st. sebastian's magazine, issue i, 2013-14

The Science IssueStory Title p 12Story Title p 33Story Title p 35

VOLUME IX, ISSUE I 2013-2014

ST. SEBASTIANSM AGA Z I N E

The Sculptor Behind the New Statue From Tragedy to Triumph

The True Meaning of Beauty

FEATURES 6 Headmaster Burkes Opening

Remarks on Community

12 The New Man on Campus The dedication of our new statue

14 The Sculptor Behind the Statue Ann Hirsch brings our new statue to life

16 From Tragedy to Triumph Author Steve Pemberton shares his story

20 The True Meaning of Beauty Photographer Courtney Bent inspires

with her film Shooting Beauty

DEPARTMENTS

2 Around Campus

9 New Trustees

10 Faculty&StaffNews

22 Event Highlights

24 Campaign News

27 Fine Arts

30 Fall Sports

36 Alumni Events

38 Class Notes

42 In Memoriam

CreditsSt.SebastiansMagazinepublishesthreetimesayear. Photos by Marshall Goldin, Marcus Miller and Christine Robertson

StSebastiansSchool 1191 Greendale Ave Needham, MA 02492 781.449.5200

St. Sebastians School Mission Statement

ACatholicindependentschool,St.Sebastiansseekstoengageyoungmeninthepursuitoftruth through faith and reason. By embracing Gospel values in an inclusive, nurturing community andbyinspiringintellectualexcellenceinastructuredliberalartscurriculum,St.Sebastiansstrivestoempowerstudentsforsuccessincollegeandinlife.TheidealSt.Sebastiansgraduatewill be a moral and just person, a gentleman of courage, honor, and wisdom, a life-long learner whocontinuestogrowinhiscapacitytoknow,tolove,andtoserveGodandneighbor.

2013-2014 Board of Trustees

Sen Cardinal OMalley, OFM. Cap.Chairman

James L. Elcock 77, P08President

William L. Burke III P95,97,00,04Executive Officer, Headmaster

Douglas A. Kingsley, P10,10,12,13Secretary

Robert M. Wadsworth, P10,15Treasurer J. Devin Birmingham 84, P14 David M. Calabro 78, P16 Devin C. Condron 92 William T. Connolly, Jr. P10,12,17 JohnDeMatteoIIP11,13,16,18 John P. DiGiovanni 84, P14 Dana G. Doe P17 Rev. Michael E. Drea Sr. Janet Eisner, SND Patrick J. Hegarty 89 Jane M. Hoch P07 EdwardJ.HoffP11,13 Ross M. Jones P16,17 Wayne M. Kennard P08 Rev. Brian R. Kiely John A. Mannix 74 Robert J. Mulroy 82 Mark L. OFriel 79 William A. OMalley P09,10,13 Stuart D. Porter KristinE.ReedP15,17 Stephen P. Ward 96 Celeste E. Wolfe P09,12

Kimberly A. Mullin P13,16President, Guild of St. Irene Daniel W. Fulham P14President, Mens Association John E. McNamara 81,P14,18President, Alumni Association

Most Reverend John P. Boles 47 JamesA.Cotter,Jr.57 J.BradGriffith58 Frank M. Ward P96Trustee Emeriti

Photo: Neil Melley 18

THE COvENANT OF ST. SEBASTIANS

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From the desk of the headmasterWilliam L. Burke III

With the dedication of our gorgeous new statue, our year of Community has enjoyed a fabulously successful launch, and we continue to gain momentum. Were pursuing truth through faith and reasonloving God, working hard, taking good care of one another, and experiencing great joy in our labors.

As I often say, I have the easiest and the best job in America: serving a Catholic independent, single-gender day school driven by a clear, important mission; a unified, focused board; a gifted, devoted faculty; a talented, dedicated staff; and loyal, engaged alumniall working in harmony with selfless, loving parents to inspire truly great young scholars of faith and honor to become ever more fullythe very best versions of themselves, in body, mind, and spirit.

I hope that this issue will provide you with a glimpse of your School today and prompt you to visit soon and often. Please enjoy the graced moment in time captured by an eighth grader (on facing page); introductions of our newest faculty, staff, and board members; tributes to veteran teachers and Arrow fathers, Sean Albertson and Brian Richter; celebrations of our new friends in the arts: sculptor Ann Hirsch, author Steve Pemberton, and filmmaker and photographer Courtney Bent; the spotlight on eminently valuable, multifariously engaged alumnus Dan Archabal 64; and photos and copy of events and dedications, and great achievements of our students and adults who make up our symphony of being.

Thanks again for everything. May God continue to bless you every sacred step of the way.

Sincerely,

we all belong together in one enormous symphony of being. Pope Benedict XVI

William L. Burke IIIHeadmaster

2 | ST. SEBASTIANS MAGAZINE Volume IX, Issue I

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71 Students Inducted into the National Honor SocietyIn a ceremony held on Thursday, October 24, 2013, Headmaster Bill Burke, Assistant Headmaster Mike Nerbonne, and National Honor Society moderator Sean Albertson inducted 71 St. Sebastians students into the Sr. Evelyn C. Barrett, O.P. Chapter of the National Honor Society. The National Honor Society aims to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulate a desire to render service, promote leadership, and develop character. Students with a minimum 85 percent grade average, who complete an essay application and have the support of their teachers and advisor, are eligible to apply for this honor.

Class of 2014Samuel J. Carroll, Andrew S. Corcoran, John B. Daukas III, Nicholas J. Flanagan, Owen M. Kehoe, William J. Kenney, Tucker W. McLoughlin, Brandon G. Sweeney, Joseph Tran

Class of 2015Jack R. Adams, Gregory J. Barletta, George L. Barrett III, Jordan D. Barros, Daniel M. Beam, Matthew W. Bell, Matthew R. Blue, Anthony J. Canavan, Christian G. Capello, Thomas J. Caravolas, Colin P. Connolly, Noah D. DAngelo, Matthew C. Daniel, Cedric R. Depestre, James C. DeSisto, Matthew P. Doherty, William S. DOrsi, Jack T. Duffy, Edgar E. Escobar, John F. Flatley, Charles B. Gordon, Matthew G. Guarino,

Christopher G. Haley, Mark M. Heffernan, Jr., Pablo J. Hernandez, Daniel J. Higgins, James H. Hunt, Ackel A. Jreige, Joseph J. Kerwin, Ryan W. Lee, Justin R. Lee, Shawn P. Lynch, Conor R. Masterson, Gabriel C. Maxwell, William D. McCarthy, Patrick H. McGowan, L. Ryan McGuirk, James R. Mitchell, Jr., Macarthur W. Morris, Kevin P. Murray, Saverio W. Mustone, Peter E. Olson, Angus M. ORourke, Tommy L. Pace III, Cameron M. Quirk, Tyson C. Reed, Jr., Christian Reenstierna, Jr., Matthew T. Rocco, John D. Rourke, John J. Ryan IV, Paige I. Sanderson, Christian J. Santosuosso, Peter K. Scotten, Edward D. Silvia, William K. Supple, James D. Sylvia, Kenneth M. Vallace, Geoffrey E. Wade, Michael H. Wadsworth, Scott H. Westvold, Tyler C. Wiik, Christopher A. Wolpe

News and Notes from Our School Community

Deacon Moynihan Speaks about Catholic Education and Haiti Deacon Patrick Moynihan, President of the Haitian Project, Inc., spoke to the St. Sebastians School community during an assembly on October 10, 2013. After being introduced by John Daniel P15,18, his friend and classmate at Brown University, Moynihan spoke with passion about lessons learned over the past 17 years of his life of missionary work in Haiti.

The Haitian Project, Inc. operates the Louverture Cleary School (LCS), a Catholic, co-educational boarding school in Haiti, which seeks to maximize the potential of gifted Haitian students who would otherwise have no access to education. By preparing leaders committed to and invested in rebuilding their country, LCS is making a powerfully positive difference in Haiti.

Deacon Moynihan emphasized the importance of Catholic educationwhether its in Haiti, at St. Sebastians, or anywhere else in the worldbecause of its commitment to intellectual excellence and its moral imperative to sanctify the world.

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Four Students Recognized as National ScholarsFour senior Arrows have been recognized for their outstanding performance on last falls 2012 Preliminary SAT National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

Conor Craven 14 and Will Kenney 14, were recognized as National Merit Scholarship Commended Students for scores that placed them in the top 3.5 percent of test takers nationwide. John Bartlett 14 was named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist after his test score placed him in the top one percent nationwide. He will advance to compete as a Finalist for a Merit Scholarship; recipients will be announced this spring.

Zachary Chambers 14 was recognized by the National Achievement Scholarship Program for scoring in the top 3 percent on the PSAT/NMSQT. For reaching this level, Zachary received a certificate from the National Achievement Scholarship Program, and his name and undergraduate major choice were sent to 1,500 colleges and universities. Only 3,100 out of 160,000 Black

American students receive this extraordinary honor.

Started in 1964, the National Achievement Scholarship Program is specifically designed to honor academically promising Black American high school students. The annual competition is conducted by the same corporation that conducts the National Merit Scholarship Program.

AP Scholar AwardsThe following students and recent graduates earned AP Scholar Awards from the College Boards Advanced Placement (AP) Program. Roughly 20 percent of the 2.1 million students worldwide who took AP Exams at the end of the 2012-13 school year performed at a sufficient level to earn this recognition.

National Scholar (scoring 4 or higher on at least 8 exams, with an average score of at least 4) Kenneth Chen 13, Peter DeMatteo 13, Michael Petro 13, Thayer Wade 13

Scholar with Distinction (scoring 3 or higher on at least 5 exams, with an average score of at least 3.5) Michael Adams 13, Nikhil Basavappa 13, Matthew Donovan 13, Michael Haley 13, Michael Hoff 13, Julian Matra 13, Alexander Moore 13, Edward OHara 13, Kevin Patterson 13, Christopher Riley 13, Christopher Rodowicz 13, Ryan Schnoor 13, Luke Scotten 13, Andrew Sullivan 13

Scholar with Honor (scoring 3 or higher on at least 4 exams, with an average score of at least 3.25) Caleb Aldrich 14, Zachary Chambers 14, Matthew Fachetti 13, Joseph Kearney 14, William Kenney 14, Kevin Looney 13, Matthew Vandini 13

Scholar (scoring 3 or higher on at least 3 exams) John Bartlett 14, Peter Breslin 13, Connor Chabot 13, Ikenna Chukwu 13, Daniel Fulham 14, Joseph Guarino 13, Cameron Kelly 14, Matt Mcguire 13, Christopher OShea 14, George Price 13

CLOCKWISE Seniors John Bartlett, Zachary Chambers, Will Kenney and Conor Craven.

Action in the AV Room Thanks to the video system upgrades, made possible by Raise the Paddle at the 2012 Christmas Auction, there has been lots going on insideand outsidethe AV Room recently. The AV Club makes student announcements twice a day, using technology such as teleprompter software and television quality cameras to record. There is also a green screen, allowing the addition of scenery for special projects such as interviews with alumni and guest speakers. With the sophisticated video equipment, including new cameras in St. Bartholomews Church and Ward Hall that are connected to the AV Room by miles of wire,

we are able to capture School events, including weekly senior corporate chapel speeches, guest speakers and the Christmas program.


Christmas Program Features Musical Talent The St. Sebastians Community kicked off Christmas break on Friday, December 20, 2013, with a festive Christmas program that showcased the musical talent of some of our students and faculty. In addition to traditional music from the St. Sebastians Schola, which consists of both students and faculty members, the program featured contemporary Christmas pieces performed by the St. Sebastians Jazz

and Rock Bands, and St. Sebastians a capella group, The Arrowheads. The Rock Bands enthusiastic rendition of Feliz Navidad, with lead vocals by Marlon Matthews 14 and Jack Goldman 14, brought the crowd to its feet before the students, faculty, and guests concluded the program by joining together for Mendelssohns Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

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Debate Team Delivers Strong PerformancesThe St. Sebastians Debate Team began its season with a strong showing at the Roxbury Latin Parliamentary Debate Tournament on Sunday, September 22, 2013. The Advanced Team of John Flatley 15 and Peter Olson 15 compiled a perfect record of three wins and zero losses, while their teammates, Christian Kelly 14 and John Bartlett 14, compiled a record of two wins and one loss. On Sunday, October 13, St. Sebastians hosted 13 schools for its annual Parliamentary Extemporaneous Debate Tournament and Andrew Elcock 17 won a speaking prize for his individual performance. At Phillips Andover Academys tournament on Sunday, November 10, Michael Rozewski 16 won a Top School Speaker award for his individual performance. And on Sunday, December 8, Will Kenney 14 and Joe Kearney 14 compiled a perfect record of three wins and zero losses competing in the Advanced Division at The Hotchkiss Schools tournament.

From Top Assistant Headmaster Mike Nerbonne with Michael Rozewski 16; and with Joe Kearney 14 and Will Kenney 14.

Students Deliver Chapel Speeches at Pope John Paul II Faculty RetreatOn Tuesday, November 7, 2013, St. Sebastians had the opportunity to showcase its Chapel Speaking Program at a retreat for the faculty of Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in Braintree, MA. Headmaster Burke opened the presentation with some reflections

on the connection between our Catholic mission and the Chapel Speaking Program. Assistant Headmaster Nerbonne then offered an overview of the program, highlighting its benefits and what Chapel Speeches mean to the students and the School community. Six students from various classes then shared the same speeches they had delivered before their peers and teachers at School.

From LEFT Sam Gordon 17 on the piano; Marlon Matthews 14 and Jack Goldman 14 sing Feliz Navidad.

Jack Brugger 16, John Ryan 15, Justin Bellinger 14, Sean Harrington 16, Michael Bollas 18, and Griffin Wagner 19.

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Arrows by the Numbers

35The number of blazers sitting in the front office at last count. So if your son is missing one ...

8.2 The approximate number of miles officially logged by student mousetrap cars since the inception of the project 20 years ago.

102.5 The approximate number of unofficial miles logged since the project began.

63How many games were played in the St. Sebastians Chess Tournament. Sonny Huang 16 defeated Ibrahim S. Kaba 18 for the title on December 18, 2013.

The number of years St. Sebastians has been blessed to have Headmaster Burke as its leader, just one year shy of his 25th anniversary!

The number of Catholic schools in the Independent School League, making St. Sebastians and its faith-based mission unique among its peer schools.

7:1The ratio of students to faculty, with an average class size of 11, creating an intimate learning community and fostering the pursuit of truth.

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Yesterday, my wife and I were privileged to be in Bostons Copley Square with Vietnamese Buddhist monk and author of Living Buddha, Living Christ, Thich Nhat Hanh, who led us and several hundred other people in a meditative prayer service for world peace, and I thought of the words of Blessed Pope John Paul II:

There is only one community, and it consists of all people.I begin with an image, which you may have encountered:

If you were to see a turtle on a fence post, the one thing youd know for certain is that the turtle didnt get there by himself.Certain, too, is the truth that not one of us has arrived at our beloved St. Sebastians School by himself or by herself alone. Rather, each of us has been endowed with ability and inspiration and countless other blessings by God, and each of us has been gifted with opportunity and encouragement and tremendous support by our families and by others who love us and call us to greatness.

In summation, and as Ive shared before, all we need for success is ability, opportunity, and attitude. God gives us the ability to see and hear and move and think, and our families and others sacrifice to provide us with the opportunity to attend this great School and pursue the truth through faith and reason with truly great teachers.

Ability and opportunity are given to us. So far, you students have done nothing. But what wonders unfold when you invest and develop your ability and seize upon your magnificent opportunities by responding with a powerfully positive attitude and an unwavering commitment to excellence! And it will be your attitude, your response, that we focus on when supporting you in the college process.

Established in 1941 in Newton and moved to Needham during the 1982-1983 Christmas vacation, our School community has been built by the grace of God and through the efforts of many selfless men and women on whose shoulders we stand. I draw particular attention to the outstanding Board presidents with whom I have been privileged to serve: Jack Birmingham 59, Tom Swan 60, Brad Griffith 58, David Gately 73, and Jim Elcock 77. We owe these leaders, other trustees, and many educators, staff members, parents, and friends a debt we can only attempt to repay by living our lives in the best possible manner.

As Steve Pemberton reminded us last week, we are, at our very best, custodians, beneficiaries of what others have created, fully committed to preserving and building up this great St.

Sebastians community before passing on an even stronger St. Sebastians to those who will follow.

Our years themecommunityis defined as a unified body of individuals. I believe that this definition is as good as any: a unified body of individuals; but I would tweak it a bit: a unified body of unified individuals. For while every individual in any community is a sacrosanct, genetically unrepeatable gift created in the image and likeness of God and made for eternity, each of us is called to integrate and unifyever more fullythe intellectual, physical, spiritual, aesthetic, and emotional parts of ourselves. First, a unified whole individualthen a unified whole community of individuals. First, unitythen community, and both are evolving and helping one another all the time, for surely we can become much better people by engaging in a healthy

Headmaster Burkes Opening Remarks on COMMUNITY

The following remarks were made during Corporate Chapel on Monday, September 16, 2013.


community, and from beginning to end, its all about love, as Teilhard de Chardin asserts:

Love alone is capable of uniting living beings in such a way as to complete and fulfill them for it alone takes them and joins them by what is deepest in themselves.

And I believe that our Lord is here deep with us this morning and every time we assemble with hearts and minds and souls open to Him, as sacred scripture assures:

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)

The word community appears in the second sentence of our mission statement: embracing Gospel values in an inclusive, nurturing community

Gospel values are human values. Be kind, not cruel. Be honest, not deceitful. Do all of your own work. Dont cheat. Respect property. Dont damage. Dont steal. Be loyal, not treasonous. Be a brave friend, not a cowardly bully. Love God. Work Hard. Take good care of one another. Do what Jesus would do.

An inclusive, nurturing community is both a statement of fact and a call to action. Countless visiting students and their parents and other guests remark that they feel included and valued by us right away. Just last week, Steve Pemberton graced our campus for the very first time and proclaimed:

St. Sebastians is a family to me to be known and loved and followed.

As you may have seen in our most recent St. Sebastians School magazine, I cite this excerpt from a letter Nikhil Basvappa 13 wrote to me around the time of his graduation in June:

I am determined to impact whatever communities I become part of in such a way that you can see me, however many years from now, and feel proud of giving me a chance to become a part of the 8th grade class so many years ago. Yet, the most impressive

thing to me is how St. Sebastians created such a genuine sense of brotherhood that it would make me even happier to see my fellow Arrows do St. Sebastians proud I will continue thanking you throughout my life, maybe not through words or letters, but in the way I will carry myself and the way I intend on spreading the St. Sebastians spirit wherever I go.

Just last week, we dedicated a math classroom in honor of Edmund Murphy 11 and his family. The words on the plaque read: Building Men of Character. Edmund spoke most eloquently at the ceremony, sharing that he had always been told that college would be the best four years of his life. Now halfway through Middlebury, a great college he truly loves, Edmund proclaimed that the best four years of his life thus far have been the four he spent as a student at St. Sebastians, where he made his best friends and where he was inspired by his best mentors.

Nikhils story and Edmunds story of brotherhood and community have been the stories of St. Sebastians young men for a long, long time. They are your stories in the making right now. But we must build them ourselves and earn the good will and brotherhood every day. When a visitor arrives on campus and asks how to get to Mr. Nerbonnes office, we have a choice; we can grunt a response and point the way, or we can spring to action, look our guest in the eye, introduce ourselves, shake hands, and accompany and converse with him or her every step of the way to Mr. Nerbonne.

Everything we say and do truly matters both in the moment and forever.

A student embraces the theme of community at Homecoming.


When we walk into Ward Hall with a tray filled with food, we can seek out the crowded table and wrestle our way in, or we can be poised like a linebacker, open, on the lookout for the person sitting alone and then place our tray beside him. When we notice that someone is being teased, we can join in, we can sit on the sidelines, or we can heroically intercede. When someone is about to make a bad choice on a Saturday night, we can join him, we can sit in silence, or we can challenge him to do the next right thing, remembering that no school can call itself a great school until peer pressure is a positive, not a negative force. When someone looks sad, we can ask how its going.

Older students can get to know younger students, call them by name and support them well.

Inclusive: once in, never out. Arrows forever! Nurturing: how can I be most helpful at any given moment, especially to the person who needs me most? How can I lead best?

Our new Holy Father, Pope Francis, seems to be talking to us in this recent letter:

we are called to be the children of the only Father and brothers with each other. The uniqueness of Jesus is for communication not for exclusion does not mean escaping from the world or looking for any kind of supremacy, but being at the service of mankind

We hold the door for others and shower them with support, and we embrace the truth that were linked to other communities. As senior headmaster in the Independent School League, I wrote the following passage last year in a sort of State of the League address:

We are blessed with a structured, well-ordered, well-respected framework within which a community of schools can work, and through which we are able to advance the common good.

For this reason and for every good reason, we cheer for our teams and not against our opponents, whom we rightly refer to as guests when playing at home. Its a joy and an honor to compete against young men from other schools. We pray that no one on either team suffers serious injury. We take no unfair advantage. We respect officials. And we strive to win with dignity and honor. Other than nice game, we say little when we lose and less when we win.

Everything we say and do truly matters both in the moment and forever. Listen to what two famous Christian educators have to say about this truth:

A teachers major contribution may pop out anonymously in the life of some ex-students grandchild. (Wendell Berry)

The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt. (Frederick Buechner)

What power each of us has! If our hearts are open and our intentions are pure, we can and we will build community, and so we ask God to give us strength and lead us, embracing the truth expressed in Psalm 127:

Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.

Like the turtle on the fence post, by some great mystery we find ourselves here together in this Church, in this School, on this morning, in this year of Community, and I am so very happy and so very grateful that it is so. There is no place Id rather be and no young men with whom Id rather be working. I love you and your families, my colleagues, our trustees, our alumni, and our many friends, and I look forward to building community with each of you.

May God continue to bless us all.

What power each of us has! If our hearts are open and our intentions are pure, we can and we will build community...

DANA DOE P17Dana and his wife, Beth, live in Winchester, MA. Their son Bryan is in the Class of 2017 and they also have an older daughter, Meghan. Dana is a former Executive VP of Real Estate and Development with the 99 Restaurant where he was also a Board Member and served on the Executive, Financial and Marketing Committees.

Dana holds a BA in Hotel Management from the University of New Hampshire. He has been a very active volunteer in the St. Sebastians Mens Association and is also involved with other volunteer organizations such as The Pine Street Inn, the Greater Boston Food Bank and Cradles to Crayons.

rEv. miChAEL E. drEARev. Michael E. Drea is the present Pastor of St. Pauls, Harvard Square,and Senior Catholic Chaplain to Harvard University, a position he has held since 2009. Previously,Father Drea was the parochial vicar at St. Ann Parish in Quincys Wollaston section. Before entering St. Johns Seminary, he attended Boston

College, completing his BA in communications in 1988 and his MA in higher education administration in 1994. He worked in the private sector at The Boston Company, Cardinal Spellman High School as Development Director, and then as Director of the Annual Fund here at St. Sebastians. Cardinal Sean OMalley ordainedFather Drea to the priesthood at Holy Cross Cathedral on May 22, 2004. Father Drea is also a Board Member at St. Johns Seminary and serves on other diocesan committees.

DAN FuLHAM P14Mens Association President

Dan and his wife, Dana, live in Newton, MA. They have four sons, Peter, Anthony, Daniel, who is a senior at St. Sebastians, and Brendan. Dan is the Operating Partner at Fulham & Co. in Wellesley, MA. He has an extensive background in the retail food industry, including more than 20

years of experience dealing with consumer packaged goods, sales and marketing, brand and market development, and strategic planning. Dan has been a very active volunteer at St. Sebastians: he was Co-Chair of the Annual Fund, has worked on the Christmas Auction and is Co-Chair of this years Golf Outing. Dan has a BA from Holy Cross and an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University.

ROSS JONES P16,17Ross and his wife, Emily, live in Needham, MA. They have two sons, Erik 16 and Luke 17, and a daughter, Alexa. Ross is a Managing Director at Berkshire Partners in Boston. He previously worked at Bain & Co. in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley & Co. Ross and Emily are engaged in a number of non-profit

organizations. Ross has a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Stanford Universitys Graduate School of Business.

BOB MuLROy 82Bob and his wife, Jean, live in Belmont, MA with their two young children, Mary and Robert. Bob is a 1982 graduate of St. Sebastians. He currently serves as the President & CEO and member of the Board of Directors of Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company focused on the development of new treatments and

diagnostics for cancer. Bob worked previously as a management consultant focused in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. He holds a A.B. from Stanford University and a masters degree in public and private management (MPPM) from Yale University. Bob also has four brothers and four nephews who have graduated from the School.

KIM MuLLIN P13,16Guild of St. Irene President

Kim and her husband, Hugh, live in Winchester, MA. They have two sons, Brian 13 and Peter 16, and a daughter, Samantha. Kim has been a very active volunteer at St. Sebastians since 2008. She has worked on the Parent Advisory Committee, the Christmas Auction,

Homecoming, and the Annual Fund Committee, in addition to acting as Library Co-Chair. Kim was previously employed at Brachs Candy Corporation as the Eastern Zone VP of Marketing & Promotions, and before that as Sales Manager at Nestle Foods Corporation. She has also done extensive volunteer work in her community. Kim is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a BA in marketing and a minor in economics.


St. Sebastians Welcomes New TrusteesSt. Sebastians is very fortunate to have an exceptional group of parents and friends of the School who give generously of their time and share their wisdom as members of the Board of Trustees. We are pleased to welcome our newest members.


JAmEs CAvAnAghReligion James joins St. Sebastians burgeoning theology department, coming to us by way of Worcester, where he attended Holy Cross, earning his BA in history. In addition to teaching 7th and 8th grade religion courses, James coaches hockey and lacrosse. He is a native of Warwick, RI, and,

even as the second youngest of nine children, is impressed by the community and family he is now part of at St. Sebastians.

sEAn CLEAryEnglishOriginally from Cambridge, MA, Sean matriculated from Matignon High School to Tufts University, where he earned his BA in English in 2008, and then traveled west to the University of Montana, where he earned his MFA in 2013. In addition to teaching English, Sean also coaches hockey.

He is an avid golfer and hockey player, and a fan of Spanish literature. Hes happy to be part of St. Sebastians great community of teachers and students.

MICHAEL FOLEy 09 ReligionMichael returns to St. Sebastians, this time as a member of the religion faculty, after graduating last spring from Boston College. In addition to teaching religion, Michael also coaches JV soccer and Fifth Hockey. He is thankful for his fellow faculty members who have helped him make the transition from

student to teacher, and very excited to be back at St. Sebastians.

shAynA giLmAnSpanishShayna joins St. Sebastians from East Longmeadow High School, where she taught after earning a BA from the University of Vermont and an MA from Middlebury College. As a graduate student, she also taught English for a year in Argentina. She currently resides in West Roxbury, MA, and

is thoroughly enjoying her first year at the School.

dAvid hinmAnAthletic Director, Mathematics

A coach at St. Sebastians from 1997 to 1999, David has returned to take the reigns as the Schools new Athletic Director and newest member of the mathematics department. An alumnus of Hobart College with an Ed.M. from Boston University, David previously held the title of Athletic

Director at Taft School, where he also worked as Associate Admissions Officer, taught math, and coached basketball, leading his teams to ten NEPSAC tournaments and three league titles. He lives in the area with his wife, Ellen, who heads the upper school at Dexter-Southfield, and his three children, Emily, Sam and Charlie. The whole family is delighted to be part of the St. Sebastians community.

mArCus miLLErCommunications AssociateMarcus joins the St. Sebastians staff this year as the new Communications Associate. A native of Minnesota, Marcus received his BA in public relations and writing from Drake University in Des Moines, IA, and his MA in writing and publishing from Emerson College. Before

coming to St. Sebastians, Marcus worked as a freelance writer for companies such as Bosch, Genzyme, Rue La La, and BzzAgent. He is extremely happy to have found a place among his wonderful colleagues and students at St. Sebastians

ChrisTinE robErTsonDirector of CommunicationsChristine began working as the new Director of Communications during graduation week this past June, an exciting time to begin her new role. Before coming to St. Sebastians, she worked at The Home for Little Wanderers, one of New Englands largest child welfare organizations, for

over 16 years. In her most recent position, she served as Graphic Design & Web Manager for The Home. Christine holds a BA in Psychology from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. She lives in Medfield with her husband, Craig, and twins, Jack and Chloe.

New Faces on CampusSt. Sebastians is pleased to welcome its newest faculty and staff members, a talented group who are already making an impact in the classrooms and on the School community.

mArissA simmsScience Marissa, a Milton native, comes to St. Sebastians from Notre Dame Academy, where she taught biology and neuroscience, as well as headed the Neuroscience Network. Since graduating

from Milton High School, Marissa has pursued rigorous study, earning her BA in neuroscience from Smith College and an MA in neurobiology from Boston University School of Medicine before earning a degree in school administration from Emmanuel College. She teaches AP Biology, Honors Biology, and 7th grade science. She heads the St. Sebastians Neuroscience Network and plays viola in the Mass Ensemble.

oLiviA uhLmAn ScienceOlivia joins the ranks of St. Sebastians science faculty fresh off earning her BA in physics from Williams College. In addition to teaching 7th grade science and physics, Olivia also

coaches the ski team. In her free time she dabbles in music, playing marimba drums, piano, and violin, and getting outside to play ultimate frisbee. Shes very happy to be teaching students who are so hard working and eager to learn.

KAiTLyn WoELFEL Director of Annual GivingKaitlyn joins St. Sebastians as the Director of Annual Giving, overseeing the Parents, Alumni and Friends Funds. She graduated from Boston College and began her fundraising career at

Harvard University, working at the College, Law School, and most recently at the Medical School on the strategic planning of their campaign. Kaitlyn is thrilled to be a part of the St. Sebastians community, helping to raise critical funds for a school and mission in which she strongly believes. Kaitlyn resides in Norfolk with her husband, Steve, and new puppy, Baxter.

Faculty and trustees gathered in Ward Hall on Thursday evening, November 7, 2013, to honor Sean Albertson and Brian Richter, who are both celebrating their twenty-fifth year of teaching at St. Sebastians

School. Board of Trustees President Jim Elcock 77, P08 began the night by thanking the faculty and praising them, saying, You are, individually and collectively, the unique reason why this School is so successful and has such a bright future... Celebrating you is what makes this evening so

wonderful. Father Arens followed with a moving blessing before dinner, during which he thanked Albertson and Richter for their combined half century of work at the School.

After dinner, a host of faculty, friends, and family took to the podium to celebrate the evenings honorees. Headmaster Bill Burke spoke fondly of his colleagues, thanking both for their years of dedication and service, adding how truly proud he was to serve alongside them. Faculty member Michael Foley 09 shared his favorite memories from his time studying under Albertson as a student. English Chair Chris Lynch offered an amusing look at the legend and mystery of Brian Richter, followed by a heartfelt speech from Richters son, Brian 09.

During their own remarks to the faculty and trustees, Albertson and Richter each reminisced about their time at St. Sebastians, and related how blessed they are to have served for so long at the School. Their extraordinary commitment has made our community richer and stronger.

Sean Albertson & Brian Richter Honored at Faculty-Trustee Dinner

(l to r): Brian Richter with his daughter, Cynthia, wife, Sarah Jane, and son, Brian 09.

Sean Albertson (far right) with his children, Meagan, Brendan 15, and Ryan, and his wife, Peggy.

25 years & Counting...



In contrast to the statue of our patron saint in front of the Administration building, this one tells the story of St. Sebastian as a Roman soldier in the army of Diocletian. Sculptor Ann Hirsch, a phenomenally gifted artist, and our extraordinarily talented architect, Rob Olson, collaborated with donors Doug and Joanie Kingsley P10,10,12,13, to create this stunning masterpiece, and we are so very, very grateful.

The goal of this sculpture was to capture a particular time in St. Sebastians life, after he was shot with arrows and nursed back to health by Irene. He is striding forward, going back to Diocletian to speak the truth and to face his ultimate martyrdom for his Faith. Father Arens opened the ceremony with a blessing that beautifully illustrated this moment (see below for the full blessing).

Headmaster Burke then reflected on this magnificent addition to our campus: This great statue is a work of art in itself, and we all know that art isnt completed until a viewer engages with it. Its so strikingly beautiful that it arrests us, draws us in, makes us want to look upon it from all sides and read the words that reveal the powerfully beautiful truth of our patrons faith, honor, strength, and courage.

Doug Kingsley followed with a powerful message to the students: It is our hope that each of you young men, and the countless Arrows who will follow in your footsteps in the years to come, will look at this statue and consider your own path to heaven. As each of you strides forth from this School into the world, how will you pursue truth through faith and reason? How will you be a beacon of light in the world, and an example to others?

The New Man On Campus On September 19, 2013, the entire School community gathered on the Class of 2013 Courtyard to dedicate our gorgeous new statue of St. Sebastian.

Father John Arens Blessing of the Statue:

As we gather in prayer, strengthened by the gift of St. Sebastian, Our Patron, we give You thanks and praise, Oh, Lord,You give us word and vision, wisdom and inspiration in this image we dedicate to You. The brave warrior rushes to the battle-linehis soldiering lead gives courage to all who follow. He advances to meet the foe, not of flesh and blood, but the enmity of evil. He seeks to share the Christ in Whom he believesin Whom he knows is True Victory.

See, this soldier speaks from that moment where he saw death and life againhe holds a hand to HeavenLet these arrows be my eloquence their piercing has been healedIrenes compassion nursed with Christ. What sought to bring death, I bring to witness Lifehastening to you, my earthly father, your son Sebastians wounds voice Loves Power to reconcile and save. To the gods of mans fashioning be not a slaveGod who is One speaks His Eternal Word, before Whom these idols mutely fall.

FACING PAGE TOP The School community gathers on the Class of 2013 Courtyard.

BOTTOM FROM LEFT Joanie and Doug Kingsley with their sons, (l to r) Max 10, Scott 13, Doug 12, and Ned 10; Doug Kingsley speaks at the dedication ceremony.


Hirsch has sculpted for more than 20 years, including most recently a statue of former Celtics great Bill Russell for City Hall in Boston. She loves contributing to projects that have meaning and the opportunity to sculpt St. Sebastian was no exception. Hirsch felt an immediate connection to St. Sebastians, having attended an all-girls Catholic high school with a similar mission. When Hirsch was approached to work on this project, she was honored. I saw it as a way to say thank you to a system of

educationCatholic and single sexthat was a powerful influence in my own life, said Hirsch.

The creation of St. Sebastian was a process that took almost two years. It began in mid-2011 with a year of brainstorming, designing and planning with the Schools architect, Rob Olson, in concert with the benefactors of the statue, Doug and Joanie Kingsley P10,10,12,13. There were numerous decisions to make, but one thing was clear from the beginning: this statue would depict St.

Sebastian as a soldier of the Praetorian Guard, rather than the martyr shot full of arrows that was more commonly depicted in art and literature.

In order to bring the statue to life and tell its story in three dimensions, it was important to get the details right. Hirsch read everything she could find about St. Sebastian and looked at different representations of the saint. She carefully researched the type of armor prevalent in the third century, incorporating those details into the breastplate and straps that hold up the armor. She added images of the four evangelists to the shoulder hinges, as well as the school crest on the backplate.

The pose of the statue was also critical. Hirsch created several small models of St. Sebastian in different positions and then used a life model to determine the best gesture. She worked closely with Olson to make sure the sculpture was in dialogue with the surrounding architecture, including the Math, Science & Library building that was at that point still a vision yet to be built.

The pose selected was the perfect fit: St. Sebastian pointing up to the sky, figuratively to God, at the top of the Class of 2013 Courtyard stairs and facing St. Bartholomews Parish. The position had the right amount of power and energy, representing the saint striding forth with purpose. The granite surround, designed by Olson, would complete the masterpiece, with Truth or Veritas carved in the ground before him and on either side Fides and Ratio for Faith and Reason, evoking the schools mission.

At her studio in Somerville, Hirsch began the highly skilled work of modeling St. Sebastian out of clay before it would head to the foundry and be cast into bronze. Some elements of the process have changed over time, including the use of technology to enlarge the small clay model into a life-size three-dimensional model made of foam. Yet, today, Hirschs method to transform her vision into a bronze

The Sculptor Behind the Statue

Sculptor Ann Hirsch brings an extraordinary passion to her art that is tangible. It is that passion that was the driving force behind bringing to life our Schools new statue of St. Sebastian. She has done more than bless our campus with a remarkable object of beauty; her creation tells the story of our patron saint and serves as a powerful representation of the Schools mission to pursue truth through faith and reason.

Ann Hirsch with the small models she made to help decide on the pose of the statue.

sculpture essentially remains the same as it was in 2,000 BC during the Akkadian period. Theres something extraordinary about being engaged in a process, whether in clay or in bronze, that human beings have used for millennia, she acknowledged.

There were many challenges over the next five months, from sculpting the breastplate and leather straps to splaying the arrows held in St. Sebastians right hand. One of the hardest tasks, but something that felt important to Hirsch, was making St. Sebastians age indeterminate so that the students can relate to him no matter what age they are. Her hope is that younger students will see the statue differently by the time they are seniors, and then again as alumni when they return to campus as men.

Hirsch loves that the boys walk past the statue each day as they come up and down the stairs to the courtyard. In fact, the statues base is intentionally low to the ground so that St. Sebastian feels more accessible to the students and has a real presence among them. I see this sculpture as a learning tool, a way to learn about faith, states Hirsch. I am honored to have been asked to make something that functions that way.

What stands out most to Hirsch about this project is not the statue itself, but the people she worked with to create it and the strong sense of community at St. Sebastians. We are honored to now consider her part of that community. As Headmaster Burke said, Ann Hirsch is a very intelligent woman of faith and honor, a phenomenally gifted artist, and a tireless researcher who plumbs the depths and connects intimately with the soul of her subject, then designs from the inside out. I could not be happier with her statue of St. Sebastian nor more in awe of her creative genius.


Theres something extraordinary about being engaged in a process, whether in clay or in bronze, that human beings have used for millennia.


Trying to find my family was going to be difficult. Yet I had always found safe harbor in the person I believed God had made me, in my strength, my resilience, my competitive nature, and my loyalty toward others.

Page 129, A Chance In The World, our 2013 All-School Read

Yesterday, under Gods golden sun on the verdant grounds of Oyster Harbors Club in Osterville, I was blessed to have Mr. Steve Pemberton as partner and fortunate to benefit most richly from his strength, resilience, competitive nature, loyalty, and at least ten thousand other gifts.

Toward the end of the round, Mr. Pembertons back began to trouble himno doubt, from swinging his club while simultaneously carrying his partner. John Wooden reminds us that sports may or may not teach character, but they certainly reveal it. And what great character Mr. Pemberton has!

As we know, Mr. Pemberton grew up in nearby New Bedford and spent most of his childhood in foster care, which, heartbreakingly, most often wasnt really care at all. Against all odds, he prayed and read and worked his way to admission to, success in, and graduation from Boston College.

He served for many years as an Assistant Dean of Admissions at Boston College, worked at Monster.com, and co-created and co-directed the very successful Road To College program before moving to Chicago to become Divisional Vice-President and Chief Diversity Officer for Walgreens. His commitment to civic organizations such as The Home for Little Wanderers and UCAN is expansive and deep. He has been recognized as one of our nations top leaders in matters of diversity and inclusion.

Steve Pemberton and his beautiful wife Tonya are the proud parents of three young children. Tonya has shared that her already strong faith really grew when she met the man who became her husband. Mine did, too, and Im confident that yours will as well. Please help me welcome Mr. Steve Pemberton.

I would like to thank new parent Mr. John Hailer for helping us secure his good friend, Mr. Pemberton.

Headmaster Burkes Introduction during Corporate Chapel on September 9, 2013

A Responsibility to Write My StoryIf there was a time for me to have written this book, chronologically, it was twenty-odd years ago when it was all unfolding at the time. But there is a time and a reason and a season for all things, and it really was becoming a husband and father that really motivated me to write the book. I was being asked questions by my children. I would give them an answer, and it would lead to another question and another question, and ultimately I realized, Well, I had better start to get this down as something for them to read.

The process of writing a book is an intense one; it can be a joy, it can be a burden at times. And even in the process of writing the book there are some instructive lessons as you students begin your year. The first is that whenever I look at the cover

of the book, I think to myself all the time that it was not my name intended to be on the cover. I actually had initially hired a ghostwriter, an agreement with the publisher that he was going to write it and I would tell it to him. So it would have said, A Chance in the World: As Told to by this authors name.

We started this process of collaboration, and he writes the first chapter, and I look at it, and Im very impressed with it. I send it to my wife, and she reads it; I call her and I say, So, what do you think? and she says, Well, its nice. And thats all she says. That was her way of telling me, I dont think thats it.

The reason the ghostwriters name didnt wind up on the cover was because of my mothera woman I have no memory of. He wanted to refer to her life in far harsher terms than I wanted to. She was still my mother, and I knew, through my research, how difficult her life had been, and I didnt feel the need to further

FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH Steve Pembertons Remarkable Story Inspires St. Sebastians Community

Excerpts from Steve Pembertons Speech


judge her. That was Gods responsibility, not mine. I remember the ghostwriter said something to me: he said Well, itll sell more books. And I said, Well, I think youre missing the point.

And then he made another judgment, a critical one. He thought I couldnt write. He had never seen anything I had ever written; he just made a presumption about me without ever really asking the question. Theres something instructive about that to be careful about making snap judgments. Im often described as somebody who doesnt look like his story. But thats true for every single one of us; its true for every single one of you. None of us look like our story. And you have one every single one of you do. You came here, into this world, into this experience, with a story. And whatever that story is, it is not evident just by looking at you. By your accent, or what you look like, or how youre dressed, or what your address is. They think they know your story. And you, in turn, might think you know someone elses story. So you have to pause for a moment, and you have to ask whether you understand the full totality of someone.

So what didnt the ghostwriter know? Well, he didnt know, as you know, that I read every single day of my childhood. Relentlessly, unyieldingly, it gave me vision and direction. And when you read that much, it naturally follows that you write well, and then it should also naturally follow that you will speak well. But thats not evident by looking at me, no more than it might be evident by looking at you. And he also missed a fundamental element of the story, which was the power of persistence. I, to be quite honest, remember thinking, Well, you know enough about the story, and I wouldve thought hed said, If theres somebody I should not challenge, if theres somebody I should not tell he cant do something, its probably this guy, because hes willing to do just about anything to make a vision come true.

So I say to myself, He cant write this. Not the right voice. My wife, Tonya, she was exactly right. She saw something long before I did.

I was ready, is my point. That story had been with me for a long time not just the story, but the way I wanted to write it. So I was, to some degree, held hostage by what I thought I couldnt do as well, and thats true for a lot of us. You know that phrase, a chance in the world is usually said in the quiet of our own hearts. We think, I dont have a chance in the world that somethingor somebody may have said that to you. Its rarely said in a positive way, not a chance in the world, not a prayer. And to me it means the exact opposite, because a chance was all I wanted. It was all I was looking for. I didnt want a lowered bar, I just wanted a chance. So everything that I did was focused in that direction, in that way.

And over 60,000 copies later, being translated into multiple languages, in conversations with Hollywood about turning the book into a moviethat vision that began long before I wrote it; that boy sitting on a rock wall.

I had two rules for writing the book: one, I didnt want to make it too hard. I thought I would lose you if all you saw was the tragedy of it, because to me it is a story of triumph, and not of tragedy, but

sometimes you have to articulate that very clearly to others. And the second rule was that I didnt want to lose time with

my children, I didnt want to squirrel myself away somewhere just writing, watching their childhood go by, for a year.

I do get asked, Why would you write this? You know, youre a successful corporate executive, you have a great family, a wonderful life. Why would you tell people about all of this tragedy that youve come from? And, you know, what theyre really asking me, what theyre really saying, is that, If I had come from that, I wouldnt say a word. Id say nothing at all. And theres something fundamentally wrong about that.

The truth is that theres a little bit of brokenness in every family line somewhere, something that was fought for, something that was sacrificed for, something that was struggled for. My faith told me, and continued to tell me, that I didnt survive that to keep that victory to myself. So I saw actually not writing it as a retreat, as backing away or backing down, and that I cannot do. I have never done that. And so if I thought in any way, shape, or form that my story was going to impact and touch the lives of others, then I had a responsibility to write it, to get it down. And all of the things which have unfolded I could have never even have remotely anticipated.

Author Steve Pemberton speaks during Corporate Chapel.


Ending the Cycle

I had inherited something. Were all inheritors, if you think about that. You come into the world with a great name, could be great fame, could be great wealth. And you can also inherit great tragedy. But inheritances all have something in common: you didnt build them, you didnt create them, you didnt ask for them. They were given to you in some way, shape, or form. But the question of life, of this life, is not what you inherit, over which you have no say, but that which you build, over which you have every say.

So I had a say, ultimately. I dont think that I could walk down this aisle here and tell you about all the damage and destruction I had unleashed because of what I inherited. Youd be polite. A nod here or there, but ultimately, somewhere, youd say, Hes making an excuse. And thats largely how I saw it. I thought that Id been chosen to end this cycle that I had inherited, that I hadnt asked for, that it wasnt my fault.

I wanted to show a pathway of resilience, of faith, of perseverance, of family. The only answer I ever had to all of this was that I had to build. There wasnt any other answer. I couldnt lament it, I couldnt make excuses, I couldnt cry over it. I had to build something from that.

So when I go home, and I come through the front door, and Quinn and Vaughn and Kennedy jump on me, they think Im the coolest dad on the street. And theyre right. But that was what it was all about. It was really about them, making sure that this story would end with them. So theyre never going to know what it was like to grow up the way that I did, and thats exactly the way that it should be.

And you know the times it hits me? They are avid athletes, even at their young ages basketball, and gymnastics, and football. And there are times where theyll run across a field and Ill see the name Pemberton across the back of their jersey, and I have to do a double-take, because your last names, for many of you, you have never known life without them. Nor have my children; theyve always had that name. But for me, it still arrests me. I still realize, Yes, thats my name, because Ive had it less than half my life. But I was building that for them, so that they would have continuity, and certainty, and conviction. And it does require sacrifice; it requires community; it requires friendship as well.

Standing in the Gap

I can tell you that the values you are going to get here, youd be hard-pressed to look at any other time in our societys history where we need these values more than ever. I want to repeat that: youd be hard-pressed to look at any other time in our societys history where we need the values that are instilled in you.

I see some of the things on social media, people posting about how much cream they had in their coffee, and these mundane, kind of pedestrian things. And to be honest with you, I wish Facebook

COMPELLING WORDS OF WISDOMThe question of life, of this life, is not what you inherit, over which you have no say, but that which you build, over which you have every say.

The people who I remembered most were the ones who did small things, kindnesses. You have the opportunity to make that same impact on one another, and you should.

Where others see an end, will you see another avenue? Where others see only what cant be done, do you see another way? You will learn those things here.

Hope usually asks you to stay there and wait for something to happen. But when you believe, thats different. Belief, for me, sits on a higher plane.

I want you to take advantage of this time, take advantage of these friendships and these relationships. They will form the foundation for your entire life.


would put a Dont Care button on their site, because thats my reaction to a lot of things I see. How important is that? How much does that change the arc of a life? Is it a Mrs. Levin? I doubt it. Ultimately we are measured by the impact we have on the lives of another. When all is said and done, thats ultimately what were measured by. Nor should you think that you are too young to have that kind of impact. The people who I remembered most were the ones who did small things, kindnesses.

You have the opportunity to make that same impact on one another, and you should. Realizing that there are things that youre going to want to look further into, dont make assumptions about people based on what they look like, and dont make assumptions on your own experiences as well. Make sure that you leave here deepened, emboldened, enriched by those around you.

And when you walk into a place like this, heres the truth of it all, heres the blessing that you get: on your best day, your absolute best day, you are a custodian. Thats what you are. You are a steward of a history that is much greater than you, that was here before you, and will be here long after youve stepped away. So during your time you have to hold it as high as it was held before you arrived for others to come, and that is an absolutely awesome responsibility. So youre builders in your own right, and theres something eminently powerful and beautifully gifted and unique about that. Youll stand in the gap for others, whether its a smile to this day, when somebody serves me I use the name that I see on their lapel, because in that single moment of interaction I want to bestow some dignity upon them and hope that they will return some to me.

I have a lot of people who report to me at Walgreens, and Im looking for the attributes and features, characteristics, qualities that you have learned here, and that you will continue to learn here, and that you will take with you. In the face of trouble, will you stand in the gap, will you be a self-starter, will you be motivated, will you look out for others? Where others see an end, will you see another avenue? Where others see only what cant be done, do you see another way? And you will learn those things here.

The Distinction between Hope and Belief

Lastly, Ive learned to make a distinction between hoping and believing. You know, sitting on that rock wall I remember thinking to myself, God has forgotten about me. Theres no way he would take my parents from me, subject me to this kind of treatment from these kinds of people. So, Hes forgotten about me. And the last thing that you want in that situation is hope. I understand its reach, its power, but hope usually asks you to stay there and wait for something to happen. You can hope for a lot of things. You can hope to apply to the school of your dreams or you can hope to do well on that exam or you can hope to do well on that standardized test. But when you believe, thats different. Belief, for me, sits on a higher plane. When you believe in yourself and you believe in others, then you will do what is most required; you will take action; youll get up

at 4:30 in the morning if thats whats required. And youll write from 12:00 to 1:00 in the morning, if thats whats required. Because if you believe, youll take action, not just for yourself, but youll do that for others. What I needed was not hopers; I needed believers, and I never found them, at least not during my childhood. They came to me later.

So what is my responsibility now? Well, I have to be a believer, not just in myself, but in others, and to make sure that lives are better simply because Im here, whether its by virtue of having written this story, or by giving a kind word. And that is a humble, humble blessing that I am going to continue to live by and abide by.

Im never going to know home and family in the traditional way. People ask me where I grew up and I say New Bedford, but I dont say Im from there. I dont know a mothers love and I dont know a fathers love, I dont know community in the way that so many of you do, so you have to find it in people and in places. So whether its a magnificent day of golf with your Headmaster and my good friend John Hailer, or its being here in this sanctuary, as strange as it might seem to you, this is family to me. This is family. It represents what I so wished for and longed for: to walk through the halls and the doors of a place, and to be known and to be loved and to be followed by others, for my entire life. Thats what you have here.

I want you to take advantage of this time, take advantage of these friendships and these relationships. They will form the foundation for your entire life. So when I say thank you for having me here, I hope you better understand that its not a perfunctory Thank you, nice to see you, and go on with your day. Im not saying thank you because its an honor for me to be here as much as it is for a realization of all the things that I wished for and all the things that I hoped for, that I get to experience here, in this short window of time. And you have no idea how very, very precious that is. So for that I celebrate you. Bill, my new friend. Thank you very, very much.

John Hailer P17, Headmaster Bill Burke, Steve Pemberton and Board of Trustees President Jim Elcock 77, P08.


I see Shooting Beauty as a vehicle to talk about disability,tolerance and diversityand the possibilities of what we can all do when given a camera, a voice and a chance. - Courtney Bent

Tony Knight, with Courtney Bent, after receiving his new camera.


The True Meaning of Beauty

Shooting Beauty is the inspiring story of how Bents career as an aspiring fashion photographer took an unexpected turn after encountering a group of people with disabilities while photographing a Dance-a-thon. Intrigued, Bent accepted an invitation to visit the local day program that served these individuals. The following week, she set out for United Cerebral Palsy in Watertown, MA, with the intention of creating a picture story for a magazine or newspaper of what it was like to live with a disability. She discovered a warm, welcoming community of diverse personalities and was immediately attracted to the honesty she saw in these individuals.

After weeks of taking pictures, Bent came to realize that her images were not reflecting how she really felt about her new friends. The people I met were vibrant, fun and fascinating, but my photographs were emphasizing a story of pitya story that had apparently been my biased and conditioned view of what it was like to live with a disability. Bent realized that she needed to put the cameras in their hands so they could tell their own stories.

Shooting Beauty, filmed by Bent and Director George Kachadorian over the next six years, chronicles the evolution of a photography workshop for people with a wide range of disabilities and the amazing impact it had on their lives. Bent adapted cameras for her students, using everything from duct tape to Velcro and foam. She approached each individuals disability as a new challenge and found a solution regardless of the severity

even for EJ, who learned to take photos by pressing a lever with his tongue. Her students were able to inject their own creative expression into their photos and it gave them a voice many of them had never had before. The film culminates in a photography exhibit, showcasing and celebrating their talent.

Although Bent does not shy away from the difficult truths of living with a disability, her documentary is also full of joyful, sweet and funny moments. Threaded throughout the story are anecdotes about the people she met, capturing their personalities, hopes and dreams for the future, including a man named Tony Knight. The film allows us to see Knight and Bents other students as individuals first, not to be defined by or pitied because of their disability, but simply as beautiful people full of life.

On St. Sebastians Unity Day, the students not only had the opportunity to view and discuss the film, but to hear from Bent and Knight in person, and were clearly moved. As Headmaster Burke said, this magnificent, soul-stirring movie inspired us beyond measure and made us all want to become better, stronger, more open and more giving men and women for others, and do we ever love Courtney for it! That her extraordinary work advanced the St. Sebastians School Unity Day missionto heighten our awareness of every persons dignity and to strengthen the bonds that unite usis a powerfully beautiful, self-evident truth. We cried, we laughed, and our world expanded exponentially. Well never be the same, and we feel so very, very blessed that it is so.

In fact, watching this film did make a lasting impact. On Unity Day, the students and faculty heard about the 100 Cameras Project, Bents new initiative to replicate the workshop featured in Shooting Beauty for individuals of all ages with varying degrees of physical and intellectual disabilities, from autism to Alzheimers. The School community decided they wanted to be part of it.

Inspired by Knights passion for photography and the power its given him to capture the world around him from his wheelchair, the faculty and students launched an effort to raise the money needed to give him a new digital cameramaking it the first donation to Bents 100 Cameras Project. In just a few weeks, more than $1,300 was raised through a variety of methods, including faculty donations, student council donut sales, a ping pong tournament held by the seventh and eighth grades, and a record-breaking contribution of $562 raised by the freshman class in one day.

On December 16, 2013, with his mentor Bent by his side, Knight was presented with a new digital camera during Corporate Chapel. He thought he was just returning to campus for another visit and had no idea of the surprise in store for him. As Knight visited with students in their classrooms throughout the morning, it was clear from the beaming smile on his face how much this camera meant to him. That smileand the gift that put it therenow that is the true meaning of beauty.

To learn more about Shooting Beauty, visit www.shootingbeauty.org.

If you would like to contribute to the 100 Cameras Project, please visit www.shop.shootingbeauty.org or contact the Shooting Beauty team directly at [email protected].

Each of us defines beauty a little differently. Some of us look only at whats on the outside; others look a little deeper. Photographer Courtney Bents eight-time audience award-winning documentary Shooting Beauty looks much deeper than what the eye can see, capturing the beauty of individuals with disabilities and reminding us that it emanates from a persons spirit. During St. Sebastians annual Unity Day celebration on November 1, 2013, the School community had the opportunity to view this powerful film and had everyone looking through a different lens.


EvEnT highLighTsBoston Business Breakfast On Tuesday, November 26, 2013, more than 100 alumni, current parents, and parents of alumni gathered at the Boston College Club for St. Sebastians annual Boston Business Breakfast. Board of Trustees President Jim Elcock 77, P08 started the morning by welcoming those in attendance, and after breakfast, Jack Sebastian P18, a partner at Goldman Sachs in Boston, delivered the mornings keynote address, during which he discussed his family, his career, and his experience playing collegiate and professional lacrosse.

Sebastian spoke passionately about how he makes his athletes mentality work for him in the world of finance, and shared, for the young alumni present, that he and his colleagues look for that same desire to compete in everyone who applies to work at Goldman Sachs. He also spoke about the spirit of competition and loyalty at his firm, and what risks he took to get where he is today. Most important, he shared the truly wonderful message he shares most often with his children: dont be afraid to fail.

(l to r:) Board of Trustees President Jim Elcock 77, P08, keynote speaker Jack Sebastian P18 and Headmaster Bill Burke.

Brothers Tom 69, P08 (far left) and Kevin 72, P05,09 (far right) with their sons Dan 08, and Kevin 09 and Ryan 05.

Leadership ReceptionCurrent and past parents, grandparents, alumni, and friends gathered on September 19, 2013, in Ward Hall for a reception to thank leadership donors for their tremendous support of St. Sebastians. During his remarks, Headmaster Bill Burke noted the power of the Schools mission, and thanked the leadership donors for strengthening our most important mission with their spirit and generosity.

Homecoming 2013St. Sebastians was packed for Homecoming on Saturday morning, October 12, 2013, as alumni, students, parents, and friends arrived in droves to watch varsity football and soccer take on rival Belmont Hill. A day that threatened to rain, but never did, was warmed by delicious food, fun games for the kids, and spirited competition.

(l to r): Patty Griffith, Erin Condron, Brad Griffith 58 and Devin Condron 92.

(l to r): Recent graduates Kevin Looney 13, Michael Haley 13, and Luke Scotten 13 are greeted by Headmaster Burke during their return to campus for Homecoming.


A Successful & Festive Christmas Auction

It was another record-breaking year for St. Sebastians annual Christmas Auction & Dinner. More than 400 people attended the December 7th fundraiser at the Seaport Hotel Boston, raising close to $400,000 for the School. The evening, featuring a silent auction, dinner, and live auction, was a wonderful opportunity for parents and other mem-bers of the St. Sebastians community to gather during the holiday season.

Attendees spent an enjoyable evening bidding on hundreds of items, from sports tickets to golf outings and getaways. Some of the more unique items gave parents

a chance to show their Arrows pride, including custom Adirondack chairs and a Sunfish sailboat featuring the Schools logo, and a gourmet gingerbread reproduction of the School building. With something for everyone, bidding went long into the night.

The highlight of the evening was Raise the Paddle. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our parents, over $175,000 was raised in a matter of minutes. The funds will be used to upgrade the entire weight-training facility with new state-of-the-art equipment, implement a sports nutrition program and expand our fitness training, utilizing our trainer, Andrew Carr.

St. Sebastians would like to thank all those who contributed their time, talents, and resources to make the evening a huge success. This event would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our Auction Co-Chairs, Ruth Capone P17 and Beth Doe P17, Guild of St. Irene President Kim Mullin P1316, and the entire Guild of St. Irene Auction Committee. We are also grateful to our Auctioneer Bill Supple P09,1015 for lending his personality and energy to the live auction. It was a fantastic night for St. Sebastians and all who attended.

TOP ROW FROM LEFT Auction Co-Chairs Ruth Capone P17 and Beth Doe P17 with Guild of St. Irene President Kim Mullin P13,16; Auctioneer Bill Supple P9,10,15 gets the bidding going. BOTTOM ROW FROM LEFT Bill and Barb Connolly P10,12,17; Bob Reardon P15 and Dan Fulham P17, President of the Mens Association, encourage the crowd to bid on the Premium Board Auction items; Cara Real P13,19, Jan Aldrich P16 and Lee McIntyre P11,13.


A Lasting LegacyRoom Dedications in the Science, Math & Library Centerserve as fitting tributes to generous campaign donors

Murphy Family Math RoomOn September 11, 2013, the Murphy Family gathered to dedicate a math classroom in honor of St. Sebastians and their son, Edmund 11. From left: Math teacher Jim Rest, Headmaster Bill Burke, Edmund 11, Jennifer, and Ed Murphy, Father Arens, Math teacher JP Craven and Board of Trustees President Jim Elcock 77, P08.

Honoring parents, grandparents, trustees, and families who have called us to greatness through the evidence of their lives, the OConnors, the McGraths, the Fullhams, the OHares, and the Murphys have given most generously to fund and hallow spaces in which our students and faculty come together daily to worship, to teach, to learn, to balance and solve, to debate, to create, and to socialize, and we are so very grateful. Edwin J. Hull, Jr. (Hull Robotics Room), the McGrath family (McGrath Hall), Reverend John E. Brooks, S.J. (Fr. Brooks Math Room), Harry OHare, Sr. and John Egan Shea (Math & Theology Classroom), and the Murphy Family (Murphy Family Mathematics Room) live on and inspire us beyond measure, and we love them for it.

William L. Burke IIIHeadmaster

Hull Robotics Room Family members gathered on June 11, 2013, to dedicate the Hull Robotics Room, given by Terry and Kathryn OConnor in honor of Edwin J. Hull, Jr., devoted husband of Janet Hull, beloved grandfather of John 10, Terry 12 and Claire OConnor. From left: Terry and Kathryn OConnor, with Claire, Janet Hull, and St. Sebastians alumni John and Terry.

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Fr. Brooks Math Room Given by Dan and Dana Fulham P17, a math classroom was dedicated on November 6, 2013, in honor of Reverend John E. Brooks, S.J., a trustee of St. Sebastians School from 1994 to 2012. From left: Father Arens, Assistant Headmaster Mike Nerbonne, Dan Fulham, Headmaster Bill Burke and Board of Trustees President Jim Elcock 77, P08.

Math & Theology ClassroomOn December 11, 2013, a math and theology classroom was officially dedicated in memory of Harry OHare Sr. and John Egan Shea, with a tribute on the plaque reading, fathers, mentors, gentlemen. From left: Matthew, Mel, Bobbie and Chip 67 OHare.

McGrath Hall The first-floor hallway of the Science, Math & Library Center honors the McGrath Family in recognition of their generous support, including David 77, Scott 78, Chris 81 and Sean 85.

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More than 250 lead-ership campaign donors attended the St. Sebastians Faith & Future Campaign Celebration Dinner at the Marriott Newton Hotel on Thursday, October 24, 2013. The evening, hosted by Headmaster Bill Burke, Board of Trustees President Jim Elcock 77, P08, and the Campaign Co-Chairs, brought an official end to the fabulously successful Faith & Future Campaign, which raised $45.7 million to build new and better academic and athletic facilities and to grow our endowment, enabling us to transform our campus and strengthen our School beyond measure.

Chaplain Father John Arens offered a stirring invocation and Trustee Father Michael Drea closed the evening with a grace-filled benediction. In between, we were

treated to videos featuring Assistant Headmaster and Dean of Studies Michael Nerbonne, a host of students, and our Campaign Chairs: Michael Cronin P06, David Gately 73, Doug Kingsley P10,10,12,13, and Bill OMalley P08,09,13. In addition, we were inspired by the heartfelt addresses of Jim Elcock, student leader John OLeary 14, Science Chair David Wilbur, and keynote speaker Jack Connors, Chairman Emeritus of Hill Holliday.

Headmaster Burke spoke last, thanking the donors one more time for their tremendous generosity. The Faith & Future Campaign has forever changed the footprint of St. Sebastians, and we are extremely grateful to each and every donor who helped make it possible.

Faith & Future Campaign Celebration Dinner

You have strengthened St. Sebastians School and transformed our campus beyond measure. I thank you all from the depths of my soul. William L. Burke III, Headmaster

ABOVE Keynote speaker Jack Connors and Headmaster Bill Burke; Susan and Bill Elcock P07,08 and Kristin Reed P15,17.

LEFT David Wilbur, Science Department Chair speaks about the impact of the campaign on the science program and the School; Tom Wolfe P9,12, Director of Development Richard Arms P14 and Campaign Co-chair Michael Cronin P06.

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Playing with Fire Students Learn the Art of Raku

RAku IS AN ANCIENT PoTTERy TECHNIquE that is both exciting and unpredictable. Although the results are hard to control, it can produce beautiful surprises, as three St. Sebastians students recently discovered for themselves.

On Monday, November 18, 2013, Marlon Matthews 14, James Ryan 16, and Patrick Ryan 18, along with faculty member Barrett Ellis, traveled to the Potters Shop in Needham to learn the art of raku from artist Steve Branfman. At the workshop, the boys had the unique opportunity to make their own pottery alongside Branfman. Being in the presence of an expert potter and watching him work was an honor and truly amazing, said Patrick.

In this traditional Japanese process, fired pottery is removed from a hot kiln and is allowed to cool in the open air or in a container filled with combustible material. It is rakus unpredictable results and intense colors that attract modern potters. The patterns and colors result from the harsh cooling process and the amount of oxygen that is allowed to reach the pottery. Depending on what effect the artist desires, the pottery can be either instantly cooled in water, cooled slowly in the open air, or placed in a barrel, covered, and allowed to smoke.

In the weeks leading up to the workshop, the students prepared by creating slab build pots, coil pots and masks during their free time after school. During the evening of the workshop, they glazed their work and loaded it into a kiln to heat up to about 1800 degrees. Once the pots were glowing and the glaze had started to melt, Branfman took the pots out of the kiln. Each student then took the lead on how they wanted to finish the work, either by spraying it with water to rapidly cool the pot or placing it in a trash barrel with sawdust and letting it smoke. Seeing the glaze melting on the red hot clay was the coolest (or hottest) part, although a close second was watching a fireball of dry leaves erupt from the trash can as a glowing pot was put inside, said James.

All three students were pleased with the very unique outcome of their pieces. The opportunity to watch a real master practice his craft, and to learn how to do it themselves, was a fun and fascinating experience. As Marlon said, I enjoyed the project mostly because it was completely new to me and I love broadening my scope, especially when it involves art.

(l to r): Patrick Ryan 18, artist Steve Branfman, James Ryan 16, Marlon Matthews 14 and art teacher Barrett Ellis.

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28 | ST. SEBASTIANS MAGAZINE Volume IX, Issue I28 | ST. SEBASTIANS MAGAZINE Volume IX, Issue I

The 39 StepsDrama Club keeps audience guessing and laughing


The St. Sebastians Drama Club, together with students from Montrose School, put on a wildly entertaining show on November 1 and 2, 2013, performing the stage adaptation of Alfred Hitchcocks The 39 Steps. After countless hours of preparation and hard work, it was rewarding to deliver the theatrical riff in front of a jam-packed audience in Ward Hall.

The cast made superb work of the script, which turns a serious spy thriller into a comedic show with romantic entanglements, fast changes, and plenty of references to old Hitchcock films, puns intended. The play follows our hero, Richard Hannay (played by Jack Goldman 14), wrongfully accused of murder, as he flees from police, spies, and assassins, all the while attempting to uncover the truth behind the clandestine organization, The 39 Steps.

Special thanks to Director Mark Rogers and Assistant Director Allison Stansfield for their guidance from beginning to end, as well as the fantastic crew behind the scenes. Congratulations to the entire cast on a wonderful performance.

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The 2013 St. Sebastians varsity football team will remember this fall as a tale of two seasons. The first half consisted of three close losses, yielding a disappointing 1-3 tally. In the second half of the year, the team answered Coach Souzas call to run the string; the squad played tough, fundamental, and inspired football to secure four straight victories and a winning season. The Arrows finished tied for third in the ISL at 5-3an especially respectable record considering the team played the most competitive schedule in Coach Souzas 36-year tenure.

After graduating many offensive stars from the 2012 cohort, the Arrows counted on a new corps of linemen and skill players to lead the offensive attack. The new starters welcomed the opportunity and performed at a consistently high level, finishing third in the league with an average of 27.4 points per game. The offensive lineled by a mentally sharp and physically strong group of seniors:

Will Kenney, Aturo Adkins, Brian Curley, John McNamara, Dan Fulham (tight end) and junior Tyson Mattoxopened holes for the veritable horde of talented backs. Seniors Connor Strachan, James Fiore, junior Edosa Onaiwu, and freshman Blake Gallagher followed the big men and carved their way through defenses, making the potent run attack hard for opposing defenses to stop. In the passing game, junior quarterback Geoff Wade and senior signal-caller Andrew Corcoran connected frequently with their favorite receiving targets junior Matt Daniel and senior Brandon Sweeney.

Led by an experienced and talented pair of senior co-captains, Dan Fulham and Connor Strachan, the Arrows defense proved capable of stopping both the run and pass. The defensive line, comprised of a band of committed and aggressive players including seniors Aturo Adkins, John McNamara, Christian Kelly, Miles Hunter, Dan Fulham, Zach Chambers

and juniors Travis Lampron and AJ Jreige plugged gaps and pressured quarterbacks. At the linebacker position, seniors Connor Strachan, James Fiore, Chris Callahan, and Henry Finnegan used their football acumen, strength, and speed to secure the majority of the teams tackles while members of the secondary juniors Matt Daniel and Edosa Onaiwu, and senior Joe Kearney protected the perimeter and dutifully covered opposing receivers. In sum, the defense emerged as a tenacious and dependable group, holding opponents to two touchdowns or less in five of their eight games.

The season opened at Milton Academy with an exciting and high scoring competition. The Arrows began the game with an early 14-3 lead after Geoff Wade connected with Matt Daniel for two touchdown passes. As Milton surged back, the Arrows held steady with physical play up front, 110 yards rushing from Connor Strachan, athletic grabs by Brandon Sweeney, and another touchdown catch for Daniel. In the end, Milton was able to score the games final touchdown, finishing with a 31-27 victory.

In week two, the Arrows traveled to nearby West Roxbury to face Roxbury Latin. Capitalizing on early fumble recoveries by seniors Miles Hunter and John McNamara, the Arrows scored two early touchdowns. The team relied on a strong running attack throughout the game as Connor Strachan ran for three first-half touchdowns, and underclassmen Edosa Onaiwu and Blake Gallagher rushed for a combined 160 yards. The defenseled by overpowering play from defensive end Dan Fulhamstymied RLs offensive attack throughout the game, ending in a convincing 37-7 victory.

The following Saturday the Arrows competed against 2012 ISL Co-Champions Governors Academy in a highly-anticipated contest under the lights in Needham. After an early 43-yard touchdown pass from Geoff Wade to Matt Daniel and a steadfast performance from

FALL sporTs

Varsity FootballA tale of two seasons by Coach michael Lawler

For the first time in St. Sebastians history, the varsity football team had two of its members selected to play on national All-American football teams. Senior Captain linebacker and running back Connor Strachan, who will go on to play at Boston College next year, was selected as co-captain and started at linebacker in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Anaheim, CA, on January 5, 2014. On January 4, freshman Blake Gallagher played in The Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl in San Antonio, TX. Selected from among the best football players in the country for their age groups, Connor and Blake proudly represented St. Sebastians football on the national stage.


the defenseincluding two crucial stops on fourth downthe Arrows led 7-6 at the half. In the second half, Wade found Daniel for another touchdown pass; however, Governors forceful triple-option run-game proved difficult to stop. In the end, Governors finished the exhilarating and spirited contest with a 27-14 win.

In week four, Belmont Hill came to Needham to challenge St. Sebastians in their annual Homecoming game. The Arrows defense controlled Belmonts offensive attack, holding them to three field goals. On offense, Connor Strachan punctuated a successful opening drive with a short rushing touchdown. The offense struggled to find the end zone for the rest of the game, slowing themselves down with penalties and turnovers. The contest ended with Belmont Hill on top 9-7. After the game, Coach Souza, disappointed, but motivated to finish the season with a winning record, impelled the squad to control your destiny. As the Arrows returned to practice on Monday, they were committed to reverse the fate of the 2013 seas

st. sebastian's magazine, issue i, 2013-14

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