BULLETIN Rusty Davis &

Linda Saarnijoki Retire

SPRING 2016 In this issue SPRING 2016

30

30 Departments A Lasting Imprint on Taft 3 On Main Hall Rusty Davis and Linda Saarnijoki Retire 5 Letters By Bonnie Blackburn-Penhollow ’84 5 Taft Trivia 6 Alumni Spotlight 13 In Print 14 Around the Pond 40 24 Sports John Taft ’72: 46 Tales of a Taftie: Advocating Capitalism David P. Hamilton ’52 for the Greater Good 48 Alumni Notes By Neil Vigdor ’95 84 Milestones 88 From the Archives: A President and Future Chief Justice Joe Treleven 40 24

m Taft’s Rhino gets some help from athletic trainer Maggie Wilson after working out too much during the Alumni Games.

Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 1 On Main Hall A Word from Headmaster Willy MacMullen ’78 SPRING 2016 Volume 86, Number 3

Editor On Art, Taft, and the Main Hall Linda Hedman Beyus

Director of Marketing and Communications I’ve always thought of our Main Hall as sacred real estate on this campus. No school has anything Kaitlin Thomas Orfitelli like this, and we will always owe an enormous debt to architects Bertram Goodhue and James Gamble Rogers, who created HDT and CPT, and envisioned a hall that would define the school. It’s Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications Debra Meyers not just that the human traffic of each day courses through the hall, from Bingham to the dining halls of Moorhead—though the fact that all of us walk the tiled floor each day surely helps explain photography the sense of community here. What’s most important is that the central values of Taft are visibly Robert Falcetti and explicitly stated on the Main Hall. Think about what we say about ourselves as a school—about Alumni Notes Assistant character, leadership, scholarship, and service—given that you walk by the Honor Roll board, past Natascha Schwartz Cum Laude and Aurelian Award winners, the Head Monitor plaque, quotations by the school’s four headmasters, and the school’s motto engraved in wood and stone. To walk the hallway is to experi- On the Cover Design Rusty Davis and Linda Saarnijoki, Good Design, LLC | www.gooddesignusa.com ence all we are, all we hope to be. “The central who will retire at the end of the And you also experience something else that defines Taft: a belief that art matters greatly. values of Taft school year after more than 40 years Send alumni news to Whether you are the five-year-old faculty child skipping down the hall, the distinguished visiting of serving and leading Taft in their | Taft Bulletin Alumni Office speaker about to give an address, a nervous visiting applicant, a 40-year faculty member, an alum- are visibly and many roles. Robert Falcetti The Taft School 110 Woodbury Road, Watertown, CT 06795-2100 nus back for the 50th Reunion, or a senior about to graduate, you cannot help but conclude that art explicitly stated on [email protected] is everywhere in the Taft education. The Main Hall is a kind of gallery, with hundreds of docents. the Main Hall.” I like taking the walk from Bingham to the dining halls. You start near the doors to the audi- Deadlines for Alumni Notes torium: two display cases with posters for upcoming theatrical productions; award plaques for Summer–May 15 | Fall–August 30 | Winter–November 15 | Spring–February 15 achievement in music, dance, art, technical theater, acting, and singing; and a massive student Taft online Send address corrections to recreation of Andrew Wyeth’s Christina’s World. When you walk past the Choral Room, you hear the Cathy Mancini | Alumni Records Find a friend or past Bulletin: Collegium Musicum, our advanced choir, singing a spiritual, a hymn, a folk song. There’s art every- The Taft School taftalumni.com 110 Woodbury Road, Watertown, CT 06795-2100 where you look, with sculptures of Abraham Lincoln and a western cowboy scene, or paintings like [email protected] The Pilgrimage to Canterbury, the huge work given to Horace Taft in 1931, or the many portraits, Visit us on your phone: taftschool.org/m from Lance Odden to Don Oscarson ’47 to Al Reiff and Winnie Taft. 860-945-7777 | www.TaftAlumni.com What happened at today’s game? Perhaps most important, you see the Mark W. Potter ’48 Gallery, its precast stone arch and taftsports.com Comments? Tell us! glass doors inviting you in. It’s a lovely sun-drenched space, open every day. In this year alone We’d love to hear what you think about the stories in this Bulletin. Shop online: taftstore.com We may edit your letters for length, clarity and content, but please write. Linda Hedman Beyus, editor Taft Bulletin facebook.com/thetaftschool 110 Woodbury Road Watertown, CT 06795-2100 [email protected] twitter.com/taftschool

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2 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 3 From the Headmaster

Letters

we have opened exhibits by Rockwell Visiting Artist Jessica Wynne ’90, a show exploring the Grateful Ted H Unsettled Science motif of the window in Beyond the Window by Zeuxis, a peace mandala executed by the monks of Thank you for your article [on Ted I’ve just been catching up with the Despite all the efforts of worthies like Al Drepung Gomang Monastery, a Community Service Day collection of community quilts by Taft and Heavenrich]. I loved Mr. Heavenrich and winter Bulletin: what a lovely trib- Gore, many of us benighted mugwumps Waterbury students and parents, the pencil drawings of Rockwell artist Geoffrey Detrani, and the Mr. Thomas and Ms. Chickadaunce so ute to Ted Heavenrich! As always, don’t see man-made global warming as “Art is everywhere: images of advanced photography students Emma Howie ’16 and Maggie McNeill ’16. It’s a beautiful much. I was so lucky I got to attend Taft. it’s a beautifully done issue. “settled science.” I note on page 20 of thriving, vibrant, space. Your eye is drawn in every time you walk by. I’ve seen it crowded with students nibbling on the winter Bulletin that some highly pho- hors d’oeuvres and talking art during a Friday night opening, and also with a sole visitor standing —Cliona Durham Gunter ’80 —Alexandra Kelly ’05, togenic Tafties support “international creative, inspiring, silently before a painting. former Taft teaching fellow 2009–10 climate change policy.” Since the article unsettling. But it is And when you walk further, you see paintings everywhere, on the walls and in the offices. Art is superficial, I can only guess that there on the Main Hall, was even part of the discussion with our architect Graham Gund when we built the Moorhead As usual, in all respects a splendid Bulletin. might, just might, be an alternative point Wing and renovated the dining halls. A simple and elegant display system was installed, and so we Many thanks for all your very fine work. of view allowed or perhaps even encour- where the essence continually hang student art: oils, watercolors, charcoal sketches. There’s extraordinary talent here. aged in the name of open debate at Taft. of this school To walk the Main Hall is to be surrounded by art in all of its forms, to be told that we cannot —George Camp ’56 is experienced, think of the human experience, much less an education of the whole student, without contemplat- —McKim Symington ’66 ing and celebrating our aesthetic selves. Of the many great legacies Lance Odden left Taft, the where we make a elevation of arts is surely one of his proudest accomplishments. It’s why our students have won profound claim on juried exhibits, sung in the Vatican, and performed at Lincoln Center. It’s why we have outside pro- who we are, that fessionals offer training in strings and woodwinds, choreographers instructing dancers, resident artists working alongside students. we are reminded Today you see the Collegium led by Bruce Fifer, plays directed by Helena Fifer and David Kievit, most intensely dance choreographed by Sarah Surber, visual art and studio art instructed by Lou Chickadaunce

and consistently and Claudia Black, photography taught by Yee-Fun Yin, orchestra and Jazz Band conducted by T.J. Taft that art and Thompson, and videography led by Scott Serafine. TRIVIA Art is everywhere: thriving, vibrant, creative, inspiring, unsettling. But it is on the Main Hall, ? education cannot where the essence of this school is experienced, where we make a profound claim of who we are, c What is the formal that we are reminded most intensely and consistently that art and education cannot be separated. be separated.” name of the perfor- mance space at Taft known as the Black Box? And when was Willy MacMullen ’78 it dedicated? Send your guess to the editor ([email protected]). The winner, whose name will be randomly chosen, will win a surprise Taft gift.

b our winter issue Trivia question didn’t prompt any correct guesses. The painting Slate Rooftops, The Taft School hangs in the Choral Room above the fireplace and was donated by artist Jenny Glenn Wuerker ’83.

4 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 5 Alumni Spotlight

the vast Roman empire,” she explains. one of her favorite sites, with its layering disseminating knowledge to people who The Romans designed their gardens of Islam, Christianity, and pagan forms of are curious, to engage with the public, to with pots embedded in the ground, so worship, and glorious mosaics. Originally break down barriers, to be accessible to by studying the soils in those pots, it the site housed an ancient Aramaean more than graduate students. If we can is possible to tell where a plant might temple to the storm god Hadad; the do that, everyone benefits,” she says. have originated. Leaders like Alexander Romans built the Temple of Jupiter on Toward that end, she is involved in Alumni Spotlight the Great collected plants and paraded the same site. The mosque and a church two digital projects that complement them with other acquisitions as testa- dedicated to John the Baptist shared the each other. The first is a series of lectures ment to their recent conquests. space until 706 C.E, when the Christians and essays for Smarthistory.org (part One of her current projects, begun in were given a new space for a church and of the online Khan Academy), which 2010, is a book on Sephardic houses from the Muslims took over the complex. are free and available to the public. Going to Ruins Ottoman-era Damascus to be published “When I entered the mosque for the The other is a free multimedia,

The courtyard of the renovated House of Farhi in Damascus, in 2011.

Lizzie Macaulay-Lewis ’98 with local women in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, while visiting sites she covers in her classes.

When Lizzie Macaulay-Lewis ’98 later this year. The House of Farhi was first time, it was terribly moving, how dual-language (Arabic/English) was a student at Cornell she went on an home to a family of Jewish financial advis- buildings have these whole lives that you resource for the study of the Middle archaeological dig, a Roman garden excava- ers to several Ottoman governors of Sidon can be blessed to experience,” she says. East: the Manar al-Athar website tion in Italy. “It was really just digging in and Damascus in the 19th century. Its cur- “There is this sense of communal life, (www.manar-al-athar.ox.ac.uk). Based at the dirt, but there I was, on the day of the rent owner asked Macaulay-Lewis to study whole families catching up with friends the University of Oxford, the site provides solar eclipse, and I found a Roman plant- it. After civil war broke out in Syria, how- and neighbors. It’s not only a place of high-resolution images of archaeologi- ing pot.” She was hooked. These types of ever, subsequent trips to Damascus would worship, it is like a community center. I cal sites across the areas of the former pots were not much studied at the time, not have been safe. She was able to con- think that can be hard to comprehend for Roman empire that later came under but they help scholars understand trade. tinue through archival work in Germany, those of us who live in a more secularized Islamic rule, including Syro-Palestine/the Macaulay-Lewis completed a doctor- back in New York at the Metropolitan way. I felt very welcomed in that space.” Levant, Arabia, Egypt, and North Africa. ate in classical archaeology at Oxford and Museum* and getting to know the She has two more publications “I believe that knowledge for the now teaches at City University of New city’s Sephardic Jewish community. in the works: Housing New Romans: sake of knowledge has unforeseeable York’s Liberal Studies Master’s Program “In 2010 there had been so much Architectural Reception and the Classical benefits,” says Macaulay-Lewis. “We at The Graduate Center. While still inter- progress in Syria,” she says, “but the Style in the Modern World and Classical don’t always know what will be useful ested in gardens, her research focuses pace of change was slow. We didn’t think New York: Greece and Rome in New York in the future. But when conflicts end, on the material culture of the Roman, it would get this bad, but we took lots City’s Art and Architecture, 1830–1940. when people come back together, it is Late Antique, and Islamic worlds, and of photos just in case. People in Syria (See a complete list of her published often through architecture, through art; Islamic architecture. She has conducted were always wonderfully helpful, wel- work at http://emacaulaylewis.com.) they have an important role, as they research as a field archaeologist and coming, and kind, and I was walking Above all Macaulay-Lewis believes have after wars throughout history.” j ceramist in Italy, Jordan, Greece, Syria, Lizzie Macaulay-Lewis ’98 around asking about a Jewish family!” academics can’t live in an ivory tower. inside the Samanid and Egypt. Recently, she has been help- The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus is “We have an important job to play in —Julie S. Reiff Mausoleum, Bukhara, ing document sites that are endangered Uzbekistan. due to conflicts, especially in Syria. *Watch her video about a room from a similar home now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: “Gardens were a unifying factor across www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-islam/islamic-art-late-period/v/damascus-room

6 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 7 Alumni Spotlight

A Persistent and Rewarding Call program; and hosted a Global Connections Andy Taylor ’72 to Receive Horace D. Taft Alumni Medal Conference of school leaders from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Andy Taylor ’72 has spent almost award: In May, Taylor will be honored as an English Speaking Union Exchange India, Jordan, Kenya, New Zealand, his entire career as an educator. He with the Horace D. Taft Alumni Medal. Scholar before returning to Connecticut Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, taught history at the Horace Mann and “We are delighted to recognize Andy’s to continue his education at Wesleyan Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, and the Spence Schools in New York City, and in work with the Horace D. Taft Alumni University. Answering a persistent and U.S. He has spoken to audiences through- Botswana and South Africa. Today, he is Medal,” said Holcombe T. Green III ’87, rewarding call into global service, Taylor out the world about Africa’s AIDS orphans the principal of the Maru-a-Pula School trustee and chair of the Horace D. Taft packed his bags for Natal, South Africa, and the continent’s educational challenges. m Andy Taylor ’72, principal of Botswana’s Maru-a-Pula School, with students. in Gabarone, Botswana. And his connec- Alumni Medal Committee. “Andy’s selfless where he spent his first year out of col- Taylor also pioneered a Democracy Training tion to Taft has never been stronger. service to students in Botswana reflects the lege teaching history at the Michaelhouse “The ultimate expectation for many of Keystone Academy in Beijing, China. curriculum, engaging South African “I was brought up in a family where we very essence of our school’s motto. I know School. Soon after, he was in Botswana our students is to study overseas.” Under Taylor’s leadership, enrollment at high school students in service projects constantly hosted international students that Mr. Taft would be enormously proud for his first stint at Maru-a-Pula. Taylor Maru-a-Pula students have gone on to Maru-a-Pula has increased by 200 students with nongovernmental organizations. through AFS [American Field Service],” of Andy’s efforts and achievements, and he returned to Maru-a-Pula in 2004, where he attend schools like Stanford, Princeton, in 10 years. His development initiatives An avid skier, tennis and squash Taylor told the Taft Bulletin. “I thought is a terrific recipient of this year’s award.” has made an indelible mark as principal. Columbia, MIT, Williams, the London have allowed facilities growth that includes player, reader, traveler, and hiker, Taylor it would be a spectacular opportunity if The Horace D. Taft Alumni Medal Maru-a-Pula is widely considered to School of Economics, and Oxford, where a new library media center and seminar has also served on the boards of SOS Maru-a-Pula students could go overseas is given each year to a person whose be one of the top independent schools two former students were Rhodes room, two new language classrooms, and Children’s Village Botswana and Lebone and have a similar experience at Taft.” life work best typifies the school motto in Africa, and the best in Botswana. Scholars; there are currently four Maru- three new science labs, as well as more than II College of the Royal Bafokeng. And, thanks to Taylor, they have: In Not to be served but to serve. Awardees Its mission is to serve the nation of a-Pula students attending Cambridge $200,000 each year for orphan scholarships. “Andy’s life is inspiring—our motto almost every year since 1981, Maru- are celebrated for their humanitarian Botswana, the continent of Africa, and University. Taylor also pioneered the Taylor helped mentor senior staff writ large,” notes Headmaster Willy a-Pula students have traveled from efforts—for going beyond the call of duty the world, by preparing leaders who will Harvard Intern and Princeton in Africa for the African Leadership Academy in MacMullen ’78. “He is a visionary educator Botswana to Watertown, in a partnership to serve others. The award is bestowed at serve their communities. Nearly two- Fellows programs, and built a partnership Johannesburg, South Africa; addressed and leader, and his work at Maru-a-Pula that powerfully and inextricably entwines the Old Guard Dinner on Alumni Weekend thirds of Maru-a-Pula’s 765 students with Juilliard. And while Maru-a-Pula’s Botswana’s Ministry of Education offi- has changed lives, brought amazing stu- the values of his youth and the lessons of and memorialized with a citation hung are citizens of Botswana. As principal, first exchange program was with Taft, cials and school leaders on Maru-a-Pula’s dents to Taft, and furthered a remarkable service learned at Taft with his commit- in Main Hall. The Medal is a reminder Taylor oversees a staff of 150 and an students now spend time at more than community service program; addressed partnership between two great schools. ment to education and opportunity. These of Taft’s commitment to serve others. annual budget of over $5 million. 25 high schools worldwide, includ- southern Africa’s independent school What a great, great Taftie he is!” j are the same values and commitment that After graduating from Taft, Taylor spent “Top colleges from around the ing Brooks, Deerfield, Emma Willard, headmasters’ conference on building the —Debra Meyers have earned Taylor Taft’s highest alumni a year at the Aldenham School in the U.K. globe visit the school,” says Taylor. Catlin Gabel in Portland, Oregon, and Orphan & Vulnerable Children Scholarship Taylor Hooper

A Passion for Theater Adds Up an MFA at the School of the Arts. better and implemented our feed- Award-winning producer of Kinky Boots, Most of her adjunct professors were back,” Andy Jones, general manager for The Visit, and Spring Awakening, says, “Sarah

Ph or more a year, employs an average exemplified by the late Bill Waldron ’72.” involved in Broadway or top regional the- Hamilton, says. “Checks and Balances can literally remind you which unions get o t

ograp of 100 people, and generates income Along with some work in New York as ater productions, which gave her a direct is unique because it’s the only payroll holiday pay and which don’t.” (There are reports weekly,” Galbraith says. She an off-Broadway stagehand during her line to producer Richard Frankel (known service that caters to theater, and Sarah 14 different unions in the industry.) h

y knows her figures well considering she undergraduate years at Columbia—“you especially for Stomp and The Producers). and her team are unique because they go “Sarah also has the ability to navi- handles the bookkeeping and payroll got paid that night, and it was great She went to an accounting firm after above and beyond to get the job done.” gate the complicated accounting and services for the majority of the shows money,” she says—Galbraith spent a sum- that and worked as a freelance book- Essentially, Galbraith is the reason payroll issues that exist as a result of now playing on Broadway (including the mer working for the Goodspeed Opera keeper, and in 2006 went off on her the stars of Hamilton and so many other Obamacare [the Affordable Care Act] Behind the hottest shows runaway hit Hamilton) in an industry House in East Haddam, Connecticut, own to launch Galbraith & Company, Broadway hits (she’s working on 38 shows and ever-changing tax regulations, and on Broadway are two distinct types of with annual revenues of $1.3 billion. as the institution was building a sec- an accounting and bookkeeping firm now) get their checks on time. In her 18 marry that knowledge with her pas- “company”: the cast and crew of a show So how did she get there? ond outlet, the Norma Terris Theater, for shows on and off-Broadway, tours, years in the business, she’s provided the sion for theater,” Davenport says. (the definition most of us are familiar After appearing onstage for the last in nearby Chester. She did everything and events. In 2011, Galbraith founded accounting for more than 150 produc- “Theater is an art form that I have with), and the individual corporations time, in her early years, as Mrs. Claus, from installing seats to running the Checks and Balances, her payroll com- tions on six continents. That figure is always connected to,” Galbraith says. “For formed for each show. While she hasn’t Galbraith transitioned to behind-the- spotlight during evening shows. pany. She felt there was a need to fill the especially impressive considering that me, loving what we do and being part of appeared on stage since elementary scenes roles in the stage crew during her Following a stint as a stage- gap of payroll companies failing to keep each show is considered a brand new the theater community is key to providing school, Sarah Galbraith ’85 is a star time at Taft, where she received the Bill hand in Philadelphia after college, up with the times and, as a result, mak- business complete with a unique tax ID the best service possible to our clients.” of the second type of company. Waldron Memorial Prize, given to “the Galbraith decided she wanted to ing it more difficult for accountants. number and special tax considerations if Broadway is lucky to have her. j “Show me a business other than a student who has contributed most to move into theater management and “Sarah actually asked the theater it’s touring throughout multiple states. —Sam Dangremond ’05 Broadway show that grosses $50 million the technical aspects of drama at Taft as went back to Columbia to complete industry how payroll systems can be Ken Davenport, the Tony

8 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 9 Alumni Spotlight

Now its commitment to local food Taft Lacrosse Redux is even more pronounced. In 2009, The Skinny Pancake began conduct- After coming back from the Taft defensive player of the year in 2015 and ing an audit of the amount of local dining hall on a Friday afternoon in has been playing significant minutes as food its locations use, and the number March, you happen to turn on ESPNU a freshman defenseman. If you want to has increased every year. As of last and put your feet up for a few minutes know how he’s doing in Charlottesville, year the figure was 71.1 percent. before prepping for your Saturday just watch five minutes of a game, and Through arrangements with local classes but this game on Friday, March you might hear the announcer repeat farms—such as buying enough basil 4, is a little different if you’re a Taftie. what he said in the Syracuse game after to be frozen to produce pesto all win- On this Friday, you would have Ambro landed a debilitating check: ter for the restaurants—the Adlers watched a night game between #14 “Ambrosino is not a typical freshman.” have been able to honor their com- ranked Virginia and #3 ranked Syracuse, In the spring of 2017, the Cavaliers mitment to “keep the money local.” and, if you watched really closely, you will add one more Taftie—Michael Kraus Annually, they pump about $1 million would have seen some names on the ’16, an All-American from New Canaan, into the local economy, and as mem- white Virginia uniforms that sound Connecticut—to their roster, bringing bers of One Percent for the Planet awfully familiar. You squint at your TV the Big Red total to five. Brothers Jonny Adler ’97 and Benjy Arabic they donate 1 percent of their Adler ’99, cofounders and owners and you notice #19 for the Cavaliers: But what is it like to have a group of revenues to environmental nonprof- of The Skinny Pancake restaurants Jeff Kratky ’13. Kratky came to Taft as a your high school teammates on your col- Brad Pettengill its. Plus, with an average plate price of in Vermont. lower mid and quickly established him- lege team? Do you still think about Taft? about $10, the restaurant group tries self as a contributor on the varsity team. “The best part about playing with my to make its food affordable and acces- He was All-Western New England three high school teammates is that every day sible to all for everyday consumption. times, amassed 101 career points, and I get to step on the field with guys I have Infusing Social Mission into Local Food The Skinny Pancake also provides has taken more than 200 career face-offs known and played with for years, and all the food service at Burlington in Charlottesville. for whatever reason that brings a kind of Ask Benjy Adler ’99 about how looking back on the experience, “is that restaurant, live music. We looked around International Airport, after competing Down the line you notice #11 in white special feel to practice,” Ambrosino says. he got his Vermont local food empire businesses aren’t necessarily easier at our friends like the Ben and Jerry’s of against Dunkin’ Donuts and Bruegger’s is Tyler Breen ’14. Breen ended his career Kratky, the veteran of the group, adds, off the ground, and you’re likely to because they’re smaller. All the hats the world and [local Vermont favorite] Bagels in 2013 to secure a contract as at Taft with 113 points and was an Under “The best part is that it makes it way eas- get an impassioned response. have to be worn in any business no mat- American Flatbread….The idea of infus- the new vendor. The Chubby Muffin, the Armour All-American his senior year. ier to stay in the loop with all of my Taft The 35-year-old, who’d been a music ter what size. When we weren’t working ing social mission into the work really Adlers’ coffee shop spin-off in the North Just a few guys down is #31, Will friends. It’s pretty easy to fall off the map major at Middlebury College, says he someone had to go shopping, had to go started to emerge in that third summer.” End of the city, serves as a commissary to Sipperly ’14. “Sipp” came to Taft as a new when you graduate, and I’m bad at stay- never saw his business path coming prep batter, had to do the accounting.” After having learned from his New prep much of the food for the airport. “We upper mid and quickly enamored his ing in touch in general, so having Tyler, despite having five siblings—including He estimates that his and his part- Orleans experience that “if you really believe we are the most locally sourced classmates with his unique personality Sipp, and Ambro here is great because it his brother and business partner Jonny ner’s hourly wage came out to about want to make a deep impact, it has to be airport eatery in the country,” says Benjy. and his legendary 2 a.m. weight-lifting helps me keep track of what’s going on Adler ’97—who are all entrepreneurs. 50 cents an hour that first summer. an enduring effort,” Benjy found a res- The school bus Benjy bought has sessions in CPT. Sipperly graduated as an with our Taft people.” So, next time you A Burlington Free Press story declared The following summer Benjy rented taurant space with a commercial kitchen been converted to run on vegetable All-League running back in football and turn on the TV and flip to ESPNU for that “it’s been a long, strange trip from the cart out to two friends in exchange on the Burlington waterfront. In 2007, oil and is named Sueño (“dream” in an All-American in lacrosse. some college lacrosse, if you’re cheering Middlebury to Burlington” for the Adler for their agreeing to replace the top-heavy they opened the first brick-and-mortar Spanish), and it still travels to festivals The last person that you will likely for UVa, don’t feel bad if you substitute brothers, who launched their opera- original trailer (sure enough, it had rolled location of The Skinny Pancake. A second throughout New England. Jonny joined see darting around your TV screen is “Go Big Red” for “Wahoowa!” j tion with a crepe cart that a Middlebury over at the end of the previous year). location followed in 2009, in down- Benjy full time last year after working #45, Zach Ambrosino ’15. “Ambro,” as friend had suggested adding to Church After a season ski patrolling in town Montpelier, Vermont’s capital. since 2002 with their older brother, he was known to everyone on campus, —Casey D’Annolfo, Street in downtown Burlington. Montana and a “short” trip to New “We said if we’re going to step it Ted, at a web development business. Taft lacrosse coach and English teacher graduated as the Western New England With the help of a builder friend, Orleans that turned into nine months up economically, we really need to While the duo considered Boston the Adlers built a food cart using wood volunteering with the group Common step up our social mission and be for their next location, they ultimately . Taft alums playing lacrosse together at UVa this year: from left, Jeff Kratky ’13, reclaimed from their parents’ base- Ground Relief after Hurricane innovative and push the envelope chose somewhere closer to home. In Will Sipperly ’14, Zach Ambrosino ’15, and Tyler Breen ’14. ment after it was damaged in a flood. Katrina—he’d bought a school bus, around local food,” Benjy says. April The Skinny Pancake opened its They poured their $4,000 savings driven it south, picking people up And that’s just what they’ve done. first foray outside Vermont, in Hanover, into the project, which they dubbed along the way to volunteer with While The Skinny Pancake was the New Hampshire. So Dartmouth stu- The Skinny Pancake, and committed him—Benjy returned to Vermont for first food cart to become a mem- dents might be eating some of the best to staffing the cart (mostly by them- the third summer of the Pancake. ber of the Vermont Fresh Network, college town food in the country— selves) six days a week, from lunchtime The Adlers started to think more it wasn’t until the second location and helping the local economy. j to 2:30 a.m., after the bars closed. broadly about their food business: opened that the brand devoted itself “The interesting thing,” Benjy says, “We started to have crepe dreams—a to using 100 percent local proteins. —Sam Dangremond ’05

10 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 Alumni Spotlight

Bridging Technology and Health Care

“Everyone wants to build

an iPhone app. But to me it’s not about Dr. Charles Safran ’69, at Beth Israel the equipment, it’s about solving a prob- Deaconess Medical Center, works with lem,” says Dr. Charles Safran ’69, chief a software engineer who is developing a in Print of the Division of Clinical Informatics next-generation electronic health record. at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Safran has Teaching for the Lifespan: Stroh’s, Schlitz, and Old Milwaukee nation and the Maasai people and marked spent most of his career devoted to Successfully Transitioning and was named in the Forbes 400 list the beginning of his research into social solving one overarching problem: how Students With Learning from 1984 to 1992. The Stroh fam- movements, market-led conservation, to integrate rapidly evolving technol- Differences to Adulthood ily fortune was worth $700 million in and development around the Serengeti. ogy into clinical practice to improve Corwin, A SAGE Company 1985, and they enjoyed an extravagant Gardner is an associate profes- patient care and health care in general. Henry B. Reiff ’71 and lifestyle until the business declined. sor in the School of Interdisciplinary While “clinical informatics” may not Nicole S. Ofiesh Beer Money is a recollection of a city, Arts and Sciences at the University of yet be a household term, the field has an industry, and a dynasty in decline, Washington Bothell, where he teaches evolved from its infancy (on rudimentary Reiff and Ofiesh offer a practical guide and the story of a young artist who global studies, cultural studies, and computers) over 40 years ago to now that makes transition planning easier finds her way out of the ruins during environmental studies. He is also the encompass electronic health records, tele- so that educators can prepare students the unraveling of her nuclear family. chair of the African Studies Program medicine, and other communication and be a better bet than working for doctors, significant rise in the senior population. with learning differences to successfully Stroh received a B.A. from at the university’s Henry M. Jackson information technologies. Technology has and followed the medical school path. But ultimately Safran sees his work in a navigate adulthood. Backed by the latest Duke University and an M.A. from School of International Studies. made exponential leaps and bounds in While part of medicine’s appeal pragmatic framework: “We have about research in learning and development, Chelsea College of Art in London as sophistication, but Safran’s mission has was working with patients and fami- 200,000 practicing doctors and about 300 this book provides the best practices a Fulbright Scholar. She practiced Clear: How to Simplify Your remained steadfast: “We can produce a lot lies, Safran seized a greater challenge. million Americans. How can people get needed to promote students’ strengths as an installation artist, exhibiting Life & Live More Fearlessly of data,” he says. “But how does that infor- “I thought to myself, There are 500 all the care they need, when they need and abilities for lifelong success. in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Annick Magac ’95 mation get incorporated and integrated people in this building, but 300 million it? And how can we use technology to Readers will benefit from an London, before turning to writing. into care and into your own health?” on the other side of these walls. I could improve how we care for folks?” he posits. understanding of the educational, When developing a plan or goal to achieve, Beth Israel was a trailblazer in this be helping hundreds of thousands of Recognizing the major role that vocational, social, and emotional Selling the Serengeti: personally or professionally, people field, being among the first in the world to patients at the same time,” he explains. clinical informatics plays in health care dimensions of adulthood for stu- The Cultural Politics often look to the typical tasks designed exploit the use of computers to improve Safran was instrumental in developing today, the American Board of Medical dents with learning differences. of Safari Tourism to make that happen. Entrepreneur, the quality of medical care and teaching, and deploying clinical computing systems Specialties recently created a medical Reiff is a faculty member in special University of Georgia Press health coach, and design expert Annick augment the patient-doctor relationship, at not only Beth Israel but also Brigham sub-specialty for the field, under preven- education at McDaniel College and has Benjamin Gardner ’88 Magac knows firsthand that an often and facilitate research. Safran humbly & Women’s Hospital, designing and orga- tive medicine. Safran explains that the served as dean of student academic life and overlooked aspect of our lives may con- says he was “in the right place at the nizing the interface between clinicians field is rapidly growing—medical schools dean of graduate and professional studies. Selling the Serengeti examines the rela- tribute to an inability to succeed. right time,” having come to the hospital and users. In the mid-1990s, he helped are introducing informatics into the cur- tionship between the Maasai people In Clear, Magac explains how our in 1983 during the early years of clinical to develop a system to enable parents riculum, upwards of 1,000 people have Beer Money: of northern Tanzania and the influ- physical environment—from the informatics, yet was truly instrumental to see their prematurely born babies in passed their boards in clinical informat- A Memoir of Privilege and Loss ence of foreign-owned ecotourism office cubicle to the home—is a reflec- in the development of the field, and spe- real time in the neonatal unit, some- ics, and about 20 hospitals nationwide HarperCollins and big game-hunting companies. tion of one’s inner self. Clear seeks to cifically of the electronic health record. thing that seems easy nowadays with a have clinical informatics training. Frances Stroh ’85 It looks at policies and conversa- transform the way we think about our Safran arrived at Beth Israel after a smartphone. His leading role in help- To Safran, the use of computers in tions such as the championing of habitats and how they may help or hin- somewhat unplanned “seven-year detour” ing to develop these technologies along medical decision-making is a powerful In Beer Money, Stroh reveals the community-based conservation and the der personal and professional success. to Tufts University School of Medicine. with the electronic health record earned tool. That technology can truly change complexities of coming of age as a neoliberal focus on private investment Magac is an author, Institute for Prior to medical school, Safran had him the 2014 Morris F. Collen Award for health care, however, is transforma- member of Detroit’s Stroh’s beer fam- in tourism, and their profound effect Integrative Nutrition (IIN) certi- been working at MIT, applying artificial Excellence in Biomedical Informatics, tive: “It’s about enabling people to be ily, once in possession of the largest on Maasai culture and livelihoods. fied holistic health coach, National intelligence to the field of medical deci- the highest honor given by the American participants in their own care,” he says. private beer fortune in America. Gardner’s experiences in Tanzania Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) sion-making. With bachelor’s and master’s College of Medical Informatics. “The world has democratized knowl- Founded in 1850, Stroh Brewing Co. began during a 1991 study-abroad trip, certified personal trainer, motiva- degrees in mathematical logic from The focus of Safran’s recent work is edge, and we now have tools to help grew to produce 45 brands including which led to a relationship with the tional speaker, and designer. j Tufts, his career trajectory was initially on improving family participation in people that we didn’t have before.” j not headed toward medicine. He says he the care of elders, an area of health care decided working alongside doctors might that is rapidly expanding due to the —Phoebe Vaughn Outerbridge ’84 If you would like your work added to the Hulbert Taft Library’s Alumni Authors Collection and considered for this column, please send a copy to: Taft Bulletin | The Taft School | 110 Woodbury Road | Watertown, CT 06795-2100

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For more information, visit Taft students also gained insight debases our nation spiritually.” “The few things we did hear www.taftschool.org/news into the campaign process when two- Taft students had an opportu- about his policies,” notes Ryan time candidate for the Democratic nity to see our nation’s political “reflected a rather liberal stance.” presidential nomination Dennis Kucinich process up close when Ryan took Tyler Dullinger ’16 agrees. “Donald (D-Ohio) came to campus in March. her AP Government students north gave a very rambling but engaging “The thing that surprised me for the New Hampshire primary. speech calling for campaign finance Pond most [during my campaigns] was how “The New Hampshire primary is reform, saving Social Security, lower- AroundBy Debra Meyers the united America really is,” Kucinich told arguably the most important event of ing military spending, and removing Taft students. “There is an underly- the presidential election season,” notes U.S. troops from Syria—all very lib- ing unity in the country. That is what Ryan. “The state of New Hampshire plays eral positions that mirror that of I tried to call forth and build from.” a pivotal role in our political process.” Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders.” Which is not the understanding or Ryan invited students to weigh in The event was well attended by approach of the current batch of candi- on which New Hampshire events would press from around the world; many Learning from an Election Like No Other dates, who, Kucinich said, are engaged be most interesting and educational to news outlets took a particular inter- in “one of the wildest presidential attend, not necessarily those tied to candi- est in the Taft contingent. They were campaigns” he has seen since 1968. dates they support; the majority opted for interviewed by CNN, Time magazine, “Driving a wedge is antithetical to rallies featuring then-Republican front- and some international news orga- Former Ohio Congressman the solution,” Kucinich explained. “If the runner Donald Trump and Democrat nizations, and rubbed elbows quite and two-time candidate for election fractionates the country, how Bernie Sanders, both of whom ultimately memorably with Jordan Klepper of The the Democratic presidential nomination Dennis Kucinich do you put it back together again? The won in the New Hampshire primary. Daily Show. Their thoughts were also visited Taft in March to both past, present, and future all exist at the Students prepped for the event captured on a video produced by “Now inspire students and weigh same time—if you have a bad campaign by watching video and reading news This Election,” a web-based news outlet. in on the current state of now, you will have a bad government accounts of earlier Trump rallies and In the end, says Ryan, the politics in the United States. in the future. We must elevate the con- political gatherings. Many were sur- “unfortunate downgrading of the versation and move away from rhetoric prised by the tone, the rhetoric, and political discourse in this country,” and polarized talk. Disparagement the perceived lack of substance. was not lost on Taft students. j

Taft Students Mount The Laramie Project A Masque and Dagger Production

In 1998, University of Wyoming that they longed to do a show that really student Matthew Shepard was bru- said something,” says the show’s pro- tally murdered in Laramie, Wyoming. ducer, Maggie Luddy ’16. “They wanted Shepard was gay, and his murder was their last performances at Taft to truly denounced as a hate crime. In the speak, and to do so powerfully.” “The first duty of a man,” and relatability. While this is all nice still in the race and Ben Carson leading aftermath, the absence of state and Under the guidance of advisor and opined Cuban philosopher and politi- and clean, it is not the best way to the pack, History Teacher Rachael Ryan federal hate crime laws came into Taft’s Performing Arts Technical Director cal theorist José Martí, “is to think for make a decision about who to vote for. and her AP Government students pre- clearer focus. The case drew interna- David Kievit, Luddy and The Laramie himself.” In the midst of a particularly It is important to understand the plat- sented the Taft community with profiles tional attention; public reaction was Project director Emily Axelberg ’16 have contentious campaign season punctu- forms and beliefs of a candidate.” of each candidate, comparing their posi- widespread and often contentious. given new life to one of Taft’s most sto- ated by ubiquitous social media, the rise To that end, Taft students are tions on the economy, climate change, In 2000, the Tectonic Theater Project ried traditions, Masque and Dagger. of nontraditional media outlets, and a engaged in political discourse on and the Affordable Care Act, same-sex mar- produced a three-act play that probes that “Masque and Dagger has probably m Masque and Dagger staged a raw and 24-hour news cycle now firmly fixed in off campus, through both theoretical riage, abortion, ISIS, immigration, and reaction. The play draws on hundreds been around almost as long as the school powerful production of the highly regarded our culture, separating the wheat from and experiential learning. They have taxes. In February, History Teacher Greg of interviews conducted by the theater has,” says Luddy. “When you look at the social justice piece, The Laramie Project. the chaff has become especially difficult. engaged in academic debate in the dorms, Hawes ’85 and AP Economics teacher company with residents of Laramie, images in the stained glass in the din- “This is an election like no other,” screened political debates preceding Jeremy Clifford walked Taft students company members’ journal entries, and ing hall you see Masque and Dagger Which, Luddy notes, made The Laramie History Teacher Megan Valenti told caucuses and primaries, considered fact through the foreign relations and eco- published news reports. The Laramie represented. But it has not really been Project a natural choice: “It is such a Taft students during a recent Morning and opinion on candidate platforms, nomic issues the next president will likely Project, as the three-act play is known, active since the ’80s. We wanted to bring relevant topic, and one that needs to be Meeting. “We elect candidates based on and even hit the campaign trail. face, including their proposed strategies came to Taft’s Black Box stage in March. it back, and to bring it back as a forum discussed not only on our campus, but characteristics like honesty, likeability, In November, with 15 Republicans and positions on each of those issues. “A few seniors approached me saying for discussing issues though art.” throughout the greater community.” j

14 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 15 Rhythm and Muse and exciting way. I think it embodied all that Mingus tried to do in all of his Ciara Connolly ’17 was relatively arrangements, and that the judges felt new to the art of drumming when that was a really pleasant surprise.” she arrived at Taft as a lower mid. Mingus is widely regarded as one “I started playing drums in sixth of the most important figures in 20th- m Juan González grade, when a lot of schools first have century American music; his legacy is Juan González: students choose an instrument. I chose showcased each year during the three-day The Media and Race Relations drums,” Ciara says, “and so did about m festival. Mingus’s widow, Sue, coproduces ciara Connolly ’17 Paley Family Lecture Series 20 other kids. By the time I got to the annual high school competition at eighth grade, there were only two drum- fantastic and inspirational. I bought camp in New Orleans. Says Ciara: “It is the Manhattan School of Music (MSM). Progressive broadcast Europe, or among the European set- mers left, and my playing had evolved their CD because I wanted to replicate really a camp for adults, people older “Jazz bands from all over the coun- journalist, investigative reporter, tlers’ descendants,” said González. from a pad to a snare to a full kit.” his sound. I had played all kinds of than myself just doing what they love.” try submit recorded auditions,” Ciara Daily News columnist, and author “The stirring immigrant saga of set- Today, Ciara is a highly regarded and music before, but decided then that I At the camp Ciara worked and played explains. “Those auditions are used to Juan González visited Taft as part tlers conquering the West to create versatile drummer at Taft. She plays in wanted to move deeper into jazz.” with drummer Gerald French, leader make the first round of cuts. Only three or of the Paley Family Lecture Series. the world’s greatest democratic experi- the Jazz Ensemble, is in the orchestra And opportunity followed. In the of the famed Tuxedo Jazz Band. In its four groups in each of the four categories Born in Puerto Rico and raised ment somehow excluded those of us pit at many of Taft’s shows, and travels spring of her mid year, Ciara traveled more than 100-year history, the band are actually called to MSM to compete.” in Harlem, González has enjoyed a who had not come from Europe. Most whenever and wherever the beat takes to Memphis and New Orleans with has only had five leaders; French took Ciara’s JALC ensembles were invited to 37-year career in journalism. He has importantly, the news media we grew her, which, on Sunday afternoons is Taft’s Jazz Ensemble. The group vis- the helm in 2011. It was the first jazz compete as finalists in both the Specialized twice won the prestigious George Polk up with kept depicting us as threats Columbus Circle in New York City: Ciara ited venues like Preservation Hall, a band to play at the White House in Big Band and Specialized Combo catego- Award and is a former president of to society, rather than contributors.” is a member of the prestigious Jazz at well-known spot in the French Quarter 1953 and produced some of the best- ries, where they placed first and second, the National Association of Hispanic Starting with the first issue of Lincoln Center (JALC) Youth Orchestra. dedicated to preserving traditional known musicians of the past century, respectively. The festival included rehearsal Journalists. González continues to Publick Occurrences, the first newspa- As a lower mid, Ciara traveled with New Orleans jazz. Taft music teacher including Bob French, Octave Crosby, time, jam sessions, films, and a perfor- chronicle daily events in urban poli- per published in the U.S. and featuring Taft musicians to Portugal. It was there T.J. Thompson also arranged for them and Louis Armstrong. The camp also mance by Mingus Dynasty, a jazz ensemble tics, education, and race relations, the five stories about the danger posed by that her passion for jazz was first ignited. to play a variety of popular and his- got her on stage at Preservation Hall. made up of Mingus’s one-time band- latter serving as a springboard for Native Americans, González walked stu- “The students at the Lisbon Music toric music venues, including Buffa’s. Ciara left for Memphis and New mates, colleagues, and contemporaries. his Morning Meeting talk at Taft. dents through a publishing history that School are just insanely talented—super “We had been playing ‘Sing, Sing, Orleans the same day she auditioned Ciara also participated in a clinic with “Newspapers were for centuries “shed[s] more heat than light to public tight.” Ciara says. “Their music was Sing’ throughout our tour,” said for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Mingus Dynasty drummer Adam Cruz. regarded as the first draft of his- discourse when it comes to race….This hugely influenced by Miles Davis— Ciara. “It’s such a classic. That night Orchestra. The rest, as they say, is his- “It was an amazing experience. tory—the incidents the media chose issue of racial profiling and oppression that made an impact on me. Later, at Buffa’s everything came together; I tory. Each Sunday she spends one hour He’s just incredible. That is how I want to report, their framing of events, by authorities in non-white commu- at a jazz club, there was a band play- felt it was the best I had played it.” in “jazz language” classes, followed by my music to sound,” says Ciara. inevitably served as the raw mate- nities is not a new phenomenon.” ing called the Wild Bunch. I was so Buffa’s owner agreed: She offered three hours of rehearsal—two with her It is that—that finding inspiration rial that was then mined by scholars González encouraged members of the amazed by their drummer—he was Ciara a scholarship to a traditional jazz big band group, one with combo. Ciara, and working to fulfill it—which has who came decades or centuries later Taft community to bring a “critical eye along with the other members of her driven Ciara to the top of her game. to chisel more comprehensive histori- to the consumption of media. Consume JALC Specialized Big Band ensemble, And, beginning with the jazz revela- cal accounts,” González explained. as much news from different sources recently took top honors in the 8th tion in Portugal and continuing with But from the start, that first draft as you can—consider who is present- Annual Charles Mingus Competition. lessons on campus and exposure in of history (and the later, more chiseled ing, what their aim is, and then make “One of the staples of Mingus’s New Orleans, seizing on the many accounts) favored “what happened in your own independent decisions.” j music is abrupt changes in feel, style, opportunities created by Thompson. and meter,” notes Ciara. “We really “All of these opportunities have built on that in our performance of been about learning. The camp in New The Paley Family Endowment, established in 2006 by Valerie and Jeffrey Paley ’56 and their son ‘Moanin’—we flowed in and out of Orleans, the Berklee summer program, Austin Paley ’09, supports the Paley Lectures, an annual program of visiting speakers. Invited speak- mambo and jazz in kind of a different ers address the school community on current issues of major significance, such as government, JALC—it has all been about working journalism, foreign affairs, environment, and civil liberties, in order to provide Taft students with with these amazing, inspiring people the opportunity to be inspired by the value and dignity of lives filled with purpose and commitment. who give me so much direction and b ciara Connolly ’17 competing in the 8th Annual To watch videos of Morning Meeting speakers (including Juan González) visit Charles Mingus Festival with her Jazz at Lincoln so much to work on. For me, that’s www.vimeo.com/taftschool Center Youth Orchestra. what it’s all about,” she says. j

Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 17 Around the POND Around the POND

Competitive Edge Student art filled Tafties on Top in Model UN and Debate Competitions Potter Gallery this winter, with photographic Taft students continue to guide debates in accordance with the for- and negotiating skills were second to exhibitions by seniors Emma Howie and Maggie McNeill. bring their A game to high-level mal rules of parliamentary procedure. none—impeccable to say the least.” academic competitions, taking The event attracted 3,000 high Tawanda Mulalu ’16 garnered verbal home top honors in recent Model school delegates from over 35 countries, commendations for his work on the UN and Debate Team events. with Taft’s delegates rising to the top HMUN General Assembly’s World Health Tafties traveled to Boston for the field. Leon Vortmeyer ’16 was named Organization committee; Tawanda 63rd session of Harvard’s Model United Best Delegate, a first-place award, for and Zygimantas Jievaltas ’17 were also Nations (HMUN), a four-day interna- his work with the Special Summit on among the top 10 finalists in the Harvard tional relations simulation. HMUN Biotechnology committee. His work Impact Initiative Essay Contest. delegates assume the roles of UN rep- included position papers on genetic test- Taft’s novice debate team took home resentatives and members of other ing and privacy and on international three prizes in Loomis Chaffee’s 34th international bodies and national cabi- standards for research ethics and access. Annual Debate Tournament, includ- nets. This year, Taft students represented “Leon led a fierce committee in nego- ing a first-place award in the individual

Uzbekistan. The simulation encourages tiating resolutions on the topics in front speaker category for Robert Garcia ’18. Chris Snow ’97 an in-depth examination and resolution of his committee,” said Jamella Lee, Taft’s The debate was a switch-side, cross-ex, was among the alumni of critical world issues. Students bal- dean of global and diversity education. policy resolution debate. This year’s reso- hockey players who ance national interests with the needs “His diplomacy, poise, self-confidence, lution was built around the December returned to campus in February to compete of the international community, while scholarly acumen, political astuteness, 2015 Climate Change Conference in in the annual Alumni managing the powers and limitations of emotional intelligence, mastery of the Paris. Teams had one hour to work Hockey Game. international negotiation. Moderators rules of procedure, mental toughness, together to prepare their cases before the rounds of debate began. Competitors were judged on their ability to produce and defend cogent, persuasive argu- ments on both sides of the issue. In addition to his first-place individual award, Robert Garcia earned a second- place finish in the two-person team category with Aditya Balsekar ’18. Peter Oh ’17 and Leigh Sharpless ’18 joined the pair for the four-person team competi- tion, in which they finished third. j

m Taft students rose to the top of a very large field at the 63rd session of Harvard’s Model UN.

c Taft’s Debate Team members, from left: Aditya Balsekar ’18, Robert Garcia ’18, Peter Oh ’17, Leigh Sharpless ’18, and Advisor, History, and Economics Teacher Brianne Foley.

Saxophonist Ken Nigro led his epony- mous band during and evening of jazz and big band sounds at Taft. Nigro’s performance was part More than 80 alumni gathered in Hong Kong for the first of of Taft’s Music for a While Performance series. three overseas events in February. The reception honored Taft’s 125th anniversary, and was followed by gatherings in Beijing and Shanghai.

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The great Taft tradition Taft’s Winter Dance Concert of winters with Shakespeare continued featured the adaptation of “Portrait,” a with the annual lower mid Macbeth piece originally choreographed by Carolyn and mid sonnet recitations, as well as Dorfman, artistic director of Carolyn a Black Box production of Romeo and Dorfman Dance. In introducing the work, Juliet, featuring Gerry Calles ’18 as Dorfman, who was in residence at Taft last Romeo. Taft welcomed professional fall, said, “Balance in life is not a static repose actress and former high school English or rest, but rather a shifting equilibrium teacher Blythe Coons to campus to help within acceptable boundaries. Such is the students prepare for all of these events, life of a woman.” Taft’s Dance Ensemble also by reinterpreting the Bard’s text using his cues performed “Portrait” in a local competition to his actors. “I’m asking [students] to look for physi- with dance programs from nearby schools, cal clues—information—that Shakespeare gave to his and the piece received the award for Best actors, and to use it to perform,” says Coon. “I’m asking Performance in a Faculty Work. them to expand their thinking and to look at it and to reinterpret in a different way.”

Established in 2007 to provide Taft students with an introduction to philanthropy, the Red Rhino Fund works to create positive change in the local community through the promotion and support of education for underprivileged children. The Red Rhino Fund is an endowed fund through which financial grants are made to community organizations. In February, the nine student trustees awarded grants to three Waterbury-based agencies serving underprivileged children and families: PAL, Girls Inc., and the United Way. Congratulations to the award recipients and to Taft students for their important work.

John Kilbourne ’58 traveled to Taft to hear from this year’s group of Kilbourne Fellows; from left, seniors Natasha Cheung, Kayla Kim, Maggie Luddy, and Carey Cannata. Kilbourne grants fund summer programs in arts.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day keynote speaker Ambassador James A. Joseph (right), who worked with Dr. King when he was leading the civil rights movement in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, shared with the Taft audience a concept of community that he came to know while living and working in South Africa: the concept called ubuntu. “People are people through other people,” Joseph explained. “Which is to say, my humanity is bound up in yours. What dehumanizes you, dehumanizes me. I belong to a greater whole, so I am diminished when others are diminished by oppression or treated as though they are less than they are. It is not ‘I think, therefore I am,’ it is ‘I am because you are.’” Taft’s multi-day, multifaceted Martin Luther King Day, Jr. events also featured WorldFest 2016 and concluded with the annual Multicultural Arts Celebration. Winter Sports

For more on the winter season, please visit www.taftsports.com

wrap-up WinterBy Steve Palmer Sports Photography by Robert Falcetti

Skiing New England Class B Championship (Girls)

In spite of limited snow this winter, the Rhinos got on the hill consistently and did great work. The young team, led by tri-captains Kim Amelsberg ’16, Cashen Keeler ’16, and Michael Wasserstein ’17, had great success at the New Englands, with the girls winning the Class B New England title. Taft dominated the event, with four of the five racers earning All New England honors as a result of fin- ishing in the top 10 in both slalom and giant slalom. The boys finished in 5th place. The entire team skied to a 2nd- place finish in the Berkshire Ski League, Taft’s highest finish in several years.

The team looks to continue at a high Kayla Robinson ’19 level next year with MacGregor Peterson looks toward the ’19, Abby Ford ’19, Max Fossland ’19, hoop against Kent School during a Collin Amelsberg ’19, Taylor Jacobs game on February 3. ’18, Maddie Savage ’18 (captain-elect), and Natalie Waldram ’18 returning.

the New England Eight tournament as Boys’ Basketball 14–8 Girls’ Basketball 14–8 the third seed. In their best game of the New England Eight season, Taft blitzed Hotchkiss (61–34) For the second straight year the Rhinos Tournament Finalists behind tri-captain Jalissa Rodriguez ’17’s missed the New England Class A playoffs 29 points. The Rhinos then defeated St. by just one game. The Rhinos played at Taft went 3–5 over the first eight games Paul’s (58–44) in another great game a fierce tempo, pressing their opponents of the season, including some well-played before falling in the finals to Northfield and pushing the ball on offense. Point losses at the highly competitive Rivers Mount Hermon. Throughout the season, guard and captain Zavier Rucker ’17 Christmas Tournament, but the Rhinos tri-captain Helen Hofelt ’16 did a lot of set the pace and led the team in assists came together and finished the season win- the hard work inside, while versatile two- and steals (81 and 36, respectively). The ning 9 of their final 11 games. With their way players Kayla Robinson ’19 (team bulk of the transition scoring came from j Abby Ford ’19 navigates the style of tenacious team defense and crisp leader in points and rebounds), tri-captain Darius Chester ’17 and Shamir Johnson Gunbarrel giant slalom course at Ski Sundown (in Connecticut) passing at the offensive end, Taft swept Karalyn Baird ’17, and Lauren Pelosi ’18, the team’s leading scorers, behind during a February race. league rivals Choate and Hotchkiss to enter ’18 were critical in the team’s success. their cunning ability to attack the basket

Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 25 Winter sports Winter Sports

Whittemore ’16 (#6), Emily Weaver ’17 three matches to win the consolations (#7), and Gaby Gura ’17 (#8). After a tight and finish 9th in their division. The two win over the previous year’s champions, impressive individual matches of the sea- Roland Park Country School (4–3) in son were #1 Ahmed Kiwan ’16 defeating the quarterfinals, the Rhinos defeated Westminster’s very talented No. 1 player Andover (5–2) in the semifinals, over- 3–0, as well as #2 Kyle Salvatore defeating turning an earlier loss to this perennial Avon’s #2, 3–1. Next year, the team will rival. The Rhinos’ tight victory over be led by rising seniors Kyle Salvatore, Hopkins (4–3) in the finals, which they Billy Fleurima, and James Darling. played in front of a packed house at the Philly Cricket Club, will be a memory to cherish. Two weekends later the Rhinos Zoe Eberstadt- Kyle Salvatore ’17 Girls’ Hockey 10–8–3 John-Michael Di Gregorio Beattie ’18 attacks plays a great competed in the A Division of the New ’17 battles for the puck a volley against match against Englands, and, led by Chiulli, who placed Taft continued its positive growth, cap- against a Berkshire a Greenwich Westminster School. 5th, Taft finished a tough weekend turing the first winning season in several player during the D’Arco Academy player. by winning 13 of their 14 second-day years with a 10–8–3 overall record. Five Cup game in December. matches and placing 9th overall. of the losses were within a goal, and the team barely missed a playoff bid and shoot from behind the arc. Senior for the New England Tournament after under the guidance of captains-elect Jay Lavallee ’17 led the team with 14 Karlens Joas ’16 led the team in rebounds Boys’ Squash 11–7 winning six of its final seven games. Sasha Bridger ’17 and Natalie Lima assists. Next year’s varsity hockey team 2015–16 WINTER with 7.4 RPG and brought much-needed Led by senior co-captains Madie Leidt ’17, and assistant captain-elect Anna will be led by second-year captain Farrier. ATHLETIC AWARD toughness inside. A compliment to The team this year was led by five seniors, (16 goals, 9 assists) and Becky Dutton Rasmussen ’17. The squad bids farewell WINNERS Joas’ grit was Ludvig Swanstrom ’16, including co-captains Brandon Salvatore (Founders League All-Star in goal), the to a very strong group of seven seniors: Boys’ Ski Racing Award the team’s most dynamic player, as he ’16 and Tristan Chaix ’16. The Rhinos Rhinos worked well together both on forward Mikayla Carhart, goalie Becky Wrestling 12–5 Cashen J. Keeler ’16 was top three in rebounds, assists, and finished with a record of 11–7 and an and off the ice to become a success- Dutton, forward Madie Leidt, forward blocks. Key wins came against Choate 8th-place finish at the New Englands. ful unit. Season highlights included a Jill Pappas, goalie Lexi Long, forward Taft wrestling enjoyed another winning 1978 Girls’ Varsity Basketball Cup for the second straight year (55–45), Highlights of the New England tour- nighttime home game against Kent, Ellie Smith, and defenseman Kate season and took home the 4th-place trophy Helen R. Hofelt ’16 and rival Hotchkiss (62–61) at home in Tewksbury (Founders League All-Star). at the Western New England tournament. nament include #2 Kyle Salvatore ’17 where, in front of a packed house, Taft Boys’ Squash Award an exciting overtime thriller. Taft also finishing 3rd, #3 Tristan Chaix finish- outplayed their stronger opponent, cap- Led by a strong and deep group of seniors, Tristan W. Chaix ’16 beat tournament-bound Canterbury ing 6th, #4 Brandon Salvatore finishing turing a commendable 2–2 tie; a sound Taft notched convincing dual-meet wins twice. All five Taft starters were selected 3rd, and #6 James Darling ’17 finishing 5–2 victory over Choate; and downing Boys’ Hockey 9–15–1 over Loomis (48–30), Hotchkiss (48–30), 1986 Girls’ Squash Award Eleanor S. Carroll ’16 honorable mention on 2016 NEPSAC Suffield (60–24), and Hopkins (41–28). 6th in their respective divisions. At the Hotchkiss both at home and away. The Eliza K. Dunham ’16 Class A All-New England team. High School Nationals, the boys lost team will look to build on its success This year’s team was led by the strong The team showed great endurance and their first-round match, but won the next next season with a solid returning squad, play of captains Andrew Farrier ’17 in toughness at the league tournament, Patsy Odden Hockey Award goal and Drew Hickey ’16, both Founders with eight medalists and the 4th-place Madeline R. Leidt ’16

Girls’ Squash 9–11 League All-Stars. Highlights included trophy. Chase Harper ’19 took 6th at 106 James Painter Logan U.S. High School National a 2nd-place finish at the 68th annual pounds; co-captain Locke McGee ’16 took Memorial Basketball Champions, Division II Lawrenceville School Christmas Hockey 5th at 120; Nikhil Wadhwa ’16 also took Karlens A. Joas ’16 Tournament, and a three-game win streak 5th at 126. Drew Dye ’18 battled his way Coach’s Hockey Award Led this season by co-captains and joint in early February with victories over to 4th at 145; and rising captain Michael William J. Dittrich ’16 recipients of the 1986 Girls’ Squash rivals Hotchkiss, Deerfield, and Choate. Hennessy ’17 took 3rd at 152, after nearly Carter M. Taft ’16 Award, Eliza Dunham ’16 (#1) and Elle Coaches Award recipients and dedicated upsetting the No. 1 seed. Cousins Fred Angier Hockey Trophy Carroll ’16 (#2), the Rhinos turned team players who kept Taft competitive Robertshaw ’16 and co-captain Tennant Andrew M. Farrier ’17 around a tough start to the season with in many games were Will Dittrich ’16 and Maxey ’16 took 3rd and 5th, respec- fantastic play in the major tournaments. Carter Taft ’16. The Rhinos’ most valuable tively, at 170 and 182. Co-captain Sean Harry F. Hitch Wrestling Award Alongside the co-captains, the impres- player was Farrier, who started in goal Sullivan ’16 produced Taft’s first league Tennant B. Maxey ’16 Sean F. Sullivan ’16 sive team effort to win the Division II for 24 of the 25 games and posted a .923 champion in quite a few years at the title at the High School Nationals came save percentage, placing him among the 160-pound weight class. He would go on John L. Wynne Wrestling Award from captain-elect and Founders League top 10 goaltenders in New England prep to take 5th at the New England tourna- Royal Lockett McGee ’16 Lexi Cafiero ’18 keeps Frederick O. Robertshaw ’16 All-Star Maddie Chiulli ’17 (#3), Zoe the puck moving up school ice hockey. Matteo Mangiardi ’17 ment. While this group of seniors will be Eberstadt-Beattie ’18 (#4), Maria Serrano ice during a game led the team in scoring (24 points) with hard to replace, Taft has some strong JV Girls’ Ski Racing Award ’17 (#5), Founders League All-Star Paige against Kent School. 19 goals and 5 assists, while newcomer wrestlers ready to step in next year. j Kimberly V. Amelsberg ’16

26 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 27 Campus LENS A Lasting Imprint onTaft

Rusty Davis Linda Saarnijoki Retire & By Bonnie Blackburn-Penhollow ’84 his is, at its heart, a love story. It’s a love story between two Tpeople, yes, but also between these two people and the school they served for four decades. It’s a love story that has

left an imprint on Taft that will last long after those who inspired

it have left the halls for the new adventures that lie ahead.

The two people—Rusty Davis and Dudley in the Adirondacks in New York were “a sink-or-swim kind of thing.” teacher with long, long dark hair caught showing interested in anyone, as he’d they found their spouses here. A board- Linda Saarnijoki—are retiring at the state. And he had a master’s degree in Because of his work at Camp Dudley, Davis’s eye. She was Linda Saarnijoki, seemed to be a “staunch bachelor.” “Other ing school is particularly unique.” end of the spring term after more aerospace engineering, the result of Davis knew how to get the best out fresh out of a master’s degree program at young women had been interested in him, Odden remembers the couple as two than 40 years leading Taft in a wide a lifelong fascination with physics. of teenage boys. He taught phys- Teachers College at Columbia University, but he’d sort of pushed them off,” she says. very principled people who cared for the variety of roles. These two are truly “I was literally 12 hours from getting ics and astronomy (which Davis says and she’d been hired by Odden to teach in Their courtship unfolded slowly, but students and the school. “I think they more than the sum of their parts. into the car to drive to Florida when I was not in his wheelhouse: “In those the English Department. After the faculty after six years together, the couple got are both by nature true enthusiasts for Davis was Lance Odden’s very first got a call from Lance,” Davis recalls now. days, they plopped you into things,” party was over, Davis and former faculty married in August 1982 in Lake Placid, kids. They like them, they’ve spent their hire as headmaster, back in 1972, when “I called some friends [who] said, ‘You because someone higher up than he member John Sadowsky invited the new New York. Davis was dean of students by lives with them,” Odden says. “They Davis was considered by some to be too should at least go interview there.’” thought that aerospace engineering faculty members out to the Gildersleeves then, a position he held for 13 years. see the better side of them—they see “radical” a choice. He was a member of The two clicked, and Odden hired and astronomy went hand-in-hand), bar up the road in Litchfield, and Davis “Life at Taft is not a 40-hour job,” hope and promise in all [students], and the Princeton class of 1970, which had Davis as a physics instructor for the and for several years generally worked spent the evening talking with Saarnijoki. Saarnijoki says. “It’s very hard to main- kids respond to that naturally. They gone on strike to protest the escalation fall of 1972. He began teaching four to improve the equipment available for “I liked her right away,” Davis says. tain a relationship with someone who are so honest in the way they do busi- of the Vietnam War into Cambodia. classes of physics, and he lived on the experiments in the old Science Building. “She’s a wonderful, amazing woman.” isn’t in that sort of time schedule. You’re ness. They rise to the challenge. They’re He was a Choate graduate, and his hair fifth floor of HDT, with just three stu- Fast forward to the fall of 1976. It’s The two began spending time together, always working at night, you’ve got week- nice people—really nice people.” was perhaps a trifle long, as well, but dents on the floor to oversee. He was time for the fall faculty party, where new spending Sunday afternoons doing The end duty. It’s very hard. Any number of The couple threw themselves into he came with stellar recommendations “shown the ropes” by former teacher faculty and old mingle at the headmaster’s New York Times crossword puzzle and tak- young people leave because they can’t life at Taft, where Davis served as a class and a history of leading adolescents Toby Baker, and noted that back in house to get to know each other before ing it slow. Saarnijoki says now that people maintain a relationship. Similarly, lots dean, coach, and dean of students. He at a summer camp known as Camp those early days, faculty preparations the students start arriving. A new young were surprised that Davis was actually of people have stayed at Taft because coached golf and basketball during his

I was very homesick freshman Together, Rusty and Linda have worked From all the years…spent giving selflessly to Taft, [Linda and Rusty] each developed year. Many people didn’t think tirelessly for the betterment of the Taft a highly trained sixth sense of what was best for the school and its corresponding that I could make it through, but community. [They] have steadfastly values. I would also witness Rusty, in response to the latest potential saga or Mr. D helped me through it, and I maintained a positive and inclusive outlook, pending crisis facing Taft, place the weight of the school on his shoulders and carry couldn’t be happier than I am here always striving to identify aspects that it to shore; putting out fire after fire, he would quietly but assuredly make many of at Taft. It is 100 percent thanks to need change and then implementing those the crucial, often delicate decisions that, in my opinion, made Taft “Taft.” And he Mr. Davis.” improvements. Their impact has been wide- would do this without as much as batting an eye. Together, Linda and Rusty are as ranging, and they will be missed sorely.” integral to Taft’s DNA as any two educators, two souls, I ever met.” —Charlie Himmelrich ’17 —Ted Heavenrich, faculty —Andrew Eisen ’04

32 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 33 early years at Taft, and started the girls’ in the boarding school world. One has grown,” Saarnijoki says. “I think the It came back. His mother passed away soccer program in 1974, guiding the trouble: she did not even really know pressure on careful prep and planning from cancer, and the stress of dealing team to four consecutive New England what boarding schools were when she on a day-to-day and semester and year- with that illness and loss, plus a new Championships from 1988 to 1991. interviewed at Taft. “I thought they were long basis is absolutely expected now baby, led to more episodes of weakness. Saarnijoki took on any number of assign- for delinquents,” Saarnijoki says now. in a way that it wasn’t when I began. By 1996, he was finally diagnosed with people, and for the most part, we don’t People offered to do things or were ments, including coaching field hockey But she, too, had been a counselor at a “There’s been so much more relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. get emotionally debilitated,” she adds. doing things without our even asking. and volleyball, class dean, and dorm summer camp, and liked the concept of research into educational methods, The disease developed slowly at first, “We have this saying, ‘It is what it I think the other thing that came out head, in addition to her teaching loads. being able to both teach and coach. and that has only made all of us much but in recent years, Davis has needed to is.’ This is what we’ve been handed, of that illness is just a sense of grati- “I had wanted to be a teacher from the “My sport was swimming,” better teachers at Taft,” she says. use a wheelchair to get around campus. and we deal with it, and we go on.” tude to be in such a wonderful place.” time I was in second grade,” Saarnijoki she says. “I had done some field They each took on increasingly “The effect on us as a family [was The school rallied around the Though they had to make some says, “and when I got to high school and hockey [and] I had played some vol- difficult administrative assignments, difficult],” Saarnijoki says, “but I think couple and installed assistive devices changes, both Davis and Saarnijoki con- college, I admired many of my teach- leyball, so they put me there.” with Davis eventually being named actually that Rusty’s strength as a to help Davis navigate many of the tinued to teach. When Odden retired ers….My physical education teachers As the pair grew in their teaching assistant headmaster and Saarnijoki person to just grit through this ter- stairs in the Main Building. and Willy MacMullen ’78 took over as were young, vibrant, smart women, and coaching ability, their dedication as dean of faculty. And in 1994, rible event in his life has made it much “I learned how enormously gener- headmaster, he relied on veteran teach- and that’s what I wanted to be like.” to the school swelled, as did the quality their daughter Eliza was born. easier for me and for us as a family ous people can be,” Saarnijoki says. ers like Davis and Saarnijoki to continue Torn between wanting to teach aca- of the students and the quality of the All was not well, however. Davis began and us as a couple to just continue “The school has been phenomenally and expand on Odden’s legacy. demically or teach physical education, educational opportunities Taft offered. feeling some weakness in his legs, but with life as normally as we can. generous in providing the things we’ve “It is hard for me to think of how any Saarnijoki fell upon the perfect match “The expectation of teachers at Taft the feeling would go away after a while. “We’re both pretty strong, resilient needed, in making accommodations. couple can give more to a school than

RD and Linda were the great school masters they have been precisely because they could Linda and I arrived at Taft at the Before he became a “proper administrator” (just my and were willing to do it all. They never begged off a responsibility, and carried them off same time, she right out of graduate joke), Rusty’s more mischievous nature was quite with deep commitment and passion. Their love of young people was evident from the first school, me in mid-career. From evident in the ’70s. Along with two other faculty time I interviewed them and has never waned, only growing wiser. They have found joy in the start, she was poised, capable, members, Rusty was involved in creating and every aspect of students’ lives and their achievements. When things went wrong, they were calm, dependable. Linda was the mailing invitations to my fake wedding, while I was both masters of the art of listening, not judging, and of helping the student involved begin to consummate schoolmaster, taking on on sabbatical in California. Rusty and Linda are two understand what they had done, why it was unfortunate, and what to do about it. Only faculty every duty, every job that needed to be very intelligent individuals, and caring and dedicated who see the full dimensions of student life can do this. And few can do it as well as they.” filled. And she did them all with grace professionals. [It’s] hard to imagine Taft without them.” and competence.” —Lance Odden, headmaster emeritus —Dick Cobb, faculty emeritus —Robin Osborn, faculty emerita 34 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 MacMullen says. The couple hosted jazz And Saarnijoki modeled commit- and commitment look like. [Faculty and him is why he has stayed at Taft so long. parties, and Davis will be remembered ment for new faculty members, he says. students] look to Linda and say that’s “When I first came here and Lance had for the end-of-school faculty parties and “It’s hard for me to think of a woman what leadership, excellence, expertise, just taken over,” Davis says, “I could see for giving out the “Rookie of the Year” who has shaped the course of this and passion look like. Linda’s depth of myself working for Lance. He seemed like a Rusty and Linda,” MacMullen says, “or teaching AP Physics, while Saarnijoki award for the most entertaining flub of school more profoundly than Linda caring, it’s palpable. Linda has a way of great guy with a real vision. When I came, who have [served] with more compas- returned to the classroom full time the year made by a faculty member. has,” MacMullen says. “There is an listening to you and looking at you that the endowment was [only] $3 million, and sion and commitment and love and after 15 years in administrative roles. “Here’s another little thing Rusty does: entire generation of younger teachers… makes you feel so blessed by the moment. we had debt left over from building the expertise than they have. They are dear “One way to understand them is to For years, he’s had a table in the Wu [sci- [who] when you [ask] what’s the model She’s really wise, she always gives good library. It was an exciting place, but it was friends and daily inspirations to me.” know that each of them could have gone ence] building. He puts puzzles on it, for commitment, professionalism, and counsel, and she has impeccable integrity. kind of grungy—the maintenance was not Davis and Saarnijoki have served in a on to head schools, but they chose not to literal or figurative. He just leaves it there. leadership, they would say Linda. Over If you put Linda in charge of a challenge, great. As I stayed here, I always had the wide variety of positions in the 40-plus do so,” Odden says. “Each, individually, That is amazing teaching. There will be the years, there’s no one on the cam- you could be guaranteed it would be feeling every year things were getting bet- years they have been at Taft, including elected to devote themselves to the stu- kids there trying to figure it out. His love pus who has stepped forward to take done perfectly and with total integrity.” ter. I’ve just felt we’re on the right track. assistant headmaster, dean of students, dents and to building the faculty. They are of physics is so pervasive that it can’t be more challenging roles [than she]. Davis says that over the course of We’re doing sensible things to make the dean of faculty, head of the residen- the moral center of the school. [They are] contained by his classes. This is a guy who “Linda has a generosity of spirit and his time as assistant headmaster, he’s school better. Being a part of that is excit- tial life program, head of the English two very principled [people] with a good never stopped getting better. To me and to a belief in serving something larger than interviewed every prospective faculty ing. Taft is not a radically innovative place, Department, director of the library, sense of humor and not judgmental.” many others, he’s just a source of incred- herself that is profound,” MacMullen member who has applied to teach at but they let you do what you want to do. and class dean. Davis recently began But their roles weren’t limited to what ible wisdom and perspective, and he’s continues. “It’s incredibly inspiring. Taft. The most common question those That’s why it’s been fun to stay here. Every teaching lower mids after 25 years of happens inside a classroom or an office, the most humble guy,” MacMullen says. There’s four decades of what excellence prospective faculty members would ask year, you look forward to what is next.”

I don’t think I ever saw either of them have a bad RD was a good coach because he instilled Their unshakable faith in students, teachers, and the mission of the school was day. I can’t remember hearing Linda or RD complain confidence in each player as a person inspiring, and this generosity of belief afforded them a patience that was well about something, or talk about being exhausted or and as player. He also understood to be tried by never-to-be-underestimated adolescent behavior, collegial challenges, frustrated. Both of them had, and demonstrated, successful you had to have a ‘team,’ a and institutional disorders. The more turbulent the times, the more steady and such great composure every day through the group of players that works together as a true their characters and conduct showed….Linda sought the best in children and years. RD always [had] an upbeat comment about unit. His teams were successful for a long adults, bringing it out often when it might have remained undiscovered….Rusty’s the game yesterday, a joke [or] something about time because they knew how to play for acuteness and agility of mind was so well tempered by his sense of humor that music. Some of my best memories as a faculty each other, and we needed to develop the students and faculty felt at ease in his company and forgetful of their inferiority.” [member] come from their jazz parties in June.” respect of each other and their abilities.” —Steve Schieffelin, former faculty —Steve Palmer, faculty —Liza Grant ’82 And for more non ut sibi…

Rusty  Two five-year terms on the Camp Dudley board of managers; awarded the Man of the Year award in 2012 for a life lived in the spirit of the camp motto, The Other Fellow First.  Head of the Ekwanok Country Club Scholarship Fund (Vermont), which annually provides tens of thousands of dollars in college scholarships for young people who work For her part, Saarnijoki looks back enormously rewarding. You have to figure contributions to the school, and you it beginning to wane. I feel like I’ve done “It’s a very vibrant community,” she at the club as caddies, at being able to nurture faculty mem- out what faculty you’re going to hire, how have a profound sense of what a strong what I can do at Taft, and I feel the pull says. “For now, we want to make it a real grounds crew, and staff. bers and students as being the most to frame their job so they can do their community this is. That job taught toward doing something entirely differ- ‘shifting gears’ kind of thing. We’re going rewarding part of her tenure at Taft. best work, resolve issues between faculty. me how important community is and ent. It’s just time to move on, and there to settle in and see what life brings us.” Linda “I love being in the classroom,” she says. [That has] a significant impact on the what a great place this is,” she says. are really good people who will step up That said, it is a bittersweet parting  Early 1990s, led a small “I love being able to come into a classroom way the school works. It’s a behind-the- The couple decided several years to take on whatever I’ve left undone.” from Taft. group that opened the Child and talk with my students about literature. scenes thing, but it’s vitally important.” ago that it was time to retire when The couple will be moving to their “I’m certainly going to miss the kids Development Program at It’s incredibly rewarding to share ideas. Saarnijoki returned to the classroom their daughter, Eliza, graduated from Weston, Vermont home, which is under- because they’re really great,” Davis Taft (day care) and served for What students say again and again [about full time for a while, but returned to the Taft in 2012, but stayed on dur- going renovations to make it more says. “It’s fun to develop relationships several years as president of the board of directors . my teaching] is they enjoy my passion and dean of faculty position in 2013 after a ing the administrative transition. accessible for Davis’s wheelchair. with the kids. And I’m certainly going  Twenty years on the enthusiasm [for] what we’re talking about. number of top-level administrators left “Even though there are always new And while it will be difficult for Taft to miss my colleagues—it’s fun to have Litchfield Montessori “I think my work with the faculty as the school for positions elsewhere. things to learn and new and interesting to replace two such dedicated teach- bright people around me. I’m just going School board of trustees. dean was enormously rewarding as well. I MacMullen “asked me to come back wrinkles to old issues, after a time you ers and administrators, Davis and to miss the action. It’s nice to know  one term on the Camp Dudley was able to help people do their best work in to be dean of faculty to lend some find yourself thinking about the same Saarnijoki are looking forward to a every Saturday and Wednesday there’s board of managers and leader and be their best selves at Taft. I loved stability, a job I was happy to do, and I issues again and again,” Saarnijoki says. well-deserved rest. The community in games going on, there’s concerts. There’s of the effort to start a successful problem solving. I loved being handed a was reminded again about what a great “While I still have energy and excite- Weston, where they bought a summer always something happening. Taft is girls’ camp, Camp Dudley at problem and being able to help that per- job it is because you get to know faculty ment about new ways of doing things home many years ago, has a number of such a vibrant place. There’s more to Kiniya, as a complement to the son work through their issues. That was and appreciate their strengths and their and working with new people, I can feel service opportunities, Saarnijoki says. do than there is time to do it.” j 100-year-old program for boys.

Linda’s calm demeanor and gentle humor… I don’t think teaching looks any better and and the magical sense of having unlimited time commitment looks any better than what to listen to whatever you said yet still getting [Rusty and Linda] have done. I am only one of everything done still inspires me. Some days, many who would say that to look at those two I need to channel my inner Linda Saarnijoki is to be absolutely inspired in the best way. when impatience and fatigue threaten. But it’s They’ve become the measuring stick. It doesn’t really as a friend that I revere Linda....She is get any better than what they’ve done.” intensely loyal and genuinely caring.” —Willy MacMullen ’78, headmaster —Debbie Phipps, former faculty

Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 39 N ancy Kue h n, Minnea po lis/ S t. Paul Business J T H o urnal E Family business is politics. But John G. Taft ’72 doesn’t need a bully pulpit—like his great-grandfather William Howard Taft possessed—to be a catalyst for reform. He doesn’t need a mandate from voters or the backing of a political party.

When Taft says Wall Street has lost its moral be about achieving social goods that improve compass, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, and everybody’s standards and quality of life.” his wealth management peers listen. When Taft In a presidential election year, Taft’s message advocates for the protection of LGBT rights in has proved to be prescient, with the disconnect the workplace, it speaks volumes. And when between bailout recipients and taxpayers shaping Taft helped pay for a full-page ad in his home- the narrative of the historic battle for the White town newspaper rebuking intolerance toward House. But unlike Democratic socialist Bernie Muslims in Minnesota, it made headlines. Sanders, Taft doesn’t want to blow up the system. Each is part of a values system that comes Nor does Taft subscribe to Sanders’ claim that the

Joh from nature, nurture, and a transcendent business model of Wall Street is one of fraud. motto for Taft: Non ut sibi ministretur sed ut “That is not true. It is not helpful,” Taft ministret, Not to be served, but to serve. says. “It will not lead to the right kind of “I think my beliefs are consistent with regulatory and financial policy, but, unfortu- Taft DNA, reinforced through my Taft School nately, it’s an indication that the wounds from experience,” he says. “They’re certainly a the financial crisis are far from healed.” fundamental part of my family’s legacy.” A New Haven native and son of a Yale educator, Taft, 61, is the maverick at the intersec- Taft’s late father, Horace ’43, was a dean and a physics tion of Wall Street and Main Street, an unlikely professor. Taft fits the well-rounded archetype set by n voice of shared prosperity and restraint in an his high school alma mater. He’s worked on deadline industry that’s taken its lumps since the 2008 as a newspaper reporter in Lowell, Massachusetts. financial crisis and housing-bubble collapse. He understands the inner workings of city govern- ’72 He’s authored two groundbreaking books on ment, having served as an assistant to the mayor of the need for financial reform, starting in 2012 St. Paul, Minnesota. He knows his way around the Taft with Stewardship: Lessons Learned from the Lost pitch, having briefly played for the North American Culture of Wall Street, and following that up in 2015 Soccer League after captaining the Yale squad. Advocating Capitalism with A Force for Good: How Enlightened Finance The third generation in his family to attend Can Restore Faith in Capitalism. They are touch- Taft, the married father of five serves as a stones of a 35-year career in the sector that is for the Greater Good culminating for Taft, the Minneapolis-based chief executive officer of RBC Wealth Management. “The financial services sector exists not as an end By Neil Vigdor ’95 “The financial services sector exists not as unto itself, but as a means to greater ends. Its goal is an end unto itself, but as a means to greater to facilitate greater economic growth. We lost touch ends,” Taft says. “Its goal is to facilitate greater with that. We lost touch with the fact that we should be economic growth. We lost touch with that. about achieving social goods that improve everybody’s We lost touch with the fact that we should standards and quality of life.”

Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 41 Joh

n Taft’72

trustee and frequently credits the school in his in support of a federal standard of fiduciary care. Stewardship “I had always writings for teaching him lessons in charac- “We’re in the middle of a healthy debate heard of his ter. The proceeds from the sales of his books, about what we want from our economic sys- leadership in which include essays from some of the sharpest tem,” Taft says. “We thought we wanted the corporate minds in the world of finance, go to charity. growth at any and all costs, and it turns out An excerpt from world, and he “I had always heard of his leadership in the we don’t want that. We don’t want growth Stewardship: Lessons Learned is one of the corporate world, and he is one of the most that blows the system up every 10 years.” most principled, principled, ethical, thoughtful leaders I know,” For all of his criticism of the government’s from the Lost Culture of Wall Street ethical, Headmaster Willy MacMullen ’78 says. “His oversight role leading up to the crisis, Taft says thoughtful commitment to equity and justice, to corporate there have been encouraging strides. He supported (author John G. Taft ’72) leaders I know. stewardship, to doing the right thing, is deep.” the $700 billion bank bailout of 2008, which His commitment Righting the wrongs that brought the U.S. Taft says prevented the U.S. from plunging into a to equity and economy to the brink in 2008 is where Taft 1930s-era Great Depression. The faith of the world I attended the Taft School, in Watertown, justice, to found a renewed purpose. From unsustain- economy, he says, was hanging in the balance. Connecticut, for four years in the late 1960s and corporate early 1970s. Almost every day I walked past a stewardship, to able home ownership quotas to antiquated “I think of all the conversations you have regulations, he was troubled by what he saw. today about ‘too big to fail’—about never again black and white photograph of my grandfather doing the right taken in 1953 as he walked across the rotunda The packaging and sale of securities backed using public money to shore up the financial thing, is deep.” of the U.S. Capitol on crutches after his last day by risky subprime mortgages had become com- system—my feeling would be, never say never,” on the floor of the U.S. Senate, where he had monplace, with banks keeping them off their Taft says. “Government intervention is a last —Willy MacMullen ’78 just transferred his duties as Senate Majority balance sheets. At the same time, some of resort, but it is a resort that should be used in Leader. He was suffering at the time from can- the endangered banks lacked adequate capi- extreme cases and was appropriately done so.” cer, diagnosed after a golf outing earlier that tal to withstand the financial maelstrom. Equally nuanced is Taft’s assessment of the year with President Dwight Eisenhower. He “Financial markets were falling apart,” Taft signature piece of Wall Street reform legislation, died shortly after the photograph was taken. says. “The people who worked for me were con- the Dodd-Frank Act, which was named for then- The Taft School motto [which roughly fused. Clients were frightened. Personally, I was Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd, who was translates as, “To serve…not to be served”] experiencing things I had never experienced chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. is a fitting expression of the core principle of before. What happened leading up to the finan- “There is no question financial regulation was stewardship. The school’s Citations of Merit cial crisis was a wholesale breach of contract hopelessly out of date and ineffective. But the recognize the same “commitment to serve others” that Stewardship is all about. between the financial services sector and society.” problem with Dodd-Frank is that there were a When I was a student, those words themselves In 2011, Taft served as chairman of the lot of unnecessary provisions and harmful provi- didn’t fully resonate with me as they do today, Securities Industry and Financial Markets sions put in the bill because of the intense political after 30 years of the vocation and demands of Association, a major trade group that took him environment in which it was drafted,” Taft says. the financial services industry. But even then, to the halls of Congress. It was there, on Capitol “We’re now well into the punitive phase of regula- as now, the photograph of Robert Taft look- Hill, that the scion of one of America’s most influ- tory overreach. The policy pendulum, as it always ing into the distance, as if saying goodbye to a ential political families—the grandson of the late does, is in the process of swinging too far.” lifetime of public service, evokes for me what Senator Robert A. Taft, Class of 1906—testified In 2013, Investment Advisor magazine C.S. Lewis once described as God’s ideal—“a man who, having worked all day for the good of posterity…, washes his mind of the whole sub- “Financial markets were falling apart. The people who ject, commits the issue to Heaven, and returns worked for me were confused. Clients were frightened. at once to the patience or gratitude demanded Personally, I was experiencing things I had never by the moment that is passing over him.” experienced before. What happened leading up to the financial crisis was a wholesale breach of contract b senator Robert A. Taft, Class of 1906, grandfather of between the financial services sector and society.” John Taft ’72, at The Taft School in 1935.

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“Government intervention is a last resort, but it is a resort that should be used in extreme cases and was appropriately done so.”

b John Taft ’72 and his recognized Taft as one of the 25 most influen- me to be involved and make a difference,” brother, Hugh Taft- Morales ’75 at Nationals tial people in the financial industry. He has also Taft says. “I’m gratified to say I have.” Stadium in Washington, been a mainstay in recent years in the top 100 Taft credits his stepdaughter with reconnecting D.C., where they pre- Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business by him to the school when she enrolled. Like her step- sented the Nationals Trust Across America, a business ethics group. father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather, William Howard Taft “racing president” with But Taft’s tireless advocacy isn’t limited to Fabre was presented with the Aurelian Award a Taft sweatshirt for the liquid capital. It extends to human capital and when she graduated. The honor is given to the Presidents Race. fostering a tolerant workplace. The cause of LGBT senior who best exemplifies sterling character, employment rights is deeply personal to Taft, high scholarship, and forceful leadership. “It was Among those behind the $20,000 ad was Taft has wrapped himself up in the lore of his whose stepdaughter, Gabrielle Fabre ’13, and one of the proudest moments of my life,” Taft says. U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, a Democrat family, including his great-grandfather’s connec- oldest daughter, Mary Taft-McPhee, are gay. “I always felt Gaby completed the circle for me.” and the first Muslim elected to Congress. tion to the national pastime. In 2013, he took For five years running, RBC has received a 100 Fighting bigotry is not a single-front con- Another backer of the effort? U.S. Senator part in Taft Night at a Washington Nationals Taft with Jack Whitten, percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign’s flict for Taft. In February, he helped spearhead a Al Franken, hardly a conservative. Not that game and Presidents Race, where he shook a preeminent African- Corporate Equality Index. Taft’s efforts to group of prominent Minnesotans that took out a Republicans have held up their end of the bar- hands with the William Howard Taft “racing “My personal American painter, next fight discrimination based on sexual orienta- full-page ad in the Minneapolis Star Tribune decry- to his work Garden in gain, says Taft, who wrote a 2013 New York Times president” during its debut. (William Howard experience with tion and to help legalize same-sex marriage in ing religious intolerance toward Muslims. Taft Bessemer. One of Taft’s op-ed titled “Cry of the True Republican.” Taft was the first sitting president to throw out my children passions is collecting Minnesota have earned him acclaim from the was one of the only Republicans among them. If his great-grandfather and father were a ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game.) has obviously contemporary art, such as National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. “Though we may be a soft-spoken bunch, alive today, Taft says they wouldn’t recognize While Taft is eager to preserve and build informed my this work which he owns, “My personal experience with my chil- we know better than to be silent or still and he serves on the Andy what the GOP has become. His principles, he on his family’s legacy in deeds and diplomas, views on a broad Warhol Foundation board. dren has obviously informed my views on a in the face of bigotry shown to Muslims. says, are closer to bedrocks of conservatism. don’t count on him trading on his name at the range of LGBT Gene Pittman . broad range of LGBT issues and has inspired Our Minnesotans,” the ad read. “Republicans used to be the responsible ballot box, not even as he retires from his suc- issues and has adults in the room,” Taft says. “We’re cessful financial services career. Taft says he inspired me a long way from that today.” already has a platform, whether it’s the books to be involved or opinion pieces he’s written or issue ads. and make a “Being civically engaged—that’s the kind of difference. I’m gratified to thing I seem to be able to do effectively and want say I have.” to do, as opposed to running for office,” Taft says. Taft doesn’t need an “R” after his name to show what he stands for. He doesn’t need a focus group or slick slogan. He’s living the motto. “Responsibility, integrity, respect for oth- ers—those were all family values. They still are,” says Taft. “They’re school values, too, and they’re alive and well at Taft today, which is incredibly gratifying to me personally.” j

For more about William Howard Taft, see this issue’s From the Archives column on page 88.

Neil Vigdor ’95 is the statewide political writer for Hearst Connecticut Media, which includes Greenwich Time, The (Stamford) Advocate, Connecticut Post, Danbury News-Times, and five weekly newspapers.

Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 45 Tales of a Taftie

Taftie TalesBy Christopher S . Browofner a’12

extensive knowledge of historic opera broadcasts and piqued the interest of the Metropolitan David P. Hamilton, Class of 1952 Opera, America’s leading opera company. The A music editor, writer, critic, and teacher in the field of concert Met soon hired him to produce its Historical music and opera Broadcast Recording Series, and Hamilton held this position until 2008, when the series ended. This was just the first in a number of projects For writer, editor, producer, and educator David Harvard. At both institutions Hamilton studied that Hamilton produced for the Met. Between P. Hamilton, music was more than a mere hobby. with some of the leading names in avant-garde 1985 and 1986, he created the eight-volume series It lay at the heart of a life that was “very satisfy- composition and music education of the day— One-Hundred Years of Great Artists at the Met, and ing, emotionally as well as professionally.” from composers Milton Babbitt, Edward T. Cone, in 1987 he led the efforts to release The Mapleson Early on, Hamilton’s quality education and and Walter Piston, to scholars Arthur Mendel, Cylinders, a collection of early opera recordings. great love of the arts gave him the tools with Oliver Strunk, John Ward, and Gustave Reese. An Association for Recorded Sound Collections which he would eventually build an extraordinary His first job after college found him still (ARSC) 2013 obituary of Hamilton stated, “[This] career in the music industry. After graduat- at Princeton, where he served for almost six was a six-LP collection of the complete extant ing from Taft in 1952, he went on to receive years as librarian for the university’s music recordings made by Metropolitan Opera librar- bachelor of arts and master of fine arts degrees and record library. But the lure of his beloved ian Lionel Mapleson between 1900 and 1904, from Princeton as well as a master of arts from New York and the city’s bustling arts scene issued by the Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives was too strong, and Hamilton ultimately of Recorded Sound division of the New York intermissions of the Met’s weekly Saturday relocated to Manhattan, where he began an Public Library in 1985. Working with [two col- matinee broadcasts. This work culminated in his association with the firm of W.W. Norton & leagues, Hamilton…identified] each cylinder editing of The Metropolitan Opera Encyclopedia, Co., from 1968 until 1974. He served first as recording….documenting the composer, title, a self-proclaimed “guide to the world of opera” Norton’s assistant editor of music books, but date, cast, conductor, and the specific contents for aficionados and newcomers alike. A 1988 was ultimately appointed chief music editor. of each cylinder, as well as determining the review of the Encyclopedia by Arthur Jacobs Throughout his career, Hamilton contributed correct playback speeds, a monumental under- praised “the informative content and urbane to a host of publications as author and critic. taking given the barely-audible nature of many style of the entries on operas and people” In addition to his work for Norton, he served of these recordings. The meticulously-produced that were a trademark of Hamilton’s prose. as music critic for The Nation for nearly three booklet prepared by [Hamilton] included the Throughout his life, Hamilton shared his decades, was a contributing editor for the music specific text for each operatic excerpt, along passion for music and writing as a teacher at magazine High Fidelity from 1967 to 1983, and with an English translation.” It was for this the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School, commented on the city’s arts scene as New York recording that Hamilton was nominated for two Aspen Music School, Salzburg Seminar, and music correspondent for the Financial Times Grammy awards in 1987, one for Best Historical the NYU School of Continuing Education. At of London for six years. His writing regularly Album and another for Best Program Notes. Julliard he helped inspire, he said, “a marvel- appeared in Opera Quarterly and The New York Hamilton also used his great talent for writ- ously bright and committed lot” of future Times, and he received recognition by the ASCAP/ ing while working with the Met, penning program music critics through his doctoral course on Deems Taylor Awards in 1975 and 1998. notes and sitting on the advisory board of and advanced writing on music. Surely Hamilton’s When his two-part series “Tristan in the contributing to Opera News, a monthly maga- legacy will be felt for decades to come, not What successful Taftie, Thirties” appeared in the 1976 and 1977 issues zine published by the Metropolitan Opera Guild. only in the work of these former students no longer living, would of Musical Newsletter, Hamilton reached a turn- He even wrote questions for the Metropolitan but also in the enduring catalog of recordings you like to see profiled in this space? Send j ing point of his career. The writing displayed an Opera Radio Quiz that was presented during and writings that bear his expert mark. your suggestions to [email protected].

46 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 Taft Bulletin / SPRING 2016 47 From the Archives As we enter the final month of Taft’s Campaign for the Second Century, we ask for your support. Your gift supports…

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A Moment on Campus with a President and Future Chief Justice

Following his term in the White presidential race and sudden Supreme was the massive construction proj- House, and while living in New Haven Court vacancy, it seems fitting to run ect of Horace Dutton Taft Hall. and teaching at the Yale Law School, these images, some of the very few depict- In 1921, Will Taft was appointed chief President William Howard Taft ing this man’s presence on campus. justice by President Warren Harding. It (1857–1930) visited the Taft School These undated images are from was that position—not the presidency— campus frequently to lecture and around the time of Will Taft’s Presidency that he had wished for all his life. say hello to his headmaster brother (1909–13). They show a Taft com- Horace, of whom he was very fond. mencement, possibly that of his son, William Howard Taft “Will” Taft is still the only person in Charles Phelps, in 1913. In that year, President 1909–13 Please make your gift United States history who has served the ceremonies took place on the Chief Justice 1921–30 as both chief justice of the Supreme east side of the Warren House, the or pledge by June 30. www.taftschool.org/give Court and president. With the excite- former hotel that then housed the —Alison Gilchrist, The Leslie D. Manning Archives, Taft School or call the Alumni & Development Office school. Out of sight on the other side ment now swirling around the 2016 1-800-959-8238

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