The latest from Jeff Spadafora. Full story on his blog. Aim high fellas!
"On Wednesday, I made a successful attempt to climb Cotopaxi - a snow covered, active volcano in the Andes mountain range of Ecuador. It was the most difficult thing I have ever attempted in my life.
I learned five really valuable lessons I'll never forget. I hope they help you.
1. Seize The Moment -
2. Stay in Shape -
3. Get A Guide -
4. Don't waste time worrying about the past -
5. Be a Savvy Friend, Parent, Spouse, co-Worker -"
Doug Schmidt is the conduit. And NYC brings the class to him sometimes. Actually, a lot. Thanks to Lynch, Nottage and Hindman for finding Doug and sharing the evidence! All within the last month! Keep it up fellas....
Eagle eye Doug Schmidt noticed that Wheel of Fortune is also celebrating a 35th anniversary this year! Purists will know that the show was originally started by Merv Griffin in 1975 - but after a few iterations and networks, the nightly syndicated version of the show premiered on September 19, 1983 and is thusly celebrating it's 35th anniversary...And as inconceivable as it might be - that's still Vanna White as the show's hostess!!!
Recent email from DA about reunions - had an easter egg in it, did you catch it? While calling for self-nominations for reunion presenters and offering up a schedule preview of reunions (June 8-10, 2018 for us...) there was a sidebar link to a brand new web version of the DA directory info. This info was only available via a mobile device until now! Find a classmate, take him to lunch, then send me the picture! (If you didn't receive this email - be sure to update your email address at "alumnirecordsATdeerfield.edu".)
Happy Thanksgiving! We hope some time with family reinvigorates your soul...But if not, feel free to try again by attending our 35th reunion June 8-10, 2018!
Enjoy the photo gallery and video of the recent Choate Weekend where DA prevailed 6-3-3. Remember when we had 13 soccer teams alone???
So you can probably imagine the conversation that happened in the hallway at the Santander Bank office in Boston a few weeks back. Bob Fitz is heading to the men's room and Will Wolf is headed to the water fountain. They bump into each other and finally remember that they work in the same building! Then they do what 83ers do when in good company, they wonder who else they can include in a gathering. So they get Townsend and Clark on the line and compare address books for DA 83* and hatch a plan to hang out. And then it happened!
Kudos to the organizers and the attendees, with special nods to Beaubien and Crow who made the big travel efforts to be present.
Keep an eye out for your favorite Pierce Brosnan lookalike as he appears in a new movie soon...(but not in the trailer FYI)
And here he is at the Bahamas premier with his wife, Kara...
"It's a story of human smuggling through The Bahamas of Haitian nationals hoping to reach the United States. The story revolves around a struggling Bahamian fisherman who can't afford the life he wants for his family. He turns to human smuggling at the suggestion of a friend and at the hands and as operator for a nefarious human smuggling agent as a way to make ends meet. I play an intercepting US Coast Guard officer when he's driven to take smugglers all the way to the US mainland after stepping stone trips do not work out well."
"This case was difficult because I was assigned a client who did not want further treatment. I was faced with the ethical dilemma of being assigned a client and having to not follow her wishes. The medical record was clear that she had not reached a position of futility where there was no hope for recovery. Because she is young, had no other medical issues and loving and supportive parents the Court with my support appointed her parents to empower them to help their daughter. For those who follow my sporadic posts last year I advocated for the right of a 29 year old who had so many other health issues secondary to her 20 plus years of Anorexia to discontinue treatment. She died and is at peace. I can only hope my current client opens up to the treatment so there is a better outcome. Thanks all for the support."
MORRISTOWN — Desperate to save their anorexic 20-year-old daughter from death, a Parsippany couple petitioned the court to appoint them her guardians, which would give them power to make medical decisions on her behalf, including force feeding.
Superior Court Judge Paul Armstrong, no stranger to the situation, granted the parents their wish on Tuesday by declaring S.A., as the woman is referred to in court documents, incapacitated and incapable of making her own decisions. The parents were appointed co-guardians of the Parsippany High School graduate.
"This is a case that makes other parents hopeful," said S.A.'s mother following the ruling. The mother, who did not wish to be identified by name, said the petition for guardianship "is a tool for parents to keep our kids alive." The parents asked that S.A.'s identity not be made public.
The landmark Karen Ann Quinlan "right to die" case was decided by the N.J. Supreme Court 40 years ago. March 31, 2016 William Westhoven/DailyRecord
Armstrong, who also presided over the Ashley hearing, ruled that she could not be force-fed at Morristown Medical Center, a decision supported by her parents, the hospital's bioethics committee and all her treating physicians. Ashley had undergone a decade of treatment that did not work, according to court documents.
Unlike S.A.'s parents, Ashley's parents wanted their daughter to continue treatment, but wanted to respect her wishes to stop eating and to refuse a feeding tube.
Ashley suffered organ damage and was far more debilitated by malnutrition than S.A. In deciding that S.A.'s parents can make her medical decisions that would include force-feeding, Armstrong cited the Journal of Psychiatric Practice that opines that compulsory feeding in early stages of severe anorexia, before organ failure, can be effective.
S.A.'s physical condition reached a crisis point in June when she weighed 60 pounds and her brother found her after she collapsed in their Parsippany home. She was rushed to Morristown Medical Center, transferred to Overlook Hospital and finally transferred to the Eating Disorders Center at University Medical Center of Princeton, Armstrong said.
Through attorney Susan Joseph, S.A.'s parents in June petitioned the court to be her guardians. S.A. was assigned a court-appointed lawyer, Edward D'Alessandro Jr., who met with her multiple times.
Hearing judge Armstrong made national history in the 1970s when he successfully represented the parents of Karen Ann Quinlan in their court battle to have their daughter removed from life support so she could "die with dignity." Karen, who was in a persistent vegetative state, was removed from life support but lived several more years before her death at Morris View Nursing Home in Morris Township.
In the hearing involving S.A., Armstrong met with her, her treating physicians and mental health workers in Princeton, where she was undergoing treatment including artificial feeding with a PEG tube in her stomach against her wishes. Though she gained about 15 pounds since June in the clinic setting, she told her lawyer and medical staff she can manage her eating disorder on her own and wanted to return to Parsippany, Armstrong said.
S.A. repeatedly told her attorney she was an adult, could make her own decisions and didn't want her parents to act as guardians, Armstrong said.
The medical doctors and S.A.'s psychiatrist said S.A. is delusional and in denial about her risk of dying, the judge said. S.A. has stated, he said: "Being in treatment is torture." She has said she would choose death over treatment, the judge said.
Armstrong said the physicians all opined that S.A. does not understand what the risks to her life are by not eating.
Armstrong concluded S.A.'s parents are loving and want the best for their daughter, even though she has occasionally claimed they were abusive by forcing her to eat at home. Citing medical reports, the judge said S.A. has suffered from anorexia nervosa since she was 13 years old and her body has not gone through puberty because of her condition medically recognized as a psychiatric illness.
The Journal of Psychiatric Practice, in a treatise titled "Caring for Patients with Severe and Enduring Eating Disorders," states anorexia nervosa has a high mortality rate.
"The body image distortion inherent to this disorder and the impaired judgment and cognition due to malnutrition frequently result in patients refusing treatment. Treatment is most effective if patients are treated early in the course of their illness and undergo a full course of treatment. Involuntary treatment may therefore be both life-saving and critical to recovery," the article states.
The judge noted S.A., though seriously ill, still has a chance of recovery through the guardianship of her parents who will see that she receives continued treatment at the Princeton facility and then at a long-term residential facility.
Knight and Flagg were on campus to participate in Alumni Association meetings - and here are a few campus shots.
Note the new ($68MM) Field House and Rink project where the old rink had been. Impressive and attractive no doubt...I have already suggested that a search for the best wiffle ball home plate between Field and MacAlister needs to commence as soon as the field house is all enclosed. It will make and excellent centerfield wall!
The Reunion Recruits are donning their reunion hats and reporting for duty! Hopefully you have received your letter from Doug and JK pointing out our communications channels and asking you to update your information. Please take a minute to keep DA up to date so we can share our plans for reunion more easily...
If you are watching the World Series, you are once again seeing it through some of Jeff Silverman's cameras. His company Inertia Unlimited makes the super slo mo cameras that gave us this moment last year:
What I hadn't realized at the time is that Cleveland's Lindor (red shoe) is wearing a protective ankle pad made by Evoshield...which is the company that Hardie Jackson helped start and which recently joined the Wilson brands of sporting goods...
Class of '83 starting to rule the world...as it should be.
The full video (and many more) can be found on the IU website....
Kudos to Jim Wareck for starting the buildup to our 35th reunion at DA by heading back to Vanderbilt for their fall reunion events. There he connected with fellow committed reunion practitioners Rob Rigsby and Hardie Jackson!!! Great job Jim! When asked about the photo with Rob, Jim replied, "It was late..."
To benefit from the talents, wisdom and friendship of your classmates, all it takes is a little intestinal fortitude. One classmate who enjoys having the guts to say, "Hey, I'm going to be near you. Wanna hang out?" is Leigh Guyer, who is taking advantage of college research trips with his eldest son. Here he is with Nottage in MA and Knight in CO. Leigh lives in Portland, OR. Don't forget the "Deerfield Academy Mobile" app to help you find people!
Hank made his way from NYC back home to Houston to help with the flooding recovery. He's currently managing a shower station at a large shelter. Good updates on his FB page btw.
Watch: Paul Schlickmann's Introductory Press Conference (Facebook Live) FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD announced today the hiring of Paul Schlickmann as the institution's seventh Director of Athletics. Schlickmann is the son of a Fairfield '62 graduate and was a 4-year letter winner on the basketball team at Trinity College (CT). He spent the previous seven years as the Director of Athletics at Central Connecticut State University and also held senior level positions at Stony Brook University and Yale University.
Dr. Nemec describes Schlickmann as someone who has the right skills and the right values at the right time to lead the Stags. "Paul's vision for Fairfield University Athletics combined with his accomplishments as an athletic director and administrator at the Division I level impressed the whole search committee and myself," said Nemec. "I am confident that he will elevate our varsity athletics programs and build upon the legacy established by Gene Doris as we continue our pursuit of becoming the premier modern Jesuit institution. I would like to welcome Paul, his wife Kristin and their children Mackenna and John to the Fairfield Stags family". Schlickmann brings a diverse background in collegiate athletics administration and growth in fundraising to Fairfield. During his seven years at Central, the Blue Devils have achieved unparalleled success in competition, in the classroom and in the community. This success is highlighted by 20 NEC Championships since 2010, the most in any seven year period in the Division I history of the school. Central averaged an APR score of 970 along with seven teams earning perfect single year scores of 1,000. Also, in an effort to develop well-rounded men and women, Blue Devil student-athletes completed over 30,000 hours of community service during his tenure. "I am honored and thrilled to be chosen as the Director of Athletics at Fairfield University," said Schlickmann. "I am grateful to President Nemec and the members of the search committee for their confidence in me to lead Stags Athletics to new heights. This is an exceptional opportunity to advance athletics excellence at Fairfield commensurate with its steadfast commitment to all aspects of the educational experience. Fairfield has always had a special place in my heart given my father's ties as an alumnus. To come full circle and join the institution that espouses the concept of mind, body and spirit and the core values that he has instilled in me is truly special." As an athletic director, Schlickmann has built a culture that is fully committed to providing a vibrant learning experience for all student-athletes and has worked tirelessly to increase the resources necessary to compete at the Division I level. He has piloted the development and implementation of a $12 million state of the art, outdoor athletics complex, which is used by every Blue Devil student-athlete. Additionally, he created a fundraising plan that has led to unprecedented success in annual giving that includes a more than threefold increase in annual donors and a 60% increase in annual giving revenue. Under his leadership, athletics endowment has increased by $1 million due in part to seven different endowed gifts. With Schlickmann's significant success in fundraising, external resources for scholarships, operating budgets, student-athlete support services and facilities have all improved dramatically. Schlickmann has also made an impact in key external units including marketing, branding and corporate partnerships. Upon his arrival to Central, he led an initiative to introduce a series of new athletic marks and a new Blue Devil mascot. He also oversaw the development of a comprehensive marketing plan to bring added visibility to Central Connecticut. The results included a new athletic department website, enhanced broadcast platforms, and a new ticketing system. Also under his guidance, corporate sponsorship revenue increased by 80%. Prior to his arrival at Central Connecticut, Schlickmann spent seven years as the Executive Associate Director of Athletics/COO at Stony Brook University. In this role he had oversight of all daily operations of the Seawolves 20 varsity sports. He also spent ten years as a senior administrator at Yale culminating to a role as Associate Athletics Director for Administration and Football Operations. A native of Worcester, MA, Schlickmann holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Trinity College. Additionally, he earned a Master of Science degree in Physical Education/Sport Management from Springfield College. At Fairfield University, Schlickmann will oversee 20 varsity sports and 450 student-athletes. In competition, the 2016-17 school year was highlighted by MAAC Championship victories and NCAA tournament bids for the women's volleyball and softball teams. In the classroom, 321 student-athletes achieved a 3.0 GPA or better during the spring semester with 30 Stags earning a perfect 4.0. In the community, student-athletes produced over 1,000 hours of community service and raised over $25,000 for charity. Schlickmann will be introduced at a press conference in the Kelley Center Presentation Room Monday afternoon at 1:30 pm. Student-athletes, coaches, alumni, university employees, media members and fans are invited to attend. The press conference also will be streamed live on the Fairfield Athletics Facebook page. His first official day in office will be Monday September 11. As previously announced, long-time Director of Athletics Gene Doris will transition to a special advisor role to the President until the conclusion of the calendar year. About Fairfield University Fairfield University is a modern Jesuit University, rooted in one of the world's oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 38 states and territories, 47 foreign countries, are enrolled in the University's five schools. In the spirit of rigorous and systematic inquiry into all dimensions of human experience, Fairfield welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to share ideas and engage in open conversations. The University is located in the heart of a region where the future takes shape, on a stunning campus on the Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City. http://www.fairfieldstags.com/news/2017/8/28/paul-schlickmann-named-fairfield-university-director-of-athletics.aspx
I've been away from a computer for a month...catching up a bit...
Schmidt and LeMieux bumped into each other in NYC
Don Hindman played Bandon Dunes...and Chris Lynch Hiked the Mer de Glace to Refuge de Couvercle. Incredible vantage point with 270° of peaks including Mount Blanc.
...and a famous actor was spotted with our own Sean Nottage at the Deerfield Inn!!
The Million Buck Challenge has returned! If alumni participation reaches 50% by June 29, an alumnus (who also happens to be a parent) will donate $1 million to support our students and faculty! Please make a gift of any size today! Thank you! https://deerfield.edu/alumni/give/
One of FedEx's finest, Charlie Gagne, was east for some work and made the point to track down John Munro at Fairfield Country Day School. They clean up well!!!
