Quad Spring-Summer 2022

RIVERDALE SPRING/SUMMER 2022

Creativity AT RIVERDALE

Art by Allie Wilkinson ’07

PLUS

TRIBUTE TO RUSS AMES RIVERDALE CREATORS ALUMNI PROFILES

In April, we welcomed the return of the Lindy 500, an entertaining event wherein various contraptions on wheels are created and raced by students in both the Middle and Upper Schools.

Contents XLIV | NUMBER 2

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CREATIVITY AT RIVERDALE Music, Arts, and Russ Ames

14 RECAP

Reunion and Homecoming

26 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Yohanca Delgado ’02 ARTICLES 02 03 20 29 30 31 32 44

BOARD LISTS LETTER FROM THE AAEC CREATORS NEW BOARD MEMBER STUDENT DIARY CROSSWORD CLASS NOTES IN MEMORIAM

Art by Allie Wilkinson ’07

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2021-2022 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Gwen Adolph Terri Austin, Secretary Bruce Beal Ellen Nachtigall Biben ’83 David Blitzer, Treasurer Edem Dzubey ’07 Ebby Elahi Chloe Epstein Anitra Hadley Sandra Kim Hoffen ’83, Vice Chair Mark Hostetter ’77 Chris James ’93 Kass Lazerow Marc Lipschultz Tiffany Austin Liston ’94, AAEC President Susan Moldow ’63 Anand More John Neuwirth, Vice Chair Dominic Randolph, Head of School David Rhodes Dan Rosen ’92, Chair Jackie Rosen, PA President Deborah Sonnenberg Philip (Tod) Waterman III ’84 Roy Weathers Vanessa Wittman Kazumi Yanai TRUSTEES EMERITI Michele Cohen Tom Israel Brad Karp Jane Lisman Katz ’65 Peter Lehrer Linda Lewis Lindenbaum ’54 Bill Mow ’55 David Roberts ’80 Harvey Schulweis Bob Staub ’52 Tom Strauss Jeff Vinik ’77 Tim Zagat ’57 Ada Zambetti Richard Zinman

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2021-2022 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Tiffany Austin Liston ’94, President Joe Goldschmid ’04, Vice President Sam Acunto ’01 George Anagnos ’76 Harrie Bakst ’03 Liz Strauss Clyman ’97 Stefanie Firtell Donath ’91 Edem Dzubey ’07 Lana Jacobs Edelman ’00 Tara Pfeifer Englander ’93 Danielle Englebardt ’94 Betsy Fields ’86 Paul Goldschmid ’96 Susan Golkin ’85 Maggie Heller Greebel ’99 Michelle Kirschtein Jacobs ’81 Tony Melchior ’73 Lara Englebardt Metz ’96 Phil Michael ’00 Shary Moalemzadeh ’89 Ally Peltz Pennock ’10 Omari Ramirez ’05 Amelia Levin Relles ’87 Michael Roberts ’08 Carolyn Braun Rosen ’92 Dan Rosen ’92 Peter Rosenblatt ’50 Jessica Elghanayan Shell ’95 Roger Sherman ’74 Andrine Wilson ’02 Jenna Langel Witten ’06 Ahmed Yearwood ’91 Jessica Endelson Zelnik ’98

LETTER FROM THE AAEC

Dear Fellow Alumni, We are both proud to be well into our second full year as president and vice president of the Alumni Association Executive Committee (AAEC). We are thrilled to represent the alumni community and to work in partnership with Riverdale’s alumni office to identify and provide content and opportunities that we hope stimulate conversation and thinking, engage our alumni with the school, and connect us all with one another.

This year, as part of the FalConnect network, we launched a brand-new career mentoring program for alumni looking to connect with one another and share or receive advice, feedback, or insight as they pursue careers in a variety of fields. So far, we have had over 70 alumni participate, and we look forward to expanding this during the coming school year. We have also continued our BIPOC and AWARE affinity spaces for interested alumni who are joined by similar aspects of their

identity to gather together and share their experiences, and we hope there will be new interest for additional affinity spaces as we grow. In addition, Riverdale offered a four-part coaching workshop this winter for alumni who are organizational leaders, educators, or parents interested in expanding their communication toolkit. We also partnered with the New Roads School on their Critical Conversations programming, which featured CNN Political Commentator Van Jones in January and contemporary artist Mark Bradford in March. Lastly, in April, we hosted our eleventh annual spring Career Panel, which offered an engaging snapshot of the fashion industry. If you haven’t already, we hope you will join us at our next alumni event, whether in person or virtually.

In the meantime, we hope you will please feel free to contact us with questions or ideas.

We look forward to hearing from you.

With warmest regards,

Tiffany Austin Liston ’94 PRESIDENT, AAEC

Joe Goldschmid ’04 VICE PRESIDENT, AAEC

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THE CLIFFORD ROSS FELLOWSHIP In 2017, noted multimedia artist and Riverdale alumnus CLIFFORD ROSS ’70 established a unique opportunity for graduating seniors to nurture their creativity and undertake an arts-based excursion resulting in a finished project. Crediting his own early creative experiences for contributing to the development of his artistic career, Clifford conceived of The Clifford Ross Fellowship as a means to deepen a young person’s burgeoning artistic vision, providing a unique opportunity that would offer exposure to new and meaningful experiences and inspiration, during the summer between Riverdale and college.

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“Travel experiences from my early teens through my early twenties were foundational to my life – and work. They were fuel for a lifetime of curiosity and further exploration,” explains Clifford.

“Being fortunate to have had such opportunities myself, it was a simple idea to extend it to others. To see nature in startling new climates, to be swallowed up in the art and architecture of other cultures, to dance to rhythms not previously heard...Well, I’m still dancing.”

Student projects to date have drawn on a range of influences and personal interests.

The inaugural recipient, JULIA COBB ’17, combined her creative pursuits with a commitment to ecological improvement and sustainability. After watching a documentary on climate change in her Integrated Liberal Studies course, Julia was inspired to create an animated film that would help educate people of a variety of ages and backgrounds. In her application for the Fellowship, Julia described storytelling through art as one of the most powerful tools in her arsenal and expressed an eagerness to explore animation further,

having studied cell animation and claymation at Cooper Union during the summer of 2016. Most important, however, was her enthusiasm about the opportunity to travel to a place that had been visibly affected by climate change, as she anticipated being moved to create something especially impactful by her firsthand experience.

For the first two weeks of July 2017, Julia traveled to the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) at The Island School in the Bahamas, where she expanded her knowledge base and found inspiration in the world around her. “Partaking in a creative fellowship at Cape Eleuthera Institute was a rare opportunity for me to deepen my understanding of the environment, specifically of the ecosystem of the Bahamas. I was able to use the location of CEI to my educational advantage,” observed Julia. Drawing on the knowledge she gained, Julia developed a five-minute animated short highlighting the threats facing coral reefs and the fish that live within them.

The following year, ZOE STORZ ’18 traveled to Zhengzhou, Bali, Chiang Mai, and Beijing to observe, photograph, and research prominent temples in each city. After taking an art history elective at Riverdale during her senior year, Zoe found that both the curriculum and accompanying textbook did not adequately cover Asian art, and Southeast Asian art in particular. Her goal was to develop a tool to educate future Riverdale art history students and to help broaden their understanding of the subject on a global scale, by providing written and photographic illustrations of important spaces, which she then compiled and shared through an easily accessible website.

Zoe noted, “As an artist, I believe it is important to have multiple sources of inspiration, and this trip certainly stimulated my own creative process.

From firsthand experience, I have concluded that the combination of art and travel begets richer artistic expression, and learning about the intentions and beliefs of artists from around the world

can give art history students a better understanding of the correlation between art and culture.”

In summer 2019, JARED JIANG ’19 explored the course of the Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia, and photographically documented the daily lives of those who depend on this fundamental waterway for food, transportation, and employment.

Jared’s artistic aspiration extended to identifying, highlighting, and sharing with others the diversity that exists within these provinces that are home to people of different ethnicities, religions, and customs. His photography project was published in July 2020 on South China Morning Post’s Goldthread. The project was especially resonant for the region at the time given the intense flooding that was occurring in areas along the Yangtze River.

Reflecting on his experience, Jared shared, “Not only do I feel that the artistic work I created is a success, but also the experience of going on the journey has QUAD

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ABOVE: Clifford Ross receiving Alumni Achievement Award in 2015 from Head of School Dominic A.A. Randolph

far surpassed my hopes. I feel that I have truly been able to witness the vast spectrum of daily life, from the massive wealth of China’s futuristic cities to the more humble lives of the rural villagers. My experience has been made even more special as I have been able to connect with my family in China and meet such interesting people along the way.”

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While the pandemic created obstacles for subsequent recipients to undertake in-person travel experiences, their artistic exploration was encouraged in the hope that they might be fully realized at a later date. This year’s recipient, SAM MCINTOSH ’22, will have the opportunity to travel across the United States by car as he produces a series of photographs reflecting the physical form of the country, paying close attention to the country’s architecture and topography. He explains, “This will not be a social documentary project, but rather something of a visual survey of the country.”

Sam is grateful for the opportunity to “develop [his] artistic vision and aesthetic values, in an extended, intensive time period,” sharing, “Although I have previously spent entire days doing little else besides taking photographs, I have never repeated this for weeks on end; this project will allow me the opportunity to learn tremendously. Photography aside, this project will also demand and [provide] more independence and responsibility than I’ve ever had.”

BUILDING A LEGACY

The Erica Tishman ’77 Introduction to Architecture Course at Riverdale.

More than an illustrious architect who led a thriving career that spanned over 30 years, the late ERICA LINDENBAUM TISHMAN ’77; P’05,’07,’11

embodied Riverdale’s core values and mission, taking pride in her service to others and her ability to influence positive change.

Erica served as board chair for The Educational Alliance, trustee of Central Synagogue in Manhattan, and a longtime Riverdale trustee who was a vital member of the board and chair of the facilities committee. Erica assisted in the creation and implementation of two campus master plans, leading to completion of the Early Learning Building (formerly K-3 Building) in 1993 and the Upper Learning Building in 2016, both on the River Campus, as well as the Aquatic Center on the Hill Campus in 2017.

Erica continuously applied a mixture of professional passion for architectural design, construction, and project management with a devotion to serving others – and it was in that

cross-section that her family found a way to keep her memory alive while helping today’s students thrive. Her sister, LAURIE LINDENBAUM ’81; P’15,’19,’20, notes, ​​“Erica was devoted to Riverdale. She would have loved students to have the opportunity to learn about the field of architecture, which she found so gratifying, and for them to develop an appreciation for how physical spaces make a major impact on the quality of people’s lives.”

Established this year with support from family and friends, the Erica Tishman ’77 Introduction to Architecture course utilizes the construction and analysis of physical models to spark vital conversations about spatial thinking, architecture, and society at large. Through the exploration of relationships such as solid/void, light/ shadow, and accessibility/inaccessibility, along with the study of the elements of architecture including wall, roof, and opening, students begin to question the inherent meaning of structural decisions and expand their understanding of the designed world around them. Students build models using cardboard, plaster, and basswood sticks to examine various spatial qualities and construction methods while learning that architecture is as much about the building process and the built form as it is about systems of power and the lives that exist within them. “I think students see these big beautiful structures and don’t always connect those same architectural concepts to smaller things, like a studio,” says co-teacher and Visual Arts Chair Jason Ruff about introducing students to the fundamentals that ultimately contribute to how effectively a space, or structure, can be utilized. “Or, for example, considering how a sidewalk is designed, how the curbs need to be wheelchair accessible or how many steps it would take for someone with a walker to safely use a crosswalk. This

course challenges us to think outside of our own bubbles.” Independent project presentations offer the class additional opportunities to engage in critical dialogue that analyzes the intangible and tangible effects of architecture on individuals as they get a firsthand look at a diverse set of projects within the field.

This uniquely hybrid course is co-taught

by Jason from the Hill Campus and by Chae Yeon Park – a full-time architectural designer who holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago and an MArch from Cornell University – who instructs from her office at Leroy Street Studio, a firm founded and led by MARC TURKEL ’81. The class’s dynamic model gives students a firsthand view of the dayto-day work of an architect as well as the ability to receive valuable, professional feedback on their ideas in conjunction with hands-on support to make their visions come to fruition. “I take care of the things that happen in our physical class space while Chae teaches theory, introduces the projects, meets one-on-one with students virtually to review their processes, and pushes them forward,” says Jason about their collaborative partnership, “and the virtual component gives us the benefit of seeing everything in action – Chae’s architectural studio downtown, the material samples, where members of the firm work, and how everything comes together.”

The first of its kind, this course has created an outlet for students seeking to learn about architecture and urban planning, not to mention how these subjects can influence our daily life. “I have always been interested in architecture, so when I saw that this was an option, I jumped on the opportunity, and I’m so glad I did!” says ISIS RODRIGUEZ ’23. Recently, students were tasked with using a small box with QUAD

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ABOVE: (Left) Steven Tishman, Erica Lindenbaum Tishman, Laurie Lindenbaum, and Bob Horne; (Center) Project by Awa Diop ’22; and (Right) Dani Palin ’22 and Awa Diop ’22

a slight opening for a camera lens to imagine, devise, and capture how the space within it can be utilized – whether for a museum, kitchen, or bedroom – and used small figurines to further implement the more advanced concepts such as plaster form, airflow, and light exposure. In reflecting on the impact of the course, Isis continues, “Architecture has been an extremely gratifying experience that is filled with hard and rewarding work. In the class, we learn a lot about the precision and creative artistry required for this field from Ms. Park. Even over Zoom, Ms. Park is able to provide amazing insight into the practical applications of architecture.

From her, I have learned a lot about closely examining and reimagining the ways in which I interact with the space around me. Also, I have learned a lot about construction techniques from both Ms. Park and Mr. Ruff. They have both helped me learn how to use basic construction materials...to build intricate models. I am so glad this class is going to continue and so many more people are going to be exposed to the beautiful and extensive field of architecture!”

While primarily a hands-on course, students also have an opportunity to research and present on architects 8

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and buildings of their choosing, analyzing them through varying lenses to introduce topics such as Exploring Race and Privilege in Architecture.

Simultaneously, examples of work by architects including Betye Saar, James Casebere, Joseph Cornell, Gego, Rachel Whiteread, and Ruth Asawa are brought to the forefront. About the focus of study and these creators, Chae says, “It is extremely important to us that we present work by those who might find themselves outside of the center.

We talk openly about the problem of a western-centric (architectural) pedagogy, and each student is encouraged to grapple with the ways architecture can empower and exclude.

Each student is asked to articulate both the positive and negative in our ideas and our precedents…..we want to actively acknowledge the connection between aesthetics and power/politics.”

By centering the human experience and encouraging the creation and implementation of plans that incorporate equitable solutions, this course emphasizes our responsibility to foster an environment that serves varying needs, communities, and experiences in addition to the power we hold in contributing thoughtfully to those decisions.

As intended, this course offers a platform for students to develop their futures as global citizens with a hand in creating structures that have the capacity to make a meaningful impact.

Its introduction into the Riverdale curriculum in the 2021-22 school year has been remarkably received and presents students and faculty with the flexibility to build, adjust, and fortify aspects of the class that can contribute to its overall success. “The thing that excites me [most] about this class is that, since this is its first year, the students have a much bigger role to play in the classroom,” says Kimi Krastev ’23.

“Our feedback and ideas have the ability to change the structure of the class, and this opens up a lot of opportunities for growth. It makes the class more exciting and thought-inspiring, and it encourages higher engagement levels.” Growing its curriculum dovetails with aspirations of taking students beyond Riverdale’s campuses to not only visit architectural studios and structures they’ve studied, but to inhabit spaces in real time with a new perspective. In considering this newly paved path of learning, there is no better way to memorialize a change agent like Erica than by sharing in her passion for architecture, dedication to service, and commitment to building a better future.

MUSIC AT RIVERDALE Since its founding, Riverdale has prided itself on introducing music into the lives of students. Not only were concerts held at the school, but the main school building contained three sound-proof rooms for musical practice. The interest in musical education increased as Riverdale expanded, and in 1923, the Board officially recognized the establishment of the Riverdale Music School.

Under the leadership of music teacher Richard McClanahan, students could focus and refine their musical pursuits.

Music was a near-constant presence in students’ lives through performances by distinguished musicians, student showcases, and afterschool activities. The Music School enhanced an appreciation of music that Riverdale sought to cultivate from its earliest days.

After its closure in 1981, as the school went through numerous changes, music

continued to play a significant role in the education that was offered. For more than a century, music has been woven into the fabric of the Riverdale experience even after the dedicated school closed. Students across generations share how their musical curiosity persisted, even while pursuing other passions, because of the way music permeated their time at Riverdale.

Rooted in the belief that an enriching academic experience encompasses an intentional array of dynamic opportunities, the annual Mark Sutton-Smith ’73 Assembly Concert just celebrated its tenth year of bringing phenomenal performances to the Hill Campus and, with it, exposure to a variety of artists and sounds. The concert series – established in 2013 by Dr. Donald King II with the support of his children, Katherine, David, and Donald, in honor of family friend, MARK SUTTON-SMITH ’73 – is meant to tangibly represent the power of incorporating music into the daily lives of young people, bringing to the forefront notable musicians, many of whom studied at Juilliard. It was musiccentered moments such as these, where an ordinary day of classes was marked with masterful melodies, that inspired Mark to extend beyond his work in technology for the National Basketball

Association (NBA) to explore musical composition. Mark was a prolific composer of multiple genres throughout his life, possessing what was described as a “knack for synthesizing ideas from different spheres of influence.” He composed critically acclaimed musicals, such as Stand by the River, The Usual, and Girl Detective; wrote the music for production 1812; and worked to create several rock and post-rock instrumental albums, including Make Your Move and Revolution Point; and forged a soundtrack for the online version of the classic board game Cosmic Encounter. To say music played a role in Mark’s life feels like an understatement and to name the school’s concert assemblies as the linchpin to something so greatly ingrained in his life speaks volumes about the importance of music to the Riverdale experience.

Following the inaugural concert featuring Riverdale faculty member Jacob Rhodebeck, Mark said, “I can honestly say that concerts like this that were presented when I was a Riverdale student changed my life. The playing was absolutely transporting and having them presented within the context of the school day somehow fused it with the rest of the curriculum. It became part of my life from then on.” For those reasons, the Mark Sutton-Smith ’73 Assembly Concert is both a meaningful tribute to Mark’s life and now a highly anticipated tradition. It has created a platform for the eclectic stylings of clarinet-violin-piano ensemble Zodiac Trio, twice Grammy-nominated wind quintet Imani Winds, and most recently, Grammy-nominated Aizuri Quartet – all QUAD

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known for their engaging, imaginative, and thought-provoking repertoires.

Following each concert, Mark’s close family and friends gather to delve deeper into the latest musical marval and reminiscence about the timeless music aficionado who embodied the many ways music binds our world.

One-of-a-kind musical experiences possess the potential to instill a special appreciation for music, making its presence an important part of our lives, particularly in times of challenge and change. In late 2020, NPR’s From the Top, America’s largest national platform for celebrating the talents of young classically trained musicians through broadcast and digital content, featured the motivational story of Riverdale graduate and Yale University student violist JACOB SHIN ’21 and how classical music is at the root of what is now known as his great “comeback story.” Jacob began by recounting the birth of his dedication to mastering the viola and his full immersion into

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playing before gaining admittance to the Manhattan School of Music Precollege.

Following years of rigorous practice and performance, the intensive independent school application process, paired with his eventual admission to Riverdale, caused a shift in Jacob’s priorities, leading him to lay down his bow and take his talents in an entirely different direction – varsity football. Jacob took to this new path with the same fervor that once led him to the strings and, while his launch into the game was successful, a concussion suffered at the outset of his junior year, followed by a second shortly thereafter, drastically impaired his ability to play and much more.

“At this point, my brain wasn’t working normally,” said Jacob when describing the internal injuries that contributed to his decision to repeat senior year. ” I couldn’t speak a full sentence and I had trouble communicating my thoughts and my feelings.” With recovery at the forefront and football fading into the background, Jacob considered rededicating himself to music, this time approaching the viola with a refined interest and profound purpose.

After again passing the pre-screening round for entrance into the Manhattan School of Music, Jacob was granted an opportunity to participate in a trial lesson with Patinka Kopec, who had previously taught him, and the real possibility of picking up where he left off years before. “One of the reasons I chose to teach Jacob again is that he has a beautiful sound,” reminisced Kopec when considering the reintroduction. While at Riverdale, Jacob supplemented his training by participating in the school’s orchestra and enrolling in multiple semesters of

music production and chamber music.

Jacob now describes music as therapeutic and something that “gets his brain working again” by presenting him with new challenges, goals, and feats, two of which included being chosen as recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award in 2021 and the Patinka Kopec Precollege Violin Scholarship. Before diving into “Sonata in F minor, Op. 120 mvmt 1” by Johannes Brahms, a piece that represents a renewed faith in his process and an appreciation for his abilities, Jacob reflects on his journey thus far and says, “Music definitely saved me.” At Yale, Jacob has continued playing the viola and studying music with the Yale Symphony Orchestra, Contemporary Music Ensemble, and through the LEAP Music Education Initiative, as well as taking part in private music lessons and music theory courses. Music grounded Jacob at a difficult time in his life while giving him the tools to explore a potential that spans beyond the stage as he inspires and empowers others, too.

Whether heard through the winding halls of Lindenbaum, reverberating off the walls of the gym, or resonating from studio spaces designed for the intricacies of musical collaboration, music exists at the core of the Riverdale experience, reaching each student in a unique way. Mark was moved by the spirited performances of his day while his own memorial namesake series went on to amplify the interests of Jacob, another budding musician, who recalls watching ETHAN COBB ’17 perform Schumann’s Adagio and Allegro in the eighth annual Mark Sutton-Smith ’73 Assembly Concert in early 2020.

The integration of music at Riverdale, alongside the presence of academics and sports, shows students that their seemingly conflicting interests can develop in harmony.

A TRIBUTE TO RUSS AMES Beloved faculty member Russell (Russ) Ames passed away on September 5, 2021. He was 91 years old. Russ attended Harvard University, where he majored in music composition and theory. Russ started his career at Riverdale in 1951 and quickly became involved with the musical theater program. He worked with Joyce Gardner of the Neighborhood School on a production of Ruddigore with sixth-grade girls and seventh-grade boys. Until this show, performers were solely Lower School students. After two years, he left Riverdale to serve in the U.S. Navy but returned in the fall of 1957. In 1967, he married Margaret Moore Ames and remained at Riverdale until 1977.

Russ was a highly talented pianist. He wrote songs and directed productions for the Hasty Pudding Club at Harvard. At Riverdale, he accompanied and directed over a dozen Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, as well as several Broadway musicals whose all-male casts created some entertaining moments. Perhaps his greatest pleasure derived from collaborating with individual singers in performances ranging from Sondheim to Mozart and Puccini to Brahms.

A few months ago, we asked members of our alumni community to share their fond memories of Russ.

We received an overwhelming response with many remembering him as a respected and admired musician, drama teacher, administrator, mentor, and friend. Here is a selection of the touching responses that were received.

Read all of the responses on the alumni portal.

MIKE O’NEIL ’60

I first met Russ when I was age eleven at Camp Mohican, the Rye YMCA boys camp located on the eastern shore of New York’s Lake George. He was the assistant director, a summer post he continued to hold through the years, but for his stint in the Navy. Always looking for new blood for Riverdale, he convinced my parents to let me attend Riverdale, arranging for a football scholarship. Camp Mohican – located in the heart of the Adirondacks – allowed Russ to pursue his passion for mountain climbing.

Besides myself, he [encouraged] several other Riverdale students to Camp Mohican to be counselors: JIM “THE COUNT” MCLELLAN ’53, TOM “THE WART” HERZOG ’53, DAVE LAHM ’58, PAUL JABLOW ’58, GEORGE FURST ’61, and ED GERSHEY ’60, to name a few. It was a marvelous time.

Russ played piano each morning infusing the campers with a certain level of culture, taking requests from the camp songbook – a compendium of songs ranging from Broadway hits to Tom Lehrer’s grizzly masterpieces. I’ve no doubt that Russ QUAD 11

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ABOVE: 1973 Quad Photo - Russ Ames guiding the case through one of the eighteen Gilbert and Sullivan productions he has directed.

put the songbook together. It was entertaining and eclectic – as was Russ.

I am terribly sad to learn of his death. In all respects he was a mainstay in my early life, and the world is a lesser place without him.

DAVID SCHEINBERG ’76

For those generations of Riverdalians fortunate enough to know Mr. Ames as not only an inspiring director of student musicals but also a savvy and trusted college admissions guidance counselor, his death is very sad news.

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He was a wonderful, warm, wise, and not least, witty man.

MARK HOSTETTER ‘77

Even in the Lower School, Russ Ames was a figure larger than life, giving us courage on the stage to boldly sing our loudest and to unashamedly become our characters.

And we were only 10 or 11, maybe 12, years old in those fourth- and fifth- and sixthgrade performances of H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Mikado.

It was Russ Ames, together with Ernest McAneny ’25, who taught us to

over-pronounce all those phrase-ending consonants in our Lower School theme song, “Let’s Sing to the Lower School,” as well as joyously belt out the Riverdale anthem, “It Is the Spirit that Quickeneth.”

And then as seniors, larger-than-life Russ Ames became even larger as our lives became enmeshed with [him]once again, as he shepherded us successfully through the anxiety of the college process as Riverdale’s head of college admissions.

In fact, our entire senior class – boys and girls alike – in the spring of our graduation year, signed a petition pleading

for Russ Ames to direct the class in one final all-male production of Guys and Dolls. Our Class of ’77 may have been the last class to remember what it was like to be in separate boys’ and girls’ schools, since Riverdale went co-ed in our 7th grade, and we certainly remembered the Adelaide and Nathan, Sister Sarah and Sky, as portrayed by the boys’ school seniors of so many years before. So we all pitched in, as actors and sound tech, wardrobe and backstage, orchestra and lighting, and gave Russ Ames, and ourselves, a farewell to remember.

As I said, for our class, Russ Ames was, and will always be, Riverdale.

KEITH KRAKAUR ’77

As one of the 5th- and 6th-grade beneficiaries of Mr. Ames’s all-boys Gilbert and Sullivan productions, his

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 1974 Yearbook Dedication; Richard Trefflich ’61 (L) and Russ Ames (R); 1966 Yearbook - Director Damn Yankees; Russ Ames

passing saddens me. He gave me the gift of fond memories learning about pitch, diction, stage presence, and group effort that lives with me a half-century later. I remain grateful for the life lessons he may not have realized he was teaching me, but teach them he did. Thank you, Mr. Ames.

DIANE WACHTELL ’79

I have incredibly fond memories of rehearsals for Iolanthe when I was a 6thgrade fairy, tripping hither and thither around 1973. I remember Mr. Ames

offering a nickel to the first person who could tell him what “hoi polloi” meant.

Because of Russell and his infectious enthusiasm for G&S, I went on to play the cello in the pit orchestra of the Harvard Gilbert and Sullivan Society throughout my college years, and my daughter followed in my footsteps on the violin. What a lovely legacy for an extraordinary man.

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Reunion and Homecoming ’21 The morning activities started with a “wake-up” yoga session hosted by instructor (and former RCS faculty member) Stephanie Simpson and a fun-filled magic show with magician Andy Peters. Another morning highlight included a glimpse of Riverdale’s renowned Integrated Liberal Studies (ILS) Class with Upper School English teacher and ILS Chair Ron Murison, during which he discussed Primo Levi’s Survival in Auschwitz.

In the session, he endeavored to replicate the student experience of beginning ILS and encountering Levi’s great work for the first time.

The events continued with the State of School Update with Head of School Dominic A.A. Randolph, Assistant Head of School for Operations Kelley Nicholson-Flynn, and Assistant Head of School for Student Life and Head of Middle School Milton Sipp. The trio shared their appreciation for the Riverdale community’s support during the pandemic; an update on the recent return to school and health status of our community; a review of academic and co-curricular work across the three school divisions, including experiential and outdoor educational programs; and both college and Riverdale admission and enrollment updates. To watch 14 QUAD

the full presentation, click here.

Also on the day’s schedule was an alumni panel discussion on the theater industry. The conversation was co-moderated by Middle and Upper School Director of Theater, Dance, and Film Laura Desmond and Lower School Drama Teacher Taifa Harris. Panelists included DREW COHEN ’86, P’25, president and CEO of Music Theatre International (MTI); actor and playwright ALEXA JUANITA JORDAN ’13; SADE LYTHCOTT ’95, chief executive officer of the historic National Black Theatre (NBT); and prominent Broadway producer JEFFREY RICHARDS ’65.

Questions for the panel included how the pandemic has affected the industry, how licensing agreements are handled, their thoughts on showcasing more stories about race and identity, and ways to further improve representation within the industry. Click here to view the panel discussion.

The day concluded with many Reunion classes gathering on Zoom to reminisce, reconnect, laugh, and share stories with one another. It was a fun and sentimental day – and we look forward to the likelihood of an in-person Reunion celebration in October!

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Theater Panelists Jeffrey Richards, Sade Lythcott, Alexa Jordan, and Drew Cohen FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Alumni Awardees Priscilla Morales, Cipora Herman, Class of 1971 (Boys), and Class of 1971 (Girls)

While many of us have experienced Zoom fatigue this year, it did not dissuade our loyal RCS alumni from attending their Reunion festivities on Saturday, October 16, 2021. Unfortunately, restrictions prevented Riverdale from having on-campus events for the second year in a row, but alumni, students, faculty, and friends tuned in for the many virtual homecoming and reunion events that took place throughout the day.

Alumni Award Presentations Once again, this year’s State of School Update concluded with the highly anticipated annual Alumni Award presentation. Each year, these awards are presented to dedicated alumni whose impact is felt at Riverdale and beyond.

First, the Ernest McAneny ’25 Alumni Spirit Award, which is given in recognition and appreciation of consistent, broad, and substantial service to Riverdale, was presented to PRISCILLA MORALES ’96. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of Riverdale’s Alumni Spirit Award than Priscilla,” remarked Assistant Head of School for Operations Kelley NicholsonFlynn upon presenting the award.

Priscilla has formally served in many capacities at Riverdale: as a student, an alumna, a history teacher, a student advisor, the Director of Diversity, the Director of Financial Aid & Outreach, and Dean to the Class of 2011. She was also a founding member of HOLA, the school’s Latinx student affinity group.

Priscilla’s eventual role at Riverdale as the first all-school Director of Diversity was, in her words, “in service to the school and to all

community members, especially those who felt unseen.” To read more about Priscilla, including her full bio, see page 17 for an interview with her sister and fellow alumna, DARCY-TELL MORALES ’00.

The second award, Riverdale’s Alumni Achievement Award, is conferred on a distinguished Riverdale alum who has demonstrated exemplary service and outstanding personal achievement within their chosen field or endeavors. Assistant Head of School for Student Life and Head of Middle School Milton Sipp recognized CIPORA STERNLICHT HERMAN ’91 with this award. Cipora is currently the chief financial officer for LA28, the organizing committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

She is responsible for leading the organization to deliver the Games within budget while enforcing an impact lens on spending to optimize the community benefits and minimize the Games’ environmental footprint.

Before her time at LA28, Cipora was CFO for the San Francisco 49ers, where she led the team responsible for securing the long-term QUAD 15

RECAP: AWARDS CEREMONY

financing for Levi’s® Stadium, the 49ers’ state-of-the-art home venue. The San Francisco Chronicle profiled Cipora, crediting her with having “blazed an uncommon trail” by becoming the first woman to serve in the position in franchise history.

Her ability to communicate complex topics across disparate audiences has served her well throughout her career. She served previously as the Vice President of Finance and Treasurer at Facebook, where she was instrumental in growing and scaling the organization and preparing the company for its initial public offering. Prior to Facebook, she served as Vice President of Finance and Treasurer for Yahoo! and held finance and banking positions at Siebel Systems, Hewlett-Packard Co., Agilent Technologies, and Goldman Sachs.

Currently, Cipora sits on the Board of Directors and serves as the Audit Chairperson for two public companies and is an advisor to early-stage technology startups. After Riverdale, she received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, where she subsequently received a master’s degree in developmental economics and an MBA. The final award, presented by Head of School Dominic A.A. Randolph, was the Reunion Class Award, which recognizes a class that has united to display unsurpassed dedication and enthusiasm.

This year, the Class of 1971 was recognized for their strong and meaningful connection to one another and to Riverdale.

As Class Correspondent, JERRY FALL ’71, reflected,

“In thinking back to [our class’s] time at Riverdale, the recurring themes in my mind are those of change and transition. Globally, the nation was focused on the war in Vietnam, civil unrest, and space exploration among other things. Protests and student strikes were flaring up throughout the country. Revolution was the zeitgeist influencing politics, war, civil rights, music, drugs, and education. Not surprisingly, the Riverdale campus itself was a microcosm of these developments. And much changed during our four years on the Riverdale campus: The academic curriculum was dramatically loosened, younger teachers gradually replaced faculty icons, the school closed in protest of U.S. involvement in Cambodia, traditions like daily chapel and restricting the main entrance to upper classmen began to fade, ties and jackets were replaced by sweaters and jeans, boys and girls schools began the process of merging, the dormitory began to outlive its usefulness and eventually stopped housing boarders, and yet somehow we survived and the school thrived.”

Many members of the class expressed similar thoughts.

The early 1970s represent a period of great transition, but it was a transition that they experienced together and that, in many ways, brought them closer. Congratulations to Priscilla, Cipora, and the Class of 1971 for leaving an indelible mark on Riverdale and beyond.

2022

OCTOBER 22ND REUNION AND HOMECOMING CELEBRATION

Save the date!

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RECAP: Q & A

Q&A

Darcy-Tell Morales ’00 and Priscilla Morales ’96

“Riverdale came into our lives in 1990, when Priscilla was admitted as a seventh grader, after two years of hard work with Prep for Prep.

Darcy-Tell followed two years later, entering the Lower School as a fifth grader. When we think back on those years, we are not entirely sure that our parents realized the profound impact Riverdale would have on their daughters, but they trusted that the experience would be worthwhile. And it has certainly changed the trajectory of our lives!”

DARCY-TELL MORALES ’00 (she/her) born and raised in the Bronx, has always had a passion for the arts and education. After earning a bachelor’s degree in communications design from Pratt Institute, she worked for several college access programs, including Prep for Prep and the Harlem Educational Activities Fund for nine years.

Her work focused on youth development, leadership, and academic enrichment for middle and high school youth. After obtaining a master’s degree in learning and teaching from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, she went on to work at the NYC Department of Education and then Newark Public Schools, where she focused on parent engagement initiatives, before returning to non-profit work as the senior director for girls initiatives at the YWCA of the City of New York. She has experience starting and developing educational, leadership, and development programming for youth. Her current role as the managing educator for family and teen programs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art brings together her passion for the arts and working with young people. At The Met, her team works on all out-of-school programming for young people and their families.

She likes to think about how content and technique can help youth develop their own artistic voice while developing fun and engaging out-of-school programs that get young people interested in The Met’s collection. In her free time, Darcy-Tell is a maker who enjoys spending time with her husband and pit bull, and is deeply committed to social justice.

ABOVE: Darcy-Tell (L) and Priscilla (R)

After graduating from Riverdale, PRISCILLA MORALES ’96 went on to attend Yale University, where she earned her BA in history. After nine years back at Riverdale, Priscilla accepted a position at Greenwich Academy in Greenwich, CT as the associate director of admission and dean of the 9th grade.

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RECAP: Q & A

Priscilla is currently the associate head of school at The Park School of Baltimore, a progressive PreK-12 independent school in Maryland. Priscilla also holds an MA from Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center at Teachers College. She lives in Baltimore with her husband, Joe Pabón, and two children.

Priscilla and Darcy, give us an overview of your time at Riverdale and how it may have differed from one another?

PM: As the first one to begin at Riverdale, I felt that a lot of

my time was spent trying to understand the culture of the place, so that I could turn around and translate it for others, especially Darcy. I am an experiential learner by nature, so I threw myself into every possible academic and co-curricular endeavor. And because of the tremendous amount of support I received from all of the adults, nothing felt too off or out of reach for me. My six years on the Hill was spent soaking in the diversity of perspectives, identities, and experiences that surrounded me.

DTM: It’s always harder being the little sibling who’s following in the footsteps of a brilliant older sibling! I was lucky that Priscilla advocated for me throughout our shared time together and then after she graduated. We were very different students; I thrived in my art classes, took minimal AP courses, and overall didn’t apply myself in the same ways Priscilla did.

But her guidance and experience helped shape mine, and I am really grateful that we both attended Riverdale when we did.

What faculty members or courses made the biggest impact on you?

PM: Then Head of Upper School John Gulla was and remains a strong mentor in my life. His answer to every question or request of mine was always a booming “YES!,” which always made me feel seen and heard. The most challenging and fulfilling course [I took] was entitled Race, Class, and Ethnicity in New York City. It was a co-taught, interdisciplinary course focused on waves of migration to NYC and I simply loved it. Joel Doerfler and Larry Colan pushed me to understand critical concepts of identity and have most impacted my own DEIJB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging) work.

DTM: I have to give it up to the art department at Riverdale because without Ms. Stark, Ms. McKenzie, and Satish [Joshi], I would have never loved art as much as I do or had a portfolio prepared to apply to Pratt. I took my first art history class at Riverdale and it’s another reason I fell in love with art.

Additionally, I loved playing field hockey and track and field, and I think often about my experiences with Coach P, Coach Sommers, Ms. Hoskin, Ms. Matthews, and Mr. McMahon.

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And finally, I was fortunate to know Charissa and ABE FERNANDEZ ’92 and really admire their career trajectories post-Riverdale.

Priscilla and Darcy, you both work as educators.

What drew you to a career in education?

PM: My childhood dream was to work in journalism or as a lawyer but I always felt a pull to support and guide young people. For many reasons, educators have a beautiful and challenging job, the most important being that we are tasked with preparing the next generation for every possible adult journey. Every single adventure. Maybe it is because I am an older sibling but I love helping a younger person see themselves in any number of those adventures.

...because of the of support I received fr nothing felt too off or o

DTM: Riverdale! I saw the amount of access and resources we had at Riverdale and I have spent the majority of my career working to connect young people with the same or similar opportunities. Being in the out-of-school time space allows for a lot more creativity when it comes to learning and I have been inspired by the organizations and young people I’ve worked with. I feel fortunate to spend my career working with a wide range of young people from a variety of backgrounds, and I feel fortunate to reflect on my experiences at Riverdale as a guide for what is possible in the lives of young people.

Priscilla, what led you to initiate the first Latinx student affinity group, as well as years later, to become the first all-school director of diversity?

PM: HOLA was really born from the efforts of students of

tremendous amount rom all of the adults, out of reach for me.”

color who wanted to honor and organize an MLK assembly.

Without having the language for terms like “safe space,” we quickly realized that we really liked having the scheduled and protected time to meet with one another, which we continued to do well after the MLK assembly. This group, the Students of Color Coalition, was instrumental in making me feel grounded at Riverdale. While I felt supported by so many in the community, it was this group that helped me understand the experiences that I could not always easily unpack with others.

From my time with this group, I started to think about the space that Latinx students held at Riverdale. We were not a monolithic group; we had a wide range of racial and ethnic experiences. But I wanted to understand how we could better advocate for our Black friends and classmates, while connecting with our white friends and classmates, and support one another. I was also proud that in its first iteration, HOLA became a bit of a safe space for a number of first generation immigrant students at Riverdale, including those who were not of Latin American descent. It was as if we ALL needed to talk about our bilingual, bicultural experiences! Again, the administration supported this initiative without hesitation, and I credit Sra. Elena Rothstein for bringing enthusiasm and joy to all of us in this group.

After graduating college, then-Head of Upper School Kent Kildahl and I connected at a diversity banquet. When he contacted me about the director of diversity position, my experiences with students of color, first-gen students, and Latinx students all swirled in my head and heart. I felt like

this was an opportunity to give back to Riverdale, this was an opportunity to be of service to Riverdale, this was an opportunity to support so many students and families who might not always feel as seen and heard like I did at Riverdale.

I loved the position! In truth, if Kent Kildahl did not tell me that he could see me as head of school one day, I probably would still be director of DEI twenty years later.

Darcy, over the years you have been one of Priscilla’s greatest champions. Can you share your thoughts about your sister’s career and impact on education?

DTM: Priscilla’s the type of teacher and school leader we all deserve – thoughtful, funny, always learning, inspiring. She centers young people in her work and genuinely cares about their experiences in school, and is a huge advocate for them!

People don’t see the number of hours she spends reading or researching something for her school [or] students, and I know she does that because she genuinely cares.

I’m really proud of my sister and her work – I must talk about her a lot because colleagues in my field have said to me, “wow, your sister is so impressive.” So many of her former students are off doing amazing things in the world and the way that they draw from their experiences with her continues her legacy and impact on the world. I also wouldn’t be who I am if she wasn’t my sister. She has been my support and mentor my whole life, and I am truly lucky to be her sister.

Priscilla, you wrote a meaningful tribute about the Red Oak tree on the Hill Campus. Are there other places or experiences that were similarly meaningful to you at Riverdale?

PM: Oh, I so loved that Red Oak tree! I spent many hours sitting in its shadow. Another space that holds special memories for me is the old band room, which was housed in a larger garage-like space on the southern end of campus.

This classroom space and my music teacher, Ron Gibbs, was a constant for me during my entire six years at Riverdale.

I loved that being an orchestra player was another aspect of my identity at the school and one that did not change during my time there. But I would say my most meaningful experience at Riverdale was serving on the student council in 10th grade. Prior to this role, I was painfully shy and nervous about speaking in groups. My best friend, JUSTIN BRANDON ’96, pushed me to run for the position, which involved making a speech in front of the whole grade. It was nerve-wracking! But Justin’s faith in me and the support of my class, really changed how I saw myself. I would say that this was the moment I saw myself as a leader and as someone who could create real change in the world. I am forever grateful for that experience.

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CREATORS

Creators

JOHN JILER ’64 John Jiler ’64 wrote and produced the play Under Big Piney. The play, which took place as an online charity reading for the Southern Poverty Law Center, starred Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother Where Art Thou, Watchmen) and Gloria Reuben (ER, Lincoln).

Jiler developed the play at the Actor’s Studio, with director Leah Gardiner (for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf) It’s about an interracial romance that throws a small southern town into chaos.

JONATHAN GOODMAN ’77 The Good Foods: A Simple Lifelong Plan to Help You Lose Weight, Prevent or Reverse Diabetes and High Blood Pressure, and Lower Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, written by Jonathan Goodman ’77, is a guide to eating that endeavors to help and/or reverse the effects of these life-threatening ailments.”

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JENNIFER WARREN MEDWIN ’87 Certified Divorce Coach Jennifer Warren Medwin ’87 has published a new book called Strategies and Tips from a Divorce Coach: A Roadmap to Move Forward, which includes everything you need to navigate a divorce. With it, Medwin aims to help individuals move from overwhelmed to empowered and offers a comprehensive resource for one of life’s most difficult periods.

RACHEL SCHRAGIS ’04

Flowchart of the Declaration of the Occupation of NYC by artist Rachel Schragis ’04 is on exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Occupy Wall Street movement grew out of calls for greater economic equality in the wake of the global financial crisis of 2007–08. It began with a group of activists who occupied Zuccotti Park in New York’s financial district in the fall of 2011. The list of grievances in Flowchart was collectively written, and Schragis, an artist and organizer, shaped them into a diagram. It was reproduced as a poster and handed out at Zuccotti to protesters and passersby.

DIDI DUNPHY ’77 Artist Didi Dunphy ’77 had a solo exhibition in 2021 titled Wishful Thinking at Whitespace Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia. Her colorful and whimsical pieces “weave[d] in ideas referencing modernist principles of minimalism, surrealism, and pop culture through a blend of sculpture, print, and performance.”

GEORGE PETRIDES ’81 In July 2021, artist George Petrides ’81 engages with Greek art and history.

He was featured in a show in Mykonos, Greece, in July 2021 in addition to commercial exhibitions at art fairs and galleries, including a show in Monaco in August 2021 and in London in October 2021. His work can be found on 1stdibs.

PHIL PROCTOR ’58 Phil Proctor ’58 played a TV executive in the 2020 film Bad President. The movie is about how Donald Trump got elected as the President of the United States of America in 2015 by making a deal with the Devil himself.

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CREATORS

Alida (Allie) Wilkinson ’07

Alida (Allie) Wilkinson ’07 was born and raised in New York City and received a B.A. in visual arts and art history from Bowdoin College.

Her works have been exhibited in galleries across the United States, notably at Slag Gallery, Pen + Brush Gallery, Deanna Evans Projects, and Corridor Gallery. Her debut solo show in New York opened at Slag Gallery in January 2022. She has been an artist-in-residence at the Byrdcliffe Residency (NY, 2021) and the 77Art Residency (VT, 2019).

Her ink paintings are held in private collections in the United States, France, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn.

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1.

2.

COULD YOU SHARE A BIT ABOUT

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BEGIN

YOUR APPROACH TO AND THE

CREATING—AND TO CONTINUE

INTENTION BEHIND YOUR ARTWORK?

CREATING?

I use ink and water to render both figurative and abstract subjects on translucent mylar.

These materials create an effect of controlled chaos, which feels important considering my work often explores themes of human volatility and vulnerability. My paintings prompt both connection and confrontation; they grant the viewer access to each subject’s inner world, at the same time as they give agency to the subjects.

I come from an artistic family, so that was always a source of inspiration for me. I was also incredibly lucky to have wonderful art teachers, all the way from elementary school through college. Having that guidance and reinforcement was so important to me growing up. Today, it’s more of the same—the people who surround me inspire me to keep going. Being an artist is not a well-defined path, so you sort of have to blunder along and forge your way—which is impossible without a strong community.

3.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE

PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR WORK?

I hope people see themselves in my work. Perhaps not reflected back exactly, but I hope that there’s an intimacy, a vulnerability, in my subjects that feels familiar to people who are experiencing the work.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: A Familiar Secret III, 2022, ink on mylar, 96” x 40”; Installation shot, A Self Apart at Slag Gallery; Interior IV, 2021, ink on mylar, 40” x 98”; Allie in front of A Familiar Secret I, 2021, ink on mylar, 40” x 95”

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CREATORS

Mitsuko Alexandra Yabe ’10

Website: https://www.llghtchlld.com/about IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8324750/

DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC AND/OR STYLE IN YOUR OWN WORDS.

As a singer-songwriter, I focus on writing Pop/J-pop music. Being a music producer, I incorporate a lot of analog electronic sounds, like Moog vintage synthesizers. I’m definitely retro and futuristically inspired. I love ’80s synth pop and ’70s rock n’ roll. When I work with these sounds, I like to warp them with plugins to make it a completely different sound and blend it with 808s for example, and create fat driving rhythms. I like to think that many of my 24 QUAD

songs are high-energy, although I also write ballads. Some of the artists I like to listen to are Prince, Michael Jackson, FKA Twigs, and Björk. I really identify with avant-garde artists like that, as well as the more major artists. I want to bring eccentricity within the veneer of pop so that a lot of people can enjoy it while still discovering and enjoying specificity and intriguing elements that go into it.

I think there’s probably something in there for everyone.

Née Mitsuko Alexandra Yabe, lIghtchIld grew up between two worlds of Tokyo and New York City.

Her music career began with the study of classical violin under the tutelage of Roberta Guaspari and Lynelle Smith of Opus 118 Harlem School of Strings. She found success at an early age, performing for Quincy Jones, for President Obama, with the NY Philharmonic, at Carnegie Hall, and at Lincoln Center. lIghtchIld has gone on to collaborate with film directors and composers as a music editor on several soundtracks, including Boots Riley’s Sorry To Bother You (2018), Radha Blank’s The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020), and Lena Waithe’s Beauty (2020) coming to Netflix soon.

She has worked with major studios including Warner Brothers/New Line Cinema, Universal Studios, and HBO, and many of her independent films have been featured in Sundance Festival, Toronto Film Festival, and American Black Film Festival. She is the founder of LIGHTCHILD, a music and motion picture-focused creative studio that works on client projects as well as original works in development. lIghtchIld has made a name for herself by reinventing ’80s pop sounds to illuminate modern anxieties. Her debut EP, “No Strings Attached,” and her first full-length album, 01001, which she wrote, composed, provided vocals for, and produced herself, are scheduled to drop in 2022.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BEGIN MAKING MUSIC AND WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO CONTINUE CREATING?

I’ve played music my whole life. I started with piano when I was four and then violin at 10. When I was at Riverdale, I was knee-deep into my classical music phase. I played in the orchestra and spent a lot of time there during my lunch just practicing. After school, I was in a string ensemble with Opus 118 [Harlem School of Music] so we did some tours and we had the opportunity to perform a lot at incredible venues like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

I feel like having that early experience of being on stage solidified my idea of performance and drove me to make music in general – to give energy back to the audience. Catching a glimpse of people’s faces from being on stage excites me. What else inspires me?

Random things, perhaps something strange that can happen in my day or nature or it could be just a color or shape – it’s not really limited at all. I also say traveling inspires me to make music because of the different countries, languages, and food, all of that when my senses are hyperstimulated. In fact, my impromptu trip to Berlin inspired me to write my album. What inspires me to keep creating? In some ways I’d say it’s the good times and the bad times, the struggles that I go through or that other people are going through and tell me about; the stories that we create and need to express really continue to inspire me. I also work in film and TV, so seeing high-quality visuals from features and independent films also inspires me to keep pushing the envelope with my music and the album art and so forth.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR WORK? HOW DO YOU HOPE THEY FEEL LISTENING TO YOUR MUSIC?

Thematically in my music, I explore the two points, darkness and light, because

of my name. I go by lIghtchIld now, which is the English translation of my Japanese name, Mitsuko (“Mitsu” - 光 Light, “Ko” - - Child). There’s always a Yin and Yang.

Life is a balance between darkness and light and without one, you can’t see the other. I guess I would like for people to take away this sense of philosophy, a sense of my perspective, and why everything happens for a reason – even the struggles can make you a stronger, a better person – and not give up and reach for hope. One of the recent songs that I put out is called “Nightmares” and it’s an eighties synth

pop record. In its official press release, I explained how this single “[came] from my attempt to turn my vulnerabilities into memorable melodies. I wanted to create quotable lyrics, propulsive rhythms, and haunted atmospheres, making it the perfect track to gear up for Halloween.

Most importantly, I wanted to a heartfelt message about hope to my listeners.”

(Starlight PR, 2021) So it’s the dichotomy between how you transform energy and how you repurpose everything that you’ve gone through to become a better person. I hope people feel inspired by that.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Yohanca Delgado ’02 Yohanca Delgado ’02 was born in New York City to parents from Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Her recent writing appears in New York Times Magazine, TIME, The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, The Paris Review, One Story, A Public Space, and elsewhere. She is a 2022 National Endowment for the Arts fellow and lives in California, where she is a Wallace Stegner fiction fellow at Stanford University.

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Excerpt: The widow arrived at LaGuardia on a Sunday, but the rumors about the woman who had rented a big apartment, sight unseen, had taken an earlier flight. We had already reviewed, on many occasions and in hushed tones, in the quiet that comes after long hours of visiting, what little we knew about the widow and her dead husband.

About her life in the old country, we asked the obvious questions: Were there children? Cheryl heard from a friend who still lived in the Dominican Republic that they had only been married a year when he died. Had her husband been rich?

No, our sources in the old country said, poor as a church mouse, with a big family to support out in el campo. Had the husband been handsome? Yes, in a rakish sort of way. And with what we knew we created him in our minds: medium height with a mop of curly hair and an easy laugh, walking down Saona Beach in a white linen guayabera, dropping suddenly to one knee. We ourselves felt a flutter in our hearts.

On the day the widow finally arrived in New York, the rain came in fast, heavy drops that sounded like tiny birds slamming into our windows. She emerged from the taxi with a single battered suitcase and, little-girl small, stared up at our building as the rain pelted her face.

Behind us our men and children called out for their dinners, but we ignored them. We would

wonder later if she had seen our faces pressed up against the windows, on all six floors, peering out over flowerpots full of barren dirt.

We watched her until she made her way out of the rain and into the lobby. Those of us lucky enough to live on the fourth floor squinted through our peepholes or cracked open our doors as the super carried her suitcase to the three-bedroom apartment she was renting. How could she afford it?

The little widow walked behind the super, her gait slow and steady on the black-and-white tiles of the hallway. He was rambling about garbage pickup and the rent. She was younger than we expected her to be, thirty, maybe. The amber outfit was all wrong for the chilly autumn weather. She was from Santo Domingo, but she looked like a campesina visiting the city for the first time, everything hand-sewn and outdated by decades. She wore an old-fashioned skirt suit, tailored and nipped at her round waist, and a pair of low-heeled black leather pumps. Seeing them made us glance down at our own scuffed sneakers and leggings. On her head, she wore a pillbox hat, in matching yellow wool sculpted butter-smooth. She dressed her short, plump body as though she adored it.

Instantly, we took a dislike.

An excerpt from “The Little Widow from the Capital” featured in The Paris Review print issue (Issue 236, Spring 2021). To read the full story, visit their website; To hear a reading of this short story by author Yohanca Delgado, listen to The Paris Review podcast, Season 3, Episode 19, “A Memory of the Species.”

(Story begins at the 10:25 mark.)”

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

I relearned a valuable lesson about the power of the small, incremental gesture — in generosity, yes, but also in the work of writing.

What inspired you to begin writing stories and what inspires you to continue telling them?

Narrative has always been my preferred mode of thinking. I figure out what I think by telling myself stories. My work often celebrates Latinx women and explores the contours of the diasporic experience. But I think the hopeful work of storytelling, of writing to share with others, is always the same: to bring us together in the common experience of living.

How has keeping a kindness catalog shaped your perspective and/or influenced your work?

I started that practice during the first pandemic lockdown. It was a time when I was literally alone, but also felt marooned in my writing. For an emerging writer, the pressure to produce and to prove yourself can be overwhelming to the point of paralysis.

As a perverse way of amping up the pressure on myself, I started listing all the people I would disappoint if I didn’t write, all the people who had nurtured my desire to be a writer over the years.

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So many of the gestures I was moved to record were small. I relearned a valuable lesson about the power of the small, incremental gesture — in generosity, yes, but also in the work of writing.

Who are some writers that inspire you?

That list changes every day because there are so many writers I look up to and learn from!

Some of the contemporary powerhouses I always return to: ZZ Packer, Edward P. Jones, Justin Torres, and Carmen Maria Machado. I adore the way Vivian Gornick writes New York.

How did your experience at Riverdale impact you and your path as a writer?

Dr. David Nicholson, who taught Upper School English when I was at Riverdale, showed me I was a writer. He took a short story I’d written for a homework assignment, made copies and had the class read it because he thought it was a good example of a short story. It was about a girl who shoplifts a necklace at the mall, and it was called “The Red Necklace.”

I don’t think I’d ever been so proud of anything in my whole life, especially because weeks earlier, I had turned in that same assignment, only for Dr. Nicholson to hand it back a day later with a note to the effect of “You can do better. Rewrite this.” I owe him a tremendous debt. He never let me take the lazy route, and he made me feel like I could do anything.

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading a delightful short story collection by Chris Gonzalez called I’m Not Hungry But I Could Eat. I’m also savoring the other collaborations in Janelle Monáe’s forthcoming The Memory Librarian and Other Stories of Dirty Computer.

I’m lucky to have co-authored a story with Janelle that brings the Dirty Computer universe to New York.

NEW TRUSTEES

TO OUR NEW BOARD MEMBER

Anitra Hadley ANITRA HADLEY P’28,’30,’30,’34 (BS, Cornell University ’98; MPA, New York University ’07) is senior advisor for NYC Kids RISE, a nonprofit organization that provides families, schools, and communities with a way to work together to invest in and save for their children’s futures—a scholarship and savings program designed to make college and career training more accessible and achievable for public school students. Previously, she served as Director of Business Management for Harlem Village Academies; COO of East River Development Alliance; and Assistant Vice President in Operational Risk Management at JPMorgan Chase. Anitra also served for six years, including two years as Chairperson, on the Board of Girls, Inc. of Westchester County. Girls, Inc., serves girls aged 5 to 18 with evidence-based programming delivered by trained professionals who focus on the development of the whole girl, supporting, mentoring, and guiding girls in an affirming, pro-girl environment.

At Riverdale, Anitra is an active member of the parent community. She currently co-chairs the Lower School Parents of Color, having served previously as a head grade representative for the Parents Association, an Annual Fund volunteer, and co-chair of the Lower School Annual Fund Committee.

STUDENT LETTER FROM DIARY HEAD OF SCHOOL

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QUAD 31

CLASS NOTES

Class 1950

Become A Class Correspondant

After hearing about the passing of classmate PETER GILLETTE in the last issue of Quad, PETER ROSENBLATT writes: Peter (Gillette) was the biggest star of our year and those before and after.

Here is an excerpt about him from the Class of ’50 yearbook: “Pete is certainly Riverdale’s biggest wheel, and as editor of the REVIEW, there is no question that he knows more about the working of a newspaper than even Arthur Krock. As a matter of fact, there isn’t anything that Pete hasn’t done around Riverdale except perhaps, had his name in front of the faculty committees. He is a wonderful student, being one of the few boys who was elected Cum Laude at the beginning of the second term. As the editor of the REVIEW, Pete gained still more fame by getting up at four in the morning to put a dummy together or to write an editorial.

As captain of the football team, Pete played magnificent ball until injured in the Trinity game, winning the coveted D. Earl Gardner Football Trophy. He also won letters in swimming and track.

He is headed to Yale University, and we all know that his triple-threat standing academically, athletically, and in activities will help through life.”

1953

Bill Gardner whginc@mindspring.com BILL GARDNER writes: [The Class of] 1953 mourns the loss of two of our most outstanding and admired classmates with the deaths of JIM MCLELLAND and SANDY ROSE. Our sincerest 32 QUAD

condolences to their families.

On a happier note, Kathleen and I celebrated our 64th anniversary in December and our 35th living in Tucson.

We had a record-breaking monsoon, which we needed after one of our worst [droughts] in 2020. Little travel, just a few days in Sedona and Ft. Huachuca as well as Portland, OR, in May for a family reunion as one of our granddaughters graduated from University of Portland.

Still playing golf and occasionally shooting my age from the forward tees.

Still oil painting, wrote an autobiography and a murder mystery to keep busy during COVID. Another granddaughter graduates from Manhattan College in May and we hope to have a family reunion in Riverdale. Best to all.

From WALTER GANS: Katherine and I recently moved our official residence from NYC to Charleston, SC. I retired in October 2020 and closed my NY office.

We expect we’ll divide our time between SC and Sherman, CT. No trips planned except going back and forth, although I met up with my sons and three grandsons in Las Vegas in July. We hope for normalcy with COVID behind us.

Best and good health to all Riverdalians.

JOHN AHOUSE writes: My granddaughter, Maggie Taylor, is in the freshman class at University of Massachusetts, Andover. I am still living in Long Beach, CA. JOHN LEVY reports: On October 12, 2021, I celebrated my 86th birthday with thousands of admirers, or so I chose to believe, as I was in Central Park taking a walk on a beautiful fall day. I look back on my life, and very importantly including my two years at Riverdale, with joy and gratitude for the feeling of a healthy life

fulfilled. I was married to a wonderful woman for 53 years who died from lung cancer, and two years later met the amazing/beautiful woman I’m with today.

I remain physically active and spend time between NYC, East Hampton, and Wellington, FL. I love to read, cook, play golf (never shot my age but hope lives as long as I do) and send my warmest best wishes to those few of us still around.

ROBERT MILLIGAN writes: I am back in my flat in Poole after a year in Oxted, south of London, where my daughter, Carol Hand, and family live. I had a minor stroke in January, from which I have fully recovered, and back into my activities here. I walk the seaside promenade and the countryside. I try for 10,000 steps a day, I rattle around in my three-bedroom flat and plan to downsize to a top-floor apartment in a senior citizen community with a great view of Poole Harbor, Corte Castle, and the gardens in Compton acres. Come see me if you are on this side of the pond. I still play the High Fever CD – brings back happy memories. Best wishes to all.

From JIM REYNOLDS: Greetings from Florida, quite possibly the dumbest state in the union. My wife’s cancer seems to be under control, so she is doing well.

I’m fine, but if I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. I walk my Golden Retriever twice a day but can’t match Bob Milligan’s 10,000 steps. And his threat to play the High Fever CD will certainly deter me from visiting him.

PETER ROSE sent the following note: Living in Portland, Oregon, chez my daughter Mary. My wife, Alexandria, and our dog, Jasper, left our home in Taos, NM, which we are renting [out] temporarily.

The reason: I had a stroke from which I have completely recovered. My doctor said in all her forty years as a cardiologist she never had a patient that recovered as quickly and completely as myself, so I intend to be around for our seventieth reunion. Currently, I am organizing a museum exhibition of a Russian artist, Anatoly Zverev, whom Picasso called the greatest graphic artist in Russia. Look on the internet under AZ Museum to learn more about him. Best to all.

WALTER BENENSON writes: Seventeen months ago, we were getting ready for our 32nd trip to Grand Cayman. That got canceled as did everything else.

Essentially, I have been home in our East Lansing house ever since. I have been doing a lot of Zooming, unfortunately including many memorial services.

I haven’t been able to use our NYC apartment which is located on 79th Street, one floor below my daughter and family’s apartment. So, I missed my 10-year-old granddaughter’s first day of school at Riverdale. She loves her new school! My golf and health are pretty good, except that the courses seem to have gotten longer and the stairs steeper.

I did shoot my age twice and do a lot of slow biking. Best wishes to everybody.

1954

Become A Class Correspondant

From BRUCE PERLO: I just finished reading the latest issue of Quad. It is discouraging to see that so many of my friends and classmates have passed on. I am still alive and kicking. I talk with RON RUBIN ’55 weekly. We review all the great bars and restaurants we frequented when we were at Riverdale and thereafter.

So many of them, like Pen and Pencil, Lutece, Liuchow’s, Mr. and Mrs. Foster’s Place, and Jimmy’s La Grange, have closed. My wife of over 51 years, Beth, and I just finished building a small house in Franconia, NH. It meets my new criteria of one floor, short driveway, and within walking distance [of] stores and restaurants. Each year we go to Key West for a few weeks for music and booze.

Then Beth stays in Vero Beach for the rest of the winter. I visit one week in four. Still running my software business.

Fortunately, my grandson Bruce Perlo III is doing most of the heavy lifting. If any Riverdalians from ’52 through ’57 who I knew are around those spots, let me know so we can get together.

1957

Judy Austin judyaustin40@yahoo.com Bob Johnson robert.johnson@mto.com Sue Jacobs Schaffzin craftyme33@hotmail.com Tim Zagat tim@zagat.com Earlier this year, the Class of ’57 held a mini reunion in Sarasota, Florida, as Nina and TIM ZAGAT toured the east and west coasts of the state. A wonderful luncheon was held at a waterfront restaurant facing Sarasota Bay. Four of the classmates (STEVEN (SKIP) WASSERMAN, MAARTEN MECKMAN, RICHARD MEADE ’56, and MARTY ZELNIK) have homes in the area although a last minute “sickbay” call prevented Richard Meade from attending.

The food at this dockside restaurant was excellent, the views spectacular, but nothing matched the chemistry of the reuniting of classmates at a mini reunion, let alone a reunion celebrating 65 years since graduating.

JEFFREY FISHER writes: Can’t

complain, life is good. I am enjoying retirement in the best of all worlds: winters at Frenchman’s Creek in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, summers in East Hampton, and spring and fall in NYC. Still playing tennis and pickleball and trying to learn how to keep out of the bunkers and water hazards on the golf course. I have been involved somewhat in local politics, East Hampton Group for Good Government, a watchdog organization, promoting best practices.

I sold Fisher Bros Steel almost 20 years ago, I understand it is thriving under the ownership of Berkshire Hathaway.

The sale offered me bragging rights, but it did not get me lunch and a root beer float with Mr. Buffett. My wife, Patricia’s, interior design business, Patricia Fisher Design, is flourishing.

She has developed an ever-expanding following in Florida while maintaining her NY/EH customer base. I have been enjoying our Sunday Zooms. We typically have 15 to 18 classmates on the calls. Our discussions range from national and international politics to items of general interest. Hopefully, more classmates will join. We lost two classmates this year, MARC WEINBERG and BOB GLAUBER. We had a mini reunion in Westchester in October and as is our custom, we kept an open seat for those we had lost over the past year and lifted our glasses in memory of all those who are no longer with us.

Many members of the class had a virtual 60th college class reunions in 2021. Seven Riverdale classmates (BILL BENNETT, PETER ELLIS, ANDY GLASS, BOB GLAUBER, BOB JOHNSON, LARRY

L-R, MAARTEN MECKMAN, TIM ZAGAT, MARTY AND LASSA ZELNIK, SKIP WASSERMAN, AND NINA ZAGAT

JOHNSON, and TIM ZAGAT) graduated from Harvard College in 1961. PETER ELLIS served as a co-chair for the Harvard College virtual 60th Class Reunion and arranged and moderated several outstanding Zoom programs, including two [that] featured other Riverdale classmates as speakers. STEVE GOLDSTEIN, who is currently Professor Emeritus of Government at Smith College and Director of the Taiwan QUAD 33

CLASS NOTES

Workshop at Harvard’s John K. Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies gave a very interesting talk on the subject of “What is China today?” VERA VON SAUCKEN HALDY-REGIER was one of two speakers in a fascinating program with the title of “Origin Stories: Life Under and After the Nazis.” Vera has also written about her experiences as a child in her memoir An Irregular Childhood in Hitler’s Shadow, which is available from online sources. Other members from the Riverdale class attended both programs at Peter’s invitation.

MARTY ZELNIK was elected VicePresident of The Bronx Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

In addition, the Brandeis University Department of Athletics featured Marty’s Brandeis athletic career, as well as his post-Brandeis career, as part of its fall 2021 Homecoming.

The Brandeis article can be found here. In addition, they announced the establishment of a new award to be presented in his honor at the end-of-year awards ceremony.

The Martin Zelnik Award will be presented annually to up to two “walk-on” or non-recruited studentathletes. The honoree is someone who makes a significant contribution to a varsity team or teams through spirit, enthusiasm, and work ethic to improve their own skills and those of their teammates, epitomizing the camaraderie and loyalty of a Brandeis student-athlete. “The Martin Zelnik Award pays tribute to student-athletes who fly under the radar during the recruiting process,” said Brandeis’s Director of Athletics Lauren Haynie.

“It also recognizes those who realize that they want to pursue playing a varsity sport once they are on our campus. Our coaches and department value the contributions of studentathletes that have a unique path in joining our programs. The award is made possible by a gift from [Marty], a 2006 inductee into the Brandeis Hall of Fame. [He] was a Renaissance man for Brandeis Athletics in the late 1950s 34 QUAD

and early 1960s. Unrecruited out of high school for football, he eventually lettered in five different sports as a Judge: football, fencing, basketball, soccer, and primarily tennis.” The Martin Zelnik ’61 Award will first be presented at the 2022 Michael Coven Awards Banquet this spring. For more information about Marty’s life and accomplishments, please see his class’s tribute on page 45.

On September 12, 2021, PAUL DICKSON’s new grandson was born.

Paul writes: Just as I was about to rejoin the Sunday night fold (the Class of ’57 Zoom chat), after being truant for many weeks, this guy popped into our lives at 4:00 [in the] afternoon. His name is Ellis Paul Dickson and here he is in the flesh (see photo below).

In addition, Paul’s book, The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, made Esquire’s list of the 100 best baseball books.

PAUL DICKSON’S GRANDSON

VERA VON SAUCKEN HALDY-REGIER

reports: A quiet year closes with gratitude for health and good friends, a notable number from our cohesive, active class. A highlight was the invitation by Nina and TIM ZAGAT to a most delightful lunch on the terrace of their 1810 restored farmhouse on 180 acres in Millerton, NY. Our bountiful table overlooked a pristine lawn, discreet swimming pool, hot tub and, more distantly, trout-filled pond. The surrounding land of gently undulating hills ringed by woods offered a peace and silence rarely found today. My husband, Jim, and I were then treated to a rumbling ride over Zagat fields and stream with distant views of the Catskill Mountains and long vistas that were breathtaking. A tour of their house and magnificently restored barn, equally a home and art gallery, were testament to the artful eye and good taste of both Tim and Nina. Their gracious hospitality was capped by handing us each a jacket, shirt, and hat embroidered with the farm’s name. On a more modest note, I am completing my fifth small poetry collection due out before year’s end, tentatively titled, Moments. Portraits in Small Strokes. ​On October 13, 2021, a class lunch was held at Harvest On Hudson in Hastings, NY. In attendance were Margo Fuld, LARRY JOHNSON, VERA VON SAUCKEN HALDY, Lassa and MARTY ZELNIK, and SUE AND ED SCHAFFZIN. Unfortunately, unable to attend were DOUG WARWICK, RICHARD MEADE ’56, JEFF FISHER, and TIM ZAGAT. Over drinks and delightful food, the group talked about next year’s reunion!

1958

David Lahm dflahm@gmail.com

PAUL DICKSON’S BOOK

DAN SILVER and his partner, Sydney, visited Linda and DAVID FRANKEL in CT. Mealtime brought forth the local treat, a feast of lobster rolls.

PAUL JABLOW reports: Getting to the point where surviving in

reasonably good health is an achievement. I continue to freelance for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where I once was on staff, mostly in the area of real estate, particularly about historic buildings. With the prospect of grandchildren just about gone, I am enjoying those of my lady friend, Cynthia. I ask my classmates to recognize that American democracy is under siege as it never has been in our lifetime and to act accordingly with their checkbooks, energy, and leisure time.

From JOHN FIELD: “Move before you have to” is good advice for people our age. A year ago I sold my beloved property in Jaffrey, NH, and moved to RiverMead, a charming retirement community in nearby Peterborough.

Nazli intends to retire next June after 53 years on the MIT faculty. The plan is for her to join me at RiverMead even as she continues her research and writing. (So much can be done from afar these days!) Our daughter, Allyson, is a tenured professor in the Media and Film Studies Department at the University of Chicago, where she has blossomed into a highly productive scholar and immensely popular teacher. Her two children, ages 6 and 4, attend the university’s famous Lab School. They are a great joy to us both. I spend much of my time reading and perhaps a bit too much time pontificating on the world’s problems.

At least that hasn’t changed since Riverdale! My best to all.

DAVID LAHM wants to share his happiness: Nancy Watson and I celebrated our wedding in Michigan Oct. 10. She’s the right person for me as I embark on Decade IX. The foundation of love is trust, and we have it.

JAMES MARROW sent in his photo with the caption “Happy New Year to all from Cortina d’Ampezzo!”

JAMES MARROW ’58 PAUL BREST is an emeritus professor at Stanford Law School, teaching a full load of courses on public policy and social change. Just before the pandemic, he, his wife Iris, and his granddaughter Julia (who is a senior at Stanford) acquired a standard poodle who gives them much pleasure and many opportunities for walks.

From JIM GORDON: It’s been a challenging time for me, with the loss of my brother at the beginning of the pandemic, and the need to care lovingly for Sharon, my ex-wife, who had a devastating case of COVID. Still, I am in good spirits, working very hard on trauma healing programs in chronically devastated Haiti, and with U.S. veterans, and on new work bringing self-care and mutual support to girls and women who have been trafficked, gang raped, and otherwise traumatized in Africa and the Middle East. I’m grateful to my classmates who’ve supported this work; I hope to see you in the not-too-distant future.

On October 29, 2021, at its annual meeting in Dallas, the Dallas Bar Association honored and recognized ROBERT RENDELL as a member licensed to practice for 50+ years. When he is not practicing law, Bob and his wife, Mardi, travel extensively, having visited 44 countries and 45 U.S. states. Bob’s last trip (pre-COVID) was to Normandy and the D-Day Beaches.

And lastly from PHIL PROCTOR: I streamed my last episode of the fun-filled game show Says You! on Sept. 30, invited onboard by head writer/host Dave Zobel and director and long-time pal, Paul

Magid of the Flying Karamazov Brothers.

Firesign Theatre continues to release classic compilations, the latest being Dope Humor of the Seventies, from decades of radio shows. Go to firesigntheatre.com. I also did some online interviews, cranked out more Phil & Ted’s Sexy Boomers Show, and even played a TV executive in a great satirical movie, Bad President (see Creators on page 21 for more information). I am well at 81, thanks to my pacemaker but challenged by macular degeneration, to which others of us may be susceptible.

1959

Geoff Howard howards@warwick.net Micki Seligson meseligson@comcast.net GEOFF HOWARD reports: We had a small but very successful mini reunion on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at RON WINSTON’s home in Westchester, and the fact that it was small was one of the reasons it felt so good. Over the course of 3+ hours, we ate some great food and had plenty of time for small group reconnections — alum-toalum, couples-to-couples, even spousesto-spouses. If you’ve flipped through Quad just now to get to our ’59 Class Notes, you’ve realized how really close we are to the beginning of the magazine.

And then there’s that big 8-oh. Not the facts of life that preoccupied us back at Riverdale, but still, real facts of real life.

Maybe the most important thing is that we’re still here, still interested in what’s happening to friends and classmates, even if we haven’t seen them for many decades.

If so, read on!

STEVE MILLER wrote about his personal take on turning 80: We got a new standard poodle puppy and now I know for sure that at our age, this is absolutely the last puppy I’ll ever get.

In a welcome voice from the Girls School, MICKI SELIGSON says that she’s “writing poems these days and getting to the point of making a ‘chapbook’.” I’m not exactly sure what a chapbook is, but she has shared some of her poetry with QUAD 35

CLASS NOTES

me and I really like it. Thanks, Mick.

Two entries from today’s headlines: Continuing his inspiring work with the Reform Election group, MIKE OTTEN organized a panel on June 6th that announced a task force of about 40 prominent academic election law and democracy experts, aimed at updating our 18th Century political system to 21st Century reality. The most important work is being done by a small sub-group to replace the 1845 Presidential Day Act and 1887 Electoral Count Act, which were the legal basis for what people are calling “the attempted coup” on January 6th.

CLASS OF ’59

The news coverage of our pullout from Afghanistan prompted DAVE PETZAL to write an interesting tribute to one of our classmates who, sadly, along with so many others, is no longer with us: ART LORD was bureau chief in 1975 for NBC-TV news, Saigon, when the last Americans pulled out and many South Vietnamese who had worked for/with us to the tender mercies of the NVA. Art had 104 Vietnamese colleagues, and every one of them made it to safety, thanks to Art going to Saigon airport with rolls of $100 bills and paying whatever it took to get these people on planes. He called it “Operation Peacock” and said that in a career that included two Emmys and a Peabody, this was what he was most proud of.

Thanks, Dave, for a story that connects a 1959 classmate with a 1975 accomplishment and a 2021 headline.

Finally, two sad entries: RON WINSTON wrote to inform us 36 QUAD

of the sad news that ROBERT KRAMER passed away earlier this year, after spending over half his life in a health care institution because he had MS. Ron added “Robert was a lovely guy and my closest friend at Riverdale.”

TIM RATNER writes that he was deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Russ Ames, brilliant pianist & accompanist, musical mentor, and lifelong friend: “I’m sure there are many in our Class and in the larger Riverdale community on whom he had a huge positive impact in music and/or just growing up.” (Please see the tribute to Russ on page 11 for more memories.)

As Tim’s life played out — 25 years with the University Glee Club in Philadelphia where Russ was the accompanist — he and Russ did have a life-long friendship. For most of us, however, our active relationship with our teachers and coaches ended on graduation night, but that doesn’t in any way diminish the extent to which we were guided and mentored by them.

So speaking for myself, I’d like to offer up a huge thank you to Sr. English teacher Arne Gronningsater and wrestling coach Bill Williams. I did a lot of growing up in their presence.

And if I can throw out this invitation to those of you reading this now, feel free to share your remembrances of anyone at RCS who shaped you — Boys School or Girls School—by emailing alumni@riverdale.edu. It will make for good reading in the next Quad.

1963

1961

Melissa Gordon melmelg48@gmail.com

Judy Masius Behrend judybehrend44@gmail.com Larry Rosenbluth rosenbluth342@yahoo.com Classmates gathered on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at the home of STEVE ROSENHECK to celebrate their 60th Reunion. Others in attendance were LARRY ROSENBLUTH, who organized the event, ALAN SINGER, MIKE VAN ITALLIE, and TONY SCHUMAN.

Steve Blank stephen.blank@att.net Peter Philip petersells@aol.com Paul Safer pksmd@msn.com PETER PHILIP and JOHN FISCHBACH

caught up for an enjoyable lunch in Danbury, CT.

PETER PHILIP ’63 AND JOHN FISCHBACH ’63

1964

John Jiler johnjiler@earthlink.net JOHN JILER reports: Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother Where Art Thou) and Gloria Reuben (ER) are starring in a new play of mine that was Zoomed as a benefit for the Southern Poverty Law Center!

(See the Creators on page 20 for more information.)

1965

Gail Hart York86@aol.com BARBARA FOLEY, stepdaughter of

former faculty member, Russell Ames, informed us of the sad passing of Russ.

You can read more about Russ and the many tributes we received on page 11.

FRED STROOCK writes: I am actually the rare alum from two classes. I attended Riverdale for fifth and sixth

grade as a member of the Class of 1966, but then skipped seventh grade and suddenly became a member of the Class of 1965. I completed eighth and ninth grade at Riverdale before heading off to The Hun School of Princeton.

I made many friends in both classes although I have only made a continuing connection with JEFF RICHARDS, who always is nice enough to get us tickets to one of his Broadway shows when we are in New York City. After prep school, I attended Trinity College for two years before transferring to the University of Southern California where I received both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics and educational administration, respectively. I was then drafted into the U.S. Army and spent a year in Vietnam before returning home to marry my college sweetheart.

I then embarked on a 30-year career in education, first as a teacher, coach, and administrator at two independent schools, beginning in South Bend, Indiana, and then in Rolling Hills Estates, California. The next 20 years were spent as an athletic administrator at UCLA and USC, working in academic and student services for athletes at both universities.

My wife Bonnie and I retired to Rancho Mirage, CA (near Palm Springs) and enjoy spending time with our two daughters and our four grandchildren. I have fond memories of my relatively short time at Riverdale. Coach Al Davis was very influential in my athletic career at Riverdale, highlighted by an undefeated freshman soccer season in 1961. Mr. Ernest McAneny, my sixth-grade math teacher, played a significant role in my choosing to become a math teacher myself. One of our most famous alums from this class, CALVIN HILL, and I were in Mrs. Hitching’s French II class, trying to survive together as neither of us had taken French I. Both of us made it through somehow and went on to successful careers, although I would say Calvin distinguished himself a bit more than me (and I doubt either of us used much French).

If there are any Riverdale alums from the Classes of 1965 or 1966 in the Southern California area, I would enjoy hosting them at our home on the golf course at Mission Hills Country Club.

From BILL THEODORE: I have been elected Vice-President of the American Epilepsy Society (AES) for 20222023 and will be President in 2024.

AES, with over 4,000 members, is the world’s foremost professional society dedicated to research and education toward improving the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and lives of people with epilepsy.

Classmate JOHN BLOOMGARDEN sadly passed away on October 11, 2021.

John’s wife, Alba Quezada Bloomgarden submitted this tribute to John: I’m not entirely sure what John was like during his years at Riverdale but I’ve been told

by JAMES FULD and JEFF RICHARDS that, although he was quiet and reserved, he was very involved in school activities, such as being co-editor-inchief of the yearbook with ROBERT ROSENHECK. JOHN BRENDLER wrote that he loved John as a high school friend and always had a special feeling of warmth toward him: “He was one of the most sensitive and thoughtful friends in my growing-up years.”

ROBERT KRULWICH wrote that John and he rode the Riverdale bus together each morning and that he “was so good looking that he had more female admirers than all the rest of us.”

I found this to be true when he and I began to date. I had to soothe the women who loved him by letting them know that they would not lose their standing with him just because I came into the picture. His quiet reserve coupled with his good looks made him mysterious and appealing to me when I first met him in the elevator of our building in 1984.

Learning about his passion for Latin American politics, film, and theater made him even more attractive. I was lucky to land John and marry him in 1988. Sharing my life with John for 36 years has been a balm to my soul.

John offered a generous spirit, a

sensitivity, and a solidity within himself that was like an anchor to my freespirited, flitting personality. I learned the value of stopping everything to sit quietly alongside him to read the New York Times or watch MSNBC and the Giants – although watching the Giants wasn’t always that calming! John was a true listener. He never tried to talk me out of my feelings. His greatest joy was in the raising of our beautiful, talented, and intelligent daughters, Gabriela and Nina, now both in their 20s. John was a fully involved father from the beginning.

Where I panicked changing diapers, John calmly took on the task without breaking a sweat. In later years I made it a point to hold back my intense desire to intervene when he was engaging with the girls. They grew up knowing that their father held the advice they needed for certain situations. It made me happy to see their closeness. I can sense John in them as they make life choices based on careful and balanced consideration.

For as long as I remember, a week did not go by in which PETER WAELSCH or DAVID RUBIN did not communicate with John. I always knew to whom John was speaking by either hearing him responding empathically to one or playfully admonishing the other. These men were always present to John, and still are to me and to our daughters who adore them both. David and Peter are true mensches.

It touched me immensely that Peter drove all the way down from Boston – twice within a month – just to watch a football game with John. The last time was the weekend before John left us. I walked into our bedroom to see Peter propped up on my pillows alongside John in the bed, chuckling and talking about the players and the arc of the moral universe. I don’t know what Nina and I would have done without David rushing to us at 4:00 in the morning on the day John passed on.

David stayed at our side for most of the day to help us figure out what needed to be done – and to grieve – trying to make sense of what had just happened QUAD 37

CLASS NOTES

to John and to us. I love Peter and David for having actively loved John so deeply. John loved them back dearly as if they were brothers.

From PETER WAELSCH: I met John at Dalton in fifth grade and our lives have been intertwined ever since. We hung out in NYC during Thanksgiving and Christmas college breaks, trying to pick up the ladies in midtown.

Post college, we backpacked through Europe and spent a year in London going to film school, where John produced and directed a student film we made. We both met wonderful partners and moved kicking and screaming into adult life, proud parents of four wonderful children (two each). We spent almost every summer together, renting on Block Island, where John would treat us to fresh, grilled swordfish and bluefish, just some of his specialties. John and I would race our bikes around the island most mornings and then reward ourselves with iced coffee and cinnamon buns at the Bagel Shop.

John was a wonderful, empathetic person and friend – a contemplative, profound thinker, and so much more.

The hole and grief that exist in the lives of us who knew and loved John is way bigger than the ozone, but my solace is that I had the privilege of being John’s friend, a privilege – along with the wonderful memories – that sustains me during this difficult time. And finally, John’s spirit and presence is carried on

by Alba, Gaby, and Nina, a family that we are so lucky to feel part of.

From DAVID RUBIN: I knew John since we were 14 years old. We connected in an effortless way for more than half a century. Our relationship survived through all sorts of challenges and yet, it rarely changed. Perhaps that was the beauty of being friends with John…the building blocks of our friendship never disappeared. They were never replaced, and they never wavered. I guess John’s death may change the building blocks of our friendship, but I am not there yet. When December 3 comes by, and 38 QUAD

my calendar reminder tells me to call John for his birthday, I might just call him. I often called him and would say, “I called to see how you are.” When I said those words, I often felt a bit dishonest, because I sometimes called just to feel our connection. When I called John, I was touching someone close. Someone from whom the comfort of the touch comes from a lifetime of connecting when time and circumstance seemed to be mere background to an unbreakable connection. That was my connection to John. As John grew weaker, he thanked me for my friendship and attention, but to me, the connection was the gift… I needed no thanks.

When we were adults, in our 30s and early 40s, we would meet for dinner and then walk on Central Park West, back and forth between 88th Street where John lived and 66th Street where I lived.

We would talk as we walked and would often walk all the way up to 88th Street and just turn around and walk back to 66th Street. We were just not ready to say goodbye, so we turned around and walked and talked some more. I am still not ready to say goodbye, but it is not my choice, nor I suspect, is it John’s. I suppose we have been saying goodbye for over a year, but I just want to turn around and go back to 66th Street, with John walking at my side.

1968

John M. Davis johnmdavis3@gmail.com From ESTHER GUEFT: About time I checked in! I have finally found my niche. I have been working as a Mitigation Specialist in North Carolina where I moved over eight years ago. I work as a member of criminal legal defense teams on capital and potentially capital cases.

My involvement is through referrals from the Indigent Defense Services Coordinator or by direct request from attorneys. I have also been brought on a team by North Carolina Prisoner

Legal Services to provide mitigation for a petition to the 2021 Juvenile Sentence Review Board. Currently, I am involved in two Miller resentencing hearings (see Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460 (2012)) in addition to my regular caseload.

JOHN DAVIS sent in the following memory of STEPHEN STRASSER who sadly passed away on June 19, 2021: I knew Steve because our parents were friendly. I remember him as a wonderful tennis player despite his early health problems. We worked together on the yearbook, but most of all I remember that he was the lead in the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. I played one of two second leads. He was the roommate of JOHN MARCUS at the University of Pennsylvania, and apparently, they remained close friends. I also knew Steve’s wife, Sarah, from the Riverdale days since I was dating a friend of hers from Rye Country Day.

1972

Liz Lasdon eslasdon@gmail.com CONNIE ROSENBERG HOCHMAN

appeared with dancer, Edward Villella, at the weekend opening of her film In Balanchine’s Classroom. You can read the NY Times review of the documentary here.

CONNIE ROSENBERG HOCHMAN ’72

1975

Jon Beitler jonathanjbeitler@gmail.com Jeff Russell jjrussell@clearbridgeadvisors.com JONATHAN BEITLER visited with the Russell Brothers at “Camp Russell” in Northern Maine this summer.

Jon recently retired as radiation oncologist at Emory and has enjoyed ongoing professional relationships with TIM ’66 and KEN RUSSELL ’71, also retired radiation oncologists at Mass General and University of Washington. LIZ LASDON ’72 forwarded the following notification about SUSAN KOHLMANN: City Bar Announces Susan Kohlmann, Managing Partner in NY Office of Jenner & Block, to Be Next President.

KEITH OUTLAW reports: On a recent trip to California, I met up with former science teacher and soccer coach Bob Reeves with whom I am photographed in front of his 1930 Model A Ford, and John Johnson, former headmaster.

KEITH OUTLAW ’75 AND BOB REEVES

1980 JOHN JOHNSON AND KEITH OUTLAW ’75

1977

Fran Hoffinger fhoffinger@hoffingerlaw.com ANDREA BAUMANN LUSTIG reported

KEN RUSSELL ’71, TIM RUSSELL ’66, JON BEITLER ’75, JEFF RUSSELL ’75, AND JACK RUSSELL ’64

of playful iconography with sleek, industrial fabrication reads like a Lisa Frank sticker book meets Mies van der Rohe furniture.” (See Creators on page 21 for more information.) Didi also reported that her daughter Lucy received her graduate degree from the Iowa Writers Workshop and now lives in Boston training to be a book and paper conservator. She has finished her first commission repairing and building a box for a first-edition, signed Alcott book. Didi’s husband, Jim, is retired and travels many months of the year through the Western U.S., inspired by the landscape. And finally, Didi reported: “In other news, I still wear my Betsy Johnson outfits from our high school days!”

that she and her husband, Ivan Lustig, became the proud grandparents of Brennen Philippe Pasternak, their eldest daughter’s first child, who was born just before the lockdown.

JONATHAN GOODMAN recently published a book, The Good Foods, an easy-to-read guide to a healthier life.

(See Creators on page 20 for more information.)

DIDI DUNPHY wrote that she is still the director of a large civic arts center, curating and exhibiting in contemporary art shows across the region, currently having just closed a solo effort in Atlanta, and now working on a traveling painting exhibition for the Georgia Museum of Art. From a review in Atlanta by Noah Reyes: “Didi Dunphy’s solo exhibition, Wishful Thinking, is delightful in its candy-painted luster. The mash-up

Dana Swinsky Cantelmo danaswinsky@me.com PATIENCE MOORE is a therapist in private practice in Montclair, NJ, serving children, teens, and adults with special focus in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), and gender nonconforming clients with specialized training to bring EMDR and MBSR to children. She worked in the public schools of NJ for nine years prior to having her practice. (www.

PatienceMoore.com) She lives with her two sons in Montclair, NJ, and anyone on Facebook sees that she uses her spare time to cycle, swim, go to shows, museums, travel, and hang out with her kids and beloved rescue dog, and watch her younger son Gus row crew. And yes, she still sings here and there when asked!

DANA SWINSKY CANTELMO reports: I had the opportunity to visit NIKI VORHAUS THRAN at her amazing new place in Vermont only to discover she’s neighbors with AMY PIERCE BRAND! Great fun!

MICHAEL W. HEDGES, JR., wrote: Doing my first transatlantic sail. Las Palmas to Antigua. Major bucket list item.

QUAD 39

CLASS NOTES

1986

Sandy Cannold sandy.cannold@gmail.com Members of the class gathered for some good cheer on Friday, October 15, 2021, to celebrate their 35th Reunion at the Gossip Bar and Restaurant in NYC. In attendance were ANTHONY AIBEL, GREG COLODNER, DREW COHEN, ANDY KATZ, DANA SWINSKY CANTELMO, NIKI VORHAUS THRAN, AND AMY PIERCE BRAND

KATHRYN BLEIBERG, HOWARD ROBBINS,

and TONY RADIN.

1981

Elizabeth Holoubek-Sebok eholoubek@aol.com Lisa Burge Swotes lswotes@gmail.com GEORGE PETRIDES sent in the following notice: I hope this finds you well and enjoying the return to normalcy in life and in the art world. I would like to update you on exhibitions of my sculpture. I separate my exhibitions into two kinds: cultural exhibitions at non-profits, often engaging with Greek art and history, which included a show in Mykonos, Greece, in July 2021; and commercial exhibitions at art fairs and galleries, which included a show in Monaco in August 2021 and in London in October 2021. (See Creators on page 21 for more information.)

1982

Meryl Poster meryl.poster@ superbentertainment.net MERYL POSTER: It is with a heavy heart that I relay the terrible news of ADAM EIDELBERG’s passing. On a personal note, I was in Adam’s “carpool” in 11th and 12th grade, where he drove me, JEFF SPADY, and his sister April to and from school. He was kind, courteous, responsible, and caring. What a tremendously sad loss. (To read Adam Eidelberg’s obituary see page 47.)

40 QUAD

CLASS OF ’86 REUNION DINNER

1987

Laura Stoland lstoland@gmail.com From LAURA STOLAND: Our family is coming up on ten years living in Venice, CA. My two high schoolers are at New Roads School in Santa Monica with classmate ANDY ROSE’s children. It’s been fun to reconnect with Andy and get to know his beautiful family. Our youngest is in fourth grade, and I’m slowly realizing the days of little kids in our household is coming to an end. Sad, but also sort of liberating. I’ve begun teaching art again at a local college after a long child-rearing hiatus, and it feels great to be back in the classroom, or the Zoom room as the case may be. I’ve enjoyed feeling connected to our class through social media and found myself remarking repeatedly on the intelligence and sensitivity of this group as I watch the class of ’87 react to the issues of the day.

I’m not sure if this news was shared

widely, but it doesn’t feel right not to acknowledge to our class the tragic loss of JAMIE KIBEL in June of 2019.

Her light shone bright, and she is sorely missed.

ANTON MALKO writes: I love California but often feel like a newcomer, even after 16 years in San Francisco. In my wife’s hometown, we are raising two boys, in 7th and 9th grades respectively, and in December, after 16 years on the institutional side of college athletics at UC Berkeley and UC Riverside, I started a new job at Learfield Sports on their Fanbase team, which helps athletic departments analyze their data. I volunteered this fall at Mission High School in SF helping seniors with college applications; last school year, I served as a co-facilitator for Riverdale Alumni’s A.W.A.R.E. group (Alliance of White Anti-Racists Everywhere), which allowed me to connect with several classmates. ANDREW SCHMERTZ and I continue to encourage each other’s crazy business ideas. I still enjoy couch-surfing on the Jersey Shore and hope to continue bumping into ROB ALTMAN’s mom, Hannah, in Central Park on every visit.

From PETER MILLONES: Had dinner with Evan Labb (Vassar ’91) when he was visiting NYC. I had not seen him in 22 years. I’m living in Connecticut with my family, and all is well. PAUL KAHN recently visited with his beautiful family, and it was so nice to catch up.

SEAN NOLON sent the following note: For over ten years, my family has lived in Norwich, Vermont. We sent one son off to college last February and the other is a junior in high school. After almost 20 years working in academia, I decided to change paths and joined the federal government in 2019. I try to mountain bike as much as possible, but since no one else in my family bikes, I spend more time hiking in the woods and paddling local waters. Not a bad alternative. Our classmate, BAILEY CALDWELL, came for a visit and enjoyed floating down the White River for an afternoon. And, since

DAN WEITZ and I work as mediators, we

frequently trade notes on professional and personal pursuits.

And from AMELIA LEVIN RELLES: My daughter graduated RCS this past June and is a freshman at Cornell. She had an amazing group of RCS classmates.

They seemed to end senior year in a supportive, positive way after all they had experienced in the lousy 1 ½ years leading up to their graduation.

Thankfully, they could enjoy their graduation and prom in person and in a much more normal fashion than anyone expected. My son is currently in 7th grade at RCS. He is SO happy and relieved to be on campus five days a week in almost normal conditions.

and KAY MADATI hosted another celebration. AHMED YEARWOOD, who attended the California event, reported that “the west coast contingency was so happy to have the opportunity to gather together for their 30th Reunion.”

OMONIKE AKINYEMI writes: I have begun a process of archiving some of the musical theater we did at RCS. One of them was Brigadoon; please feel free to watch this clip from 1989.

1989

Allison Rouse allison.rouse@gmail.com TONY GODSICK appeared on Squawk

CLASS OF ’91 CA REUNION PARTY

Box speaking with Roger Federer and John McEnroe about the Laver Cup.

1994

Danielle Englebardt This past summer REID SCHNEIDER sent in the following note: I left Warner Brothers Games in 2016 after working as their VP Production for about six years to start my own video game company Typhoon Studios. After around two years, Google purchased my company in 2019, and then we shipped the critically acclaimed Journey to the Savage Planet on XBOX, PlayStation, Switch, and PC. I worked for Google for around a year and a half, and then it felt too corporate and not creative enough, so I left and started a new video-game development studio, Raccoon Logic. When I’m not working on games, or chasing my kids, I actively try to support our veterans’ organizations like the Navy Seal Fund, and mentor servicemen and women to re-enter the workforce or help them raise more for their start-ups.

1996

Lara Englebardt Metz larametz@gmail.com Tim Morehouse tim.morehouse08@gmail.com ALEX MICHAEL, JESSICA GREENFIELD CHESTMAN, LARA ENGLEBARDT METZ, JESSICA CUNNINGHAM, and DANIELLE ENGLEBARDT ’94 attended CLASS OF ’91 NYC REUNION PARTY TONY GODSICK ’89

1991

Stefanie Firtell Donath sadonath6873@gmail.com There were a lot of Reunion celebrations happening on both coasts on Saturday, October 23, 2021. On the east coast, 13 members of the class gathered at The Magic Hour Rooftop Bar in NYC. STEFANIE FIRTELL DONATH, who organized the event, shared that “a fun evening was had by all.” On the west coast, CIPORA STERNLICHT HERMAN

an event to support WES MOORE’s candidacy as Governor of Maryland.

1992

Laura Kleinman kleinmanlaura@yahoo.com RICHARD ENGEL, chief foreign correspondent for NBC News, was the recipient of the 2021 National Edward R. Murrow Award. The Radio Television Digital News Association has been honoring outstanding achievement in electronic journalism with the Murrow Award since 1971.

WES MOORE FUNDRAISER

QUAD 41

CLASS NOTES

1998

2011

After almost five years working in Renewable Energy Development at NextEra Energy Resources, WILL DAVIDSON switched roles and started as Director, Strategic Initiatives at NextCity Networks (NCN), another NextEra Energy company. NCN is a new venture focused on bringing fiber and wireless solutions to smaller municipalities, rural, and underserved areas of the United States.

On Friday, October 15, 2021, classmates gathered at the Pony Bar in NYC to celebrate their 10th Reunion. LAURA BERMAN, who organized the event, reported that “the class had so much fun, and it was great to see everyone again in person.”

2004

George Niedermayer niedermayergeorge19@gmail.com

Jessica Endelson Zelnik jessicazelnik@outlook.com

Brandon Cohen brandon.adam.cohen@gmail.com Crissy Haley crissy.haley@gmail.com and his wife welcomed their second son, Luke, while their first son, Dylan, started attending Temple EmanuEl. Additionally, Andrew’s startup, Grapevine AI, recently raised $2 million.

JASON SCHULWEIS and his wife, CAROLINE RUBIN SCHULWEIS ’06, welcomed a baby girl, Blake Avery Schulweis, on April 8, 2021. Below a photo of Jason and Blake at the zoo.

ANDREW REINER

Laura Berman laura.e.berman@gmail.com

2013

Khari Dawkins khari.dawkins@gmail.com

ALEXA JUANITA JORDAN is a playwright and actor in New York City. She is also the newly appointed Executive Director of The Juanita James Memorial Scholarship Foundation, in memory of her late grandmother. She is proud to have recently received a Garden Hill Grant from her alma mater, The Mountain School, to help continue the foundation’s work.

Alexa’s work, “The Flower and The Fury,” will be featured in Smith and Kraus’ upcoming Best Women’s Stage Monologues 2022 later this year. The play follows three pregnant women contemplating abortion.

Another one of Alexa’s plays, “5AM Pancakes” (a one-act, centered around two friend’s writing their best friends obituary during the COVID-19 pandemic) was recently performed at Northfield Mount Hermon High School’s One-Act Festival. More at alexajuanitajordan.com.

2015

Corey Morrison dactadeo@gmail.com JASON SCHULWEIS ‘04 AND BLAKE

Robert Proner robertproner@gmail.com From SARAH HORNE: ETHAN ROSENTHAL and I are engaged to be

42 QUAD

married in July 2022. We are currently living in Manhattan near where we grew up. Ethan is working at a private equity firm that focuses on infrastructure investing. I still commute to the Bronx, as I am in my third year of the Clinical PsyD program at Yeshiva University.

We love that Riverdale brought us together and are thrilled to start this next chapter.

SARA ROSENTHAL ’18 AND CATHERINE JONES ’18

2018

Jackson Harris jsharris@hamilton.edu Alexander Karr ajkarr1@gmail.com This fall, CATHERINE JONES met with fellow Kenyon College senior SARA ROSENTHAL and lower classman JED LEVINSON ’20, along with Jed’s sister, Tulane student AVA LEVINSON ’17.

2019

Michael Maffezzoli mmaffezzoli01@gmail.com Jason Steiger jasonsteiger18@gmail.com CHARLOTTE BIRSH was featured in a Colgate University news story about her work as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. She and JARED JIANG also traveled to Egypt in January!

Hey Falcons!

We’d love to hear from you!

Send in your updates to your class correspondent or classnotes@riverdale.edu so we can include you in the fall Quad!

spring break solution

JARED JIANG ’19 AND CHARLOTTE BIRSH ’19

JARED JIANG ’19 AND CHARLOTTE BIRSH ’19

QUAD 43

CLASS IN MEMORIAM NOTES

In Me Class of 1948

DANIEL B. DEBRA passed away peacefully,

Daniel DeBra ’48 Harold Blach Jr. ’49 Lucy Bunzl Mallan ’50 Gerry Padwe ’50 Martha Evans Williams ’55 Susan Feigin Gerson ’56 Marty Zelnik ’57 Alex Garvin ’58 George Irvin ’58 Bob Kramer ’59 Geoffrey Hedrick ’60 Robert Kenas ’60 John Zwerling ’61 John Squire ’62 John Bloomgarden ’65 Neal Conan ’67 Stephen Strasser ’68 Roger Meyer ’69 Andrew Richard Ebon ’70 Philip Nadelman ’74 Michael Rosenblum ’75 Adam Eidelberg ’82 Neil Salvaggio ’91

44 QUAD

on December 3, 2021, at home with family, at the age of 91. Daniel moved from New York to California to work in the growing aerospace industry, making the drive west in 1956 with his wife, Esther (“Teri”) Crosby, and infant daughter. They had five more children in California over the next decade.

Daniel received engineering degrees at Yale University, MIT, and Stanford. He worked at Lockheed in Sunnyvale, and then as a Professor at Stanford University School of Engineering’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Edward C. Wells Professor, Emeritus) until retirement. In 1981 he was elected to be a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering based on contributions to the first drag-free satellite control systems.

He also played a prominent role in the development of the NASA-funded, Gravity Probe-B experiment that went into space with precision instruments (gyroscopes) and was designed to test Einstein’s theories around relativity, time, and space, as well as other projects. In addition, he served as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and was a civilian pilot.

Class of 1949

HAROLD BLACH, JR. passed away on

December 14, 2021. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated from The University of Alabama in 1955. He was the Fourth Generation President of Blach’s, which was founded by his great grandfather, Julius Blach, in 1885. Harold is survived by his wife of 18 years, Nancy Pickard Humphrey, from Montgomery, AL; his children, Kit (Rick) Roth and Lisa (Andy) Weil; as well as his five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was predeceased by

his son Harold III (Bo) in 2015. Harold served on many boards to insure a better future for the community including Vestmark (chairman), MailSouth (chairman), Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and Birmingham, Baptist Hospitals Foundation, The University of Alabama President’s Cabinet, College of Commerce, University of Alabama National Alumni Association (VP), Better Business Bureau (president and chairman), Racking Horse Breeders Association of America (co-founder), Birmingham Nascar Banquet (chairman), Birmingham Kiwanis NFL Exhibition Games (co-chairman), Cahaba Truck and Equipment, Cahaba Capital, and Alabama Spay and Neuter (co-founder).

Class of 1950

LUCY BUNZL MALLAN passed away on August 9, 2021, in Arlington, VA. After Riverdale, she received her B.A. in economics at Swarthmore College and then attended Northwestern University, where she earned a master’s and Ph.D. in economics. At the age of 53, she earned her second master’s degree in the field of computer science from Trinity College.

Lucy taught briefly at Smith College, then after moving to Washington, D.C., she worked at the Commission on Railroad Retirement, the Brookings Institute, and as a senior economist for the Social Security Administration. Much of her work focused on economic justice for women.

Several of her articles were published in the Social Security Bulletin, as well as in Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, a peer-reviewed feminist academic journal. She is survived by her children: Liz Augustine and husband, Robert Praetorius, of Maynard, MA; Margi Willowmoon and partner, Tim Erney, of Corvallis, OR; and Tom Mallan and wife, Trish Killelea, now living in Brussels, Belgium.

emoriam GERRY PADWE passed away on February 5, 2022. After

RCS, Gerry attended Williams College (A.B., 1954), and the University of Michigan (MBA and JD, 1958). He joined Touche Ross & Co. in 1958 and became a partner of the firm in 1966. He was national director of tax services (19721977) and a member of the firm’s executive committee and regional tax director for Latin and South America (1979-1982).

Upon the firm’s merger with Deloitte, he became associate national director, tax practice (1982-1992). A volunteer in the tax division of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for many years, he chaired the Tax Policy Committee and the Tax Legislative Committee. Upon retirement from Deloitte & Touche, he became vice president, taxation of the AICPA in 1992. He received the Arthur J. Dixon Award in 2002 for “service with distinction.” Music was always an important part of his life. He joined the Cathedral Choral Society and sang with the group for decades. He served on the board of the group for many years, including as president during their 50th anniversary year. He was awarded the Order of Merit in 1997. Gerald is survived by his wife, Alice; their son, Jonathan (Jennifer Grimm); their daughter, Elizabeth (I. David Muhlbaum); and grandchildren, Sarah and Lily Muhlbaum, and Moses, Charles, and Louisa Padwe.

Class of 1955

MARTHA (MARRIE) EVANS WILLIAMS passed away on March 3, 2021. A resident of Iowa since 1964, Marrie lived on a small acreage south of Ames, where she was able to indulge her love of horses and the Iowa countryside. In 2016, she moved to Ames Village Cooperative where she enjoyed the friendship of many. She worked at ISU for over 25 years, in various positions from special collections in the ISU library to a lab supervisor in the archeology department, and finally in the zoology and genetics department as an academic advisor. She retired from the University in 2006.

She is survived by the father of her children, Fred Williams of Oregon; her daughter, Ruth (Brian Swanson) Williams and their daughters, Daisy and Mia of Pacific Grove, CA; and daughter, Claire (Brad) Reiman and their sons, Evan (Emily) Reiman and Lucas Reiman all from West Des Moines.

Class of 1956

SUSAN FEIGIN GERSON, wife of the late Stephen S. Gerson,

died peacefully of natural causes on August 18, 2021, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Susan graduated from Mount

CLASS OF 1957: MARTIN ZELINK It is with sadness that we, members of the Riverdale Country School class of 1957, report that our beloved classmate and friend, MARTIN ZELNIK, died on April 1 at his winter home in Sarasota, FL. He was 82 years old. Martin (“Marty” to us) was a lifelong Riverdalian, having been born, raised, and spent his adult life in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. He and his older brother, MARTIN ZELINK Reggie, went to RCS. Marty started in kindergarten and stayed on through our high school graduation. After Riverdale, Marty attended Brandeis University where he played five sports - football, tennis, soccer, basketball, and fencing. With Zelnik on the court the Brandeis tennis team compiled a 30-win, three-loss record over a three-year stretch. As a result of his athletic prowess, he was inducted into the Brandeis Hall of Fame. During his senior spring season at Brandeis he was the first women’s tennis team coach. After Brandeis, Marty attended the Columbia University School of Architecture and founded Panero Zelnik Associates, a distinguished architecture firm that he led for 50 years. As an architect, he also taught and created the Interior Design program at the Fashion Institute of Technology at the State University of New York and coauthored three major design publications available in eight languages. These guides have become the bibles for all interior design students. He was the architect of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale - of which he was especially proud. In recent years, he purchased the Moccasin Wallow Golf Club, located outside of Sarasota which he co- owned with his son Noah. We, Marty’s classmates, will remember him as one of our lifelong friends who in recent years served as the lynchpin of our class, arranging myriad reunions for us and, during the past two Covid years, zooming with us on Sundays. He was instrumental in conceiving of and fundraising for Riverdale’s Class of 1957 Multipurpose Room, which was named in recognition of our class’s 50th reunion. An endless source of ideas and idealism, Marty always thought of others before himself. We give our condolences to Marty’s survivors, Lassa, his wife of 59 years; his sons, Geoffrey ’84, Bryan ’88, and Noah; and grandsons, Cooper and Arik, as well as his niece, Pamela.

QUAD 45

CLASS IN MEMORIAM NOTES

Holyoke College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in art history, and later studied painting at The Art Students League of New York, where she met Stephen. She married him in 1960, and they were together for 60 years, until his death in December 2020. She worked closely with him to build the family’s advertising printing business, Gerson Offset Lithography Company, on Hudson Street in Manhattan. Susan was deeply proud of her sons, William, Thomas, and James, their spouses and nine grandchildren, and many dear friends. Services were held privately in the San Francisco Bay Area and online.

Class of 1958

ALEX GARVIN passed away on December 17, 2021. Alex was a city planner, architect, and author who directed the planning for the former World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan after the September 11th attacks and developed the vision for a 2012 Olympics proposal in New York.

He worked under five New York City mayors, beginning in 1970 with the administration of John V. Lindsay, where he was director of housing and community development for the city planning department. Under Mr. Lindsay’s successor, Abraham D. Beame, he was deputy commissioner of the Housing and Development Administration. He was then director of comprehensive planning for the city under Mayor Edward I. Koch and later appointed by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani to the New York City Planning Commission, remaining in that role until 2004. He worked closely with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. Alex was also a consultant on urban development for several cities.

He also wrote several books including The American City: What Works, What Doesn’t. His determination to recognize the diversity of players in what he would call, in the title of another book, The Planning Game, formed the basis 46 QUAD

of the course he taught for 55 years at his alma mater, Yale University. A cheerful man, who often dressed in a bow tie and obsessed over the cityscape wherever he was, Alex insisted on taking almost all the photographs for his books and traveled around the world to see firsthand the places he wrote about.

After college, Alex took a job in New York with the office of the architect Philip Johnson, an experience that confirmed he was interested less in designing single buildings than in thinking about how they fit together to make cities. He accepted a part-time appointment at Yale in 1967 and began teaching his course, Introduction to the Study of the City, which would continue in various forms until he stepped down last year. Part municipal government insider, part academic, part developer, he was nevertheless relatively littleknown until 1995, when his first book was published and read by Daniel Doctoroff, an investment banker who believed that bringing the Olympics to New York would be central to reviving the city.

Mr. Doctoroff asked Alex to help develop a plan for the Olympics, and Alex — who generally preferred opera to sports — found himself in the spotlight as he put together a proposal for an Olympic stadium on the site of what is now Hudson Yards in Manhattan, an Olympic village along the Queens waterfront, and numerous facilities by noted architects. His proudest accomplishment was what he called the “Olympic X,” a system that called for athletes to be transported along the city’s waterways and through its transit system. Although the 2012 Olympics was awarded to London in 2005, many aspects of Alex’s plan were executed, including the development of the Queens waterfront.

In 2002, he took a two-year break from his Olympics work for an evenmore-visible position as director of planning for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the agency that oversaw the rebuilding at the World Trade Center site. There he

successfully encouraged the adoption of the architect Daniel Libeskind’s plan for the sixteen-acre site, and made certain that Greenwich Street, a major northsouth route that had been blocked by the original World Trade Center, would be reopened. “I am now living in the middle of the most complicated game of all,” he said of planning the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine a game that would be like this one.”

GEORGE IRVIN passed away in August 2021. A respected and progressive development economist, George worked at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) for 25 years, leaving in 2001. He taught, conducted research, and did consultancy in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. During his time at ISS, Professor Irvin traveled widely for policy advice missions and project teaching.

He later took up a position at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London where he worked on world trade and financial flows and the EU economies. Well-known in development circles for his early work on cost-benefit analysis, his best work was his study on income distribution in the USA and UK.

Class of 1960

GEOFFREY HEDRICK, the founder, chairman of the board, and chief executive officer of Innovative Solutions and Support, Inc., and creator of approximately 100 patents in the avionics industry passed away January 12, 2022 in Vero Beach, Florida, where he lived, due to complications from a sudden illness. To read more about Geoffrey’s accomplishment click here.

ROBERT LYND KENAS, of Marlboro, NJ, passed away on March 27, 2022, following his battle with inclusion body myositis. At Riverdale Country School, Bob was a decorated athlete in basketball, baseball, and football.

He attended Hobart College, where he played collegiate basketball, and

graduated from City University of New York. From there, Bob earned his Masters Degree from Baruch College. His distinguished career in communications marketing included more than 40 years at Western Electric and AT&T, followed

by Nortel Networks, but his passion was sports photography.

He spent decades shooting youth and professional tennis, and captured countless iconic players and moments in tennis history. His photos appeared in the New York Times and Tennis Magazine, and were on display in the U.S. Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium. Bob was recognized for his contributions to the sport with induction into the USTA Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame. Bob is survived by his wife of 52 years, Barbara; children Jennifer, Jamie, David; their spouses, Paul and Renee; grandchildren, Brandy, Kendall, Charlie, Leo, Sophie, Stephen, and Phoebe; sister, Emily; and brother-in-law, Pat Collins. Click here to share fond memories and expressions of sympathy with the Kenas family.

Class of 1967

NEAL CONAN passed away on August 11, 2021. Neal anchored NPR’s flagship call-in program, “Talk of the Nation,” for 12 years.

In a broadcasting career that began when he was 17 and lasted five decades, Neal worked for NPR in New York, London, and Washington as an executive producer, foreign editor, managing editor, and news director. He helped shape the network’s pioneering newsmagazine, “All Things Considered.” In 1991, while covering the Persian Gulf war, he and Chris Hedges of The New York Times were held hostage for nearly a week by the Iraqi Republican Guard. During his career, he won a George Foster Peabody Award and three Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards for his work at NPR.

Class of 1969

ROGER MEYERS, resident of Grantham, NH, and Osprey, FL, passed away on December 11, 2021, at his winter home.

Rebecca, his wife and partner of 38 years; their sons, Robin and Cameron; his sister, Vicki; and Robin’s partner, Lily, were all present to surround him with love. To read Roger’s full obituary, please click here.

Class of 1975

MICHAEL ROSENBLUM passed away in January 2022 after a

lengthy struggle with chronic diseases. After Riverdale, Michael entered the New York commercial real estate industry. His insights, ability to relate to anyone, and negotiating acumen brought him much success. In the mid-1990s, Michael moved to start a family in Kansas City and is survived by his daughter, Daryl. Classmates JONATHAN BEITLER and JEFF RUSSELL note, “We enjoyed great times at poker, jai-alai, ice hockey (the ascendant Islanders), and growing up together, talking about anything and everything. We miss his ebullience, energy, and ever-present boyish curiosity.”

Class of 1982

Beloved father, husband, son, brother, uncle, son-in-law, brother-in-law, dear friend, and mentor to many, ADAM CHARLES EIDELBERG passed away on September 16, 2021 at his home in New York City surrounded by his beloved wife Hillary Jassey, and children Bennett, age 9, and Hazel, age 6.

Adam was born in New York City to Linda Eidelberg and the late Albert Eidelberg. He hailed proudly from New Jersey, where he was raised in Englewood Cliffs with his younger sister, April. In addition to his immediate family, Adam is survived by Linda and April, each of New York City, and his niece, Lilly.

After graduating from Riverdale, Adam attended Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, with a B.F.A. degree in photography and a minor in education. In 1985, Adam joined the International Center for Photography (ICP) where he worked for over 22 years. Adam was a photographer to his core – a wonderful imagemaker as comfortable with the aesthetics of the medium as he was with the process and craft of photography. He played a central role in every facility renovation at ICP. Adam eventually used these skills to start his own general contracting business in 2006 known as A. Eidelberg General Contractors. His business was successful, his work was appreciated by clients throughout the metropolitan area who appreciated Adam’s fine craftsmanship, delivered on time without attitude, angst, or drama.

In the fall of 2019, Adam was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Adam and his family are especially thankful to the loving care he received from his primary nurses, Carlene, Kehinde and Norda. Adam fought the disease with his usual strength, never-ending humor, and determination as long as he could continue to spend time with his beloved children, Bennett and Hazel, and his beloved wife, Hillary.

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Girls School 1947 Logo ABOVE: A photo of the entrance to the Riverdale Country School for Girls found in the 1965 yearbook.

RIGHT: The R.C.S. Primer found in the yearbook from 1966; In February 2022, we asked alumna for feedback on a selection of logos from the Riverdale School for Girls that were in our archives. A majority selected the logo found in the yearbook from 1947 to the right. They also shared with us their memories, which you can read here on the Riverdale website.

Riverdale Country School 5250 Fieldston Road Bronx, New York 10471-2999 www.riverdale.edu

NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID WATERBURY, CT PERMIT NO 118

46%

48%

100%

of all gifts come from our alumni community

haven’t missed a donation in 5 years

of Annual Fund support impacts our students

For decades, the Riverdale Alumni Community has contributed to the Annual Fund for so many reasons. Make your gift this year in support of our current students, in memory of a teacher who made a difference, or in appreciation of the friends you made along the way.

This year’s Annual Fund ends on June 30, 2022—make your donation before it’s too late!

Visit www.riverdale.edu/donate or contact the Development Office at 718-519-2745 or annualfund@riverdale.edu