5 minute read
WE ARE MKA
W
WE ARE MKA
Cover of the program for Susie Huang’s senior-year concert, which was described by the President of The Kimberley School Parent’s Association as an opportunity for Susie to, “show her appreciation to the school and all her friends through her music…in a talented and graceful way.”
Walking the Walk and Talking the Talk: Stories of Extraordinary People and Why They Give
Susie Huang ’72
Born in Hong Kong, Susie Huang ’72 started winning major piano competitions at the age of nine and went on to give recitals and to perform on television. At 16, she was a soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic and played the Weber piano concerto. That same year, she was accepted by The Juilliard PreCollege School in New York to study piano. When Susie’s mother decided her daughter must also continue her academic studies, she went to the library to find private schools near New York that she could attend.
Susie came to The Kimberley School (TKS) in 1970 with assurances from Mr. Howard, the Assistant Headmaster, that the school would accommodate her commitment to piano. She attended classes from Monday through Thursday when she would leave for New York City to study at Julliard through Sunday. “At TKS, the girls didn’t know what to make of my highly unusual presence, but they couldn’t be kinder and nicer,” said Susie. “They asked so many questions, and we got so much by learning from each other. It was an amazing experience.” Classmate Robin Silver ’72 and her family welcomed and hosted Susie the first year, and close friend Nancy (von Lengerke) Wheeler ’73’s family hosted her in the second. Nancy also spent much of summer ’71 with Susie’s family in Hong Kong. Susie remembers both families with much fondness and appreciation.
While her math and science courses in Hong Kong were advanced enough to allow her to skip 10th grade, Susie needed much help in history and English as a junior at TKS. She credits history teacher Mrs. Thorsen and English teacher Mrs. Hamilton in particular for their dedication in helping her but said she enjoyed the support of the whole school from Headmaster Richard K. Loveland all the way to the students. She remembered with a laugh that she was not allowed to participate in Physical Education due to possible injuries to her fingers but instead would practice piano in the corner of the gym while the other girls bounced basketballs. Together they made quite a racket! Susie did not go to Juilliard for college but instead attended Princeton and then Columbia Business school, after which she stayed and had a very successful career in finance. After retiring from full time work in 2003, she joined a mutual board where she is currently still serving as an Independent Trustee.
Without TKS, Susie said she would not be where she is now, and her two years in Montclair helped set her on the path for the rest of her life. Driven by her personal academic and work experiences, female empowerment is important to Susie, and she is also passionate about empowering others to join her in supporting MKA today and in the future. She shared, “The school is instrumental in a student’s career and life choices, and I’m just hoping to inspire not only some classmates but also women around my years to be good role models in giving.” Susie is forever grateful for the friendship, mentorship, and opportunity at TKS. We are so thankful for Susie’s membership in the Heritage Society as she certainly is opening doors for others.
Lazarus-Coviello
Describe your family. What are some things you love to do?
Our family moved to Singapore when our oldest (Julian, now 17) was only 9 months old. After that, we lived in Geneva, Switzerland (where Stella, now 12, was born), London, and then Singapore again prior to moving back to the U.S. in 2019. While we lived overseas, we loved traveling together and discovering new places. Now that we are back in the U.S., we love just being home and the simple pleasures of watching sporting events together at normal times since we are finally in the right time zone for American sports!
What drew you to MKA?
We knew we wanted to move to Montclair because both of Lisa’s sisters live in Montclair, and after so many years overseas, we wanted to be near family. Lisa’s nephew had gone to MKA and loved it, so it was high on our list. After visiting a number of schools in the area, both Julian and Stella felt most comfortable at MKA and thought they would have the best opportunities to thrive there both academically and socially. MKA has not disappointed as the ideal school for our children. It has worked out very well for both of them.
What about MKA means the most to you?
There are so many potential answers to this question. If we had to pick one, it would probably be the support of the teachers and administration to help our children become the best version of themselves.
What is your proudest achievement as a family?
We are most proud of the fact that after 13 years abroad we were able to adjust to living back in the U.S., and notwithstanding COVID-19, we supported each other’s journey to find each of our places in the community. It wasn’t an easy re-entry to the U.S. under these circumstances and due to some of the political events taking place at the time. However, we were open with each other about the challenges, and we successfully worked through them together.
How do you work to make an impact at the school?
We try to support the school in all of the activities our children are involved in and to participate wherever we think we can be impactful.
