Class Notes
’46 REUNION
Bill Silver billsilver@comcast.net
Since there are no more classmates, I skip to another generation that we might all relate to: grandchildren. In this case it is my great-grandson #6, Dawson Reid Gutman. In the Jewish tradition, it is required to circumcise all male babies eight days after their birth. As you can see from this photo, our baby is speaking with clenched fist and attempting to say, “Don’t ever do that again!”
Bill Silver, Class of 1946
’51 REUNION
George McGregor classnotes@govsacademy.org
Continuing on this class note series about touring the campus in 1951 and now, this note focuses on the Phillips Building at the heart of campus.
Today the basement level (sometimes kiddingly called the garden level) is all offices housing the Director of Dining Services, Marketing and Communications Department, and the Advancement Office, i.e., money-raising! The main floor is the Admissions Office in the Cobb Room and Duncan Phillips Library at the southern end and the Head of School Office (notice the new title—no longer Headmaster) in the middle where it always has been. Finally, the Alfond Dining Hall at the north end with an addition enlarging the dining hall towards the west. The third floor consists of academic and enrollment offices as well as Deans and Admissions offices, and College Counseling the next level up. Does this beg the (rhetorical) question of why has tuition risen from $1,763 in 1951 to $65,000 in 2025?
In last year’s Fall issue of the Archon, we became acquainted with one of the persons who made a meaningful difference in the history of the school and has been forgotten— namely James Duncan Phillips. We learned about the building in the center of campus dedicated to him. Like many things in this day and age, it has changed. In 1951, you may remember the basement housed William Traver, manager in the store where you could buy a candy bar, and the post office where you had a mailbox. Down the hall was the business manager’s office with Edgar Dunning and Sylvia Lunt. Across the hall was a phone booth and rest room. On the main floor, the Cobb Room (now Admissions) was used for Sunday’s Vesper Services and social functions. Ted Eames and Louise Lovell’s office were located in the same space as today’s Head of School office. Exactly as it is today, the main floor lobby entrance into the dining hall was at the north end of the floor (with a hidden ladies’ room nearby). The Dining Hall and the kitchen occupied both basement and main level floors at that end of the building they do today. Where today the third and fourth floors are office space, many of us lived on those floors in Phillips in the six dormitory rooms where Roy Ohrn was the dorm master.
’52
classnotes@govsacademy.org
Ed Carter shared: Saddened to learn of Rev. Franklin Huntress’s death. Our classmate and longtime class secretary was a retired Anglican Priest, an eternal optimist, and a wonderful teller of stories. He had the good fortune to serve, on several occasions, as visiting vicar at Westminster Abbey during Christmas week. For more than 20
years, we had an annual luncheon to celebrate Kim’s and my return from our winter home in Arizona. He will be missed.
’55
George Gardner george.gardner3@gmail.com
The class of ’55 graduated 70 Years ago this past June! Nonetheless, five members attended this year’s reunion: Jack Pallotta, Pete Scott, Chris Beebe, Alan Keith, and Fred Young. Four things stood out to our classmates: the number of new buildings, the excellent speech given by Dr. Quimby about the school’s future (we were the oldest of “the Old Guard”), and the award given to A. C. Hubbard for his work in the Baltimore school District. Maybe we can get more attendees in 2026.
’56 REUNION
Jim Dean covecottage10@gmail.com
’57
classnotes@govscademy.org
Skip Dickerson reports that his wife, Lynda, to whom he was married for 41 years, suffered a debilitating stroke in mid-March. Facing a poor prognosis for any significant recovery, Lynda and Skip chose hospice care for her. She died on March 31. Skip says he is gradually recovering from the shock of Lynda’s unexpected death, trying to develop a life without her, and, to celebrate Lynda’s life in line with her wishes, he will be hosting
a cocktail party in June for the residents and staff of the retirement community where he lives.
’60
John Elwell
johnelwell@verizon.net
Don Alexander could not make the Reunion this year because he was in Normandy honoring the anniversary of D-Day. These notes are sent from France, in the midst of our trip to visit Paris (done) and then Normandy around the June 6 anniversary of D-Day (coming up). Greetings from Normandy on the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings that were the beginning of the end of World War II. And, to John, congratulations again on your well-deserved Alumnus of the Year Award. Your hard work over many decades has made our class one of the most engaged with the Academy and with each other, and helped guide Governor’s Academy promoting good relations with its Alumni. I achieved my longheld desire to visit the Normandy beaches. At Omaha Beach, I attended a very moving ceremony of remembrance and respect for the sacrifices and success of our parents’ generation that ended the rise of fascism and promoted the rise of democracy and increasing respect for human rights in most of the World. At Omaha Beach and also at Pointe Du Hoc, the high point from which Nazi Guns could fire at the Americans landing at Omaha and Utah Beaches, I saw many members of the American Armed Forces and other re-enactors preparing for ceremonies to be held. Of particular interest to you, John, many of the
Left: Great-grandchild of Bill Silver ’46 · Right, L to R: Herb Hodos ’56, Grace ’10 and A.J. Enchill ’12, and Samantha Howson P’17, Director of Alumni and Family Engagement
re-enactors had military vehicles of that era. Attached is a photo of a WWII jeep and light military truck that were driving in the area. Most important, congratulations on your Alumni of the Year Award. So well deserved. You have done wonderful work keeping us informed and interested in the activities of Governors Academy and the work and activities of our classmates in the Class of 1960—who attended in the days before they took “Dummer” out of the Academy. My most important work this year has been speaking out and helping to organize our Maine lawyers to defend the Rule of Law and respect for judges and judicial integrity in the face of attacks on the Rule of Law and the judiciary by the Federal Government. I continue to be involved in other professional work mediating disputes, conducting hearings, and producing recommended decisions on matters, and, in one instance, representing a person before our State Ethics Commission—though I don’t represent people before the courts, I know many of the judges too well. I also continue to update my book The Maine Jury Instruction Manual, first published in 1985, and now in its 2025 annual edition. Barbara, my wife, continues her work in Maine and other states representing low-income and fixed income consumers in electric utility rate–setting matters. We also regularly connect with our son’s and daughter’s families in Maine and Montana and continue to enjoy our new downsized home in Hallowell, Maine, where we have lived since late 2022. Best wishes to you and all our Classmates for good health and an enjoyable reunion. Wow…Don and his wife sure keep
busy and active. Kudos to them!
Hi John, thank you for your email and for all the work you do on behalf of the Class of ’60. Similarly, I am “scribe” to a group of old work colleagues and know how much time is involved. We meet up four times each year in London for a couple of pints of beer followed by a fish & chip lunch with a glass of wine—good fun with lots of gossip about old times and present escapades! I have nothing to report about my old classmates. However, I was disturbed that you were unable to contact Greg Myer. After ’60 graduation, whilst “Greyhound bussing” my way across the US, I spent a few days with Greg and his parents at their beautiful riverside home near Peoria in Illinois. They were very kind, generous, and hospitable to me. It may not be significant, but I notice that you spell Greg’s surname as “Myer” in your text, but in the email address it’s spelled “meyer.” Knowing how sensitive the Internet is to slight differences, could this be a source of your contact problems? It’s good to keep in touch. With all best wishes, John Scruby Great to hear from you John. I have tried both spelling of Greg’s last name and no luck. I have even Googled his name multiple ways… No luck.
Richard Henry writes… So sorry to miss our Reunion. My wife and I are in Chicago, where our daughter is a professor of surgery at the University of Chicago. We are here for our grandson’s graduation from high school. The other night he and his girlfriend went to their senior prom, at which they were named the King and Queen of their class— and presented with crowns! Dick,
so good to hear from you. Hope you had a memorable graduation event. They sure grow up FAST…don’t they?
Thanks, Wally Hamilton, for sharing news with us. Would like to hear more about your living in Buenos Aires…What that must be like! Hi everyone. Just checking in. I’m still alive and in relatively good health, given the possibilities. John has asked us to write our annual note. However, there’s nothing I can think of going on in my life that would be of much interest to anyone. In my 70s I was looking at what country I would go to. Now I’m looking at which doctor is next. This old car has to go back in the shop a lot more frequently. I’d like to keep it running though—sentimentally attached to it, so to speak. My wife, Shula, teaches conversational English to Argentines over Google Meet and I have my photography hobby. I meet with a small Philadelphia art group over Zoom where we show what we’ve created that week. It’s a mostly geriatric crew of delightful people. Lots of fun. A local photo buddy and I are the Buenos Aires contingent. I’m planning on visiting the States in October, hurricanes permitting. We like coming up for three weeks, but travel isn’t as easy as it was. I have trouble lifting a 50-lb suitcase now and the 10-hour flight takes more out of us than it used to. These things keep catching me by surprise. My wife is Argentine and had been living and working in the US for 40 years when we met late in life, near 50 for both of us—so no children. In 2005, we left Atlanta to buy a house in Buenos Aires where her family is from. I would love to get back up your way for
the fall, but I expect this year we will instead go to Chicago to see a cousin of mine. It may very well be the last time in our lives I will see them. My best to all —Walcott
The Class Reunion was well attended and four of Class of ’60 classmates were in attendance. Mal Flint, Carl Youngman, Peter Stonebraker, and yours truly participated in a number of the events and we are in the picture below. I enjoyed MUCH reconnecting with the three classmates a lot! It was great to see the many improvements that have been developed at The Governor’s Academy. And Peter Quimby was very active and visible throughout the three reunion days.
Special thanks to the classmates who submitted notes. The Elwells are doing well. Still very busy with projects and family events. Carol and I have 10 grandchildren ages 2 to 23 so they keep us busy. The farm is still in operation growing Christmas trees, pumpkins, strawberries, gourds, blueberries, garlic, and raspberries. I tell people don’t ever retire and become a farmer… you get no time off. If you are ever in the area, would like to meet you and show you the farm (maplecrestfarm.biz). We also have room in our house…the porch light is always on for my classmates. We enjoyed Peter Stonebraker staying with us for the Reunion! I am also involved with GDA supporting their Alfond Coastal Research Center, which is a premier learning facility for students and have the farm available for hands-on environmental learning for the Governor’s outdoor programs. Hope to hear from and see you all. Be safe!
John Elwell
’61
REUNION
John Carroll johncarroll.43@gmail.com
Peter Boynton writes from McLean, Virginia: “Fifteen years ago, I decided I no longer needed to work full-time for pay. So now it’s all about service and life enrichment: driving those who can’t get to medical appointments and grocery shopping; serving on our condo’s board of directors and the board of an American ministry supporting indigenous ministries in
Left: Class of 1960 at Reunion, L to R: Mal Flint, Carl Youngman, John Elwell, and Peter Stonebraker · Right: Don Alexander ’60 visits Normandy honoring the anniversary of D-Day
developing countries; connecting with former Governor’s classmates on Zoom, and with a group of retired international development staff over monthly lunches. Looking back on my days at Governors, I have many great memories and some regrets. The grassy smells of spring track and field, evenings dashing across the golf course to have a smoke on the banks of the Parker River, furious ping-pong games in the “butt club” beneath Ingham, the surprise and honor of receiving the Morse Flag at the ceremony that my mom secretly flew out from San Diego to witness, and most importantly, the friendships I formed, many of which have continued—with some significant interruptions—nearly 65 years. The regrets are few, but I certainly wish I had gotten to know better some of the faculty members like Mr. Evans and Mr. Williams, who so many of my classmates thought so highly of, and that I had spent less time throwing a metal ball into snow drifts in the back of the gym. If I could do it again, I’d learn to skate and play hockey instead!
After a long career in pharmaceutical patent law, Geoff Dellenbaugh reports: Now retired, I am providing pro bono services to Afghan refugees through a local organization. I have had four clients, of which three have been granted asylum and one is awaiting a decision. The present administration is not making my job any easier! I met my wife while in graduate school and we married in 1969—going on 56 years this year. She is a professional sculptor, and I describe my role in her work as a “supporter of the arts.” That is, I lift and carry. We have three children and three grandchildren, all of
whom live in the Albany, NY area. Close enough to visit but not next door. One thing I remember and value particularly about our time at GDA is the athletics. I was a bookworm as a boy, and growing up in a Massachusetts mill town didn’t give me much athletic opportunity in the public schools. There were the jocks and the nerds and I was definitely in the latter. The opportunity to play sports against boys who were as skillful (or lack thereof) as I was a great chance to become a healthier person. Of course, I didn’t quite see it that way at the time.
David Graff and his wife Maritza live in Parkland, Florida. Last autumn David returned to New England to meet up with some of our classmates. David writes: Mike Stonebraker hosted another New Hampshire gathering of our GDA ’61 classmates. These and others have a monthly Zoom call, and all members of the class are encouraged to join. Contact Peter Boynton, darnedifino@gmail.com.
Barry MacNutt could be speaking for many of us when he writes: I feel very fortunate to be relatively healthy—despite the mini-pharmacy in my nightstand. Barry goes on to say: My wife and I recently moved from Walpole, Massachusetts to South Hamilton to be closer to our son’s family in Beverly. Now we are only 10 minutes away and are able to get to all our granddaughter’s athletic activities. Speaking of athletics, I hope to get to some events at TGA (née GDA) since we’re only 13 miles away. After all these years, probably the most important thing to me is contact with family and friends. My wife and I have been very fortunate
and happy to have each other and to be in good health. We met during our orientation week at college in 1961 and have been happily married since 1964. Way back then, Jim Hunt ’61 was my best man, and Larry Ross ’60 was an usher. I keep in touch with Jim; we’ve been close friends since we were eight years old!
Tom McDonald retired from the Air Force after 28 years, followed by other work, and has been in Florida for almost 30 years. Tom arrived at GDA in his Junior year. He notes: Having never been exposed to education in the United States (I grew up in South America), GDA was an eye-opening and challenging experience for me. It initially was very difficult to adjust, being thrust into an environment where almost all students had been in the school since their freshman year (read cliques) and being nearly 6,000 miles from home. But soon I was welcomed by most classmates and faculty (especially Dave Williams, teacher extraordinaire and Dorm Dad, or whatever they called themselves) who made sure I had the support and help academically that I needed. Tom goes on to mention two of the things he values these days: Waking up in the morning and seeing the blades of grass— instead of the roots. Being soon to be in my 83rd year, and having gone through many different surgeries, I’m thankful to still be on this planet!
Surely no one in our Class of ’61 knows The Governor’s Academy as well as our classmate Tom Mercer. Tom writes: Since the time my father arrived on campus in 1930, there has been a member of my family either resident on the campus, or on the Board, for 85 of the last 95 years. Tom served on The Governor’s Academy’s Board of Trustees for 18 years. Tom recalls: Marty Doggett was the headmaster when I joined the Board. I joined the Board at the same time as the current head, Peter Quimby. When Peter and I attended our first board meeting, Peter told the group that his father, Howard, a Govs alumnus, used to babysit me! Although my participation in Class of ’61 monthly Zoom calls has been spotty, in the recent past I have enjoyed Zooms and personal
contact in the fairly recent past with Ted Dietz, John Carroll, Tony Garland, Mike Stonebraker, Tom Woodruff, Geoff Robinson, Stan Thomas, Peter Boynton, Dick Snowden, and David Graff
Ever modest and understated, Geoff Robinson reflects: So far, I’ve spent my life in teaching literature, and in being an art dealer. In addition, I ran an art gallery for 25 years. Many years looking at paintings and reading art history. The internet has been a boon for this stuff. What Governor Dummer did for me was to give me junior and senior years with Mr. Murphy. How much does one know at the time? But subsequently his English classes have given me the grounding I live on. Like Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Plato, Aristotle, Shakespeare, all the way down to Tennyson’s Idylls of the King and Sohrab and Rustem. Is that high school English today? I was lucky. Lucky too in marrying my wife, Diantha. We celebrate our 47th this coming November, have two grown children, and two grandchildren. I like being 4 1/2 years old again.
David Stringer reports: After graduating from Syracuse University, I enrolled in a few courses in real estate finance and taxation at the University of California, Berkeley while I was employed by Kaiser Engineers in a training program. Yet I knew I eventually wanted to go into the land development/ construction business back in Syracuse, New York. My brother and I started our own land development/construction company and were in business for some 30 years in the central New York area, as well as in Hilton Head, South Carolina. There’s nothing like having a brother who is your best friend and also your business partner. I would not have wanted it any other way. On the home front, Deana and I joined our family of five kids in 1973 and lived in Cazenovia, New York for eight years before moving into the old family homestead in Manlius. All the kids were between the ages of 3 and 6 when we got married…what a mad house…I can barely remember a couple of decades…thank goodness for my wife! Deana and I now have been married 51 years and have some 10 grandkids scattered around Florida,
Class of 1961, L to R: John Carroll, Michael Stonebraker, Geoff Robinson, Stan Thomas, Peter Boynton, David Graff
Oregon, and California. My wife and I now live in Naples, Florida, where we have had a home for a number of years. We are very happy to be out of the cold weather, grey skies, and snow drifts—sunshine is pretty special. I keep busy by serving on a number of educational and real estate boards and helped coach lacrosse at one of the local high schools. Trips to see grandkids and family keep Deana and myself very active…Love it!
One of the “regulars” at recent annual gatherings of ’61 classmates is Stan Thomas. Stan writes: My wife, Rosalie, and I have a lake cottage in northern Michigan which was hit in April with a huge ice storm. No damage to our home, but power was out for days, roads were closed, and downed trees and debris were everywhere. I just spent two weeks there cleaning up tree debris. Hauled seven trailer loads of branches and other tree mess to a disposal site. My chainsaw got a serious workout. At our home in Wisconsin there seems to be no end of projects that need doing. We live on 40 acres of mostly woods which Mother Nature is continuously trying to reclaim. As I get older I find the battle harder and harder to wage. Rosalie and I know that someday we are going to have to move, but for the immediate future we are determined to hang on. We love our house and the land we live on, and it will be a heartbreaking day when we have to go. I am optimistic about attending our 65th class reunion next year. I have greatly enjoyed staying in touch with several of our classmates on a monthly Zoom call. My best to everybody.
John Carroll: As your recentlyappointed “Class Secretary,” I guess I should add my thoughts: First and foremost, I value my wife Nan. Without Nan, it’s awful to imagine the pointless paths I might have taken. We have three daughters. They, and their good husbands and their nine children, are the lights of our lives. I’ve had what my father would have called “a checkered career”—policy-consulting to state and federal agencies, running a design/build construction company, managing global services for a plasma-torch manufacturing company. At the same time, I’ve been fortunate also to be able to honor
the GDA motto—“Non sibi, sed aliis”—chairing community service boards in Kenya and in Vermont, tending to the dying with hospice, coaching high school lacrosse, serving as state senator and Majority Leader in the Vermont Legislature, and teaching carpentry to girls and boys in Ethiopia. These days I spend my time happily caretaking our country place in rural Vermont. To me, this feels like a time of reflection and quiet learning, seeking at last to live a balanced life—engaging head, heart, and hand. And I extend my thanks to each of you, my ’61 classmates, who’ve shared with me your stories for inclusion in this issue of Governor’s: The Archon Magazine. For those of you ‘61’s who’ve not written in, please do send me your news and your reflections so that they can be included in future editions of The Archon johncarroll.43@gmail.com
’62
Class Secretary: Tom Tobey ttobey13@gmail.com
Assistants to the Secretary: Ham Agnew, Bob MacLaughlin
Zoom Participants: Ham Agnew, Barbara Leahey, Bob MacLaughlin, Peter Buck, Raymond Bird, John Davagian, Tim McNally, Tom Tobey, Red Culver, Mac Donaldson, Peter Machinist, and Bob James
Ray: I watched the link to the video (Secrets of the Little Blue Box) that Ham Agnew sent out with some of these high-tech guys including Charlie Pyne, and I think it was a Latin class in the basement of one of the buildings, when the bell was ending, but it was off by about 10 minutes before it was actually supposed to end. So, we got out of class early and we found out later that it was because Charlie had figured out how to manipulate the bell. He set it to run 10 minutes early because he wanted a little extra time. We all appreciated that from Charlie.
Save the date to celebrate! June 5–7, 2026
Classes ending in 6 and 1, reunite with classmates, faculty, staff, and friends during a weekend filled with activities for alumni and families of all ages. Register today!
Red: Speaking of Charlie, did any of you deal with Charlie when he was doing the parapsychological tests? He had done them with a lot of people. I think I remember Pete Flaharty as being one of them, and Stay in the know Scan this QR code or visit:
me. He was also working with Ed Klevin. Ed Klevin had shown some sort of propensity for some parapsychological plots that Charlie was just ecstatic over because he tried it on a number of us and we failed miserably. Then Ed had tried it once, where you guess what they are, and he got like 9 out of 10 or 8 out of 10, something significant. And then he went up to the next test and he did really well in that one, too.
Bob M.: The thing that I remember about the incident with the FBI and Charlie was that he had broken into the Defense Department’s telephone system in some way, and they didn’t mention that in that video. What I heard at the time was that the FBI caught him. One day, the four of them, I think there were two at Harvard and two at MIT, got the word that they were each called individually into a Dean’s office, in which was a college Dean and AT&T representative and an FBI agent. And they said the night before. Uh-oh. We’ve been caught! And apparently it was during the Cold War era, but Charlie said that they were just playing around. “We want to know how things work, how the phone company works.” The FBI said that if they [would] admit what they were doing and submit all of their documents, they would not be prosecuted.
Peter M.: As we said, Charlie and his associates were called into the Dean’s office with the FBI, but the way it turned out was that Charlie was offered a year’s work with the Bell Labs or something like that, and he took it.
John D: In 1963, the summer before Kennedy was assassinated, I was working for my dad and construction of a bridge in Somerset, which is near Fall River, MA, and we were demolishing part of the deck of the bridge. In the sidewalk, there were telephone cables, but we didn’t know it at the time. One of the laborers had a pavement breaker and he put it right through one of the cables. As it turned out, one of those cables was a hot wire from Washington, DC to Hyannis. This was for the Kennedy compound, and I will tell you this, that the FBI was there before the telephone company got there!
Red: [Talking about Hurricane Ian]
With the Sanibel FL problem, we lost the bridge so nobody could get on to do any repair work for a month plus. My house had only 15 inches of water in it, but by the time somebody could get in to do anything, all of the mold was up the walls. It was wicked, right up all the walls so we had to take everything back to the studs.
Bob J.: I’m sorry I joined late, but has anybody talked about Peter Butler yet? Well, he’s in the hospital and I talked to him there just a couple of times today and a couple of times with his wife. He had a prostate issue that’s now turned into bladder cancer, and it’s metastasized to his spine and lungs. He advised us of his home address, his home phone number, his cell phone number, and when I talked to him he was very specific that I was authorized to give you guys that information and he’d like to hear from any of you who’d like to contact him. I wouldn’t have said all this stuff if I hadn’t passed it by him first, so he’s well aware of this. He looks forward to speaking to everybody, and his spirits seemed to be pretty cheerful. He’s determined to not walk around like I would!
Peter M.: Unfortunately, this is the kind of story that will not be unfamiliar.
Editor’s note: Peter Butler passed away on March 31, 2025.
Bob J.: I have great friends down here [Naples, FL] and I’m finding new things that give me fulfillment, I think that’s what I lost when my wife Linda died. What am I doing now? What’s the purpose? Slowly I’m finding things I like and building relationships. This little call [this Zoom meeting] means the world to me.
Ham: I have a short story. My brother, Trey Agnew, sells commercial real estate in Boston for NAI Hunneman and he’s having a retirement party in June in Wolfeboro, NH and wants a “nautical theme.” He lives on an island in Lake Winnipesaukee and loves boats. Well, I had in my closet my father’s WWII Navy jacket, and I was thinking of wearing it. My father was the communications officer aboard the
USS Halford in the South Pacific. The jacket is 80 years old and still in pretty good shape.
Ham: I have another project to tell you about, the HarveyWells Electronics Company of Southbridge, MA. They made the first 50 radar sets for WWII, did MRI research, and built marine, police, and aircraft radios. After WWII ended they made ham radios. John Wells was an avid ham radio operator and while he talked all around the world wrote his notes on over 3,600 filing cards. They’re all sorted by call signs. The first card starts with a “C” as well as the next 50 cards. “C” is the prefix for Tibet. I scanned them all—3,600 of them— and along with my Harvey-Wells radio collection, donated them to the ARRL in Newington, CT.
Peter M.: Speaking of Tibet, In the ’30s it was the period of books like Lost Horizon, about mountain climbers getting lost in the Himalayas and finding these paradise-like communities, and it was a great thrill that ran through American popular culture.
Tim: In the spring, we’re going to South Africa and three other countries and travel around by rail in October, then Romania at the end of November, and New Zealand in December. Run while you still can. That’s my motto, yeah.
Peter M.: But I remember when we were all at Governor Dummer, you were the internationalist. You always had an interest in our discussion groups about international affairs, and it’s carried through.
Tim: That’s true, although my first overseas travel was a very great surprise. On a troop ship, the USS Patch to Germany. Courtesy of Uncle Sam.
Peter M.: I almost had an experience I could tell you about, but I got sick. I was supposed to go to a meeting at the end of this month in Houston, TX. It was a Bible meeting about the facets of biblical history organized by a trial lawyer, Mark Lanier, who I was told is one of the most famous in the United States. He’s won all kinds of personal injury cases against the opponents to the (tune of) millions of dollars.
He comes from an evangelical background, and he went to a school with his wife in Nashville, TN called Lipscomb University. He bought a farm of about 35 acres, which I was told is populated by animals of all kinds and of rare breeds. He built a library with, I think, some kind of Renaissance motif. He bought up libraries of major scholars, including one from my doctoral advisor, and he’s added to it. He has a little chapel that is based, again, on a Byzantine architectural model, and the whole thing, it’s not a lending library, it’s a research library. The place is sort of a Mecca or whatever word you want to apply.
So, this meeting was to be held at the conference center. I won’t be able to go, obviously, but Friday and Saturday we’ll talk about how the Assyrians blasted the Jerusalemites, and then on Sunday morning we go to his church where he gives the lesson, like Jimmy Carter. He’s obviously a brilliant guy who made an awful lot of money, but he’s very serious about this side interest of his in ancient history and the Bible. He has a professional library staff that buys books and journals and so forth in addition to the libraries that he’s bought from. He’s trying to create in the states something more like a modest version of William Randolph Hearst’s Xanadu. I raised the possibility of doing a Zoom meeting with him.
John: Speaking of Zoom, I had a Zoom trial in federal court here in Boston that lasted nine days with 50 exhibits. The judge, who happens to be the Chief Justice of the court, decided to use Zoom, and perhaps because it was during Covid. The only ones in the courtroom were the judge and the court, and the stenographer, that was it. Everybody else was remote. It was a construction case, so it was boring to all get out.
Rick: I had an appointment, so I just arrived late [logging into Zoom]. I just had a reverse shoulder replacement back in early December, so I had an appointment with the doctor. He wanted to check it out, to see how I was doing. A reverse shoulder replacement is basically instead of your rotator
cuff, all that sort of stuff is removed and they put in a ball and socket and they like, reverse the way it’s supposed to be.
Peter M.: The long and the short of it is, we are all bionic people. Forgive me folks, I’m going to have to sign off, but I wish everybody health. And I look forward to our next meeting, and Ham, thanks so much again for organizing this.
Editor’s Note: J.B. Moore passed away on March 13, 2025.
’63
Bob
Taylor bobtaylor2532@gmail.com
Ran Langenbach has some very exciting news. On September 17, he will be opening an exhibit at the Millyard Museum in Manchester, New Hampshire, titled “Amoskeag Revisited: A Fifty-Year Retrospective.” This is exactly 50 years after his original exhibit of the Amoskeag Mills at the Currier Gallery of Art in Manchester, which was a huge success and attracted more visitors to the Currier than any previous exhibit. Some of you may remember that Ran co-authored a book on Amoskeag with his former wife, Tamara K. Hareven, which was published by the University Press of New England in 1995 and is still for sale on Amazon if you are interested in purchasing it. Here is a link to the official announcement of the current exhibit: https:// manchesterhistoric.org/event/ amoskeag-revisited/
Cal Mackenzie writes, “Class notes
from a retired guy in his ninth decade??? Get up in the morning, see a reflection in the mirror, know it’s a good day. Some travel: Mexico, Switzerland, Germany, France, Holland in 2025. Had a great time with a hundred of the best jazz musicians in the world on the Jazz Cruise in January. Long walks my dog every day. Putter around in the garden. Live on the edge of the Bowdoin College campus, so lots of lectures, concerts, games, etc. Still looking at life from the back side of a camera. Just trying to live a happy life in a country that has gone seriously off the tracks.”
Jon Shafmaster reports, “I ventured off to the French tennis open at Roland Garros for five days with my grandson Eli and his grandmother. Saw the men’s quarterfinals and semis as well as the women’s semis. Djokovik, Alcaraz twice, Coco Gauff. Great tennis. It was my grandson’s 13th birthday gift. The weather was a little showery, but warm and otherwise nice and the tennis stadium has a retractable roof, so no matches were canceled and the schedule was uninterrupted. The weather here in Hampshire has been rainier than normal. Planning on doing some offshore fishing this summer. The Trump roller coaster with tariffs is raising hell with my Chinese lobster business. Hopefully normalcy is coming. Planning on cruising into my 80s in two months as we all have or will be soon. What is that saying? The days go slowly, but the years quickly! So far healthy and still working full time.”
As for me, Bob Taylor, I continue
to enjoy retirement with my family in Austin, Texas. My wife Mandy and I recently flew to Bozeman, Montana, to attend my niece’s daughter’s graduation from Montana State University. (You know you are getting old when you have a grand-anybody graduate from college!) Mandy and I will be celebrating our 20th anniversary in September. As of the date that I write this (in June), we have not yet decided how and where we will celebrate the occasion, but I am sure it will be great. Earlier this year, I commissioned a painting of our former master, Jack Marr, which the school has agreed to accept as a gift from the class of 1963. It will be displayed for now in the school library and possibly moved in the future to a new language building when that building is completed. Mr. Marr taught French, German, and English and he also served as advisor to the debating club and as a coach or an assistant coach in wrestling and other sports. I want to express my appreciation to everyone in the class who contributed to the cost of the painting, including (as of the date that I write this) Donald Stone, Bill Sloane, Chad Smith, Steve Hughes, Cal Mackenzie, and Jon Shafmaster, as well as to others who supported the project in other ways, including Headmaster Peter Quimby ’85, P’14, Carly Churchill Elliott and Tom Trafton in the Office of Advancement, and Michael Mulligan ’71. I am especially indebted to Carly for getting the project off the ground by coordinating with the headmaster and the appropriate committee and to Jon for agreeing to help me cover any shortfall in the cost.
’64
Larry Henchey lhenchey@verizon.net
More than a dozen classmates and guests gathered at Reunion 2025 to join with Terry Golden, wife Diane, and brother Denis Golden ’62 to celebrate Terry’s induction into the Governors Athletic Hall of Fame. After an amusing introduction from John Heald, Terry’s emotional speech resonated with each of us and reminded us what a gifted athlete and even better person he has been. John Steele traveled from Burlington, VT to attend. Other attendees included Bob Farnum, Paul Freedberg, Larry Henchey, Ralph Johnson, Jeff Karelis, John Mercer, Charlie Parker, Bob Wise, and their guests. Many remained on campus for a lively dinner and enjoyed the company of members of the classes of 1965 and 1967 who were in attendance.
Earlier this year, Jane and I attended the Spring Concert of the Newburyport Choral Society to kick off the celebration of the society’s 90th year. The group has had connections with the academy throughout its history; the inaugural year included a young Arthur Sager, tenor, and Miss Elizabeth Dummer, soprano, among its singers. Our classmate Ralph Johnson has been involved in the society for 55 years, serving in nearly every capacity from tenor to president. Ralph’s long-planned retirement from the boat-building business continues to be postponed and the business seems to be busier than ever. Ralph and I each have periodic telephone conversations with Rev. Lee Potter in Britain. Lee is, as always, a keen follower of political developments in Great Britain, Canada, and the US. His detailed knowledge of the historical and contemporary scene is truly remarkable.
Bob Farnum also has had a somewhat delayed retirement. When a series of utility disasters hit the northeast region a few years ago, the utilities were required to employ licensed engineers to review their plans, a safeguard that had been missing and not surprisingly contributed to catastrophic results. This kept Bob very busy for a while. Bob writes:
Left: Class of 1964 Bob Farnum’s “downsized” sailboat · Right: Class of 1964 at the Athletic Hall of Fame celebration
“Since retiring a couple of years ago, I have been the treasurer for the Seymour Oxford (CT) Food Bank. Unfortunately, we continue to serve more clients each year and we doubled last year over the year before. Fortunately, we have been able to meet the needs so far thanks to the generosity of our donors. A special challenge occurred after a flash flood in Oxford flooded many homes and destroyed numerous bridges, making travel difficult. We were able to transport food to those who could reach us and provide food to people who lost everything. I have been racing larger sailboats for the last 30 years. With my previous boat, I sailed in local races and some longer-distance races, including the 186-nautical-mile Block Island Race from Stamford to Block Island and back. I recently downsized to a boat that didn’t need a crew of 6-8 people and have been doing local short-distance races.”
Ken Hoadley was in the Pacific Northwest last Spring to welcome grandchild #6 into the world. He was also in the process of selling his home in Costa Rica and returning to the US to be closer to his grandchildren. He is somewhat surprised that he hasn’t been back to the New England area in a long time, despite having family in the area.
John Steele and wife Moira Mulligan have been quite involved in helping to create a northern New England paddling trail that will greatly expand access for mobility-challenged people to participate in outdoor recreational activities.
John Heald sent along an update on Bob Pallotta: “Bob and Julie are living in Chicago. They are currently in Alaska on vacation. Bob’s food marketing business is very strong and his daughter Beth has joined the organization. Bob’s golfing skills have allowed him to play on the senior tour several times, although he has yet to win a tournament.” Bob and John continue to teach a business course at Tomoka Correctional Institution in Florida. Bob and Julie are planning to come east this summer and hoping to visit with classmates during their stay.
Just prior to the deadline for class notes, we were saddened to learn of the passing of our classmate, Don
Balser. He passed away quietly two days after Terry Golden’s HOF induction. Terry had been in touch with him: “Don was disappointed that he couldn’t make the event on Saturday and had mentioned four times on Saturday to his wife, Linda, that he wished that he had been there. Don had also hoped to at least visit the school, but when I offered last week, he did not feel up to it. Don had asked me to remember him to ‘all the guys.’ Don loved us all and his time with us at school.” In the words of Rob Sherman, Don was “one of the really good guys.” Don had been a vital contributor to our class over the years and decades; we miss him and wish Linda and son Andy all our best. Rather than end on a down note, the events of last June have left a distinct impression that any opportunity for us to get together is truly precious. We are already thinking of an excuse (as if we really needed one!) to attend Reunion 2026.
’66
REUNION
Jim Connolly jim@connolly.legal
Summer has tentatively arrived in Massachusetts, and I once again jogged the Derek Hines Flag Day 5K on Saturday. It seems every year I get passed by more mothers with strollers, but the free hot dogs at the end provide some consolation.
In that vein, John Whitmore writes: From one old guard to another, getting old sucks!!! Think of those days playing hockey for Eames laughing after we lost (again) and playing lax
for the championship with Coach Heb Evans. Good golly Miss Molly that was a long time ago. Pretty cool times for sure!! All good in Marblehead!!! Life is good with wonderful daughters (all too far away) and grandchildren (youngest is 16 and hell of a golfer).
Jack Howard writes that he is still working part time but may wrap it up soon. Had a great dinner recently with Brad Silsby and his wife as they were on their annual drive to Laguna Beach to spend time with their grandkids. Planning on a two-week trip to San Diego with my two granddaughters.
And David Holmes writes the following: Sharon and I are retired and living in NE Tennessee. Bicycling and gardening are the hobbies. Still doing the NC Mountains to Coast Ride every October. I keep in touch with Ted Caldwell (So. Georgia 1/2 year), Larry Hilliard (Mississippi), and my cousin, Peter Sargent ’69 (San Francisco). Don’t think I’ll make it back to GDA for our 60th, but reading your class list brought back some memories. David sent along the attached photograph of him with Ted Caldwell.
Enjoy the fall and please let us know what adventures you had over the summer.
’67
Ben Beach benhbeach@gmail.com
Ted Dix wrote: “Mary Ellen and I are enjoying greatly our return to Illinois. I appreciate having a
more humane and progressive government than we had in Texas. I continue to spend considerable time writing music and playing in a folk band of nice folks. Add walking down to Lake Michigan for a stroll most days and maintaining my ridiculously strict vegan diet and you’ve pretty much got the gist of it.”
“I finally did it,” Wil Poon emailed from Glendale, California. “I sold my printing business and retired February 1. Now I’m looking forward to a lot of traveling. Unfortunately, I had to postpone the first trip because my cardiologist had this silly idea that I had some clogged arteries. In any case, I went through quadruple bypass surgery in May, and I am recovering very well, so I should be good to go in a couple of months.”
There’s also retirement news from our other American University alum. “I find myself officially retired, as of April 1 of this year,” Jeff Wood reported, “however, not of my own volition. After 27.3 years, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers kindly eliminated my position. I say that with no enmity, as I believe mentally I was retired for the last two years of my tenure anyway, irrespective of going through the motions. So now I have any number of projects before me, actually getting quite a bit done around the house. The latest is cleaning out a totally plugged storm sewer on our road. I’ve ordered any number of implements over the internet to attack the project, not the least of which was a large hand augur that can be extended
Left: David Holmes ’66 and Ted Caldwell ’66 · Center: In late 2024, Paul Hemmerich, Win Burt, Jeff Harris, and Phil Congdon held a Class of ’67 mini-reunion at the 1761 Old Mill Restaurant in Westminster, MA · Right: Four of the Class of ’67’s five surviving day students turned out for the funeral of Ward Westhafer’s long-time partner Barbara Rogers. Standing behind Ward, L to R, Wayne Noel, Cap Purinton, and Andy Creed
to 12 feet in length. So much for exotic images of a trip to Tahiti, etc. Getting new tools is more fun.”
“Life in Florida, after 41 years in Key West, is calmer here in Mount Dora,” Jeff Forte observed in June. “The amount of water around us on our spring-fed Lake Gertrude is about the same, but it’s much lower than floor level here, and nowhere near as salty. This summer’s July heat escape will involve helping a friend deliver his yacht from Seattle to Juneau. We’ve asked Elon to join us, but I guess he’s got bigger fish to fry. Then August in the Rockies at 8,000 feet.”
Jay Marsh checked in from Little Rock, writing: “Tommie and I decided to ignore our ages and pay thousands of dollars to replace three 100-foot-plus sweet gum Lake Hamilton property trees, which have been growing since native Indians first started bathing in the hot springs at Hot Springs, Arkansas, with three bald cypress trees, which I anticipate seeing grow to a height of 120 to 150 feet. Tommie thinks I’m a bit optimistic.”
Middlebury College awarded honorary doctorate degrees to Chuck Davis and his wife Marna in May. Chuck delivered the commencement address with this theme: You can do it! He set up a website that provides a “tool kit” of ideas on how to live a happy and productive life, and it received more than 6,000 visits in the first week. Chuck started his college career at Middlebury and then transferred to the University of Vermont, where he is in the Athletic Hall of Fame. If you haven’t seen David Rubenstein’s interview of Chuck, discovered online by the ever-alert Andrew Nichols, search for it on YouTube.
“Retirement is great!” Joe Schwarzer raved in Greenville, NC. “Planting trees in the yard and a vegetable garden on the back deck. Resuming research for which I had no time while running the museums. Celebrating successes of family members. It is ever evolving: the inevitable medical procedures and a lot of laughing; the hope for new adventures and the relief that our parents and grandparents have died and do not have to deal
with what is going on in the world. Before long, I should be drooling and ranting about socialism.”
Anne-Marie Laverty suffered a heart failure April 28 while working as a central poll supervisor in her 44th Canadian election, but wisely decided to have it just 200 yards from a hospital. Being treated in the ER within a few minutes probably accounts for her quick and complete recovery, and by July she “had resumed her all-star career dropping fly balls in the outfield for her local slow-pitch softball team, the Silver Creek Free Miners.”
Bob Bass reported that his granddaughter Elliot, who arrived from California three years ago, is now a senior. “She will serve as a freshman dorm proctor and captain the girls’ varsity tennis team. She’s had a wonderful experience during her time at Govs. The school’s leadership couldn’t be better.”
“I’m still doing the woodworking gig but slowing down more and more as age keeps creeping up,” Wayne Noel wrote. “My 17-yearold Tacoma (185,000 miles) still runs strong and will probably outlast me. Any classmates in the Exeter, NH, area please stop by Exeter Fine Crafts and buy stuff. Starving artists need your support. Thank you. Our 60th reunion is less than two years away. Gentlemen, start making plans. I want to see each and every classmate there because we ain’t getting younger.”
Speaking of classmates with artistic talent, Christie and David Marsh continue to enjoy the stark solitude and varied beauty of the Arizona Trail, 800 miles (from Mexico to Utah) of hiking, photography, oil painting, and camping. “You can go for days without a human sighting,” David said. “No mosquitoes, ticks, deer flies, or poison ivy, but most of the plants are sharp.”
Bill Alfond and Joni began 2024 in Paris with their daughter Kenden and family, spent Thanksgiving in London with their son Reis and family, and visited with their son Justin and family up at Sugarloaf. This June, Bill was honored with induction into The Governor’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He and Joni spent the summer at Belgrade
Lakes, Maine, enjoying boating, water biking, paddleboarding, golf, tennis, pickleball, and hiking with their three children, their spouses, and seven grandchildren. “We’re looking forward to a family trip to Spain in December,” Bill added.
“We just finished having a patio put in,” Fred Burchsted wrote in June. “Now we can sit in our rocking lawn chairs and gaze at the tomato plants growing in the elevated (NOT merely raised!) beds, which are SUCH a feature of our backyard.”
Andy Creed’s upgraded canoe workshop in Hillsboro, NH, is a hit with members of the Chocorua chapter of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association. Andy has hosted a number of events, including a stripping party to begin restoration of a 1947 E. M. White.
Edwin Beatty still remembers GDA bike rides: “The fresh apple cider, the salt marshes, the Parker River and more… The new knee is doing great. Back to hiking in the foothills with my dog. Hoping I won’t need any more replacement parts. Staying close to home this summer, doing lots of reading and attending local events.”
During reunion weekend, Dan Morgan made the case for inducting fellow QB Bill Alfond into GDA’s Athletic Hall of Fame. “It was a very easy case to make,” Dan said. “Now I’m looking forward to children and grandchildren coming to visit us in July. The St. Louis and San Francisco crews are just a little too far removed from Marion, MA, so these gatherings are pretty special.”
Rusty Bolles continues to enjoy snowmobiling in New Hampshire. “I’m trying to get back into golfing,” he said. “Sales at the Bottle Shop are a little slower this year as the younger generations are not drinking as much. Seltzer products are the hot items lately. I guess they go well with a gummy.”
His Nobody Special bandmate Reid Pugh wrote: “I’m finishing up the sale of my West Virginia house, which still feels like home though I have spent very little time there over the last five years. I’m getting
rid of 95 percent of my stuff, and I’m sure most of my prized record albums are going on the auction block, which pains me greatly. My children, of course, don’t want any of my furniture. By fall I expect to be completely out of there and full-time in Florida, though I will never be a ‘Floridian,’ always a Mountaineer. And always a Govie. Other than that, my grandchildren continue to be a large focus of my life. My grandson, age 7, lives near me in St. Augustine, and my granddaughters are in Richmond, where I visit often. I certainly hope to be in Byfield next June.”
“Granddaughters seem to be the theme of the summer,” Gardner Sisk observed in June. “Elizabeth Forsyth is moving on to Manchester High, and Saoirse will be starting preschool next year. Susan and I are hanging in there, and golf shows a ray of hope. Taking up pickleball; that might last a week! Looking forward to some striper fishing this summer. Bar is not so high anymore, so the results are far less disappointing. Great to see Bill go into the GDA Hall of Fame and the class turnout.”
Mary and Sid Bird qualified for the National Senior Games and competed this summer (after Archon deadline) in Des Moines. “I continue to play racquetball three times a week,” Sid wrote, “but it’s getting harder as most of my health problems stem from that sport. I still consider it a lifeblood activity as I feel like an 18-year-old when playing. Our son got married this year to a wonderful girl, and the wedding was held next town over from my family’s farmhouse in Maine. Mike was unfortunately deployed in Qatar during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. That’s it besides trying to keep up with our nine-yearold grandson while downhill and pump park mountain biking, snow skiing, ice skating, playing foosball, ping pong...and cribbage (the one game I can play sitting down!). See you at our 60th!”
Thanks to generous contributions by GDA classmates to Team Hemmerich’s ride, Bart and Paul had their best fundraising year fighting muscular dystrophy. And it got them in shape for a bike tour in
Make a Lasting Legacy by Joining the Schoolhouse Society
The Governor’s Academy was founded with a bequest from Lieutenant Governor William Dummer.
war zone now. Living one block from three grandchildren and within three miles of four more makes for an interesting life. They are mostly over five years old now, so it’s actually a lot of fun. I’m keeping busy with my three ‘hobby’ teaching jobs to keep from getting bored and forgetting that the world is full of 20-somethings who are full of optimism and energy. We have been in our new house in Studio City for nine months. Short walking distance to supermarkets and one of the busier shopping districts in The Valley (in which I never dreamed I’d live). It’s kind of fun to see minor celebrities in the local restaurants and drive the three miles over the hill for an evening in Hollywood or Beverly Hills. It’s a good life despite all the aches and pains of a shockingly large number of birthdays.”
through hormone therapy “to clean it up.” He expects that therapy to make him weak for a year. “But that’s better than being dead,” said Joe, who urges all his 70-something classmates to keep an eye on this cancer.
The school’s existence, from the start, depended upon the generosity of those who came before us. In the spirit of the Academy’s original benefactor, William Dummer, the Schoolhouse Society honors those who have included the school as part of their legacies through planned gifts.
Planned gifts encompass a range of charitable giving opportunities that allow donors to blend their charitable and financial goals.
For more information or to discuss planned giving options, please contact Tom Trafton in the O ce of Advancement at 978.499.3273, or email ttrafton@govsacademy.org.
Europe and canoeing in Minnesota and Ontario. As fall arrived, they were busy clearing debris from their section of the 300-mile Catamount Ski Trail in Vermont, left after a devastating ice storm in April. This year they got smart and obtained “his and hers” chainsaws.
Don Gay had hoped to make another one of his long drives from Motown to Byfield to take part in reunion weekend. He planned to travel not only with Emily, but also
with his daughter Candace and his two oldest grandchildren, Izzabelle and Hazel. But then he learned that the girls had a school promotion event that weekend, so Don attended that instead. He’s setting his sights on June 2026.
“Had to evacuate for one night for fires last winter,” Alan Rothfeld reported from southern California.
“Several of our close friends in Pacific Palisades and Altadena lost their homes. Looks like quite the
Our other Maryland native, Lew Rumford, reports that one more happy wedding is on the horizon, as his son Will is to be married in November. “Luckily, they will continue to live in DC,” said Lew, whose daughters are in Chicago and Raleigh.
Speaking of Washington weddings, Lew’s pre-GDA camp pal Mac Barnes wrote that his son Remy, 46, got married May 31 “to a wonderful girl from Spain and Brazil. Since they are not kids anymore, they organized the wedding in Washington. What a shindig. It was in Union Station and was magnificent. Family from everywhere showed up, plus lots of Remy and Ana’s friends. I was sitting in a circle of relatives one day for lunch and counted six different countries of origin, with only 10 people. My family is really getting international. Wishing all class members a wonderful holiday season!”
As he digested the world’s news earlier this year from his Portland perch, Stanley Greenberg remarked, “I now appreciate that DOGE’s ‘Big Balls’ was suffering from hydrocele. That’s scary.”
Joe Story will remember 2025 as the year he fought prostate cancer. His doctor caught it in November 2024, and Joe embarked on radiation treatment. As of reunion weekend, he was working his way
Joe’s not the only Newbury resident who’s recently received an unwelcome diagnosis. In May Doug Curtis tested positive for early-onset dementia. “I am on the list to receive the meds that will slow the process and was told that with the meds, it should be about 15-20 years before life-altering issues. So, I can add that to the list of aging ailments; I seem to average a major medical appointment every month, many in Boston, fortunately. My business is being prepared for sale, probably by year’s end, and I will finally retire. Daughter Lindsay ’97 and family are stuck in the UK for another year due to another slowdown at the Immigration Dept. We are thrilled that Virginia has moved back permanently and has an apartment in Newburyport. Linda has been overseeing the required 25-year total maintenance and repair needed for the house, barn, driveways, gardens, and grounds. Her remaining horse, Simon, just turned 35, very old for a horse.”
In 1976, Phil Congdon left his native New England and, aside from a couple of reunions, hadn’t been back until October 2024. “I came back from Colorado to see the fall colors and was not disappointed,” Phil recalled. “I was able to stay with Kathy and Gene Romero, and Gene offered to be my chauffeur for a few days. We visited Walden Pond, a Buddhist temple, and the Fitchburg house that my father built and I grew up in. The owners let me walk in and look around. Memories came back as we took turns asking questions. Gene dropped me off in Westminster to have lunch with Paul Hemmerich, Jeff Harris, and Win Burt. Paul and I hiked in Vermont, and I had the chance to fulfill my obsession to stand on a summit: Russell Hill (2,550 feet). The next day we were off to GDA, where I enjoyed lunch at the Alfond Dining Hall and visits to the remarkable Alfond Coastal Research Center and the library. With Gene at the wheel again, I
wrapped up my journey with a tour of the North Shore and a stop at Revere Beach, which gave me an opportunity to put my feet in the Atlantic Ocean.”
One of our four Californians, Web Pearce, said, “Just getting older and more upset with our government. I just hope that they don’t mess with my SSI. I went to a ‘No Kings’ protest and met lots of nice well-adjusted people. I hope that the country can survive until 2028.”
Mick Doolittle continues to log a few hours most days in his Maryland office, and he’s still swinging away on the golf course. He enjoys visiting his four grandchildren in North Carolina.
Bill Dougherty’s granddaughter Catalina finished another year as a performance major in cello at Eastman School of Music. Over the summer she attended various music training schools, and she’s now in the midst of a semester abroad at London’s Academy of Music. Bill regrets that he had to scrap plans to attend Bill Alfond’s Hall of Fame induction. His wife Cynthia had just had carpal tunnel surgery in both wrists, and his daughter Alyson was recovering from kidney surgery.
Mike Rogers is showing humorous drawings, animation art, and arcane hotrods in his show, ROADKING, in two galleries in Prescott, Arizona, where he lives. He and his wife Deirdre continue as pastoral hospital lead chaplains at Dignity Health /YRMC.
“Took a drive up to Hamilton,” Jeff Harris wrote in June, “to catch the Myopia Sunday polo match with my youngest grandtykes Joss, two-and-a-half, and Parker, who just turned one, and their parents Troy and Rachel. The kids enjoyed seeing the horses and running around the field but had more fun at the playground on the way home. Planning a family road trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.”
Shenandoah National Park in Virginia drew Kathy and Gene Romero in June. They traveled down to Washington, DC, to visit daughter Kate, who’s starting
her second year of residency at Georgetown, and all three then headed to Shenandoah.
There’s now another Bennett Beach. Ben’s seventh—and presumably final—grandchild arrived February 27. He has a different middle name: Turner. Since both Bens live in Alexandria, Virginia, they have many chances to compare notes. “Barring unforeseen adoptions,” said old Ben, “I am prepared to concede that I will never catch up to grandfathers Bob Bass and Bill Dougherty.”
’68
Ted Nahil tednahil@gmail.com
It’s been almost a year since our last submission, and I could write a small novella to recap it. However, I will try to save some trees and keep this to a reasonable length. If you recall, as I was finishing up last year’s notes for publication in the fall, Terry and I were planning a road trip to New England in July. So, I’ll start with that and go forward from there as usual, in somewhat chronological order. One of the highlights of our trip was lunch on July 12 at the Tuscan Grill in Newburyport. Attending, and seen in the photo below, left to right, were Art Veasey, Wayne Barbaro, CF Spang, Jim Rudolph, Chris Page, Jay Worthen, Yours truly (Ted Nahil), and Marc Tucker. It was a wonderful afternoon, and I can’t thank you guys enough for taking time out of your day to join in! I also need to mention that Jim’s generosity was in full force as usual when he let me, Terry, my daughter Kristen, and grandson Josh use his box seats for the Red Sox game on Sunday the 14th. Again, Jim, thank you so much. The look on Josh’s face when he got his first glimpse of the inside of the ballpark, and the Green Monster especially, was priceless! And, he wound up on the Jumbotron at one point as well! An incredible experience none of us will ever forget.
Unfortunately, and unbeknownst to us at the time, we lost Deni Kenney on July 10. We didn’t find out until the fall, and the memories of him were boundless. Comments
from Rich Kaye-Schiess, Winsor White, Dan Look, Jon Williams, Jay, Veas, Rob Lord, Harold Levine, Charles Johnson, Simon McCulloch, and Tuck brought back wrestling and trips to Boston memories. Dave Mitchell spoke for all of us: “Classmates, as you’ve undoubtedly heard from the school, Deni passed away. Here’s to our fallen classmate. May he rest in peace and a better place.” CF attended the memorial service that was held by his family, including his brother Tim Keeney, ’69, on November 2nd: “I went to Deni Keeney’s memorial last Saturday in Somersville, CT. It was great to see Tim Keeney and visit with Deni’s family and relatives. A very nice ceremony.” Bubba wrote, “I definitely remember Deni’s wry smile when I did something stupid. Like most of us I have a story I can’t put down on paper!” Chris wrote, “I remember going to pick up my senior pictures with Deni. He was disappointed that the pictures had been airbrushed. He said it takes all your character out of it. That was a legitimate complaint because Deni had so much character. What a guy!” Once again, Mitch spoke for all of us, “CF, thanks for taking the time to attend on behalf of all of us.”
Jay made his annual trip to Oshkosh on the 23rd of July, a few days before Paul Gare’s birthday, and sent a video of the landing to all of us. Ross Raymond asked about the significance of Oshkosh and Tuck wrote, “Oshkosh is the site of the largest air show in the US and the second largest in the world. Jay and his friend Mike fly Mike’s private plane there. They have attended for years.” Tuck asked Paul if he had made it to Paris for the Olympics and Paul wrote, “No, Tuck, steering clear of Paris this year. Our big adventure was a 3-week trip to South Africa in June where we visited Amakhala Game Park and participated in several veterinary interventions on various animals, including rhinos. I was given a very special duty…see photo.” Paul sent a photo of him performing a procedure on a tranquilized rhino, but I’ve included the photo from his and Pam’s Christmas card instead, which is a lot easier on the eyes!
The beginning of August brought
those of us in the Sunshine State Hurricane Debbie. Our side of the state where Simon and I live was spared; we just got rained on. But Ned Bennett’s side of the state got flooded. Ned sent a picture of what is usually his yard and one showing the water line, and thankfully he and Gretchen made it through with minimal inconvenience. I know I speak for him and for Simon when I say that we truly appreciate the concern from a lot of you when these storms make their way up the coast. Winsor, Rob, Dan, and Elliott O’Reilly, thank you always for your concern! I wish I could say that we were done with bad storms after Debbie, but we had no such luck! September brought us Helene, which brought more rain and high winds to us in Florida, into Georgia and parts of South Carolina, and then wreaked havoc on western North Carolina. My day started with a severe thunderstorm and then a tornado warning, but that was the worst for us on the east coast. Ned, however, was pounded again by heavy rain and reported, “Surge got to the top of the drain field where the black line is. About a foot over the slab. Had the vehicles stashed on high ground. So, we get a little more skilled each time. Might be another storm next week.” See the photo. Ross summed up his day just outside of Raleigh: “We got blown around and soaked pretty good in Durham. All my potted plants, which were quite heavy, got blown off my patio wall before I even noticed what was happening outside cause my focus was totally on work. Tornado warnings everywhere for a couple of hours late morning. But all’s good now. I feel badly for Sue and the boys who had a weekend of e-biking planned in Asheville which they had to cancel. Everything is flooded with widespread power outages.” Asheville, you may remember, suffered extensive damage, very unusual for a town in the mountains of North Carolina! And Ned’s prediction was spot on. Early October brought us a late and dangerous storm in the shape of Milton. That was another west coast of Florida storm that caused an incredible amount of damage to us on the east coast, and in particular, to the three counties around where I live. We had a total of 28 tornadoes, most of which were F2s or F3s, very unusual for
us here. We had no damage, and Simon made it through as well, but areas to the north of us, Fort Pierce in particular, had severe damage and loss of life. Having lived here so long, I am always wondering what cynic gave this state the nickname “The Sunshine State!”
On his birthday in August, Grande wrote, “To all of you, thank you. I am not sure if I am acting my age, but why start now. I do want all of you to know your fingerprints are on me and have allowed me the joy of these 75 years.” He speaks for a lot of us, I believe. On his birthday, Mitch wrote, “Thank you to all for the warm birthday wishes! Enjoying retirement immensely. For those who got out early, I’m sure you agree. For those who haven’t, I hope you get to try it.” And on his birthday in early September, Bubba wrote, “Thanks for the many birthday wishes. Can’t believe I’m 11 years older than the famous Beatles ‘64’ …They were on to something but couldn’t imagine 74? or now ahead to 84? Will you still feed me, will you still need me? I had four parties over the weekend, so they’re still feeding me! Much caring to all my GD (GDA) brothers. Be well! Bubba.” That prompted Jon Williams to write, “Since you
were traded from ’67 and I was traded to ’69, we never were actual classmates. I remember the year I came alone to reunion (20th?) and you and your wife took me under your wing. I hope you are well and enjoying your geezerhood!” And of course, Elliott couldn’t resist: “Happy Birthday Bubba! Just be sure to have a fire extinguisher standing by when your cake is brought out to prevent your house from burning down!”
While we were in between hurricanes, the boys in New England enjoyed a day on Jim’s Forever Young in mid-September. Pictured are Tuck, Jay, Jim, Peter, Rob and Rick, and CF at the helm. Not pictured is CF’s wife, Judith, who took the photo. Great looking group of guys! Jim wrote, “CF looks like he was doing a great job steering the boat (at the mooring) when that photo was taken!” Your secret is out, CF!! Jim wrote the next weekend, “I meant to send you this photo from our sail on Forever Young last Sunday afternoon. We had a great sail out of Marblehead Harbor. It was a warm, sunny day, with a steady southwest breeze.”
On Chris Page’s birthday, Bubba suggested that it might be time for a fall luncheon, prompting
this from Elliott: “Happy Birthday Chris! Isn’t it great that we’re still having them?! Golly gee-whiz, if I wasn’t over 1200 miles away, I’d love to join you all for a celebratory luncheon!” And on Jim’s birthday, Dan Look wrote that he was “… getting carpal tunnel syndrome with my right thumb responding to all these birthdays!! Nonetheless, happy birthday, Jim. Fairwinds and following seas.” Steve Robinson spent his birthday in the hospital with pneumonia! Lots of emails back and forth about that, not a good time at all!
Thanksgiving brought us a cartoon about a turducken—– thanks, Grande, for that NSFW item! —and the term spatchcocking, which I had never heard! Thanks, Winsor, for the introduction. Charles Johnson wrote, “Among other things I’m thankful for my fellow Red Dogs who in no small measure made me who and what I am.” What a terrific sentiment! And a lot of us learned that our classmate Marcus Urann’s family is responsible for our being able to enjoy Ocean Spray cranberry sauce! Who knew?! The annual holiday gathering took place at the Pelana Steakhouse in Peabody, set up by Jim. Chris Page was chosen to pick
the charity for their donation: “It was my turn to select a charity for a donation and I picked Christian Community Service (CCS) which is a non-denominational nonprofit organization based in North Reading. CCS runs a very active food pantry and provides other financial aid to families in need.
I’m very happy to report that $550 is being donated to CCS by the boyz attending the dinner plus three others who were unable to attend (Peter Barkin, Rob Lord and Steve Robinson). I greatly appreciate the care and generosity of all.”
The picture here shows Jay, Chris, and Bubba sitting, and Veas, Tuck, Jim, and CF standing. A discussion around Jay Worthen’s birthday included an old mixer picture that Grande dug up showing Bubba dancing in muddy shoes in front of Nobody Special. Dan certainly has a knack for digging up old photos, including one from the weekend at the Worthen private island with Bernie “holding” the ashtray being shared by Tuck, Jim Bell, and Bubba! I couldn’t remember who was playing bass for us before Jim Bell (RIP) was brought in, so I asked Reid Pugh, ’67. It was nice to trade a few emails with him. Those were fun days! He lives north of me in Saint Augustine part of the
Top left: Art Veasey ’68 in his bowling league shirt
· Top center: Ned Bennet’s ’68 house after Hurricane Helene
· Top right: Class of 1968 group lunch at Tuscan Grill · Bottom left: Fish Camp Drawing by Dan Ogg ’68 · Bottom center: Paul ’68 and Pam Gares’ Christmas card · Bottom right: 1968ers John Sowles, Rob Lord, and Rick Kaye-Scheiss
year and I really need to make an effort to see him! Included with his wishes for a merry Christmas were two new Dan Ogg works of art, included below, showing a rendering of his Kodiak Sitka and a drawing of his fish camp. And it’s never Christmas without a picture of Elliott wearing some kind of something. His holiday hat picture is included for your enjoyment! Mr. Veasey joined that club this past year as well in what he claims is his bowling shirt! New Year’s Eve was a rough one for Elliott, though, as he came down with a bout of COVID.
The first of the year brought terrible fires to California. Thankfully, Don Hayes was not affected. He caught us all up on his birthday, the 8th: “…we spent most of today driving through Arizona and California from our Albuquerque day-care duties, and found our house smelling of smoke but intact. Once in California, we passed a number of semi-trailer trucks lying on their sides due to the heavy winds. We now have friends staying at our house due to an evacuation order and know of one who lost his house due to the fire. I’m not going to light any candles today.” A lot of us have hit that magic 75 number and Peter Barkin summed it up
this way: “Thanks all very much for the kind birthday wishes, and thanks, as always, Ted, for keeping us together.
As Dan and others have said, so much of who we are today was formed at the Academy and by the people on this list. You are all, in my mind’s eye, forever young (Jim), our age always the same (Tuck and Jack Benny), bound by ties that cannot sever. With a new perspective (Art’s) on 75, I look forward to the 4th quarter.” Grande recently mentioned that he was shooting for overtime, and I have to say, that would be wonderful! Unfortunately, in early January we lost Steve Levings, which we learned about in mid-February. Our resident author, Veas, summed the news up this way: “This is sad news. Ving was part of the EEU gang that included Jake, Jimsy, and me during our senior year. I knew that he had a tough life health-wise but he still had that mischievous glint in his eye when Jim and I saw him briefly at our 50th reunion dinner. Great memories of a laid back Govie with a wry sense of humor—RIP Ving.” Elliott remembered seeing him in 2018: “Junior year in Ingham, Levs and I turned the evening study period into game time in rebellion
against Tom Bond and his rules. It was either Rummy 500, cribbage, or Rummy Royal! We had a nice conversation about the dirt track racing in Missouri while riding around in his BMW at our 50th.”
February brought the Annual Giving Day and as usual, we were right up there near the top, third after the class of ’67 and ’14, which came in first. One of the things I enjoy about that day is that it affords me an opportunity to trade emails with Ben Beach ’67 It’s always a pleasure! And after years of promising to get together, Harold, Simon, and I actually managed to do that and had lunch in Boca Raton at Tap 42. What a nice day. Picture is included. On Harry’s birthday, which is “Pi” day, Julia baked him a special cake, a photo of which is included. On my birthday in April, I was completely surprised by my wife, Terry, and Dan Look, who coordinated, on her behalf, a Zoom call! Thanks to everyone who was there—Veas, Grande, Mitch, Jim, Jay, Peter, Rob, and CF! What a surprise! On May 1, Veas, Jay, Tuck, and Jim attended a dinner at the Academy, along with many other alums. And in early May, Veas let us know that his latest work was available, so on
his behalf, here is a shameless plug for KWONESHE: “Several of you have asked so here it is—my latest novella titled KWONESHE is now released. This is a coming-of-age story with several GDA memories intertwined throughout the plot. At 105 pages, it’s an easy read and entertaining, at least in my opinion. Buy it on Amazon.” He added this news as well: “But to add to my Archon excitement, our son Bobby and his partner are expecting their first child—a baby boy, later this month (May). A very important grandchild, as he will be the first and possibly only, next generation baby to carry on the Veasey name in addition to our two Murphy grandkids. We also have a new golden retriever puppy, so summer at Squirrel Island promises to be busy if not chaotic.”
Jon Williams sent in this update on a similar event in Denver: “Mary and I just returned from a little Academy reception in Denver. A new experience for me was being the oldest alum, by 16 years over the attendee closest to me (Class of 1984). I met some great younger Govies. I attended a function like this several decades ago, at Pete Borneman’s house. Then-Denver Broncos owner, GDA Grad Edgar
Top left: Elliott O’Reilly ’68 ready for the holidays · Top center: Dan Look ’68 and his wife Anne in Miami · Top right: Class of 1968 on Forever Young · Bottom left: ’68ers Harold, Simon and Ted · Bottom center: Class of 1968 holiday gathering at Pelana Steakhouse · Bottom right: Harry Kangis’ ’68 Pi Day Pie baked by Julia
Making a Career a Reality
Meghan Barry ’00 is not a reality TV star—but she is the one who casts them.
“I started watching The Real World in high school, and would say to my parents, ‘It must be someone’s job to find these people,’” Barry recalls of MTV’s first reality TV show. “I didn't know it was called ‘casting.’ Then I realized that I could go to college for TV production, and it all started from there.”
After graduating from Quinnipiac University, Barry headed to Los Angeles, and began working as a production assistant on Making Menudo on MTV Tres. Next, she was a personal assistant for actor Scott Baio on the show Scott Baio is 46 and Pregnant.
In 2008, Barry landed her first real casting job and worked through the ranks to casting director. In 2021, she launched Meg Barry Casting, Inc. Among her casting credits: Big Brother, Project Runway, Supernanny, Beyond Scared Straight, Catfish, Married at First Sight, Top Chef, Below Deck, and the Real Housewives franchise.
Barry attributes much of her success to her gift of gab. “I knew at a young age that my ‘talent’ was talking,” she says, laughing. “GDA let me be me. Mike Mullins ’00 and I got ‘loudest’ for our superlatives in the yearbook, and I think that started me on the career path I’m on today.” She adds: “I’m not afraid to get in there and ask questions that some people would be scared to ask.”
year sure went by quickly. I have spent a good part of it on a ‘journey’ to deal with a prostate cancer diagnosis in early 2024. Post-surgery and a course of targeted radiation therapy, I feel fine and eager to have a definitive post-treatment PSA test to see if I am in the clear for the moment. Finally, at age 75, I am starting to transition ownership of my consulting business to one of my licensees, so maybe by next year I will be actually ‘retired.’ After shooting half my age for 9 holes (a 37) last fall, I am now determined to work for that bucket list goal of shooting my age (thanks to the gift of senior tees). Julia and I just came back from a great trip to Portugal— so much wine, so little time! We successfully college-graduated the third of our five grandkids and scarily are attending in Seattle the first wedding of another grandkid this August—they sure grow up fast.” Yes, they do!
Kaiser, was at Pete’s soiree. It dawned on me that the Broncos now have a second Govie owner in Carrie Walton-Penner ’81! (She did not attend.) Maybe they will change the team colors to crimson and white.” Elliott wrote to me: “I hope you had a great celebration for your anniversary and wife’s birthday! Debbie and I celebrated our 39th anniversary on April 26. We had our actual celebration 3 days later at a very nice Italian restaurant as my wife was showing several of our Papillons at an out-of-town dog show over that weekend. (I sometimes wonder whether she would keep me around if I weren’t the Chief Sanitary Engineer for the dogs!)” Debbie raises champion Papillons! Charles Johnson sent a nice update, too: “I can proudly say the my daughter Elizabeth is an elementary level teacher, our son Spencer is employed in the tech department of the city of Owensboro (finally) and my oldest grandson Noah is working for a HVAC company and my youngest grandson Wickliffe is employed in some sort of a tech outfit (designing interactive games I think). Laura is finishing the settling of her mom’s estate. I’m an at-home worker doing what I can to help out with household chores.” He followed up with some additional news: “All is well here in KY, we had a great farm sale and the whole family is well satisfied with the financial results. All three of us can now chart our respective finances without infringing on the other two. That freedom has been very liberating for all three of us. Our son Spencer got a job with the city of Owensboro, KY, so he’s officially launched and is engaged to his long-time girlfriend, who we have known for years. My place in western NC missed most of last September’s damaging wind and flooding, but other parts of western NC and southeastern TN got hammered and a 12-14 mile stretch of I-40 ended up in the Pigeon River, and the repairs will take another 2 years.” Tuck has informed us that Dick Leavitt is ill (as of May 22) and he sent flowers and a card to him in the hospital on behalf of all of us. [Sadly, Dick passed away on June 21.] And Harry has told me that he’s been diagnosed with prostate cancer (and encouraged me to share this news with you): “[The]
Sacramento Chuck Johnson chided me for being a taskmaster— OK, guilty as charged—and then sent in this news: “The past year has been relatively uneventful for me in Sacramento although I was finally able to pass my Swedish lodge gavel to a new chairman after eight years in the position. I’m still working as a judge at the local Odyssey of the Mind tournaments and gearing up for my 35th year at Scout summer camp in July. Still making several trips a year to Seattle to visit my son and the grandkids. And, of course, still spending too much time in front of the computer and TV, but I did just complete my annual physical in mid-May with good results.” Jim says: “This is my 50th year practicing law. The Boston law firm I founded, Rudolph Friedmann LLP, now has 20 attorneys. I doubt I will ever retire completely, but some of my management responsibilities are slowly being assumed by my son, Bobby ’05, and another partner. I have retired from a few boards, and I have gone from nine to now only five boards, including The Governor’s Academy. We are fortunate to have our three children and three grandchildren all living near us in Marblehead. We also have a home in Lincoln, New Hampshire, where we go every weekend during ski season. I’m hoping, going forward, to spend more time skiing, playing better
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
golf and sailing on Forever Young.” Mitch, who is now retired, shared this update with me: “The biggest news for my wife, Lin, and I this spring has been the addition of our second great grandchild, Summer Rose Hanrahan. Unfortunately, Summer’s parents like living in Greeley, CO, so we have not yet had the chance to meet her. Hope to this August. The summer will be/has been filled with our kids and some of the grandkids coming for visits, which we love. Otherwise, retirement continues apace, with projects to do, daily chores, and furniture to make. As I write this, I’m still finishing up the interior renovation of my shop, which was begun in early 2024, and am now getting anxiously closer. My big furniture project is a corner chair styled after one by John Goddard of Newport, RI, which I started two years ago for Lin and have yet to make much progress other than cutting the legs and arm rests. In between have come other projects like a coffee table for one of the grandchildren as well as wooden cutting boards and stirrers for all the grandchildren for Christmas. Our 47th anniversary is in late June, so we’ll be celebrating in Destin, FL, for a few days. If you’ve never been to a Gulf beach, we can recommend it heartily. Beautiful teal blue water and white sand beaches.” Don Hayes reports: “As for me, I am still here, sometimes in LA, CA, sometimes in Port Hueneme, CA, sometimes in Albuquerque, NM. In LA we survived the fires (albeit with dark skies and ashes falling like snow), although some friends lost their homes; in Port Hueneme we get fresh ocean air and bike rides along the beach; and in Albuquerque we get grandparent daycare duties. This year we got to visit family in Norway (northern lights included), in Spain (Barcelona floods included), and in Belgium (grandnephews and nieces included). American resident families TBD!” It was nice to hear from Steve Cox, too, after his birthday: “Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. Glad we are all still kicking and living life well.”
After his birthday, Jon Williams also wrote: “Red Doggs—75 is a big number! Thanks for all the birthday wishes. When I reminisce about my Govie days, my friends in the great class of ’68 are top of
mind, regardless of which year I graduated. Much of that is thanks to Ted’s good work keeping us connected, 57 years on. I wish all a healthful year ahead.” Thanks, Jon, and to all the rest of you who say the same to me, for the nice words! Veas reports a new family member: “Our third grandchild Wyatt Westcott Veasey was born June 7 and weighed in at 9 lbs. 1 oz. As far as I know Dave has no involvement. Happiness abounds!” Congratulations! And John Sowles met with Rob Lord and Rick KayeSchiess on Rob’s birthday, and wrote a couple of paragraphs for us: “Each morning I wake amazed I’m still here but also feeling truly thankful for every little thing. For example, spring finally arrived here in Maine yesterday and I enjoyed a really nice time with these two knuckleheads at the beach. I keep my professional ‘oar in the water’ with some small consulting jobs here in Maine and continue holding workshops on water science in the Dominican Republic. Those I really enjoy as I’m working with mid-career people who are motivated, enthusiastic, ask great questions, and engage. They help me feel younger. My hobbies, my involvement in a few organizations, board meetings, and reading keep me mostly out of trouble back home, but don’t get me wrong, I do go down the YouTube rabbit hole and take short naps while watching old TV westerns. Sylvia spends the winter in Peru with her family, so I join her there for two or three weeks. I come home a week before her to clean up the mess I’ve usually made of the house. Well, gotta look up how to keep my bees from swarming on YouTube. Gotta go. Take care, everyone.” There is a picture included of John, Rick, and Rob. And Rob sent this in to me the day before with some information on John and Rick: “Here with Rick, John & Sylvia Sowles for dinner tonight in Biddeford, Maine. John still contracts with the Dominican Republic to train scientists on monitoring water quality and measuring flow dynamics. Rick and his wife Pat are very active in Meals on Wheels in York County Maine.”
Dan Look’s update arrived just in time for my deadline! Thanks, Dan. He writes: “The long unmeasured pulse of time moves everything.’ So
says Sophocles. It seems unfathomable it has been one year since we provided Ted our Archon notes. While much has passed, much feels the same. We are still in North Carolina. Still looking at property in Connecticut. Still sailing out of Branford, Connecticut. And a year older. I have a grandson who just bought his first house and a granddaughter starting high school. The Windshadow Group project for caregivers of wounded veterans is getting ready to launch a pilot program this fall in San Antonio, Texas. Our project for homeless veterans in DC is full and changing and enriching lives. Theirs and mine. These are an amazing group of people. We have watched the steady stream of birthday notifications for our classmates over the past year. The gift of those friendships, the impact of the shared experiences, the smiles and laughter they create, and the sorrow for those whom we have lost over the past year. Throughout all I’m grateful for the many, many gifts which I have been afforded. Not the least of which were my three years at Governor Dummer. And the 57 years of friendships. Godspeed ’68.” Dan included a picture of him and Anne in Miami this past January. Finally, yours truly would like to add just a little. Terry and I celebrated our 48th anniversary last week on the 7th of May. We’ve got a few small trips planned over the summer and into the fall. Our son and granddaughters from Castle Rock, CO will visit in July. We are fortunate that our daughter and her family live about 20 minutes from us. Our grandson Jack will be a senior in high school this fall. As Harry said above, they grow up fast! I’d also
like to thank everyone who stays in touch over the year. The birthday emails help a lot, but in all honesty, it’s you folks who make the effort and I want to thank you. I have not yet mentioned you, so here goes: Jon Schaefer, Wil Sullivan, Bob Parsons, Ted Brooks, Roger Smith, Boots Brown, and John Wannop. If I’ve left anyone out, I apologize. Take care, keep the updates and emails flowing, and most of all, stay safe!
’69
Billy Clyde coachbclyde@gmail.com
Hard to believe that another year is in the books. I have fewer nuggets of news this time around. Perhaps all the grandchildren are into youth leagues, summer enrichment, or various theater or music camps...or many of us have simply unplugged during our retirements. Maybe we have taken up new hobbies or are checking things off our bucket lists. Whatever! This is what I have.
Doug Bradshaw managed a rendezvous with Rick French in Spain. Sounds like they had a good time. Rick is spending part of each year there. He had the opportunity of a lifetime and managed to scratch an itch that he has had since his GDA days. In the company of a Canadian instructor, Rick flew a P-51 Mustang. He got to do aerobatics (five rolls, five wing overs, a stall, and steep turns). He says: “There is no close second to that one hour!” He flew all but the takeoff, landing the plane smoothly. In the attached photo, you can sense the satisfaction of his having realized a dream!
Left: Rick French ’69 and his P-51 Mustang · Right: Peter Dorsey ’69 and his dog
Chris Barker continues to be active on the mats and on the pitch at the Brooks School. Not surprisingly, Chris is proud of and rewarded by the successes of his student athletes. This spring, Chris and his family are touring the Spanish, French, Belgian, and Dutch countryside. That’s a great way to get away.
Jeff Gordon and his wife, Jan, are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with a cruise to the Hebrides this spring. Congratulations! Jeff continues a long tradition of celebrating Easter with the Dave Forbes family. This friendship goes back to elementary school days—clearly part of the way-back phenomena. Jeff readily admits that life has been generous, with family and friends the focus.
Peter Dorsey writes about a new addition to his family. She is nine months old…sleeps through the night…is potty trained…and weighs seventy pounds! Pippa Jean is a black lab who has brought a completely new and exciting change in routine for Peter. Pippa enjoyed her tour of the GDA campus. Peter continues his walking regimen... measuring his walks in miles, not steps! Good for you, Peter!
Tim Tenney sends his greetings and joins us all in congratulating Eliza Dorsey ’14 on her new job duties at Govs! How great is that?!
Ned Lattime shares his very warm feelings for Govs...the friendships and the long-lasting influences that he continues to appreciate more and more. I think many of us would second that emotion.
Doug Macdonald checks in from his favorite home away from home...Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. If he is not on the boat cruising the inlets, he is on the porch in his comfortable rocking chair listening to the quiet. Of course, nine grandchildren and their various activities keep him and Cheryl quite busy most of the time...a “good” busy!
As for me, I continue to pick up new hobbies as we chase grandchildren and plan trips to various spots here and there. Kathie and I will visit the Normandy Beaches soon with our oldest daughter’s family. The
emotions experienced there are palpable. We are also planning a trip to Knowlton, Ontario to visit the fictional town of “Three Pines,” and home of our favorite author Louise Penney.
Best wishes to you all! Billy
’71 REUNION
James Fleming jamesfleming817@gmail.com
There were many messages about the passing of Gerry Kenjorski, including this one from Rick Nietsch, who wrote “Sorry to hear of Gerry Kenjorski’s passing. I can clearly remember a few weekend ski trips to his house in Burke, VT. One was particularly crazy but so much fun. We ate bear steaks! I am now living on Nantucket full time and enjoying both the solitude in the winter and lots of activity in the summer. Looking forward to Christmas, where both our children’s families are coming to visit including three grandchildren. My son lives in Singapore and my daughter lives in New York City where she is in medical school. Should be fun but chaotic.”
There were many, many messages, remembrances, and tributes about Brad Young, who died this past spring. I tried to pass them all onto you as I received them. All of them were heartfelt. He was one of a kind and will be missed.
From Naples, Florida, Bill Shack says: “Here is a shot posing with granddaughter Naomi. Five grandkids as of now, two more coming this spring. We travel back and forth between MA and FL, and I am still working about half-time. Very grateful for our family’s good health.”
Mario Rivera has sent in this great news and photo: “As promised, I’m sending you an update for our Class Notes. I am doing very well and just celebrated my 72nd birthday (believe it or not). I have been living in Florida for the past 44 years and have resided in Sunrise, Florida for 25 of those years. I have been married to Frances for 44 years, and I’m attaching a picture of us taken on Easter Sunday 2025. I’m extremely excited because I’ll be a grandfather around May 22!! I could have retired
some time ago, but I decided to continue as the director of credit for two subsidiaries of a publicly held company. No regrets! As I look back at our years at GDA, I’m proud to say that the Class of 1971 is the best and most historic of all. There is no Class that can compare! I wish all of the guys in our Class all the best and stay in touch! Many regards.” The Hawk lives!
In addition to the above news, many classmates responded with a photo where they are in some kind of tropical setting, what Will Phippen dubbed “old guys in paradise.”
’72George Freimarck gfreimarck@gmail.com
Dear Classmates from 1972—A few updates, and a few reminiscences of things past...some long past!
Harrison “Oak” Smith, true to his home state, writing in to revel in the advent of the local NBA affiliate: “We are very deep into the Thunder at this time! Still working, spending time with kids and grandkids. Thunder up!!”
Geoff Durham: Plans to attend this year’s reunion were derailed, but my vote is we do the combined event with ’71 next year. They were forced to come to ours and join us in ’22. Those that were there know it was enhanced having both classes. Plus, we’re not getting any younger. Why delay another year. In other news…the photo is of my two grandchildren, Owen and Logan on the right. They are an hour away so we see them regularly. They are happily filling the volunteer hours/ job that was lost thanks to COVID. Still doing the ER twice a week and golf tournaments. The PGA Korn Ferry one is in July. Jana still fully
Top left: Jon Capron ’71 sailing in Hawaii · Top right: Alan Jackson ’71 in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico · Midddle left: Ellis Withington ’71 and Peter Phippen ’72 in Turks and Caicos winter 2025 · Midddle right: Gig ’71 and Holly Barton in St Barts Jan 2025 · Bottom left: Michael Reid in Thailand· Bottom center: Jon Roof ’71 in Hawaii where he lives · Bottom right: Bill Shack ’71 in Naples, Florida
involved with the Girl Scouts. The good news about being an ‘Old Dummer’ is that it is a free weekend other than housing. A return on our initial investment to attend!
Kevin Kearny, Paul Commito, Jim Irving: In June, checked in from beach in DE. In the submitted photo, all looking marvelously youthful and notably untouched by the sun!
Rob Yaffe: Rob’s unexpected passing early this year (2025) occasioned a number of communications among classmates. Bill Connolly recalled fondly their friendship from very early days, first year as dormmates in Cottage. Rob Bryan was schoolmates with him prior to GDA, and Chris Swenson related that Rob had specifically sponsored an arts exhibition in Providence where Chris performed.
Genealogy matters: An ongoing dialogue with the class has been the deep and ancient roots some of us have with the school, indeed some pre-dating the founding of Dumm’rs Charity School. It started with Rob Bryan’s revelatory discovery of his ancestor, Duncan Stewart, a mid-1600s Scottish Highland rebel against the English, who was bound in servitude to Massachusetts, first indentured in Ipswich in 1654, then
as a tenant farmer on the Dummer estate, winding up a free man with a family and land of his own adjacent to the current campus. All this more than 100 years before the founding of the school! Not to be outdone, Ben “Muskie” Pearson did some research and can trace his family in Byfield back at least to 1643, when his ancestor John Pearson had a fulling mill erected on the aptly named Mill River.
The Pearsons would continue to live and own mills in Byfield (how come Muskie’s nickname isn’t Beaver?) including his father’s ownership of the nearby snuff mill.
Ben grew up in a house in Byfield owned by the family since 1705.
Jim Tikellis provided a moving and informative personal tie to the school and area: “My father was born in Haverhill and went to public school and ultimately graduated from Dartmouth College and Harvard Medical School. His parents were immigrants from Greece. His father was fortunate to have started a shoe factory in Ipswich in the 1930s producing women’s shoes. Martin and TIKELLIS was one of many shoe manufacturers in the area. When America entered WWII, the British shared a new technology with the US called radar and our government was desperate to put this vital item into
awareness, from art exhibits and theater to rock concerts. David Rogers recalled the best concert he ever attended as the Pink Floyd one in Boston, chaperoned by John Harvard, and wondered if others recalled it. Joe Sekora indeed did, “They (Pink Floyd) were doing their album Meddle then in quadraphonic stereo, and I remember the guy jumping off the balcony and landing on the floor mid concert. The music was great though. God bless John Harvard, one of the more misunderstood of the instructors at GDA. He had a great idea for getting us in town to see good concerts. I believe it was at the Music Hall.”
production. The War Department approached my grandfather and made him an offer he could not refuse: sell your factory building in Ipswich for 30 cents on the dollar for the war effort. General Electric then outfitted the site and produced the radar units for our B-17s in Ipswich for the duration of the war. The shoe factory then relocated to Newburyport for the next 25 years and the building still exists as a commercial site housing shops and small businesses. As a child visiting my grandparents during many summers, I took the ride many times from Haverhill to Newburyport with my grandfather. Our route often took us past Governor Dummer Academy. Although I was accepted at several other boarding schools in the area, my family always spoke so highly of GDA and when I presented for my interview with Val Wilkie and John Witherspoon in 1967, I knew that I belonged at GDA. Many families in the area sacrificed so much for the war effort and made possible our rich history. GDA will always be part of my history.”
Humanities trips: Another ongoing dialogue among members of the class concerns the humanities trips beyond the campus, meant to enlighten and broaden our cultural
Bill Connolly recalls he and Alan Foster went to the Led Zeppelin concert (which also featured Johnny Winter). Apparently, the school wouldn’t let them go but Alan’s parents had an apartment in Boston where they stayed and so were able to get to the concert anyway. Among other wild doings at concerts of the time, Johnny Winter was interrupted by a big fight by Hells Angels but the cops cleared it out and, per Bill, “Zeppelin was fantastic.”
Peter Conway wasn’t at the Pink Floyd concert and wasn’t a huge fan, being more Allman Brothers and that ilk. “Also, I remember a huge moment in my early GDA career—it was a bus trip to that small theater in ??? (Portsmouth, NH??) and I saw Death of a Salesman. I knew I wasn’t at Lowell High anymore. I loved it.”
Your humble scribe is still employed, but thinking about what may come next. Museum volunteer, yacht club launch driver, hard-hitting news journalist…or a combo thereof. Mark your calendars for June 2026; keep me posted and stay tuned! George Freimarck
Glen Winkel drwink@me.com
Greetings to everyone from the Class of 1973. I hope that this edition of our class notes from your former classmates finds you well and in good health. There is some exciting news to report in our class
Top row, L to R: Russ Ethridge ’71 in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida · Ted ’71 and Marybeth Northrup in North Palm Beach, Florida · Mario Rivera ’71 and wife, Frances in Sunrise Florida · Class of 1972: Kevin Kearney, Paul Commito, Jim Irving · Bottom row, L to R: John Capron’s ’71 daughter, son-in-law and grandson in Hawaii · Mike Hoover ’71 in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida · Will Phippen ’71 and grandsons Louis and Lance in Waimanalo Beach, Hawaii · Grandkids of Geoff Durham ’72
and I hope you will read further and congratulate those who have brought such distinction to our class. Reflecting back over the past 50 years, I can see how much all of us have grown, yet at the same time, we are still the same young and vibrant individuals as we were back at GDA. I am sure many of those reading the class notes today would love to hear how your life is going 50+ years after our time together in Byfield. Drop me an email and send some pictures so your story and any new announcements can be shared with our classmates.
Christian Steinway, still the photo bug, writes back, “Not much new here really. I continue my scanning of pictures mostly, but now rather than images of GDA from 1969–1973, they are negatives taken in the 1920s–1940s. Yes, my family has an enormous cache of material to work with. I’m currently grinding my way through a big Zip-Loc bag of 25 canisters of 35 mm film. Each time I open one of these things I think ‘This likely hasn’t been opened for 90 years.’ Currently processing pictures taken in New York City during the Great Depression. Yikes! Hope all is well with you and yours.” Wow, Christian, this is exciting! I am sure soon we can expect
a picture book from the Great Depression? I still remember those days in the darkroom in the basement of Parson’s hall. It’s exciting to see how this passion continues into the future. Keep us all updated on any picture discoveries.
Bruce Sheldon has been traveling: “In March I took my family to Gstaad, Switzerland for a family ski vacation. What an unbelievable time skiing the Alps. While there I was celebrating my big birthday (I was born in 1955 like most classmates and I don’t like to mention the number… You can figure it out!) Also, my oldest granddaughter turned 5 years old and we celebrated having the same birthdate of March 5th...Couldn’t get any better than that! Not long ago, I moved from Darien, CT to Wilton, CT, just a few towns over. I continue with my commercial and residential real estate business.” Ha, ha, I remember when 30 was “over the hill.” In South Korea, age is very important, so if you are the oldest, you get special treatment!
And from the other side of the world, Geoffrey White writes in from Sydney. “Celebrated my 71st birthday this year. I have three daughters, Brittany, Kiera, and Taysa. Brittany has a daughter
Isobel, Kiera had two sons, Aiden and Fynn. Taysa is the only one without kids (yet). Enjoying life down here in Sydney playing the banjo and teaching it also. Check out my website www.dreamtreebanjos.com. All the best from Upside-down Town.”
Craig Dowley fulfilled his class notes writing assignment and turned it in on time. He even included corrections on grammar! Ah, how well we learned our English from GDA! “I am still living between Ireland and Massachusetts. This past winter there were several reunion dinners in Irish yacht clubs with groups I have sailed and raced with over the years. Many warm recollections of voyages, adventures, and achievements spanning Norway, Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Caribbean, and many places in between. Some of my associates have hung up their boots so to speak, but many are still boating. I received a mention in the newly published 200-year history of the Royal Irish Yacht Club—a minor entry compared to such colorful members as Sir Thomas Lipton.
“In May I joined the 100 ft schooner Lynx on a 6-day 900-mile voyage from St Simons Georgia to Newport
RI. Lynx is based in Nantucket, MA. This was my first voyage on a traditional rigged sailing vessel. No internet and no hot water. As part of a 10-person crew, I held a watch, pulled lines on command, checked bilges, recorded log entries, swam in the gulf stream, endured a Cape Hatteras warm front, cold front, and thunderstorms. We experienced 20 hours of ‘rough’ 30+ knot winds. I say rough, as when in these conditions, a 100-foot vessel is a far cry from a 45–50 ft vessel. Plenty of spray and crashing into waves. A vessel like this takes 10 minutes to execute a tack with full coordination of the crew by the captain’s commands. A yachtie’s ‘proper Bristle fashion tack’ takes seconds sometimes with a lot of hollering. On a normal yacht you pull the red rope (or green or blue or …), often with the aid of a winch. On Lynx, you must know each rope’s ‘home’ and they are all the same size and color. You ‘sweated’ each line to the right tension. A humbling experience for an ‘experienced’ sailor. There were even a few working songs sung. All would make a good short speech for Buster Navins public speaking class! ‘All I want is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.’
“This April I had an entertaining visit with classmate Mark Hoffman in Boston. Mark gave me a set of foul weather gear for the voyage above. It was much needed and appreciated. Thank you, Mark!
Mary is still working, and my ever-sporting son is in college and a tennis coach in the summer. I spend three seasons on Martha’s Vineyard. Best wishes to all and look forward to another reunion.”
Thank-you Craig for sharing this amazing adventure!
They say that a picture tells a thousand words, and these from Walter Rivera say so much and are well deserving of supreme congratulations! He writes, “I am pleased to report that NY Governor Kathy Hochul nominated me as an Interim Supreme Court Justice and I was confirmed by the NYS Senate on June 10, 2025. I will continue to sit in White Plains, New York, and look forward to my continued service on the bench.” Wow, your appointment is well deserved and we are honored by your distinction!
Top left: Bruce Sheldon ’73 celebrating his birthday with is granddaughter in Gstaad, Switzerland · Top center: The Lynz under full sail about 100 mile off New Jersey · Top right: Class of 1974 celebrating their 50th Reunion in 2024 · Bottom left: Walter Rivera ’73 with Governor Kathy Hochul at the State Capitol in Albany, NY · Bottom right: Glen Winkel ’73 receiing the National Foundation Medal (
) from Kim JinTae, Governor of Gangwon Province
Finally, speaking of honor, I received an unexpected honor on March 1. March 1 is a national holiday in South Korea to honor Independence Activists who fought against the Japanese occupation from 1910–1945, much like the 4th of July in the US. I was contacted by the Ministry of Patriots and Foreign Affairs and at a special ceremony on March 1, was awarded the Foundation Medal for South Korea, akin to the US Medal of Honor, on behalf of my grandfather, Shin Eulno, who was an independence activist while living in Hawaii. And then I received a phone call from the head of the Ministry of Justice and they offered me special naturalization (Korean citizenship) in gratitude for my grandfather’s contribution to the foundation of the nation of South Korea. And all I wanted was a visa to stay here! I am deeply honored by the gratitude of the Korean people for my grandfather’s service.
As I close this version of class notes, it has been a while since our last update and I am sure there have been new grandchildren, marriages, retirements, birthdays, and many adventures in the lives of our classmates. It doesn’t matter how significant or insignificant these are… share your life experiences and let’s keep the memories of our days in Byfield alive from the “Old Guard.” And as always, the invitation to visit South Korea is extended to all my classmates. 감사합니다
’74
Pam Toner ptoner@optonline.net
Our 50th reunion in June of 2024 was a great success despite our trepidation. Catching up with Rick Atwood, Carl Bosch, Colin Cross, Steve Epstein, Deb Garand, Jeremy Greenman, Mark Hughes, Mike Hyman, Steve James, Jim Leighton, Tim McCusker, Bill Rudow, Bob Scribner, Jim Shaw, Courtney Wang, and Steve Winer was as much fun as reminiscing about our GDA years.
Jeremy Greenman: Yes, it was fun to see you and all of the other 1974 GDA graduates. It was also nice to have Chris Harlow join us too. It was interesting to see all of the
changes to the campus geography.
Rick Atwood: Hi, all good here. Had fun at the 50th, awesome to see so many classmates that took the time to return. Big run to Colorado this year, still have plenty of good riding years in me. A little of that Rocky Mountain High experience. Plan on dropping by GDA this reunion weekend, the old guard benefit. Getting old is a privilege, not everyone reaps the benefits. Enjoy and be well.
Colin Cross: It was great catching up with classmates at our 50th, but even better this year as six of us welcomed the Class of ’75 to the Old Guard, reuniting with many of them after 51 years! Enjoyed the afterparty at Doggett with the ’75ers along with a great group from the class of ’67, led by Dan Morgan.
Jeff Beach: Hello all. Missed a biggy last year. Would have loved to visit with a bunch of you all. After getting a paycheck for 51 years I decided to retire 2 years ago! Leaving a great R & D job at Brayton Energy after 16 years of rewarding work. I decided that I needed to be young enough to still enjoy a fruitful retirement. It’s been a blast so far. Took a 6-week trip last summer to the western States in a Mercedes sprinter van that we borrowed from a buddy of mine at church. My wife Jane and I [have been] married for 26 years now with a blended family of five kids and eight grandchildren now. We are busy attending sporting events, school activities, and bunches of family get-togethers. It is a joy watching them grow up and helping to teach them traditional life values of hard work, scholastic achievement, don’t tell any lies unless it’s about fishing, who our creator God is, and to also have a lot of fun. We live in Hill, NH now on a beautiful property and we are setting up a fine homestead. Lots of outdoor activities keep us trim, young, and busy. I’ve learned a lot of outdoor skills over the years and a long study of the natural world. I now run a ministry out of our church called Outdoors Workshop. I share this outdoor knowledge at monthly events with folks in surrounding communities we invite to attend. And during the learning I share a bit of the Gospel that ties into the outdoor adventure they are
learning about. Got a lot of years of exploring to do. I hope my memory keeps up. I’ll try to get to the next alumni gathering of the Old Guard!? Yikes. Keep on trekking.
Steve James: Had a terrific follow up dinner with Courtney Wang with my wife Betsy. Learned so much from Debbie Pope about the difficulties with the Academy adjusting to women on campus in the ’70s. Very interesting. I had no clue! Enjoyed socializing with other classes and as an Old Guard that may be the bonus we are all looking for at future reunions.
Bill Rudow: All is well with myself and Carol. I am still working the corporate engineering job and experiencing the AI revolution first hand. I plan to stay with this for at least for another year or two. Also, still managing my real estate investments, which eventually will be my job in retirement. I was able to take some time off to explore London recently. Had fun walking the downtown and seeing many of the major sites. Had fun at the recent GDA Old Guard gathering this month (not sure if this is considered a reunion) and had a chance to catch up with a few of our classmates.
Mark Hughes: In August this year I am marrying Sarah (who you met at the 50th reunion). I am still travelling in and out of Africa (in the last year Sierra Leone, Gabon, & DRC) for work. Work will retire me; I have no intention of retiring.
I look forward to seeing everyone soon!!
’75Pam Pandapas pamrobfine@msn.com
Pam Pandapas: Let me first say that seeing so many classmates at our 50th reunion was such fun and so special. I missed Friday’s festivities, so I missed seeing some classmates, but evidently our class made a bit of history by having the largest number in attendance for any 50th reunion. Not bad, class of ’75! I have been doing pretty much the usual: gardening, concert-going, house projects, and the like. Last spring, however, was
a departure from all that when I joined my brother and my sisterin-law on a 10-day sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands. It was a blast! At this writing we have the whole summer ahead so I just may finally learn to kayak. And there are concerts, beach outings, and other summer fun on the schedule, too. (Secretary’s note: while I appreciate and am humbled by the thank-yous I get from my classmates for doing this secretary thing, I am wont to edit them out for publication. However, I have left them in where they appear this time, since they are a part of their comments.)
Sam Gilliland: The big news in our household is that both Anne and Leigh are engaged to be married! Anne and Rob’s big day is August 30th, whereas Leigh and Nick’s wedding plans haven’t been finalized yet; it’ll most likely come about mid- to late 2026. Charlotte and Matt appear to be close behind.
Dave Bohman: Still crazy enough to be working in TV news but set a milestone by being the first on-air journalist to win four Florida Association of Broadcast Journalist Awards in one night. I see Barry Miller from time to time, and if anyone is vacationing in the Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach area, let me know.
Mike Ponce: Unfortunately, I could not attend our 50th due to the fact my father-in-law who is 93 needs help so we are in the throes of downsizing his situation and selling his artist studio! This means cataloging over 1,100 pieces of his art spanning his career! It is a big task and kind of sad. Lindsay is the most recent graduate, from Tyler School of Art at Temple with a BFA in metal working and CAD design. Annie is in Savannah working for Marriott in their hotel gallery and jewelry store and plans to visit London and Ireland in July. Jen and I are now officially off the college payout!! Jen’s business continues to grow which is downsizing the elderly in their forever home. This success is great because I am struggling in my new career as a real estate agent. The bees, the garden, and the chickens are thriving. We hope to go up north to MDI sometime this summer. Then we’ll be heading to Montana in August to fish
the Bitterroot with my sister and brother and various nieces and nephews. Otherwise, we are here in Wyndmoor so if you are in the area, stop by for a jar. Cheers from all the Ponces!
Dian Entekhabi: Unfortunately, I missed our 50th due to an untimely medical procedure that banned me from the long flights. Instead, I look forward to our 100th? Our GA-grad children live in the US and Europe. My wife Sara and I still live in Iran, but I have an abode in Dubai where my business is located. With a lot of travel, we get to see our grandchildren often: Lilia 6 and Arman 2.
Mike Sapuppo: The pictures were taken last weekend (June 1) atthe AMG Mercedes Experience at Laguna Seca Speedway. It was a two-day event where we learned to drive the track in high-performance Mercedes cars. Just another adrenaline rush. I continue to live in the San Francisco Bay Area (Marin County) seeking out exotic travel experiences and enjoying life.
Peter Richardson: In March I had my right shoulder replaced, now matching my left, done 11 years ago. It all started on the GDA practice field. The shoulder has
kept me from pickleball for several months and prevented me from participating with our classmates at reunion. Next time! Life is good in South Portland. My bees are thriving, and Beth continues to add bee food to our gardens. Just hoping it warms up a bit here in Maine. We visited Cuba on a Road Scholar tour in February. Very interesting, although it was sad to see the economic damage long-standing US policy has inflicted. Nonetheless, Cubans remain resilient. We enjoyed sights, art, music, and dancing. I’m sure folks at the reunion noticed the new moves I picked up. We continue to be proud and active grandparents, which requires frequent trips to DC. It’s worth it. Beth and I are planning a trip to Portugal in October, one of our bucket list destinations. It was great to reconnect with classmates at the reunion. Now that we’re Old Guard (a terrible name), we can attend every year for free. Let’s hope that attracts more of us over the years.
Rich O’Leary: Seeing so many of you at Reunion in June was such a treat. It was like coming home again and we all had such fun. For those of you that couldn’t make it, now that we are considered “Old
Guard,” we can come back every year for free! Those of us there this year agreed we should shoot for June of ’27 in 2 years to attend again. Consider joining us; it’s such a validating and special connection that we all have. In terms of news in the O’Leary house, daughter Sarah, 32 years old, is engaged to a wonderful guy, Anthony Delcore from Omaha; they were introduced by friends and live in Brooklyn together. Wedding is planned for June of ’26 on Cape Cod. That’s big news here and all talk in our household is about wedding plans! I know many of you can relate. Keep in touch everyone and have a wonderful summer!
Leslie Haas: Where to begin. They say things are supposed to slow down, but it seems I’m always busy doing something. I’m still working, but this past fall I took some vacation time and traveled to Liguere, Italy. It was an all-girls trip, which included Judy, our daughters, and her daughter-in-law. It was fantastic! Moving along, I found out I will be a grandmother to another boy in late July, early August. As I write I am on a little break again. I am visiting my son, his wife, and my two current grandsons. They live in San Diego. We hadn’t seen them in over a year and this was the window of time that worked. We went to Legoland and had a blast spending time with them. I was sorry to miss the reunion, but I am hopeful to get together next time. It’s great to see all the photos, and it looked like it was a ton of fun. Stay well. Best.
Spencer Purinton: I can report that I did return to our 50th, and I had a terrific time catching up with an extraordinary group of classmates. The campus, the positive vibe, and the red carpet rolled out for the 75ers were all first class. I’m grateful to all the 75ers who contributed their treasure to our GovsPLUS program. Our Saturday dinner special guests: retired teacher David Abusamra, current Dean Michelle De La Gardia, GovsPlus Director Omar Machado, and GovsPLUS alums Adeliza Rosario and Louisa Purinton, all made for an emotional evening that I will cherish for a long time. My only Reunion regret was not having more classmates able to join us. In addition to being a very impressive
class, you all are very generous! I hope that our friendships continue to deepen!
Pam Post: So much fun seeing everyone at Reunion! Summer is always busy with my gardens. This year I have added beehives. Out for a walk here with my little friend. We spend an afternoon together every week so that her mom can have a break. At this writing, I am scheduled to be on Antiques Roadshow today, June 18. They are visiting Maine for the first time, filming at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. I won’t know if I make the cut until later, but it will be fun! I will keep you posted if my antique makes the grade!
Lisa Johnson: So sorry to miss the 50th. A family emergency that will have a happy outcome came up on our amazing weekend. I saw all the pictures and read the comments. We ROCKED! I’ll be too old for the 75th, but I was there in spirit for the big 5-0. Two days after the reunion, I retired. Travel and “we’ll see what’s next” is in my future. I hope everyone stays well and happy with where they are in life. Anne, I’m excited to read your new book.
Anne Mackay-Smith: Wonderful to catch up with so many classmates at our fiftieth! And sorry some of you special people couldn’t make it—hoping to see you in five years! I especially enjoyed hearing about the GovsPLUS program bringing kids from Lawrence to the campus in the summer—Spencer Purinton’s done amazing work on this and I can’t wait to support it. My news: Sfter years of trying, I’m FINALLY going to have a novel published this autumn, Bitterwood Clearing, a historical mystery set during the Civil War. I was really touched by the enthusiasm of my classmates to the news. You are good people!
Audrey Grant: It was great to see everyone at the reunion. The days and activities flew by. Hard to believe 50 years! Once we got together it was like the years never passed. And where else do they have cans of “Off” as table centerpieces? The campus is amazing! I’ll have to return to the Coastal Research Center during the school year to see the students in action. What an incredible facility
Top left: Mike Ponce ’75 at Laguna Seca Speedway · Top center: Mike Ponce ’75 and his family · Top right: Leslie Haas ’75 and two grandsons · Bottom left: Pam Post ’75 and her “little friend” · Bottom right: Dave Bohman ’75
along the Parker River. I always enjoy seeing David Abusumra and Mr. Harlow at the reunion. I missed seeing Mr. Moonves again. “Hello” to him if he sees this! Our son Trevor and his friend Catie joined Gary and me for lunch in the Dining Hall. He was able to meet some of my dear friends. A look back into his mother’s youth. Hopefully his future will hold the same good fortune.
Jim O’Donnell: I am coming off a most enjoyable 50th Reunion from GDA. But more on that later. My update is that I am still married to my college sweetheart. I have two children in their 30s: a daughter who is married and has given us two beautiful granddaughters and lives somewhat nearby and a son who is chasing his dreams in Washington, DC. All are healthy and happy. Not surprisingly, as I have gotten older, like many of you I suspect, I get more excited about their lives and accomplishments than anything I have done. Back to the reunion. I was there for the two evening events and had a blast. Unfortunately, I could not attend all the weekend activities and missed some of the attendees. My bad luck. But I think it is important to give a big shout- out to our classmates who put the time and effort into this memorable weekend. It was a lot of work and passion. Pam P., Audrey, Rich, Peter, Rob, Spencer, Dave, Lisa, Pam Bl, Michael, and Barry, THANK YOU! Like any reunion, you are excited to see who is there and to reminisce about days gone by. But you are also disappointed that not everyone could make it or chose not to for a variety of good reasons. That said, I am glad I was there. Truthfully, I have not been close to many from those years but while I was there last weekend, I felt like I was with my cousins, the ones you don’t see often but when you do it is always a good time. The other thing that happens with reunions, especially a 50th, is you begin to look back over your own life and where you are. It’s natural. On that front, I concluded that, admit it or not, for me, from 1971–1975 at GDA were very formative years in my life. Besides an education, they contributed to my building some confidence, through sports, friendships, and realizing we are not all the same, but that
was OK. GDA did not define me, but it set my trajectory for who I might be in college and afterwards. My final revelation was the following: Whether you were my friend, teammate, roommate, dormmate, girlfriend, or the exact opposite of what or who I was, you changed my life. Since the next reunion is a few years away, and as Walter Green’s book so eloquently states, “Say it Now,” I offer the following to my classmates: Thank You.
Lisa Strandberg: I am leaving NY and moving back to NC today (June 14). My daughter is expecting her third child, a girl, in a few weeks. My son and his wife are expecting their first child in January 2026. I will miss my family here and the cooler weather, but I’m looking forward to a new chapter in life. I’m grateful for good health. Hope the rest of the class is doing well.
Paula McNutt: Wow, what a weekend! I am so glad Stephanie convinced me to attend. I must start by saying initially I was apprehensive but once we (Stephanie & I) arrived and ran into Pam Post, Rob Kaplan, Rich O’Leary, Sam Gilliland, Ben Young, Dan Morris, Dave Bohman, Barry Miller, Peter Richardson, Charlie Albert, and Spencer Purinton, all doubts and concerns evaporated, and the laughter began. No one has changed, aged yes, but they are still the same. I really enjoyed staying on campus too! We were assigned to Doggett dorm. Times have changed; there is an elevator in the dorm!! When they built the new library, they moved Moody House to across from the tennis courts next to the Field House. From my room in Doggett, I could see the windows of my old dorm room in Moody. Oh, the memories! So many new and impressive improvements have happened since my departure; the Pescosolido Library, the Performing Arts Center, the Peter Marshall French Student Center, Whiston–Bragdon Arena, and the Alfond Family Dining Hall. BTW, the food was wonderful all weekend. I shared some quality time with Anne Mackay-Smith touring the Alfond Coastal Research Center. Reconnecting with my childhood friend, Audrey Cesario Grant, was wonderful. Hanging with Stephanie always energizes me, whether by
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phone, text, or in person. We miss those ladies that could not make the reunion. You were not forgotten. We spoke about how we ladies all came from different backgrounds, but together we were our only support those first years. Seeing Margie Lampert, Maria Gray, Wendy O’Brien, Terry Williams, and you, Pam, was fantastic. We all agreed that you are the glue that keeps us together. Thank you for all your hard work prodding, begging, and generally just reminding us that we all shared a part of our lives together.
Rob Kaplan: Kudos to the 75ers who reconnected at our 50th weekend. It was an amazing turnout, and the party filled us all with cheer, (and nothing sprained!). Thanks to our classmates on the reunion committee who performed the outreach. And a special thanks to Pam P., who has been both glue and stick, keeping our community alive with news. Let’s all keep in touch, either here or via the Governor’s Academy Class of ’75 Facebook page. We’ve posted pictures there for you to enjoy. Until we meet again!
’76
’80
REUNION
Doug Leathem dougleathem.gda80@gmail.com
Doug Leathem is the new class secretary for the class of 1980. Doug moved to southern Nevada after eighteen years in the panhandle of Florida. It’s nice to be near the west coast, closer to his kids, but he misses the east coast.
John Fain writes: We had a wonderful 45th class reunion! The school really outdid themselves. The campus could not have been more beautiful. I was looking for Dana Jones and Fred Long to show. Eric Adell ’81 was diverted to his office on the way to join us! The schedule was busy. The food was absolutely over the top and it even tasted better with old friends. Chris Stafford, Whitney and Carl Schwartz, Rand Pendleton, Jenn and Russ Savrann, Kathi and Kevin Callahan, Steve Moheban, Janet Synder and Jeff Bailly, Lisa Devine, Heather Perkins, Neda Kahlori, Joe Benson, and Doug Leathem were all there. The rain kept things nice and cool. I returned to Texas and it was 105 degrees!
Rand Pendleton writes: It was great to reconnect with classmates, teachers, and the campus after (ahem!) 45 years. I enjoyed mingling with this reunion’s new Old Guard at Doggett, and look forward to becoming a member of the Old Guard next time.
’81 REUNION
Kathryn Shilale kathryn@shilale.net
Hi All—I hope everyone is looking forward to our 45th reunion in 2026! I had a fun dinner late last month on Plum Island with Jenny Graf and Larry Schwartz. Really fun catching up. Lisa Louden stopped by my house on a trip to a concert at Gillette, and I have been in contact with Nick Griffin and we are trying to get together soon. I attended Jenny Graf’s intimate wedding to her longtime partner John Whalen and the Schwartzs and Shilales had a fabulous time. Please make your plans for Byfield in 2026.
’82
Nancy Wickwire anwick@comcast.net
Nancy Wickwire: As usual I sent an email to my mates, with a “prompt” question, to wit: We are on the eve of the 15th (yes FIFTEENTH) rainy Saturday of 2025, here in NH/New England. What plans do you have for the weekend and/or for those of you lucky enough to be retired, just the next couple of days of your life? Andy and I are meeting Martha and her husband in Nashua for dinner tomorrow “evening” (Martha made the rez for 5:30 p.m. because, well, that’s just what time we like to meet now for wild night out, ok?). Maybe you have sunshine forecast where you are and it’s a beach day. Maybe a kid is graduating from high school, or getting married or who knows what. Please “reply all” at your earliest convenience with some tidbits of news and I will include them in the next Archon. My deadline is Monday so will likely spend Sunday afternoon/ evening putting them all together. (Editor’s Note: She did not spend Sunday doing that, and is, instead, doing it Monday after work).
My News: Other than the above dinner date (great fun and great food, btw), I am recently back after a super fun family trip to Sicily with husband Andy, and both Eddie (30) and Layla (26). We circumnavigated the island (is it still called circumnavigating if you are traveling solely by land and not by sea? And if you are doing zero actual navigating yourself because you happen to be on a guided Rick Steves’ Tour called “Best of Sicily in 11 Days”?) and enjoyed great food and wine, good company and learned lots of historical, cultural, archeological, and culinary information. Now back at work and saving up vacation days for future travel!
Trina Chiara: Did not submit notes, but she hosted a gathering at her house in February for basically anyone in range from class of ’82 that included Heather Vickers Ryan, Jane Boisvert Burns, Sally Degan, Karen Matzner Chinca, Paula Veale, Alison Miller Montague, and Martha Lawlor Krauch. Nancy Lord Wickwire was definitely planning on going,
but then developed a terrible cold and bowed out. They all sent me pics and we also Facetimed and it seemed like a ton of fun! They all look great.
Martha Krauch: Also did not submit notes, but I can report she is now 48 hours from being done teaching for the summer, looks great, and has a newly retired husband. They have a trip planned to southern Italy, together with a couple of Lawlor siblings and partners, in the near future!
Alison Montague: Responded to the prompt thusly: Well since you asked…We’re dashing off to exercise our rights to free speech and protest -- while we still have them! Hope you all are doing the same today in honor of all the history, science, humanities, and critical thinking skills we learned together. What was that GDA motto we scribbled over on our notebooks? ...Non Sibi Sed Aliis...Now I get it.
Robin (Fasciano) Gianis: [responding to the pic of Trina, Alison, et al] You guys all look exactly the same!!! Wish I had made it. I am still working, teaching visual art—a ceramic artist by passion, and basically a maker of all things. John Nye: Kathy and I handed off our auction company to our successor a year ago in exchange for
health care and a three-day work week. Antiques Roadshow continues to take us to rando cities, which is fun and interesting...Boothbay Harbor next week. My parents pulled a double-whammy and died unexpectedly within five months of each other this year. Big bummer. This weekend we’re off to the White Mountains to begin deconstructing their home. That’s it for now. Go ’82!
Erica (Norton) Lewis: [also responding to the pic] Oh my GOSH! F-U-N!!!! How my smile was ridiculously big when I saw that terrific photo of you all! What a fun gathering of such great women (and great teenagers back in the day!)! I can only imagine all the laughs you shared and also all the giggles over the many memories from the old days! Furthermore, you all look just the same (as noted)—but it is true! Hair color may change (!) but that is about it! Your beautiful smiles look EXACTLY the sam (remotely) joining you with a heartfelt happy big smile & hello!! Thank you for sending your joy via that photo! All my Sincere Best! Erica
Chris Swenson [also responding to the pic] Wow, fantastic pictures you all look fantastic. It’s awesome to see that my two prom dates, Trina and Paula, are still smoking hot. I live in Los Angeles. I have since
Top left: Claire Danaher ’82 showing up for Democracy!! · Top right: The whole 1982 group at Trina’s · Bottom left: Class of 1981: Keller Laros, Mike Reilly, Eric Jones and Tom Johnson in Boston June 22, 2025 · Bottom right: Larry Schwartz ‘81, Jenny Graf ’81 and Kathryn Shilale ’81 in Newburyport May 31, 2025
2017. I’m in West LA, Playa Vista if anyone is headed out here. I had both hips replaced a year ago. It was no big deal at all. I don’t even notice it anymore. My daughter is getting married next June in Topsfield, MA. I look forward to getting back to that beautiful area near GDA. She lives in Boston. My son is in Chicago. I visit Chicago every couple of months for a week or so to see my kids and ex. I spoke with Jeff Hussey about six months ago. He sounds great. He’s a lawyer in Western Massachusetts and has two kids. I still feel like I’m 18. I’m ready to head out to the Bluffs and party.
Claire (Dober) Danaher: [not responding to my pic, but instead including one of her own] Like Alison, I felt like a patriot on Saturday for a few hours, holding a sign on a street corner in Ferndale, Michigan. I am enjoying a very Boomer activity, playing pickleball several times a week. Two hours before game time, I enjoy another very Boomer activity, taking ibuprofen. Bill and I celebrate 35 years of marriage this Monday. Wow, time flies. Phoebe (27) lives in Los Angeles and Rose (20) is at The College of Wooster in Ohio. Follow my woodworking adventures on Instagram: Claire Danaher Woodworking. I love reading everyone’s notes!
Karen (Matzner) Chinca: Hi all. It was so great reconnecting with all the lovely gals at Trina’s house. We had so many laughs going down memory lane. I had the pleasure of bumping into Heather and her husband at a play in Cambridge last Thursday. I got to finally meet her husband who is lovely. I wish I had been able to join all the protesters in Boston over the weekend, but I had a wedding shower to go to. I will be at the next one for sure! This is the time that we all need to stand up for democracy and not be silent. My husband and I are still living in Brookline. We travel to France a few times a year since my husband is from there, and we have some family and friends back in France and Italy. We will be going to Europe for five weeks at the end of June. Can’t wait! Truthfully, with everything going on in this country, we are considering moving for good. But of course, work does get in the way, just slightly. We have
two amazing sons. Enio, who is 30, lives in LA, and really loves it. Although he is far, we do get out there a few times a year to see him. Raphael, who is 27, lives here in Jamaica Plain so he is close, which is really nice. Looking forward to another GDA gathering!
Michelle (Montrone) Cogan: I was at a Gov’s event several weeks ago and saw a few familiar faces— Monsieur Abu, Mike Mulligan, and I walked up to Mike Moonves and he said without hesitation, “Michele Montrone!” Unbelievable, he’s still as sharp as he was 40+ years ago!! Seeing our teachers again, it was as if time had stood still—they’re still as sharp, warm, and inspiring as ever. I’m still in the family business and still working full-time, my big news is that I’m expecting my first grandbaby in July, and my twins just finished their freshman year at BC. My other kids 31, 28, and 26 all live close by so I see them all the time. Hoping to see Gov’s classmates sometime soon!! Michele
Ted Larned: Hey All, so fun to read about everyone’s adventures. I got back to Maine during Memorial Day weekend for a celebration of my dad’s life. It was great to be back in NE, smell the salty air, and see people I have not seen in 20–30 years. The experience triggered nostalgia in me, and the feeling is being fed by all your stories of running into each other. What a gift to live in a place where that happens. My brother still has a house in ME, but with Dad gone and Mom in Savannah my brother (NY), sister (CA), and I (MI) will have to work at bringing our families together and maintaining our ME connection. Locally, in west Michigan, the cycles of life continue. Carter (23) is approaching one year in his first job out of college. He is working in supply management for a small manufacturing company and is learning about the impact of tariffs. He was able to buy a house in Grand Haven, so he is close by, and we see each other often. Charlotte (19) just completed her second year at Michigan State and her first year in the music education program. So, everyone, please continue to support the music programs in your local schools. There are still music teachers that need jobs. Next month, I will be headed to Aspen
to gather with the guys I sang with in college (think Pitch Perfect and yes, the house with a hot tub was a thing). I look forward to seeing all of them and being in the mountains again. Last bit, I’m so encouraged to hear about those who are getting involved in protests. I attended my first earlier this year. That’s it. Best to all, Ted
Will Friend: After closing on the sale of our home in Hamilton of 31+ years last Tuesday, Maryann and I packed up the car and 16-year-old cat Linus and headed to Denver, where we’ll spend the summer working (me) and enjoying all that the Rocky Mountains can offer a couple of dyed-in-thewool New Englanders. When we return to Ipswich in the fall we’ll start our search for our next landing spot, but are in no rush and are already enjoying the lighter load of renting for now. The drive west was easy and uneventful and even Linus seemed to enjoy it (tolerate it might be a better choice of words). Both kids are great: Emily (30) is living and teaching in NYC, and William (25), who has been living and working in San Francisco for the past three years, is moving back east for grad school this fall. Great to hear from everyone and looking forward to a future gathering in the not-too-distant future. Cheers, Will
’83
Cat Eveleth catmando_ent@msn.com
Danielle Jacobs dljacobs@aol.com
Greetings Class! I hope your summer is off to a great start. Mine has had some ups and downs, but I am happy to see the sun shining and enjoying time with friends and family.
I am enjoying the role of class secretary less and less as the years go by and I feel a responsibility to pass on sad news. Many of you read Karen and Jay Phelps’s post last month, that we lost Peter Riley on May 28. Peter was a great father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend to many. I knew him to be smart, witty, and generous. He was a fantastic athlete in high school and an avid lifelong surfer. In my role as class secretary I have
developed stronger friendships with some of you post-graduation. Peter was one of them. Peter was always willing to host a gathering and get the gang together. Karen Jay mentioned that there will be a celebration of Peter’s life at a later date. Be well, Danielle
’86 REUNION ’87
Anita Russo Bartschat anita.russo.gda@gmail.com
David Miller davidnowis@gmail.com
Glen Distefano writes: Lisa and I are still on the west coast of Florida with our two “lab boys,” Guido and Nunzio. I just celebrated my 20-year anniversary as CTO/CISO of SUNZ Insurance Company— time really flies! We also recently marked the one-year anniversary of a restaurant collaboration called Taverna Toscana with Celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani in Bradenton. It has been an honor to represent my CEO on this venture, from full design to operational oversight over the past year. If you’re in the area, swing by our little slice of Tuscany in Bradenton—I’d love to see you and share some great food, wine, and stories!
Lucy Armstrong Henkes shares: My work on the Govs Board keeps me busy and happily connected to Govs and fellow graduates of the 80s, Rob DeLena, Paul Nardone ’86, Betsy Farrell ’84, Jeff Taft ’86, and Peter Quimby ’85! Last week as part of a World Oceans Day event, I went to a screening of the film Around Alone about Dodge Morgan’s solo, non-stop sailing journey around the world aboard American Promise almost 40 years ago. There was a scene of his welcome home to Portland, Maine. Do you all remember Mr. Bragdon taking the whole school up there to celebrate the safe return of this Govs grad? I know our reunion is two years away, but I hope ’87s all start to think about your return to your Byfield home in 2027.
David Miller shares: My family and I are still in Manchester, NH, where our two daughters are going into their senior year of high
school and 8th grade respectively. My wife, Christina, has just gone 100% into her own therapy practice after a decade or two of working for a private mental health company working in our local school system. Personally, after a decade+ in financial services on the “oughts,” I went back to doing something I truly enjoy and now own a small house painting business out of Manchester. We have three full-time employees and enough demand to double that. My oldest and I returned to Byfield on reunion weekend for the Steve Metz Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony. We got to spend some time with ’87er Chris Dobrosielski (always a treat!) and several Old Guard faculty and other classmates. Although the weather didn’t cooperate, there are few things better than a day in Byfield.
Amy Mack Forsthoffer writes: All’s well here in Northern Virginia— Finley finished his freshman year at Colorado School of Mines and is home for the summer, and Mae just finished junior year of high school and so we start the college selection journey again, thankfully for the last time! I am still at Oracle, 22 years later—I will ride this job into retirement, as the work-totennis ratio is still excellent. My husband Mark has more energy and has started the federal business at a new CA company called Mechanical Orchard. I will keep my eye on invites for the 40th and hope to see many classmates there!
Meanwhile, I am enjoying life as a snowbird—Wisconsin in the summer and Florida in winter. Thinking of birds, I recently learned that the sound of songbirds can improve memory and reduce depression and anxiety. Grateful for GDA, I still reach out to Coach Abu for advice and credit him for igniting a lifelong fondness for running. I’ve got June 2027 marked for our 40th!
xo Anita Russo Bartschat
’90
classnotes@govsacademy.org
Jon Lewis writes in: After 15 years with Troy University, I will be promoted to full professor in August, and my second book, Contemporary Science Fiction and the Many-
Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, will be published this year by Bloomsbury Books.
’91 REUNION
’92
Jennifer Noon Hess
JenHess1@gmail.com
Nobody could ever fill Cassie Wickes Firenze’s shoes, but each passing year shows us that just being alive is an accomplishment. So, I wanted to take up the Class Notes mantle in hopes that more of us will share news. Send me your info, exciting or boring as the case may be!
Rhea (Holmes) Hill definitely has exciting news: I earned my doctorate in social work last May—a major accomplishment after returning to school later in life. It was a challenging but deeply rewarding journey. My husband and I just celebrated our 10-year anniversary last month, and my daughter is turning 25 soon. To celebrate, we’re taking her on a cruise. She finally had the chance to visit GDA when my academic journey came full circle with commencement at Simmons in Boston. She’s been pursuing her PhD in atmospheric sciences at Howard University in Washington, DC. My bonus daughter is a rising senior in Louisville, Kentucky, and we’re excited to see what her next steps will be. Recently, my father came to live with us, as he needs more support with aging and health
issues. I still enjoy reading, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends. We lost our beautiful Melanie [Robinson] this past year, which has been a reminder that life is short and precious. I’m grateful for the time we have and the people we share it with.
Deirdre Heersink reports: My daughter will be starting her senior year of college, which makes me realize how long it’s been since our GDA years. I am so grateful how strong the connection with our friends/classmates remains. This year I got to ski with Nicole Downer (Bellaire) and her daughter at Sugarbush VT (not while J. D. Vance was there…). Nicole’s daughter just finished her sophomore year at Governor’s and is having a great experience (and probably some of the same teachers her mom had). Also enjoyed a concert in Boston with Cindy White and Carin McLean. Lots of laughs and wishing we could slow time down to play more now. My middle kiddo is home for the summer from his freshman year of college in Colorado. Hoping being near the ocean in Maine reminds him how much he loves the sea so the mountains don’t steal his heart permanently. My youngest is 12, finishing up 6th grade, playing lots of soccer, and looking forward to vacation. Marc is also counting down the days until his summer break, well deserved after 25 years teaching high school special education. I am happy for them and envious, the vacation allotment in family medicine is less than I’d
dream of, but it’s interesting work, always meeting and learning from people. Will try to squeeze in as much swimming and boat time as possible during my favorite season. Jon Kazanjian has a new job: Assistant director of recreation for the city of Watertown. Loving it so far! My oldest son is going into his junior year at Michigan State—go Sparty! And my youngest is a rising junior at Nashoba Tech and playing football! We are getting old! I hope to see everyone at the next reunion.
Devin Sullivan writes of another recent loss for our class: I was beyond saddened to hear the news of Mark Capuano’s passing. Obviously, he and I were both transfers to GDA as juniors and only spent two years together, but I look back fondly on all the good times and laughs we had in Eames and on the ice. He was larger than life and so fun to be around. I’m grateful to have had that time with Mark.
Thanks for this remembrance, Devin. Knowing how short life is, I’m glad many of us have been able to connect with old friends:
Cara Fineman writes: I’ve had the pleasure of visiting recently with Dara Shain and Amy Nicolo in Florida, and I see Jackie Hogan occasionally, and they are all doing well. Last year I got to visit with Lisa Widdecke during a trip to California and that was a real treat to reconnect with her. Cara has twin girls who graduated high school this year and a son going into his freshman year of high school. One of her
Left: Patrick Gervais ’92 and Grace Jeanes ’92 · Center: Wedding celebration, back row–Ilse Abusamra ’93, Brooke Whiting Cash, Chuck Rodman ’91, Nick Lapierre, Joe Montminy, and Jon Kazanjian, middle row–Grace Jeans, Erin Elwell Rich, and Shawn Markey ’93, front row–the bride and groom, Robin Cluse and Josh Lappin · Right: Ilsa Abusamra ’93 running in her 50th marathon
daughters will be heading to CU in Boulder in the fall and the other is going to Georgetown.
Grace Jeanes is taking those classmate connections international: In April, Patrick Gervais and I had a goalie meet-up in Montreal. Leah and I had dinner with his family and then we went to the PWHL game, Boston Fleet vs. Montreal Victoire. I wore my Governor’s vest for old times’ sake. We had a wonderful evening and look forward to more Professional Women’s Ice Hockey road trips. Two new teams were added for next season—Seattle and Vancouver—any classmates out west?
News from Josh Lappin: On Saturday, September 21, 2024, I was lucky enough to marry my old college friend, Robin Cluse. The wedding took place in our backyard in Sandwich, Massachusetts. It was a wonderful night, and in attendance were nine great friends from GDA: Ilse Abusamra ’93, Brooke Whiting Cash, Chuck Rodman ’92, Nick Lapierre, Joe Montminy, Jon Kazanjian, Grace Jeans, Erin Elwell Rich, and Shawn Markey ’93. And it was Shawn’s idea to break out our old varsity jackets!
And I (Jen Noon Hess) see Ardy Louis once in a while, which is always a joy. I visited with Charisse Charley a couple years ago while I was out visiting family in California. She is as fantastic as ever and introduced us to a great restaurant that I’ve managed to forget the name of, because (as Jon said), we are
old. Oh well! I’m still in Woburn, working as an editor, planning our upcoming family trip to Scotland, and trying to keep critters from killing my flower garden. My older son is heading into his sophomore year at Champlain College, and my younger son will be a high school junior. Just celebrated my 20th wedding anniversary and can’t believe it will be our 35th reunion in just two short years. Keep the updates coming, and if you didn’t send one this time, there’s always the next. I look forward to hearing from as many of you as possible!
’93
Ingrid Cunney icunney@gmail.com
Shawn Markey stmarkey58@yahoo.com
Ilse Abusamra achieved her stated goal of “50 by 50,” running 50 marathons before she turned 50. It took her 28 years, and they were spread out among 12 states and 2 countries, France and Iceland. Her bib number is a result of her being the first name in the alphabet in the marathon field.
’96 REUNION
Scotty Coulon scotty.coulon@gmail.com
Not too much to report on. I guess we’ll go with “no news is good news” this time around. Or maybe everyone is saving their communication for our 30th Reunion next year! I saw that our friends in the Class of
’95 had a solid showing for their 30th this year. So, I’m greatly hoping that many of my classmates will make their way to Byfield next June. With that said, here’s the scoop:
Kate Manzella ran her 16th marathon, and 3rd Boston this past April. She always loves being back in Boston, and she got to celebrate with fellow 96er Katie Renna Hajjar. Kate recently stepped down as the women’s head lacrosse coach at D’Youville University, and is now the athletics business director for her department.
Speaking of running...Scott Grenier’s daughter, Bella, was recently crowned the Wisconsin D2 Girls State Champion in the 3200M. This comes as a shock to all of us, as the only time Scott ever ran two miles at GDA was when we had to do our timed two-mile run for Nelly and Coach Karin before soccer season started. Rumor has it though that Grens has recently been lacing up the running shoes and putting some miles in. So maybe we’ll see a photo of him with a medal sometime soon!
Jason Greenberg writes: I connected with my best man, Sung An ’95, in Connecticut in June. We live more than 10,000 miles and 12 time zones apart but we catch right up after not seeing each other for years.
As for me, I’ve been doing a fair amount of hiking and traveling for my project, The Mighty 10,000. I began last August by taking on Mount Katahdin and the 100 Mile
Wilderness in Maine. I then made my way down to Patagonia in Chile and completed The O Circuit of The Torres del Paine. And this past April I spent a month in Japan hiking the Kumano Kodo and parts of the Nakasendo Trail. Japan has now taken the lead for the best country I’ve ever visited. Japanese cuisine has always been my favorite, and getting to eat all over Honshu was an unbelievable treat. The Japanese way of life is so appealing, and the people are so kind, peaceful, and courteous. And speaking of people, my last night in Tokyo was the highlight of my trip!
I got to hang out and have dinner with three other GDA alums: Akinobu Sato, Katsutaka Ishida, and Kenichi Mizutani. I hadn’t seen these guys since our days as teenagers back in Byfield. It was absolutely incredible to catch up with them. We went restaurant-hopping, and spent the night laughing and swapping stories about our days back at GDA. They are all doing great now, and are family men living in and around Tokyo. Of all the rad things I got to do in Japan, this was by far the coolest! Being able to reconnect with my Govs fam in such a beautiful place like Tokyo....it’s something I will cherish and remember for a very long time. And I will definitely be returning to Japan to meet up with these guys sometime in the future!
That’s it for now. I hope everyone is happy and healthy, and I’m greatly looking forward to seeing everyone back in Byfield for our 30th in June!
’01 REUNION
Caitlin Haire Caitlin.haire@outlook.com
Class of 2001, hope everyone has been well! I was lucky enough to be on campus this past spring for an event. It was so fun seeing all the kids enjoying those nice spring days and the extended sunshine into the evening. Definitely one of the moments that totally brought me back. Back in the real world, I’m kicking off summer with my fourand six-year-old boys – my oldest just wrapped up kindergarten! I had a great double date with Tiana Rick (Grasso) and her husband a few weeks back and we were already
Left: Sung An ’95 and Jason Greenberg ’96 · Center: Katie Renna Hajjar ’96 and Kate Manzella ’96 · Right: GDA Tokyo–Scotty Coulon ’96, Akinobu Sato ’95, Katsutaka Ishida ’95, Kenichi Mizutani ’96
talking about our reunion next year! So, mark your calendars now.
In class news, Beth DePratto Johnson shared the great honor of being inducted this spring into the Govs Sports Hall of Fame and that she’s looking forward to seeing many familiar faces. This is well deserved! While at school, Beth powered the girls’ hockey team to their first two New England Tournament appearances and their first-ever wins over Brooks and BB&N and served as captain during her senior year. After Govs, Beth was a pioneer in one of the first iterations of women’s professional hockey, the Women’s National Hockey League. She scored 143 points in 170 career games for the Axion de Montreal and the Ottawa Raiders and was named a league all-star in the 2005–2006 season. In addition, she organizes opportunities to keep adults active, founding both a learn-to-play women’s sports program and an adult pickleball league. So impressive, Beth! Your 2001 classmates are SO proud, cheering you and sending congratulations from afar!
Meanwhile, Ben Mitchell moved back home from Miami after eight and a half years to be closer to family. He’s planning on relocating to NH or Boston and is currently in the interview process. Right now, he’s spending time with his family fishing and eating as much lobster and chowder as possible. He’s looking forward to reconnecting with everyone and settling back in here and sending my best! Until next time…take care, 2001.
’02
Rachel Grossman
rmanikian@gmail.com
Hello Class of 2002! Ben Bizier wrote, “I stopped coaching college baseball a little over two years ago and built my own Baseball Academy in Fort Myers, Florida. I have five kids now, ages 3–12. It’s a lot of work to say the least! We’re having fun though. I talk with Anthony Fleurival often, we remain very close. I also stay connected to Steve Georgoulis, I’m hoping to see him in a few weeks when I come to New York recruiting
for my PostGraduate team. I still follow a bunch of folks on social media, love seeing how you all are doing and wish everyone the best.”
Rachelle Borer’s update is “My husband Jon, daughter Izzy (9), and son Owen (4), and I are still living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. I’m busy growing my writing and editing business, Rewarding Revisions, so if you need help with any writing–from resumes and cover letters to business communications and social media content—I hope you will contact me! I’m still in close contact with Heather Jameson-Lyons, who I visited in Boston earlier this year, and I also attended the NYC launch of Alyson Gerber’s fifth novel! I hope everyone is doing well and adjusting to life in our forties :-)”
Last, but certainly not least, Ted Chen checked in! “Met up with Delia Cox in Tokyo after her ski trip in Hokkaido! Had sushi and sake dinner with my buddy from St George’s. Also, caught up with Yu Nakagawa ’00 over drinks in Shibuya. Come visit Japan and take
advantage of that cheap yen!”
Aside from hopes to one day make it to Japan, too, I also hope you all continue to be well, do well, and remain connected to GDA.
’03
Taso Kapernekas tkap07@gmail.com
Dan Guyton shares: Spent a lot of time skiing this winter...even got to see Lindsay and Lesley ’04 Clunie for some apres-ski one day! Hope everyone is doing well!
’05
Nicole Zografos nicolezografos@gmail.com
Hannah Sylvester ’05 celebrated her wedding in Jericho, Vermont
’06 REUNION
Emme Hughes m.esther.hughes@gmail.com
Caroline Turnbull Doran, Emme Hughes, Caroline de Lacvivier Johnson, Morgan Bradford Isard, Cameron Archibald Kinnally, and Mackenzie Pelletier Matt got together to celebrate Caroline Johnson’s birthday at the Myopia Hunt Club in Wenham, MA earlier this year.
’11 REUNION
’13 classnotes@govsacademy.org
Corie Grewal ’13 and Michael DuCharme ’14 were married
’14
Emilie MacDonald emiliemac95@gmail.com Lucy Purinton lcpurinton@gmail.com
Lauren Robinson shared: In September, dear friends and members of Govs classes of 2013, 2014, and 2015 gathered in Cape Elizabeth, Maine to celebrate the wedding of Hanna Condon and her Bates college sweetheart, Lucas Gillespie. Aisling Hegarty, Erin
Top row, left: At the Minnesota Twins/Boston Red Sox game in September 2024—Larry Lyons ’01, Heather Jameson-Lyons ’02, Derek Falvey ’01, Joe Fannon ’01, Chris Sayer and Rachel Sayer ’00 · Top row, right: Delia Cox ’02, Ted Chen ’02, and Yu Nakagawa ’00 together in Tokyo · Bottom row, left: Beth DePratto ’01 inducted into The Governor’s Academy Athletic Hall of Fame · Bottom row, center: John Schuster ’01, Caitlin Haire ’01, and Chris DeLisle ’01 at a Celtics game in December 2024 · Bottom row, right: Rachelle Borer ’02 celebrates the launch of Alyson Gerber’s ’02 newest book, The Liars Society: A Risky Game
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
CLASS NOTES DEADLINE
Please send your news and updates for each issue before the deadlines below to either your class secretary or classnotes@govsacademy.org.
Spring issue: January 15, 2026 Fall issue: June 15, 2026
CLASS NOTES GUIDELINES
McDavitt, Lauren Robinson, and Virginia Durkin were bridesmaids. We had a great time celebrating together and exchanging cherished memories of Byfield days.
’16 REUNION
’18
Ene Owoeye waterstos@gmail.com
Justin Reed Momah shares: I recently moved to Washington, DC with my dog Prince and it’s been a refreshing shift—new energy, new people, and a lot of growth all around. I’m still working at UPS as a project manager and network engineer, leading operational changes across the east —mainly optimizing logistics with a touch of
finance. On top of that, I recently started my MBA at Howard University, focusing on hospitality and music business. It’s been a challenge, but it’s helped me build some solid momentum toward the next chapter of my career. I also took on a new role at Ned’s Club, a private members club in DC, where I’m part of the guest experience and events team. It’s given me a creative outlet to connect with people and tap into the hospitality world—something I’ve always been drawn to. Outside of work and school, I’ve been making music, DJing with my roommate, snowboarding a ton, and curating group trips to festivals like Tomorrowland and Ultra. Mainly trying to build experiences that bring people together around music, culture, and good energy. Would love to hear what everyone else has been
up to—don’t be a stranger, and hit me if you’re ever in DC! Much love, JReed
’20
classnotes@govsacademy.org
Tianyu Fang shares: Since graduating college I’ve been living in the city of San Francisco. In September I visited Treasure Island, an artificial island between San Francisco and Oakland, originally built for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, with fellow Bay Area resident Xixi Jiang ’17. We walked around the island, tasted wine at what used to be the naval station’s kitchen, and visited a local motorcycle shop.
’21 REUNION
Governor’s, The Archon magazine, may edit class notes for clarity and brevity, and to match the magazine’s editorial style. Class secretaries may also choose to edit submissions. To respect the privacy of our alumni, we do not publish engagement or pregnancy announcements. Wedding and birth announcements will continue to be featured in class notes and photos. These notes are intended for The Governor’s Academy and are not to be used elsewhere.
Top left: Julie Ogden P’19, Hannah Sylvester ’05, Pat Fahey, David Abusamra P’93 and Faculty Emeritus, Steve Ogden P’19 and Faculty, and Caroline Ott ’05 at Hannah’s wedding in Jericho, VT · Top right: Classmates celebrating the birthday of Caroline Johnson ’06 · Middle left: Apres ski with Lindsay Clunie ’03, Lesley Clunie ’04, and Dan Guyton ’03 · Middle right: Govs attendees at the wedding of Corie Grewal ’13 and Michael DuCharme ’14 · Bottom, L to R: Corie Grewal ’13, Erin McDavitt, Virginia Durkin, Alessandra Brown, Mackenzie Cormier, Hanna Condon, Patrick Farrell, Lauren Robinson, Aisling Hegarty, Alex Curran Cardarelli, Garth Robinson ’15 and Michael Ducharme
In Memoriam
1948
William G. Lindquist
July 11, 2024
1950
Richard H. McCoy
November 4, 2024
Marc am Rhein
September 16, 2024
Robert W. Squire
October 27, 2024
1952
Franklin E. Huntress, Jr.
July 4, 2024
Donald N. Rice
April 5, 2025
1953
William R. Plumer
December 16, 2024
Harvey L. Towvim
January 12, 2024
1954
John S. Andrew
October 16, 2024
Robert L. Fish
June 27, 2024
1955
D. Anthony Marquis
March 1, 2025
Bernard Michals
March 23, 2023
Huntington Blatchford
June 23, 2025
1956
Clark G. Duncan
December 30, 2024
1957
Lyman A. Cousens III
April 24, 2025
1958
Charles M. Carroll June 1, 2025
1959
Louis L. Frierson
August 20, 2024
1960
Richard S. Benner June 7, 2024
Franklin Lawrence II September 8, 2023
1961
George M. Hawkins
December 5, 2024 1962
Peter T. Butler
March 31, 2025
Robert H. Michel
February 4, 2025
James B. Moore, III
March 13, 2025
Anthony D. Whittemore
August 14, 2024 1963
David N. Hilgendor
April 12, 2025
Donald S. Balser
June 10, 2025
Brian Merry June 7, 2025
Richard M. Brayton
July 25, 2024
Richard A. Jensen
March 15, 2025 1968
S. Dennison Keeeney
October, 2024
Steven W. Levings
Robert L. Platt
December 27, 2024
George S. Wagner July 11, 2024
1971
Brad L. Young March, 2025
1972
Henry B. Cabot III June 9, 2024
Robert A. Ya e
February 12, 2025
1973
January 3, 2025 1970
Michael Balf
October 3, 2024
William J. Connelly III Februaray 6, 2025
Timothy M. McLellan
January 30, 2025
David C. Bell
September 15, 2024
John Kent August 20, 2024 1983
Peter A. Riley
May 28, 2025
1985
Michael H. Redgate
December 3, 2024
Michael J. Terrile
June 18, 2025
1987
Susan K. Brackbill
August 1, 2024
1992
Mark D. Capuano
April 25, 2025
Melanie Rae Robinson
October 18, 2024
2004
Brian W. Gallagher
March 22, 2025
2009
Ryan M. Leavitt
January 12, 2025
2010
Eli J. Robinson
April 30, 2025
Faculty/Staff
Richard Leavitt
Faculty Emeritus P’82,’84
June 21, 2025
