The Magazine of Wilbraham & Monson Academy The Global School ® 2016 fall ACADEMYWORLD Cultural Enrichment at 7,972 Feet also in this issue: Alumni Authors Traveling Titans Reunion 2016 perspecTives by brian p. easler Head of School When is a Roof More Than Just a Roof? administrative efficiency and campaign. This new approach is working, and about our renewed attention on the Rich Hall roof renovation is the first major the experience of the students and evidence of its effectiveness. the continued development of our In addition, our focus on capital priorities mission. These efforts and their is becoming more intentional, which will effects on our budget, our program maximize budget predictability and admission and our admission attractiveness appeal, give direction to annual capital have converged to allow the roof improvement items, and provide the best possible project to happen. learning environment, improving each year, Still, this may not seem for our current students and families. The Rich particularly exciting … unless Hall roof is just the beginning. understood within the context that During the next year we will also be completing this project now is rebuilding the Rich Hall portico, incorporating only possible because of the tireless a ramp for increased accessibility. This will not efforts during the last 30 years only give the front of Rich Hall a much-needed of former heads Dick Malley and face-lift, but it will also make our most central Rodney LaBrecque, the Trustees, building more accessible for people of all ages staff and volunteers who worked and abilities. And finally, we will replace all of with them, and the foundation that the windows and restore the traditional, period they all provided for our recent façade of Rich Hall. efforts to push the Academy to the All of these current projects will also increase next stage of its evolution. Without our energy efficiency, improve the visual that work, we would not be in appeal of a magnificent building and what it the position we are now to better communicates about us, and continue to build utilize your support to move momentum on the path forward. The repair and renovaTion of the Rich Hall our school forward. This seemingly simple roof This is why the Rich Hall roof project is roof may not seem particularly exciting to project is, in reality, a pivotal step in the path much more than just a roof. It symbolizes the casual observer, but for the broader WMA forward for WMA, which signals a dynamic shift the rising and pervasive sense of positive energy community it represents a lot more than just a in the institutional ethos. and confidence that is building at WMA, and roof. It is a milestone on the path forward and Central to this shift is that the renovation the promise of what is to come next. a positive outlook for the future of the Academy. demonstrates a stronger command of our In previous issues we have talked about resources and is funded through our existing our restructuring of the budget so that annual revenues and current fundraising efforts fund dollars support growth, about increased rather than the result of a targeted fundraising An architectural rendering of Rich Hall, upon completion of the roof and portico repair and renovation. Follow the Head of School’s blog at www.wma.us/hos conTenTs ediTor design Teddy Ryan Stoltze Design associaTe ediTors prinTing Russ Held Starburst Bill Wells Board oF TrusTees advisory Board Scott B. Jacobs ’75, Chair Mark Aimone James E. LaCrosse ’50W, Vice Chair Christina Cronin Mark R. Shenkman ’61M, Vice Chair Brian Easler Donald J. Stuart ’73, Treasurer Dawn Hines Krista Hanson, Secretary Erik Kindblom David J. Callahan 24 Robert S. Edmunds ’01 conTriBuTing WriTers Caitlin S. Flynn ’06 Allie Collins-Anderson ’16 K. Ivan F. Gothner Christina Cronin Linda B. Griffin Brian Easler Judith A. Knapp Dawn Hines Barry M. Maloney ’85 Meg Hutcheson Timothy J. Marini Kevin Kane Kent W. Pecoy Morayma Linarez ’16 David A. Reeves Janet Moran Craig A. Rubin ’63W Colin O’Brien ’16 Bonnie Faulkner Ryan ’82 Matthew Schmidt ’16 Mary Sparago ’17 TrusTees eMeriTi 32 26 Carly Venditti ’16 Eric W. Anderson Bill Wells Richard S. Fuld ’64W William E. James ’64W phoTography FeaTure Story Traveling TiTans Paul Bloomfield parenTs associaTion S. Pierce Photography Brenda Labbe 32 Peru: Cultural Enrichment 34 England: Plymouth Exchange Bill Wells Various contributing 36 Namibia: Changing Perception photographers supporTing WMa departmenTs 2 Pres & Helen Blake 4 News From the Hill WMa spoTlighT 10 Titans Victorious 19 Reunion 2016 Alumni, we’d like to hear from you! Send your current contact information 26 Former Faculty Arthur Kelley 24 Introducing new Director of and news to [email protected]. 55 Stephanie Reeves ’12 Advancement Mark Aimone “Academy World” is published in the spring and fall for alumni, parents and friends of the Academy. Please direct comments and letters to: 43 Class Notes aluMni auThors 56 Annual Report WilBrahaM & Monson acadeMy MarkeTing & coMMunicaTions office 423 Main sTreeT 28 Michael Galitello ’56M in MeMoriaM WilBrahaM, Ma 01095-1715 30 [email protected] Sean McGrath ’07 42 Frederic A. Rothery our Mission 54 We Remember Wilbraham & Monson Academy is a transformational experience where students become challenge-seeking citizens and leaders of an evolving world. Wilbraham & Monson Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, gender identity, and any other on The cover categories protected by federal, state or local law. Fifteen WMA students spent 12 days in March traveling throughout Peru. The group — get social with us! led by faculty members Andrew Shea ’08 and Kevin Kane — explored mountainous Cusco, wilbrahammonsonacademy embraced the culture of Lima, learned about ancient civilizations and witnessed the wilbrahammonson magnificence of Machu Picchu. wilbrahammonsonacad Mary Sparago ’17 details the trip that left everyone culturally enriched and heightened @theglobalschool their global awareness on page 32. qqid: 2306006424 WILBRAHAM & MONSON ACADEMY 1 supporTing WMa by BILL WELLS Director of Student Promotion Blakes Retain Passionate Connection with the Academy a Member oF The WilBrahaM & Monson the $250,000 to finish the dorm. I had already with me at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Academy Board of Trustees approached given all I could, but I realized if I gave another after I married Pres and the Blake Middle School S. Prestley Blake during the 1970s after the $50,000, I could save the school.” was built, I thought that the people who were Academy unexpectedly found itself in a pinch. Led by the two financial giants, Wallace Blake teaching there were doing a great job. They were “It’s a long, long story,” explained Mr. Blake, Dormitory was completed in 1976. It gave the so into teaching.” co-founder of Wilbraham-based Friendly’s Ice Academy a new dorm and, just as importantly, Head of School Brian Easler said the Academy Cream. “The state forced the Academy to spend the school avoided an embarrassing dilemma. has embraced the close relationship with the Blakes. money on one of the halls, and that took all the And since that first major donation, Mr. Blake “Aside from the obvious influence of the Blakes money the school planned to use to build a new and his wife Helen have been great supporters of becoming involved in the Academy when they dorm. Someone asked me if I would go to the the school, donating literally millions upon millions had no formal connection with the school, except school. I think it was (former Board of Trustees of dollars despite having no direct connection to its presence in the town of Wilbraham, which was member) Bud Rothery. The school was desperate. WMA. Why? The answer is simple: people. “We went down to see (Reader’s Digest “Pres is influenced by people, and when you owner) DeWitt Wallace. I got the idea to do see who has graduated from the Academy and “They truly are members a (fundraising) challenge. So we were sitting their continued interest, that’s inspiring,” Mrs. around and having lunch, and he asked me what Blake said. “I’m interested in the Academy of our community and have I done, and I said I’ve because of the people and the results. I was friends we are so grateful for ▼ Brian Easler, done everything I can. He with Billy Guerin’s (’89) parents, and his dad center, with S. said if I gave $50,000 more, (Bill) was on the Board of Trustees. Between them Prestley and Helen everything they’ve done.” Blake at their home he would give $200,000, that and (Mathematics Department member) Alan Brian easler in Connecticut. way the school would have Sherman, who was working on a master’s in math head of school ▲ Top left important to them, they Fourteen years after his retirement from WMA, upward with Mr. Easler firmly at the helm. S. Prestley Blake and his have stayed involved Mr. Malley still stays in regular contact with the The Blakes, who have known Mr. Easler since wife, Helen, assisting in with the school and have Blakes. He, more than anyone, knows how much Mr. Malley hired him in 1998, plan to be involved the ribbon cutting for the become increasingly more the Academy benefitted from their unselfish support. in future WMA efforts, and have included the Rodney and Shirley LaBrecque House in generous and supportive “The Blakes cared deeply about helping Academy in their will for a substantial amount. October 2014. Rodney and of our program,” Mr. educational institutions like WMA that served “I feel good that Brian is the protégé of those Shirley LaBrecque are seen Easler said.