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