Gordon a lumni connect ion S p r i n g 2 0 1 3

Dear Gordon Friends,

When graduates reflect on their Gordon experience we frequently hear about the impact of their

experience here: that their teachers encouraged them to become self-directed learners, critical

thinkers and empathic citizens of the world.

The extraordinary teaching and learning that builds this foundation is showcased in our new

What Matters video series. This series explores our classrooms in action, introduces some

of our faculty members and provides a snapshot of what strong multicultural practice looks

like. Watch the series today at www.gordonschool.org/whatmatters.

This issue of the Alumni Connection features several alumni employing the lessons they

learned at Gordon in their work as educators, researchers and leaders in their communities.

They each reflect on the Gordon teachers and experiences that continue to have a lasting impact

on them today.

This March, Gordon announced the launch of the Second Century Campaign. Led by co-chairs

Susanna Rhodes Beckwith ’84 and Curt Beckwith, and Heidi and Bernie Buonanno, this capital

campaign seeks to enrich our theater and music programs, enhance community spaces and invest

in Gordon’s long term financial security. We are excited by the promise of this campaign and

how it will benefit future generations of Gordon students and families. For more information visit

www.gordonschool.org/secondcentury.

We hope you will continue to stay in touch with Gordon School. Download the alumni mobile

app at www.gordonschool.org/mobilecommunity to stay in touch with your classmates and

up-to-date on school news and events. You can also follow us online through Facebook, Twitter,

Flickr and YouTube.

As always, Gordon School is enormously grateful for the continued support we receive from

our alumni and their families.

Sincerely,

Siobhan Sheerar Welsh

Associate Development Director

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On Wednesday, March 6th, over 250 parents, faculty, alumni, parents of alumni, and grand-

parents gathered to celebrate the launch of the Second Century Campaign for Gordon School.

Board Chair Bernie Buonanno, Trustee Susanna Rhodes Beckwith ’84 and Head of School

Ralph L. Wales presented the ambitious plans for the campaign.

The Second Century Campaign initiatives include a new performing arts center, new Middle

School music and band classrooms, after school classroom space, activity room renovations,

a new dining facility and funds for endowment.

enrichenhanceinvest

1: Campaign Co-Chairs Susanna Rhodes Beckwith ’84 and Curt Beckwith2: Amanda and Ted Fischer, Campaign Co-Chair Bernie Buonanno, Glen and Carrie Elliott3: Director of Diversity and Multicultural Practice Kim Ridley and Head of School Ralph L. Wales4: Michaela and Andrew Kelton5: Luis and Olinda Matos6: Head’s Advisory Council Co-Chair Johnnie Chace and Liz Pannell7: Amanda and Chip Riegel8: Mindy Matouk and Campaign Steering Committee member George Matouk9: Evan and Kendra Mitchner10: Greg and Amy Lupica, Middle School Faculty member Jennifer Becker and Jeffrey Fox, Trustee Bob Fine ’89 and Susan Fine11: Kim Dimeo and Lower School Director Maryanne Pieri12: Faculty member Toni Dumville, Emily Bresnahan-McRae ’97, Faculty member Amy Cohen, Head’s Advisory Council Co-Chair Rob Glancy ’97, Andrea Weisman Russell ’97

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The Com

In 2008, the Board of Trustees

articulated a vision for how

the school’s facilities can best

complement the academic program

in the long term. The resulting

facilities and landscape master

plan protects the school’s existing

resources, both natural and

man-made, making more efficient

use of the school’s current footprint

while preserving the open outdoor

space that has distinguished

Gordon’s program for over

one hundred years.

The SeCond CenTury CampaIGn for Gordon SChool

Enriching Music and Theater Education $2.6 million

Performing arts center

Middle School band classroom

Middle School music classroom

Enhancing Community Spaces $2.3 million

After school programs classroom

The Commons (activity room renovations)

Dining facility

Investing in Gordon’s Future $2.2 million

Funds for financial aid, unrestricted,

and facilities endowments

Total $7.1 million

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Gordon works to answer the question ‘what is the most basic thing

that we need now in order to achieve our mission?’ The Second Century

Campaign fits right into that model. We are investing in exceptional

teaching practice, and elevating the strong academic experience that

Gordon already provides. ralph l. wales, head of School”

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For more information on ways to participate in the Second Century Campaign please contact Kerrie Donahue,

Development Director at 401-434-3833 x117 or visit gordonschool.org/secondcentury.

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Class of 2013 Civil rights Trip

The Class of 2013 traveled to Georgia and

Alabama in February for the twelfth annual

Civil Rights Trip. They visited the Southern

Poverty Law Center where they met with Hate

Crimes Investigator Anthony Griggs and Ashley

Jackson of the Center’s LGBT Rights Team.

The trip had a new stop this year, the Grey-

hound Bus Terminal where Freedom Riders

were beaten while attempting to integrate the

bus waiting room in 1961. Students recognized

how Freedom Rider James Zwerg, along with

SLPC’s Anthony Griggs, modeled two ways

that white men can work against racial

injustice.

The Civil Rights Trip is funded by the Bready-

Lapides Eighth Grade Educational Trip Fund

which was established through the generosity

of Richard Bready (parent of Arika ’02

and Max ’03) and Sally Lapides (parent of

Ian Barnacle ’99 and Emmett Barnacle ’03)

and the Class of 2003 Museum Admissions

Endowment Fund.

head’s advisory Council

This fall, the Head’s Advisory Council

welcomed new Co-Chairs Johnnie Chace

(Parent of Sarah ’97, Ben ’97, Nathaniel ’00

and Lilly ’03) and Rob Glancy ‘97. Johnnie

and Rob continue the success that began under

the tenure of Sally Lapides and Annie White

’87. The Council met this fall and discussed

Gordon’s financial and strategic planning

which included information about the Second

Century Campaign. The conversation was led

by Trustee Susanna Rhodes Beckwith ’84 and

Head of School, Ralph L. Wales. The Council,

which consists of fifty alumni and parents

of alumni, reflected on Gordon’s current

demographic and the enrollment trends that

exist in the Rhode Island landscape of

independent schools.

high School alumni Breakfast

The December high school alumni breakfast

provided alumni from classes 2009-2012

an opportunity to reconnect with their Gordon

classmates and teachers prior to the winter

assembly.

College alumni luncheon

Lucy Kahn ’06 (Sarah Lawrence College ’14

and Milton Academy ’10), Alix Bowman ’05

(Spelman College ’13 and Wheeler School ’09),

and Susannah Wales ’05 (Hamilton College ’13

and Wheeler School ’09) returned to Gordon

in January to share their reflections on their

educational experiences with this year’s eighth

grade class.

In November, five Gordon students passed the

audition for the Rhode Island Music Educator’s

Junior All-State Festival. Approximately eight

hundred seventh, eighth and ninth graders from

throughout the state also auditioned. The Junior

All-State Performance was held on Sunday,

Campus Notes

Gordon middle School musicians named all-State

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March 24th. Several Gordon graduates also

made it into the festival: Lilli Maris ’12,

Ping Promrat ’12, Toria Rainey ’10, Sherry

Romanzi ’10 and Lindsay Waller ’09.

middle School Theater performances

The Middle School performed Haroun

and the Sea of Stories this fall. The script

is an adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s

novel. This March, Middle School students

performed a production of Fiddler on the

Roof. Jonah Parker ’10 spent a day directing

Middle School actors as they prepared for their

scenes. Jonah’s acting performance in the film

Breakfast with Curtis continues to receive

glowing reviews.

Karla harry visiting author

Joseph Bruchac, a prolific author and gifted

storyteller whose work often draws on his

Abenaki ancestory, was this year’s Karla Harry

Visiting Author. Bruchac is the author of

more than 120 books for children and adults.

The best selling Keepers of the Earth: Native

American Stories and Environmental Activities

for Children and others of his “Keepers” series,

continue to receive critical acclaim and to be

used in classrooms throughout the country.

Thanks to the Karla Harry Visiting Author

Fund and additional support from the Gordon

Community Association, Bruchac’s four-and-

a-half day visit was the longest author visit

since the program began in 2007. Bruchac

worked with students from every grade level,

leading workshops that had students exploring

their own voices through storytelling and

conversations about historical fiction and

biography.

rhode Island State poet

Rick Benjamin was named the new State Poet

Laureate of Rhode Island. According to the

Providence Journal, this position makes him

“the principal advocate for poetry in Rhode

Island.” Since 2009, Benjamin has taught an

extended series as a guest in Gordon’s seventh

grade humanities classrooms. In a recent

interview with WGBH radio, Rhode Island’s

state poet Rick Benjamin was asked about

recognizing young talent. In his answer, he

recalled an encounter with Nellie Harvey ’12

in a Gordon classroom. Rick Benjamin will

return to Gordon this spring to continue his

work with our seventh grade students.

Teacher residency program Spring placements

The third cohort of Gordon’s Teacher Residency

Program with Roger Williams University is

immersed in their spring teaching practicum.

The seven residents, including alumni Kristy

Castro ’01 and Anna Burnham ’02, are being

mentored by several Gordon faculty members.

This talented and energetic group of aspiring

teachers has brought their diverse experiences,

backgrounds and passion for teaching into

Gordon’s classrooms this year. For more

information on Gordon’s Teacher Residency

Program visit www.gordonschool.org/

residency.

Sixteenth visiting artist announced

Rebecca Goodale will be Gordon’s sixteenth

Britt Nelson Visiting Artist, working with fourth

and sixth grades and students in the seventh

and eighth grade visual arts elective. Goodale

has been documenting the flora and fauna of

southern Maine since 1999, in a series of books

handmade by the artist in small limited editions.

She serves as adjunct professor, teaching book

arts and design, at the University of Southern

Maine.

Gordon middle School musicians named all-State

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We Bid Farewell

THIS JunE, THREE DEDICATED TEACHERS,

LInDA MuLLIn, DIAnA REEvES AnD

SuSAnnE TOOTHAKER, WILL STEP AWAy

FROM THE CLASSROOM. BETWEEn THEM,

THEy WILL HAvE PROvIDED SIxTy-EIGHT

yEARS OF DEDICATED WORK AnD

THOuGHTFuL InSTRuCTIOn. THROuGH-

OuT THEIR TIME AT GORDOn, THEy

HAvE GuIDED OvER 800 STuDEnTS

AnD SuPPORTED FAMILIES WITH

CARE AnD GOOD COunSEL. nOTABLy,

AS LEAD TEACHERS DO, EACH OF

THEM HAS WORKED TO EMBRACE nEW

InITIATIvES AnD PuSHED THEIR PRACTICE

TOWARD GORDOn’S ASPIRATIOnS.

l I n d a m u l l I n

Linda began teaching at Gordon in 1981 as

a substitute teacher and became a full-time

classroom teacher soon after. Over the years,

she has nurtured hundreds of students’

enthusiasm for new knowledge and today

provides the structure and loving presence

within which her first graders thrive.

Linda was integral in the creation of a school-

wide facilities and landscape master plan in

the late ’90s. Her clear thinking and practical

ideas assisted work that ultimately resulted in

the Campaign for Gordon’s Future which built

the Joukowsky Family Library, the Nelson Field

House, the Sharp Early Childhood Center,

the Collis Music Classroom, the Chace Middle

School Building and the Mann Family Early

Childhood Playground. During the years of

Gordon’s summer camp, Linda was often the

camp director’s right hand. Recently, Linda

has served as a cooperating teacher for the

Teacher Residency Program mentoring future

elementary educators.

“My favorite memory of Mrs. Mullin was when

she read Julie Edwards’ book, The Last of the

Really Great Whangdoodles out loud to our

class. I can still remember sitting around on

the floor with my classmates in rapt attention

while Mrs. Mullin read the story to us with

some great voices, too! I always loved

reading, but having this imaginative and

suspenseful book read to us was one of my

favorite Gordon memories. It’s still one of

my all time favorite books.”

—Courtney DeStefano ’01

S u S a n n e T o o T h a K e r

Susanne has been an exemplar of early

childhood practice for each of her fifteen years

teaching at Gordon. Her positive spirit is infec-

tious, most centrally for the children she guides

and nurtures. In 2006, Susanne co-led the

school’s self study process with Teacher Resi-

dency Program Director Lynn Bowman when

Gordon was last evaluated by the Association

of Independent Schools in New England.

Susanne holds an in-depth understanding

of Gordon’s foundational principle—child-

centered education. She has taken this basic

tenet and imbedded it within the context of

multicultural teaching. She brings themes

around racial identity into her instruction

and works diligently to make sure every family

feels full membership in her classroom.

“The week I entered Mrs. Toothaker’s class, I

felt like I had entered “real” school. I had left

behind the sand and dress up box next door

in preschool, and was eager to start learning

about stuff. I wasn’t that sure what that “stuff”

was going to be. Mrs. Toothaker’s big smile

and warm hug greeted me on the first day.

During that year, I was excited to realize that

the things that Mrs. Toothaker wanted to teach

me (a unit about bats after reading Stellaluna,

and a lesson on Sri Lanka) meshed so neatly

with my own interests. What a coincidence.

I also felt special when she arranged for Trevor

Cusack to be my reading buddy, and come into

the classroom to read with me. I went to school

every day, excited to see my friends and excited

about what I would discover. To be honest,

I don’t remember the facts I learned in Kinder-

garten, but I remember the feeling of a class

that didn’t seem like hard work, but play.

It’s this little kernel that I think I carried out of

Mrs. Toothaker’s classroom: the best kind of

learning should not feel like work at all.”

—Dylan Neel ’07

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d I a n a r e e v e S

In her twenty-three years at Gordon,

Diana has consistently brought purposeful,

individualized instruction to her classroom.

Whether it has been in first grade, where

she taught for nine years, or in third grade,

where she started in 2001, Diana’s deliber-

ate and focused practice has provided

an example for her teaching peers.

Diana is an expert in differentiated instruc-

tion and known nationally for her work in

gifted and talented education. In 1997, she

was recognized with the Presidential Award

for Excellence in Mathematics and Science

teaching. In the past three years, Diana

has been a key participant in the Teacher

Residency program serving as a cooperating

teacher and course instructor while author-

ing the Cooperating Teacher Handbook.

Her children Sarah ’96 and Ryan ’98 are

both graduates of the school.

“Mrs. Reeves was such a kind and caring

person. She always had a big smile and

was ready to help out on a project or go

on an adventure with you. She inspired

me to push forward and branch out into

the world.”

—Philippe Dwyer ‘04

Courtney DeSteFano ’01 iS a hiStory

teaCher, athletiCS CoaCh anD Dorm

parent at the maSterS SChool in DoBBS

Ferry, ny. She iS a graDuate oF moSeS

BroWn ’05, SkiDmore College ’09 anD

BoSton College ’11.

why did you decide to go into the teaching

profession?

During the second year of my Master’s program

at Boston College, the History Department

asked me to be a teaching assistant for their

core history course, Europe and the Modern

World. I was responsible for leading four

discussion sections a week that helped supple-

ment the course lectures. In addition, I held

office hours to help my students improve their

written work, and help them before exams. Even

though it was a lot of work, it was by far the

most rewarding part of my graduate experience.

Being a teaching assistant cemented in my mind

that I am a people person and that I would do

the most good not by being up to my elbows in

dusty books in an archive, but rather by having

daily conversations with my students to explain

how and why our world is the way it is today.

what are your responsibilities at the masters

School?

At the Masters School, I am considered a

“triple threat” faculty member because I teach,

coach, and live in the dorms. I am currently

teaching four sections of World History II

for sophomores. I am the head varsity coach

for the field hockey and lacrosse programs, and

I live in Ford Dorm, which is one of three girls’

dorms on campus. I love that I get to see my

students in a variety of settings, and that they

get to know me beyond the confines of the

classroom. Last year, I received the Head of

School’s Teaching and Learning Award for my

work on campus. I was proud to know that

working in the boarding school setting was the

right fit for me. More recently, I was asked to

serve on an advisory search committee for our

new Dean of Students.

what have you enjoyed about your first two

years of teaching?

I want my students to leave my class seeing

the big picture. It is such a rewarding moment

when a student makes a comment in class,

or in their writing, or in the hallway that shows

they are thinking critically and that the pieces

of the puzzle are coming together. Those

moments are little celebrations for me, know-

ing that I have helped them—albeit in a small

way—to change the way they think about the

world around them.

how did your Gordon experience shape who

you are today?

As a teacher, my Gordon experience has

provided me with a model for great teaching.

I often find myself thinking, “How would this

have been done at Gordon?” In preparing my

lessons and in my approach with my students,

I try to emulate the behavior I learned from

the teachers I had at Gordon. I have often

employed Mrs. Bowman’s method of inquiry

based learning to come to a deeper under-

standing of a primary source document. When

a student is struggling with a certain topic, I

remember the kindness and patience that Mr.

Dorsey showed me in my pursuit of trying to

master the concepts in his class. When my

students question the value of map quizzes,

I think about Mrs. Whinery’s attention to detail

and her great energy for teaching us geography.

And although I don’t teach science, I try to

bring Mr. Kravitz’s infectious enthusiasm for

the subject matter into my own classes. I really

can’t imagine being where I am today without

the lessons I learned while at Gordon.

what are your hopes for the future?

I see myself teaching for a long time to come.

Next year I will be teaching history at Choate

Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, CT. I am excited

about this move in my professional career as I

will be teaching a wider array of courses, and

will have the opportunity to keep coaching the

sports I love and be a dorm parent.

alumnI profIle

Courtney DeStefano ’01

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alumnI profIle

Dylan neel ’07

Dylan neel ’07 mentorS elementary

SChool StuDentS aS part oF the harvarD

univerSity-allSton eDuCation portal.

Dylan iS a graDuate oF moSeS BroWn

(’11) anD iS a neuroBiology major

anD a gloBal health poliCy minor at

harvarD univerSity.

what has your experience been like at

harvard?

While I enjoyed my classes in high school,

I didn’t appreciate how much more free and

fun college learning would be. While Harvard

has required general subjects, I can still direct

my learning into areas that truly interest me:

I’ve taken classes in Jewish literature, genetics,

epic poetry and mathematical modeling. Right

now, I am taking biochemistry—it is fascinating

to be able to see how fundamental organic

chemistry mechanisms underlie all of life.

In addition to classes, I am involved in some

campus organizations as well. I am on the

editorial board of the Harvard College Global

Health Review, I work in a lab at the Broad

Institute, I am a member of the Harvard

Undergraduate Maternal Health Initiative,

I serve on the board of the Phoenix S.K. Club,

and I mentor kids at the Harvard-Allston

Education Portal.

how did you get involved with the harvard-

allston education portal?

During my freshman year, I started working

with “The Ed Portal.” This program is designed

to bridge the Harvard and Allston communities,

and provide a space where Harvard under-

graduates and local elementary students can

study, interact and have fun together. My role

as a mentor has made me fully appreciate how

mentorship and good teaching are crucial at

every stage in one’s life. Running a science

club for two fourth graders this past semester

was one of the most rewarding experiences

that I have had at Harvard. We learned about

physics by launching bottle rockets, studied

cyanobacteria under the microscope, played

phil ippe DWyer ’04 iS teaChing engliSh

at the youWell international pumpkin

engliSh SChool in Chongqing, China. he

iS a graDuate oF proviDenCe Country Day

’08 anD rhoDe iSlanD SChool oF DeSign ’12.

why did you decide to get into the teaching

profession?

At RISD, I had my first teaching experience

as a teaching assistant for one of my professors.

I enjoyed sharing my knowledge with other

students and watching them grow throughout

the class. It was interesting to be able to work

with the classroom curriculum in a different

way and help the students master difficult

concepts and further their understanding.

Seeing them build their confidence and under-

standing is what made me want to find another

teaching position.

what are your responsibilities at the youwell

International pumpkin english School?

I am responsible for teaching nine English

classes for children aged three to five and one

class for six to eight year olds. I am paired

with a Chinese teacher at the school who

assists me with the curriculum and classroom

management. With the younger students, I try

to make their study of the English language

fun and interactive as learning English is quite

hard. I’ve implemented many arts literacy

activities—drawing, dramatic play and games

so that the children can attach themselves

to what they are learning. Most recently, I

organized a vacation camp and we had so

alumnI profIle

philippe Dwyer ’04

with electric circuits and built egg-drop

contraptions. I tried to impart small life lessons

that I have learned, and encourage their

passion for academics. Just as those whom

I mentor benefit from working with me, I too

have needed those that I can look up to, and

learn from. Many of my teachers at Gordon,

especially Mrs. Toothaker and Mrs. Parikh,

gave me the encouragement, guidance and

hugs that made me a confident student.

how did Gordon shape who you are today?

Agatha Christie, the detective novelist, said

“one of the luckiest things that can happen

to you in life is, I think, to have a happy

childhood.” Gordon was a big part of my

own happy childhood, and some of my fondest

memories are from these years. I remember

feeling a strong sense of belonging at the

school, enjoying the ample outdoor active

time we always had (my favorite subject was

recess) and being interested in the things that

my teachers had to say. These experiences

have had a tremendous impact on my own

sense of how I learn best, and how I thrive.

I still like to create a community around me

like that first Gordon community, I still like

to run around a lot like we did in the field next

to the school, and I still respect my teachers

for the work they do. I am also grateful that

in my family’s first years at Gordon, when my

father was still finishing his medical training,

we received a generous grant of financial aid

that made these great experiences possible

for my brother and me.

what are your hopes for the future?

For now, I hope to keep enjoying myself in

college. After I graduate, I plan to pursue a career

in research science, and perhaps go to medical

school. I would like to make a contribution in

science or in global health some day. As for

the big picture, I aspire to have work that I am

passionate about, a happy family and good

friends. These are values I know to be inspired

in part by Gordon’s mission of joyful learning,

intellectual leadership and empathic spirit.

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ping promrat ’12 ServeS aS viCe preSiDent

oF hiS FreShman ClaSS at Wheeler

SChool. he iS alSo a memBer oF the

junior varSity Boy’S SoCCer team anD

the SChool’S Choral enSemBle.

what motivated you to run for vice

president of your class?

My friend Cam DiGiovanni asked me in the

beginning of the school year if I would be his

running mate for the freshman class presidency

positions. We ran against two other pairs of

classmates and had to deliver a speech to our

entire class. I remember being a little nervous

as I was still getting to know everyone in our

class. Cam and I stayed focused on communi-

cating our ideas of building community within

our class. We shared our plan of hosting class-

wide events that would provide opportunities

for everyone to get to know each other and

have a good time outside of the school day.

We were thrilled to learn we won the election

and have been busy ever since.

what are some of your vice president

responsibilities?

Cam and I are responsible for running the

freshman class weekly meeting. We plan for

the agenda and make sure to make the best

use of our classmates’ time. As a leader, I try

to understand the perspectives of my class-

mates and create opportunities that would be

of interest to them. After our exam week, Cam

and I organized a movie and pizza night for

our class at Wheeler Hall. It was well attended

and our class finally had a chance to hang out

and enjoy each other’s company without just

passing each other in the hallways.

My goal as vice president is to help my class-

mates out whether they are having a difficult

time or just need time to be together. I want

them to enjoy their freshman year and I feel as

vice president I have a hand in that. Cam and

I have had a lot fun bringing everyone together

and planning events for our class.

alumnI profIle

ping promrat ’12

how is your experience at wheeler going?

I am really enjoying my first year at Wheeler.

I played soccer this fall and am a member of

the choral ensemble which is a continuation

of what I did at Gordon. I am taking an honors

class and striving to do the best I can. I love

my history class with Mr. Hall. He reminds me

a lot of my eighth grade humanities teacher

Mr. Burnstein, as he teaches in the same way,

making history relevant. He also goes out of

his way to get to know his students inside and

outside of the classroom.

what do you appreciate about your Gordon

experience?

The Civil Rights Trip; it gave me a greater

understanding of what we go through as a

society and what I can do as an individual to

help. The trip brought our class together and

the teachers were great. You don’t appreciate

them enough when you are with them every

day, but their method of teaching and ability

to get to know us as individuals is something

that I will never forget. My Gordon teachers

got their message across effectively and

thoughtfully. We weren’t just learning facts,

we were attaching meaning and connection

to what we were learning. It was an interactive

and engaging way to understand the world

around us.

what are you hopes for the future?

Gordon has a lot to do with what I want to

pursue in the future. I was exposed to every-

thing at Gordon. I was never a musician until

Gordon and now theater and music are integral

to everything I do today. I want to continue to

pursue everything I am interested in.

much fun together. I took them all ice skating

and for many of them it was their first time.

It was a great opportunity to bond with them

outside of the classroom.

what have you enjoyed in your first year

of teaching?

I love watching my students and seeing their

eyes open wide with wonder and engaged

in their understanding of the English language.

They take their learning very seriously and are

eager to understand new words and phoenetic

concepts every day. It is so fun getting to know

my students as individuals.

how did Gordon shape who you are today?

Gordon encouraged me to be open-minded

and tackle things head on and believe and trust

the outcome. My teachers gave me the room

to explore my own interests, whether it was

writing a research paper on a topic I was

excited about, or creating my own art portfolio.

Today, I enjoy exploring what the world has

to offer and I attribute that to my Gordon

experience.

what are your hopes for the future?

I want to continue in the teaching profession

and pursue graduate school sometime in the

near future. I also want to keep traveling and

exploring different cultures as I have learned

so much from my travels in China.

10

georgia hunter Farinholt ’92 iS

reSearChing anD Writing her Family’S

Seven-year, F ive-Continent holoCauSt

Survival oDySSey in a manuSCript

entitleD, The Lucky Ones: a WOrLd War

I I sTOry Of cOurage, Perseverance, and

LOve. She iS a graDuate oF moSeS BroWn

’96 anD the univerSity oF virginia ’00.

what prompted you to research your

family’s history and then decide to write

a book about it?

My maternal grandfather passed away when

I was 14. Not long after, I was assigned an

“I-Search” project in freshman English class,

requiring me to look back at my ancestry as

a way of better understanding myself, and

how I fit into the world. I’ll never forget sitting

down with my grandmother and learning

for the first time that I was a quarter Jewish

and that my grandfather, along with his parents

and siblings, were Holocaust survivors.

A few years later, my parents hosted a family

reunion at our home in Massachusetts. Over

30 relatives—many of whom I’d never met

before—flew in from Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo,

Paris, Tel Aviv, and from all over the States.

Languages alternated mid-sentence between

English, French, and Portuguese; keeping up

was a challenge. But I managed, and when

conversation shifted to my grandfather and

then to the war, I leaned in closer. A baby born

in a Siberian gulag. An escape from the Radom

ghetto. A secret wedding in Lvov. A romance

aboard a ship full of refugees bound for Brazil.

Little by little, I began to piece together a part

of my family’s past which, until that day, I had

no idea existed.

Why was I just hearing these stories now?

I remember thinking. And why hadn’t anyone

taken the time to write them down? I wouldn’t

begin my full-fledged research for several

years, but something inside me knew, that

summer evening, that my family’s was a story

that needed to be told.

how have you gone about collecting your

research? what has that culling process

been like for you?

I kicked off my research by flying around the

world to interview relatives, beginning with the

one family member still living and able to share

her first-hand experiences. (Felicia was a year

old at the outbreak of WWII, three years old

when she and her mother were forced into hid-

ing.) Next I met with the rest of my mother’s

cousins. Some were born during the war, most

just after. My interviews took me from Paris to

Rio de Janeiro, Seattle, Oakland, Miami, and

Rhode Island. I filled half a dozen notebooks and

took hours of digital recordings along the way.

As my family’s story began to unfold, I was

blown away by its breadth. My grandfather

was one of five siblings who scattered at the

start of the war—their paths, I learned, spanned

five continents before they reunited in Brazil in

1946. In order to make sense of it all, I pieced

together a seven-year timeline and color-coded

it by sibling. To help me pinpoint dates and

better understand the social/political/economic

climate, I included as many key historical

events and turning points as possible.

With a basic understanding of who was where/

when, I was still left with several large holes to

fill, so I began searching online archives and

reaching out (often with the help of translators)

to indexes, magistrates, memorials, ministries,

and embassies around the world for records

pertaining to my family. I visited the Holocaust

Museum in D.C., the Museum of Jewish Heritage

in New York, and the National Archives in

Rio, scouring records for the last name Kurc.

I followed blogs, joined online groups and

immersed myself in books, articles, essays,

and films relevant to my story; when I found

a reliable source, I contacted the author—

nearly everyone I reached out to responded

right away, eager to help.

Finally, I turned to other Holocaust and WWII

survivors, hoping that their personal narratives

could shed some light on mine. I joined the

Polish Home Association, where I met with

several people who, like my grandfather’s

brother Genek, had been exiled by Stalin to

Siberian gulags, and I tracked down my grand-

father’s ex-fiancée, whom he met aboard the

ship he sailed from Marseille to Rio in 1941;

Eliska was able to share details about their jour-

ney aboard the Alsina, about the four months

they spent detained in Casablanca, and about

the man my grandfather was at 28 years old,

when he left his family and his homeland in

hopes of starting over in the free world.

what has been one of the most challenging

aspects of this project?

Unearthing my family’s past is a slow-going

process—I have to remind myself often to be

patient! One of my biggest challenges, which I

discovered early on in my interviews, is the fact

that my grandfather and his siblings (as is the

alumnI profIle

georgia hunter Farinholt ’92

11

case with many Holocaust survivors) didn’t talk

much about the war. Their story is blessed with

a happy ending, yes, but it seems that when

they were finally reunited in Brazil at war’s

end, they were ready to put the past behind

them. The stories that have been passed

down to me, therefore, are limited, and often

fragmented.

Another big challenge I face comes with the

decision to write The Lucky Ones from the

perspective of my grandfather and his siblings,

an approach that requires putting myself in

their shoes. I’m constantly asking myself things

like: What did it feel like to endure a winter of

forced labor in Siberia? To fall in love aboard

a ship full of refugees? To hike over the Alps to

freedom—while pregnant? It’s difficult, to say

the least, to try to imagine what my relatives

must have gone through to survive.

Finally, as I write, I’ve found that with every

scene come several hours of additional

research and fact checking. What did the

Wehrmacht’s uniforms look like compared

to the Red Army’s? My grandfather’s brother

Jakob was a photographer—what kind of

camera would he have used? I’m in the process

of deciding whether to pen The Lucky Ones

as creative non-fiction or as historical fiction

—whichever route I choose, I want the details,

down to the minute ones, to be as accurate

as possible.

what are you enjoying about this process?

Playing detective can be frustrating when

you run up against dead ends. But when you

uncover a nugget of information—be it an

anecdote passed down in an interview, or

a letter back from a ministry in Moscow

revealing that, yes, we do have record of your

relative!...that moment is magical. With each

discovery, I’m overwhelmed with a sense of

gratification, knowing that the work put into

the project is paying off.

All in all, uncovering my family history has

been an incredibly transformative experience.

I’ve laughed, cried, cringed, and shaken my

head in disbelief along the way. If left to proba-

bility, my grandfather and his siblings wouldn’t

have survived the Holocaust. But with wit,

courage, perseverance, and undoubtedly a

good dose of luck, they did survive. Their story

fills me with hope and pride, and offers up a

new perspective on my definition of things like

hardship, perseverance, and family.

how did your Gordon experience shape who

you are today?

I have nothing but positive memories of my

eight years at Gordon. From the moment I set

foot in the lower school (where everything was

built at two-thirds scale to help us tiny-folk

feel a little more in control of our environment)

I understood that I was in a safe place, where

I could explore, ask questions and express

myself. Gordon made learning fun.

My foray into writing began in first grade,

when we were given the assignment of pub-

lishing our stories. I remember my first book

well: Digby Duck and the Magic Cloud. My

teacher, Mrs. Johnston, put an emphasis on

completing a story with care versus spelling

or grammar. Our finished works (we published

several throughout the year) were proudly

displayed in the classroom library until we took

them home.

In later years, I recall my teachers emphasizing

that the process of writing was equally as

important as the final product. And so I became

accustomed to peer review, teacher review,

and endless rewrites. Middle School introduced

rigorous analytical and organizational skills

as I was assigned research papers. Whatever

the subject, I was encouraged to develop

an individual voice, rather than a sanitized

“academic” one.

Today, as I continue down the path of unearth-

ing and capturing my family history, I have

Gordon to thank for instilling in me early on

the belief that writing a book—including all the

research and honing of plot, character, and

voice that come along with it—is an absolutely

attainable goal. I look forward to the day The

Lucky Ones is complete; rest assured, it will be

proudly displayed on my bookshelf, alongside

Digby Duck and the Magic Cloud.

what are your hopes for the future?

My goal is to complete a draft of The Lucky

Ones by summertime. Once I feel my manu-

script is polished enough, I’ll start submitting it

to agents, with the hope of publishing the book

in 2014. Meanwhile, I’ve started a blog as a

way of sharing with readers what, exactly, my

research has entailed. Gordon friends are wel-

come to take a look: www.georgialikethestate.

com. Whatever happens, it’s thrilling to think

that my story, once complete, can be read by

many more generations to come.

family photos left to right:The Kurc family in their hometown of Radom, Poland, circa 1920—my grandfather, “Addy,” is at the far left.

My grandfather at 28 years old, aboard the ship Alsina. He fled Europe in January of 1941 for Brazil, but was detained twice, in Dakar and in Casablanca. When he arrived in Rio six months later aboard a different ship, his visa had expired.

My grandfather’s younger sister, Halina, posed as an Aryan during the war, with the false last name Brzoza. This is her ID, created by her husband Adam, who worked for the underground.

My grandfather’s brother Genek and his wife Herta in Palestine, 1943.

My great-grandfather, Schlomo Kurc, with his grand-children, Ricardo and Kathleen, not long after the family reunited in Brazil in 1946.

ask for help than about being an expert on

everything.

how did your Gordon experience shape who

you are today?

Gordon prepared me for life as a researcher by

giving me the confidence to believe in myself,

showing me how to thoughtfully navigate the

academic world and balance the demands of

my college experience.

In eighth grade science, we studied water

quality, collecting and testing water samples

from the school’s pond. As part of the final

project, we had the option to design our own

experiment using the different samples. It was

the first experience I had conducting my own

research. In my experiment, I looked at alkalin-

ity, pH levels and electric conductivity. I really

enjoyed the process of independent research

and the control of asking my own questions.

My eighth grade humanities class pushed me

to think deeply about issues in the world and

encouraged me to form my own opinions and

convictions. The discussions we had in eighth

grade humanities class were engaging and full

of debate. We learned how to think critically

and analytically about the information we were

learning, and I continue to rely on all of these

skills today as I pursue my own research.

what are your hopes for the future?

Right now I am focused on completing and

presenting my senior thesis while searching

for a job after graduation. I am interested in

gaining more experience in field research

and lab work as a way to study large mammal

social behavior or paleontology. I could see

myself working in either of these fields or in

coastal marine biology. While I am still figur-

ing out what field I want to go into, I do know

that I want to continue doing research, and

in a few years, I plan on attending graduate

school. Perhaps in the future I will become a

professor or work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service.

of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard

University. Professor Hoffman had collected

these samples over the last fifteen years as part

of his research of Snowball Earth in northern

Namibia.

What makes Snowball Earth so interesting is

that complex, multicellular organisms were

present before and after periods of glaciation.

The big question for me is “How did life

survive Snowball Earth?”

Our rock samples are from before and after the

first Sturtian glaciation and are composed of

carbonate rocks. We use hydrochloric acid and

acetic acid to dissolve the rock. The residue

that is left over contains the microfossils which

we then extract by hand. We look at the micro-

fossils under a scanning electron microscope

(SEM) and run tests on them. In addition, we

also look at petrographic thin sections from

the samples which are thin slices of rock.

This work has been very exciting because we

are constantly finding new types of fossils. For

my thesis, I have been focusing on fossilized

tests which are the outer shell of testate amoebae

and an organism we are calling black organic

matter. We are still gathering data to support

our identification of black organic matter.

what has been the most challenging aspect

of researching for your senior thesis?

The most challenging part of my research has

been the gaps in some of my geologic knowl-

edge. However, this has not been a problem

because science, particularly an intersectional

field such as paleontology, is based on collab-

oration. It is difficult to tell where someone’s

work stops and someone else’s work begins. I

always have a hard time saying “my research”

because it feels so much like “our research.”

There are so many layers and angles that need

to be explored in order to conduct a good

research project that nobody can be proficient

in them all. It is more about knowing when to

maggie SaWDy ’05 iS a Senior at

Smith College. aS a Biology major,

She haS Been Doing paleontologiCal

reSearCh For her honorS theSiS.

maggie attenDeD Wheeler SChool ’09.

what led you to Smith?

My experience at Smith has been full of

surprises and I’ve really enjoyed my four years

here. Smith offers so many opportunities for

research and leadership in its academic and

extracurricular offerings. The community is

great; I live in a house with eighty people and

I hold a position on the house council. We

work together to plan events, community

service projects. Smith also has wonderful

traditions including Mountain Day. Sometime

around Columbus Day, the President will

announce that it is Mountain Day and a bell

will ring and we get to take the day off from

classes and are encouraged to explore the

outdoors. Last year, my friends and I went

hiking and picked apples.

what interested you about paleontology?

When I was little I always thought about either

being a paleontologist or an astronaut. In my

junior year at Smith, I took my first paleontology

class with Professor Sara Pruss. She was

enthusiastic, positive and supported my

interest in connecting my biology background

with paleontology. When my class ended,

I asked my professor if she would be willing

to be my advisor for my senior thesis project.

We had to get approval from the biology

department, as this was a new direction forging

a research relationship between the biology

and geosciences departments.

With the biology department’s approval,

I was able to jump right into my research.

I am currently looking at fossils from northern

Namibia that are approximately 700 million

years old. They are part of a collection belong-

ing to Professor Paul Hoffman, a tectonic and

sedimentary field geologist in the Department

12

alumnI profIle

maggie Sawdy ’05

13

liam miner ’05 iS a Senior at DaviDSon

College anD a graDuate oF moSeS BroWn

’09. he reCently traveleD to ColomBia

reSearChing For hiS politiCal SCienCe

honorS DiSSertation exploring the WayS

that Drug traFFiCking aFFeCtS the

relationShip BetWeen the uniteD StateS

anD mexiCo.

how did Gordon shape who you are today?

It has been close to eight years since I gradu-

ated from Gordon, but I remember my time

as a Gator like it was yesterday. Gordon played

a significant role in my development from a

small child to an intellectually curious and fun-

loving adolescent. I fondly remember playing

tag in the creek near the Middle School and

my first game of lacrosse as a goalie in

the sixth grade.

Gordon taught me from a very young age

how to share with others, be respectful of

differences, and push the boundaries of my

mind. Gordon’s curriculum is designed to give

students the practical skills needed to excel

in the classroom and in life. Memory maps in

Mrs. Spence’s class tested my mind, while the

Civil Rights Trip challenged my understanding

of the role that fairness plays in our everyday

lives. These experiences, and many more from

my time at Gordon, have helped define who

I am today.

what led you to davidson?

My experiences since leaving Gordon have

been filled with excitement and joy. I contin-

ued on to Moses Brown, an institution that I

very much enjoyed. I then picked Davidson to

pursue a Bachelors Degree in political science.

Davidson is a small liberal arts college that is

usually overlooked by New Englanders, yet it

is both academically rigorous and community-

oriented.

I picked Davidson, I believe, because deep

down I yearned for a college experience that

was similar to the one I had for so many years

at Gordon. Clearly it would be different, but

I was in search for the ideal community—

one that would push my limits but one that

also valued a strong sense of honor and

interactive learning. I wanted a home away

from home, and I have found that at Davidson.

Plus, it’s a liberal arts college with Division I

athletics, what could be better than that?

what has your experience at davidson

been like?

I have been able to reflect recently on my time

at Davidson, and I am quite satisfied at what

I have been able to accomplish and all that

I’ve learned. I am a political science major

and have been quite involved on campus

the past four years. I led the Davidson mock

trial program in our regional tournament in

2011, I held two vice presidential roles in

my fraternity, and I am currently an adjunct

Admissions Counselor for the Davidson Office

of Admissions and Financial Aid specializing

in communications and social media.

The role that has impacted my life the most,

however, is my work as the prosecutor for the

Davidson Honor Code. Davidson has one of

the oldest student-run honor codes in the

nation, and the college has an academic and

social system that is based on trust. Gordon

instilled in me the value of honor and trust

from a very young age, ideals which I hold in

the highest esteem.

how did you choose your thesis topic?

I have always been fascinated by American

foreign policy, and I am now working to com-

pile research for a dissertation about how the

United States has influenced Mexico in regards

to its policies on drug trafficking. It has been

fascinating research, allowing me to pursue

original, graduate-level research as an under-

graduate student. I was even awarded a grant

to travel with other Davidson students and my

faculty advisor to Colombia this past January.

We spent a week in Bogota and Medellin

meeting with representatives from the

U.S. and Colombian governments, non-

governmental organizations, and community

groups. Two fascinating highlights of this trip

were conversations we had with the Deputy

U.S. Ambassador to Colombia Perry Holloway,

and a Vice-Minister of Defense within the

Colombian government.

This research will be included in the introduc-

tion of my thesis. Also, if all goes according to

plan, I will be published as a co-author with

my faculty advisor in this year’s June/July issue

of Survival Magazine, a journal published by

the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

We are writing a few book reviews for the

magazine covering recently published books

in the field of Latin American studies.

what are your hopes for the future?

I have been challenged at Davidson to think

outside of the academic box, so to speak. My

research is quite original and will produce

work that I hope to one day publish. While at

Davidson, I have been able to work with and

befriend individuals from all across the United

States and abroad. I was even able to spend

five months studying in Buenos Aires, Argentina

in the fall of 2011, which allowed me to

observe a culture very different from those

I have experienced.

As for next year, I will likely be working in

the non-profit or government relations sectors

before deciding the next step for my life. I have

been on an amazing journey since graduating

from Gordon, but I can say without reservation

that the ability to think critically and find joy

in even the most trivial of life’s moments are a

direct result of my time as a Gator.

alumnI profIle

liam miner ’05

14

so that local residents feel informed, respected

and invested.

We’ve created a decision making process

that is free flowing and not stifled by undue

procedure. I rarely use a gavel at city meetings

and as a result the members of the council

are more engaged and encouraged to work

thoughtfully with one another and with city

residents presenting and attending our meet-

ings. As a result, we work more collaboratively

and efficiently, and I believe that our meetings

have become welcoming for the residents of

East Providence.

My hope is that this approach will prompt

other local experienced residents to run for the

City Council in the future. The more qualified

leaders you have involved with your local

government, the more impact you can have

on building your community. People often

tend to defend the status quo and at the same

time criticize it, rather than coming up with

creative ways to improve the system. It is

necessary to change many of the operational

structures that have been in place for a long

time and to provide a more sustainable central-

ized model for the city of East Providence.

In serving in this capacity it is important not

to exceed one’s role as set forth in the city

charter. So it is essential that one often pull

back and exercise restraint.

what are some of the challenges you

are facing?

Historically, the municipal government and the

school system in East Providence have in many

j im BriDen ’77 WaS eleCteD mayor oF

eaSt proviDenCe, ri in DeCemBer. he iS

a praCtiCing attorney anD partner at

BlaiS Cunningham & CroWe CheSter, llp

in paWtuCket, ri . j im iS a graDuate oF

moSeS BroWn, BoSton College anD

univerSity oF arizona College oF laW.

what prompted you to run for the office

of mayor in east providence?

I have served with the City’s Council as a

solicitor and worked in that capacity with East

Providence residents and business owners

which prompted my interest in taking my re-

sponsibilities a step further. This past December

after being elected to East Providence’s City

Council, I was elected by the Council to be

Mayor. Since the election, we have been busy

working on a wide range of issues including

economic and operational development for

the city of East Providence, as well as local

government policies.

what do you hope to accomplish as mayor?

During the election debates, I shared how

important it was for elected officials to try to

improve the political environment in East Prov-

idence. I promised professionalism, civility,

an emphasis on promoting economic develop-

ment and achieving long term fiscal stability.

A City’s Council work needs to be transparent

to our local community. In a sense, we are

kind of like the trustees of the city’s image.

Our primary objectives include making our

city run more efficiently and to incentivize

investment in East Providence. We also focus

on setting a tone of responsiveness and civility,

ways operated as two separate entities. As

a result, they forseeably conflict on issues that

affect our taxpayers and our city’s children.

To address this concern East Providence has

worked to consolidate the finance and human

resource departments so both the city and

school departments are now in the same build-

ing. As a result, the overall management is

more centralized and communication is much

better, and they tend to meet more often to

proactively handle important issues.

During all of this, I have leaned on my back-

ground in economics and law to advocate

for the necessary changes to achieve a more

centralized management of our city. Modifying

this model has been necessary for East Provi-

dence to run more efficiently and continue to

better sustain itself operationally as one entity.

how did your Gordon experience shape who

you are today?

Gordon provided a great learning environment

that had just the right structure. I really enjoyed

my French class and continued to study it

throughout high school and college. Gordon

had an emphasis on encouraging students to

think creatively, collaboratively and express

ideas. It was a comfortable environment for

learning.

Jim Briden ’77 visited Gordon in December and

shared his reflections on being Mayor with Gordon’s

Middle School students. Above, Jim is pictured with

Head of School Ralph L. Wales and Gordon students

and faculty from East Providence.

alumnI profIle jim Briden ’77

6OsRoz Rustigian ’65 writes: “I am still selling,

cleaning and repairing handmade rugs and

carpets in Providence. I was recently elected

Chair of the Board of Directors for the Initiative

to Educate Afghan Women. The Initiative is a

non-profit organization based in Providence,

RI and founded in 2002 to help to create

Afghanistan’s future women leaders through

higher education in the U.S., leadership

training and career guidance. These girls are

remarkable! I also worked as a lobbyist last

year successfully seeking passage of the law

mandating the testing for faults in the under-

ground power delivery systems in Rhode Island

to prevent death and harm to people and pets

from energized surfaces in the public arena.

I continue to serve on the board of the Rhode

Island Furniture Bank, which provides low cost

furniture to those in need in the state. Thank you

Gordon!”

Joshua Miller ’69 was re-elected to his fourth

term as Rhode Island State Senator representing

constituents in parts of Cranston and Warwick.

He shared his perspectives on balancing the

demands of family, career and politics in a

recent issue of the Jewish Voice and Herald.

Lisa Stein ’69 writes: “I just moved to

Matawan-Aberdeen, NJ from Brooklyn, NY.

My son is in the fourth grade, plays ice hockey

and we just got a puppy. I am enjoying

suburban life!”

7OsTed Widmer ’76 worked with a team of scholars

at Brown University to decrypt a secret code

written in the margins of Roger William’s last

known theological work, An Essay Towards

Reconciling of Differences Among Christians.

John W. Wall ’36 passed away this February.

He attended Gordon School, Providence

Country Day School and graduated from

St. George’s School. Following his wartime

graduation from Yale University class of 1946,

he served as a naval officer in the Philippines

after which he returned to Providence and

began working at Rhode Island Hospital Trust.

He was recalled again to the Navy during

the Korean War and after his deployment

returned to Hospital Trust, eventually becom-

ing the bank’s President in 1981 and retired as

Vice Chairman in 1986. He was called back

to serve as Chairman of the bank and retired

for a second time in 1992. A civic minded

individual, Mr. Wall was actively involved

in many community activities as well as chari-

table and philanthropic endeavors. Mr. Wall

was a dedicated and committed advocate and

supporter of Gordon School. His two children,

A.T. Wall ’67 and Mary Daly ’65 also attended

Gordon followed by his grandchildren, Lucy

Wall ’98 and Ash Wall ’01.

4OsMimi (Mary Evans) Findlay ’45 writes: “For the

fourth year, I served on the Vetting Committee

of the Armory Antiques Show during Antiques

Week in New York. This is the premiere show

of American antiques in New York. This

ten-day show, benefits the East Side House

Settlement and is held in the landmark Park

Avenue Armory built in 1881. Last summer

Dave and I attended his grandson’s graduation

from St. Andrew’s School of Economics

and enjoyed a quick road trip to Scotland,

searching for Findlay roots.”

2OsJane Matteson Love ’28 passed away this

January in Laramie, Wyoming. Ms. Love

received her BS degree in Geology from Bryn

Mawr College in 1936 and an MS in Geology

from Smith College in 1938. She spent her

junior year studying Geology at the University

of Wyoming, where she met John David Love.

They married in 1940 and spent the next 62

years dividing their time between their homes

in Laramie and Jackson. Ms. Love was a gener-

ous supporter and advocate for Gordon during

her lifetime and, upon her death, made a

generous bequest to Gordon. In copies of The

Gordonian, the school’s quarterly newsletter

created by Gordon students from 1919 until

the late 1930s, she was listed as a member of

the quarterly honor roll and as editor of this

publication.

3OsChester A. Files, Jr. ’34 passed away this

January. He grew up in Barrington, RI and

attended Gordon School and Providence

Country Day School. Chester graduated from

Princeton University in 1945 and received a

Masters Degree in History in 2007 (at age 83)

from Providence College. He was a member

of many Rhode Island civic organizations

and served as counselor and board member

of École d’Humanite and LPC, the Luethi-

Peterson Camps International, founded in

1947 by friends of his who wanted to bring

children from all over the world together

in European and US settings to promote

international understanding.

Mary Francis Lyon Vaughn ’36 writes: “I just

turned 91 and am running my tax service and

engaged with my trustee work.”

G o r d o n a l u m n I C o n n e C T I o n S p r I n G 2 0 1 3

15

class notes

16

8OsGregory Schadone ’80 is currently serving

in the Rhode Island House of Representatives

District 54, North Providence.

James (Jake) Bliss ’89 passed away this

November from complications from Lateral

Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Jake attended

Gordon and graduated from Moses Brown in

1993. He received a BA in American Studies

from Yale University and an MD from Tulane

University. He completed his orthopedic sur-

gery residency and a fellowship in orthopedic

trauma from Brown University and a fellowship

in total joint replacements at the Scripps Clinic

in Santa Barbara, CA. During his career, he

garnered the respect and admiration of all who

had the privilege to know him. Jake was a life-

long Quaker who generously donated his time

to helping the homeless of Santa Barbara and

migrant Haitian workers in the Dominican

Republic. Jake is survived by his wife, Dr.

Laurel Bliss and daughter Devon. He leaves

behind his father Dr. Thomas Bliss and his

brothers and sisters, Molly ’82, Tim ’84, Anna

’90, and Ned and their children and spouses.

9OsGeorgia Hunter Farinholt ’92 writes: “Last

summer, after seven years of living in Seattle,

WA my husband Robert and I packed up

and moved east with our son Wyatt (now

one- year-old), to Connecticut. We’ll miss the

Pacific Northwest, but we’re excited to be back

in New England—a quick jaunt from family

and friends.” See Georgia’s profile on page 10.

Livia Lisker-Blount ’96 writes: “I am currently

living in Brookline, MA. I attended Gordon

from Nursery through the fifth grade. In 2000,

I graduated from the Fountain Valley School of

Colorado and started Dickinson College, where

I spent my junior year abroad in Bologna, Italy.

I graduated from Dickinson in 2004 with a

joint major in Italian Studies and International

Business. After a year working for a school

accreditation group in the DC area, I moved

to Boston to be closer to home and to get into

the finance area. In 2010, I left my position

as Assistant Vice President, Global Trader,

at Eaton Vance Investment Managers to

attend MIT’s Sloan School of Management.

I graduated from MIT Sloan in May 2012

and currently work at The Analysis Group,

an economic consulting firm in Boston. In

September, my Canadian boyfriend Joel and

I were married in Bristol, RI.” photo 1

Alexia Lisker-Blount ’97 writes: “I am living

year-round on Nantucket where I am a

professional landscaper and I am designing

and making a handcrafted custom tote and

shoulder bag line under the name Boomsmack.

In September 2011, I married my island sweet-

heart, Brett Watts, in Bristol, RI. Hello to my

Gordon classmates (which I attended from

Nursery to fourth grade). I graduated from

Wheeler in 2001 and Hobart William Smith

College in 2005.” photo 2

Noah Davis ’97 is a freelance writer for

the Wall Street Journal and is currently a

contributor to NBC Sports ProSoccer Talk.

Emily Glinick ’98 writes: “After a fun,

successful freelance career as a theatrical stage

manager in New York City, I have decided

to broaden my horizons and try something

new. I was recently accepted to the Massage

Therapy Program at the New York College of

Health Professions, where I will study massage,

holistic health and eventually become certified

as a massage therapist and yoga instructor. I

remain close with fellow Gordon alums Zara

Serabian-Arthur ’98 and Edith Palmieri ’98,

who also live in New York.”

Nick Wall ’99 joined MVision Private Equity

Advisors which is headquartered in London

with offices in New York and Hong Kong.

OOsElizabeth Mermel ’00 writes: “I am back

in Rhode Island, working full time as an

infectious disease epidemologist at the RI

Department of Health. After earning my MS

at George Washington University and before

I started working at the Department of Health,

I started a small crafting business www.etsy.

com/fragglesandfriggles, which I continue to

keep up with after hours.”

Andrew Stachiw ’01 writes: “I spent the past

summer with five other educators, historians

and professional canoeists on an expedition in

Canada traveling from Yellowknife, N.W.T. to

Kuglutuk, NU and the Arctic Ocean, by canoe

while developing educational materials to

bring this hands-on experience to Canadian

classrooms. The expedition was sponsored

by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society,

Canadian Geographic Magazine, Mountain

Equipment Co-op, Northwaters Canoes and

more. The 50-day canoe expedition retraced

some famous historical routes, and covered

large swaths of Dene and Inuit land. The trip

covered almost 2000 km, and was unique both

in terms of route and the geographical regions

covered. During our trip, we developed educa-

tional materials, in line with Canadian school

curriculums, through lesson plans, photogra-

phy and video. You can learn more about our

expedition on our website, www.coppermine

2012.com. You can also find photos and

updates from our adventure at facebook.com/

CoppermineRiverExpedition2012 or at twitter.

com/coppermine2012.”

Ash Wall ’01 writes: “I’m currently living and

working in Washington, D.C. and really enjoy-

ing it. Luckily, I get to head up to Rhode Island

every now and then so I got the chance to stop

by and see Gordon this fall. Sadly, I showed up

too late for hot lunch but I was in time to see

Mr. Wales, Mr. Kravitz and a few other famous

Gordon Gators. What a treat! Hope everyone

else is doing well!” photo 3

2 1 3

17

Will Clark ’03 is pursuing his career as

a sportswriter writing for the sports blog,

Celtics 101.

Bethany Pine ’03 writes: “Currently I am teach-

ing fourth grade at Lincoln School. It is an

extremely rewarding and positive experience.

I am also the head coach of the Middle School

girl’s basketball team and coaching the girl’s

field hockey and lacrosse teams. This past sum-

mer I completed two Warrior Dashes and the

Spartan Sprint and I am currently training for

future races.”

Audrey Lietar ’04 writes: “I am studying early

childhood education at Rhode Island College

and I’ve come back to observe at Gordon

several times.”

Zoe Bogus ’05 serves as a mentor for Brown

University’s Outdoor Leadership Training

program where she provides core instruction

and support to BOLT leaders in training.

Tavie Abell ’06 and classmate Hannah Harry

’06 caught up this fall in Washington, D.C.

Tavie was in D.C. attending the Project Nur

6th Annual Student Leadership Conference.

Project Nur is a student led initiative advocat-

ing for social justice by empowering responsi-

ble leaders to cultivate an environment of

acceptance and mutual respect between

Muslims and all communities. photo 4

Stephen Hall ’06 serves as a Class of 2014

representative for the Jonathan Edwards

College Council at Yale University.

Avery Stone ’06 is currently a junior at

Amherst College and a member of the

women’s varsity ice hockey team. Avery

reflected on the lessons she learned from

her ice hockey career in a recent issue of the

YWCA of Rhode Island’s she Shines, an issue

dedicated to women in sports. Avery also

freelances for The Huffington Post.

Seth Gilbane ’07 placed 75th in the Maine

State Men’s Cross Country Championships as

a member of Colby College’s men’s varsity

cross country team. Seth’s team placed third

overall over eleven other Maine universities

and colleges.

Sara Hall ’07, Tavie Abell ’06 and Becca

Carney ’07 came by Gordon this fall to visit

with their former teachers. Sara is a sophomore

at Loyola University in Chicago, Tavie is a

junior at Tulane University, and Becca is a

sophomore at Union College. photo 5

Janie Lupica ’07 is a member of the Tufts

University co-ed a cappella group, Tufts sQ!.

They traveled to Hawaii this winter and were

featured on Hawaii public radio and performed

for the students at Sacred Hearts Academy.

Jonathan Pine ’07 worked as the Deputy

Field Organizer for the Rhode Island State

Democratic Party on the successful David

Cicilline for Congress campaign. He helped

run the Pawtucket staging location for both

David Cicilline’s campaign and Jim Langevin’s

campaign.

Ava Anderson ’08 continues to receive

recognition for her personal care company,

Ava Anderson Non-Toxic. Ava is a freshman

at Babson College and was a winner in the

college’s 5 on Fire Contest. This contest nomi-

nated current and undergraduate students that

best exemplified Babson’s mission of creating

economic and social value everywhere.

The nominees were recognized as inventors,

disrupters, luminaries and newsmakers within

the Babson community.

Thomas Lietar ’08 is enjoying his freshman

year at Skidmore College.

Jessie Litwin ’08 is a member of the

Northeastern University co-ed a cappella

group, The Nor’easters.

Vivian Liu ’08 is enjoying her freshman year at

Barnard College. She recently participated in

Columbia University’s 2013 Up 4 The Fight

Dance Marathon. The marathon raised proceeds

for the Elizabeth Glaser AIDS Foundation, the

world’s leading organization that seeks to elim-

inate pediatric HIV infections. Vivian stayed on

her feet for eighteen hours straight, dancing the

entire time, in an effort to represent the mental,

physical and emotional challenges faced by

children living with HIV.

Hailey Walker ’08 writes: “I am a freshman

at Assumption College and a member of the

honors program. This past semester I made

Dean’s List. I am greatly enjoying my experi-

ence at Assumption and the community here

reminds me greatly of the family I left behind

at Gordon.”

Geoff Cicatiello ’09 was ranked as the number

three goalkeeper by the Providence Journal this

fall for his performance on the Mt. St. Charles

Academy boys varsity soccer team.

Emily Fitts ’09 was named the Coaches Associ-

ation All-Academic girls varsity field hockey

team for her performance in the classroom and

on the athletic fields at Lincoln School.

Bobby Gaines ’09 a senior at Wheeler School

was named a semifinalist in the 2013 National

Merit Scholarship Competition. He is a member

of Wheeler’s debate team and he and his

teammate earned 13th place out of 62 varsity

teams in a debate tournament at Classical High

School. Bobby also earned 23rd in the individ-

ual varsity performances.

Lucy Green ’09 was named to the 2012

Providence Journal Field Hockey All-State

First Team for her performance on Moses

Brown’s girls varsity field hockey team. She also

earned All-Division I First Team recognition

and was named to the Coaches Association

All-Academic girls field hockey team.

4 5

18

Manny Guerzon ’09 a senior at St. Mark’s

School, was one of eight students chosen for

the school’s Science and Research Fellowship

in Biology. This program is designed to offer

students the chance to further study their own

particular area of interest while fostering the

real-world skills needed for high level scientific

research.

Kali Ridley ’09 was named to the Coaches

Association All-Academic girls field hockey

team for her performance in the classroom

and on the athletic fields at Lincoln School.

In February, Kali’s artwork was showcased

in the Young Adults Exhibition at the Hera

Gallery in Wakefield, RI.

Molly Sawdy ’09 was named to the 2012

Providence Journal Fall Independent Stars

All-State team, recognized as a NEPSAC Class

C All-Star and earned First Team SENE for

her performance on the Wheeler School girls

varsity soccer team. Molly earned Wheeler

School’s girls soccer Coaches Award for her

leadership and athletic talents. She is also

a member of Wheeler’s Concert Handbell

Ringers ensemble.

Sarah Sienkiewicz ’09 a senior at Portsmouth

Abbey, was named to the 2012 Gladiator by

SGI/NFHCA High School National Academic

Squad.

1OsDesmond Almada ’10 came to visit his

former Gordon teachers this fall. He is

enjoying his junior year at East Providence

High School where he is a member of the

varsity football team. photo 6

Maddy Berkson ’10 won the girls invitational

3,000 meter run in state-record time at the

Hispanic Games, held at the Armory in New

York City with a time of 9:53.75. Thanks to

her winning time, Maddy was named the

top-ranked US female prep runner for the

3,000 meter, according to Track and Field

News Magazine. Maddy was recently named

a Cardi’s Hometown Sports Hero as she broke

the Rhode Island indoor girls track record in

the 3,000 meter with her time.

Nate Bresnick ’10 was one of seven Temple

Beth-El Religious School students who traveled

to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Reli-

gious Action Center’s L’Taken Social Justice

Seminar. The seminar is a program designed

to expose students to a variety of public policy

issues, explore the Jewish values surrounding

these issues and teach the skills of an effective

advocate.

John Carter ’10 plays guitar and drums

in Providence Country Day’s Jazz Ensemble.

He recently practiced with trumpeter extraordi-

naire Marcus Printup and members of the Jazz

Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Audrey Chisholm ’10 earned All-Division I

North Third Team honors for her performance

on Classical High School’s girls varsity

volleyball team. She is a student leader of

the school’s Amnesty Club.

Tom Horvat ’10 scored his one thousandth

point for Providence Country Day’s varsity

basketball team. He is the first junior in the

school’s history to achieve this milestone.

Tom was presented with the game ball prior

to PCD’s 52-31 victory over Falmouth Academy.

This fall, he also earned All-Division II Second

Team honors for his performance on PCD’s

boys varsity soccer team.

Lina Hutter ’10 is a member of the Dana

Hall School Chamber Singers who won The

Association of Boarding Schools first national

a cappella singing competition in Washington,

D.C.

Michael Janigian ’10 is a member of Wheeler

School’s Concert Handbell Ringers ensemble.

Hannah Langmuir ’10 was named to the

Division I All-Tournament team for her perfor-

mance on Moses Brown’s girls varsity field

hockey team during the state championships.

Mia Murphy ’10 participated in the Head of

the Charles Regatta Women’s Youth Four

event, as a rower for Nobles and Greenhough

School’s Class I crew team.

Toria Rainey ’10 performed in Moses Brown’s

fall theater production of As You Like It.

Sherry Romanzi ‘10 was selected to represent

Wheeler School at the statewide Shakespeare

competition in February, organized by the

English-Speaking Union of the United States.

Sherry performed a sonnet and twenty lines

from Hamlet at the competition.

Sylvia Skerry ’10 was named tri-captain of the

2013-2014 Williston Northampton girls cross

country team.

Sarah Steingold ’10 a junior at Moses Brown,

was named the Outstanding Junior Swimmer

in the Bay View Girls Invitational meet.

Jack Trevor ’10 shared his reflections on

volunteering at Briarwood Camp, a summer

camp for inner city children, during Form Day

at St. Mark’s School.

6 7 8

19

Kayla Campbell ’11 earned 10th in the novice

individual performances for the Wheeler

School’s debate team at Classical High

School’s debate tournament. Kayla is also

a member of Wheeler’s Concert Handbell

Ringers ensemble.

Lily Foulkes ’11 earned First Team SENE for

her performance on the Wheeler School girls

varsity soccer team.

Adrienne Frank ’11 is a member of Wheeler

School’s Concert Handbell Ringers ensemble.

Manya Glassman ’11 a sophomore at

Moses Brown, earned a 2013 Rhode Island

Arts Education Scholastic Key Award for her

photographic piece, Eye of the Beholder.

Jake Grundy ’11 was named to the 2012

Providence Journal Boys Cross Country All-State

First Team for his performance on La Salle

Academy’s boys varsity cross country team.

He also earned RI Track Coaches Association

All-State First Team recognition, All Class A

Second Team and All Metropolitan Division

First Team honors.

Arden Morris ’11 and musician Otis Reed are

working on recording an album together. photo 7

Owen Morris ’11 a sophomore at Wheeler

School, placed 7th at the SENE league boys

cross country race. He also earned All-SENE

for his performance this cross country season.

This was Owen’s first time running for the

team. photo 8

Jamie Pine ’11 was named to the 2012

Providence Journal Girls Tennis All-State Team

for her performance on Lincoln School’s girls

tennis team. She earned First Team Division I

Met-B recognition in singles competition. Jamie

is also a member of Lincoln School’s mock trial

club which won their first round match in this

year’s Rhode Island Mock Trial tournament

against students from North Providence High

School.

Ezra Rice ’11 is a member of Wheeler School’s

Concert Handbell Ringers ensemble.

Arianna Bauer ’12 came back to visit Gordon

this fall with several of her classmates includ-

ing, Kass Hofmann ’12, Sophie Jackson ’12,

Natasha Markov-Riss ’12, Emily Mungovan ’12

and Amy Vogel ’12. photo 9

Annabelle Fischer ’12 a freshman at St.

George’s, ran for the girls varsity cross country

team and is a member of the girls ice hockey

junior varsity team.

Kass Hofmann ’12 and her doubles partner

earned All-Division I Second Team for their

performance on the Wheeler School’s girls

varsity tennis team in doubles competition.

Kass is also a member of Wheeler’s Concert

Handbell Ringers ensemble and the school’s

debate team.

Sophie Jackson ’12 is a member of Wheeler

School’s choral ensemble.

August Kahn ’12 serves as a freshman class

representative for the Wheeler School student

senate. He is also a member of the school’s

debate team and he and his teammate earned

third place out of 58 novice teams in the

debate tournament at Classical High School.

August also placed 26th in the novice

individual performances.

Emily Larson ’12 is a member of Wheeler

School’s Concert Handbell Ringers ensemble.

Natasha Markov-Riss ’12 is a member of the

SENE Champion Wheeler girls cross country

team. Natasha and her Gordon classmate

Kass Hofmann ’12 earned second place out

of 58 novice teams in the debate tournament

at Classical High School. Natasha placed first

in the novice individual performances. Kass

finished 27th.

Joe McNamara ’12 and Nellie Harvey ’12

stopped by Gordon to watch the Middle School

theater performance of Haroun and the Sea of

Stories. They are both enjoying their freshman

year at Providence Country Day. Joe is a member

of the boys varsity basketball team and Nellie

is a member of the girls varsity soccer team.

photo 10

Greg Smith ’12 visited Gordon this fall

and shared that he has been lending his

photography skills to La Salle Academy’s

athletic department, photographing many

of the teams’ practices and games. photo 11

Ben Steingold ’12 and Henry Frishman ’12

played against each other in a boys varsity

squash match between Moses Brown and

Wheeler School. photo 12

Case Taylor ’12 was named to the Charleston

Collegiate School honor roll for the second

quarter. He is enjoying South Carolina and

riding his bike as much as he can.

Amy Vogel ’12 is volunteering along with

Jonah Parker ’10 and August Kahn ’12

for Breakthrough Providence, a program at

Wheeler School that provides tutoring for

middle school students in Providence public

schools. Amy is also a member of the Wheeler

School Math Team and a member of the

Concert Handbell Ringers ensemble. photo 13

facebook.com/thegordonschool

@GordonSchool

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visit gordon School online

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2 0

Carol Anguilla TRP ’11 writes: “After graduat-

ing from Gordon’s Residency Program in May

2011, I was hired to teach 2nd grade at St.

Michael’s Country Day School, an independent,

non-denominational Pre-K–8 school in New-

port, RI. I’ve been lucky enough to work with

a fantastic group of colleagues and have been

able to take advantage of some terrific profes-

sional development opportunities including a

week-long trip to Las Vegas to attend a Singa-

pore Math Seminar. I continue to live in Bristol

with my husband and three children. My two

daughters, Alana and Katrina, have joined the

6th grade at St. Michael’s and my son, Adam,

will remain at Rockwell Elementary School in

Bristol, RI until the end of 5th grade.”

Katie Cahoon TRP ’11 (above) writes: “Upon

completing the Residency Program, I spent a

year teaching and learning at a charter school

in Rhode Island. This year I have had the honor

to come back to Gordon to teach 6th grade

math and science. I have really found a place

for myself as a 6th grade teacher, something

that I had not realized before the program. It

is great to be part of the Gordon community

again and I look forward to the years to come.”

Seth Gilbertson TRP ’12 writes: “My wife and

I currently reside in Charlemont, MA. I am

teaching a combined 5th and 6th grade class-

room at Heath Elementary in Heath, MA. It is

a wonderful small public school surrounded by

trees, mountains and turkeys! My first beautiful

daughter, Aurora Lynn Gilbertson, was born

on October 5, 2012 and is healthy and happy.”

Cailin Heard TRP ’12 writes: “I am living in

Washington, D.C. teaching at the Washington

Middle School for Girls. I teach Social Studies

and Spanish for 6th, 7th and 8th grade. The

school is a tuition-free, private school for low-

income girls in Anacostia, Washington D.C.,

serving a population of girls that are at-risk of

leaving school prematurely. I am so grateful

to be teaching at such an amazing school. It

is such an exciting opportunity to teach social

studies in D.C. I lead an African-American in

Politics civics program with my 7th graders

where we work in conjunction with a legisla-

tive aide for Senator Bennet of Colorado and

visit the capitol once a month. Recently, we

went to the White House and got a special

Black History Month tour.”

the annual Fund

has a meaningful impact on every

Gordon student and every teacher,

every day. your gift provides essential

support for the school’s talented

faculty, exceptional academic programs

and student opportunities. Supporting

the annual fund is a tangible way

to express your appreciation for the

school’s past and present strengths,

and your commitment to its future.

Give online today at

www.gordonschool.org/give

teacher residency program alumni Class notes

Margaret Staples Morrow, gifted educator and painter, beloved mother of

Thomas ’64 and Mark ’68, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister and

friend, passed away in November in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Mrs. Morrow

attended Smith College and was a superb teacher for many years at schools

on the East coast and West coast.

Mrs. Morrow, known to all as Peggy, taught at the Gordon School in the late 1950s

and early 1960s, where she was beloved as a fifth grade teacher and as a presence on the old

East Side campus. She loved teaching fifth grade especially because she saw it as a year of great

intellectual awakening for many children.

A memorial service for Mrs. Morrow is planned for Saturday, May 25th at noon at the First

Christian Church in Freedom, NH. Gifts in Mrs. Morrow’s memory can be made to St. Peter’s

by the Sea Presbyterian Church at 6410 Palos Verdes Drive S, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275.

former faCulTy memBer rememBered

maKe IT CounT

For more information on the Teacher Residency Program at Gordon School visit www.gordonschool.org/residency or contact Program Director Lynn Bowman at 401-434-3833 x181.

Stay ConneCteDDownload the gordon School alumni app today!

Connect with your Gordon classmates no matter where you are and keep up-to-date with school news and alumni events. Features include:

• Alumni directory integrated with LinkedIn

• Real-time class notes • Gordon School news feed and the alumni magazine • Register for upcoming alumni events

• Facebook, youTube, Flickr and more

l e a r n m o r e a T w w w . G o r d o n S C h o o l . o r G / m o B I l e C o m m u n I T y

Explore Gordon’s Classrooms

What matters Faculty video Series

Building the foundation for learning

using numbers to understand life experiencesPassionate and purposeful teaching

What you see depends on where you stand

Getting eighth graders on their feet Multicultural education is local

2013 Young Alumni ReunionalumnI from ClaSSeS 2009-2012

and the current eighth grade are

invited back to Gordon on Saturday,

June 8th from 5:30-7:30 pm.

Come celebrate with your Gordon

teachers and classmates and enjoy

dancing, athletic competitions and

treats from Spike’s Junkyard dogs.

rSvp to swelsh@gordonschool.org.

This video series explores Gordon’s classrooms in real-time, introduces faculty members and provides

a snapshot of what strong multicultural practice looks like and the ways it impacts the world view

of our students. Watch the series today at www.gordonschool.org/whatmatters.

Save the Dates

CJ BuCKley experIenTIal learnInG nIGhT

Thursday, June 6th at 5:30 pm

This night provides an opportunity for family

and friends to honor CJ Buckley ’00 and to

hear the current eighth grade present their

service learning projects.

younG alumnI reunIon

Saturday, June 8th from 5:30-7:30 pm

This annual reunion invites back the four most

recent graduating classes along with the current

eighth grade to celebrate their time at Gordon.

2013 CommenCemenT

Wednesday, June 12th at 5:30 pm

Come back and congratulate the members

of the Class of 2013 as they graduate from

Gordon.

For more information about these events or to

RSVP please contact Siobhan Sheerar Welsh

at swelsh@gordonschool.org.

45 maxfield avenue east Providence ri 02914 www.gordonschool.org

non-profit org.

u.S. postage

paiDpermit #365providence, ri

facebook.com/thegordonschool @GordonSchool