RE Log Spring 2021

SPRING 2021 Ransom Everglades LOG 75 Daniel Alfin ’03 , associate alumnus and brother of David Alfin ’99 , was killed while on duty as an FBI agent in Miami this past February. Special Agent Daniel Alfin was born in New York. He entered on duty to the FBI as a Special Agent in 2009 with his initial assignment to the FBI Albany Field Office. He was assigned to the FBI Miami Field Office in 2017 and worked crimes against children violations for over six years. He also served as a member of the Underwater Search and Evidence Recovery Team since May 2019 as a Public Safety Diver. He was a certified PADI Advanced Diver and Rescue Diver who completed seven underwater forensic searches. He was a valuable member of the FBI team. He will forever be a hero, and will always be remembered for his ultimate sacrifice. Special Agent Alfin is survived by his son Eli and wife Jessie. John Wootten Carpenter, Jr. ’60 was born September 13, 1942, in Wilmington, Del., to Fay and John Carpenter. He passed away on November 14, 2020, of COVID-19 related causes. John was preceded in death by his parents and sister Carol Fay Carpenter of Delray Beach. He is survived by Allen Carpenter (Laura) of Delray Beach who was very proud to be his brother and will miss him eternally, and his loving wife Gloria Akers Carpenter and their children, John W. Carpenter (Margaret), Kimberly Carpenter King (Joe), Sean Akers (Nicole) and Bryan Abell (Kelly). He was surrounded in life by loving in-laws, 14 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. John was a graduate of Ransom School and Stetson University, where he was on the tennis team. He moved to Delray Beach as a boy, and spent the rest of his life being active in the community. He built/de- signed/owned the Barwick Golf Course in Delray, and owned an office supply store and the Delray Bowling Lanes. His philanthropy extended through Civitan Club, Elks Lodge and sponsoring numer- ous teams and tournaments throughout his life. John was an accomplished tennis player, bowler, golfer, softball player and coach, a.k.a. “Catfish Carpenter.” He mentored and was friends with LPGA and PGA professionals across the coun- try. John’s sense of humor was God’s gift to all. His infectious laugh would boom through the room and ignite a crowd. His life was full of love, family, laughter, kindness and an amazing host of lifetime friendships, especially at The Frog Lounge, which his sister Carol owned. He and Gloria established many friend- ships and memories through their com- munity at the Little Club in Gulfstream. John passed at Bethesda Hospital, which also bears the name of his mother in memorial, The Fay Carpenter Wing. Paul Curtin ’72 was born on April 11, 1954, in San Francisco, Calif., to Victor Thomas and Mary Louise Scott Curtin. He grew up in Miami with his sisters Jane, Gail, Anne and Joy. His father, Victor, was instrumental in founding the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute where he spent his career as an esteemed ophthal- mologist. Growing up, Paul developed a keen interest in tennis, playing daily at the Royal Palm Tennis Club. In high school, he played on the varsity tennis team that won the state championships in 1972. Paul enjoyed playing competi- tive junior tennis in Florida throughout his childhood years, achieving state rank- ings in the 16- and 18-and-unders. Paul attended Harvard College for one year and then completed his bachelor’s degree in American History in 1978 at the University of Miami, where he played on the men’s tennis team. After college, Paul briefly played the men’s satellite circuit before settling down in New York City to teach tennis, first at the Midtown Tennis Center and later at the East River Tennis Club. In 2003, Paul’s colleague and good friend, Paul Campbell, recruited him to direct the Junior Development Program at the Prospect Park Tennis Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. There Paul and Paul worked closely together, along with the leadership of the Prospect Park Alliance, to realize their vision of a vibrant, community-based tennis center offering a wide variety of programs and opportunities to children and adults alike. Working in Brooklyn marked an important shift in Paul’s career. Although he continued to coach adults, he worked tirelessly to develop a thriving junior development program which would become his crowning achievement. Paul demonstrated unparalleled sensitivity in his work with the children and their par- ents. He built the Prospect Park Junior Development Program from the ground up. The program operates year-round and serves over 1,000 children annu- ally, many of whom receive scholarships. Paul’s dedication and expertise made him a legend within the diverse com- munity of Brooklyn youth tennis. His legacy will live on in every child and adult whose development he selflessly fostered. Paul died on December 4, 2020, at Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., Paul is survived by his sisters, Jane Curtin of Westchester, New York; Gail Curtin of Miami, Florida; and Joy Curtin Tompkins of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; as well as his girlfriend/life partner, Mary G. Kirkpatrick ’74 of Burlington, Vt. Matilee Howard Johnson, former faculty member, passed away Monday, December 7, 2020. She was 85. Matilee was a graduate of Aiken High School, where she was a member of the bas- ketball team. Her career as an indepen- dent educator culminated in her role as principal of the girls’ school at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta. She had many talents and interests including making elegant jewelry, floral arranging and synchronized swimming. Her life was enriched by travel throughout the world. Matilee was preceded in death by her father, the Reverend Dr. Amplus Dilworth Howard; her mother, Mattie King Howard; and her beloved brother, AD Howard, Jr. She is survived by her