EHS Notable Alumni

Alumni Spotlight Ken Clarke '74: Philadelphia Eagles' "Secretary of Defense" Former Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Ken Clarke '74, has a simple yet effective formula for success: "If you are going to do something in life, regardless of what it is, be the best at what you are

EHSA News Michael Barsamian '64, Who Skipped College on His Way to Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur   Michael Barsamian '64, has a had a long career as a serial entrepreneur. He has had extraordinary success in a variety of business endeavors. His life and career is a

English High School History The Civil War: A Story of Two English Alumni William Henry Chase Whiting William Henry Chase Whiting Established some forty years before the outbreak of the Civil War, it is hardly surprising that English High School sent scores of young men who fought

EHSA News John Goglia '62 to Be Inducted into National Aviation Hall of Fame John Goglia, English High Class of 1962 English High Alumnus John Goglia '62, President of the Aerospace Maintenance Council and former National Transportation Safety Board member, has been announced as one of six

EHSA News EHSA Presents Stephen Berkowitz '60 with Lifetime Service Award Presenting the Lifetime Service Award to Stephen Berkowitz '60 are members of the EHSA Board of Directors (top from left): John Talbot '68, Wayne Lucas'68, Thomas Connors '68, Joseph Carter '72, Henry Russell '61, Mike Thomas

Alumni Spotlight Allen Platt '68: Finding Success in Two Careers "Always try your best to find joy in your life's work." Some people have a hard time dragging themselves out of bed to go to their job. But Allen Platt, a 1968 graduate of the Boston English

Alumni Spotlight Michael Winter '66: “The harder you work, the luckier you get.”   Michael Winter '66 When you meet Michael Winter '66, you’d never know that he came to America with his parents when he was 12 and spoke no English. Today he is a Managing

Alumni Spotlight Richard Long '52: Noted California Attorney Establishes Scholarship to Honor Legendary English High Coach Bill Stewart Who would have imagined that one day Richard Long from South Boston would successfully present a case before the Supreme Court of the State of California? Richard Long '52,

Alumni Spotlight Major Bill Cole '61: “Much of what I have accomplished in my lifetime can be traced to my time at The English High School.”   Major Bill Cole '61, represents West Point at college recruitment fairs. Major Bill Cole (USA Retired), a member of the

Alumni Spotlight - Update He’s the Oldest Known Alumnus of America’s Oldest Public High School Meet Arthur "Harold" Green, now 107,  from the Class of 1934 profiled in our September 2023, Newsletter.  He had another birthday in December so we decided it was time for an update.

Alumni Spotlight Harry Prefontaine '59: BPD's Captain Detective Who Led the Way for So Many “I really had no self-confidence when I entered English High,” says Harold Prefontaine, English High School Class of 1959. “Kids teased me because of my weight and tics related to Tourette Syndrome.”

English High School History Albert Henry Wiggin, English High Class of 1885, Known by Some as the "Wall Street Savior"   "The Spirit of English High School" by Daniel Chester French, 1927 shown in the corridor of the school's Warren Avenue location circa 1930. Thousands of English

Alumni Spotlight Carmen Corbie '94: "Believe That You Can Achieve Greatness" Venezuela native Carmen Corbie, English High School Class of ‘94, served on the English High School Association Board of Directors as a way to give back. She admits she didn’t think much of herself growing up

Alumni Spotlight Steve Berkowitz '60: A Teacher's Advice Six Decades Ago Still Guides Him. Now, He's Giving Back. Long-time English High School Association Board Member Stephen Berkowitz '60, still recalls two memorable, hard-hitting but amusing quotes from history teacher Kenneth Johnson: “Get your brain out of first

Alumni Spotlight Henry Russell '61 Receives Prestigious Engineering Industry Award Adapted from the Engineering News Record Henry Russell '61. Photo credit: Engineering News Record Next time you travel safely through a vehicle or train tunnel, consider the enormously complex engineering expertise required to complete that project. Henry

Alumni Spotlight Carlton Smith '72: Hearing -impaired English High Basketball Star Made History This story by Jimmy Myers originally appeared in the Bay State Banner on February 7th, 2024 Carlton Smith's legacy continues off the court. For every child who battles with hearing disabilities, Carlton Darien “Butch”

Alumni Spotlight Greg Hayes '67: English High School Association Chairman His advice for today's students:  "Be proud to be from English High and realize that hard work and perseverance will pay off." Recently we caught up with Greg Hayes '67, Chairman of the English High School Association

Alumni Spotlight EHSA says 'Thank You' and bids a fond farewell to Richard Marson '51 by Michael Thomas '67, President & CEO of The English High School Association Dick Marson was a friend of many alumni, the longest-tenured EHSA Board Member ever and a generous supporter of

Alumni Spotlight For the Cullen Brothers,  It's Time to Give Back John Cullen '65 and brother Frank Cullen ’68, both enjoyed notable careers in business and academia. Now, they have decided to give back in a big way. John Cullen '65 Francis 'Frank' Cullen '68 John Cullen

Alumni Spotlight Jazz Singer Lezlie Harrison '78: "My music is a blend of the soul music I grew up with and the jazz music I grew to love.” To understand where jazz singer Lezlie Harison’s music comes from, you need to get into her head. The 1978

Alumni Spotlight Wayne Lucas '78: “English High School was my first true family!” From age two, Wayne Lucas ’68,  lived in foster homes in three different Boston neighborhoods. When he was 18, he left for UMass-Amherst. Although English High wasn’t the closest high school to his Grove

Alumni Spotlight Alex Geourntas '79: "My English High Years Prepared Me Well" In 2022, Alex Geourntas, English High School Class of 1979, son of Greek immigrants, was unanimously elected by the Boston City Council to the key post of City Clerk. His department has a $1.7 million

Alumni Spotlight Sears Gallagher, EHS Class of 1886: A Lasting Impression American artist Sears Gallagher's life story went from English High School, to the Paris Salon, and back home to Roxbury. Sears Gallagher EHS 1886, shown here at work in 1940. English High Alumnus Sears Gallagher (April

Alumni Spotlight Meg McMillen '78: "Teaching Pays So Much More Than Money" We think you will enjoy listening in on our recent chat with Meg McMillen, English High ‘78, an award-winning teacher and community activist. After high school, she continued her studies, receiving a BA in History

Alumni Spotlight Arthur 'Harold' Green '34: A Life Well Lived at Age 108 - Our Oldest Known Alumnus Meet Arthur, at 108, English High’s oldest known living alumnus – from the Class of 1934. A lifelong baseball fan, he likes to reminisce about the privilege he had watching

Alumni Spotlight Geoffrey Stern '67:  "Lead your best imagined life. Cherish the joys of this world. Hold fast your friends. Try to make this world better for everyone.” Do you ever wonder what happened to individuals with whom you attended high school – Even if you graduated

Alumni Spotlight Anderson Guerrero Nunez '23:  The Importance of 'Showing Up' “Mr. Green showed me how to put 110% into everything I do -- and put in work even when nobody is watching.”   Anderson Guerrero Nunez '23 captained English High teams to consecutive Thanksgiving Day victories

Alumni Spotlight Ed Weston '70:  "The world has much to offer.  Don't be afraid to go outside your comfort zone." Ed Weston '70, shown here with his sister Katherine Kennedy at the 200th Anniversary Gala in 2022. After his 1970 graduation from English High, Roxbury native Ed

In Appreciation English High Alumni Salute Frank Bellotti '42 There aren’t many people around today who were born when The English High School of Boston was celebrating its 100th anniversary.  Francis X. Bellotti is one of them. Frank Bellotti '42 receives applause at the EHS 200th Anniversary

Alumni Spotlight Herb Chambers '59 :  Hard Work, Ambition and Serendipity.  Driven! Herb Chambers grew up in Dorchester where he and his father, a commercial artist, lived with his grandmother. He says, “We never had a lot of money, but I always had a job from the

Alumni Spotlight  Aboubacar Konate '12: His Years at English High Helped Keep Him on Track Aboubacar Konate arrived in America when he was 16. He had never been in or seen a subway system. Well, there aren’t any in his native Conakry, capital of the western African

EHSA Scholarship Recipient Update “Thank you so much to English High School” from Eirini Voutsadaki, EHS '22 Θέλω να ευχαριστήσω πολύ το Ίνγλις Χάι Σκούλ! Σας αγαπώ όλους. (“Thelon na euharistiso poly to English High School! Sas agapo olous!”) About 98% of English High students are Black or Hispanic, many

Alumni Spotlight Francis Cullen '68:  Recipient of the Stockholm Prize for Criminology On a sunny day in June 2022, English High alumnus Francis Cullen ‘68 found himself a long way away from his alma mater on Louis Pasteur Avenue.  He was now Dr. Francis Cullen, Professor Emeritus

Alumni Spotlight Lew Shuman '66: During 55 Years in Broadcasting, He Produced and Directed 1,600 Pro Basketball Games As Lew Shuman neared graduation day at the English High School in Boston in 1966, he wasn’t sure what would come next. He certainly never dreamed he’d produce over

Alumni Spotlight John Goglia '62: When Your Plane Arrives Safely, Thank John Goglia Senator John McCain helped John Goglia gain approval from President Clinton and win Senate confirmation to the NTSB   John Goglia, English High Class of 1962 The next time you unbuckle your seatbelt after

Alumni Profile Ronald Speirs '38: EHS Alumni Who Was One of the WWII "Band of Brothers" - Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Division Recently, EHSA was contacted by alumnus Philip MacLaughlin '64 to inform us that English graduate, Ronald Speirs, of the Class of 1938, had

Alumni Spotlight In Tribute to A Mensch*: Harry Kraft ‘27 “Long before I was a die-hard New England Patriots fan or knew who Robert Kraft might be, I was a huge fan of Harry Kraft.”   Harry Kraft, English High School Class of 1927 Robert Kraft paid

Video Tribute to 200 Years of English High Alumni Produced for and screened at the 200th Anniversary Gala on October 1, 2022

200th Anniversary Gala Recap English Alumni Honor One of Their Own for a Lifetime of Service   EHSA Board Chair Greg Hayes '67 presents the Lifetime Service Award to Enoch 'Woody' Woodhouse II Enoch 'Woody' Woodhouse II, EHS Class of 1944 selected for special honors at the

English High School History Thanks, Coach! Bill Stewart, Jr., the Beloved English High Coach Who Mentored 4,000+ Students from 1947-1983 "He took us to places we had never been and let us dream about things that might be." -- Will McDonough, The Boston Globe   It’s no

Alumni Spotlight Miniard Culpepper, '71: Activist Trailblazer “I have never lost this spirit of activism which has always guided me.”     Miniard Culpepper, English High School Class of 1971. Photo: Bay State Banner Miniard Culpepper in the 1971 EHS Yearbook After a 27-year career with the

Alumni Spotlight Jessica Tavares Lopes '22: From Cape Verde to Wellesley College by Way of English High Jessica Tavares Lopes, English High School Class of 2022 When the pandemic hit Cape Verde in 2020 Jessica Tavares Lopes, ‘22 was in high school in that country. The virus

Alumni Spotlight John D. O'Bryant '48: Trailblazing African-American Educator John D. O'Bryant made a tremendous impact at English High School as a graduate in the Class of 1948, later as a much-beloved EHS counselor, and as the first African-American elected to the Boston School Committee.   The

Alumni Spotlight Michael Haynes, '44: "The Heart and Soul and Conscience of Boston"   Throughout his life, Michael Haynes, '44, embodied the very spirit of  The English High School and lived up to its motto – to be a person of ‘Honor, Achievement and Service to Humanity.’

Alumni Spotlight You Don't Have to Go to Latin School and Harvard to Become Successful Allan Kiser ’82, successful financial services executive, co-chairs English High School's October 1st Gala Fundraising event and encourages alumni ‘to give back’ to today’s students   The marble statue that inspired Allan

Alumni Spotlight EHS Alumnus Robert Gillen Served as 59th Commander of the USS Constitution   Robert L. Gillen in the 1951 English High Yearbook In June, 2022, the City of Boston celebrated Robert Gillen Day. Although his name may not be familiar, if any alumnus personified the English

Alumni Spotlight True Class: Blanca Ramirez Pablo, '22 Family’s medical issues, health care in her native Guatemala convinced this English High student to go into medicine Three years ago, Blanca Ramirez Pablo watched as her grandmother died at home due to a lack of proper medical care

Alumni Spotlight David Cohen, ‘59: ‘Shadow Warrior’ David Cohen, EHS '59 On December 21, 2013, The New York Daily News ran an editorial entitled ‘Shadow Warrior' praising David Cohen, EHS ’59,  for protecting the people of New York from terrorist attacks for 12 years as Deputy Commissioner

Update, August, 2022 Cedric Turner is in the center of the back row in this photo taken at the launch sight to celebrate Mission NS-22. Six mission astronauts are in blue. Cedric Turner, '76, was invited by Challenger Center and AIAA, on behalf of Club for the

Alumni Spotlight George Alpert ’15: Railroad President and Key Brandeis University Founder Not too long ago we featured a story about English High grad Lawrence Berk, who founded the now famous Berklee College of Music in Boston.  Another English High grad, George Alpert, class of 1915, played

Alumni Spotlight Celebrating A National Treasure: Happy 95th Birthday, Woody! In 1821, when the founders of The English High School created the idea of a free public high school for the sons of Boston’s working class families, they very well might have pictured young men like Enoch

Alumni Spotlight Samuel Pierpont Langley, Class of 1850, The Man Who Almost Beat the Wright Brothers into the Air   When you think of the inventors of aviation, naturally the Wright Brothers come to mind. But Samuel Langley, EHS Class of 1850 wasn’t that far behind. Langley

Alumni Spotlight Rashid Dilworth Silvera '66: A Success in Two Worlds Global fashion model; devoted and beloved educator by Dan Eramian '66 Rashid Dilworth Silvera '66 - #85 played end position on both offense and defense teams. The fact that Rashid Dilworth Silvera, ’66 became an internationally

Alumni Spotlight Judge Thomas Connors '68: Giving Back Through EHS's Popular Legal & Protective Services Pathways Program. Judge Thomas A. Connors, Retired, EHS '68 “If you want to be a lawyer or a judge, you need to be able to think clearly and write well,” says retired

Alumni Spotlight Secrets to Success: EHS Football Coach Ryan Conway ’89 Left to right: New England Patriots Executive Director of Community Affairs Andre Tippett; Coach Ryan Conway; and Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and an English High supporter, whose father Harry graduated from EHS

Thomas Thermidor, EHS 2021, Becomes Youngest EHSA Board Member "Dreams without goals and actions are just dreams."   Thomas Thermidor and his mother, Marie Therese Philippe, at Fenway Park graduation. Thomas Thermidor personifies today’s English High School student body. He came to America from Haiti in 2013

Alumni Spotlight Edward L. Hennessy, Jr. '45: Making the Dream a Reality From ‘No Irish Need Apply’ to the World Stage: Hobnobbing with Business Titans, the Pope and Presidents Edward L. Hennessy, Jr. - English High School, Class of 1945 Perhaps no other alumnus in The English High

Alumni Scholarship Recipient Check-in Nedgyn Laloi EHS '20: Thanks to English High, She's Excited About Her Future Nedgyn Laloi In March 2020, EHSA announced that Nedgyn Laloi, EHS Class of 2020, was the recipient of the Stella and Emmanuel Mavridis Scholarship. Recently, we checked in with Nedgyn

Alumni Spotlight Mayra Volquez EHS ’07: Passing Her ‘Dare to Dream’ Philosophy to Today’s EHS Students   When Mayra Volquez,  ‘07 came to America from the Dominican Republic 15 years ago with her parents and siblings, she entered the 10th grade at English High where she learned

Alumni Spotlight Arnold Henderson, Jr. ’66: EHS Takes Pride in the Proud Father of Our Alma Mater Singer The recent “Daring to Dream” program featured a moving rendition of the English High Alma Mater by award-winning Jazz and Latin vocalist Lauren Henderson. Lauren is the daughter of

Alumni Profile Carroll Blake, EHS ’68, Life-Long Track Star is Still Beating ‘Father Time’ At 71 most athletes have hung up their cleats and mothballed most of their sports equipment long ago — not Dr. Carroll Blake, EHS ’68. Despite reaching the title of septuagenarian, Carroll still

Alumni Profile Gladys Durham, EHS ’94: She Dared to Dream. Now She’s Paving the Way for Others Gladys Durham, EHS ‘94, proudly represents EHS through her many accomplishments academically, financially, for the community, and with her family. One of EHS’s most profound achievements during its first 200

Alumni Profile Charles Hayden, EHS Class of 1886, A Towering Figure in Business and Philanthropy The Charles Hayden Foundation continues giving millions in grants to this day. When people think of a very successful English High businessmen, they naturally think of JP Morgan. But another towering figure

Alumni Profile World Famous Berklee College of Music in Boston Founded by Lawrence Berk EHS ‘27 I worked all the clubs, like the Yen Ho Restaurant on Huntington avenue as a kid when I was attending English; there really wasn’t much to look forward to in music

Alumni Profile The English High School Alumnus Who Saved A War and A Country General Matthew Bunker Ridgway (1895-1992), EHS 1912, West Point 1917, was one of this country’s greatest military commanders. In WW II he served as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, Chief of Staff of

Update: August, 2022 The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), a nonprofit organization founded in 1971 dedicated to advancing minorities in the transportation industry with 35 chapters in the U.S. and Canada, honored 17 transportation leaders at its 2022 Industry Awards Gala on Monday, July 11, 2022

Alumni Profile Allan Rohan Crite, EHS ’29, Captured The Pulse of Boston’s African-American Community In the top left-hand corner of the EHSA’s 200th Anniversary Brochure is the photo of Allan Rohan Crite, EHS class of 1929, shown here. Perhaps not as recognizable as JP Morgan or other

Update: March, 2022 When our  July 2021 newsletter EHSA profiled Lisa Henderson Carter '94 she had at that time had recently completed her first book, "Behind the Smile." We are now proud and pleased to report that Lisa's book has been published and is available through Amazon.

EHS Notable Alumni Bob MacGillivray, EHS ’54: Basketball Star for Life   Bob MacGillivray, EHS ’54 grew up in Dorchester. He could have gone to close-by Dorchester High, but the 6’ 4” basketball phenom chose to bring his athletic skills to English High. “Coach Sullivan (Arthur) welcomed

EHS Notable Alumni Martin Bookspan, EHS ’43, the Cultured Voice of Lincoln Center Telecasts and NYT Music Critic Martin Bookspan, English High Alumnus in the wartime class of 1943, was recently remembered by EHSA Board of Directors member Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse ’44. Woody remembers Martin as a

Alumni Spotlight The Amazing Reverend Patrick Healy, EHS ’39   Photo: Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald While the Boston Herald did an excellent piece on this amazing man we thought we would speak to Rev. Patrick Healy for some more details of his thoughts on his English High

EHS Notable Alumni Thirty Years On, English High Remembers Tom Cassidy ’67 – A True Pioneer and English High Graduate EHSA President, Mike Thomas was a classmate, teammate and best friend of Tom Cassidy. Thirty years after Tom’s passing, here is how he remembers his good friend:

Meet the 2021 Stella and Emmanuel Mavridis Scholarship Winners and Finalists Each year the English High School Alumni & Friends Tutoring Program, established and supported by a gift in memory of Stella and Emmanuel Mavridis, awards promising English High students who are planning to attend college with

English High School History English High Student Joined Famous Black Civil War Regiment According to the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was the first military unit consisting of black soldiers to be raised in the North during the Civil War. The adoption of

George O'Malley '67 at the Finish Line - 2023 Update from George O'Malley to his supporters : June, 2023 Last month, two races occurred.  One was the historic Boston Marathon.  It was the 127th running which I was allowed to participate in as a member of the Dana Farber

Baseball is the Fountain of Youth for Joel Weinstein ‘56 This EHS grad’s New England Red Sox team, led by Bill ‘Spaceman’ Lee, is ready to win the 2021 MSBL World Series and defend their title in the 2021 Roy Hobbs World Series.   After a productive

EHS Notable Alumni All in the ‘English High Family’ Salma Hussain Khan ’10 carries on the EHS legacy Dan Eramian ’67   Growing up in Bangladesh as a little girl, and almost eight thousand miles away from the US, Salma (Hussain) Khan, English High ‘10 couldn’t foresee

EHS Notable Alumni 200 Years On, “Honor and Achievement” Remain Guiding Principles for English High Graduates By Daniel Eramian, ’66 In September of 1851 , John Pierpont Morgan (JPM), after passing the entrance exam, enrolled into the English High School. After graduating in 1854, JPM went on

Migdalia Iris Nalls, EHS ’97, More Than Just a Lawyer by Dan Eramian ’66 Her message to EHS students: Dream big Migdalia Iris Nalls, EHS ’97, is a legal “powerhouse.” She has served with distinction both as a prosecutor and as a public defender for juveniles. Migdalia

EHS Notable Alumni From Farmer in China to Engineer in the USA – A Life of Honor and Achievement. English High School graduate How Ming Wong, ’54 passed away on April 1, 2021 at the age of 93. Known in his EHS days as Leo, he began

It’s Perfectly Logical: Boston Honors EHS Grad, Leonard Nimoy, ’48 Mayor Marty Walsh has declared March 26 to be Leonard Nimoy Day in the city. Nimoy, who died in 2015 was born in Boston on March 26, 1931. Nimoy, who went on to world-wide fame as Mr.

EHS Notable Alumni Thoughts, Resolutions and Resolves on Entering The English High School by JP Morgan, Class of 1854 In September of 1851 at the age of 14, future business tycoon John Pierpont Morgan passed the rigorous entrance examination to attend The English High School. To record