QHS Alumni Spotlight: Ethan Prater ’91

By: Katie Rodemich ’02

Ethan, a proud graduate of the QHS Class of 1991, grew up on 22nd and Aldo, just a few blocks from the neighborhood where he would walk and bike to Madison, Baldwin, and Quincy Junior High School, and discovered the first sparks of what became a lifelong love of language and music. His parents, Steven and Marilyn Prater, were longtime educators who met in their mutual first year teaching sixth grade at Emerson School. His father brought his class to his mother’s class for sing-alongs, guitar in hand. In many ways, Ethan embodied what it meant to be a true child of Quincy Public Schools. He began in an early childhood program at the high school, then attended Kindergarten through fourth grade at Madison School. In fifth grade, he was part of the first class to attend Baldwin. He then continued through Junior High (grades 7–9) and on to the still-new-feeling high school for grades 10–12. Even after graduation, he returned in the summers to work custodial jobs, polishing the same hallways that had shaped so much of his formative years.

Ethan’s earliest memory of Quincy Public Schools traces back to the vocational preschool program led by Suzi Duker ‘63, held within the very walls of the high school. The experience left a lasting impression on him. Mrs. Duker, a warm and dedicated presence, guided the program, creating an early bond between the community’s youngest learners and the district’s schools. For Ethan, those first experiences sparked a sense of belonging and curiosity—setting in motion a journey that would shape his years in Quincy Public Schools.

Ethan also fondly remembered earlier influences: “Back at Madison School, I had Marilyn Meyer for two years, third and fourth grade. She and her family were deeply rooted in education—her sister and her husband were public school teachers too. With her special focus on creative writing, she was one of those nurturing teachers who made a real difference at a formative time in my life.” (Marilyn Meyer is married to Macklin Meyer, who taught geography and language arts/literacy for many years at Quincy Junior High School.)

Another defining moment Ethan recalls from his childhood was the opening of Baldwin School—a moment that felt like both an ending and a new beginning. Until then, most children in Quincy attended smaller neighborhood grade schools, where classrooms were filled with familiar faces from nearby blocks. The decision to consolidate several of those schools into one centralized building for grades 4, 5, and 6 felt monumental to a young Ethan.

“That was a big shift,” he shared. “For those of us who thought we’d stay in small schools, suddenly being part of something bigger felt like a real change. It marked a new chapter in how Quincy delivered education, and it was a memorable moment of transition.”

Another vivid memory from Ethan’s school years was the electric excitement surrounding the 1981 Quincy High School basketball team’s run to the state tournament. The game was played in Urbana, and he remembers that school was actually canceled so people could attend. For a young student, the idea that classes would stop for a basketball game felt like proof that an entire community could come together around something bigger than any one individual.

“It felt huge to me as a kid,” Ethan recalled. “The excitement wasn’t just about the game—it was about years of hard work, community pride, and watching players who had grown up right here in Quincy reach that level. I must have been in third or fourth grade, and I remember thinking, ‘Wow, they’re actually closing school for this.’ It left such an impression.”

The moment carried an even more personal layer for Ethan: Quincy’s opponent that day, Proviso East, happened to be the same high school his father had attended—adding a touch of family connection to the citywide celebration. “It’s one of my clearest memories of how schools, sports, and community can all come together in such a powerful way,” he said. “That shared excitement, that unity—it stays with you.”

At QHS, Ethan gravitated toward German and the school’s vibrant Music Department—fondly known to students as “A Building.” His interest in German began in fifth grade at Baldwin through Quincy’s innovative early gifted/foreign language program. That early spark quickly grew into a deep academic and intellectual passion. German became more than a subject; it was a portal into another world. He loved deciphering how ideas were expressed in another language, and he was fascinated by the structure and rhythm of grammar as much as the poetry and precision of vocabulary.

“My main academic focus in school—the subject I was most interested in—was probably German,” Ethan said. “I started taking German in fifth grade when Baldwin School first opened and I continued with it all the way through high school. There was this quiet respect for the cultural richness of Quincy, especially its deep German heritage, and how those values—hard work, community, craftsmanship—still echo in the city’s character.”

The impact of influential teachers extended beyond the German classroom. “Alan Stiegemeier was a truly great and influential teacher—he’s still one of my closest friends today,” Ethan shared warmly. “Another was Bob Dittmer, who taught math. That senior-year calculus class with him was intense, but incredibly valuable. Later, when I began business school, we had to take a two-week calculus boot camp—because of Dr. Dittmer, that was just like riding a bike for me! I saw him recently at an event at Quincy University, where we announced scholarships in honor of Kathi Dooley and Dan and Pam Sherman. It was such a special gathering of people who shaped my life.”

German not only shaped Ethan’s worldview but also laid the foundation for later academic and professional chapters: studying abroad in Vienna, majoring in German at Yale, and eventually working internationally. “It all started in that classroom,” he said. “Those early lessons in culture and complexity shaped the way I think to this day.”

Alongside traditional academics, Ethan devoted much of his time and energy to the school’s music programs—spaces that were both structured courses and creative outlets. As he put it:

“Before and after school, though, my biggest focus was music. I played in the jazz band, sang – and sort of badly danced – in Show Choir, and performed in the school musicals. I spent a lot of time in ‘A Building.’ That was definitely where most of my extracurricular energy went. As for the musicals during my time, it was The Music Man, The King and I, and Guys and Dolls. Those performances were a big part of my high school experience.”

In parallel, his immersion in music—through choir, orchestra, band, and theater—was giving him a second language of its own: one of collaboration, expression, and creativity. The synergy between these two disciplines—linguistic and musical—began to shape Ethan’s worldview, showing him how culture, communication, and identity are all intricately linked. Music became another cornerstone. He poured his energy and enthusiasm into show choir, jazz band, pep band, and the school musicals he so vividly remembers. Along with singing in Concert Choir and Madrigal choir, he played violin, bass, and later bass guitar. He and friends even formed Oswald’s A Cappella Quintet, a group that still performs together at reunions and special events.

Music, however, remained a constant through every chapter. Inspired by older students he admired back in Quincy, including Brian Link ’86, Ethan shifted from violin to double bass in high school so he could play in both orchestras and rock bands. “I thought if I played bass, I could do both,” he said. He continued playing bass and singing in college, “I never thought of it as something I’d do professionally, but music has always been part of my life,” he said. He still plays bass and sings with local groups whenever he can.

One vivid memory comes from the fall of 1990, backstage in the theater dressing room just before opening night of Guys and Dolls. Ethan was flanked by his best friends, Tom Hulsen ‘91 and Jason Baird ‘91. “They’ve been my best friends since fifth grade, when Baldwin School was created and we all ended up in the same class with Jim Schrand as our teacher.”

Ethan’s journey in music and theater was shaped by an extraordinary group of mentors—each leaving an imprint that reached far beyond the stage or classroom. Theater director Tom Burnett, choir director Dan Sherman, band director Les Fonza, and orchestra director Clyde Bassett didn’t just cultivate his artistic talents—they helped shape his character, work ethic, and understanding of what excellence really means. Each brought their own blend of passion, personality, and philosophy to their craft, offering lessons that stayed with Ethan for life. And then, of course, there was Kathi Dooley, the director of the music department—the heart and soul of music in the Quincy Public Schools. 

“I played for several seasons in the Quincy Symphony,” Ethan said. “Not exactly a QPS institution, but Clyde Bassett took over as music director there at the same time he led the high school orchestra and became my private teacher for string bass.” That continuity of leadership—across both school and community ensembles—reinforced the idea that music wasn’t just an extracurricular, but a lifelong pursuit guided by the same values and people who had shaped his earliest experiences.

Years later, in 2008, as Dan Sherman and Tom Burnett were approaching retirement, Ethan—along with many other alumni—had the chance to return to the QHS stage. This time, he wasn’t a student, but a performer in a tribute to the mentors who had shaped him.

“We held a performance in the theater to celebrate Dan and Tom,” he recalled. “It was both a tribute and a fundraiser. Dr. Meyer helped organize it, and it turned into this incredible reunion. Hundreds of alumni came back to perform—James Stewart, Class of ’69, opened with a Brahms piano piece. We had an alumni jazz band filled with people who’d gone on to become professional musicians, and I was lucky to perform with them there.”

It wasn’t just a performance—it was a homecoming. The musicians spent the day rehearsing, gradually finding their way back into the familiar rhythm of playing together. That night, the music came alive—charged with memory, emotion, and a profound connection to the place where it all began. 

The evening left a lasting mark—not only on the performers, but on the entire community. For many in attendance—including those unfamiliar with Sherman and Burnett’s decades-long legacy—the emotion in the room was unmistakable.

The final number, “The Lord Bless and Keep You,” brought the audience to its feet. It was more than a farewell—it was a moment of profound gratitude.

The energy, gratitude, and shared sense of purpose that filled the theater on Saturday, December 27, 2008, radiated well beyond its walls. It was a night fueled by community, shaped by music, and grounded in the belief that both the past and future of Quincy education are worth investing in.

In many ways, performing that night became more than a celebration. It was a moment of reconnection, a way to give back, and an unexpected return to the heart of the music department’s mission. It brought everything full circle: the teachers who had inspired them, the community that had raised them, and the music that continued to bind them all together.

After graduating from QHS, Ethan enrolled at Yale University, where he majored in German and spent a transformative year abroad in Vienna, Austria. He joined and later became music director of a collegiate a cappella group, which he even brought to Quincy for performances in 1994. The experience nurtured his creative side and broadened his global perspective. “I didn’t have a master plan,” he said. “I just kept following the things that sparked my curiosity.”

One of Ethan’s most memorable full-circle moments happened during his college year abroad in Vienna—a city long regarded as the heart of classical music. He attended a performance at the famed Vienna State Opera, where Michèle Crider ‘77, a fellow QHS alumna and internationally acclaimed soprano, was singing a lead role.

 “I was in Vienna in 1994, studying abroad. I was a broke college student, and Michèle was performing at one of the world’s greatest opera houses. I’d heard she was from Quincy, and after the performance—just on a whim—I went and knocked on the backstage door. I told them, ‘I went to the same high school as ‘Michèle Crider,’ and to my surprise, they actually let me in. I got to meet her and chat for a bit right there in her dressing room. It was surreal. Here I was, a college kid far from home, and suddenly I’m face-to-face with one of the finest opera singers in the world—who just happened to come from the same place I did. It really drove home the idea that excellence can come from anywhere. And that the foundation we received in Quincy—especially in the arts—was powerful enough to take someone all the way to that stage.”

After college, that curiosity led him to New York City, where he began working in classical music management before pivoting into tech as the internet began transforming industries. Over the past two decades, Ethan has built a wide-ranging career that includes online advertising platforms, product development, healthcare systems, and global business strategy. He spent three years in Munich running a technology startup accelerator, helping early-stage entrepreneurs develop their products and launch in international markets.

Ethan’s path wasn’t forged by instinct alone—it was equally shaped by intellectual discipline and leadership. While earning his MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, he stepped confidently into key roles, serving as class president and later joining the school’s Board. But Wharton proved pivotal beyond academics: it’s where he met Anjali, a fellow student who would become his wife and partner in adventure. Today, they live in the San Francisco Bay Area with their two resilient, globe-trotting cats—furry companions who’ve accompanied them through a life lived across cities, countries, and continents.

His curiosity didn’t stop with music or technology. During his time living abroad, Ethan developed a deep interest in the science and history of brewing—a passion he later turned into a business. He’s now a partner in a brewery in Oakland, California, which has become not only a creative outlet but also a gathering place. In 2018, he hosted a Quincy Public Schools alumni event there, bringing together old friends and classmates from across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Today, Ethan continues to work closely with startup companies at the intersection of education and health care. Most recently, he helped launch a behavioral health startup that leverages generative AI to expand access to and enhance the quality of mental health therapy. “There’s still so much unmet need,” he said. “We’re building tools that help clinicians do more and make care more accessible to the people who need it most.”

For Ethan, trips back to Quincy are never just visits—they’re acts of reconnection. Each return brings with it an opportunity to sit down with the mentors who helped shape his life, the people who nurtured not only his talents but also his sense of self. He still meets for lunch with Kathi Dooley. He still calls Allan Stiegemeier, known affectionately as Stieg. These aren’t casual catch-ups driven by nostalgia—they are conversations rooted in gratitude and continuity. These were the teachers who didn’t just instruct him; they believed in him. And in Ethan’s eyes, relationships like that don’t fade when the diploma is handed over—they endure.

To honor his parents’ legacy as educators, Ethan created the Marilyn and Steven Prater Family Fund at the Community Foundation, which provides tuition assistance at St. Francis Solanus School and supports children’s early literacy and music education—two of his mother’s great passions. “My mom believed in the power of story and song,” he said. “I want to help other kids experience that same joy and confidence she gave me.” The fund is more than a tribute—it’s a continuation of their values, rooted in service, creativity, and community. It reflects the belief that education can be a launchpad not only for achievement, but for identity and belonging. “They showed me what it means to invest in others,” Ethan said. “This is one small way I can pay that forward.” 

When asked what advice he would give current QHS students, Ethan paused, then offered this:
“I’m hardly the best person to give advice,” he said with a smile, “but I’ll say this: Quincy, even though it can sometimes feel off the beaten path, is still very much connected to the wider world. There’s a big world out there—full of opportunities, places to go, places to live, careers to build, families to grow. Quincy is a great place in its own right, but having an awareness of that broader world—and seeking out experiences beyond your immediate surroundings—can be invaluable.

“My advice would be: it’s probably more possible than it feels to explore that wider world, to travel, to live and work in different places, and to bring those broader perspectives back into how you shape your own life. That kind of openness and experience can help you grow, lead, and live with purpose—wherever your path takes you.”

Reflecting on his own journey, Ethan added, “The key to that wide spectrum of experiences I had at Quincy High School shaped how I came to think about the world and how you can build a career. I didn’t have a clear path back then—I wasn’t someone who said, ‘I’m going to be this’ or ‘I’m going to do that.’ QHS gave me the sense that there’s a broad range of possibilities out there. It didn’t funnel me in one direction; it left the door open to explore, to try different things, and to build a life in many different ways. That openness stayed with me.”

As Ethan Prater continues to build, create, and give back, he remains grounded in the values instilled in him by the Quincy Public Schools: a deep respect for learning, a lifelong love of music and language, and the belief that community can lift you to places you never imagined. His journey—spanning the arts, education, technology, and beyond—stands as a testament to the idea that the lessons learned in one small town can ripple outward, shaping lives in ways both profound and lasting.

Because at QHS, the stage is never just a stage, and the classroom is never just a classroom—they are where stories begin, and new chapters are always waiting to be written.