The Ordway Science & Technology Center: Home of Technology at Avon Old Farms Avon Old Farms School Established 1927 F all 2004 Headmaster Kenneth H. LaRocque Provost John T. Gardner Features Director of Publications Margaret Moss DeGraaf 10 Technology In Education at Avon Old Farms Class Notes by Margaret M. DeGraaf Lizabeth Abramson Photographers 16 Faculty Focus: Debra Case, Spencer Sloan Director of Information Technology Jonathan Lester ’63 Contributors 22 Alumni Profile: Stuart Holliday ’84 Kevin Buechler, Joan Brodie, Alex Callsen ’04, Debra Case, Henry Coons ’71, Art Custer, Michelle Custer, Peter Deckers ’90, 51 The Last Word: Big Doors Swing On Little Hinges Rob Dowling ’91, Peter Evans, Susan by Dane Lemeris ’05 Evans, Ted Garber, Susan Haile, Carol Ketcham, Gail Laferriere, Rolf Olson ’59 and Christine Walder. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this magazine. Departments Design Ann Sack Design 1 From the Headmaster The Avonian is published for the alumni, parents, and friends of Avon Old Farms 2 Village Green School. It is distributed to 7,000 readers. Avon Old Farms School 19 Athletics 500 Old Farms Road Avon, Connecticut 06001 25 From the Alumni Association President www.avonoldfarms.com by Seth Mendell ’52 School 860-404-4100 Admissions 800-464-2866 30 Class Notes Email [email protected] Alumni Affairs 800-336-8195 Email [email protected] T hank You Publications 860-404-4292 Carol Ketcham began working at Avon in 1983. She began her career at Avon Email [email protected] working in the Alumni/Development office, eventually becoming editor of the All Email: Any member of the faculty or Avonian. She then became Mr. LaRocque’s assistant upon his appointment as administration can be emailed by using this formula: last name + first initial + provost and then as director of external affairs when he became headmaster. avonoldfarms.com. The directory on the Her retirement last spring was heralded in various quarters, but no web site also has email links. mention was made in this magazine. Carol Ketcham, for many years, was the Avon Old Farms School admits students of any Avonian. For the past several years, she has served as an invaluable resource to race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally the magazine and her retirement signals the end of a long career of important accorded or made available to students at the service to this publication. We wish her the best in her future endeavors. school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin or disabilities Margaret DeGraaf in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs. Cover Photos – Spencer Sloan From The Headmaster The Mission of two pay telephones per dormitory. Now each dormitory room is wired for a tele- Technology phone and a computer; most students also own a cell phone. Every member of the uring my 24 years as a member of community has at least one computer. D the Avon Old Farms School com- Upon arrival, every faculty member munity, I have been privileged to witness receives an IBM laptop computer. The far-reaching changes to our school campus, School sponsors a student computer our programs, and our culture. While these purchase program, so that many of our changes have improved our quality of life students have laptops. Each classroom and learning, they have not altered Avon’s features a docking station for faculty fundamental mission — addressing the computers as well as a projector so that developmental needs of young men, our “Men of Avon.” students are able to view an enlarged image of what is Mrs. Riddle’s campus is just as striking today as it was displayed on the computer. Interactive Smart Boards have 24 years ago. However, it has also needed attention in several taken the place of blackboards in many classrooms. areas. We have addressed major facility issues, providing Teaching and learning have been transformed into a multi- for the residential and educational needs of our students sensory activity through technology. Parents communicate and faculty families, while respecting the architectural easily with their sons or with faculty or administrators via integrity of our founder’s designs. Judging from the reactions telephone, email, or Instant Messaging. Parents are able to of visitors and alumni who continue to be moved by the access their son’s homework assignments in various courses “sense of place” they feel when they arrive on campus, we through the School web site. have succeeded in our efforts. Our quad dormitories have Our admissions program has also benefited signifi- been renovated, and are bright, warm, and efficient. New cantly from technology. Anyone with access to the Internet buildings serve the visual and performing arts, and science is able to communicate with us and to learn about our and technology. Our chapel has been wonderfully trans- school. We produce separate electronic newsletters for our formed. Our athletic facilities, including our playing fields admissions candidates and our alumni. Avon graduates are and hockey complex, have been improved substantially. able to find out about reunions, receptions, and events on We have also increased the number and quality of faculty campus with ease. homes on campus. Building community has always been a priority at Avon In addition, the past 24 years have seen numerous infra- and technology has enhanced our abilities in this endeavor. structure improvements. New power plants, sewage systems, Communicating and connecting create a community, and roadways and parking areas have been constructed. Our technology facilitates communication and connection. electrical and heating systems have also been updated. In As Avon evolves as a school, we will continue to fact, everywhere one looks, improvements have been made. adapt to societal changes and take advantage of any More significant in its impact on school culture than opportunities presented by technological advancements. any other project, however, was the installation of a campus- However, our success will depend not on technology, but wide intranet in 1995. When I arrived in 1981, there were on dedicating ourselves to fulfilling our mission to be “the no fax machines, very few computers, and only two copy best school for boys.” Our success will depend on focusing machines on campus. Mimeographing tests and quizzes was our efforts towards developing our students into “good the campus standard, and carbon paper was an invaluable men” who embrace our core values and will be productive resource. When I look at the importance of technology in members of an increasingly challenging society. During every aspect of campus life today, I wonder how we all my years at Avon, technology has helped us to fulfill our survived without it! mission, and I expect that it will continue to assist us in The most positive by-product of technology has been that quest in the years to come. vastly improved communication. Not long ago, we had Aspirando et Perseverando. 1Fall 2004 Village Green The Architect’s renderings of the Student Center & Athletic Complex. The Final Phase of the Strategic Plan By Rolf Olson ’59, Chairman, Board of Directors IT’SANEXCITING TIME AT AVON Center and Jennings Fairchild Hockey with the Ordway Science Center, the OLD FARMS SCHOOL. No sooner had Rink. A rendering of the new complex architect’s design will “bury” most of Avon completed the outstanding new is posted just outside the headmaster’s the building into the ground and Ordway Science Center building, office, and it can be viewed on the down the slope of the land. when the Board of Directors voted School’s website. It’s truly a marvelous There will be some disruptions to to begin construction on a Student complex. the School’s routine during the con- Center, Athletic Complex and Field Construction will begin in March struction process. The Hawk’s Nest House. This new project is the largest of 2005. Actual construction should will be in a temporary location until building program since Theodate take about 18 months and the new the new building is complete. The Pope Riddle started construction of facilities should be ready for the open- new Student Center Complex will the School itself in 1921. ing of school in September of 2006. contain the student center grill, The project recently received a A freshman entering Avon today will lounge, game rooms, meeting rooms, “jump start” lead gift from the Brown get to use the complex for two full school store, radio station, post office family which gave the Board confidence years before he graduates. and business center. It will be the to move forward. Once the Board of While the Building Committee center of student activity on campus. Directors voted to do the project, interviewed construction firms from In addition to a fully-equipped other alumni, parents, and friends around the Northeast, they selected gymnasium, the Athletic Complex also came forward with generous gifts. a firm based right here in Avon, will have seven new squash courts, a G. Garvin Brown III graduated from Connecticut. FIP will be in charge wrestling suite, and a fitness center Avon in 1962 and his sons, G. Garvin of the construction. that will include a free weight zone Brown IV graduated in 1987, and Avonians Bill Beatson ’59 and and an aerobic/fitness machine zone. Campbell P. Brown graduated in Peter Aron ’65 co-chair the Building The Field House will be the 1986. Campbell now serves on Avon’s Committee. Bill and Peter work on largest part of the new complex, and Board of Directors. Their generosity this project literally every day, and it will create a substantial space for can also be seen in other areas of the work closely with the architect, indoor winter sports (e.g.