D-E was thrilled to recently welcome alumni from the Dwight School, Englewood School for Boys (ESB), and Dwight-Englewood School for Reunion Weekend 2025, with special events for class years ending with 0 and 5.
On Friday evening, October 24, 2025, there was a joyful 50th Reunion Dinner in Hajjar Auditorium for the Class of 1975, at which Head of School Dr. James Calleroz White (“Dr. CW”) warmly toasted these esteemed alumni and acknowledged “the legacy of people who have made this place what it is today.”
Celebrations continued on Saturday, October 25, with the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; a Room Dedication Ceremony and Lunch Reception for longtime D-E faculty/staff member and coach Ms. Elizabeth “Liz” Traub; the Distinguished Alumni Award Ceremony; and the Alumni Reunion Dinner Reception. Private class parties were also going on all weekend both locally and in New York City.
After welcome remarks from Dr. CW, Saturday‘s commemoration events began with the Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony honoring Rick Schwartz ’95 for the indelible mark he left as a “triple-threat” athlete in Varsity Football, Basketball, and Baseball, as well as the 1989 and 1990 Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse teams.
Rick was introduced by Tom Curry III, former D-E Athletic Director and Coach, who reflected on what it was like to coach “Ricky” in the three sports he played so well. “What a privilege it was coaching him… there was no quit in him,” said Mr. Curry. In his acceptance speech, Rick remarked that he “felt very at home here [at D-E].”
Next up were members of the 1989 and 1990 Girls’ Lacrosse teams, including Patti Smith Barrett ’89, Niccole Siegel Kroll ’90, Lisette Perez ’90, Nathalie Rondon Grenet ’89, and Clara Markowicz ’90. The alumnae collectively thanked their then-coaches, Ms. Traub and Ms. Betsey Carson, who themselves are D-E Athletic Hall of Famers, for producing a team of “tough cookies.”
The recently retired Ms. Traub—whose roles in her 40-year tenure at D-E have included Middle School (MS) Teacher, 8th Grade Advisor, Dean, and Coach of MS Cross Country, Field Hockey, and Lacrosse—received a conference room dedication on the third floor of the Middle School.
Ms. Markowicz recalled the mark that Ms. Traub left on the Lacrosse team, noting that she ensured they played against more challenging teams in public schools. “She taught us to stretch beyond our comfort zone,” said Ms. Markowicz. During her remarks, Ms. Siegel Kroll coined the “Traubian Method” to describe Ms. Traub’s “high standards paired with the deep belief that these expectations can be met.”
During Ms. Traub’s conference room dedication, former MS Principal Kathy Christoph gave a light-hearted, moving speech about Ms. Traub’s “legendary organization skills” and the “two decades of laughter” she experienced working with her. “She was the friend who made sure I was never the one left alone on the sidelines,” said Ms. Christoph, who also lauded her “dedication to lifelong learning and commitment to excellence.”
When asked how it felt to be given this honor, Ms. Traub replied, “I’m very overwhelmed… I’m seeing former colleagues and former students, some of whom are parents now… coming together.” Of the highlights of her expansive career, Ms. Traub counted “being able to work with these kids and such great colleagues.”
Ms. Carson, another one of these colleagues in the Middle School, described Ms. Traub as “the ultimate D-E employee who volunteered up until her last week at the school… someone who was always ready to jump in and say ‘yes’ whenever she was needed… and a supportive friend.”
While at the podium, Ms. Traub mused that she was only 22 when she started at D-E and joked, “It was the free lunch that kept me here.” But really it was “the people, the lifelong friends that made me stay.”
Ms. Traub and her family members then walked over to the Middle School Building for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting and to mingle with former colleagues, including Ms. Carson, Ms. Doris Tannenbaum, and Ms. Diane Christian, affectionately known as the “China Girls” because they traveled to China together. Ms. Christian, Upper School English Teacher, who has known Ms. Traub for all of her 40 years at D-E, shared that “I’ve been blessed with a wonderful friendship.”
Later on Saturday afternoon, alumni along with current and former faculty/staff reconvened in Hajjar Auditorium for the Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) Ceremony, at which Marc Jerome ’85 P’14, ’16, ’22 and Wendy Gordon Rockefeller ’75 were honored.
Alumni Relations Co-Chairs Courtney Collins ’07 and Kalpana Bains ’99 P’28, ’31 briefly welcomed everyone and shared that the DAA was established in 1997 to pay special tribute to alumni of the Dwight School, the ESB, and D-E. The award is given for exemplary professional and volunteer work.
An incredibly poised Lucy Jerome ’22, Mr. Jerome’s youngest daughter and a D-E “Lifer” (an alumna who attended all three divisions of D-E), then took to the podium to introduce her father. Ms. Jerome described the proud legacy that she inherited by being recognized by strangers as “one of the Jeromes” and the invaluable, positive influence that her father had on thousands of individuals.
For more than three decades, Mr. Jerome has been a transformative leader at Monroe University, a Bronx-based nationally recognized institution known for its dedication to educating urban and international students. He has long recognized the urgent challenge facing higher education—too many students start college but never finish. A steadfast advocate for equity and access, he has worked tirelessly to promote policies and programs that improve college completion rates, particularly among underserved populations.
A committed civic leader, Mr. Jerome serves on numerous boards. Since 1999, he has chaired the New Rochelle Business Improvement District, spearheading efforts to revitalize and promote economic growth in the community where Monroe has proudly had a campus for more than 50 years. He previously served for a decade as Chair of the Alumni Relations Committee at D-E and is currently a board member of the Westchester County Association and the Association of Private Colleges in New York. In 2018, he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), a role confirmed by the New York State Senate.
Mr. Jerome graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University with a degree in Political Science, where he was a member of the cross country and track teams. He later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Following his daughter’s introduction, Marc stood up to first thank his family members, including his wife, Helen—a longtime, former D-E employee, who was most recently the Dean of Admissions—and his other two daughters, also D-E “Lifers”: Hanna Jerome ’14 and Sophie Jerome ’16.
Mr. Jerome spoke about how he was enjoying celebrating his 40th reunion with his Class of 1985 peers, who he said were a major influence on him and are now a diverse, accomplished mix of professionals and community leaders.
He also recalled how his academic experience at D-E was both innovative and grounded in terms of preparing him well for his own collegiate and post-graduate studies, as well as preparing him for life. He added that D-E was “ahead of its time” in terms of enabling him to feel that he belonged and had a voice.”
The program continued when Jane Simoni ’75 introduced her fellow classmate and DAA honoree Wendy Gordon Rockefeller ’75.
Ms. Rockefeller is the co-founder and former president of PIPs Rewards LLC, a charitable subsidiary of the PIPs Education Fund (PEF), a nonprofit based in New York. Together with a global team, Ms. Rockefeller co-created the PIPs Rewards mobile engagement platform to leverage the power of a rewards currency. The PIPs platform has been used by universities and nonprofit organizations to recognize and reward tens of thousands of students—low income students in particular—with school grants and gift cards; ultimately, they gain a sense of their own intrinsic purpose and agency.
Previously, Ms. Rockefeller worked as a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, co-founded the Mothers & Others campaign with Meryl Streep, and developed The Green Guide, a bi-monthly publication acquired by National Geographic in 2007. She has co-authored numerous books, including the award-winning True Food: 8 Simple Steps to a Healthier You (National Geographic, 2009).
Ms. Rockefeller holds a B.S. in geological and geophysical sciences from Princeton University and an M.S. in environmental health sciences from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Rainforest Alliance, the Board of Trustees of the Rockefeller Family Fund, the C-CHANGE Strategic Advisory Board of the Harvard School of Public Health, the Board of Governors for the Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School, and is an advisor to A Single Bite, a Catskills-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing food insecurity.
Ms. Simoni noted in her introductory remarks that Ms. Rockefeller’s inspiring personal mission was and has always been to “build awareness of an individual’s power to make a difference.”
Ms. Rockefeller expressed what a delight it was to have a 50th reunion with her fellow classmates. She reflected on how despite the early 1970s not being an easy time for young adults, “something was awakened” in her while she was at D-E. In her words: “We were made for this… D-E taught key muscles… We were well-nurtured in science, history, and other disciplines… which created a sense of purpose.” She added that this helped prepare her for challenges throughout her life thus far.
Dr. CW concluded the DAA ceremony by expressing how humbling it has been for him to be in his position as D-E’s new Head of School. He said he experienced “chill bumps” while listening to these and other alumni speak to their D-E experiences and noted that their reflections all speak to the importance of the School’s work… and “hope for what D-E has been, is, and can be.”
Reunion celebrations continued into Saturday evening with a reception in the Wharton Lessin Dining Hall, at which alumni gathered for passed appetizers, a hearty dinner, and a dessert bar served by D-E’s Chef Alex Stanko and the dining service team. With archival yearbooks on display and DJ Dave Vieira spinning retro hits, the atmosphere was both festive and endearing.
To all alumni of D-E, Dwight School, and ESB: thank you for making Reunion Weekend 2025 a success and for being a part of our community! We look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
