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Minutes of Appreciation from the BFS Board of Trustees, established in 2006, recognize the contributions of board members upon their completion of service on the Board. These are in alphabetical order and the date after the name indicates the year the trustee completed board service.
Nancy Black (06) Nancy brought to her service on the Brooklyn Friends School Committee a deep commitment to the school, a sure sense of Friends’ business practice and testimonies and an abiding belief in the value of Quaker education. Her voice was always welcome. In moments of turmoil or indecision, Nancy returned us to the issue at hand with wisdom, humor, clarity, firmness and affection. She was an empathetic, encouraging colleague and mentor and a gifted clerk, whose centered and resolute leadership guided us through both difficult and happier times. Conway Boyce (07)
Conway brought to his nine years of service on the School Committee of Brooklyn Friends School balance, steady wisdom and humor. He often discerned the possible, unexpected consequences of committee actions, and he often returned the committee to its longer-term, strategic responsibilities. His guidance helped refine and improve many decisions, on occasion after the rest of the committee had seemed content with an earlier and, in hindsight, poorer result. His perspective was always valued, as was his informed and abiding commitment to the school. Anita Bushell (07) Anita served on the School Committee of Brooklyn Friends School with great faithfulness, competently and cheerfully carrying out all tasks assigned to her. She brought to her work an impressive intelligence and logical mind, operating on a sound foundation of common sense and good judgment. She asked good questions and expected good answers. Anita’s work was consistently informed by her framework of Quaker understanding, enriching our collective approach to our stewardship of Brooklyn Friends School.
Cynthia Cohen (09)
Cynthia Cohen served as a Board of Trustee member for three full terms. She served the school in many capacities. We are especially grateful for her leadership, as Clerk of the Expansion and Building Committees. She is known for working tirelessly and selflessly to support the objectives of the school community. During her last years on the Board, she remained committed to helping the school identify sites for our expansion and continues to serve on the Expansion Committee as a co-opted member. We will miss Cynthia’s leadership and unique contributions to our school.
Dana Cook-Stone (06) Dana served as School Committee member for three full terms. Dana never hesitated to do what was asked of her and consistently went above and beyond for the betterment of the school. She was known for asking tough questions that needed to be considered and for taking positions on occasion that caused committee members to reflect and re-evaluate their positions. Dana served selflessly and generously gave of herself in many ways — her time, hospitality, spirit and complete support. Her service exemplifies the value a Brooklyn Friends School, School Committee member can bring the committee. We thank Dana for her years of dedication and much appreciated service. Verina Crawford (10) In her six years on the Board of Trustees, Verina worked on multiple
committees, including Development, Head Search, Nominating, and as a liaison to the Parents and Teachers association. Among her many contributions were a set of guidelines for new Trustees and their mentors to facilitate professional growth, and service on the Horizons at BFS Board of Trustees from the moment of its inception. Verina’s love for BFS was apparent in everything she did. She never hesitated when asked to take on a new task and brought to each her keenintelligence, forthrightness, insight, and good humor. Verina will be sorely missed for her optimism and capacity to see and to appreciate the Light in all her colleagues. We are most grateful for her service.
Trefor Davies (08)
We wish to express our appreciation to Trefor Davies, faculty representative, for his service to the School Committee for the past two years. We respect his thoughtful, unique contributions to our process, and feel pleased we were able to have his participation on the School Committee.
Maura Eden (08)
Maura Eden was a wonderful part of the School Committee. In her gentle manner, she was constantly thoughtful, incisive and forthright as well as creative. She inspired us to pursue the truth and to use our knowledge to work to make things better. Her caring was always evident toward the rest of us on the Committee and for the essence of Brooklyn Friends School Benjamin Warnke's Service as Clerk (08) .
Fern Finkel-Gentile (07) Fern served as School Committee member for three full terms. She served as Clerk of the Nominating Committee and School Affairs Committee. Fern never hesitated to work on School Committee special projects. On short notice last year, she hosted in her home, our School Committee February Retreat. It is obvious Fern is committed to the value of a Quaker Education; her three children have been active students in many school plays, sports and musical events. We will miss Fern’s open and direct candor, "thoughtleadership" and passion for our school.
Sharon Kennedy (06) We would like to express appreciation to Sharon for her innumerable thoughtful, tireless and enthusiastic contributions to Brooklyn Friends School as a School Committee member. We will miss not only her many specific efforts and the projects she shepherded so reliably and effectively but also her intensely committed and intelligent presence.
Bill Kuntz (08)
Bill Kuntz brought to his service on the Brooklyn Friends School Committee significant and welcome legal expertise and a long history in the stewardship of independent schools. He was able to share a broader view of the obstacles and opportunities facing the school. He also shared a gift for discerning the larger context when, on occasion, the committee's discussions were mired in particulars. Bill advised the committee on several difficult internal issues with clarity and sensitivity. The school will miss his judgment and counsel.
Sam Laufer (09)
Sam’s service on the board was marked by an incredible level of generosity in every aspect of his involvement. His insightful and thoughtful questions, particularly related to financial matters, and his creative, out of the box development ideas, sparked important discussions and thinking on critical issues before the board. Sam brought to his board service a rich personal experience with Friends education, which was evident in all he did for Brooklyn Friends School. The board greatly appreciates his spirited commitment to our school.
Alice Pope (10)
The BFS Board minutes our profound appreciation for our former clerk, Alice Pope, for her 9 years of generous service. During her tenure as a Board Member and a Clerk, Alice was tireless in her efforts to advance the mission of the School. Alice was instrumental in the process of the School’s separate incorporation from the New York Quarterly Meeting. During that challenging process Alice taught us to meet adversity and anger with grace and patience so that we could work together to find a path forward. Alice’s leadership and steady hand leading the Head Search Committee to find our current head Dr. Larry Weiss allowed for a spirit led process that led us to a wonderful result. As a result of her guidance we are stronger Friends and better stewards of Brooklyn Friends School. We are deeply indebted to Alice for her leadership and direction.
Benjamin Warnke (09)
In his 9 years of service on the BFS Board, Benjamin Warnke made many valuable contributions, including serving as Treasurer, Assistant Clerk, and Clerk, as well as ongoing service on the Expansion Committee as the school searched for new space. Perhaps his most significant effort was his leadership in helping the school and the New York Quarterly Meeting come together in a decision to allow BFS to separately incorporate. To all his work, Benjamin brought a measured, thoughtful voice, a deep love for Brooklyn Friends School, and a sensitivity to the stirrings of the Spirit. When clerking Board meetings, Benjamin’s skillful interweaving of humor, wisdom, and spiritual discernment showed us, again and again, the power of Quaker process in revealing truth and the right way forward. His legacy remains in a Board that is committed to lifting up the school’s Quaker mission so that BFS graduates will always change the world through lives of leadership and service.
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