William J. Britton was a member of the Class of 1892. He was from Wolfeboro. Following his graduation from Brewster, Britton attended Boston University and went on to become a probate court judge. Britton was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and in 1928 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. He served on Brewster’s board of trustees and as president of Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro.
It was Britton who discovered the flames bursting from the second floor of the original Academic Building in 1903. He also was instrumental in expanding Brewster’s physical education program, and in 1937 he helped to organize competitive skiing at Brewster. He was a force behind the organization of the traditional junior and senior plays and in 1938 the first senior play, After Wimple Street, was presented.
Laura Cooper. In 2024, beloved faculty member Laura Cooper retired after 25 years of service to Brewster. Her legacy of enthusiasm and warmth was never more evident than in her 17 years as Brewster’s 9th-grade team leader, when she led the school’s freshman trip to Cádiz, Spain, and a 5-week study abroad experience in Santiago de Compostela, Spain—two signature immersion experiences. As an assistant coach for both Girls' Varsity Soccer and Girls' Varsity Lacrosse she excelled in nurturing student athletes. Ms. Cooper is also known for fostering Brewster’s Lifer program, recognizing students who spend all four years of high school at Brewster. The Laura Cooper Lifer Award goes to a Lifer who embodies kindness and gratitude, and whose investment is a reflection of the mantra “I am better because of Brewster and Brewster is better because of me.”
Dorothy Whitton Coyle, a native of Wolfeboro, was a member of the Class of 1915.
Jill Carlson was a member of the Class of 1983. Tragically, Carlson passed away just five months after her graduation. She was a spirited member of the Brewster community, known for her enthusiasm and leadership. Carlson was a talented athlete who participated in cross-country skiing, tennis, softball, and soccer, where she was co-captain. She also was a dorm proctor. This award in her name will long remember her passion for life and love of her school.
Myrtle Dodge, who was from Moultonboro, New Hampshire, graduated from Brewster in 1906. She was a student at Brewster during the time that the original Academic Building was destroyed by a fire after being struck by lighting. Dodge went on to become a teacher. This award was created in 1994 in her honor.
Ronald “Buzzy” Dore was a member of the Class of 1963. He attended Brewster for four years. Dore was well known and quite popular. He was a 12-season athlete who played soccer, basketball, and baseball. As an exceptional athlete Dore helped Brewster win four consecutive years of the Lakes Region Championships in soccer. In his senior year he was voted Most Valuable Player, and he set a school record for most goals scored. His talent on the basketball court brought Brewster to the New England Championship finals as well. As a student leader, Dore was class treasurer for four years, he was a member of the National Honor Society, on the yearbook staff, a musician, and he was the 1963 Hurlin Award winner, an award that recognizes that student who is deemed by the faculty to have done the most to be the “good ambassador” in the school community and in the Wolfeboro area community as well.
Grace Murray Hopper was born in New York City in 1906. She graduated from Vassar College in 1928 and received a doctorate in mathematics from Yale University in 1934. She was the country’s first female rear admiral in the U.S. Navy. Hopper was a mathematician and a pioneer in the use of computers in the military, particularly in the Navy. She was one of the inventors of the computer language COBOL, and the word "bug" to describe an error in a computer program has been attributed to Hopper.
The rear admiral summered in Wolfeboro as a child and her family continues to have many ties to the community; great nieces and nephews have attended the Academy. When she became aware of Brewster’s desire to integrate technology and computer science into the curriculum she lent both her support and her name to these efforts. On November 7, 1983, The Grace Murray Hopper Center for Computer Learning was dedicated.
Grace Murray Hopper remained active in industry and education until her death in January 1992. She is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Arthur Merle Hurlin graduated from Brewster in 1902. His family lived in Jackson, New Hampshire. Hurlin was an active student in the Brewster community. During his senior year he was class president, chairman of the class day committee, and he managed the baseball team. Arthur attended Harvard University where he received final honors in music, graduating in 1906. He taught at Harvard and also at the Mason School of Music from 1911-1926.
Jon Konheim was a Brewster “lifer” in the Class of 1988. Konheim’s sister Julie was in the Class of 1986. Following Brewster he received degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, Loyola Law School, and the UCLA Anderson School of Management. During his time as a student, Konheim was heavily involved with clubs including student council, the quality of life committee, and the yearbook and was co-editor of the Brewster Browser. He also was involved with theatre and a member of the tennis, soccer, and wrestling teams, serving as co-captain of the wrestling team. This award recognizes the Konheim family for their generous support of Brewster student publications.
Melissa Roja Lawlor is an educator and DEI advocate who worked at Brewster from 2010 to 2021. Here, she spearheaded diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, serving as the school's first Director of Equity and Inclusion. She also directed the upper school Social Emotional Learning program, was the faculty advisor of the BIPOC Student Union and the Trey Whitfield School Mentoring Program, and the head coach of the Girls' Varsity Lacrosse team. She often led students and faculty trips to the NAIS People of Color and Student Diversity Leadership conferences, which had a tremendous impact on those in attendance. Ms. Lawlor is the co-founder of the Network for Independent School Equity (NISE), an affinity focused group in Northern New England for faculty who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+. The Melissa Roja Lawlor Social Justice Award is presented to the student who does the most for the school in terms of building acceptance, awareness, and inclusion.
Arthur J. Mason was a Boston native who moved to Granite, New Hampshire. He served as an estate trustee for the Academy from 1967-1992. His generosity and commitment to Brewster and its students will always be remembered. Brewster’s dormitory, Mason House, is named in honor of Arthur J. Mason.
Albert S. Munnis Information to come.
Bob and Shirley Richardson influenced the lives of hundreds of students, faculty, and Wolfeboro community residents. For more than four decades, they dedicated their lives to strengthening the Academy and wider community.
Bob wore many hats at Brewster as academic dean, history department chair, college admissions director, dorm parent, and coach of football and tennis. He was one of the longest serving faculty members. A natural at student-centered and project-based learning techniques, Bob received the Teacher of the Year Award for American History from the State of New Hampshire in 1986.
Shirley brought panache to campus in 1974; she had a gift for recognizing the best in every student and honoring their individuality. In addition to being the dean of college placement for 15 years Shirley served in many roles including as a teacher of English and instructional support.
Together they inspired students both in and out of the classroom by bringing history and culture alive through study trips abroad. Testimony of their devotion to Brewster is the generations of their own children and grandchildren educated here. The board of trustees recognized their dedication by naming Richardson House in their honor.
Bob and Shirley wrote The Brewster Story, published in 2011, honoring those who have passed through the Academy’s doors. Brewster remains indebted to the Richardson's insightfulness in recording the Academy's history for the benefit of future generations.
David Sirchis was a member of the Class of 1982 who came from Winchester, Massachusetts. Tragically, during his senior year Sirchis unexpectedly passed away. He was involved with numerous teams during his three years at Brewster including, soccer, cross-country skiing, and baseball. He also was on the wilderness, ways and means, and assembly committees. Sirchis’ love for his school and his commitment to the Brewster community is remembered through this award
Mabel Cate Tarr was from Wolfeboro and a member of the Class of 1905. Tarr was a student at Brewster during the time that the original Academic Building was destroyed by a fire after being struck by lighting. This award was established with the support of her son Charles who was a member of the Class of 1932.
Kate Turner arrived at Brewster Academy in 1986, first as a teacher but soon as a member of the Athletics Department. She served as Brewster’s Assistant and ultimately Associate Athletic Director, and founded the school’s field hockey program. A fierce advocate for all student athletes, but especially girls and JV teams, she was a friend to all who passed her office door in the Smith Center, with its unparalleled views of the fields and lake she saw as a natural extension of Brewster’s classrooms. Throughout her years at Brewster, when not sharing in the responsibility of oversight of our athletics programs, she coached field hockey, alpine ski, tennis, and lacrosse. (And in retirement she has launched pickleball tournaments for alumni back for Reunion!)
In the late 1990s she, along with Brewster’s associate admission director Margaret Martin, founded the local Abenaki girls’ lacrosse program, a program that continues to thrive today. She also served on the NEPSAC board for 21 years. In 2016 Coach Turner was honored by NEPSAC with the Distinguished Service Award (only the fifth woman to receive the award, which NEPSAC has presented since 1984). The award is given annually to the individual who has contributed significantly to New England Independent School Athletics and Physical Education through enthusiasm, dedication, leadership, and vision. NEPSAC specifically noted Coach Turner’s role in advancing the importance of female athletics and sports among its membership schools.
In the Spring of 2023, Brewster Crew honored Coach Turner with the naming of their new girls’ 4+ shell the “Kate Turner.” And the following year, she was inducted into the Brewster Athletics Hall of Fame. Coach Turner’s 35-year tenure at Brewster was incredible—most notably for the bonds she created among student athletes, coaches, families, and colleagues.
Warren P. Tyler was from Wolfeboro. He served on Brewster’s board of trustees from 1968-1975. This award was established in 1975 in Tyler’s honor and in appreciation of the wisdom and guidance he offered the Academy throughout his long tenure on the board.
Burtis F. Vaughan Jr. came to Brewster in the fall of 1939 as a young faculty member and served for 25 years in a variety of capacities. He taught Latin and English, directed the glee club, and coached the soccer team. Vaughan served as dean of the Academy and ultimately the position of principal from 1959 to 1965. He embodied Brewster’s commitment to student-centered education. Brewster’s dormitory, Vaughan House is named in honor of Burtis F. Vaughan Jr.
