The Village Green - Summer 2014

SUMMER 2014

Commencement 2014 THE BLUE BLAZER BALL • AVON IN THE COMMUNITY • REUNION 2014

Village GreenThe

from

the e

ditor

Dear Readers,Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed your summer and that you are looking forward as much as we are to the start of the school year. This is one of my favorite times of the year: boys streaming through campus, bags in hand and smiles on their faces, excited to see their new rooms and old friends! Leaves are changing, the campus is beautiful, and everyone is encouraged by the opportunity that comes with a new year.

While I do enjoy the thrill of a new beginning, I invite you to take a peek back at the end of the 2013-2014 academic year. Reunion and Commencement are just two of the many spring highlights you’ll find inside this issue. Be sure to remember the good times—or catch up on what you missed!

And be on the lookout for The Avonian, in mailboxes late November. Until then, I welcome your feedback!

Aspirando et perseverando,

Morgan C. [email protected]

The Avonian

OnlineFind past issues of

The Avonian online atwww.avonoldfarms.

com/avonian

Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com /avonoldfarms

Follow us on Twitter @avonoldfarmsCover photo: The 81st Commencement Exercises.

Photo by Seshu Badrinath.

The Blue Blazer Ball Commencement

2

1 Headmaster

2 News and

Notes

12 Athletics

33 The Last

Word

contents

14

Reunion The Distinguished Alumnus Award

20 26

AVON OLD FARMS SCHOOL ESTABLISHED 1927

HEADMASTERKenneth H. LaRocque

ASSOCIATE HEADMASTER John T. Gardner

EDITORMorgan C. Cugell

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENTChris Hampton ’79

DESIGNER2k Design

www.2kDesign.com

ALUMNI NOTESLizabeth Abramson

PHOTOGRAPHERSSeshu BadrinathMichael FiedlerDavid Newman

PRINTERBenchemark Printing, Inc.,

Schenectady, NY

CONTRIBUTORSThanks to everyone who contributed to this magazine.

Special thanks to Seshu Badrinath, Cheryl Benoit, Michael Dembicer, Susan Haile, Ken LaRocque, and Dan Seiden ’00.

The Village Green is published for the alumni, parents, and friends of Avon Old Farms School. It is distributed

to approximately 8,000 readers. All rights reserved.

AVON OLD FARMS SCHOOL500 Old Farms Road

Avon, CT 06001www.avonoldfarms.com

(860) 404-4100

ADMISSIONS(800) 464-2866

[email protected]

ALUMNIWe enjoy hearing from you!

Please send us your latest news and notes:Email: [email protected]

Phone: (800) 336-8195Fax: (860) 404-4631

EMAILMembers of the administration and faculty can be emailed

by using the following formula: last name + first initial @avonoldfarms.com. The directory on the school

website also includes email links.

Avon Old Farms School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and

activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disabilities, or sexual orientation in the administration of its

educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

by Kenneth H. LaRocqueHeadmasterfrom the

Was Your Best Man an Avonian?The summer is wedding season, and Avon Old Farms hosts a number of ceremonies and receptions for alumni in the Chapel and Refectory. And, at the end of each summer, the Headmaster welcomes new students at their

orientation with the prediction that the best man at their wedding years down the road is very likely to be sitting in the room with them at that moment. We’re wondering about the accuracy of that prediction. Whether you were married here at the Farm or not, we’re interested in hearing from you if someone in your wedding party was a fellow Avonian. Please send replies to Liz Abramson in the Alumni and Development Office: [email protected].

1The Village Green Summer 2014

Greetings. I hope that this issue of The Village Green helps bring to life some of the exciting events we enjoyed on campus over the course of the past few months. From our Pushups for Patriots program, to the Blue Blazer Ball, to the Relay for Life, to Grandparents Day, to Alumni Weekend, to Commencement, this spring was filled with the spirit of tradition that makes Avon Old Farms such a unique and special community. Our students, faculty, administration, parents, and staff joined together numerous times to host hundreds of visitors to campus.

Among the highlights of the spring term included honoring Stephen Lash ’58, Al O’Connor ’75, and the late Pete Hart ’36 as recipients of the Distinguished Alumnus Award during Alumni Weekend. On April 26th, the Parents Association hosted the annual Blue Blazer Ball, which raised more than $133,000 to benefit our Student Enrichment Fund and Outreach. On the same evening, we held our prom in conjunction with Miss Porter’s School at Farmington Gardens. On Saturday evening, March 29th, faculty members John Bourgault ’80, Rob Whitty ’87, Graham Callaghan ’95, and Trevor Stern led a host of students and other faculty in our Pushups for Patriots initiative, and we raised more than $20,000 for the Semper Fi Fund to support wounded U.S. Marines and their families. On May 3rd, our school community joined with Miss Porter’s School to host our Relay for Life event, and raised thousands of dollars to help in the fight against cancer. On May 1st, we hosted Grandparents

Day on campus and enjoyed a record turnout. In the sporting arena, our athletes excelled again

this spring. The varsity baseball team once again won its league championship, our varsity lacrosse team enjoyed an undefeated season in the Founders League, and our golf team was ranked fourth best in New England. In the arts, we were proud of our actors who put on an impressive production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest on the Village Green on May 2nd! On Commencement weekend, we were equally proud of the creative talent on display at our art show in the Tiernan Room. Our students’ work with pottery, photography, architecture, woodworking, painting, and drawing greatly impressed all who stopped by the exhibit. Our Saturday afternoon Commencement Concert was memorable from every perspective, and moved the audience to standing ovations on more than one occasion.

On the beautiful Sunday morning of May 25th, on the Village Green, we were honored to have Joe Moglia, head football coach at Coastal Carolina University and chairman of the board at TD Ameritrade, deliver our commencement address to the Class of 2014 and their guests. The festive graduation ceremonies were an appropriate ending to an extremely successful year at Avon Old Farms. The 2013-14 school year will read as a rich chapter in our School’s history and one in which we never wavered from our mission of building men of character.

Thank you for your continuing interest in and support of Avon Old Farms!

T he 2014 Blue Blazer Ball was a lively and successful evening, artfully crafted by the Parents of Avon, and led by Co-Presidents Bruce MacMillian P’14, P’15 and Tammy Papadopoulos PP’10, PP’12 & P’15.

Once again, the event showcased the school’s commitment to sustainability and conservation efforts. “A Taste of New England: A Farm-to-Table Feast” boasted seasonal flavors from local growers and food artisans; wine and beer tasting in the Commons Room; a formal dinner in Riddle Refectory; and a door prize giveaway. The always-exciting live auction once again provided guests with plenty of opportunities to support Avon, and by the end of the evening, more than $133,000 had been raised for the Student Enrichment Fund and Outreach.

Celebrating AOF Students and Spring

News and

Notes

The Blue Blazer Ball

2 Summer 2014 The Village Green

PARENTS OF AVON MISSION STATEMENT With the concurrence of Avon Old Farms School’s Headmaster and the Avon Old Farms School’s Board of Directors, and in accordance with the School’s philosophy, the mission of the Avon Old Farms Parents Association is to promote camaraderie and a sense of community among its families and friends and enhance the academic, athletic, and extra-curricular experiences of the Men of Avon.

The Village Green Summer 2014 3


News and

Notes

AVON IN THE COMMUNITY

Relay forLife

This spring, Avon Old Farms School once again hosted students, faculty, parents, and friends at Relay for Life, a walking fundraiser in support of the American Cancer Society. Teams from Avon and area schools walked the Village Green to benefit the Society’s research program, services for cancer patients and their loved ones, and public education efforts. In the weeks leading up to the event, teams raised money with on-campus fundraising events, in addition to collecting individual pledges from friends and family.

The walk began with an opening ceremony and the Survivors Lap; later, the Luminaria Ceremony honored people who have been touched by cancer and remembered loved ones lost to the disease, with luminaria lighting the

path for a silent lap. Walkers and team members were kept busy throughout the night with plenty of activities, food, and entertainment from among the student body.

This year’s event was imbued with courage, hope, and resilience as the fight continues—and all told, raised thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society.

5

T he founder of Avon Old Farms School, Theodate Pope Riddle, believed in the transformative powers of nature and thus sought to bring it to life on her historic

campus. To ensure that the hard-working students took time to appreciate the beauty of their surroundings, Mrs. Riddle wrote into her Deed of Trust that each spring there must be a day off: no classes, just time to take in the outdoors.

Each spring, the perfect sunny day arrives—along with a surprise announcement made at morning meeting, often signaled by Headmaster LaRocque ceremoniously donning a red tie—and classes are canceled for a Founder’s Day. Students trade in classroom dress for bathing suits, books for Frisbees, and backpacks for fishing poles, flocking to the fields, Beaver Pond, and any patches of sunlight they can find to enjoy a much-deserved day of rest.

This storied and treasured tradition, a preview of the summer vacation to come, is the first sign that it’s time to get ready for the closing days of school.

Founder’s Day

The Tradition Continues…


News and

Notes

T his spring, many students were busy down on the athletic fields and up on the stage. But a few were over in Avon’s community garden, tending to the crops and working on new

projects under the supervision of Wendy Burki, Avon’s director of sustainability.

The 100 percent organic garden features 19 raised beds for residential faculty and staff, and a hoop house built several years ago to extend the growing season, with produce grown for Refectory use. New this year, the garden also grew food that was donated to the Hands on Hartford Food Pantry. This pairing was the result of an abundance of produce in the garden needing to find a good home so it did not go to waste when school was closed; after discussions with the Hands on Hartford team, Avon made the decision to grow and provide fresh produce for the people served at the Hands on Hartford Food Pantry during the summer months. Hands on Hartford provided volunteers

to come out to AOF, and Wendy taught them how to maintain and harvest the produce to bring back to the Food Pantry.

The Hands on Hartford collaboration was just one of many for the growing “varsity gardening” club, which also teamed up with Sub Edge Farm, just down the road from Avon’s campus, in their community-supported agricultural efforts. Avon’s founder, Theodate Pope Riddle, originally purchased the farm nearly a century ago. She named the farm “Sub-Edge,” and used the farm to educate the students of Avon Old Farms about agriculture. In the Founder’s Era, all AOF students were required to spend at least one week per school year working and living on this farm; this year, with new owners acquiring the land, that tradition continued, as participants in the spring gardening

program made weekly visits to Sub Edge to learn the basics of farming and organic growing. Throughout the spring, the boys helped clear old boards from a fallen barn

The Community Garden

Growing and Growing!


to make space for future growing; they planted many varieties of greens, flowers, herbs, onions, and potatoes; and they put up a wire fence for the 30 or so chicks that were old enough to free range. “Overall, the collaboration with Sub Edge Farm was a tremendous experience and one we hope to continue,” observes Wendy.

Other projects for the gardening program this spring included building a compost bin, planting an apple tree for Earth Day, and conducting

experimental plantings (hand-collected vs. store-bought; organic vs. standard). The group also took a fieldtrip to Comstock, Ferre & Co. in Wethersfield, the oldest seed company in country, which donated seeds for use in the AOF garden. In addition, each student planted an individual “salsa” garden (tomatoes, peppers, parsley, cilantro, etc); later in the spring, they visited with students from local Pine Grove School to show them how to make their own salsa at home. They also taught the Pine Grove students the parts of a real plant and how to plant a seed, leaving the kids with plants of their own to take home in biodegradable pots. Recently, the gardening program expanded further beyond the confines of the community garden, as a raised bed herb garden was installed behind Riddle Refectory for the culinary team to use.

The community garden had a busy and blossoming spring, and we can’t wait to see what’s cropping up this fall...pumpkins, anyone?

T his May, the Old Farms Theater Company presented its spring play—William Shakespeare’s The Tempest—with a refreshing twist: for

the first time in school history, the production was staged outside, on the Village Green.

Theater Director and faculty member Gayle Robinson, who co-directed the play with English Department Chair Bradford Carpenter, noted of the venue change, “Theater is not limited by red curtains or spaces that can be lit with stage lights... I hope the message we are communicating this year is that theater happens where actors and audiences find each other engaged in communicating and receiving the playwright’s words.”

Though the weather kept the group inside on opening night, the production’s second performance was moved to the magnificent Village Green, with views of Talcott Mountain and the Farmington Valley in the height of spring. Audience members packed blankets, chairs, and picnic dinners to enjoy one of the theater’s grandest traditions.

Charlie Carpenter ’15 starred as Prospero, supported by women from Miss Porter’s School as well as Avon’s Carty Caruso ’14 (Ariel; Ceres; Boatswain); Luis Consuegra ’14 (Stephano; Juno’s chariot); Luke O’Connor ’16 (Ferdinand); Jake Rochford ’15 (Caliban; Juno); Alan Tao ’16 (Sebastian); and Andrew Waltzer ’16 (Trinculo; Iris). Technical direction was provided by Sarah Sullivan.

Spring Play


The ChapelReplacement-in-kind the deteriorated sill timbers

Repositioning slipped brick panels

Restoring brick masonry

Oakum sealants at brick-to-wood joints

SmithyRemoval and replacement of prior concrete or mortar patches with stone masonry

Repointing

Oakum sealant between masonry and wood joints

Replacement of broken glazing

Historic Renovations Continue


The campus of Avon Old Farms School is one of the most beautiful of its kind, and Theodate Pope Riddle, its founder and Connecticut’s first licensed female architect, intended to keep it that way when she promised,

“I will build an indestructible school for boys.”Avon’s commitment to preserve the architectural legacy

of Mrs. Riddle’s campus is evident in the school’s strategic plan, Aspirando et Perseverando, which promises, “We will be caring stewards of Mrs. Riddle’s remarkable campus.” The strategic plan establishes Avon’s commitment to maintain the integrity of the campus and address any infrastructure needs in a sustainable but faithful way.

Avon is honoring that promise with continued restoration and preservation of its iconic Cotswold campus —listed on the State Register of Historic Places—and the state of Connecticut has paid attention!

Beginning with the return of the Pope Quadrangle walkways to bluestone, followed by the exterior restoration of the Forge, Chapel, Smithy, and Water Tower, Avon Old Farms has benefited greatly from its partnership with the state and its Historic Restoration Fund. The first grant of $200,000 was directed toward the Quad walkways. Subsequently, the school was awarded a grant of just over $98,000 toward work on the Forge, and most recently, a third grant of just over $185,000, toward the exterior restoration of the Chapel, Smithy, and Water Tower. In every case, Avon Old Farms must match the grant amount with its own funds.

The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation announced recently that Avon was selected as a recipient of its annual Connecticut Preservation Awards, recognizing outstanding preservation projects and people who have made significant contributions to the preservation of Connecticut’s historic buildings and places, for its restoration of the farm complex.

News and

Notes

MRS. RIDDLE’S CAMPUS

COMPLETED

RENOVATION

AND

RESTORATION

WORK:


The ForgeRestoration of timber frame roof structure

Replacement of slate roof stones too damaged to repair

Re-mortaring loose slates

Re-setting of top courses of the chimney masonry

New flashing system at roof/wall intersections

Re-pointing of selective brownstone and brick masonry areas

Restoration of historic plaster ceiling finishes

Water TowerRestoring masonry cracks that date back to initial construction

Addressing water infiltration into the building from the masonry parapet

Restoration of concealed low-slope roof system at the top of the building

Restoration of the cracks includes rebuilding areas adjacent to the cracks and provision of controlled areas for masonry movement within existing brick masonry coursing

Mrs. Riddle designed the campus, using local materials, to emulate the forms, materials, and construction techniques of the 16th-century Cotswold region of Great Britain, with designs closely aligned with the forms and philosophy of the early 20th-century English Arts and Crafts movement. To construct her campus, Mrs. Riddle imported half a dozen English craftsmen from the Cotswold area who were knowledgeable in the use of early 16th-century tools and construction techniques. These craftsmen in turn trained and supervised a workforce of over 550 workers who labored to create the campus.

Among the first built were the farm complex, including a forge, smithy, and carpentry shop, where materials for later buildings at the school were produced, plus a water tower. While their uses have changed, these buildings continue to serve Avon. The school approached preservation of these buildings carefully, developing a

master plan and, in consultation with Nelson Edwards Company Architects, LLC., of Branford, Connecticut, drawing up modern specifications to restore

16th-century craftsmanship and testing methods on small projects first. The revived skills and techniques for repairing timber framing, re-setting slate roof stones, and using traditional oakum to seal joints between wood and masonry will serve the school as it continues to maintain and restore its other historic buildings.

The restoration work of the farm complex was carried out in two phases. The first phase, completed in the spring of 2012, was restoration of the campus Forge and parts of the Smithy. The second phase, completed in the fall of 2013, included restoration of the exterior walls of the Chapel, remaining areas of the Smithy, and the exterior walls and roof of the Water Tower.

The Avon Old Farms School received support for these projects from the State Historic Preservation Office of the Department of Economic and Community development through Connecticut’s Historic Restoration Fund and the Community Investment Act of the State of Connecticut.


Scholars Luncheon

O n Friday, April 25, Avon Old Farms School hosted the inaugural Scholars Luncheon, to

honor donors who are providing deserving students the chance to be men of Avon and to embrace the Avon experience, and to help us recognize the powerful impact that educational opportunity has on a young person’s life. The event was inspiring and rewarding for both students and donors who had the opportunity to see their gifts at work.

The purpose of the luncheon was to introduce our generous donors to the student recipients who are honored to be connected with named scholarships that underwrite a portion of their education, or who receive monies toward an annual allowance. All of Avon’s named scholarships are based on financial need, with the exception of one, which is merit-based and gives Avon an opportunity to recognize leadership and academic excellence without requiring that the student have financial need. Named scholarships at Avon range from $25,000, the minimum amount required to endow a scholarship, to $1.5 million.

There were 74 in attendance at the luncheon, which included 30 donors and 30 student recipients. Dee

Gordon, a Board Member and benefactor of the Dee & Richard Gordon Scholarship, observed, “It is a good program, and it’s important to the school to get these very special young

boys. We enjoyed seeing the success that these scholarships are providing, and we are very happy that we are able to support this. Everything from a Riddler, to a jazz musician, to an excellent lacrosse player, was impressive. They are quality, polite young men.”

Headmaster LaRocque, a former scholarship student himself, welcomed the group to the event, and Kelvin Agyenim-Boateng ’16, a Trautman Scholar and recipient of the Alex Story Fund, delivered a moving solo rendition of “Wind Beneath My Wings.”

Brian Conroy ’82, chairman of the Board of Directors and benefactor of the Conroy Scholarship Fund, spoke to the group, and afterwards, explained, “My wife, Laurie, and I feel strongly that in order to create an inclusive brotherhood, it is important to have students who bring a diversity of backgrounds and talents. For our family, we are especially interested in fostering the ability to have Latinos attend Avon Old Farms.

The


News and

Notes

“Additionally, each one of us who has been influenced by the generosity of others, whether for education or in our professions, should be willing to provide the same for those who will come after us. Establishing a scholarship helps to ensure access to similar experiences.”

After lunch was served, former Director of Development Dan Seiden ’00 moderated remarks from several scholars: Mickoy Nichol ’14, the warden of the student body, a Trautman Scholar, and the recipient of the Alex Story Fund and the Pavano/Welker Fund; Tyson Bomberry ’15, a Bartholomew Scholar; Stephen Thibault ’16, an Evans Scholar; and Jalen Cruz ’17, a WALKS Scholar.

Headmaster LaRocque noted of the event, “Avon Old Farms is a better school because of the rich diversity which exists within our student body, and we thank you sincerely for the life-changing gift you have given to our scholars. It is my fervent wish that the scholars who are here today will follow the supportive, generous example set by our donors and pay it forward! I am confident that you will be successful in your lives because of the opportunities given to you here, and that you will be willing and able to support future Avonians by underwriting all or part of their education.”


This April, 39 art students and four faculty members braved a cold, windy Boston for an encounter with some edgy artwork and

tried their hand at glass arts. The group spent the morning looking at and thinking about contemporary painting, sculpture, and mixed-media at the Institute of Contemporary Art in the South Boston Seaport District. After a filling lunch at Legal Seafood Test Kitchen, they traveled across town to the Roxbury area, to visit Diablo Glass School, a public access glass arts studio founded in 2001. The group was able to experience several different facets of glass arts: the traditional glass studio, gathering molten glass and manipulating it with a caliper to form a glass paperweight; breaking small pieces of glass and forming mosaics that will melt in a kiln and form together; and twisting glass (borosilicate) rods over a hot torch to mold and manipulate the medium into tiny human sculptures. The day ended with some free time near Copley Square before the group headed back to Avon, tired and satisfied.

Annual Spring Art Trip

Molten

Glass

Athletics

Baseball, Lacrosse, and GolfThe 2014 spring athletic season was a winning one for many of our Winged Beavers! Our perennial powerhouse varsity baseball team went 17-3 this year, and once again captured both the Founders League and Colonial League titles. On Ryan Field, the varsity lacrosse team took the Founder’s League title after a spectacular season with only two losses. And the varsity golf squad placed second in the Founders League championship, a fitting end to a season full of first place finishes. Congratulations to all our student athletes!


Season Highlights

13

The MLB Debut of George Springer ’08 Major League Baseball is always exciting, but this summer, all eyes are on George Springer ’08, who was called up this spring to make his MLB debut with the Houston Astros.

Last year, George enjoyed an incredible season in both AA and AAA. He was Minor League Player of the Year and put up some impressive numbers, including a .303 batting average, 37 home runs, 45 stolen bases, and 108 RBI’s.

George was an integral part of the Winged Beaver varsity baseball program for four years, after which he was drafted in 2008 by the Minnesota Twins, but delayed a professional career, instead matriculating to the University of Connecticut. He was selected by the Astros as the 11th overall draft pick in the 2011 MLB draft; George learned of his selection the same evening he helped lead the Huskies to an NCAA tournament victory, defeating Clemson to advance to the Super Regional Round. George completed his three-year collegiate career in UConn’s record books: he is the school’s record-holder in home runs (46) and runs scored (219), with a .345 career batting average.

George is already making a name for himself during this rookie season, putting up huge numbers in RBIs, homeruns, and OPS. Unsurprisingly, the Astros’ win percentage has skyrocketed since George joined the roster, and he was honored with the coveted cover spot of the June 30 issue of Sports Illustrated.

Way to go, George!

Second Stanley Cup for Jonathan Quick ’05Just three years after hoisting his first Stanley Cup and being named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Jonathan Quick ’05 and the Los Angeles Kings were crowned NHL champions again! Quick and the Kings dispatched of the New York Rangers in five games on their way to capturing the second Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Quick has become one of the best goalies in the NHL in a relatively short period of time. After leading Avon to two straight New England Championship titles, Jon was selected by the Kings in the 3rd round of the 2005 NHL draft. Before turning pro, however, he played two years at UMass-Amherst, setting school single-season records in wins, appearances, saves, and minutes in 2006-07. A win against Buffalo in his NHL debut on December 6, 2007, set the tone for great things to come. He was a member of Team USA that competed in the 2010 winter Olympics, and in 2012 led the LA Kings to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. He also earned the Conn Smythe trophy, making him only the third American-born recipient of the NHL playoff’s highest honor as Most Valuable Player, and, amazingly, the second Avon graduate to do so—the other being Brian Leetch ’86. And to add to his list of accolades, Quick was also named once again to the United States Olympic hockey roster, which sent him to Sochi this February for the Winter Games.

Congrats, Jon!


I Commencement 2014 i

S t e p p i n g

Forth

T he bagpipes were played, the diplomas were handed out, and the caps were tossed…and the members of the graduating Class of 2014 took their first steps through Alumni Gate and into

a waiting and welcoming crowd of parents, friends, teachers, and Avon brothers for the celebration of the year.

The traditional bagpipes of the Manchester Pipe Band led the way for the student and faculty processional around the Village Green, and after an invocation and the singing of “America,” Headmaster LaRocque introduced a new feature this year, fitting for Memorial Day weekend: a vocal tribute to the Armed Forces, which included the school chorale performing pieces of each of the hymns of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines. He encouraged any audience members who had served to stand to be recognized for their service and join in song.

Next, Joe Moglia, the Commencement speaker, spoke to the graduating class about what comes next. Joe, aka “the coach,” is the chairman of the Board of TD Ameritrade and the head football coach at Coastal Carolina University and chairman of the Coastal Carolina athletic division. He previously served as the chief executive officer for TD Ameritrade for seven years.

“Joe has had a life of great successes,” explained his


81st

Commencement Exercises 2014

As you attack this next phase of your life, you’ve got to live the mission that you’ve learned at Avon. It is about

service. It is about integrity. It is about honor, and wisdom, and justice, and the pursuit of truth,” he explained. “And if you can do all that, and along with that understand what it means to really be a man, and the power of love, and if you live a life where your focus is on others, and you have the guts to do what you believe is just, where you know who you are well enough that you can handle yourself well under pressure, then at the end of the day you are the man who stands on his own two feet and accepts responsibility for himself and lives with the consequences of his actions. If you’re able to do that, you will separate yourself and have a competitive advantage the likes of which you can’t even imagine that can help you later on in life, and more than that, you’ll become the man and the leader that this school will be very proud of, that your family will be very proud of, and that you’ll be proud of.

“You’ll always be part of Avon. Avon is always going to be

part of you.”Joe Moglia, Commencement Speaker

81st


close friend Brian Conroy ’82, chairman of Avon’s Board of Directors, who introduced him. “He began his career as a coach for 16 years, moved to the business world for 20, and returned to coaching in 2009. Many of us consider ourselves fortunate to have one successful career; Joe has had several…Part of the culture of brotherhood here at Avon is to be a positive influence on those around you. Joe is a living icon of that culture. Joe is a tremendous example of the power of what happens when you combine passion with effort and mix in a never-say-quit attitude.”

In his address, Joe spoke of his son Kevin, a member of Avon’s Class of 1996. “Avon always means something special to me because it had an effect on my son, and therefore had an effect on my family.” he noted. “I can’t tell you how excited I am to be here.”

Joe advised the graduates to be mindful to live their lives in the same tradition of excellence that Avon instills and celebrates in its students. “What is it that separates you from others?” he asked. “It is all about being a leader. It’s all about being a man.”


ogether, the Class of 2014 enjoyed good times and endured hardships. And by staying together we became a crucial

part of this unique society… We became more than just classmates. We are brothers, not by the amount of time we have spent together, but by the experiences we have shared… Though the Class of 2014 is soon to face different paths individually towards different futures, this sense of togetherness will not fade away. It will give us the strength and guidance to pull through the upcoming years in college and, later, in society.

“We will always be brothers.”Sung Han Kim ’14

The Scholar of Distinction

(continued on page 18)


college matriculationMaxwell Kwadwo Akoto, Elon UniversityPatrick Albanesi, Boston CollegeAaron Nii Ayitey Aryee, Bryant UniversitySeif Ashraf Fathy Attia, Columbia UniversityChristian Frederick Awe, Gettysburg CollegeDaniel Benedict Ballou, Texas Christian UniversityJamie Edmund Bell, Roanoke CollegeLance Cline Berry, Wake Forest UniversityJames Eldon Biggart, (ESU Oswestry School, UK), Ithaca CollegeNicholas Kidder Birnie, University of DelawareAndre Lamonte Boggs, Rutgers UniversityIan John Bomely, Salve Regina UniversityAustin Brawley, Saint Michael’s CollegeJarrett Scoville Brink, College of the Holy CrossDante James Brittis, Colgate UniversityKeith Roger Jude Burwood, Wheaton College MANolan Andrew Callahan, Syracuse UniversityThomas MacMillan Carnes, Alternate YearCarty Nicholas George Caruso, Stony Brook UniversityEui Hyun Cho, Carnegie Mellon UniversityShing Pui Chu, University of MichiganLuis Velasco Consuegra, Franklin and Marshall CollegeTrevor Isaacs Cooper, University of Colorado at BoulderTucker Donald Corrigan, Goucher CollegeMatthew Thomas Cowles, Assumption CollegeRocco Jason Davino, Wesleyan UniversityTate Lee Fletcher Dewey, Southern Methodist UniversityEdward Bruce Didonato, Rider UniversityPapa Diouf, University of LouisvilleThomas Joseph Dockery, Alternate YearSeamus Fitzgerald Donovan, Texas Christian UniversityBenjamin J. Dougherty, Drexel UniversityCody Doyle, Sacred Heart UniversityThomas Daniel Dzis, University of New EnglandYining Fang, Wesleyan UniversityGeorge Worede Anthony Fay, University of DelawareEric Ross Feldman, Johns Hopkins UniversityPeter Ferguson, Lancaster University, UKJoshua Henry Fidanque, Ithaca CollegePatrick Benjamin Fricke, University of VermontWilliam Troth Friedman, College of the Holy CrossJoaquin Garcia-Quiros, Northeastern UniversityTristan Rhys Garland, University of WisconsinGrant Steven Garvey, Wake Forest UniversityLiam Peter Gilbert, Bucknell UniversityLuke Goodwin, Texas Christian UniversityGrant Harrison Gould, United States Air Force AcademyDustin Reed Gray, College of CharlestonOwen McLellan Grey, St. Lawrence UniversityThomas Anthony Hayes, Denison UniversityColin Gerald Hyde, University of ConnecticutCorey Jean Jacques, Alternate YearAtticus Doran Kelly, Drexel UniversityConnor Kelly, University of MarylandSung Han Kim, Johns Hopkins UniversityHarrison M. Kindel, College of CharlestonKyle Austin Kosofsky, University of MiamiChristopher Scott Koval, College of CharlestonTravis Fenway Kozak, Ursinus CollegeAlexander Joseph Kral, Providence CollegeByunghoon Kwon, Cornell UniversityDylan Jacob Laviana, University of ConnecticutDaniel Stewart Leckie, Alternate YearAidan Samuel Lehrer, Bentley UniversityLeo Markus Lehto, Northeastern UniversitySamuel Lewis Levin, Alternate YearBrian Hung-Pin Lin, Pennsylvania State University

Samuel Axelrod Loizeaux, Alternate YearDavid N. MacInnis, University of ConnecticutZachary Matthew MacMillian, Xavier UniversityAbdelrahman Mahamed Mahmoud, Cairo, EgyptJonas Hanley Mak, Babson CollegeKyle Richard Malley, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityAnthony Domenic Maselli, Boston CollegeMaximilian Chase Maudsley, United States Merchant Marine AcademyDaniel John McCormack, Stonehill CollegeLogan Joseph McCullough, Salve Regina UniversityCameron McMillan, Boston UniversityCole Bradford Miller, Sacred Heart UniversityCraig Tyler Moore, Hobart and William Smith CollegesInigo Moran, Northeastern UniversityScott Kevin Mulligan, Alternate YearPeter Nicholas Murphy, Southern Methodist UniversityHenry Pearson Narlee, Boston UniversityMickoy Richard Nichol, Bates CollegeObumneme Brian Njeze, Syracuse UniversityDaniel Joseph Nobile, Stonehill CollegeMatthew B. Ostrowski, Gettysburg CollegeBrody Arnet Peterson, Rollins CollegeRyan David Phillips, The University of TexasMaxym Melnyk Prybyla, Fordham UniversitySean Andres Rapela, Wake Forest UniversityGiuseppe Agostino Reese-Mellone, Rhode Island CollegeJohnathan Laban Rhyne, Hampden-Sydney CollegeWilliam Martin Rinaldi, Providence CollegeJustin Timothy Rose, Central Connecticut State UniversitySawyer Thomas Rothmann, Northeastern UniversitySamuel Patrick Runkel, Gettysburg CollegeAidan Michael Salerno, Alternate YearRobert Hudon Sanford, Central Connecticut State UniversityHenry Thomas Schopp, Rhodes CollegeBradley Patrick Seeber, Lafayette CollegeHyung Ho Shin, Columbia UniversityZachary Taylor Sibert, Miami University, OxfordPeter Siegel, Sacred Heart UniversityParish Simmons, Lafayette CollegeSaagar Sinha, Providence CollegeWilliam Davis Sjodin, Miami University, OxfordKevin Joseph Smith, Villanova UniversityTheodore Ian Smith, Bucknell UniversityJun Whan Song, The College of New JerseyBenjamin Dov Spanbock, Temple UniversityJames A. Spearman, Kenyon CollegeNicholas Peter Tarchis, Gettysburg CollegeNate Taylor, Wesleyan UniversityJames Thorington, Rochester Institute of TechnologyMichael Claude Tommila, University of Rhode IslandBradley Matthew Touponse, Texas Christian UniversityGavin Christopher Touponse, Emory UniversityJoe Jackson Tucker, Alternate YearGabriel Michael Vieira, University of HartfordGraham Edward Welter, Sacred Heart UniversityReid Woodbridge White, College of CharlestonManuel Skyler Williamson, St. Lawrence UniversityMatthew Norbert Williamson, Elon UniversityWilliam Christopher Winter, Trinity CollegeWong, Chun Pang, University of ConnecticutAndre Alexander Wowk, Hobart and William Smith CollegesMarc Jeffery Zuzolo, Miami University

THE ORDER OF OLD FARMSChristian F. AweCody DoyleLiam P. GilbertTravis F. KozakLeo M. LehtoMickoy R. NicholRyan D. PhillipsMaxym M. PrybylaJohnathan L. Rhyne IIISaagar SinhaJames A. SpearmanBradley M. TouponseGavin C. Touponse

CUM LAUDE SOCIETYShing Pui ChuRocco J. DavinoFang, YiningEric R. FeldmanPeter FergusonSung Han KimPeter N. MurphyGavin C. TouponseXiangmin ShenTakata T. Takata

THE FOUNDER’S MEDALAaron N. Aryee Community Service, Town GovernmentLance C. Berry Town GovernmentNolan A. Callahan Community Service, Town GovernmentShing Pui Chu Academic ExcellenceRocco J. Davino Academic ExcellencePapa Diouf Community ServiceThomas J. Dockery Town GovernmentFang, Yining Academic ExcellenceEric R. Feldman Academic Excellence, Community Service, Town GovernmentPeter Ferguson Academic ExcellencePatrick B. Fricke Community Service, Town GovernmentSung Han Kim Academic Excellence

Peter N. Murphy Academic ExcellenceObumneme B. Njeze Community Service, Town GovernmentBradley P. Seeber Community Service, Town GovernmentNicholas P. Tarchis Community Service, Town GovernmentMichael C. Tommila Community Service, Town GovernmentManuel S. Williamson Community Service, Town GovernmentMatthew N. Williamson Community Service

THE F. REED ESTABROOK, JR. ’36 AWARDMickoy R. Nichol

THE LOUISE B. ADAMS AWARDChristian E. Di Antonio

THE PETER A. ARON ’65 AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICELiam P. Gilbert

THE GEORGE A. MURRAY CUPConnor Kelly

THE JENNINGS CUPTyson T. Bomberry

CHRISTOPHER R. HETHERINGTON ’91 CUP FOR EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS-GRADE NINERyan G. Lanchbury

CHRISTOPHER R. HIGGINS ’02 CUP FOR EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS-GRADE TENStephen Thibault

RECOGNITION AWARD FOR THREE SEASON VARSITY ATHLETESAaron N. Aryee, Seif A. F. Attia, James E. Biggart, Ian J. Bomely, Nolan A. Callahan, Papa Diouf,Joshua H. Fidanque, Harrison M. Kindel, David N. McInnis, Jonas H. Mak III, Kyle R. Malley, Obumneme B. Njeze, Bradley P. Seeber, Peter Siegel, Kevin J. Smith, Bradley M. Touponse, Manuel S. D. Williamson, Matthew N. Williamson

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He encouraged them to find the principles that will guide them well throughout their lives—such as spiritual soundness, courage, and love—and urged, “Both as parents and as sons, don’t ever let an opportunity go by without saying thank you, or without telling someone that means something to you that you love them.” He cautioned them to avoid entitlement, and to have the wisdom to understand that they need to be responsible for their own actions.

Next, Headmaster LaRocque handed out some of Avon’s most prestigious awards, including the Founder’s Medal and the Order of Old Farms, then delivered the Cashion Faculty Award to Mike Symes ’81. Chairman of the Board Brian Conroy ’82 next awarded two honorary diplomas, to retiring faculty member Sue Nentwig, who served 16 years at Avon as a teacher and college counselor, and to a member of the Board of Directors, Norby Williamson P’14, a top executive at ESPN who has helped the Avon community stay connected with the professional sports world, establishing a speaker series, teaching our broadcast journalism course, and coaching basketball at Avon.

Associate Headmaster John Gardner then began the presentation of the diplomas to the graduating class…and just like that, they tossed their caps, they hugged their friends, and they recessed through Alumni Gate as Men of Avon!

Commencement Weekend also featured the Senior Awards Ceremony on Saturday night, where book prizes, academic excellence prizes, and athletic prizes were awarded, 10 students were inducted into the Cum Laude Society, and Sung Han “Sam” Kim ’14, the Scholar of Distinction with the highest cumulative grade point average over his Avon career, spoke to his classmates.

Other highlights of the weekend were the Commencement Concert and the annual Senior Art Show, featuring a compilation of works from many of the graduating students.

SCHOLAR OF DISTINCTIONSung Han Kim

GRADE PRIZES FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE9th Grade Carson B. Drew10th Grade Andrew Waltzer11th Grade Xiangmin Shen12th Grade Rocco J. Davino

AWARD FOR EARNEST AND PERSISTENT EFFORT IN THE ACADEMIC AREA9th Grade Kevin A. Sieber10th Grade Arden D. Coleman11th Grade Kade McCoy12th Grade Papa Diouf

AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING IMPROVEMENT IN THE ACADEMIC AREATravis F. Kozak

CORNELL BOOK AWARD Rexford Carr

TRINITY BOOK AWARDJiuhua Chen

DARTMOUTH BOOK AWARDMichael P. Dietrick

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA BOOK AWARDChristian E. Di Antonio

HAMILTON BOOK AWARD Andrew Waltzer

HARVARD BOOK AWARD William C. Davis

THE KENNETH A. FANNING FACULTY AWARDMichael Symes

THE CASHION FACULTY AWARDJames Kassel

THE STUDENT COUNCIL SPIRIT AWARDTravis F. Kozak

THE STUDENT COUNCIL AWARDJames Kirschner

THE ADAM ’93 AND LUKE ’95 CLINE AWARD Jack F. Nedorostek, Samuel P. Runkel

THE TIM STRAUS ’75 AWARDManuel S. Williamson

THE RICHARD WOODWELL ’75 AWARDTucker Symes

EDWARD SOMERVILLE VOSS AWARDMickoy R. Nichol

GREGG RICHARD LINBURG ’87 AWARDAaron N. Aryee

PAUL KARL SCHILLER ’78 AWARDPatrick B. Fricke

SIDNEY C. CLARK POSTGRADUATE AWARDMaximilian C. Maudsley

THE NATIONAL COUNCIL AWARDMatthew N. Williamson


Alumni

Summer 2014 The Village Green

F riday, May 16, may have brought rain to Avon Old Farms, but it cleared the way for a busy and beautiful weekend to come as Reunion 2014 brought

more than 300 alumni together once again on the Farm.

On Friday morning, the National Council kicked off the weekend by expressing their gratitude to faculty, administration, and staff at morning meeting. Also at morning meeting, Andrew Cordova ’89 (back for his 25th Reunion), a former Winged Beaver who is now a squash pro at the Maryland Club, spoke to the entire student body and faculty. Andrew presented the historic national championship-winning Avon squash team with racquets embossed with ‘Aspirando et Perseverando’ on the handle.

Vere Gaynor ’66, lead donor for the Gaynor Squash Pavilion, was also at the presentation, and received one of the limited edition Harrow racquets, as well. Andrew

thanked the team, coaches, and Vere for making it all possible. Friday continued with the annual Career Forum, sponsored by the National Council, and class dinners both on and off campus.

Also on Friday afternoon was the Class of ’63 “Differ Plaque” presentation, in the Beatson Performing Arts Center Foyer. The Differ Fund was a gift from the Class of ’63 in honor of their 50th Reunion last year. The mission of the fund is to celebrate, preserve, and expand Avon Old Farm’s proud heritage,

unique architecture, campus design, and educational philosophy. The first project the class undertook was to commission an artist in California to construct a glass

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plaque emblazoned with the celebrated Theodate Pope Riddle quote, “The ways in which people differ are more important than the ways in which they are alike.” Other opportunities to support Mrs. Riddle’s architectural legacy with the Differ Fund could include preserving and continuing Avon’s architectural and historical monuments, or creating new monuments to inspire all and make for a joyful and unique campus. The Differ Fund could also be used to contribute toward the matching share for grants, underwrite exhibits, lectures, and/or the publication of books about Avon’s architecture, education philosophy, and building techniques. Jack Stokvis ’63, the driving force behind the Differ Fund, was instrumental in rallying classmates and bringing the fund to life and was on hand to dedicate the plaque on Friday. The Differ Fund is now open to all, and the Class of ’63 encourages contributions.

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Reunion weekend also saw the official debut of the Avon Old Farms Alumni Community App, which allows alumni to connect safely with other alumni nearby and around the world, offering a built-in mobile version of the alumni directory and an interactive map that locates alumni. Alumni can search by name, graduation year, or company, and can even use the app to bring up alumni by location using the interactive map—so if an alumnus visits New York City for the day, the Alumni Community App will help him find any alumni in the vicinity of his iPhone or Android! [To access the app, search and download “EverTrue.” Once you open the app, you will be prompted to search for your community. Type in “Avon” and select

the correct community. The app requires a valid email address that matches the email on file with the Alumni Office at Avon; the address will serve as your login to the app. To update your email address, email [email protected].]

The always-popular fishing and flapjacks at Beaver Pond kicked off a day of Nimrod celebrations on Saturday, as the new Nimrod pavilion was dedicated on Saturday afternoon. Also on Saturday was the alumni memorial service, the presentation of the Distinguished Alumnus Award (see article), and the alumni lacrosse game, along with Hawk’s Nest shopping, campus tours, and the Reunion luncheon. Saturday’s festivities culminated with class pictures and the Reunion banquet in Riddle Refectory.

On Sunday morning, alumni gathered once more in the Refectory for brunch and one last chat with friends or faculty members before heading home, the bond of Avon brotherhood renewed for another year.


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T he newly constructed Nimrod Pavilion was dedicated on Saturday, May 17, as part of the

festivities of Reunion 2014. Headmaster LaRocque greeted Nimrod-ers young and old and remarked about the storied tradition and powerful transformative abilities of the Nimrod Club in the life of a young man of Avon. He recalled Verne Priest, the caretaker and woodsman of the Nimrod Club in the Founder’s Era, and declared faculty member James Kassel—the driving force behind the construction of the pavilion, who spent long days (and nights) constructing and supervising the project with his own hands—to be the new Verne Priest. Mr. Kassel spoke and thanked the many students, alumni, parents, faculty members, artists, and tradesmen involved in the project, and introduced the core crew of Nimrod Club members who put in long hours on the project, seven days a week, in lieu of an athletic commitment this spring.

The group did much of the construction work themselves, under the advisement of several generous local businesses. Rosie Carlino P’14, the project’s lead donor and the mother of Liam Gilbert ’14, spoke next, and

unveiled a beautiful sculpture adorning the built-in fireplace, as well as an engraved plaque that dedicated the pavilion in honor of Gary Gilbert, Liam’s father, who passed away last year. Liam, the president of the Nimrod Club, spoke to the group about how the Nimrod Club has helped him through some of the most challenging times in his life, and then presented his mother with a replica of the Avon Boy statue on campus in gratitude for her contributions to the new pavilion.

To get the project moving forward, Mr. Kassel, along with a few other Avon community members, designed a new pavilion, drafted plans in Avon’s digital arts lab, and set to work constructing the timber frame, post and beam structure.


“There are a number of professionals who helped to subsidize our efforts by donating time or discounting their price because they think this is a great project for our boys, which will be enjoyed by many for years to come,” explained Mr. Kassel.

The pavilion boasts handcrafted timber beams, a cooking chimney, a wood storage shed, and picnic tables under the pavilion to be used by the Nimrod boys for their weekly cabin suppers; the pavilion will

also be available for use by any boys or faculty members simply enjoying Beaver Pond.

The Avon community looks forward to using the new pavilion for many years to come!


A von’s Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes a deserving alumnus who has achieved distinction in his professional career, humanitarian

endeavors, or other areas of his life. The recipients of this year’s Distinguished Alumnus Award, presented during Reunion weekend, were Donald R. “Pete” Hart Jr. ’36, who was honored posthumously, along with Stephen S. Lash ’58 and Allan J. O’Connor ’75.

The ceremony began on Saturday morning, May 17,

when the Alumni Parade—led by Headmaster LaRocque and a marching band—processed through the entire student body who lined the walkways to the Beatson Performing Arts Center. Once inside the Susan Casey Brown Auditorium, the crowd was welcomed by the headmaster, who greeted everyone, explained the award, and welcomed Ned Wickes ’36, who, at 97 years old, was Avon’s oldest living alumnus in attendance.

Next, Christine Hart accepted the Distinguished Alumnus Award on behalf of her father, “Pete” Hart ’36. She spoke of her father’s lifelong love for Avon Old Farms, and recounted his humor, wit, and appreciation for his life’s adventures. She also spoke of her father’s relationship with the school, noting that he rarely missed a Reunion or school gathering, and of his close

relationship with Pete Seeger ’36—another Distinguished Alumnus—who was his polar opposite in almost every way, save for the bond they forged through Avon.

Stephen Lash ’58 was honored next; the chairman emeritus of Christie’s delivered an engaging and humorous speech detailing his “love and respect for this institution where heart, soul, mind, and body all develop in highly individual ways.” Stephen spoke of his love for travel, French language, art history, and especially art and architecture—passions he developed as a student at Avon—

and noted, “My early love of Avon’s Cotswold village taught me that designing a life is a lot like designing a building.” He urged students to surround themselves with bright, talented people, which he was fortunate to be able to do as a student at Avon Old Farms.

Finally, Allan O’Connor ’75 was presented with his Distinguished Alumnus Award, and suggested that the group think about the four principles he’s followed throughout his life: set high goals for oneself; make great things happen; do good things; and don’t give up when times are tough. As a driving force behind one of Avon’s most successful strategic plans, and a lifelong intellectual, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Al encouraged students to find what they love and be open to change as they develop throughout their lives.

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at more than 30 disaster sites, being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and earning nothing but expenses. From 1981 on, he was also a member of the National Defense Executive Reserve, a government organization set up to help the nation survive a nuclear attack.

Pete, who died in 2011 at the age of 93, was a true patriot and humanitarian.

Stephen S. Lash ’58Stephen S. Lash ’58 is the chairman emeritus of Christie’s Americas, which launched its first galleries in New York as a result of a business proposal he wrote in 1976 as an investment banker with the London firm of S.G. Warburg.

A Bostonian, Mr. Lash’s interest in the fine arts can be traced in part to Avon, where he developed a keen appreciation for the school’s architecture and history. A French major at Yale, he traveled abroad, each international city furthering his interest in art and architecture. An MBA in international business from Columbia was followed by 10 years at “Warburg’s,” paving the way for an art career that culminated with serving as chairman of Christie’s.

Mr. Lash serves as acting president and trustee of the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University, and as trustee of the Museum of the City of New York, the Park Avenue Armory, the New York Landmarks Conservancy, where he served as chairman for several years, and the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, where he serves as an overseer. He is current co-chair of the American Friends of the Israel Museum, for which he served as president for six years, and has served on the Boards of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and the Preservation League of New York State.

Donald R. “Pete” Hart Jr. ’36The late Donald R. “Pete” Hart Jr. ’36 graduated from Amherst College in 1940, and was drafted into the army in 1941. He served in the field artillery and also attended Officers’ Candidate School. Pete was multilingual, speaking over 13 languages (nine of them fluently), and those skills contributed to the fact that he was asked to volunteer to help start, with 250 other volunteers, the OSS, the U.S. wartime intelligence agency (predecessor of the CIA), which was formed during World War II in order to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy lines. Pete joined in 1943, and during his time of service, he handled French sabotage operations in France, ran a spy transit station, and captured Nazi collaborators in Paris after its liberation, all for which he received the prestigious and coveted Legion of Honor medal from the French Government, the highest award bestowed on a non-French citizen. Pete served in England, France, and Italy. In 1945 he accepted a position in the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), which planned for and administered relief for victims of war in any area under the control of the United Nations. He returned to Germany in 1946 to serve as investigations officer for the War trials. After discharge, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 33 years, retiring as a colonel with a top-secret clearance.

Pete returned to the U.S. in 1946 to teach at the University of Richmond. Following this, he came to Avon Old Farms School to teach languages and was head of the language department in 1949. He studied at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1951, and was a partner in or worked for various travel agencies for years. From 1983 to 1999, he and his wife, Vera, volunteered for the disaster program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), working

Stephen S. Lash ’58Donald R. “Pete” Hart Jr. ’36


Mr. Lash is also a longtime auctioneer and fundraiser for a variety of philanthropic and charitable organizations, including the Heart & Soul Foundation, the Animal Medical Center in New York, Wave Hill, and the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy. From 2004 to 2011 Mr. Lash served on Avon’s Board of Directors, during which time he also served as auctioneer for the annual Blue Blazer Ball. He currently serves as an Honorary Director, with continued involvement in the school’s architectural preservation and restoration efforts.

Allan J. O’Connor ’75Allan J. O’Connor ’75 has used his intelligence, his work

ethic, and his common sense to succeed in a wide variety of ventures in his life: from his work in the 1980s on the computerization and use of robots for automobile assembly lines; to his leadership in developing control systems for the MX missile program while serving in the Air Force; to his entrepreneurial adventures as a real estate developer of shopping malls, and later as the founder of a marketing company for the mail order industry; to founding a hedge fund that traded $50 billion annually using complicated mathematical formulas to inform its investing; to founding a non-profit organization, “Opportunity For All,” whose goal is to eliminate poverty throughout the world by building schools (144 to date) and providing educational opportunity for thousands of marginalized youth.

Al served on Avon’s Board of Directors for 10 years, and has been an honorary member of the Board since 2009. He was the treasurer of the Board that was

responsible for transforming the school’s strategic plan, completed at the end of the 20th century, into a focused capital building plan that resulted in the construction of the Ordway Science and Technology Center, Brown Student Center, athletic complex, and Beatson Performing Arts Center, as well as several faculty housing units, a new power plant, and many other campus improvements. He was also responsible for funding many smaller campus projects like rebuilding the Beaver Pond dam, constructing the filming tower on Ryan Field, and adding air conditioning to Baxter Library.

Previous Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipients:

Pete Seeger ’36 (2008)

Francis K.C. Madeira ’34 (2010)

David C. Bigelow ’44 (2010)

Dr. Laurence B. Gardner ’59 (2010)

Gilman W. Ordway ’44 (2010)

Kristian M. Bush ’88 (2012)

Brendan L. McKernan ’89 and Kevin J. McKernan ’91 (2012)

Seth F. Mendell ’52 (2012)

Allan J. O’Connor ’75

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O n February 15, 2013, my father passed away. In the following days, I learned what it truly meant to be a part of the Avon brotherhood. This idea of the brotherhood had, up until now, been a

vague concept for me; something mentioned only in Chapel talks and before hockey games. This brotherhood here at Avon can be a wonderful thing, as it was for me that day. It can help to get you through the most difficult things in life.

You should all remember this: whether or not you think you are part of the brotherhood, you are.

But, I am not here to preach about the wonders of the brotherhood. I am here to present the polar opposite: self-discipline. Self-discipline, self-motivation, and self-reliance are far more important to your life than brotherhood is. I am here to ask you all to push yourselves without any outside help. No one can force you to become a better person; that must come from within. Only once you have pushed yourself to your limits can you reach out a hand to have the brotherhood help get you beyond those limits.

Start by disciplining yourself. Stop sleeping through morning meeting or having a teacher wake you up. Stop expecting your teachers to spoon-feed you information and softball tests and quizzes. Start getting up early, and preparing yourself for the day. Start pushing yourself to excellence in your classes. Why settle for the easy road out? Why not start making a difference in your life? Don’t settle for the easy road. Make a difference in your own life. Stop waiting for everything to come to you; go out there and get it.

Why do so many of us waste so much of our time thinking of ways to make life easier? Complacency, laziness,

and a sense of entitlement make us think that everything in life should simply be handed to us. How does this help you? How does this enhance your life? Stop searching for the easy way out and put your shoulder to the wheel. Push for it gentlemen! Drive yourself forward to claim the hard victories, whatever those might be. If it’s a game or a match, push yourself in practice and in competition. If it’s academic, do more practice problems, and spend more time studying. Victory and success will never be handed to you. That is not how life works. Life is cruel and hard for people who expect everything. Stop expecting, start seizing. You must find it within to motivate, discipline, and rely on yourself in life. Don’t let others shoulder your burden.

Everyone in this room has played a sport at Avon. Therefore all of you will understand what I mean when I say that the strength of the team comes from the strength of each individual. To have a better team means to have better individuals participating and working together. You all know that to make your team better, you have to first make yourself better.

This same concept applies to the brotherhood. If you want to make Avon a better place, then make yourselves better. Work harder and work smarter as individuals and then this school will reach new heights as a brotherhood.

If you cannot be bothered to improve for yourself, then why not improve for the betterment of this community of which we are all a part?

I ask each and every one of you to do something to improve yourself this week. You will be amazed at how good it feels.

TheLast Word

By Liam Gilbert ’14

500 Old Farms RoadAvon, Connecticut 06001www.AvonOldFarms.com

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