CLASS NOTES

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CLASS NOTES

Iconic view of NYC from the Upper School Green Roof.

EDITOR’S NOTE

The deadline for news for the FALL MKA Review is May 15, and the deadline for the SPRING issue is December 15. News can be submitted at any time in response to the Alumni Office’s annual mailing, on the MKA Fund remittance envelopes, via mail or email to the MKA Alumni Engagement Office (alumni@mka.org) or your class representative. We keep ongoing files for each class and welcome photographs in digital or hard copy. If your class does not have a Class Representative listed, please consider volunteering for the position! It is a great way to re-establish contacts with old friends, does not require a great deal of time, and is essential to the ongoing vitality of the school. Thank you.

1937 / TKS The / Alumni Office was notified of the passing

of Ruth Duff Eager on September 7. 2020. Our sincere condolences go out to her family.

1940 / TKS / The Alumni Office heard from

the son of Josephine Watt Clark, who passed away on November 24, 2020. Our sincere condolences to Josephine’s family.

1941 / TKS / Mrs. Enid Hyde, 5402 Duvall Drive, Bethesda, MD 20816, enidghyde@aol.com

1943 / TKS / Congratulations to Pamela Davis’s granddaughter whose horse (Country House) won the Kentucky Derby in 2019.

1945 / TKS / Mrs. Leigh Smith, 847 Franklin Street, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, lbsmith15@yahoo.com

So good to hear from Cynthia Carswell Blair who happily recalls her many Kimberley years. She remains in a fine Sr. facility in Manchester, NH, writing while the corona- virus still kept family reunions difficult. Residents enjoy videos on history, national parks, animals, and Australia among the subjects.

Life on Martha’s Vineyard has been remarkable in a challenging year. Happily, daughter Pam has managed most aspects of my life, though I can drive the 5-minute route between her house and mine. JP, son of Alison Driscoll ’70, also lives and works here, and concerts and films and restaurants have all been available. Couldn’t be better off anywhere else!

MKA is sad to hear of the pass-

ing of Sarah “Sally” Dubois Moberg on November 14, 2020. Our sincere condolences to her family.

1946 / TKS / Mrs. Eleanor Ketcham, 4 White Oak, Elon, NC 27244, ellieketcham8@ gmail.com

1947 / TKS / We send our sincere condolences to the family of Margaret Soucek Weissenborn, who passed away on August 16, 2020.

The Alumni Office was notified

that Cynthia Overton Blandy passed away on December 16, 2020. Our deepest condolences go out to her family.

1948 / MA / Mr. John Leonhard, 51 Fromm Court, Mahwah, NJ 07430, nhandjhleonhard@aolcom

1950 / TKS / MKA would like to send condolences to Peggy Steuart whose husband of 66 years, Guy Steuart, passed away October 10, 2020. / MA / The Alumni Office learned of the death of Jerome Cronin, who passed away on February 4, 2020. Our sincere condolences go out to his family.

1951 / TKS / Mrs. Gail Marentette, 93 Glen Avenue, Llewellyn Park, West Orange, NJ 07052

1952 / TKS / Mrs. Martha Moran, 8011 Strauff Road, Baltimore, MD 21204, martha.moran1@ verizon.net

1954 / TKS / Ms. Georgia Carrington, 38 Silver Spring Lane, Ridgefield, CT 06877 The Alumni Office heard from

Secretary, Georgia Carrington, that her classmate, Victoria

Wendt West-Peek, passed away on February 17, 2020. Our sincere condolences go out to her family.

/ MA / Mr. Sheldon Buck, 22 Bedford Court, Bedford, MA 01730, sheldonbuck@me.com MKA is sorry to hear of the

passing of Philip Donlin, Jr. who passed away on July 16, 2020. MKA sends condolences to his family.

1955 / MA / Mr. Lawrence Martin, P.O. Box 1058, Lexington, VA 24450, martinlexington@ centurylink.net

1956 / TKS / Ms. Susan Ferdinand, 125 Limerick Lane, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865, facesbyferdinand@gmail.com / MA / Mr. Eric Jaeckel, P.O. Box 20153, Boulder, CO 80308, efjaeckel@hotmail. com / Dr. Lawrence Nazarian, 82 Brickstone Circle, Rochester, NY 14620, LFredN@aol.com

1957 / TKS / Mrs. Thelma “Tam” Knight, 3001 Linton Boulevard, No. 201C, Delray Beach, FL 33445, tknight115@aol.com

Class Representative

Thelma Knight notified the Alumni Office of the passing of Constance

“Connie” Hay Van Heuven

on October 21, 2020. MKA sends sincere condolences to her family.

1958 / TKS / Mrs. Diana Little, 1-K Buckingham Road, West Orange, NJ 07052, dianablittle@ gmail.com / MA / Mr. Henry Agens, 86 Eagle Rock Way, Montclair, NJ 07042, hymelee@earthlink.net

Noted in the fall issue of the MKA Review was the passing of our class-

mate Walter Adriance Kipp III (Trey) in December 2019. Trey was a private person reluctant to talk about himself. I tried several times. Now, I believe it’s time to present an appropriate remembrance. Dave Black summed it up well by saying of Trey’s passing that “the class of ’58 lost one of the truly ‘good guys.’”

Dave continued: “Quiet and multi-talented, Trey was a clever artist [check out his sketches in the 1958 yearbook] and a good athlete. He ran track and field in the spring and brought that speed to the football field in the fall as a bruising halfback. The ‘Rutherford Ramrod’ was quick, too – he never lost one of those grueling 40-yard sprints.”

Trey and Dave both entered the University of Vermont after MA graduation. They even joined the same fraternity. “He’s been a great friend for so many years. I mourn his passing, but keep a boatload of great memories. R.I.P., old buddy.”

Trey met his lovely wife Sue at UVM where they earned their undergraduate degrees. Later, he won his juris doctorate from Rutgers Law School and soon became the third generation of Kipps to practice law in Bergen County, New Jersey. He was also very active in many civic affairs in the county.

In 1972, Trey and his family moved to Rowayton, CT where he passed the CT Bar and maintained law practices in both states.

Susan(Clair) and Trey were married for 56 years. They had two sons: Walter Adriance Kipp (Tim) and Curtis Clair Kipp.

Trey was always an active athlete. He played hockey in a local ice hockey league. He loved distance running and skiing with his family. An avid competitive sailor, he participated in a number of transatlantic and Bermuda races.

We of the MA Class of 1958 remember Trey for his sincerity and wonderful sense of humor. Many of his friends and associates have called him a “Gentle Giant”as he bravely battled his cancer. Trey was the older brother of Harrington Streat Kipp (Tim) and sister Kerwin

Kipp Mayers ’60.

Just as I was about to submit the preceding, I received a call from Donna Littlefield Grieves telling of the passing of her husband, our classmate, Peter Grieves on December 14, 2020. His death at home was sudden and unexpected. He was 80 years old. On behalf of our MA ’58 class, we extend our deepest and sincerest condolences to Donna, their two children (Melissa and Peter), two grandchildren (Sydney and Chase), and the rest of the Grieves-Littlefield family. Time and space do not permit an appropriate recollection now, but one will appear in a subsequent issue of the MKA Review.

Suffice it to say, when I think of Peter Digby Grieves, two words come to mind: “fun” and “likeable.” When Peter was around, something fun was going on, and he was one of the most likeable people I’ve ever met. Everybody felt that way about Peter.

As usual, dependable Dave Black summed it up succinctly: “Peter was the Class of ’58’s ‘Renaissance Man.’ He was into everything. From three sports to the Glee Club to the newspaper and yearbook to the Dramatic Club and hiding out in the audio-visual room. If MA had it, Peter was in it. His greatest talent, however, was sales. He sold his travel agent mother on booking eight classmates on a Spring Break cruise ship to Nassau and Fort Lauderdale. With a 4 to 1 college girls advantage, the never to be named classmates are forever in Peter’s debt. Our class just lost a really fun guy. R.I.P. my friend.”

On a less solemn note, from the Montclair Academy Sports archive: May 1957—Frank Sachs pitches a no-hitter against St. Bernard’s fanning ten obviously overmatched Knights. Final score: 13 to 1!

Until that time, that’s a wrap.

The Alumni Office sends its deepest condolences to the family of

Peter Grieves

1959 / TKS / Ms. Jarvis Reilly Nolan, 15612 Via Marchena, San Diego, CA 92128, jarvisno@aol.com

1961 / TKS / Mrs. Suzanne Hardy, 47 Bartlett Parkway, Winthrop, MA 02152, sueshardy@ comcast.net

1962 / TKS / Mrs. Barbara Creed, 501 Portola Road, #8185, Portola Valley, CA 94028, bbcreed@ aol.com / MA/ Mr. W. Doug Donald, 189 Sedgefield Circle, Winter Park, FL 32792, D1Donald@aol.com

1965 / TKS / Ms. Katharine “Kitty” Haines, 201 East 83rd Street, Apt. 15F, New York, NY 10028, khaines22@aol.com

Our classmates all reported the same activities, or lack thereof, during this unusual year of the Covid pandemic. (No travel, lots of Zooms, crafts, yard work, and the thrill of cleaning out closets).

However, Susan DeBevoise Wright shared the most exciting news: “Dartmouth College is creating a $15.5 million academic center honoring former President James Wright and his wife, Susan DeBevoise Wright, that will focus on the use of computers to better understand and advance democratic societies and the rule of law. Susan Wright worked for Dartmouth

Susan DeBevoise Wright ’65

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Robert Livesey ’65 is a brilliant Professor and Director Emeritus in the Knowlton School of Architecture at The Ohio State University. As the principal of Robert Livesey, Architect, he has won numerous design awards and been published in national and international journals. He has recently written a new book that is one for the ages.

Architecture Stuff is about a way of looking at architecture. It examines seven seminal projects and shows how they might have been conceived with or without the design architect’s cognizance. More a working method than a theory, Architecture Stuff deals with questions pertinent to designers as well as to critics of buildings. More Stuff then illustrates how that same method can be used to make architecture.

The seven buildings are chosen for their breadth of styles and approaches to architecture and show that the author’s approach to architecture can be applied to any building. Presented in reverse chronological order, the first project, Grace Farms, is a building by SANAA. Noted for its meandering river form and minimalist detailing, it is seen to be—among other things—a juxtaposition of orthogonal and sinuous forms. The second project is Villa Dall’Ava by Rem Koolhaas/OMA. Located in the suburbs, the house is in one understanding a transition from city to country. The third project is the Neue Staatsgalerie by James Stirling. The analysis shows how the “bad boy” of architecture subverts conventional architectural tropes. Robert Venturi’s Mother’s House is shown to be a compressed stately manor and an architect’s conceit. The Kimbell Art Museum by Louis Kahn can be understood as simple repetitive forms with elaborated elements that organize and produce a diverse collection of spaces. Pierre Chareau’s Maison de Verre is much more than types of transparency and mechanization. One of its major themes is the use of “L” shaped spaces as a way of expanding space. Finally, St George’s Bloomsbury by Nicholas Hawksmoor is a parish church swallowed by a classical temple. The critique exposes how the architect used that idea to juxtapose the ecclesiastical and the civic to develop all of the details in the building.

These buildings share a density of ideas presented, and, as a way of seeing architecture, there are overlapping themes in this collection. For instance, the history of architecture of specific periods is a common theme, as is the disruption of architectural stasis with spaces seemingly expanding or contracting. A dry sense of humor is always appreciated.

More Stuff accounts for the same working method as a way to make architecture. Here the author illustrates eleven projects across the span of his career. One of the key aspects of Architecture Stuff is that it is unpretentious and accessible, and these projects are meant to illustrate that quality. Architecture can be serious and playful at the same time.

“As an architect and educator, looking at buildings is a mental exercise for me, and I am always thinking about how to make architecture. In both looking and making, I enjoy determining why things are the way that they are. Architecture Stuff contains a broad range of architectural projects that illustrate a way to understand buildings visually. In More Stuff, I use the same working method to make architecture.”—Rob Livesey ’65

for more than 30 years, including directing the Montgomery Fellows Program, running the graduate advising program, and serving as an assistant dean.”

Congratulations Sue and Jim! / MA / The Alumni Office was notified by Joe Hare that the mother of Bobby Ferrara died at the age of 104. Very active and living in her town house in Roseland, NJ until her passing. She is remembered fondly by many in the class of ’65. MKA sends condolences to Joe and his family.

1966 / TKS / Mrs. Jessie Boyer, 8095 S. Addison Way, Aurora, CO 80016, boyerjessie@ hotmail.com

Congratulations to

Ardis Cameron ’66 who received a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship in order to complete her third book, Unbuttoning America: A Biography of Peyton Place, which was published in 2015 by Cornell University Press. On a sadder front, her partner of thirty years, Nancy MacKay, passed away shortly thereafter. Ardis wants to thank her friends in the class of ‘66, especially Noel, Chris, Randy, Joan, Kate, Sandy, Jess, Margi, for their support and for putting together a fabulous reunion in Colorado. Ardis is looking forward to the first major snowstorm in Maine. MKA sends its condolences to Ardis.

MKA sends its deepest condolences to the family of Randy Bean who died on September 17, 2020.

Randy Bean was a broadcast journalist and film producer who was passionate about her family, friends, Labradors, politics, sports (NY Giants, NY Mets, and Stanford), music, and culture died of a heart attack on September 17, 2020 in Loveland, CO.

After graduating from The Kimberley School in 1966, she studied at Northwestern University and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from George Washington University. Randy went on to become an accomplished broadcast journalist and film producer—and four-time Emmy nominee—at a time when few women were allowed to advance. In her own words, she was often “the only girl on the bus.”

Randy identified the most important part of her TV journalism training [1980] with Bill Moyers’ Journal and codified in a 2010 Daily Beast article what it takes to be the quality mentor Randy found in Moyers: “Moyers’ confidence in me gave me the gumption to back up my creative instincts with decisiveness and certainty, even if that wasn’t always what I felt inside. News and documentary production requires minute-by-minute

decision-making—flighty ditherers need not apply. So, I’m grateful to Bill that he recognized my potential, then allowed it to blossom over the next season of the Journal. As important, he profoundly advanced my abilities as a writer. He taught all of us on his production staff how to write evocatively for the spoken word. Writing voiceover narration is very different from writing for print publication. The ear hears differently than the eye sees.”

Randy moved to Palo Alto, California as a member of the 1982 class of the prestigious John S. Knight Professional Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University. Stanford remained her intellectual, spiritual, and professional home. Her most recent project, American Creed, is an exploration of what it means to be American at a time when the nation is so divided. The feature-length film aired nationally on PBS in 2018 and continues to be a catalyst for community and classroom discussions across the country.

The family requests that gifts in Randy’s memory be donated to the Classics for Kids Foundation, an organization committed to empowering youth through music. For more information, visit https://classicsforkids.org

/ MA / Mr. A. Craig Cameron, 11 Bay Point Drive, Ormond Beach, FL 32174, ccameron@cameronhodges.com / Mr. Douglas Fitzpatrick, 70 Eastern Vista, Sedona, AZ 86351

1967 / MA / Mr. Craig Perry, 25 Mooregate Square, Atlanta, GA 30327, Craigcperry250@ gmail.com 1968 / TKS / Ms. Avie Claire Kalker, 10 Knolls Road, Williamstown, MA 01267, heraldicone@ gmail.com / MA / Mr. Geoff Gregg, 6108 Percheron Trail, Summerfield, NC 27358, tartanone@triad.rr.com

1969 / TKS / Ms. Christine Hannon, 97 North Street, Northampton, MA 01060, channon@smith.edu

Randy Bean ’66 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

The first sports bra was two jock straps, and the two women who invented it went to The Kimberley School. Lisa Lindahl ’67 still isn’t sure why she got kicked out of The Kimberley School in Montclair in the late 1960s, but there’s a good chance that smearing a chocolate cupcake into her friend Polly Palmer Smith’s ’67 face in the hallway, or letting Smith hold her by her ankles out a school window, had something to do with it. “My behavior was not ladylike,” she said. “I didn’t do things by the book.” But her penchant for doing things differently ultimately paid off. In 1977, after joining the jogging craze but finding it painful without a supportive bra, she hit on the idea of sewing two jockstraps together to create the world’s first sports bra. She enlisted the help of Smith, who had become a costume designer (“We have a long history of getting into mischief together,” Lindahl said.), and her assistant Hinda Schreiber Miller. The trio patented the JockBra, later renamed the JogBra, and it was bought by Playtex in 1990. This spring, the three were honored at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington for their invention which Runner’s World magazine recently called “The greatest invention in running—ever.” The prototype of the invention is in the archives of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Christine Hannon writes: As I write this column, most of us have been mostly at home since mid-March 2020. Visits with children and grandchildren, national and international travel, holiday gatherings, regular life—all postponed. Here’s what has been happening:

Shelley Brightman Walchak writes, “Finally retiring in January! Added another grandson in October—#8! Oldest granddaughter will be 17 in February. Very fortunate. Love living on a river in SW Colorado and looking forward to some travel when we can.”

From Virginia Munson Vassallo in Kentucky: “Since I am pretty much socially isolated on my farm, COVID-19 didn’t change my life drastically. I have learned to FaceTime and Zoom very well but am not so good at WebEx. I have had time to virtually explore options of where I will ultimately move. I have continued to clean out my house and have done many, many jigsaw puzzles and read many, many books. I have a ‘pod’ of friends.

The highlights of 2020 were a one-week visit in October from my 21-year-old grandson. Fourteen days later, my friend and I made a road trip to Altoona, PA to pick up her new puppy. We figured in the 36 hours we were together, we talked for 29 of them! Fourteen days after getting home from PA, I met my son and his family for vacation in Pigeon Forge, TN, which was wonderful. Now I am settled in for the winter with the hope that spring will bring an end to this craziness.”

And Susan Schadler reports, “My pre- and post-COVID existences are starkly defined. February 29

was the day the Biogen conference in Boston was held (that event now credited as the source of the infection of 300,000 worldwide). It was also the day of my second daughter’s wedding at a small inn in the White Mountains. We were blissfully unaware of the threat of the virus in the U.S. as were the 100 guests, who came from all over the country. While the words coronavirus were uttered, it was strictly in the context of a problem in China. We hugged, we kissed, we skied, we danced, we shared food and wine. And now, we do none of those things.

Still, I am something of a hermit so I probably have had a better COVID life than most people. I regret that school visits to read my picture book Come Walk in the Fynbos with Me have ended, so sales have rather tanked except on Amazon. But, (and in what is one of those Covid behavioral surprises) people seem more interested than ever in economics, so the book, with my husband on macroeconomics is flying off the shelves (Macroeconomics for Professionals: A Guide for Analysts and Those Who Need to Understand Them).

We did some writing for Barons on economic developments and, most fun, an interview in June with one of my favorite podcasts, Planet Money, on inflation and deflation. Who would ever have guessed?

So the hermit in me is feeling very free to indulge my whimsies around creating a native landscape at my house in Maine. It has been a slough, but it is coming together. I have cemented a relationship with New England’s Native Plant Trust that will certainly go on past the pandemic’s end. If anyone else can be dazzled by the wonders of dozens of varieties of ferns, asters, lobelias, milkweed…with all of the pollinators they attract—well, you have an equally oddball buddy.”

Finally, deepest condolences to

Lynn Ehrhardt Gildea on the loss of her beloved husband, Chip, who died in April 2020 from complications of Covid and Alzheimers. They enjoyed many happy years together

/ MA / Dr. Edward A. Griggs Jr., 100 Cedar Street, Apt. B24, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

1970 / TKS / Ms. Leslie Bryan, 844 East Morningside Drive, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 / MA / Mr. V. James Castiglia, 3 Lark Lane, Oak Ridge, NJ 07438, vjc@vjamescastiglia. com / Mr. Peter Webb, Mile Slip Farm, 48 Mason Road, Brookline, NH 03033, pwebb@winerbennett.com

Former faculty member and honorary Class of 1970 member Ian David Naismith passed away peacefully on October 3, 2020, at the age of 86, at AdventHealth Hospice Care East Florida in Palm Coast, FL. The youngest of five sons, he was born on September 24, 1934. His parents, Alice (Cannon) and Archibald Naismith were originally from Scotland. They were missionaries at the time in Narsapur, India where he spent part of his younger childhood. Ian was an officer in the Royal Air Force based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Malaya) for three years. He always had a love of sports whether it was soccer, tennis, field hockey, paddle tennis, skiing, golf… even pole vaulting, receiving two RAF medals! He received a good part of his education in Scotland and graduated from the University of Glasgow and then Jordanhill College of Education where he received a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). He majored in Latin, Greek, and English.

In the third year of his time in the Royal Air Force, a notice was being circulated among the various UK military bases for a position as a professor/teacher of English in the USA at a junior college military school. To Ian’s surprise and delight, he was accepted and flew over to New Mexico, where he would teach at the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) in 1959, and thus began a whole new lifestyle. After three years there, he taught briefly in California and then at Montclair Academy (now Montclair Kimberley Academy) in New Jersey. He successfully coached soccer and golf, though he would later comment that the golf team members perhaps did not need his guidance, rather the opposite! While teaching, he acted in Community theater all over the country, in Roswell, New Mexico in Bus Stop and The World of Suzie Wong; in Bellport, Long Island in Under the Yum Yum Tree; and in Upper Montclair, New Jersey in Critics Choice. It was at the Academy, where twin brothers, Gregg and Gary Deehan, who were on the golf team, would introduce Ian to their sister, Elaine. Ian and Elaine married in 1968 and recently celebrated 51/2 years of marriage.

They belonged to Bradford Bath and Tennis Club and then Montclair Golf Club in New Jersey. It was at Montclair Golf Club where another fine tradition was born. Ian’s great talent as a performer enabled him to command the attention of a room. For over thirty years, Ian was asked to propose the “Toast to the Haggis” by Robert Burns at the Club’s Member-Member dinner. A bagpiper would harmoniously play prior to the speech. Ian then delivered it with such enthusiasm and vigor that the captive audience even believed they were going to eat a rare delicacy! He was also asked to deliver this speech at The St. Andrew’s Society of the State of New York.

After eleven years of teaching, Bernard W. Deehan, Ian’s fatherin-law, persuaded him to go into the investment business. In 1968, Ian started at Goodbody & Co. and was actively involved with a variety of other firms, ending with Sands Brothers. His wife, Elaine, flew for United Airlines as a flight attendant for thirty-six years and four months based out of JFK; therefore, they were able to travel to many parts of the world. Visiting Bermuda each July with his wife’s parents and family members was always an extra special treat.

In September of 2003, Ian and Elaine moved from Essex Fells, NJ, retiring in Ormond Beach, FL, where they enjoyed a more relaxed

lifestyle. Ian was always a charming host, a wonderful grill master, and a humorous storyteller to family and friends.

Ian D. Naismith was predeceased by his parents, Alice and Archibald Naismith of Carluke, Falkirk, Scotland and his brothers, Dr. James Naismith (spouse, Margaret), of Ontario, Canada, and Dr. William Naismith (spouse, Elizabeth), of Largs, Scotland.

He is survived by his spouse, Elaine D. Naismith, his brothers, Archibald Naismith (spouse, Greta, deceased), of Edinburgh, Scotland, and Edwy Naismith (spouse, Patricia), of Surrey, England. He is also survived by sister-inlaw, Jill Gilbert (spouse, Jack), of Scottsdale, AZ, brother-in-law, Gregg Deehan (spouse, Peggy), of Upper Montclair, NJ, brother-inlaw, Gary Deehan (spouse, Jody), of Jacksonville, FL, and brother-inlaw, Alan Deehan (spouse, Sally), of Ponte Vedra, FL, and nineteen nieces and nephews. Ian will be greatly missed. A celebration of life is planned at a later date.

1971 / TKS / Ms. Philippa Bowles, 39 Orts Road, Hamburg, NJ 07419, john11t24@ outlook.com / MA / Mr. Jeffrey Jones, 77 Monroe Street, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009, coastdaylight98@yahoo.com / Mr. Anthony Vitale, 10 North Wood Avenue, Apt. 601, Linden, NJ 07036, tvod9999@ gmail.com

1972 / TKS / Patricia “Robin” Silver writes: I retired in 2014 after almost 25 years working in the SF Bay Area as a Kaiser Permanente radiologist. I now do some volunteer work, play around making pottery and jewelry (more enthusiasm than talent), and travel the world (pre-Covid). Hope to make our 50th reunion (ouch!) in 2022.

1973 / TKS / Ms. Susan Read, 38 College Circle, Staunton, VA 22401 / MA / Mr. Thomas C. Galligan, 14805 Audubon Lakes Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, tgalligan714@ gmail.com / Mr. Gregory Lackey, 216 Hunters Road, Medford Lakes, NJ 08055, gregory.lackey@usps.gov

Eric Jaffe, the host of the Deciding Factors podcast and Americas Head of Events at GLG and Head of the GLG Institute, sits down with Jeffrey Kindler, former CEO of Pfizer and chairman of the GLG Institute, to discuss how academia, government, and industry are collaborating to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Check it out at: https://glg.it/podcasts/ episode-12-jeff-kindler

1974 / TKS / Ms. Erin Cuffe Crawford, 121 Clarewill Ave, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043, erincrawford@verizon.net

1975 / MKA / Mr. Paul Zukerberg, 1790 Lanier Place NW, Washington, DC 20009, paul. zukerberg@gmail.com

The Alumni Office learned of the passing of William Baker’s mother, Karen Lindholm, on October 12, 2020. Our sincere condolences to William and his family.

1976 / MKA / Ray Knox and Malcolm Dixon’15 met in Greenwich, CT where they both discovered they were both from Glen Ridge and went to MKA. A small world!

1977 / MA? / Mr. Robert Hubsmith, 16 Warren Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040, roberthubsmith24@gmail.com / Mr. Andrew Pedersen, 335 Ocean Blvd, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716, apedersenco@gmail.com

Robert Hubsmith writes: “Well, it’s been a strange year for all of us and not just the Class of ’77. The pandemic has shut down most socializing like dining (and drinking) out, attending sporting events, movies, plays, parties, family gatherings and yes, the MKA Homecoming. Fortunately, it was not a year ending in 2 or 7! I have heard from many of our classmates throughout the year via Zoom, social media, GroupMe, emails, texts, or calls. I thought I’d give a mention to a few that we have not heard from in a while, just by name, to let you all know that they are out “there” and reachable (I’ll leave that to your devices), in alpha

Malcolm Dixon ’15 and Ray Knox ’76

order—Jason Apter, Pat Berry, Chris Brenner, Marco Casta, Barry Centanni, Stacy Cochran, Marty Cohen, Meryl Connelly, Andy Dobbin, Robbin GordonCartier, Rick Jenkins, Michele Mitchell, Andy Pedersen, Brad Protas, Andy Read, Keith Ridings, Bruce Sanders, Ron Spivack, Joe Sullivan, Lauren Waters. I did hear back from the two classmates that claim they collaborated on the COVID vaccine from opposite coasts, no less—Peter Valentine and Mike Platt. I’m sure their work in the sciences at MKA trained them to be expert immunologists. When not in the lab, Mike also found time to executive produce Grace and Frankie and has two new shows in development. Mike also told me that he recently celebrated his 15th wedding anniversary with his wife, Liz, 10 of those years socially distanced. Bev Hall is keeping busy on her farm in Wyoming. She has four horses, some beef cattle and a milk cow. She says you can order the milk online at Amoozon.com. When not working the back 40, Bev works in the electrical engineering department at Montana-Dakota Utilities Company. Joe Ciccolini reports that his son, Anthony, enlisted in the Air Force, finished basic training and now is in advanced training for the space division. Gerald Jones tells me that son Gerald III is a senior at Montclair HS and is an aspiring actor. He has appeared in Blue Bloods, Benji the Dove, and his most recent role in the critically acclaimed Vampires vs. the Bronx. Doug Mahler and wife

Holly are enjoying retirement in their lovely home in Oceanport, NJ. Son Lukas graduated from Penn State last year and works for the software company, SEMrush. Brother Derek is finishing up his last year at Penn State majoring in Marketing. Paul Hastaba and wife Lori moved from Brentwood, TN to New Orleans. They have plans to visit eldest son Danny, his wife Nikki, and granddaughter Cammy over the Christmas holidays in Palm Beach Gardens. Youngest son Nick will also make the trek east from Nashville. Steve Cowles and wife, Vicki have two daughters, Emma and Ava, who are attending Tulane and UConn, respectively. I also heard from Mike Werksman who is a fellow die-hard Yankees fan. Mike says he is enjoying life in SE FLA and looks forward to the next Homecoming. Nancy Dainesi texted me to say that she is working remotely (aren’t we all?) at Disability RMS, a subsidiary of Sun Life as a vocational rehabilitation counselor. She misses going to see her (our) beloved New York Rangers. Cheryl McMullen chimed in via text to take a jab at the Rangers bogus draft opportunity. Of course, we all know where Peter McMullen’s and Cheryl’s loyalties are as far as hockey teams. Cheryl also reports that she and Marcy Pope have daughters that are getting married once COVID gets sorted out. I think you heard far too much from me in the last MKA Review, so I’ll just say things are fine with me. Despite the aforementioned challenges, it has been great to hear from many of you. For those of you whom I have not heard from in a while, please feel free to reach out to me via email (see above email address), FB, or LinkedIn.

MKA sends sincere condolences to Chris Butler and his family whose father, Robert Clifton Butler, passed away on September 20, 2020.

1978 / MKA / Ms. Pamela Zeug, 60 W. 57th Street, #15F, New York, NY 10019, pzeug@ downinggroup.com ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

A black, female-owned marketing firm has switched gears to help companies and organizations acquire Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to help during the coronavirus pandemic.

Impact Consulting Enterprises announced that it has changed its focus from marketing, website design, and development to temporarily join the PPE network. President and CEO Cheryl McCants ’82 activated her supply chain to begin helping organizations in New Jersey, where Impact is based.

“When I learned of the many challenges that procurement officers faced in identifying legitimate suppliers for masks, gloves, and other types of PPE, we instinctively jumped in to help,” McCants said in the release. “While we are not doctors, grocery workers, or first responders, Team Impact consists of great researchers and crisis managers. We put our skills to use and shored up a portion of the PPE supply chain for those in need. It only made sense. We did what we could to help others save lives.”

Beginning in March 2020, East Orange, New Jersey-based Impact Consulting began looking for reliable national and international suppliers to help deliver supplies during the coronavirus outbreak. Impact quickly acquired masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, and wipes for hospitals, schools, utility companies, and other organizations in need.

Impact’s effort has led to 50,000 masks going to New Jersey’s University Hospital. Another 12,000 masks were sent to the Eden School for Autistic Children. Ten thousand gloves were sent to Massachusetts’ Veterans Administration Hospital, and nearly 300,000 sanitizing wipes went to utility companies.

Robert Sharbaugh, University Hospital’s acting director of supply chain management, said the PPE it received from Impact Consulting was a huge assist. “We had an immediate need for additional PPE supplies. Impact’s Newark office is located less than a mile away from University Hospital,” Sharbaugh said in the statement. “So working with Cheryl and her team was an easy, trustworthy, and close-to-home solution for the hospital.”

Impact Consulting is still working to provide PPE for organizations in New Jersey. As the need for PPE sourcing settles down, McCants wants to resume her team’s focus on marketing.

We send our deepest sympathies to John Butler and his family. John’s father, Robert Clifton Butler, passed away on September 20, 2020.

1979 / MKA / Dr. John Brink, 1246 Beach Haven Road, Atlanta, GA 30324 / Mrs. Shawn Ortiz, 2163 Gilbride Road, Martinsville, NJ 08836

1981 / MKA / Mrs. Laura Itzkowitz (Laura Reisch), 37 Nottingham Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726, howardandlaura@optonline.net

The Alumni Office learned of the passing of Kate Baker’s mother, Karen Lindholm, on October 12, 2020. Our sincere condolences to Kate and her family. 1982 / MKA / Congratulations to

Pam Ruddick Holding on being named one of Barron’s “100 Most Influential Women in US Finance.” This list showcases the top female minds in finance in 2020!

1983 / MKA / Mr. Walter J. Davis, 66 Oakwood Drive, New Providence, NJ 07974, davisteam@comcast.net / Mrs. Maureen Natkin (J.P.), 5 Riverview Road, Irvington, NY 10533

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

A huge congratulations to Kevin Wilkins ’83 who was just named Louisianan of the Year for 2020 for the work that he has been doing as founder of his company trepwise. trepwise is a growth consulting firm based in New Orleans that powers organizations to maximize their potential. This year, more than ever, trepwise has been doing a lot of change management with their clients, helping organizations and leaders across the country manage change - reimagining the familiar; reinventing the traditional; re-envisioning the future.

Kevin states: “We are living in a period where change is choosing us. So much is being thrown at us on a daily basis that we are forced to change both what we are doing and how we are doing it. In most other years, we often are choosing the change that we want. During this time of constant change, let us not forget that we still have the power to choose the change we want in our lives. So I ask people to reflect: What change is choosing me versus what change am I choosing?”

IN MEMORIAM

We were saddened to learn of the death of former MKA Boys’ Lacrosse Coach Doug Alsofrom (1950–2020) who passed away suddenly on August 9, 2020. Coach Alsofrom (kneeling in pic with the 1986 squad) led the MKA Boys Lacrosse Team to 4 NJ Prep Titles and 2 Garden State Division Titles in the 1980’s. Current MKA Boys’ Lacrosse Assistant Coach Sabino Rodano ’87, who played for Coach Alsofrom, said, “Coach Alsofrom was a great teacher of the game we all love. But he taught us so much more than a game. He taught us invaluable life lessons that we have used long after our playing days were over. He is the reason many of us have coached lacrosse and still coach today.” Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Alsofrom family.

1984 / MKA / Mrs. Jennifer Jones Ladda, 17 Belleclaire Place, Verona, NJ 07044, jjonesladda@gmail.com

1986 / MKA / Ms. Jennifer Remington-Knodel, 44 Hamilton Drive East, North Caldwell, NJ 07006, jenremknodel@aol.com 1987 / MKA / Mr. Dennis Rodano, 3 Byron Road, North Caldwell, NJ 07006, rodanod@ verizon.net / Ms. Lynne Yellin, 413 Ridgecrest Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, lynneGY@aol.com 1989 / MKA / Mr. Louis Lessig, 2009 Morris Drive, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003, llessig@brownconnery. com / Mr. Josh Raymond, 33 Oak Place, North Caldwell, NJ 07006, jraymond@ msbnj.com

Congratulations to Bram Zeigler and his wife Katie on their self-published book COVIDinners: Adventures in Quarantine Dining, a hilarious and heartfelt collection of daily quarantine dinner menus which is now available on Amazon. When the shelter-inplace order was announced, author and mom Katie M Zeigler found herself desperate for something to keep her family laughing. So, on her kitchen whiteboard, Zeigler began creating daily menus that quickly garnered the attention of family and friends! Zeigler’s creations will keep you laughing and well-fed, bringing some humor and comfort to people during this difficult time.

Congratulations to Lana Kang on being named one of the Castle Connolly Top Doctors recognized as Exceptional Women in Medicine 2020 in the December New York Magazine.

1991 / MKA / Ms. Dara Marmon, 330 E. 39th, Apt. 21D, New York, NY 10016, daramarmon@gmail. com / Mr. Luke Sarsfield, 105 Franklin Street, Apt. 4, New York, NY 10013, luke. sarsfield@gs.com

1992 / MKA / Dr. Enrique Neblett, 718 Ainsley Court, Durham, NC 27713, enrique. neblett@gmail.com

Congratulations to

Enrique W. Neblett

Jr., PhD on his recently published article “Infusing Public Health with Psychology to Dismantle Racism.” The piece is a faculty profile about Enrique,

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Join me in congratulating the extraordinary Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah ’91 who was just appointed as Wiley’s first Chief Diversity Officer! As protests against racial injustice gained strength nationally this summer, Am Law 200 firm Wiley Rein sought to take a step many of its peers have done in recent years: adding a diversity-focused professional to its leadership team. Washington, DC-based Wiley Rein has created a new chief diversity officer position, bringing on former Deloitte consultant Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah. MacMurray-Abdullah, an attorney who spent more than 12 years at Deloitte as a consultant to law firms and general counsel, said 2020 was an awakening of sorts for her, fueling her desire to further diversity and inclusion efforts in the legal profession. “I started to ask questions about what was missing in diversity and inclusion efforts in the legal industry,” she said in an interview. “My friends, who are now partners, showed me that the diversity numbers hadn’t really changed since I was a summer associate. I was surprised by that.” MacMurray-Abdullah felt that the best way to further progress in the industry was to actively seek out a law firm that was serious about making the necessary changes. Wiley fit the bill. “From the conversations I had [with Wiley leadership], it was clear they didn’t just start thinking about this.” she said. “I know they are thrilled to have this role and are excited about it across the firm.”

MacMurray-Abdullah will have the ear of managing partner Peter Shields, she said. And she plans to start her tenure at the firm with a “listening tour” to learn exactly what is working around D&I efforts and where improvements are needed. “I believe in listening to what the attorneys and staff are saying,” she said. “We won’t be tied to existing programs and will take the time to understand where growth needs to happen.” MacMurray-Abdullah said nationwide protests, which peaked over the summer but are certainly not out of mind, provide a unique opportunity for all organizations to take steps in their D&I efforts that may not have gained traction only a few years ago. “As a country and as a people, we are seeing a different side of people,” she said. “There is a sense of urgency now—2020 has become a year of vision.” She said the efforts around D&I will not just be for attorneys, either, and that listening to and acting on behalf of business professionals within the firm is part of her plan. Wiley is somewhat late to the game in creating a diversity-focused role in the C-suite, compared with some of its peer firms. MacMurray-Abdullah said the entire C-suite in the legal business is still evolving. “It isn’t a matter of being late,” she said. “But rather a continuing evolution [of] the conversation around diversity and inclusion.” “Rashida is an extraordinary communicator with the ability to lead, engage key stakeholders, and empower diverse teams during challenging times, and we are excited to have her join us,” Anna Gomez, partner in the telecom, media, and technology practice and chair of the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, said in a statement. Wiley was one of more than 200 law firms that signed on to the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance in early July. The firm said in its press release that the events of the summer were foundational to creating the position MacMurray-Abdullah now occupies. “It is our core belief that diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts must begin with mutual respect and an understanding that our differences make us stronger,” Shields said in a statement. “Now, at this pivotal moment in history, we are reaffirming our long-term commitment and dedicating additional resources to this mission.”

Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Associate Faculty lead for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Associate Director of the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center. In particular, Neblett looks at how racism-related stress influences the mental and physical health of young Black Americans.

MKA sends sincere condolences to Vejay Lalla and his family. Vejay’s father passed away on November 7, 2020.

1994 / MKA / Mr. Jason Awerdick, 23 Greenbrook Drive, Bloomfield, NJ 07003, jasonawerdick@gmail.com

1996 / MKA / Ms. Tanya Barnes Barnes.tanya@gmail.com / Ms. Erica Hirsch, 10 West 15th Street, #710, New York, NY 10011, ehirsch77@ yahoo.com / MKA / Mr. Lee Vartan, 3 Swayze Lane, Chester, NJ 07930, ldvartan@yahoo.com

Congratulations to the incredi-

ble Jessica Bruder ’96 whose book, Nomadland, became a movie and was released in 2020! Starring Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, and Linda May, the movie chronicles a woman in her sixties who, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad. Jessica is a Journalism Professor at Columbia University, and her work can also be found in WIRED, the New York Times, and New York Magazine.

Twenty-five years ago, you could see MKA ice hockey team mem-

bers Sean Duffy ’97, Alex Voinov, and Tim Fox (of Montclair Immaculate) glowering and growling along the boards of that winter’s Van Cott Cup game. The scoreboard showed a 2-2 tie. Overtime loomed ahead, but the MKA icemen decided to prove that they could play when it counted. The 3-2 victory over Hudson Catholic capped the impressive 17-5-3 season in the championship round of the Van Cott Cup. Led by tri-captains Carlton Pote’96, Tim Fox, and Alex Voinov, the hockey team amassed a collection of impressive wins. The 6-3 win over Seton Hall Prep early in the season had everyone guessing whether this was the

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

John Saroff ’94 is the CEO of Chartbeat, a leading content analytics software for the media industry with clients including the New York Times, CNN, ESPN, and the BBC. Journalists and editors at those and over 600 other clients use Chartbeat to see how their content is performing in real-time on their sites and apps. On election night, newsrooms all across the world used Chartbeat to see how many people were reading stories and watching videos about the election and using their software to find the best headlines, images, and social posts to go with those stories.

John has always been interested in both media and technology. He was the Sports Editor and then the Editor-In-Chief of the Academy News and has been interested in tech from his first exposure to “computers” at Brookside. Without dating him too much, John used PETs and Commodore 64s at Brookside. They were “so cool” to his young eyes (even though they took cassettes), and he’s never lost that fascination with technology and what it can do.

When asked in what other ways MKA helped to prepare him for his future, John said, “Beyond anything else, my Brookside and Middle School teachers taught me how to read and write. That’s the biggest gift I got from MKA. When I worked with my step-daughter on her college applications last week, I was channeling their lessons even today. Beyond that, specific moments stick in my mind. Boyd Herforth’s math class taught me that there wasn’t just one way to solve a problem. John Noble used the occasion of me failing a vocabulary test to teach me how to study and prepare. Nixon Bicknell taught me that I could actually sing. I use all of those lessons today, even when my 5-year- old doesn’t want to hear me singing her favorite songs.”

After graduate school (John received a JD/ MBA from Columbia), he went straight into a high pressure law firm because he thought it was “the next thing to do.” It wasn’t, and it took a lot of courage to admit that to himself, step away, and figure out what he really wanted to do with his life. “I think a lot of young people from places like MKA and its peer institutions can fall into just doing one thing after another, and I have found it is important to pause and say ‘what do I really want out of life’ and how can I use the gifts and opportunities that I am so lucky to have, to make that happen,” John says.

During a time when it has never been more important for companies to optimize the content they are creating, John says, “Our vision is ‘to make meaningful stories thrive,’ namely to make sure that the best and highest quality content is consumed by the most amount of people around the globe. In today’s polarized media ecosystem, we are far away from realizing that vision, but if we can be successful, it would be a wonderful legacy for our company to leave on the world. One of our values at Chartbeat is to ‘Be Human,’ and we recognize that everyone is a full person and that they are at their best at work when they are allowed to be that full person. We work extraordinarily hard, but we make sure to prioritize ‘getting stuff done’ and not ‘facetime,’ so that people can take good care of themselves and be there for friends and family when they need it.” These days, John is most proud of being an active and involved dad and stepdad, being a good partner to his wife, and creating a workplace where his team can do the same. He has a 17-year-old stepdaughter, a 14-year-old stepson, and 5-year-old and 2-year-old daughters. Spending time with them and his wife is really the best part of his life.

team that could repeat the performance of the 1992 season. It was and they did. The 1995-1996 season led to a number seven ranking in The Star Ledger top twenty. Allstate honoree Sean Duffy led the attack, while Carlton Pote tended

the cage. Jake McKee, Dave Steinfeld,

Above: (left to right) Top: Mr. Reydel, Alfred Bequillard, Matt Bucciero, Alex Voinov, Sean Duffy, Adam Wartski, Dave Steinfeld. Middle: Ben Berkowitz, Gary Murphy, Tyler DiNapoli, John Mendes, Scott DeRosa, Jake McKee. Bottom: Beth Noell, Vivien Hudig, Jen Perrone, Kyle Torjussen, Carlton Pote

and Adam Wartski also became vital parts of the team. Unity and spirit pulled the team through when emotions got hot, and culminated in an impressive finale-sweeping the first playoff victory in three years.

1998 / MKA / Ms. Gemma Giantomasi, 80 Avon Drive, Essex Fells, NJ 07021, gemma. diaco@gmail.com

1999 / MKA / Mr. Alexander Holz, 217 East 10th St, Apt 18, New York, NY 10003, alexbhlz@ gmail.com / Ms. Sandra Tritt, sandratritt@gmail.com

Congratulations to Phil Mazo who created, wrote, and directed a hilarious short film “I’m Phil,” a comedy about a man who finds love while in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congratulations to Igor Alves on his amazing DreamPlay TV video that he produced featuring the making of the Black Lives Matter murals in Newark, NJ called “Murals For Justice.” Head to YouTube to see the video.

The Strategy Room founded by the incredibly talented Ben Aronson, was in session with the amazing Jack

Still from Igor Alves ’99 video “Murals for Justice”

Strategy Room

Besser ’16. Jack is the social media mind behind Cori Bush’s historic election campaign. Cori is the first ever BLM activist to be elected to Congress, and Jack spoke about how he helped to shape her social media strategy.

The Strategy Room is an empowering, weekly forum and mentorship program open to all of Ben’s BIPOC + LBGTQ connections looking to get into creative or strategy.

2000 / MKA / Ms. Anna Cook, 5 Highview Court, Wayne, NJ 07470, anna_labowsky @ yahoo.com / Mr. John Garippa, 2741 NE 58th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308, oceanhut@aol.com / Mrs. Jaclyn Spedaliere, 60 E. Oak Street, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, jaclynspedaliere@ gmail.com

Congratulations to Courtney Knowlton on her article “Mom Talk: When The Treadmill Stopped, So Did My Son’s Anxiety” that was featured in Mother Magazine. In her essay, the New York City-based writer and mother of three discusses how her oldest son’s separation anxiety all but disappeared after lockdown. In an excerpt from her excellent piece, Courtney writes: “In therapy, J named his alter ego. Mr. Worry Brain. He learned that Mr. Worry Brain acted in a way that J himself wouldn’t, and he discussed strategies for keeping him under control. Calming breathing and mantras and asking himself how he’d feel if his friends saw his tantrums. My husband and I learned how to properly acknowledge good behavior. We were told to pick our battles, to give him more agency in his life and more alone time with us. Things got marginally better. But we were stretched so thin; we never quite finished the assigned readings about childhood anxiety. We didn’t add a jellybean to the jar every time J let me do an errand without hysteria... In March, Mr. Worry Brain activated in people everywhere. The world stopped and so did that treadmill our family had been running on for the previous seven years. We moved into my parents’ house outside the city, and we stayed home together. Instead of exposure to separation, J got exposure to me. All day, every day. For six months, we were never late. Never schlepping. Never apart. Plus, my husband and I had so much stress navigating our jobs and the kids’ schooling and our future plans and sterilizing the groceries that we didn’t pick as many battles as we once had. As we got deeper and deeper into quarantine, J blossomed. I first realized it in June when I’d left for a run three days in a row without him barricading the door as he used to. Mr. Worry Brain had gone dormant.”

We’re excited to welcome Rachel Weary as the Assistant Middle School Nurse and Covid Compliance Coordinator. Rachel’s goal in this new position is to work with all employees and students toward a healthier, brighter, and more hopeful 2021.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Rebecca Leffler ’00 is a writer and journalist who, after a career as the France correspondent for The Hollywood Reporter, has traded the red carpets of Paris for the green streets of New York where she hosts events and offers branded entertainment services for wellness brands. She is also the woman who inspired Netflix’s Emily in Paris! In January, Rebecca joined Lola Rykiel, founder of the fashion brand Pompom Paris, in a conversation about Emily’s extravagant fashion choices and whether they were cliché or the reality of the Paris Fashion scene.

Courtney Knowlton ’00

Rachel Weary ’00

2001 / MKA / Ms. Dana Pisacane, 555 42nd Avenue,San Francisco, CA 94121,dana. piscane@gmail.com

Sunny Wang ’01, the extremely talented, actor, athlete, founder of lifestyle brand The Empire, and much more, is featured with his beautiful wife, Dizzy, on the cover of #legend Magazine in The Treasure Issue. Check out the August issue and hear from them on parenthood, personal space, and shifting priorities.

2002 / MKA / Miss Emily Santangelo, 27 Woods Road, Little Falls, NJ 07424, emilyannesantangelo@gmail.com / Mrs. Melissa Fortunato Slomienski, 58 Oldchester Road, Essex Fells, NJ 07021, slomienski@icloud.com

2003 / MKA / Ms. Judith Ferreira, 819 Clifton Avenue, Newark, NJ 07104, jferreir@ pratt.edu / Mrs. Melanie Bieber, 462 Vance Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ 07481, mel. braverman@gmail.com

2004 / MKA / Brendan McCaffrey, 235 West 102nd Street, Apt. 10i, New York, NY 10025, brendan.a.mccaffrey@gmail.com / Ms. Katherine Santoro, 333 River Street, Apt. 539, Hoboken, NJ 07030, kate. santoro@gmail.com

Congratulations to alumnus Brandon Jones on successfully defending his dissertation on “Counseling while Black: A critical inquiry exploring the experiences of Black master’s level counselors in non-academic, predominantly white mental health settings.” Brandon received a BA in Psychology from Amherst College in 2008 and went on to obtain his MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University. He is now officially a doctor with a PhD in Counseling and Psychology. He has a private practice called Jones Counseling Consultation, and he teaches at Regis College as an Assistant Professor/Field Placement Coordinator in Graduate Counseling Programs. We wish him the best of luck as he continues his extraordinary career! Congratulations

IN MEMORIAM

It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the sudden passing of longtime MKA Varsity Assistant Boys’ Lacrosse Coach, Ernie Mosca. Coach Mosca had been part of Coach Paul Edward’s coaching staff since 2005 and had a profound impact on the MKA Boys Lacrosse program. He was named the US Lacrosse “Person of the Year” in 2019. Coach Mosca was a true ambassador of the game he loved and was a wonderful role model, mentor, and friend to all who knew him. He was also MKA’s #1 sports fan as he would often come to all of the boys’ and girls’ games in all of our sports throughout the year.

Coach Edwards states, “Ernie had two families that he loved dearly...the Mosca family and the MKA Lacrosse family. Over his time with our program, he was so much more than a lacrosse coach to our players. He cared deeply about each and every player and helped them become better men as well as athletes. His example to us each day about how to commit to one another and be accountable are lessons we’ll never forget.” As one of his former players texted, “We’re all blessed we got a slice of Mosca. He could bring a smile to your face on the rainiest of days.”

Rest in peace Coach Mosca...you will be missed by many, near and far.

Cara Landolfi McNally’s ’05 son Connor Joseph.

Chisako Sugiyama-Murray ’s ’05 son Taylor Lee.

to Ashley N. Booker, who leads NBA Partnership and Music and Cultural Engagement Strategies for Mountain Dew, on launching the incredible “Real Change” initiative. This important strategy will help bring resources, programming, and funding to HBCUs in an effort to strengthen the pipeline of Black entrepreneurs.

2005 / MKA / Mr. Edmund Kozak, e.g.kozak@gmail. com / Mr. Manav Lalwani, 132 Blue Heron Drive, Riverside Court, Secaucus, NJ 07094, 201-617-5312, manav.lalwani@ gmail.com

Congratulations to Cara Landolfi McNally and her husband, Walt, on the birth of their son Connor Joseph McNally.

Congratulations to Chisako Sugiyama-Murray and her husband, Kyle, on the birth of their son Taylor Lee Murray, born November 12, 2020.

2006 / MKA / Ms. Natalie Azzoli, 8 Spruce Street, Apt. 50H, New York, NY 10038, nat6888@gmail.com / Ms. Angela McCaffrey, 229 Crescenzi Court, West Orange, NJ 07052, angelamccaffrey@ gmail.com

Congratulations to Sean Gaffney

and his wife Caroline Richardson Gaffney ’07 on their newest Cougar Cub, Jack!

Caroline Richardson Gaffney ’07 and Sean Gaffney’s ’06 son Jack.

Congratulations to Katie Gelnaw Patton on the birth of her baby boy, Hurley.

2007 / MKA / Mr. Brian May, bmay88@gmail. com / Mr. Harry Raymond, raymond. harry@gmail.com / Mr. Stuart Harwood, stuartmharwood@gmail.com

Congratulations to Caroline

Richardson Gaffney and her husband Sean Gaffney ’06 on their newest Cougar Cub, Jack!

Congratulations to Derek Phillips who got engaged to Allie Goodchild (Glen Ridge High School ’07) in October 2020. A small COVID-safe wedding is being planned for the spring of 2021.

2008 / MKA / Mr. Matthew Metzger, 235 Elizabeth Street, Apt #1B, New York, NY 10012, metzgermd@gmail.com

Congratulations to Joe Correia and John Dantzler on the opening of Manhattan’s first brewery, Torch and Crown, in October! Growing up in the NYC area, Joe and John didn’t always want to open a brewery. But one night at age 16, fate struck: both tragically had their fake IDs confiscated at a bar in the East Village. Left with no way to buy beer, the two decided they’d make it. The first batch started with a Mr. Beer homebrew kit, two guys who hadn’t quite read the instructions, and John’s mom coming home to find that kit exploding all over her kitchen. They were both grounded for a month, but their resolve was undeterred, and the two kept at it. By the time high school graduation rolled around, the two were winning some modest homebrew awards (which they had to send their dads to accept), and a passion had fully been born. On a trip to Ireland, Joe and John formally decided (over a toast of a pint of Guinness) that one day, they’d open their own brewery centered around their love of three things: great beer, ambitious creations, and the amazing city of New York. Fully aware that neither knew what the hell they were doing, they decided to divide and conquer. Joe studied chemistry and headed into the brewing world, and John entered finance in the hopes of figuring out that whole business side of things. After 10 years, thousands of trial batches, and a few more boilovers, John and Joe have reunited to create Torch & Crown Brewing Company.

Joe Correia ’08 and John Dantzler’s ’08 brewery, Torch and Crown Brewing Company.

2009 / MKA / Mr. Brian Purcell, 63 Wall Street, Apt 1509, New York, NY 10005, bnpurcell14@ gmail.com / Ms. Jane Stanton, 240 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042, janestanton18@gmail.com

Leah Cerf ’09 and her family have founded The Uplands, a Retreat Center located 2.5 hours outside NYC on 290 acres of tranquil farm and woodlands in the sweeping hills of the western Catskills. The Center offers a venue to meet, reflect, and grow for individuals and groups who share a common mission to care for others or facilitate change in the world. Its twin missions are (1) to empower changemakers by providing a dynamic setting for innovative program design, co-creation, and brainstorming, and (2) to revitalize those who serve others, by offering restorative and growth-promoting experiences (groups hosted include first responders, health care practitioners, educators, and social service providers). The Center offers meeting spaces for team-building, sharing, and innovation as well as spa amenities (massage, pool, sauna, hot-tub), yoga, meditation, and creative arts studios, all amid the peaceful serenity of a natural setting of extraordinary beauty. They work closely with you to co-create intimate multi-day retreats to achieve your group’s goals. www.uplandscenter.org

Leah Cerf ’09 and her family retreat center, The Uplands, located 2.5 hours outside NYC.

2010 / MKA / Ms. Devon Barrett, 109 Llewellyn Road, Montclair, NJ 07042, dlb792@ aim.com / Mr. Matthew Palmisano, 2812 39th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007, matt.r.palmisano@gmail.com

2011 / MKA / Mr. Seth Bynum, 23-43 35th Street, Long

Island City, NY 11105, seth.bynum1@ gmail.com / Ms. Carina Wong, 9 Deer Trail Road, North Caldwell, NJ 07006, carinamwong@gmail.com

The Heidelberg University women’s lacrosse team has its new leader! Congratulations to Becky Smith on being named WLAX Head Coach. We wish you the best of luck in your new role! To see the article go to: tinyurl.com/BeckySmith11.

Becky Smith ’11

2012 / MKA / Ms. Casey Holden, 573 Farmdale Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417, casey. musicant@gmail.com / Mr. Ed Rosini, 32 Edgemont Road, Montclair, NJ 07042, erosini32@gmail.com

Congratulations to Krishna Gall on starting a new position as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Columbia University in the City of New York.

Even though she can’t take the stage right now, Nadia Brown continues to shine! Nadia was on NBC’s One Night Only: The Best of Broadway to raise awareness for Broadway Cares which fights AIDS and unites theatre artists across the country to give back and help those in need!

2013 / MKA / Ms. Elizabeth “Lizzie” Amato, Liz.J.amato@gmail.com / Mr. Edward Bozik, bozik@me.com

Congratulations to Mark Phillips on his engagement to Julia Heymann in October 2020. Mark and Julia met as juniors at the University of Vermont. Planning for a 2022 wedding is underway.

2014 / MKA / Ms. Kassandra Fotiadis, kassandra. fotiadis@gmail.com

Congratulations to Déja Lighty who signed to Elite Model Management, New York City. She appeared on The Wendy Williams Show in December, modeling for Jones Road Beauty by justBOBBI.

2015 / MKA / Ms. Korinne “Kori” Durando, koridurando@ gmail.com

Congratulations to Celeste Fields who has officially started her career as an Associate Product Marketing Manager (APMM) at Google! Celeste says, “I’m excited to take the intern hat off and return to this amazing company. I look forward to building new connections and growing throughout this journey!”

Isaiah J. Thompson released his debut CD celebrating the music of jazz legend Buddy Montgomery! Isaiah started music lessons at age 5. Afer MKA, he enrolled in The Juilliard School. This past May, Thompson graduated with a Master’s Degree in Jazz. He has played worldwide with several jazz notables and has appeared on Jazz At Lincoln Center’s celebration of jazz pianists with the release of A Handful of Keys.

He also appeared in the film and on the soundtrack for

Mark Phillips ’13 is engaged to Julia Heymann.

Déja Lighty ’14 modeling for Jones Road Beauty by justBOBBI on The Wendy Williams Show

Celeste Fields ’15 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Ronny Bhatia ’19 (University of Pennsylvania Class of ’23) and Charlie Koenig ’20 (Tufts University Class of ’25) spent this past summer as two managers of the CommonHealth Project. Founded with the mission to aid frontline health care workers, the CommonHealth Project seeked to use the goodwill of the community at large in order to produce reusable face shields to be donated to healthcare facilities.

Ronny was the logistics and distribution manager for Essex and Passaic counties while Charlie was the logistics and distribution manager for Bergen county. They joined this project with the desire to be able to help the fight against coronavirus in any way they could and hope they were able to make a positive impact for this cause. Overall, the CommonHealth project emerged a success, with over 10,000 shields constructed by more than 200 volunteers. Some of the volunteers were MKA alumni as well: Casey Szilagyi ’19, Nicoleta Krenteras ’19, Matt Petrocelli ’18, and Jassi Martin ’19. They were able to donate to various facilities throughout NJ, including Clara Maass, the Valley Hospital, St. Joseph’s, Boys and Girls Club of Paterson, as well as MKA.

Motherless Brooklyn, released in 2019. His upcoming CD, Isaiah J. Thompson Plays the Music of Buddy Montgomery dropped on Sept. 18 and is available on Amazon and iTunes.

Alex Eiden ’17

2016 / MKA / Ms. Zoe Bieler, zoe.bieler@gmail.com / Mr. Charles Rilli, crilli33@gmail.com / Lily Andres, lily.andres@gmail.com

2017 / MKA / Ms. Jenna Donatiello, jdonatiello12@ aol.com / Mr. Matthew ‘Matt’ Rubenstein, mattrubenstein98@gmail.com

Alex Eiden (currently attending Villanova University majoring in International Business, Computer Science, and Japanese) and his brother Nico ’20, co-founded the ALDAS Youth First Initiative in 2015 in an effort to help level the playing field for academic advancement for children in Caribbean schools. The program started with Alex and Nico donating 50 iPads from MKA. Since then, they have distributed more than 14,000 devices to schools across the Caribbean with embracers of the program now including Apple, Stanford, AWS Educate (Amazon Web Services), World Bank, US Department of State Senior Leadership, and many more. The brothers have worked with students and teachers to update public and private school computer labs, and further math and coding skills at the primary and secondary levels. Their commitment has even garnered the attention of and a meeting with the Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

Luciano Calandra ’20

2018 / MKA / Ms. Lailanni Lucien, llucien05@gmail. com / Mr. Keenan McAuliffe, keenan. cavenaugh13@gmail.com/ MKA / Ms. Kerri McGuire, kerrimcg11@yahoo.com

2020 / MKA / Congratulations to Luciano Calandra and the whole Calandra family on ushering in a third generation to the local familyowned and operated hospitality empire.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

In an effort to raise awareness for the International Day of Disabled People, Shea Hammond ’20, tells his heroic and inspirational story. A freshman at Clemson University, Shea plays for the US Paracentesis Men’s National Team and has Cerebral Palsy. With almost his entire left side affected from suffering a stroke at a young age, Shea’s extraordinary journey from MKA to attending and playing soccer at Clemson on an Academic and Athletic scholarship, and making the USMNT, is a legendary one. See the video www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOJyU7PWmd8&feature=youtu.be

IN MEMORIAM

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of the wonderful Patricia “Patty” Deetjen. Patty passed away on January 2, 2021 at Blue Hill Hospital with her family by her side. Patty is survived by her two sons Leif and Cliff, daughter-in law Kim, three loving grandchildren, Alex, Ben, and River and nephew Scott Burrows. With laughter and a positive spirit, Patty enjoyed life to its fullest and always made everyone feel special. Above all, she loved making personal connections with family and friends. She would light up a room with her warm beautiful smile, find humor in any situation, and her infectious laugh made the world a better place. Patty was the daughter of Ethel and Mel Blun of White Plains, NY. Patty was born in Scarsdale, NY on July 21, 1936. She attended The Ethel Walker School and graduated from Bradford College with a degree in Education in 1956. Her first teaching position was at Rye Country Day School. She met the love of her life, Rudolph Deetjen in 1958, a fellow teacher at Greenwich Country Day School. Patty and Rudy married in 1961 and lived in Greenwich, CT where Leif and Cliff were born. They moved to Essex Fells, NJ in 1972 and then to Mendham, NJ in 1976. Patty supported Rudy, then a headmaster of Montclair Kimberley Academy and later the Peck School in Morristown, NJ, as well as both school family communities with her devoted enthusiasm and grace. She was an active member of the Junior League and many volunteer organizations. In 1968 Patty and Rudy built a picturesque log home on the beautiful coast of Brooksville, Maine that they affectionately named “Kings Cove.” They enjoyed summers and holidays at this special place with family and friends. After Rudy retired, they moved to Maine full-time in 1998 and spent the summer season at King’s Cove and winter months in Blue Hill at Parker Ridge Retirement Community. Patty’s passion was people. She was truly invested in others’ lives and sincerely cared about their happiness and well-being and made a difference. She will be greatly missed.

www.mka.org/giving