Westover Magazine, Winter 2018 by Opus Design

WINTER 2018

Constructing Our Future More than a century after a pair of women guided the original construction of Westover, two young women again played key roles in the first phase of an extensive renovation of the School. COVER STORY PAGE 3

The Women of WestoverConnect WestoverConnect is the School’s online tool that brings alumnae together in a productive, effective, and inspirational network. There are now more than 100 Alumnae Advisors from 65 fields who are available for fellow alumnae seeking information about career opportunities. There are now more than 230 alumnae using this woman-to-woman professional networking tool.

MORE THAN 100 ALUMNAE ADVISORS

FROM 65 FIELDS

Mary Cutrali ’07 | Alumnae Advisor for WestoverConnect Mary is a former Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) student who found her way to a career in technology after a brief stint in the world of art. Mary is currently working as a Support Engineer at HashiCorp, a DevOps startup based in San Francisco, California. DevOps is a software engineering practice that seeks to unify software development (Dev) and software operations (Ops). At HashiCorp, Mary helps a growing list of Fortune 100 customers find solutions for moving their enterprise software to a multi-cloud environment. She also mentors newcomers to the industry and occasionally you can find her speaking at a technology conference or user group about mentorship, diversity and inclusion, or DevOps. Visit WestoverConnect to interact with Mary or dozens of other alumnae eager to provide advice and encouragement as you begin or grow your career.

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Visiting artist Shaunda Holloway (left) worked in the Quad with seniors Dulcinee Tuza and Jiberly Sandoval and other students, faculty, and staff on a day-long community mural project as part of this year’s theme, “The Power of Women.”

12 THEME YEAR

The Power of Women

WINTER MAGAZINE 2018

Advancement Communications Office PUBLICATIONS STAFF

Richard J. Beebe P’10 Director of Advancement Communications Mary Albl Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Opus Design Magazine Design & Layout Michele Levy ML Brand Strategy Consulting Caleb Portfolio Additional photography

LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

COVER STORY

WESTOVER NEWS

ALUMNAE NEWS

Constructing Our Future

From the Quad

We Are Westover

A Powerful Theme

Tour of Asia

Leading the Charge

A Year of School Gatherings

Thoughts on... Laying the Groundwork

10 Years of SOMSI

Julie Faulstich, Head of School

Convocation Family Weekend Donation of Claude Lawrence Paintings

Mara Lavitt Additional photography

Retirements & New Additions to Westover

The Westover Magazine is a publication of the Advancement Communications Office in conjunction with the Alumnae & Development Office.

In the Community On Stage

Please direct comments, corrections, and suggestions to Rich Beebe at rbeebe@ westoverschool.org. Westover School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, or national or ethnic origin in administrations of its admissions, financial assistance, educational, or other school policies. Every Westover student is admitted to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School.

Cover photo by Mary Albl

Sports

CLASS NOTES

46 ARCHIVES

Rediscovering Pieces of Westover’s Past

LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

THOUGHTS ON... LAYING THE GROUNDWORK Dear Friends, Happy 2018! May the New Year bring you happiness and peace. The dawn of a new year provides an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the past and set intentions for the future. The start of a new year can be a simple pause in what is oftentime a busy life. I wish for you all a quiet moment to contemplate what a new year means to you and what wonderful possibilities may lie ahead. The latter half of 2017 was a landmark time for Westover. Completing the first phase of renovation of the main building, welcoming a new class of eager students for an exciting year, and achieving re-accreditation through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges was energizing and thrilling. And while we tackled many tactical aspects of school life, I always remain keenly aware of the bigger picture. Westover is constructing the future of girls’ education. We are shaping confident girls who will go on to design their lives at a moment when women’s empowerment is more important than ever before. We are connecting our past to our future with our passionate alumnae who have helped to make Westover a leader in girls education. This edition of the magazine highlights the physical ways we are constructing Westover’s future. But more importantly, we are laying the groundwork for an evolving school that will keep girls’ education vibrant and essential as the culture embarks on a new stage of gender equality.

Warmly,

Julie Faulstich, Head of School

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

COVER COVER STORY STORY

T S N CO TING C U R

G N I T C U R R U O E R U T FU Once Again, Two Women Guide the Construction of Westover’s Future By Mary Albl

It was the summer of 2017 at Westover School and the spirit of Mary Hillard was lingering over the construction that had begun in the Spring. It had been more than 100 years since architect Theodate Pope and founder Mary Hillard had opened the doors of Westover, but memories of the two have been ever present as the 108-year-old building went through the first major construction project in its storied history. The past and present of Westover’s history have collided in a special way — at the forefront of the renovation stood two prominent young females — Emily Resetarits, Lead Field Superintendent, and Amy Chan, Lead Project Engineer. The two worked for nearly nine months continuing Mary and Theodate’s vision. “I thought it was pretty inspiring that Theodate Pope, a female architect, built this and she’s from Farmington, which is where I’m from,” said Amy. “It’s nice to be a part of something historic and continue her vision.” Westover has been receiving a major interior facelift and upkeep of the main building as a part of phase one of a master plan. As classes started and students filled the halls in the fall of 2017, a fresher and more functional building was ready — all while maintaining its unity and charm. 4

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COVER STORY

“I think Mary Hillard and Theodate Pope would be thrilled,” Westover Archivist Muffie Clement Green ’65 said. “They were very much forward thinkers and understood that the School would and should evolve. I think they would be very excited to see how their vision has thrived and is being carried forward.”

The Two Women Take the Lead Growing up, Emily always found trucks cool. At age 14, she was already taking college classes at Central Connecticut State University with a focus on construction. Emily’s dad, Paul Resetarits, is a professor of Manufacturing and Construction Management there. “I always knew this was what I wanted to do,” explained Emily, who graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston in 2014.

“At the busiest time for the project, in late July and August, there were nearly 90 construction workers on campus each day.”

A self-described “late bloomer,” Amy worked for an electrical contractor as an office manager where she took a liking to estimating and quantity takeoff (a construction industry term used to describe the counting of materials needed for a project) as part of the pre-construction process. “I really enjoyed it and wanted to pursue a career in it,” Amy said matter-of-factly—in 2016 she graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a degree in construction management. Both found a home with Turner Construction and their path led them to Westover. Emily explained it was thoughtfully constructed by Turner to have two women in lead roles on this project — a direct way for the 200 Westover students to witness females in a more traditionally male-dominated field. “The girls see Amy and me and see that it’s not a far reach if you want to go into construction,” Emily explained. Amy and Emily were brought into the project during the beginning stages back in February of 2017 — taking part in the bidding, scope reviews, and estimations, which allowed the pair to have better insight into the School and the project moving forward. Lead Estimator Kate Cassen, of Turner, was also heavily involved behind the scenes advocating the importance of two women on the project. “I think having the two females is one of the things that won them the contract,” said Assistant Head of School Ben Hildebrand. “Turner put an emphasis on that from the beginning, and we thought, as an all-girls’ institution, this was important.” For a majority of each day, Emily, 25, was seen sporting a hardhat and always walking around from one assignment to the next. This was Emily’s first project in her role as a lead field superintendent. “I am fidgety and like to be moving around,” she said with a laugh. “Sitting in an office for eight hours isn’t my forte.”

Page 3: Westover’s architect Theodate Pope (second from left) leads a tour during an early phase of the School’s construction. Page 4: Lead Project Engineer Amy Chan (left) and Lead Field Superintendent Emily Resetarits going over a projects list in the School Quad Top Photo: Members of the construction crew this summer working on the Dining Room ceiling Bottom Photo: Renovation work this summer in Red Hall

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COVER STORY

Blueprint for Success A typical day this past summer began at 6 a.m. “Usually with a panicked phone call from someone about something that was wrong,” Emily said with a smile. As the “field super,” each day Emily would get out to the field and talk to the construction workers, walking through their daily plans, and making sure they had everything they needed. After an 8 a.m. sit down with Amy, reviewing what was planned for the day, she would go back out in the field. Around 3 p.m. she would sit with Amy and Rolff and catch up on the day. “By 5 p.m. I would gather my thoughts and make phone calls for the next day, just making sure that we had the right number of individuals and sufficient materials moving forward.” However, Amy, 27, also in her first role as a lead project engineer, worked mostly in the office because of her duties. This past summer, the Turner Trailer on campus was her second home. Both said they’ve been pretty lucky and have not dealt with any issues regarding their gender in the work field; rather they’ve let their knowledge, passion, and love for their job do the talking. “I was really impressed with Emily and Amy,” Ben explained. “At the busiest time for the project, in late July and August, there were nearly 90 construction workers on campus each day, but there was not a single day laborer on site who was female. And so, right from the get-go they had to set a tone that they were in charge, and I think they did that. In weekly meetings they had prominent roles, and Emily rightly knew more than Rolff Knobel (Project Manager)... he would look to them for answers each week.”

Top Photo: (from left) Trustee Christine Muldowney Dahl ’82, who served on the Master Plan Subcommittee, with Lead Field Superintendent Emily Resetarits and Assistant Head of School Ben Hildebrand during a weekly project meeting Page 7 Photo: the renovated Reception Office Bottom Photos: The Dining Room and first floor corridor during the construction last summer

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

As project engineer, Amy was in charge of change orders, approval letters, and the budget — all money-related items. Amy explained that a change order comes about when a field condition arises, or something from the original scope of work changes. “For example, the dining hall was a change order to this summer’s scope of work,” Amy said. “Westover and their Trustees decided that this area should be completed this summer, so we sent out a notice to our subcontractors (the electrician, the mechanical/ plumbing contractor, the drywall contractor, etc.) and asked them to price out how much it would cost to include the dining hall scope of work in this first phase of construction. This is a lot harder than it sounds because all these contractors have to reference are the drawings, so there are a lot of questions to answer in order to get the right price and make sure that everybody understands exactly what the design intent is.” While their roles were different, Amy and Emily’s work complemented each other in a vital way. “We need each other to flow together,” Amy said. “Emily handles the work in the field. I need Emily’s help to understand what was done.” One of the biggest mysteries of this project was the historical aspect. Emily explained that making the timeline for this project was tricky because the building had never been taken apart before. One of the major additions was an elevator in the corner of the

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COVER STORY

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

COVER STORY

dining hall. “That’s why we approached the School and said, ‘Hey, can we build a temporary wall in your dining hall?’ so we could get a head start and see what’s above and what’s below, and what kind of rewiring and relocating of pipes we had to do.”

old wiring, which isn’t good. So, we took one column cover off, hoping we could put it back together. We couldn’t, so we ended up having to replace all 14 of the columns in Red Hall.”

Amy explained that Emily created a schedule at the beginning of the project, which was highlighted with milestones the team needed to reach to ensure that they finished on time. In planning for the elevator construction, Amy said, “We always knew the elevator would take longer, and we made that clear from the beginning, so we could definitely get the rest of the work done before the kids got here.” And it was, in fact, all completed in good time.

Constructing the Future

A majority of the work — a new heating system, air conditioning, and windows — doesn’t stand out at first glance. “A big job that not a lot of people notice is the Red Hall columns,” Emily said. “We were changing the lights on the columns and there was

“I was never not confident,” Amy said with a sense of conviction. “It all kind of came together in the final two weeks.” During the last two and a half months in the summer, Emily and Amy were on campus anywhere between 12-14 hours a day making sure the project finished on time. Amy wrapped up the final closeouts during the last weeks of September. The two, who met for the first time this summer, explained they learned a lot about one another going forward as they will both be tackling new projects. “I think Emily is pretty strong in her role,” Amy said. “She knows what she’s doing, she handled herself pretty well this past summer.” Added Emily: “Coming into the role, Amy was a little bit new, but took it with great stride. In her conversations between her and subs (contractors), she doesn’t let them back her down, she stands her ground and knows what she’s talking about.” While stresses, frustrations, and struggles occurred, both Amy and Emily’s passion for the field and the work have kept them continually moving forward. “It’s a ladies’ world,” Amy said with a smile. “Don’t be afraid.”

Page 8 Top Photo: From Westover’s Archives, an image of the front of the School during its construction Page 8 Bottom Photo: This fall, Lead Field Superintendent Emily Resetarits (left) and Lead Project Engineer Amy Chan gave a presentation about the construction project to students in a Women in Science and Engineering class. Photo This Page: From Westover’s Archives, an itemized report on the cost of the School’s original construction

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7 1 20 MER M U S JECTS O R P

p to ilding u u b e h t d by ost of e guide ring m b b l l il il w w , leted ities. cisions nt facil n comp tion de e ie c h c u r w ffi t , e s t l con rojec , and des. Al ation p riendly o f v c o e n g c e n in r a The inten g build ive, ma existin t t c n e e ff r e r cu costsire for e d r u o

FLOORS MEP Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Outlets, new piping, new heating, new air conditioning, new lighting (both ceiling and wall-mounted) in the Dining Room, first floor front hall offices, Rice Gallery, Red Hall, Common Room, Head’s Sitting Room Two new fully accessible bathrooms on the first floor’s front corridor Elevator Wiring for sconces and outlets in Red Hall columns Powerhouse upgrades of entirely new mechanical systems New electrical service to the School to account for new systems Installation of new lighting and lantern sconces in Dining Room, Red Hall, Head’s Sitting Room, first and second floor corridors and stairways New mechanical systems rooms installed in former laundry area and WISE laboratory in the basement level

COOLING TOWER Removal of Powerhouse smokestack and installation of cooling tower to provide air-conditioning to the main building’s renovated spaces

New carpeting or refinished ﬂoors in all renovated spaces

PAINTING Painting of walls and ceilings in all refinished spaces; stain on all new woodwork in refinished spaces

WINDOWS 108 refurbished windows for the north face of the School, Dining Room, and all other first ﬂoor front corridor spaces

LANDSCAPING Landscaping and new Powerhouse roof to enhance overall entrance experience

STAIRCASE New staircase near post office and new handrails where necessary

LAUNDRY Laundry rooms, with new washer/ dryer units installed in both the second and third ﬂoor dormitories

OVER 12,500 SCREWS & NUTS

SAFETY Installation of safety features throughout the building

NEW SUITES Creation of a College Office suite and an Advancement Communications suite on the second ﬂoor

1000 YARDS OF CARPET

REORGANIZATION Reorganization of administrative offices to create greater synergy

DINING ROOM Relocation of Dining Room entrance New chairs (200) Wainscotting added to the walls of the Dining Room

OVER 20,000 FT. OF CONDUIT

Additional lighting New carpet

FFE Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment Desks, lamps, and chairs for all administrative and Admission offices New Head’s Sitting Room, Common Room, and Rice Gallery tables and seating Lantern sconces, refurbished Red Hall sconces and chandeliers

CABINETS & DOORS New cabinets — Old North Office, Rice Gallery, Head’s Sitting Room

OVER 3,000 FT. OF WIRE NUTS

About 25-30 new doors throughout the main building

For more information and to follow the progress of the project in its next stages, visit westoverschool.org/about/renovations

OVER 160,000 FT. OF CONDUCTORS

WESTOVER NEWS

From the Quad A POWERFUL THEME

“Because women’s voices still are not heard, and they need to be.” Kate Taylor, Director of the Rasin Center for Global Justice.

Students, faculty, and staff joined guest artist Shaunda Holloway to create a community mural in Quad in October as part of this year’s theme, “The Power of Women.”

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

WESTOVER NEWS Following the theme in 2016-17, “Reverence for the Earth,” this academic year, students, faculty, and staff have immersed themselves in the theme, “The Power of Women,” a topic more timely than ever. “It’s our job as an all-girls community focusing on girls to work to address that, not necessary solve, but educate ourselves and see what we can do in our own small community to empower girls,” Kate said. After Wendy Butler, Chair of the History Department, had offered the idea for this year’s theme, the theme-year committee — comprised of faculty, staff, and students — have met on a regular basis to engage the community in conversation and action. “I think it is one of the most powerful things we can do. As one scholar on visual literacy notes, ‘We can’t only engage kids in the classroom, we have to enable them beyond the classroom.’ And seeing how the work we do at Westover connects students to alumnae and the world beyond helps to strengthen their sense of self and their belonging to a greater community,” said Ali Hildebrand, an instructor in Art History and Humanities.

Some of the activities that have taken place or have been scheduled include: Top Photo: Maya Kumar ’19 (left) listens as Art History teacher Ali Hildebrand speaks during a “Power of Women” theme year discussion in October. Bottom Photo: (from left) Head of School Julie Faulstich and seniors Isabella Wang and Dulcinee Tuza during a "Power of Women” group discussion

• In early October, students and faculty and staff broke out in small groups and watched the TED Talk by Roxane Gay, “Confessions of a Bad Feminist.” Groups then discussed such questions as: What is feminism? What is power? What is bravery? and other topics. • In mid-October, fall term gallery artist Shaunda Holloway was on campus all day working with faculty, staff, and students to complete a community mural where individuals were able to express themselves through art and celebrate the theme of female empowerment. The theme for the mural was “I am.” • On November 9, Kelly Marages ’99, a freelance journalist and former magazine staff writer and editor, spoke in Chapel about her experiences encountering and speaking out on sexism, stereotyping, and harassment in the media. • On March 19, Diversity Day will take place with the focus around the “Power of Women.” Diversity Day will feature faculty- and student-led workshops, along with talks from outside speakers. “The goal of the day will be to engage the Westover community through interactive and informative discussion so that students and faculty alike leave with a greater knowledge of and appreciation for cultures and identities other than their own,” said Eric Mathieu, Westover’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion.

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“

Leading the Charge There have been, there are, and there will be times — many times — in your life when the facts and your truths are inconvenient to others. When a man on the street, or on your college campus, or at a work dinner, doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with what they just said to you, that it’s not harassment. When policymakers don’t consider what it’s like to be you when they set the laws that affect you. When employers think they’re open-minded in their hiring decisions, and in their promotion distributions and in the salaries they set — but aren’t. This is true of my life as an adult woman. And it is already true of your lives as younger women. I had never wanted to believe this, or maybe I didn’t notice it, didn’t recognize it, as such. But as I’ve advanced through my career, as I’ve simply gotten older and, importantly, as more and more women have started pointing out the essential truths of their existence — because we’re in a great era right now of vocal feminist writers, bloggers, artists, theorists — there’s almost no way I can’t see it anymore. Now, I want to see it, at least until it has changed. Until we collectively — you, me, our sisters, our mothers, our teachers, our leaders, our brothers and fathers — have changed it. But let’s be honest — it is we women who are going to be leading the charge.

Kelly Marages ’99, freelance writer and editor, speaking on this year’s theme, “The Power of Women,” at the November 9, 2017 Chapel Service. To watch a video of Kelly’s Chapel Talk, go to: https://youtu.be/qL00n4CZ6sw

SOMSI: 10 YEARS OF EXPLORING ART HISTORY AND MUSEUM RESEARCH

A unique program established to enrich Westover’s commitment to art history, the Sonja Osborn Museum Studies Internship (SOMSI) program is celebrating its 10th year of providing Westover students with hands-on experience in a museum setting through its partnership with Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington. Designed by Westover’s architect, Theodate Pope, Hill-Stead was originally the home Pope designed for her parents before it became a museum following her death. The SOMSI program was established in recognition of former Art History teacher Sonja Osborn’s leadership and dedication to Westover’s Art History program and the many students she inspired while she taught at the School from 1982 to 2005. The internship consists of a 10-week, multipart program that each student develops in conjunction with Westover’s Art History teacher Ali Hildebrand and Hill-Stead staff members, and is based on the museum’s needs and the student’s interests. “The program really addresses Westover’s focus on fostering confident and connected young women,” Ali said. “The program

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WESTOVER NEWS

During the final two weeks of the program, the student intern focuses on two projects: one investigates the historical ties between Hill-Stead Museum and Westover, the second is a formal paper on a work from Hill-Stead’s collection. At the conclusion of the program’s 10 weeks, the intern presents her research to the Westover community.

At this year’s SOMSI Symposium on November 11: (from left) Archivist Muffie Clement Green ’65, Art History Teacher and SOMSI Advisor Ali Hildebrand, this year’s SOMSI Intern Shanshan Chan ’18, past SOMSI Intern Julianne Brown ’16, and former Trustee Marcelo Tortoriello P’07 and his wife, Liliana.

is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience all aspects of art history; it is, in fact, what makes the SOMSI program so unique and speaks to Westover’s mission to develop the whole scholar. There’s a museum piece, intensive historical research, and a strong written element — one recent SOMSI intern said this program is where she truly learned how to write. There is also a public piece, the intern’s symposium presentation, which gives the intern a chance to interact with the public and develop her communication skills.” Throughout the program, the SOMSI intern works alongside curators and museum educators in exhibition development, collection management, and public programs. This internship helps the student gain work experience, learn about museum studies, and build her resumé in this field for both her college applications and her career. During the first eight weeks of the program, the student spends six hours per week at Hill-Stead, where she engages in museum studies, participates in meetings, assists educational programs, and works in collection research and conservation.

“My favorite part of the project is the question-and-answer portion of the symposiums,” Ali said, “It’s an opportunity for the interns to engage with their communities on a higher level, express their ideas, and demonstrate ownership of those ideas. The forming of new ideas and the sharing of those ideas with a community is the fun part of scholarship.” That community extends beyond the symposium audience, Ali noted, to include “all the people in both the Westover and Hill-Stead communities who have helped the interns in their research on their projects, as well as any alumnae who were also SOMSI interns.” The student receives a financial stipend for her work performed as part of the Museum Studies Internship, plus academic credit at Westover for her research and scholarship. SOMSI was established as the result of a gift from former Trustee Marcelo Tortoriello P’07 and his wife, Liliana, in appreciation of Sonja Osborn’s impact on their daughter, Romina Tortoriello ’07. “Among the many interests and skills that Westover fostered in our daughter,” Marcelo said, “Art History was one of the most significant. Her passion for the field led her to major in it at Harvard. Throughout her time at Westover, Romina took the many Art History classes offered. She also interned at an art museum, which contributed significantly to her academic, personal, and professional development. It was such a positive experience that we wanted to offer Westover students the opportunity for a similarly enriching, but more accessible, experience. We also wanted to honor Sonja Osborn, who encouraged and inspired a love of Art History in our daughter and countless other Westover students. “By drawing on Westover’s unique resources — in particular its Art History Department and ties to Hill-Stead Museum,” he added, “this vision was able to become a reality. We are very grateful to everyone involved at Hill-Stead Museum, Westover Archivist Muffie Clement Green ’65, the dedication of all the Westover interns, and most of all to Ali Hildebrand for her continuous leadership and excellence in selecting and mentoring every student who has completed this internship.” WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

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WESTOVER NEWS

SHANSHAN CHAN ’18 EXPLORES CONNECTIONS BETWEEN WOMEN Shanshan Chan ’18, the 2017-2018 Sonja Osborn Museum Studies Intern (SOMSI) presented a symposium entitled “On the Space Between Käsebier and Pope: Photography as a Language of Love” at the 10th SOMSI Symposium on November 11. For her symposium paper, Shanshan conducted research in Westover’s Archives and at Hill-Stead Museum. During her research, Shanshan came across an image taken by photographer Gertrude Käsebier of Pope while she was sitting for a portrait being painted by the artist Robert Brandegree. She also examined Brandegee’s final portrait of Pope. “In establishing the dialectic between Brandegee’s painted image of Theodate and Käsebier’s photograph of her,” Shanshan said, “my paper seeks to understand Käsebier’s ‘amateur’ style by capturing what [the French literary theorist and philosopher] Roland Barthes termed the ‘air,’ akin to what Käsebier termed the ‘temperament, soul, humanity,’ which intimates an intimacy between two professional women through a photographic language of love.” A photograph by Gertrude Käsebier (American, 1852-1934), Theodate Posing for Artist Robert Brandegee, 1901. HSM image #123. Archives, Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington, CT. The photograph was the subject of this year’s SOMSI Symposium by Shanshan Chan ’18 (below).

For the second part of her internship, which explores the historical ties between Hill-Stead Museum and Westover, Shanshan created an L-shaped installation entitled “Seen and Heard” in a storage area of the Schumacher Gallery. In the aural and visual installation, which was inspired by entries from Pope’s diary and a photograph of Pope and Hillard together, Shanshan examined Pope’s thoughts about her private vs. public self and what Shanshan describes as Pope’s “romantic friendship” with Westover’s founder, Mary Hillard. The two women formed a lifelong connection when they met at Miss Porter’s School while Hillard was a teacher there and Pope a student. In her adult life, Pope became an architect and when Hillard set out to establish Westover, she turned to Pope to serve as the School’s architect. In her Artist’s Statement for her installation, Shanshan writes, “Despite the age-old adage which states that women should be ‘seen and not heard,’ this project seeks to shine light on and give voice to Theodate Pope through the complex dialogue between the internal or private and the external or public. By allowing space between the loud and quiet, light and dark, sound and vision, noise and silence, this exhibition creates two spaces: a space to be seen and a space to be heard.” Ali Hildebrand, Westover’s Art History teacher who coordinates the SOMSI program, said Shanshan approached her symposium subject from a feminist perspective while drawing on her own experiences as a photography student. Shanshan’s installation will be on display in the Schumacher Gallery through the remainder of the 2017-2018 academic year.

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FOUR ALUMNAE REFLECT ON THEIR SOMSI EXPERIENCES THE FIRST 10 SOMSI INTERNS AND THEIR PROJECTS Bridget Hinz ’09 “Theodate Pope, Mary Hillard, and Spiritualism,” a presentation made to the community “Framing Whistler’s Formal Harmony: A Study of Symphony in Violet and Blue”

Shell Tu ’10 “Visions of Japan: A Comparative Glimpse of 19th and 20th Century Japanese Prints,” a curated exhibition in Westover’s LBD “Conceptual Vision: Utagawa Hiroshige’s Night View of Saruwaka-Machi”

Sol Ye ’11 “Women in Photography: Gertrude Käsebier and Theodate Pope,” a curated exhibition in Westover’s LBD “Independence and Separation: Exploring the Maternal Bond in Käsebier’s Adoration”

Alexis Zimmerman ’12 “A Space for Women,” a curated exhibition of architectural renderings and photographs documenting the visionary design of Theodate Pope — located on the second floor of Red Hall “A Space for Women: A Comparative Study of the Architecture of Theodate Pope Through Hill-Stead Museum and Westover School”

Chae Uhm ’13 “Modernity, Degas, and DeKooning,” a curated exhibition in Westover’s LBD “Gesture, Glance, Gaze, and Touch: Degas’s Modernity through his Vingt Dessins”

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Bridget Hinz ’09

Liv Burns ’14

While finishing her master’s thesis Liv is a senior Journalism major at for her M.A. in Art History with a George Washington University and Museum Studies concentration at will probably pursue a career in the University of Denver, Bridget print journalism. currently has part-time jobs at the “Participating in SOMSI made for an Denver Art Museum and the Chil- incredible experience – the opportudren’s Museum of Denver. She also nity to work on a thesis paper at a holds a degree from Saint Michael’s much younger age than usual, and College in History, with minors in Art all of the research and writing that History and Medieval Studies. entails,” Liv recalled. “SOMSI will give you a real taste of Reflecting on her SOMSI projects, what museum work and higher lev- Liv said, “I had never felt so inteel art history work is like,” Bridget grated with something I was so passaid. “I probably would not be where sionate about. It was such a luxury I am today if it had not been for this to be able to spend all that time and program. The internship cemented have the opportunity to immerse in my mind that I wanted to pursue myself in things I love, learn about a career in a museum and I have the practical aspects of research, been on that path ever since. Upon and work so closely with an advisor. completion of my master’s program, It’s exactly what I want those kinds I hope to find work in a museum in of relationships to look like, both either a curatorial department or a professionally and personally.” collections/registrar department. Liv added, “If the student at that age I am also interested in seeking a Master’s in Library Science/Archi- is passionate about art history and val Studies and a Ph.D. in Art History.” art, likes research, wants practical experience — particularly experience “Working closely with Ali Hildebrand in a museum — there’s nothing like helped transform me from someone it. And, on top of that, you’re getting who was interested in Art History into paid for it.” a confident, burgeoning art historian. I also made a life-long museum friend and colleague in Melanie Bourbeau [Hill-Stead Museum’s Curator and Director, Interpretation and Programs]. Her guidance has helped me greatly and I even returned as a Hill-Stead intern while in graduate school for yet another wonderful internship.”

WESTOVER NEWS

Liv Burns ’14 “An Exploration & Revitalization of ‘Clare,’ Westover’s Vandercook SP-20 Letterpress,” an article in Westover Magazine; printing on the School’s Letterpress with original Westover plates and handset quotations by Theodate Pope and Mary Hillard

Grace Uhl ’15

Julianne Brown ’16

An undergraduate student at the University of Michigan, Grace is majoring in History of Art and International Studies.

Julianne is a sophomore at Connecticut College, where she is majoring in Film Studies and planning to complete the Museum Studies Certificate Program, which will allow her to continue her study of Art History while learning to curate and intern in a museum.

“My studies in Art History with Ali and the SOMSI program have had a profound impact on my undergraduate education and future career pursuits,” Grace said. “Having “Ali taught me more than any other the opportunity through the SOMSI teacher and gave me tools for sucprogram to complete an in-depth cess that I continue to use,” Julianne research paper gave me the tools I said. “I have her to thank for shaping needed to succeed here at Michigan. my work ethic and teaching me the Working at Hill-Stead Museum also value of a challenge. At Hill-Stead, I gave me a window into the inner mainly worked with Melanie Bourworkings of an art museum.” beau and Kate Ebner, the curator and museum educator respectively. “This past summer,’ Grace added, “I The conversations I had with them was an Asian Art Curatorial Intern allowed me to glean information at the Worcester Art Museum in about both running a museum and Worcester, Massachusetts. Through furthering my study of Art History.” this internship, I was able to explore

the museum’s cataloguing system “Perhaps what speaks the most to and research Japanese print collec- how much I cherished my experitions. I also had the opportunity to ence as a SOMSI intern is that this assist at the Freer Gallery in Wash- past summer I returned to Hillington, DC, locating digitally-based Stead as a curatorial intern,” Juliimages for an online research cat- anne said. “Hill-Stead continues to alogue. Beginning in February, I will enrich my museum education and be studying abroad in Florence, Ita- deepen my study of Art History.” ly, through an immersion program “SOMSI allows students to be crewith Middlebury College.” ative and dabble in areas of interest in a more freeing way than one might experience in a typical class,” Julianne said. “SOMSI is made for anyone who is willing to bring her originality to the program.”

“Nicholson’s Deviants: The Search for a Moral Message in William Nicholson’s An Alphabet”

Grace Uhl ’15 “Community of Women: Mary Cassatt and Mary Hillard’s Influence on Generations,” a curated exhibition in Westover’s LBD “‘Othered’ [Wo]Man: Reimaging the Bather in Degas’s The Tub”

Julianne Brown ’16 A documentary film honoring the legacy of Mary Hillard, made as an application for submission to the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame “Parroting the Pageantry: The Role of the Parrot in Manet’s The Guitar Player”

Gracey Greco ’17 Installation in Westover’s Senior Garden investigating the original plan for the garden by Beatrix Farrand, and a comparison between those original designs and Farrand’s designs for HillStead’s “Sunken Garden” “Surrounding Atmosphere: A Consideration of Framed Views in Monet’s Haystack Paintings in HillStead’s Collection”

Shanshan Chan ’18 “Seen and Heard,” a visual and auditory installation in a storage area in the Schumacher Gallery “On the Space Between Käsebier and Pope: Photography as a Language of Love”

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2017 CONVOCATION: REFLECTIONS ON THE POWER OF WOMEN The speakers at Westover’s 2017 Convocation Chapel Service September 6 drew inspiration from a variety of sources to offer guidance for the coming academic year, each reflecting different aspects of this year’s theme: The Power of Women.

JYNE DUNBAR ’18, SENIOR CLASS SPEAKER

“Believe in yourself. It’s okay if your plans don’t work out perfectly. It doesn’t matter if you make dumb mistakes every once in a while. What’s important is that you stay calm, keep your head up, and don’t falter. You are all smart, capable young women, and trust me: as long as you know where you want to go and how you can get there, you’ll be fine.”

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WESTOVER NEWS

JULIE FAULSTICH, HEAD OF SCHOOL

“ What do we value at Westover? Our motto is ‘To Think, To Do, To Be.’ We value thoughtfulness. We value insight. We value the life of the mind — we come to school each day to investigate ideas and subsequently grow as people. We also value doing — taking these ideas and putting them into practice. How can I make this community a better place? How can I make my world a better place, even in a small way? How can I be the best roommate, friend, teammate, colleague I can be? And what does it mean to be? To me, ‘To be’ means, essentially, there is more right with you than wrong with you. Fight against doubt. Embrace what I think is the essential goodness in yourself and in others. Just by being you, you are naturally a compassionate soul who can appreciate and nurture the compassion in others.”

“I would like to suggest some ways to steady and strengthen your inner light to keep it lit. Smile. Encourage others. I have seen countless examples of giving support and encouragement here at Westover. It’s part of what makes working here so special. Spend time with others and unselfishly give some of your time listening to someone else. Express gratitude... it will contribute to the mood and vibe of your classes, your team, your dorm, your family, and your high school experience. Be positive and try to focus on the good. And finally, share a laugh.” TRACY LYTLE, ASSISTANT DEAN OF STUDENTS

“By sitting in this room today, all of you already have a seat at the table. Every year we graduate confident and vibrant young women who go on to accomplish amazing things, and it is often the relationships and support network of women they have formed here that sticks with them and bolsters them in their lives moving forward. I challenge you to stand up for yourself, to lean in and rise above the adversity you may face, even if it is only in small ways, because you all have the opportunity to continue to change the statistics.” BEN HILDEBRAND, ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL

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WESTOVER NEWS

It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces throughout Family Weekend on October 20 and 21. This year’s changes to the program allowed for a streamlined schedule, giving dozens of parents and other guests greater opportunities to spend more time with students and share more of their day-today Westover experiences. Families were able to sit in on classes, watch rehearsals and student performances, attend workshops to learn more about the college application process, cheer teams on during sports practices and games, and meet with other families, teachers, advisors, dorm parents, coaches, and administrators. 4

3 1. Tutu Nath ’19 with her parents Somanathan and Sreedevi Pillai 2. Meredith Diamond ’19 with her parents Dione Longley and Christopher Diamond

3. Amodini Katoch ’18 and her mother Anamika Katoch 4. A student shares a quiet moment with her family on the Sallyport Stairs. 5. Mia Izzi ’20 with parents Joley and John Izzi

WESTOVER NEWS

TWO PAINTINGS BY ARTIST CLAUDE LAWRENCE GIVEN TO WESTOVER

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Two paintings by Claude Lawrence, a self-taught artist and jazz musician, have been added to Westover’s collection of art, donated to the School by Audlyn “Lyn” Higgins Williams ’56 and her husband, E. T. Williams. Both works — Lilt with Lyric and Potential Solution — are acrylics on canvas completed in 2013. Lilt with Lyric hangs in the office of Head of School Julie Faulstich, while Potential Solution hangs in the main hallway near the front entrance to the School. Lawrence, 73, was born in Chicago and has played saxophone in jazz clubs; he began painting in 1987. Jazz is seen as a major influence in his art. His paintings are now in the collections of a number of museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center.

Lawrence, 73, was born in Chicago and has played saxophone in jazz clubs; he began painting in 1987. Jazz is seen as a major influence in his art.

Shortly after the paintings were donated to the School, they and the artist were the subject of a morning assembly presentation given by Art History teacher Ali Hildebrand and several students. Lyn Williams is a retired teacher and admissions officer, as well as an interior designer. She was the first African-American woman to be part of the Junior League of Baltimore. Her husband became the first African-American officer of a commercial bank in Maryland and later worked for Chase Bank in New York City. He sits on the boards of several museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Brooklyn Museum.

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WESTOVER NEWS

Lynn Loveridge Kling ’75, P’07, Mathematics Teacher, 1997-2017

THANK YOU, RETIRING TRUSTEES AND ALUMNAE GOVERNORS Westover draws its success from many sources — loyal alumnae, confident students, committed parents, and talented administrators, faculty, and staff. Our Trustees and our Alumnae Association Governors also are key to our success, thanks to their leadership and their dedication of time and expertise in service to the School. We would like to acknowledge and express our appreciation to the following members of the Westover Board of Trustees and the members of the Alumnae Association Board of Governors who retired in 2017.

FORMER TRUSTEES Judith LeSage Grassi ’74 Blair Stambaugh Craig Sullivan P’17 (serving as Parents’ Council Co-President)

FORMER GOVERNORS Amanda Darrach ’92 Catherine Stewart ’76, P’03 Patricia Virden Mitchell ’70, P’08 Lee Vaule Steele ’87, P’18

Lynn’s love for Westover was clearly evident when I first met her 20 years ago at the new faculty orientation. As a graduate of Westover, Lynn often shared fond memories and stories from the days when she was a student at Westover. She had a great understanding for what is important for girls as teenage students and she also understood the responsibilities of an educator in an all-girls school. Leading by example, Lynn helped her students realize the importance of always doing the right thing. She spoke up and voiced her beliefs, and she always did so unselfishly in an effort to make Westover a better place for students and for faculty. Her dedication to her students, and her ability to teach all levels of math well, made Lynn an invaluable member in our department throughout her tenure. Her announcement of retirement was met with regret by her students and advisees who, like the adults in our community, are still adjusting to her absence. Thank you, Lynn — Math Corridor will never feel like it used to, but we wish you all the best in your new endeavors. – Sarkis Boyadjian, Chair of the Mathematics Department

Paul Sutherland, Philanthropic Advisor, 2003-2017 A person’s passion for girls’ education often plays out in the classroom, but for our colleague Paul it unfolded in coffee shops and alumnae homes across the country. Beginning with his original connection to Westover as a Trustee, Paul’s belief in the importance of girls’ education was clear. During the Inspiring Women Campaign, Paul’s highly successful efforts to grow Westover’s endowment and planned giving program engaged generations of alumnae donors, parents, and friends. Those of us who have been lucky enough to work with Paul have great road-warrior stories to tell. One of my favorite memories is seeing Paul stride across the lawn at Chicago’s Ravinia Music Festival with then Head of School Ann Pollina at his side and the Centennial Lantern tucked under his arm. After a long day of appointments, he still had a smile on his face and was genuinely excited for another Track the Lantern event. There have been many more good memories since then, most recently as Paul toured Florida with Head of School Julie Faulstich to introduce her to our oldest loyal alumnae from the classes of 1937 through 1941! Paul has been a friend and respected colleague to many staff and faculty, and a vital Westover connection for so many alumnae and friends. We wish him well in retirement! – Nancy Aordkian Pelaez ’86, P’17, Director of Alumnae & Community Engagement

WESTOVER WELCOMES TWO NEW SENIOR ADMINISTRATORS Thomas Gorman, Chief Operating Officer Tom joined Westover in June 2017 as its new Chief Operating Officer. Prior to Westover, he worked as a consultant for higher education institutions and non-profit organizations, where he oversaw audits, financial reporting, and board management. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration, from Georgetown University, with concentrations in Accounting and Finance, and is a Certified Public Accountant. He and his wife, Jill, reside on campus and are the parents of two children, Brenna and Conner.

David Tuttle, Director of Enrollment Management Joining Westover in June 2017 as its new Director of Enrollment Management, David oversees the work of the Office of Admissions. He previously led the admission office at Oxford Academy and has held a variety of admission leadership positions during his career. He is currently president of the Small Boarding Schools Association, serves as a trustee for the Independent Educational Consultant Association Foundation, and has served as a conference committee member for The Association of Boarding Schools. David received a B.S. from the University of Connecticut, magna cum laude. He and his partner, Bart Geisinger, reside in Woodbury and are the parents of a son, Dylan.

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ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION WELCOMES NEW GOVERNORS Five alumnae have been named new members of the Westover Alumnae Association’s Board of Governors for the 2017-2018 academic year. In addition, Abby Mason Brown ’61 has been appointed as a Life Governor to the board. For their full profiles, please visit Westover’s website at www.westoverschool.org

Molly Walker Allen ’85 | Molly is the mother of four children and a long-time volunteer for Westover and a number of community organizations in and around Fox Point, Wisconsin, where she resides.

Dayna Hine ’07 | Until this fall, Dayna had recently led the operations team at Girls Who Code, a nonprofit dedicated to creating gender parity in the technology sector. A resident of New York City, Dayna is now an MBA candidate at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

Alicia Lyttle ’94 | Alicia serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Pow Social, which focuses on internet marketing. She is a trainer and speaker on social networking, membership sites, affiliate marketing, and the outsourcing needs of internet businesses. She resides in Palm Bay, Florida.

Heather Lundy Macdonald ’85, P’19 | Heather is a long-time volunteer for Westover and Girls, Inc. of Sarasota, Florida. She has worked for Paradise Gallery, the Sarasota County Arts Council, and as a substitute art teacher. She resides in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.

Patrice Peck ’05 | An experienced journalist, Patrice currently works as a writer for BuzzFeed. She is a volunteer mentor for Westover’s Invest in Girls program, which helps students gain the skills needed in the world of finance. Patrice resides in Brooklyn, New York.

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WESTOVER NEWS

Abigail Mason Browne ’61 | A past member of both the Alumnae Association Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees, Abby was named a Life Governor in recognition of her many years of volunteer service to the School. She resides in Peabody, Massachusetts.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES WELCOMES 4 NEW MEMBERS The Board of Trustees has welcomed four new members for the 2017-2018 academic year. For their full profiles, please visit Westover’s website at www.westoverschool.org

James P. Heus P’06 | Jim serves as the Head of School for Ridgefield Academy, a coed independent day school in Ridgefield, Connecticut. He brings to the board both his experience working in independent schools and his firsthand knowledge of Westover as the parent of an alumna.

Jutta Klomburg P’18 | Jutta, as Co-President of the Parents’ Council with her husband, Alfred Lechner, is representing the council as an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees for the 2017-2018 academic year. They reside in Middlebury, Connecticut.

Jeannette Matheson Lussi ’82 | Jeannette and her husband, Craig, are the owners of Assisted Living Well Compassionate Care LLC, a retirement and assisted living facility in Millersville, Maryland. They reside in Gibson Island, Maryland.

Emily Ward Neilson ’81 | Emily has been a long-time supporter and volunteer for Westover and for a number of community programs in Seattle, where she resides. She also has strong connections to the Maranyundo Girls School, Westover’s sister school in Nyamata, Rwanda.

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IN THE COMMUNITY

2017 KENTUCKY COMMUNITY SERVICE TRIP: CHALLENGING BUT REWARDING For the fifth summer in a row, a group of Westover students and recent graduates traveled to Jackson County, Kentucky — identified as one of the poorest counties in the United States — for four days of community service in conjunction with the Tyner Family Resource Center. On this year’s trip, which took place from June 17 to June 24, the Westover volunteers worked with approximately 30 children, ranging in age from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, who were enrolled in the Jackson County Schools’ Summer Boost enrichment program. The Westover group coordinated four days of the final week of the program, whose theme this year was “Mad Science,” on the grounds of the Annville Institute, where the Westover group stayed. The 10 students and alumnae who took part in this year’s trip were: Gwynne Dulaney ’16; three members of the Class of 2017 — Sophie Ackert, Allie Hawley, and Rebecca Lundie; four members of the Class of 2018 — Molly Galusha, Scott McClearn, Evonne Morrell, and Sophia Pellegrini; and two members of the Class of 2019 — Bridget Gattinoni and Kamille Howe. They were accompanied by faculty chaperones Rich Beebe, Kendra Galusha, Maggie Nuñez-Fernandez ’98, Laura Swarz-Burt, and Kate Taylor; Maggie’s daughter Cassandra Fernandez also joined the trip this year. Ruthie Sizemore, the Executive Director of the Tyner Family Resource Center, once again served as the program’s liaison in Jackson County. To prepare for this trip, in the closing weeks of the Westover school year, the volunteers met weekly to plan activities that would include science experiments and projects that could both entertain young children and introduce them to basic

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science concepts. While all the faculty and students shared ideas and suggestions, the overall coordination of more than a dozen different activities was in the hands of Maggie, who teaches science at Westover. Westover students and alumnae — with the help of the faculty — formed small teams who were responsible for planning and running activities at different stations, and adjusting their presentations to match the education level of the children’s different age groups. Over the course of four days at the Annville Institute, the Westover volunteers worked with the children in activities that combined science, art, and play. Kamille enjoyed “getting to know all the kids and being able expose them to different types of science experiments.” In describing her favorite aspect of the trip — getting to know the children in the program — Sophie echoed what other volunteers said. “It was difficult to hear what their lives are like,” she recalled, “but it was so inspiring to hear how excited they are for their futures and how many of them want to go to college and are thinking about what they want to do in the future.” Allie, who also took part in the 2016 trip, said, “As Ruthie had told us when we first arrived, all the children needed was a little bit of love to make a difference in their lives. They are much of the reason I want to be a teacher. These are some of the most engaged, curious, and just generally good kids that I have ever worked with. They have had a lasting effect on my life.”

WESTOVER NEWS

LAUREN BOUCHER ’18: INTERN IN TRAINING FOR GRAB THE TORCH

CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK HONORS WESTOVER’S COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM

For the third summer in a row, Lauren Boucher ’18 took part in the Grab the Torch program, which gives participating high school students opportunities to learn about leadership, ethics, empathy, and philanthropy. But Lauren’s role in the program this year was a little different from her past experience. “This summer,” Lauren explained, “I spent two weeks as an intern in training for Grab the Torch. Instead of sitting behind a table as a camper learning how to not only better myself, but also how to better the community and the world around me, I was the one teaching the campers how to have that kind of impact.” She spent her first of two weeks in the program at the University of Denver. “It was the first time that I had ever been out west,” Lauren said, “and it was definitely worth it. I then spent a week in July at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.” In both locations, Lauren worked with three other interns as a team teaching Grab the Torch’s core curriculum, Fingerprints, to campers. “Fingerprints,” Lauren explained, “teaches students how to become servant leaders by being able to set goals and overcome obstacles, and knowing they have something valuable to offer to their community and the world.” Lauren, Westover’s First Head of School, said, “One of my favorite lessons that the girls learn is the Art of Conversation, because it shows students how easy it is to start a conversation with a complete stranger without feeling embarrassed or awkward. I think that being confident in your abilities to start a conversation with someone is an extremely important life skill to have. I hope it will help me while being First Head of School and beyond.”

The Connecticut Food Bank has recognized Westover and its Community Service Program as the School Volunteer Group of the Year for 2017. The School’s award was presented to Westover student volunteers and Jillian Verzino ’12, the School’s Community Service Coordinator, at the Connecticut Food Bank’s Volunteer Appreciation Celebration on September 20. “It was a pleasure presenting the award to Westover for all its volunteer efforts and also for being dedicated partners in the fight against hunger,” said Delores T. Wisdom, the Connecticut Food Bank’s Volunteer Coordinator. “Westover was recognized for its dedication to fighting against hunger in Connecticut through their consistent involvement in Connecticut Food Bank events. Their participation in frugal meal events, being part of the cleanup crew after our annual Walk Against Hunger, and sorting food and packing senior meal kits at our Wallingford facility over the past years has proven how committed the students and staff are to making a difference in their community.” This is the second time in recent years that the Connecticut Food Bank has recognized Westover’s efforts on behalf of the organization and its fight against hunger. In 2012, Westover was presented the Connecticut Food Bank’s School Hero Award.

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ON STAGE

The Secret Garden A the Power of Women

1. Noor Al-Haddad ’21 was responsible for bringing a robin puppet to life on stage for the fall term musical The Secret Garden. The puppet was created for the production by Stefano Vincenzo Brancato, a New Yorkbased puppet designer and builder. 2. Kasey Ingerson ’20 (left) as Mary Lennox and Mikayla Labissiere ’20 as her cousin Colin Craven 3. Cassy Lechner ’18 (left) as the maid, Martha Sowerby, with Kasey Ingerson’s Mary Lennox 4. Larissa Davidowitz ’19 as Lily 5. Rand Haddad ’20 as Fakir with other members of the musical’s ensemble

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WESTOVER NEWS

The Secret Garden, the Tony-Award-winning musical adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel, with book and lyrics by Marsha Norman and music by Lucy Simon, was a fitting production to stage at Westover during an academic year whose theme is “The Power of Women.” The November 3 and 4 performances marked the second time the musical was produced at the School; the first was in 1997. 3

“It offers a very powerful message from very powerful women,” said Marla Truini, Director of Theatre. “I was eager to explore the characters’ journeys from loss to healing. How do we teach children that, even in their darkest hours, there is hope? The metaphor of the garden is of course an enduring one. The Secret Garden speaks to that place deep inside each of us where healing can occur. At the end of the play, the audience is left with a sense of hope and the understanding that, ultimately, we are never alone.” In addition to the accomplished student cast, the New York master puppeteer Stefano Brancato contributed a pair of enchanting characters to the production. Brancato designed and created one of the puppets, an English robin, specifically for the show, and lent it the second puppet, a dog, that he had already created. Each was brought to vivid life by a pair of freshmen performers, Noor Al-Haddad as the robin and Trang Doan as the dog.

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WESTOVER NEWS

WESTOVER WINS 3 HALO THEATRE AWARDS Last spring, Westover won three Halo Awards, including the Best Classical Play Award for its production of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya and the Best Leading Performance Award by an Actress in a Play for Patricia Collins ’17 in the play’s title role. Sarah Navias ’17 received Westover’s third Halo Award for the Best Comic Performance by an Actress for her role as Bottom in Westover’s production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Westover’s three theatre productions for the 2016-2017 season — Into the Woods, Uncle Vanya, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream — collected a total of 21 Halo Award nominations, including two nominations for Best Classical Play and one for Best Musical.

Mia McClain ’17 earned three nominations for performances in each of the three productions; four students — Patricia Collins ’17, Lee Diamond ’17, Jyne Dunbar ’18, and Larissa Davidowitz ’19 — each earned two nominations for their performances in two different productions. “This the first time all three main stage productions have been nominated across all the categories,” said Marla Truini, Westover’s Director of Drama. “What a year! It’s an amazing tribute to the wonderful work in Westover’s drama program and the support of the entire school community.” The Halo Awards are acting and technical theatre awards sponsored by the Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury. More than 60 high schools across Connecticut were nominated for awards this year for productions that involved an estimated 6,000 students. Westover was honored at the second night of the Halo Awards ceremonies on May 31.

6. Patricia Collins ’17, in her Halo Awardwinning performance as the title character in the February 2017 production of Uncle Vanya 7. Patricia Collins ’17 and Director of Drama Marla Truini at the Halo Awards ceremonies in May 2017 8. Sarah Navias ’17 in her Halo Awardwinning role as Bottom in the April 2017 production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream 9. The cast and crew of Westover’s production of Uncle Vanya, which won a Halo Award for Best Classical Play.

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“What a year! It’s an amazing tribute to the wonderful work in Westover’s drama program and the support of the entire school community.”

WESTOVER NEWS

THE WESTOVER CROSS COUNTRY TEAM LED THE WAY FOR A SUCCESSFUL FALL SPORTS SEASON The Varsity Cross Country team completed its fall season in strong fashion, taking second place out of 25 schools at the NEPSTA (New England Prep School Track Association) Division III New England Cross Country Championships in Weston, Massachusetts, on November 11. Four girls placed in the top 20, earning All-New England status. There was a total of 157 runners in the race. Senior Co-Captain Sophia Andrew raced for a second year in a row at the all-star race held in Southborough, Massachusetts. Sophia ran a 21:23, improving on her 22:52 from 2016. “Though I was not at the race with all my teammates,” Sophia said, “I had a great time running this race again and it was an awesome way to end my last season at Westover.” For the third year in a row, the Cross Country Team won the Connecticut Independent School Athletic Conference Championship (CISAC) on October 28 at Westover. The team scored 22 points, placing seven runners in the top 15. All seven runners earned All-CISAC.

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In September, the Cross Country Team also brought home the Canterbury Invitational trophy for the second time in seven years. Kate Seyboth, head coach of the program since 2007, was proud of her team for the victory. “This is one of those times that is a perfect example of hard work paying off,” Kate said. “Our girls have been working incredibly hard every day, and they truly saw the result of all their efforts so far this season.” Soccer coaches Eric Mathieu and Sam Peterson were the volunteer coaches for the all-star game held on November 13, which included Westover junior Tori Vinzant and sophomore Mia Izzi. Both students had impressive play on the day, and Tori recorded the game’s first goal. For Volleyball, junior Captains Bridget Gattinoni and Tutu Nath participated alongside sophomore Kayla Surajnoth in the New England Preparatory School Girls Volleyball Association (NEPSGVA) All-Star game on November 13. Tutu was named to the New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) Class B Second Team.

In Field Hockey, senior Tri-Captain Chaylee McAdam was named an All-Star for the second year in a row and junior Shannon Martin joined her in the honor. Juniors Sarah Tomasco and Sophia Pernerewski were named to the Keith Waldman – Optimal Performance Associates/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) High School National Academic Squad. The program recognizes those high school seniors and juniors who have achieved a minimum cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 through the first quarter of the 2016-17 school year.

SPORTS

“This is one of those times that is a perfect example of hard work paying off.”

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ALUMNAE NEWS

WE ARE WESTOVER A YEAR OF CONNECTION Over the course of 2017, members of the extended Westover community â&#x20AC;&#x201D; alumnae, parents, faculty, and administrators â&#x20AC;&#x201D; gathered in all sorts of venues across the United States as well as several Asian countries. We got together in such familiar settings as restaurants and museums, attended concerts and the opera, but even found ourselves exploring more unusual sites, from the rocky coastline of Maine to a historic prison in Philadelphia.

While in Hong Kong as part of a November trip to Asia, Enrollment Management Director David Tuttle and Head of School Julie Faulstich met with Catherine Leung, Chinese Director of Notre Dame International, and Andrew Sundjaja from Dunbar Educational Consulting.

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TOUR OF ASIA Head of School Julie Faulstich and Director of Enrollment Management David Tuttle visited Vietnam, Japan, and Hong Kong on a whirlwind, two-week tour in early November. The main purpose of the tour was to connect with educational consultants and recruit students. But, in their free time, Julie and David also met with current and past parents and alumnae.

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ALUMNAE NEWS

1. In Hanoi, Vietnam, Julie and David met with Leo Lee, Boarding School Counseling Director, and his team at Golden Path Academics. 2. Julie and David had dinner with Masaaki and Megumi Sakakibara P’21, the parents of Rin, in Toyko. 3. David and Julie had dinner with Anneka Choi ’12 and Charlotte Pomp ’12 while in Hong Kong. 3

4. In Tokyo, Julie and David had dinner with several members of the Westover alumnae and parent group.

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ALUMNAE NEWS

A YEAR OF SCHOOL GATHERINGS 1

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1. June 26th – Washington, DC Westover alumnae gathered to hear Charlotte Beyer ’65 and Head of School Julie Faulstich speak at a reception for the National Coalition of Girls Schools. Our thanks to Charlotte for generously hosting this event. 2. April 7 – New York City Alumnae joined Westover students, faculty, and staff on an Opera class field trip to attend a performance at the Metropolitan Opera. Among those attending were (from left) Chaylee McAdam ’18, Associate Director of Development Nancy Pelaez, Coila Worley Campbell ’78, and Kate Campbell ’10.

3. January 29th – New York City Alumnae and other members of the Westover community attended a concert performance by the Westover Glee Club, Gospel Choir, and Chamber Choir at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. The concert was followed by a reception at a nearby restaurant. Among those attending were (from left): Charlotte Beyer ’65, Dean of Faculty Thomas Hungerford, Elizabeth Van Hoose Briggs ’95, and Caitlin Corrigan ’91. 4. Oct. 29 Newbury, Massachusetts Alumnae Association Governor Sarah Bliss Seamans ’79 hosted an alumnae reception at the Benson Gallery. 5. June 10th – Portland, Maine Westover alumnae gathered to tour the Portland Museum of Art and the Winslow Homer House. Our thanks to Leigh Vaule Steele ’87 for hosting the fun event.

6. January 14th – Manchester, New Hampshire A group of alumnae and Alumnae/Development Office staff toured the Currier Museum of Art. Our thanks to Sarah Bliss Seamans ’79 for arranging the event. 7. September 9th – Old Lyme, Connecticut More than 20 alumnae and friends gathered at the Florence Griswold Museum for a tour and lunch. Thank you to Connie Seely-Brown Cliffe ’56 and Dorie Milner Pease ’57 for arranging the event. 8. March 7 – Seoul, South Korea Head of School Julie Faulstich and Associate Director of Development Nancy Pelaez attended the Westover Korean Parent Association Dinner in Seoul. 9. & 10. October 9th – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Westover alumnae and friends were treated to a tour of the historic Eastern State Penitentiary. The evening ended with a special cocktail hour in Al Capone’s cell. Thanks to Amy Hollaman ’01 for hosting the event.

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

ARCHIVES

aside for safekeeping until the Powerhouse underwent renovations early in 2017. Among the items were three old newspapers, two from 1941 and one from 1953. “How they found their way to the Powerhouse years ago we will never know for sure,” Muffie said. One is the front section of the December 8, 1941 edition of The New York Times reporting on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the day before. The front page of the paper bears a stamp indicating it was a subscription copy for the Westover Library. The second, apparently printed in September 1941, is a commemorative 90th anniversary reprint of the September 18, 1851 first edition of The New York Times (originally called The New York Daily Times). The third is a special supplement of The Christian Science Monitor from June 1953, celebrating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. As Muffie noted, “It’s been very exciting to see all these pieces of Westover history uncovered during this renovation. You just never know what you will find!” They now all have a permanent home in Westover’s Archives. At left: Westover Archivist Muffie Clement Green ’65 with a display of newspapers dating back to 1941 and 1953; the newspapers were found in the School’s Powerhouse. Below: Hundreds of report cards from 1913 to 1939 were found in a cabinet in the School’s basement. They are now housed in the Westover Archives.

“It’s been very exciting to see all these pieces of Westover history uncovered during this renovation. You just never know what you will find!”

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

Thank you to our Class Secretaries for submitting news to the magazine. Notes published in this magazine were received as of October 15th. Individuals in photographs in the Class Notes section are identified from left to right in captions, unless otherwise stated.

s e t o NY GUIDELINES FOR PHOTOGRAPH SUBMISSIONS:

Please provide the full names of every alumna in the photo (identified from left to right), the date taken (if possible), the location, and the occasion (i.e. graduation, wedding).

Photographs will be published as space and photo quality permit. Please send digital photographs as email attachments to cloyd@westoverschool.org.

For proofing purposes, it is preferable that photographs have a minimum dpi of 300. We also can reproduce photographs submitted as traditional prints on photo quality paper. Thank you and we look forward to seeing more photographs!

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WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

Becca Luger-Guillaume Poindexter ’01

Isabel Lincoln Elmer ’45

to Lauren Campbell May 2017

Delilah Ada Poindexter September 2017

Susan Hill Vos ’47

Sarah Bill ’01

Laura Manteghian Capon ’01

Mary Wells Jencks ’47

Millicent Grace Capon July 2017

Frances Thomas Martin ’50

WEDDINGS

Michelle Deslauriers ’98

to Ryan Murray August 2016

Jessica Borchetta ’01 to Ted Reinert September 2016

October 15, 2017

Ann Twadelle Whittall ’54

to Margee Kerr 2017

Theodore “Teddy” Marvin Lesher and Graham Griffin Lesher September 2017

Alex Thayer ’01

Evelyn Mervine Gauntlett ’02

October 30, 2017

Katrina Barhydt Duff ’55 July 21, 2017

Sarah Welinsky ’03 to Charlie Hoffman December 2016

Emily Pomeroy Schneider ’03

Wendy Truebner Knapp ’57

Robin Papper ’04

Graham William Schneider July 2017

October 1, 2017

Terri Connors Johnson ’70

Danielle Stewart Knope ’03

May 12, 2017

Olivia Rose Knope October 2017

Cassandra “Candy” White Sweeney ’76

Alissa Ryan Kelley ’04

August 5, 2017

Winston Taft Kelley May 2017

Frederica Barney ’83

Lindsay Rhodes Newton ’04

Samantha Mallette ’09

Crystal Marsh ’05 to Kobi Irom June 2017

Emily Noonan ’05 to Joshua Reardon July 2017

Hillary Zeiss ’09 to Eric Young August 2017

Jordan Willis ’10 to Paul Carter June 2017 FACULTY WEDDINGS

Linda Pierce, English instructor, to Joe Kubisek August 2017 BIRTHS

Elizabeth McCormick ’96 8

Wendy Griswold Reily ’54

M. Therese Rakestraw Pew ’55

to John Shea October 2016

July 24, 2017

Caspian Mark Mervine Gauntlett October 2017

to Balint Seeber June 2017

January 22, 2017

Rachel Stock Lesher ’01

Amy Hollaman ’01

December 9, 2016

Jolley Fullerton White ’51

to Jamiyl R. Peters September 2017

June 10, 2017

Charlotte “Charlie” Valentina Rice Marko March 2017

Mary DeStefano ’01

Katie Perkins Marko ’01

October 7, 2016

Liam Patrick McCormick-Jones July 2017

Katie Collins Simon ’98

Trevor William Newton September 2017

September 14, 2017 June 23, 2017

Cassandra Cooney Ortega ’08

1. Crystal Marsh Irom ’05 and her husband, Kobi Irom

Henry Lionel Ortega August 2017

2. Johanna Cox ’94 and Stephen Quackenbush on their July 2016 wedding day alongside their blended family

Jordan Willis Carter ’10 Paul Robert Carter IV September 2017 DEATHS

Rosamond “Roz” Crocker Smith Siggins ’34 June 1, 2017

Martha Weeks Sherrill ’40 July 27, 2016

Mary Farrell Lowman ’42 May 24, 2017

William Simon March 2017

Elizabeth Bird Richmond ’44

Louisa deHeer ’01

Cornelia Williams Baldwin ’44

Gavin Inti Giammatteo November 2016

July 02, 2017

March 2017

3. Adriana Tin ’03 and daughter Leanna 4. Sarah Bill Murray ’01 and her groom, Ryan Murray 5. Isla and Graham, children of Emily Pomeroy Schneider ’03 6. Winston Taft Kelley, son of Alissa Ryan Kelley ’03, sporting his Westover tee 7. Teddy and Graham, the twin sons of Rachel Stock Lesher ’01 8. Becca Luger-Guillaume Poindexter ’01, husband Gavin, and baby Delilah

December 10, 2016 WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

Passages

Samantha Mallette ’09 Director of Financial Aid & Associate Director of Admission The Westover community lost both a beloved alumna and a valued colleague when Samantha Mallette died on June 23, 2017, in a car accident that also took the life of her grandmother. Sam had returned to Westover in 2014 as Associate Director of Admission and had been appointed Director of Financial Aid in December 2016. She also served as a Junior Varsity and Thirds Squash Coach and as the Junior Varsity Lacrosse Coach. Head of School Julie Faulstich wrote, “Sam was a fantastic admissions officer and was growing in her role daily. She was a key component to the success of the office. She was truly a remarkable, insightful, and compassionate person. “Sam’s commitment to the School was absolute and her passion for her work, and for educating girls, came through in everything she did. She was a brave and intrepid traveler at this time of global uncertainty, going to Europe, Russia, and China to find the best girls for Westover. “Although Sam was a young woman, she had the skill and gravitas to take on the demanding job of Director of Financial Aid. She was mature beyond her years and her only goal was to support the best for the students.

The life of Samantha Mallette ’09 was celebrated in a Chapel Service on September 28. Among those sharing their memories of Sam were Kasey Ingerson ’20 (center photo) and former Admission Assistant Lea Lavoie (bottom photo). Photographs of Sam’s time at Westover were also on display (top photo) during the day of the service.

“Sam was a generous and warmhearted colleague. She made many good friends among the staff and faculty. She had a dry wit and although she was generally quiet, when she smiled it really lit up the room. She was an outstanding student advisor as well — a great listener, a relatable presence for the girls, and a source of wise advice.” Director of Athletics Tiz Mulligan said, “Sam was respected and admired by all her players. She had a special quiet and direct coaching style that was especially effective with young and inexperienced players. She inspired them to achieve, and their personal growth and successes were evidence of Sam’s coaching talents. Her own passion and love for sports was apparent every day she stepped on the field or court." Previously Sam had worked at Girls Inc. of Southwestern Connecticut. She graduated from Post University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services and a Master of Public Administration, and was pursuing her Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Administration.

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

Passages

Cassandra “Candy” White Sweeney ’76, P’12 Longtime Trustee, Alumnae Association President, Volunteer Throughout her life, Cassandra White Sweeney was a great friend of Westover — first as a legacy student and later in her varied roles as a dedicated colleague and alumna volunteer, an Alumnae Association Governor, President of the Alumnae Association, a longtime Trustee, and finally as the parent of a Westover student. In that role, Candy valued the opportunity to gain a new perspective of the School through the experiences of her daughter Keelin and her classmates in the Class of 2012. An Over, Candy first served on the Board of Trustees from 1991 to 1993 while she was President of the Alumnae Association, then returned to the board from 2010 to 2016. She had served on the Alumnae Association Board of Governors from 1983 to 1985 and again from 1989 until 1993. She was a longtime class agent, a chair and a gift chair for several Class of 1976 reunions, and a volunteer for the Second Century fundraising campaign in the 1990s. In addition, she was the Associate Director of Development/Alumnae Director for Westover from 1985-1988. Candy once reflected on how Westover — “a unique school, a unique community” — had affected her life. “During my three years there, the most pivotal of my educational career, I received many gifts: lifelong friendships, inspired teaching, wise counsel... but the most important gift that I received was an unwavering sense of self-confidence. I left Westover with a belief in myself and the tools that I needed to meet the challenges that awaited me in life, knowing that the only way I could ever really fail was by not trying at all.” Candy’s love for Westover reflected her family’s deep ties to the School. In addition to being the mother of Keelin, Candy was the daughter of the late Ann Holmes White ’47, a sister of Starr White Snead ’69 and the late Marice “Muffy” White Snead ’72, a granddaughter of the late Mary Griscom Holmes ’19, a niece of Katherine White Boni ’47 and the late Mimsey Holmes Smith ’50, and a cousin of the late Gertrude Rankin Hutto ’51.

Cassandra “Candy” White Sweeney ’76, P’12 giving the 2016 Alumnae Weekend Chapel Talk at her class’s 40th Reunion in May 2016

After working briefly in banking, Candy pursued a career in education, most recently as a teacher at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich. Candy and her husband, Thomas J. Sweeney III, were residents of Pound Ridge, New York. Candy passed away on August 5, 2017, following a long battle with cancer.

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

Class Notes

1942

1948

Elaine Shanley Jocelyn reports that she is alive and well at age 92. She is living independently among family and friends and recently retired from playing the organ at her church. Her travel is limited, but she is still in touch with classmate Molly Waters Anderson.

Suzanne Spencer Garvin writes, “I have recently moved into a retirement community in Evanston, IL. I have a lovely apartment on the ground floor with a large patio. People are very friendly and there are abundant activities and exercise facilities.”

Lucie Taft Bard writes, “I have a cane now, but try to stay active. I volunteer at the hospital, play croquet (slowly), read, and play lots of bridge. Old age ain’t any fun!” Nancy Heimbach Claypool was sorry to miss Reunion. She says Westover is close to her heart and has inspired not only her, but also her mother, Charlene Bagley Heimbach ’18, and her daughters, Charlene Claypool Hansen ’64 and Carlyle Claypool Conrad ’70. They are filled with wonderful memories!

1944 Helen Minton Farley recently moved into a retirement community on the East End of Long Island. She reports that it is marvelous!

Kathleen Craig Knight is enjoying her grandchildren, three of whom are in college. The youngest just turned two. She is playing lots of bridge and recently spoke with Stephanie Stunzi Zuellig in France. Julie Boyd Patterson also visited recently. Kathleen says life is good!

1949 Judith Blair Green says, “Tom McDonough and I will celebrate 25 years of marriage on Valentine’s Day 2018. My fifth great grand, Louisa, arrived last January and joins Sophia and Charlie in Ohio. The other two are Nora and Luke in Tennessee. We will see them all soon, what a treat!”

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1951

snowbirds. Bonnie is already planning for our 70th Reunion!

Daphne Drake writes, “I went to Pinehurst, NC, with friends recently. I had a good time there. I was glad to return to Myrtle Beach, however, after three nights away.”

Barbara Massey Clothier writes, “We have had a good year. We love the retirement home where we are living in Bryn Mawr, PA. We have a great grandson given to us by Catharine and Matthew Biddle, who live in Maine.”

Constance (Bonnie) Heckscher Wood says that she and Curt are living in Naples, FL, and are doing well. They welcome any Westover alumnae who visit the area as

Class Notes

9. Susan Colket Rakestraw ’46 met classmate Roxana Schulke Kaufmann for tea at Roxana’s home in Bermuda last June. 10. Miriam DeCosta-Willis ’52 and her daughter, Erika, together at a protest 11. Alison Wickwire Olivieri ’64 and Ginny Powell Cheston ’55, San Vito, Costa Rica, in June 2017 12. Classmates Birch Hincks Milliken ’57, Gretchen Hill Kingsley ’57, Lavinia Meeks ’57, and Sandy Lazo Washington ’57 together at Birch’s home 12

1954 NANCY WATSON TIGHE KING

nkminniemo29@gmail.com

Joy Peterkin Rasin writes that she has a grandson at McCallister College and his sister at Barnard. Their parents, Steve and Sonya, are hoping to move to Washington, DC, from London next year. Joy’s other two granddaughters are in high school and on the track team in Iowa City. Their mom, Jennifer, provides team nourishment. Joy’s son James Rasin is a writer in upstate New York. After a flash flood in Wisconsin where she owns property, Joy survived Hurricane Irma in Naples, FL. Phew! Be sure to read the cover story in the summer Westover Magazine about the Rasin Center for Global Justice. Joy sent the following, urging us to learn more about the wonderful work the Rasin Center does:

13. Alane Gerdau ’57 and Sandy Lazo Washington ’57 together recently

“If our planet is to survive, we must raise our young leaders to understand the world as a whole, made of interconnecting components both human and environmental, with equal understanding and justice for all. The Rasin Center is moving into new territory and inspiring new ideas and actions to create those leaders at Westover. Inspired jointly by Ann Pollina and Joy Rasin, all donations are gratefully accepted!” Bourne Gafill Morris-Buss writes that having published the final book in her Red Queen trilogy, she is working on a second non-academic novel with a murder trial opening. Stay tuned! She and Bob are recovered from “replacement parts” surgery and plan a trip to Maryland to visit children and grandchildren. Noting that there are “no perfect places” to live, she is pleased to live in northern Nevada without hurricanes and floods (don’t count on it, Bourne ...) but with occasional

fire and due for an earthquake. They do have sunshine and cheerfulness, and avoid discussing politics. She sent a flyer saying, “I think senility is going to be a fairly smooth transition for me.” Love it! Wendy Hill Merriman tumbled off the wall while filling a bucket to water the gardenia, landing backwards on cement and fracturing a vertebra. She spent the summer recovering. She sends this message, “Please do not go outside without a cellphone, even to get something out of the car.” (From your Class Secretary: maybe get one of the devices to wear with your diamond necklace about your neck or wrist. I also suggested that she could perhaps get an outdoor faucet that doesn’t have to be reached by climbing a wall. I hope after having roomed with me, Wendy understands my, uh, sense of humor?) Sandy Soule Ashley, after saying she had no news, retracted and reported that she got a fifth diplo-

ma in Ikenobo Ikebana, passed the advance course, and also got the title of Kaiden or master. Diana Jewell Bingham said that for the most part she is well and keeping so with the help of an excellent trainer. Her passion (today at least; she’s had many, I know) is knitting and reading and supporting a number of 501c3s (tax-exempt organizations) locally and worldwide. Her blessing (of which she’s also had many) is Mozart, her Golden Doodle. She sends her very best to us all. Mary Maier Walker is currently, as of October 2017, enjoying fall in Hilton Head. She is excited to report that their daughter, Molly Walker Allen ’85, just joined the Westover Alumnae Association Board of Governors. Congratulations, Molly, Mary, and Bill! Barbara Ringe Ritter sent a letter saying she and Phil limit travel now to train trips to Philadelphia to visit son John, who flies all over the US and inspects completed work on

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

Class Notes

from Colorado. Birchie Hincks Milliken, Gretchen, and I had lunch together. The next day Gretchen and Sandy visited with Alane Gerdau in Stamford, CT. A very happy time for all! Baba Sommerhoff Patty’s daughter Ba and family visited this past summer. Baba was in touch with Leslie de Bretteville, who sounded well. Mary Denny Scott Wray had dinner with Alane Gerdau, on her way to Fisher’s Island early last summer.

Amtrak stations for his architectural/engineering company. Their daughter Susan and her husband have downsized to a Lititz, PA townhouse from which they have more time for cycling and extensive travel. Barbie and Phil’s granddaughters are in college and have enjoyed stints as au pairs in Germany and Italy. Their older sister is finishing a California Gallo Wine Company internship and is making grad school inquiries. No news from me, Nancy Watson Tighe King, except for the lovely Westover gathering at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT, in September 2017. Now I know who some of those wonderful people with whom I correspond and/or read about are, and rejoice in it! I am off to Spain to settle the problem with the Catalonians in November 2017.

1955 Jane Rawlings Odenweller writes that she is still active and in good health. She is still writing, publishing, serving as a museum archivist, and traveling.

1956 Suzanne Reitz Weinstein writes that she lives in Boston and all is well with her. Last spring, she heard classmate Mimi Baird speak on her book He Wanted the Moon at the Boston Athenaeum.

1957 LAVINIA MEEKS

laviniameeks@gmail.com

Gretchen Hill Kingsley experiences great joy when catching up with old friends. She and Charlie are thinking of scaling down, as several of our classmates have done. They are members of a group of older people who want to stay in their homes as long as possible. They are building a community village, where they will share the specifics of aging gracefully, with services, social events, and pooled transportation. It is inspired by Beacon Hill Village in Boston. You can visit their site at Homehavenvillages.org Four of us had a lovely mini-reunion in September when Sandy Lazo Washington came east

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Dorie Milner Pease is delighted with her new home at Essex Meadows in Essex, CT, which is a very nice life-care community. There are quite a few Westover alumnae there as well! She has also arranged our 80th Birthday celebration in 2019! It will be at Westover on alumnae Weekend and we are cordially welcomed by the alumnae Office, thanks to Nancy Pelaez! It was nice to hear from Ann Peck Hooke, from Deer Isle, ME. She and Roger still travel a lot to interesting geological sites; the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, and a "tectonic UNESCO site in northeastern Switzerland.” They also revisited Mts. Rainier, Hood, and Baker, which they climbed 50 years ago! Roger teaches at the University of Maine at Orono, and is revising the third edition of his glaciology textbook. Ann is involved with local conservation efforts, meditation groups, and some music. She misses her best friend Bettina Corning Dudley ’56, who died last year. She also saw Nancy Jaques Lippincott ’59, who visited her last June. Ann’s daughter, a pediatrician, and her family live in Wisconsin. Their son, an artist and website designer, lives in western Massachusetts. Martha Allen Ross has temporarily moved to an independent living place in Falmouth, MA, to be near John, who is in assisted living there. They have both been having health problems that have greatly lessened their usual activities.

14. Selden Dunbar Illick ’58 in Rhode Island in June with her daughter on her wedding day

Polly Merrill Hoffman had a great summer with all three sons and their families who have houses near her in Maine. Polly enjoyed golf, going to the beach, and her new favorite sport: paddleboarding! Two grandchildren are in college nearby. Elliot is at Colby and granddaughter Casey is at Bates. Christmas will be in Costa Rica with son Nate and family, and February will be spent with sister Jodie Merrill Eastman ’58 in Hobe Sound, FL. Polly enjoyed our Reunion last May and is looking forward to our birthday celebration in 2019. I hope as many as possible will come! Polly heard from a friend that Ann Dudley Cronkhite Goldblatt has recently retired from an impressive career as assistant director of the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Studies at the University of Chicago. Ann said that she discovered an intellectual spark in herself at Westover! Mary Rose Cooney, or Mezzie, now has four grandchildren. Daughter Georgia teaches in a special needs school near Bath, Jane Austen country! Mezzie was in Nepal again recently, involved with a charitable plan for alternative energy. She also visited Burma, where her mother was born. Georgia Kendall Sisson says she was sorry to miss Reunion. She is living in Dallas, which is full of surprises, like freezing rain and tornadoes! She has been making use of her health inspector expertise in her new community. They are forward thinking in regards to energy efficiency and recycling and even have a butterfly garden planted! Best wishes to all!

Class Notes

1958 PENNY JACKSON TRASK

ptrask3@gmail.com MARCIE MCCORMICK PORTER

mmporter@fairpoint.net

Emily Taylor Ambler writes that living in Jackson, WY, is wonderful, especially when lots of family visit, and she loved being on the total eclipse path. Now she is off to Machu Picchu and is not worried about altitude as she did fine in Nepal and Bhutan last year. Helen Potts Palmer says she is fine, though not getting any younger! She is busy with her church garden and other volunteer jobs. Her travels have taken her to see her girls in GA and CA, as well as Costa Rica. She also loved her time in NY with Betsy Patterson Lancaster and husband Bill. Sally Love Saunders is in San Francisco where she is “busy writing poetry, hosting poetry festivals, and reading my poetry for large groups.” Jodie Merrill Eastman is in Paris and she sent a wonderful picture of Selden Dunbar Illick at her daughter’s wedding in June 2017. She wrote to Marcie that all is well in the Eastman camp. The highlight of the year was taking seven of the nine grandchildren to the Galapagos in June. Swimming and surfing with the sea lions was the favorite activity, while watching the blue-footed boobies and waved albatrosses doing their mating dances were a close second. Ellen Lishman Robertson and husband George celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in May at an elegant evening given by their girls, Jane and Kate, and their husbands. In August they went west to see the eclipse, and now Ellen is at home with “a book in hand at all times,” whether for her mystery book club, a new recipe, or doing homework for her British history class.

Betsy Patterson Lancaster says she and her husband Bill are both well and very busy. They had three high school graduations last spring! She loves her quilting and made each of the graduates t-shirt quilts. All 15 of them were together at their family place in the Adirondacks this summer. She loved the visit with Pottsie! The big news is that after 42 years in their present house, in the spring of 2018 they are moving to Highland Farms, a retirement community in Black Mountain, NC, to be closer to their oldest daughter, Alex, who lives in Asheville, NC— an adventure! Mary Tremaine Soutendijk writes of a huge sadness in the lives of her and her family, and that is the death of her granddaughter, Gina, in January 2017 at McGill University. Mary says, “I cannot tell you what a special, beautiful girl and brilliant ray of light she was in our lives. She went to Andover, then on to McGill, all the time struggling to survive from overwhelming depression, which she tried to medicate with different drugs. Finally, anorexic and exhausted, she flew from her home in Singapore after Christmas vacation to Montreal. After chatting happily with her friends for a few hours, she went to bed and never woke up, a completely accidental death. We have three other grandchildren and are devoting our time to them.” I know all of our love and prayers go out to Mary and her family; I cannot imagine such a loss. Anita Burroughs Fahy didn’t reply, but her youngest son, Nat, was in Ft. Collins, CO, this summer with his wife and four children. He reported that his mom was doing well; no big trips, just visits with family and friends. She loves both her Cape Cod and New Hampshire houses. Deborah Morgan Luquer spends most of her time in Vermont where she takes lots of classes at Lifelong Learning at Dartmouth. Her back surgery of two years ago has healed well. Husband Peter still spends a lot

of time on Cape Cod. Her son and daughter are doing well; the latter lives near her parents in Vermont when not working for Global Grassroots in Uganda and Rwanda. Debby French Glynn had good news to report: “Our son, Andrew, got married the end of June at our house—it was lovely. We are thrilled with our new daughter-in-law. They are living in Vermont, love it, and both have jobs in education. Fred and I have been traveling a lot, a Belgian barge trip last spring and now northern Italy. Otherwise gardening, reading, fixing up the house (a wedding will make you do that!). Nothing earth shattering, as you say, but keeps us going.” From Peyton Chapman Horne: “As our big Reunion looms in the foreground (May 2018) it seems impossible we graduated so many years ago! I have been through so many ups and downs, including happy and sad times, but I remind myself that is what helps poets rhyme and authors write memoirs. Life is good, and yes, I do believe, like wine, we improve with age. At least I believe I have! I cherish my family and friends; love golf, solving crossword puzzles, reading, traveling to wherever, cooking, and being involved in my community. Not very exciting, but who am I to complain? Make way for Westover comes marching!” Penny Jones writes: “It is good to connect after all this time! I have been somewhat reclusive, but am coming out of it here in beautiful Eugene, OR, where I have been since 2015. My kind of town: blue jeans, purple and blue hair, rivers, trees, Quakers, my brother nearby, a splendid library, more bicycles than cars it seems, a sweet apartment in what was built as a primary school (magnificent windows), and two gardens! I think of many of you often, but had a mistaken impression that we were living very different lives until I saw it isn’t so! I know we are all going through the same stuff (where did this potbelly come from, and

why can’t I get rid of it?). I promise to be more communicative from now on. Love to all, Penny Jones Bowie Hartman Jones (there’s a life story right there).” Selden Dunbar Illick lived through Hurricane Irma in Vero Beach, FL. “I have never been in a hurricane before and it is some experience! We were lucky. A five was expected; a two came. I am still working part-time in my family systems consulting work. I thought I was going to retire when we moved to Florida in 2008, but realized I love my work and need to keep going. I have a license in NJ and FL. Brita Patten Gwinn, Jodie Merrill Eastman, Mary Tremaine Soutendijk, and Toni Walker Hamner ’69 all participated in practice seminars I offered in 2015 to get started again. I am very appreciative of their willingness to participate— and I am up and running.” Lana Richards writes, “I had an interesting experience. I was called for jury duty. Ever since I tried my one three-week jury trial in Federal Court, I have wanted to serve on a jury just to see what it’s like. Figured I wouldn’t get picked, being a retired judge and attorney. Oops. I got picked for a trial that lasted almost a month. It was a double homicide, home invasions, assaults, weapons charges, and racketeering; 47 counts in all. Nasty business, but great jury. We fried his ***, finding him guilty on 44 counts. I’m almost over talking about it.” Marcie McCormick Porter writes: “It has been wonderful to talk to some of you. We all like to have younger friends, but it’s also great to have old (old) friends who remember us from way back when and understand the challenges we are facing in what I optimistically think of as ‘late middle age.’ I am just back from visiting our new grandson, a little over a year old, in Brooklyn. We walked a lot together at about the same pace with similar form and I was pleased that he can’t outrun me—yet. Steve and I still travel once or

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Class Notes

twice a year. This year it was Patagonia in April and Iceland in July. Otherwise we are happily puttering around here in Maine with enough to do to keep us busy and relatively sane. I hope a lot of you are planning to come to our 60th in May. It is so much better to catch up in person.” Penny Jackson Trask reports, “All is well, both here in Denver and in Tucson. Fritz’s 80th is over the Thanksgiving holiday. We will have all the family (29 of us) together at Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, CO. What fun! Everyone seems to be doing well; two grands out of college and on their own; six in college, and the rest in high school, or almost. Whew! I am preparing to return May 18th for our 60th Reunion at Westover and hope the rest of you are as well. Then I am planning Fritz’s 62.5 year Groton reunion in Tucson later in the year; we need to do those in-between years too!”

1959 LAURIE BLAKE SAWYER

laurieblakesawyer@gmail.com

Leila Brightwell McCarter writes, “John and I are retired, living on Martha’s Vineyard, and enjoying having children and grandchildren nearby. Jennifer and Stuart have been here almost since college graduation. Jennifer’s son Griffin is heading for New Zealand, having received degrees in engineering and environmental science from St. Michael’s and U. of Vermont, and daughter Leila is studying in Burlington, VT. My son Stuart and his wife Josie welcomed a 10-lb. baby boy last December and he (Riley, named after BB King) is a delight and has brought a joyful new dimension to our lives. Having lost my awesome Danish Warmblood at the end of May, my riding days are behind me, though I still visit a lonely retired horse at the barn nearly every day. I swim daily at the Y, volunteer at our animal shelter, play at Bonsai, sing in the Island Chorus, and have found a

new delight in our amateur theatre productions. Our house is full of fur and feathers, just the way I like it, with three dogs, a cat, and an Umbrella Cockatoo.” Mary-Clark Seymour Garfield writes, “Another summer in Woods Hole, MA, has passed and was basically uneventful, which is a good thing. Grandchildren, all 8 of them, were down for some or most of the summer with jobs here; three as sailing instructors, a lacrosse coach, an investment banker, a dancer, and one working for Broad Reach sailing program out of the Caribbean. It makes for lively conversation. Michael and I are plugging along trying not to feel our age, but wake up each day and still say how lucky we are!” Nina Truslow McKee writes, “I am in Scarborough, ME, in the summer and see Phoebe Pier Fairburn a lot. Then in October, I go south to Spring Island in Okatie, SC, until May. Family, friends, golf, and tennis fill my life. I am looking forward to our 60th in a few years! I have family in Ohio, Minnesota, and Virginia so there is a lot of travel hither and yon!” Lily Russell Heiliger writes, “We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary (May 13, 1967) with a weekend trip for the family to Lake Constance, where Klaus grew up on the German/Swiss border. We were very lucky with the weather and had a memorable time together.” Sally Wade Smith writes, “Life in Santa Barbara is still good to us. Jay and I traveled to India the first part of the year—what an eye-opener! Took a mother/ daughter trip to the Grand Canyon to celebrate Julie’s 50th and my 75th birthdays. All that traipsing around reminded me that I am not getting any younger. Jay and I are going to Vermont to see the colors in early October. Still playing golf, yoga, and volunteering. I am trying to enjoy every day and remember how blessed I am for family, friends, and health.” Margaret (Peggy) Day Jones writes, “I missed out on our Class

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

Notes last time because we had just suffered a terrible loss. Our wonderful son, John, took his own life in April 2016. He was a spectacularly lovely man, a Barrister (Queen’s Counsel, in fact), practicing the most humane and dignified and passionate interpretation of Human Rights law in The Hague and in all the UN tribunals and special courts that have been set up in different places to deal with the aftermath of hideous wars. He was modest, gentle, and funny—a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, friend, and colleague. The poverty of resources for mental health issues took its toll, but more and more people are speaking up now, telling their own stories, and opening up this shamefully neglected area of illness. We miss him achingly, but were blessed to have shared almost 50 years with this courageous and loving man. I would like to speak honestly about John’s death for the very reason that mental illness—in his case, depression—has been shoved into a dark corner of our collective psyches. Time to shine a light.” Christie Renchard Huffman writes, “Was in Eagles Mere from early June until mid-September. We had everyone for a few days. Lots of coming and going. Sam Low is now at Syracuse in the Sports Management/Business school. He is playing in the first 15 in Rugby and a real star. Keith is flying up Saturday morning to see him play. Will is living in Arlington and working where Heather works. She got him a job there. I had lunch with them yesterday. Between my back and neuropathy, I cannot walk very much. We take a wheelchair when necessary. I walk the dogs riding my vehicle.” Betsy Shirley Michel writes, “As you know I’m in NYC now and really loving it; lots to do, family nearby, friends too. I’m off on a big trip next week to Papua New Guinea. It’s a Stanford travel adventure. How come there? So utterly out of my experience and seemed like an opportunity. And at our age, take them when you can!”

Piper Perry Morris writes “I retired in November 2016 (finally, after over 50 years of working, mostly in non-profit development) and have mixed reviews about retirement. I miss the camaraderie of colleagues; the motivation and structure of getting up and getting out every day; the direction and purpose of having to make decisions, be creative, manage others, and meet definitive goals; and be recognized. On the other hand, it is nice not to have to get up early for 8:00 AM meetings, feel the pressure of meeting those deadlines, deal with staff and trustee issues as well as donor demands, and have the flexibility to do what I want when I want. “I moved from my beloved Cambridge to nearby Arlington, MA, in July 2015 and really like my new place on a tree-lined street with friendly neighbors and how much easier it is to get things done in Arlington compared to Cambridge (much easier parking for one thing!). I had major knee surgery August 1st, but have had an excellent and speedy recovery. In eight weeks, I was back to almost full mobility and flexibility—driving, taking walks, going up and down stairs, picking up my grandchildren at school, etc. I love being near my daughter Sarah, a freelance exhibit concept developer and writer, and her husband Jeff, in Cambridge. He is an industrial designer and college teacher, and they have two daughters whom I adore— Lillian, now 11½ and very much a pre-teen, and Cece, an ebullient, energetic age eight. My son Edward lives in Syracuse with his wife Susannah, both teaching at Syracuse University, and their lovable son Theo, a sweet, very bright, if not gifted,1st grader. Edward and Susannah are both still very involved with their climate change action-through-art non-profit, The Canary Project, for which they both travel often to give speeches and seminars, attend conferences, and install exhibits around the world. We all get together several times a year, but always for 10 days to two weeks in June in lovely Westport,

15. Lily Russell Heiliger ’59 and her family, 1st Row: Markus Stenz (daughter Alice’s husband), Philipp and Oscar Heiliger (Eric and Susanne’s sons); 2nd Row: Lucie Heiliger, Alice Heiliger, Lily, Max Heiliger, and Klaus (Lucie and Max are Alice and Markus’s children); 3rd Row: Eric and Susanne (son and daughter-in-law) 16. The grandchildren of Piper Perry Morris ’59, Lillian R. Michael (11), Theo S. Morris (6) and Cece Perry Michael (8)

MA, in a rambling big house we rent on five private acres overlooking Westport Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.” As for me, Laurie Blake Sawyer, after eight years of peace and quiet here in beautiful Kailua on the windward side of Oahu, John decided to add a little excitement to our life. We now have two rescue dogs and one rescue cat who require more attention than our three children and eight grandchildren ever did. To get away from the menagerie, we took three trips this year—a family wedding in LA, another family wedding in VT, and our annual R&R to the Big Island of Hawaii. I hope my news request reached most of you, but since I changed my email address this past year, the request may have ended up unread in your junk mail. Sorry. To any ’59 classmates who would like to share their news next year, please send me and/or the School your current email address. Hope to hear from you. Aloha, Laurie

1960 PRISCILLA WHITE GIVAN

pwgivan@gmail.com

Jody Johnson Olson writes, “Hi all! I am/we are alive and well and thriving amidst old friends and family in Enumclaw, WA. We got a new pup and she is pretty fabulous. As always, teaching and curating art; downhill skiing again, snowshoeing, cross country, and hiking. Enjoying the

outside and working on land to keep cleaning up after the fire. Miss that lifestyle, but adjusting to this one. All children and grandchildren are doing well. Our sophomore in high school is a two-time All American woman wrestler—who knew when serving in Dorcas that women wrestled—Wow!” Susan Simmons Phillips writes that all is well with her family. They were planning a trip to Cuba in November 2017 with 30 children and grandchildren!

1961 SKIPPER SKELLY

skipper4488@hotmail.com

I’m blown away! Sixteen of you sent me replies—an all-time record! Many, many thanks to you and maybe an incentive for the rest! Mimi Jackson Price deserves to go first because she is always the first to reply. I can be sure my note made it through cyberspace when I hear from her. She’s still happy in the South, still working, now in a village jeans shop. She changes jobs so often with the seasons that friends now play “Where’s Mimi?” No more Waldo! Spending four days of heavy work clearing three feet of water left in her garage after Irma makes her assisted living place look great. Grands all doing great with the oldest looking at college and the youngest born in May. Sandy Dodd Wilkinson writes, “I just took down a show here in Charlotte where I sold eight paintings and have orders for prints, very exciting. I have

Class Notes

another big annual show with the Silver Brush artists; there are nine of us the first weekend in November so I’m painting furiously to resupply. All is well here. I have an upcoming appointment with a neurosurgeon to see if surgery might improve my handicapped-ness. It’s been eight years so there may not be anything he can do; however, a lot of new innovations during that time so all I can do is be hopefully positive.” Surrey Cronin Elwell’s husband Rob has had some health issues, so they have sold their home of 29 years on the Gloucester waterfront and will be moving to a new townhome in Magnolia as soon as it’s finished. A new chapter awaits with a silver lining as they’ll be only five miles from all five grandkids ages 6-13. They still escape to Boca Grande, FL, for three months each winter, playing tennis; Rob has also taken up croquet. Amazing what changes life can bring! Also downsizing out of Gloucester is Abby Mason Browne. She’s had major changes this year with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s as well as an upcoming lumbar fusion for spinal stenosis. So, she and husband Al are now residents of Brooksby Village, which has all the amenities, but isn’t Gloucester! She also had the honor of being elected a Life Governor at Westover so she gets to go back to campus several times year. Way to go, Ab! Since marching in Washington, DC in January, Laurie Lisle has gotten involved (along with Kerry Noble) in politics in northwestern Connecticut, mainly writing letters and getting others to write them to state newspapers. She’s also finishing up writing a memoir, while husband Robert Kipniss continues to paint and exhibit. She expects to become a great-great-step-grandmother very soon. Ouch! Jill MacDonald Downs feels blessed that all in her family are healthy and doing well. In Denver daughter Cindy and her 15-year-old triplets (Did you

spend a lot of time changing diapers 15 years ago, Jill?) are thriving. Jill starts her travels there in September, then October and November in Florida, then back to Denver for turkey and stockings. Daughter Leila joins them for 10 days in Maui in February. Sounds wonderful. Have fun! Susan Russell Watson sends good news: no major aging problems this year, just coping with the ones they already have. After eight years Susan has retired from managing the community garden, and in January they are moving to a new solar and geothermal-powered apartment. Her family is all well and was gathered together at the New Hampshire farm in September for a niece’s wedding. She is still co-clerk of her Quaker Meeting, swims a lot, reads everything in sight, and enjoys life. Nice. While we’re in New Hampshire, Katrina Rauch Wagner says her welcome mat is out. Like many of us who have had to say goodbye to long-held family homes, Katrina gave up her longtime membership in the Ausable Club and wrenchingly sold her lovely house in the Adirondacks. In the summer of ’17, she rented an adorable cabin in Keene, NY, caught up with friends, played a lot of golf, walked, read, and was active in her church. Now she’s off to visit her brother in Utah and her son Jack in California. Barbie Durham Tafaro had a crazy September with Irma headed at her home in Casey Key, FL, and her Lake Toxaway, NC house in the mountains. A double whammy, but they were lucky to suffer only power loss and lots of tree damage. During the storm, they were on a cruise around the British Isles. Which is worse—being close or far away? Barbie’s oldest granddaughter is beginning her freshman year at Colorado College, and even harder to believe is that Barbie and Hank will be celebrating their 50th anniversary in November. I think all of us who have hit that milestone are having a hard time accepting the fact!

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

Class Notes

And now we join our peripatetic classmate. In the last 12 months, Ellen Thayer Vahan has visited northwest Peru for the Marvelous Spatuletail (an amazing hummingbird), Namibia for African birds (and a special treat was a mother Aardwolf and her baby), Chile and Argentina for a birds-and-wine tour, and Cuba for birds before the hurricane. She’s sad to think of the beating Cuba took, with so few resources to rebuild. Her next trip is to eastern Australia and Papau New Guinea. Ellen assures me she really does have a house in southern California, where she focuses on birds, gardens, and her ever-growing grandchildren.

body (her words, not mine). Or how about daughter Kelly’s wonderful redecoration of Merry and Bob’s living and dining rooms? Kelly has a decorating firm in Atlanta and a definite flair. Also brightening Merry’s welcoming home in Quogue, LI, are two of Sandy Dodd Wilkinson’s whimsical oil paintings. They hang over a Westover rocking chair that Merry bought at a local get-together (check out Sandy’s web site at www.sandywilkinson.com). Merry is also working on a new slide show for another lecture on LI history—this one about some of the more colorful personalities from the last 200 years of Westhampton history.

Some sad news from Cockie Lincoln Fisher. Her lovely sister Cynthia Batchelder died in July of pancreatic cancer—after almost two years of painful operations and chemo. Cockie and her sister’s two daughters were there for her the whole time and were blessed at the end to know that God was showing there is something very beautiful beyond this life, for which they will be ever thankful. Our prayers are with you, Cockie.

Jannie Whitcraft Mills and husband Paul took a wonderful trip to battle sites and memorials in Normandy and the Somme—a moving and humbling experience. They are also in the midst of renovating their first Muskoka cabin so they can turn over their cottage to the boys. Jannie is looking forward to residing next door without the responsibility of being mother hen. Son David, with his 12-year-old son Jack acting as best man, was getting married to a wonderful woman in November. Jannie keeps busy, busy with social justice work, working on poverty initiatives with her church, maintaining contact with a marvelous Syrian family sponsored by her congregation, and improving her ear and voice in the community choir. Phew, no grass growing under those feet.

Sibyl Fulenwider Cohane realizes she is a generation behind other classmates in the grandparenting category. As of the end of September, she had two brand new grands—one three weeks old and one five weeks old. They join a fiveyear-old. The babies live just 10 minutes away, so Sibyl is thrilled even as their parents looked bleary-eyed! Other than that, it’s been a calm year with some New England travel, golf, bridge, book clubs, long walks, and babysitting, while trying to keep all manner of aging things at bay. Sounds like you’re doing a pretty good job. Which news should Merry Medina Murray choose from her golden years? Gel injections into her left knee are keeping her on the tennis court, and she has enlisted Nutri-System (for maybe the third or fourth time) to help her trim 25 lbs. from her less-than-perfect 73-year-old

involved in some exciting and fascinating Utica renewal projects. Her favorites include an old brick factory being remodeled as affordable work/living spaces for artists, and a large, iconic 19th century apartment building. Linda is designing a book that tells the story of the building, its tenants, and the general elegance of the city at the turn of the century. Her other passion is working with Utica’s refugee population. She meets with Sudanese women every week to help them practice their English, and helps out with a Karen Burmese family living next door. The two young girls there have adopted the Coxes as grandparents—PeePee and PooPoo in their language. Just a few more for Linda, whose own family now has 20 grandchildren—all 10 and under. Yikes! Last but not least to send in her news was Sherry (formerly Sheila) Mellum Whitney. She and Dave are enjoying retirement in Woodstock, VT, but are finding the winters not only snowy but much icier than they were all those years ago when they met at UVM. They have fallen in love with New Mexico, where one of their boys and his family now live. In June, they purchased a house in Corrales, just outside Albuquerque, and would love to see anyone who happens to be in the New Mexico or Vermont neighborhoods.

Lots of remodeling happening. Alice Clement Needham is redoing kitchen and bathroom for a win-win. If she stays in the house, she gets to enjoy the new spaces; if she decides to sell, she’s got the added value. Her kids and grandkids are all well, and she’s busy playing tennis, volunteering at a local hospital, and using the treadmill/bike at the Y. She’s thrilled that, after she pays a last visit to them in March, her daughter will be moving back from London to the US in June.

My turn. Aging is catching up with me. I had both knees replaced in April, which was too quickly followed by a horrid bout of intestinal something that landed me in the hospital. Took a few months to recover, but by August I was back in the garden, volunteering three days a week at our local Ronald McDonald House, and painting the occasional pet portrait. I have a lovely age mix of 7½ grandkids with the oldest a senior at Carlton, a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old at 10,000 ft. in Colorado (hard to breathe when I visit), and another due in NYC in February. I must say it’s fun to get to shop in the kids’/ babies’ sections again.

Linda Williams Cox and her architect husband Bob are

I want to thank you all for helping me by sending me your news.

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

You’re living fascinating, worthwhile, and soul-soothing lives, and hearing from you makes us all happy! Thank you, Skipper

1962 CYNTHIA THORNE AYRES

cyn518@gmail.com SUZANNE DYER WISE

suzanne.dyer@verizon.net

Penn Willets Fullerton says, “Life is good with seven grandkids, all in northern California! I keep busy with them and am enjoying teaching creative writing part-time in local elementary schools. George and I enjoy fly fishing and hiking as much as we can. I get together with Judy Lawrence Carmany and Pam Shepardson Coleman every fall on the East Coast—great fun! Carole Hayes Williams lives nearby and we had lunch not long ago.”

1963 NANCY REEDER EL BOUHALI

nancyb@cyburban.com LOLLY MACMURRAY-COOPER

adelaidemacmurraycooper@ gmail.com

Weezie Bailey Connor writes, “I am still in the big house, trying hard to detach myself, but it’s hard. I volunteer in the library at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal School, but most of all I have been traveling with my beau, who lives in Easton, MD. I see Meg Dobbin Greeley and Beth Markham Nicholson now and again, and that’s always fun. I would love to see any classmates coming through Denver. That’s about all the news that is fit to print!” Lyn Bremer Chivvis sent some wonderful photos from New Canaan: these included a beautiful photo taken at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens where the cherry blossoms were in spectacular

17. Nicky Weaver Cheek ’63 and husband Jim at Machu Picchu, Peru, on September 5, 2017 18. Rosie Aguilar ’63 with youngest grandson Alonzo, son of Rosie’s son Ernesto, who lives in Yucatan 19. Weezie Bailey Connor ’63, Libby Jones ’63, and Lolly MacMurray-Cooper ’63 together in 2009 20. Libby Jones ’63 with her granddaughter Caroline 21. Beth Markham Nicholson ’63 (front) with (seated from left) Weezie Bailey Connor ’63, Meg Dobbin Greeley ’63, Libby Jones ’63, and Robin Reath Graves ’63 together in 2006 22. Martha Ferguson Buller ’63 with her new puppy Mattie 23. Lyn Bremer Chivvis ’63 and Dorie Milner Pease ’57 with their music groupLibby 24. Lyn Bremer Chivvis ’63 and husband Beecher with daughter Dana Kate and her partner Rachel at Brooklyn Botanical Garden, April 2017

25. Enid Fraser Robinson ’63 (second from right) with family (clockwise from left): baby Raef, his mother Alex, his father Fraser, and his brother Xander; Lauder with his son Lachlan; Enid’s husband George, Enid, Eliza (daughter of Fraser and Alex), and Lauder’s wife Tava in September 2017

Class Notes

full bloom. Lyn is also part of a Music Ministry Team at the Congregational Church in New Canaan, CT, with Dorie Milner Pease ’57 who is on the Westover Board of Governors. Martha (Sissy) Ferguson Buller and her seriously wonderful husband Bill came to Greenwich, CT, this past September 17 to help me (Nancy Reeder El Bouhali) photograph the approximately 5,500 people, who came with their dogs to the annual dog fair fundraiser for Adopt-A-Dog. Always popular is the K-9 demonstration with the Greenwich Police Dept., and it turned out that one of the officers is a friend of Sissy’s son Lee. It was hot and humid, Sissy has a difficult back and hip, Bill is facing shoulder surgery in October, but they clicked all day and produced hundreds of great photos to be used for PR going forward and for an online gallery to be launched soon. They were real troupers! We forgot to get a photo of the three of us, but I asked for selfies, and Sissy took a portrait of Mattie, her new 9-month-old Jack Russell—a literal and figurative handful! To recuperate, Sissy and Bill spent a week at Fishers Island, where they enjoyed walks on beaches and around the old WWI and WWII Parade Grounds, which have wonderful mowed paths over many acres. Back at home, Sissy and Bill continue to farm the land and keep bees. Sissy teaches at her church school, and the grandchildren continue to thrive. A new grand was due in August, so Quintin, 21 months, son of Lee, will be a big brother! Anna Belle now lives closer to Sissy and Bill, so her children, Avery and Emmit, can visit more frequently than when they were in New Hampshire. Enid Fraser Robinson sent some lovely photos—both the photos and the family. Enid and husband George visited their son Lauder, wife Tava, and grandson Lochlan in California for the month of May. She sent a photo taken on Catalina Island. In September, Lauder and family visited Enid and family in London

for 10 days. Enid reports that all were together—Lauder with wife Tava and their son Lochlan; Fraser with wife Alex and their growing brood: Xander, Elisa, and baby Raef William Fraser Robinson, who was born in June. Polly Hayward Griffith writes, “After ‘The Wedding’ in 2016, 2017 settled back into ordinary routines. I take a French class (no progress on conjugating irregular verbs) and yoga/Pilates sessions and am a trustee of two charities based in York, one local, and one raising money for a women’s support group in Pakistan; I also greet newcomers to our community. Jon is deeply involved with chess, as always. Sadly, we lost our beloved dog, Jess, in January so we are now on the lookout for a new companion. The next generation continues to thrive. Nina ran her first marathon and came in second amongst the women! Fortunately, she got her grandmother’s athletic genes! Roger and Rebecca are having their garden landscaped—this from a man who took very little interest in growing things as a boy. How things change! In short—all is well.” Nicky Johnson Weaver Cheek and Jim spent a week in Peru in September, and they sent beautiful photos from Machu Picchu. “Long trek up to the Sun Gate and lots of wear and tear on the old wheels, but worth every bit of sweat.” Alison Wardrop has been working on the Westover Fund with Beth Markham Nicholson and is very appreciative of everyone’s support. She writes: “I am very busy working with a group called CLEAR/Oasis, which is an advocacy group dealing with families and people with addiction problems. Our specialty is setting up interventions for the family to air the effect that the addict’s behavior has on the family. When you have five people telling you there is a big problem, you really can’t ignore it. We have had a good bit of success with this—not with all, but even one is good enough. It

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

Class Notes

26. Bev Cutler ’67 and Linda Armour Kelly ’67 in Washington, DC, at the end of September 2017 27. Lalla Dodge Brutoco ’67 and Linda Baruch Leon ’67 in Washington, DC, at the end of September 2017 28. Nora Lapham Wendel ’67 and Phyllis Dewart Greene ’67 in Washington, DC 29. Linda Baruch Leon ’67, Marcia Clay Hamilton ’67, Phyllis Dewart Greene ’67, and Amy Shepard Knight ’67 (seated) together in Washington, DC, to tell Amy all about Reunion

is very satisfying, and although addiction is an ugly business, the people who are involved in the help are the most wonderful, dedicated people you can find. It makes you feel better about the human race. I am involved with Pittsburgh History and Landmarks (PHLF), which is also a very satisfying group. Pittsburgh has all the major architects of the 21st century exhibited here, and combined with three rivers, it really is lovely. PHLF has done a miraculous job of saving historic buildings and creating an important ‘Main Street’ ethos in the surrounding communities. I am active in the Garden Club of Allegheny County. The women there are unbelievable master gardeners and create environmental landscapes when needed. No pansy pushers, this group.” Margaret McClave Snowden tells us she is kept busy caring for her 93-year-old mother, enjoying her granddaughter, and growing trees. In May, last spring, we lost a quiet, but much-loved classmate, Elizabeth Jones. Libby died (very bravely) of a recurring cancer, in Centennial, CO. She leaves her son Andrew Paredes, her daughter Hettie, and five grandchildren. She was a devoted grandmother; after her first grandchild was born 16 years ago, her email address became mattysgran@aol.com, and she kept it for the rest of her life. At Westover, Libby was a West, a head of both Dorcas and the Athletic Association. She played basketball and was active in the Spanish Club. But her greatest impact was in her

sweet and remarkable spirit. Polly Turner Tackett remembers her “gentle grace ... she seemed to really like everyone with a genuine heart.” Alison Wardrop, her roommate for all three years, writes, “I kept in touch yearly as Class Agent, and she would write to thank me for my note. Typical, lovely Libby.” Beth Markham Nicholson shared her love of horses and is glad that Libby spent “a big chunk of her life enjoying the special pleasure only horses can give.” After growing up largely in the East, and attending Briarcliffe College, Libby went west to Colorado. I would see her or talk to her in recent years when I would visit grandchildren in Denver. She was absolutely uncomplaining about her illness, and much preferred to talk about her family, or mine. She truly lived up to the quotation accompanying her picture in our ’63 yearbook: “An unwavering faith, high courage, and a quiet heart.” (See photos page 61).

after another and I hope it’s not going to become our new normal. The loss is too great. What made this disaster bearable for me—and perhaps for others in our class who witnessed hurricanes in Florida and Texas—was the sense of community that grew stronger because of it. Community was what I learned to cherish at Westover. I so appreciated the friends from our class who reached out through email or Facebook to make sure I was okay. Between reunions and social media, that sense of community has only grown stronger through the years. I love hearing from classmates all year long. And it seems a number of us would be up for a 65th birthday celebration sometime in 2018. By the time these notes come out, perhaps we’ll have planned that. I heard from Karen Kjorlien Phillips and Tanya Kazanjian in April after they’d returned from a tour of Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi, and Kathmandu that they had planned together.

1968

Other classmates wrote in with their news:

Class Secretary Needed!

Jules Connolly Means: “I have three granddaughters now. Angelica is almost nine, in third grade, and lives with her mum, Amanda, in Salem about 10 minutes away. Ellie is five and just started kindergarten in South Portland, ME. Her baby sister is Juniper who will be two in June and she is walking and starting to talk a bit. They belong to my son Chip and his wife Hanna. I go up to So Po often, as it’s so hard to stay away! On Sept. 1, I ended my nine-year relationship with John Golden and so am no longer driving 240 miles to Rockland County every month to visit for a week. He would come here every month also, so it’s a big change to be single again and as hard as these things are, it’s for the best and I am loving it. My life is consumed with my kids, their kids and my 89-year-old mum, who is in assisted living nearby. My core support system of wise women friends is fantastic. We are all going through

Beverly Johnson Jaques and her husband Bill are both retired and have seven grandchildren! Music continues to be an important part of Beverly’s life. She is looking forward to celebrating the class of 1968’s 50th Reunion this spring!

1971 LISA STOCKWELL

lisabstockwell@gmail.com

I’m writing these notes as I sit at SFO waiting for my flight to Mumbai, a welcome adventure after a week of on and off evacuations from the wildfires that devastated Santa Rosa, where I live. It’s a year where we’ve had to deal with one natural disaster

the old mother care stuff and it really helps to lean on each other. I walk along the beautiful beaches all around me here in Beverly, MA, and appreciate how lucky I am. I still make things with wool, leather, silver, textiles, and sometimes paint. I have been writing, too, and hoping to find a book in there eventually. Who knows ... Love and big hugs to all of us as we have our big fat 64 Beatle Birthdays this year. Mine’s coming up in November and I’ve had ‘When I’m 64’ in my head for months!” Nancy Reighley Cavanaugh: “The greatest joy in my life are my little grandchildren—Madison who is a little over 2½ and Tyler who is 16 months—they were in Nantucket for six weeks this summer and live five minutes from me in New Canaan, CT, so I am fortunate to spend a lot of time with them. Brooke got married last October and is living and working in Boston. Allie has just started a new job teaching in NYC and loves it. She sees Walker (Karen’s son) often. Last winter I took the whole family skiing in Sun Valley—none of us had skied in 12 years, but somehow we managed. I saw Penny Stewart one evening—it was great to catch up with her. Of course, I see Karen regularly in Florida and recently had lunch in NYC with Audrey Smith Abbott. Heidi is going to be in New Canaan at the end of the month and we will get together for lunch or dinner. I’d love to celebrate our 65th together!” Shelley Sagar Payer: “Jim and I have had a very busy year and at some points thought it was all too much. Both our house in Marathon in the Keys, which had been our home for the last 10 years, and our family home in Bermuda sold and we closed on March 16. Incredibly, at the same time, we moved out of our fixer-upper in Naples and into a rental while we took down the fixer-upper and began the rebuild of our forever home. Between moving out of two homes and into one rental, and storing all the excess, it was a very busy March. Our

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

daughter Jamie, her husband Toby, and our two wonderful grands, Emma, four, and Erica, 18 months, moved to Naples the beginning of June and we love having them so near! We had a wonderful summer full of swimming lessons, soccer camp, and gymnastics. The new house is coming along fine and thank God it was dried in before Irma made her landfall on September 10th. She caused a tremendous amount of damage throughout Naples, but fortunately most of it was not structural. We lost 11 trees, but were so lucky to have them all fall away from the house.” Hilary Higgins Parker: “I’ve loved seeing all your wonderful pics on Facebook and hearing about your various adventures! Thanks for sharing! Our big news this year is that our son Warren married the lovely Katie Breckinridge on January 21, 2017, in a small, intimate ceremony at our house in Keswick, VA, just outside Charlottesville. Needless to say, Tom and I are thrilled with his choice of bride. Katie is a dream daughter-inlaw! Happily, they are based in Charlottesville, not far from us. Katie is an interior designer and works for the architecture firm William McDonough & Associates. Warren works in the music production industry and is about to go out on tour with Amos Lee in about 10 days. Tom and I greeted our 40th wedding anniversary last March and to celebrate that event, as well as our crossing over to the big 65 in the not too distant future, we are heading off to Scandinavia and Russia next June during the white nights. With one year of retirement under our belts, we find it is everything we hoped it would be. After 40 years in boarding schools, we’ve gone

from ‘assisted living’ to unassisted living (!), but we’ve managed just fine! We are dividing our time between Virginia and Massachusetts. Summers on Cape Cod with family and long-time friends bring us great joy, as well as my annual get-togethers with Martha Dailey Iacovelli and Lisa McLanahan Engel. What a joy to see them both and catch up on old times.” Audrey Smith Abbott: “My older son Geoff was married to his longtime girlfriend, Alex, in July near Camden, ME. She is lovely and it was a grand time for my whole family. My younger son Tim will be married in May 2018 to his high school girlfriend, Nina. We all look forward to that as well. Daughter Jen is still single, but happily so, engaged in her work in Boston as a commercial interior designer. I continue to love volunteering in NYC for a therapeutic horsemanship program for special-needs children, physically challenged adults, and veterans of all stripes. If by chance any of you find idle hours in your week, go volunteer somewhere. It might be a window on a whole new world! I hope we can all soon start thinking about how we will celebrate both our 65th Birthdays and our not-too-far-in-thefuture 50th Westover Reunion. It would be so fun to have a huge turnout for that. We are not (and never were) the ‘bad apples’ so many at Westover thought we were in 1967-1971. We were just ahead of our time! And we have shown them a thing or two!” From your Class Secretary, Lisa Stockwell: “So, there seem to be some common themes here: children getting married and grand babies bringing us joy. In the fall, after my son, Alex, was married, I took off for San Miguel de Allende for six months,

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and I would have stayed if not for kids back here that I was missing. Plus, Alex and Machelle are going to have a baby in January and I want to be around for that since they live 20 minutes from me. Miranda, my middle child, was married in July, and my youngest is having the fun a single, 25-year-old should in San Francisco. I have spent most of my time working (still a freelance writer), which is why I decided I needed to head off on this trip to India and Thailand. It’s the first time I’ve traveled truly alone and without any specific plans. I’m excited to have this opportunity to be spontaneous! I’ll look forward to celebrating 65 with whoever can make it to a mini reunion. Meanwhile, I hope everyone stays safe, healthy, and happy!

1972 ROBIN TILGHMAN STEVENS

ladyhawke.stevens@gmail.com

Anne Spalding writes, “I am still living in my little, but rapidly growing, village in southern Switzerland. I have two daughters, a son, and five grandkids (ages 2½ to 12, also growing rapidly) close by. I have decided to keep as active as possible, for as long as possible, so am now running the company I have been employed by for almost 10 years while continuing my involvement with a greeting card company, merchandising their products in the Italian part of Switzerland. It’s a lot of work, but I manage a visit to the East Coast once a year to visit family, including my mom Sonia Allen Spalding ’42 and friends, most frequently Robin Tilghman Stevens, as well as seeing my

sister, who lives close by. Had a lovely time recently finally meeting Robin’s family and getting a personalized demonstration of her profession, or more appropriately, passion. It is always so refreshing to be together, going back to some of the best times of our lives as if not a day had gone by. I am also very lucky to bump into Caroline Watson Morong entirely by chance, every time I am visiting family in Maine. She is one great gal—such a pleasure! Quite the connections, thanks to Westover.” Sarah (Sally) Hartigan writes, “It was such fun being at our small but friendly Reunion. The highlight of my year was a two-week trip in August to the West Coast of Ireland, visiting counties Clare, Galway, and Mayo. I also spent three nights in Dublin. Hiked beautiful valleys and beaches and islands and castles by day, and heard wonderful traditional music every night. We have already booked a return trip next summer to explore Cork and Kerry. I continue to care for my elderly mother, whose memory is declining, and I look forward to taking her back to Vero Beach, FL, for the winter, where our life is happily more low key!” From Felicia Murray: “Hello from Martha’s Vineyard, where I am packing to go back to NYC next week for the winter. It has been quite a year—at the end of October 2016, my brother Jonathan died unexpectedly of a heart attack at his home in Bangkok. It was a shock and very sad. My cousin and I went to Bangkok for the four-day Thai funeral and helped to empty his house. I then continued on to Delhi, India, to see a friend who had had major surgery the month before. Around the world, going west, in 18 days. This winter I will be emptying

Class Notes 30. The son of Hillary Higgins Parker ’71 with his wife on their wedding day

three storage units my brother had in NYC. Unfortunately, brown furniture is not what people want any longer. On a happier note, I’ll also be finalizing a book of my work, curated by Larry Fink, to be published next year by l’Artiere Edizioni, in Italy. Best wishes to all, and I hope to make it to our 50th Reunion!” Margie Johnson Orrick sends greetings from Bethesda, MD. She continues working part-time as an Oracle database administrator and spends four dawns each week on the Potomac River sweep rowing with a wonderful masters’ team, Rock Creek Rowing. It’s an exhilarating way to start each day and she is ready for lunch at 9 am! She competes on weekends in the summer and fall. Her three daughters have left the nest, landing in St. Paul, Philadelphia, and DC. Her oldest got married this summer, so she and Jack have experienced being parents of the bride! Caroline Watson Morong writes, “Life is exceptionally good on the coast of Maine. Enjoying being around my grandchildren and family. Have seen Amy Nickell-Wilson a few times, who has moved to Frisco, TX. Had a chance encounter with Anne Spalding the other day as she and I grabbed a coffee while she was in town. Always love to see her! I am involved in some local charity work. Lucky woman to have my grown kids somewhat close! So sorry to have missed the Reunion. Cheers to you!” Marianne Tompkins Kassab writes, “Nothing very new. Between my store, my grandchildren, and little trips here and there, life goes flying by!” Boo (Harriet) Crane Miller writes, “Hey Robin, as always, sending my best to all! Everything good in Fairfield for now.”

Elizabeth Bucknall Petty writes, “I am downsizing this month and emptying storage units once and for all. What do I need and what do I have that holds me back? While papers take their time to be signed and passed, I am loving the freedom of being in limbo with nothing but a suitcase and supportive friends. Great opportunity to say hello to Westover Class of ’72 today. I just made a killer spaghetti sauce and wish I could share it with all of you.” Candace McDonnell Hanau writes, “Living the life here. We now can go between the beautiful coastal Lowcountry of Beaufort, SC, to the equally gorgeous Blue Ridge mountains of Hendersonville, NC, as we have acquired a condo we are now busy renovating. So, we have rental condos on the ocean and with a view of the mountains. Discount for Westover grads. Traveling a lot; a family trip to Switzerland this summer to discover our roots was awesome. We have applied for my husband to get citizenship so all four of us will have dual. You never know. Max, our struggling actor, is in NYC and Victoria, our world traveler, is in London working for London B-school. We all meet up in various locations.” Amy Benson Cutting says, “I’m still alive and well in Salt Lake City. I’m practicing for retirement with some longer vacations. Just got off of an awe-inspiring, 16-day river trip in the Grand Canyon, sleeping under the stars every night, floating rapids, and hiking up into side canyons during the day. I highly recommend adding this trip to your bucket list if you haven’t done it already. Otherwise, I still have a clinical practice at the University of Utah, am taking full advantage of the beautiful fall weather here, and looking

forward to lots of skiing this winter. Please let me know if you are in the Salt Lake City vicinity. I’d love to reconnect with any of you. Thanks, Robin, for trying to keep us connected!” Joanie Gerster writes, “My Pop died Oct. 13th. He was 98. We were blessed to have had him in our lives for so long! On a fun note, in March I skied with Audrey Smith Abbott ’71 and Palmer Marrin ’73 during our annual visit to Audrey’s in Utah. Happened to coincide with the birth of Palmer’s most recent grandbaby! Sailed a bunch in July and August as Buzzards Bay continues to be one of our favorite spots! I see Leigh Keyser Phillips ’68 and her husband on occasion and rumor has it that Nancy Handy Grogan ’73 and her husband are moving to Marion, MA. Yeah! Hope to see you sooner than later.” Annie DiSesa McHugh enjoyed catching up with classmates at Reunion. Her life on the shoreline is infused with all the happiness and excitement that comes with a growing family. She hopes for a big turnout for our 50th! Cricket Wingfield writes, “I was sorry to miss our Reunion last spring and seeing all of you who came. Enjoying life thoroughly; spending time with grandchildren, playing in multimedia art, and winding up my coaching business. I share a family summer home in MT with my two sisters, and love spending time there with family and friends.” Leslie (Lila) Foster Berris writes, “This summer I went to England and Scotland with my cousin to visit our grandfather’s cousins and go to a ceilidh in Edinburgh, which is the party after the wedding. There was Scottish dancing and lots of fun.

31. Lisa Stockwell ’71 with her family at her daughter Miranda's wedding; Machelle, Alex (son), Natalie (daughter), Omar, Miranda (daughter), and Lisa 32. Susan Handy Stover ’70, Gretchen Handy Comstock ’72, Lilo Smith Cunningham ’75, and Pam Handy Shepley ’75 in Nantucket 33. Karen Kjorlien Phillips ’71 and Tanya Kazanjian ’71 in India 34. Robin Tilghman Stevens ’72 and her Icelandic horses, Sjarmur and Snotri

We even had a day and a half of sunshine in Edinburgh, a lovely city with an amazing castle. On our way home, we stopped over in Iceland and went to the Blue Lagoon, hot springs, and an allday bus tour of the waterfalls, geysers, and beautiful landscape of Iceland. We’d planned to go whale watching (my favorite thing to do), but the scheduling got messed up so we hung out in Reykjavik a bit more. Iceland is insanely expensive: $3 for an apple and $20 for a frozen dinner! It was a great trip! Katie, our daughter, is now a freshman in high school! It’s going well so far. My husband had back surgery and is recovering nicely and I’m hanging in there. Not working much because I teach English as a Second Language and the number of students/teaching positions has greatly decreased due to the economy and politics. I’m keeping busy with projects around the house. Hope you all have had a great year! I’m so glad 2017 was so much better than 2016!” Kathryn Klopfer O’Brien writes, “Life has not slowed down given our semi-retirement. Doug and I split our time between Houston and our house in Utah. We’ve taken up cross-country skiing and snowshoeing and I still enjoy the occasional tennis game. Both of our married children have settled in Boston, so we return to the East Coast occasionally

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Class Notes

and really enjoy playing with our four-year-old grandson.” Karie Dixon Thomson writes, “Have been traveling in South Africa and kind of off the grid a bit. Happy to report that life is great! I am very fortunate to still be living in Woodside, CA, with my husband of 48 years, that crazy Kiwi I married while I was still in college. Three lovely sons and two grandchildren (boys, of course) who we are lucky enough to have living about 10 minutes from our house. Two Golden Retrievers, one cat, and two fabulous horses with whom I am reliving my childhood and loving it. Have even competed in several horse shows, where my competition is 12-yearolds in pigtails! Yay me! Work involves sitting on the boards of several nonprofits working on conservation (land, forests, and food systems primarily). Also very involved with our extended family’s trust company based in Chicago, doing investment, fund management, philanthropy, and family governance. And I still have my mother, age 86, who was another Over back in the day. We get to New Zealand often. A board that David has been on for years takes us to Africa annually, and we get to spend time on the shores of Lake Superior in the summer. Very lucky indeed. Hope things are good with you—I know Westover is thriving and I would love to get back there one day.” Deb Lippincott writes, “It is so nice to keep up with classmates beyond the Facebook connection. I am still moving seniors to retirement homes, gardening in our suburban acre, and watching my three boys become adults. Nils (Duke MBA) is consulting for Accenture in DC; Thomas (Rockefeller NYC, CFA) married Carlye (Blackrock NYC, CFA) this summer in Baltimore, a wonderful full family event; and Oscar is in his third year at WeWork HQ in NYC. I wake up every morning and say thank you.” Jane Castles Thompson writes, “Now that both kids are at college, Ron and I are more than enjoying our empty nest time!

I serve on care committees at two different churches as well as being a Stephen Minister. Stephen Ministry is a Christian care organization. I completed a 50-hour training earlier this year and am part of the first Stephen Ministry class at a local non-denominational church. This has been a wonderfully rewarding experience. As always, I am still involved with animal rescue. However, we are down to just three cats and three dogs at our house. Enough for now, but I am sure more are on the horizon! Hope all is well with everyone!” Gretchen Handy Comstock writes, “Happy to report that our son Brooks is getting married this March. He and Shannon Demers live in Brooklyn and spend a good amount of time here in Essex, CT on weekends, especially in summer months, which I love. Isabelle and Alexa recently took leave from their lives and hiked the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. They had quite a life-enhancing experience and I’m glad they finished in high spirits and in one piece! Alexa is back working in NYC and Isabelle is trying to decide her next episode. Along with a growing team of forward-thinking health advocates, I have been busy with my Juice Plus+ business. The JP+ Tower Gardens are catching on in schools, which gives me great joy. We are spending this Christmas with our family traveling to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos. Our 45th Reunion was such fun and plan on making our 50th a grand slam with many more of you!” Karla Lawrence Keating writes, “Richard and I are enjoying our retirement lives. We split our time between our home in Pinehurst, NC, and our beach house in Litchfield Beach, SC. Spending lots of time with our four grandsons, which keeps us very busy and, at times, exhausted! Next year will be a busy traveling year for us: Mexico, Iceland, and then Spain. Hopefully will get to visit with Katherine Marshall and her boys in February.” From Dianne Crary: “I summer up on Fishers Island, NY, where

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there is a good group of Westover gals from various decades. I actually went into one person’s home and saw an interesting photograph and asked him if his house had a squash court. He affirmed that it did and that his parents invited Westover girls to come and play anytime. Brooks Downey and I used to bike there to play all the time. He also mentioned that it was a ritual for the ‘townie boys’ to sit on the wall the first days of school and watch the girls before they learned to pull down the shades! Four years ago, I graduated from the New York Botanical Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture, which was grueling but fantastic. I then worked for the Central Park Conservancy and was a zone gardener for a specific garden. Left there to help with my parents’ estate and to get the family home ready for sale, which luckily went through before we even put it on the market. I am now trying to clear land and build a house, which has a steep learning curve.” Robin Tilghman Stevens writes, “Hello to all of my classmates! I want to thank you so much for writing in! Life for me is amazing, as I am truly living my passion. After years of working for other equine therapeutic facilities, I decided no time like the present and opened up my own therapeutic center. It is small, quality, intimate, and just right, with wonderful volunteers and my Icelandic Horses. My beautiful black labrador has also been certified as a therapy dog and we visit schools and hospitals. My heart sings! My boys—Byam, husband, and Sam, son—are also doing well. Byam is involved with American Ballet Theatre as an acting coach and loving it! Sam is working in the library field, still finding his sea legs and sheer joy. I wish you all a wonderful 2018! So happy to hear from so many of you. Happy Trails!”

1973 Class Secretary Needed!

Rosemary Furse Taylor is still teaching yoga and doing Myofascial release and massage. She has three grandsons and they all have great fun on Fishers Island.

1978 SHOTSIE BISSELL WILSON

shotsiew@yahoo.com

After 18 years as a flight attendant, Carla Skinner Malstrom is content with her midlife career choice. She continues to fly around the USA and many other parts of the world, happily visiting with family and friends on layovers whenever possible. She is very much looking forward to attending next year’s Reunion and hopes lots of our classmates will choose to join us! There are few guarantees in life! Please don’t miss this opportunity to spend time with your Westover sisters! Theodosia Burr Zeleznik had a month in CT in August/September and was able to visit Alice and Terry Hallaran, Bruce and Maria Coffin, and Lori Bellini Cannistra, and Andrea Manzi Frank. It was wonderful to see all of them, as well as Westover the week before classes started. Now she is in steamy Bangkok—it’s definitely monsoon season right now!—for the next three years. They are short of Diplomatic Courier support staff, so life is busier than ever. Teddy has a big apartment with a beautiful view, so she says,“Westover friends: come visit.” She hopes all is well with the rest of you, and for those of you attending our 40th Reunion (gasp!) next year, enjoy the time and memories together. Elizabeth Uhl says, “Life is good! Hope to see everyone at our big Reunion this year.”

Christine Gamble Brooks loves keeping up with myself and others. She and I are part of a group called “Love Notes,” where we send out notes of encouragement to people we are paired up with throughout the world. The world needs more kindness. Lauralyn Bellini Cannistra reports, “I have a new job as a member of the Brigham and Women’s Cardiology group in RI. Teddy, Andrea, and I had a great get together for lunch in CT when Teddy was on vacation and between assignments abroad for work. Looking forward to our Reunion!” Jennie LaMonte writes, “Mark, our dogs (Billie and Phinnie), and I are preparing to return to Raleigh, NC, after several years in DC. We’re eager to return to a vibrant and growing city where so many of our former students live. Our house will once again be more than a glorified storage locker situated near a new city park that our neighbors and we began efforts to establish almost a decade ago. In addition, I’m excited to support Shotsie as she shepherds our class toward our 40th Reunion—and beyond! We had a terrific lunch recently and shared news about our class. We’d love to have lunch (and more) with all of you in May. Please look for a letter from us that not only encourages you to attend our immediately upcoming Reunion (May 18-20, 2018), but also asks for your assistance in planning our support for Westover in the future. You’ll be getting a call to urge your participation.” Julie Zucker Chapleau (aka Coach Jules) is extremely busy with her company, Team Best Fit Body. In a recent competition, she placed first in her age group. I hear from Emily Renz Barron

often and I know she is looking forward to Reunion in May. Clare Westerfield Evans and her husband Jim still live in Burlingame, CA, just a half hour from S.F. and 10 minutes from the airport. If anyone is flying through, please call. Clare has two children. Katie is 27 and is a manager at a local Marshalls. She lives with Clare and Jim and they love it! Their son Taylor is 24 and is a manager at Amazon in Fort Worth, TX. During the summer of 2016, he and two friends drove to Canada for the Ironman Triathlon—a four-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26-mile run. It took him about 12.5 hours. Amazing! Clare says she was never that kind of athlete. Clare still works at a local elementary school. She loves being with the children. She is not coaching anymore. Jim is still working with animals. He is now at Berkeley working in a live science department that breeds frogs for genetic purposes. Clare sees Carla Malstrom every once in a while when she flies through town. It’s always a great visit. Clare positively plans on being at our Reunion in May and hopes you all are, too! Putney and Anne Westerfield say hi to our class. Susan Johnson Currier was recently promoted to Full Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her two daughters have graduated from college. As for me, Shotsie, I am still busy coaching runners. They have completed 5K, 10K, 10-mile and now half-marathon distances. In between, I fit in my races as well. I am still with General Mills, having just surpassed 17 years with them. Of course, volleyball is still a passion and we are gearing up for a new season. I hope

everyone will come for our 40th Reunion in May. Join us for even a couple of hours if you cannot stay the whole weekend. You never know what surprises might be in store for everyone. What a great way to reconnect. Many of us are connected by email and Facebook and I thoroughly enjoy those updates and pictures. Stay well and stay connected. See you in May! Shotsie

1979 SARAH BLISS SEAMANS

sbseamans@comcast.net

Thank you to all who wrote to me with their latest news. Elizabeth Spencer writes that she recently reconnected with our classmate Jana Halwick, who owns Carver Hill Gallery in Rockport, ME, and whose son attends Middlebury College where Elizabeth continues to work in the Development Office. The greatest excitement for Elizabeth and her family was the swearing in of her brother Richard as the 76th Secretary of the Navy. Congratulations to Richard! Caroline Barhydt Francis writes that she and her family are busier than ever. Caroline uses her nursing background to teach adults who are working in group homes. She loves feeling that she is getting through to her students and making a difference. Her husband, Dave, continues to be busy at the UConn Health Center and his private practice in Glastonbury, CT. Caroline’s oldest son, Jamie, and his wife live in Richmond, VA, with their oneyear-old son, Will. Caroline and Dave love being grandparents!

35. When Westover administrators traveled to Portsmouth, NH, for a retreat in August, they stopped by Izzy’s, an ice cream shop owned by Beth Gilbert ’77. Though Beth wasn’t there, her daughter Katherine was. With her are: Dean of Students Meg Eggert, Assistant to the Head of School Lauren Castagnola, Advancement Communications Director Rich Beebe, Enrollment Management Director David Tuttle, Assistant Head of School Ben Hildebrand, Associate Director of Development Nancy Aordkian Pelaez ’86, Katherine, Head of School Julie Faulstich, Dean of Faculty Tom Hungerford, COO Tom Gorman. 36. Sarah Bliss Seamans ’79 and Karen Hall ’79 in Maine August 2017

Their second son, Zach, graduated from University of Richmond and is an accountant at Capital One living in Richmond, VA. Their 16-year-old daughter Abby is full of energy. She is a competitive swimmer and they are navigating the college athletic recruiting path. Caroline says that she and Dave “try to avoid looking grandparent-like by running.” They completed a road race in October. Caroline hopes to see everyone soon, or at least at our next Reunion in 2019! Christine Chang Hanway writes that after 23 years, she and Bill are still in London. Their oldest son, Will, has started law school and their youngest, Colm, is in his second year of university. She and Bill have a house near New London, CT, where they spend August every year. Chrissie welcomes visitors in Connecticut or London! Her husband Bill is busy with designing the L.A. 2028 Olympics, so she is on the West Coast a lot and

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Class Notes

would love to see anyone who lives there. Chrissie has started a website called Fabulous Fabsters (www.fabulousfabsters. com) which celebrates women who are FAB—Fifty And Beyond! You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Karen Hall has had her own dental practice for 19 years! Congratulations, Karen! During Spring ’17, Karen spent a wonderful week in Savannah with Irene Bagley-Heath. Karen built a cottage on her property and it is now complete! She says that even though it is only 50 feet from her house, she feels like she is on vacation when she drinks her morning coffee there. Karen and her dog Winston completed training and are now busy volunteering at the local hospital as a therapy team. Summer of ’18 will be a celebration of her niece’s wedding. Irene Bagley-Heath continues to be busy in Savannah, GA, with her very busy Airbnb and her new venture of being an independent contractor for Damsel in Defense, which is a company that sells self-defense items. Irene’s husband Darren is increasing his real estate business. Their son Callum began his freshman year at the International Baccalaureate High School, which he loves. Jodi Summit and her husband continue to put out the weekly newspaper, Timberjay, in their tiny northern Minnesota town. Jodi mentioned it never ceases to amaze her that there is always something to write about. In September ’17, Jodi had the pleasure of meeting and having dinner with Ilan Omar, who is the first Somali-American ever elected to state legislature and was featured on the cover of Time magazine in September ’17. Jodi reports that while her town was founded by immigrants who came to work in the coal mines, the visit with Omar gave her a chance to learn more about Minnesota’s newest immigrants. Jodi still chairs the school board of the small, grade 7-12 public charter school,

which opened five years ago. Their son at Cornell will be getting his master’s in Entomology in Fall ’17 and plans to continue on with his studies for his Ph.D. DJ Lewis D’Agostino wrote that, after 33 years, she has left Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. Her new position is in a small employee-centric pharmaceutical company, where she is much happier and her colleagues are fantastic. Their Naples, FL home made it through Hurricane Irma without any issues; however, the area was hit hard, with some of their family and friends having significant damage to trees and homes. DJ and her husband Joe visited Key West in summer ’17 and enjoyed their time there before Hurricane Irma hit. They feel for everyone who was affected and are praying that the hurricane season slows down. DJ has regular contact with Emily Renz Barron ’78, Sarah Bliss Seamans, and Kim Daly. DJ hopes to see more of our class at Reunion in 2019! I, Sarah Bliss Seamans, have been at the Amesbury Public Library for 17 years, where I continue to lead an interesting book group and work circulation. I am in my last term as a Governor on the Alumnae Board at Westover, which I have truly enjoyed. Getting to know the School we love in a new way has been wonderful. I value all of the new friendships I have made with other Governors and alumnae. Summer of ’16 John and I opened an art gallery on our property in Newbury, MA, which features the art of John’s late mother, Beverly Benson Seamans. We also showcase other local artists. Visit www.bensongallery.com. I was happy to spend family time in Maine this summer when I also snuck in a visit with Karen Hall. Our son Dan moved back from California in ’16 and plans to relocate to Maine in ’18. Our daughter Holly Seamans ’09 has relocated to Boulder, CO, where she is continuing her yoga teacher training as well as rock climbing. She has been in touch with Nancy Hoft Harvey, who has also relocated

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to the Boulder, CO area with her husband. It is always good to have Westover connections wherever you go! I appreciate everyone who was able to drop me a line. Keep in touch as we prepare for our next Reunion in ’19!

1982 CAROLYN SCOTT

cashr001@yahoo.com LEE HAMMETT PETERSON

LHP111@aol.com

Thank you to everyone who submitted news! This fall seemed like the perfect time to gather news, and many thanks to Carolyn Scott for continuing in the role of Class Secretary. As for me, Lee Hammett Peterson, I am still living in Pennsylvania, but I downsized and moved to Pottstown last year. I still work at the county library, and my son Doug is a sophomore at Penn State. My daughter Gretchen is a pharmacy tech and recently bought a condo. The big excitement this summer was a family reunion on Martha’s Vineyard to celebrate my parent’s 60th anniversary. It was great to have all the extended family together! Wendy Fisher Beach reports, “Life is good here in Vermont. Oldest daughter, Merle, is a happy sophomore at St. Lawrence University and son Dan has just started high school. We still own and manage Basin Harbor, our family’s resort on Lake Champlain. I also have a real estate business. We love to travel and spend time as a family. I look forward to doing a better job of reconnecting with classmates in the near future!” Jeannette Matheson Lussi writes, “Life is always busy. After daughter Tyler’s graduation from Princeton, she was drafted to play for the women’s professional league soccer team, The Portland Thorns. In four games, she had two assists and a goal, then an unfortunate ankle injury, but she is hoping to play in the

semi-finals and the Thorns hoping to win the cup! Go Thorns! “Youngest son Morgan plays soccer for Loyola University, and our oldest son Hunter is taking his LSAT to get into law school and is a professional triathlete for the US National team. I have enjoyed getting back into training and riding on tire for an easy draft. I am still working to build my business at My Assisted Living. I am loving every day; the wonderful seniors teach me compassion and empathy. So, while I work most days, I try to enjoy some form of athletic activity. Riding my horse has been my soulful fun, running is always good, biking and spinning quite often, and soon ice hockey season, which everyone knows is the team enjoyment I have the most fun with, especially with all the Mother Puckers (it’s like soccer on ice). Also, doing a little skeet shooting and some golf this summer. Husband Craig is always working hard so that the entire family can enjoy life. Every day I think about my mother who passed away in December 2016, but I am grateful for the months I got to spend with her and my father while helping out. Celebrating my father’s 80th in August was a lot of fun as my twin sister and I worked hard to throw him a wonderful party. Sorry that no one was at our 35th Reunion, but I am incredibly honored with the Westover Athletic Hall of Fame award and totally appreciated Lisa Detwiler ’80 and Elizabeth Spencer ’79 being there to support me. Hope all in the class are well. If anyone is in Maryland, come visit. I will always make your visit eventful and sport’n!” Annie Hunter Tingley writes, “I have seen lots of Westover girls in the last couple of years! For three years running, I have shared a girls’ weekend in Boston with Jan Baker ’83, Lisa Tagney Whitney ’83, and Priscilla Newton Scobie ’84, hosted by Natalie Callender Bagley ’83. We have had more laughs and more fun during those weekends, and we look forward to our get together every winter. Speaking of Jan

Class Notes

Baker, I went to her wedding in Denver in September ’16, and Natalie, Lisa, Priscilla, and Margaret Jackson were there as well. I have had Mela McDonnell Stewart and Joanie Wetmore Yahn visit me in Darien a few times, and when my stepson was at camp in New Hamsphire, we would always spend the night with Mela and Jay on our way home after the drop-off. In early September, Mela, Claire Richards, Kate Green, and I attended Joanie and Walter’s daughter’s wedding in Amenia, NY, which was another fabulous gathering. Joanie looked beautiful as mother of the bride, and it was a glorious day and a beautiful wedding. I had a great visit with Christina Sieminski Trammell in Vero Beach last April, when Sam and I were down there, and we are planning on getting together again when we are in Vero, FL, in April 2018! Sam and I have been empty nesters for three years, and while I miss our kids, I love this new phase of life. I’m teaching at our church preschool (where all of our kids went many years ago), and I love it. Nothing makes your day brighter than a happy three-year-old! I hope all the ’82s are doing well. It’s so fun to keep in touch with so many through Facebook etc. I hope I will see even more Westover ladies in 2018!” Holly Gyde Costaregni writes that the family is well. Their son Jack began high school this year, and Carly is in 7th grade. The family spends the winter in Miami Beach and the summers in the Hamptons. Adela Pierson-Eguilior and Holly continue to spend time together while Holly is in Miami. She and Adela went down to Ocean Reef for an overnight last spring and have dinner together regularly. Holly met up with Alison Chase Moore and Charlie in St. Bart’s last winter for a fun getaway. Amy Franklin McCoog and Tom were in Miami Beach last winter and Adela, Amy, and Holly had lunch together. “We miss Christina since she moved to Vero Beach.” Heather Harding is doing well and continues to work and live in

Cambridge, UK. During September, Heather took a vacation to Australia for a couple of weeks and enjoyed touring. Vanessa Spang wrote: “My family and I are still happily living in San Francisco, although the pull of the East Coast gets stronger every year for me. I definitely miss the smell of fallen leaves in the autumn and that brisk fall sweater weather. After 20 years of teaching and being Director of the Faculty Development Department at Academy of Art University, I have recently resigned and am now trying to figure out what my next step will be. I had a great visit with Adela Pierson-Eguilior last spring in Miami. It was fabulous to catch up. She is still as funny, thoughtful, and wonderful as ever. I also continue to see Weezie Webber Fallon every summer. She comes to visit with her kids and dog for two to three weeks at my folks’ home in Manchester, MA, when I am there. It is always one of the highlights of my year. Hard to believe that she has been in my life since I was five years old! My eldest son Benjamin is doing the college hunt and working his way through the college application process. My younger son Alexander is now a sophomore in high school. It seems like only yesterday that I was a Westover girl and I really can’t believe I have a son going to college and one in high school. I was sorry not to make the Westover Reunion, especially to celebrate Jeannette’s Hall of Fame award, but we had already made plans for a trip to Italy and Greece with the boys to celebrate Bruce’s 50th and our 20th wedding anniversary. It was a fantastic trip! Anyway, I am hoping to catch up with everyone at the next reunion.” I, Carolyn Scott, was sorry to miss Jeannette Matheson Lussi’s Hall of Fame Award celebration, but my daughter, Heather A. Harris ’13, graduated from Hobart and William Smith during Reunion Weekend. Congratulations, Jeannette!

ANDREA LAWLOR ’89 PUBLISHES FIRST NOVEL Andrea Lawlor’s first novel, Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl, was published in November 2017 by Rescue Press. Kirkus, in a starred review, described the novel as a “groundbreaking, shapeand genre-shifting work from a daring writer; a fresh novel that elevates questions of sexual identity and intimacy.” On the Rescue Press’s website, a summary of the book notes that Paul, a shapeshifter, “transforms his body at will in a series of adventures that take him from Iowa City to Boystown to Provincetown and finally to San Francisco… Andrea Lawlor’s debut novel offers a speculative history of early ’90s identity politics during the heyday of ACT UP and Queer Nation. Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl is a riotous, razor-sharp bildungsroman whose hero/ine wends his way through a world gutted by loss, pulsing with music, and opening into an array of intimacy and connections.” In addition, the Spring 2017 issue of the literary journal Ploughshares featured several new poems written by Andrea — “Position Paper #14: The Pacific Gyre,” “Position Paper #18: Insurance,” “Position Paper #19: Donald Trump,” and “Position Paper #20: Positions” — that are part of an ongoing series of poems, the first of which were collected in a chapbook, Position Papers (Factory Hollow Press, 2016). Andrea teaches writing at Mount Holyoke College, edits fiction for Fence, and has been awarded fellowships by Lambda Literary and Radar Labs. Andrea’s writing has also appeared in various literary journals, including Mutha, the Millions, jubilat, the Brooklyn Rail, Faggot Dinosaur, and Encyclopedia, Vol. II.

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1987 Class Secretary Needed!

Jennifer Spungin Kehoe writes, “My husband and I just purchased a stunning, five-bedroom home with a wine cellar off a golf course in Macedon, NY! I am still writing and researching early American women’s diaspora literature and teaching. Madly in love with my family. We just bought a Newfoundland too!

1989 PHOTOGRAPHER HEATHER DONLAN ’91: ‘STANDING TALL IN A TUTU’ Beautiful,” were the subject of an exhibit in Westover’s Schumacher Gallery in February and March 2013. In its profile of Heather, eBella noted that “Photographer Heather Donlan reminds young girls of their beauty through the magic of a tutu.”

Heather Donlan ’91 and her daughter, Sophie, were featured on the cover of the August/September 2017 issue of eBella magazine, a Southwest Florida publication that focuses on inspiring and empowering women in the region. In an article entitled “Standing Tall in a Tutu,” Heather was celebrated for her ongoing series of photographs that feature young women and girls posed as ballerinas in dramatic settings from all over the country. Photographs from the series, which Heather has entitled “Tutu

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Heather had said that “the initial idea for this project started while I was watching my own young daughters at their ballet class years ago. The young students were so graceful and I became intrigued with thinking about how to photograph them.” She added, “Through photography, Tutu Beautiful helps inspire and empower teen girls to recognize the beauty and strength within themselves. More and more I am working with girls who have endured some sort of trauma and are using Tutu Beautiful as a way of remembering the beauty that still lives within them.” The work can be viewed at www.tgutubeautiful.co and at Insta:@ tutu_beautiful Heather operates a fine art photography studio in Naples, Florida, where she specializes in family and commercial portraiture. She has been a professional photographer for more than 18 years.

SHYLA PACKWOOD MIDDLETON

shylap@earthlink.net

Jane Banta Fisher writes, “My son is in the 10th grade at The Millbrook School. It’s been so great to see him become so independent and confident. I look forward to bringing my family to our 30th Reunion in 2019!

1991 ELIZABETH KOSTOJOHN

e.kostojohn@gmail.com

The chill of Fall has finally arrived in New England! I must shamefully admit that I look forward to the arrival of pumpkin spice lattes. I restrain myself by holding the whipped cream, though. It makes me feel that my coffee is somehow more respectable. On a more important note, the Class of ’91 has news to share! Dolly Patterson writes that she and her family still live in Ridgefield, CT. Dolly has been teaching part-time at an environmental education center and working farm nearby. She has been teaching there since her kids started school full-time, which is about five years now. Luca, Dolly’s youngest child, is

Class Notes

in 6th grade, and Mia, her eldest, has just begun her first year of prep school at Choate Rosemary Hall. Dolly tells us that she is still feeling out of sorts with Mia being gone, but she loves the one-on-one time it has given her with Luca. Dolly is looking forward to seeing everyone in 2021, and she hopes that our Reunion date won’t conflict with Mia’s graduation that year! Zandra Sagona Gay says that there is lots of excitement in her household. As of May, Zandra has moved on from Stella & Dot, after almost eight years. Zandra has decided to move to the other side of the direct selling industry by joining forces with her sisterin-law at LimeLight by Alcone, a professional makeup and all-natural skincare company. Zandra will be leading a team, as well as mentoring, coaching, and selling, as she has done before. She tells us that she loves this new chapter in her life, as she has the flexibility to work from home and can sell a product that is both affordable and effective. Zandra is also selling her home of 11 years and moving down the street, which is very exciting. She and her family traveled a lot over the summer, and she says that her kids are growing too fast! Carter, Lexi, and Reese—13, 11, and 9 respectively—are very active in sports. Zandra says that her house is all football, lacrosse, and field hockey, and that she loves being on the sidelines for all their games. Zandra wishes everyone well and says that she has been so happy to see Pia Guido Murphy, Courtney Altschul Olsen, and Parrish Robe Chilcoat throughout the year. Heather Mannella Nuzzo tells us that all is quiet on the Westover front. Heather is still teaching at Westover, which makes 22 years on campus. This year, she is teaching Honors Physics and AP Environmental Science to a great group of students. Heather’s daughter is now in preschool, which she feels is just crazy and makes her wish she could slow time down somehow. Some highlights for the year

were that Heather got to feed a giraffe and she also saw the total eclipse last summer. Melanie Lazenby writes that motherhood is like a crazy cycle, where every time you feel like you have it down, everything changes. She is constantly on her toes with her now sevenmonth-old daughter, Tennyson. With the help of a nanny, Melanie is raising Tennyson to be bi-lingual in Spanish and English. She is hoping that Tenny can master Spanish, one of many subjects that were a challenge for her at Westover. Melanie jokes that this might be a better concept than a reality. Melanie is back to work full-time selling apartments, but she is working from home now instead of the office. In between the apartment showings, Melanie says that she is running to Central Park, baby gym classes, baby music classes, and baby “all in one” classes, where a person with a high-pitched voice will blow bubbles and drop a giant parachute on top of all the semi-terrified babies. It’s a whole new world for Melanie, which involves early mornings, early to bed, and the new ability to shower and get dressed in 10 minutes or less. She says that she feels like she is in “Mommy Bootcamp” half of the time, but that she wouldn’t trade it for the world. Pia Guido Murphy writes that she is experiencing life with two children, as opposed to three. What a difference! Pia’s daughter, Raynie, went away to junior boarding school at Rumsey Hall this Fall. Pia says that they are looking at Westover for 10th grade. Pia saw Melanie Lazenby at the beginning of September, and Pia says she looks gorgeous as always. Michelle Kubiska Tscheppe asks, “Who remembers Susan Millspaugh McLeran, from our sophomore year?” I do! Well, as our small world would have it, Sue’s cute younger son, Simon, is in Michelle’s first grade class at the Bethlehem, CT elementary school. Michelle says that teaching first grade is keeping her busy. Her oldest son, Tim, is

driving, which makes life a lot easier, as he commutes to and from The Gunnery. Her next oldest, Sam, started at Canterbury this year as a boarder. Michelle says that she would love any tips on things our parents may have done to make our time away from home special. You can’t go wrong with a care package filled with junk food, right? Sadie’s in 6th grade and is determined to go to Westover. Michelle’s youngest, Charlie, doesn’t care where he goes, but he knows he wants to board! 2017 has been a good year for me so far. I love that Kyla Reynolds P’an is close by so that we can catch lunch on occasion. In February, my husband, son, and I visited St. John in the Virgin Islands, which was amazing and fun. I’m sad to think that now St. John and its residents, along with numerous other nearby islands, are struggling to recover from the recent series of hurricanes. I hope that by the time this magazine comes out, the situation for everyone in those islands is vastly improved. I don’t want to end on this sad note, so I’ll finish by saying “thank you” to everyone who wrote to me with their news. It’s great to hear about the many happy events for the Class of ’91!

1994 TRICIA CARLSON

tacarlson0315@gmail.com JOHANNA CATHERINE COX

johannacatherinecox@gmail.com 40

Greetings, ’94! Juliana Pereira writes that she divorced her first husband (father of her son Gabriel, who is now 7 years old) in January ’17. She met her fiancé, who has a 10-year-old daughter, in February. They are living together with plans to wed next year. Juliana and her fiancé both play beach tennis every weekend and compete in tournaments almost every month. She misses everyone and hopes to make the next reunion.

37. Naya Koda Imahase ’93 after a studio lesson in Japanese flower arrangements 38. Kate Witry ’94 and Allison Perry Sullivan ’94 catching up in New Orleans 39. Tricia Carlson ’94 and Jennifer Kelly ’94 with Jennifer’s husband, Fergus, and son, Aaron, in April 2017 40. Juliana Pereira ’94 and her family

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Class Notes

Zoe March Brisard moved to Farmington, ME, in 2013. She works as an RN on the med-surgical floor of her local hospital. She also has a family farm called BZ Acres and is in the process of having their vegetables certified organic. Her husband raises pigs in addition to working for EMC/Dell. The farm is always expanding, and in addition to the pigs and vegetables, they raise chickens and grow hops. They will have a farm stand next year and will soon have a processing kitchen and brewery. Zoe’s girls are growing quickly; they are 13 and 15 and keep busy with field hockey and school. Zoe enjoys keeping up to date with so many of us on Facebook and loves seeing classmates’ children growing up, as well as other life celebrations. Jen Kelly has been traveling to some interesting places. She went to Brussels during Christmas ’16, Paris on Valentine’s Day ’17, and Zagreb, Croatia in June ’17. Jen enjoyed a visit with Willa Rogers and family in London during her Christmas travels as well. She continues to like her job as Grant Manager for a European-wide research network based at University College Dublin, where they have researchers from 27 countries. Aaron turned 2 at the end of August ’17 and is “full of chat,” as Jen says. Fergus and Jen still love living close to Dublin’s city center. I was lucky to catch Jen and family on her world tour back here in Connecticut in April ’17. Our visits are short, but I love that we still laugh and talk the same as we did in high school! In October, Allison Perry Sullivan squeezed in a lovely visit with Katie Witry while in New Orleans for a work conference. She is doing great and it was great catching up with her. Zowie Cox got married in the summer of 2016 and loves the trials and triumphs of her new blended family. Rachelle Nelson and Erin Sadler Wantoch visited with Katie Witry at her mother’s funeral last summer and Allison Perry Sullivan and Katie visited

in New Orleans this Fall. Katie wrote that she loved both visits and it felt like yesterday when they visited last. In personal news, I think 2017 has been a quieter year for my family than some previous ones, something for which I am grateful. Allison continues to enjoy Fairfield University, where she is a sophomore accounting major. Chris has been with Blakeslee Prestress, Inc. in Branford, CT, for almost 24 years, and Blakeslee actually erected a parking garage at Fairfield this summer. It has been interesting to watch the whole project come together from drawings to reality. I have been at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, CT, as a quality analyst for nine years now, and we are adjusting to our recent merger with Trinity Health. I want to thank you all for your continued friendship, and especially thank those who wrote to me with news. Blessings in the coming year, and I hope I will see you soon!—Tricia

1996 KELLY AGNEW MEDVIGY

kmedvigy@gmail.com MARTHA WOODS YANCEY

marthayancey@gmail.com

Lauren Collins Cline writes, “Really enjoying post-TV career as the Director of Communications and PR for a hospital, where I get to correct grammar and punctuation every day! Life is absurdly busy with kids from kindergarten to high school, a full-time job, and Drew running a think tank. Very thankful that Katie Collins Simon ’98 is now living nearby and my mother-inlaw has relocated. Hoping to find time to connect with classmates this year, especially as we all (gulp) turn 40!” Ann Priftis is still in Seattle and says, “We just crossed the 2½year mark in Seattle. Harlan is loving life as a wild, bike-riding,

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drum-playing 4½-year-old eating machine. Jon continues to work remotely as the IT Director for ACPA in Washington, DC. I just completed a stint on the campus team (which included visits to universities around the country), but will be transitioning to a new role on a different team within Amazon at the start of the year. In the meantime, I’ve accepted the role of director for the soon-to-be-launched Los Angeles outpost of Over the Influence gallery in Hong Kong. Beginning in November, we’ll be splitting time between L.A. and Seattle. Never a dull moment around these parts... which is just the way we like it... (at least most of the time)!” Martha Woods Yancey opened Yancey Disability, Inc. in June 2017. She represents physically and mentally disabled people seeking Social Security Disability benefits and Medicare. Elizabeth McCormick welcomed Liam Patrick McCormick-Jones into the world on July 18, 2017. Mac was excited to be a big brother! They are adjusting to being a family of four. Kelly Agnew Medvigy is currently teaching fifth grade in Baltimore and continues serving on the Board of Governors at Westover. “I wasn’t able to make it up in the fall for our meeting, but I am excited to return to campus to see all of the renovations that have taken place.” Don’t forget to keep Westover in the loop! If you move or have exciting events, drop one of us a line or touch base with the Alumnae Office!

1998 LEE-ANN ZARELLA LOVELACE

lucyzeke12@yahoo.com

Lee-Ann Zarrella Lovelace here, speaking on behalf of the Class of 1998, and I have to say that we are all very surprised, to say the least, that our 20th Reunion is upon us. It brought

us together in a message chain on Facebook, where we shared stories and photos of ourselves and our families. Here are some of the things we shared with each other. Michelle Deslauriers married Lauren Campbell on May 13, 2017, and they were married by fellow alumna and friend Rachel Nevas Peled. Michelle owns a physical therapy practice in Washington, DC, specializing in integrative medicine. Storrey Skelly Altmann is now living in Milwaukee, WI. She and her husband have a son who will be two in January. She is managing the Ophthalmic Imaging Department at Froedert and the Medical College of Wisconsin. Allyson Doherty told us that we all look great, and that she still lives on the island of Oahu, HI. She is currently a vice principal at Kaimuki High School in Honolulu. She said, “Believe it or not, I am still dancing after all of these years!” Meredith Renda lives in Ridgefield, CT. She and her husband have a six-year-old daughter and four-year-old twins (a boy and a girl). She is a pediatrician and lactation specialist at a practice serving Wilton/Ridgefield, CT. She recently ran into Ruth Homberg at the Bronx Zoo. So fun! Emilia Beskind currently lives in Durham, NC. She’s a lawyer specializing in representing people charged with the death

41. Tomo Nakanishi Kubo ’96, with her husband, Naoki Kubo, and their children Subaru and Koharu 42. Storrey Skelly Altmann ’98 with her family 43. Lee-Ann Zarrella Lovelace ’98 with her family 44. Rachel Nevas Peled ’98 with her three children 45. Melissa Norcross Brown ’98 with her husband and sons 46. Katie Collins Simon ’98 and Lilli Chang ’98 with Katie’s son 47. Michelle Deslauriers ’98 at her wedding with Itsik Peled and Rachel Nevas Peled ’98, Michelle’s wife Lauren Campbell, Michelle, Emilia Beskind ’98, and Dana Demange Rooney ’98 and Tim Rooney.

penalty. Though she doesn’t have children, she does have a badly behaved dog. That totally counts! Katie Collins Simon wrote that she and her husband have a son who was born on March 23, 2017, and that, after 12½ years in London, they just moved back to the US a week before writing us in October! She got to see Lilli Chang, Maggie Nunez-Fernandez, and Penny Covill in London before she left, which was great! She has been working in investment banking, but is having a much-needed career change with the move—she is now going to be in southern New Hampshire near her sister, Lauren Collins Cline ’96.

Dana Demange is still in DC and has two sassy daughters, four and six. She’s a publicist for an interior design firm and an architecture firm, and on a board for an experimental non-profit for contemporary artists. She reports that DC is kind of dreary these days, but being around artists helps a lot! She said that Catherine Novak-Rainer was in DC October 31 through November 2 and was coming over for dinner. She asked us if we’d like to join! Summer Tupelo (Rachel Nishan) is pretty well-rooted in central Virginia; she’s been living in the same intentional community going on 15 years. She does a variety of jobs there, mostly managing the book-indexing business and the products-desk area, but also lots of little cog-in-machine stuff to keep the place running smoothly. She hangs out with her eight-year-old daughter a lot, and she is playing tons of music. Her newest musical endeavor has been learning the fiddle. Melissa Norcross Brown and her husband are living in Gorham, ME, which is about 20 minutes outside Portland, with their 15- and 10-year-old sons, Madison and Benjamin. When she’s not cheering the boys on at cross country or baseball, she is the Director of Education at a learning center in Freeport. She just did a summer road trip to the national parks and reports that we indeed have such a beautiful country.

Caitlin Sticco is a medical librarian and data analyst at the National Library of Medicine, at the National Institutes of Health, just outside DC. Her husband Brian and she have two rescue dogs, Archie and MeiMei. They are celebrating their 20th year together this fall; she can’t believe it! Megan Finn had the following to say: “I’m empowering women to deconstruct gender norms as a union electrician. Get it? Empower like power, like electricity; and deconstruction like construction, get it? I swear it’s funny in person. My almost 12-year-old could hold her own in some of the heady Dining Room discussions I remember having back in the day. I’m still always late and missing my wallet or keys. If you find them or that homework binder, please message me.”

Ruth Homberg’s response to Megan was equally funny: “Megan, I thought for sure you’d be leading an international handbell choir by now. Glad to hear you’re lighting up the world in other ways. It’s so fun hearing what everyone’s up to. I live just outside NYC with my husband and two kids. I’ve been working in children’s book publishing since graduating from college, and I have been picking up freelance writing and editing projects since my second son was born last August. Would love to see anyone who’s in the New York area.” Jessica Davis Smith lives in New Jersey with her husband of 12 years, David, and their two girls Samanth, eight, and Sydney, six. After graduating with a degree in Economics, she went on to do what she thought she should, which was a career

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Class Notes

in finance with Morgan Stanley. Years ticked by and she always knew there was more out there, so she took the leap and started her own business. Today she has a 50-plus horse farm and she’s living her dream... and visiting Laura Bogdasarian-Jansen as often as humanly possible. Some things never change! Rachel Nevas Peled said she lives in Maryland outside of Washington, DC, and practices Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at an Integrative Wellness clinic. She said, “I’ve apparently been trying to relive my Westover experience by having as many daughters as possible—so far I have three. The oldest wants to go to Westover, but her father thinks the idea of boarding school is barbaric. We shall see how he feels when she hits puberty and starts wanting to kiss boys.” Katie Heffernan Buell wrote that she lives in Suffield, CT, with her husband and two children. Cullen is 3½ and Peyton is 1½. To say they keep her on her toes is an understatement. She has been teaching in a small town in northern Connecticut called Somers for the last 13 years. She taught fifth grade for many years and now teaches second

grade. She said she feels very lucky to work in a great school district, and she still loves what she does after all these years. Magdalena Nunez Fernandez, aka “Maggie,” is on her third year here at Westover—chemistry teacher, Dorcas advisor, and dorm parent. Between her schedule and raising Cassie, her sassy eight-year-old, she’s pretty much all in and loves it! She said the students are hilarious and endearing and they keep the memories of our time there very much alive. Carrie Bilek, after 14 years in health-care marketing, recently started as the Marketing & Communications Director for the Richmond Ballet. And, like Allyson, she too is still dancing! Lee-Ann Zarrella Lovelace, your reporter here. My son Nathaniel Benjamin Johnson was born September 19, 2016, and is likely going to be a musician like his parents. His father, Matthew Johnson, and I live in the same house I grew up in (the one that many of you visited on long weekends in Waterbury, CT). My seven-year-old stepdaughter Alexandria lives with us as well, and she makes my heart swell when she says she wants to go

to Westover someday! I have been singing professionally and writing music for more than 10 years now, and I teach voice and work as a property manager and bookkeeper on the side so that I can bring my son wherever I go during the day. I still see Rebecca Fabas, Laura McCormack Delgado, Katie Heffernan Buell, Stephanie Girard Flowers, and Tricia Tomasiewicz Ventura regularly despite the distance between us.

2001 COURTNEY YADOUGA MCDONNELL

Cmyadouga@gmail.com

The Class of 2001 has had another busy year filled with new careers, spouses, babies, and homes! It’s been fantastic to hear from each of you! Alex Thayer writes: “My love, Balint Seeber, and I got married in a small ceremony here in San Francisco back on June 9th. We still live in San Francisco... and welcome Westover visitors :-)” Sarah Bill Murray married Ryan Murray on August 27, 2016, on Kent Island, MD. And yes, it was

the Bill-Murray wedding! Catharine Bill ’04 and Mary DeStefano were in the wedding party, and Rachel Stock Lesher was in attendance. After the wedding, Sarah moved from DC to Honolulu, HI, where Ryan is stationed in the US Navy at Pearl Harbor. Sarah also completed her Master’s in Public Health at George Washington University this year. She is currently working at a nonprofit in Honolulu. Amy Hollaman sends her regards, noting that she “got married this summer to Dr. Margee Kerr, author and sociologist.” Amy is proud to be the Associate Director of Events and Operations at the National Historic Landmark, Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. She also serves as the General Manager and Creative Director of the nationally renowned haunted attraction, Terror Behind the Walls, in Philadelphia, PA. She is always happy to have Westover alumnae come visit to see her work! Any Westover women in the area should stop by to get a complimentary VIP level tour! Mary DeStefano writes, “On September 29th, to celebrate our 11th anniversary, Jamiyl Peters and I got married in Washington, DC. Friends Sarah Bill Murray,

48. Courtney Yadouga McDonnell ’01 at the christening of baby Claire McDonnell with godmother Jess Borchetta ’01 49. Celebrating the BorchettaReinert nuptials with Sarah Cugini ’00, friend Sue Kim, bride Jess Borchetta ’01, Lisa Nelson ’01, and Courtney Yadouga McDonnell ’01 50. Goldie Peacock ’03 and fiancée Dalia Moss

Alyssa Menegat, and Catharine Bill ’04, as well as my mom, Sue Tarbox DeStefano ’69, and my aunt, Kathy Tarbox McLeod ’66, were in attendance. Besides getting married, not too much to report. I’m working as an artist and trying to expand my business and finish up my Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Maryland. If anyone’s ever in DC, please look me up!” Katie Perkins Marko and her husband John, along with their daughter Naisy, welcomed Charlotte Valentina Rice Marko (Charlie) on March 28, 2017. Becca Luger-Guillaume Poindexter and her husband welcomed baby Delilah Ada Poindexter on September 28, 2017. Laura Manteghian Capon and her husband Bradley welcomed their daughter Millicent Grace Capon to the world on July 11, 2017. Laura’s parents, Fred and Giannina Manteghian (International Dinner superstars from ’97–’01), hosted a beautiful baby shower at their home (complete

with Laura’s craving/request for a pizza truck). Millie was showered with love and fashionable outfits by her aunts Amma Osei, Jennifer Sullivan, Hannah Charlap, and Caitlin Reynolds Marian ’02. Also in attendance was Courtney Yadouga McDonnell with her own sweet little girl, Claire. Rachel Stock Lesher writes that she and husband Nicholas, “are thrilled to introduce you to our sons born September 15, 2017— Theodore “Teddy” Marvin at 7.2 lbs and Graham Griffin at 7.1 lbs. The boys join big sister Eleanor Mae—now 2½ years old!” Dena Simmons continues to work at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and to travel throughout the nation giving talks and workshops about the importance of emotionally intelligent and culturally responsive pedagogy. She’s reached at least 10,000 educators in her travels, and her TED talk, released less than a year ago, has reached more than a million views. Jess Borchetta writes, “Lots of changes this fall keeping us busy! I’ve recently been promoted to Youth Services Supervisor at the library where I work in Falls Church, VA, and my husband, Ted, is starting a new job at the Brookings Institution in their Europe program.” Jess and Ted are also thrilled to be joining the ranks of new parents, expecting their first baby at the end of 2017.

Louisa de Heer is stateside again, having “moved back after over three years in Peru, bringing home a new baby named Gavin and a street dog named Rabbit. The brewery we launched in Peru is doing really well, and we are still very tied to it. We plan to return often!” On my end, last November, Joe and I welcomed our daughter, Claire Margaret. Because a new baby isn’t enough to handle on its own, we then bought our first home and moved our little family down to the shore in New Jersey. I was thrilled to see a number of Westover girls throughout the last year; most notably, at Jess Borchetta’s wedding to Ted Reinert, where Lisa Nelson, Sarah Cugini ’00, and I served as bridesmaids, and at Laura Manteghian Capon’s baby shower as mentioned above!

2002

remotely from the Cambridge office. She is enjoying the Boston life so far, but is scared of the upcoming winter. Luckily, since she is working remotely, she can disappear to the Google California office whenever she wants. Aimee Gough finished her five-year general surgery training in June, and has moved slightly further south to Los Angeles for a year of training as a colon and rectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She made this dubious specialty choice because the patients are interesting and the jokes are bottomless. Next summer she hopes to move with her wife Kate to a beautiful “mountain-y” state full of lakes and breweries. She regrets not hanging out with Karen Lostritto more often during their overlap in California, but is excited to have a standing invitation in Cambridge, MA.

2003

AIMEE GOUGH

aimee.gough@gmail.com ASHLEY KALAUS MARIANO

akalaus@gmail.com

KARIMAH GOTTSCHALCK

hottschalck@gmail.com DANIELLE STEWART KNOPE

CAITLIN REYNOLDS MARIAN

caitlin.reynolds@gmail.com

Danielle.s.knope@gmail.com ALI MILLS

mills.ali@gmail.com

GRETA ATCHINSON

greta.atchinson@gmail.com

Last month, Karen Lostritto moved to Boston to be closer to her family. She is continuing to work for Google Search, but now

Emily Pomeroy Schneider gave birth to Graham William Schneider on July 12th. Her daughter Isla loves being a big sister. Still working for the same private

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

Class Notes

art collection since 2008, Emily has just taken over management of a related art collection and has thus been promoted. Life feels a bit complicated juggling a family and a full-time job, but she wishes she could meet up with more Westover girls so she very much looks forward to Reunion! Jessica Haggerty is still keeping it real in S.F. She’s a big fan of Karimah Gottschalck’s Spotify playlists and looks forward to Reunion. Goldie Peacock made their debut as an international artist in Spring 2016 with a U.K. tour. They continue to perform, teach, emcee, and model across the USA, including headlining the Austin International Drag Festival in Fall 2016. Goldie became an author when their writing (and portrait) was published in DRAGS, an Irving Penn-style fashion photography book honoring NYC’s top drag performers and benefitting the Ali Forney Center (the nation’s largest organization helping LGBTQ homeless youth). This past summer they got engaged to Dalia Moss. The engagement took place after one of Goldie’s shows at a Brooklyn venue in the very spot where the couple met, with Goldie dressed as a unicorn. 51. Jin Lee ’04 with her daughter

In May 2017, Abby Collier Buhrman relocated to Tokyo for an international assignment with Nissan Motor Corporation, where she’s worked since 2014. Abby, her husband, Chris, and dog, Baxter, enjoy getting to know Japan and look forward to exploring Asia. They would love to connect with any Westover alumnae or visitors who happen to be in the area. Alexandra Rathbone Peterson has been busy with her husband’s business and parenting a boy-crazy teenager. And, after training for 13 years, she prepares to test for her black belt in Brazilian Jiu jitsu in November 2017. Adriana Tin and her 4-monthold daughter Leanna recently saw Jessica Garassino Vargas and her husband, Ben, for a playdate with Jess’s three girls. She can’t wait to practice old Westover dance moves at our Reunion this May. Sarah Bronko enjoys being a small-animal veterinarian while living in Hartland, VT, with her boyfriend and cat. She became certified in scuba diving this year, which is likely a surprise to anyone who knows her. She can’t wait to see the Class of 2003 at Reunion. I, Karimah Gottschalck, enjoyed crashing the Class ’02 Reunion in Spring 2017 and hope people will do the same to ours. I can’t believe my brother Will, who many of my classmates will remember as a toddler, is now at college. Where does the time go?

2004 ELIZABETH NORTH BOUCHER

Eliztaber@gmail.com CRYSTAL VELEZ

Velezcr860@gmail.com HEATHER PYTEL

hpytel@snet.net

Elizabeth North Boucher moved, with her husband and twoyear-old daughter, to Concord,

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

NH, in May 2017. She and her husband have both been busy with renovations to their 1870’s home. Liz is enjoying the political activity in the state’s capital and the wonderful weekly farmer’s market. She and her husband are expecting another girl at the end of November. Liz continues to work as a dietitian for Elliot Hospital in Manchester, NH, specializing in weight management and bariatric surgery. Liz also completed her Master’s in Public Health in May. Anna Wacker continues to live and work in Germany. She is proud to be working in top management for a consulting firm and reports “no wedding and no baby.” She is excited by the prospect of coming to the US in November and hopes to connect with Westover sisters. Robin Papper was married October 2016 to John Shea. They are expecting a baby girl in December 2017. This year Robin also received her MBA from Northeastern University. Sarah Cave may have found a permanent home in Mumbai, India, as she has lived there for the past two years studying Indian Classical Music under Pandit Dhruba Ghosh. Unfortunately, her guru passed away unexpectedly this past July. But, knowing Sarah, we are not surprised that Sarah persists and is currently using this new chapter to prepare and perform her own solo music show mixing her experiences in both Western and Eastern traditions. Her show will mix violin, voice, sarangi, poetry, and dance. If you are in Bombay this January, come and support her! Furthermore, Sarah is teaching violin again and creating her own style that reaches beyond genres and notational differences. The method teaches the student to be her own point of reference, to develop acute aural sensitives, and to become a natural composer. Elizabeth Alper, or “Sunny” as most of us remember her, is writing for the long-running Hawaii 5-0, now in its eighth season

on CBS. Liz and her writing partner were promoted to Executive Story Editors this season! Lindsay Yannielli Bedoya and her husband, Dan Bedoya, celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary this year. The couple is expecting their first child together. Dr. Jin Lee is a child psychologist and a cofounder of BabyNoggin, an app helping parents track their babies’ developmental milestones and connect them to pediatricians when needed. She’s married to Dr. Romanescu and lives in San Francisco with their 1½-yearold daughter. Lindsay Rhodes Newton is not only a school adjustment counselor at Scituate Public Schools, but is also a mother of two! She and her husband Patrick welcomed their newest addition, Trevor William, to the world on September 28, 2017. His big sister Briley could not be more excited! Both Crystal Velez and Heather Pytel have responded with #teacherlife. Markey Culver, is still co-directing the operations and growth of The Women’s Bakery, a social enterprise that educates women and builds bakeries in East Africa. Markey is accompanied by the ever kick-ass Westover alumna, Meg North ’06, who serves as the Director of Impact. Meg designs human-centered metrics for measuring the effectiveness of The Women’s Bakery, and so far the data is inspiring—“stay tuned for our Impact page on our soon-tolaunch new website, womensbakery.com.” Markey will be moving to Denver soon to help launch The Women’s Bakery US expansion: consumer packaged goods. Stay tuned! Allison Grande has been keeping busy writing privacy and cybersecurity articles for Law360, a legal newswire based in NYC where she has been working for the past eight years. An even greater accomplishment is keeping up with her

toddler son Leo, who turned 2 in June. Allison also recently moved to northern New Jersey after spending the past decade living in New York. She still visits the city often for work and to hang out with Erin Zwack, who is back in New York working as a post-doc after receiving her Ph.D. from UPenn! Alissa Ryan Kelley and her husband, Aaron, welcomed their son Winston Taft Kelley on May 10, 2017. Alissa reports that they are the happiest they have ever been. They live in Stamford, CT.

2005 JENNIFER HART

jenniferhart87@gmail.com CHRISTIANNE DAWIS

crizzy.dawis@gmail.com IRIS CASTRO RIGOR

castro.iris15@gmail.com

Kimberly Kruge is still living in Guadalajara, Mexico with her husband and pursuing her writing career. Her poems have been published in magazines such as Ploughshares, Iowa Review, Massachusetts Review, Copper Nickel, Poetry Northwest, PreCogMag, and The Tampa Review. Her Chapbook High-Land Sub-Tropic was selected as the winner of the 2017 Center for Book Arts Prize by Juan Felipe Herrera and will go on sale in October 2017 as a limited edition, hand-bound, letter-press printed book. She recently co-founded the translation agency Context (www.translatecontext.com) and is working on translations of poems into Spanish for a forthcoming internet yearly anthology (called Través). The aim of the anthology is to, through collaboration on literature and translation, traverse the border wall. Patrice Peck became a Beauty writer at BuzzFeed in April 2017. One of her responsibilities is to cultivate and grow BuzzFeed’s black women audience by creating fun, engaging, and inclusive

KIMBERLY KRUGE ’05 RECEIVES WRITING PRIZE Kimberly Kruge ’05 was selected by the poet Juan Felipe Herrera as the recipient of the 2017 Center for Book Arts Chapbook Prize for her newest work, High-Land Sub-Tropic. Kimberly gave a reading from her work at the Center in New York City on October 20, as did the poets David Denny and Basma Kavanagh, who received honorable mentions in the competition. “I almost always write about quotidian situations and observations — the phenomena of daily life,” Kimberly said. “One might even say that I have obsessions. I am also, especially recently, drawn to writing about Mexico (where I now permanently live) — even a bit about politics and social issues.” She describes HighLand, Sub-Tropic as being about “quotidian manifestations of larger social questions in Mexico and the speaker’s relationship to them. But,” she added, “the book also considers other themes, such as marriage, familial relationships, and immigration. Documenting my immigration experience through poetry is another of my fixations.” Kimberly describes herself as a “career poet — by that I mean that writing poetry is my first and most important work, and I’ve built my life around it. I dedicate myself seriously to practicing my craft — implicit in which are decisions about style and tone (among other things) — and I have a deep reverence for it.” Kimberly holds a B.A. in Creative Writing and Studio Art from Dartmouth College and an M.F.A. in Poetry from the M.F.A. Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. She has recently been a finalist or semi-finalist for

seven other book prizes, including the Miller Williams Poetry Prize, the CSU Poetry Center First Book Prize, and the Autumn House Poetry Prize. Her poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in a number of publications, including Ploughshares, Witness, Copper Nickel, The Glasgow Review of Books, The Iowa Review, and The Massachusetts Review. Those interested in reading a selection of her poems can visit Kimberly’s website, kimberlykruge.com.

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Class Notes

stories and videos (which she can’t believe she’s getting paid to do because she would do that for free!). She catches up with Westover folks every now and then, like Amanda Zheng, Miriam Ayoo ’07, Jasmine Rasberry ’07, Chantal Hurtado, and Makenzi Hurtado ’02. She also bumped into Gaby Sirkin in Union Square and Danielle Harrison ’08 and Domenique Harrison ’08 before they moved to California. Patrice recently moved to northern New Jersey, but splits her time between there and NYC, where she works and spends time with her boyfriend and with her sister, Krysten Peck ’11. After seven years of living and teaching in New York City, Jennifer Hart made a move across the country to California. She is currently living with her boyfriend just outside of San Francisco and is working as a social-emotional specialist for an organization called the Cross Cultural Family Center. Passionate about the field of early childhood education, she is helping teachers implement social-emotional curriculum and providing direct support to families and students with special needs. Gladys Chua is working as a musician back in Perth, Australia, after 10 years in Melbourne. She is active as a performer, accompanist, coach, and teacher. This year she has taken on the challenge of learning the pipe organ. She has yet to make it back to visit the USA but has very fond memories of her exchange term there.

Sarah DePaolo Elzay is a year into her Ph.D. in Ecology at Oklahoma State University (yes, Oklahoma). She studies native bees (all non-honey bees) and how climate change, land use change, and pesticide use affects them. She and her husband just bought their first house, so they mostly do home-improvement projects these days!

this past May, and she recently celebrated her fourth anniversary working at Parsons School of Design managing a grant-funded research and design project. Though not as far a move as Israel, Abby moved to Brooklyn after six years in Manhattan.

Alyssa Siefert is happy to share that she is engaged to Donald Jarvi, a rugged Mainer, and they’re planning a September 2018 interactive wedding by the ocean in New Hampshire. They rescued two rabbits from becoming sausage and live in Madison, CT. She is teaching Biomedical Engineering at Yale and working independently as a science writer, which she really loves; she is thrilled to be part of the Westover Board of Governors, where she has had the opportunity to connect with current students and try to make their experiences even better. Crystal Marsh Irom spent 10 months, from May 2016 until March 2017, living in Manhattan working for herself as a career coach. In April, she moved to Ra’anana, Israel, to be with her now husband, Kobi. She has taken her career coaching business fully online and is expanding! She was honored to have both her sister, Camille Marsh ’07, and Abby Calhoun by her side as bridesmaids on her wedding day on June 18, 2017. Abby Calhoun received her Master’s in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

2006 ANN CASCELLA

ajcascella@gmail.com MELISSA ARSENIE

melarsenie@gmail.com ALISA FORNEY

forney.alis@gmail.com

Katie Geise is starting to settle into her fifth year of teaching at The Advent School in Boston. She made the change this year from second to fourth grade, and thus far is really enjoying the new challenge. Katie and her husband, Davis, still live in Somerville, MA, and love it! They celebrated their second anniversary this past July, and Davis surprised Katie with a trip to Denmark and the Austrian Alps. Addie Price is now a program director in a small private school in Cusco, Peru. Her school is the first Responsive Classroom school in the country, valuing social and emotional development as much as academic progress in students. Addie got married this September in a small ceremony, and she and her husband are planning two bigger weddings next year—one in Peru and one in the US.

Melissa Nalband continues to work toward her Master’s in Business Management and will graduate in May 2018. She is already thinking ahead to the summer when her program is complete, and she and a friend will spend a month traveling around Europe. Eliza Jones Oumano spent the past year enjoying her work as an interior designer in Longmeadow, MA, traveling to new cities, such as Denver and Beijing, and starting a Cook Book Club in her town. Meg North is enjoying time with her two-year-old niece, Adalyn, daughter of Liz North Boucher ’04, and is excited to welcome another niece to the family in November 2017. It’s great being part of the aunt club with Megan O’Keefe, Alanah Luger-Guillaume, and Sarah Milnor! From her Denver apartment, Meg has also been whipping up wild varieties of bread for US and Rwanda products of The Women’s Bakery. Come visit Rwanda, and be on the lookout for dry bread mixes in the US markets soon. Alanah Luger-Guillaume has been living that “broke artist” life in Minneapolis. She has been working on The White Page, an artist-run gallery and residency program, for four years now. The White Page became a 501c3 nonprofit and now has a very supportive board of directors. Alanah nannies and lives with her boyfriend Louie and Majesty the cat. On September 28, 2017, she became an aunt to Delilah Poindexter, the daughter and cutie patootie of Becca Luger-Guillaume Poindexter ’01.

Class Notes

52. Westover alumnae gathered at Margot Lane McCunniff’s wedding in Charleston, SC, in April 2017: Hailey Griffin ’07, Tori Menegat ’07, Morgan Siller ’07, Camille Marsh ’07, Chelsea Werner ’07; front: Margot Lane McCunniff ’07, and Bailey Briggs ’07. 53. Abby Calhoun ’05, Crystal Marsh Irom ’05, and Camille Marsh ’07 on Crystal’s wedding day 55

Danielle Nalband is living in Brooklyn, NY, and will graduate from NYU in January 2018 with her doctorate in Chemistry. Her research focus centers on peptide mimics in cosmeceutical applications, particularly in wound healing, and exploring strategies to stabilize short sequences of synthetic collagen. In the last year, her work on inhibiting scar-tissue formation was published in a medical journal, with a follow-up study and another manuscript pertaining to collagen mimics currently on press. Since returning to Brooklyn, she has found a circle of friends in Brooklyn’s local music scene and, during her downtime, she enjoys watching her friends perform. Ann Cascella has been working on a passion project, Love You Bach, where she recaps all Bachelor franchise shows. She has had a lot of fun working on this for the past year (website: www. loveyoubach.com). Ann lives mere steps away from Melissa Nalband, which she loves, and she recently drove cross country with Audrey Tiong, which was epic to say the least. Ann is dreaming of moving on from Boston to NYC and looks forward to connecting with Westover ladies in the Big Apple. Sarah Milnor is currently working on a move from Portland, ME, to Boston to further pursue her career in social work and food truck exploration. She has enjoyed connecting with her Westover family in Boston while on the job search. Lawrese Brown has transitioned her communications and

education consultancy, Brown Coaching and Consulting, LLC, to C-Track, an education company that partners with high schools and out-of-school organizations to implement soft-skills curriculum, real-world learning, and career and technical education programming. She’s also an adjunct professor at Rutgers University Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration. Megan O’Keefe is continuing to work in Brooklyn as a midwife in a hospital. It’s challenging work sometimes, but she’s enjoying it. Melissa Arsenie continues to work as an event planner in Boston, where her job takes her all over the country and the world hosting conferences and incentive travel trips. She has moved into her own apartment in Waltham, MA, and was happy to bring a new kitten pal, Stella, into her life this past June.

2009 KAYLA HOWELL

khowell329@gmail.com REIA BROWN

Reiabrown@gmail.com CATHERINE HIN MOY AHKONG

inkpaper@gmail.com

Molly Sheehan recently finished her clinical fellowship on the Oregon coast, where she spent weekends seeking new hikes and waterfalls. She was able to meet up with Kendall Mulligan ’08 and Cydni Carter

’07 during her explorations of the Pacific Northwest. Molly is currently working at Upstate Medical Hospital in Syracuse, NY as a speech pathologist in the Acute and Inpatient Rehab settings, helping stroke and brain injury patients. Kate Truini is completing an M.S. in Food Studies from the American University of Rome, and joined the staff of The Sable Project, a non-profit, off-grid, artist-residency program and farm in rural central Vermont.

2013 JULIA FRIEDMAN

juliafriedman10@gmail.com

54. Eliza Jones Oumano ’06 at Simatai, a section of the Great Wall of China located in the north of Miyun County, 120 kilometers northeast of Beijing. 55. Among those in attendance at an October 3 stage reading of Nightjar, a play written by Hannah Hartmann ’10, at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City: Nancy Aordkian Pelaez ’86, Associate Director of Development; Marla Truini, Director of the Theatre Program; Hannah; and Jennifer Robbins Manocherian ’56, a theatre producer and screenwriter. 56. Lauren McClean ’13 and Megan Boucher ’12 together this fall at UConn where both are beginning an accelerated nursing program. 57. Faculty Member Sara Poskas and Rhian Lewis ’14 bumped into each other while kayaking in Maine last summer.

HEATHER HARRIS

hahmd9@yahoo.com STEPHANIE COLUCCI

scolucci0216@gmail.com

Emily Morris graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Hamilton College in May 2017 with a B.A. in Psychology and Hispanic Studies. She will be working in NYC as a psychology research assistant for a few years starting in fall 2017 before applying to graduate school for Clinical Psychology. Amber Shelton graduated in May 2017 with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in French and Francophone Studies. As a five-year student at Villanova, she’ll be staying to get her Master’s in Biology next year. Julia Friedman graduated from Bucknell University in May 2017 with a B.A. in Environmental

Studies and a minor in Political Science. After spending the summer in NYC, she decided to move west to Salt Lake City, UT, to look for work in the environmental non-profit and policy fields. This winter, she will be a ski instructor while she prepares to apply to graduate school for Urban Planning and Sustainable Design. Katie Solley graduated from Bucknell University in May 2017 with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. Currently she is attending graduate school at Johns Hopkins University for a year-long program where she will receive her Master’s in Bioengineering Innovation and Design. Emily Guanci graduated from Texas Christian University in 2017 and now works for the Boston Red Sox in the Fan Services Department.

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Class Notes

CLASSMATES SHARE MEMORIES OF SAMANTHA MALLETTE ’09 As a student at Westover, Samantha Mallette could be found wearing a well-coordinated outfit complete with a scarf, leaving her team’s opponents in the dust on the soccer or lacrosse field, enthusiastically organizing social events, or holding dance parties with her friends. The Class of 2009 shares some of our own sentiments of our beloved classmate and friend:

Sam let me grip her hand tightly as the plane took off for South Africa. I had never flown before, but Sam’s presence had a calming effect on me, not only on the plane, but also throughout our few months in South Africa. Whether in another country — or in AP Euro — Sam was always there to joke with and have my back. I will never forget her.

Sam was such a kindhearted person, and she had such a zest for life. She loved helping others and empowered so many young women. Her mom, Kim, and her brother, Darren, meant the world to her. She was obsessed with hockey and the Philadelphia Flyers, and she made sure everyone knew. She enjoyed baking and cooking and loved to go on adventures. She had the greatest smile and the most infectious laugh. Sam, is truly unforgettable.”

During the 2016 Spring Term Sports Awards Ceremony, Samantha Mallette ’09 receives a hug from one of her jayvee lacrosse players she coached.

For four years, I had the privilege of playing soccer at Westover with this amazing young lady. There is no one with whom I would’ve rather run the ‘flat back four’ defense than with Sam. A tremendous teammate, leader, person, and friend, she will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

“Samantha Mallette, you were a great friend, teammate, and classmate. You helped change and empower so many young women in your short life. Your smile lit up every room you entered. I will miss you dearly. You are forever in my heart.”

Samantha was a rare breed: genuine, witty, and creative, compassionate, and endlessly tough and fearless. Though it’s only one example out of enough to write a novel, my 15th birthday epitomizes what kind of person she was: I had to stay overnight at Westover, so she not only bunked on the day student lounge couches with me, but also surprised me with our own little party, including a homemade cake and a lifesize card with messages from all of our friends. We first met on the swing set, but at Westover, Samantha became my lounge mate, teammate, co-captain, personal pastry chef, and event host, but most of all, my confidante, other half, and best friend forever.

– Christine Callahan ’09

– Jenna Littmann ’09

– Betsy Lillian ’09

– Kayla Howell ’09

– Molly Sheehan ’09

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Class Notes

MORGAN WINSTON ’10 MEETS ELTHUSA WINSTONI When Morgan Winston ’10 was working on her master’s thesis in Marine Biology at the University of Hawaii in 2015, she had no idea she would be discovering a previously unknown species or that the creature would soon be named after her. “I accidentally discovered a species of parasitic isopod, which is now named Elthusa winstoni,” Morgan said. “It is quite scary looking, but in a cute way.” Gathering data for her thesis meant that Morgan spent many days diving off a boat into the warm waters of the Central Pacific and collecting samples of fish using pole spears. The fish were initially frozen so that Morgan could then dissect them back on shore. When she examined a couple of the fish samples later on, she noticed that two or three parasitic isopods — tiny crustaceans less than 17.5 millimeters in length — had attached themselves inside the fishes’ gill rakers. Neither Morgan nor her advisor were isopod experts, so they gave the creatures to a graduate student who was studying parasites. The grad student wasn’t able to identify the species either, so the samples were shipped to Kerry Hadfield, a South African biologist who is an expert on isopods.

“She concluded it was a new species,” Morgan said. As part of the new species identification process, Hadfield wrote a paper describing the isopod for a peer-reviewed scientific journal. And, as one element in that process, Morgan’s advisor told her, “We get to name the isopod. If we don’t name it after you, I’m going to name it after me.” And so, the isopod was christened Elthusa winstoni — Elthusa being the isopod’s genus and winstoni being the Latin formulation of Morgan’s last name. For her thesis, Morgan was actually focusing on the age and growth of coral reef fish by examining their inner ear bones. “They accumulate calcium carbonate over time, which produces rings similar to the way that rings on a tree appear,” she explained, so analyzing these bones can help determine differences in growth between populations and species that can inform sound decision-making by the managers of fisheries. Morgan graduated from Occidental College with a B.A. in Biology with a Marine emphasis. She completed her master’s degree in July 2016, then worked one year for the State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources. There, she was a member of a team of scientists seeking to mitigate and manage the spread of invasive macroalgae species that affect the well-being of corals and reef fish.

In September 2017, she joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, working with a team based in Oahu that is monitoring the health of coral reefs. The team is at sea for periods of four months at a time, visiting U.S. island territories across the Pacific, diving every day and collecting samples from reefs. “I am really happy with my new position,” Morgan said. “I will be traveling and working with a group of people who are passionate about the work they are doing. I love research; I really love putting the puzzle together.” Morgan traces her love of the sciences back to her time at Westover and her classes with teachers like Alice Hallaran and Kate Seyboth. “Being in WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) empowered me,” she said. “My experience at Westover pushed me to pursue my interests in biology, and made me feel confident as a woman studying the sciences throughout my time in college and graduate school.”

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Class Notes

Olivia credits Kate Seyboth, her cross-country coach at Westover, with being a source of inspiration. “Running cross country for Westover is definitely what solidified my passion for the sport,” Olivia explained, “because I discovered how fulfilling it was to push myself and keep setting new goals. With Kate’s guidance and coaching (and teaching actually), I learned that I really am capable of more than I think I am, whether it be a faster race time, a difficult swimming/cross country workout, an impossible AP Computer Science exam, or challenging Algebra II problem sets. Because of Kate, I ran my first half marathon during my sophomore year at Westover.”

OLIVIA SPADOLA ’13 COMPETES IN FIRST MARATHON Olivia Spadola ’13 combined her passion for running and her dedication to the Red Cross — both of which took root during Olivia’s years at Westover — by running in the 2017 Boston Marathon and, in the process, raising $6,735 on behalf of the Red Cross. “This was my first marathon,” Olivia said. “For two Marathon Mondays prior to running in 2017, I had helped to staff medical tents and provide emergency medical care to marathon runners as a volunteer EMT with Boston College EMS. I felt like I had experienced Marathon Monday from many perspectives and now wanted to be on the other side of those metal barricades, running down Commonwealth Avenue.” 82

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

Olivia had begun volunteering for the Red Cross as part of Westover’s community service program, and continued to volunteer as a student at Boston College. During her senior year, she was president of BC’s Red Cross chapter, helping to organize four blood drives a year. Then, Olivia said, “I came up with an idea where I could combine three things I am passionate about — the Red Cross, running, and the camaraderie and spirit of Boston.” She began to train for the 2017 Boston Marathon. Although Olivia was not on a competitive running team in college, she consistently ran “as a method of relaxation and exploration. I loved checking out different neighborhoods on foot because there are so many cool parts of Boston.” Unfortunately, however, she soon encountered a complication. “About a month into my training,” she said, “I found that I was developing a stress fracture and needed to take time off for this to heal. I was on a strict 20week schedule and couldn’t afford to lose two long runs, let alone months of training,” so she adjusted her training by spending hours in the pool as well as participating in “a lot of spin classes, yoga classes, and stretching.”

For Olivia, “my big emotional moment came a couple weeks prior to race day when I ran my first long run in months — 18 miles — in the pouring rain. I started crying as I approached home, knowing for certain I was going to finish the race on April 21st because I knew if I could do 18, I could do 26.2 miles.” Meanwhile, as part of the Red Cross Team, Olivia also set about raising funds through Boston Athletic Association Charities, which is affiliated with the Boston Marathon. She raised the $6,735 through a letter campaign, bake sales at BC, fundraisers at local restaurants and coffee shops, and social media plugs. On marathon day, Olivia said, “I don’t know at what point I had a bigger smile on my face: seeing my parents at Boylston Street, about three-tenths of a mile from the finish, or seeing hordes of screaming college students at the top of Heartbreak Hill yelling “Go, Liv, go!” She finished the course with a time of four hours and 58 minutes. In May, Olivia graduated from BC with a B.S. in Nursing and passed her licensure exam to become a registered nurse in June. She is currently serving as a Jesuit Volunteer with Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest in Bend, Oregon and working in the Public Health Division of the Deschutes County Health Department. She is setting her sights on running her second marathon — this time in Bend — in April 2018.

Class Notes

FARAHNAZ A.’14 – FREE TO RUN

“I saw that everyone was running on the treadmill.” She decided she would give it a try.

Editor’s Note: because of safety concerns for her and her family, Farahnaz has requested that we not identify her by her full name.

“So, I started running on the treadmill, and I loved the feeling of being so free,” Farahnaz said. “No one was really watching me or judging me. I could wear my head scarf and be fully covered while running.” One day she saw a Wofford friend running outside, and “I was fascinated by the fact that she could run outside alone without being harassed or fearing for her life. So, I asked if I could run with her, and she said yes!” After that, Farahnaz began running outside with her friend. “That was when I finally understood the real meaning of a quote my parents always told me: ‘You are born free and you will die free, so don’t let anyone discourage you in reaching your goals.’ I was fascinated to know that I was not being judged by my gender, by how I was clothed, by my height,” she said. Soon, she was running longer and longer distances.

Even during her childhood in Afghanistan, Farahnaz A. ’14 always wanted to pursue “some form of physical activity — especially basketball, because of my height.” But because she was tall, Farahnaz often found herself being harassed. The girls school she attended was poorly maintained and had limited facilities for athletics. Ultimately, being a girl in a society that didn’t encourage women to be physically active, Farahnaz was often discouraged from pursuing her interest in athletics. Eventually, Farahnaz was able to travel to England to attend school. But even there, she recalled, “I still wasn’t able to adjust to the idea that women can do anything. But when I came to Westover, because it was an all-girls school and seeing my fellow students playing all sorts of sports — basketball, field hockey, soccer — I started to realize I could finally try basketball.” She spent hours in the gym shooting baskets, hoping to make varsity. “But I was very naïve,” she said with a laugh, “not knowing that you have to have the skill and the experience to make varsity.” With the help of Westover’s Director of College Counseling, Corky Beaulieu, Farahnaz went to Wofford College. At their physical activities center, she said,

Farahnaz began running half marathons to raise funds on behalf of Free to Run and its programs. Then, in September 2017, Farahnaz took part in her first ultra-marathon in Pittsfield, Massachusetts — a challenging 50mile course — completing it in 12 hours and 27 minutes, becoming the third woman to finish. “Even though I didn’t have much experience,” Farahnaz said, she was able to accomplish her goal thanks to the encouragement and support of her host family and friends. Farahnaz admitted that it has taken time to recover from the challenges of the ultra-marathon. “My recovery is a little slow because I am being my own doctor, my own physical therapist,” she said, but a month afterwards she was back to running about five kilometers a day and competed in a marathon in December. “My goal is to be the fastest half-marathoner for Afghanistan,” Farahnaz said.

A very good friend and mentor told Farahnaz about a non-profit organization called Free to Run, whose mission “is to use running, physical fitness, and outdoor adventure to empower and educate women and girls who have been affected by conflict.” The organization’s website — freetorun.org — states that “We support those living within conflict areas as well as those who have been forced to flee and live as refugees outside of their home countries.”

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

Class Notes

2016 JULIANNE BROWN

juliannesarahbrown@gmail.com

58. Julianne Brown ’16 at HillStead Museum in Farmington, Connecticut 59. Joscie Norris ’16 with faculty member Ali Hildebrand and the Hildebrand children 60. A Bishop’s University Instagram post featuring Karina Sorrels ’14 working in the Alumni Office

Joscie Norris spent her summer romping around the alpine zone of the Green and White Mountains. She worked on Hut Croo at Greenleaf Hut on Mount Lafayette as the naturalist. Her responsibilities included teaching about birds and lichens, carrying heavy boxes up big hills, baking lots of bread for cranky hikers, bushwhacking, and swimming in alpine lakes. She had a wonderful visit from the Hildebrand family, too. At UVM for grade 14, she’s pursuing an Art minor, still drawing birds, and majoring in Ecology. Her favorite class is mentoring kids through an after-school birding program while studying outdoor education. She is now managing the Outing Club’s rock-climbing leadership development program, spending weekends teaching knots on top of beautiful Vermont cliffs. Julianne Brown has transferred to Connecticut College to pursue a major in Film Studies and a minor in Art History. Forever a Westover girl, Julianne spent her summer back at Hill-Stead Museum for the first time since her completion of the SOMSI program. During her time working with curator Melanie and museum educator Kate, Julianne dove further into Theodate’s history as an architect, aided in the curation of the From Page To Stage exhibit, and trained as a museum guide. Julianne plans to continue to return to HillStead as a guide on her breaks from school.

2017 Lauren Stebbins ended up attending Union College in Schenectady, NY, instead of Clark College. It was a last-minute change of heart, but she didn’t miss a day of school! She is loving her new college.

WESTOVER SCHOOL MAGAZINE | WINTER 2018

WELCOMING JULIA DOUGLAS, DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING Julia joined the Alumnae/ Development Office in the Fall of 2017.

As Westover’s Director of Annual Giving, Julia can draw on her extensive experience working in marketing and development for the New Canaan, Connecticut YMCA. Previously, she coordinated large-scale event planning in New York City for such nonprofit organizations as The Juilliard School, the New York Restoration Project, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the New York Botanical Garden. Julia attended Western Connecticut State University, where she received a B.A. in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing. She has also completed course work in Developing Leadership and Improving Governance in Nonprofit Organizations through the State University of New York. While in college, Julia volunteered with the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury and the American Cancer Society. Julia resides in Bethel, Connecticut, with her husband Dan, their son Ian, and their dog Harlow. She enjoys reading and outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, and kayaking.

Each year, gifts from alumnae, parents, and other friends of the School to the Westover Fund in support of Annual Giving contribute to the depth and richness of programming at Westover. Our donorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; generosity helps makes a difference:

More than 75% majored in STEM More than 75% of alumnae who are graduates of the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program majored in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields in college (compared to 29% of women college graduates nationally).

More than 30% participate in Invest in Girls More than 30% of Westover students participate in the innovative Invest in Girls (IIG) Program, which gives them a solid basis of financial knowledge, an understanding of how budgeting works, and an introduction to the role of philanthropy. More and more of our IIG students are pursuing studies in college in the fields of business, economics, and finance.

18 Clubs, 100% student run Westover offers 18 clubs which are 100% student run, expanding their hands-on educational experiences outside the classroom and developing enriching lifelong interests.

WHY I GIVE TO THE WESTOVER FUND Jillian Silver â&#x20AC;&#x2122;10 is a software engineer at Articulate in New York City. She holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Tufts University.

Why is giving to the Westover Fund important to you? Jillian: Giving to the Westover Fund has allowed me to give back to a community that has given so much to me. Looking back at my time at Westover, I realize more and more how important alumnae support is in keeping the School in a financially healthy state. I give so I can provide todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generation of Westover women with the same rich experiences that I had.

Why did you choose recurring/monthly giving instead of one annual gift? Jillian: I chose to give a recurring monthly gift because smaller numbers are simply more digestible to me. I would rather see smaller numbers over time than one big number at the end of the year. It makes giving to Westover part of my monthly expenses and allows me to budget for it a bit easier.

Was it easy to make a recurring gift online? Jillian: Making a recurring gift online was very simple. I can be quite forgetful, so this allows me to not worry about doing it manually every month. Please consider the monthly recurring gift option if you would like to grow your annual giving to Westover while maintaining a level monthly budget. It is a great way to give with little effort. Visit https://www.westoverschool.org/donate to donate today!

Thank you and congratulations to the Alumnae Association Board of Governors for already achieving 100% participation in support of the Westover Fund!

FPO

1237 Whittemore Road Middlebury, CT 06762 203.758.2423 | westoverschool.org

Save the date! May 18-20, 2018 Classes ending in 3 and 8 celebrate their milestone reunions! FRIDAY Class visits Tour of the Hill-Stead Museum Panels and workshops with students and faculty A performance of Love Letters, by Christopher Sweeney and Marla Truini Meet and Greet cocktail reception Glee Concert

SATURDAY Alumnae Assembly Chapel Service Cookout Panels and workshops with alumnae and faculty Printing Press demonstrations We Are Westover filming sessions Class dinners Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to make your hotel reservation! The Wyndham Southbury (formerly the Crowne Plaza) is booking rooms now. Call 203.598.7600 and reference Westover School for a discounted rate.

COGITARE, AGERE, ESSE â&#x20AC;&#x201D;TO THINK, TO DO, TO BE