Suffield Academy

The Patrick Booth Fire Ring officially lit up tonight, just in time for Family & Reunion Weekend. Students gathered around the flames before study hall and it's already a hit. Here’s to great company, cooler nights, and a new Suffield tradition 🔥.

“You don’t have to know the whole course. You just have to swim the next stroke.”

Casey Shanley Kegelman ’05 returned to Suffield Academy with a powerful message about adversity, resilience, and gratitude. Casey shared how lessons learned at Suffield helped her navigate breast cancer and the unexpected tragic loss of her husband Harry.

Her message to our community echoed what she hopes her children will always carry with them: beautiful things can still happen after heartbreaking ones, joy and sorrow can exist side by side, and hope is something we can choose.

Through —Positive Vibes Only—Casey encourages others to acknowledge life’s challenges while noticing the light, accepting support, and finding reasons to be grateful. This November, she will carry that spirit into the New York City Marathon, running in Harry’s honor for Fred’s Team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Thank you, Casey, for reminding us to take the next step, support one another, and make room for joy.

View Casey’s chapel talk: bit.ly/PVOPositiveVibesOnly

Suffield’s annual Leadership Day brought each class together for adventure, service, and connection. Here’s to a great year ahead in our Leadership Program.

Underclass Prize Day recognized outstanding academic achievements from the 2025-2026 school year. Keep up the great work, Tigers. View more photos, a full list of award recipients, and a video of the program: bit.ly/2026UnderclassPrizeDay

Forever in our hearts 🧡
We will never forget 🇺🇸

Donald F. Greene ’67
Daniel P. Trant ’80
Alexander R. Steinman ’87
Melissa M. Harrington Hughes ’88

The Class of 2027 joined faculty for the annual Senior Dinner ahead of the start of the academic year. Following dinner, they proudly sang Suffield’s Alma Mater—a tradition they will share again on 50th Night this spring and at Commencement on May 28.

“The question I ask each of you to consider is simple: What kind of school will those who follow you inherit because you were its leaders? Let’s make it a school defined by kindness, respect, effort, and leadership.” [Head of School Charlie Cahn]

#1833

Leadership Program teaching assistants and dormitory proctors returned to campus early for training, team-building, and time together—and their energy is contagious!

These student leaders are prepared to take on key roles across campus and are setting the tone for an incredible year ahead.

As we continue to welcome more Tigers to campus over the next several days, be sure to look out for the purple shirts across campus—our proctors are ready to help, guide, and point you in the right direction.

Eight new faculty members have joined the Suffield Academy community. We are excited to have these new faces on Bell Hill as we begin the 2026–2027 academic year.

Read more about this year's group: bit.ly/welcometosuffield

Before the fame, the headlines, and Born to Run, former faculty member Jim Fuller P’05, ’06, ‘06 had his camera pointed at a young Bruce Springsteen on the brink of stardom. Jim’s recent book, Spirit in the Light: Photographing Springsteen, features rare black-and-white photographs taken between 1973 and 1975, capturing Springsteen’s transformation from a little-known college performer to a rising star.

Congratulations to Jim Fuller on this striking collection of photography, storytelling, and Springsteen history. Check out the book: bit.ly/SpiritInTheLight

Patrick Booth P’12, ’14 retired this summer after 25 years of outstanding leadership and dedicated service to Suffield Academy. As CFO, Patrick brought wisdom, unwavering integrity, and genuine kindness to every aspect of school life—but his impact extended far beyond Fuller Hall.

Since becoming head softball coach in 2012, Patrick built one of Suffield’s most successful athletic programs, compiling a remarkable 154-66 record. Under his leadership, the Tigers made seven semifinal appearances, advanced to three championship games, and captured the Western New England Championship in 2012 with a perfect 22-0 season. Coach Booth was a true mentor whose influence made a lasting impact on hundreds of Suffield student-athletes. In 2023, Suffield’s softball dugouts were dedicated in honor of Patrick, his late wife Carol, and their children, Lauren ’12 and Nicholas ’14—a special tribute to the Booth family’s connection to the program and the school.

We are deeply grateful for Patrick’s extraordinary contributions, commitment, and leadership over the past 25 years.