The Aversa Family

Strong family values, a belief that education is the key to success, and a desire to continue learning are the foundation of the Aversa Family. Woven into the tapestry of the Hamden Hall pines is the combination of over 40 years’ worth of education and a family legacy that continues to live on through the next generation.

For the late Dr. John M. Aversa Sr. and his wife Ellen, the strong academic curriculum and inviting school community made Hamden Hall the right choice for all four of their children’s education.

Having settled in Hamden following her husband’s time in the Navy, Ellen befriended a neighbor who recommended Hamden Hall. Soon after their visiting appointment in 1978, both John and Ellen felt the supportive, inclusive atmosphere of the school and knew this was the environment for their children.

“I was always impressed with the academics and atmosphere of the school,” said Ellen. “The teachers truly cared for the students, were involved in very step, and prepared them well for the future. Each teacher they had encouraged them to become independent thinkers and fostered their desire to keep learning.”

The couple enrolled their oldest son, John Jr., at the school during his fourth-grade year. He graduated in 1987. John’s siblings, Kristen, David, and Monica, followed in his footsteps and also spent time under the pines. Ellen and John, an orthopedic surgeon who died in 2019, immersed themselves in their school community. John became a member of the Hamden Hall Board of Trustees, and the couple remained engaged even after their children left our halls.

John Jr. attributed the unique opportunities and hands-on learning of Hamden Hall to the family’s success stating, “the school helped me develop a skill set that my local peers did not seem to have.”

He further detailed how the family friendly environment allowed him to make close personal connections with classmates whom he still keeps in touch with today.

“Hamden Hall introduced me to some of my dearest friends who have become a second family. It feels like I’ve come back home when connecting with them,” he said.

And, like their father, all of the Aversa children went on to have professional careers within the medical field. John works as a colorectal surgery specialist in Hamden, and is currently the Chief of Robotic Surgery at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn. Kristen, Class of 1990, works as a physician and practitioner at Generations Ob-Gyn in Hamden. David, Class of 1991, works as a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Connecticut Psychiatric & Wellness Center in Hamden and Woodbridge; and Monica, Class of 2002, works as the intake coordinator and office manager at CT Psychiatric and Wellness Center in Hamden.

The Aversa Family legacy continues with Kristen’s daughter Siena Kyriakides, Class of 2022, and David’s son Joshua, Class of 2025.  Kristen said she chose Hamden Hall for her daughter because of the vigorous academics, but also the nurturing, safe environment it provides for students.

“The close-knit feeling the school provides should not be overlooked,” said Kristen. “Knowing that my daughter is supported by her teachers and the administration is a wonderful feeling. I believe wholeheartedly in the school and know that it provides students with the right tools to succeed in life.”

Kristen called Hamden Hall a “gem of a school” and said she experienced her best learning years in our classrooms. She added that she will never forget her experience and said the school works each day to make all students and their families feel welcome.

The Aversa Family credits the top-rated faculty, supportive administration, and high-academic standard of the school to their overall success, both professionally and personally.

 
“Hamden Hall will always have a special place in my heart, and I recommend it to any friend who asks,” maintained Ellen.