Topher Grace ’97, Sargent Hall Productions Release Take Me Home Tonight

A Fulbright Scholar in the Arab World

Louder Than A Bomb Explodes at Brewster

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Why Give Back to Brewster?

Students learned to evaluate, analyze, and discern and not just to follow the pack or the latest craze. Talk about preparation for life!

Brewster reinforced my confidence to take responsibility for my own life. Which is why I support Brewster.

If you would like to give back to Brewster, please contact the Alumni and Development Office (603.569.7133), or for your convenience, you may give online: www.brewsteracademy.org/giving

Daniel T. Mudge, President(Tapley-Ann ’98, Ashley ’02)

Leslie N. H. MacLeod, Vice President(Todd ’97)

Roy C. Ballentine, Treasurer(Brian ’97, Susan ’94)

Helen S. Hamilton, Secretary

Michael Appe

C. Richard CarlsonEstate Trustee

David L. Carlson ’54

Arthur W. Coviello Jr.

Candace Crawshaw ’64

Claudine Curran(Alex ’06, Gen ’11)

George J. Dohrmann III (George ’05, Geoffrey ’12)

Stephen Farrell Sr.(Stephen Jr. ’12)

Peter Ford ’80

Douglas H. Greeff (Hilary ’11)

Michael Keys (Matthew ’04)

Barbara Naramore

Arthur O. RicciEstate Trustee

The Reverend Nancy Spencer SmithEstate Trustee

Steven R. Webster (Brooke ’08, Tori ’11)

A.B. Whitfield(Trey ’89)

Trustee Emeriti

Walter N. “Rink” DeWitt ’54 (Kate ’86)

P. Fred Gridley ’53 (Deborah ’81)

Grant M. Wilson (Grant ’87, Kirsten ’88)

BREWSTER ACADEMY

2010-2011Board of Trustees

Photo by Amy Misera ’12

Spring 2011

Inside

©2011 Brewster Academy. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Head of School

Director of Admission and External Affairs

Editor, Director of Communications

Contributors

Photography

Departments 12 Newsmakers14 On the Road26 Class Notes32 In Memoriam34 Writing Brewster’s History

2 Headlines It’s All About Relationships

3 Weston Sager ‘05: Fulbright Scholar Inspired by his Brewster classmates, a scholar attempts to understand the Arab world

6 Louder Than A Bomb Explodes on Campus Jon Siskel ’85 returned to campus for the screening of his latest award-winning film

8 Bobcat Nation Brewster teams and athletes continue to dominate; plus, where seniors will take their talents next year

10 Artists Among Us A sampling of artwork showcases the mediums and techniques students communicate and create within.

17 Hoopla Making Connections Work: Brewster Duos Prosper A look at Brewster connections in the professional world

25 How A Girl From Jamaica Survives Winter in Wolfeboro Winter survival advice from Ashley Rose ’11

Cover photo of Topher Grace ‘97 courtesy of Sargent Hall Productions

By Marlee Walker ‘11

By Alex Green ‘11

By Willie Kenyon ‘12

recently listened to Pat Bassett, president of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS),

speak about the challenges facing independent schools in the realm of fund raising. While that’s not

the topic of this Connections Head Lines (although perhaps it will be in the near future), the context in

which he framed his remarks is important and timely. In his talk he made reference to what NAIS calls

the “markers of success” or those things that we can point to that distinguish and show the value of a Brewster

education. Naturally such a topic is of tremendous importance to us for a variety of reasons, not the least of

which is being able to talk about how we impact lives.

Without delving too far into his remarks, there is one marker of success that he spoke about that relates to

the theme of this issue of Connections and that’s about the impact of relationships that get developed while

at school and the value that these provide students attending Brewster. One of the benchmarks that we

pay close attention to is the rate of attrition, or the number of students who voluntarily leave the school,

either through the year or who do not return for the following academic year. The NAIS average for boarding

schools is around 8 percent while our attrition rate has consistently hovered around 4 percent. While we

make good matches at the front door during the admission process as to who is likely to succeed here and

who is not, much of the low attrition rate can be attributed to the kind of experience that students have once

they attend Brewster.

It’s the community that we have and the climate found here among the students, faculty, and staff that make

the difference. We see evidence of the power of positive relationships each week when students sit with their

advisors to reflect on the past week’s activities, both good and bad, and map out strategies for the coming

week. The resulting “weekly blog” to parents that outlines the discussion points between student and advisor

further solidifies the sense of community and importance of relationship building. The benefits of interactions

such as this extend well beyond the advisor meeting. There is a fair amount of research that supports the

development of positive relationships with significant others and the proposition that these interactions

are significant antecedents to adolescent’s ability to function effectively in social, affective, and academic

domains. Some of the research concludes that high-quality interpersonal relationships in students’ lives add

to their academic motivation, engagement, and achievement. Our experience would support this conclusion.

When we take these findings a step further and look at the relationships that also develop student to

student, and how often these translate into tremendous opportunities throughout life, we see outcomes

like you will be reading in the pages of this issue of Connections, lifelong associations that morph into

business partnerships. Taken in its entirety, it offers us more reason for why we would make a move into

the realm of emotional and social literacy, as we have. It is such an important dimension toward furthering

the development of relationships that we believe that we will have a clear opportunity to build off what is

already a powerful model and provide our students with an even greater leg up when it comes to how they

manage the connections between themselves and others throughout their lives. We hope to be able to tell

you more about our social and emotional literacy program over the next few months as we continue to bring

elements of the approach into the daily fabric of life at the school.

In the meantime, I hope that you enjoy the pages that follow and look forward to your continued connections

with Brewster.

Dr. Michael E. Cooper, Head of School

It’s All About Relationships

Research concludes that high-quality interpersonal relationships in students’

lives add to their academic motivation, engagement,

and achievement. Our experience would support

this conclusion.

native of Wakefield, New Hampshire,

Weston Sager ‘05 was a Brewster “lifer”

and valedictorian of his class. Sager had

spent his primary and middle school years at a small

school in his hometown. However, he credits the

diverse Brewster community as the principal factor

in helping him integrate himself comfortably into

college life.

“My fellow Brewster students were exceptional.

From them, I learned a great deal about how to

relax, have fun, and be social. I wouldn’t have made

nearly as many friends at Dartmouth had I not been

surrounded by such a diverse, supportive, and fun-

loving group in high school.”

“Academically, the AP courses I took at Brewster

prepared me well for the rigors of an Ivy League

education. In particular, my writing level as a

freshman was well above that of many of my

fellow Dartmouth students, due in large part to the

excellent tutelage of my former Brewster English

teachers, Jonathan Fouser and Mary Fallon. My other

courses were valuable as well, but the demanding

nature of my Brewster APs really gave me the

discipline and knowledge base necessary to thrive at

a school like Dartmouth.”

Following graduation, Sager headed across the state

to Dartmouth College fairly certain he would enroll

in Chinese, Korean, or Japanese classes due mainly

to the influence of his Asian friends at Brewster.

“I thoroughly enjoyed learning about East Asian

cultures from my classmates at Brewster, and I

wanted to continue this line of study. But when I

entered Dartmouth, I found the Arabic professors to

be more engaging and better teachers than those in

the East Asian languages department.”

Sager’s arrival as a freshman at Brewster preceded

the 9/11 attacks by two days, and while the event

did have an influence on his decision to study Arabic,

the desire to have the best language professors

ultimately compelled him to study the Arabic

language and culture.

Once at Dartmouth, his

roommate encouraged

Sager to enroll in an Arabic

language class. “John

inspired me to take Arabic

in the fall of my freshman

year. I went with him to an

Arabic/Chinese/Japanese

open house where I met my

college mentor, Professor

Jonathan Smolin. I enrolled

in this professor’s Arabic

course because he seemed

like a great teacher, and I

had been told to choose

courses by the professor –

not by the subject.”

“I ended up loving Arabic,

even though languages

had traditionally been my

weakest subject. Arabic was

more logic-based than other languages and suited

my strengths well.” Freshman year, Sager began

writing for The Dartmouth Review, a controversial

conservative newspaper. “I signed up for the paper

not so much because of its political leanings, but

because it was by far the best written publication

on campus. Its staff, though outlandish at times,

was great fun to be around. Many of my fondest

memories from freshman year came from meetings

at this newspaper. I wrote a number of stories

for them, and it became my major non-academic

activity.” In his senior year, Sager would become

business manager and publisher of the newspaper.

At the end of his freshman year, Sager travelled to

North Africa to participate in his first study abroad

program. He studied at the Arabic Language Institute

in Fez, Morocco, and he and his freshman roommate

lived with a traditional Moroccan family. “We

underwent rigorous Arabic training at the school, but

it had little practical use. Moroccans didn’t speak

Arabic per se. They spoke darija, a dialect that uses

Arabic characters and grammar, but has a vocabulary

Fulbright Scholar Weston Sager ’05Inspired by his Brewster Classmates, a Scholar Attempts to Understand the Arab World

comprised of French, Spanish, and Tamazight, or

Berber, as it more commonly known.”

“Arabic is a challenging, often frustrating language

– not so much because of the language itself,

but rather because of its limited use due to the

prevalence of country-specific dialects. Although I

studied classical Arabic for four consecutive years

at Dartmouth, I struggled mightily to communicate

even the most basic ideas to Moroccans. It was as

though I studied Latin for four years and then spoke

it to a modern-day Spaniard; he or she would sort

of understand what I was saying, but not really.

Not being able to use my language training was

disheartening to say the least, and no matter where

I travel in the Arab world, there will always be a

disconnect between the Arabic I learned and the

Arabic that is spoken.”

Arab CultureSager would return to the Arab world again his junior

year when he travelled to Kuwait for three months

to work as an intern in the student life office at the

American University of Kuwait.

Weston and Dartmouth friend in their Kuwaiti dishdashas.

Weston’s favorite fruit

vendor in Rabat.

“Arab culture is truly fascinating – and always

unexpectedly so. On one hand, I found Moroccans

and Kuwaitis to be, at their cores, almost

indistinguishable from Americans. Like Americans,

they value family, hard work, and professional

success. They were also exceedingly welcoming to

foreigners from America and Europe, but admittedly

less so to those from places such as sub-Saharan

Africa and South Asia.

“In other ways, though, they could not have

been more different from Americans. The way

they approached education, for example, was

diametrically opposed to the American system.

Bribing teachers was commonplace, and ‘critical

thinking’ was almost nonexistent. Other areas were

also quite dissimilar. Sexism, racism, and religious

discrimination were not only widespread but

encouraged in these countries. It was not uncommon

to read newspaper articles that blamed Jews for

all manner of cultural misfortunes – even natural

disasters. It was this simultaneous similarity and

difference that really grabbed my attention. In my

career, I hope to delve further into these cultures so I

can learn more about their complexities.”

The summer before his senior year at Dartmouth,

Sager worked at the Hudson Institute, a politically

centrist think tank in Washington, D.C. He interned

for Zeyno Baran, a Turkish scholar, in the Center for

Eurasian Policy. “It was a timely position to hold, as

that summer Russia invaded Georgia. They definitely

got their money’s worth from my unpaid internship.”

Back at Dartmouth that fall, Sager applied for a

Fulbright Scholarship to Morocco, specifically to

study how Arabian Peninsula nations were portrayed

in Moroccan newspapers, “arguably the freest and

most rapidly developing press in the Arab world.”

Something else happened his senior year that Sager

considers equally significant to his career path. He

began serving as president of The Dartmouth Review.

“It was a difficult time to lead the newspaper, as it

was the start of the ‘great recession’ and newspapers

were dropping left and right. But I managed to

rescue The Review from going under, due mostly to

logging in ungodly hours there and also a little bit

of luck when it came to donations.” This experience

compelled him to consider business school.

As the president of the newspaper, he had been in

charge of all things financial – fundraising, taxes,

marketing, as well as merchandise, distribution, and

printing. Sager found these business challenges a

welcome change from his usual academics. “It was

a wonderful experience and put me on the path

toward a career in the private sector – a divergence

from most Arabic majors who tend to lean toward

government work.”

Still, an MBA was not the obvious choice for Sager. “I

batted the idea of studying law around for a while,

but certain aspects of the field were unappealing.

And seeing how beneficial American and European

businesses were in the Arab world, not to mention

their potential for significant growth, I eventually

opted for the MBA.

“My hope is that an MBA will allow me to combine

the skills I learned from leading The Review and

traveling to Morocco and Kuwait into a coherent

whole.”

His experience with The Review was so meaningful,

Sager has this advice for students: “When you’re

finally at college, take advantage of more than just

your classes and the nightlife. Nearly every college

boasts great art programs. Go and see theater,

sculpture, movies, whatever. They’re almost always

rewarding, and they also can be a great cheap

date. Similarly, get involved in something you feel

passionate about. Athletics, the college newspaper,

and peer advisor groups

are all good choices,

particularly anything

that displays leadership.

These are not only

rewarding at the time,

but pay big dividends in

finding a job or applying

to graduate school. The

same can be said for

college admissions.”

Back to Morocco for Fulbright Research In the spring, Sager was

awarded the Fulbright

Scholarship and left

for Morocco after

graduation. He again

studied at the Arabic

Language Institute in Fez.

However, his research was less about the language

and more about the Arab world.

“I was as surprised as anyone to discover that

business – not diplomacy or non-governmental

organizations—was the best way to make friends in

the Middle East and North Africa. Arabs, particularly

younger Arabs, love American products – even if they

don’t particularly like the American government.

There is evidence that American businesses are

already making an impact on bridging the cultural

divide between ‘East’ and ‘West.’ And it’s found in

the language. Older Moroccans know French, while

younger Moroccans know English. This is because

many younger Moroccans view fluency in English as

the best way to get a high-paying international job.

And they came to this conclusion not because of

some U.S. government-led campaign, but because

McDonald’s and other multinational corporations

offer better products and pay more than most

in-country industries. For many Moroccans,

English fluency means greater wealth and more

opportunities. But knowledge of English also leads to

more favorable relations between the two regions.

Once the people know English, they can bypass

the biased Arab media and access American culture

directly.”

Weston and Victoria on the streets of Marrakech. December 2009:

The newlyweds with the

groom’s parents Lorraine

and Richard Sager.

Sager recently completed graduate school

applications to enroll in an MBA program, a

degree he plans to use to work for a multinational

corporation with significant ties to the Middle East

and North Africa. “From what I’ve seen, McDonald’s,

Microsoft, Unilever, and even Starbucks would all

be good choices for my first foray into the business

world after graduate school. Each one of these

corporations is having a positive impact in the region

by providing products that Arabs use and value.

“After working for one or more of these corporations,

I plan to become something of a facilitator of

exchange between the Western world and the

Arab world. I want to introduce more American

and European businesses to Arab countries and

introduce successful Arab businesses to America

and Europe as well. I believe this kind of trade will

enrich both regions and lead to lasting cross-cultural

understanding.”

Before he left to pursue his Fulbright Scholarship

in Morocco, Sager became engaged to his girlfriend

of three years, Victoria, whom he had met at

Dartmouth. On a trip home to Wakefield in

December 2009, he and Victoria were married in

a small ceremony. The two had planned this initial

ceremony for practical purposes, he explained, as

they didn’t want to live together in Morocco without

a marriage certificate.

Back in Morocco, the couple lived in the suburbs of

Rabat, and Victoria volunteered at a women’s rights

organization while her husband researched, read,

and wrote. “I introduced her to the joys of Moroccan

street food, including the best potato chips and

candied peanuts we’d ever had. Of course, we also

drank copious amounts of mint tea and orange juice

– the two signature Moroccan potables.”

While Sager waits to hear about graduate school so

he can plan the next move along his career path, he

is managing his family’s newly acquired business,

Sunset Lodges, a resort on Lake Winnipesaukee in

Tuftonboro, New Hampshire.

From the diverse campus community on the shores

of Lake Winnipesaukee, to the Ivy League, to North

Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, Weston Sager

continues on his journey hoping to make an impact

in a whole new world.

Leadership, Business Opportunities

Students Head to Washington for ConferencePreye Okara ’12, Sydney Baker ’13, and Ashley Rogers ’13 are participating

in the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. The Leaders of

Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today is the theme of the six-day conference

held March 29 – April 2.

The conference is designed to motivate and inspire top high school students

from across the United States by giving them an opportunity to discuss

current issues with the men and women who shape the country’s policies and

laws. While in Washington, the students will assess problems, contribute to group

discussions, and take on roles in educational simulations. Through hands-on

experiences, students develop important leadership skills by learning to evaluate

critical information, form and advocate positions, and make decisions.

“I hope to learn how we, as a new generation, can make a difference in our

community and try to make the world a better place,” Baker said. “I would love

to bring the information I learn back to Brewster and share it so others can make

a difference as well.”

Brewster faculty nominated the students, who also had to meet high academic

and leadership criteria.

Campus BBCBrewster’s Business Club (BBC) actively raises money and introduces students

to business endeavors. This spring the BBC is focused on selling their homemade

pizza, sponsoring a dance, and selling T-shirts to raise money for the 2011

senior class gift. Resume writing, summer internships, and college and industry

networking also are benefits of club membership. If you are interested in sharing

your business experience or have an internship opportunity, please contact BBC

President Jackson Callahan ‘11 at jackson_callahan@brewsteracademy.org or

staff advisor Martha Trepanier ‘83 at 603-569-7135 or martha_trepanier@

brewsteracademy.org.

Members of the BBC get ready to prepare pizza to sell to students (l to r); Tyler Leighton ‘13, Allie Girard ‘13, Jack Stine ‘13, Marshall Lee ‘12, and BK Kang 12

or 99 minutes on one snowy January

morning, students sat in Anderson Hall quiet

and captivated by a movie about poetry.

“In my class before this all-school assembly, I was

asked if I knew what ‘the movie’ was going to

be about,” science teacher Michelle Rafalowski-

Houseman shared. “Before I could respond, a

student piped up ‘Poetry,’ in a very dull and lethargic

voice. Groans were shared throughout the class.

“In my afternoon classes, students spoke

energetically and empathetically about the students

involved in ‘The Bomb.’ I am so excited to hear

students excited about poetry! ‘Now that is the kind

of poetry I could get into!’ exclaimed one student.”

They were talking about the documentary Louder

Than a Bomb, which was brought to campus by

alumnus Jon Siskel ’85, an Emmy award-winning

filmmaker. By January, the film had already won nine

awards at film festivals throughout the country.

Perhaps the filmmakers’ website captures the film’s

essence best: “Louder Than a Bomb is a film about

passion, competition, teamwork, and trust. It’s about

the joy of being young, and the pain of growing up.

It’s about speaking out, making noise, and finding

your voice. It also just happens to be about poetry.”

Siskel and his production partner Greg Jacobs

spent a year visiting numerous high schools in the

Chicago area as the schools prepared for the world’s

largest annual poetry slam competition. They then

chose four schools to profile in their documentary

and spent another year interviewing and filming

these teams. The next two years were spent editing

350 hours of film into 99 minutes of captivating

characters who shared their stories about finding

their voices through words.

“I was impressed by Louder Than a Bomb,”

said senior David Nieman of Wolfeboro. “The

topic of slam poetry revealed itself to be very

captivating. “Throughout the film, the back-

story of several characters draws the audience

in to the excitement and power of this form of

expression. Many of the poems, performed in the

movie without cuts, are deeply emotional and

draw from the life experience of these teenagers. I

was equally impressed by the fact that a Brewster

graduate has made such an impact within the

documentary community. “In today’s film industry,

inexpensive equipment has spawned thousands of

documentaries. Louder Than a Bomb has had enough

impact to stand out against these other films. As

a senior looking forward to film school, it is very

encouraging to meet a graduate who has been so

successful in the industry.”

“I really enjoyed Louder Than a Bomb,” senior Jordan

Weaver (Austin, Texas) said. “The theme that really

spoke to me was the respect that these young

people gained from the adults around them by

using their literary talents. The bittersweet reality

that they wrote about connected to and kept the

attention of the students here at Brewster, and I am

Louder Than A Bomb Explodes at Anderson HallJon Siskel ’85 returned to campus for the screening of his latest award-winning film

Jordan Weaver ’11, David Nieman ’11, Marilyn Shea, academic dean, Steve Burgess, media arts instructor, Mike Cooper, Andrea Cooper, and BG Hodges ’66, media arts instructor, enjoyed lunch with Jon Siskel ’85 during his campus visit.

so happy I was able to meet with Mr. Siskel after

the documentary. I felt very lucky that I got to

hear about ‘behind the scenes’ of LTAB and his

other work.”

“Louder Than a Bomb is a testament to what

amazing things can happen in education when

dedicated teachers provide the framework and

skills that enable students to express their

passions and interests in an environment that

demands excellence,” said Peter Hess, dean

of students. “Extremely powerful stuff is

captured in this film!”

Louder Than a Bomb will have its television

premiere later this year on the Oprah

Winfrey Network as part of the OWN

Documentary Club. For more information

on Louder Than a Bomb, Siskel/Jacobs

Productions, or to learn if the movie

is playing in your city, visit:

www.louderthanabombfilm.com

Many of the poems, performed in the movie without

cuts, are deeply emotional and draw from the life

experience of these teenagers.

Jon Siskel ‘85 reviews the work of the Brewster news team with media arts instructor Steve Burgess and Jordan Weaver ‘11. Media arts instructor BG Hodges ‘66, not seen, was showing the broadcast.

Slam Poetry at Brewster

Based on the student excitement generated by Louder Than a Bomb,

Brewster is planning to offer a performance poetry class next year.

“Students really got excited about the concept

of slam poetry with Jon Siskel’s visit,” said

Academic Dean Marilyn Shea. “The documentary

inspired everyone here, and it certainly showed

us all how what a powerful learning tool we

have when we find an effective way to link youth

culture with the curriculum.”

She continued, “What I found most compelling

was the peer culture this effort has helped schools

build. You watch kids give and receive absolute

respect. They have learned how to work together

and learned to replace hate with love. I think we

were also taken with the power of the poetry and

the fact that these kids were truly creating art, and

exhibiting the talents for analysis and evaluative

thinking that schools struggle to get kids to grasp.”

The Brewster course is designed to provide students

with an opportunity to explore and experiment with

the poetry slam as a performing art and as a vehicle for

creative expression and with a goal of performing in an

interschool poetry slam.

Bobcat NationNew England Field Hockey ChampionsTeamwork and Character Underlie Championship Team

This year the 2010 varsity field hockey team made

Brewster Academy history by capturing both the

New England Preparatory School Athletic Council

(NEPSAC) Class C Championship and the Lakes

Region Championship. It was the team’s eighth New

England Tournament bid in nine seasons, including

two New England Championships and three Lakes

Region Championships.

It was a season in which the team openly embraced

change and saw challenges as real opportunities.

The Bobcats showed a promising start to the season

with three convincing wins against Gould Academy,

Kents Hill School, and Hebron Academy. Class B

Cushing Academy and Class A Exeter Academy

then stopped the team’s early momentum, but the

Bobcats bounced back against their rival Holderness

School to pull out an important overtime tie.

The team went on to beat both Tilton and New

Hampton schools in the Lakes Region. A tie and two

further wins in Class C demonstrated the Bobcat

drive and determination, and despite a mid-season

set back, the team stayed focused on delivering their

full potential.

Team confidence intensified and Brewster set

their sights high finishing the regular season with

exciting wins against both New Hampton School and

Proctor Academy. The synergy on and off the field

was palpable, and the newly named Lakes Region

Championship team was ready to live out their

dream in postseason play.

The Bobcats earned a New England bid as the #7

seed and prepared to give nothing but their best

against #2 Ethel Walker School. The Bobcats upped

the intensity and made their mark with a 2-0 win.

Semifinal action placed Brewster against their

well-known opponent #3 seed Holderness for an all-

important re-match. The Bobcats had learned their

lesson and their will to win brought them one step

closer to their ultimate goal with a 2-1 win.

Finally they faced off against the undefeated #1

seed Newton Country Day School in the finals.

The Bobcats would once again prove their worth in

performance, attitude, and commitment to turn their

dream of winning the New England Championship

into a reality with a 3-1 victory.

– Kim Yau, Head Coach

The following seniors and

postgraduates have made

commitments to play

sports at the collegiate

level. This is not a complete

list, as students are still

making decisions. For an

updated list, visit www.

brewsteracademy.org/

sportsnews

SoccerTaylor Booth: Siena College

Field HockeyRachael Paul: Providence College

Ice HockeyStephen Balsamo: Saint Anselm College

Yegor Bezuglyy: Johnson & Wales University

Megan Colpitts: College of the Holy Cross

Chelsiea Goll: Northeastern University

Jessie Anne Howard: University of Prince Edward Island

Sarah MacDonnell: University of Connecticut

Chelsea MacNeil: Bowdoin College

Brennen Shaw: Assumption College

Olivia Zweber: College of the Holy Cross

Basketball Max Hooper: Harvard University

Durand Johnson: University of Pittsburgh

Marcus Kennedy: Villanova University

Jakarr Sampson: St. John’s University

Naadir Tharpe: University of Kansas

LacrosseJon Behning: Hartwick College

Mitchell Chapman: Bryant University

Patrick Eaker: Marist College

Jimmy Murphy: University of Hartford

CrewCameron Bierwith: Syracuse University

Hunter Holtz: Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Playing at the Next

Level

First row l to r: Mike Cooper, seniors Elizabeth Sterchele, Olivia Zweber, captain Jolie Wehrung , Hilary Greeff, captain Jessie Howard, captain Chelsiea Goll, Rachael Paul, coach Kim Yau; Standing l to r: assistant coach Janis Cornwell, Nicole Levesque ‘14, Amy Misera ‘12, Sarah Geyssel ‘11, Shelby Allesandroni ‘14, Goldie Paul ‘12, Olivia Hadley ‘12, Hanna Skelley ‘12, Toni DiGeronimo ‘12, Catherine LeBoeuf ‘13, and Allie Hughes ‘12

New England Soccer SemifinalistsDefending Champions Dominate in Lakes Region and New England Leagues

Goalkeeper and captain Taylor Booth ’11 holds the record for Brewster shutouts

In 2010, captain Taylor Booth ‘11 (Epping, New

Hampshire) led Brewster Academy to a 12-3-2

record and its fourth consecutive Lakes Region

Championship. Along the way, Booth added to her

school record shutout total, finishing with 32 in her

three-year career.

Emma Jones (Wolfeboro), Courtney Piper

(Wolfeboro), and Sarah MacDonnell (Quispamsis,

New Brunswick) have been four-year contributors

to the varsity program, and they each played a

big role in the success of the 2010 season. Jones

continued to be a consistent defensive presence for

the Bobcats and made key offensive contributions as

well, finishing with six goals and five assists. Piper

made a move from midfield to left back and never

left the field; she was a player the team could always

count on to do her job. MacDonnell started off the

year with a flourish, scoring 10 goals (including four

game winners) in the first nine games; unfortunately,

she suffered a season-ending injury in the ninth

game on a play where she scored.

After MacDonnell’s injury, the Bobcats had to work

hard to score goals, and many players stepped up.

Senior Chelsea MacNeil (Moncton, New Brunswick)

scored one of the most important goals of the

year, when she tallied the game winner in the final

minute against Kimball Union Academy; it was a

game that Brewster could not afford to tie or lose if

they wanted to win the league, and MacNeil came

through.

Brewster played some of its best games against

Lakes Region rivals to finish with a 9-0-1 record

in the league, and the team’s regular season

success helped them earn a #2 seed in the New

England Preparatory School Athletic Council

playoffs. After winning a close 1-0 game against

Proctor in the quarterfinals, Brewster fell to

Wheeler School 1-0 in the semifinals. Although the

Bobcats were disappointed not to repeat as New

England champions, their resolute competitiveness

throughout the season should be remembered.

– Matt Butcher, Head Coach

These Bobcats finished in a respectable 20th position out of 75 boats at the Head of the Charles Regatta. They are Hunter Holtz ’11, Cam Bierwith ’11, John Steensma ’12, and Ryan Ingram ’11. Not shown is coxswain Leah Soboroff ’11.

The national defending prep school champion boys’ varsity basketball team ended regular season play with a 29-1 record. Here Mitch McGary ’12 puts one in for the Bobcats.

Lakes Region Runner of the Year: Reika Kijima ’12

he artwork of five Brewster students

received recognition in the New

Hampshire Scholastic Art Awards

competition in January. The competition

featured thousands of pieces of artwork from

student artists throughout the state. Here we

share their award-winning artwork as well as

selected pieces from other Brewster artists.

“The visual arts programs foster a student’s

development of creative problem solving and

encourage students to think outside of the

box. Through the creative process, students

put a voice to their work and learn how to

communicate through various mediums and

techniques. They learn to appreciate the great

works of past masters and discover how this

in turn affects them and their creative process.

We aim to provide our students with a positive

and fun experience in the arts, one where they

can learn to value the process of creating, as

well as the beauty of every day things in their

surroundings.”

Artists Among Us

NewsmakersStudent Film Showcased at Film Festival

Beginning’s End, a short film by David Nieman ’11

(Wolfeboro) and Hannah Carter ’11 (New Canaan,

Connecticut) won acceptance in the New Hampshire

Film Festival last summer and was shown at the

October festival in Portsmouth. The 5 ! minute

drama features a girl who stays late to sing in an

empty building. As she goes to leave, she finds that

leaving may not be an option. Nieman directed the

technical aspects and edited the film, while Carter

wrote the story and directed the acting. Genevieve

Curran ’11 (Hollis, New Hampshire) played the

main character.

The 2010 lineup of independent films featured

New Hampshire filmmakers as well as national and

international filmmakers and winners from film

festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, and South by

Southwest.

Beginning’s End was the Runner Up to the Jury Award

at the 2010 New Hampshire High School Short

Film Festival. Nieman’s next project will focus on

bathroom graffiti. Stay tuned.

Bobcat Nation Goes International

Sarah MacDonnell ’11 (Quispamsis, New Brunswick)

traveled to Stockholm, Sweden, in January to

represent Team Canada at the International Ice

Hockey Federation World (IIHF) Women’s Under-18

Championship.

MacDonnell, a forward who just completed her

fourth season with the Bobcats, was among 20

players selected to represent Team Canada at

the world games. On her way to the finals, she

contributed three goals, two against Germany and

one in the semifinals over Finland. In the finals,

Canada lost to the United States 5-2. MacDonnell

will take her talent to the University of Connecticut

next season.

Another Bobcat icer

Yegor Bezuglyy ’11

(Karkhov, Ukraine)

played in the

IIHF World Men’s

Under-20 competition

in December in

Bobruisk, Belarus.

Bezuglyy, a forward,

scored on a penalty shot against Italy. It was his

third appearance at the IIHF games. “It was an

awesome experience playing at such a high level of

competition,” he said.

Cooper Presents at CASE

Mike Cooper and Karin L. George, senior associate at

Washburn & McGoldrick Inc. presented at the 41st

Annual Case-NAIS Independent Schools Conference

in Chicago. The two led the session “Leading Change

and Transition with the Board of Trustees: The

Brewster Academy Story.”

AP English Paper PublishedShira Braiterman ’13 (Wolfeboro) penned an essay

for Jonathan Fouser’s AP English Class “Tragedy Does

Not An Unhappy Person Make” that received high

marks from Fouser as well as the editors of the New

Hampshire Sunday News and the Granite State News

Filmmakers Hannah Carter ’11 and David Nieman ’11 at the New Hampshire Film Festival

where the essay

was published.

The assignment

was to write an

essay on any topic

imitating the style

of Pulitzer Prize-

winning Miami

Herald columnist

Leonard Pitts Jr.

The essay conveyed Braiterman’s thoughts on how

easy, and perhaps comforting, it is for individuals

to compare their lives to someone experiencing

tragedy or misery. In this way, Braiterman asserts,

we can feel that we have a better life or at least it

is not as bad as someone else’s. Her protagonist is

the late Elizabeth Edwards and her assumption is

that upon Ms. Edwards’ recent death, people “had a

fresh face to compare their lives to.” Yet, in Edwards,

Braiterman sees only a woman, a mother, an

attorney “who dealt. And she survived. And right up

to the end, she was thankful. For that, she shouldn’t

be pitied.” Braiterman wrote the essay the day after

Edwards died from breast cancer.

Alumna is First Woman to Throw for Major Leagues

Justine Siegal ’93

became the first

woman to throw

batting practice to a

major league team

in February when

she threw to the

Cleveland Indians

and the Oakland A’s

during spring training.

Siegal is the founder

and executive director

of Baseball For All

and is dedicated

to providing

opportunities for girls and women to get involved in

the game of baseball. “I want to show that baseball

is a game for all and that both boys and girls love

this game,” Siegal said. “My throwing BP is proof that

dreams really can come true.”

A veteran at throwing batting practice, Siegal is the

first woman to coach first base in men’s professional

baseball (Brockton Rox, 2009). She also spent three

years as the only female college baseball coach in

the country.

To honor the memory of Chistina Taylor Green, 9,

killed in the Tucson, Arizona, shooting, Siegal wore

a baseball memorial patch. Christina was the only

girl on her Little League baseball team and dreamed

of becoming the first woman to play major league

baseball.

Grace and Kaywin to Return as Commencement SpeakersAs busy as they are with their first feature film

release, Topher Grace ’97 and Gordon Kaywin ’97

have added Brewster Academy to their schedule and

will be the 2011 commencement speakers.

Their company

Sargent Hall

Productions

just released

Take Me Home

Tonight. Among

the film’s

stars is Grace

who along

with Kaywin

founded

Sargent Hall

Productions three years ago. The former classmates

met as sophomores when they lived in Sargent

Hall and had dreams of someday working together

on something they were both passionate about:

creating films.

In conjunction with the film’s release, MTV was on

campus in mid-February to interview Lynne Palmer,

director of admission and external affairs, for an

episode of When I Was 17. The show features current

celebrities and looks back on when they were 17. The

show aired at the end of February.

Keogh and Edwards Drafted for Pro LacrosseStephen Keogh ’07 and Damon Edwards ’08 have

committed to professional lacrosse teams. Keogh

was drafted by the Hamilton Nationals (Canada)

and will likely play for Major League Lacrosse this

summer. He graduates from Syracuse University in

May, where he has helped the Orange to two NCAA

titles. In January Edwards signed with the Boston

Blazers of the National Lacrosse League.

Philip Tuttle Joins San Jose Earthquakes

In January

the San Jose

Earthquakes

selected

goalkeeper Philip

Tuttle ‘06 in the

second round of

the Major League

Soccer Supplemental Draft. Tuttle defended the

Bobcat goal for two seasons before committing to

the University of Notre Dame.

During his Notre Dame career, Tuttle, who is from

Hooksett, New Hampshire, appeared in 33 games,

starting 29 and posting a 0.94 goals against average

with nine shutouts. He ended his collegiate career

with a 16-10-4 record and helped lead the Irish to

the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2008,

2009, and 2010.

Taking Notice of Brewster In December the principal and a colleague from the

Martin Technology Academy of Math and Science

in north Georgia visited campus to learn about

the Brewster program. Specifically, the school

representatives were interested in learning how

Brewster has embedded instructional practices

across the whole school and how Brewster has

differentiated instruction and infused technology

within the curriculum. The Georgia Academy is a K-5

public charter school.

RoadOn The

Front row (l to r): Shiori Taguchi ‘02, Mari Kawamura ‘01, Mirei Sugihara ‘03, Yasunori Akiyama ‘96 (with the world travelling Bobcat), Akiko Kumukai ‘00 Back row (l to ri): Fumiko Yamada, Daigi Sakamoto ‘03, Shoko Morita ‘05, Yuji Nakano ‘ 05,Tomoko Oyama ‘03, Raylene Davis, Akiko Kato ‘00, Sayaka Konaka ‘00, Yuta Oguchi ‘99, Masakatsu Inoue ‘03, Jim Bastis

In Beijing with parents of current students.

AsiaFour Countries, Six Cities, 16 Days

November – Two months after the start of the

school year was an ideal time to check in with our

families from Asia. Raylene Davis, former director of

the ESL and international student programs (current

director of summer programs and conference

events), and Jim Bastis, director of alumni and

development, traveled to Japan, Korea, China, and

Taiwan to visit with parents and alumni.

Tokyo was the first stop where a lunch with current

parents and a dinner with alumni allowed us to

renew acquaintances, to present Brewster’s story,

and to seek the support of those we visited. We

then went west to Seoul, Korea, where we enjoyed

another parent dinner and an alumni reception.

We enjoyed the company of Beau Jackson ’87

who joined us from his office at the Seoul National

University where he teaches English.

Continuing west, we spent time in Beijing and then

went south to Shanghai, China. Our last visit was in

Taiwan, first to Taichung City and then Taipei. We had

a large turnout of current and alumni parents join us

for dinner in Taipei.

The trip was a wonderful occasion for us to share

student news and updates from campus and

enjoy the hospitality of the parents of students

now studying at Brewster. In all, we visited with

19 alumni and 51 parents. Currently 41 students

represent these four countries.

To read more about the trip and to view more

photos, visit: www.jimbastis.blogspot.com

Our Brewster Bobcat is taking a trip around the world to meet up

with alumni and learn about their lives after Brewster. Our “Flat

Bobcat” started out in November and so far has been hosted by

Brewster alumni in England, Hungary, Africa, Korea, and Japan.

Where will he be next? Find out by tracking his trip at:

www.brewsteracademy.org/Alumni-Profiles. Can you find the

Flat Bobcat among our Japanese alumni in the photo on this page?

Doug Shilo ’03 and Brooke Lovett ’04 at Reunion Village.

Head of the CharlesOctober – Brewster parents, alumni, and friends

gathered at the Head of the Charles Regatta Reunion

Village to cheer on Brewster’s varsity one boat in the

Youth Fours Men’s division. The Bobcats finished in a

respectable 20th position out of 75 boats.

Some alumni seen at the Brewster tent were Kate

Buesser ’07, Matt Keys ’04, Brooke Lovett ‘04, Rob

Shickel ’86, and Doug Shilo ’03.

Representing Brewster on the Charles were Ryan

Ingram ’11 (Belvedere, California), John Steensma

‘12 (Tuftonboro, New Hampshire), Cameron

Bierwith ’11 (Alameda, California), Hunter Holtz ‘11

(Charlestown, Massachusetts), and coxswain Leah

Soboroff ’12 (Pacific Palisades, California). Jim Bastis, Alexis van der Sterre, Ron McCormick ‘95, and Martha Trepanier ‘83. Alexis is Ron’s fiancée.

New YorkBrewster Alumni Compete in Jimmy V Classic

December – Former Brewster teammates

Thomas Robinson ’09 (Kansas), Will Barton ’10

(Memphis), and CJ Fair ‘10 (Syracuse) competed

against each other in the Jimmy V Basketball Classic

at Madison Square Garden. Brewster friends, family,

and fans enjoyed amazing basketball and the chance

to see three former Bobcat hoopsters play for their

respective universities.

Prior to the game Mike Cooper, Jim Bastis, director

of alumni and development, Lynne Palmer, director

of admission and external affairs, Brewster’s head

boys’ varsity coach Jason Smith, and other Brewster

staff members and coaches were joined by family

members of the three alumni playing in the Jimmy V

and area alumni, parents, and friends for a reception

at the nearby Stout NYC.

New Jersey1986 Reunion Gift Challenge November – Martha Trepanier ’83 visited with

Michael Sullivan ‘86, president of Schlesinger

Associates - New Jersey. Mike looks forward to

celebrating his 25th reunion in June with Nancy

Mitz, Betsy Ross, Trey Rhian, and other friends.

Mike’s continued leadership support enables Brewster

to embrace its mission and maximize every student’s

potential. This year in honor of his 25th reunion, Mike

has challenged his classmates and will match all gifts

made before June 1 up to $5,000. Thank you Mike!

Hosts David and Lidia Devonshire (Greg ‘11) with Head of School Mike Cooper.

Host David Devonshire (Greg ‘11), Bob and Karen Fix (Will ‘11, Keenan ‘13), and Helen Dohrmann (George ‘05, Geoff ‘12).

ChicagoJanuary – The Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest,

Illinois, was the setting for a lovely reception hosted

by Brewster parents David and Lidia Devonshire

(Greg ‘11). Guests included other current parents,

alumni parents, alumni, a board member, and two

prospective Brewster families. Mike Cooper engaged

the group in a discussion about Brewster’s strategic

direction and the Academy’s vision and priorities.

Melanie and John Foster (Monell ‘12) with Marc and Dawn DiGeronimo (Toni ‘12) at Stout NYC before the Jimmy V Classic.

Craig Stine (Jack ‘13), son Matthew, AB Whitfield and Janie Whitney (Trey Whitfield ‘89) with Mike Cooper at a pre-Jimmy V Classic reception.

TexasAustin

January – Erick Faul ‘96, Michael Kupper ‘92,

and Hans Larsen ‘02 joined Mike Cooper, Martha

Trepanier ‘83, and Lynne Palmer for a pre-game

lunch at Gabriel’s before the January 15 UT vs.

Oklahoma game. Former Bobcat hoopsters Dogus

Balbay ‘07 and the University of Texas Longhorns

took on Andrew Fitzgerald ‘09 and the University

of Oklahoma Sooners. Balbay is a senior point guard

who was the team’s Most Outstanding Defensive

Player and Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection last

year. Fitzgerald is the captain of the Sooners.

Dr. Ramon Soriano and Dr. Sonia Ramos-Soriano

(Raymond ’12) also were among the Brewster fans

at the game.

Texas came out on the winning side, but Fitzgerald

was the leading scorer for the Sooners with 18

points. Balbay was a clear fan favorite of the UT

crowd who showered him with applause throughout

the game. Balbay gave the Brewster visitors a

personal tour of the University of Texas basketball

facilities, which were very impressive, clearly a lot of

pride and tradition there. Both Fitzgerald and Balbay

are hoping to visit Wolfeboro soon and report that

they are always watching out for and wishing their

Bobcat successors continued triumphs.

Houston

January – A warm thanks to Priscilla and Matt Pilon

(Jack ‘11, Phil ‘13) for hosting a reception at the

Houston Country Club. Michael Gamson (Emma

‘12), Joe Rizzo ‘03, and Grace Apfeld ‘10 were there

to share their Brewster experiences with the visiting

families who came to understand more about

the advantages of a Brewster education for their

children. Mike Cooper shared with the group the

school’s strategic direction, changes over the past

five to eight years, and recent program successes.

Hook ‘em Horns: Mike Cooper and Dogus Balbay after Texas defeated Oklahoma.

Brewster Alumni: Joe Rizzo ‘03 of Houston and Rice University freshman Grace Apfeld ’10.

Grace Apfeld ‘10 from Wolfeboro and Lynne Palmer spent time with prospective family, Dan and Cindy Golding of Houston.

Brewster on the Road

OhioSeptember –

Martha Trepanier

’83 travelled to Ohio

to visit alumni. In Clayton

she saw Art “Skip” Glidden III

’70 and wife Nancy and learned

about Glidden’s postgraduate

year at Brewster, a year he considers

paramount to his post-Brewster success

(read more about Glidden on the inside

back cover of this issue).

In Columbus, she met with Bob Black ’67 and

later in the day Chip Bromley ‘67. Although

the two were classmates, they didn’t know they

were both living in Columbus. Bromley is excited

to reconnect with Black and work on a diversity

initiative in recognition of their 50th reunion, which

is just around the corner – alumni from 1967 watch

for news on this or contact Martha.

A special thanks to Jonathan Leebow ‘94 for

hosting an alumni dinner at the Shoreby Club near

Cleveland. We were joined by Premchanun “Pum”

Pavarolarvidya ‘94 and wife Christina, and John

Creech ‘49 and his daughter Debbie Connelly.

Chip Bromley, with wife Gail, and his Brewster blazer circa 1967.

HOOPLAby Matt Hoopes

Ilove Reunion Weekend when middle-aged men

and women instantly revert back to their teenage

selves, yelling nicknames or mocking each other over

long ago quirks and characteristics. Shaking hands,

hugging, a body twice my size transforms into the

smiling face of one of my former sophomore students.

Books, classrooms, and teachers aside, one quickly

realizes that it is the meaningful relationships and

the close friendships formed during those informative

adolescent years that makes a school like Brewster a

significant part of one’s life – and that is timeless.

Reunions, however, are not the only time many of

these men and women, their wives and husbands,

their children visit each other. Brewster alums keep

in touch with each other all year long, all over the

world. They visit over vacations and on holidays. And,

for some, far more than I realized prior to writing this

column, the relationship develops into more than a

friendship, they become working partnerships.

Wondering, as I often do, what reasons, experiences,

joint interests have brought these friends and

alumni together as dynamic partners and successful

businessmen and women, I contacted some in various

groupings. No doubt there are many other examples

of Brewster’s alumni and family in business together.

You’ll get a taste of the ‘hows and whys’ of their

common interests and their balanced responsibilities

by reading about the experiences of former

roommates, an alumni couple, a family businessman,

and even two current students.

Returning briefly to the reunion connection: For those

in class years ending in 1 or 6, please make plans

to return to campus for your special year gathering

and relive your BA experiences with your classmates,

their families and friends, and current and former

faculty members. ALL alumni are welcome to join the

celebration, June 3,4, and 5. I look forward to seeing

everyone turn into a teenager again! And, it may not

be too late to pick up a business partner!

Again, many thanks to all those who either returned

my pink cards or e-mailed me, as I really do need your

Matt Hoopes was a faculty member from 1975 to

1996. During this time he and his journalism students

founded The Brewster Browser, the Outcroppings

literary magazine, and the BAPA (Brewster Academy

Photo/Address) book. Since his “retirement” from the

classroom in 1996, Hoopes has worked as the Young

Alumni Correspondent from his hilltop banana farm on

the island of Eleuthera, The Bahamas, helping to keep

the alumni connection alive. In each issue he brings

life-after-Brewster stories to the pages of his Hoopla

column.

Making Connections Work

updated contacts – and your classmates want your

news.

Please continue to send both. I can be reached at:

• islesman@batelnet.bs

• 1-242-335-0535 (fax)

• 603-544-2222

(my message center in New Hampshire)

• or you can write to me at my

mail-forwarding address:

Matt Hoopes, P.M.B. # 100

411 Walnut Street

Green Cove Springs, FL 32043

Be well and be warm,

HOOPLA

Topher Grace ‘97 and Gordon Kaywin ’97 – former

roommates and current business partners – founded

Sargent Hall Productions three years ago and recently

released their first film, Take Me Home Tonight.

Hoopes: When did you and Topher first meet, and

when did your interests begin to mesh?

Gordon: Topher and I first met at Brewster in the

10th grade. We were both assigned to live in Sargent

Hall on the first floor, and our rooms were right next

to one another. Topher used to get a kick out of

goading his roommate into doing annoying things

to me during study hours, but despite that, I was

always impressed with his creative abilities and

we instantly got along. At the end of junior year

we decided that the following year we would give

rooming together a shot. It was really living together

senior year in House One (now Spencer House) that

our friendship grew, and we started connecting over

shared interests.

Unlike me, Topher has always been into the craft

and art of filmmaking. What began bonding us was

humor and a shared sense of urgency to go out into

the world and accomplish something. We were both

very entrepreneurial in high school and took full

advantage of Brewster being a place that supported

those students who wanted to run with the ball on

projects that personally interested them. Topher

took it upon himself to convince the school to

raise money for an Avid editing system, which gave

students the chance to expand their filmmaking

abilities. I was busy raising money for Brewster to

build a new fitness center and, although Topher will

be the first to admit he never set foot in it once, I

know he respected my perseverance.

Hoopes: As two creative individuals, did your

passions merge in any Brewster projects?

Gordon: I think one of the reasons why Topher and

I are able to be successful business partners in the

entertainment industry is because we both had very

different relationships with the arts in high school. I

was never in the plays at Brewster and to be honest

it was not an area of interest to me. I think Topher

asked me to run lines with him once for one of

the plays and it was a complete disaster. Likewise,

Topher had no interest in sports/fitness and could

hardly do one pull-up. Point being, our differences

have actually helped us get ahead because we never

approach the creative process from the same place.

One of my strengths has always been the ability

to step back from projects and give an opinion

on whether or not people are going to ultimately

respond to it or dismiss it; one of Topher’s strengths

is his ability to focus in on all the small details – he

is a true perfectionist. So, while I was not involved

in the day-to-day crafting of the video yearbook he

would ask my opinion of it from a distance.

Hoopes: After Topher left college to film That 70’s

Show, you continued in college, did you stay in touch?

Gordon: After graduating from Brewster we

both went off to different colleges: Topher to

the University of Southern California and me to

Topher Grace ’97 and Gordon Kaywin ’97

Southern Methodist University. It was at the end

of Topher’s second semester freshman year of USC

that he got the chance to audition for That 70’s

Show. During the summer going into our sophomore

year of college, I was living in New York City. I will

never forget meeting up with Topher that summer in

the city and him telling me that the strangest thing

had happened – he had been cast in a TV show and

it was going to series right after The Simpsons on

Fox. It did not really hit home until I saw him on TV

as Eric Forman. Over the next three years while I was

finishing up at SMU we stayed in touch. I think one

of the reasons we remained close had a lot to do

with Topher staying grounded and unaffected by his

success, which remains true today.

Hoopes: When did you and Topher start thinking of

working together? Had you thought about it while

you were at Brewster? Why did you select Sargent

Hall as the name of your production company?

Gordon: There were times at Brewster when

Topher and I would stay up talking after lights

out about how cool it would be to have some

kind of company together when we were out of

college, but it was never as specific as a production

company in Hollywood. My last semester at SMU I

was starting to think about where I might want to

work and remembered having a few conversations

with Topher about Hollywood. We decided that I

would fly out to Los Angeles and crash on his couch

so I could get a feel for whether or not I liked it.

Something I have always admired about Topher was

that he never wanted to use his fame to give people

opportunities they were not deserving of, and I think

this especially applied to me. He really wanted me

to cut my teeth in Hollywood having accomplished

it on my own without his help. At the beginning he

was always there to listen and give his opinion on

my situation but he never pulled any strings for me,

and we always felt that if the end goal was to form a

company the timing was going to be everything. We

felt that the worst thing we could do was try and

start a company before we were both ready and far

enough along in our careers to be successful. Calling

it Sargent Hall happened very early on. When we

began talking about forming a company we wanted

the name to be representative of our meeting – so

Sargent Hall was a no-brainer.

Hoopes: I recall the last time we talked you were

working on plans for a boarding school movie. Was

that the start of Take Me Home Tonight?

Gordon: Over the years we have toyed with the idea

of creating a movie or TV show set at a boarding

school and maybe one day we will take it further

than just casual conversation. Take Me Home Tonight,

deals with characters who have just graduated

college and find themselves caught in that time

period where you are not quite sure what the next

move is. Thematically we chose this because it’s

a universal issue that every young person finds

themselves facing post college – exploring the idea

that life is planned out for you up until you get out

of college and then you are thrust into the world

without a map – was very appealing to us.

Hoopes: What’s next for Sargent Hall Productions?

Gordon: Over the past year we have expanded

Sargent Hall into the TV business, setting up

and developing a number of shows. We are also

continuing to develop film projects that we are

very excited about. The future of Sargent Hall

seems very bright and, if all goes according to plan,

we can continue to grow the company as a key

supplier of commercial content for all aspects of the

entertainment business.

Hoopes: Do you think your Brewster connection/

relationship gave you any advantages?

Gordon: Our Brewster relationship absolutely gave

Topher and I a leg up in dealing with our present

situation. Above and beyond the significance of

Topher and I meeting at Brewster, we remember

other key friendships with both students and teachers

who have impacted our journey post Brewster.

Hoopes: Do you have any advice for our current

students regarding their personal relationships?

Gordon: I think Topher and I are proof that the

relationships you make throughout your time at

Brewster can be very impactful on your adult life.

Staying in touch with fellow students after you

graduate Brewster is hard and only gets harder as

time goes by, but we would encourage the effort –

you just never know when paths will cross. People

who attend boarding school have that special shared

experience in common with one another, it’s unique.

Regarding advice on the importance of professional

relationships, they are essential in not only the

business of Hollywood, but in all business and life in

general. Post college life stops being about grades

and starts being about relationships and connections

with other people, one could never put a value

on the importance of building relationships – it’s

essential.

HOOPLA

get started on our life together,” which would begin

with a move to New York City.

Here they share the story of their developing careers

and working together, as well as career advice for

students. Gillian begins …

I had struggled to fit in socially and academically at

the public high school, so Brewster was a wonderful

change for me. It was eye-opening to meet kids from

all over the world, from all sorts of different socio-

economic backgrounds. I definitely took advantage

of the opportunities of smaller classrooms, advanced

technology, and the opportunity to travel. I went

with Peter Mann and our French class to Quebec

and with Adam Man to Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong

Kong. I became a die-hard Apple devotee and a

three-season varsity athlete. I was editor in chief of

the newspaper my senior year. The exposure to these

privileges absolutely gave me a one-up in many

regards when I arrived at college.

The summer before my senior year at Brewster, my

father was diagnosed with leukemia, and he died

a couple weeks before I was to return to classes. I

was a proctor that year and was supposed to take

five Advanced Placement courses. As expected,

nothing panned out as anticipated. Brewster was

very supportive that year and helped accommodate

my needs, but it certainly took my life in a different

direction. I applied to several schools and was

accepted to a few in the New England area, but what

I really needed was to get out of town and have a bit

of an adventure.

I first met Mo Fallon ’94 when his dad, former faculty

member Doug Fallon, brought him along for a visit to

my Tuftonboro log cabin. Mo must have been 9 or 10

at the time. I recall he took a real interest in a Civil War

sword I had hanging on the wall. Thankfully he was too

short to reach it or no telling what his creative mind

might have done with it!

As a member of my 10th grade English class, Mo was a

gifted writer. I always enjoyed reading his essays. They

usually had nothing to do with the assigned topic, but

his topics turned out to be much better than mine, and

the essays were so well written that I didn’t care about

the assignments, and I think, I hope anyway, he earned

an A for the year.

I now realize that a lot, maybe all, of Mo’s creative

work is totally of his own direction. I know that his

Brewster artwork and his prize winning pottery

pieces were totally “Mo unique.” Needless to say,

I’m not, nor is anyone else who really knew Mo, the

least bit surprised by Mo’s career path of successes.

Mo currently works as a photographer on the new

Travel Channel hit show The Wild Within. Previously

he worked as a photographer on the reality show

The Biggest Loser and worked as an assistant to the

director, Michael Mann, during the filming of Ali.

I did not know Gillian Brown ’01, as I had “retired”

before she arrived at Brewster. Gillian grew up in

Wolfeboro and was a day student at Brewster. With

nearly an eight-year age difference between Gillian

and Mo, however, their paths didn’t cross until

the summer before Gillian’s senior year in college.

Ironically, the two met at Brewster where they both

had been working out at the Smith Center. She

returned to Emory University for her senior year but

the two were soon reunited again over Columbus Day

weekend in Wolfeboro. According to Gillian, after this,

they became inseparable. She says she even skipped

her college graduation so the two could “hurry up and

Brown and Fallon in Focus: An Alumna and an Alumnus Find Adventure and Each Other

Gillian Brown ‘01 and Mo Fallon ‘94 celebrate their marriage on Isla Mujeres, Mexico, in May 2010.

The Adventure BeginsAt Emory I majored in creative writing and English

with a minor in theater. I spent my entire junior year

abroad in Rome and took my first film class there –

Italian Cinema. It certainly piqued my interest, but I

still had no idea that I would have a career in film.

Mo had worked as an assistant to the director Michael

Mann during the shooting of the movie Ali and was

developing his career as a cinematographer, so he

encouraged me to consider film as an alternative

storytelling medium. I took a week-long film editing

class that very much resonated with me and soon

after I started working as a production coordinator

at a new media company in New York City.

The company was a fast-growing startup, so I

quickly took on more responsibility and began

producing some smaller, one-off projects. Much of

the work I did was developing online content for

brands like Neutrogena and Nestle. It didn’t always

satisfy my creative desires, but it really served as

my education in production. It also allowed me to

work with Mo and to travel. As producer on certain

projects, I was able to bring Mo to shoot, so we

worked on projects together in New York and around

the country, as well as Egypt and the Cayman Islands.

Working with Mo was a true pleasure – and was

very good for our relationship. He had much more

experience than I did in the industry, so I could

learn a great deal from him when we were out on

projects together – he’s an amazing teacher, just

like his mama [former faculty member Mary Fallon].

However, part of the role of the producer is to really

call the shots, so it was empowering to also act as

the decision maker when we were working together.

It is such a gift in our working relationship as well

as our personal relationship to be with a man who

trusts and values me so much – and is also secure

enough in himself – to step back and let me take the

lead. It is critical for us – especially because of our

age difference – to have a good balance of power

and responsibility. We are both highly competitive

and intense people, but we work to support each

other and really listen to the other’s needs. We learn

so much from each other and deeply enjoy traveling

and spending time together working as a team.

In 2007, Mo was offered a camera operating position

on the hit reality show, The Biggest Loser, and we

decided to make the move to Los Angeles. We packed

all our things in a U-Haul, grabbed our three mini-

dachshunds, and set out for the west – Brooklyn to

Bel Air.

My company had offered to keep me on staff

through the move, so I continued to manage my

clients for a few months from a little satellite office.

I was itching for a change, however, so when the

opportunity came up to take an unpaid internship

at a small film production company, I leapt at the

chance. I left health care, a nice salary, and my

producer title to start from scratch at the bottom of

the barrel.

Mr. Mudd (the production company of John

Malkovich and his two partners) was a terrific fit

for me. Mr. Mudd produces smaller, independent

films like Juno, Ghost World, and The Libertine. After

a few months of hacking it out as an intern, I was

hired on as an assistant. The company is small (only

five people including the producers) so like my

first position, I had ample opportunity to take on

additional work. My biggest project was coordinating

post-production on their small documentary film,

Which Way Home, a film about child migrants riding

the trains from Mexico and Central America into the

United States.

My work on Which Way Home was incredibly

rewarding and really turned me on to the power

of film as a tool for social (and political) change.

First Lady of Mexico Margarita Zavala and President

Calderon watched and endorsed the film and

brought it to First Lady Michelle Obama during

a meeting in the fall. We were nominated for an

Academy Award and won an Emmy for Outstanding

Informational Program.

I also worked on my first two feature films this last

year: Jeff Who Lives At Home, the latest film from

the Duplass brothers, starring Jason Segel, Ed Helms,

Judy Greer, and Susan Sarandon, as well as Young

Adult, directed by Jason Reitman, written by Diablo

Cody and starring Charlize Theron. Jeff shot in New

Orleans early last year, and Young Adult shot outside

of New York City this fall. It’s a mixed blessing that

we both have to travel so much for our work, but

it makes us always grateful for the time we have

together – I’m always happy to see Mo.

Marriage and Another MoveIn December 2009, Mo and I went down to the

town hall and got married while home in Wolfeboro

for Christmas. Then in May 2010 we had a service

and celebration on Isla Mujeres in Mexico. The two

ceremonies seem to be a good model for the things

we care about – we love our common hometown

and the core values that we learned there, but we

also love to get out and see the world.

We are moving back to New York as Mo just

accepted a staff position with the production

company Zero Point Zero where he is working on

a new show for the Travel Channel called The Wild

Within. I’m hopefully going to continue freelancing

for Mr. Mudd while pursuing new projects in New

York.

Spending time at “home” in Wolfeboro.

HOOPLAAn Interview With MoHoopes: Do you have a background in photography?

Did you take photos for the Brewster yearbook or in

college?

Mo: I didn’t take photography at Brewster, however,

working for my father at Brewster during the

summer taught me to work hard and has served me

well ever since. During two of my college summers,

Bonnie and Terry Turner, writers and producers of

TV’s Third Rock from the Sun and That 70’s Show, gave

me my first job in the film and television industry.

They are two of the most gifted people I have ever

worked with, and I am greatly indebted to them for

giving me my start.

Hoopes: How is it working in the same field as your

wife?

Mo: It is amazing when we are able to work together,

especially when we are able to steal a day or two for

ourselves in a place like Grand Cayman. It has also

helped us to establish a balance of power as Gillian is

ultimately in charge when we are in the field together.

The hard part is the amount of travel and time away

from each other. I was basically away six of the 12

months last year. At one point Gillian was living in

New Orleans; I was on the road; and our dogs were

with a dog sitter in Los Angeles for three months.

Hoopes: Do you support each other’s work and does

that help both of you with your separate jobs?

technology government consulting firm. Hadley

earned his MBA and master’s in information systems

at Boston University School of Management in 2001

and continued working as an analyst at The Boston

Foundation.

I had worked with Hadley while he was at Brewster

and enjoyed visits with him in Melvin Village, New

Hampshire, where he vacationed at his parents’

Mo: We usually agree on most things. If we don’t, we

will talk it through to a point of resolution. There is

a tremendous amount of support that takes place

in our work. This is especially true since we are

working in such an unpredictable field. We spend a

lot of time consulting with each other in regard to

related decisions. Gillian is tremendously stable and

unemotional in work whereas I am very aggressive

and emotional. Gillian is likely to plot out every move,

whereas I am likely to jump off a cliff after a shot and

think about it later. We balance each other very well.

Hoopes: If you were to return to Brewster to speak

to seniors about their futures, what advice would

you give them? And what advice would you offer as

to working with one’s spouse?

Mo: At all times, move forward. Often when shooting

TV, especially documentary TV, there is no certainty

that the story line will unfold as intended. However, it

is critical not to panic, but rather keep shooting, and

a story will present itself to you. You have to put the

hours in and I often tell our crew to “keep pounding

the pavement” as hard work is always rewarded.

Communication and support is the key. It is nice

that Gillian and I can speak the same work language

and understand the challenges that we each face,

but most importantly is the amount of time we

spend together talking things through. And we have

an understanding of how our differing personalities

need to approach similar problems.

home during summers while working in Boston. I

found his focus away from environmental work –

about which he was so passionate – to his career as

an analyst somewhat bewildering.

Hadley explained the change to me. “While I had

visions of working in environmental research during

college, I found myself gravitating toward more

information technology, data analysis, and now

If you told me that this would be my life 10 years

ago, I wouldn’t have believed you. I never thought

I’d be married so young (and to a man from

Wolfeboro!). I never imagined I’d work in film, and

I certainly didn’t think I’d have three little dogs. I

guess I assumed I’d be a doctor or a lawyer or a

poet or something – or a single woman traveling

the world. So what I’d love to tell my younger self

and what I’d say to the seniors at Brewster would be

something like this:

Don’t be so quick to define yourself. Allow the world

to surprise you. Developing an identity is important,

but approaching life with curiosity, flexibility, and a

willingness to change has served me well. Ambition

is key but in our ever-changing world an open mind

is equally important. Uncertainly can be terrifying

– or it can be one of the most fruitful and gratifying

states that encourages you to really live in the

moment and have faith in yourself and the world

around you. Some of the toughest experiences of

my life (losing my dad) have birthed some of the

very best outcomes and made me a bigger, kinder,

and more grateful person. Quitting my job and

taking an unpaid internship led me to a much more

satisfying career. And being open to love even in

the most unexpected place has given me the most

extraordinary partner and companion.

So appreciate life as it unfolds, be brave, and learn to

love an adventure. We are so lucky!

Hadley Clark ’91 lives with his wife Sara and daughters

Hannah, 5, and Madeline, 3, in Mamaroneck, New

York, and works as an analyst for Case Pomeroy, an

investment holding company in New York City.

After graduating with a degree in geography

and environmental studies from Ohio Wesleyan

University in 1995, Hadley moved to Boston and

began working as an analyst for an information

Hadley Clark ’91 Joins Family Business

to work his way up the company ladder at Case

Pomeroy with hopes of some day taking over the

helm.

“It was at Brewster where I found a lot of interest

and confidence in myself through my successes in

math and science classes and this has definitely

carried over to what I’m doing today. Case Pomeroy

is a small office and there’s little bureaucracy, which

is nice. Everyone collaborates. It was an interesting

place to start because most everyone has worked

here for over 20 years. I made a point of taking

(and thankfully passing!) the chartered financial

analyst (CFA) exams that show I have the credentials

to work at such a company and am not here

simply because I am the CEO’s son. (My mother’s

grandfather co-founded the business.)

“I primarily manage the marketable securities

invested by the firm and there is a ton of analytical

work on company reports, financial statements,

economic data, projections, and valuations.”

As far as having any concerns about returning to his

family business, Hadley has none. Family members

and businesses obviously differ to the point where

making a generalization as to joining family

businesses is meaningless, but in Hadley’s case it

has been beneficial to both Hadley and the family

business. Hadley’s reasoning and approach, however,

makes it clear as to why Case Pomeroy has such a

promising future leader.

“I don’t think I could ever join an organization simply

because it was the family business. For me, I could

only work where I was not only qualified, but where

I could contribute meaningfully and be passionate

about it.”

more finance and investing. I initially wanted to

get a master’s in informational systems at Boston

University but thought it would be more practical to

go full-time for an MBA as well. It turned out that

I enjoyed the MBA finance and investing courses

much more that I thought I would, much to my

surprise.”

We discussed joining family businesses, as I had

planned to return to teach at the school my family

had owned and run for generations but shied away

as the reaction from some of the faculty questioned

possible favoritism. Hadley’s decision was more

measured.

“All my previous jobs in Boston were invaluable.

They were not only diverse experiences but also

enabled me to discover my strength and what truly

interested me. For a while the thought of moving to

New York to join Case Pomeroy – the family business

that my father had run since my mother’s father

retired – had not really crossed my mind. However,

there was a lot of analytical work there. When I

spoke with my dad about the possibility of joining

the family business, he was very clear with me about

his overall expectations of my work.

“I joined the company in early 2004 and have

enjoyed working with other employees and my

father ever since, and I couldn’t be happier with my

decision to join the family business.

“As my father was working toward semi-retirement,

he left the day-to-day responsibilities up to me, as

he has done with all the other employees. While

he is not in the office daily, he is always available

when major decisions are made. Otherwise, he relies

on the rest of us to do our best for the company. I

wasn’t certain how our relationship would work out

in the office. Ironically, the hardest part has been

to refrain from discussing business when we are

together during family gatherings. “

Building Confidence

At Brewster Hadley was extremely polite, reserved,

modest, and as he readily admits, somewhat lacking

in confidence. Through his work and experience, he

has gained the strengths, knowledge, and confidence

The Clarks: Hadley and Sara with daughters Hannah, 5, (on left) and Madeline, 3.

It was at Brewster where I found a lot

of interest and confidence in myself

through my successes in math

and science classes and this has

definitely carried over to

what I’m doing today.

Wolfeboro Jet-Ski Rentals

While vacationing with his family in Florida last

March, Kyle Drouin ’11, his brother Nate ’10, and

their dad decided to rent jet skis. Back in the hotel

that evening, an idea surfaced in Kyle. “This would be

a sick idea to do in Wolfeboro, rent jet skis,” he said.

“We started brainstorming that night, and I called

my friend Jake a few hours later.”

Back in chilly Wolfeboro when not busy with

Brewster commitments, the brothers and friend,

Jake Alden ’11, began researching and planning their

warm-weather venture. Although there was another

local business that rented personal watercraft, they

still thought the market could support a second

rental business. They advertise that they “have the

cheapest rates on the lake with the newest Jet Skis.”

Nate did a lot of the upfront work, handling

the company document set up with the state,

investigating the requirements of issuing temporary

boating licenses, securing the initial start-up funding

and business insurance, and finding a rental location

along the Wolfeboro waterfront.

Initially, the business partners wanted to rent dock

space near the M.S. Mount Washington on Wolfeboro

Bay. When the town wouldn’t approve a permit, they

found space on Wolfeboro’s Back Bay with a nearby

office at Durgin Stables.

With their start-up money, funded with the help

of their parents, they purchased four three-person

Sea-Doos, the quietest personal watercraft on the

market, according to the boys. They opened for

business in June and until they closed at the end of

August, they had customers all but two days during

the season. Business was good, if not a little tiring.

The partners originally planned to each take two

days off a week, however, an unexpected internship

opportunity in Boston came along for recent graduate

Nate that he couldn’t pass up. The daily business

operations were left to Jake and Kyle, and Jake isn’t

sure he even allowed himself to take a day off.

“I tried to get Jake to take a day off, but he came in

anyway,” Kyle said. Perhaps a day off came easier

for Kyle, who had experience operating his own car

detailing business the previous summer. Jake had

spent the previous four summers busing tables at a

local restaurant and now that he was working in his

own business, he found it difficult to stay away.

“I felt like I needed to be there at all times so I could

make sure everything was running properly,” he

explained. “It’s not like I don’t trust Kyle because I do.

I would just feel bad for him being there all alone,

and I guess you could say I am addicted to working.”

One of the biggest challenges at first was the

scheduling and keeping track of who was coming

in and for how long they were renting. “We had to

be careful not to overbook, but we figured that out

pretty easy at the beginning,” Jake said. Because the

new business owners were trying to keep overhead

low, they used their personal cell phones for

business, which meant answering calls at all hours to

book rental times.

ChallengesToward the end of the summer they realized they

were losing money on gas. Initially, fuel was part

of the rental fee but when they realized they were

losing money on this aspect of the rental, they

needed to make an adjustment and began charging

for amount of fuel used.

They learned that not all customers are honest. “One

guy said he ran out of gas in the middle of the lake,

and we couldn’t figure this out. It turned out he was

siphoning gas and putting it in his boat,” Kyle said.

To issue a temporary 14-day boating license, the

business owners had to make sure their customers

were at least 18 and could pass a 25-question online

test regarding boating safety. “Most people do

pass it, it’s all common sense stuff basically,” Jake

explained. “But one guy took it three times before he

finally passed,” Kyle added.

In business, every day has the potential for

excitement like the day actor Jimmy Fallon came in

to Wolfeboro Jet-Ski Rentals. “It was very exciting to

have Jimmy come in and rent from us,” Jake said. “I

knew who he was right when he came in. I wanted

to run up to him and shake his hand and such, but

I held back not to seem like a crazy fan because I

wanted him to actually rent a jet ski.”

He rented for an entire week and said he would be

back next year and that our service was great, Kyle

added.

The Brewster Influence The boys attributed the collaborative learning

environment and team approach at Brewster to part

of their success. They didn’t discount their friendship,

even though they had heard the warnings about

going into business with friends. “Make sure you

have a good friendship,” Kyle said of anyone thinking

about entering a business partnership with his or her

friends.

“Our dads put money down that we would wring

each other’s necks,” Jake said. “We know each other

so well, it’s just kind of easy,” Kyle added.

They also learned the value of local business

relations. The local Wake Riders store would send

customers their way and in return Wolfeboro Jet-Skis

carries limited Wake Riders’ inventory. They also

have a relationship with a local boatyard where they

purchase gas and have their Sea-Doos repaired, an

ongoing business necessity of keeping them in good,

safe condition.

What’s Next?“This summer we will pay off loans and some of the

money will be reinvested into the business,” Kyle

said. After looking over the financials, they may even

hire a part-time employee, Jake said.

“I think it will be a lot easier this year. I think we did

a good job,” Kyle said.

To learn more or make a reservation, contact:

wolfeborojetskirentals@gmail.com or find them on

Facebook.

HOOPLA

How A Girl From Jamaica Survives Winter in Wolfeboro

Make the best of the winter and do fun activities like go sledding with your

friends or cuddle up in the lounge with a blanket and watch some movies.

Have a snowball fight! Do things you’ve never done before like skiing, it’s fun!

Snowboarding is next on my list.

Advice for students from the tropics? Bring a coat!

I can look back at my three years and proudly say that I am a fellow wearer of

long sleeves. I have met people from all over the world who – at the end of their

time at school here – carry their new adapting abilities to the larger world and

thrive because of their unique and welcoming Brewster Academy experience.

Ashley was looking forward to enjoying her March break under the warm Jamaican

sun.

Ashley is joined on campus by fellow Jamaicans Alex Berry ’13 and faculty member

Shamar Whyte.

Make the best of the winter and do

fun activities like go sledding with

your friends or cuddle up in the

lounge with a blanket and watch

some movies. Have a snowball fight!

Do things you’ve never done before

like skiing, it’s fun! Snowboarding is

next on my list.

ow does a girl from Jamaica survive winter (three winters, actually) in

New Hampshire? Ashley Rose ’11 from Kingston reveals her secrets

of thriving in a place far from the tropical breezes and swaying palms

prevalent in her homeland.

I was surrounded by people wearing long sleeves with thick collared blazers flung

over their chair backs. The unfamiliar accents of my fellow classmates startled

me, and it was at that moment I realized that I was no longer in Jamaica.

I arrived at Brewster in the fall of 2008, about to begin my sophomore year. I was

extremely excited about my new experience. I was ready to meet new people and

discover a new place. “I like your accent!” was probably the most frequent phrase

I encountered in my first September at Brewster. “Me?” I thought to myself.

Contrary to popular belief, I greatly anticipated my first winter. I long awaited the

joy of making a snow angel or having a snowball

fight with my friends after school. I wanted to

wear a furry winter coat and tall heavy boots as

I trudged through the unfamiliar plush terrain. I

even laced up my first pair of skates and joined

the girls’ junior varsity ice hockey team and can

proudly say I’m a three-year member.

By the time mid-February came around, though,

my arm was tired from pitching snow balls, my

fluffy coat was full of stains, and my novice

winter fun was coming to an end.

Biggest winter surprise: Seeing the immense body of water that is Lake

Winnipesaukee freeze completely for the first time was a phenomenon that I will

never forget.

Strangest winter reference: “It’s just like hockey.” Mr. Palmer would make this

unusual reference about something in U.S. History to hockey. It was very out of

place for me.

What she likes least about winter: It gets so dark so early; it’s so tiring.

Hot drink on a cold day: Apple cider. I had never had it before coming to

Brewster.

Survival tips: I play ice hockey, listen to music, and talk to people from home

more frequently, and I take time to appreciate the beauty of winter. Before I

came to Brewster I had really only seen flurries and not the quantity of snow we

have had.

Wolfeboro Jet-Ski Rentals

1955

Millie (Parker) Hill and husband Norm Hill ‘54

are enjoying a quiet life in Tennessee but enjoy

traveling. Last year they went to Cuba, and they will

be in Miami later this year for a Cuban reunion.

1964

Candace Crawshaw writes “It seems incredible

that I have been back in the USA for six years since

retirement and living and working overseas for 25

years. I continue to enjoy living in Sarasota, Florida,

reconnecting with former colleagues and school

friends. And I am fortunate to have a wonderful little

house in Wolfeboro that I use throughout the year

as I go back and forth for board meetings and spend

several weeks there in the summer. I love working

with the Brewster board and meeting with students

The last issue of Connections included a photo of members of the Class of 1960 who returned for their 50th reunion last June. We received feedback from readers asking us to identify their class members. Here we have included the photo again with classmates identified.

L to R: Dennis Bean, Robert Blanchard, Fenneke Ter Weele Joslin, Sandy Rines Hammond, Janet Hamm, Allan Bailey, John Reever, Wayne Cheney, Bonnie Stinchfield Fuller, Daniel Morgan, Herb Fernee, John Schmidt, Rick Hatton, and Bill Cantwell.

Candace Crawshaw ’64 with Xiao Lung (Little Dragon) and Sam.

Jon Skrzyszowski ’65 and wife Claire traveled through China in October and shared this photo of his Brewster hat taking a break at the Great Wall of China.

and just spending time walking the halls, recalling

the past. Hope to catch up with fellow classmates

either here in Florida or in Wolfeboro and for sure at

our 50th reunion in 2014!”

1976

Mel Foster writes that he sold his real estate and

insurance companies in 2007. He moved to Naples,

Florida, with his wife Brenda and dog Lola and built a

new home on a golf course.

1978

Debbie (Warner) Al-Harbi writes, “My husband

and I celebrated our 30th anniversary on December

20, 2010. All three of our children are doing great.

Samuel (our youngest) will gradaute this year. I

am a mental health counselor and own a website

business.”

Jim Bossange writes that he still lives in

Framingham, Massachusetts, with wife Patti and two

kids, and works in downtown Boston. They enjoy

spending time in northern New England where they

ski, hike, and camp.

Recollections

Although we usually reserve Recollections for

alumni who graduated prior to 1965, Patrick

Hayward ’74 shared this recollection with our

Alumni Office, and we thought Connections

readers would enjoy it.

After 37 years in business, Patrick retired to pursue

his passion for history. Although an avid history fan

beginning in the sixth grade, he credits his Brewster

teachers with igniting that passion.

“It was Headmaster Richard Vaughan and his

wife Peg who kept me in school at Brewster and

those two I could never thank them enough for

what they did. And, it was three history teachers

and one English teacher who I still respect today

for giving me the dream to go forward with my

historic research and to know that I can do it.

Those teachers are David Smith with his history

classes (even though I hated Russian history!);

Robert Richardson, with the knowledge that he

has and what he gave me on history he could

forget half of it and would still know more than

most of us will ever know! Harry Widman, my

last history teacher, was a big influence in my

history goals. Travis Ball, my English teacher,

kept me positive and encouraged me to shoot

for what I wanted. It has been 37 years since

I left Brewster and now I really am living my

dream. I am the town historian for Croydon,

New Hampshire, as well as a genealogist. My

wife Betty and I have a store in Newport, New

Hampshire, that is loaded with items from the

1600s to the present. I have over 20,000 books

and hundreds of thousands of pieces of paper

in my collection. From documents signed by

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison to pictures

of Abraham Lincoln and more than 500 Civil War

letters and lots of Civil War artifacts, too.

I would like to say thank you to David, Bob, Harry,

and Travis … this is one sweet ride …”

If you have a Recollection you would like to share

with readers, please send it to Matt Hoopes at

islesman@batelnet.net.

Alex Ley writes, “I hope everyone is well. Enjoying

life in south Florida. Life is better than ever!”

David Rubin and wife Lisa live in Massachusetts with

daughter Lexie, 16, and their dogs Cooper and Dixie.

1981

In October Matt Baldwin shared that he had just

been offered a job working for an organic vegetable

farm in Paonia, Colorado.

Karen (Lambert) Greene writes: “I am married

to David and we have two children: a 24 year-old

daughter and 16 year-old son. I teach in Bermuda,

and because of my job, it is difficult to attend alumni

weekends, but I will make every effort to be there for

my [next reunion].”

Ted Lambrukos writes, “My wife and I still live in

Concord, New Hampshire. We celebrated our 15th

wedding anniversary with a trip to Italy this past

summer. I am working as the director of Second

Start, an alternative high school. Life is good.”

Brendan J. Sipple and his son, Brendan P., 14, live

in Austin, Texas, with their dog Bazil. Brendan is a

general sales manager for Maserati, Spyker, Saab.

“Lots of work, lots of hours. Brendan P. is getting real

fast on his dirt bike. Race season is coming up so

lots of training lately. Come to Texas, look us up, and

come see Austin.”

Mike Case and wife Colleen live in Vermont with

their three children: Thomas, Matthew, and Sydney

and dog Kasey.

1980

Mike Adams lives in Grand Junction, Colorado,

where he works at the VA Medical Center as a

physician assistant in the emergency department.

“I’ve been married to Sharon for 22 years, and

we have a daughter, Stephanie, who’s a senior at

the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley. I

moved to Colorado in 1998 after completing the P.A.

program at Albany Medical College and lived near

Telluride where I worked in a rural health center for

12 years. I was in the Colorado National Guard from

2000-2004 and spent a year in Baghdad in support

of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I’m still in touch with

Jock Bradley.”

Griff Campbell, wife Susan, their son, Griff, 11, and

dog Mutant, live in Delaware. “Life is great! Find me

on Facebook.”

In January the community was saddened

to learn that the mother, grandmother,

and grandfather of Thomas Robinson ’09

all passed away within a three-week span

of each other. Robinson, a sophomore,

is a forward for the University of Kansas

Jayhawks basketball team. Many have

asked if there is anything they can do for

Robinson and his 9 year-old sister Jayla. “My

main concern is for my sister. It would be

comforting for my mother to know Jayla

went to college and that is why we set up

mom’s scholarship fund,” Robinson said in a

letter. Donations may be made to the Lisa

Robinson Scholarship Fund, for the benefit

of her daughter, Jayla, c/o SNR Denton,

1301 K Street NW, Suite 600, East Tower,

Washington, DC 20005-3364

Donations also may be made electronically

at www.lisarobinsonscholarshipfund.com.

Rob Shickel ’86 and his family stopped by Reunion Village at the Head of the Charles Regatta.

Cathy Stovell lives in Bermuda and has been married

for four years. She plans to attend the 30th Brewster

reunion this June and will try to bring fellow

Bermudians with her.

1982

Donna (Strodel) Aldridge and husband Brian live in

Wheaton, Illinois, with their three children: Katherine,

16, Mary, 15, and Andrew, 12. Donna writes, “I have

been a counselor in the Wheaton College Counseling

Center for three years after leaving the hospital

emergency room. My kids keep me very busy with

sports, cheerleading, and other activities. Hard to

believe that my oldest is now looking at colleges!”

1983

David Manning, his wife, Kellee, and their two

children, Christopher, 17, and Erin, 14, live in

Hooksett, New Hampshire. Dave writes “I’m working

for Microsoft as an engineer in the healthcare

industry. …I have started the college tour with my

son. He is looking to stay in the New England area,

so we will be doing a few road trips in the next year.

We are planning a family vacation for this February

to Portugal. We went there four years ago, and really

enjoyed our time in the Algarve region.”

1985

Joel Coffman wrote that his kids are doing well.

Kayla is at Northeastern University and Chelsey

is at Westfield State University. His son Tyler is a

sophomore at East Bridgewater High School. “My

wonderful wife, my rock for 22 years, is also doing

well.” Joel is on the mend from complications due

to Crohn’s disease, and he and his family recently

completed a walk and raised more than a $1,000 for

Crohn’s research.

1987

Charles (C.B.) Currier lives in Annapolis, Maryland,

with wife Melissa and twins Charles and Eleanor.

“These days I’m not doing any political work; the

economy and poor candidates contributed to my

change in work. I’m the director of engineering for

Resilience Corporation, a security appliance company.

Pratt Institute and fell into the furniture industry

and have never looked back. I worked for Crate &

Barrel for seven years and for the past three years

at Environment Furniture. I enjoy designing and

developing a wide variety of products and work with

some top designers such as Jean-Marie Massaud. My

work has taken me around the world from Indonesia

and Japan to Brazil and Australia, and I will be going

to New Zealand later this year.”

1992

Michael Kupper, a busy father of three, recently

moved his family to Austin where he sells real

estate for D.R. Horton Builders. Kate Radley and

fiance Lynn Ellis are planning a June wedding in

Denver. Kate is an attorney with Radley, Sandoval,

Southerland LLC in Denver.

1993

Isaac King was married two years ago and now has

a daughter Lola, 1 !. He lives in Springfield, Illinois,

and enjoys hunting, fishing, and camping. “We can

eat venison and fish almost all year long, eat from

our garden in the summer and fall, and freeze bags

of the plentiful sweet corn for the winter.”

Kate Radley ’92 and Lynn Ellis are planning a June wedding.

I’ve returned to sailing and race a Melges 24 and

cruise on an Alberg 30.The kids are just starting to

do some sailing and that’s great. I’m considering

a possible change to either New Hampshire or

northeastern Massachusetts.”

1988

Jonathan Gates lives in Portland, Maine, with

wife Lauren and children Henry, 11, and Lillian, 9.

Jonathan owns and runs the Scarborough Grounds

Cafe. He’s in touch with Mike Massotta ‘89,

Dan Cote ‘90, and former faculty member David

Peterson.

1989

Bart Hornor lives in Concord, New Hampshire, with

wife Debbie and children Camden, 7, and Ben, 2. His

kids keep him very busy, but when he can, he enjoys

visiting Booth Bay and Camden in Maine. Bart is the

retail manager for Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts Stores Inc.

1990

David Putzel lives in Evanston, Illinois, with wife

Anna and children Ella, 5, and Wyatt, 2. “In 1998

I received my master’s in industrial design from

Eric Kaskiewicz ’99 and his bride Christina who were married in September in Dover, New Hampshire. Amy (Kaskiewicz) Streck ‘95 and husband Jim are on the right and Michael Kaskiewicz ’96 and wife Jaime are on the left.

Jason Reaume doesn’t think he can make his 15th

reunion in June as he’s scheduled to deploy to

Afghanistan in early summer. “I’m eligible for a

Sergeant First Class promotion this year. I’ve been in

the Army for 10 years and probably will stay in for

another 10 and then retire. I still keep in touch with

Mark Carlson, who is married and doing well.”

1994

Mo Fallon is director of photography for the Travel

Channel’s The Wild Within. In this new series, host

Steven Rinella uses his “pioneer spirit, resourceful

mentality, and outdoor skills to explore the

subcultures that cherish and maintain their hunting,

fishing, and gathering traditions,” and Mo is right

there capturing it all on film. Read more about Mo in

Hoopla on page 22.

Andreas Ninios lives and works in Alexandria,

Virginia, where he is a conference planner for

a government contractor. “I just ran my sixth

marathon in 3:48:59 so all the training paid off.”

Andreas was considering joining the Peace Corps

but has decided to stay in northern Virginia and

continue working with the Big Brothers Big Sisters

organization where he has been mentoring a 12

year-old boy for the past three years. He was looking

forward to spending time with his parents in Greece

over the holidays.

1996

Erick Faul, a software sales manager, relocated from

New Hampshire to San Antonio 10 years ago. He

recently attended the University of Texas vs. University

of Oklahoma hoops game with other Brewster fans.

Heather (Arkwell) Phipps writes that husband

Nathan, their two sons Zachary, 8, and Jacob, 6, and

dog Baxter live in North Berwick, Maine. Heather

writes that she is “loving being a mom, it’s my world.

Excited for 15-year reunion 2011. See you there.”

Edmund Wilfong and his two Labs, Ralph and Alice,

live in Texas, where he is attending the South Texas

College of Law.

1998

Jill Krumsick graduated from the University of

Colorado at Boulder in 2004 and received her MBA

from Wake Forest University in 2008. She has been

living and working in Dallas for two years where

she is a digital strategist for the Richards Group, the

largest independently owned advertising agency in

the United States.

1999

Greg Casey, wife Jessica, and son Griffin, 2, live in

Massachusetts. When he wrote last summer the

family was expecting a second child in November.

Greg writes that “Life is Good! I travel quite a bit for

work, so if you live in Atlanta, Philly, Dallas, Chicago,

Denver, Seattle or Vegas, then let’s get together! I

hope everyone is well!”

Eric Joseph lives and works in Florida for Walt

Disney Company in what he describes as “the busiest

merchandise location in the entire corporation.”

Travis Larsen lives in Chillmark, Massachusetts,

Jason Reaume ’93 will likely miss his 15th reunion due to his deployment to Afghanistan.

Pick up Those STXSunday, May 22 at 2 p.m. is the annual alumni vs. boys’ varsity lacrosse game. This springtime tradition brings alumni, parents, and friends back to campus for an afternoon of friendly competition on Palazzo Field. A player BBQ follows at the Pinckney Boathouse.

More Information: Bill_Lee@brewsteracademy.org

with his Boston Terrier, Sophie. He and Melissa were

expecting a child in late January.

In February Nick Millette began Captain Upgrade

training on the DC10. “I am flying all over the world

but still living in Richmond, Virginia. I’ve been flying

for Omni Air International, an international charter

airline, for almost four years now. Omni flies mostly

military charters.”

Jenna (Marks) O’Donnell writes, “On December 6,

2009, I married the love of my life and best friend,

Mark O’Donnell. We were married on the island

of Nantucket during Christmas Stroll weekend.

We were celebrated by 50 close friends and family

members at St. Mary Our Lady of the Isle Church

and the White Elephant Hotel. We are equally

excited to share that we are expecting our first child,

a son, this spring!”

2000

Captain Morgan Huntley acquired Vanquish Boats in

2010 and relocated the company to Newport, Rhode

Island. Morgan has spent the past 15 years building

boats; after Brewster he graduated from the Landing

School and the International Yacht Restoration

School. www.vanquishboats.com

2001

Reagan Jobe won’t be at his 10th reunion. “I am

marrying Courtney, the love of my life on June 4

in Dallas - the same weekend as my 10th reunion.

Sorry I won’t be able to make it.” Reagan works with

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty in

Dallas as the director of digital and new media as

well as the head of photography.

Todd Johnson writes, “I was married to my beautiful

wife Amanda on June 12, 2010, and we look forward

to seeing everyone for the 10-year reunion.”

Jeff Krumsick is finishing his studies at the

University of Denver, and enjoys yoga, cooking,

running, and snowboarding.

2002

Hans Larsen completed his master’s at Southern

Methodist University and works for EA (Electronic

Arts) as a designer in the video/gaming industry.

He says he’s found his dream job! He credits his

internship in the Tech Office at Brewster as the spark

that lit his passion for technology.

Marie Maseng has moved from New York City to

Boston. “I am working for Greenline Realty using

my sales license as well as being an interior design

consultant for residential property management

companies in and around Boston.”Brewster Family: Mary Fallon, former English teacher, Dennis Morgan and Sheila Brown, Gillian Brown ’01, Mo Fallon ’94, Sam Brown ‘06, Doug Fallon, former director of summer programs, and Hannah Fallon ’00 celebrating the marriage of Gillian and Mo in Mexico last May.

Jenna Marks O’Donnell ‘99 and husband Mark.

On the job flying around the world: Nick Millette ‘99

Zach Ross ’05 enjoying life Down Under.

Alex Phillips writes, “I spent 2010 devoted to

developing a residential mentorship program

for young adults in the mountains near Boulder,

Colorado. Now I am writing from Todos Santos. Viva

Mexico! I’ll be north bound in March. Adios.”

2004

Jeremy Krumsick lives in New York and works in the

real estate management industry. He loves scuba

diving and photography.

2005

Katie O’Connell transferred to the University of

Massachusetts, Amherst in 2008 and changed her

major to animal science with a minor in Spanish. She

will gradute this spring and is applying to the Peace

Corps before applying to veterinarian school. Katie

has two Bernese Mountain dogs, Jack and Jilly.

Zachary Ross is attending the Royal Melbourne

Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, and

recently received his MBA and earned the highest

distinction award. In September 2010, Zach, who is

a former Brewster rower, was selected by his college

to represent the school in the University Games.

He rowed a scull for the first time and finished with

one of the fastest times in the race and has enjoyed

playing rugby and cricket. Zach has spent time

traveling throughout Europe learning about business

models and presenting various marketing strategies.

He is headed back to New England for the spring.

Hannah Tameling sent a very creative card,

indicating that she indeed graduated from the

University of Iowa with a degree in studio art

and also received a certificate of entrepreneurial

management. She is currently living in Lombard,

Illinois, where she does jewelry repair. “I’m getting

my portfolio together in order to get my master’s in

textile design.”

Send us your Class Note, and we will do our best to include it in the

next BrewsterConnections and online: alumninews@brewsteracademy.org

Silver Anniversary: Someone at Brewster is marking his or her 25th anniversary year with an ensemble of silver footwear. Can you guess who? The first alumnus/a who correctly identifies this person will win a $25 gift certificate to the campus store (on campus or online). Send your answer to marcia_eldredge@brewsteracademy.org

We had no winners of last issue’s mystery photo, however, Charles Ford ’95 did correctly identify Byron Martin. Jed Jones and Tim Brooks were with Martin.

Mystery Photo

Grandparents’ DayMay 11 is Grandparents’ Day. We welcome Brewster grandparents to spend the day on campus with their grandchildren. Complete details and R.S.V.P. information will be mailed to grandparents. For more information, please contact Beth Hayes ‘81 in the Office of Parent Programs at 603-569-7133.

In MemoriamClass of 1930

Dorothy F. (Bennett) Morris

October 10, 2010

Melvin Village, New Hampshire

Class of 1936

Marion P. MacMartin

July 20, 2010

Seattle, Washington

Class of 1941

Bernard “Bun” McBride

November 20, 2010

Wolfeboro

Class of 1944

John F. Crinnian

January 9, 2011

Palm Harbor, Florida

Class of 1953

Harley P. Craigue

October 4, 2010

Rochester, New Hampshire

Class of 1954

Delma L. McIntire

September 25, 2010

Center Tuftonboro, New Hampshire

D. Gail (Piper) Roome

July 12, 2010

Center Tuftonboro, New Hampshire

Class of 1956

John J. Parker

January 2009

Miami, Florida

Class of 1964

Mazy A. (Rowe) Clough

December 6, 2010

Wolfeboro

Class of 1965

Robert N. Davis

July 3, 2010

Dorchester Center, Massachusetts

Former Trustee

James M. O’Brien

December 19, 2010

Montoursville, Pennyslvania

In celebration of the growing multicultural community within

independent schools in the Northeast, Dominique Aubry ’02 and her brother

Jean-Pierre Aubry (St. Paul’s School ’99) are organizing a multicultural alumni event

at Greenhouse in New York City on June 18, 2011. “The event will bring together alumni

of color from the many independent schools across the Northeast in order to meet,

share experiences, and express our gratitude to our alma maters,” Aubry explained.

If you would like to attend or want more information,

please contact Dominique at: dom.aub@gmail.com

Multicultural Alumni Reception

2007

Jenn O’Leary is an international relations major and

Spanish minor at Boston University. She spent the

fall studying at Universidad San Fransisco de Quito

in Ecuador.

2008

Hannah Byers writes: “I have been in Kodiak,

Alaska, since early July working for the Coast Guard

Communication station. My job is to be the first

responder to calls from mariners at sea. I enjoy the

job and the responsibility to make sure all mariners

are safe. When I am off from work, I enjoy the

Alaskan life by fishing, hiking, or sight seeing finding

Kodiak bears (which are the biggest bears in North

America) or other wildlife. I love living here and

seeing all the breathtaking scenery and mountains.

Kodiak is a small fishing town but has a lot to it,

much history and great people to meet. I will be here

until summer 2013 and after that I am hoping to

extend and live in Alaska.”

Caitlyn Edson is a junior at Simmons College and

studying in England this semester.

2009

Peter Rizzo, a sophomore at the University of New

Hampshire, is studying at Regents College in London,

England, this semester. He looks forward to traveling

through Europe and would love to meet up with any

Brewster alumni in the UK area. Peter’s e-mail is:

pco7@unh.edu

Philadelphia 76er Craig Brackins ‘07 returned to Brewster in January to watch his former team in action. With Brackins at the Smith Center is (l to r) Joe Fernald, dean of students, Chezney Aubert ‘07, and Fred Garnsey, assistant director of admission and coach.

Reunion2011

June 3-5

FRIDAY, JUNE 3Welcome Reception50th Reunion Class Dinner

SATURDAY, JUNE 4Campus TourAll-School AssemblyAlumni ParadeReunion LuncheonTennis Round RobinLake Cruise on Winnipesaukee 25th Reunion Class DinnerDinner and Dancing All Classes

SUNDAY, JUNE 5Farewell Brunch

Questions? Contact Beth Hayes ‘81, director of annual giving and special events, at 603-569-7133 or beth_hayes@brewsteracademy.org

Check out the Brewster AcademyAlumni Reunion Facebook pages.

Limited dorm rooms available on Friday and Saturday nights. For local accommodations go to www.brewsteracademy.org/lodging

Complete details and registration materials will be mailed and are available at www.brewsteracademy.org/reunion

Histo!yHisto!yHisto!yHisto!yWriting Brewster’sHisto!yOrigins of The Brewster Story

www.brewsteracademy.org/giving

Why Give Back to Brewster?

Students learned to evaluate, analyze, and discern and not just to follow the pack or the latest craze. Talk about preparation for life!

Brewster reinforced my confidence to take responsibility for my own life. Which is why I support Brewster.

If you would like to give back to Brewster, please contact the Alumni and Development Office (603.569.7133), or for your convenience, you may give online: www.brewsteracademy.org/giving

Daniel T. Mudge, President(Tapley-Ann ’98, Ashley ’02)

Leslie N. H. MacLeod, Vice President(Todd ’97)

Roy C. Ballentine, Treasurer(Brian ’97, Susan ’94)

Helen S. Hamilton, Secretary

Michael Appe

C. Richard CarlsonEstate Trustee

David L. Carlson ’54

Arthur W. Coviello Jr.

Candace Crawshaw ’64

Claudine Curran(Alex ’06, Gen ’11)

George J. Dohrmann III (George ’05, Geoffrey ’12)

Stephen Farrell Sr.(Stephen Jr. ’12)

Peter Ford ’80

Douglas H. Greeff (Hilary ’11)

Michael Keys (Matthew ’04)

Barbara Naramore

Arthur O. RicciEstate Trustee

The Reverend Nancy Spencer SmithEstate Trustee

Steven R. Webster (Brooke ’08, Tori ’11)

A.B. Whitfield(Trey ’89)

Trustee Emeriti

Walter N. “Rink” DeWitt ’54 (Kate ’86)

P. Fred Gridley ’53 (Deborah ’81)

Grant M. Wilson (Grant ’87, Kirsten ’88)

BREWSTER ACADEMY

2010-2011Board of Trustees

Photo by Amy Misera ’12

Topher Grace ’97, Sargent Hall Productions Release Take Me Home Tonight

A Fulbright Scholar in the Arab World

Louder Than A Bomb Explodes at Brewster

Summer Programs Office • 603-569-7155 • summer@brewsteracademy.org

It’s a school! It’s a camp!Study English, math, or ESL in the morning.

Hands on electives in science, computer graphics, French and Spanish.Enjoy outdoor adventures in the afternoon.

See why Wolfeboro is such a popular summer resort. Come join us.