MARCH 2025 NEWSLETTER | VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 | | ALUMNI WEEKEND IS WHEN WE ALL COME TOGETHER! | | We hope you will join fellow Tafties on campus to connect, cheer, collaborate, and celebrate! Classes ending in 5 & 0 will gather for milestone reunions, but there will be special events for all alumni, including Collegium Revisited, an informal musical gathering of Collegium alumni followed by a reception in honor of retiring faculty member Bruce Fifer. Mark your calendars for May 9-10, 2025—we can't wait to welcome you back! | | | |
Remembering John Wynne
John Wynne, a beloved teacher, coach, and mentor at Taft from 1965 to 2000, passed away on February 24, 2025. His impact on generations of students and athletes is immeasurable, and his legacy will live on in the spirit of Taft wrestling. "John was a true model of the best of boarding school educators," said Head of School Peter Becker '95.
Join us for a reception in his memory on Friday, May 9, at 4 p.m. in the Wrestling Room at the Cruikshank Athletic Center.
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Holcombe T. Green Jr. '57: Service and Dedication
In recognition of a lifetime of service and his steadfast dedication to Taft, Holcombe T. Green Jr. '57 will be honored with the 2025 Horace Dutton Taft Alumni Medal. The award—Taft's highest honor—will be presented during the Old Guard Dinner on Friday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the Moorhead Wing.
"Few, if any, Taft graduates have served both their school and their community throughout their lifetime with the warmth, imagination, intelligence, and generosity of this year's Horace Dutton Taft Alumni Medal recipient, Holcombe Green," noted John Merrow II '59. "For the past 12 years, I've had the privilege of serving on the Committee that selects the recipient, and this year's decision was perhaps the easiest we've ever made."
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Coed Alumni Hockey Game &
Celebration of 50 Years of Girls' Varsity Ice Hockey
On February 22, we were thrilled to welcome back so many alumni, families, players, and coaches, many of whom took to the ice to participate in the traditional "Scotty Cup" Alumni Hockey Game, played in tribute to Scott Richardson '82. This year, we also celebrated and recognized all those who led the way in developing and growing the girls' varsity ice hockey program at Taft. From the first group of girls who laced up their skates to longtime Coach Patsy Odden and other dedicated coaches, so many Taft community members worked together to launch what would become a storied tradition of teamwork, grit, and achievement. Special memories were shared—and even more were created! Enjoy the slide show and photo galleries below.
| | In March, Head of School Peter Becker '95 and Chief Advancement Officer Lawrence Crimmins enjoyed connecting with Taft constituents in Seoul, Beijing, Taipei, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Singapore. They also visited Benenden Bilingual School in Guangzhou, China, created in part through support from Adrian '98 and Jennifer Cheng. | | SAVE THE DATE: UPCOMING EVENTS | | |
Niro Satchi Feliciano '94, LCSW: Teens, Anxiety, and Resilience
Taft parents and alumni are invited to join Amy Julia Becker '94 for a virtual conversation with psychotherapist, author, and frequent Today Show contributor Niro Satchi Feliciano '94, LCSW, about anxiety among teenagers and how parents and educators can help them develop resilience. The event will take place on Tuesday, April 22, from noon to 1 p.m. EDT. Registrants will have the opportunity to submit questions during the registration process and during a Q&A session at the end of the event.
Please register for the April 22 program below; a Zoom link will be sent to all registrants prior to the event.
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Music for a While
A signature program at Taft, Music for a While performances feature professional musicians from across the globe, as well as local musicians and Taft students. They represent all genres of music from folk and funk to chamber and chorale. All performances are free and open to the public; no tickets are required. Upcoming concerts include Sonic Fireworks with Organist Daniel Scifo on March 30, at 4:00 p.m., in Woodward Chapel. Music for a Great Space with Collegium Musicum and guest musicians will take place on April 11, at 7:00 p.m. in Woodward Chapel and on April 13, at 4:00 p.m., at St. Luke in the Fields Church in New York City. During Alumni Weekend, flautist Vanessa Holroyd '90 and friends will perform on Saturday, May 10, at 2:30 p.m. in Walker Hall. Please view the schedule for details.
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Taft Appoints Sara Metzger Deveaux as Assistant Head of School for Faculty and Academics
After a nationwide search, Head of School Peter Becker '95 has appointed Sara Metzger Deveaux as Taft’s new Assistant Head of School for Faculty and Academics. "With her deep experience in boarding school leadership at Westminster and her work advancing excellence in teaching through Loomis’s Kravis Center, Sara is exceptionally well prepared to lead and support Taft’s faculty and academic programs," said Becker.
A distinguished educator and leader in faculty development, pedagogy, and world language instruction, Deveaux currently serves as the Director of the Henry R. Kravis '63 Center for Excellence in Teaching at the Loomis Chaffee School. Her career spans more than three decades in independent schools, including leadership roles at Westminster School and consulting work for institutions such as Harvard-Westlake and The Browning School. At Taft, Deveaux will provide strategic leadership in academic excellence, faculty development, and institutional growth.
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Morning Meeting with LCDR Keefe Rafferty '10: Living a Lifesyle of Non ut Sibi
Each year, Taft invites a Morning Meeting speaker to campus to deliver a Veterans Day talk. This year, members of the Taft community were honored to hear from Lieutenant Commander Keefe Rafferty '10, who is on active duty in the U.S. Navy. Rafferty graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a BS in oceanography and from the University of Southern Mississippi with a master’s degree in hydrographic science.
"The concept of service has many forms and meanings," Rafferty told the Taft community during his Morning Meeting talk. "I would offer that it is centered on the pursuit of selflessness: putting others before self—a lifestyle of 'Not to be served but to serve.' It is the mindset and outward actions that reflect a servant leader—someone who takes responsibility not only for their actions, but for those around them."
Click directly on the image above or on the button below to watch Rafferty's all-school presentation from November 11.
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Our Nation's History and Dr. King's Legacy
Taft’s multiday recognition of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a powerful exploration of America’s complex history. In November, six Taft students and three faculty members traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, where they visited the acclaimed Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. Collectively, these spaces are known as The Legacy Sites; they offer an immersive journey through a complex American history fraught with racial oppression and injustice. They also provided a foundation and starting point for Taft’s transformational 2025 Martin Luther King Day experience.
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Winter Play: The Importance of Being Earnest
Oscar Wilde called his play, The Importance of Being Earnest, "a trivial comedy for serious people." It is a clever tale of double lives, romance rooted in ruse, manners, and societal norms, brought to life in spectacular fashion on stage in Taft's Woodward "Black Box" Theater during Winter Family Weekend. Watch the performance by clicking on the video above and view the photo gallery below.
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Dance Ensemble Winter Concert
Taft’s annual Dance Ensemble Winter Concert in February showcased the talent and artistry of our student dancers, bringing a dynamic mix of movement, music, and creativity to the Bingham stage. Congratulations to all performers and choreographers and to Ms. Surber! Watch the performance by clicking on the video above and view the photo gallery below.
| | | WorldFest, Taft’s annual celebration of the many cultures represented in our community, brought traditional foods, music, art, dress, and customs from across the globe to Main Hall in February. | | |
Winter 2025 Season News
The winter 2025 season was marked by competitive success across a range of sports. Notable highlights include boys' varsity hockey claiming the Founders League champion title and boys' varsity squash securing second place in the Class A New England Championships. Girls' varsity skiing finished in second place in the NEPSAC Class B Championships. Girls' varsity basketball capped off their season with signature wins over Kingswood Oxford, Pomfret, and Deerfield, before closing on a four-game winning streak.
To explore these and other standout moments for all winter teams, please click on the links below. Go Big Red!
| | April 17, 2025: Taft's Day of Giving | | |
In a word, what makes Taft Taft? Growth.
At Taft, students grow as creators, athletes, scholars, and leaders, rooted in a community that cultivates curiosity, kindness, and service. Your generosity fuels Taft’s growth—helping students flourish, programs thrive, and our mission endure.
Every gift supports Taft students, their boundless potential, and the impact they make on the world.
Feeling inspired? Gifts received before April 17 count toward Day of Giving totals.
Thank you!
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