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Click here for Alumni Interactive _____________________________________________________________________________________ In Memory of Randal Castleman 
It is with
profound sorrow that we share with the
entire Horace Mann School community news of
the passing of Randal Castleman, on
Saturday, February 20, 2010, following an
extended bout of pneumonia.
Dean Castelman was one of the brightest
stars in the Horace Mann constellation, a
treasured part of this School and its
tradition in countless ways. As Head of
School Dr. Tom Kelly said in informing the
community of Dean Castleman’s passing:
“Since his arrival at Horace Mann School in
January 1978, Randal Castleman
has contributed
to the very essence of HM in so many
purposeful ways. From our libraries, to our
course offerings, to many of the policies
and procedures that continue to govern how
we teach and care for our students, his keen
insight serves as a shining example of the
tremendous effect one person can have on a
community. Randal's presence on our campus
will be missed by all.
Our
thoughts and prayers are with Randal’s
family, especially his wife Cornelia Locher,
and his children, Matthew ’04 and Laura
’08.”
Beloved by fellow faculty members, students,
and alumni alike, Randal Castleman came to
Horace Mann School as
Head Librarian of
the Theresa Loeb Library, and also taught
English. Over the years he headed HM’s
Summer School, served as Head of the Upper
Division in 1992, was Chair of the Upper
Division English Department and held the
position of Dean of Students, Grades nine
through twelve. At the time of his death
Randal served as the Associate Dean of
Student Life.
He also
participated actively in many committees
toward the betterment of the School.
A small sampling includes:
the Committee on
Instruction (Chair), the Faculty Benefits
and Compensation Committee and the Financial
Aid Committee. “His love and
commitment to the students he advised and
mentored are legendary,” wrote Dr. Kelly and
HM Board Chair Steven M. Friedman ’72 in a
memorial in The New York Times. They also
remembered Dean Castleman for his “keen and
well-honed” wit and sense of humor.
“His ready smile and affability were all
part of his wonderful persona. An
accomplished athlete in his own right,
Randal coached boys’ and girls’ varsity
soccer for several years. His love of jazz,
theater, English prose and poetry, and
his voracious
appetite for reading and storing and sharing
knowledge were inspirational. A dignified,
reserved individual, he was, nevertheless,
passionate in striving to help others.
Randal was a man of strength and integrity
who fought a courageous battle against the
serious disease that afflicted him at the
height of his career. Randal developed
professional and personal relationships with
HM parents and students, HM Trustees and
administrators, HM Faculty and staff, HM
alumni and with HM associates that span
decades.
Randal Castleman was known
for his expertise in the intricacies of
English grammar and usage, as well as for
the way he taught the subject—demanding
excellence of his students, yet in a way
that celebrated their accomplishments as
writers and grammarians themselves. It was
this special quality that made him a “most
memorable” teacher to so many.
Alex
Counts ’84, founder, president and CEO of
the Grameen Foundation, is among those
alumni. In 2007 Counts was honored with the
Horace Mann Alumni Council’s Award for
Distinguished Achievement for his
work toward poverty alleviation. Counts
invited Randal
Castleman to the dinner in his honor, and
singled him out as his most inspiring
teacher. “When I went to HM, he was
the librarian but he also taught one
tenth-grade English class,” said Counts, in
his award acceptance speech. “He taught it
with such devotion, it is difficult to
describe. I have never taken a better taught
course in my life, and I doubt I ever will.
“He put so much of himself into it, and his
effort showed. It inspired me. You see, I
had come from the public school system to HM
in seventh grade. It took me some time to
catch up with those who had been in private
schools from kindergarten onwards. By tenth
grade, I had caught up in all subjects,
except English. I figured that I would
always lag in that area. One day, Mr.
Castleman gave us an assignment, and I wrote
the paper and put it aside. Something about
how hard he worked, and how much he seemed
to believe in each of us, prompted me to
re-write the paper later that night,
so I could give him an essay that was at
least a bit better than my first attempt.
When the assignment came back, it had a
grade on it that I would never have imagined
I would get in English – an A minus. I
remember to this day where on the paper he
wrote that grade, what his handwriting
looked like.
“From that point on during my time at HM,
and well beyond those years, I cultivated a
love of writing. At various points in my
career when I was stuck, my writing helped
take me to the next level. Mr. Castleman,
thank you for making that all possible
through your incredible efforts that changed
my life, and those of many, many others,” he
said that evening.
Alexandra Guarnaschelli ’87, executive chef
at Butter restaurant kept in touch with Dean
Castleman over the years, receiving a note
from him as recently as December 2009.
Reflecting on her teacher’s influence she
said, “I think my
biggest memory of Randal Castleman is the
way he made me feel. He would preside over
the library, like a gentle lion, watching
over the students. If you caught his eye, he
would give you a small, mischievous grin and
go back to his work. He was also my teacher
for South African literature. He spoke to
each of us as if he were a teacher and
student of life both.
“He always made me want to ask
more of myself, dig deeper, and learn! I
will miss both the kind man and gifted
teacher that he was. As a chef, I strive to
teach my cooks with the same skills he
showed me and I think that is the way he
would most like me to honor his memory,”
said Guarnaschelli.
The Class
of 2004 also showed their deep appreciation
for their grade dean when they dedicated
their
Mannikin
in his honor. “To the Class of 2004 Mr.
Castleman is a teacher, a dean, parent and
mentor. He is an active member of the
community attending athletic matches, arts
performances and student organized dinners.
We are honored to have been able to develop
such a unique relationship with our grade
dean.”
Learning that their dean had undergone
treatment for a brain tumor during the
summer before their senior year, and
realizing that he had returned to Horace
Mann remarkably quickly that fall to
continue teaching and advising, the
Mannikin
editors wrote: “Mr. Castleman demonstrated
the resilience and strong character he has
been known for throughout his career at
Horace Mann. His example served as a
valuable lesson to students, faculty, and
parents alike.”
But perhaps it was with the words that
Randal Castleman himself penned, in his
commencement message to the Class of 2004,
that he expressed his lasting legacy of
hope. “Think of all of the things you’ve had
a chance to do here—of the games and the
concerts and the plays and the publications
and the conferences,” he told the Class.
“When you think back on your time at Horace
Mann, I don’t believe you’ll think first of
buildings. You will remember your friends,
both fellow students and teachers. You will
remember what you got to do here. Because
Horace Mann is…creative and energetic people
coming together to do exciting things.”
Recalling his own experience in his youth,
Dean Castleman wrote, “When I was a young
kid, about 7 or 8, I always wanted time to
go faster. ‘I wish summer would get here,’
I’d say to my mother. One day Mom just
smiled and said simply, ‘Never wish your
life away.’ That is my message to you: Never
wish your life away…enjoy the here and now.”
The Castleman family is conducting a private
service in memory of their beloved husband
and father. A memorial at Horace Mann
School, open to the community, will be held
in the near future.
 Notes
of condolence can be mailed to:
The Castleman
Family
6 Medea
Place
White
Plains, New York 10605
The
Castleman family has asked that donations in
Dean Castleman’s
memory be
made, as he had requested, to:
Horace Mann
School – Financial Aid
231 West
246th Street
Bronx, New
York 10471
_____________________________________________________________________________________
CLASS OF 2009 Reunion
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Simon Parisier ’53, Pioneer Surgeon
in Treating Hearing Impaired, is Named 2009
HM Distinguished Alumnus
 Dr.
Simon Parisier ’53 is known as a “Hearing
Hero” by hundreds of hearing impaired
children and adults whose lives he has
changed for the better. He is a pioneer
developer of the cochlear implant—a device
that effectively restores hearing to those
able to benefit from its use. For hundreds
of others with hearing impairments that
preclude implants Dr. Parisier’s work as a
surgeon, researcher and hearing advocate has
enhanced their engagement with the hearing
world.
Dr. Parisier is also a Horace
Mann School Distinguished Alumnus—the latest
HM alumnus to be honored with the Alumni
Association Award for Distinguished
Achievement. The award was presented on
November 10, 2009 at a dinner at the Waldorf
Astoria Hotel in New York City, where Dr.
Parisier was feted by family, colleagues,
members of the Horace Mann School Alumni
Council and HM administration, and by
longtime friends from his HM Class of 1953.
Active members of the Horace Mann School
community, where Dr. Parisier’s wife Elaine
Parisier, chaired the Parents Association,
the Parisiers are the parents of three
Horace Mann School graduates: David Parisier
’83, Nicole Benardete ’85, and Lauren Weiss
’87. They are also aunt and uncle to alumnus
Charles Stam ’08 and current student
Elisabeth Stam ’12 and the proud
grandparents of six grandchildren.
Pictured:The family of Dr. Parisier gathered
to honor the Horace Mann Distinguished
Alumnus
Left to right:
Nicole Parisier Benardette '85, Benardette,
Lauren Parisier Weiss '87, Kaitlin Weiss,
Dr. Simon Parisier '53, Jason Weiss, Elaine
Parisier, Rebecca Parisier, Ethan Parisier,
David Parisier '83, and Aaron Parisier
The Distinguished Alumnus Award
is bestowed annually by the Horace Mann
School Alumni Council and recognizes HM
alumni who have distinguished themselves
through their professional achievements.
During the 52-year history of the award
honorees have included Pulitzer
Prize-winning composer Elliott Carter ’26
and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Anthony
Lewis ’43 and Robert Caro ’53, Dr. Parisier’s classmate.
Pioneering solutions to hearing loss;
restoring hearing to hundreds
A noted otolaryngologist, by the late 1970s
Dr. Parisier was well into his career as an
ear surgeon, working to save failing
hearing. However, he was ever-frustrated
each time he had to tell the parents of a
deaf child that nothing could be done to
restore their child’s hearing. Thus, in 1979
when the cochlear implant made its first
appearance as an invention in the
development stage, Dr. Parisier was among
the first to explore and expand the use of
this device that is surgically placed in the
cochlea, restoring sound to deaf ears. Since
then Dr. Parisier has been a pivotal figure
in the development of cochlear implants and
is a leader in the surgical management of
chronic ear disease, hearing restoration,
and the cellular biology of cholesteatoma, a
destructive ear disorder.
Today, as a result of Dr. Parisier’s
efforts, many children born deaf have had
their hearing restored, developed normal
speech, achieved educationally in the
mainstream, and succeeded in the hearing
world. Moreover, profoundly deaf elderly
individuals who have had their hearing
restored have escaped the devastating
isolation of deafness.
Recognizing that surgical
intervention alone would not ensure a
child’s successful acquisition of the skills
needed to develop listening, spoken
language, thinking and learning, in 1983 Dr.
Simon and Mrs. Elaine Parisier co-founded
The Children’s Hearing Institute, a
not-for-profit agency at the New York Eye
Ear Infirmary which has provided educational
and clinical services for children with
cochlear implants, and has raised and
distributed over $14 million dollars to fund
cochlear implant research.
“Medicine, in my case, otology,
the specialty that treats ear diseases and
restores hearing, has been my avocation and
passion,” Dr. Parisier told those gathered
in his honor.
Dr. Parisier developed this
special interest during medical school and
as a resident. Following his graduation from
Horace Mann School Simon Parisier went on
for his undergraduate degree at Columbia
College, graduating in 1957. He then studied
medicine at Boston University School of
Medicine, completing his degree in 1961.
Pursuing his residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital
in New York City Dr. Parisier counted 1992
Horace Mann Distinguished Alumnus Award
honoree Dr. Arthur Aufses Jr. ’42 as “an
important mentor.”
Dr. Parisier was appointed
Chairman of Otolaryngology at Manhattan Eye,
Ear and Throat Hospital in 1983. In June
2004, he joined the New York Eye Ear
Infirmary as the Co-Director of their new
Cochlear Implant Center. The American
Academy of Otolaryngology awarded him both
an Award of Merit and its Distinguished
Service Award.
Addressing those gathered, Dr. Parisier
spoke of the great technological advances he
has seen throughout his medical career, but
also referred to the current debate on
health care in wondering whether all of
society would be able to benefit from these
advances. Citing Charles Dickens’ famous
opening of “A Tale of Two Cities” Dr.
Parieser said, “today, the technological
advances in medicine have been miraculous.
Curing deafness, unplugging coronary
arteries, deciphering the genome, gene
therapies, imaging techniques that allow us
to accurately view our inner body
structures, living longer are a few
examples. Truly, these are the best of
times,” he said.
“However, our society’s ability to provide
medical care to its citizens is problematic
and lags behind these scientific advances:
so “These may be the worst of times.”
Dr. Parisier thanked his wife,
Elaine, for advancing his work through her
founding of The Children’s Hearing
Institute, as well as for serving as his
editor for the many papers and speeches he
has presented throughout his career. He
acknowledged guests Leonard Boxer and Burt
Tansky, two board members of The Institute
who Elaine “recruited and who have helped us
succeed” in the mission of providing
assistance to the surgeon has been able to
help. And, Dr. Parisier expressed his deep
appreciation to Horace Mann School for the
education he pursued there, and that his
children benefitted from, and the Alumni
Council for honoring him with the
Distinguished Alumni Award.
A Distinguished Alumnus whose work
reaches into the HM community itself
Congratulating Dr. Simon Parisier '53 (center, holding award) on being honored as the recipient of the 2009 HM Alumni Council Award for Distinguished Service were (l to r) Alumni Council nominating committee co-chairs Bill Nightingale '49, Mickey Littman '52, HM Alumni Council president Justin Lerer '95, Chair, HM Board of Trustees Steve Friedman '72, and Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly. Presenting the Horace Mann School Distinguished Alumnus Award at the dinner HM Alumni Council President Justin Lerer ’95 noted that the School’s Award for Distinguished Achievement is bestowed upon deserving alumni after a careful nomination process. “This year, under the leadership of Bill Nightingale, Class of 1949, and Mickey Littman, Class of 1952, a committee of 16 members of the Alumni Council researched the accomplishments of many of our fellow alumni and, over the course of several meetings, came to the happy selection of Dr. Simon Parisier,” said Lerer. As he thanked the members of the nominating committee for their work Lerer also extended thanks to guests at the event, and particularly those who are members of Horace Mann’s Maroon and White Circle and Fellowship. “I know that the School greatly appreciates your generosity,” said Lerer. “I am proud to be part of an alumni body that so deeply loves its alma mater.” Before enumerating Dr. Parisier’s many accomplishments Lerer presented a short film about The Children’s Hearing Institute, produced in honor of the Institute’s 25th anniversary. The film “truly captures the impact that The Children’s Hearing Institute, and Dr. Parisier, have had and continue to have on the lives of so many children,” Lerer said. Horace Mann Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly greeted those gathered, in turn. Welcoming them to the “magnificent evening” Dr. Kelly described the occasion as “an evening when we come together as members of the Horace Mann School family to honor the towering achievements of one of our own. “We have just learned about some of Dr. Simon Parisier’s accomplishments as founder, with his wife Elaine, of The Children’s Hearing Institute. We will soon learn more about his work as a distinguished ear surgeon, a professor, a dedicated researcher on hearing loss, ear disease and its prevention, and perhaps most prominently, as a pioneer developer of the cochlear implant and a pre-eminent implant surgeon. “But, before Justin shares these biographical details with us, I would like to share with you just a few stories told by those Dr. Parisier has affected most. Dr. Parisier’s continuing development of the cochlear implant and his research related to hearing impairment has benefited well over 100,000 people worldwide. Among them are members of our own Horace Mann community,” said Dr. Kelly. “Listen, first, to this story from a Horace Mann alumnus who graduated from The New England Conservatory of Music and later lost his hearing. A pianist and vocalist, he tours the world today with his own swing band. Said the alumnus, ‘as a professional musician, my life and career were impacted greatly when I lost my hearing. I learned sign language and lip reading, and considered other careers. Then I learned about cochlear implants. I went through the process and felt integrated with the world again, and able to return to music. When I travel to other countries I often speak about my experiences at schools for the deaf. Getting the cochlear implant gave me the opportunity to spread hope to kids and parents all over. It has been a great gift,’” Dr. Kelly quoted. “Listen, next, to this story, from a Horace Mann administrator: ‘Our son was born with profound hearing loss. When he was two-years-old Dr. Parisier performed his surgery. It has been life-changing for our whole family that a child born with hearing impairment can connect with the hearing world. He is now 11. He participates in football, and anything else that interests him. He interacts with hearing children all the time. When I came to Horace Mann I had no idea Dr. Parisier was an alumnus. I feel that my being here brings our family full circle. Dr. Parisier was absolutely fantastic to us and to our son. We are eternally grateful,’” Dr. Kelly retold. “Finally, there is this story that I share now with my Horace Mann family. I became hearing-impaired through an athletic injury in college. Remarkable as Dr. Parisier's work is as a surgeon, as a hearing-impaired adult and as an educator, I value equally his comprehensive approach to hearing impairment. Dr. Parisier and his wife Elaine understood that surgical intervention alone would not ensure that a child develop listening, spoken language, and learning skills. Thus, they took the visionary step of founding The Children’s Hearing Institute to support the emotional and educational development of hearing-impaired children, and those who support them in turn,” said Dr. Kelly. “Dr. and Mrs. Parisier went the distance, and that is typical of the alumnus we honor tonight. One need only look back to the fall of 1952 for proof—when ‘Sy’ Parisier made his mark on the HM Varsity Football team in Coach Bill Quinn’s first season,” said Dr. Kelly, referring to the honoree by his nickname. Acknowledging former Lions’ football teammates present at the dinner, Dr. Kelly continued, “The ‘Quinnmen’ were taking a drubbing at the hands of Poly Prep. But then, as the Mannikin retells: ‘Led by a somewhat battered Rog Navarro, Tom Bartlett and Sy Parisier, HM held Poly scoreless and scored a T.D. themselves in the second half.’ “And what about that game against Trinity on November 14, 1952—57 years ago this week?” Dr. Kelly continued. Quoting the yearbook again, he said, “‘Parisier, running well from the fullback slot, scored twice. Horace Mann won its second game of the year 20-19.’ Finally, in a rain-soaked-last-game-of-the-year, our ‘Sy Parisier jumped out in a sea of mud in the first period’ and, together with his teammates ‘tallied 19 points,’” read Dr. Kelly. “Sy Parisier … remained a close friend of our School: He and Elaine gave Horace Mann their talented children to educate. But it was not enough for the Parisiers to cheer their children from the sidelines. Elaine threw herself into the life of Horace Mann as did her husband and children, and became Chair of the HM Parents Association. A Book Fair she launched remains an annual tradition, raising significant funds for Library-related activities, and additions to our collection. “With Dr. Simon and Elaine Parisier guiding the Children's Hearing Institute, with Sy’s Horace Mann alumni friends applauding his efforts, and with members of our community benefiting from his brilliance, the Distinguished Alumnus Award we bestow tonight represents a true moment of pride for the entire Horace Mann School family. “A proverb of ancient Arabic origin advises, ‘The mind is for seeing; the heart is for hearing.’ Tonight we honor a man who applied his considerable mind to seeing the needs of others... and who heard them with his heart,” Dr. Kelly concluded. A curious mind and powerful intellect combine to make a lasting contribution
Members of Dr. Simon Parisier's Horace Mann Class of 1953 participated in honoring their classmate. Before being joined by Dr. Parisier, the co-chairs of the Alumni Council nominating committee, Dr. Kelly and Chair of the HM Board of Trustees Steve Friedman ’72 for the award presentation, Justin Lerer resumed his account of the Distinguished Alumnus’ accomplishments. “To put it in the simplest and most amazing way, Dr. Parisier is a doctor who makes deaf people hear,” Lerer said. “His work provides children who were born deaf with the ability to hear for the first time, and restores the hearing of elderly people. What could be more remarkable? “Dr. Parisier has been especially passionate about working with children. As Dr. Parisier has noted, by giving children the gift of hearing, he allows them easier access to the speech and language skills that are essential to education,” said Lerer, referring to Dr. Parisier’s founding of The Children’s Hearing Institute. “As a medical researcher and educator, Dr. Parisier has been prolific. He has authored over 120 publications and made over 200 presentations. He has been honored with the Award of Merit and the Distinguished Service Award by the American Academy of Otolaryngology. And he has received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Boston University School of Medicine (where he was also appointed to the Board of Visitors),” Lerer recounted. “But before he was a doctor, Simon Parisier was a high school student—a precocious and daring one, in fact. He transferred into Horace Mann after completing sophomore year at his previous high school. As part of a deal worked out with Dr. (Mitchell) Gratwick, the headmaster at the time, Simon was permitted to skip junior year and go directly into senior year if he would take English and math in summer school. On his first day of summer school, Simon wanted to do some homework in the library, but the library was locked. But that didn’t stop him. He climbed in through an unlocked window. When Dr. Williams, the assistant headmaster, confronted him and asked if he usually climbed through windows to get into libraries, Simon responded that libraries were usually not locked. “Clearly, he was made for Horace Mann,” said Lerer. And Horace Mann was made for Dr. Parisier’s family as well, Lerer said, referring to the Parisier family’s profound connections to Horace Mann. “Just like he did not let a locked library door stop him from studying, Dr. Parisier has refused to let children go without hearing when his skill and ingenuity could help them. He has been called a “Hearing Hero” by New York Magazine. Tonight, we honor that heroism by presenting him with the Horace Mann School Association Award for Distinguished Achievement.” Remarks by Dr. Simon Parisier ’53 upon being honored with the 2009 Horace Mann Alumni Council Award for Distinguished Achievement
Dr. Simon Parisier '53 expressed his thanks
to the HM Alumni Council for his award and
his appreciation to his
alma mater for the education he
received and that would eventually launch
his career as a distinguished
otolaryngologist.
Remember the 1954 movie “On the Waterfront”
when Marlon Brando, riding in the back of a
limousine, tells his brother Rode Steiger, I
could have been a contender.”
At Horace Mann my passion was
sports, especially football and I was pretty
good. Against PolyPrep, one of a few games
that we won, I scored two touchdowns. The
game got a brief write up and I was
mentioned in the New York Times—something I
still have not gotten over. However, Coach
Quinn, our football coach set me straight.
“Parisier—you’re one step too slow.” So much
for my illustrious football career—on to
medicine!
It was the best of times, it was the worst
of times… Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities, 1859
Medicine, in my case, otology,
the specialty that treats ear diseases and
restores hearing, has been my avocation and
passion.
Forty-eight years ago I
graduated Boston University School of
Medicine. During my residency at Mt. Sinai
Hospital, Arthur Aufses Jr., the 1992 Horace
Mann Distinguished Alumnus Award honoree,
was an important mentor. At that time,
antibiotics and the control of infectious
diseases were the hot things.
In 1965, Lyndon Johnson, using
his political power, convinced Congress to
pass the Social Security Act which created
Medicare and Medicaid. His biographer Robert
Caro, my classmate, the winner of two
Pulitzer Prizes, received The Horace Mann
Distinguished Alumni Award in 1977.
Today, the technological advances in
medicine have been miraculous. Curing
deafness, unplugging coronary arteries,
deciphering the genome, gene therapies,
imaging techniques that allow us to
accurately view our inner body structures,
living longer are a few examples. Truly,
these are the best of times.
However, our society’s ability to provide
medical care to its citizens is problematic
and lags behind these scientific advances:
so “These may be the worst of times.
In
1964 Bob Dylan wrote “The Times they are a
changing”:
Come
senators, congressmen
Please
heed the call
Don’t
stand in the doorway
Don’t
block up the hall
For he
that gets hurt
Will
be he who has stalled
There
S a
battle outside
And it
is ragin’. It’ll soon shake your windows
And
rattle your walls
For
the times they are a-changin’.”
I am grateful to the many who
have contributed to my success: “No man is
an island entire of itself; every man is a
piece of the continent, a part of the main…”
John Dunn, 1624
I was privileged to graduate
Horace Mann, a School that provided me with
a strong educational foundation upon which I
was able to build my success. Elaine, my
wife for 48 years, has enriched my life and
greatly contributed to my success. A
graduate of Smith College, she taught high
school English and edited the numerous
papers I wrote. When our children were at
Horace Mann, she was extremely involved,
become the PA President.
In 1983, she founded the
not-for-profit Children’s Hearing Institute
and, working pro-bono, was the first
Executive Director, During the past 26
years, the Children’s Hearing Institute has
provided over $13 million dollars to support
The Cochlear Implant Center at New York Eye
and Ear Infirmary. Without her invaluable
enthusiasm and hard work, the pioneering
cochlear implant investigations that have
resulted in the elimination of profound
deafness would not have succeeded.
Two members of the Board whom
she recruited and who have helped us
succeed, Leonard Boxer and Burt Tansky, are
here tonight. Thank you both for coming.
I am extremely proud of my three
children who are also graduates of Horace
Mann and who have succeeded in their chosen
fields: David ’83, founded a successful real
estate company, Paradim, is married to
Rebecca Zim, a successful interior designer.
Dr. Nicole Parisier Beardete ’85, a
professor at the Gallatin School of NYU, is
married to Ethan Benardette, a neurosurgeon.
Lauren Parisier Weiss ’87, an entrepreneur,
founded a skin care product company, Basq,
and is married to Rick Weiss, a vice
president at Goldman Sachs.
Also, my nephew Charles Stam
’08, a former Student Body President,
graduated Horace Mann in 2007 and is a
sophomore at Columbia College. His sister
Elizabeth, a member of the Glee Club and
Fencing Team, is in 10th grade.
Four of our six grandchildren
were old enough to come tonight. Aaron and
Ethan Parisier, Katelyn and Jason Weiss.
Niki and Ethan’s two children, Chloe 4 and
James 3 months old, are at home.
It is very meaningful for me to
be recognized by the School that has
educated my family and to whom we are so
grateful. Thank you.
.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________ Horace Mann Homecoming Brings Hundreds to School and Reunions  The
outpouring of excitement at Horace Mann
School’s Homecoming 2009 made downpours
during the day only a minor inconvenience to
HMers of all ages who took part in the
festivities.
Throughout the
Saturday on October 24, 2009, hundreds of
Horace Mann alumni, students,
student-athletes, parents, faculty, staff
and family members convened on campus to
watch games, participate in fall festival
activities, reconnect at reunion luncheons,
play an alumni soccer game, and delight in a
sumptuous tailgate party barbecue spread.
The evening saw hundreds more alumni gather
for reunions at Pier Sixty at Manhattan’s
Chelsea Piers, and at other dinners in New
York City. Over 600 alumni exchanged
experiences, memories and addresses at
cocktail parties and dinners that lasted
late into the night. Representing the
Classes of 1944, 1949, 1959, 1964, 1969,
1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004
the alums hailed from all parts of the U.S.,
including California, Colorado,
Pennsylvania, Indiana, Florida, Vermont, and
New York, of course. Some arrived from
overseas, including one alumnus who came in
from Finland
Homecoming guests “Have a
Ball”
With one of the biggest
turnouts ever for a Horace Mann School
Homecoming, many alumni said they would like
to return to campus yearly, and not only for
their own class reunions. The children of
alums who had traveled distances to
participate in the day were wowed by the fun
they had at the School their parents once
attended. While the alumni reconnected and
recollected, children played carnival games
and jumped in an inflated obstacle course. A
stilt-walker presented the children with
balloon animals and hats as he met them
while strolling through the “Have a Ball at
Homecoming” fair organized by the Horace
Mann Parents Association. PA Homecoming
chairs Nicole Felton Ginsberg ’82 P ’14,
’16, ’20 and Aimee Friedman P ’21 worked
tirelessly with other parent and student
volunteers to provide a fabulous
sports-themed activity tent that was a
highlight of the day. Students representing
campus clubs and causes sold baked goods and
T-shirts to raise money for their
organizations and inform the HM community of
each one’s goals. All attending Homecoming
were treated to hot dogs, popcorn and cotton
candy, available under the tents that kept
reunion-goers dry. The patio outside the
Fisher Hall arts and dining center became a
picnic area and meeting place for all those
who enjoyed the hearty tailgate-themed fare
of burgers and franks, chili, ribs, and
buffalo wings, salads and fries, and hot
apple crisp, as well as such county-fair
foods as candy apples and hot pretzels,
provided by Horace Mann’s Flick catering
service.
The Class of
1959, which was celebrating its 50th
reunion, gathered for a luncheon under the
tent outside of the home of Head of School
Dr. Tom Kelly. The Class of 1984 kicked off
its celebration of its 25th
anniversary with a luncheon in the Cohen
Dining Commons in Fisher Hall.
Horace Mann
varsity teams, were nearly all victorious in
games throughout the day: the boys’ varsity
soccer team triumphed over Hackley 4 to 0;
girls varsity soccer scored 3 to 0 against
Holy Child; mixed varsity water polo scored
a 15 to 8 win over Trinity; and the girls
varsity volleyball team demonstrated its Ivy
League winning play in a 2 to 0 win over
Nightingale Bamford. The Lions football team
dropped one to Forman.
Alumni athletes were part of
the day’s play with about 30 alumni of HM
men’s soccer returning to Four Acres field
for the annual Dan Alexander ’49 Alumni
Soccer Game. Alums from classes of the 1960s
through recent graduates took the field
together—some to reconnect with one another,
with Alexander, a Horace Mann alum who also
taught and coached at HM, or to simply
experience the exhilaration of playing again
at their School.
A moment
in memory of Jon Kleier ’01
 The
day’s sports events were marked by a sad and
solemn moment at the start of the football
game. Before taking the field the players
and the entire Horace Mann community paused
to honor the memory of Jonathan Kleier ’01
who passed away in September 2009. Jon was a
captain of the football team and a devoted
Lions player in his days at Horace Mann and
the team dedicated the Homecoming Day game
in tribute to his spirit and the passion he
showed for football, his friends, and his
life at Horace Mann. Gathering his family
members, former teammates and friends onto
the center of the field the current Lion
captains presented football helmets with
Jon’s number 32 to his parents Michele and
Ian Kleier, and to his sisters, Samantha
Kleier Forbes ’90 and Sabrina Kleier
Morgenstern ’94. Throughout the season team
members had been wearing the number 32 on
their uniforms. The day provided an
opportunity for the HM community to share
memories of their beloved brother, son,
teammate, friend and former student.
Reunion parties draw hundreds
As the last of the student
groups packed up their bake-sale tables, and
the carnival games were retired for another
year, alumni began gathering downtown at
Pier Sixty, with its stunning views of the
Hudson River glimmering through the
rain-sparkled windows that set a magical
tone to the space this night. Hors d’ouvres
and cocktails flowed in the large party room
divided into sections to host the different
groups of alums. The largest room,
dramatically and colorfully lit, served as
the lively venue for the Classes of 1989,
1994, 1999, and 2004, whose graduates packed
the party. The Classes of 1959 and 1969
enjoyed dinners in private rooms that gave
them the chance to catch up with one
another, exchange news of recent life-cycle
events, and share memories of their days at
Horace Mann. In another area of the
sprawling space reunion-goers from the
Classes of 1974, 1979, 1984, and 1989
table-hopped to chat and catch up throughout
their dinners. The evening also saw 18
members of the Class of 1944 dining together
at a Manhattan restaurant 65 years after
graduating from Horace Mann. The Class of
1949 celebrated its 60th
anniversary at a series of events throughout
the weekend.
Pictured Left: Donald
Maggin, Fred Berman, Jack Lindner, Dick
Warner. Pictured Right: Donald Ravitch,
Jack Lindner, Ira Kaufman, Lester
Breidenbach.
Throughout the day and night
one refrain echoed across the Horace Mann
School campus, and at the parties all so
clearly enjoyed: Homecoming 2009 was a day
for truly coming home—to connect with
friends, teachers, and a School that has
played and continues to play so great a part
in the lives of so many.
Pictured
Left
Class of
'89. Listed from left to right:
Erica Modugno, Alex Morris,
Craig Title, Keith Malkin, Delmas Costin Jr,
Alex Woo, and Brandon Baer
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Changing the World, One Horace Mann-er at a Time To some these are days of uncertainty. To others, these are days of challenge. Still others see this time in history as one of opportunity—a time to answer the questions of our day with innovation. This has always been true for members of the Horace Mann School community—for students who whose learning adventures here were profound, and for the alumni who went on to address the needs of society through their ideas and intellectual pursuit. It has been this way for the teachers who inspired these alumni, and continue to inspire today’s exceptional students. This issue of Horace Mann Magazine reflects on some of the great ideas HM’s alumni have pursued in recent decades, and new ones among younger alums. Their stories are fascinating; their work significant. All share in common their dedication to striving for and attaining a goal. We hope you enjoy reading about these Horace Mann-ers, and about recent news of the School. Spring 2009 Horace Mann Magazine PDF _____________________________________________________________________________________
• Horace Mann Magazine Fall 2008 This issue focuses on physical education and athletics at Horace Mann, and offers brief profiles on some alumni who have involved themselves in sports. Athletics PDF Spring 2008 Horace Mann Magazine Highlights Science Studies at HM
The
spring
2008 issue of Horace Mann Magazine
highlights science studies at Horace Mann
today, taking readers on a tour of HM
science classes and labs from the Nursery
Division through grade twelve. The issue
also includes brief profiles of alumni from
throughout the ages who have made
significant contributions in the scientific
arena—in fields ranging from medical
practice to medical research, engineering,
space exploration, physics, biochemistry,
and more. Some of the younger alumni noted
in this issue are just embarking on lives of
scientific promise—alums like Alexi Nazem HM
2000, a medical student at Yale University
School of Medicine, who took time off before
entering medical school to work toward
improving the nation’s health-care-delivery
system. We hope you will enjoy participating
in this campus tour, while also meeting such
alums as Dr. Frank Davidson ’35 who is
credited with founding the field of
macro-engineering, and Dr. Margaret
Kievelson ’46, a pioneer in space research
and a powerful advocate for science
education among women.
This issue of Horace Mann Magazine also
brings you news of the school, and
summarizes some of the latest books written
by HM alumni. Please don’t miss the Alumni
Council Corner, beginning on p. 33. There is
important information about becoming
involved with Horace Mann as alumni, and
about participating and enjoying such events
as the Annual Alumni Council Spring Benefit,
a casino night scheduled for June 4, 2008.
This terrific evening of fun also benefits
current HM students. The HM community looks
forward to seeing you then, and again at
Homecoming and reunions set for September
20, 2008. The entire magazine can be viewed
online here.
Science Studies PDF
Fall 2007
Horace Mann Magazine Looks at
Administrative Changes Throughout the
School.
The start of the 2007-2008
academic year at Horace Mann School brought
with it a series of changes at each of
Horace Mann’s campuses, particularly with
the move of several veteran HM teachers to
administrative positions. Alumni will be
interested in reading about changes that
brought veteran HM English teacher and
former chair of the English department Dr.
David Schiller to the post of Head of the
Upper Division. Long-time science teacher
Dr. Eric Eilen was named to the position of
Dean of Faculty, and alumna, teacher and
grade dean Dr. Susan Delanty ’79 has become
Dean of Student Life. The fall 2007 (Vol. 2,
2007) issue of Horace Mann Magazine details
the changes, and discusses these
developments with each of the new
administrators, whose new responsibilities,
according to HM Head of School Dr. Tom
Kelly, “will strengthen the School’s ability
to serve the life of the mind.”
In spring 2007 Horace Mann Magazine focused
on alumni, and particularly those who have
gone into the world of music in a variety of
ways—from performance to production. We hope
you enjoyed Vol. 1, 2007. Both issues of
Horace Mann Magazine appear in a
downloadable PDF form here. We hope you
enjoy keeping in touch you’re your School
through these magazines, and, please keep us
posted about events in your lives that we
may post in our Class Notes section of the
magazine.
Serving the Life of the Mind PDF.
Spring
2007
The Music of
Horace Mann Magazine PDF.
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| I |
The
Fall 2009 issue of
Horace Mann Magazine
highlights the humor of Horace Mann School,
and reflects on the history of students and
faculty incorporating humor into their
experiences at Horace Mann throughout the ages,
and presenting information about alumni who have
contributed and continue to contribute to the
world of humor. The issue features an interview
with “Curb Your Enthusiasm” co-executive
producer and writer David Mandel ’88, whose
previous credits include writing and producing
numerous “Seinfeld” episodes. The magazine also
includes guest columns on humor by cardiologist
and healthy life-style adviser Dr. Seth Baum
’77, humor-writer Bill Shein ’85, and comedian
and producer Page Hurwitz ’86. Horace Mann
Magazine also covers news of the School today.
You can read it all on NXTBook at