60 minute read
Dream Job? Pipe Organ Tuner
DREAM JOB? PIPE While still in Junior School, Amy HATHAWAY ORGAN Sandford’86 heard her life’s calling echoing through TUNER the church rafters
BY ANDREA ASTER
“S o, what do you do?” It’s the commonest, if perhaps the most contested of conversation starters. Those who inquire about Amy Sandford are in for a treat. “When I tell people I’m a pipe organ tuner and technician, they look at me like I have two heads,” she says. “Th ey’ve never heard that before.”
Once your curiosity is piqued, Amy will explain a bit more about this most magisterial of instruments, which she likens more to a car, “a big piece of machinery that needs servicing,” rather than a French horn, which she also plays. She’s been a musician with the Canadian Forces Reserves for 31 years, eight of those with the 7th Toronto Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery Band. She also rides a Kawasaki Z650.
Th at is to say, Amy is not conventional, and a conversation with her is rather like an unintentional life-coaching lesson. Why didn’t we all follow through on the voice in our little heads that said, “Th at’s what I want to be when I grow up?”
In terms of formative life experiences that established Amy’s destiny, her mechanical inclinations were nurtured by her father, a classic car collector whose fl eet included a 1911 Ford Model T and a 1929 Packard. He also played saxophone, and her mother piano. But it was the pipe organ at St. Paul’s Bloor Street which Amy heard—fi rst as a congregant attending Christmas services and as a choir singer, and also as a Branksome student in the pews for the annual Carol Service—that really settled it.
“Way up in the raft ers, I was distinctly fascinated with the sound, and wondered what was behind those pipes,” she
(continued on page 26)
With a tuner in hand, Amy crouches in one of the organ lofts situated high above the chancel at the Metropolitan United Church in Toronto.
(continued from page 24)
says. “I was only eight or nine but I knew I had a calling.”
Both like and unlike a piano, the pipe organ can have up to fi ve manuals or keyboards, and one mighty pedal board for the lowest notes that make the body shake, as air is squeezed through the pipes. Th en there are the innumerable buttons and knobs to operate and modulate the sound.
“Getting ready for the walk to the Carol Service at St. Paul’s, down Mount Pleasant Road, was a huge and exciting ordeal for us all,” says her sister Cynthia HATHAWAY’84, who now lives in Th e Hague. “Although it was an important highlight in the annual calendar, Amy was going for the organ. If she could, she would have stayed behind, alone, sitting in a pew consumed by the organist’s postlude. But instead, she had to follow us all back to school and the books!”
Thus compelled, Amy earned a BMus from the University of Victoria in 1993 and settled into a “little cedar house on the back of a mountain beside a West Coast fj ord, with eagles and salmon at the back door,” as she dispatched to Class Notes in 2006. Although trained as a French horn player, her passion for pipe organs led to a six-year apprenticeship in Victoria with kindred spirit Grant Smalley. (“Pipes are human,” he said in a Globe and Mail article a decade ago.) Aft er nearly 20 years in the west, she returned to Toronto and a position with Alan T. Jackson & Company, founded in 1960 by its namesake, aft er the closure of the Eaton organ factory where Jackson was a technician. With the fi rm still in his family, and Robert Hiller now president, they are a small team of just three, tuning, maintaining, restoring and repairing organs.
“A lot of organs are over 100 years old and, like old ladies, they need lots of TLC and to be treated with respect,” says Amy. She discovered she had a knack for the painstaking art of tuning, sharpening or fl attening the pipes owing to her musical training, she explains. Th e art of rebuilding and rewiring, she learned on the job.
In this rarifi ed profession, monthly tweaks are the prescribed protocol to keep an organ in shape, as only a fraction of the pipes can be tuned properly in a single visit. Her fi rm is on call for churches—Toronto’s Metropolitan United Church has Canada’s biggest pipe organ—and concert halls including Roy Th omson Hall. Th e company services many organs, big and small, all over Ontario and in the Maritimes as well.
“When I hear an organist play on an organ I’ve tuned, that’s my thrill,” says Amy. “I’m proud and humbled by having the ability to make this instrument sound incredible. When I go to recitals and listen, I have shivers.”
Speaking to the instrument’s history, Amy says social media has opened up a conversation among the members of her esoteric profession, which is a unique and essential community of craft speople. Even until the mid-20th century, trade secrets and tips were guarded, but that’s changed. “We all share voicing techniques, ideas and woes at workshops or on social media,” she says. “It’s also such a thrill to meet world-class organists.”
Cynthia observes that “organ building and restoration is a career that needs a lot of one-onone time with you as the craft sperson with the instrument. I think the routine and discipline Branksome instilled in all its students helped Amy approach organ building and restoration with the discipline and focus it requires.”
As one of few women in a traditionally male-dominated profession, Amy credits her formative training at Branksome for her go-forit attitude, strength and all-round competence.
“Too bad there was no organ at Branksome in the gym,” says Cynthia. “Amy would have been up there on the keys adding an extra layer of drama and importance to the rituals!” R
Built by Casavant Frères of Quebec in 1930, the pipe organ in the Metropolitan United Church is the largest in Canada.
Andrea Aster is a staff writer at Branksome Hall.
AlumLife
OUR EVOLVING BOARD
Coming and going at the Alum Association
Two new members at large...
Isabel RUBY-HILL’15 is a management consultant at Carly Rian Group, a boutique fi rm in Toronto.
Kendra FITZRANDOLPH’03 is the development manager at Freed Developments where she oversees projects including planning studies, rezoning applications and market studies.
Two new student reps...
Mare Tell joined Branksome as a boarding student in Grade 11. Last year, she participated in the Global Ideas Institute program and the theatre ensemble, and was a member of the Boarding Council. With an affi nity for the social sciences, Mare is co-head of both the Model UN and the Debate clubs. Mare plans to study history at the post-secondary level in the U.K.
Ashley Fang arrived at Branksome in Grade 1. She is on the rowing team and has been a student ambassador since Grade 6. With a strong passion for fashion and design, Ashley serves as the head of Synthesis, an event to showcase student culture and talent. She plans to study social psychology or politics and law in the U.K.
With thanks to two retiring members…
Karen CORDES Woods’99 Past President, 2020-21 President, 2017-20 Vice-President, 2014-17 Other volunteerism Family Fun Day
Co-convenor, 2016 Career Day Speaker, 2008
Alanna TEDESCO McLaughlin’03 Member at Large, 2015-21 Committees Communications, 2015-19 Awards, 2019-21 Other volunteerism “Deja Vu” Furniture Sale, 2017 Reunion Rep, 2018
ARE YOU WEARING YOURS?
An ageless story, submitted by Mary Lue FARMER Hines’51
At 87 years of age and using a walker, I try to walk along the street by my condo every day. On one occasion, a young woman stopped me to ask if I went to Branksome Hall. Puzzled, I responded in the affi rmative and she replied, “I noticed the Branksome mask you are wearing. I went there, too, and all of my best friends today are the ones I made at Branksome.” She graduated in 2001, I graduated in 1951, and there we were chatting on a Toronto street courtesy of the Branksome mask!
Alum relations offi cer Rachel Loo models the popular mask, which was mailed to all alums last July.
ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION MISSION STATEMENT
To unite, engage and grow Branksome Hall’s alumnae community of globally minded learners and leaders.
Alumnae Executive 2021–22
Allison ROACH’51 Honorary President Offi cers Melanie ARGIROS Breder’08
President Alex MORTON’09
Vice-President, Engagement Lisa RICHARDS’02
Vice-President, Communications Sarita SAMAROO’99
Nominating Nicole THORNBURROW’10
Secretary Hubie YU’08
Treasurer
Members at Large Jacqueline CARL’10 Kendra FITZRANDOLPH’03 Mackenzie KNOWLES’11 Tori LECHNER-SUNG’12 Hannah LO’05
Co-chair, Young Alums Isabel RUBY-HILL’15 Catlin SEIBEL-KAMEL’10
Chair, Awards Lindsay STRANSMAN’08 Patricia SU’13
Co-chair, Young Alums Ex-Offi cio Cris Coraggio Katie Gillespie Rachel Loo Karen Jurjevich Andrea McAnally Mare Tell
Advancement Student Rep, Senior/Middle School Ashley Fang
Advancement Student Rep, Junior School
Stay Connected, Get Involved
It’s all about Community, Networking, Volunteerism, Friendship, Traditions and Giving Back
Please contact: alum@branksome.on.ca
Speaking Out for Refugees
2021 Allison Roach Alum Award Ninette KELLEY’75
By Bruce McDougall
At Branksome in 1974, Ninette Kelley was already considering a career in law when an alumna returned to the school to speak about her own experiences as a lawyer. Th at settled it. Ninette felt even more determined to join the legal profession. “Th e speaker said, ‘Let your ambition be your guide,’” Ninette recalls.
Driven by her commitment to human rights, Ninette’s ambition, education and skills have guided her through law school at the University of Western Ontario and seven years with Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board to the Offi ce of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), where she was a senior offi cer and for a time was at the centre of the world’s most urgent refugee crisis.
Along the way, she has written or co-written two books and numerous scholarly papers on human rights law, citizenship, refugee protection, genderrelated persecution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
A focus at Branksome on writing skills contributed to her achievements, she says. “But I also gained a level of personal confi dence that stood me in good stead.”
Th is year’s recipient of the Allison Roach Alum Award continues to demonstrate outstanding distinction, character and vision in her professional endeavours as she addresses concerns related to the forced displacement of refugees.
Her work with refugees began
The Alumnae Association was delighted to honour Ninette KELLEY’75 through a donation to the Red Door Family Shelter, which supports women and families aff ected by homelessness and abuse. when she started a refugee-sponsorship agency for the Anglican Church and United Church of Canada. She spent another seven years with the Immigration Board, assessing refugee claims of individuals from around the world, and adjudicating immigration appeals.
In her mid-forties, Ninette moved with her husband and their family to Geneva, where she started to work for the UNHCR in 2002.
“People overcome insurmountable challenges to gain asylum,” she says. “One day they have a business, a home, children in school, and the next day they have absolutely nothing but a leaky tent over their head. But many never give up hope.”
Her fi rst book, on the history of Canada’s immigration policy, co-written with U of T law professor Michael Trebilcock, appeared in 1998, and a second edition in 2008. Two years later she moved to the Middle East as the UNHCR’s representative in Lebanon. With refugees streaming out of Syria, Ninette oversaw a complex endeavour that became by 2015 the largest UNHCR operation in the world, assisting over one million Syrian refugees.
With about 10,000 people arriving every week, Ninette says, “we were registering in Lebanon, over a two-year period, more asylum-seekers every single week than Canada received at its borders in a year.” Moving back to North America in 2015, Ninette became the director of the UNHCR’s New York offi ce, where she wrote an article about the UN’s refugee response in Lebanon called “Responding to a Refugee Infl ux: Lessons from Lebanon.” “Wealthy nations need to have a sense of perspective when it comes to refugee arrivals,” says Ninette, who was a Grade 13 prefect at Branksome and president of the debating society. “Twothirds of refugees are hosted in low- and middle-income countries with signifi cant development challenges of their own.” Uganda’s 45 million people, for example, host 1.5 million refugees, pri-
“Wealthy nations marily from Sudan need to have a and the Democratic sense of perspective Republic of when it comes Congo—more than to refugee arrivals. any country in
Two-thirds of Africa and all but refugees are hosted four other countries in low- and middle- in the world. Yet income countries Uganda’s per capita with signifi cant GDP is just $1,010; development Canada’s, by comchallenges of parison, is $63,750. their own.” Ninette recently completed her second book, People Forced to Flee: History, Change and Challenge. Scheduled for publication in February 2022 by Oxford University Press, the book explores improving responses for forcibly displaced persons. “Change is moving in a positive direction,” Ninette says, “but it doesn’t happen overnight. Th e key is to recognize the tragedy [of forcible displacement] and use it as a motivating force to make lives better.” R
Th e Quest for Equity
2021 Young Alum Achievement Award Jennifer LANGILL’10
By Janet Sailian
Building a more equitable world has sparked Jennifer Langill’s passion since her Branksome days. Th is same drive for change fuels her current doctoral research into how gendered livelihoods have shift ed across generations among ethnic minorities living in the highlands of northern Th ailand.
Her specialization in feminist development geographies is more than an academic interest. Jennifer has maintained many of the relationships she forged with women, men and youth in Laos since fi rst travelling there in 2010.
Ten years ago she founded Gollucoh, a non-profi t microdevelopment organization that provides individualized support to residents of impoverished villages in Laos, including fi nancial literacy training, alternative income generation and women’s educational development.
She is also deeply involved in academic service work. Jennifer maintains several research collaborations, serves on three geography specialtygroup boards, works with under-
graduate students and co-leads antiracism initiatives in the Geography Department at McGill. One of four sisters who are all Branksome grads, she has kept in touch “through the years and across the world” with friends from her cohort. “I feel so fortunate to have had that great start, as someone who deeply values education.” Jennifer supports education initiatives for ethnic minority girls and young women, and mentors youth she has met while living among marginal“Environmental change is leading to disaster impacts,” especially for marginalized people, she points out. “We must understand people’s life-ways to understand its impact.” ized communities during her research and outreach work. “At Branksome, you are raised knowing the importance of gender and living as a feminist,” she says. Fluent in English, Spanish, Lao and Th ai, with a working knowledge of French, Jennifer aims next to learn Hmong, the language of the ethnic group with which she works. Her PhD research is based in a Hmong village in Chiang Mai province, in the Th ai highlands. “Most research has been done by men and about men,” she says. “Th is is one of the fi rst feminist dissertations
The Alumnae Association was delighted to honour Jennifer LANGILL’10 through a donation to Across Boundaries, which provides a dynamic range of dignifi ed, inclusive and compassionate mental health and addiction services for racialized communities. on this group. It has broad relevance to minorities in Southeast Asia. Th e Hmong have been systematically marginalized, so a lot of my work comes back to the histories, stories and resilience of Hmong people. ”
Currently based in Toronto with her husband—whom she met in 2010 in Laos—and their infant son, Jennifer is on a grant-funded maternity leave that will end in spring 2022. “I have not lived in the same residence for more than 12 months since I was in high school,” she notes. “I’m very happy to be in Toronto, where my family lives, with a new baby aft er so much time abroad and moving around.”
Aft er receiving a BA in global development studies from Queen’s University, Jennifer earned her master’s in geography from the University of Toronto. Her thesis examined human-environment relationships in the Peruvian Amazon, and how climate hazards are aff ecting livelihoods, local ecological knowledge and gender roles for populations that live along rivers.
“Environmental change is leading to disaster impacts,” especially for marginalized people, she points out. “We must understand people’s lifeways to understand its impact.”
Th is scholarly multitasker is the author of several articles in academic journals. She has organized and presented at numerous conferences, and has received over a dozen academic awards, including the Gilbert F. White Best Th esis in Hazards Geography Award.
“I hope for a day when someone doesn’t have to bring gender, race or socio-economic status to the conversation; that they’re already there,” she says. “Th ere is a generational shift among scholars that is defi nitely more community fostering.”
Wherever her research and collaborations take her, Jennifer is sure to lead with the passion for equity that defi nes her. R
Farewells
Your BFF at Branksome
Not-the-editor’s note: Tanya Pimenoff , Associate Director of Alumnae Relations, is retiring after 33 years at Branksome. Since Tanya is also Editor of The READ and not given to any fuss about herself, the school turned to Janet Sailian, a writer, editor and consultant who served as director of marketing and communications at Branksome from 2003 to 2008, to profi le Tanya and her legacy. Tanya Pimenoff , champion of alumni, leaves a legacy of achievement and countless friends as she retires
By Janet Sailian
How many slices can you carve out of a single pie? If that pastry represents alumnae relations at Branksome Hall, over a dozen pieces make up the reunions, educational programs, awards, regional branches, publications and gestures of personalized care expertly served up by one woman: the incomparable Tanya Pimenoff .
“My role at Branksome is what I was designed to do,” refl ects Tanya, Associate Director of Alumnae Relations, as she steps into retirement aft er 33 years at the school. “I’ve been fortunate to have opportunities to explore and nurture so many strengths and skills.”
She has also nurtured a devoted alumni base that spans multiple generations since the school’s founding in 1903. Tanya channelled the friendships that Second World War veterans
and today’s tech-savvy twenty-somethings share with their cohorts into a variety of gatherings and onto the pages of Th e READ. Because she knows that above all, Branksome alums of every age love to keep up with what’s going on in each others’ lives.
“Tanya’s warm and inviting personality, quick laugh, and get-it-done attitude have been instrumental in keeping our alumni community interested in staying engaged,” notes longtime volunteer Kathryn BULEYCHUK Champion’82. “She is the glue that holds us together as a community.”
Volunteer Barb DUNLOP Mohammad’70 calls Tanya “the gateway to the Branksome alumni,” while Shelley VARLEY Tidy’64 says: “Branksome is losing a treasure. She always recognized the legacies of Branksome women of former years who trail-blazed their own way.”
Tanya tips her hat to those earlier generations. “I’m amazed to look back at all the events and fundraising initiatives our alums spearheaded, especially in the 1980s and ’90s.” Oft en in conjunction with school staff , alums organized Golf Days, Career Days, bridge luncheons, the Take pART arts shows, nostalgic furniture sales and much more. Holiday extravaganza and fundraiser Plaid Tidings— organized jointly with the Parents’ Association—supported school initiatives for 20 years.
While some struggle to locate a career niche, how did Tanya Pimenoff fi nd the glove that so perfectly fi ts? Serendipity backed by the right stuff .
“Tanya sparkles and radiates joy at every alumni reunion,” says Principal Karen Jurjevich. “Her innate ability to remember the names and stories of alums from each decade is founded in a genuine appreciation and love for our amazing Branksome community.”
Born to an Estonian mother and Russian father, Tanya grew up in Montreal West with two older brothers. She attended Trafalgar School for Girls, majored in French at Dawson College in Montreal, travelled to France and Scandinavia on her own dime and did an au pair stint in Paris.
She worked in advertising at Young & Rubicam, then moved to Toronto, earning a Certifi ed Advertising Agency Practitioner diploma. As the mother of two young girls, Tanya secured an interview at Branksome in 1988, when the school sought a campaign secretary on a nine-month contract for the Building on Success Capital Campaign. Tanya got the position on the spot, and those nine months extended to several years. Th e campaign raised $6.8 million to build Sue Bett House (Junior School) and the Senior School double gym. In 1992 she became development coordinator, and in 1996 took on her current role. It was indeed the job she was born to do.
“She has kept front and centre a belief
A WELL-KEPT ROAD
During Tanya’s time, the alum portfolio has been paved with awards
The alum relations program at Branksome Hall has earned numerous honours from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE), a professional association representing universities, colleges and independent schools across Canada.
The READ 2012, Best Writing, “Smythe Style” by Amy VERNER’98 (Bronze); 2014, Best Magazine, “Game On” (Silver); 2016, Best Writing, “Being Andy” by Berton Woodward (Gold); 2016, Best Magazine, “On Being Transgender” (Silver); 2018, Best Photo (by Jeff Kirk), “Ruth of the Amazon” (Gold); 2020, Best Photo (by Elizaveta KOZLOVA’15), “On the Frontlines” (Silver)
Alum Program
2004, The Centennial Alumnae Weekend (Gold); 2006, The Newly Enhanced Young Alum Program (Gold); 2011, Take pART “An Evening of Culture & Surprises” (Bronze); 2015, Alumnae Walkway (Bronze)
in the individual, and became a familiar name to alums around the world, many of whom she came to know personally,” notes Shelley Tidy. Knowing how alumni cherish their school and being together, Tanya brought annual alum lunches onto campus while showcasing “She has kept new school facilities at cocktails, dinners and front and centre award ceremonies. Th e revamped spring a belief in the reunion became a don’t-miss, multi-event individual, and occasion for those celebrating milestone became a anniversaries. familiar name to In her associate director role, Tanya alums around travelled across Canada and to several U.S. the world, many and European cities for regional events. She of whom she arranged a private organ recital at St. Paul’s came to know Cathedral in London, given by Rachel personally.” Mahon—the fi rst female organ scholar in that cathedral since the days of Henry VIII. She booked Canada House in London and other unique venues for dazzling gatherings. Kathryn Champion recalls that on one occasion, “we accepted an unsolicited sixfi gure donation cheque at a cocktail party.” Th e unfl appable traveller found herself in New York City for a reception at the (continued on page 34)
Tanya and Joyce WALKER McKeough’56 (see p. 46) tidy up following Principal Allison Roach’s retirement event “The Incredible Journey,” which was held on campus in spring 1993. In 2015, Tanya and Tenley GIBSON’94, then President of the Alum Association, visited with acclaimed author Budge ARCHIBALD Wilson’45 at her home in Nova Scotia.
Canada House, 2016 Tanya, at the London, U.K. reception with Nicky FALCONER’78, Vanessa IRWIN Watson’89, Sarah WALKER Mander’89 and Melanie BRIGHT’89.
(continued from page 33) Lumberyard—a performing arts centre headed by Adrienne WILLIS’97. “Several blocks away from our hotel, we were running short on time and not a cab was available,” recalls Cris Coraggio, Branksome’s Executive Director, Advancement and Community Engagement. “We were carrying gift bags and alum swag for the event. Undaunted, Tanya fl agged down a tourist pedicab. We squeezed ourselves into this tiny rickshaw, with a mountain of bags and tissue paper, while our young pedicab driver navigated perilously between cars. I don’t think we stopped giggling the whole time.”
Tanya has been an invited guest speaker at several Canadian and U.S.-based conferences. In 2008, her presentation on reunion weekends at a conference in Dublin, Ireland, earned her recognition among the top 10 per cent of speakers.
She juggles all these portfolios with panache, attention to detail and a ferocious work ethic. As a past colleague, I saw her in the school cafeteria many times, but only as she carried a tray back to her desk for her customary working lunch.
Tanya sends out countless condolence cards and notes of congratulation, taps alumni as speakers at Branksome events and ensures recognition of achievements through annual awards given by the Alumnae Association and profi les in Th e READ. Whenever I popped into her offi ce, she looked up with a kind word and an amusing anecdote, blending crisp professionalism with sparkling wit.
When travelling, she layers meetings with alums and colleagues at other schools into her schedule. An alum and her family whom Tanya invited to dinner aft er the conference in Dublin was delighted to hear details of the latest school happenings. Th eir daughter has since graduated from Branksome.
And she keeps innovating. Tanya, in conjunction with past colleagues, has earned accolades for the Centennial Alumnae Weekend in 2003, enhancements to programs for young alums, cultural events and the beautiful Alum Walkway. And especially for the magazine that she rebuilt into a multi-award winner.
In 2012, Tanya pulled in consultant Berton Woodward—whose York University magazine had won Canada-wide awards—to fully revamp Th e READ. “I was so impressed by her initiative to reach out,” says Woodward. “And she’s been a jewel of a person to work with ever since.”
Under Tanya’s editorship, Th e READ has won multiple national awards, as have Branksome’s alum programs, in direct competition with top universities and colleges as well as other schools (see sidebar on p. 33).
“Many institutional magazines include a lot of school information, and I’ve always wanted the focus to be on our alums,” says Tanya. Readership surveys confi rm that’s just what her constituents want.
“Th e READ connects me with the many graduates that I taught in my 23 years at Branksome, and the many more before my time,” notes math teacher Edith Louie. “Tanya is like the wi-fi connection and search engine to all our Branksome alums.”
Aft er three-plus decades of stellar service to the school, Tanya looks forward to spending time with daughters Melanie Clarance and Katie REIFFENSTEIN Rimoldi’04, and Mel’s toddler son.
“It has been a most wonderful and rewarding 33 years, but it is time to pass the torch,” Tanya refl ects. “I shall miss all the wonderful alums; their strong bonds, friendships and life stories, and their love of Branksome.”
Branksome Hall shall miss you too, Tanya. You leave a powerful legacy. A meticulously craft ed pie, baked with care and served with style. R
Janet Sailian is a freelance communications consultant, writer and editor.
TIME FOR NETWORKING
Get started now
Whether you’re looking for career connections, networking, mentorship or other professional opportunities, we are here for you. Now with over 800 members representing a wide range of class years, global networking has never been easier or more fun. Start clicking and register today at branksomeconnects.ca.
For further information, please contact rloo@branksome.on.ca or call 416-920-6265, ext. 424.
SHARING KNOWLEDGE
BHAA Career Connections Zooms in
Aft er the initial Zoom event, which was held on June 23, the Alum Association Executive hosted its second “Ask & Give” networking event on October 13. Moderated by Alum Exec vice-president of communications Lisa RICHARDS’02, attendees shared their knowledge in industries ranging from legal to physiotherapy, human resources to public relations. Watch your email, and postings in Branksome Connects, for further opportunities.
THE RETURN Celebrate Reunion 2022! May 27-28
Special recognition for the classes ending in 2 and 7
With the school continuing to keep a watchful eye on pandemic trends, early plans are formulating for a return to an in-person, on-campus reunion weekend this spring.
Many reunion class reps are involved and will play a key role in communicating with their respective classes in the coming months. Please watch for news and updates through social media channels, the website and email. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
REUNION REPS
Judith GODFREY Simmonds’47 Wendy WILSON Lawson’52 Joan SANDERSON Bannerman’57, Joyce SANDERSON Dow’57 Eleanor TOW Walker’57 Pixie BIGELOW Currie’62, Jane OMAND Barber’62 Sandi SHAW McCabe’67 Tony FALCONER Bowland’72, Carol McLEAN Gray’72 Kimberlee CAMPBELL McKinnon’77 Kathryn BULEYCHUK Champion’82 Joyce KITE’87 Nicole COZIER’92, Jennifer GRANT’92, Lisa TWEEDY Clark’92 Lisa HALLISEY Orr’97, Vicki MENDOZA Baclao’97 Marika FIS Fisher’02 Jessie MA’07 Tori LECHNER-SUNG’12 Pauline SU’17
For information, or to volunteer, please contact: alum@branksome.on.ca
ClassNotes
FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS AND READ THE LATEST NEWS OF INTEREST TO ALUMS
Some updates have been edited from emails, letters and social media posts.
Agnes, left and Elspeth at “Pioneer Camp.”
Oh Canada!
Agnes FAIRBAIRN Hopkins’45 and Elspeth FAIRBAIRN Colebrook’43 were respectively 10 and 12 years old when they said goodbye to their parents on July 22, 1940, and sailed from Liverpool to Montreal—running the gauntlet of U-boats on the way—and into the welcoming arms of Canada. Now in their 90s and residing in Dorset, U.K., they have been memorialized in a new book sent to Branksome. “From snippets of conversation over the years, it was obvious the sisters loved their four years at Branksome,” wrote Agnes’ son-in-law Brian McLeish to Principal
Karen Jurjevich last summer. “I decided to record their memories in more detail—we pored over photo albums, scrapbooks, letters, cablegrams and press reports—which I have tried to capture in ‘Oh Canada.’” Principal Jurjevich and her team were delighted that Brian and the Fairbairn sisters shared these stories, and the book will become a useful student reference about the life and times of our English guests during the Second World War.
of October—hence their middle names Eve and Dawn. Th e sisters boarded at Branksome as youngsters, as their mother had passed away when they were nine years old. Th eir father was with the British Royal Air Force, living in Canada and teaching
1947
Early in 2020, Sheila CRAIG Waengler had two solo art shows at the Arts & Letters Club of Toronto and the Toronto Heliconian Club for Women in the Arts. She is a member of both clubs and a thespian at the Arts & Letters Club. Sheila is also working on her memoir.
Judy GODFREY Simmonds’ family have had a farm in the Creemore area since 1980. Over the past seven years she has been involved with “Th e Treblemakers,” a choral group of over 60 men and women from Creemore, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach and Barrie. Th ey have performed annual Christmas and Spring concerts in each of these locations to full and enthusiastic audiences. Judy keeps busy with watercolour painting and in late 2021 was anticipating the birth of her 16th great grandchild.
1948
Caroline JEAN Mather and Felicity JEAN Field were born 10 minutes apart across midnight—Caroline on the 10th and Felicity on the 11th Canadian pilots to fl y.
At 91, Caroline suff ers from vascular dementia and now lives with two of her four children in Salisbury, Wiltshire. All four rally around to care for her as they are keen to prevent her going into a care home for as long
Enjoying afternoon tea at Caroline’s home in Lee-on-theSolent on October 10, 2020, Felicity, left, and Caroline celebrate their 90th birthdays. as they can. Felicity continues to enjoy good health and a sound mind.
1955
Long-time rower Louise
COFFEY Hastings caught up with Scott Fleming, Branksome’s director of athletics and head rowing coach, during lunch in St. Catharines on November 26.
1959
Friends from their days at Whitney School, Lynn
WILLIAMS Ross’59, left , and Wendy Porritt (BSS’58) met at Cataraqui Golf and Country Club in Kingston, Ont., last August.
1961
Last spring, Judith HOARE Sweny (Lincolnshire, U.K.) wrote: I was the Sherborne exchange student to Branksome during the 1960-61 school year and what a happy and exciting time it was. Th ank you to Branksome for such a wonderful year—Nancy Williams, Marilyn Michener, Ebie Miller and so many others who were kind to me. Should anyone be coming this way and want a bed, just let me know. Sending best wishes to all of you.
1963
Last June, Mary Pat JONES Armstrong was featured in the Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto newsletter. Th e article refl ected on the 40 years since it opened in 1981, and Mary Pat’s infl uence and role in channelling adversity into positive change as the charity’s inaugural chair and foundation trustee.
1965
Talifer-Jo (T.J.) WHITBY mailed an update: I boarded for six years during the 1960s. For the past several years, I have lived in an apartment near Hillcrest Mall in Th ornhill. I worked as a librarian for over 30 years and have done volunteer work at the Mariann Home, Epilepsy York, and Sunrise Retirement Home. I am a hospitality volunteer at Canadian Blood Services and also a blood donor. I had
In May 2021, The Unconventional Nancy Ruth was published by Second Story Press. Written by Ramona Lumpkin, it is rich in surprises and contradictions about former Senator Nancy RUTH’60, who used her privilege to support social change in Canada.
many great experiences at Branksome, and oft en think about the girls I met during my student days.
1966
Following the Remembrance Day service held at Toronto’s Rosedale United Church on November 7, Bob and
Sally ADAMS Medland connected with a number of Branksome alums and parents also in attendance. At the outdoor coff ee time they talked with Jack Rhind, a former Branksome Hall board member, parent and grandparent and veteran of the Second World War. Jack’s incredible story, recounting his days in the artillery at Monte Cassino and in battles on the Italian front, appeared in Th e Globe and Mail on Remembrance Day. “At 101, Jack Rhind is a Canadian hero we are very proud of,” said Sally.
1971
Pre-COVID, Susan
SEGSWORTH Jones spent much of her time at home in Guelph or house sitting in Bermuda. In January 2020, while house sitting a 60-year-old tortoise, two falls downstairs caused by a weak hip and no handrail put her fl at on her back for four months. Luckily, her hobby making miniatures, along with online lifelong-learning classes, have kept her busy during lockdown.
1957
Gail RIDOUT Henry (Landmark, Man.) enjoyed a visit last summer with Joyce SANDERSON Dow (Ballantrae, Ont.) and Joan SANDERSON Bannerman (Niagara Falls, Ont.). Friends since Grade 7, the ladies enjoyed a good catch-up at Joyce’s home.
1977
Artist Laurie STEIN captures a Canadian Thanksgiving with humour and fun.
1975
An award-winning journalist and frequent contributor to Th e New York Times, Caitlin KELLY oft en has her stories earn a spot on that newspaper’s “most emailed” list. Most recently, she received 700 comments online, many emails of thanks and an unprecedented front-section reprint for a story that many could relate to: “When an Estranged Relative Dies, Some Face Grief, Regret and Relief.”
1979
Wendy AIRD moved to Nova Scotia 14 years ago to be near the ocean. For the past four years, she has lived in the beautiful small coastal town of Lunenburg—a UNESCO heritage site, which boasts an artistic community and stunning, colourful old houses.
1980
On July 1, Branksome
welcomed CK PURKS Hoffl er, CEO of Th e CK Hoffl er Firm in Atlanta, Georgia, to its Board of Governors. CK has represented and is also counsel to civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson. She has managed billion-dollar commercial cases, including record-setting medical negligence verdicts.
1981
Victoria GRAHAM Mitchell, her husband Brian, daughter Zoë and son Alastair live in Chelsea, Que. Victoria is the manager, interior design (Major Crown Projects Program) at the House of Commons, where her designers work on large Parliamentary Precinct rehabilitation projects. She has been with the House for over fi ve years, and before that was at Public Services and Procurement Canada, and at a local private interior design fi rm. Zoë is in third year aerospace engineering at Concordia University, and Alastair is in fi rst year at McGill’s Desautels Faculty of Management. He also plays baseball for McGill.
1977
Nancy ABERNETHY welcomed her fi rst grandchild, Madeleine June Diane, on August 14. Proud parents are Nancy’s daughter, Cynthia, and her husband Justin Piercy.
1984
In January 2020, Jane CONNOR was on a safari at Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana. After four hours of moving respectfully and patiently with a cheetah mum and her cubs, Jane was rewarded with the joy of capturing this tender moment.
1989
Branksome parents
Kimberley IONSON Taylor, left , and Anne-Marie Kypreos were featured in the summer 2021 issue of the LCBO magazine Food & Drink. Founders of the Little Buddha Cocktail Company, the successful entrepreneurs created a low-alcohol drink that’s organic, sources local ingredients and has no sugar or artifi cial additives.
Trish MAGWOOD’s newest lifestyle cookbook—My New Table—is a collection of seasonally-inspired recipes (Penguin Random House Canada, 2021).
1993
Danielle PATERSON is the executive director of the David Cornfi eld Melanoma Fund—a Canadian charity, leader and a global voice that raises melanoma awareness, promotes prevention and supports research. Last summer, the #BeSunSafe program provided critical sun protection through 75 sunscreen dispensers in waterfront parks and 125 shade tents for City of Toronto youth recreation programs.
1994
On November 2, Jodi SHARP Kimmel was elected as the fi rst woman Town Justice in Bedford, New York, by a margin of 16 per cent. She was to be sworn in on January 1, 2022 for a fouryear term.
1996
Robin MULLAN and her husband Brian MacNab met while Robin was in police training school. Both are with the Bermuda Police Service—Robin, a fi rearms offi cer and police K9 handler, and Brian, a fi rearms offi cer. Th ey have worked together on certain police operations and both have an understanding of the pressures of their jobs. “Brian is my biggest cheerleader,” says Robin. See p. 48.
1997
In early November, Veronica LIU, the founder of Word Up Community Bookshop in Washington Heights, a neighbourhood in New York City, was featured in Th e New York Times. Her shop stocks multilingual works relating to the issues faced in her community, which is primarily Black and Latino.
1999
Congratulations to photographer and sculptor
Lorna BAUER, who made the 2021 shortlist for the renowned Sobey Art Award/ Prix Sobey pour les arts. Endowed by the Sobey Art Foundation and the National Gallery of Canada, it is globally recognized as one of the world’s most generous privately funded prizes for contemporary visual artists. Th e shortlisted artists each received $25,000 and are featured in an exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada until February 20, 2022.
Proud parent Camille CLYNE with daughter, Rachel, who started Grade 7 last September.
Anastasia Phillips (Stacey FILIPCZUK’01), left , and Emma HUNTER’03 are both starring in a new CBC one-hour dramedy, Moonshine, that tells the story of the Finley-Cullens, a dysfunctional clan of adult half-siblings battling for control of the ancestral business.
1992
A Poet for the Times
Nicole COZIER recently had a poem published in the anthology, Collecting Courage, published in Canada by Civil Sector Press and Rootstock Publishing in the U.S. “It’s very exciting that something I wrote as part of my own process has resonated with others,” says Nicole of her included poem “Fragments.”
When she’s not writing poetry, Nicole is the senior vice-president for diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) in Washington, D.C. Th e HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. Nicole is responsible for designing and implementing strategy and initiatives that translate DEI into core organizational practice.
Gaining from her experiences living in Barbados, Toronto, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Washington, Nicole has experienced many facets of her identity as a Black, queer woman, through both the trials of marginalization and the triumphs and fi re of a deep and rich history and ancestry. She holds an MBA and MS from Temple University in Philadelphia, as well as an honours BA from the University of Toronto.
Nicole is a dedicated social justice champion— a leader, trainer/facilitator and advocate in the direct service, advocacy and philanthropic sectors. Whether the focus of her work has been on reproductive health and rights, women’s economic empowerment or LGBTQ+ equality, poetry has helped Nicole explore her identity as a queer Black woman.
Collecting Courage, is available from Civil Sector Press.
Fragments by Nicole E. Cozier (Published in Collecting Courage)
I move through the world in fragments, Tripping over parts of myself along the way. As each fragment jockeys for recognition, validation, and acceptance, I learn to quiet their clamoring voices like a nervous parent quiets an exuberant child calling too much attention to itself. I contort my pieces to fi t into spaces that were clearly not meant for me. Th e discomfort means I can not stay long. At the end of the day, I do a roll call to ensure all my fragments are accounted for and none have been left behind. A comrade asks: “Who would you be in a world without oppression?” I answer: Whole.
Judging the Noodlers
Every entrepreneur needs mentors and this year’s #BHNoodle cohort pitched their ideas to two dynamic alums serving as judges. Th e students had been through a rigorous 38-week process to detail their value proposition, customer segments, distribution channels and more. Th e coveted grand prize of $10,000 in seed money is generously donated by Mary LESSLIE Hallward’74.
Ashley CALDWELL’01 is vice-president, leveraged fi nance at Goldman Sachs in New York City. Over the summer, Ashley and son Harrison visited with Principal Karen Jurjevich.
More Granola maven Sarah DAVIES’09, left, and PR strategist Lisa RICHARDS’02 at the Noodle judging event, held in the Allison Roach Performing Arts Centre on November 6.
2004
Scouted, a New York City recruitment company, was started in 2014 by co-found-
er and CEO Jacqueline LOEB. In February 2021, it was acquired by Recruiter. com, a leading global AI HR tech company, where Jacqueline is the senior vice-president, management team.
2005
Last September, Nicole
STAVRO-LEANOFF took on the role of a Junior School learning strategist teacher at Branksome.
Christina VEIRA is one of Canada’s top bartenders and co-owner of Toronto’s Bar Mordecai. A mocktail and cocktail pioneer and innovator, she’s taught plenty of people the art of mixology.
2008
Marion ADAMS, below left , is CEO of Focus Mental Wellness. Last fall she linked
up with Zoe SHARE’07, CEO of Daddy’s Digest, in an eff ort to understand where the mental wellness of a company’s teams now ranks post-pandemic. Reports Marion: “We talked about fl awed business models, the inherent irony and misconception around the position of ‘CEO’ (do you picture an org chart with a house-like formation and the CEO at the top? Fun fact, we’re actually at the bottom, like in the basement, and that’s where we should be) and the age-old imposter syndrome—experienced by many female entrepreneurs.”
2009
Sarah DAVIES is the founder of More Granola (see above photo). “Jumping into More Granola full time last January is one of the most exhilarating decisions of my life,” says Sarah. “Th e last six months have been a rollercoaster, with some of the highest highs I’ve experienced. Some days are really hard, but that’s what happens when you pour your whole heart into something, and I wouldn’t trade this journey for the world.”
On July 8, Sarah and More Granola were featured in the Toronto Star as part of a piece on RBC and Futurpreneur Canada’s Rock My Business Start-Up Awards. Sarah was selected as one of the six recipients of this award.
Unable to attend in person due to COVID-19, bridesmaid Sarah REDINGTON (in collusion with the groom) beamed
herself into Brittany SMITH Gallant’s August wedding via hologram. Surprising the bride and everyone in attendance, her futuristic appearance was picked up by a number of national and international news sources.
2010
On November 5, Emily HINES moderated the panel discussion “Th e Canada Water Agency In a Global Context: Th e Frontier of Resilient Water Governance” for the UN Climate Change Conference, known as COP26. Th is event was part of the fi rst annual SIWI Water Pavilion, which was organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute to demonstrate the prominent role that water plays in climate change. Emily was responsible for pitching the panel discussion, organizing speakers, developing topic questions and hosting the panel as the coordinator for the Forum for Leadership on Water (FLOW). In addition to this, she holds a new position as the marketing manager for the Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN).
2010 classmates at the wedding of Rosalie SPRINGER Fox last October are, from left, Clare KORDYBACK, Olivia PIERRATOS, Victoria KEPES, the bride, Maggie LEVER and Diana BLESKO.
Jade ZYLBERBERG is the director of outbound sales for Valeria Inc. She is responsible for strategically fi nding brands to work with Valeria Lipovetsky, social media infl uencer/content creator with a 4.5 millionplus global audience. Most notable brands include H&M, Mango, Veronica Beard, Alice+Olivia, Roger Vivier and Ferragamo.
2011
Bec PECAUT is a screenwriter and fi lmmaker splitting their time between Los Angeles and Toronto. Bec received the Jack Okie Endowed Scholarship for Comedy in Film for their script “Th e Terrible Child.” Th e script is a labour of love and was revised through 60 draft s over a seven-year process. Supported by OPC Productions, it was shot in Toronto over two days last September.
2011
Lawyer Neela THAMBIRAJAH is currently busy doing the Th e Dalla Lana Fellowship in Global Journalism at the University of Toronto. Her reporting will be on stories about tax and society.
2013
Patricia SU is studying law at the University of Birmingham, U.K. She is enjoying meeting like-minded individuals from all walks of life. When not studying, she is either exploring new areas of Birmingham or travelling to European cities.
Bernise WONG describes herself as a “third culture child.” She was born in Hong Kong but “grew up everywhere,” where she learned the importance of culture. Bernise is a New York City-based art director/designer and head of brand at Saysh. She uses design and art as a medium and visual language to navigate the world.
2017
From left , Lexi SHAH, Anna Lisa LOWENSTEIN and Leila ASHTARYEH at their graduation from the University of Pennsylvania last spring.
Retirements Edited excerpts are taken from live and pre-recorded speeches relayed via Zoom at the employee year-end celebration last June.
Laura Bincik (1988–2021) Over the years: School Nurse, Science Teacher, Acting Head of Middle School, Guidance Counsellor
Laura’s 33-year career began in 1988 when she was hired to be the school nurse. Since then, she has led Grade 9 Week Without Halls adventures, Grade 8 trips to Canada’s Wonderland, inaugural trips to South Korea and many fi eld trips. She has nursed, counselled and taught her way through every risky situation you can imagine, and was instrumental in moving forward many of our current risk management processes.
Laura has a deep appreciation for the students and her colleagues who have taught her so much. She feels celebrated and particularly cherishes the individual words and messages she received from her students and colleagues.
Joanne Colwell, Director, School and University Counselling
Th ank you, Joanne, for your leadership of the Guidance Department. It has been a privilege to support student growth and well-being with such a fi ne group of colleagues. I am thankful for my experiences and for my wise mentors in the Health Centre, Science Department and Guidance Department.
I am so proud that my daughters have been educated at Branksome Hall and I am grateful to all of the teachers who challenged and nurtured them. For 33 years, I also have been educated at Branksome and have grown as an informed adult, shaped by the professional development provided and by osmosis through the curiosity and accomplishments of our students. I have had a beautiful career.
Th ank you and Keep Well the Road.
Laura Bincik Cathy Russell (2003–21) Over the years: Junior School Teacher, Division Leader, Instructional Leader, Junior School Technology Experience Designer and Coordinator
We are so grateful for who Cathy is: a faithful friend, a supportive wife, a caring mother, a phenomenal teacher. If you need a caring friend, then give Cathy a call, any time of the day or the night. But not too early in the morning.
If a teacher isn’t able to be in class at some point in the day, Cathy is willing to cover and be there.
If you need an editor, whether it’s a paper or report cards, then share your editor rights in Google Docs with Cathy.
If someone needs a password or technical support, then Cathy comes to the rescue.
Fatma Faraj, Junior School Librarian Mary Fiore, Grade 3 Math/Design and Technology Integration
Th ank you for your kind and thoughtful words, and a big thank you to everyone but especially to my Junior School colleagues. Every one of you has been a part of my incredible journey over the last 18 years. I am grateful for the conversations, the learning, the laughs and, most importantly, for the friendships.
I will miss greeting the students every morning at the front circle and listening to the stories of the JK and SK students as I walked with them to their playgrounds. I will also miss the joy and excitement of the students when they solve a coding puzzle or when their Scratch or Python coding fi nally works.
I am looking forward to keeping in touch. I am not going to say goodbye, but rather, I’ll see you around.
Cathy Russell
Marriages
1997
Anne-Karine DABO to Scott Michael Webster, on April 2, 2020, in New York City.
2002
Lisa Simone RICHARDS to Steve Morales, on September 18, 2021, in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
2004
Sarah LEVY to Graham Outerbridge, on October 16, 2021, in West Hollywood, California.
Births
2005
Kelly RADKE to Jamie Hunter, on May 29, 2021, in Toronto.
2009
Brittany SMITH to Jeff rey Gallant, on August 14, 2021, in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
2010
Diana BLESKO to Stephen McGroarty, on August 29, 2021, in Toronto.
Rosalie SPRINGER to Daniel Fox, on October 10, 2021, in Oro-Medonte, Ont.
1997
Anne-Karine DABO, a daughter, Chloe Margaret, on September 12, 2019, in New York City.
2001
Jennifer McLEOD Yungblut, a daughter, Grace May, on January 1, 2021, in Toronto. A niece for Lauren McLEOD’03.
Jill SOUTHWORTH Swift, a daughter, Autumn Rose White, on May 8, 2021, in Oxford, U.K. A niece for Ruth SOUTHWORTH Tarrant’99.
FOR THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
Please be sure to let the alum office know when your little one arrives, and we’ll send you our remarkable baby bib in the mail.
2003
Rowena LEUNG, a son, Dylan, on October 7, 2021, in Toronto.
2004
Lindsay FARBER Mereshensky, a son, Dean, on September 5, 2021, in Toronto. A nephew for Stacey FARBER’05.
Tiff any RAMSUBICK, a daughter, Isola Joy, on November 13, 2021, in Toronto. A niece for Chanelle RAMSUBICK’06 and Brittney RAMSUBICK’12.
2005
Hana JAMES McConville, a son, Nolan Rui, on June 29, 2021, in Toronto. A nephew for Shu-wei JAMES’02.
Jaclyn SOPIK, a son, Quinton Lee Raymond,on March 10, 2021, in Markham. A nephew for Victoria SOPIK’08.
2006
Gabriella SICILIANO, a daughter, Sophie Madeline, on May 9, 2021, in Toronto. A niece for Isabelle SICILIANO’09.
2008
Katherine SWITZER, a daughter, Vanessa, on June 1, 2021, in Toronto.
2010
Nicole BRYCK, a daughter, Valerie Sophia, on April 12, 2021, in Toronto. A niece for Marielle BRYCK’07 and Carolyn BRYCK’13.
Jennifer LANGILL, a son, Sengsavanh James, on March 15, 2021, in Toronto. A nephew for Melanie LANGILL Joyce’03, Kate LANGILL’05 and Stacey LANGILL’08.
Deaths
Notices and In Memoriams have been edited from emails and published obituaries.
1946
Joyce RANDALL Lepage, on August 22, 2021, in Toronto.
Joyce had a passion and appreciation for music, fi ne art, the opera, ballet and theatre. She volunteered at the Gardiner Museum and made annual trips to the Shaw and Stratford Festivals. A woman of tremendous strength and resilience, Joyce was a breast cancer survivor who lived independently for the last 15 years. With great charm and grace she brought laughter, wit and perspective to conversations, paired with a smile that could light up any room. Joyce loved family gatherings in Muskoka and was the proud matriarch of the LePage family.
1947
Anne THOBURN Fisher, on August 22, 2021, in London, Ont. Great great aunt of Anna THOBURN’19.
Anne was kind and generous, and lived her life with style and independence. She was an avid skier and tennis player, and enjoyed tending to her garden. Her grandchildren remember her enthusiastic support at the fi nish line of alpine ski races and community hockey games. Family and friends will remember Anne’s bountiful summer banter at Hope Island sunset gatherings, preceding savoury dining room galas.
1948
Françoise CHAUBERT Couvreu, on May 9, 2021, in Geneva, Switzerland. See In Memoriam.
Evelyn HOWDEN Tomlinson, on July 11, 2021, in Penetanguishene, Ont.
Evelyn and Jack had a passion for travel and had visited all continents except Antarctica. In their later years, cruising was a favoured way to see the world. As well as seeing foreign places through travel, Jack’s work took them to live in both Hinsdale, a suburb of Chicago, and Natchez, Mississippi. Evelyn maintained the friendships she formed in school, in her daily life and in her travels. She was a prodigious letter writer who cherished her friends, but when writing became a chore due to a fractured humerus, she continued to keep in touch by phone.
1949
Sally McGOUIRK Webb, on December 4, 2021, in Toronto. Mother of Kelly WEBB’73; grandmother of Meghan BAUER’96, Lorna BAUER’99 and Hilary BAUER’03.
Sally had a strong sense of service and enjoyed giving back to her community by playing an active role in many charities. Sally had a long and happy life of love, unwavering strength, encouragement and kindness to all.
Eleanor MILLS Howe, on September 9, 2021, in Burlington, Ont.
Eleanor’s passion for books was evident at an early age. She began her employment in the Technical Library at Courtaulds Cornwall, Ont., where she met her future husband, Doug. Following their wedding in 1952 they departed for Mobile, Alabama, where Eleanor became involved in the library bookmobile program, off ering wonderful literacy opportunities to thousands of residents. After 22 years in the United States they returned to Cornwall and later moved to Burlington.
1953
Sheila TODD, on August 20, 2021, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
A much-loved grandmother, Sheila was a lifelong learner and deeply valued education. She attended numerous colleges including Bryn Mawr and the University of Maryland, where she received a second undergraduate degree and a master’s. She was a certifi ed clinical nurse specialist in both gerontological and psychiatric nursing and worked at the Sheppard Pratt and Levindale private hospitals in Baltimore. In 1991, Sheila received the Outstanding Advanced Clinical Award from the Maryland Nurses Association.
1954
Mary Ann HEAD Knowland, on April 4, 2021, in Bronte, Ont. Sister of Elizabeth HEAD Taylor’60.
In recent years, Mary Ann was a member of the Oakville Art Society and the Sir John Colborne Recreation Centre where she studied yoga and Spanish. All her life she created beautiful oil and watercolour paintings and was an accomplished seamstress. Mary Ann was loved by all who knew her, a gentle, beautiful woman of poise and grace.
1955
Priscilla GREIG Tiff any, on August 21, 2021, in Midland, Ont.
Priscilla followed a nursing career, where her favourite shifts were spent in Wellesley Hospital Nursery. She was involved with IODE Canada in Toronto and later in local theatre in Lagoon City and Beaverton, Ont. Since 2017, she had lived in a retirement residence in Midland. She leaves two daughters and eight grandchildren.
Margot THOMPSON Powell, on July 14, 2021, in Toronto.
Margot and her husband Alan raised their family in Montreal. A lifelong learner, she had talents and interests that reached far and wide—from equestrian show jumping and sailing to piano, classical guitar and entrepreneurial endeavours. A long-term member of the No Frills Investment Club, Margot was a shrewd investor with good instincts. She spent most summers at
the cottage on Canoe Lake and, in her later years, spent winters in Arizona. Margot was a kind and generous soul to family and friends.
1956
Mary Jane BICKLE Hastings, on December 9, 2021, in Toronto.
A graduate of the nursing program at Women’s College Hospital, Mary Jane enjoyed over 50 years living in Willowdale, travelling, leading an active lifestyle, and volunteering at the Toronto Zoo.
Susan RICHARDSON Merry, on August 27, 2021.
Joyce WALKER McKeough, on July 3, 2021, in Cedar Springs, Ont. Sister-in-law of Eleanor TOW Walker’57. See In Memoriam.
1957
Jane BURT Rutledge, on November 24, 2020, in Burlington, Ont.
Jane graduated from the Wellesley School of Nursing in 1960. Over her lifetime, she raised a family and started and ran her own business. Her greatest pride and deepest value was family, for whom she created and nurtured many traditions that her children hold dear. Elizabeth RICHARDSON Peachell, on April 7, 2019, in Bradenton, Florida.
1961
Elizabeth BARNES Kiddle’61, on July 27, 2021, in Milton, Ont.
Elizabeth earned her master’s degree in social work from Columbia University. She worked for the Toronto Family Service Agency and later at Halton Family Services, the Vanier Centre for Women, and Maplehurst Correctional Complex. She also served on the provincial parole board and believed intensely in rehabilitation and social justice at home and globally. She was unfailingly generous to her family and friends, clients and the many causes she supported.
1983
Julia WEINSTEIN, on December 12, 2021, in Toronto. Sister of Johanna WEINSTEIN’81.
Former Teacher
Medora Sale Roe, English teacher from 1974-76 and 1977-90, on November 7, 2021, in Toronto. Mother of Anne ROE’87. See In Memoriam.
In Memoriam
Françoise CHAUBERT Couvreu’48
May 9, 2021
“Frannie” was sent by her parents from Lausanne, Switzerland, to Branksome for the year 1947-48 to perfect her English. Th ere was already a family connection, as her aunt had taught French at Branksome sometime before the Second World War.
Aft er graduation, I lost track of Frannie. I had heard that she was married and living in Paris. In 2003, the Branksome alumnae offi ce learned that I was living part-time near Geneva, in France, and contacted me with Frannie’s married name, Couvreu, asking me to try to fi nd her.
I was able to locate her and we reconnected happily aft er more than 50 years. Frannie was living in a beautiful manor house with a spectacular view of Mont Blanc, and a garden fi lled with roses. It was in a village just outside of Geneva, ironically only about three kilometres from where my husband and I had lived for several years. We had probably attended the same concerts and passed each other in the local supermarket without recognition.
We visited back and forth during the next years and Skyped each other when I was back in New York. Unfortunately, her health began to deteriorate and I learned of her recent passing from a Genevan friend.
Françoise was a talented artist and had several exhibitions at local galleries. She was also a passionate lover of music, attending concerts and opera in Geneva and travelling to festivals in Switzerland and other European cities. She was a brilliant cook and, while she was still in good health, enjoyed entertaining friends; her beautiful table decorations were legendary.
Jeanne ROSCOE Sheridan’48, White Plains, New York
Françoise, left, with Jeanne in June 2010.
In Memoriam
Medora Sale Roe November 7, 2021 English teacher from 1974-76 and 1977-90
Medora launched a second career in writing in her forties, publishing seven mystery novels under the name Medora Sale and eight mysteries under the name Caroline Roe. She was awarded the Arthur Ellis First Novel Award in 1986 for Murder on the Run and the Barry Award for Best Paperback Original Mystery Novel in 1999 for An Antidote for Avarice.
Her passion for writing extended to supporting fellow writers, leading her to serve as president of both Crime Writers of Canada (1989-90) and Sisters in Crime (1998-99). Medora was fi ercely committed to following her dreams and supporting other women and girls to do the same.
She was also a kind and gentle person who was passionate about animals and music.
A Former Colleague Remembers
Medora was a brilliant teacher whose students loved and admired her. Many alums, especially those from her Grade 13 English literature course, which consisted of an exceptional array of texts taught nowhere else, have described Miss Roe as a “fantastic teacher.” Many have been in touch with me and with each other to express their deep sadness at her death. Medora leaves her husband, Harry, and her daughter Anne ROE’87.
Diane Watson, English teacher
Th e Ultimate ‘Bee Keeper’
Margaret Joyce WALKER McKeough’56 August 28, 1937 – July 3, 2021
“W hen I fi rst met Joyce McKeough, I was struck with her stately beauty,” wrote her friend, lawyer Tony Little, aft er she passed. He remembered how her eyes were piercing even as they twinkled, “and they carried a frankness, an openness—no secrets.”
Another friend, Linda ALEXANIAN’86, recalls that “she actively and intentionally sought the positive in every person and situation. While the rest of us were preparing for the worst-case scenario, Joyce was asking: what if something good happens?”
And everyone at Branksome Hall, where she was such an active supporter—from the board to the “Bee Keepers”—remembers the laughter that would accompany each of her visits.
Joyce was the daughter of a federal cabinet minister and the wife of an Ontario one, so she understood public life and how to handle it. She was once presented at court to the Queen and Prince Philip, and vividly remembered “the devastating eyes of the Prince.” As writer and friend Rod McQueen recalls, her father once said of her chatelaine role, “you can make it work for you.” Remarks McQueen: “Entertaining Peter Lougheed, breakfast with Brian Mulroney, and tea with Margaret Th atcher were just a few of the ways she made it work.”
Her lawyer father, David James Walker, was a Progressive Conservative cabinet minister and later a senator. “My mom’s parents had great respect for each other,” says her son Stewart. “Her mother was also a political wife, and it was important to them for boys and girls to be on an equal footing.” Her husband, Darcy, was MPP for the Chatham-Kent area for 15 years, which led many to call him “the Duke of Kent.” If that made Joyce a duchess, she was certainly infl uential from her base in the family domain at Bally McKeough, on the shores of Lake Erie near Chatham.
At Branksome Hall, she served on the board, as a volunteer, and chaired the Centennial Book Committee at the time of the school’s 100th anniversary. She and Darcy are on the donor wall and there is a Joyce WALKER McKeough’56 Bursary, funded in her honour by her brother David. And the Bee Keepers? Technically, they were the Branksome Keepers, a group formed by Joyce to keep former board members and others informed about the school and involved with it. Like all her projects, it was very successful.
“Joyce had the ideal characteristics that one would wish for in a Branksome board member: vast external experience along with deep institutional knowledge and loyalty combined with a sharp mind and quick wit,” says Tony Graham, who worked with Joyce on the Branksome Hall board and the Branksome Foundation board, both of which he chaired. “She left her mark on Branksome, which will be remembered for many years to come.”
“I owe Branksome a lot,” she told two students, Alexandra Krawczyk and Jaclyn Genovese, who interviewed her for Th e READ in 2002. “You have to get away from the school—aft er Grade 13 we were more than happy to!—to realize it is truly a remarkable place. I don’t think any of us were aware it was shaping us, but as Winston Churchill said, ‘we shape our structures and then our structures shape us.’”
To Branksome Principal Karen Jurjevich, “Joyce was my role model. I realized early in my career that she was always in my corner. She was one of the fi rst people I was introduced to when I joined the Branksome community, and it was Joyce who inducted me into all things Branksome and helped me to learn the rules of the road, so to
Principal Karen L. Jurjevich
speak. She was curious about me, and while she never imposed herself, when you were in her company you knew she didn’t miss a thing you said or any nuance present in your conversation.”
On their work together on Th e Road Well Kept centenary book project, Jurjevich recalls, “she would say, ‘we just have to tell the real Branksome story, and the book will sizzle!’ She was worldly, but never took herself too seriously. She was a practical joker, and yet the most thoughtful person: you would see her one day and the very next day receive a note from her just letting you know she was thinking of you. Joyce touched so many peoples’ lives in that way. For me, her astute nature, witty humour and kindness gave me confi dence as a young leader. It was a joy and a privilege to know her.”
Joyce started at Branksome at 13, and became a prefect and clan chieft ain. Aft er graduation she was an exchange student for a year at Branksome-linked Sherborne School for Girls in Dorset, England, before going on to Trinity College, University of Toronto.
While working at an advertising agency in Toronto in 1964, she met Darcy, a newly elected MPP. Th ey were married the next year, and Darcy moved into cabinet in 1966. Th ey continued pursuing an energetic public life until 1978, when Darcy left government.
At Bally McKeough, Joyce loved shaping the gardens and terraces that led down to the lake. In his homily, Rev. John Maroney recalled: “Several days aft er my visit to Bally McKeough, Joyce called me to say that she had gone outdoors to see the lake, to hear the birds sweetly singing in the trees, to feel the warmth of the sun and to marvel at the brilliant colours of God’s creation. And in her voice was a sense of joy and wonder.”
To Tony Little, Joyce was “a true Lady— with all that term positively conveys. Independent but not unaware of the needs of others. Truly amused by the human condition while forgiving that condition for its idiosyncracies. Loyal with friends. Politically savvy. Proud mother.”
And without doubt, a beloved Branksome alumna. R
Th e Joyce WALKER McKeough’56 Bursary
Fund was established in 2004 by Joyce’s brother, David Walker. Since Joyce’s death in July, Branksome Hall has received over $30,000 in memorial gift s directed to this fund. Th e school gratefully acknowledges and thanks everyone who has remembered Joyce in this very meaningful way.
Robin and Roni, outside the Bermuda Police Headquarters.
On the Beat in Bermuda
One day in 2013, I came across an advertisement from the Bermuda Police Service, looking for new recruits. I was 35 at the time, a Bermudian, and fell within the required age bracket. I always had an interest in policing, but my career path as a graphic designer started in university and I had not looked back. Yet I realized that I was ready for a change in my life. I decided to take the plunge.
I did get into the police and aft er two years as a patrol offi cer my career really took off . I joined the Police Support Unit, the department that trains for large-scale public safety events. Our team
was also used as a narcotics street team, and I was involved in numerous drug warrants that were both exciting and helped to make our island safer. In 2017, I took on the diffi cult role of Family Liaison Offi cer. If there is a fatal traffi c collision, or a suspicious incident such as murder, an FLO is assigned to meet with the next of kin right away. We usually develop a strong bond with the families, and this helps us get the needed information that can be so diffi cult for families to give when they are grieving. Th is is my most diffi cult job in the police service, as you go through a painful journey alongside the family. You try to do all you can to make the process easier for them. Th e next year, I completed an authorized fi rearms course and became part of the team that carries fi rearms and deals with gun incidents. Working with the Gang Targeting Unit, we focussed on drug and fi rearms incidents involving gangs. It was during this time that I experienced working alongside K9 handlers. I have always loved dogs and I was fascinated at the work these K9s did. So I applied to become a K9 handler myself. Last September, I travelled with a colleague to Vohne Liche Kennels in Indiana, where I met my new partner. Roni is a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix, and an 18-month-old bundle of energy and drive. Th e two of us began a rigorous six-week program in which we trained together every day in all I took on gangs and guns before fi nding my real passion as a cop—working with dogs. areas of police K9 work, including detection, tracking and apprehension. Roni and I made incredible progress and, in November, we began working together in Bermuda.By Robin MULLAN’96 When I look back at the adventures I have undertaken over the last eight years, I almost can’t believe it. I have always been a quiet person, but I believe that boarding at Branksome brought out a confi dence in me that could not have happened living and growing up on a sheltered island like Bermuda. Branksome took me out of my comfort zone while still nurturing and encouraging me to do my best. R Robin Mullen graduated from York University with a BA in English literature and was a graphic designer in Hamilton, Bermuda, for 12 years before joining the police. She has two daughters and is married to Brian MacNab, a fellow fi rearms police offi cer. See p.38.
