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T H E M A G A Z I N E O F G I L L S T . B E R N A R D ’ S S C H O O L S P R I N G 2 0 0 7
Bettina Hayles Giordano ’78
and Sal Giordano ’78
One of GSB’s
Love Stories

THE MAGAZINE OF GILL ST. BERNARD’S SCHOOL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FROM THE HEADMASTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
FEATURES
Lights, Camera, Action: Laurie Collyer ’84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
GSB Love Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
PROFILES
African Interlude: Brian Palladino ’93 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Live on the Web: Kieran Vogel ’89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
ALUMNI NEWS
Young Alumni Night at GSB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
GSB Goes to the West Coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Join us for Reunion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
GSB NEWS
Walden Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Somerset Arc Recognizes Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
GSB’s American Idol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Upper School Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Diversity Committee New to GSB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Senior Receives Congressional Medal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Gill St. Broadway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
GSB Magazine Cover Photo Donated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
ATHLETICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
PATRONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
CLASSNOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
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6
10
Gill St. Bernard’s Alumni Magazine is published
three times a year by the Development Office
S.A. Rowell, Headmaster
James F. Diverio, Director of External Affairs
Kathleen M. Andersen, Director of Publications
Jaime Messina Goodrich ’01, Director of Alumni
Relations
Philippe Beekman, Director of the Annual Fund
and Special Gifts
Alison L. Buxton, Director of Parent Relations
and Special Events
Julie Ruby, Data Manager
Gill St. Bernard’s School
P.O. Box 604, St. Bernard’s Road
Gladstone, NJ 07934-0604
908-234-1611
www.gsbschool.org
Gill St. Bernard’s School does not discriminate on
the basis of gender, race, religion or national
origin in its admission policies or in the administration
of any of its programs.
Photography in this issue by Becky Bedrosian,
Robyn Craig, Chris Pedota, and GSB staff unless
otherwise noted.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Patricia Aresty
Fredrica Welles Ash ’79
Joseph Behot
Miguel Brito
Laurie Brueckner
Brandon Clark
William F. Conger
Barbara Evans
Nelson Ferreira
John Howard
Michael Mandelbaum
Richard Markham
Douglas Matthews
Edmond Moriarty III
Ellen Nardoni
Kevin Nedd
Robert J. O’Leary
Mark Paris
Thomas C. Pedersen
Bruce Raiffe
Marianne Saladino
Robert Sameth ’89
Dr. William T. Speck ’59
Jayne Vespa
Ana Weber
Michael Weinstein ’87
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Joan Baer
Samuel Corliss
Alberta Edwards
Richard Emmitt
Thomas B. Evans
John H. Ewing
Michael Golden
Jeffrey Gray
Robert L. Karnell
Henrietta Thomas
Richard Van Cleave ’55
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FROM THE HEADMASTER
Part of the mission of Gill St. Bernard’s
School is to prepare our students to
be lifelong learners and thoughtful,
responsible citizens and leaders in their
communities, our nation and the world. It is
important that we tell the stories of our alumni
in this magazine, if for no other reason than
to provide proof that we have achieved this
element of our mission.
However I believe that everyone has a life
story and each one is worthy of note. One of
the purposes of the GSB Magazine is to serve
as a vehicle in which some of these stories
may be shared. They may be inspirational, such as the service of Brian Palladino ’93
in the Peace Corps, or perhaps a little unusual, as in the case of Kieran Vogel ’89.
On occasion our GSB stories venture into the area of love and marriage. A few even
make it to the movies, as Laurie Collyer ’84 can attest.
It is all “good stuff” and I hope it helps to reconnect all of our alumni to Gill
St. Bernard’s. Please let us know what is happening in your life. It might even turn
out to be a feature story in a future edition of this magazine.
Regards,
S.A. Rowell
Headmaster
1

THE MAGAZINE OF GILL ST. BERNARD’S SCHOOL
Letters to the Editor
I wanted to thank you for writing
such a great article (Dateline: Iraq
– Fall 2006). It is very clear that
you spent a lot of time and effort
on it, and I really appreciate it.
Several people have told me how
well written it is. I am actually
thinking of sending issues to a
couple of the grad schools to which
I am applying.
Jordan Brehove ’98
Keep up the good work. It is
great to know that GSB is growing
and prospering. My two years at
SBS were a very important part
of my life.
Alan Whatley ’50
Randi and I continue to marvel
at the wonderful issues of the GSB
Magazine. The stories, design and
news are superior to any of the
publications we get from other
schools. Well done!
Peter and Randi Schmidt
GSB Upper School Director and Upper
School Librarian
I just wanted to pass along my
compliments to you on the Fall
2006 edition of your magazine...
It has a very professional look, with
interesting content and good photos.
I especially like the pictures on
the front and back covers.
Jim Stadmueller
Vice President, Peapack-Gladstone Bank
2

FEATURES
A Director’s View:
Laurie Collyer ’84
stated in an indieWIRE interview
shortly before Sherrybaby debuted at
the Sundance Film Festival.
But let’s rewind to the beginning of this
creative young woman’s career.
Collyer attended GSB for her junior and
senior years. “I couldn’t have been a filmmaker
if I hadn’t gone to Gill,” she stated.
“Gill exposed me to all sorts of ideas.”
Former GSB classmate George Swain
explained further, “Laurie and I came
from public schools and saw what a
wonder Gill could be. Both of us felt that
the school was life-changing. It really
provided us with a level of confidence in
pursuing our dreams, as well as a strong
foundation in necessary skills. It had a
very creative atmosphere at the time,
including a thriving drama program,
vibrant art and music studios, and the
seminar-style classes of the Unit Plan.
“Laurie was always a great idealist.
She was passionate about literature,
philosophy and social and political
issues. Her writing was strong in high
school and she was not afraid to put
herself out on a limb with an idea.”
By Kathleen M. Andersen
Movie directors all live in big
houses in Hollywood, drive
around in limousines, have
fabulous wardrobes, summer in Cannes
and eat out every night. Right?
“Wrong,” according to Laurie Collyer ’84,
an independent film writer/director who’s
most recent movie, Sherrybaby, opened
in September 2006 to critical acclaim.
Collyer lives in an apartment near
Prospect Park in Brooklyn, N.Y. with her
librarian husband and two-year-old son,
haunts the Salvation Army store looking
for treasures, and “paid my dues on beans
and rice for many years.” Not to mention
the enormous student loans she has from
her days at the Tisch School of Fine Arts
at New York University, the thought of
which are never far from her mind.
“I will feel as if I’m a success when I finally
begin to pay off those loans,” she said.
That’s not to say Collyer doesn’t love
what she is doing. “Directing movies
is such a privilege and an honor” she
Above: Collyer’s 1984 GSB yearbook photo.
Top, left: Laurie Collyer ‘84 and Sherrybaby
producer Mark Turtletaub accept the
International Film Critics Prize at the American
Film Festival in Deauville, France.
3

THE MAGAZINE OF GILL ST.
BERNARD’S SCHOOL
Upper School Director Peter Schmidt
remembers Laurie as “ always intellectually
curious and creatively engaged in life. She
was someone who was deeply committed
to learning about the world.”
After GSB Collyer attended Oberlin College
in Ohio where she majored in German.
She then decided to try life in California
and moved west. Some of her early jobs
included going door-to-door for the U.S.
census and doing data entry at Mother
Jones magazine, both in San Francisco,
and making pizza in Berkeley, Calif.
Eventually she became a social service
counselor, working in group homes,
residential treatment centers and special-ed
programs. “I was working with all kinds
of special-needs children,” she explained.
“I did this for about six years. Eventually
it became frustrating and I felt powerless.”
She was taking photo and film classes at
City College in San Francisco at the time
because it was fun. “One day I used a
camera to document what I experienced
on the job, and I realized this was what
I wanted to do.” At first she just dabbled
in films but did make a short, award
winning documentary called Thanh.
She knew, however, that if she really
wanted to make movies, she needed to
go back to school.
Collyer then rejected the California
lifestyle and headed back to New York
City because she was accepted into the
film program at New York University
(NYU). Here she learned to use a lot
of what she had seen in the various
institutions in which she had worked
as fodder for her stories.
“You can’t tell stories without having
anything to say,” Collyer stated.
While she was at NYU, she made and
produced her first successful film,
Nuyorican Dream. To create it, she
followed a Puerto Rican family living
in New York City for five years, filming
their lives. The documentary was an
artistic success and was nominated for a
Director’s Guild of America Award. It had
its world premier at the Sundance Film
Festival in 2000. It won awards at the
Havana Film Festival, L.A. Outfest and
at the New York Latino Film Festival.
It was also nominated by the International
Documentary Association in the Best
Documentary category.
The film was included in the 2000 Human
Rights Watch Film Festival in New York
City and reviewed at the time in the New
York Times. “Laurie Collyer’s documentary
is one of the most powerful films to be
shown in the festival,” the review stated.
“Laurie was... passionate
about social and political
issues...She was not
afraid to put herself out on
a limb with an idea.”
GEORGE SWAIN ’84
Having her film accepted at Sundance,
opened the door to go to the screenwriters/
directors workshop there which was held
with industry executives. She took the
script for Sherrybaby with her and received
some expert advice on how to structure it.
In this thought-provoking film, Sherry
Swanson (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is a recentlyparoled
drug addict who is trying to
reintegrate herself into society – and her
five-year-old daughter’s (Ryan Simpkins)
life. The child is now living with Sherry’s
brother (Brad William Henke) and
sister-in-law (Bridget Barkan) who look
upon her as their own. At the same time,
Sherry must tend to the day-to-day
necessities of finding a job, dealing with
her parole officer (Giancarlo Esposito)
and fighting the temptation to slip back
into drug use.
Sherry is portrayed as a complex person
—and a hard woman to like. She is
selfish, immature and promiscuous. Yet
she is also terrified, nurturing and defeated.
Paul Brown ’84, vice president, talent,
for Flutie Entertainment of Beverly Hills,
said about Sherrybaby, “Laurie has done
an amazing job with the film. You need a
strong guiding force to direct an actor to
get the kind of performance that Maggie
Gyllenhaal gave in the film.”
Gyllenhaal, herself, commented about the
film, “I think she (Collyer) did a fantastic
job. She’s a great friend, but on the set we
fought, which is unusual for both of us.
We had some fundamental differences
about who Sherry was.”
It is Collyer’s ability to portray damaged
people like Sherry with compassion that
turns the film into a “powerful statement
on the possibilities of redemption for
even the most lost.” (Boxoffice.com)
“Compassion is one of my defining
strengths,” she told GSB Magazine. “I’ve
always been compassionate. I don’t know
how I developed this. I always cared about
people that no one else did. I have to
keep that quality alive,” she added.
Swain says of the movie and Collyer,
“What I love about Sherrybaby is the hope
for humanity that is embedded in the
seemingly hopeless reality of the main
Laurie Collyer ’84 and her son, Willie.
4

FEATURE
Above: Collyer comforts actress Ryan Simpkins
during a break in the filming of Sherrybaby.
Right: Collyer with Maggie Gyllenhaal during
the filming of Sherrybaby.
character. Laurie’s compassion for the
underdog, as well as her appreciation of
the complexity of human reality and psychology,
come through loud and clear.”
The New York Times wrote two stories about
the film, which opened September 8, 2006.
The first was the usual review which
said, in part: “But what distinguishes the
film from its many peers is the quality of
Ms. Collyer’s writing…which rarely reaches
for the obvious, melodramatic beats…”
The other was an interview story with
Collyer titled “Director Shows You Can
Go Home Again” (August 27, 2006)
and was about the actual filming of
Sherrybaby in the Mountainside, N.J.
neighborhood of her youth.
The film has already taken the Crystal
Globe award for best picture at the 41st
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
in the Czech Republic and both the
Award for Best Screenplay and the
International Critics´ Prize at the 32nd
American Film Festival in Deauville,
France. In addition Gyllenhaal was
nominated for a Golden Globe Award for
her performance as Sherry.
Today Collyer is enjoying the New York
City lifestyle.“Filming Sherrybaby in New
Jersey made me realize I could never live
in the suburbs permanently. My husband,
Bill, son, Willie and I have a great network
of friends here in Brooklyn.”
“I think she (Collyer)
did a fabulous job.
She’s a great friend...”
MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL
Has having a child changed her life
very much?
“A child opens you up to all sorts of
experiences,” she says. “Most are simple,
like watching a butterfly, but I hope to be
able to use them in my work. A child
sees things you might otherwise miss.”
She also says it’s made her hungrier.
“For example, I’d really like him to go to
private school in a few years, so I really
want to make money right now.” She
explains, “NYU Film School was like an
ivory tower. The teachers there wanted
you to become a writer/director, which
is a European slant to things. In this
country, it’s much more common to take
someone else’s work and adapt it to the
screen. A lot of directors work freelance
doing this when they are between films.”
Collyer is now adapting an autobiographical
book into a work that is part
documentary and part fiction. “The facts
are documentary, but I will adapt and
develop various characters.”
What does she do with her free time—
if she has any?
“My free time is spent with my son—
at the park, the Brooklyn Museum or
the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. I also
love to read, especially the classics.
And we spend time socializing with our
community of friends.”
5

Bettina Hayles ’78 and
Sal Giordano ’78
GSB_Éäx fàÉÜ|xá
“We go together like ramma lamma
lamma da dinga da dinga dong…that’s
the way it should be.” Grease
Nobody would ever confuse GSB with Rydell High,
but love was on the curriculum all the same for
several couples. For these alumni from various
years, friends they made in high school turned into
their soul-mates and are helping them write their
own Love Stories today.
Showcased here are 10 of these couples, including
Bettina Hayles ’78 and Sal Giordano ’78 who
are featured on our cover. Not only did the
Giordanos start dating while students at
GSB, they were married in Stronghold
on the former Gill School campus
in Bernardsville, N.J. One of their
children is a GSB alumna, one is a
tenth grader, and their youngest
may come to GSB for ninth
grade. ~ KMA
Bettina and Sal started
dating at the end of sophomore
year at GSB. Their
yearbook pages in senior
year were opposite each
other – a sign to the world
of their commitment.
They continued to date through college and
were married shortly afterward.
First Date: Dinner at Sal’s parents house,
followed by a movie (Jaws).
Wedding: June 19, 1983, in Stronghold on
the former GSB Bernardsville campus.
Today: The Giordanos work together in
three businesses. One is an online catalogue
sales woodworking company called Steebar;
then there is Langstone, a technology holding
company, and finally Market Street Partners,
a real estate development company. They
also just completed a 10-year renovation to
their home which is a converted barn in
Bernardsville, N.J.
Family: Emilia ’06, Catherine ’09, Olivia, 12
and Boxer, Ollie.
GSB memories: Bettina: “The Unit trips,
especially the one to Russia;” Sal: “A certain
spring training baseball trip to Florida when
the bus broke down;” Both: “Dancing on the
tables in Stronghold after the senior prom.”
6

Tracey Wychulis ’95 and Michael Polise ’94
Tracey and Michael have “been through a journey that
has been amazing.” The couple met when Tracey was a
sophomore and dated until just before Michael’s graduation.
Throughout the years they remained friends and began
dating a few months after her divorce. Since then
they have married and are now expecting their
first child early this summer.
Wedding: October 14, 2006 in the GSB Chapel in Gladstone, N.J.
Today: Michael is a mechanical engineer with Thomas Polise
Consulting Engineers in New York City; Tracey is a stay-at-home mom.
The Polises just purchased their first home in Springfield, N.J.
Family: Genevieve, 3 and Gavin, 2.
Maribeth Kelly ’91 and Scott Anderson ’90
Judith McClure ’63 and Gordon Bickel ’63
Maribeth and Scott met in the
GSB Library halfway through
Scott’s junior year and dated
until he graduated. They went
their separate ways, but almost
10 years to the day after meeting,
they reconnected “thanks to the GSB Magazine.”
They became engaged on July 4, 1999.
First Date: A movie at Headquarters Plaza in
Morristown, N.J.
Wedding: February 19, 2000.
Today: “We are gainfully, though at times not happily,
employed. In our spare time, we like to travel, spend
time on the water, and just watch the clouds go by.”
The Anderson’s live in Royal Oak, Md.
Family: Beuford H. Anderson, a Wheaton Terrier.
GSB Memories: “The Unit trip to Maine will
always hold a special place in our hearts – in spite
of the blackflies!”
Judy, a student at the
Gill School, met Gordon,
from St. Bernard’s
School, at a tea dance
after a football game.
They went on their first
date shortly after, dated
off and on throughout high school and continued as
friends in college. Judy even fixed Gordon up with
some of her friends! It was at the end of college that
they began dating again.
Wedding: November 29, 1969.
Today: Judy is president of The Worth Collection.
(See story in the Fall 2006 issue of the GSB Magazine.)
Gordon is senior vice president/construction with
EI Associates in East Hanover, N.J. The Bickels live
in Basking Ridge, N.J.
Family: Ali and Charlie (both grown), a brand
new first grandchild, Gavin Charles MacGregor, and
Guiness, a middle aged Golden Retreiver.
7

Lisa Dobbs ’81 and Steven Ben-Asher ’81
Lisa and Steven officially started
dating in senior year at GSB and
continued throughout college.
They separated to pursue their
individual careers, but reconnected
in 1996 in Florida – and the rest is history.
First date: “A muddy attempt at four-wheeling in a
’69 Roadrunner during a school retreat.”
Wedding: August 10, 1997 in the GSB Chapel in
Gladstone, N.J.
Today: Lisa runs an errand service for disabled and
elderly residents of Henry County Virginia. Steven is a
Transition Coordinator for high school students with
disabilities. They live in Axton, Va.
Family: Sarah, 7 and Hannah, 3.
GSB Memories: “Any and all times spent with Sue
Ely, Debbie Doloff and Jerry Certrullo, who were our
special teachers; memories of our classmates.”
Jaime Messina ’01 and Kristopher
Goodrich ’99
Jaime and Kris were friends
from Jaime’s freshman year. They
began dating in her senior year
at GSB, broke up and got back
together after her sophomore
year in college.
First Date: A performance of Pippin at the Papermill
Playhouse in Milburn, N.J., and then dinner.
Wedding: June 30, 2006.
Today: Jaime is director of alumni relations at GSB,
while Kris runs Carnot Industries (a manufacturer of
all-natural athletic equipment and apparel cleaners)
and Messina Wildlife Services (organic deer and pest
control). They live in Mt. Olive, N.J.
Family: “No children yet, but check back with us
in a few years.”
GSB Memories: “More than anything, it is certain
people who stick out in our minds – like Paul Canada,
and Joyce Miller. Also the campus is really special
to us. We even arranged to have our engagement
photos taken there.”
Candace Voorhees ’94 and Matthew Clark ’94
Candace and Matthew never dated at GSB and only really became friends in
their senior year. They lost touch after high school, but bumped into each other
on a cold winter night at the Black Bear in Hoboken, N.J. years later. They
started dating shortly afterward and became engaged within a year.
Wedding: October 13, 2001.
Today: Candace is a perfumer with Unger & Co. in New York City.
Matthew is an equity research analyst covering a number of
small/mid-cap banks situated on the West Coast at Keefe,
Bruyette & Woods in Manhattan, where the couple lives.
Family: Porter Voorhees, 8 months.
GSB Memories: “Friends, the soccer program and the sense
of responsible freedom.”
8

Rebecca Schwartz ’95 and Michael Mayer ’96
Rebecca and Mike began dating in her senior year at GSB. They dated throughout college,
but broke up, got together again, and broke up twice more. The third time proved lucky!
First Date: Eating take-out Chinese food in front of the fire at the Mayer’s house and
having “some amazing conversation.”
Wedding: January 9, 2005.
Today: Rebecca teaches pre-school children with autism at Park Trails Elementary School
in Broward County, Fla. Mike owns a floral shop in Palm Beach County. They live in
Boynton Beach, Fla.
Family: A chocolate Labrador Retriever and two cats. “Children to come.”
GSB Memories: Rebecca: “The bonds formed with faculty; the beauty of the
campus” Mike: “The good times with friends; meeting at the Gladstone Market
after school.” Both: “The Unit trips.”
Dawn Titus ’90 and Frank Rogan ’90
Carlah Carrington ’78 and Jonathan Burt ’79
Dawn and Frank started dating in
junior year of high school, attended
Albright College in Pennsylvania
together and married the month after
graduation.
First Date: The GSB Semiformal Dance held on
December 21, 1988.
Wedding: June 18, 1994 at Stronghold, in
Bernardsville, N.J.
Today: Dawn is a family law attorney in Alexandria,
Va. Frank works for Verizon Business as a service
manager supporting Federal Government contracts.
They live in Springfield, Va.
Family: Bronwyn Fiona, 2 (named after Bronwyn
Wistuk ’88 who was an Admission Hostess for Dawn
when she visited the school.)
GSB Memories: Dawn: “The visit to GSB by silver
medal winning Olympian Greg Best ’82 was a highlight.”
Frank: “The sense of intimacy at the school and the fact
that teachers cared so much about their students.”
Carlah and Jonathan started
dating in the spring of 1977. They
dated steadily for the remainder
of high school, and off and on
during their first year of college.
It was then they bought a townhouse
together in Allamuchy Township, N.J. and
they’ve been together ever since.
First Date: To a consortium at Delbarton School in
Morristown, N.J.
Wedding: June 23, 1984.
Today: Carlah has an interior design business, Thorne
Hill Interiors. Jonathan is treasurer and C.F.O. of a
commercial construction company in New York City.
The couple lives in Tewksbury Township, N.J.
Family: Cory Alexander, 18 and Colin Hastings, 15.
GSB Memories: Carlah: “John Burt’s (Jonathan’s father)
Mechanical Drawing class.” Jonathan: “The time spent in
and out of class with faculty who inspired me, questioned
me, and helped shape me at a critical time of my life.”
Note: Carlah’s sister, Gina Carrington ’79 and David Stark ’78
are another GSB Love Story. They were married in 1985 and have
two children, Natasha, 19 and Alexandra, 16.
9

PROFILES
Brian Palladino ’93:
African Adventure
Sitting down to his fifth straight day of
spaghetti with fish sauce for dinner,
Brian Palladino ’93 questioned whether
Cameroon was really where he wanted
to be right now.
But only for a minute. The young Peace
Corps volunteer, who had given up a
good job at Datacor, Inc. in Florham Park,
N.J. to devote two years to helping others,
really never wavered in his commitment
to the citizens of this developing country.
“This is something I never could have
done when I was eighteen,” he said.
“I needed a few more years and a lot
more maturity. About a year ago I
decided that I’m still young, healthy, and
single, so if I was ever going to do this,
now was the time.”
So here he was, learning how to teach
computer education – in French – and
adapting to life in Cameroon. He was
enjoying the generosity and friendliness
of his temporary host family, but not their
“reverse-Atkins” diet of rice, cous-cous,
manioc, plantain – and spaghetti. He
was also being introduced to lizards,
Cameroonian TV, dirt roads, motorcycle
taxis and the goats and chickens who
roam freely and graze on grass and trash.
“Cameroon is a fascinating place. I feel
like I’m learning a lot and growing as a
person,” he told GSB. “Just being here is
probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done,
but I’m glad I’m doing it.”
Palladino received his regular assignment
for the next two years in September.
He is teaching computer education at a
college in Naga Eboko, a small town
about a five hour drive from Yaounde,
the capital of Cameroon.
“The government here is pushing
computer education in a big way and
the Peace Corps is trying to fill the
need for training,” he explained. “So I
am teaching about 170 students, who
have mixed levels of experience. About
one third have never touched a computer
before.” Because he is still perfecting his
French, he often resorts to “Franglais,”
his own peculiar blend of not-quite-French
and not-quite-English. He claims the
students can usually understand him.
Palladino’s biggest problem is the
frequent power failures. “Power is out as
much as 60% of the time in Naga Eboko
and although the school has a small
generator, it doesn’t always work,” he
explained. “If you can imagine trying to
teach computer education in a foreign
language that you’re just starting to feel
comfortable with, while not having a
computer to use, you have an idea of my
professional life in Cameroon.” (Palladino
also teaches English. At least he doesn’t
need electricity for that.)
But personally, aside from frequently being
without power or water in his house, he
is not faring too badly. “Compared with
some of the volunteers who are going to
places with no electricity and pit latrines,
it looks like I joined the ‘Posh Corps,’” he
said. He has his own house with three
rooms and two bathrooms to live in, and
a maid who comes once-a-week to clean
Above: Brian Palladino ’93 at
the waterfalls on the Lobe River
on the coast of Cameroon. This
is one of the few waterfalls in
the world that empties directly
into the ocean.
Left: Palladino with the class he
was teaching English to during
his training period.
and do laundry. He has made several
friends with people at the university as
well as among the other Peace Corps
volunteers. He is learning the culture of
the country and helping the people there
to learn skills they can use in the future.
All in all he is finding his life full—and
fulfilling. He was even able to set up a
blog at http://camerooned.blogspot.com/
where you can keep up with his African
adventures – when he has power to
update it!
But the key question: Is the food just as
bad as it was at first? “Now that I cook
for myself most of the time, it’s much
better. I eat a lot more vegetables, buy
grilled fish from street vendors, and try
lots of exotic foods like viper, fish heads,
beef tendon, grubs, and porcupine.”
The improved menu, combined with
the beauty of the country and its wildlife,
the friendliness of its people and the exotic
environment, are creating the experience
of a lifetime for this GSB alumnus. ~ KMA
10

PROFILES
Our Prisoner:
Kieran Vogel ’89
Would you let the internet run your life
for six months?
That’s just what Kieran Vogel ’89 did from
June through December of last year as the
main character on OurPrisoner.com.
Vogel wasn’t happy with his life last summer,
so he agreed to be the centerpiece of
a promotion by BigString Interactive for
its recallable, erasable e-mail. The original
idea was that you could have total control
of Vogel’s life, just like you could have
total control of your e-mail.
So he moved into a two bedroom house
which was outfitted with 32 cameras.
His every action was on view on the web
24 hours a day, seven days a week. Only
bathroom visits were off-limits.
Viewers voted on what he would wear,
what he ate, what time he got up,
whom he could date – in other words
all aspects of his life.
“I just wanted to take my hands off the
wheel and let the audience steer for awhile,”
he said in an interview with Good Morning
America in June. “I feel like I’m a failure.
It would be impossible for anyone else to
make worse decisions than me.”
There was also a financial incentive: if
Vogel succeeded, he would be awarded
stock in BigString, plus a $60,000 a year
job as art director. (He had originally
connected with the company by doing
freelance design for them.)
He DID succeed and GSB spoke to him
in February about his experience.
“I’m a little disappointed in the way the
show turned out,” he said “I thought it
would be a bit friendlier – with people
voting on my hairstyle or activities etc.
But it turned into the company trying to
break me by having me do all sorts of
crazy things.”
One of these was making his own wine—
“You know, get grapes and stomp them
with my feet and make wine. That and
making a bed of nails, then taking it
apart, and then remaking it were the
nuttiest. Toward the end I also had to do
things like not say the word ‘you’ for an
entire day, or sing everything. If I had
slipped up, I would have lost.”
Did he learn anything about himself
from this experience?
“I’m not as broken a person as I thought.
I learned this after I experienced one or
two callers to the show who were
complete misfits. I learned it is healthy
and normal NOT to be healthy
and normal.”
The only thing Vogel misses about the
show is the fans. “I had people calling
and e-mailing from all over – Brazil,
Canada, England. I had quite a fan club
in Kansas, of all places! In some cases,
these people were stay-at-homes with no
connection to the outside world. I seemed
to serve some purpose in their lives.”
At the end of the show, Vogel spent two
days collecting e-mail addresses and
phone numbers and he hopes to stay in
touch with many of these fans.
Did he receive the prize he was promised?
“Yes. BigString came through, but I don’t
think I’ll take the job offer right now. I
would find it uncomfortable to work with
people who two months ago wanted me
to walk around with a baby bottle.”
Vogel would never do a show like
OurPrisoner again. “The 24/7 thing for
six months is too intense,” he said. “I
would consider something that might
have BigString following me around one
or two days a week, however.”
What’s next in his life?
Vogel, as those who knew him at GSB
will remember, likes to draw cartoon
characters. He doodles constantly, and
has created several different comic strip
personalities. He has made one group
of these, the Spooks, into the protagonists
of a book of “rhyming prose” called the
Spooks Almanac which he hopes to
get published.
In the meantime, watch for Vogel
on the web! ~ KMA
Internet “prisoner” Kieran
Vogel ’89 with his kazoo.
Shown at right are two of his
recent cartoon creations,
called “Spooks.”
11

ALUMNI NEWS
Young Alumni Night at GSB
More than 35 alumni came back to GSB
for the annual Holiday Basketball Tournament
and Young Alumni Night on December 27,
2006. Up in the Brueckner Hall “Skybox,”
recent alumni reconnected, mixed and mingled
with friends and former faculty, while enjoying
refreshments and watching the games.
Shown here are photos from the event.
Above: Andrew Vazzaano’ 06 (at left facing
the camera), Jeff Noll ’06, Ross Weisman ’06 and
Jamie Palatini ’06 had a chance to visit with some
friends from GSB during the Holiday Tournament
games. Far left: (l. to r.) Kaitlyn Creegan ’06,
Uchechi Onyeyirim ’06 and Lisa McCall ’06 had
a great time. Below: Mike Rivas ’04 (l) and
Alex Weisman ’04 show some GSB spirit!
12

ALUMNI NEWS
GSB Takes to the Road
GSB headed west this February to meet
with alumni in southern California and
the Phoenix area at two separate events.
Headmaster Sid Rowell, Alumni Director
Jaimie Messina Goodrich ’01 and Director
of External Affairs Jim Diverio were on
hand to greet alumni.
Honorary trustee Sam Corliss P ’07, ’10, ’11
hosted a dinner for alumni and friends at
the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, Calif.
on February 25. Rick Suhl ’63 welcomed
alumni to a cocktail party at The Phoenician
resort in Scottsdale, Ariz. two days later.
Both events were well attended.
Above: Headmaster Sid Rowell
(far right) addressed the
California alumni gathering.
Below: Emily Maisano ’97, Jamie
Singer ’99 and Christian Bredefeld
’98 smile for the camera. Bottom,
left: Honorary trustee Sam Corliss
and his wife Katherine (P ’07,
’10.’11) hosted the California
alumni gathering at the Balboa Bay
Club in Newport Beach. Bottom,
right: David Hickok ’76 and
Jerry Ray (GP ’11, ’12) enjoyed
meeting each other.
Above: Alumni in the Arizona
area met at The Phoenician in
Scottsdale for an evening
hosted by Rick Suhl ’63, senior
vice-president, North American
operations SW for Starwood
Hotels. Shown (l. to r.) John
Patton ’61, Ross Weisman ’06,
Alex Weisman ’04, Roy
Otterbein ’64, Rick Suhl ’63
and Jim Diverio, director of
external affairs for GSB.
13

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
with Your Alma Mater!
MAY 4 & 5, 2007
Don’t miss out on the biggest Alumni event of the year!
Last year’s Reunion Weekend brought back over 100 GSB alumni from
16 states, and this year promises to be even more incredible.
FRIDAY, MAY 4
Twelfth Annual Alumni Classic at Fox Hollow Golf Club in Branchburg, NJ. Enjoy
a barbeque lunch, 18 holes of golf, and a 19th hole reception and awards ceremony.
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Reception Meet up with fellow alumni for drinks and finger
foods before heading out with friends for a night on the town.
SATURDAY, MAY 5
Reunion Weekend
Clairvaux Brunch Remember the good times with fellow SBS boys at this year’s
Clairvaux Brunch.
Ivy Tower Brunch Take a stroll down memory lane with fellow Gill Girls to celebrate
your reunion at this year’s Ivy Tower Brunch.
Guided Campus Tours Haven’t been back in a while? Want to see what’s new on
campus? Guided tours will be offered at specified times throughout the day to all who
are interested.
New Upper School Academic Building Preview Let us introduce you to the GSB
of the future and our new, state-of-the-art academic building for the Upper School.
Lunch on the Lawn Join us for a lunch the whole family can enjoy. Catch up with
former classmates and faculty. Music, children’s activities, and more.
Class Reunion Photographs If you’re back for a special reunion, be sure to come
to the MargaritaGill Dinner cocktail hour to have your class photograph taken.
MargaritaGill Dinner Hurry on over to the biggest event of the weekend.
The margaritas will start flowing during our cocktail hour, so don’t be late! A buffet
dinner will follow with entertainment by the outstanding Jimmy and the Parrots.
It is sure to be a night to remember.
Varsity Games Cheer on current GSB students as they compete in Softball, Baseball,
Track and Tennis throughout the weekend.

GSB NEWS
Early Decision
Admission for GSB
Seniors
At press time, almost one-third of
the senior class has been admitted to
colleges of their choice under Early
Decision plans this year. This is an
exceptional number for a class of its
size in an independent school.
Schools that accepted GSB students
Early Decision this year included
Princeton University, Wheaton College,
Lafayette College, Franklin & Marshall
College, Muhlenberg College, Cornell
University, Gettysburg College, Lehigh
University, St. Lawrence University
and Dickinson College. The University
of Arizona and Boston University
accepted GSB students under the
Early Action plan.
Students Simplify
Their Lives
Students in GSB’s American Literature
classes challenged themselves to simplify
their lives in December by giving
up certain modern conveniences.
The project was part of their study
of Henry David Thoreau’s Walden and
was an attempt to gain a different
perspective on the world by doing
without something that to each
individual was a “necessity.”
Teacher Dr. Andrew Lutz explained,
“One of Thoreau’s goals in going to
Walden Pond was to simplify his life.
To give the students a sense of what
that meant, I asked them to live
without various material objects for
seven days.”
Students abandoned items like iPods,
cell phones, watches, blow driers,
e-mail, TV, junk food, video games,
computers, and logo jackets. At the
end of the week, they were required
to write a reflective essay to discuss
what they learned about themselves.
“I am amazed each year by the challenges
these kids take on and by the
essays analyzing what they have
learned,” said Lutz.
Vocal Virtuoso
Jasmine Jefferson, a junior
member of the GSB
Select Chorus, sang the
Star Spangled Banner
acappella at this past
season’s basketball
games. Her talent caught
the eye of Courier News
sportswriter Jerry Carino
who wrote in his online
blog that Jasmine sang
“the best rendition of the
Star Spangled Banner that
I’ve ever heard at a high
school sporting event.”
He then featured her in a
story on the difficulty of
singing the song, and the
newspaper used a video
clip of her rendition in its
online edition.
Student Volunteer Recognized
Duncan Swanwick, a senior, was named an “Angel
Among Us” by the ARC of Somerset County. He was
recognized at The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
dinner held in December. He received this honor for
his years of community service as a volunteer at
Matheny School and Hospital in Gladstone.
15

THE MAGAZINE OF GILL ST.
BERNARD’S SCHOOL
Spirited Production
Spirits soared (and walked and talked
and plotted!) during the Upper School’s
production of Noel Coward’s Blithe
Spirit, performed with two different
casts on two successive weekends in
November. The show was directed by
Paul Canada, chair of the fine arts
department. Shown here are some
photos of the production.
GSB Scholars Travel to
the WTC and AT&T
Steven Plate, director of the World
Trade Center site, took the freshmen and
sophomore GSB Scholars on a personal
tour of the reconstruction in November.
They met with engineers and architects
to learn about the challenges and opportunities
presented by the project.
In addition the scholars visited AT&T’s
Global Network Operations Center in
Bedminster, N.J. where they learned how
the company manages all its phone and
internet communications.
Senior Receives
U.S. Congressional
Medal
Top: Charles (Michael Christie ’08) and current wife Ruth (Erica Conte ’07) have a discussion while first
wife — and ghost — Elvira (Lauren Grillo ’07), center, looks on. Above: The “Red” cast of Blithe Spirit.
Diversity Committee New to GSB
GSB has a new group on campus this year. The Diversity Committee was formed
to foster and facilitate multiculturalism. So far the group has hosted its first
assembly program and sponsored “Mix It Up at Lunch Day” on November 14.
“It’s not enough to learn about the world around us,” said Amy Mai Tierney,
faculty advisor to the group and school diversity coordinator. “We have to make
an effort to truly understand differences we encounter, not just tolerate them.”
James Dadouris ’07
received the United States
Congressional Award Bronze
Medal from Rep. Mike
Ferguson (R-7) for his
community service activities.
The award is Congress’s
highest honor for youth
service. Dadouris, both a
soccer and baseball player
at GSB, coaches a youth
baseball team in Hunterdon
County, N.J., teaches
swimming and volunteers at
the Junior Olympics.
The assembly program featured performance artist Dr. Michael Fowlin (Mykee)
who took on the persona of various individuals who are often perceived as
being outside the mainstream—gays, those who are overweight, have eating
disorders etc., as well as racial or ethnic minorities. He then showed how each
of them was basically like everyone else.
During “Mix It Up at Lunch Day,” students in the Upper School were given
numbers as they entered the dining room. They had to sit at the same number
table for lunch—most often with students outside their usual circle of close
friends. At least one senior student at each table led a discussion.
The idea behind these events is to foster openness, understanding and
appreciation of all cultures.
16

GSB NEWS
Broadway Stars Come to GSB
Gill St. Bernard’s School teamed up with Artist’s WithOut Limits (AWOL)
Theatre Project Inc. in February to bring Broadway stars together with talented
high school and middle school vocalists for an afternoon and evening of song.
Called Gill St. Broadway, the event paired the melodious voices of Jeff
Blumenkrantz (composer and lyricist of Urban Cowboy and a performer in
Into the Woods, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Damn
Yankees), Lauren Kennedy (currently appearing on Broadway in Monty
Python’s Spamalot), and Alysha Umphress (a New York City jazz singer) with
the select chorus of Gill St. Bernard’s, as well as a few featured students.
The event is a joint fund-raiser for the school and AWOL, a theater production
company run by David and Amy Southerland, two teachers at Gill St. Bernard’s.
AWOL had two of its works selected for the fiercely competitive New York
Musical Theatre Festival last year.
Broadway stars Lauren Kennedy (far left), Alysha Umpress and Jeff Blumencrantz (at piano)
performed with the Upper and Middle School choirs during Gill St. Broadway.
Take a Turkey to
School Day
GSB’s annual turkey
collection for the Community
Food Bank of New Jersey in
Hillside, on Take a Turkey
to School Day gets bigger
each year. This fall Food
Bank executive director
Kathleen DiChiara (GP’20)
made a surprise visit to
personally thank the students
for the 493 turkeys collected
during the morning. The
Courier News felt the event
was so newsworthy it was
featured as a video clip
on its website.
Seniors (l. to r.) Rajesh Kumar
and Thomas Cosentino helped to
collect donated turkeys.
Parent Donates Photo
The photo of Russell Hockenbury, Jr.
(Junie) that appeared on the cover of
the Winter 2005 GSB Magazine now
graces one of the walls in the Outer
Dining Room in Founders Hall. Becky
Bedrosian P’11,’14, who originally
shot the photo, had it blown up and
framed, and presented it to Junie and
the school at a celebration in honor
of his birthday. Shown here are
(l. to r.) Headmaster Sid Rowell,
Hockenbury and Bedrosian.
17

ATHLETICS
Varsity Girls Basketball
At press time, the GSB girls basketball
team was 20-3 which set a record for
most wins in a season. The team also
reached the Prep B finals for the first
time since 1993. In an exciting game,
the Lady Knights lost to a talented
Rutgers Prep team. The girls were also
awarded the number one seed in the
upcoming New Jersey State Interscholastic
Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-
Public B North State Tournament. The
girls used a system which called for a
fast-paced, up-tempo offense and an
aggressive, pressing defense. The team
is young, so this current success is
just a glimpse of the future.
Wesley Stapleton ’07 goes for a layup.
Varsity Indoor Track
The GSB boys indoor track team won
the State Prep B championship.
Individual titles were won by Jim
Behot ’07 in the 55 meter dash and
Doug Smith ’09 in the 3200 meter
run. GSB runners also enjoyed great
success at the Somerset County Indoor
Championship, with second places in
the 55 and 3200 meter runs. Smith set
the state sophomore record time of
9:08.01 as he placed first in the NJSIAA
Group 1 championship. His victory
also shattered the old record by 22
seconds and was recognized as the
fastest time in the nation this indoor
season thus far. His outstanding performance
qualified him for the Indoor
Meet of Champions where he placed
second in the 3200 meter run.
Varsity Boys Basketball
In a season plagued by multiple injuries,
a very young and inexperienced
Knights basketball team rallied and
qualified for the NJSIAA Non-Public B
North State Tournament. At press
time, the team had an 11-7 record and
was set to host St. Aloysius in the first
round of tournament play. The winner
is slated to meet St. Anthony’s, the
number one ranked team in the state.
For the third year, the Knights were
Patriot Conference champions.
Varsity Fencing
Although fencing is a very new
sport here at GSB, both the boys and
girls teams have shown tremendous
development and improvement. At
press time, the girls squad is 2-4 and
the boys team is 1-5. The girls fencing
epee team of Katie Galpin ’08, Jenna
Schwall ’10 and Sasha Arnesen ’07
won the Prep B championship.
Galpin also took home the individual
Prep B epee state title.
Varsity Swimming
Kaitlin Dicks ’08 continues to keep
the GSB swim team on the map. At
the Patriot Conference Championships,
she medaled in the 50 yard freestyle.
JV Ice Hockey
The boys hockey team, in its third
year, is playing a very competitive
junior varsity schedule. Although it
has only posted one victory, the team
has been scoring more and playing
many close games.
Varsity Cheerleading
GSB cheerleaders are making their
presence felt at the boys and girls
basketball games this winter. With
new uniforms and new routines, the
team has led the fans in supporting
the athletes — and definitely
boosted the spirit of the school.
18

Clockwise from above: A GSB fencer
blocks his opponent; GSB Knight goalie
protecting the crease; GSB track team shows
what it can do; GSB cheerleaders show off
their new techniques; Nicole Rizzo ’08 adds
another three points to the score.
19

ATHLETICS
Fall Wrap-Up
The last GSB Magazine went to press before the final results were in for fall
athletics. Below is a summary of end-of-the-season results.
Boys Soccer: The boys varsity soccer team finished at 16-4-1, its most
successful season in recent memory. After a thrilling overtime scoreless draw
against defending Prep B Champion Montclair-Kimberley Academy, the Knights
were declared Prep B Co-Champions. The title was GSB’s fifth overall for boys
soccer and first since 1997. The Knights also had fine showings in both the
Somerset County and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
(NJSIAA) tournaments. The team completely dominated Patriot Conference
play and claimed its 12th conference title.
Girls Soccer: A very young girls soccer team peaked at just the right time to
pull off surprising runs in tournament play, advancing to the Prep B semi-finals
and the state sectional quarter-finals. Although the team finished only 8-10-1,
most of its losses were extremely close. With a strong nucleus of returning
players, the Knights are on the rise.
Girls Tennis: The girls varsity tennis team completed its best season ever at
18-3. The girls set a school record for most wins in a season and captured the
program’s first ever Prep B championship. The squad also advanced to the state
sectional quarterfinals. Bethan Jones ’09 won an individual Prep B championship
at third singles.
Cross Country: The boys cross country team had an outstanding season.
The Knights were runner-up in the Prep B championship and took sixth place in
the NJSIAA state meet. The squad also took first place at the GSB Invitational
and had a fine showing at the prestigious Shore Coaches Invitational. First year
cross country runner Doug Smith ’09 had a break-out season (see sidebar) and he
and senior Taylor Coate both qualified for the prestigious Meet of Champions.
The girls cross country team continues to build its numbers.
Championship Team: The Middle School boys
basketball team defeated Rockaway Borough
66-58 to win the Group One Greater Morris
County Championship.
Sophomore Running
Sensation
In his first-ever cross country season,
GSB sophomore Doug Smith ran his
way into the record books. The former
soccer player continued his stellar
running season into the winter with
indoor track. Below are just some
of his highlights.
For cross country:
Somerset County Champion
Shore Coaches Regional Champion
Patriot Conference Champion
New Jersey State Interscholastic
Athletic Association (NJSIAA)
Non-Public B Champion (set a
course record for a sophomore)
New Jersey Prep B Champion
(set course record)
GSB Invitational Champion
Third Place in the Meet of
Champions
Sixty-second Place in the
Northeast Regional
Star-Ledger First team All-State
Star-Ledger Somerset County
“Runner of the Year”
Courier News “Runner of the Year”
21
For indoor track:
NJSIAA Group I Champion
One of top national times for
this season: 9:08.01
Second Place in Meet of
Champions

PATRONS
I LOVE THIS
SCHOOL!
Fashion Show a Success
Parents and guests spent a day in Paris on November 15 as
they enjoyed the elegance of this year’s fashion show, J’adore
La Mode. The event, held at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club
in Bedminster, N.J., highlighted wearable styles for the
upcoming season and raised $50,000 for the school. It was
chaired by Kaya Magee P’18 and Liz Fucci P’17.
THE 2006-2007 ANNUAL FUND
HAS ALREADY MADE GREAT
STRIDES THIS YEAR. HOWEVER
WE ARE STILL SHORT OF OUR
GOAL AND YOUR HELP IS
NEEDED. EVERY GIFT MAKES
A DIFFERENCE.
To support the Annual Fund and
show your love for the school, please
send a check payable to GSB to:
Phil Beekman, Annual Fund Director
GSB Development Office
P.O. Box 604
Gladstone, NJ 07934
If you wish to speak to the annual fund
director, call (908) 234 -1611 x205 or e-mail
pbeekman@gsbschool.org.
Phonathon Volunteers
PBS had nothing on GSB this fall as a dedicated group of
parent and alumni volunteers gathered in the Alumni Room
in Founders Hall to make phone calls to the GSB community.
The camaraderie, enthusiasm and lighthearted sense of
competition made this very necessary part of GSB’s fundraising
effort an enjoyable event for the group.
You may have received a call during that period.
Thank you for your generous response.
22

PATRONS
Past Parents Help GSB’s Future
Bill Conger leaves the Gill St. Bernard’s campus
at 9:00 p.m. for the second time in as many
days. It is not to pick up his son; he graduated
four years ago. He’s leaving after an evening
committee meeting as part of his responsibility
as one of the school’s trustees. This is a part of
his continued commitment to the school.
Conger puts it simply, “Ray ’03 considers his GSB
experience the defining event in his still-young
life for many reasons. We owe it to the school to
try to repay the favor it’s done for my family.”
Even as he nears the end of his six-year tenure
on the board Conger and his wife, Nancy,
remain committed to the school. Very early in
the planning stages of the new Upper School
academic building they set the example by
pledging a leadership gift to the project.
“It is important we get this done,” Conger said
a year ago. “Under Sid Rowell’s leadership the
school is growing and becoming increasingly
recognized for what it does for our kids. The
trustees will lead the charge but the entire
community must get involved. To be successful
we need current families, former parents and
alumni supporting this vision.”
The Congers will honor Bill’s late father by
naming the Technology Suite in his memory
when the building is complete. “My Dad was a
man with an eye for the future and a keen
appreciation of education’s role in life,” Conger
adds. “I hope our example will be duplicated
by others, not only current families but by
those who are proud, like we are, of what GSB
helped our son to become.”
Please watch the next magazine for more information about
the new Upper School building and for artist’s renderings.
If you’d like more information on the project contact Jim
Diverio in the Development Office at 908-234-1611 x210
or by e-mail at jdiverio@gsbschool.org.
FOREVER REMAIN AT THE
HEART OF GSB
BUY A BRICK ON THE ALUMNI WALKWAY
As a member of the Gill St. Bernard’s School
community, you have the opportunity to help
preserve our past and secure our future.
During GSB’s centennial year, the Alumni Walkway
was established to honor members of the GSB
community. The walkway approaches the Chapel, at
the center of the GSB campus, and is used by every
member of our community day after day.
Reserve your place in GSB history by
personalizing a piece of this walkway. Bricks
may be purchased by or for alumni, students,
faculty, or friends of the school for either
$100 (4” x 8”) or $250 (8” x 8”)
ORDER FORM
Please complete and return to: GSB, PO Box 604, Gladstone, NJ 07934.
Name:
Address:
Class of:
City: State: Zip:
Phone:
I would like to order:
E-mail:
4” x 8” Brick(s) @ $100 8” x 8” Brick(s) @ $250
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23
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ALUMNI NOTES
THE THIRTIES
Class of 1937: SBS
Donald Stockwell wrote before the
holidays to say, “December finds
me still at Rivercourt in Groton,
Mass. I live here with my cat, Ivan—
affectionately known as Ivan the
Terrible. I enjoy the company of
many new friends, and I am known
for entertaining them with my
harmonica, and staying up with the
night owls to play rummy (I always
win!). It’s been quite a year, with
local travel around New England.
While I’ve enjoyed all of these local
trips, I miss my international travels.
I wish you peace and happiness in
the coming year.”
THE FIFTIES
Class of 1951: SBS
Peter Kerr stopped by campus with
his brother in late November. Peter
was passing through New Jersey on
his way to Florida for the winter and
spring. He spends the summer and
fall in Switzerland. The two enjoyed
a quick tour around campus, before
Peter caught his plane.
THE SIXTIES
Class of 1964: Gill
Anne Hinshaw Vanderweil wrote
to us in January: “Life is good! My
oldest children, Alex, 31 and Shelley,
28, married wonderful people this
past September. The last one, Stefan,
24, and the game of golf, keep me
humble! Best to all.”
Class of 1966: SBS
Jim Hogue has been very busy
recently—he ran for governor of
Vermont as the Green Party candidate.
His platform included issues such
as election integrity and sustainable
energy. Jim is also an actor, playing
Ethan Allen in the touring show The
Gods of the Hills. In his spare time,
he is a writer and editor, and enjoys
playing baseball.
Class of 1966: Gill
Edie Clark’s most recent book, The
View from Mary’s Farm, has been
receiving rave reviews. For example,
Katrina Kenison, editor of The Best
American Short Stories said of it,
“I’ve kept my well-worn Essays of
E.B. White on my bedside table for
years, but Edie Clark’s new collection
is now in its place.” Edie’s newest
book, Saturday Beans & Sunday
Suppers: Thoughts from the Kitchen
at Mary’s Farm, will be published
sometime next year.
THE SEVENTIES
Class of 1971: SBS
Harry F. Pearson, Jr. wrote to tell
us that in May, 2006 he graduated
from Eastern University/Palmer
Theological Seminary with a Doctor
of Ministry degree in marriage and
family therapy. In August he and his
family relocated to Ozark, Mo. where
he will be teaching at the Assemblies
of God Theological Seminary.
Class of 1978
John W. Scott died suddenly in
October. (See obituary on pg. 27.)
Mike Perselay has joined
The Fox and Hound Tavern in
Lebanon, N.J. as the executive chef.
He continues to run his own
restaurant, Zoota, in Phillipsburg,
N.J. There’s a nice bio on him online
at foxandhoundtavern.com.
GSB alumnae were among
those present at the school’s
Fashion Show last fall.
They enjoyed both the event
and meeting each other!
Shown here, l. to r. Danielle
Casillo Wright ’94, Fredrica
Welles Ash ’79 and Deborah
Hobbie Stryker ’66.
24

THE MAGAZINE OF GILL ST.
BERNARD’S SCHOOL
THE EIGHTIES
Class of 1981
Chris Burt just wanted to say, “It was
great to see all those who attended
the 25th reunion this past year.
Thanks for making it memorable!”
Class of 1984
Laurie Collyer wrote and produced
the film Sherrybaby, which has been
nominated for several awards,
including Best Actress at the Golden
Globes. (See story on pg. 3.)
Class of 1987
Ivan Matviak wrote to tell us of the
birth of his daughter, Anya. “She was
born on June 6th. Everyone is doing
extremely well. Zoe, 3 loves her baby
sister and is growing too quickly!
My wife, Heidi, is finishing her
doctorate in organizational behavior
at London Business School. She has
several publications under her belt
already and should be finished with
the degree program in the next 12
months. As for me, after five years at
Disney Consumer Products, most
recently as general manager for Europe,
the Middle East and Africa, I’ve left
to join Halifax Bank of Scotland
(HBOS). HBOS is the eighth largest
company in the United Kingdom.
I’ve joined the investments and
insurance division to run the strategy
and change management group. It is
quite a change from Disney and the
pace is manic. Happily it gets me off
airplanes as my travel is all in the U.K.
now. If anyone is coming to London
please look me up: Ivan.Matviak.-
WG98@Wharton.upenn.edu”
Class of 1989
Kieran Vogel spent six months live on
the web in the webcast OurPrisoner.com.
(See story on pg. 11.)
A group from the class of 1995 got together at a New York Jets game this past winter.
Shown here, from l. to r.: Noah Russell ’95, Court Clayton ’95, David Greenberg ’95,
Marci Richburg ’93, Alexis Vander Sterre ’95, Chris Van Brunt ’95, Joe Richburg ’95 and
Jack Green ’95. Andrea Freeman ’95 was the photographer.
THE NINETIES
Class of 1991
Nadine Petronko Lin wrote to say:
“Our daughter, Emerson, turned one
in November. We were able to take
two huge trips this year, to the south
of France and to Taiwan, to visit
with Emerson’s grandparents and
cousins. Hope everyone is well, and
I hope to see you all at the next
Alumni Reunion.” (Note: This year’s
Alumni Weekend will be held on
May 4 and 5, 2007.)
Class of 1993
Matthew Chesman and his wife, Kate,
are happy to announce the birth of
their son, Jack Conner, on October 9,
2006. Jack joins big sister Emma, 3.
Brian Palladino is currently with the
Peace Corps in Cameroon, Africa.
(See story on pg. 10.)
Alex Sutton reports: “I am currently
finishing up my MBA at the University
of Michigan, Ross School of Business
in Ann Arbor and am having an
incredible time. I am planning to move
back to the New York-New Jersey-
Pennsylvania area with my girlfriend,
Nadia, who I met in the program.”
Class of 1994
Jeffrey Awender married Jocelyn
Morris Graybosch on July 2, 2006
in Los Angeles. Jeffrey owns Awender
Chiropractics in San Mateo, Calif.,
and Jocelyn is vice president of debit
card analysis at Wells Fargo Bank in
San Francisco. The happy couple
resides in Redwood City, Calif.
Candace and Matthew Clark were
spotted at this year’s Far Hills Races
in Bernardsville, N.J. preparing
food and beverages for their guests.
They are one of GSB’s Love Stories.
(See story on page 6.)
Class of 1995
Amy Siegel Lang and husband,
Chad, announced the birth of their
baby boy, Jackson Murphy, born
January 18, 2007. “We are doing
well and adjusting to our new life.
He is a wonderful baby with a calm
nature. I will be taking some time
off from work, returning in July.
I continue to be a social worker in
Burlington, Vt. working with
children and families. I am preparing
to take a clinical exam to be a licensed
clinical social worker (LICSW).”
25

ALUMNI NOTES
THE 21ST CENTURY
Class of 2000
Vanessa Kian says: “I am currently
living in Massachusetts. I graduated
from Northeastern University in Boston
with a dual major in international
business and business administration,
and minors in both marketing and
human resource management. Shortly
after graduation I began working at
EH Publishing as the Electronic House
Expo (EHX) Operations Coordinator.
Electronic House Expo is the fastest
growing custom electronics trade
show in America. There are two shows
a year. In the fall we travel to California,
and in the spring we head down to
Florida. It’s a lot of work and fun! I
am considering going back to school
for fashion marketing.”
Andrew Manner ’03 on one of his
wilderness adventures.
Brandon Arvesen wrote saying: “My
life is fantastic. I live in Baltimore and
I am teaching ninth grade English at
Thurgood Marshall High School, an
inner-city school which has many
problems but many fantastically
hilarious kids. My apartment is small,
but cozy. I hang out with good ol’
Mike Robinson because he lives in
Baltimore too.”
Laura Landrieu just bought a condo
in The Hills in Bedminster, N.J. She has
also been doing a lot of community
theater over the past year. “I played
the role of Maria in The Sound Of Music
in November. Don Schlachter P’91,
who did lighting for GSB productions,
was involved in the production. I won
the Best in Show award given out by
the theater group, so that meant a lot
to me. Now I am playing Mrs. Darling
in Peter Pan and I have been crazy
busy with rehearsals.”
Patrick “Joel” Mathias graduated
from Drexel University in Philadelphia
with a Bachelor of Science in electrical
engineering in 2005. For the past 15
months he has been living in the San
Francisco Bay area, where, he tells us,
“I am designing the electrical systems
for Rail Transit Systems.”
Liz Parsons e-mailed us: “I’ve been
living happily in New York City for
almost two years now. After a string of
not-so-fabulous jobs I’ve finally found
a keeper. I’m an assistant producer at
a post-production house. We are one
of the oldest and biggest in the city
and we edit mainly commercials.”
Mike Robinson works as a senior
web developer for Enforme Interactive,
making web sites. Some examples of
his work include www.hood.edu,
Bill and Bill: William Freeland ’05 met
Former President William Clinton during his
internship at Clinton’s Foundation.
Don’t forget to check out the
GSB Alumni Web Community
where you will find the latest
alumni news, a listing of future
events, a searchable database
of GSB alumni, message
boards, and more! You can
access it through the school’s
website at www.gsbschool.org.
Click on “Alumni” at the top of
the homepage.
and www.cogito.org. “If I describe
anything beyond that I usually lose
most people. Sometimes I make up
fake jobs to keep the conversation
alive. But it’s fun and challenging, so
I can’t complain. I rock out the piano,
but I’ve moved on to learning guitar,
and hopefully will be taking some
serious lessons this summer. I’m also
really thinking about an extended trip
back to Europe this year. I spent my
senior year of college in Prague and
I could go for a month of bumming
around again. I have no pets, I cook
a mean shepherd’s pie, I enjoy long
walks by the harbor (Baltimore), and
still think Americans are funny.”
Jeff Wierichs started working for
Northwestern Mutual in New York
City in September. He does asset
protection through life insurance and
investment planning. He is living
on the Upper East Side and enjoying
the New York life.
Colleen Manner is living in Brooklyn,
N.Y. and working in Manhattan
designing children’s accessories at
Accessory Network.
26

THE MAGAZINE OF GILL ST.
BERNARD’S SCHOOL
Leigh Ann Wallace wrote in saying:
“After adventures living in Chicago
and New York City, I’m back home
in Long Valley, N.J. I’ve been working
at Express Yourself Salon & Spa in
Far Hills, N.J. for two years now.
I attend night classes at Artistic
Academy in Morris Plains, N.J. and
am scheduled to get my cosmetology
license this summer. I styled hair and
did make-up for models at a Harley
Davidson fashion show in November.
(I also modeled!) I styled hair for a
store called “Another Man’s Treasure”
in Jersey City, N.J. for a vintage
clothing fashion show in June and
again for a Halloween fashion show
in October. I’m greatly looking forward
to finishing school, and then hopefully
it’s off to Los Angeles for me!”
Class of 2003
Andrew Manner recently received
his Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
certification. This course is the industry
standard for outdoor professionals
who lead adventure trips in the
backcountry for days or weeks. Andrew
is a senior at Brevard College in
Brevard, N.C. majoring in wilderness
leadership and experiential education.
(See photo on pg. 26.)
Class of 2004
Parisa Bastani is currently finishing
her major in biological basis of behavior
at the University of Pennsylvania
in Philadelphia. This semester Parisa
is also a research assistant in a neuroscience
lab that studies food intake
and energy expenditures. She is still a
crew chief for the university’s medical
emergency response team. She is
also a senior sports writer for the
school’s newspaper, The Daily
Pennsylvanian, whose captions have
been seen in photo galleries on the
Sports Illustrated website.
Jennifer Doyle, a junior at Emerson
College in Boston, made the dean’s list
in the fall semester.
Jon Andrade and Rick Laughland are
both having a great time at Fairleigh
Dickinson University in New Jersey
and are planning a Stratton, Vt.
snowboarding trip with Justin Milani.
Jon is on the dean’s list at FDU.
Kyle Mullins has transferred to
American University in Washington, DC.
Kyle Mershon was named to the
fall semester dean’s list at Bucknell
University in Pennsylvania.
Class of 2005
Jenna Miele was back on campus
visiting with former faculty while home
for winter break. She is currently a
sophomore at Cabrini College in
Pennsylvania. (See photo below.)
Billy Freeland interned this past
fall at the Clinton Foundation
office in New York City, where he
had a chance to meet the former
President. “I’m a student at Columbia
University, and I was able to take
courses while interning at the
office—about 22 hours a week.
(See photo on pg. 26.)
Class of 2006
Alexander Raymond was named
a Klein Scholar at Franklin and
Marshall College in Pennsylvania.
The program recognizes students
who have demonstrated excellence
in high school and have contributed
to their school community in
significant and positive ways.
FORMER FACULTY
Jeff Fela has been hired as the
assistant coach and offensive line
coach for Tennessee Technical
University’s football team. Fela got
his coaching start at GSB in 1975.
OBITUARY
John W. Scott ’78 passed away on
October 8, 2006. He is survived by
his wife, Debbie, and two sons,
Nathaniel and Nicholas.
Correction: John Durward ‘64’s name was
misspelled in the Fall issue of the magazine.
Jenna Miele ’05 visited with Computer Technology Department
Chair Irv Taylor during the holiday break.
27

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
IS SHE REALLY DRESSED FOR SOCCER? WHO ARE THE “ATHLETES” IN THIS PHOTO?
WHAT ARE THEY DOING? WHAT YEAR?
The response to the last “Who are These People” photo
was overwhelming. It is apparent a lot of SBS alumni
still have clear memories of that wonderful afternoon.
We heard from Merritt Ierly ’54, Dan Decher ’54, Nick
Sanborn ’54, Jack Mitchell ’57 and Thomas Chipp ’55. There’s
a little discrepancy in what they told us. Mitchell remembers
that one of the boys in the photo showed up one day with
“his very spiffy MG, which immediately attracted
a crowd. Those pictured were
drooling over the car….” Ierly
says, “It wasn’t a student’s (no
cars were allowed, except for day
students.)…” Finally Sanborn
remembers, “A sports car club
was having a scavenger hunt
— or whatever they called it.
Someone had arranged for them
to take a ‘break’ at St. Bernard’s.
There must have been 10 or 15
neat cars there that day...”
Whatever the event, the identifications were clear. The
group was (l. to r.) Bud Kress, David Keller, Hal Skaff, Dan
Decher, George Richardson, Chandler Smith, Peter Kerr,
Merritt Ierley, Henry Weymouth, Jim Smith and Nick
Sanborn, all from the class of 1954 with the exception of
Richardson who was the class of 1955.
In addition, Sanborn, Allan Whatley ’50 and David Oakely ’47
questioned Herb Etheridge’s ’55 letter to the editor challenging
the identification of Edward
Dunning in the photo from the
“A Tradition of Hospitality”
story in the Summer 2006
issue. They felt it was correctly
identified in the story.
Oakley also corrected the
name of the cook mentioned
in the story.
Thanks for helping to keep the
GSB Archives accurate.
28

Dan Albosta ’82.
Above: The Phoenician, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Right: John Wright ’77.
Above: Nancy
Washburn Lee ’81 and
daughter Madeline.
Left: Barbara Wilson
Eccles ’50.
Brooke Tomblin Marca ’88, husband James, and Thomas Woodhall ’49.
MollyLouise
Weisser Grayner
’94 and husband
Leonard.
Russell Burt ’83 and Bari Kaplan Smith ’83.
Brian ’88 and Adam ’92 Probolsky.

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