Alumni Connect Across Generations at Alumni Day 2016

 

The day began with the Head’s Lunch, when alums from the 50^th Reunion Class of 1966 and all prior years joined Head of School Ned Parsons at his home. More than 50 guests were treated to presentations from Mr. Parsons, who spoke about Rivers’ upcoming Strategic Plan, and from History teacher Dave Burzillo, whose talk reflected on the last 50 years of Rivers’ history.

 

On campus, alumni and their families were treated to a barbeque lunch on Hutton Terrace while the girls’ varsity lacrosse team took on Newton Country Day School. A number of current students from the Red Key tour guide program took alumni on campus tours that showed off newer buildings like the Campus Center and MacDowell Athletic Center and allowed alumni to reminisce about their time in Haynes Hall, the Prince Building, and Lewis Math & Science Center.

 

The evening program kicked off at 6:00 p.m. with a record breaking attendance among alumni. Reunion classes gathered for the cocktail reception on Carlin Green outside the campus center, before moving inside for a sit-down dinner and award presentations. The Alumni Excellence Award was presented to Eric Shapiro ’86 in recognition for his career accomplishments in the technology world and for his role in helping Rivers start its 1:1 iPad program this past year.

 

“Eric arrived at Rivers at the beginning of the personal computer revolution, and from the start, technology played a major role in his education,” said Alumni Association President Larry Glazer ’86. “In the ensuing years at Rivers, he spearheaded the introduction of computer science into the curriculum, working side by side with faculty mentors to explore this new discipline and taking the newly-designed AP Computer Science course as an independent study. By the time he graduated, Rivers had progressed from having a few computers to having a fully-equipped lab and was well on its way to offering computer science as part of its regular curriculum.”

 

Since graduating from Rivers, Eric has launched several companies and his latest venture, ArcTouch, is a leading mobile design and development studio that creates custom apps for Fortune 500 companies and top consumer brands. Over the last decade, he has lent his expertise and his resources to Rivers to help keep Rivers on the forefront of the academic technology curve.

 

The Rivers Cup, given annually to an alumnus who has displayed extraordinary dedication to the school, was presented to Trustee Jamie Carlin ’81, who was joined by his wife Susan and his brothers John ’83 and Matt ’84.

 

“Jamie has been an active and dedicated member of the Rivers community since he graduated in 1981,” Mr. Glazer said in presenting The Rivers Cup. “He served on the Alumni Council in the 1980s and again from 2000-2006, chairing his 10^th reunion and serving on various reunion committees over the years. He has been a sponsor and participant in the annual Rivers Golf Tournament to Benefit Financial Aid for the past decade. He was a member of the Jarzavek Chair Committee for five years and was on the Board’s Education Committee from 2008-2011. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2013 and has been a member of the Facilities Committee since 2011.”

 

Jamie is also the father of Rivers graduate Will ’15, and current students Grace ’16 and Maddie ’16.

 

After four years of leading the Alumni Association, Larry Glazer elected to step down from his post and stepping up will be Lisa Raftery ’93. As one of the pioneering women of Rivers, it is fitting that Mrs. Raftery will also be the first woman president of Rivers’ Alumni Council.

 

“I am thrilled that Lisa will be taking reins, not only because she has earned her place in the school’s history as one the truly pioneering women of Rivers, but because no person is more qualified, deserving or has earned the respect of their peers more than Lisa,” Mr. Glazer said. “Knowing that the future leadership of the Alumni Council is in such capable hands makes this handover much easier.”

 

The Rivers Alumni Association presented Mitch Coddington ’73 with the Distinguished Service Award for his work as a Decade Chair from 2004-2012 and an Executive Committee member from 2012-2016.