Class notes from:  40s | 50s60s70s80s90s | 00sIn memory of

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The 40s

  • Barbara Tilden Lindeman ’41 lives on Cape Cod to be near her two daughters and family. Sadly Barbara lost Edward, her husband of 62 years, on December 25, 2013.
  • Nancy Jane Moore ’41 feels fortunate still to be playing cello in piano trio – Mozart’s Trio IX the current piece. “Some of us hope to get together for lunch in Plymouth in April!” If interested, call Nancy at 978-443-8994.
  • Shirley Waterman Amory ’41 moved from Duxbury to Newfield House, 19 Newfield Street, Plymouth, MA 02360. Her husband Walter recently passed away. She looks forward to getting together with classmates this spring.
  • Betsy Bankart Sylvester ’41 writes she attends exercise class regularly at her retirement community in Hanover, N.H. and finds it very helpful.
  • Betty Alden Mitmen ’41 writes, “I live at the Community of Jesus in Orleans, Mass. Last spring a note came to all of us asking anyone who was interested to sign up to augment our choir (the Gloriae Dei Cantores) and sing some selections from Ralph Vaughan Williams work ‘Dona Nobis Pacem.’ When I read it I said to myself, ‘I would love to sing that!’ After thinking and talking about it for a while, I thought I’d write saying that I would love to sing in the concert but I would have to sit down at rehearsals and the concert as well and what did they think? The answer came back that I could try it! So that’s what happened – I sang in the rehearsals and the two concerts, we joined the choir in four our of six section and it went great. We had a good sized orchestra which was also exciting. I sat behind the tuba player. Being part of it really was God’s gift to me and something changed inside me. Right now I have asked to be part of Mendelssohn’s ELIJAH which will be performed next July. That seems to be a long way off right now!”
  • Lorraine Fernandez Williams ’48 traveled to Alaska in 2013 with her daughter, son-in-law, and husband on a cruise ship. Lorraine also wrote a book called Poems by Lorraine for her friends and family, which she also illustrated.
  • Class of 1941 update: Nancy Moore shared a 91st birthday dinner recently with Kay Sawtell Plimpton ’41 and family at the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Mass. She also occasionally sees Katherine Haffenreffer Selle ’41 and Shirley Waterman Amory ’41 at BSO Friday matinees. Nancy is grateful to Council on Aging of Weston for bus transport to these concerts. She is proud to have been able to renew her license but plans to restrict driving to the Sudbury area. We send Shirley our heartfelt sympathy on the recent death of her husband , Walter, who had served on the Beaver Corporation for many years. Shirley has sold their Duxbury home but will continue to live in the area. Betsy Bankart Sylvester ’41 reports that she regularly attends exercise classes in her retirement home, in Hanover, N.H. Mary Moore Kenney ’41 attended the memorial concert for Dodi Coffin Hardi in October. She and her husband were neighbors of Dodi’s in their New Bedford retirement community.
  • Nancy Jane Moore ’41 writes, “Several class of 1941 members met for luncheon in Fall 2013 at the Wellesley College Club. The group included Shirly Waterman Amory, Kathie Haffenreffer Selle, Betty Alden Mitman, Star Paris Myles, Nancy Jane Moore, and Kay Sawtell Plimpton. Star continues to play bridge several times a week, Nanny plays cello in au trio, and Betty is still transcribing music for the choir in her residential community. Several still attend BSO performances. None are on Facebook or Twitter. Sadly two classmates died in the summer 2013 – Jeanne La Croix Crocker and Jane Patterson Paine. They will be missed and the group wished to express condolence to their families.”


The 50s

Bobbie Wessell McCuskey '58 and Jane Lincoln Miller ‘53
Bobbie Wessell McCuskey ’58 and Jane Lincoln Miller ‘53 on a trip to the Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage sanctuary just east of Annapolis. (Yes, that is a beaver between them!)!
Rebecca Davis Flather '51 and her daughter Meg watching Top Hat Black and White.
Rebecca Davis Flather ’51 and her daughter Meg watching Top Hat Black and White.
Nye Ffarrabas ’50
Nye Ffarrabas ’50

Linda Smyth Hiebert ’53
Linda Smyth Hiebert ’53
  • Bobbie Wessell McCuskey ’58 writes, “My husband Bill and I moved into Collington/Kendal, a continuing care retirement community, in Mitchellville, Md. in December 2014. We feel very fortunate to be in such a warm, vibrant community and were welcomed by many residents. A mutual friend had introduced by email Crane and Jane (Lincoln) Miller to us as people who were at Collington who might be willing to answer questions and “show us the ropes.”We enjoyed dinner with them a couple of times before we moved in and discovered that both Jane and I were from the Boston area and that we had spent our careers teaching middle school mathematics. We were delighted to have so much in common. We left it at that!One night at dinner shortly after our arrival Jane asked me where I had gone to school in Boston and I responded that I had graduated from a school in Chestnut Hill. She asked me to be more specific so I said, “Beaver Country Day School.” She responded, “I went there too!” How exciting! We then discovered that she and I both had the charismatic Ruth Sayward as our math teacher throughout Beaver and had pursued our careers due to her influence and passion for mathematics. I had a photo of Ruth Sayward in my classroom at St. Matthew’s Parish School in Pacific Palisades, Calif. and my students knew many stories about her and her teaching methods. Meanwhile, Jane was teaching at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC always remembering Ruth Sayward as her mentor. Our common teacher at Beaver was our professional role model for a lifetime of teaching middle school mathematics!Jane continued to “show me the ropes” at Collington and I became a member of the Outreach Committee where Jane was in charge of the mentoring program in the local elementary school where we volunteer teaching 3rd graders. Our Outreach Committee meetings focus on ways to support people in need in Prince George’s County, Md. Over another dinner with Jane and Crane, I asked Jane if there had been a Social Welfare Committee when she was at Beaver and told her I had been Head of this committee. She smiled broadly and said, “Yes, I was also Head of Social Welfare!” We couldn’t believe it!So, here we are, more than 50 years later, at Collington enjoying each other and delighting in our common past experiences at Beaver. Clearly, our education at Beaver molded us for a lifetime as educators!
  • Joy Calfee Roberts ’57 writes, “I have moved into a lovely mobile home park here in San Andreas, and my daughter and 2 grandchildren are moving into my house – making for an almost laughable situation: as I’m hauling boxes out the front door, daughter Ann is coming in the back door with her boxes! We’re having a heat wave here in our California drought, so the park’s swimming pool is a lovely respite on a hot day. My best to all of the Heinz 57 group.”
  • Susan Trickey Pinkham ’58 writes, “Bill – graduate of GDA & Amherst – and I moved to Estes Park, Colo. in June 2000. He palled to retire, I planned to take a year off then work part time. Bill has said, ‘Don’t tell anyone you are retired because you’ll have more bosses and be busier then you were when you worked full time.’ A neighbor encouraged him to run for a town trustee position, which he won. Four years later, he was elected Mayor of Estes Park and has another year left on his second term. Fortunately, he is term limited (2-4 year terms) so we can start working on our bucket list. I’ve held several positions since moving here including, director of the Art Center of Estes Park – planning shows and educational opportunities for residents and visitors to the town; the Interagency Fire Education Coordinator for several years, providing fire prevention education especially dealing with wildfires helping residents determine what fire mitigation steps are needed on their properties; and now Program Director for the Estes Park Learning Place, a tutoring service for students of all ages. Our children are scattered across this wonderful country. We visit those back on the East Coast once or twice a year. We still vacation on 3 Mile Island, the summer home of the Appalachian Mountain Club, on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. The education I received at Beaver gave me the confidence to move forward and follow my dreams.
  • Adele Merrill Welch ’56 writes, “I moved to Maine 3 years ago and have enjoyed every moment. With daughters on both the east and west coast I am dividing my time. I spend four months in Portland, Oregon from December to April (Can’t say as I missed all the snow this winter!) I continue my meaningful work as a hospice volunteer. End of life issues have long been an interest, particularly the spiritual aspects. So many people avoid talking about their end of life wishes. I encourage you all to engage in ‘The Conversation.'”
  • Rebecca Davis Flather ’51: Becky’s daughter, Meg Flather, shared that Becky has Alzheimer’s Disease. Although she is currently unable to converse, she manages to find her own way to respond beautifully and enjoys watching movies with her family. Notes can be sent to Becky at: 457 West 57th St., #604, New York, NY 10019 or you may call 212-447-6540 to leave a message with her caretaker.
  • Jill Adams Bourdais de Charbonniere ’53 visited Beaver and was given the grand tour. Her reaction to recent renovations and new buildings? “WOW!” Jill lives in Paris, France and works in the social service department of a French hospital.
  • Nye Ffarrabas ’50 writes, “Hello! (For those who may have mislaid the information, I was Bici Forbes, class of 1950; but changed my name to Nye Ffarrabas, 20 years ago.) Our 65th class reunion is due to happen this year, I believe, and I’m hoping to hear some news about plans for this event, and would like to make a suggestion. Having had a major (50 year +) retrospective show of my visual and written works in Brattleboro, Vermont, in 2014, I would be pleased to make a presentation of art works and a reading (poems and memoir selections, event scores, or whatever) during or around that time. Although two of our distinguished writers – Elaine Cleveland and Ann Chaplin – are no longer with us, perhaps there are others, in literature or visual arts – or theater or music … who may have work to share, as well. My work is represented in museums and major art collections in the US and abroad, including the Silverman Collection of Fluxus-related art at the Museum of Modern Art, in NYC.” If you are interested, and curious to get a ‘feel’ for my work, you may do so at info@cxsilvergallery.com, www.cxsilvergallery.com, or call the gallery’s director, Cai Xi Silver, and its operations director, Adam Silver, at (802)257-7898 Ext.2. There are a couple of videos, one under 2 minutes, of work in the show; the other of a forum following the opening of my show (about 55 minutes), and an accompanying book (110pp) – much more than a catalog! – published by the gallery, which may be purchased in hard copy or on-line. Both book and show are entitled: Nye Ffarrabas: A Walk on the Inside – 50 Year Retrospective Please feel free to contact me, and do send relevant info about the reunion if you are planning to have one. Thanks!”
  • Elizabeth Lester Poole ’51 writes, “Sorry to miss seeing you all at reunion time. Beaver and I were out of touch for a long time. Now 80, husband and I pursue summer year round (Summerland Key, Fla.). Hard to use a kayak in snow drifts! Best to all, LP.”
  • Linda Smyth Hiebert ’53 writes, “Since I turned 71 I have been racing my car, which is a Lotus Elise SC (supercharged). It takes up many of the weekends in a given year. I will be 80 in July of this coming year and have quite a few trophies (not age related) under my belt.”
  • Robin Kulas Goodale ’58 writes, “Wanted to let you know my sister Diane Mitchell Goodale Beaver class of 1960 passed away September 2,2014. She was living with us at the time and went peacefully. My husband Bill had a triple by-pass in May and is doing well. We are planning to move to Virginia to be close to our daughter Beth and her husband and our grand daughters Sarah and Sophia. Will keep you posted.”
  • Sarah Bond Gilson ‘50 writes, “I read Nye’s interesting summary and recall that Ginny Bell and I were the only members of the class of 1950 who appeared for the luncheon five years ago, so sad but we had a fine time. My husband Ben and I live in a life care community in Hanover NH, along with Betsy Sylvester ’41, after moving from Newport RI where we lived for many years. I have no books to show and no works of art either, but would love to know there are some of us around who might gather together to catch up.”
  • Jane Lincoln Miller ’53 writes about her and her husband Bobbie Wessell McCuskey ’58, “My husband Bill and I moved into Collington/Kendal, a Continuing Care Retirement Community, in Mitchellville, Maryland in December 2014. We feel very fortunate to be in such a warm, vibrant community and were welcomed by many residents. A mutual friend had introduced by email Crane and Jane (Lincoln) Miller to us as people who were at Collington who might be willing to answer questions and “show us the ropes.” We enjoyed dinner with them a couple of times before we moved in and discovered that both Jane and I were from the Boston area and that we had spent our careers teaching middle school mathematics. We were delighted to have so much in common. We left it at that! One night at dinner shortly after our arrival Jane asked me where I had gone to school in Boston and I responded that I had graduated from a school in Chestnut Hill. She asked me to be more specific so I said, “Beaver Country Day School.” She responded, “I went there too!” How exciting! We then discovered that she and I both had the charismatic Ruth Sayward as our math teacher throughout Beaver and had pursued our careers due to her influence and passion for mathematics. I had a photo of Ruth Sayward in my classroom at St. Matthew’s Parish School in Pacific Palisades, California and my students knew many stories about her and her teaching methods. Meanwhile, Jane was teaching at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC always remembering Ruth Sayward as her mentor. Our common teacher at Beaver was our professional role model for a lifetime of teaching middle school mathematics! Jane continued to “show me the ropes” at Collington and I became a member of the Outreach Committee where Jane was in charge of the mentoring program in the local elementary school where we volunteer teaching 3rd graders. Our Outreach Committee meetings focus on ways to support people in need in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Over another dinner with Jane and Crane, I asked Jane if there had been a Social Welfare Committee when she was at Beaver and told her I had been Head of this committee. She smiled broadly and said, “Yes, I was also Head of Social Welfare!” We couldn’t believe it! So, here we are, more than 50 years later, at Collington enjoying each other and delighting in our common past experiences at Beaver. Clearly, our education at Beaver molded us for a lifetime as educators!”
  • Joy Calfee Roberts ’57 writes, “I have moved into a lovely mobile home park here in San Andreas, and my daughter and 2 grandchildren are moving into my house – making for an almost laughable situation: as I’m hauling boxes out the front door, daughter Ann is coming in the back door with her boxes! We’re having a heat wave here in our California drought, so the park’s swimming pool is a lovely respite on a hot day. My best to all of the Heinz 57 group.”


The 60s

Jean Gucker McKinney '61
Jean Gucker McKinney ’61

Joanna Hawthorne Amick '65
Joanna Hawthorne Amick ’65
  • Tracy Powers ’60 retired as head of the The Winsor School’s French/Spanish language departments and traveled to Turkey several times in recent years. She also spends several winter weeks in Puerto Rico. Tracy also taught French at Beaver for several years in the late 60s.
  • Jean Gucker McKinney ’61 writes, “I recently attended grandparents day with my granddaughter, Corinne Downey ’18, who is a third generation member of the Beaver family (her mother, Jean McKinney Downey is class of 1988). It was great fun talking to her classmates about what Beaver was like more than 50 years ago (remember skirts that had to go to the knees), and telling them about Nancy Lincoln and the background to the gallery. All classmates: it is not too soon to be thinking about coming back to Beaver in May 2016 for our 55th reunion. Maybe we can get my son, Larry, to teach us another class! Send me your email address and those of our class you have, and Rusty and I will start a dialogue to get interest going. We can all meet at my house again one of the nights that weekend, as we did in 2011 – as everyone can tell you, it was a great evening, the best part of the get together. My email address is Nanamck@verizon.net. Hope to hear from many of you soon. Jean”
  • Lee Kimball Byron ’63 writes, “I moved in May 2014 from five acres, in the country, where I’d lived for over 30 years. I’m still in Sarasota but now eight houses from my daughter, son-in-law and 2 grandsons, now 5 1/2 and almost 3. It was traumatic but with help from family here and my daughter-in-law and sister (Helen ’65 came from London) we did it. Still dealing with getting rid of ‘stuff’ but enjoying being so close to the kids and also to most everything I do each day.”
  • Helen Kimball-Brooke ’65 writes, “We bought a lovely small house on the coast of Brittany in April of this year and have managed to get over there five times since then, including the week when we signed and acquired the keys. We have been drawing up plans with an architect so for the time being, no furniture, just camping in the house. It has workable bathrooms and an approximate kitchen (stove but no fridge) so we can cope. The view is to die for and the general atmosphere one of total chill so we are very pleased. It should be even better when the work is finished. I hope all my classmates are well and look forward to seeing them at our 50th in 2015. Good Heavens!”
  • Joanna Hawthorne Amick ’65 writes, “I am a psychologist, and the Director of the Brazelton Centre UK CIO, a job which I have been doing since 1997. I am frequently in Boston working with my colleagues at the Brazelton Institute. Our centre promotes healthy parent-infant relationships by helping parents read their newborn babies signals and cues. My two children, Alexandra (almost 32), and Charles (just 29) are both married and live in the USA. I plan to attend our 50th reunion of the class of 1965 and really look forward to seeing everyone!”
  • Jean Bundy ’68 wrote an article for Alaska Public Media about classmate, Jay Sargent ’68. Sargent frequently swims with dolphins in Turks and Caicos and wrote a book called, JoJo and Me, about these adventures.
  • Pippy Giuliano ’66 writes, “Dear Friends, Class of ’66: Cookie and I showed up for our 48th reunion. So, where will you be this time in two years? Let’s have a party and celebrate who we were, are and will be. Be there or be square. Ciao, Pippy”
  • Nina Mayberry Hocker ’64 writes, “Andy & I are living on the Cape and loving it! Sailing, racing, teaching, MBL board, freelance photo editor, and five mini grandchildren – that keeps us busy when we’re not gardening or traveling.”
  • Janet Fuchs ’69 recently joined Coldwell Banker Newton/Chestnut Hill as a Realtor® Sales Associate. In addition to her careers as a musician, teacher, curriculum developer, and photographer, she’s been involved in real estate for over 30 years, buying, building, renovating, and selling properties in Massachusetts and California. She was co-owner of a green building company and worked in CA as a Certified Green Building Rater/Advisor and Sustainable Landscape Professional. If you have any real estate needs or referrals, give Janet a call/text at: (857) 404.4224 or email: janet.fuchs@nemoves.com. She’d love to hear from classmates. Janet’s Coldwell Banker Website


The 70s

Students curate show in NLG from Alan Bortman's '79 collection.
Students curate show in NLG from Alan Bortman’s ’79 collection.

Dr. Phyllis J. Bronson '70
Dr. Phyllis J. Bronson ’70
  • On January 8, Alan Bortman ’79, P’16 was a guest presenter in the Art of Boston class, discussing his business and website. (Warning: contains some graphic/sexual images). Alan is a collector and dealer of Graffiti-based artists and shared the history of this art form with Beaver students, who curated works from his collection in the Nancy Lincoln Gallery.
  • Maggie O’Keefe Huggard ’76 writes, “In April, my husband, Art, joined the Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, MO as their E-business director (their website for online shopping). My job at Koch Air (Carrier Commercial HVAC sales support) in St. Louis continues but now with a much shorter commute as I have now joined the tel-commuting world. We now live officially in the Ozarks, less than one hour north of Branson, MO and just ‘down the road’ from the most visited tourist attraction in the state of Missouri – the flagship Bass Pro Shops Store.”
  • Beth Gray-Nix ’74 continues to be active in the Sudbury Historical Society, serving on its Board of Directors, even after moving to Framingham, Mass.
  • Spearheading D-day by Jonathan Gawne ’77 was recently named one of the top five books about D-day by the Wall Street Journal.
  • Beth Gray-Nix ’74 writes, “It’s been a banner year. My son Roger was awarded his Masters degree from Boston College, and continues to teach math at The Edward M. Kennedy Charter School in Boston. The best part was watching him and his fiance, Jessica, marry on September 27th.”
  • On Thursday, November 6 at 7 p.m., Dr. Phyllis J. Bronson ’70 signed copies of her new book Moods, Emotions, and Aging: Hormones and the Mind-Body Connection at The COOP in Cambridge.

The 80s

Nova Spivack ’87
Nova Spivack ’87
Henry Feldman ’85
Henry Feldman ’85

Sonja Spears '82, P'10, '12
Sonja Spears ’82, P’10, ’12
  • Dave Mahoney ’85 and his wife, Liz, welcomed baby Colin Michael Mahoney on November 13, 2014.
  • Sofie Kleppner Ph. D. ’81 has been appointed Assistant Dean of Postdoctoral Affairs at Stanford University.
  • Nova Spivack ’87, CEO of Bottlenose, technology futurist, serial entrepreneur, and angel investor received the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award from Beaver Country Day School. More.
  • Henry Feldman ’85 received the 2014 Service to School Award from Beaver Country Day School for his work as an internship host, guest lecturer, Alumni Board member, Reunion volunteer, to name a few. More.
  • Joseph Green ’85 and his family breed and raise Portuguese Water Dogs at their Sudbury home, Home Plate Farm, which is also Babe Ruth’s former home. One of their dogs competed in the Westminster Show in New York City in February 2014.
  • Sonja Spears ’82, P’10, ’12 invited Beaver’s Theories of Justice class to attend her class at Tufts, Accused: The Gap Between Law and Justice. Students participated in a discussion with guest speaker Denis Maher, who was found guilty of a crime he did not commit and was later freed with the help of the Innocence Project. Sonja is currently a visiting practitioner and lecturer at Tufts University, as well as an Adjunct Professor at Harvard Law School.
  • Rebecca (McLaughlin) Burton ’86 – Writes,”2015 sped up from a required job swap, because of a conflict of interest, so that I am a semi-professional staff with transitioning adolescents. Youth have hope, energy and perspective I had forgotten, not having become a mother: I love my job! And at home, which is a home I own with my husband, Evan, I’m also peaceful and active. We are inheriting a chicken coop and will buy 4 chicks in April to raise, urban farming being an identity never before imagined by this urbanista. We run our cattle dog twice a day in the greenspace, and my new hobby is coloring in adult coloring books for stress relief. Also, we avidly follow the political news.”

The 90s

Matt Meyersohn '99
Matt Meyersohn ’99

David Ready '97,
David Ready ’97
  • Laura Peyton ’98 and Greg Martin welcomed baby Adrian James on August 29, 2014.
  • Matt Meyersohn ’99, Senior Director of Sports Partnerships for the US Fund for UNICEF, received the 2014 Driscoll Award for Social Responsibility from Beaver Country Day School. More.
  • Film producer, David Ready ’97, received the 2014 Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Beaver Country Day School. More.
  • Michelle Sara King ’94 joined FairWinds Partners as the Vice President of Policy and External Relations. More.


The 00s

Jen Yolles & Evan Spigelman '05
Jen Yolles & Evan Spigelman ’05
  • Jen Yolles, who recently celebrated her 20th year as Beaver’s Upper School Drama teacher, recently traveled to New Orleans to visit with Evan Spigelman ’05. Evan has remained involved in theater and is currently working with both the Skin Horse Theater and New Orleans Queer Youth Theater.
  • Ben Clippinger ’02 is living with his wife, Nosheen Jawaid, in Philadelphia. They were married May 15, 2014 and are both MD doctors as of last May.
  • Zachary Wallack ’05 married Amanda Wallack in November 2014.

IN MEMORY OF

  • Donald Nickerson (Former Head of School) We are saddened to report the death last month of Donald Nickerson, Beaver’s third head of school, in Tucson, Arizona. A graduate of Harvard College, Mr. Nickerson became head of Beaver at the age of 27 in 1963. During this period Beaver underwent a number of significant changes to its culture and fortunes, including the construction of the science/library wing. After leaving Beaver, Mr. Nickerson headed several schools in the West, retiring from St. Gregory’s School (now The Gregory School) in Tucson in 2002. He was an avid reader and theater-goer, and, according to his obituary, he served until his death as a trustee of the Arizona Theatre Company. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Ann Nickerson; his brother Glendon; his children, Jeffrey, Catherine, John, Nathaniel, and Michael; and his six grandchildren.