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Community
Community 2022 PERSON OF THE YEAR: THEAR SUZUKI
Distinguished SMU Alumnae a champion for inclusion, innovation
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Texas Women’s Foundation txwf.org Brent Renaud Foundation brentrenaudjf.org 50/50 Women on Boards 5050wob.com LEFT: Thear Suzuki and her family attended SMU’s Distinguished Alumni Award presentation and dinner Oct. 20. ABOVE: Suzuki with prominent Afghan women’s rights lawyer Latifa Sharifi, whom she helped get resettled to Texas this year after Afghanistan fell to the Taliban,
and her children. HILLSMAN S. JACKSON FOR SMU AND COURTESY THEAR SUZUKI
By Rachel Snyder
rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com
Thear Suzuki, a 2022 SMU Distinguished Alumnae, has been “creating spaces for inclusion and innovation” since her time at the university in the 1990s.
Suzuki’s family survived the Cambodian genocide and lived in refugee camps in Thailand for two years before a Catholic charity in Dallas sponsored their move to the city in 1981.
“This was a country I knew nothing about,” she said. “I didn’t know anybody, (and) I also didn’t speak the language, so it was definitely a scary time, but what I realized later was that myself and my family received a lot of support from kind strangers as well as nonprofit organizations.”
That realization has created in Suzuki an ethic of service, earning our admiration and making her Park Cities People’s choice for the newspaper’s 2022 Person of the Year.
“I realized how much I benefited from the kindness of the community, and I want to be able to give back and pay it forward any way that I can because I know that none of us make it alone,” Suzuki said.
Her third-grade teacher when she arrived in the U.S., John Gallagher, happened to be an SMU alumnus and served as an early mentor.
Gallagher helped teach her English and wrote a letter to the university’s president nominating Suzuki for a scholarship at SMU.
“SMU gave me the opportunity to learn how to be a leader,” Suzuki said.
While at SMU in the ‘90s, she was involved with various organizations, including the East Asian Students Association, the Student Council, and the Inter-Community Experience program.
Arlene Manthey served as student activities director at the time.
Suzuki “knew part of her vision and goals was, ‘I’m going to make a difference because some people have helped me get here,’ and she’s just continued to do that,” Manthey said.
Suzuki continues supporting SMU as a parent and donor on the Lyle School of Engineering Executive Board and the Tate Lecture Series Board.
Through the Inter-Community Experience program, she met fellow student Brent Renaud, who went on to become an award-winning filmmaker.
After Renaud was killed working in Ukraine earlier this year, Suzuki helped with the Brent Renaud Foundation, which aims to provide scholarships for aspiring journalists. She serves on its board.
Suzuki has worked at Ernst & Young (EY) in Dallas since 2012.
Recently, Marc Andersen, a D.C.-based senior partner at EY, and his network of lawyers, military veterans, intelligence professionals, and nonprofits helped smuggle prominent women’s rights lawyer Latifa Sharifi out of Afghanistan after the country fell to the Taliban.
Sharifi remains in contact with EY, the Texas Bar Association, and others in hopes of finding work and continuing to help women in her native Afghanistan.
Suzuki’s been part of the effort to help her resettle in Texas.
“We need more women leaders like Thear,” Sharifi’s brother-in-law Sharif Gias said. “She always makes you feel like she’s there for you.”
Readers’ Choice: Coach Randy Allen Celebrates Another Milestone
By Rachel Snyder
rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com
Few in the Park Cities can match the popularity of Scots head football coach Randy Allen, who, in his 23rd season at Highland Park, surged past 426 wins into second place all-time among Texas high school coaches.
He finished the season with 435 victories and another district championship after the Scots moved up to class 6A.
So, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that readers overwhelmingly voted for Allen as the 2022 Readers’ Choice Person of the Year.
Allen attended the Super Bowl, where he watched his former quarterback Matthew Stafford, leader of an undefeated, state-champion Scots team, guide the Los Angeles Rams to victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in February 2022.
On the September night Allen got his milestone 427th win, the coach also participated in a halftime jersey retirement ceremony for Stafford at Highlander Stadium.
“What strikes me the most about Coach Allen’s career is his level of commitment to imparting values, character, discipline, and teamwork to our Scots,” Highland Park ISD superintendent Tom Trigg said. “His approach to developing character above wins and losses truly models HP’s traditions of excellence, and his influence in our community will leave a legacy for decades to come.”
2022 Newsmakers: Neighbors Who Made Headlines
Margo Goodwin
High land Park’s first female mayor may no longer be on the town council, but she had a busy year. She co-chaired the Junior League of Dallas’ Centennial celebration and served as an honorary chair of Preservation Park Cities’ largest fundraiser, the Distinguished Speaker luncheon.
Donna Pierce
Highland Park ISD’s beloved “Star Lady,” former longtime astronomy teacher and former girls’ golf coach, may be retired, but she’s hardly slowing down. She was the star of the 2022 Park Cities Fourth of July Parade as its grand marshal.
Daniel Drabinski
The financial adviser and longtime Moody Family YMCA board member received MassMutual Foundation’s 2022 Platinum Community Service Award for his volunteer work with the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. The honor comes with a $25,000 grant to the Y, making it the foundation’s highest of three yearly awards.
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There’s never been another person like Pierce Allman. The longtime Park Cities community leader, preservationist, philanthropist, historian, and entrepreneur has best been known as the wind beneath Allie Beth Allman’s wings.
He died on Nov. 25 at the age of 88.
The Rev. Paul Rasmussen offered a stirring and lovely eulogy during the memorial service on Dec. 6 at Highland Park United Methodist Church.
The pastor compared his friend to Leonardo da Vinci (for his intellect), Forrest Gump (for his incredible life experiences), and Dick Clark (for his not aging). The SMU Band played an emotional rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
Allman made his first impact as a Boy Scout. Five percent of Scouts reach the highest rank of Eagle, and not only did he achieve that rank, he was the youngest person in America to do so. It takes 21 merit badges to become
an Eagle. This young man went from impressive to legendary when he continued to earn 104 of the 105 merit badges offered. In the world of Scouting, Allman was the talk of the nation. KIRK DOOLEY He was a paper boy for The Dallas Morning News and earned a DMN scholarship to attend SMU, where he was head cheerleader, class treasurer, and recipient of the “M” Award. I could list Allman’s civic, business and preservation accomplishments, but His voice, like I don’t have the space, and you his legacy, will don’t have the live on forever. rest of the day. Highland Park High School? Distinguished Alumni Award. SMU? Distinguished Alumni Award. HP Methodist? On the same saintly level as George W. Bush and Brad Bradley. Always a fashion plate, he originally sported a flat-top hairstyle on which you could land a small aircraft. He had the original “FM radio” voice – smooth, confident, and disarming. When I told him about my idea to create Park Cities People, his eyes and entrepreneurial spirit lit up. He was encouraging and
Pierce Allman (behind the driver) takes a ride during the Park Cities Fourth of July Parade.
COURTESY KIRK DOOLEY
saw that this idea would be the ideal marketing tool for Park Cities real estate agents.
In the mid-1980s, I teamed up with Allman, Jennie Reeves, and Lindalyn Adams to save the oldest home in Highland Park from demolition. I brought in graphic designer John March. and we created “Save the House.” The campaign succeeded, and the Park Cities Heritage House now resides at Old City Park.
The final funds raised came from a black-tie gala. Since I was allergic to black-tie events, I wished my three co-chairs the best, and I slipped away. They went on to knock it out of the park.
The annual event, La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas, has now raised more than $10 million for Park Cities beneficiaries, including HPISD.
Much has been made of Allman speaking with Lee Harvey Oswald as the assassin was leaving the Texas Schoolbook Depository after President Kennedy was shot on Nov. 22, 1963. But that fateful day was not as important as six weeks prior when Allman married Allie Beth McMurtry, the pride of Graham, Texas. The two made a legendary team as husband and wife, parents, and business partners.
I recommend taking a tour of the Sixth Floor Museum, where you can hear the voice of Pierce Allman walking you through the displays. His voice, like his legacy, will live on forever.
Kirk Dooley, who co-founded “Park Cities People” in 1981, has long served as a leader and voice for his Highland Park and University Park neighbors.
New Year | New Home New Team
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If you’re considering a move in the new year, we’re ready to welcome you home.
