John Fouhey was elected to the St. Bernard's board of trustees in 1997.
According to John Fouhey, "Being a St. Bernard's trustee is a way of contributing my time and my skills as a lawyer to the management of the school. And what happens along the way is that you get more back than you put in-there is great satisfaction in seeing what such a fine institution as St. Bernard's can provide for the boys."
Both John and his wife Marianne, co-chair of the parents' committee of St. Bernard's annual fund, believe that it's important to contribute to the success of the school beyond sending tuition checks. "Parents should donate their time and energy. The school is in one sense a collective undertaking by the parents as a whole to provide a place where their boys can get a high-quality education. That quality depends in large part on the effort the parents put into it beyond their financial commitment."
A partner of Davis Polk & Wardwell, John Fouhey is a corporate lawyer whose practice includes structured finance, leveraged lending, and workouts. He is also a member of the firm's Pro Bono Committee. He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and received his J.D. in 1972 from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, magna cum laude, where he was comments editor for the Law Review. He clerked from 1972 to 1973 for the Hon. Irving R. Kaufman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and served as Special Assistant to the General Counsel of the Department of the Treasury from 1977 to 1978.
John also has extensive volunteer experience. He is chairman of the board of the Lawyers Alliance for New York, a not-for-profit organization that arranges for pro bono corporate legal services for New York City-based not-for-profits, treasurer and a director of the Citizen's Advice Bureau, and a trustee of a Bronx settlement house and of the University of Pennsylvania Law Alumni Society.
John and Marianne have three children, James (VI Austin), David (IV Gillespie), and Elizabeth, who is a first grader at Chapin. They were originally drawn to St. Bernard's because of "the perception of how St. Bernard's combines the right balance of academic excellence, development of character, and a sense of whimsicality." They haven't been disappointed; "indeed, St. Bernard's regularly exceeds our expectations … The school has outstanding teachers who really care about our boys, and you can see it in the classrooms. The boys are always challenged to expand and explore. The school also has great specialists: Al Meyer in the library,
and the art, science, music, and, now, carpentry teachers. And the superb approach of the coaching staff, who not only provide the boys with the skills but also instill in them the quality of true sportsmanship."
To John Fouhey, "through contact with other trustees, parents, and teachers comes the satisfaction of seeing the school succeed in its mission."
Chris Melhado joined the St. Bernard board of trustees in December 1998.
When asked whether he is a follower of traditions, Chris Melhado replies, "While I'd love to think that I'm non-traditional and a 'breaker of molds,' I suppose I could be safely described as a fairly predictable beneficiary of a St. Bernard's education. My father went to St. Bernard's, as did my brother and I. Now my three sons are happily following along in our footsteps." Chris does in fact continue a legacy-his father was a trustee, and now he is, too.
After St. Bernard's Chris went onto Deerfield, Yale, and then to business school at New York University. He moved to Dallas to work at a venture capital firm, then came back to New York in 1986. Now he is a general partner at Lexington Partners, a money management group involved with private equity. Chris met his wife Teresa, a lawyer, in Texas through siblings of roommates. They have three sons: twins, Christian (III Movshon) and Nicholas (III Fitzgerald), and Owen (I Brigham).
As an Old Boy and a current parent, Chris joins other board members who have that special vantage point when discussing the school. "Stuart Johnson has done an incredible job: St. Bernard's is...a warmer, more open place with much more parental involvement, and the academic environment has been vastly improved."
"It's odd what you remember from grade school," Chris muses. "In my memory I always felt that Westgate was enormous - at least seven feet tall. Everyone was afraid of him. Imagine my surprise when much later Seth Aidinoff '71 told me that he had seen Mr. Westgate in London, and he really wasn't very tall; in fact, he was rather short." Chris has great memories of St. Bernard's: Lee Austin, David King-Wood, Don Phelan, and Majestic Diaz, playing the recorder (badly), and Bombardment. He finds it interesting that when he speaks to Old Boys from different decades, there are shared memories with common threads. All felt that they received a well-rounded education with a strong emphasis on academics and sports. Chris remembers: "At St. Bernard's you didn't have a choice-you had to try everything and have the experience of it, even if you weren't the best at it."
About the capital campaign Chris remarks, "It is remarkable for a boys' elementary school on 98th Street to have such a successful campaign. Local schools have limited audiences, who have other interests and obligations. The success of a campaign says much about the past and present parents and about the campaign and school leadership. I have gotten to know president of the board Don Roberts over the last three years and find he has a remarkable presence at the school. He provides great leadership in a quiet, low-key way."
"I was thrilled to be asked to join the board and have the opportunity to work with such a group of very bright, imaginative people." Chris feels that the challenge for him and for everyone on the board will "be how to take something superb and make it better."
Linda Mondesire joined the St. Bernard's board of trustees in 1998 and serves on the Academic Committee.
Linda Mondesire has deep personal appreciation of what an exceptional education can mean to a child. She is an elementary school teacher working for the past nine years for the New York City Board of Education. Prior to teaching, Linda was a radio broadcaster for a major media outlet in Washington, D.C. She has a master's degree in early education and plans to pursue a doctoral degree. Her most distinguished professional honor was awarded in 1996, when several of her students, all now on college honor rolls, nominated her for Who's Who Among American Teachers. She feels there is no greater tribute to a teacher.
Linda believes the success of a child's experience in school depends greatly on the amount of parental involvement. She said that when her son Ijah Mondesire-Crump '98 began at St. Bernard's, she started too: "We both went through St. Bernard's." Linda feels that St. Bernard's is a supportive, cultural, educational community comprising sons and their families. "It doesn't matter if you're single or married, you can raise a happy, intelligent, compassionate young man."
Linda is one of St. Bernard's biggest fans. It wasn't until her son was moving on that she really understood the magnitude of St. Bernard's standard of excellence. After interviewing nine different independent schools and researching several more, Linda realized that there was no place like the place she and Ijah were leaving. "The high level of nurturing, cooperation, civility, kindness, and humor made a great and lasting impression. I am honored to be working with Stuart Johnson and Don Roberts, two excellent role models and masters of eloquent speech. I only hope some of it rubs off!"
She feels that she brings a different perspective to the board that will add to its already well-managed expertise. "Our lives have been blessed by this school and in whatever way I can be of assistance, I will." Linda also sits on the Academic Committee, a position where she can share her perspective on academic matters.
On the lighter side, Linda takes great joy in reading. "I have read over 500 non-fiction books, which include a personal study on comparative religions. My biggest sense of pride comes from the fact that I have read, cover to cover, the Bible, the Qur'an, the Bhagavad Gita, the Egyptian Book of the Dead, and many other related materials. I wanted to know what was in these books for myself." She also likes poetry, calligraphy, painting, and dancing. She is currently researching information on raising children and nutrition. "Someday I hope to write a book and conduct seminars on these two topics
Barbara van Beuren was elected to the St. Bernard's board of trustees in 1997 and serves on the Academic Committee.
Barbara van Beuren doesn't hesitate when asked why she likes St. Bernard's: "I am as close to an Old Boy as a girl can possibly be - my father briefly went here, my brother went here. St. Bernard's is the one school all of us in the family feel strongly about." Barbara grew up in Manhattan and attended the Chapin School, St. George's School, and Tufts University, where she received a bachelor's degree in history, and the University of Pennsylvania, where she received a master's degree in architecture. Barbara is a registered architect and only recently set aside her own practice to focus on other matters, including land conservation and planning.
Agreeing with St. Bernard's emphasis on written and spoken languages, Barbara likes the rigor with which the school approaches everything and sees that is balanced with a healthy sense of appropriate humor. "It is gratifying to see boys who are excited about being in school." She is particularly interested in middle school development. "It is a time when a boy has mastered the basics, but now must deal with critical thought processes."
The St. Bernard's board offers Barbara an opportunity to become more involved in her son's school. "I find it fascinating to be part of the board, to be effective, to have an impact." She notes that serving on the board's Academic Committee is a great way to obtain a sense of the school and learn how St. Bernard's deals with current social and academic trends. "Chair Kitty Gordan does a tremendous job," Barbara reflects. "The committee gains a real understanding of what truly goes on in the school."
Barbara likes the structure of St. Bernard's, noting that, while it is not a school for all children, "it has a clear identity and doesn't make excuses for what it is." And in a community in which everyone is racing for the best and biggest facilities, St. Bernard's attitude is to be true to itself. "This self-confidence is found even in the new building. It is very well done. The school's attitude manifests itself in the layout and design. You always know where you are."
Barbara is married to Stephen Glascock, whom she met at the University of Pennsylvania. They have two children, Alexander (III Movshon) and Adrianne, a first grader at the Nightingale-Bamford School. Stephen currently owns his own real estate and development company and shares Barbara's interest in land planning.
No. 22, Spring 1999, page 11