we can all ask ourselves at any point on our journey, and pass along some thoughts from a few great thinkers as well. The first big question is: To what end are we working? And the second big question is: What makes us truly happy? To consider these questions, I would like to begin with what I will call “The Parable of the Young Man Who Did Not Have Time for Big Questions.” “Time?!” said the young man who did not have time for big questions. “Time is money, and I’m getting on the Finance Bro train, baby. I’ve got a Bloomberg terminal on my dorm room

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desk. I work in New York City three days a week, but I make sure to come back to campus on weekends for the parties. I watch the online recordings of the two gut humanities courses I miss on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I turn up the playback speed to 1.75, usually—2.25 after a couple of Nitro Cold Brews. If I get a text at work that Amazon has delivered a package for me outside my dorm, I call my “Concierge Roommate” who’s an Arts major, and get him to fetch it for me. Because I’m a finance badass! Pretty soon, I’m gonna have a badass watch, and a badass car. If nothing else, I’m gonna have a big-old, badass bank account. And the sooner, the better! After all, what could possibly be more important in life? Indeed. What could possibly be more important in life? This seems like an extreme case, but I have it on good authority from an RL alum who just finished his sophomore year of college that such a cohort exists at his Ivy League school. Now, at one level, everyone understands the impatience of the young man in the parable to make a lot of money. But he sees himself on the get-rich-quick plan to convert his human capital into as much money as possible as quickly as possible. And a lot of young people say, yeah, that’s what I want. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I’d like to have a nice house, a nice car, and to impress someone who I find attractive with my success. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting financial security and nice things in life. Some of you guys will be titans of industry who are going to make a boatload of money. And there’s nothing wrong with that either. The question isn’t whether making money is a good thing or bad thing. Rather, the big questions are what are we putting our knowledge in service to? And what makes us truly happy? I am not here to suggest that you should take a vow of poverty and only do good works for the rest of your days. But it shouldn’t be all about making money at all costs either. The pitch here is a call for balance. To temper the understandable desire to make good money with some other viewpoints that may guide you in how you make some of your money, and how to live a good life. And the good news, again, is that you get to decide.

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I am not here to suggest that you should take a vow of poverty and only do good works for the rest of your days. But it shouldn’t be all about making money at all costs either. The pitch here is a call for balance. I think part of what’s missing from the approach to life of the young man in the parable who doesn’t have time for big questions is that he seems to have turned his back on trying to broaden his ability to learn how to think critically. He has selected what he has heard are the “gut humanities” classes, presumably to get the easy A, and he cranks up the playback speed of those recorded classes as high as he can, rather than taking the time to let the ideas sink in and percolate. Ideas which, at some point, might be important to him, and might help him to distinguish between something of greater or lesser value. And that, at its core, is what an education is. Acquiring the tools to help you see things differently than you would have seen them without these tools. It is really important to continually hone your critical thinking skills. To have a good BS detector. To have the power to see the same phenomenon

in different categories. To have the ability to challenge the way other people name things. You are actually quite good at this already. I see this with my debaters all the time. You do the research, you study the evidence, you listen to counterarguments, and you frame your argument using the old debater’s maxim: “Name it, explain it, prove it, and conclude it.” And the first step is to name it. In a non-confrontational way, as well, you have surely witnessed your advisor use his or her critical thinking skills to help you. You are feeling lost, and you describe for your advisor all that you are feeling and thinking. And then your advisor puts a name to it. And now you are thinking together about the named—its causes, its effects, and its many dimensions.

many different disciplines he studied, “it is desirable in having examined all of them, even to the most superstitious and false, in order to recognize their real worth, and avoid being deceived thereby.” Critical thinking skills help us to cut through some of the fog, and put things into a context that is understandable, so that we can deal with them. And whether we are doing this with professors and peers in the next four years, or colleagues in the workplace beyond, or with our spouse or partner in raising a child, when it comes to the end to which we are working, we can all benefit from spending time working on, honing, and broadening our critical thinking skills. The second big question is: What makes us truly happy?

Critical thinking helps us to discern what fits, and what doesn’t fit, in a given situation. And ultimately, it is one’s own, idiosyncratic understanding of the world that makes us who we are and of value to others. And the broader the range of our experience, the better we get at this. The French philosopher Rene Descartes, reflecting on his own university education, wrote a beautiful articulation of this, where he says of the

And here, we can consider this question in a couple of ways. The first is to look for work in which you experience what psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls a “state of flow,” notes author Susan Cain. “In a state of flow,” Cain writes, “you are neither bored nor anxious, and you don’t question your own adequacy. Hours pass without your noticing.” You have surely

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experienced this before—perhaps in reading a script for a play and imagining what it will look like on stage (that was one of my favorites at your age); or solving a particularly complex math or physics problem (not my jam, but it might be yours); or writing a short story that comes purely from your own imagination. Katalin Karikó, the 2023 Nobel Prize winner, whose breakthroughs in messenger RNA helped create the COVID vaccines that allowed us to finally emerge from our hybrid classrooms, has the best description of “flow” and the importance of “flow” that I have ever read: “... of all my early lessons that prepared me to be a scientist…” she writes, “the most important of all [was that] work and play can bleed into each other, become one and the same, until the very idea of their distinction feels meaningless.” Notice when you experience this, boys. Notice the types of work in which you experience flow. Because doing work in which we experience flow can make us

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deeply happy. But know that, even if we find work in which we experience flow, there will still be aspects of it that are boring and difficult. It doesn’t mean that every task you do will be something you love doing. But it does mean that, boy, when you are really in the weeds with it, you’re not thinking, “oh, what a drag;” you are thinking, “oh man, this is great.” I hope this is a feeling you can connect with often in your work. I started as a school teacher, then went to law school and was on a corporate law track for a time. I was successful as a lawyer and made good money, but I wasn’t truly happy doing it. Returning to teaching was the right decision for me, because it’s what I truly love to do. Sometimes you have to jump ship to be truly happy. The other thing that makes us truly happy is love. Wait now, Mr. Thomsen. What kind of love are we talking about here? There’s the love I have for my grandmother. There’s love for one’s country. The love I have for my dog… Right you are!

meal shared. Giving someone space when they need it. Being a shoulder to cry on when words fail. You have spent the last six years in a school that is built for creating these kinds of friendships, and just remember that new friendships will take time. I believe that the connections we make with other people in the world are what makes us truly happy, and that those who are the most satisfied are the people who do well by doing some good for others. And that means whatever it means to you. It’s a very broad stroke, but it involves connecting with other people. Everyone wants a return on investment, but I believe the most important investments you are ever going to make are in your relationships with other people. At the very end of life, I don’t think any of us will be thinking about how much money we made, the list of awards we won, or the college we attended. I think each of us will be thinking about the people we loved and the people who loved us. The people who made life a little bit better when times were tough. You are surrounded by those people here today—your parents, your grandparents, your siblings, your peers, your teachers. So let me be clear, first with some context. Doctors in the room will recognize the name George Vaillant. He is a psychiatrist who for 30 years ran the Harvard Study of Adult Development, trying to understand, with seven decades of longitudinal data on the same group of men, why some men in the study flourished and enjoyed health and happiness in later life more than others. And he states his core conclusion in five words: “Happiness is love. Full stop.” And the kind of love that he is talking about comes from “warm, trusting relationships.” These can be friendships, family relationships, romantic relationships, and work relationships.

Strike a balance between the pursuit of the good life and broadening and honing your critical thinking skills. Look for work in which you experience flow, and develop warm, trusting relationships with others. Boys, congratulations to you on graduating from The Roxbury Latin School. Parents, congratulations to all of you, as well. This is a day for all of us to be proud of the boys’ accomplishments. Boys, I hope you will come back to see the people at RL and support your old school. This is the last class that I will see graduate as a faculty member, and I am so glad that it was your class. Stay healthy. Work hard. May good luck follow you wherever you go. My very best wishes to all of you.

Developing a warm, trusting friendship takes time—80 to 100 hours says one famous study from the University of Nebraska. Now this doesn’t mean talking to someone for 80 to 100 hours straight. Friendships are built on many things, as you know. A smile offered after a shared ordeal. A text message sent. A

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The powerful and inspiring commencement address was delivered by Stewart Thomsen, Chair of the History Department, who is retiring after 28 years in service to the school. Mr. Thomsen challenged the graduating class to wrestle with two essential questions: to what end are we working, and what makes us truly happy? Drawing on thinkers from Descartes to psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, he cautioned against the single-minded pursuit of wealth—embodied in his “Parable of the Young Man Who Did Not Have Time for Big Questions”—and urged the boys instead to hone their critical thinking, seek work that produces a state of flow, and invest above all in warm, trusting relationships with others. Citing the Harvard Study of Adult Development, he offered the study’s five-word distillation: “Happiness is love. Full stop.” (Read Mr. Thomsen’s full address on page 40.) Following the ceremony’s addresses, Head of School Schaffer and President of the Board of Trustees Ethan Berman ’79 awarded diplomas to the 57 newest alumni of The Roxbury Latin School.

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Class valedictorian, elected by his classmates, was Tom Pogorelec, whose speech drew on William Blake’s poem “Jerusalem” to cast Roxbury Latin as a self-contained city of shared values and to celebrate the brotherhood forged within it. “We can take the ethos of RL and implant it anywhere, just as Blake sought to do in England. Honesty, accountability, service, truth—that’s the essence of RL.” (Read Tom’s complete address on page 34.)

The major Class I awards were presented to three seniors during Closing Exercises: The Richard A. Berenberg Prize—commemorating generosity of spirit and concern for others—was awarded to Teddy Smith. The Class of 1913 Award—given annually to a senior who has made significant contributions to the life of the school—was awarded to Dylan Pan. The William Coe Collar Prize—given annually to the senior whose achievements and contributions are deemed by the faculty as most deserving of recognition—was awarded to Tom Pogorelec.

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The Class of 2026

First Row: Michael Rimas, Chris Vlahos, Tommy Weber, Brayden Gillespie, Michael DiLallo, Richie Federico, Austin Reid, Teddy Smith, Dylan Pan, Dillan Akinc, Mitch Flynn, J.P. Ward, Cole Gustie, Grayson Lee, Auden Duda, Danny Tobin. Second Row: Braden Place, Finn Leary, James Gibbons, Declan Bligh, Simba Makura, Avish Kumar, Gavin Lane, Luca Bene, Denmark Chirunga, Jacob Strojny, Jonathan Loo, Robby O’Shaughnessy, Colin Bradley, Max Kesselheim,

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Mateo Werner, Luke Campanella, Kenneth Foster. Third Row: Tom Pogorelec, Fin Reichard, Nitin Muniappan, Navid Hodjat, Drew Anderson, Nick Glaeser, Marco Suri, Kevin Brennan, Nick Galdo, Chris Lovett, Lincoln Hyatt, Will Archibald, Liam Walsh. Fourth Row: Jordan Bornstein, Khiomany Ortiz, Brian Weeks, Habo Baaj, Oliver Colbert, Aspen Johnson, Simon Albrechtskirchinger, Shane McGoldrick, Ryan Molloy, Preston Bearce, Dylan Massard.

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Class of 2026 College Matriculation Babson College Boston College (3) Boston University (2) Bowdoin College Brown University (4) Colby College (2) Colgate University College of the Holy Cross Connecticut College (2) Cornell University Dartmouth College (2) Elon University Emory University (2) Georgetown University (3) Harvard University (4) McGill University New York University Northeastern University (2) Ohio State University

Pitzer College Providence College Purdue University Rutgers University Trinity College Tufts University (3) Tulane University (2) UNC Chapel Hill Union College University of Chicago University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania (2) Vanderbilt University Wake Forest University Washington University in St. Louis (2) Yale University Accurate as of July 9, 2026

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The Drowsy Chaperone T HIS S PR ING R L BROU GH T TO L I FE T H E C L A S S I C M U S I CA L W I TH I N A M U SI CA L AND ITS ANTIS OCIAL, T H E AT E R - O B S E S S E D , “M A N I N C H A IR” N A RRATO R.

On March 6 and 7, actors and crew brought to life their rendition of The Drowsy Chaperone—Roxbury Latin’s winter musical. Written by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, the RL production was directed by Director of Dramatics Matt Phillips. In “a loving send-up of the frivolously inconsequential stage musicals of the Jazz Age, a fan known only as Man in Chair gives a spin to the original cast recording of one such musical, providing the audience with amusing minutiae about the play and the players.” (Broadway playbill synopsis) The winter musical was the result of a community effort, hard work, and long nights from boys, faculty, and staff alike. It also served as a fun, light-hearted musical contrast to the serious, dramatic production of Death of a Salesman this fall.

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The Frogs: A Modern Adaptation O N M AY 8 AND 9, R L PR E S E N T E D T H I S Y E A R ’ S JU N I O R P L AY, “ TH E F RO G S: A M O D ERN AD A PTATION” BY DON ZO L I D I S . T H E P L AY FO L LOWS D I O N YSU S A S H E VEN TU RES I N TO HADE S TO R ES CU E S H A KE S P E A R E , WH E R E H E E N C O U N T E R S A SWA RM O F P O P C U LTU RELOVING F ROGS , ADAP T E D FRO M A R I STO P H A N E S ’ C L A S S I C SATI RE. TH E P RO D U CTI O N FEATU R ED ACTOR S F RO M C L A S S I V, V, A N D V I , A N D WA S D I RECTED BY A N D REW W H I TE ’ 1 8 .

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Holiday Concert Rings in Winter Season Roxbury Latin vocalists filled Rousmaniere Hall with sounds of the season during the annual Holiday Concert on December 19. Glee Club and the Latonics kicked off the night with a first-act of folk songs and classical tunes, followed by holiday favorites from Junior Chorus. After intermission, the Latonics and Glee Club returned to the stage to end the night with a festive set of popular and classical holiday songs.

watch the latonics hall performance using your phone to scan the qr code:

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Instrumentalists Take the Stage

Guitar Ensemble and Jazz Combo Rock Smith Theater On April 1, Roxbury Latin’s Guitar Ensemble and Jazz Combo took the Smith Theater stage for a rocking afternoon Hall. Guitar Ensemble led off with Perfect by the Ed Sheeran, followed by Jazz Combo’s rendition of A Foggy Day by George and Ira Gershwin, and concluding with the Jazz Band’s Dorian Journey by Doug Beach and George Shutack, Misty Day by Christopher Norton, and Bruno Mars’s Uptown Funk.

watch guitar ensemble and jazz combo by using your phone to scan the qr code:

On April 16, several RL musicians showcased their instrumental talents during the final Recital Hall of the school year. The program included six perfomances— Benedetto Marcello’s Flute Sonata in F major with Kolby Sahin (III) on piano and Kabir Kumar (V) on flute; a piano arrangement of Alex Warren’s Ordinary by Andrew Krammer (IV); Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 27, No. 2 “Jacques Thibaud” by Eugène Ysaÿe featuring Alvin Li (II) on violin; Air, from Orchestral Suite No. 3 by Johann Sebastian Bach with Grayson Lee (I) on trumpet, Max Kesselheim (I) on violin, and Marco Suri (I) on piano; Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, featuring Kenneth Foster (I) on cello; and Ballade No. 2 in F major op. 38 by Frédéric Chopin, featuring Marco Suri (I) on piano.

watch the recital hall performances by using your phone to scan the qr code:

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Glee Club Goes West Over spring break, the Glee Club traveled to San Francisco on its annual tour. The boys participated in choral exchanges with the students of Convent & Stuart Hall Schools of the Sacred Heart and the men of the Golden Gate Men’s Chorus, as well as several additional performances and a masterclass at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Dr. David Conte. Outside of singing, the boys found time to enjoy the warm weather and go sightseeing at several San Fran staples such as Alcatraz, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Golden Gate Park.

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AC Fest 2026 On April 10, fans packed the Smith Theater for A Cappella Fest 2026. Performing alongside the incredible talents of the Trinity College Accidentals (featuring Ryan Miller ’25), the Brown University Derbies (featuring Bruno Kim ’25), and Mr. Opdycke and Mr. Piper as members of Similar Jones, The Latonics took the stage with an eclectic set of folk ballads and pop favorites.

watch the ac fest 2026 performances by using your phone to scan the qr code:

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RL Gets the Bang Bang Experience On February 19, Roxbury Latin hosted The Bang Bang Experience—a seven-piece brass band from Portland, Oregon. At the end of the upbeat, energetic performance, students and adults were invited to participate in a chant exercise that the band does before every show, inspired by one of the band member’s childhood experiences in Madagascar. The concert was made possible by the Andrew Daland ’46 Memorial Concert Fund, which brings a musical concert to Roxbury Latin each year in Andrew’s memory.

Improv Shakespeare Visits Smith Theater On February 6, Roxbury Latin hosted this year’s Berman Artist, The Improvised Shakespeare Company—a Chicago-based improv group that performs entire Shakespeare-inspired plays based on audience suggestions. The trio of visiting actors delighted students during Hall with a completely original and unplanned show, “The Spear,” and later perfomed for parents and faculty at the February Flurry. The Claire Berman Artist in Residence Fund was established in 2005 by Ethan Berman ’79 and his wife, Fiona Hollands, in honor of Ethan’s mother. This endowed fund brings to the school annually a distinguished figure or figures in the arts—such as Christopher Lloyd in Death of a Salesman, Tovah Feldshuh, and the troupe of The American Shakespeare Center; as well as poet laureate Billy Collins; singer/songwriter Livingston Taylor; and renowned jazz singer Jane Monheit. In 2024 RL welcomed a cappella group King’s Return, and last year magician Harrison Kramer.

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Student Art Showcase During the week of April 13, RL hosted a student art showcase and reception, featuring work from boys of all grades, from each of the various visual art course offerings—from mixed media to portraits, from photography to woodworking. A reception celebration took place at the end of the week to celebrate the work of the students and faculty.

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Class of 2026 Honored at Senior Concert On April 24, RL celebrated the Class of 2026 in the annual Senior Concert. The Glee Club opened the night, followed by a threesong set from the Junior Chorus, while the Latonics’ two-part lineup included traditional pieces and pop favorites. Class I chose Lean On Me by Bill Withers, for its senior send-off, which featured several members of the class as soloists. Kenneth Foster (I) sang the solo for the night’s penultimate number, Lift Every Voice, and keeping with tradition, the evening concluded with the Glee Club joined by Junior Chorus and alumni singing The Founder’s Song.

watch the senior concert by using your phone to scan the qr code:

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Instrumental Concert On May 15, RL’s instrumentalists finished the year by treating an audience of family, friends, and faculty to an evening doubleheader—starting with chamber music in Rousmaniere Hall, and ending with jazz, rock, and pop on the Smith Theater stage.

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Winter Family Night O N JANUARY 30, CROWD S O F ST U D E N TS , FA M I L I E S , AND ALU MNI PACKED H E N N E S SY R I N K, T H E M C N AY PAL AESTR A, AND THE GO R D O N FI E L D H O U S E FO R ATHLE TIC CONTESTS R A N GI N G FRO M FO U RT H BAS K E TBALL AND THI R D H O C KE Y TO A T R I O O F VARS ITY MATCHU PS .

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Crowding the Podium ROXBU RY LATIN’ S VARS I T Y WR E ST L I N G T E A M , L E D BY DR . ART BEAU R EG A R D , C O N T I N U E D TO P ROV E ITS COM PETITIVE STA N D I N G WI T H A S U C C E S S FU L SEA S ON, INCLU DING TO P P E R FO R M A N C E S AT M A JO R TOU R NAM E NTS , AND A 2 N D P L AC E I S L FI N I S H .

Roxbury Latin’s Varsity Wrestling team finished the season with an excellent record, losing only to two teams in a schedule that saw it face 26 opponents. The team competed in the annual Graves-Kelsey ISL Championship Tournament, the New England Prep Wrestling Championship, and the National Prep Wrestling Championship, where it continued to earn top finishes, with several of RL’s wrestlers placing in one or more of the tournaments, contributing to the team’s impressive overall results. In the Graves-Kelsey Tournament, the team placed 2nd overall, with almost all of RL’s competing wrestlers placing in the top six. The results from the tournament are as follows, and depict finishes in the wrestlers’ respective weight classes: 1st – Casey Chiang (II), Declan Bligh (I), Michael Rimas (I) 2nd – Everett Bluman (IV), Charlie Holt (II), Navid Hodjat (I) 3rd – Luke Kern (II), David Comander (II) 4th – Emir Zaloglu (IV), Alvin Li (II) 5th – Teddy Smith (I), Chris Yeh (IV) 6th – Rory Kelly (III) The team then traveled to the New England Prep Wrestling Championships at Greens Farms Academy, where they placed 5th out of 44 teams. The results for this tournament are as follows:

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1st – Declan Bligh 4th – Everett Bluman 5th – Casey Chiang, Luke Kern 6th – Charlie Holt, Navid Hodjat Continuing on with its success, six members of the team traveled to the National Prep Wrestling Tournament at Lehigh University. The six members, Declan, Everett, Casey, Luke, Charlie, and Navid, represented a high total number of RL wrestlers who qualified for the tournament. Each member competed with determination and athleticism, and Declan finished the tournament in 3rd place in his weight class, earning him an AllAmerican designation and securing Roxbury Latin’s best finish at the National tournament since 2009. Declan will attend Harvard College beginning in the fall, where he will be a member of the wrestling team. Roxbury Latin’s Varsity Wrestling proves its competitive status each year with a deep roster and winning record. The team was led this year by seven seniors: Captains Auden Duda, Michael Rimas, and Navid Hodjat, as well as Brayden Gillespie, Teddy Smith, Michael DiLallo, and Declan Bligh.

Spring Family Day O N M AY 2, ROXBU RY L AT I N FA M I L I E S , FR I E N D S , AND ALU MNI CELE BR AT E D S P R I N G FA M I LY D AY WITH AN AF TE R NOON O F BA R B E C U E A N D VA R S I T Y C ONTESTS .

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A Strong Finish VARS ITY TENNIS ONCE AGA I N E A R N E D I TS T I C KE T TO THE NEW ENG LAND C L A S S B C H A M P I O N S H I P AFTER DE F EATING DE X T E R - S O U T H FI E L D 4 - 0 I N T HE QUARTE R F INALS A N D KI N GS WO O D OX FO R D 4-0 IN THE S EMIF INAL S . T H E T E A M U LT I M AT E LY LO ST THE CHAM PIONSH I P RO U N D 4 - 1 , B U T OV E R ALL M AINTAINED I TS STA N D I N G I N S E C O N D P LACE AS A STRONG, C O M P E T I T I V E T E A M WI T H I N T HE IS L AND NE W E NGL A N D .

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Winter Varsity Teams

Varsity Wrestling — First row: Auden Duda (Captain), Michael DiLallo, Alvin Li, Peter Mohan, Everett Bluman, Charles Wang, Navid Hodjat (Captain), Michael Rimas (Captain), Teddy Smith, Jacob Lando, Casey Chiang, Christopher Yeh, Emir Zaloglu, Chris Eaton, Henry Collier. Second row: John Hall (Coach), Beckham Holley (Manager), Michael Corley, John Cirasuolo, Henry Grossman, Aldo Ruscito, Alex Archerman, Solon Estes, Charlie Holt, Brayden Gillespie, Flynn Hall, Gabe Neeley, Romeo Borgida, David Comander, Teddy LaFond, Rory Kelly, Luke Kern, Dr. Art Beauregard (Head Coach) (Missing: Declan Bligh, Warren Hu, Sebastian May, Tomas Werning)

Varsity Hockey — First row: John Devine, Nolan Cahill, T.J. Thornton, Chris Lovett, Cole Gustie, Luke Campanella (Captain), Shane McGoldrick (Captain), Will Archibald, Dylan Pan, Joe Meade, Thomas Stanton, Lucas Dolan. Second row: Mo Randall (Coach), Ryan Guden, Brian Whitecross, Kevin Greene, Bruce Ghostlaw, Peter Shaughnessy, Cam Brown, Ryan Molloy, Tanner Oberg, James Hamlin, Cam Franzosa, Cam Cataruzolo, Thomas Mattera, Robert Flaherty, Dave Cataruzolo (Head Coach).

Varsity Basketball — First row: James Skeffington, Jackson Perri, Nitin Muniappan, Jordan Bornstein (Captain), Thomas Quinlan (Captain), Andre DaSilva, Chase Sullivan, Michael Quinlan. Second row: Sean Spellman (Head Coach), Ethan Budreau, Lucas Mashikian, Owen Finn, Connor Hynes, Omar Baaj, Jack Cassidy, Michael Clark (Manager), Caleb Frehywot (Manager).

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Runners, Up T HE ROXBU RY LATIN VA R S I T Y T R AC K & FI E L D T E A M CAPPE D OF F ANOTHE R O U TSTA N D I N G S E A S O N WI T H IMPR ES S IVE PE R FOR MA N C E S AT BOT H T H E L E AGU E AND NATIONAL LEVE L S . T H E FOX E S FI N I S H E D S E C O N D AT THE IS L CHAM PION S H I P S A N D T H E N E W E N GL A N D C HAMPIONS HIPS , WITH AT H L E T E S AC RO S S A L L E V E N TS C ONTR IBU TING TO ON E O F T H E P RO GR A M ’ S M O ST SUCCE S S F U L CAM PAI GN S I N R E C E N T M E M O RY.

Among the season’s top performers was James Kerr (II), who established himself as one of Massachusetts’ premier distance runners. James claimed ISL championships in both the 800-meter and 1,500-meter races, breaking the school record in the latter event. In recognition of his exceptional achievements, he received the Outstanding Track Performer Award from ISL head coaches and was later named a Boston Globe All-Scholastic athlete, an honor reserved for the state’s best high school competitors as selected by league coaches. James also played a key role in the success of Roxbury Latin’s Varsity Cross Country program this year. The team celebrated additional individual and relay accomplishments. Fin Reichard (I) captured an ISL title in the pole vault, clearing 13 feet to secure the championship. Another school record was earned in the 4×400-meter relay, as Navid Hodjat (I),

Richie Federico (I), Drew Anderson (I) and Toby Harrison (II) combined for a noteworthy performance. Contributions from athletes across the roster—including Jack Kelly (III), Kolby Sahin (III), Nate Kelly (III), Chase Sullivan (III), Omar Baaj (III), Flynn Hall (II), Nitin Muniappan (I), Nick Galdo (I), Brian Weeks (I), Liam Walsh (I), and Colin Bradley (I)—helped propel the team to its impressive finishes. Even after the official season concluded, several Roxbury Latin athletes continued competing on the national stage. Nate, Andrew Giordano (II), Drew, James, Navid, and Richie qualified for the Nike Outdoor National Championships based on their performances throughout the season. The highlight came in the Sprint Medley Relay, where Nate, Andrew, Drew, and James earned a seventh-place finish and All-American honors.

Spring Varsity Teams

Varsity Track and Field — First row: Kenneth Foster, Marco Suri, Brayden Gillespie, Max Kesselheim, Grayson Lee, Nick Glaeser, Navid Hodjat, Brian Weeks, Richie Federico (Captain), Drew Anderson (Captain), Nitin Muniappan (Captain), Fin Reichard, Liam Walsh, Luca Bene, Simba Makura, Nick Galdo, Colin Bradley, Lincoln Hyatt, Austin Reid. Second row: Jamie Morris-Kliment (Coach), Chris Heaton (Coach), Toby Harrison, Casey Chiang, Temi Martins Dosumu, Chris Eaton, Andrew Giordano, Louie Baumal-Bardy, Zach Beaver, James Kerr, Flynn Hall, Paul Tompros, Alec Bleday (Coach), Matt Kerr (Coach), Erin Dromgoole (Head Coach). Third row: Omar Baaj, Desmond Butler, Sid Chopra, Joe Raposo, Kolby Sahin, Julian Vidal, Romeo Borgida, Abdoulaye Bangura, Nate Kelly, Jack Kelly, Caiden Crowley, Michael Corley, Rory Kelly, Teddy LaFond. Fourth row: Blake Sundel (Coach), Charles Wang, Anthony Wallace, Guled Rashid, Rowan Bush, Charlie Malley, Christopher Yeh , Leo Venanzi, Max Gaeto, Solon Estes, Lyle Watson, Bruce Lynch (Coach). (Missing: Oliver Colbert, Henry Collier, Caleb Frehywot, Jayden Hall, Andrew Kramer, Chase Sullivan, Chris Vlahos)

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Varsity Lacrosse — First row: Michael DiLallo, Declan Bligh, Finn Leary, Ryan Molloy, Robby O’Shaughnessy, Tommy Weber (Captain), Kevin Brennan (Captain), Jacob Strojny, Chris Lovett, Auden Duda, Preston Bearce, Mateo Werner. Second row: Ben Spencer (Coach), Elliot Sawyer-Kaplan (Coach), Daniel DiLallo, Seerohn Vithiananthan, Isaac Hertzog, Dylan Kelly, Finn Keohane, Will Erhard, Matthew Young, Liam Millsom, Thomas Mitchell, Will Sutton, Thomas Mattera, Arjun Bhandari, Liam Walsh, Ryan Guden, Chris Brown (Head Coach), Kyle Danehy (Coach). (Missing: Grant Hedgepeth, Devin Jamal, T.J. Thornton)

Varsity Baseball — First row: James Skeffington, Ben Samuels, Andrew Plante, Braden Place (Captain), James Gibbons (Captain), Jonathan Loo, Colin Roache, John Devine. Second row: Dave Cataruzolo (Head Coach), Nolan Cahill, Brian Whitecross, Cam Cataruzolo, Anthony Faletra, Patrick Long, Iggy Robinson, Ethan Frank, Ajay Devendran, Jack Cassidy, Tommy Cloutier, Steve August (Coach).

Varsity Tennis — Sid Chalamalasetty, Kevin Song, Eric Archerman, Tom Pogorelec (Captain), Avish Kumar (Captain), Tanner Oberg, Nayan Patel, James Ding, Ousmane Diop (Head Coach).

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ALUMNI

Reunion 2026 O N M AY 2, ALU M NI, FAC U LT Y, A N D FR I E N D S GATHER ED ON S PR ING FA M I LY D AY TO H O N O R RECE NTLY R E TIR E D FAC U LT Y M E M B E R S PAU L S U GG AND HU NTER WHITE A S T H E S C H O O L ’ S N E WE ST MASTER S E M E R ITI IN S C I E N C E A N D FR E N C H . T H AT EVE NING, ALU M NI F ROM A L L C L A S S E S R E T U R N E D TO CAMPU S FOR R EU NION D I N N E R .

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Young Alumni Holiday Party

On December 19, recent graduates returned to Alma Mater, reuniting with classmates and members of Class I in the Great Hall.

December 26: Alumni Hockey Game

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Events

Thank you to our alumni who joined us at our winter and spring events! December 19: Young Alumni Holiday Party December 26: Alumni Hockey Game January 30: Winter Family Night February 26: Boston Investors Alumni Networking March 16: Los Angeles Alumni Reception March 18: San Francisco Alumni Reception March 30: Entrepreneurs Alumni Networking Event April 10: Planned Giving Webinar (Virtual) April 14: Spring Alumni Luncheon April 23: Public Service Alumni Networking (Virtual) April 26: Tax & Estate Planning Fundamentals Alumni (Virtual) April 29: D.C. Alumni Reception May 1-2: Reunion Weekend May 25: Commercial Real Estate Alumni Networking June 22: Alumni Council Golf Outing

Spring Alumni Luncheon

On April 14, seniors joined RL alumni at the Harvard Club of Boston for the Spring Alumni Luncheon. The day’s guest speaker was David Beeston P’30 CEO of Pursuit Sports, and Former Chief Strategy Officer for the Boston Red Sox.

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Hitting the Links O N J U NE 22, THE R L COM M U N I T Y H I T T H E LINK S AT THE G E OR GE WR I GH T GO L F C O U R S E

Save the Date 2s and 7s

reunion 2027

friday & saturday, may 14–15

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Save the Date for Homecoming & Fall Family Day S AT UR D AY, O CTO B E R 24

Mark Your Calendars For our fall events

Founder’s Day Pub Night Thursday, November 5 Location TBD

NYC Alumni Reception Thursday, November 12 The Yale Club of NYC

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Class Notes 1961

Richard Alan Lewis is enjoying a quiet retirement after 50 years in academic medicine, as Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Molecular and Human Genetics, Ophthalmology, Pediatrics, and Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas.

1963

Retired pediatrician David Scheff ’63 and his former patient Jordan Bornstein ’26 recognized each other and had a chance to reconnect at this spring’s Alumni Luncheon at the Harvard Club. 1

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1969

In 2025, Douglas Quine published his autobiography, My First 75 Years, which recounts a life of learning and research across eight careers, including environmental acoustics, hearing research, radar studies of bird migration, postal automation, digital document delivery, anthrax detection, innovation, and program management. “In my free time I’ve visited all 50 of the United States and 65 countries across all seven continents,” says Douglas. “Along the way I’ve been mentored by an extraordinary range of people and gained insights into topics from

artificial intelligence and bird navigation to the Zambezi River.”

1970

Ed Curley reports, “Our first two grandchildren have arrived—Charlotte on February 27, and Penelope on March 30. What a joy!”

1973

On April 9, Bob McTighe attended a special concert at The Rivers Conservatory featuring Camerata Strings with guest violinist Stefan Jackiw ’03, winner of the prestigious Avery 2

Fisher Career Grant. “Stefan’s playing was brilliant and a treat to enjoy,” says Bob. “Even with a mere 30 years between our graduating classes, Stefan and I immediately bonded over RL stories after his performance. We hope to meet at an upcoming reunion with our classes being on the same cycle. It’s truly worth the effort to hear Stefan play if you have the opportunity!”

1976 3

Fred Kenney, John Connors, Pete

Howard, and St. Seb’s alumnus Howie Sylvester golfed together at the Old Course at St. Andrew’s, Scotland, in addition to five other courses in Scotland and two in England over seven days. Says John: “We had a great time golfing, with minimal embarrassment, and we learned how welcoming the Scots are before the Tartan Army arrived in Boston.”

London’s historic West End. They shared a few pints and a few laughs, trading stories about Sludge Labs, RL sports, and everything in between. Pictured left to right are John Madden ’92, Harry Lonergan ’23, Frank Lonergan ’21, Fred Kenney ’76, and Brett Alessi ’94.

1981

John Kenney’s most recent novel, I See You’ve Called In Dead, was released in paperback this summer and is a national bestseller, appearing on NPR’s list of 5

Five alumni spanning as many decades put together a London Pub Night on February 12 at the Devonshire Arms in 4

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“Books We Love” and being named a Gotham Book Prize finalist.

1983

George Theodore, orthopaedic surgeon, was proud to be part of the New England Patriots’ medical staff at Super Bowl LX on February 8 in Santa Clara, California. 6

1984

Ian Gershengorn, a partner at Jenner & Block, was named The National Law Journal’s 2025 D.C. Attorney of the Year. The honor recognizes a Washington, D.C.based attorney who has made significant contributions to the profession and in the law beyond client service in the past year. “As co-chair of Jenner & Block’s Appellate and Supreme Court practice, Ian

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demonstrates strong versatility and impact. Beyond client service, Ian mentors the next generation of lawyers and teaches a seminar on the Roberts Court at Harvard Law School.”

1985

John Murphy retired in 2024 after 35 years in investment management (30 of which he spent at Wellington Management), and he is now a life and career coach, volunteer, collector, and investor looking to pay it forward.

2002

The Atlantic recently announced several new roles and promotions in the newsroom which included Jamie Kirchick as a contributing writer. Jamie has written for The Atlantic as a freelancer since 2008. 7

The Atlantic’s press release described Jamie as “a brilliant thinker who has written with verve and a notable fearlessness on a wide range of topics, including American and European politics, illiberal regimes, and the historical origins of today’s political movements. With typical relentlessness, he recently secured one of the last interviews with the now-late Barney Frank, and wrote about the Democratic congressman’s final message to his party.” Jamie is the author of The End of Europe and of Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington and has previously written for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, among other publications.

2005

Zack Ciccolo, Garrett Spitzer, and Steve Hepburn enjoyed brunch together in 8

Coolidge Corner this winter with some of their spouses and children. Emil Pitkin’s translation of The Penny is Gone—his grandfather’s memoir of antisemitism in the Soviet Union—was published by Ben Yehuda Press in May. 9

2008

Richie Iskra and Tatum’s son, Robin Joseph, turned two years old in March, and is finally getting some due recognition in the RL Newsletter!

2009

This spring, Brendan Hanrahan was appointed to replace the top U.S. diplomat to Europe by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Assuming the title of Senior Bureau Official, Brendan was appointed

to serve in an acting capacity while a Senate-confirmed assistant secretary is yet to be named. In the announcement, Senior Foreign Service Officer Louis Bono wrote to staffers, “Brendan brings valuable experience from the private sector and the Senate, where he served on the secretary’s staff, making him well poised to lead the bureau through the reorganization and to successfully advance the Secretary’s agenda throughout Europe and beyond.” Brendan’s private sector work includes roles at Bain Capital on the North America Private Equity team and at McKinsey & Company. 10 On February 6 through 8, Guy

“Woody” Tunnicliffe (captain), Seth McNay ’13, and Dan Wang ’13 competed as a three-man team in the 35th Annual U.S. National Toboggan Championships

at the Camden Snow Bowl in Camden, Maine. “Though we did not bring home a trophy, great fun was had by all, and we hope to return next year!” says Woody.

2010

11 Alex Pellegrini and his wife, Kaitlyn,

welcomed daughter Dia Lynn Pellegrini on May 9. Dia joins big brother, Lou, in bringing lots of fun and noise to the Pellegrini home. 12 Josh Rappaport’s directorial debut, The

Fallow Few, takes place in December 1916, on the Western Front, as a disillusioned soldier, tasked with guarding British deserters on death row, disobeys his superiors to save his latest charge’s life at the eleventh hour. The film, based on a true story, won the Audience Award for Best

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International Film at Sedona International Film Festival, and the SIFF Directors’ Award for Best Independent Film. The film previously won Best Actor, Best Story, and Best Emerging Filmmaker at the Boston Film Festival, as well as Best First Feature at Mike Newell’s Kingston International Film Festival, and Best Director at the Toronto Independent Film Festival.

2016

Chris Rota is engaged to be married to Jaqueline Cuccurullo on October 24, 2026.

2020

13 RL boys and chaperones traveling

to San Francisco for the annual spring break Glee Club tour in March were lucky enough to receive a personal tour of semiconductor start-up Etched Ai, in

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San Jose, by the company’s co-founder Chris Zhu.

2021

14 Quinn Donovan ran the Boston

Marathon this spring in an incredibly impressive 2:34:09 (that’s 5:53 per mile)! 15 Frankie Lonergan and Harry

Lonergan ’23 attended the men’s hockey gold medal game during this year’s winter Olympics in Cortina, where the United States beat Canada 2-1 in an historic bout.

2024

16 On March 6, The Strand Theater in

Providence hosted the Thank You PVD Benefit Concert, an initiative envisioned and executed by two Brown students,

including Theo Coben. “In the wake of the tragic December 13 shooting, the Providence community showed up for Brown University. Now, the students are showing up for Providence.” Many members of the community came together for the musical event, donating space and resources, while Theo organized student artists, speakers, and other logistics. All proceeds from ticket sales and donations were given to the Brown Loves Providence campaign, which supports local residents and small businesses.

Debugging Success JACOB TJADE N ’ 22 WI N S P R E ST I GI O U S N AT I O N A L S CIENCE FOU NDAT I O N GR A D UAT E R E S E A R C H F ELLOW S HIP. THE C O M P U T E R S C I E N C E M A JO R P L A N S TO TACKLE COM P L E X P RO B L E M S I N S O FT WA R E E NGINEER ING AT C O L U M B I A . R E P R I N T E D W I T H P E RM IS S ION FROM COLBY COLLEGE AU T H O R : A B I G A I L CURTIS , PH OTOGRA PH ER: A S H LEY CONTI

A Colby senior with a gift for computers and an unflagging work ethic has won a prestigious graduate research fellowship from the National Science Foundation.

significant funding, including a $37,000 annual stipend for three years, and boasts alumni who include more than 50 Nobel laureates.

Jacob Tjaden, a computer science major who plans to study software engineering at Columbia University, competed against the nation’s top STEM scholars in order to win the fellowship, widely considered the gold standard for early-career STEM students in the United States. He was selected for his potential to make contributions to the field of software engineering.

“Jacob is a very driven student,” said Naser Al Madi, associate professor of computer science. “From even the first course I taught him, he was committed to excellence.”

Jacob is one of five undergraduate awardees in computer science who come from a liberal arts college, rather than a large research university, and one of three total awardees in software engineering research. His professors are proud, though not surprised, that Jacob has been recognized in this way. The fellowship provides

In his time at Colby, Jacob has stood out for many reasons, including his interest in research and his intellectual curiosity. He spent two summers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where he participated in highly competitive NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates Fellowships, one in software engineering and one in human-computer interaction. He completed his senior honors thesis as a junior, something that had not been done in the Computer Science Department for more than a decade.

Jacob has also authored five publications, including a study on machine learning policies that won an international undergraduate computing research competition in Ottawa, Canada, last year. “Jacob came in from day 1 being motivated,” said Stephanie Taylor, professor and chair of computer science. “He embraces all areas of computer science, has an interest in doing cool things, and a willingness to plan. To me, that’s one of the most exciting things about him. He comes up with a really good idea and then executes it.”

A long-standing interest Jacob’s interest in computer science began when he was very young. His father, Brian Tjaden, is a professor of computational biology and computer science at Wellesley College, which helped expose him to computers and technology from an early age. As a high school student, he took a

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‘He embraces all areas of computer science, has an interest in doing cool things, and a willingness to plan. To me, that’s one of the most exciting things about him. He comes up with a really good idea and then executes it.’ Stephanie Taylor, Colby Professor and Chair of Computer Science

coding and engineering class and had his first experience with programming. “I loved it and went above and beyond, spending time practicing coding,” Jacob said. “I knew that I was really interested in computer science. Pursuing it here has been so fun. I’ve really enjoyed the problem-solving and the creativity involved in writing programs. And studying computer science more broadly has been just intellectually stimulating, and I’ve really enjoyed it.” For Jacob, Colby was also the right choice because of the opportunities he found here beyond the Computer Science Department. He volunteered as a campus orientation leader and played Ultimate Frisbee on the College’s club team, which competes in tournaments across New England and beyond. He was a captain of the club during his senior year. “It’s been a really great time and a core part of my college experience,” he said. Jacob also minored in both math and economics.

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“Econ, especially, is just a different interest of mine that I’ve really enjoyed,” the student said. “That’s totally been part of the liberal arts experience, just getting the opportunity to take different classes and find some that I’m really into. What I like about economics is that it has a highly applied nature, with real-world problems.”

Seeking to make an impact As an undergraduate, Jacob has worked on projects that will help distinguish humans from AI, democratize machine learning, and improve transparency in models traditionally viewed as “black boxes,” he said. When he approached Al Madi to ask whether he would advise him on his honors thesis, with the idea of using software engineering to train students to develop a better coding style, the professor didn’t hesitate. “The bar is super high for me to take on a student, especially for a thesis,” Al Madi said. “But it was an easy decision with

Jacob because I know his technical skills and his work during the summer.” For his thesis, Jacob built an online platform to help introductory computer science students improve their code comprehension and debugging skills. In the programming world, poor quality code is known as a “code smell.” Embracing the metaphor, Jacob named his platform Fishy—a tool designed to help students sniff out and fix errors efficiently. He also compared the platform to an existing code analyzer that’s often used in the industry. “We found that Fishy far and away helped people improve their code faster,” Jacob said. “The other thing we measured was whether people learn better from it. We found that learning was pretty equal across the board. So Fishy was better in the moment at helping you fix the code, but learning-wise, it was not necessarily better.” Through the experience, he learned a great deal and looks forward to building on that knowledge in graduate school. Through the NSF research grant, which funds an individual rather than a specific project, Jacob will have greater freedom to choose his research direction. “I think I thrive on, and really enjoy, having the independence and being able to push projects in the direction that I find interesting. I like to ask deeper, difficult questions that don’t have an obvious answer,” he said. “I am also really drawn to the idea of solving tough problems in some way that helps people, or contributes to human knowledge, or pushes what’s possible for technology.”

Regional Recognition for RL’s Chief Cheerleader This winter, Tobey O’Brien was honored with the 2026 Individual Achievement Award, in the Chief Executive Leadership category, by the CASE District I Cabinet. Tobey spent 17 years at Roxbury Latin, joining in 2006 and retiring in 2023. She served as Director of the Annual Fund for 15 years and transitioned to Director of Development for two years, while still running the Annual Fund. She continues to remain involved at Roxbury Latin, helping with special projects and facilitating the transition of development leadership. As her nomination read: “For 17 years, Tobey was the chief cheerleader on behalf of our Annual Fund, and by extension the mission it helps to realize. In the years in which Tobey headed the Annual Fund, the Fund grew from $1.7 million to $4.8 million. Having sent her own two sons to Roxbury Latin, she believes fervently in its mission. Tobey worked tirelessly on behalf of the school, managing all of our parent and alumni volunteers, overseeing the execution of all of our fundraising events (and many other school functions), and forging close relationships with alumni and parents across generations. Whatever Tobey does, she does with great attention to detail, style, and class.” A celebration honoring Tobey and other award honorees was held at the CASE District I & II Conference in Boston in February.

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IN MEMORIAM

In Memoriam John Eliot Spofford ’50

At age 94, John Spofford passed away peacefully on January 27, with family by his side. Born in Wellesley Hills, John attended Wellesley High School and Roxbury Latin, “cherishing fond memories of his time at RL and valuing the education he received there.” John entered Harvard in the Class of 1954, though his education was interrupted by service in the Korean War in the Army Medical Service as a Senior Medical Technician and ambulance driver. After graduating from Harvard in 1955, John began a career with the Claim Department of New England Mutual Life Insurance Company. An acknowledged expert in the fields of Life and Health Claims, he was frequently called upon to represent his employer in claim litigation throughout the country. He retired as a Claim Officer in 1996.

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John was a member of the Harvard Club of Boston, The Faculty Club, the Boston Athenaeum, and the New England Claim Association. He closely followed the Boston sports scene and was not wild about those “other” teams from New York. He was also a great supporter of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

his nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, and their children— John’s great-grandnieces and greatgrandnephews—of the next generation. According to John’s wishes, he was cremated, and his ashes were spread in his niece Betsy’s apple orchard in Montana.

John was a smart, generous, kind, and thoughtful man. Family and friends were important to him. He never lost his sparkling wit or his crystal-clear memory. Just prior to his death, John enthusiastically read a 600-page history of China! Up to his final days he loved recounting detailed events from his childhood in Wellesley and humorous stories about his lovable (and sometimes quirky) aunts and uncles.

Lieutenant Colonel John Michael “Jack” Hey, USMC (Ret.), 91, passed away peacefully at his residence in White Post, Virginia, on June 28, surrounded by the comfort of his home and the love of his family.

Huncle, as he was affectionately called by some of his family, is survived by

John Hey ’52

Born in Lawrence, MA, Jack grew up with a passion for leadership, working as a camp counselor and enjoying canoeing in his youth. After RL he attended Harvard, where he earned his degree in economics and participated in the Navy ROTC program. He later

Jack is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 69 years, Marie Kathryn Hey; by his three daughters Susan, Diane, and Julia (and her husband, John); and by his cherished grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, nephews and niece.

Peter Tulloch ’55

John Hey ’52

earned his master’s degree from the U.S. Navy Post Graduate School. A proud and distinguished veteran, Jack dedicated his career to the United States Marine Corps, serving honorably during the Vietnam War. Over his decorated military career, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was awarded two Bronze Stars for his meritorious service and bravery. Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, Jack continued to exemplify the values of duty, honor, and devotion in every aspect of his life. Jack was a devout man of faith and a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, as well as a dedicated brother in the Knights of Columbus. An active individual, he spent his free time golfing, hiking, playing handball, and reading deeply about history. Above all else, Jack was defined by his unwavering devotion to his family. He cherished every moment spent in their company, leaving behind a legacy of strength, warmth, and integrity.

Peter Tulloch passed away peacefully on April 14, in Charleston, South Carolina, surrounded by his loving family and friends. Born in Boston, Peter spent much of his adult life in Summit, New Jersey with his wife, Vicky. For the past 28 years, he divided his time between his homes in Vero Beach, Florida, and Nantucket. Peter was devoted to his family: a loving husband to Vicky; a deeply caring and attentive father to Peter Jr. and Rob; a nurturing, playful and fun-loving grandfather to Peter III, Elin and Marley; a warm-hearted brother to Bruce; and a devoted brother-in-law to Charlie. The many who counted him as a treasured uncle, friend, or mentor can attest to the significant impact he had on their lives and to his fierce dedication and loyalty to those close to him. After his early education at Phillips Exeter Academy, Roxbury Latin, and Institut Monnivert in Switzerland, he attended Harvard as a member of the Class of 1959, where he met Vicky, a student at Wellesley College. They married in 1961 and shared 62 years of loving companionship, family, and adventures together. Peter and Vicky loved to travel, creating many of their fondest memories on trips around the world. They lived in Marblehead; Geneva, Switzerland; and

London before settling down in Summit to raise their two sons. Peter was the true patriarch of his family. His homes were warm and welcoming places for family to share many memorable occasions. He and Vicky hosted large family gatherings for decades, with relatives coming from near and far to join in their festive Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer celebrations, and created cherished memories for all who had the good fortune to attend. An avid sportsman, Peter loved skiing, tennis, golf, fishing, and bird hunting. As a young married couple, he and Vicky enjoyed sailing, spending many years racing and cruising around Marblehead with close friends. They eventually discovered the foggy island of Nantucket, which immediately captured their hearts. As an entrepreneur in real estate and a licensed pilot, Peter balanced a demanding career with his greatest priority: time with his wife and children. He never missed an important moment in his sons’ lives, always made time for them, and never missed a hockey or lacrosse game. He is survived by his brother, Bruce; his sons, Peter and Rob, as well as their wives and daughters; and his loving, extended family. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Vicky, and his grandson, Peter Tulloch III.

Stefan Abrams ’56 Stefan Abrams died on June 13, after an extended illness, surrounded by family. He was 87. Born in Boston, Stefan grew up

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Times reporter Gretchen Morgenson as she investigated conflicts of interest among Wall Street analysts. His remarks on analyst integrity were entered into the Congressional Record before the House Committee on Financial Services.

Stefan Abrams ’56

in Waban and, after graduating from RL, attended Harvard, where he lived in Eliot House and graduated magna cum laude in 1960. He earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1962. Stefan began his career on Wall Street at Loeb Rhoades & Co. He became a vice president at Abacus Fund in 1968. He then spent nearly two decades at Oppenheimer & Co., where he was a general partner and Chief Investment Strategist. He later served as managing director and Chief Investment Strategist at Kidder Peabody. In 2007, he co-founded BrydenAbrams Investment Management with his son, Jed. Stefan was a prolific writer, speaker, and educator whose opinions and market analysis appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times and other publications over several decades. He appeared on television programs including “Wall Street Week with Louis Rukeyser,” “Kudlow & Cramer” and “Kudlow & Friends.” Beginning in the late 1990s, he was a recurring source for New York

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Stefan taught, as well. During courses he offered at Hunter College in New York, he told students on the first day: “I am the textbook for this course. If not every student earns an A, then I will have failed.” He devoted much of his life to philanthropic and civic work. He served as a trustee and treasurer of American Ballet Theatre and its affiliated School of American Ballet. He was a trustee of Vassar College and of Concord Academy. He was president of the East Hampton Tennis Club, a position he held “not for my game,” as he put it. For decades he supported wounded veterans through the Disabled Veterans National Foundation as a named sponsor. Stefan married Jan Shapiro in 1968, and each morning he made a photocopy of The New York Times crossword puzzle for himself, leaving Jan the clean original. On Sundays he made omelettes in a cast-iron skillet, a ritual he kept up until he no longer could. For most of his last 30 years, Stefan and Jan made their home on Fifth Avenue, in a maisonette they restored collaboratively. It became equal parts museum and salon, drawing a diverse range of guests from the worlds of arts, business, and politics, including then-Senator Joseph Biden. His gratitude endured alongside heartbreaking losses, expressed in cast-

iron skillets, crossword photocopies, and the woman he had loved since 1968. Stefan was buried in Topeka, Kansas, alongside his sons Kent and Jed, and among his wife’s family. He is survived by his wife, Jan; his son, Roy (and wife, Evelyn); his daughter, Cleo; and five grandchildren: Eric, Lila, Owen, Isla, and Kiki. He was predeceased by two sons, Kent and Jed, and by his brother, Richard.

Bob Gordon ’56

Robert “Bob” Gordon ’56 Bob Gordon, born in Boston in 1939, passed away on June 22. Upon graduating from RL, Bob earned degrees from Harvard College in 1960 and from Harvard Business School in 1962. Following that, he worked with Ralph Hoagland’s health and beauty stores, which eventually became CVS. In 1968, Gordon started his own company, a convenience store that subsequently became Store 24. He led it for over 30 years, growing the company to 109 stores.

Bob and his wife, Doris, were inseparable since 1984 and married in 1992. Together, the couple were adventurous and avid travelers who visited almost every corner of the world. They embarked on numerous business and charitable ventures and were thoroughly committed to their children and grandchildren. The couple enjoyed live music and were regular attendees at the Boston Symphony and countless Phish concerts, from the very first to the most recent one, where Bob’s son Mike played bass. Bob had a deep commitment to justice and equality, shaped during his formative years. His family adopted a Jewish child from Germany, whose mother was arrested and executed at Auschwitz. The six-year-old had been evacuated from Berlin to an orphanage in France, where he and other Jews were hunted for execution by the Nazis. The boy was admitted to the U.S. when an American Quaker organization fabricated the story that he was a Quaker child, during a time when the U.S. State Department was denying the entry of Jews to the country. The Gordon family adopted him, and he grew up as Bob’s brother. Bob’s dedication to his family was matched by his dedication to social justice. As he grew up, he became deeply concerned about the plight of Jews throughout the world. In 1974, Bob founded Action for Soviet Jewry and traveled repeatedly to the Soviet Union, where he distributed contraband items, such as Torahs and electronics to those in need. He and others visited persecuted Soviet Jews, who were

referred to as “refuseniks” until the Soviets declared him persona non grata and barred his entry. He provided financial support to refuseniks, who were fired or demoted due to their political beliefs and desire to emigrate. Bob further served as president of the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews, which worked with the U.S. Congress to pressure the Soviets to let the Jews emigrate. Ultimately, Bob’s work prevailed, and more than 1,600,000 Jews were allowed to leave. Bob worked to help them settle in the United States and Israel. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Bob worked with the Combined Jewish Philanthropies to support Jews that remained in Russia and Ukraine. Bob and Doris helped to build a Jewish community medical center that provided pharmaceutical and clinical care in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine—a facility available to Jews and non-Jews alike. In the 1990s and 2000s, the Gordons traveled to Ukraine many times, pioneering a friendship between the Jewish communities of Boston and Dnipropetrovsk, which became known as Boston’s “Jewish sister city.” Bob profoundly believed that all people should live free of oppression. He served as co-chair of the Social Venture Fund for Jewish-Arab equality in Israel. He was passionate about the effort to create a truly shared society in Israel, in which every person could enjoy equal rights and equal opportunities. As a business owner, he embedded a philosophy of civic responsibility deeply in the company’s culture. He

chose to open stores in disenfranchised neighborhoods where other businesses were afraid to venture, with the goal of rejuvenating the communities. Bob believed in being a good neighbor in each location, actively engaging with local needs and understanding what mattered most to the people he served. Store 24 was involved with local organizations and often hosted community events. Within the company itself, he consistently encouraged and challenged employees to think boldly and believe in their own potential, and many employees grew their careers across all different parts of the company. Bob did his work to repair the world quietly, effectively, humbly, and inspirationally. His directness, honesty, and persistence benefited those close to him. His relentless generosity was deeply appreciated by his siblings, children, grandchildren, and friends, and his efforts touched the lives of many people throughout the globe. He is survived by his wife Doris; children Dave and Mike; stepchildren Lori and Lisa; and grandchildren Jonah, Max, Lila, Tessa, Tristan, and Eloise.

Myer Dana ’68 Myer Dana, age 75, of Wellesley, passed away on May 21, surrounded by loved ones. Myer’s legacy began with his greatgrandfather and namesake, Myer Dana. Through hard work and determination, Myer Dana created and cultivated a commercial real estate business in Greater Boston that he passed on to his children, and his children passed on to theirs. The legacy continued with Myer and

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Myer Dana ’68

his brother, Alan, who followed in their predecessors’ footsteps to manage the business. Myer was the beloved husband of Heather; adored son of Rosalie and the late Marshall; loving brother of Alan (wife, Margaret), Sarah (husband, Michael), and Deborah (husband, Barry); devoted father of Benjamin (wife, Aimee), Matthew (wife, Tmana), and Ryan (wife, Alejandra); cherished grandfather to Maia and Eli; loving uncle and great-uncle to many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. Myer was also an adored friend and a highly respected business partner to many who will miss him dearly.

Robert Glennon ’84 Robert Glennon, age 60, peacefully passed away on July 11. Rob was happily married for over 27 years to his loving wife, Linda. Rob grew up in West Roxbury, and after graduating from RL, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Lehigh University.

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Rob proudly served his country in the United States Army Reserves. He was also proud to be an employee of Sands Casino, Bethlehem, since the doors first opened in 2009. Continuing on through the change to Wind Creek, Rob had many jobs at the casino, his latest being a table games dealer. Rob was also a collector of things—being especially proud of his massive, alphabetized spice collection, earning him the nickname “The Spice King” among family. He was known to whip up a good dinner with just a few random ingredients from the refrigerator. He enjoyed traveling, especially the three trips to Maui. In May, he enjoyed a family trip to Utah for his niece’s high school graduation. Coco, his loving chocolate lab and pitbull mix, will forever be grateful for all the Chewy boxes that came to the house by way of Rob. His loving smile could brighten any room, and he was always there when you needed him. Rob will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him. Rob is survived by his wife, Linda; his siblings, Michael (wife, Janet) and Karen (husband, Thor); and nieces and nephews Patrick, Nancy, Alex, and Malena.

a beloved husband, father, brother, and friend who loved spending time with his family and friends, being by the ocean, and cultivating his garden, giving special care to his blueberry bushes. PJ’s family and friends will miss his passion for meteorology and his detailed weather forecasts (often more accurate than the local news); his love for the sport of soccer as a player, a coach, and a Liverpool FC supporter; and the wonderful, annual “Cousins” parties PJ and Margaret hosted for all of their extended family each summer.

PJ Haskell ’84

Patrick “PJ” Haskell ’84 PJ Haskell, age 59, of Scituate, passed away suddenly in a helicopter crash, alongside his wife, Margaret Rimmler, on March 26, while on vacation in Hawaii. PJ was the eldest of four children, born and raised in Needham. After graduating from RL, PJ earned his bachelor’s degree at Boston College. He dedicated his career to working with his father at the Haskell Insurance Agency in Needham. PJ was

PJ’s kindness and selflessness left a lasting impact on his clients and community. Having just retired at the end of 2025, he was looking forward to traveling and seeing the world with Margaret. Their trip to Hawaii was the first of many planned when their lives were cut tragically short. PJ is survived by his children, Brendan, Colin, and Sarabeth; his siblings, Tara

(husband, Tom), Chris (companion, Karen), and Susan (husband, Felimy); his eight nieces and nephews; his in-laws, John and Doris Rimmler; and Margaret’s siblings, all of North Carolina; plus a wide circle of friends and extended family who will miss him dearly.

David Morgan ’90 David Jon Morgan, Jr., died unexpectedly at his home on July 25. He was 54 years old. Dave was a devoted husband, extraordinary father, beloved son, brother, uncle, coach, mentor, teammate, and friend whose generosity, humor, and kindness touched countless lives. While many knew him as an exceptional athlete whose accomplishments earned statewide and national recognition, those who knew him best understood that his greatest gift was the way he made people feel. Dave had an extraordinary ability to make everyone feel welcome, valued, and capable of more than they believed possible. He celebrated the successes of others more enthusiastically than his own, quietly helped anyone in need, and never sought recognition for the countless acts of kindness that defined his life. Born on November 19, 1971, in Newton, Massachusetts, and raised in Needham, Dave was the cherished son of Colleen Carter Morgan and David Jon Morgan, Sr. He was predeceased by both of his parents and by his beloved sister, Stephanie Alford Mixon. From an early age, Dave distinguished himself through an extraordinary combination of athletic ability, intelligence, humility, and leadership. He

David Morgan ’90

spent many summers at the Needham Pool and Racquet Club where he was a championship swimmer and a lifeguard. At Roxbury Latin, he became one of the school’s most accomplished student-athletes, serving as captain of the football, basketball, and baseball teams. His exceptional achievements earned recognition from both the Independent School League and The Boston Globe. During his senior year (1989–1990), Dave was named ISL Player of the Year in football, basketball, and baseball, becoming the only male athlete in league history to earn that distinction in all three sports during the same academic year. He also received The Boston Globe AllScholastic honors in football, basketball, and baseball, a rare accomplishment that reflected not only his exceptional athletic talent, but also the discipline, character, sportsmanship, and leadership that defined him both on and off the field. Dave continued his athletic career at Harvard University, where he played both football and baseball. While contributing on the football field as a quarterback and

punter, it was on the baseball diamond that he became one of Harvard’s finest players. As a powerful first baseman, he was named the 1993 Ivy League Player of the Year and was the unanimous selection to the inaugural All-Ivy First Team. His memorable performances in the Beanpot Tournament at Fenway Park, including towering home runs over the Green Monster, became part of Harvard baseball lore. In 1993, Dave fulfilled a lifelong dream when he was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 18th round of the Major League Baseball Draft following his junior season at Harvard. During a six-year professional baseball career, Dave was a catcher and he played throughout the Blue Jays organization with Medicine Hat, Hagerstown, Dunedin, and Knoxville, reaching the Double-A level. Although professional baseball eventually gave way to a new career, his love for the game never faded. It simply found a new purpose through coaching and mentoring young athletes. He remained humble

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about his athletic achievements and was always more interested in encouraging others than speaking about himself. Following baseball, Dave enjoyed a successful career in the mortgage industry, including sixteen years with his wonderful team at Fairway Independent Mortgage. He became much more than a mortgage professional. He was a trusted advisor, a calming presence, and a genuine friend to hundreds of families navigating one of life’s most significant milestones. Helping people never felt like work to Dave—it was simply who he was. If athletics shaped Dave’s early years, fatherhood and coaching defined the rest of his life. Dave found immense joy in giving back to the sports that had given him so much. He served as an assistant coach to Roxbury Latin’s Varsity Football team in the early 2000s, and in 2011 he became head coach of the Varsity Baseball team. He later volunteered throughout the Cohasset community where he was the President of the Cohasset Youth Baseball and Softball Association, in addition to coaching soccer, basketball, softball, and wherever else a team needed someone willing to invest in young people. Above every athletic accomplishment, every championship, every award, and every professional success stood the role he treasured most: Dad. Nothing in Dave’s life compared to his love for his daughter, Elizabeth “Libby” Carter Morgan. Dave was devoted to Libby, enormously proud of her, and present for every moment in her life. He was her greatest supporter, teacher, protector, coach

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and biggest fan. Whether traveling to tournaments, talking sports, or simply spending time together, Dave treasured every moment with Libby. She was his greatest joy, his proudest accomplishment, and the very best part of his life. He never missed anything that involved Libby and was always on the sidelines cheering at every single volleyball, basketball, and softball game. He was a constant presence at her South Shore Patriots U-14 softball games and although he never held an official coaching title, he was always part of the team, helping wherever needed, providing encouragement, supporting the coaches and families, and celebrating every girl’s success. He became especially well known for faithfully and expertly keeping GameChanger during softball games, earning the nickname “DaveChanger.” Dave generously shared his knowledge and love of sports with coaches and young athletes throughout the community. He understood that coaching was about far more than winning. It was about building confidence, teaching resilience, showing up for others, and helping young people recognize what they were capable of becoming. He was the best Girl Dad ever, and Libby’s friends, teammates, and their parents adored him. Dave also enjoyed golf, especially the time he spent as a member at Hatherly Country Club. Although a passionate golfer, he cherished the game not just for the scorecard and competition, but for the camaraderie, conversation, and time with friends. Dave brought his easy humor, warmth, and competitive spirit to

every tee box. He was a joy to play with and always made the day more fun for everyone. Dave is survived by his loving wife of 20 years, Pamela. Dave and Pam met 28 years ago during baseball’s off-season and they built a life grounded in love, laughter, friendship and an unwavering dedication to raising Libby, the greatest joy of their lives. Pam will remain forever grateful for the years they shared, for the father Dave was to Libby, and to the countless ways his love shaped her life. Dave was also an extraordinary friend. He was loyal, kind, humble, funny, and genuinely interested in the lives of others. He had countless friends from Needham, Roxbury Latin, Harvard University, the Toronto Blue Jays organization, Hatherly Country Club, the South Shore Patriots Softball Team, Fairway Independent Mortgage and so many in the industry, the Dorchester crew, and the amazing Cohasset community, to name just a few. Dave’s greatest legacy is not found in newspaper headlines, athletic records, or professional accomplishments. It lives in the people he coached, the families he helped, the friendships he nurtured, and the countless lives he made better simply by being part of them. He had an uncommon gift for making every person feel important, heard, and valued. That is how he will be remembered.

Faculty Emeritus, Dick Russell Richard “Dick” Russell passed away on June 17 after a long battle with illness. Dick served as a teacher, coach, and advisor at Roxbury Latin for 33

national AP exams—an honor in which he took great pride. Dick’s contributions and commitment to his students extended far beyond the classroom. Dick coached junior hockey for many years, and coached virtually every level of baseball over the decades. He was an enthusiastic, vocal fan at RL athletic competitions—most notably hockey games—showing up to support students in all of their endeavors. He was heavily involved in community service, especially Class I trips to the Boston Food Pantry, and oversaw Independent Senior Projects, supporting students in their efforts to stretch themselves and expand their horizons during that last month of senior year. A walking anthology of RL history and legends, Dick delighted his students with his animated storytelling. Upon his retirement in 2010, the senior class dedicated their yearbook to him as follows: “It is Mr. Russell’s devotion, hard work, and kind personality for which he is most loved. For his commitment, his tireless work ethic, his personality and hilarious stories, for his genuineness and kindness, we dedicate our yearbook to Mr. Russell.”

years, from 1977 to 2010, and was a stalwart member of the Mathematics Department, teaching the full range of curriculum, from advanced classes to older boys to more introductory courses for RL’s youngest learners. He also served as Chair of the Math Department, adding his expertise

and voice to his colleagues and the Curriculum Committee. Throughout his teaching career he took advantage of opportunities to attend workshops and conferences, aimed at refining his own craft and pedagogy. For years he taught AP Calculus and was regularly invited by the College Board to be a reader of

In his time at RL, Dick offered his unmatched enthusiasm, his unwavering care, and his force of personality. We extend our deepest sympathy to Dick’s family, and we are grateful for the commitment of this lifelong educator and the impact he has had on decades of Roxbury Latin students and, by extension, on all of us.

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There’s only one right: A “lapelling” case for properly wearing a nametag by Mike Pojman As I sit down now and put pen to paper, I’ve just returned home from this year’s alumni reunion, a festive gathering of 300-plus sons of the school from the classes of 1’s and 6’s. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, so gratifying to catch up with scores of boys—now men—who had returned to alma mater eager to reconnect, however briefly, with their once-and-former classmates and teachers. So many great conversations! So many familiar faces (most of whom I still recognized.) So many stories told and retold! So many nametags on the wrong lapel… I just can’t understand how far too many RL alumni—young men of stature who clearly know right from wrong—have somehow never learned right from left, despite my years of campaigning for proper nametag etiquette. The faux pas gives me faux pause. In the spring of my retirement, I was invited to speak in Hall to deliver a “wisdom speech” to the assembled school community. It was a great honor to offer my Lessons Learned: 19 Secrets for Living a Happy and Productive Life. (If you would like to read the full text of that seminal oration, you can use AI to search for it under “Self-important farewell addresses of indeterminate impact.”) One of those life lessons—Number 19, in fact—offered instruction on the proper way to wear a nametag. And I quote: “Whenever I am at a school event, and I see people putting their nametags on their left lapel, I feel compelled to correct them. Take it from an expert, boys. Your nametag goes on your right lapel. Here’s why: When you go to shake hands,

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you naturally turn your body to the right as you extend your hand. That means, as you rotate toward the person you are shaking hands with, your nametag will rotate with you— toward that person. As a result, it will be easier to read your name on your right lapel as it moves closer than it would be on your left when it would move farther away. It’s a subtle but friendly gesture. Now, of course, none of this makes sense if you are left-handed. Even so, I still suggest that you put your nametag on your right lapel, because if you don’t, you will be announcing to the world that you are a lefty, which is unfortunate, as you might then discover that some people may not want to shake hands with you.” Shortly after the text of that speech had been published in the summer Newsletter, I received an email from a reliably outspoken friend with the subject line “Your Words of Wisdom.” I eagerly clicked on it. A single sentence popped up on the screen: “I HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU WERE SO PEEVISH ABOUT NAMETAGS.” (All caps.) Now, look, I admit to some obsession on the subject of nametags, but peevish? Last fall a parent went out of his way to pay me a compliment during a meet-and-greet at the Kick-off Dinner. “I enjoyed that 19 Life Lessons speech that you gave in Hall a couple of years ago when my son was a fifthie,” he said earnestly. “I reread it regularly, and so does my son.” (Oh, really…) “You are very nice to say so,” I replied graciously, “but you couldn’t have read all of it, because your nametag is on the wrong lapel.” Recently, as I was chatting with a faculty colleague at another formal school event, I was, of course, greatly distracted by his nametag clipped to his left lapel. However, since I am a model of restraint, I didn’t say anything. But he must have

caught my disapproving glance, because without provocation he said, “I don’t agree with you. The nametag goes on the left”—proceeding then to offer his own lengthy, and I daresay wobbly, justification for his flawed position. After listening patiently, I just smiled and once again didn’t say anything. I simply extended my left hand to shake his, a backhanded gesture to make my point. I do believe that this fellow, though misguided, was sincere. Others, I realize, refuse to conform just to be difficult—the kind of people who root for the Yankees or order a steak at a fish restaurant. There is no talking sense to such people. All in all, however, I’m gratified that most in the RL community have taken my 19th life lesson to heart, a few holdouts notwithstanding. I attended the annual Alumni Luncheon recently, to which the outgoing senior class was also invited—as a sort of warm-up exercise in alumnidom. Standing by the reception table as the boys filed in, each so nattily attired, I was pleased to note that every boy, save for a few, picked up his nametag and pinned it on properly. Those holdouts, I concluded, were either clueless (one for certain) or, as I would describe them, “JV defiant,” minimally recalcitrant Class I boys who are feeling their oats in the waning days of their Senior Spring. I knew I could count on that acolyte of etiquette Alessandro Ferzocco (now Director of Development

and Class of 2014) to do his best to keep the boys in line, instructing them ahead of time on how to comport themselves in polite company: “Keep your jackets on throughout the meal,” I could almost hear him saying as they boarded the bus; “Don’t start eating before everyone has been served (and don’t talk an alum out of his dessert); and, above all, put your nametag on your right lapel.” How long, if at all, these alumnito-be will carry the torch once they are out in the real world is anyone’s guess. But for now, they got the message. It is natural, I suppose, to hope that we will leave behind something of importance, large or small, when, ultimately and inevitably, we recede into the distant past of RL history— something memorable, something lasting. For a select few it might be a building, or a named scholarship, or an endowed chair, or another turf field, or even a track on campus. For most of us, it will be something much less grand but no less consequential. For my part, I’ll be content if my legacy is nothing more than a legion of RL boys and men who wear their nametags on their right lapel—the right lapel—and who are grateful to have been shown the importance of doing so. So, gentlemen, if you are kind enough to come to my funeral someday in the distant future, please know that I will be truly gratified to see you properly nametagged. In fact, it will make my day.

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The Roxbury Latin S chool 101 St. Theresa Avenue West Roxbury, MA 02132-3496 www.roxburylatin.org Change Service Requested

A Day at the Ballpark ON APR IL 27 THE ROX B U RY L AT I N VA R S I T Y BASEBALL TEAM HAD T H E O P P O RT U N I T Y TO P L AY A GAME AT POLAR PAR K— H O M E O F T H E WO O S OX — WINNING OVE R LA S A L L E ACA D E M Y 9 - 3 .