Horace Mann - Spring 2017 - 61

Memorials

Pursuing a career in investment, particularly in the biotechnology
industry in Asia and the U.S. Hsu also worked as a consultant in the
field with several Asian governments. But he would eventually become
best known as the owner of "Sharky's." He opened the bar in 1995. On
a business visit to Cambodia in the mid-1990s after living for much of
the year in Thailand, while working with the Asian Development Bank
there, Hsu saw a demand for a bar catering to expatriates in Phnom
Penh, which had been flooded with UN peacekeepers and development workers in the run-up to national elections. Over the years, the
often raucous bar took on its own legend, becoming a local institution.
Throughout the last decade "Big Mike" worked to turn the bar into a
quality live music venue, adding a full band open-mic night each week.
In an interview with the Phnom Pen Post a week before his death Hsu
called Sharky's "the longest running rock 'n' roll club in Indochina." Hsu
was memorialized by many musicians and loyal Sharky patrons for what
he did "for the rock scene in Cambodia." U.S. Embassy spokesman Jay
Raman described the alumnus as a Phnom Penh cultural figure, stating:
"The U.S. Embassy expresses its condolences on the passing of Mike
Hsu, the owner of Sharky's Bar. Mike was a fixture in the Phnom Penh
music scene for many years and a true original. He will be missed." He is
survived by his brother, Robert Hsu.

Philip Blumberg '70,
PBS Producer and Writer
Horace Mann School was saddened by the death of Philip Blumberg
'70 on September 11, 2016. Classmates of the close-knit HM Class of
1970 shared reminiscences about their friend Phil, whose death was
reported to the class by Daniel Baldwin '70. Wrote Baldwin: "I am so
sorry to tell you that, this past Sunday, we lost Phil Blumberg. As some
of you know, Phil fought a courageous battle during the past few years
with very tough physical and mental health issues. Since the beginning of this year, he had frequently been in and out of the hospital.
Ultimately, he chose to end his life rather than to live with ailments that
had become intolerable ... We can all recall Phil with deep affection from
HM days as a warm companion, brilliant student, fiercely competitive
athlete and avid backpacker. Over the ensuing years, he did great work
in production at PBS, went into academia, and became a world traveler,
taking photographs that showed enormous artistry. But I think Phil was
proudest of his accomplishments as a writer. He wrote numerous short
stories and, at the time of his death, had completed a novel to which
he devoted many years. His style was elegant, earthy and supremely
intelligent. He addressed profound life issues, but always with grace
and fine touches of humor. Pretty much what you would expect from
Phil. We extend our deepest condolences to Phil's sister Vicki (Dr. Vicki
Blumberg.) Those of you who would like to contact her personally can
do so at vsblumberg@aol.com."
Ken Flatto '70 was among those who contributed a reflection:
"Most of us knew Phil the teenager. I was privileged (along with PS 6
Manhattan schoolmates Ozzie [Dr. Oscar Taub '70] and Alfonzo [Alfonzo
Thornton '70]) et al to be best buddies with Phil in earlier years. We
lunched together, championed 'hide & seek' in the Metropolitan
Museum together, threw snowballs and played stick ball, and cried
that day in 1963 as parents rushed to school for us as our President
was taken from this world. Phil was the towering intellect; a beautiful
mind. Our friend with so much heart and skill and thought. To quote
from Phil's Ecclesiastes Mannikin entry: 'one generation passeth and
another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever. All the riv-

ers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence
the rivers come; thither they return again.' Phil loved writing. I wish I
wasn't writing this today. RIP Phil."

Jay S. Fishman '70, Chair and CEO of
The Travelers Companies
We regret to note the passing of Jay S. Fishman '70 on August 19, 2016.
After graduating from the Barnard School for Boys Fishman went
on to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics, magna cum laude, and
earned a master's degree in accounting from Wharton, both in 1974.
After several other jobs, from 1989 to October 2001, Fishman held
key executive posts at Commercial Credit Corp., Primerica, Travelers
(TRV), and Citigroup. He served as Chair and CEO of TRV when a
2004 merger between The St. Paul Companies, Inc. (where he had
been Chairman, CEO, and President) and Travelers Companies first
formed TRV. He served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The
Travelers Companies for 11 years prior to stepping down in December
2015, following a diagnosis of ALS. Jay Fishman was employed as the
Executive Chairman of the Board of Travelers from December 2015
until his death. A Trustee at the University of Pennsylvania Fishman
was also an Overseer at both the School of Veterinary Medicine and
Graduate School of Education, was on the Industry Advisory Board of
the Financial Institutions Center for The Wharton School, and was a
member of numerous Penn committees and societies. In memorializing Fishman The University of Pennsylvania described him as "one of
the most admired CEOs in this country" whose "keen insight, cleareyed outlook, uplifting humor, and profound decency made him a most
accomplished and beloved leader." Jay Fishman was also very active
in civic and cultural activities. He served on the Board of Directors of
the National Academy Foundation, was an honored member of the
Advisory Committee of the Jazz Foundation of America, was named,
in June 2012, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the New York City
Ballet, and served on the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts board.
He was a trustee of New York-Presbyterian Hospital and a Director at
Exxon Mobil Corporation. Fishman is survived by his wife Randy Lee
Chapman, sons Jordan (and Rebecca) and Scott (and Nicki) Fishman,
three grandchildren and extended family.

Ed Townsend '70, HM Exchange
Student from England and Councillor
With sadness Horace Mann School shares the news that Edward
(Ed) Townsend '70, a well-known and highly respected Councillor in
Newport, England, died there surrounded by his close family on May 4,
2016 after a short illness. Ed Townsend joined the Horace Mann School
Class of 1970 as an exchange student from England, as had his brother
Alan Townsend '63. Ed remained in touch with his HM classmates and
traveled to reunions in the U.S. Alan Townsend submitted the following memorial: "Ed was deputy leader of Newport Council between
2008 and 2012 and had represented the St. Julians ward as a Liberal
Democrat since 2004. As deputy leader of the Council, he played a leading role in attracting Admiral Insurance to Newport City Centre and
was a driving force in getting the Friars Walk retail development off the
ground. Ed was born and educated in Wallasey, Cheshire and spent a
year as an exchange student at the prestigious Horace Mann School in
New York. He studied politics at Leicester University before becoming
Horace Mann Magazine Spring 2017

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