Two students were honored by three teachers in April for Pingry’s 38th presentation of the Stifel Award.
The Henry G. Stifel III Award is named for Mr. Stifel, who was paralyzed in an automobile accident in March of his junior year at Pingry. He continued his studies throughout his rehabilitation, was able to return to campus in December, and graduated with his Class. The Stifel Family established the award at Pingry in 1984 to “be awarded to the person who best exemplifies those characteristics exhibited by Henry G. Stifel III ’83 in the aftermath of his accident and spinal injury: courage, endurance, optimism, compassion, and spirit.” A Pingry lifer, Mr. Stifel is a former trustee and Letter-In-Life Award recipient, is a Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, and works at Morgan Stanley. He returns to Pingry for each presentation of the award.
The first recipient is Sam Davydov ’36, who was diagnosed with leukemia when he was in Kindergarten in 2024; the week of this award marked his eighth birthday and one year since receiving a bone marrow transplant. “Sam had every reason to hunker down in fear. Instead, he showed us all how to navigate a storm with courage, endurance, optimism, compassion, and spirit,” said Lower School Literacy Specialist Jamie Nanfara, who lives across the street from him. She described Sam’s courage in big moments and everyday moments—during hospital stays, medical treatments, and phone calls. What did he do to keep busy? He read books, recorded a podcast, built LEGOs, worked on art projects, created video messages, and completed many crossword puzzles. And he was curious about new medical procedures, becoming “a mini-professor”.
At school, Sam is known for his “incredible kindness and gentle demeanor,” Mrs. Nanfara said. “He didn't let his treatment dampen his integrity or his concern for others…Sam exemplifies everything the Stifel Award stands for.”
Sam was also honored by his former Kindergarten Teacher (now Literacy Specialist) Shalini Parikh, who called him the “epitome of optimism” who leaves “a trail of kindness everywhere he goes.” Ms. Parikh described Sam’s accomplishments while he was away from school: he jumped multiple reading levels, enhanced his math skills, and completed multiple STEAM projects. “Somehow, between treatments, long drives, and being in and out of the hospital, Sam made his academics soar beyond belief. He showed us that his imagination and love for learning were unstoppable.”
The second recipient is Blythe Hoffman ’28, who was born in Hunan, China with a cleft lip and palate and spent 18 months in an orphanage, even undergoing her first of five reconstructive surgeries completely alone. Since then, challenges with hearing, feeding, and speaking have been part of her life, and yet, through endless doctor appointments, physical challenges, and surgeries, “I have never heard her complain…she is endlessly positive,” said Biology Teacher Deirdre O’Mara, also Head Coach of Girls Varsity Swimming. Blythe is a member of that team as well as Girls Varsity Lacrosse and Varsity Sailing. “Blythe looks for the person left behind, the person that needs a lift, or a helping hand, never thinking of herself. Blythe is simply a source of light for everyone around her despite all of her challenges.”
In 2011, Blythe was adopted by the Hoffman family and received additional medical care in the United States, including additional reconstructive efforts and a bone graft. Mrs. O’Mara said that Blythe’s medical team has even inspired her interest in becoming a doctor. Blythe has been elected to Student Government twice and will serve as an ambassador for Smile Train, the organization that completed her first surgery in China. She and her sisters, Pingry students Avery Hoffman ’26 and Claire Hoffman ’27, also support other children through their nonprofit organization A Birthday Wish, which grants birthday wishes of children in New Jersey foster care.
Also addressing the audience, as he does each time this award is presented, Mr. Stifel recalled, immediately after his accident, his own summoning of the characteristics that the award recognizes. “I did not know that I’d be spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair because nobody directly stated that to me when I was in the hospital. I needed to figure this out on my own. I remember taking small steps into that future reality. I guess it was courage and spirit that allowed me to accept what I thought was the worst possible scenario.”
Mr. Stifel continues to be thankful to the Pingry community for being there to support him and the Stifel Award recipients.
Pictured: The Hoffman family (Christian ’94, Avery ’26, Claire ’27, and Jane ’94), Biology Teacher Deirdre O’Mara, Blythe Hoffman ’28, Henry G. Stifel III ’83, Sam Davydov ’36, the Davydov family (Yan, Katie, and their other sons), Lower School Literacy Specialists Jamie Nanfara and Shalini Parikh, and Head of School Tim Lear
Contact: Greg Waxberg ’96, Assistant Director of Communications, Writer/Editor