name that classmate!

Pictured with his daughter (from FB)
He lives in Midland, Texas
His nickname was "Tex"

Yup, that's Greg Atkinson...

Back on top...

In case you missed it, Deerfield Girls Swimming finished 3rd and Boys Swimming finished 1st in the NE Championships held at DA on Saturday March 2.

25 years ago...or more?

I don't remember when I took this picture, maybe senior spring?  Could easily be one of my quick snaps as i rambled across campus trying to freeze the Deerfield Experience in time.  LtoR: Patton, Schiff, Cruikshank and Geary.  Any one else have a shoebox full they could share one or two appropriate ones?

REGISTER for reunion

Two Heads are...

Fairfield Country Day School Head of School, John Munro, stopped in to Deerfield for a visit with Head of School Margarita Curtis. John also serves as the "placement" director at FCDS, so warm relationships with top schools are important.  Additionally, John loves to learn what's going on at these schools that he can share with his faculty and his prospective families from his PK-9 day school in CT.  John also reminded me that he'll be at reunions and looks forward to participating with Dr. Adam Weinberg on our education related reunion program.  Still hoping to add Eric Peterson and Vicente Fabella to the program, slated for June 15.

Jay for a change

Jay Esty changed his profile picture on FB, so I took the opportunity to get him into the class blog.  Jay took some students with him to Washington, D.C. for the Climate Change march and made a moment to get his flag wave pic in front of the Lincoln Memorial.  He is a builder but also teaches at nearby Pingree school in South Hamilton, MA.

Speaking of Presidents

Deerfield recently hosted a meeting of the combined western MA and Northern CT chapters of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) in its Greer Store.  The event was organized by David Kinsley '84, President of Kinsley Group Inc., purveyors of all things power generating.  With all the storms lately, he's been very busy....David is also Education Director for his YPO chapter and wanted to find a unique site for this meeting.  Deerfield's Head of School Margarita Curtis, Dean of Faculty John Taylor and Academic Dean Peter Warsaw were invited guests and all in attendance.

Among the 60+ attendees were two more DA alumni.  Our own Eric Suher whose business acumen has been extolled previously on this site, and surprise attendee Rob Maggard '85, who recently sold his road paving company in Florida to focus on his CT version.

The meeting featured a renowned educator who had written a number of books on "hiring A players" and was followed by lunch and a performance by the Deerfield Madrigal Choir, the school's top vocal assemblage.

Doug can shoot?

I've known the guy a long time, but didn't know his ROTC father taught him how to shoot!  The tradition continues this President's Day weekend as the Cruikshank family enjoys some R&R in the Dominican Republic.

Nelse can sell...

Have to love the latest Facebook post by Nelse Clark's Privateer Rum.

"We at Privateer are very pleased to announce the arrival of Batch 7 Amber! 1,800 new little babies. weight 750ml, length 13 1/2" , with a beautiful amber hue. We were in labor for two days.... Maggie is happy, healthy and resting. We are all very excited, Batch 7 is probably the finest rum we have made to date, full bodied with a luscious mouth feel. It has notes of black cherry , dried fig, almond biscotti and a hint of cinnamon on the finish. Feel free to visit your local liquor store to cradle it in your arms and perhaps find a nice home for it!

Spadafora is in....

The bald eagle was tired.  With few spots to stop and nourish itself due to the blanket of snow covering the eastern United States, Jeff Spadafora's messenger bird from Colorado took a few days to deliver.  But at first light this morning in Massachusetts there it was (proverbially) in my inbox.

"Just booked my flight and registered for our reunion.  It's been far too long since I've been back for a reunion (our 10th, if memory serves me right.) Looking forward to seeing some of the guys...  See you in June! "

That makes three by my reckoning, including Cruikshank and myself.  JOIN THE FUN by registering here...

Nottage Makes 2nd faux Doritos Ad - video embedded

and YouTube link is HERE

Super thanks Adam!

If your Super Bowl viewing included some delectable treats in the "Lit'l Smokey" line, there's a good chance Adam Feiges' Sioux City, Iowa transportation company, Cloverleaf Transport, had a hand in getting them to you. Thankful for whatever his role may have been in such an exciting game!

Pathways

Ben Patton was invited to campus by the Senior Class this past Sunday as one of 9 alumni presenters at PATHWAYS.  The program, which was created by the Alumni Association in 2001, shows how a Deerfield education might prepare you (or not) for the road ahead. Other presenters were Asha Echeverria '96, Josh Greenhill '96, Rob Hale '84 P15, Leslie Hotchkiss '06, Sean Keller '86, Stephanie Lazar '94, Adam Lubinsky '89 and Rafi Mottahedeh '02.  Presenter Bios can be found here.

Ben spoke of his average academic record, his perceived pressure to join the family business and his desire to tell stories...and how they have all come together in his current work with veterans suffering from PTSD.  It was a conversation with journalist and brain injury survivor Bob Woodruff that set him on his current path.  Ben learned from Bob that to cope with the jumbled memories that come from severe injury, it helps to unpack them and order them in a way that makes sense.  Ben recognized immediately that the process mirrors film editing and the work he had been doing with Fred* film workshops. Ben began making movies with PTSD veterans to help them tell their stories.  Clearly the process is therapeutic for the veteran and helpful to their families as a way to understand the issues. Learn more at pattonveteransproject.org.

Thanks for making the time to talk to the students Ben, and for being available to them along their pathway...

Advertising moves...

If you can beleive it, after 16 years at BBDO NY and 14 of them on the Gillette business, I'm heading to mcgarrybowen in NY to lead the United Airlines and P&G Aussie accounts as a Managing Director. Now that Ryan is 14 and Charlotte is 11, time was right professionally and personally to make a move. Hoping to get to reunions this June.
Cheers,
Peter (Geary)

CONGRATS from the class on your professional move, Peter!

On an unrelated note, Hank Lemieux announced on Facebook today "Okay, big news. I'm moving to Manhattan. Next week.

This has been in the works for months, to alleviate this East Coast & UK travel I'm doing. I have a cool apartment in West Village/Meat Packing, near Chelsea Market and Google. Yes there is a sofabed and yes, you can visit (but book in advance, there's already a rush on that sofabed and it's not even Spring yet).

I was born in NY, so in a way this is "full circle" after 7 cities in between. But it's only a 6-12 month assignment, and I'll be returning to CA about once a month, so I'm keeping my San Fran apartment and, like Ahnold, "Ah'll be back."

Thanks to everyone who helped me choose and settle there, especially  Douglas Schmidt.

Big Apple, steel yourself. 

Road Trip

Always fun to travel for the Academy, especially when I get to visit classmates! The trip ended in Atlanta, where I remembered to get pictures, so I'll start there.

After a fun DA reception at White Oak Kitchen (owned by Alan LeBlanc '80) a random group marched down the street to Max Lager's (also owned by Alan) and drank a single malt scotch toast to Jay and Mimi Morsman on the news of their retirement.  LtoR: Clay Holloway '66, John Knight '83, Chris Murphy '85, David Van Riper '85, Andrew Hough '89. Murph does "logistics" in Atlanta area, Van Riper writes software for Suzuki and Andy is an M&A lawyer.  Solid citizens all and lots of bad '80s memories....

The bleary eyes I brought to breakfast the next day were immediately cleared by the broad grin of Hardie Jackson '83.  So fun to see him and catch up.  He's in constant contact with Charlie Gagne and both are planning on making the 30th reunion...Hardie is busy as COO of a promising young company distributing custom athletic protection for all at Evoshield. (Note to self-lay off the hair gel...)

The day before Atlanta I caught up with Brian Steward '83, our award winning San Antonio lawyer.  (Good to know there is help for us all over the map if we need it!)  He's got reunion on the radar too. Also got a big bear-hug from Corby Snow '81

And people think working in Alumni & Development is only about eating shrimp at parties.  Not true!  The fried oysters and pulled pork sliders were delicious on this trip!.

Home Game at CCSU

Thanks to Dean Singewald for this note!

Sandy and I along with the boys (Hunter-12 and Max-7) caught a Central Connecticut State basketball game today, thanks to Paul Schlickman, the University's AD.  While Paul had official duties to tend to (note photo op at halftime ceremonies), we did get a chance to chat for a few minutes at halftime and at the end of the game. Paul has been at Central for the past three years, and the job is treating him well. He and wife Kristin were heading to Syracuse after the game to visit family and catch the CCSU-Syracuse basketball game. Both will be at our 30th reunion!

We too will be at the reunion with the boys and are looking forward to it! Hunter and Max thoroughly enjoyed the basketball game and can't wait to catch the next game. Had hoped to see Jim Wareck at the game as well, but he changed plans do to an impending snow storm.  The weather has not been kind to Connecticut of late.

Looking forward to seeing everyone back at Deerfield this Spring! Hope you enjoyed the holidays.

Best,

Dean

Lunch with the President.

I took PEODU to lunch today.  That's President Elect of Denison University, Dr. Adam Weinberg.  I couldn't bear the thought of him no longer being 30 miles away, although we've only seen each other four times in the six years he's been nearby...

And if you asked the thoughtful and reflective former defense-man from Dallas, he would say he wishes he had kept up with Deerfield, and his classmates a little bit better.  As he nears age 50 and reflects on the formative moments in his life, turns out we were a big part of it.

To remedy his melancholy, Adam swore on his Class of '83 tie that he would be at our 30th reunion. (Register now...) He then followed that up with a bit of a surprise: a recurring credit card gift for five years in recognition of his love for DA and our upcoming time together as a class...

Let's keep working at keeping our lines of communication open and sharing laughs together when we have the chance.  We are an incredible group, this Class of '83.

Thanks for the reminder Adam.  We wish you well in your next chapter.

Impromptu

Kudos to Sean Nottage for spotting the DA alum in the crowd (Brad duPont '82) then having the wherewithall to snap a pic and forward to the class blog!

"Saw Brad duPont at Atlantis during the 'Battle 4-Atlantis NCAA Basketball Tournament.  As it was not a LAX tournament, Brad was not there for the games, but on a family reunion trip.  Great seeing him after so long.  He raved about seeing DA during his 30th reunion last June.

And you will too, dear classmate, but you have to REGISTER first...

Deerfield Mobile App released

Yesterday, Deerfield Academy release its mobile application, created by EverTrue (a couple of Andover alums).  It will be a go to location for FB & TWITTER FEEDS, PHOTOS, NEWS, EVENTS and IN-APP CLASS NOTES.  It also has a DIRECTORY and directory mapping called LOCAL for verified alumni/parents/grandparents. It is an opt-out tool FYI...Here's the link to download the app: http://deerfield.edu/alumni/daconnections/.  HINT: use the email address that received an announcement email yesterday as your verification email address...

Send any great stories using the app - finding old friends, or neighbors who went to DA etc...

Gamblin' man...

In November 2011, MA Governor Deval Patrick signed into law a casino bill allowing for three casinos and a slot parlor in the state.  Three zones were set up to spread out the casinos.  Projected cost of each casino is around $600 million.

Casino operators began searching for potential sites in Western, MA, including some which have already changed their plan and/or location due to community push back. Five to seven appear to still be interested in the idea with three looking at locations in Springfield, one in Palmer and up to three in Holyoke. As you might imagine, our classmate Eric Suher, as a significant land owner in this part of the state, drew a lot of attention from these operators.

In January 2012.  Alex Morse, age 22, was sworn in as mayor of Holyoke, MA after having run on an anti-casino platform.

In June 2012 One Holyoke casino project led by Paper City Development decided to shutter efforts after meeting with the mayor and his reaffirmation of his anti-casino stance.

November 2012 Mayor Morse announces he has changed his mind on a casino in Holyoke and he supports a new development put forward by The Iron Horse Entertainment Group led by Eric Suher as his choice for Holyoke!

The only part of the back-story I think I know involves three things.  First, I don't think Eric has any particular affinity for casinos or gambling.  Second, as one of the largest landowners in western, ma Eric was certainly a target for other developers who wanted to buy land from him in order to develop a project which forced his hand to decide if he wanted to develop a plan himself. Third, the mayor of Holyoke seems to have determined that if a casino is going to come to western, ma then it might as well benefit his city rather than nearby Springfield.

A $400,000 deposit to the state is required by January 15, 2013 to formally participate in the developer selection process, with a $25,000 fee required by the city of Holyoke due this week. 

Eric was born and raised in Holyoke FYI...

Two great men...

Had the chance to catch up with two classmates recently and my abbreviated reports will only give you a glimpse of the excellence that is DA83.  The full versions are only available at our 30th reunion, so register today!

Pete Townsend is in Boston handling dry-wall projects for a commercial retrofitting operation.  When a client moves out of an office building his team reworks all the walls for the new client etc.
Both of his sons are at Carrabassett Valley Academy at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, (offering a unique balance of college preparatory academics and competitive ski and snowboard training).  He looked good and had his usual smile when we connected at the DA reception in Boston at the MIT Museum (very cool).

John Kikoski and I connected in NYC recently and this is the view from his office on the 51st floor looking NW.  John has been spearheading an effort to develop GTL technology for development in the US. Gas to liquids technology might be a game changer, especially for the air travel industry and interestingly Sasol announced the first GTL plant in the US to be started soon in Louisiana on the very day John and I met. I hadn't talked to John for an hour straight for years, but I guarantee it will not be as long before I make a point to do it again. John is especially proud, as he should be, of his six week old son...

We are a solid bunch of citizens...30 years later!  Please remember Deerfield in your annual philanthropy, with many options for recurring credit card giving now available at www.deerfield.edu/give.

Newlyweeds accepted to Sundance Film Festival

Jim Wareck's second career got another boost recently when his latest film project, NEWLYWEEDS, was accepted to SFF 2013 (IMDb, Facebook).  Jim did not write this one but is a Producer and plays a character in the movie called: "Hedge Fund Coke Fiend".

 Jim and Brad are working on their next screen play as well.

Reunions just became bigger...

The following announcement was sent to the Deerfield school community today.  Since our 30th reunion will coincide with these retirements, please make an effort to attend reunion June 14-16, 2013 (register now!).  Expect an opportunity to write a reflection, so make some notes today!

"Dear Members of the Deerfield Community,

With deep gratitude for their years of service, I share the news that Jay and Mimi Morsman have decided to retire at the conclusion of this school year. All of you know the contributions they have made to our community: Jay and Mimi have done it all.  Jay graduated in 1955 and returned in 1960 to teach history and coach tennis, hockey, and soccer.  In recent years, he has come to represent the "spirit of Deerfield" to Deerfield's students, and in his role at the Dining Hall, he preserves and protects one of our most valued traditions.  With the exception of Mr. and Mrs. Boyden, no one has served Deerfield longer or with greater loyalty and affection.

Though serving as a "Deerfield parent" to dormitory residents for many years, Mimi's formal relationship with the Academy began in 1996 when she directed the Academy's Bicentennial Celebration--to rave reviews--after which she assumed the role of Director of Alumni Relations.  In her role in the Alumni Office, Mimi is legendary, and virtually every alumnus has experienced the detailed attention she brings to our events and celebrations--her personal touch makes alumni feel "at home" whether they graduated five years ago or fifty.

Through it all, Mimi and Jay have brought generosity of spirit, humility, and warmth to our community.   In short, they personify the Deerfield we all hold in our hearts.

Jay and Mimi will be celebrated as the date of their retirement draws near.  I hope you'll join me in thanking them and remembering their countless contributions to Deerfield. 

Margarita"

Welcome back Taylor!

Taylor Watts and son made the admission visit today and decided to take the Stanley Can for a walk and a photo before departing...Nice!

RIP Tim E...

in case you missed my FB post:

Timothy Edward Engelland, 62, died November 1, 2012, in his Indianapolis residence. A lifelong artist, he specialized in oil portraits and landscapes, and also worked extensively in woodcuts and linocuts. He was born on January 5, 1950, in Ames, Iowa, the son of Charles Wilbur “Will” Engelland and Patricia Fairman Engelland.

Tim grew up in Terre Haute, attending Fairbanks Elementary School and Indiana State University’s Laboratory School. He knew he wanted to be an artist from an early age, and was mentored by Lab School’s John Laska, graduating in 1968.  He received a BFA from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art; was a Norfolk Fellow at Yale University; and received his MFA from Cornell University, teaching there for two years after graduation. He spent the majority of his career, from 1976-2004, at Deerfield Academy, a prestigious preparatory school in Deerfield, Massachusetts.  There he taught art and photography, coached basketball and lacrosse, and served as faculty resident. When the school began accepting female students, Tim designed “The Deerfield Girl,” a bronze statue to accompany “The Deerfield Boy” statue standing in the school’s Memorial Building. Along with John O’Brien and Peter Fallon, Tim founded the Deerfield Press, publisher of limited-edition illustrated poems and stories; James Dickey, John McPhee, and Seamus Heaney are among the authors whom the Press published. For several decades, Tim served on the faculty at the Advanced Placement Summer Institute in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and as a consultant to the College Board. He spent sabbaticals in New York City and Boston, and he has exhibited in galleries in those cities and many other venues. His work can be found in the National Library of Ireland, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, and in private collections worldwide.

In 2004, Tim returned to Indiana. He was married to Susan Karen Carpenter from 2006 -2009. He painted and taught at the Indianapolis Art Center, he continued to study the natural world and to enjoy fine food and cooking, and he cherished the presence of animals (especially dogs) in his life.  He is survived by his mother; his ex-wife; sisters Emily Engelland Wilson (Thomas) of Huntington, West Virginia, Leslie Engelland of Terre Haute, and Mary Engelland (Billy Twymon) of Evansville; brother John Engelland (Staci) of Nashville, Tennessee; nieces, nephews, and extended family; and many friends and former students who remember his gentleness and generosity. He is preceded in death by his father. Contributions in his memory may be made to Salvation Army, American Bat Conservation Society, or the social/wildlife organization of your choice.  Deerfield is making plans to honor Tim’s life and work at the Academy at a future date to be announced. A family visitation and celebration of his life and art are scheduled at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Terre Haute on November 19 at 2 pm, with a memorial service at 4 p.m.

I'll let you know when DA organizes a remembrance of some kind. One of the sweetest posts on the funeral home site is copied after the link:
http://www.debaunfuneralhomes.com/timothy-edward-engelland/

Amanda Myers Lombardo Says: 
November 7th, 2012 at 8:33 pm

I am so very sorry for your family’s loss and hope that the following memory brings a smile to you all as you remember the many special gifts he bestowed on those whose loves he touched. As a Deerfield graduate from the class of 1991, and as one of Deerfield’s first girls since 1948, I am so appreciative of Tim Engelland’s statue of “The Deerfield Girl.” It made me and all my fellow female students feel like we belonged and were fully welcomed into a long-standing and special tradition. I can remember rubbing The Deerfield Boy’s nose as a child with my father and brother. Now I return with my three children, including my daughter, to rub the Deerfield Girl’s nose for luck. Mr. Engelland gave us all quite the gift in this statue, and his legacy will thrive as a result. Thank you, Mr. Engelland.

School Daze Two

Faculty Band and Cheerleaders get the crowd "a little bit rowdy" in preparation for Choate Day. (In Wallingford,CT on Saturday 11/10).

Webcast email going out today as well.

School Daze One

First snow of the year being caught by Noble & Greenough School faculty member Chris Averill....

Denison’s next president

Denison’s next president - our very own Adam Weinberg!  Congratulations on this well deserved honor!

Chair of the Board of Trustees Tom Hoaglin ’71 was delighted to announce today at the general faculty meeting that Adam Weinberg will become Denison’s 20th president, succeeding Dale Knobel, who will retire on June 30, 2013, after 15 years of exceptional leadership at the helm.

Weinberg, who will begin his Denison tenure on July 1, is currently the president and CEO of World Learning, an international nonprofit organization that provides education, exchange, and development programs in more than 60 countries. A professor of sociology, he was vice president and dean of the college at Colgate University, where he served on the faculty for more than a decade.

His selection comes after a yearlong search conducted jointly by a committee composed of trustees, faculty, staff, and students.

Dr. Adam Weinberg

“Joining Denison is a unique opportunity to be a part of a leading academic institution that is challenging itself to re-imagine the role of a liberal arts education in a rapidly changing world,” Weinberg says. “I look forward to collaborating with Denison’s faculty so that our students continue to benefit from an education that demands spirited debate and personal engagement with ideas that impact local and global communities. On a personal note, my family and I are excited to join both the Denison and Granville communities.”

Jill Tiefenthaler, president of Colorado College, calls Weinberg “a visionary leader, a champion of the liberal arts and a dedicated mentor to students.”

To learn more about the next generation of leadership at the college, read the full news release, and click on this video link to hear Dr. Weinberg talk about his new role at Denison.

Related Links:

• Denison University’s Board of Trustees Selects Sociologist Adam Weinberg as University’s 20th President (Denison University, November 01, 2012)

Rakin' it in...

Boys' JV Soccer doing it's part on Bryce Lambert's old lawn...Led by Coach Ramesh Rajballie - History Teacher.  Nothing Like Fall in the Pocumtuck Valley!!!

Matt Calman's been productive

from the Baltimore Sun:

"The North Carolina banking powerhouse is known within the banking industry for its innovative research and development lab, headed by Matthew Calman. It appears from the patent filings that Calman and an alumni of MIT's Media Lab, Erik Ross, teamed up over the last couple years to develop technologies tied to augmented reality, object recognition and live video stream analysis.
The implications for the banking industry could be profound, as more and more banks are pushing into smartphone apps and Internet banking technologies.

read it all at:
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-09-18/business/bal-bank-of-america-patents-augmented-reality-20120918_1_patent-filings-tara-burke-bank

New Venture

Leigh Guyer helping people stay healthy by not going to the gym!

http://www.tortugatraining.com/

Good luck Leigh!