EPHS Hall of Fame Inducts Five New Members

The East Providence High School Hall of Fame Committee inducted five new members during their induction ceremony, held at East Providence High School on Sunday Oct. 18.

Nate Cahoon - Class of 1993

Nate Cahoon graduated from EPHS in 1993. He earned a BS degree in Biology from Brown University in 1997 and a Master of Science in Bioinformatics from Northeastern University in 2006.

Nate graduated second in his class from EPHS. He maintained a 4.0 Grade Point Average in a rigorous Advanced Placement course of study. He was voted “Most Intelligent” and “Most Scientific” in his class and was the recipient of the Harvard Book Prize. Nate was an exemplary all-around student, serving as president of both the EPHS National Honor Society Chapter and the Townie Marching Band. In addition, Nate was a member of the Townie Track and Tennis teams.

Although earning an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, Nate chose to attend Brown University. He taught Introductory and Advanced Placement Biology at Classical High School 1997-98 and was then Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force by the Air Force Officer Training School. Second Lt. Cahoon had a decorated career as a Communications and Information Officer and ROTC Instructor at Boston University. In 2006, Nate left active duty having attained the rank of Captain.

In 2008, he was named as a Federal Civil Servant with the Air Force as an Acquisition Program Manager at Hanscom Air Force Base and then joined the General Services Administration (GSA) procuring contracts in excess of $1.3 billion. In 2016, Nate moved on and became an Associate Director for Contracts and Compliance for the RI Department of Children and Families, returning to the GSA in 2017 in a supervisory role. Currently, Nate serves as the Interim Assistant Vice President for Financial Operations at Rhode Island College.

Nate has served as an elected member of the East Providence School Committee and East Providence City Council. He has also coached for the East Providence Central Little League and EP Junior Townies Football. He co-chaired the new East Providence High School Building Committee from 2017-2023. Nate served as the East Bay Area Chair for the Brown University Interviewing Committee. He currently serves on the East Providence Library Board.

Welcome to the EPHS Hall of Fame, Nate Cahoon.

T.J. Del Santo - Class of 1990

T.J. Del Santo graduated from EPHS in 1990. T.J. joined WPRI 12 in May of 1997 and is a prominent television meteorologist. T.J. is a 1994 graduate of Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vermont, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Science. While in college, he interned with 12 News Meteorologist Tony Petrarca. T.J. has worked with dozens of meteorology and news interns to teach them about forecasting and the news business.

Prior to 12 News, T.J. worked as a marine forecaster at Weather Routing, Inc. in Glens Falls, N.Y., where he made forecasts for ship captains and routed freighters and yachts around the world. Later, he was a computer specialist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Mass., where he did research for the Chandra X-ray Observatory. That space telescope was launched off of the Space Shuttle Columbia in the summer of 1999, and it still gathers important information.

He is a two time Edward R. Murrow award winner. T.J. 's documentary “State of the Bay” won a regional award by Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in journalism. He has visited over 425 schools in Southern New England to teach students about meteorology.

At EPHS, T.J excelled as a student athlete. He was a member of the 1989 and 1990 Academic Decathlon Team. He was also a member of the Swim Team from 1987-1990, Captain in 1989-90. In 1989-90, this team was the Undefeated Division B Champions. T.J. was a First Team selection for the 400 Freestyle Relay from 1988-90. From 1989-90 he was a Second Team selection for the 100 Individual Freestyle and 200 Medley relay. A talented athlete, he was also a member of the Cross Country and Outdoor Track teams, receiving the coveted Townie Award for Cross Country in 1989.

Active in the community he had been a member of the St. Brendan’s Junior Choir and Pastoral Council. T.J. has also coached youth soccer, basketball and baseball and was the Cub Master for Cub Scout pack 42. He currently serves on the board of Aldersbridge, a community that supports comfort, dignity and self determination for the elderly. He has also served on the board of the Mae Organization, which offers food, clothing, toiletries and therapy to the homeless. T.J. has selflessly volunteered to emcee or fundraise for groups like Special Olympics, Meeting Street School, Meals on Wheels, Autism Project and many more.

Welcome to the EPHS Hall of Fame, T.J. Del Santo.

Jennifer Lee - Class of 1989

Jennifer Lee graduated from EPHS in 1989. While a student at EPHS, Jennifer was a member of the Rhode Island Honor Society, the Townie Band, Student Council, Senior Class Committee and a Cheerleader.

Following her high school graduation, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1992 and a Master’s in Fine Arts from Columbia University School of the Arts' Film Program in 2005. While at Columbia, she won several awards for excellence in screenwriting.

Jennifer Lee is an acclaimed filmmaker and was the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios. She is known for co-directing the blockbuster films “Frozen” (2013) and “Frozen II” (2019). Jennifer Lee has made significant contributions to both Disney and animation:

Lee began her career in live-action film before transitioning to animation, co-writing the screenplay for “Wreck-It Ralph” (2012). She became the first woman to direct a full-length animated feature for Disney Animation Studios with Frozen. Both Frozen and its sequel became cultural phenomena, influencing popular culture and merchandise. In June 2018, she was appointed Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Walt Disney Animation Studios, the first woman to hold this position.

Her appointment as Disney CCO was a milestone for the company that was established in 1923. During her time as CCO, she finished overseeing “Ralph Breaks the Internet” (2018), a film for which she was already an executive producer. Jennifer also remained a director and writer of the sequel to Frozen, now officially titled Frozen 2. Frozen 2 would become the highest-grossing animated film of all-time in January 2020. Following Frozen 2, Jennifer would oversee the production of “Raya and the Last Dragon” (2021), “Encanto” (2021), “Strange World” (2022), “Wish” (2023), and “Moana 2” (2024). She also co-wrote Wish, a film that was started under her leadership in 2018 and was created to celebrate the legacy of the Walt Disney Animation Studios.

In September 2024, Lee returned to full-time filmmaking at the studio, specifically, to direct and write “Frozen 3” and to write and serve as executive producer for “Frozen 4”. Jennifer presided over the completion of “Zootopia 2” in 2025.

Frozen was nominated for and won two Oscars at the 2014 Academy Awards, one for Best Animated Feature and one for Best Original Song, “Let it Go.” It was the first Oscar won by Walt Disney Animated Studios. Frozen won several awards globally. Frozen significantly altered Disney’s animation strategy by breaking traditional story telling molds and emphasizing strong female characters. The film’s success led to a shift in focus towards character-driven narratives and innovative animation techniques.

Welcome to the EPHS Hall of Fame, Jennifer Lee.

S. Robert Traverse - Class of 1985

Rob Traverse graduated from EPHS in 1985. He earned a BA degree in Education from the University of Rhode Island in 1989 and a Master’s in Guidance and Counseling from Providence College in 2001. While in high school, Rob excelled academically and athletically. Rob was a Baseball Team Captain in 1985 and selected on the All-State team. He was also a hockey team Captain in 1985 and was All-Division. He played both sports all three years in high school.

Rob continued his playing and athletic leadership at the University of Rhode Island. He was a member of the Rhody baseball team from 1985-1989 and team Captain in 1989. Upon college graduation, Rob began a successful career teaching and coaching at East Providence High School from 1990-2023. He served as an Assistant Athletic Director from 2016-2022. Rob coached Riverside Junior High School basketball from 1994-1999, winning the 1998-99 State Championship. He was also the Martin Middle School baseball coach from 1991-1998 and the interim EPHS girls’ basketball coach in 2018.

From 1999-2019, Rob coached the EPHS softball team. During that span his teams won 250 games and made the playoffs 19 out of 20 seasons. His teams won three Division championships and featured 26 All-Staters. Rob was named RI Softball Coach of the Year in 2013. His team won the Providence Journal Team of the Year in 2016. In 2019, his team won the RI Softball Umpires Sportsmanship award and the RI Coaches Association Achievement award, respectively.

Coach Traverse also raised over $40,000 to build an on-campus softball facility including dugouts, concession stand, scoreboard and other field amenities. His teams raised over $20,000 for local charities through an annual alumni game. The high school field was later named Traverse Park and increased the quality of the old EPHS campus.

In his post teaching career, Rob was appointed as Senior Advisor to Secretary Gregg M. Amore, and Director of Civic Programming for the Rhode Island Department of State. He created a leadership program for students statewide which became a standard for out of school civic education around the nation.

Rob is an ultimate Townie with many former students extolling his commitment and worth during their high school careers and beyond.
Welcome to the EPHS Hall of Fame, Rob Traverse.

Marilyn MacDonald - Honorary Class

Marilyn MacDonald is the 2026 posthumous Honorary Hall of Fame Inductee. Marilyn was a Registered Nurse at Rhode Island Hospital for 31 years before retiring in 2000. Marilyn was a graduate of Toronto East General Hospital School of Nursing Class of 1964. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Rhode Island College Class of 1986. A sports enthusiast, she founded the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) program for East Providence in 1987.

Marilyn always represented the best characteristics of volunteerism and dedication. Her work for AYSO and for soccer demonstrated a commitment to AYSO ideals and principles. In 1988, Marilyn first piloted Region 715 in East Providence, which received its charter in 1991. She served as Regional Commissioner and the Area 3-B Director. She volunteered in AYSO for 19 years until her untimely passing on Sept. 30, 2007. In 2008, Marilyn was inducted into the AYSO Hall of Fame. Marilyn embodied the reality that volunteers at the AYSO grassroots level can make a difference.

Marilyn represented the heart of Townie pride through decades of grassroots volunteering, youth sports leadership, and civic dedication. When East Providence lacked a formal youth soccer organization, she decided to start one. Marilyn’s grass roots efforts to start a program eventually led to the development of thousands of young people being able to play organized soccer and a major reason why East Providence High School began to excel again in soccer.

Marilyn had a philosophy about helping young people. She believed that “every kid in East Providence who wants to play soccer should have a place to play. I just like soccer and believe it should be developed in youth.”

Marilyn didn’t seek personal recognition as she had one goal in mind – to expand the opportunity for young people to learn and excel in soccer. As an “Area 3-B Director”, she was a coordinator for all AYSO regions in New England. She was inducted into the New England Soccer Hall of Fame in 1995 and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2007, she was a Townie Award recipient.

Welcome to the EPHS Hall of Fame, posthumously, Marilyn MacDonald.