Alumni Reunion

from Priorities #72: Summer 2019

Residential Life

ALUMNI Welcome Home:

The biggest alumni celebration of the year was just that! Priory graduates and their guests, spanning the Classes of 1964-2014, enjoyed returning home to reconnect with old friends, teachers, and the monks on April 13 for the 2019 Alumni Reunion.

The day began with Mass, featuring an alumni choir, readers, and gift bearers, followed by the dedication and blessing of the new Al Zappelli Alumni Courtyard, where Al reflected on his 29 years at Priory.

The more than 100 guests continued the festivities and, for many, explored the LaureL STREAM Center for the first time, while enjoying

Reunion brings home generations of alumni

Father Martin’s pizzas, Father Matthew’s pretzels, and a generously supplied craft beer bar sponsored by alumnus Matthew Patzer ‘16 and Gordon Biersch.

Adding to the celebration were numerous current and former faculty and staff members, including Ruth Benz, David Moseley, Adam Siler, Reed Sullivan, Todd Turner, Paul Trudelle and Betty Van Wagenen.

Capping off the evening were remarks by Alumni Director Diana Chamorro, Tim Molak, and Father Maurus, who led the ceremony honoring the Class of 1969’s 50th milestone reunion year.

ALUMNI

Margaret Bussmann ‘09 leads the procession into Mass.

(l to r) D.C McEachern ‘94, Mallory Cadwell ‘09 and Tyson Trish ‘94 bring up the gifts.

Class Captain, András Csaplar ‘64, reads the first reading at the Alumni Mass.

The alumni choir of 2014’s Sarah Reid and Chris Gregory, harmonized beautifully with Chapel Music Director Mary Carroll.

Maxwell Barnes ‘12 receives a blessing from Father Martin during communion.

Al Zappelli reflects on his 29 years at Priory, including 25 as admissions director.

Father Matthew leads the dedication of the alumni courtyard with a blessing of the space and all in attendance. Head of School Tim Molak welcomes alums to the new Al Zappelli Alumni Courtyard.

Jim Gogan ‘81 and his wife Nancy, find his name on the new alumni panel, listing the names of every Priory graduate over the last 61 years.

ALUMNI

ALUMNI

Class of 1994 Class of 1969

Class of 1999

Class of 1979

Class of 2014

Class of 2009

CLASS NEWS & NOTES Class News & Notes

After 42 years, Father Matthew and former student, Ed Chen ‘79, reconnected at the Alumni Reunion in April. Chen shared that Father Matthew was so impactful during his time at Priory that he named his son after him. Julie (left) and her partner Megan Pohlman Julie Henderson ‘04 graduated from the University of San Francisco for the second time in December of 2018, this time earning her Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing. Before graduating, she was awarded a teaching fellowship and returned to USF to teach the fundamentals of creative writing to undergraduates this past spring semester. This coming fall she will teach Expedition USF to first-year undergrads.

David Gamburd ’07 recently moved to Portland, OR after living in Quito, Ecuador for two years to work on the small business he co-founded, Alta Andina. The company crafts handmade accessories from natural and recycled materials in the Andes, and sources all its materials and exports all finished products directly from the region. Through Alta Andina’s business model, it minimizes its carbon footprint, while promoting responsibly sourced and manufactured sustainable products. Recently he connected with fellow alum, Christine Ahlstrom West ‘07, who covered Alta Andina in her Eco-Friendly Father’s

Day Gift Guide on her blog, The Style Update Blog.

Erik Lyon ’08 and Hovey Clark met up in Conneticut. Erik just finished a grad program in climate change communications at Yale.

Former admissions associate, Carol Mauss, reunited with Kate Finlay ‘10 while visiting Paris.

Maia Thielen ’10 finished her Master’s degree in Voice Performance at the University of Washington, and is moving to Bozeman, MT with her partner Ed (pictured) for a bit of respite before they look towards doctorates.

While attending the Benedictine Leadership Institute in St. Paul, MN, Tim Molak, teacher Andrew Lee, teacher David Rafoni and Al Zappelli reunited with alums Alejandra Sanchez ’16 and Ted Tseng ’11 . Alumna Francesca Cohn ‘18 joined Christine Muir Parker’s Science Friday speaker series to present on research she conducted over the last year in a marine lab on a NOAAsponsored harmful algal bloom monitoring program.

Several alumni worked with Hovey Clark at the Sustainable Future Outdoor Academy (SFOA) this summer including Noah Willis ‘18, Devin Schinski ‘18, Kieran Pandey ‘18, and John Trudelle ‘14.

CLASS NEWS & NOTES

Did you get your Priory sunglasses this year?

Thanks to all the alumni who came from near and far to visit campus this past year! Next time you’re in the area, be sure to stop by Priory, catch up with the Monks and former teachers, explore the new buildings on campus, and see the Alumni Office for your Priory sunglasses!