D E P A R T M E N T S S P O T L I G H T - The Taft School

S P O T L I G H T“[Fry] was an American, and he gave usthe impression of something particularlyAmerican: that confidence in man whichwe, in Europe, had lost between twoworld wars.... He represented the‘Promise of America’ and, withoutbeing delegated and sometimeseven in conflict with diplomaticofficials, he made himself a delegateof the true spirit of his country.”of the boards of directors for the AmericanCivil Liberties Union and theInternational League for the Rights ofMan. Shortly before his death he tooka job teaching high school Latin.In 1967, he received the FrenchCroix du Chevalier de la Légiond’honneur. In 1991, he was posthumouslyawarded the EisenhowerLiberation Medal, and in 1996 he washonored at Israel’s Yad Vashem as thefirst American “Righteous Among Nations”(one of only three gentiles, alongwith Schindler and Wallenberg).Hans Sahl, who came to Americaunder the auspices of Fry’s committee,remarked, “[Fry] was an American, andhe gave us the impression of somethingparticularly American: that confidencein man which we, in Europe, had lostbetween two world wars.... He representedthe ‘Promise of America’ and,without being delegated and sometimeseven in conflict with diplomatic officials,he made himself a delegate of thetrue spirit of his country.” One of Fry’sco-workers later wrote, “I should confesshere that I and the other ‘Europeans’on the committee occasionally criticizedhim for being a ‘typical American,’ an‘innocent abroad.’ But we had it allwrong. That seeming innocence turnedout to be preciselyhis strength. Hadhe known fromthe outset theodds he wasup against, hemight never haveachieved whathe did.”• • •Varian’sbook, SurrenderonDemand,has been reprinted byJohnson Books with the United StatesHolocaust Museum. Scholastic Inc. hasreleased Fry’s revised version for youngreaders, Assignment: Rescue: AnAutobiography by Varian Fry. An exhibit,“Assignment: Rescue: The Storyof Varian Fry and the Emergency RescueCommittee,” was organized by theUnited States Holocaust Museum inWashington, DC, and traveled to theJewish Museum in New York City, andthe Field Museum in Chicago. A videocassetteof the same name is alsoavailable, narrated by Meryl Streep andproduced by Richard Kaplan.FURTHERREADINGAssignment: Rescue:An Autobiography by Varian FryScholastic Inc.Surrender on DemandBy Varian Fry ’26Johnson BooksTaft Bulletin 7

S P O T L I G H TCollegiumin ChinaFor eleven days during March break, 32 Taft singers performed inschools, colleges, and universities throughout China. Beginning inHong Kong and moving on from there to Shanghai, Guangzhou(Canton), and finally Beijing, the group peformed a “primarilyAmerican program with a few twists.” They sang hymns, spirituals, classical piecesincluding Howell’s “Magnificat,” a contemporary medley by Duke Ellington, andsongs of the sea, featuring faculty member Amy Bernon’s original composition,“Where Sky Meets the Sea.” Director Bruce Fifer hopes to keep in contact with someof the schools they visited; he was especially impressed with the conductor at theExperimental Middle School in Guangzhou, whom he described as world class. At the Great Wall.Front Row Left to Right: Bruce Fifer, JasonDonahue ’00, Elson Liu; 2nd Row: ChristofPfeiffer ’00, Emily Piacenza ’00, Winnie So ’99,Amy Bernon, Shaun DePina ’99; 3rd Row:Emily Garvan ’99, Nicole Dessibourg ’00,Emily Smith ’00, Kelly Ohman ’00, RachelBrodie ’98, Zach Stanley ’99; 4th Row (standing):Bryan Moore ’00, Kate Parkin ’00, GingerStevens ’99, Sara Lin ’99, Mariya Chhatriwala’98, Mythri Jegathesan ’99, Danielle Perrin’99; Behind Mariya and Mythri: AddieStrumolo ’98, Molly Rosenman ’98; Back Row:Nicole Robertson ’99, Zach Heineman ’99,Eileen Fenn ’98, Stephen Sandvoss ’98, AndrewBostrom ’99, Taylor Smith ’98, JR Young’98, Ribby Goodfellow ’00, Abby Fifer.This is the first Collegium tour underthe direction of Bruce Fifer, who cameto Taft last year. With the help ofLance Odden, who has traveled extensivelythroughout China, Brucescouted out the possibilities of a tourthere. According to Bruce, “Taft parentswere an invaluable asset inplanning the trip, and it is they whofinally made it happen.”During their travels, the Collegiumwere hosted at New WorldHotels by Henry and Katherine Cheng,parents of Adrian ’98, Sonia ’99, andBrian ’01. The Chengs also hosted thegroup for an evening of dinner andkaraoke on their yacht, Sonia, in HongKong harbor and set up most of theschool concerts. Patricia Chow andLady Ivy Kwok Wu put together alovely luncheon for the group at a scenicrevolving restaurant. Senior RachelBrodie’s parents, Maureen and WilliamShenkman, hosted a dinner for thegroup at Café Deco, overlooking HongKong harbor.Taft Bulletin 9

S P O T L I G H T Combined choirsat the GuangzhouExperimental MiddleSchool. Averie Wong ’01,Serena Lam ’98, NickKotewall ’01, NevilleKotewall ’99, KarenKwok ’01, Winnie So’99, Clayton Chen’98, Rex Lo ’00,Justin Mak ’98, andEvan Chow ’00 withmothers of Taftstudents who joinedthe group for lunch.Many students called this “the tripof a lifetime.” Between concerts and socialgatherings came some unforgettablesightseeing: the Great Wall, TiananmenSquare, Forbidden City, Summer Palace,Ming Tombs, Chinese Opera, andBeijing Acrobatic Show. With some upperclassmenof the group havingparticipated in Collegium’s earlier tripto Australia, this group is becoming truly“world class.”“We sang at the Guangzhou ExperimentalMiddle School and had the exciting chanceto listen to some of the most beautiful singingand instrument playing of all theconcerts we attended while on tour.”—Ribby Goodfellow ’00“The section of the Great Wall we visitedtwisted up the side of a sizable mountain.Those who reached the top first were extremelyexcited by the great view—so excitedin fact that they broke into a rousing chorusof ‘Oh Sing Joyfully’ by BenjaminBritten, one of Collegium’s most highly acclaimedpieces.”—Danielle Perrin ’9910 Summer 1998

S P O T L I G H T Collegium and the choir of Shanghai High School at Fudan. At the Sun YatSen Memorial inGuangzhou. Taft chaperones Bruce Fifer, his daughter Abby Fifer, Amy Bernon, and Elson Liu.“Tiananmen Square is almost exactly howit looks on TV, except bigger. Almost onemillion people packed into a single area. Itis difficult to imagine thousands of studentsdemonstrating here and hundreds beingkilled because they asked for simple freedomswe take for granted.”—Zach Heineman ’99“Although we only ventured withinChina for eleven days, we were absorbedby the friendliness and hospitality of everyonewe met. China has left an indeliblemark on the Collegium travelers’ hearts,never to be erased.”—Ribby GoodfellowTaft Bulletin 11

S P O T L I G H T On the bus to the airportat 5 AM, the busyitinerary takes its toll. Oriocos pose by the pagoda at Beijing Middle School: AndrewBostrom ’99, Adrian Cheng ’98, Bryan Moore ’00, Stephen Sandvoss’98, Taylor Smith ’98, JR Young ’98, and Zach Heineman ’99. Bruce Fifer withKatherine Cheng on theCheng’s yacht, Sonia.“We perform our last concert at MiddleSchool #4 in Beijing, but, for me, the highlightis not our singing but other oddmoments. The Oriocos [those with dualmembership in Collegium] pose for a picturein the pagoda. Barefoot and ties inpockets, five of Collegium’s finest hooperssquare off againt #4’s in a game of halfcourtpick-up ball.”“At rehearsal today in the hotel restaurant,the sea songs had a magical quality as thekids sang looking out over the misty HongKong harbor.”—Amy Bernon, faculty—Zach Heineman12 Summer 1998

S P O T L I G H T In front of the floating restaurant in HongKong: Sara Lin ’99, Mythri Jegathesan ’99,Ginger Stevens ’99, and Nicole Robertson ’99. At the final dinnerin Beijing, everyoneshows off the traditionalChinese attirethey’ve purchased.Abby Fifer, EmilySmith, Amy Bernon,Bryan Moore ’00,Rachel Brodie ’98,Katie Parkin ’00, andEileen Fenn ’98.Photography byElson Liu.“I went with a friend to the harbor, whichour hotel overlooked. After seeing the neonlight glowing incessantly against the foggynight sky and hearing the water slap againstthe protective walls surrounding the building,we decided it was time to shop.”“Along the way we heard hauntingly beautifulChinese music, ate strange and exoticfruits, and met strangers who felt like closefriends after an hour.”—Amy Bernon—Ribby GoodfellowTaft Bulletin 13

S P O T L I G H TALUMNI WEEKEND50th Reunion Chairman Dave Fenton (holding sign), Harvey Zeve, and Directory Chairman Don Post ’48 leadtheir class in the parade.14 Summer 1998

S P O T L I G H T Members of theClass of ’43: GeorgeParr, Dick Dirkes,Woolly Bermingham,Sam Marsh,Betsey Whittelsey,Doug Demarest,and Dawn Parr. Arnold Wolk,Doug and Lois Purdy,Al Jeandheur, andRobert Keane ’48. The men of 1948.Never has the sunshined so wellnor so long forreturning alumni andtheir families. From thegolf tournament on Fridayafternoon to the funrun on Sunday, hardly acloud came by to dampenthe festivities. This year,Taft was honored againto have her “old boys” and“old girls” return fromaround the world to visittheir alma mater. FromHong Kong and NewZealand, Germany andEngland, Texas, California,and Connecticut,you came back in thespirit of reunion andcelebrated friendshipsrenewed and othersonce-again sustained. Youwere taken by the beautyof the campus and thetalent of today’s students,but mostly you enjoyedyourselves in the fun of themoment. Happy reunionone and all!Taft Bulletin 15

S P O T L I G H TALUMNI WEEKEND Lois and Steve Ruskin ’47 visit with faculty emeritus Ed North. Michael Sandifer ’68 (the eventual winner),Al Reiff ’80, and Mark Deschenes ’99await the start of the fun run. Evie and Doug Cochrane ’35 with AllenHubbard ’33. Visitors enjoy a panel discussion of “FutureTrends in Investments and Medicine.”16 Summer 1998

S P O T L I G H T All the way from New Zealand, Bayard ’39 and Sylvia Sheldonchat with Mike Tenny ’43, center. ’93 Classmates Ron Gonzales, Tyler Wigton, Henry Simonds,Jim Stanton, and Liza Crowell at the barbecue on Saturday. Dan Searby ’53 with classmates Michael Brenner and Jim Ayer. Ed Barakauskas ’48 and Don Post ’48. The Alumni Lacrosse Team. Loretta and Claude Williams ’73.Taft Bulletin 17

S P O T L I G H TALUMNI WEEKEND Lance and Patsy Odden welcome theKlingenstein family. From left, Al ’72,Lance and Patsy, Lee ’44, Daney, Jo ’78,and Paul ’74. The weather is perfect for a little al frescodining at the barbecue on Saturday nightat the Oddens’. Eric Mendelsohn ’88 catches up withclassmate Rachel Vickers, who flew in fromLondon for the reunion.18 Summer 1998

S P O T L I G H T Cricket Laun, OrinLehman ’38, JoanRivers, and LouieLaun ’38 at the luncheonon Saturday. Janine Flohe ’88 returns to campus fromGermany, along with Alexander Francke,for her 10th Reunion. The headmaster congratulates 50th Reunion Chairman DaveFenton. The Class of ’48 received the Snyder Award for the largestdollar amount contributed by a reunion class. Dick Dirkes, center, leads his class in the parade. A future generation of Tafties tests the limits of gravity against helium.Taft Bulletin 19

S P O T L I G H TCommencementBy Susan GrahamIn 1943, Albert Einstein receiveda letter from the president ofSwarthmore asking him to be thecommencement speaker. He replied:“Sincere thanks for your kind invitation.Regrettably, I must decline. I findthat I have nothing to say.” Two and ahalf years later, after the United Stateshad dropped two atom bombs, thepresident of Swarthmore received aletter from Albert Einstein. It read, “Iwrite to inquire if the invitation tospeak at commencement is still open.It seems as if I have quite a lot to say.”Although I was at first tentative aboutaccepting the honor to address theClass of ’98, I, too, find that I nowhave a lot to say.108th Commencement AwardsThe William and Lee Abramowitz Award for TeachingExcellence at the Taft SchoolA teacher who has made the subject matter come aliveand thereby induced enthusiasm and a love of learningamong her students.Robin OsbornThe Aurelian AwardFor sterling character, highscholarship, and forcefulleadership.Adaline Rose StrumoloThe 1908 MedalThe senior whose influencehas done most for theschool.Devin Brooke WeislederThe Heminway MerrimanAwardThe seniors whose gentleconcern for others bestreflects qualities of JunieMerriman ’30.Ernest Obeng KwartengJonathan Knight Wood20 Summer 1998

S P O T L I G H TSusan and Daniel Christman withCatherine ’98Penelope Eaves, Christian ’98, Peter ’95,and Lasse BeckerWe are gathered here this morning tohonor the transformation of young livesand to salute them as their grand odysseybegins—gathered here together inthis extraordinary place—the place now,to borrow a metaphor from ShelSilverstein, “where the sidewalk ends.”“There is a place where the sidewalk endsAnd before the street beginsAnd there the grass grows soft and lightAnd there the sun shines crimson brightAnd there the moonbird rests from flightTo cool in the peppermint wind.”(Shel Silverstein)As Taft graduates you are bound by muchmore than a place, though. You are boundby a powerful legacy, a legacy informedby three common values which stand asThe Class of ’98 enjoys perfect weather thatday in the Centennial Quadrangle.tight compass for what lies beyond thesidewalk’s end.New Chaplain Michael Spencer watches seniors process into the quadrangle in his firstgraduation at Taft.First, COMMUNITY. Above all else Taftis a model of an almost ideal academiccommunity, prizing intellectual adventure.Your success or failure in college willdepend on whether you build on this andcontinue to learn as much as possible,honing the skills of analysis and assessmentwhile sustaining the capacity forcreativity. Fencing masters instruct theirstudents to grip the sword as you woulda sparrow. If you hold it too tightly, itcannot breathe. If you hold it too loosely,it will fly away. Good thinking bears analogyto the fencer’s grip. It combinescontrol with freedom.The 21st century will be no time formediocrity or tentativeness. By 2002, theThe Berkley MatthewsAwardYoung women whosegentle concern for othersbest reflects qualities ofBerkley Matthews ’96.Alison McCann CoopeMelanie Adrienne RoysterThe Class of 1981 AwardFor most overall improvementduring his or heryears at Taft.Rachel Dawn BrodieThe Joseph I. CunninghamAwardThe seniors who haveworked selflessly for thebetterment of the Taftcommunity.Courtney Christensen CampTimothy Babson KirkpatrickThe Maurice Pollak Award$1000 aid to a deservingmember of the graduatingclass.Eileen Elizabeth FennThe Roberts Scholarship$1000 aid to a deservingmember of the graduatingclass.Sarah Mirium AkhtarTaft Bulletin 21

S P O T L I G H TChloe, Renee ’92, JR ’98, Laura ’94, andMark YoungRod ’62, Roddy ’97, Clay ’98, and AliceMoorheadClass speaker Courtney Camp received theJoseph I. Cunningham Award.year most of you will graduate from college,the rate of change will challengeeven the most able thinker. To surviveyou’ll need:Taft is also a model of an experientialcommunity, dedicated to the educationof the whole human being. Learning herenever stops at 3 PM. And it’s the late-nightlessons which often demand the most.The lessons about honor, tolerance, justice.The lessons gleaned from conflict,managed dynamically as part of the educationalprocess.And Taft is a model of global community,offering both context andcontent to your understanding of rapidlychanging, increasingly complex worldand fragmented world.There’s a troubling transience and isolationin this world today. The value ofcommunity has diminished, and the communicationit once fostered—theone-on-one, person-to-person discourse—has fallen short, despite all of the promisedtechnological enhancements. The news isfull of glaring examples every day.• To be quick. The digital convergencehas revolutionized technology, creating10,000 times more bandwidth capacity.Warp speed sets the pace.• To be clear. The complexity of themodern world begs for order, clarity,sequence. Truth must be separatedfrom technology.• To get beyond your borders. As citizensof the world and future membersof transnational companies, fluencyacross cultures will be your greatest ally.• To be resilient. The acceleratingchange which is upon us demandsbounce and endurance.Addie Strumolo is given the Aurelian Award for outstanding scholarship and leadership.ValedictorianMatthew Gabriel AllessioSalutatorianMariya Khuzem Chhatriwala22 Summer 1998Cum Laude SocietyOctober Inductees: Matthew Allessio, Timothy Carter,Daniel Chak, Adrian Cheng, Mariya Chhatriwala,Anthony Guerrera, Johannes Haushofer, Byung Huh,Elizabeth Macaulay, Michelle O’Brien, Joseph Petrucelli,Stephen Sandvoss, Adaline Strumolo, James RobertYoung, and Jonathan Wood. June Inductees: GeorgieGrace, Wayne Lai, Jane Li, Katherine Penberthy, TaylorSmith, Warangkhana Songsungthong, Carolyn Starrett,Benjamin Steele, Prapun Suksompong, Chad Valerio,and Anna WilkensThe Sherman Cawley AwardExcellence in Englishscholarship.Stephen James SandvossThe David KenyonWebster ’40 PrizeExcellence in Writing.Georgie GraceThe Bourne Medal in HistoryIn honor of EdwardGaylord Bourne, roommateof Horace Dutton Taft atYale College in 1883.Matthew Gabriel AllessioElizabeth Rodger Macaulay

S P O T L I G H TDads and Grads: Alumni fathers and their soon-to-be graduates at the Friday dinnerFrom Left, Cliffe and David Killam ’70,Clay and Rod Moorhead ’62, Victoria andSpike Hasler ’59, Peter and Harry Scott’62, Ross and Bruce Gammill ’64, Chrisand Tom Castle ’70, Addie and TomStrumolo ’70, Laura and Eduardo Mestre’66, Paul and Paul Cowie ’66, Scott andJonathan Britell ’62, Christina and GregOneglia ’65, Katharine and Ted Sands’65, Jonathan and Rick Wood ’72. Notpictured are Taylor and CD Smith ’60.Steve Schieffelin presents the Sherman Cawley Award to Georgie Grace.Kip Kinkle, a child in the marginswhose anger exploded in the horrifyingmurder of family and friends. Obviously,he lost the ability to communicate. Ormaybe nobody was listening. India’s—and then Pakistan’s—stunning decisionto detonate nuclear bombs. Some punditspropose that India needed to beheard, needed to grab attention and toweigh in as a bold nation with a role inthe international conversation.Indonesia’s recent riots led primarily bystudents frustrated with an autocratic andarbitrary president, who for too longdidn’t listen to the people. And the disconnectionlast week of 40 millionAmericans from their satellite pagers,wreaking havoc on households, businesses,and hospitals.Listen to your friends and your parents—andalways listen to your enemies.Tell them what you think, and why youthink it. I believe that Carol Gilligan isright that all morality begins in attachment,that the most importantbenchmarks of your lives will be those thatmeasure your relationships with others.As you move into a world inextricablybound through technology butsurprisingly out of touch, the Taft communitywill serve as an alternativemodel—a model of compassion, justice,and hope for the future. Robert Bellahwrites in Habits of the Heart that “thevirtues of friendship” are not merely private;they are public, even political, fora civic order is above all a network offriends. Treasure this community. AsYeats said, “Think where man’s glorymost begins and ends, and say yourglory was you had such friends.”COMMITMENT is the second value—the second directional marker. Taft hasdemanded commitment and you’ve delivered.But commitment alone can bebleak. My hope for you all is not onlythat you commit yourself to things thatmatter but that you go for broke. Enthusiasmliterally means “to be inspired,to be possessed by a god.” And whenenthusiasm accelerates into PASSION itmimics the divine.The Daniel Higgins FentonClassics AwardElizabeth Rodger MacaulayThe John S. NoyesFrench PrizeKatharine Wiley SandsThe German PrizeTimothy Wild CarterThe Spanish PrizeLauren Elena MestreThe Chinese PrizeStephen James SandvossThe Japanese PrizeAdrian Chi Kong ChengThe Mathematics PrizeAnthony GuerreraComputer Science PrizeDaniel ChakThe Alvin I. ReiffBiology PrizeWarangkanaSongsungthongThe Chemistry PrizeAnthony GuerreraThe Physics PrizePrapun SuksompongTheater AwardDamon Paul CortesiThe Bill WaldronMemorial PrizeThe individual who hascontributed most to thetechnical aspects of drama.Scott Peter BritellTaft Bulletin 23

S P O T L I G H TSusie, Julia ’01, Sarah ’98, and Jim GrahamAlex ’98, William, Carol, David, Will, andChristopher BrowneHeadmaster Lance Odden congratulatesValedictorian Matt Allessio.No greater model for this exists thanyour headmaster, Lance Odden. His passionto create a school which is a model of whatall good schools should be has literally transformedTaft into one of this country’s preeminentindependent schools. Withoutquestion, the greatness of this institution liesin the lengthening shadow of one man andis a tribute to his passionate commitment.It is with a continuing salute that I considerhim my most valued mentor.As Neil Simon said at Williamsmany springs ago, “Passion is thesuperbowl of enthusiasm. To have passionfor life is not only to wake up in themorning and hear the birds singing, butit’s taking the time to open the windowto see where they’re perched. That’s oneof the side effects of passion; you pay attentionto the details, and it’s the detailsthat determine the quality of life.”Commitment and its companion piece,passion, take courage, and success in life isproportional to courage. Take a chance, entertainrisk—and failure. Think back on yourexperiences here at Taft. I suspect that formany of you it was the triumphs in the areasyou were initially afraid of that, in the end,have meant the most.Don’t be afraid of failure—but don’tbe afraid of success. We actually suffer froma national ambivalence about success. EvenCully Platt receives the Non Ut Sibi Award from Volunteer Programdirector Baba Frew.Abramowitz Award winner Robin Osborn with Dean of FacultyLinda Saarnijoki.Mark Potter Award in ArtExcellence in studio art.Lindsey Marie MacDonaldThomas Sabin ChaseAward in ArtSignificant perception,originality, and developingtalent.Daniel Anthony McArdleMelanie Adrienne RoysterThe Dance AwardAlison Morgan HangerGeorge H. Morgan AwardContribution to thesuccess, effectiveness, andwell-being of Taft singingorganizations.Adaline Rose StrumoloThe P.T. Young Music AwardContribution throughleadership, personalachievement, anddedication to music at Taft.Timothy Wild CarterThe David EdwardGoldberg Memorial AwardFor outstanding independentwork.Melanie Adrienne Royster24 Summer 1998

S P O T L I G H THenry, Adrian ’98, and Katherine ChengGillian, Laura ’98, Christina, EduardoMestre ’66, and Edwardeducation generally asks too little of students.Checkout counter journalism andtalk TV flourish, highlighting failure, mediocrity,indiscretion and moral relativism.Shortcomings, not achievement, feed theleviathan of popular culture.Many of you have probably been readingabout the baseball player, Mike Piazza.His is an all-American success story of thefirst degree. This guy came out of nowhere.He was picked up in the 62nd round in theJune ’88 free agent draft—the 1,390th playerchosen. Needless to say, his fortunes havechanged. “When I began in ball,” Piazza said,“my father gave me two pieces of advice. Onewas don’t be afraid to fail. The other wasdon’t be afraid to succeed. Some people arejust happy to be in the middle of the road. Iwanted to give 110 percent and not to haveto look in the mirror years later and haveregrets that I could have given more.”The third big sign at the curve in the roadreads “PERSISTENCE.” The first headmasterto hire me had a quote hangingin his office—a quote which I rememberreading as I sat nervously trying toconvince him of my worth as a youngEnglish teacher. When I walked into myoffice at The Gunnery for the first time,there on my desk was a framed copy. Ibelieve it’s attributed to Coolidge:“Press on. Nothing in the world cantake the place of persistence. Talent willnot; nothing is more common than unsuccessfulpeople with talent. Genius willnot; unrewarded genius is legend. Educationalone will not; the world is full ofeducated derelicts. Persistence and determinationalone are omnipotent.”Headmonitor Devin Weisleder gets readyto set the cornerstone for the Class of ’98.So here we are at the edge—at the place where the sidewalk ends, values intact,path ahead.Now— “It’s time to leave this school where the wind blows greenAnd the dark path winds and bendsPast the Jig and the Wu where the new trees grow.You shall walk a walk that is measured and slowAnd watch where the chalk white arrows goTo the place where the sidewalk ends.Yes, you’ll walk with a walk that is measured and slowAnd you’ll go where the chalk white arrows go.For the children, they mark, and the children they knowThis place where the sidewalk ends.” (Adapted from Shel Silverstein)Welcome to the world beyond the sidewalk—the world which so needs and waitsfor you.Susan Graham is head of school at The Gunnery. She has three children, including Sarah’98 and Julia ’01.“Non Ut Sibi” AwardFor service and workoutside of Taft which bestexemplifies the school’smotto.Thomas Collier Platt IVMarion Hole MakepeaceAwardThe girl who has contributedmost to Taft athletics.Adaline Rose StrumoloLawrence Hunter StoneAwardThe person who hascontributed most to boys’athletics.Christopher Steven FieldsSenior Athletic AwardsFor six or more varsity letters.Besnard, Camp, Coope, Coppola, Costanzo, Fenn,Fields, Hills, Johnson, Kawecki, Kozel, Leibowitz,Macaulay, Merck, Oneglia, B. Otto, S. Otto, Pettit,Ramich, Skovran, Starrett, Stover, Strumolo, SwiderskiTaft Bulletin 25

S P O T L I G H T1997-98Taft Annual Fund ReportSnyder AwardLargest amount contributed by areunion classDavid W. Fenton ’48$162,730Chairman of theBoard of Trustees AwardHighest percent participation from aclass less than 50 years outGeorge M. Hampton, Jr. ’6086%Class of 1920 AwardGreatest increase in support from anon-reunion classHenry G. Brauer ’74$25,239McCabe AwardLargest amount contributed by anon-reunion classHenry G. Brauer ’74$86,124Young Alumni Dollars AwardLargest amount contributed from aclass less than 10 years outJ. Kingman Gordon ’88$15,543Young Alumni Participation AwardHighest participation from a classless than 10 years outDaniel D. Trombly ’9764%Raising $2.1 million in Annual Fund gifts is a singular accomplishment.To exceed that milestone by 10 percent during a $100 million capitalcampaign speaks to the extraordinary generosity and commitment of theTaft family. I am deeply grateful to Taft’s alumni/ae, parents, parents of graduates,grandparents, and friends for their tremendous dedication in sustaining thefirst-rate education that our school provides. Thank you for your wonderful loyalty.Alumni/ae support topped $1.2 million, and alumni participation was 42 percent.Reunion classes made a critical difference by raising $402,519—20 percent of the alumnitotal. Dave Fenton, class agent for the 50th Reunion Class of ’48, raised $162,730 in totalcommitments and won The Snyder Award, presented to that reunion class agent whose classcontributed the most dollars to the Annual Fund. The Chairman of the Board of TrusteesAward, presented to that class, less than 50 years out, with the highest percent participationwas awarded for the third consecutive year to George Hampton, and the Class of 1960, forhitting 86 percent participation. I would also like to acknowledge Woolly Bermingham,Ross Legler, and the Class of ’43 and Rib Hall, Class of ’33, as perennial leaders in alumniparticipation for all classes with 90 percent and 96 percent participation, respectively.Taft’s current parents, led by Toni and Chuck Peebler, parents of Todd ’99, continueto respond to their children’s school in extraordinary fashion. By raising $818,061 with94 percent participation, our current parents have broken last year’s record and have onceagain sent a clear message that they strongly endorse the work of Headmaster LanceOdden and his faculty. What a magnificent way to show that support!The generosity of Taft’s alumni and current parents is remarkable. However, without ourparents of graduates and grandparents, the Annual Fund goal would not have been met. Forthe fourth consecutive year, that group raised over $200,000—10 percent of all Annual Fundgifts—and the 332 donors deserve special recognition for their terrific response.If you have visited Taft recently, then you have seen your contributions at work.Every single Annual Fund dollar supports a dedicated faculty who provide excellence ineducation to a talented, diverse student body. A strong Annual Fund ensures that ourschool will continue the mission of Horace Taft to “educate the whole person.” On behalfof the Taft Board of Trustees, I thank you for making that goal possible.Thank you.Geoffrey W. Levy ’65Annual Fund Chair26 Summer 1998

S P O T L I G H TFaces of the Annual FundJoyce Romano ’92, AssistantDirector of the Annual FundPaula Murphy, Parents’ FundCoordinatorOlivia Tuttle, Annual Fund DirectorOlivia TuttleAs of July 1, Olivia Tuttle will be the newdirector of the Annual Fund, replacingBob Campbell ’76. After eight years inthe Alumni Office, Bob is joining theDean of Students’ Office to work withRusty Davis. Olivia came to Taft in 1994as director of alumni relations. For thelast few years, she has been working onThe Campaign for Taft, running regionaldinners and working with the headmasteras he solicited alumni and parents.With the highly successful campaignas a training ground, she looks forward totackling the challenges of the AnnualFund. She is excited about meeting asmany class agents as possible and workingwith them, trying to involve more oftheir classmates and to increase class participationin the Annual Fund. Oliviaplans to hold receptions around the countrywhere alumni can meet and learn moreabout the great changes that have occurredat the school. She is the mother of SpencerTuttle ’98 and Beecher Tuttle ’00.Ann Ruegg, Gifts OfficerJoyce Romano ’92Joyce Romano ’92 is the assistant directorof the Annual Fund. Her job entails processingall gifts of securities and preparingand distributing fundraising assignments to250 volunteers. She will work with Oliviatrying to increase alumni participation byfocusing on the younger classes.Paula MurphyPaula Murphy coordinates the Parents’ Fund.Under her guidance, the fund has consistentlyraised gifts from 94 percent of the constituency,leading all other secondary schools. PaulaSally Membrino, Alumni Recordshas worked in the Development Office for17 years and is the mother of RogerOstrander ’87 and Amy Ostrander ’89.Ann RueggAnn Ruegg is in charge of processing all giftsto the Annual Fund and The Campaign forTaft. She has been at Taft for 18 years.Sally MembrinoSally Membrino handles all name and addresschanges for the entire Taft constituency,a body consisting of over 13,000 members.She has been at Taft for 10 years.Taft Bulletin 27

ALUMNI IN THE NEWSAlumniIN THE NEWSJim Taylor ’40named toAviation WeekLaureates’Hall of FameCitation of MeritLee Paul Klingenstein ’44The Taft School praises one of her finestfor a life well-fashioned from the spiritof her very motto: non ut sibi ministretursed ut ministret. You have fully taken toheart and nobly answered Horace Taft’scharge to his students to get out of themselves,to work for others, to go intothings and make them work.For selfless service to the idea thatthe trail to growth passes through rigorand challenge, you have earned OutwardBound’s highest acclaim, the Kurt HahnAward. Taft friend and trustee exemplar,you have served your school with distinctionover four decades. Steward ofresources, tireless worker, wise counselor,always you have put into practice yourpersonal credo that commitment is keyand overcommitment to the things whichmatter is crucial.All that you have done for othersyou have done with consummate skill,deep personal regard, loving devotion,and your trademark good humor andJames B. Taylor was named to AviationWeek Laureates’ Hall of Fame,which honors individuals whose careersepitomize the values of theglobal aerospace industry. Jim wascited for his “leadership, honesty, integrity,dedication, and his ability toput together great teams.”An executive in the commercialaircraft industry, he was CEO ofCanadair and Gates-Learjet Corporation,and for the past six years hasbeen an advisor to VisionAire. As a“Laurel Legend,” he joins eight otheraeronautical giants, including IgorSikorsky. The Carrier Test Pilot Hallof Honor, aboard the USS Yorktownin Charleston, SC, is named afterJim’s father, a Navy test pilot.twinkle in the eye. All that you havedone has brought great honor to youralma mater. It is therefore with great affectionand appreciation that we conferupon you Taft’s highest award, theAlumni Citation of Merit.28Summer 1998

ALUMNI IN THE NEWSAlbert ’79 Elected Alumni TrusteeDuring his four years atTaft, Jonathan was anhonor roll student, letteredin wresting for fouryears, and was co-captainhis senior year. He was amember of the photographystaff of The Annualand The Papyrus andgraduated cum laude. Hegraduated magna cumlaude from Amherst Collegein 1983 with a BA ininternational relations. In1986, while working fulltime in New York City,Jonathan attended TheWharton School’s executiveMBA program and earned his degree in 1987.Jonathan is currently a director and officer of Albert Brothers,a fourth-generation family-owned metal recycling business that wasstarted in 1895. Since 1992, he has spearheaded a diversificationprogram into real estate acquisitions and food and beverage operations.He is the chairman of Fusion Enterprises, which ownsexclusive rights for Burger King in Hungary and the Czech andSlovak Republics. Recently, he formed Jump Higher with NBA starMichael Jordan to develop, license, and operate Michael Jordan restaurantsnationally and internationally. He is president ofCornerstone Management, which supplies management and consultingservices to companies such as Hyatt Hotels, Suissotel, andDesignation Hotels and Resorts. Prior to joining his family business,Jonathan was a managing director and partner at Dean WitterRealty, responsible for the acquisition and development of hotels,parking garages, and high-rise residential projects.Jonathan is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organizationand a member of the Board of Directors of AAMCO Transmissions.He is a member of the UJA National Young LeadershipCabinet, a trustee of his local Jewish Federation, chairman of theJewish Federation of Greater Waterbury and NorthwestConnecticut’s endowment fund, a member of the King David Society,and a board member of a newly-formed local synagogue. Hehas assisted in fund raising at Amherst and was on the committeefor the Watertown Area Campaign For Taft.Jonathan lives in Middlebury, CT, with his wife Rachel, and twochildren, Sarah and Jake. He enjoys relaxing with his family, skiing,traveling, and photography.Phil Howard ’66 worksto save Penn StationAs a student at Taft, Phil Howard remembers thetrain ride from the hills of Kentucky to arrive at NewYork’s Penn Station, that was already in the processof being demolished. “I was dragging a trunk,” hetold The New York Times, “and I remember the chaosof being in a building that was obviously grand, andthat for some reason was being torn down all aroundme. I knew that something bad was happening.”He may have been powerless then to stop thedestruction of Penn Station, but as a best-sellingauthor and influential New York lawyer, he hasjoined forces with the Municipal Art Society, aschairman, to help bring it back.The Municipal Art Society, which led the fightfor the Landmark Preservation Law and later savedGrand Central Station, has brought forth plans toturn the General Post Office, which stretches fromEighth Avenue to Ninth, into a new Penn Station.The neoclassical building was designed by McKim,Mead & White, as was the original Penn Station.Under the new plans, the station would have aticketing hall and a seating concourse each the sizeof Grand Central’s. But support for the plan is notunanimous. Several city, state, and federal agencieshave worked together to create their own plans, andmany of the original proponents of the idea favor amore modest plan than that drawn up by the MunicipalArt Society. The Post Office has only agreedto give up one fifth of the building, so far.Source: The New York TimesLawyer and best-selling author Phil Howard’66 has turned his energies to saving NewYork’s Penn Station.29

Frank Thompson ’35 Establishes Tennis CenterJim Driscoll ’96Takes Major GolfTournamentUVA coach Mike Moraghan is callingJim Driscoll “one of the finestcollegiate golfers in the country.” Nosurprise when Jim, a sophomore, “putup some numbers in Las Vegas thatwere quite impressive, even in a townthat is not easily overwhelmed.” InMarch, he won the prestigious GolfDigest Collegiate Tournament, finishing9 under to win by one shot.His final round of 64 put him 7 underpar on a day when only three ofthe 73 players broke 70.“It was the strongest play of anytournament until the NCAAs,” saidMoraghan, “and it’s probably the beststroke-play tournament for him since hewon the New England Amateur in1995.” The Las Vegas tournament putJim on a national stage. Moraghan calledthis UVA’s biggest win in nine years.Frank Thompson is proud that St. Louis has produced so many tennis championsand has spearheaded the construction of the Thompson Tennis Center (in memoryof his father) and St. Louis Tennis Hall of Fame to spread the word.So far 28 St. Louis players have been named to the Hall of Fame, includingJimmy Connors and the late Arthur Ashe. Frank has enlarged and framed a numberof photographs from his own collection, which looks at fashion and personalities ofthe sport back to 1885, for the center.Frank earned a few trophies himself, including six national senior doubles championshipsand only gave up playing at 78 after bypass surgery. He won his firstnational championship in 1960 and continues to supervise training for about 100players each summer in the Youth Foundation Tennis Center, which he founded in1966. He is also a director of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, RI.Source: Marianna Riley, St. Louis Post-DispatchPhoto: Wayne Crosslin, Post-DispatchSources: Ron Balicki, Golfweek; JimMcCabe, Boston GlobePhoto: Boston Globe Staff PhotoJake Fay ’96 NESCAC Offensive Player of the YearA sophomore at Wesleyan University, JakeFay received the school’s Bacon Award asthe team’s most valuable player as well asthe New England Small College AthleticConference [NESCAC] Offensive Playerof the Year award. Jake was the startingquarterback in seven out of eight contests,missing one start due to an ankle injury.Connecting on 113 of 211 attempts(53.6 percent) for an individual seasonalteam-record 1,906 yards, he tossed 14 touchdownpasses while being intercepted just fourtimes. He was named NESCAC offensiveplayer of the week three times during theyear and was chosen for the Eastern CollegeAthletic Conference [ECAC] New EnglandDivision II weekly honor roll once.With his 147.5 passing efficiency ratio,Jake finished 17th in the country amongNCAA Division II players and first amongNew England quarterbacks. His rating wasthe 11th highest ever recorded by a NewEngland Division III player. His 1,799 yardsof total offense also represented a Wesleyanteam record. The Cardinals posted a 7-1record for the season, the squad’s strongestshowing since going 8-0 in 1969.30 Summer 1998

ALUMNI IN THE NEWSDefiningSuccess withDisabilitiesA very trusting A.J. Mleczko ’93 does a little show-and-tell with her gold medal.Getting a Good Look at the GoldTaft students got a good look at an Olympic gold medal when A.J. Mleczko ’93[Spring 1998 issue] came to Taft this spring. After her victory in Japan with theUS women’s ice hockey team, A.J., like her fellow teammates, took time tospeak around the country about their unforgettable experience.While at Taft, she gave a morning meeting talk, and spoke with studentsafterward about hockey, the Olympics, (whether or not she really sleeps withthe medal), and what her plans might be for the future. She told how it was atTaft that she first learned women’s ice hockey would be an Olympic sport in1998 and began to think about that as her goal.She downplayed her own sacrifices to make it to the Olympics, highlightinginstead what other members of her team gave up and how much those risksand the intense preparation paid off. “What is so inspiring,” said her formercoach Patsy Odden, “is that AJ is not necessarily the most gifted hockey playerto come through this school. She took the talent she had and with incrediblecommitment and drive, became a world-class player.” A.J. is continuing herstudies at Harvard this fall.John Dunham ’59 Reaches 300thWin at TrinityTrinity College’s Head Men’s Ice Hockey Coach John Dunham won his300th career game this past winter. The championship game victory overAmherst College in the Ben McCabe tournament brought his career recordat Trinity to 300-214-18. Under his direction, the Bantams have had twelveplay-off appearances and four ECAC North/South Championships. Themen’s ice hockey team finished 11-11-2 and lost in the first round of theECAC East Tournament, 3-1 at UCONN.Henry Reiff ’71 and two colleaguesrecently publishedExceeding Expectations:Successful Adults withLearning Disabilities. Towrite the book they interviewed71 people whoDr. HenryReiff ’71,co-author ofExceedingExpectations.overcame learning disabilities to excel intheir careers of choice. Among the subjectsthere are a paleontologist, abiomedical engineer, a corporate executive,a psychologist, and more than oneprofessor. Twenty-nine hold doctorates.In the process of their interviewsHenry and his co-authors learned thatperseverance was the key to success formany, but that adaptability and “learnedcreativity” allowed them to perform wellwhen they had difficulty with the usualmethods. “They learned to develop varioussystems,” he writes, “that played uptheir strengths.... They learned that therewere many ways to solve most problems,and that their idiosyncratic method wasequal to anyone else’s approach. They didnot just cope—they creatively excelled!”While the book is thorough enoughfor people in the field, it is also accessibleto the average reader. The interviewsthemselves and anecdotal informationthroughout are interesting and often poignant,particularly when intervieweestalk about growing up with learning disabilitiesand the challenges they faced.Henry is associate dean of academicaffairs and professor of special educationat Western Maryland College. He is alsothe author, with Paul Gerber, of Speakingfor Themselves: EthnographicInterviews with Adults with Learning Disabilities(1991); and Learning Disabilitiesin Adulthood: Persisting Problems andEvolving Issues (1994).Taft Bulletin 31

ALUMNI IN THE NEWSFlorida DinnerDuring Spring Break, Lance and PatsyOdden joined seventy alumni, parents, andfriends for dinner at the Riomar Country Club in Vero Beach.Hosted by Sis and Del Ladd ’44, GP ’99, the elegant dinnergave the headmaster an opportunity to discuss The Campaignfor Taft and to comment on the architectural changes that haveoccurred to the campus in the last few years. Patsy Odden alsogave a fascinating account of her trip to the Olympic Games inNagano, where she cheered on her former player A.J. Mleczko’93, as the women’s ice hockey team won the gold medal.Many thanks to the dinner committee, headed by Sis andDel Ladd: Linda and Nobby Holmes ’57; Ann and AllenHubbard ’33, P ’59; Noreen and Van Midgley ’40, P ’66;Marilyn and Bob Smith ’48; Heidi and Bob Stott ’48; Carolynand Bill Stutt P ’86; Fran and Bud Travis ’39; Thea and HarryWalker ’40, P ’74; and Nancy and Chic Young ’35.Nobby Holmes ’57, Linda Holmes, and Chris Davenport ’56.Ann and Allen Hubbard ’33, P ’59 with Jean McLeod GP ’91, center.Sis Ladd GP ’99 and Bill Hatch ’48.Judy Prosser P ’93, David Culbertson GP ’01, Bob Prosser P ’93,Helen Culbertson GP ’01, Marilyn and Bob Smith ’48.Roy Cheney ’40, P ’69; Geg Buttenheim ’40, P ’73, ’77, and Pegand Jim Taylor ’40, P ’67.32 Summer 1998

AROUND THE PONDpondOdden Doubly HonoredHeadmaster Odden was twice honoredin May. First, he received PrincetonCountry Day School’s highest alumniaward. The award is given for excellencein one’s chosen field and for service tocommunity. In addition to his 26-yearheadmastership of Taft, Lance [PCD ’54]was recognized for his broader leadershipin education, including his work as atrustee of six other schools, as a memberof the Executive Board of Governors ofthe National Association of IndependentSchools, trustee of the Mattatuck Museum,former chairman of the board andmember of the Executive Commitee ofA Better Chance, and as past presidentof the New England Association ofSchools and Colleges, the Headmasters’Association, and the Connecticut Associationof Independent Schools.Lance was similarly honored byHamilton College, where he was nameddoctor of humane letters. A graduate ofPhillips Academy and Princeton University,Lance received his master’s from theUniversity of Wisconsin in 1967. He wasnamed headmaster of Taft in 1972 at theage of 33, making him the youngestheadmaster of any New England boardingschool. Under his leadership, theschool’s endowment has grown from lessthan $2 million to over $90 million, and$40 million of new construction hascompletely renovated our campus.Lance Odden receives an honorary degree at Hamilton College’s commencementexercises in May.Taft Bulletin 33

AROUND THE PONDNew Faculty Chairs EstablishedThe Holcombe T. Green Chair ofEnglish, established in 1998 byHolcombe T. Green, Jr. ’57, is awardedto an outstanding member of the EnglishDepartment. Debbie Phipps will holdthis chair.The John B. Small Chair, establishedthrough the bequest of John B. Small,Taft master from 1951 to 1987, andthrough the support of his students andfriends, is awarded to a member of thefaculty whose devotion and inspirationchallenge students to find and appreciatetheir unique strengths. Steve Palmerwill hold this chair.New chair holders Steve Palmer, Debbie Phipps, Willy MacMullen ’78, Yen Liu, and Bruce Fifer.Willy MacMullen now holds The EdwinC. Douglas Chair with the retirementof former chair holder Don Oscarson ’47from teaching. Oscie continues his workwith student services at Taft.Four new faculty chairs have been created at Taft thanks to the generosity of alumni,parents, and other friends of the school.The Harold and Elizabeth Marvin Chair,established in 1996 through the bequestof Dr. Harold Marvin and the generosityof his son, John T. Marvin, Class of 1946,is awarded to an outstanding member ofTaft’s Music Department. Bruce Fifer isthe first recipient of the chair.The Kathryn Wasserman Davis Chairof Distinguished Teaching, establishedin 1998 by Gale and Shelby M. C. Davisin honor of his mother KathrynWasserman Davis, grandmother of LansingA. Davis ’97, supports the study ofEast Asian language and history in recognitionof the essential role that Chineseculture and economic vitality play in internationalaffairs. Yen Liu is the firstrecipient of this chair.Traveling Exhibit of the ConnecticutWomen’s Hall of FameThe Taft Library hosted the Traveling Exhibit of the Connecticut Women’s Hallof Fame during the month of April. The mission of the Hall of Fame is “to honorand give formal public recognition to Connecticut women, past and present, whohave ‘broken new ground’ or have emerged as leaders in their fields of endeavor.”The exhibit consists of 54 pieces which contain the images and biographiesof Connecticut women of great achievement past and present. Included in theexhibit are women writers, legislators, suffragists, philosophers, archeologists.Ella Grasso, Katharine Hepburn, and Sarah Porter are a few of the womenhonored. Writer Annie Dillard will be one of this year’s inductees.“We are pleased,” said librarian Carolyn White, “that so many people joinedus in celebrating these women and their extraordinary achievements and contributionsas leaders and pioneers.”34 Summer 1998

AROUND THE PONDAdmiral Crowe Addresses SchoolThrough DuBois Speaker FellowshipOn Thursday, April 23, Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr., former chairman of the JointChiefs of Staff, spoke at Morning Meeting through the auspices of the newly-formedRear Admiral Raymond F. DuBois Fellowship.Admiral Crowe has had a distinguished career. A graduate of the Naval Academy,he took his master’s degree in education at Stanford and his Ph.D. in politicsfrom Princeton University. His military career had many points of distinction. Heserved in submarines, was a naval attaché to President Eisenhower, and a senioradvisor to the South Vietnamese Navy. As rear admiral, a commander of U. S. NavalForces in the Persian Gulf, and then commander-in chief of NATO forces in SouthernEurope, commander-in-chief of the Pacific Forces, the largest geographiccommand in the U.S. Military, and ultimately the eleventh chairman of the JointChiefs of Staff appointed by President Reagan in 1985, he served as chairman of theJoint Chiefs until October of 1989. Since then, he has been American ambassadorto the United Kingdom and chairman of the President’s Foreign Intelligence AdvisoryBoard, while managing to author the distinguished book The Line of Fire in1993. Ambassador Crowe has been decorated by twenty-six foreign nations, holdsthe Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Air ForceMedal, among other great American awards.Raymond DuBois ’66 helped established the fellowship in memory of his father,Rear Admiral Raymond F. DuBois. When Ray was an undergraduate at Taft,his father, an admiral at that time in the Navy, talked to the student body about theissues before us in Viet Nam. “It was a riveting speech,” said Lance Odden, “onewhich all of us present will remember always. It is fitting that his colleague AdmiralCrowe should be the first speaker through this fellowship.” After morning meeting,Admiral Crowe met with history classes and talked with students about his experiencesduring the Cold War, and particularly his ground-breaking discussions withhis Soviet counterpart.The Meaning inMeetingChaplain Michael Spencer broughta series of speakers to school thisspring for Morning Meetings. Thefirst was Professor David Bartlett, academicdean of The Divinity Schoolat Yale University, as well as an accomplishedBiblical studies scholar,professor of preaching, and an ordainedBaptist minister. He offeredhis “Reflections on Easter” and wasaccompanied by the CollegiumMusicum. (See Endnote, p 79.)On April 30, Rabbi EricPolokoff from B’Nai Israel Synagoguein Woodbury shared histhoughts with the Taft communityon “The Meaning of Israel” in conjunctionwith the 50th anniversaryof the founding of the state of Israel.The Collegium also performed.Mrs. Joyce Willig, Connecticut’sfirst recipient of a liver transplant,spoke the following week on “OrganDonation and Transplantation:The Gift of Life.”Michael Spencer said that inthe years to come he plans to continuethe practice of invitingdistinguished speakers into ourcommunity to speak on topics pertainingto the religious, spiritual,and ethical life of the community.When possible, speakers are encouragedto extend their time atTaft to meet informally for discussionwith students or to visit classes.Ray DuBois ’66, Rear Admiral Crowe, and Lance OddenTaft Bulletin 35

AROUND THE PONDFirst ClimbingCompetition atTaft WallTaft 209-Berkshire 178AP Environmental Science student Julie Feldmeier ’99 works with first graders fromBaldwin School in Watertown during a field day her class planned.First Grader Field DayAP Environmental Science students, under the direction of Bill Zuehlke, hosted anecological field day for the entire Baldwin School first grade on May 21 at WhiteMemorial Conservation Foundation in Litchfield. The AP class organized all of theactivities for the day, which included nature walks, pond and stream studies, birds ofprey activities, plant identifications, and other games and activities. The Baldwinfirst graders were very excited about their day in the woods. One of their teachers,Mrs. Orsini, wrote, “I can only stand back and admire the enthusiasm,dedication, and expertise that you exhibit as you haveso unselfishly given of your timeand talents to myfirst grade classthis year.... Eachof my studentscame away fromWhite Memorialwith memories of awonderful experience....It is trulyexhilarating to hearthe children tell whatthey learned. You’d besurprised!” Bill said hehas hopes of making thisan annual event.On May 6, the Taft climbing teamhosted the first climbing competitionever held at Taft. The RittKellogg Mountain Program climbersfrom the Berkshire School facedoff against Taft climbers Mike Reilly,Molly Rosenman, Bino Cummings,Brooke Carleton [cover girl of thewinter issue], and Ryan Burns.During eliminations, climbersattempt to climb four different routesand are awarded points based uponthe highest hold reached. Mike managedto onsight (no falls without priorknowledge of moves) all four of theelimination climbs. Molly onsightedthree of four, and Brooke, Bino, andRyan two of four. The top Berkshireclimber onsighted three of the fourelimination climbs, falling on onlythe last move of the final climb.The top three climbers fromeach school advanced into the finals,during which the climbers were isolatedso that they could not seeanyone attempt the route before theirturn. Again Mike managed to onsightthe route for a perfect score of 87 (firstplace), while all other climbers fell offthe route somewhere below the halfway point. Brooke and Molly competedin the boys’ division. Also, Tafthad all five of its climbers in the topsix after the elimination rounds.36 Summer 1998

Rockwell Visiting ArtistsRichard Benson, dean of The School of Art at Yale University and “the world’s experton photomechanical/photo-electronic reproduction,” gave a lecture in theWoolworth Faculty Room on Thursday, April 2. His remarks touched on the historyof photography as well as his career as a photographer, MacArthur Foundation“genius grant” recipient, and other exploits.On April 28, Bernard Chaet came to Taft as the third Rockwell Visiting Artistfor the year. [Potter Elizabeth MacDonald was the first.] He gave a lecture entitled“Drawing: What it is” at Morning Meeting to the whole school, and spoke again inthe afternoon about works of the Great Masters. During the day he gave critiques inpainting classes taught by Jennifer Glenn Wuerker ’83.Mr. Chaet taught art at Yale University beginning in 1951 and is the authorof three books on materials and drawing. He retired from Yale in 1990 as theWilliam Leffingwell Professor of Painting. He also received the College ArtAssociation’s Distinguished Teaching of Art Award in 1986. Mr. Chaet is a painterof modernist landscapes and exhibited his work at the M. B. Modern Gallery inNew York City in April.The Rockwell Endowment for Visiting Artists at Taft was originally proposedby veteran art teacher Gail Wynne and created by brothers Sherburne B. Rockwell,Jr. ’41 and H.P. Davis Rockwell ’44.Visiting artist Bernard Chaet gives a critique in the art studio as part of the RockwellVisiting Artists program.Alex Nagy, right, with Señor AntonioMoya Tudela from the MajadahondaConservatory.Student MusiciansFrom SpainA group of 35 musicians from theMajadahonda Conservatory ofMadrid, Spain, came to Taft for severaldays in April. Together with theChamber Ensemble they gave a concertin Waterbury as well as a concertin Bingham. They also gave a seriesof lectures on Spanish art, poetry,nationalism, and Spanish flamenco.They visited some Spanish classesand participated in other school activities.Jen Ferrara, a senior violinist,told The Papyrus, “It is really interestingplaying with these peoplefrom Spain because not only do weexperience a part of Spain but theyalso teach us to play music better.”The Spanish group was very interestedin Taft and in finding out moreabout the workings of an Americanprivate school. Upon their return,their headmaster wrote, “For ourpupils, and of course for all the faculty,the few days spent inWatertown in the marvelous facilitiesof The Taft School will beunforgettable.” The visit was organizedby Taft’s director ofinstrumental music, Alex Nagy.Taft Bulletin 37

AROUND THE PONDMalcolm Lee Speaks at Minority Leadership ConferenceOn April 4 and 5, Taft’s Native and AfricanAmerican and Latino Student Alliance[NAALSA] students hosted a leadershipconference for students of color. Studentskicked off the weekend with a D.J. dance.Several peer schools brought studentsfrom their multicultural groups; nearly100 attendees were on campus for thedance or Sunday workshops.On Sunday, NAALSA welcomed independentfilmmaker Malcolm Lee to givea presentation and screening of his filmMorningside Prep, which has won numerousawards, including Warner Bros.post-production award for excellence infilmmaking. The film depicts the issuesfaced by an African-American student ata predominately white prep school as heattempts to negotiate living within twovery different worlds; it is provocative andchallenges the viewer to examine his orher own stereotypes and assumptions. Thefilm sparked great conversations, but thestudents moved beyond the film to discussissues of race relations, multiculturaleducation, inter-racial dating, and more.Eyram Simpri ’99 said the leadershipweekend “was the most productive thingNAALSA has done in my three years atTaft.... [It was] a time for minority studentsto get together to talk about issues at their[respective] schools.” Lower mid KhayriyyahMuhammad said, “I thought [Taft] was asecluded school, but now I know that thereare others that feel the way I do.” ShaunDePina ’99 added, “It was important becausestudents of color from boardingschools got together and found out there arecommon issues. We talked about solutions[to the problems we experience].”According to NAALSA advisorMennette DuBose San-Lee ’87, “The sentimentthat was repeated most often was thatthis weekend allowed the students of colorto meet others who share similar experienceson their respective campuses. It was an opportunityto network, to form a largercommunity, and to understand that they arenot alone. Many times adolescents feel thattheir experiences are unique to them, whichmay cause a sense of isolation. This can beparticularly true for students of color whenthey are obviously in the minority on campusand have few, or in some cases, nofaculty with whom they can readily identify.This weekend gave the students anopportunity to come together,” she said,“not only to socialize, but to really talk aboutwhat their experiences are like as a minorityon a prep school campus.”Big Band Diva Jazzes Up BinghamDiva, an exceptionally talented 15-member, all-female, hardswingingbig band, came to romp and stomp on Sunday,April 19. “Steeped in the history of jazz but infused with theprogressive harmonies of today,” the band is self-describedas “grooving in the classic traditions of Buddy Rich, CountBasie, and Woody Herman orchestras.”Also known as “No Man’s Band,” Diva is comprised ofprofessional female musicians with years of experience in otherbig bands, and in other genres of music. Led by drummerSherrie Maricle, the band performed its first concert in March1993 and has since released two CDs: Something’s Comingand Leave it to Diva. Diva plays contemporary, mainstreambig band jazz arranged by band members and renowned musicians.Among its many concerts, Diva has played (a sold-outperformance) in Carnegie Hall with Skitch Henderson andthe New York Pops, at The Kennedy Center in Washington,DC, and at The Academy of Music with Peter Nero and thePhiladelphia Pops. They have also made their mark internationally,performing in Italy, Finland, and the Caribbean.Appearing twice on CNN and featured on CBS SundayMorning, Diva has been praised by critics and reviewers. Accordingto The Jazz Times, “The band punched, kicked, roared,and swung with a disciplined abandon and an unaffected joiede vivre.” The Hartford Courant noted, “Diva’s ensemble soundcrackles with clarity, precision and power.... The all-femaleband strikes a mighty blow against the sexist stereotype thatwomen can’t cut it in the male-dominated jazz world.”Source: Taft Press Club38 Summer 1998

AROUND THE PONDUpper Mid AwardsThe Dartmouth Book PrizeIntellectual leadership and postivecontribution to extracurricular life.Jocelyn Elizabeth GreenThe Holy Cross College Book AwardSincere concern for others and aresponsible attitude in all endeavors.Mythri JegathesanThe Smith Book AwardAcademic achievement, leadershipqualities, and concern for others.Marcella Therese SzablewiczThe Brown University AwardAbility in English expression, bothwritten and spoken.Seth Ian CaffreyThe Bauch and Lomb Honorary Science AwardOutstanding work in science.David James MorrisLaura Ives StevensThe Hamilton College PrizeExcellence in communicating ideas andraising the level of class discussion.Seth Ian CaffreyThe David Edward GoldbergMemorial AwardOutstanding independent work:A solo dramatization of three womenof 20th century China.Marcella Therese SzablewiczThe Michael’s Jewelers Citizenship AwardContribution through volunteer servicein the community.Mara Gabriela ArdonMarjorie Miller BarefootRobert Keyes Poole FellowsUpper mids Zach Bernard, Ben Cirillo,Alix Connors, Sara Lin, Bea Ogden, andElizabeth Petrelli, and middlers EmilyBlanchard, Emily Kaplan, IrinaMagidina, Krissy Scurry, Emily Smith,and Jason Tucker have received Poole Fellowshipsfor summer volunteer projects.Source: Taft Press ClubAll-State MusicCompetitionClarinetist Tim Carter ’98 and tenorAdam Krug ’98 both attended theConnecticut All-State Music Festival.Both scored very high in theirauditions: Adam in the top 10percent of all tenors who auditionedthroughout the state, and Tim in thetop 1 percent of all clarinetists.According to Arts DepartmentHead Bruce Fifer, “Tim is probablyone of the best clarinetists to comealong in the state for a while, especiallyif you combine this All-State honorwith his recent acceptance to JulliardSchool of Music in New York, as wellas to every other conservatory heauditioned for. He was offered the onlyclarinet spot available at the ClevelandInstitute of Music.”The All-State Festival took placeat Norwalk High School in early April.Corrections: Missing from the last issue [Around the Pond: “Testing, Testing”] were thenames of Alexander Nagy, Taft’s director of instrumental music, who is also a reader forthe College Board’s AP program, and Jim Mooney, who was a former reader of thePhysics exam. Our list was far from complete. Research in the archives has turned up thenames of Taft faculty who read for the College Board as far back as the 1920s.The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute MedalExcellence in mathematics and sciences.Sonia Chi Man ChengThe Harvard Book PrizeHigh scholarship and character.David James MorrisThe Xerox Award in the Humanitiesand Social SciencesOutstanding work in humanities andsocial sciences.Tyler Geoffrey DoyleThe John T. Reardon Prize in UnitedStates HistoryBest essay in history: The role of themedia in the rise of McCarthyism.Julie Mather FeldmeierBill and Christy Camp help the Taft crew dedicate its newest boats in honor of ChristyCamp and in memory of Rolf Sandvoss, father of Steve Sandvoss ’98.Taft Bulletin 39

S P O R TsportBoys’ TennisThe boys’ tennis team finished the seasonwith a 7-8 record and a fourth placefinish at the New England Tournament.After some disappointing losses, thestrong finish at New Englands—one ofTaft’s highest in the past 15 years—wasan encouraging sign. Throughout theseason the team was led by the powerfulstrokes of Tyne Brownlow ’99 at #1 andthe relentless drive of senior captain KrisFitzPatrick at #2. This was perhaps thestrongest 1-2 punch Taft has enjoyed inmany years: their combined singlesrecord for the season was 23-3, and bothwon their respective Founders’ Leaguetitles—the second year in a row forFitzPatrick. At the big New Englandtournament, Tyne finished fourth in the#1 draw, and Kris closed out his remarkabletennis career at Taft with a stirringcome-from-behind 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 victoryin the #2 draw. In addition, Kris alsoearned the Founders’ League sportsmanshiptrophy, and there could be noworthier recipient. According to coachPeter Frew, “Kris has an extraordinarydedication to the game. He is the mostcommitted player I have seen, and he isan impeccably honest competitor.”Girls’ TennisAn early 4-3 win over a powerful MissPorter’s team set the stage for a spectacularseason for the girls’ tennis team. Inthe end, their 12-2 record was goodenough for second place in the league.For the past four years, the team has beenled by standout Elizabeth Merck ’98 inthe #1 spot. Merck is the first to play fourstraight years in the top spot for Taft, andthis year, finally, she was selected as anAll-League player. The team should continuetheir winning ways as they returnnearly all of their top players, includinga number of talented middlers. At thecore of next year’s squad will be the duoof Jessup Sheen ’00 and captain-electLindsay Tarasuk ’99, who were undefeatedall season as the #1 doubles team.SoftballThe softball team had a rollercoaster season,ending at the peak with stirring winsover league leader Hopkins and rivalHotchkiss. After a slow start—3 wins intheir first 8 games—the team went 5-1over the final six games to finish with 8wins and 6 losses. Among those 5 victorieswas one of the most exciting gamesin recent memory against a very strongHopkins team. At 12-1, Hopkins cameinto the game as the leader in WesternNew England, but the game was aclosely-fought battle from the first inning.Hopkins evened the score in thetop of the seventh, but Taft came backfor the 12-11 win when senior captainJenny Ferrara singled in the winning runwith one out. The Big Red then went onto crush Hotchkiss in their final game,20-13, to end the season on a high note.Girls’ TrackThe girls’ track team enjoyed anotherstrong season with a 6-2 record and a fifthplace finish at the Division 1 New EnglandMeet. Senior captain KristenKawecki led the team all year and placedin both hurdle races at the New Englands,fifth in the 100m hurdles and second inthe 300m hurdles. However, this was ateam loaded with young talent, notably40Summer 1998

S P O R Tfreshman Chrissie Murphy, who ran undefeatedall year in the 400m, 800m, and1500m, and placed first in the 800m andsecond in the 400m at the New Englands.The 4x400m team of Karla Timmons’00, Heather Lindenman ’00, FalguniMehta ’99, and Murphy also set a schoolrecord in placing second with a time of4:12. With most of the team returning,including captain-elect NicoleRobertson, the girls’ track team shouldbe a leading contender next year.Boys’ TrackAfter losing seven of the top ten scorersfrom last year’s squad, the boys’ trackteam looked to fill some holes and did sowith steadily improving performancesthrough the season. Though the teamwon only one of their last three meets,they put together their best team effortsin nearly every event versus league leadersLoomis and Choate. The highlightof the season came in between those twolosses, a convincing 91-54 victory overrival Hotchkiss—a meet that looked tobe close before the start. The team finishedwith a 5-5 record and a seventhplace at the New England Meet. At thatmeet, senior sprinters Michael Jordan andErnest Kwarteng placed third and secondin the 100m and 200m respectively. Andthe season ended on an exciting notewhen the 4x400m team of ChuckCrimmins ’99, Mark Deschenes ’99,Kwarteng ’98 and Nick Kyme ’99 set aschool record of 3:28 to place fourth inthe final event. Captain-elect Crimminsset the one other school record of the seasonin the 300m low hurdles and willlook to improve on that mark next year.Girls’ LacrosseBefore the season began, coach JeanMaher knew that she had a talentedgroup, but she did not imagine that thisyear’s girls’ lacrosse team would live upto and beyond all expectations. In theend, this tough, spirited team left all othersin their wake on the way to anundefeated season (13-0), the Founders’League Championship, and the WesternNew England Championship. Most ofthe opponents were no match for the allaroundtalent of this team, which scored205 goals while giving up only 84 goals.Senior All-American goalie Liz McCarthyanchored the defense with a .680 savepercentage, and captain-elect EmilyTownsend and senior All-American SarahOtto led at the other end of the fieldwith 45 goals and 40 goals respectively.There were a few close games, however,and the highlights of the season were ahard-fought 12-10 overtime win overAndover and an impressive come-frombehindvictory over arch-rival GreenwichAcademy—always one of the top teamsin New England. The Big Red got off to aslow start in that game, falling behind 2-8late in the first half before storming backfor a convincing 17-11 victory. This perfectseason was a fitting close to aphenomenal run by a team that has notlost a game in three years; some of the seniorson this team have a combined recordof 42 wins, 0 losses, and 2 ties over thosethree years—a record that resembles theundefeated streaks of the girls’ soccer teamsof the late ’80s and the girls’ ice hockeyteams of the early ’90s.Boys’ LacrosseWith some key injuries and a couple oftough losses early on, the boys’ lacrosseteam seemed to be fighting an uphillbattle all season. The team dropped an11-9 heartbreaker to eventual leaguechampion Westminster, yet coach JolEverett saw his squad come together underadversity. They closed out the seasonwith two solid wins, 8-4 over Trinity -Pawling and 10-7 over Kingswood.According to Everett, “This was a teamthat played with a lot of heart, especiallywhen things could have fallen apart.” Theoffensive attack was led by senior ClayMoorhead, who finished his career with70 goals, sixth on the all-time Taft list.Taft’s defense, again the strength of theteam, was anchored by two-year standoutChris Hills in goal and captain-elect BradD’Arco ’99, who was a Western NewEngland All-Star selection.Taft Bulletin 41

Girls’ CrewIt was a strong season in the smaller racesbut a disappointing one in the big regattasfor the girls’ crew team this spring. At9-3 and 5-1 respectively, the first and secondboats posted impressive records forthe regular season races. Yet, some bad luckand stiff competition prevented themfrom advancing past the first round at thePomfret Regatta and the New EnglandChampionships. According to coach AlReiff, “We won the races we should havebut couldn’t quite pick off any of the leadingteams.” Throughout the season, theteam was led by three highly competitive,accomplished rowers: Carolyn Starrett ’98was a strong stroke for the #1 boat,Courtney Camp ’98 was the consummateteam captain, and Annie Stover ’98 wasperhaps the most improved as the strokeof the #2 boat.out of the 21 teams at the K.I.T, makingup for some of the inconsistencies earlierin the season.” In fact, Taft’s team score of407—their low score for the year—placedthem within 5 strokes of second place.Senior Jay Mann also had a career day,posting a season best round of 75 forfourth place overall out of 126 golfers.Throughout the spring, senior AndrewMcNerney’s steady play earned him All-League status, and he finished with an 85stroke average for the entire season.BaseballAt the close of this phenomenal baseballseason, coach Mark Davis summed upthe secret of his team’s success in twowords, “Character and heart.” The teamfaced a rough start to the season, losingkey personnel and struggling throughcontinued injuries, but in the end the BigRed went 10-2 to capture the ColonialLeague Championship for the first timein four years. At the center of their greatseason were two emotionally charged,hard-fought wins over league rival AvonOld Farms; both games were won, 4-3and 6-5, in the final inning followingspectacular defensive plays to keep thegames within reach. Then, on a beautifulAlumni Weekend, the leaguechampionship came down to one gameversus a talented Choate team. Taft wasoverwhelming in the end, breaking opena close game with 19 total hits for a 10-5victory and the league title. It was a fittingend to a great season, including anumber of heroic moments in front of athrong of appreciative Taft students, faculty,and alumni. Senior Brent Kozel’slate-game double and RBI was one suchmoment, for Kozel had missed severalgames after having his jaw shattered inpractice. But, with an extra protectivebatting helmet, Kozel delivered a crucialblow to Choate’s chances, beginning thesurge of runs over the final innings. Accordingto coach Davis, senior leadershipwas at the center of this team’s triumphs.Seniors Chris Fields, Rob Palleria,Jonathan Marlow, and Charles Cumminsalso played important roles, and PGJonathan Lord was the “go-to” man onthe mound all season. Lord started bothgames against Avon and the final againstChoate, and finished with a 5-0 leaguerecord while batting .372 at the plate.Next year’s team will be led by two ofthis year’s strongest hitters, Jed Richard’99 and Devin Haran ’99, who batted.500 and .386 respectively.—Steve PalmerGolfBefore the season began, the golf teamexpected more than their 11-8 record suggests,but they did save their best play forthe most important tournament, theKingswood Invitational. According tocoach Jack Kenerson, “We finally playedup to our level of talent in placing fifth42 Summer 1998

S P O R TSpring Big Red ScoreboardBaseball [Colonial League Champions]Head Coach: ...................................................... Mark DavisCaptain: .......................................................Chris Fields ’98Record: ......................................................................... 13-5Stone Award:........................... Chris Fields, Brent Kozel ’98Captain-Elect: ............................................... Ben Cirillo ’99SoftballHead Coach: ............................................... Steve SchieffelinCaptain: .................................................... Jenny Ferrara ’98Record: ........................................................................... 8-6Softball Award: ............................................... Jenny FerraraCaptains-Elect:Samantha Page ’99, Catherine Schieffelin ’99Girls’ CrewHead Coach: ............................................................ Al ReiffCaptain: ................................................ Courtney Camp ’98Record: ........................................................................... 9-3Crew Award: ...............................................Courtney CampCaptain-Elect: ....................................... Whitney Morris ’99Boys’ TennisCoach: ................................................................. Peter FrewCaptains: ............. Kris FitzPatrick ’98, Charlie Spalding ’98Record: ........................................................................... 7-8Man Tennis Award: ...................................... Kris FitzPatrickCaptains-Elect: .......... Charlie Baker ’00, Will Cleveland ’99GolfCoach: ........................................................... Jack KenersonCaptain: ...................................................John Frechette ’98Record: ......................................................................... 11-8Galeski Golf Award: .............................. Brian Leibowitz ’98Captain-Elect: ........................................... David Morris ’99Girls’ TennisCoach: .............................................................. W. T. MillerCaptains: ....................Elizabeth Merck ’98, Justine Rice ’98Record: ......................................................................... 12-2Gould Tennis Award: .................................. Lindsay TarasukCaptains-Elect: ...........Lauren Chu ’99, Lindsay Tarasuk ’99Boys’ LacrosseHead Coach: ........................................................ Jol EverettCaptains: ...................... Chris Hills ’98, Clay Moorhead ’98Record: ........................................................................... 5-8Odden Lacrosse Award: ...................................... Chris HillsCaptain-Elect: ............................................ Brad D’Arco ’99Boys’ TrackHead Coach: .................................................. Steve McCabeCaptains: ................ Onaje Crawford ’98, Gordon Faux ’98,Matt Johnson ’98Record: ........................................................................... 5-5Captain-Elect: ....................................Charles Crimmins ’99Girls’ Lacrosse[Western New England and Founders’ League Champions]Coach: ............................................................... Jean MaherCaptains: ................ Sarah Graham ’98, Addie Strumolo ’98Record: ......................................................................... 13-0Wandelt Lacrosse Award: .... Sarah Graham, Addie StrumoloCaptains-Elect: ..... Samantha Hall ’00, Emily Townsend ’99Girls’ TrackHead Coach: .................................................. Steve McCabeCaptain: ................................................ Kristen Kawecki ’98Record: ........................................................................... 6-2Beardsley Track Award: ............................... Kristen KaweckiCaptain-Elect: ..................................... Nicole Robertson ’99Team schedules will be available on the web after September 1. Scores and coaches’ commentarieswill be posted after the first contest. Simply visit http://www.taftsports.com.Taft Bulletin 43

E N D N O T EIIIIt is hard to get the details of the storyabsolutely straight.It may be that both sets of stories areequally true. Some saw visions and somefound an empty tomb.What is indisputably true is that thelives both of the apostles and of thewomen changed on that Sunday.Friday and Saturday they were surethat Jesus was dead and everything hestood for had been lost. The men hadalready headed for the hills and their oldjobs; the women who were braver hadstayed longer but there was no doubt thatthey would soon be heading home, too.By Sunday night they were sureJesus was alive and most of them wouldnever head home again. They wouldscoot all over the Roman Empire tellingeveryone who would listen how importantJesus had been as a prophet—andclaiming that he was still alive and wouldbe present with people who believed inhim and in the God who sent him.IVThere is one more thing those early Christiansbelieved. They believed that sinceJesus had risen from the dead, he was aliveforever. Sometimes they said he was setloose in the world. Sometimes they saidhis spirit was set loose in the world.What they believed was that notonly had he had the power to inspire andchange people in his short ministry fromthe year 26 to the Year 29, he had powerto inspire and change people still—inthe year 51 and presumably in the year451 and 1951 and on and on.And there are some amazing storiesof people being changed and thinkingthat it was Jesus who changed them.Paul of Tarsus lived in the first centuryof our era, and he didn’t like Christians at all,nor did he like what he heard about Jesus.In fact Paul disliked Christians somuch that he rode around like a kind offirst century sheriff trying to round themup and heard them off to prison for beingdisturbers of the peace.One day when Paul was heading off onjust such a round-up of Christian suspects,he saw a bright light, a light so bright that itblinded him and threw him from his horse.Then he heard a voice that calledhis name.When he asked the voice who it was,the voice said “Jesus.”When Paul asked the voice what hewanted, the voice said he wanted Paul tostop persecuting Christians and to join them.To become part of that community of faithand to honor Jesus. That was Paul’s Easter.And for whatever reason, Paul was convinced.His entire life changed that day in themost surprising and lasting way. Instead ofchasing down Christians, Paul became aleader of Christians and spent the rest of hislife encouraging others to join him.One way Paul talked about whathappened to him was to talk about theRisen Lord who revealed himself to Paul.Another way Paul talked about what happenedto him was to talk about “grace.”“Grace” was Paul’s word for the absolutelyunexpected, unpredictable, amazing,and wonderful way that somebody’slife can be turned altogether around.When Paul said that grace was everywherehe meant that since the resurrectionJesus still had the power to surprisepeople and turn them around in themost amazing way.VSeventeen hundred years after Paulthere was another traveling man namedJohn Newton.Paul scurried around the MiddleEast trying to capture Christians. JohnNewton sailed back and forth across theAtlantic carrying newly-captured slavesfrom Africa to the American colonies. Asfar as we can tell, the fact that he ran aslave ship never bothered John Newton’sconscience one bit, and if he ever had athought about God or about Jesus wedon’t know what that thought was.Then one day there was a terriblestorm at sea, and John Newton was quitesure that the ship was going to be wreckedand everybody on it die, including himself.So he prayed to God in Jesus’ name,and he said, “If you really are a good Godand if there really is such a thing as yourgrace, save me, surprise me, and I’ll turnaround, too. I’ll give up the slave trade.”The storm stopped, and the ship landedsafely, and that was Newton’s Easter. JohnNewton not only gave up the slave trade, hebecame one of Britain’s leading abolitionists,working very hard to bring slavery to an end.John Newton wrote a song aboutthe way in which his life turned around;it was his tribute to his belief in Easter, tohis belief that Jesus, who showed up andchanged people’s lives in the first century,was still showing up and changingpeople’s lives in the eighteenth century.Whether we believe Newton was rightabout that or not, we can acknowledge thatthere was a huge change in his life and thathe wrote a great song about that change.Amazing grace,How sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like me.I once was lost but now am foundWas blind but now I see.Through many dangers toils and snaresI have already come.’Tis grace that brought me safe thus farAnd grace will lead me home.That’s why Christians celebrate Easter;because they think that through JesusGod still brings us home.Professor David Bartlett is academic dean ofThe Divinity School at Yale University, aswell as an accomplished Biblical studiesscholar, professor of preaching, and an ordainedBaptist minister. He offered his “Reflectionson Easter” last April and was accompaniedby the Collegium Musicum.Taft Bulletin 45