Fall 2012 Issue - Archmere Academy

Thomas Boettcher ‘81Olympic level, and he has competed in swims at the EscapeFrom Alcatraz, Manhattan’s Hudson River, and the 5KBigShoulders swim in Lake Michigan (twelve times).This summer, the Paris Opera Ballet hired Tom in Chicagofor a dancing role in their iconic performance of Ravel’sBolero and subsequently asked him to complete their UStour with the troupe. Tom, who teaches alignment andtai chi at the venerable Ruth Page Ballet in Chicago, andhas authored the 2004 fitness best-seller Core Training ForGreater Strength and Better Health, was even called upon toteach select corp de ballet members the finer points of hishuman alignment body of work.“When we align ourselves both physically andphilosophically, it’s remarkable how one can bring latenttalents to the surface. We should all remain vigilant, doingour best with the gifts and capabilities within us”, saysTom.Intrigued by Tom’s work with HumanLabs, SingularityUniversity, a think-tank for high-level executives in SiliconValley, recruited him to co-found their health and wellnessprogram. Singularity’s programs are intended to seekexponential leverage from technological solutions to theworld’s biggest challenges by assembling the world’s bestscientists, venture capitalists and innovators.At Singularity, and in their projects throughout the years,Tom and his brother Karl have the opportunity to meetand work with a variety of interesting and remarkableindividuals on the world stage, something they say“The rich, intellectualenvironment we work innow - we had a similaratmosphere at Archmere”they first learnedto appreciate atArchmere. “Therich, intellectualenvironment that wework in now,” saysKarl, “is similar tothe atmosphere atArchmere – I couldstop in and chat withFather Freiberg aboutforeign policy andthen go across thehall to Mr. Clemensto talk history andeconomics, thento Mr. Barnard todiscuss literaturethen ethics andspirituality with Fr.McLaughlin, and thenbring all the threadstogether to draw myown conclusions.”Tom ‘82 and Karl ‘88 Boettcher standingoutside of the David H. Koch Theater atLincoln Center where the Paris Opera Balletwas showing.Tom echoed Karl’s statements, saying “many of ourinterests were cultivated at Archmere, and we still findourselves invoking the spirit of discipline combined withcreative enthusiasm encouraged at Archmere.”Both winners of the history medal at Archmere, membersof National Honor Society, and members of the swim teamunder Coach Walsh, today the Boettcher brothers haveanother focus or goal in common – to further science andsociety through their work, while protecting the Catholicvalues that were instilled in them by their parents, andtheir education at St. Edmond’s and Archmere Academy.“Our goal, ultimately, is to bring it all together – to helpindividuals become the best representations of themselves,from health and wellness to behaviors and cardinal virtues– a unified theory of behavioral science,” says Tom.21