Class Notes

SUBMIT YOUR NEWS FOR THE NEXT ISSUE!

We love to help you celebrate your milestones. Send us a quick note and a picture if you have one and we’ll include your news in the next issue of the Moravian Academy Journal.

Swain Campus alumni, we look forward to featuring your notes in future issues! Be sure to share your news with us!

1948

Jane Stahl Hergenhan ’48P, from Portland, OR, shared “I’m well along with my husband Ken of 62 years, 4 adult married children and 11 grandchildren. All love living in the west. We moved here on our honeymoon. I’m wondering how many of our MPS graduates ( class of 1948 ) besides Pat Lawler and I are still here?”

1964

Recently it was reported in the Morning Call that Charlene Donchez Mowers ’64P was named the Senior Advisor to Historic Bethlehem Museums as of March 1st. The shift in leadership permits Charlene to focus on the next steps leading to Historic Moravian Bethlehem being designated a World Heritage Site.

1972

Rob Hamill ’72MA writes, “As we are in our 50th year reunion, I have been blessed with a second childhood where I am still doing all the things I’ve wanted since I graduated. We have an empty nest and are proud of our kids: I have a mature sawmill/woodworking business after a long career as a stock broker, and this will be my 42nd year as a whitewater kayak guide. We have three ski houses, a woodlot, a backyard with a swimming hole and surfing wave, and health. This reunion I’ll build a 50 foot bonfire to eclipse the 40 footer from ten years ago. JEEEEP.”

1982

Paul Isaac ’82MA shared that “I ran the Boston Marathon Virtual Run on October 9th and received the coveted unicorn 125th Boston Marathon Medal and T-Shirt. It was my 19th marathon. I also received the “Philippines” Bronze Award from United States Track & Field. In addition, I was featured in “Tuesday’s with Toyota” on the United States Track & Field website which qualified me for a VIP membership with them this year.”

1988

Diana (Wolfe) Rosberg, ’88MA, writes, “Bengt and I have great news to share. We are moving on to our next international adventure, in Mumbai, India. Bengt will be the Deputy Head of School at Oberoi International School, and I will be working to strengthen pedagogy and learning in the Primary School. This is my seventh international school since 1992 and offers fantastic prospects for professional fulfillment alongside the cultural and culinary excitement of this ancient city.”

1995

Brian Naisby ’95MA happily shared, “Abbot Grim Naisby was born in the late summer of 2021 and will be in the class of ’39 or ’40! Here is a pic of Abbot and me hiking. He thought hiking was the funniest thing and loved looking around. In this photo, he is just straight up relaxing. We are enjoying our time together and he’s learning every day. Brian Naisby ’95, Korin, and Abbot

2000

Maya Rodale ’00MA writes, “My historical novel, THE MAD GIRLS OF NEW YORK was published April 26, 2022. It’s based on the real life of Gilded Age stunt girl reporter NELLIE BLY who got her start in journalism by feigning insanity, getting herself committed to the notorious Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum For Women and writing about it for the biggest newspaper in New York City. In 1887. As a single, twentythree year old woman. It’s a novel that combines my love of history, New York City, and novels where women triumph. For more, visit www.mayarodale.com.”

2002

Stacy (Lipschutz) Seltzer ’02MA

founded 3G Philly, a group for the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors in Philadelphia and across the Delaware Valley. The group’s mission is to honor our grandparents through education, advocacy and peer support in order to uphold the pledge of “never again.” To learn more about our efforts and our events, please visit www.3gphilly.org.

2003

Lauren Calabrese ’03MA has been promoted to Lehigh University Women’s head soccer coach, effective February 1. Along with graduating from Lehigh with her Bachelor of Arts in English in 2007, Calabrese also earned her Master of Arts in Education (in 2011) and English (in 2013). Calabrese is also an adjunct professor in the English Department at Lehigh; for the past three years, she has taught Research and Argument during the spring semester.

2006

Shelby Asen ’06MA writes, “I’m now working at the AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) as a senior meeting coordinator.”

2007

Laura Heath-Stout ’07MA shared, “In November, my partner Allegra and I welcomed our child, River Benjamin Heath-Stout, to the world.”

Casey Noble Stockmal ’07MA is loving life! After graduating from Lehigh, Casey spent 8 years working in Industrial Real Estate Development across PA. For the past two years she has been working with her family to bring the historic Wilbur Mansion in Bethlehem back to life as a hotel, restaurant, and event center (thewilbur.com). The project also consists of managing the construction of a 50 unit apartment building onsite, the Wilbur Views. Casey very recently got married to her best friend, Mike Stockmal, and had the winter wedding of her dreams which included skiing in her dress, tying the knot next to a frozen lake, and exiting the aisle under a tower of wooden skis! She is still actively riding horses in barrel racing events and spends winter weekends coaching ski racing to little kids at Blue Mountain.

2008

Patrick Klemm ’08MA writes, “My wife and I welcomed our first child, Evelynn Brooke Klemm on July 26, 2021. I also caught up with Alex Kahan (’08 alum) to continue our annual Eagles away game trip--something we’ve been doing together since 2014 (Arizona, Seattle, Kansas City, New Orleans, Minnesota over the years). This year, we went to Denver, Colorado. I recently became a Senior Product Manager for Five Below. A key project that I led this past year was piloting our first omni-channel initiative, ship-from-store. This year, I’ll be leading the next iteration of our omni-channel strategy: piloting a buyonline, pick-up in store pilot, which will hopefully roll out later this year.” Jessica Vara ’08MA writes, “I recently got married to my husband Eli Gordon and bought a house in New Jersey where I live with my husband and golden retriever. I work in New York City at a Real Estate Development firm as a project manager/in-house Architect. In this role I coordinate, manage and implement all activities related to successful construction projects in Manhattan and Jersey City. While I am not working or playing with my dog, I am usually found running, hiking or fulfilling my desire to explore the world.”

2009

Greg Duckloe ’09MA writes, “I married my wife Flora on September 4, 2021 at a ceremony at her parents’ home in Wiltshire in the English countryside. It was a beautiful wedding and we were blessed to have a number of family and friends in attendance from both sides of the pond. Following the wedding, we enjoyed a ten day honeymoon in the Maldives and my parents hosted a reception for us back in Pennsylvania in late December for those that couldn’t make the trip overseas. In May, I left my job at RM Sotheby’s for a new role as the Sales Office Development Coordinator at DK Engineering, a Ferrari specialist dealer and service facility just outside of London. DK operates at the very top end of the collector car market and is world-renowned as the leading marque specialist in several models of Ferraris, which certainly makes for an exciting day-to-day as you can imagine!”

2010

After graduating from Moravian Academy, Alex Binford-Walsh ’10MA went to Colorado College for three semesters and attended a study abroad program with SEA Education Association (Woods Hole, MA). Thinking he would join a buddhist monastery, he left Colorado College and volunteered in southern Arizona for a local ranch and conservation organizations. Realizing volunteering isn’t a good long-term plan, he enrolled at the University of Arizona where he received a BS and is currently finishing up his Master’s in Wildlife Conservation and Rangeland Management. Alex plans to continue to work on conservation efforts in southern Arizona.

2010

Sameer Kandola ’10 MA writes “I had been working as a senior associate in the global healthcare investment banking division at Citigroup based in NYC, but recently I’ve moved to Park City, Utah, near Salt Lake City where I joined a healthcare private equity fund, DW Healthcare Partners.

2011

Adam Blair ’11MA recently got engaged and will be getting married in December. His fiancé’s name is Erica and they met at Lehigh University. Katharine Swantak ’11MA shared that “I got married in August to Mike Hart. I’m also now an Educational consultant for a company called ConnectPrep. I also just adopted two bulldogs named Samson and Tony.”

2012

Ani Acopian ’12MA is a director and conceptual artist based in Los Angeles, CA. She has been awarded Forbes 30 Under 30, Young Guns 18, and Adweek Creative 100, amongst others. Select clients include Airbnb, Chipotle, Coachella, GIPHY, Instagram, Interscope Records, MTV, Red Bull, T-Mobile, VSCO, W Hotels, and Will Smith. Ani is also the co-creator of several Webby-nominated & Shorty-awarded companies including Amazon Dating, Scrubhub, and Postdates.

2013

Courtney Bell Asteak ’13MA writes, “I live in the Lehigh Valley own a home with my new husband Matt - we just got married in September. My name is officially now Courtney Asteak. I have worked for PPL Electric for 5 years now in various engineering roles and have recently been promoted to Reliability Supervisor for the Lehigh valley and Pocono areas.”

2014

Arden Ashford ’14MA shared that, “I currently work for Nestlé USA in the Marketing department. I support the Global Brands division, which includes an assortment of international culinary and food brands. Before Nestlé, I worked at Newell Brands in their eCommerce division. I currently live in Arlington, Virginia, but come back home to Pennsylvania often as I work remotely still!”

Aaron Donahue ’14MA shared that, “In 2020 I was accepted to and enrolled in the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Performing Arts MFA program. Since then I have not only been doing well, but I also started my own comedy production company called ’Mazel Tov Cocktail Collective.’ We have released 14 projects, two of which being short films. Our sketches have garnered local attention and our most recent short film, ’I Got a Thing for Blondes’ won an award at a film festival out of Atlanta, our first of many responses so far. When I graduate in June I’ll be heading to Atlanta to further pursue a career in acting and filmmaking.

Kira Ivarsson ’14MA shared via LinkedIn, “I’m extremely excited for the next challenge modernizing software for the VA with Rise8! It’s a fitting way to celebrate Veterans Day this year and to continue to better the lives of the servicemen and women I was so fortunate to work with before.”

Marlee Senderowitz ’14MA writes that “After graduating from Moravian Academy in 2014, I went on to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology. I graduated in 2019 with a B.S in Materials Science and Engineering and has remained in Atlanta, Georgia since. This year, I started as a Senior Associate Account manager at Alpla, a global plastic packaging company. Here, I am able to combine her technical expertise with my entrepreneurial side. In my free time, I have been enjoying taking improv classes at a local theatre along with art classes.”

2015

Jeff Brown ’15MA writes, “I’m currently halfway through my second year of medical school at the USF Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa. I’m in the Select program, which means that I will be returning to the Lehigh Valley in May to do my 3rd and 4th years at Lehigh Valley Hospital. Some of the extra-curricular activities I’m involved in include research (most recently I just got accepted to present research at an Emergency Medicine conference in San Diego), I’m a tutor for first year medical students at USF, I’m the vice president of the school’s “Covid-19 and Pandemic Response Club”, and I’ve been playing some pick-up soccer in my spare time!” Makenzie O’Brien ’15MA writes, “I am currently a second year medical student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA. I have really enjoyed becoming an active member in the Erie community outside of medical school. I am a volunteer soccer coach for the Erie Admirals Club soccer organization. I also started a volunteer organization called Brighten A Day Erie where we collect thousands of homemade cards and deliver them to UPMC Hamot Hospital and Shriners Children’s Hospital in Erie PA. In June I will be starting my third year of medical school where I will be doing rotations at Jefferson Health NE in Philadelphia PA.”

2016

Arianna DiMarco ’16MA shared that she is in her second year of teaching 6th grade social studies at Moravian Academy. She also successfully obtained her Masters of Education Degree from DeSales University. Lastly, she got engaged to her fiance, Wesley Smith, in December, who is the Mayor of Wind Gap, PA. They will get married this July.

2017

Nikki Pearce ’17MA shared recently, I graduated from Villanova University in May, 2021. I was an economics major and finance and real estate minor. I moved to New York City in August and started working for Morgan Stanley. I am an analyst on the Equity Swaps Trades Support Team. I am fortunate to not only have friends from Villanova living in the city, but also friends from Moravian! In my free time, I love to stay active by going on walks and working out.

Desales University Men’s Basketball Team advanced to the MAC Freedom Championship Semifinal with the help of Moravian Academy alum, Jordan Holmqvist ’19MA.

THE SWAIN SCHOOL CAMPUS

Alexa Dectis ’07SS shared “I do have news! I was just named to the Forbes 30 Under 30! As a child, Dectis acted on “Sesame Street,” and that early experience inspired her to attend law school and use her analytical skills to protect minors working in Hollywood. Today, she oversees all legal issues surrounding minors in Skydance Media productions.

HELP US SHARE YOUR GOOD NEWS!

If you’re a Swain School alum or know someone who is, send your class notes to Bob Zaiser, Director of Institutional Advancement, at bzaiser@mamail.net!

Alumni/ae Deaths

OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WE HAVE LOST. Sally Avery ’61S

May 16, 2021

Bruce Becker ’69P

March 3, 2021

John Callahan Jr. ’66P

July 22, 2021

Shirley Williams Campbell ’47S

January 27, 2021

Josephine Grace Massey Henry ’38S

January 6, 2022

Cheryl Hoffman Corsa ’69P

June 17, 2021

Alice Hoelzel ’61S

September 5, 2021

Suzanne Holton Hunsicker ’48S

July 10, 2021

Lilia A. Kozicky ’88MA

December 17, 2021

Diane Martin (’23 Parent)

January 4, 2022

Dr. Virginia E. Maulfair ’56S

August 13, 2021

Rayne James Aubrey McKay ’21

March 22, 2022

Kathleen Teeple Monastero ’62S

October 1, 2021

Elsie Stevens Norton ’71S

February 22, 2022

Michael J. Schmerbeck ’10MA

April 2, 2021

Thomas J. Smull ’65P

January 5, 2021

Richard C. Theis ’53P

February 14, 2021

Sandra Avery Titus ’63S

January 2, 2021

C. Dean Weidner ’74MA

June 20, 2021

11 West Market Street Bethlehem, PA 18018

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Mark Your Calendar Upcoming Events

To view a full list of events, visit www.moravianacademy.org/calendar.

May 16, 2022 Last Day of School for Class of 2022 June 3, 2022 Baccalaureate June 4, 2022 Commencement June 9, 2022 Last Day of School (Swain Campus, Preschool-Grade 3; Downtown Campus, Preschool-Grade 5) June 10, 2022 Last Day of School (Merle-Smith Campus, Grades 9-11; Downtown Campus, Grades 6-8; Swain Campus, Grades 4-8) June 20 - August 19, 2022 Summer Explorations* August 30, 2022 First Day of School (Merle-Smith Campus) August 31, 2022 First Day of School (Swain and Downtown Campuses)

*Summer Exploration dates depend on camp program enrollment.

THEN

NOW

Field hockey players Wendy Sheetz ’85 hugs Stephanie Fuhr ’84. Denise Adomshick ’85 and Nancy Coale ’84 look on. (1983, courtesy of the Moravian Academy Archives) The 2021 field hockey team celebrates an overtime win. (2021, courtesy of @mafhock21 on Instagram)