Among Friends Spring 2023 by Moorestown Friends School

AMONG FRIENDS Spring 2023

Storytelling and Social Justice:

Sadé Muhammad ’08 Highlights Career Day

Inside: Doing Well and Doing Good - ALUMNI IN MEDICINE

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

Spring 2023

MOORESTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL 110 East Main Street Moorestown, NJ 08057 (856) 235-2900, www.mfriends.org Published By The Development Office Editor, Director of Marketing and Communications Mike Schlotterbeck Graphic Design Alison Judah ’86, Hypno Design Photography Peter Chollick, Mike Schlotterbeck, Julia Applegate Tracy ‘10, and alumni, student, and parent contributors Head of School Julia de la Torre Director of Development Stephen Zakroff Assistant Director of Community Outreach Julia Applegate Tracy ’10 Director of Annual Giving Sonia Mixter Guzman ’02 Director of Constituent Engagement Kyrie Palan

Scenes from Intensive Learning

From the Head of School

Notes from Pages Lane

Fox Tracks

Honoring Beth Stouffer

Career Day Features Sadé Mohammad ’08

Doing Well and Doing Good: Alumni In Medicine

Alumni Sports Photos

Class Notes

In Memoriam - Grace Blackburn

In Memoriam - Dudley “Sandy” Heath

In Memoriam - Davida “Davie” Weiner

In Memoriam

Development Office Staff Hunter Harris ‘17 and Sue Giacchetto

Lower School Environmental Day Earth Week at MFS kicked off on April 17 when the Upper School Environmental Committee hosted Lower School Environmental Day. The day featured a number of ageappropriate activities including painting birdhouses; a lesson on beekeeping; making bird feeders, pinwheels, and reusable t-shirt bags; a nature walk; and a visit from Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge. 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.

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Scenes from Intensive Learning International travel returned as an Intensive Learning option for Upper School students, and every Middle School grade enjoyed an overnight experience as part of Intensive Learning in late March. Upper School overnight programs included: Give Kids the World (service in Orlando, FL); Historical/Cultural Tour of Germany; Ice & Fire (Iceland); Italy - Art, Culture, and Food; Literary England; Hurricane Maria Relief in Puerto Rico; and Spain - History, Language, and Culture.

For much more information, read the Upper School Intensive Learning blog at www.onlinemfs.org

Germany

Puerto Rico

Iceland

Italy

Pocono Environmental Education Center Camp Mason

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Spring 2023

Title Message from the Head of School

Dear Friends, In my time at MFS, I have met with countless alumni from across the decades. Although they attended school at different moments in our history, alumni have experienced MFS in remarkably consistent ways, no matter the graduation year. One refrain that I have heard many times is that MFS alumni do well and do good in the world. It is clear that our alumni don’t just excel in their chosen field, but that they use their skills, intellect, and compassion to make the world a better place. I am delighted to welcome you to this issue of Among Friends, focused on alumni working in the field of medicine and health care. The global pandemic gave us all a renewed appreciation for the doctors, nurses, surgeons, and therapists working in service of our communities. Faced with unprecedented challenges, health care professionals met the moment with incredible care and determination. As you read about some of our esteemed MFS alumni, I’m sure you’ll agree that these individuals carry with them a strong moral compass, an ability to work collaboratively in diverse settings, and a deep commitment to learning and growth that was nurtured while at Moorestown Friends School. Whether through Senior Project, Intensive Learning, community service, or classroom experiences, the alumni featured in the following pages were the beneficiaries of a seed planted while at MFS. Many credit their teachers, and the learning spaces they created, for sparking an interest in caring for the well-being of others. MFS provided them with ownership over their learning and a chance to be curious about the world. You’ll also be inspired reading about keynote speaker Sadé Muhammad ’08, whose passion for storytelling and social justice was apparent for our juniors and seniors at Career Day. It was very exciting to see this event return to an in-person program (with a few speakers presenting virtually from afar) during which a group of alumni, parents, and friends described for our students the many ways in which they let their lives speak. MFS continues to shape well-rounded learners who have opportunities to explore their interests and find their purpose, all in a caring Quaker community. Thank you for your continued support of our school community as we work to educate and energize this next generation of MFS students who are seeking their own path to do well and do good. In Friendship,

Julia de la Torre Head of School

Spring 2023

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March 3

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. Upper School instrumental musicians and vocalists participated in an all-day Music Retreat that featured six professional clinicians. Pictured above are students with renowned percussionist Ed Shea.

March 2

After weeks of preparation, the Lower School Play Club performed an adaptation of Matilda for family and friends.

February 25

All three divisions gathered for a musical performance at this year’s annual Choral Showcase. The showcase featured music from the group’s favorite Broadway shows. 4

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Faculty Authors Published World Languages Department Chair Rob Nasatir’s book Trovadores Cubanos: Nueva Trova y Canción Cubana Contemporánea (translated: Cuban Troubadours: Nueva Trova and Contemporary Cuban Song) was published in July. The book is about Cuban singer/songwriters since the 1959 revolution, with a focus on more contemporary artists. The first half of the book is history and analysis, the second half consists of interviews with six contemporary artists. The book was originally supposed to be published in 2020 but due to a paper shortage and other economic troubles in Cuba, the date was pushed back. The book was published as an e-book before hard copies were finally published in July.

Lower School and Grade 5 Art Teacher Tara Wosiski has co-authored a children’s book with Christopher Willard titled Life of a Crayon (for ages 4-8) that was published in February. The book is a colorful story about a girl and her crayon who grow up together and draw the world around them. When a little girl receives a box of crayons for her birthday, Green becomes her favorite. Over the years, as the girl creates art and projects and greeting cards, Green learns new skills and important lessons alongside her. Perhaps most importantly, Green fills her - and others’ - worlds with color and the emotions it evokes, and in doing so leaves a legacy that is vast and meaningful. Both books can be purchased on Amazon.

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February 24

February 23

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Upper School Black Student Union Co-Clerks Eva Vanterpool ’23 and Artese Brown ’23 and Middle School students welcomed award-winning author, educator, international speaker, and poet Alyea Pierce for two separate assemblies.

February 15

The Upper School Model United Nations team very successfully concluded their weekend conference season. The team was named Best Large Delegation and earned many individual awards at the Philadelphia Model UN Conference February 23-26.

Author and speaker Homa Tavangar spoke about “New Mindsets and New Literacies for Thriving in a Globalized World“ for parents and guardians in the Dining Hall Commons.

February 13

February 10

The Upper School Women in STEM Club hosted a panel discussion with women in STEM careers for all US students. Thanks to panelists Vanessa Kara ’15, Alana Franco, Karen Kozarsky ’77, Jen Harris ’03, and parent Coleen Vernick.

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Mixed-aged groups of students gathered with faculty/staff members throughout the school to celebrate Friendship Day. The morning program involved meaningful conversations, enjoyable games and activities, and an atmosphere of sharing and community. AMONG FRIENDS

February 10

February 3

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The campus was adorned in green in preparation for the Philadelphia Eagles appearance in Super Bowl LVII.

Seventh and eighth grade Chinese classes traveled to Philadelphia’s Chinatown as a celebration of the Lunar New Year. Students saw murals, landmarks, and monuments evoking the history and culture of the Chinese community, and enjoyed a wonderful meal.

January 27

January 21

The fifth grade classes created news broadcasts at the end of an English unit. The broadcasts were then turned into full-fledged news productions after recording in the Wordsworth studio thanks to the help of Academic Technology Coordinator and Wordsworth Advisor Diana Day and Computer Teacher Lisa Thomas Martin ’84.

The Middle School Robotics Team competed at the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Regional Qualifier. The FoxBots competed with their Solar Renovation Innovation Project – exploring the possibility of a solar-panel-covered MFS parking lot – and by completing missions with their robot on the FLL super-powered field.

January 16

January 13

The MFS community gathered on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to make snack bags and encouraging cards for the families served by the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey. Hosted by the Upper School MLK, Jr. Club, the program featured a welcome by club officers, Meeting for Worship, and the assembling of 380 bags filled with donations and cards. Pictured with donations is Club President Cassie Dominguez ’23.

Winston the Therapy Dog joined Rachel Mainwaring’s third grade class for an afternoon of reading, special tricks, and a few treats.

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Spring 2023

January 9

November 21 Title

Christopher Rubinate, a civil defense attorney and former Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine, visited Head of School Julia de la Torre’s Upper School Global Citizenship class to provide an overview of Ukrainian life and culture.

November 18

The Theater Department presented Once Upon A Mattress as this year’s fall musical, marking the first unmasked fall musical performance since the the pandemic began. The show was a rollicking spin on the classic tale The Princess and the Pea.

Faculty, staff, and families from all three divisions participated in the Second Annual Community Food Drive and Fun Event, collecting enough food for 60 overflowing bags that were delivered to Lutheran Social Ministries before Thanksgiving.

October 24

October 18

The kindergarten classes celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights, with parent Anita Mehrotra by reading, making paper lanterns, and eating Laddu.

Eight members of the Class of 2023 were recognized as National Merit Scholar Commended Students (l to r): Daniel Sorokin, Sreehita Hajeebu, Nakul Subramani, Shriya Reddy, Jenna Serotta, Collin Montenegro, Shay O’Connor, and Nathan Jewett.

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1 The Girls’ Swimming team finished third at the 2023 Friends Schools League Championships on February 4 at George School. Leading the way was Logan Shields ’25 who won a gold medal in the 100 backstroke and the 400 freestyle relay team of Julia Brown ’24, Ava Ellis ’25, Katie Kirchhoff ’24, and Logan Shields which won silver medals. Earning bronze medals were Julia Brown, (200 free and 100 butterfly), Logan Shields (200 IM), Ava Ellis (100 breaststroke), and the 200 medley relay team of Shields, Ellis, Brown, Kirchhoff.

2 Jonah Bierig ‘24 was named Second Team All-State Non-Public South by the Soccer Coaches Association of New Jersey (SCANJ) and Second Team All-South Jersey by the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association (SJSCA). He received his awards at the SCANJ banquet on January 8 and the SJSCA banquet on January 9. Jonah is the first MFS boys’ soccer goalkeeper in more than three decades to be named All-South Jersey – a team which consists of the 51 top players (15 forwards, 15 midfielders, 15 backs, and 6 goalies) in all of South Jersey regardless of school size. He finished the season with 190 total saves, for an average of over 10 saves per game. 3 The Middle School Field Hockey team completed their season with an undefeated record of 5-0-2…while never conceding a goal! The team was coached by MS/US Physical Education/ Health Teacher Liz Hoyt and Maintenance Staff Member Cody Ambacher. 4 Former soccer standout Vanessa Kara ’15 (pictured front row in center in September with the Girls’ Soccer team) has returned to MFS in a part-time role as the Student-Athlete Support Coach. Vanessa enjoyed a very successful collegiate career at Drexel University and the University of Florida. She has played professionally in Finland and the U.S. and has competed for the Dominican Republic in international competition, including FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying. “I am so excited to bring Vanessa aboard to help support our student-athletes and coaches,” said Director of Athletics Danielle Dayton. “Vanessa has spoken a lot about how much of an influence MFS has had on her life and she is eager to give back to our community. Her career is one marked by not only success, but resilience and perseverance.” Vanessa looks forward to contributing to the athletics program: “The mental aspects of sports to me are equally as important to the physical aspects and I hope to make an impact on the lives of our students, just like my coaches and teachers had an impact on me during my time at MFS.”

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5 In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, Director of Athletics Danielle Dayton was recognized as one of 50 women who have raised the profile of sports in South Jersey by the Burlington County Times and Courier-Post. Danielle has been in her current position since 2005 and also coached the MFS Field Hockey teams to two Friends Schools League championships and an NJSIAA Non-Public B South championship appearance. She stopped coaching Field Hockey after the 2019 season. Danielle played the sport at Ohio State University where she is still the third-highest all-time leading scorer with 53 goals. 6 Girls’ Basketball Coach Mike Brunswick was inducted into the South Jersey Invitational Basketball Tournament Hall of Fame in February. He led the Foxes to the 2020 tournament title – the smallest school ever to win the championship. Mike has been the Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach since 2001.

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Fox Tracks MFS To Join Burlington County Scholastic League Moorestown Friends School announced in February that it will join the Burlington County Scholastic League beginning in the Winter season of the 2023-24 school year. “This is exciting news for our community,” said Director of Athletics Danielle Dayton. “The BCSL is simply a great fit for our athletics program. Our student-athletes and coaches will enjoy more local competition that will now be even more meaningful as we’ll have the opportunity to forge healthy rivalries with area schools and compete for BCSL division championships against South Jersey schools, many of whom we have previously faced in non-league and state playoff competition.” BCSL President and Delran High School Athletic Director Anthony Guidotti welcomed MFS into the league: “Due to the positive relationships that most of the BCSL has with Moorestown Friends School, it is with great pleasure that our conference voted unanimously for MFS to join us during the 2023-2024 school year as a full member. We look forward to many years of a wonderful partnership with a school whose athletes and coaches always carry themselves with class and professionalism. The addition of Moorestown Friends School makes the BCSL a stronger conference, without question.” Moorestown Friends School will depart the Friends Schools League (FSL) after the Fall 2023 season having spent 43 years as a founding member. “Change is never easy and this is bittersweet as we have strong relationships with our peer schools in the Friends Schools League,” said Dayton. “We had an MFS Athletics League Membership Committee which worked through this decision and sought community feedback. We carefully reviewed the advantages of joining the BCSL and it became very apparent that this move would be in the best interest of our studentathletes now and in the future. The Friends Schools League will forever be a treasured piece of our 238-year school history and we hope to continue to face many FSL schools in non-league competition.” Head of School Julia de la Torre also shared excitement for entry into the BCSL, as well as fondness for the school’s history in the FSL. “This is very exciting in many ways for our community,

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but it is impossible not to also be sad at the same time as we move on from a league that has hosted competition for multiple generations of our students.” she said, “The BCSL will provide great local competition and will allow all of our teams to compete at an appropriate level to provide challenge and joy to our student-athletes. It has become clear to me from our committee conversations, and in speaking with many members of our community, that the BCSL will be a great home for our athletic program.” The Burlington County Scholastic League is currently comprised of 20 member schools. League competition in most sports is divided into two, three, or four divisions, depending on the sport, with divisions formed based on a combination of school size and competitive history in each respective sport. MFS teams will continue to compete in the Friends Schools League through Fall 2023.

Current BCSL Member Schools BCIT Medford

Maple Shade

BCIT Westampton

New Egypt

Bordentown

Northern Burlington

Burlington City

Palmyra

Burlington Township

Pemberton

Cinnaminson

Pennsauken

Delran

Riverside

Doane Academy

STEM Civics

Florence

Trenton Catholic

Holy Cross Prep

Willingboro

Visit to view the announcement with more detail sent to alumni on February 16, which includes a video message from Director of Athletics Danielle Dayton and Frequently Asked Questions.

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Beth Stouffer with her family at her son Richard’s wedding in 2017.

Long-Time Development Administrator Beth Stouffer Retires Associate Director of Development Beth Stouffer retired in December after 26 years at MFS. During her long career at the school, which started first as a parent volunteer, Beth played a crucial role in shaping the growth of the school’s fundraising, alumni relations, and parent programming efforts. She visited hundreds of alumni across the country over the years, updating them on happenings at MFS and learning about their experiences at the school, as well as finding avenues to engage them in the school today. A wonderful connector, she helped alumni moving to new cities find fellow alumni, responded to career networking requests to arrange for students and young alumni to meet with others who are more established in their fields, and facilitated numerous Senior Project placements. “Beth has been a wonderful advocate for MFS,” said Director of Development Steve Zakroff. “She built relationships with so many alumni, helping them to remain connected to the school, and to each other. She has a deep knowledge of the school’s history and the people who have been integral parts of it. As a development professional, Beth poured countless hours into the visits, solicitations, communications, planning, and events that garnered the resources to help MFS thrive. I can’t thank her enough for her years of service to the school. I wish her all the best in retirement.” Beth was an active member of the Development Subcommittee of the School Committee, and the steering committees of the major capital campaigns over the last 25+ years, including the Great Classrooms for Great Kids campaign, the Endowment Campaign, the Van Meter Endowment, and more. As the direct staff link with the Clerk of the Alumni Association Executive Committee (AAEC), Beth coordinated the work and the growth of the AAEC and helped to expand alumni programming, especially on Alumni Weekend. She managed the popular annual Career Day program which connects alumni, parents, and guardians with juniors and seniors to speak about career paths. Numerous class reunions were a success thanks to Beth’s endeavors to recruit volunteers and guide their decisions on plans to gather with their classmates. In a Minute of Appreciation presented upon her retirement, a colleague poignantly summarized Beth’s contributions to the school: “I appreciate all that Beth has done to support and nurture our school community. She is so good at this work, because it is simply a bigger version of the care, devotion, and effort she invests everyday in her family. Communities and families don’t thrive if people do not work to treasure, nurture, and cherish their relationships. I deeply admire the daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend that Beth is and the example she has set.” Beth and her husband Chris are the parents of Richard Stouffer ’02, Will Stouffer ’05, and Ann Stouffer Thornton ’07. In retirement, Beth has been more available to her family, ranging from her 92-year-old father to her young grandchildren. In addition, she plans to travel with Chris, do volunteer work in Philadelphia, and tackle some writing projects.

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Spring 2023

Career Day

Sadé Muhammad ’08 • Chief Marketing Officer, TIME • B.S., Syracuse University

“At MFS, I began to find my voice by doing two things: 1) leaning in to what made me happy - writing, and 2) taking action around what made me angry social injustice.”

TIME Chief Marketing Officer Sadé Muhammad Provides Career Day Keynote Remarks Sadé Muhammad ‘08, Chief Marketing Officer for TIME, was the keynote speaker for Career Day 2023, which saw a return to in-person presentations by many guest presenters (see thumbnails on following pages) for the first time in three years. Sadé shared her inspirational life and career story with students - which combined her knowledge and passion for her heritage, culture, and social justice issues with her flair and talent for storytelling. She candidly shared several experiences in schools she attended prior to MFS at which she felt “erased and unseen” when topics related to slavery and the trials and tribulations of African Americans were discussed in classrooms. Her personal therapy at an early age was her writing. “The vastness and freedom I felt when writing was in stark contrast to the smallness I felt sitting in that classroom feeling unseen,” she reflected about a fourth grade memory. “Words were powerful, I learned. I didn’t consciously realize it then, but I saw that words could be used to encourage and empower, or subdue and neglect.” Sadé enrolled at MFS in ninth grade and by junior year found herself President of the MLK, Jr. Club. In 2007, she organized a silent protest in which Upper School students wore black in solidarity with the Jena 6 - six black teenagers in Jena, Louisiana, made national headlines when they were tried as adults for fighting a fellow classmate after a slew of racially motivated incidents. “I am proud to have gone to a school like MFS because we were supported and encouraged by the administration and teachers,” she said. “At MFS, I began to find my voice by doing two things: 1) leaning in to what made me happy - writing, and 2) taking action around what made me angry - social injustice.”

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The following summer she attended a minorities in journalism workshop at Monmouth University and felt a strong kinship working with other students to tell the stories of historically underrepresented communities. This excitement was tempered after a visit to the Newark Star-Ledger during which she learned about the meager salaries earned by entry-level journalists. However, with assistance from her AP English Teacher Katy Rinehart, she obtained a Senior Project assignment that was life altering. Sadé spent four weeks working with MFS alum Sheryl Huggins Salomon ’83, who was running an online magazine for black women at the time called NIAOnline. “Those four weeks changed everything,” said Sadé. “I managed the office as an assistant and even got to write my own article. But it was the exposure to an environment dedicated to centering, affirming, educating, and supporting black women that had me hooked.” She had achieved clarity about her career path as she embarked on her studies at Syracuse University and took advantage of the school’s vast network as a magazine journalism major (with a minor in marketing). Sadé was accepted into the multiyear Emma Bowen Foundation internship program for young media students of color. “I met a slew of powerful, influential women along the way who would affirm my dream, straighten my crown, and lift me up when needed,” she said. She started her career at NBC as part of the Page Program, working in New York City. In 2016, she began working at Forbes, where she steadily climbed the ranks from Brand Producer for Content Marketing; to Senior Brand Producer; to Associate Director of Content Partnerships. In 2020, she founded Forbes’ Representation and Inclusion Practice, an award-winning Business to Business advertisement endeavor which encouraged marketing partners to broadcast Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as a foundational aspect of their company’s growth strategy. As Vice President of the practice, she led all business development, sales and marketing strategy, client relationships, and sponsorships. In January, Sadé was named the new Chief Marketing Officer at TIME, where her role is to oversee the brand’s integrated marketing, customer success, branded content and

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communications, as well as TIME’s newly created impact division. TIME has just celebrated its 100th anniversary, and it has over 20 million subscribers. “My passion is harnessing the power of authentic brands to get audiences to listen and, in turn, unlock their unique power to affect change,” said Sadé in TIME’s announcement of her appointment in January. “TIME is one of the world’s most trusted storytellers and I am thrilled to bring our partners’ stories to life with imaginative ideas to inspire a smarter, better marketplace.”

Sadé closed her remarks to students with three simple kernels of advice: 1) Follow your happy, and don’t be afraid to be fueled by your angry. 2) Think like your life depends on it, because it does. 3) Following your dream isn’t a privilege, it’s a birthright.

Sadé Muhammad ’08 with students after a Career Day classroom presentation and discussion.

CAREER DAY GUEST SPEAKERS

Lauren Beetle ’96 Marlton, NJ LAW/REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS Partner, Hyland Levin LLP J.D. Rutgers Law School B.S. Rutgers University

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Maddie Cohen ’14 New York City, NY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT/CONSULTING Workforce Development Senior Consultant, Deloitte M.S. Northwestern University B.A. Tulane University

Aseeli Coleman ’13 New York City, NY ART/DESIGN Associate Exhibition Designer, Whitney Museum of American Art M.A. George Washington University B.A. Rutgers University

Danielle Chung Couture ‘06 Philadelphia, PA PSYCHIATRY Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist in private practice, Philadelphia M.D. Albert Einstein College of Medicine B.S. Boston College

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CAREER DAY GUEST SPEAKERS

Tara Thomas Dehner ’07 Providence, RI BUSINESS/PHARMACEUTICALS Executive Director of Retail Store Operations, CVS Health Pharm.D. University of Rhode Island

John Hanamirian Moorestown, NJ LAW/TAX/LITIGATION/BUSINESS PLANNING Founding Shareholder, Hanamirian Law Firm, P.C. LL.M. Georgetown University School of Law J.D. Ohio Northern University B.B.A. Temple University

Austin Harris ‘13 Los Angeles, CA WRITER/FILMMAKER Staff Writer, How I Met Your Father on Hulu B.F.A. New York University

Karan Hiremath ’12 San Francisco, CA SOFTWARE AND DATA ENGINEERING Senior Application Security Engineer, EasyPost B.S. University of Pennsylvania

Quang N. Huynh ’01 New York City, NY FAMILY MEDICINE Family Practice Doctor, Affiliated with NY Presbyterian Hospital and St. Joseph’s Medical Center M.D. Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School B.S. George Washington University

Scott Krasner ’13 Philadelphia, PA ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Environmental Engineer Specialist, Philadelphia Water Department M.S. Villanova University B.S. University of Vermont

Christine Liang ’06 Philadelphia, PA WELLNESS/COLLEGE TRANSITION Program Manager, The School District of Philadelphia M.A. Westminster Theological Seminary B.A. University of Pittsburgh

Eric Mandrackie Princeton, NJ FINANCE/BUSINESS Senior Vice President Finance, Global Controller, Dow Jones M.B.A. Regis University B.S. Rutgers University B.S. American Sentinel College

Michelle Marinucci Niewood ’01 Princeton, NJ CANCER RESEARCH Senior Director, Compound Development Leader - Oncology at Genmab Pursuing doctoral studies, Thomas Jefferson University M.S. Thomas Jefferson University B.S. Lafayette College

Hannah Spielberg ’09 Philadelphia, PA SOCIAL WORK/JUSTICE/ NONPROFIT Social Worker, Youth Art & Self-Empowerment Project M.S. University of Pennsylvania B.A. Middlebury College

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Bridget Weise Moorestown, NJ PERSONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT SKILLS/ FINANCIAL LITERACY Senior Store Manager, Republic Bank

Mike Young ’07 Oakland, CA VENTURE CAPITAL/ENTREPRENEURSHIP Founding Partner and Managing Director, Tale Venture Partners M.B.A. The University of California, Berkeley B.S. University of North Carolina

Ilana Zablin Moorestown, NJ PERSONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT SKILLS/ FINANCIAL LITERACY Assistant Manager, Republic Bank

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Doing Well and Doing Good...

ALUMNI IN MEDICINE

For decades and even centuries Moorestown Friends School has produced graduates who “do well and do good” in medicine and allied fields. This tradition of excellence includes Alice Paul Merit Award winners Mary Ellen Avery ‘44 (winner of National Science Medal for contributions to pediatrics), Christian Hansen ‘50 (a pediatrician who spent most of his career traveling to impoverished countries to aid malnourished and sick children), Peter and Bonnie Greenfield Reagan ‘64 (physicians and community leaders), Tom Hedges ‘67 (ophthalmologist and humanitarian), Ken Mayer ‘68 (pioneer in AIDS research), Anne Rosenberg ‘74 (distinguished surgeon), and Maria Elena del Socorro Jefferds ’89, Ph.D. (nutrition expert at the CDC). Increasing numbers of MFS grads are entering into the medical profession and adjacent fields. Enjoy reading about the following graduates who are continuing this tradition of MFS alumni serving communities with their expert talents and skills in medical care.

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Spring 2023

Nathaniel Evans III ‘94, M.D. • Thoracic Surgeon • Professor and Director, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University • M.D. Stanford University • B.S. in Molecular Biology, Princeton University

“At MFS, I learned how to think critically but with empathy, and how to work and interact well with others, appreciating the importance of every individual in a community.” Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. I am a thoracic surgeon who specializes in non-cardiac disease processes. The majority of my job is performing surgery to remove cancers of the lung, esophagus, and other parts of the chest. I also lead the group of surgeons who are responsible for that type of surgery across our health system. The main hospital I work at is Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, the main teaching hospital of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College. Thus, I also teach medical students and residents (doctors in training) about thoracic and general surgery.

How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? It’s hard to put it into words. I spent more time at MFS than any other learning institution (14 years). So, clearly it had a huge impact on the person I am today. It sounds trite, but two things I learned were how to think critically but with empathy, and how to work and interact well with others, appreciating the importance of every individual in a community. So much of what I do involves complex and matrixed team structures and the social skills to thrive in that environment I can trace back to MFS.

What is the most rewarding part of your work? My interactions with patients, being able to explain complex medical problems to them in a way they will understand to help them feel more at ease making decisions about their care. One of the most rewarding things is when a patient says “I feel a lot more at ease than when I came in today” after having a discussion about their medical condition and treatment plan.

Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? One memory is spending my Senior Project in (future MFS Science Dept. Chair) Dr. Barbara Kreider’s lab. At that point, she was teaching at Rutgers and an MFS parent. She introduced me to the field of biomedical research and helped open my eyes to all the different career paths there are in medicine, healthcare, and biomedical sciences.

It is also extremely rewarding to help train the next generation of physicians and surgeons. How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? I was fortunate to be exposed to medicine at an early age. My dad is a physician and I was always impressed how much he loved his job and how dedicated he was. In some ways I think I’m just lucky that the things I really enjoyed and excelled at - science, learning new things, focusing on a problem and coming up with potential solutions, patience, attention to detail, listening skills - were all the things that helped me succeed in medicine and surgery.

Spring 2023

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Danielle Chung Couture, M.D. ’06 • Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, Philadelphia, PA • M.D. Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Bronx, NY • B.A. in Theological Studies, Boston College

“MFS helped create the foundation for becoming a curious, life learner. ”

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. As a psychiatrist, I provide treatment for individuals struggling with their mental health, using therapy and medication management. I work with adults who struggle with depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar, and psychotic disorders. Since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Psychiatry Residency Program, I have created my own medical practice and become a small medical business owner. What’s great about being my own boss is that I am able to devote the time I believe is necessary to treat patients. It also gives me more flexibility to engage in therapy, and work on skills, not just pills with my patients. On a day-to-day basis, I talk to patients virtually and in person for treatment. My work involves collaboratively exploring thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and diving deep into conversations on what usually tends to be uncomfortable topics for many people. If the conversation feels too light, it usually indicates that we are not speaking about the reasons that brought the individual to treatment, and I try to redirect towards the issues that brought them to me. A common misconception is that as a psychiatrist I am constantly analyzing and judging others, but in practice, my job requires a lot of listening, supporting, and empathizing. The fun part of my job is listening to the fascinating life stories of my patients and learning about the vast range of human experiences. How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? My passion to go into medicine began around the time I was 12 years old, and started going on medical service trips to Ecuador and Honduras with my parents who are also physicians. On those trips, I saw the hundreds that lined up for hours to get a few moments with a physician; I recognized the great need for basic services for so many individuals. I witnessed the impact that medicine could have on underserved communities, and felt a sense of purpose in being able to participate in such work. During my undergraduate years, while I was on the pre-med track, I studied theology in pursuit of learning more about life’s mysteries. The overlapping of concepts of purposeful dialogue and providing help to others led me to get involved in care teams helping unhoused communities in Boston, Bronx, and Camden, and eventually fostered my interest in psychiatry within medical school. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? MFS helped create the foundation for becoming a curious, life learner. I was surrounded by classmates who were emboldened to ask difficult questions and teachers who provided an open classroom welcoming of honest discourse. Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? I remember reading Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States in my 10th grade history class with our teacher, Mr. Jack Schneider. It was the first time that I had been taught history from the perspective of the oppressed, and it was one of the first moments I remember becoming interested in learning the life stories of those who struggle. In reflecting back, Meeting for Worship was also such a meaningful experience. While I can’t claim to have stayed awake during every Meeting for Worship in my teen years, that time taught me the skills of reflecting, listening, and finding peace in the quiet. A lot of my work - sitting face to face, creating a sense of togetherness just by listening and presence - has similarities to Meeting for Worship.

AMONG FRIENDS

Spring 2023

Angela Dixon Guerrera, M.D. ’99 • Emergency Medicine Physician • Instructor of Emergency Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University • M.D. Drexel University College of Medicine • B.S. in Business Science, University of Notre Dame

“MFS helped me to be multifaceted and encouraged academic and extracurricular curiosity.” Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. I currently work nocturnal shifts in several hospitals in the South Jersey area in the emergency department. I am responsible for any emergency that may come through the door from your common cold to heart attacks and strokes. You often have to prioritize several emergencies at once and determine what is the most acute and what needs immediate intervention. I decided to pick this field because of the variety of complaint and treatment. Most of my hours are at a small community hospital where I am one of two total doctors in the hospital. What is the most rewarding part of your work? The most rewarding part of the job is the ability to make people better in a short period of time. I love to see the smiles that people have once treated. A lot of diagnoses require subspecialty attention, however in some instances support and reassurement is all that is needed. I spent some time in Haiti doing service work where resources are so limited, however the amount of appreciation from those folks truly in distress was very rewarding. How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? I knew I wanted to be a doctor by the time I was five years old. I had my own medical diagnosis as a young child that required me to go to the very emergency department where I trained and then eventually through to Children’s Hospital Philadelphia. Even though I did not have a regular relationship with my physician, I did see him annually for about ten years. I thought it was very impressive the way he was able to make me better. It impacted me at a young age, and I felt like he truly cared and was able to make a difference in my life. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? MFS helped me to be multifaceted and encouraged academic and extracurricular curiosity. I was taught how to manage multiple activities as well as academics. We were able to have ownership of our schedule and decide where our focus should be. I was very active in athletics which taught me time management, commitment, community and teamwork. I felt well-prepared to play lacrosse at Notre Dame while majoring in science business. I didn’t have to commit to one path or one sport at MFS which gave me confidence when heading into a larger environment in college. I was able to explore many different interests, thrive and feel successful, not pressured or pigeon-holed. Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? Winning the Friends Schools League championship in lacrosse for two years and going deep into the state playoffs, despite small class sizes compared to many public schools was a great underdog success story. We sang “We Are The Champions” on our somber bus ride home from our loss. We kept our heads high... a very proud moment. At this level I felt I had the best coaching of my life. I learned to overcome adversity and the importance of playing as a team. I also have fond memories of my AP classes with Dr. Kreider and Mrs. Hockensmith. They were challenging yet encouraging.

Spring 2023

AMONG FRIENDS

Sonia Ananthakrishnan, M.D. ’93 • Endocrinologist, Boston Medical Center • Assistant Professor and Director of Student Education, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine • M.D. Northwestern University School of Medicine • B.A. Northwestern University

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. As an Endocrinologist and Internal Medicine physician, I take care of patients at Boston Medical Center, including Internal Medicine inpatients admitted to the hospital wards, and patients with hormone-related disorders, both in the hospital and in the clinic. A large part of my work is in the realm of medical student education, and I lead a medical school course, or “clerkship” for students learning skills on the Internal Medicine wards. What is the most rewarding part of your work? In my clinical work, the best part is forming relationships with my patients and educating them on individualized ways to promote their overall health and wellness. I work with patients who have chronic conditions and get to know my patients over years, even decades. I have the privilege of working with them through life events like weddings, births, and deaths that can impact health, both positively and negatively. In the education realm, I love sharing in the enthusiasm and energy as students just entering this career start to work directly with patients and understand how to approach specific diseases with each individual patient in mind, beyond just what textbooks tell us. How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? “It was at MFS that I first saw and started Actually, it was at MFS that I first saw and started understanding the intersection of education understanding the intersection of education and medicine. My MFS Senior Project involved working at a local wound and medicine. ” care and rehabilitation facility, and I still recall my final project presentation to my class - I really enjoyed sharing my experiences and what I had learned with my peers. You always learn something more in depth when you have to explain it to others. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? First, I have the greatest friends from MFS… still to this day. We are all quite self-reflective individuals, and I like to think that a big part of that is based on experiences we had at MFS, including Meeting for Worship. I am also very thankful for the great World Languages curriculum at MFS. I started learning how to speak in Spanish in the seventh grade and get to use that skill at work. Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? I have to take a moment and remember Dr. Sandy Heath (see page 46). He made European history fun and interesting. And while I had a bunch of great college advisors at MFS, I remember great advice Dr. Heath gave me, especially when I was considering his alma mater. Ultimately college took me in a different direction, but I still recall feeling lucky to have him in my corner during that process at MFS.

AMONG FRIENDS

Spring 2023

David Fischer ’06 • Neurocritical Care Physician, Penn Medicine/University of Pennsylvania Health System • M.D. Harvard Medical School • B.S. in Psychology, Neural and Behavioral Sciences, and Philosophy, Haverford College

“MFS instilled in me a sense of social justice and ethics that is relevant to my work every day. ” Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. As a neurocritical care physician, I care for patients with neurologic emergencies in the intensive care unit. I specialize in disorders of consciousness caused by severe brain injury, and am the founding director of the Recovery of Consciousness Via Evidence-Based Medicine and Research (RECOVER) Program. The RECOVER Program is an innovative model of care that seeks to detect, predict, and promote the recovery of consciousness after brain injury. As part of the RECOVER Program, I use technologies such as advanced neuroimaging to provide cutting-edge care to patients, understand how the brain produces consciousness, and improve the future of patient care. During my day-to-day work, I lead an interdisciplinary team to take care of critically ill patients, help families to understand and make difficult decisions for their loved ones with brain injury, educate neurology and neurocritical care trainees, and conduct research in consciousness science. What is the most rewarding part of your work? The most rewarding part of my work is taking care of patients, and striving to provide the best possible care that modern science can offer. As exciting as innovation and science may be, to me it is only meaningful when I can use it to tangibly reduce suffering in my patients and their families. How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences/that had an impact on you? It is impossible to say when my passion for medicine began. It evolved slowly, and in parts. As early as I can remember, I felt a strong obligation to pursue work that is meaningful, that would target and improve the aspects of life that matter most to people. During high school I began to develop an interest in the mind and consciousness. During college that interest began to center on the brain. And only towards the end of college did I realize that in medicine, I could not only seek to understand how the brain produces consciousness, but could leverage that understanding to alleviate human suffering. I pursued pre-medical courses later than usual, then applied to medical school after that. The interest developed gradually and not in any particular moments. However, during college, there was a time when I was torn about whether to pursue medicine or purely science. I was working in a lab studying brain physiology in mice, that, like most animal research, involved killing the animals after the experiments. During a moment of mousekilling, I was overwhelmed by the worry that all of this hard work, and these animals’ lives, may ultimately never result in any tangible benefit to anyone. I decided at that point that for me, science had to be tightly coupled to patient care, and I decided to pursue medicine. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? MFS affected my trajectory in tangible and intangible ways. Tangibly, I recall certain teachers and classes that were formative. Barbara Caldwell taught me a love of philosophy that I have carried with me ever since, and that ultimately crystallized into a fascination with the mind and brain. Jack Schneider technically taught history, but actually taught me how to think creatively and critically. Kezia Read taught me how to write – and, really, how to think and communicate clearly – which is still one of the “goodest” skills I’ve learned throughout my education. And I saw a neuron for the first time when Drew Newman drew one on a white board for biology class, which I thought was one of the coolest-looking things. Intangibly, I think MFS had something to do with that early sense of duty to pursue meaningful work, to help people, and to alleviate human suffering. I think MFS instilled in me a sense of social justice and ethics that is relevant to my work every day. And MFS encouraged me to explore different disciplines, to approach problems from different angles, and to pursue my intellectual passions, which undoubtedly influenced my trajectory.

Spring 2023

AMONG FRIENDS

Shouli Tung ’12 • Resident Physician, New York Presbyterian Hospital • M.D. Cooper Medical School of Rowan University • B.S. in Biology/Biological Sciences, Ursinus College

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. As a pediatrics resident physician, I spend each month on a different rotation. Currently, I am working in the pediatrics intensive care unit where we take care of some of our sickest patients. We generally do about 5-6 shifts/week that consist of 12-13 hour shifts, and sometimes will do 24-hour shifts once or twice a month. When we are working day shifts, we start the day at 6:30 a.m. with “sign out” by receiving information on our patients from the night team. Then we go through their electronic charts to review their data including medications, vital signs, etc., and then we check on all of our patients. We then round together as a team with the attending physician, nurses, other residents, or medical students on the team, which typically means we go into each patient’s room, discuss how they’re doing, what changes we need to make to their care plan, and elicit any other concerns/information from the nurses and the family. The afternoon is then spent doing various tasks including ordering medications, calling pharmacies, calling different departments, speaking to specialty physicians who are being consulted, speaking with the families, re-evaluating our patients, writing our notes, admitting new patients, and more. As the resident, we’re usually the first person that is contacted if there is an issue or concern with our patient and the one who writes all the notes and orders. What is the most rewarding part of your work? The most rewarding part is definitely getting to interact with the kids, and seeing the kids when they perk up and feel better! It’s also really enjoyable to work with whole families. I often see the struggle of parents and family members, and being able to be there for them when they are going through some difficult times, and giving them answers and solutions to some very hard problems is also very rewarding.

“The way she (Dr. Barb Kreider) taught us actually gave me the confidence to believe that I could be a science major in college and really succeed at it.”

How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? My passion for healthcare started very young since my dad is also a physician and my parents work together at their office. I grew up pretty much only knowing the life of medicine, so it felt like a well-paved path. Seeing their joy in caring for children and how much they were able to help their community inspired me to also want to do the same. However, there were multiple times I questioned whether it was really the right decision for me. I ended up spending a few months living in a rural area of Thailand after college and saw how much of an impact someone with medical knowledge could have on impoverished communities. During medical school, I also spent time learning about healthcare disparities since my school was in one of the lowest socioeconomic status areas, and realized the many opportunities that come with being a physician in both influencing patients at a personal level, but also in influencing communities and larger scale health policies to make a real difference. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? I distinctly remember two things from my Moorestown Friends education that really directed me in my love for science and physiology. The first was joining the Deborah Heart Challenge competition team - it was the first time I had to study and learn various parts of the body and how it worked, and how it related to disease. Even though I had to wake up early to attend those sessions, I actually found myself actually wanting to study for it. It was fast-paced, exciting, and really interesting to learn about. The second was one of the teachers, Barbara Kreider. She took the time to really help students understand chemistry, and because of that, I was able to enjoy and have a real understanding of what I was learning. The way she taught us actually gave me the confidence to believe that I could be a science major in college and really succeed at it.

AMONG FRIENDS

Spring 2023

Colleen Coleman ‘91, M.D. • Ophthalmologist, Cataract Surgeon, and Glaucoma Specialist, Outlook Eyecare, Princeton, NJ • M.D. Wayne State University School of Medicine • B.A. in Biology and Psychology, Franklin and Marshall College

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. I am responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of patients in the office and the operating room. I am typically in the office every day and the OR one to two days a week. In the office I perform patient examinations and glaucoma laser treatments. In the operating room I perform both cataract and glaucoma surgeries. I also help with management of the office. What is the most rewarding part of your work? I develop long-term relationships with patients which I love, but the most rewarding part of my work is performing cataract surgery. Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness in the world. It is wonderful to have the ability to restore a patient’s sight.

“I consider myself a very open-minded person and credit this to my years at MFS. ”

How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? My father was a cardiothoracic surgeon. He started taking me to the OR to observe him when I was around 12 or 13 which gave me early exposure to the field. This would not be possible with regulations that are in place today! In Mr. Thomas’ seventh grade science class I developed an interest in genetics. By senior year I thought I wanted to pursue a career in the field of genetics and did my Senior Project in the Genetics Department at Cooper Hospital. I spent time with genetic counselors working with patients and genetic engineers in the lab. During the month I also had a chance to shadow a maternal fetal medicine doctor. This is when it clicked for me that it was the physician’s role I was most interested in. How has your Moorestown Friends Education served you in your career and life? I arrived at MFS in the first grade and have many fond memories throughout the years. MFS gave me a great educational foundation to succeed in college and medical school. More importantly though, my experience at MFS helped me become a well-rounded person. My classmates came from various backgrounds, and we learned to relate to and respect each other. I consider myself a very openminded person and credit this to my years at MFS. Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? I have very fond memories of Intensive learning. This program was a fantastic way for us to work as a team and rely on our peers. I loved that we were given more independence during these weeks. There are many teachers that were very influential in shaping my different interests. I always had a pull towards math and science and there were many teachers who through their enthusiasm opened my mind to other areas. Richard Marcucci’s art history classes, ensemble with Davie Weiner, social studies with Dr. Heath and Mark Goodman, and classes and discussions with Dwight Spann Wilson stick out in my mind. I will never forget Dr. Heath’s French Revolution class. We did a reenactment of Marie Antoinette’s trial. I played Marie Antoinette and before we started the role play Dr. Heath pulled me aside and told me I needed to escape when he gave me a nod. When he gave me the signal, I took off, running, out of the room and soon had the class chasing me around campus!

Spring 2023

AMONG FRIENDS

Jonathan Zaid, M.D. ’04 • Internal Medicine Physician, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals • Assistant Professor, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University • M.D. Drexel University College of Medicine • B.S. in Biology, The George Washington University

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. Every day of the week is different, which is something I enjoy. I’m the Medical Director of my office and navigate the logistics of running a primary care clinic each day. In addition to seeing my patients in the clinic, I precept at the resident clinic weekly and teach first-year medical students. What is the most rewarding part of your work? Teaching. Something I enjoy the most is explaining complex topics in simplified terms. For patients, it helps them feel like they are taking ownership of their care and they are more invested in their health. For students and residents, I hope to impart my passion for explaining why things are the way they are in the body so that they can in turn be better teachers to their patients.

“Equality and justice were major themes from my education at MFS, and the value of being an empathetic contributor to our world was prioritized. ”

How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? Mr. Newman’s ninth grade biology class will always remain with me. I still remember dissecting the frog and conducting the compass experiment by pricking areas on our own bodies to investigate the nervous system. What especially stood out for me was creating our own science hypotheses and designing experiments that would prove or disprove them. This, in conjunction with Mr. Mike Levy’s English class, was the beginning of the feeling that not everything in the world is known by “adults” and if we want answers, we need to start thinking about creative ways to find them. Questioning things is fundamental to science and education; through various teachers during my 10 years, this has been a thread that shaped who I am today. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? Equality and justice were major themes from my education at MFS, and the value of being an empathetic contributor to our world was prioritized. I try to bring this to my practice and teaching through recognition of the social determinants of health and understanding barriers to care for patients from all backgrounds. Prescribing the best course of treatment in the world doesn’t mean anything if the patient doesn’t trust their providers or can’t access it. Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? The camaraderie of MFS baseball will stay with me forever. Playing the game I loved with my best friends and led by two people I could not admire more, Coach Obermeier and Coach Sherby, was a favorite part of my school experience.

AMONG FRIENDS

Spring 2023

Julie Son Valenzuela ‘95, M.D. • Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon • Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Burns, and Surgical Critical Care • DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery • University of Miami Miller School of Medicine • Ryder Trauma Center/Jackson Memorial Hospital Miami, FL • M.D. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School • B.S. in Psychology, Emory University

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. I respond to patients who arrive with acute traumatic injuries to our trauma bay. We see a wide range of injuries from those involved in falls, motor vehicle collisions, or gun violence. At the same time, I deal with emergency general surgical problems and manage patients in the intensive care unit. It is never a boring day at work. I deal with very complex patients who are critically ill when I am called. What is the most rewarding part of your work? I have the rare opportunity to meet someone at their most vulnerable moments, be able to intervene to resuscitate and operate to deal with the injuries or surgical problems, manage their course through the intensive care unit and, if I am lucky, to see them go home. How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? My father died from lung cancer at a very young age and that exposed me to the medical field early. It made me realize the breadth and scope of the field. Then I was a Naval Flight Surgeon after medical school and deployed to Afghanistan giving me an opportunity to meet surgeons providing care to the local population and so my interest in surgery grew along with interest in global work.

“MFS allows you to explore different avenues of interest and you can be a student that does it all.” Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? What I love most is seeing graduates do amazing work in such diverse fields.

How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? MFS allows you to explore different avenues of interest and you can be a student that does it all. It was normal to do sports, then run to band practice, and engage in various other activities. The most important aspect of the education at MFS that really was ingrained in me was the value of service.

Spring 2023

AMONG FRIENDS

Mansoor Movaghar ’87 • Associate Clinical Professor, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Surgery, University of California San Diego/Rady Children’s Hospital • M.D. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Robert Wood Johnson Medical School • B.A. Biological Basis of Behavior, University of Pennsylvania

“The most rewarding part of my work is seeing patients’ happiness, having straight eyes, better vision, and passing on my experience to help both children and adults in the future. ” Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work at UCSD. My responsibilities at UCSD include caring for children with eye disorders like strabismus (misaligned eyes), amblyopia (weak vision), blocked tear ducts, and cataracts among others. I perform surgery on children and adults with strabismus and various problems. Working with ophthalmology residents and fellows as well as pediatric and family medicine residents and medical students, there are many teaching opportunities from how to make children comfortable in an exam to how to surgically correct vertical and torsional double vision from a fourth cranial nerve palsy. What is the most rewarding part of your work? The most rewarding part of my work is seeing patients’ happiness, having straight eyes, better vision, and passing on my experience to help both children and adults in the future. It makes me smile when parents tell me their child was excited to come see me.

How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? The writing skills I developed with the English department have helped me over my entire career. My math and science background provided a strong foundation for my medical career. What I learned in my Spanish classes is something I use almost every day. While I may not always be speaking grammatically correct, I am able to communicate why a patient may need glasses, patching, or surgery, without always requiring an interpreter in clinic or on medical missions to South America. Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? There are so many stories I could tell that it is difficult to pick just one. I would say MFS is a very special place. It was shaped by the school’s mission, values, the amazing faculty, and the diverse group of students. Looking back, I appreciate the opportunity to be part of that wonderful community. I am thankful to have attended MFS.

How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? I decided to become an ophthalmologist when I was eight years old. This was a result of getting glasses and seeing all the interesting equipment in the ophthalmologist office. An experience that affirmed my belief in ophthalmology happened during Intensive Learning with City Project in ninth grade while learning about Philadelphia. A classmate and I got lost in the city and as we were speaking, a blind woman happened to pass us and asked where we wanted to go. I thought she couldn’t help us because she couldn’t see. She then gave us detailed directions, including the bus number, and which stop to get to our destination. It then dawned upon me that she had a mental map of the city that was better than what I could see with my eyes. It made me realize vision adds a richness to our lives that we frequently take for granted.

AMONG FRIENDS

Spring 2023

Blair Dickinson, M.D., M.S. ’00 • Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine • General Pediatrician, Yardley Pediatrics, Yardley, PA • M.D. Drexel University College of Medicine • M.S. in Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University • B.S. in Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. I am a general pediatrician in an outpatient office, seeing children from birth to age 22 for regular check-ups, sick visits, and chronic care. What is the most rewarding part of your work? I am grateful to be able to support families through the stress of a child’s illness, whether it is short or lifelong. In my role as a primary care pediatrician, I also appreciate the trust parents put in me to help their children grow and thrive. It is truly special to be able to witness the journey through childhood! How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? I started saying that I wanted to be a pediatrician after my brother (Brent ‘03) was born, but my early interest in medicine was also shaped by growing up in my parents’ veterinary clinic. I was able to see firsthand how a doctor could make an impact on not only their patients, but also on families and the community as a whole.

“Their (teachers) personalities and communication styles each had a seamless blend of professionalism, fun, and curiosity, and definitely shaped how I speak with my patients and colleagues today. ”

How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? Science and math classes with teachers like Jeff Simmons, Tim Clarke, and Michael Omilian kept me engaged in academics and impressed upon me the importance of teachers. Their personalities and communication styles each had a seamless blend of professionalism, fun, and curiosity, and definitely shaped how I speak with my patients and colleagues today. Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? My Senior Project (which I found with the help of teacher Barb Kreider) was spent shadowing in the neonatal intensive care units at Hahnemann University Hospital and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. The experience showed me what was ahead in my training - quite literally, since I ended up doing my residency there! The experience was invigorating and confirmed for me early on that I had found my life’s plan in pediatrics. I called on the memories of that month many times over during college when I needed extra inspiration to study for organic chemistry and the like!

Spring 2023

AMONG FRIENDS

Genevieve Maquilan, M.D. ’02 • Radiation Oncologist • Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Northampton, MA • Instructor in Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School • M.D. University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine • A.B. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University

“I am thankful to this day for the sense of community that I felt during my time at MFS.” Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. As a radiation oncologist, I use ionizing radiation to treat patients with a range of cancer diagnoses. Each day, I am involved in tasks such as seeing new patients in consultation, follow-up visits, and working on radiation treatment plans. What is the most rewarding part of your work? The most rewarding part of my work is the role I am privileged to take in providing someone comfort and hope during what can be one of the biggest challenges faced in their lives. How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? My parents are both physicians, and learning about their experiences taking pivotal roles in people’s lives brought me to the realization that I wanted to provide this service to others as well. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? My education at Moorestown Friends allowed me to become more present to my goals and values, as well as demonstrated the importance and impact of acts of service. Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? I am thankful to this day for the sense of community that I felt during my time at MFS, built by my teachers and fellow students, that I strive to continually incorporate into my life.

AMONG FRIENDS

Spring 2023

James A.S. “Huck” Muldowney III, M.D. ’90 • Director of Echocardiology and Anticoagulation, Cardiologist, Nashville Veterans Affairs Hospital • Assistant Professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute • M.D. Vanderbilt University • A.B. in Chemistry, Princeton University

“The emphasis on serving others, taking the road less traveled, and the Quaker teaching to find the light of God in others have shaped my career quite a bit.” Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. It’s easier to describe my week than my day. I read echocardiograms (ultrasounds of the heart) and perform transesophageal echos (taking pictures of the heart from patient’s esophagus) two days a week. I have four half days of clinic (seeing patients). I see patients with diseases of the autonomic nervous system. These patients fall into four categories: patients whose heart rates shoot up with standing (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), whose blood pressure drops with standing (Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension), patients who have had head and neck cancer or other trauma to the blood vessels of their neck whose blood pressure shoots up and down randomly (baroreflex failure), and fainting (vasovagal syncope). The balance of my time is spent supervising cardiology fellows and nurse practitioners in their clinics and committee work on the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Institutional Review Board that approves research projects and chairing the anticoagulation committee at the VA. What is the most rewarding part of your work? There are a number of rewarding aspects to my job. While teaching the next generation of physicians is definitely a highlight, and procedures require a technical skill, the most rewarding aspect of my job is knowing I am helping my patients. Because I specialize in a group of rare diseases, many of my patients have been seen by a number of doctors who could not find a disease that explains their symptoms. Eventually, a doctor suspects it is one of the diseases that I treat and refers the patient to me. They get a lot of credit for suspecting what was wrong and getting them to the right place. Patients who are told ‘I don’t know’ from many of the doctors prior to seeing me are relieved to receive a diagnosis and a plan, and are very appreciative when their symptoms improve from treatment. Being able to have an impact on their health is what I find most rewarding.

Spring 2023

How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? Honestly, my passion for medicine and health care began at Moorestown Friends School. My father, who had heart disease my entire life, was hospitalized and diagnosed with diabetes when I was in second grade. This coincided with the beginning of our ‘health and body’ unit in class. Ms. Winchell, my teacher, thought it would be a good idea for me to do a report on diabetes for the class, if only to reassure me that my dad was going to be OK. I borrowed my neighbor’s Merck Manual to learn about diabetes and couldn’t put it down. Not only did I learn about diabetes, but a number of other conditions. Furthermore, a classmate’s father who was an anesthesiologist came to our class to discuss his job, and I peppered him with questions about what I had read. That unit in second grade was pivotal for me, as it was when I decided that I wanted to be a physician. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? Above and beyond the tremendous education I received at MFS, I think that the emphasis on serving others, taking the road less traveled, and the Quaker teaching to find the light of God in others have shaped my career quite a bit. James A.S. “Huck” Muldowney III, M.D. is pictured in second grade exploring a medical model.

AMONG FRIENDS

Matthew Brown ’13 • Medical Student, Emory School of Medicine ’23 • Incoming Psychiatry Resident at Columbia University • M.H.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health • B.A. in Public Health, Johns Hopkins University

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. As a medical student, I am constantly on different clinical rotations. Whether it’s scrubbing into the operating room for an appendectomy, or rounding on patients in the psychiatry inpatient unit, my duties and experiences change with the rotation that I am on. The time I spend in the hospital or clinic is very dependent on the rotation I am on as well as the team I’m working with. In the outpatient setting, my days are rather consistent in terms of time (normally from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). However, during my surgery rotation, there were many days that required me to be at the hospital by 5 a.m. and I wouldn’t leave until 7 p.m. My responsibilities normally require me to look after three to four patients, obtain histories regarding what brought them into the hospital or clinic, perform physical exams, present my findings to my team, call consults, order labs, follow up with their families, and write notes. Outside of the clinical setting, I have to study for clinical rotation exams as well as board exams. I’m also very involved in activities related to medical school including Student Government, the Curriculum Committee, and our school’s chapter of the Student National Medical Association. What is the most rewarding part of your work? Getting to know patients has always been most rewarding for me. While they come to the hospital or clinic for the health concern, you invariably learn about their life outside of their health issue. Those moments are what provide me with the most joy, especially knowing that many patients feel the same way. It’s also part of the reason I was drawn so much to psychiatry as the field inherently requires you to really get to know the patient outside of their psychiatric condition.

“MFS served as the springboard from which every other step for me was made possible.”

How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? For me, the first exposure I had to medicine was the pre-med seminar that Mr. Newman offered as an elective. I didn’t even know what pre-med meant at that time but signed up for the course. Each week we got to hear from a different physician about their specialty and their path to get there. While at the time I had not seriously considered a career in medicine, it did allow me the opportunity to hear about the field broadly. Mr. Newman then sent me to a recruitment program for underrepresented students in medicine to attend at Cooper Medical School. That experience made me contemplate a career in medicine as a reality and from there I pursued the idea during my time at Johns Hopkins University. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? Moorestown Friends gave me a solid foundation in terms of study skills, the freedom to explore my interests, as well as a supportive community to foster my growth not only as a student but as a person. While every step of my educational experience has helped me to get to the place I am today, MFS served as the springboard from which every other step for me was made possible. Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? I can’t think of one memory in particular that sticks out amongst the rest, but that’s a good thing. MFS was a very positive experience for me and I’m grateful for the robust amount of experiences, memories, friends, and faculty that helped to shape me and provide me with some of the most fundamental points in my life.

AMONG FRIENDS

Spring 2023

Lauren Nigro, M.D. ’05 • Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, MD • M.D. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School • B.S. in Molecular Biology, Princeton University

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. The majority of my practice is focused on breast reconstruction for women who have had cancer. I completed a fellowship in microsurgery, which allows me to use a patient’s own tissue to reconstruct or rebuild areas of the body that have been removed after cancer or trauma. A smaller subset of my practice addresses other reconstructive and cosmetic concerns from head to toe. I also work closely with several other medical specialties. The variety keeps it exciting! What is the most rewarding part of your work? The most rewarding part of what I do is helping patients navigate a particularly tough time in their lives and ultimately restoring their sense of wholeness through reconstructive surgeries.

“Moorestown Friends taught me to find the fun and joy in learning.”

How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? In medical school I was pleasantly surprised by the many overlaps between art and surgery, particularly plastic surgery. The term “plastic” surgery has Greek origins and means to mold or shape; it defines the specialty well. I have always enjoyed the instant gratification and creativity involved in making things, which was really fostered during art and woodworking at Moorestown Friends. The ability to apply these interests in my daily work played a large role in my passion for health care. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? Moorestown Friends taught me to find the fun and joy in learning. My teachers had a contagious passion and would challenge me with thought-provoking questions and concepts. In the medical field, I love learning new things relevant to plastic surgery and questioning the way we do things. I like to think of myself as a professional, life-long learner! Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? It’s hard to pinpoint one particularly influential moment from my 13 years at MFS. I spent a considerable amount of time on the fields and court and undoubtedly learned a tremendous amount from those experiences. Athletics at MFS taught me how to overcome challenges, work in a team environment, and develop confidence. Some of my best memories were as a freshman, looking up to the older teammates as role models and pushing myself to emulate their abilities and sportsmanship.

Spring 2023

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Karen Abele Scheu ’91 • Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing Family and Community Health • D.N.P. University of Maryland School of Nursing • M.S.N. Columbia University School of Nursing • B.S.N. Nursing, Boston College

“My Senior Project at Moorestown Friends gave me my first exposure to a career in nursing.” Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. I am a full-time professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing in the Family Nurse Practitioner Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. I teach registered nurses at the graduate level to become Family Nurse Practitioners with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. My day-to day work includes teaching in the classroom and clinical laboratory settings courses such as Advanced Health Assessment where students gain the hands-on clinical skills to assess their future patients and other courses in the traditional classroom setting such as diagnosis and management where students learn how to assess and diagnose common episodic and chronic illness, for example diabetes and hypertension. I am also precepting students that are proficient in Spanish in a community health center called Esperanza in the city of Baltimore. The Esperanza patient population are immigrants and can be from any part of the world, but happen to be mostly Spanish-speaking. I have a panel of patients that I assess, diagnose, and treat with various medical conditions and my students also get the opportunity to see my patients in this primary-care setting. What is the most rewarding part of your work? The best part of my job is sharing my nursing knowledge with students who are studying and training to help make other people’s lives better. I get to train the next generation of Family Nurse Practitioners in tackling the health challenges of a diverse group of patients across the lifespan. I also love partnering with my patients to tackle their health issues. It is amazing what they can accomplish once they have the knowledge of how to manage their health and navigate the healthcare system. I enjoy working as a team with all my colleagues and to deliver the best education and care possible. How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? My Senior Project at MFS gave me my first exposure to a career in nursing. I was placed in a local community hospital volunteering and learning about patient care. I remember enjoying the patients and staff and knew I wanted to work closely with people. I took a gap year after graduating from MFS before attending nursing school at Boston College. My gap year strengthened my interest in nursing. I took an EMT course during my gap and volunteered at the Frontier Nursing Service where I did home health rounds in rural Kentucky and witnessed my first surgery at the local hospital. I did not realize at the time that someday I would continue my nursing education to become a Family Nurse Practitioner and get a Doctoral of Nursing Practice degree. But, as my career and education progressed, I learned the importance of continuing education and how much it could expand and enhance my career. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? My education at Moorestown Friends has guided me in most choices I have made in my career and life. I believe in service to others and have been able to continue this in my professional career, especially now with my work at Esperanza which is volunteer. Moorestown Friends gave me a solid foundation in which to grow in all areas of life and to get involved with the self confidence that is needed to help find your passions. Outside of nursing, I have been involved in organizations by serving on the board of Moveable Feast and the Chewonki Foundation. Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? I remember feeling supported as a student and person at Moorestown Friends. There were so many opportunities to grow inside and outside the classroom. I remember loving Spanish and having special teachers like Carmela Marsala to encourage my learning.

AMONG FRIENDS

Spring 2023

Jonathan Dunn, M.D. ’82 • Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Scripps Clinic Medical Group, San Diego, CA • M.D. University of Southern California School of Medicine • B.S. in Biology, Stanford University Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. A medicine mantra nowadays is ‘shared decision-making,’ which basically means I discuss options for solving medical problems. Tailoring that to each person is the art of medicine - minimally it involves her medical, family, social, financial, belief, and work contexts. My job mostly is to be a knowledgeable, patient counselor, with some technical skills thrown in. I have a varied schedule that, for me, provides a good mix of intellectual and physical work. Most days I am in clinic, and that involves talking with people sandwiched by prep and follow-up - there is a lot of electronic paperwork. I also do surgeries, where on top of working with my hands I enjoy the collegiality of the OR. Once weekly I take 24-hour in-hospital call and do deliveries, care for nonlaboring pregnant women, see gynecologic consults, evaluate ER patients, etc. - the spectrum of ob/gyn care in a kind of predictable (big picture) but also totally unpredictable (day-to-day) way. What is the most rewarding part of your work? Gratitude. At times I get to help vulnerable people through important life events and a heartfelt “thank you” makes my soul sing. I feel keenly the honor of sharing sorrow and joy with others which I get to do in a very personal way. It is especially sweet to celebrate good news with couples who previously have experienced heartache, and that is just downright awesome.

“The human race faces vastly complex problems right now and to survive it is critical that we have young adults rooted in the values of tolerance, non-violence, equality, and stewardship provided by a Quaker education.”

How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? My course to MD was random, more like a pinball’s path than a passion. I had seven different majors in college and later different jobs in business and education. I decided to go to medical school after some serious soul-searching in my late 20’s - I was volunteering in an ER in Denver and the doc there said, “Don’t go into medicine unless you can’t see yourself doing anything else.” Years later as a medical student I walked out to my car at 10 a.m. after a crazy night on my ob/gyn rotation, thought “Hmm, I could see myself doing this,” et voilá. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? It’s hard to differentiate lessons learned at MFS from principles of living life. MFS taught me that, deep inside, we all have the same needs and wants - an extraordinary knowledge when connecting with others of different sexes, races, religions, sexual orientations, etc. Lessons learned at MFS have helped me with empathy and consensus-building. The human race faces vastly complex problems right now and to survive it is critical that we have young adults rooted in the values of tolerance, non-violence, equality, and stewardship provided by a Quaker education. The mission and ethos of MFS give me hope for the future, and I need hope to get out of bed.

Spring 2023

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Steven Porter ‘98, M.D. • Anesthesiologist and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL • M.D. University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine • B.A. in English Literature, Johns Hopkins University

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. I am up early and at the hospital usually between 6-6:30 a.m. My day begins with evaluating patients who are scheduled for surgery. Surgeries start around 7:15-7:30 a.m. I am usually tasked with taking care of 2-4 patients at any given time. The day proceeds with preoperative evaluation, intra-operative, and post-operative management. I generally talk with different surgical and non-surgical teams throughout the day about patient disposition and updates to patient flow. My subspeciality area involves doing procedures to help with patients acute pain management like nerve blocks. I help to train residents and fellows in these procedures and spend a lot of my day supervising them doing procedures. What is the most rewarding part of your work? I really enjoy seeing patients do well after what can be very difficult, and painful, surgeries. How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? My father is a physician. I always enjoyed science and math growing up. I used to watch alongside my dad while he watched video tapes of eye surgeries. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? I was an MFS student from Pre-K through 12th grade. It was such a nurturing environment. I am far removed from the Friends school “I really enjoy seeing patients do well environments at MFS and nearby. We do not have Quaker schools after what can be very difficult, and where I live now and certainly wish that we did for our children!

painful, surgeries.”

Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? There are too many to name! I have great memories of plays, May Day, tennis practice, driving to and from campus with my family, and then, later, my brother.

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Spring 2023

Mikel Jadyne Pride, D.O. ’99 • Family Medicine Physician, Atlantic Medical Group, Westfield, NJ • D.O. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey • B.S. in Psychology, Duke University

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work. My responsibilities as an attending family medicine physician include caring for patients of all ages (birth to geriatrics) for both routine preventive care, management of chronic illnesses, and acute sick visits. At my practice we do both in-person appointments and telemedicine. On a typical day, I see anywhere between 18-22 patients for a range of issues, as well as responding to phone messages, patient emails, and reviewing various lab results and test results. What is the most rewarding part of your work? The most rewarding part of my work is being able to provide care for my patients. I specifically enjoy the “family” aspect of family medicine, in that in some cases, I care for multiple generations of one family - grandparents, parents, and children. It’s nice to have the continuity and relationship with my patients.

“The deeper core Quaker values carry on through how I choose to practice medicine and care for my patients.”

How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you? I always knew I wanted to be a doctor from the time I was four years old. But I think what really helped impact that decision was getting involved with Operation Smile during my time at MFS and ultimately going on a medical mission trip. How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life? My MFS education definitely served me well throughout my career. I felt I was well-prepared for my post-high-school education from the foundation I received while at MFS. Additionally, the deeper core Quaker values carry on through how I chose to practice medicine and care for my patients. Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life? Being able to attend an Operation Smile medical mission is one highlight of my MFS memories. I first attended a few Operation Smile conferences and then was chosen for a mission to Ecuador during my junior year at MFS. It was an eye-opening and life-changing experience that definitely fueled my desire to pursue a career in medicine.

Spring 2023

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Alumni Sports

Alumni Basketball

The annual Alumni Basketball game on December 17 was a fun and spirited affair in the Baiada Field House gym, organized by Assistant Athletic Director Ron Obermeier. Thanks to the many alumni and parents who came to watch and cheer, and the following participants: Front (l to r): Chase Eni ’21, Tommy Martin ’15, Justin Spencer-Linzie ‘10, Dan Richards ’14, Adam Shehata ‘22, Peter Tummarello ’22, Drew Elmore ’22, Jason Strauss ’22, and Darshak Thosani ’11. Second Row: Sean Denson ’08, Roni Kennedy ’22, Greg Billings ’84, Steve Haines ’08, Surya Reddy ’18, Drew Haines ’11, Harrison Kelly ’21, and Dave Nelson ’66. Third Row: Christian Parsi ’21, Danya Weinstock ’22, Alyssa Runyan ’18, Vishal Doshi ’18, Michael Cramer ’18, Bill Brown ’84, Marcel Nelson ’18, Larry Miles ’18, Rushabh Thosani ’09, C.J. Eni ’15, and Joe Beideman ’15.

Alumni Soccer

There was a great turnout for the Alumni Soccer Match on November 26. Mitchell Mullock ’16 scored in the final minute to lift the Red team (primarily even graduation years) to a 3-2 win over the Blue team in a very well-played match. Front (l to r): Tyler Patton ’21, Brad Devlin ’17, Mike Le ’18, Menarsh Patel ’18, Ollie Frank ’19, Andrew Denittis ’17, Shawn Gupta ’10, Olivier Bastien ’17, Ewan Larkin ’17, Brent Cohen ’21, Matt Grahn ’19, Pierce Williams ’14, David Howarth ’15, and Tommy Martin ’15. Back: Curran Ellis ’11, Drew Bachman ’09, Larry Miles ’18, Kyle Koste ’11, George Diamond ’18, Nick Cook ’11, John Latimer ’11, Jon Devlin ’19, Mikey Paznokas ’21, Wes Simpson ’22, Peter Tummarello ’22, Dylan Carilli ’17, Jackson Fox ’20, Shane McAleer ’92, CJ Cooper ’13, Ethan Carilli ’13, Andrew Karolidis ’16, Peter Bader ’14, Dan Richards ’14, Matt Mullock ’16, Steve Mannion ’14, Mitchell Mullock ’16, Andrew Cates ’16, Dave Levinsky ’93, Naoji Moriuchi ’94, and Varsity Coach Mike Schlotterbeck.

AMONG FRIENDS

Spring 2023

Class Notes Photographs of alumni are indicated with . If you see this symbol, a photo featuring a class member is either on the page or nearby!

1956

James Matlack reports that “Jean and I continue to live in Quarry Hill, a retirement community in Camden, ME (my family spent summer times on the nearby lake). Considering age and other factors, we are in good health and remain busy on personal, civic, and family activities. Give a call if you travel near Penobscot Bay.”

1961

Bill Archer helped kick off the holiday season in Moorestown on December 5, appearing at the Community House Tree Lighting Ceremony in his official capacity as Town Crier. In February, the Historical Society of Moorestown established the town crier fund in celebration of Bill’s 80th birthday. Bill has been playing the part for years. According to the official website for Historic UK, town criers had many roles in the 18th century, including proclaiming the news, patrolling the streets after dark and acting as peacekeepers, among

1961

others. The key requirements of the role were the ability to read, a loud voice, and an air of authority.

1965

“It’s a quintessential Moorestown thing,” said Lenny Wagner, the President of the Historical Society, about how the town crier fund came about. “It just started happening because people really like Bill and he’s an institution in town.” The historical society will utilize the town crier fund to acquire certain items that are important to its collections.

Excerpts taken from the Moorestown Sun’s February 28 edition. Joanna Lippincott Patterson has photographed on all seven continents and participated in the South Jersey Camera Club for 10 years. She is still doing massage therapy at her Mount Laurel office after 37 years.

1962

Ann DeCou Cranmer in California reports that she, her brothers, and sisters are still Zooming every Saturday - it started during the pandemic and they have continued: Pat DeCou LaMountain ’63 in Massachusetts, Tina DeCou Krutsky ’63 in Utah, Tony DeCou ’60 in Arizona, and David DeCou ‘68 in Oregon.

1963

Butch Chase and Whitty Ransome shared the news about recent honors that have come the way of their classmate, Bill Wilhelm. Bill, a legendary high school soccer coach and radio sports director on the South Shore of Massachusetts, was recently inducted into the Duxbury High School Hall of Fame. His entry, as a coach and contributor, was covered by The Boston Globe. Bill’s career as a high school coach began in 1974 as coach of the boys’ junior varsity soccer team. Wilhelm, who remarkably won his first 99 games as coach, characterized his experience as “the best 37 years of my life,” and finished 506-39-52. Bill was quoted ten years into his coaching career

Dr. Alan Cooper was recently honored by the Somerset County (NJ) Cultural and Heritage Commission. as saying, “The record is nice, but I try to play every kid every game. I want to keep everybody involved.” In addition, WATD 95.9 news and talk radio has established the Bill Wilhelm Award, which will be presented annually to the area’s most outstanding high school football player. In 1977, Bill started working at WATD where he led the station’s high school sports coverage for 40 years, overseeing and participating in high school football, basketball, and hockey broadcasts, as well as hosting a weekly Sports Exchange talk show.

1965

Dr. Alan Cooper was recently honored by the Somerset County (NJ) Cultural and Heritage Commission. At their Historic Preservation and History Awards Ceremony, he received special recognition for his work on, and dedication to, the Lord Stirling Archaeological Project. Alan led the County Park Commission’s public archaeology program for over 25 years. He uncovered structural and artifact material representing over 250 years of habitation, notably from the residence of William Alexander, the Earl of Stirling, who served on the staff of George Washington during the American Revolution. A highlight of the ceremony was a talk given by Dr. Richard Veit, Professor of Archaeology and Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University. Dr. Veit focused on Alan’s work at the Lord Stirling site,

Moorestown Town Crier Bill Archer.

Spring 2023

AMONG FRIENDS

Class Notes

Paul Pinsky ’68 Appointed Director of Maryland Energy Administration Paul Pinsky was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to be the Director of the Maryland Energy Administration and he took office on January 18. Prior to his appointment as director, he was elected to the Maryland State Senate seven times. As a senator, he chaired the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee. He has also served on the Maryland Commision on Climate Change since its inception. Paul has been a long-time champion in the fight to address climate change and clean up the Chesapeake Bay. He is the principal author of dozens of environmental laws that have helped shape most major state environmental policies in Maryland over the last two decades. As senator, he sponsored the landmark Climate Solutions Now legislation, passed in 2022, which requires Maryland to slash emissions 60% by 2031 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. He was also the lead sponsor of: the watershed 2006 Healthy Air Act which included mandating Maryland’s membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI); legislation codifying the Climate Commission; and the 2009 and 2016 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Acts. He also co-sponsored the Clean Energy Jobs Act to require Maryland to obtain at least 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Paul served on the Commission on Innovation & Excellence in Education (the Kirwan Commission) and was a major architect of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future which aims to transform Maryland’s education system. He is also a longtime advocate for social, economic, and environmental justice. Paul worked in the education field for over 40 years, teaching high school history, advocating for teachers and their working conditions, and consulting and developing policy focused on improving teacher quality. Article and photo courtesy of the Maryland Energy Administration. which has brought greater attention to this hero of the Revolution. Alan has shared that his many excellent teachers at MFS had a profound effect on his careers in teaching and researching history, especially including Neil Hartman, Mary Lanning, and Victoria Starr.

Sciences last year, and look forward to the installation ceremony in April. (I’m a few years behind Carol, a neuroscientist, who was elected to the Academy in 2018.) Retirement still feels like a distant prospect, though not quite so distant as it once did.”

CO, where they stayed for three months looking for houses before finally moving to Farmington, NM. They moved to be closer to Scott’s brother Dr. James Kelemen who lives in Albuquerque. Susan reports that they are enjoying the western scenery and wildlife.

1966

Jim Soffer writes: “I am thrilled to announce the birth of my third grandchild, Ronan Feinstein Soffer, to my son Rabbi Matthew and Nicole Vengrove Soffer and Caleb (10) and Carmel (6), born on February 4. Matthew is Senior Rabbi at Judea Reform Congregation in Durham, NC. Ronan is named for his late grandmother Bess.”

Ken Mayer, Professor in the Department of Global Health and Population at Harvard Medical School, spoke at the Annual HIV Symposium at the University of Miami Medical School on February 9. His presentation was titled “Science Driving Strategy: Ending the HIV Epidemic.” The event was hosted by the Miami Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), the HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases Institute (HEIDI), and the Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (CHARM). His classmate Jay Novick attended the symposium to hear Ken speak.

Scott Kelemen - see Class of 1968

1967

Paul DiMaggio shares: “Carol and I are still working (I’m teaching at NYU now and she is still at Columbia), living in the city (in a Columbia apartment) on weekdays and at our home in Princeton on weekends. We are lucky that both of our sons live in Queens, a few blocks from one another, so we get to see them regularly. I was very pleasantly surprised to be elected to the National Academy of

AMONG FRIENDS

1968

Susan Stapler Kelemen and Scott Kelemen ‘66 moved in August with their 45-year-old tortoise to Durango,

Spring 2023

Class Notes

Janet Hinds Pivalis ’71 Honored by University of Findlay Janet Hinds Pivalis was one of eight people honored at the University of Findlay’s Homecoming and Family Weekend. Janet is a retired educator who taught for 34 years in what she calls her “dream job” in Delran Public Schools. After retiring from Delran in 2009, she was an adjunct professor for seven years at Rowan College Burlington County, teaching intensive reading and composition. Janet earned numerous teaching awards throughout her career including the New Jersey Governor’s Teacher of the Year Recognition in 1988 and 2006. In 2007, she was named the Special Education Outstanding Educator by the National Association of Special Education Teachers. Janet has also dedicated time and energy to helping various nonprofit organizations over the years. She served as a 211 telephone crisis counselor for Contact of Burlington County, and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, food pantries and food kitchens, and EARS Animal Rescue Thrift Shop in Englewood, FL, where she and Frank, her husband of 43 years, reside during some of New Jersey’s cold months. Since retiring in 2016, Laurie Mitchell has been creating paintings and exhibiting in art shows with Gloucester County Art League and the Society of New Jersey Artists. Lynn Mitchell Decker, her twin, is creating gorgeous paintings and they critique each other’s paintings via text quite frequently.

1971

Nancy Zbikowski Gifford reports that “I now have three grandchildren Kilian, Habana, and Lucia. They are a joy. Looking forward to seeing Kurt Klaus in Florida. Bill and I are traveling this year to the Caribbean and later on in the year to Hawaii.” Steve Levin is one of the authors of a newly published book, Rings of Kindness, by Matt Goldberg, et.al. He is presently writing a book on teaching which he hopes to complete some time in 2024. He volunteers for the South Jersey Food Bank and Camden Gardens and is happily watching his 3 1/2 -year-old granddaughter grow up. He has also immersed himself in the promise to read all the books stored in his basement since his retirement. He has gotten through several dozen books, including the one

Spring 2023

Janet Hinds Pivalis ’71 was presented with the 2022 University of Findlay Distinguished Alumna Award by Nicole Burgy, President of the University’s Alumni Board of Governors.

written by his classmate Jeff Miller, Yanks Behind the Lines. Steve reports: “If you are into war history, this is an interesting behind the scenes look at Belgium during the war.” Francie Bobbe Pearce and her husband Al met up for dinner with Denis McDaniel and his wife Denise in Williamsburg, VA in February. Tracy Southworth, a retired IT professional, was featured in an October NJ.com story about the Spirit Halloween pop-up store in Marlton, where he has worked the past three years as he seeks to break into acting.

1972

Eileen Riviello Giardino has been living in Salt Lake City, UT for the past four years and embracing the mountains while also teaching nursing at Rush University in Chicago. She “enjoyed being at the beautiful MFS campus for the reunion in May.” In December, The Sun Newspapers ran a story about the long friendship of Paul Harrison, Brian O’Connor, and Joe Dwyer, which dates from playing soccer together

1971 Denis McDaniel and Francie Bobbe Pearce and their spouses met for dinner in Williamsburg, VA in February. for Moorestown United in the 1970s, a team which was formed by Harrison with players from Moorestown Friends and Moorestown Township High School. Today the three men are still playing together, as members of F.C. Wanderers, part of the New England Over-the-Hill Soccer League. Their team won its over-62 championship final in Massachusetts on Nov. 20, capping a 12-0 fall season.

AMONG FRIENDS

Class Notes

1983

Steve Walsh with his daughter Eileen Walsh O’Connor on her wedding day in Ireland.

1988

1994

Mari Edmund and Don Chierici pictured with their six children after their September 10 wedding.

1976

Lisa Bobbie Schrieber Hughes enjoyed a December trip to South Africa. She shares that “on LBI the rental season was good enough to cover the high NJ property taxes. Life is also fine in D.C., but LBSH’s Great American Novel has yet to be started.”

1980

Janice Johnston with one of her Emmy Awards.

1973

Escamillio Davis reports that “after early retirement, my wife succumbed to cancer. Now I’m remarried and living in the Phoenix area anticipating the arrival of yet another grandchild.”

AMONG FRIENDS

Michael Lifshen sends greetings from Austin, TX and wishes everyone a healthy, happy 2023. He “enjoys disc golf, dark beer, and being the only Eagles fan in the state.” He is still in private practice in family medicine. His wife Marny does PR/Marketing consulting work and wrote a book a few years ago. Michael’s granddaughter Samantha is a sophomore at Auburn University and Jenna is a high school senior who will attend the University of Kentucky.

1983

Steve Walsh’s daughter Eileen married Patrick O’Connor on July 6 at The Knights Of Glin Chapel, Glin, County Limerick, Ireland. Steve reports that he has a grandchild due in May.

1986

G. Shawn Wells, Jr. started working with the Army once again as a Department of the Army civilian at the Pentagon. He is now the Assistant for Housing and Chief of Capital Ventures, maintaining oversight of the Army Housing portfolio. His daughter Katie is in her junior year at Syracuse University, majoring in Forensic Science. Next year she will study abroad in Australia at the University of Queensland.

1988

Janice Johnston won two Emmy Awards in the News & Documentary category as Executive Producer for ABC’s 20/20. The Emmys were for Outstanding Soft Feature Story: Long Form (“The Babies of 9/11: Twenty Years Later”) and Outstanding Edited Interview (“Escape from a House of Horror”). These Emmys were awarded for work produced directly by Janice and her team. This year, 20/20 was nominated for a record 10 Emmy Awards (News & Documentary). Janice was named Executive Producer of 20/20 in February 2021.

Spring 2023

Class Notes

2004/2011

MFS was extremely well represented at the wedding of Akemi Moriuchi ’04 and Ailsa Stevenson ’11 on October 8 at the Moriuchi Farm in Moorestown. From left: former Head of School Larry Van Meter ’68, former faculty member Margaret Van Meter, former School Committee Clerk Bill Guthe, Emiko Guthe Brewer ’02, Naoji Moriuchi ’94, Chiyo Moriuchi ’73, Greg Guthe ’05, Miyo Moriuchi ’67, Louis Eni ’71, Mina Moriuchi, Naomi Moriuchi, Kalisa Martin ’04, Caroline Brunt Moriuchi ’66, Takashi Moriuchi ’92, Fred Moriuchi ’65, Costume Manager Kiyo Moriuchi ’71, Emily Einhorn ’04, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications Julia Applegate Tracy ’10, Lauren Eni Canseco ’05, Elizabeth Sabel ’04, Math Department Chair Katie LuBrant, Julie Eubank ’04, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Athletics Deb Collins Williams ’74, Director of Athletics Danielle Dayton, MS/US English Teacher Katie Stutz ’09, Field Hockey and Lacrosse Coach Julie Rothwell, Lindsay Stevenson Clough ’09, MS/US PE/Health Teacher Erick Cotter, Ann Stouffer Thornton ’07, MS/US Drama Director and Theater Instructor and A/V Coordinator Holli Kitching, and former faculty member Nicole Edmund ’86. Missing from the photo was MS Math Teacher Monica Burrows.

1991

Aneira Puttaswamy, Colleen Coleman, and Amy Paulishak recently met up in New York wine country to celebrate an important birthday for Aneira.

1994

Mari Edmund married alumni parent Don Chierici on September 10 at their home in Moorestown. Together, they have six children, ages 12 to 21. Alumni in attendance were: Nicole Edmund ’86, Genny Edmund Alvarado ’89, as well as John ’07 and Ally Chierici ’09.

1994 Gigio Longo hosted members of the Class of ’94 at his restaurant Gran Caffe L’Aquila in Philadelphia on December 2 in celebration of Rai Wilson visiting from California. Pictured: Naoji Moriuchi, Steve Garza, Gigio Longo, Nathan Evans, Rai Wilson, Greg Masiko, and Chip Giacchetto. Shane McAleer ’92 and Lee Porter ’95 also attended.

Spring 2023

Gigio Longo hosted members of the class at his restaurant Gran Caffe L’Aquila in Philadelphia on December 2 in celebration of Rai Wilson visiting from California.

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Class Notes

2003

2007

Jennifer Harris started a Master’s of Public Administration in Urban Management program through the University of Central Oklahoma after earning her Professional Engineering License in June 2021. She is a project manager for Environmental Resolutions, Inc. in Mount Laurel. Proud grandparents Harvey Waxman and Meridee Duddleston shared the news that their daughter Melissa Waxman and son-in-law Jason Fleischer welcomed a daughter, Eden Waxman Fleischer, on November 4.

2004 Pictured at the wedding of Courtney Brown and Matt Haan are: Matt, Jake Brown ’12, officiant Anni Weisband, Ann Stouffer Thornton, Courtney, and Eric Brown ’10.

2009

Aimee Brinn Dahl, owner of the Cubby Hole restaurant in Moorestown, is very active and engaged in the Moorestown community and still in touch with alums from all classes and ages interfacing frequently with them as her patrons. Former faculty member Akemi Moriuchi ’04 and Middle/Upper School Art Teacher Ailsa Stevenson ’11 were married on October 8 at the Moriuchi Farm in Moorestown. A large contingent of MFS alumni, faculty, and staff were on hand.

2005 Kelly Barna married Paul Baerman on December 23. The wedding party included several alumni.

1996

Erin Coleman, who grew up in Voorhees, was profiled in South Jersey Magazine this Fall. She is the co-anchor, with Keith Jones, of the Philadelphia area’s NBC10 News Today morning broadcast. She shared, “Giving back is everything…I love being in the community and using my platform to raise awareness for some of the incredible nonprofits that are filling the gap every day for people in need. Cathedral Kitchen is one of my favorites. It’s the largest

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emergency food provider in Camden. The people there do such a great job changing lives through food.”

2000

Ashley Brinn was recently appointed to the Board of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, as well as being named President of the Bryn Mawr College Club of South Jersey. She is of counsel at Scarinci Hollenbeck.

Luke Van Meter, an Associate Design Director at McKinsey & Company, is now volunteering at MFS as an ad hoc member of the School Committee’s Quaker Values Committee.

2006

Cory Colijn was one of the leaders of a delegation from the University of Pennsylvania who participated in the United Nations climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt in November. She authored an opinion piece which ran in The Philadelphia Inquirer November 18 titled “Here’s What Pennsylvania Can Learn from a World Climate Meeting.” Cory is the Executive Director of the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the Penn Weitzman School of Design.

Spring 2023

Class Notes

2010

Andrew Preston, a faculty member at The Dalton School in New York City, joined the MFS Alumni Association Executive Board this past fall.

2007

Courtney Brown married Matt Haan in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on December 10. Pictured at the wedding are her brothers Eric ’10 and Jake ’12, officiant Anni Weisband, and Ann Stouffer Thornton. Katherine Hoelz Hurt and her husband, Ben, welcomed a son, Henry Applegate Hurt, in August. Henry joins big sister Emma (age 2). They enjoy living in Charlottesville, VA. MFS alums gathered for a photo at the wedding of Meagan Connelly and Kelvin Church on October 1. Front: Ryan Connelly ’05, Clara Fischer, Monica Chelius, and Alison Barton. Back: Alissa Beckett, Meagan Connelly, Kelvin Church, and Sean Cohen.

2012

2008

Wyatt Cain is a writer on the new Peacock mystery comedy series Poker Face. Paige Martin Henderson, who teaches at Westfield Friends School, is a new member of the MFS Alumni Association Executive Board.

2009

Kelly Barna and Paul Baerman were married on December 23 at Scotland Run Golf Club in Williamstown. Bridesmaids in the wedding included Hannah Spielberg, Rebecca Salowe, her sister Jennifer ‘06, Katie Stutz, and Maeve Kelly. Kelly’s brother Peter ‘11 was a groomsman in the wedding.

2010

Eric Brown see page 40

Meagan Connelly married Kelvin Church on October 1 in Brigantine, NJ.

Members of the Class of 2012 gathered for their 10th reunion on December 29 at Writer’s Block in Philadelphia. Left to right: Lorenzo Gibson, Angel Mathew, Madison Taormina, Jarret Berkowitz, Julie Dunnigan, Josh Sackstein, Sophia Depaulis, Bethany Holtz, McCabe Wilus, Chandler Latimer, Klein Aleardi, Brianna Howarth, and Joe Antonakakis.

Spring 2023

Gijs Verbaas has moved back to the U.S. after spending five years in Stuttgart, Germany. He is the Assistant International Controller for Alarm.com and lives in Burke, VA. Joseph Wittman - see Class of 2012

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Class Notes

2012

2015

Bethany Holtz works as an Outreach Coordinator for SEE Turtles.

2012/13

Lauren Joffe Wittman and Joseph Wittman ’10 on the beach with their son Joseph John. The class celebrated its 10th reunion on December 29 at Writer’s Block in Philadelphia. Thanks to Angel Mathew for organizing! Bethany Holtz graduated from St. Joseph’s University in May 2022 with a master’s degree in biology. Her thesis examined the impact of man-made and natural sound on sea turtle hatchlings. She now works as an Outreach Coordinator for SEE Turtles, a nonprofit geared to connecting people with turtles and supporting sea turtle conservation efforts.

Chandler Lutz Latimer ’12 and Tim Latimer ’13

2011

Alleanna Harris was the illustrator for Crystal Hubbard’s book Marvelous Mabel which won Best Biography at the 2022 Black Kidlit Awards. Ailsa Stevenson - see Class of 2004

2012

Jake Brown see page 40

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MFS high school sweethearts Chandler Lutz and Tim Latimer ‘13 were married on September 3 in Tuscany, Italy after 10 years together. Chandler reported that “it was everything we could have dreamed of, surrounded by our closest friends and family. Fun fact: eight members of the wedding party were MFS alumni! - Jarret Berkowitz, Sophia DePaulis, Julia Dunnigan, Matthew Gaiser, Harrison Krohn ’11, John Latimer ’11, Kristin Latimer ’16, and Danielle Magaziner.”

CBS Mornings Associate Producer Erica D’Costa with her Emmy Award. Lauren Joffe Wittman and Joseph Wittman ’10 welcomed Joseph John Wittman V on August 16, 2021. Lauren reports that they enjoy living in Moorestown and just secured their third home in Moorestown for their investment portfolio.

2013

Aseeli Coleman earned her M.A. in Exhibition Design from the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design at George Washington University. She is now an Associate Exhibition Designer at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, NY. Aseeli is currently wrapping up work on an exhibition titled “No Existe Un Mundo Poshuracan,” which explores how Puerto Rican artists have responded to Hurricane Maria in the wake of its fifth anniversary. This exhibit opened in November and ran through April 23. Tim Latimer - see Class of 2012

2015

Erica D’Costa is an associate producer for CBS Mornings which won an Emmy for Outstanding Live News Program in September. She was also featured with a cover story in Rutgers Magazine.

Spring 2023

Class Notes

2013

Aseeli Coleman is an Associate Exhibition Designer at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Members of the Class of 2017 gathered on December 10 at Van Meter Hall to celebrate their five-year reunion along with a number of long-serving faculty. Standing: Jackson Blanchard, Nicholas Tursi, Hannah Thomson, Hunter Harris, and Kirstin McKeown. Seated: Kelcie Satterthwaite, Natalie Zakroff, Jessica Ferber, Julia Giordano, Medina Shah, and Lauren Becker.

Spring 2023

Lindsay Perr spent her Spring 2023 semester at Harlaxton College in Grantham, UK.

2022

2017

After graduating from The College of New Jersey in 2021 (summa cum laude & Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society) Carly Teitelbaum has been continuing to work for nonprofits addressing food insecurity in the South Jersey community (CROPS).

2021

2017

The class celebrated its fifth reunion with a gathering at Van Meter Hall on December 10. Thanks to Julia Giordano for helping to organize and to Amanda Kezbari for arranging for the food from Carollo’s Little Italy.

Roma Jha, Nia Hipps, and Janiah McRae recently enjoyed a special White House tour.

2018

Surya Reddy graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in May 2022 with a dual degree in finance and accounting. He now lives in Philadelphia and works for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG) as a commercial insurance broker/risk management consultant. He is a new member of the Alumni Association Executive Committee.

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Class Notes

Camden Scholars Winter Gathering

Camden Scholars alumni returned to campus for a dinner in Van Meter Hall with a group of current Scholars on January 6. Seated: Artese Brown ’23, Janeyli Rosario ’23, Cassie Dominguez ’23, and Brandon Snow ’26. Front row: Director of Annual Giving Sonia Mixter Guzman ’02, Camden Scholars Coordinator Jazzmin Holmes ’11, Gabby Martinez ’09, Director of Diversity and Inclusion Dot López, Eliezer Cartegena ’14, Tiffany Taylor Jenkins ’97, Ananya Fussell ’11, and Science Teacher and former Camden Scholars Coordinator Tina Corsey. Back row: Tevin Rivera ’13, Samuel Reyes ’22, Drew Elmore ’22, Jason Woloshin ’15, Greg Billings ’84, and Jailene Jaquez ’16.

2020

Bella Runyan was a significant contributor to the Villanova women’s basketball team which was nationally ranked for most of the season and finished with a record of 30-7. The Wildcats fell to the University of Connecticut in the Big East Championship and advanced to the “Sweet 16” round of the NCAA Tournament.

2021

Lindsay Perr spent the Spring semester studying at Harlaxton College in Grantham, UK as part of her B.F.A. in Theatre Performance degree program at University of Evansville. She was admitted to the Harlaxton Choir during her residency.

2022

Janiah McRae’s mother shared a photo from a special tour of the White House which Janiah and her MFS

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classmates Nia Hipps and Roma Jha recently enjoyed. Bella Pescatore is having a successful freshman tennis season at Mount Saint Mary’s University. She and her doubles partner captured the doubles title at the Bucknell Invitational in September.

Former Faculty & Staff

Former MFS Latin teacher Linda Vizi (alumni parent of Luz Vizi ’99 and Luke Vizi ’05) has curated a new exhibit running at the Moorestown Historical Society called “Inscribed Quilts: Portraits in Moorestown History.” It will be running through around Mother’s Day 2023. Linda started a quilting group over 25 years ago that is still going strong called “Needles and Guns,” referencing her former career as an FBI Special Agent and an avid quilter.

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.

Class Notes received after March 1 will be printed in the next issue of Among Friends.

Spring 2023

In Memoriam Grace Blackburn Grace Blackburn, a long-serving MFS administrator, teacher, alumni parent and former trustee, died on February 26. Grace’s children are Richard Garcia-Kennedy ‘73, Jean Kennedy ‘74, and Tom Kennedy ‘76. Her MFS career spanned nearly 40 years, beginning with her employment as a math teacher in 1964. While continuing her teaching, she also served as Middle School Director from 1970 to 1977 and Director of Studies for the Middle and Upper School from 1977 to 1978. After teaching in the Willingboro School District for several years, Grace rejoined the MFS faculty in 1985 and chaired the math department from 1985 to 1994 before serving as Dean of Faculty from 1994 until her retirement in 2001. Grace worked hard to encourage increased resources for compensation and professional development. Her role as Dean has had a long-lasting imprint – over 20 of the faculty and administrators who she hired are still key members of the school community today. Upon her retirement, former Head of School Alan Craig noted how much he “respected and appreciated Grace’s wisdom, professionalism, and commitment to the longterm success of Moorestown Friends as an academic institution.” Grace joined the MFS School Committee in 2003, serving through 2013. She received the Alumni Association’s Service Award in 2014. Former Head of School Larry Van Meter ‘68 noted that Grace was his eighth grade math teacher, and much later, she coordinated the Head of School search process that resulted in his appointment in 2001. Larry shared that “Grace could always be counted on to understand the needs of teachers and students. She was a particularly strong advocate for the facilities expansion that largely ended the need for teachers ‘to float’ from classroom to classroom. She understood how important it was for teachers to have their own space.” Grace’s family is planning to publish a memorial for Grace’s life. Please send any notes, remembrances, or stories to GAK.GAB.Memorial@gmail.com.

Spring 2023

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In Memoriam Dudley “Sandy” Heath Dudley “Sandy” Heath, who served at MFS from 1972 to 1999, died on February 12. Sandy’s children are Suellen Riffkin ‘79, Jenny Heath ‘82, and Lisa Dainton ‘85. Sandy arrived at MFS in 1972 as the Upper School Director. After serving in that role for five years, he served as the Social Studies Department Chair from 1977 to 1981. Sandy and former Social Studies Department Chair Ed Dreby started the City Project in 1973, a three-week intensive learning program for ninth and tenth grade MFS students to study the city of Philadelphia. The program was the genesis for the current week-long Intensive Learning program, which is held annually prior to Spring Break for grades 5-12. In addition to the City Project, Sandy was actively involved in the Mock Political Convention (now known as the Mock Primary Election), May Day festivities, and many other school activities. He was also very involved in athletics, serving a stint as athletic director. He was coach of the MFS track team for 12 years. Sandy received the Alumni Association’s Service Award in 2007. Then-Head of School Larry Van Meter ’68 remarked at the Dinner Among Friends that year: “More than anything else, the reason that Sandy is being recognized tonight for his service to the MFS community is that he has been the epitome of the teacher who has gone the extra mile. He was front and center at every all-school event. His warm-hearted interest in his students, and his devotion to Moorestown Friends and to the wider Quaker community, are wonderful examples to us all.” A celebration of Sandy’s life will be held at the Moorestown Meeting House on Saturday, June 17 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Sandy and Sue Heath Endowment at MFS.

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Spring 2023

In Memoriam Davida “Davie” Weiner Former Instrumental Music Teacher Davida “Davie” Weiner died on February 18. She built the instrumental music program at MFS through a long career at the school from 1975 to 2000, touching the lives of hundreds of students. Her children are Beth Weiner Barrow ‘87 and Josh Weiner ‘92. In 1975, Davie came into daughter Beth’s MFS kindergarten class and taught the students how to play the melody flute. Over the next 25 years, she created the instrumental music program at MFS, giving individual lessons to countless kids on every type of woodwind, brass, and percussion instrument (except the saxophone) and led the school’s ensemble program. A retrospective 1999 article in Among Friends celebrated Davie’s 25 years of service and provided a poignant introduction which summarizes the evolution of the ensemble program: “It all started with a few flutes. In Fall 1974, the group that would become today’s MFS Ensemble was born. ‘I had maybe six Lower School kids, all flute players, for a half-day program,’ recalls Ensemble Director Davie Weiner. Her daughter, Beth ‘87, had recently started school and son Josh ‘92 was three months old.” Davie gave lessons in the Meeting House. Her first Lower School classroom was the room where whale blubber (used in a Lower School unit on whales) was stored. (She remembers trying to teach children breath control, despite the smell.) Over time, the Ensemble grew with the children, becoming a multi-age mix of third through 12th graders. Instruments were added and new arrangements - for both the program and for musical selections were created. MFS now sponsors both Middle School and Upper School Ensembles that play Winter and Spring Concerts as well as accompanying every major school event...” Davie had several other key roles, serving as yearbook advisor and Senior Project coordinator. After her time at MFS, she started her own business as a pet sitter in Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island known as Bone Voyage. Davie developed a loyal base of customers and friends, of both the two- and four-legged variety. She also continued playing her flute for weddings and other ceremonies. For the past 20 years, she has been a part of the St. Francis of Assisi Music Ministry and a beloved member of the community. A celebration of Davie’s life was held on Friday, March 3 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Brant Beach, NJ.

Spring 2023

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In Memoriam Christopher Barnes ‘87 son of former faculty member Margaret Barnes Mansfield; brother of Katherine Barnes ’89 Janet Hall Birdsall ’42 Grace Kennedy Blackburn former faculty and staff member; mother of Richard A. Garcia-Kennedy ‘73, Jean Kennedy ’74, and Tom Kennedy ’76 Alan Bobbe husband of former faculty member Frances Kraft Bobbe ’45 and father of Francie Bobbe Pearce ’71 Robert B. Bottomley ’43 Stephen E. Darnell ’65 son of former faculty member, the late Mona Darnell Jay Denbo ‘58 brother of Michael Denbo ‘63

Gail Hohweiler mother of Joan Hohweiler Herzog ’86 Mary Cloud Hollingshead wife of Wickliffe Hollingshead ‘56 Patti Dee Hopton former School Committee member; mother of Ted Hopton ’80 Harriet Levy mother of the late George Brooks ’69 Molly Wood Logan ’49 Ellen Nutt mother of Danielle Nutt ’07 Franklin Phillips II father of Franklin Phillips III ’79, Robert Phillips ’80, and Mary Phillips Hunt ’84 Janet Savage Sleeper ’63

Peter Douglas ’70

Zoe Tsigounis ‘53

Julia Dunn mother of Betsy Dunn Ross ‘72, Gerritt Dunn ‘74, David Dunn ‘76, and Jonathan Dunn ‘82

Frank Tummarello father of Peter Tummarello ’22

Paul Fischer father of Molly Fischer ‘15 George Fisher father of George Fisher ‘69, Miriam Fisher ‘70, Margaret Fisher ‘75, and Stuart Fisher ‘78 Martha Spangler Garrigues ‘65 Andrew Hauty husband of MS/US French Teacher Jobi Dan’Sy and father of Lia ’33, Beckett ’36, and Quinn ’36 Hauty-Dan’Sy Sandy Heath Former faculty and staff member; father of Suellen Heath Riffkin ‘79, Jenny Heath ‘82, and Lisa Heath Dainton ‘85

Wayne Watts husband of Tracey Marley Watts ‘80 Davida “Davie” Weiner former faculty member; mother of Beth Weiner Barrow ’87 and Josh Weiner ‘92 Thomas Whitesell husband of former School Committee member Debbie Whitesell; father of former faculty member Tracey Whitesell ’86 Ellen Doak Winslow ‘66 sister of Mimi Doak Pakenham ‘58

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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Spring 2023

Read about the MFS Strategic Plan at mfsstrategicplan.org. You can also view a timeline of strategic initiatives from the past 50 years.

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Read about Alumni in Medicine and how their MFS education inspired and informed their careers and lives.