Download a pdf version of the 2009 Alumni Winter Connection

GORDON ALUMNI CONNECTION Winter 2009

Dear Gordon Friends,
Save the date! We are happy to announce that the school will celebrate
its Centennial on Sunday, October 10, 2010. More information
and details will be sent to you, so please make sure to log into the
alumni directory at www.gordonschool.org and update your contact
information.
As Gordon approaches its one hundreth year, it remains the school
you remember and love; where every child is treated as an individual,
hearts and minds are educated with equal care and the true
spirit of joyous work is practiced every day.
This issue of the Alumni Connection highlights Gordon School’s
exceptional visual and performing arts programs. Our stages, classrooms
and hallways are alive with the creative talents of our students
and we are pleased to share a glimpse of this extraordinary work
with you.
We have also profiled several alumni who are making an impact as
professional artists: art curator John Ravenal ’73, actress and theatre
company director Claire Beckman Morgan ’75, choreographer and
dance studio director Rachel Germond ’77, architectural designer
Clarke Morrison ’95, stage manager Emily Glinick ’98 and aspiring
artist and RISD student Philippe Dwyer ’04.
I do hope this magazine finds you well and enjoying the winter
season! Please remember to stay in touch with us, send along any
news or updated information and log into the alumni directory.
As always, we are enormously grateful for the alumni and parent
of alumni communities that embrace Gordon School.
Sincerely,
Associate Director of Development
2

1 2
Celebrating
the Arts at Gordon
1. This year’s fall art show featured the exceptional artistic talents of Gordon
students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Their work with painting, book
making, ceramics, tiles and glass decorated the walls of the Activity Room.
2. Sculptor, Ben Anderson introduced students to the process of making molds
from nature and casting them in clay. These forms will be used to make functional
and sculptural pieces. Ben is one of three artists sharing their work with
Gordon students this year, supported by the Britt Nelson Visiting Artist Program.
3
4
3. Seventh and eighth graders participate in an arts elective program. Some of
the elective offerings are: jazz band, percussion ensemble, handbell ensemble,
choral ensemble, drawing workshop, and textiles.
4. This November, the Middle School performed Rice and Webber’s musical,
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. They most recently performed
an adaptation of Louis Sachar’s novel, Holes. Lower School students are
preparing for their spring musical of an adaptation of Arnold Lobel’s, Frog
and Toad series.
All of Gordon’s theater productions this year are dedicated in memory of former
trustee and parent, Herb Kaplan. Gordon’s Activity Room, where the shows are
performed, is dedicated to the memory of Herb’s son, Peter Kaplan ’71.
3

JOHN RAVENAL ’73
I earned an MA and a Masters in
Philosophy (MPhil) in art history at
Columbia University and then worked
at the Philadelphia Museum of Art as
the Associate Curator of Twentieth-
Century Art. After seven years, I took
a position as Head of the Modern
and Contemporary department at the
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
John is the Sydney and Frances Lewis
Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary
Art at the Virginia Museum
of Fine Arts. He lives in Richmond
with his wife, Virginia, and their two
children Eva and Daniel. John attended
Gordon School from 1963 to 1968.
On Gordon…
I remember liking the campus and
the contemporary feel of the buildings
with their exposed wood beams and
windows. I also recall the warmth and
kindness of many of my teachers most
especially, Mrs. Winn and Mrs. Hess.
They both seemed flexible and willing
to support their students as individuals.
In second grade, my teacher identified
my dyslexia and the school took the
time to help me. I can even remember
doing special exercises with Ms. Trask
in her class.
Gordon was the first in a line of progressive
schools that I attended. It set
the stage for the rest of my schooling
with high expectations, small classes
and attentive teachers.
After Gordon…
My family moved to Washington, DC
after my third grade year and I finished
my elementary and secondary education
at Georgetown Day School. In many
ways, it was a continuation of Gordon’s
educational philosophy. After that, I
attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut
where I majored in art history.
Becoming a Museum Curator…
I always had an appreciation for
visual art and one of my professors at
Wesleyan encouraged me to pursue
art history. I ended up interning at the
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
in Hartford, CT, which turned into a
full time position. This experience convinced
me that I wanted to continue
with museum work professionally and
to do that I needed a graduate degree.
Current Exhibits…
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is
in the midst of the largest expansion
in its history, and much of my work
involves planning for the reinstallation
of the permanent collection. I’m
also planning the installation for the
museum’s new sculpture garden and
working on several exhibitions: new
photographs by Sally Mann; a concise
survey of work by Chuck Close; a
“tobacco project” with MacArthur
Award-winning Chinese artist Xu Bing;
and a commissioned installation by
painter Ryan McGinness.
Words of Wisdom…
Young people are often told to follow
their passion. That’s important but not
as simple as it sounds. You may not
know you’re going to like something,
or that it even exists, until you’ve been
exposed to it, so trying a broad spectrum
of subjects in high school and
college is important. My mother is
an art historian, but I never had an
art history class until college and never
knew anything about the role of a
curator until my senior year.
One’s path is often guided by mentors,
who can open doors by their own
example and by making professional
connections. One professor and one
curator helped set me on my path in
my early twenties.
4

CLAIRE BECKMAN MORGAN ’75
Claire is the Producing Artistic Director
of the Brooklyn, NY based Brave New
World Repertory Theatre. A professional
actor for the past 25 years, Claire and
her husband, John Morgan reside in
Brooklyn. Their daughter, Taylor Morgan,
is a seventh grader at the Mark Twain
Intermediate School for the Gifted and
Talented.
On Gordon…
My second and third grade teacher,
Mrs. DeSilva, was very special. She
had tremendous empathy and nurtured
my appreciation of the arts. I wasn’t an
athletic child and I had anxiety about
sports and recess, but I loved to dance.
Mrs. DeSilva allowed me to spend
recess dancing in the classroom and
although she wasn’t a dance teacher
she taught me the traditional way a
Sri Lankan dancer holds her hands.
I’ll always remember that.
Mrs. DeSilva loved stories and read
to us all the time. She also directed a
production of Demeter and Persephone,
which we presented two years in a
row. I played Persephone and Nancy
Barlow ’75 played my mother, Demeter.
We wore Mrs. DeSilva’s beautiful Sri
Lankan saris which she draped around
us like Grecian robes. This experience
was the first of many plays at Gordon
School that developed my lifelong love
of theatre and acting.
Life After Gordon…
I had a difficult transition from Gordon
into Classical High School. I had to
adjust to the traditional rules and
expectations, but Classical had a
wonderful drama program, strong
academics and it was ultimately a
good experience. After Classical, I
attended Carnegie Mellon University’s
renowned drama conservatory and
earned a BFA in acting. I also studied
at the National Theatre in Great Britain
with Sir Anthony Hopkins, and in New
York with Suzanne Shepherd.
On Acting…
I moved to New York City in 1984, was
fortunate to sign with an agent right
away and have sustained a professional
acting career for 25 years in theatre,
film and television.
Some highlights of my theatre work
include the title role in Bella, Belle
of Byelorussia off-Broadway, several
Shakespeare roles including Juliet and
Lady Macbeth and leading roles at
numerous regional theatres. Film and
television credits include The Door in
the Floor with Jeff Bridges, The Thing
About My Folks with Peter Falk, and
appearances in the various Law and
Order shows, All My Children and As
the World Turns.
I have done theatre and film as far
away as the former Yugoslavia but
when my daughter, Taylor, was born in
1996, my husband and I established
new roots in Brooklyn. I stopped taking
jobs out of town and began teaching
drama part time.
I created The Dreama Players, a small
children’s theatre workshop for my
daughter and her friends when they
were younger. Many of the parents of
my students were Brooklyn-based
directors, playwrights and actors who
assisted with the children’s performances.
It soon became clear that we should
form our own professional adult company
that embraces the talent of the
Brooklyn arts community.
The Brave New World Repertory
Theatre was born in 2003 and today
we have over 35 designers, directors,
playwrights and stage managers working
at our Brooklyn-based theatre.
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Brave New World Repertory Theatre…
Trinity Repertory Company was one of
the models for Brave New World along
with Steppenwolf Theatre Company in
Chicago. Our breakthrough production
was To Kill a Mockingbird in 2005,
which I directed as a site-specific, onenight-only
event using my house, five
neighboring porches and the sidewalks
of Westminster Road in Victorian
Flatbush, Brooklyn. The 100-year-old
trees that line the street set the perfect
scene for Harper Lee’s story. The performance
was attended by over 2,000
people and the success and novelty of
the event launched our company.
Since then we have performed at the
Celebrate Brooklyn Performing Arts
Festival every summer and we have an
annual play reading series in intimate
and unusual venues during the winter.
I once assumed resident companies
like Trinity were the norm, but it is rare
to have an artistic home.
I still consider myself an actor first and
foremost, but in my new leadership
role as Producing Artistic Director, I
have more freedom to dance the way
I want to. Thanks, Mrs. DeSilva!
For more information on Claire and the
Brave New World Repertory Theatre
visit: www.bravenewworldrep.org.

RACHEL GERMOND ‘77
Rachel is the Artistic Director of Rachel
Thorne Germond (RTG) Dance, a nonprofit
contemporary dance company
in Chicago. She is a dance teacher for
both adults and children and works
through the Chicago Arts Partnership
in Education (CAPE) at several Chicago
public schools teaching after school
dance programming. Rachel is also
the dance researcher for the Chicago
Artists Resource website and the
Chicago Dance Examiner at
www.examiner.com.
On Gordon…
Gordon School remains very special to
me. I can remember the bus ride from
Barrington (where my family lived) to
East Providence. It always felt as if I
was traveling to a magical place with
wonderful teachers and experiences
that inspired my creativity and
imagination.
Mrs. Waterman, my art teacher, introduced
me to an appreciation of different
visual art mediums in her classes. I
can still remember sketching horses,
making a giant puzzle using a jigsaw,
creating clay sculptures and working
with textiles. Even outside of the art
classroom, I was always encouraged
to think artistically and independently
at Gordon.
Life After Gordon…
I went on to attend The Well School,
a progressive and arts oriented school,
in Peterborough, NH, returning to
Rhode Island to graduate from Barrington
High School. I then attended
Cornell University and got dual
degrees—a BFA in fine arts and a BA
in comparative literature.
While at Cornell, I became more
involved with dancing and took classes
in downtown Ithaca, NY. The studio
CATHERINE PEDEMONTE
teacher there encouraged me to
consider dancing professionally. After
Cornell, I moved to New York City with
the intention of pursuing photography
but I fell in love with a life in dance.
At the time there was a thriving and
contemporary dance scene in New
York (and there still is). I was surrounded
by people who shared my passion
for dance and was receiving some of
the best training in the world at this
time. With all this support, I began
expressing myself primarily through
dance choreography and performance.
I stayed in New York dancing and
presenting my work from 1986 to
1998. I then decided to pursue an
MFA in dance and choreography at the
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,
where I was offered a full scholarship
and a fellowship. I graduated in 2000
with my MFA and returned to New
York to dance. I relocated to Chicago
to be with my life partner and continue
to make and present my work in both
New York and Chicago.
Dance and Choreography…
While living in New York, I studied
on scholarship for two years with Mary
Anthony and Anna Sokolow. I then
continued at the Merce Cunningham
Studio and studied with pioneer
release-technique teacher, Nancy Topf.
After a debilitating back injury, I found
Klein Technique, which is more an
approach to training and dancing,
rather than a dance style. It is a physical
practice which I have stayed with
over the years. I recently completed a
teacher training program with Barbara
Mahler in this technique and continue
to teach in Chicago.
Rachel Thorne Germond Dance
Company…
I formed my Chicago-based dance
company in 2004. We usually perform
at Links Hall in Chicago, a venue for
experimental dance and performance.
In October 2008 we presented an
evening of quartets and solos called
Fours which we will be bringing to
New York in June 2009 to perform at
the Brooklyn Arts Exchange. I am also
working on a solo collaboration with
Korean-born composer Insook Choi,
who I met while in graduate school.
Words of Wisdom…
Put your shoulder to the grindstone
and keep your eye on your goals.
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out
there. If you work hard, opportunities
will eventually come your way. Never
stop believing in yourself but stay
grounded and connected to your
community. The dialogue and interface
with the world around you will push
you to be more than you think you
can be if you can find a way to meet
your own goals and serve others while
doing it.
For more information on Rachel
and her dance company visit:
www.rtgdance.com.
6

CLARKE MORRISON ‘95
Clarke attended Gordon from Nursery
through eighth grade. He is currently
a CAD Manager and Architectural
Designer at the Maguire Group, Inc.,
one of the nation’s leading architectural,
engineering, and planning firms.
Clarke resides in Providence with his
wife, Jessica and nine-month-old son,
James Paige Morrison.
On Gordon…
The intimate learning environment at
Gordon allowed me to develop strong
friendships with my classmates and
teachers. I recently gathered with some
of my classmates in New York and
even though it has been fourteen years
since our graduation we are still connected
by our Gordon experiences.
I really appreciated the school’s focus
on providing children with exposure to
so many different learning experiences
—from creating memory maps of the
world with Mrs. Whinery to community
service learning projects in eighth
grade.
Even the teachers represented Gordon’s
well-rounded approach to education.
In Middle School, Mr. Collison, Mr.
Hoffer and Mr. Atwood not only challenged
me in their classrooms but also
on the athletic fields. Mrs. St. Florian,
one of my art teachers, was a wellknown
professional artist in the Rhode
Island community. These teachers were
my role models and inspired me to
pursue all of my interests.
I enjoyed the opportunities provided by
Gordon especially the art programs. I
learned about photography and even
developed my own photos in the
Middle School photo lab. We made
pottery in the school’s kiln and many
pieces of which my parents still have
on display. I was involved in the after
school drama program and performed
in the school’s yearly Gilbert and
Sullivan productions. I also played
guitar in the school band and was
introduced to many other instruments
in our music classes.
My Gordon education has played a
significant role in my life, by teaching
me the importance of reaching out
to others with community service,
pursuing opportunities that balance
your life and the significance of lasting
friendships.
After Gordon…
I attended Providence Country Day
and was active in their art and sports
programs. I went on to Hamilton College
and majored in art history with a minor
in Spanish. While at Hamilton, I spent a
semester in Barcelona, Spain and studied
Spanish architecture. For my final
senior thesis, I presented a paper on
urban planning which included a case
study on Providence’s urban renewal.
On Architecture…
While I was at Gordon, my class took a
field trip to the top of the Rhode Island
Hospital Trust building in Providence.
It was there that I met Bill Warner, the
architect primarily responsible for the
Providence River Relocation Project
and the Waterplace Park vision. This
experience inspired me to realize this
was something I could do for a career.
After college, I interned at a small residential
architecture firm and then was
hired by Maguire Group, Inc., where
I have been for the past four and half
years. I am currently the CAD Manager
and Architectural Designer and produce
the drawings and 3D computer representations
for the projects our firm
designs.
I was involved with the renovation of
the Providence Holiday Inn into the
Hilton Hotel. This project required a
complete renovation of all the guest
rooms and public spaces, a new
exterior cladding system, an all-glass
addition housing conference spaces,
a new Shula’s restaurant and a
Starbucks. It was quite a challenging
project, bringing a 1950s lower-end
hotel up to the current standards of
a Hilton hotel, on a tight budget.
Community Involvement…
I now volunteer as a mentor and curriculum
manager for the ACE Mentor
program in Providence. ACE is an after
school program for inner-city high
school students who are interested in
learning about Architecture, Construction
and Engineering (ACE). We meet every
week and work on a year-long project.
This year the project is to design a
single-family affordable house in
Providence. I know that not all young
people have the same opportunities
that I had at Gordon and beyond—
that’s why I really enjoy giving back
and volunteering for the youth of
Providence.
7

EMILY GLINICK ‘98
Emily is living in Brooklyn, NY and is
working as a freelance stage manager
in New York City for such notable
companies as the Public Theater, Paper
Mill Playhouse and the Signature Theatre
Company. Her most recent project
was working at the Public Theater, on
County of Kings: The Beautiful Struggle,
a staged memoir written and performed
by Tony Award winner, Lemon Andersen.
On Gordon…
In Preschool, it was clear from an early
age that I was already drawn to the arts.
My parents moved to Barrington because
of the strong reputation of the public
school system. Just before I was due
to go to Kindergarten, the Barrington
school system drastically cut the
funding for their arts programs. This
prompted my parents to consider private
schooling, and after meeting with
the administration and faculty, I ended
up at Gordon.
At Gordon, I remember being exposed
not only to traditional visual arts and
music classes, but playing the double
bass in the Middle School jazz band
with Mr. Beaudoin, taking chorus class
with Ms. Stillman, among others. This
was such a joy for me, as well as for
my parents who always supported my
passions not only academically but in
the arts as well.
The close knit environment at Gordon
also enabled me to develop strong
relationships with both my classmates
and teachers. Today, I continue to
treasure the lasting friendships I made
at Gordon. Many of my dearest friends
are my Gordon classmates.
The teachers also made my Gordon
experience—they knew how to engage
their students, always making learning
fun. Mrs. Mullin, my third grade
teacher, was one of the best teachers
I have ever had. She was so nurturing
but also found a way to push each of
us to realize our potentials.
Life After Gordon…
I went on to Moses Brown along with
some of my closest Gordon friends,
making my transition into a new school
much easier. We all shared our Gordon
experience and even in high school
we continued to build stronger connections
with each other. I also felt well
prepared academically and jumped
right into my classes at Moses Brown.
As I searched for colleges, I made sure
to look for a small school with a similar
intimate feel as Gordon. I ended up
attending Bowdoin College where I
studied Italian, theatre and art history.
On Theatre…
While at Gordon, I became involved
with the All Children’s Theatre in Providence.
This was a formative experience
for me. I was surrounded by creative
and talented individuals and my love
of theatre continued to grow.
As I got older, I transitioned into the
“young adult” ensemble where it
becomes required to help with all
aspects of a performance including:
running the box office, assisting with
different elements of production and
stage managing.
I randomly signed up to stage manage a
show, having no idea what the position
entailed, and disliked it. The artistic
director and founder of the All Children’s
Theatre, Wrenn Goodrum, took me
aside and told me that she saw a great
deal of potential in my skills in stage
management. Although I resisted at first,
I ended up stage managing productions
in high school and something changed
for me—I have not stopped since.
Bowdoin College…
As part of my work-study at Bowdoin,
I worked as a technical assistant for the
theatre department. I stage managed
two main stage productions per year
and worked on many smaller events.
My junior year, I was looking to study
abroad on a language-based program
in Italy and my Italian professor gave
me a pamphlet on a brand new Italian
Theatre program. I changed my plans,
applied at the very last minute and was
accepted.
While in Italy, I realized that I wanted
to concentrate my studies solely on
theatre and so I designed my own
major in Italian theatre studies which
was approved by my professors and
administration at college. I returned to
Bowdoin with a new focus. While still
in Italy, I had been given permission to
translate a play written by an Italian
playwright, who I worked with during
my study abroad program. I translated
his play into English and directed the
performance as my final senior project.
Current Work…
Since my graduation from Bowdoin,
I have been working at various theatre
companies throughout the Northeast
including the Chautauqua Theater
Company in western New York and
Trinity Repertory Company in
Providence.
This spring, I will be assisting on shows
at the Paper Mill Playhouse and the New
York Theater Workshop. Most exciting
of all, I will be taking Lemon Andersen’s
show, County of Kings to Sweden this
April as the lead stage manager.
8

PHILIPPE DWYER ’04
BRITT NELSON VISITING
ARTIST PROGRAM
The arts program at Gordon which
exposes students to sophisticated
mediums and techniques from around
the world, is enhanced each year by
the Britt Nelson Visiting Artist Program.
Philippe is in his freshman year at the
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
His intention is to major in graphic
design and pursue an art history
concentration.
On Gordon…
From the caring teachers who believed
in my talents to the classes and activities
that introduced me to the world
of art—Gordon was the place that
encouraged my creativity.
Ms. Jenness was one teacher in particular
who encouraged me to appreciate
my talents as an artist. She believed
that everyone could be an artist, even
those just first learning to draw and
paint. Even today, I remind myself of
the confidence Ms. Jenness had in my
abilities and it pushes me to work hard
at becoming a professional artist.
After Gordon…
I attended Providence Country Day for
high school and became involved with
the art program there. I received several
Scholastic Art Awards in high school
and in my senior year, I was accepted
into RISD.
RISD…
In the first year at RISD every freshman
has to take the same courses. Drawing,
2D Design, and 3D Design are our
studios. We are also required to take
art history and English.
In December and January, I took a
photography class during the RISD
Winter Session that focused on black
and white photography. We used a 55
mm camera and developed our own
photos. It gave me a new perspective
on photography. I now prefer taking
black and white photography because
the photos turn out stronger in meaning.
Overall, I am having a great time and
enjoying my experience. I am meeting
so many interesting people and enjoying
my classes. I am certain I made the
right decision to go to an art school.
Words of Wisdom…
Try and experiment with all different
areas of art. You will learn so much
even from those that don’t initially
appeal to you.
Follow your dreams and don’t let anyone
stop you from believing in them or
yourself. I also would advise everyone
to work as hard as you can so that you
get better opportunities in the future.
This program was established in 1996
in memory of Britt Nelson, the mother
of Sasha ’99, Rebecca ’01 and Katja
’02 and provides the funding for an
annual visiting artist. Students work
alongside these artists, who lead them
through projects that mirror the process
of the artist’s own work. While learning
new skills, students draw larger
lessons from these professionals and
individuals who have found a way to
stay engaged in the arts, and the world
of ideas, throughout their adult lives.
This year, Gordon celebrates the
twelfth year of the Britt Nelson
Visiting Artist Program with three
artists: sculptor Ben Anderson, scientific
illustrator Amy Bartlett Wright and
raptor rehabilitator and illustrator Julie
Ann Collier. Each of these artists offers
a different perspective on the theme,
“inspired by nature.”
Since its inception, the Britt Nelson
Fund has brought the following artists
to Gordon’s classrooms:
1998 Painter Melissa Miller
1999 Glass artist Ursula Huth
2000 Storyteller and
Illustrator Baba Wague Diakite
2001 Architect Roddy Langmuir
2002 Textile artist Jeung-Hwa Park
2003 Sculptor Allison Newsome
2004 Sculptor Kitty Wales
2005 Photographer Marion Roth
2006 Puppeteers Dusan
Petran and Aniece Novak
2007 Designer Gunnel Sahlin
2007 Painter and Lithographer
Joseph Norman
2008 Sculptor Ben Anderson
Illustrator Amy Bartlett Wright
Illustrator Julie Ann Collier
For more information about the Britt
Nelson Visiting Artist Fund, please
contact, Kerrie Donahue, Director of
Development at 401-434-3833 x117.
9

class notes
GO2Os
alumni notes
W I N T E R 2 0 0 9
➊
❷
❸
❹
Become a Fan of Gordon School!
Reconnect with your classmates and
learn about upcoming alumni events.
Join the 100 other alumni on the
Gordon School Facebook page at
www.facebook.com.
Area alums came to campus December
4th for an archive party, digging
through old photos and scrapbooks,
sharing stories and identifying faces
for the alumni office. Left to right:
Becky Book ’66, Michael Rosenthal
’69, and Marcia Hoffer ’63. ➊
Every year, the alumni office invites
Gordon alums who attend Brown
University and RISD to a luncheon in
December. Left to right: Alex Unger
’03, Alex Heitzmann ’02, Ralph Wales,
Andrew Braca ’02, Lynn Bowman and
Philippe Dwyer ’04. ❷
Members of the Class of 2001 gathered
at Dave and Buster’s to celebrate
their upcoming college graduations.
Pictured: (back row) Ralph Wales, Ben
Freedman ’01, Courtney DeStefano ’01,
Sidra Scharff ’01, Caroline Goddard
’01, Ethan Wolston ’01, John Harwood
’01, Ash Wall, ’01, (front row) Clare
Blackmer, Molly Pieri ’01, Gillian Lang
’01, Eric Kravitz and Blinn Dorsey. ❸
Janie Lupica ’07, Sharkey Weinberg ’06,
Jessie Litwin ’08 and their Moses
Brown a cappella group made a visit
to Gordon this December and performed
for Lower School students. ❹
William A. Spicer, III ’29, a Mayflower
descendant and a World War II army
veteran, passed away on October 17,
2008. William was a member of the
Agawam Hunt Club and the Clock
Association, NAWCC, Inc. He attended
Moses Brown and was a 1942
Brown University graduate. William
is survived by a niece, Marcy Snapp
of Providence; a nephew, Ben Snapp
of Shawsville, VA; and three grandnephews.
4Os
William B. Greenough, III ’42 writes:
“I continue to work as a full time
faculty member of the Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine and the
Bloomberg School of Public Health.
I remain forever indebted to Edith
Childs who ignited my love of learning
and fascination with the life sciences.
My granddaughter, Harriet Snow Booth,
will reestablish our family’s Providence
connection when she enters Brown
University as a freshman in 2009.”
Ann Johnson Hartzell ’42 writes:
“Life in St. Augustine, FL is wonderful.
Recent trips to Mexico, St. Lucia
and Britain have been excellent
opportunities. As of fall ’09, five of
our twelve grandchildren will be in
college. Where does the time go”
5Os
Katharine Langdon ’50 writes: “I am
now happily living in Massachusetts
after living on the West Coast for the
past 28 years. I moved to be near my
daughter, Carey, and her two children.
I am involved with facilitating two
groups at the Cancer Connection,
10

D
G O R D O N A L U M N I C O N N E C T I O N
11R
substitute teaching at a Preschool,
babysitting and exercising at the YMCA.
I also traveled to visit my daughter,
Suzanne Sterling, a singer/songwriter in
San Francisco. My son, Geoffrey, lives
in Dallas, TX.”
Ann Langdon ’56 is looking for the
French dressing recipe used on iceberg
lettuce from Gordon School’s hot
lunches in the 1950s. If you have information
please forward it to Siobhan
Welsh at swelsh@gordonschool.org.
6Os
Amy B. Leeds ’66 writes: “I have lived
in New York City for over 30 years
now, but I return to the Providence
area frequently as I am a member of
the Board of Trustees of Lincoln School,
as well as a member of the Board of
the Brown University Sports Foundation.
My daughter, Stephanie, graduated
from Brown last spring and my son,
Matthew, is currently a sophomore there.
Alan Handwerger ’63 recently published
a new book entitled, There’s a
Plunger in My Tree. His book is a
compilation of humor columns that he
wrote for the Stowe Reporter, the weekly
newspaper of his hometown of
Stowe, VT. Alan and his family (photo
below) have strong ties to Gordon.
Alan is a former trustee and his wife,
Lori, is a former GCA President. Their
four children attended Gordon: Neil
’89, Eric ’93, Katie ’95 and Ben ’00.
7Os
Lisa Bigney ’76 is currently the
Co-Director of Rhode Island Tutorial
and Educational Services, Inc. in
Pawtucket, RI.
Sarah Goff Raslowsky ’77 is in her
third year of teaching math at the
Hudson School in Hoboken, NJ.
She is active in Hoboken Heritage,
a historical preservation group and
continues to enjoy summers in Little
Compton with her husband Jack and
their children, John (12), Christian (10),
Rebecca (8) and Rachel (6).
8Os
Tina Gazzerro ’86 is living in Los
Angeles and working in televison and
digital media.
Ann Kennon ’86 and her husband,
Thomas Roodhouse, welcomed a new
baby boy, John David Roodhouse, on
December 1, 2008. John joins his big
sister Hannah (3).
Kaplan Mobray ’86 released his new
book, The 10Ks of Personal Branding.
Kaplan is an author, motivational
speaker and career and life coach along
with serving as a corporate executive
at Deloitte, one of the nation’s professional
services firms. Kaplan’s workshops
on personal branding have been
described as life changing and a great
way to help recession proof your
brand. Visit Kaplan at his website:
www.kaplanmobray.com.
Sarah Funke ’87, Marie Strandberg
Porter ‘87, Tara Ockerse McIntire ‘87,
Sarah McKenna Caliban ‘87, Megan
McJennett ’87 and Annie White ’87
(photo above) had a mini-reunion
this December at the Funke’s home
in Taunton, MA. Celebrating with
them are four future Gordon alumni:
Jackson, Liam, Lucas and Maisie.
Ethan Ruby ’89 (above) and his wife,
Julie, celebrated the birth of their new
baby boy, Asher.
9Os
Juan Sebastian Espinosa ’94 received
his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from
Stanford University and is pursuing a
post-doctoral position at the University
of California, San Francisco.
Emily Burnham Krause ’95 writes:
“For about 14 months now, I’ve been
volunteering at the Merrimack River
Feline Rescue Society (www.mrfrs.org)
in Salisbury, MA. I administer the afternoon
medication for cats with illnesses.
I hope that I can transition into this
type of work professionally.”

O N
Crystal Spence ’02, a junior at Emory
Kiley Toder ‘95, Liza Trafton ‘95,
Clarke Morrison ‘95, Dan Terry ‘95,
Ian Perkins Tracy ’95 and Ariel Lambe
’95 (photo above) got together for a
mini-reunion in New York City this
November.
Alexa Buffum ’96 moved back from
Spain after working there for four years.
Charlie Enright ’98 was featured in
the Disney documentary film, Morning
Light, which debuted in theatres nationwide
this October.
Lucy Wall ’98 is the Admissions Director
at the British School of Washington
in Washington, DC.
Ian Lapides Barnacle ’99 is a realtor
with Residential Properties Ltd., and
was recently appointed to the board of
the Fox Point Neighborhood
Association.
Todd Buffum ’99 graduated from Union
College in 2007 and now works for an
advertising agency in Boston.
OOs
McCurdy Miller ’00 graduated from
Bryn Mawr College in May 2008. She
returned to Providence this fall to work
at RISD in the Institutional Engagement
Office.
Andrew Braca ’02 is a junior at Brown
University and currently a sports editor
for the Brown Daily Herald.
James Pinkham ’02 is studying abroad
for the spring semester in Denmark
at DIS, an international school in
Copenhagen.
University, is currently the best fiftyyard
dash competitor in her school’s
conference. She also recorded the
third-fastest time in Emory history in
the 200-meter dash, running the event
in 26.07 and finishing 25th overall
during the Niswonger Invitational at
East Tennessee University this January.
James Macdonald ’03 is enjoying his
sophomore year at the University of
Denver. He loves Colorado and playing
on the lacrosse team. He is grateful
to Gordon for the knowledge learned
in the classroom and on the fields!
Hope Macdonald ’04 is enjoying her
first year at RISD. She thanks Amy
Cohen and Toni Dumville for her love
of art. She is in close contact with
many of her Gordon classmates.
Christian Romano ’05 was selected to
the Providence Journal’s All-League
Varsity Football team and received the
Thomas Melucci Award at Moses
Brown.
Anjuwon Spence ’05 was selected to
the Providence Journal’s All-League
Varsity Football team and received the
Most Valuable Player Award at Moses
Brown.
Karan Takhar ’05 made it to the final
round in the Teen Tournament for the
popular game show Jeopardy! with
Alex Trebek.
Jacob Unger ’05 placed eighth in
the junior division at the International
Federation of Sport Climbing North
American Championships.
Emerson Perez ’06 received the Most
Valuable Player offensive award for his
performance on the East Providence
High School Varsity Football team.
Jane Lupica ’07, Liza Green ’07 and
Dana Engle ’07 were named to the
Rhode Island Interscholastic League
Division II Field Hockey Championship
All-Tournament team. Their Moses
Brown Varsity Field Hockey team captured
its third state championship on
November 2nd. Other Gordon alumni
on the team are Alexa Bourque ’08,
Lauren Rosalanko ’07 and Samantha
Rhodes ’06.
Dana Engle ’07 was named to the
Coaches’ Association All-Division
Second team for her performance on
the Moses Brown Varsity Field Hockey
team this year.
Liza Green ’07 was named to the
Coaches’ Association All-Division First
team for her performance on the Moses
Brown Varsity Field Hockey team this
year.
Simone Leon ’08 is doing well at Kent
School. She is an honor roll student
and is riding horses every day.
We love hearing about your recent
adventures and successes! Please
email, Siobhan Sheerar Welsh at
swelsh@gordonschool.org with any
class notes and photos, so we can
share them with your classmates
in our next issue of the Alumni
Connection.
12

From the Archives…
Since 1910, Gordon School has provided children
with opportunities to develop a true appreciation
for the arts. These experiences can be seen in all
areas of the school’s curriculum—through theatre
performances, art classes and even mentoring
from professional artists within the school
community.
13

T H E G O R D O N S C H O O L
45 Maxfield Avenue East Providence RI 02914
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #365
Providence, RI
www.gordonschool.org
Save the Dates!
CJ Buckley Experiential Learning Event
Thursday, June 4th, 5:30 pm
This night provides an opportunity for
friends and family to honor CJ Buckley
’00 and to hear the current eighth grade
present on their service learning projects.
Young Alumni Reunion
Saturday, June 6th, 5:30 pm
This annual reunion invites back the four
most recent graduating classes (2005-
2008) along with our current eighth
grade to celebrate their time at Gordon.
NEW YORK ALUMNI EVENT
Gordon alumni residing in New York gathered with Head of School, Ralph L.
Wales on Thursday, February 26th at the Harvard Club of New York City. Alumni
learned of the school’s plans to celebrate its Centennial on Sunday, October 10,
2010. It was a wonderful evening full of shared memories and reconnections.
above left: Ariel Lambe ’95 and Dan Terry ’95
above middle: Patrick Butler, Sarah Funke ’87 and Kaplan Mobray ’86
above right: Sarah Goff Raslowsky ’77, Ted Widmer ’76 and Claire Beckman Morgan ’75
2009 Commencement
Wednesday, June 10th, 5:30 pm
Come back and congratulate the members
of the Class of 2009 as they graduate
from Gordon. Let us know if you can
join us.
For more information about any of these
events, please contact Siobhan Sheerar
Welsh at swelsh@gordonschool.org or
directly at (401) 434-3833 x119.
Participate!
Your participation in the Annual Fund celebrates the teachers, friendships
and lifelong lessons that made your time at Gordon School so special.
Make your gift online!
www.gordonschool.org