Distinguished Alumni Awards

2011 - Robert Vail '68

Bob Vail attended The Gow School for seven years. He majored in Mechanical Engineering at Calvin College, and he received his B.B.A. in business from Cleveland State University. Bob is the founder and President of VN Services and VN International, two construction management consulting businesses located in Cleveland, Ohio. He has served as a member of Gow's Board of Trustees since 2005 and helped to create a long-range campus and facilities plan. Bob is a passionate motorcycle enthusiast. He currently owns ten motorcycles and rides about 14,000 miles per year. Bob and his wife Lynn live in Ohio. He is the father of two grown daughters.

2010 - Robert McGowan '79

For the past fifteen years, Robert McGowan has served as the Executive Chef of The Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington DC. Located just a block from the White House, the restaurant serves more than 2000 people a day and logs over $23 million worth of sales annually. Robert developed his love of cooking while attending The Gow School, and after graduating, enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY. Robert loves his chosen profession and muses, "It's rather simple, as long as you work hard, love what you do, have some creativity, and - most importantly - work with and for people who share the same philosophy."

2009 - Robert Manice '71

It was during Robert Manice's three years at The Gow School that he developed a passion for the visual arts. After graduating from Boston University, he embarked on a twenty year career in real estate development before pursuing his love for the arts as a professional painter. In 2004, Manice generously donated the proceeds from an art show and reception held at The Gow Scool to The Reid Art Center.  More recently, he has become interested in purchasing sculptures for the Gow campus. He and his wife live in Dover, MA, and are the parents of three children.  Robert maintains a studio on Newbury Street in Boston.

2008 - K. Peter Knudsen '59

Peter Knudsen attended The Gow School for three years. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Peter served on The Gow School Board of Trustees for 12 years. He began his career with the Budd Company, and then served as Vice Chairman and CEO of Automotive Operations, Galtaco, Inc., Redlaw Industries, Inc. and GRM Industries, Inc. He completed his career as Vice President of Automotive Glass Operations for Libbey Owens Ford Co.

2007 - Antony Alan Botto '57

After graduating from The Gow School, and receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA, Alan embarked on a wildly divergent career path that led him to his present position as Producer/Director at the Foreign Press Center, Washington, D.C. During his illustrious 20 year career with USIA, he has produced 77 motion pictures and TV programs for 37 foreign countries. Alan served on the Board of Trustees of The Gow School from 1981 to 2002.

2006 - Newton "Tony" Baker '53

Newton "Tony" Baker '53 was at The Gow School for seven years.  He received his Bachelors degree from Denison University and a Master of Arts from Harvard Graduate School. He also served in the United States Marine Corps as a 1st Lieutenant from 1957 to 1959. Tony worked at the Xerox Corporation and served as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of Access Corporation from 1968 to 1998. He has been a member Gow Board of Trustees since 2004.

2005 - Robert Warner, Jr. '64

Robert Warner attended The Gow School for five years. He has been on the Board of Trustees since 1989, was Chairman from 1998 to 2000 and served as Vice Chair and Chairman of the Buildings & Grounds Committee. In 2000, the dedication of Warner House, home to sixteen Govians and two faculty families, recognized his generosity and service. A real estate developer and President of Warner Developments, Inc. in Avon, Colorado, Robert plays a major role in residential, hotel and commercial development in his area.

2004 - J. Breck Davis '91

J. Breck Davis spent four years at Gow. A car-bicycle accident in 1993 left him a quadriplegic with limited use of his hands. After months of recuperation, Breck enrolled at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, where he received his BA in Psychology and his Masters in Education. Breck worked as a counselor in The Gow School Summer Program from 1994-95, and the Breck Davis Award was named in his honor. After completing his degrees, Breck worked at St. Clair College in Dayton, Ohio with at-risk students to help them stay in school.

2000 - Dean H. Jewett '61

Dean Jewett '61 attended The Gow School for five years and then graduated from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa. Following college, he returned to Buffalo where he worked for several banks before becoming a principal of Guerney, Becker and Bourne, a real estate and insurance brokerage firm.  A trustee for more than 25 years, he served as Chairman from 1979 to 1985.

1999 - Graeme Hepburn '84

Graeme Hepburn '84 attended The Gow School for six years and then graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia with a Bachelor Arts degree in Economics.  Graeme served on Board of Trustees from 1993-2004 and has been a major force in creating and promoting the Friends of The Gow School Canadian Scholarship Fund. Graeme is a home builder in the Toronto metro area.

1997 - Jay Mandarino '79

Jay Mandarino graduated from The Gow School in 1979 and then attended York University in Canada. In 1980, he started a printing business as a part time venture while continuing his education. By 1983, Jay had established C. J. Graphics, Inc. (Printers and Lithographers), located in Toronto, Canada.  Jay served as President of the Alumni Association, and he helped facilitate the creation of the Friends of The Gow School, which is incorporated as a registered charity in Canada.

1996 - Jon H. Holt '58

Jon Holt '58 was a student at The Gow School for four years.  After graduating, he went to Fordham University and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1963 and a Master of Arts degree from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.  Jon returned to Gow as a Master, teaching social sciences and coaching soccer and lacrosse.  He was a founding member of the Alumni Association and was on the Board of Trustees from 1994 to 1998.  He was one of three Govians who helped to create the Norman and Vesta Howard Scholarship Fund.

1995 - George M. Reid, Jr. '43

George M. Reid '43 has been a long-time trustee of The Gow School.  As President of Art Acquisitions, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, he designs and maintains corporate art collections.  He earned Fine Arts degrees from Yale University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and he studied in Rome. Professionally, he worked with the Cleveland Museum of Art in Education and was Chairman of the education department at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Also, he served as Associate Director of the Minnesota Museum of Art.

1994 - William J. Brendenberg '66

William J. Bredenberg '66 graduated from The Gow School and then received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hobart College.  He was the first Alumni Association Board President, and he served on The Gow School Board of Trustees from 1991-2001.  William is a Vice President at Trubee Collins & Co., a stock brokerage firm in Buffalo, New York.

1993 - John G. Wolbach '37

John G. Wolbach attended The Gow School for seven years, graduating in 1937.  He received an AB in Astronomy from Harvard University and subsequently began his lifelong work as an Astronomer and Research Assistant of Harvard College Observatory.  He served as a member of the Gow Board of Trustees from 1978 until 1998 and was a life-long supporter of The Gow School. John passed away in 2001. He provided the funding for the Wolbach Water Treatment Facility, which was later transformed into the Wolbach Science Building.

1992 - J. Gibson McIlvain III '66

J. Gibson McIlvain III attended The Gow School from 1960 to 1966. He graduated from New England College in New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. In 1974, he was named to the Board of Trustees and served nearly continuously until 2003.  In 1997, he was honored with the naming of McIlvain House, the Gow Headmaster' s residence.  He is President of J. Gibson McIlvain Company, a lumber company specializing in fine woods, located in White Marsh, Maryland.