IN THIS ISSUE: O XF O RD NEWS July 2005 Westbrook, Connecticut 06498 No. 43 A C A D E M Y ONE STUDENT—ONE TEACHER, IN EVERY CLASS FROM THE HEADMASTER Commencement …………………………………… 2 Alumni Pizza Picnic ……………………………… 3 Centennial Campaign ……………………………… 4 Spring Auction …………………………………… 4 1971 Oxford Fire ………………………………… 5 Faculty/Staff Notes ………………………………… 6 Class Notes ……………………………………… 6–7 Tennis ……………………………………………… 8 The end of each school year is unique and the class of 2005 left memories that will rank as one of the best classes in my time at Oxford. Through scholarship, leadership and respect, they set a wonderful example for those young men who will return in September. As we say good bye to that class we are also in the process of saying good bye to three exceptional people who have graced this campus for many, many years. The first is Kay Taylor, or Mrs. Taylor to all the students who have been at Oxford for the past twenty -seven years. As the secretary in Knight Hall she has handled travel plans, the bookstore, allowances and countless other responsibilities through eyes that never missed anything that went on near her office. She not only befriended students and faculty, but she was my mentor after Ruth Fagerstrom left, and a person I trusted for guidance and ideas. Kay has promised that she will come back often, but life here will never be the same again. Then at the end of June, Levette Perkins retired after 23 years as our Business Manager. She has been a stalwart to this school and has helped guide it through both the good years and the tough ones. It has been through her handling of the budget and her keen sense of all things that grow that has seen the Oxford Academy campus become a truly beautiful piece of property. I will greatly miss Levette as she moves on because I know that she loves this school in the same way that I do. The third person who is going to retire is Edie Gengras who has been our Development Director for the past decade. I hired her to help us build a $300,000 addition to Knight Hall that has turned into more than 4 million dollars that has transformed this school in so many ways. Edie’s enthusiasm, attention to detail and grace has made the Development Committee of the Board as well as the Committee on Trustees two remarkable groups to work with. I hope that I can keep her spirit alive and continue to work as hard as she did to make this school what it is today. I am somewhat afraid of change, but the legacy of these wonderful people is strong and their influence so great, that I know in my heart that they will always be here with me and their accomplishments will never be forgotten. —Philip H. Davis
The end of each school year is unique and the class of 2005 left memories that will rank as one of the best classes in my time at Oxford. Through scholarship, leadership and respect, they set a wonderful example for those young men who will return in September. As we say good bye to that class we are also in the process of saying good bye to three exceptional people who have graced this campus for many, many years. ThefirstisKayTaylor,orMrs.Taylortoall the students who have been at Oxford for the past twenty -seven years. As the secretary inKnightHallshehashandledtravelplans,the bookstore, allowances and countless other responsibilities through eyes that never missed anythingthatwentonnearheroffice.Shenotonly befriended students and faculty, but she was my mentor after Ruth Fagerstrom left, and apersonItrustedforguidanceandideas.Kayhas promised that she will come back often, but life here will never be the same again. Then at the end of June, Levette Perkins retired after 23 years as our Business Manager. She has been a stalwart to this school and has helped guide it through both the good years and the tough ones. It has been through her
handling of the budget and her keen sense of all things that grow that has seen the Oxford Academy campus become a truly beautiful piece of property. I will greatly miss Levette as she moves on because I know that she loves this school in the same way that I do. The third person who is going to retire is Edie Gengras who has been our Development
Director for the past decade. I hired her to helpusbuilda$300,000additiontoKnightHall that has turned into more than 4 million dollars that has transformed this school in so many ways. Edie’s enthusiasm, attention to detail and grace has made the Development Committee of the Board as well as the Committee on Trustees two remarkable groups to work with. I hope that I can keep her spirit alive and continue to work as hard as she did to make this school what it is today. I am somewhat afraid of change, but the legacy of these wonderful people is strong and theirinfluencesogreat,thatIknowinmyheartthat they will always be here with me and their accomplishments will never be forgotten.
—PhilipH.Davis
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Commencement is the culmination of many hours of hard work on the part of the students, and on the part of faculty and staff. It is alwaysbittersweettowatchtheseyoungmenthatwe’vegottentoknowasfamilytaketheirfinalstepstowardbecominghighschoolgraduates. This year we graduated 24 bright young men who are destined for great things in the fall. We extend our warmish wishes for success and happiness to them and their families. We know they’re all going to be very busy, however, a postcard is only 23¢. Keepintouch!
graduates—school Year 2004-2005EvanDanielButterfield ……………………… NewMarket,VADavid Anthony Hartnett Bystrynski …………………Cary,NCWilliam G. Dean, Jr. ……………………………… Dover,MAMatthew John Donlan ………………………… Burlington,CTMichael Burket Flanagan ………………………… Darien,CTDaniel Carter Gallagher ……………………… Bedminster,NJSanam Gandhi …………………………… NorthBellmore,NYEdmund Graham Gibbons ………… Tuckerstown,BERMUDAChristopher Roderick Hopkins …………… NewCanaan,CTSung-Bae Jeon ……………………………… Pusan,KOREANikitaC.Kyriakis ………………………… Nogales,MEXICODavid Reese LeBlanc ………………………… Brentwood,TNDong-Soo Lee ……………………………… DaeJeon,KOREAZachary Paul-David Liriano ……………………… Dulles,VADiego Cañedo-Malburg …………………………Coronado,CAGuillermo Cañedo-Malburg ……………………Coronado,CALachlan Berg Markay ………………………… Rhinebeck,NYMatthew Mendelson …………………………… NewYork,NYRajaram Patel …………………………… ManhassetHills,NYMichael Radlauer ………………………… NewOrleans,LAMatthew James Shoptaugh ………………… Baton Rouge, LAStefan A. Thompson …………………… Nassau,BAHAMASPeter Wang …………………………………… Taipei,TAIWANJustin B. York …………………………………… NewYork,NY
COMMENCEMENT 2005
Zachary Liriano accepts his diploma from Mr. Davis to the applause of the faculty behind him.
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COMMENCEMENT 2005 alumnI pIZZa pIcnIcAs the end of the academic year drew to a close, Oxford’s AlumniOfficeinvitedallgraduatingstudentstoasend-offPizza Picnic at the Headmaster’s House. It is an opportunity to encourage students stay in touch with the school and with one another after they become Alumni. Phil Davis also invites them to consider joining the Alumni Council and provide guidance for the school in the future.
After winning the Art Department Award, Graham Gibbons of Tuckerstown, Bermuda went on to win another prize in recognition of his talent. His chosen school, Savannah College of Art and Design, awarded him a $3,000 scholarship based on the superior quality of his admissions portfolio.
BuddIng arTIsT shoWs genuIne promIse
Art Teacher, Jill Vaughn poses with Graham Gibbons in front of his charcoal drawing of shoes. This work will be held on permanent display in Oxford’s Rotunda Art Gallery.
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oxFord academy’s 2004–2005 sprIng aucTIon
In supporT oF TechnologyAt this spring’s Parents’ Weekend, we held our second Silent Auction. Once again, it was a great success. Not only did we raise over $24,000.00, but it was also an enjoyable day for all. Over 60 items and services were up for auction, provided by friends, faculty, parents and staff. Among the available treasures were:
cenTennIal campaIgn 2006“It’s About our FAculty”
Will we match the challenge gift before the end of December?
D av i s H a l l
C H a l l e n g e
Anextraordinarychallenge! ThematchasofJune30th.
A very special thank you to Don Miller, Board member and parent of Barclay Miller ’96 for his extraordinary gift, a $600,000 challenge for the renovation of faculty apartments and dining room in Davis Hall. If matched by December, construction will begin in June 2006. Generous donors to the match include:
Anonymous (3)Richard P. BrainerdJay Breuer ‘99 Shelley Pew BrownWayne&BevButterfieldMr. & Mrs. Winthrop ChamberlinEdwin R. EisenMr. & Mrs. John Filippelli Mr. & Mrs. Laurence FlanaganEdith P. Gengras
Barbara & Henry GoossDr. & Mrs. Donald W. HightEdwardR.Keefe‘86Mr. & Mrs. J. P. LecomteVladimir & Leyla LenskiyPatricia MalburgMitchell Markay & Barbara HenszeyLynn Rubin & C. Bradley MendelsonDavid & Julia Schwartz-LeeperAnne D. Scott
Matthew Shoptaugh ’05Sally SilkMr. & Mrs. Lawrence G. StaatMatthew Treat Fred UlbrichLeon M. Wagner
Before the end of the year every member of the extended Oxford family will have an opportunity to support the Centennial Campaign and theDavisHallChallenge.Perhapsyourgiftwillputusoverthetop.Remember“It’saboutourfaculty!”andthelegacyof100yearsofone faculty, one student in every class.
CasesoffinewineGolf with the HeadmasterOriginal artworkYankee tickets
Gift basketsHomework passesElectronicsUse of a vacation home
on Cape Cod
Our sincere appreciation to all who donated items and all who bid on items. We would especially like to thank Parent Volunteer, Sally Silk, whose enthusiasm and hard work contributed greatly to the auction. We are already looking forward to next spring’s Parent’s Weekend and Silent Auction.
$600,000
$300,000
$600,000
$300,000
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a pIece oF oxFord hIsTory
Very early on a Sunday morning in March 1971, Oxford Academy students were unexpectedly awakened by the soundsoffirealarms.Theywoketodiscoverthattheschool’smainbuildingwasengulfedinflames.Substantialdamage was done to the building and its contents, but most importantly, all students and faculty were safe and unharmed. At that time, Oxford Academy was located in Pleasantville, New Jersey, outside of Atlantic City. In a touching and captivating letter, Eduardo Estrada remembers the morning:
“Inthemiddleofthenight,thoseofuswholivedintheoutlyingbuildingswereawakenedbystudentswholivedinthe Main Hall with the news that the Main Hall was on fire. Ofcourse,everyonegotup,threwsomeclothesonandwentouttotrytohelp;however,itwastoolate,asthewoodenstructured building was already engulfed in flames. All we could do was watch it burn while the firemen tried to control theblaze.Theydidcontrolitbydawn,butthestructurewasirreparably damaged……A few days after the fire, when ashes stoppedsmoldering,someofusventuredintotheremainstosiftthroughthembeforethewreckerscame.WewerelookingforSocrates’plasterbust,whichusedtobeoverthemantelpiece,closetothecloakroom,butheseemstohavecrumbledwiththeheat.Whilesiftingsomewood,apatchofbluecalledmyattention and upon reaching it, found the folded flag, which
I had placed in the cloakroom the night before. The flag had survived the fire with just some staining, while everything arounditwasdestroyed.Iwasshakenandveryimpressed,asthe flag was an island of integrity among utter destruction. I now return this flag, which flew over the New Jersey Campus, to the Oxford Academy, so that it may fly once over theConnecticutCampusandthenbekeptasasymbolofcontinuity,fortheappreciationoffuturegenerations.”
As part of Oxford Academy’s Centennial Celebration nextfall,wewillproudlyhonorthisflag.Our most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to Eduardo.
Oxford alumnus eduardo estrada, Class of 1971, recently sent us a remarkable piece of Oxford’s history.
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FaculTy/sTaFF noTessaying goodbye
so long, Kay Taylor…KayTaylorhasbeenanintegralpartoftheOxfordcommunityfor the last 28 years in her position as School Secretary. As proofofherlong-reachinginfluenceandsupport,morethanone yearbook has been dedicated to her. Without her, the students would have been utterly lost. No school supplies, no books, no way to do their laundry, get in their rooms or get to the school from the airport. She also lent her support to the faculty by making sure they had the materials and the machines to do their jobs to the best of their ability. In short,withoutKay’sefforts,theschoolcouldhavebeenamuch less orderly place to be. We will all miss her dearly and wish her only the healthiest and happiest of retirements.
so long, levette Perkins…Levette Perkins has been the Business Manager at The Oxford Academy for 23 years. During this time she has been especiallyinterestedincampusbeautification.Thatiswhyitseemed especially appropriate to dedicate the greenhouse in her name. She is just as likely to be seen pulling weeds from the mulched beds as meeting with a contractor or calling a parent for a tuition payment. Her high-energy style and obvious care for the school were contagious. Upon her retirement this summer she will be volunteering for Friends of Elizabeth ParkinHartford,CT,golfing,travelingandplayingcards.
In honor of her commitment to the school, the secretary’sofficeisnowdedicatedinhername.
Class of ’52Alumnus Peter shulman (profiledinourFebruaryWinter 2004 newsletter) surprised us with a package containing some of his artwork products!Theseitemsarebeing enjoyed by our current art students and hanging in our AlumniOffice.Healsosharedmore wonderful memories of New Jersey with us. With Oxford Academy’s Centennial rapidly approaching, we are especially eager to have these reminiscences to include in our archives and historical publications.
Class of ’71We were saddened to hear of the passing of Brad schade, of Boyne City, Missouri. He
had been in ill health for a long time, suffering from kidney disease since 1978. After graduation from Oxford, he attended Purdue University, North Central Michigan College and Ball State University. He ran MacSam Specialties and was actively involved in church and community activities and a member oftheMayflowerSociety.Hewasanavidfishermanand hunter and loved road rallying, music and reading.
Another New Jersey alumnus, Khalil ladjevardi has been in touch. He is living on the west coast. After graduating from
Oxford, he received his BA in Economics and then went on to earn his MBA. Unfortunately, the Iranian Revolution forced himandhisfamilytofleeIran,leaving behind family, businesses and career dreams. In our post 9–11world,Khalilisfindingitdifficulttolivehislifeunaffectedby public opinion and prejudice, despite his years of volunteer involvement with various civic groups. We sent (e-mailed) him one of Eduardo Estrada’s photographs from New Jersey and he was able to identify everyone in the image. He remembersthefireatNewJerseyandrecoveringtheflagthatEduardo presented to the school.
class noTes
Levette looks on as Phil Davis reads the plaque dedicating the greenhouse on campus in her name.
Art by Peter Shulman
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Class of ’80We received a phone call from Brett Katz, who lives in Northridge, California. He was trying to reconnect with his classmate Jimmy Faille. Brett has an incredible memory for namesandrecollections!Heespecially mentioned study skills,dormlife,NYCfieldtripsand excursions to the Olympics at Lake Placid. In part, it was our conversation with him that inspired us to rethink how we encourage alumni to stay in touch with one another. He gave us some very good advice.
Class of ’81Chip Baron contacted us with a new address in New Hampshire, where he works for the manufacturing company, A.W. Chesterton. All is well and he writes: “In the year 2000 my wife and I each made a list of the top ten places that we wanted to visit.... We have made it a goal to accomplish this. We still have a few left to finishtheoriginallist,butweseem to be adding new places. “ He welcomes correspondence from any of his old classmates.
Class of ’85Phil Davis enjoyed an e-mail from Michael Rubinovitz. He recently relocated from Switzerland to Buenos Aires. This spring he became a very proud father of a little girl, Melinda Paola. He works in the fieldofmanufacturing,importingand exporting high quality European leather products.
Class ’86Phil Davis was happy to also hear news from Mark Mavar of Biloxi, Mississippi. He was married January 22, 2005. Ourcongratulationstohim!
While in Denver Colorado, Phil Davis visited with Sean Keefe. He is doing very well. He teaches English and creative writing at Mullen High School.
Class of ’96Congratulations to Conrad Williams, who graduated from California College of Art. He is working with a glass blowing artist in Seattle, Washington.
Diego Canedo, Class of ’05, gave us news of Cuauhtemoc Hank. After leaving Oxford, he spent time in Montreal, Canada,studyingfilm.Mostrecently, he attended the Irish Institute in Mexico.
Brian denicola has been living in Washington, DC for the last several years. He works in Language Services at the International Monetary Fund.
Class of ’00Tim Ballantyne (Math Department) and Marti White (Dean of Studies) were happy to hear from Chad Milligan. For the past few years, he has been working in the securities industry. He works for Pinnacle Taxx Advisors, as a regional compliance manager with for the Northeast region. He sends his best regards to all.
We had an unexpected visit from Conor Mougin. He
stopped by on his way to an interview with Fidelity. He graduated from Washington College and is now ready to enter the working world.
Class of ’01Another unanticipated visitor, greg staat, is doing very well. He has graduated from Virginia Military Academy Institute and is very interested in returning to Oxford to work. Greg was a dormitory representative while here and we remember the excellent job he did.
Class of ’02Tina Zimmermann (English Department) was delighted to hear from Tony Buske, who lives in Washington, DC. He is very busy working at the State Department as well as going to college. He is pursuing a position at the New York Stock Exchange. He stays in touch with BigMo, sasha, luis and Keph, all of whom are doing well. We especially appreciated his suggestions regarding alumni communications. We shared some of his thoughts about life-after-Oxford with current students.Mrs. Zimmermann also heard
from Julian Ungano. He continues with his studies at Pratt Institute. He had been majoring in photography, but hasshiftedhisfocustofilm.He is also pursuing a degree in Art Education so he can teach. He is doing very well, livingonthebeach,surfingand playing his guitar. Class of ’03This spring luis santana was off for Papua, New Guinea to conduct research for his Senior Thesis. He is a student at Wheaton College.
If you happen to read Vanity Fair magazine you may have noticed a photo and an article about Moises de la Renta. He is living in New York City, designing his own clothing line under his father’s label. He describes his designs as “edgy, downtown,urban-definitelyrock’n’roll. What I am trying todoisbridgethatgap.”
Class of ’04We were pleased to have news from gabe Wagner. He spent part of last year in Japan, immersed in a culture he is so passionate about. He hasfinishedhisfreshmanyear at New England College, where he successfully juggled academics and independence. He fondly remembers (but does not necessarily miss) the chaos of 10:30 check-ins.
Chris Baxter of the History Department and a notorious Star Wars fanatic, was happy to welcome back Jon Waldrip for a Star Wars Marathon. Jon roomed with friends in a dorm. He looks wonderful—St. John’s University agrees with him.
Alumnus John Chesla came to congratulate the newest Oxford Alumni at this year’s commencement. He is happy at Lynn University but was looking forward to his summer break.
SeanKeefe’86
Greg Staat ’01
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Oxford Tennis enjoyed a challenging season of competition this spring. Led by returning players, Lach Markey and John Filippelli, the team beat St. Andrews while suffering four close losses. Coach-es Cartier and Hourigan were proudest of the team in defeat. In this match against Choate, the team fought very hard before losing. It was exciting to see the hard work that the guys put in during practice pay off in the matches. Graham Gibbons continued his hot streak during the match against Choate and suffered no losses this season. The coaches are also very pleased with the progress that newcomers Vitaly Lenskiy, Mike Crossley, and Diego Canedo made this year.
