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the kink aid school WINTER 2015 201 Kinkaid School Drive Houston, TX 77024
Parents or Alumni: If this publication is addressed to your child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumni Office of the new permanent mailing address.
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honoring
Corbin J. Roberston Jr. March 27, 2015 | Greater Houston Gun Club
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From the Headmaster
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appy New Year from Kinkaid School Drive! I trust that you and your family enjoyed a wonderful holiday season, filled with time for celebration, fellowship and rejuvenation. The year 2015 is shaping up to be another exciting— and excellent—one for Kinkaid. Our Building Together Capital Campaign—to raise $25M for a new dining center and parking garage— is off to a great start. As was mentioned in the last edition of this magazine, the existing cafeteria will be torn down and replaced by a two-story campus dining center. On the first floor, an expanded dining hall will have seating for one-third more students and faculty, create more efficiency and provide inviting spaces for dining and gathering with a broad range of Building Together Committee Member Doug Swanson with Headmaster Andy Martire dining options. The second floor of the dining center will house new classrooms and innovative learning spaces for the Middle School. Also highly anticipated is the parking garage, which will accommodate approximately 600 cars for students, employees and guests. The garage will be located at the south end of campus on the west side of the football stadium and will incorporate important design elements to maximize safety for all drivers. The public kickoff of the Campaign on December 7 was a festive and delicious celebration at the conclusion of the Margaret Kinkaid Holiday Concert. Over 500 attendees enjoyed sampling the fare from eight different food trucks under the sparkle of holiday lights. As of January 6, we have received $17,693,425 in gifts and pledges. We are so grateful for this remarkable support, and we are confident we will reach and exceed our goal in the months ahead. For over a year, the Kinkaid community – faculty, staff, trustees and key alumni and parent leaders – has been preparing for our Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) reaccreditation visit, which occurs once every 10 years. The preparation includes dozens of committees reflecting upon our rich traditions and strong history and simultaneously considering the ways we will continue to grow and improve. I am grateful for everyone’s time and commitment to this important endeavor. In preparation for the visit, the School has completed a Self-Study, a lengthy document of over 200 pages, to share with the visiting team. The document is a resource that will serve as a catalyst for celebration and planning - celebrating the many successes we have experienced over the past 10 years and planning for those areas which are in need of further clarification and improvement. In February, a team of 21 educators from across the Southwest will spend four days at Kinkaid. The visit will include meetings with all constituent groups - students, faculty and staff, trustees, parents and alums. The committee will determine whether its observations are commensurate with what we have written in our Self-Study. After the visit, the committee will share commendations and recommendations for Kinkaid. We are fortunate that Kinkaid remains in a position of strength; however, we must be proactive to ensure we remain the exceptional school that students and parents have loved for over a century. Once we have the site visit report, the Board and Administration will identify key areas to make priorities. I look forward to sharing a report on the visit and an update on the Master Plan for the entire campus later this year. I hope you enjoy the Winter edition of the Kinkaid Magazine, and best wishes for a prosperous and healthy 2015!
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WINTER 2015
WINTER 2015
Contents Feature 18 Building Together
Departments 2
12
Around Campus
2
Welcome to The Inn
3
McMillan Speaker Series
3
A Spoonful of Sherman
4
Zack Semander Golf Tournament
5
Falcon Family Feast
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Book Fair
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Third Grade Grandparents’ Day
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Building Character Through Service
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A Different Way to Give
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Staff Spotlight
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12
Athletics
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Fine Arts
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Class Notes & Alumni News
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2015 Distinguished Alumni
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Alumna Profile
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Alumna Profile
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Milestones
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THE KINKAID MAGAZINE IS A PUBLICATION OF THE ADVANCEMENT OFFICE OF THE KINKAID SCHOOL Tom Moore Director of Advancement tom.moore@kinkaid.org
Kate McCarroll Advancement Associate kate.mccarroll@kinkaid.org
Tiffany Smith Parent Liaison & Volunteer Coordinator tiffany.smith@kinkaid.org
Emily Wynne Bolin ’82 Manager of Alumni Activities & Annual Giving emily.bolin@kinkaid.org
Jennifer Pardee Assistant Director of Advancement jen.pardee@kinkaid.org
Cindy van Keppel Advancement Assistant cindy.vankeppel@kinkaid.org
Andrea Ibarra Gift Records Manager andrea.ibarra@kinkaid.org
Georgia Piazza Manager of Communications & Special Events georgia.piazza@kinkaid.org
Photography contributed by: David Shutts ’74 David Shutts Photography, Inc.
Laura Renaud Advancement Associate laura.renaud@kinkaid.org
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Design contributed by: Michael Clarke Blue C Studios 1
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THE KINKAID SCHOOL
critically to problem-solve. Most recently, students utilized Minecraft to design interactive lessons to be shared with other content area teachers to instruct on particular topics. One team of students built an interactive model of a volcano. In this world, students are teleported to and from viewing booths above and below ground where they learn about different aspects of a volcano through signs and switches that activate parts of the volcano. In the spring, students will be using 3D modeling software to problem solve real-world issues and then make their ideas come to life with a 3D printer.
Welcome to The Inn
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Contributed by Middle School Innovation Coordinator Jeff Diedrich
f you wandered behind the Kayem Middle School Library, you will see a space not typical of others in the Middle School, filled with mismatched, oddly-shaped chairs, whiteboards and tables on casters, open floor space and gadgets galore. It is not a quiet space; rather, students inside are talking, collaborating, moving around the room, fully engaged in projects that involve technology in some way. An emblazoned “The Inn” sign hangs on the wall. The Inn—which stands for The Innovation Incubator—is a space designed to inspire collaboration, foster problem solving, grow ideas and celebrate process. The obvious difference in The Inn is the use of physical space and furniture. Aside from the four walls, the entire room is completely mobile. Two wall-mounted tabletops can be popped up to create mini-work stations near the floor to ceiling windows. The tables have flip-top work surfaces and can be easily rolled into different configurations to redefine the workspace as desired. Two whiteboard T-walls on casters give students the ability to create separate workstations, and the writable surface provides ample space for students to brainstorm, list steps for projects or sketch designs. Three types
This flexible space has been used eagerly by teachers throughout the Middle School. Mr. Beckham used the room to hold Socratic Seminars to discuss ideas from the Ender’s Game. Mrs. Zenker and Mrs. Sinclair set up innovation stations utilizing education technology gadgets such as littleBits and MakeyMakey to encourage seventh grade science students to explore different ways to think about presenting projects. Fifth grade history students of Ms. Thornton utilized the green screen wall and iMovie to bring to life reports on national parks. Mrs. Hiltbrand’s yearbook students used the writable walls to brainstorm ideas for pages and themes for this year’s Middle School yearbook. Mr. Gessel’s students used the T-Walls to replicate the cockpit of Apollo 13 for an eighth grade science lesson. The room has even doubled as dance floor for Mrs. Deller’s sixth grade advisory’s Just Dance Advisory Leadership League (ALL) competition. While the work that happens in The Inn is wide-ranging, themes of flexibility, collaboration and student-centered learning are consistent. As the Middle School continues to consider the ways in which technology and access to information can transform teaching and learning, students’ and teachers’ work within The Inn will help inspire and richly inform those conversations. In other words, the light is always on at The Inn.
“The Inn—which stands for The Innovation Incubator—is a space designed to inspire collaboration, foster problem solving, grow ideas and celebrate process.” of chairs allow students to move like students move — they rock, twist, raise and squish in a way that is comfortable and energizing. The room itself is light, open and airy and can take on numerous identities depending on the type of work at hand. Lastly, portable MacBook Airs allow students to work while traveling about the room freely. This 21st century-inspired, student-centered space is not only a test site for new space and furniture utilization, but, more importantly, one dedicated to support innovation in thinking, teaching and learning. Mr. Diedrich’s seventh grade technology students use the space on a daily basis to work on collaborative projects that require students to be creative, communicate using various mediums and think
YouTube video of the birth of The Inn
Mr. Gessel using The Inn to recreate Apollo 13 mission
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ANNUAL WINTERREPORT 2015
McMillan Character Education Speaker Series
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n Friday, September 12, the Kinkaid community welcomed former World Champion Track & Field athlete Marion Jones to campus as the fifth McMillan Character Education Speaker. Her day began with a breakfast and discussion attended by parents, friends and family. Later on she spoke at assemblies for the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools where she discussed three main points in order to “take a break” and “stay on the right track”. Following the assemblies, Marion had a sit down lunch with the athletic coaches and staff. The McMillan Character Education Speaker Series is funded by the Hrncir Family and is named in honor of legendary Kinkaid teacher and coach Gary McMillan. To watch the videos of Ms. Jones, please visit Kinkaid’s YouTube Channel. Marion Jones
Marion Jones with Betty and John Hrncir
Kinkaid Treated to a Spoonful of Sherman
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his fall, Kinkaid had the incredible pleasure of hosting Academy Award-winning composer and lyricist Richard M. Sherman as the inaugural AJ Carothers ’50 Visiting Artist. Mr. Sherman was a longtime friend and writing partner of AJ Carothers, and with his late brother, Robert, wrote the songs for many beloved movie musicals, including Mary Poppins (for which they won two Oscars and a Grammy), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Jungle Book, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Happiest Millionaire and more. Mr. Sherman performed for a packed house of Kinkaid students, parents and other guests on Sunday afternoon, September 28, playing many of his most famous songs with assistance from AJ’s son, singer-actor Christopher Carothers. The show concluded Richard Sherman with upper school students and teachers with 50 Kinkaid students joining Mr. Sherman on stage to sing “It’s a Small World.” On Monday, Mr. Sherman visited classes and worked with eighth grade students rehearsing Mary Poppins and Children’s Theatre students rehearsing Jungle Book. Monday evening, Mr. Sherman and his wife, Elizabeth, attended an elegant dinner hosted by Kinkaid parents Beth and Greg Looser, performing again for donors to the AJ Carothers Visiting Artist Series. Created in honor of the late AJ Carothers ’50, this Visiting Artist Series is supported by an endowment and brings distinguished guest artists working in the fields of theatre, film, television and music to Kinkaid to share their expertise with students. For information on how you can support this series, contact Director of Advancement Tom Moore at tom.moore@kinkaid.org.
Richard Sherman and Christopher Carothers perfrom
Jordan Jafarnia ‘19 and Audrey
Orange ‘19 with Richard Sherman To watch a video of Richard Sherman’s performance, please visit Kinkaid’s YouTube channel. 3
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17th Annual Zack Semander Memorial Golf Tournament Through amazing support from parents, alumni and friends of Kinkaid, the Tournament raised over $90,000 and successfully endowed the Tom Wey Scholarship. A big thank you goes out to the Steering Committee and especially Chair Matt Gordon ’99 and Co-Chair Johnny Forney ’01 for their time and effort in making this event such a success.
Vice Chair Johnny Forney ‘01 and Chair Matt Gordon ‘99
1st Low Gross Winners - Todd Colter, Victor Crosswell, Brig Smart, Patrick Malone
Charlie Christ
Leslie Sprague, Allison Hammer, Chris Devlin Butler ‘88, Michele Clements
Marshall Adkins ‘80
Stanley Jones ‘93, Rob Vermillion ‘94, Andrew Montgomery
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ANNUAL WINTERREPORT 2015
The Falcon Family Feast keeps getting bigger and better!
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ith over 2,500 Falcon fans out to support the
tailgate and football game, October 24 was an awesome day! Thanks to the amazing weather and fabulous Feast Chairs, Nicole Gibson and Elyse Kalmans, everyone who attended can’t wait till next year!
Falcon Feast Chairs Elyse Kalmans and Nicole Gibson
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Book Fair
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elebrating its 64th year, Kinkaid’s Book Fair continued its rich tradition for two days in November, as Melcher Gym once again was transformed into a super-sized bookstore complete with coffee bar.
Thank you, Book Fair Underwriters, Friends of the Libraries, section chairs, and shoppers! THE KINKAIDvolunteers SCHOOL Book Fair Chairs - Joy Randall 2016, Laura Kelsey 2014, Elizabeth Hogan 2015
Fisher Ingram ‘28 and John Massey ‘28
Angus Harper ‘22
Frances Andrews ‘15
Fourth Grade Girls enjoying their Book Fair purchases
Middle School Principal Chelsea Collins with daughter Langston ‘26
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Third Grade Grandparents’ Day
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ee-Haw! The Third Grade Grandparents’ Day program and reception was just the right amount of spirit everyone needed to kick-off the Thanksgiving Holidays Texas Style.
Ladin Strauss ‘24 with Jean and Ronnie Ladin
Talan Tellepsen ‘24 and Linda Almaraz
Ryan Brooke Horlock ‘24 with Natalie and Roy Horlock and Molly and Larry Metclaf
Olivia Smith ‘24 with Terri Turner-Smith and Wil and Curley Turner
Peyton Young ‘24, Cochran Masterson ‘24, Brody Smart ‘24, Wynn Davis ‘24
Stella Hall ‘24 with Charlene and Lawrence Blanchard
Caroline Searls ‘24 with Pinkie and David Searls 7
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Building Character Through Service
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hen Margaret Kinkaid started her school in 1906, one of her founding values was “concern for others”. Mrs. Kinkaid insisted that her students participate in community service at the beginning of the 20th century, and this legacy prevails more than 100 years later. Today, The Kinkaid School has a vibrant community service program for students in all grades, contributing over 3,000 hours each year to assist Houstonians in need.
Building Connections “The primary mission of Kinkaid’s outreach program is to show students that service is something they can enjoy for the rest of their lives,” explains Coordinator of Community Service Debbie Roff. Kinkaid’s program offers over 50 different service events each year, so that every student can find a project that is meaningful to them. “When students connect with a cause, they feel great about what they are doing and they want to do it again.” Ashley Davis ’15, President of the Community Service Council, guides council members to plan projects that students can connect with. “The council offers a wide variety of projects so students can choose a project they’re already passionate about, or explore some new opportunities that they wouldn’t have the chance to explore otherwise. My brother has learning differences, so I love working with clients from The Center, but other people really like building houses, coaching sports or tutoring children, so we try to offer something for everyone.” Sophomore Sophia Solé who helped mulch the trees in Kinkaid’s plot at Memorial Park, agrees that students feel great about doing service when it is a project they care about. “As a cross country runner, it was really rewarding to give back to a place where I spend so much time.”
Building Relationships In creating projects, the Community Service Council organizes events that allow students and faculty to be face-to-face with the people they are helping. Students work side-by-side with faculty members doing something positive together that benefits both the community and the project participants. Through these interactions, students experience the unique fulfillment that comes from bringing a smile to someone’s face. Grant Martin ’15 initiated a partnership with the Brookwood Community, a residence for adults with special needs, because he believes “we can learn a lot from people who are different from us. When we buddy up with the Brookwood Citizens, we really get to have some
The lower school and middle school students do not have as many opportunities as the upper school students but in the various divisions the students and teachers use clubs, like KOCI in the lower school, and Day of Service in the middle, to build character for these younger philanthropists. In the third and fourth grade KOCI Kids made over 45 therapy dolls for the Sib Center at Texas Children’s Hospital and raised $738 for Kids’ Meals at their bi-annual pencil and eraser sale. In addition to each of these projects, they made inspirational posters for students in Nepal, collected and donated toiletries to Spring Branch Family Development Center and made Thanksgiving wreaths for a family loved one. KOCI Kids - helping our Kinkaid community, our Houston community, our Global community, and our Earth. On October 15 seventh and eighth grade students visited various communities around the city to offer assistance in their annual Day of Service. The communities included Lyerly Senior Apartments, Telephone Road Senior Apartments, Small Steps Nurturing Center, Baker Ripley and Hester House. This opportunity allows middle school students to help the underserved, to learn how their assistance is valued by those they assist, and to experience the personal joy that comes from serving others
Mathew Morico ‘15 with a Brookwood resident cheers on the Falcons at a basketball game
great fellowship.” Mathew Morico ’15 found his Brookwood experience to be deeply rewarding. “My buddy, Matt, was just super friendly and joyful that we were there with them. It was awesome.”
Building for the Future The Community Service Council constantly works to improve the future of the service program. Kaveh Badrei ’16 leads one of the Council’s newest and most promising projects: educational tours of Kinkaid’s Backyard. The Backyard Project shares Kinkaid’s 3.9 acre wooded reserve with students from all over Houston, allowing children from other schools to experience in a natural setting the scientific concepts they have learned in their classrooms. In the first two months, volunteers have already hosted six science classes from the Baker Ripley Elementary School, and Kaveh is working on expanding to other Houston-area schools in the near future. “It is my greatest hope that we will be able to use the natural wonders of the Kinkaid Backyard as a learning tool for as many students as possible.”
Building Character The Kinkaid Community Service Program is engaging students with the vibrant Houston community outside of school through meaningful, rewarding projects that benefit the community as a whole and the students themselves. Assistant Headmaster Dr. Ed Trusty attended a community service event in August as his first official task at Kinkaid. Reflecting on the experience, he described how Kinkaid’s core values were exemplified through the project. “The outreach effort at Harbor Light men’s shelter was a tremendous opportunity to see our boys in action, serving others and educating themselves regarding their responsibility to the wider community. What I most enjoyed seeing was their willingness to pitch in. With big smiles and gracious hearts, they were serving others - literally serving meals to all of the residents and employees of Harbor Light.”
Lower School KOCI students
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A Different Way to Give
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ince its founding in 1906, Kinkaid has had a tradition of strategic leaders who have helped make it such a thriving institution. The School continues to reap the benefits of a decision made 35 years ago to create a way for people to donate non-cash assets as part of their charitable and estate planning.
In 1980, the School established the Kinkaid Investments Foundation to receive gifts of real and personal property such as realty, mineral interests, non-marketable securities and interests in private corporations and partnerships. The assets are sold or held in anticipation of appreciation with the purpose of providing the School with additional operating income through the periodic distribution of assets and/or income. Although real estate has been the primary asset received, some donors have made gifts of privately held stock, royalties from mineral interests, cash value of life insurance policies or valuable personal collections. With a keen eye on the markets, the Investments Foundation sells its assets at strategic times to support major capital expenses, including
the purchase of the home at 203 Kinkaid School Drive in 1991 that became the residence for Headmasters Glenn Ballard and Don North and their families. That home, which appreciated significantly over the next 21 years, was sold in 2013 to help purchase a new headmaster’s residence at 42 Stillforest where Andy Martire and his family now live. This year, Kinkaid received proceeds from the sale of two properties donated in the 1990s, one by Bill Wheless and the other given jointly by Dick Beeler and Don Sanders. The funds from these transactions are supporting the Building Together Capital Campaign. “We are very grateful to Kinkaid supporters who have made donations to the Investments Foundation,” says Foundation President Gene Werlin. “Their generosity has helped advance the School’s programs, and in many cases provided the donors with significant tax deductions.” To learn more how you can support the School, please contact Director of Advancement Tom Moore, tom.moore@kinkaid.org or 713-243-5045, or visit www.kinkaid.planmyleagacy.org, the School’s on-line resource for gift planning.
Kinkaid Reaps Rewards from Wheless Gift In 1992, Life Trustee Bill Wheless donated an undivided interest in a real estate parcel he owned in Fort Bend County to the Kinkaid Investments Foundation. When he sold the property this year, the Foundation netted $648,000, over three times the value of the interest when it was donated, thanks to market appreciation and Mr. Wheless covering the carrying costs for the property from when the donation was made. Celebrating this donation were (left to right) Director of Advancement Tom Moore, Mr. Wheless, Headmaster Andy Martire, Investments Foundation President Gene Werlin and Kinkaid Board Chair Tad Mayfield.
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THE KINKAID SCHOOL
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Andrea Ibarra
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ndrea Ibarra has been a friendly face in the Advancement Office for more than 12 years. As Gift Records Manager, Andrea does financial reporting for the Advancement and Business Offices as well as for the auditors who visit campus every year. She is also the office database manager, helping Advancement staff, parents and alumni volunteers with mailing lists and other reports they need for special events, such as Book Fair, Field Day, Reunion Weekend and the Auction. And she is always ready to answer donors’ questions about their gifts.
In 2002, Director of Advancement Tom Moore hired Andrea, whom he knew when they worked together at Baylor College of Medicine in the late 1990s. “Andrea was fortunate to train under a great gift records staff at BCM,” Tom shares. “From when I first met her, I could tell she takes great pride in her work, likes to learn, is not afraid to tackle a problem and has a good sense of humor. When an opening came at Kinkaid for a gift records position, she was the first one I called. I’m so glad she is part of our team.” Andrea’s interest in computers began as a hobby when she was a child growing up in Spring Branch. She loved gadgets and enjoyed playing video games. Over the years, her list of hobbies has grown long, ranging from sewing to keeping poison dart frogs. “I’m always finding something The Ibarra Family – Arylsse, Chris, Ryan, Jared Alan, Adalyn, Andrea new that interests me,” Andrea says. Her love of nature and interest in bird watching developed into a passion for bird photography, which later led to her buying her first SLR camera This year, Andrea took on a new role at her church as music director 10 years ago (another gadget!). She had a successful photography of the youth group, which is made up of teens and young adults. They business for a few years doing portraits and bar/bat mitzvahs, and her perform at services and special events. Music is another long-time clients include several Kinkaid families. Her father recently said about passion of Andrea’s. She took piano lessons as a child and has taught her, “Whatever Andrea sets her mind to, she’ll do it!” herself to play guitar, mandolin and the charango, an Andean stringed instrument. She’s proud that daughter Arlysse has inherited some of her mother’s love of music—Arlysse is a talented singer and was recently selected to compete for All-State Choir.
“Andrea takes great pride in her work, likes to learn, is not afraid to tackle a problem and has a good sense of humor.”
– Tom Moore, Director of Advancement
Andrea loves working at Kinkaid. “I discovered a wonderful community of people here that I enjoy working with every day,” she shares. “The environment at Kinkaid is something special. Also, I enjoy using my analytical skills, which are required for my position. Working with our database, there is always a new puzzle to solve to keep me on my toes!”
Outside of work, Andrea’s two biggest passions are her church and her family. She and husband Chris have four children that keep them quite busy—Arlysse (17), Jared Alan (14), Ryan (10) and Adalyn (3). They often spend weekends and holidays with Andrea’s extended family at her parents’ ranch in Centerville, TX. “It’s great to get away and be with family,” she says. “It’s really pretty up there so we go for long nature walks and enjoy the countryside.”
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Faculty Awards and Accolades Middle School history teacher Diana Kokernot was fortunate to receive an invitation to attend the premier screening of Washington on the Brazos: The Politics of Revolution, the third film in ‘The Birth of Texas Series’ produced by Mike Vance of Houston Arts and Media. Director of Health Services Diane Roberts was inducted as the National Association of School Nurses Chair for the Private and Parochial School Nurses Group. In this capacity, she will lead 2,300 private and parochial school nurse members for a tenure of two years, 2014-2016. This fall Upper School English teacher Angélique Jamail had three big publications. Finis. – this short novella was published as an e-book in August and is available widely, including at Amazon and also for Nook through Barnes and Noble. At the El Felix – this poem was published in the Houston Poetry Fest anthology for this year, and was selected to be one of their Juried Poets.
Diana Kokernot with Professor Stephen Hardin (right) and Chuck Britton at the premier screening of Washington on the Brazos: The Politics of Revolution.
Stillness / Unrelenting – this poem was published in October in Waxwing, an excellent online literary journal that comes out three times a year. (www.waxwingmag.org) Upper School Dean Robert Street recently completed an Ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and then a 26.3 mile run) in Cozumel, Mexico. Lower School Innovation Coordinator Krissy Venosdale was selected to attend The Google Teacher Academy on December 2-3 in Austin, TX. The Google Teacher Academy is a two-day intensive program that recognizes educators who are doing exciting things in their classrooms with technology. Angélique Jamail
Retired Faculty & Staff Holiday Luncheon The annual retired faculty and staff holiday luncheon was held in The Commons on December 10. Friends and former colleagues enjoyed catching up and celebrating the holiday season. Standing Back Row
Seated 2nd Row
Charlotte Smith Martin Caylor Margaret Keith Fred Fischer Chris Gehrman Audrey Alexander Billy Binns Jeanie Binns Herman Keith Lynn Locher Maria Lacy Sally Horrigan Linda Case Joan Seale Daisy McCloud Debby Leven Rhnee Hicks
Sue Silvey Jo Helland Judy Baldwin Nancy Eason Barbara Cooney Ruth Ereli Martha Lein Kay Lamar Seated Front Row William Glick Cynthia Furlong Burr Furlong Bill McKinley Susan Santangelo Bette Werlin Peter Pickett
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Athletics Review Boys Cross Country SPC Finish: 5th All South Zone: Dz Zavitsanos All SPC: Oscar Melendez, Tyson Taylor, Dz Zavitsanos
Girls Cross Country SPC Finish: 1st All South Zone: Ali Ammons, Courtney Greer All SPC: Ali Ammons, Lexie Ammons, Margaret Durning, Natalie Geisler
Field Hockey Record: 19-4 South Zone Finish: 2nd SPC Finish: 2nd All South Zone: Nikki Ereli, Sophie Mireskandari, Brindley Mize, Natalie Thurman All SPC: Ellee Dukes, Allison Dyer, Emma Eggleston, Kaylie Mings
Football Record: 7-4 South Zone Finish: 2nd SPC Large School Finish: 2nd All South Zone: Rhett Cardwell, Will Gaus, Dawson Smith, Levi Wilkins, Ford Young All SPC: JT Granato, Tyler Higby, Jacob Mathews, Sam Mays, Garrison Meeks
Boys Volleyball Record: 7-12 South Zone Finish: 3rd SPC Finish: 7th All South Zone: Sam Bickel-Barlow, Jack Shuette All SPC: Quinn Kuriger, Lucas Mason
Girls Volleyball Record: 21-7 South Zone Finish: 1st SPC Finish: 4th All South Zone: Frances Andrews, Emily Ashworth, Chinaza Ndee All SPC: Frances Andrews, Chinaza Ndee
Cheerleading All-American: Katlyn Feldman, Pacey Ham, Jenny Howie, Mary Caroline Scofield, Katherine Stevenson 12
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Recent graduates Stephen O’Suji, Jeff Roberson and Brecca Thomas have already made an impact on their new teams at HBU, Vanderbilt University and Colorado University, respectively. Brecca Thomas ‘14
Stephen has impressed the HBU staff during the beginning of his freshman season. He has received playing time in five of the team’s first seven games. His statistics on the season are: 4 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists per game. Jeff is having a terrific freshman season at Vanderbilt. He is starting at small forward, and averaging 20 minutes per game. His statistics on the season are: 4 points, 4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Brecca is playing about 15 minutes a game and averaging 3 points per game. She has a season high of 10 points.
Stephen O’Suji ‘14
Jeff Roberson ‘14
Andrew Jacobe ’15 signed his National Letter of Intent to play golf for Vanderbilt University on November 12. Andrew has been a member of three SPC championship teams and is a one of the top American Junior Golf Association players.
Emma Eggleston ’15 was selected by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association to the 2014 Harrow Sports / NFHCA High School All-Region Team for the West. Emma, who is one of only six field hockey players chosen for the West Region, signed her National Letter of Intent to play field hockey for Ohio University on November 19.
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In 2014 HJPC Tournament play, the Eighth Grade Boys and Girls Volleyball teams brought home the championship. The boys team defeated St. John’s 2-0 in the finals and the girls team defeated Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart 2-1. Congratulations to both teams. 13
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Athletics Review
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Fine Arts Review
Hannah Holliday ‘16
Children’s Theatre presents The Jungle Book
Dance Company
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Happily Ever After
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FINE ARTS
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Robin Kate Davis ‘17
Sydney Krantz ‘16
The Miracle Worker
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Ella Brissett ‘21 orders from a food truck
Zoe ‘28 and Jason Goldstein ‘87
Building Together Campaign Kicks Off with Holiday Drive-In
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n December 7, the capital campaign to raise $25,000,000 for a new campus dining center and parking garage officially went public with the Holiday Drive-In event, following the Margaret Kinkaid Holiday Concert. Over 500 people enjoyed sampling the tasty fare from eight food trucks parked around Falcon Green in front of the Katz Performing Arts Center. Guests mingled under the holiday lights and viewed displays of plans for the two projects. The new state-of-the-art dining center will replace the current cafeteria and will include innovate learning spaces for the Middle School on the second floor. The parking garage will accommodate over 600 cars, improving safety and traffic congestion on campus and the surrounding neighborhood streets. Both projects will begin construction during 2015. The garage will be completed in early 2016, and the dining center will be ready by the start of the 2016-17 school year. As of January 6, over $17,693,425 has been raised for Building Together from Kinkaid’s trustees and other long-time supporters of the School. A preliminary briefing was held at Co-Chair Pam Fullenweider’s home in October. During the next several months more briefings will be held to inform the community about the projects and the campaign. Visit the Building Together website at www.kinkaid.org/buildingtogether to get more information about the new dining center and parking garage, view the campaign video and see a photo gallery from the Holiday Drive-In.
Geoffrey, Margaret, Edward ‘18, Henry, Ellen ‘20 Chamblee
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Betsy King with Terry Taylor
Joseph ‘19, Robert, Bennett ‘20, Barbara, Jerry, Ellen Weingarten Wagnon ‘79
Lauren Ho ‘18, Cammy Turboff ‘18, Sara Burpeau ‘18
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THE KINKAID SCHOOL
DONORS TO BUILDING TOGETHER We gratefully acknowledge the donors listed here who have made gifts and/or pledges totaling $17,693,425 as of January 6, 2015.
CHAMPION*
STEWARD*
Marshall Heritage Foundation
Anonymous Carol and Les Ballard/Leslie and Mark Hull The Jerold B. Katz Family Erin and Michael Maggi Kelly and Bill Montgomery Aimee and Wynne Snoots Courtney and Doug Swanson Suzi and Doug Swanson AnnaLee and Andy Waite
($5,000,000 and higher)
FOUNDER*
($2,000,000 - $4,999,999) Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence
BENEFACTOR* ($1,000,000 - $1,999,999)
Anonymous Kinkaid Investments Foundation Barbara and Corby Robertson Jr.
SUSTAINER*
($500,000 - $999,999) Anonymous Kelly and Curtis Kayem Maria and Chris Pappas/Vicky and Harris Pappas
($250,000 - $499,999)
PATRON*
($100,000 - $249,999)
Dining Center rendering
Beth and Drew Cozby Pam and Steve Daniel Mary Ann and Tim Detmering Cathy and Ed Frank Lisa and Michael Heim Beth and Greg Looser Nena and David Marsh The Mayfield Family Christie and Bill McCartney Patti and Mike Morgan Beverly and Staman Ogilvie Mary Tere and Ricardo Perusquia Jackie and Al Richey Raquel and Andrew Segal The J. Abbott and Leslie Sprague Family Foundation
Karen and Harry Susman Karen and Brian Thurman Bonnie and David Weekley
PACESETTER
($50,000- $99,999) Cynthia and John Adkins Beth and Michael Chambers Shelley and Mitchell Cox Pam and Keith Fullenweider Jennifer and Lance Gilliam Susie and Jay Golding Elizabeth and Wyatt Hogan Kay and Howard House Marie Louise and David Kinder Wendy and Chris Mehling Mamta and Jay Mehta Christine and Shea Morenz Lauren and Brad Morgan Katherine and Paul Murphy David Oelman The C.N. and Maria Papadopoulos Charitable Foundation Jeannette P. Spotts Trust Beth and Schuyler Tilney Kim and Nestor Vicknair Kristen and Scott Weber Kay Lee and Gene Werlin Jennifer and Neil Wizel
The second floor of the Dining Center will include innovative learning spaces for the Middle School
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New Dining Center & Classrooms
New Parking Garage
Locations for Dining Center and Parking Garage
SPONSOR
($25,000 - $49,999) Charles Carr III Lizzie and Ryan Devlin Frances and Rick Jeter Caroline and John Mitchell Jennifer and Justin Segal Jan and Tom Simmons
SUPPORTER
($10,000 - $24,999) Chris and Rob Ammons Sandie and Ken Cowan Lana and Chip Cureton Carol and Jim Frankel Ellen and Daryl Morey
FRIEND
(up to $9,999) Linda and Kevin Andrews Robin and James Chandler The DiPaolo Family Mary Nell and Malcolm Lovett Eva and Andy Martire
The Meyer Foundation Jennifer and Tom Moore Jen and Mike Pardee Beth and Stuart Yudofsky
BUILDING TOGETHER STEERING COMMITTEE Co-Chairs: Pam Fullenweider and Bill Montgomery Cynthia Adkins Linda Andrews A.J. Brass Mary Ann Detmering Brian Dinerstein Ed Frank Wyatt Hogan Bill McCartney Christine Morenz Abbott Sprague Doug Swanson Schuyler Tilney Staff: Andy Martire, Tom Moore, Jen Pardee
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everal years ago, our school made a historic purchase of 25 natural acres on the western border of our school. It was a bold statement – and has become a symbol for the transformation yet to come of our campus, our learning spaces and the growth opportunities for our children.
For more information visit www.kinkaid.org/buildingtogether
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nd, now, Kinkaid is primed to begin the transformation with a new state of the art Dining Center, an on-campus garage, and new innovative learning spaces. These elements are foundational for what is still to come.
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THE KINKAID SCHOOL
We are pleased to announce the
2015 Distinguished Alumni
Distinguished Honorary Alumnus Eugene Werlin
Distinguished Alumnus Ann Lents ‘67
Distinguished Young Alumnus David Hornsby ’94
Eugene Werlin Jr., is a native Houstonian. He is President of WPW Management Corporation, a local commercial real estate company. Gene currently serves on the Kinkaid Board of Trustees and has been Chairman of the Building Committee since 1997. Under his leadership, the Committee has overseen over $45 million in major building projects, including the Friedkin Lower School Building, the Katz Performing Arts Center, the Center for Student Life and Fine Arts, and significant enhancements to the athletic facilities. He was instrumental in Kinkaid’s acquisition of the Milby property and with the School’s negotiations with the Stillforest Homeowners Association regarding the development of the property. Gene is also President of the Kinkaid Investments Foundation.
Ann Lents, a native Houstonian, retired in 2008 as President and CEO of the Center for Houston’s Future, a not-for-profit policy planning organization. She continues to work as a volunteer in the civic and policy arenas and serves as President of the Board of Texas Children’s Hospital. She is also a member of the Houston Parks Board, the University of Texas Law School Foundation and the State Parks Advisory Committee of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission. She was a founder of the Quality of Life Coalition, serving as its Co-Chair for 11 years, and is a Founding and Executive Committee Member of the Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas Law School.
David Hornsby is an actor, writer and producer. He is currently an executive producer of the long-running FX show, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, where he recurs as “Rickety Cricket.” David wrote and starred in the CBS comedy, How To Be a Gentleman, and he co-created, voiced and drew the characters on the FX animated series, Unsupervised.
In addition, Gene has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Museum of Natural Science since 1991, where he previously served as Chairman of the Building Committee and is currently is on the Executive Committee and is Co-Chairman of the Exhibits Committee. He also served on the Board of the Children’s Assessment Center for six years, where he was Chairman of the Building Committee. Gene is a graduate of the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architectural Studies. He and his wife, Kay Lee, are parents of three Kinkaid graduates: Amy ’92, David ’96 and Maudie ’04.
Ann’s past civic activities have centered on children and environmental issues, and include service on the boards of Kinkaid, Houston Wilderness, DePelchin Children’s Center and Trees for Houston. She is the recipient of numerous awards related to her many years of service with local civic organizations. Ann entered Kinkaid in the fourth grade and graduated in 1967. While at Kinkaid, she was involved in many different clubs, student council and played basketball. She earned a B.A. with honors from Wellesley College and a J.D. with high honors from the University of Texas School of Law. She practiced law with Vinson & Elkins from 1974 to 1990, where she was a partner focusing principally on commercial litigation and antitrust. Ann and her husband David Heaney have two children, David Lents Heaney and Mary Elizabeth Heaney Ziccardi ’03.
As an actor, his credits include a season on Six Feet Under, Spike TV’s faux reality series, The Joe Schmo Show and numerous television guest-starring roles. David has been in several films including the Sundance Film Fesitval’s Pretty Bird and Clint Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers. He’s also voiced several animated characters for Nickelodeon series, including the lead character in Fanboy and Chum Chum. David was born in Virginia and grew up in Houston. He entered Kinkaid in the sixth grade and graduated in the Class of 1994. He was the senior class president, participated in competitive drama and played volleyball. He majored in Acting at Carnegie Mellon University. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife Emily Deschanel and son Henry, age 3.
PLEASE SAVE THE DATE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS PROGRAM FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
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Class Notes & Alumni News 1929 – 1949 Jane Hoffert Moore ’46 1620 Calumet Drive Houston, Texas 77004 713-529-9700
1950-1954 If you are interested in volunteering to be the class correspondent, please contact Advancement Associate Laura Renaud at 713-2435054 or laura.renaud@kinkaid.org.
1955 – 1957 Nicky Sanborn Minear ’56 1808 Meadow Creek Pearland, Texas 77581 281-993-0830
1958 Linda Beeley Denison 3467 Ella Lee Lane Houston, Texas 77027 713-621-3258 lindabdenison@comcast.net
1959 John Hagerman 24800 I-45, Suite 100 The Woodlands, Texas 77386 johndhagerman@hotmail.com In October 2014, Glenn Seureau attended a Volvo dealer meeting in Palm Springs and then attended a Mercedes dealer meeting and the boat show in Fort Lauderdale. Lee
and Glenn visited Linda and John Hagerman’s home in Newport, Rhode Island, in the same month, wherein the Seureau’s took in the Newport Shipyard and harbor scene. In November, Glenn appeared as a commentator on the early history of the Port of Houston, which aired on TV to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the port. This year Susan Graham Fifer and Sonja Rose Klein took a long road trip together covering many states and made many memories.
1960 Sassy English Stanton 1404 Potomac Houston, Texas 77057 713-266-9919 sassy@stanton-pinckard.com
1961 If you are interested in volunteering to be the class correspondent, please contact Advancement Associate Laura Renaud at 713-2435054 or laura.renaud@kinkaid.org.
1962 Adrian Turner Ross Houston, Texas adrian@rexross.com Dear Class of ’62 – A small number of you reported in for this issue. Hopefully that means that the rest of you are busy travelling and enjoying retirement.
Carolyn Grant Fay celebrated her 100th birthday on November 6.
Carolyn Grant Fay ’29 Celebrates 100th Birthday Kinkaid alumna Carolyn Grant Fay ’29, a notable Houston philanthropist and trailblazer, celebrated her 100th birthday on November 6, 2014. The festivities with family and friends took place in her hospital room where she was recovering from a recent bout with pneumonia. An only child, Carolyn and her parents moved to Houston in 1915, where Carolyn attended Kinkaid. She was very well mannered, yet Carolyn’s daughter and Kinkaid alumna Marie Fay Evnochides ’59 tells a funny story about her mother and Mrs. Margaret Kinkaid. “Mrs. Kinkaid decided that my mother had a very rude speaking voice and made her take elocution classes,” Marie says. “So mom always had fabulous voices for each character whenever she read a book. Before bed, she’d read to us, and, as we fell asleep, she’d play the piano.” Evnochides’ siblings are Carolyn Randall Fay Yocum ’62 and the late John Spencer Fay ’56.
Carolyn Grant Fay’s ninth grade Kinkaid yearbook photo
Carolyn and her husband the late Earnest Fay supported many philanthropic causes, and she served on many boards and dedicated countless hours to helping others.
Ted Heyck ‘59 and sister Jane Heyck Gaucher Montgomery ‘53 *(fs) = attended, but did not graduate
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Happy 100th Birthday, Carolyn Grant Fay! Check out the coverage of her milestone birthday in an article titled “It’s a Beautiful Life” in the Houston Chronicle, by scanning this QR code. 23
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THE KINKAID SCHOOL THE KINKAID SCHOOL
Dorothy Knox Houghton reports that Houston’s Forgotten Heritage: Landscape, Houses, Interiors, 1824-1914, first published by Rice University Press in 1991, was reissued in November. The Junior League of Houston sponsored it. She was the lead author. Her co-authors were Katherine Susman Howe ’64, another Kinkaid alumna; Barrie Scardino Bradley, a Kinkaid mother; and Sadie Gwin Blackburn. It will be available at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and probably other Houston bookstores. It has been out of print for many years. Bob Phillips signed in to let us know that he is finally contemplating retirement, and plans to add “travel” to his list of past-times. Randi Fay Yocum seems to be living a great life. She says that she is an avid reader, traveler and horsewoman. “I still ride two horses most days and show in several western classes at mostly breed shows. We live in the country about two hours from Houston with seven horses, one barn cat, two corgis and a shelter dog.” Carolyn Ferguson Means says that they do not have any grandchildren at Kinkaid anymore; the final Falcon is now happily ensconced at Ole Miss. Her other grandchildren (perish the thought!) are content to be at St. John’s. I love Donna K. Donelson’s response. “Well, you can add I have FINALLY bought a laptop computer (first computer EVER) and am being dragged into the 20th century whether I like it or not. WHAT, it’s NOT the 20th century, it’s the 21st? Where did that century go?” At the time of our reunion in 2012, I had current emails for all but three of our classmates. Hopefully, because you are retiring and making good changes in your lives, some of the addresses I have are not valid anymore. When I send an email to the entire class, the following classmates “bounce back”. Please email me with an updated email address, if you have a new one or know the email of one of the following: Vicky Schnorbus, Earl Hankamer, Toni Walsh Duperier, Judy Wilson Grant, Judy Jarvis Ellis, Audrey Reynolds Alexander, and Gunila Hedman Myrnerts. (My email is adrian@ rexross.com) Happy New Year, everyone. Best wishes for an enjoyable, healthy 2015. Adrian Turner Ross
1963 Calanne Koenig Choate Pearland, Texas mayamom@hotmail.com Hello Class of 1963! Hope this finds all of you well and happy! This has been a fast year. It seems that the older I get the faster that time flies! So, on with the class news… First I must give you the sad news. We lost our wonderful sweet friend Jack Sorcic on November 19. Patty Milner Marvel had recently seen Jack and called me with the news. I will pass along any new information that I get. In the meantime if you are a prayerful person please remember Jack and his family in your prayers. Patty said that she visited Jack in North Carolina this year. He had a beautiful place in a big development outside of Charlotte. He was sick then, and Patty checked him into the hospital before she left. Patty also says that there are no weddings or grandchildren yet in her family, but health is good (wonderful at our age). Patty will be close to Hap Happel when they finish building their place in Bozeman. Hap retired there and has a lovely new home in the historic district. Patty’s daughter Lauren will be living there full time, and Patty and Jeff will visit as often as they can! Patty says she hired a wonderful office manager who developed health problems so Patty is back in the office. So much for retirement! She and Jeff still have their horses and go on their annual European horseback rides once a year. This year was to Romania. Patty comes to Houston several times a year and will try to look up some of us! Betsy Bowen Phillips writes that she and hubby Bobby Phillips ’62 went this summer with Malcolm ’62 (fs) and Mary Nell Jeffers Lovett to the Luberon in Provence on a wonderful trip that included beautiful small villages and lovely food. Sounds great! She adds that their boys Nick ’88 and Chris live in Denver and Austin respectively. Chris is married to Shelly and owns a television production company in Austin. He is father to the adorable grandson Stuart! Nick works for General Motors and enjoys the Colorado lifestyle! Betsy adds that this fall they continue to enjoy all the new projects related to Bob’s class involvement with the Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Jane Wadsworth Mason says that daughter Hayley Dickson ’01 is still with Freemantle Media as Vice
President. She runs the Los Angeles and London offices in Acquisition and Development Global Content. She adds that if you have any ideas for television, contact Hayley. Daughter Julia graduated from the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder. Julia is currently cooking at West 29th Street in Denver for Chef Chris Sanchez. Dave Shaver retired from his 36year career as a nurse anesthetist but was rehired by his company (Ochsner) and now is working part time as a retiree! He and Debbie are looking forward to a weeklong hiking trip in the Smoky Mountains this month. Sounds like lots of fun! Lucy Clark Shaw still lives in Napa Valley. She has just sold her condo in Houston and is hoping to find something else here in the next year. Four of her five children (three daughters and two sons) live nearby, and her eldest son lives in Stockholm. She now has nine grandchildren, soon to be ten! Everyone has fun together! He says the grape harvest went great this year and they are all happy it’s over. Lucy invites any and all classmates to call when we visit Napa Valley! She would love to catch up! Art Beane writes that they have two new grandchildren, now a total of five! Both are girls. Margaret’s (his wife) newest granddaughter is Isla (7 months) who lives with her 2.8 year old sister in Stuttgart, Germany. Art’s newest granddaughter, Kathryn (6 months) lives with her two brothers Egan (5) and Reed (3), mom and hubby in Round Lake, New York. Recently Art was invited by his Uechi Ryu Karate Sensei to assist teaching in the children’s Karate program for five- to 14-year-olds. He is having fun learning to think frontwards, perform backwards and instruct forwards, i.e. mirror teaching! Art is grateful to be healthy in mind, body and spirit! He sends greetings to all of you! I am happy to report that I have had two successful total knee replacements this fall. I am doing phenomenally well. Now I can keep up with my grandkids, Charlie (8), foster granddaughter Avery (6) and granddaughter Mary (2)! I am pursuing a leisurely real estate career as befits a senior citizen and teaching catechism at our church. Life is good. John works hard and enjoys it. Our son Roland is an RN at Ben Taub Hospital in Houston. He is a night charge nurse in the emergency room and really loves medicine and his job. If anybody ever wants to get together in Houston I am always up for it. I would love to see any and
everybody! Best wishes to all of you for a happy holiday season and New Year. Stay safe and please do check in from time to time! Love, Calanne
1964 Claire Andreae Murray Silver Spring, Maryland claire.murray@verizon.net ‘Tis nearly half a year away from our 50th jubilee! Where have the winds of change dispersed our classmates? Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter let no grass grow beneath her bipeds as she shares, “This summer we had a visit from Ted Greacen, who did an amazing cross-country motorcycle trip. We enjoyed Philly cheesesteaks and the brain exhibit at the Franklin Institute and generally had a nice visit. Our big event this year was the birth of our fourth grandchild Ruby Grace, the first to be local here in Philadelphia. We travel to Binghamton, New York, to see our first three, who are now playing organized sports (as opposed to the mud fighting, of which I sent a photo a couple of years ago). Otherwise, not much new since April – still working (finally got the city of Harrisburg out of receivership) and playing very bad golf. I just bought Kate Howe’s ’95 (George and Katherine Susman Howe’s daughter) second and third novels and am looking forward to reading them when it gets too cold for golf. Gary and I will spend January in Naples, Florida, so if any classmates will be down that way, send me an email.” Not to be outdone, Cynthia Bambeck Smith is ecstatic about leaving on her current trip to South Africa... Details to follow hopefully. My main squeeze and I head in that direction as well, hopefully landing in Vietnam and Cambodia for a culinary and historical jaunt through the Mekong Delta. Do you suppose Malaysia Air is still the ticket for the more frugal traveler? J.B. Jones has his own exciting news. “Consider me in the ranks of the ci-devant. After 46 years at whatever, I sold Jones Oil August 22... Retired and ready to party. My plans for now are simple. Keep up with six grandchildren, travel some, enjoy Lake Travis home and continue to spend most of the summers in the North Carolina mountains (to get the
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ALUMNI NEWS
hell out of the Houston heat).” Qué bien! Why do I think there will be many takers for that turn of the tide? Thank goodness we are all still absorbed with issues relating to retirement, travel and sundry adventures. Still to come is the unending recanting of ailments and bodily functions. Yippee – what a delight that will be! On a more sober note, the question still lingers following the foiled coup attempt to overthrow the class rep. back in 2004. If there be any incandescent souls striving for a more celestial mission of reaching out, cajoling and, darest I say, enticing unsuspecting classmates to divulge intimate details of their journey through life, then by all means bring it on. We can do battle in the Heavens and see whom the Gods favor. If one of the contestants fails to show, start without me, I’ll be hanging with the godless bookies. All comers welcome as usual... ‘Til then enjoy the holiday festivities and frivolities...
1965 Tami Fox Brau Austin, Texas tazmazan@yahoo.com The big class news for 2015 is our 50th reunion. Great plans are underway! Stay tuned and watch your inbox. I heard from Milton Howe (fs) who said that Hal Martin has been showing up on his radar... Most recently in a United Airlines magazine when he was coming back to Houston from Seoul. Hal is a local legend and owns Hal Martin’s, a cool jewelry and watch store in Houston. Tommy O’Dowd writes from California that his oldest child, Katherine Elizabeth (Katie), got married and is living in Rocklin, California, just outside of Sacramento. His daughter Stephanie Patricia started law school in San Francisco in August. His son Conner Daniel graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara and is living a block from the beach while he is preparing for his MCAT exams. He will decide which medical school to attend later in the year. Tommy and his wife Vivian hope he chooses Stanford which is located in Palo Alto, only three miles from home. Craig Rutten reports nothing new yet but soon! He says, “I’ve fully
realized my next novel, and my muse has given me permission to write it.” He is still volunteering and going to garage sales. His youngest daughter is about to have her second boy. Great news comes from Judi Yelvington Suttles. Her grandson, David P. Suttles, III, started Kinkaid kindergarten this year. Judi writes, “This is our fourth generation of Kinkaid students, and we are so excited.” Judi loved Craig Rutten’s posts about photography of Texas and would like to hear from his sister Laurye Rutten Tanner ’67 about her experience on the river cruises. Rick Horsey and his wife Marleen have been busy traveling. He sent a wonderful travelogue of their experiences. He writes, “This past year we traveled to New York City from New Mexico via Amtrak, boarded the Queen Mary to cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia, then returned to Boston Harbor for the fourth of July, and then came back to New York City on the ship. During this trip, we went to Concord and Lexington, and toured Harvard University. The green at Lexington was hardly bigger than a football field, and we learned that no one actually wanted to fight anyone that day. A rifle fired accidentally, perhaps, and in the next few seconds, two rebels (i.e. future Americans) out of a group of no more than 20 to 30 were killed by a few hundred British Soldiers.” They went on to Toronto, then on to Edmonton, Canada, via the Canadian Transcontinental Railway. Rick said, “I learned that there are only 32 million people in Canada, and our three day train trip proved that beyond any doubt. We saw beautiful fields and lakes with very few human beings along the entire route. Marleen and I spent the weekend in Banff and Lake Louise and returned to Edmonton for a business meeting, then flew back to Denver, Colorado, and stayed with friends at their place in Beaver Creek. We visited with more friends in Vail, and finally made our way back to our house near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Then in October Nancy and Don McGuirt visited us for a short trip to the Santa Fe area. It was such a pleasure seeing them and sharing our home with them for the short time they had in Santa Fe.” Susan Fantle (fs) writes, “Our biggest news this year is that we were finally able to sell our house in Denver for the amount we wanted. It had been rented out since we moved to San Diego. We traded it for a house in Tucson, which is now being rented for two years. Then, that will be our retirement home. Our plans are to spend our winters
in Tucson and our summers in San Diego on our boat. Can’t wait for next July, as that will be our official retirement, for both of us.” Anne Garwood Conner (fs) writes, “Tom’s and my very special daughter Emily is getting married reunion weekend. She was in a diving accident right before leaving for her freshman year at the University of Denver, rendering her a quadriplegic. She subsequently graduated from the University of St. Thomas and South Texas College of Law and currently works at Goodwill Industries of Houston as Senior Manager of Compliance and Accreditation. We are extremely proud of her and so happy that she has carved out such a great life for herself. Her younger brother Will is also an outstanding young man and, of course, will be celebrating with us that weekend. I will miss celebrating such a milestone with all of you.” Rod Everett is busy with his many business and volunteer activities in Wyoming. He invites Kinkaidians to visit Jackson, Wyoming. Rod says, “Winter is a wonderful time for skiing, exploring Yellowstone and visiting the majestic Teton mountains.” It all sounds like a lot of fun and very magical. I am still a part of the high tech community in Austin, Texas. The little city I moved to over two decades ago is expanding at an unbelievable rate. I haven’t settled on a time or destination for retirement, but hope it doesn’t involve any form of traffic and has a little golf course nearby so I can finally learn to play. I am definitely looking forward to our spring reunion and can’t believe it will be fifty years!
WINTER 2015
Oldest son James is an investment banker with Deutsche Bank in downtown Houston. Middle son Jeff ’05 just graduated from UT Houston Dental School this summer and has been practicing dentistry in northwest Houston. Youngest son John is in his third year of medical school in Dallas at UT Southwestern. This past year Elizabeth and I have traveled to Tahiti, cruised on the Rhine River from Basel, Switzerland, to Amsterdam and toured Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Krakow, Auschwitz and Warsaw. I have been on a couple of golfing trips with friends to Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, California, and recently to Horseshoe Bay near Austin, Texas.” And happy news from Bubba: “Hello Pat, I hope this finds you and all our classmates well. We are now “officially” retired - Linda in December 2013 and me in February 2014. We are full-time Lakeway residents now and are having a ball. I’m doing a little consulting, and we are enjoying traveling. We will be going back to London, Paris and Normandy next spring and are planning a trip in the fall to Peru to see Macchu Picchu, and then on to a cruise to the Galapagos Islands. What a trip! The coffee pot is still hot, and the wine rack is always full. We’d love to see anyone who might be up this way. However, anyone coming is required to bring rain with them! Lake Travis is still VERY LOW, but the view from our deck is fabulous. We attended the Austin Kinkaid Alumni gathering at the end of November. This was the first time our schedule permitted our attending, and we enjoyed meeting the alums who are up here. Looking forward to the 50th in 2016. All the best to everybody. Bubba”
Tami Fox Brau
1966 Pat Kidson Fogle Cavanagh Houston, Texas pat.cavanagh@kinkaid.org Dear Friends, It was good to receive news from Jim Tang and Bubba Koenig. From the sound of their reports, they are living the good life! I received this email from Jim: “Elizabeth and I look forward to our 50th reunions in 2016. Dick Respess and I have our Princeton Class 45th reunions coming up in 2015. I am in my 31st year of plastic surgery practice in Cy Fair, northwest Houston.
Karen Liedtke ‘66, Becky Witmer Lorino ‘66, Diane Martin Tomlinson ‘66 and Meredith Austin ‘66
Our friend Meredith Austin moved to Dallas at the end of the summer. I gave her a quilt made by my 92-yearold mom, and everyone else wanted one. We took a photo of our dinner group (sans Debbie Warren Rommel who couldn’t get to Houston from Hunt that evening): Karen Liedtke, Becky Witmer Lorino, Diane Martin Tomlinson and Meredith with their quilts!
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THE KINKAID SCHOOL THE KINKAID SCHOOL
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Amy Ragan ’81 Serves the Houston Community
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espite Houston’s current economic boom, there are still those in this city for whom a nutritious meal is not to be taken for granted. At the Houston Food Bank, where Amy Ragan ’81 has worked for the past 10 years, the reality of hunger in our community is addressed on a scale many people may not be aware of.
The Houston Food Bank is the largest in the country, both in square footage (388,000) and in number of nutritious meals provided (59 million per year). Over 80 million pounds of food is distributed annually into the local community. “When most people think of a food bank, they think of their church or local food pantry,” Amy says. “They don’t realize the scope of what we do here.” As the Food Bank’s Chief Development Officer, Amy is a member of the executive team and oversees a staff of 16. She is responsible for corporate and foundation fundraising as well as individual giving, special events and donor services. Two of her proudest accomplishments are the Food Bank’s merger in 2008 with End Hunger Network where she was Executive Director, and the Hunger Can’t Wait Capital Campaign which raised over $56 million for the purchase and renovation of the Food Bank’s headquarters that opened in 2011. Besides the warehouse and distribution center, the new facility houses a conference center where outside groups can hold meetings or events and also learn about the Food Bank and do volunteer work. They host over 100 group events per year ranging from corporate retreats and organization meetings to birthday parties.
“When most people think of a food bank, they think of their church or local food pantry. They don’t realize the scope of what we do here.”
Part of Amy’s job is working with the Food Bank’s community partners, one of which is the Houston Texans. “Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins agreed to serve as our spokesperson this year,” says Amy. “He is the son of a single mother who struggled to put food on the table, so he knows firsthand what it’s like not to have enough food at home and to visit a food pantry. I gave him a tour when he came out for a visit last September. He asked good questions and was especially interested in how we work with the pantries.” Amy feels fortunate to do work that impacts people’s lives at such a basic level. She has worked for many years for a variety of organizations, but “the hunger cause moved me the most,” she says. “To learn, to be productive, people need food. At the Food Bank we also connect individuals and Amy visits with Houston Texans Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Food Bank celebrity spokesperson
families who are struggling to other support services that help them get back on their feet.” Before coming to the Food Bank, Amy did fundraising for Casa de Esperanza and other non-profits. In the 1990s she worked in the Kinkaid development office, assisting with alumni relations and events and helping to create the Alumni Association Board. As a Kinkaid student, Amy fondly remembers being part of many theatrical productions and traveling to England and Wales during Interim Term in 1980 to perform in a musical. She recalls, “I appreciate so much about Kinkaid, but most of all that I learned how to write and how to study effectively. I was very well prepared for college.” Amy is a graduate of Vanderbilt University. Outside of work, Amy loves to travel—recent trips include London and Italy last summer. An avid runner, she ran the Houston Marathon in 2014 and has run countless half marathons and 10K and 5K races. “I think races are fun and help burn off stress and calories,” she shares. Amy is active in the River Oaks Garden Club and is proud of her 14 years of involvement with the Junior League. She loves going to theatre and seeing the Texans play, and of course she always roots for Kinkaid. Go Falcons!
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As for me, teaching at Kinkaid continues to be rewarding and fun, graduate school is time-consuming and fun, but grand-parenting beats them both hands-down! In July, our entire crew, 15-strong, spent a week in Teton Village (Jackson Hole), Wyoming. Our wonderful week included a Snake River raft trip, overnight in Yellowstone, a family portrait with the Tetons as a backdrop, and our bi-annual Family Talent Show highlighted by our granddaughter Polly and her mom, Rebecca Fogle Warriner ’93, doing a cheerleading skit wearing Elizabeth Fogle Sparks’ ’91 Kinkaid cheerleading outfit and Will Fogle’s ’94 Robert E. Lee cheerleading shirt. Hilarious! As always, I urge you to share your news with us. It is wonderful to hear what’s up with you and your family. Blessings and love to each of you, Pat
1967 Steve Adger Houston, Texas sadger@yahoo.com Kackie and David Dunwoody’s baby, Maggi, wed Eric Cummings in early January.
1968 Elizabeth Topper Nash San Marcos, Texas enash@grandecom.net Annie Owen Houston, Texas anniedowen@me.com Mike Kuhn will become senior partner in Bracewell’s trial section on January 1. He will cover pre-litigation and post judgment alternative, dispute resolution, internal investigations, mediation and arbitration, and advice on legal ethics, risk management and compliance and professionalism. Before, as a partner, Mike served as general counsel in risk management, loss prevention and legal ethics. We are thrilled that your 20 years of hard work has been rewarded. We hope we don’t need your professional services, but lunch would always be fun. Congratulations! Jack Lee is spending as much time as he can with his four grandsons and three granddaughters. That should keep him in tiptop shape. Happy babysitting!
Ed Frank has some really good news that he has discovered watermelon margaritas. He wants to share his recipe with us: soak watermelon slices in tequila, sprinkle course salt liberally on you or the watermelon, and eat. What a culinary delight. Thanks Ed.
Susan Peck Massey is enjoying her two grandchildren and spending more time in Santa Fe and playing golf. Fred knocks out the lights, and she is a work in progress. I doubt that you have ever done anything half-baked, just look at your perfectly decorated homes.
John Cassidy claims he was thrilled to get our email only if it was a blessed diversion, from standing in an interminably long line. Glad to be of help. He did go on to say that the family is “holding steady” and is fine. His two twenty-something boys are healthy and unmarried. The family has just finished a house and two barns on a river near a little town in central Idaho. Sounds idyllic! Their home is still in Palo Alto, California, should we need to visit. John is retired and teaching part-time. Things sound pretty good to us… Keep it up.
Lynn Meyer Fort has seen Susie Brown Coughran on Facebook and says she is now living in San Antonio. Carl Moody is posting videos from Spain. Lynn spots Lisa Shackelford Moody and Debbie Hill McKinney on Facebook as well. I guess I will have to join FB to get all the news. Lisa Moody’s daughter has joined Pier 1 in Fort Worth working in the creative department doing what she did for Lauder. Lisa, grandmother extraordinaire, is spending a lot of time babysitting, and Mike is retired and doing a lot of fishing. Good times!
Bill Morse was apologetic for not having updated us for a while. Don’t be. It is better to be late than never! And, we are always grateful to get news of our class. Bill has three grandchildren, all boys: Jack (3) and Henry (1) from his son Tim and his wife Melissa. Bill’s daughter Jen and her husband David have a six-month-old named Oren. Congratulations.
Karl Lytz, “finally” I can understand why you have not had time to catch up since our tenth reunion. Karl graduated from UVA in 1972. He was drafted and ended up as a journalist in the Navy, working as a news broadcaster on the Armed Forces Caribbean Network in Puerto Rico. He then went through Officers Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and was assigned to a ship in 1975 home-ported out of San Diego, California. He joined the ship in the Philippines during the evacuation of Viet Nam, working first as a Communications Officer and subsequently as the ship’s Navigator. He made a couple of deployments to the western Pacific between 1975-78. Karl married in San Diego in 1978, and attended our tenth reunion while in route to Washington, DC, where he worked on the Chief of Naval Operations staff until leaving to attend law school at UVA from 198083. His first son was born in 1976. After graduation, Karl took a job with the law firm Latham & Watkins in their San Diego office. His second son was born in1986. He worked in San Diego as a civil litigator until 1994, when he was transferred to the firm’s San Francisco office. In the 1990’s, he did a fair amount of work for Harry Phillips, a friend to several of us including Annie and Ed. Karl retired just over a year ago, and he and his wife continue to live in Marin County, seven miles north of the Golden Gate. Their first grandchild Izabella was born in October. Karl is enjoying decompression after 30 years of litigation, with absolutely no intention of seeking further serious work, voluntary or otherwise. Oh my god! You make us all look like we are standing still! Congratulations on the birth of your first granddaughter. I applaud your extraordinary
Pam Bartling hopes we are all well and works in the Quality Improvement department for PeaceHealth. She is living in Bellingham, Washington. Her two daughters also live in Bellingham and get together often. It is a beautiful part of the country. Sounds like things are peaceful and good. Thanks for keeping up with us. Barbara Leidler Maloney is recuperating from knee surgery. I bet a few of us have tips for you. I know what Ed would say… “Fill up on watermelon margaritas.” If you are feeling even the slightest hint of pain, you best have another, better keep ahead of the discomfort. Barbara is still in Austin and playing with her three grandchildren. This year she hiked a portion of the Appalachian Trail and the Swiss Alps in August. After those treks she decided surgery was the only solution. She still plays golf, and she and her group never keep score. Sounds perfect. Barbara is still working with the Austin Convention and Visitor Center. Her work is picking up with the influx of buildings and people, but she can pick and choose her hours. She gets to Houston from time to time to visit her brother John and has yet to see the changes at Kinkaid... I can hardly keep up.
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effort, and thank you for taking the time to write us. I know everyone will enjoy your experiences. Elizabeth Topper Nash has just returned from London and visited all the Downton Abbey locations and lunched with the author. She can’t wait to compare notes with Barbara Leidler. Boo is blooming with grandchildren; her sixth was born just after she returned from London. All those weddings really paid off. Annie Owen is just blooming – not much to report. No big trips are planned, and daughter Abigail ’08 is still working in Cambridge.
1969 Don Pickels Houston, Texas donwayne69@gmail.com Dear Sixty-Niners & all Falcons: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all, especially the loyal few who keep our class of ’69 chugging along. Of course I mean the onethird (out of 63 Sixty-Niners!) who show up for parties and contribute news to our class notes. The rest of you are invited to join in the fun and be all you can be. We miss you! I hope some of you were at the recent Kinkaid Christmas party. Here follow the current class notes...
Don Pickels ‘69
Our resident insurance executive Jeff Cross called me up in early September to tag along for the Hobby Center’s hilarious live production of “Reefer Madness” – quite appropriate for these wild times of legal reefer highs in four U.S. states. Jeff serves on the board of TheaterUnder-the-Stars and heartily introduced me around to his fellow VIPs. But why did he spend time claiming nobody he knew there was stoned? I just laughed insanely, eyed all the festive lights and dove joyfully into the mounds of delicious finger-food provided for the VIPs. Yum yum. Jeff scored again when he invited a group of us to the September 17th baseball game featuring our AllStar second baseman Jose Altuve
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breaking the Astros season-hit record with his 210th and 211th season hits. We were ecstatic, and celebrated with a round of cold Budweisers (yes, we’ve “graduated from that tired, old SML”), but heard later that Altuve’s hitting excellence was owed primarily to the chiropractic magic of ’69er Dr. Dana Harper! Let’s hope this shameless plug motivates Dana to honor us with some future class news. And Jeff, keep those VIP tickets flowing Our ex-Pigeon editor Bill Liedtke might have fooled us at the Reunion with his manly girth and saggy pants, but he’s now convinced me of his continuing athletic prowess. He used to be a Kinkaid/Amherst soccer stud, but now reports he plays energetic doubles tennis in Oklahoma City with hard-body guys in their 20s-30s. He sometimes relaxes and lets them win. We already know he’s a winner despite the shocking high school shenanigans we all cherish and remember, such as back at the El Dorado Golf Club with Jeff and myself, plus with us (again) and many of you at the top country clubs around our area. Nevertheless, Billy’s love of guitars redeems him and should again earn our respect. Recently he painstakingly repaired a vintage 1969 Gibson L-7 guitar for his sister Laura Liedtke Bucholz ’71 and drove it from Houston to Wyoming rather than risking any airline damage. Whenever I have a guitar or technical music question, I call up dear-friend “Horn” Liedtke, and hope he might answer within a week.
and Kristy? Let’s not let this devolve into the “’69er Boys Corner!” Lynne has sadly abandoned her erratic but captivating calisthenics tour with classmate Phil Kleas in order to take a recent long vacation to the WWI battlefields of England, Belgium and France. She also got to see the top museums in Paris and London, plus recounted a special “highlight” seeing the glorious oneman Clarence Darrow show starring Academy-Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey. Back home at work, Lynne is busy raising capital for the Houston Technology Center and the U. of H. Her relentless Falcon spirit obviously refuses to die. Carole is so busy it makes me dizzy. She’s been leading her Katy High School’s costume, hair and make-up department. They are working on productions of Dracula, followed by The Music Man. Her son Andrew Kiebach ’98 (fs) is now the Systems Administration Architect for ExtremeTix. Carole and her family are planning to build a residential “retreat” up north of Houston in Willis, on a pretty lake. She reports, “David and I are eyeing the option of retirement in the next couple of years.” I second that emotion and option.
My science/math wingman Dr. Rick Frachtman is a fine father and practicing radiologist who chose to veer from Kinkaid history a bit and talk about his only “non-Falcon” child of three, daughter Lindsey. In Rick’s words, “Lindsey has been a physician assistant at Baylor Practice Family Clinic for a year and a half after a one-year fellowship at the Ben Taub Hospital emergency department. She had a wonderful experience at Episcopal High School, graduating with high honors, followed by a Phi Beta Kappa degree from the University of Texas. Then Lindsey received her Master’s Medical degree in P.A. studies from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona.” Thanks, Rick.
Marianne blew my mind with this dramatic news: she recently went into surgery up in New York and emerged with a brand new hip. After only three weeks she came back strong and acquired a new puppy named Piper, a Yorkie/Jack Russell mix who has been featured as a Facebook star! Marianne rebounded from the hospital to land a new role on the web-series Living the Dream about New York University film students trying to strike it big. Sounds a bit like the old movie/TV sensation Fame! She plays the daffy Student Dean of the film school who terrorizes the students much like a Kinkaid dean from our own past. Yes, Marianne confesses she based her character on our own Kinkaid Dean-of-Women, Mary Vaughan! Oh the shame of it all! I recall my girl Gloria used to badmouth Mrs. Vaughan for sending her home after embarrassing “hallway measurements” to change her “too-short” mini-skirts. Ooh la la... Ah, those sweet Falcon memories...
Only three of our brave Sixty-Niner ladies chimed in for this issue: Head Cheerleader Lynne Barlow Bentsen, Class Organizer Carole SmithwickKiebach and Class Diva Marianne Tatum. Please tell the other SixtyNiner ladies to get sassy and send me some stuff! Where the heck are Falcon foxes Martha, Ann, Kathleen
I was thrilled to hear from our highest-ranking civilian servant, Mr. Marty Dukler. He emailed that he’s still living in Chicago and newly married to Dianne Stewart whom he “worked with thirty-plus years ago when I was the Deputy Commissioner of the Texas Human Services Agency. We have merged
her daughter and my 12-year-old son into our now very crazy household.” High fives to the Duckman! Our north Texas Sixty-Niner Mark Lewis contributed merrily to our zany pre-Reunion communications although he could not attend. With tongue-in-cheek, Mark asks, “When and where is the Kinkaid Christmas party?” [It was Thursday, December 4th in the Kinkaid Drama auditorium, too late for this to help!]. “Maybe this nice Jewish, Dallas-based boy will come down. In the meantime, the biggest news is I’ve sold my home in Arlington and moved to Dallas. Like Texas is to the United States, Dallas is a whole other world compared to Arlington.” Yes, Mr. Mark, you’re “moving on up!” Soon we hope you make it back all the way to Houston. Finally, after years in technology sales, Mark has recently joined “Process Research & Optimization Consulting.” Perhaps next issue he’ll kindly explain what that all means. Our Harley road hero Gary “EZ” Wilkerson related that his son Stephen graduated from Texas State in May, and in a mere two weeks, found a job working for Troy Construction. He manages gas pipeline projects in Louisiana and is living large. Gary still builds custom homes around Canyon Lake, but he and his lady Jane hit the long motorcycle road to Sturgis, North Dakota, this year and holed up at the Deadwood Spearfish Canyon, a place now added to my personal bucket-list. EZ also attended biker rallies in Corpus Christi and the Thunder-in-the-Hills Rumble. As usual, his live-concert schedule puts ours to shame! Recently he’s rocked out at concerts of Journey, Jimmy Buffet, Travis Tritt, George Thorogood, Daughtry and more. If we’re up around New Braunfels in that nice Texas hill country, we’ll call up our concert guru Gary. I was pleasantly surprised to hear from our speedy football tailback Scott Talbot. He recounted highlights of a trip last August to Hungary and France, two nations that I link together! He took his wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandkids first to Budapest for a week and then to the picturesque Lake Balaton region for three days. Scott enjoyed the rich local architecture and history along with lower prices afforded by the country’s rejection of the over-valued Euro currency. From Hungary the Talbot clan flew on to Paris for a week on the sumptuous Roué de Lille on the Left Bank (“Walk Away Renee”) near the Musée de Orsay. With moderate 75-degree temperatures prevailing, they walked all over
Paris, including to Napoleon’s Tomb. Thanks for the update, Scott. Our resident brick-man and bon vivant Murphy Lents, formerly of San Diego, threw me a bone to proudly declare his relocation back home to Texas! In his words, “After six years in sunny California, Dianne and I moved back to the Lone Star State in October. Although complete chaos still reigns, we are living with our string of Morgan show horses on The Twisted Rose Farm near Kerrville, along with three Irish Wolfhounds and two cats. All ‘69ers without severe allergies to animals are invited to visit.” Then I probably shocked Murphy with the threat of showing up there with Ms. Marcy and whoever else could road-trip with us to Kerrville! Now let’s yell a collective Falcon shout-out to our mysterious and elusive Senior Class President, Mr. Paul Taylor of New York City. Paul, you blew your “deep cover” by sending us a couple of witty Reunion emails, then you begged off our Reunion to attend your daughter’s wedding. How dare you! Please take five minutes and send us some family news or some Tayloresque prognostications for the new millennium. You were funny and our most creative ‘69er. Nobody else played original songs on the piano; spun “A Day in the Life” (from the Beatles “Sgt. Pepper” album) for Mrs. Clifford’s English class; wore crisp, white Nehru jackets; and smoked cigarettes defiantly on campus, even in the presence of Coach Fred “Apple Pie” Billings! We miss you, sir. We hope to hear from you in the next issue. Note: the next KHS Magazine with class notes should be out next July or so. As for me, I’ve been working hard at kayak fishing and Frisbee golf, two normally low-stress hobbies that well suit me. I had kayak-fished our local bays since 1992, but rarely paddled out to fish for bigger critters in the deeper, rumbling surf, which has waves. That can be dangerous. Then in October I joined some equally crazed and younger buddies for a sunrise launch from Bolivar’s McFaddin Beach. I managed to punch through the surf, anchored up beyond-the-breakers, and casted out a series of bloody mullet-heads on sharp circle-hooks... Within a couple of hours I landed six bull-redfish from 20-40 pounds (all released) and got pulled around like a small plastic bobber (see photo). After then landing and releasing two sixfoot blacktip sharks, I called it a day and recounted all my dang fingers.
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On dry land I continued to play competitive Frisbee golf and now have the local pros begging me to “go pro” in the Over-60 senior circuit. They think I could be No.1 in the country at that level! I’ve thrown those plastic disks for about 50 years, and now manage under-par rounds with tee-off forehands exceeding 450 feet! Last month I danced a jig after making my first “ace,” a 375-ft screaming skip-shot in a tournament I won at the local TC Jester course. Until now it’s been just a hobby, but maybe I could warm up to a year “on-the-road” playing weekly tournaments all over the country. Come on people; are any of you doing more important “work?” Ha ha. Please stay tuned... I hope to be flinging flat, flying Frisbees further than any Falcon, foreigner or fracking fellow-family member! Onward, gallant Falcons and Pigeons! SUMA ‘69! — Capt. Don Pickels
1970 Malcolm Waddell Houston, Texas mwaddell@waddellinvestments.com It’s the weekend before Thanksgiving as I prepare this installment of our notes. I am devoting the first part of this column to Andy Beck, who passed away this past summer in Los Angeles. Our senior album described him as “BMOC”, and that he was. Andy was captain of the football team and student body president during our senior year. He was handsome, outgoing, charismatic and a leader of our class. In the ensuing years, he worked on many ventures including several in China. His last note came in about this time last year. Andy was busy doing deals and shared, “I am building three companies right now, but one in particular has captured my complete attention, and that’s pulled me every which way but Sunday.” He was also an avid supporter of our class over the years always sending updates and caring messages for his classmates and attending reunions. Many of you have emailed me expressing your shock and grief about losing our classmate so suddenly and so young. In his honor, I want to share several remembrances of Andy before we get to other class news. Lynne Barlow Bentsen ’69 shared: “Andy and I were best friends and stayed in touch with each other from the age of 13 until a few hours before he went in for heart surgery.
I was consulting with Andy on his latest business project, a US/China Venture Capital Fund, and traveled with him to China before he had his heart attack. He lived an interesting, adventurous and sporadically successful life. He has left a wonderful legacy in his two sons whom he adored. His contagious laugh, thoughtfulness and zest for life will be missed by all those who were lucky enough to have known him well.” J.J. Finkelstein (fs) sent a long tribute to Andy. Here is part of it: “Andy and I were very close in middle school and again at the University of Texas. It was hard not to be attracted to Andy in that he could always spin a good yarn and, when he felt it, could exhibit enthusiasm and confidence that was impossible to ignore. I first remember Andy in sixth grade riding to Kinkaid on his Honda 50. He was the envy of everyone, as the best personal transportation most of us had was a bicycle. In a way, he was the first Fonz because he also wore a leather jacket and was pretty cool when most of the rest of us were wearing button-down sweaters. We became close friends in school and teammates on the football field. Even back then, Andy exhibited unbridled enthusiasm and an ability to make friends with anyone he wanted. After I left Kinkaid in ninth grade, I lost track of Andy until meeting up again as freshmen at UT. It was during fraternity rush that I saw him at the ATO house where we pledged. Andy was always involved in virtually every aspect of the fraternity experience, and did so with exuberance. He was a definite presence, fun to be around and, more often than not, accomplished what he said he would. Our senior year, Andy had the great idea to sponsor a concert at the Austin Convention Center featuring Eddie Kendricks, the famous tenor from the Temptations. Through funding from Pace Management, Andy created the event and hired me as his right hand man. Of course, I had no experience with such endeavors, but Andy was convincing, and I went along for the ride. The concert was not particularly successful, but Andy never strayed from completing the mission. While he stayed to count the money from the show late into the night, he charged me with taking his girlfriend, Eddie and his manager to dinner to celebrate. The fact that Kendricks passed out in his salad within minutes and was revived after a quick trip to the men’s room did nothing to dampen the experience. I only spoke with Andy a few more times after those days. Like everyone, I was shocked and saddened that our friend, who was
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Austin Alumni Party The annual Austin Area event was held at Benji’s Cantina on November 20.
Angie North Marshall ‘98, Katherine Harper Vanlandingham ‘98, Alison Zafarnia
Special guests, retired teachers Barbara Cooney & Gene Festa
Lance McInnes ‘84, Sarah Deal Frankenfeld ‘78, Teddy Terhune ‘84, Carolyn Lasater Hodges ‘85
Rain Minns ‘93, Ashley & Jim Withers ‘96, Phil Roberson
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so vital, died so soon. I’ve never met Andy’s sons (Jack and Alec), but I know that Andy was very proud of them. I hope they have the benefit of knowing how Andy made a special impact on my life and, I‘m certain, many others.” Sam Collins had these thoughts: “We played football together in both middle and upper school. Andy was always upbeat, good-natured and fun to be around. No one I knew seemed to have the confidence and bravado he showed. It was obvious pretty early on that he was hell-bent on going places, and although I lost track of him except through Malcolm’s updates, it appears he had his hand in a lot of different and varied endeavors. God speed on your journey home, Andy Beck.” Galen Younger recalled his times with Andy: “When Andy and his mother Marti lived in a townhouse across from the large shopping center at the corner of Voss and Westheimer, I used to come by and hang because I thought his mom was so beautiful, and I liked the warm atmosphere she provided. Andy had a loving relationship with his mom. I can’t say that I remember what happened to Mr. Beck, but what I do remember was Andy’s deep sense of loss and how he stepped up to be the man of the house. In those days, as a young middle school student at Kinkaid, he and I had motorbikes. Andy, Gene Hovey and I would ride together around Tanglewood and Memorial. We were on the JV football team with guys like Jeb Bush. Andy was a great athlete and so congenial. I’m sorry that I lost contact with him. I liked him. He was always good to me.” Rest in peace, dear friend, and thanks for all you did for us as a vital member of the Class of 1970. Galen also shared an update on his family, “Sharon and I have a senior and a junior at UT Austin, and our oldest daughter is a practicing emergency room nurse at Memorial Southwest Hospital here in Houston. Sharon and I are doing fine but not doing this empty nest thing very well.” Irene Moody Riviere and I spoke several times recently. She, too, admired Andy and like all of us was saddened by his sudden passing. She also shared that she is in treatment for breast cancer. She skipped a couple of years of mammograms, and the day she was to go in for her next one she discovered a lump in one of her breasts. Fortunately, she caught the disease early and will be a survivor. She relayed a story where a close friend of hers in Austin was delaying her breast
exam, and Irene pushed her to get her mammogram. Her friend was also diagnosed with the same stage 1 breast cancer and is in treatment. Irene likely saved her friend’s life, and she wanted me to print this personal event in her life in hopes that all our female classmates will get their annual checkups. Sam Collins also had personal news: “All is well with the Collins clan. Daughter Emily ’02 moved to Youngstown, Ohio, (you read that right) to be with her boyfriend who started his surgical residency at St. Elizabeth Hospital there. We went to visit her in September, and I was pleasantly surprised how nice the suburban town she lives in outside the city core is. She’s working for the Jewish Community Center there as the Youth and Family Coordinator. Son Jordan ’00 is still in DC working for Mintz Levin, a Boston based law firm, as Director of Government Relations advising clients on clean energy issues and federal and state policy developments. Andi and I are rocking along, still working together and travelling quite a bit. We spent almost three weeks in our home in Asheville in October, and the fall foliage was as spectacular as we’ve seen it in the seven years we’ve been there. A Happy Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and Festivus to all of the Class of 1970.” Frank McGuyer checked in stating, “We have another grandchild, granddaughter Caroline Hutson from our daughter Brooke ’98, who lives here in Houston. Our son Bart ’02 is still in NY with his wife Mellissa doing a postdoc at Columbia as an atomic physicist and will hopefully find a permanent position maybe as early as next year. MHI (Frank’s homebuilding business) is doing well, and fortunately we only build in the major Texas markets so the last two years post ‘great recession’ have been positive.” Adele Taylor Spalding also had family news: “I have two more grandbabies coming! Adam Spalding ‘02 is having a baby in February, and Amy Spalding Urquhart ‘00 is having her baby #2 in May!! Yippee.” From viewing Adele’s Facebook posts, she LOVES being a grandmother. Katherine Thompson Jordan also had a grandbaby announcement. She wrote, “Our big news is the birth of a beautiful second grandson, Logan Thomas Skelton, born September 12th to our daughter Dr. Katie Skelton and her husband Dr. Spencer Skelton in Houston. We’re thrilled!” Betsy Mickley Sheets out in boomtown Midland wrote: “All is
good. I’m still spending lots of time in New Mexico with John. We have been together over four years. I just stay until one of us needs space! Then go home for a while. I think we were both set in our own ways when we met! My brother Steve ’68 laughed about the report in the last Kinkaid Magazine issue. It sounded like I had a condo in Santa Fe – not staying on a pig farm in the middle of nowhere! His question: ‘What if someone wanted to stay in your place when you’re not there?’ He’s really given me a hard time! I’ll work on that condo in Santa Fe!” Bonnie Robins Coburn who lives in the Golden Triangle area catches us up, “Not a whole lot going on in Port Neches, Texas, but we did just find out we are going to be grandparents for the eighth time. Our grandkids range in age from 23 down to two... Quite a spread. It makes for great holidays. Son Keith, who is a Chief Petty Officer in the U S Navy, is getting ready for another tour of duty for nine months; he is stationed in Jacksonville Florida. Son Jody is in Memphis with his wife and three children. Son Cody and daughter Janette and their spouses are here in this area with us. We are getting ready to leave on one of our favorite vacations, a cruise next week. It will be total relaxation. Husband Mickey is hoping to retire next year and me, too. We have purchased a retirement home on some land in east Texas and are looking forward to some quiet time.” Phil Salvador, one of my best responders, catches us up. “It’s ‘steady as she goes’ here in The Woodlands. My son Lucas is a senior and applying to colleges now. He is aiming high (Stanford, MIT, etc.), but he has some places on his list that he has a good chance of getting into. So we think we will be down to one child at home this time next year. I am still working on a field in Iraqi Kurdistan, but I am anticipating a re-assignment soon. It will probably be something in Africa but still work from Texas. It should be interesting in many ways.” Pierre Huguet (fs), our French connection, checked in this past September. Pierre shared, “Summer has been nice on this side around here. We first had the soccer World Cup where U.S. and France did very well. For the first time, U.S. was among the decorating flag garlands around the Parisian bars showing games on TV. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War, we had Obama and HM the Queen visiting Normandy, which is my home place. From your previous letter it seems that some classmates came around. Martine and I spent
our vacation on the Atlantic Coast in southern Britanny. We tested homes to see if we would like to spend more time around here once I retire, which will be early next year. However, I guess we are a little like Tomoko. We need the big city lights, maybe with some kind of window or open door to the street. But this is still a fuzzy idea. I will be reading in your next letters how each one handles this time of changes. I see from reading your news, that Europe and France is a frequent holiday destination for classmates. Everyone is warmly welcome to come around so that we can chat around dinner (with wine) or while I show you around Paris which is a great place.” Anyone wanting to take Pierre up on that offer can get his email from me! From East Texas, Bill Blomdahl wrote: “I recently saw where my cousin, Jeanne Alsup, a teacher at Kinkaid for 31 years, retired and was honored by the school for her distinguished career. Kinkaid has now created a special award that will carry her name. That award will be given to a deserving student each year, which is a huge honor at Kinkaid. So proud of her! Nancy and I traveled a lot this past summer with trips to Montreal, Canada, for a landman’s convention; to Beaver Creek, Colorado, in August for my 62nd birthday; and to Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach, California, for a golfing vacation with friends. In between times, we have been babysitting our 14-month-old grandbaby girl and just love that new role! I just celebrated 36 years with Lake Ronel Oil Company as VP of Land and going strong.” Bill with grandbaby is also a frequent post on Facebook! Janet Lee Cohen up in New Hampshire had this report: “Our youngest, Rachel, was married Labor Day weekend to Dan Kanter, a newly-minted lawyer whom she had been dating since college. They have moved to Florida, where he will be clerking for a federal court judge for a year. Nice place to visit! Our middle, Jill, just completed round two of herb school and is now a certified holistic herbalist AND Buddhist meditation instructor. She will be relocating soon to Colorado, another nice place to visit. Our oldest has left Rick’s company and is starting an outdoor leadership Outward Bound-type camp in Vermont – a THIRD nice place to visit. My next trip, however, will be a difficult place to go. I’ll be attending a weeklong seminar at Auschwitz. I’ve been there for a day but never for a whole week. It will be intense but meaningful, I’m sure. It’s sponsored
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by the Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, a think tank that works with government employees from countries around the world where genocide could occur in an effort to alert them to the warning signs and try to create policies that encourage the prevention of mass atrocities. I love hearing about everyone’s lives, so thanks once again to Malcolm for keeping us all in the loop!” Tom Hale reported news on his clan. Tom wrote, “The Hales have had a fun time going to the games in Austin which gives us an excuse to see our son Theodore. He is a junior now and wants to go to law school. He clerked this summer at a friend’s firm in Dallas and loved it. We all did a cruise to Alaska for Sherry’s and my 20th anniversary. We had a blast. Daughter Emily is teaching at a private school in gorgeous Antalya, Turkey, and loving it. She loves Turkey. We can’t wait to go for a visit. I helped cousin (and former Kinkaidian) Trish Houck (fs) and her partner Lyssa find a wonderful house in Galveston. Trish’s daughter Reilly is attending OU this fall and has been to Austin to see Theodore. They are best of friends.” Bob Frachtman also a regular correspondent from Austin shared, “All is well. Sherrie and I just returned from Dallas for semiannual AIPAC meeting. Sherrie will be in charge of the annual banquet/ fundraiser for Austin Speech Lab, which is an incredible institution to provide speech therapy assistance to patients long after their covered speech therapy runs out. There is incredible improvement in post stroke speech capabilities beyond the usual three-month coverage. Julian is working in San Francisco, and we visited Spencer Clark’s (fs) winery during our last trip to visit him – great time hosted by Spencer. Brandon still works for an Austin real estate developer. Adrienne is applying to various masters programs in Speech Pathology. I’m still working hard in my GI practice.” On our home front, Suzanne and I had a busy business year with the successful opening of our second dermatology clinic in October 2013 in Katy. The area is booming, and our practice is off to a great start. Our older daughter Julianne landed a full-time job at the Denver Zoo in the education department as a specialist over the volunteers. She had worked there for the past year or so as a contract worker, but she is thrilled to now be part of the permanent staff. Our younger daughter Amanda ’06 continues life in Japan
where she is a translator for an Indian engineering company and an actor in a modern Japanese theater company. Besides performing, she works on the administrative side helping line up international festival gigs and secure grants from the Japanese arts board to help support their overseas performances. This past summer they staged shows not only in Japan but also at festivals in Berlin and Hamburg, Germany. They are busy rehearsing for New Years’ shows in Japan while trying to nail down festival performances in Austria, Italy and Australia for the spring and summer of 2015.
WINTER 2015
St. Arnold’s Happy Hour On Wednesday, September 17 Kinkaid’s young alumni joined forces with Episcopal High School and St. John’s young alumni at St. Arnold’s Brewery for a happy hour.
1971 Claudia Wilson Frost Houston, Texas claudia.frost@dlapiper.com In Memory of Greer Lee
Allison Poarch ‘03 and Sam Pouns ‘07
The Class of 1971 submits the following class notes in memory of our dear friend and classmate, Greer Lee, who was our acting class correspondent at the time of his death on November 13. In addition to the updates Greer had gathered from us in early November, we offer some of the comments and remembrances of Greer our classmates made upon learning of his untimely death. Patty Louisa Barnes writes that she is living in the Boston area, married to Craig Sherman from Massachusetts. Together they have raised three fine young men, a philosopher (currently teaching at Boston University), a budding writer (currently working in a psychiatric hospital) and a budding electrical engineer (currently attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). Craig has spent all of his working career developing heart assist devices as a biomedical engineer (currently working at home and with Dr. Jarvik in NYC) and Patty (who started using her middle name Louisa about 40 years ago) has spent her working life as a dancer, lawyer, occupational therapist and homeschooling mom (currently retired from all of these and looking for a fulfilling way to spend, hopefully, the next 20 years!). Lila Pace Belitz writes that she is living in Kessler Park in Dallas and loving her new community. In her early career she worked as a therapist and subsequently as a Special Education Administrator in Plano ISD. She is now spending time volunteering. Aleah lives close by and works as a Speech and Language
Helen Hemingway McLaughlin ‘05, Andrew Schulte ‘07, Chris Bramel ‘07, Jim Humphries ‘07
Julia Wood ‘08, Richard Beeler ‘08, Mason Bashaw ‘08, Lane Clelland
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Pathologist in home health, serving low income families whose children have eating and swallowing concerns. Lila is so proud of her service to children and families. *** “I loved Greer. To me the word that describes him is authentic. His laugh, his smile, his presence were always genuine.” Darrell Bock reports that he continues to serve as Executive Director for Cultural Engagement at the Hendricks Center and Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas. He also published two books last year on Christianity that have college students as the main audience. *** “I have fond memories of playing basketball with Greer for years. Our thoughts are with his family.” Laura Liedtke Bucholz reports that all is well in Wyoming. They had snow the morning she wrote this! They have had a beautiful Indian summer fall filled with lots of golf and fishing. Laura is doing well and had some Kinkaid visitors in the summer. Peggy and Don Napier and Claudia and Fred Lummis (fs) came through for a few days. Lots of golf and fishing... It was a blast! She is getting ready for her annual XH Angus bull sale in a few weeks so if anyone needs a bull... Her kids are great. Her daughter Bessie (25) is still living in Queenstown, New Zealand. She loves it! Her son John (23) is finishing up at TCU with a degree in geology hoping to go to grad school. The three of them are meeting in South America for Christmas to fish for three weeks. Lots of Liedtkes came through Wyoming this summer: brothers Billy ’69 and Cadell ’73, sister Claire ’76 and bits and pieces of their families. Laura’s mom spends most of the summer in Wyoming. She is almost 90 and breaking her age on the golf course! *** Ellen Lander Yeoman put it best to me... She said Greer certainly accomplished what he set out to do, and that was to reconnect us. Lisa Morris Clements checked in offering to help in any way for our friend Greer, “He was such a sweet soul...” Claudia Wilson Frost writes that she continues to actively pursue her two passions: law and horses. She is a partner in and Co-Chair of US Patent Litigation for DLA Piper LLP US, one of the largest law firms in the world. She was recently chosen by IP Law360 as one of the
20 Most Influential Women in IP Law in the US. She is also a Founder and Executive Committee member of the Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas Law School and a mentor for young lawyers and Master of the Bench in the Houston Intellectual Property Inn, American Inns of Court. Her horse and law passions intersect through her membership in the American College of Equine Lawyers and her representation of international and domestic owners and athletes in show jumping. She is the former President of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show (1999-2002) and a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington International Horse Show, the oldest indoor US international horse show, held every year in downtown DC. Claudia is actively involved with her daughter Sparky Frost (Kinkaid yellow door to eighth grade/class of 2003, Rice BA/MBA), in their horse business – SHF Enterprises, Inc., specializing in breeding, showing and sales of ring ready show jumpers. Sparky also works with her dad (Ford Frost ’66) in their family ranching, real estate and oil and gas business. Claudia and Ford are truly fortunate to both be able to work with their daughter with whom they share so many interests. They treasure their friends from Kinkaid and while they no longer own the ranch in Sugar Land where we held a joint class of ’66 and ’71 reunion in the 1990’s, Claudia and Ford would love to host something at their farm in Bellville in the coming years. *** “I attended Kinkaid with Greer from Kindergarten through 12th grade and in college at UT. I remember him fondly as a truly warm and kind person. I feel very fortunate to have seen Greer recently at a dinner and am grateful for all he did to bring and keep our class together.” Kim Norris writes that she has been living in Massachusetts the past 2.5 years continuing her 20+ year career in biotech drug/device development. She is Director of Medical Writing at Synta Pharmaceuticals. She recently bought a house about 18 miles northwest of Boston where she lives with her two Jack Russell Terriers. Kim says that anyone heading north, should feel free to reach out to her. Mike Pearson and Shirley report that they are doing well and are really enjoying the senior discounts at the movies. Mike is still practicing law with Jackson Walker L.L.P. (24 years and counting). Shirley sings
in every choir available at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and is active in a number of charitable endeavors. Their daughter Elizabeth ’05 is married and living in Chicago, where she teaches “business communications” at Year Up, a non-profit program designed to help formerly at-risk youth obtain 12 hours of college credit and an internship that will provide them a path to enter into the mainstream work force. As a friend recently said, she has “a great job doing good.” Their son Ben ’10 graduated from Southwestern University last May with a degree in accounting, is currently pursuing an MS in Professional Accounting at the University of Virginia, and will go to work with Price Waterhouse Coopers in its McLean, Virginia (Washington, DC), office in the fall. Cindi Wilson Proler reports that she is working on special projects with her father/brother with UH and working on the WWW, Sr. Beautification Corridor – Buffalo Bayou to Richmond Avenue. She is also on the Baylor College of Medicine Partnership Board as well as the WWW, Sr. Houston History Center for Public History UH. Cindi has four grandchildren (one born in January!), and her favorite place in Houston is the Museum of Natural Science. Cindi has a wonderful boyfriend, Sam Ray, and her father is taking all of them to Hawaii after Christmas, all 44 of them. Cindi notes that the Wilsons have had 52 consecutive years at Kinkaid. *** “I will miss seeing Greer. He was a kind and special man, who always had a special way of welcoming everyone. I remember him laughing and being a man about town.” Milton West writes that this fall he took a trip of a lifetime. Together with Michele Dienna, his significant other, they went on safari in the Timbavati Private Game Preserve of South Africa (borders the Kruger National Park) for a week. Milton had hunted in South Africa before
in 1999. This time he wanted to experience truly hunting in the African bush, so they camped in an open arrangement (no protective game fences out in the middle of nowhere) with no electricity. They stayed in an army tent; it did have running water! After a successful hunt for Cape Buffalo, they went on a two-day photo safari that was fantastic. They photographed every animal (except a male lion) and a variety of birds. They then flew to Cape Town for two days of recuperation. They toured the Cape and did all of the tourist things. The weather was fantastic. Then they rented a car and drove through the vineyards finally staying in a five-star hotel in Franshoek, which was quite a contrast from the previous week! It was unbelievably beautiful. Like Napa, but in the Alps and on steroids. It was a perfect combination of hunting and touring the vineyards of South Africa. *** “I knew Alvis Greer Lee from Kindergarten through graduation from Kinkaid. We were “lifers”. We reconnected some years later when I was involved in the Kinkaid Alumni Association. We all remember him as a very kind man. What some don’t remember was that he was a great athlete, both in high school as a football player and after as a ski instructor. Also, most do not know that he had an unbelievable memory. He could remember stuff we did in the fourth grade! I used to tease him that he had a great memory of useless facts, and he would laugh.” Bettina Wright, who also actively keeps the class involved and informed, advised us of Greer’s death and passed along much news. Ellen Lander Yeoman writes that she is living in NYC (six blocks from her daughter!). Ellen is back in school receiving certifications in Holistic Psychology and Integrative Nutrition and is a yoga instructor and a health/life coach. Her son Lander (31) is living and working in Los Angeles, and her daughter Audrey (26) is living in NYC, working
Neil Bush ‘73 (fs) and family, including children Lauren Bush Lauren ‘02, Pierce Bush ‘04 and Ashley Bush ‘07
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and in school as well. Her son Josh (29) was living in Denver at a special school, but is being transferred to Houston to live with his father to continue to job search through various programs. *** “One of my fondest memories of Greer is that I could always depend on his friendship and support. His kindness was so appreciated, as was his authenticity. He seemed somewhat of a gentle giant.”
1972 If you are interested in volunteering to be the class correspondent, please contact Advancement Associate Laura Renaud at 713-2435054 or laura.renaud@kinkaid.org.
1973 Sandy Howard Turner Houston, Texas sandy@mochimabay.com To our class: this school year seems to be the year that most of us will turn 60… Other than Jana Allday Thomas, Missy Baker Jones and Rene Bell, who are so young they could have been in the class of ’74. Anyway, for me, age comes with nostalgia and reminiscing of our younger days and a desire to live each day to the fullest. Here is the news: Marion Perryman Liedtke turned 60 while several of us gathered for dinner to see Janet Weingarten Battista while she was in Houston. We were so creative in sending a video to Marion of the group singing “Happy Birthday”! Marion and Cadell Liedtke write that they have been experiencing the ongoing Midland boom. Their family has been booming, too. Two more grandchildren have joined the clan, making a total of eight granddaughters and four grandsons. They are scattered from Houston to Dallas to Washington, D.C. Three grandchildren are at Kinkaid in the Lower School! Marion and Cadell keep in touch with many of our classmates. They see George Hover a lot because he and his wife live in Midland. Neil Bush (fs) responds with good news. He and his wife Maria are blessed with six wonderful kids, three of whom are Kinkaid graduates. Through the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Maria and Neil are raising awareness of low literacy rates and how it impacts
us all with higher crime, poverty and dropout rates. The foundation published a report this year entitled “Houston’s Literacy Crisis: A Blueprint for Community Action”. Their efforts are to make literacy the highest education priority in the community. Thank you, Neil. DeLinda Fuqua Baker checked in with me. She has been working at Bank of America as a Senior Program Manager for almost 25 years. She oversees the activities to develop and deploy enhancements and new functionality to technical programs in the bank. Her husband is the Marine Supervisor for the Baytown Refinery for Exxon Mobile. Her oldest son is a developer at Moody Rambin, the middle son is in the Coast Guard, and her daughter is a recent graduate from Baylor in Public Relations. Remember her dad, Mr. Hunter? (I’m not sure I passed his history class.) He is in his late 70’s, in good health and is teaching history part time at HCC. Good to hear your news, DeLinda.
WINTER 2015
Dallas The Dallas Alumni Club hosted the first “Welcome to Dallas” event for SMU students on August 27 at Banditos Restaurant.
Hailee Binet ‘14 and Drewe Molin ‘14
Bart Brewer sends news that he and his wife have reached the 21year mark! Their boys are 14 and 12. I guess he is still involved with carpool! The LA Kings Hockey Club selected Bart (a season seat holder since 1982) to carry the Stanley Cup into the arena when they raised the second championship banner on October 8. How cool is that?! Jerry Maltz let me know that he will send an update when he has news. Glad to still be in touch with him even without news. Rob Bradley says that he is busy as a writer and lecturer who introduces Progressives to free-market, libertarian theory. What??? Cline Young sends his update from Austin. He married last year and all is well. He said that his children are doing well, in spite of his parenting. One of his daughters teaches pre-professional actors in musical theater, and she performs regularly in Austin at Zach Theater,
Pam Wilson ‘73 with Texans’ J.J. Watt
Kinkaid SMU students
the equivalent to TUTS in Houston. She has two children, 12 and 8 years old, that seem to be following the same artistic path. His middle daughter owns a bakery in Boston and has had several articles written about the popularity of the place. Cline’s son married in June and lives in Houston. He is a successful commercial real estate broker. Cline says that he basically sits back and watches, trying to stay off of the grid. He is holding off 60 just as long as possible. Pam Wilson finally sent her news! She has been busy photographing an ad for Sports Illustrated of JJ Watt in full uniform, even with sweat dripping. Pam admits that she has not followed Houston football since she was a cheerleader for the Falcons, and she said, “I now know how popular the guy is. I put the photograph on Facebook and received hundreds of likes in a few hours.” Now that she has hit the 60-year mark, Pam has let go of
her favorite songs, “What Does the Fox Say?”, along with “Take Me To Church”. She also has invited us to come pick the gazillion pecans in her yard and driveway. Scott West says that all is well in his household; the family is in good health and working longer hours than ever. He and Laurie have traveled a great deal this year but
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will be staying close to home for the holidays. As to the age factor, Scott says that he has no bucket list yet because he is going to live into his 90’s.
is running deep. Keep in touch everyone. Respectfully submitted by Sandy Turner.
Mac McClure tells me that he hates getting old. He often thinks of the wise words from his father: “Old age sure beats the @%#* out of the alternative.” I told Mac that 60 is the new 30. I know this for a fact because Rene brought his windsurfer over to our bay house to let me try it out. Yes, I can still windsurf!
1974
Susu Zimmerman Meyer told me that turning 60 was not nearly as scary as expected. Fred Meyer has not yet crossed that threshold! Morgan de Marigny got married for his 60th. Definitely proves my theory that 60 is the new 30… Bob Franklin and Nan took the family to the British Virgin Islands to sail aboard a 50’ catamaran for the week of Bob’s birthday. Close quarters, but how much fun to celebrate with the family. Missy and Scott Jones await the arrival of another grandbaby. Their son’s wife is expecting in the next few months. Janet Battista is thinking of writing a book (that I will edit) titled: Where is That DNR and All of Those Other Important Documents? The DNR is an inside joke for “do not remember a thing.” Rene Bell said that the highlights of the summer were the visits that he and Terry had with Bill and me. I agree. We windsurfed, sailed, kayaked and ate some good seafood. Chuck Blanton joined us one day aboard our boat for a day on the bay. While I windsurfed by, Chuck face-timed Janet to say hello. We even called Chuck Cunningham ’72 to sing happy birthday. Ain’t technology grand! My news: I have been cleaning out my parents’ house and am coming across many treasures. Such as, my second semester senior report card reporting that I was barely passing and tardy a great deal. I think that is called OUT OF HERE and never changes from generation to generation. I even found an invitation for my Dad’s first cousin to go to an ice skating party dated February 7, 1942. The birthday boy was Missy Jones’ father! Now, that’s over the top. Also, I found a Chronicle newspaper clipping dated 1973 reporting that “Dana Lyon Sweeps Show Title in National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden”. Really, really cool. I see Judy Sud Morris now and then. She is glad to be settled in Houston. Dana and I are starting to meet a couple of times a week to chat and exercise. Glad to hear from classmates. Nostalgia
Madeleine Topper Sheehy Houston, Texas madtop5@sbcglobal.net At long last, my household has quieted down. The last of three sons graduated in May from Kinkaid and is off to college. So I am catching up with classmates… Tara Crooker Mize is busy working, traveling and enjoying time with her family. Kathy Jewell Wommack is splitting her time between Austin, Houston and Midland. Cynthia Walker Blackburn still has an active household that she is managing. Alex McKinley Martindale
When not in Houston, she retreats to Carmel, California. Laura Randall Bacon has had a busy year. Her horticultural skills are flourishing at her Galveston sanctuary. She creates culinary masterpieces in her kitchen, and she planned her daughter’s (Katy ’03) wedding in June.
about 18 in attendance, and it was a fun evening. It would be great to gather as many of us as possible for the Reunion. Please reach out to those you stay in touch with and encourage them to come. We are also hoping to get the former band members together!
Jed Goodall was the father of the bride (Lauren ’04) this spring and had the reception at his lovely home. Jay Manning will be walking his daughter down the aisle next year just as his youngest child graduates from high school.
Please take a minute to drop me a note with your latest contact information. We are updating the list, and I want to make sure we know how to reach you! You can send it to me at jude118@aol.com.
Richard Finger stays busy with his family and work. Frances Hopper Jeter was honored at the Life Houston luncheon in October. Cindy Falik Lipshutz is rolling in the dough. To find out more check out www.notyoureverydaycake.com. Thank you to Mark Breeding, our Kinkaid Alumni Board President this year.
Cynthia Walker Blackburn ‘74, Madeleine Topper Sheehy ‘74, Alex McKinley Martindale ‘74, Kathy Jewell Wommack ‘74 and Tara Crooker Mize ‘74
looks great and enjoys life in Dallas and being with her grandbaby whenever possible. Also enjoying their grandbabies are Christina Murphy Short, Georgiana Bolton Ladd and Maudie Overton Beard. Speaking of Maudie, she hosted our 40th reunion in her gorgeous home in April. In attendance were: Joyce Maggio Pardon from New York, Maggie Warren Brown, Mary Hooper Bell from Austin, Bill Lloyd, Cynthia Walker Blackburn, Jim Finkelstein, Sherry McKinley from Dallas, Joan Peckham House, Sandra Spore Langford, Christina Murphy Short, Ford Thanheiser, David Shutts, Elizabeth Meyers Sabrasula, Jack Castle, Paul Stebbins from Miami, Pat Frede and Holly Hibbert. Melissa Lyon Johnson was one of the organizers for the evening.
1975 Judy Levin Houston, Texas Jude118@aol.com Fellow Classmates, I have been remiss about gathering information from you to include in the notes. Our biggest news is that our 40th Reunion is coming up in April! It is the weekend of April 24th and 25th. John and Carol Grisham Howenstine have graciously offered to open their home to us AGAIN for our party on Saturday night. The Planning Committee includes me, Lib Smith Snell, Catherine Choate Christopherson and Cliff Sondock. Cliff was recently in Houston and gathered a group at Carrabba’s for a last minute dinner. We had
Wishing you and your families a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season and New Year. And hoping to see you in April!
1976 Laura Byrd Herring Houston, Texas laura.Herring@bgllp.com David and Susan Tuttle Lummis celebrated 30 years of marital bliss in June by restoring two antique structures in Fayetteville, one in the town and one ranch outside of town. They continue these beloved projects by now restoring and improving pasture and meadows surrounding the properties. Susan continues to pursue the level of Horticultural Judge in the GCA. She says that in perhaps two more years, she may become official. All three of her children - young adult people, really - are returned to grad schools and her youngest is a senior in college. Some of Susan’s closest buddies share time in Santa Fe with her, and she welcome more time-sharing with them again, soon.
1977 If you are interested in volunteering to be the class correspondent, please contact Advancement Associate Laura Renaud at 713-2435054 or laura.renaud@kinkaid.org.
1978 Sarah Deal Frankenfeld Austin, Texas sarahf422@me.com Hello everyone! First I want to thank YOU! When I email about someone being “lost”, you don’t just tell me that you think you know how to find them, but you do the work and look for their email! I really appreciate that! As you all know, I have a quest
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to get a hold of everyone and am still missing several. To those of you that I sent letters to, I hope you will send me your email so that I can add you to the list. It was great hearing from Mark Hancock, Pat Skipton Jones, Marvel Wilkerson Layman, Marie Marchand and Colleen Couch Reed. I still need emails for Stephanie Barrett, Maria Antonellos Bassa, Paul Bing, Lori Moore Bynum, Hal Coley, Susan Cummins, Jim Dilworth, Michele Rowland Hanlon, Charlie Horton, Randy Kaufhold, Carl Paschetag, Tricia Barrett Tschetter, Andrea Turtur and Karen Sahol Wohlschlegel. And… I had Jim Goodyear’s and Johnny Parker’s emails, but my recent email to them was returned so if someone has their new one, please send! Thanks for any help you can give me. I lay dormant on this most of the year and then twice a year when I have something due to Kinkaid, I pick it up again! On to the news you have been waiting for: Mike Littman reported from Louisville, Kentucky, that he has been working for Doe-Anderson Advertising for 19 years now. Son Ryan is in Grad school at Texas A&M in Architecture and son Robert is studying abroad at the Universidad de Sevilla. He has been married for 27 years to Mary Earthman Littman, who is a realtor and independent investor and is now mastering Kundalini yoga. His current dog is a Pointer named Henry. Personally, he tries to jog 15-20 miles a week, although it is now cold and snowy in Kentucky, which always slows him down. Like, to the couch down! Heather Fichter Cassidy reports that two of her boys are now married and live in Jacksonville with their wives. Her other two boys are at Ole Miss (a senior and a freshman). She and John have been renovating a house since February and recently moved in! It is going to be a great house for them as she is sure her family will be expanding with the boys getting married and grandbabies in the next few years!! Mamie Goebel has lately been thinking of all the years at Kinkaid and has enjoyed reading what people have been up to. Parents pass away, relationships change, lives change – it’s such an interesting journey. She also reveals that she is certainly not the shy little girl that didn’t say much back in the day... and even says that some say she talks TOO much! Mamie has been living in Orlando but finally achieved her dream and moved to a small beach town in Florida to enjoy a simpler way of life, close to the ocean, boating, fishing, yoga, canoeing,
kayaking and enjoying sports events and concerts. Sounds heavenly to me! Anyone is welcome to visit and enjoy the beach and Disney! She has been in real estate related jobs, title insurance sales/marketing, but now has cut back to part-time so that she can travel and breathe after 32 years of working. Mamie reports that life is good!
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Austin Young Alumni Before the annual Austin alumni party, Kinkaid reconnected with UT students at Benji’s Cantina on November 20.
Jon Finger reported that his oldest son graduates college in Spring 2015, has a job offer and will theoretically be off the payroll sometime in 2015. Now this is good news! Susan McClure Jackson welcomed a new grandbaby to the family so is now “Nana” to three: Aidan (10), Taylin (5) and Norah Elise born last month. Christmas was spent with son and daughter and families and five dogs! Steve Brooks and I (Sarah) met at the Dallas Rebels tent in the Grove for the Auburn vs. Ole Miss game. I got to meet the whole Brooks family! After all these years, we recognized each other and decided that we don’t look that much different (or at least WE don’t think we do)! It was great to catch up! AND for my story: Long but a fun one that I hope you will enjoy. Blessings come in all ways and now I know why I said YES to the job of class correspondent! Some of you may remember that Senora Carroll asked me to go to Guatemala the summer of 1977 and that Ana Mari came back to live with me my senior year. I had a different idea about how I was going to spend my summer, but thank goodness my parents “made” me go! It truly changed my life and Ana Mari was precious and the Class of ’78 adopted her as one of their own! (Thank you all for this!) Ana Mari and I didn’t stay in touch as we would have liked – unrest in Guatemala, no social media, college and life in general. Fast forward to 2013 when my daughter was an exchange student through our high school to Spain, and then the Spanish girl came to live with us. It made me think a lot about Ana Mari so I started looking on social media with no luck. I had even looked for Senora Carroll but found out several years ago that she had passed away. Earlier this summer I asked David Brill if he knew Sra. Carroll’s family because I knew that David kept up with the Becks and probably others! One day when going through his emails, he ran across my email and took the time to do some searching. He sent me something he found on Senora Carroll’s son, Danny, thinking it wouldn’t lead to anything. I wrote Danny and three days later, I received an email from Ana Mari!!!!! After 36 years, we are
Christine Sangalis ‘11, Emily Beckham ‘11, Tom Moore, Madison Deal ‘11, Madison Leibman ‘11
Emily Gemp ‘12, Clemmie Pierce ‘12, Philmon Keleta ‘12, Lizzie Ford ‘12, Andrew Rubenstein ‘12
Edward Banner ‘12, Annabelle Reade ‘12, Mike Mayfield ‘12
Members of Class of 2011
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s any fan of the hit ABC drama Grey’s Anatomy will tell you, the medical cases portrayed on the show are extremely well written and researched. One person who can take credit for this high quality writing is Kinkaid alumna Meg Marinis Vernon ’02, a writer for the show, now in its 11th season. During her nine years at Grey’s, Meg has combined her love of writing and television with her knowledge of medicine to successfully research and create extraordinary episodes.
Meg’s passion for writing started during her years at Kinkaid. While in Upper School, Meg completed an independent writing study during Interim Term with Kate Lambert and a screenwriting class with AJ Carothers ’50 that fueled this passion. She also religiously watched her favorite television shows, especially The X-Files and ER. Meg says, “I was even inspired to write my own episode of ER when I was 12. I had an early interest in and appreciation for medicine that I picked up from my grandfather, who was a surgeon.” After Kinkaid, Meg attended the University of Texas majoring in Plan II and Radio-Television-Film. She moved to Los Angeles for her senior year, finishing her coursework and interning. As she looked for her first job, Meg reached out to Katherine Campbell Van Steenburgh ’01, who had attended USC and worked in Los Angeles as an assistant for Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey’s Anatomy. Katherine helped Meg land an interview at Grey’s, and she was hired in 2006. With little previous medical knowledge, Meg began her career at Grey’s as an assistant and then progressed to researcher, where she quickly learned about the field. Now Meg is one of 11 Grey’s writers, and she is assigned to her own episodes. “The most rewarding part of my job is that I get to see the result of all of the hard work that goes into our story telling – it airs on television,” Meg explains. “It’s a pretty amazing feeling knowing you’re a part of something that makes people all across the world laugh, cry or throw things at their screens... whether it’s in anger or delight.” She applies her now extensive medical expertise to each episode she writes and is able to entertain and even educate her audience. Two years ago, an actress came to the writers and asked them to write a script about Kawasaki’s disease, a rare and serious illness characterized by inflammation of blood vessels that afflicts young children, including her son. If not promptly diagnosed and treated, the child can develop heart disease and potentially suffer fatal complications. Diagnosing this disease is difficult because the symptoms mimic many common viruses, but if the patient sees a doctor who can rule things out in a timely manner, the patient can receive the appropriate treatment, usually consisting of intravenous immune therapy.
Meg Marinis Vernon ‘02 on the set of Grey’s Anatomy
is now back to normal, but he could have suffered severe heart problems without the diagnosis. Meg is proud that her work on Grey’s has the ability to impact lives such as this one by reaching millions of viewers with real medical stories. What’s next for Meg? “I hope to stay with Grey’s Anatomy until the show ends since it has been such a major part of my life,” Meg says. “My husband Taylor and I used to think we would move back to Texas, but now we would like to stay in LA. I would love to work on another show and someday create a show of my own!”
Meg wrote the script, and the actress played the mother. A month after the show aired, Meg received a letter from a woman in Orange, Texas, explaining how her son had been ill and was not getting better. The woman’s sister had seen the Grey’s Anatomy episode and told her to take her son to the hospital, where his tests indicated he could have Kawasaki’s. The little boy received the IV immune therapy and
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back in touch just like that… Thanks to one little bit of info from David!! Even more amazing, she and her mom had started looking for me a few years ago and she received Danny Carroll’s email from me on the day of her mom’s funeral. It is not simply a coincidence that she received it that day! She has been to Houston a couple of times over the years and every time drove her family through Kinkaid but couldn’t remember where I lived (she was 15 at the time and even though I lived near Kinkaid, it was a LONG time ago). And the most amazing part of all, her son attends St. Edwards in Austin and is on their golf team! Ana Mari and I have talked back and forth – after all these years – and my family has gotten to know her precious son! We are planning Ana Mari’s trip here! Of course my 17 year old and Ana Mari’s son can’t believe that we didn’t talk for 36 years – because they don’t know what life is like without instant communication through What’s App, email, text, twitter, FB, etc.! SO, Kinkaid and the experience it provided me are still in my heart and still in me… Even after all these years!! Thankfully I said YES to the simple volunteer opportunity of class correspondent or I may not have
been in touch with my classmates to be reunited with Ana Mari! There was a plan there! I hope your holidays were filled with lots of blessings. Here is to a happy and healthy 2015!
1979 Steven Arnold Houston, Texas sda@3lmc.com Evans Attwell Houston, Texas eattwell@gmail.com Alice Berry Houston, Texas missformicadinette@yahoo.com
1980 Marcela Chavez Houston, Texas 2marcela@email.com Greetings Class of ’80! I hope this New Year finds all of you healthy and
enjoying life to the fullest. Please start making plans to join us on April 24th and 25th for our 35th Class Reunion Weekend! In the meantime, here are some updates from our fellow classmates: Larry West writes, “I am alive and well. Sarah and I just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. We have three boys. Two are students at UT Austin. Our youngest, Cameron, is a senior at Episcopal High School and is currently the Student Body President.” I recently ran into John Schwartz and Kevin Quirk at a location where Kevin is “restoring old muscle cars”. Another classmate of ours, who is also involved in creative ventures, is Layne Chaney, who confirms that his new boat design will be ready this spring. Robert Fox reports the following from Knoxville: “Check out my youngest son’s band – Subtle Clutch. Eli wrote this instrumental (he is on banjo) http://liveandbreathing. com/subtle-clutch/subtle-clutchrabbit-on-the-run. Follow them on Facebook/Twitter. They are releasing their first album November 15. https://www.facebook.com/pages/ Subtle-Clutch/550107215025198”
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Mark McMurrey is still living in Fredericksburg and working in Austin. His son Harry (19) is at Sewanee and playing golf. His son Belton (16) is a junior at Fredericksburg High School and wanting to be a movie director and attend USC in 2016. His daughter Stella (14) loves to play volleyball and walk Main Street in town. Mark says, “Everyone needs to come enjoy our town, the wine tours, Enchanted Rock and the Nimitz Museum”. Adam Lively writes: “I am honored to be here! After spending over 20 years on the waters of the Laguna Madre and the vast ranch lands of South Texas, I moved my family back to Houston in 2007. My previous high school sweetheart, and very patient and forgiving wife of around thirty years, Jennifer, and I have three handsome sons. Luke Addison (22) attends the University of Houston; our middle son, Hudson LeGrand (18), attends A&M Corpus Christi; and our “baby”, Tucker Maxwell (15), is a sophomore at Stratford High School. And I am sure he would want me to mention that he is a very talented football player, as were his brothers. Since our return to Houston, I have been at the helm of our family company,
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Lively Exploration Company, and I truly enjoy it. Having entered Kinkaid in first grade, and also having three other siblings that also attended, many of my oldest and fondest memories originate from those Kinkaid days. I have also been blessed to have kept friends from those days and to have reconnected with others since we moved back. And remember, Purple rules and Gold drools!”
at Lewis and Clark in Portland – maybe studying Psychology. Mia is 12 and is in seventh grade. She loves soccer, volleyball, surfing and lacrosse! Adelaide and Brendan own a little inn on the island of Eleuthera, and they go there quite a bit. She is still in real estate in California, and Brendan is still a chemist… AND she gets together with Kinkaidians whenever possible!
That’s all for this Winter edition. Look forward to seeing many of you at “Reunion Weekend”.
Lise Liddell is traveling a lot and taking some time off from her own music to help her nieces with theirs. Lise is also on the board of a small contemporary ballet company and a small alternative theater in Houston. In her spare time, she is attempting to write a memoir about her “crazy” upbringing. She says, “Life is good – no complaints! I’m very fortunate!”
1981 John McReynolds Houston, Texas j-mcr@comcast.net Tad Mayfield’s family now has three students. His sons Walt ’11 and Mike ’12 are studying engineering at Johns Hopkins and UT respectively, and his wife Sheila is pursuing a Masters in Liberal Studies at Rice. Tad continues his work at Goldston Oil and has been working on a number of inventions for a venture called Gwee that can be seen at gwee.com. David Finegold checked in from Dalian, China. (I went to Dalian once by accident, but will have to save that story for the next reunion.) David was in the midst of an 11-city China trip for americanhonors.org, providing a path to top colleges and universities for talented students from the US and around the world. He says the Finegold family is doing well – Sam had a great internship last summer with Thumbtack, an internet company in San Francisco, where he’ll be going back after graduating from Harvard this May. Charlotte is enjoying her second year at Yale, and Sue stays fit and happy teaching 15 yoga classes a week. David says to get in touch if they you in the NJ/NY area. John Barrett became Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Toledo. He says life is insanely busy (working harder than an associate at a major Houston law firm). As such, no real other news – golf game in the toilet, little travel, etc. Adelaide Andrews is still married to Brendan, and they have three daughters, Adelaide (Dylan), Scarlett and Mia. Dylan is getting her second masters at Loma Linda University… The first was in social work, and the second is in criminology. She is joining her uncle Tom Biggs in law enforcement. Scarlett is a sophomore
Lauren Lasater Martin checked in. She said that Margaret graduated from UTSA in December 2013 and is working in Houston with Jones Lang LaSalle. Catherine is a senior at UTAustin with a major in International Relations Global Studies. Valerie is a senior at Foster High School and is hoping to go to A&M into veterinary sciences. She and Peyton are doing great and just celebrated 26 years of marriage. Life is reported to be good at the John Maclay house. Megan is in seventh grade at Kinkaid, and Martha is in ninth at St John’s. John is still doing the entrepreneurial thing with low tech businesses. He is currently involved in a precast concrete company and also got back into the wooden pallet recycling business. Craig Wilson and his wife Lisa have two married daughters and three grandkids. They traveled to Germany for two weeks over the summer to hang with their daughter’s in-laws and then on to Madrid for a wedding. The whole Wilson clan of 47 people is going to Hawaii for Christmas. Julia Gregg DeWalch’s oldest son Taylor ’07 got married this summer to another Kinkaid graduate, Jane Banos ’08. Sarah ’09 is working for a local caterer, Elizabeth Stone. Carter ’13 is a sophomore at UT. Caroline is in eighth grade at Kinkaid. Bill Cathriner is working for Salient Wealth Management and Trust, here in Houston. Jackie Goss Cathriner is enjoying going with him to corporate events for client development and appreciation. Their oldest daughter is a second year architecture student at UVA and having a blast in Charlottesville. Their younger daughter is happy at Kinkaid cheering for the falcons!
Adrienne Estes Bullard is living happily in Dallas with husband Danny and daughter Chace, who is a sophomore at Episcopal School of Dallas. Adrienne is designing interiors at M. Barnes & Company. Penny Barrett Hornsby is a GIS Specialist and acting Administrator for Missouri City. Her 22- and 23-year-old boys are in Austin. They went skiing in Keystone and Breckenridge at the beginning of December. She and her husband Lance are happy empty nesters and plan to move sometime in the first quarter of 2015. Tim Vail is the Founder and President of an energy company, G2X Energy. They produce natural gas and downstream chemical products in Texas, Colorado and Louisiana. He is still wrenching on old cars in his spare time. He and Elizabeth have been married for 24 years. They have 12-year-old twins, Peter and Alexandra, who are in the seventh grade at Kinkaid. Tom Thurlow has just completed his book, entitled Whine Tasting. The book is a collection of his writings on politics, movie and event reviews, and “strong opinions on trivial subjects”. I have been told the there is even a special bit on Clay Cravens in the book. Get your copy at Amazon! Adam Battlestein continues to tour worldwide with his dance troupe, Catapult Entertainment. They recently were “throwing shade” in Saudi Arabia! As for me, John McReynolds, Karen and I are doing well. Karen is channeling her inner John Cooper as she enters her 18th year of homeschooling our kids. I am working as a construction defect consultant and expert witness. I also am bringing a number of new building products in to the Houston market. In my spare time, I preside over a number of political, professional and neighborhood organizations. Our 25-year-old daughter Francie is married and doing well with her recovery after several weeks at John Sealy with serious burns. She is slowly getting back to working as an executive assistant by day and country music artist at night. Cameron (23) is continuing to excel in the MIS program at UH with a near perfect GPA (paternity testing may be in order). Laura Anne (14) earned her black belt in TKD and is training with an Olympic coach hoping to work her way up to the national team. Ellie (13) continues to improve her art skills. One of her paintings was recently purchased to hang in the new Agriculture Commissioner’s office in Austin. Sarah (12) is continuing
to excel in ballet and also likes to create videos to teach kids like her (who are missing a hand), how to do things like painting fingernails and braiding hair.
1982 Maria Semander Crawford Redondo Beach, California msemander@yahoo.com Waverly White Gage Houston, Texas wwgage@gmail.com Hello Class of 1982! You know the saying “time flies”? Well, I think everyone can agree that it sure does. We all turned 50 this past year and yet, it seems like only yesterday we were sneaking a cow into the library! Boy, I don’t think that would go over very well these days, lol. The “good ole days” may be behind us, but that doesn’t mean the best of times aren’t ahead of us. Many classmates are now empty nesters and enjoying the “good new days”. Life without homework, kids sports, making lunches or endless carpooling is filled with leisurely reading, hobbies, dining out and a brand new convertible. But, for those of us with kids still running around the house, my advice to you is enjoy every minute because as you know... Time flies. Bruce and Marilyn Taylor Phillips will soon be empty nesters with a wedding to plan! Their oldest daughter Loren ’08, who graduated from TCU in 2012, is engaged and planning a wedding for this summer. The Phillips’ middle child Lindsey ’11 will be graduating in the spring from TCU and pursuing grad school with a career in social work. So (as Bruce joked) unless Lindsey moves back in with them, he and Marilyn will officially be empty nesters in May when their youngest son Taylor ’15 graduates from Kinkaid. Marilyn and Bruce loved seeing all three of their kids go through Kinkaid as “lifers” and admit that it is bittersweet to be closing that chapter of their life… Well, at least until the grandkids start school ☺. I had the pleasure of seeing Marilyn at the Episcopal/ Kinkaid football game (did you know that Episcopal is the big rival nowadays?) and am happy to report that our Homecoming Queen is every bit as beautiful as the day she was crowned, and I’m sure Bruce would agree!
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Another classmate with a Kinkaid senior is Bubba Vandiver, who enjoyed watching his son Will suit up as a varsity football player and play his last game against St. John’s. I love that Bubba and Bruce both have sons who will be graduates this year. If you saw Will and Taylor walking down the halls of Kinkaid it would be like déjà vu, as so many of our classmates’ children look just like their parents. Bubba and his wife Courtney also have a daughter at Kinkaid, who is a cheerleader in the Middle School. She is such a sweetheart, and I enjoy working with her when I come in town to help with the cheer program. As most of you know, I’ve had the privilege of choreographing for the varsity cheerleaders for the past six years, a gift that I would’ve never predicted while at Kinkaid. But, cheerleading and dancing became my passion and ultimately my career, and I have loved every minute of it! The last time I was in town, I got to dance the night away at Michelle Rogers Rogers’ 50th birthday party. It was reminiscent of a high school party with the Dealers (remember that band?) complete with a soul train, dance off, a Kinkaid reunion picture (sorry Doug Rotan ‘83, we forgot to grab you) and Michelle belting out tunes to Diana Ross. When Fred and I were leaving, we were talking to one of the singers, and she said, “I have seriously never seen a 50th party like this one; you girls know how to have fun!” Let’s just say Michelle still knows how to throw a party, and I vote for her to organize our next reunion and get that band to play! Among the partygoers at Michelle’s bash was Fay Monsen Kirby who was able to get away from her busy life to celebrate Michelle’s big day. She and husband Don are semi-empty nesters with two kids in boarding school. Her girls Elsebeth (junior) and Alix (freshman) both attend Choate in Connecticut. Fay visited during Deerfield Day, which is the big rival school’s sports day. Unfortunately, Elsebeth was out with a concussion, so she could not play soccer as team captain, but she is doing fine. Alix’s JV volleyball team was undefeated at the time of Fay’s report and hopefully the season stayed that way. Fay and Don’s son Spencer is home at school in Santa Fe. He plays soccer, is on the Taos ski team and is nationally ranked in squash. Ania Battlestein Bender, another empty nester, keeps in touch with Elva Weatherford Riley who will also become an empty nester this year (see a pattern here?). Ania and her husband have a junior at
UT, Hannah, who loves life in Austin. Their son Aaron is in his second year at South Texas College of Law in Houston. Elva and her husband have a high school senior, John, and a soon-to-be college graduate, Melissa (who looks exactly like her mom, by the way). One good thing about being empty nesters in this day and age is the ability to stay connected with our kids. I guess you could say that it’s a blessing in disguise because for all the stress and heartache that social media is giving me with my older son now, I’m sure I’ll be happy to stay in touch with him so easily when he leaves for college in just five short years! And speaking of social media, our internet mogul, Dewey Gaedcke reports that he is working on a few mobile apps and continues to stumble ever farther down the very deep rabbit hole of the human mind (his words not mine). Dewey, as long as you are not the inventor of YikYak, I’m looking forward to your latest app development. Finally, I am happy to report that life in California continues to keep me a busy and happy mom and wife. I am officially the proud parent of a teenager and feeling every bit of payback from my teenage days. Daniels is a well-rounded kid with a personality a mile long and a wide variety of interests ranging from snow skiing to golfing to fishing to baseball! We love his wit and there is never a dull moment with him around. He is a great big brother to Zane who continues to amaze us with his progress. Zane has come so far in his battle with autism, and we are really proud of him. He keeps us laughing every day with his antics and has definitely taught us how to recognize small miracles in everyday life. My hubby Fred was finally able to make a trip to Houston with me this summer, and we had a blast visiting with friends and family. I came back to Houston in September and then again in October for the Zack Semander Golf Tournament where I had a chance to visit with Bubba Vandiver and Emily Wynne Bolin. Emily works for the Alumni Office at Kinkaid and is planning a big alumnae and friends luncheon in March. Don’t think I will be able to make it, but I’m sure it will be a huge success and a lot of fun. The girls of 1982 are planning on getting a table, so if you are interested, let Emily know. That’s all the news I have for now, I look forward to hearing from everyone for our next update. In the meantime, keep the nest warm and take the time to appreciate the little things in life because after all…. Time flies.
1983 Anthony Brown The Woodlands, Texas abrowntex@gmail.com
1984 Jackie Fair Houston, Texas jfair36900@aol.com It’s hard to believe how quickly time is flying by. We just celebrated our 30th reunion a few months ago; and for many, the Big 5-0 is clearly in our sites. It has certainly been a year of ups and downs. Sadly, several of us lost parents this year (Kevin Killens (fs), Tighe Wheeler Tucker, Courtnay Tartt Elias and me), but as evidence of the circle of life… This past year a couple of our classmates brought life into the world. Congratulations to John Seidl and Ike Epley on the birth of their babies. Also best wishes to our class newlyweds Rebecca Leach and Brigitte Burke. It was also a good year for Claire Cummins Lorenz whose book Baby was published last spring; Lisa Marks Schwarz who completed the Boston Marathon; and Courtnay Elias whose design business Creative Tonic received first place in several categories of the PaperCity Design Awards. In other career news, Anne Chmielewski Kushwaha has returned to MD Anderson as a radiologist. MD Anderson and Memorial Hermann are partnering for their breast centers; Anne will be at Memorial Hermann - Memorial City office. Elizabeth Skidmore reports that she continues her work to bring more women into the union building trades as a family-sustaining career with good wages and benefits and that she just received her 25-year pin from her Local. The work they are doing in New England to bring more women into the trades was given to the White House as one of two national best practices; Elizabeth got to go to the White House Summit on Working Families in DC. After 20 years with Martha Stewart, Jeff Allen has a new job at Bridge Furniture and Props, a company that provides large scale furniture, rugs, art and lighting to the film/TV industry. Leslie Schlumberger Garcia continues her entrepreneurial path with a new company, Crave Market. It’s up and running with a line of raw cold-pressed juices taking off, selling all over San Antonio and into the hill country. They have many new vendor contracts, so you might
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just see their products in Houston next year! For more information you can check them out at www. crave-market.com or on FB, Twitter and Instagram. Leslie’s daughter Olivia is a senior in high school and busy with college applications, while her son Luis is enjoying his sophomore year at UT’s Cockrell School of Engineering. Susan Westmoreland (fs) reports that she is still operating her own real estate company and has “enjoyed this great market”. In addition to work, Susan is reveling in the fact that she has “two seniors this year”; her son Greg will graduate from University of Texas while her daughter Shannon will graduate from Memorial High School in May. As for me, I can see the finish line! My youngest daughter Jillian is currently a junior at Kinkaid; after graduating from Wellesley College last year, my oldest daughter Taylor has returned to the hallowed halls of Kinkaid as a fifth grade teacher. As I get older and more nostalgic, I treasure the times I’ve been able to meet for coffee, lunch, etc. with Sonya Baker Lloveras, Leslie Holland, Shayna Goldstein Andrews, Tracy Crowder and Jeff Allen this year. I hope to see more of you as we head into 2015. I encourage you to try and make it to the Alumni Holiday Party or the Kinkaid Alumnae and Friends Luncheon in the spring. In the meantime, keep us posted on your lives, loves careers and accomplishments on our class Facebook page.
1985 Carolyn Lasater Hodges Dripping Springs, Texas carolynhodges@marykay.com The Class of 1985’s 30th Reunion will be held April 24-25. Details coming soon. Hope to see you there!
1986 Julie Templin Berman Houston, Texas julie@thelimogeslady.com Hello Class of 1986! Stacie Hawkins Keeble is an Assistant District Attorney for the 216th Judicial District and is serving her third term on the Kerrville City Council. She has been happily married to Robert for 20 years. They are the proud parents of two loving but aging dogs, Wallace and Fergus. Stacie still loves Jesus Christ, comic 39
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books and U2. Her wish is that everyone in the Class of 1986 is happy, healthy and hopeful! Mollie Anderson Whisler wrote, “I am about to jump on a plane to the East Coast for the big college tour trip with my daughter, Elise. I find it funny to be doing all the senior year stuff with my daughter. My how times have changed. Anyone else find it odd to be on the flip side of that curfew talk? We just closed Monty Python’s SPAMALOT with the local community theater. My husband Scott was King Arthur and I was the Stage Manager. It was nice to do a show together again – twice in one year after none for almost a decade! Earlier this year he directed a show that had both Elise (17) and Austin (13) in the cast. Last week I cooked a big pasta dinner for one of their school productions and had many visions of Spaghetti Dinner at Mrs. B’s! I had a very brief visit with my brother Clay ’83 (faculty) and his family back in January, and I am still amazed by the updates to the Kinkaid campus when I go visit. If you get out to the Bay Area look us up – 10 to 1 we will have rehearsal, but if we don’t there is a cold beer in the fridge and a hot tub on the deck under the redwoods. Heck even if we do have rehearsal the offer is open!” This summer my brother Mark Templin ’89 married Emily Brants in Fort Worth. My daughter Katherine was a bridesmaid, and my son Matthew was the ring bearer. It was special to see so many friends from the class of 1989 celebrating with the happy couple over the wedding weekend! Take care! Please continue to email news and updates to julie@thelimogeslady.com. Thanks! Julie
1987 Ashley Brunson Clark Houston, Texas ashclark2003@yahoo.com Doug Rosenzweig Houston, Texas dougrosez@aol.com
1988 If you are interested in volunteering to be the class correspondent, please contact Advancement Associate Laura Renaud at 713-2435054 or laura.renaud@kinkaid.org.
1989 Elizabeth Oxford Pagan Houston, Texas elizabethpagan@me.com Congratulations to Mark Templin, who writes, “On June 28, Emily Brants and I were married in Fort Worth at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, followed by a reception at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth with music by The Dry Water Band.” Members of the wedding party from the class of ’89 were Lance McMillan, Joel Elkins, Mark Kolber and Jason Sweeney. Mark and Emily’s rehearsal dinner was at the Fort Worth Club and featured Texas singers/songwriters Shake Russell and Michael Hearne. Following the wedding, Mark and Emily spent 11 days in Ecuador with a seven-day cruise through the Galapagos Islands. Congratulations to the newlyweds! More congratulations to Kent Altsuler. Kent was named one of Houston’s top lawyers in 2014 by H Texas Magazine. Scot Johnson writes, “After almost 20 years with AIM and Invesco as a Bond Portfolio Manager and a client-facing “product and market expert” representing the firm’s bond business to a range of clients including foreign central banks, quasi-government entities, pension and retirement plans, endowments, financial advisory firms and individual investors, I declined a relocation to Atlanta and accepted an exit package that is allowing me to enjoy what my wife Amy calls “temporary retirement” while I recharge my batteries and assess options for the next trajectory on my career path. The mid-career break has drastically slowed my accumulation of frequent flier miles, and I may end up working a few years longer than originally planned, but having this time off while my kids are still at home has been fantastic. Adele and Abby are in fourth grade at Kinkaid this year, and Scotty turned two in July.” Scot continues, “If you find yourself with a similar opportunity for some extended time off, I recommend you seriously consider taking it. I can’t promise the same results, but I did record my first hole-in-one while on this ‘sabbatical’!” Mark Kolber reports that “winter arrived early in Taos. The highlight of our fall season was a visit from newlyweds, Mark and Emily Templin. They joined us in attending Michael Hearne’s 12th Annual Big Barndance Music Festival in the Taos Ski Valley; it seems like it was just the
other day that we were driving to Fort Worth for their wedding. My musical project, Kol’beer & Buds, continues to gain momentum as the opportunities to join other projects as a sideman grow. Meanwhile, the last two months marked the eighth anniversary of my law licensure in New Mexico and my tenth year as a Taoseño.” Criss Holloway Scruggs reports that she is living in Cinco Ranch (a development near Houston) with her husband Richard and daughters Samantha (10) and Alexis (4). She reports that she is enjoying life, family and kids. She is working for BMC and traveling frequently. And as for me and my family, all is well! Greer, Charlie and I have recently moved closer to school, friends and activities. We are having a ball settling in to our new digs. Charlie is in sixth grade at Kinkaid and loves it. I hope everyone has a very happy holiday, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!
1990 Aimee Ford Byrd Phoenix, Arizona aimeebyrd1@yahoo.com We are expecting a huge turnout this year for our (ahem) 25th reunion! Dinner and libations at Sarah and Peter Tropoli’s followed by an after party at the home of A.J. and Katie Mattingly Brass. Poison and Ton Loc shirts optional.
Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. Watch for Kickstart: Spanish! and Kickstart: Chinese! sometime in 2015. Jennifer Roberdeau Cripe has moved to Germany where husband Dan has accepted a job in Berlin. She says, “We plan to stay for three years. While we are sad to leave Montana, we’re excited for the adventure and the opportunity to do a lot of traveling in Europe. I ‘m looking forward to meeting up with Lawre Garner Hale and any other classmates who might find themselves in the neighborhood!” Kathy Smith Neblett (fs) says that her four boys, ages six to 15, are keeping things fun. Besides all the normal school and sports stuff, Jack (13) was the last class to have Mrs. Cooney, and she hasn’t changed a bit. Chase (15) has completed drivers ed and looking forward to getting his license next March. Kathy was invited to join the Menninger Clinic Foundation Board, which is such an honor. “I feel very strongly about educating and making people aware of Menninger and mental health issues. We must get rid of the stigma associated with mental health.” Husband Nick has started two new companies; one business is Tate Angling Equipment with a patented new concept in fishing rods. The other is creating mobile apps, the first being centered on group organizations and communication, such as athletics, fine arts and social clubs. This past summer the family moved to Aspen.
Saturday, April 25th, 2015 See y’all there!
1991 Lane Alexander Danville, California lanealexander@yahoo.com Sinem Iber Szygenda shared, “Mark and I just celebrated our 14th anniversary. We are still living in Austin, though we recently moved to a new house. Abby is in sixth grade, and Stephen is in third. They are both very active in sports – basketball, soccer and baseball. I volunteer with various non-profits and at the kids’ school. Recently I joined a hiking club which has taken me on trails around Austin I never knew existed.” Carrie Iglehart Chaplan is producing a series of children’s foreign language immersion DVDs. The first two DVDs in the series will be
Lt. Anthony Gonzalez ‘91
Anthony Gonzalez has been training the last few months in Fort Polk, Louisiana, and afterwards he will be back in DC for language and cultural training until May when his team heads to Afghanistan to be Combat Advisors. “The title sounds
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ALUMNI NEWS
neat, but we are mostly going to be advising the Afghan military, police force and certain ministries that deal with infrastructure on the best ways to take the reins and drive the train without the U.S. forces in the coming years. The training has been great – NOT on my body as my back and knees will tell you that body armor has done no favors for either. I look forward to heading back to DC next month where I will be back with my wife until my final training prior to deployment. If y’all think about it from time to time in May 2015 – May 2016, please say a prayer or two for our team to stay safe out there as U.S. troop presence will be reduced.”
1992 Jennifer Wilson Brown Houston, Texas jenniferwilsonbrown@yahoo.com Billy Forney Houston, Texas bforney3@mccombsenergy.com Amy Stuyck Watson Houston, Texas amyswatson@hotmail.com Suzanne Tett Ainsworth and her husband James just got back from a week’s vacation in Costa Rica sans kids! This was their first trip alone since 2008! They were celebrating their ten-year anniversary and Suzanne’s fortieth birthday. Their son Grant is sixteen months old, now walking and running and keeping them on their toes. Travis turned nine in October. He is in third grade at Kinkaid and involved in baseball, basketball and all things Minecraft. Suzanne has been an HR Manager at BP for almost nine years, and will thankfully go part time this November. She is looking forward to more time for her kids and her sanity. Marcus Allen and his wife Ashley have four children: a daughter (5), and three boys, ages (2), (7) and (8). They attend Hyer Elementary School and keep their parents busy with sports. Marcus is still working as a retina surgeon with offices in Dallas, Arlington, Irving and Denton. In keeping with his cross-country days at Kinkaid, he runs over four miles every day. Marcus says he sees a fellow Kinkaidian almost every time he goes out in Dallas, and he hits Lupe Tortilla and James Coney Island every time he comes home to Houston. Doug Aron and his wife Joanie Goldstein Aron ’98 recently moved back to Houston from Dallas with their two children, Andrew (7) and
Morgan (5). Andrew, a newcomer to Kinkaid this year, is in first grade. Doug is still working as CFO for HollyFrontier and spending a significant amount of time in Dallas. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas. Elizabeth Harrison Cooper has been busy as ever making cupcakes at her Crave Cupcakes stores in Houston. She and her husband Peter will open another store (the third) in The Woodlands this January. Her daughter Isabel (6) is in Kindergarten at Kinkaid. Her son Harrison is three years old. Elaine (Sima) Granmayeh Khalil and husband Sherif welcomed their third child in June, a baby boy named Clayton. They also have a daughter, Katherine (7), and a son, Carter (4). Emily Monday McGaughy and her husband Kent ’90 are busy in Dallas with their twin daughters, Mary Francis and Esme (11). Like most moms, she is a personal driver, zookeeper, chef, lost-sock-finder, teenage therapist, tutor, sibling referee and CEO… But she would never change a thing! Leslie Cannon Newcomer and her husband Randy live here in Houston with their three children, Sydney (9), Holton (7) and Cannon (3). Sydney is in fourth grade at Kinkaid. The family recently moved a couple doors down from Allison Speed Crosswell. Lavannya Raman Pandit is thrilled to have all three of her children enrolled in school this year. The only “bad” part is that they are in three different schools! She is thrilled and excited for her eldest son, who started Kinkaid this fall as a sixth grader. He has many classmates who are children of ’92 alums. She said the last parents’ social was like a mini ’92 reunion! Karen Hyman Schoellkopf and her husband Alan are busy, happy and thankful for their crazy life chasing around three kids and two dogs. Mary Ellen (10), Amelia (9) and Tripp (6) are all enjoying school at ESD in Dallas and love a variety of activities and sports. Alan has recently taken a slight turn in his career, after focusing on buying single-family homes on his own for the past five years. He joined a real estate fund, Stonelake, as a partner, with a focus on operations and acquisitions. Karen is keeping busy this fall with volunteer opportunities (her favorite being a Brownie troop leader for the third grade). She also works on special projects for a design company, CTS Wood Design, when time permits!
Amy Stuyck Watson and her husband Peter live in Houston with their two daughters, Fiona (9) and Milly (6). Fiona is in third grade and Milly in kindergarten, both at Kinkaid. Milly and Isabel Cooper (Buffy Harrison’s daughter) are in the same homeroom and are good buddies. Amy and Molly Moore Khalil volunteer together in the Lower School Library and always enjoy seeing alumni come through the Library when touring the school during the application process for their children. Peter is General Counsel for McCoy Global Inc., which provides innovative products and services to the global energy industry. Will Withers and his wife Whitney live in Austin. They recently celebrated their sixth anniversary, and their son Hutton will be five in March. Will works for Stream Realty.
1993 Courtney Dreyer Beauchamp San Antonio, Texas courtbeauch@gmail.com Wendie Seale Childress Houston, Texas wchildress@yettercoleman.com Ashley Morgan Hanna Houston, Texas ashleymhanna@gmail.com
1994 Courtney Domercq Daily Houston, Texas cdomercq@hotmail.com
1995 Mary Sommers Burger Pyne Houston, Texas marysommers@me.com Hope Morales Young Houston, Texas hyoung@central.uh.edu In case you haven’t heard, its our 20th reunion year! I am really looking forward to re-connecting with classmates, and hope you all have your calendars marked for the weekend of April 24-25th. Robyn Lee Canterbury and her husband Embry will be graciously hosting us at their lovely home on Saturday night. If you have any questions or want to be a part of the planning process,
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please contact me at marysommers@me.com. See you in April! Leisa Ladin Dillon has started her own business focused on interior design, “PIECE BY PIECE.” With the help of Ladco Washington Park Design Center, the family furniture business, Leisa will help complete your home the way you have always hoped, keeping your home current and fresh, “piece by piece”. Dr. Mindy Fein has moved back to Houston and is now board certified in general pediatrics. She can be found in the ER department at TCH. As I parent, we never want to be in the ER, but it is always good to have a connection and friendly face. Make note Houston parents! Aisha Carter Crumbine has spent the year starting Crumbine Education Consulting! Check out her website www.CrumbineEd.com. She helps companies with newly hired and relocated families find the right schools to make the kids’ transition seamless. She’s also having a blast with her two little ones, Jay (4) and Ziza (2). The Robert Lemus family, including Alexandra (10 months) and Morgana (3.5), spent 12 days traveling the Basque country, which was gorgeous and awe-inspiring. Morgana has applied for admission to Kinkaid in pre-kindergarten for the coming fall – perhaps the Lemus tradition at Kinkaid will continue. Robert has been dedicating some of his time to developing the cybersecurity practice at Sutherland, in addition to his normal commercial litigation workload. Robert’s wife Laura has decided to open up her own law practice. Robert, JJ Johnston and Justin Lake were able to have dinner with Ko Yamada when Ko came to town for a medical conference. I am thrilled that mini-reunions are already taking place in preparation for our 20th this April! LJ Wiley has a food truck and catering company. He’s been getting lots of buzz with his truck named “Taco Nuts”. To find his next location, follow him on twitter @taconuts. Yum! After eight years based in Buenos Aires, Parker Stanberry will be making a triumphant return to the US of A in early 2015. He will be moving the corporate headquarters of Oasis Collections, the vacation rental marketplace that he started in 2009, up to Miami – so any donations of silk shirts or white sport coats are welcome. Parker is still technically single, but has a girlfriend of three+ years, so appears to be inching towards adulthood. We are looking forward to seeing you at the reunion, Parker!
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THE KINKAID SCHOOL
Kinkaid Alumni Leadership Day
John Frazier ‘08, Ally Bono ‘08, Maggie Watson ‘07, Kevin Clegg ‘08
William Doggett ‘05, Cole Buza ‘06, Brooke Grisebaum ‘07, Lee Wilde ‘08, Chris Bramel ‘07
Keynote Speaker Meredith Hopson Beaupre ‘98 with parents Patti and Buddy Hopson and husband Andy Beaupre
O
n Friday, October 3, 52 young alumni participated in the ninth annual Alumni Leadership Day. Hosted by the Kinkaid Young Professionals Organization (KYPO), this day is designed to bring young alumni to campus to spend time with our high school seniors and to share their educational and career experiences as the students consider life after Kinkaid.
Keynote speaker Meredith Hopson Beaupre ’98, an Executive Director in J.P. Morgan’s Debt Capital Markets group, kicked off the day. Meredith majored in French and minored in Spanish at Georgetown University. She soon added a Business minor and was drawn to the investment banking world, an industry not as familiar to Meredith. Because of her determination and discipline, she has been incredibly successful. Meredith encouraged the seniors to work really hard and follow their dreams, even if that means stepping outside their comfort zones. “The most talented people I’ve worked with are the ones that show some serious hustle and energy for what they do,” Meredith said. “It’s not just a job; it’s not just a paycheck.”
After Meredith’s speech, the alumni served on industry-specific panels that shed light on their diverse career paths. Students attended the panel sessions for the top three industries they were interested in, where they learned about various careers in these fields. A question and answer session took place at the end of each panel. “It was awesome to hear from so many businesspeople who haven’t been out of school for that long. They were all relatable in some way, and it was incredible to hear their unique stories. I’ve never experienced anything like it,” Jacqueline Gay ’15 said. After the panel session, Alumni Leadership Day concluded with a roundtable lunch, where students were able to talk with alumni one-on-one.
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Seniors in the Energy and Oil and Gas panel
Arts & Entertainment Moderator: Rachel Applegate ’95 Chris Bramel ’07 Katie Decker Currie ’06 Stuart Pradia ’01 Lee Wilde ’08
Law Moderator: Jill Ballard ’04 Ricardo Cantú ’03 William Doggett ’05 Elana Herman Evans ’98 Brittany Sakowitz ’04
Energy & Oil and Gas Moderator: Justin van Keppel ’01 Cullen Cone ’08 Steven Looke ’99 Joel Sandler ’06 John Schulte ’99
Marketing/Communications & Public Relations Moderator: Michel Miller Mullett ’00 Ally Bono ’08 Lindsey Boyd ’01 Brooke Grisebaum ’07 Christopher Pappas ’97 Emily van Keppel ’03 Arash Zafarnia ’02
Engineering Moderator: Eleni Pappas ’04 Kevin Clegg ’08 Tripp Fried ’01 David Zummo ’06 Entrepreneurship Moderator: Iman Houston Farrior ’01 Cole Buza ’06 Michael Constantiner ‘01 Matthew Rosenberg ’01 Finance Moderator: Whitney Rape Miller ’04 Meredith Hopson Beaupre ’98 Bruce Bilger ’01 Marcus Rolls ’04 Gracey Winters ’07
Rachel Applegate ‘95 and Michel Miller Mullett ‘00
Public Service & Education Moderator: Allison Poarch ’03 David Alviar ’04 Pierce Bush ’04 Casey Williams Hedges ’02 Alicia Lee ’98 Real Estate Moderator: Philip Morgan ’05 Ben Brown ’01 Brittany Hansen Cassin ’00 John Frazier ’08 Morgan Steen ’03
Deans giving Seniors their Alumni Leadership Day schedules
Healthcare Moderator: Yoav Kaufman ’98 Cameron Decker ’03 Paige Garrison ’02 Lauren Leavitt Griffin ’00 Billy Harvin ’97 Elizabeth Reed ’01 Maggie Watson ’07 Justin van Keppel ‘01, Cullen Cone ‘08, Steve Looke ‘99, Joel Sandler ‘06, John Schulte ‘99 43
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THE KINKAID SCHOOL THE KINKAID SCHOOL
After 11 years with Haynes and Boone, Jeff Dinerstein has decided to leave and become a partner with Jones Day in the mergers and acquisitions and private equity practices. On the family front, Leah is six years old, and Lewis is three years old. Marilyn Bloss Koester is still teaching literature in the English Department at The University of Memphis. Her three children are busy bees and growing up too fast! Lindsay Dunlop Griffin and Tripp still love life in Charlotte, North Carolina, with their two daughters – Sadie (nearly six and a new kindergartener at Charlotte Latin) and Leila (2.5, but thinks she’s ten). Since the last update, they have moved to a great neighborhood, within walking distance to their church, fun shops, etc. After nearly a decade of working as a Physician Assistant for adult oncology patients, Lindsay has recently decided to try the “stay-at-home” thing, and has loved the additional time spent with her girls. Tripp is still enjoying M&A investment banking with Piper Jaffray. Lindsay and Tripp just celebrated their 10th anniversary and will escape the Carolina cold to the beach after the holidays. Lindsay Wadler Hyman and her husband Jonathan are headed off to Punta Mita, Mexico, to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in December. Lindsay is excited to see everyone at the reunion! Kathryn McCarter Moore is still a social worker at the VA and volunteers at MD Anderson. Mary McFall Groves and her husband Carter welcomed Harrison Thomas Groves to their family on September 9. He joins big brother Henry, who is in Kindergarten at Kinkaid, and big sister Khaki (4). On September 3, Monica Bailey Bickers and husband Curtis welcomed their second daughter, Alison “Ali” James Bickers. Jason Dillee and his wife Sally enjoy watching their two boys, Jeb and Hayes, grow up. They are also looking forward to welcoming baby #3 in April. Jason is still in commercial real estate and recently joined Cassidy Turley. Ashley Browning Pfiester is expecting baby boy #2. He will be joining big brother Charlie (2). That’s going to be a busy household! Founded by J.J. Johnston and now entering its seventh season, the Classical Theatre Company has achieved a landmark moment as it has moved into its own theatre space. In November, CTC became tenants in the Chelsea Market theatre location that formerly housed Main Street Theater’s
Youth Program. The inaugural production in this new 175-seat home will be CTC’s own brand-new adaptation of “A Christmas Carol”. Congratulations! Rachel Applegate has finally moved back to good old Texas. She has taken the newly created position of Chief Marketing and Community Engagement Officer at ZACH Theatre in Austin, Texas. After years of being away in New York, DC and Naples, she’s THRILLED to be back in Texas, closer to family and looking forward to re-connecting with all of my Texas friends. This has been a busy year for Katherine Howe. On July 1, Kate had a young adult novel come out, titled Conversion. In September, she had a nonfiction book called The Penguin Book of Witches come out from Penguin Classics. She has also finished another novel, which will be out next fall, and which will not include any witches of any kind. Kate is back and forth between the Boston area and Ithaca, New York, though in Spring 2015 she will be a writer in residence at a little school in North Carolina, teaching fiction.
1996 Erin Jones Brown Houston, Texas erinjonesbrown@gmail.com Emily Mitchell Covey Houston, Texas emily.covey@gmail.com
1997 Christina Wilson Altenau Houston, Texas christina.altenau@gmail.com Daniel Jenkins Houston, Texas danieljenkinsiv@gmail.com
1998 Amy Parker Beeson Houston, Texas amyparkerbeeson@gmail.com
1999 Alexandra Lacy Houston, Texas alexandralacy10@gmail.com Elizabeth Evans Mann Houston, Texas elizabeth.e.mann@gmail.com
Greetings Fellow Falcons! We hope all is well, and we wanted to thank those of you who participated in the Annual Kinkaid Phonathon! Here is what the class of 1999 has been up to lately: Shadi Abedin is a practicing Endodontist in Houston. She has opened her own private practice this year in the Galleria Area called Roots Houston Endodontics. After working for three years in Washington, DC, for the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Audrey Barrett Bixler and her husband recently moved to Oregon and enjoy cheering on the Ducks. Audrey will continue supporting the Pentagon on their energy and sustainability initiatives. Clay Brollier and his wife Mary Margaret welcomed son Ben Holden last November. He is working at Perdenales Energy in Houston. Elizabeth Wadler Bentley lives in NYC with her husband Steve and their two children, Caroline (4) and Andrew (10 months). Elizabeth is working in the development office of the Birch Walton Lenox School. Sarah Jane Sengelmann Canion continues to enjoy working for Wheless Realty and loves spending time with her family, Carter (3), Kennedy (1) and husband Ross Canion ’98. Kenady Davis is engaged to Nicole Mellina, and they are the proud new parents of Lloyd Kenady Davis IV. Lloyd has already been to his first Kinkaid vs. St. Johns game! Kenady enjoys his work with Jackson Beich Realty in Houston. Carolyn Martin Dodson and her husband Chris are having so much fun with their children, Parker (3) and Milly (1). They are looking forward to family time and vacations over the holidays. Travis Fite and his wife Jennifer are excited to report that they are expecting their first Little Falcon in January 2015. Mary John Frank is based in New York and choreographing and directing for films, fashion, the web and stage. Her latest works have involved creating short film content for New York City Ballet and an evening length immersive dance show called “DEBUTAUNT”. The show was recently featured on Vogue. com, Refinery 29, and more, and she is hoping for an extended run soon! Catherine Goble Weldon married Kevin Weldon on November 22 in Houston... Congrats! Matt Gordon reports that he is still on a high from the excitement that Billy O’Neil is married. John and Molly Brock Harvin are happy to be back in Houston after a brief time
Memphis. Their daughters Natalie and Eloise are both proud to be Kinkaid Falcons! Roseanna Baber Hill recently returned to Akin Gump’s DC office as a Senior Business Development Manager and is excited about closing on a home in Alexandria, Virginia, soon. Jimmy Hinton has entered his eighth year at HFF. His daughter Leighton just turned five years old, and his son James is two. Alex Jachmich and his wife Grace are still living in New York and have two children: a three-year-old boy and a one-year-old girl. Jacquelyn Sorcic Johnson and her husband Jordan are still living in Austin with their little girls, Caroline (3) and Kate (1). Stephanie Johnson is living in Brooklyn, New York, and enjoying her job at Gywnnie Bee Company. Laura Wheless Hilgers is glad to be back in Houston with her husband Steve and three little girls. Alexandra Lacy is back from an enjoyable two-year stint in New York City. She obtained her real estate license in NYC and is working on transferring her license to Texas. She is glad to back home. Liz Evans Mann still lives in Houston with her husband Robert and their two little girls, Mary Evans (4) and Eloise (1). Liz still works part-time as a Speech and Language Pathologist evaluating children with disabilities. Trey Miller is celebrating his four-year anniversary as the Senior Broker at Boxer Property Management Corporation. He and his wife Whitney Rape Miller ’04 are about to celebrate their one-year anniversary. Greg Moore is happily married and enjoying his children, Lucy (4) and Jimmy (2). Greg has been with Norton Rose Fulbright for eight years. Brandon Mundt lives in Houston and continues to practice law and work in Oil and Gas. Ashleigh Nankivell lives in New York, and was recently promoted to be an Art Supervisor in print and TV at the advertising agency FCB. She continues to experiment with many forms of art on a daily basis. Mark Schmulen and his wife Lindsay are proud parents of twins!!! Jack Aaron and Ellie Brooke were born on September 27. They live in Stanford, California, while Mark pursues his master’s degree at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. John Schulte III and his wife Izzy are happily married here in Houston. John recently was hired as the VP of Land and Legal at Escondido Resources II.
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ALUMNI NEWS
Jenny Field Wassmer and her husband Chris are living in Boulder, Colorado. Jenny is currently working for the Thule Group and welcomed her first child in December. Alex Whittington and his wife Jen recently moved back to Washington, DC, following two years of living in Germany. He is still with the State Department in DC and working on energy issues in the Middle East and Asia.
Inaugural Kinkaid Alumnae & Friends Luncheon on March 11. We have a great group going and we would love to have as many of our classmates there to honor Lauren! If you’re in the Houston area or will be around that time, please let us know. I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday, and I look forward to hearing your updates in 2015! Cheers, Leslie
2000 Spencer English Houston, Texas spencer.english@gmail.com Alyssa Gardner Kilpatrick Houston, Texas alyssagkilpatrick@gmail.com Michel Miller Mullett Houston, Texas michelmullett@hotmail.com We hope you all can join us for our 15th Reunion on April 24-25! Our class party will be held at the home of Lauren Leavitt Griffin on Saturday night. We hope to see you there!
2001 Lindsey Boyd Houston, Texas lindseysboyd@yahoo.com Catherine Gutermuth San Francisco, California cgutermuth@gmail.com
2002 Ariana Nizza Chapman New York, New York ariananizzachapman@gmail.com Leslie Roemer Labanowski Houston, Texas leslielabanowski@gmail.com Ted Sangalis Long Island City, New York tsangalis@gmail.com Class of ’02, It is crazy to think another year has gone by so quickly… Next thing we know, we will be at our 20th reunion! I have enjoyed catching up and reading all of your wonderful updates. This year one of our classmates, Lauren Bush Lauren, is being honored at the
Paul Barnhart and his wife Katie are expecting their first baby in February 2015. Paul works with his partners at Sage Road Capital in Houston, while Katie continues to run her restaurant, Adair Kitchen. Liz Mims Bender and her husband Steven are enjoying time with their 18-monthold son, Max. Liz is working part time as an Admissions Associate at The Emery/Weiner School. Claudia Bianchi Biedenharn is still in Dallas working at BNP Paribas providing syndicated loans to commodity traders and was promoted to VP earlier this year! Nearly all of her spare time these days is used playing polo or visiting her nieces and nephew in Houston. Zachry Brown celebrated his first wedding anniversary with his wife Mimi in October. After retiring from his gig as a tax attorney, Zachry signed on as controller of the Latin American division of the Houston-based flow control company, Bray International. He oversees finance, accounting and legal matters for operations spanning from Mexico to Argentina. Zachry also supports Mimi and his sister Aline with their new acorn cracker company, Mighty Wild – having learned more about oak trees and squirrels in the past 12 months than the last 30 years combined. Ariana Nizza Chapman moved to New York City with her husband Daniel Chapman and their two cats. Ariana is currently pursuing her MBA at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Alicia Cho has been in Los Angeles for the past eight years and still loves it! Her sister Grace Cho ‘00 also lives in LA. After working in film and TV production as an assistant director for the past six years, Alicia transitioned into working as a food and interior photographer. She often goes up to the Bay Area to visit her two sisters Christina ‘96 and Michelle ‘98. After working with the best for almost three years at the highly regard Chandos Interiors, Chelsea Cunningham just started her own firm! Katie Dickinson-Varner and her husband Kevin Varner have officially
moved back to Houston after commuting back and forth from Austin to Houston the past year. Katie has just started a new job and her daughter Evie is almost a year old! David Dunwoody and his wife and Mariann are expecting their third child in March and are moving nearby to make room for baby girl. David (4) and William (1) can’t wait to be big brothers to baby sister. David continues his work with EnVen Energy Ventures, an E&P company focused on the Gulf of Mexico. Angele Dupre is still living in Colorado and loving life! She got engaged in October to Jim Butchart and will get married October 2015 at her family home just outside of Aspen. If she is not at home or at work she is outside hiking, biking, skiing or running with their three dogs and two kids! Lauren Escher is enjoying living in Notting Hill and is now Head of General Aviation Underwriting in London for AIG Europe Limited. Perry Gagliardi and his wife Meredith Collins ’00 are moving to West Palm Beach, Florida, in 2015. Perry is changing career paths and will be working for Goldman Sachs in the Investment Management Division as a Private Wealth Adviser. Meredith is finishing her fellowship at MD Anderson and will be joining a plastic surgery private practice. Linda Gardner has relocated to San Diego and started her own recruiting, resume writing and career coaching business called The Talent Bar. She is also working in Human Resources for The Humane Society and working towards completing her Masters in Organizational Development through Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business. Jonathan Gaw is currently a supply chain manager at Microsoft, working on Surface and living in Seattle, Washington. Wade Gibson got married this year! He married Juliet Fraser, a fourth-year medical student at Yale, in Los Angeles, California, over Memorial Day weekend. Two Kinkaid classmates were best man and groomsman, Zachry Brown and Dylan Hogarty. The rehearsal dinner was in Santa Monica at Shutters on the Beach, and the wedding was downtown at Cafe Pinot. The next morning Wade and Juliet departed for Santa Barbara, where they honeymooned. Chris Goble recently started a new company with his colleague Jeff Silver called GRANDVIEW, a combination of their former literary management company and production company, Automatik (Credits: Take Shelter,
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Insidious franchise, Sinister franchise, Paranormal Activity, Autobahn and Jeff Nichols next film Midnight Special at Warner Bros). He manages writers and directors for film and TV at GRANDVIEW. Currently they are in production on Steven Spielberg’s next movie, Untitled Donovan Project, starring Tom Hanks. After getting her MA in Contemporary Art, Julie Saunders Guinta decided to blend her love for art/design with her past professional life in public relations. She is now a freelance event designer/planner, jumping among several magic makers where she does everything from invitation design to florals to photography. In other news, the Saunders clan said a hard goodbye to Texas when her parents decided to make the move to NYC last year. Julie says, “It is awesome having the family in one state, but I do miss decent margaritas (and the Galleria)!” Sarah Hancock-Mullins is still living in Houston with her fiancé Mark and dog Molly. She is going on her fifth year with Phillips 66. Otherwise, she is keeping busy attending weddings and wedding planning! Caroline Hemingway Harrell and husband John welcomed a son, John Hemingway Harrell “Jack,” on April 10, 2014. Caroline enjoys working as an associate for her mother’s interior design firm. Casey Williams Hedges and her husband Will’s second child was born in early December. Henry (1 1/2) is excited to be a big brother to his baby sister! Kathleen Hinton got married on October 25 to Robert Park in Pebble Beach, California. They will be moving to West Palm Beach, Florida, in December as the company they work for, Origins Recovery Centers, is acquiring another facility. Dylan Hogarty and his wife Anne are doing well in New York and looking forward to getting home to Houston for the holidays. Isla McConn Jornayvaz and her husband Joseph are living in Houston and enjoying their two boys, Joseph Jr. and Tommy. Katie Klein is still working as a therapist at Mirasol Center for Eating Disorders in Tucson, Arizona. She is working towards her Arizona state licensure as an Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Katie is also a member of the Tucson Women’s Chorus, and they are singing at various events throughout the holiday season. She has been invited as a new board member of International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals in Tuscon, helping raise awareness and education for the prevention and
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treatment of eating disorders worldwide, and is continuing to sponsor women in their journey of recovery from addiction. In the little free time she has, Katie spends time outside with friends and her dog Nikki, hike, do yoga, and soak up the Arizona sun! Leslie Roemer Labanowski and husband Lawrence are enjoying spending time with their two-year-old daughter Lauren and ten-month-old son Lawrence Jr. Lauren Bush Lauren is living in New York (still and probably forever more) with her husband David. She lives and works downtown, walking to her FEED office for work each day, where she is the Founder and CEO (or “Chief FEEDer”). She works on everything from marketing, to partnerships, to product design, to strategy, to giveback and more. Lauren was glad to spend time with her little sister Ashley, who just started at USC film school, and her brother Pierce, who runs the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Houston Chapter, over the holidays. She misses her old Kinkaid friends and is excited to visit with some of them in March during the first annual Alumnae & Friends Luncheon! This past year, Michelle Vosko Levin moved to Los Angeles with her family and had her second child. Michelle, her husband Dan and boys Will and Josh are very much enjoying the transition to nice weather year round. Clifton Levine is living in Los Angeles, where he has been for the past six years, and is working as the VP of Finance & Accounting for ScoreBig, Inc., a venture-backed start-up in the live-event ticketing industry. Justin Levine just moved back to Houston from San Francisco. He will be working with his father at Levcor, Inc. (real estate development and investment firm). Justin was in San Francisco for the last couple of years, and before that business school and in New York. Since his last update, Taylor Liedtke has continued to enjoy his current role as an Associate in the M&A Investment Banking Group at BBVA. When not making it rain at work, which is a common occurrence, he can be found on the golf course sinking birdies or doing whatever he can in the outdoors. While he and his lovely wife Devon Myers Liedtke still do not have plans to add a rugrat in the near future, they are excited to announce that they are expecting a new addition this coming March in the form of a Goldendoodle. Steve Lionetti has been working for a year and a half for Google and just got promoted! His fiancée Sloane is working on her Masters from Columbia, and they are looking forward to their wedding in June! Kimberley Harberg Luskey and her
husband Brian are still in Austin and loving it! She was asked to be a table captain co-chair for the Jewish Federation Women’s Division annual fundraising luncheon and is looking forward to that. Kim is enjoying being a full time Mom to Abel who is 16 months old! Melissa Miller and Bart McGuyer still live in New York City, where she is an editor and he is a scientist. In the past year they have become avid long distance runners, possibly to attain lofty physical fitness goals, possibly to compensate for living above a wine shop. Whitney Mears continues to work as the Director of Business Development for Mosbacher Energy Company and completed the Ironman Texas in May. He and his wife Katie are helping plant a new church, The Story Houston. Ali West Montgomery started a new position as the Event Department Coordinator at A Fare Extraordinaire and loves working with the fabulous team on creating memorable catering and production experiences. Her husband Pearson continues to work as the Property Manager for ELD Associates. Their daughter Madeline West Montgomery just turned 10 months and is keeping them busy and laughing! Michael Norton is going on his sixth year in Austin (still loving it) and recently enrolled at McCombs Business School, which as been a great learning experience. Along the job recruitment trail, he has run in to Kinkaid alumni all over Texas! Brooke Bagby O’Neill and husband Billy ’99 are living in Houston, and enjoy being newlyweds. Brooke is approaching her four-year anniversary working at Stream Realty Partners. Ben Ogilvie continues to love life in San Francisco, where he works as a Product Manager for ArcTouch, Inc. (Shameless plug: if you or your company need an iPhone or Android app built, let him know!) In his spare time he’s getting out to NYC as often as possible to visit his new nephew, Shane Staman Ogilvie. This winter Ben and his girlfriend will be headed to Hong Kong, Macau and Thailand for a long-overdue SCUBA trip. Corinne Pickett and her boyfriend Bird have spent the year starting Roadtrip Motorcars in Brownsville, Kentucky. They import Japanese and European classic cars at least 25 years old. Corinne is also continuing to work on commercials and TV shows in Los Angeles while trying to break into the Nashville editing scene. Laura Altman Prewett and her husband moved to Baku, Azerbaijan, about a year ago. She has been involved in medical mission work for the past year. Though they miss their family and friends,
they are really enjoying their expat adventures! Liz Love Ross completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in July. She received her full license and began working at TIRR on the Spinal Cord Injury Unit as a Psychologist in August. Cliff Schroff loves family life and is looking forward to an upcoming move to Washington State! Reid Springmeyer lives in Houston with his wife Lyndsy Beth and their three children Oden (4), Riley Ruth (2) and Davis (1). He works for Geophysical Pursuit, a seismic data licensing company that serves the E&P industry. Adele Sweetnam Taylor got married a few years ago to her college boyfriend. She is living in NYC, and is back at consulting firm McKinsey after going to Columbia Business School. Adele runs into Kinkaid people all the time on the subway and in midtown and has lots of visitors too! Meg Marinis Vernon is still writing for Grey’s Anatomy, and her next episode actually airs in January! She and her husband Taylor are still enjoying living in Los Angeles, although they miss everyone in Texas! Scott Wade and his wife Katie are enjoying life in Fort Worth with their three boys. Howard (7) is enjoying first grade at Covenant Classical School, and Jonathan (5) is having fun with his younger brother Peter at home. He is also ready to be in big boy school with his older brother. Peter (2) is having fun keeping all entertained. Scott started a company this year, HJ&P Group, where he identifies small, private businesses to invest in. Paige Garrison Wright and her husband Taylor welcomed a daughter Tallulah in March. She completed her pediatric residency at Baylor College of Medicine in June and recently started her job as a general pediatrician at a Texas Children’s clinic. She loves spending her days caring for children, but most of all her own little girl! Lula (8 1/2 months) is the joy of her parents’ lives. Kristen Wu recently married Mike Feldman, who is a Denver native and attorney for the Chicago Cubs, on October 11th in Houston. She continues to practice physical therapy at The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and hopes her newlywed status will help to keep her warm through another rough winter. Arash Zafarnia is living in Austin with his wife Alison. They got married in September on the beach in Avalon, New Jersey, and then had a second ceremony in Houston at the Junior League of Houston. Arash works for Handsome, a digital product studio, as the Director of Marketing. He
works with funded startups to create consumer and enterprise applications for iOS, Android and the Web.
2003 Fallon Ukpe Atlanta, Georgia fallon.ukpe@gmail.com
2004 Jordan Allison Boyce
Houston, Texas jordan.boyce67@gmail.com Emily Catherine Jeter Riggs Houston, Texas ecjriggs@gmail.com
Former Headmaster Glenn Ballard with great-grandson Francis Mertz, son of Jill Ballard Mertz ‘04 and husband Louis
2005 Grace Lee Houston, Texas lee.gracep@gmail.com Erica Roggen Akerman got married in October. She is still working at Champion Energy Services as an in-house corporate counsel. Elizabeth Pearson Bigelow loves living in Chicago, where her husband Michel is completing his MFA in Creative Writing. Elizabeth is teaching and advising for Year Up, a national non-profit job development program designed to close the “opportunity divide” experienced by urban young adults, and for the city colleges of Chicago. She also loves being in the same city as Charlotte Wolfe Ross after eight years! Alex Hoffer is still living and working in San Francisco and loving it! Jack and Sarah Jane Jornayvaz Howell are currently living in New York City. Sarah Jane is working as the school nurse at the Village Community School in the West Village. Sarah Jane is thankful to have learned some great tips from Nurse Bonnie! Jack is
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working for Davidson Kempner Capital Management, a hedge fund company. While they love all that NYC has to offer (minus the brutal winters), they look forward to getting back to their Texas roots one day! Abby Lestin is living in Houston and working for the Houston Business Journal as an account executive. She is currently #2 in her company out of 40 markets for sales. Abby is actively involved with the Mission of Yahweh and the Leukemia and Lymphoma society where in 2012 she raised $42,000 in just 10 weeks! Keep up the great work Abby! Alice Gutermuth Lodge got married in August. She and her husband live in Houston, and Alice works as an RN at Texas Children’s Hospital. Courtland Crosswell McBroom is in her second year as the marketing coordinator for Village Homes, a leading Fort Worth custom and spec homebuilding company. Courtland also officially launched an event-planning venture. You can find her latest parties, recipes and lifestyle tips on her culinary and hospitality blog, www.cookingandaconvo. com. This side business has been a dream come true for her. She and her husband John are enjoying life in Cowtown! Meg McGuire moved to Los Angles where she is the PR and Marketing Manager for Nicole Richie’s jewelry line: House of Harlow 1960, CC Skye and Karen Kane. Helen Hemingway McLaughlin married Barton Neal McLaughlin, Jr. at her family’s home in Waldoboro, Maine on August 30. She and Barton live in Houston. Reid Schwartz is celebrating five years at Edelman Public Relations in Austin and was recently promoted to Account Supervisor. Congrats Reid! Abigail Smith graduated from medical school in the spring and is now an Obstetrics and Gynecology resident at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University in St. Louis. She is enjoying residency and St Louis! Stephanie Wilkinson is teaching high school English at Incarnate Word Academy in Downtown Houston. She graduated from the University of Houston in May 2014 with an M.A. in English. Ellen Wooten completed her undergrad degrees from the University of Hawaii in 2011 with a B.S. in Physics, B.S. in Astronomy, and minor in Math. She completed her Masters of Science in Physics with a Neurophysics concentration from Georgia State University in January 2014. Ellen moved to Macon, Georgia, after grad school to be closer to her fiancé Maximilian Dixon. Ellen is currently teaching seventh grade Earth Science at First Presbyterian
Day School in Macon, Georgia. She also coaches cheerleading! Ellen and Maximilian will be married in June 2015. Congrats and best wishes Ellen! As for me, Grace Lee, I still love living and working in Fort Worth. I work as the Sponsorship and Events Manger at Firestone and Robertson Distilling Co, makers of TX Whiskey. For anyone that did not receive an email from me, please send your information to lee.gracep@gmail.com. Great hearing from everyone across the country!
2006 Kase Lawal New York, New York kase.lawal@gmail.com
Nikki Pasrija Hill ‘06 at her wedding with Lauren Gaw ‘06 and Regina Ting ‘06
2007 Monica Foote Houston, Texas myfoote.foote@gmail.com Lauren Lestin Atlanta, Georgia lflestin@gmail.com
2008 Kirby Allison New York, New York kallison22@gmail.com Mason Bashaw Houston, Texas mason.bashaw@mac.com Kirby Allison is still living in New York City working as a Senior Account Executive at JONESWORKS Inc., a boutique Public Relations firm based in midtown. Her areas of concentration include Talent, entertainment and
lifestyle PR representing an array of best-selling authors, actors, television hosts, non-profits and start-ups. Mason Bashaw is helping to found the Young Catholic Professionals Houston Chapter, as the Director of Development. She recently got engaged to Lane Clelland and looks forward to tying the knot with him in July of 2015! Emma Christopherson is in her second year as a middle school ELA teacher at The Westview School, which is a school for high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder. Arun Singh recently moved to LA to work for Riot Games, a video game company that makes a computer game called League of Legends. In his new job, he sets up sports leagues in emerging markets. Betty Gerecht is working as a real estate agent at John Daugherty Realtors and as a designer for a homebuilder in Houston. Betty has been doing quite a bit of traveling, visiting Hong Kong, Paris, Montana, San Francisco and Napa in the past year. Andrew Klein is enjoying his third year at The University of Texas School of Law where he serves as the Director of Submissions for the Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law. He is looking forward to starting as an associate at Vinson & Elkins in Houston during the fall of 2015. Bailey Britt Weaver and her husband JR recently moved to Washington, DC in June and just celebrated their twoyear anniversary. Bailey is working for a food business incubator called Union Kitchen (www.unionkitchendc. com). Elisabeth Markman is pursuing her doctorate in clinical health psychology in Philadelphia. She is currently in her third year of the program. Audrey Pyle is still living in Houston and working at The Menninger Clinic as a psychiatric nurse. She is loving it! The highlight of her year was presenting her research at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. Margaret Belchic recently from Washington, DC to San Francisco, California, to work at a digital media start up called Flipboard. Lee Wilde works at Arena Design, which makes custom hand-printed and hand-painted textiles, and wall coverings. Lee serves as the graphic designer and production manager. She just moved to The Heights and this spring will begin her yoga instructor training. RJ Dabbar is still living in Manhattan working for a company called RehashStudio doing web and app development.
WINTER 2015
Christin Snodgrass recently returned to Houston from Dallas and is still working at Vinson & Elkins doing Events, Charitable Contributions and Business Development. Kirstin Wilkinson recently got engaged in June to Ben Wescott of Virginia. They plan to get married in Memphis next July. She also switched departments at her alma mater, Rhodes College, and is now working in Development and coordinating reunion programs. Matthew Hussey just moved to Oklahoma City and still works for Chesapeake Energy. Kevin Anding lives in Dallas working in sports sponsorship and marketing for a firm called The Marketing Arm on their AT&T Olympic business. He lives with his beloved three-and-a-half-year-old dog Colt. Mark Sabbagh recently completed year two of medical school and just started the PhD portion of his MD-PhD training. He will be studying central nervous system vascular development with a major focus on the molecular mechanisms involved in blood-brain barrier development and maintenance. Eric Gemp just left the consulting and accounting world to join a start-up PE real estate fund. Jared Gooding still lives in Chicago and recently finished working on this year’s production of Lookingglass Alice. Beginning in 2015, Jason Adams will begin working for his favorite record label, Sargent House, in Los Angeles. He will be helping them with everything from recording and mixing to marketing, artist management and tour management. Jason will continue his freelance work in sound design and writing music for film and TV. Earlier this year a short film with featuring Jason’s music won an award in the GI Film Festival. Ally Bono is living in Houston and works at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the marketing department on the global branding team. Eric Hurst graduated in August 2014 with a B.S. in Math and a minor in Physics from The University of Houston. Eric works at a company in the Galleria area called TopSpot IMS, as an SEO Specialist. Kevin Clegg works for Chevron as a facilities engineer in the Deepwater Exploration and Projects group. He has been involved in the design, construction and commissioning of the Big Foot platform, which will produce oil and gas from the Gulf of Mexico beginning in 2015. He lives in Houston and recently got engaged to Katherine Verity.
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2009 Alanna McAuley Seattle, Washington armcauley75@gmail.com
2010 Evan Henke New York, New York evanhenke@yahoo.com Virginia Albert got a job in August 2014 at Proof Advertising, an advertising agency in Austin, Texas, working on the Subway Restaurants account as an Account Coordinator. She is living in Austin after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin in May with a Bachelor of Science in Advertising. She has been enjoying the live music Austin has to offer and skiing over the Thanksgiving holiday in Canada. Liz Gomez has recently taken the position of Director of Programs and Operations for a start-up non-profit called Baltimore Corps and loves it. She is currently living in Baltimore, Maryland, in a sustainable cooperative and is excited about this new chapter. Bilal Iftikhar graduated from Northwestern University this past spring with a degree in Journalism and Business Institutions. He is currently enrolled in a one-year graduate program at the Kellogg School of Management (Russell Fellows Program) at Northwestern where he will be receiving his Master’s in Management in May of 2015. His post-graduation plans are to move to either the NYC or the San Francisco area. Stephen Johnson will graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio this December.
Upon graduation he will continue operating his company, Mass Social, where he provides online marketing via social media. Tony Knapp has just recently returned stateside from a threemonth trip exploring Europe and is now doing freelance theatre work. Upon graduating from Northwestern University, Gillian Levy decided to stay in Chicago, Illinois, and is currently employed by Association Management Center providing administrative assistance to two professional nursing associations. Walker Short is currently in his first semester of medical school at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and is working very hard. Tara Thurman has recently been promoted to Scripted TV Assistant at the WME (William Morris Endeavor) talent agency and is enjoying getting settled into life in NYC.
2011 Avery Geisler St. Louis, Missouri aag459@gmail.com Harry Hantel New York, New York hhantel@gmail.com Ben Atnipp is going to be a Venture for America Fellow for the next two years. Kunal Pasrija is graduating from SMU in May and returning to Houston to work in energy investment banking. Nikki Ellis will be interning with Deloitte Tax in Houston and studying
abroad in Paris over the summer. Ruchit Nagar is continuing to work with a team at Yale on a health and technology project called Khushi Baby, which seeks to raise vaccination rates in the developing world. Those interested in contributing can visit https://www.kickstarter.com/ projects/120674402/khushi-babymhealth-and-wearable-tech-forsocial-i
2012 Kirby Gilbert Elon, North Carolina kirbycgilbert@gmail.com The class of 2012 has been up to a busy year taking part in various activities. Both Maddy Gould and I are studying abroad in Florence, Italy. Maddy is studying through Syracuse University, and I am participating in an Elon University program. Meagan Zwahlen was recently asked to represent OU nursing for the AACN student policy summit. The summit is a three-day student conference in Washington, DC. At the summit Meagan will be lobbying for healthcare policies. Mia Fredricks is the Marketing Intern for the Longhorn Network this semester. She is also co-chairing a Shabbat dinner in the spring for over 600 students. Clemmie Pierce is very involved with Rafiki African Ministries in Uganda. She has lived at the orphanage for the past two summers helping with day-to-day childcare. During the past school year she has sponsored one of the
girls as well as fundraised for new clothes and medicine for kids at the orphanage. Clemmie is currently helping the orphanage with its campaign to raise $50,000 to help the ministry buy new land so that they can expand. Kate Beeler is currently student teaching second grade at Zilker Elementary in Austin, Texas. Campbell Cravens is working with former UT and professional football start Ricky Williams to help film a documentary about the growth of Austin. The documentary will consist of interviews of a wide variety of people focusing on their stories and specifically why they moved to Austin and how they are living there. Campbell’s job is to help come up with ideas to expand the documentary, to be on set to operate the cameras and sound and to edit the final film using Final Cut Pro. I hope everyone is having a great year!
2013 If you are interested in volunteering to be the class correspondent, please contact Advancement Associate Laura Renaud at 713-2435054 or laura.renaud@kinkaid.org.
2014 If you are interested in volunteering to be the class correspondent, please contact Advancement Associate Laura Renaud at 713-2435054 or laura.renaud@kinkaid.org.
In Memory John M. LeGare ’45 passed away on February 9. John was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and resided in Orlando, Florida. He was preceded in death by his wife Inge and is survived by his brother Phillip Legare of Friendswood, Texas.
Former Lower School teacher Eve Everett Fish passed away on May 21. She attended Stanford University, completed her studies at Rice University in Houston in 1956 and then moved to San Francisco to teach. In 1958 she returned to Houston to teach at Kinkaid. Her brother Bob ’58 had just graduated from Kinkaid, and her youngest brother Rod ’65 (fs) was a sixth grader at Kinkaid at the time. She and her husband Jim moved to Austin in 1965 where Eve volunteered countless hours to philanthropic causes and service to others. Eve is survived by her husband Jim; her three children, Jennie, Jim
and Anne; her brothers Bill, Bob ’58 and Rod ’65; three grandchildren; and many other loving family members and friends. Robin Hunt McCorquodale ’52 passed away on July 14. Robin attended Mills College and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in music. She was a poet and a novelist, publishing two novels, Dansville and Stella Landry, in addition to poems and short stories. Robin was a member and past president of the Houston Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Society of Texas, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Junior League. She was preceded in death by her husband Malcolm McCorquodale. Robin is survived by her three sons: Malcolm, Angus ’82 and Wilmer, as well as her partner William Guest. She is also survived by her sister Nancy Lou Hunt Kiesling ’50, brother Sperry Hunt ’65 (fs) and brother Grainger Hunt.
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Former Upper School Physics and Math teacher Richard Fisher passed away on July 20 in Wimberley. He loved fly fishing with his sons, world travel, long walks, cross country drives and spending hours on his porch with his many close friends and loyal dog Sedona. Richard received his undergraduate degree at Principia College in 1957 and a master’s degree from the University of Texas in 1968. He taught at Kinkaid from 1959 – 1981, and then moved to Sausalito, California, where he met and married Gisela Bigden-Fisher and where he worked as a products trainer for Apple Computers. Richard is survived by his sons, Jonathan Fisher and Peter Fisher; his stepson Maurice Bigden Jr.; and his stepdaughter Monica Bigden Wixted, as well as eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Tom Hutcheson ’67 (fs) passed away on August 29. Tom graduated from the University of Virginia and received his J.D. from the University of Texas. Beginning in 1973, he practiced law alongside his father at the firm of Hutcheson & Grundy. He later practiced with Locke Liddell (Locke Lord LLP) and most recently was a partner in the firm of Winstead PC. Tom fought tenaciously for his clients and was greatly respected for his skill in the courtroom. He served his community in many ways, giving generously of his time and talents. His favorite recreational activities were sailing, hunting and fishing. In addition to his wife Chaille, Tom is survived by his children Alison Hutcheson Catchings, Nina Hutcheson and Thomas “Tal” Hutcheson Jr. He is also survived by his twin brother and best friend, Palmer Hutcheson ’67 (fs); his brothers, Thad Hutcheson ’58 (fs) and Houghton Hutcheson; his sister Lucy Hutcheson Barrow ’77; and his grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Andy Beck ’70 passed away in Los Angeles on September 3. Andy attended the University of Texas at Austin. He was very successful as a finance, marketing and media executive in Los Angeles. Andy led an interesting, adventurous and rewarding life and is greatly missed by his classmates and many others who had the chance to know him. Harry W. Thrower Jr. ’55 passed away on September 8. A proud native Houstonian, Harried earned a Bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas. He owned and operated his CPA firm for 42 years. Harry loved his family and friends, country music, HLSR, Houston NW Cardiac Rehab, dancing and events with HSF. Harry will be greatly missed by many and remembered as a man who was young at heart. He often said, “I’m not here for a long time, but I’m here for a good time.” He did just that! Harry is survived by daughter, Rebecca Heidorf; grandchildren Elise Brockett and Tara Michael; and great granddaughter Laiken Grace Brockett. Cecil “Haden” Masterson ’77 (fs) passed away on September 22. Haden attended Southwest Texas State University. He loved and excelled at snow skiing, sailing, surfing, golf, fishing and hunting with his brothers and nephews. His life-long love of music led him to become an accomplished guitarist and drummer. Haden will be remembered by his friends and family as having a “heart of gold”, a sweet disposition, generous to a fault, an out-going personality and a fully developed sense of humor. Haden is preceded in death by his wife Stacie. He is survived by his stepdaughter Samantha; his brothers Harris Masterson ’75 and Douglas Masterson; his sister Jennifer Kuebler and her husband Mark Kuebler; and step sisters Lacey Dorn, Betts Armstrong and Joan Schaan. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, including Harris Masterson ’01.
WINTER 2015
Judge J. Kent Adams ’57 passed away on October 18. A fifth-generation Texan, Judge Adams graduated from the University of Houston in 1963. He served in the U.S. Army on active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following his military service, Judge Adams built a career in insurance, while also attending the South Texas College of Law. He began practicing law in 1972 and was in private practice until he was appointed Justice of the Peace in 2001 by the Harris County Commissioner’s Court. Judge Adams was a founding member and first president of the Northwest Harris County Chamber of Commerce. He enjoyed nothing more than spending time at Lake Livingston with as many of his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews surrounding him as possible. On the bench, Judge Adams was known and respected as a fair jurist who took his responsibilities seriously. Judge Adams is survived by his wife Pauline; his sons Jon Adams, Lee Adams and Allen Adams; his daughter Wendy Adams Riley; his stepson Jerry Dunlap; and numerous grandchildren. Alvis Greer Lee ’71 passed away on November 13 in Houston. He attended Kinkaid from preschool through his graduation. Greer attended Washington and Lee University and obtained a BA in Business from the University of Texas at Austin. He was active in sports throughout his life, as a member of the football team at Kinkaid and the rugby team at UT and as an avid skier and ski instructor to seniors while living in Colorado. Greer was also a low handicap golfer, an excellent tennis player and member of the ’64 ROCC Ballboys, who recently celebrated their 50th Anniversary. Greer was a well-established commercial real estate broker with CREN, the Colorado Real Estate Network, and was practicing in Colorado and California, as well as in Texas. He was a managing director of Sperry Van Ness in Houston at the time of his death. Greer had a passion for history and travel and was an active member of FIABCI, the international real estate federation, which took him to many destinations including Thailand, Australia and Spain. He also enjoyed scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef. He is survived by his daughter, Katie Lee; his sister, Irene Lee Pagan ’57; his brother, Will Lee ’58; his nieces and nephews, including Greer Pagan ’88; numerous cousins; and close friends. For additional tributes to Greer, please see the 1971 Class Notes on page 31. Jack Sorcic ’63 passed away on November 18. Jack attended the Kentucky Military Institute and then came to Kinkaid from tenth through twelfth grade. He earned his degree in accounting and finance from Southern Methodist University and attended the New York School of Finance and South Texas Law School. A Houstonian for most of his life, Jack had a long career in finance as the Vice President and Trust Officer at Texas Commerce Bank (now known as JPMorgan Chase), as a financial consultant on TV and radio talk and news shows, including Houston’s KTRH and KPRC Radio “Money Matters”, and as Co-Host of the popular weekly live TV show “Dollars & Sense” on PBS’s Channel 8. Jack had a true passion for the culinary arts, most notably food and wine. He was an active member of Chaîne Des Rotisseurs for over 30 years. Jack is survived by his daughter Jacqueline Sorcic Johnson ’99 and two grandchildren.
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Weddings
Molly Bethel Quinlan ‘03 with bridesmaids Lisa Frankel ‘03 and Leslie Frankel Wiener ‘03
Brad ’03 and Brittany Bloom Dinerstein ’07 with wedding party, including Jenny Sangalis ‘07, Scott Frankel ‘99, Tim Neuhaus ‘03, Brooke Grisebaum ‘07, Andrew Sheedy ’03, Daniel Zeplain ’03, William Lehner ’05, Lauren Lestin ‘07, Julie Mackay Petry ‘07, Max Barrett ‘03, Victoria Pappas ‘07, Leila Ladjevardian ‘07, Ross Dinerstein ’97, Gracey Winters ‘07, Kevin Frankel ‘97, Ashley Bush ‘07, Douglas Constantiner ’03, Andrew Bloom ’09, Philip Morgan ‘05, Brian Dinerstein ‘95
Hannah Ourso & Stephen Viviano ’06 February 15, 2014
Katy Bacon ’03 & Jesse Madigan June 14, 2014
Brittany Bloom ’07 & Brad Dinerstein ’03 September 6, 2014
Cory Pelfrey ’05 & Nate Golden March 15, 2014
Emily Brants & Mark Templin ’89 June 28, 2014
Lauren Canty & Douglas Constantiner ’03 September 20, 2014
Megan White & Michael Kaufman ’02 March 22, 2014
Lauren Brown ’03 & Daniel Wood June 28, 2014
Cassie Detering ’04 (fs) & John Milam September 27, 2014
Susan Ray & Cartter Fontaine ’06 April 19, 2014
Catherine Clark ’05 & Ryan Presley June 28, 2014
Nikki Pasrija ’06 & Sean Hill September 27, 2014
Kelly Meyer ’03 & Dan Ransdell May 24, 2014
Mollie Mercer & Christopher Pappas ’97 August 8, 2014
Kathleen Hinton ’02 & Robert Park October 25, 2014
Juliet Fraser & Wade Gibson ’02 May 25, 2014
Mary Davis & Nelson Monteith ’07 August 9, 2014
Kate McConn ’08 & Anthony Fazio October 25, 2014
Jordan Allison ’04 & Beaumont Boyce June 7, 2014
Alice Gutermuth ’05 & J.W. Lodge August 9, 2014
Erica Roggen ’05 & Michael Akerman October 25, 2014
Jane Banos ’08 & Taylor DeWalch ’07 June 7, 2014
Molly Bethel ’03 & Marc Quinlan August 22, 2014
Claire Pullen & Marshall Holmes ’06 November 15, 2014
Natalie Jenkins & Garrett Lowry ’08 June 7, 2014
Alden Conway & Harris Fontaine ’05 August 30, 2014
Catherine Goble ’99 & Kevin Weldon November 22, 2014
Crystal Cox & James McCelvey ’04 June 8, 2014
Helen Hemingway ’05 & Barton McLaughlin August 30, 2014
Kathleen Koehler & Justin van Keppel ’01 November 22, 2014
Douglas Constantiner ‘03 with groomsmen, including Brad Dinerstein ‘03, Andrew Sheedy ‘03, Michael Constantiner ‘01, Edward Shipper ‘03, Max Barrett ‘03, Tim Neuhaus ‘03, Burton Hanson ‘03
Catherine Goble Weldon ‘99 and husband Kevin with wedding party, including Brittany Phillips Faulk ‘99, Matt Gordon ‘99, Jeb Bowden ‘98
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MILESTONES
Ryan and Catherine Clark Presley ‘05
John and Cassie Detering Milam ‘04
Michael and Erica Roggen Akerman ‘05
Lauren Brown Wood ‘03
Nelson Monteith ‘07 and wife Mary
Helen Hemingway McLaughlin ‘05
48586_.indd 51
Claire and Marshall Holmes ‘06 Taylor ‘07 and Jane Banos DeWalch ‘08
Alice Gutermuth Lodge ‘05 and husband J.W.
Juliet and Wade Gibson ‘02
WINTER 2015
Cory Pelfrey Golden ‘05 and husband Nate
Kelly Meyer Ransdell ‘03 and husband Dan
Nikki Pasrija Hill ‘06 and husband Sean
Mark Templin ‘89 with groomsmen, including Joel Elkins ‘89, Lance McMillan ‘89, Mark Kolber ‘89, Jason Sweeney ‘89
Kathleen and Justin van Keppel ‘01 Kathleen Hinton Park ‘02 with Matron of Honor Nancy Franklin Verly ‘02 and Maid of Honor Erin McGowan ‘01
Jordan Allison Boyce ‘04 and husband Beaumont 51
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THE KINKAID SCHOOL THE KINKAID SCHOOL
Birth Announcements Abigail Davey Wooten, April 20, 2014 Robert Wooten ’03 and wife Jennifer
Lloyd Kenady Davis IV, July 11, 2014 Kenady Davis ’99 and Nicole Mellina
Mary Marie Fondren, May 4, 2014 Bentley Fondren ’85 and wife Laura
Helena Quinn Charlton, August 21, 2014 Bronwyn Becker Charlton ’91 and husband Josh
Sofia Santangelo, May 23, 2014 Sam Santangelo ’92 and wife Renata
Lucy Katherine Forney, August 28, 2014 Johnny Forney ’01 and wife Katie
Grace Marie Stocker, May 23, 2014 David Stocker ’00 and wife Jodie
Alison “Ali” James Bickers, September 3, 2014 Monica Bailey Bickers ’95 and husband Curtis
Jake Joseph Cassin, May 29, 2014 Brittany Hansen Cassin ’00 and husband Travis
John Francis Mertz, September 4, 2014 Jillian Ballard Mertz ’04 and husband Louis
Carlyle Elise Looke, June 6, 2014 Steven Looke ’99 and wife Lindsey
Harrison Thomas Groves, September 9, 2014 Mary McFall Groves ’95 and husband Carter
Colton Joseph Earnest, June 9, 2014 Jay Earnest ’85 and wife Jessica
Jack Aaron Schmulen and Ellie Brooke Schmulen, September 27, 2014 Mark Schmulen ’99 and wife Lindsay
Clayton Masood Khalil, June 17, 2014 Elaine Granmayeh Khalil ’92 and husband Sherif
Hattie Claire Stellar, June 20, 2014 Julia Atnipp Stellar ’05 and husband Adam
Lauren Hatton Beaupre, June 22, 2014 Meredith Hopson Beaupre ’98 and husband Andy
George Rawlings Kamrath, June 24, 2014 Jeff Kamrath ’00 and wife Ginger
Ryan Elliott Montgomery Jr., June 24, 2014 Paige Nettles Montgomery ’06 and husband Ryan
Brady Walker Clark, June 29, 2014 Tracy Fite Clark ’04 and husband Jeff
Shane Staman Ogilvie, October 3, 2014 Brian Ogilvie ’00 and wife Dana
Ascher Robb, October 14, 2014 Rahea Williams Robb ’03 and husband John
Harris James Pappas, October 27, 2014 Allie Tropoli Pappas ’05 (fs) and husband H.D. ’00
Jack Ellison Simmons, October 29, 2014 William Simmons ’07 and wife Paige
Russell Arnold Werme III, November 6, 2014 Shannon Feste Werme ’00 and husband Les
Thomas Price Wilson, November 20, 2014 Carson Wilson ’98 and wife Lindsey
Share your milestone events with us! Please send them to Advancement Associate Laura Renaud at laura.renaud@kinkaid.org. 52
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From the Headmaster
H
appy New Year from Kinkaid School Drive! I trust that you and your family enjoyed a wonderful holiday season, filled with time for celebration, fellowship and rejuvenation. The year 2015 is shaping up to be another exciting— and excellent—one for Kinkaid. Our Building Together Capital Campaign—to raise $25M for a new dining center and parking garage— is off to a great start. As was mentioned in the last edition of this magazine, the existing cafeteria will be torn down and replaced by a two-story campus dining center. On the first floor, an expanded dining hall will have seating for one-third more students and faculty, create more efficiency and provide inviting spaces for dining and gathering with a broad range of Building Together Committee Member Doug Swanson with Headmaster Andy Martire dining options. The second floor of the dining center will house new classrooms and innovative learning spaces for the Middle School. Also highly anticipated is the parking garage, which will accommodate approximately 600 cars for students, employees and guests. The garage will be located at the south end of campus on the west side of the football stadium and will incorporate important design elements to maximize safety for all drivers. The public kickoff of the Campaign on December 7 was a festive and delicious celebration at the conclusion of the Margaret Kinkaid Holiday Concert. Over 500 attendees enjoyed sampling the fare from eight different food trucks under the sparkle of holiday lights. As of January 6, we have received $17,693,425 in gifts and pledges. We are so grateful for this remarkable support, and we are confident we will reach and exceed our goal in the months ahead. For over a year, the Kinkaid community – faculty, staff, trustees and key alumni and parent leaders – has been preparing for our Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) reaccreditation visit, which occurs once every 10 years. The preparation includes dozens of committees reflecting upon our rich traditions and strong history and simultaneously considering the ways we will continue to grow and improve. I am grateful for everyone’s time and commitment to this important endeavor. In preparation for the visit, the School has completed a Self-Study, a lengthy document of over 200 pages, to share with the visiting team. The document is a resource that will serve as a catalyst for celebration and planning - celebrating the many successes we have experienced over the past 10 years and planning for those areas which are in need of further clarification and improvement. In February, a team of 21 educators from across the Southwest will spend four days at Kinkaid. The visit will include meetings with all constituent groups - students, faculty and staff, trustees, parents and alums. The committee will determine whether its observations are commensurate with what we have written in our Self-Study. After the visit, the committee will share commendations and recommendations for Kinkaid. We are fortunate that Kinkaid remains in a position of strength; however, we must be proactive to ensure we remain the exceptional school that students and parents have loved for over a century. Once we have the site visit report, the Board and Administration will identify key areas to make priorities. I look forward to sharing a report on the visit and an update on the Master Plan for the entire campus later this year. I hope you enjoy the Winter edition of the Kinkaid Magazine, and best wishes for a prosperous and healthy 2015!
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NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 3375 HOUSTON, TEXAS
the kink aid school WINTER 2015 201 Kinkaid School Drive Houston, TX 77024
Parents or Alumni: If this publication is addressed to your child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumni Office of the new permanent mailing address.
S A V E
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honoring
Corbin J. Roberston Jr. March 27, 2015 | Greater Houston Gun Club
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