15 minute read
News From Alumni
from SPARK Magazine // Fall 2022
by Think
1950
Jane Finnegan Boinest, mother of Pem Boinest Hall ’75 and Page Boinest Melton Ivie ’79, grandmother of Kate Hall Booker ’04, Janie Hall ’11, Hopie Melton and Nell Melton, died May 25, 2022.
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1960
Kathleen Beattie Watkins, mother of Kendall McGlynn ’87 and Stewart Allen ’89, died July 23, 2022.
1962
Members of the Class of 1962 came together to celebrate Homecoming weekend.
1966
After years of research, Melissa Lehigh was finally able to register her daughters and herself in the Daughters of the American Revolution. She says, “It was worth all the effort to join such a wonderful group of women who do so much to preserve our country’s heritage.”
1967
The Class of 1967 had a blast participating in the Homecoming weekend festivities.
1969
Francis “Frank” Williams
died June 7, 2022.
1970
Elizabeth “Dale” Pruitt
Wilkinson, former faculty member and sister of Julie Pruitt Bryan ’74 and Carrie Pruitt Emery ’79 as well as mother of Jennifer Swink Bower ’98 and stepmother of Heath Wilkinson ’93, died July 9, 2022.
In mid-July a group of six Collegiate alums — Terrell Williams, John Hamner, Steve Gentil, Greg Williams ’69, Cliff Kirkmyer ’69 and Chris Wiltshire ’72 — and two nonCougars (Cliff Culley and David Westerlund) went on a golf trip to Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Class of 1970 had held its 50th reunion celebration (delayed due to COVID-19) in November 2021. One popular member of the class, Susan Lecky Williams, was unable to attend the reunion due to the distance from her home in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland.
When the golf group received its itinerary and realized they would be playing golf courses in Northern Ireland, they set out to see if they could connect with Susan. After many texts and emails it was agreed that after playing Royal Portrush they would meet Susan at the Galgorm Manor Inn in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. It was great of her to make the hourplus drive (each way) from Bangor to see them.
It was a fabulous reunion and they had a great time catching up. Lots of smiles and laughs. It was fascinating to hear of her life and family in Northern Ireland. It is safe to say she is thriving and loving life. She sends her kind regards to all of her classmates and fellow Cougars.
1971
S. Lawrence Dumville
died May 16, 2022.
1973
Some members of the Class of 1973 and 1972 — Beth Clough ’72, Buzzy Northen, Dave Clough and Dan Savage — had a good time gathering together at Figure 8 Island.
1976
Ann Robins Strickler welcomed her second grandson, Oliver Scott Gabler, in September.
1980
David Murphy, brother of Tim Murphy ’83, died July 7, 2022.
1982
Jay DeVoe, winner of the Alex Smith ’65 Service Award, son of Mary Bruce DeVoe ’56, brother of Mary Garner DeVoe ’78 and Libby DeVoe Lewis ’84, and father of Mary Weston DeVoe ’14 and Catherine DeVoe ’16, died Sept. 22, 2022.
Brandon Fox and her husband, Chris Arias, sailed to Manhattan from Deltaville and back in their 1985 Bristol 411. The trip took three weeks, and although they weathered a bad storm, it was a great time. “I’m glad I have the winter to recover, though, before I contemplate any more boating,” she says.
1984
Sarah Paxton has had a busy year. She and husband Andy Thornton sold the building that housed LaDiff for 24 years, bought new property in Manchester and then spent the next seven months in “moving sale” mode. “Imagine moving your 3,000 square-foothouse 25 times!” she says. Andy is now retired — although he keeps an office and a wood shop on site and is very involved in developing the rest of the property — and Sarah is running the next iteration of LaDiff solo. She says she’d love to show it off to any Cougars who want to visit. You’ll find the new store located at 1011 Commerce Road.
John Woodward was appointed honorary consul of the Slovak Republic in Atlanta, with jurisdiction covering Georgia and South Carolina. He is also vice president, Global Commerce, at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, leading the foreign trade and investment group, and he serves on the boards of Georgia Foreign Trade Zone, Center for Advancement and Study of International Education, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, and several binational chambers of commerce.
William Joynt, brother of Tori Joynt Bosse ’83, died Aug. 27, 2022.
1988
Michelle Hudgins joined the executive team at the Pew Research Center as vice president of communications.
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2 2. The Class of 1967 had a blast participating in the Homecoming weekend festivities.
3. In mid-July a group of six Collegiate alums —
Terrell Williams ’70, John Hamner ’70, Steve
Gentil ’70, Greg Williams ’69, Cliff Kirkmyer ’69 and Chris Wiltshire ’72 — went on a golf trip to Scotland and Northern Ireland and met up with fellow Collegiate graduate Susan Lecky
Williams ’70.
4. Some members of the Class of 1973 and 1972 — Beth Clough ’72, Buzzy Northen ’73, Dave
Clough ’73 and Dan Savage ’73 — had a good time gathering together at Figure 8 Island. 5. Sarah Paxton ’84 and husband Andy Thornton sold the building that housed LaDiff for 24 years, bought new property in Manchester and then spent the next seven months in “moving sale” mode.
6. John Woodward ’84 was appointed honorary consul of the Slovak Republic in Atlanta, with jurisdiction covering Georgia and South Carolina.
7. Michelle Hudgins ’88 joined the executive team at the Pew Research Center as vice president of communications.
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5 6 7
On July 1, 2022, Joy Sisisky was appointed chief executive officer of the Bay Area Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund. The organization is the second largest Jewish community foundation in North America with more than $2.3 billion in assets, and the nonprofit grants nearly $200 million a year to thousands of Jewish and secular causes in the U.S., Israel and around the world. Joy has been living in San Francisco for six years with her husband, Jonathan Salky, and their two daughters, Alexandra (12) and Emmy (9). After living in New York for 16 years, they’re enjoying life on the West Coast — especially the weather and outdoor lifestyle. Early in the pandemic the family hit the road and drove back and forth cross country to visit their Richmond family for six weeks. “It was probably the longest stretch I’ve been home since graduating high school and was really quite special,” she says.
2001
Lizzie Litterini and husband Pete welcomed their second son, Charlie, on July 26, 2022. “Big brother Henry,” she says, “is taking his job very seriously!”
2002
Leigh Enoch Wit and husband Art welcomed Cooper Grayson Wit on May 23, 2022. Cooper joins big sisters Reese (5) and Sloane (2).
Michael Gottwald was married in New Orleans in March 2022. “It was a re-do of our wedding,” he says, “this time with actual people there, since the first go-round scheduled for 2020 got minimized to a backyard and eight people.” Collegiate friends Jonathan Marks and Vishesh Pathak were there. “The latter two gave toasts for the ages,” says Michael. “Vishesh concentrated on my illustrious career as an athlete at Collegiate; Yogi’s was kind of a beat poetry piece. Jay Nelson also flew in, but unfortunately had to leave immediately because his child was bitten by a raccoon at his parents’ home (next door to my parents’ home) in Virginia. TBD which side of the property line the raccoon called home and thereby whether Dr. Bill Gottwald is actually to blame. Classmates who know Jay, Yogi and myself might think I’m kidding; rest assured I am not. Fortunately we relied on the vast knowledge we had gained from our 9th Grade health class group project on rabies — and the first film I ever made — to determine that Jay’s offspring was not rabid. Other than that unfortunate incident, it was a lovely weekend.” 2
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1. Joy Sisisky ’94 was appointed chief executive officer of the Bay Area Jewish
Community Federation and Endowment Fund.
2. Lizzie Litterini ’01 and husband Pete welcomed their second son, Charlie, on July 26, 2022.
3. Leigh Enoch Wit ’02 and husband Art welcomed Cooper Grayson Wit on
May 23, 2022.
4. Kevin McGeorge ’03 helped lead a group of high school students from around the country on a 12-day Rocky Mountain adventure through Colorado.
2003
Michael Rand moved to Brattleboro, Vt.
Fellowship of Christians in Universities & Schools (FOCUS) volunteer Kevin McGeorge along with Collegiate parents Jon-Marc, director of FOCUS, and Meg Haden, led a group of high school students from around the country on a 12-day Rocky Mountain adventure through Colorado. Several of the students in attendance were Collegiate graduates of the Class of 2022: Kate Riopelle ’22, Reid Coleman ’22, Phillip Clarke ’22 and Scottie Ruth ’22. The crew had an incredible trip filled with activities such as fly fishing on the Arkansas river, rock climbing and repelling, white water rafting and summiting Mt. Harvard at 14,424 feet. FOCUS meets throughout the school year with Collegiate Middle and Upper School students. For more information on FOCUS, please feel free to reach out to Jon-Marc at jhaden@infocus.org.
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1. Blair Northern Williamson ’04 will debut her children’s picture book, Island Girls, in late 2022.
2. Lizzy Kitces ’05 welcomed her daughter in
February 2022.
3. Sarah Gray Tullidge Innes ’05 and husband Philip welcomed their third child,
Martha Gray Innes, on July 19, 2022.
4. Brooke Scott ’08 welcomed Harper Lee
Scott on May 4, 2022.
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2004
Blair Northern Williamson will debut her children’s picture book, Island Girls, in late 2022. Island Girls is an informational fiction story written to spread awareness about plastics in the ocean and was inspired by her own experiences as a scuba-diving instructor. The story is beautifully illustrated by Ukrainian artist Svitlana Holovchenko, who also shares Blair’s passion for cleaning up our oceans. Blair will be a featured author at the Palmetto State Literary Association Conference in 2023, and she is sponsored by Plastic Ocean Project. You can read more about her environmental efforts or any other book news on her website, theislandwriter.com.
2005
Lizzy Kitces welcomed a daughter, Marley Emma, in February 2022.
Sarah Gray Tullidge Innes and husband Philip welcomed their third child, Martha Gray Innes, on July 19, 2022. Thomas and Louise are proud to have stepped into the role of being her big brother and sister.
2008
Brooke Scott welcomed Harper Lee Scott, who came into this world at eight pounds, 15 ounces and 23 inches long, at 4:52 p.m. on May 4, 2022.
2009
Grace Williams married Jeremy Dunn on Sept. 4, 2022, in the Enchanted Garden at the Poe Museum in downtown Richmond. Following the ceremony, a lovely reception was held at the Jefferson Hotel.
Liz Jessee Bruni and Ben Bruni ’10 welcomed daughter Nell on April 15, 2022.
2011
Peyton Spivey completed her active duty tour at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska this past spring and transitioned to the Air Force Reserve as a flight nurse with the 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron in Tampa Bay, Fla. “I’m happy to be out of the cold,” she says, “and back on the East Coast!”
2012
Lucy Gordon Smith married Bryan Thomas Carter on July 9, 2022, at Mount Ida Farm in Scottsville. Their chihuahua, Bruiser, was part of the ceremony. The couple met while at the University of Virginia. The couple honeymooned in Napa, Calif. after the wedding and now live in Charlottesville, where Lucy works for PowerSchool as an account manager for inside sales, and Bryan works as an analyst for the U.S. Army.
2013
Natalie Ferguson writes, “My husband Peter Ferguson and I have been together since our time at Collegiate and got married May 28, 2022! My siblings Nicolette Lerch ’11 and Jack Lerch ’19 were included in the wedding as well!” 5
4
1. Grace Williams ’09 married Jeremy Dunn on Sept. 4, 2022.
2. Liz Jessee Bruni ’09 and Ben Bruni ’10 welcomed daughter
Nell on April 15, 2022. 3. Peyton Spivey ’11 completed her active duty tour at Joint
Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska this past spring and transitioned to the Air Force Reserve as a flight nurse with the 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron in
Tampa Bay, Fla. 4. Lucy Gordon Smith ’12 married Bryan Thomas Carter on
July 9, 2022.
5. Natalie Ferguson ’13 and Peter Ferguson ’13, who have been together since their days at Collegiate, got married
May 28, 2022.
IN MEMORIAM
Our condolences are offered to these members of the Collegiate family.
Edith Zfass, mother of Sharon MendezPicon ’80 and grandmother of Teo Mendez ’01, Alexandra Mendez-Zfass ’04 and Zach Mendez ’06, died Feb. 20, 2022.
Alex Mandl, father of Melanie Mandl ’87, died March 25, 2022.
Howard Hanchey, husband of Anne Summers Hanchey ’59, died May 17, 2022.
Donelia Campbell, former Cougar Care staff member, died May 21, 2022.
Sarah Sommers, mother-in-law of Sara Maynard Sommers ’80 and grandmother of Sally Sommers ’12, Sam Sommers ’15 and Polly Sommers ’18, died May 27, 2022.
David Quigley, grandfather of Mason Quigley ’24, Carter Quigley ’26 and Knox Quigley ’29, died May 28, 2022.
Elizabeth Harris, former Trustee and mother of Mary Harris ’75 and Elizabeth Harris ’75, died June 4, 2022.
Bernard Lublin, husband of former Lower School faculty member Bobbie Lublin, and father of Suzie Lublin Tiplitz ’85, Keith Lublin ’86 and Kathi Lublin ’88, died June 5, 2022. Martin Walsh, grandfather of Clare Aman ’26 and Julia Aman ’30, died June 6, 2022.
David Cone, brother of Berkley Cone ’68, died June 10, 2022.
Jean Hart, former Middle School faculty member and mother of Philip Hart ’74 and Stephen Hart ’78, and grandmother of Anne Larimer Hart ’06, Phil Hart ’09, Will Hart ’06 and Sam Hart ’20, died June 10, 2022.
Leo Cantor, grandfather of Suzanne Peck ’96, Matt Kitces ’02, Lizzy Kitces Rosenberg ’05, Joe Cantor ’09, Jackson
Cantor ’12 and John Cantor ’16 as well as great-grandfather of Rachel Peck ’25 and Sophia Peck ’28, died June 16, 2022.
Sara “Sasa” Noftsinger, former Lower School cafeteria staff member, and daughter of Margaret Noftsinger ’46, and aunt of Elizabeth Wiertel ’96, David Noftsinger ’11 and Ben Noftsinger ’13, died July 7, 2022.
Marjorie Perrin, mother of Anita Grymes Towell, Middle School faculty member, died July 7, 2022.
Joseph Nuara, father of Becky Nuara Helms ’99, Weezie Nuara ’02 and Jeanne Nuara ’02, and grandfather of Eddie Helms ’31 and Lucy Helms ’33, died July 8, 2022.
Nancie Parr, who died July 13, 2022, and Herbert Parr, who died July 21, were the parents of Lower School 2nd Grade Assistant Debra McKercher, and grandparents of Patrick McKercher ’11.
Duncan Owen Jr., father of Duncan Owen III ’86, Robert Owen ’90, Frances Owen Coleman ’92, father-in-law of Clay Coleman ’89, as well as grandfather of Duncan Owen ’18, Carter Owen ’20, Catherine Owen ’24, Clay Coleman ’19 and Reid Coleman ’22, Ben Owen, Cooper Owen and Campbell Owen, died July 19, 2022.
Harvey Ramos, grandfather of Katherine O’Toole ’25, died July 20, 2022.
John “Terry” Parsley, father of Jimmy Parsley ’86 and Mary Scott Parsley Gunter ’88, died July 22, 2022.
Robert Goodman, father of Melissa Goodman Eckman ’03, died July 27, 2022.
Adam Roush, husband of Margeaux Feore Roush ’96, died July 28, 2022. David Riddick, father of Rebekah McCormick ’96, died August 2022.
Floyd Adams, grandfather of Ashton Pollard ’14, Caroline Pollard ’15, John Pollard ’20, Teddy Pollard ’22 and Stephen Pollard ’26, died Aug. 2, 2022.
Shirley Noffsinger, grandmother of Mary Cameron Crowgey ’13, died Aug. 2, 2022.
John Wake, father of Robert Wake ’81, and grandfather of Caroline Wake ’14 and Daniel Wake ’15, died Aug. 3, 2022.
William Etherington, grandfather of Grace Etherington ’25 and James Etherington ’26, died Aug. 5, 2022.
Patteson “Pat” Branch, husband of Tricia Bullock Branch ’74, and stepfather of Reed Barton ’08 and Margaret Barton ’09, died Aug. 7, 2022.
Gray Glass, father of Graham Glass ’09, died Aug. 7, 2022.
Susan Evins, mother of Sam Evins V and mother-in-law of Penny Evins, former Head of School, and grandmother of Sam Evins VI ’22 and June Evins ’23, died Aug. 15, 2022.
William “Bates” Chappell, father of Mary Margaret Chappell ’86 and Bill Chappell ’90, died Aug. 17, 2022.
George Whitlow, father of Gareth Whitlow ’00 and Tristan Whitlow ’04, died Aug. 17, 2022.
Grace Lindner, former Middle School teacher, died Aug. 20, 2022.
Elizabeth Britton, former faculty member and mother of Elizabeth Lindsey Britton ’66, died Aug. 30, 2022 at age 103.
PLEASE NOTE
These notices were received as of Sept. 22, 2022. This In Memoriam section is taken from printed obituaries, which may be edited for space. Please contact our office if the information is incomplete. The information included is compiled from our database, which is continually updated. To submit a condolence, email spark@collegiate-va.org.
John “Jack” Miller, father of John “Steve” Miller Jr. ’81, father-in-law of Carter Gibbs Miller ’90, grandfather of Jack Miller ’17 and Carrington Miller ’23, died Sept. 1, 2022.
Robert Misage, grandfather of Sadie Webb ’25, died Sept. 12, 2022.
Anne Cockrell, grandmother of Abby Cole ’18, died Sept. 19, 2022.
Hylah Boyd, mother of Hylah Boyd Ballowe ’90, and grandmother of John Ballowe ’21 and Virginia Ballowe ’23, died Sept. 20, 2022.
Charlotte Ivey, mother of Kelly Ivey King ’82, died Sept. 21, 2022.
