Class Notes Alumnae Updates

We’d love to hear from you!

Help us stay in touch by sharing your new contact information and exciting updates on life, work, family, accomplishments, travel, hobbies, and more. Submit your Class Note (75 words or fewer) to appear in the next issue of Full Circle Magazine at: castilleja.org/alumnae

Questions? Ideas? Please contact: (650) 470–7743 alumnae@castilleja.org

Castilleja School 1310 Bryant Street Palo Alto, CA 94301

1950s

1953 Mary E. Chandler Lippitt ’53 writes, “I'm still above the grass and living in Kingsburg, CA with lots of family close by. Stay well!”

1960s

1962 Judith Liff Robertson-Flick ’62 and her husband took up painting by numbers and are enjoying it a lot. “We still have our dogs, our cat, chickens, and horses which we enjoy very much. Stay safe everyone.” Photo: Judith completed a portrait of her and her husband at an ugly sweater Christmas party. 1963 As a musician, Virginia Smedberg ’63 hasn’t been able to perform since March 2020. However, she continues teaching her students online and in her garden or driveway. Her happiest creation this year has been having two small groups of music students come to her front lawn. They gather safely masked and distanced, but nonetheless play music together every weekend, 95 degrees or 55 degrees. She has also kept busy planting and weeding in her garden. In her spare time she furthers her study of Scientology through online courses. Photo: Virginia (back to camera) coaching quartet "in the park."

1964 Class of ’64 on Zoom

Bonnie Eggink Allen’s ’64 and her husband enjoyed a very COVID Christmas. Commenting on their Christmas card above, Bonnie writes “I confess that we don’t build fires under our side tables, and no, it’s not snowing outside. But what’s the point in having Photoshop if you don’t use it?” Bonnie and Steve keep busy by taking long walks in the house and sorting things out. And when this is all over, “We’ll have a party to end all parties!” Ann Lynn Grinnell ’64 misses traveling and eating out, among other things, but especially misses her annual trip to the Caribbean to thaw out from the winter temperature in Vermont. She did get to spend a week with her greatgrandson Avery, who is “charming, engaging, and super energetic.”

Pat Hunter Gregory ’64 and her husband Tod celebrated their 50th anniversary last June. Her daughter, Diana Gregory Horner ’91 and her husband Doug leased their house in San Francisco and moved to Sun Valley, Idaho. Her second daughter Lilla Gregory Spivak ’99 and her husband Vadim have acquired a mountain house in Truckee. Pat and Tod’s son, Will, and his family are also doing well, with Will teaching remotely and his wife, Ann, handling the daily care for thousands of affordable housing residents. Their grandson, Clark excels at piano, board war games, and running. And finally her granddaughter, Harriet’s 13th birthday was celebrated at the family ranch. The family shares that Pat lost her sister, Lilla Bell Hunter ’56 in September. She was a wonderful, spirited person, and was the only female President of the American Hereford Association and voted Nevada Cattlewoman of 2020.

Sarah Morris Pullen ’64 keeps busy gardening, walking, hiking, participating in virtual book clubs, and more. “I take a weekly virtual stretch and yoga class, and as a recovering enthusiastic community volunteer, I am on the Guild of our local Broadway Rose Theater for the fourth year - though those meetings and the plays are all Zoomed now too.” Sarah turned 75 in January; she writes, “I am always surprised by how fast my life is going! That’s three quarters of a century! Can I really be that age? I wonder! Most days I don’t feel it!”

Gail Wilson Zetter ’64 writes, “The highlight of last year was our 50th anniversary in November. Our kids, who know us well, would not let the day pass with more of the ordinary, or with great embarrassment and avoidance of eye contact. Presents arrived all day long – 50th masks, their faces on cake decorating sticks, a puzzle made up of family pictures, a “Cheers to 50 Years” sign, our wedding picture of us with lines from the poem I wrote for our ceremony, cake and champagne. The balloons have drifted down although “Cheers to 50 Years” is still up – granted the ‘Y’ slips periodically so it says “Cheers to 50 Ears” from time to time) – but this was a day we will never forget – we love our kids, and theirs.”

1965 Libby Ames Edwards ’65 is a grandma! She now has three grandsons: twins born in September and a third born on Inauguration Day. She has taken care of the twins, but has yet to meet her third grandson who was born in Paris. Photo: Libby and her daughter Karin with her one week old twins.

1966 Beth Roberts Leathers ’66 is still selling real estate, gray hair and all! She is happy to announce the mid-March 2021 opening of Coldwell Banker at 1125 Merrill Street, Menlo Park. “Stop by and say hello - COVID allowing!”

1969 Suzy Varian Hammond ’69 writes: “Sheltering in place pretty much the entire pandemic has been the key to my not getting the virus. Does make for some cabin fever from time to time. However, I do like my alone time! Way too much family around all the time though (I'm kidding; it's actually been great to be around the grands 24/7).” Suzy’s granddaughter, Sally, is 12 and her grandson, Boo, is 9. Georgie Gleim ’69 continues to work full time. Her jewelry store at Stanford Shopping Center was shut down for three months last spring. Fortunately, it has been open since June of 2020 and made the necessary adaptations for operating in a safe way. Her business will be celebrating its 90th anniversary this year and continues to make the senior class rings for Castilleja. Georgie has retired from the board of the American Gem Society, but currently serves on the board for Peninsula Volunteers and is the President of the Palo Alto Historical Association. Georgie also writes the weekly newsletter for her Rotary Club, crediting Castilleja for her writing skills. She remains in Palo Alto in the same house she’s lived in since 1998.

1970s

1971 Laurie Einziger Bellet ’71 retired from teaching a few years ago, and she and her husband of 43 years now rehabilitate and rehome miniature horses who have been abused, abandoned, or relinquished. “Along with our colleagues at Angels for Minis in Walnut Creek, we have found loving families for close to 600 miniature horses! The job comes with equine kisses and a few kicks here and there.” Laurie’s grandchildren live close by and she plans to travel with them as soon as it is safe again. She can’t believe it’s been 50 years since her graduation.

DeBorah Eaton Beatty ’71 took this year to develop the online side of her coaching business including creating a new website and course curriculum. Her work feels especially important at this moment in time. While 2021 began with her husband, Rich, needing emergency brain surgery, Deborah is hopeful for the future and reports that Rich is recovering.

Jeanne Fisichella Hahne ’71 shares that she and her husband, Bruce are retired and living in Medford, Oregon, “we are hiking and skiing and having fun!” She also launched her business, www.faceviewmask.com, selling masks with a clear window to provide better sight and sound. “I hope it helps many people, especially during this pandemic.” 1972 Susan Moths Carpenter ’72 writes, "Steve and I share the sad news that our son Paul died in February 2020. He is also survived by his sister, Emily, aunts Lisa ’73 and Barbara ’76 and many other relatives and dear friends. I continue to work and teach at the UW-Madison Arboretum, managing the native plant garden during the growing season and writing and doing virtual presentations during our snowy winter. Always grateful for my Castilleja experience, I send warm wishes, especially to the class of ’72!"

Karen Smith Shaw ’72 squeezed in a trip to New Zealand in March to visit her daughter who is living in Australia. “We made the last flight to LA before everything shut down.” Her oldest daughter started as an Assistant Professor at Auburn University in August 2020. Karen and her husband spend time golfing, grocery shopping, and waiting for their COVID vaccine.

1975 The Class of ’75 had an intimate Zoom reunion thanks to Giuliana Danon Vural. Casey Lewis Keeshan, Peyton Smith, Mercedes Marquardt Mangarpan, and Beth Merckel were in virtual attendance. The group raised a glass in remembrance of their dear friend Tamara Razi who recently passed from cancer. They hope to see all their classmates at their *cough cough* 50th reunion.

Leslie Defoe Dolan ’75 tragically lost her home to the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California, but has since moved and found happiness in Idaho.

Helen Schawlow Johnson ’75 is quite the prolific knitter; you can follow her on Facebook to see her handy work.

Casey Lewis Keeshan ’75 is now living in Nashville, TN. As her husband’s work for the NBC station group could be done remotely the couple decided to relocate from New York. Casey is retired from teaching and volunteers delivering food to the elderly.

Beth Merckel ’75 lives in Boulder, CO, designing jewelry and teaching.

Susan Havard Silverman ’75 showcases her artwork on Instagram @susanhsilverman. Her favorite subject is horses, although dogs are also welcome in her oeuvre. She is accepting commissions.

Peyton Smith ’75 is located in Walnut Creek, CA, and works for a mortgage company.

Giuliana Danon Vural ’75 is living in Fort Worth, TX, working in oil and gas law.

1976 Susan Smith Flesher ’76 writes, “Not a lot to report from the class of 1976, except that we’re all ‘bunkering down’ and doing our best to weather the new world of COVID. Looking forward to celebrating our 45th reunion in 2021 – until then, stay safe and well 76ers!” Above is a “Blast from the Past” photo from our 40th reunion in 2016 (already five years ago!).

“Who is where” from the Class of 1976: Cindi Bowers Kodweis – Bay Area Janet Ditz Tarr – Oregon Sally Harris – Bay Area Chris Hennig Agatep – Washington Allison Lewis Jacobs – Bay Area Linda Sue Little Strand – Bay Area Meredith Rothrock – Bay Area Lynn Rutherford Bridson – New Zealand Susan Smith Flesher – Bay Area

1980s

1981-82 Laura Kroger ’82 writes: “Thanks to all of you who joined the joint ’81-’82 Zoom-union, and thank you, Liz Babb ’82, for organizing and facilitating the fun event! We missed those of you who couldn’t make it, but hope to see more of you next time. We hope to schedule more Zoom get-togethers in the future and had some great suggestions for discussion topics!”

1982 Liz Babb ’82 shares, “Thanks to COVID, my beauty business took a nose dive in March of 2020.” She has since pivoted to a new business and spent the remainder of 2020 offering free classes on how to use your computer and Apple devices, as well as coaching private clients on their technology. It went so well that she decided to go for it in 2021 and now offers multiple live classes—still virtually!—on managing one’s desktop, iPhone, and organizing those ubiquitous digital photos. She has several private clients, many of whom are connected to the Casti community. 1984 Shelly Evans Tin ’84 has been living outside Melbourne, Australia, for the past seven years. She is now back in the States preparing to sell her house in South Carolina and head to the west coast. “It was hard to leave Australia, especially leaving two daughters behind, but my husband, Aungwin, accepted a position outside Seattle.” She is looking forward to seeing her great friend and classmate, Diane Fielding Bedell, a Seattle Area resident. Shelly and Aungwin (pictured above) will celebrate 32 years married in July of this year and are excited about their next adventure!

Maximina Fagan ’84 is moving on from her role as General Counsel at Veritas Technologies to take a break after 19+ years in her role to regroup, help her kids with distance learning, and determine her next adventure and path to happiness! Pre-COVID, she attended the most recent “in person” alumnae gathering and was delighted to reconnect with her fellow classmates. Pictured above at the reunion (left to right) Colleen Haight ’84, Heather Allen Pang ’84, Mae Westlake McLean ’84, Maximina Fagan ’84, and Laura Bushnell ’84.

Catherine Popovici ’84 is still living in Katy, Texas, just outside of Houston. Three of her kids have come home from college, and post-college endeavors include staying close by in Texas during the pandemic. “This means I can have them all over for dinner and game night and I get to enjoy them as adults, so a silver lining during this time.” Catherine’s youngest is 16 and doing school-from-home while both she and her husband also work from home. 1986 Nancy Niland ’86 got her dream job as the volunteer and special events coordinator at Lake Oswego Public Library in January 2020. She writes, “Like everyone else, I have been adapting and pivoting like a whirling dervish. The job is fantastic and I have developed new skills in marketing, fundraising and the all-important Zoom!” Through their community-reads program, Nancy had the honor of interviewing Pulitzer-prize winning author, Isabel Wilkerson, prompting her to recall the “wonderful lunches I was so fortunate to share with revered authors in my years at Castilleja.” Nancy also got engaged, “I am the luckiest woman to fall in love with another bookworm and art lover who whisked me away to Paris and proposed at the top of the Eiffel Tower.” She and her fianceé plan to wed in front of their four children and families on September 17, 2021.

1987 Holli Berman ’87 continues to serve as Cantorial Soloist on the clergy team of Congregation Har HaShem in Boulder, Colorado. She will be moving on from her position in 2022, after 30 years of teaching, singing, and spiritual leadership. She shares, “moving everything online in a global pandemic has certainly had its challenges! If not for our sons that were sent home from college last March, I am not sure how I would have managed to navigate all the technology required.” Now, Holli can lead services and create music from her home studio.

Michele Khateri ’87 returned to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic after two years working at an international school in Dubai. She's been home with her family, including her college-age son and high school daughter, both of whom will be graduating in 2022. After almost 12 years in independent schools, Michele recently started at Pacific Charter School Development as their Director of Fundraising & Strategic Initiative. She's looking forward to learning more about charter schools and real estate development.

1991 Rebecca Barker ’91 is excited to share that her daughter Avery is a member of the Class of 2024!!

Diana Gregory Horner ’91 moved to Ketchum, Idaho, last summer after spending twenty years in San Francisco. She writes: “Doug, Caroline, and I are enjoying the beautiful surroundings, reacquainting ourselves with winter and settling into life in this small but dynamic town. Caroline is already in 8th grade! Sassy, our yellow lab, is in dog heaven and is quite happy running around in the snow and swimming in the river. We look forward to coming back to SF and the Peninsula to visit family and friends sometime soon!”

Kimberly Williams-Guillén ’91 writes, “The last few years have been a time of upheaval — for both me and the country.” In 2015, Kim moved to Ann Arbor so she could be based at the University of Michigan, where she had previously held a postdoctoral position. Unfortunately, Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome prevented her ability to work and travel, so in 2017 she stepped back from her position as Director of Conservation Science for Paso Pacifico, a non-profit dedicated to conservation in Central America: “While I continue to collaborate on a projects using GPS trackers to describe wildlife trafficking networks, most of my attention of late has focused on a regenerative farm my husband and I established outside of Detroit.” When Kim is not working on conservation, she is trying her best to “dismantle white supremacy with a pitchfork.”

1994 Sisters Pratima Sethi ’94 and Prerna Sethi ’99 had the honor of playing a tiny but exciting part on the historic Inauguration Day. Melissa Cohen, daughterin-law of President Biden, wore earrings from their acclaimed jewelry label, Sethi Couture. Pratima and Prerna are inspired by the first family's commitment to diversity, education, and philanthropy and look forward to this new leadership bringing the meaningful change they have been waiting for. Photo: Melissa Cohen, daughter-in-law of Joe Biden, wearing Sethi Couture at the Inauguration. 1995 Sarah Nissen ’95 moved from San Diego to Boulder, Colorado. She has since helped her 13-year-old son start a business making organic marshmallows and hot cocoa mix as part of his “un-schooling.” They ship to Colorado: realfoodconfections.square.site

1997 In May 2020, Jennifer Chow ’97 welcomed the arrival of her daughter, Genevive. Her son Sebastian is now two years old and talking up a storm while learning new things every day. Jennifer is grateful for all the friends and family who have provided meal deliveries, sent diapers, and arranged happy hour video calls to help her husband survive having “2 under 2.” In 2021, Jennifer hopes to hold a traditional dol for Genevive. Dol (or doljanchi) is a Korean tradition celebrating one year since the birth of a new baby.

1998 Lindsay Austin Louie ’98 and family had a unique experience in 2020 — she lived abroad in Taiwan for the spring. Lindsay writes, “Ting and I have always wanted to live in Taiwan with our kids and build their connection to that part of their heritage. We planned it before we knew about the pandemic, but it turned out to be a remarkable place to be when the pandemic hit. Taiwan's government controlled the virus before it could spread and has managed to maintain that over time. As a result, the kids were able to go to school, and we were able to travel and see the whole country. Now we're back in California, but the kids say Taiwan is the first place they want to visit when leisure travel is safe again!” Photo: Lindsay and her family making xiao long bao dumplings in Taipei. 2000 María Alvarez ’00 is teaching art to 600 students at a Philadelphia public school. So far the whole year has been virtual and a challenge for both her and her students. Looking back, María is grateful for all the great art classes she took while at Castilleja.

2001 Kirstin Munro ’01 reports, “After three years as Assistant Professor of Economics at St. John's University in Queens, NY, I accepted a faculty position in feminist political economy as Assistant Professor of Politics at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. For the time being, I'm living in the Northern Catskills in upstate New York, and hope to relocate to the TexasMexico border soon.”

2003 Sydney Larson ’03 and her husband Brian welcomed their new son Bennett in August of 2020 (shown above), right on his due date. “Between giving birth in a pandemic and having an air purifier follow Bennett around the house due to the wildfires, it was an interesting start to parenthood!” They hope Bennett eventually realizes that his grandparents, aunt Evyn Larson ’08, and uncle have mouths and noses just like his parents. “We can't wait to have him meet all his Castilleja aunties and love that many of his clothes have also been worn by the kids of Karen Ring ’03, Meggie Sandman ’03, and Kara Furlong ’03.”

2004 Emily Dennis Diamond ’04 is excited to share that she has been hired as a tenuretrack Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Utah where she studies MRI signatures of traumatic brain injury. “I remain in the Bay Area, working remotely, and am always looking for students interested in the brain who want to be involved!”

Meaghan Fitzgerald ’04 moved back to Seattle, continuing work remotely for Facebook as the Head of Product Marketing for Oculus Content and Developers. Despite the need for masks and six feet of separation, she was happy to have the chance to see Debbi Kang ’04 over the holidays. Meaghan is also thrilled to share that she and her partner, Neil Goldberg, recently got engaged and are in the process of planning a small pandemic-appropriate wedding. She's always eager to hear from other Casti alums in the Pacific Northwest, interested in tech and VR, or simply to catch up, and hopes everyone is staying healthy and well.

Claudia Skieller Thomas ’04 moved from Pittsburgh, PA, to Anchorage, AK, last summer after finishing her final step of medical training, an orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship. She is now working at Joint Base ElmendorfRichardson as an active duty Air Force orthopaedic surgeon. She has been enjoying the opportunities to get outside in Alaska with her husband, Chris, and 1 year old dog, Mango. They are looking forward to long Alaska summer days!

Kate Vander Ploeg McCracken ’04 is back on the Circle! She started as a counselor at Castilleja in August 2020 and has been loving reconnecting with the campus and staff. She currently lives in San Carlos with her husband and two children (Lee, 4 years, and Symon, 1.5 years).

2005 Iris Schimandle McLeary ’05 and her husband, Lindsay, celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last June, “just the two of us, with a fancy takeout dinner.” Iris has spent the pandemic working from home, knitting a lot, and rediscovering her love of baking and preserving. Her husband works at farmer’s markets, “so I have plenty of fresh produce to experiment with.”

2006 Alex Chang-Graham ’06 graduated with her MD/PhD from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and will be starting pathology residency in the summer. Her work from her PhD was recently published as a first author paper in Science titled: Rotavirus induces intercellular calcium waves through ADP signaling.

2007 Malin Bogue ’07 finally gained permanent residency in the UK. She is currently the Director of Operations for the Conservatives' campaign for London Mayor. She hopes to one day run an American political campaign. Photo: Malin ready with her hand-drawn whiteboard map to explain U.S. Election results as they come in to the Brits. 2008 Mandy Brown ’08 graduated from Indiana University with a Masters in Public Affairs (Go Hoosiers!) and started a new job working in the City Manager’s Office for the Town of Hillsborough. Outside of work is more of the same, fulfilling the principles of civic responsibility, community activism, and personal participation in local government. She is the newest commissioner on the City of Palo Alto’s Parks and Recreation Commission and looks forward to serving her hometown.

Laura Hansen ’08 is approaching her fourth year as an English teacher at Castilleja. Every year, she asks two of her students to pen her annual update. Alister Sharp ’22 and Anusha Gupta ’22 wrote the following note, meant to be sung to the tune of Ke$ha’s hit song “TiK ToK”:

I wake up in the morning feeling inspired and ready/ Grab my tea, I'm out the door, I'm rollin’ up to Casti/ Before I leave, yoga and mindful meditation/ 'Cause when I’m back I make grammar presentations/ I'm talking East Egg, Nick and Gatsby/ Acknowledging positionality/ Couldn’t read Brontë in 2020/ I sometimes sing for the upper-school/ Those nuns definitely weren’t as cool/ As the Juniors I teach; I admit, they rule/

Now, my classes don't start 'til I walk in/ I start class while Cora naps/ I ask ‘bout everyone’s snacks/ Tik Tok, “When’s class end?”/ “Only time will tell children”/ After class, COVID swab/ Then take some time to be a blob/ Oh woah oh oh/ Oh woah oh oh/ Students texting not stop/ Nevertheless, I love my job/ Oh woah oh oh/ Oh woah oh oh/

2009 Dasha Klebaner ’09 and her husband Jon Getz welcomed their first child, Raya, on August 7, 2020. Kelly Lougheed ’09 eloped in July 2020 with her husband in Pismo Beach, CA. They livestreamed the event to their family friends. Kelly shares she was “so thrilled that my Casti friends could join in virtually!”

2010s

2010 Megan McClain Young ’10 is a new Mom! “We recently welcomed the birth of our first child, Theodore. Theo can't wait to visit his Uncle Evan at work, who is nearing his fifth year as a Castilleja employee, when it's safe to do so!”

2011 Ginna Freehling ’11 got engaged during the summer of 2020 in Yosemite overlooking half dome. She and her fiancé have since moved to Los Angeles.

Mia Taper ’11 has been working at Nickelodeon Animation Studios for the past year as a Production Coordinator after a brief stint as a Recruiting Coordinator for Nickelodeon. She just wrapped up season one of Santiago of the Seas and is working on a new animated show that will be announced later this month. Previously, she was working in the audio department for the TV show Impractical Jokers and was a Field Coordinator for the reality show Say Yes to the Dress. She’s still living in New York City and has recently adopted a Chihuahua named Chorizo.

2012 Claire O’Malley ’12 decided to transition from product designer to architect this year. “The kind that makes buildings, not software!” Claire hopes to design spaces that facilitate a healthier relationship to the environment, our collective history, and each other. She writes, “From my very beginnings as a member of Gatorbotics to a nearly five-year career as a hardware product designer, I've relied on my Castilleja foundation to engineer impactful products from breast pumps to harm reduction devices. The principles I learned in Mr. Mitchell's I&S and Ms. Shanks' design classes heavily influenced my plan to pursue a Masters in Architecture, starting this fall.” Photo: Claire O'Malley ’12, Erin O'Malley ’09, and Colleen O'Malley ’14.

2013 Ari Barzman-Grennan ’13 has been teaching from home and finishing her M.A. in Education, which focuses on active strategies for teaching Shakespeare. Photo: First day of Distance Learning for 2020–21. Hannah Hsieh ’13 got married to Danny O'Neel, her high school crush and Castilleja junior prom date! While their wedding plans were interrupted by COVID, they loved their intimate wedding in Hannah's backyard. Grace Arnold ’13 was her Maid of Honor, and Liz Babb ’82 did Hannah's makeup. After a stint in Boston where Hannah was Chief of Staff at a higher education nonprofit called The Veritas Forum, she and Danny are now back in Palo Alto as Hannah pursues an MBA/MA Education dual degree at Stanford.

Christina Jansen ’13 will be the campaign manager for Del. Betsy Carr in Virginia’s 69th state house district through June 2021 as she faces a tough primary election.

Charlotte Jones ’13 writes, “This fall I sold prints of my 35mm film photographs to raise money for Black Voters Matter, an organization focused on community-based outreach for voter mobilization. While the amount I raised paled in comparison to Michael Jordan's donation to the same group, it was wonderful to leverage a creative endeavor for the 2020 election.” View her photos at charlottejones.me/for-you Fiona Maloney-McCrystle ’13 is currently completing her final semester for her M.A. in Translation and Interpretation at The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Photo: My most-used accessory week in and week out: my remote interpreting headset.

2017 Natalie Barch ’17 has supplemented her university coursework with planning an online arts exhibition showing writing, painting, sculpture, music, and more from a variety of artists around the globe, including some Castilleja alums! “In a time where everyone is feeling isolated, this project has really opened up opportunities for global communication, allowing me to work with a programmer across the country and artists from three separate continents and four countries.”

2020s

2020 Michal Golstein ’20 has spent her gap year so far working, volunteering, and exploring the beautiful state of California. She appreciates all her close friends from Castilleja who have brought joy and goodness to her this past year. Photo: Sunset in San Francisco.