People Type: Donor

Ellie Goodwin Cochran and David Cochran

Ellie and Dave are proud and loyal supporters of Derryfield. They have enthusiastically supported every capital campaign except for the very first one. Ellie says, “Each campaign has been impactful and moved the school forward, but this one was perhaps the most focused and I’m extremely proud of the strong alumni support.” The Cochrans’ generosity and commitment to our school has inspired giving in alumni of all ages. Their hope for the future is that Derryfield stands the test of time and remains relevant for every student. “Education is the best gift we give our children and a community is only as strong as the educational opportunities provided. I want to make sure that Derryfield continues to move forward, making a difference in our corner of the world.”

Marty Nagy-Wentz and Jack Wentz

Marty and Jack wanted to give back to help move Derryfield forward. “Those who came before us created a really great school and we benefited from the investments they made in Derryfield,” Jack says. “We felt we should do our part to help Derryfield create teaching, learning, athletic, and community spaces that matched the quality of the curriculum for the next generation of students.” When reflecting on their daughter Erika’s time at Derryfield, Marty and Jack recognize that Derryfield provided her with a truly unique experience. “She was well prepared for college, having already explored and balanced a wide variety of interests. At Derryfield she learned to advocate for herself, while expanding her skills and being kind and supportive of others.”

Matt Halvorsen

As a business leader in New Hampshire, Matt has a unique perspective on the benefits of a strong independent school like Derryfield. He understands how the education at Derryfield is a solid foundation for future studies and careers. Matt has remained connected to fellow alumni in the area, and he welcomed the opportunity to hear about the campaign and how he could help. Matt’s hope for Derryfield is that it remains a great independent school and that students continue to feel free to express themselves.

The Winneg Family

The Winneg family are no strangers to Derryfield. Fran and Dick Winneg were among the founders who came together and invested in starting the School. Each year when Dick returned for Founders’ Day, he quipped that his original donation to Derryfield was the best gift he ever made. He was in awe of how the School has grown over the years. Their three children attended Derryfield, and their son Neal joined the Board of Trustees in 2016. Neal gathered the family together to make a family gift to the campaign; his parents and siblings all investing in paying it forward once again. According to Neal, his parents didn’t think twice about taking the risk to create a better educational opportunity for their children, and for that he remains grateful. He envisions a future where more alumni are engaged with their school, where growth continues, and where we maintain the tradition of caring for the well-being of all our students.

Linda and Brad Benson

Family is at the core of the Bensons’ Derryfield experience. Our current Board Chair, Brad ’78, recognizes that he and his two sons, Andrew ’15 and Christopher ’17, all received a great education at Derryfield. Each of them graduated enthusiastic about learning and had close relationships with their teachers. But for both generations of Bensons, what made Derryfield so special was that they went home to their family after school each day. Brad looks forward to future facility improvements so that the physical buildings continue to evolve as a reflection of the excellent work that happens within them.

The VanArsdale and Dewey Family

When their daughters Sara ’03 and Kate ’05 started at Derryfield, the whole family got involved. Mom, Pam VanArsdale, jumped right in and started volunteering. She was one of the hardest working volunteers on the campaign to build the middle school back in 1996. Grandparents, Marjorie and Bud, saw how much their daughter and granddaughters were getting out of their Derryfield experience, so they got involved too. Their family came together across all three generations to support the Thinking Forward Campaign, in honor of the great experience that each of them had with the School as students, parents, and grandparents. They are proud to build on the vision of the Founders and the generosity of all the donors who came before them.

The Tournas Family

When Louis and Margarita Tournas decided to send their son Georgio to Derryfield in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic loomed on the horizon and quickly changed the learning environment. “As a new family at Derryfield, even with the pandemic, the staff always helped us and made us feel welcome,” said Louis. As a result, the Tournas family gave a generous Derryfield Fund gift in support of the School to “allow the administration to expand the campus and opportunities [for students.]”

Now, as ongoing supporters of The Derryfield Fund, the Tournas family believes their donation “helps to maintain the high standard for education that Derryfield holds for itself, its faculty, and its current and future students by giving teachers the tools to teach the subjects that students need. The School and its facilities are well maintained and of very good quality, the schedule is very well organized, and the staff and faculty are very helpful and seem to love their jobs.”

In 2022, the Tournas’ daughter Aikat also became a Derryfield student. “We are very excited that our children are able to try a wide range of activities which allow them to find their identities and what they like, such as chorus, exploration blocks, and several different sports,” said Louis. 

The Tournas family “hopes the future generation of Derryfield students can enjoy an even higher quality of education, facilities, and more opportunities to help them grow as learners and as people.”

Michael Broad

Michael’s parents were involved with Derryfield from the start, and his support is in their honor. He envisions a future for Derryfield in which students continue to encounter unique opportunities that they otherwise would not have in high school. Michael remembers the impact that teachers like Mr. Holland and Mr. Bailey had on his education and the lasting impacts they made on his life. He points to this as something that truly makes Derryfield special– he knows that everyone who comes through Derryfield has those teachers who make a profound impact on their lives.

Roz & David Carlson

In 2015, Roz and Dave suffered the unimaginable loss of their son, Peter, a graduate of the Derryfield Class of 1983. At the time of his passing, Peter was an educator at McLaughlin Middle School in Manchester. In their grief, Roz and Dave turned to Derryfield as a way to honor Peter, and his passion for education. They were looking for a way to support talented youth coming from the Manchester school districts, to give them an opportunity to attend Derryfield and reach their full potential. 

What started with conversations with Alice Handwerk and Kathleen Rutty-Fey, blossomed into the incredible “Peter Carlson ’83 Financial Aid Fund,” which today supports the tuition of Carlson Scholars. Students accepted to Derryfield as Carlson Scholars know they are entering DS carrying this legacy into the future. 

When we shared with the Carlsons that we wanted to honor them for establishing this remarkable gift, in their typical fashion, they didn’t want any fuss. They wanted this to be all about Peter—so let us tell you more about him. 

Bill Krantz, the principal at McLaughlin Middle School, shared that Peter was so giving of his time, and dedicated to the students. Among other roles, Peter monitored in-school suspension, and Bill declared there was nobody who loved these students more than Peter. Bill joked that he thought some students would get in trouble  on purpose, just to spend time with Peter. 

During his time at McLaughlin, it was clear that Peter saw the potential in so many students, because each time he connected back to Derryfield, to watch his niece Sally’s middle school play, for example, he initiated conversations with DS community members about how we can create pathways for high-flying, underserved students to attend Derryfield.

Roz and Dave created the financial aid fund because Peter wanted it—

not for glory or recognition. We chose to honor them, their family, and this legacy that will live on for generations. For a small school like Derryfield, their endowment has changed how we see ourselves, and how the rest of the world sees us. We are a school community worthy of incredible generosity. We are a school that changes the lives of the students and their families. Roz and Dave, through this incredible gift, their spirit, their humor, and passion for education, are the most deserving recipients of the 2022 Cikacz Family Philanthropy Award. 

Chris and Michael Cikacz

Chris implores us to “remember that no matter what kind of beautiful buildings we build, the teachers and their relationships with students are the foundation of a Derryfield education.” The Cikacz family supports Derryfield so that the faculty has the resources and facilities they need to create extraordinary experiences for students. Their daughter Molly graduated in 2008 and they attribute much of her success to her teachers. Chris and Michael have watched Molly, along with many other students, learn to advocate for themselves, to explore new ideas, and to move through the world with confidence, thanks to their relationships with Derryfield faculty.

Sheila and Joe Dewitt

Sheila and Joe are always so thoughtful in how they approach their giving. They reflect on their own experiences, and times that they benefited from the caring and generosity of others, and they consider how they can pay that forward for others in meaningful ways. The Dewitts’ hope is that Derryfield continues to grow and to achieve recognition for what we’ve become. They are inspired by Mary Halpin Carter’s visionary approach to leadership, which is also deeply grounded in fundamentals. They were delighted to watch the Thinking Forward campaign expand to include such incredible enhancement to our Science and Innovation programming, in addition to its initial focus on Health and Wellness. The Dewitts believe that this ability to pivot and adjust will be the key to Derryfield’s success in our changing world.

Jennifer and Bob Grunbeck

Jennifer and Bob are no strangers to philanthropy and giving back to the community. They have been involved in many organizations that they are passionate about, and when they joined the Derryfield community they jumped right in, finding ways to connect with other families, faculty, and staff. In their first year as Derryfield parents they hosted gatherings and learned quickly about the Thinking Forward campaign. They knew right away that they wanted to help. Since then, they have been advocates for the School and passionate about inspiring others to give. When asked why they jumped in right away, Bob shared that education is a priority area of support for their family, and they wanted to see Derryfield succeed in realizing the vision for the new facilities—spaces their children would be lucky to experience during their time at Derryfield.