F O R M A N L E T T E R
The Myth of Labels / Findings in Brain Science FALL 2012
AT THE FOREFRONT OF LD EDUCATION
F O R M A N
L E T T E R
2 Beyond Labels
22 Alumni Weekend
8 Around the Green
26 Giving
4 Learning to Learn 13 Transformations 21 Growing
The cover image is an illustration of an fMRI brain scan. Credit: Mike Hill / Alamy
24 It’s Personal 29 Class Notes
Adam K. Man Head of School Justin B. Solomon Director of Institutional Advancement Jennifer Christensen Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications Deborah Beach Director of the Annual Fund Suzanne Turcotte Director of Alumni & Parent Programs Susan Reis Director of Database Management & Technology
Editor Jennifer Christensen Designer Hammill Design Class Notes Suzanne Turcotte Photography Jennifer Christensen, Kerry Durkin, Richard Schultz, Chris Whittaker & Friends
The Forman School Board of Trustees L. Laird Davis Washington, CT Kenneth I. Deane ’93 New York, NY Margaret W. Field New Preston, CT Louise Hoppe Finnerty P’11
Vice President Rye, NY
Annette R. Jenner ’87 Ph.D. Skaneateles, NY Jeffrey L. Liddle P’13 New York, NY Frederick M. Lione Jr. P’91 Norwalk, CT Adam K. Man P’15
Head of School Litchfield, CT
Robert D. Patch P’10 Cos Cob, CT Peter L. Phillips ’65
President
Charlotte, VT Peter S. Schay P’00 Riverside, CT Larry B. Scheinfeld P’09 New York, NY Thomas G. Sorell P’12 Greenwich, CT Scott M. Sutherland ’69 Middlebury, CT Wendy E. Waller ’65 Fort Lee, NJ David Walter ’69 Seattle, WA
Trustees Emeriti Diane F. Kessenich P ’86
Chairman Emeritus John A. Meyers P ’84 J. Seward Johnson, Jr. ’49 and Mrs. Joyce Johnson Monroe B. Scharff ’42, P ’69
The girls Varsity soccer team at Parents Weekend.
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HEAD OF SCHOOL LETTER
In 1905 a young lawyer, largely self-taught in the field of psychology, developed a test to identify school children that appeared to be behind their peers in school and might need help to catch up. His modest hope was that, by identifying children who were lagging, teachers and schools could intervene and be able to get the students back on track. He never envisioned that this humble test would become the standard by which people across the globe would be labeled as truly exceptional — or destined to a life of mediocrity. This individual’s name was Alfred Binet and his test became the basis for modern intelligence testing.
Binet never saw intelligence as a single fixed thing.
gets lost in this debate is that this test only measures a
He never thought a test like his could make a prediction
small sliver of our thinking abilities. The most common
about someone’s future success or give us deep insight
IQ assessments make no attempt to measure things
as to whether someone might become a great scientist
like creativity, compassion, common sense, or rational
or only capable of doing the simplest of jobs in life. Yet,
decision-making. People also tend to assume that the
shortly after its publication, psychologists and scientists
scores attained on an IQ test are permanent and fixed.
would use his work to develop and refine a test that they
That, for example, if you do poorly in areas of visual-
hoped would do just that: the IQ test. Over the years, we
spatial understanding, you will always do poorly in those
have used IQ tests to draw all sorts of conclusions about
areas. Forget about being an engineer or architect and
people. Throughout most of the world we tend to believe
instead think about becoming an English professor.
that a test administered to a sixteen year old will provide
I tend to have a view on intelligence testing somewhere between the two camps. I know
insight like a crystal ball into her road ahead.
from experience that data from testing
Intelligence testing has both fans and detractors. Some people regularly boast of their scores and join organizations devoted to people who are similarly ‘gifted.’ Others are quick to point out foolish or cruel things people with high IQ scores have done, or note all of the people who have done brilliant things but never did well on an IQ test. What
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IQ
can give us quick insight as to where students may struggle or excel. I also know, from a long family history filled with relatives who have struggled with dyslexia, how the labels derived from IQ testing, and the accompanying performance assessments, can negatively impact an individual. It is far too easy to
“We do not see labels like dyslexic, ADHD, or auditory processing problems as fixed and permanent. We know that with the right instruction and environment, students will get better at areas in which they have struggled in the past.”
see a label as destiny. To see how teachers treat a child
thought and not a final conclusion as to their potential.
differently and then how a child begins to believe things
Struggling with reading does not tell me about a student’s
about themselves that are untrue. I have seen talented
potential or provide a crystal ball insight into the future
family members learn to believe they are helpless and
for that student. This research also informs how we move
give up in areas they were excited about under the belief
forward with our instructional approach. For example,
they would never be good at it.
the way we teach and scaffold the abstract concepts of
The emerging field of research on neuroplasticity is beginning to change this equation. Neuroplacticity, the
geometry will allow students to achieve in areas they found frustrating and impossible a year or two ago.
idea that the brain changes throughout life, is helping us
Alfred Binet never intended for his test to be used to
understand that things we once believed were static and
neatly summarize a person’s intellect and potential. His
fixed, such as auditory processing or working memory,
own writings demonstrate that he believed his tests would
can be improved under the right conditions and with the
only measure a small sliver of the type of thinking that
right instruction. Labels no longer become permanent
makes up intelligence and that, with the right instruction,
but instead can be seen as signposts on a long intellectual
even this could be changed. It is saddening to see people
and mental journey.
reduced to a set of numbers and labels. I am excited about
So what does all this mean for students at Forman?
the current research in intelligence and thinking, as it
How does all of the recent research on intelligence,
will hopefully let society move beyond such a simple and
thinking, and neuroplasticity impact the educational
damaging view to recognize and develop all the innate
experience of our students? First and foremost, it impacts
potential that a student has to offer the world.
our overall outlook. We do not see labels like dyslexic, ADHD, or auditory processing problems as fixed and permanent. We know that with the right instruction and environment, students will get better at areas in which they have struggled in the past. The area they may
Adam K. Man Head of School
struggle in is a small part of the complexity of human
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Learning to Learn. Within the last two decades, brain scientists have uncovered the neurological processes behind dyslexia; Forman is applying findings in neuroplasticity to actually improve the learning process for students.
By Helen Waldron, Associate Head of School
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L E A R N I N G
T O
L E A R N
“We know from fMRI studies that there is a neural signature for dyslexia.” Sally E. Shaywitz, Maria Mody, and Bennett A. Shaywitz, The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity
Dyslexia is a disorder within the language system of the brain involved in processing sounds. Many parts of the brain are activated during reading and retrieving information from the working memory. Brain imaging shows a disruption of left-hemisphere posterior neural systems in dyslexics when they perform certain reading tasks. These groundbreaking findings provide irrefutable evidence that what has been considered a hidden disability is “real.” The practical implications of these findings impact educational policy and practices, and provide greater understanding, acceptance, and treatment of other learning disabilities as well. 6
The Brain Can Change As the field of brain science continues to evolve, studies in the specialty of neuroplasticity reveal that the brain too continues to evolve. New neural connections are generated as the individual interacts with their environment — regardless of age. Insights drawn from neuroscience not only provide educators with a scientific basis for understanding best practices in teaching, they also offer a new lens through which to problem solve when we work with students.
“… a brain can rewire itself.” Jeffrey Schwartz, Ph.D., UCLA School of Medicine
Theory Into Practice Applying this research at Forman has meant some environmental changes in order to increase student success. One area we addressed was class time. Longer class periods are needed to allow for deeper, long-term learning that is more interactive. More of the learning brain is stimulated and more time is available for students to practice what they learn.
We have taken a deeper look at where we might create more opportunities for students to exercise each day – beyond the mandatory athletics program. One teacher started a “dawn patrol” running group, while another brought balance balls into his classroom to help students maintain focus. Thanks to a generous donation from Kitty and Guy de Chazal (parents of David ’12),! we are consulting with Dr. Ratey’s team about piloting a study to look at the impact of exercise on learning during math class.
Learning by Doing “Experiential Learning” opportunities are embedded in the curriculum. From designing, launching, and measuring results of weather balloons in a physics class, to designing and building structures in math class, students learn by doing. Our Winterim Program, now in its fifth year, is a way for students to gain hands-on experience in a wide range of fields and also allows for deeper, long-term learning. The Rainforest Project in Costa Rica puts children in the center of real-time scientific work that has gained national recognition and earned two patents.
Exercise: Primed to Learn Another critical piece of neuroscientific research involves the impact of exercise on learning. John Ratey came to Forman to work with faculty in January 2012 and reinforced our understanding of the important role that exercise plays in brain development.
“Emerging research shows that physical activity sparks biological changes that encourage brain cells to bind to one another… The more neuroscientists discover about this process, the clearer it becomes that exercise provides an unparalleled stimulus, creating an environment in which the brain is ready, willing, and able to learn.” John Ratey, Ph.D., Harvard University
Strategies for Success Through better use of classroom time, more opportunities for hands-on work, and an emphasis on physical activity, Forman applies the latest research and proven techniques that teach students how to learn.
Pioneers in Education The Forman School has collaborated with leaders in the field since the 1930s when John Forman created his board of advisors that included the legendary mathematician, Albert Einstein, and Sam Orton, neurologist and co-author of the noted Orton-Gillingham reading program. Forman continues to be a pioneer in applying the latest scientific methods to educate our students. We ensure teachers understand the latest discoveries in neuroscience through our robust professional development program that brings thought leaders to campus throughout the year. “Learning to learn” has always been central to the work we do at Forman. We know our students need to build a solid repertoire of learning skills and strategies individualized to their unique learning profile. Through daily, direct instruction from specially-trained teachers, students can change their brains by mastering the skills they need to learn, one lesson at a time. Editor’s note: The Hearst Foundation recently awarded a $50,000 grant to The Forman School to test theories of neuroplasticity in the classroom and generate software that can be used as a teaching tool.
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Around the Green.
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A R O U N D
T H E
G R E E N
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1 Jennifer Marcus ’14, Emily Garfinkel ’16, Mark Malburg ’13, Ella Cox ’14 and Alana Kurfist ’13 star in the school play Faith County Fair. 2 Talin France ’14 at the Food & Physics Fair 3 Sondra Farbstein ’14 and Ella Cox ’14 in the Barbara Chace Library 4 Tatiana Hueck ’12 and Nicolas Aboitiz ’12 5 Maddie Bova ’12 does face painting at Strawberry Fest.
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6 William Paul ’12, Lauren Morrow ’12, Julia Lesser ’12, Patrick O’Keefe ’12 and Matthew White ’12 at graduation.
7 Catharine Garborcauskas ’13 and David Buckley ’13 during painting class.
8 Seniors test their skills on the high ropes course at Catamount. 9 New students take a hike during orientation. 10 Alex Evans ’12, Ben Goldstein ’12 and Eduardo Rodrigues ’12
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Trans forma tions 12
Julie Forman handed out a diploma to Dave Walter at the 1969 graduation ceremony.
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A L U M N I
P R O F I L E S
Dave Walter ’69 Visualizing the Digital Age At age 12, Dave Walter knew how a TV set worked. Q It was the early 1960s and his family had a big black and white set that he could take apart and put back together with his eyes closed. Not so with his classroom work at the public school in Needham, Massachusetts: he was flunking out by eighth grade. Q His parents knew he was unusually bright, but saw him struggle with low self-esteem. It was a tough time until his father, a Christian Scientist, found John and Julie Forman through a mutual connection and Dave was accepted at The Forman School.
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The Campus Community
A Culture of Competition
Dave immediately relaxed into the warm and supportive community at Forman. “The faculty was wonderful, and I had real friends among my fellow students. Everyone believed in me and gave me the support that I needed.” He remembers a certain Baillie dorm mate, named Walter Crane ’68, who would come to his room at night wanting to know how to solve the physics homework problems. “It was a very difficult thing to do because Wally would never be satisfied with some lame explanation, and he would never leave until he understood. As a result of Wally’s persistence and belief that I could explain it, I ended up doing very well in physics.” Dave Walter was recently on campus for his 43rd reunion in April 2012 and enjoyed reconnecting with Scott Sutherland ’69 and Peter Forte ’70. “It was like yesterday that we last saw each other, not 43 years. One of the reasons for an ‘off year’ reunion was to see friends from other classes. I was happily surprised how many showed up.”
Dave went on to study engineering at Cornell University, but quickly found a competitive culture that was in sharp contrast to the mutual support and easy camaraderie of Forman. The Vietnam War and student protests weighed heavily on him. “Many students were just holding on for their S1 deferment,” he remembers. “Instead of helping each other, we had to hide the fact that we got good grades – it was literally a matter of life and death for some.” He dropped out of the engineering school, but stayed in Ithaca where he found his niche working in the language lab. “I did not speak any natural languages other than English, but I did speak ‘electron’ and was able to act as a translator between the linguists and the gadgetry, like tape recorders and the spectrum analyzers, that were so important to them,” Dave explained. In the early 1980s, with no ties in the East, he went city shopping and he ended up in soon-to-be software Mecca, Seattle. Mainframes and minicomputers were still the standard, but the personal microcomputer market was heating up and his timing was perfect.
Programmed for Success Dave found a job at the manufacturing facility of ATEX, which sold minicomputer-based text editing equipment to the newspaper industry. “At the time I joined the company, ATEX equipment was able to capture reporters’ key strokes and route their stories through the editorial process. The final output was typesetter galleys that were then hand cut and pasted into the final page layout.” His team was tasked with creating a system that could lay out a full newspaper broadsheet digitally. “It was an ambitious task that really stressed the limits of the technology of the day,” he said. The same day he started his job, Kodak signed a deal to acquire ATEX. The deal was a double-edged sword: Some at Kodak understood the need to master the coming digital revolution. Others recognized that it would cannibalize their traditional business; if the page layout project succeeded, newspapers would not need Kodak supplies. Within a few years, Kodak closed the Redmond manufacturing facility. There was a silver lining in that dark cloud. Paul Brainerd, the ATEX plant manager, decided to form a company to do page layout on a smaller scale. He recruited four engineers to join him: Jeremy Jaech, Mark Sundstrom, Mike Templeman, and Dave Walter. Taking the name of the Italian Renaissance printer, Aldus Manutius, they named the company Aldus Corporation. Their timing could not have been better: the first Macintosh had just been introduced, and soon Apple Computer would release the LaserWriter, powered by Adobe Postscript. All of the ingredients needed for small-scale page layout had come together. It was Paul Brainerd who coined the term Desktop Publishing that positioned PageMaker and defined an industry. In October of 1987, after leading a rewrite of PageMaker for the PC, and three and a half years with the company, Dave decided it was time to step down to get a life. In 1989 he got married and settled down to start a family. A year later, a watershed event occurred at Microsoft that drew Dave back into development. Previously, the PC architecture imposed a memory restriction of
640K on Windows and DOS. That limit was overcome in 1990, making it possible for Windows to compete with Macintosh on an equal footing. Some of the Aldus team reconvened and formed a company to take advantage of the emerging software market for MS Windows that eventually became known as Visio. Lightening had struck a second time: Again, a company that Dave Walter helped to found was a huge success. Visio was eventually purchased by Microsoft and is now a part of the MS Office suite of applications.
Back to School Dave left Visio in 1997 to spend time with his children: Douglas, a freshman at Reid in Portland, and Bronwyn, who just started Bennington. He is now Chairman of the Board of The Valley School (www.thevalleyschool.org), a near full-time job in the small, 100-student elementary school in Seattle that his children had attended when they were young. The trip back to campus for Alumni Weekend gave him time to reflect on his path from struggling sophomore to visionary software entrepreneur. He’s frankly a little surprised at how his life has turned out. “I felt like a loser back in those days,” he remembers. “I knew I had talents but didn’t fully understand how to use them. Some people said it was because I was dyslexic, but I didn’t agree.” “It comes down to the legacy of John and Julie Forman,” explains Dave. “They never believed that a student was deficient; they understood that labels can become self-fulfilling prophecies, so the School did not use them. They gave students support and just expected them to do well. It was their faith in me that helped me to believe in myself.” Editor’s note: Dave has just joined the Board of Trustees at The Forman School.
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A L U M N I
P R O F I L E S
Kim Ertag ’93 It Wasn’t Supposed to Happen. After 20 years, Kim Ertag’s parents still remember the meeting. Q And they remember the psychologist’s prediction for their daughter’s future: based on her testing, she should not attend college, but a vocational school.
Luckily for Kim, her parents know more about the brain and education than most; her father is a neurologist. He and her mother founded a school for children with learning disabilities in 1981. “We didn’t believe that psychologist’s testing was an accurate reflection of the Kim we knew,” said Ertag’s mom, Eileen. So they ignored the expert.
A Passion for Fashion Most little girls like to play dress-up. Kim Ertag loved to dive into a trunk full of thrift store items and dress up her brother and his friends. When she was done, they were not only well dressed, they were fully accessorized. Ertag defied that expert who said she should not attend college and turned that play into a profession. For the past decade, she’s lived her dream—the dream she wasn’t supposed to achieve—in New York City, working as a sales associate for the fashion house Donna Karan New York (DKNY) at their flagship store on 60th and Madison. “I always knew I was good at working with people,” said Ertag. She also has to make creative connections: she has to know the merchandise inside and out (literally), size up body types, under-
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stand her clients’ lifestyles, and help them see what looks good on them. Not to mention, be diplomatic and earn their trust. Celebrities often come to the store, and sometimes she consults with clients at their homes. “I help my clients feel better and see themselves in a new way,” she said. Ertag does for her clients at DKNY what The Forman School did for her. It helped her see herself differently.
Right Tools & Right Mentor By the time the Florida native arrived at The Forman School, her confidence had taken a beating. Her challenges with reading comprehension had made her painfully aware that she wasn’t learning the way others did. “Everyone at Forman learned differently, and the teachers taught you strategies for how you learn, and helped me look at life differently,” said Ertag. “They helped me gain confidence.” “It takes just one great teacher to change a life,” added Ertag. For her, that teacher was Helen Waldron. “She was both mentor and friend. Forman and Mrs. Waldron broke through my shell,
She’s living her dream in the fashion industry in New York City.
and I gained the confidence to try new things. Plus, I loved living in the dorm with students with similar learning challenges. It was like family, and I could really be myself.”
Right after college, she worked at a fashion boutique in Boston, but she had always wanted to live in New York City, so she decided to “go for it.”
A Purse & a Promise
Something Special Lurking Inside
At The Forman School, she found creative expression in writing poetry, photography, and helping design the school paper. She also consulted on fashion. Associate Head of School Helen Waldron said, “I still have the handbag Kim picked out for me nearly twenty years ago. Kim was so visual and quick at sizing up my style; better than I was. I promised myself I’d bring that handbag to New York City when she was living her dream.”
“Confidence,” Ertag believes, “can come from mentors combined with your own experiences. Life is not about obstacles. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Anything can happen. Humor and sensitivity to the differences in others helps, too.” “I’m glad I think about things differently,” Ertag added. “And that person others call odd, well, that person just may have something special lurking inside. Something that helps them to achieve what no one would expect.” What Kim Ertag has done was never supposed to happen. But she and her parents preferred their own dreams over the predictions of one expert.
She Wasn’t Supposed to Attend College “I arrived at college well prepared academically, and I had learned to speak up for myself at Forman,” said Ertag. She thrived at Pine Manor College in Boston, where she majored in communications, graduating in 1997. While in college, she completed a trip around the world that took her to 12 countries in a semester, and produced 72 rolls of film. That experience led to work as a freelance magazine photographer.
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A L U M N I
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P R O F I L E S
Eli Morgan Gesner ’88 Creative. Relentless. He is a man of big ideas and big dreams. Q He’s an unconventional thinker who succeeds in the most competitive arenas. Q He chose the toughest, most competitive art—graffiti—in the toughest, most competitive place—the streets of New York City. “They don’t like your work, they deface it,” Gesner says. Q And every day he’s risked failure for a chance to learn something new, to do something new. Disciplined, focused, constantly challenging the status quo, confident, but not cocky, he’s a creative magnet, attracting brands and collaborators because they know he can deliver.
When you discover that he’s left his creative mark on Nike and Boeing; when you find he co-founded the clothing company Phat Farm and Baby Phat; when you learn he co-founded Zoo York and did everything from skateboard graphics, to catalogue designs, to thousands of original t-shirt sketches; when you add up his screenplays and his books; then you’ll have a small idea of his creative genius.
Absurd & Appropriate But, entrepreneur, Eli Morgan Gesner found it “absurd” that he stood before the graduating class of 2012 delivering the commencement address. Absurd, because he admits: “Hardly anyone who knew me as a student would have predicted I’d be standing here.” But it’s also “appropriate,” he says. “Because we’re way ahead of the game— ahead of the 4.0 Harvard graduates.” Because, like many Forman students, he struggled in a world dominated by traditional learning. This unconventional thinker was a failure in the conventional school system. But like other Forman students, he never took “no” for an answer.
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A L U M N I
P R O F I L E S
Forman: Different Thinkers for a Different World Then he came to The Forman School. “I’ll never forget this dynamic, really talented kid,” says a former teacher. “I could see greatness in him.” After Forman, Gesner returned to New York City and studied film at the School of Visual Arts. Then along came a detour—Russell Simmons—who asked Gesner to help create a clothing line. “I didn’t know anything about clothing, but I learned—fast.” Phat Farm and Baby Phat grew to $300 million in sales. Gesner created the designs for both the clothing and the corporate identity.
Differentiate or Die Gesner never worked his way up through the conventional system. Instead he believes: “You succeed if you differentiate yourself by using the opportunities that come your way.” He also created his own opportunities.
A Trip to Mars At the center of the graffiti, hip-hop and skateboarding cultures, Gesner skated professionally by day and met friends at clubs by night. Dissatisfied with meeting at just any club, one day he created his own—A Trip to Mars —complete with free t-shirts of his original designs. He spread the word to everyone except his Mom, whom he lived with. “There are 87 messages about a trip to Mars,” she asked. “What’s going on?” He turned his passion for skateboarding into a profession when he co-founded Zoo York. More than a skateboard company, Complex Magazine called Zoo York “a cultural phenomenon.” Gesner defies creative categories—jumping them routinely. He’s made movies, like “Kids,” countless skateboard videos and TV shows, and even a video game—Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground. He’s never liked titles. Writer? Director? Designer? Brand builder? Entrepreneur? “They’re too restrictive,” he says.
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He’s not happy with the label learning disabled either. “I prefer unconventional thinker.”
When Nike approached him to create a limited edition sneaker that would appeal to skateboarders, he knew they had tried before and failed. Gesner also knew the deep suspicion that exists between the street and the corporate world. No one else could speak both languages and translate that into a sneaker design that skaters would buy. No one could do it; no one but the unconventional Gesner. Today, he’s shooting HBO’s “How to Make It in America,” based on his own life. His work at HBO unites many of his creative talents: writing, executive creative consulting, clothing design for one of the characters; he’s even proposed an entire line of clothing for the show. When his bold, unconventional ideas collide with the cautious business department–he perseveres.
Failure Is Your Friend He’s been creating nearly all his life. He’s more than disciplined, focused, and willing to learn; he’s willing to fail. “Failure is your friend,” says Gesner. “For every success, I’ve had three horrible failures.”
Endurance and Perseverance “My competitors have crumbled,” notes Gesner. Yet he’s persevered and endured. People and companies clamor to collaborate with him because he thinks unconventionally; driven by dissatisfaction and frustration with the status quo. “You get programmed to accept the world as it is. See how it could be better.” “Turn your outrage into a better way of doing things.” Eli Gesner always has. Luckily for the rest of us, he always will. Such is the creativity of Eli Morgan Gesner.
Growing. The ground was almost frozen on a snowy Tuesday in November as the
whole school community turned out just before Winterim to witness the official ground breaking of the new Science Center.
This nearly 9000-square foot state-of-the-art facility is an exciting addition to the Forman campus. Designed to support experiential learning in the classrooms and beyond, the classrooms feature technology that integrates the iPad with high-quality display screens, video uplink systems and live recording capabilities. The exterior is a mixture of local fieldstone and stucco designed to both complement and unify the historical architecture of surrounding buildings. Its entrance has copper columns, a bluestone courtyard and a vine-covered trellis of sustainable mahogany. Four rain gardens with granite ‘lily pads’ made from the old boardwalk capture runoff and allow students to monitor flow as it cascades down toward the Bantam River. The solar panels are linked to a video monitor so students can track energy creation and consumption in real time. All heating, cooling and lighting systems are designed to maximize efficiency and reduce costs. As Science Department Chair Missy Boyer said in her remarks, “The future is now here. Science already lends itself to hands-on activities, but now we can enjoy the space and technology integration which will take the science curriculum to the next level.”
Adam Man, Melissa Boyer, and Trustee Fred Lione
To learn more about the new Science Center and to watch the building progress, visit: www.formanschool.org.
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A L U M N I
W E E K E N D
Over one hundred Forman alumni and guests returned to campus to reconnect and reminisce on a beautiful weekend last April. To read all about it, visit: www.formanschool.org/alumni. Thank you to everyone who joined us on campus. If you have any notes or stories to share for the next issue of The Forman Letter, please contact Suzanne Turcotte, Director of Alumni and Parent Programs. We hope to see even more people at our next Alumni Weekend on April 26-28, 2013!
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1 From Left: George Allison ’61, Jeff Meyers ’69, Dave Walters ’69, Scott Sutherland ’69 2 Jerry Barney with wife Lisa Burke 3 Geoff Lee ’69 and Davis Dewey ’69 4 Annette Jenner Matthews with daughters
5 A gathering from the class of ’87: (L to R) Holly Weisenburger, Rob Finlay, Jason Blevins, Annette Jenner-Matthews,
Steve Carberry, Paul Dowd and Scott Moynihan 6 Kim Bucciantini ’06 and Parker Beard ’07
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Alumni Class of 1963– Soon-to-be Golden Lions!
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All members of the Class of 1963 are cordially invited to attend Alumni Weekend 2013 as you officially become Golden Lions! Please plan to join us back on campus on Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28, 2013. Ace Body ’63 has been working hard to reach out to classmates to make sure they plan to attend. Please feel free to contact Ace at skibumal@aol.com or call (cell) 216-832-2084 or (home) 440-543-8971. In our effort to ensure all members of the Class of 1963 are invited for this special weekend, please be sure to update your mailing and email addresses with Alumni Relations. If you have any questions, please contact Sue Turcotte, Director of Alumni and Parent Programs, at alumni@formanschool.org or (860) 567-1810 and be sure to include your full name and class year. We hope to see you on campus soon!
7 From Left: Scott Moynihan ’87, Susan Robinson, Tim Shaw, Peter Ahlfeld ’84 8 Joe Burdis ’07 and Charlene Halloran 9 From Left: Carola Cammann ’68, Ticia Tubman, Elaine Zullo, Nancy Marikar ’68 10 From Left: Jane Garcia, Mark Garcia ’94, Tammy Grella 11 Katie John ’04, Harry Tubman
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It’s Personal Scott McCarty’s story is Forman’s Story. The School honored Athletic Director Scott McCarty ’76 for his 30 years of service at the Alumni Weekend banquet in Litchfield last spring.
He is a spotter of homesickness, a nudger who knows a student’s secret desire to try something new, a builder of teams and dreams; he is the finder of ways around fear, the portal to new possibilities, a voice urging students on, a confidant. He earns the respect of students who have been let down before. But none of his talents would have made a difference without intervention, divine and otherwise. Without it Scott McCarty ’76 knows he would not be celebrating 30 years at The Forman School — and certainly not as its Athletic Director. His father died when he was five. His mother died when he was a teenager. He would have become a ward of the state, had it not been for the kindness of a nearby family who took him in, despite having eight kids of their own.
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McCarty’s own struggles, the chances everyone took on him, the tireless mentors, everyone who believed in him, have shaped his life and his coaching. He knows and uses that power. “I feel sorry for all those who were around me when I was a teen. No one knew much about kids like me. I spent a lot of energy pretending to be somebody I wasn’t.” Everyone was confounded by this teen with dyslexia and ADHD — letters and words that didn’t even exist at the time. Then he came to The Forman School. “For the first time in my life I heard about all the things I could do,” McCarty said. “Here were people with imaginations as large as their hearts, and they expanded the view of ‘normal’ when others didn’t.” At Forman he played basketball, baseball, and soccer. And all that exercise kept him out of trouble. Mostly. Once he visited a girlfriend in Baillie House well after midnight. As he climbed out of her dorm window and his feet hit the ground, he felt a tap on his shoulder. There stood Headmistress Julie Forman. He figured he was about to be expelled. “I couldn’t sleep, so I went out for a walk,” he told her. “Let’s walk together,” she said as she talked about her love for the kids. He asked, “Why do we have to study certain things?” And wondered to himself, “Will this walk ever end?” It was enlightening and long; it ended at dawn. And there were others.
Lucy Allison, wife of the Assistant Head, George Allison ’61, became a surrogate mother. And English teacher Brian Cavanaugh recognized McCarty’s verbal ability. (By the way, McCarty’s long career gives him the pleasure of coaching Cavanaugh’s daughter today. And it has also earned him the name “Yoda.”) Then after five years at Forman, there was college. But not right away. Every college turned him down. Assistant Head George Allison took him to many colleges before a community college in Massachusetts took a chance on him. They even allowed him to take tests verbally. Later, he went to Bridgewater State because of its track program. His student teaching with the handicapped allowed him to see just how smart these kids were. He landed a job at Hanover High School, but state budget cuts eliminated his job and threatened his future. Forman’s Headmaster, Richard Peirce, gave McCarty a job coaching junior varsity soccer. He also taught science and human sexuality. McCarty lived on campus in the attic of Giles House. Eventually, when he wanted his own home, he went to the bank for a loan. They laughed. No co-signer, no home. Again, it was Headmaster Richard Peirce who took the bank loan papers and, with pen in hand, said, “Scotty, this is going to be a real pleasure.” “I am what I am because of everyone who has helped me,” McCarty said.
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Giving. Forman’s Field of Dreams; Donors Make It Happen Last year Forman’s baseball fields were transformed, thanks to the generosity of three donors: Alice and Dan Cunningham (parents of Phil Cunningham ’08), the Pace family (Zac Pace ’05), and the Tri-Ford Foundation (family of Math Department Chair, Chris Ford). Forman players now enjoy a new infield, two dugouts, windscreens, a batting cage, and new fencing. There’s also a watering system and much-needed infield grooming equipment.
The Forman community is grateful for the generosity of these families as this much-loved sport is a favorite at Forman.
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“We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.� Winston Churchill
Copper Beech Society The Copper Beech Bequest Society was formed to give recognition to those who have made provisions in their wills to benefit The Forman School. More than thirty devoted friends of the School have made a commitment to future generations of Forman students through their generous bequests. If you would like more information about how you can leave a lasting legacy, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at (860) 567-1896.
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CLASS NOTES
Please contact your Class Agent with news, photos and updates, or sent them via email to alumni@formanschool.org.
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John Warner ’42 passed away on Monday, January 2, 2012.
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Class Agent: Duryea Morton ’43 pdmorton3004@aol.com (757) 253-0225 _____________________________
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Class Agent: Walter B. Roberts Jr. ’44 vanb22@aol.com (763) 475-2072 _____________________________
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Peter T. Heyl ’45 passed away Sunday, October 30, 2011.
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Howard H. Hinsch ’46 passed away on Saturday, April 2, 2011.
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John “Phil” Zerega ’47 passed away in Janaury 2010.
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Class Agent: S. Sherman Clark Jr. ’50 shermclark@aol.com (513) 247-9337 _____________________________
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published a book entitled, The Spirits of Birds, Bears, Butterflies and All Those Other Wild Creatures. It explores interaction and intercommunication among wild creatures and humans. In the introduction and prologue he mentions the spirituality of nature that was a hallmark of the Formans’ work. For more information, visit the site Dennie created
Class Agent: Webster U. Walker Jr. ’51 (203) 259-6962 _____________________________
about the book, www.birdscrittersbutterflies.webs.com. To order a paperback copy of the book, visit Amazon.com.
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Ted Marks ’60 invites his classmates to visit Atwater Estate Vineyards in Hector, NY. The vineyard is located on the south-east corner of Seneca Lake, in the Finger Lakes region. www.Atwaterwineyards.com.
R. Gervas Kerr ’54 passed away September 19, 2011. His wife, Pat, wrote us, “Gervas loved the years he spent at Forman and was proud to be a graduate.”
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Class Agent: Marilyn Yates Ormiston ’52 (954) 989-4663 _____________________________
Class Agent: Michael N. Cohen ’54 (860) 242-2110 _____________________________
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Class Agent: Richard P. Barker ’56 msb463@msn.com (401) 849-2182 _____________________________
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T. Dennis Williams II ’58, the nephew of John and Julie Forman, just
Class Agent: Ted Marks ’60 Ted@AtwaterVineyards.com _____________________________
Class Agent: George K. Allison ’61 (631) 686-1673 _____________________________
Brent Curtis ’61 reported from his home in Annapolis, “Not much going on with me. In May I went up to Maine to help extended family bring a sailboat up the coast to the Bath area. My son, Brent, and his wife, Stacy, had their first child, Shelby Scout, in late June. They live in western Colorado. He’s a metalsmith (blacksmith) who does custom work in Aspen valley. My other son, Graham, and 29
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his wife, Wendy, have kids in third and fifth grade in Arlington, VA.”
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Rick Williams ’62 retired after 31 years in the Coast Guard. He returned to Newport, Rhode Island, where he co-chaired and was president of three Tall Ships Festivals. Currently he volunteers as the construction liaison with the non-profit Oliver Hazard Perry School Ship project. This is the largest U.S. privately-owned actively sailing square rigged ship. It will serve as a school beginning in the fall of 2013. See www.OHPRI.org for more details. The project group is developing curriculum with RI secondary schools, the University of Rhode Island and the U.S. Naval Academy Prepertory School. They expect to offer “outward bound” type experiences, and will also include a variety of maritime-related studies such as literature, language, and music, as well as mandatory “learning the ship” experiences.
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Class Agent: Alfred “Ace” Body Jr. ’63 skibumal@aol.com (440) 543-8971 _____________________________
Ace Body ’63 reported: “I visited Dawn Royston Cole ’63 down in Laurinburg, NC, and met with her for about 2 hrs. I wish it could have been longer. It was great to see Dawn and her daughter Jen. Her brother, Perkey Royston ’64, couldn’t make it. Dawn said she and Perkey are biological brother and sister. She went on to say they were adopted together at
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Alumni Weekend 2012 dinner gathering: Front row (L-R): Carola Cammann ’68, Nindy Coffin Stimpson ’69, Nancy Walton Marikar ’68, Sue Spadone Holmes ’70. Back row (L-R): Ben Coffin ’69, Jeff Meyers ’69, Dan Dumaine ’69, Dave Walter ’69, Scott Sutherland ’69, Geoff Lee ’69, Gil Yule - former teacher & coach, Davis Dewey ’69.
6 months, and are TWINS. How about that? I did not know they are twins. We reminisced about our days at Forman and both agreed they were some of the best days of our lives. We talked about getting our classmates together for Alumni Weekend in April 2013. After the meeting, my friend and I went on to Wilmington, NC, Boston, and Connecticut.”
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Class Agent: Eric D. Murray ’64 ericdmu@netzero.com (610) 678-8163 _____________________________
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Class Agents: Sara L. Fliess ’65 sallyfl47@pubgames.com (203) 445-9851 Jeffrey T. Whipple ’65 (508) 627-6622 _____________________________
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Class Agents: Bartow S. Curtis Jr. ’66 bart4sound_fx@yahoo.com (607) 767-6445 Debora Gould Petersen ’66 Hugs38@aol.com (727) 343-9562 _____________________________
(L-R): Larry Miller ’67 (his 45th reunion year) and Danny Dumaine ’69 during Alumni Weekend 2012.
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Class Agent: Carla McKay Lucey ’67 CLucey@unimin.com (203) 834-2241 _____________________________
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Class Agent: Nancy Walton Marikar ’68 rakiram@aol.com (860) 644-8066 _____________________________
Carola Cammann ’68 has published a children’s book, The Elves of Shady Elm. During the April Alumni Weekend 2012 she conducted a book signing on campus and donated a copy of her book to the Forman library. Nancy Walton Marikar ’68 assisted with the book signing. Jean C. Keegan ’68 has been a Program Manager for Goodwill Industries of
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Class Agent: David E. Swift ’72 not_too@hotmail.com (850) 496-0808 _____________________________
David E. Swift ’72, became a Grandpa for the second time at the end of July 2012. I now have two wonderful
In March 2012 Dave Walter ’69 hosted Adam Man, Head of School, at an alumni reception in his home. Back row (L-R): Jim Lees ’84, Adam Man, Dave Walter ’69. Front row (L-R): John Wurts ’87, Wilhelm Ostern ’86, Carrie West ’68, Bob Fulton ’71.
South Florida for the last 17 years. Prior to that she worked as an interpreter for the deaf in a school system in Manchester, NH. Jean retired from Goodwill in March 2012 and plans to build up her dog sitting and grooming business which she runs in her home.
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Class Agents: Davis A. Dewey ’69 davis@netsprinter.net (401) 247-2518 Scott M. Sutherland ’69 jms208@aol.com (203) 758-2949 _____________________________
Davis Dewey ’69 reported: “Since the April 2012 reunion Scott Sutherland ’69, Geoff Lee ’69 and myself have stayed in touch and have played golf together at my course in RI. After golf we met up with Jim Baker ’69 for dinner. We had not seen him since graduation. Jim is doing well and is retired from the jewelry industry and lives in RI. We have also been in touch with Nindy Coffin Stimpson ’69 who lives on Cape Cod.”
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Class Agent: Susan Spadone Holmes ’70 (203) 259-4964 _____________________________
Dave Swift ’72 with his first grandson, Brandon.
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Class Agent: Craig J. Hanson ’71 craigjhanson@yahoo.com (203) 237-8481 Andrew Krens Jr. ’71 drew_krens@yahoo.com (413) 743-2420 _____________________________ Emmett, the second grandson of Dave Swift ’72.
A campus tour on Alumni Weekend 2012: (L-R) Peter Forte ’70, Ben Coffin ’69, Jeff Meyers ’69, Nindy Coffin Stimpson ’69, Geoff Lee ’69, Sue Spadone Holmes ’70, Nancy Miller Ballen ’70, Stephen Wasley ’62, Carola Cammann ’68, Nancy Walton Marikar ’68.
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young men added to my family: Brandon Kyle Swift (Florida) and Emmett Joseph Hagemann (Germany). We do love to read about our old friends in The Forman Letter.” Beth Rumoshosky Minasi ’72 loves living in the Hudson Valley. She has 3 wonderful children, 2 dogs and 2 cats. Beth enjoys quilting and reading.
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Class Agent: Joan G. Bielizna ’73 joanrealtor@snet.net (203) 743-6179 _____________________________
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Paula Nichols-Dille ’74 (401) 463-5569 _____________________________
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Class Agent: Diana Curtis Price ’75 Dcprice2000@aol.com _____________________________
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Class Agents: Peter G. M. Roberts ’76 pgmroberts@hotmail.com (303) 437-8664
derdale with classmate Andrew Miller ’77 who was exhibiting photos in an art show, and Leslie Rudes ’78. The three had a wonderful time catching up!
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Isabelle Krause Guillemette ’78 would love to hear from her Forman friends at happy2snowski@yahoo.com
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Class Agent: Gardiner S. Mulford ’80 gardiner@mulfordrealty.com _____________________________
David E. Porter ’80, his wife, Wendy Hall, and their daughter, Zoe, moved from St. Thomas to North Carolina in mid-2011. It was quite a change from island life, but they felt that after a decade, it was time to return to the mainland. Zoe is in 4th grade.
Kendra R. Van Pelt ’76 sassyk105@gmail.com (919) 519-6230 _____________________________
Snow Pines and Stars (2003) This piece by Michael J. Zoller ’73 was chosen from the entries for the Holiday Card Contest. Michael credits an early professor for his inspiration: “Among the most influential artists to me that I had the opportunity to study under was Richard Budelis. An associate professor at Pratt Art Institute, Budelis also taught art at Forman part time wile I was there, and his wife Connie (the niece of Julie Forman) taught creative writing.”
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Scott D. McCarty ’76 has been named Coach of the Year for Independent Schools by the Connecticut Soccer Coaches Association. The award was presented to him at an All-State Banquet on January 29, 2012. On July 28, Scott wed Forman Assistant Dean, Tammy Grella, on campus. The couple will continue to work and reside on campus.
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Malcolm C. Davidson ’77 now resides in Florida. He visited in Ft. Lau-
Scott McCarty and new wife, Tammy Grella.
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Hilary L. Taylor ’81 Hilzo@aol.com (978) 692-6962 _____________________________
David Buchanan ’86 is now working for Cary Presbyterian Church in North Carolina as the Building and Grounds Manager. David is responsible for all the upkeep and maintenance for the exterior and interior of the church. He started in
Class Agents: Evan E. Clark ’81 evanclark@rcn.com (617) 924-1595
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Class Agent: Matthew L. LaFlamme ’82 matt_laflamme@msn.com (502) 767-4751 _____________________________
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Class Agent: Andrew Gus Covert ’83 andrewycovert@gmail.com (410) 708-4270 _____________________________
Craig E. Breakiron ’83 married Shawntel Louree and they have a son, Andrew, born in August 2011. They moved to Florida to be near Craig’s father and are enjoying life with their new son.
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Class Agents: Peter M. Ahlfeld ’84 ahlfeld@vermonttel.net (802) 325-2451
Lisa Richardson Palmer ’86 larfal@aol.com (508) 548-9614 _____________________________
August 2012 and loves his new adventure. He can be reached at dtbuchanan114@ gmail.com or (919) 422-6161. Amanda Thorndike Landry ’86 said, “Hello class of 1986! I have been busy as a mom, wife and doing a job that I love as nanny for a family with three children. Two of the children are autistic and another has anxiety disorder. They are such wonderful children and they keep me very fulfilled as a person. They teach me so much on a daily basis. This all keeps me busy and on my toes. I truly cannot ask for a better life. My 15 year old son, William, will be entering high school in the fall and the next four years are really going to fly by, as I remember them doing as a student at Forman. William is very involved in all sports, but his favorite is football where he plays nose guard and
Nancy Robinson Swift ’84 nancysunnyswift@yahoo.com (732) 741-4711 _____________________________
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Jennie Alexandre Bono ’85 jenniebono@yahoo.com William L. Freeman ’85 freeman.will@gmail.com (301) 587-6916 _____________________________
Amanda Thorndike Landry ’86 with her son William, who is entering high school and is a football player.
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center. I still live in Maine and speak often to Carrie Merriman ’86 and Karen High Huth ’86. I hope all is well with the class of 1986 and I hope to come down to another reunion soon.”
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Class Agent: Holly Jones Weisenburger ’87 holly@theweisenburgers.com (603) 382-8387 _____________________________
Steven R. Carberry ’87 is the Funeral Director/Embalmer/Manager of J. E. Keever Mortuary in Ennis, TX. He and his wife, Donnela, have 2 sons, ages 11 and 12 and a daughter, age 6. Steve stated, “I had a great time being in Litchfield for Alumni Weekend 2012. It was a great time, and it was fun being on the Alumni Panel.”
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Dara J. Bassock ’88 is currently living in Colorado. After graduating from Roger Williams University, she chose a career in sports marketing. She spent fifteen years in the ski and outdoor industry. She now has a small business working with non-profit organizations and small businesses to help them raise money through effective marketing outlets and events. She is on the edge of starting a new business. Dara is forever grateful to Forman and it holds a special place in her heart. Eli Gesner ’88 is an artist, creative consultant, writer, and entrepreneur. He traveled to campus last May and gave a most inspiring commencement address to the class of 2012 (see www.formanschool.org). Eli is featured in the Transformations section of this magazine (see page 19). 33
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Class Agent: Sykes McBee Zimmerman ’92 sykesmcb@hotmail.com (662) 323-4757 _____________________________
Joel Griffith ’89 and David Thorn ’89 (above) in Chatham, MA and (right) with his wife, Jen, and daughter, Ella, in Cape Cod, MA, in August.
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Class Agents: Sean P. Maguire ’89 smaguire21@comcast.net (781) 395-0880 Curt F. Pfannenstiehl ’89 curtpfan@baystate.edu (508) 785-3334 David Thorn Jr. ’89 dthorn30@yahoo.com (508) 429-6658 _____________________________
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Class Agents: Amy Owen Stettner ’91 aostett@hotmail.com (303) 761-0399
David Thorn ’89 reported he and Joel Griffith ’89 visited this past summer in Cape Cod, MA. Their families got together for some nice beach time. Joel and his family were visiting from Montana.
Rob P. Tarantino ’91 Rob_Tarantino@ML.com (860) 528-5255
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Stephen Bacharach ’91 and his wife Jill were married October 20, 2011. Jason H. Barr ’91 represents athletes and celebrities regarding contract negotiations for sports and celebrity marketing inside the NFL. He also spearheads some annual charity golf foundations, one of them being the Ricky Williams celebrity Golf Classic as well as the 19th Annual Music Festival at Bay-Front Park. Jenny Virgopia ’91 completed her MLS degree in library science from Syracuse University.
Class Agents: Jennifer Winkler Balzi ’90 jenrwink@gmail.com (203) 775-1961 Karine Opdyke Lawrence ’90 karinelawrence@yahoo.com (864) 242-8891 _____________________________
Patrick Noone ’90 worked with Kenny Chesney on his northeast tour, and also the shows for Brad Paisley, AC/ DC, Black Ice and Paul McCartney. This fall of 2012 he is working on the
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Madonna and Bruce Springsteen tours. He would like to hear from Forman classmates; his email address is: pmnoone@gmail.com.
Jenny Virgopia ’91 jennyvirgopia@aol.com (212) 706-2165 _____________________________
Nicole B. Cianci ’92 passed away on Friday, April 20, 2012. Blake Miller ’92 was a member of the 1992 New England Small Schools Championship team at Forman, beginning his long careeer in lacrosse! He was Junior College All America in 1994 at Nassau Community College. In 1996 he was participated in the North Atlantic Coast Championship and was named the North Atlantic Coast Player of the Year as well as earning All America honors at Hofstra University. He participated in the 1996 North/South All-Star Game and received the Peter Banker Award. Following graduation, Blake played for the Long Island Hofstra Lacrosse Club earning All Club honors in 1997, 1998 and 1999. In 1997, he was named to the USA Team which captured the World Championship in Baltimore, MD. Blake was also a member of the 2006 squad which won a silver medal in London, Ontario, Canada. In the MLL he was a member of the 2004
Blake Miller ’92 addressed students and faculty on campus last winter.
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Championship squad and was named an MLL All-Star (2001-2006) six times. In addition, he was named the MLL Offensive Player of the Year in 2004. Blake worked with the Manhasset PAL from 2003-2006 and with the Angela Miller Memorial Lacrosse program since 2008. He was inducted into the Long Island Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2012. In February 2012, Blake returned to the Forman campus to talk with the students.
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Class Agents: Kenneth I. Deane ’93 kenneth.deane@gmail.com Gilah E. Gersten ’93 gilahg@gmail.com (860) 589-5355 _____________________________
necticut, called Serendipity Magazine. The magazine is distributed in Westchester, New York City, Greenwich, Westport, Fairfield and New Jersey.
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Class Agents: Christina E. Bodine ’95 ChristinaBodine@msn.com (203) 521-4022 Allison Herron Gsell ’95 allison_herron@hotmail.com (860) 354-9937 Elizabeth G. Thomas ’95 lizgthomas@yahoo.com (817) 731-2777 _____________________________
Matt Petit ’95 wrote, “An article was written referencing my company, Environmental Window Solutions, in a collaborative with a non-profit food bank in San Francisco. The unveiling of the project was Tuesday, March 7, 2012, in San Francisco.”
96 Tripp Emerling ’93 (center) visited with Nigel Daniel and Helen Waldron while on campus in August 2011.
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Class Agents: Christopher D. Kellogg ’94 (908) 782-2413 Brooke H. Labriola ’94 bhlabriola@gmail.com (203) 570-3045 Drew S. Weinstein ’94 weinstein.drew@gmail.com (917) 620-5376 _____________________________
Brooke H. Labriola ’94 is working at a new magazine based in Greenwich, Con-
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ported: “We had our second son, Evan, born on February 11, 2012. Our oldest, Timothy, will be seven in October and a first grader. In March my husband and I will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary. We are now living in Carmel, Indiana. I am a full-time mom and this is the most rewarding job I have ever had!”
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Class Agent: Susan A. Schonfeld ’98 suzy195954@aol.com (609) 683-7818 _____________________________
David A. Koch ’98 married Brooke Marston Colbert on September 24, 2011, at the Angel Orensanz Foundation in Manhattan. Koch is a Senior Producer at iNDELIBLE, a full-service Digital Advertising Agency in Manhattan and his wife is a law student at St. John’s University in Jamaica, Queens.
Class Agents: Marikay Geib ’96 marikaygeib212@msn.com (601) 329-6404 Lauren Cuticelli Patton ’96 lauren@cuticelli.com (203) 326-0628 Tyler Renn ’96 strenn@hotmail.com (404) 308-0053 _____________________________
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Class Agent: Abbie Graham Durkin ’97 abbiegraham@hotmail.com (914) 630-2978 _____________________________
Amy Bennett Tiedemann ’97 re-
Amy Bennett Tiedemann ’97 with her husband Dan, Evan (3 months) and Timothy (6 years).
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work in the veterinary field. She even gets to work with lions, not Forman Lions, but REAL lions!
Jessica Davis Raitz ’99, jessica.raitz@gmail.com _____________________________
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Class Agents: Elizabeth A. Hanway ’99 eahanway@gmail.com (610) 627-0599
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Class Agents: Jesse J. E. Resnick ’00 jesse.res@gmail.com (646) 360-0043 Alexandrea Van der Tuin ’00 aquapink1@gmail.com (973) 376-5454 _____________________________
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Matthew A. Bonzagni ’01 Mbonzagni232@charter.net (413) 636-5224 Leith T. Sharp ’01 tennis315@yahoo.com _____________________________
Matt Bonzagni ’01 graduated from the University of Hartford with a Masters of Science in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Structural Engineering in May 2012. Shana Hayward ’01 is studying to
Another day at school for Shana Hayward ’01.
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Class Agents: Elizabeth B. Fort ’02 ebfort@gmail.com
Kevin Smallwood ’03 was the best man for Adam Grabish ’03 at his wedding.
Mark M. Roscio ’02 hottrodder67@aol.com (860) 918-2331 _____________________________
Julia Strobos ’02 passed her Veterinary Technician National Board Exam.
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Class Agents: Holly M. McCulley ’03 blushpaisa81@yahoo.com (614) 473-9193 Elizabeth A. Monroe ’03 lizmonroe@comcast.net _____________________________
Noah B. Cahan ’03 graduated with honors from Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago in May 2010 with a degree in architecture. He has secured a position at the world renowned firm Murphy, Jahn Architects, Inc., in downtown Chicago. He is working on building models of a city and buildings in China that will be entered in a competition for the company. Adam M. Grabish ’03 emailed, “I just wanted to give you an update on my life and goings on. I moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, after graduating Forman, and I still live here today. This past spring I married my girlfriend of five years, Jennifer Hall Grabish. She is a wonderful individual and has made my life complete. Forman friends that were at our wedding were Jordan Koshgarian ’03 and Kevin Smallwood ’03, who was my best man.
Jennifer Hall Grabish and Adam Grabish ’03 are now married!
This fall we both returned to school. Jen is earning her Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration. After taking some time off from school, I returned four years ago to community college. From there I transfered back to Colorado State University. I recently changed my degree path to a dual degree in Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science with a concentration in Space Engineering. My primary focus will be on composite materials. Every day represents a new challenge, but I love what I am doing. 2013 will be my 10 year reunion and I plan on making the journey back to Connecticut. I hope this message finds everyone at Forman well, and in good spirits.” Peter F. Morris ’03 graduated from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT, in December 2011. He is now mar-
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ried to an accountant he met in college. They have a young daughter.
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Class Agents: Ian C. Hayward ’06 barret12.7mm@gmail.com (254) 251-0317 Charles A. Phillips ’06 moodlemn@yahoo.com (239) 498-6369 _____________________________
Jon Pace ’03 is currently enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley.
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Class Agents: Laura J. Goodkind ’04 LJGoodkind@msn.com (973) 539-1539 Kathryn S. John ’04 john.katie@gmail.com (412) 963-0917 _____________________________
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Class Agents: Pearse P. Matthews ’05 pmatthews@hillhooks.org (917) 596-5303 Cyril Pat Thornton ’05 thorntcp@gmail.com (610) 209-6261 _____________________________
Kyle P. Halloran ’05, current Forman faculty, is engaged to Amanda Horne. He proposed in dramatic fashion during the Litchfield Hills Road Race. A July 2013 wedding is being planned. Tim Leveroni ’05 is working full time in his family business as a securities advisor with LPL Financial and loves his work.
Ian Hayward ’06 reported: “I have decided not to re-enlist in the Army for 4 more years and plan to get out and return to college. I will be enrolling in college again and attending ROTC to get commissioned as an officer. In the meantime, I have been training new soldiers and helping my unit prepare for a deployment.”
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succeed. Keep working hard and you’ll accomplish your goals! I enjoyed visiting Forman in April for my reunion.” Joe Burdis ’07 is living in Orlando, Florida and has a job editing film for a reality TV show. Katie Halloran ’07 is in grad school, and living and working in Stamford, CT. She got together with Andrew Carter ’07 to catch up. He is doing very well and working on videos and movies. Katie Marquardt Snopkowski ’07 reported: “I married Tyler Snopkowski, and our first child, daughter Alina Katu Muirina Snopkowski, was born September 30, 2011.”
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Class Agents: Shannon W. Hallenbeck ’07 shannon.hallenbeck@gmail.com (203) 330-1085 Katherine G. McFadden ’07 kmac203@gmail.com (203) 857-0087 _____________________________
Jordan W. Bates ’07 graduated from the University of Arizona in the Spring of 2011 and is currently on a two-year internship with the Arizona Cardinals NFL Team. Parker Beard ’07 graduated from Mitchell College with a degree in Sports Management. He is currently working part-time at the University of South Carolina Aiken Convocation Center as a change-over crew member. He said, “The feeling of graduating college is unreal! There were so many up and down obstacles through my 5 years of college. Sometimes it takes more then one try to
Daughter of Katie Marquardt Snopkowski ’07: Alina Katu Muirina Snopkowski.
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Class Agent: Anne Marie Mete ’08 Anniemete3@yahoo.com (860) 361-9217 _____________________________
Rachel Cunningham ’08 reported, “I graduated in May 2012 from Mitchell College with a degree in sport and fitness management with a concentration in sport communication. I interned my senior year at Channel 3 (Rocky Hill, CT) in the sports department for the Friday Night Frenzy. I developed Mitchell College’s first video highlights for athletics. I 37
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Class Agents: Cameron S. Billik ’10 (203) 762-5538 Gretchen G. Conyers ’10 gretchen.conyers@gmail.com (441) 295-8433 Douglas F. Patch ’10 dpatch2010@aol.com (203) 661-7260 Dayne J. Price ’10 dayneprice@gmail.com Joshua S. Sacks ’10 jsacks28@gmail.com (617) 964-4773 Josh Charles ’08, Rachel Cunningham ’08 and Parker Beard ’07 as they graduated from Mitchell College in May 2012.
am currently working at LA Fitness as a Sales Counselor.” Anne Marie E. Mete ’08 reported, “I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Curry College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication in May 2012. I was inducted into the National Honor Society of Lamdba Pi Eta. I interned at Connecticut Public Television during the summer after graduation.” Patrick A. Parisi ’08 passed away on Wednesday, November 30, 2011. A. J. Vorwald ’08 has joined the Marines.
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Class Agents: Justin W. DeCausey ’09 jdecausey@gmail.com (203) 846-8326 Candice R. Earlington ’09 wacky_candy@hotmail.com Kelly Solk ’09 nicolita5@aol.com (203) 746-2914 _____________________________
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For news of Lawton Jeffords, see notes for the Class of 2012.
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Class Agents: Rachel C. Hafer ’11 rchafer@roanoke.edu (808) 575-2064 Nicholas V. Manzella ’11 (203) 263-4033 Michael D. Satalic ’11 michael.satalic@gmail.com (281) 713-2854 _____________________________
Alicia G. Cohen reported, “I spent the summer of 2012 interning back at Forman. I worked with admission, communications, marketing and alumni relations. In the fall I will be back at the University of Alabama for my second year of college. Stacy Saperstein is at Towson University in Maryland. She loves it there, and is majoring in communications. Ted Bartley is at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, and studied abroad in Italy. Spencer Daniel took a gap year working at Disney World in Florida, and started at Mitchell College in the
fall 2012. Vince Hastings had a great first year at the University of Alabama. He joined the Sigma Nu fraternity. Lindsey Watkins finished her first year at the University of Connecticut and is playing D1 soccer! She is enjoying every second of it. Caitlyn Brecher is at Lasell College in Newton, MA. She plays lacrosse and is very excited to be there. She worked at a lacrosse camp in MA over the summer. Jane deMenocal started at Johnson & Wales in Providence, RI, in the fall of 2011, but took the second semester off to work at Tangram International, in Pleasantville, NY.” (Thank you for all these great updates, Alicia!)
12 Class Agents: Lauren A. Morrow ’12 lauren.morrow1993@gmail.com (978) 939-8842 Shelby L. Pierce ’12 shelby.pierce93@gmail.com (860) 489-2425 Daniel S. Sotherland ’12 dsotherland81@gmail.com (860) 644-5013 _____________________________
Lauren A. Morrow reported, “Dan, Shelby and I followed up with our classmates and here’s what we learned: Austin Iverson is excited to start studying at Oregon State University. Connor Clancy is attending Saint Lawrence University with two of his Forman classmates, Doodle Funk and Dylan Kirby. Drew Gregory worked hard and had quite an eventful summer. He is at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. Dylan Kirby is stoked to be starting at Saint Lawrence University
C L A S S
N O T E S
has been hard at work at school since late June and has been enjoying it. Michelle Phillips enjoyed her summer at home in Colorado. She volunteered at the local animal shelter due to her passion for animals. At Colorado State University, she is living by herself and belongs to a couple of prestigious programs, including the President’s Leadership Program.
Alumni Class Agents Needed Young Forman alumni came back to campus for graduation to honor their former classmates. Pictured here (L to R): Mackenzie Randall ’11, Jake Douville ’10, Lauren Phelan ’10, Jim Renehan ’11, Ariel Blouin ’11, Emily Johnson ’11, and Greg Goldsmith ’11
and enjoyed his summer with family and friends. Foster Bentham continued to enjoy his position as a camp counselor at Camp Echo, which is located in Fremont, Michigan. He worked in the stables taking care of the horses, and if anything was broken, he fixed it. He also enjoyed a long weekend at the Wooden Boat Show with current Forman students. Jake Ratkevich ’12 worked at Forman with the maintenance department this past summer and has been enjoying his passion for drums. He is attending Skidmore College. James Whaley continued his summer job as a sailing instructor at Community Sailing of Colorado. He is attending college with a former Forman graduate, Lawton Jeffords ’10 and one of his close friends Winston MacDonald, who also graduated from Forman in May. Julia Lesser started her freshman year at Suffolk University, but is transferring to PACE in New York for her
sophomore year. Katie McBride is attending Mitchell College. She will be continuing her passion for soccer by playing on the Mitchell College team. Lauren Morrow spent her summer locally. She attended the Wooden Boat Show, where she was very happy to see some of her friends and a few teachers from Forman. She flew to Illinois to visit with family and flew to the Virgin Islands to spend a week with family. She is attending Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, and is extremely excited. Maddie Bova has been working on improving her sketching and painting skills. She is also working on her music by playing her guitar and singing. She is extremely stoked to be attending The School of Visual Arts (SVA). Maddie is especially keen on starting a new chapter in her life, which includes meeting new friends and learning from them. Matt Ullman has already started classes at Methodist University in North Carolina. He
Do you have contact with many of your classmates from Forman? Do you enjoy reaching out to your friends to find out what is new? If so, you may be an ideal Class Agent for Forman! Class Agents are needed for the following classes:
1945 1946 1947 1948
1949 1953 1955 1962
1977 1978 1979 1988
If you are interested in serving as a Class Agent, please contact Sue Turcotte, Director of Alumni and Parent Programs, at alumni@ formanschool.org and be sure to include your full name and class year, mailing and email addresses, and telephone number(s).
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Shelby Pierce ’12 worked hard as a lifeguard this past summer, teaching swim lessons to children 2-10 years old. She is attending Keene State College this fall. She plans on studying architecture and environmental science.
FACULTY
Mason visited with Wendy Welshans when they were on campus this summer for Scotty’s wedding. Dan and Kathleen met here at Forman when they were both teachers. Dan is holding their son Jack and Kathleen is holding Ben.
BIRTHS
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Hilary Barhydt, Chair of History & Social Sciences, took a class at the Taft School Summer Institute for Teachers on teaching Advanced Placement U.S. History. This course will be offered at The Forman School this year. Nigel Daniel, staff, has been named Assistant Coach of the Year for Independent Schools by the Connecticut Soccer Coaches Association. The award was presented at the All-State Banquet on January 29, 2012. Tammy Grella, Assistant Dean, married Scott McCarty ’76 on July 28. The couple will continue to work and reside on campus. See Notes for Class of 2005 for news about Kyle P. Halloran. Dan Mason and Kathleen Flansbury
Former Faculty and Board of Trustees member, Tyler Stevens and his wife, Ulli, celebrate the birth of a son, Alder “Til” Stevens, born March 23, 2012. Congratulations to American Sign Language teacher, Jeoffrey Langill and Ashli Hoxie for their baby boy, Brycen Edward Langill. Brycen was born on June 25, 2012, weighing 6 lbs. 14 oz. and 20.25 inches long.
IN MEMORIAM
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Justin J. Adinolfi, Sr. P ’06 – Former Trustee Justin Adinolfi, Sr. passed away on December 8, 2011, after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. He is the husband of Jane Thiery Adinolfi, father of Justin Adinolfi, Jr. ’06, Charlotte and Thomas Adinolfi all of Cheshire, CT. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Boston College and his MBA from William & Mary College. During his working career as an information technology consultant, he was employed at several companies including
WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED 40
Anderson Consulting (Accenture), DH Andrews Consulting, and Cognizant. He also owned and operated his own business, Technology Resource Solutions, Inc. He was an active and dedicated member of his community including service as a trustee of The Forman School in Litchfield. Mary Fracasso – Former School Nurse Mary Sweet Fracasso passed away September 18, 2012. She spent a lifetime in healthcare, serving on the nursing staff of St. Francis Hospital in Hartford for many years before becoming the school nurse for the Town of Winchester. She retired from the position of school nurse at The Forman School. Mrs. Catherine Yarnelle – Former Staff Catherine Yarnelle passed away June 19, 2011. Cathy served as both personal Secretary to John Forman and as the Business Manager of the School. She was married to John Yarnelle, a former faculty member. A scholarship fund was established after her husband died in 1998, and Cathy enjoyed receiving thank you notes from the students who benefited from this scholarship. She kept in constant contact with the staff at Forman. Cathy lived to be 99 years old, spending her final years in Arizona.
PICTURE THE POSSIBILITIES Give a future full of possibilities at The Forman School with a generous gift to The Annual Fund. www.formanschool.org | (860) 567-2939
F O R M A N
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The Forman School 12 Norfolk Road P.O. Box 80 Litchfield, CT 06759-0080 Change Service Requested
The Alumni played a winning Lacrosse game against students during Alumni Weekend last April. It didn’t hurt to have Blake Miller ’92 on the team!
IMPORTANT DATES Scan this QR code with your smartphone to update your alumni information. No smartphone? Visit Formanschool.org and click on Alumni
April 12-13, 2013
Family Weekend
April 26-28, 2013 Alumni Weekend May 25, 2013
Commencement
Printed on recycled paper.