Words of love, condolence and compassion poured from the hearts of the Tabor community on October 29 and in the days that followed after we learned of the passing of beloved alumnus Travis Roy ’95.

Alexandra Decas graduated from Tabor in 2005 and went on to study film and television at Boston University before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television writing and eventually meeting her writing partner, Melanie Kirschbaum. Their credits to date include the Netflix/DreamWorks show Boss Baby and ABC’s Mixed-ish, and they are currently producers on Freeform’s Grown-ish.

So, here we are, self-isolating during the COVID19 pandemic. How can we feel connected during this time? By reaching out to the broad and diverse Tabor alumni network, a dedicated group of graduates who are a resource for students and alumni alike.

Justin Nichols is a New York City-based theatrical producer. He is currently the producer of Anne of Green Gables - The New Musical, which will receive its world premiere at Goodspeed Musicals in 2021. He spent four years as the executive assistant to Jeffrey Seller working on the development and production of Hamilton: An American Musical and Sting’s The Last Ship. Nichols is currently the director of operations at Broadway Brands. He is a graduate of Syracuse University and the Commercial Theater Institute.  

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, I began making preparations to move my business and team to a work-from-home model in early March. As COO and co-founder of LABUR (www.labur. com), a Boston-based workforce solution provider, we went 100 percent remote on March 12, and then my attention quickly expanded to the greater Boston community. What about those who wouldn’t be able to work remotely? What about those who would be battling COVID-19 on the front lines? Like so many, I feared—and knew— the virus could have crippling effects.

It is said that great athletes make it look easy, and that is certainly the case with Joby Branion ’81. A super-agent to a roster of professional athletes in the NFL, MLB and NBA, Joby makes his work look easy, just as he did on the football field at Tabor, Duke University and the Washington Football Team. Today, as the founder and CEO of Vanguard Sports Group, Joby has negotiated over one billion dollars in deals and is responsible for the contract that made Von Miller of the Denver Broncos the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.

Although quarantine, separation and distance learning brought an all-too-long respite from the bustling enthusiasm, energy and creativity usually found in Tabor’s ceramic studio, it didn’t prevent a number of young alumni from gathering together (physically distanced, of course) to participate in a very special art project.

While the 2020 spring trimester was certainly anything but typical with students spread all over the world instead of here with us in Marion, we were able to capitalize on the meaningful connections that students and faculty developed here on the shores of Sippican Harbor from September to March.