Steel & WINTER Garnet 2021 STEEL & GARNET WINTER 2021

Letter from our President 02

FEATURED ARTICLE In the midst of a school year unlike any Unleashing Courage: other, I have found strength in the smiles Celebrating of our students, the resilience of our Girard’s Heroes staff, and the generosity of our friends. 06

PROGRAM UPDATE The Girard College community is full A Team Approach to Student of everyday heroes whose dedication to Achievement our mission leaves no doubt that we will emerge from this unusual chapter in our 08 THE CAMPUS FOR THE CITY ABOVE Bernard W. Smalley, Esq. Named Board President: The Board of Directors of City Trusts, the agency charged with history stronger than ever. In this issue Latest overseeing charitable trusts bequeathed to the City of Philadelphia, including Girard College, recently announced the unanimous election of prominent city attorney Bernard W. Smalley as its President – the first African-American Partnerships ever to lead the Board in its 151-year history. of Steel & Garnet, you will see just a few and Grants Dr. Heather Wathington, President of Girard College, said, “Bernie is both a great leader and a great role model for our children, and his election is an inspiration for Girard College and its students.” examples of how our staff has unleashed 10 Part of Stephen Girard’s legacy includes We are lucky to have the esteemed Bernard courage in the face of the coronavirus AT OUR CORE how he acted in times of crisis, specifically W. Smalley, Esq. ready to stand up and take Sculptor his coordination of Philadelphia’s response leadership of the Board as its new President. pandemic, as well as plenty of good news to the Yellow Fever outbreak of 1793. His Bernie shares Ron’s passion for Girard’s Eugene Daub ’60 commitment to ensure proper care for all students and its mission, and I look forward who needed it informs the College’s response to working with him as we continue to that bodes well for the future! to coronavirus today. Our community has honor the legacy of all who came before us. faithfully adopted new health procedures to 12 Thank you to everyone who has shown such keep all of us safe as well as compassionately tremendous support to our community this supported those whose families have been HISTORIC FEATURE year. Your loyalty and generosity ensure that impacted by COVID. our school remains strong and our students A History of We have also remained committed to our can create legacies of their own. Together, we Epidemics and educational mission, providing excellent will step courageously ahead into a brighter, academic and residential programs for healthier, and more equitable future. Girard College our students. Knowing that our youngest students benefit most from face-to-face Hail Girard! instruction, our hybrid learning model prioritized in-person learning in the elementary school while optimizing our virtual platforms to deliver the same

GIRARD COLLEGE EDITOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS HON. PAUL P. PANEPINTO GIRARD COLLEGE ALUMNI high-quality curriculum to all of our OF CITY TRUSTS ASSOCIATION DOMINIC A. SABATINI OUR MISSION students. While we have pivoted as needed DR. HEATHER D. WATHINGTON ADAM MCGRATH Girard College is a full-scholarship President Director, Marketing & BERNARD W. SMALLEY, ESQ. HON. MARK F. SQUILLA RONALD MARRERO ’94 based on health trends in our region, we President President boarding school that fosters Brand Communications HON. MICHAEL J. STACK continue to work toward a day when all SYLVIA V. BASTANI [email protected] intellectual curiosity, social MICHAEL P. MEEHAN, ESQ. EDWARD GALLAGHER ’99 of our students can return to campus safely. Vice President, Advancement GREGORY S. ROST development and emotional & Strategic Partnerships Vice President First Vice President growth in academically focused FEATURED WRITERS Ex officio for the Mayor I also want to take a moment to acknowledge of Philadelphia students from underserved HON. MARIAN B. TASCO JEFF HERO ’74 the legacy of the Honorable Ronald R. JON TUCKER communities. We ensure every Vice President, Student Life KATHERINE HAAS Vice President Second Vice President Director, Historical Resources REP. DONNA BULLOCK student the opportunity and Donatucci, who passed in November after Ex officio for the President of the means to achieve excellence more than 30 years in service to the Board STAN BOBOWSKI JOSEPH P. BILSON City Council of Philadelphia DENNIS KELLEHER ’65 Vice President, Academics PHOTOGRAPHY Acting Secretary Treasurer and preparation for advanced of City Trusts. Ron always put the students education through purposeful of Girard College first in his work as Board DR. KEENAN D. DORSEY WILLIAM GALLAGHER ADAM MCGRATH BOARD OF DIRECTORS academic and residential programs. Vice President, Administration Director of GCAA President, and we heard from many alumni & Compliance LYNETTE M. BROWN-SOW [email protected] DESIGN OUR VALUES who recalled the ways in which he touched ALBERT S. DANDRIDGE III, ESQ. CLINTON A. WALTERS, JR. Respect. Responsibility. Integrity. their lives personally. His impact on the DR. HEATHER D. WATHINGTON Controller J2 DESIGN HON. MICHAEL A. NUTTER Courage. Compassion. College will resonate for years to come. President, Girard College

1 WINTER 2021 Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our staff and the support of our community, Girard College has continued to provide an excellent academic and residential program for our students while keeping health and Unleashing safety a top priority. Courage

CELEBRATING GIRARD’S HEROES When the COVID-19 pandemic begin the year in a hybrid model, with our hit in March 2020, the Girard youngest students (grades 1-3) returning in person while older students began the College administration reacted year virtually. swiftly to protect all staff and In her opening announcement in August students. Work and school were (delivered virtually), President Dr. Heather suddenly remote as the world Wathington set the tone for the year changed around us. by reminding the College’s staff of the importance of our mission, prompting Thankfully, virtual instruction picked them to “unleash courage,” in honor of up without missing a beat thanks to the the school’s recently adopted core value. careful planning and dedication of our By setting positive intentions, demonstrating faculty and staff, and we were able to empathy, and embracing flexibility, we finish the year strong while celebrating would face this challenge together and traditions and honoring the graduating become heroes to our students. class of seniors. While teaching faculty went the extra As conditions improved over the summer, mile to train on virtual instruction planning began for what would be a very techniques and the residential life team different school year. The College’s crisis practiced safe interactions for when team met weekly to develop multiple students would arrive, there were many options and contingencies to be ready to other staff members who worked behind open school safely in the fall. Ultimately, the scenes to put the College’s health ABOVE based on the best available science and and safety plan into action. Engineers Rich and Marc Olivsatri evaluate the health data, the decision was made to ventilation system in the high school building.

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From Facilities, Maintenance, and Security Dr. Dorsey’s experience in staff to work at record speed to bring buildings to Nursing, Dining Services, and Laundry, administration and human resources out of suspension and rejuvenate, repair dozens of Girard staff members faced allowed him to work closely with the and furnish them for occupancy.” unprecedented challenges with courage various departments and unions at Girard Other challenges for the facilities team and fortitude. Whether it was administering to strategize and make decisions on how was acquiring supplies and equipment to temperature screenings, preparing meals to best provide a safe academic, social, and make sure they could maintain a sanitized and uniforms, or applying plexiglass to work environment for all. From securing campus to keep students and staff safe, desks, heroes emerged day after day, both personal protective equipment to leading as well as assessing the ventilation and leading up to the start of the school year trainings on social distancing and air quality of all buildings and addressing and in the months since. quarantining, Dr. Dorsey ensured that any issues immediately. Several key areas made it possible for us to College staff understood the reasoning Pavoni said of his team, “I’m so inspired by welcome students and staff back to campus: behind the new health and safety procedures. the essential workers who stepped up with safety procedures, health services, and Nurse Terri knew that the way to combat enthusiasm to make sure the school would campus facilities. With new guidelines and the fear and uncertainty that came with continue to function. We would not have recommendations constantly evolving at the pandemic was with knowledge. been able to bring students back without the state and city level, the naming of Dr. “I researched COVID-19 and became their dedication.” Keenan Dorsey as Pandemic Coordinator familiar with all of the guidance from ensured fidelity in the College’s adherence the governing bodies at the local, state, It has taken a village to make the 2020-21 to all requirements. Manager of Health and national level,” she said. “Additionally, school year happen, and continuous Services, Theresa Zengolewicz, RN worked I knew we needed an outside partner adjustments are still needed as the closely with a private testing company to help us with testing, mitigation and pandemic spikes and recedes. After and served as a liaison for Girard families contact tracing. The support and training welcoming 4th, 5th, and 9th graders to to guide them through the steps of testing our nursing staff received gave me the campus in November for one brief week, and health screening. Director of Facilities, confidence to know that we are keeping the rising rates of transmission forced Richard Pavoni, oversaw a team of essential ourselves and our students safe.” the College to pivot to remote instruction workers who would transform the physical for all students. Rich Pavoni thought he had seen it all layout of the classrooms and dorms. as Director of Facilities, but the action But the experience our staff has gained and Together, each of these leaders demonstrated plan to reimagine the school’s dorms and the sense of community they have created incredible courage in doing everything classroom spaces was daunting, to say the prove that we can do hard things and do necessary to make the new school least. While the College is lucky to have a them well. The students of Girard College year possible. lot of space to work with on campus, there will continue to benefit from the courage When thinking back to the beginning of are myriad issues that come with older and compassion of each and every staff the pandemic, Dr. Dorsey said, “My initial buildings, including those that had not member who have truly become heroes reaction was ‘Is this really happening?’ been in use recently. in the face of great adversity. I had only ever read about pandemics “Preparing dorms for social distancing of this magnitude, and never expected was a huge undertaking for our staff,” said to experience it in my lifetime.” Pavoni. “To modify building spaces, we had

BELOW Bill Brown and Vincent Jackson ensure every staff member and visitor completes COVID-19 screening before entering campus.

ABOVE Robert Wimberley keeps indoor areas clean and sanitized for student use.

“The support and training our nursing staff received gave me the confidence to know that we are keeping ourselves and our students safe.”

TERRI ZENGOLEWICZ, RN

RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM Ben Sussman and Nick Lombardo maintain outdoor spaces on campus. Denise Johnson and Kade Simon deliver student lunches to the classroom. Diana Rosado makes an alteration to a student’s uniform.

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Program Update Sheridan-Zabre comes to Girard with 12 Social and emotional learning (SEL) tools made the move to Girard, he knew that years of social work experience in New like Suite 360 have been instrumental in she would be perfect to lead the newly York City schools like Harlem Link Charter addressing difficult topics with students conceived Achievement Team. and Boys Prep Charter, where she helped in an age-appropriate and constructive “Summer is a fantastic educator and one students and families address issues of way. All Girard students engage with of the most empathetic people I know,” poverty, trauma and learning challenges. these lessons as part of their after school said Turner. “I knew we had to have her She knows that academic success must programming led by the Residential Life working with Girard students to help be linked to social and emotional growth, team. The curriculum covers everything A Team them reach their goals.” which has become an integral part of from kindness and responsibility to Girard’s program. weightier topics like COVID-19 and Launching a new team and getting to know a new community during a school year “Eighty percent of our students identify racism. The conversations generated where so much of our interaction has as having a ‘history of trauma,’” Sheridan- from these lessons allow Girard staff been virtual has been challenging, but the Zabre says. “Trauma is a broad topic, but to see where students might need extra Achievement Team has quickly established especially pervasive. It can affect students support or reinforcement. Approach a warm rapport with students and families across all settings and follow them into The relationship between the Achievement as well as fellow staff members. Through adulthood if not supported. That’s why Team and the Residential Life Team has virtual meet and greets and a monthly it is so important for us to establish blossomed throughout the year, with Wellness Wednesday workshop, Sheridan- relationships with students to help them Summer and her team providing training Zabre and her team have jumped in with learn how to process issues that affect for the RAs, led by James Turner, Dean enthusiasm, paving the way for the type of their mental health and readiness to learn, of Residential Life. Luckily, the two have collaboration and communication that will to Student whether they are personal in nature a previous relationship to draw from. ensure Girard students have the support or global like the coronavirus pandemic Sheridan-Zabre and Turner worked together they need to excel in all facets of their lives. or racial injustice.” at Boys Prep in the Bronx, and once he

BELOW Achievement James Turner, Dean of Residential Life, and Summer Sheridan-Zabre, LCSW, Director of Student Achievement, have previous experience working together to address students’ social and emotional needs. Girard’s mission has always been to provide students with the tools and resources they need to be successful. But in a world of political division, an unprecedented health crisis, and systemic racism, those resources need to extend far beyond books and beds.

The Student Achievement Team at Girard College is a vital component of the school’s holistic approach to education. Established prior to the 2020 school year, the Achievement Team consists of a director, Summer Sheridan-Zabre, LCSW, licensed clinical social workers, academic counselors, behavioral specialists, and the college and career counselor. The structure of the team provides a comprehensive way for teachers, residential advisors, and counselors to share information on each student’s progress and well-being so that there is meaningful context for that student’s performance. By working from the same data points, it’s easier to identify potential barriers to student success and set ABOVE targeted goals for growth and improvement. Residential Advisor Neil McNair ’90 works with a student on their after school programming.

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Artistic Collaboration Corporate Partnership WELLS FARGO has a strong history of The Girard College Community Garden was supporting the students of Girard College, dedicated in 2011 as a way to teach students most recently evidenced through a $5,000 about environmental sustainability by Girard Girard’s environmental sustainability grant directed growing their own food. Consisting of 20 to impact the school’s Community Garden. plots managed by student interns and faculty, College Community The grant will allow for the construction of the garden provides endless opportunities new beds, planting supplies, and additional for learning. Produce grown in the garden is tools. By investing in the community garden, utilized by the school’s Dining Services team Awarded Garden Wells Fargo ensures that many more in student meals, and extra food is often sold students will benefit from the hands-on through a community farmstand. In 2019, Project WELLS FARGO education this resource provides. the Girard College Community Garden was “I was truly looking forward to volunteering awarded a Blue Ribbon by the Pennsylvania Grant alongside the students, but due to COVID-19 Horticultural Society. we had to cancel our in-person efforts. Recently, students in grades 1-3 have THE PEW CENTER We thought the next best thing would be been using the garden for moments of FOR ARTS & HERITAGE to provide Girard College with a donation exploration. In September, girls in 2nd so the students could prep the garden when grade picked some ripe tomatoes and it is safe to do so. We look forward to the peppers to take home, and in October, moment when we can all be in the garden boys in 1st grade enjoyed a scavenger hunt. safely and together,” said Susan Johnson, Next year, Girard College will be eager Community Relations Associate consultant to host Wells Fargo for a collaborative and Green Team Chair at Wells Fargo. project in the Community Garden to thank “We are so excited that Wells Fargo is them for their support. Together, we will making this commitment,” said Sylvia continue to educate our communities Bastani, Vice President of Advancement about the importance of treating our and Strategic Partnerships at Girard environment with respect through College. “The students love the garden, sustainable use and care. and we’re very grateful that they will be able to continue learning through it.”

“We look forward ABOVE Poet Ross Gay is one of a team of artists who will bring the “Be Holding” project to life at Girard. The artist to the moment residency will engage students to explore the beauty of Black flight through the lens of a historic Dr. J shot, culminating in a scored live performance in the Armory. when we can all be in the garden safely and together.” THE PEW CENTER for Arts & Heritage Girard College. “Leveraging the performing — recently announced Girard College’s arts to contemplate issues of identity, SUSAN JOHNSON, “Be Holding” project as one of 29 project humanity, and racial justice is very much grants for 2020 in support of Philadelphia’s in line with Girard’s mission to teach COMMUNITY RELATIONS cultural organizations and artists. our students to lead lives of social impact.” ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT & GREEN TEAM CHAIR, “Be Holding” is an original performance The project has two components: a WELLS FARGO that will have its world premiere at Girard multi-year residency where the artists College. Using poet Ross Gay’s book- meet at Girard and engage with students length poem “Be Holding”—inspired by and faculty in the development process, Philadelphia basketball champion Julius which will then culminate with a scored Erving (a.k.a. “Dr. J”)—as its libretto, live performance in the school’s Armory By pursuing new grant opportunities and strategic partnerships, Girard College aims to become a musical performance will incorporate (gymnasium) featuring Gay’s reading The Campus for The City, one of four pillars in a creative process that engages Girard enhanced by original video elements the school’s strategic plan. College’s first-through-twelfth-grade and improvisation. The artist residency students. Gay (virtually) served as the is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2021, College’s commencement speaker for pending ongoing developments with the the Class of 2020. coronavirus pandemic, with the premiere The commission will explore themes performance scheduled for spring 2023. of Black genius and beauty in the face of Girard’s project grant is for $257,100 racial violence and inequities. The school with an additional 20% ($51,420) provided will host Gay, composer Tyshawn Sorey, in unrestricted general operating support. director Brooke O’Harra, and musical Girard College is a first-time applicant and $308k+ ensemble Yarn/Wire in a multi-year recipient of a Pew grant. residency to develop the multidisciplinary performance work. Project RIGHT “We could not be more thrilled to welcome Rhodie B. ’31 picks a pepper in the Girard these inspiring artists to our community,” College Community Garden. Students Grant use the garden to learn about biology, said Dr. Heather Wathington, President of horticulture, and environmental sustainability.

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At Our Core YOU COULD SAY Eugene Daub’s art career on afterward. The effort lends a subtle, began by winning a 3rd grade contest with personal touch. Daub also used a technique a drawing of a dinosaur. From that first that is commonly found with busts, that Sculpting gold sticker earned during his time at Girard of placing in an alcove to provide contrast. College, Daub has gone on to become one Notice the circular niche that Girard’s of America’s most accomplished figurative head sits in; that depth creates shadow History: sculptors, with dozens of major monuments and drama that helps frame the subject. and portraits in museums, collections, and “The reason I gravitated toward three- From public spaces around the world. dimensional artwork,” Daub said, “was Daub recently applied his talents to an because it has life to it. It changes as the Stephen original relief portrait of Stephen Girard, light hits it, as the sun moves, or as you commissioned by the members of the Class walk around it.” Girard to of 1960. Daub is considered an honorary While Daub did study at the Pennsylvania member of the class, though he only attended Academy of Fine Arts, he did not become Girard for a few years in elementary school. Rosa Parks a sculptor through extensive schooling in The award-winning sculptor readily agreed, the subject. He began his career as an art completing the project without charge aside director for an advertising firm, but even from the foundry fees. while working with graphics he always Because Stephen Girard never sat for a had an interest in the human figure. His portrait during his lifetime, Daub worked first job in sculpture was for the Franklin from a combination of existing posthumous Mint, where he developed skills creating sources, such as the Bass Otis oil portrait bas-relief medals for small scale collections (1832) and the J. Massey Rhind statue (1897) in porcelain and pewter. The mint offered that is currently located on the grounds to subsidize Daub’s training at a private of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. sculpture academy in Philadelphia The entire process takes about 12 weeks, but for a half-day per week. This was the is completed in stages. After initial research beginning of his first formal study and sketching, Daub first renders the piece in figurative sculpture. in clay, developing the architecture of the “I don’t think I even knew what bas-relief plaque and getting the proportions right. was when I first started,” Daub joked, “but Once the design is complete, a full silicone there was something I connected to and mold is made, which is painted with several wanted to pursue. For whatever reason, it layers of wax to produce a model, then dipped came easily to me and I fell in love with it.” into a heat-resistant type of cement. After Eugene Daub That innate passion and skill encouraged drying, the wax is burned out and bronze ABOVE Daub to strike out in search of commissions, Eugene Daub is an internationally renowned sculptor whose portraits and figurative monument work are featured in public spaces and permanent collections throughout the is poured into the space the wax occupied. and one of the first he landed involved United States and Europe. Here, Daub works on a sculpture of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, which resides in the National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol Building. “Bronze casting has not changed too much convincing his children’s orthodontist in the last 1,500 years,” Daub explained. to accept a pair of sculptures for his church “The process of what they call ‘lost wax’ in exchange for the payment on their braces. means they essentially burn the wax out From there, Daub built his career one piece and pour the hot bronze in.” ’60 at a time, and enjoyed growing success A move to California in 1990 launched “I fell in love with American history by The lettering on the plaque is all done through the 1980s in Philadelphia, including a new era in his career, where he has working on public commissions,” Daub by Daub’s hand, carved in reverse and designing the Philadelphia Liberty Medal, continued to exhibit extensively in addition said, “but there’s a lot of it that’s not pretty.” to teaching. His work encompasses a wide backwards so that they come out raised which is now awarded annually by the The more Daub worked on sculptures of range of figures from American history, as part of the relief instead of stamped National Constitution Center. people like Frederick Douglass or Charles including Thomas Jefferson, Sacagawea, Hamilton Houston, who was the first special Lewis and Clark, and Harvey Milk. counsel of the NAACP, the more he realized “When I create likenesses of these the power of public art to help balance the historical figures, I try to stay true narrative of our country’s history. to what they would have looked like That broader perspective gave Daub even in their time,” Daub said, “but there is more reason to undertake the Stephen Girard “I’m glad that the College is more always room for interpretation. My goal relief portrait. He recognized that Girard’s is to give them a psychological context.” legacy continues to evolve over time and diverse and inclusive than it In 2008, Daub and partner Rob Firmin means different things to different people. submitted a design that was selected from “I’m glad that the College is more diverse more than 100 entries to create a statue of and inclusive than it was when I was a was when I was a student...With civil rights icon Rosa Parks that would sit student,” Daub said. “With everything in the National Statuary Hall inside the U.S. I’ve learned in my life and career, I know Capitol. Unveiled by President Obama in everything I’ve learned in my life that education, like art, is for everyone.” 2013, it was the first full-length statue of an African American person in the U.S. Capitol A final location for the Stephen Girard and career, I know that education, and also the first statue commissioned by relief portrait is still being decided, but Congress since 1873. a likely destination is Founder’s Hall. With planned revitalizations of the first In the years leading up to his work on like art, is for everyone.” floor as well as the historical collections the Parks statue, Daub had become more — on the horizon, the sculpture is sure to attuned to the idea of representation of be displayed prominently for all to enjoy. EUGENE DAUB ABOVE people of color in both his work and public Daub’s relief portrait of Stephen Girard will soon find sculpture as a whole. a permanent home on the Girard College campus.

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Historic Feature

In 1918, Girard College was confronted Of students admitted between 1920 and couldn’t get to us, and we had to remain with a global pandemic that has garnered 1928, around twenty percent had lost their indoors…Our huge armory, three floors of it, much comparison to the coronavirus crisis. fathers in the pandemic. was turned into one massive playground The 1918 influenza (inaccurately nicknamed Because of Girard College’s unique records, during all waking hours…We read, roller “Spanish flu”) killed between 50 and 100 we assisted curators from the Mütter skated, played basketball, and did everything million people worldwide. Philadelphia was Museum at The College of Physicians to pass the time. Perhaps the most popular A History of the hardest hit big city in the United States. form of entertainment was the relatively of Philadelphia on their current exhibit, In the fall of 1918, a Philadelphian died “Spit Spreads Death: The Influenza new game of Monopoly, interspersed with of flu every five minutes. Girard College Pandemic of 1918-19 in Philadelphia.” marathon chess matches.” treated 903 cases in a student population Girard College is highlighted as a case The annual report also noted that the of 1,568. Nine students died. Coffins and study in the “Aftermath” section. same susceptibility test “was administered undertakers were in such short supply Epidemics and Although not nearly so devastating, to the members of the staff; and…certain that Girard carpentry instructors and another campus epidemic which some restrictions on their movements and maintenance men made caskets for the older alumni may remember was the 1939 contacts were imposed.” Like the 1918 flu, students, alumni volunteered their cars as scarlet fever outbreak. Quarantine again the 1939 epidemic passed relatively quickly. hearses, and in one case a Girard gardener headed the response: students were Classes resumed after about two weeks, went to the cemetery and dug the grave. restricted to campus, then chapel and but susceptible students in the Armory In an attempt to stem the tide, Girard all group meetings were cancelled, then missed about a month, and some students Girard College College was quarantined, with no students classes themselves were suspended and who had been ill took even longer to recover. allowed off campus and no visitors allowed “students were confined to their own These stories about how the Girard on. Classes were cancelled for three weeks dormitory houses except at meal and community handled health crises in the (required of all schools by the Board of recreation hours, when they also remained past show that sudden outbreaks are not The year 2020 will forever be defined Health), all group spaces except dining halls segregated from other groups.” a new phenomenon. Unfortunately, they were closed, and students were kept outside But, unlike 1918, and like today’s pandemic, can still feel new to those going through in the history books by the global as much as possible. The annual report testing and vaccination also played a major them. Nevertheless, we need to try to learn lauds the playground teachers for their role in the College’s response. All students from our past, which is why Kathy Haas, coronavirus pandemic, which has “resourcefulness and capacity for leadership were tested for susceptibility to scarlet fever; our Director of Historical Resources, has in the originating of new interests and the forced significant changes to our work, the approximately 400 susceptible students been working to document the current directing of recreation.” Already short- were quarantined in the Armory and two response and impact of the coronavirus staffed because of World War I, as employees school, and everyday lives. While it was dorms, where they were immunized and on our community. became ill, Girard assigned students to help kept separate. In a memoir, John Anderson Visit www.foundershall.org for more in the dormitories and dining halls. a new experience for many of us, a look recalled his Armory experience, which resources on the history of epidemics at into the archives shows that the Girard Unlike the modern coronavirus, the flu consisted of “getting painful ‘booster shots’ Girard College, including a virtual museum pandemic was devastating but quick; weekly and playing.” tour, a Stephen Girard Philadelphia tour at Girard it lasted about a month. But the community has been here before. “From a fully packed schedule to the including Bush Hill, and links to digitized flu would continue to have a large impact assignment to do nothing but entertain annual reports, or contact Kathy Haas on the College, as the school took in many ourselves—what a break! Our teachers ([email protected]) to learn more children whose fathers died of the disease. or share your story.

Stephen Girard was no stranger Girard took administrative control as a fever hospital in January 1794. In the to disease and public health. In (a cooper named Peter Helm managed aftermath, Philadelphia founded a permanent the exterior), and turned Bush Hill around, Board of Health. Subsequent yellow fever August 1793, a deadly outbreak ensuring that it was adequately staffed epidemics continued to plague the city until of yellow fever began to sweep and that patients were properly evaluated, 1820, and Girard would again volunteer in through Philadelphia after arriving clothed, fed, housed and treated. Doctors running a hospital during a 1797 outbreak. Jean Devèze (lately arrived from Haiti and on ships from the Caribbean. Girard’s concern for health extended to the familiar with yellow fever) and Benjamin Within three months it killed ten students of the school he would found. His Duffield attended patients, treating them will specified that “Due regard shall be paid percent of the city’s population. with the “French method” of rest and to [the students’] health, and to this end restorative measures, rather than “heroic” As the disease spread, forty percent their persons and clothes shall be kept clean, measures such as purging and bloodletting. of Philadelphia’s population fled to the and they shall have suitable and rational The “Citizen and Humanitarian” mural in countryside, but Stephen Girard stayed and exercise and recreation.” ultimately joined the volunteer Committee Founder’s Hall depicts Girard at Bush Hill, for the Relief of the Sick. On Sept. 15 he with Helm on the left and a Black man The College’s first infirmary operated out volunteered to run the fever hospital at delivering a fever victim on the right. of Merchant Hall, but by 1856 a purpose- Bush Hill, an estate located at 17th and Philadelphia’s African-American community built infirmary was completed. Good food Spring Garden Streets. It had already been played an outsized role in caring for fever and clean surroundings kept Girard boys commandeered as a hospital, but conditions sufferers due to an initial (and incorrect) belief relatively healthy, but the limitations of were awful; one period account wrote that that they were immune, in addition to direct pre-modern medicine led to epidemics the sick “were left almost entirely destitute appeals from physician Benjamin Rush. including dysentery in 1851, smallpox in 1861, meningitis in 1885, diphtheria of every assistance. The sick, the dying, As November frosts killed off the disease- in 1897, and ongoing typhoid problems ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT and the dead were indiscriminately bearing mosquitoes, the yellow fever Of students admitted between 1920 and 1928, around twenty percent had lost their which were alleviated when the school fathers in the 1918 flu pandemic. Shown here are the “flu orphans” of the Class of 1933. mingled together.” epidemic abated and Bush Hill closed began filtering its water in 1893. The school newspaper reports on the outbreak of scarlet fever in 1939.

12 13 STEEL & GARNET WINTER 2021 GCAA Chapters Alumni Notes

Cavaliers Pocono - Northeast JERMAINE WEST ’95 JOHN PEKAR ’71 Strategic Girard College [email protected] 570.824.0863 215.222.1653 Alumni Association Southern California Central Pennsylvania RICHARD BOHNER ’79 KEVIN KOENIG ’85 310.375.9752 Membership 610.406.2456 Plan Update South Jersey Wave Delaware County ANTHONY J. SCHIAVO ’59 CHARLES DOUGHERTY ’55 856.466.9216 Since its founding in 1900, the Girard College 610.328.0704 Alumni Association has faithfully served the Texas Lone Star Florida Anchoring Our Impact alumni and students of Girard College. The JIM O’NEILL ’51 BILL ROWE, JUNE ’48 214.361.6633 GCAA depends on your membership dues to 305.271.8574 CREATE a Student Achievement Team to break down barriers continue serving our constituents. Washington, D.C. Lehigh Valley to student success (page 6) BERNIE OLIVER ’78 Whether coordinating the senior class trip to Washington, DENNIS OSWALD ’71 443.324.3620 BUILD new partnerships accompanying the 10th graders on Stephen Girard Appreciation 610.433.7628 like those at the heart of Day, providing financial support to the scouting program, Western Pennsylvania New York - Empire “Be Holding,” an artistic administering the undergraduate and graduate scholarship WAYNE C. MCNEIL ’81 collaboration that garnered grant programs, coordinating all the events that encompass DENNIS LALLI ’68 412.242.5439 212.777.9223 a Pew project grant (page 8) the celebration of Stephen Girard’s birthday on Founder’s Day weekend or coming to the aid of a Girardian in need, the SECURE major funding GCAA provides invaluable support and guidance to Girard for building improvements: students while they’re in school and beyond. Girard College was recently awarded a $500,000 grant Please remit your membership dues at your earliest convenience. from the State of Pennsylvania’s With my time in the office limited, the easiest way to submit Redevelopment Assistance dues at this time is via PayPal using the email address IN MEMORIAM Capital Program (RAC-P). [email protected]. Till Our Hearts These funds, which require a Associate Member: $35.00 / Senior Member: $50.00 one-to-one match, were made Lifetime Member: $500.00 to support the revitalization Be Still of Founder’s Hall and the new I hope we can count on you for your continued support. Science Center. John H. Anderson, ’42 Bill Darling, ’56 Tom Nawalinski, Tom Eckert, ’56 ABOVE Hail Girard! June ’43 A.J. Ernst, Dean of High School (left), and teacher Jack Greubel welcome Fatima M. ’24 back to campus. Andy Ermilio, ’56 BILL GALLAGHER, DIRECTOR OF GCAA Robert H. Hunter, ’45 Richard Houghton, ’56 George Walter William McNulty, ’56 Thomas, ’46 Bob Roach, ’56 John Delcercio, ’47 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FINANCIAL VITALITY Ed Small, ’56 Introduced in the Winter 2019 Fred Garber, ’47 • Evaluate and revisit Early Learning • Secure major funding for building Frank Eugene Buck, ’57 issue of Steel & Garnet, the Bert Levin, ’47 curriculum (Grades 1-3) improvements Rich Hamilton, ’58 Girard College Strategic Plan Paul Gaughan, ’48 • Improve academic growth and • Obtain additional funding (+$200,000 Todd Ellis, ’59 outlines the school’s goals Mooshe Perregian, ’48 achievement for 3rd–12th grades using over FY 2020) for campus programs Robert Fisher, ’59 over a five-year period. Robert Jackman, ’49 new curricula and innovative instructional and/or improvements Rocco D’Amico, ’60 Organized into four pillars, practices; Growth rates determined Ramsey Koumjian, • Complete campus infrastructure Jan ’49 Charley Ellis, ’60 the plan demonstrates how by Accreditation Committee development plan John Toutkaldjian, John D. Gearhart, ’60 we are Navigating the Future • Reimagine and build College and Career June ’49 and Anchoring Our Impact. CAMPUS FOR THE CITY William M. Success Program for 9th–12th grades Stay in Touch Richard Harry Dougherty, ’61 Gebelein, ’50 Even in the midst of dealing with the • Convene and build more partnerships Ronald Conway, ’68 RESIDENTIAL EXCELLENCE coronavirus pandemic, our dedicated that serve our students and the City Sign up for the GCAA e-newsletter! James Deegan, ’51 Rich Setzer, ’68 • faculty, staff, and administration continue Create an Achievement Team to serve • Begin Founder’s Hall Revitalization project Keep up on the latest news from the Girard College William Jewett, ’51 as a model student support program Vince Gravelle, ’69 to stay focused on our Year 2 strategic Alumni Association by signing up for our email Carlton “Bud” Rintz, ’51 goals. Each of the goals listed here has and to bring focus to mental and • Reimagine performing arts at Girard Everett Bishop, ’72 newsletter. Updates include student programming, Edward P. behavioral health; Strengthen Social Ronald Merenda, ’74 seen progress and will continue to guide alumni profiles, and memorial notices. Armstrong, ’53 our efforts throughout the year. Emotional Learning programming Joseph Roman, ’78 Email us at [email protected] to subscribe. Dr. John A. Rocco, ’54 and curricula Timothy Merkel, ’82 There are so many exciting things in the Paul Yatchisin, ’54 works at Girard, even as we continue to do • Add and implement sexual education Jeffrey Yates, ’94 D. Leonard everything that is necessary to keep our curriculum Casterline, ’55 Shaquira McCottry, ’11 community safe while meeting our student’s • Catalyze progress in designing a Dominic “Archie” Brandon Ricks, ’14 educational needs. We look forward to Garguile, ’55 Residential Life program that is life Dr. Shirley A. Dixon keeping you updated on our progress! skills-focused and student-centered Virgil Brown, ’56 Former Faculty

14 15 STEEL & GARNET WINTER 2021

Why I Give ANTHONY BONANZINO, PH.D. ’69 Bonanzino went on to have a successful has the distinction of being the inaugural career in business and banking, always member of the Everyday Heroes Club, the keeping the values learned at Girard close Anthony monthly giving program offered through at heart. He credits his time at Girard, the Girard College Office of Advancement. along with the steadfast support of his Bonanzino In the fifty years since graduating from wife and family, for his success. Girard, Bonanzino has carried the legacy “When I was at Girard, core values were of Stephen Girard with him through a ingrained into us everyday,” he said, “and ’69 successful career and rewarding family I am proud to know that Girard is still life, and felt it was important to make maintaining this tradition.” an ongoing commitment to support the current students of his alma mater. Bonanzino also chooses to support Girard to honor those who provided “an extraordinary “Girard has such a focused mission,” education” to him. Bonanzino said, “to educate students who have lost a parent or come from limited “The teachers and headmasters at Girard means. That was me, and I feel it’s important taught me to not only think critically, but to ensure that students today continue how to be a good person,” he said. Sylvia V. Bastani, to have the same opportunity I did.” By committing to a monthly investment CFRE, CPC Born in West Haven, Connecticut, for the students at Girard, Bonanzino joins Bonanzino was in 4th grade when his a community of everyday heroes who VICE PRESIDENT father died suddenly. Tony quickly found understand the importance of being there OF ADVANCEMENT & himself in trouble and acting out, but was for young people at a critical time in their STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS eventually directed toward Girard College lives. The academic, social and emotional education provided at Girard College ABOVE in Philadelphia, which would soon come Paul M. Eaton, who has been a driving force for Girard’s music program for more than 20 years, was recently to feel like home. prepares students to create positive impact named a semifinalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award. in their communities and leave enduring “The camaraderie at Girard was unbelievable,” legacies of their own. Bonanzino said. “I never felt alone.” IN THIS ISSUE of Steel & Garnet, we CONGRATULATIONS go out to Paul All who know Paul can attest to his While at Girard, Tony played soccer, ran celebrate the many heroes who make Eaton, Girard College’s dynamic music passion for education and the way he track, and wrote for the newspaper and contributions in time, treasure, and director for more than 20 years, for encourages students to empower and ABOVE literary magazine. He was a member of the talent to our Girard College community. making it to the semifinal round of express themselves through music. Anthony Bonanzino ’69 (top right) credits his time National Honor Society and received the at Girard, along with the steadfast support of his Our heroes are Girard’s students, faculty, the Music Educator Award presented Under Paul’s leadership, the Girard wife and family, for his success. Union League Good Citizenship Award. staff, and administrative team, as well as by the Recording Academy and College music program has enjoyed our many donors, friends, and alumni. GRAMMY Museum. Paul made the creative partnerships with the Curtis Two important and highly competitive top 25 out of nearly 2,000 nominations Institute of Music, Temple University, grants recently awarded to Girard from all over the country! the National Liberty Museum, and from The Pew Center for Arts & The Music Educator Award recognizes numerous national and international Heritage and the State of Pennsylvania’s those who have made a significant performing artists. Redevelopment Assistance Capital and lasting contribution to the field Program (RAC-P) will support of music education and demonstrate Girard’s bright future as The Campus a commitment to maintaining music for The City, a center for social impact, education in the schools. GIFTS OF CASH MATCHING GIFTS special events, and educational and artistic programs and conferences. Become GIFTS OF STOCK RECURRING GIFTS One of my great joys is connecting with you. I am deeply grateful for GIFTS OF LIFE EITC & OSTC INSURANCE POLICIES the many encouraging calls and a Hero emails that I received during this very difficult time. Please don’t ADMISSIONS GIVE SECURELY ONLINE AT ESTATE PLANNING hesitate to reach out to me or any Families interested in applying to to our www.girardcollege.edu/support Stephen Girard’s legacy has of our wonderful Advancement team Girard College are invited to sign up made possible an extraordinary members–Taylor Cobb, Kathy Haas, for a Virtual Talk and Tour with our GIVE BY CHECK education for tens of thousands and Adam McGrath–with your Admissions Team. Tours are conducted Students Checks can be made out to of young men and women. questions and suggestions. You every other Tuesday via Zoom and The Girard College Foundation Your legacy can, too. may also visit our Support page provide an opportunity for prospective and mailed to: Consider making a planned at girardcollege.edu/support. families to learn more about the eligibility requirements, application Girard College gift to Girard College, just as Thank you for supporting Girard College. Attn: Clinton A. Walters, Jr. our founder did. process, and incredible opportunities Best wishes, afforded to our students. Visit 1101 Market Street - Suite 2600 Begin the conversation with www.girardcollege.edu/admissions Philadelphia, PA 19107 us by calling Sylvia Bastani, Sylvia V. Bastani, CFRE, CPC to sign up and learn more. Vice President of Advancement [email protected] Please include “Winter 21 S&G” and Strategic Partnerships If you know of an outstanding student in the memo line. at 215-787-4442 or via email that would benefit from the educational Correction: Girard College incorrectly at [email protected] and residential programs at Girard reported a gift in our recent Impact College, please send their name and Report (Spring 2020). The gift, which contact information to our Admissions was attributed to E*TRADE, was Office at [email protected] made by Mr. Anthony Forcinelli ’61. We apologize for our error.

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