V E R MO N T AC A D E M Y

LIFEWinter 2011

CELEBRATING SCIENCE>

BOARD OF TRUSTEESSteven E. Karol ’72, Chairman

Michael A. Choukas ’73, P ’94, Vice-Chairman

Col. Richard I. Stark, Jr. ’74, Secretary

Chris Cota ’66, Treasurer

Linda Aitken, P ’11

Corina Luther Belle-Isle ’80

Mark Candon

Stuart Eisenkraft ’74

Penny Gendron, P ’10, ’12

Michael Gerity ’84

Anne Herbert, P ’99

Penny Horowitz, P ’98

Reverend Peter Howe, P ’07, ’10

Timothy Lord ’69, P ’05, ’10

Donald G. McInnes ’59

George P. Moser, Jr. ’48, P ’79

Marvin S. Neuman, P ’03

David E. Robinson ’77

Kevin J. Seifert ’80

S. Tylor Tregellas

Andrew Ward ’93

EMERITUS TRUSTEESRobert M. Campbell ’37, P ’65,’68,’70 (2),’80, ’82

W. Gene Hays Jr. ’55

Wentworth Hubbard, P ’80 

Hugh Pearson ’54

HEADMASTER EMERITUS | Mr. Michael Choukas Jr. ’46, P ’73

HEAD OF SCHOOL | Sean P. Brennan

EDITOR | Maryann McArdle

CONTRIBUTORS | Brant Nelson, Joe Echanis ’79, Maryann McArdle,

Conor McArdle ’06, Christine Armiger, Ross Levanthal ’86, Chris Cota ’66

CLASS NOTES EDITOR | Ella McIntosh ’86

DESIGN | Square Spot Design

PHOTOS | Conor McArdle ’06, Maryann McArdle, Pam Nelligan,

Jacob Marmor ’12, Thom Collins, Christine Armiger, Joe Echanis ’79,

Mark Ragonese

ON THE COVER | Photo of the Orion Nebula taken with the Hubble

Telescope. See page 3 for related article.

Vermont Academy Life is published two times a year by Vermont Academy,

Saxtons River, VT. Vermont Academy Life reserves the right to edit all material

that it accepts for publication. Please email submissions, letters, and comments to

valife@vermontacademy.org. Fax (802) 869-6268, or mail to Managing Editor,

Vermont Academy Life, P.O. Box 500, Saxtons River, VT 05154-0500.

By providing a supportive community and close personal attention to

its students, Vermont Academy develops confident, active learners and

respectful citizens.

802 .869.6200 | WWW.VERMONTACADEMY.ORG

Vermont Academy

03SHRINE TO THE STARSA look at the VA Observatory and thehistory of astronomy at the school.

07

FACULTY PROFILEWhy VA biology teacher, Thom Collins, passes outpens, paper and termites on the first day of class andhow this reflects his unique teaching style.

CONTENTS

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FROM GARBAGE TO GARDENHow Vermont Academy students are keeping waste out of the landfill and learningto grow organic food in the process.

BRINGING GREEN DESIGN TO A NEW LEVELRoss Levanthal ’86 discusses sustainable building design.

02 head of school’s letter

19 va news

21 alumni news

22 class notes

33 in memoriam

37 2010 alumni event highlights

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ROBOTICS AT VAThe robotics programs are part of a new push to

make Science, Technology, Engineering, andMathematics a highlight of the VA curriculum.

This issue of VA Life is focused on the teachers and curricular initiatives of our

stellar science department. Future engineers and doctors are challenged by our

rigorous offerings, while those who are less confident in scientific pursuits find

our hands-on approach engaging and rewarding. Walking around the science

classrooms of Fuller Hall, I am amazed with what I see: students in lab coats

immersed in Ms. Parkhurst’s organic chemistry class; a “crime scene” cordoned

off by Mr. Collins to put real-life application into his biology class; Lego robots

moving around, programmed by students in Mr. Echanis’s robotics physics class;

and students returning from a forestry audit in Ms. Armiger’s environmental

science class.

When I speak to VA alumni, they often remember, with great fondness, the science

courses that they were fortunate enough to take while here. Comments abound

about Mr. Frey making them have to think their way through a problem over the

course of an entire semester. While the American population has lost a step or

two in the areas of math and science relative to other parts of the world, you

would not know that here at VA. Our students are continually striving to do

more and learn more.

So how do we make that happen here in rural Vermont? It starts with great

teachers who are inspired to make their students learn by doing. As you will see

in the following articles, we have our own observatory with multiple telescopes.

Dr. Nelson’s astronomy class does not merely look at photographs of the heavens;

they get out there and investigate with their own eyes. Our robotics class recently

travelled to Tufts University to continue the relationship we have developed with

the Tufts robotics program, and two teams of architecture students presented

design proposals for our future maintenance building, with impressive CAD

drawings and 3-D models.

One need only look to Florence Sabin, class of 1888, to see Vermont Academy’s

strong ties to high-level scientific pursuit. The namesake of our distinguished

alumni award, the Sabin Award, was an intellectual leader in the scientific

community. She eventually graduated from Johns Hopkins University medical

school, where one of the four colleges of the medical school is named for her.

Her work with the lymphatic system and tuberculosis was cutting edge in her

time. I am sure she would be amazed with all that our current students are

doing while standing on her strong shoulders.

I hope you enjoy this glimpse into our science program. Please take the time

to check out our website (www.vermontacademy.org) to investigate further. Better

yet, come see us in person. I know you will be impressed with our teachers

and curriculum!

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h | l head of school’s letter

Sean Brennan heading to Okemo on Head of School Day with VA students

Steven Tabor ’12 and Fred Farmer ’11.

facebook.com/vermontacademy

youtube.com/user/myvermontacademy

flickr.com/photos/vermontacademy

twitter.com/VermontAcademy

www.vermontacademy.org

Check it out online!

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Read more about the robotics programs at VA on page 14.

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Farther down Shepard Lane than most students,faculty, or coaches ever venture, something unusualis happening. A modest-looking shack, which couldeasily be a sugar house from its rustic look, suddenlyseems to start splitting in two. The roof is slowlymoving toward the west onto some rails on the top ofa wooden frame connected to the shack. Is it somestrange sculpture or artwork? Maybe a greenhouse?Or could it actually be a sugar house? Well, actually,it’s none of the above. Welcome to the VermontAcademy Observatory.

Written by Dr. Brant NelsonCurrent Faculty

Shrine to the Stars

>

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“I didn’t know VA had an observatory!” is the most common reaction, followedby “Where is it?” VA’s observatory is at the end of the practice football field onthe right, after Shepard Lane turns to dirt. It’s located directly across from NewHouse, the current residence of Jim and Laura Frey. Give yourself a good 15 minutesfrom the Long Walk to trek over there—more, if you do it in the dark. But definitelygo when it is open, as the sights there are unparalleled in scope.

Any kind of astronomy program is a rare commodity at the high school level,and certainly high schools with an observatory are few in number. However,Vermont Academy has a strong and solid connection to the heavens in twowidely different ways.

Primarily through the efforts of Russell Williams Porter,VA Class of 1891 and recipient of the Florence SabinAward, this area of southeastern Vermont is well knownin amateur astronomy circles as the birthplace of amateurtelescope making, and arguably of amateur astronomy ingeneral. The yearly astronomy convention in Springfield,known as Stellafane (from Latin, “shrine to the stars”), wasstarted in 1923. It brings in a few thousand participantsfrom all over the world with its legendary pink clubhouseand oddly designed Porter Turret Telescope. Significanthistorical displays at the nearby Hartness House are enduring tributes to Russell Porter.

Often described as an arctic explorer, Porter took part in a number of expeditionsto Greenland, Baffin Island, and Rudolph Island, where he made astronomicalobservations, did surveying work, and painted watercolor renditions of the icylandscapes. Later, Porter’s work at a Springfield engineering firm and as a professorof architecture at MIT, and his publication of a classic series of articles in ScientificAmerican on telescope making, attracted the notice of George Ellery Hale.

Hale recruited Porter to work on the design of what was to become the largesttelescope in the world, the 200-inch telescope on Palomar Mountain in southernCalifornia. Porter’s meticulously detailed cut-away drawings of the telescope andassociated mechanics were described as crucial to the completion of the telescopethat saw its “first light” in 1948.

On a much smaller scale, the VA Observatory, built in 2004, was used onlysporadically by a physics class and by a local astronomy club in Chester until the

fall of 2009. Arriving for the 2009-2010 school year, Dr. Brant Nelson (BA, WilliamsCollege, 1987; PhD, UCLA, 1996) made it his goal to revitalize use of the observatoryand bring his love of observational astronomy not only to the students of VermontAcademy but also to the surrounding community. Primarily an upper-level mathteacher (precalculus and AP calculus), Nelson also teaches one section of a full-yearastronomy course, where he shares his experience doing active astronomicalresearch and being on the data analysis and scheduling teams for the 2-MicronAll-Sky Survey (2MASS) and the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Nelson is most at home in the observatory, though. It houses two main telescopes,a Celestron 11-inch and a Meade 10-inch. (Telescope sizes are given as the diameterof their main lenses or mirrors.) Both are computer controlled, the Celestronmore so. Once its GPS locks in and the telescope operator sets it up to focus onthree stars at the beginning of the night, the telescope can automatically slew toany object in the sky at the touch of a button.

Setting up for an observing session involves moving the roof completely off the mainpart of the building by means of a simple electric winch. Unlike the more familiardomed roofs, a roll-off roof provides complete access to the entire sky at once and aquicker adaptation to falling nighttime temperatures. This kind of enclosure is alsomore crowd-friendly: as people line up to see through the telescopes, the instructorcan be showing them naked-eye sights such as constellations.

In the past year and a half, Nelson has led student lab projects and public viewingnights at the observatory. During the summer of 2010, he and Jill Newton of MainStreet Arts led a well-attended series of Tuesday night observing sessions, tappinginto the natural curiosity the general public has about stars, planets, and thenight sky.

Astronomy is one of the easiest and most fascinating science hobbies to get into,as all it requires at a basic level is simple observation. With even modest equipment,an observer can see examples of every main type of object out there, from starclusters to nebulae to galaxies. It’s about as “popular” as a science as can be, inthe sense of being available to anyone.

A second connection VA has with the sky beyond Earthcomes through another alum and Sabin Award–winner,George Cheney, VA Class of 1948. As a senior staff engineer at Perkin-Elmer and later at Hughes Optical,he was part of the team responsible for constructing themain mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).

In October of this year, Nelson and Cheney had a chance to talk at VA about HSTand astronomy in general. Largely forgotten now, the initial focusing problems

vermont academy 5

Telescope drawing by Russell Porter,VA Class of 1891.

HST had were traced to a piece of testing apparatus little more than a millimeterout of alignment that caused the mirror to be ground incorrectly. It was big newsat the time, in 1990, and Nelson couldn’t resist asking Cheney whether gettingthe call that there was something wrong with the telescope was the worst day ofhis life. A slight shake of the head and a sincere chuckle spoke volumes.

But then the corrective optics were flown by the space shuttle to HST in 1993,making a dramatic improvement and demonstrating the power of a telescopeflown above Earth’s turbulent atmosphere. Perhaps even more than whenGalileo first pointed a simple telescope at the sky 400 years ago, HST opened upnew vistas on the universe. And it generated some of the most iconic images ofthe 20th century, renowned for their beauty as well as their science.

Cheney, currently of Walpole (very close to Burdick’s, he added), spoke fondlyof his years at Vermont Academy, and said he was fascinated by how far amateur telescopes have come since Russell Porter’s time. Nelson described how amateurscan nowadays actually perform cutting edge research and even collaborate withprofessional astronomers in many different areas.

Citizen Sky, a subdivision of the American Association of Variable Star Observers(AAVSO) based in Boston, offers such opportunities. For example, althougheclipses of the star Epsilon Aurigae happen every 27 years, professional astronomersstill don’t know their exact cause; so the AAVSO has called upon amateur astronomers worldwide to monitor the current eclipse. In trying to bring asmuch hands-on observing experience to his students as possible, Nelson will incorporate this as well as some of Citizen Sky’s other observing projects into his classes. Both Nelson and Cheney are very excited about the opportunity ourstudents here at VA have to take part in this active exploration.

“Essentially, my preference would be to have every one of my astronomy classesin the observatory on every clear night with all the kids using telescopes as muchas possible,” Nelson added. “This is how I grew up in rural Maine, and I think I washooked on astronomy as soon as I could identify a few constellations and thePleiades. I knew right then I was destined to be an astronomer. I just never suspected I’d end up teaching it instead of doing research!”

Nelson is grateful to have found his way to a place as steeped in astronomical historyas Vermont Academy is, and a place where he can do exactly what he wants to.“If I can accomplish one thing here at VA, it would be to continue to popularizeastronomy, much as Russell W. Porter did, in combination with performing somereal science,” he said. Public outreach, a key component of his goals, will be steppedup from last year. A night with the Compass School is planned, and the telescopeswill be open to all on every clear Saturday night for the rest of the school year.

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Dr. Nelson would love to hear from you should you decide to visit the VA Observatory, and he is always willing to plan special events for groups. You may contact him at bnelson@vermontacademy.org.

Visit the VA Observatory!>

va

“If I can accomplish onething here at VA, it would be

to continue to popularize astronomy, much as Russell

W. Porter did, in combinationwith performing some

real science.”

DR. BRANT NELSON:

This is a favorite opening lab for Thom Collins, a biology teacher in his second yearat Vermont Academy. “Termites follow pen ink because it contains a molecule thatmimics a trail-following hormone they make. So instead of beating students overthe head on the first day with policies and vocabulary, I throw them in there onday one with the termites and hope they’ll discover the phenomenon on theirown.” By encouraging students to make this discovery right from the start,Thom hopes to ignite their excitement about science in general.

Having previously taught at two very high-pressure suburban public highschools, Thom has settled happily into the culture of Vermont Academy, whichhe describes as “an honest and humane way to educate.” During his first year atVA, Thom’s methods and enthusiasm were embraced quickly by the community.In fact, at year’s end he was rewarded with VA’s prestigious Donald BrodineAward for excellence in teaching.

“At my previous schools, test scores drove everything—the curriculum, the wayclasses were taught. It polarized the school. The high-scoring kids did well, butthe middle-of-the-road students were left behind. Programs were in place tosupport kids, but they were really only lip service. Parents only wanted teachingmethods that would guarantee high test results.”

For Thom, this culture of pressure got in the way of parent-teacher relationships,and he didn’t feel it was fair to the students. “It set up a dynamic where studentsapplied to colleges that were completely inappropriate because the high-endkids were doing it. It was peer pressure. They wouldn’t get accepted, and thenthey felt bad about themselves.”

vermont academy 7

Written by Maryann McArdleDirector of Communications

f | p

Imagine for a moment that you are a young biology student,nervously settling in to your first lab of the semester. Your teacherarrives and begins the session—not by detailing class expectationsor by handing out a syllabus for the year, but by passing out pensand paper and…termites.

faculty profile:thom collins

Thom finds VA’s approach to learning and the college process a refreshing change.“At VA, kids know themselves. They know their strengths and weaknesses. Theyapply to a particular college because it’s the right place for them.”

As a result of this more individualized approach to education, Thom also feelsmore comfortable straying from his prescribed syllabi than he did in his formerschools. “We’re not so married to the idea of preparing for standardized testshere. At my old schools, we used to basically shut down two weeks before theSAT II and review. It wasn’t because the students were particularly interested inbiology. It was because they wanted another SAT II score on their transcript, andit needed to be high.”

Thom enjoys the prospect of getting off on an occasional tangent in class. “It’seasy to get caught up in your curriculum and have your courses on autopilot forthe year. But sometimes a kid asks a question and it’s like an epiphany. You say toyourself, ‘This kid gets it!’ You don’t want to belittle the question by then saying,‘Oh, but we don’t have time for this right now,’ so, boom—you’re gone. Thehands go up and there’s a dialogue back and forth between the students. It canbe highly Socratic. It can also be frustrating knowing you’ve one less day to coverthe necessary material, but in reality students will wind up remembering thisexchange when they graduate, not what was on page 56 of Chapter 4.”

Sometime these detours from Thom’s lesson plans can be driven by everydayevents. He and his partner, David, have raised chickens for meat over the pastfew years, and when they received their 32 chicks at the beginning of last April,they considered where they might begin to raise them. “I thought of the classroom, but I wanted there to be a specific reason for having them thereother than just because there was enough room. As a class, we came up with the idea of looking at it as an experiment, and tried to think of something thatwouldn’t harm the chicks.”

The class agreed to feed 16 of the chickens organic feed while 16 of them wouldget commercial, corn-based chicken feed. The chickens were allowed to eat adlibitum—as they desired—and the class measured and tracked the mass of eachgroup every day. They created a data table and graphs, and the acquired informa-tion eventually found its way onto their final exam. The students had originallytheorized that the organic feed would be better for the birds and thus encouragemore growth. But they found that the commercial feed allowed the chickens togrow bigger faster.

“The kids were indignant. They’ve always heard that organic was better, which intheir minds meant that the chickens would get bigger by eating organic feed. Butobviously, nonorganic chicken feed is produced to make chickens grow biggerfaster. Bigger chickens equal more meat, more money. But they’re not necessarilymore healthy.”

The chicken experiment was a great way to bring real life into the classroom in ascientific way. “The variables were controlled: light, water, heat—everything was

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Thom finds VA’s approach tolearning and the college

process a refreshing change.“At VA, kids know themselves.They know their strengths and

weaknesses. They apply to aparticular college because it’s

the right place for them.”

Thom receives the Brodine award from last year’srecipient, VA English teacher, Meg Bonney.

the same except for the food. Kids think research in science is something that isvery sophisticated and that you need tons of equipment and a million dollars. Butit’s easy to set up a simple, well-controlled experiment.”

Thom believes igniting his students’ interest in science is crucial to their abilityto function as responsible, informed adults. “This may sound like a conspiracytheory, but corporations and governments and pretty much anybody can pull thewool over your eyes unless you have the ability to think critically. Science issupposed to teach you to do this. Without a science education, you can be lied to.”

One of his students demonstrated his critical thinking skills after asking Thomabout reading he had done recently on Omega 3 (beneficial) and Omega 6 (harmful)fatty acids. “He read that animals fed on corn manufactured Omega 6 acids whilethose fed grass made Omega 3 acids. He understood that this also translated intothe meat that came to the table. His next question was, ‘Where does the food inour dining hall come from?’ I said, ‘I’ll be honest with you. I can pretty muchguarantee that most of the meat comes from corn-fed animals; the reason why isthat it’s less expensive. You know, there’s always many ways to look at an issue.’We talk to students a lot about the cultural and environmental benefits of raisingcrops and animals organically, but there’s a molecular benefit too. Your cellmembranes are healthier if you’re getting those Omega 3 acids.”

Thom feels that diversifying VA’s science curriculum is a way to develop morestudent interest. “Lots of people assume, okay, Vermont, the Green Mountain

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Thom’s students weigh the chicks as part of an experiment involving organic and commercial, corn-based chicken feed.

State. You were green before green was cool—and we do have a strong environ-mental program here. But you need to have a diverse science curriculum to catchkids somewhere on the spectrum. We could expand our chemistry and biologyofferings and gravitate toward medical stuff. For instance, the addition of ouranatomy and physiology class excites kids—it hooks them in. One of the mostreliable industries for job growth is in nursing, physical therapy, occupationaltherapy, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants. If we’re not preparing kidsfor these jobs, we’re doing them a disservice.”

As passionate as Thom is about his teaching, he may be even more so about hispursuits outside of the classroom. Thom started Vermont Academy’s first crewteam last spring, and his enthusiasm for the sport has captured the community’sattention. When asked how he became interested in rowing, Thom says, “I camefrom a hockey family. I was kind of the black sheep because I was never good atit. I played because I thought it would please my dad. When I got to high school,I decided to branch out and try my own thing. I tried some cross-country runningand racquetball, but when I got to college, a friend said let’s go check out crew. Ireally didn’t know what it was about, but we went to the meeting and everyoneseemed cool. I went to a practice and picked it up easily and was successful at it.I had never been successful at a sport before. It was a godsend. I was hooked. I hadnever fit in with the Uber macho jock mentality of hockey, football, or baseball, andI figured I was just a dork and would never be good at sports. But when I got tocrew, everyone seemed like a misfit. They were unbelievable athletes, but theyhad been marginalized from traditional sports.I felt like crew attracted a gentler,smarter type of athlete.”

Thom continued to row after college and eventually was asked to substitute as acoach. Once he began coaching, he viewed rowing from another angle. “Coachingimproved my own rowing. When I saw other people’s mistakes and was able tocorrect them, my own rowing took off.” Eventually, coaching crew became hisown form of competition. “I can out-coach a lot of coaches out there. I have a firmhand but I’m supportive. My true talent lies in coaching. I can take those misfitsand kick the crap out of everybody.” One of the founding crew team members,sophomore Garrett Kogel, agrees. “He makes sure we do it right every day. Hehelps us to work our hardest, and if we’re not, he pushes us a little more. He’s apositive thinker.” In addition to sculling and crew, Thom also coaches the JVgirls’ hockey team.

So after 20 years of teaching and coaching, Thom just may have found his perfectfit at Vermont Academy. “I often think of VA as a school filled with solid, blue-collarkids. Obviously, I don’t mean blue-collar socioeconomically, but more like atestament to their work ethic and their acceptance of responsibility. Oh, there’sa few shining stars out there that are really smart and will go to Ivy Leagueschools, and there’s a few that have yet to catch on to what we’re trying toachieve here, but basically it’s a place that is filled with good, solid, hardworkingkids.” Luckily for us, they have one heck of a role model to follow in Thom.

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Check it out online! To watch the crew team in action, go to

www.vermontacademy.org/newcrew

Thom at practice on the Connecticut River.

VA rowers at Head of the Fish regatta on October 30, 2010.

Before I started teaching at Vermont Academy, I spent my summers working with

Mayan subsistence farmers in southern Belize. In the mountain villages, where

there are no grocery stores or farm equipment, most food is grown, harvested, and

eaten all within the same small community. Soil is gold. If you take care of it, your

family eats. If it is lost, there’s no bringing it back.

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How Vermont Academy Students Are KeepingWaste Out of the Landfill and Learning toGrow Organic Food in the Process

To Garden From Garbage...

>

Written by Christine Armiger Director of Vermont & Environs

My experience living with the Mayan farmers led me to a masters thesis involvingsustainable agriculture and my fascination with closed-loop (i.e., no waste)ecological systems. Thanks to Jim Frey ’66, last year I was able to present my research on behalf of VA at a national conference cosponsored by the Society forConservation Biology. As often happens at these kinds of events, I started talkingto other enthusiastic teachers and researchers and suddenly asked myself whywe couldn’t apply these concepts right here at Vermont Academy.

Every day the dining hall at VA prepares three meals for students, faculty, andemployees. At every meal, we throw approximately 15 to 20 gallons of food wasteand paper towels into the garbage. What if all of that stuff could be turned intocompost…which could be used to fertilize gardens…which could producefood…and be used for a whole host of teaching opportunities?

In the fall of 2009, under the new leadership of Sean Brennan, we began Stage 1 ofthe “Garbage to Garden” experiment. Our new composting system was constructedon the road leading out to Bancroft Field Buckets of food waste were reroutedfrom the dumpster to three wood-and-chicken-wire bins. With the help ofathletic director Mike Atkins, each sports team contributed one practice sessionper semester to do the work of turning the piles in order to accelerate decom-position. One year later, students in the environmental science classes collected data on the project and determined that in the fall of 2010 alone, we converted approximately 4,000 gallons of food waste into rich, dark compost for our gardens.

Stage 2 (“from garden to table”) of the experiment began to develop aftertrustee/alumnus Stu Eisencraft ’74 and his wife, Marilyn Hoffman, connectedwith the Brennans over a Trustees’ Weekend. Marilyn saw the potential for foodto be worked into a whole academic curriculum. This might be easy to imagine ina biology class—where students could learn about seed germination and the soilnutrients that limit plant growth—but Marilyn envisioned connecting food tosubjects such as anthropology, political science, economics, history, and of coursechemistry—cooking food is chemistry!

That vision has become the long-term goal of this project. In the short term,Vermont Academy students will use their own compost to plant “three sisters”polycultures this spring—a lesson in anthropology, history, and ecology. TheIroquois traditionally planted corn, beans, and squash together because the corn,a staple food, tended to deplete the soil; but the beans replenished nitrogen in thesoil and used the cornstalk as a climbing structure; and the squash established adense network of leaves to shade out weeds and hold moisture in the soil, so thatlittle or no irrigation was needed.

Also this spring, students in the environmental issues analysis and architectureclasses will research and design a movable chicken coop (a.k.a. “chicken tractor”)to house our own free-range laying hens. Some of the chicks will be hatched in

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What if?

One yearlater...

“If there is one thing Ilearned from the Mayan

farmers in Belize, it is that soilis life. If there is one thing I

hope to teach my students atVermont Academy, it is that

life should not be wasted.”

CHRISTINE ARMIGER:

biology class, and the coop will be constructed by our students on Earth Day.The chickens will come to Vermont Academy at a time when commercial eggproduction has become an extremely controversial topic in public discourse.

In environmental studies classes, students explore how our concept of food haschanged from the living bodies of plants and animals to a commodity found at thegrocery store. They discuss how conventionally grown food is “cheap” largelybecause of oil-intensive monoculture production and government corn subsidies,but if the costs to human and environmental health were considered, we wouldall realize that our modern industrial food system is actually very expensive.

Last year two upperclass students got so fired up about the importance of sustainable food production that they helped to organize a Localvore Banquet,where nearly all items on the menu came from a radius of 30 miles or less.

Vermont is one of the most forward thinking states when it comes to food sustainability. Small organic farms and community supported agriculture projects(CSAs) abound. Right down the road from us, the Windham Farm and FoodNetwork is connecting local farmers to schools, and, thanks to the help of foodservice director Dave Lafave, Vermont Academy will be next to take advantage.

If we don’t understand where our food comes from, it’s hard to truly appreciateit. Composting, planting, harvesting, cooking—these things all take time and hardwork. Never in the history of humankind have we spent so little of them on ourfood, and never before have we felt less connected to the earth beneath our feet.

If there is one thing I learned from the Mayan farmers in Belize, it is that soil is life.If there is one thing I hope to teach my students at Vermont Academy, it is thatlife should not be wasted.

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Check it out online! To find out more about VA’s green initiative, go to www.vermontacademy.org/greenvava

Students turn the compost piles in order toaccelerate decomposition.

Helping to answer the perpetual question“When am I ever going to use this in thereal world?” Vermont Academy’s roboticsprograms are part of a new push to makeScience, Technology, Engineering, andMathematics (STEM) a highlight of ourcurriculum. Our school has always beenabout using hands-on learning to broadenstudents’ horizons and to challenge theirbeliefs. The robotics classes are a naturalextension of this approach to education.

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Roboticsat Vermont Academy

>

Written by Joe Echanis ’79, Current Faculty

I remember being in the VA classrooms as a student; there was always a bridgebetween the knowledge taught in the classroom and real-life experiences. In physics,generations of students have been finding the tallest place on campus to drop a ballso that they could find the most accurate calculations for acceleration due to gravity.In mathematics, they have been learning how to use a stick, an arm’s length, a tapemeasure, and the concept of similar triangles to determine the height of a tree.

Today in robotics classes, students learn how to create their own solutions to a givenproblem armed only with the engineering design process and their individualideas. The students become actively involved in their own education, managetheir time to meet deadlines, delegate responsibility, divide projects into smallercomponents, and quickly learn to work cooperatively as members of a team.They learn that failure is a key component to success, and that the best lessonslearned in life come from failure and figuring out what went wrong.

In Physics: Project Robotics, our students learn traditional Algebra 2–based highschool physics, but their labs are engineering projects that they design, build,program, and test. Advanced Physics: Robotics Software and Engineering is adesign engineering class. The students explore electrical, mechanical, software, andcontrol-system design. In the second semester, they focus more intensely on onespecific area of study. They are the engineering representatives for their chosendisciplines on future design projects. In addition to being evaluated for their individual contributions in their specified disciplines, they are also graded as a team.

An exciting outcome of these classes has been witnessing how hard our studentsbegin to drive their own education. I have never seen students take such an activeownership of their education, independently researching and understanding whatthey are attempting to do. They become so engaged in their work that they oftenhave to be reminded when it is time to leave after their free periods or at nightwhen they are working on projects. This enthusiasm and cooperative learning flowseamlessly into their other academic work. They are no longer afraid to fail and arealways working harder to understand problems and find creative ways to solvethem. Not surprisingly, the core of the Vermont Academy mission states that “Byproviding a supportive community and close personal attention to its students,Vermont Academy develops confident, active learners and respectful citizens.”

Vermont Academy science teacher, Joe Echanis ’79 and members of his AdvancedRobotics class recently traveled to Boston to work with students and faculty fromTufts University. The Vermont Academy / Tufts collaboration was initiated bySteve Karol ’72, Chair of the VA Board of Trustees and also Chair of the Tufts Schoolof Engineering Board of Overseers. VA's robotics program has been developedin close cooperation with, and facilitation from, the Tufts University Center forEngineering Education Outreach (CEEO). Through the CEEO at Tufts, and inconjunction with the LEGO Corporation, CEEO Director Chris Rogers, PhD, haspioneered the use of STEM through Lego robotics in K-12 and college curricula. VAstudents will continue to work with these pioneers and we hope soon to become aBeta test site for their latest versions of software prior to public release.

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Check it out online! Watch the robotics final at www.vermontacademy.org/curriculum

“An exciting outcome of theseclasses has been witnessinghow hard our students begin to drive their own education. I have never seen students takesuch an active ownership oftheir education, independentlyresearching and understandingwhat they are attempting to do.”

VA students Brian Schilling ’11 and TJ Yoon ’12work on a project at Tufts.

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The BeginningsI remember well my sophomore year geometry class at VAwith Mr. Webber. I had no idea that the assignment todraw an aerial view of a castle or build a model of my familyhouse would be so relevant to my future profession. I doremember, exactly, the rules of triangles, including SOH-CAH-TOA, 30/60/90, the “sweetest triangle youhave ever seen,” and of course the famous “one to one tothe square root of two” perfect isosceles triangle. Always,Mr. Webber’s teachings are with me, even 26 year later.

Architecture at NBBJIn 1998, I graduated from the University of Oregon with anMA in architecture and began work at NBBJ (www.nbbj.com),an architecture and design firm of around 700 people with10 offices worldwide. From my first day of work at NBBJ, Ihave had the opportunity to use my education and expressmy passion. That first project was a large Buddhist meetinghall in Taiwan, for which the client’s goal was to create anenvironmentally sensitive building that would be an example of sustainability to all the people of Taiwan. Thiswas only the first of many more projects for me at the firm.Meanwhile, the green building movement has picked upmomentum in the U.S. as well as in other markets whereNBBJ practices, such as China.

Sustainable Design The essence of sustainable design is to help create a futurefor our planet that is as good for our children’s children as itis for us. The recent history of the environmental movementand of sustainable design in architecture has been aboutreducing impact. Going to the next level of eliminatingthe negative impact on the planet is the future we are allstriving for in the architecture profession currently.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) isa green building rating system developed by the U.S. GreenBuilding Council. Projects qualify for different levels ofLEED certification based on points earned on sustainabledesign, construction, and operation features that promoteenergy efficiency and positive environmental qualities.

Designing a house that meets these goals is relativelystraightforward. Doing the same for an office building for3,000 employees, an apartment tower, or a hospital has manychallenges not encountered with single-family residentialprojects. Elevate this to a small city in an urban design effortand the challenges increase, but so do the opportunities.

NBBJ in ChinaIn 2005, I moved to Shanghai, China, to open NBBJ’s firstdesign studio in Asia. I lived there for three years andhelped to build an office of 30 people. I still travel to Chinaregularly for some projects, but am shifting my focus backto the U.S. market.

Projects:

Microsoft Asia R&D Headquarters, Beijing, PRC(People’s Republic of China)

In Beijing, we are developing a vertical campus of morethan one million square feet for 5,000 Microsoft employees.It is an R&D center in two towers, connected by a bridge

The Gates Foundationcampus in Seattle, to becompleted in 2011.

Ross Levanthal ’86Brings Green Design to a New Level

Written by Ross Levanthal ’86

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at the third level. Sustainability goals for this projectaimed at the LEED Silver level.

Access to daylight was a primary design goal. All privateoffices are pushed 35 feet from the windows, allowingworkstations in open areas to be flooded in natural daylight.Electric lighting is automatically dimmed based on exteriorlight levels. A high-tech double skin on the exterior of thebuilding reduces energy use by 50 percent compared tosimilar types of office buildings. Water collection andreuse, solar water heating, and efficient equipment, lighting,and fixtures round out this project’s sustainability story.

Gates Foundation Campus, Seattle, Washington

In Seattle, we are developing a campus for the GatesFoundation with similar strategies as those used for theMicrosoft Beijing campus in a warmer climate. With atarget of LEED Gold but a potential to reach LEED Platinum,this 900,000-square-foot campus has the potential to beone of the most sustainable large office projects developedin the U.S. Features include building form to enhance accessto daylight, a half acre of green roofs, water recycling of 1.2million gallons annually for nonpotable uses, and use oflocal and recycled construction materials.

Wangjing Gateway Master Plan, Beijing, PRC

Back in Beijing, we had the opportunity to develop avision for an area of Beijing soon to be accessed by theunderground metro. The master plan accounted for 14million square feet of civic, educational, cultural, office,and residential development as well as significant greenspace. This area was designed to have an estimated daytimepopulation of roughly 50,000 and a residential populationof 20,000. Sustainable strategies were executed at a largescale to envision a neighborhood connected with adjacentneighborhoods by a light rail. Other design features includeddistrict-level heating and cooling; building placement foroptimal solar orientation; a solar electric power plant; abiological sewage treatment plant; integrated green space;and urban agriculture.

The opportunities I have had as an architect working forNBBJ on challenging projects that try to envision a betterfuture for our planet have been very rewarding. It has alsobeen great to see the industry change as a result of theseideas moving from the fringe to the mainstream, and often being client driven. Perhaps someday my path willcross some of yours as I help to develop a green building somewhere on this planet.

NBBJ’s sustainably designed MicrosoftR&D center in Beijing.

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For anyone who doesn’t know, or maybe can’t remember,Fuller Auditorium is where Vermont Academy used to holdits morning meetings, ceremonies, and performances longbefore Choukas Theater in Horowitz Hall offered us, amongother things, the luxury of acoustical perfection, comfortablestadium seating, and an unobstructed view of the stage.Today, the original auditorium is no more, and the spacewhich used to house the entire VA community is betterknown as “the empty, high-ceilinged room with the hole inthe floor where a stage used to be, next to the new class-rooms on the second floor of Fuller Hall” (although I’d besurprised if anyone has ever actually called it that until now).

Joking aside, it strikes me as sad that most of our currentstudents probably don’t even know what’s behind thetwo oversized doors guarding the space within, and thatthe two beautiful stained-glass windows on the east-westaxis of the room are the hidden gems of the VA campus.Therefore, I believe some reminiscences of Fuller Auditorium are in order.

The bulk of my memories of the Auditorium involvemorning meetings. Students were assigned seating byclass, moving en masse annually from the back (as freshmen),to the right (sophomores), to the left (juniors), and finallyto the coveted senior section at the front of the room.Each year inevitably a few seniors in the center would haveto observe the stage from a seat positioned behind a white

load-bearing column with a diameter of at least 12 inches.The blue plastic-and-metal seats upon which we sat werenot comfortable, and would nearly collapse whenever astudent decided to lean back in that most classic of highschool relaxation moves.

But at least we had seats. The entire faculty had to stand,squeezing into the half-circle perimeter of the room. Theyformed a protective barrier through which no student couldenter or exit the Auditorium without alerting the faculty’sattention—undoubtedly encouraging students’ accountability.Those making announcements would line up on the left sideof the room, waiting for their turn to address the community.You could get a sense of how long the meeting would last bythe length of that line snaking slowly up the side.

Some of my most cherished memories of the Auditoriuminclude the time someone unleashed two greased, squealingpiglets into the room during morning meeting, and a noteclaiming that in fact three had been released. Screams, massconfusion, and panicky hog searching ensued. Or the candleshanging overhead in wagon wheels dripping burning hot waxonto our suits, dresses, and heads during the annual Candle-light Service. Then there was the time one of our mathteachers bounced up on the stage in a superman suit topromote an upcoming dodge ball tournament, all the whilebeing hammered with dodge balls from off stage. And ofcourse, a major onstage highlight was when our class president,Austin DeLonge ’06, perfectly nailed the climactic dancesolo from the movie Napoleon Dynamite, move for move.

There are many other memories and stories I could shareabout the Auditorium. My point is that Fuller Auditoriumat one time was considered legendary. It’s a shame thatthis space is now lost behind closed doors, and that thestories surrounding it are becoming less well known as theyears go by. But who’s to say that this has to happen? Thisspace has huge potential to be a useful, beautiful space oncampus, and it deserves a new name, a new role, and amakeover. I can imagine a new library or a quiet place tostudy, with the autumn sun pouring through the newlyrenovated stained glass. For the room formerly known asFuller Auditorium, the future could be bright indeed.

Written by Conor McArdle ’06

Fuller Hall Memories

More than 180 Vermont Academy students, faculty, andfriends braved the cold on November 1st to support OurPlace Drop-In Center, a food shelf in Bellows Falls, byparticipating in the first annual VA 5K Pumpkin Run.Equipped with the entry fee of at least one nonperishablefood item, the predominantly orange-and-black-clad runners competed on a very challenging course throughthe campus’s cross-country trails.

VA English teacher Eric Martinson won for the men witha time of 21:07. Junior Magdalene Blakeson won for thewomen with a time of 23:33. The first 85 finishers receiveda pumpkin pie baked by the VA dining hall for their efforts.This event brought the entire community together, got usout into the woods, “raised” more than 25 bags of groceriesfor Our Place, and was a whole lot of fun.

v | n va newsFirst Annual Pumpkin Run ROBERTA O’DONNELL DEPARTS

VA faculty and staff gathered at the Saxtons River Inn lastsummer to bid farewell to longtime Director of Alumniand Parent Relations Roberta O’Donnell. After 11 yearsas director, Roberta and her husband, Kevin, moved outof the area last fall and have resettled in the Waterbury,Vermont, area. Taking Roberta’s place as director is EllaMcIntosh ’86, pictured with Roberta, Tom Oxholm, andWendy and Sean Brennan.

Also new to the alumni/development office are LindsayMcFillin, Director of Annual Giving, and Meghan Flynn,Development Coordinator.

Lindsay joined the Development andAlumni Relations Office in the fall of2010. She graduated from Lehigh University with a BA in journalism and aconcentration in public relations and

nonprofit development. Over the years, Lindsay has workedin event fundraising for the National MS Society, as a con-ference and professional development planner throughoutNorth America, and more recently as the developmentmanager for a Web-based fundraising resource for U.S.classrooms. Lindsay lives with her partner, Jeff Dunbar ’91,right up the road from VA on Shepard Lane.

Meghan graduated magna cum laudewith a BA in psychology from DickinsonCollege, where she was fortunate enoughto study abroad in Australia for a semester.Returning to her roots in Norwich,

Vermont, last year, she worked at Dartmouth College in the Leadership Giving Office. During her free time,Meghan loves camping, kayaking, fishing, and spendingtime with her family and friends. She is living in Joneswith her fiance, VA math teacher Ryan Miklusak, and herAmerican bulldog, Odie, and is very excited about beinga member of the VA community.

Long-time development office assistant Carol Fullamalso departed last spring and moved closer to family inVirginia following the death of her husband, Don.

See more photos from the Pumpkin Run atwww.flickr.com/vermontacademy

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Some mornings you can wake up and really understandyou are receiving a gift. As I looked out at Saxtons River,the sun was rising over the fields at Vermont Academy,drying the morning dew in full pursuit of changing fromcrisp to warm… the kind of day you want to bottle so thatyou can revisit it on a cold winter’s day. You realize thatlife is good and you want to be “in the game.”

Saturday defined tradition here in Saxtons River…it wasthe official opening day for deer hunting…the localWomen’s Fellowship at Christ’s Church held their annualChristmas Bazaar featuring handmade crafts and food.

The traditional VA/KUA end-of-season football gamewould be played under the lights (6 pm) at KUA. Sue & Ihad committed to watching all our grandnieces and grand-nephews play on their respective sports teams. Thus, wescheduled a drive to KUA to complete our commitment.

As we left Saxtons River, the day’s temperature was retreating. The thermometer on the barn indicated a temperature of 46 (an interesting omen). I ran back tofetch a blanket-lined barn coat and ski gloves. We set out,arriving just before the 6:00 pm kickoff. In fact, I looked at my watch upon arrival—7 minutes before kickoff (a coincidence?).

Typical prep school football has very few fans in thestands. You see the parents, who march up and down thesidelines following the spot of the ball, as well as an oddassortment of students who are not obligated by othersports commitments. Why isn’t there a full student bodywatching this end-of-season finale between rivals???(There would be a strong contingent of VA students

appearing.) Tom Oxholm ’82 was there grilling burgers. Thetemperature had now fallen to 36…dew was settling ontothe bleachers, creating a frost covering. The air made yournose freeze. Thank goodness for a barn coat and gloves!

Obligation to family required viewing the start of the gamefrom the KUA sideline. As we looked across the field, smokerose from Ox’s grill…steam was rising from the players’breath…VA students were assembling along their sideline.VA’s side appeared louder…more supportive. The tempera-ture continued to fall but it seemed that VA was just gettingwarmed up. We were being tugged back to the VA side.

KUA had a formidable team…would VA be up to thetask? My hope was that VA would represent us withhonor (win or lose). The play was hard-nosed football. VAscored first. One could hear the excitement on the VAsideline. KUA came back to score, tying the game. It wastime to get back to the VA sideline. In passing I mentionedto a KUA parent, “It looks like we have a ballgame.”…Noreply…The KUA sideline was quiet…The cheering fromthe VA stands continued.

As Sue & I rounded the end zone, VA was marchingdown the field (which eventually ended in another score).We were met by Sean Brennan and two parents. Theywere so excited by the play of the team that handshakesdidn’t seem appropriate—only hugs would do. VA scored…the sideline was buzzing…fathers were shouting encourage-ment not only to their sons but to all players. KUA playerscould be seen getting rattled. They sensed that VA wantedthis game more than they did. They recognized who hadthe bigger heart this evening.

Halftime ended with time running out with VA insidethe KUA three-yard line. As the teams broke for halftimethe enthusiasm, the spirit, the intensity was on the VAside. Score: VA 13, KUA 7.

Building on their first-half success, VA went on to score 30more points in the second half while keeping KUA scoreless.

Final score: VA 43, KUA 7.Yes…some mornings you can wake up and understand

you are receiving a gift…some evenings as well. A traditionof winning has been re-established. You all would havebeen proud of these young men.

Carpe DiemWritten by Chris Cota ’66

Carpe Diem: Chris Cota ’66 Muses on a Satisfying Victory

Watch highlights of the game atwww.vermontacademy.org/football

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In the summer of 1968, Bernard Hoyes ’70, a Kingston, Jamaica native, joined Vermont Academy on a grantfrom the Ford Foundation to study with professionalartists in a Summer Arts program. Two years later,upon his graduation from VA, he received the FrederickStanley Art Award. Bernard continued his studies andearned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College ofArts and Crafts in Oakland, CA. After graduation, heset up a studio in San Francisco and became a full timeartist. He moved to Los Angeles and became an activemember and participant in many art organizations. Inthe 1970’s he formed the Caribbean Cultural Instituteand Caribbean Arts, Inc. to further expose Caribbeanculture to America.

a | n alumni newsTwo Alumni Receive Florence Sabin Award

Vermont Academy alumni Bernard Stanley Hoyes ’70 and Don Durkee ’43 were honoredwith the Florence Sabin Distinguished Alumni Award on Saturday, Oct. 2 in Nita ChoukasTheater in the Horowitz Performing Arts Hall. This award, named in honor of Florence Sabin,health pioneer and member of the VA Class of 1889, is given to VA’s most distinguishedalumni. Head of School Sean Brennan presented one award to Bernard Stanley Hoyes ’70.Don Durkee ’43 was unable to attend the ceremony.

Donald Durkee ’43 – “Fluffernutter” “Rice Krispy Treat”“Never Fail Fudge” – Household names to countlessfamilies across the United States and many parts of theWorld, and in our very own dining hall! On May 14,1920, 2 WWI veterans formed a partnership in themanufacture of Marshmallow Fluff. One of these menwas H. Allen Durkee, father of one of our VermontAcademy alumni, Donald Durkee ’43. Don took over thebusiness and made marketing Fluff a priority. DurkeeMower’s success has come from adhering closely to itstraditions and resisting offers to be purchased and assimilated into large conglomerates. As President,Don has been able to maintain his dedicated work force,expand production capacity and increase sales everyyear since 1982 – even during this latest recession.

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Class Volunteer: Richard W. Baldwin, 9 WoodsHole Road, Cranford, NJ 07016

Class Volunteer: J. Whitney Brown, 53 Conanicus Avenue, Apt 2G, Jamestown, RI 02835

Whit Brown wrote: “I think often about VA and my class-mates; still fantasize about meeting with those nearby butmy driving range gets less each year. We love where we areliving and any time spent with our four children, theirspouses, eleven grandchildren, their seven spouses, andthree great grandchildren. We keep busy with our reading,plays singing, and movie and painting groups.”

Class Volunteer: George W. Bentley,180 Main St., B106, Walpole, MA 02081,BBent88154@aol.com

Class Volunteer: Richard A. Leary, PO Box 518,New London, NH 03257; Edward W. Pearson,257 Old South Road, Litchfield, CT 06759,

edwardpearson@aol.com; R. Duke Powell Jr.,217 RivermeadRoad, Peterborough, NH 03458, dpowell@comcast.net

Don Linscott wrote: “I only attended VA from September1942 until January 31, 1943. I left to volunteer into the USArmy Ski Troops. I met Grace at the Winter Carnival in January 1943. We were married February 18, 1945. Shepassed away August 17, 2007 after 62 years of marriage. Ihave only been back to VA once, about 5 years ago passingthrough Saxtons River, I drove through the campus in thesummer. I really enjoyed my short stay. I have fond remem-brances of Larry Leavitt, Bob Marr, and Beano Tripp.”

Class Volunteer: Alexander M. Taft, 12 Governors Square, Peterborough, NH03458, ztetpet@aol.com

Class Volunteer: Franklin P. Jackson,120 Indian Trail, Scituate, MA 02066, fpjackson@comcast.net

Class Volunteer: William A. Reoch, PO Box 1184, Kennebunkport, ME 04046, reochwg@earthlink.net

Samuel Davis wrote: “August 26th my wife, Anne, and Icelebrated our 60th wedding anniversary. October 21stwe were visited by Alan Ardouin ’47 and his two daughters.We had not seen or heard from each other in 65 years, and

it was like our reunion was yesterday. Alan lived in Englandand came to this country during World War II to escapethe bombings.

Class Volunteer: Robert Taft, 105 KaufmannDrive, Peterborough, NH 03458

Robert Taft retired at the end of 2010. He has “threegrandchildren, who he hopes to spend more time with inthe coming years. ‘I want to travel and be able to spendsome time with my children and grandchildren. Meet newpeople, do different things.’” The full article on Bob Taft’sretirement is titled “After 50 years of law, Taft closing thebook,” which was published in Monadnock Ledger-Transcripton November 26, 2010.

Class Volunteer: Robert P. Scholl, 470 ParkRoad Extension, Middlebury, CT 06762, scholllaw@sbcglobal.net

Anthony Mahar wrote: Shirley and I travel often to connectwith family and friends, and meet new friends. I just returnedfrom a fantastic 55th reunion at Amherst College (May27-31, Class of 1954) – it was fabulous!! We enjoyedHeadmaster Jim Mooney’s reception (a few months ago)at The Ruins (a social club) in Seattle. He had done a wonderful job at VA – tough loss, but great service.

Dick Leary wrote: “It was a memorable 60th reunion.Great to see and reminisce with Bob Price, Tony Mahar,Joe Johnson, Bob Scholl and Joe Dean! VA put on an excellent reunion program!”

Bob Scholl, Joe and Phyllis Johnson, Dick and LindyLeary and Bob and Babe Price represented the class of’50 at their 60th reunion! We were amazed to the changesto the campus – wonderful! We heard good vibes about thenew Head of School, Sean Brennan – VA is in great hands!The few students that I spoke with seem like great kids; veryhigh regard for their education at VA! Seniors learn themelody and the words to the senior song, and keep it alivein their hearts and minds.

Robert Price wrote: My wife and I had a great time at thereunion in May. It was nice to hook up with Dick Leary, JoeJohnson, Tony Mahar, Joe Dean, and Bob Scholl. It wasfun to reminisce about the old days and to see many improvements to the school. Everyone should try to stop by and see it if you haven’t been back in a while.

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Class Volunteer: Robert B. Anderson, 345Westbrook Road, Dataw Island, SC 29920,rbanders@islc.net; Webster U. Walker Jr.,

210 Southport Woods Drive, Southport, CT 06890

CLASS OF 1951Our 60th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.Mark your calendars now!

Class Volunteer: Richard L. van Riper,67 Transylvania Road, Roxbury, CT 06783, vanriper@charter.net

Class Volunteers: W. Eugene Hays Jr., 104Cortland Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789; Donald B. Scholl, 895 Copes Lane, West

Chester, PA 19380

Robert Derrenbacker wrote: “Just celebrated my 50th reunion from Colgate University and it was VA that preparedthe way. VA made the difference in giving me that opportunity!”

Richard Parker wrote: I’m still working every day at the littlesilvershop.com and enjoying it. I’ve been at the samelocation now for 48 years creating gold and silver jewelry, alloriginal pieces. Check out our website and I photographedall the pieces with Doc. Bosworth’s initial help and havecontinued expanding my photographic horizon. After 55years since I graduated from V.A. I realize what a variedand excellent education was to be hade there with caringinstructors and small classes. Good luck to all who attendV.A. and may this tradition of excellence continue.

Class Volunteers: Peter Hickey Jr., 37153 South Desert Sun Drive, Tucson, AZ 85739, phickey37@juno.com; Frederic H.

Nichols, 1189 Harker Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, fnichols56@gmail.com

CLASS OF 1956Our 55th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011. Mark your calendars now!

Martin Hall wrote: “Attended my 50th college re-unionthis past spring at the University of New Hampshire – totallyretired and now living in our retirement home of 4 years onthe 18th fairway – lots of golf and skiing in our lives.”

Class Representative: Leslie B. Lewis,45 Laurel Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, badosanaa@aol.com; Robert D. H. Luke,

77 Hillside Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932

Don McInnes, 75 Waterside Avenue, Falmouth,MA 02540; Mark Palmer, 4437 ReservoirRoad NW, Washington, DC, 20007-2041;

Dave Bunting, 60 Fenno Street, Cambridge, MA 02138;Peter Myers, 53 Thibault Parkway, Burlington, VT 05401

Don McInnes wrote: It was great to see so many of myclassmates at our 50th reunion year. I hope we can generate more interest for the 55th; with guys like DaveBunting involved, I am sure we can.

Class Volunteers: Ronald T. Stewart, 919Maumee Avenue, Mansfield, OH 44906, marqprint@aol.com; Daniel L. Brown, 13

Foxborough Drive, Gilford, NH 03249, dbrownh@hotmail.com; R. Penn Lardner, 20705 Meadow Drive,Sonoma CA 95476, richardlardner@sbcglobal.net;George Yeomans, PO Box 33, Westport Point, MA02791, gyeomans106@yahoo.com

John Antosca wrote: “Wilma and I have been retired forseven years and enjoy the freedom to do whatever we want.We are kept busy with children and eight grandchildren,(seven boys, one girl). Our grandsons participate in severalsports throughout the seasons and we joyously and proudlyattend all events. Fortunately, they all reside within 25 milesof our condo. We do spend some time in Florida during thewinter. As you know, Wilma is an avid golfer and very good.I don’t do justice to the game, so I am relegated to drivingthe cart.”

Daniel Brown wrote: “Have lived here in Gilford, NH for26 years. My wife and I have two dogs and spend much ofour time hiking, skiing (downhill, cross country), sailing(Lake Winnipesaukee), bicycling, and motorcycling (vintageYamaha bought new in 1969) in the Lakes Region wherewe are surrounded by mountains and lakes. We also have asummer home in Sorrento in down east Maine. We continueto travel on a regular basis, usually doing at least one overseastrip a year. Most of these have involved trekking in some ofthe more remote regions of the world. We’ve been to theHimalayas twice. Our most recent trip was to Morocco thispast April when we hiked in the Atlas Mountains and touredthe entire country. In the coming year we plan to return to

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China and from there go to Mongolia, across much ofSiberia, and then to Russia. Since graduating from Middle-bury in 1964 I have now travelled to 55 different countriesand have lived in Germany (twice), France, England, andCanada/Quebec (twice). For all intents and purposes I amretired, but still have an office at a local company where Ihave a very limited work schedule. This is more therapeuticthan anything else and provides a bit of discipline andkeeps the mind somewhat nimble.”

William Bosworth wrote: “I’m among those of us still at workwish my Dad was around to enjoy the new tech environment.I’m working with at IBM, part chem. lab and part work withscanning electron microscopes; my lab is debugging thenew computer memory stuff and providing quality controlfor current products. Presently live in Charlotte, VT with mywife, Ellen, and dog, Rubee.”

Francis Butler wrote: “I am in Abu Dhabi now and amspending about two out of every three months operatingout of either Abu Dhabi or Singapore, both regions whereour business is flourishing. With terrorism and natural disasters continuing on the rise, there is plenty of work for acompany offering software for emergency managers. Mywife is the CEO and President of the company and is tied toour US business while I develop the international side of it. I can’t imagine ever retiring though we did spend a coupleof weeks in September on the Orient Express, starting in Istanbul and getting off in Venice. I have done a couple ofmore Ironman competitions since we saw you last.”

Stephen Carbine wrote: “My life is quite simple as I am retired and doing some consulting and have dedicated sometime to several non profit organizations; the local visual artcenter, the local theater. I am involved with the Blue LineClub – an organization that supports intercollegiate hockeyand specifically the local college-The Castleton State Spartans.

It’s a lot of fun and quite rewarding. We, in Vermont, havebeen fortunate in that we did not experience the mortgagemeltdown like the rest of the country. We rank 50th in pastdue mortgage loan, but at the same time, we do suffer fromthe slow economy. I can relate to unemployment situationsbecause my kids are dealing with it. Thank God, they all havejobs and in their respective and preferred fields of interest.”

Richard Compson emailed “I am the managing partner ofour law firm Compson, Eannace and Pierro, PPLC. Our firmis basically an business, estate planning and elder law firm. Ihope to go part time next year and later retire. We have 3children; one son lives live in Medfield MA, another son livesin Higham MA, and our daughter lives in Schenectady.”

John Dowlin emailed: “Just saw & reviewed a historical play,SilverHill, about the 19th century, sharing/enterprisingcommunity in Oneida, NY. Just read the new book on Octavius, Catto, & Civil War era Philadelphia, raw materialfor a screen/play my son Tim might work on. Coordinatingrepairs & painting for Phila’s historic Victor Café.

Playing tennis some evenings, my health plan. Distributinga reusable wall calendar, Cycle & Recycle, for the years 2011,2022 and beyond. Writing to several tea party candidates(some elected, others not) on my preference for Earl Grayand a Constitutional Republic. Refurbishing an old housein Powelton Village (my part of Phila.) and doing estimatesfor several Fairmount Park mansions. As the president of apreservation group, Save Our Sites, working to protect thewealth of Philly’s old bldgs & sites. As a board member ofNeighborhood Bike Works, and the International BicycleFund, working to empower kids thru bicycling and to promoteresponsible tourism worldwide.”

Joseph Eberle wrote: We did a “Woody Hickcox” over theThanksgiving week. I went to New Orleans. At Christmasbreak in 1956, freshman Woody went to “Nuorlens” andcame back to VA with a suitcase full of Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane glasses. It would be decades before I got to trymy first one. But this week was special as my son with his brideand I went to Pat O’s and we had a hurricane; I told themabout Woody and his stash of glasses with the world famouspink concoction. Boy, did I learn about stuff at VA! Enjoyedthe Spring 2010 gathering, hope to do it again sometime.

Charles Emig wrote: My wife and I live here in Ocala, Floridanestled in what is often and correctly labeled “BeautifulMarion County.” The county is home to probably the secondlargest collection of horse farms breeding race stock in thecountry, behind the farms in Kentucky. We have a 1+ acre

’60 | William Bosworth ’60 with wife, Ellen, and dog, Rubee.PHO

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property just outside the city limits of Ocala, with a housethat was built in 1984 and has a lawn, shrubs and swimmingpool that keeps most of my days busy. My amateur wood-working efforts that I enjoy are turning pens, pencils andother small objects from a variety of woods and plastics,dabbling in sign making, and making some small furnitureitems. Despite the current economy, Uncle Sam has seen fitto provide not only Social Security, but my Army retirementchecks as well. Since children eluded us, we have not hadthe opportunity to do the kids and grandkids thing.

Charles “Woody” Hickcox wrote: Still working teachingundergrads at Emory University in Atlanta. I teach an intro tometeorology and its 2 labs plus another class in climatologyor climate change each semester. Expected to retire lastSpring but with an economy-dictated hiring freeze I thoughtit best to apply for another 5-year cycle and stick around fora while longer. Being the laziest man on the planet is keepingme from doing much of the physical exercise I really oughtto be doing. I hope that retirement will give me enoughopportunities that I won’t be able to be quite as sedentaryas I now am. Have good mental health thanks largely to thesupport of the wonderful woman I’ve been married to sincegrad school. I don’t let a lot bother me much and keep catsaround to ease the stress. We have two kids, both now in their30’s. The older son is married making a life of it in Orlando.My daughter is working on a PhD in social geography at U of Colorado. No grand kids yet but a couple of grand-dogsand assorted grand-cats. Have found some success in watercolors over the past 10 years or so. Don’t play golf.Tried it in the 70’s but know that it would absorb both allmy time and money were I to get back into it. So I watchbirds when it’s convenient and take ridiculously long carcamping trips during the summer – 11,000 miles lastsummer from Atlanta to our reunion to Vancouver Islandand return to Vermont. I own the old Family summer“camp” on the Canadian border of Vermont and there’s alot of genetic pressure to spend as much time there aspossible each summer.

Porter Hulett wrote: “I thought I would share with yousomething that I just have been through recently. Since1978 I have rigorously and religiously exercised by walking2.5 miles per day and also worked with weights three timesa day. A few weeks back, I was walking and felt dizzy. When Ilooked out my right eye, I saw reality as it is. However, in myleft eye it was like looking at the world through a prism. Iwent immediately to a neurologist, scheduled a carotiddoppler, and also had an appointment with a cardiologist.It wasn’t until after the heart catheterization was done that I

found out that one of my heart arteries was 90% filled withplaque. The surgeon inserted a heart stent into the arteryto open it up again. At my next appointment with my cardi-ologist, he told me that I-in all likelihood-would have beendead in a very short time i.e. days, a couple of weeks etc. Mylesson from this is that no matter how fit you are on the outsideand however much exercise you do, you still can be at risk onthe inside. Unfortunately not all insurance companies (if any)cover precautionary testing during an annual checkup (forexample heart catheterizations) but weigh in only aftersymptoms show up. This means we have to be vigilant andcarefully look out for any and all symptoms.”

J. Ward Kenny wrote: “We got our fall cruise in fromMontreal to New York and had a great time. I enjoyedreading all of the notes from our classmates and see thatwe shared many of the same observations from health,the impact of the economy on our children and our grand-children. We have seven grandchildren all playing sportson the weekends; in particular it gets a little crazy startingearly and ending late as they play under the lights. I haveyet to learn how to be at two locations at the same time!”

Robert Laughton lives in Naples, FL and is retired fromMobile Oil Company. He and his wife live in Florida sevenmonths of the year and then visit their children and grand-children in Virginia for 5 months. They own a home in VA,workout a lot and dabbles in the stock market. He and hiswife travel during the year, mainly in the Caribbean as wellas to Cape Cod.

Robert Morse wrote: We have been in FL since early Oct.We head back to VT for the holidays and will return to FL Jan4, 2011. We enjoyed watching our grandsons play football(tackle) and now we are beginning the basketball season;at least that is inside. All four boys played football; two areskiing for the winter (they live in Charlotte, VT). The two FLboys are playing basketball. Steffi’s Parkinson’s is keepingher busy, learning to walk with a cane, etc. It is nice to havea handicapped card for parking. We are much more awareof the needs of the handicapped people now that we arewalking that road ourselves. We thank God for his healinghand on all those who are having healing issues.

Denis Noonan emailed: “A spiritual incident affected me asI experienced my first ever passenger ride in an ambulance,(I was an Emergency Med Tech for six years), I encounteredan eight year old boy on my bicycle this summer. He ranout between two cars right into me. I ended up with a brokencollar bone, ten weeks in a sling, and six months of PT inprocess. This event changed my summer plans and

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encouraged me to learn some important self understandingabout being patient, asking for help, appreciating the qualitylife of grateful dependence, and exploring the minute andsubtle distinctions of the pain experience. I feel like theEskimo who has 78 different words to describe what wecommonly call snow. I need 78 words to describe the different ways that pain is experienced and appreciated asan emotional life energy that can inform and change realityin the moment. I still found a way to dig a drainage ditchalong my driveway and manage the planting, weeding andharvesting of the gardens. I’m back on my bike, and havelost 35 lbs. riding the stationary almost every day since theambulance ride. We welcome any visitors heading forMaine. I’ll meet you for lunch or offer a room.”

John Quebman wrote: It is nice to see all communicating...“who would of thought”...I just became a Grandfather forthe second time...my daughter Lisa and her husband Erichad a baby girl on Nov 15th...6 lbs 4 ozs...Ella Marie...I amso proud. I am in Palm City, Fl...play a lot of golf...workouton a regular basis and boating is part of my life. I do somebusiness consulting but am basically retired...Sueallyn andI travel when we can but we are limited because she stillworks as an RN (she loves work) No complaints...it is greatto be above ground (golf buddies quote)...having a wonderful life...

Robert Seeley wrote: I continue teaching as an adjunct atRaritan Valley Community College -- English Comp andTechnical Writing. Basically, still working at industrial p.r.(writing and placing semi-technical articles). Played a giglast night at the Morristown Hyatt with a small group that abass player/lawyer put together for a charity event. Continue

to play with Summer Swing Orchestra. In August 2010, wewent back to Argentina, Newfoundland where I was stationed45 years ago. Took the 240 mile ferry voyage from NorthSydney, NS. Argentina. St. John’s and Newfoundland totallychanged from back then. Guess that’s the way things are.You never step in the same river twice, etc.

Edward Steinle wrote: I’m retired, but managing someproperties here in Carefree, AZ where I live happily with mydog in a house that’s bigger than I need. I earned a living inthe home building business for 30 years in the Vail, Co.area from 1968 to 1998. I married a gal from my hometown in West Hartford, Ct. before moving to Colo. in ’68.We had a child who grew up to be a champion ski racer whograduated from C.S.U., and then moved to Scottsdale to gointo the golf business. I now have one grandson. For fun, Imanage a group of 50, mostly retired guys, who play tennisa couple times a week. I also stay busy remodeling my 40year old house. Motorcycling is one of my passions, and Icollect and restore vintage bikes, and love to ride them(one at a time) as often as possible. Next summer (2011), Iplan to revisit many of the western region’s National Parksin my R.V. My health is excellent, which affords me to takeadvantage of many activities year around here in Arizona.I’m happy with my life and plan on enjoying many moreyears of good times.

Ronald Stewart wrote: “In April, my youngest son took hisown life. It was a shock. This is why I missed the reunion. Hisgirlfriend was pregnant and on 11/29/10 a healthy little girl,Veronica Stewart, was born. My wife and I take care of her fivedays a week while her mom is at work. She is a delight! I’mhanging in there. I had a left knee replacement in Nov. ’05which put an end to my soccer refereeing. I’ve retired fromthe printing business, the over the road truck driving, thedelivering and installing appliances for Lowes, the SecurityGuard job at AK steel, and the security guard job at Menards.I have got my basement and garage cleaned out after 21years in the same house. Found stuff I never rememberhaving had! Next spring, the attic!”

Gary Toothaker wrote: “I have overcome my medical challenge and am back to my normal active life playing golf,catching salmon, and playing racquetball. I am a fortunateman. I am happily married with a blended family of 5 childrenand 8 grandchildren. Life in the great Northwest is good. Lotsof outdoor activity with magnificent rivers and mountains. Ilive right on the Puget Sound north of Seattle. I get to seelots of wildlife. For example, I can see bald eagles daily; apair has a nest 75 yards from my home. Grey and orca

’61 | Lee Stanley ’61 and his wife, Linda, aboard their motor yacht, Stanhaven III.PHO

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whales can be seen from my deck when they are migrating.All is well.

My compliments to you for all of your work on the reunionand keeping in touch with our classmates. Best wishes to you.”

Class Volunteer: John H. Anderson, 304 Murphee Street, Troy, AL 36081-2115, athtrain@troy.edu

CLASS OF 1961Our 50th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011. Mark your calendars now!

Lee Stanley and his wife Linda are cruising the Pacific North-west for the next year aboard their motor yacht, Stanhaven III.They plan to explore the Puget Sound, San Juans, Canada andAlaska before bringing the yacht to Southern California for thefall of 2011, and then wintering in the Sea of Cortez in 2012.

During the Stanley’s expedition, Lee is completing hismemoir, Faith in the Land of Make Believe (What GodCan Do – Even in Hollywood) for its February, 2011 releasethrough Zondervan Publishing. Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson(who starred in Stanley’s #1 box office hit movie, GridironGang) has written the forward. More than a chronicle of asuccessful Hollywood writer/producer/director’s unparal-leled success that changed not only his life but also the livesof millions of others, Faith in the Land of Make Believe isthe gritty memoir of someone who was never taught how tobe a man, a husband, or a father, and was scared to deathsomebody would find out. This is the story of Lee’s transparentand miraculous journey through life and through filmmakingthat proves God’s unwavering faithfulness.

Far from being retired, Lee is also working on his next filmproject about Parkersburg, Iowa’s Ed Thomas, the NFLHigh School Coach of the Year who was gunned down by apsychotic student last year. Filming is planned to begin inthe spring of 2012.

Lee can be contacted at his email: stanhaven@aol.com

Class Volunteer: Richard F. Weeks,4242 N 119th Street, Lafayette, CO 80026,dick_weeks@hotmail.com

Fred Flavin is still playing ice hockey.

Class Volunteers Needed

Richard Bohman wrote: I retired last year from customhome building and my wife Nancy and I enjoy living in Tubacand Arizona in general. As I am sure you are all aware, we dohave continuing problems with drug smuggling and illegalimmigration; such is “Life on the Border”

Davis Dimock wrote: “I continue to work on environmentalart creating “magic in unexpected places”. JimmyDean’s death brought back memories of his song “Bigbad John” in the early 1960’s and Mr. “Big Bad John”Lucy’s Spanish class. Thank you to Mr. Lucy’s memoryand Vermont Academy in general for nourishing my freespirit, it still flourishes.”

Russell Vogel wrote: “I am still living in Jakarta Indonesia.I now work for John Snow International (JSI), a USAID contractor based in Arlington VA. I am working in the areaof Avian Flu and Swine Flu surveillance and prevention, focusing on health care logistics.”

Class Volunteers Needed

Steve Perelman wrote: “Abby and I are well. Our two sonsare both married and living in NYC, and we have 4grandsons [the 4th grandson was just born in August!].We split the year between Nantucket and West Palm Beach,with Florida as our [new] legal address. We are enjoyingretirement, although I didn’t retire completely – I have apart-time summer job at the Nantucket Visitor’s Bureau,handing out brochures and telling tourists where to go.”

Class Volunteers: Craig H. Baab, 637Cloverdale Road, Montgomery, AL 36106,baablaw@aol.com; Gus Clement, 4815

Rushford Place, Colorado Springs, CO 80923

Bob Campbell spent the summer in New Zealand (winterthere) teaching skiing at a resort in the mountains. Bob is aninstructor at Okemo Mountain and was named Instructor ofthe Year last winter there. Since college he has always taughtskiing on the weekends and vacations. After retiring as apublic school teaching and principal, he was able to go tohis first love of skiing fulltime.

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Lawrence Power wrote: “Sorry that I was not able to makeour 45th reunion, but I am hoping we really ramp it up forour 50th in 2015! Possible event for the Chane Gang nextyear (2011) in perhaps April and Sept/October. We havebeen friends and band-mates since 1963 and it could beour last show... but never say never. Last, but most importantly,let’s find Ian McAllister! Dude, we miss ya!”

Class Volunteer: Richard Janis, 1739 Maybank,Highway B8, #337, Charleston, SC 29412,rick.janis@gmail.com

CLASS OF 1966Our 45th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.Mark your calendars now!

Class Volunteers: Whitney A. Gay, 5 N. Gateway,Winchester, MA 01890, whitclaud@aol.com;Richard W. Moulton Jr., PO Box 97, Huntington,

VT 05462

Class Volunteer: Richard Sacknoff,24 Buckman Drive, Lexington, MA 02421, rsacknoff@yahoo.com

Class Volunteers: Mark D. Russell, 8 Sweet Fern Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107,mark.russell@rbcdain.com; John W. Hoder,

95 Riverscape Lane, Tiverton, RI 02878, rfhoder@aol.com

Mountain State Press announces advance sale of The Serpentsof Blissfull by Bruce Pratt. The novel is a trade paperbackbook with 334 pages. Reviewers of the manuscript havethis to say: “Bruce Pratt knows the broken hearts and mindsof the backwoods, and in this book he gives us a darklyfunny and brilliant portrait of a down-but-never-out misfitstruggling for a toehold in life’s craggy hills. … Not sinceThe Beans of Egypt Maine has there been a book so true toit sense of place. The Serpents of Blissfull is an absolutewinner.” – Clint McCown has published three novels andthree volumes of poems that have won numerous awards.He teaches a creative writing program at Virginia Commonwealth Univ.

“A compelling narrative of faith and redemption. BrucePratt’s Serpents of Blissfull pays homage to the characters toooften disregarded by contemporary fiction. His rendering oftheir pathos, their struggle, and their humanity is as skillfulas it is tender, and it places him squarely in the tradition ofother greats like Roddy Doyle, Annie Proulx, and RichardRusso.” – Kathryn Miles, author of Adventures with Ari

Editor-in-Chief, Hawk & Handsaw/Associate Professor ofEnvironmental Writing/Unity College

Class Volunteer: Richard H. Patterson, 5 Nibang Avenue, Old Saybrook, CT 06475

Class Volunteer: Stanley A. Wilkinson Jr.,227 Whetstone Road, Harwinton, CT 06791,budw@broadwaysbiggesthits.com

CLASS OF 1971Our 40th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.Mark your calendars now!

Jeffrey Crocker emailed: Martha and I celebrated ourthirtieth wedding anniversary this year. Our daughter, Alex,is a senior at Vassar College. Our anniversary present isonly one more semester of tuition payments.

John Winder wrote: “I am a yacht surveyor, still involved withconstruction and refit management in the yachting world. It’sa word of mouth business so consider this to be my plea foryou to pass my name along. I am single and have two kidsaway at college and grad school. My daughter, Stirling, isabout to graduate from Northeastern grad school with herRN. My son, Alden, is in his senior year at UVM and is a keymember of the #8 nationally-ranked UVM sailing team.”

Class Volunteers Needed

Class Volunteers: John M. Brucato, 12 Whip O Will Lane, Milford, MA 01757-1558;Charles P. Gunn, 9 Emery Road, Henniker,

NH 03242, Gunn@conknet.com

Class Volunteers: Richard I. Stark Jr.,2007 N. Upton Street, Arlington, VA 22207,ristarkjr@aol.com; Bill Reid, 560 Rt. 198,

Woodstock Valley, CT 06282

Class Volunteers Needed

Class Volunteers: James O. Bamman, 2 ReevesAvenue, Guilford, CT 06437, jmbam@comcast.net;Daniel J. Quartin, 108 Carriage Hill Drive,

Newington, CT 06111, d_quartin@cox.net

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CLASS OF 1976Our 35th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011. Mark your calendars now!

Class Volunteer: Sean Bersell, 1213 No. Maryland Avenue, Glendale, CA 91207,va77@mindspring.com

Class Volunteers Needed

Class Volunteers: Peter L. Hamilton, 31177U.S. Highway 19 N, Apt. 301, Palm Harbor, FL 34684; Jane Ogden, PO Box 2079,

Basalt, CO 81621, janevermont@gmail.com; Diane L.Wilder, 807 Aubrey Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003, wilderfrancone@yahoo.com

Class Volunteers: Ewing Buta, 141 Oak TreeDrive, Canfield, OH 44406; Lawrence H. Echanis, RR 4, 33533 Wilgus Cemetery Road,

Frankford, DE 19945, echanis@mchsi.com; Karen E.Galloway, PO Box 453, Walpole, NH 03608, kegalloway@myfairpoint.net

Sarah Campbell is now an estate manager for familieswith several houses and divides her time between MA, FLand Antigua. She says that is a pleasant change afterworking in retail for fifteen years.

Robert Ewanouski wrote: “This year’s hour glass flip was my50th, which didn’t faze me until Google announced it wasalso the 50th anniversary of Fred Flintstone series. I’m notpushing my car with my feet, but it sure feels like I’m off to therock pile most mornings. Work aside, all is well here in theBoston area. My wife Lisa and all four kids are doing well.”

Class Volunteers: Kathryn Maass Carver, 75Nice Way, Colchester, VT 05446; Foster R.McKeon, 10 Old Orchard Road, Easton, CT

06612, foster374@aol.com

CLASS OF 1981Our 30th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011. Mark your calendars now!

Class Volunteers: Andrew V. Griswold,8 Whitman Road, Medford, MA 02155;Thomas C. Oxholm, PO Box 266, Saxtons

River, VT 05154, toxholm@vermontacademy.org

Keith Wheeler and his family have moved to Georgia.Keith’s wife, Phebe wrote: We are no longer New Englanders!Keith was given a new assignment through his companythat placed him at the main headquarters in the Atlanta area.

Class Volunteers: Keith M. Canning, 126 HerseyStreet, Portland, ME 04103, pinestate@aol.com;Daniel P. Dougherty, 22 Shattuck Street,

Natick, MA 01760

Vermont Academy created a triathlon team to compete inthe Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) triathlon onOctober 24th in La Jolla, CA in honor of Jim MacLaren ’81.Jim was a Sabin Award Winner and a motivational speakerand author, noted for his record-breaking performances inthe marathon and Ironman triathlon after having his left legamputated below the knee.  The team members were JohnDunbar ’91 (swim), Mark Foster ’83 (bike) and GarretWall ’83 (run). A VA scholarship fund has been establishedin honor of Jim. The CAF triathlon was developed by Jim’sfriends in the late 90’s in an effort to raise money for Jim’srecovery. The CAF Foundation has raised over $25 millionto assist challenged athletes around the world.

Jay Pendexter wrote: I am living in Boston and workingprofessionally as an artist painting nature scenes in watercolor and oil pastels. I have a website at jay2art.comand had a show at Chestnut Hill Mall on the weekend ofMay 22, 2010.

Class Volunteers: Mark J. Culkin, 823 Tequesta Drive, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417,mjculkin@verizon.net; Mike Gerity, 39

Chapman Terrace, Middletown, NJ 07748,geritym@msn.com

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(L to R): John Dunbar ’91, Garret Wall ’83, Jim’s brother JohnMacLaren, and Mark Foster ’83. PH

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Tom Goodings wrote: Quite a bit of news to share with VALife. The last few years have been busy in the Goodingshousehold. My son London Allen James Goodings, wasborn July 8th, 2009, in Ottawa. He is keeping both momand dad very busy and on the run daily. My wife Anna and Iwere married on June 19th, 2010 with several VA alum inattendance, John Jepson 84, and Chuck Edgerton ’85.And lastly after 20 years of involvement with the InternationalParalympic movement, most recent position as Vice Chair ofthe Ice Sledge Hockey Sports Technical Committee, with 5Winter Paralympic Games and 5 World Championships Ihave retired to spend time with my family. The decision wasvery difficult to make but necessary. I will miss the travel. mycolleagues, the players and naturally the development of thisgreat sport, they will all be deeply missed. These disabledathletes are some of the greatest I have ever had the privilegeto work with and to call friends.

Class Volunteers: C. Charles Schafer, 41 Larch-wood Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764;Chris Stevens, 92 Bullard Street, Holden, MA

01520; Andy Bigelow, 1002 W. Altgeld Street, Chicago,IL 60614, ajbigelow@hotmail.com

Class Volunteer: Christopher G. Wall, 1278 W. Early Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660, cgwall@sbcglobal.net

CLASS OF 1986: Our 25th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011. Mark your calendarsnow and look for a group page on Facebook!

Ella Bullock McIntosh is now the Director of Alumni andParent Relations at Vermont Academy! “I am no longerteaching, but still coach 2 sports (soccer and softball) as wellas dorm parent in Buchanan House. I have one daughterwho is currently a sophomore here at VA and anotherdaughter in 6th grade. The 1986 class reunion is comingup in September 2011; as it is our 25th I hope to see manyof our classmates back on campus that weekend! Pleasecontact me with any suggestions to make the weekend funor to simply catch up. My email address is emcintosh@vermontacademy.org. I look forward to hearing from you soon!”

Class Volunteer: Billi R. McCullough, 5460 S.Jasmine Street, Greenwood Village, CO 80111,bmccullough@denvercnsx.com

Tim Mewes wrote: “During this mission yesterday, we airdropped nearly 20 tons of supplies to two separateForward Operating Bases (FOBs). These FOBs are wherethe real work goes on. They are so remote that aerial resupplyis usually the most effective means of keeping them in thefight. The terrain here is extremely harsh and unforgiving.The cheers I heard on the radio in the background after thesecond drop made ALL my training worth it!! I’m blessed tobe part of a great crew. We may be old (ave. age is 43), butwe can hold our own, still make a difference and take it tothe Taliban.”

Class Volunteers: Diana Barton Gleeson, 16Adele Avenue, Rumford, RI 02916, diana_glee-son@yahoo.com; Bay H. Mackall, 31 Gibson

Avenue, Narragansett, RI 02882, baymackall@msn.com;Charmion L. Handy, PO Box 439, Saxtons River, VT 05154

Class Volunteer: John T. Kemper, 143 Beattie Road, South Londonderry, VT 05155,jakemper@myfairpoint.net

Class Volunteers: Mary Kennelly Dean,509 Cherry Brook Road, Canton, CT 06019,hotmary@mail.com; Jamison R. Gagnier,

15 Olde Capeway Lane, Duxbury, MA 02332; AnnAfragola Jones, 21 Maple Street, Woodstock, VT 05091,dvjones@gmail.com

Robert Goodall wrote: “My wife, Sara and daughter Ella19 months, are doing well after a very hot summer. I amworking at www.net30.net in sales, really like being outand about meeting new people. Jay Blatt, class of 91, and I

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’84 | Tom Goodings was married on June 19th, 2010 to Anna. PHO

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see each other often and bore our wives with our highschool antics.”

Class Volunteers: Samantha M. Foerster, TheUnion League Club, 38 E. 37th Street, Box 111,New York, NY 10016 ; Amy Howard, 317 29th St.,

Apt 206, San Francisco, CA 94131, amyh294@gmail.com

CLASS OF 1991Our 20th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.Mark your calendars now!

John Dunbar wrote: I would like to thank everyone in theVA community, including fellow alums that sent me emailmessages wishing me luck and congratulating me on myIronman 70.3 World Championship race. I had a greattime racing with Mark Foster and Garrett Wall at theChallenged Athletes Foundation San Diego Triathlon inOctober honoring Jim MacLaren and hope that we continue to see more VA alums competing in the sport of triathlon, which was so important to Jim. Thanks VA foryour support!

Class Volunteers: Elizabeth D. Adams,24 Central Avenue, Rutland, VT 05701; Mark C. Engelke, 181 Hillside Avenue,

Chatham, NJ 07928, markcengelke@aol.com

Class Representatives: Adam K. Garner, 900 S. Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704,adam_k_garner@yahoo.com; Noel Tomaino

Chipman, 62 Collins Land Road, Unit 61, Weare, NH 03281

Class Volunteer: Meghan A. Giroux, 45Buchanan Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801,Meghan.giroux@gmail.com

Ryan McNamara wrote: “I’m in Organic Food Sales currently, but I am looking to transition into Medical Sales.We’ll see, it’s tough out there. More importantly, I’mhealthy and will be celebrating my one year anniversarywith my beautiful wife later this month. Life is good for Jessand I on the NH Seacoast.”

John Wallin is the head coach of Men’s Track & Field atSouthern Connecticut State University. John married Reidun Daily in 2005, and they have a son, Torsten, whowas born in 2008.

Class Volunteers: Alison Harmon Johnson,2415 W. Wilson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625,harmon2476@gmail.com; Sarah Smith

Duffin, 300 West 300 North, Kamas, UT 84036,sas8118@aol.com

Jonathan Bostock and his wife Marigny welcomed EvanHarvey Bostock into the world on October 14th, 2010.Evan was 8 pounds, 9 ounces. Jon and Marigny live inLouisville Kentucky ... Jon is the Global Product Managerfor GE Appliances.

Class Volunteer: Kirk Vaughan, 328 Pine NutLane, Apex, NC 27502, kirk.vaughan@gmail.com

CLASS OF 1996Our 15th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.Mark your calendars now!

Kirk Vaughan writes: Can you believe it?! Please book yourhotel as soon as possible. I am suggesting the Saxtons RiverInn. Join our class page on Facebook ‘Vermont AcademyClass of 1996’ or contact me directly for more information www.facebook.com/Kirk.Vaughan. Hope to see you all there.

Class Volunteers: Chidozie O. Alozie, 20 Ritchfield Court, Rockville, MD 20850,chido.alozie@gmail.com; Erin M. Kennelly,

100 DiNardo Hall, Bridgewater, MA 02325, ekennelly@gmail.com; Aaron Walsh, PO Box 305, Marlboro, VT 05344,walshfam3@aol.com; Sarah A. Weilbrenner, 223 SmithStreet, #3R, Brooklyn, NY 11201, sweilbrenner@gmail.com

Robert Gustafson was married to Melissa Renzi on May 1,2010 in Los Angeles, CA.

Class Volunteers: Kathryn Abernethy Turner,20385 Belmont Park Terrace, Ashburn, VA20147, Alexander H. Law, 2721 Black Oaks

Lane N., Plymouth, MN 55447, alexlane@yahoo.com

Class Volunteers: Katherine Farkas Dawes,100 Mill Creek Road, Apt. 203, Ardmore, PA19003, katherinefarkas@hotmail.com; Sarah

Ramian Murrow, 1166 Naticoke Street, Baltimore, MD21230, sarah.ramian@roanoke.edu; Andrew W. Tyson,GEMS American Academy-Abu Dhabi, PO Box 110273,Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, atyson433@yahoo.com

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Class Volunteers: Grayson J. Holden,1722 Virginia Street, Berkeley, CA 94703,grayson.holden@gmail.com; Matthew J.

Howarth, 286 Barlows Landing Road, Pocasset, MA02559, matthewjhowarth@yahoo.com; Patience A.Baldwin, N-136, PO Box 25343, Miami, FL 33102;Jeannlis Sanchez, 1222 Boston Road, Apt. 2A, Bronx, NY 10456, jeannlis@aol.com

Susan Brooks (French) wrote: “On the afternoon of November 10, 2010, forty-five members of the 158th Security Forces Squadron of the Vermont Air NationalGuard (VTANG) returned home from their 6 month deployment to Saudi Arabia. Among the returning soldierswas SSgt. Jeremiah R. Brooks ’98. Both Jeremiah and Iwould like to extend our many thanks to all of the family andfriends who provided so much love and support throughthe deployment!”

Class Volunteers: Corey E. Esau, PO Box 1035,Quechee, VT 05059, corster271011@hotmail.com;Devin E. Finigan, PO Box 193, Sedgwick,

ME 04676, devineyre@hotmail.com; J. Andrew Guard, 29 Edgemont Street, Roslindale, MA 02131,

aguard@obeverages.com; Alexandra R. Walsh, PO Box207, Westbrook, CT 06498

CLASS OF 2001Our 10th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.Mark your calendars now!

Matt Cotter and his wife Liz welcomed their newborn baby,Avery Jane, into the world on August 19, 2010. She was 5pounds, 10 ounces.

Class Volunteers: Robert G. Bergman, 95 SettlersDrive, Hancock, ME 04640; Cathryn Esser,299 Hildred Drive, Burlington, VT 05401,

cate.esser@gmail.com; Amber Smith DiPasquale,12102 Green Ledge Court, Apt. 202, Fairfax, VA, asmitr@gmail.com; John F. Penney III, 504 E. 79thStreet, New York, NY 10075, jpenney3@gmail.com

Class Volunteers: Christina R. Flood, 67 Main Street, Apt. 11, Brattleboro, VT 05301,hopugope@sover.net; Britton F. Inglehart,

47329 Westminster Park Road, Wellesley Island, NY 13640, binglehart@gmail.com; Andrew W. Robinson,21 W. Hughes Street, Baltimore, MD 21230, andrewrobinson01@gmail.com; Amy H. Velte, PO Box 2048, Jackson, WY 83001, amyvelte@gmail.com

Eliza Cross wrote: “I ran the NYC Marathon. in 3 hours 52minutes on Sunday November 7th, 2010. I had my friendsand family around and it was the most wonderful day of mylife. A true experience.” Eliza is now working at Rue La La inBoston, MA.

Lauren Shockley wrote: “I am living back in Miami with myfiance and 9 month old son. I am working here in southFlorida as an RN and love it. Looking forward to making itto an alumni weekend, possibly next year.”

Jennifer Tolaro wrote: This year has brought me many newchanges. I was married in August to my partner of eightyears, and I am one step closer to receiving my masters inClinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch inKeene, NH.

Class Volunteers: Edward P. Duess, 1416 AmherstAve., Los Angeles, CA 90025, eduess@gmail.com;Jean-Daniel Lussier, PO Box 132, Lennoxville,

Quebec J1M 1Z4,Canada, jl24@calvin.edu; Hillary A.Talbot, 3913 Westminster West Road, Putney VT 05346

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SSgt. Jeremiah R. Brooks ’98 with wife, Susan Brooks (French) ’00.

’03 | (left) Eliza Cross ’03 running the NYC marathon.

’03 | (right) Jennifer Tolaro ’03 was married last August.PHO

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Class Volunteers: Laura Gage, 3809 Woodbine Street, Chevy Chase, MD 20815,Lag394@nyu.edu; Corbin S. Vreeland,

324 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills MD 21117,cvreeland@gmail.com; Robert Harlow, 23 NorthwoodAvenue, West Springfield, MA 01089

Class Volunteers: Jourdan Goldstein, 7718Boedeker Drive, Dallas, TX 75225, jourdan911@aol.com; Zachary Jandl, 3 Spruce St, Apt #2,

Burlington, VT 05401, zjandl@hotmail.com; Calvin Stowell,1 Charlestown Road, Claremont, NH 03743

CLASS OF 2006Our 5th Reunion is September 23-25, 2011.Mark your calendars now!

Scott Raines graduated from Roger Williams University inMay, 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He is currentlyworking for Marriott in Foxboro, MA.

Zachary Jandl emailed: “After graduating from Saint Michael’sCollege in May, I decided to remain in the Burlington, VT areafor the time being. I am currently working as an AccountExecutive for a publications company in Burlington, VT andalso as a Marketing & Syndication Consultant for MADE-possible, a new magazine based in New York, NY. Asidefrom my work, music has continued to be a big part of mylife. Most recently, the band I am in released a CD with aMichigan-based record label and completed a 16-day tourto Chicago, IL. We are currently in the process of writingour second CD and plan to tour again in the summer.”

Class Volunteers: Cassandra Howe, PO Box164, Alstead, NH 03602; Alexandra Moran,

10184 Granite Square Station, Durham, NH 03824; KelliMorin, 14 Parker Lane, Haverhill, MA 01832; KaitlynSchiro, 63 Londonderry Drive, Greenwich, CT 06830;Chelsea Szidik, 108 Mountain View Drive, Weathersfield,VT 05156

Cassandra Howe emailed: “I’m finishing up my last year atthe University of St Andrews where I have been majoring inInternational Relations and Social Anthropology. Throughoutmy time at St Andrews I have been active in the University’sCharities Campaign and recently I helped to bring the firstever ice rink to St Andrews. It reminded me of winter carnivaland all of the snow events at VA”

Sean Parker O’Grady wrote: I am spending a semesterabroad at the University of Malta. I am traveling aroundand visiting other VA alumni including Davis McCleanand Ben Neithercut.

Class Volunteers: Paulina Borrego, 122 W 8thSt, Antioch, CA 94509, pborrego@bowdoin.edu

Class Volunteers: Ashley Greenwood, 13 Gaskill St, Mendon, MA 01756-1136agreenwood@assumption.edu

Class Volunteers: Greg Jacobs, 8 Lincoln Street, Bellows Falls, VT 05101, gjacobs202@yahoo.com; Kerrin (Ana)

Lundberg, 407 Gladstone Street, Jacksonville, IL 62650;Brooke Wilcox, 152 A. Monument Hill Road, Springfield,VT 05156, bawilcox@vwc.edu; Sophie Yingling, P.O. Box247, Truro, MA 02666, syingling@student.umass.edu

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i | m in memoriamAmos R. “Bud” Little Jr. | 1935Amos R. “Bud” Little Jr., M.D., passed away June 22, 2010. Bud spenthis early and teenage years in Boston, graduating from Vermont Academyin 1935. Bud graduated from Dartmouth College in 1939, and JohnsHopkins University, School of Medicine in 1942. During his rotatinginternship from 1942 to 1943 at the Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital,he met, fell in love and married Mary Russell. Mary and Bud hop-scotched their way out West while he served in the Army Air Force

during the war years. While serving in the U.S. Army Air Force, AirRescue Service - Parachute Duty from 1943 to 1946, Bud received theArmy Commendation Medal, the Air Medal and the Legion of Merit.

Besides medicine and his family, Bud’s passion and joy in life camefrom his involvement with the sport of winter alpine skiing. Heskied on the Vermont Academy Ski Team in 1935 and the DartmouthCollege Ski Team from 1936 to 1939. In 1952, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976and 1980, Bud served on the U.S. Olympic Ski Games Committee forthe Winter Olympics. He was the manager of the 1960 U.S. Olympic

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Alpine Team in Squaw Valley, Calif., and the U.S. FIS Alpine Team atthe World Ski Championships in Chamonix, France, in 1962, as wellas referee of the slalom competitions at the 1962 FIS World Champi-onships in Chamonix, France, the Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck,Austria, in 1964, the FIS World Championships in Portillo, Chile, in1966, and the Olympic Winter Games in Grenoble, France, in 1968.He served on the Board of the U.S. Ski Association from 1948 to 1988and was chairman of the International Competition Committee from1960 to 1967. What really got Buddy flying around the world was hisinvolvement with the FIS where he served on its Alpine TechnicalCommittee from 1960 to 1967, on its Medical Committee as chairmanfrom 1971 to 1988. For all of this volunteer service to the world andnational amateur alpine skiing community, Bud received the AmericanSki Trophy in 1961, the Blegen Award in 1962, elected to the U.S. SkiAssociation’s Ski Hall of Fame in 1965, and received the John ClairAward in 1987. Bud is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary, alongwith their three children and their families. He was pre-deceased byhis brother, Edward F. “Spiff” Little ’37.

Howland F. Atwood | 1936Howland F. Atwood passed away July 29, 2010 at the age of 91. Hewent to primary school in Hartland. VT and graduated from VermontAcademy in 1936. He took a two-year program in horticulture at theUniversity of Massachusetts at Amherst and received a diploma in1938. In June of 2006, 68 years later, he finally received his Associate ofScience. On September 6, 1942 he married his childhood sweetheart.Priscilla M. Murphy. In Hartland he established one of the first privatelyowned nurseries in central Vermont. His knowledge about plantsearned him a highly respected reputation throughout the state, andhe could tell you the technical name of most plants from memory,and he wrote magazine articles for Better Homes and Gardens.Howland is survived by five sons, one daughter, and 10 grandchildren;11 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.

Angus C. Black, Jr. | 1941Angus C. Black, Jr. Vermont Academy alumnus,retired teacher/coach and Trustee Emerituspassed away on October 27 at the age of 87. Gusbegan his life-long relationship with VermontAcademy in the fall of 1938, when he arrived asa sophomore. He went on to graduate in 1941,and then received a degree from the Universityof Maine. He returned to Saxtons River in theFall of 1952 with his wife, Jean, to begin histeaching career. During their 13 years at Vermont

Academy, Gus was involved in every aspect of school life, with notablesuccess as a cross-country running coach. An active Class Agent,Gus joined the Vermont Academy Board of Trustees in the 1980’s,and was a vital and active member for over a dozen years. He enjoyedthe honor of Emeritus Trustee until his death. Gus and his oldestson, Chuck, visited Vermont Academy a few weeks before he diedand had fun reminiscing with some old friends. Gus is survived byhis wife, Jean, and 4 children (all of whom were born at VA) Sandra,Chuck, Lorri and Bob ’79. He also leaves 6 grandchildren and 2great-grandchildren, including Heather Black ’98.

John Quincy Gooding | 1941John Quincy Gooding passed away on April 12, 2010 at the age of 87.He was a beloved husband of Ethel Winston Gooding and survived

by his four children. A graduate from Vermont Academy and DartmouthCollege, John loved both with a passion and cherished his memoriesof an idyllic childhood growing up in Hanover, NH – whether he wasplaying tennis tournaments, cross-country skiing across a moonlitgolf course or shadowing his heroes, the Chivers brothers and the1938 Olympic Ski Team.

As a student, he credited VA with saving his soul through twoEnglish teachers who taught him to love books. He was a masterstoryteller, enthusiastic, loving, always sought to inspire others andlived in constant gratitude. Hidden History of New Hampshire isdedicated to John who passionately loved his native Granite State.

Richard Dustin “Dick” Currier | 1942Richard Dustin “Dick” Currier, 86, of Homosassa, died of naturalcauses Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010. Dick graduated from VermontAcademy and Duke University. He was a naval veteran of World WarII and the Korean War, with service in the Pacific and Arctic. Heowned and operated the Portsmouth Flower Shop in Portsmouth,N.H., for 16 years and adhered to a very strict policy of making surethe flowers were delivered on time, regardless of adverse weatherconditions. Dick moved to Sugarmill Woods in Homosassa in 1985,where he built a house with his wife, Ruth, who preceded him indeath one year later.

He is survived by his son, Robert Dudley Currier, grandson Douglas,great-granddaughter Maddie; and sister Ruth Currier Gates. Dickwas the property manager for Tradewinds Condominiums in MarcoIsland for 11 years. He always liked to stay busy, which he did throughhis dedication as the publisher for the Women of Sugarmlll WoodsNewsletter for 18 years. He volunteered for the Public Service Officerprogram, Sheriff’s substation and Crime Watch Patrol.

Ralph O’Neal West | 1942Ralph O’Neal West, Vermont Academy alumnus,retired teacher/coach, Trustee Emeritus, andFlorence Sabin Distinguished Award Winnerpassed away on July 15, 2010. Ralph dedicatedhis life to education through many years ofservice to the independent school community.After graduating from Harvard University in1947, Ralph returned to VA where he taught andcoached for three years, eventually becominghead of the history department. In 1951 he

received his Masters Degree in Education from Harvard and went onto become an Assistant Director of Admissions at St. John’s School inHouston, Texas and Headmaster of Cushing Academy in Ashburnham,MA. Ralph left Cushing to become the Executive Secretary of Harvard’sGradate School of Education, and then became an administrator atthe National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). In 1966,Ralph was hired by the Commission on Independent SecondarySchools for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges(NEASC) where he would eventually run their evaluation program.Ralph retired in 1989, after 23 years of service to the NEASC and 42years in independent school education. In retirement, he establishedan educational consulting firm, Ralph O. West and Associates andwas a member of the Executive Service Corp of New England.

Ralph was a vital and active member of the Class of 1942, and wasinstrumental in the establishment of the Class of 1942 Endowment Fundat their 50th Reunion, and established the Robert R. and Margaret S.

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West Library Fund in honor of his parents. He is survived by his wifeof 64 years, Mimi, four daughters and their families; Susan Ayres,Dorothy (Kippy) North, Martha (Marcy) Lyman, and Katherine (Kaatje)White, six granddaughters, six grandsons, including Edward Ayres ’96,and numerous nieces and nephews including Ted Anthony ’75.

Editors Note: Ralph’s legacy also directly impacted two former VA Headmasters –Bob Long was a student at Cushing when Ralph was the Headmaster, and JimMooney now works for the NEASC overseeing the Independent School Evaluationprocess that was Ralph’s legacy.

Richard D Haskell | 1944Richard D Haskell passed away of heart failure on July 11, 2010; hewas 84 years old. Dick’s passion of golf and eventual career pathstarted at the young age of 10 when he took a job as a caddie at theLabor-In-Vain Golf Club in Ipswich, MA. From that brief introduction,he went on to Vermont Academy and played the #7 man on aseven-man golf team at Bowdoin. Dick became an icon within thegolf community as he led the Massachusetts Golf Association asExecutive Director for nearly 30 years. His accomplishments in thisposition included introducing six new amateur championshipsstatewide and played an essential role in forming the InternationalAssociation of Golf Administrators.

A club champion runner-up at three different courses and a longtimemember of the golf committee at The Country Club, Dick often saidthat the most appealing aspect of his job was watching young playersdevelop. He initiated the Public Links, Mid-Amateur and Father-Sonand Father-Daughter tournaments and established the MGA InnerCity Junior Camps to create venues for youths. Dick is survived byhis wife, Betty, 2 sons, a daughter and five grandchildren.

David S. Alberts | 1945David S. Alberts passed away on Friday, August 20, 2010 after acourageous battle with several health related issues. David served asClass Representative for the Class of 1945 for over two decades, andenjoyed getting together with his classmates every Fall in SaxtonsRiver. Dave was also an active volunteer at Harvard, and was neverbashful about networking and making connections. He is survived bywife of 52 years, Pearl, two children Lisa and Gregg Handorff andLaurence and Yvonne Alberts, and four grandchildren.

A. Robert Fried | 1945A. Robert Fried passed away in November 2010 at WashingtonElms in Bennington, VT. Prior to that, Bob was in Bellows Falls at an assisted living home. In recent years Bob and Marti Harringtonwould bring him back to campus for a visit or to attend a campusfunction as Bob loved his affiliation with Vermont Academy.

Joseph Rowen Atwood | 1946Joseph Rowen Atwood, beloved husband of June Ramsey Atwood,passed away on July 24, 2010 at the age of 82. After graduating fromVermont Academy in he entered Bowdoin College. After completingone year of college, Joe enlisted in the Army and proudly served hiscountry in Okinawa. In January 1948, he re-entered Bowdoin Collegeand graduated in 1950. Joe passed on is love of skiing to hundreds ofchildren, by co-founding the Sudbury Junior Ski Program and servingas treasurer for over 20 years. Joe was a Mason, an active member

and chairman of the Sudbury Republican Town Committee, Deaconof the Sudbury Congregational Church, and member of the ski patrolat Neshoba Valley and Saddleback Mountain in Maine. He is survivedby his wife, two children and three grandchildren.

Charles W. Lowell, Sr. | 1946Charles W. Lowell, Sr. passed away on Friday, April 20, 2010. Charlieworked as a carpenter most of his life. He always said, if he gotsomething accomplished each day then it was a good day! He builthis own home and was blessed to be able to live there until hepassed. He loved music, enjoyed playing his guitar, and most Tuesdaynights he could be found in Bradford, VT dancing to the CT ValleySwingers. He loved his garden, and his zucchini relish was a favorite ofeveryone’s. He is survived by his three children and eight grandchildren.

K. Blair Davis | 1947K. Blair Davis, 82 passed away on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 inWilmington, DE. During the Korean Conflict, Blair was stationedin Japan with the U.S. Air Force. Blair worked for 30 years in severaldepartments in the DuPont Company, retiring for the InternationalDepartment. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revo-lution, St. Ann Church, and being an avid golfer, he was a memberof the DuPont Country Club. Blair is survived by his wife of 29years, Patricia.

Edward “Ned” W. Huntington | 1947Edward “Ned” W. Huntington, beloved husband of Barbara (Evans)Huntington died Friday, September 3, 2010. Ned graduated from JohnFitch High School in 1945 and attended both the Vermont Academyand UCONN before joining the family business, Huntington BrothersTobacco Company. A member for 66 years of the Poquonock FireCompany, he served as Chief for 5 years. Ned was a Ham radio operator under the call sign WI UIY and a member of the AmericanRadio Relay League. He had his private pilot’s license for many yearswhere he shared ownership of a Cessna airplane. He built and flewan ultra light aircraft with Leo Landry. A life-long member of thePoquonock Community Church; he supervised the reconstruction ofthe church after the tornado in 1979. He thoroughly enjoyed roadtrips with his wife Barbara exploring the United States and Canada.Besides his wife Barbara to whom he would have been married 61years, he leaves his four sons, a daughter; and 11 grandchildren andone great-grandson.

Perry Cotton Weston | 1950Perry Cotton Weston passed away on July 20, 2010 in WoodlandHills, CA. Perry was an active supporter to Vermont Academy as hetook on the role of Annual Fund Volunteer for his graduating class.

Perry served in the United States Army in New Jersey and Hawaiiand then worked for Marsh and McLennan, the world’s leading riskand insurance service firm. He specialized in the design, administration,communication and financial arrangements of employee benefitprograms for large domestic and multi national corporations. Perryis survived by his wife, Polly and three children.

Harold A Benson Jr. | 1951Harold A Benson Jr. passed away on March 23, 2010 at his home inDelray Beach, FL. Harold spent 20 years a principal of the human

services management firm Benson/Kramer/McAlister Associates.Previously he served 10 years at the North Carolina Department ofMental Health and as Deputy Commissioner for Child Mental HealthServices. He was also an executive for United Cerebral Palsy, theEpilepsy Foundation of America, the National Society for AutisticChildren and as served as Executive Director of the Washington, DCchapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Harold issurvived by his life partner of 30 years John M. Schneider, his sisters,and several nieces and nephews.

Harlan’ E. “Rusty” Karr Jr. | 1957Harlan’ E. “Rusty” Karr Jr., of Hancock, NH died peacefully Oct. 9,2010 at his home. Following his graduation from Vermont Academy,he attended the University of New Hampshire. Rusty was an insurancebroker and worked for several insurance agencies in the Monadnock,NH area, retiring in 2010 as President of the Masiello Agency inPeterborough, NH. He always loved outdoor activities, includinghunting, fishing and skiing. He was an active member of the N.H.Alpine Racing Association and a referee for the North American SkiAssociation. He was also a member of the Peterborough Fly FishingClub. He coached Peterborough touch football teams, was a formermember of the Peterborough Planning Board, a member of the Peterborough Lions Club, as well as a Rotarian. Survivors include hisson, two daughters, six grandchildren, and his life partner for manyyears, Donna L. Davis.

Scott Jamieson Divoll | 1964Scott Jamieson Divoll, 63, of Bennington, N.H. died on Feb. 9, 2010 at hishome. Scott married Nancy Holton in 1969 at the historic RockinghamMeeting House in Rockingham, VT. He enjoyed employment for avariety of companies including Pillsbury, Walker Insurance, the EagleTimes, and eventually Frito-Lay. Scott was a skilled golfer and wonseveral club championships at the Bellows Falls Country Club, andwhenever he wasn’t playing golf, he was following it on TV. Scott issurvived by his wife, Nancy and two sons Ian and Ira.

Milton J. Leaf | 1978Milton J. Leaf passed away on April 23, 2010. Milton was an avidhockey fan and dog lover. He was a skilled carpenter and a memberof the carpenters union of CT.

Jim MacLaren | 1981It is with great sadness that Jim MacLaren’sfamily announces his passing on August 30th,2010 after a long and courageous struggle withmedical issues related to his quadriplegia. Jimwas an inspiration to not only his family andfriends but countless others he touched overthe years with his life changing words, hisathletic accomplishments and his indomitablespirit. Jim’s message of hope will continue tolive on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Jim was an accomplished student at Vermont Academy, graduatingas Valedictorian and Barrett Medal Winner. He was also an All-AmericanLacrosse Player. Jim went on the Yale where he continued to excel infootball and in his studies. He entered Yale Drama School after hehad already landed several acting roles on soap operas, but his life

would change drastically in the Fall of 1985 after he was struck by aNew York City bus. He was pronounced “dead”, and when he awokehe was missing his left leg below the knee. Jim would conquer thatchallenge, and he went on to become a World-Class Triathlete. Jimwas voted to the VA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.

Another drastic change would come in Jim’s life in 1993 when he was involved in a second tragic accident during the GatoradeIronman Triathlon, where he was struck by a vehicle that enteredthe race course. The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) wasborn after Jim’s second accident when three of his many friendsfrom the sport of triathlon, created a triathlon event in San Diego tobuy Jim a vehicle that he could drive with his hands. In the 17 yearssince, CAF has raised over 28 million dollars and made it possible fordisabled people everywhere to stay in the game of life by providingmuch needed Prosthetics, procedures, services and support neededto engage life to the fullest. The recipient of the 2005 Arthur AsheCourage ESPY Award, Jim was featured in the movie Emmanuel’sGift about a young man from Ghana and his quest to raise awarenessabout deformities and for a prosthetic. Jim was honored with theVermont Academy Florence Sabin Award Distinguished AlumniAward in 2006.

Jim is survived by his mother, father, adopted father, his sister andtwo brothers, including Neil MacLaren ’82.

Editors Note: In October, 2010 three Vermont Academy alumni created a triathlonteam in Jim’s honor to compete in the CAF triathlon in La Jolla, CA. Please see theClass Note ’83 section for the complete story.

Frank Evans | 2006Frank Evans, 24, died unexpectedly and tragically Monday, Oct. 4,2010. Although physically disabled from an early age, Frank was ahappy, fearless, charismatic child who had many friends. He wasoften seen riding on the backs of friend’s bicycles, or being towed ona skateboard through the neighborhood (at high rates of speed), ordonning a pair of boxing gloves for some rowdy fun. He had a closegroup of neighborhood friends and together they had many adventuresand occasionally, a bit of mischief.

Vermont Academy was honored to have Frank join our communityfor a postgraduate year. He thrived socially and academically at VAand his proudest moment was being invited back the following yearto address the VA graduating class. He loved reading, researching hisgenealogy and his grandfather’s military achievements. He loveddebating, animals, and was a member of the First CongregationalChurch. He was kind, sensitive and thoughtful. He was a strongperson who worked hard and bravely faced great and numerous adversities. He is survived by his parents; his brother.

Marie L. Wright Marie L. Wright, former Vermont Academy employee passed awayon August 18, 2010 following a three year battle with leiomyosarcoma.Marie worked in the VA Development Office from 1989-1997, andwas an active member of the VA Parents Association while her son,Jonathan Wright ’93was a student. Marie’s greatest joy and respon-sibility was as a mother to her seven children. In addition, she nurturedseveral foster children in her home and was considered a mother andfriend to many of the children in the village. In addition to her husband,Norman, Marie leaves her seven children and their families, alongwith numerous nieces and nephews.

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To register online for events and to view pictures

of past events, go to: www.vermontacademy.org/

alumni/events

Far left (L to R): Carolyn Boday, Don Adams ’57,Dave Johnson P ’12, Shelby Johnson ’12

Middle: Keith Handler ’82, P ’10, ’12, ’13

Far right (L to R): Bill Shields, Ed Donnellan P ’06,’07, Bob Nutile ’68, Whitney Gay ’67

L to R: Teddy Maggiani ’06, Adam Rumsey’96, Bill Dunn ’63, Jeff Berger, David andDiane Merrill P ’11, Lindsay McFillin, guest,Sue Tschorn ’85, Zach Jandl ’06, SeanBrennan, Nancy Berger, Tom Royer, PeterRiegelman ’75, Michelle Holton, MarinaBerger, Tom Oxholm ’82, David Holton ’68,Sheila Royer, Jill Hutchins, Molly Gabarro,Tim Peters ’97, Roberta O'Donnell, RamseyHoehn ’97, Chuck Edgerton ’85

L to R (seated): Rob Sollmann ’70, Ellen Bonner, Bob Harrington, Carolyn Salzman, guest, Michelle Wells ’87, Ella Bullock McIntosh ’86

L to R (standing): Bob Scholl ’50, Tom Oxholm ’82, Jim Bamman ’76, Sean Brennan, Dave Bonner, Teri Green, Ty Tregellas, Mara Arzi, Jeff Salzman, Cathy Savocca, Jeff Green,Teryn McCarthy ’89, Dave Hodgson ’89, Chris Hamilton ’89

Burlington, VT

Westport, CT: November

Wildcat Scramble

>

>

>

> March 19th: San Jose, CA

> March 20th: Los Angeles, CA

> March 22nd: Salt Lake City, UT

> March 24th: Denver, CO

> April 5th: Boston, MA

> May 1st: Red Sox (Vermont Day)

> May 2nd: Portland, ME

> July 25th: Wildcat Scramble

SAVE THE DATES! UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS.. .>

2010 ALUMNI EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

10 Long Walk, Saxtons River, VT 05154

NON PROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE

PAIDWHT RIV JCT VT

PERMIT 86

EVERY GIFT MAKES AN IMPACT

Donate online at www.vermontacademy.org/giving or mail check to PO Box 500 Saxtons River, VT 05154

THE TRADITION OF GIVING IS

HANDED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION

IN THE FORM OF OPPORTUNITY.

EVERY GENERATION OF VERMONT

ACADEMY BENEFITS FROM THE

GENEROSITY OF ITS PREDECESSORS.

OUR STUDENTS ARE AN ASSET TO OUR

COMMUNITY WHO GROW INTO VA ALUMNI

WHO INSPIRE AND SUPPORT THE

NEXT GENERATION.

EVERY STUDENT IS PROVIDED WITH A

STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT HELPS THEM

DEVELOP AND DISCOVER THEIR OWN VOICE.

OUR FACULTY EAT, SLEEP ANDBREATHE VERMONT ACADEMY.THIS IS NOT A JOB, THIS IS A WAY OF LIFE.

EVERY TEACHER TAKES

THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND EACH

STUDENT’S UNIQUE STORY.

EVERY GIFT TO THE ANNUAL

FUND MAKES THIS ALL POSSIBLE.

HELP KEEP THE TRADITION GOING:DONATE TODAY TO THEANNUAL FUND.