44 minute read
Penelope Diamond-Pott, Class of 2026
5
Photos by Studio M Photography.
1. Members of the Class of 2026 2. Danika Yam, Class of 2026 3. Penelope Diamond-Pott, Class of 2026 4. Nicholas Kim, Class of 2026 5. Audrey Deliz, Class of 2026 3
— Penelope Diamond-Pott, Class of 2026
4
— Nicholas Kim, Class of 2026
“Drama made me more confident. P.E. taught me to believe in myself. Library taught me to have a huge imagination. Chinese showed me to be patient when learning things. Science showed me that asking questions is a good thing, especially when you don’t understand anything that they are talking about. Design taught me to keep trying. Lastly, my homeroom teachers taught me kindness; how to be kind to myself, and to others.”
STUDENT
CENTERED
HEART OF CAMPUS CAMPAIGN TRANSFORMS LINDA VISTA CAMPUS
2019 marked the completion of Parker’s Heart of Campus campaign and the grand opening of the Student Life Center. The space has transformed the Linda Vista Campus by adding new meeting rooms, the Parker Cafe, outdoor terrace, central plaza, amphitheater, and a two-story underground parking structure. Read on to see inside these wonderful new spaces.
a look inside
1. The Purdon Family Lobby welcomes guests to the second floor of the Student Life Center and proudly displays the donor recognition wall. 2. The Samikoglu Family Room meeting space and outdoor balcony. 3. State-of-the-art kitchen in the Parker Cafe. 4. Casey Family Room and Marino Family Room. 5. Outdoor dining terrace. 6. Alumni "P" in the Parker Cafe recognizes alumni donors to the Heart of Campus campaign. 7. P1, the first level of underground parking. 8. Parker Cafe food service area. 9. P2, the second level of underground parking. Photos by Earnie Grafton. 1
4
6
8 2
7
9 5
1
2
4
6
ribbon cutting
In April 2019, Parker welcomed parents, students, current and retired faculty and staff, and current and former members of the Board of Trustees, along with supporting family, friends, and neighbors to the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Student Life Center. The occasion celebrated an exciting and transformational moment in Parker history. 1. Joined by Parker Leadership and members of the Board of Trustees, Upper School ASB President Julia Bernicker ’19 (center-left) and Middle School ASB President, Shea McGrath, Class of 2023 (center-right), cut the ribbon to officially open the Student Life Center. 2. Parker families tour the Parker Cafe. 4. Past trustees and family reconnect at the ribbon cutting ceremony. 5. Director of Food Services Jose Santiago (right) tours guests through the new state-of-the-art kitchen facilities. 6. Retired Parker faculty and staff returned to Campus to see the new spaces. 7. Guests read the names of Alumni campaign donors on the Alumni P in the Parker Cafe.
Photos by Nancee Lewis Photography.
1 2
4
Student Life
1. Savannah Philyaw ’13 and 2. Brandon Scott ’01 perform songs for Upper School students during lunch. 3. Students applaud spirit week flash mob dancers. 4. The Homecoming dance took place at the Student Life Center. 5. Athletic Director Anthony Thomas leads the spirit week flash mob dance. 6. Orion Samikoglu, Class of 2022 jams with Brandon Scott ’01 during a lunchtime performance. 6
The Parents Association’s 37th Gala, Country Palooza, together with the efforts of Parker’s Day of Giving, raised $1,237,742 for student financial assistance and faculty professional development and salaries. By every measure, the event was a spectacular success.
As gala chair Erik Keskinen explains, “Like so much of country music, the Parker community is about family, and a family is never happier than when it is in harmony.” The themes of ‘family’ and ‘harmony’ were ever-present on the evening of the gala.
The evening opened with a showcase reception of food and fun located at the School’s newly-opened Student Life Center. The opening reception allowed guests to peruse the premium silent auction items all while enjoying games, music, and food from a variety of local food trucks. Guests soon moved to the Field House which had been transformed into a country-themed dining pavilion. All of this formed the backdrop for the Gala’s featured speaker, Tyler Benardini ’07, whose words brought to life the true spirit of the Parker community.
Photos by Nancee Lewis Photography. Keynote speaker Tyler Bernardini ’07 shares his Parker story with Gala attendees.
“The beauty of Parker is that each of us has our own ‘basketball court’—it may be a theater stage, robotics lab, art or dance studio—and each of us has our own ‘Coach Tomey’—an advocate, coach, mentor. Once you are a student on this Campus the opportunity to make the most of your educational experience is before you.”
—Tyler Benardini ’07
Tyler reflected on his lifelong dream of becoming a professional basketball player and how Parker prepared him for the challenges of balancing his academics with his athletics pursuits. Tyler shared that it was his Parker experience that provided him the tools to succeed academically in college and on the court:
Upon graduation, Tyler attended the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in economics. In each of his four years at Penn, Tyler was a starter on the basketball team and received the honor of Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2008. Tyler was invited to be a member of Penn’s prestigious Friars Honor Society.
After Penn, Tyler was offered a chance to live his dream as a professional basketball player when the Carlsbad native was recruited for the Italian Basketball League as a guard on the Mapooro Cantu team. Two years later, he accepted a position with the Leicester Riders in the United Kingdom. The Riders earned the title of League Champion three times during Tyler’s five years with them. A team captain for two years, Tyler received MVP accolades in 2015, 2016, and 2018. With a desire to further his education, Tyler earned a Master of Science with a concentration in international management from Loughborough University, UK in 2016. Tyler began his career working as sales director for the Leicester Riders Basketball Club where he managed sales, marketing, and promotion strategy. Recently he joined Morgan Stanley London’s office on their foreign exchange sales team.
Tyler currently lives in London, with his wife, Emily Hunt Bernardini. He serves as Ambassador to several nonprofit organizations including Hope Against Cancer and Alex’s Wish. n
Parker’s Drama Club kicked of their 2019-2020 season in November with a production of “Xanadu.” Join them in February for “Silent Sky.”
Photo by XXX.
FALL SPORTS
The Varsity Football team won a sectional championship for the first time since 2009, and also claimed the Pacific League Championship. The Lancers rebounded from a rocky start to the season to win its final four regular-season games, including a thrilling 58-50 victory against rival La Jolla Country Day on Senior Night to win the league title. The team finished league play 4-0 and earned a No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the CIF Division 5 Sectional playoffs. Parker defeated No. 5 Crawford, 44-20, in the quarterfinals; upended No. 1 Vincent Memorial, 34-22, in the semifinals; and outlasted No. 2 Castle Park, 24-21, in the championship game.
Above: Members of the varsity football team celebrate after clinching the CIF sectional championship.
Above Top: Members of the Boys Cross Country team after placing third at the CIF state meet. Below: Kenan Pala, Class of 2022 placed fourth in the boys Division 5 final and earn all-state honors at the state meet at Woodward Park in Fresno.
CROSS COUNTRY
Parker's cross country team finished with an overall record of 8-1 and went undefeated in league play with a 3-0 mark.
The boys’ team won the Coastal Conference Championship and the CIF Division V Championship. They ultimately placed third in the CIF state meet in Fresno. The girls’ team finished in 4th place in CIF, their top finish of the season.
Top performers included Kenan Pala, Class of 2022; and Spencer Seay, Class of 2021, for the boys, and Savannah Gordon, Class of 2020; and Alexa Gibson, Class of 2022, for the girls.
Above: Members of the Boys Water Polo team go for the score during an intense game.
Above: Practice makes perfect for members of the Girls Golf team. Above: The Girls Volleyball team set up for a spike against a tough competitor.
BOYS WATER POLO
Boys water polo continued its rise to greatness in just its third season. The Lancers finished the season with an overall record of 17-12, including thrilling lateseason wins at Del Norte, 8-7; and against High Tech San Diego, 7-6, in overtime. The team defeated Mira Mesa, 10-6, in the opening round of the CIF San Diego Sectional and outlasted Oceanside, 108, in the seminal match to reach the championship for the second consecutive season. Ultimately, Parker was defeated, 15-7, by Mt. Carmel in the title game.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Girls volleyball finished with an overall record of 8-17 and a 2-8 mark in league play. The Lancers had their best showing in the HUDL Tournament, where they placed top 10 in the silver division and had a great victory over Otay Ranch. It was a trying season for the team, which was plagued by injuries.
GO LANCERS!
GIRLS GOLF
Girls golf finished with a 5-10 record and a 4-4 mark in league play. Each player achieved personal bests, came together to overcome adversity and played with a great deal of joy. At the season-ending conference championship, they achieved the best performance of the year and made the top 10 teams in Division 2.
FALL SPORTS
Above Top: Girls Tennis team members are all smiles for the camera. Below: A powerful swing on display during competition.
Above: Members of the Boys Sand Volleyball team pose for a picture after a successful match.
BOYS SAND VOLLEYBALL
Boys sand volleyball finished with a 3-2 league record. They opened the Division 1 playoffs with a 4-1 victory over a physical San Marcos team. The No. 1 team of Ben Sheres and Mark Tankersley, both Class of 2020, won a hard-fought three-game match over a strong Knight team. The Lancers continued to roll in the semifinals with a 3-2 victory over a talented team from Mission Bay. The No. 2 team of Andreas Girls tennis took third place in CIF Division 2 and lost in the CIF Semifinals, 10-8, to eventual-champion Pacific Ridge in the team championship. Singles Celerina Chao, Class of 2023, and Anisa Stone and Makaylee Dahms, both Class of 2022, made it to the quarterfinals in the individual championship. Parker’s regularseason MVP for singles with the most wins was team captain Caitlin Rowlings, Class of 2020, and the team’s MVP with the most wins for doubles was Anisa Stone and Makaylee Dahms.
Cardenas-Marouf, Class of 2022; and Ryan Fox, Class of 2023, won to clinch the victory.
The Lancers defeated Carlsbad, 3-2, to win the County D1 Championship. The No. 5 team of Rafter Sprague and Leonard Daniels, both Class of 2020, swept through their opponent as they did all season. The No. 4 team of Rodrigo Gallardo, Class of 2020; and Joey Diamond, Class of 2021, played their best match of the year and rolled to a huge victory. With all beach spectators watching, the No. 3 team of Jackson DeWitt, Class of 2022; and Chris Nawrocki, Class of 2021, won in three very close, exciting games to clinch the title.
“Our team made substantial improvements over the course of the season,” says coach John Herman. “By the end of the year, our team could play with anyone in the county. The strength of our team was the number of boys in our program who can play. Very rarely did our teams, five through ten, lose all season.”
Athletic Highlights
Parker expands Weight Room
Parker’s recently-upgraded weight room now boasts seven brand new half-rack workout stations, new dumbells and Olympic plates, and an updated design that retained the space’s featured slogan, “Our Family vs. Their Team.” The new facility officially reopened at Homecoming 2019. The entire renovation project took four months to complete.
The new weight room will benefit more than studentathletes—all Middle and Upper School students take some form of physical education during the school day.
The weight room is a “showcase piece” that demonstrates Parker’s commitment to athletics, Anthony says.
Above: Varsity football players lift weights during a morning workout before playoffs.
Above: Girls Water Polo is Parker’s newest sport. The girls began their season earlier this month.
Girls Water Polo
Girls Water Polo began its inaugural season in December 2019. Following a third successful season on the boys’ side, Parker Water Polo Head Coach Sam Busby decided it was time to establish a girls program.
The first season features 15 varsity games–three more than were originally scheduled. The girls are training hard and approaching every game with focus and determination.
The longterm goal is to establish water polo as a key sport at Parker.
“Water polo is life-changing and its positive impact at parker will continue to expand,” says Sam.
FOREVER PART OF THE
PARKER FAMILY
BY MATT PIECHALAK
Longtime Parker Receptionist Monica Sawaya-Godfrey bids farewell to Parker after a 30year career at the School.
“If someone came in and was having a bad day, I would give them a cup of coffee and listen,” says Monica, who left in August after 30 years of calling Parker her home. Monica and her husband, Christian, moved to Dallas to be closer to her daughter, Ysabella ’15. Her son, Gabriel ’18, is currently a college sophomore and will stay in San Diego to finish his post-secondary education.
When asked for the appropriate term to describe her departure, Monica declined to use words like “leaving” or “resigning.” “I cannot use those words,” she says. “I’m starting a new adventure.” Monica was originally hired as the Upper School attendance secretary and eventually moved into the administration office.
“I really only planned to stay here part-time because, at the time, I was pursuing a career in acting,” Monica says. Monica was grateful for the flexibility Parker offered and would go backand-forth to Los Angeles for auditions. She took vocal lessons, shot commercials, and did print work for a Mexican fashion magazine. Once married with kids, her pursuit of acting tapered, but Parker remained her home.
“The community was just so wonderful, I thought, ’I can’t leave here’,” she says. “I stayed for 30 years.” For anyone associated with Parker, Monica was the face of the School and a welcoming presence on the first floor of the Peters Family Building. n “No matter who you were—long-time colleague, first-year faculty member, parent, alumni, or simply someone who had lost their way along Linda Vista Road—one thing was for certain; when you entered the building, no matter what the day or circumstance, you would be greeted with a welcome and a smile that made you feel as though there was no one more important than you.”
— Head of School Kevin Yaley
FROM COACH TO
EDUCATOR
BY MATT PIECHALAK
For two decades, Marc Thiebach was an instrumental part of the Parker community. He wore many hats, including that of an administrator, teacher, advisor, coach, and friend.
As he begins his new role as principal at The Nativity School in Rancho Santa Fe, Marc reflects on his Parker experience. Coaching prep sports was what initially attracted Marc to a career in education.
“Coaching is teaching and teaching is also coaching,” says Marc, Parker’s former Upper School Associate Head of School and Varsity Girls Soccer coach. “You can’t have one without the other.”
Marc began as an off-campus coach in 1998 after hearing about an opening from two Parker students who played on his club soccer team. He applied for two head coaching positions and was offered both—one at Parker and the other at The Academy of Our Lady of Peace.
He chose Parker, and his decision eventually led to a 20-plus-year career at the School.
Marc’s first two years were dedicated to coaching and, in 2000, he was hired as Upper School Associated Student Body (ASB) and yearbook advisor. “That job was perfectly aligned; those two positions, as one, are a perfect match,” he says. Marc spent 10 years active in ASB and is extremely proud of the work he helped accomplish. “We really built a program and a curriculum of meaningful work around student input,” he says. “Students had a seat at the table to be a part of the process. They wanted to be a part of it for the right reasons.” During his tenure at Parker, Marc went on to hold several other positions, including activities director, dean of students, and Upper School Assistant Head of School.
Marc began his career in education working at Good Shepherd in Mira Mesa, where he spent 11 years in several capacities, including athletic director and vice-principal. When he came to Parker, he figured it would be a place “to gain five or six years of experience” before returning to a Catholic school.
“Once I got to Parker and began growing and developing, I never thought I was going to leave,” he says. “I look back on all the work that we did there. Parker allowed me to grow for many years. I created lifelong relationships and now I’m going to former students’ weddings and meeting their firstborns. Parker is a very special place.” n
Debbie Burzynski
Director of Transportation
Coming to Parker was a natural fit for Director of Transportation Debbie Burzynski, a Buffalo, NY native who had no local family when she and husband, Larry, moved to San Diego in 1974. “Parker was our family,” Debbie says.
Debbie started at the School in 1975 after a brief stint working in Fashion Valley. Larry, a marine who had previously been stationed in San Diego, had friends who were bus drivers for Parker. Later, Larry worked as a bus driver for the School and also completed his student teaching at Parker.
At the time, it was easy to become a bus driver. All you needed was 10 hours behind the wheel and a written test, Debbie says.
“I remember driving in circles around the track in the canyon below the Linda Vista Campus,” she recalled.
Parker was small when Debbie began. She recalls that drivers were instructed to pick up each student that requested bus service at their home, which was often challenging.
“Each driver had to map their route, which in the late 1970s required a large map book and pencil and was formalized on typewritten carbon paper,” she says. “The routes were strange and changed every time a new student enrolled.”
After three years as a driver, Debbie spent a year doing office work before being promoted to assistant manager of transportation. In 1991, she was promoted to director. Among her biggest accomplishments at Parker, Debbie says she’s proud to have been a part of policy changes, including increasing safety, student protocols, and building relationships with vendors.
Debbie has always served as a “staunch Parker ambassador,” says Head of Lower School Bob Gillingham, who came to the School along with Debbie in the 1970s. The Buffalo native was instrumental in the School community, and made “phenomenal contributions” in her decades of service to Parker, Gillingham says.
Photo by Rob Hansen ’87
Debbie says she will miss the social aspect of the job and the people she worked with, as well as the problem-solving aspects of the job.
“I think my creativity helped me complete each day, but I also learned how to become a ‘Type-A’ person,” she says.
In retirement, Debbie is excited to garden, cook, read, hike, and explore the zoo. She is also planning to learn more about photography and is picking up the bagpipes—an instrument that has always fascinated her.
Looking back, the job was all about the people and building relationships, Debbie says.
“Give people a chance and don’t judge or assume. Keep your sense of humor and laugh as much as you can—especially at yourself.” n
Diane Bergel
Upper School Administrative Assistant
Prior to starting at Parker, Upper School Administrative Assistant Diane Bergel had a wealth of experience working with young children. Interacting with the older kids was a new experience for her.
“My first day I had all the seniors come in and line up alphabetically,” says Diane, who retired after 33 years at the School. “The first senior walks up and he’s huge—I’m only five-feet and he’s more than six feet. I’m holding a note home for him and I walk up and pin it to his shirt so he doesn’t lose it.”
Diane came to Parker from public schools where her experience included office work, coaching, and teaching.
“Parker was totally different than it is now,” Diane says. “The person in my position did everything. There were very small classes. I think the first graduating class was roughly 50 kids.” Diane says she will miss the Parker students most.
“They’re amazing and they connect with you and are very curious,” she says. “I learned to learn from them.”
“Diane’s positive approach to her job and her love of our students kept a smile on her face every day, and this went so far towards making the faculty feel both cared for and appreciated,” says Upper School Social Studies Teacher Chuck Wineholt, who met Diane 25 years ago. Diane took pride in event planning at Parker, and spent many years planning the commencement ceremony, which takes the entire year to coordinate.
“I’ll never forget my first commencement at the Mission Hills Campus,” she says. “One kid was late because of a tennis tournament and he forgot his suit. I made my husband switch clothes with him. He said, ’this is the last time I come to a commencement’.”
Along with event planning, Diane had many other important duties, including commanding respect from the copy machines, Chuck jokes. However, her greatest contribution, he believes, was her “ready smile and unflappable nature.”
“No matter how crazy things became, Diane had a positive, calming presence that always let me know that everything was going to be OK,” he says. Diane will also miss her coworkers, who are more like friends and family. n
Top: Diane Bergel from the 2019 Cavalcade. Above: Bergel as pictured in the 1982 Cavalcade.
Dave Johnson
Upper School Science Teacher
When Upper School Science Teacher Dave Johnson began at Parker in 1978, the 25-year-old taught four courses. “I was hired to teach PE, World History, Grade 7 Math, and Grade 9 Biology,” Dave says. “I spent a lot of days in the public library prepping.”
The graduating class at the time was 35 students. The technology of the day was chalk and a blackboard, Dave jokes.
Dave received his teaching credential from Point Loma Nazarene University; at the same time, California Proposition 13 passed, reducing property tax rates and ushering in a hiring freeze for public organizations, including school districts. Luckily for Dave, Parker was looking to grow, and he joined an intimate staff.
Dave took on many roles during his 40 years at Parker, including being the lone physiology teacher, a stint teaching Marine Biology, and Associated Student Body (ASB) director.
“One of the things I always respected and enjoyed [about Parker] is you could take on as much responsibility as you wanted, but you could also say ‘no’,” he says.
In retirement, Dave is already focused on staying active. He is halfway through his volunteer training program at the San Diego Zoo, he will soon be an usher at Padres games, and the avid biker is planning mountain biking trips with friends. “I need structure,” he says with a laugh. The personal connections are what Dave says he’ll miss the most about Parker. “When [students] seek you out and you’ve made a real difference in their life or career choice,” he says. “That’s special. Those are the warm fuzzies.” n
Top: Dave Johnson is all smiles at the 2019 end of the year retiree celebration held at the Mission Hills Campus. Above: Johnson as pictured in the 1982 Cavalcade.
Tom Crowley
AP Economics and 3-D Art and Design Teacher
Tom Crowley came to Parker as a 25-year-old and quickly realized it was going to be a natural fit.
“The School allowed me to pursue my personal passions and blend them into my teaching, which was mutually beneficial to the students, myself, and the community,” says Tom, who worked at Parker for 28 years. During his tenure at Parker, Tom also taught a variety of other subjects including AP European History, AP World History, and Honors World History. He coached five sports— including the Roller Hockey Club—and was Parker’s Director of Global Studies from 2006-2019. Tom has a great deal of passion for Global Studies, which he explains started following several student trips to Asia and East Africa in his first years at the School.
“It was organic from all the things I was interested in,” says Tom. “Global Education [at Parker] began with a shift from tourism to engagement.” Tom will continue to be involved in growing the program and believes Parker can—and should—be a model school for Global Studies, both on the West Coast and nationally.
Tom has fond memories of building the 3D Art Program with Steve Cook and Barry Cheskaty and the Nature Club, and is appreciative of how the School has emphasized diversity. “Parker had made early efforts to be more reflective of the community we are in,” he says. “We worked hard to create concerns about diversity.” In retirement, Tom is already keeping busy. This summer, he participated in an eight-day, 500 mile bike ride on the East Coast with his mentor Steven Branfman, who was also his high school 3D art teacher at Thayer Academy in Massachusetts. They rode for “Team Kermit” in support of cancer research and Steven’s late son, who used a Kermit doll for comfort during chemotherapy. On the bike trip, which traversed the East Coast Greenway, Tom says he reflected on his time at Parker, and his drive to get back to creating art. In addition to his own studio plans, Tom is working on a commission for Parker that will be housed outside the Student Learning Center. “A lot of my thinking was about getting the creative juices flowing,” Tom says. n
Top: Tom Crowley reflects on his time at Parker at the end of the year retiree celebration. Above: Crowley as pictured in the 1992 Cavalcade.
Steve Cook
Middle and Upper School Ceramics Teacher
Middle and Upper School Ceramics Teacher Steve Cook says he will miss students who discovered and created “deep meaning through the arts.”
“I’ll miss students who brought alert curiosity, unflinching intellectual rigor, and a persistent work ethic to the studio,” he says.
Steve taught visual arts at the School for more than 20 years. Most of all, Steve says he enjoyed the daily opportunity to work with a variety of aesthetics developing in his students.
“I ran an educationally progressive program that emphasized a student-centered curriculum with strong teacher oversight in order to imbue each student’s process with high academic standards—both technically and aesthetically,” he says.
Along with ceramics, Steve also wrote curricula for the department, taught Martial Arts for 10 years with a focus on traditional Chinese and Filipino systems, and worked with developers and School leadership to help shape the vision for the School’s art studios.
“I had the opportunity to influence the design of the studios, as well as ensure the existence of the gallery and dance studio,” Steve says.
Steve brought his knowledge, respect, and passion for all creative endeavors to Parker, says Barry Cheskaty, Visual Arts department chair and Woodshop teacher.
“He clearly understands the important roles and relationships of all artistic expressions, and how each contributes to the identity of a particular society or culture,” says Barry, adding that he sees Steve as a “renaissance man.”
Barry met Steve in 1999 when he joined the School as the ceramics teacher. Steve is a “straight shooter,” a “plain speaker,” and a devoted family man and explorer, says Barry.
“I see Steve as just the kind of man Lewis and Clark would have wanted along in their exploration of the vast and rugged American frontier,” he said.
In retirement, Steve plans to work in his studio, spend time with family, and may continue to run academic trips abroad to Asia and Africa. n
Top: Steve Cook guides students during ceramics class. Above: Cook during the Upper School Global Studies trip to India in 2014.
Stacey Zoyiopoulos
Middle and Upper School P.E. Teacher and Girls Golf Coach
Stacey Zoyiopoulos’ path to Francis Parker School is a serendipitous story.
“I was complaining to my boyfriend—now husband—about my job and he asked me, ‘what would your dream job be?’ I told him that I would want to teach physical education at Francis Parker School, but that the [teacher] has been there forever and she’s never going to leave.”
Three days later, Stacey received a call from a friend at the San Diego County Office of Education, informing her that the teacher, Fran Styles, was retiring. Styles was the School’s first female athletic director.
Stacey accepted the job, and spent 25 years at Parker teaching physical education across all three divisions, and coached numerous sports, including Girls Golf.
Middle School Athletic Director David Glassey met Stacey more than 20 years ago when she began as Lower School physical education teacher. Stacey brought to Parker a commitment to the kids and the faculty, David says.
“Whatever she did, it was always better because she was involved,” he says.
David, who has been with Parker for 48 years, worked with Stacey when she took a job in the Upper School.
Additionally, Stacey says she is grateful to Parker for giving her the unique opportunity to travel, including trips to France, China, Peru, Cambodia, Chicago, and Washington D.C.
“I feel lucky to have traveled the world and to see the kids experience international travel—it was really exciting.” n
Amy Eversole
upper school Science Lab Assistant
When Amy Eversole started at Parker in 1998, she had no experience as a lab assistant.
“I was not a science person,” says Amy, who retired this past year after two decades of service to the School. “I grew into it.”
Amy, originally from Ohio, moved to San Diego in 1982 when her husband, Thomas, accepted a job at Parker. Thomas was a Physics teacher and department head for the Upper School. Amy worked 15 years at the Old Globe Theatre prior to working at the School. After deciding against retirement, she filled the role of lab assistant with Thomas’ encouragement.
“I already knew a lot of the teachers,” she says. “I thought it was a great school and we were pleased to work here.”
The School’s population has grown considerably since the early 1980s, making the need for lab assistants more necessary.
“If you’re teaching three classes and you want to do a lab in all of them, that could add another four hours [without a lab assistant],” she explains. “To have somebody who helps them get all set up is important.”
Amy is a very meticulous person that brought a high commitment to excellence at Parker, says retired Science Teacher Rose Hanscom. She prepared labs, ordered materials, prepared solutions, and helped the department function seamlessly. The work of a lab assistant is varied and always physical, two characteristics that Amy loved about the job.
Amy and Thomas, who retired from Parker in 2008, recently moved to Calimesa and plan to spend more time at their home near Big Bear Lake. n
Laura Southworth
Upper School Administrative Assistant
Laura Southworth, former Upper School administrative assistant and Athletics secretary, says she built lifelong friendships during her more than 20 years at Francis Parker School. Laura was forced into early retirement in January 2017 due to health issues. She says she is doing much better now and is focused on her physical health and spending time with her family, including regular baking sessions with her son, Will.
Building relationships with students is one of the things she’ll miss most about Parker, Laura says.
“Knowing how we affected the kids by taking care of them and knowing we were there for them.”
Laura came to Parker in 1996. “I was a single mother and I liked the idea of going to a school and working Monday through Friday,” she recalls. “I got to Parker and it was such a family feel. Everyone cared about everyone [else].” “Laura’s strengths were her organization, work ethic, and commitment to her job,” says Marc Thiebach, former Upper School associate head of school and current principal at The Nativity School in Rancho Santa Fe.
Laura was always present for the students, parents, and her colleagues, Marc says. Additionally, she gave her personal time to help with School events.
“What I learned from her is that taking the time to just hang out with your colleagues over some music, conversation, or food and drink helps build better relationships and a more supportive work environment,” he added. n
Inez Thomas
Director of Community Outreach
Inez Thomas began working at Parker in 2002 as a volunteer charged with bringing more diversity to the student body at Parker.
“Kids want to be around someone who is different [than them] and they need to know how to treat each other,” Inez says.
The work was always important to Inez, who was already a part of other volunteer organizations, including The Links Incorporated, the YMCA, and Jack and Jill of America, an organization dedicated to “nurturing future African American leaders.”
Inez’s role at Parker involved a large majority of time at schools and community programs reaching out to students of color.
When students joined the student body, she was also instrumental in helping students adapt. She developed the African American Affinity Group, a student community group intended to help students better transition to the School, she says.
Inez was also a big part of Umoja, a club whose mission is to “discuss African American culture along with making other connections to other cultures.”
“It’s a synonym for ʻunity’,” she says.
Inez says she is satisfied with the legacy she is leaving at Parker and hopes that future faculty and students will continue to spread a message of diversity and inclusion. n
Grandparents
AT PARKER
The morning of Nov. 21, 2019 may have begun with rain showers, but the clouds couldn't keep Parker families from attending Lower School Grandparents and Special Friends Day. Starting with performances from Grades JK through 5, guests delighted in the joy spread by Parker students. Afterwards, grandparents had the chance to visit their students’ classrooms and learn more about the magic that happens inside those spaces.
Save the Date for Middle School and Upper School Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Invitations will be sent out in early January.
Photos by Matt Piechalak.
Parker’ s Highest Honor
JIMMY AND JENNIFER ANKLESARIA RECEIVE HENRY F. LIPPITT II ’29 AWARD
The Henry F. Lippitt II ’29 Award is Parker’s highest honor bestowed on a member of our community who distinguishes themself for ongoing service and a commitment to excellence in education at Parker. An alumnus of the Class of 1929, Henry demonstrated extraordinary dedication to the School through his work as a volunteer and trustee.
In May, the Henry F. Lippitt II ’29 Award was presented to Jimmy and Jennifer Anklesaria. The Anklesarias have been an instrumental part of Parker since they joined the School community in 1997. Jimmy served on the Parker Board of Trustees from 1999-2011. He served as Board Chair from 20052008 and was a vital member of several committees, including finance, strategic planning, and board governance. His work also supported the Development, Commitee and the School’s work around diversity and inclusion, admissions, and developing scholarship opportunities for students.
Jennifer is an active volunteer and has been a vital part of organizing Parker History Day. She is a member of the National History Day with the San Diego County Advisory Board. During the last two years, Jennifer has organized a series of workshops through the San Diego Public Library to help support students with creative projects and has formed a variety of lineage organizations, including the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The Anklesaria’s are the proud parents of three Parker graduates–Zubin ’10, Jasmin ’14, and Avi ’18. n
Pictured left to right: Head of School Kevin Yaley, Jimmy and Jennifer Anklesaria, Board Chair Robert Gleason.
parker
REUNION
On April 27, alumni from the classes of 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, and 2004 celebrated their milestone reunions at class gatherings across San Diego.
class of 1979
Left to right: Chris Trepte McGregor, Warren Jones, Nina Severance Wichman, Jeff Cass, Cate Gilman, Sue Greenway.
Photos by Bauman Photography
class of 1989
Back row left to right: Adam DiGiacomo, Derek Vosskuhler, Jen Goode, Jim Goode, Bob Ogle, Steve Fambro, Marc Applbaum. Middle row left to right: Kelly Vosskuhler, Tom Tobin, Jessica Rentto, Dave Rentto, Garth Gartrell, Buffy Loftin Gartrell, Tricia Fambro, Megan Moir Bowman, Dave Johnson, Will Beamer. Front row left to right: Becky Anders DeSalvo, Belle Keith Drouin, Fiona McMillan, Gina Herrera Duggan.
class of 1999
Left to right: Jamie Wittert Neagle, Chris Ringewald, Abby Heilbron, Alfonso Grey, Greg Hoover, Vanessa Otero, Santiago Hernandez, Peter Weinrib, Adam Silberman, Allison Gontang Komiyama, Stefani Saragosa Wessel, Bijal Patel-Weintraub, Laura McLean, Olivia Nocon Nouskajian, Martha Belo, Whitney Currier, Nick Carter, Michael Moreno, Erin Hale, Grant Bostrom.
class of 1984
Back row left to right: Toler Goodwin, Phil Adler, Monique Soares Kraft, Kathy Gooding Valverde. Middle row left to right: McDermott Coutts, Paul Frye, Todd Harvey, Kendall McIntyre Galli, Elizabeth Campbell Gimber, Ted Gildred III, Isabelle Estes Nelson, Jenny Hansen Tobin, Frank Tobin. Front row left to right: Amy Smith Hall, Karen Halverstadt Miller, Amy Swartz Zantzinger, John Romero.
class of 1994
Back row left to right: Robert Goldberg, Sue Marrone Moerder, Amy Haven, Mark Byrne, Jared Clorfeine, Tom Crowley, Chad Burlingame, Michael Jensen, Laura Prenner Martel, Sara Pangallo Wood, Darin Martel, David Ruyle. Front row left to right: Barry Cheskaty, Carol Obermeier, Fernanda Segura de Rodriguez, Leslie Hazard, Joe McLeod, Alexis Dean McLeod, Allison Bell Hoyt, Robert Barone.
class of 2004
Left to right: Peter Storniolo, Paul Esch, Steve Evanco ’03, Carli Smith, David Miller, Noelle Nassir Miller, Allie Barry Hobson, Mike Chalker, Jesika Reiner Chalker, Tom Gros, Kristen Koehrn Gros, Derek Hobson, Melissa Vassiliadis, Marie Cotton.
updates
1. Brian Keyser ’87 is owner of Casellula restaurant, ranked in July 2019 as number 1 of 9 Great Theatre district restaurants for before or after your show by the New York Times.
2. Author Scott Hylbert ’87 visited campus in August 2019 just before his book signing at Warwick’s La Jolla. Check out his novel, “Task Lyst,” and keep an eye out for Scott at a book signing event near you.
3. Sr. Kindergarten Teacher, Kym Farkas, pictured with her youngest grandchild, Louisa, in August 2019.
4. Cameron Songer ’11 lives in San Antonio, TX where he pursues his passion of sports as a digital content producer for KENS 5 (the local CBSaffiliated television station). He also works as a play-by-play broadcaster for high school sports in San Antonio and Austin. Cameron is engaged to be married in Summer 2020.
5. Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Millay
’90 retired from the U.S. Air Force in June 2019 after 23 years of service. He and his family will remain in South Florida, having recently purchased a home in Broward County. Ryan sends his best wishes to all past classmates and current and future Francis Parker students and family.
6. Teacher Ari Gass met with Bella Cady ’18 and Sofia Carrillo ’18 on Campus at Middlebury College during their homecoming weekend.
7. Dave Johnson has jumped headfirst into retirement, most recently traveling to Hawaii for a well-deserved break with his wife, Terri. 8. Trevy Kiy ’09 recently set up an all-star Parker alumni studio session in Brooklyn, NY alongside Alie Jimenez ’09, Jesse Kranzler ’09,Eric Ingram ’10, and Suzanna Ahern ’10 to record parts for his upcoming reggae/hiphop album. The first single from the project, “Nuff Smoke” (featuring Alie on backup vocals), is streaming everywhere online under the name Trevy James.
9. Dr. Don Vaughn ’04 was special guest on the TV show The Doctors in October 2019 to discuss dopamine fasting where he discussed how a refresh of our overtaxed brains might benefit individuals.
10. Alex Nicita ’16, Breanna Comunale ’18, Holden Enniss ’18, and Victoria Comunale ’19 at the Columbia University Parker Pizza Party on October 30, 2019.
11. Marc Sherman ’88 and Angela Sherman Adonis ’93 visit Parker with their family during Thanksgiving break to see the Heart of Campus.
Parker alumni are invited to share their news in Class Notes. We welcome wedding and birth announcements, career updates and professional milestones, personal news, photos with fellow Parker people, and obituaries. Send your note and/or photo to alumni@ francisparker.org. Please specify if your news is to be published only in the magazine, only on the alumni website, or both.
BIRTHS
13. Rob ’01 and Christine ’99 Landis
welcomed son Hunter on July 8.
ANNIVERSARIES
14. Barry Cheskaty and his wife Cathy celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on November 22nd. They were surrounded by family and friends, including Juli ’92 and Andy ’95 and granddaughters Mati and Vivi, both Class of 2031. Barry has been part of Parker’s faculty since 1973.
IN MEMORIAM
15. Dori Rodi-Shryock passed away on October 23, 2019 with her loving family by her side including daughter Melissa Leasure ’87. Dori was Parker Admissions for many years. She was much beloved for her impeccable taste, her love of bringing new families into the Parker Community, and her stories which centered on her cherished family.
Dori Rhodi’s Memorial Service brought 18 Parker People together. Pictured left to right: Michael McNitt ’85, Jamie Ogle ’86, Holly Bauer ’87, Andrea Lamberti ’87, Brian Keyser ’87, Char Ramey Hutchins ’87, Mary Beth McNitt Blasnek ’87, Ceri Slacum Keith ’86, Stewart Keith ’85. Front Row: Melissa Moore Leasure ’87, JP Leasure ’85, Neal Johnson ’85, Mike Lewis ’85.
HEAD OF SCHOOL
RECEPTION
Patsy and David Marino, parents of Gia, Class of 2020, graciously hosted the Head of School Circle Reception on Oct. 16 in their home in La Jolla. The Halloween-themed event welcomed more than 100 new and current parents, alumni, parents of alumni, 20+ years Loyalty Club members, and members of our cumulative giving societies. This annual reception recognizes and honors donors who have taken a leadership role in their support of Parker.
Patsy and David Marino
Head of School Kevin Yaley
Natasha Allos, Paola Ross, Heather Rosing Mike and Jennifer Cotton, Claudia and Marc Wornovitzky
Pasquel and Enrico Marcelli Michael Clark, Claudia Valenzuela, Jennifer and Mike Cotton
Sandra and Sassan Alavi Karla Villarreal, Liz Zborowski, Meghan Spieker, Kate Smith
Stephen and Kalyee McLaughlin, Stephen and Michelle Huber, Frans van der Lee, Anthony Burr Priya Patel, Samir Singh ’96, Diana Casey
Ana and Tom Chapman, Will Beamer ’89 Irene Coppedge, Melissa Hernholm Danzo Alexander Nawrocki, Beth and JP McNeill
YOUR GIFTS MAKE US DANCE
Your support ensures that Parker students reach “as far as the mind can see.” Plan your gift and be a part of advancing Parker’s mission and the bright futures of our students.
MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY
FRANCISPARKER.ORG/GIVE
Is this your preferred address? If you did not receive this magazine at your current address (or parents of alumni, if your son or daughter no longer maintains a permanent residence at your home), please notify the Alumni Office (alumni@francisparker.org or 858 / 874-3372) to update our records.
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
FRANCIS PARKER SCHOOL
HELP TELL PARKER’S STORY
We invite you to join our Admissions Parent Ambassador Program, where you can contribute to upcoming focus group discussions and connect with parents of applicants to Parker.
READY TO GET INVOLVED?
Contact Kelly Tedrow, Associate Director of Middle School Admissions, at ktedrow@francisparker.org.
6501 LINDA VISTA ROAD SAN DIEGO, CA 92111
FRANCISPARKER.ORG
