F O R M A N L E T T E R
INNOVATION From Concept to Reality
WINTER 2016
Head of School: Adam K. Man P’15 Assistant Head of School for Internal Affairs: Mike Kowalchick Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement: Justin Solomon Address corrections & Class Notes: alumni@formanschool.org
Editors: Kerry Durkin, Director of Communications and Sarah Pfeffer, Assistant Director of Communications Head Writer: Sarah Pfeffer, Assistant Director of Communications Photo Editors: Kerry Durkin, Director of Communications and Gretchen Conyers ’10, Alumni Programs Associate Class Notes Editor: Danielle Plante, Director of Alumni Programs Designer: Julie Hammill, Hammill Design Photography: Sarah Pfeffer, Gretchen Conyers ’10, Anna Moller, Richard Schultz, Steven Valenti
F O R M A N L E T T E R
Mission Statement Forman School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school for boarding and day students with identified learning differences. Forman develops the whole student, based on his or her unique learning
2 Head of School Message 4 Ingenuity Unleashed 8 Around the Green 12 The Science of Keeping Students Engaged 16 Planting a Love for Learning 18 Lion’s Pride 22 Alumni Profiles 26 Giving 30 Class Notes
profile, so that every graduate becomes an educated, confident, self-advocate throughout life.
Forman School Board of Trustees President of the Board Louise Hoppe Finnerty P’11 Vice-President Beatriz G. Sanchez P’15 Treasurer Thomas G. Sorell P’12 Secretary Michael L. Cook P’15 Member at Large David D. Walter ’69 Pamela H. Alexander P’16 Barbara Chace ’87 Elizabeth Garber Daniels ’93 L. Laird Davis Kenneth I. Deane ’93 Anthony C. Everett P’18 Annette R. Jenner-Matthews, Ph.D. ’87 Preethi Krishna P’16 Frederick M. Lione, Jr. P’91 Adam K. Man P’15, Head of School Blake T. Myers P’16 Scott M. Sutherland ’69, P’93 David H. White ’71 Jon E. Zagrodzky P’19, P’18 Trustees Emeriti J. Seward Johnson ’49 and Mrs. Cecelia Johnson P’91 Diane F. Kessenich P’86, Chairman Emerita Kenneth R. Latham ’48
This page: Students take a stroll on the Green in the snow. Cover: August Hochstetter ’16 and Isabelle Lovejoy ’16 watch the 3D printer in action.
John A. Meyers P’84 Peter L. Phillips ’65
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HEAD OF SCHOOL LETTER
Our Ingenuity Program Director, Chris Ford, shared an exercise with me recently. He asked me to imagine myself as Superman, with all of the incredible superpowers that come with the title, but with no crime, disasters, or pressing problems requiring my attention. In this situation, the only persona I get to portray is that of Clark Kent. While there is nothing wrong with being steady, reliable, and predictable, there is another amazing side that is never shown.
Adam K. Man talks with students during his Anthropology class.
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“The underlying goal of the course is to support inspiration, imagination, creativity, and enterprise.”
Without innovative programming, this framework could be compared to the lives of young learners. Many students go through each day as Clark Kent, never getting to show off the impressive powers they possess. Some students may excel in math or history, but what about those who shine outside of traditional subjects? Budding engineers, inventors, dramaturgs, fashion designers, or meteorologists rarely have an opportunity to show off their talents. From this idea the Ingenuity Program was born. This program carves a space and time for students to explore interests outside of a typical high school curriculum. These students come together during a regularly scheduled block, but once in the classroom, the possibilities are limitless. They collaborate with each other and are guided by teachers to explore different topics. There is a structure and rhythm to the class, but it is also entirely unique in the way it functions. The underlying goal of the course is to support inspiration, imagination, creativity, and enterprise. These critical skills are so important in the 21st century world, yet little time is devoted to them in secondary education. Esteemed New York City educator Deborah Meier perhaps best summarized this reality when she wrote, “The playfulness of childhood has eroded in part by us dismissing it as a luxury…If it can’t be objectively measured on a standardized scale, and deemed essential to our national and economic competitive edge as well, it can be set aside for ‘later.’”
Allyson Smith ’18 looks over at a friend during morning assembly.
Meier expands that childhood should be focused on creativity and inventiveness and when we strip these facets out of a curriculum, we risk creating a society without “the historian as storyteller, scientist as explorer, mathematician as a seeker.” We create a community of Clark Kents with no Supermen. The Ingenuity Program embraces the process of trying, failing, and trying again. It explores unique passions, turns hobbies into disciplines, and builds the confidence to persevere. It encourages students to figure out their potential superpowers. In a time when it is more vital than ever, Forman School is asking students to think for themselves and discover the maker within.
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August Hochstetter ’16 operates the 3D printer
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Ingenuity Unleashed Introducing Forman’s Ingenuity Program Collaboration. It’s what immediately sets Forman’s Ingenuity Program apart from any other long-term student project curriculum out there. This hands-on, student-focused program comes to life in a space featuring a “fab lab” (fabrication laboratory) with a 3D printer, new computers, vinyl cutter, milling machine, laser cutter, and an Epson Stylus Pro 9900. These state-of-the-art machines are simply the tools through which Forman students’ dreams are made palpable.
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I get to work alongside some of the smartest people I know. This has made me more willing to move outside my comfort zone and I now understand the importance of collaboration to achieve success.” – DAVIS EBBERT ’16
Chris Ford advises Parker Broadnax ’17 and Matt Sherman ’17 on a project.
“Collaboration is an important part of the program
that distinguishes it from a traditional independent study,” Ingenuity Director Chris Ford says. “At the beginning of each class, we go over where everyone is and where they are going with their projects. It’s been a joy to see; to have them get excited about each other’s work is great.” The semester or yearlong course provides students with strong interests and talents the opportunity to bring their ideas to fruition. Students receive guidance from experienced faculty in planning, creating, and achieving their goals. In what Ford refers to as a “hotbed of innovation” that feels similar to a Think Tank at Google, he facilitates, but the students lead discussions. “I can help spark those conversations, spur breakout groups, and schedule meetings, but hearing from peers rather than a teacher is very valuable. Because it’s happening in a collegial, professional environment, they take advice more constructively as opposed to an informal gathering outside of school. These kids are taking one another seriously and rooting for each other,” he explains. Head Prefect Davis Ebbert ’16, who is working on an aftermarket airplane parachute design, values hearing others’ ideas: “I get to work alongside some of the
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smartest people I know. This has made me more willing to move outside my comfort zone and now I understand the importance of collaboration to achieve success.” All Ingenuity students have access to a shared online whiteboard called RealtimeBoard and update it regularly. The beginning of each class is spent reviewing progress, checking off items that have been completed, and creating new deadlines. Whether focusing on product development, web design, the arts, computer programming, or even inventing a video game, participants in the program are eager to share their thoughts and give feedback. “When students are given the opportunity to productively collaborate, they rise to the challenge enthusiastically,” Ford says. “We have students in 2D and 3D animation using the two industryleading software programs, Autodesk Maya and Blender. Some students have more experience in one or the other and give micro lessons in the subtlety of that software.” One of these students is All-School President Cameron Boyer ’16, who is developing his own product utilizing the 3D printer for the rapid prototyping of his ideas to help inform size, shape, and function before moving into coding using a microcontroller. “While taking an online
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course at Delft University of Technology, I decided to make new aircraft. “I want all general aviation pilots to have the a product that would help organize someone’s routine,” opportunity to have this safety tool, not just Cirrus owners,” Boyer says. “After the course, Mr. Ford and I combined our Ebbert explains. His hope is that he can also make his ideas and came up with Rutiini, a small LED box that will parachute maneuverable, so that a pilot could steer his or her emit colored light and possibly sound during time frames. plane to a safe area, rather than simply relying on the wind. The visual cues at the end of each time frame will alert the Although Ebbert’s initial hope was to complete his work in user to when he or she should change to the next task.” May, he has been asked by prospective colleges to meet with The final product will likely be created using a laser cutter entrepreneurial teachers and continue into higher education. to make and engrave the box, and the milling machine to “All of them have been very impressed by the program we sculpt the box’s edges. It’s a perfect mix of work and play for have at Forman and the work I’m pursuing,” he adds. Boyer, who enjoys moving at his own pace and striving to Isabelle (Izzy) Lovejoy ’16 is studying dream research and achieve his goal of a finalized prototype by May. how it relates to ADHD. “I was inspired to do this research Although each Ingenuity learner is invested in a project that because I think anything involving the mind is complex he or she enjoys, it can be hard work. “I was surprised that and interesting. I always wondered why I dreamt and how this wasn’t just an independent study,” Will Dietrich ’16 says. it came about,” she says. Lovejoy has been communicating “Mr. Ford has guided me through it, given me deadlines, with a scientist at the Central Institute of Mental Health in and reminded me to keep up with my blog.” Dietrich began Mannheim, Germany, who studies the connection between learning piano halfway through his freshman year at Forman dreams and ADHD, and has shared a survey of his from a after a teacher gave him a music book as a gift, and now he research study, which she has incorporated into her work. is writing a sonata. He plays the instrument effortlessly, and Additionally, she is taking a Neuroscience course through ranges between a wide grin and a concentrated expression HarvardX (Harvard University online) and is now going to as he flips through the pages of his hand-written music do a research study of her own. “My favorite part of Ingenuity composition. “It’s been a lot of fun, but also a big task,” is being able to have the freedom to pursue something I’m Dietrich says of his work, which he hopes to culminate into interested in doing. This program showed me how to be three expositions, or movements. In addition to his guidance independent, and showed me that since I am interested in this from Ford and personal efforts, the senior completed an research, I can continue it into college,” she says. online music theory course as part of the Ingenuity Program. The Ingenuity Program has grown to 30 students across This is the first time he has composed, multiple class sections, including five who and the results are magnificent. joined mid-year. With these booming Although the longest time allotted for numbers and the incredible student each project is one year, some have gone successes, one might ask what has truly beyond “assignments” and are extending motivated the program to grow as much into students’ future plans. Ebbert is a as it has. “The time we take during the licensed pilot who is using 3D software academic day is unique; it’s conventional to design a prototype for an airplane time used for unconventional talents,” parachute system. “It will be housed atop Ford reflects. “Within this independent the cockpit of general aviation (normally school paradigm, Forman has created a small/single engine) aircraft. The idea is structure and owned this reality that the that if the engine should quit in flight, kids need this time. We often schedule the pilot will be able to pull the chute, so much of their time from breakfast Get to know our allowing the plane to float down to land,” and lunch, to dinner, that this is an Ingenuity students and he says. Something similar was created opportunity for them to muck about.” view their projects at by Cirrus Aircraft Corporation, but is Best of all, they are doing it together. www.formaningenuity.org. only available if a person buys a brand
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1 Tucker Fry ’16, Alex Hallahan ’18, Ike Silberman ’18 pose for a picture on their way to class 2 Emma Forrester ’16 presents in assembly 3 Dorm life in Baillie 4 Students present their projects in Honors Spanish class 5 Izzy Lovejoy ’16 concentrates on her classwork 6 Tyler Duff ’16 examines the growth of plants in Science class 7 Allison Finkel ’17, Lilly Berretta ’18, and Alexandra Pittman ’18 stop on the Green for a photo
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1 The Robotics Team poses with their creations at the VEX “Nothing But Net” Qualifier competition 2 Director of Studies Jamie Dwan presents Tom Shimmield ’18 with an academic award 3 Friends smile for a photo at the club fair 4 Students focus in Mr. Renehan’s History class
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5 Students pose for a picture in the snow 6 Lacey McCaw ’16 and Anna Lees ’16 stop for a quick photo 7 Tammy Diehl has fun with students in the Institute for Cognition and Learning 8 Tyler Dunn ’16 and Jon Zagrodzky ’19 work on their ceramics projects 9 Sydney Fisch ’16 and Claire Sannini ’16 are all smiles on their way to assembly
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F A C U L T Y
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The Science of
Keeping Students Engaged BY LEESA LAWSON
Nicole Linse ’16 takes a closer look at a specimen.
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He senses an about-to-be-bored student in a nanosecond. That’s because Science Teacher Shawn Mullen once was one.
Shawn Mullen discusses a fake crime scene.
During elementary and high school he slipped between the cracks somehow, even though he kept telling his teachers he was having a hard time learning to read. “School was work, and I spent a lot of time daydreaming about the frogs at the nearby pond and my tree fort,” admits Mullen. He wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until his junior year in college. Once he got help, his grades improved every semester and so did his confidence. He graduated with a near 4.0 grade point average. He’s currently working on a Master’s degree in Biology.
Engaging Experience As a kid, Mullen loved the outdoors, playing with Legos®, and working with wood in his father’s carpentry shop. He liked to figure out how to build things. Mullen puts all this experience to work teaching Biology and Forensics. Students don’t get a chance to be bored in his Forensics class, which he developed six years ago. A recent crime scene included multiple fake victims and blood stains. Students lift fingerprints, document the scene, analyze the evidence, measure fixed points in the room, and make detailed sketches.
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“Forman students excel at this detailed hands-on learning, and they’re efficient problem-solvers,” he says. But his school year often begins with a student coming to him to announce: “I can’t do science.” That’s the kind of challenge Mullen likes to overcome. “I love to turn students around and have them graduate and say: “I love science.”
Brain Shifting Classes “It’s all about how you teach,” says Mullen. “Our students are not only visual; they need to actually experience these science concepts. I integrate it all: lectures, demos, labs, and even dorky YouTube videos. It shifts the brain.” “I liked the way he taught,” says alumnus Dominic Weir ’15. “Every day he walked into class with something new. He showed us that there’s more than one way to take fingerprints. You can use black light or a chemical called ninhydrin, which sounds more like something you would find in a bag of Doritos,” adds Weir. Senior Hannah Drill ’16 finds, “it’s not your typical boring science class; he’s funny and quirky in the classroom, and he’s taught me Boat Building, too.” Mullen knows how important Forman’s Boat Building
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The Forensics class looks at synthetic blood patterns.
Program is for students who choose it instead of a competitive sport. He wasn’t good at competitive sports in high school either. “Boat Building offers students a chance to make something,” says Mullen. “It reduces stress, and they use science and math in the process.” That’s why for the past six years, after a day of teaching, he works with students in Boat Building. He’s clear with students about expectations, and, in particular, missing homework. If students don’t complete their homework, they have to write an email to their parents and CC the academic dean and their advisors. But what Dominic Weir liked most was Mullen’s enthusiasm. “He wanted you to know as much as he did, because it’s wonderful,” says Weir. “All of science is. The beauty of science is widely overlooked.”
Brain Shifting Classrooms, Too The beauty of science is not overlooked at Forman. The new building was designed for different learners and teachers. “I have everything I need at my fingertips: supplies, lab tables, extra computer screens in the front and
back of the classroom,” says Mullen. “All the options are there for students to see and refer to the lab procedures.” For six years he’s left his classroom and trekked to remote regions of Costa Rica with the Forman Rainforest Project. There, he and Wendy Welshans, a fellow science teacher and founder of the program, help students gather data. Students’ innovative work in the rainforest over the past 23 years has earned them two U.S. patents: one for a method of reinforcing a fiber with spider silk, and one for new farming techniques. What happens to a boy who knows he learns differently, struggles to learn to read, who is called to the woods to explore, who fixed and fashioned things in wood in his father’s carpentry shop, who found his love of learning later than some, but loves it even more? That boy takes everything he’s experienced and learned and teaches Forman students to love science. His mind is always working on the next science concept, the next demo and the best way to engage students. He has an edge. Boredom doesn’t stand a chance.
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Planting a Love for Learning Get to know Forman’s Summer Program Forman Summer is back and better than ever. This July will mark the third year the School is holding the revamped program, which originally began in the 1980s. Forman has renewed its commitment to the Summer Program, which is growing rapidly each year, and showing positive results.
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“ When someone goes to school in the month of July and says they want to stay, then you know it’s a good thing.” The four-week, coeducational boarding and day camp for bright students who learn differently takes place on the School’s idyllic 125-acre campus. Forman offers an intensive academic curriculum with individualized lessons in Math Comprehension, Reading, Metacognitive Strategies, Executive Functioning, Writing, and ACT/SAT preparation through personal tutoring and small group classes. Experienced instructors teach students methods for success such as the Orton-Gillingham and Wilson techniques for reading, summarizing and paraphrasing, a multi-sensory approach to Math, and learning with assistive technology. Perhaps most importantly, Forman teachers use research-based methods to help students gain confidence, and proficiency follows. “The Summer Program gave my child a lot of confidence,” one parent says. “It taught him tools to apply in his scholastic activities and everyday life. It gave him a jumpstart to the school year.” The programming, which includes in-depth classes and engaging evening workshops, enables participants to discover how they learn, develop self-
advocacy skills, and even generate a personal action plan for the upcoming school year. “It definitely taught my son a lot of self advocacy,” another parent adds. “He also had a roommate and learned to live with other people, he learned to do it all on his own. I do see him growing up and maturing and it’s been a great process.” In both the first and second years of the program, over 30% of the participants returned as full-time Forman students in the fall. Many of these continuing students grew into leadership roles such as Student Ambassador, Prefect, Vice President of the Student Body, and Job Leader. “The Summer Program is effective in bridging the academic gap between summer and fall. Students get to learn key skills to carry with them into the next school year,” says Forman Spanish and Entrepreneurship Teacher Joe Odell. A current parent adds, “When someone goes to school in the month of July and says they want to stay, then you know it’s a good thing.” Like Forman’s previous summer program, afternoons and weekends are set aside for fun, experiential activities such as ceramics, tennis, horseback riding, rock climbing, beach trips,
hiking, digital photography, boat building, and more. The students are shown the real-life value of these experiences. Additionally, campers build, tend to, and eat from their own garden on campus, which is maintained by Forman students during the academic year. Summer Program Director Betsy Bartlett explains the relation between education and growing something tangible, as communicated by Head of School Adam Man: “Learning is a garden; we plant the seeds.”
The Summer Program will be held July 5-30, 2016, and it is open to students entering grades 7-11. For more information, please visit www.formanschool.org/summer.
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Twenty-Three Athletic Programs The Forman Lions are a united pride of student-athletes dedicated to respect, personal growth, and a team mentality. The opportunity to learn a new sport or excel at a familiar one is an important part of Forman’s focus on providing a well-rounded preparatory school education.
Our Athletic Department fosters these qualities through a robust offering of competitive and recreational teams. All coaches are certified by the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), which is a national program committed to developing character and teaching life lessons through athletics. This year, Forman athletes have appeared in All-Star games, the HVAL playoffs, and have been honored as All-State and All-American selections.
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Fashion is in her Jeans Leslie Rudes in her 1978 senior photo
Leslie Rudes ’78 Transitioning from a life in Puerto Rico to a boarding school education in New England is a big change, but for Leslie Rudes ’78, it was a welcomed one that transformed her life. “If it wasn’t for Forman, I wouldn’t be the person I am today,” she says.
Now retired, Rudes is the co-founder of Not Your Daughter’s Jeans (NYDJ), an international brand for Baby Boomer women. These jeans are known for their fashionable look and perfect fit with a “Tummy Tuck” panel in each pair. The wildly successful brand is distributed at thousands of stores worldwide including Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, and Dillard’s. Before entering the fashion field, Leslie did consider going in another direction; she attended Mount Ida College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development. One might surmise this original interest in education could have begun at Forman, where Rudes formed close relationships with faculty and staff members. She met former Director of Admissions Avis DeWitt Halsey during her first campus visit and “absolutely loved it. I loved the whole feeling of the School; so open, with beautiful dorms. It was totally different from Puerto Rico,” she reminisces. “Mr. Allison was the Vice Principal and he was also my biology teacher. He was a very strict teacher, but he always took the time to help me and explain what I needed to understand. He pushed me academically outside of my comfort zone. A lot of the teachers really helped me.” It was another educator and specialist, Dr. Lillian Strong, who diagnosed Rudes with dyslexia in Puerto Rico. “I was very lucky to have parents who were aware of learning disabilities,” she explains, noting that not many people knew about these differences at the time. It was her parents who found Forman, but Leslie was completely on board from the moment she
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“Forman made me feel like I could do anything and gave me more confidence as a person.”
arrived at the School. “Coming from a sheltered life in Puerto Rico, I met people from all different backgrounds at Forman, and we all had something in common, which was wonderful,” she says, recalling that “Forman was a place where everyone was accepted.” Having spent her final three years of high school at Forman, Rudes is still in touch with some of her classmates. So what caused this future-teacher to completely change her career path after college? “I realized when I graduated that becoming a school teacher would not accomplish what I wanted to do,” she says of the shift. Moreover, one could say that fashion is in her DNA. Rudes’ father, George, is the founder of St. Germain, a women’s sportswear company. But even with her familial connections, Rudes needed to work to achieve her goals. “My father believed that you
always start from the bottom. I started as a receptionist, and from there on up, I learned about all aspects of the business,” she says. In the end, Rudes landed as a production manager, and coordinated with both designers and manufacturers to get products out for each fashion cycle. “It gave me a lot of satisfaction. We would find an idea in Europe and bring it back to translate it to the States. It was so exciting,” she remembers. After her time at St. Germain, Rudes founded Not Your Daughter’s Jeans in 2003 with her siblings, Lisa and Kenneth. They soon brought their father out of retirement to work at the company as well. The popular Los Angelesbased company did exceedingly well in its niche market. “When we started Not Your Daughter’s Jeans, the whole concept was to have a family business. Jeans became very big at the time, and for us, we wanted to be a little different. The tummy tuck flattens your stomach and we made the product in the United States. Nordstrom loved it,” she says. “L.A. was exciting; everyone wanted the product. It was such a hit. I woke up every day wanting to go to work.” In 2008, the family sold an ownership interest of the company and retired to a quieter life in Florida. Rudes stays busy volunteering and in her free time, she plays golf. When she looks back at her formative years, she thinks of Forman as “a very good time in my life.” She has specific memories of Forman: the beauty of Baillie house, the feel of Newton dorm, the long walk up the hill after soccer practice. “I still mention it to people to this day. I learned independence; and there was a ‘just do it’ attitude. Forman made me feel like I could do anything and gave me more confidence as a person,” she says. Rudes has maintained this courageous outlook throughout her life and stands by it. Furthermore, she hopes current Forman students will do the same: “Go for your dreams; don’t let anybody stop you. It is such a waste of time to be insecure. Just go for it. Everybody’s afraid. Just do it.”
Leslie Rudes with her father, George Rudes
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Infinite Possibilities Jake Sussman ’14
Jake Sussman in his senior class picture
Jake Sussman ’14 is not only a dreamer; he’s a doer. An exceptional young man, Sussman is already making important connections while in college at Roger Williams University. The Forman School alumnus and Public Relations major was recently a summer press assistant to Emmy award-winning filmmaker Harvey Hubbell V for the film, Dislecksia: The Movie. Hubbell, a Litchfield resident, featured Forman’s Rainforest Project along with multiple alumni. The film introduces dyslexia as a learning difference rather than a disability, a philosophy also held by Forman.
On set for his internship, Sussman customized a marketing campaign to distribute the film. “I suggested that instead of targeting the university, we should target specifically the student academic support center. So I found a list of the top 100 schools who have established learning centers,” he says. Sussman’s affable manner combined with his smart strategy paid off. “It was really successful,” he says proudly. Sussman was first exposed to video work during his senior year at Forman when he was asked to film a short movie as part of his participation in the School’s rainforest research excursion. GoPro donates cameras and gear for students to use on the trip to Costa Rica. “Winterim and all these programs that Forman offers are not available in other places. The teachers are so connected to us, especially the ones who live on campus. You can ask them anything,” Sussman says.
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These experiences have translated to self-advocacy and success in school. “Forman helped me find myself as an academic,” Sussman explains. “Focusing on my strengths and weaknesses while at Forman has given me the confidence to go into classes at my university and tell my professors who I am as a learner. I try to establish that relationship right away.” Outside of the classroom, Sussman has taken up speaking at Roger Williams open houses to prospective students with learning differences: “I talk about what it’s like to have a learning difference at a mainstream university. It feels good to help people.” It was Forman that prepared this ambitious go-getter for his current exploits and future plans. “Forman built the pillars and the roof of my education,” he says, remembering that he could have missed out on his academic breakthrough. “My plan was to come here for my first two
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Harvey Hubbell and Jake Sussman ’14 in Hubbell’s garden
years and then transfer to more of a mainstream school, but I decided not to. I am a 100% auditory learner and grades never really meant anything to me until the middle of junior year, when something clicked. Mrs. Man introduced me to Model United Nations at Yale University. I met students from all over the world. I put together an entire resolution and people got behind it. I was able to use the resources I had learned in Forman’s supportive environment, and brought them to the outside world.” A college with a special program certainly would have welcomed him after high school, but Sussman was ready for something new. The Westport, Connecticut native had spent several years in private schools for learning differences, having attended Eagle Hill School for two years prior to his four years at Forman. “I wanted to take a chance with Roger Williams,” he explains. “I know I’m going to have to work with all different kinds of people in my life, and although it was the scariest thing for me, it was worth it. I have thrived there.” Leadership and relating to others are not new concepts to the gregarious student. During his time at Forman, he was a Prefect in his sophomore, junior, and senior years, and was the Speaker of the Student Body during his final year on campus. “I was responsible for presenting the news and weather to the School at assembly in an entertaining way. I didn’t realize it at first, but it helped me,” he says. Now, he gets “the biggest thrill” from setting up meetings with owners of businesses, from coffee shops to hedge funds. He wants to figure out which industry he would fit into when he starts his career. Interestingly, he reports that most of these leaders have dyslexia and ADHD. Sussman has a knack for
entrepreneurial ideas, and is in the process of building an app utilizing “voice recognition technology to revolutionize automated sales practices in the insurance industry.” Beyond academics, Sussman captained Cross Country, rowed on Varsity Boys’ Crew, and participated in White Water Kayaking at Forman. Thinking and Writing Teacher Kyle Halloran ’05 and Arts Teacher Tammy Grella inspired Sussman to become a triathlete, and he began a Triathlon Club at Roger Williams this year. The team boasts 10-15 members already, who are working to swim, bike, and run their way into the USA Triathlon Collegiate Division to compete against schools such as Harvard, Princeton, Syracuse, and West Point. Members of the club have competed in events such as the Naples Triathlon, Hyannis Sprint Triathlon, and Buzzard’s Bay Sprint Triathlon, where Sussman earned first place. In addition to his plethora of hobbies and interests, Sussman has been working on an ever-growing and ultradetailed model railroad since age 13. This activity “kept me focused and out of trouble. When I felt out of control in school, this made me feel in control,” he says. Excitingly, this railroad will be viewed by a wider audience very soon: it will be featured in an upcoming documentary from Hubbell. With all of his creative ideas, it’s safe to say Sussman would have been an excellent candidate for Forman’s Ingenuity Program had it been instituted while he was a student. Still, he credits the School for his clear direction in life: “I like to ask myself, ‘If I hadn’t gone to Forman, where would I be?’ Forman has given me the confidence to believe in myself and my instincts.”
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Giving
Garret Grier ’19 and Therese Brady ’19
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G I V I N G
Dear Friends, The Forman experience is embedded in all of our students, leading them on a path of excellence. This journey is supported in many different ways, from the guidance of faculty to the generous financial support of our Alumni. The Office of Institutional Advancement conveys the student experience, celebrates faculty, keeps parents connected, remembers Alumni, and seeks the necessary financial support that helps facilitate a Forman education. The Advancement Office relies on your feedback and support so that these ambitious goals can be met on a regular basis. Whether you are a parent dropping off treats for the Faculty, a graduate hosting a gathering, or a donor making a Capital or Annual Fund gift, you are all part of the Forman family and we thank you. If you have been to campus recently or have followed the articles in the Forman Letter, you have seen your dollars at work. The campus has never looked better and there are many new buildings to enhance the academic program and the student experience. Our next project is our most ambitious yet. We are in the final planning stages for a new Visual and Performing Arts Center and a new Fabrication Laboratory. We will share the plans and designs with everyone soon, but fundraising is in full force. The complete project and its related plans are projected at almost 10 million dollars of your support. Although this is a very large number for a small school, we have accepted that this is a “need and not a want.� These spaces are necessary at Forman for today and the foreseeable future. The students and Faculty are so talented and motivated that we are compelled to do our part in supporting their excellence and spirit of academic adventure. There are many ways to help, starting with your consideration of a Capital gift for today and a planned gift for tomorrow. The lasting tradition I am asking you to support is just part of a continuum that connects us all, which requires our immediate attention. Forman is well along the road to our goal, but we will never get there without everyone’s help! When looking towards the future of Forman, you can be a leader in our vision of success. Call me, schedule a visit, and join our team to help achieve this essential philanthropic opportunity. Sincerely,
Justin B. Solomon Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement 860.567.1896 justin.solomon@formanschool.org
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G I V I N G
Hilary Taylor ’81: Providing Opportunity and Ensuring a Lasting Legacy Hilary Taylor ’81 walked onto the Forman campus and knew it was the right place for her. She feels fortunate to have found the School, where she spent four of her formative years making lasting friendships and gaining the “tools for lifelong learning.” When speaking with us recently, Hilary explained that being part of Forman School impacted her personally: “I learned the importance of a sense of community and being part of something greater than myself and that influence continues with me today in my life.” “I learned the Aside from her leadership roles at Forman such as class importance of a Hilary Taylor in the 1981 president and yearbook editor, Hilary has come back to campus yearbook sense of community time and again, joining classmates for Alumni Weekend to and being part of reminisce about what made their Forman experience special. “From recent discussions something greater with close alumni friends, there is a common thread that Forman was a haven for those than myself and with learning disabilities,” she remembered. “We felt accepted and with that acceptance, that influence we felt comfortable in our studies, and excelled in areas that were academic and social, as well as on the soccer field and in the arts.” continues with me These opportunities are still offered today, and for this and other reasons, Hilary has today in my life.” chosen to include Forman in her will. Her gift will be designated to the scholarship fund, contributing to a Forman education for students who need it. “The important focus that the School has on learning differences should benefit all, regardless of economic differences,” she said. Thanks to the support of thoughtful community members like Hilary, a diverse body of students can benefit from Forman’s caring and compassionate faculty, individualized lessons, and well-rounded programming. Hilary has seen Forman’s growth firsthand through her ongoing connection and involvement through visits and events, and believes strongly in the positive direction the School is going: “Being on the forefront of discoveries that will benefit students with learning differences will help the School and all of its students in the future.” Hilary’s confidence and support of Forman’s mission is contagious: “I encourage other alumni to consider naming our School in their estate plans for whatever personal reason that moves you.” We are grateful to Hilary not only for her generous planned gift, but also for her enthusiasm and continued relationship with us as a lifelong member Pat Devine ’81, Hilary Taylor ’81, and Michael Curley ’80 at Rich Palermino’s ’82 cabin in Maine of the Forman family. 28
Gilbert Yule: Serving Forman Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow In many ways, Gilbert Yule, who served the School for 27 years in total, resembles the protagonist from the British novel To Serve Them All My Days: the loyal school master who teaches students unselfishly against the backdrop of a changing social and political climate. To those who know him best, he’s simply Gil, the teacher, coach, dorm parent, and Athletic Director, who is honest, direct, and unabashedly “in the corner” of every student who is Gil Yule in the 1967 yearbook respectful and willing to use his or her abilities fully. The current faculty had the pleasure and benefit of hearing from Gil at the opening-of-school meetings in September. He paid tribute to the nine current faculty and staff who have been at Forman for 20 years or more, thus working with the students of Gil’s era and the students of today. Ever the sports fan, Gil introduced this team as an “all-star lineup” who are still “stepping up to the plate” today. He singled out Scott McCarty ’76, the School’s current Athletic Director, for a personal plaudit, noting with emotion how much Scott has meant to Forman and “if I played a part in shaping his life, I can hang my hat on that.” Yet Gil can claim many other contributions to Forman, for he has decided to benefit Forman in the future by establishing a planned gift, designating a portion of his estate to fund a scholarship which will provide financial assistance to “a student who possesses good character and is appreciative of music and athletics,” two of Gil’s passions. In addition, the School will receive Gil’s extensive recorded music collection, autographed photos, and books, one of which is a an autographed, framed photograph of the legendary jazz drummer Gene Krupa’s memorable concert on campus in May of 1971. When asked why he chose to benefit Forman by making such a far-sighted gift, Gil said he was “struck by the testimonials from parents and students regarding the successes they are having in college and the workplaces and how they trace that (in large part) to the time they were at Forman.” He feels that the faculty “really do work miracles with these kids” and thus he wants the students of the future to benefit from the faculty and programs just like the students of today. While Gil has helped to provide for the future of Forman with his planned giving, the entire school community is thankful that he is very much with us today, guiding us forward and serving as a true “mission statement” of the School’s values and principles. Thank you, Gil, for all that you have done and continue to do for Forman.
Scott McCarty ’76 and Gil Yule on September 1, 2015
As Gil and Hilary’s stories illustrate,
making a planned gift to Forman is a very personalized, sincere, and permanent expression of what the School has meant in their lives. A planned gift, unlike other charitable gifts, serves the future and ensures Forman’s excellence for years to come. Gil and Hilary are members of the Forman School Copper Beech Society, a valued and esteemed group of donors that number 37 living and deceased alumni, former faculty, and friends of the School. These individuals have chosen to remember Forman in their wills and estate plans and have advised the School of this information. Like Hilary and Gil, one can designate and area of school to support with their gift (e.g. the arts, athletics, financial aid). Contrary to common belief, many planned gifts are modest in amount, but a planned gift may make it possible to give a larger gift than one could in one’s lifetime. For additional information regarding planned giving to Forman, please visit the School’s website and click on “Ways to Give” in the Giving section or contact Duncan Marshall ’67, Director of Major Gifts and Senior Alumni Officer at 860.567.1810 or duncan.marshall@formanschool.org.
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CLASS NOTES
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Walter B. Roberts Jr. vanb22@aol.com _____________________________
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Edward T. Marks Ted@AtwaterVineyards.com _____________________________
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th reunion
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S. Sherman Clark, Jr. shermclark@aol.com _____________________________
Ted Marks ’60 poses with the local winemakers he has mentored throughout the years. Photo Credit: Edible Finger Lakes Magazine
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Ted Marks was featured in the summer edition of Edible Finger Lakes magazine. The magazine article speaks to Ted’s great ability to mentor his employees in not only business, but in their school and personal lives as well. Ted has mentored a generation of winemakers in his time as owner of Atwater Estate Vineyards, many of whom have gone on to run their own successful wineries. Ronald Reisinger was the subject of an article in the September edition of St. Louis Magazine titled, “Ronald Busch Reisinger’s Colorful History,” which details Ronald’s life and family.
65
th reunion
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_____________________________ Class Agent: Michael N. Cohen
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60
th reunion
Richard P. Barker msb463@msn.com _____________________________
Charles Allen recently returned from a healing mission in Brazil.
Ronald Reisinger ’60 poses for an article featured in St. Louis Magazine. Photo Credit: St. Louis Magazine
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Sandra McLeod White is living in beautiful Sausalito, CA and is now a semi-retired professional. She recently served a year on the California Civil Grand Jury, which she says “was a great experience, and a crash course in local politics.” She is still doing PR and publicity for theatre groups and
Alumni Class Agents Needed 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 1951
1952 1953 1955 1957 1958 1959
1962 1970 1977 1978 1979 1992
If you are interested in reaching out to your classmates and collecting Class Notes, please contact Danielle Plante in the alumni office at danielle.plante@formanschool.org. Be sure to include your full name, class year, mailing address, email address, and telephone number(s). We would so appreciate your help!
C L A S S
small businesses. She also fundraises for nonprofits in organizing events and volunteers at the local hospital in the ER Department and as a disaster preparedness volunteer with the Fire Department. Her hobby is photography and she has had many of her photographs published in local newspapers. Sandra has a daughter who lives in Manhattan, and who is the Production Manager for the jewelry division of Banana Republic. She writes, “my health is great, and I’m a happy person. Life is good.” Art Cecil retired from T. Rowe Price in 2004. He loves retirement and spends time with the hospital auxiliary, the historical society, his grandchildren, and on the golf course. John Greenwald is working for a digital scan company and has been doing some road running, mostly half marathons and shorter races. He tries to get out west each winter to ski.
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55th reunion
George K. Allison gallison70@gmail.com _____________________________
Blair Stringfellow and his wife, Verna, visited campus in October. Blair is currently retired from his position as an attorney and is living in Florida. Brenton Curtis is enjoying life in Annapolis, Maryland, where he is close to the water. He spends a lot of time at the Naval Academy and partakes in numerous Academy events. His grandchildren are not too far away, though they live in different metropolitan areas, and Brent spends a great deal of time with them. Brent is considered the “Ultimate Grandfather” by his sons! George Allison and wife Lucy live in Palm Coast, FL. George is active on numerous boards of trustees. One board in particular, Palm Coast Arts Foundation, is in the process of raising 60 million dollars for a State of Arts Facility. George is the Chairman of Development for the Foundation. George says, “If you are ever in the Palm Coast/St. Augustine area, please drop by our home!”
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Edwin Vinson is enjoying time spent traveling and with children, grandchildren and friends. He would love to hear from other alumni who were at Forman from ’58-’62. Reach out to Edwin at env6zo@cs.com
Blair Stringfellow ’61 stopped by campus for a visit this past fall.
N O T E S
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Alfred C. Body Jr. skibumal43gmail.com _____________________________
Dawn Royston Cole continues to advocate for and pray for her son James’ full and complete healing. Her two other children, Jennifer and Joshua, are both single adults who live with her and help to care for James. She writes, “Forman years were some of my most happy. I hope all students there today can appreciate what John and Julie Forman gave us all.”
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Eric D. Murray ericdmu@netzero.com ____________________________
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Sara L. Fliess sallyfl47@pubgames.com Jeffrey T. Whipple ____________________________
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50
th reunion
Bartow S. Curtis Jr. bart_curtis65@yahoo.com Debora Gould Petersen Hugs38@aol.com ____________________________
We send our condolences to Don McLean on the loss of his wife, Susan, this past summer. We are also sad to report the passing of Ellen Kennedy Lemire on July 7, 2015. 31
C L A S S
N O T E S
67
Duncan Marshall dlmarshall@optonline.net Carla McKay Lucey CLucey@unimin.com ____________________________
Eleanor “Misty” Toby Gundeck reports that a lot has happened since she was last in touch. She has moved into an apartment with her eight yearold Beagle named Harley. Her eldest child, Jordan, has been living in Boston for the past several years. Her youngest, Parker, is living in New Jersey and got married in November of 2014. We are sad to announce the passing of Walter “Skip” Crane on July 2, 2015.
very apparent in my son’s class, 39 years after I graduated. I attended a class Mr. Forman taught on ‘how to study,’ and Mr. and Mrs. Forman had me for afternoon tea. As we sipped, I kept waiting for an agenda, but their purpose was to talk about ‘life.’ I departed their house feeling quite worthwhile. The school and staff have always seen the ‘whole person.’ Forman is incomparable.” Davis Dewey retired in February from his own business, New England Toner Service, after 11 years. He and his wife, Robin, just moved into a new home. He is house painting parttime and playing more golf. He has kept in touch with Geoff Lee, Scott Sutherland, Nindy Coffin Stimpson, and Ben Coffin over the last few years and wishes the best to all in the Class of ’69.
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for the National Weather Service and NH TV WMUR. Currently, he is writing a book about 30 years of backpacking experiences in national parks and Alaska.
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Nancy Walton Marikar rakiram@aol.com ____________________________
Duncan Marshall ’67 and Richard Sonking ’67 reunite at Richard’s home in New Hampshire.
Duncan Marshall recently met up with Richard Sonking at his home in New Hampshire. Richard and his wife split their time between their beautifully restored home in New Hampshire and a home in Captiva, FL. Richard is semi-retired from his career restoring imported French porcelain antiques. He would love to be in touch with old classmates at rsonking@aol.com. David Connor is retired and staying active. He has spent time hiking New Hampshire mountains, backpacking national parks (RMNP, Grand Tetons, Glacier, Denali, Cascades, Yosemite, Banff, Zion, etc.), snowshoeing, and kayaking. He owns two acres of land and enjoys yard work and gardening. He is a storm spotter and a data and record keeper 32
Davis A. Dewey davisdeweysr@gmail.com Scott M. Sutherland jms208@aol.com ____________________________
Wendy Thrower Vigars would like to say hello to all of her classmates. She celebrated her 65th birthday this year and is employed as a social care worker for an 85 year-old man who has Parkinson’s. Stacy Quinn writes, “My son and I are ’08 and ’69 alumni and it is impressive that the Forman hallmarks cited in Duncan Marshall’s letter of ‘integrity, personal responsibility, hard work, and selflessness’ were still
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Debra Pardridge St. Jacques is still working at Sutherland Petworks in Hudson Falls. Her husband, Mark, is the Manager of the Washington County Fair in Greenwich, NY and her daughter, Renée, is starting her second year in the Peace Corps in Cameroon, Africa. Debra is very proud of her daughter and shares her blog, www.lightscameroonaction. blogspot.com. Debra writes, “I am looking forward to coming to Forman in May. Who else from 1970 are planning to come?”
C L A S S
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45
th reunion
Craig J. Hanson craigjhanson@yahoo.com Andrew Krens Jr. drew_krens@yahoo.com ____________________________
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David E. Swift not_too@hotmail.com ____________________________
Bruce MacMillan owns the Cambridge Village Market in Cambridge, VT and enjoys time with his dog, Willy. He says, “I hope all is well with my classmates.”
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Joan G. Bielizna joanrealtor@snet.net ____________________________
74
Paula Nichols-Dille ____________________________
Dawn Davidson and her son, Ian, went to Scotland this October for two weeks and stayed two nights in a castle that once belonged to their family.
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75
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Diana Curtis Price Dcprice2000@aol.com ____________________________
76
40
th reunion
Peter G. M. Roberts pgmroberts@hotmail.com Kendra R. Van Pelt sassyk105@gmail.com ____________________________
Kendra Van Pelt is working in marketing and merchandising. She also works as a sampler at wine and beer tastings. Peter Roberts is an Accounts Receivable Representative with Scan Tech, a Swedish supplier of parts for Volvo and Saab. We wish him well as he is presently recovering from knee surgery.
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Malcolm “Chuck” Davidson is currently living and working in South Florida. He is working part-time in the Broward Public School System with autistic students. He is the past President of his local Toastmaster’s club, an international organization that helps people overcome their fear of public speaking. He has been a member for over seven years.
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N O T E S
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Gardiner S. Mulford gardiner@mulfordrealty.com ____________________________
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35
th reunion
Hilary L. Taylor Hilzo@aol.com ____________________________
Roger Grier and his wife, Nancy, reside in Killingworth, CT. Their son, Garrett, is a freshman at Forman.
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Matthew L. LaFlamme matt_laflamme@msn.com ____________________________
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Andrew Y. Covert andrewycovert@gmail.com ____________________________
Elinor Tucker recently moved into the “country,” 30 minutes from Tampa. She lives on a three acre farm with a cat, two dogs, three horses, one miniature donkey, and her “understanding boyfriend.” She reports to still see many of her dear friends from Forman and thinks back fondly of her years at the School!
____________________________ Dawn Davidson ’74 and son, Ian, visit Scotland and the castle that once belonged to their family.
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C L A S S
N O T E S
84
Congratulations to Scott Moynihan, who was married last year in Naples, FL. Kimball Mcllvaine was in attendance. Scott and his wife, Sue, rescued a beautiful dog named Mikemikemike, better known as Mikey. Scott started a new job in May of 2014 as the sales manager in the Glens Falls Honda Store of the D’Ella Auto Group.
Peter M. Ahlfeld pahlfeld@gmail.com Christopher D. Gaynor cdgaynor@gmail.com Nancy Robinson Swift nancysunnyswift@yahoo.com ____________________________
Daren Levitt lives in Jackson, New Hampshire with his wife Melanie, an artist, and owns a toy store. Their daughter, Eden, is a freshman at Forman. Amy Cohen is living in Georgia and running the family business. William Kuby is the caregiver for his 74 year-old mother. He also does mini-painting and other art as you can see on his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/redgreen09.
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Jennie Alexandre Bono jenniebono@yahoo.com William L. Freeman freeman.will@gmail.com ____________________________
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30
th reunion
Lisa Richardson Palmer larfal@aol.com ____________________________
Amanda Thorndike Landry is still living in Maine with her husband, Paul, and son, William. She is a mom of an 18 year-old high school senior who just finished up an amazing football season with his undefeated team. Her son is in the process of applying to colleges for Sports 34
Karen High ’86 and husband, Leon, with son, William
Management and she is gearing up for the next phase of her life being without him home and involved in high school sports. She writes, “I will miss both so much!” Amanda is working at a local daycare in her town and loves all 12 of her kids. She recently spent the weekend with Karen High when Karen, her husband Leon, and their 23 year-old son, Anthony, came up to Maine to watch one of William’s football games. She writes, “We have not changed at all. We acted as if we were still 15 years old!”
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Holly Jones Weisenburger holly@theweisenburgers.com ____________________________
Marie Spinnler Gooding has two boys (3 and 9) and is a Social Worker at Beth Israel Hospital. She writes, “I would love to hear from classmates!!! Email me at mm.gooding@comcast. net. Fall at Forman was the best – great lasting memories!”
Scott Moynihan ’87 with new wife, Sue, and their dog, Mikey
Melissa Leeds continues to work at Protech Sports, a second-generation NBA basketball podiatry service practice for teams. She is also involved in business development for medical practices. Holly Jones Weisenburger is working part time in Boston for an event planning company and spends the rest of her time taking care of her boys, Joseph (10) and Andrew (7).
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Neesha Nicks Allen nallen@ec.rra.com ____________________________
Congratulations to Matthew Schloss on his marriage to Ngan Trinh on October 16, 2015.
C L A S S
N O T E S
Richard Henkels ’88 Award-Winning Cinematographer, Forman Alumnus Richard Henkels ’88 knew he wanted to explore the world of film from a young age, and chose Forman School in part for that very reason. The Philadelphia native had built a foundation at another school for students with language-based learning disabilities, but wanted to move somewhere that focused on both the individual attention he needed and his desire to get hands-on experience filming.
Henkels appreciated the
Author: the JT Leroy Story (directed by Jeff Feuerzeig) was the
the “personal one-on-one tutorials
first film to be purchased, and was nabbed by Amazon. Author,
and coaching” in small classes,
along with Henkels’ other new film, American Epic (executive
which helped him to hone his craft.
produced by Robert Redford), are both part of the March 2016
“It was great,” the Photography
South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival.
Director says simply. “I learned how
Richard Henkels in the 1988 yearbook
two of Henkels’ documentaries were featured at the event.
camaraderie at Forman as well as
His films have seen their share of recognition, with accolades
to manage my schedule and was
for an American Masters documentary on Mel Brooks (Emmy
given responsibility. In film class, we
Award), A Taste of Nate (Best Documentary at FirstGlance
had to produce a 30-minute piece of
2015), Open Minds: Chris Potter Underground (Best Cinema Jazz
material once every two weeks for
Award), and The Seed (Outstanding Cinematography Award).
the local cable station. We had to
Adding in credits like Life Before Her Eyes starring Uma Thurman
write, produce, direct, and shoot it.
and Evan Rachel Wood and The Matrix Revisited, the prolific
This taught me to follow through.” After graduating, Henkels studied at the prestigious ArtCenter
artist has an impressive repertoire. In a fulfilling career brimming with unique projects, what is
College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he earned his
Henkels’ favorite part of it all? “Being my own boss,” he says.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film. “I kind of fell accidentally into an
“Doing something that’s creative and collaborative. You get to
amazing school that was at the forefront of a changing advertising
work with a lot of great, amazing people.” Moreover, he tells
world,” he remembers. “I was surrounded by a handful of students
young filmmakers at Forman: “The biggest advice is to listen
who were at the forefront of this industry.” These names include
and observe before you speak. The best tool in this industry is to
Tarsem Singh (Emerald City, The Curious Case of Benjamin
always learn from the people around you.” Surrounded by great
Button), Zack Snyder (Batman v Superman, 300), and Michael
mentors and influencers from his time at Forman and throughout
Bay (Transformers, Armageddon). This institution, regarded by
his education and career, it looks like listening paid off.
many as the top design school in the world, launched Henkels into his career: “Within a matter of two years, I was shooting professionally.” The young videographer filmed music videos for R.E.M. and Suzanne Vega with Singh. Henkels also joined forces with Snyder and Bay on some early works. Shooting music videos for Alkaline Trio, Linkin Park, Easy-E, Suicidal Tendencies, and more led him to the commercial film world. Now an award-winning cinematographer, Henkels says he is still in touch with a group of friends from Forman, whom he also works with in Hollywood. One fellow Forman alumnus is Henkel’s “best friend,” Director and Writer Eli Morgan Gesner ’88. At Forman, the two collaborated in film class and started a snowboarding team, and now the colleagues are a dynamic duo. Among other projects, they worked together on the 2015 film, Condemned, starring Dylan Penn and Lydia Hearst. While four Forman film students attended the 2016 Sundance Film Festival in February,
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C L A S S
N O T E S
Congratulations to Gordon Glener and his wife, Amy, who were married on August 7, 2015 in a private ceremony at the New York City Clerk’s office.
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Sean P. Maguire smaguire21@verizon.com Curt F. Pfannenstiehl curtpfan@baystate.edu W. David Thorn Jr. dthorn30@yahoo.com ____________________________
Benjamin Teweles has been teaching in Sacramento for over a decade. He taught elementary grades predominantly and was on the forefront for training new Common Core pedagogy and literacy grouping techniques. He reports, “After going through seven years of layoffs in my district, I got bumped into beginning my dream career since attending Forman. For the last four years, I have taught two-dimensional art at John F. Kennedy High School. I teach Beginning, Advanced, and AP Art and currently head a department of five other fine art teachers. The program has grown from having a handful of AP students to having 20 since I have taken over. Also, during my educational tenure, I received a Master’s as a Reading Curriculum Specialist and I’m currently three classes away from completing a Master’s in Psychology with a focus on Child and Adolescent Development.” Curt Pfannenstiehl is living in Boston and helps run his family 36
business, Bay State College, in Taunton, MA. Eileen Rindos Prime lives in Midcoast Maine with her husband of 21 years and their son Jack, who is a high school senior. Eileen works at a fabric store in Damariscotta Mills, ME called Alewives Fabrics. She works on the sales floor, the webstore, and she will soon teach classes.
He has been working for the Hertz Corporation for almost 20 years. He is enjoying time with his seven year-old Havanese dog and is getting used to the new area. Stephen had a visit from Dana Stein ’90 earlier in the year, and still keeps in touch with Alex Simon.
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Jennifer Winkler Balzi jenrwink@gmail.com Karine Opdyke Lawrence karinelawrence@yahoo.com ____________________________
Patrick Noone is busy doing freelance lighting production with AC/DC’s “Rock or Bust” tour. Previously, he worked on tour with Bon Jovi, U2, and the Rolling Stones. He reports that some of his most exciting work was the half-time show at the Superbowl with Madonna, The Who, and Bruce Springsteen. His future plan is to work with American Idol or do underwater film production in Hollywood.
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25
th reunion
Amy Owen Stettner aostett@hotmail.com Rob P. Tarantino Rob_Tarantino@ML.com Jenny Virgopia jennyvirgopia@aol.com ____________________________
Stephen Bacharach has been living in Naples, FL since February 2014.
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Congratulations to Tara Condon, who was married to Christopher McBrier Ely on October 3, 2015 at Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Payne Estate in Waltham, MA. Tara is a Senior Operations Manager for Genzyme in Cambridge. Her latest entry into the field is a highly effective Multiple Sclerosis product. The couple resides in Dedham, MA.
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Kenneth I. Deane kenneth.deane@gmail.com Gilah E. Gersten gilahg@gmail.com ____________________________
Jason Byrne just started his second year of a postgraduate artist residency for art critics and visual artists called the Core Program, sponsored by the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, where he focuses on his filmmaking work. He is also an Adjunct Professor in undergraduate film studies at Rice University. Congratulations to Elizabeth Garber Daniels, who completed the New York City Marathon with an impressive time and finish. Brad
C L A S S
Wheeler is enjoying life with his wife, Monique, as the parents of two, Tyler (13) and Rylan (8), and has been living in North Carolina for the last 18 years. He splits his time between the sidelines of every Region Three Premier U14 girls’ soccer match from Virginia to Florida, at Cub Scouts, and at his job managing software development for a global healthcare solutions provider. He has spent his career as an Engineer (hardware and software), developing products in healthcare for domestic and international start-ups and established industry leaders. He writes, “I will always be thankful for my Forman experience. It has continued to provide me with life-long friends and instilled the confidence and realization that continuous effort is the most successful way to compensate for a learning difference.”
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Christopher D. Kellogg Brooke H. Labriola bhlabriola@gmail.com Drew S. Weinstein weinstein.drew@gmail.com ____________________________
Drew Weinstein is living in Texas with his wife and children (Emily and Ethan) and works at his father’s medical clinic in San Antonio. He writes, “I miss my friends and the fun I had while I was at Forman. I always want people to get in touch with me. Live, learn, and accomplish.” Elizabeth Frank McQuarie enjoys being a stay-at-home mom to her
two and a half year-old daughter. Liz Oneglia Gioia is working as a CNA at in nursing home in Torrington, CT. She has two wonderful boys. Zachary is nine and in fourth grade and Jackson is five and in kindergarten. She has been married to her husband, Joe, for 12 years.
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Christina E. Bodine-Aysseh ChristinaBodine@msn.com
N O T E S
Julia Kimball reports that there have been a lot of big adventures in her life the past few years. She married her husband, Craig, in 2012 and they had their first child, daughter Claire, in 2014. This past fall they bought a house. For work, she is an Orton-Gillingham certified Reading Teacher at a therapeutic day school in Massachusetts. She has a Master’s in Education and a Masters in Social Work and utilizes both in her current job.
Allison Herron Gsell allison_herron@hotmail.com Elizabeth G. Thomas lizgthomas@yahoo.com
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Congratulations to Christina Bodine-Aysseh on her promotion to Vice President, Cash Management at Fairfield County Bank. Brooke Sclafani is enjoying the tough but rewarding job of being a mother to six children: Scott and Caleb (17), Brianna (13), Elijah (10), Isaiah (7), and Jasiah (3).
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20
th reunion
Marikay Geib marikaygeib212@msn.com Lauren Cuticelli Patton lauren@cuticelli.com Tyler Renn strenn@hotmail.com ____________________________
Damon Andres Flores owns a small web design company called Creative Jello in Albuequerque, NM. He finished college, got his MBA, and is now going for a second Master’s degree.
Julia Kimball ’96 with her husband, Craig, and their daughter, Claire
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Abbie Graham Durkin abbiedurkin@gmail.com ____________________________
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Susan A. Schonfeld suzy195954@aol.com ____________________________
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Janina Rosa ’99 A Family Affair Singer, actress, dancer, and co-owner of an international entertainment company: Janina Rosa ’99 (née Reiner-Silberstang) does it all. Known for her talent and poise in Forman Ensemble Players productions like Man of La Mancha, Pippin, Grease, and Godspell, the young dynamo didn’t stop there. Rosa has danced in music videos for artists Wu Tang Clan and Bon Jovi, participated in theatrical dance troupe Le Masquerade, and starred in many regional theater shows. Janina Rosa’s senior photo
Now the co-owner of breakdancing production company B-Xtreme
Entertainment with her dancer husband, Forman alumnus Anthony Rosa ’04, she travels the world to support her group’s high-energy, acrobatic, interactive events. B-Xtreme had a successful run on America’s Got Talent, who advanced to the Las Vegas round of the competition after being lauded by judges Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Howard
Janina and husband Anthony Rosa ’04
Stern, and Spice Girl Mel B. The group has been featured at events and venues such as the U.S. Open, halftime shows,
going to be my path,” she says. After attending The Boston
colleges, and festivals internationally. Additionally, Forman
Conservatory and ultimately graduating from the American
families and students enjoyed an electrifying and interactive
Musical and Dramatic Academy in 2001, she moved to New
performance by the award-winning dancers at Fall Parents’
York City and improved her craft through classes and auditions.
Weekend in October.
Rosa has continued her work in New York concerts with the
It was only fitting for Rosa to return to the place where she
likes of Jason Robert Brown at Cooper Union, and as a soloist
spent four years setting the building blocks to achieving her
in Broadway at Harlem by Forecast Productions. A frequent
goals. While she had many positive relationships with Forman
cast member in regional and summer stock theater, Rosa
faculty members, she remembers two mentors that stand out.
has performed in shows such as Miss Saigon, In The Heights,
“I enjoyed the theatre and working with [former] Academic
Anything Goes, and in her favorite role last April as Velma Kelly
Dean Leah Dmytryck and [Arts Teacher] Tammy Grella,” she
in the Landmark Theatre’s run of Chicago.
says. A Chappaqua, New York native, Rosa chose Forman
Now settling down to a quieter life in Brewster, New York,
for the smaller classroom sizes and individual attention after
Rosa teaches Musical Theater and Dance at a performing arts
realizing public school was not working for her. At Forman,
school there. She and her husband are expecting a baby boy
she got everything she had hoped for and more: “I loved being
this August. “We are both looking forward to passing our love of
able to learn hands-on; it was so helpful. At Forman, I had fun
dance and music on to our son,” she says. Janina and Anthony,
learning and community life was also important to me. While at
who were introduced by Forman Science Co-Chair Missi Boyer
the School, I became very independent and learned a lot about
and her husband, Brian, were married in June 2014, and live with
myself and others. The School was like my second home.”
their two pugs, Mona and Frankie.
Picking a career was easy for Rosa; she followed her lifelong passion. “I had always loved musical theater and knew that was
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Visit B-Xtreme’s website at: www.b-xtreme.us
F O C U S
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Elizabeth Hanway Johnson eahanway@gmail.com Jessica Davis Raitz jessica.raitz@gmail.com ____________________________
Janina Reiner-Silberstang Rosa was on campus with her husband, Anthony (AJ) Rosa ’04, for this past Parents’ Weekend. Janina and AJ own a dance company called B-Xtreme Entertainment who performed during the Fall Festival event. They did an amazing job and were a definite crowd pleaser!
Boston performing Identity Access Management and Master Data Management for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. After years of living in Wickford Harbor, he recently moved to a restored Victorian in the West Broadway neighborhood of Providence. In his free time, he enjoys adventures in the outdoors or tinkering at home.
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Matthew A. Bonzagni mattbonzagni232@charter.net
____________________________
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Jesse J. E. Resnick jesse.res@gmail.com ____________________________
Joshua Freeman is a Sales Manager for Verizon Wireless. Daniel Wight has transitioned his career from enterprise level “IT” to InfoSec. He has been working in
Kevin T. Smallwood smallwkt@gmail.com ____________________________
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02 Congratulations to Betsy Hanway Johnson and her husband, Scott, on the birth of their first child, Eloise Marie, born on November 27, 2015.
Elizabeth A. Monroe lizmonroe@comcast.net
th reunion
Leith T. Sharp tennis315@yahoo.com ____________________________
Eloise Marie Johnson, daughter of Betsy Hanway Johnson ’99, born on November 27, 2015
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Congratulations to Lily Hyde Sytsma, who was married to Eric Sytsma on July 18, 2015. Lily is a Librarian at Rockland District Middle School in Maine. She loves reading aloud to her students, as well as to her three year-old son, William. Lily writes, “I am so thankful for the opportunity Forman gave me. Forman School instilled a great confidence. Now that I regularly deal with behavior issues, I am so grateful for all the love and support the teachers and dorm parents freely gave at the Forman School. Thanks guys!”
Will Bandeian ’03 and his daughter Arianna Faith, born on July 25, 2015
Congratulations to William Bandeian on the birth of his baby daughter, Arianna Faith, who was born on July 25, 2015. He and his family live in Bristol, TN and he works at TC Auto Body.
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Laura J. Goodkind LJGoodkind@msn.com Kathryn S. John john.katie@gmail.com ____________________________
AJ Rosa was on campus with his wife, Janina Reiner-Silberstang Rosa ’99, for this past Parents’ Weekend. Janina and AJ own a dance company called B-Xtreme Entertainment who performed during the Fall Festival event. They did an amazing job and were a definite crowd pleaser!
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as well as exploring other areas of the state (particularly Asheville!). Parker works at the Durham Convention Center as an Operations Changeover Supervisor. His job is to operate a crew to flip rooms for weddings, concerts, shows, fairs, and banquets, and he regularly meets with clients regarding last minute changes. He is happy with his fresh start in North Carolina and is glad to have good Forman friend Shannon nearby.
AJ Rosa ’04 performs at Forman Parents’ Weekend with his dance group, B-Xtreme.
Harrison Grover is doing well and is teaching special education in Brooklyn, NY. Natalie Hammonds Sanderson ’06 and her husband Ry Sanderson ’06 at their wedding on June 20, 2015
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Pearse P. Matthews pmatthews@hillhooks.org Cyril P. Thornton thorntcp@gmail.com ____________________________
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10
th reunion
Ian C. Hayward barret12.7mm@gmail.com ____________________________
Lindsay Callahan is working in Saco, ME at a middle school with students with behavioral issues and is coaching high school volleyball. She is still pursuing her dream to work in admissions at the college or high school level. Mike Gluck passed the New York State Bar Exam and is working as a Staff Attorney at The Legal Aid Society. He is still serving on Brooklyn’s Democratic County Committee. Congratulations to Forman couple, Natalie Fay Hammonds and Ry Sanderson, who were married on June 20, 2015. 40
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Hannah Dodd Morton hmorton1008@gmail.com ____________________________
Charlie Phillips has moved from Florida to Long Beach, CA. He is recently engaged to his girlfriend of six years, Wendy. He is attending California State University Fullerton pursuing his Masters in History and teaching full time for autistic and other special needs children aging from 5-13 in downtown Los Angeles.
Ron Jury got engaged on September 4, 2015 to Krysten Leas. Thomas Hemans is living in Southern California with his girlfriend. He says he is loving life and he misses all the family back at Forman and former classmates.
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Shannon Hallenbeck moved to Raleigh, NC two years ago and has been working for Bright Horizons as an infant teacher. He is almost finished with his eCDA (Early Childhood Development Associate) credential and says, “It’s been such a whirlwind of love and ever-growing learning about just how much development occurs in that first year of life!” Shannon has enjoyed spending time with Parker Beard, who recently moved to the area,
Candice R. Earlington wacky_candy@hotmail.com
Shannon W. Hallenbeck shannon.hallenbeck@gmail.com ____________________________
Justin W. DeCausey justindecausey@gmail.com
Kelly Solk ksolk90@gmail.com ____________________________
Michael Yormark was recently promoted and is now the Creative Concepts Manager for Dow Jones’ Innovation Unit and is travel writing for one of News Corp’s smaller companies. He is on the Board of Directors for his apartment building and anticipates becoming the
C L A S S
President in 2016. In December, Michael went to Nepal and climbed Everest Base Camp.
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Cameron S. Billik csbillik@gmail.com Gretchen G. Conyers gretchc23@gmail.com Dayne J. Price dayneprice@gmail.com ____________________________
Sean Whiting graduated from Marist College with a B.A. in Economics and is living in Bermuda, where he is self employed at SDW Consulting Services. He is the sole employee of this Bermuda-based services company. His responsibilities include: managing the website at www.seandwhiting.com, its corresponding email server, providing on-call IT services, and servicing his current contracts where he provides IT administrative services. He is looking to expand his venture and enter into other contracts and markets as they become available. Cameron Billik graduated from NYU in December 2015. Cameron works as a celebrity stylist in New York City. Michelle Barlow has recently moved to Chicago and works for Trunk Club. Rhys Cranfield graduated from Oxford Brookes University and is now a bartender in Bermuda. Stefanie Breindel is living in New York City and plans to get her
Master’s from NYU Silver School for Social Work. She is also interning at NYU Hospital for Joint Disease in Pediatric Rehabilitation. Charlotte Braun lives in Los Angeles, CA and works at the media company, Whalerock Industries. Brittany Monteith graduated from Saint Leo University and is now living in Connecticut. Dakota Catucci recently got engaged to Krista and they plan to get married in the late summer of 2016. He has also started his own hockey shop called Hudson Valley Hockey Company in Yorktown, NY. Matt Oliver is working as a professional photographer and a hunting guide in Tanzania. Orry LaCroix is in the U.S. Army, training to be a UAV engineer. He lives in Colorado and “couldn’t be happier.” Paul Bickford is working as a photographer in the Fairfield County area and is building his own business. Additionally, he is preparing for a three month road trip this winter around the States to expand his photography portfolio. Dayne Price is wrapping up his last semester at Ithaca College and just finished transitioning from a job at Planet Fitness to Longview Assisted Care Facility. Ben Shipley has been living an exciting life! After graduation, he went to Australia for two months of National Outdoor Leadership School trekking in the King Leopold Ranges of Western Australia. By
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Ben Shipley ’10 shows off his degree from Roger Williams University.
2014, he earned his Bachelor’s in Anthropology/Sociology from Roger Williams University and soon moved on to the High Rockies of Colorado. This past summer, he had an opportunity to live in Skagway, Alaska working as an off-road Jeep guide. These days, you’ll find him living in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
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5
th reunion
Rachel C. Hafer rcatharinee@gmail.com Nicholas V. Manzella nv.manzella@gmail.com Michael D. Satalic msatalic@saic.edu ____________________________
Chris Moran graduated from Cecil College and applied to the City of Meriden to become a firefighter. John Nowosadko is finishing up his last year at Fairfield with a major in Politics and minor in Philosophy. Zulian Martinez is doing another year of school at Kansas City Art
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Institute to get an art teaching certificate. Kareem Cope graduated in December from Western Connecticut State University with his Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice. He plans to apply to the Norwalk Police Department. Emily Johnson graduated from McDaniel College this past year. She now works at an art center in Gaithersburg, MD and teaches art to kids. She hopes to get into a graduate program to get an M.F.A. Nick Manzella has one more year at SUNY Potsdam and majors in Global Supply Chain Management with a minor in Law Studies. Nick is working for The Timken Company in Manchester, CT as the Global Supply Chain Intern. They specialize is aerospace drive systems, such as aeronautical transmissions, gearboxes, pitch housings, and many other aerospace components. Nick Piliero graduated from Sacred Heart University in May 2015. He works for GE Capital in Stamford, CT and plans to go back to Sacred Heart for a graduate year to get his Masters of Science in Accounting degree. Scott Donachie lives in California and is now a guide in Kings Canyon and Sequoia parks. Ariel Blouin worked as a hostess at the Fairmont Manoir Rechellieux for the summer of 2015 and hopes to be working for them in the future. Jane de Menocal plans to become a personal trainer and is almost done with her personal training certificate. Rachel Hafer moved to Phoenix, AZ and is attending Arizona State University to get her degree
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in Therapeutic Recreation. Rachel says, “I moved here without knowing anyone or having family here, and it’s seriously one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” Michael Satalic is living in Chicago and going to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Ben Ferguson graduated from Hofstra and is now attending Michael Howard Studios Acting School. Max Panella is living in New Britain working for his father at Madmax Motor Sports. Nick Roy is living in New Hampshire and is working for a computer company.
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Lauren A. Morrow lauren.morrow1993@gmail.com Shelby L. Pierce shelby.pierce93@gmail.com Daniel S. Sotherland dsslandscaping@comcast.net ____________________________
Lauren Morrow is working as a HHA/CNA. She is taking night classes at a local Firehouse to become an EMT, and plans to volunteer at the department as an EMT at first. Once she has been in the department for some time, she intends to get her Fire I and II and volunteer as a firefighter as well. Daniel Sotherland is busy working at DSS Landscaping, the business he started in May 2015. Doodle Funk has finished her fourth season of Cross Country at Saint Lawrence University, where she is a Sociology major and a Sports Studies minor. She has her
Certification as a Community Herbalist and studied and interned on Martha’s Vineyard with awardwinning herbalist, author, and speaker Holly Bellebuono. She is currently volunteering her time as a mentor at the local elementary school in Potsdam, NY.
Doodle Funk ’12 competing during her last year on the Cross Country team at St. Lawrence University
Andrew Gregory graduated from Morrisville State in 2015 and is now working as a mechanic.
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David R. Buckley davidB21@gmail.com Francis R. Fiore fffiore27@gmail.com Mark A. Malburg mmalburg@elon.edu ____________________________
Christian Walters and his father, Mike, went on a 45 day, 2,000 mile bicycling journey to raise money for cystic fibrosis awareness. His trip was chronicled at www.cyclingforawareness.com. Joelle Notkin is attending Chatham University and has been on the volleyball team for the last two years. She is majoring in Psychology
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Natalie R. Canterbury nataliecanterbury386@yahoo.com Grant A. Oslan grant.oslan@comcast.net Jacob Sussman jacob.sussman33@gmail.com
Christian Walters ’13 on his biking journey to support cystic fibrosis awareness
Joelle Notkin ’13 (first row, far left) and her volleyball teammates at Chatham University
in the hopes of becoming a speech pathologist for children. Chris Kelly is in his junior year at Stetson University in Florida. He is majoring in Studio Art/Business and is a member of the school surf team. In the summer, he is a lifeguard and an instructor at a surfing school in Southampton, New York.
STA Y CON N E C T E D
Coleman C. Walker colewalker1@me.com ____________________________
Geena Kapur recently moved to Indiana after living in New Jersey for her whole life. She still attends The College of New Jersey and has joined Greek Life in Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional co-ed business fraternity. She was elected Pledge Social Chair, Social Chair, and Pledge Educator. She also plans to rush a social sorority this upcoming spring semester.
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Sarah Auch sarahauch@aol.com Emily Cross emilycross9@gmail.com David Shaw davidshaw1213@gmail.com Dominic Weir domweir@gmail.com ____________________________
Sarah Auch is a freshman at St. Lawrence University and is yet to declare a major. Although students at SLU have until their sophomore year to decide on a path, she believes that she will minor in Art History and major in Statistics. Tristan Jeyaretnam has become
N O T E S
a part of the Student Government Association, the International Students Club, and the Gender and Sexuality Association at Adelphi University. Benjamin Kubie is enjoying the scenery in Colchester, VT, where he attends St. Michael’s College. A month after graduating Forman, Jake Alda Coffey was funded to create a micro budget short film about a fictitious dinner conversation between Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby. Soon after finishing the movie, Table For Two, it got accepted into a few film festivals including the Union City International Film Festival and the Miami Independent Film Festival. Jake is currently attending New York Film Academy in Los Angeles and is majoring in Screenwriting. He just started preproduction on his next short film called Growing Up about a boy’s journey through life. Naomi Rossman is in Israel taking a gap year. She is taking college credit that will transfer over to her college of choice. She writes, “I was contemplating for a while about taking a gap year, and I am so happy I did. Forman made me more independent and gave me the courage to travel to a whole new world. I’m excited to visit Forman again and see all the faculty and students!” Arley Kost is majoring in Hospitality at Endicott College. Next semester, she will have an internship at Aqualina Resort in Miami, FL, where she will be shadowing the Director of Food and Beverage, and
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working with front of house and back of house operations. David Shaw is attending University of Richmond and is working as a radio DJ at the school station. He hopes to work in an archaeological excavation for the summer. David Wiskind is attending the University of Hartford and is majoring in Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology.
alumni
FACULTY NOTES --------------------------------------------------------
Peter and Beldivina Bergen were married on July 3, 2015 at Point Vicente Interpretation Center in Palos Verdes, CA.
weekend IN MEMORIAM --------------------------------------------------------
FORMAN SCHOOL WELCOMES ALUMNI BACK TO CAMPUS TO CELEBRATE REUNION!
MAY 6-8,
2016 SAVE THE DATE!
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Ellen Kennedy Lemire ’66, a longtime resident of Brownsville, NH passed away on June 26, 2015 at the Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont, NH at age 67. Ellen was born March 4, 1948, in New London, CT, daughter of Raymond and Ruby Jo (Reeves) Kennedy. She received her schooling in Connecticut and went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree. She married Wayne A. Lemire on Aug. 4, 1973 in Windsor. Ellen had a true love of horses beginning as a very young girl. She also taught and did ceramics at her own studio in Brownsville for 28 years. She was a licensed practitioner and proudly worked with and assisted brain
injured persons, many being very successful cases. She had her own 4-H Club and taught young teenagers how to ride horses. Ellen is survived by her husband of 41 years, Wayne A. Lemire of Brownsville. Walter Edward “Skip” Crane ’68 passed away on July 2, 2015. He was a graduate of Drew University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. He was a teacher and Director of Education, as well as an author of children’s books that introduced kids to art and nature. Steven Mitchell ’70 passed away in August 2015. He was a graduate of Mercy College and worked for his father’s construction business for several years.
FORMAN = EXCELLENCE! That is what your Annual Fund dollars support: excellence in the classroom, on the fields, and in the dorms. Your Annual Fund dollars allow us to strive for excellence every day and in every way. www.formanschool.org/GIVING phone: 860.567.2939
Forman School 12 Norfolk Road P.O. Box 80 Litchfield, CT 06759-0080 Change Service Requested
Alumni, faculty, and staff gathered for the annual Alumni Hockey game against current Forman students on Sunday, February 21, 2016.
IMPORTANT DATES Spring Parents’ Weekend April 21-23, 2016
Commencement May 28, 2016
Alumni Weekend May 6-8, 2016
Summer Program July 5-30, 2016
Printed on recycled paper.