Class Notes

Class Notes are your chance to share your personal news and to keep up with what’s going on with your fellow alumni. Have an update you’d like to share? Send your personal and professional news to alumni@ecfs.org.

1939

1950

Robert Gordon and Henry Feldman ’49 ran into each other at the coffee bar at University House Wallingford, a small retirement community in Seattle. They discovered they were both from New York, and the conversation started like this: “Where’d you go to high school?” “The Bronx.” “Where in the Bronx?” “Riverdale.” “What school?”

Linda Pastan had a new book, “Almost An Elegy: New and Later Selected Poems,” published by W. W. Norton in October 2022.

1953

Betty Rollin is feeling lucky and grateful that her books “First, You Cry” and “Last Wish” are still being read and that her mind is “still (more or less) working.” She recently wrote a poignant New York Times Opinion piece titled “How to Talk to a Widow” about the wrong things well-meaning people say when a spouse dies. She feels lucky to have gone to Fieldston, which she says is “such a good place in every way that a school can be good.”

Marian Brickner is coping with the deaths of her (sort of) husband and son by photographing birds and insects near her backyard in St. Louis. To the delight of her fans, her work appears on Facebook and in collections that she sells online.

Junia Doan, formerly called Ann Cassell, hosts an online program of interviews with prominent figures, many of whom are Midwestern financial magnates.

Andrew Courtney was honored by the Peace Action Fund for New York State for his work “documenting Peace and Justice activity in Westchester County, New York, for decades” as well as his work in war zones and documenting refugees in the United States. Three of Andrew’s photographs hung in the Hastings Village Hall Gallery in an exhibition called “Sugar, Sweat & Stone,” documenting the art of work in the twenty-first century and understanding work as a source of personal identity, satisfaction, and despair.

Fred Greenman’s wife, Janet, will be turning 80 in March and they are planning a party with all of their family. Their granddaughter Nora is a senior in high school and is looking forward to college, and their grandson Sam is a freshman in high school. They have a springer spaniel, who is the most active dog they’ve ever had. They are as healthy as can be expected and are happy to be living in Vermont!

Leslie Kandell has adopted a new feral cat and progress is being made in socializing it. “Household surface ornaments no longer include peroxide, Band-Aids, or Neosporin,” she says.

Yvonne Korshak wrote the historical novel “Pericles and Aspasia: A Story of Ancient Greece,” which was promoted as “a stellar, epiclength evocation of the golden age of Athens, rich with historical insight.”

Yvonne says, “‘Pericles and Aspasia’ grew out of my enchantment with ancient Greece that originated in our 9th Grade Ancient History class. (Hope Mr. Whipple sees this, wherever he is.)”

Lois Schwartz Zenkel ’54, Walter Koenig ’54, and Larry Hartmann ’54 were among those who wrote congratulations.

Lois Schwartz Zenkel visited her granddaughter in Washington, D.C., and walked six miles around the National Mall. She also read an interesting book by Marjorie Merriweather Post and visited her home, which she said was “fabulous.” She attended Clifford Alexander’s ’51 memorial service, which was “a marvelous tribute to him.”

1955

Paul Kessel has now been in over 150 street photography exhibitions worldwide in addition to five solo shows. He has won numerous awards for his close-up candid, street photography of people. He has also been a juror and curator of exhibitions.

Alicia Suskin Ostriker read from her volume of poetry “The Volcano Sequence” in a half-hour video by the poet-environmentalist videographer Don Yorty.

1956

Arthur Roberts built a website to share comedy and drama reels; clips of TV shows and movies; and scenic photography from his travels in Peru, Turkey, China, Utah, and Italy.

1957

Jill Behrens Delbanco and Tom Delbanco ’57 are close with their kids and their families, including seven grandkids and the kids of Jill’s late brother Fred Behrens ’54.

The active and involved members of the Fieldston Class of 1955 — median age now 85 — continue to provide education, interaction, and support to others and each other. Our class includes people who excelled in such fields as astrophysics, organic chemistry, climatology, poetry, fiction writing, history, jewelry design, medicine, and law, and they remain close with a fondness for the School and its philosophy that imbued their lives.

At our 50th Fieldston Reunion, the class voted to start a fund that now totals over $200,000, the income of which is available to the Ethics Department for speakers, field trips, and more. For many years, the Class of 1955 scored the highest number of alumni contributions to the Orange Fund. Our classmates continue to flock to the reunions, including the 60th in 2015, which required finding larger space for our surprisingly sizable group!

For a long time, we met in person. Now Tamara (Tammy) Livingston Weintraub organizes our well-attended bimonthly meetings on Zoom, which often include classmates’ lectures: biological sciences professor William (Bill) Cramer on photosynthesis, appellate attorney Andrew (Andy) Frey on cases he argued before the Supreme Court, forensic psychiatrist Dorothy (Dotsy) Otnow Lewis on uncovering the motivation of the serial killers she interviewed after we watched a TV documentary about her work, historian Robert (Bob) Strassler on Julius Caesar’s leadership style, archaeologist Nan Askin Rothschild on urban archaeology, and Princeton University professor emeritus Robert (Rob) Socolow on climate change.

When we describe to friends or family how our high school class still gathers in substantial numbers, we get stares of amazement. ‘I’ve never heard of a high school class hanging together like this, much less a group in their eighties!’ they say.

— Lois Berkowitz

Tom and the OpenNotes team at Harvard University also lead an international movement that advocates open and transparent communication in healthcare by inviting patients to read what their clinicians write. After a decade of research and education, “open notes” have become federally mandated. Jill helped create the logo and website, writes, and does various art projects. Tom continues to play the violin, often with his OpenNotes co-founder and pianist Jan Walker.

Ellen Diamond has been taking writing classes at the 92nd Street Y, New York, for a few years. Sharing stories with energetic, intelligent New Yorkers who have led remarkable lives helps get her through difficult days. She also FaceTimes weekly with her sister Steph Diamond Friedman ’53. “We laugh, we cry, it’s great,” she says. “My life is more full of people than ever — a true blessing!”

Irene Halsman wasn’t able to attend a recent retrospective in Japan on Salvador Dali, who was a longtime collaborator with her father, the late celebrity photographer Philippe Halsman. Instead, she created a “Jump Book” to honor her father’s iconic photography goal. She is now doing her own art — making tangerine people and pistachio shell faces — which keeps her laughing, not crying about the bad news in the world

Pat Weill Park moved to a continuing care retirement community called Brookhaven at Lexington and is loving it. “I’ve made friends and have lots to do: attending concerts and movies, taking trips to local museums, working in the store, and serving as the chair of the library. And they feed me! Best decision I ever made!”

1958

Constance Cramer

Porteous shares how saddened she is to hear of the death of Lucy Simon ’58 late in October. “It is a loss to our class and to the musical world,” she says. Constance is currently in the midst of traveling to see her family — including her son in France and her daughter in Spain. She has kept in touch with Marion Gaines DeCoudreaux ’58 and they shared the love of being with family. Constance sends her best wishes to her classmates from the Class of 1958.

1959

Nicholas Delbanco’s most recent nonfiction work, “Why Writing Matters,” pays tribute to some of his Fieldston teachers, most notably Elbert Lenrow, who taught the value of close reading and the enduring power of language as art. Nicholas mourns both the general and specific loss of classmates Eric Werthman ’59, Marc Shapiro ’59, Peter Som ’59, and Barbara Friedberg ’59 What remains — friends, two daughters, and five granddaughters — is “all the more precious to me and my wife, Elena, who I have now been married to for 53 years.”

Edward Fishman is enjoying retired life in sunny Boca Raton, Florida. Both of his children played varsity tennis and his two grandsons play serious baseball in Little League. He is addicted to duplicate bridge and stays in touch with Jeff Moksin ’59, Rona Mendelsohn ’59, and Allan Shedlin ’59. He still misses Jimmy Leiter ’59 and Dick Levien ’59! her book on transitions last year. In 2019, “my husband and I moved from Michigan to Chicago to an apartment to be near my daughter and his son,” Jane says. “Sadly, my husband died three weeks later, but I now live in a walkable city, which I love.”

Ruth Galanter recently had one of her biggest efforts hit the (small) screen, long after her retirement from the Los Angeles City Council. She is among the featured interviewees in “Playa Vista — A Four Decade Overnight Success,” which documents her political career.

Jane Goodman became a counselor educator at age 50 after many years as a practicing career counselor and trainer, first at a women’s center and then with hourly auto and telecommunication workers. It was very rewarding work, and at age 64 she retired. She’s continued to write and teach, and she finished the fifth edition of

Barbara (Gerson) Joye and her husband, Reid Jenkins, now live in Clairmont Place, a senior independent living condo community in Atlanta. They are active in Clairmont Progressives. With others, they have been standing on the nearby road twice a week with signs that first proclaimed “Black Lives Matter” following George Floyd’s murder and later proclaimed “Vote for change,” and signs promoting democratic candidates for state and federal office, as well as supporting other efforts to get out the vote. Barbara is also active in the Democratic Socialists of America and studies Spanish and drawing.

Richard Price just had his memoir “Inside/Outside: Adventures in Caribbean History and Anthropology” published. The book includes reminiscences about Fieldston in the 1950s, especially about teachers Joe Papaleo, Frances Grant, Les Spetter, Elbert Lenrow, and Smitty, as well as various classmates.

Jean Senegas is so glad to have seen so many classmates at the reunions over the years. Here are some things Jean has been busy with over the years: Assistant Librarian at the National Audubon Society in New York City; bookmobile driver in Lawrence, Kansas; insect collecting in the Rocky Mountains; classes in field ornithology, in scientific illustration, calligraphy, lace-making, and juggling; and canoeing in the Ozarks in Missouri and Arkansas. bloggers and “others are exuberantly invited to join their ranks!” says Allan.

Hal Freedman and his wife, Willi Rudowsky, had a couple of bucket list hits recently. They were inducted into the St. Petersburg Senior Hall of Fame, which came with a key to the city. This honor is given to seniors who have made exceptional contributions to the community with their “time and treasure.” A bonus was being invited to ride in the annual Santa Parade, which was “a lot easier than walking in the Pride Parade, as I did earlier this year,” Hal says.

Peter Sobel is recovering well from plastic surgery following the Mohs resection of some pesky cancerous basal cells.

Allan Shedlin created the Daddying Film Festival and Forum as part of the work of his DADvocacy Consulting Group. Jane Paley ’86 is a member of the DADvisory team and Fredda Weiss ’59 will be one of the jurists. During a recent planning trip, Allan visited Jeff Moskin ’59, Ruth Galanter ’59, Bill Weber ’59, Ann Aceves ’52, and Fred Nathan ’79 Louis Livingston ’59, Nick Delbanco ’59, and Richard Price ’59 have all been guest

1960

Julie Adams Strandberg received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Dance Education Organization. Julie is a distinguished senior lecturer emerita and founding director of the Brown Dance Program from 1969–2022 at Brown University. When not dancing, she enjoys family adventures with her husband, daughters, son-in-law, and grandsons.

Peter Heiman recently performed the role of Major General Stanley in a production of “The Pirates of Penzance” by the Ridgewood Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, a local group celebrating 85 years doing the Gilbert and Sullivan canon. A couple of lines in the Major General’s signature song accompanied his Fieldglass senior picture, which eased slightly the task of memorizing for the role.

David Kann had his book of poetry, “Pip On the Farm,” accepted for publication by Fernwood Press, to be released in 2023. In the past, David has had four chapbooks published, but nothing this big.

Dan Rottenberg had a new book published, “The Education of a Journalist.” Through 70 years of media turmoil, Dan carved a rewarding life as editor of seven groundbreaking publications, author of 12 books, press critic, business writer, film critic, arts critic, and dining critic. As a champion of free speech, he successfully defended seven libel suits and survived protest demonstrations and death threats. In this memoir, he records his firsthand impressions of the notable people he encountered and recalls how journalists practiced their craft during the last decades of the printing press. And he suggests how — even in a digital age — other aspiring journalists might follow in his footsteps.

1962

Margie Peppercorn has retired from pediatrics and her children and grandchildren are thriving. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Margie had a fun year in which she got to see many of her ECFS classmates on Zoom or at their Fieldston Reunion. She also finished writing a book she started years ago, “Mrs. M.D.,” which describes the many crazy situations she encountered while struggling to combine her career as a female physician with the demands of her family and menagerie of animals.

1963

John Rudy is sad to share that he lost his partner Judy Mir on October 8, 2021.

1964

Richard Handler has moved after 36 years practicing medicine in Saranac Lake — where he and his wife of 54 years, Leslie, raised their children (along with a pet wolf) in the woods and on the lakes — to a village in Oregon. Two of his sons are physicians and a third is a professor of environmental science. While age and injuries have curtailed his involvement in sports, photography now fills that void.

Marcia Knight’s daughter Ashley is about to have her second child. Marcia’s granddaughter Liv is “adorable and looking forward to her baby brother in January 2023,” says Marcia. Ashley is a neuroradiologist at Weill Cornell Medicine in Manhattan.

Claire Max was the Director of University of California Observatories from 2014 through 2021 and Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz. UC Observatories runs Lick Observatory and she was glad to be able to bring the observatory through both a financial crisis and a forest fire to emerge healthy on the other side! During the years at home during COVID-19, she missed socializing, going to concerts, skiing, and hiking, but has been singing more to compensate and is on the lookout for a new opportunity to be an innovative leader or teacher. Her husband, Jonathon Arons, is doing well, her son Sam and his family have moved back to Oakland (closer to Claire in Berkeley), and they have two grandchildren who she is able to spend time with.

Nick Meyer is doing well and seems to have “my original set of marbles.” He is working on his next Sherlock Holmes pastiche novel, is writing a Star Trek podcast for Paramount Pictures, and is working on a new television series. Two of his three daughters are engaged and the only shocks to his system are “the headlines and the fact that Los Angeles (and the Mississippi) are running out of water.”

Ted Roth is continuing his photo efforts to capture the demolition of the brass factories that were the subject of his 2015 book “Brass Valley: The Fall of an American Industry.” He is now finishing a book of photography of the last factory stack standing, the second-tallest structure in Waterbury, Connecticut.

1965

Barton H. Kogan passed away in his home city of Los Angeles on October 3, 2022. Bart was a pillar of the Los Angeles Jewish community, having held virtually every office in his beloved Sinai Temple, leading the Western Region of Temple Men’s Clubs, and serving on the boards of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and the L.A. Hebrew High School. He mentored generations of his brothers of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and was a longtime major supporter of his alma mater, the George Washington University.

He nurtured and supported countless young people, who will remember him as having a major impact on their lives.

1966

Nick Kalman was selected for promotion to the rank of commander in the United States Navy Reserve in July 2022. Nick has been serving since 2007, including a 2010 deployment to Afghanistan for which he was awarded the Bronze Star. Also in July, Nick was promoted at Fox News to senior political and foreign affairs producer.

1967

Margaret (Goldin) Lincoln, Lakeview Schools District Librarian in Battle Creek, Michigan, and a United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Teacher Fellow, was proud to undertake a “Remembrance in Action: Responding to the Holocaust in Today’s World” project. Events included a local art center display of “The Holocaust Unfolds” from the Detroit Jewish News Foundation and “From Darkness to Light: Mosaics Inspired by Tragedy,” which was created by artists in response to the deadly attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Eric Manheimer took a brief retirement from medicine a few years ago and his memoir “12 Patients” was picked up by NBC as the TV show “New Amsterdam,” which is filming its fifth season in Brooklyn. He has been married for 37 years to Diana and has two children, Alexei and Marina, and four grandchildren. The axis of his life has shifted to Mexico, Diana’s homeland, and Latin America more generally. Eric stays in touch with Bobby Bearnot ’67 and David Comins ’67, who are both thriving.

Jim Pressman and his wife, Donna, have written the story of his family toy company, which Jim was president of for 37 years. To mark the 100th anniversary of when Jim’s father, Jack, started the business, Abbeville Press released the book, “A Century of American Toys and Games: The Story of Pressman Toy.”

Cathy Rogers says that Fieldston was a strange time for her after losing her mother and moving to New York. “Thank G-d for the Fieldston girls who made me feel welcome,” she says. She now lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The people are warm and welcoming, not dissimilar from those who greeted her at Fieldston.

Shira Rosan, writing as SJ Rozan, received the “Golden Derringer” Lifetime Achievement Award from the Short Mystery Fiction Society for excellence in the short story.

Lois Candee Scarlata is still living in the hills of Provence, France, with her husband. Their kids and grandkids came this summer to see them and they spent a few months in New York City this fall. “Tout va bien,” she says.

Rosenthal, Ms. Grant, and Ms. Shimanouchi!

1968

to Karen Hirshon ’76 and has two children, Lauren and Elliot, and one granddaughter, Quinn.

Ken Schwartz fondly remembers going to a Celtics game at the old Madison Square Garden with Jim “Hondo” Pressman ’67. They sat in the highest seats and watched the entire crowd stand and cheer below — “What a rush!” he says.

Alumni from the Classes of 1966–1968 enjoyed chatting on a one-hour Zoom schmooze in November.

Katrin Belenky Peck ’68, Samuel Peck ’68, Donna Orenstein Kerner ’68, Paula Lapin Zeman ’68, Daniel Brown ’68, Stephen Hirshon ’68, and Joan Beranbaum ’67 were in attendance. They caught up on their lives since their 50th Reunion and had a lively discussion about beloved Fieldston teachers including Messers Kafka, Clemens, and Koundakjian, and Ms.

Paul Farbman and his wife Lani continue to grow their South Bay Archery Lessons in Redondo Beach, California, sending students to state and national tournaments, competing themselves, and hosting tournaments benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the American Cancer Society. The shift from teacherlibrarian to archery coach has been fun and rewarding, but retirement is a vague concept. “Fieldston would benefit greatly from an archery team; it teaches confidence, focus, body awareness, physiology, physics, and more!” he says.

Paula Lapin is a retired real estate attorney specializing in condos and homeowners associations. She still enjoys consulting for her firm and is enjoying retirement, visiting kids and grandkids, keeping in shape, and doing lots of reading.

Dr. Stephen C. Hirshon is a retired professor of art history, primarily teaching modern art with a focus on Henri Matisse, as well as a secondary interest in traditional Warli art from India. He is married

Katrin Belenky Peck recently performed “La Petite Messe Solennelle” by Gioachino Rossini as a soprano in the New Dominion Chorale at a performance hall in Alexandria, Virginia. She last sang that piece in Fieldston Upper School Chorus under Bernie Wertman’s direction 54 years ago! In the audience was Katrin’s husband, Samuel Peck ’68, and cousin Peter Belenky ’60 with his wife, Anne.

Rick Strong is still playing string bass and electric bass as a jazz musician and working as a software engineer at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

1969

Susan Colcher met up with Susan Leicher ’69 and Marguerite Michael Beaser ’69 at the Harvard Coop for a reading of Leicher’s newest novel, “Acts of Atonement,” in June 2022.

California, but encountered serious health problems this year. As of November, he’s in a rehab hospital in San Francisco with a long road ahead, but a good prognosis, and appreciates hearing news from his classmates.

1971

David Wimpfheimer and his wife, Patty, were thrilled to catch up with other alumni at the June reunion. Despite COVID-19 concerns, he traveled a lot this year, leading nature tours in Mexico and Alaska and visiting Florida, Peru, and Ireland with Patty. Most of the time he is closer to home in Point Reyes, north of San Francisco, and welcomes any alumni to stop by.

Nancy Lowenstein will be retiring in June 2023 from Boston University after 23 years teaching. She will be busy with her other pursuits including weaving, ballroom dance, swimming, and more.

1973

Andy Mayer and his wife, Michele, are living in Solana Beach, California. They now split their time between there and Crested Butte, Colorado. He is now working part time at a new company, DSS Games, that he started along with his two sons, Trevor and Noah.

1977

Susan Colcher ’69, Susan Leicher ’69, and Marguerite Michael Beaser ’69

Margaret Sapir is now living in Rincon, Puerto Rico, from December through May, and keeps busy playing pickleball and traveling during the rest of the year.

Nancy Scheck has two grandchildren, a granddaughter and a grandson. She has Parkinson’s, but is still able to do book appraisals.

1970

Larry Kutner had been happily consulting and teaching sailing in Silicon Valley,

Robert Lemle and his wife, Roni, co-founded the Long Island Children’s Museum, which recently earned accreditation, the highest national recognition, from the American Alliance of Museums, making it the only children’s museum in New York State that is currently accredited. In 2012, the museum received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for institutions that make “significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.”

Robert and Roni have both served as board chairs of the museum and continue to serve as trustees.

Leslie Carroll and her husband, Scott Gilman, have moved back to New York City, where Leslie has been marrying her twin careers as author and actress by narrating the audiobooks for her nonfiction royal series for Penguin Random House. She will complete the audio narration for her trilogy of Marie Antoinette novels, written under the pen name Juliet Grey, in early 2023.

Stephen Jacobs decided to semiretire in July 2022 after 30 years as Managing Partner of his orthopaedic group, and he is now enjoying more time with his two children and four grandchildren, with another on the way. With a daughter living in Silver Spring, Maryland, and a son living in Austin, Texas, he expects lots of travel ahead!

Susie Russak shares with great sadness that her father, Nathan Lubow ’46, passed away on October 24, 2022. In his last days, they sang the Fieldston song together. Susie was a secondgeneration Fieldston student and they shared fond memories of the grassy banks and wooded ways.

1978

Bill Beres enjoyed a good summer and fall in Westport, Connecticut, with minimal commuting to Broadridge Financial in New York City. This left time for sailing, softball with Matt Mandell ’78, and a round of golf with Mitch Hauser ’78. He has one son in high school; has another in college in Savannah, Georgia; and his third, Ryan Beres ’09, recently moved to Miami. He is looking forward to his 45th Fieldston Reunion on the Quad in June!

Eric Friedman is in his 28th year working on sustainability and climate issues with the state government in Massachusetts and is excited about what the next few years will bring. He is now watching his two teens navigate high school life, including a senior who is working on his college applications. Eric was delighted to reconnect with Beth Holtzman ’78 in Vermont this past summer and is looking forward to attending this year’s reunion.

Joy Graham went on a scuba vacation in the Solomon Islands with a diving group she belongs to, the International Society of Aquatic Medicine. She says it was an amazing trip!

Mitchell Hauser is enjoying life and the natural beauty of Cape Cod. He is fully entrenched in a new career battling addiction as a clinician and therapist in Plymouth, Massachusetts, at an acute treatment center. Living on a golf course, he has had visits from Bill Beres ’78 and Dana Robin ’78, and they have determined that golf is the most frustrating sport.

1980

Richard Koreto’s sixth mystery novel, “The Greenleaf Murders,” has just come out. His wife and he have two grown daughters and live in Suffern, New York, and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. He’s stayed in touch with Maude Brickner ’80

Alex Shapiro is the first composer who publishes solely her own catalog to be elected to the board of directors of the Music Publishers Association of the United States, representing her company Activist Music LLC. Alex has held the symphonic and concert writer seat on the board of directors of ASCAP since 2014, is an officer of the ASCAP Foundation, and serves on the board of the Aaron Copland Fund for Music. She is among the most frequently performed composers in the wind band world, and her second electroacoustic symphony “SUSPENDED” premiered in July 2021 and continues to enjoy many subsequent performances.

1981

Anthony Howell recently published “The African Diaspora in Arts and Culture from A to Z.”

1982

Terry Alexander reconnected with classmates at a recent high school football game, including Andi DeBlasio ’82; Allan Haynes, Sr ’82; Darryl Selsey ’82; Cari DeBlasio ’84; Robert Godosky ’81; and Tracy Chutorian ’82 , whose son Declan S. ’23 was playing for Fieldston. Terry and his wife, Carolyn, have two sons and two daughters, the latter two rooming together at college this year. He adds that he loved attending Reunions and catching up with everyone!

Helayne Cohen is busy making pottery and jewelry in her studio on Martha’s Vineyard!

Nancy (Shainberg) Colier’s fifth book, “The Emotionally Exhausted Woman,“ was just published.

James Dash is retiring from working for the City of New York after 29 years of service. Ted Hirsch’s mother Felicia published Ted’s novel posthumously and donated a beautiful copy to their class, and the book is currently making the rounds.

before anyone from our class (except Elana Yevsaev ’82) has known him.

and quantitative methods of research in the social sciences. David and Amy have two daughters, one in graduate school at University of Chicago and the other in college at Penn State University.

Jonathan Skurnik shares his appreciation to Elana Rudner ’82 and Alessandra DeBlasio ’82 for helping to convene nearly 80 classmates for their 40th reunion. Since then, he’s enjoyed their local meetups in Los Angeles.

David Kaminski has stepped away from his career as an emergency medicine physician — he is avoiding the term “retired” — and opened a bike shop, River Mill Cycles, in the small town of Saxapahaw, North Carolina. “I’m still playing competitive Ultimate, placing 2nd at Beach Nationals and 4th at The World Championships in Limerick, Ireland, in the 50+ division this year. I’m coaching my son’s middle school team, as well.” He is married with two kids, 17 and 13 years old, both of whom are really into Ultimate.

Joey Lieber had a first-time gallery exhibition of his photography this past summer at New Era Gallery. All the photos are from Vinalhaven, Maine, where he has been spending summers since

David Shaffer met his wife, Amy, in the Peace Corps in Nepal. He got a Ph.D. from MIT and now is the Sears Bascom Professor of Learning Analytics at the University of Wisconsin. To the surprise of no one in Dr. Taback’s calculus classes, David founded the field of quantitative ethnography, which unifies qualitative

Jessica Wickham enjoyed reconnecting with classmates at her Fieldston Reunion! This summer, she delivered two conference tables to the Mellon Foundation in New York City, each made from a single tree that was sourced in the Hudson Valley. “It was a thrill,” she said, particularly the table that went into the Bollingen Library Room, which brought her right back to Mal Goodman’s philosophy class at Fieldston!

There is an unconfirmed but reliable rumor that Elana (Rudner) Yevsaev ’82 has already begun planning classmates’ 100th birthday celebrations. Adam Balsam ’82 has asked everyone to pencil in the date — June 24, 2064 — for his party, which is to be held at the Lucerne Hotel, first floor, in the Seniors’ Ballroom (sweatsuit casual).

1983

Deardra Zahara Duncan , MA, ED.M, MS.Ed, counselor, life coach, mother, and author, has proudly published her first book, “Life is Fine,” illustrated by her daughter Kalila Ain. It is a book for children and adults about family, love, loss, grief, and life and is inspired by true events and real people.

Brenna B. Mahoney was appointed Clerk of Court for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in February. Brenna is the first woman to hold the position in the EDNY since the Court’s establishment in 1865.

1988

Jenny Lefcourt runs a natural and organic wine import company called Jenny & Francois Selections, which supplies wine to shops and restaurants across the country. Her husband, James Robinson, is a talented photographer who loves gardening, and her daughter Zoe R. ’30 is currently in 5th Grade at Fieldston Lower. Zoe’s team recently won their last softball tournament of the season!

Alysia Reiner just wrapped acting in three independent features and stars as Agent Deever in “Ms. Marvel” on Disney+ and Kathryn on “Shining Vale” alongside

Courtney Cox and Greg Kinnear on Starz, after finishing five seasons on “Better Things” on F/X. She is the zero waste eco-emissary for IZZY and just collaborated with fellow alum Gaby Moss ’93 on Gaby’s newest Dissent jewelry campaign, with 20% of profits going to National Network of Abortion Funds.

Nicole Been Siskind’s daughter Emma Siskind ’22 graduated in May 2022 and is attending Northwestern University. Keira S. ’24 is a junior at Fieldston. Bob Montera was both Nicole’s and Emma’s teacher, and Nicole says it’s hard to believe her ECFS journey started in 1974. She sends love to all the alumni she knows as good friends at ECFS as well as to the many friends they have made along the way with their girls.

Allison Gilbert Weintraub had her latest book come out a few months ago and was thrilled to return to Ethical Culture to speak about the craft of writing with fellow alumni Joan Morgan ’83. Her book “Listen, World!” is the first biography of Elsie Robinson, an American newspaper columnist who became the most-read woman in the country.

1991

Gabriel Portnof is now Head of Lighting at DreamWorks Animation for the Feature

Films. He did some work on “Puss in Boots 2” as CG Supervisor recently. Currently, he is working on “Trolls 3,” which will come out around Thanksgiving 2023. His credits include 20 feature films dating back to “Shrek 2” and he is a sometimes contributor to Netflix’s “LOVE DEATH + ROBOTS” series. He has two young children, Patrick and Saoirse, and lives most of the time in California, with occasional stints back at his home on the Upper West Side, where he lives downstairs from his sister Jennie Portnof ’88

1994

Mark Connelly is still living in Sydney, Australia, and was able to find both of his children a baseball team to play on. He started a company called Populares that helped elect six independent women to Parliament who stood for integrity and strong climate action.

Daryl Freimark visited Matt McGowan ’94 in Toronto in August and got to bond with his two boys, Kal and Lachlan, and then they celebrated Matt’s birthday with Duran Duran.

Dr. Mara Horowitz was promoted to Assistant Professor at State University of New York at Purchase in the Department of Liberal Studies to build a curriculum based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. She also founded an archaeological dig on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

Jamie Patricof completed the New York City Marathon with his 88-year-old father, who was the oldest person to finish the marathon.

Chotsani Sackey became a published author after co-writing a book, “Dare to Express: A Collection of Bold Stories and Brave Women.” Her chapter chronicles her spiritual journey to selfactualization and motherhood.

Nandi Welch moved to the Atlanta area after 46 years living in New York and New Jersey and is enjoying Southern hospitality.

1999

Sam Grossman is working as an English teacher at the Bronx High School of Science, and he was recently profiled by one of his seniors for their AP Creative Writing course.

Greg Hanlon recently co-wrote New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin’s book, “A Giant Win,” about the 2007 Super Bowl, where the Giants stunned by winning over the then-undefeated New England Patriots.

2003

Aaron Gibralter lives on the Upper East Side with his wife, Natalie, and two children, Leo and Rachel. Leo started Kindergarten at Hunter in September. Aaron and Natalie both work in technology.

Jono Schafler and Maia Schafler spent 2022 accompanying their 14-month-old, Ari, on recreational visits to construction sites, reading books about excavators and dump trucks, and proudly celebrating Ari’s ethical leadership as he reminds us all to “dig, dig, dig!”

2004

Sisters Danielle Dankner and Niki Dankner ’07 founded the nonprofit Tickled HOT Pink (THP) in their early Fieldston days and have raised over $1,000,000 so far for various female health organizations. This year, THP is hosting Plan A, a virtual auction and raffle to benefit The Brigid Alliance, the only national organization working to provide long-distance travel and other practical support for abortion access. Committee members include Nina Dine ’07, Julia Bass ’07, Maggie Braine ’07, Zoe Kessler ’07, and Rachel Schorr ’09.

2005

Katie Blandford-Levy and Brien Blandford-Levy recently welcomed baby Aurora to the world in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Charles Decker completed his service after two-plus terms on the New Haven Board of Alders, having chaired the Legislation Committee for three years. During that time, New Haven passed significant bills addressing affordable housing, police reform, and climate change. He now works as a research coordinator for UNITE HERE, the labor union representing 300,000 hospitality workers in the United States and Canada.

2006

Maisie Bornstein married Mike Levine in Brooklyn on October 7, 2022. Many of her ECFS classmates were there to celebrate!

Top Row (L-R): Basha Silver ’06, Jared Blake ’06, Max Shewer ’06, Rebecca Stursberg ’06, Mollie Sandberg Glasser ’06, Josh Glasser ’06, Tim Lax ’07, Annie deBoer ’08. Middle Row (L-R): Merrie Franzblau (Weintraub) ’06, Jessica Koby Gawlik ’06, Priyanka Misra ’06. Front Row (L-R): Samantha Dascher ’06, Maisie Bornstein ’06

Jessica Koby Gawlik and Mike Gawlik welcomed their son Henry on June 20, 2022.

Mollie Sandberg Glasser and Josh Glasser ’06 welcomed their second son, Harry, on January 11, 2022. Theo, born May 29, 2020, is loving his new role as big brother to baby Harry.

Basha Silver and Tim Lax ’07 welcomed their son Mischa on February 1, 2022.

2007

Rachel Burns remembers Claire Hays Montaigne ’07, an assistant professor of family medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), who died from cancer on September 21, 2022. Rachel, Monica Albu ’07, and Claire’s friends and family share: “As chief resident at OHSU, she developed the interests that would define her medical career: working with underserved communities, improving women’s health, and caring for pregnant women with substance abuse issues. Claire was a patient-centered physician who was generous with her time, and her brilliant career as a doctor came as no surprise to anyone who knew her at Fieldston, where she was an outstanding student, dedicated athlete, and extraordinary friend. Claire’s greatest joy came from spending time with her daughter, Charlotte, born in 2020; husband, Matt; and dog, Maggie. Claire is also survived by her parents and her sister Nuni Montaigne ’08.”

2008

Perry Leon married Alexandra Padnos in Holland, Michigan, in summer 2022. They recently relocated from Los Angeles and are now living on the Upper East Side. Perry is working in growth equity investing, and Alexandra is working with Josh Ingram ’04 at MOST Wanted Co, a brand strategy and innovation consultancy they started in 2020.

2011

Samuel Ravetz is wrapping up work on his second gubernatorial race — this cycle with Beto O’Rourke — and will soon switch gears to the next campaign. Last year, Sam left Bombas after four years managing the distribution of their donation shoes, where he helped grow their giving operation from one million pairs to 45 million distributed to those in need across all 50 states. Sam attributes his eventual leap into the political world to an event led by fellow Fieldston alum and Future Now Founder Daniel Squadron ’98

2012

Madi Sacks shares a note of appreciation for the Class of 2012. “To this date, the closest people in my life are my friends from Fieldston,” says Madi. “I’m grateful every day for them, the school that brought them into my life, and the teachers and faculty who shaped us into the people we are.”

2014

Aasiyah Ali graduated from Brooklyn Law school last May and is currently working as an Assistant Appellate Court Attorney for the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department. She recently passed the July 2022 bar exam and hopes to be sworn in by February 2023.

2016

Ben Thier launched a new educational technology tool for middle and high school classrooms focused on peer feedback and building classroom community after completing his master’s degree in learning design and technology from Stanford University. If any teachers or alumni would like to try the tool, please reach out!

2017

Maya Gemson joined Caroline Elias ’14 at Bergdorf Goodman earlier this year, where they work alongside one another creating digital content for both the women’s and men’s stores and celebrate their love of fashion and the arts.

2018

Ariana Baez graduated from Wesleyan University in May of 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts, where she double majored in social studies and educational studies and received a certificate in Social Cultural and Critical Theory. She graduated with honors for writing a thesis called “Educated But Still Dreaming: The False Promise of the American Dream.” Now she is a Humanities Teaching Fellow at Miss Porter’s School. Ariana is a master’s degree candidate through the Independent School Teaching Residency program of the University of Pennsylvania GSE and will graduate in the spring of 2024.

at the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues (IATF). IATF is a nonpartisan organization that raises awareness about and provides educational resources and programming on issues facing Israel’s Arab citizens. They also have a forthcoming article on Incantation Bowls in New Voices magazine.

2020

Gabriel Hostin is currently in his second year at Harvard University after gap year learning experiences in Utah, Hawaii, Costa Rica, South Africa, and Bahamas. He created a nonprofit called IvyLeagueMentoring which connects mentors from the Ivy League to low-income, marginalized high schoolers. He performs hip-hop as well as afro-beat dance on the Harvard Expressions and the Wahala Boys dance teams and hosts a history podcast called Untextbooked that has been awarded by Apple and Spotify.

2021

Axis Familant has been cast in the world’s first all-neurodivergent production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” as Mrs. Shears.

If you are a member of the classes of 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, or 2013, we hope you’ll join us! Contact alumni@ecfs.org for more information.