AMONG FRIENDS Fall 2021
EXPLORING THE TECH SECTOR
2020-21 ANNUAL REPORT OF DONORS
Mission Statement Moorestown Friends School is a community rooted in Quaker values and dedicated to the pursuit of educational excellence for a diverse student body within an academically rigorous and balanced program emphasizing personal, ethical, and spiritual growth. Fall 1987, revised May 2011
Contents
Fall 2021
MOORESTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL 110 East Main Street Moorestown, NJ 08057 (856) 235-2900, www.mfriends.org
From the Head of School
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School Committee Leadership
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Notes from Pages Lane
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Published By The Development Office
Editor, Director of Marketing and Communications Mike Schlotterbeck
Fox Tracks
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New Administrator/Trustee
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Celebrating the Life of Robert Smith ’42
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Alumni Association Awards
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Exploring the Tech Sector
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2020-21 Annual Report of Donors
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Class Notes
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In Memoriam
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Time Capsule Opened
Graphic Design Alison Judah ’86, Hypno Design Photography Julia Applegate ‘10, Peter Chollick, Andrew Rowan ‘19, Mike Schlotterbeck, and alumni, student, and parent contributors Head of School Julia de la Torre Director of Development Stephen Zakroff Associate Director of Development Beth Stouffer Assistant Director of Community Outreach Julia Applegate ’10
Inside Back
Cover
Director of Annual Giving Sonia Mixter Guzman ’02 Development Office Staff Roberta Fenska and Sue Giacchetto
Moorestown Friends School admits students without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, or sexual orientation. All photos are identified from left to right unless otherwise indicated.
Printed on recycled paper.
Fall 2021
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The 2021-22 school year has resumed with all in-person instruction at MFS.
Coming Soon...the MFS Playscape!
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Fall 2021
Message from the Head of School
Dear Friends, We have had a successful start to the school year here at Moorestown Friends. The summer was a great opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and families to step away from the challenges of the pandemic year and to reconnect with the people and experiences that bring them joy. This Fall, we returned to campus with renewed purpose and a shared commitment to a connected, in-person school experience for all of our students. Although we are still wearing masks indoors, we no longer have plexiglass in place, and all students are on campus enjoying classes and clubs, a full lunch program, and Fall athletics, much as we were two years ago. With our Playscape construction nearing completion and a strategic planning process coming to a close, there is much to be excited about at MFS this year. Enclosed is the 2020-21 Annual Report of Donors. I want to extend sincere thanks to those of you who financially supported the school, especially during these challenging and uncertain times. Your generosity helped ensure continuity for our students and families at an otherwise disrupted moment in our world. We capped last year with Commencement, which was a wonderful celebration of our newest alumni, the Class of 2021, and all they achieved. I know you will enjoy the Commencement photos featured in the Annual Report as a reminder of the traditions that endure here at Moorestown Friends. We have learned an incredible amount from operating school during a pandemic. More than anything, we have come to cherish the human connections and sense of community that are a hallmark of MFS. Despite the distance, technology allowed us to remain connected in a rapidly changing world and maintain community in new and creative ways. In this issue, we highlight MFS alumni who have pursued careers in the tech, big data and IT space. We invite you to learn more about how they create content, observe trends, network, and solve problems, all within an ethical framework that they finetuned at Moorestown Friends. With gratitude to Diane Michelfelder ‘71, Professor of Philosophy at Macalester College, for contributing the introduction to this piece, you will learn how an MFS education has helped our alumni succeed in jobs they couldn’t have even imagined while students at MFS. Thank you, as always, for your support of Moorestown Friends School. Here’s to another great year. Warmly,
Julia de la Torre Head of School
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School Committee Leadership Outgoing Clerk Barbara Rose Caldwell Reflects on Nearly Three Decades of Service and Commitment to MFS What inspires a person to dedicate time and energy to an institution over many years? As I end my service as Clerk of the Moorestown Friends School Committee, I am reflecting on that question. My involvement with the school dates to 1993 and includes teaching, administrative work, and seven years as a trustee including the last four as Clerk. I will continue my service as Assistant Clerk. I live in Media, PA, so this commitment has required hours of driving and innumerable crossings of the Betsy Ross Bridge! There are two keys that have sustained this long commitment. First, I have had the privilege to work with inspired and inspiring school leaders, exceptional teachers, dedicated support workers, and, of course, my fellow trustees. To list them all would exceed my assigned word count but I will single out a few. I have worked with three heads of school: Alan Craig, Larry Van Meter, and Julia de la Torre. The school’s on-going success as an institution that educates students imbued with a sense of what it means to live purposeful, compassionate, and ethical lives is rooted in their leadership. I have been fortunate to work with all three and to participate in the hiring of Julia de la Torre. The clerks who preceded me, Bill Guthe, Naoji Moriuchi, and Nick Smith, left me a legacy of competent and empathetic leadership. Finally, Ruth Chen and Steve Zakroff provided me as Clerk with the kind of support leaders dream of, especially during this last ZOOMcentric year. Second, moral clarity: Moorestown Friends School lives its mission. As a result, people like me are more than willing to spend our time and energy espousing and supporting that mission. I have worked on three strategic plans, each a reflection of the time when it was written but each dedicated to enhancing and extending the school’s commitment to educating the whole child/student. That commitment means that students’ experience at MFS is full of in-depth learning, service to others, and meaningful engagement with what it means, in Socrates’ words, to live “an examined life.” Our newest strategic plan focuses on three areas: environmental stewardship, global connections, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. These strategic directions exemplify how deeply the school takes its responsibility to make visible Quaker principles and beliefs and to put those values and beliefs into action. I am leaving this role in the competent hands of Ivy Brown, whose connections to MFS precede mine. Ivy, who is the first nonQuaker clerk of the School Committee, is an example of the universality of Quakerism. (In 2011, the School Committee amended its bylaws to provide that either the Clerk or the Assistant Clerk must be a member of the Religious Society of Friends; previously the Clerk was required to be a Quaker.) You don’t have to be a member of the Society of Friends to resonate with the foundational Quaker premises of the Inner Light and continuing revelation. Available to all who are open to them, these principles teach us that every person can seek guidance within and can be open to new ideas and leadings. Ivy will ensure that MFS remains dedicated to its Quaker roots. I am grateful to this wonderful community and look forward to my continuing involvement on the School Committee.
Barbara Rose Caldwell
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School Committee Leadership New School Committee Clerk Ivy Brown ’89 Brings Lifelong MFS Experience to Leadership Role My Moorestown Friends School journey dates back to being a kindergartener here in 1976. And now, 45 years later, it all comes full circle as I have the honor of taking on the role of School Committee Clerk. Dedication to MFS has been a constant in my life. To some degree, I never left after graduating. I’ve been our Class of ’89 representative working to keep alumni connected. For the last 14 years, I’ve been an MFS parent with our two children starting here in Preschool. All along, with my husband, Micah Buchdahl, we have participated in financially supporting MFS, consistently contributing to the Annual Fund and other fundraising projects. I worked on the Strategic Plan in 2011 and joined the School Committee in 2016. I co-clerked the most School Committee Clerk Ivy Brown ’89 (right) pictured with recent Strategic Planning Process, and have served the last two (l to r): son Ben Buchdahl ’26, husband Micah Buchdahl, and years as Assistant Clerk of the School Committee. daughter Lily Buchdahl ’22. My experiences at MFS as a student and parent have shaped me as a learner, listener, leader, mentor, and contributor. This esteemed institution, with its dedicated faculty and staff, nurtured within me a joy of learning and fostered my curiosity across many disciplines of study. It provided a foundation, along with my parents’ teaching and support, to make me the person I am today. The tenets of The Religious Society of Friends are congruent with my own spiritual beliefs and values – remaining as relevant today as they were back in the 17th century when Quakerism was founded by George Fox. And, perhaps now more than ever, these principles connect with so many of us in providing our children with the support that they need to go forth into the world. I have spent the last four years working closely with fellow trustees to support and shape the forward-looking strategies that will ensure the longevity and relevancy of MFS. Working closely with our Head of School, Julia de la Torre, has been a remarkable experience. We are so lucky to have her here. Who better to have led us through the challenges of the pandemic than Julia? I have seen, heard, and felt Julia’s perspectives on education, her commitment to fostering a greater focus on student well-being, and her empathetic and passionate vision for what our students, faculty, staff, and administrators can experience in our school’s next chapter. I look forward to continuing to partner with trustees in supporting Julia and her leadership team as they implement initiatives that deliver upon the core areas of focus coming out of the 2021 Strategic Plan. The members of the MFS community are supportive of one another. Our faculty, staff, and administrators are here because they believe in the mission of the School. They want to contribute to an educational environment where our children are guided to become insatiable learners and active contributors to our communities through service and leadership. MFS is truly a special place – our faculty engage with us as parents and guardians. They know our kids, offering them opportunities to grow and learn. They support the intellectual and spiritual journeys of the students, and inspire them to be better people. They help to personify the Quaker principle of ‘letting one’s life speak.’ I would like to especially thank Barbara Caldwell, outgoing Clerk of the School Committee, for her counsel, friendship, camaraderie, and kindness over the past few years. I look forward to continuing to work with her in this coming year. Micah and I are so grateful to be able to provide Lily ’22 and Ben ‘26 with the invaluable foundation of MFS to shepherd their emotional and intellectual growth as well as their social-action orientation. I look forward to seeing you on campus soon. Please feel free to reach out and connect with me at any time.
Ivy Brown
Ivy Brown is the Global Brand lead with DXC Technology. Formerly, she was Senior Vice President, Head of Brand, Social Impact and Diversity Marketing at TD Bank, and prior to that she was Vice President - Brand Marketing, Creative Advertising and Media with TIAA. She worked for 18 years at Johnson & Johnson with her final position there as Senior Marketing Director, Global Brand Management, ACUVUE Brand. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Washington University in St. Louis, and an M.B.A. in marketing/ marketing management from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She and her family reside in Moorestown.
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September 17
Notes from Pages Lane This section of Among Friends takes its name from Pages Lane, the road that bisected the Moorestown Friends School campus prior to the construction of Stokes Hall in 1986. A Clubs Fair gave Upper School students the opportunity to learn about the more than 40 clubs they can join this year.
September 21
September 17
Many teachers brought students to the campus Peace Pole and shared information about The Peace Pole Project on the International Day of Peace.
September 14 Grade 7 Quest students worked in small groups to take on the Marshmallow Challenge which tested their engineering skills.
June 8
Grade 12 Peer Leaders hosted and coordinated Outdoor Freshman Fun Day, featuring team-building activities, games, and fun. Peer leaders will meet with ninth graders throughout the year to help them acclimate to the Upper School. 6
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Jordan Grabelle ’22 (pictured with Head of School Julia de la Torre) was selected as the 2020 recipient of the G2 Overachievers Student Grant. Every year Pilot Pen and actress, singer, and film producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas present the award to one exceptional young scholar (aged 13 to 19) who is making a difference in the lives of others outside the classroom, with a grant of $12,500 to further their education and support their initiative and $2,500 to support their school. Jordan is the founder and executive director of a nonprofit called Love Letters for Literacy (LLL). LLL equips families in need with handmade literacy packets to make teaching the letters of the alphabet easy and fun.
Fall 2021
May 27 & 28
Lower Schoolers were able to enjoy a modified version of outdoor Fun Day - always a favorite!
May 10
Middle School Spirit Week involved a number of grade and divisional bonding activities. The student body selected theme days, like the pictured “Minions” from “Favorite Character Day,” and created challenges and artistic activities to enjoy with peers.
May 20
The Middle School musical cast performed Cinderella made virtually available to the entire school community during the weekend of May 21-23.
May 17
Sixth Grade Science Teacher Matt Lubicky and his students created an on-campus scale model of the solar system that provided great perspective about the distance of the planets from each other and from the sun. Lower School classes enjoyed visiting the scale model on the athletic fields.
Fall 2021
March 16
The Foxy Jukebox, the Upper School a cappella group, performed the song “Titanium” in the Varsity Vocals International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) Mid-Atlantic region semifinals.
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Fox Tracks 1 The Golf team captured their second consecutive Friends Schools League championship on May 11 at White Manor Country Club (no competition was held in 2020 due to COVID-19). The Foxes tallied a total score of 363 to win by 12 strokes. They followed that performance with a runner-up finish in the NJSIAA Non-Public B South tournament. Pictured are: Hannah Puc ’24, Kian Canelas ’21, Skye Mada ’22, and Alex Kwak ’23, and Coach Joe O’Hara. 2 The Athletics Department recognized ten members of the Class of 2021 who will continue their athletic careers in college with a signing ceremony on May 4. Not pictured is Allison Fenska, who was recognized at a ceremony on June 7.
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The student-athletes are: Madison Bouggess – Vassar College (soccer) Annabelle Crescenzo – Stevens Institute of Technology (fencing) Mitchell Desman – Salisbury University (tennis) Allison Fenska – The Ohio State University (swimming) Madalena Hughes – The Ohio State University (rowing) Christina Levins – University of Richmond (swimming) Isabella McCollister – Ithaca College (field hockey) Michael Paznokas – Arcadia University (soccer) Lauren Phillips – Johns Hopkins University (track and field) Evan Schlotterbeck – Muhlenberg College (soccer) 3 The 2020-21 Herm Magee award recipients were: Madison Bouggess ’21 (soccer/basketball/lacrosse), Allison Fenska ’21 (swimming), and Evan Schlotterbeck ’21 (soccer). The Magee award is presented to male and female athletes for outstanding athletic achievement, leadership, and sportsmanship contributions to MFS athletics during the school year. 4 Colin Cooper ’22 (front in photo), who rows for Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA)/Mercer, won the MidAtlantic Youth Championship in the Youth Men’s Pairs on May 9 at Mercer Lake in West Windsor. Colin rowed stroke position to help his boat to a first-place finish by over nine seconds. Over 45 clubs from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut competed in the championships this year.
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Fall 2021
5 The Middle School Baseball team benefitted from a handful of female student-athletes who gained attention beyond MFS. The team of 18 students consisted of 13 boys and 5 girls. Pictured from left to right are: Idanitzy Ramos ’26, Anaiyah Jones ’25, Jenavi Martinez ’25, Chloe Brame-Smalls ’25, and Charlotte Nesevich ’25. According to Coach (and History Teacher) Jake Greenberg, a parent from an opposing team reached out to him to commend him and the school for including girls on the roster. He also linked Mr. Greenberg with Justine Siegal (pictured with the players) who is the founder of Baseball for All, a national league for girls who play baseball. She happened to be visiting the area and attended the team’s May 7 game. She took a photo with the girls and provided some encouraging words. A few of the female players expressed interest in playing in future tournaments through Baseball for All. Charlotte Nesevich, also a high-level youth softball player, has become a member of the Boston Slammers girls baseball team and participated in a tournament this summer in Aberdeen, MD for the Slammers.
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“It was an enjoyable season for our entire team,” said Mr. Greenberg. “We were very competitive, finishing with a 4-4 record, and had great chemistry. A number of girls provided some highlight moments. I hope they continue to pursue their interest in our national pastime!”
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6 Athletic Director Danielle Dayton was recently recognized as a Certified Master Athletic Administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). She is now a member of a very elite group of interscholastic athletic administrators nationwide to attain this level of professional certification which includes a thorough evaluation of the candidate’s educational background, experience, NIAAA Leadership Courses, and professional contributions. It culminates with a practical written or oral presentation project. 7 Girls’ Basketball Coach Mike Brunswick was belatedly presented (due to the pandemic) with the 2019-20 Al Carino Girls Basketball Club of South Jersey Coach of the Year Award on May 10 by Carino Club President Terry Durkin. The 2019-20 season saw the Foxes finish 21-6 and captured the prestigious South Jersey Invitational Basketball Tournament. Soccer Player Named Scholar All-American In July Evan Schlotterbeck ‘21 was one of 36 U.S. boys’ soccer players in the U.S. to be named a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American. He is the second player in program history, and second in six years (David Howarth ‘15) to be recognized. The prestigious honor is based upon high school soccer excellence, community service, and maintaining a GPA of at least a 3.75 or higher.
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Lacrosse Standout Reaches 100-Goal Mark Madison Bouggess ’21 emphatically reached the 100-goal plateau for her lacrosse career on April 28 with a seven-goal performance in a victory over Maple Shade.
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New Administrator/New Trustee Damian Long
Director of College Counseling Damian Long began as Director of College Counseling on July 1. He follows Keith Vassall who was appointed Director of Student Support Services at John Burroughs School in St. Louis, MO. Damian comes to MFS with extensive experience in college counseling and independent schools, most recently serving as the Associate Director of College Counseling and Class of 2021 Dean at The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA. Prior to Shipley, he served as the Associate Director of College Counseling at The Hun School of Princeton. He also worked as a college guidance counselor at his alma mater, St. Augustine Prep in Richland, and as a Research Assistant at Villanova University, where he earned both his B.A. in human services and M.S. in counseling. A South Jersey native, Damian previously spent time on the MFS campus as a participant in the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools Leadership Institute in 2015-16, hosted by MFS. “As a lifetime resident of South Jersey, I am quite familiar with the strong reputation and legacy of Moorestown Friends as an institution,” said Damian. “I can vividly recall the lasting impression left by students walking together along McShap Path, the unity of Friends in meeting, and my experience connecting with colleagues at the Starbucks just across from campus.”
Braheim Knight ’92 Appointed to School Committee
Braheim Knight ’92 was recently appointed to the Moorestown Friends School Committee. He is the father of Queen ’31 (third grade). Braheim is the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer for the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Previously, he was a Pharmacy Business Coach for AmerisourceBergen. Braheim has 20+ years of experience in retail sales and the retail pharmacy environment, including as a pharmacy manager. He has a bachelor of applied science degree in psychology from Morehouse College and an M.B.A. from the University of Scranton in health care management. Braheim is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree from Northeastern University in Organizational Leadership. Furthermore, Braheim has nearly completed a four-class e-certificate on Diversity and Inclusion through Cornell University. His interest in diversity and inclusion work was put into action at AmerisourceBergen with efforts to increase the number of Black pharmacists. These initiatives included the development of partnerships with Black colleges, foundations, and pharmacies. Braheim attended the Parent Think Tank, which was one of the Strategic Plan kickoff events in September 2019. He joined the Alumni Association Executive Committee in 2019-20; served as Leadership Circle Volunteer in 2019-20, and joined the Development Committee in Spring 2020. He was also recruited to serve as Parent Council Lower School Diversity Committee Representative, which is a new group led by MFS Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Dorothy López that first met in March 2021 to plan initiatives to engage parents in DEI work.
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Fall 2021
Celebrating the Life of Robert L. Smith ’42 Robert L. Smith ’42, Headmaster at Sidwell Friends School from 1965 to 1978 and author of A Quaker Book of Wisdom: Life Lessons in Simplicity, Service, and Common Sense (published in 1998), died on May 24 at his home in Bethesda, MD. The MFS Alumni Association honored him in 2012 with the Alice Stokes Paul Alumni Merit Award. Below is a passage shared with attendees at a memorial Meeting for Worship hosted by Sidwell Friends School on June 1. Letting His Life Speak Robert (Bob) Smith lived a remarkable life as a camper, athlete, soldier, relief worker, husband, father, dean, school head, trustee, author, and leader in secondary education. Raised in Moorestown, NJ, both family and Quakerism were central to Bob’s life from the moment he was born. As a boy he enjoyed Sunday dinners and drives with his grandfather, and summers camping and canoeing at Flying Moose Lodge, ME. After graduating from Moorestown Friends School, he attended Harvard for two years before serving in the Army for three years. From 1943 to 1946, he trained and fought across Europe and in the Battle of the Bulge - motivated to overpower the ‘ocean of darkness,’ as he later wrote in his book, A Quaker Book of Wisdom. After the war, Bob spent the next several years completing his undergraduate education and volunteering with the American Friends Service Committee in the U.S., France and Mexico. It was while serving at a Quaker relief camp in rural Mexico that he met Eliza, who shared Bob’s passion for service and social justice. In 1948, they were married under a Giant Sequoia tree in the Muir Woods. They continued to study and serve together in the Bay Area before moving to New York City, where Bob received his Master’s in English Photo courtesy of Sidwell Friends School Literature and later became Associate Professor and Dean at Columbia University. He and Eliza raised their three children, Susan, Katie, and Geoff, in Manhattan, regularly bringing them to the University’s campus and to museums across the City. For his children and eight grandchildren, Bob personified principles of family, service, love, and justice - and made his passion for education visible to all through his work. In 1965 the Smiths moved to Washington, where Bob became headmaster of Sidwell Friends School on the condition that the Board would agree to integrate the school. For 13 years, he learned the names of his 1,000 or so students and their parents, knew their family stories, and built traditions and programs that put the school’s values into action. Bob was convinced that education was the path to peace, and he made it his life’s work. One of the fruits of aging is the realization that our greatest possession is what we know about life. We can do no better than to pass along our most precious possessions to those most precious to us... Here are some of the life lessons that I wish someone had shared with me when I was growing up. 1. Seize the present. 2. Love yourself, whatever faults you have, and love the world, however bad it is. 3. Stop talking and listen to what you really know. 4. Play soccer! (Or whatever team sport you love). 5. Accept the fact that our lives are only partly in our own hands. 6. Believe in the perfectibility of yourself and society. 7. Make your love visible in the world through your work. 8. Seek justice in the world, but not in your own life. 9. Look for the light of God in every person. 10. Let your life speak. — Robert L. Smith A Quaker Book of Wisdom (1998)
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Alumni Association Awards
Alice Paul Merit Award: Mark Mitchell ’86 honored for lifelong commitment to providing access to independent schools for all students 2021 Alice Paul Merit Award recipient Mark Mitchell ’86 has made a lifelong commitment to keeping the doors of educational access and opportunity open to all students. He was presented with the award virtually by Head of School Julia de la Torre at the Alumni Weekend Kickoff and Awards Presentation on May 7. Mark came to MFS in ninth grade from Morgan Village Middle School in Camden, NJ as a Camden Scholar under the aegis of A Better Chance (ABC). He was a four-year member of Student Council, competed in track and played basketball, and was a National Merit Commended Scholar. He attended Northwestern University, earning a B.S. in communications. His career path started out in financial aid and student services, and he has become a thought leader in that field. Today he serves as the Vice President of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and also as Vice President of the Enrollment Management Association. Through Mark’s work at NAIS, he has had a chance to shape the conversation around access to education. He has authored dozens of articles, book chapters and blogs and is a frequent presenter at local, state, regional, national and international conferences. Topics he is expert on include tuition pricing, affordability, demographic and income trends, and school financial aid policy and practices.
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Mark describes himself as passionate about “challenging schools to affirm the value of economic diversity in their school communities, keeping themselves accessible to families whose children only lack the financial resources to achieve their greatest potential.” He built his expertise starting out as an Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Northwestern, then moved on to direct New Student Financial Aid at Lake Forest College. Next, he worked with the Access Group, Inc. of Wilmington DE, focusing on financing graduate student education. While in Delaware, he served on the Board of Delaware Futures, which provided tutoring, mentoring, and college guidance for low-income at-risk youth. Then, over 20 years ago, he joined NAIS. Mark has also made a point of giving back to MFS. He served on the School Committee from 2005 to 2014, and has always been gracious about being a sounding board for the school about its financial aid and admissions strategies. He spoke at the Convocation celebrating the school’s 225th anniversary in September 2010. He served on the 2011-12 Strategic Planning Oversight Committee. He has been a member of the Camden Scholars Program Ad Hoc Committee. A loyal and generous donor, Mark has been a lead contributor to the Annual Fund, the Van Meter Endowment for the Camden Scholars Program, and the Great Classrooms for Great Kids campaign. Mark says that without MFS, he would not be doing what he does today. In the workshops and talks he gives to school leaders, he emphasizes that it is a joy to help them do for students and families what MFS did for him and his family. Reflected Mark: “Based on my personal experiences at MFS, I know first-hand the transformative power and value of access to high-quality education. Helping schools make that transformation happen for others keeps my work authentic, true, and rewarding. Moorestown Friends also taught me that there is that of God in everyone. This belief has undoubtedly influenced my professional life and interests. I strive to honor the Light in others by providing opportunities for people to grow and learn how to be better, whether it’s a financial aid director seeking new skills or a parent seeking the right school for her child.”
Fall 2021
Alumni Association Awards
Service Award: Meridee Duddleston recognized for long arc of volunteer leadership Alumni parent and former Trustee Meridee Duddleston was presented with the Alumni Association’s Service Award virtually by former Head of School Larry Van Meter ’68. “The mother of an alumna, Meridee thoughtfully and generously contributed advice, hours of meeting time, as well as financial support, over a long arc of volunteer leadership at MFS,” said Larry. “She is a great example of an MFS parent who has continued to have a deep and meaningful connection with the school.” Meridee first became involved at MFS when her daughter, Melissa “Missy” Waxman ’03, enrolled in fourth grade in 1994. Melissa greatly enjoyed her science courses and, eventually, her opportunities as an Upper School athlete. A life-long, year-round competitive swimmer, she was a Cross Country team captain,
Girls’ Swimming team captain, and also an accomplished rower, receiving medals in national competitions. As a senior, Melissa won the Herm Magee Award, presented for outstanding athletic achievement, leadership, and sportsmanship. While Melissa was at MFS, Meridee served as a class parent, and was asked to join the Parent Council Executive Committee as an Upper School Division Coordinator. As Melissa’s high school career was wrapping up, Meridee started seeking new challenges. A lawyer by trade, in 2003, she began volunteering at radio station WRTI-FM. That evolved into an 18-year career there, as an award-winning arts reporter and morning news anchor. After Melissa’s graduation, Meridee remained involved in MFS. In the winter of 2004, she served on the Vision & Program Task Group. In 2005, Meridee joined the School Committee, where she served, until 2014. She served on the Development Committee, the Property Disposition Committee, and the Governance Committee. As a trustee, she was also involved in the development of the 2011 Strategic Plan, and worked on the Quaker Dimension task group. In 2016, she began serving on the Ad Hoc Risk Assessment Committee, a subcommittee of the board that provides advice to the Head. She currently is a member of the Head’s Council, an advisory group that works closely with Head of School Julia de la Torre. Meridee is able to use her legal experience and analytical skills, her finely-honed ability to ask questions from her years as a radio journalist, her experience as an MFS parent, and her warm and easy-going personality and wry sense of humor, to be a truly valuable member of every group with whom she’s served at MFS. Meridee and her husband, cardiologist Harvey Waxman, have also been generous Annual Fund donors and lead contributors to a number of important MFS initiatives, such as Campaign 2000 for the Dining Hall; the Campaign for Arts, Athletics & Endowment; the Great Classrooms for Great Kids Campaign; the Camden Scholars Endowment; and the Emergency Financial Aid Fund. Meridee’s daughter, Melissa Waxman Fleischer, is now an operating room nurse at New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery.
Call for 2022 Alumni Awards Nominations
The MFS Alumni Association warmly welcomes nominations for the Association’s annual awards slate. If you would like to nominate a fellow alum, or in the case of the Service Award, an alum, alumni parent, or teacher, the process is easy. You can find an online nomination form on the MFS website under the Alumni tab at the top of the landing page. Criteria for the awards and lists of past recipients can also be found there. You also may contact Associate Director of Development Beth Stouffer, at bstouffer@mfriends.org and she will assist you. The Awards Program was established in 2000, when the first Service Award was conferred on the late teacher and coach Floss Brudon. Award nominations are considered by a representative national committee clerked by MFS Trustee and Alumni Association Executive Committee member Haley Coles Driscoll ’86. Traditionally, the awards have been presented at the Dinner Among Friends, which opens Alumni Weekend in May. In addition to the Service Award, the Alice Paul Award of Merit is given for lifetime achievement, and the Young Alumni Award recognizes outstanding alums on or before their 15th MFS reunion.
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Alumni Association Awards
Young Alumni Award: Ryan Flynn, M.D., Ph.D. ’06 honored for insight and leadership to bridge the fields of RNA biology and stem cell research The 2021 Young Alumni Award was presented virtually by former Science Department Chair Dr. Barbara Kreider to Ryan Flynn ’06, Assistant Professor at the Boston Children’s Hospital in the Stem Cell Program and in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University. Ryan grew up in a medical tradition. He is the son of retired surgical oncologist Anne Rosenberg M.D. ’74, and the grandson of two outstanding medical doctors. He was sure he wanted to be a physician, until he got to medical school. There, he discovered that his true passion was research. He recently became the newest Principal Investigator in the Stem Cell Program and the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Boston Children’s Hospital, as well as serving in his position at Harvard University and the Pediatrics Department at Harvard Medical School. In January, Ryan opened the Flynn Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital in the Stem Cell Program, where his team explores how biopolymers like RNA and glycans work together to control cellular processes in the context of human disease. Ryan completed his M.D. and Ph.D. in cancer biology in The Medical Science Training Program at Stanford University, where he was mentored by Howard Chang and supported by the National Institutes of Health. He received his B.S. in biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, under the mentorship
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of Phil Sharp, a Nobel Laureate and leader in the RNA field. Ryan was recently awarded the Career Award for Medical Scientists from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Besides his strong focus on research, he is committed to mentoring and training young scientists. Outside the lab his hobbies are learning about and investing in transformative technologies in space, energy, and biotechnology. Director of the Boston Children’s Hospital Stem Cell Program Dr. Len Zon said, “The Program is very excited to have Ryan as part of our community. Ryan brings amazing scientific insights, energy, and enthusiasm to bridge the fields of RNA biology and stem cell research.” An original at MFS, Ryan’s interest in math and science was evident from an early age. He accelerated in both subjects as much as he was able, consuming every available math and science course, in addition to studying Latin outside of school on his own time. As an Upper Schooler, he was a finalist in the Siemens Westinghouse Science Competition as well as a semifinalist in the Young Epidemiologist Competition. Ryan was a co-author of a published and peer-reviewed medical journal article before he graduated from MFS. As a senior he received the National Association of Biology Teachers Award and the American Chemical Society Award. He also excelled at crew, cross country, and pottery. As his academic career continued, he received publication in numerous prestigious journals including Science while he was still at MIT, and Nature while he was at Stanford. At Stanford he was a Damon Runyan postdoctoral fellow in Carolyn Bertozzi’s group in the Department of Chemistry (2017). He also received the Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (2016). At MIT, he was the recipient of the Salvador E. Luria Prize, for excellent scholarship and research of publication quality (2010), as well as the Merck Prize, for outstanding research and academic performance in biophysical/informatics science (2009). In his college recommendations, MFS science and math teachers wrote about his personal qualities, beyond his obvious academic talent, such as his determination, drive, and grit. Those attributes have served Ryan well as he launched a very promising career in medical science, which has potential to unlock more of the basic biology of processes such as stem cells, cancer, and regeneration.
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Exploring the Tech Sector....... More and more Moorestown Friends School alumni are carving out careers in the tech sector, an area of endeavor that is continuously posing new ethical challenges. “We hope that the way we encourage students to be attentive to their moral compasses throughout their years at MFS will help them navigate the amazing world of technology,” said Associate Head of School and Academic Dean Meredith Godley. “They will face unimaginable questions, relating to everything from cybersecurity to privacy to artificial intelligence and beyond.” Macalester College Professor Diane Michelfelder ’71 is a world-renowned pioneer in the intersection of modern technology and ethics. A special focus of her work is on ethical issues related to Internet-embedded design. A past president of the Society for Philosophy and Technology, she is an alumna of Bryn Mawr College with a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin. We asked Dr. Michelfelder to reflect on the questions that face this generation as they take leadership in a rapidly transforming landscape, and how Quaker values might be brought to bear on digital ethics. Following her piece, enjoy reading profiles of five alumni in the heart of the tech sector. I’ve taught Digital Ethics under different names and with different content for over three decades now; it never grows old because there is always something new to learn and new technologies to think about with an eye to their ethical impacts. When I first started teaching this course while a member of the philosophy department at Cal Poly, there were only a handful of university courses on the topic. The fact that I was teaching a course in the ethics of the Internet prompted one website to dub me as a “CyberEthics pioneer.” Back then, the questions my students and I talked about largely had to do with the impact of the Internet on issues connected to U.S. rights: freedom of expression, privacy, intellectual property, etc. The course assumed an Internet user was sitting at a desk looking into a monitor. If we fast-forward to 2021, we find that the Internet user has been transformed into a mobile-device connected subject, and that the Digital Ethics syllabus is bursting with an abundance of new issues to consider and debate: dataveillance; algorithmic transparency, fairness and justice; the responsibilities of social media companies with regard to platform content moderation; and ethical issues involving wearable computers, robotics, self-driving cars, and “smart” cities. These topics reflect a much different world from the previous world in which the idioms of “cyberspace” and “the new frontier” were common parlance. In the contemporary digital world, often even the experts don’t always know how things work, and our attention is tempted to stop at the exciting
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Diane Michelfelder ’71 St. Paul, MN
• Professor of Philosophy, Macalester College • Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin • A.B., Bryn Mawr College
services Internet-enabled digital devices provide us (think Siri or Fitbit), rather than wondering what is going on behind the scenes and how many actors are gathering information about us. Right now, there is a huge need for tech industry workers who can advocate for the protection of human rights in this environment and push for changes so that the vectors of digital development shift more toward uplifting our collective flourishing and well-being. Such work, aimed beyond Google’s unofficial motto “do no evil” to genuinely trying in the Quakerinspired way to improve our life in common with others so that we all could flourish, could be done in a variety of roles: machine learning engineer, design ethicist, data scientist; AI (artificial intelligence) ethics researcher, chief ethics officer, and the like. When I advise my students double-majoring in philosophy and computer science, I stress how they are preparing themselves well for future employment. More and more tech companies are recognizing for instance that the algorithms they develop are not value-neutral but can contain direct or proxy biases that lead to unjust outcomes for members of underrepresented groups. They are recognizing that it can be more efficient to deliberately design user-centered values into products at the development stage rather than inventing new products for invention’s sake alone and releasing them quickly onto the market even if there isn’t a specific need for them (think flying taxis, for example). They are recognizing that users might value the privacy of their personal information higher than they (the companies) anticipated. Of course, when some companies tout their interests in ethics it is more for the sake of show than of substance. But “ethics washing” may be on the wane as public awareness of and pushback against it grows. Just to take one example, until this year, a significant part of an applicant’s score when interviewed by a business using HireVue
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came from analyzing their “facial action units.” Faced with increasing criticism that this feature could lead to biased hiring outcomes, it was suddenly dropped. Finally, when I think of how Quaker values are supportive of digital ethics, there is also a place for the Quaker value of simplicity in engineering design. Within the process of engineering, validation - Is this the right solution to a problem?
- comes before verification - Is the solution designed in the right way? One of the first factors to be considered in validation is not whether a particular potential engineered solution is preferable to other possible engineered solutions, but whether the problem requires an engineered solution in the first place. It might require something much less complex and which would be more supportive of equality, also a key value of a Quaker education.
“I would like to think there is an element of Quaker values applied to my management style and I owe that to my MFS education.” day life, when working with teams of people from different parts of the globe, what is “right” may look and sound different depending on where you’re from. This involves a continuous dialogue to understand and resolve conflicts.
Gabe Hege ’12 Pacifica, CA
• Senior Software Engineer at Apple • B.S. and M.Eng. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Gabe’s work in his own words... I currently am technical lead for three development teams building an internal software product for Apple Cloud Services. The team’s disciplines are Front End, Data Services, and Operations. Together they provide core functionality that empower Apple’s developers to build great new features for Apple services. My day-to-day work involves a lot of context switching and solving problems between various domains. I work with software architects and product designers to craft new features for the future of the product. Some days, I jump in to solve problems for any of the Front End, Data Services, or Operations teams as necessary. The most exciting part of the work is interacting with different people with a wide range of skills and backgrounds solving difficult technical problems which energizes me every day. Apple is committed to doing the right thing. The challenge can be knowing what’s right and when to act. In my day-to-
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Advice to recent grads looking to enter the tech industry... The landscape changes rapidly which means tools can change rapidly with it. Especially in the tech industry, focus on the fundamentals in your field. Even when the tools change, the fundamentals do not change. Try not to get bogged down in what’s new for newness sake, instead look for where technology is fundamentally going. That has helped to keep me grounded. Along with that, I like to remind recent graduates that it’s okay to not know exactly what you want to do. Getting exposure to different technical areas and even learning what you do not enjoy is invaluable. Valuable skills and competencies in your role... Critical thinking and “learning how to learn,” being able to boil down abstract questions into simpler problems that can be solved systematically. New technologies come and go, and having to adopt them for a project only to drop it for a new technology has become the norm. Once I came to terms with that reality, work life became a lot easier. Reflecting on MFS... Moorestown Friends School has provided me with the tools to manage a dynamic team of engineers and communicate with various levels of management. Most importantly, MFS taught me effective conflict resolution. I would like to think there is an element of Quaker values applied to my management style and I owe that to my MFS education. The most influential moments in my technical development happened through MFS Robotics. Not only did it provide me time to practice coding, and solving problems under time constraints, I also learned how to effectively collaborate on a technical team. Little did I know how well Robotics would prepare me for the future.
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“The community at MFS showed me how to hold myself accountable... As I continue to learn and work in the tech space, accountability is what ties me to my core mission of creating a more equitable, accessible world.”
Lydia Smith ’09 San Francisco, CA
• Project Manager, Product Data Operations at Facebook • Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from University of California, Berkeley • B.S. in Engineering Science, Vanderbilt University
Lydia’s work in her own words... As part of the data operations team, I collect, interpret, and analyze large sets of data to surface actionable insights that help drive product development at Facebook. My job begins by setting up data pipelines for which I often partner with external vendors. Once these pipelines are well-established and I am able to collect data, I use analytics (statistics, modeling, programming) to identify any meaningful trends or patterns. If I notice a potential problem, I investigate it further by searching for possible causes, overall impact, and ultimately a solution. When daily operations are running smoothly, I can shift focus to my team’s long-term initiatives which are optimization and automation. The most exciting part of my work is being a consumer of the products that I work on. I joined Facebook as an MFS student at the behest of a friend, and before long I was connecting with cousins on the other side of the country and old neighbors. And today, to see how Instagram has evolved into an amazing platform where content creators can demonstrate their artistry and build businesses is really rewarding. I also like how current/real-time my work is. On a regular day, I come into work, grab coffee, and then scour the news for anything that could affect my work for that day: elections, international summits, viral memes…if it is breaking news there’s a good chance it will come up at work. Advice to recent grads looking to enter the tech industry... Network in a way that’s comfortable for you. As an introvert, I used to find networking terrifying, but after spending time
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in the Bay Area I realized it can be done in a very fun, organic manner. My first job came as a referral from a classmate at Berkeley with whom I would work on homework and talk about movies. And once I joined, I met more people at the company by playing ping pong (poorly). The second tip would be to continue polishing your skills while taking an interest in new ones. Tech is a fast-moving industry, with some tools and solutions often proving to be ephemeral. By reading articles/digests or attending a seminar, you can stay informed on what’s happening in your field. Valuable skills and competencies in your role... The key competency that has served me well is being able to effectively communicate my ideas/recommendations. After I complete my analyses, I often present my findings to a larger audience using data visualization software. To be able to convey in seconds, a result that may have taken you hours to reach is an asset that will allow you to have greater influence and impact. Also, living in the Bay Area has served me immensely in my career thus far. Silicon Valley is the breeding ground for disruptive innovation and technology, and to have easy access to the companies at the forefront of this effort has been invaluable. Reflecting on MFS... The rigorous curriculum at MFS instilled in me the confidence to pursue a career in STEM. After taking Calculus and Physics II, with (former Upper School Science Teacher) Mr. Tim Clarke, I felt capable, and that belief made all my future endeavors seem scalable. The community at MFS also showed me how to hold myself accountable. I believe technology can improve our lives, but like most things it must be done responsibly. Working with people from all over the world has exposed me to many different viewpoints and perspectives. As I continue to learn and work in the tech space, accountability is what ties me to my core mission of creating a more equitable, accessible world. One of my fondest memories of MFS was the knitting class I took with (former Arts Department Teacher) Mrs. (Margaret) Van Meter. A group of us would sit in her office listening to Jack Johnson, chatting, and creating works of arts with our hands. I felt weightless in those moments, and it really taught me the importance of creating tranquil spaces for myself which has been a blessing during quarantine. I also loved spending time with (former Upper School English Teacher) Mr. (Paul) Shallers who had an ethereal reading voice and would loan me his personal books.
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“I am extremely grateful to MFS for providing me with the knowledge I need to be an ethical engineer.”
Karan Hiremath ’12 Los Angeles, CA
• Data Engineer, Insights Team at EasyPost • B.S in Engineering and B.S. in Economics, University of Pennsylvania Karan’s work in his own words... I am responsible for designing and maintaining a wide variety of data pipelines which are responsible for various financial reporting needs at EasyPost. These then input into pipelines take the form of internal aggregate reports which run every hour that extract an average of 1.5M transactions a day to near real-time data pipelines which handle transporting millions of records a day. These are the input into business intelligence tools such as Tableau and various in-house dashboarding and experimentation tools. Additionally, we have a number of pipelines running on a weekly or monthly cadence that are used to handle the process of invoicing and paying out millions of dollars to various customers and partners based on margin share, marketing incentive, or platform partner agreements. As our business has evolved and we develop new business models, my role has also evolved to support the needs of these new products as we validate their effectiveness in the market and build out the initial implementations within our infrastructure. The most exciting part of my work is being able to work with an increasingly larger and more robust dataset which has the potential to provide extremely valuable insight into an area of the market which is dynamically changing in very fascinating ways. Especially since the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen an almost meteoric rise in the importance of the products and services which our customers and carrier integrations provide. From prescriptions being delivered to people’s doors from pharmacies to delivering critical personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals and other health centers, have EasyPost and our data has been working to help make sure that even in these ever-changing times, the ability to get the goods and services which people need is adapting to the “new normal.”
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Advice to recent grads looking to enter the tech industry... Data and technology are everywhere in the modern business world so any recent graduates will be entering what is now an ever-evolving workplace. To best prepare themselves, I would recommend that any entrant into this rapidly changing environment become familiar with the process of evaluating and adopting new technologies and technical solutions. Every piece of the workforce has been transformed and will continue to see radical innovation thanks to the adoption of technology, from Sales, Finance, Marketing, and HR in addition to the traditionally technology focused roles such as IT, R&D, and Product Development. Learning the different aspects of what makes a particular technology a better fit for solving a business need and being capable of adapting to the adoption of these new technologies will enable recent graduates to become powerful members of the workforce. For recent graduates pursuing roles in the tech industry that are more traditionally involved in technology development, I would highly recommend taking the opportunity to learn about the various non-technical aspects of business development. At the end of the day, the best technologies are designed to solve problems, whether for consumers or for businesses, and understanding what goes into taking a technical solution and actually getting that solution into the hands of the market is critical to being an effective member of a technical team. Technology is seldom developed in a vacuum. It’s important to understand the various challenges that may occur at various points in the technical life cycle. Valuable skills and competencies in your role… As a data engineer, the understanding of database systems and the tradeoffs between the various database solutions which exist in the market has been critical to my career thus far. It has been important for me to understand the basic differences between different implementations of database systems at their core and I have also found it very important to understand the numerous challenges involved in running massive highly available databases at scale. Additionally, a deep understanding of the different types of data models and how they serve different purposes for online applications vs. data analytics is crucial. More recently, understanding different types of transport layers of data has been critical to being able to handle the large amounts of data being transferred between various services in the modern microservice driven architecture. Reflecting on MFS... At Moorestown Friends I was fortunate enough to have the chance to be exposed to various types of problem solving both in the classroom and outside of the classroom. From
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class assignments which required out-of-the-box thinking and collaboration to clubs and competitions which provided me with the opportunity to apply what I learned in unique ways, I was constantly being challenged to expand my knowledge and learn more. I am especially grateful for the well-rounded approach every teacher took to their curriculum and I found that the goal was always to impart a love of learning in addition to the fundamental knowledge required to be successful. If there is one thing that has served me the most in my career it has been the focus on self-reflection and improvement that Moorestown Friends taught me to engage in on a daily basis. One of the most influential MFS experiences I had which has become more formative to my career has been my experiences learning the fundamentals of ethics and also engaging in extracurriculars like the Ethics Bowl. A topic of great discussion in the data industry recently has been the various ethical dilemmas which present themselves when dealing with personal information. From GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe to California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and other regulatory initiatives in the United States to the many public scandals regarding data privacy and data breaches, now more than ever it is critical to approach problems in this space with an ethical framework. The education I received from MFS has been extremely influential in how I approach these challenges every day and I am extremely grateful to MFS for providing me with the knowledge I need to be an ethical engineer.
Dan Zeiberg ’14 Boston, MA
• Computer Science Ph.D. Candidate, Northeastern University Khoury College of Computer Sciences • B.S.E. in Computer Science, University of Michigan
Dan’s research in his own words... My research focuses on the development of machine learning methods and their applications in bioinformatics. Currently I’m working on leveraging the machine learning methods I develop to predict whether genetic mutations will cause a disease. What I find most exciting about my research is
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“Through the courses covering ethical dilemmas and Quaker values that I took while at MFS, the school helped me develop a strong moral compass that I use to navigate critical decisions in my research and life.” knowing that the methods and tools I develop will one day have a positive impact on people’s health. Ethics play a major role in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. In high-impact applications, such as biology and medicine, it is important to ensure transparency and fairness in machine learning models. If a model is used to aid physicians in diagnosing diseases and recommending treatments, it is crucial for the doctor and patient to understand what led to the model making the given recommendation. By better understanding the decision-making process of their models, practitioners can more easily ensure that their models perform equally well on data from individuals of all groups. This emphasis on transparency and fairness has led Explainable AI to become a major research area in the field. Summarize your education at University of Michigan and what led you to pursue your Ph.D. I came into the University of Michigan knowing I wanted to study computer science but wasn’t sure on which area of the field I wanted to focus. Given the size of the college, the computer science department’s thorough course offering allowed me to develop a well-rounded education. My curiosity led me to enroll in an Introduction to Machine Learning course during my junior year. Interested in the course material and the professor’s area of research, I spent the summer working as a research assistant in the professor’s lab. That summer, I worked on developing a machine learning approach to predicting the onset of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. I found the research challenging at times but very rewarding. My time as a research assistant opened my eyes to the vast field of machine learning and inspired me to gain expertise in the field. What is your anticipated career path after completing your Ph.D.? After completing my Ph.D., I hope to leverage my machine learning expertise to develop tools that improve patient outcomes. Advice to recent grads looking to enter the tech industry... One piece of advice I would give to recent graduates interested in technology is to pursue passion projects. Given the countless educational resources available online, there are relatively few barriers to entry in computer science. Don’t wait to be taught what you need to know; this will help you learn to teach yourself, which is a critical skill in any career.
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Valuable skills and competencies in your role… Two traits I find indispensable in research are tenacity and independence. Research can be very challenging. I might fail nine times in a row, but solving a novel problem on the tenth attempt is incredibly rewarding. Research can also be quite independent at times. This independence necessitates the ability to work on my own for a week at a time, reading papers, understanding the concepts they present, and figuring out how to apply these concepts to the task at hand. Work isn’t always handed to me; I often need to come up with my own plan. Reflecting on MFS... Moorestown Friends helped me develop the creativity required to be a successful researcher. Through both my STEM and non-STEM courses, I learned to think critically and ask thoughtful questions. Through the courses covering ethical dilemmas and Quaker values that I took while at MFS, the school helped me develop a strong moral compass that I use to navigate critical decisions in my research and life. While at MFS, I participated in the Upper School Barbecue Club. This unique opportunity helped me realize my passion for cooking, which serves as a balance to my research.
“MFS set the foundation for my writing skills... Those core principles allowed me to make a smooth transition from high school to college to business writing.” them with advertisers, all while ensuring our listeners maintain a great streaming experience. This includes defining the product vision, writing research and technical requirements, analyzing testing outcomes, forecasting launch results, communicating with leadership and stakeholders, and more. The most exciting part of my work is customer research. My favorite days are when I observe and interview listeners, creators, and advertisers to understand what they want and need. Advice to recent grads looking to enter the tech industry... Build your network now. Start having chats with people who you think have interesting jobs. Once you identify your interests and where you want to go, you can tailor your future education to get you there. Plus, the relationships you make now could also turn into mentorships and connections in the future. Valuable skills and competencies in your role… Data analysis and stakeholder management are two of the most important skills I leverage in product. As a product manager (PM), you need to make many decisions per day for your teams and customers and data makes that decision making possible. Product managers depend on many stakeholders to get things done. Building strong relationships allows PMs to move and learn quickly. Plus, it makes work a lot more fun.
Louise Peterson ’11 Seattle, WA
• Senior Project Manager, Spotify • B.A. in Economics, Bucknell University
Louise’s work in her own words... As a product manager at Spotify, I work with engineering, design, and data science teams to test and launch new frontend features. My team specifically owns all features related to podcast monetization. We release opportunities for creators to be compensated for the content they produce by connecting
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Reflecting on MFS... MFS set the foundation for my writing skills. I still point back to structure lessons that I learned my junior year. Those core principles allowed me to make a smooth transition from high school to college to business writing. Also, many times when we’re launching something new, there may not be an obvious right answer in decision making since what we’re doing has never been done before. In these scenarios, we evaluate all possible options with a pro/con analysis - something I first did during an English class at MFS! After an initial analysis, we work with our legal teams and leadership to ensure we’re choosing the right path. Looking back at my time at MFS, I feel so fortunate to have tried SO many things outside of the classroom. I played music, three sports, took art class, participated in Science Olympiad and Model UN, volunteered…those opportunities don’t exist everywhere and I feel lucky to have had the chance to try it all. It set up my foundation for exploring new interests in adulthood.
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Moorestown Friends School 2020-21 Annual Report of Donors
Celebrating the Class of 2021
Members of the Class of 2021 are attending:
Arcadia University • Babson College • Boston College • Boston University • Carnegie Mellon University • Clemson University Cornell University (2) • Dickinson College • Drexel University • Emory University • Fordham University Franklin & Marshall College • Furman University • George Washington University • Gettysburg College • Haverford College Howard University • Indiana University (3) • Ithaca College • Johns Hopkins University • Lafayette College • Lehigh University Muhlenberg College • New Jersey Institute of Technology • Northeastern University • Pennsylvania State University (4) Pennsylvania State University-Altoona • Purdue University • Quinnipiac University • Rutgers University-Camden (3) Rutgers University-New Brunswick (3) • Salisbury University • Stevens Institute of Technology • Syracuse University (2) Temple University • Texas Christian University • The College of New Jersey (2) • The Ohio State University (2) The University of Arizona • Tufts University • Tulane University • University College London • University of California-Los Angeles University of Connecticut-Stamford (2) • University of Delaware • University of Evansville • University of Florida University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign • University of Massachusetts • University of Miami University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • University of North Carolina Wilmington • University of Pennsylvania (2) University of Pittsburgh (4) • University of Richmond • University of South Carolina-Columbia University of Southern California • University of Tampa • University of Washington • Vassar College • Villanova University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University • Washington University in St. Louis • Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Class Notes Photographs of alumni are now indicated with . If you see this symbol, a photo featuring a class member is either on the page or nearby!
1942
Betty McAllister Brown writes that “All is well here in Minnesota... I have just received the happy news from Seattle of the arrival of our sixth great-grandchild. Where have the 79 years gone since we received our diplomas from MFS in 1942? We are blessed with happy memories of particular classes and teachers we had over those years. After graduation it was off to college for some of us, but not all. Many of the boys were in some form of military service by Christmas of that year. To MFS - ’thanks for the memories.’ “
1946
Charlie Rose shared that he has given up driving (“no need for it”), and
remains President of the Princeton University Class of 1950. His family is far-flung and thriving. He reports that his oldest daughter, Beth, is a professor of international business in New Zealand. Daughter Chris is a Lutheran pastor in South Carolina whose daughter is working on a Ph.D. Daughter Meg just started a new job in California and has one son in graduate school at the University of Georgia and another in the Air Force in his second year of medical school, which Charlie notes is more enjoyable than his previous time in Mongolia.
1956
Saundra Griffith Nottingham shares that “It is amazing how great I feel entering my eighth decade - age 81. I look back at the wonderful educational opportunities I’ve had during this time - MFS is certainly a highlight. I am grateful for the beginning it afforded me and especially the friendships I’ve carried with me during the years...
I wish our new Head of School, Julia, blessings for many years to come at MFS. To my classmates, welcome and stop by any time.”
1957
From Atlanta, Martin Lehfeldt emailed that “There’s nothing like attending the wedding of a grandchild to remind you that you are getting older!” A celebration of the life of Charlie Haines was held on August 28 at the UrbanaChampaign Friends Meetinghouse in Illinois.
1961
Longtime Alumni Class Representative Bill Archer wrote in to share that he enjoyed seeing the great turnout of classmates during their virtual 60th Reunion, held over Alumni Weekend.
“The Lost Year?” A Reflection by Pat Metzer ’59 School Committee Treasurer Patricia Ann Metzer ’59 penned a reflection on her time spent during the pandemic. Below is an excerpt. You can read Pat’s entire piece online as part of Among Friends Extras at www.mfriends.org. Click on the Alumni section and then “Among Friends Magazine.” What does one do in a pandemic – apart from working from home, glued to the computer and socializing over Zoom – to top it off with a husband stranded in Europe for over a year? Walking, of course. And where? Well I discovered, of all places, the Cambridge Cemetery, a public cemetery which dates back to before the Civil War. For the first time in my life I watched the seasons pass before my eyes: SPRING with its blossoms, new leaves appearing, and varieties of migrating birds; then SUMMER with new wildlife sightings - a groundhog, chipmunks, black squirrels usually found much further north, and baby rabbits with their fluffy white tails; then on to FALL with its pallet of colorful leaves, and the sighting of a coyote; next WINTER, sometimes with white‑coated landscapes and snow-capped gravestones; and – ah!, once again SPRING, my attention drawn now to the colorful wildflowers and various forms of mushrooms… ...I want to tell you about the most meaningful legacy of my walks – what I came to learn about some individuals who lived over a century ago, whose names appear on memorials scattered throughout the Cambridge Cemetery. As I read and re-read the inscriptions on their memorials, my mind wandered back into the past and my desire to know turned me into Sherlock Holmes. I solved some of the mysteries, others I did not – but I was left with an historical timeline filled with people whose own uniqueness contributed to the world in which we live...
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Class Notes
1968
1971
Author Jeff Miller with his latest history book, Yanks Behind the Lines Laurie Mitchell still loves painting and in retirement is enjoying painting with local art groups. In June, she completed this mural for the Woodbury (NJ) FAF Art and Concert Series.
1966
Betsy Alexander reports that she has been retired from Dartmouth College since 2014, and is now self-employed as an editor, and as a sometime herbalist, making body care products. She is also serving on the board of a recently established teen center in Bradford, VT.
1967
Just before COVID hit, Janet Lippincott retired after 31 years of being at her clients’ beck and call as a realtor. She writes that “the peace and quiet was wonderful. I’m now playing tennis, paddle, pickleball, kayaking, and paddle boarding for fun. And to be useful, I volunteer at the Hilltop Bookstore in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia and at NOVA, a fantastic thrift shop for victims of abuse in Bucks County. I live happily in Chestnut Hill with my nine cats, two gerbils and a native plant certified wildlife pond and sanctuary in my backyard. I enjoy watching wildlife and posting nature photos on my Facebook page.”
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1968
Laurie Mitchell
1971
John Donnelly See “Alumni Connections,” page 72. Rob Farr reports that he “recently retired after 33 years with Arlington County, Virginia, achieving the life goal of never having done an honest day’s work.” His plans to remain busy include continuing teaching two classes at George Mason University, and completing his biography on the husband-and-wife comedy team who billed themselves as “Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew.” Jeff Miller writes, “It was great seeing so many of my classmates during our 50th reunion Zoom calls. I never got around to telling them my most recent book news. My newest book, Yanks Behind the Lines, was published by international publisher Rowman & Littlefield in October
2020. Since then it has received some great reviews (e.g. ‘This is a powerful work of history, as informative as it is dramatically gripping. An impressive blend of painstaking historical scholarship and riveting storytelling.’), has been named an “Editor’s Pick” by Publishers Weekly Booklife, and is an eight-time finalist in six contests (four national, two Colorado). I also created a book trailer that can be seen on YouTube. While I am definitely not a starving artist, it would certainly be helpful if people consider buying my book on Amazon - thanks!” Since Jeff wrote, the book recently captured honors in the History category of the Colorado Humanities State Book Awards.
1972
Paul Harrison has retired from Middlesex School as of the end of June, 44 years after arriving. Per Paul, “...just in time to clear the decks and get ready for the MFS Class of 1972’s 50th reunion!!!” Paul hopes to take in an MFS soccer game sometime this Fall, as it is his MFS team’s 50th anniversary of their 1971-72 winning (8-2) season. Jim Wilson p.68
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Class Notes
1972
Jim Wilson at Commencement with his daughter Hannah ’21.
1973
1974
Chris and Jenny Eni with their youngest son Chase ’21 as he graduated from MFS on June 12.
1974
1973
Trish Soffer Mainwaring, along with her husband Bob, son Jesse, and daughter-in-law MFS Third Grade Teacher Rachel Mainwaring, and their daughters Chloe ’29 and Jane ’32, enjoyed a wonderful day together over the summer gathering lavender.
1974
Chris Eni
1975 The Eni family, C.J. ’15, Chase ’21, Chris, Jenny and Dylan ’16, following the Class of 2021’s Senior Meeting for Worship, which was held outdoors on a steamy Sunday evening this year. Middle Left: Trish Soffer Mainwairing and her husband Bob. Bottom Left: Jesse and Rachel Mainwaring with their daughters Jane and Chloe.
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Allison Barclay Young’s daughter Nicki Young ’06 was married in 2020, and had a wonderful celebration with family and friends on May 21, 2021. See the Class of 2006 for photos.
1977
Marie Hageman is now co-leading a team to record all species of life found in Tall Pines, the newest NJ State Preserve over the course of this year, for iNaturalist. com, in conjunction with National Geographic and California Academy of Sciences. They would love to have some
Fall 2021
Class Notes
1980
1982/1983
While on vacation in Oahu this past summer, Samuel and Andrew Searle Pang report that they had a long, lovely picnic with classmate Dina Rudolph Yoshimi.
1986
Andrew Young ’82 with an impressive swordfish caught during a trip with Steve Walsh ’83. see the world. They encourage classmates to let them know if they’re in town!
1980
Sheila Seidman Montoya was sorry to have missed getting together with her class for their reunion. A certified nursing assistant, she reports that she has settled in Thornton, CO to care for her father-inlaw and now another client in the area. Andrew Searle Pang
1982/1983
Steve Walsh ’83 and Andrew Young ’82 had a successful fishing trip together in Fall 2020, with Andy reeling in a nice swordfish in the canyon 60 miles off of Ocean City, MD.
Mike Kowalski with his sons Marcus ’21 and Matt ’19 at Commencement. more team members. All are welcome. No scientific knowledge necessary - just enthusiasm for the natural world. No special equipment either - a cell phone can shoot a photo, or record a sound, and a tap will add it to the project. Marie shares, “It’d be great to see old friends again, and meet new ones.”
Fall 2021
1978
Larry Riesenbach’s son Aaron has graduated from high school in Arlington, VA and is attending Northeastern University in Boston this Fall. Larry and his husband Tim will be taking advantage of their empty-nester status to move to Madrid, Spain in early 2022. They will use it as a base to travel around Europe and
Steve Walsh is proud to share that his daughter, US Naval Academy alumna (2012) Lt. Commander MaryCate Walsh, has been selected to represent the US Navy as an advisor to the Senate and Congressional Armed Services Committee. During the pandemic, MaryCate served as the public relations spokesperson for the Naval hospital ship that went to New York City.
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Class Notes
1989/1995
Ivy Brown ’89 (front row, second from right) and Jamie McCracken ’95 (back row, second from right) with their championship mixed doubles team.
1985
Congratulations to Glori Gayster on the 20th anniversary of GDG Consulting, Inc., her Voorhees-based boutique marketing, communications and design agency.
1995/1989
Jamie McCracken ’95 and Ivy Brown ’89
1990
1986
Mike Kowalski p. 69
1989
MFS School Committee Clerk Ivy Brown is on a United States Tennis Association mixed doubles team with fellow alum Jamie McCracken ’95 which has advanced to national competition. The team competed this winter/spring in the 7.0 level in the 40+ age division. They won their South Jersey division beating local teams, which then qualified them for NJ district competition. They won that in May, which then moved them forward to Middle States Sectionals in Lancaster, PA at which they went undefeated to win and advance to Nationals, which will be held in November in Arizona. Ivy reports, “MFS tennis alumni moving to the big stage!” Go Foxes!
1990
Nicole Legato Fox
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Adi Fox ’21 with his mother Nicole Legato Fox, father Tim Fox, and sister Margaux ’18 at Commencement. Lisa Kastner, while involved with a corporate career in technology, started Running Wild, LLC, which consists of Running Wild Press, which publishes “great stories that don’t fit neatly in a
box,” and RIZE Press, which publishes “genre stories written by people of color and other underrepresented groups.” Running Wild has been honored with two Best of 2019 and two Best of 2020 books
Fall 2021
Class Notes
Thank You, Meg Hollingworth! Alumni Association Clerk Steps Down After Six Years Meg Parrington Hollingworth ’97 is stepping down after six years of service as Clerk of the MFS Alumni Association. In this role, Meg has been appreciated for bringing personal warmth and enthusiasm to the work, contributing new ideas for alumni engagement, and using her “toastmaster” skills to good effect, emceeing the annual May Dinner Among Friends (including doing it virtually in 2021) and other events. Meg is a Product Director at United HealthGroup. She lives in Haddonfield with her husband Anthony and daughters Ruby and Emma. Last Spring, she was recruited to stand for election for the Haddonfield Board of Education there and will be taking up those duties this Fall.
according to Kirkus Reviews, as well as several starred reviews. Lisa was named to Yahoo Finance’s Top 10 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2021, and nominated to “Forbes Next 1,000,” a list of American self-funded entrepreneurs who continued to strive during the challenging times of COVID. She also was included in the September/ August 2021 edition of Forbes. In addition, she was named to New York Weekly’s Top Ten Females to Watch in 2021 and LA Wire’s Top 10 Businesses to Watch in 2021.
Malignancies. His research in precision medicine will help better target Acute Myleloid Leukemia, and provide better treatment outcomes to increase survival.
1991
(p.70) Jamie McCracken and mixed doubles partner Ivy Brown ’89 will compete in a national tennis competition in November. See Class of 1989 note.
Following the Spring 2021 publication of the best-selling book The Mission Corporation, co-authored by Michael Carter and Michael Moe, in June Carter and Moe launched The Mission Corps Institute, a global think tank and research center. The institute’s central idea is that mission-based, entrepreneur-led capitalism can change the world for the better. The Institute was expected to announce its inaugural fellows, and release its first research study soon. Mike Carter, Mark Friedenthal and Tony Yi, see “Alumni Connections,” page 72.
1992
Christopher Hourigan was awarded the 2020 Orloff Science Award in March 2021 at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute in Bethesda, MD, where he leads research in the Lab of Myeloid
Fall 2021
1994
Maria Aseron Ramos is a co-author of Women Who Shine, a collaborative book with 30 inspiring stories by 30 women, which became available on Amazon in August 2021.
1995 1997
Best wishes to Shani Adia Evans who will be joining the faculty of Rice University this fall as an Assistant Professor in the Sociology Department. Her research and teaching is focused on “race and racism, space and place, urban education, and qualitative research methods.” Shani also has a book under contract with the University of Chicago Press titled The World Was Ours: Race, Memory, and Resistance in the Gentrified City. Meg Hollingworth (p. 72) Congratulations to Tiffany Taylor Jenkins, who has completed her doctorate from Grand Canyon University. On July 9, her dissertation manuscript was
signed, and she officially became Dr. Tiffany M. Jenkins! The title of her dissertation was “Clinical Supervision and Leadership Practices Among Behavioral Health Professionals.” Her degree is a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Behavioral Health.
1998
“Paul Bunyan” - the spider plant that Greg Rollins nurtured in his sixth grade science class with the late Reid Bush returned to MFS this past summer. When moving to Virginia, Greg’s mother Sandra Rollins needed to find a good home for the nowenormous plant, affectionately known to her family as “Paul Bunyan.” It is now in the sunny bay window of Van Meter Hall, where alumni gatherings will be hosted post-COVID.
2000
(p. 72) Lloyd Henderson and his wife welcomed another boy to their family, Logan Daniel Henderson, who was born on April 19, weighing in at 9 lbs and 9 oz. and 21 inches long. Lloyd shared that the family is doing well, and older brother Trey can’t wait to play with Logan.
2002
Adam Serlin was part of a panel discussion with Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, following a preview screening of the acclaimed eightpart PBS documentary series Philly D.A.,
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Class Notes
Alumni Connections Alumni experts from the classes of 1971 to 2008 connected with current MFS students this Spring in some exciting project-based learning. As part of the Middle School Seventh Grade Quest Program, teams of students were challenged to imagine solutions to problems identified within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Their work culminated in making virtual presentations to real-world experts, in front of their teachers and classmates. This year’s experts included John Donnelly ’71, past president of Global Healing and principal at Vaccinology; Mike Murza ’06, attorney with the California Energy Commission; and Chris Setz-Kelly ’04, immigration attorney with GianGrasso, Tomczak and Hufe, P.C. in Philadelphia. Also, the Upper School Economics class hosted The MFSBiz Entrepreneurship Competition for the first time, underwritten in part by the Herman Hollerith Endowment at MFS. Student teams were required to come up with original business or nonprofit startup ideas and pitch their concepts to a panel of four guest alumni judges. The judges, all of whom have first-hand successful entrepreneurial experience, included: Ashley Edwards ’08, Founder and CEO of MindRight, a Newark based tech startup in the behavioral health space; Mike Carter ’91, CEO of Biz Equity in Wayne PA, a financial technology firm; Mark Friedenthal ’91, President of Friedenthal Financial a Marlton investment advisory; and Tony Yi ’91, Senior Vice President for Corporate Strategy and Partnerships at Open Slate in NYC.
1997
2003
2000
Jennifer Harris is now a registered professional engineer in the State of New Jersey, and is working as a project manager for Environmental Resolutions, Inc., in Mt. Laurel. (p. 73) Whitney Pennington Rodgers and her husband Dr. Mark Rodgers welcomed their first child, daughter Masai Amal Rodgers, on October 25. Whitney shares that “She loves smiling and being read to and is the absolute joy of our lives.”
Tiffany Taylor Jenkins which concerns the system-level reforms the D.A.’s Office is undertaking. The event was hosted by the Stoneleigh Foundation, where Adam is a Fellow. In this capacity, he works in the District Attorney’s Office, running a project entitled, “Using Data to Improve Outcomes for Justice-Involved Youth.” Adam also is the founder/CEO of Independent Variable Consulting.
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The documentary movie, Crime on the Bayou, executive-produced by musician John Legend, was acquired for distribution this Spring by Shout! Studios. Directed by Nancy Buirski, and the third part of her trilogy of Civil Rights Era films exploring racial injustice (including also The Loving Story, The Rape of Recy Taylor), it was inspired by Matty Van Meter’s nonfiction book Deep Delta Justice. The film has received positive reviews in The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. This past summer, Buirski and Van Meter appeared at a joint screening and book signing event in New Orleans promoting both the film and the book.
Lloyd Henderson welcomed Logan Daniel Henderson to his family.
2004
Chris Setz-Kelly See “Alumni Connections,” story above.
2005
(p. 73) Jane and Chris Lloyd welcomed their first child, Andrew Benjamin, on March 2.
Fall 2021
Class Notes
2006
2003
Masai Amal Rodgers, daughter of Whitney Pennington Rodgers, arrived in October 2020.
Nicki Young and Peter Mauer, married in 2020, were finally able to celebrate with family and friends on May 21, 2021.
2006
Maura Burk and her husband, Keith Nagy, shared the good news that they are expecting the arrival of their first child, a girl, in October 2021. Mike Murza See “Alumni Connections,” page 72.
2005 Chris Lloyd and his wife Jane welcomed their first child Andrew Benjamin Lloyd in March.
While they tied the knot in 2020, Nicki Young and Peter Mauer enjoyed an outdoor tented reception at the historic Anthony Wayne House in Paoli, PA in May 2021.
2007
Briana Pressey Ellerbe
2007 Briana Pressey Ellerbe and her husband Keith Ellerbe, Jr. report that their son Keith III was excited to become a big brother in February to baby sister Emiko.
Fall 2021
Creator Anni Weisband has signed with Netflix to develop an hour-long series titled Nice Jewish Girls. According to Deadline, “Nice Jewish Girls is a darkly comedic family crime drama about four sisters in the aftermath of a death in the family. They know they would do anything for each other, but come to realize they don’t know everything about each other.” Anni is working alongside producers Jessica Rhoades and Dara Resnik.
2008
Ashley Edwards See “Alumni Connections,” page 72.
Bridesmaids surrounding Nicki Young from the MFS Class of 2006 are (standing, left to right) Stephanie Kaczmarski, Danielle Chung Couture, and fourth from left, Caitlin Baiada, and (seated, left to right) Simone Hall Wood, and fourth from left, the bride, and sixth from left, Jodi Schantz Laughlin.
2011
(p. 74) Alexandra Hovatter
2012
A young mother and child from El Salvador were granted asylum in the United States in September, thanks to the legal advocacy of Notre Dame Law School student Sophia Aguilar. Sophia, a third-year law student, worked with her client through the Law School’s National Immigrant Justice Center externship. Her client fled gender violence in El Salvador and came to the United States several years ago with her son, then a toddler. In early 2021, Aguilar began preparing her client’s case as a National Immigrant Justice Center extern by writing her affidavit, gathering supporting evidence, and finding family members who might write affidavits on her behalf. This summer, her client had the opportunity to move up her court date to seek relief from the courts. At the Chicago Immigration Court on September 9, Sophia presented opening and closing statements, conducted the direct examination of her client, and engaged in oral argument on the parameters of asylum law against the Department of Homeland Security
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Class Notes
Alumni Boys’ Lacrosse Game On June 5, the annual boys’ lacrosse alumni game was held. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the start of the boys’ lacrosse program at MFS. Thanks to Tim Yingling ’09, who led the plans to organize the game, which was the first alumni game held since the start of the pandemic. Standing: Carrington Mizelle ’21, Adi Fox ’21, Will Kinzler ‘20, Sean Wiseman ’21, Harrison Kelly ’21, Jackson Blanchard ’17, Michael Murray ’08, official John Murray, official Chris Delaney, Josh Kirkpatrick ‘14, Sam Madamba ’14, Joe Beideman ’15, Dylan DiFlorio ‘16, Miles Oglesby ’20, and former Varsity Coach and current volunteer coach Steve Yingling. Kneeling: Former Varsity Coach Michael McGinn, Varsity Assistant Coach Jake O’Donnell ’11, Aidan Connolly ’21, Jordan Edelstein ‘19, Daniel McGinn ’14, Varsity Coach Greg Yingling ’11, former Varsity Assistant Coach Tim Yingling ’09, Tyler Radack ’17, Dylan Eni ’16, Andy Cook ‘15, Roman Daniel ’18 and Chase Eni ’21.
2011
2013 Aseeli Coleman attorney. The judge granted asylum based on Aguilar’s legal arguments, client testimony, and supporting evidence.
2013 Alexandra Hovatter became engaged in May to Jason Wilkins. She will be completing her master’s degree in interior architecture at Thomas Jefferson University this fall.
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Aseeli Coleman graduated with her M.A. in Exhibition Design from George Washington University in May. Her graduation thesis focused on using flowers and other flora as a way to foster community and connection, both
interpersonally and with nature. She also launched her own small business, &Flora Studio, with a line of hand-crafted soy wax candles. Nicole Hovatter’s proud mother shared that after finishing Clemson undergrad in three years, and working at KPMG for three years, Nicole is now attending the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
Fall 2021
Class Notes
2014
Lawrence Mullen
2014
Lawrence Mullen was selected for the University at Buffalo’s Social Impact Fellowship for the summer of 2021, involving a 10-week full-time position with the University’s Educational Opportunity Program to create a comprehensive portfolio for the program Director and Senior Counselors. The portfolio will contain data and financial analysis and programmatic recommendations.
On June 10, the Class of 2021 joined members of MFS Classes of 2017 and 2018 for a College Alumni/Senior Class Meet & Greet on June 10. The alumni answered questions about the transition from high school to college.
2019
2015
Stockton University grad Samantha Hovatter started a master’s in counseling at Thomas Jefferson University this Fall. In reporting this news, as well as updates on sisters Alex ‘11 and Nicole ‘13, their mom Kim Hovatter shared, “All (of my daughters’) achievements are a result of their MFS education.”
2019
Classmates Joseph Abate and Evan Fenska (pictured) were among the competitors this summer during lifeguard contests on Long Beach Island at the Jersey shore. Joe is a lifeguard with the Beach Haven Crest Beach Patrol and participated as an Iron Relay boat crew member in the July competition. Evan is a lifeguard at Spray Beach, which won the 2021 Long Beach Township Beach Patrol Cup. Each year, lifeguards from the township’s five beaches compete in various challenges that test skills that are critical for success in ocean and surf rescues.
Fall 2021
Share Your News with Friends Moorestown Friends School encourages all alumni to share their news for Class Notes. To contribute, please email communications@ mfriends.org with updates on your life and any high resolution photos you would like to submit for publication. If you prefer, you can also write to Director of Marketing and Communications Mike Schlotterbeck Moorestown Friends School, 110 E. Main St., Moorestown, NJ 08057.
Evan Fenska Class Notes received after September 1 will be printed in the next issue of Among Friends.
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In Memoriam John A. Bradley husband of Joan McIlvain Bradley ’68
2008
Michael J. (“MJ”) Conrad ’97 Cornell M. Dowlin, Jr. former MFS Business Manager Joyce Cooper Haase ’41 sister of the late Kenneth Cooper ’40 and Elizabeth Cooper Wood Lees ’40, aunt of Bonnie Wood ’75 and James Wood ’78 Frank B. Hagstoz ‘67 husband of Elizabeth Richardson Hagstoz ‘67, brother of the late George Hagstoz ‘59, the late Helen Hagstoz Reynolds ’61, Ross Hagstoz ‘63, A. Thomas Hagstoz ‘64 David P. Hammer father of Scott Hammer ’99, father-inlaw of Katherine Leigh Hammer ’12
Julie Ross Hegelein ’65 Edward J. Hulse, Jr. ’59 brother of George H. Hulse ’61 Bonnie Griffith Jamison ‘59 wife of Ted Jamison ‘57, sister of Saundra Griffith Nottingham ‘58, sister-in-law of J. Robert Jamison ‘50 Ralph Richard Messick ’48 Daryl Pennington father of Whitney Pennington Rodgers ’03
Helen Harlow Hagstoz Reynolds ‘61 sister of the late George Hagstoz ‘59, Ross Hagstoz ‘63, A. Thomas Hagstoz ‘64, the late Frank B. Hagstoz ‘67 and sister-in-law of Elizabeth Richardson Hagstoz ‘67 Stephanie Serri Schultz ‘60 mother of William Schultz ‘92 Robert L. Smith ’42 brother of Nancy Smith Goldsmith ’46 Bess F. Soffer wife of James Soffer ’67, sister-in-law of Patricia Soffer Mainwaring ’73
Joanne Opalenick former Lower School Music Teacher mother of Karen Opalenick Dean ’81 and Diane Opalenick ’87
Phillip Spencer-Linzie father of Justin Spencer-Linzie ’10 and Galen Spencer-Linzie ’11
Joni Reese mother of Carrington Mizelle ’21
Betty Strambler mother of Michael Strambler ’92
Editor’s Note: Full obituaries are found on the MFS website. “In Memoriam” lists the passing of the following: alumni; immediate family of alumni (father, mother, child, spouse, sibling); current parents; current and past faculty and staff; spouses, partners and children of current faculty, staff and administration; current and former trustees; and spouses and children of current trustees. Notices will include any of the deceased’s relatives who are MFS alumni. To locate full obituaries on the MFS website, navigate to “News” in the top menu of www.mfriends.org and then select “Among Friends Magazine.” Alumni who do not have access to the Internet may contact Director of Marketing and Communications Mike Schlotterbeck at (856) 914-4434 to request a hard copy of an obituary.
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Fall 2021
1993 MFS Time Capsule Opened “Today is Saturday, May 29, 1993. A gathering of Lower School faculty is preparing to create a concrete egg-shaped sculpture under the careful tutelage of Emma Richter, former art teacher in the Lower School and currently teacher’s aide in the Prekindergarten program, and her husband Marty Richter, master woodworker and currently woodshop teacher in the Upper School…” –First paragraph of “Egg Time Capsule” cover note As construction of the new Lower School Playscape progressed this summer, the decision was made to open the time capsule encased in the concrete egg overlooking the playground to enable workers to continue the project. After more than an hour of work in mid-July with a jackhammer and other tools, construction staff were able to dislodge the capsule which housed two plastic containers of materials remarkably well-preserved. Inside was a wonderful mix of correspondence and miscellaneous artifacts highlighted by tiny decorative eggs – all inscribed with names of then-Lower School faculty members. Head of School Julia de la Torre and Lower School Director Jenel Giles learned that the capsule was installed in 1993 to celebrate the designation of the Lower School as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Former Lower School Director Larue Evans compiled materials for the capsule and enlisted the help of former Woodworking Teacher Marty Richter and his wife, former Lower School faculty member Emma Richter, to design and construct the egg-shaped sculpture with the capsule inside. As Julia de la Torre read the cover note aloud, it became clear that the capsule was intended to be opened in 2007 to coincide with the Upper School graduation of three-year-old students at MFS in 1993. “I am so thankful to those in the community who thought to do this 28 years ago,” said Ms. de la Torre. “We were sent back in time to the early ’90s and it was apparent from some of the color schemes and design elements in the materials that tastes and styles were different in 1993 – and I can attest to that. However, what wasn’t different as you read through the documents and saw examples of student work was the dedication of the Lower School faculty and commitment to Quaker values, which has been the foundation of our school for more than two centuries.” The capsule cover note posed such questions as “Will fiber optics change the world as drastically as we think?” “Will there be a woman President or Vice President?” “Can there be effective and productive peace in the world?” and many more. The note also wondered about future alterations to the MFS campus such as a parking lot under the playground with tunnel connections into the school, a new field house or gym, new seats in the auditorium, and more. Among other documents included was a February 1993 letter to parents and guardians about the process to receive the Blue Ribbon designation, which featured detailed summaries of some of the great things that were occurring in classrooms at
the time. In addition to the personalized eggs mentioned above, some items included in the capsule were: • A pair of red socks - wearing them to celebrate Fridays was a trademark of the late Lower School Teacher George Thomas. • The 1993 Cupola yearbook • A copy of Faith and Practice from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting • The Spin Doctors CD “Pocket Full of Kryptonite” • An empty box of Kraft macaroni & cheese • A recording of the May 1989 MFS Peace Symposium
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First Day of School 2021
