2023-2024 Dunn School Journal by Dunn School

Winter 2023/2024

FLAVORS OF ACHIEVEMENT:

Daisy Freitas Ryan ’03, Michelin Star Restaurateur

EMBRACING THE WILDERNESS

Addison Kruse ’23 Reflects on Outdoor Education

2022-2023 REPORT ON PHILANTHROPY

Editor

Mark Geriak

Editorial Team

Samantha Stalling, Joshua D. Scroggin, Jennifer Ellis

Graphic Designer An Lai

Head of School Kalyan A. Balaven

Chairman of the Board of Trustees Guy R. Walker ’76, P ’05

Associate Head of School for Curriculum & Learning Simon Sweeney

Associate Head of School for Student Life Gene Vachon

Assistant Head of School for Leadership Barbara Haig

Director of Dunn Middle School Christy Nordgren

Director of Residential Life Jillian Alekiba ’06

Chief of Staff Jennifer Freed

Advancement Office

Samantha Stalling, Mark Geriak, Jennifer Ellis

Admissions Office

Mike McKee, Amanda Milholland, Sarah Harris

Business Office

Amy Grenier, Lisa Rosenberg, Emily Garcia

Marketing & Communications Office Joshua D. Scroggin

Additional Contributors

Mike Chapman, Eric Escalante, Charlie de L’Arbre ’05 and Jaz de L’Arbre ’07, Kelsey Sullivan ’06, Alex Grenier ’24, Daisy Freitas Ryan ’03, Chad Stacy, Amy Geriak

Mission Statement

The Dunn School community educates whole students to their fullest potential in preparation for a life of learning and responsible leadership in society.

Core Values

In the Dunn School community, we as students, teachers, staff, families, and trustees are committed to understand and live by the following core values: Emotional Wellness, Physical Readiness, Intellectual Growth, Social Responsibility, Moral Courage. 2555 W. Highway 154, Los Olivos, CA 93441 (805) 688-6471 | www.dunnschool.org For those wishing to update contact information, please email alumni@dunnschool.org. Join the conversation on social media:

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In This Issue WARM GREETINGS

From Your Head of School Kalyan A. Balaven reflects on our secret sauce

From the Chair of the Board of Trustees 6 Guy R. Walker ’76, P ’05 celebrates the diverse Dunn community Seizing the DMS Day The DMS Experience

AROUND CAMPUS

A Year of Adventures Earwigs in the Wild

Pincher Pride Sports Round Up

Building Strength, Building Character The F. Stewart Thomson Fitness Center

REPORT ON PHILANTHROPY

From the Director of Alumni Relations Mark Geriak graduates to a new role

Yes, Chef! Alumna Daisy Ryan ’03 heats up the valley

Class Notes

In Memorium

11 2

24 26

44 3

The of a Dunn Educator

From the Head of School By Kalyan A. Balaven The adage "To teach is to learn" has been etched into my educational framework ever since I stumbled upon Ali ibn Abi Talib's wisdom in a timeworn Near Eastern studies text during my college days.

Just as a secret sauce imparts its essence to every dish, this principle underpins the art of education. Thus, throughout my tenure in both public and private institutions, I've maintained a classroom presence. In my inaugural year here, I had the privilege of orchestrating the US History senior seminar. Subsequently, I crafted and delivered a well-received course on the History and Philosophy of Power and Status. Presently, I'm steering a yearlong seminar on the intricate art of Speech and Debate. These roles afford me a vantage point akin to Tony Dunn's, fostering connections with students on a level distinct from other heads of school. They enable me to unearth what renders Dunn exceptional, and in my brief yet impactful stint, I've discerned the nuances of the secret sauce – here's the formula. Crafting this sauce mandates humble, unassuming ingredients. It necessitates a farm-to-table approach, instructors who embody their subjects, mentors who vividly remember the vigor of their playing days and guides who offer insights as if advising their past selves. This sauce marinates in a blend of global flavors, made possible by our unique valley haven. Our

residential program draws students from across the globe, culminating in a classroom mosaic adorned with diverse perspectives, enriching each discussion. History serves as the cauldron, simmering in spaces awakened by the luminaries of yore, exceptional pupils, and an unswerving commitment to holistic education. A commitment aimed at cultivating

a delectable dish's true magic lies in its unique ingredients, so do the profound impact of our school arise from ordinary yet resonant instances—a simmering dialogue, a leisurely stroll through our arboretum, or a collective burst of celebration. Within these authentic and tender moments, indelible connections marinate, leaving an enduring mark on both educators and learners. At the heart of our mission, the devotion to personalized teaching acts as the secret sauce that elevates education from a simple recipe to a culinary symphony.

Teaching here is not just about transferring knowledge; it's about igniting the flames of curiosity and empowering the young to become astute and empathetic thinkers who, much like expert chefs, stir the pot of positive change.

leaders who navigate an everevolving world. Beyond the conventional classroom walls, Dunn School's nurturing ambiance unfolds like a culinary masterpiece, offering our secret sauce that enhances the flavor of countless teachable moments. Our educational ethos is the recognition that learning extends beyond mere textbooks and standardized assessments. Just as

This commitment is the cornerstone of our core educational philosophy, forging Dunn School into a crucible where authentic growth simmers. Just as a master chef carefully blends ingredients to create a harmonious dish, we carefully curate each student's journey, recognizing that the moments shared between mentors and learners are akin to that secret sauce—a catalyst for transformative development. To teach IS to learn. And this is what I’ve learned from my delicious time as one of Dunn School’s teachers. 5

From the Chair of the Board of Trustees

GUY R. WALKER

As a proud Dunn 1976 graduate, the parent of a 2005 graduate, and now as the Dunn Board Chair, I can confidently say that Dunn has been an integral part of my life. The Dunn community has been a constant source of blessings, and I am grateful for the impact it has had on me. Because of my more than fifty-year affiliation with Dunn, I have gained a wealth of historical perspective that allows me to reflect on the past,

observe the present, and steward the future. I am most proud of the quality of individuals who come from our school. It is inspiring to know that Dunn's most significant accomplishment is that we help young people become good people. This is our most important continued responsibility. We are a small school that borders

a farm, a winery, a country market, and a highway, but from this campus have emerged current and future scientists, entrepreneurs, full-time artists, and many teachers who have taken up the mantle of their former educators. Throughout my decades at Dunn, I have come to realize that the high quality of people who come from our school is our greatest trait, asset, and legacy. As your board chair, I revel in celebrating the community that we have created together.

From the Student Body President

ALEX GRENIER

Since starting at DMS in the sixth grade, a large part of my identity has been defined by being part of the Dunn community. Through personal success and challenges, any worry I have experienced has been allayed by the knowledge that no matter what, there is always a community there to support me. As I enter my senior year, I arrive with the understanding that it is my responsibility to not only find my own place within the community but to ensure that others find theirs. 6

Throughout this year, I am working with my peers to build a shared Dunn identity, that includes every student, reflecting the sum total of all our individual identities. By engaging every student in the Dunn community, we build an identity that is defined by what each individual hopes to contribute, not just what they expect to receive. I aspire to a community where every student has the opportunity to shape Dunn in some way, whether it is an art student who paints a mural

of Munger Common, a writer who encapsulates campus life in a poem, or a basketball player who brings home the win for their team. My vision is of a Dunn School where any student can return, whether in one year or in fifty, and point to the tangible impact they left on our school. I’m proud to be a part of this community as we work to make this year even better than the last. Let’s get it Dunn!

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2023-2024 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

TRUSTEES

Guy R. Walker ’76, P ’05 Chair of the Board Santa Ynez, CA

Whitney Arnautou, P ’14 San Francisco, CA

Kalyan A. Balaven, P ’27 Head of School Los Olivos, CA Stephane P. de Bord ’90, P ’21 and ’23 Vice Chair San Francisco, CA Karen Anderson, P ’22 Secretary Los Altos, CA

Yong-Ling Beiman, P ’20 Pacific Grove, CA Mike Boone ’79 Laguna Beach, CA Justin Ching ’07 Santa Monica, CA Jay Conger, P ’17 and ’20 Manhattan Beach, CA

Titilola Johnson-Agiri ’04 Treasurer Los Angeles, CA

Jonathan Sutton Day ’08 Los Angeles, CA

HONORARY TRUSTEES

Steve Dini ’89 Mill Valley, CA

Wally Haas ’68 Dr. Robert Fabricant ’66, P ’00 Bill DuBois ’80 EMERITUS

Autumn Badelt-Fanning ’99, P ’28 Agoura Hills, CA Jim Gaskin ’71 Carpinteria, CA

Tim Bliss, P ’04 William Jackson ’80

Tina Grunzweig, P ’20 and ’23 Solvang, CA Jodi Pitts, P ’26 Santa Ynez, CA Morton Sullivan ’64 Mountain Ranch, CA Maria Zhang, P ’23 Los Altos Hills, CA

Above, Dunn students travel abroad to help build stronger communities and demonstrate the character and community spirit that Guy R. Walker and Alex Grenier see as the legacy of Dunn School.

ongratulations

Class of 2023

GRADUATION SPEAKS TO THE STUDENT-TEACHER CONNECTION Kudos to Head of School Kalyan A. Balaven for bringing in a very special tradition to our community.

As if there weren’t enough reasons to tear up on graduation weekend, the Class of 2023 inaugurated a new tradition. Each graduating senior asked a trusted campus adult — an advisor, teacher, coach, or mentor — to speak publicly about them as they received their diploma. Entertaining and heartwarming, these speeches impressed Dunn’s personal student-teacher connection upon all who attended. The new format was even lauded in a local newspaper, the Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Here is an example of the speech the then-Learning Strategies teacher Mark Geriak gave about Hannah Bishop, his student and advisee: A part of Hannah’s quirky sense of humor is her conversational style, peppered with words like “Anyhoo,” which is both innocent and old-timey. Talking with Hannah is like listening to a jingle: melodic, upbeat, and catchy. And you can’t wait to hear and experience it again. Earlier this year, Hannah wrote a letter from the perspective of her 77-year-old self. Here is an excerpt of it. “Right now, I am sitting by the pool at the summer house, relaxing and reflecting. We are still funky, funny, and still really dyslexic; those things will never change. My mother always said: enjoy life, take risks, and never look back…. Anyhoo, I am about to go to play pickleball.” Congratulations Hannah. Thank you for being the jingle that lifts spirits and brightens any moment.

Our graduates received 187 offers of admission to 105 different colleges and universities, and several students decided to attend the following: Princeton University Stanford University University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Santa Cruz University of Notre Dame Purdue University Columbia University California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Northeastern University 9

Dunn Middle School

MOVIN’ ON UP

Saying yes more than no is not reckless. It’s actually rooted in trust, two types of trust. The first type of trust is trust in the system and those around you. For example, when teachers say yes to changes and challenges at school, I hope it’s partly because they trust me and trust each other, but the single most important kind of trust is trust in yourself. You believe you can do it even when you don’t believe you can do it. This self- trust is what will propel you forward in life. – Christy Nordgren, Director of DMS

Dunn Middle School

SEIZING THE DMS DAY Dunn Middle School

Important Dates 2023-24 Try-athlon

September 29

El Mercado November 3

Academic Adventure December 7-13

Pancakes and Chess Day February 16

A year at DMS is a full range of experiences and outfits. Students go Country Chic at the Barn dance, don bathing suits, represent the Earwigs in their sports jerseys, show off their advisory spirit, and display their fancy fashions at Commencement.

Piece o’ Cake Bike Ride March 7

Science Fair March 13

Spring Formal April 5

Serendipity Day May 30

Commencement May 31

Duarte Carreiro Physics Teacher

Shea Sechler

Learning Strategies Teacher

Perla Navarro Lewis

Director of Learning Strategies

Sahid Conteh ’16

African Student Program Advisor

NEW FACES ON CAMPUS Please join us in welcoming these new members of our professional community.

Les Rose

Music Teacher

Erik Padilla

DMS Coordinator & Athletics

Missy Escalante Biology Teacher

Phil Eukel

English Teacher

Innovation, Imagination, Initiative, Investigation:

WELCOME TO THE DUNN SCHOOL INNOVATION CENTER Longtime educator Eric Escalante spent the summer of 2023 building Dunn’s new Innovation Center in what was formerly the library building. “I’ve been able to put all my knowledge and experience to work, and the outcome is undoubtedly a vibrant space where the kids can see their dreams come to life!” Students have the opportunity to explore the world of applied engineering in this incredibly well-equipped innovation center. Escalante has been teaching middle school students for over a decade; he knew what to expect from his DMS students. “They bring a fun energy to the table, a willingness to be goofy, a desire to learn when they’re inspired, and a yearning to be loved and respected by their community.”

However, he wasn’t sure what to expect from our high school population, having heard stories about teenage students being a bit more disconnected. “In my short time here at Dunn, I’ve gotten to know the Upper School students pretty well, and I’ve seen the exact opposite. Their desire to learn and pursue their passions is alive and well! They still bring a fun energy to the table, they’re definitely willing to be goofy once they’re comfortable with those around them, they continue to have the desire to learn when inspired, and they still yearn to be loved and respected by their community.” Looking to the future, Escalante strongly believes that the continued

growth of Dunn’s Innovation Center should be driven by student interest. Through the use of a dynamic curriculum, our high-tech equipment, and a cross-curricular approach, he hopes to help facilitate the development of a vibrant community of innovators and problem solvers whose primary focus is to help others. He explained, “In a nutshell, I want our Dunn graduates to be collaborative, innovative, empathetic Earwigs who pursue their passions.” Our Dunn community joins Escalante in his enthusiastic belief that the program will grow exponentially each year. In order to see all of this come to fruition, he also hopes to find someone outside of Dunn’s gates to partner with and help us continue to build the dream. 13

Behind the Desk and Before the Whiteboard:

ADMINS EMBRACE DUAL ROLES Dean of Equity and Inclusion Ulises Castañeda (seen above) is also a World Language teacher, while Director of Residential Life Jillian Alekiba doubles as the drama teacher.

BARBARA HAIG

GENE VACHON

First assignment of Fall 2023:

Anatomy versus Physiology — What’s the Difference?

We delve into our summer reading – Jhumpa Lahiri’s In Other Words. Advanced English 11 also does a close study of their second summer reading book – Bill Bryson’s The Mother Tongue.

Administrative Title: Assistant Head of School for Leadership Class: Anatomy & Physiology

What excites me about being in the classroom: This will be my 46th year in the classroom, and it’s just as exciting now as my first day on the job in August 1978. The challenges are the same: engage students in authentic learning, elicit respect for how our bodies work (correctly - most of the time), and provide a successful science experience for students undertaking this elective.

Administrative Title: Associate Head of School for Student Life Classes: English 11 and Advanced English 11

What excites me about being in the classroom: I have always been a teacher at my core. Since I was six years old, bringing home 1st-grade lessons to teach to my younger sister, I have always known that teaching and education are my calling. I have also enjoyed my opportunities to influence teaching and learning in my administrative roles, and I am thrilled to be able to dive deeply into both this year with my return to teaching all of the Junior English classes.

Administrators find the joy that brought them to this profession in the first place by being in the classroom.

The duties and responsibilities of a Dunn administrator can be daunting, from the overscheduled calendars filled with meeting after meeting to the remorseless rush of attending to emails, texts, and phone calls, not to mention their presence at any community gathering. However, as a part of their day, they find a place for the joy that brought them to this profession in the first place: the classroom. Each of these Dunn administrators are in the classroom every day, sharing their personal passions for topics that are dear to them.

SIMON SWEENEY

Administrative Title: Associate Head of School for Curriculum & Learning Class: Adv. Environmental Science

First assignment of Fall 2023: While the students were in Yosemite, they were assigned to catalog information about the animals and plants they observed during their backcountry trip. We used this data to analyze how ecosystems operate and investigated the interconnections between species in natural environments as well as in the larger world.

What excites me about being in the classroom: I thoroughly enjoy my time in the classroom. There is so much fascinating and important work being done in the field of environmental science that I want to share with my students. Additionally, it is exciting to explore these topics with my class as they are the ones to inherit the challenges.

KALYAN A. BALAVEN

Administrative Title: Head of School Class: Speech and Debate

First assignment of Fall 2023: “The anytime test.” The anytime test idea is that the test can occur at any time outside of the class, including during check-in at breakfast or while waiting in the lunch line. This low-stakes assessment helps students think on their feet and help them organize their thoughts rapidly in their minds. By the end of the year, you could give any of the students any topic at any time, and they could spout out a 3-5 minute speech that will be coherent and interesting for all those listening.

What excites me about being in the classroom: I love being in the classroom to witness those “aha moments.” The joy of seeing a student work through a challenging concept and then finally grasp that idea is the fruit of teaching. 15

Turning Homework Into Startups:

FOSTERING INNOVATION THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL ENTREPRENEURSHIP For over fifty years, Dunn School has been teaching business and entrepreneurship. The school’s former business managers, Bob Jurgensen, Len Kado, and Chad Stacy, have all worked with students in various club and co-curricular activities related to business. Often, a student-run café was at the heart of their programming. Last year, those fairly informal initiatives were supercharged with the financial support of Dunn School alumnus Mike Boone ’79. Mike presented the school with a multiyear, seven-figure gift in honor of his mentor and friend, Bob Jurgensen.

“This is all like an oasis in the desert of the traditional 'no connection to the real world' educational system.” - Amy Musson, parent of

“Bob was a well-loved, inspiring Matthew ’24 teacher in the 1970s who left his lucrative family grocery business in Pasadena to become a teacher and the school’s Business Manager. There are hundreds of alumni like me, I suspect, who would agree that he helped shape them in ways they still profit from to this day,” said Mike Boone.

Mike’s generous gift allowed the school to transform and re-brand the popular Earwig Incorporated class, which had been taught at Dunn for a decade, into a deep, broad business program that is now named the Robert W. Jurgensen Entrepreneurship Program. Today’s students can now engage in over 600 hours of classroom instruction in entrepreneurship, business management, investment management, philanthropy, philosophy, personal finance, and economics. All of the classes are accredited by the University of California system, and two of the courses offer concurrent enrollment in college (University of Delaware Entrepreneurship, Syracuse University - Economics).

The RWJ Program has become a favorite with students and their parents. The classes in the program fill quickly, and they score highly on parent surveys and student evaluations.

Grace P. '26 helps manage the Earwig Cafe as part of the Entrepreneurship program.

deeply passionate about has been gratifying,” explained Ironwood cofounder Alex. “Witnessing their excitement and dedication to their projects reinforces the significance of a curriculum like that of the Robert W. Jurgensen program. It’s exciting as an alumnus to see how Dunn School continues to innovate and provide the next generation of students with unique educational opportunities.” Fellow Ironwood co-founder, alumnus, and current Trustee Jonathan echoed these sentiments. “Fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in young adults is incredibly important, especially in a world where such qualities and opportunities are becoming increasingly rare,” said Jonathan.

From left to right: Jonathan Day ’08 and teacher Alex Westcott listen to student presenters Robert T. ’23, Isaak W. ’23, and Matthew M. ’23.

“INVESTORS AND PHILANTHROPISTS” Students Present their Research to Alumni Co-Founders Chad Stacy, Director of the Robert W. Jurgensen Program, aspires to connect his students with Dunn alumni through real-world projects whenever possible. Last year, students in Jurgensen’s Investors and Philanthropists course partnered with a real estate investment company, Ironwood Hospitality, founded by Jonathan Sutton Day ’08 and Alex Forster ’08. Ironwood invests in small motel properties near some of the West’s best adventure travel destinations.

The students’ project was to identify the next hotel for Ironwood to consider purchasing. They signed non-disclosure agreements, used proprietary commercial real estate software, and learned metrics critical in this industry to find options that fit with Ironwood’s guidelines. For their final assessment, the students dressed up and presented their findings to Jonathan and Alex in person. “Engaging with these enthusiastic students as they delve into their projects within an industry I’m

“It’s heartening to witness Dunn School’s dedicated commitment to nurturing this spirit, and providing a platform that empowers students to explore their innovative potential.” The Ironwood leaders, students, and Mr. Stacy declared the collaboration a success. “This program highlights the virtuous cycle of an excellent education,” reflected Mr. Stacy. “Quality education enables student success, inspires alumni gratitude, and attracts funding, which further enhances education. What could be better than that?”

If you would like to connect with the Director of the Robert W. Jurgensen Program to share some ideas or feedback or to connect your business to their program, reach out to Chad Stacy at cstacy@dunnschool.org. 17

Outdoor Education:

A YEAR OF ADVENTURES

Senior students plot out their trek while traveling through the mountains and valleys of Yosemite.

By Mike Chapman, Director of Outdoor Education

The year 2023 has already made its mark in the world of outdoor education. Record rainfall during and after the winter break filled our local lakes, streams, and rivers, producing the sound of flowing water in locations that had been dry for nearly a decade. Local flora exploded soon after, resulting in intense greenery not seen in years and spectacular super blooms. Even our very own bomb shelter, which houses the majority of our outdoor education gear, was flooded three times. Despite the incredible weather, we finished the 2022-2023 academic year with minimal impacts on our outdoor education schedule. The 6th grade traveled to San Simeon and spent a week in base camp while exploring the coast. The 8th grade traveled to Joshua Tree National Park and spent three exceptionally cold days backpacking, plus a day of rock climbing and another day conducting day hikes. Throughout the trip, students enjoyed scrambling on the extraordinary boulders that make the park so unique. The Upper School continued its tradition of offering outdoor education-themed "mini-terms," such as winter sports in June Lake, a rainy surf trip to San Diego, and backpacking and expedition kayaking in Point Reyes National Seashore. The current academic year offers an equally exciting outdoor menu to the student body. Dunn Middle School started the year with an orientation camping trip to Monterey. Soon after, the freshmen headed to Camp Whittier, near Lake Cachuma, for a week of team building through Challenge Courses (rock wall, high ropes, zip line), day hikes,

local excursions with faculty, and a short backpacking trip. That same week, the seniors traveled to Yosemite National Park to explore the pristine High Sierra backcountry with guidance from both faculty and Lasting Adventures, one of the premier backpacking and outdoor adventure organizations in the country. The 7th grade closed out the fall season with their annual trip to Pinnacles National Park for a week of day hikes, rock climbing, and caving. This coming winter, during the new Winter Term, teachers will provide three-week experiential learning opportunities to the student body, including an advanced rock climbing excursion to Tucson, Arizona, amongst other outdoor adventures. The 6th grade will then head to Leo Carillo State Park in March 2024, followed by the 8th grade heading back to Joshua Tree. The seniors will close out the spring outdoor education season with their retreat to Idyllwild for a week of hiking, recreation, rock climbing, and reflection. Outdoor Education has been a highlight of the Dunn School Experience for over four decades. It is a joy to see students learn about themselves and one another, form new bonds, strengthen existing ones, and enhance their commitment and appreciation for nature. Long live OE!

WILDERNESS

A Dunn Grad Reflects on his

Outdoor Ed Experiences

EMBRACING THE

By Addison Kruse ’23 One of the best aspects of Dunn is that you can pursue your passions. My passion is the outdoors. Dunn gave me the opportunity to follow my interests; its a school where, if you love being out in nature, there are many opportunities to experience it.

camp, and I volunteered to help. On a long day hike, some students thought they didn’t have the strength to reach the end of the hike. So I coached them all the way there because I wanted them to enjoy the gorgeous Cachuma Lake view after the heavy winter rains had replenished it.

During my senior year, I was able to accept leadership roles on four Outdoor Education trips:

A week backpacking in Yosemite. Beyond enjoying the great outdoors, I helped shepherd a small group of freshmen students deep in the backcountry alongside Director of Admissions Mike McKee, who made the trip especially fun.

Several days in Joshua Tree with Dunn Middle School 8th-graders. It was an incredibly cold trip for that time of year; we woke up each morning with our 10-gallon water jugs frozen solid. I assisted with basecamp management and rock climbing instruction, supervision, and set-up/breakdown of the climbing course. I got to shadow certified guides and see how it all works “behind the scenes” at a world-class climbing location.

Oak Valley Elementary School, a local school in Buellton, had a group of students who went to a nearby sleepover

The Idyllwild trip. Days before graduation, the senior class traveled to Idyllwild for a final week together that included day hikes, lake swimming, archery, and the last bonding moments with our class. I was also a proud member of Dunn’s Backpacking Club. While we did go on several hiking and camping trips, our backpacking club’s most important work was when we started to volunteer with the Los Padres Forest Association. We did trail maintenance work, made repairs to structures, and went on general patrols. For many weekends, we would hike to Tequepis Peak in the local Santa Barbara mountains to do our work. Later, in one of my college application letters, I wrote about those weekends working on the trails in nature that I loved so much.

I am truly grateful that Dunn provided me with these opportunities so I could gain leadership experience and fuel my passion for the outdoors.

“Whether we were offering exciting student leadership opportunities on middle school trips, indoor rock climbing sessions for the student body, trail maintenance service outings with the LPFA, or simply asking for help pumping water out of the bomb shelter after this year’s floods, this student’s response was always the same: ‘I’ll be there.’”

— Mike Chapman, OE Director in his speech awarding Addison the Randy Judycki Outdoor Education Trophy

Dunn students assisted with building a home for a Guatemalan family.

Wintertime Wanderlust:

EXPLORATION, EDUCATION, ENRICHMENT This winter, Dunn students will have the opportunity to enroll in a three-week course that offers various educational experiences, from an international trip to Sri Lanka to a multi-focused trip encompassing democracy

and internationalism. From environmental education (trips to Belize and along California’s Central Coast) to more in-depth classes (like an Ancient Metal Craft and Fabric Armor class and an art class titled Portfolio

Last year, students kayaked Point Reyes as part of a “Surf and Turf” expedition.

Members of the professional community have developed and curated experiences that are culturally immersive, travel-related, communitypartnered, course incubating, and design thinking in nature.

International Trips

Belize — Outdoor Adventures Development and the Science of Color.)

Sri Lanka — Refugee Studies

Winter Term is an experiential period beginning November 28 and ending December 15 that offers all students a chance to choose from a variety of stellar academic offerings in order to do a deep dive in learning.

Domestic Trips

Whether students stay on campus or journey across the globe, the goal is to finish the Winter Term with an in-depth understanding of a focused topic. Led by professional community members with occasional outside presenters, this program allows students to connect with something greater than themselves, either on campus or in the outside community.

Marine Biology — from Carpinteria to Monterey

Jurgensen’s Think Tank — California, Oregon, and Washington Rock Climbing — California and Arizona

Campus Courses

Ancient Metal Craft and Fabric Armor Production Creating metal works in the previous “Forged in fire” class.

Data Science Explorations The Future of Farming: Organic, Sustainable and Commercial Innovation — VEX Robotics Internships Introduction to Zymology (Fermentation) Public Art & Installations Portfolio Development and the Science of Color (art class) A Field of Dreams (building a miniature, turf soccer field on campus) Santa Ynez Valley Community Service

Traveling to Thailand to work at an elephant sanctuary was a favorite from last year.

Pincher Pride:

SPORTS ROUND-UP Winter ’22-23 Boys Soccer After a strong regular season, the boys' soccer team advanced deep into the playoffs, reaching the quarter-finals. To end the regular season, they had a string of close matches and kept on winning. They tallied over 30 goals during their season. The team found success in their international roster. Young men from around the world came together to play for the Dunn team. This year, the boys’ team finished with a 10-4-2 overall record. In the postseason awards, the following studentathletes were honored: • Offensive Player of the Year: Issac Bakwira • TCAA First Team Honors: Issac Bawira, Makoa Nabarro, Manu Duah, Aiden Jiminez • TCAA Second Team Honors: Roberto Torres, Felix De Buttet, Makani Nabarro • TCAA Honorable Mention: Oliver Vachon, Arthur Rocha, Jared Moreno

Girls Soccer Girls Soccer is in the process of rebuilding after low numbers during the pandemic. Last winter, we had more than 30 girls sign up to strap on boots and enjoy the beautiful game. The team scored double digits and are well on their way to becoming league contenders. In the postseason awards, Mae Urquidez was given second-team all-league honors, while Sophia Lawrence, Daphne Urquidez, and Margaret Watson were given all-league honorable mention honors. 24

Basketball It was a thrilling season. On campus, there was a buzz about the basketball team. In the Dunn gym, the fans’ support was deafening. The Dunn gym shook with “Pincher Pride.” For the first time since Dunn joined the TCAA League, our team won the Frontier League title with a 6-2-0 record! • Coach of the Year: Ray Vasquez • Offensive Player of the Year: Latif Diouf • TCAA First Team Honors: Latif Diouf, Aidan O'Neill, Nolan Waters • TCAA Second Team Honors: Theodore Anderson • TCAA Honorable Mention: Gael Viallobos, Seal Diouf, Anna Solem

SPRING ’23 Baseball

Tennis

The Baseball team finished the season 13-6-0 and in second place after beating out St. Bonaventure for that spot and earning a CIF postseason appearance. The team earned 84 runs while only giving up 15.

Our Tennis team finished sixth in the league this year with notable wins over St. Bonaventure and Bishop Diego. Jim Franke was awarded First Team All-League Honors after a thrilling postseason play in the league finals, helping the team to finish as the runner-up!

• TCAA First Team Honors: Theodore Andersen, Spencer Triose, Nolan Waters • TCAA Second Team Honors: Makani Nabarro, Payton Federmann, CJ Hollister • TCAA Honorable Mention: Johnny Johnson, Eli Bigelow, Aiden O’Neil

Boys Volleyball While it was a transitional year for the volleyball team, the squad is loaded with lots of young talent, with several underclassmen playing for local club teams as well. The players worked hard and displayed great sportsmanship and positive attitudes. A bright future awaits this team. • TCAA First Team Honors: Griffin Markee • TCAA Second Team Honors: Tanner Rhodes • TCAA Honorable Mention: Rhys Mason, David Li

This Spring season, other sports included Girls Lacrosse and Rowing & Swimming. Another option for students during this sports season was performing in the Spring musical, Mamma Mia! A stellar show, student actors brought the house down with their humor, musical talents, and moving performances.

BUILDING STRENGTH, BUILDING CHARACTER

The F. Stewart Thomson Fitness Center

The newly completed F. Stewart Thomson Fitness Center, located at the front of Dunn School's beloved historic gym, symbolizes a beautiful blend of tradition and progress. Originally an airplane hanger, the gym's modern addition, spearheaded by the Urquidez Building Corporation, now stands as a stateof-the-art, air-conditioned, multi-use training and fitness space. This new

facility will undoubtedly serve as a hub of physical and mental growth for both students and faculty alike. Stepping into the fitness center, visitors are greeted by an impressive trophy case, a testament to Dunn’s storied sports history. This prestigious display contains an array of trophies that highlight Dunn's achievements in various sports.

Among the prized trophies are Macomber Cross-Country, Skene Boys’ Soccer, Susie Childs Girls’ Basketball, Peter Robbins Lacrosse, and Meg Watson Perpetual Greatness Award. Notably, the trophy case also serves as the home for the Munger Cup and Isaacson Cup, which chronicle the annual soccer matches against Midland School — with Dunn usually emerging as the winner —

Leading supporters of this special project attended the dedication ceremony of the new fitness center, alongside Thomson’s children.

reminding us of Dunn’s long-standing athletic rivalries and victories. Dunn’s Athletic Director, Kelsey Sullivan ’06, aptly describes the fitness center as “a valuable addition to the Dunn community. It will provide a dedicated space for our sports teams to train and elevate their skills, leading to greater gameday glory. For our students, it will be a place to chase their fitness dreams, push their boundaries, and achieve their goals. The center will also extend its benefits to the faculty and staff, presenting an opportunity for them to prioritize their well-being and lead healthier, more balanced lives."

At Dunn, Stewart constructed a makeshift gym and was a fixture around campus doing his workouts. To read more stories and legacies of this remarkable man, see his In Memoriam article on pages 58-59.

This new fitness center will be a symbol of progress and growth, carrying forward the torch of Dunn’s rich history while embracing the promise of a brighter, healthier future.

The board of trustees voted unanimously to name the new fitness center in memory of F. Stewart Thomson, a faculty fixture at Dunn from 1968 to 1992. Physically, he was a bear of a man. As a young person, he was an elite competitor in track and field events such as the shot put, discus, and hammer throw. While at Yale, his muscular build earned him the nickname “The Yale Whale.” Remarkably, Stewart narrowly missed being named to the American Olympic team. However, he did represent America in many other international competitions. 27

Meet CFO/COO Amy Grenier:

WORKING HARD FOR DUNN

By Amy Grenier

As only the fourth CFO in Dunn’s history, it is both an honor and a tall order stepping into the role of CFO/COO. I am excited by the opportunities and challenges of wisely stewarding Dunn’s financial, human, and physical resources. While I came to Dunn only recently – in February of 2023 – I have been a part of the community as a parent since 2017. My husband Michael and I have two Earwigs, Alex ’24 and Gretchen ’26. My children were in fact the ones who sealed the deal on my acceptance of the position. My children’s pitch: “Come to our school and work hard to keep Dunn great!” That heartfelt message and, of course, the chance to be on campus with them, sold me. Prior to Dunn, I was the Director of Finance and Operations at Midland School for almost four years where I led and managed all areas of the business office in addition to operations. Earlier in my career, I spent over ten years in senior positions in institutional asset management. Before attending business school, I worked in investment banking in New York. I am both a proud Quaker and a proud Bruin, having earned my B.S. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and my 28

“Keeping Dunn great” means ensuring the same experience for current and future generations of Dunn students and families. M.B.A. from the Anderson School at UCLA. Now, I am also a proud Earwig! So, what does “working hard to keep Dunn great” mean to me? My husband and I chose Dunn because we are fervent believers in independent school education. We have stayed at Dunn because of what it has given our children — selfconfidence to take risks, cultivation of voice and advocacy, and a supportive and engaged community. We have also stayed because of the strong partnership we’ve developed with Dunn in our children’s education. “Keeping Dunn great” means ensuring the same experience for current and future generations of Dunn students and families. It means ensuring Dunn has the financial

means to grow and expand in areas like entrepreneurship, the arts, and innovation. It means ensuring we can attract excellent faculty through professional development, competitive compensation, and quality housing. It means renovating and rebuilding campus buildings and infrastructure to meet the needs of our programs both inside and outside the classroom. Last but not least, it means personally contributing to Dunn through the Annual Fund, Gala, and more. Dunn’s future — like the students I see on campus each and every day – is bright and inspiring. I relish the role I play in securing that future while preserving the legacy of Dunn’s past. I hope you too will join me in supporting Dunn School.

REPORT ON PHILANTHROPY 2022-2023

Table of Contents From the Director of Advancement

Gifts of Time, Talent, and Treasure

Ways to Support

Thank you to our Generous Donors

Endowed Gifts

From the Director of

ADVANCEMENT Dear Dunn School Community, I am delighted to present to you our 2022-2023 Report on Philanthropy, which encapsulates a remarkable year of growth, gratitude, and giving that has had a profound impact on our school's mission and programs. Over the past year, we have not only met but surpassed our fundraising goals, a testament to the unwavering commitment and generosity of our community. It is heartening to witness how our collective efforts have elevated our institution to new heights. In the pages that follow, we celebrate hundreds of supporters and honor your collective benevolence and unparalleled dedication to our students. We saw a significant increase in current family and alumni giving participation, highlighting the enduring bonds and shared dedication that unite us all. I look forward to seeing this participation continue to grow!

Together, with your remarkable support, we have continued to enhance and strengthen various aspects of Dunn School life. From bolstering our arts programs, including music and theater, to nurturing our athletic endeavors and enriching outdoor education, your contributions have also enabled us to provide exceptional academic opportunities and excel in our mission. The following pages, our Report on Philanthropy, not only reflects our collective achievements but 30

also serves as an expression of our gratitude. We extend our deepest appreciation to each member of our community for your continued support and commitment to Dunn School. Together, we are shaping a future brimming with limitless possibilities for our students. With gratitude,

Samantha Jessup Stalling

Operating Revenues 2022-2023 Total Income $15.3 million Tuition & Fees

$11.01MM

Philanthropy

$1.96MM

Endowments & Investments

$1.03MM

Government Grants

$0.85MM

Summer & Misc

$0.47MM

� � 3%

13%

72%

Operating Expenses 2022-2023 Total Expenses $15.2 million Salaries & Benefits

$6.19MM

Tuition Assistance

$3.91MM

Plant Management & Food Operations

$2.43MM

Technology, Admin & Misc

$1.08MM

Academic, Athletic & Activities

$0.87MM

Admissions & Marketing

$0.31MM

Advancement

$0.23MM

Property & Liability Insurance

$0.18MM

� � � � 1%

41%

16%

26%

Please note that these figures have not yet been audited.

The Student Body Average Class Size is 12 Students Student to faculty ratio 5:1

Total Students: 224

170 at Upper School

Middle School

54 at Middle School

Upper School

International Students – 21% Students with Tuition Assistance – 51%

(6-12)

More than ⅓ of Upper School students started at the Middle School 31 31

nationalities represented in our student body.

51%

students receive tuition assistance. This is equal to $4.6million awarded through financial aid and tuition remission.

Thanks to all who support the Dunn School Annual Fund, these opportunities and many more are available to our students. Your participation and generosity makes all this possible. On behalf of every student and professional community member, Thank You.

new courses added to the current year’s curriculum, including Intro to Engineering, Advanced Government, and Refugee Literature.

student actors graced the stage of the Nancy Luton Jackson Barn in 2022-2023, including 9 DMS students who performed in Disney’s Descendants: The Musical, and 17 DMS students who managed and created the set design for this show.

$1M

Over invested in our campus with more than 35 facilities projects including faculty home improvements, the new fitness center, and DMS classroom refurbishments.

187

105

The Class of 2023 received offers of admission from different colleges, including Berklee College of Music, Northeastern University, Stanford University, and University of Washington in St. Louis.

223

athletes played on 28 teams in grades 6-12 in 2022-2023, including the Varsity Boys Soccer team who made it to CIF Quarterfinals, and the Varsity Basketball team who won the Frontier League.

experiential trips in 2022-2023, including 23 Outdoor Education trips to the Channel Islands, Southern Sierra Nevada, Yosemite backcountry, Joshua Tree, Pinnacles, and Big Sur.

WAYS TO

The generous support we receive from families, trustees, alumni, professional community members, and friends honors our school’s 65-year heritage, and is a critically important investment in Dunn’s future.

When we exceed our philanthropic budget obligation of 22%, we then have the flexibility to not only meet the “needs” of our school, but also some of the “wants,” giving Dunn the opportunity to go from good to great in the current school year. For 2023-2024, we have a budgeted goal of $2.4M in philanthropic giving to the Annual Fund. Giving to the Annual Fund is an efficient and beneficial way to help with both critical operational costs and enhancing new and exciting opportunities for our students.

When considering a gift to the Annual Fund, we encourage you to refer to these potential designation areas, bearing in mind that an unrestricted gift has the capacity to go the furthest.

upport GREATEST NEED

(Unrestricted Annual Fund)

providing crucial flexibility for sudden needs and immediate priorities.

TUITION ASSISTANCE ensuring that family income is never a barrier to a Dunn School education.

FACULTY EXCELLENCE supporting professional development, compensation, and accommodation.

ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMS educating whole students to their fullest potential.

ATHLETIC PROGRAMS supporting the school’s sports teams and facilities.

THANK YOU! HEAD OF SCHOOL CIRCLE $100,000 OR MORE Mike Boone ’79 Kimberly Branagh, P ’21 Stephane P. de Bord ’90, P ’21 and ’23 Robert A. Day, P ’08 * Janice and Julian Gangolli, P ’27 Eric Roberts ’89 Anonymous Maria Zhang, P ’23

CHANGE MAKER $50,000-$99,999 Randy Clark ’71 Steve and Mary Gorski, P ’23 Kristin and E.G. Morse, P ’24 Wendy Shepherd ’73 Sandy and Vince Sullivan, P ’06 and ’09 Lara and Ike Zekaria, P ’27 and ’27

VISIONARY $25,000-$49,999 Virginia and Timothy Bliss, P’ 04 Jonathan Day ’08 Alice Gillaroo and Susan Jorgensen Mary Grant and Douglas Harvey David Jackson Douglas Otto, P ’10

CHAMPION $10,000-$24,999 Leslie and Steven Carlson, G ’26 Erin and William Coulter, P ’27 and ’29 Li Chen and Qiang Zheng, P ’23 Lisa Dini and Stephen Dini ’89 Amy and Michael Grenier, P ’24 and ’26 Tina and Jonathan Grunzweig, P ’20 and ’23 Mary and C.J. Jackson, P ’06 Russell Ledbetter ’82 Kelsey Sullivan ’06 Heather and Marc Venegas, P ’26

AMBASSADOR $5,000-$9,999 Whitney and Philip Arnautou, P ’14 Lisa and Barry Beer Yong-Ling and Irving Beiman, P ’20 Cindi and William Bone, P ’85, ’86, and ’90 Alison and Marc Chaput, P ’23 Sara and William Cumbelich, P ’23 Scott Goodman ’12 Alexander A. Gupta ’05 Elizabeth Hastings ’72 and Newlin Hastings Tricia and Paul Heald, P ’24 Ingrid Jackson and William Jackson ’80, P ’14 Audra Johnson and Seth Shomes, P ’26 and ’28 Electra and Peter Lang, P ’22 Janet and Barry Lang Kristine and Robert Muller, P ’04 Rebecca and Jonathan Neeley, P ’09 and ’15 Lisa and Scott Ramsey, P ’30 Mia and David Renaud, P ’27 Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Brook Harvey and William Taylor, P ’28 Anne Thacher and Bruce Thacher ’73 Laura and Chris Urquidez, P ’23 and ’24 Molly Walker and Guy R. Walker ’76, P ’05

1957 FOUNDER $1,957-$4,999 Bill Allen ’64 Karen and Patrick Anderson, P ’22 Anonymous Anonymous Autumn Badelt-Fanning ’99 and Steven Badelt, P ’28 CohnReznick LLP Nadege and Jay A. Conger, P ’17 and ’20 Christine Cronin-Hurst and Mark Hurst, P ’25

Fatemeh Farahmandfar and Kalyan A. Balaven, P ’27 Flik Independent School Dining Flintridge Preparatory School Chris Gaskin and James Gaskin ’71 Cathy and Geoffrey Graber, P ’27 and ’28 Susan Holland and David Foote, P ’24 and ’25 Thomas Gomez, P ’29 Palmer Hughes ’71 Delinah and Gregg Hurwitz, P ’23 Bill Jason ’74 Julie and Matt Leonard, P ’28 Kathleen and David Marshall, P ’18 and ’21 Erica and Brian McLoughlin, P ’25 Lucia and Johannes Overgaag, P ’89 Grace Pacheco, P ’02 Jodi and Sean Pitts, P ’26 Kathleen and Jeff Sieck, P ’28 Kate and Richard Stirling, P ’26 Sally and Nicholas Thacher Shannyn Tupper and Ray Kahn, P ’18 and ’27 Richard J. Wiles-Arnott ’16 Maria and Erik Winn, P ’24 and ’27 Logan Worchell ’08

Charles Fairbanks ’64 Jose Farias Stephanie and Brian Federmann, P ’24 and ’26 Michael Gordon Aine Hanly and Mark Murnin, P ’26 Casey Harris Jacqueline and Jordan Kruse, P ’23 Christine Lee and Stuart Levy, P ’23 Kristen and Mike Liyeos, P ’26 Yichun Lu and Yan Sun, P ’24 Nicole Ornelaz LynDee and Ross Rankin, P ’99 and ’01 Trina Reddall ’98 Charity and Arlex Rovelo, P ’28 Gina and Jonathan Rudnick, P ’26 Jeffrey Shannon ’61 Victoria Shannon Hughes ’63 Kara and Fred Smith, P ’25 William Spurgin ’65 Morton Sullivan ’64 Vicki and Gene Vachon, P ’24 Sonora Vasquez and Ruben Gonzalez, P ’26 Wealth Management Strategies, Inc. John Welisch ’76

ADVOCATE $1,000-$1,956

EARWIG UP TO $499

Jennifer Aft and David Kokorowski, P ’25 and ’27 Anonymous Atwave, LLC Nickolas Blankenship Bolton & Company Michelle Curtin, P ’18, ’19, ’27 Day After Day Productions Lauri and Barry DeLaczay, P ’23 Val Edmondson and Roberto Bolaños Carol Ann and Timothy Elwell, P ’24 Hayley Firestone ’77 Mike Griffiths, P ’27 Barbara and William Haig, P ’02 and ’06 Carole Harder Sarah Harris-Hunt and Matthew Hunt, P ’28 and ’29 Mary Heyden and David Anderson, P ’25 Debbie and Randy Jones, P ’09, ’11, and ’14 Christine and Evan Lash Neil MacDonald ’69 Alex Moore ’10 Jackie Pace and Oscar Reyes, P ’28 and ’30 Thomas Parker Abbas Rana Elizabeth and Dan Reeves, P ’96 Kathleen and Charlie Schaffer, P ’27 Daniel Smith Phoebe Smith and James Dingman, P ’28 Sarah and Chad Stacy, P ’20, ’22, ’24, and ’27 Lauren and Simon Sweeney Shirley Tse and Robert Fong, P ’26 Eva Van Prooyen and Kenneth Kahn Sharon Williams, P ’23 Alexandria Wilson and Gary Thorne, P ’28 Elizabeth and Charles Witt, P ’27

Jesse Aceves ’76 Daniel Alekiba Judith Alex and Peter Vestal, P ’19 Kellyn Allavie Heather Anastasia Morgan Anderson ’22 Jessie Ang Anonymous Jeremy Anticouni Albert Arroyo Camille A. ’25 Mara Ballmer Robert Bassett C.C. Beaudette Wellman ’77 Patricia Rejmaniak, P ’23 Eli B. ’23 John Billig ’64 Alexander B. ’26 Ruth and Sasha Bissell, P ’26 Mariko Braswell and Frank Troise, P ’23 Michelle Bone ’90 and Richard Smalldon, P ’15 and ’26 Jim Buggy Wendy Caesar Raul Campos Teri Sanderson and Hugh Carpenter ’66 Zoe Carter ’05 Alley and Mike Chapman Justin Ching ’07 Arthur C. R. ’24 Phillip Coates ’83 Blake Colburn ’80 Melissa Coyner ’79 Divo (Martin) Dahlberg ’98 Don Daves-Rougeaux Paul D. ’23 The Delgado Family Sanjev deSilva Terri Devine Daniel Dix Wylie Drummond ’67 LynnRae Dunn, P ’23 Leanne and Ryan Elliott, P ’26 and ’28 Jennifer Ellis P ’21 and ’24 Corey Evans ’93 Carlee Fernandez and David Lovering, P ’27 Lupita Flores Mike Franke Jennifer Freed, P ’25 and ’28

PARTNER $500-$999 Allie and Ken Andersen, P ’14 and ’22 Tracy Angel and Rudy Alvaro, P ’17, ’20, and ’25 Helena and Cris Avery Cynthia and Michael Bigelow, P ’23 Linda Burrows ColdWater Partners Consulting Dietitian Richard Copeland ’63 Dean Davidge ’61 and P ’98 Randall Day Annemarie and Alioune Diouf, P ’24 and ’25 Lockwood Eddy ’67

* deceased

Kadence F. ’25 Herbert Friedman ’72 Emily Garcia Maria and Ramiro Garcia Esron Gates, P ’28 Mark Geriak, P ’21 Gigi Gervacio Jim Golden ’73 Arlene and Gil Griffin Adrienne Grant and Paul Jennings, P ’26 Jillian Haig ’06 Genevieve Herrick and Jacob Grant ’93, P ’27 Pamayah H. ’25 Peter Hill ’68 Sydney H. ’24 Gigi and Kenneth Hollister, P ’24 Lowen H. ’23 Stephanie Holthaus ’85, P ’21 and ’23 Robert Hunter ’62 Paula and James Horvath, P ’26 Liz Huszarik Titilola Johnson-Agiri ’04 Elizabeth Jones and Greg Jones ’79 Mihoko and Barry Jones, P ’24 and ’27 Lynn Jurgensen ’76 Richard Katz, ’73 Andrew and Monika Keeley, P ’28 Carsten Lacerte ’13 Robyn Laguette Anne and David Lawrence, P ’14, ’17, ’19, ’23 Leonard Custom Works Pihla L. ’25 Ava L. ’26 Lacey Lieberthal ’09 Amy Locken Paulson ’90 Tracy and Cary Losson, P ’25 Gwyn Lurie and Les Firestein Jared Madden Richard Maure ’67 Heather and David Mason, P ’25 Eleanor and Mark Mascheroni, P ’13 Beth and David McCoy Christine and Michael McKee, P ’26 Fallon M. ’26 Richard McKee ’65 John Merrell ’75 Keri and Ryan Metzger, P ’24 and ’27 Ephthalia Michael-Schwarzinger Amanda Milholland Joanna Monard Sarah Moore, P ’23 Lily M. ’24 Victoria and Ky Mortensen, P ’25 Amy and Michael Musson, P ’24 Makani N. ’23 Daniela Najera-Wollerton

Did you know?

You can now easily donate to Dunn via Venmo — @earwignation

Nancy Navarro and Joseph Fink, P ’24 Fariborz Nemani ’75 Christy and Kirk Nordgren Suzanne and Wulfrin Oberlin, P ’99 Roxane Olsen-Markee, P ’22 and ’25 Lisa and Phil O’Neill, P ’23 Melissa Ordonez Lila and John Ormond, P ’27 Robert Perez Jill Pettley Schafer ’77 John Pettley ’72 Gina Plastino Marguerite and Christopher Polos, P ’26 Theodore P. ’26 Grace P. ’26 Sophia Quay-de la Vallee Kira and Justin Redmond Tanner R. ’25 Charlotte Riegert, P ’29 Regina Risi, P ’23 Victoria Riskin Josh Roberts Gena and Brian Robinson, P ’26 Lisa and Mark Rosenberg Stephanie Roven, P ’03 and ’06 Alejandra Santos and Ulises Castaneda, P ’15 Larry Schwartz Samantha and JD Scroggin Jenn and Marcelino Sepulveda, P ’27 Kayla S. ’26 Christine and Brad Sicoff Joseph Sinclair Anna S. ’24 Max S. ’23 Elizabeth Spencer Andrea Speraw ’77 Samantha and Robert Stalling Janet Starr and Allan Starr ’64 Alexis and Justin Starting, P ’25 and ’29 Patsy and Robert Stecher, P ’83 Leah Tiethof Julianne and Zachary Tullis-Thompson, P ’22 and ’29 Daphne U. ’24 Bree and Chad Valla, P ’24 and ’27 Paige and Ray Vazquez Beth Vidakovits and Richard Denman, P ’26 Village Veterinary Clinic Leslie and Nick Vincent, P ’04, ’06, and ’12 Kate and Dion Von Der Lieth, P ’26 Nolan W. ’23 Margaret and Jim Watson, P ’26, ’29 Chris Wesselman ’65 Meg West Wildflower Women Alicia Wilson ’01 Nancy and Matt Yaki, P ’14 Reiner Z. ’23 Tony Z. ’23 Mary Zekaria Christina Zimmerman ’08 Gillian Zucker

FOUNDATIONS Amazon Smile American Endowment Foundation Charities Aid Foundation America Coulter Family Charitable Fund Cronin Hurst Family Foundation Jason Family Foundation Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles John Jay Hopkins Foundation New York Life Foundation Page & Otto Marx, Jr. Foundation PayPal Giving

Santa Barbara Foundation Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Schwab Charitable The Ann Jackson Family Foundation The Eric and Lulu Roberts Family Foundation The Mae Family Foundation The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust The Thornton Foundation W.M. Keck Foundation Whale Beach Foundation Zegar Family Foundation

ANTHONY B. DUNN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF 1957 MEMBERS (PLANNED GIVING) Bill Allen ’64 Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Mike Boone ’79 Steven Breeze ’61 Hugh Carpenter ’66 Joseph Costello III ’70 Jennifer DuBois and William DuBois ’80, P ’25 Edward and Joyce Engs III, P ’80 Beryl Geller, P ’75 Russell Ledbetter ’82 Robert and JoNan LeRoy Gail McGrath, P ’79 John Sanger Sarah and Chad Stacy, P ’20, ’22, ’24 and ’27 Guy R. Walker ’76, P ’05 William and Claire Wolfenden Family Trust ’84

ENDOWMENT DONORS 2023 Senior Class Gift Anonymous Jason Family Foundation Kristine and Robert Muller, P ’04 Larry Schwartz Lucia and Johannes Overgaag, P ’89 Mary and Steven Gorski Page & Otto Marx, Jr. Foundation Virginia and Timothy Bliss

2023 SENIOR CLASS GIFT Gray A. ’23 John C. ’23 Danika D. ’23 Paul D. ’23 Alex G. ’23 Bernie G. ’23 Lowen H. ’23 Willa L. ’23 Aidan O. ’23 Samuel R. ’23 Lulu S. ’23 Claire T. ’23 Mae U. ’23 Jessica X. ’23 Reiner Z. ’23 Tony Z. ’23 Lauri DeLaczay Mark Geriak Jillian Haig The Janes Family Robyn Liotta Amanda Milholland JD Scroggin Chad Stacy Samantha Stalling Gene Vachon Alex Wescott

THANK YOU! IN KIND DONATIONS Victor Aguilera Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center Allie and Ken Andersen Andrew Murray Vineyards & Tasting Room Anonymous Armitas Equine Veterinary Service Art Spot on Wheels Beckmen Vineyards Bell’s Bilancia Blair Fox Cellars Bob’s Wellbread Kimberly Branagh and Stephane de Bord Brothers Restaurant at the Red Barn Cailloux Cheese Shop California Tacos Carr Winery Coast Range & Vaquero Bar Coastline Academy Crown Point Vineyards Giorgio Curti Jonathan Day Terri Devine Stephen Dini Dylan Diehl Hayley Firestone and Dennis Patrick Firestone Walker Brewing Company Dunn Middle School Students Dunn Upper School Students Ellie’s Tap and Vine El Rancho Marketplace Fatemeh Farahmandfar and Kalyan A. Balaven Firefly Pottery Fidencio Flores Forage Florals ForFriends Inn & Village Janice and Julian Gangolli Esron Gates Steven Gebhardt Global Gardens Cathy and Geoffrey Graber Tina Grunzweig Happy Canyon Vineyard Tricia Heald Charles Healey Michael Hecker Orel Hershiser Gigi and Kenneth Hollister Home Connection Hotel Ynez Industrial Eats Angela and Stephen Janes Kaena Wine Co. Renee Kelleher Jacqueline and Jordan Kruse Brenda Kyle and Jim Hedges Anne and David Lawrence Leonardo’s Los Angeles Dodgers Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe LOU Los Olivos Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards M. Special Brewery Co. Genevieve Mancuso Margerum Megan McGrath-Gates Lyanne Melendez and Simon Spark Melville Winery Ingrid Maria Michels Jordan Moon Alecia Moore Hart and Carey Hart Naturally Healing Haircuts Nella Kitchen Nielsen Building Materials

Old Danish Fudge Kitchen Old Pueblo Cafe and Pub Lisa and Phil O’Neill Peasants Feast Jodi and Sean Pitts Regina Risi Rafa Ruiz Art Ranch-N-Back Roblar Winery and Farm Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Rudy’s Mexican Restaurant Ruff Ranch San Se Wines Santa Barbara Adventure Company Santa Barbara Zoo Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Santa Ynez Inn Alejandra Santos Seth Shomes Shimmer Bands Skyview Los Alamos Michelle Snyder Curtin Solvang Frame Solvang Knives Etc. Solvang Theaterfest Star Lane Vineyard Stolpman Vineyards, LLC Storm Wines Tales from the Tavern Talley Farms Brook and Billy Taylor Tensley Wines Teori Aesthetics Medical & Day Spa Tercero Wines & Tasting Room Terre et Sang The Bakery Farmstand The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern Gary Thorne Timeless Beauty Aesthetics Shannyn Tupper Vega Vineyard and Farm Viking Laser Design Guy R. Walker Meg Watson Alex Westcott Wildflower Women Michael Wood Zaca Coffee Lara and Ike Zekaria Christina Zimmerman Gillian Zucker

VOLUNTEERS Jennifer Aft and David Kokorowski Jim Buggy Dania Carrasco and Peter Stephenson Laura and Brian Cogan Erin and William Coulter Jeanette and Nicholas de Luca Phoebe Smith and James Dingman Julie and Brian Dunstan Leanne and Ryan Elliott Carol Ann Elwell Fatemeh Farahmandfar and Kalyan A. Balaven

Stephanie and Brian Federmann Jennifer Freed Emily Garcia Esron Gates Janice and Julian Gangolli Amy and Mark Geriak Cathy and Geoff Graber Kate Greer Arlene Griffin Amy and Michael Grenier Tina and Jonathan Grunzweig Barbara Haig Jiillian Haig Sarah Harris-Hunt and Matthew Hunt Brook Harvey and William Taylor Trish Hecker Genevive Herrick and Jacob Grant Gigi and Kenny Hollister Paula and James Horvath Mihoko and Barry Jones Andrew and Monika Keeley Deanna and Christopher King Jackie Kruse Julie and Matt Leonard Tracy Losson Jenele and Phil Martin Megan McGrath Gates Christine and Mike McKee Sarah Moore Alecia Moore Hart and Carey Hart Tori Mortensen Amy Musson Christy Nordgren Lila and John Ormond Jackie Pace and Oscar Reyes Jodi and Sean Pitts Elizabeth Poett Campbell and Austin Campbell Peggy Polos Gina Reinschild Mia and David Renaud Charlotte Riegert Chrarity and Arlex Rovelo Meg and Christopher Rydman Kathleen and Charlie Schaffer JD Scroggin Jenn and Marcelino Sepulveda Audra and Seth Shomes Michelle Snyder Curtin Sarah and Chad Stacy Alexis and Justin Starting Kelsey Sullivan Simon Sweeney Shannyn Tupper and Ray Kahn Vicki and Gene Vachon Bree and Chad Valla Sonora Vasquez and Ruben Gonzalez Meg and Jim Watson Meg West Tracy and Alex Westcott Alex Wilson and Gary Thorne Elizabeth and Charles Witt Matt Yaki Lara and Ike Zekaria Christina Zimmerman

Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of donor lists, occasional errors and omissions do occur. Please let our Advancement Office know of any errors or omissions by contacting us at advancement@dunnschool.org.

Endowed Thanks to the generosity of dedicated alumni, parents, and other supporters, Dunn School is fortunate to have an endowment that is managed effectively for long-term sustainability. Contributions to an endowment fund are considered major gifts

GIFTS

and contribute to the solid financial foundation of the school.

The interest produced either helps fund a portion of the school’s operations, or funds a specific purpose, program, or scholarship at the behest of the donor.

If you are interested in contributing to any of Dunn School’s existing endowed funds or if you would like to set up a new endowment, please contact our Advancement Office at advancement@dunnschool.org.

Class of 2023 Senior Class Gift As their final high school trimester started to wrap up, the Class of 2023 met with the Advancement and Alumni Relations team to start discussions about leaving their legacy at Dunn. Previous senior classes have donated gifts such as water fountains, trees, benches, murals, A/V equipment, as well as financial contributions. During one seminar, the Class of 2023 broke into groups and brainstormed gift ideas — new parking area, an outdoor classroom, a donation toward general facilities improvements, alumni hall of fame, and more. 38

They voted and landed on raising funds for a class gift to the endowment, specifically for tuition assistance. Together, the senior class raised a total of $3,579 for their Senior Class Gift, far surpassing their goal of $2,023, suggested in honor of their class year. And now, the Class of 2023 has firmly established their legacy, and one that will forever positively impact generations of Dunn School students.

Current Endowment Funds: The market value shown for each fund reflects the cash value as of June 30, 2023 and does not include current pledges. Donors who gave in the 2022-23 fiscal year are listed below each fund description.

Earwig Foundation Fund $329,538 Created by students in the school’s entrepreneurship program, this fund is a student-managed account which invests net income from the student café. When the fund reaches the $1 million mark it will be allocated to student scholarship.

General Endowment Fund $719,783 Established in 1989 by George and Leanne Roberts, P ’89, this endowment supports ongoing operating costs associated with curriculum and programs, athletics, technology, repairs, maintenance and operations.  Anonymous  Jason Family Foundation  Larry Schwartz

George and Leanne Roberts Scholarship Fund $1,242,182 Established in 1975, and bolstered significantly by a $350,000 gift by George and Leanne Roberts in 1988, this endowment provides tuition assistance and ensures that future students will have an opportunity to attend Dunn School.  Class of 2023 Senior Gift

Jackson & Luton Family Faculty Fund $463,296 Provides professional development funds for faculty to attend teaching conferences and workshops, so that Dunn School teachers continue classroom excellence.

Mike Beck Chair of Responsible Leadership

Roberts Family Leadership Fund

$418,763

$885,102

This fund endows a Director position to ensure that leadership is a core and intentional part of Dunn School's curriculum.

Initiated in 2014, this endowment fund supports any and all expenses related to the School's leadership program.

 Virginia and Timothy Bliss

Rowland & Sullivan Family African Scholarship

Nancy Roome Endowment for Learning Skills

$3,280,177

$186,296 This fund was established in 2003 with gifts from students, parents, alumni, parents of alumni, faculty, trustees, and friends of Dunn School to honor the commitment and contributions made by Kristine and Robert Muller during her career at Dunn School. The fund supports tuition assistance for Learning Strategies students, professional development and salaries of the Learning Strategies faculty, and outreach to other schools and educators.  Kristine and Robert Muller

Provides scholarship dollars for tuition, room, meals, and living expenses for deserving African students.

The Nancy Ortiz Scholarship Endowment for Learning Strategies $31,835 Established in 2013 in honor of Nancy Ortiz, a teacher at Dunn School for 21 years, this endowment fund provides tuition assistance for students that qualify for the Learning Strategies Program and whose families qualify for financial aid.  Mary and Steven Gorski

Paul Overgaag Memorial Fund Merit Scholarship $496,164 The fund was established on May 11, 2005 by Eric Roberts ’89, Stephane de Bord ’89, and Lucia Overgaag P ’89 in memory of Paul Overgaag ’89 to keep Paul's influence and memory alive at Dunn School. The fund makes awards in two areas that were important to Paul and his friends: The Dunn School Spelling Bee and support toward Dunn School boarding scholarship.  Lucia and Johannes Overgaag

The Page and Otto Marx Endowment Fund $668,538 The Page and Otto Marx, Jr. Foundation established this permanently restricted endowment fund in 2008 to provide scholarship funds for American minority students whose parents express their own interest in their children's education by providing a portion of the tuition expense themselves. This foundation's $20,000 annual gift is contingent upon an annual matching challenge.  Page & Otto Marx, Jr. Foundation 39

WHAT IS POSSIBLE 2023 Spring Auction & Gala

Our annual Auction & Gala festivities fell on March 17, 2023, and the luck of St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t the only thing we felt as we celebrated. This year’s gala broke records, raising a whopping total of $414,389, which is $93K+ more than last year’s event. We are so grateful to our team of dedicated volunteers, professional community members, board of trustees, and great vendors who contributed to a stunning night for our school. And extra gratitude and appreciation to all those who joined in and supported such a phenomenal event — you all made it possible!

ALUMNI NEWS Table of Contents

New Director of Alumni Relations

Yes Chef: Daisy Ryan ’03

A Dunn Wedding

LA Alumni Gathering

Alumni Accomplishments

Class Notes

In Memoriam

Then and Now

This Learning Strategies Teacher Graduates to Director of

ALUMNI RELATIONS By Mark Geriak

My transition from teaching to the role of Director of Alumni Relations is an exciting new chapter in my Dunn career. With 24 years of experience in Dunn’s Learning Strategies Department, coaching soccer, volleyball, and pickleball, and participating in all that the boarding program encompasses, I have a strong grasp of the institution’s identity, history, and stories. Yet, the alumni position allows me the opportunity to delve into the school’s unexplored narratives and gain a deeper appreciation for the rich history that has shaped the school into what it is today. In the years to come, my goal is to strengthen the connections between the school and its vast alumni community. Alumni play a crucial role in the school’s legacy, which is essential for the school’s continued growth and success. I hope to continue the sense of belonging, pride, and ongoing involvement in the school’s journey. I’ll be forever grateful for the experience that I had as a Learning Strategies teacher. For all those

years of being an academic tutor, I've received one heck of an education. I've read and annotated hundreds of novels and history textbooks. I've been able to retain a functional level of Spanish. As far as math and science, I have grown to appreciate the giant logic puzzles that they are. Furthermore, when I am figuring out a tough math problem, I try to comfort myself that this must be helping to keep Alzheimer's at bay.

After all these years of repeating the high school curriculum over and over, I should be an asset on a pub trivia team.

Yet the most important aspect of my Learning Strategies career has been the close relationships I’ve built with the students and their families. I truly believe that being a Dunn Learning Strategies teacher allowed me to have those meaningful relationships. During those years together, my students and I were bound by the shared quest for academic success and navigating the

social and emotional twists and turns of adolescence. I feel blessed to have these relationships that reinforce the importance of companionship in the educational journey. Additionally, coaching has also been a cornerstone of my Dunn career thus far. In particular, coaching our four CIF championship boys’ soccer teams (two as head coach and two as an assistant) and the thrill of being a part of those epic runs is something I’ll never forget. Those bonds that students and I created have not been broken, even considering that the first advisees I taught in 1999 are now in their 40s, many of whom have children approaching their own high school years. These scores of former students and their families have enhanced my life, and now, as the Director of Alumni Relations, I get to spend the coming years keeping in touch with them on a regular basis. I look forward to continuing to gather and tell the stories of Dunn that have brought us together, some of which you’ll read in the following pages. 43

Yes, Chef!

Alumna Daisy Ryan ’03 Heats Up the Valley

We are thrilled to spotlight Daisy Freitas Ryan ’03 in this year’s issue of the Dunn Journal. Her strength, competitive drive, and astute intelligence were well-known during her Dunn years. Seeing her bring her talents back to the valley, making it a more sophisticated and dazzling place to live (and eat!), makes the Dunn community so very proud. Daisy’s professional gastronomic journey began after graduating from the renowned Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park in 2008. She honed her skills further by working in some of the most esteemed restaurants in New York City, including Gramercy Tavern, Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, and Per Se. She went on to work in Los Angeles for Roy Choi for his opening at The Line Hotel and then on to Austin, TX to work for the McGuire Moorman Hospitality Group.

In 2017, Daisy, her husband Greg, and their son Henry moved back to the Santa Ynez Valley. Since their return, they have started their own group called Companion Hospitality which includes establishments such as Bell’s Restaurant, Bar Le Cote, The Other Room, Bodega. They are partners with Priedite Barbecue and the newest Thai restaurant, Nana Thai. If that wasn’t enough, Daisy and Greg are also founders of an organization called Feed The Valley, which focuses on feeding food-insecure communities around the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys. Daisy's culinary career has flourished since 2020. She was named "Best New Chef" by Food & Wine magazine, and her restaurant, Bell's, received numerous awards, including recognition on Esquire magazine's "Best New Restaurants" list. In 2021, Bell's was honored with a Michelin star, one of the most prestigious accolades in the culinary industry.

rom the Michelin Guide

Their particular skill lies in blending phenomenal products (90% of products are sourced from within 20 miles), focused flavors, and methods. This is cooking that tastes as good as it looks, and crowds keep coming for their unpretentious dishes. Wild snails drip with luscious garlic and parsley butter,

while the Santa Barbara uni crêpe cake is layered with crème fraîche and caviar. Lamb en croûte may be next, served over Calabrian chili aïoli with asparagus. The meat is tender, and the aïoli perfectly cuts through the rich, savory elements.

Q&A with Daisy Ryan ’03

Mark Geriak connected with Daisy and asked her a few questions about her life and days at Dunn.

Q: Your high school years seemed very fulfilling and enriching for you. You were an active participant in the Dunn community, involved in student government, athletics, and high academic achievement. What do you still carry with you from your time at Dunn? A: Dunn always provided the opportunity to be yourself and explore different avenues for whatever your particular interests and learning styles were. Dunn gave me “space” in so many ways and introduced me to a greater variety of people with different backgrounds. Q: Your time at Dunn was greatly influenced by your participation in athletics. You excelled as an athlete and were coached by Don Daves-Rougeaux (track), Barbara Haig (soccer), and Kam Jacoby (volleyball). I have a question from Coach Daves: “What are your memories of the dreaded 20-layer workout?” A: Ha! Hadn’t thought about it in years. I remember at the time having such a love and hate for competitive running. The dread I felt facing with physical exhaustion was only met by the incredible accomplishment I 46

always felt at the end of a practice or race. The discipline involved in things like the 20-layer workouts that Harjo shaped for us has certainly carried through my life. Q: Being a chef is also a very physical endeavor, and it can be equally competitive. Is your background as a competitive athlete a factor in your current career? Do you still find time to run or play other sports? A: There is an interesting exercise I have participated in, where an individual has to come up with five words that define the core of who they are, i.e., mother, dreamer, friend, troublemaker. While these

traits change throughout one’s life, “runner” has always stayed a constant in defining me and my life. Running has acted as a physical and mental meditation for me and without a doubt has trained and prepared me for the physicality that comes with a career of working in restaurants. The ability to push myself and work harder and longer is a gift that distance running has given me. I certainly have Mr. Daves to thank for helping me discover my lifelong love of running; his passion for track and field was a major part of my time at Dunn, and for that, I will always be grateful to him. Q: In a yearbook photo, there is a picture that captures a moment where you were sprinting on the track with Jean Luc Ngabo and James Thacher. There is photographic proof that you are ahead of them. What are your memories from that time? Have you kept in touch with them? Who would win a race today?

A: That’s funny. I am sure they were just getting ready to lap me because, as I recall, both of them were very gifted and speedy runners. My memories are wonderful and stressful and dear. While I have not spoken with Jean Luc since high school, James and I kept in touch for a while, and I used to see a few other people I ran with, but it has been a while. Q: In the tribute section of the 2003 Dunn yearbook, your parents wrote a touching message for you, which reads, "Daisy Freitas ~ The World is Yours." Looking back at your 20 years since graduating from Dunn, it seems that your parents had a strong intuition that great things were ahead for you. I recall their presence at the majority of your races, soccer matches, and volleyball games. I presume they are still cheering from the sidelines of your career. What core values they instilled in you during childhood and the Dunn years still resonate and guide you today? A: It is so kind of you to remember all that about them. My parents to this day are still my and now my family's biggest champions. They have always supported everything I have ever wanted to do; they have always pushed me to be better and to see and do more. Greg, Henry, and I have

lived with them for the past six years and are currently building a house behind theirs. They are an integral part of our lives as well as being huge supporters of all the restaurants. I would not be who I am by any stretch of the imagination without them. I have always been their priority, and as I get older, I realize that isn't always the case with parents, and I am more and more grateful for them all the time.

A Dunn

edding Jaz Ferguson ’07 and Charlie de L'Arbre ’05 met at Dunn School 20 years ago when she was a freshman and he was a junior. Though rumor has it that Jaz developed a major crush on Charlie, he didn't find out about it until their wedding day.

The friends reconnected at the start of the pandemic in 2020, and the Dunn campus was exactly halfway between them. “We have visited Dunn

School many times over the years and always enjoy checking in with cherished faculty,” writes Charlie. While they had originally planned to get married under the oak trees in front of the school house, their plans were foiled by heavy rain, power outages, and more unavoidable complications. “In the end, we used the beautiful new leadership center and had a blast. To our delight, Gene Vachon officiated our ceremony, and we were joined by more than twenty Dunn alumni and faculty. Thank you for helping us celebrate our marriage. And a special thank you to Sam Stalling for everything she did to make it happen!”

Earwigs Unite:

LOS ANGELES ALUMNI GATHERING On Thursday, November 4, Dunn alums spanning fiftyfive years — from the classes of 1967 to 2023 — gathered at Firestone Walker Brewing Company in Marina del Rey for what turned out to be the largest alumni gathering the school has ever hosted outside of the Santa Ynez Valley. It was inspiring to see graduates of all ages mixing and mingling, swapping stories of their own times at Dunn.

The Classes of 2004-07 made a particularly strong showing with ten members of those classes in attendance. The buzz was all about this next summer’s Alumni Weekend and the Track and Field reunion with former teacher and trustee,

Don Daves-Rougeaux. A newer idea also gained momentum at the gathering: a prom and graduation re-do for the class of 2020, who missed out on those occasions due to the pandemic quarantine that spring. Looking ahead, an alumni gathering is planned for February 15, 2024 in San Francisco. Let’s see if the alumni and former faculty members living in the Bay Area can rival the numbers of the Los Angeles crowd. With guest appearances by Susie Childs, Don Daves-Rougeaux, Amy Geriak, Eric Stanchfield, and more, it will surely be a night to remember. Save the date! 49 49

The Joys of the Alumni Office:

A SWEET STORY

UNFOLDS IN REAL TIME At the end of the summer, the Alumni Office received this heartfelt, handwritten letter from Joe Flamer ’79. Joe wrote to express his condolences to Stewart Thomson’s family. He wrote:

I was saddened to hear that my favorite social studies teacher is no longer with us. Stew Thomson was more than just a teacher to me; he was my mentor. I became a teacher because of his positive influence on my life. He took a young teenager from the streets of LA under his wings and taught him how to soar to great heights. I model my teaching style after his. When

While I always planned to share Joe’s letter with the Thompson family, I wanted to find out more about him. A delightful discovery unfolded: Joe, like his mentor, teaches social studies. And it gets even more endearing: Joe was recently awarded the Teacher of the Year Award from his large public middle school in northern Delaware where he teaches the 7th grade. After sending Joe’s lovely letter to the Thomson family, I received this response:

I was at Dunn from ’76 -79, he was there for me. I did not have money because I was at Dunn on an ABC Scholarship, but he treated me like everyone else. He took me on several spring trips. He made sure that I went to church. He became my father figure at Dunn, and I became a solid, positive young man because of him. He will be missed, but he will never be forgotten.

Joe (in the middle) receiving the Teacher of the Year award from his Smyrna Middle School colleagues.

Dear MarkThank you for sharing this beautiful tribute to our father!! Joseph Flamer was a classmate of mine (’79), and he was always a very kind, respectful, and gentle student. My siblings and I are so touched by this amazing story! I am literally tearing up to hear that our Dad had such an impact on Joseph’s life and choices! And to see that Joseph is truly sharing that goodness he received by teaching and mentoring young students today!

By Mark Geriak

What a blessing!! I am so inspired by Joseph’s accomplishments! And I know my father would be so happy to hear of this legacy. We will cherish this story always and continue to feel very grateful that my father lived the life that he chose. With love and gratitude, Sharon

I also shared this news with our Board Chair, Guy R. Walker ’76. He responded:

I sure do remember Joe. He was a sweet kid. He’s is an example of why in the early years of my 50-consecutive graduations that I keep coming back. Joe started Dunn in the Fall after I graduated.

Joe Flamer (left) running for the ball during a student vs. alumni match in 1979.

I then shared Guy’s note with Joe. His reply:

As an epilogue to the story, Michael Dunn, son of our school’s founder, shared kind observations about the story’s unfolding. For my part, while the work of the Alumni Office can be investigative, the purpose is always to build connections and celebrate the people of our Dunn community.

Thank you for reaching out to me. Guy is right. I followed him at Dunn. I graduated in 1979. Guy was and continues to be a respected leader within the student body of Dunn. I received a scholarship to attend Dunn during the 1970s. The scholarship was called “A Better Chance”. It was meant to help innercity minority members with their education. I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity to attend Dunn. I am a better person because

of my experiences there. If I lived on the West Coast, I would visit the campus. Dunn will always have a special place in my heart. I am glad that my memories are there to remind me of how I should conduct myself as a teacher and mentor to my students here in Delaware.

Hi Mark,

of Dunn School.

Thank you so much for sharing this! You are a mench for all of your behind the scenes tending of relationships and, thereby, the soul

Stew was larger than life and now must live on in our stories... thank you for doing your bit to keep him alive.

Joe Flamer Dunn 1979

Each one of us who attended or worked at Dunn School has a story like this. We are connected — by our stories, our relationships, and by this place — across generations. We want to hear your stories and help you make connections. Please reach out at alumni@dunnschool.org. 51

ALUMNI A

Twist on the Pretzel Industry

On Monday, September 18, former earwig Gina Galvin, who was a member of the class of 2016, came to Dunn for a special visit to the entrepreneurship classes. While still in college, Gina and her mother co-founded Stellar Snacks, a pretzel and roasted nuts company rooted in sustainability, community, and artisanship.

elicious Home Cooking from a Multi-Talented Alumna

The Lucas and Lewellen tasting room in Solvang was particularly full on the evening of Monday, November 6, as family and friends gathered at the venue for the cookbook launch of Lisa Lucas ’85. Bursting with pride, her

CCOMPLISHMENTS Gina believes in transformation, and she brings this mindset to Stellar Snacks, using it as a vehicle to amplify emerging artists, bring jobs to underprivileged communities, and support sustainable food sourcing. Her presentation to the entrepreneurship classes was informative, inspiring, but also honest about the challenges of running a small business. She told students the story about the founding of her company and what it’s like working in an industry dominated by a few large corporations. For Gina, visiting Dunn was meaningful as well, allowing her “to reconnect with faculty who played a pivotal role in helping me grow

father and former member of Dunn’s Board of Trustees for a decade in the 1980’s, Louis Lucas toasted his daughter’s culinary success. Producer, actress, and writer Lisa co-wrote That Time We Ate Our Feelings: 150 Recipes for Comfort

my roots… beyond business, as a lifetime learner, guided by values of compassion and empathy.” To learn more about Gina and Stellar Snacks, please visit stellarsnacks.com, where you can find links to their feature on The Today Show, news articles about their new processing facility in Kentucky, and more.

Food from the Heart, with her good friend Debrianna Mansini. The two teamed up during the pandemic with their online cooking show “Corona Kitchen,” and have since collaborated on this cookbook full of delicious family recipes. According to the authors, the cookbook was born out of the fear and uncertainty we all experienced as a result of Covid-19, and it is meant to be a love letter to comfort food and storytelling. It became available to the general public on November 21. Lisa invites you to follow her and Debrianna’s culinary adventures: Instagram: @thecoronakitch Facebook: @GoldenGooseKitchen Tiktok: @golden.goose.kitchen

nspired Earwig is Now a Professional Surf Coach

This fall, Rex Mascheroni ’13 came back to campus to check up on his former advisor Nancy Ortiz and former soccer coach Mark Geriak. He was delighted to get a Dunn "Outlaw Soccer" scarf as a reminder of his sporting glory days, scoring goals and tormenting opponents with his blazing speed. Rex now works as a professional trainer and surf coach, including privately coaching three boys who are on the US National Surf Team. Before his visit, Rex wrote, “Well, I went on to play in college, and it wasn’t nearly as wonderful as the [soccer] experience you provided us at Dunn. We all still talk about our experience and how much positivity it brought us! ‘The goals will come’ has been a theme in all our lives has been a theme in all of our lives, both on and off the pitch. I had the time of my life at Dunn, and it taught me many lessons I now share with my students who want to compete and even achieve careers in surfing. I feel humbled and honored to be able to pass on the torch. You [Mr. Geriak] and Mrs. Ortiz were so compassionate, understanding, and cool — even when we screwed up. I’ll always be eternally appreciative.”

n Alum-Turned-YouTube Educator

Carter Stacy ’20, the eldest child of current faculty members Chad and Sarah Stacy, never thought he would garner a modest amount of fame for his interest in geography. But as of early November 2023, Carter has over 203,000 followers for his YouTube channel, inauspiciously titled “That is Interesting.” Followers aside, the 119 educational films Carter posts on his channel have reached over 19 million views worldwide. Carter explains his philosophy of geography as the foundation for understanding a society's history, culture, politics, and economy. He posted his first video about Malé, Maldives, in July 2018, the summer before his junior year at Dunn. His most popular video — explaining the disappearance of Tulare Lake in California — has over 1.9 million views and was posted just after Carter’s high school graduation.

Now in his final semester as a Geography major at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, Carter plans to travel the country through the summer, filming on-site videos for the states and territories he has yet to cover in his main series, “The US Explained.” After that, he plans to “take the channel full time and scale it up into an informative media business with a wider scope, maybe with a publication of some kind.” You can find Carter’s Channel at youtube.com/@ThatIsInterestingTII.

n OG Dunn Entrepreneur Returns to Campus

Earlier this fall, Chad Stacy interviewed Chase Sater, a Dunn School alum from the Class of 2016, during a special presentation for the students in the Entrepreneurship Program. Chase is now the CEO and

Founder of a small start-up software company in Santa Barbara, Hashy. When Chase attended Dunn, the school’s entrepreneurship program consisted of a small cohort of 10 students running a business we generously called a “café” out of an old, underutilized conference room. After his presentation to the Dunn Economics class, which is a concurrent enrollment course with Syracuse University, Chad gave him a tour of the full scope and facilities of the new Robert W. Jurgensen Entrepreneurship Program. He saw Jurgensen’s Market, the $60k revenue-generating student-run market and apparel shop. He toured the new and improved Earwig Cafe, serving all of the milkshakes, orange chicken, and espresso that growing students need. Then, Chad took him to see our new Innovation offerings, including the MIE Racing simulators. Chase was floored. “How can I re-enroll?” 53

Class Notes 1970s .................

Roger Kumler ’70 - “I was fortunate to have had the experience when quite young of seeing both the main classroom complex and the gym being built. Some other things you probably did not know: • There used to be a large incinerator behind the dining hall, up against the fence to the field that used to be oats or sugar beets. At some point, a student was in charge of burning the paper and other burnable trash in that incinerator every morning. • When walnut trees were very abundant on campus, students would be given gunny sacks at some point in the fall and everyone would go around to collect the walnuts. They would be sold somewhere to raise a little bit of money for the school. When the husks were still on the nuts, they also made great objects for throwing.

also remember taking the League Championship in track in 1970. I would love to reconnect with alums, especially those in the Class of ’70.” (Alumni, please contact the Alumni Office if you’d like to reconnect with Mr. Rip.)

1980s .................

Rodney Nielsen ’86, Russell Chamberlin ’88, & Chris Mills ’88 Visited the campus May 27, 2023 and were given a tour of campus by Ulises Castenda. They loved the tour, are excited about the school’s progress, and reminisced about the good times. Randy and Nuala Judycki & Steve and Philomena Loy The former Director of Outdoor Education, former Learning Strategies teacher, former Headmaster, and former nurse, teacher, and Athletic Director visited campus on January 13, 2023 and were given a tour by current Head of School Kalyan A. Balaven.

William Ripley (Bill, Mr. Rip) Worked at Dunn School from 1967 to 1970, emailed the alumni office over the summer. He was a Spanish teacher, track coach, rifle team instructor (yes, we once had guns at Dunn), and Assistant Dean of Students. He wrote, “I too began a life-long career in education at Dunn School, which came to an end last year at age 79. My second wife and I live in Azusa, CA. I have fond memories of my years at Dunn. Among those are those three amazing Easter trips to Mexico driving the school bus. I 54

Dustin earned his doctorate in strategic leadership. Now he's the director of a non-profit organization that places homeless veterans into permanent housing in San Diego. Jack runs a non-profit for cancer survivors in Newport Beach. Travis is an artist and entrepreneur in San Diego County.

1990s .................

Marisa Williams Cisneros ’95 Visited campus on August 3, 2023, with her high-school-aged daughters. She was able to catch up with her former advisor Barbara Haig. Marisa now does noble work as a child welfare officer in the Sacramento area. Roger Kumler ’70 and his wife Martha outfitted in protective gear for a descent to 4,850 feet underground for a tour of the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota last May.

I spent many years in the military and moved around a lot. Jack contacted me and said that Travis was having his very first art show in Encinitas, which was only 30 minutes from me. So I rearranged my schedule and went! As I was parking I had butterflies, not knowing if they would even recognize me. Sure enough, Travis recognized me before I even walked in the door. We had a great night reminiscing about our time at Dunn and catching up on our lives over the years.”

Don Daves-Rougeaux - Taught history and ran the Cross Country and Track & Field programs from 1995-2002. Don came to campus on Friday, September 2, 2023 for lunch and to meet about the exciting upcoming Track & Field Reunion plans. Dr. Dustin Potash ’99, Travis McCormick ’99, and Jack Shimko ’99 - These three former classmates reunited in Southern California this year after being apart for nearly 24 years. Dustin wrote, “I have been in communication with Jack off and on social media. We are both so busy that sometimes we go months without communicating. Jack and Travis had the same sporadic communication. Jack and I have been talking about getting together for years, but just never came to fruition.

Jack Shimko ’99, Dustin Potash ’99, and Travis McCormick ’99 at the art gallery where Travis was showing his work.

Amy Geriak & Josh Parker Amy, who worked at Dunn from 1998-2017, recently ran into Josh Parker, who taught math at Dunn from 1999-2001.

2000s ................

Godwin Kwong ’02 - Visited campus on June 16, 2023, with his wife Moni, while the were spending part of their honeymoon in this area. He was able to catch up with his former advisor, newly retired Willy Haig. Godwin and Moni currently live in Hong Kong. Titilola Johnson-Agiri ’04 Alumna & Trustee Lola Johnson and her husband, Dorian Logan, welcomed their daughter, Ayomi Logan, on November 23, 2022. She is now over a year old and keeping her parents busy!

Zoe Cheng ’05 & Nicole Fisher ’05 - Visited campus in February 2023. They walked around campus and were able to catch up with former classmates Jillian Haig, Kelsey Sullivan, and Samantha Jessup Stalling. Theresa Klepper ’06 - Visited campus with her mother and sister after enjoying Los Olivos Days last Fall. She met the new Head of School and was able to catch up with former classmates Jillian and Kelsey. Theresa is living in New York City and getting her Master's in Conflict Resolution; she wants to focus on corporations and organizations resolving conflicts with individuals. Theresa mentioned how much she enjoys keeping up with the Dunn Alumni news across social media platforms. Taylor Lohman ’06 - Who lives in Mar Vista in Southern California with his fianceé, visited campus in March 2023 and was able to reconnect with Mark Geriak, Vicki Vachon, Jillian, Kelsey, and Samantha. He remembers all of us fondly and joked positively about his experience at Dunn. He recently had off-campus encounters with Will Vincent ’06 and Jordan Dunn ’06, and all three of them attended the Alumni Gathering in Los Angeles this fall. Jillian Haig ’06 - Is pleased to share that she is marrying Ghanian Daniel Alekiba on New Year's Eve 2023, and they are also excited to welcome their first child in 2024. Sheila O’Neal ’07 - Visited campus with her partner Shareef in April 2023 and enjoyed catching up with former teachers and classmates as well as visiting the upgraded campus. Sheila works in finance for the Navy in Washington, D.C.

Mason University. Her dissertation examined the transnational mobilization of diaspora communities by violent non-state actors from Cameroon and South Sudan. Her work has been published in the Journal of Modern African Studies and the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes. She is currently a research program officer at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. Casey Crawford ’11 - With his girlfriend Kelly, Casey came for a visit to campus in March 2023. They wandered all over campus to visit his former haunts. Casey is working in cyber security and client relations in the Bay Area. Sazan Pasori ’11 & Bo Yaki ’14 Sazan is currently an art director based in Los Angeles, while Bo is also in LA working as a professional model. They are proud to share their recent collaboration with the Dunn community. www.sazanpasori.com/ retro-future-egirl-clips

Bo Yaki ’14 in a still from her GIF collaboration with Sazan Pasori ’11.

Jon Civitella - A teacher in multiple departments from 2012 to 2018, now teaches Economics at The American School of Milan in Italy. The Geriaks and Amanda Milholland were able to reunite with him this past summer in Lake Como.

Kayce Boska (Knight) ’08 Visited campus with husband Tom during the ’22-23 winter break when they were in town for a friend’s wedding. Chad Stacy met them and gave a tour of the Cindy Bronfman Leadership Center.

2010s ................. Sandra Tombe ’10 - Recently earned her doctorate from George

Amanda Milholland (current faculty), Amy Geriak (faculty 1998-2017), Jon Civitella (faculty 2012-2018), Mark Geriak (current faculty), and 16-year old Will Geriak reunited in Italy this summer.

Nick Choi ’16 - Came by campus on May 26, 2023, to visit his advisor Josh Roberts. Kalena Chomeau ’16 - Came by for a campus visit and was delighted to walk around and see familiar faces in Meg and Margaret Watson, Nancy Yaki, and Kelsey Sullivan. Kalena is thriving at a gastronomy college in Italy where she is completing her Master’s. She is focusing on the narrowing of crop diversity in agricultural studies. Chase Sater ’16 - Came by for a visit and made a presentation to the Entrepreneurial classes, which you can read about on the previous page. He is currently on an entrepreneurial journey in the cannabis industry. Chase recalls, “I feel like our class had a bit of an existential crisis. A trend started in which many of us questioned whether the traditional four-year college experience was the best move forward.” Daniel McGee ’17 - Visited campus in February 2023 and shared the news that he was accepted into a sheriff academy in Oregon. Kaitlyn (Katie) Donahue ’19 Last Spring, former 9th grade English teacher Beth Spencer shared, “I caught up with my first Dunn Alumna/ Advisee, Katie! She is a Senior at Kansas State and will begin studentteaching second graders next week!”

2020s ................

Alpha Sowe ’20 - Is still playing the beautiful game of soccer. He was a key player on the Cal State Dominguez Hills team last year, and he currently plays for Cal State Fullerton, where Kelsey Sullivan, Esron Gates, and Mark Geriak were able to cheer him on during a game against UC Irvine. Alpha has also signed with the semi-pro team VC (Ventura County) Fusion. Stella Wang ’21 - Returned to campus in February 2023 and was able to catch up with her advisor Barbara Haig. Stella is now a junior at the University of Washington. She is pre-med, majoring in Early Childhood and Family Studies, moving toward her goal in pediatric medicine. 55

Daniel McGee ’17

Kalyan A. Balaven (Head of School ) and Randy Judycki (former faculty)

Russell Chamberlin ’88, Chris Mills ’88, Rodney Nielsen ’86

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY

Kayce (Kathryn) Knight Boska ’08 and husband, Tom Boska

Sheila O'Neal '07 and partner Shareef

Michael Tetteh ’08 and Mark Geriak

Kelsey Sullivan ’06 (Athletic Director), Nicole Fisher ’05, Zoe Chang ’05, and Samantha Stalling (Director of Advancement)

Josh Roberts (faculty) and Nicholas Choi ’16

Theresa Klepper ’06, Kelsey Sullivan ’06, and Jillian (Haig) Alekiba ’06

Seong Ha ’99 and family

Marisa Williams Cisneros ’95 and Barbara Haig

Don Daves (former faculty) and Kelsey Sullivan ’06

Godwin Kwong ’02 and Willy Haig (former faculty)

Jillian (Haig) Alekiba ’06 and Taylor Lohman ’06

Abu Danladi ’14

Casey Crawford ’11 and his girlfriend Kelly

Kalyan A. Balaven and Steve Loy (former Head of School)

In Memoriam

In Memoriam:

F. Stewart Thomson

On June 11, 2023, the Cindy Bronfman Leadership Center at Dunn School was filled with family, friends, and an extensive gathering of former Dunn faculty and alumni to celebrate the memory of Stewart Thomson. From 1968 to 1992, Stew taught history, served as the school’s chaplain, and was the athletic and admissions

director at times. Yet beyond those roles, Stew is most remembered for his solid character, warmth, and humor, which made the Dunn community a richer place.

We hope these quotes gleaned from the memorial service will give readers who did not know him personally some rich insight into his character.

F. Stewart Thomson by the numbers: Lived a full life of 89 years

Raised his 3 children at Dunn

Married to Sally for 67 years

Could squat 525 pounds

Dunn School Faculty for 24 years

Competed in Masters into his 70’s

Stew — Moe — Yale Whale 58

In Memoriam

"He was a man of heroic proportions."

“My dad was a playful adventurer, not only leading us over the Los Padres’s Hurricane Deck Trail in the freezing rain, or paddling down-river… any river. He liked to have fun. When I was probably about ten years old, I was riding Jurgy’s pony Ralph around campus. My dad wanted to see if he could deadlift the pony. And I think if he had had the proper grip, he could have.” — Marth Thomson, Stewart’s youngest daughter

“Stew will be remembered for a life well-lived. Stew chose family time over financial gain and actions that demonstrated humanistic values over bragging or empty talk. He was a vocal proponent for human kindness and decency. His children are forever grateful for the strength, tenderness, and devotion he shared with us.” — The Thomson Family

“Mr. Thomson showed us how we might be men one day and gentlemen at that.” — Ralph Lowe ’72

"I would run with him. He would philosophize, but he was never didactic. He would always just reflect. One time, when I was full of myself and I was going on and on. I said, “Stew, why am I so self-centered?” He said, “ I've learned one thing in life, Steve. Ultimately, you can't live for yourself.” It took me a couple of more decades to realize the value of that statement." — Steve Gill, former Dunn School English teacher

“One of the things I’d like to highlight today in memory of Moe Thomson is his divinity... A very important occasion for me — the two years I could enjoy it — was the sunrise service on Easter. Moe was in his element... Moe got the call of duty, and he answered with his life.” — Mark Richardson ’74

“During the school day, if he had a free period, he would stroll slowly and quietly reading a book around the campus, often eating an apple or some other piece of fruit. To me, he lead by example. He was showing us how to be dedicated, how to be healthy, how to be a strong person, and how to seek knowledge without saying a word.” — Michael Dunn, son of our school’s founder, Tony Dunn 59

In Memoriam

REMEMBERING

PAM DELONGPRÉ She fed our bellies and our hearts By Mark Geriak

On April 9, 2023, Dunn School lost a dear friend: Pam DeLongpré, who ran the Dining Hall for 21 years from 1993 to 2014. She was also the mother of Courtney DeLongpré ’00 and the aunt of DeDee DeLongpre’ ’85. Pam was quite a presence at Dunn, acting not only as a chef but also as a friend and parent figure for many of the faculty and students during her tenure. As a close friend of Pam’s during her Dunn years, it is my honor to host this tribute on behalf of the Dunn 60

community. While she and I had a very playful relationship, she took wonderful care of us. As I reflect on Pam’s Dunn years, my two prominent memories are of her meals and her humor. First, she fed, cared about, and looked out for the Geriaks. Her presence loomed large for our family. We were all the better for it. Either in the service line or coming by our table, she wanted to catch up. A common conversation starter for Pam when our family entered the

dining hall was how tall Claire and Will had become. As her dear friend, it was my duty to remind Pam that, considering she was on the short side, everyone seemed tall. To share a laugh with Pam was a blessing. She had a great big laugh that would rattle her body. Perhaps aware of the volume of her laugh, she would try to pull it together by resting her hand on her lips. And although some jokes had a bite to them, there was always truth there. I relished these earthy comebacks — I sure miss her.

In Memoriam

Pam had unique, special relationships with hundreds of people throughout her school tenure. My wife Amy and I reached out to several alumni and faculty members to ask about their fond memories of Pam. couple of months. Along the way, they would sing Mexican songs on the drive down.

Lupita Flores worked with Pam for fourteen years and probably knew her the best of any of us. Lupita shared lots of their happy moments and crazy jokes. She told me, “Our road trips hold many special memories.” During Pam’s time, I learned that the Dunn Kitchen vehicle was a beloved but beaten-up old van. Lupita explained, “It was a grey windowless van #7. We pretended it was our gangster vehicle.” Lupita shared that Pam would take the kitchen crew out for a meal in Santa Barbara every

Kate McDaniel ’02 shared, “Pam was a second Mom to me when I was at Dunn. She and Courtney were such big parts of my high school life. Pam supported us in going to prom together and anything else we needed to succeed.” Michael Tseng ’11 wrote, “I’m sorry to hear that Pam passed, and I wish comfort and peace to her family. When I think of Pam, the first thing that comes to mind (besides my daily dining hall trip asking her what was good for the day) was International Night. Pam spent a great deal of time studying Taiwanese cuisine and recipes so she could help us with Taiwanese family dinners. Pam and the staff made at least 5-8 different versions of Taiwanese fried chicken,

Another tradition that the kitchen crew had was that on Pam’s birthday, they would take their kitchen van to the casino — not to gamble but for a good meal. When the mariachi would make their rounds, the kitchen team would always get the musicians to sing Pam a song: “Las Mananitas” (Happy Birthday). For the most part, Pam was the only one on the kitchen crew who didn’t speak much Spanish, and this led to many funny conversations when the other party was not quite sure of what was being said. Lupita concluded, “Pam was not just my boss but a lovely human being. I was happy to come to work, and we had so much fun.”

Michelle Bone ’90, alumna and former faculty member, had a cherished and unique connection with Pam. She wrote, “Pam was a gem! She embodied the universal mother for countless boarding students and rookie teachers facing new careers. With love and kindness, she was there, wrapped in her apron, smiling, listening, cooking, and presiding over our comforts: Popcorn with Tapatillo? Homemade cookies? Seconds on pasta? Three times a day, and any time you needed a snack, Pam was there to reassure us. I was a young single mom working my tail off to pay the bills. She handed me a small brown bag and told me to pack my son’s school lunch at the dining hall each morning. At night she sent home fruit and leftovers to stock my empty fridge. Pam was full of dignity and knew what we needed without asking. I never would have made it through those first few years without her. She was a great role model.”

allowing us to find the closest taste that felt like home. It honestly wouldn’t have happened without her.”

a salad I requested which was SO good! Dunn holds such a special place in my heart.”

David Horsfield ’14 remembers, “She was always warm and welcoming at formal dinners and breakfast on the weekends. She always ensured the students were well cared for, and she had an infectious smile.”

Fidi Flores ’10 observed, “Pam was amazing, always keeping our hearts and stomachs full. May she be on a great journey.”

Charlie de L’Arbre ’05, now a chef himself, recalls, “Pam was a lot of fun; I enjoyed it when I got to work with the kitchen crew.” Kayce Knight Boska ’08 wrote, “She was always so kind and let me take yummy leftovers back to my dorm. One time she even made

Alice Berg, a long-time faculty member, shared, “At times when Pam had Hazel (her granddaughter) for the day, she brought her to work in the Dunn dining hall. No matter what age, Pam thought that Hazel should be helping out. Pam set up a chair behind the counter, and Hazel passed cookies to us all. Pam was bursting with pride as she watched us interact with a very serious and adorable Hazel.” 61

In Memoriam

Celebrating the lives of two

DUNN ALUMSTURNED-EDUCATORS Geoffrey Wilcox ’67 came to Dunn School in his junior year and was put through a brutal indoctrination of having to live in the bomb shelter for some weeks while a section of Thacher House was being finished. During his twoyear stay at Dunn, he was caught up in the routine of Dunn life. He took an interest in cars and hunting and went out for track his first year, keeping in shape by running most everywhere he went.

“Attending Dunn served as a driving force in Geff’s decsion to become a teacher.”

The 1967 yearbook noted, “This year Geff is out for cross-country and does not do much running without a stopwatch in his hand. Geff is very opinionated and puts a great deal of effort into his studies and those other activities which interest him.”

His wife Cheryl wrote, “When speaking of his Dunn experience with family and friends, Geff would share that since the school was in its ‘formative’/developmental stage of existence. It was the perfect setting for him to ‘buckle down’ and learn study skills, organization, etc. to help him through life. Dunn provided not only the educational skills, but life skills as well within a ‘family-like’ setting. Geff looked forward to attending the yearly alumni weekends with his good friend Pete Hill ’68. Attending Dunn served as a driving force in Geff’s decision to become a teacher, so he could ‘pay it forward’ to students in need of a little extra assistance.” Upon retirement, he enjoyed golfing with friends, fishing, and traveling.

Geoffrey “Geff” Wilcox September 9, 1948 - November 20, 2022

Attended Dunn: 1965-1967

College:

Cal Western University University of Northern Colorado

Career:

Elementary School Teacher, San Diego Unified School District. Survived by his wife Cheryl, son Jonathan, and daughter Lyndsey.

“Rod & Gun Club” Front row, left to right: Sandy Clark, Sumner Schlesinger, Dick Maure, Stan McKenzie. Standing, left to right: Bill Hanssen, Peter Webb, Rick Collins, Geoff Wilcox, Robert Kumler, Mike d’Avenas

In Memoriam him. He was keenly interested in religious, economic, and political history and theory. His book selections would be considered complex and esoteric. He met his life partner Denis in 1986. They were married in 2012. For the past few years, Denis and Nelson toured the area with daily drives, listening to audiobooks and enjoying coffee. For the past few years, Denis and Nelson toured through North Dakota with daily drives, listening to audiobooks and enjoying coffee.

Born in Wahpeton, ND, Nelson Richardson ’63 came to Dunn in 1957. Nelson Richardson came to Dunn in 1957. As an adult, he spent extended periods of time at the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, California, and with the Trappist at the Abbel our Our Lady at Gethsemani in Kentucky. Nelson was a very intelligent man of many talents. His interest in music led him to own and play several medieval instruments and to translate ancient musical notation into a modern score. As Nelson’s vision diminished, he engaged several individuals who read and discussed books with

“He came to Dunn in his eighth-grade year as a day student. He won the Art Prize and awards for book reports. He had a role in the Shakespearean play Julius Caesar.” The 1963 Dunn Journal noted that he was dedicated to his reporting for and later editorship of the Journal. “Nels reported for the JOURNAL, and at the end of [his sophomore year] he won the General scholarship Prize… [In his senior year,] his editorship consumed much of his time, and he was unable to continue the pleasurable extras such as poster paintings.”

Nelson “Nels” Richardson November 5, 1945 - July 9, 2023

Attended Dunn: 1957-1963

A Delightful Excerpt from the 1963 Dunn Journal: “A Fun Disaster” — The Alamo Pintado Canoe Expedition “Because of the heavy rains in the spring, the Alamo Pintado Creek becomes a swollen torrent; one rainy day Nels conceived the insane idea of canoeing down this deluge in a rickety canoe used by the primary grades as a playground toy. He gathered Pat McCray and Charlotte Wilgress, and at last, the skeptical Jim Claire consented to attempt the expedition merely as a ‘fun disaster.’ “After floating the canoe in the flooded fallout shelter, it was definitely decided that the craft, however leaky, would suffice. Mr. Derville was good enough to convey the canoe and its crew to the bridge in Los Olivos. There the vessel slithered down a muddy bank, and with McCray, Claire, and Nels aboard, it was launched. McCray jumped out to push the canoe from an oncoming tree while Nels continued blithely down with Jim. At thirty yards from the start, the canoe capsized. Nels stayed with the canoe and came safely to the shore of a soggy cattle corral. “Afterward, tea was served by Mrs. Wilgress.”

College:

Amherst College | Rhode Island School of Design New York School of Visual Arts

Career:

Staff Writer for Poets & Writers Magazine; taught Computer Coding at New York University, Baruch College, and the New York Life Insurance Company Survived by his husband Denis and his many siblings, nieces, and nephews.

In Memoriam

Richard F. Henchey:

OBSERVER OF LIFE The Dunn Community was saddened to learn of the passing of English teacher Dr. Richard F. Henchey this past summer. He was 93.

English department.

Dr. Henchey taught English at Dunn for seven years, after which he retired after a forty-year teaching career.

Dr. Richard Henchey embodied erudition, intellectual rigor, and academic curiosity for seven years at Dunn. He was beloved by faculty and students alike. His morning briefings at the breakfast table are the stuff of legend.

Richard Henchey

We can think of no better way of memorializing him than through the words of Ralph Lowe, who was Dr. Henchey’s colleague towards the beginning of Ralph’s career in Dunn’s

His humor, stories, anecdotes of the famous and infamous, and his encyclopedic knowledge of American Literature made no less than an indelible impression.

Survived by wife Ann, daughter Ruth, son Paul, as well as three grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

1929 - 2023

Dunn Faculty: 1986-1993

Robert A. Day, Jr: Robert A. Day, Jr 1943 - 2023

It is with heavy hearts that we honor the life of a remarkable individual, Robert A. Day, Jr. Robert was not only a dear friend of Dunn School but also an extraordinary philanthropist whose impact on our school and the wider community was immeasurable. His unwavering commitment to education was evident in his involvement with Dunn and other educational institutions, including his alma mater, Claremont McKenna College. His

DUNN SCHOOL’S FRIEND AND SUPPORTER generosity touched every corner of our institution, from scholarship programs to establishing state-of-theart facilities that enriched our learning environment. His selflessness and dedication serve as a shining example of how one individual can make a profound difference in the world. Beyond financial contributions, Mr. Day's warm presence at our school events while his son Jon attended Dunn, and Robert’s genuine interest in the growth and well-being of our

students made him a beloved figure in our community. As we mourn this loss, we also celebrate his remarkable life and the positive change he brought to so many. Robert’s legacy will continue to inspire us to strive for excellence and to give back to the world around us. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Robert's family and loved ones. We share in their grief and extend our deepest sympathies.

THEN & NOW Dunn Boys Varsity Basketball

1963-64 Condor League champions, led by Coach Hargrove.

2022-23 Frontier League champions, led by Coaches Vazquez (in blue top) and Coach Gates (in black top).

2555 W. Highway 154 P.O. Box 98 Los Olivos, CA 93441 805.688.6471

Check out the latest at www.dunnschool.org

LUMNI WEEKEND

Save the Date: June 7 - 9, 2024

Come back to campus and enjoy reuniting with friends and former teachers, delicious alumni receptions, local activities (including golf, hiking, wine tasting, and pickleball), and a special Track & Field Reunion with Coach Don Daves-Rougeaux.

Register Today To register your interest or learn more about Alumni Weekend or other opportunities, please contact us at alumni@dunnschool.org or visit www.dunnschool.org/alumni.