Dunn Alumni News

Dunn Alumni News AUGUST 2015

Ne Tentes Aut Perfice

RALPH LOWE DELIVERS HIS

Final Benediction

S

ocrates, widely regarded as the ugliest man in Athens, and under a thirty-day leave before he was scheduled to kill himself for the corruption of Athenian youth, was in an ox cart on the road to Piraeus, the port where he had heard peace had broken out. He loved the ancient oaks that lined the sea road. He was well aware of oak irony–gnarled, mossy and misshapen by time and Attican dust, but supported by a spine of strength that was known to tease the gods with occasional hints at immortality itself. The olive trees were very old, but fragile, hard at work building fruit and shade. There were no war ships in the bay. The Spartans were off sharpening swords and practicing their humorlessness and archery. They would, the old teacher knew, be back.

He knew too, that his senses were sharpened, because soon he would have none, but he still found giddy delight in naming BENEDICTION continued on page 2

The Class of 2015 celebrates the end of their high school careers at the May 31st commencement ceremony.

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Principal Gene Vachon, Board member Gladdys Uribe and Board President Debbie Jones listen to Ralph Lowe’s benediction.

things, watching tides and constellations. He let sand run through his fingers, exulted in the fragrance and tang of every fig and olive; he ate the great haunches of roasted goat, village tomatoes, and drank it all down with retsina.

He was always looking for an audience. He had a reserve of puns and bawdy jokes, weird conundrums, impossible questions that could only give loft to flights of fantasy, speculation and short-lived but delicious pleasure.

Soon he would climb back onto the ox cart and head into Athens, where he had fashioned the very syntax of the general conversation and had set the whole world spinning toward discourse and reason that made for a primordial soup of sophistication as in no other place at any other time. His students would greet him. They would drink deeply and wait for the hemlock that would cancel the mind of the man who invented (with a little help from his friends) teaching and inquiry that would turn the mind of the very earth on its head.

It was Socrates that lifted us from the dust in a Promethean whirlwind we should never forget. He was just too much. And he did it without electricity or phony clouds–only the great fire in the Library of Alexandria could make a real dent. Something had come to earth, out of the wind, and was here to stay when he told us that “the unexamined life was not worth living.” There was no percentage in dawdling or evading or drowning. We need solitude, courage and vigor to get to the very spine of

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ourselves. He would have you blow up your monitors, melt your games and meet all the beasts or angels head on. Little wonder they killed him.

Scrutinize, imagine, ruminate and keep your mouth shut, or share those illuminations with those who love you, those who would have you blossom and not shrink. The material is everywhere. Walt Whitman, the great American sage of things large and small, would have us consider “a leaf of grass” as evidence of some sort of divine strategy. He urged that we look closely at the ear of an infant and see all the proof we need of a greater hand, steady on course with a plan it is for each of us to discern.

“God,” said Einstein, “is in the details.”

Do this alone, when it is quiet. When there are no bells ringing or tweeters tweeting.

Recognize that “awesome” is God’s adjective and does not apply to an especially wellprepared hamburger or a song by Katy Perry.

The world would drown us in frothy images, insipid tunes and slander if not for the moments when we see the oaks for what they are to each of us. In the oak I see a place, sometimes, from which owls go to work and ravens to sleep, the misshapen, mossy shell housing muscle and sinew that is vital and tireless.

By far, most of the people in the world are good, tolerant, gracious and kind. They are trying to bring precious water home to their families from failing wells and the sides of arid mountains and not, as Hollywood would

have it, chiseled movie stars battling in postapolcalyptic zombie carnivals. Rather, it is struggle for clarity against odds more gross and cumbersome every day.

What Socrates and his togaed buddies did between the Agora and the Acropolis, in that most unlikely of towns so very long ago, was to devise a means to hold the fog and the wolf at bay. From the small and the seemingly insignificant they extrapolated the planetary, if not cosmic, ramifications of what must, could or wasn’t going to be. What, they asked, was the truth of the matter they endured when we become dust again? What survives pestilence and war? What are the verities that continue to enchant and goad us into tolerance, compassion and maybe some taste or sense of grace?

Whitman saw the simplicity and complexiy of the universe in his leaf of grass as did Buddha beneath the Bo tree, Mohammed in his cave, Jesus in the unforgiving desert and Noah on a drenched world looking for a place, like Columbus, to land. They didn’t know what it actually was, but their questions, meditations and ruminations became their own reward.

God, for billions, would take on human shape and that meant the doors of perception were properly yanked from their hinges. We could–alone in a room, a desert or a forbidding savannah–consider the history we knew and the history we, as a species, were making. The Agora moment saw the midwifery of humankind when the nobility of human thought came within reach. Homer, Shakespeare, Gandhi, Lincoln, Picasso and a list of thinkers and artists, happily very long, responded in a rainbow of languages to the seductions of genuine thought and intellectual integrity.

Socrates saw the piebald duckling become the majestic swan. Whitman watched worms take flight into ephemeral butterflies. And yes, the humble acorn becomes, in another generation or three, the mighty oak. If you can pilfer a moment amidst and despite the hullabaloo which follows this ceremony, you might sneak out here and put your far too short arms around this tree, which rises so far above and so far down at the same time.

From Director of Alumni Affairs

Tom Holmes

So much has changed in the past twenty-seven years at Dunn – so many wonderful colleagues and students who made my time at Dunn so extraordinary.

Although there are many new buildings and programs, the essence of a Dunn education has remained constant – work beside one another, form relationships, discover compassion and practice it daily, learn honesty and respect, find a passion, begin to discover who you are, prepare for the future, and be nice.

...........................

“It was an amazing journey.”

My family and I lived on campus for twenty-five years, my daughter and son both attended DMS and graduated from Dunn, they learned important values, made lifelong friends, and had experiences which would not have been afforded elsewhere – I am thankful that I had the opportunity, on a daily basis, to watch my children grow into adulthood – it went by so fast.

Thank you to those who led Dunn during my tenure – Steve Loy, Eric Ruoss, Jim Munger, and Mike Beck - and the people who I had the privilege of walking beside for more than twenty years – Ralph Lowe, Barbara and Willy Haig, Alice Berg, Leslie Vincent, and Annie Greenough special times and exceptional people. I had the incredible good fortune to be part of a team that helped Dunn to move in what I believe was a positive direction; during my time at Dunn I received so much support in both my personal and professional life and I am grateful.

It was an amazing journey and I thank all who were a part of the ride. Farewell.

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Alumni Weekend 2015 What a great weekend! The weather did not cooperate, but that did not dampen the camaraderie or the festive spirit that infused the celebration. The Friday evening reception was a great success – more than 50 people joined that party. Saturday 100 alums, spouses, and former and current faculty, attended the dinner that was hosted in the dining hall.

The Class of ’65 celebrated their 50th reunion, a momentous occasion. Hal Esbenshade traveled from New Zealand to join his former classmates (he received a recognition award for his effort and travel stamina) Doug Haserot, Dick McKee, Bill Spurgin and Chris Wesselman. We all enjoyed their remembrances of their time at Dunn. Members of the 1964 Condor League Championship Basketball Team, Hal Esbenshade ’65, Walt Hanssen ‘66, Doug Haserot ‘65, John Cooper ’64, Bill Spurgin ’65, Charlie Fairbanks ’64, Tom Staub ’64, Mort Sullivan ’64, and O.J. Beaudette ’64 returned and joined Coach Jim Hargrove for the unfurling of the commemorative championship banner in the gym – a few of the former players attempted to resurrect their glory days by launching a few three pointers!

The Class of 1975 had a solid turnout – Debbie Loucks, Winsor Orrick, Jim Geller, Steve Manning, Fariborz Nemani and Brig Merrell – returned to campus and celebrated their 40th reunion, and the class of ’05 had thirteen members return for their 10th; every decade – ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s,

Members of the 1964 Condor League championship basketball team present Coach Jim Hargrove with a signed basketball during the Friday night reception.

Alumni Board member Corey Evans ‘93 with Kristi Hundt.

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From the class of 1975: Stevens Manning, Jim Geller, Debbie Loucks, Winsor Orrick, Fariborz Memani, Brig Merrell.

Friday night at Firestone with Charlie de L’Arbre, Ben Stillman, Lina Rizzuto, Orin Cadwell, Nicole Fisher, Noah Fell, Cianna Carrillo Walker, Greg Benton and Tommy Cortez from the Class of 2005.

(left) Members of the 1964 Condor League Championship Basketball Team gather under the newly revealed banner. (above) Former faculty celebrate a reunion of their own during Alumni Weekend.

‘90s,‘00s and ‘10s had alums return and take part in the weekend.

A major highlight of the weekend was the Saturday evening dinner. Each member of the Class of ’65 spoke to the gathering, and the Alum and Young Alum of the Year were recognized. Chris Wesselman ’65 was honored as the Alum of the Year and Jeff Wang ’11 was named the Young Alum of the Year.

Also recognized was Bill Spurgin ’65, who was named Alum of the Year in 1994 but had not received his plaque – we were just a few years late presenting Bill’s award.

Many former faculty returned to campus to join the celebration, they included: Bob Jurgensen and wife Jan, Sally and Stew

Theresa Klepper ‘06 with Kelsey Sullivan ‘06 during Alumni Weekend

Thomson, Pete and Rose Knoles, Jean and Bruce “Doc” Macomber, Tom “Hank” Stanton, John Sanger, Dorothy Jardin, and Kam Jacoby.

The weekend brought together old friends, classmates, and faculty. It is always interesting to hear how the Dunn experience helped to shape the lives of those who spent their formative years on this campus. The physical plant has changed, faculty members move on and the students graduate, making for an ever changing landscape. However, the essence of Dunn School remains steadfast, developing and educating young men and women and preparing them for the challenges that lie ahead. A big THANK YOU to all who attended and had a part in making this weekend a great success. Hope to see everybody back next year.

Dunn School is extremely happy to announce that alumnae Kelsey Sullivan ‘06 was selected as the new Alumni Relations Coordinator. She attended both the middle and upper schools, was named the Young Alum of the Year in 2012, and helped fund, launch and run two successful African schools and soccer academies. Most recently, Kelsey served as Dunn School’s Athletic Director, and assisted with Alumni Weekend activities and fundraising efforts. A 2009 graduate of California Lutheran University, Kelsey brings an incredible amount of enthusiasm and positive energy to the school. Send your alumni news and updates to her at ksullivan@dunnschool.org.

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Chris Wesselman (far right) on the beach with Dick McKee and Hal Esbenshade during Alumni Weekend.

2015

Alum of the Year Young Alum of the Year

Jeff Wang speaks at a Rotman School of Commerce event at the University of Toronto.

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Chris Wesselman ’65 and Tzu-Yen (Jeff) Wang ’11 were honored as the Alum of the Year and the Young Alum of the Year during the Alumni Weekend celebration. Chris started as a boarder in 1959 as a 7th grade student when the school was the Valley Farm School. He was the first graduate to attend an Ivy League College – the University of Pennsylvania. Chris has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2010, he sits on the Alumni Relations Committee and is the Chairperson of the Strategic Plan Goal One Committee – The Model of Excellence for Student Learning and Leadership; he has also been a member of the Alumni Board since 2012. Chris has been an active alum, always willing to lend his time and expertise to any endeavor, and his attendance at Alumni Weekends ensures a fantastic photographic journal of the weekend activities. His contributions to the school have been many, and we are grateful for his involvement and ongoing support.

Jeff Wang ‘11 recently graduated from Toronto University with a degree in finance. During his time at Dunn he took the initiative to create a new program, Earwig Incorporated. Earwig Inc. is an entrepreneurial enterprise designed to take the profits from the Earwig Café, invest these profits and create permanent capital that will be used to support student scholarship; business, marketing, accounting, financial reporting, human resources, investment strategies, and philanthropy all rolled into one neat package. Jeff has continued to support this program during his college career by creating an Earwig Inc. Facebook site for our current students, researching companies that might provide investment opportunities, and conducting Skype workshops and seminars with the current members of the class. He has pledged to continue his support of this program and Dunn School as he enters the business world. We are proud and grateful to have Jeff as an active member of the Dunn School alumni family.

Congratulations to both Chris and Jeff.

Congratulations to our Newest Alums!

Paula Aduriz-Llaneza Santa Barbara City College Samantha Beckert University of California, L.A. PJ Capone The University of Alabama Shannon Carroll Willamette University Balam Castaneda Southwestern University Mario Catani Western Washington University Chris Cho Northeastern University Daine Chung George Washington University Jenna Donovan Hamilton College Miles Dowling Brown University Elena Field Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Valeria Flores Azusa Pacific University Nathan Goodman Colorado College Riley Grant Biola University Austin Hall Whittier College Jack Hartmann Elon University Chandler Hughes Austin College Preston Hughes The College of Idaho Genevieve Lawrence Willamette University

Jason Lin Boston University Joyce Lin Pennsylvania State University Nathan Linsday Gap Year Angela Ma University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Landers Mayer Bucknell University Ashley McGee Washington State University Kacie Nelson Bowdoin College Audrey Pecot Tulane University Jeremy Peters Rochester Institute of Technology Liliana Santos Reed College Savannah Seagal Rhodes College Anthony Silvino Northeastern University Jake Surrey University of Colorado at Boulder Ricky Umeda International Christian University Ed Wei New York University Hevyn Wutzke Cuesta College Teddy Xiong Maryland Institute College of Art Owen Zhang University of Washington Brittany Zhuang Boston College

Find more graduation photos at Timothy Teague Photography and on the Dunn School Flickr Page.

Another school year has been completed and a very successful year it was. It was great to see so many alums return to campus for alumni weekend, it was a fantastic gathering enjoyed by all. The end of the year festivities, Senior Chapel, Senior Luncheon, the awards ceremony, and graduation celebrated the accomplishments of the students and faculty throughout the 2014-15 academic year. Again, there was a strong turnout of alums who joined the graduation ceremony and supported their former classmates.

I hope all of you will find the time to return to campus next year for a visit or for alumni weekend in May. Please stay in touch. Best to all.

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Class Notes Class Notes Class Notes Class Notes Class Notes

Russell Ledbetter ‘82 on the Appalachian Trail

1982

The “Artful Dodger” Russell Ledbetter set out on the

2,185 mile Appalachian Trail that extends from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Katahdin, Maine. As thru-hiker #857 among about 2,000 others and given the official trail name “The Artful Dodger”, Russell looks to complete the trek in one hiking season and anticipates being finished by the first week of November. Russell was inspired to become a hiker while working as a newspaper reporter in North Carolina some years ago after hearing another person’s story about thru-hiking the entire Appalachian Trail.

Way to go Russell! To read more about Russell’s adventure, visit Alumni News on our website.

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Follow his adventure at https://instagram.com/ spynewz007/

1988

Friends David Brown and Thor Inouye ‘89 met up when Thor visited Brown Estates winery and vineyard in St. Helena, owned and operated by David and his family.

Thor Inouye ‘89 and David Brown ‘88

1998

Board member and immigration lawyer Gladdys Uribe made an appearance on La Voz de tu Ciudad in May, talking about current events in immigration.

2011

Michael Tseng sent this note: I graduated

Eric Hays started his second season as first assistant director on NCIS New Orleans.

1992

Jill McCutcheon recently

celebrated her 11th anniversary of working for Arnett Gunson Facial Reconstruction. She lives in Solvang with her 7-year-old daughter.

Gladdys Uribe ‘98

from Emory University this past winter, and I am currently working in Taiwan doing research at a biotechnology lab.

Recently, I was accepted into University of Queensland School of Medicine Ochsner Clinical School. I will begin my pre-clinicals in Brisbane, Australia then finishing up my clinicals in New Orleans, LA.

Class Notes Class Notes Class Notes Class Notes Class Notes

Tom Holmes, Anne Greenough and Ralph Lowe ‘70

The Dunn School Alumni Association concluded the 2015 school year with good momentum. This year we grew our board with the addition of four fabulous members: Jim Gaskin 71’, Kenyatta Jones 91’, Corey Evans 93’ and Jessamine McKenzie 98’. We are pleased to have such depth and breadth of talent and energy in this group. Continuing members of the association include Vice Chair Christy Davidge 98’, Chris Wesselman 65’, Ralph Lowe 70’, Arisa Wolf 92’, Gladdys Uribe 98’, Divo Denove 98’ and Whitney Holmes 05’.

The Association Board would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to Tom Holmes and Jennifer Freed for organizing and orchestrating one of the best Alumni Weekends that the school has ever had. It was great to see the growing attendance and lots of networking across the alumni generations. I also have to give a special acknowledgement to Hal Esbenshade who journeyed over 9,000 miles from Australia to join his classmates from the Class of 1965 as they celebrated their 50th reunion! It was also a special weekend as Dunn recognized the 1964 Condor League Basketball Champions under the leadership of Coach Hargrove. What a great way to start building momentum toward the school’s 60th anniversary.

Lastly, I would be totally remiss if I didn’t acknowledge a “bon voyage” to my friend and the Director of Alumni Affairs for the past several years, Tom Holmes.

Tom has decided to retire from Dunn School after 27 years of being a great educator, administrator, mentor and friend to the Dunn community. We thank Tom for his service and trust he will continue to come back and celebrate new milestones with his Dunn family for years to come as an esteemed member of Dunn Faculty Alumnus. Tom’s replacement was recently named and we would like to welcome Kelsey Sullivan 06’ as the new Alumni Relations Coordinator.

I encourage my fellow alumni to stay in touch with us. Your time, talents and resources are appreciated. Remember, Dunn is family. We would love to hear from you.

Carpe Diem!

Guy Walker

‘76

Alumni Association Board President

Guy Walker ‘76 and Pete Hill ‘68 at the Friday night reception during Alumni Weekend.

Stay up to date with other alumni. Send your news to alumni@dunnschool.org or connect at the Dunn School Alumni page on Facebook

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Class Notes Class Notes Class Notes Class Notes Class Notes RECENT COLLEGE

GRADUATES

Adam Huntley ‘99 San Francisco State Brandon Yau ‘11 U.C. Davis Connor McMorrow ‘11 University of San Francisco Corbin Meyer ‘11 College of Idaho

Adam Huntley

Gillian Saltz

Katey Gillispie

Ruthie Schorr

Gillian Saltz ‘05 Tulane University Law School Greg Miller ‘98 St. Thomas University M.A. in Special Education Janaya Reid ‘11 Mount Holyoke College

Brandon Yau

Greg Miller

Sara Sullivan

Jared Murray-Bruce ‘10 Loyola Marymount Katie Rushing ‘09 Johnson & Wales University

Kelsey Barenborg

Katey Gillispie ‘11 Hendrix College Janaya Reid

Tina Jung

Kelsey Barenborg ‘11 Cal Lutheran University Maria Zepeda ‘10 U.C. Berkeley Megan Pollock ‘02 Ph. D from Alliant International University

Connor McMorrow

Jared Murray-Bruce

Maria Zepeda

Ty Otto

Ruthie Schorr ‘11 University of North Carolina, Charlotte Sara Sullivan ‘09 Roger Williams University Tina Jung ‘11 Wesleyan University Ty Otto ‘10 Cal Lutheran University

Corbin Meyer

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Katie Rushing

Megan Pollock

Michael Bailey

Michael Bailey ‘96 Cal Poly Pomona

Class Notes Class Notes Class Notes Class Notes Class Notes Engagements, Weddings & Anniversaries

Alex Heisinger ‘03 will be sharing “I Do’s” with Teresa Donlin, a fourth grade teacher, next year. Alex owns a full real estate brokerage in Carmel.

The couple plans to get married next summer. Jonathan Mitchell ‘07 tied the knot with Kristen Rankin in June, as did Miranda Ward ‘04 who married Xander Cansell in the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford. Nearly two years after proposing along the Seine River in Paris, France, Neil Muller ‘04 married Sara Barnum in Maui, Hawaii on June 12, and Ja Young Kim ‘07 married David Kim in Del Mar, California on May 24. Meanwhile faculty members Mark & Amy Geriak celebrated the 15th anniversary of their wedding which took place under the oak at Dunn.

Visiting campus The Class of 2014 came out in force at graduation to cheer on their friends in the Class of 2015. (left) Annemarie Rice, Bruce Lai and Maggie Jiang stop by during finals week. (below left) Ayinde Crear, J.T. Neeley ‘15, Dawson Chung and Sergio Santos. (below right) Genevieve Lawrence ‘15, Georgia Arnautou, Bo Yaki, Michelle Thibodeaux, Carolyn Dorwin and Claire Connors.

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Strength in Numbers Show your Alumni Pride by giving to The Dunn Fund this year. Gifts to The Dunn Fund support financial aid, academic programs and student enrichment. Just as important, your gift is a vote of confidence in Dunn.

Please let The Dunn Fund count you as a supporter by making your gift online: www.dunnschool.org/support.

Every gift makes a difference!

Remember Dunn, Make a Lasting Difference The Anthony B. Dunn Heritage society honors generous community members who have named Dunn School in their wills or trusts, or otherwise included Dunn in their estate plans.

Your support through a planned gift helps to sustain Dunn School and our essential mission in perpetuity. Please contact Associate Head of School Aaron Dorlarque for more information: email adorlarque@dunnschool.org or call (805) 686-0628.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to these members of our Heritage Society, and invite you to consider a planned gift.

The Anthony B. Dunn Heritage Society of 1957

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Willis M. Allen, Jr. (‘64) Michael Boone (‘79) Joseph V. Costello III (‘70) William (‘80) and Jennifer DuBois (Former Employees) Edward and Joyce Engs III (P’80) Beryl Geller (P’75) Robert and JoNan LeRoy (Former Employee) Gail McGrath (P’79)

John H. Sanger (Former Employee) Sarah and Chad Stacy (P’20, Current Employee) Guy Walker (‘76, P’05) William (‘84) and Claire Wolfenden Deceased Andrew D. Orrick (P’74, P’75, GP’09, GP’14) Susan Hossfeld (P’70, P’73)