PEDDIE C H R O N I C L E

Spring 2012

Ayer Memorial Chapel: A Monument to Soldiers

T’s Last Call

Peddie Goes “Into the Woods”

Football coach Larry Kelley wraps the foot of a player in 1938. (turn to inside back cover to see this photo updated.)

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10

24

16

Letters

Ayer Memorial Chapel A monument to soldiers

Peddie Nuptials Wedding pictures old and new

Center Campus Asian Studies, Model UN, and Jersey Fresh produce on campus

T’s Last Call Tattersall retires

Founders Day Tributes to Ed Potter and Ray Oram

Peddie Goes “Into the Woods” Winter musical showcases fairy tale characters

Alumnus Awarded Medal Coast Guard cadet saves a life

NJ SEEDS Celebrates 20 Years Program grew out of Longstreet Library

Chronicle

Vol. 140, No. 2

Executive Editor: Deanna K.G. Ferrante Editor: Wendi PatellaContributors: Doug Mariboe, Patricia O’Neill Design: Carter Halliday AssociatesIllustration: David VoginPhotography: Jim Inverso, Jon Roemer Printing: Prism Color Corporation

Spring 2012

20 Bookmarks22 Falcon Feats28 Class Notes

Tel: 609.944.7501 www.peddie.org/chronicle

We welcome your input: editor@peddie.org

Peddie School201 South Main StreetHightstown, NJ 08520-3349

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor,

Congratulations on another excellent edition of the Chronicle. I was especially taken by the inside cover and the clever juxtaposed placement of the back inside cover. The picture of the 1952 Peddie News editors certainly brought back memories to me. (How did we manage to publish weekly?) I hadn’t seen a typewriter for some time, though I spent my career in the office equipment industry. I hope to see the other News editors from 1952, as well as other classmates, at our 60th in June.

I just read, and then reread, “A Decade of Choices: John Green’s first ten years.” During the last ten years, I have occasionally spoken with John and on periodic visits to the campus become increasingly aware of his impact. The article reinforces what I have felt for some time. Peddie is fortunate to have such an outstanding individual as head of school.

CHARLIE ASCHER ’52

The Chronicle welcomes your letters and comments on the stories we offer. We reserve the right to edit letters for space. Send your comments to editor@peddie.org or Chronicle Editor, Peddie School, 201 South Main Street, Hightstown, NJ 08520-3349. Throughout this issue, look for this

icon for exclusive online content.

To the Editor,

Alas, it was great to see the inside cover with all of the memorable faces. A good picture of the cooperation between the classes of ’52 and ’53. I must be of sound mind, for I still can name all of the guys. I did not notice the shirts and ties until I looked at the back page. Can any of you dare think what would have happened if we had dressed like this and worn our hat backward? Yes, a neater, gentler, more civil time.

The back page does show two improvements, the modern version of the typewriter (with spell check) and yes, now gals. I like gals.

RALPH SCOTT ’53

To the Editor,

What a surprise to find my picture on the inside cover of the fall edition! I showed it to all of the trustees and the guys from my era but couldn’t figure out who all of them were. Luckily, I have all of my old Peddie year books at home so I was able to do some research.

IRA HAUPT II ’52

Ira identified his classmates from the 1953 photo as (left to right)

Howard Friedman ’52, Alfred Jacobs ’53, Ira Haupt II ’52, Charlie Ascher ’52

and John McGuerty ’52.

Peddie News photos bring back fond memories

Fall 2011

A Decade of Choices

2 Peddie Chronicle

Throughout this issue, look for this icon for exclusive online content.

Behind those doorsPeddie alumni often say that the small details — the chapel steeple, the bricks of Annenberg Hall, the flagpole on center campus — bring back memories of life at Peddie. When the Peddie Falcon posted a photo of Longstreet Hall on Facebook, alumna Megan Thompson Hand ’80 responded.

Those were my favorite doors when I

attended Peddie! Behind those doors was

a creative space where I could get lost and

use my imagination. Also, behind those

doors I learned to critique art projects with

empathy and understanding. Learning that

everyone solves creative problems differ-

ently and sees the world in their unique

personal way might have been the most

important thing I learned at Peddie.

‘‘

’’— Megan Thompson Hand ’80

Spring 2012 3

Sgt. Roger Pierson Owen ’34, a volunteer pilot for the Canadian Royal Air Force, was killed during a routine flight over Europe. More of his schoolmates would follow and by war’s end, there were 63 so-called Peddie “Gold Star Boys,” a designation of servicemen who lost their lives in the war.

As the United States entered a post-war era in the late 1940s, Peddie School, too, was planning for the future and a proper chapel was foremost in the plans of the school leaders. Original plans for a stone or bronze memorial to the 63 fallen alumni were soon combined with the dreams for a stand-alone chapel.

“Let us build an everlasting memorial of the most inspiring school chapel in America,” Dr. Wilbour Saunders wrote to alumni and friends of the school when a campaign was launched to build it.

Dedicated in 1951, the Ayer Memorial Chapel is a simple Georgian design featuring a 90-foot-tall steeple topped with a Celtic cross. Built at a time when each Peddie headmaster was still required to be a Baptist minister and each trustee an active and strong member of the Baptist church, the chapel was blessed at a ceremony led by the state’s most prominent Baptist leaders.

Dr. Robert J. McCracken, a minister from New York City, was chosen to deliver the sermon.

“Long may this chapel be at the center of Peddie’s life. May many a lad coming here to bow his head and heart in recognition of and response to God find the secret and source of the integrity our generation so sorely needs,” McCracken told the students and guests.

The chapel replaced the second floor room in Wilson Hall known as the F. Wayland Ayer Chapel, named after a Baptist layman who served 15 years as a member of the Board of Corporators. It was built on precisely the spot first envisioned for a chapel by Roger W. Swetland, headmaster of the school from 1889 to 1934. A $60,000 gift from Ayer’s daughter, Anna Ayer Fry, led to the new building retaining the Ayer name. Other gifts were given in memory of the Gold Star Boys, others who had died, and in honor of the living.

In the Gold Star Memorial narthex hang 63 portraits of Peddie boys who died in World War II. In 2003, the portrait of one Peddie alumnus who lost his life in the Korean War and six from the Vietnam War were added.

At a cost of $215,000, the chapel was built to seat 600 people plus 50 choir members.

While the chapel was primarily intended as a place for daily religious services, it would not be long after the chapel was built that the school’s affiliation with the Baptist church would begin to change. Dr. Carrol O. Morong was the last Baptist minister to lead the school as headmaster (1949–1964). In the early 1960s, the requirement that trustees be Baptist was similarly ended. The practice of daily religious services was slowly reduced, occurring as little as once a week in 1977. Since 1990, nondenominational chapel services have been held every Monday and Friday.

As a member of one of the first classes to sit in the chapel on a near-daily basis, Harold Neiderhoffer ’53 has many fond memories, including singing in the choir.

On Dec. 18, 1941 — just eleven days after the attack on Pearl Harbor — Peddie School would see its first alumnus die in the second World War.

The Most Inspiring School Chapel in America

U U U U U U U U

Spring 2012 5

The first Peddie boy to die in WWII Sgt. Roger Pierson Owen ’34, a pilot with the Canadian Royal Air Force, killed in flight on Dec. 18, 1941. Owen was one of roughly 15,000 Americans who joined the Canadian military prior to the United States’ entering the war.

Oldest alumni to die in WWII Lt. Col. Cuthbert P. Newton ’09, who died in 1942 while serving as an Army chaplain, was 50.

The Peddie class with the greatest number of Gold Star Boys 1941 (8), followed by 1938 (7) and 1939 (7)

The youngest class with Gold Star Boys 1943. All six Gold Star Boys from the Class of ’43 died in a seven-month stretch between October 22, 1944 and April 11, 1945.

Total Peddie alumni who served in WWII and returned home 1,828

Highest rank attained by a Peddie Gold Star Boy Major Ralph Tilt ’29, who was killed by a sniper on Jan. 26, 1944

Deadliest month for Peddie October 1944. William Bauerschmidt ’39 (Oct. 5), Edward Arendt ’40 (Oct. 6), Phillip Criblet ’31 (Oct. 13), Edward Woodruff ’43 (Oct. 22), Edwin Schuler ’32 (Oct. 29), and Herbert Shaver Jr. ’41 (Oct. 30) all died in this month.

“Chapel attendance was required six days a week. Saturday was the only off day. On Sundays, you attended a local church followed by Sunday evening vespers in the chapel,” he said. “I enjoyed the chapel experience although we did spend a lot of time there.”

While students now spend far less time in the chapel and its uses have changed considerably, Neiderhoffer said the building remains a place for special moments for both students and alumni.

“As I have aged, I find that every time I attend a function in the chapel I find the experience to be most fulfilling and meaningful,” he said. “I really love that building and its memories.”

Rosemary Gleeson, the school chaplain, said part of her job is keeping the roots of the school and its past alive, including reminding students that the structure is a war memorial. She points out the portraits in the narthex, encourages visitors to read the tributes inscribed under the 13 majestic windows, and reminds students of the men and women who came before them.

“I have had more than one person tell me that those pictures in the narthex are the most impressive of all of the chapel’s memorials. I must admit that I agree,” Gleeson said. “Those pictures have a palpable effect on me every single time I exit the chapel. Quite literally, they can’t be ignored.”

She said it can often be “heart-wrenching” to read some of the details on the memorial plaques on pews or under windows, such as the inscription in memory of Frederick S. Howell ’43, killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium on Christmas Eve, 1944.

“When I walk up or down the chapel aisles, I deliberately look for the plaques on the end of benches that are dedicated to those boys. I frequently touch one of those small pieces of brass thinking of how devastating the loss must have been for the family members who gave the bench,” Gleeson said.

U U U

At right: The Ayer Memorial Chapel is blessed and dedicated on May 13, 1951, by a collection of the state’s Baptist leaders.

Below left: A typical chapel service in 2012 features a student, faculty or alumni speaker, or a musical performance.

“How shall we make a place for them — now and always — at their school?

How shall the sacrifices and spirit of the sixty-three who did not return be a constant light to the boys who follow?

How shall we write the names of the one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight who did return on the Peddie roll — and how shall we give thanks for their return?

The answer has come back again and again from alumni, parents and friends…

‘Let us build an everlasting memorial of the most inspiring school chapel in America.’

That is what we are going to do.”

— Dr. Wilbour Saunders, Headmaster, 1934–1949

How shall we honor them?

Spring 2012 7

GOLD STAR BOYS

GOLD STAR BOYS

Cuthbert P. Newtown ’09

Sereno Lund ’17

Daniel J. Barry ’22

Harry Leigh Derby Jr. ’27

James B. Barry ’28

William G. Burd ’29

Ralph Bradner Tilt ’29

Philip S. Criblet ’31

Mervyn L. Davis ’31

Eugene T. Hines ’31

Gerald McConigle ’31

Edwin F. Schuler ’32

Wilbert H. Robbins ’32

George A. Quimby ’33

Edward R. Snyder ’33

Harold Luckey Ward Jr. ’33

Roger P. Owen ’34

David H. Crosby ’34

James N. Wright ’34

Warren E. Heim ’36

Harold E. Hanley ’36

John F. Campbell ’36

Val Foltz Jr. ’36

Edwin S. Davis ’36

Joseph W. Taylor ’37

Douglas C. Schiverea ’37

Richard Ives East ’38

Frederic Goodman ’38

Alfred L. Zanoni ’38

George F. Dennis Jr. ’38

John c. McNiece III ’38

Richard B. Stanton ’38

Robert W. Cutinelle ’38

George S. Huber ’39

William Bauerschmidt ’39

Donald E. Fuller ’39

Oakes M. Colwell ’39

John H. Wilder ’39

Donald Clark Godfrey ’39

Paul Edward Culbertson ’39

Arthur H. Elliot ’40

Otto E. Kern Jr. ’40

William S. Easterly ’40

Edward Arendt ’40

Howard G. Boren II ’40

Charles F. McVaugh ’40

Daniel L. Simon ’41

Alfred R. Neumunz ’41

Harry H. Weissinger ’41

Elton Russell Hitch ’41

Raymond W. Hall ’41

Clifford N. Jenkins Jr. ’41

Robert E. Field ’41

Herbert H. Shaver Jr. ’41

Ronald W. Helps ’42

Frederick A. Brown ’42

Robert Burlen ’42

Edward C. Woodruff ’43

Frederick S. Howell ’43

L. Malcolm Tyler Jr. ’43

Robert D. Pate ’43

Willett S. Chinery ’43

Ogden Barron ’43

Died in service in the Korean War

Joseph F. Osovick ’46

Died in service in the Vietnam War

Carl E. Anderson ’59

Bruce S. MacFadyen ’60

John W. Doherty ’62

Robert A. Falkenau ’63

Narvin O. Wittman Jr. ’64

Gary Ruhloff ’65

A dedication ceremony for the Peddie “Gold Star Boys.”

Spring 2012 9

1982 1985 1992

January 25, 1992

“We (are) celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary which took place at the chapel. We were married by Deacon Steve Rasi, a past teacher at Peddie.”

Kate Riley Andrew ’84 and Mark Andrew ’85

August 21, 1982

“I married Doug Smith and my dad, Henry Keller, the Peddie director of studies, gave me away.”

Becky Keller Smith ’79

September 14, 1985

“It was a beautiful day on center campus.”

Maryjean Spatt Mucciarone ’80 and Paul Mucciarone ’77

Ayer Memorial Chapel:A place for communityA place for celebrations

10 Peddie Chronicle

Built at a time when Peddie was a Baptist institution, the Ayer Memorial Chapel was intended for worship and as a gathering place for the entire Peddie community.

Indeed, Baptist ministers from outside the Peddie community routinely presided over chapel, including a 1957 visit by a then-little-known preacher, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

While both the physical interior and exterior of the chapel is virtually unchanged, the use of the chapel today would be, in some cases, unrecognizable by some of those who attended the chapel’s dedication in 1951. The altar now displays a cross representing Christianity, a Star of David representing Judaism, an Om representing Hinduism, and a plaque with the 99 Islamic names for Allah. A Bible remains on the altar at all times, while a Menorah is added during Hanukkah.

In 2012, twice-weekly chapel still serves as a community-wide gathering but instead of sermons, features presentations ranging from brief musical performances to talks by students, faculty, alumni or guests. The traditional opening to every chapel is the announcement of prayer requests, followed by a moment of silence.

The chapel has been used to mark every stage of life for various members of the Peddie family.

Children of Peddie alumni have been baptized there and on at least one occasion, a Bar Mitzvah was celebrated. Since girls were readmitted in 1971, chapel weddings have become increasingly popular. Many alumni and faculty members have requested their funerals or memorial services be held in the chapel.

1992 1993 2000 2008

August 21, 1993

“Having spent so much time at Peddie, the chapel was an obvious choice for our wedding, where we could be surrounded by many friends, especially our ‘best couple,’ Pat and Mel Clements.”

Faculty member Bill McMann and wife, Cathy

October 7, 2000

“The long aisle and classic architecture of the chapel were the perfect picture in my mind of what I should walk down as a bride. Walking down the aisle with my dad, surrounded by my family and friends, and then being escorted out by my new husband with the sounds of a bagpiper signify a magical and monumental time in my life.”

Anne Moles Mulick ’91

April 19, 2008

“We’re both class of 2000, and we always knew we’d come back to Peddie when we were ready to get married.”

Kim Thompson Nixon ’00 and Chris Nixon ’00

Spring 2012 11

center campusPFS features “Jersey Fresh” foods Peddie Food Service (PFS) has become so focused on incorporating local produce into its offerings that one day the sight of broccoli on the side of the road stopped Director Robin Wojcik in her tracks.

Wojcik noticed a simple farm stand in front of an East Windsor house one fall day on her way to campus and was drawn in by the broccoli. “It was so gorgeous, it looked like you could use it as part of your wedding bouquet,” she recalled.

She immediately took six full cases back to Peddie, where Chef Oleg Babich — deciding not to waste it on a floral display — steamed it and served it that evening at family style dinner. With increased focus on the health, environmental and taste advantages of using fresh and local ingre-dients, PFS has responded by increasing the number of suppliers they use locally. In addition to purchasing produce from

area farms whenever possible during the growing season, PFS began a relationship with Hamilton-based DiPaolo Turkey Farm for fresh meat and continues its long-standing relation-ship with Howell-based Puglisi Egg Farm.

Although getting Jersey Fresh produce for use in the dining hall year-round is not possible — making the summer camp-ers the biggest beneficiaries of eating the local produce — Babich said he enjoys developing menus based on what is being harvested close to Hightstown.

“We are the Garden State,” Babich said. “At least that’s what my license plate says.”

Babich said working with what is available has created some excitement both in the kitchen and in the dining hall. When business office employee Bonnie Murphy showed up to campus with a car full of donated spinach grown at her brother’s farm in nearby Cranbury, Babich quickly changed his menu plan.

“We made garlic spinach that night and the whole community loved it,” Babich remembered.

During a fall Saturday Night Activity (SNA), students went apple picking at Lee’s Turkey Farm in East Windsor, bringing back bushels and bushels of apples that went immediately into the dining hall. They lasted less than a day.

By involving the students in the harvesting, Wojcik said, they are learning that the best tasting and the freshest produce is not uniformly shaped. “These apples didn’t have an identical, engineered look,” Wojcik said. “But once the kids saw they were picked by their friends, they all wanted them.”

Asian Studies expands with exchanges

Ten students have been selected by faculty as the inaugural class for a new Asian Studies Program, a co-curricular experience for students with a keen interest in Asian language and culture.

The dedicated group of students concen-trating on Asian Studies is required to take at least three Asia-related history electives and take Chinese or demonstrate profi-ciency up to level three. The ten students will also travel to Asia at least once during

their time at Peddie and will complete a thesis project during their senior year, said Yuan Gao, director of the Asian Studies Program.

During the 2011–12 school year, the students enjoyed an out-ing to the Diwali Festival at South Street Seaport in New York City, attended the Broadway play Chinglish, and celebrated Chinese New Year in New York. The Asian Studies Program is supported by endowed funds.

In coordination of the Asian Studies Program, Gao and Brad Nicholson led two trips to Asia during spring break. While Nicholson led 18 students on a trip to northern India, 12 students experienced China with Gao.

In India, the study of religion and art was the focus of travels.

The students who traveled to China spent time in Shangai, including at Peddie’s sister school EFZ, and Beijing.

Back on the Peddie campus, meanwhile, the Asian Studies Program is being enhanced by Jingjing Xue, a Chinese-language teacher from EFZ who is the first teacher to participate in a long-term teacher exchange between the two schools.

Arriving in New Jersey in January just in time to usher in the Year of the Dragon with the Peddie community, Xue will remain until the end of the school year.

As a language teacher, Xue is assisting and team-teaching in Chinese classes and observing classes in various departments.

Xue, who has taught at EFZ for ten years, is also taking back lessons in how American teachers conduct their classes, in particular American approaches to class management and teaching philosophy. “I hope I can stay both as a teacher, and as a student, to feel the pure and complete essence of Peddie life,” Xue said at the start of her visit.

Xue has found a way to describe her life at Peddie through the Peddie Voices blog, writing her entries in both English and Chinese so that both the Peddie community and her EFZ col-leagues and students can join in the conversation. Read more of Jingjing’s entries at http://peddievoices.peddie.org.

Visiting EFZ faculty member Jingjing Xue

12 Peddie Chronicle

Walking in the shoes of United Nations ambassadors, Peddie students have brought numerous awards back to campus for their participation in Model United Nations (MUN) confer-ences this year, where they have debated international issues ranging from global health crises to the mythical Trojan War.

At both the Yale Model United Nations Conference in Connecticut and the YMCA Model United Nations Conference in Hershey, Pa., Peddie students joined thousands of high school students from throughout the United States to hone their debate and public speaking skills, as well as increase their understanding of international relations and parliamen-tary procedure.

At Yale, Dylan Nir ’13 received the Outstanding Delegate award for his role as Ayatollah Khomeini on the Iranian Council. The best delegate honor is given to the committee member who shows expert knowledge on the topics, repre-sents the country’s position most convincingly, demonstrates excellence in debating and team-building skills, and out-shines peers in enthusiasm and energy.

“I enjoyed playing Khomeini. I really got into being radical for a weekend. The man I played has ideas so far from the deci-sions I would have made, but that was the fun of it,” Nir said.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Creel ’12 earned an honorable mention for her work portraying Hector on a specialized committee debating the Trojan War.

Creel said participating in MUN has taught her not only when or how to debate, but also when to concede or compromise.

“By assigning some controversial countries, MUN has allowed delegates the opportunity to argue from a perspective which challenges their personal morals,” Creel said. “To be able to take both personal beliefs and the majority opinion into consideration and find some kind of compromise is the sign of a great leader.”

In Hershey, the 42 Peddie students won the Outstanding Delegation award for consistency of performance and for meeting all program procedures and deadlines.

Other student delegates honored at the Hershey confer-ence were Katie Kichula ’14, who received the Premier First Year Delegate Award; Emily Herman ’13, who received the Premier Delegate Award and was elected chair of the Social and Humanitarian Committee for the 2013 conference; and Alexandra Seymour ’13, elected to serve as chair of the African Union Committee next year.

Meghan Kocar, faculty advisor to MUN, said the lessons learned through MUN are countless and all the activities are student-led. “They’re learning about current issues, but on top of that they’re building so many skills such as research, writing position papers, presentation skills, cooperative learn-ing and leadership,” she said. “It’s an amazing experience.”

MUN team leaders Ariana Tsapralis ’12, Henry McCarthy ’12, Mark Hagemann ’13 and Creel worked as mentors with their fellow students to prepare for the conference with research and writing position papers.

McCarthy and Tsapralis organized the first Model UN session at Peddie last year to allow more students to participate than are able to attend the off-campus events.

Students try roles as international ambassadors

Spring electives Students selecting electives for the final term of the year had over three dozen choices — more than enough to pique any interest. Among the classes currently being taught by Peddie faculty are:

• Creating New Worlds: Introduction to Science Fiction

• Abraham’s Path: The Literature of Judaism, Christianity & Islam

• On the Road Again: An Exploration of the Lost American Cowboy

• Organic Chemistry: The Science of Food

• Evolution of the Universe

• Empire and Commerce in the Golden Age of Piracy

• Comedy Improvisation

Where to next?If the Peddie Falcon leaves Hightstown and flies 7,400 miles east, he will find himself at Peddie’s sister school, EFZ in Shanghai, China. Strangely enough, if instead the Peddie Falcon flies west for the same distance, he will land atop the Modern School, Peddie’s sister school in Delhi, India.

Looking for clues as to where Head of School John Green intends to spot Peddie’s next sister school, we sent the Falcon out in other directions. Flying due north or due south landed the Falcon in unbearably cold conditions.

And then, the Falcon discovered…the tropics are nice!

Located 7,400 miles southwest of Hightstown in the South Pacific sits an archipelago of nine islands that make up one of the smallest nations in the world — the Polynesian nation of Tuvalu.

According to the Tuvalu Ministry of Communication, Transport and Tourism, the island boasts a “spectacular marine environ-ment consisting of a vast expanse of ocean interspersed with atolls, magnificent lagoons, coral reefs and small islands.”

Sounds perfect, Mr. Green.

Spring 2012 13

TSamuel “Sandy” Tattersall, who for more than three

decades has been primarily responsible for upholding some of the most spirited school traditions, will retire as dean of students at the end of the school year.

That Tattersall is both the faculty member least likely to draw attention to himself and arguably the faculty member whom each and every Peddie student knows, is only one of the contradictions that will make him one of the most memorable faculty members.

For students and alumni, it is difficult to imagine day-to-day life without Tattersall strolling across campus, standing in the wings during community meeting, wandering through the dorms, facing the student body in the chapel, or standing in his corner of the sidelines watching Peddie football.

And, of course, he will be legendary due to Blair Week and his infamous Falcon call. Inspired by one of Tattersall’s heroes, Bruce Springsteen, he began performing his Falcon call during the Blair week community meeting in 1986 as a way to get the student body psyched to compete against their rival. It is ironic that a man who typically deflects

attention performs this annual stunt in such a spectacular way, whooping and falcon-walking across the stage until the building is in a state of complete pandemonium.

Head of School John Green said Tattersall’s legacy lies in two seemingly contradictory arenas — discipline and having fun. “To an outsider, it may seem odd that the campus disciplinarian is also at the epicenter of our school’s silliest and most treasured traditions,” Green said. Arriving at Peddie in the midst of former headmaster Ed Potter’s herculean efforts to both stabilize the school financially and improve its reputation, Tattersall was one of the integral supporters — and enforcers — of the “one shot” drug and alcohol policy instituted at the school.

Tattersall is credited for sustaining, and sometimes initiating, many of the traditions students hold most dear: Head’s Day competition, dorm softball, spontaneous mid-week cookouts, and Pepsi and Twinkie day. As Tattersall explains, “We need to preserve the kid part of being a kid. They need to get outside and play.”

TATTERSALL’S LAST CALL

14 Peddie Chronicle

T and advice to teenagersWe all learned many life lessons from T. At 43 years old, many of the lessons learned seem obvious, but at 16, T understood that we needed wisdom and insight. T would remind us to think before acting; but if you did forget to think (as is the case with most 16 year olds) and you acted inappropriately, he would say, “Don’t brag about it to your friends. Because talking about it is not a formula for longevity or success.”

— Steven Swan ’86

T as cornerstoneTall, regal, quiet, admirable, approachable and caring, T has made the world a better place because of his involve-ment and importance in student lives during his Peddie tenure. I consider T the cornerstone in the foundation of my Peddie education and boarding experience.

— Greg Fischer ’92

T and the ridiculousI can remember watching Miami Vice on a weekly basis with other kids in his apartment, and once a huge mashed potato fight in his apartment. How can these ridiculous moments affect a student’s life in a positive way? Well, these moments ultimately show that a “true” educator doesn’t only focus on academics. A true educator forms relationships with students and finds something special in each one that will eventually make him/her shine. Every year, I make it a point to discuss with my own children, as well as my students, those people who influence our lives and how we can influence others. Sandy Tattersall has always been my primary example.

— Abby Loughlin ’85

T and the Twinkies/Pepsi comboI was eighteen and working as a counselor at camp. I had some free time in the afternoon and decided to go to town to get a package of Twinkies and a Coke. At the store, I grabbed a package of Twinkies and went to the soda cooler. It was one of the old ones that you slid the top open to get a soda with all kinds mixed together. They were all out of Coke so I searched for a Royal Crown Cola. No RC to be found, so I settled for a Pepsi. May have been the first Pepsi I ever had, since I was raised on Coke. I went out to my car to sit and eat the Twinkies and drink the Pepsi. I ate the Twinkies and then opened the Pepsi, wishing it was a Coke. I took a couple of sips and it was like a religious experience. I heard music, but the radio was off. I had never tasted anything so good. I had found the nectar of the gods. I have had only Pepsi since that day — never had another Coke. At restaurants, I will always ask if they have Pepsi, if not I drink ginger ale.

— Samuel Tattersall

T and disciplineWhen I left Peddie in 2001, I told many people that I thought Sandy was the best dean of students I had ever known or with whom I had worked. To this day, I still believe this and I know that he made my job much easier. Sandy had an incredible relationship with students and they always seemed to know that he cared about them. Perhaps, most importantly, students truly respected Sandy. As a consequence, I really believe that Sandy was almost always able to get to the bottom of every discipline case we experienced. Sandy has a unique ability to know when kids are telling the truth and I had great confidence that he would always find the truth. I don’t believe he ever let me down.

— Former Headmaster Tom DeGray

T and Peddie footballThe crowd surrounding Sandy in the corner of the scoreboard end zone has evolved over the years, most recently being composed usually of just Sandy and me (and, of course, Harry Holcombe, who appears sometime during the second quarter and misses most of the action due to his chatter). Over the years, we have been joined by semi-regulars like Barry Lupovich and Bill Leese and Kate Higgins. And, of course, there were the Headmasters: Ed Potter (“Contain the ends!!!”), Tom DeGray (“Who hired these officials?”), and John Green, who invariably utters “I’m getting nervous” at every close game.

— Bill McMann, English department chair

T and core school valuesI challenge all to read the Peddie mission statement, including both the philosophy and values. The philosophy opens with “the Peddie community believes in the dignity and worth of all individuals.” The values are “respect, honesty, scholarship, balance and courage.” Our gentle giant, Sandy “T” Tattersall, has been a fine example of this philosophy and core values for decades, influencing countless young adults.

— P.J. Horgan ’84

Spring 2012 15

1. Raymond Oram2. Sandy Tattersall and P.J. Horgan ’84 (back row, left to right) paid tribute to F. Edward Potter. Representing the Potter family are (middle row, left to right) Potter’s wife, Hillary; daughter, Tappen Potter ’89 and son, Reid Potter ’82 and Tappen’s daughters, Hillary, Margaret and Hattie (front row, left to right).3. Head of School John Green presents Raymond Oram with a Peddie School memento.4. Harry Holcombe leads the procession of faculty during the Founders Day ceremony.5. The Potter family arrived on campus in 1977. (left to right) Hillary, Reid (3), Tappen (6) and F. Edward Potter

The more we accomplish, the more we dare

1 2

4 5

16 Peddie Chronicle

To read the full tributes to Oram and Potter, visit www.peddie.org/chronicle

The Founders Day tradition began in 1895 to honor Thomas B. Peddie, whose $25,000 donation rescued the school from bankruptcy in 1872. Today, the tradition continues each February as a tribute to the school’s past leaders responsible for leaving a lasting legacy of loyalty, integrity and vision.

A two-time recipient of the Dr. Wilbour Eddy Saunders Society Award for excellence in classroom teaching, Oram’s impact on Peddie was immeasurable, as head of the science department and as assistant headmaster. He retired in 1999 after 35 years of service.

At the ceremony, he was lauded by friend, colleague and current faculty member Elizabeth Tennyson as a person who, “saw Peddie through many of her changes over the years, and wore many different hats.” Oram was perhaps best known for the way he related to his students. “Ray knew his students; he understood them and he helped them to dream about their futures,” Tennyson said.

English teacher Jan Loughran ’77 said Oram was among those who made her want to become a teacher. “His attitude was important because this was the beginning of coeducation at Peddie. He made it clear that he thought that girls were smart and that they could be scientists, too,” she said.

F. Edward Potter, 13th headmaster of Peddie, served the school from 1977 until his sudden death in 1988. Potter was praised by current faculty member Samuel Tattersall and alumnus P.J. Horgan ’84 as a leader who arrived at Peddie at a point in time when both its reputation and finances were in a precarious state. He turned the school around and, with the integral help of Ambassador Walter Annenberg ’27, set it on a successful course.

Quoting Potter as believing, “The more we accomplish, the more we dare,” Tattersall said, “It was almost as if he could see Peddie’s future.”

Horgan, speaking directly to the student body, asked that they “utilize the legacy of Headmaster Potter to understand the foundation he helped build. Remember, this is our house, our family.”

“Ray knew his students; he understood them and he helped them to dream about their futures.” — Elizabeth Tennyson

The more we accomplish, the more we dare

The Peddie community gathered for Founders Day to honor beloved headmaster F. Edward Potter and long-time teacher and science department chair Raymond F. Oram.

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Spring 2012 17

Watch a video on the making of “Into the Woods” at www.peddie.org/chronicle

The winter production of “Into the Woods” engaged a cast of 23 performers, a crew of two dozen, and a 15-member student pit band for three musical performances at the William Mount-Burke Theatre.

The Broadway show by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine merges classic fairy tale characters into one tale full of love, hate, evil witches, vengeful giants, hungry wolves, and the struggle to live happily ever after.

Into the Woods

Two Peddie families share lifelong bondPhilip Herzig’s ’42 and Helene Phillips’ love affair began outside the Trask Dormitory in 1941. Helene and her parents drove from their home in Allentown, Pa., to visit her big brother,

Gerald, who had started Peddie just months earlier.

“I first met Philip at Peddie. I was only 14 years old and, of course, I was too young at the time to do anything,” Helene said. Her brother, meanwhile, became Philip’s best friend.

Despite their immediate attraction, Gerald Phillips ’42 didn’t know of the feelings between his baby sister and his best friend. Phillips and Herzig

graduated Peddie together that spring and together went to Princeton University as roommates. “Unbeknownst to me at the time, there was a mutual attraction,” Gerald Phillips recalls. “I learned in retrospect that it was love at first sight.”

It would be eight years before the two would marry, a period during which Philip would serve in World War II, return home, and graduate from Princeton. Also during that time, Philip penned a collection of letters written home to his parents during his service in World War II. Now, seven years after his death, Helene Herzig has collected those letters and published them in a book, Your Loving Son, Philip.

After the war, not only were the two Peddie boys reunited, but Philip and Helene saw each other for the first time in years. “That’s when we really fell in love,” Helene remembers of that visit in 1946. “As soon as I graduated college, we married.”

“I was absolutely comfortable with him marrying my sister. He was a fine fellow and a dear, lifelong friend,” said Gerald Phillips. “I had no objections whatsoever.”

The couple raised three children in the same Great Neck, Long Island, home where Philip had lived since he was four years old. It wasn’t until her husband’s death in 2004 that Helene went into the attic in search of some mementos of her husband. She found a box she never knew existed. Inside were medals, a Purple Heart her husband received, and a stack of letters he wrote between 1944 and 1946 to his parents. In the letters, he described life in war-time Europe.

“They were quite fascinating so I decided to put them into a book,” Helene said. “The letters are extremely interesting as a historical document.”

Your Loving Son, PhilipBy Philip R. Herzig ’42Edited by Helene P. HerzigMixed Media Memoirs, 2011

BOOKMARKS

Your Loving Son, Philip

Gerald Phillips, Helene Phillips and Philip Herzig in 1946

20 Peddie Chronicle

If you are an alumnus who has recently published a book and would like it to appear in the Bookmarks section, please send a copy of the book, along with the author’s bio and photograph, to: Chronicle Editor, Peddie School, 201 South Main St., Hightstown, NJ 08520. Books cannot be returned, but will be added to the alumni collection of the Annenberg Library.

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Filled with a detailed accounting of days at basic training and at service in Europe, the letters also report on the joy of receiving correspondence from home — even from his former headmaster. “Been receiving quite a few letters from the fellows still at Princeton and in the service. Also I received a very nice letter from Aunt Emma, some cookies from Aunt Mac and Dr. Saunders even wrote me a short note,” Herzig wrote from Camp Croft in South Carolina. “But the letters from home are still the best.”

His friend and brother-in-law, who corresponded with him throughout the war, wasn’t surprised how beautifully written the letters are.

“We were in Mr. Geiger’s English class together,” Gerald remembers. “I discovered at Peddie that he was probably the best writer in the class.”

Philip Herzig ’42 (right) visited with his Peddie classmate Gerald Phillips ’42 upon his discharge from the Army in 1946.

Florence Warner, a devoted Peddie employee for forty years, died Jan. 16 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton. She was 81.

Chances are that any student or faculty member who received mail at Peddie in the last forty years knew Warner. Serving under five headmasters, she worked tirelessly to deliver the mail and had offices in a variety of campus buildings, including Wilson Hall, two student centers, the mail hut and, most recently, Coates-Coleman Alumni House.

Her dedication to her work was tested in 2001, when an anthrax scare shut down the nearby Hamilton post office and bringing mail into the student center was deemed unsafe. Barely skipping a beat, Florence adjusted to her new location—the mail hut—and the mail continued to flow.

“Florence performed a behind-the-scenes job that was more challenging than many people realized,” said Paul Miller, head of security at Peddie, “and did so consistently and reliably for so many years. She is missed.”

At home, Warner treasured her dog, Valentine, and enjoyed watching NASCAR racing on television.

Predeceased by her parents Charles and Bertha Laarz and her husband Wallace G. Warner, Warner is survived by daughters Patricia Warner-Hillman and Linda Warner-Gasko; son-in-law John Gasko; grandchildren Johnny, Jaimee and Kaitlyn; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

OBITUARY

Florence Warner, mail clerk for 40 years

Spring 2012 21

Falcon Feats / Peddie athletes in college action

Bucknell University

Women’s Soccer

Casey Crowley ’08 — A four-year starter at outside back/midfield and 2011 team captain, Crowley earned a spot on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in each of her four seasons. In 2008, she registered the most playing time of any Bison newcomer, playing in 18 matches with six starts while notching the team’s Rookie of the Year award. She is a chemical engineering major.

College of William and Mary

Women’s Soccer

Katrina Smedley ’09 — Played 11 games at midfield for the No.14-ranked Tribe (17–3–2) who closed out their season with a loss to North Carolina in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. She started 22 of 34 matches during her first two seasons, scoring two goals and dishing out four assists.

University of Connecticut

Football

David Kenney ’09 — Red-shirted as a freshman, Kenney originally went to UConn as a defensive back and has been switched to an outside linebacker. He saw reserve action in 11 games during the 2011 campaign.

Cornell University

Field Hockey

Carolyn Horner ’10 — The sophomore, who played just nine minutes during her freshman season, posted a shutout in Cornell’s season opening 1–0 win against Villanova then helped Big Red to a 3–2 comeback win over Lock Haven in its home opener. Splitting duties with a senior goalie, Horner concluded the 2011 season with a 1.47 goals-against average and an .854 save percentage and one shutout.

Dartmouth College

Men’s Basketball

John Golden ’10 — The guard/forward has played in every game for the Big Green, averaging seven points and four rebounds per contest. He scored 12 points against Princeton, 13 against Central Michigan and netted a career-high 17 in an 83–67 win over Longwood.

Drexel University

Wrestling

Frank Cimato ’08 — Finished the regular season with an 18–11 mark at 141 pounds, including a No. 1 ranking in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 6–1 record.

Harvard University

Women’s Crew

Shelley Pearson ’09 — A member of the Radcliffe heavyweight champion-ship eight that finished second among 39 entries at the 2011 Head of the Charles Regatta in October, Pearson helped lead her team past all Ivy League entries, highlighting a strong team performance at the world’s largest two-day rowing event.

Haverford College

Men’s soccer

Dan Garfing ’09 — Started all 19 games at midfield for the Fords, finish-ing the season with a game-winning goal and two assists. Haverford lost the Centennial Conference championship game against Dickinson in a penalty kick shootout. Garfing has played in 52 straight matches with 35 starting assignments.

SPORTSHALL OF FAME

Three individual athletes and three teams will be inducted into the Peddie Sports Hall of Fame during Reunion Weekend on June 2 at 10:00 a.m. in Annenberg Library.

The 2012 honorees are:

1941 and 1942 Hockey Teams Jon Speck ’92, Wrestling Jim Wells ’92, Swimming Fall 2001 Girls’ Soccer Team Matt Pustay ’02, Baseball

A special tribute will honor Skip Masland ’49, founder of the Sports Hall of Fame, for his lifetime dedication to Peddie.

Taylor Pennell ’12 jumps to clear the bar.

Lafayette College

Women’s Soccer

Lauren Smedley ’09 — Named the 2011 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year, becoming the first back-to-back award winner in league history. Smed-ley’s eight shutouts in 2011 equaled the mark she set last year for the most in school history. She also climbed up the Patriot League ladder in career clean sheets, where she is currently tied for eighth all-time. Her .863 save percentage and goals-against average of 0.79 ranked her among some of the top keepers in the nation.

Northeastern University

Men’s Soccer

Nikko Lara ’10 — Started 16 of 19 matches as a defensive back/midfielder during his sophomore season, helping the Huskies to a 10–6–3 mark overall and a 6–4–1 record in the Colonial Athletic Association. During his rookie campaign, he started in all 16 games he dressed, leading all Huskies fresh-men in minutes played while earn-ing his first-career point on an assist against Hartwick.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Cross Country/Track

Jarrett Kunze ’09 — A Liberty League All-Academic honoree, Kunze finished third in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:34.57 at the NYU Team Chal-lenge at the New York City Armory in February. During the fall cross country season, he finished in the top half at the Engineer’s Cup, Saratoga Invitation-al, Pre-Regionals, and Liberty League Championships. As a middle distance runner, Kunze has competed in races from 600 to 1,500 meters. In the aca-demic arena, Kunze was named one of the 10 winners in RPI’s competition for innovative ideas to “Change the World.”

Temple University

Football

Matt Brown ’07 — Played in all 13 games with three starts, rushing for 916 and six touchdowns on 155 carries. As one of the top kickoff returners in the nation (26.7 yards per return), Brown tied the school record with a 100-yard return for a touchdown against Kent State. Brown had 49 yards and a touchdown in the bowl win over Wyo-ming. Brown has amassed 2,275 yards on the ground (5.6 yards per carry) and needs just one more TD to reach 20 in his career.

University of North Carolina

Men’s Soccer

Billy Schuler ’08 — The UNC All-American midfielder signed a profes-sional soccer contract with the Swedish club Hammarby IF for the 2012 season which began in February. Schuler finished his college career with 29 goals and 15 assists in 73 games at Chapel Hill. In his final season, he notched a career best eight game-winners while leading the Tar Heels to their first national championship in ten years. He was one of three finalists for the 2011 Herman Award, the highest honor given a Division I soccer player.

University of Pennsylvania

Field Hockey

MaryRose Croddick ’11 — Made an immediate impact at Penn, starting all 17 games as sweeper on defense. For her efforts, Croddick was named to the All-Ivy Honorable Mention team. Croddick played with a defense that recorded two shutouts during the sea-son. She was the only Quakers’ player to log every single minute during the course of the season.

Julia Cunningham ’13 powers through her final lap of butterfly. Taylor Pennell ’12 jumps to clear the bar. Blaise Mbargorba ’12 skies over defenders.

Spring 2012 23

Dillon Torno ’10 received the Coast Guard Commendation Medal for his heroic actions to save a woman’s life off the coast of New Jersey last summer.

Torno, a third class cadet at the Coast Guard Academy, was sailing near Long Beach Island with his father, Jeff, on their boat the Bay Hunter when they heard a distress call. Responding to the call, Torno learned that a swim-mer was floating face down and unconscious in the water. While communicating

with the Coast Guard via radio, the 19-year-old immediately took control of the lifesaving efforts.

Torno admits the sight of the pale woman was terrifying but the instincts he learned in first aid and CPR training overtook his emotions as he calmly began assessing her condition and administering CPR. Checking her pulse and unblocking her air passages, Torno brought the woman back to conscious-ness, although she remained delirious.

He continued to assist her, keeping her calm and still, until the boat reached the pier and the New Jersey State Police and EMTs took over.

Torno said he was well-prepared that day because of numer-ous life-saving courses he has taken. While a junior at Peddie, he participated in Trooper Youth Week with the New Jersey State Police, during which he first learned CPR training. When he entered the Coast Guard Academy, more training followed.

“I know any one of my fellow cadets would have done the same thing. That’s why we’re here after all — to answer the call and dare mighty things,” Torno said.

Torno was presented the award by Capt. John O’Connor, U.S. Coast Guard Academy Commandant of Cadets.

“The academy and the Coast Guard are very proud of Torno. His heroic actions resulted in the saving of a life and epitomize the Coast Guard’s motto of ‘Semper Paratus, Always Ready,’” O’Connor said.

Torno expects to graduate from the Coast Guard Academy in 2014 with a degree in civil engineering.

Alumnus receives Coast Guard Commendation Medal

Dear Fellow Falcon,Thank you for your gift to the Peddie Fund! I hope you know how much your generosity means

to students at Peddie. I am a senior this year and I am currently involved in in the pit band for

the school musical and in athletics. Both programs are paid for using money from the Peddie

Fund, and my experience has been very valuable. My growth and development at Peddie have

been possible because of generous donors like you. Thank you for suppor ting Peddie for me and

my classmates!Sincerely,Emily Dallas ‘12

In honor of Peddie Fund Week in February, students, faculty, and staff wrote more than 600 thank you cards to donors. Just one example can be seen above. Thanks to donors like you, Peddie continues to be the rich and rewarding community it has always been.

www.peddie.org/give

Father and Son Honor One Another at PeddieThe Milton H. Cunningham ’36 Charitable Remainder UnitrustDavid H. Cunningham of East Windsor, N.J., is at the center of his late father’s master plan for Peddie. Twelve years ago, Milton H. Cunningham ’36, the former Mayor of Hightstown from 1956–1964 and owner of Cunningham’s Pharmacy, set up a charitable remainder unitrust at Peddie for himself and his son. A substantial income tax deduction was available, and for six years until Milton’s death at 89 years of age, the resident of Meadow Lakes received trust payments from the school and visited campus regularly for Bell Society luncheons.

After all, Peddie was a Cunningham tradition: Milton’s grandfather, D. Hart Cunningham, served as secretary of the school’s Board of Corporators, and his parents, Milton H. Cunningham, Sr. and Josephine Hutchinson Cunningham, attended Peddie in the first decade of the 20th century. Peddie will eventually use the trust funds, according to Milton’s wishes, to create The Cunningham Family Endowment Fund, “for the upkeep of the Chapel, as well as faculty development.”

Son David met his wife, Mary Catherine, the daughter of Princeton architect John Diehl, at New Jersey’s School for the Deaf in Trenton. Together, they carry on another Cunningham family tradition: swimming and boating on the Jersey Shore. David recalled, “My best childhood memories are motor-boating and sailing with Dad and Mom in Mantoloking.”

It is no surprise that this couple was drawn to the new pool at the Ian H. Graham ’50 Athletic Center. After attending last year’s Bell Society luncheon, David, an avid and skilled boater, and Mary Catherine, an accomplished artist and PADI-certified open water diver, met Athletics Director Sue Cabot P’09 ’12 and soon supported the swimming program in memory of his father. A new set of record boards, Coach Greg Wreide ’95 said, “connects former Peddie greats like Olympians Nelson Diebel ’91, B.J. (Bedford) Miller ’90, and Royce Sharpe ’91 with the current generation of Peddie swimmers.”

When David and Mary Catherine stepped inside Ayer Memorial Chapel for Reunion Weekend’s Memorial Service, he reflected, “My father was a man of deep faith and loved Peddie, especially the Chapel. He would have been proud of how great the campus looks now.”

Top: David and Mary Catherine Cunningham, 2007, aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Bottom: David on “The Mermaid”, his 28-foot 2009 Sea Ray Sundancer, docked in Bayville, N.J.

.............................................................................................................Meet the Team

.............................................................................................................

Regina Ketting Mary Donohue Director of Gift Planning Gift Planning Manager 609.944.7615 609.944.7608 rketting@peddie.org mdonohue@peddie.org skype: regina_ketting

PEDDIE SCHOOL

THE BELL SOCIETY

Recognizing alumni and friends whose bequests or other planned gifts honor Peddie.

A charitable remainder unitrust (“CRUT”) is a flexible gift arrangement that affords payments to

you or your loved ones for life or a term of years. A minimum gift of $100,000 is required for this

individually-managed account. Your trust payments are based on a fixed percentage of at least 5%

of the trust corpus, re-valued as of January 1 each year. Factors used to determine your charitable

contribution deduction include the payout rate, IRS discount rate, and beneficiary age(s). Upon

request, Peddie School will provide you with a draft “CRUT” agreement and illustrations. Please

review gift documents with your attorney and tax advisor; Peddie does not give legal advice.

Milton H. Cunningham ’36

Long-time Peddie faculty member Betty Tennyson taught NJ SEEDS students in the early years, and learned a few things herself in the process. “Teaching math in NJ SEEDS helped me to learn that, given time and the necessary skills, all children can learn to their full potential,” she said. “But none of what is taught in the classroom can be fully realized without continuous support from the community.”

Admitting students in seventh grade, the program begins with a three-week academic, residential summer program followed by a week-long leadership week. In their eighth grade year, students are expected to attend Saturday classes, prepare for the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT), visit independent schools and complete applications. During the summer following eighth grade, the group completes a three-week residential program which prepares them for the transition to independent school life.

Peddie faculty member Mike O’Neill remembers joining NJ SEEDS as an English teacher in 1996. “It didn’t seem to be a coincidence that the SEEDS headquarters were here on Peddie campus. Students in the SEEDS program were (and continue to be) very Peddie-esque — loads of energy, enthusiasm and curiosity,” he said.

The program requires significant commitment — and sacrifice — from its students. “When students think about whether SEEDS is right for them, they really need to look inside and consider how committed they are to opening their own future: how hard they’re willing to work, how much they’re willing to study, what they are willing to give up and how much they enjoy excelling,” Denes said.

Edgardo Cortes ’98, a member of the first graduating class at NJ SEEDS, traveled to Peddie for all three phases of the program. “I lived in Willingboro at the time, which meant that I had to take a bus about 35–45 minutes every Saturday morning to get to Peddie to start classes. It was hard to explain to my friends why I was going to school in the summer and on Saturdays,” he said.

Cortes went from Peddie to Cornell, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 2002, and then to George Washington University, receiving a masters degree in political management. He currently serves as grants manager for the Virginia State Board of Elections.

“At first, the transition into the program was incredibly difficult,” said Paul Ampofo ’10. “I was not used to having to do that much work — for the first time in my life I was being truly academically challenged. During the summer, while my friends were going to the beach or on vacations, I was going to summer classes — and not for being a bad student! It was hard for me to understand the ultimate benefits I would re-ceive for making such a sacrifice at the time, but now, looking back on it, I would not have had it any other way.” Ampofo is currently working toward his bachelor’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania.

NJ SEEDS, a non-profit organization that has changed the lives of hundreds of motivated, high-achieving students from low-income families, is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

For 20 years, Peddie has been part of NJ SEEDS’ history as both a benefactor and a beneficiary since SEEDS opened its first offices in Peddie’s Longstreet Library in 1993.

Former Head of School Tom DeGray and current Head John Green have served on the NJ SEEDS Board of Trustees; faculty members Betty Tennyson and Mike O’Neill taught with the program during its early years; alumnus Bernie Sarlo ’03 currently serves as associate director of placement at NJ SEEDS; and a steady stream of NJ SEEDS graduates have attended Peddie every year since its founding.

The goal of the program has remained the same for 20 years: “To prepare qualified students for placement at competitive day and boarding schools, thereby empowering them to live lives of leadership, professional accomplishment and service to the community.”

“The heart of what we do stays the same,” said SEEDS president and executive director Ronni Denes. “NJ SEEDS was founded largely based on the fact that the independent schools were welcoming, but students needed support to acquire the skills necessary for success in rigorous academic environments.”

NJ SEEDS has strong Peddie roots

Paul Ampofo ’10 Jarrid Tingle ’09 Edgardo Cortes ’98

26 Peddie Chronicle

For some, though, there was a bright side to early morn-ings and free time devoted to studies. Andrea Ortega, a cur-rent Peddie freshman, loved Saturday school. “I dearly miss it,” she said. “It was the first time I was put in a community where everyone wanted the same thing for their future. The aura at school was so refreshing and fun that I didn’t even mind it. The teachers and deans were intelligent and caring. They truly increased my own love for learning.”

John Green, who served on the NJ SEEDS board of trust-ees from 2002–2010, said he is extremely proud that Peddie has been part of the SEEDS success. “SEEDS grabs students when they’re not sure which group they want to join — they’re not sure if this education thing is cool — but before some of the pressures to make the wrong choice are prevalent,” he said. “They place students into a system where they’re surrounded by other like-minded kids. SEEDS gives students that extra leg up, so that when they are surrounded by other motivated, bright kids, they don’t perish — they thrive.”

And thrive they have. With 91 percent of SEEDS alumni having earned or currently working toward a four year college degree, the program has proven it works, and has been rec-ognized both locally and nationally. NJ SEEDS received both the Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Award and the Mutual of America Community Partnership Award.

Green added that while the program clearly benefits its students, Peddie has also benefitted by having 23 SEEDS graduates as its students. “Diversity of interest, experience and background contributes to a much more eclectic and electric learning situation,” explains Green. “It broadens stu-dents’ perspectives in a way that changes their lives forever.” At Peddie, NJ SEEDS grads become leaders in the classroom, on the field, on the stage, and in the dormitory, he said.

Currently, four Peddie students are graduates of the SEEDS Scholars program, and they say the SEEDS-Peddie connec-tion is strong.

“Everyone at SEEDS was very in tune with how all of us were doing,” senior Kevin Maldonado said, “and I see the same thing here at Peddie. The degree of citizenship and community are comparable — and I am proud to be part of such camaraderie.”

Amy Carcamo ’14 sees similarities in the cultures of SEEDS and Peddie. “Both have incredible teachers that are always there for the students and Peddie is full of diversity just like SEEDS,” she said.

Jarrid Tingle ’09 credits NJ SEEDS for the “future-oriented” mindset that led him through Peddie and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he is currently a ju-nior with a concentration in finance. “Both SEEDS and Peddie are similar in the sense that they have high expectations, and ensure that students are conscious that their work is effec-tively an investment in their future,” he says.

“I am tremendously proud of the relationship between Peddie and NJ SEEDS as both an alumnus and SEEDS staff member,” says Bernie Sarlo ’03. “Forty percent of Peddie’s students receive financial assistance, which is a clear indica-tion of the school’s commitment to social and economic diver-sity. Secondary school can be a difficult time for any student, but I always felt that Peddie was an inclusive environment where students could grow and find themselves, regardless of their background.”

Pictured above: Current Peddie students who graduated from NJ SEEDS are (left to right) Kevin Maldonado ’12, Andrea Ortega ’15 and Alexie Muriel ’15. Missing from the photo is Amy Carcamo ’14.

“SEEDS gives students that extra leg up, so that when they are surrounded by other motivated, bright kids, they don’t perish — they thrive.” — Head of School John Green

Spring 2012 27

56 Peddie Chronicle

By Joe Clark ’05

I often think back to the days seven years ago when Justin Kang ’05 and I would sit down with John Green every Tuesday and catch up about what was going on around campus.

I believe those Tuesday meetings capture a part of what makes Peddie special: it is a unique school where the head of school takes time every week to hear from, and communicate with, the student body representatives. That

relationship between student and teacher, coach and athlete, mentor and protégé is a special one that I have yet to find elsewhere. I must say my other alma mater, Davidson College, also did a good job in this arena, which is one of the reasons I love it so much. I am still “Facebook friends” with many of my Peddie teachers and coaches and still consider them advisors, teachers and friends. They may no longer be my teachers in the sense of purveyors of academic material, but rather, are guides who relay previous experiences and lessons of life and community.

I still keep in my wallet an email Mr. Clements sent me during my sophomore year and I read it on occasion; I still hear John Leonardis’ words of encouragement when I face a challenge; and I still recall those Tuesday conversations if ever I feel overwhelmed about the gap between me and my superiors.

Peddie faculty always had a way of making students feel as though we were all equal, which, perhaps ironically, had the effect of bolstering respect and appreciation for our teachers and advisors. It is this dynamic, in conjunction with an academic environment that will appreciate yet challenge your every thought, an artistic environment that will push you to open your mind and imagine what you never thought possible, and an athletic environment that can nourish a first-time freshman trying a new sport and challenge an all-American Division I-caliber athlete reaching for the top in the same program, that makes Peddie special.

Peddie is a community that respects and nourishes every member through bad times and good. I hope to remain a part of that community for years to come and look forward to what the future holds for Peddie and what Peddie holds for the future.

Joe Clark, the student body president from the class of 2005, currently lives in New York City working for Citigroup.

Have a Falcon Reflection of your own?

With this issue, the Chronicle begins a regular feature of alumni memories of Steady Old Peddie. We welcome your submission. Please send your reflection (500 words or fewer) to editor@peddie.org. We regret that we cannot publish all submissions.

FALCoN REFLECTION

Athletic trainer Jose Roca wraps the foot of a player in 2012.(turn to inside front cover to see the original photo from 1938.)

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