KNOX

II KNOX|

KNOXKNOX, the magazine of the Knox School, is published for alumni, parents, grandparents and friends of the School. The mission of this publication is to employ vivid images and quality journalism to inform readers about

the School’s current activities, its past accomplishments and plans for the future, to build a stronger sense of community and to celebrate The Knox School’s rich culture and history.

CLASS OF 2011

Enjoying the beauty and excitement of graduation day at Knox, the members of the Class of 2011 can take pride in their accomplishments, collectively earning numerous honors and more than $1.4 million in scholarships and grants from some of the most competitive colleges and universities in the world.

1FALL 2011 |

O N T H E C O V E RNestled in a bucolic corner of The Knox School campus is

major construction project to occur on the campus since 1991. This junior and senior girls’ dormitory rivals the living

colleges in the nation, offering an unparalleled 21st Century living experience for students.

DEPARTMENT

H E A D M A S T E R George K. Allison H ’81

A S S I S TA N T H E A D M A S T E R F O R E N R O L L M E N T A N D E X T E R N A L A F FA I R S Duncan L. Marshall

A S S I S TA N T H E A D M A S T E R F O R A L U M N I A F FA I R S E. Janice Zingale H ’83

A S S I S TA N T D I R E C T O R O F D E V E L O P M E N T Virginia Riccardi

A D M I N I S T R AT I V E A S S I S TA N T F O R A L U M N I A N D E X T E R N A L A F FA I R S Christine Berry

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

C H A I R M A N Eileen Reina P ’10

P R E S I D E N T Benjamin W. Cilento, M.D. ’85

F I R S T V I C E-P R E S I D E N T Andres S. Pagan ’85

S E C O N D V I C E-P R E S I D E N T Pelops Damianos ’86

T R E A S U R E R Anthony Hermann ’87

S E C R E TA RY Diane Briskin ’77

H E A D M A S T E R George K. Allison H ’81

Susan Hambrecht ’84

Michael Sullivan P ’09

PRODUCTION STAFF

E D I T O R E. Janice Zingale H ’83

D E S I G N Eva Brandstötter eva@brandsisters.com

P R I N T E R Action Graphics www.actiongraphicsnj.com

Please forward address changes to: The Knox School 541 Long Beach Road Nissequogue, NY 11780 ejzingale@knoxschool.org

Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends,

We are very excited about this issue of

KNOX, the magazine of The Knox School.

For this third printing, we have remained

true to the magazine’s mission and

created what we believe to be a publication

of exceptional depth and quality. In fact, the

life of the School has been so rich over the

past year that we have increased the size of

the magazine to provide you with more

growth Knox has experienced under the

tenure of George K. Allison, who will be

retiring in June of 2012.

As editor, I have many to thank for their

contributions to this effort. Our alumni, who

are becoming increasingly more involved

in the life of the School, are a rich and

diverse group of individuals whose stories,

accomplishments and class notes have

added so much to this edition. I am also

grateful to School administrators and

teachers who wrote articles, as well as my

designer Eva Brandstötter for her patience,

advice and expertise. The Development

Department, consisting of Headmaster

George K. Allison H ’81, Assistant

Headmaster for External Affairs Duncan

L. Marshall, Administrative Assistant for

Alumni and External Affairs Christine Berry

and in particular, Assistant Director of

Development Virginia Riccardi. Virginia

joined our staff in April of 2011 and she has

been especially supportive of my work in

preparing and editing KNOX.

E. Janice Zingale H ’83 E D I T O R

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D E P A R T M E N T S

O N E H E A D M A S T E R’S V I S I O N KNIPE COT TAGE E XPANSION FROM INCEPTION TO COMPLE TION By Duncan L. Marshall and Virginia Riccardi

WHEN HARRY MET SNOWMAN By Virginia Riccardi

BUILDING A WALL OF LEGACIES: HONORING PHEBE T. PHILIPS BYRNE ’68 A Tribute by William McLeod ’84, Chair of Reunion 2011

M E E T T H E C H A I R M A N O F T H E B O A R D By George K. Allison H ’81

A L U M N I R I S E T O T H E G L O B A L C A L L: E A RT H Q U A K E A N D T S U N A M I R E L I E F I N J A PA NNOT A USUAL TOKYO EARTHQUAKE By Hideaki Hiranoi ’94

“HBUKOE – SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY” By Sae Nakano ’01

107 T H C O M M E N C E M E N T A N D 2011 AWA R D S

02 FROM THE EDITOR

03 LET TER FROM THE HEADMASTER

16 ALUMNI SCR APBOOK: REFLECTIONS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 Michael Esten H ’00, Pamela Cullington ’03, Tae Sang Ted Park ’07, Ned Daniell ’02, Michael Kuckens ’03 George K. Allison H ’81

24 SPOTLIGHT ON ALUMNI: THE PATH TO T WO ROADS AND BEYOND By Michael Schenker ’85

MY UNEXPECTED DESCIS ION TO TEACH FOR AMERICA By Raedell Cannie ’03

28 ON CAMPUS AND BEYOND: A BANNER YEAR IN COLLEGE

COUNSELING AT KNOX AND A NEW LEADER AT THE HELM By Sharon Lawrence, Assistant Headmaster for Academics

GABRIELL A WESSLER ‘11: ONE OF TEN OUTSTANDING LONG ISL AND SENIORS By E. Janice Zingale H ’83

CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF SUMMER ADVENTURES By Darlene Belnick and Virginia Riccardi

32 ATHLETICS: FROM THE AD’S DESK By Walter Townes, Director of Athletics

“THEY MAKE FAST THE OLD TR ADIT IONS,” REVIVING CREW AT KNOX By Katherine Faigen, Head Coach for Knox Crew

34 THE ARTS: LIT TLE WOMEN THE MUSICAL

By E. Janice Zingale H ’83, Chair of Visual and Performing Arts

TR ADITION OF TRIPS TO BROAD-WAY AND THE METROPOLITAN OPER A CONTINUES

KNOX VISUAL ARTISTS SHOW THEIR WORK

GROWING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGR AM AT KNOX By Dorothea Cook, Instrumental Music Director

38 ALBUM: ALUMNI ON CAMPUS

40 STAYING CONNECTED: ALUMNI REUNIONS AND GATHERINGS NOVEMBER 2010: Atlanta Regional Gathering 3rd Annual New York City Event

JANUARY 2011: Chicago Regional Gathering MARCH 2011:

Florida Regional Gatherings in Orlando, Sarasota, Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton and Coral Gables

JULY 2011: Houston Regional Gathering

42 REUNION 2011: RENEW, RECONNECT, REAFFIRM

44 KNOX ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE

CL ASS NOTES

50 NEWS OF PAST FACULT Y AND STAFF

51 IN MEMORIAM

53 IN SUPPORT OF KNOX

57 MARY ALICE KNOX SOCIET Y

VOLUME I I I NO. 1

F E A T U R E S

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06

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F R O M T H E E D I T O R

3WINTER 2010 |

Dear Friends,

The 2011-2012 school year started off with

a “bang” due to Tropical Storm Irene. She

created all kinds of problems for us. We not

only lost several wonderful trees but had no

electricity or phones for seven days at the

beginning of the New International

Student Orientation. However, we all

survived because students and faculty

worked together.

When our doors opened in September,

we greeted 141 students, which is the

highest opening day of enrollment since

100% boarding capacity and growing.

During the past four years enrollment has

increased dramatically: 2008-2009 - 92

students; 2009-2010 - 108 students;

2010-2011 - 114 students; 2011-2012 -

141 students.

on campus since 1991, also opened in

September to rave reviews from the senior

and junior girls who live there. One last

detail will soon be added to the landscape,

posts. The Knipe Cottage construction

had a major impact on the increase in our

enrollment and it is my hope that in future

years, dormitories will continue to be built

to help promote the growth of the School.

Our 2011 Parents’ Weekend was a tremen-

dous success in spite of the weather. The

rain and high winds did not deter parents

from attending the events we had planned.

We served 240 parents, students and faculty

at the Semper ad Lucem Luncheon in

Bancroft Phinney Hall, which was the

highest number of attendees in thirteen

years. The reception for parents at

MacKenzie House was also well attended

despite the torrential downpours, and the

fall play Murder for Rent that same evening

was hilarious and enjoyed thoroughly

by all.

Our grounds continue to be a source of

pride for us, and several campus buildings

and school roads have recently been

designated with new names:

* Upper Dorm is now Manfuso Hall in

honor of T. Allen (Big Al) Manfuso Jr. ’83.

Al excelled in soccer and lacrosse. He also

was a charismatic and extremely popular

student. Al died tragically in an automobile

accident in 1984. His parents established a

scholarship in his name at Knox.

* Zingale Cottage, the faculty residence

nearest Knipe Cottage, honors E. Janice

Zingale H ’83, for her forty plus years of

dedicated service to The Knox School.

* The faculty residence adjoining Zingale

Cottage is now Lunder Cottage in honor of

Christopher (Chris) Lunder ’85. Chris was

President of the Student Council, White

Team Captain and a member of the Cross

Country, Wrestling and Lacrosse Teams.

Friendly to all, Chris died at age thirty-four

on September 11, 2001 in the fall of The

World Trade Center where he worked for

Cantor Fitzgerald.

* Reina Drive, leading to Knipe Cottage

is named after Chairman of the Board

of Trustees, Eileen Reina who worked

tirelessly on the Knipe Cottage

Construction Committee.

This school year 2011-2012 will be my last

at Knox, as I complete my twenty-seventh

year as an independent school Headmaster

When I accepted the position of Headmaster

for Knox, I agreed to serve for four years,

subsequent to my retirement from

Perkiomen in 2008. I have done so with

pride. Lucy and I also had the pleasure of

being at Knox from 1976 until 1985 serving

as Assistant Headmaster and Chair of the

World Languages Department respectively.

This brings our total number of years as

members of the Knox family to thirteen.

Lucy and I have thoroughly enjoyed our

last four years at Knox and would like

to thank a few people who have been

extremely helpful to us along the way:

Board members Henry Trevor and Susan

of Knox in all areas; the late A. Brewster

Lawrence Jr. for the love and generosity he

gave to Knox until the day of his passing,

Former Board Chair Jennifer Lawrence for

for The Knox School, and for bringing us

back to Knox; Board Chair Eileen Reina for

her energy and leadership as a member of

the Knipe Cottage Construction Committee

and Assistant Headmaster for Alumni

Affairs and Chairperson of Visual and

Performing Arts E. Janice Zingale H ’83

for being the “Keeper of the Light” for

The Knox School.

Even though Lucy and I are about to enter

the next phase of our lives and leave Long

Island in June of 2012 for Palm Coast,

Florida, our “light” will always be on to

welcome friends from our “Home Beside

the Shore!”

George K. Allison H’81

H E A D M A S T E R

A L E T T E R F R O M T H E H E A D M A S T E R

GEORGE K. ALLISON

4 KNOX|

In August, the Knox family celebrated an

eagerly awaited event – completion of the

new and vastly improved Knipe Cottage.

Nestled in a bucolic corner of the campus,

Knipe has always been a preferred dormi-

tory and a special residential experience for

our senior girls. While housed in a familial,

intimate setting with other students and

selected faculty, the girls enjoy the best of

a boarding school experience as a prelude

to life away from home at college. As many

of our alumnae remember, being a “Knipe

Girl” was a cherished experience that they

fondly recall and relate in conversations

today as well as yesterday.

Thanks in great part to the vision of

Headmaster George K. Allison, Knipe

residents are now enjoying a new standard

of dormitory living with all of the “bells and

This expansion and renovation project is

Originally a 3,000 square foot cottage built

Allison saw the need not just for repairs

to the original Knipe Cottage, but also for

to provide additional space for girls and a

special residential experience for our older

students. In addition, it is just as important

to improve the quality of life for our faculty.

Experienced faculty members who embrace

a residential life program are the “back-

bone” of every strong boarding school and

Knox needs to attract and retain the very

important goal.

for this project. Thus began months of

meetings with principal architects and

construction managers Mark Mancini and

Joe Yacobelis to plan the project from the

major construction elements down to the

Cottage a home. Ground was broken in

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pleted on schedule in August of that same

year. To mark this historic event, the ribbon

was cut on the deck overlooking the newly

landscaped vista designed by renowned

landscape architect Baldev Lambda and

toasts of appreciation were given at a

Board Chair Eileen Reina was an invaluable

presence at every planning meeting, and

was instrumental in monitoring the progress

of the project and coordinating the décor

of the dorm. For all of her efforts, a road

sign bearing the name Reina Drive was

dedicated and given to Eileen at the

ceremony in August in appreciation for

her leadership throughout this project.

The new Knipe is now an 8,000 square foot

home that features three beautiful family

apartments, twelve student suites with full

bathrooms, central air-conditioning, radiant

laundry and kitchen facilities and a homey

attractive and functional features, such

as beds, study areas and personal storage

space. The colors and natural lighting are

conducive to a relaxed, intimate home envi-

ronment and rival the decorating standards

independent school world and is known for

providing quality education in a supportive

and structured residential environment.

Today, we have reached our goal in

accentuating one of our historical strengths:

a family atmosphere that enhances a young

ONE HEADMASTER’S VIS ION

F R O M I N C E P T I O N T O C O M P L E T I O N

By Duncan L. Marshall and Virginia Riccardi

A B O V E: KNIPE FRONT ELEVATION; KNIPE CONSTRUCTION, BLUEPRINT, INTERIOR, COMPLETION.

5FALL 2011 |

C L O C K W I S E: CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES CUTS THE DEDICATION RIBBON; ARCHITECT MARK MANCINI AT DEDICATION; KNIPE COT TAGE COMPLETE WITH L ANDSCAPING.

6 KNOX|

“WHEN HARRY MET SNOWMAN – T H E R E V I V A L O F A M A G I C A L O D Y S S E Y

W I T H H U M B L E B E G I N N I N G S I N T H E

L A N D O F C L O V E R ”

By Virginia Riccardi

7FALL 2011 |

Elizabeth Letts is an award winning American novelist

and life-long equestrian who revived the magic of Knox’s own riding master, Harry de Leyer and his exceptional horse, Snowman in her book The Eighty Dollar Champion. Snowman, The Horse that Inspired a Nation (Ballantine Books, August 2011). Now a “New York Times” best-seller with more than 1,500 followers on Facebook, the book chronicles the amazing odyssey of Harry and Snowman, which began in the 1950’s at a small boarding school for young ladies, our own, beloved Knox…

One-hundred and sixty dollars and a dream…These are what lined the pockets of Harry de Leyer’s trousers when he and his wife Johanna emigrated from the small village of St. Oedenrode at the end of World War II. The young horseman’s goal of becoming a professional rider was dashed when the Nazi occupation of Holland forced Harry to work for the Resistance, leading a horse-drawn wagon

out of the small, war-torn country. It was a matter of survival. Yet during his many late-night runs, Harry had the opportunity to learn about America, and at the end of the war, his dreams deferred, Harry knew what he and Johanna had to do.

Lugging a small wooden crate with every

possession they owned, including Harry’s riding boots and saddle, the young couple set their sights on a new start in America. Fate guided their lives through tenant farming in North Carolina, working stables in Pennsylvania and farming in Virginia, where Captain Vladimir S. Littauer, a Long Islander who was running a horseman’s clinic at Sweet Briar College in Virginia, noticed Harry’s talent with horses and convinced Harry to pursue a riding

Captain Littauer gave Harry the inside story that an all-girls school in New York was looking for a riding instructor. The de Leyers accepted the challenge, and found themselves in a small corner of the world – Nissequogue, New York, on Long Island’s North Shore.

The Knox School, set on the beautiful “land of clover,” was “a school for young ladies.” Head of School Louise Bancroft Phinney had heard from Captain Littauer that a young Dutchman possessed uncanny horsemanship skills and she promptly

arranged for a meeting. It was 1956, and the young, attractive de Leyer with piercing blue eyes, according to a handful of alumnae, wasn’t exactly the type of “character” Mrs. Phinney wanted training her equestrians. However, there was something about Harry de Leyer that convinced Mrs. Phinney to give him a chance despite her reservations. The Knox opportunity also gave Harry and Johanna

the dream of owning their own home, which was a converted chicken farm on a small lot on Moriches Road. Harry named his homestead “Hollandia Farms” after his native country. After six years in America, life was good for the de Leyers.

Any good riding master knows that quiet horses are worth their weight in gold, especially for budding equestrians. Harry saw the need for such an animal in the

a quiet lesson horse that would be kind to his beginners and allow them to build the

riders. On a cold February morning before sunup, Harry left Hollandia Farms and set out for a horse auction in New Holland, Pennsylvania. He carried $80 in his pocket.

-light trouble delayed Harry’s journey and he was so late to the auction that all that remained were “the kills.” Was it fate, or happenstance?

L E F T: ELIZABETH LET TS,

AUTHOR C E N T E R:

BOOKCOVER THE EIGHT Y DOLL AR CHAMPION;

R I G H T: HARRY DE LEYER

ANY GOOD RIDING

MASTER KNOWS THAT

QUIET HORSES ARE WORTH

THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD,

ESPECIALLY FOR

BUDDING EQUESTRIANS.

O P P O S I T E PA G E: HARRY AND SNOWMAN, A FR AMED PHOTOGR APH THAT STILL HANGS IN THE KNOX SCHOOL TACK ROOM IN THE PHEBE T. PHILL IPS ’68 EQUESTRIAN CENTER TODAY.

8 KNOX|

T H I S PA G E A B O V E: THE DE LEYER CHILDREN RIDING SNOWMAN IN STONY BROOK HARBOR (LEFT TO RIGHT ): ANDRE, HAIKE, JOSEPH, MART Y, HARRIET AND BILLY STANDING. T H I S PA G E C E N T E R: HARRY DROPS THE REINS OVER THE FENCE, PART OF HIS S IGNATURE ST YLE THAT ALWAYS ASTOUNDED THE ONLOOKERS.

O P P O S I T E PA G E T O P R O W L E F T:SNOWMAN IN HIS STALL , ADORNED BY HIS MANY RIBBONS. R I G H T: HARRY LOOKING AFFECTIONATELY AT SNOWMAN IN A PICTURE TAKEN FOR L IFE MAGAZINE ON THE KNOX CAMPUS BY PHOTOGR APHER GEORGE SILK IN 1959. B E L O W: HARRY, PICTURED IN THE 1972 ROSELEAVES DEDICATION.

As Harry approached the rickety, slatted wagon crammed with horses bound for slaughter, he felt the pull of one big, brown eye. Taking a closer look, Harry noticed the

obviously served someone well during his short lifetime. The horse never dropped his

master knew he had to give this animal a second chance at life, a chance at survival. Who knew that “Snowman” was destined to become “The Eighty Dollar Champion?”

Snowman was ready to earn his keep and Knox had a brand new lesson horse. “Snowy,” as the ladies of Knox affection

kind of horse, and a social animal who, according to Harry, seemed to enjoy the full view that the round stables of Knox afforded its occupants. “Snowy was a big

National Side Saddle Champion Phebe T.

present day equestrian center is named. “He was so broad, but so gentle and kind, with the nicest eyes in the world.” But

his students, encouraging them to adopt a “never say die” attitude, the very same attitude that saved both Harry and Snowman from what could have been disastrous fates.

Snowman served The Knox School and its

love for swimming when they rode him down to the beach and he proceeded to wade chest deep into the waters of the Long Island Sound, often with delighted riders on his bare back, gripping his mane. Harry always brought Snowman to The

which students, staff and parents gathered to celebrate the beauty of the season and dance

the procession of revelers, adorned with pink ribbons braided into his mane. At the end of the school year,

save money, the school grounds and stables were closed for the summer, and Harry was forced to relocate all of the Knox horses to

Road; soon space constraints led to the realization that some of the horses would have to be sold.

and friendly nature made him a good sell, but it seemed that all prospective buyers wanted a jumper, which Snowman, clearly, was not. Finally, a local doctor, Richard Rugen, who wanted an easy mount for his twelve year old son, expressed an interest

with one condition: that if the doctor ever wanted to get rid of the horse, he had to give Harry the chance to buy him back.

Hollandia Farms was a lonely one for Harry

and his family. In just two days, however, Snowman showed up back at Hollandia

and returned to where his heart was. Nearly a dozen times, Harry returned Snowman, only to have him jump fences to get back to

Harry reclaimed what would always, be rightfully his... and the rest, as the saying goes, is history…

Harry de Leyer continued to work his magic with Snowman, teaching him to be a jumper

and allowing for plenty of practice with the ladies of Knox. In 1958, the unlikely show horse competed at the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden where he won the Championship; the following year, he won the stakes

there. In 1958 and 1959, Snowman was named Horse of the Year by the American Horse Shows Association, during which time he also won the Professional Horse-man’s Association Championship. Snowman returned to Madison Square Garden for honors and toured both the United States and Europe. His retirement in 1969 was recognized during the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden. In 1974, Harry said goodbye to Snowman, who succumbed to kidney disease; with the release of Letts’ book, however, the world can say hello.

THE HORSE NEVER DROPPED HIS GA ZE

FROM HARRY’S FACE AND THE YOUNG

RIDING MASTER KNEW HE HAD TO GIVE

THIS ANIMAL A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE,

A CHANCE AT SURVIVAL.

9FALL 2011 |

Dedication From shadows of uncertainty, towards enlightened horizons you have guided us faithfully throughout our years at Knox. With your constant understanding and never ending love you gave us the incentive to strive for our goals, even though at times we were sure we had lost all faith. When times were good, you made them better with your warm smile and incredible humor. Your firm and willing hand made us lean towards perfection and gain “those results.” Even one word of praise made us feel that it was well earned. You far exceeded your line of duty in broadening our knowledge of riding through experience and unequaled devotion. When we went to shows we never felt lost, knowing your concern for us was always there. And because of our concern and devotion for you, our pride swelled with each jump you cleared and every round you completed clean. We have always been more than proud to tell others that we even knew you and that you were our riding instructor.

It is with our never ending appreciation and sincerest thanks that we proudly dedicate the 1972 Rose Leaves to you.

-Mr. de Leyer

S H A R O N R U VA N E ’ 7 2I was editor of the School yearbook, Roseleaves in 1972,

it even more amazing today that 1972 was the passing of

Title IX for women’s sports. The riding program at Knox

allowed us to experience sports at an exceptionally high

level. Mr. de Leyer treated us like athletes...not just girls.

Even if you didn’t bring an expensive horse of your own,

you had the ability to work your way up to riding some of

his best show horses, such as Snowman.

10 KNOX|

BUILDING A WALL OF LEGACIES:

HONORING PHEBE T. PHILL IPS

BYRNE ‘68

A Tribute by William McLeod ’84, Reunion 2011 Chair

Social media websites, such as Facebook

have certainly provided many of us with

numerous opportunities to follow “friends”

in our daily lives. More importantly, they

have also permitted us to Reconnect,

Initially, I was a little apprehensive and

anxious when I composed and sent off

a private message via Facebook to Miss

Phillips, now Phebe Phillips Byrne ’68.

I pondered whether or not she would be

receptive to my message, given I had not

been in contact with her or the School for

some twenty-seven years. Would she

remember me? Would she even reply?

While in the same breath, would I be asked

capitols, but also the U.S. Presidents?

Phebe did reply and with the enthusiasm,

warmth and curiosity she always exuded. I

later telephoned, spoke with her and agreed

to visit soon.

After graduating under Headmistress

Laura Wood, Phebe attended Long Island’s

Hofstra University, but remained an active

member of the Knox community. She was

invited to join the Board of Trustees in

the spring of 1971, and her vote was an

In January of 1973, she came to the rescue

again when the School’s European History

teacher suddenly resigned and she became

part of the faculty under a young Adminis-

tration led by the late Clifford K. Eriksen.

Phebe would assist the School’s equestrian

program under the direction of Harry de

Leyer, while also delving into her passion

and area of expertise - History.

As the year’s progressed, she assumed

greater and greater responsibilities with

notable dedication: Alumni Secretary,

History Department Chair and Dean of

Students. Through all this, she continued to

compete and place with her beloved horse,

Contessa, at various horse shows, including

Madison Square Garden’s famed National

Horseshow. Riding ladies’ side saddle, she

was awarded the highly coveted National

Championship for two years concurrently,

thus distinguishing herself in the equestrian

community. In the interim, Phebe continued

to be both a driving force and benefactor

behind the School’s well-respected

equestrian program. The Equestrian

Center on campus is named for her.

Phebe retired in June of 2007 and now

resides in Lancaster County Pennsylvania

with her husband, Bob Byrne, her dog

Shamus, and horses Shadow (Contessa’s

daughter) and Mascot. In early May of

2011, I set out with fellow alum Susan

Baxter ’00 to visit Phebe. This gave us all

a wonderful opportunity to both reacquaint

and reminisce about our days at Knox. On

establishments, including a quilt store, a

bakery and an incredibly authentic Amish

family-style restaurant, we settled in for the

evening and I got to hear “the rest of the

story” as the famed Paul Harvey would say.

Phebe’s and Bob’s home is warm and cozy,

crystal and many clocks. Knox mementos,

in addition to horse memorabilia, are mixed

throughout. From her home, one can truly

understand who Phebe is and where her

interests and devotion lie.

It is early dawn at the Byrne home. The

clip-clop of horses is heard from the road

outside my window, and then a rustling

noise from within the house. This is soon

followed by the aromatic smell of fresh

The household was beginning a new day.

Morning around these parts starts early and

together, Susan, Phebe and I were about to

trek back to Long Island to attend The 2011

Knox School Ring and Blazer Ceremony.

Along the way, Phebe reminded me of the

pledge that she easily quotes. Phebe was

attending the ceremony to present a class

ring and blazer to her former pupil and

rider, Alex Horn. “An honor,” she adds

in her eye.

Today, Phebe is content, vibrant and just

as busy as she was at Knox. Her desire to

serve her community continues and has

not waned in the least. Phebe is heavily

involved with Lancaster County’s Amish

Community, and continues to reach out

and connect with the Knox community

via Facebook. While no longer competing

herself, Phebe continues her involvement

with the horse world, instructing and

equipping developing riders with solid

horsemanship. She also trains young horses.

Bob on a dirt road riding in their Amish

horse carriage.

What struck me most about reconnecting

with Phebe was not just her devotion to

her former students, but also to the School

and its traditions. Phebe believes in Knox,

especially the idea that when provided with

the opportunity to excel, students will prove

to be exceptional. She spoke so eloquently

of this and the importance of serving the

School community when accepting her

Distinguish Alumni Award at this year’s

June Reunion. It was this extraordinary

dedication to Knox along with her

distinction in the equestrian community

that set the precedent for the newly created

Knox School Distinguished Alumni Wall of

Fame. There could be no one more deserving

of becoming its inaugural member.

11FALL 2011 |

Riding her horse Contessa, Phebe T. Phillips Byrne ’68 was awarded the American Horse Show Association (now the United

of competition, Contessa placed in every jump class in the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the Washington International

Horse Show and The National Horse Show in New York. In June of 2011, the School and its Alumni Association honored

Phebe as the Inaugural Member of The Knox School Wall of Distinguished Alumni in recognition of her achievements in the

riding ring and her service to the School’s equestrian program, as well as her dedication and years of service to Knox as a

history teacher, school administrator and member of the Board of Trustees.

12 KNOX|

Our Chairman of The Knox School Board of Trustees has been associated

with the School since her son Nicholas ’10 entered as a sixth grader in 2003.

Over the years, Eileen Reina P ’10 has assumed numerous roles in the Knox

community. She played an instrumental role in forming the Knox Parents

League, now known as the Parents Association, served as Treasurer for one

year, and then was nominated and subsequently elected to serve as President,

a position which she held for two years. She

assisted other parents in the early formation of

the school store, The Falcon’s Nest, where she

eventually implemented the current computer,

accounting and inventory systems. She worked

tirelessly to provide Knox’s students with not just

school supplies, but assorted food items. Eileen

has also generously made donations to support

many school events including Red/White Gym

Night, the Faculty Appreciation Luncheon,

Semper Ad Lucem Weekend, and Holiday

decorations at Houghton Hall.

In 2008, Eileen joined the Board of Trustees

and in November 2010 became Co-Chair of

the Board. Her ascent to Board Chair became

effective on July 1, 2011, when Henry Trevor

moved to California. During the construction of

MEET THE CHAIRMAN

OF THE BOARDBy Headmaster George K. Allison H ’81

Knipe Cottage, Eileen was actively involved in all

phases of construction and the interior design of

the building. Fittingly, the road to Knipe Cottage

now bears the name Reina Drive.

Eileen and her husband Richie love dogs and

presently own a shepherd, a black lab and two

bichon-poo’s. When they go to their home in

Florida each winter, all the dogs go with them in

their SUV, which must be a quite a sight to see!

We are fortunate that Eileen counts Knox among

her many passions, which include cooking as well

as her large circle of family and friends.

DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF KNIPE COT TAGE,

EILEEN WA S AC TI V ELY IN VOLV ED IN ALL PHA SES

OF CONSTRUC TION AND THE INTERIOR DESIGN

OF THE BUILDING.

13FALL 2011 |

NOT A USUAL TOKYO EARTHQUAKEBy Hideaki Hiranoi ’94, President I’s Corporation

March 11, 2011, I was working as usual

when at 2:45 p.m. I felt a small tremor.

Earthquakes are not unusual in Tokyo, so

I thought little of it. However on this

occasion, the tremors continued instead of

abating. They grew more and more severe

until eventually samples and products

shelves... I gradually began to feel a sense

of danger. I had never experienced a quake

of this magnitude before, so I instructed the

staff to turn off the air conditioning, lights

etc. and move to safety under desks.

The initial tremors lasted for approximately

Concerned, I quickly exited the building

to see what was happening outside.

women cry-

ing and people

wearing safety

helmets. I des-

perately tried to

contact my wife;

however, I could

not get through

on my mobile phone. Eventually, service

was restored and I was able to send her an

time, she was at Shinagawa Station, which

had fallen into a state of panic. I asked her

to get into a taxi and return home.

The public transport system was shutting

down, and I began to realize that members

of my staff at I’s Corporation might not be

able to return to their own homes. I hurriedly

began making arrangements for a meal

that night and for a place for them to sleep.

However, the aftershocks that followed the

main quake greatly inhibited my efforts.

Later that day, I witnessed terrifying scenes

on the television; images of the tsunami

swallowing the airport in the Tohoku area

and the surrounding town. As time passed,

the number of missing people seemed to

rise like the fare in the meter of a taxi.

People from the television stations,

responsible for editing the images that were

coming in, suffered nervous breakdowns as

they watched footage of people being swept

away by the wall of water.

Following the earthquake and tsunami,

I began to think of how my company and I

could help those who had lost everything in

this terrible disaster, and decided to donate

our products in the form of relief supplies

to the stricken Tohoku area.

Now, more than six months after the

earthquake, although the affected areas are

gradually improving with help of support

from all over the world, the scars of that day

are still visible on the land and in the hearts

of the Japanese people.

ALUMNI RISE TO THE GLOBAL

CALL: EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI

RELIEF IN JAPAN

TOP ROW, FROM LEFT: HIROYUKI MUREI ‘99 (CHEMICAL SECTION SALES), HIDEAKI HIR ANOI (PRESIDENT ), K ANGO ITO (FOOD SECTION SALES), BOT TOM ROW, FROM LEFT: MIK A YAMAUCHI (FOOD SECTION SALES), MEGUMI SHIMIZU (FOOD SECTION SALES), OLIVE TAKEMUR A (CHEMICAL SECTION SALES), YOSHIE SHIMIZU (ADMINISTR A-TION) HIDEKO HIR ANOI (ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT ).

14 KNOX|

“UBUKOE - SEE THE L IGHT OF DAY”By Sae Nakano’01

When asked to share my contributions to

the tsunami relief efforts in Japan, I was

hesitant. In the Japanese tradition, it is

more important not to tell people what you

do for others – simply give of yourself

what you can in a quiet way. Since I

grew up in Sendai and have strong roots

there, so many of my family, friends and

relatives were victims of the earthquake

and tsunami. And although I would love

to share my own thoughts here, I truly

believe that it is more important to share

the real situation and what the victims are

experiencing now as they try to rebuild

their place in the world.

I connected with after the quake and

tsunami were teachers from our former

junior high school in Miyagi. They shared

the sad stories of students whose entire

families were lost in the tsunami, their

homes destroyed and their personal

possessions literally washed away.

Basically, the students were left with

nothing and were being housed in the

dormitories at the school or in local

shelters. Since we learned so much during

our time as students at the school, we

wanted to focus our efforts there and do

anything we could to help the students get

back their opportunities to learn as we did.

Together, we gave much needed funds to

help in the beginning stages of restoring

15FALL 2011 |

A B O V E: SAE NAK ANO ’01 (STANDING 4TH FROM THE LEFT ) WITH HER FRIENDS IN THE ROCK GROUP GAGLE THAT HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN R AISING FUNDS FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF.

B E L O W: TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORTS IN KESENNUMA, MIYAGI .

the lives of the students. In response to the

requests of local leaders, I rallied individuals

and corporations to make contributions

of new and gently used clothing, food

and other necessities that were distributed

throughout the Miyagi Prefecture. We also

organized a reunion luncheon in Tokyo.

donations to the school. This outpouring of

generosity helped me realize that there are

so many people who are willing to help the

Japanese people recover from the tragedy,

but many simply do not know what to do

or how they can get involved.

Three of my closest friends from Sendai

who survived this disaster are the founders

of one of the most popular hip-hop groups

in Japan – DJ Mitsu the Beats, Hunger and

DJ Mu-R, also known as GAGLE. They

have been holding charity concerts on a

regular basis and wrote a song, “Ubukoe –

See the Light of Day” – that sends a

message of hope to all the victims of the

earthquake and tsunami. For every song

that gets downloaded, all the proceeds go

to charity. People can make donations and

enjoy some good music by going to www.

diystars.net/hearts/english.html. Another

close friend of mine and some of her

classmates from art school worked together

to design and sell beautiful postcards. I

joined them in a large park in Tokyo where

we sold the postcards and donated all of

the sales to The Red Cross. There are many

people who have done so much more than

I have to help the victims of the Japanese

earthquake and tsunami. They are the

unsung heroes…

THIS OUTPOURING OF GENEROSIT Y HELPED ME RE ALIZE THAT THERE ARE SO

MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO HELP THE JAPANESE PEOPLE RECOVER

FROM THE TR AGEDY, BUT MANY SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO OR HOW

THEY CAN GET INVOLVED.

L E F T PA G E: PHOTO OF KESSENUMA, MIYAGI TAKEN BY SAE NAK ANO ’01.

ROCK GROUP GAGLE.

16 KNOX|

Why Knox traditionally opened in the middle of September had never been researched. It may have predated my predecessor Cliff Eriksen and been a function of the School’s days at the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown when school could not start until the summer season was over. Whatever the reason had been, that tradition would change in 2001 when Knox opened the weekend after Labor

September 11th was a Tuesday so my B

teaching in the lower level of Lawrence Hall when Assistant Headmaster Colin Dredge knocked at my door and waved me into the hallway. In very quiet tones he said, “Talked to Lynne (Mrs. Dredge), there has been a terrorist attack in New York, possibly Wash-ington. Bombs going off!” My response was,

not unusual for Colin and I to huddle, the students thought nothing of it.

After class, Mike Obstgarten was coming in to teach C Block and he pulled me aside. “I was just watching TV. A plane hit the World Trade Center.” Suddenly, I realized teachers

was happening and what we were going to do. “Mike, please don’t say anything so I can make a plan.” He agreed.

I found a TV and recall watching the coverage jump from the World Trade Center to the Pentagon. A reporter stood in D.C. and spoke of rumors of bombs being found at Justice and State and that all Federal Buildings were being evacuated. With that, I

my administrative team. We came to the con-sensus that we should tell the entire commu-nity as soon as possible, but at the same time, we knew it would be better to maintain our schedule for the sake of the boarding students. If day students’ parents came to pick up their

children, then so be it, but the school needed to remain an island of normality for now. It was

set off the alarm and I had the opportunity to address the entire school.

of the buildings without really a care. When I was head houseparent in Miura Hall, I

my reputation for practicing them preceded me. They knew it was a drill, they doubted I had much more to say than, “You need to leave the building more quietly, this is not an excuse to get out of your uniforms or chat with your friends.” Instead, I started with, “There has been an attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. There are rumors of bombs going off at the Justice and State Departments.” The crowd buzzed with disbelief. I can remember laughs of shock and needing to get everyone’s attention. I went on to explain that while these were serious attacks, I did not want people to get swept up in rumors. I made it clear that we were safe, and that we were going to continue with our day as normally scheduled and I would have more to share at lunch. I then asked the students with parents who worked on Wall Street or in Washington D.C. to

come identify themselves. A few hands went

(There were no student cell phones, imagine that?), and the rest were asked to return to class. Making it up as we went along, the administration hit upon the right tact – by sticking to the normal schedule we were emphasizing the fact we were safe. The faculty responded superbly; they returned to

publicly for the plan. It was their sense of purpose and willingness to keep “the train running on time” that kept the students calm and content.

My thoughts then turned to my sons Ted and Eric who were in third and second grade in St. James Elementary. I was guessing that their classmates were being picked up with no explanation which would cause them to worry. While I knew they were safe, I was also concerned by the fact that every-one would be out of synch, missing simple details and I was not sure I wanted them riding home on the bus. I had sweated through two suits during the two days of registration in the hot and moist gym, so I had a good excuse to go into St. James. After

email, just before lunch, I headed to the dry cleaner that was across the street from the elementary school. I dropped off my suits and walked into the front door of the school, immediately encountering the harried prin-cipal who looked at me and said, “Take them!” As I had feared, Ted was one of three left in his class, while in Eric’s class, only a few had departed. Ted and Eric immedi-ately wanted to know what was going on. “There has been a terrorist attack in New York City and Washington, DC and parents are worried so they want their kids at home. That is why I came to pick you up. You will go to lunch with me at Knox and mom will be coming home from school too. (Shiela was interning for her MSW at Stony Brook

ALUMNI SCRAPBOOK:

REFLECTIONS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

T H E U N E X P E C T E D C O N S E Q U E N C E S O F

A F O R T U I T O U S C H A N G E I N T R A D I T I O N

By Michael Esten H ’00, Former Headmaster

17FALL 2011 |

University Hospital, where the hospital that day was clearing out beds for the wounded that would never come). I loaded them into the backseats of the minivan, went to the street side and opened the sliding door to check Eric’s seatbelt. Then, I asked, “You guys hungry?” Of course, so I made a de-tour to Wendy’s, again trying to underline the idea that they were safe with a normal act. When we got to the end of Lake Avenue and I took a right onto Route 25, I heard a whoosh and Eric saying, in disbelief, “Dad, dad…” Sure enough my concern for distract-ed adults on the road had come true, I had not fully latched Eric’s door when I closed it and it had opened when we turned. Acting like it happened all the time, I pulled over, got out and said, “This is why we wear seat belts (INDEED)” and made sure I closed it properly. Smithtown was a ghost town – we were the only customers at Wendy’s as we made our way through the drive-through.

By lunchtime, I had more facts – no bombs, just four planes. The leaders of our country were safe. There had been quiet for three hours. This phase of the attack was over. My announcement after lunch was simple.

-plained that the lab period at the end of the day was cancelled so everyone could go back to the dorms, “Please call home and tell

dorm needs a chance to talk before sports. I

usual, saying, “The terrorists want us to stop what we are doing. They want us to panic and not go on with our lives. Well, we are not going to let them win. We are going to just keep going.”

distraught parents who realized they could not get their children out if they wanted to. I reassured them that my own children were on campus and that I would not put them in harm’s way anymore than I would their children. That afternoon, we heard the sound of F-16s overhead screaming down the Sound. We could act normal on campus, but outside nothing was normal.

for my daily berating. We enjoyed tweak-

he announced, “You are the luckiest bloke I have ever met. Either that or you are in cahoots with the terrorists – you knew of

weekend there would be no bloody school. Who would be packing their kid up right now to send them to a school in New York? Really, you have to be the luckiest bloke I have ever met.” What we did not know in that moment was that there would have been no way for the students to get to school on the traditional opening day. Luck had served

From that afternoon on it was all about keeping it normal. The students and faculty were of course all talking about the attack, but I do not recall anyone suggesting we stop what we were doing. There were no further formal discussions of attacks or changes in the schedule. We were safe and we were going to proceed. The faculty did a brilliant job of not letting panic seep into the students’ psyches and that made it possible for everything to work going forward. On that Saturday, the entire school went on its annual trip to Fire Island. The following day, there was a student-sponsored worship service in the Chapel, followed by the usual trip to the “temple of material goods” in the afternoon. That particular Sunday, I decided to take my family to the mall as well – I wanted to get a sense of how our student body, with its multi-racial, multi-ethnic make up, were being received. After a quick stroll around, I realized they were blending in with the locals so my concerns were unfounded.

off without a hitch, including a trip to a Mets game on Saturday. However, Will, a senior from South Carolina arrived in

about his friend and fellow baseball fan, AJ Bindra. AJ is a Sikh and his top knot had attracted negative attention at the game. Will was angry and said, “Mr. Esten, he is not Muslim, he is not a terrorist. He’s an American and there they were judging him on his appearance and they had it all wrong.” An important lesson for all of us - ignorance and prejudice have no place at baseball games or in America.

I recall evenings at home with my wife staring at the TV mesmerized by what

building at ground zero toppled from the

stress of the attack. The look of disbelief on the reporters face matched that of all of us.

hell just happened?” day. That week I lived two lives - on campus I was determined to keep things normal while at home I was in shock like everyone else. Later in the week, I decided I needed a bike ride. As I walked the bike up Weld House’s gravel driveway hoping for some peace, tears started running down my face and I was thinking, I wish someone would tell me everything is ok. So I got on my bike and told myself, “It’s ok…”

alarm, so that I could declare a Head’s Day and announce that we were all going to the movies. Delia Stein ’95, who was a member of the faculty at the time, scolded me (she had scolded me as a student and had not let up as a teacher), “You shouldn’t do that. I was so worried something else had gone wrong…” I thought, “Actually, it was the

they are all thinking, “Hey we might be going to the movies…”

R E V I S I T I N G 9 / 1 1Pamela Cullington ’03

Everyone who lived through 9-11

moment they were informed of the terrorist

alarm go off. We all trudged outside onto the

pavement innocently assuming it was a

had assembled that we were told of the

terrorist attack. I remember few details

from what we were told, but I do remember

someone saying, “New York City is closed

down. No one can get in or out.” I remember

being confused. I was unable to understand

the enormity of what had occurred. Being

a lifelong New Yorker, I had never

known New York City to be closed. It

was unthinkable. New York was “the city

that never sleeps.”

family in New York City or Washington

D.C. could come forward and call their

18 KNOX|

H E A R I N G T H E N E W S A B R O A DBy Ned Daniell ’02

It is tough not to remember September 11, 2001, being an American who

was in another country at the time. I had just arrived three days earlier

with my Knox classmates at Bedstone College in Shropshire, England

as part of the School’s longstanding exchange program. On this day, I

remember being told after lunch that America had been attacked. Since

until after dinner that evening. So, I spent the rest of the day on pins and

needles as nobody else knew anything. The waiting was probably the

worst part of that tragic day. As the details began to unfold, I discovered

that another student at Bedstone, who was also from America, had a

father who worked at the World Trade Center. He had spent most of the

morning. Fearing the worst, he had braced himself, only to discover the

good news that his dad was running late that day and was safe.

After a week or so had passed, I began to realize that I was just days

away from being on an airplane when the attacks happened. This was a

scary thought, and when coupled with the idea that America was going to

declare war, I feared I might be stuck in another country until the situation

cleared. Thankfully none of those things came to pass, but the feeling of

being alone and helpless is still palpable to this day. For all the teasing

that had come for being a “Yank,” the people at Bedstone made us feel

loved ones from the phone in the library.

Still in shock, I came forward because my

mother worked for AIG Insurance on Water

Street in downtown Manhattan. It was not

until I made this phone call that I understood

the enormity of the situation. After dialing

only “beep-beep-beep-beep.”

Unable to reach my mother, I called my aunt

because her husband also worked in down-

town Manhattan. She tried to hide the fear in

her voice when I spoke with her, but I could

from my uncle or my mother. I was scared.

Fortunately, a few hours later, my uncle was

able to reach my aunt. Miraculously, he and

my mother found each other in the midst of

the chaos in Manhattan. When I learned the

news, an enormous sense of relief overtook

me. My uncle and my mother had walked

from downtown Manhattan over the 59th

Street Bridge into Queens where another

uncle picked them up to take them home.

The evening of September 11, 2001, I spent

waiting for my mother at my grandparents’

house. My mother did not return home until

of age, I sat glued to the news watching the

Twin Towers fall. When my mother pulled

up to the house, she was still covered in

white dust all over her body and clothes. I

do not think I had ever been so happy to see

my mother.

Just about ten years later, on September 12,

2011, I was sitting a block from Ground Zero

enjoying lunch with friends from work when

the infamous subject of 9-11 came up. The

“On 9-11, I was at…” Just as we will never

forget what happened that day, we will also

never forget where we were and what we

were doing.

F L A S H B A C K T O T H E M O R N I N G O F 9 / 1 1By Tae Sang Ted Park ’07

rang for an unexpected meeting of students and faculty on

our headmaster, Mr. Esten, delivered the news, I didn’t fully

comprehend what had just happened in Manhattan, where

my uncle commuted each day from New Jersey on the

ferry and where my mother was still in town from Seoul after

States. As the students and faculty walked backed from

the meeting, bursts of conversation and emotions began to

take place in the classrooms. My teacher, Mrs. Pepelnak,

wiped gentle tears from her eyes and I began to realize the

magnitude of what had happened.

Lunchtime came around quickly, but I had no appetite. As

soon as the last bell rang, I ran to the public phone in my dor-

mitory, but found all of the New York City lines to be busy.

Days went by rather quickly and as a middle school boy with

less than perfect English, the news seemed almost too surreal

to take in. I was quick to forget that I had not heard from my

mother in New York. Three days passed and our Assistant

Headmaster, Mr. Dredge interrupted my morning class to

take me out for a telephone call. I could only whimper when

I heard my mother’s voice. She was well, and my uncle had

been out of town on that fateful day. I don’t know whether

they were tears of joy or of relief, but I cried embarrassingly

in front of Mr. Dredge.

As our family gathered months later after the tragedy, my

uncle shared stories of his everyday commute to New York

and how he could still remember the smell of Krispy Kreme

Donuts and fresh brewed coffee as he entered the subway

station under the Twin Towers. As I remember the day, I

know it was one of the most painful days the United States

has ever faced. Being part of it helped me as an international

student to quickly understand the American spirit and to be

even more thankful for the opportunity to live and study in

this country and to be part of the great state of New York.

19FALL 2011 |

R E M E M B E R I N G C H R I S T O P H E R “ C H R I S ” E . L U N D E R ’ 8 5 By Headmaster George K. Allison H ’81

Chris attended Knox for two years; however, he left his mark on the School

forever. He was involved in all facets of school life. He was a member of

the White Team, MVP and Captain of the Cross Country Team, played

Varsity Lacrosse and was also Captain of the Varsity Wrestling Team. Loved and

respected by all, Chris served as Student Council President in his senior year.

He always had a smile on his face. Upon graduating from Stetson College

with a degree in Finance, he began working on Wall Street as a Treasury bill

and agency trader. In 1995, he went to

work at Cantor Fitzgerald in the World

Trade Center as a government agency

bond broker. Chris and his colleagues

died tragically on September 11, 2001.

A memorial to Chris is located on

campus and has become the site of the

School’s 9/11 observances each year.

In addition, in the fall of 2011, one of

the faculty residences on campus was

renamed Lunder Cottage in his honor.

A M o t h e r R e m e m b e r s :Excerpts from an article by Carol

Polsky that appeared in Newsday on

June 30, 2011

Christopher Lunder had a life touched early by successes.

He was a standout high school athlete and Student

Council President. Married to his college sweetheart,

Karen, he had a house in New Jersey, an apartment in

Manhattan and a new 38-foot cruiser he could see from

enjoyed wine and cigars, hosted big parties with

green and white decorations for important Jets’

games. “He lived two or three lives in his short

life,” said his mother, Maureen Lunder. . . “What-

ever got into his head that he wanted to do, he

did. And he did everything well.” After her son

died, she (Mrs. Lunder) sat on a cold beach one

winter day and asked him for a sign: his favor-

ite color was yellow, and “wouldn’t you know

face,” she said. “So I know he is safe, and I don’t

have to worry about him anymore. He’s just in a

good place. . .”

A D AY T H AT C H A N G E D M Y F U T U R EBy Michael Kuckens ’02

A decade. . . I sit here looking at my ribbons and medals, earned over four

years while serving as a Marine from October 2002 to October 2006. As I

am often asked what led me to join the Marine Corps, I think of that day

ten years ago. My red blazer made me seem six inches taller and I felt like

I could take on the world. All I cared about that morning was seeing the

new girls in school, and wondering what was going to be served for lunch

that day.

Early that morning shortly after classes had begun, on a secluded campus

in St. James, NY, my life changed forever. I smiled and laughed as I saw

classrooms for an announcement outside. I remember my Aunt Candace

DiPietro’s face as she was “white as a ghost.” Soon came the words that

Headmaster Michael Esten sadly stated that morning to a 125 or so stu-

dents, “The World Trade Center has been hit by an airplane and America

is thought to be under attack.” I remember not being that upset about it at

towers were in danger, and I thought some guy going out to the Hamptons

forgot to drink his coffee and fell asleep. As we all know, that was not the

case. We returned to our classes, and word spread that the second tower

had been hit.

The lunch bell rang, and I remember that I left my books right there in

the classroom. I got up and sprinted out the door. A fellow senior class

alumnus and friend Nick Garlich was stride for stride with me as we were

-

began to tear with sadness as they were reporting that the

workers and emergency response personnel were still in the

building. Sadness and overwhelming anger took over my

thoughts as we stood there trying to come to some kind of

understanding of the day’s event. By this point, the room

seeing the students with their red, white, and blue blazers

standing speechless looking at a twenty-year-old television

as history unfolded for most of us in those precious minutes.

As the day passed and news came out of the attack on almost

3,000 American lives, a deliberate attempt to take our rightful

freedoms, I began to contemplate the next steps in my life.

I knew I wasn’t “college-ready.” I knew I wanted a different

path than most of my fellow classmates. In the months that

followed I made a commitment to myself that I would join

the Marine Corps unbeknown to my guidance counselor, my

aunt or my friends.

That day not only changed my decision about my future,

but also that of Nick Garlich who, in his own path decided

to join the Marine Infantry. I often think of that day as two

and down that hill on their way to see history unfold.

20 KNOX|

1 0 7 T H C O M M E N C E M E N T

A N D 2 0 1 1 A W A R D S

M I D D L E S C H O O L

C H A R A C T E R A W A R D SIntegrity: Adhering consistently in word and deed to principles of truth, honesty, trustworthiness and sincerity. JOSEPH K I M ’15

Kindness: Acting with compassion and empathy for others. ED SON ’16

Courage: Demonstrating the internal strength to

CICI W U ’15

Respect: Acting with fairness, courtesy, timeliness and sensitivity to individuals and to the community. ED SON ’16

Responsibility: Acting in accordance with what is right even in the absence of authority and being accountable for one’s behavior. R ACH EL SU ’15

Scholarship: Building a foundation of knowl-edge and skills that allows for development of the intellect through openness of thoughts and freedom of inquiry. R ACH EL SU ’15

M I D D L E S C H O O L

S U B J E C T A W A R D SThe Middle School Art Award: For the art student in the Middle School who demonstrates extra effort and uses his or her time wisely to make creative works. CH EOL M I N LEE ’15

The Wm. Turner Shoemaker Middle School Mathematics Award: Recognizes that student in the Middle School who best demonstrates personal accomplishment in mathematics. CH EOL M I N LEE ’15

Middle School Science Award: Recognizes that Middle School student who best demon-strates personal accomplishment in science. R ACH EL SU ’15

Middle School English Award: Given to the Middle School student who demonstrates excellence in English. R ACH EL SU ’15

Middle School History Award: Given to the Middle School student who demonstrates excellence in the study of History. CH EOL M I N LEE ’15

Elsa Eriksen Middle School Performing Arts Award: Given to the Middle School student who best shows accomplishment and enthusiasm in performing arts. ED SON ’16

Middle School World Language Award: Recognizes the Middle School student showing accomplishment in the study of World Languages. CICI W U ’15

Middle School ESL Award: Given to the Middle School student who exhibits extraordinary effort and dedication in the study of English as a Second Language. JOSEPH K I M ’15

U P P E R S C H O O L

A C A D E M I C A W A R D SNY State Comptroller’s Award: Given to a senior who has demonstrated academic success and civic commitment and in recognition of hard work, dedication and success. Y U “ CECI LI A” WA NG ’11

The English Cup: Presented by Marilynne

for outstanding prose writing. RUOLI N “GR ACE” QI N ’12

The Scribblers Award: Given for the best creative writing of the year. K A R EN K LOSSON ’12 .

The John Ruggiero Math Prize: Presented by the Ruggiero family, in honor of John Ruggiero, class of 1994. Given for demonstrated excellence in Math. TR EVOR H EN DERSON ’14

The David Stephens Science Award: Presented by students in honor of former Headmaster David Stephens and given to the outstanding science student of the year. Y I J I A “ OW EN” LI ’12

The American History Award: A reproduction

savings bond given yearly by the Society of

York to the outstanding American History Student of the year. RUOLI N “GR ACE” QI N ’12

Academic Achievement in Psychology Award: Recognizes outstanding psychology students for their understanding of psychology beyond the classroom, maintaining above-average grades, displaying a passion for an an eagerness to expand their knowledge of the subject. RUOLI N “GR ACE” QI N ’12 A N D GA BR I ELLA W E SSLER ’11

Spanish Award: Given for the student who

study of Spanish. A LEX A N DR A EDWA R DS ’13

French Award: Given for excellence in the study of French. J I M LI U ’13

ESL Award: Given to the student showing the-most progress in learning and using English. PEI- CH U N “ CA N DY” TU ’12

Edith Rosalie Lansburgh Cup: First given in 1923 and presented each year to students demonstrating outstanding improvement in visual arts. (Studio Art) SH A N-LA N “ M ICH ELLE” CH I A NG ’11 and (Photography) JA M I E ISA ACS ’14

The Joel K. Eriksen Trophy: Presented in 1996 to replace an earlier award given by Sandra Bromley, class of 1955. Donated by faculty and staff in memory of the brother of Clifford K. Eriksen, Headmaster of Knox from 1971-2000. Given each year to the student who has demonstrated artistic excellence and who

visual arts. LI N N UO ZH ENG ’11

21FALL 2011 |

The Photography Prize: Given to a student

X I A “JOY” W U ’12

The Laura Winkworth Award: First given in 1927 and presented to a student demonstrating

X I NGCH EN “A N DY” F U ’12

Choral Music Award: Given for outstanding musicianship and dedication to choral music at Knox. ER IK CER I N I ’14

U P P E R S C H O O L

C H A R A C T E R A W A R D S

Maria and Anthony Hermann Award: For more than 60 years, a cup, originally presented by the sister of Mrs. Louise Houghton, was given each year to recognize the class with the highest academic scholarship. In 1988, this cup had no more space for engraving, and a new

school leaders, Maria Hermann de Lesseps, Class of 1981 and Anthony Hermann, Class of 1987. It is awarded annually to the class showing the highest academic leadership. CLASS OF 2 011 W ITH A N OV ER A LL AV ER AGE OF 87.77

Red and White Scholastic Bowl: Awarded to

awarded to the Rose Team (later changed to the Red Team) in 1923. The Red team has won 44 times and the White Team has won 44 times. W H ITE TEA M W ITH A N OV ER A LL AV ER AGE OF 85. 37

The Nancy Morehouse Stevens Cup: Presented to Knox in 1948 and given yearly to the junior who has displayed sportsmanship qualities such as cooperation, conscientiousness, friendliness, and thoughtfulness. JACQU ELI N E COH EN ’12

The Davison Tray: Presented by Catherine Davison in 1976 and given to that student who has exhibited outstanding growth through the efforts of The Knox School in conjunction with his or her own personal efforts. LI N N UO ZH ENG ’11

The Kyrie Gannet McAdam Character Award: Presented to the junior showing the most growth in the junior year and promise of success as a senior. A NGEL VA LDE S ’12

The Poise Cup: Presented to Knox by Mrs. Castleman, whose daughter, Mayo, received the award in 1917. The cup recognizes a student embodying graciousness and dignity of character. QI A N “J E SSI E” J I N ’12

Courtesy Cup: This award was originated by Rosetta S. Wardele, Class of 1931, who felt that good manners are not idle but the fruit of a loyal nature and a noble spirit. LI N DSEY COH EN ’14

Loyalty Cup: Presented to Knox by Elsie “Dickie” Folmer in 1928 to “recognize a girl

stand for anyone griping about Knox.” She was described as having “Miraculous energy, well-organized, a sense of humor and dependability.” The cup is awarded annually to the student showing the same attitude. J I SU B CHOI ’11

The Kaeli Sara Kramer Kindness Cup: Kaeli Kramer, Class of 2008, lost her life in a tragic accident less than a year after graduation. An avid horsewoman, Student Council President

and Valedictorian of her class, Kaeli was guided by the Native American proverb “be kind to everything that lives.” The award is given yearly to that student who lives as Kaeli did, showing kindness to all living things – people, animals, and the environment. LI N N UO ZH ENG ’11

Perseverance Award: Presented to Knox by Margaret Jones in 1927 and given each year to the student who set a goal and attained it. QI AO “J E SSI E” J I N ’12

Maria Elena Arosemena Cup: Presented

international student who has gained the greatest command and understanding of English. In 1962 Maria Elena came to Knox as a freshman from Panama and was elected Student Council President for her senior year. PEI CH U N “ CA N DY” TU ’12

Romana Mastrolilli Cup: Presented by Mr. and Mrs. Vincenzo Mastrolilli in memory of their daughter Romana, sister of Belinda, Class of 1977, and Vanna, Class of 1982. Awarded yearly to the student who has overcome any kind of challenge through his or her personal effort. LI N N UO ZH ENG ’11

The Benjamin Bowl: Presented to the school

daughters attend Knox. The bowl is awarded yearly to the student who has contributed to ath-letics generally and who is sound academically. KUA N-H ENG “ CY R I L” TAO ’11

Teeter Tiers Bowl: Alice “Teeter” Welsh Tiers, Class of 1937, was an outstanding day student. She was very active, played hockey, basketball, soccer, baseball and was on the Gym and Tum-bling Team and Tennis Team. She was a “Rose” and elected President of the K.A.A. This caused much concern and dire predictions as she lived off campus and would always be late! Instead,

every morning that year. This endeared her to the girls who already loved her and inspired the inscription on this bowl given in Teeter’s memory by her sister, Mary Lowber Tiers, Class of 1934. “A loving spirit shown to one and all in word and deed. A friend that is true!” X I A “JOY” W U ’12

L E F T: COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER, THE HONOR ABLE MELISSA C . JACKSON P ’10. C E N T E R: EQUESTRIAN CLUB DIRECTOR DEBBIE MOORE CONGR ATUL ATES RIDING CLUB PRESIDENT MICHELLE CHIANG. R I G H T: HYUN HO “DAVID” CHO, 2011 SENIOR CL ASS PRESIDENT. B O T T O M L E F T: J I SUB CHOI, RECIPIENT OF THE SCHOOL’S HIGHEST AWARD, THE SEMPER AD LUCEM PL AQUE. B O T T O M R I G H T: CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES EILEEN REINA CONGR ATUL ATED VALEDICTORIAN ELIJAH KIM.

22 KNOX|

The Delight Millham Cup: Presented to the school by Delight Millham in 1934 and awarded yearly to the student who has shown the best understanding of the ideals of the school, namely sincerity, truthfulness, courtesy, good scholarship and generosity of self. J I SU B CHOI ’11

K N O X A T H L E T I C

A S S O C I A T I O N A W A R D S : Best Cooperation in Gym Award: Given to that student who is most helpful and dependable, who knows what has to be done and does so without having to be told, who is willing to give up free time, who is not necessarily an athlete but who is interested in sports, and who wants to contribute, even if not selected to play on a competitive team. JACQU ELI N E COH EN ’12

Perseverance in Athletics Award: This cup is given to a student each year who is not necessarily an outstanding athlete but who continues to try, who does not give up, and who is willing to continue even though others may be more talented athletes. LI N DSEY COH EN ’14

Gym Night: Each year the winning team on Gym Night has its name inscribed on this plaque. R ED TEA M

Athlete of the Year: Established in 2010, athletes are nominated by Head Coaches based on their ability to lead, their sportsmanship, exceptional athletic abilities, and integrity. The student should participate in two or more seasons of athletics. J E SUS COLON ’12

Alumni Cup: This trophy is awarded to the class showing the most spirit during the year. CLASS OF 2 011

Red and White Athletic Bowl: This award recognizes the team that earns the greatest number of points during the year. W H ITE TEA M

Middle School Athletics Awards: Presented to that student who has made the greatest overall contribution to athletics in the Middle School. R ACH EL SU ’15

High Point Winner Cup: The current award was presented by Mrs. Walter Whittaker, whose daughter Bette won it in 1963. It is given to the athlete of the year (not necessarily the best athlete): who is a team player; who exhibits good sportsmanship, a good attitude; and who presents a consistently good performance. KUA N-H ENG “ CY R I L” TAO ’11

Most Valuable Player Soccer: Recognizes sportsmanship, cooperation, good attitude and competitiveness. KUA N-H ENG “ CY R I L” TAO ’11

Most Improved Soccer: Recognizes sportsman-ship, cooperation, good attitude and competitive-ness. J U N LI M ’16

High Scorer in Soccer: Established in 1981 to recognize the athlete who has scored the highest number of goals. H Y U N HO “ DAV I D” CHO ’11

Most Valuable Girls Basketball: Established in 1979 to recognize on a permanent basis the girl who contributed the most to basketball. X I A “JOY” W U ’12

Most Valuable Girls Varsity Softball Player: Recognizes sportsmanship, cooperation, good attitude and competitiveness. JACQU ELI N E COH EN ’12

Most Improved Varsity Softball: Recognizes the girl showing the greatest improvement in softball. RUOLI N “GR ACE” QI N ’12

Softball Highest Overall Batting Average: Student with the highest overall batting average for the season. JACQU ELI N E COH EN ’12 (.846)

Most Improved in Competitive Dance: K A I LI N J I A NG ’13

Most Valuable in Competitive Dance: QI AO “J E SSI E” J I N ’12

Most Improved in Crew: F R ED XU ’13 CICI W U ’14

Most Valuable in Crew: A LLEN J I A NG ’12 R ACH EL SU ’14

Most Improved Varsity Baseball: Y U H A N JASON LI N ’13

Most Valuable Baseball Player: J E SUS COLON ’12 A N D JAVON I THOM AS ’12

Baseball Bat Award: For the highest overall batting average for the season. JAVON I THOM AS (.625)

Most Improved in Tennis: H EY N H WA NG ’13

Most Valuable in Tennis: DEN N Y DENG ’13

Oppenheimer Tennis Championship Trophy: Recognizes the school’s outstanding tennis player. Y U W EI “ COCO” CA I ’12 A N D Y U E “ N ICK” Y U’ ’14

E Q U E S T R I A N A W A R D S

Challenge Trophy: Recognizes an individual who has faced and overcome a challenge. GA BR I ELLA W E SSLER ’11

Jumping Award: This bowl was presented by Colonel Simon Acoutin, former faculty member, and is awarded for improvement over fences. M I R A N DA W EBER ’13

The Kyrie McAdam Novice Horsemanship Cup: Awarded to the rider who has shown the most improvement overall. Y U K I WA NG ’12

The Snowman Award: Presented to Knox by a former riding master, Harry de Leyer and named for his famous horse, this award is presented annually to the student who has done the most for the Riding Club, whose academic work is good and who is a good rider. In short, an all-round student. Y U “ CECI LI A” WA NG ’11

Sportsmanship Award: Presented by Smoke Run Farm and given yearly to the rider who is not necessarily the most outstanding rider but is wholeheartedly involved in all aspects of the sport. SHAN-LAN “MICHELLE” CHIANG ’11

Equestrian Versatility Award: Presented by Mrs. Joan Johnson and Ms. Phebe Phillips Byrne ’68 to recognize versatility in equestrian skills – someone who is adept at riding any horse and obtaining a good performance from it. GA BR I ELLA W E SSLER ’11

P E R F O R M I N G A R T S

A W A R D S :

The Linda Shepard Cup: Given for the best performance in a Musical Theater Production. TAY LOU R DICK ERSON ’12

The Jane Bagley Award: Given for the best performance in a play. A LEX A N DR A EDWA R DS ’13

The Terri Rose Richard III Award: Given for outstanding contribution to technical theater at Knox. Y U “ CECI LI A” WA NG ’11

The Elsa (Eriksen) Trophy: “The Play Is the

most to ensure the success of the school’s dramatic performances. H Y U N HO” DAV I D” CHO ’11 A N D JONGSU K “JAY” K I M ’11

The Performing Arts Award: to “The Performer of the Year,” given for outstanding performances in two or more areas of the performing arts. A LEX A N DR A EDWA R DS ’13

The Oberon Award. Presented to the student who has demonstrated outstanding potential in the performing arts. JA NA E JA M E S ’12

23FALL 2011 |

C O M M E N C E M E N T

D A Y A W A R D S

The Caroline Fell Award: Presented in memory of Carolyn Fell, who served Knox for 26 years on the Board of Trustees. Awarded to the senior who is ever faithful to Knox, who is dedicated to a cause, who is steadfast, hardworking and who has a love of life and never gives up. GA BR I ELLA W E SSLER ’11

The Stewart Bowl: Presented to Knox by Doris Stewart in 1935 and awarded yearly to the senior whose conduct most nearly

Y U “ CECI LI A” WA NG ’11

The Clifford K. Eriksen Headmaster’s Award: To commemorate the 29 years of service to The Knox School by Headmaster Clifford K. Eriksen, this award is given to that student, whose contributions to the School have been outstanding – someone of stature, whose presence has enriched the life of everyone at The Knox School. ZACH A RY DR EW ’11

A. Brewster Lawrence Award: Presented to honor A. Brewster Lawrence. Awarded to a

the following qualities: Gentleness, Loyalty, Citizenship, Integrity and Scholarship. JONGSU K “JAY” K I M ’11

The Bancroft Phinney Award: Presented by Mr. and Mrs. William J. Gordon for

1966 to the student with the highest academic standing. ELI JA H K I M ’11 (97.2 average)

The Semper Ad Lucem Plaque: Awarded annually to that student who shows loyalty to the School, sound common sense, who is democratic, has high scholarship and is a well-rounded student – dependable at all times. J I SU B CHOI ’11

T O P L E F T: LEFT: E JANICE Z INGALE H ’83, CHAIR OF THE VISUAL AND

PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT WITH TAYLOUR DICKERSON ’12 (LEFT )

RECIPIENT OF THE L INDA SHEPARD CUP FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL

THEATER PRODUCTION AND ALEX ANDR A EDWARDS ’13 (R IGHT ) WINNER OF THE

JANE BAGLEY AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PL AY AND THE

PERFORMING ARTS AWARD FOR THE “PERFORMER OF THE YEAR.”

T O P R I G H T: JACQUELINE COHEN ’12, WINNER OF THE RED BAT AWARD FOR

THE OVER ALL HIGHEST BAT TING AVER AGE IN SOFTBALL .

B O T T O M: KUAN-HENG “CYRIL” TAO ’11 RECIPIENT OF THE HIGH POINT WINNER

CUP WITH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR WALTER TOWNES.

24 KNOX|

When I graduated from The Knox School

in 1984, not unlike many high school grad-

uates, my future was uncertain. Although

many things would change from that point

forward, there was one aspect of my life

that would most certainly remain the same:

my poor grades in school. As a result,

I spent the next few years enrolling and

dropping out of several East Coast colleges,

which brought me to the conclusion that it

was time to leave academia and go to work.

My mentors at Knox were successful in

seek out his destiny. They prepared me to

walk away from a very secure on-campus

existence, into a future where I would

experience many failures and a few key

successes, ultimately to bring me to write

this piece today.

I attempted many careers during my

working life. While in New York, I worked

as a phlebotomist, a door-to-door china

salesman and a commercial real estate

broker. In each of these situations, I

would not “move on” unless I could say

even on the lowest level. In the process, I

learned to draw blood painlessly and com-

passionately, I sold one piece of china and

In 1989, my car was broken into and toys

for my baby niece were stolen out of the

trunk. I took that as a sign that it was time

to break up with my girlfriend, leave New

York and head for the West Coast—a

cross-country drive taken with my best

friend, my dad.

Over the next several years, I worked as a

bartender along with other odd jobs earning

enough money to pay for yet another

attempt at a college degree. Majoring in

the ripe old age of thirty. I then worked as a

counselor for gang members in a placement

home. It was while I was there that an op-

portunity arose for an entry-level position as

I was never all that interested in a career in

the entertainment business, and I usually

tell people that the business guided me

rather than me guiding myself. In other

words, I took whatever job I could just to

keep the ball rolling and pay my rent. One

credit on a reality show for CBS, and a

career was born.

I have worked in television for seventeen

years, producing over 200 hours of pro-

gramming in entertainment production.

I have traveled the world producing for

FOX, FOX REALITY CHANNEL, NBC,

CBS, ABC, PBS, VH1, KCAL, TNN,

HISTORY CHANNEL, UPN and MTV.

I have also been fortunate enough to

receive two Emmy’s, one for my work as a

producer on a History Channel documen-

tary titled “The True Story of Black Hawk

Down,” and one for my work on a PBS

series “California Connected.”

For most of my career, I was an executive

in charge of production, responsible for

SPOTLIGHT ON ALUMNI

T H E P A T H T O T W O R O A D S A N D B E Y O N D

By Michael Schenker ’84

25FALL 2011 |

productions. I found this ironic, considering

my academic history. While responsible for

writing budgets for all my productions,

I realized that working as a producer was

not the only way to make a living in this

industry. I started Say Please Video, Inc.

and began buying cameras and editing

equipment to rent to the projects I was

working on as well as to other productions

around town. Over the years, I established

two more post production companies,

partnering up with fellow producers to

increase my inventory and client base.

My career was established as an execu-

tive running some of the largest and most

successful reality production companies

in Los Angeles. Of course, nothing ever

remains the same. My mother became ill

and had only a few agonizing months left

with us. This led me to the decision to leave

my comfort zone working for others so I

started my own reality company, 2 Roads

Pictures, Inc. which would become Down

In Front Entertainment, Inc. A long trail of

calculated risk-taking, strategizing, partner

building and old-fashioned hard work

brought me to a place where I had enough

foundation to support this start-up company

I am still in business and have produced a

number of projects that I became very

passionate about, such as shooting aboard

the USNS COMFORT on a humanitarian

mission in Nicaragua and a documentary

in China featuring the World Bank.

“CUFF’d” on MTV.

I have been very fortunate throughout my

professional career. However, this is not

-

ment. My family is my true measure of

success, for without the advice of my wife

and partner Robbin, and the love of my

children Kailah (4 years), Benjamen (2½

years) and Shaiya born just four days ago,

my life would have no meaning. I come

home each day to an overwhelming amount

of support and unconditional love from

these four wonderful people, who remind

me that all the companies, productions

and money (or inevitably at times, money

troubles) mean nothing without them.

O P P O S I T E PA G E L E F T T O R I G H T: MICHAEL WITH HIS CAMER AMAN IN BEIJ ING; MICHAEL WITH WIFE ROBBIN, DAUGHTER K AIL AH AND SON BENJAMEN, HOME WITH NEW BABY SISTER SHAIYA; MICHAEL WITH COLLEAGUES AFTER WINNING THE EMMY FOR “CALIFORNIA CONNECTED.”

B E L O W C L O C K W I S E: MICHAEL ON KIL IMANJARO, AT 9340 FEET; MICHAEL ON BOARD THE USS COMFORT; MICHAEL REL A XING AT HIS BRENT WOOD HOME.

26 KNOX|

Never in a million years would I have

thought I would become a teacher. Even

as a well-rounded and enthusiastic student

through grade school and high school, I

know there were things I did to turn my

teachers’ hair gray and I was never eager

for karma to return that favor. In fact, I did

not study education in college. I studied

journalism. But somewhere during all the

interviews and storytelling of learning to

be a journalist, I realized that to remain a

working and responsible member of society

after college, I needed a new career path.

I also knew that I wanted a career that

was intrinsically philanthropic. Ironically

enough, when I sat down to consider my

journalism of course) I discovered that I

had an extensive list of experiences with

children, including working in a pre-K

classroom at a day care center and

volunteering to tutor and mentor youth at

the local YMCA throughout all four years

of college. I even spent a summer working

as a counselor for Summer Adventures at

Knox. This realization led me to question

whether teaching might be the path for me.

I did not have the degree, so I researched

other kid-centered careers and Teach for

America (TFA) popped up several times in

my inquiries. I had seen recruiters for

TFA on my college campus countless

times but did not fully understand what the

organization was about. I had nothing to

lose, so I decided to attend an information

session. It was after that session when I

knew I would become a teacher. I applied

to TFA and was accepted. I was extremely

grateful knowing how competitive

acceptance into the corps is.

Teach for America was founded in 1990 by

Wendy Kopp who saw that many students,

especially those in urban and rural areas,

were not receiving quality education. She

thought if strong leaders were taught the

best teaching practices then they would

not only become leaders in their own

classrooms but also leaders outside of the

classroom, advocating for disadvantaged

students in these urban and rural areas

across the country. That, in a nutshell, is

the Teaching as Leadership model that TFA

corps members (this is what teachers are

called during their two-year commitment

in the classroom) are taught. She believed

that one day all children would have access

to educational opportunities that could put

them on the path to a promising future.

Thus, in the summer of 2007, right after I

graduated from Northwestern University,

teaching practices and applying them to

students I taught in summer school.

I did not realize it at the time, but my Knox

my decision to become an educator. I grew

up comfortably, but my parents worked

hard to give my siblings and me a better life

than they had had, which is why they sent

me to Knox. During my six years (from

grades 7-12) I was challenged academical-

ly, learned to be a team player and leader in

sports, participated in theatrical productions,

and of course, heightened my food service

skills as I waited on tables. Nearly a decade

lessons, events, projects, and even tests I

remember because I had what I felt was an

individual learning experience. The small

class size gave teachers the opportunity

to get to know each student and the space

to create lessons that reached us on our

level. And I was able to solidify those

relationships in afterschool activities as

my teachers were also my coaches.

Consequently, this is the approach I take

to education. I try to make each child feel

like an individual but still part of a team,

whether I am in the classroom teaching

or on the volleyball court coaching.

M Y U N E X P E C T E D D E C I S I O N T O T E A C H F O R A M E R I C A

B Y R A E D E L L C A N N I E ’ 0 3

BELOW: R AEDELL IN 2007 DURING

HER FIRST YEAR OF TEACHING.

27FALL 2011 |

During my four years at my placement school (only

learning in the classroom with my students. I spent

many hours and dollars designing lessons that not

only gave my students the academic/study skills they

needed to be college-bound, but also the necessary

to “get it.” At the start of the 2010-2011 school year,

72 percent of my students met or exceeded the

reading standards and only 27 percent met the

standards for math. However, on the end-of-the-year

standardized test, 96 percent of my class met the

reading standards and amazingly, 87 percent rose

to the standard in math.

There are those who fault TFA corps members for

swooping into schools with little experience and a lot

organization’s dedication to changing the lives of

young people— something I personally believe is

important. Like so many of my teachers and coaches

at Knox, I know the power of consistent positive adult

my students. It is abundantly clear to me that the best

educators are not necessarily the most extensively

trained or the most traditional. I believe the best

educators do not follow the beaten path but make a

pathway of their own and encourage their students

to do the same.

TOP:R AEDELL VOLUNTEERING AS A COACH FOR AN ELEVEN AND T WELVE YEAR OLD GIRL’S COMMUNIT Y VOLLEYBALL TEAM.

R IGH T: R AEDELL DURING THE 2010 -11 SCHOOL YEAR WHEN SHE POSTED ON FACEBOOK, “NOW YOU HAVE AN IDEA WHAT HAPPENS IN ROOM 29. SOMEHOW, LEARNING HAPPENS TOO!”

28 KNOX|

Counseling welcomes a new director, Stephen Pendley. Steve, who

remains Chair of the History Department, begins his 10th year in

independent schools and his 4th year at Knox. Apart from college

counseling, he will serve as the coordinator for standardized testing

and will assist students with course requests and schedule changes.

He will also continue to teach two classes. To prepare for his new

role, Steve attended both the New York State Association of Col-

lege Admission Counseling Conference (NYSACAC) in Saratoga

and the national conference (NACAC) in New Orleans. Steve will

be put to the test this year given the increase in student enrollment

and the large senior class. To his advantage, Steve has taught US

History to nearly every member of the Class of 2012. He will be

Spahr, as well as fellow counselors George K. Allison H ’81 , E.

Janice Zingale H ’83 and George Naron. Combined, this group

of College Counseling faces the daunting task of matching or

surpassing the impressive list of college acceptances, scholarship

offers, and other awards achieved by the Class of 2011, which was

by all accounts an exceptional class. Apart from an impressive list

of 105 college acceptances across the United States and the globe,

the twenty members of the Class of 2011 managed to accumulate

a record $1.442 million in scholarships. Valedictorian Elijah Kim

was granted a 4-year $120,000 scholarship to the Webb Institute,

enrolled in the Knox School’s Advanced Placement program. Of

the twenty-seven exams administered at Knox in May of 2011, six-

ty-three percent received a score of “4” or better and a record 44%

scored a perfect “5” on their exams. Two members of the class, Ji

Sub Choi and Elijah Kim, were recognized as AP Scholars by the

College Board. The designation of AP Scholar is given to students

who receive scores of “3” or higher on three or more AP exams. Ji

Sub and Elijah both averaged scores of 4.67 during their years at

Knox. The Knox School congratulates the Class of 2011 on their

achievements and wishes them well in their future endeavors.

O N C A M P U S A N D B E Y O N D

A B A N N E R Y E A R I N C O L L E G E C O U N S E L I N G AT

K N O X A N D A N E W L E A D E R AT T H E H E L M By Sharon Lawrence, Assistant Headmaster for Academics

A BOV E: LUCIA SPAHR, ADMINISTR ATIVE ASSISTANT FOR COLLEGE COUNSELING, WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE DIRECTOR AND OTHER COUNSELORS TO ASSURE A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION PROCESS

FOR KNOX SENIORS. R IGH T: STEPHEN PENDLEY, DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING.

29FALL 2011 |

G A B R I E L L A W E S S L E R : O N E O F T E N

E X T R A O R D I N A R Y L O N G I S L A N D S E N I O R S B y E . J a n i c e Z i n g a l e H ’8 3

Each year, Newsday recognizes ten “Extraordinary Seniors”

from all of Long Island and features them in the annual special

section on graduates. High schools may nominate one excep-

tional individual for consideration and in 2011 Knox Student

Council President Gabriella “Gabby” Wessler was selected.

Titled “Firmly in the Saddle”, the Newsday article focused not

only on Gabriella’s commitment to The Knox School Eques-

trian Program, but also on her life as a hearing child

of deaf parents. Reporter John Hildebrand stated,

“Gabriella Wessler understands the importance of building

bridges between those who hear and those who don’t.”

this did not inhibit her from building the verbal and

written communication skills she required to be a high

achieving student. In addition, serving as her parents’

ears and voice helped her to develop remarkable

resilience, sensitivity and tenacity as a person.

A student at Knox since seventh grade, Gabriella’s

contribution to school life was notable. She participat-

ed in the Bedstone College British Exchange Program

as a freshman, founded an American Sign Language

Club on campus, served on Student Council as White

Team Captain and then as President in her senior year.

She was also Vice President of the Semper ad Lucem

Chapter of The National Honor Society. She organized

numerous fundraisers on campus and organized an

ongoing Student Council initiative to support a child

A BOV E: GABRIELL A WITH THE 2011 CHALLENGE AWARD.LEF T: GABRIELL A WITH HER T WO FAVORITE KNOX HORSES QUINCY AND KEEBLER.

in Ethiopia through Save the Children. It is no surprise that Gabriella

received numerous permanent awards during her years at Knox.

Gabriella’s love for horses is a driving force in her life. Accepted

to every equine studies program where she applied, she is currently

studying at Colorado State University and enjoying the new experience

of riding Western. She plans on becoming a veterinarian and motivated

by her mother’s experience, she also hopes to open a riding center

for the hearing impaired. Gabby explains, “A lot of people think deaf

people aren’t capable of certain things. My mom wanted to ride when

she was little, but the trainer said ‘she can’t hear, so she can’t ride’.”

There is no doubt that Gabriella Wessler will dispel such myths

and achieve all of her goals.

30 KNOX|

This summer, Knox School Summer Adventures reached an

important milestone – ten years of success as a premier Long

Island summer day camp. The program began a decade ago with

grounds, or sojourn off the campus on trips that are entertaining,

educational and cultural all at the same time. Summer Adventures,

which began in 2003 through the efforts of former Knox teacher,

Kristen Tillona and then Headmaster Graham Brown, is now under

the guidance of Camp Director, Bob Polcha and Executive Director,

Knox School Athletic Director Walter Townes.

As The Knox School Summer Adventures Program has grown,

so have the number of unique offerings available to campers. The

“Horse Sense” program designed for children who have never been

on a horse before is a sold out success; during the 2011 season,

overnight residential soccer program which we hope will grow.

Campers participate in science, arts and crafts, drama, music, dance,

chess, board games, kayaking on Stony Brook Harbor and so much

more. Riding and tennis lessons continue to round out our special

summer program.

A baseball specialty camp, directed by former Los Angeles Dodger

just one year and is currently being offered four out of the seven

weeks of the camp’s duration. Performing arts are also in the

forefront of Summer Adventures, with offerings in both dance

and theater. To display their theatrical talents, campers involved in

theater present performances such as The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan,

and Beauty and the Beast for the community and camp families

to enjoy.

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y T O U S ! C E L E B R A T I N G

T E N Y E A R S O F S U M M E R A D V E N T U R E S

By Darlene Belnick and Virginia Riccardi

31FALL 2011 |

In 2012, new initiatives will become part of The Knox School

Summer Adventures Program. Students can avoid the “summer

slide” by attending engaging workshops in reading, writing, math

and science during early morning sessions and still enjoy all of the

other exciting activities camp has to offer for the remainder of the

day. In addition, Lacrosse will be added as a sport specialty

our commitment to the well-being and happiness of each child.

Camp directors are extremely selective when hiring their staff to

ensure a safe, relevant and fun experience for all campers. Some

of the most memorable and outstanding counselors have been (and

still are), our own Knox alumni, who come back to the “Home Be-

side the Shore” that they all miss and love so much, even if it’s only

for seven short weeks each summer.

32 KNOX|

This is an exciting time for Knox Athletics

as we continue our association with an

expanded Independent Private and

Parochial Schools Athletic League

(IPPSAL), where competitive balance

among member schools is fostered and

new and renewed rivalries are developed.

Being part of IPPSAL allows Knox athletes

to square off against their peers from the

tri-state area, building their athletic prowess

and sportsmanship. Last year’s IPPSAL

experience was a productive one, especially

for the Varsity Baseball Team, which

and was featured in a spread in Newsday

after a remarkable season.

The revival of the Knox Crew Team, led

by head coach Katherine Faigen, is also a

continued source of pride for our school

trained hard and won local and regional

regattas. At the state regatta in Saratoga, the

Crew’s novice boat placed third in the state

in their division. Crew began their workouts

early this year, with newly hired mathema-

tics teacher Robert Walter assisting Coach

Faigen during some spirited practices with

the twenty returning and new rowers.

the Interscholastic Equestrian Association

(IEA) has opened many doors for Knox

Equestrians to compete on a more regular

basis. Through the efforts of Equestrian

Program Director Debbie Moore, Knox is

proud to have been selected by IEA to host

one of its biggest competitions of the fall

2011 season that features approximately

eighty riders from near and far. And

speaking of near and far, in addition to

adding two local students to this year’s

team; in September, Knox welcomed a rider

from Ethiopia, adding a new dynamic to the

spirit and diversity of the Equestrian Team.

The Cross Country Team has picked up

where they left off last year with a group of

runners already posting some impressive

results, both in terms of wins and in

improving personal times. Head Coach

Duncan L. Marshall and new Assistant

Coach Kaitlin DeFrancesco are proud of

the results they are seeing, especially in

light of a very demanding and competitive

schedule. The Volleyball Team has also

continued to show that last year’s results

wins versus OSNA and Bay Ridge Prep.

Even amidst some heartbreaking losses,

Coaches Elizabeth Campbell and Rachel

Ormsby continue to raise the bar for this

inspiring group of young ladies!

Our Soccer team is off to a fast start with

wins against Kew Forest, Waldorf and

Portledge led by veteran players and a trio

of newcomers from Spain. The addition of

Co-Coach Stuart Guthrie and the

establishment of an up-tempo attack

seems to be working well for the team.

Although Girls Tennis has been going

through some tough sledding as they miss

the veteran presence of last year’s team

leaders, there has been some very promising

play from this year’s athletes. Undoubtedly,

this will be a true teaching year for Coaches

Emma Sharkey and Sonia Rodriguez, but

next year – WATCH OUT!

as we work in conjunction with Gold’s

Gym on creating a healthier environment in

order for our Parents Association for giving

us the opportunity to purchase much needed

exercise equipment! We appreciate your

belief in our program and shared vision

for our Knox student-athletes.

The excitement generated by Knox

Athletics continues to build as we expand

our reach to include competitors in the IVY

League Section 11 of Suffolk County and

numerous other leagues across the tri-state

area. Visit our website at www.knoxschool.

org for a complete athletic calendar and

come down and join us in supporting our

athletes at a home game. GO FALCONS!

LEF T: R IDERS PREPARING FOR THE MUSICAL RIDE IN THE BARN. R IGH T: CROSS COUNTRY MEET ON CAMPUS.

AT H L E T I C S

F R O M T H E A D ’ S D E S K – F A L C O N P R I D E

O N T H E R I S E

by Walter Townes, Director of Athletics

33FALL 2011 |

In a gray and sepia photo in the 1940

edition of Roseleaves, six women – all in

white – sit in a long wooden boat and hold

wooden oars, ready to take a stroke. The

water is black and glassy. The woman in the

three-seat, Virginia Allen, cannot seem to

contain her smile, and you can almost hear

coxswain Adelina Copello directing her

Crew: “Lean, Hup, 1-2-3, Lean, Hup.”

The images of the 1940 Knox Rowing

Team differ greatly from those of Crew

today. Our equipment is lighter, faster, we

wear spandex, our coxswains communicate

using microphones rather than wooden

bullhorns, and you would never see a

six-man shell on the water. However,

there is one phrase from the 1940 edition

of Roseleaves that connects the rowers of

Knox’s past to their present: “[They]

practice more strenuously for crew than

for any other sport at Knox.”

Crew is a multi-dimensional sport that

demands constant focus and mixes intense

endurance and strength training with

to maintain, a rowing program teaches

one of the most valuable lessons that can

be learned in high school: that hard work

pays off. There is a sense of achievement

that comes from being able to accomplish

a rowing workout; a rush of euphoria when

minute race; a sense of belonging to

something greater than yourself.

Last year Knox had an epic racing season.

put together a Novice Men’s A and B Boat

as well as a Novice Women’s Boat. We had

an incredibly diligent and dedicated squad

who, in the fall, went up against novice

boats from Stony Brook University and

won every race. In the spring, the girls’

team won bronze at the Big Duck Regatta,

the B Boat came in second in their heat

at Long Island Championships, and the

A Boat won their races at Big Duck, Long

Island Championships, and earned

scholastic bronze at the New York State

Championships – a race that boasted

twenty-four different schools.

seniors, this year’s team

added twelve new members

and a varsity squad, as well

as new water-coach Allison

Potter and land-coach

Robert Walter. This fall, Knox is training

a Girl’s Crew, three Novice Men’s Boats,

and a Varsity Boat. In the spring we hope to

also develop a Men’s Junior Varsity Squad.

Our goal for the future is to build a stable,

powerful Crew at Knox; to maintain the

rich and vivid history of Knox Rowing.

Knox Crew has the potential to grow into a

powerhouse Long Island team, but alumni

and parent support is crucial to its success.

The team has developed a wish list of

equipment necessary to practice and

compete. Among our needs are the

following: A six boat trailer, Four-man

racing shells (new or used), A Chase Boat

(4 person motor boat), A Nielson Kellerman

Cox-Box + microphone, Concept 2 Model

C D or E Ergometer, Boat Slings, Boat

Skegs and Coxed 4 Boat Covers. If you

are interested in helping Knox Crew with

Development. Good luck Knox Crew!

“ T H E Y M A K E F A S T T H E O L D T R A D I -

T I O N S,” R E V I V I N G C R E W A T K N O X

By Katherine Faigen, Head Crew Coach

CROSS OARS 2011: KNOX CREW 2010 -2011: BACK ROW: R ACHEL SU ’15, WILL L I ’11, TAI J IN ’13, ALLEN J IANG ’12, CYRIL TAO ’11, COACH STUART GUTHRIE . MIDDLE ROW: CICI WU ’15, PETER LEE ’12, OWEN LI ’12, R ACHEL K IM ’11, COACH K ATHERINE FAIGEN.

FRONT ROW: TREVOR HENDERSON ’14, EL IJAH KIM ’11, FRED XU ’13, JAMES QUAN ’12, K AREN KLOSSON ’12.

34 KNOX|

Presented in the Wm. Turner Shoemaker Theater May

6 and 7, 2011, Little Women the Musical follows the

saga of the March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. It

is set in New England during the Civil War, where the

girls live with their mother “Marmee” while their father

is away serving as a chaplain in the Union Army. This

“coming-of-age tale” uses life’s joys and misfortunes as

teachable moments for the girls, with the protagonist,

Jo, at the hub of the family dynamic. Directed by E.

Janice Zingale H ’83, this show marked her twenty-

eighth musical theater production for Knox and her sixth

collaboration with Musical Director Ellen Spergel. The

cast featured sophomore Alexandra Edwards, a veteran

performer who aspires to a career in musical theater in

the role of “Jo,” as well as sisters Taylour and Breanna

Dickerson, juniors who also plan to pursue musical

theater in college, playing the roles of “Marmee” and

“Beth” respectively. The sensible “Meg” was played by

Ulia Li and the youngest March sister “Amy” by Janae

James. Chi Li was very believable as Professor Behar

and Andy Fu’s wonderful tenor voice soared in the role

of John Brooke. Freshman Erik Cerini was engaging

as the romantic “Laurie” and Gulem Akcay, a rising

senior from Turkey, was a favorite in the role of “Aunt

March.” Rounding out the cast were junior James Quan

as “Mr. Laurence” and eighth grader Cici Wu as “Mrs

Kirk.” The stage manager for this production was senior

Cecilia Wu, who did a wonderful job of stewarding the

cast and the director.

A R T S

L I T T L E W O M E N T H E M U S I C A L

F E A T U R I N G A N I N T E R N A T I O N A L C A S T

O F S E A S O N E D P E R F O R M E R S

by E. Janice Zingale H’83, Chair of Visual and Performing Arts

35FALL 2011 |

1. JO AND PROFESSOR BEHAR GET ACQUAINTED AT MRS. K IRK’S BOARDING HOUSE.

2. THE MARCH SISTERS LOOK ON AS MARMEE READS A LET TER FROM PAPA.

3. AMY AND AUNT MARCH RETURN HOME FROM EUROPE.

4. MARMEE WRITES A LET TER TO PAPA.

5. “THE MOST AMAZING THING” – AMY AND L AURIE ARE ENGAGED.

6. BETH AND AMY LISTEN INTENTLY.

7. JOHN BROOKE ASKS MEG TO DANCE AT THE BALL .

8. JO SHARES SAD NEWS WITH MRS. KIRK AND PROFESSOR BEHAR.

9. THE MARCH SISTERS REHEARSE AN “OPER ATIC TR AGEDY” TO PERFORM AT THE CHRISTMAS CELEBR ATION.

36 KNOX|

T H E T R A D I T I O N O F T R I P S T O B R O A D W A Y A N D T H E

M E T R O P O L I T A N O P E R A I N N E W Y O R K C O N T I N U E S

L INNUO ZHENG ’11 POSES WITH HER TEACHER, ARTIST CHRISTIAN WHITE,

DURING HER SENIOR SHOW IN THE SOL ARIUM GALLERY.

The Visual and Performing Arts

Department offers students cultural

enrichment through its continuing

relationship with Access Opera at

the New York Metropolitan Opera and

Education at the Roundabout Theater.

We also take advantage of musical

and theatrical performances as well

as a variety of visual arts exhibits

and group excursions both locally and

in New York. Music students continue

to participate in the New York State

School Music Association (NYSSMA)

Festival and All-State auditions and

visual artists are earning honors in

various juried art shows.

LEF T: SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK WAS AN ADVENTURE FOR THIS GROUP OF EXCITED UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS. R IGH T: PERFORMING ARTS STUDENTS ENJOYING THE CIT Y L IGHTS.

K N O X V I S U A L A R T I S T S S H O W T H E I R W O R K

E. JANICE Z INGALE H ’83, CHAIR OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, AND DOROTHEA COOK, INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DIRECTOR, POSE AT L INCOLN CENTER IN FRONT OF THE PL ACARD FOR PUCCINI ’S LA FANCUILLA DEL WEST STARRING DEBOR AH VOIGT WITH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND VOCAL ENSEMBLE STUDENTS.

Knox visual artists are encouraged to

enter their work into various exhibits

and juried shows throughout the year.

In addition, senior art students are given

the opportunity to present solo shows of

their work in the Knox Solarium Gallery.

Among those who exhibited last school

year was Linnuo Zheng ‘11, who won the

Fay Kaplowitz Scholarship (4th place) in

the Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at

the Heckscher Museum juried show from

April 9, 2011 - May 1, 2011. Her work

was a digital print entitled

Marilyn Monroe.

37FALL 2011 |

G R O W I N G I N S T R U M E N T A L M U S I C P R O G R A M A T K N O X

Dorothea Cook, Instrumental Music Director

When I was approached by E. Janice Zingale H ’83 in the summer

of 2010 to explore the possibility of developing a string program

for middle school students at The Knox School, I was immediately

intrigued with the idea. I had just completed the Mark O’Connor

Teacher Training Course in New York City, an approach that uses

setting my sights on developing a traditional string orchestra,

I decided to form an old-time string band – a group of violins

I also decided to augment the repertoire with music from the

students’ own cultures, melodies from Korea and China. The result

was a resounding success. By the end of the year, the students

(some of whom had never touched a violin before) were not just

able to play the right notes – they played with heart. I was

tremendously proud of them.

The positive experience I had working with the middle school

students led me to think about ways to expand the instrumental

program to include high school students – students who are already

-

This fall, we offered high school students the opportunity to play in

The Knox Chamber Music Ensemble and I am happy to report that

already rehearsing a beautiful arrangement of Jay Unger’s

“Ashokan Farewell.” In addition to playing together as an

ensemble, these players will form duos and trios, performing a

variety of repertoire throughout the year.

Key to the success of both the middle and high school programs

are periodic visits by guest artists who sit in with the students,

coaching and guiding them through rehearsals and occasionally

joining them for performances. It is my belief that there is no better

way for a young musician to learn than sitting next to a seasoned

professional. Equally important to the program’s success is the gift

of having an “in house” composer and arranger associated with

Knox, my husband, Peter Winkler, who teaches music composi-

tion at Stony Brook University. Peter’s ability to create elegant,

accessible arrangements for any combination of instruments gives

students the luxury of playing music that is tailor made for them.

It is my hope that a culture of active music making will begin to

together on their own to play music for the sheer enjoyment of it,

playing everything from composed music to improvised music,

from Bach to the Blues.

LEF T: UPPER SCHOOL CHAMBER ENSEMBLE WITH DIRECTOR DOROTHEA COOK FAR RIGHT

R IGH T: MIDDLE SCHOOL STRINGS

38 KNOX|

ALBUM: ALUMNI ON CAMPUSC E L E B R A T I N G A L I F E

W E L L L I V E DA memorial celebration was held on cam-

pus in honor of former Headmaster Clifford

Kapps Eriksen H ’76 on Saturday, April 2,

capacity with alumni, past faculty and staff,

current and past trustees, as well as friends

and family from far and near. The program

included a slide show entitled “That Was

the Life That Was” reminiscent of the end-of-

the-year presentations Cliff enjoyed prepar-

ing when he was Headmaster, followed by

tributes, of which there were many. After the

service, everyone gathered in the Solarium

for tea sandwiches and Cliff’s favorite, donuts

and chocolate milk.

5. A PHOTO OF SCOT T BARGER ‘ 9 9, MEL ISSA SCHNEIDER BARGER ’0 0 AND IN YOUNG CHOI ’01 TAK EN BY A SSIS TANT HE ADMA S TER FOR ALUMNI AFFAIRS, E . JANICE Z INGALE H ‘83 IN L ATE AUGUS T 2 011 AT THE BARGER HOME IN SAINT JAMES, JUS T BEFORE IN YOUNG TR AVELED BACK TO SEOUL AF TER TAK ING THE NE W YORK S TATE BAR E X AM, WHICH SHE INCIDENTALLY PA SSED ON HER FIRS T TRY!

6 . ALUMS COME OUT TO SUPPORT R IDERS AT THE 2 011 SPRING JUNIOR OLY MPIC S: CECIL IA WANG ’11 (ON HORSEBACK ). LEF T TO RIGHT: JESSIC A WEN ’10 , SAR AH TRIOL A ’0 8 , GABRIELL A WESSLER ’11, EQUES -TRIAN PROGR AM DIREC TOR DEBBIE MOORE.

R IGH T: BEN ERIKSEN ’ 9 0 WHO SERVED A S MA S TER OF CEREMONIES FOR HIS FATHER ’S SERV ICE. A BOV E: FR AN ZEPP H ’ 97, PA S T CHAIR

OF THE K NOX ENGLISH DEPARTMENT AND THE SIS TER OF EL SA ERIKSEN, OFFERS HER TRIBUTE TO CL IFF.

1. SENIOR HOLIDAY C ANDLELIGHT SINGING: JAK E SOMMERS ’0 9, PHIL SCOT T ’0 8 , GABRIELL A WESSLER ’11, BRIANNE SULLIVAN ’09.

2 . ’ 87 CL A SSMATES BILL BRERE TON AND HE ATHER GR AHAM BARIS RECONNEC T AT L IT TLE WOMEN THE MUSIC AL .

3 . CL A SS OF 2 010 FRIENDS EMILY GL ADS TEIN AND DEREK FE ARON AT L IT TLE WOMEN THE MUSIC AL .

4 . L IT TLE WOMEN THE MUSIC AL : PA S T S TUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT COLL IN LEE ’10 WITH DUNC AN L . MARSHALL , A SSIS TANT HE ADMAS TER FOR ENROLLMENT AND E X TERNAL AFFAIRS.

R IGH T: ’8 4 CL A SSMATE MICHAEL SCHENK ER WITH T IM ERIKSEN (CENTER), ELDES T SON

OF CL IFFORD AND EL SA ERIKSEN, AND A SSIS TANT HE ADMA S TER FOR

ALUMNI AFFAIRS AND FAMILY FRIEND, E . JANICE Z INGALE.

39FALL 2011 |

4. PA S T S TUDENTS AND FACULT Y AT COMMENCEMENT 2 011. PA S T MATH TE ACHER S TEPHEN CHU, PHIL SCOT T ’0 8 , BECK Y BR ANDS TE T TER ’0 8 , BR IANNE SULL IVAN ’0 9, JON L IDDLE ’10 , PA S T ESL DEPT. CHAIR BRENDA PIGOU, JOEL HIRSCH ’07, EMILY GL ADS TEIN ’10 , DEREK FE ARON ’10 , PA S T ARTS DEPT. CHAIR L AUR A WHITE, JOHN BOY D ’0 9, PA S T DIREC TOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING ALYSSA O’BRIEN, NICK REINA ’10 AND PA S T ENGLISH DEPT. CHAIR L INDA BUTLER.

5 . K ARIM MENOUF Y ’ 97 RE TURNED TO C AMPUS WITH HIS F IANCÉ JORDANNE FOR THE FIRS T T IME SINCE HIS GR AD -UATION. THE Y ENJOYED SEEING THE MANY IMPROVEMENTS AND SHARING MEMORIES WITH E . JANICE Z INGALE H ’83 , WHO DIREC TED K ARIM IN SE VER-AL K NOX THE ATRIC AL PRODUC TIONS. A NICE SURPRISE WA S SEEING SCHOOL NURSE K ATHLEEN SLE V IN (PIC TURED WITH K ARIM AND JORDANNE ).

6 . ON LONG ISL AND FOR AN AUGUS T FAMILY WEDDING, R AEDELL C ANNIE ’03 BROUGHT MICHAEL KUCK ENS ’02 “BACK TO SCHOOL” FOR A TOUR OF THE C AMPUS AND LUNCH AT A LOC AL MIDDLE E A S TERN RES TAUR ANT WITH A SSIS TANT HE ADMA S TER FOR ALUMNI AFFAIRS E. JANICE Z INGALE H ’83 .

7. IT WA S GRE AT TO HAVE JUL IA MUMFORD ’61 AND HER HUSBAND HARRY (PIC TURED WITH E . JANICE Z INGALE H ’83 NE AR THE FRONT ENTR ANCE TO K NIPE ) WITH US FOR THE DEDIC ATION OF THE K NIPE COT TAGE E XPANSION.

8 . TOM K REIGER ’78 AND HIS WIFE C AROL PAID A SURPRISE V IS IT TO C AMPUS OVER THE SUMMER AND ENJOY ED C ATCHING UP WITH HE ADMA S TER GEORGE K . ALL ISON H ’81 , WHO K NE W TOM WELL DURING HIS K NOX Y E ARS.

C O M I N G H O M E !

A L U M N I A L W A Y S H AV E

A N O P E N I N V I T A T I O N

T O V I S I T T H E C A M P U S1. S IS TER AND BROTHER, JESSIC A BOY D ’0 6 AND JOHN BOY D ’0 9 V IS ITED C AMPUS IN THE WINTER OF 2 011 JUS T BEFORE A SNOW S TORM AND TRE ATED THE Z INGALES TO DINNER.

2 . 2 0 0 9 CL A SSMATES COLIN GOODRICH AND PROPHE T MANA SSEH JORDAN MADE A V IS IT TO C AMPUS IN THE SPRING TO SAY “HELLO” TO E. JANICE Z INGALE H ’83 . COLIN IS L IV ING IN C AL IFORNIA AND MANA SSEH IS TR AVEL ING WITH HIS MINIS TRY.

3 . PE TER DEBE T TA ’8 6 , WHO AL SO TAUGHT MATH AT K NOX DURING THE 19 9 0 -91 SCHOOL YE AR, ENJOYED SHARING HIS “HOME BESIDE THE SHORE” FOR THE FIRS T T IME WITH HIS WIFE CL AUDIA AND THEIR CHILDREN CHRIS AND K ATE DURING A SPRINGTIME TRIP FROM TE X A S.

40 KNOX|

STAYING CONNECTED: ALUMNI

REUNIONS AND GATHERINGS

A Y E A R I N R E V I E W

The Empire Room in the

Landmark Empire State Building

was a great venue.

1. SHINTARO K USAK ABE ’ 93 , FORMER DIREC TOR OF COLLEGE COUNSEL ING AND INTERNATIONAL S TUDENT CO -ORDINATOR PE TER OEHRLEIN, SUSAN BA X TER ’0 0 , A I ITO WHIT TAK ER ’0 0 .

2 . A M ANDA ANTOS YARRINGTON ’ 9 0 , WHO TR AV ELED FROM NE W ME XICO; CL A SS AGENT ANNA R AFK IN WIL SON ’ 9 2 AND HER S IS TER TA M AR A ‘87

BACK ROW: JA MES SHILKOFF ’8 8 , HE A DM A S TER GEORGE K . ALL ISON H ’81, PA S T FACULT Y JOHN Z IEGLER, DAV ID BELL , JONATHAN GABY ’ 9 2 , JEFF BUCK , L ILL IE TRUMP BUCK ’8 6 , WENDY PERONE K UPK A’8 5 , SAGE K ROELL , MIDDLE ROW: ANDRE A SHILKOFF, NICOLE ALL ISON, LUC Y ALL ISON, MEL ISSA K APL AN BELL ’ 97, L AURIE GABY, E . JANICE Z INGALE H ’8 3 . K NEEL ING: ALL ISON BURNSON ’8 3 , IN YOUNG CHOI ’01, DONG JU NA M ’10 .

In November of 2010, a gathering of Atlanta

area alumni was held in Roswell, at the home of

Ed and Sage Kroell. It was a wonderful evening

of reconnecting with a wide range of classes and

enjoying delicious Italian food. We gathered as

a group for this commemorative photo:

R AFK IN ’87, WHO TR AV ELED FROM BELGIUM.

3 . HE A DM A S TER GEORGE K . ALL ISON H ’81, PA S T TE ACHER BOBBI N ICHOLL S AND DUNC AN L . M A RSH A L L , A SSIS TA NT HE A DM A S TER FOR E X TERNAL AFFAIRS .

4 . PA S T TRUS TEE AND ‘ 5 6 CL A SS AGENT BE T T Y MINE T TE S WIT ZER COOPER, PE TER WINK ER, FACULT Y SPOUSE; DOROTHE A COOK , D IREC TOR OF INS TRUMENTAL MUSIC AT K NOX AND CHARLES COOPER.

5 . TRUS TEE PELLY DA MIANOS ’8 6 AND HIS WIFE M ARILY N.

BACK : ALE X PA SS ’8 4 , BROOK E GA DA SI , DUNC AN MARSHALL , SOLEDA D FERNANDE Z-WHITECHURCH, FRONT: PA S T SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIR DR . CHRIS R IFF, E . JANICE Z INGALE H ’8 3 , BOB BAK ER ’8 4 , GEORGE K . ALL ISON H ’81.

C H I C A G O G A T H E R I N G

A T C R O F T O N O N W E L L S

R E S T A U R A N T

A T L A N T A G A T H E R I N G

3 R D A N N U A L K N O X

N Y C E V E N T

41FALL 2011 |

A L U M N I A F F A I R S G O E S T O H O U S T O NIn early July, Janice and Frank Zingale traveled to Houston, Janice’s hometown, and reconnected with ’93 Class Agent Kim Massengill

Klevenhagen, who is looking forward to renewing her involvement with Knox and her class. There was also a small gathering at the home

of J’Anne and Jeff Rawson P ’96 in Tanglewood. Hosting the party at his mother’s home was ’96 Class Agent Whitten Stuckey and his

wife Brooke.

LEF T: GATHERING IN TANGLE WOOD: BACK ROW: A SHTON S TRESAU, NICOLE FERTIT TA ’01, WHIT TEN S TUCK E Y ’ 96 , BROOK E S TUCK E Y, JEFF R AWSON, J ’ANN R AWSON. FRONT ROW: E . JANICE Z INGALE H ’8 3 , FR ANK Z INGALE, PE TER DEBE T TA ’8 6 , CL AUDIA DEBE T TA AND DEBE T TA CHILDREN CHRIS AND K ATE.

A BOV E: JANICE AND FR ANK Z INGALE WITH K IM M A SSENGILL K LE V ENHAGEN ’ 93 .

1. OUR FINAL FLORIDA GATHERING WAS A COCKTAIL PARTY ON MARCH 11TH IN CORAL GABLES AT THE RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB AS MEMBER GUESTS OF LUCY ALLISON’S COUSIN, HECTOR MOLENA. BACK: RICHARD BLOCK, CARLA TIMM ’81, GEORGE K. ALLISON H ’81, CHUCK VALDES, GABRIELLA SCHMIDT ’06. FRONT: ALYCE SAUVE TURCOTTE ’91, E. JANICE ZINGALE H ’83, MARIELA AMON ’79, ESTHER BLOCK, LUCY ALLISON, FRANK ZINGALE, RODRIGO AGUILAR ’95, MONICA AGUILAR.

2 . MARCH 9 IN PALM BEACH GARDENS WAS LUNCH AT WATERWAY CAFÉ. BACK: GEORGE K. ALLISON H ’81, JENNIFER MARLEY ’85, BARBARA BORG ’72, BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR EILEEN REINA, NICK REINA ’10. FRONT: ALLISON POU-TIATINE’85, LUCY ALLISON, E. JANICE ZINGALE H ’83, FRANK ZINGALE.

3 . THE MARCH 4TH GATHERING IN ORLANDO AT CARIERA’S CUCINA ITALIAN. BACK ROW: TANYA SHERMAN NICHOLLS ’85, GEORGE K. ALLISON H ’81, JANICE ZINGALE H’83 FRANK ZINGALE SEATED: SUNANDA PILGRIM REID ’91 AND HER SONS JARED (LEFT) AND JUSTIN (RIGHT).

4 . AL SO S TOPPING IN AT M ARINA JACK’S WERE BRIAN L IP TON ’8 0 (NE X T TO GEORGE ALL ISON) AND HIS PARTNER JOSEPH GIANGUZ ZO.

5 . ON MARCH 10TH IN BOCA RATON, WE EN-JOYED A LIGHT DINNER AT MAX’S GRILL. BACK ROW: GEORGE K. ALLISON H ’81, GUS SOUZA, EMIR YILDIZ ’02, STACEY GREENBAUM. BACK LEFT; FRANK ZINGALE, LUCY ALLISON AND LAURA SOUZA ’81, MIDDLE: E. JANICE ZINGALE H ’83 AND FRONT: LISA CEPARANO STOKES ’84, SHANE BARTA ’84.

6 . BRUNCH ON MARCH 6TH IN SARASOTA AT MARINA JACK’S. BACK: GEORGE K. ALLISON H ‘81, CANDACE DIPIETRO H ’91, MARY BROWNBACK KOPPELS ’60, LUCY ALLISON, SANDRA HUNDLEY, JACK HUNDLEY, E. JANICE ZINGALE H ’83 , SHEILA YENNY JORDAN ’99 AND HER HUSBAND DEREK WITH THEIR SONS, CORALYN LYNN ’48, ROBERT LYNN; FRONT: MARK WILSON, LAURA WILSON ’69, FRANK ZANGALE.

S P R I N G B R E A K I N F L O R I D A In 2011, for the third consecutive year, Knox sponsored Florida Regional Reunions during

the School’s Spring Break, hosted by George and Lucy Allison and Frank and Janice Zingale.

42 KNOX|

T H E K N O X S C H

6 . NE W ALUMNI A SSOCIATION PRESIDENT L AUR A SPAULDING DR AGON ’79 AND HER

HUSBAND CHRIS PERUSE MEMOR ABIL IA WITH ’73 CL A SSM ATES DEBBIE SCHOLL

C ALDWELL AND K AREN WIL SON LUND IN THE BACKGROUND.

7. ALUMNI WERE GREE TED BY THE SMIL ING FACES OF A DMINIS TR ATIV E A SSIS TANT FOR ALUMNI AND E X TERNAL AFFAIRS CHRIS TINE BERRY (LEF T ) AND A SSIS TANT TO C AMP AND DE V ELOPMENT DARLENE BELNICK .

8 . PINDAR DA MIA -NOS ’ 95 D ISCUSSED A BOT TLE OF LONG ISL AND WHITE WITH TED PARK ’07.

4 . ALUMNI JOY FULLY GATHER AROUND GEORGE AND LUC Y ALL ISON AT THE GAL A AUC TION D INNER. BACK : GEORGE K . ALL ISON H ’81, ANDRES PAGAN ’8 5 , PA S T FACULT Y MEMBER C ARL SPARFELD. MIDDLE: TAN YA SHERM AN NICHOLL S ’8 5 , ALE X PA SS ’8 4 , NICOLE ALL ISON, DAWN WIT TM AN WANDS ’8 3 , LESL IE MCCOY DRE W ’8 3 , ROBERT BAK ER ’8 4 . FRONT: LUC Y ALL ISON.

5 . YOUNG ALUMS K EENAN KOFF ’0 9 AND JESSIE THOMPSON ’10 ON HAND TO SELL R AFFLES.

A N N U A L K N O X G O L F C L A S S I CThe 5th Annual Knox Golf Classic was held at the Stonebridge

Country Club and Golf Links in Hauppauge, NY on Friday, June 10

in conjunction with Reunion 2011. Over ninety-six golfers made up

of alumni, parents and friends of the School participated and 125

guests enjoyed the Gala Auction Dinner that evening. The honoree

for this year’s event was Susan Hughes, Site Manager for Suffolk

County Bank and a hardworking member of The Knox School

Golf Committee.

1. HE A DM A S TER GEORGE K . ALL ISON H ’8 5 AND HIS DAUGHTER NICOLE WAIT ING FOR THE SHOTGUN S TART. 2 . FOURSOMES IN THEIR C ARTS L INED UP AND RE A DY TO PL AY. 3 . HONOREE SUSAN HUGHES SPE AK ING AT THE GAL A AUC TION DINNER.

T H E K N O X S C H O

43FALL 2011 |

1. CL A SS OF 1961 FR IENDS JUL IA FOS TER MUMFORD AND SYLVIA DEBENIGNO LIT TLETON (LEF T TO RIGHT ) RECEIVE A GIF T TO COMMEM -OR ATE THEIR 50TH REUNION FROM ASSIS TANT HE A DM A S TER FOR ALUMNI AFFAIRS E . JANICE Z INGALE H ’8 3 AND HE A DM A S TER GEORGE K . ALL ISON H’81.

2 . PHEBE PHILL IPS BY RNE ’6 8 OPENS THE TELL-TALE T IFFAN Y BLUE BOX TO DISCOV ER

A BE AUTIFUL CRYS TAL ROSE BOWL TO COMMEMOR ATE THE DATE OF HER D IS T INGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD.

3 . REUNION CHAIR WILL IAM “BOW TIE B ILL” MCCLEOD AND A SSIS TANT HE ADMA S TER FOR ALUMNI AFFAIRS CONGR ATUL ATE E ACH OTHER AT THE ALUMNI MEE TING.

4 . HE A DM A S TER GEORGE K . ALL ISON H ’81 ENJOY ING DANCING WITH T WO OF HIS

FAVORITE ALUMS FROM THE CL A SS OF 19 8 5 , ( LEF T TO R IGHT ) C AROLINE “FL IPPER” D ICICCO AND TAN YA SHERM AN NICHOLL S.

5 . REUNION COMMIT TEE MEMBERS LESL IE MCCOY DRE W ’8 3 AND BARRY FA DER ’8 4 , WHO AL SO DESIGNED THE REUNION LOGO AND T-SHIRTS, ARE A MUSED BY OLD Y E ARBOOKS.

R E C O N N E C T ,

R E N E W , R E A F F I R M ! A great deal of planning and good old-fashioned “elbow

grease” from Committee Chair William “Bowtie Bill”

McLeod ’84 and his committee assistants Leslie McCoy

Drew ’83 and Barry Fader ’84 went into making

Reunion 2011 a success. Bill was instrumental in not

only developing the theme and working with Barry to

design our invitation logo, but also in soliciting

auctions items for the Golf Classic as well as Alumni Day. He worked closely with Assistant Headmaster

for Alumni Affairs E. Janice Zingale H ’83 to bring new offerings to the day such as a tasting of Long Island

Wines provided by Pindar Damianos ’95 and the Long Island Wine Council, a lecture on Long Island Homes

during the Gold Coast Era and Tea in the Living Room. The Alumni Association held an informal meeting,

Phillips’ Byrne ’68 as the Inaugural Member of The Knox School Wall of Distinguished Alumni. A spirit of

camaraderie permeated every aspect of the day and although the weather in Nissequogue on June 11, 2011

was dreary, no amount of precipitation could dampen the spirits of those alumni who gathered together to

O O L R E U N I O N 2 0 116 . A FE W HARDY SOUL S M A DE IT BACK TO C A MPUS FOR BRUNCH ON SUNDAY MORNING: BACK : ANDRES PAGAN ’8 5 , TAN YA SHERM AN NICHOLL S ’8 5 , BOBBY BAK ER ’8 4 , ALE X PA SS ’8 4 , C AROLINE DICICCO ’85 LESL IE MCCOY DRE W ’8 3 , B ILL MCCLEOD ’8 4 , NED DANIELL ’ 0 4 , C ARL SPARFELD, LUC Y K ELLER COOPER. SE ATED: GEORGE K . ALL ISON H ’81, HOLDING C AROLINE’S SON, DE AN, LUC Y ALL ISON, E . JANICE Z INGALE H ’8 3 .

O

44 KNOX|

KNOX ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE

Dear Fellow Knox Alumni,

Knox is a huge part of our past for

all of us, and I am hoping to make

it a part of our present and future as

well. My name is Laura Spaulding

Dragon and I am very happy to

announce that I have accepted the

position of President of the newly

re-formed Knox Alumni Association

and Knox Alumni Council.

I attended our alma mater from 1974 through 1979, during Clifford

K. Eriksen’s tenure. My mother, Gale Speir, attended Knox from

1957 through 1960 when Laura Wood was Headmistress. As a

legacy student, I thought I knew exactly what I was going to

experience when I arrived that September afternoon thirty-seven

years ago. However, each student’s experience is uniquely their

own and as time marches on, routines, trends and traditions change

and evolve. As the saying goes, “the only constant is change.” For

my mother that meant getting used to seeing male students on

campus when she came to visit on Parents’ Weekend, one of the

school teams being changed from Roses to Reds, and the loss of the

school paper “The Tatler.” In my case it means the lack of a girl’s

class songs and the tradition of

handing down your senior blazer to a special underclassman on

graduation weekend. But these are all just peripheral experiences.

The core qualities of Knox have remained the same throughout the

ages - a top notch education both academically and culturally; a

place where treasured friendships are cultivated, many of which

are life-long; and a program that develops each student into

responsible, intelligent, contributing members of society.

The Alumni Association will function to keep us stay connected,

show our pride and foster our loyalty, as well as rally us to offer

support and initiate fundraising for Knox. I hope that you all will

take the opportunity to be involved in whatever capacity that

appeals to your particular talents or interests. Whether it is an

active role on Alumni Council, a position on one of the Committees,

career mentoring for students, working on fundraising or

attending alumni gatherings and events to reconnect with old

(and new) friends, there is room for everyone to be involved. I

look forward to seeing you on November nineteenth at the

Alumni Event in Manhattan.

As the Beach Boys sang in 1963, “Be true to your school,

Go White Team!

Laura Dragon ‘79

1 9 4 6Class Agent Gail Lahey McKay called the

know of her change in address. Gail is

recovering from a stroke and living in a

retirement home in Alpharetta, Georgia.

She is still willing to serve as Class Agent

and hopes to keep Knox informed of the

telephone numbers, addresses and updates

from her class. If you are a member of the

Class of 1946 and you have lost contact

with Gail, please contact the Knox School

in touch with her.

1 9 5 1Barbara Harris sent us her scrapbook to

is wonderful and so lovingly prepared. Bar-

bara has fond memories of her time at Knox

and regretted that she was unable to attend

the reunion. If you would like to reach out

to Barbara, who is currently living in New

her contact information.

1 9 5 6Class Agent Bettie Minette Switzer

Cooper

cards with family photos from Rita

Reubel Owen (pictured right), Barbara

Buchan Yahn and Pam Coles Lane, who

shared news of her recent travels. She also

received a nice card from Gloria Pupo

Fernandez, as well as Tony and Donna

CL ASS NOTES

45FALL 2011 |

Olson Adler, whose quote of the year was:

“Life is uncertain. Eat Dessert First!”

Andrea Paul shares, “One of these days, I

hope to do a ‘southern’trip. I loved going to

Augusta two years ago. It’s getting

somewhat easier to carve out time.” She

and her family were in Phoenix over New

Year’s 2011 for a wedding.

Ellie Moore recently relocated back to

Virginia Beach and treated Minette to a

leisurely lunch at the Princess Anne

Country Club in Virginia Beach. Minette is

happy to have her back in the area.

Frandee Troy Sarver sent a Christmas

letter and reported that the holiday season

health, unlike the previous year when she

“checked into a ‘holiday resort’,

Memorial Hospital” for treatment of

pneumonia. Frandee shared that she

received an award for her work with her

Lawn Bowling Club at their annual dinner

and that three of her watercolors were

displayed in the annual art show.

1 9 5 7Minette Cooper received a holiday card

from Marilyn Peterson Kerwin, who is

doing well and enjoyed spending

Thanksgiving 2010 in Weston with

her children and grandchildren.

1 9 6 1Barrie Rawak Graves sent an email to the

and to let us know of her activities over the

years. Barrie is currently living in Tierra

Verde, Florida, near Tampa. Previously,

she lived in Boston and then in South

Burlington, Vermont for twenty years. She

has owned a variety of businesses over the

years and is now retired. She says, “I’m

traveling quite a bit…even visiting Gedy

(Angelina Moody) in Italy a few years

in the backyards of their Mississippi homes. The outcome of this

seven year adventure was something truly extraordinary that is still

who have since made quite a reputation for themselves, was our own

Lamb worked steadily each

summer and during school

the actor’s voices changed

and their bodies matured,

all adding to the charm

of the end product. In the

miere was held in Gulfport, Mississippi and attended by Chris’ Knox

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin, Texas announced the theatrical

is working on a screenplay for Paramount Pictures.

throughout the country and overseas. This past summer, they were in

Huntington, New York at the Arts Cinema, where Chris was joined

R AIDERS OF THE LOST ARK: THE ADAPTATION

STILL GOING STRONG AF TER T WENT Y-T WO YE ARS

PA M COLES L ANE AND FA MILY

BARBAR A BUCHAN YAHN FA MILY

46 KNOX|

back! I love sailing, skiing and used to play

tennis! I do a lot of photography on my

trips and usually produce my own books

I am taking glass fusing classes and have

helped teach a few classes, which is fun and

brings out a bit of my creative juices ‘while

cutting up’!! My two kids (they’re really

adults), Gatey 43 and Tug 42, are both

married with families. Gatey lives in

Hamilton, MA and has a girl, Kipley, who

turned three. I was just up in the Boston

area to ‘blow out birthday candles’ with the

kids. Tug lives in Pasadena, Florida just

about twenty minutes by water from my

home. He has four kids - Corinne and

Aislyn, twin girls who are nine; and two

boys, Latham, who is six and Mareck, who

will be four in October. I visit often, sailing

and boating to several little islands near

us.” Barrie would love to hear from

members of the Class of 1961.

Angelina “Gedy” Moody contacted the

possible events for her class and she also

shared that she now lives in Maine in the

winter and in Italy in the spring, summer

and fall. After Knox, she studied at the

Boston MFA School and she is currently

starting up a new business. Her website is:

gedymoody.com and her new business site

is www.ItalyandMore.com. She shares, “I

am still married to my second husband,

have 2 daughters and 5 grandsons.”

1 9 7 3Ellen Anne Benedetto continues to be

involved with Ripple of Hope working

with indigenous people of Guatemala. She

also traveled to Haiti last fall, and is now

helping to promote and support the efforts

of Wings Over Haiti, which already has a

school up and running there. In addition,

with Physician’s Assistant Rich

Ruppenstein of Miller Place, the group

is building a medical clinic.

1 9 8 2Munekazu “Mooney” Takamura stays in

touch with Knox through Facebook. He

recently shared some lovely pictures of

himself and his daughter Mari. He says

that “Mari has been practicing ballet since

she was four years old. She is currently

fourteen, so it is her tenth year of study. She

loves ballet so much that she goes to ballet

school three times a week. In Novem-

ber, she will be the ballerina in Sleeping

Beauty.” Mooney is working for a company

that manufactures radio control systems

for hobby use, where he oversees the U.S.

and Oceania market as a sales manager. He

often travels to the Mid-West USA.

For enjoyment, he started riding the bicycle

in June 2009, and within seven month lost

about thirty-eight pounds without dieting.

He is currently up to almost forty-four

pounds. He shares, “Many of my friends

could not believe I lost weight so quickly

and everybody thought I was ill... Well, I

became much healthier than ever before...

I highly recommend bicycle riding. It is

great aerobic exercise indeed... Just ride

slowly but long distances.”

1 9 8 4Gordon Street continues his work with

Full Circle Women’s Choir as they go into

their second season with 30 singers. He

and Brendan attend United Church of

Christ and are working on a new church

start called Liberty United Church of

Christ. It’s a multi- cultural approach

MUSIC SAVED ME!

INTERNATIONAL DJ JOEL

RUBEN HIRSCH ’07 Joel Rubin Hirsch ’07 is an International

DJ, producer and radio host born in

Guatemala and raised in Philadelphia.

Recently, Joel had an exclusive mix

featured on the Festival Kazantip’s

Webpage and Soundcloud, and is being

heard in over sixty countries! He also

had a guest mix featured on renowned

producer and DJ, Tom Colontonio’s Omega radio show. In the

touted as “his most personal song to date.” It is his début single and

features the vocals of Dustin Allen and includes a massive remix Aly

& Fila. Joel studied sound engineering at NYU, Communications

at Pace University and recently graduated from the Sound Train-

ing Centre in Dublin, Ireland. Joel traces his musical journey

back to a time in his life when he was suffering from debilitating

vertigo, which left him unable to walk. During a recent interview with

Rachel Rixham, Joel shared, “I have no idea how it got into my house

or where it came from but I found Paul Van Dyk’s ‘Out There and

it up, my life changed. It was like someone took the ideas straight

out of my head and put them into musical form. I was completely

head over heals for the genre.” Joel is grateful to Knox for supporting

his musical goals while he was a student. He says, “There is nothing

more that I want than to be the number one DJ of the world, and I

won’t stop until then. I have given everything to this and will con-

tinue to give myself to it because it’s what I love. I would not be here,

of course, without all of the people who support me, especially my

parents. Music saved me.”

47FALL 2011 |

embracing the Black, Latino, Latina, Anglo

communities. We are on the Board and the

Leadership Team. Gordon says, “I have

made an important life decision to become

a commissioned minister with a focus on

recovery spirituality helping those who are

struggling with their spiritual relationship

with God. I will be able to work with this in

this new church start.”

1 9 8 7Giants games are a big event for the Baris

Family. Pictured are Heather Graham Baris,

her husband Andy and their children

Jackson and Harper.

1 9 8 8Karen Hatzoglu Spiridakis and Mike

Norton were married on Christmas Eve

2010 and took their family on a celebration

cruise to Bermuda.

1 9 8 9Elizabeth Apisson Carmen and her husband

David are happy to announce the birth of

their son, Jackson Gregory Carmen, who

was born September 21, 2011 at 7lbs 3ozs

and 20 inches. Big brothers Henry (14),

Alex (11) and Big sister Isabella (4½)

are really excited about the new family

addition. Mom and Dad couldn’t be

more proud!

1 9 9 1Regina Gormar Latini reached out to Knox

via Facebook and asked that we update her

information and begin sending her Knox

correspondence. Regina shared that in

October of 2011, she and her husband Greg

are celebrating their tenth wedding

anniversary. They have two children –

Christina who is three and Michael, who

lives in Charlotte, North Carolina where

she was working as a Real Estate Paralegal.

Now, however, she happily reports, “I am

lucky enough to be a stay at home mom.”

1 9 9 2Class Agent, Anna Rafkin Wilson, is

living in New York City with her husband

Kelley and their two and a half year old

son Jonah. She has heard from Rudolpho

Antorcha, who is doing well and lives in

Washington DC as well as Chico (Alfonso)

Lledo Conde who shared, “I live in Soho,

NYC. I have been married since 2005 and I

have two boys Alfonso is four and Santiago

is only 10 months old. I work full time as

an Art Director/Brand strategist.” Anna is

excited about being an active class agent

and hopes that the members of her class will

reach out to her often with news.

JiYong Lee is living in Seoul, where he

is General Manager, Retirement Pension

Team, Wealth Management for Standard

Chartered Korea Limited. As manager of

the pension team, JiYong heads up the

overall management of their work as they

assist companies with developing retirement

pension funds to help employees prepare

for their future. For enjoyment, JiYong has

recently developed a passion for “Dance

Sports.” He shares, “Soon, I will send you

cool pictures of me performing Tango,

Blues, Pasa Doble, Rumba or Waltz when I

become an expert dancer!!”

1 9 9 3A daughter, Camilla Rai, was born on May

10, 2011 to Carlos Evering and his wife

Shanna. The family currently resides in

Columbia, Maryland.

Jacque Gallagher-Llewellyn and her

husband Sean are happy to announce the

birth of their son Michael Kelly Llewellyn,

who was born On July 31, 2011 at 10:59 am

at North Shore LIJ in Manhassett, NY. He

was named after his maternal grandfather

who passed away October 28, 2009 and his

Great Aunt Kelly who passed away October

28, 1989. He was also born on the birthday

of his paternal grandfather, who passed

away in November of 2007. Jacque says,

“Many blessings in one child. We just love

him to pieces!!”

1 9 9 4Kevin Joy and his wife Caitlin welcomed

to the world our two bundles of Joy-

Hannelie Grace, born Feb 9, 2011 at

11:38pm and Colin James, born Feb 10,

2011 at 12:23am!!! Kevin remarked, “Of

course they each had to have their own

birthday! And so it all begins...”

48 KNOX|

Jacqueline Walrath Oliver and her

husband Maceo are living in New York

and expecting twin boys, Cole Jackson and

Macen James in late October. Jackie is on

maternity leave from The Lion King, but

plans to return to Broadway.

1 9 9 6Hilary Blue Conner and her husband Eric

are happy to announce the birth of their

second child, a son, Marshall Wade

Conner II born on August 8, 2011 at 9:07

p.m. Marshall weighed 7lbs 3.7 oz. and

was 20 inches long at birth.

In January of 2011, David Deckinger

started Pike Global Foods, selling a wide

assortment of imported foods. David says,

“We have the best and most unique foods

from more than a dozen countries, available

at www.PikeGlobalFoods.com. So far, so

good! It has been growing at a great pace.”

WonHo Song married Mi Kyung Lee on

June 9, 2011 at Han River Hotel in Seoul.

Among the wedding guests were Knox

alumni Gee HeeHan ’95, Jae Ho Han

’95, HyoJin Kim ‘97, HyoKeun Kim ‘97,

DoHwi Kwak ’97, JiYoung Lee ’92, Won-

Jung Lee ’96 and SangHyun Paek ’94.

The couple had been dating for four years

and on the 1,000th day, WonHo proposed to

MiKyung with a diamond ring. In describ-

ing their courtship, WoHo shared, “I met

her through a side-business buying and sell-

ing snowboarding gear. One day, I received

some unwanted items by USPS and decided

to post them for sale on the snowboarding

website. A Couple of weeks later, I was

contacted by someone who had an interest

in my selling items on the website and we

met as buyer and seller. There she was…

-

rently working on the sustainability team

for Sae-A Global Apparel Industry, where

he deals with environmental and sustainable

products, process, global regulations on

restricted substance, greenhouse gas inven-

tory, carbon footprint, etc.

Christina Mosher Sweet and her husband

Hal had their second child on December 20,

2011. Ryan Kenneth was born at 12:41pm

and weighed 7lb 4 oz. Ryan is doing well

and his sister Ciera just started kindergarten.

1 9 9 7Ruhut “Joseph” Butatbutar continues to

serve in the U.S. Army and recently com-

subsequently promoted to Second

Lieutenant. Ruhut is currently working

Communication Company in California.

Over the last seven years, he has been

stationed in South Korea and Tokyo, Japan.

Ruhut says, “It’s an honor to serve and I

enjoy the work very much.” He hopes to

attend any Knox events being held in

California.

Corey O’Brien

completed his service

in the Air Force in

May of 2011 and is

currently seeking

employment in

his home town of

Columbus, Ohio. Corey says, “Needless to

say it’s been hard for me. Even for a Knox

graduate.” He would like to hear from his

Knox friends via email Jco331@aol.com.

A son, Connor McGraw May, was born to

Kristen Ruffner May and her husband

Chris on September 7th, 2011. He was 8lbs.

1 oz. and 20.5 inches long. Both Mom and

the new arrival are doing well. The family

lives in Redondo Beach, California.

Karim Menoufy is currently living in

Denver, Colorado and working for Charles

Schwab Investment Management. He and

13 and spent the afternoon with E. Janice

Zingale H ’83 touring the campus, shopping

in the Falcon’s Nest and then visiting the

Saint James General Store. Karim also had

a surprise visit with Kathleen Slevin, who

was reporting for the evening nursing shift

at the Health Center.

1 9 9 8Shogo Masugi sent a letter with pictures in

October of 2011 to let us know that he has

been married since October of 2008 and

that he and his wife Rieko had a baby on

January 5, 2011. He is working in

banking and living in Warabi-City

Saitama-ken, Japan.

49FALL 2011 |

1 9 9 9Scott Barger, and Melissa Schneider ‘00,

September 9th, 2011, a beautiful baby boy,

Brayden Scott Barger. Brayden weighed

8lbs 6ozs at birth and was 21 inches long.

The Barger family is doing well and so in

love with their newest addition.

James Clarke has been accepted into the

Duquesne University’s Graduate School of

English, where he will be earning his

Education from NYU. He hopes to continue

on to earn his Doctorate in English. In

addition, he is currently an Adjunct English

Teacher at the Community College of

Allegheny County and a substitute teacher

within the Pittsburgh Public School system.

2 0 0 0Melissa Schneider Barger and her husband

Scott (see Class of 1999) are the proud

parents of a son, Brayden.

Karen McAnulty married Kursh Sanal, a

native of Turkey who moved to Australia at

the age of two, on December 8th, 2010 at

the Sheraton Mirage Hotel & Resort on the

Gold Coast, Australia. The couple met while

working as chefs at Conrad Jupiter’s Hotel

& Casino on the Gold Coast. Their

reception was at their favorite restaurant,

friends in attendance. Guests dined on fried

Bay Bug Toretellini for appetizers; rack

entrées; and dessert was a two-tiered

wedding cake, vanilla bean panna cotta with

raspberry jelly, rosewater granita, as well as

wore a dress by Elizabeth de Varga. The

couple honeymooned for a week in Fiji

and then traveled to the Banyan Tree Hotel

and Resort in Phuket, Thailand for

another week.

Masriko Yamada Koseki and her husband

Mr. Yoshinori Koseki are the proud parents

to a son, Keisuke, born on August 25, 2010.

Mariko is now pregnant with their second

child, a girl, expected in December of 2011.

2 0 0 1Beth Pozner Revueltas and her husband

Julio are proud to announce the newest

addition to their family. Julio Cesar III (aka

Trey) was born August 15, 2011 at 10:51

pm. Beth says, “He was a little runt at 5 lbs.

10 oz. but quickly grew to almost 7 1/2 lbs.

by the time the doctors released him after

several long weeks. All is well and older

sister Isabel is thrilled and thinks she is his

‘mama’, including trying to nurse him!”

Lindsay Sachs married Joseph Headman

on June 12, 2010. She is currently living in

Royersford, Pennsylvania waiting for her

deployment to an undisclosed location. This

will complete his fourth year of service with

the U.S. Army. Her son is now six years old.

Lindsay is looking forward to her husband’s

return when he plans to adopt her son.

concert and “he had a blast.” Lindsay says,

“Having my husband overseas is never easy

but I do support him. He is always calling

with some wacky number from the USO at

3 am, but I try to never miss a call. We plan

to Bora Bora, on our two-year anniversary

to celebrate his return home. My son always

tells me ‘Daddy Joe is coming home today.’

It is so cute, but breaks my heart. We are

all doing great and staying busy doing as

much as we can. My husband and son plan

on cooking pizza together and making ice

cream when he gets home. I married a chef,

so we will never go hungry. Our family is a

‘bunch of chefs’ and a lil’ chef as well.”

2 0 0 3Pamela Cullington After graduating from

Touro Law School in May of 2011, I was

hired by the New York City Law

Department as an Assistant Corporation

Counsel for the Tort Division. Essentially,

50 KNOX|

NEWS OF PAST FACULTY AND STAFF

Matt Austin and Heather Austin H ’08 with their children

Peter and Elizabeth visited the Zingales over Thanksgiving. It

was nice to see them back in Saint James and the children each

left with a sock monkey as a memento.

Peter Oehrlein, past Director of College Counseling and International

Student Coordinator, visited Alex Futo ’94, Andy Futo ’98 and their

parents Gabor and Andrea in Panama City early in December of 2010

Mr. and Mrs. Futo have a house along the Caribbean coast of Panama that

Peter enjoyed visiting.

my colleagues and I represent the City of

New York whenever New York City is sued.

My practice focuses solely on municipal

tort liability for claims of personal injury,

property damage, false arrest, and malicious

handles cases brought against New York

City’s Department of Transportation, the

NYPD, the FDNY and the Department of

Sanitation. Thus far, this has been a great

learning experience and I thoroughly enjoy

the work I do.

2 0 0 7Courtney Molloy received her BA from

Hofstra University in May 2011 with a

concentration in Marketing. At Hofstra,

Courtney was an active member of the

Advertising Club and was Captain of The

Hofstra University Equestrian during her

junior and senior years. Today, she works

for Vertigo Media Group in Melville, NY as

the Account Coordinator. She continues to

compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show

Association (Zone 2, region 4) as a Hofstra

year showing with IHSA.

2 0 0 8A senior at Manhattanville College, David

M. Garrison is studying History and

playing basketball for the School. After

graduation, he plans to seek entrance into

graduate school. David enjoyed his time

on the Knox campus during the summer of

2011 working as a counselor for Summer

Adventures.

2 0 1 0Class Agent, Jenna Hardy heard from

Kelvin Lee, who reported that he is

currently serving in the Korean Army.

Jenna is now in her sophomore year at

Loyola University of Maryland majoring

in International Business. This year,

committed to being more involved, she

attends church every Sunday and is

active in community service, helping

adolescent teens during their senior year of

high school, through The Bridges Program

in Baltimore. In the future, she hopes to

visit major corporations in Italy, France,

Germany, and Austria, as well as go to

Alcala Spain in the fall semester of her

junior year.

Co-Class Agent Jessie Thompson remarks,

“It is hard to believe that we are entering

our second year of college. After graduating,

however, I don’t think the Class of 2010

could have predicted or imagined how fast,

fast could really be.” Jessie is at the

University of Massachusetts at Amherst

studying nutrition and hoping to become a

Registered Dietician. She has also taken up

cardio kickboxing. Jessie reports that

Jessica Wen, studying at the Maryland

Institute College of Art with a major in

graphic design, has just moved into her

“1st apartment” with a few girls from

MICA. Jessica admits that her second year

of college is going a lot smoother than the

load. Jessica was able to make good use

of her summer with a trip to The Maldives

Islands, which she describes as “Absolutely

beautiful!” Talia Vicente is currently

studying at Saint Louis University, Madrid

Campus and plans to return to the United

States to study again before she graduates.

Talia is the only member of the Class of

2010 who is studying internationally.

51FALL 2011 |

BACK ROW: CHRIS ZEPP, MAGDALENA ERIKSEN, T IM ERIKSEN, ADRIENNE

SCHOOFF, FR AN ZEPP, J IM ZEPP, ROLFF SCHOOFF, FR ANK ZINGALE, E . JANICE

Z INGALE H ’83. CHILDREN IN FRONT ROW; ANJE ERIKSEN, LUCA ERIKSEN, BEN ZEPP.

Fran Zepp H ’97 and her husband Jim celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at the

56th Fighter Group Restaurant in East Farmingdale, New York on Sunday, June 26, 2011.

Knox folks who attended the sumptuous brunch were nephew Tim Eriksen ’84, his wife

Magdalena and children Luca and Anje, as well as past teacher Adrienne Schooff, her

husband Rolff and Janice and Frank Zingale.

I N M EMOR I A M

Margaret Baliou Phillips ’25

on the passing of Margaret.

Maureen A. MacDonald ’46

Maureen died August 8, 2009 at her home

in Beacon, New York. She was born in

Beacon on June 16, 1925, the daughter of

the late Gerald E. and Marion C.

MacDonald. She was a graduate of Beacon

High school. She attended the Knox School

in Cooperstown, New York and was a

graduate of Katherine Gibbs in New York

City. She was employed by Readers Digest

International Editions and retired as

Assistant Promotion Manager after thirty-

the Southern Dutchess Country Club, the

Beacon Historical Society, the Auxiliary St.

Francis Hospital Beacon and was a

volunteer at the coffee shop. She also vol-

unteered at Blodgett Memorial Library and

the Howland Library Book Store.

Jane Zimmer Weber ’37

A resident of New Suffolk, New York, Jane

passed away on November 26, 2008. Born

May 26, 1918, Jane was ninety years old at

the time of her passing.

Katharine (Kate) Byrnes Hanor ’31

Katherine passed away on Friday evening,

June 3, 2011 at Otsego Manor in

Cooperstown, NY. Born on February 5,

1912 in Cooperstown, Kate was ninety-nine

at the time of her death. Kate was a loyal

Knox alumna who attended reunions in

Cooperstown and consistently supported

the School with her gifts. She was a Class

Agent until 1999 when she could no longer

serve due to her failing eye sight.

Katharine was a day student at Knox, where

she took a secretarial science course and

electives as part of the School’s Junior

College. For much of her business life,

Katharine worked in banking and she

retired from Key Bank in Cooperstown in

1975. Active in her community, she was a

charter member of the Native Daughters of

Cooperstown, a member of the Key Bank

Quarter Century Club and belonged to both

the New York State Historical Association

and the Fly Creek Area Historical

Association. A member of the Pierstown,

Pomona and State Granges, she was also an

American Red Cross Volunteer and a

member of the Otsego-Hartwick –Arbutus

Order of the Eastern Star. Throughout her

life, Katharine enjoyed writing and after

her retirement, she wrote and published

three booklets, “Growing Up at Fairview

Farm,” “The In-Between Years,” and “My

Swan Song.” These were largely memoirs

about her life with her family. Later, two

additional booklets “The Hills of Home”

and “The Man in the White Chef Hat” were

completed. All of her booklets can be found

in the Research Library of the New York

State Historical Association.

Caroline “Maude” Gorence Schemm ’46

Maude passed away on Saturday afternoon,

52 KNOX|

April 2, 2011 at Otsego Manor in

Cooperstown, New York. She was

Cooperstown area. She married John

-

Patricia Stead Marhefka ’49

Mary Alice Knox Society.

Faith Bennett McMenemy ’53

-

Mary

Alice Knox Society.

Laurie Green Kovacevich ’72

Mary Clarke P’99

-

-

bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and

53FALL 2011 |

IN SUPPORT OF KNOXBy Duncan L. Marshall, Assistant Headmaster for External Affairs

It gives me great pleasure to present our

Report of Gifts for 2010-2011. The Knox

Fund, our primary voluntary appeal had

as its theme, “One Good Year Leads to

Another” and indeed it was, as the

campaign raised $153,305 in gifts, gifts in

kind, and secured pledges of support for

future annual fund campaigns. You might

recall that we had set a goal of $150,000

for the campaign and I am pleased to say

that we met our goal! Thank you to the 246

friends of Knox who supported the School

with a charitable gift. Their generosity is

especially meaningful in these challenging

economic times.

We note that our total of 246 Knox Fund

donors represented an increase of thirty-

nine percent from the year before. Alumni

participation in the annual fund campaign,

thanks to E. Janice Zingale H ’83’s constant

encouragement, increased by twenty-six

percent, or six percent of the alumni con-

stituency, moving ever closer to the NAIS

median of ten percent participation for all

member independent schools across

the United States.

Our annual Golf Classic in June, 2011

raised close to $61,000 in revenue and net-

all of the proceeds going to our annual

fund. We would not have been as

successful as we were if we had not

been led by dedicated and enthusiastic

volunteers like Honoree Susan Hughes,

Pelly Damianos ’86, Bill McCleod ’84,

Ron Cohen P’12, and Cathy Cohen (no

relation) P ’12, ’14, ’16.

Other notable gifts included an additional

contribution from the estate of A. Brewster

Lawrence, Jr. to aid in the construction

of the Cat Walk at Water’s Edge; an

additional distribution from the estate

of Reverend Rudolph Roell (see KNOX,

Winter 2010); and representing the

largest gift the School has ever received

of a $1.4M gift from the estate of Marilyn

Trieber, ’52 (please see the article on

Marilyn in this magazine).

The Knipe Cottage Major Gift

over $200,000 in pledges and cash to

defray the expenses incurred in expanding

and improving Knipe to its present

beauty. This effort will continue for

the foreseeable future.

Our Knox Fund goal for 2011-2012 is to

raise a minimum of $160,000 in annual

fund support. Please continue to support

our great school with as generous a gift as

you can afford. Thank you in advance for

your help.

LEADING THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS DUNCAN L . MARSHALL , ASSISTANT HEADMASTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, CONFERRING WITH (LEFT TO RIGHT ) E . JANICE Z INGALE H ’83, ASSISTANT HEADMASTER FOR ALUMNI AFFAIRS, V IRGINIA RICCARDI, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND CHRISTINE BERRY, ADMINISTR ATIVE ASSISTANT FOR ALUMNI AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.

DUNCAN L . MARSHALL , ASSISTANT HEADMASTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, WITH DARLENE BELNICK, GOLF COMMIT TEE COORDINATOR, AT THE GAL A DINNER AT STONEBRIDGE GOLF L INKS AND COUNTRY CLUB ON JUNE 10, 2011.

54 KNOX|

GIFTS SUMMARY FOR 2010-2011: The Knox Fund $153,305Restricted Endowment $120,000Restricted Capital Projects $10,000Knipe Cottage Major Gift Cash and Pledges $114,718

TOTAL SUPPORT FOR 2010-2011 $398,023

SEMPER AD LUCEM CLUB(Gifts of $10,000 and above)

Mr. and Mrs. Michael CartuscielloMr. and Mrs. Richard Fox P’11 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reina T, P’10 Mr. Henry Trevor T

1904 CLUB(Gifts of $5,000 to $9,999)Mr. and Mrs. George K. Allison T, H’81CulinArtMs. Susan Hambrecht T, ’84 Mancini Architecture, PLLCMr. Yakov Pesin P’11 Suffolk County National BankMr. and Mrs. Michael Sullivan T, P’09

HEADMASTER’S CLUB (Gifts of $3,000 to $4,999)

Mr. and Mrs. Jack W. HundleyMr. and Mrs. James Morgan P’10

TORCH LIGHT CLUB(Gifts of $2,000 to $2,999)

Dr. Benjamin Cilento T, ’85 Mr. and Mrs. Pelops Damianos T, ’86 Mr. and Mrs. Ralph D’AnnucciDamianos Realty Group, LLCMr. and Mrs. Paul P. Davis P’12Mr. and Mrs. John Hardy P’09 ’10 Mrs. Jennifer Santoro Lizza ’90 Mr. and Mrs. Jian Qin P’12

RED AND WHITE CLUB (Gifts of $1,000 to $1,999)

Mr. and Mrs. Yong Chan Cho P’11Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Cohen P’12, P’14, P’16Ms. Julia E. DeBragga ’73 Mr. Christian Drechsler ’85 Mrs. Leslie McCoy Drew ’83, P’11Mr. Jack Easterling TElbar Duplicator Corp.Ms. Holly GordonMr. and Mrs. Michael Klosson P’12Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kramer P’08Mrs. Pamela Coles Lane ’56 Lucibello Electric CompanyMr. Duncan L. MarshallMr. Mike Nikolai

Owens Family FoundationPanzner Demolition and Contracting Corp.Mr. David A. Pass ’84 RAK Electrical, Inc.Mr. Philip L. Rampulla and Rampulla Associ-ates Architects, LLPMr. Jianbo Shao and Ms. Guilian Zhou P’13The Smithtown Rotary ClubFrank Zingale and E. Janice Zingale H ’83, P’87 ’89

FALCON CLUB (Gifts of $500 to $999)

Ms. Darlene BelnickMr. and Mrs. John Biello P’09Mr. Guilong Bo and Ms. Ning Zhang P’14Bob’s RuggeryMr. Scott M. Cheslowitz P’14Mr. Phillip H. Christensen and Carol Chris-tensen H ’07

Ms. Dorothea Cook and Mr. Peter WinklerMrs. Bettie Switzer Cooper ’56 Mr. and Mrs. Peter Coppedge P’10 Dr. Lance H. Edwards P’13Mr. Joseph G. Fortier Mr. and Mrs. Richard Fox P’11Ilco Painting Corp.Just Plumbing Corp.

Mr. and Mrs. Yiming Liu P’12 Mr. Jay McNulty TJoseph T. Matthews Architect, P.C.Mayne Construction of Long IslandMelito Construction Corp.Mr. Alfred W. MletzkoMr. Christopher Nesterczuk T, ’90 Mr. and Mrs. Andrew NielsenMr. and Mrs. Wayne OlsonMr. Andres S. Pagan, T, ’85 Retail Project Management of NY, Inc.Scenic Isle Landscape Design, Inc.Mr. Michael Schenker ’84 The Setton FoundationMr. Richard B. SmithSteve Pikiell Basketball Camps, LLCThomas Martin Plumbing and Heating, Inc.Mr. Gerald Timmins P’82Triangle Community Foundation, Inc.Wash N Lube Express, Inc.West Rac Contracting Corp.

VICTORY BELL CLUB(Gifts of $200 to $499)

Austin & Co., Inc.Mrs. Virginia Brewster Armstrong ’57 Mr. Robert E. Baker ’84 Mrs. Heather Graham Baris ’87 Ms. Patricia C. Berry Mr. and Mrs. John P. Bethel P’88

Bohler Engineering NY, PLLC Mrs. Barbara Bistrian Borg ’72 Mr. Gregory BoutinBudd Morgan Alarm Company Ms. Breanne BurtonMr. Gustavo O. Caminero Ms. Vivian Cardia P’96 Mrs. Virginia Burr Carter ’44

Chevrolet of Smithtown Ms. Christine ClearyMr. Alfred E. Dancona III and Mrs. Terri Rose Dancona ’65

Electronix Systems Central Station Alarms Mr. and Mrs. J. Hagood Ellison P’02 Ms. Nima Maria Eshghi ’83 Futterman and Lanza LLP, Attorneys at Law George E. Berger & Associates LLC Gerard Construction Mrs. Margaret Hopkins Gillespie ’52 The Greater Smithtown Chamber of Commerce, Inc.Mr. John Guadagno ’85 Mr. Michael Harris ’06 Ms. Kathryn Keith Henry ’91 J & J International Design Group, Inc. John Meyer Consulting Ms. Sharon Lawrence Mr. and Mrs. George Llanes G’13Mr. Frank Mangione Mr. and Mrs. Judson Massingill P’93Mr. Theodore Morgan ’10 Omni Data TechnologyPhil A. Heart FoundationPower Pool CareMr. and Mrs. Ronald RiccardiRMS EngineeringMr. and Mrs. Byung Il Shin P’10 Sider LumberSoil Mechanics Drilling Corp.Spero LightingThree Diamond Masonry Mrs. Dawn Wittman Wands ’83 Mr. Zhenyu WeiMr. Glenn D. WilliamsMrs. Jane Button Williams ’48

ROSELEAVES CLUB(Gifts of $100 to $199)

Ms. Deborah ArganoMrs. Mary Teer Barringer ’53 Ms. Susan Baxter ‘00

Mrs. Debbie Scholl Caldwell ’73 Mr. Frank CassataMs. Janice Clarke ’67 Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Cohen P’12Mrs. Ann Ericson Coleman ’50 Ms. Jeanne Carlson Corbin P’87Mrs. Frances Renwick Cullen ’70

THE 2010-2011 ANNUAL REPORT OF GIFTS Knox is pleased to acknowledge the generous support of donors who supported any of our fundraising activities in from July 1, 2010

through June 30, 2011 (The Knox Fund, capital gifts, gifts in kind, and other activities). The total giving of all individuals, organizations

and foundations is included in the giving categories listed below. We have made every effort to be as accurate as possible in our listing of

55WINTER 2010 | 55FALL 2011 |

Mr. Ned Daniell ‘02Mrs. Marni Giancola Deuer ’91 Mrs. Laura Spaulding Dragon ’79 Mr. Barry Fader ’84 Mrs. Samantha Forbes ’91 Dr. Sara Coen Giovanelli ’83 Ms. Jeanette GouldMs. Leisha Guo Ms. Barbara L. Harris ’51 Ms. Linda Hauer ’80 Mrs. Marguerite Belknap Heath ’31 Mr. and Mrs. David M. Henderson P’14Mr. and Mrs. John A. HeugleMr. Robert Howard P’93Ms. Jennifer Smith HuntleyMrs. Anne Chapin Kennedy ’56 Mr. Min Chul Kim ’09 Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Lawrence III P’97Lobel’s of Sunrise, Inc.Long Island Chiropractic Health and Wellness, P.C.Mr. and Mrs. Harry R. Luebbe P’77Ms. Marilyn Manfrini-Riker ’77 Mrs. Christina Pfeifer Mattig ’88 McAdams Charitable FoundationMrs. Madeline Mocelo ’74 Mrs. Ellen Hart Mulvey ’40 Mrs. Julia Foster Mumford ’61 Mrs. Lynn NaronMrs. Tanya Sherman Nicholls ’85 Mrs. Marjorie Weeks Owens ’47 Mrs. Rosanna Martin Pastor ’46 Mrs. Ann Faherty Peckham ’41 Mrs. Benita Browarsky Penner ’59 Mr. Nicholas Reina ’10 Mrs. Ann Johnson Rollins ’52 Mr. Sebastian Rudbach ’91 Ms. Alyce Sauve Turcotte ’93 Mrs. Judy (Justine) Ricks Shields ’62 The Smithtown NewsSummit Recovery Service, Inc.Mrs. Patricia Esty Symons ’65 Mrs. Tonda Williams G’08Dr. and Mrs. Jay M. Wilsker P’77Mrs. Renee Thebaud Wilson ’42 Mr. Zijing Wu ’10Ms. Kimiko Yokoyama ’05 Mr. Zaiyuan Zhu

PATHWAY CLUB(Gifts of $99 and below)

Mrs. Caroline Freudenburger Amundsen ’48 Mrs. Kimberly Wittman Andromidas ’84 Mrs. Sylvie AbaidooMr. Sang Jun Baek ’12 Miss Katherine Barry ’10 Ms. Diana Tuccio Benincase ’83 Miss Lauren Biello ’09 Miss Skyler Blackwood ’10 Ms. Allwina Wynne Bloom ’59 Mr. Joseph A. Bollhofer, P.C.Mr. William Brereton ’88 Ms. Kellie BrookhartMrs. Linda P. ButlerMr. Sunghwan Byun ’95 Mrs. Mary Ann Campanella P’94Ms. Elizabeth CampbellMr. Doo Soo Chang ’10

Mr. and Mrs. James P. Colbert P’96Ms. Lucy Keller CooperMr. Brenton CurtisMs. Caroline DiCicco ’85 Mr. Andrija DjordjevicMrs. Eugenia Nixon Fulkerson ’63 Ms. Denise Sherman Gardberg ’90 Miss Emily M. Gladstein ’10 Ms. Suzanne Gordon ’68 Mr. Shawn S. Graham ’89 Mr. Kyle GreeneMs. Yvonne Halloran ’91 Miss Jennifer Hardy ’10 Mrs. Lynn Prior Harrington ’54 Mrs. Marianne Smith Harrison ’61 Mrs. Pamela Exton Heath ’69 Mrs. Amy Howard Heathcoate ’93 Mr. Siwon Jang ‘10Mrs. Jacqueline Webster Johnson ’47 Mr. Se Hyun Jung ’10 Mrs. Sharon H. JuntunenMr. Ju Yeob Kim ’10 Miss Yoo Ri Kim ’10 Ms. Anderson Farber King ’82 Mrs. Mary Brownback Koppels ’60 Mr. Shintaro Kusakabe ’93 Miss Soo-yeon Kwark ’10 Mr. Seung-Hyun Lee ’10 Mr. Suhnyong Lee ’10 Mr. Jonathan Liddle ’10 Mrs. Sylvia DeBenigno Littleton ’61 Mrs. Winifred Short Markus ’51 Ms. Mary Millette P’10Mrs. Arlene Fidler Moglia ’50 Mr. Dong Ju Nam ’10 Ms. Roberta NichollsMr. and Mrs. Simon Owen-WilliamsMr. Tae Sang Park ’07 Mr. Stephen T. PendleyMiss Talia Pinedo Vicente ’10 Ms. Tamara Rafkin ’97 Ms. Melina Fotiou Sais ’05 Mr. Gerardo Serra ’87 Mrs. Virginia Bloomer Shannon ’30 Mr. Hong Gyu Shin ’10

Ms. Kathy Spirtes P’12St. James Lumber Corp.Miss Jessie M. Thompson ’10 Mrs. Anna Maria deLeyer Tiarks ’81 Mr. and Mrs. Walter TownesMs. Cherone Walker P’13 Miss Yun-Tien Wen ’10 Mr. Matthew West ’82 Ms. Anna Rafkin Wilson ’92 Ms. Michele Ginsburg Wise ’91 Mrs. Jane Morgan Wright ’44 Mr. Fengzhe Wu ’10 Ms. Amanda Antos Yarrington ’90 Ms. Daphne Youree ’86 Mr. Yingqi Yuan ’10

RESTRICTED GIFTS: We thank the following donors who have directed their gift to a special project or program.

ALUMNI E VENTSAlumni Reunion Fader Design T-ShirtsMr. David A. Pass ‘84

ATHLETIC PROGR AMMr. Brenton Curtis

EQUESTRIAN PROGR AMMr. and Mrs. Michael Sullivan T, P’09

MUSIC DEPARTMENTMs. Dorothea Cook

SENIOR CL ASSMr. and Mrs. Yong Chan Cho P’11Mr. and Mrs. Richard Fox P’11Mr. and Mrs. James Morgan P’10

KNIPE COTTAGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT: We thank the following donors who have directed a portion of their giving to the Knipe Cottage Construction Project. The current amount raised in gifts and pledges as of October, 2011 is $202,357.00

Mr. and Mrs. George K. Allison T, H’81Dr. Benjamin Cilento T, ’85 Mr. and Mrs. Paul P. Davis P’12Mr. and Mrs. Richard Fox P’11Ms. Susan Hambrecht T, ’84 Mr. Karl Hampe P’12Mr. Duncan L. MarshallMr. and Mrs. Richard Reina T, P’10Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sullivan T, P’09Mr. Henry Trevor T

CLIFFORD K. ERIKSEN H ’79 BUILDING FUNDMr. and Mrs. George K. Allison T, H’81Brenton CurtisLaura Spaulding Dragon ’79 Adger G. Ellison ’02 Amy Howard Heathcoate ’93 Robert Howard ’93 E. Janice Zingale H ’83 H ’81

GIFTS IN KIND: We thank the following individuals who have donated an item or service to the School.

Ms. Darlene BelnickMr. and Mrs. Michael CartuscielloMs. Christine ClearyMs. Holly GordonMr. and Mrs. Jack W. HundleyLong Island Chiropractic Health & Wellness, P.C.E. Janice Zingale H ’83

REUNION 2011 GIFT-IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORSDelca Dog Treats and ToysDuckwalk VineyardsFeld EntertainmentMr. Peter Hopkins (Crane & Co.)Kimberly Clark ProfessionalMr. Gary LawranceLessings at Three Village Inn: Restaurant and Taverna Mirabelle

56 KNOX|

Mr. William McLeod ’84 New York Football GiantsPindar VineyardsPindar Damianos ’95 Ms. Allison Poutiatine ’85 Tamara Rafkin ’87 Uncle Giuseppe’s US Zulu Nyala HeadquartersWham-o, Inc.

GOLF GIFT-IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORS AMC Loews Stony BrookAttilios Pizza and GrillBest Western Inn by the Sea, La Jolla CaliforniaBuild-A-Bear WorkshopCarnegie HallCasa RusticaMr. and Mrs. Andrew Cohen P’12, P’14, P’16Mr. and Mrs. Pelops Damianos T, ’86 Mrs. Leslie McCoy Drew ’83, P’11Ms. Lori GeshelinMr. and Mrs. David M. Henderson P’14Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Isaacs P’14

The Knox Summer Adventures CampMs. Paige LawrenceThe Madison Square Garden CompanyThe New York Metropolitan OperaNational Geographic SocietyThe National Hockey LeagueNew England Patriots Charitable FoundationNew York City BalletNew York IslandersNew York JetsThe New York KnicksNew York MetsNew York RangersNew York Red BullsMr. Andres Pagan, T, ’85Mr. and Mrs. Walter TownesUS Zulu Nyala HeadquartersMr. Jeffrey Wands and Dawn Wittman Wands ’83

REUNION 2011: SILENT AUCTION WINNERSRobert E. Baker ’84 Heather Graham Baris ’87 Julie DeBragga ’73 Karen Wilson Lund ’73 Alex Pass ’84 Nick Reina ’10 Walter Townes

THE FIFTH ANNUAL KNOX GOLF CLASSIC: The Annual Golf Classic was held on Friday June 10, 2011 at Stonebridge Golf Links and Country Club. Over 96 golfers participated and approximately 125

and silent auction. $60,820 was raised during this event, a new record of support for a special event at Knox.

CLASSIC SPONSOR ($5,000)

CulinArtMancini Architecture, PLLCSuffolk County National Bank

EAGLE SPONSOR ($2,500)

Damianos Realty Group, LLC

BIRDIE SPONSOR ($1,750)

The Rotary Club of Smithtown

DINNER SPONSOR ($1,000)

Mr. and Mrs. Paul P. Davis P’12Elbar Dublicator Corp.Lucibello Electric CompanyRAK Electrical, Inc.

BEVERAGE SPONSOR ($500)

Scenic Isle Landscape Design, Inc.Just Plumbing Corp.

GOLF CART SPONSOR ($300)

Sider Lumber

TEE SPONSOR ($250 per tee)

Mr. and Mrs. George K. Allison T, H’81 (2)Bob’s RuggeryBohler Engineering NY, PLLCBudd Morgan Alarm CompanyChevrolet of SmithtownMr. and Mrs. Ronald Cohen P’12Electronix Systems Central Station AlarmsMr. Joseph G. FortierFutterman and Lanza LLP, Attorneys at Law George E. Berger & Associates LLC J & J International Design Group, Inc.John Meyer Consulting

Mr. Mike Nikolai (2)Panzner Demolition and Contracting Corp. (4)Power Pool CareRMS EngineeringSoil Mechanics Drilling Corp.The Greater Smithtown Chamber of Commerce, Inc.Mr. Henry Trevor TMr. Glenn D. Williams

GREEN SPONSOR ($100 per green)

Mr. and Mrs. Jack W. HundleyJ & J International Design Group, Inc.Lobel’s of SunriseLong Island Chiropractic Health & Wellness, P.C.Mr. Frank Mangione Mr. Philip L. Rampulla and Rampulla Associates Architects, LLPSummit Recovery Service, Inc.Thomas Martin Plumbing and Heating, Inc.

GOLF FOURSOMESMr. John Hardy P’09 ’10 – Young Alumni FoursomeIlco Painting Corp.Joseph T. Matthews Architect, P.C.Mayne Construction of Long IslandMelito Construction Corp.Mr. Mike Nikolai and AF Commercial BuildersRAK Electrical Inc.Rampulla Associates Architects, LLPRetail Management of NY, Inc.Mr. Richard B. SmithSteve Pikiell Basketball Camps, LLC

SILENT AUCTION WINNERSMs. Patricia C. BerryMr. Gregory Boutin

Mrs. Leslie McCoy Drew ’83, P’11Mr. and Mrs. John Hardy P’09 ’10 Mr. Frank MangioneMr. Duncan L. MarshallMr. and Mrs. Andrew NielsenMr. David A. Pass ’84

OTHER GOLF CONTRIBUTORSAustin and Co., Inc.Mr. Robert E. Baker ’84 Bob’s RuggeryMr. Joseph A. Bollhofer, P.C.Mr. Gustavo O. Caminero

Mr. Ned Daniell ’02 Mrs. Leslie McCoy Drew ’83, P’11Mr. Barry Fader ’84 Gerard Construction Mr. John Guadagno ’85 Ms. Susan Hambrecht T, ’84 Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Lawrence III P’97Ms. Sharon LawrenceMr. Frank MangioneMrs. Tanya Sherman Nicholls ’85 Mr. Andres Pagan, T ’85 Mr. David A. Pass ’84 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reina T, P’10Mr. Nicholas Reina ’10 Mr. Richard B. SmithSoil Mechanics Drilling Corp.St. James Lumber Corp.The Smithtown NewsThree Diamond MasonryMrs. Dawn Wittman Wands ’83

IIIWINTER 2010 |

THE MARY ALICE KNOX SOCIET YK N O X A N N O U N C E S T H E L A R G E S T B E Q U E S T I N I T S H I S T O R Y

of the late Marilyn M. Trieber ’51, with an estimated value of approximately $1,400,000. The School has received a

preliminary distribution from the estate and will acquire the remainder of the funds over the course of this school year. The Trieber Bequest is the largest Knox has ever received and the School intends to use a major portion of the proceeds

Marilyn grew up in Jamaica Estates, Long Island and began her studies in Cooperstown in September of 1949. She was a member of the White Team, the Knox Athletic Association and the Roseleaves Staff. In the 1951 yearbook, she was described as follows: “a pleasant smile, twinkling hazel eyes, and an outstanding sense of humor - a depend-able loyal friend and a good comrade.” A little research also reveals that she was an avid baseball fan – a Brooklyn Dodgers fan to be exact! Throughout her life, Marilyn was active in church and civic affairs and along with Knox

several other institutions are recipients of her generosity. According to her family, Knox was dear to her heart and she thoroughly enjoyed her time in Cooperstown.

We are honored to remember Marilyn and pleased to announce her esteemed standing in The Mary Alice Knox Society,

the School’s most prestigious donor circle. For more information regarding planned giving, please contact Duncan L. Marshall, Assistant Headmaster for External Affairs.

KNOX541 Long Beach RoadNissequogue, NY 11780

T2 **************** AUTO***SCH 3-DIGIT The Knox School

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REUNION 2012, JUNE 8 – JUNE 10, 2012 JOIN US TO WISH GEORGE AND LUCY ALLISON A HAPPY RETIREMENT

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