Santa Catalina School Bulletin Spring 2019

santa catalina

World is wide open for Class of 2014 Students feed mind, body, and soul A

toolbox for the younger set

Reunion 2019 in photos

2019 SPRING BULLETIN

Crystal Boyd ’89 Director of Communications

Jeannie Evers Writer

Jen Rocha Graphic Designer Robin Kelly Copy Editor

Gretchen Mueller Burke ’83, ’79 LS Director of Alumnae/i Relations

Contributors

Debra Burke, Paul Elliott, Shannon Gaughf ’08, Liz Hulme

Contributing Photographers

Marc Howard ’93 LS; Nick Lovejoy; Santa Catalina School parents, faculty, and students; profile photos courtesy of the subject

On the cover: Marine Ecology Research Program students study sea life during an annual trip to Hawaii, where they engage in an ongoing research project on the health of coral reefs. This is just one of many experiential learning opportunities that allow students to engage more meaningfully with their studies—and go on a journey of discovery.

Above: Kindergartners get scientific in the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Discovery Lab.

Inside back cover: Girls take part in a Catalina "tradition"—the Desk Assembly. They removed desks from Study Hall to make way for the Annual Benefit Celebration.

Back Cover: The House of Excellence celebrates a win during Lower and Middle School's Pumpkin Olympics.

Santa Catalina’s Bulletin is published twice a year. We welcome suggestions for topics and news, as well as comments about our publication. Email us at communications@santacatalina.org.

Santa Catalina School, located on the Monterey Peninsula, is an independent, Catholic school. The Upper School is a college-preparatory high school for young women, with boarding and day students in grades 9–12. The Lower and Middle School is coeducational, with day students in PreK–grade 8. A summer camp for girls 8–14 years serves resident and day campers. Santa Catalina School is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Santa Catalina School admits students of any race, creed, color, and national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, disability, and national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs, athletic, or other school-administered programs.

A new program builds social and emotional skills in K-grade 5.

Mind, Body, and Soul

Students go on a journey of self-discovery in Catalina's first Health and Well-being Day.

Lower and Middle School: The Class of 2014

Four men from the Class of 2014 share what they’ve learned and where they’re going.

Upper School: The Class of 2014

Members of the Class of 2014 are bursting into the next phase of their lives.

Learn more about the 2019 Distinguished Alumna Award recipients.

Message from Head of School

Campus News

Alumnae News: Reunion 2019

Notes

Discovery

young alumnae have boldly stepped into their post-secondary studies and careers in fields as diverse as medicine, business, entertainment, arts, service, communications, international relations, and professional sports. They don’t all have answers, but that’s the point: this period of their lives is all about discovery.

Alumnae, Families, and Friends,

Santa Catalina is enjoying a beautiful burst of spring with flowers in bloom. After a wet winter, these lovely days fill us with a promise of growth and renewal. It’s a perfect complement to the stories and photos you will find in this issue of the Bulletin: alumnae/i embarking on the early stages of their young adult journeys, generations of women reconnecting with school and each other at Reunion, and current students developing their intellectual and emotional selves under the friendly guidance of their teachers.

We celebrate the Class of 2014, with profiles of Upper School alumnae marking their five-year reunion and Lower and Middle School alumni finishing their first year of college. The stories of these adventurous, creative men and women speak to the ways Catalina supported and encouraged them. Our

The Upper School Class of 2014 returned to campus for their first reunion alongside 12 other classes this March. Over 200 alumnae attended. Their energy, enthusiasm, and love of school were palpable throughout their visit. Alumnae shared their life stories and professional advice with students during Journey Day. They attended classes, gathered for meals filled with laughter and joy, and added their voices to our award-winning choir during Mass.

For me, visiting with generations of strong, confident Santa Catalina women further confirms my conviction that our wonderful school instills lifelong benefits.

As teachers, academic advisors, coaches, and resident faculty, we know each child: his or her strengths, gifts, and goals. Every Santa Catalina student, from the day they enter PreK to the day they graduate from 8th or 12th grade, is on a path of self-discovery supported by their teachers and parents. We are a community striving to find every opportunity to develop character and self-agency in our young people. As I write this, 17 girls are soaking in the Big Apple on a New York City arts trip; second-graders are promoting kindness with a colorful rock garden outside their classroom filled with positive messages; and Lower and Middle School students from every grade have packed a car with snacks to take to families affected by the recent devastating wildfire in Northern California. The wonder of hearing graduates tell their stories is the confirmation and celebration of the quality of our academic program and the warmth of our relationships.

Santa Catalina’s campus is always bursting with activities. I invite you to follow along on social media or online at santacatalina.org as we share the rich, fun-filled experiences that make Catalina a place of learning, service, and joy.

Sincerely, Meg Bradley

Dear

I do know that whatever I end up doing needs to be purposeful and to enact positive change.

—Karli McIntyre ’14

ENGLISH TEACHER JOINS WILDFIRE SEARCH AND RESCUE

Middle School English teacher Chris Avedissian was part of a search-and-rescue team that sifted through the rubble of Paradise after the devastating Camp Fire in November. He talked about his experience during a Middle School assembly on December 7, emphasizing the importance of serving others in their time of need.

“I imagined Paradise to be a pretty small community up in the mountains, but, population-wise, it’s not much smaller than Monterey,” said Avedissian, a volunteer with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team. “Imagine a place the size of Monterey completely gone in just a couple of days.”

The Camp Fire was the most destructive wildfire in California’s history, destroying nearly 19,000 buildings and resulting in the deaths of 85 people. Authorities called on Avedissian’s team to help search through burned properties looking for victims. Avedissian said, “It was a really unpleasant, grim task. But it was a really important thing that the community needed, and we were proud to go help.”

Avedissian began volunteering with the search and rescue team in January 2016. Though the team is focused on Monterey County, it is sometimes called to help other communities when disasters strike. Last year, the team responded to the deadly wildfire in Napa and Sonoma counties. “I joined the team because I love hiking, the outdoors, and the wilderness areas of Monterey County, and because I want to help people out when they need it,” he said. “Search and rescue seemed like a perfect way to serve my community.”

Knowing that service is a big part of Santa Catalina’s DNA, Avedissian wanted to find ways for the school to help people affected by the Camp Fire. In his presentation, he shared a note from the

Butte County superintendent of schools, who encouraged people to write letters of love and support. In response, Catalina students wrote cards and notes to send to the students, teachers, and families displaced by the fire.

“When this kind of stuff happens, it’s tragic and it’s unfortunate, but one of the things I’ve witnessed and experienced is that it’s also really powerful to see how much people will rally and step up and help,” Avedissian said.

5 ‘VISITS’ COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

Usually, Santa Catalina students have to wait until their eighth-grade Washington, D.C. trip to visit Colonial Williamsburg. However, in January, Colonial Williamsburg came to the fifth grade.

Teacher Bri Slama ’07 set up several stations in the Assembly Room to represent various places in Colonial Williamsburg. By visiting these stations and engaging in hands-on activities, students were able to learn about colonial times.

At one station—staged to represent the college of William & Mary—boys wrote with quill-and-ink pens. At the “dame school,” girls made sewing samplers. At the shoemaker’s shop, students sized shoes for each other by tracing their feet. Students played a board game at Raleigh Tavern, learned a traditional call-and-response song called “Juba” in the enslaved-persons’ quarters, denied or approved government actions at the Governor’s Palace, and read from an old vestry book at Bruton Parish Church as they sat in pews according to the status cards they selected. All of the activities brought colonial history to life.

Chris Avedissian, second from right in the second row from the top, with the search and rescue team.

George Murphy writes with a quill-and-ink pen.

BUDDY BENCH MAKES ITS DEBUT

Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School now has a Buddy Bench, thanks to an idea proposed three years ago by Chloe Shute, now a sixth-grader.

Chloe had suggested the Buddy Bench in a class paper about ways to improve the school. She was a new student in third grade, and her old school had had a bench. “She told us that she really thought we needed one because sometimes it could be hard for new students to find someone to play with at first,” said Amy Aldrich-McAfee, learning specialist for PreK-Grade 4 and the director of curriculum and learning.

Buddy Benches are trending at schools across the country. Their purpose is simple: If a child is sitting alone on the bench, it signals that other kids can approach them, chat, and invite them to play.

The timing of the bench’s installation was perfect, because this year’s theme is kindness. The shiny green bench is nestled under a tree near the playground and lower lawn, where kids play flag football and four square or climb playground equipment during recess and after school.

On September 28, Chloe cut the ribbon on the bench as enthusiastic students from all grades cheered. “I just wanted to do it for fun, and I didn’t realize it would become this,” Chloe said after the ribbon-cutting, referring to the big show of support from her classmates and teachers. “I’m actually really happy it did.”

FIVE WAYS KIDS CAN STAY SAFE ONLINE

Let’s say you’re a 12-year-old kid who’s standing in line with friends at a movie theater. An adult stranger walks up to you and asks for your name or where you go to school. A little creepy, right? You probably wouldn’t share that kind of personal information.

As social media safety expert Clay Cranford pointed out to Lower and Middle School students in the fall, that’s not much different from having strangers follow you on Instagram, where they can learn a lot about you by what you post. You wouldn’t engage a stranger in the physical world, but you might do so in the digital space. Cranford noted, “With social media, our beliefs and behaviors don’t match up.”

Cranford, author of Parenting in the Digital World , is the nation’s leading law enforcement educator on social media and online safety for children. He spoke to students in grades 5–8 on November 8, then presented to parents later that night as a guest speaker of the Parents Association.

Cranford’s presentation to students was all about helping them make smart choices. We may feel less vulnerable online because we’re not interacting with people face to face, but the actions we take can have consequences. He showed students how to make their social networks more secure, and focused on the importance of creating a positive digital reputation.

Cranford shared the following advice with students:

• Assume that any photo you share will be seen by everyone. Even photos that are texted or posted on a private account can easily be made public. Don’t share anything you wouldn’t want your mom to see.

• Let only the people you know follow you. Think of social media as you would think of your house: Whom would you let in if someone knocked at the door?

• Never post mean, rude, or threatening messages. Cranford calls this the Airport Rule: You shouldn’t make threats or say inappropriate things in the airport security line, even if you’re joking. The same behavior should apply at school and with social media.

• If you receive a mean message, don’t respond. Ask for help from an adult, and block the person from contacting you.

• Use your social media for good. Celebrate a friend’s accomplishments, or raise awareness for a cause you believe in. Cranford adds: “Here’s the beauty of social media. You guys are writing your own story. Make it positive.”

Chloe Shute gets ready to cut the ribbon on the Buddy Bench.

Middle School boys and teachers enjoy a hike at Arroyo Seco.

STUDENTS BOND DURING CAMPOUTS

In September, a group of Middle School boys and their teachers headed down to Arroyo Seco, a mountainous wilderness area just west of the Salinas Valley. The boys seemed a little subdued at first, perhaps bit by the early-school-year shyness bug. But as they hiked along the river that gives the area its name, they loosened up and began to embrace the adventure. By the end of the day, they were cliff diving into a swimming hole and playing flashlight games in the dark.

That’s exactly what teachers wanted out of the first trip of its kind for the Middle School. “We love being coed, but we were looking for opportunities for the kids to also have that different kind of bonding that comes in a single-sex environment,” said Middle School Dean Anthony Schipper.

The girls had their fun, too. There were no campgrounds available that were large enough to accommodate them, so they set up tents on Catalina’s athletic field for a semi-glamping experience. They had a pool party and watched two movies in a makeshift outdoor theater; popped popcorn, roasted hot dogs, and made s’mores over two fire pits; and had lots of fun with team-building activities.

Head of Lower and Middle School Christy Pollacci said the school looks forward to providing similar weekend experiences in the future. “Activities outside the classroom, like the camping trips, are an important part of Middle School,” she said. “They provide fun, social activities and give students something different to look forward to and a chance to see their teachers and peers in a different setting.”

TEAM COUGARS CARE SETS NEW RECORD IN JDRF WALK

Nearly 300 Santa Catalina School students, parents, faculty, and friends walked in the annual JDRF One Walk on October 14, raising $8,785 for type 1 diabetes research. The record turnout was bolstered by the participation of the Upper School community, who joined this service event for the first time thanks in part to Middle School alums Kaitlin Criswell ’21, ’17 LS and Emily Radner ’19, ’15 LS. The fundraising total eclipsed last year’s $7,000 in donations, including $45 raised through an impromptu lemonade stand set up by a few Lower School students.

A local veteran shares his story with eighth-graders.

VETERANS DAY: A CHANCE TO

REFLECT AND REMEMBER

The Lower and Middle School honored veterans and current service members in events on and off campus on Veterans Day. The school held its annual Veterans Day ceremony in the Performing Arts Center. About 15 students took turns speaking about the history of Americans in wartime, while about 70 student performers played instruments and sang songs such as “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “Thank You, Soldiers.”

The ceremony concluded with a Veteran Wall of Honor listing the names of more than 200 veterans who are friends and family of the Catalina community. The names spanned from World War I to the present, including graduates Alexander Nikssarian ’02 LS and Isaac Nikssarian ’06 LS, and represented all branches of the military.

Afterward, eighth-graders visited The Park Lane senior living community, where they met with residents to talk about military service. The students listened to the stories of these men and women, asked questions, and looked at memorabilia such as photos, maps, and scrapbooks that the veterans shared with them.

Chris Haupt, director of student life, called this a “mutual service” experience, explaining: “The senior citizens have a chance to tell their stories, and the young people have a face-to-face experience with a generation that many of them do not have opportunities to share. It’s service that benefits the teller and the listener.”

CAMPUS

lower

A BEARY GOOD TIME AT THE MUSEUM

> Second-graders took a field trip to the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History in November. They learned about local insects, mammals, and monarch butterflies as part of the museum’s handson STREAM Project.

COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS

> First- and second-graders and their families gathered to receive a sprinkling of holy water from Sister Claire and Frances Cook ’99 to honor the lives of their pets. This year’s animals included cats, dogs, bunnies, fish, and a bearded dragon.

RUBBING ELBOWS WITH THE RABBI

> Sixth- and seventh-graders had the pleasure of visiting Congregation Beth Israel in December. Rabbi Greenbaum talked to students about Judaism, read from the Torah scroll, and offered a blessing in Hebrew.

The SPCA for Monterey County released a rehabilitated red-tailed hawk from Santa Catalina’s campus on December 12. The juvenile male hawk was found about a month earlier near downtown Monterey, apparently injured in a fight with another hawk. He had a deep puncture wound on one of his talons. That may not seem like a serious injury. However, as Marissa Jacky, an SPCA wildlife rehabilitation technician, pointed out, “it’s a big injury for a bird of prey.”

Santa Catalina was chosen as the release site because it offered a safe, open space within the preferred radius of where the bird was found. Students in grades 1, 2, and 8 gathered on the front lawn, along with faculty, staff, and Upper School girls, to watch with hushed anticipation as Sister Claire opened the hawk’s carrier to set him free. The raptor took off right away, perching in a nearby tree as territorial crows cawed at him. Beth Luttrell Brookhouser ’92, the SPCA’s director of community outreach, narrated the events for a Facebook Live video.

The Lower and Middle School is a good friend of the SPCA, regularly donating blankets, towels, and recyclables to the animal rescue group. The pre-kindergarten class adopts the SPCA each year for its Project of Passion.

For more information about the SPCA’s wildlife program, including what residents can do if they find a wounded animal, see spcamc.org/wildlife.

TAKING AIM AT PLASTICS WITH OCEAN GUARDIAN GRANT

Santa Catalina has received a $4,000 Ocean Guardian Grant to help promote ocean conservation and reduce the amount of single-use plastics on campus. Science teachers Kelly Miller (Lower and Middle School) and Lisa Marrack (Upper School) developed the grant, awarded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Reducing plastics has become a theme of grade 6; students perform audits of plastic use on campus and participate in the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Ocean Plastic Pollution Summit. Classroom presentations and a screening of the documentary A Plastic Ocean are among the activities that will educate the Catalina community about the effects of plastics on our local ecosystems. The goal of these efforts is to decrease the use of single-use water bottles, straws, sandwich bags, and cups on campus. Santa Catalina’s in-house food service provider, Bon Appétit, has already stopped providing plastic straws.

Grant money will also help fund equipment to test for microplastics in sand, with the goal of reducing plastics on local beaches and watersheds. Santa Catalina students will continue to restore local dunes by removing invasive plants and replacing them with native, drought-resistant species.

At the end of the year, Santa Catalina could be designated as an Ocean Guardian School for the first time since the 2013–14 school year.

Volleyball continued to be a popular choice for student-athletes, with four teams on the court. All members of the sixth-grade co-ed team were new to the sport, and they improved greatly during the season. They finished with a 5–3 record and played each game with joy. Sixth-grader Savannah Hardy reflected on their season: “I loved how we always cooperated with each other and we always fought hard and never gave up. It was an amazing experience and made me a better person.”

The girls’ grade 7 team faced a season of ups and downs, finishing with three wins and nine losses. Team members looked at each match as a way to improve and develop better communication and cohesion on the court. With a 7–7 league record, the girls’ grade 8 team wrapped up its season by reaching the Mission Trail Junior Athletic League (MTJAL) playoffs. Playing a competitive match, the team lost to San Benancio in the first round. “It was always exciting to watch this team play—strong volleyball skills, competitive yet humble nature, and supportive of one another on the court,” said Middle School Athletic Director Debra Burke.

The girls’ soccer team ended their season with a 2–1–3 league record. The players in this mixed team of grades 6, 7, and 8 worked hard to find their groove as a team. The eighth-graders proved to be great role models, supporting their younger teammates. Coach Jeni Shortes and Coach Craig Varjian provided encouragement and guidance for the girls and did an amazing job developing the players’ soccer skills. Elle Leatherberry declared, “The team, the environment, and the coaches made Catalina soccer a fun learning experience.”

Sixth-grader Alex Peyton pulls up non-native plants at the beach. Part of the grant goes toward restoring local dunes.

Audrey Church, grade 6, gets support from classmate Grace von Schack as she returns the ball.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL TEAM WINS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

The Middle School boys’ volleyball team is the league champion. The Cougars beat Buena Vista in a close championship game to claim the title. The team went into the playoffs with an 11–1 record. In its first playoff match, the team beat Pacific Grove, with strong serving by seventh-grader Andrew Airada and great blocking and spiking by eighth-grader Blake Butler.

The Cougars started strong in their championship match against Buena Vista, winning the first set. Momentum swung the other way in the second set, with Buena Vista taking the win. But an amazing double block by Blake and eighth-grader Charlie Conner seemed to renew the team’s confidence. Players came back swinging in the third set, with outstanding combo play by grade 8 setter Ethan Leamey and classmate Wyley Dale, as well as strong serves from Charlie. The team won the third set—and the championship—with a score of 16–14.

“It was a nail-biter, but the Cougars were tough!” said Coach Mary Ann Ratcliff.

WINTER SPORTS WRAP-UP

Boys’ flag football, under the direction of Coach Anthony Lombardi, had a successful five-week season. The team rebounded from a first-week loss to achieve five wins. It saw improvement with each game, with players making plays, catching key throws, and scoring touchdowns.

Hard work and fun defined the girls’ flag football season. With a 2–2–1 record, the girls worked to memorize plays and to understand specific positions. The squad bonded throughout the short season and executed plays with precision in the final games.

The sixth-grade basketball team had a great season, with many new players trying the sport for the first time. Coach Paul Elliott focused on fun and fundamentals with the team, and the strategy paid off with a 3–1 record. The team’s game against International School of Monterey (ISM) was a highlight of the season. An intense game against a mostly seventh-grade ISM team resulted in a 26–25 Cougar victory. Sixth-grader Arielle Dale reflected: “I liked this season because we each played a part on the team. I learned so much more about basketball.”

Despite an easy-going attitude, the players of the mixed sixthand seventh-grade boys’ basketball team were fierce competitors on the floor. The focus on improving individual skills and the ability to work as a team resulted in a 4–1 record. Playing against ISM, the team managed a last-minute win. Elliott found this team’s dedication and eagerness to play true differentiators in their success.

The girls’ seventh- and eighth-grade basketball team made huge strides during the season. There was notable improvement in ball movement, communication, and positive attitudes. Coached by Debra Burke, the team was tested against the ISM team, forcing the Cougars to rise to the challenge and adapt to a faster-paced game. Despite a loss, it was a great opportunity for the team to improve and understand the different levels of play.

Coached by Ned Stork and Peter Cofresi, the ten boys of the eighth-grade basketball team had a very successful and competitive season, finishing with a 6–1 record. The two games against All Saints proved to be the most exciting of the season. With one home win, the Cougars traveled to All Saints for the rematch—and left with a win. It was a spectacular way to end their season.

The boys volleyball team celebrates their league championship.

Eighth-grader Charlie Conner takes off with the ball.

for LIFE

New program builds social and emotional skills in K-Grade 5

On a recent Thursday afternoon, third-graders took a seat on the classroom floor to talk about their mistakes. They weren’t in trouble, or rehashing a particular event. They were simply learning about what to do when they make a mistake; they were learning about the importance of apologies.

Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School has implemented a social and emotional learning program called Toolbox for kindergarten to grade 5. The program is structured around 12 tools—described as “human capacities that reside within us all”—that empower students to understand their emotions, show empathy toward others, resolve conflicts, maintain positive relationships, and make responsible

decisions. Each tool is associated with a physical object and a hand gesture to help students connect with the targeted skill. For example, a tape measure represents the Breathing Tool, which students can use to grow calm; the tape’s symbol of expanding and retracting suggests inhaling and exhaling.

During the discussion about mistakes, students learned about the Apology and Forgiveness Tool, represented by a bottle of glue and a gesture that mimics two hands stuck together. Like glue, the tool can be used to mend something (trust, a friendship) that is broken.

Third-grade teacher Cris Ford learned about Toolbox at her previous school. “At the time, I was teaching a second-grade class that was particularly

challenging, and for me it was just the biggest gift that I had been given,” she says. “This is the answer to helping me have this common language with them, for them to be able to express their own needs or work through something that might be causing them anxiety or stress.”

When Ford mentioned the program during her Catalina interview, it piqued teachers’ interest. She rolled it out in third grade as a sort of pre-pilot in 2017–18, and it worked so well that Catalina sent five more teachers for training over the summer. Together, the teachers are helping the rest of the K–5 team implement the program in their classrooms. Toolbox will now be a permanent fixture in the curriculum.

ABOVE: Third-graders show off toolboxes they created to store paper representations of their tools. It gives them a physical way to interact with the concepts.

ABOVE RIGHT: Third-grade teacher Cris Ford helps students brainstorm ways to apologize as part of a lesson on the Apology and Forgiveness Tool.

Here’s how it works: Students learn about all 12 tools at the beginning of the year, then do deep dives on each tool. The program emphasizes the first four “gateway” tools: Breathing, Quiet/Safe Place, Listening, and Empathy. With each lesson, students talk about situations in which the tool might come in handy. Maybe they can use the Patience Tool when they’re waiting for the teacher to answer their question, or the Personal Space Tool when they’re feeling crowded in the lunch line. Each tool comes with suggested books to help spark discussion, and students are encouraged to share what they learn at home with their parents.

Teachers use the tools, too. Ford notes, “Teachers go first. We have to model it.” By using the tools, teachers not only demonstrate the how and why, but also show students that it’s OK to express their feelings. Ford says she uses the Breathing Tool all the time but is also fond of the Garbage Can Tool, which allows her to just “throw away” the little irritants that turn into mental hang-ups.

Teachers draw on the tools even outside of dedicated lessons. Ibi Janko Murphy ’83 weaves them in during her religion classes as a way to make the stories tangible. “The Listening Tool comes up all the time,” she says. Sometimes, her students apply the tools when she doesn’t expect it. During one discussion about the story of the Prodigal Son,

This is the answer to helping me have this common language with them.

—Cris Ford, Grade 3 Teacher

Murphy had planned to talk about jealousy and how we can overcome it by being grateful for what we have. Instead, one student looked at the parable and saw a jealous older son who didn’t use his Empathy Tool. “They continue to make those connections, and they make them in ways that surprise me all the time,” Murphy says.

On the playground, the tools help students become problem solvers. Teachers wear lanyards that include multicolored cards for the 12 tools. If students approach a teacher during recess to report an altercation on the playground, the teacher can point to the cards and ask which tools would help resolve the conflict. Ford says, “Each time we go through it, there’s a validity that happens, where the person who’s been wronged feels they have a voice, and the person who has done the wrong knows they can correct a mistake. We solve these little problems right away with these tools.”

That, in turn, makes students better learners. “Whenever there’s any kind of social-emotional hiccup in a child’s day, that’s all the child is thinking about. The child is not available to learn,” Ford says. “So that’s why we take the time to clear [the air], so when the child comes back into the classroom, his or her brain is fully capable and free to focus on the learning at hand.”

The 12 Tools

Here are the 12 tools and their taglines:

Breathing Tool

I calm myself and check in.

Quiet/Safe Place Tool

I remember my quiet/safe place.

Listening Tool

I listen with my ears, eyes, and heart.

Empathy Tool

I care for others. I care for myself.

Personal Space Tool

I have a right to my space and so do you.

Using Our Words Tool

I use the “right” words in the “right” way.

Garbage Can Tool

I let the little things go.

Taking Time Tool

I take time in and time away.

Please and Thank You Tool

I treat others with kindness and appreciation.

Apology and Forgiveness Tool

I admit my mistakes and work to forgive yours.

Patience Tool

I am strong enough to wait.

Courage Tool

I have the courage to do the “right” thing.

ART TEACHER EXHIBITS WORK IN NEW YORK

Visual Arts Chair Claire Lerner was among 12 art educators whose work was presented in a New York gallery in September. The exhibit, Artists & Mentors, featured paintings by artists who participated in a two-week residency program for teachers whose students have won awards in the annual Scholastic Art & Writing contest. Out of hundreds of applicants, just three teachers are selected for the residency each year. Lerner attended in the summer of 2015.

Lerner said, “It was a tremendous honor to be included in this exhibition. Meeting and spending time with the other high school teachers was an enriching experience. We were all filled with gratitude and were quite overwhelmed by the opportunity presented to us to exhibit our work in a Chelsea gallery in New York City.”

The exhibit was held at The Painting Center and was presented by Golden Artist Colors and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, which holds the Scholastic awards. Mark Golden, CEO

of Golden Artist Colors, explains the benefits of working artists as teachers: “What is exceptionally clear is that art teachers with a continuing artistic practice inspire students to achieve well beyond what the typical art student is able to accomplish.”

The exhibit wasn’t the only exciting opportunity for Lerner this year. In the summer, she taught visual arts in a study abroad program in Spoleto, Italy. The three-week program offers hands-on studies in the arts and humanities for high school students. Lerner elaborates: “Faculty and students participated in field trips twice a week to the surrounding cities, including Sienna, Florence, and Assisi. It was all amazing, not to mention living in a hilltop medieval city (complete with castle) without tourists.”

The experience inspired Lerner to expose her Catalina students to the wonders of producing art outdoors. Within the first two weeks of school, the students were in the beautiful Hacienda courtyard, using clear panels to trace architectural features.

MOCK TRIAL TEAM MAKES A STATEMENT AT COUNTY COMPETITION

Santa Catalina made an impressive showing at this year’s Monterey County Mock Trial competition, held February 4–9 at the Monterey County Courthouse. The team ultimately finished in fourth place. Caroline Bulkley-Armas ’20 was named an Outstanding Prosecution Witness and Cailin Templeman ’22 was named an Outstanding Defense Witness. This year’s case involved a young man accused of threatening a coworker on social media and then texting a false tip to police about a hostage situation at the coworker’s house.

At the end of four rounds, Catalina was tied for third place in points with Palma and Alvarez. To break the tie, the Lyceum of Monterey County, which hosts the competition, compared the three teams’ win/loss record, resulting in Palma taking third and Catalina taking fourth. Catalina’s mock trial team finished with a record of 3–1.

“Mock trial is the ideal academic challenge, an intellectual team sport that hones skills in argumentation, critical thinking, and public speaking along with the ability to respond to the opposing team in the moment,” says teacher-coach Beth Jones, who praised the students for their performance and teamwork. Jones adds, “Students who participate in mock trial form a strong community, building on each other’s strengths and supporting each other through their preparation for and performance in the competition.”

Catalina’s team included 19 students: three freshmen, seven sophomores, four juniors, and five seniors. They were assisted this year by two attorney coaches: Kerri Riley, an assistant district attorney for the county of Monterey, and Shannon Sullivan, a public defender in Santa Cruz County and a Catalina parent.

Claire Lerner participated in a Scholastic Art and Writing residency program.

The mock trial team with one of the judges.

CATALINA STAGES NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS

The new musical version of The Wind in the Willows had its world premiere just two years ago in England. When Santa Catalina staged its production October 19–26, it marked the show’s North American premiere. As one local reviewer put it, “This was no ‘school play’ but a production of high professionalism by cast and crew worthy of a far bigger stage.”

Based on Kenneth Grahame’s novel first published in 1908, The Wind in the Willows follows a year in the life of a group of animals in the English countryside. The story centers on Mr. Toad (played by Maddie Mizgorski ’21), whose pursuit of the next fastest thing keeps getting him into trouble. In an effort to save Toad from himself, friends Mole (Kayla Ginette ’19) and Rat (Mackenzie Roth ’19) enlist the help of the reclusive Badger (Molly Gilbert ’19). Meanwhile, a gang of woodland creatures led by Chief Weasel (Bella Borgomini ’21) plots to take over Mr. Toad’s posh residence, Toad Hall.

Twelve Lower School students who played hedgehogs and mice were an audience favorite. Dancers performed a variety of styles from jazz to pointe. The singing was strong throughout, from solos to short musical interludes to big cast numbers. Much credit goes to the crew, whose colorful sets and lighting enhanced the story. The cast also got to ride around stage in a variety of wheeled vehicles, from a boat and barge to a car and horse-drawn carriage.

This production was dedicated to Barney Hulse, who passed away in September. Barney was a beloved member of the Santa Catalina family for more than 35 years, and served as music director for countless performances. A special note in the program read: “Barney had a tremendous knack for making us all sound our best. His vivacious and loving presence was felt in the way he championed for the underdog, supported the strongest, and buoyed the weakest. Barney helped raise all our voices.”

Clockwise from top left: Mr. Toad (Maddie Mizgorski ’21), Mole (Kayla Ginette ’19) and Rat (Mackenzie Roth ’19) hitch a ride from Horse (Bailey Brewer ’20); Chief Weasel (Bella Borgomini ’21) and his gang of woodland creatures; The Swallows (Ana Sofia Jiménez ’21, Maddie Elkin ’21, and Audrey Avelino ’22) sing a lovely tune.

CATALINA NAMED GOLD-LEVEL GLOBAL HIGH SCHOOL

Santa Catalina has been recognized as a Gold-Level Global High School with Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The CRS Global High School Program provides opportunities for Catholic secondary schools to educate about Catholic social teaching and to advocate for solidarity with the global poor.

Santa Catalina regularly engages in CRS initiatives such as emergency response and recovery collections. Santa Catalina’s Food Fast raises awareness about poverty and gives students a concrete way to see how their actions can make a difference in the world. This effort has raised more than $100,000 in the past 20 years to help alleviate hunger and suffering around the world.

In addition, through Santa Catalina’s Peace and Justice Club, students learn about important social justice issues and are encouraged to put their concerns into action in a variety of ways, such as collecting money for needy children around the world through the Catalina Children’s Fund, or raising awareness of environmental issues locally and globally through the R4 club.

SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL TAKES STAGE

February is a rite of passage for sophomore English students. It’s the month they produce the Shakespeare Festival. Each year, sophomores read one of Shakespeare’s plays and stage a production for the entire school in the Performing Arts Center. This year’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream , was performed February 21.

The Shakespeare Festival is a huge collaboration for the sophomores, with each section taking on a different act of the play. With their own actors, script editors, directors, technicians, and costume and prop coordinators, the students must figure out how to bring it all together. The process builds the students’ confidence, stretches their creativity, and allows them to engage more deeply with the material.

“The Shakespeare Festival helps students connect with Shakespeare as they take on the personalities and the relationships of the individual characters,” says their teacher, Beth Jones. She continues, “The girls come to understand that the characters in Shakespeare’s plays are human very much like themselves, with unique individual identities, strong emotional responses, and complicated relationships that in many ways parallel their own.”

THE SCIENCE OF BREAD

In Susan Williams’ science class, students learned about cellular respiration, fermentation, and photosynthesis during a lab focused on making bread. Students put yeast in test tubes, then added different concentrations of sucrose, or table sugar, in water. Yeast uses the sugar as a source of energy for fermentation, the process that helps dough rise. To test whether higher concentrations of sucrose led to faster fermentation, students measured carbon dioxide gas volume and bubbles, carbon dioxide being one of the products of fermentation. Then they used the yeast to make dough—and the baked results were delicious.

MK Barlow ’21 and Fatemeh Shahroudi ’21 perform in A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Students conduct an experiement to test the fermentation process.

PARENTS’ WEEKEND FEATURES NOTABLE SPEAKERS

During Parents’ Weekend in October, Santa Catalina welcomed keynote speakers Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson, whose recently published book, The Self-Driven Child , explores how fostering children’s autonomy can help solve two challenges endemic to kids today: facing anxiety and developing intrinsic motivation.

Dr. Stixrud is a clinical neuropsychologist and a frequent lecturer on topics related to neuropsychological assessment, brain development, motivation, meditation, and the effects of stress, sleep deprivation, and technology overload on the brain. Johnson is the founder of PrepMatters, a tutoring service, and is a teen coach on study skills, sleep deprivation, parent-teen dynamics, and test anxiety.

The presentation combined cutting-edge brain science and practical advice based on the latest discoveries in behavioral therapy to explain why students thrive and are happier when they have control over their own lives.

The authors discussed how certain types of stress can negatively impact the developing brain and why having a sense of autonomy works to reduce stress. They also explained why radical downtime, daydreaming, and imagination are all essential elements to healthy brain development.

Using the book as an outline, the speakers discussed how to let children be decision makers in their lives, how to promote inner drive, and how parents can be a non-anxious presence with their children. Each chapter of the book includes practical suggestions. Here are a few examples:

• Are there situations in which you could give your child more independence or more choices?

• Encourage “Plan B” thinking by asking your child, “What are some things that you can do if things don’t turn out as you hoped?” Plan B thinking strengthens the

ability of the brain’s prefrontal cortex to regulate stress and anxiety and promotes resiliency.

• Ask your child, “Do you feel you have enough time to yourself, time when you are not studying, doing sports, or talking to other people?” If your child says no, help her to think through when she might find a few times in the day to sit quietly and let her mind wander.

Dr. Stixrud’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post , The Times of London , The Wall Street Journal , U.S. News and World Report , Time Magazine, Scientific American , Business Week, Barron’s, New York Magazine, and other publications. He is also a rock-and-roll musician who plays in the band Larry Close Enough. Johnson’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post , The Wall Street Journal , NPR, and BBC.

FINDING INSPIRATION AT GIRLS’ FESTIVAL

Santa Catalina students and elementary school-aged girls from the Family Resource Center in Salinas enjoyed a day of inspiration and empowerment at the third annual Girls’ Festival at Santa Clara University on October 6.

The festival, hosted by WorldWideWomen, featured a maker space, a pop-up marketplace where girl entrepreneurs could sell their wares, dance and choir performances, resource booths, and more than 20 workshops on topics such as public speaking, cyber security, and coding. Other festival highlights included a science station where girls could make cotton candy and a performance by the San Francisco Girls Chorus School.

The festival also featured a PSA video contest on the topic of mental health. Sofie Wang ’19 was selected as a finalist and showed her video on the main stage. She was awarded a $200 prize.

It was Santa Catalina’s first trip to the festival, thanks to Eleanor Scheetz ’19, who worked as an intern with WorldWideWomen over the summer. The company provides resources and tools to help women succeed in all areas of life. The trip was also organized by Catalina math teacher Jennifer Duncan, who leads the Family Resource Center service program.

Jane Hoffman ’21 builds Legos with her Salinas buddy at the Girls’ Festival.

ANGELA HU ’19 HONORED FOR HER PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS

Angela Hu ’19 received the 2018 Outstanding Philanthropic Youth Award on National Philanthropy Day. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to attend the ceremony because she was busy volunteering, leading a retreat designed to help eighth-graders at San Carlos School transition to high school.

The award, which includes a $1,000 scholarship, came from the Monterey Bay chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Angela was honored for the many causes she advocates for at Santa Catalina School.

“I always felt a calling to lend a hand to those who need it most,” says Angela. “When I arrived at Catalina my freshman year, I was drawn to the Peace and Justice Club. I felt a connection to the club’s mission to advocate for education, understanding, and support of impoverished people around the world.”

Angela is the head of the club’s Children’s Fund, which promotes social development for children in need of financial support. The club raises money to sponsor eight children in five countries in an effort to help them build better lives.

She is also heavily involved in the Peace and Justice Club’s major fundraising and

advocacy effort, the Food Fast. Organized through Catholic Relief Services, an international agency that provides emergency relief for those suffering from war, famine, and natural disasters, the Food Fast is designed to open students’ eyes to the realities of hunger by fasting for 24 hours. Last year, she was a key organizer for the event, bringing students together to fast, reflect, request donations, and make food for Dorothy’s Kitchen in Salinas. Thanks to her efforts to educate and get others involved, Angela helped raise more than $1,000 since joining the Food Fast.

Angela explains: “It’s important to me to share what the Food Fast has meant to me while asking others to join in the effort. The best part is educating people about world hunger and getting people to understand how they can help. A little can go a long way, and I’m grateful to be able to play a small part.”

With the award, Angela is in good company. Last year, two former Santa Catalina students were recognized: Devin Ryan ’10 received the Philanthropic Young Adult Award for her work as cofounder of HerStory, an initiative that helps sexual assault survivors heal and advocates for social

justice, and Matthew Gibbs ’14 LS received the Philanthropic Youth Award for his efforts to feed and clothe homeless people in our community.

This year, Santa Catalina also celebrated past parents Mike and Cori Roffler as Distinguished Honorees for their ongoing support of the school, including on behalf of the Legacy Campaign for tuition assistance and the Family Resource Center community service program.

STUDENTS CELEBRATE MOON FESTIVAL

Santa Catalina’s Mandarin students joined international students from China to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Mandarin teacher Bo Covington describes the festival, also called the Moon Festival, as the Chinese Thanksgiving. It’s a harvest festival held on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar; this year, it fell on September 24.

On the Monday before the festival, Covington’s students made mooncakes, a round pastry often filled with a red bean or lotus seed paste. Some students carved their names in Chinese characters into the dough.

On the eve of the festival, eight students also participated in the second annual Chinese Cultural Festival in downtown Monterey. Emcees Sophia Lee ’19 and Nicole Korinetz ’21 sang a Chinese song, accompanied by MK Barlow ’21 on ukulele. Angelia Shi ’21 and Linda Mao ’19 performed the lion dance. Ayo Adeyemi ’21, Grace LostakBaker ’19, and Joanna Lin ’20 taught participants how to make lucky knots.

Angela Hu ’19 is active in the Peace and Justice Club.

Amelia Downs ’19 carves a design into a mooncake.

Clockwise from top left: Boy (Emily Hayes ’19) and his shipmates; Molly (Samantha Scattini ’21) in the clutches of Black Stache (Molly Gilbert ’19); Smee (Sofia Whitley ’19) ties up Lord Aster (India Gonzales ’20) and Captain Scott (Hattie Keys ’20).

WINTER PLAY AUDITION ‘PANS’ OUT FOR SENIOR

Santa Catalina School’s winter play, Peter and the Starcatcher, tells the story of the boy who would become Peter Pan. There’s also a story of the actress who played that boy: Emily Hayes is an athlete who auditioned for her first production in her senior year and was cast in the lead role.

“I decided to audition for the show the moment Mrs. Devlin announced it,” Emily said. “I’ve been a ‘theater nerd,’ so to speak, since middle school, so I was already a fan of the show and really wanted to be a part of it. Plus, a lot of my friends had been encouraging me to audition for a show for a very long time.”

Emily is not a complete stranger to the stage. She participated in the annual Shakespeare Festival as a sophomore, and performed twice at the B. R.E.A.L. show as a member of B.U.R.R.I.T.O., Catalina’s improv troupe. However, she found the play a completely different experience.

“I can honestly say that every day I try to learn something new. My biggest challenge has definitely been the transition from being an athlete who plays sports year-round to being the lead in a Catalina production. It took some adjusting, but I am very glad that I challenged myself and tried something new! What surprised me

was how close the cast got. I didn’t realize that we’d all become a tight-knit group of girls who support each other all the time in and out of rehearsal.”

In Peter and the Starcatcher, which opened January 18, an orphan (Emily) and his mates (MK Barlow ’21 and Mackenzie Roth ’19) are sent from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, which contains a precious, otherworldly cargo. At sea, the boys are discovered by a precocious girl named Molly (Samantha Scattini ’21), a starcatcher-in-training who realizes that the trunk’s precious cargo is starstuff, a celestial substance so powerful that it must never fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken over by pirates—led by the fearsome Black Stache (Molly Gilbert ’19), a villain determined to claim the trunk and its treasure for his own—the journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure.

“This show is unlike any that I’ve seen at Catalina,” Emily said. “It is extremely funny, yet moving at the same time. It cleverly tells the backstory of Peter Pan and gives it a fresh look. It really is a great show that definitely makes you laugh and maybe even cry a little.”

FALL SPORTS WRAP-UP

As a whole, the cross country team improved over the season and made strides since last year. The Cougars won two dual meets and lost four, but their hard work resulted in a fifth-place finish in the Pacific Coast Athletic League (PCAL), Santa Lucia Division. Four athletes ran in the PCAL championships: Anna Leissner ’21 and Kasey Konya ’19, who set personal records in the 5,000 meters, and Mia Bennett ’19 and Lauren Dunlap ’22. Coach John Nardone said, “We were a small team in numbers, but improved throughout the year. There is some young talent coming back. I look forward to next year!”

Field hockey finished the season with an overall record of 10–3–1, claiming the PCAL’s Mission Division title—the team’s first since 1993! When the players were up against a dominant North Salinas team in the championship game, the season ended with a 3–0 loss. Still, it’s an improvement over last year’s season, which ended with a 3–9–3 record. “In four short years, we went from only being able to field a JV team to winning a varsity league championship,” said Coach Jose Ramos. Issy Brooker ’20 and co-captain Laurel Wong ’19 were the team’s top scorers.

Catalina golf continued to grow and improve over the season, with a blend of experienced and new-to-the-game members. Players worked hard to improve their game and gained confidence as the year progressed. Competing in the Gabilan Division of PCAL, the Cougars finished 7–5 and took third place in the league championship tournament. Junior Grace Deakyne was a three-time medalist, and senior Emma Leamey earned two. Coach Cheryl Wecker said, “This team improved, from start to finish, more than any of our teams in the seven years that I have been coaching at Catalina.”

Cougar tennis continued its rich tradition with the 61st annual Santa Catalina Tennis Invitational in early September. The team

played a tough preseason schedule before entering the Gabilan Division season. Singles player Annabel Stork ’19 made it to the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs but lost in the quarterfinals. Overall, the tennis team finished fourth in league, with a 5–7 record. Other noteworthy singles players were Yanula Avila ’19 and Gaby Nagy ’20. The Cougars saw strong doubles play from Sofia Marquez ’20-Hannah Levi ’21 and Maya Pruthi ’19-Kate Larsen ’21. Coach Tina Romeka said, “It is good to be back at Catalina. I look forward to growing this team back to its championship form.”

The volleyball team found itself in a very different place this year. After two undefeated league seasons, the Cougars finished 3–11 in league and 5–11 overall. Two wins were against rivals and volleyball powerhouses King City and Notre Dame-Salinas toward the latter part of the season. Led by Alicia Rector ’19, the squad improved with each game and maintained a positive outlook. Coach Paul Elliott noted: “After going a combined 54–2 over the previous two seasons, it was challenging this year. That challenge also made it one of the most rewarding years of my career.”

The water polo squad continued its great play, vying for PCAL’s Pacific Division title all season. With a 13–1 league record, the squad faced Stevenson in the first round of the league championship. It was a tight game, but the Cougars prevailed and came away with a 14–10 victory. The run for a league championship title ended with a heartbreaking 11–12 loss to Gilroy in the final round. Coach Jim Morton reflected: “It was great to see our young players blend so perfectly with the veterans. We just came up a little short in the league championship final.” Abbie Fisher ’19 and Whitney Allen ’22 led the team in scoring, with 88 goals and 64 goals, respectively. Sophomore Emma Underdown played a key role, making a number of assists as well as steals, and junior Georgina Burton made 115 saves in goal.

Sarah Scheetz ’21 was a top scorer on the soccer pitch.

Georgina Burton ’20 made 115 saves in goal.

WINTER SPORTS WRAP-UP

Catalina basketball had another rough year on the scoreboard, going 1–13 overall and 1–9 in league. With consistent scoring from Kia Shoemaker ’19, Abby Gunter ’20, and Maddy Foletta ’22, the Cougars improved their competitiveness over the season. Abby posted seven double-doubles, and Kia posted four. Issy Brooker ’20, a first-year player, provided great defense at the other end of the court. “Basketball is coming back to where it belongs at Catalina,” declared Coach Robbie Johnson.

The young Cougar soccer squad was revitalized this year, finishing with an overall record of 10–4–1 and 10–3–1 in league. The record put the squad in third place in the Santa Lucia Division of PCAL. The offensive attack was led by sophomores Sarah Scheetz and Niamh Burke, each scoring more than 10 goals in the season. Seven other team players contributed goals consistently. Emily Radner ’19 kept opponents in check with six shutouts in goal. Coach Jose Ramos was happy with their efforts this year, saying: “We are a young team that has lots of talent. We improved every day and the girls are motivated to work their individual skills over the summer. The team goal is to make it back to the CCS playoffs in 2020.”

SOPHOMORE ADVANCES

TO NEXT-LEVEL TRAINING

Sophomore Niamh Burke has made the Olympic Development Program (ODP) soccer team for Northern California, and was selected to play in the western regional championships in Phoenix over Christmas Break. The ODP trains youth soccer players for possible promotion to national teams that compete in events such as the Youth World Cup and the Olympics.

Outside of Catalina, Niamh participates in the Monterey County Futbol Club. According to the Monterey County Weekly, she was one of six players from the club—and the only girl—to make the Cal North ODP team. Overall, she was one of 35 girls to make the team from a pool of about 95 players.

Niamh says: “I was extremely happy and surprised when I found out I made the team. It was my third time trying out for the ODP team, so I just feel beyond blessed that I have this amazing opportunity.” Playing in the western regional championships was another thrill. “Being able to represent Northern California in this tournament was pretty awesome. . . . It was so cool to be able to showcase my talents while playing with some of the best players from the state.”

Niamh hopes to bring the skills she learns on the ODP team back to the Cougars. The center midfielder had a strong season, scoring a career-high six goals against Anzar on January 8.

SENIOR NAMED SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Laurel Wong ’19 was named the Central Coast Section’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The CCS has 155 member schools from San Francisco to King City.

The CCS said of Laurel and the male athlete of the year: “These two students reflect the very best of the CCS. They are talented athletes within the Section, earning numerous accolades as well as celebrating team success. They are outstanding students with high GPAs, impressive test scores, while taking rigorous course loads. They shine within their communities and serve others through volunteer work.”

The honor comes with a $1,500 scholarship.

Laurel was the 2018 state pole vault champion—a first for Santa Catalina in any sport—and will compete at Stanford University next year. She has been a member of the varsity track-and-field team since her freshman year. In that time, she has been part of three team league titles and three 4x100 relay league titles; she has twice been league champion in the long jump and has claimed multiple MVP awards. She qualified for state all three years in the pole vault. Her personal record is a vault of 13 feet, 4 inches.

Laurel is also a four-year field hockey player and was named team captain in her junior and senior years. This fall, she helped lead the team to a division title, was named the division’s most valuable player, and was named first team all-league.

Outside of athletics, she is a four-year gold cord honors recipient and a member of the National Honor Society. In addition to the many community service projects she participates in at school, she plays the harp and volunteers as a physical therapist aide at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas.

Laurel Wong ’19 is attending Stanford in the fall.

Olava Menczkowska '74 helps students focus on their core in the exercise and movement session.

Mind, Body, & Soul

Students go on a journey of self-discovery in first Health and Well-being Day

“What is your happy place?” That’s the question that Virginia Reeves Apple ’89 asked students during Santa Catalina’s first Health and Wellbeing Day. Apple was back on campus to lead a session on how students can find or create environments that support joy, productivity, and balance in their lives. Though her happy-place question was quite literal, it also reflected the overarching theme of the day—helping students discover what works best for them in the pursuit of a healthier mind, body, and soul.

Health and Well-being Day, held in January, was one of the visible manifestations of Santa Catalina’s new health and wellness initiative, which has supported student growth in this area in myriad ways over the past year. (Currently, it is focused on the Upper School.) Among other steps, the school has spruced up the fitness center, created an introductory class for freshmen, brought in guest speakers, and hired a full-time counselor.

At the core of this work is the initiative’s Wheel of Well-being, made up of seven dimensions of health. These dimensions form the acronym

PRESENT, itself a reminder that the practice of being present supports our well-being and prepares us to reflect on our physical, mental, social, and spiritual lives. Health and Well-being Day was structured with the wheel in mind, with breakout sessions devoted to each of the PRESENT dimensions:

Personal development Relationships and communication Exercise and movement Spirituality Environment (physical) Nutrition and hydration Time for rest

The event featured a keynote address by Dr. Pamela Ebstyne King of the Thrive Center for Human Development at Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. King’s research focuses on religious and spiritual development among youth. Her speech, “JoyRide: Thriving on the Road to Joy,” explored the meaning of joy and the ways in which we pursue it. Thriving is about living toward God’s purpose for us, she said, and the trick is discovering what that purpose is.

Health and Wellness Director Liz Hulme explains: “Health and Well-being Day was designed for personal discovery, growth, and inspiration. Beginning with our keynote address on thriving and finding joy, and with breakout sessions for active movement, quiet reflections, and individual exploration of Santa Catalina’s Wheel of Well-being, students were invited to explore and discover their individual path.”

One of the unique aspects of the day was the students’ role in creating it. The health and wellness initiative includes a student committee made up of senior, junior, and sophomore day and boarding students who are selected through a nomination process. They assisted in curating the presenters, came up with the idea of providing journals to their classmates, and provided input on how the day was structured. It was this committee, for instance, that suggested students be allowed to choose which breakout sessions to attend based on their own interests.

Student committee member Kacey Konya ’19 says, “We definitely wanted this day to be fun and enjoyable, but we also wanted it to be valuable in a lasting way. Because each of us needs more balance in one area or another, it

Students write down their thoughts in the journaling workshop led by Barclay Braden '59.

was important to touch on all areas of wellness. With our audience in mind, we put our heads together to build a program full of ‘healthy options’ that we felt would be best received by students and faculty alike. It was collaborative, interesting, inspiring, and exciting, but most of all fulfilling, knowing that I was part of something that could make Santa Catalina a healthier and even happier place.”

The day proved rewarding for the speakers, too, especially for alumnae who returned to lead sessions. Apple said it was exciting to see the vision of the health and wellness initiative—started by Sisters Claire and Christine and led by Hulme, her sister—put into practice.

Barclay Braden ’59, who spoke to students about journaling, found it valuable to be reminded of her past. “I felt enormously grateful for the opportunity to be back at Catalina, especially at my 60-year graduation point,” Braden says. To be able to remember so well when my life was all ahead of me . . . . It was very integrative for me to think about what’s really important to pass on to students.”

Braden, a psychotherapist, led four workshops during her visit. In one, she introduced students to her practice of “depth journaling,” the topic of her recently published book, Faith at Hand She instructed students to write down questions they would ask their future selves, then had them write the answers using their non-dominant hand. “When you switch your hand and write with your other hand, it gets you in touch with wisdom that you might not have access to ordinarily,” she says.

In another workshop, tied specifically to the session on personal development, she highlighted the ways in which we are shaped by the process of writing. “We have the power to influence our own development by the words we’re writing, the words that are important to us, the

This day was really good about giving you tools to take with you.

—Ayo Adeyemi ’21

Dr. Pamela Ebstyne King delivers her keynote address about thriving.

Completing the Wheel

Here is a brief look at what happened in the other Health and Well-being Day sessions:

Relationships and Communication

words that we’re paying attention to,” Braden explains.

In her environment sessions, Apple encouraged students not only to identify their happy places, but to learn how to go there when they need an emotional pick-me-up. A former interior designer who worked in New York for more than 15 years, Apple also gave students tips for decorating their personal spaces, such as organizing similar items together, putting their favorite colors in their line of sight, and weaving in photos or objects that represent their interests and hobbies. “Your environment is a tool,” she says, “and if you use it with intentionality it can balance you, it can rejuvenate you, and it can encourage your productivity.”

Olava Menczkowska ’74, a dancer and instructor who focuses on mindful movement, led the exercise and movement session. Students packed into the Lower and Middle School Assembly Room to perform a series of Pilates-based exercises, working their core muscles while focusing on the mind-body connection. The main takeaway she had for students was to make movement—in whatever form—a part of each day. “Movement is a very important component of daily life, our mood, and how we engage with others,” she says.

Ayo Adeyemi ’21, a member of the student health and wellness committee, said that she valued the day for its practicality: “A lot of times, when people are talking to you about health and wellness, you think, ‘OK, that’s cool, but how do I actually do that?’ This day was really good about giving you tools to take with you.”

Apple wanted students to walk away with even more. “I hope everyone had a sense that they are each celebrated. We all came together to help them think about specifics, but I hope they went home feeling honored and loved.”

Upper School Counselor Gabrielle Snowden organized two activities that grouped students by personality type, based on a test they took before the session. Her aim was to help students appreciate their differences, as well as who they are, naturally.

Spirituality

Dr. Pamela Ebstyne King walked students through the “JoyRide” of her speech. In the journey toward joy, you need four things: a GPS to guide you, a peloton of riders to help you, fuel to motivate you, and training to get you there. The students in her session reflected on all of these things.

Nutrition and Hydration

Food may be a favorite topic among Catalina girls, who came armed with questions for nutrition and wellness coach Jen De Villiers, who taught students that it’s not only about what they eat, but when, that matters. De Villiers suggested that students write down the timing of their meals and snacks to help them feel balanced throughout the day.

Time for Rest

Santa Catalina parent Dr. Jim Bennett, a pediatrician, talked about the science of sleep, the health benefits of sleep, and tools to help students improve their sleep quality. He advised powering down from phones and computers an hour before bedtime, getting around nine hours of sleep a night, and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends. “When it comes to sleep,” he said, “think quantity and quality.”

The Class of 2014

As we like to say in the Lower and Middle School, the beginning is everything. The Class of 2014 took the skills and life lessons they learned at Catalina and used them to shine in high school, finding success in the classroom, on the field, and in the community. Now that they’re in college, we can’t wait to see what they do next.

Scattini

at Catalina: K–Grade 8 High School: Palma College: UC Santa Barbara

Years

cattini valued his time as a Compass leader at Catalina. In fact, he held a similar position at Palma in the studentrun CORE program, an orientation program for incoming seventh-graders and freshmen. “Becoming a Compass leader gave me the opportunity to become a role model and made me responsible and accountable for other people for the first time in my life,” he claims.

At Palma, Scattini was a member of the National Honor Society, served as a tutor, and graduated seventh in his class. He was also a star athlete, earning all-league honors in baseball and football, and was named Palma’s Athlete of the Year. Those were the sports that stuck. Scattini says he benefited from being able to try multiple sports at Catalina. “[The school] gave me the opportunity to play competitively while maintaining that encouraging atmosphere for sports that were brand-new to me.”

He continues to play club baseball at UC Santa Barbara, where he’s planning on an economics major with a minor in Spanish.

Dominic

Matt Gibbs

Years at Catalina: PreK–Grade 8 High School: Stevenson College: Santa Clara University

t Stevenson School, Gibbs started his own charity, Monterey Athletes That Care, which has been delivering peanut butter sandwiches to homeless persons almost every Sunday since 2015. (The group also hosted three Super Bowl parties.) Students from Santa Catalina have been among those who participated.

Gibbs played four varsity sports in high school— football, basketball, water polo, and lacrosse—and is playing four intramural sports at Santa Clara (flag football, basketball, volleyball, and softball). He joined the student government at Stevenson, serving as sophomore class officer and student body secretary and treasurer. He was also a lead student ambassador.

At Santa Clara, where he’s eyeing an economics major, Gibbs is putting to use skills that he learned at Catalina—specifically, from now-retired history teacher Margie Lotz. “She taught me that it is OK to make mistakes as long as you learn from them; how to annotate (I still use her sticky-note strategy); and, lastly, how to act and talk to teachers and professors in a respectful way, which I have used every day since.”

David Sánchez

Years at Catalina: K–Grade 2, Grades 6–8

High School: Monterey High School College: UC Berkeley

n eighth-grade geometry lesson on isometric graphs came in handy during Sánchez’s multivariable calculus class at Cal. That’s just one of the many ways, he says, that Catalina set him up for success in high school and beyond. Sánchez elaborates: “Catalina was the place where I truly established my academic identity and felt challenged in any and all disciplines

I felt interested in pursuing. More important than the rigor of the curriculum was the personal connections I built with teachers, genuinely invested in me beyond academics. My teachers were unafraid to also be peers.”

Sánchez’s years at Monterey High were busy. He was president of the Humanitarian Club and a member of the LGBTQ+ Alliance, was an altar server captain, and competed on the varsity volleyball and cross-country teams. He was a Teen Conservation Leader at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and played piano in the elite Monterey Jazz Festival High School All-Star Band. And he was valedictorian.

He’s digging the “funky, organic vibe” at UC Berkeley, where he’s studying chemistry, playing in UC Jazz ensembles, and hitting up punk concerts. Drawn to the academic rigor and cultural inclusivity of Cal, he’s also interested in increasing college access. “I love it,” he says, “when it’s not midterm season.”

Vince Flores

Years at Catalina: PreK–Grade 8

High School: Palma College: University of Washington

y the time this Bulletin is published, Flores will have taken the field for his first season on the Huskies baseball team. The shortstop worked hard during his senior year at Palma, putting in extra work over the summer and playing on the Chicago Cubs Scout Team during the fall. It was enough to catch the attention of the University of Washington scouts. Flores declares: “Playing college baseball is an unbelievable experience. It’s a dream come true.”

Flores is just as excited to get a great education. An honor roll student at Palma, he worked equally hard in the classroom as on the field. He credits the study habits he learned at Catalina—like taking proper notes and using flash cards—with helping him succeed.

Flores plans to major in business administration.

Members of the Lower and Middle School Class of 2014 are currently attending the following colleges and universities:

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

California State University, Chico

Indiana University at Bloomington Marist College

Saint Mary’s College of California

Santa Barbara City College (2) Santa Clara University (2)

The New School

University of California, Berkeley (2)

University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Santa Barbara

University of Colorado University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Mississippi University of Rochester

University of Washington Washington University in St. Louis

They’ve gone off to college, traveled abroad, and completed internships. They’re going to grad school, starting careers, exploring the world around them, and heading into the unknown. As they celebrate their first reunion, the members of the Class of 2014 are bursting into the next phase of their lives with courage, curiosity, and determination—like only Catalina girls can.

The Class of

Allie Loomis

She was an all-league water polo player at Catalina and a Division I athlete at the University of California, Irvine. Now she plays professional water polo in Australia.

Allie Loomis is soaking up all she can as she pulls double duty as a member of the Killer Whales and as an MBA student at the Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales. Playing professionally gives her the chance to compete against some of the top athletes in Australia—her own team is last year’s national champion—and takes her to parts of the country she wouldn’t normally see. “I am privileged to be in a competitive league that provides the opportunity to grow as a player and as a person and to form connections and a network of friends that will last me a lifetime,” she affirms.

As much scholar as she is athlete, studying abroad is also giving her special insight into her chosen field of study. Loomis explains: “Part of my desire to pursue an MBA abroad was the appeal of gaining

a global business perspective and seeing how markets interact in different ways in different countries.”

Loomis points out that Catalina helped her develop a strong work ethic and a drive to be the best she could be, which was certainly evident at UC Irvine. She won the Big West Conference’s inaugural Service and Leadership Award, received the Chancellor’s Award of Distinction, was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and graduated cum laude with a degree in business administration. She developed an affinity for marketing and hopes to pursue it as a career, perhaps in the film and entertainment industry. “I have always been drawn to the way goods and services are branded and sold in the marketplace, and I find this creative side of business to be a true calling,” she adds.

In the meantime, she’s adapting well to Sydney, a diverse city with kind locals . . . but with one little flaw: “The biggest thing I miss about California besides my family? Definitely Mexican food! It just doesn’t exist in Australia.”

—ALLIE LOOMIS

“I am most grateful for the teachers at Catalina and their constant belief and push to be the best I can be both in school and life.”

Janet Kiboneka

When Disney launches its stand-alone streaming service later this year, the first series out of the gate will be a reboot of High School Musical. If you tune in, think of Janet Kiboneka. Working in casting and talent relations at the Disney Channel in Los Angeles, Kiboneka had a hand in assembling the next class of East High Wildcats. “This was a huge project that took a lot of time and effort, but it was definitely worth it when we found the perfect cast,” she says.

Kiboneka got her degree in film-television-digital-media and communication from Texas Christian University. She served as an oncamera host in videos produced by Cook Children’s Medical Center in Dallas/Fort Worth, and interned for a summer at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York.

Throughout it all, she says, she used skills that she learned in the Journey program to give her a leg up as a female leader in a male-dominated industry. She cited interview prep, financial planning, and career planning as being especially helpful. Networking has also proved invaluable in an industry practically built on the “who you know” mentality. TCU grads helped her get started in showbiz, so she’s happy to pay it forward by mentoring current students.

Drawn to the storytelling power of film and television, Kiboneka relishes her life in casting. “The entertainment industry has the capability to share so much with the world. Being part of such a creative team gives me joy every day.”

Blair Miller

Music has always been a big part of Blair Miller’s life—from first grade, when she learned to play the violin, viola, and piano, to her high school days, when she sang along to Top 40 playlists. Now she’s hoping to make a career of music.

Miller, who graduated from Belmont University’s music business program, is a digital marketing manager for such clients as country stars Brad Paisley, Chris Young, Vince Gill, and Kellie Pickler, and rising pop singer LIVVIA. She works with the artists directly, managing their social media accounts, creating song and album release plans, marketing their tours, developing their brands, and working to increase the reach of their music on services such as Spotify and YouTube.

At Belmont, Miller received the Outstanding Senior Award from the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. She had eight internships, including with Warner Music Nashville, Atlantic Records, the Country Music Association, and Scooter Braun Projects, for which she created marketing plans and pitched ideas for artists such as Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and Tori Kelly.

All of this experience is bringing out Miller’s inner entrepreneur. She declares: “My ultimate goal is to own my own media agency. My company will be a one-stop shop for artists where they can record albums and music videos in my studios. Artists will also be able to use my team for digital marketing and music distribution.”

We’re listening.

—BLAIR MILLER

Rachel Davison

Rachel Davison’s college and career trajectory thus far can be summed up as a series of “one thing led to another.”

Buoyed by her experience on Santa Catalina’s student newspaper Lamplighter and as a Communications STAR Intern, she dove headlong into journalism at Northwestern University, where she served as the arts and entertainment editor and copy chief of the student newspaper. Firmly on the magazine track, she also worked toward an integrated marketing communications certificate to keep her options open. That led her to marketing internships at the Vail Dance Festival; the study abroad company, IES Abroad; and Bustle, a publisher of online content for women. These experiences gave her the opportunity to combine a whole host of skills, including writing, editing, design, and analytics, which led her to seek marketing jobs at a career fair, which led her to Allstate and its threeyear Leadership Development Program, which could lead her in another direction.

“Though I was originally more interested in marketing, I’m really enjoying my role in internal communications,” says Davison. The program at Allstate

will place her in a different area of the company each year. Currently, she’s in Chicago but will be shifted to a field office soon. “For my next rotation, I’m hoping for something completely out of my comfort zone, to get more direct experience in the business, whether in finance, product operations, claims, sales, or something else, to expand my skills and options post-program,” she explains.

That kind of bring-it-on mentality was something Davison developed at Catalina. She notes, “All of the opportunities at Catalina and the supportive community helped me learn to follow my passions and go after anything.”

“

The greatest advantage I gained from my Catalina education is being confident in my abilities.”

Karli McIntyre

In part because her middle school didn’t recycle, because she took AP Environmental Science with Paulette Struckman, and because she’s just a fiend for the outdoors, Karli McIntyre has declared that the environment is her thing.

McIntyre graduated from Gonzaga University with a B.A. in environmental studies and a minor in biology. One of the highlights during her time there was a five-week trip to Tanzania, where she studied animal behavior in the field and got a closer look at community conservation. “Tanzania was absolutely one of the most life-changing, joy-filled experiences of my life. I met incredible people, learned more about what conservation looks like in different parts of the world, and was able to experience a new culture in a way that vacation traveling doesn’t allow for.”

Currently, she works at an outdoor learning center in Spokane, Washington, teaching elementary school kids about the environment and sharing the center with

iguanas, great horned owls, and tortoises. McIntyre says, “It’s so much fun to watch kids discover how incredible and complex the world they live in is. They have a sense of wonder that adults seem to lose somewhere along the way to being a grownup.”

Whether she continues to teach, goes for a secondary degree, or pursues something else entirely is an open question. “I do know that whatever I end up doing needs to be purposeful and to enact positive change,” she notes.

“

Catalina gave me the independence and self-knowledge to know what I want and the confidence to go get it.”

—KARLI MCINTYRE

Claire Gregory

After graduating from the University of Michigan last spring, Claire Gregory found herself in Argentina studying the sex lives of owl monkeys. She thanks her Santa Catalina science teachers for that.

Gregory declared a major in ecology and evolutionary anthropology because of seeds planted in high school, where Dr. Christian Reilly introduced her to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Teen Conservation Leader program and where other teachers fostered a level of excitement for science that she found unmatched in college. “The ratio of great science teachers virtually flipped in college compared to Catalina, and this irritated me. I want to inspire those pursuing higher education by being an excited and entertaining professor one day.”

Still, her college years were full of great opportunities. She was a resident advisor, worked in a couple of biology and paleoecology labs, and studied abroad in Tanzania in the same wildlife management program that Karli McIntyre ’14 participated in.

In Formosa, Argentina, she spent six months working as a field assistant for a project funded by National Geographic, waking up in the forest and following the little owl monkeys. When her time was up, she sought community in Traverse City, Michigan. Through AmeriCorps, she is serving a 10-month stint at the state’s Department of Natural Resources, where she develops youth education programs to inspire stewardship and appreciation of Michigan’s forests. This winter she learned how to ski and ice fish, and she’s dabbling in open mic comedy.

Gregory points out: “The most meaningful personal development I have undergone has been when I’ve put myself in unfamiliar situations. Catalina introduced me to this idea of exploration in a setting where I was surrounded by a supportive community. I won’t say that I am fearless, but I will say that Catalina taught me the power of embracing the unknown.”

“ Catalina taught me the importance of pushing myself and seeking out the uncomfortable.”

Katherine Koulouris

“I consider economics the subject of common sense.” That’s a practical statement from a woman who values her profession’s practicality.

Katherine Koulouris is a researcher for Economic and Planning Systems, a consulting firm in Sacramento focused on real estate development, land use issues, and local government finance in urban areas. She recently presented a paper on exchange rates and inflation.

Koulouris graduated at the top of her class from California State University, Sacramento with a degree in economics and a double minor in mathematics and Greek history (wanting to connect with her heritage). She became president of the Student Economics Association, and led the organization to receive its first University Leadership Award; she was the first female economics major to receive the Faculty Endowment Award, the university’s most prestigious scholarship; she taught a macroeconomics analysis class for

two years; and she took part in public policy research for the California governor and state legislature.

Koulouris says that she enjoys economics for its real-world applications and the breadth of research opportunities. “There are so many areas of research that you’ll always find a topic that can spark your interest,” she explains. She currently has her eye on graduate school, with hopes of eventually earning her Ph.D. and becoming a professor.

For all of the amazing work she did during college, she was invited to be the commencement speaker for her class. Her speech revolved around the Pareto principle, which claims that about 80 percent of effects come from just 20 percent of causes. Her speech included some practical advice: “No matter what hardships come your way, prioritizing your time and energy to the top 20 percent of tasks will actually cover 80 percent of your overall goal.”

—KATHERINE KOULOURIS

“

Catalina has fostered an environment where students are aware and accepting of others, which has become so important today.”

Nia Jacobs

For college, Nia Jacobs went to “The Mecca”—Howard University, the historically black college in Washington, D.C. It was an enriching experience that helped her connect with herself and her culture. Jacobs explains: “One of the most important things I learned was about who I am alone. I really built on my morals and beliefs, and learned more about how to stand for what I believe in separate from my peers and my family. I also learned so much about my history and culture, which I think has helped shaped who I am so far and who I want to become in the future.”

The future is still a bit of a question mark. Jacobs has her eye on graduate school to study either communications, English (which she received

her undergraduate degree in), or theater. “I change my mind every week,” she jokes. Of her time in D.C., she found the summer in which she worked as a costumes intern at the Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts particularly rewarding. At Catalina, she had worked behind the scenes for seven shows, mostly as a scenic artist.

Jacobs says that Catalina prepared her in many ways for college. “Being in a single-sex environment helped me to be more confident in who I was as a person and in my perspective. I knew how to focus on myself and my growth.” Plus, Jacobs was no stranger to hard work. “I was usually the most prepared person in class,” she adds.

Lilianna Hogan

Lilianna Hogan wore a horse head for the B.U.R.R.I.T.O. club photo in her senior yearbook. So it’s no surprise that this is how she responded when asked about her experience at Bennington College: “I lived on a farm/theater in Cuba for two months, I had several ego deaths, I realized that seeing advertising everywhere is not part of the human condition, and I started to drink coffee.”

Hogan, a lover of language, earned degrees in Chinese and theater. “I think that learning Mandarin flexed one part of my brain and acting flexed the other,” she says. In addition to living and working at that Cuban theater, she served as a production assistant at an off-Broadway theater through a fellowship program at Bennington. She’s back in New York City, finding ways to be civically and politically engaged and hunting for delicious meals under $10.

But about Cuba: “It was life-changing. Part of the magic of that time was knowing how rare the view we had gotten into Cuba was, as this was just at the start of Americans coming over. It was a view into a reality that is fading.” She hung out with documentary filmmakers, attended a movie premiere in Havana, and formed relationships with artists from all over the world. She comments: “I learned about Cuba, but I also learned about myself.”

Hannah Chee

Following in her father’s footsteps and inspired by her own experience with heart disease, Hannah Chee is pursuing a career in cardiology. Chee twice underwent open-heart surgery—first as a newborn and later as a junior at Santa Catalina. The care she received from her doctors and nurses prompted her decision to study medicine. Chee explains: “I want to be able to share my story with those who might be struggling with cardiovascular diseases or undergoing surgeries with the hopes of inspiring them to continue to push forward, continue to fight, and continue to heal.”

Chee earned a degree in physiology from the University of Washington, where she volunteered with a program that brought medical aid to the homeless community around campus. She also shadowed two cardiologists at UW Medicine and worked in a lab studying the diversification of skull bones in mammals. She is currently working as a laboratory technician researching the link between diabetes and nitric oxide, a chemical compound associated with heart health, in hopes of finding a way to slow the disease.

Her experience at an all-girls school gave her the strength to stand up for herself in the maledominated medical field, she says. “I work with more men than women, and having confidence in my own abilities and knowledge is important not only to be heard, but to progress in the research I am working on.”

In the meantime, she skis and hikes the Pacific Northwest and is working toward a master’s degree in public health online. She hopes to gain admission to medical school in 2020, with the ultimate goal of becoming a physician.

—HANNAH CHEE

“Being at an allgirls school taught me to speak my mind and stand up for myself.”

This June, Mady Fithian will run from San Francisco to Baltimore to raise money for cancer research. She and about 24 peers will cover 4,000 miles in 49 days through the Ulman Foundation, whose mission is to create a community of support for young adults and their loved ones affected by cancer. Fithian knows several people who have battled cancer, including her late grandparents. “To put it simply, the heart of why I decided to do this is so no one feels like they ever have to fight alone,” she explains.

The same could be said for Fithian’s work with Gathering for Women, a nonprofit organization in Monterey that serves homeless women. The job allows her to help a vulnerable population

through the power of community. “It astounded me how many homeless women were living on the Monterey Peninsula,” she says. Fithian works as a development professional, but more often, she says, she’s in the thick of it, cooking hot meals, providing fresh clothing, or simply sitting down for a short conversation. “The work I have done and the memories I have been able to share with these incredible women have taught me invaluable lessons,” she adds.

Fithian graduated from Texas Christian University as a communication major and health minor. She competed on the equestrian team all four years, and as a senior was named an academic allAmerican. She hopes to go into nursing.

“Having a voice is so valuable, and it’s something I absolutely attribute to my 16 years at Catalina.”

—MADY FITHIAN

Mady Fithian

Jiatong Li

College: University of Southern California, B.A in international relations and global business

Highlights: Worked with a local foodie’s group for three years

Current status: Working as a marketing strategist in Seattle

Best Catalina Advantage: “The confidence to take on any tasks in the belief that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to, and the courage to stand firmly for what I want instead of what others think I need.”

College: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, B.S. in agricultural communication and sustainable agriculture

Current status: Working at a restaurant while applying to law school

Alex Tarriba Villa

College: Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, bachelor’s in clinical psychology

Highlights: Studied for a year at the University of Melbourne

Current status: Finishing degree Best Catalina Advantage: “The ability to think critically and to communicate and engage with people from all over the world.”

Editor's Note: About Our Process

Santa Catalina reached out to all members of the Class of 2014. We asked them to fill out a brief survey and followed up with additional questions. These profiles represent all alumnae who responded to our request.

Best Catalina Advantage: Acceptance and friendship: “After transferring to Catalina, my classmates opened their arms to me and made me feel so welcome. It was incredible to meet girls from all over the world.”

Etienne

College: UCLA, B.A. in psychology

Current status: Graduate school—in the doctoral program in psychology at the Wright Institute in Berkeley

Best Catalina Advantage: “The ability to be myself and be confident in my voice.”

Lauren Haas

Amanda

College: University of Victoria, B.S. in biology with an environmental studies minor

Highlights: Getting involved with the activist, environmental, and queer community

Current status: Working in science education/child care and finishing degree

Best Catalina Advantage: “To question everything.”

College: University of Portland, B.S. in organizational communication with a double minor in business administration and psychology

Highlights: Studied abroad in London and helped organize campus events

Current status: Living in Portland and doing contract work for a few different companies

Best Catalina Advantage: “Being an efficient planner and being considerate and openminded of others’ backgrounds and interests.”

Kiley Gibbs

College: Santa Clara University, B.S. in economics and data science

Current status: Pricing analyst at Splunk, a software company in San Francisco that collects and analyzes big data

Best Catalina Advantage: “The confidence and the skill set to work hard and stand out.”

College: University of Portland, B.S. in nursing Highlights: Taking advantage of the splendor of the Pacific Northwest

Current status: Working as a diabetic renal nurse in Portland

Best Catalina Advantage: Lifelong friendships and selfconfidence: “My teachers encouraged me to believe in myself and trust my abilities.”

Sophia Kuhn

Lauren Staples

Char Johnston-Carter

2019 Alumnae Reunion

REUNION GIVING 2019

BY THE NUMBERS

total Reunion giving donors out of 703

won the Top Class Award for reaching or exceeding their participation goal (1954, 1959, 1989, 1994)

total Reunion giving dollars raised 21%

6 CLASSES

won the Catalina Award for reaching or exceeding their fundraising goal (1954, 1969, 1984, 1994, 1999, 2009)

celebrated their 65th reunion

226

alumnae in attendance

celebrated their 50th reunion

5

Alums who attended Reunion 2019 with daughters or relatives who are current students

Francesca Cerisola ’89: daughter Marina Butler Cerisola ’21

Sarah Clark Woolf ’89: daughter Meg Woolf ’21

Alejandra Jimenez Gutierrez ’94: niece Ana Sofia Jimenez ’21

1969 1954 26

Jenner Morrison ’94: daughter Ainsley Morrison ’20

Angela Balestreri ’09: sister Alicia Rector ’19

members of the Class of 2014 were registered attendees, the most of any class

7,934

miles traveled from Cambodia by Claudia de la Fuente ’99 to attend Reunion

Distinguished Alumna Awards

The 2019 recipients of the Distinguished Alumna Awards, Bobbie O’Connell Munson ’59 and Karen Johnson Hixon ’69, are recognized for their extraordinary achievements as role models to alumnae and students, and for their dedication and service in their volunteer and professional endeavors.

Bobbie O’Connell Munson ’59 is a lifelong Santa Catalina alumnae volunteer and a founder of the Santa Catalina Alumnae Association. A member of Santa Catalina’s seventh graduating class, Bobbie has served in myriad volunteer roles since graduation, including as reunion ambassador, class correspondent, member of the Alumnae Council, and president of the Alumnae Association. In 1962, Sister Kieran asked her to help formalize the Alumnae Association.

After graduating from Santa Catalina, Bobbie studied at the University of Oregon, San Jose State University, Mexico City College, and Stanford Medical School. Returning to her childhood ranch in Gilroy and later splitting her time between Northern and Southern California, she would go on to build a family business of shopping centers, storage facilities, and development properties. The mother of five also has five grandchildren, including Andrea, a 2003 Catalina graduate, and Kaila, a Catalina camper. Her sister is Kay O’Connell Vernor ’60.

Karen Johnson Hixon ’69 is a conservationist and philanthropist dedicated to protecting the environment and advancing the arts in her home state of Texas. She is a board member of the Texas Agricultural Land Trust Foundation and the Boise-based Peregrine Fund. She is a former docent and docent chair at the San Antonio Zoo, was a board member of the Texas Nature Conservancy and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, and served a six-year term on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

Karen, who received a B.A. in art history from Smith College, is also heavily involved in the art world. She is president of the board of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth and is past chairman of the board of the San Antonio Museum of Art, for which she continues to serve as a life trustee. She was a member of the Santa Catalina board of trustees from 1990 to 2003, and served as trustee and board chair of Saint Mary’s Hall, a coed college preparatory school in San Antonio.

Among her many honors over the years, she was the only woman to be named the Texas Wildlife Association’s Outdoorsman of the Year, and she received the Audubon Texas prestigious Terry Hershey Award for outstanding leadership in conservation. Her sisters, Kate Johnson ’72 and Sheila Johnson ’65, attended Santa Catalina, as did Sheila’s daughters, Carter Johnson Martin ’87 and Elizabeth Johnson Hornsey ’90.

Bobbie O’Connell Munson

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GIVE BACK TO SANTA CATALINA IN SO MANY WAYS OVER THE YEARS? WHAT HAS SANTA CATALINA MEANT TO YOU SINCE GRADUATION?

I have never thought of my involvement with Santa Catalina as “giving back,” as much as continuing a wonderful relationship with people (my classmates) who meant so very much to me. We lived together for four years and have always maintained the close relationship we had, beginning 65 years ago. We have introduced one another to future husbands, been godparents to one another’s children, been in one another’s wedding parties, supported each other in joy and difficult times, and now, burying family members and classmates who have left us in death. Since graduation, my involvement with Santa Catalina and my class has been a continuation of a very special relationship, most dear to my heart, and adding to the richness of my life.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SISTER KIERAN. WHAT DID SHE TEACH YOU THAT YOU STILL CARRY WITH YOU TODAY? Sister Kieran and I enjoyed the same background of being raised on cattle ranches, on horses—she in Nevada and me in California. One day during my junior year, she called me into her office and said: “Shame on you. With your IQ, you should be getting straight As.” I explained to her that if I took the time to study to get straight As (which I didn’t need to get into the University of Oregon, where I had decided I wanted to go) it would mean missing out on fun things I would rather do. At first, she seemed a little shocked. Then she thought for a bit and finally responded that she understood my reasoning but that I could put forth a little more effort and still do all the things I wanted. I have never forgotten her thoughtfulness and honesty, which I found to be the hallmark of her character. And I have never forgotten that day in her office, where she encouraged my independent choices but nudged me to put forth a bit more effort.

HOW WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE SANTA CATALINA STUDENTS AND ALUMNAE TO GIVE BACK TO THE SCHOOL? You must follow your own heart, but the experience for so many of us is that staying close to the school is one of the most important activities in our lives. I wish everyone the same experience.

WHAT SKILLS, VALUES, OR LESSONS DID YOU LEARN AT CATALINA THAT HAVE HELPED YOU IN YOUR CAREER OR IN LIFE? I learned that academic advantages were second to none, and that the social advantages of living with so many people, at a formative

time in our lives, was possibly not realized until later in life. We had learned to live in a social setting where we needed to listen and learn and share with others.

WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT YOUR CATALINA EXPERIENCE? For someone who did not want to go away to boarding school, I found out how wrong I was, and how brilliant my parents were for not giving me options.

WHAT DOES RECEIVING THE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA AWARD MEAN TO YOU? It is shocking to think you can be rewarded for doing something for your own happiness.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OR MOST MEMORABLE CATALINA TRADITION AND WHY? Among the most important traditions are the Bulletin and the yearbooks and the extraordinary way the school keeps us in touch with one another and with the school, decade after decade.

Karen Johnson Hixon

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT(S)? As I am not a professional in the strictest sense of the word, this question does not really apply. Of late, my proudest accomplishment was helping raise (with many partners) $20 million to buy 1,500 acres of land that lies directly to the south of the Bracken Bat Cave just north of San Antonio. This cave is home to the largest known concentration of mammals in the world. It is a maternal colony, and in the summer months it is home to some 15 million bats. The land was slated for development—some 3,600 homes—that would have been the death knell for the bats. Happily, the land was purchased and protected.

WHAT SKILLS, VALUES, OR LESSONS DID YOU LEARN AT SANTA CATALINA THAT HAVE HELPED YOU IN LIFE? I learned to have faith in my own abilities, and that I can lead. I also learned to never stop asking questions.

WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT YOUR CATALINA EXPERIENCE? Having attended Catholic school throughout elementary school, it was nice to find that the Dominican nuns were so much nicer and seemingly more human or humane than those in my early life. Not that they weren’t all good people—just different.

WHAT OR WHO INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A LIFE OF PHILANTHROPY? Our parents instilled, early in our lives, the need for giving back. Whether it was putting money in the basket at Mass on Sunday or in the “poor box” as we exited, giving was expected. Also, my parents led by example, and my husband was the soul of generosity.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK? Being a wife and mother was my “work” for most of my life. Volunteering was the rest. When a form asks for my job description, I put “professional volunteer.” It is the interaction with people and causes, and helping where I can, that I enjoy.

WHAT CHALLENGES, IF ANY, HAVE YOU FACED AS A WOMAN IN REGARD TO YOUR PHILANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS? Nothing noteworthy. If you are willing to give and work, obstacles seem to disappear.

WHAT DOES RECEIVING THE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA AWARD MEAN TO YOU? It was and is a great honor. Being recognized by one’s peers is always extraordinary, especially when there are so many people equally (or more) deserving.

WHAT WORDS OF WISDOM DO YOU HAVE FOR CURRENT STUDENTS OR YOUNG ALUMNAE? One of the great benefits of living at Catalina is learning to live with just about anyone. In our day, we changed roommates every six weeks and never had much say about the choice, until senior year. You also learn to be a friend. My advice would be to get to know people. Look them in the face and have a real conversation. Obviously, social media puts [young people] in a much better position to keep up with each other, but it is no replacement for real contact.

WHAT IS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST, AND WHY? Not so much a single thing, but to keep myself in good enough shape and, God willing, to have the good health to keep traveling with my children and grandchildren. I would like to share with them some of the places and experiences that my husband and I had together.

ALUMNAE CLASS NOTES

54

53Fleana Giglio Snapp

brorat1955@comcast.net

Fleana Giglio Snapp: For a few years, we have been using the expression, “til we meet again” as a parting goodbye to our classmates Laurie Angel McGuinness, Deborah Kneedler Berggren, and friends Elinor Howard Franchetti ’54, and Ardis Dickerson Brookins ’54. Each was sweet, gentle, formidable, caring, fun-loving, and hilarious in their own way. I really miss them. As the song says, “The days dwindle down to a precious few” and so is the Class of 1953. John and I are well. Our daughter Ellen is currently cancer-free but she has lupus and COPD. The doctors recently found something in her lung and I will be there when they do the CT scan. Catherine and Ellen still live in Elk Grove and Susan lives in Sacramento. Rachel lives with us and is a great help in every way. Stay well, fabulous five. Peggy Carpenter Gelke: Jack and I are well. I play bridge at every opportunity. Our daughter and granddaughter visited with us at Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful celebration for our granddaughter’s acceptance into Washington and Lee University. When the national news drives me to distraction, I call Gloria Donnelly Anderson. We are so simpatico. Gloria sends her “hellos” to everyone. Gray Burnham Hynes: I am enjoying spending more time with my family and taking more trips to Carmel. Thank you for doing this job, Fleana. Beezie Leyden Moore: This has been a tough year for our class. After losing Deborah Kneedler Berggren in December 2017, we lost Laurie Angel McGuinness in November. Laurie was the first student ever enrolled in Santa Catalina. She was student body president in both our junior and senior years. Quoting from our 1953 yearbook, “Who but Laurie could make hilarious remarks at a student body meeting and yet keep the meeting orderly and constructive?” We will miss her.

Gloria Felice

gloriafelice@cox.net

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

55

Mary Nevin Henderson Pat Kelly Phillips plwa2@sbcglobal.net

Let’s hope 2019 is a great year for everyone! Next year, we will be celebrating our 65th anniversary. Can we remember starting school in 1951? We were young and from all parts of California and we are still almost all in California! Our class moderator was Sister Jeremy; Sister Kieran was principal; Sister Matthew taught the upper classes and she was the head of the Cherokees! I (Mary Nevin Henderson) was lucky to be the captain of the Cherokees and Gloria Manildi Dioszegi was Navajo captain. My sister Susan Nevin Sjordahl ’56 and Sister Jeremy both passed away in September. Sue Barsi Scurich is busy with activities at home and trips with her daughter, Mimi, who is now vice principal of Saint Lucy Parish School in Campbell, CA. Sue’s sons are the fourth generation to run Scurich Insurance in Aptos. Her son Tony is very active in the Pajaro Valley Historical Association and has done a lot of research on his Croatian heritage. Clarice Borelli Felice is always on the go. She spent New Year’s Eve in the family cabin at Strawberry with her five children, their spouses, and her nine grandchildren. It was the first time the whole family was together. She is planning to visit Eileen Schultz English ’56 in New York this summer and go on a tour of Italy, Spain, and France. Pat Kelly Phillips has cut back on some of her volunteer activities but is still pretty busy with the neighborhood association, local Italian history research, and working on genealogy projects with her cousins. She has two wonderful great-grandchildren and another one on the way. So much fun!

56

The Class of 1956 is without a class correspondent. Please contact Shannon Gaughf ’08, Alumnae Relations Coordinator, to volunteer to serve your class in this meaningful way.

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

Executive Committee

Kathy Trafton ’74

President

Jalynne Tobias Redman ’72

Priya Kumar Raju ’00

Katie Carnazzo Larsen ’02

Vice Presidents

Gretchen Mueller Burke ’83

Director of Alumnae/i Relations and Major Gifts

Members

Pat Allen Sparacino ’65

Marie Cantin ’70

Sally Fay ’74

Helene de Baubigny ’85

Annie Coppel ’90

Lindsay Heller ’95

Brogiin Keeton ’01

Kai Romero ’01

Kristina Flathers ’11

Chapter Chairs

Boston Position Vacant

Chicago Lisa Cavanaugh Wiese ’74 Kristina Flathers ’11*

Dallas Joanne Van der Plas Viola ’84 Hope Morgan ’90

Denver Laura Stenovec ’99

Houston Diana Kendrick Untermeyer ’80

Los Angeles Leslie Hunt Johnson ’92

Paige Finster Greenspan ’96 Mzilikazi Kone ’01

Monterey Liz Holt Protell ’64

New York Priya Kumar Raju ’00*

Phoenix Gloria Felice ’54

Becky Hays-Rovey ’92

Portland, OR Virginia Sewell ’69 Ann Carter ’71

Brigid Flanigan ’73

Sacramento Position Vacant

San Diego Taylor Griffon ’11

San Francisco Yvette Merchant Nichols ’96

Natalie Burke ’99

Anna Lopez Mourlam ’06

Seattle Madeleine Lynch Greathouse ’85

Washington, D.C. Kerri Robinson Johnson ’92

International Chapters

Asia Rene Leung ’99

Angelina Yao ’99 Diana Mak ’01

Europe Lara Brehmer ’98

Latin America Leslie Hulse ’88

Annie Coppel ’90* Tere Gonzalez ’94

*Designates Alumnae Association Council member

Gloria Felice and Abby McCann of the Class of 1954 at Reunion 2019

Carole Lusignan Buttner wmbclb@aol.com

Patti Crombe Doran: I have been retired from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation for seven years and it is great. It took me two years to stop thinking that I have to accomplish something every day. However, I am working part-time at the new Pebble Beach Visitor Center as a docent. I turned 80 in February and am doing well except my infrastructure has a few cracks and I have two new hips! My daughter Trish and her husband Robert married last August and have moved here from Charleston, SC. They bought my house in Pebble Beach when I moved to Hacienda Carmel. My granddaughter Clare (my daughter Christi’s daughter) is in first grade at Stevenson School and lives in Pacific Grove. Everyone lives here now! Nancy Greg Hatch: I find this mostly a mellow season. I still have enough wattage to savor the company of beloved family, longtime friends, cherished books, and places like UC San Diego’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Enough resilience, I do hope and pray, to endure this strange, unsettling political era. Maribeth Conway Steiner writes from Alaska: Our November earthquake was dreadful and I’ve never been so scared. I wasn’t here for the big one which was longer; this was immediate and violent. We were fine but there was a big mess of broken things to clean up in addition to many aftershocks. The family is fine and we have a new grandbaby. We have one granddaughter in college and then seven little ones. They are referred to as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves! My love to you all. Camille Annotti Stevens: My life is blessed and my children and grandchildren are healthy and happy, as am I. Somehow, I always seem to be busy with something. I am still running a small accounting business from my home. I exercise four mornings a week and spend too much money on the upkeep of my house and myself (“Vanity, thy name is woman.”) The loss of Betty Ann Bernadicou Lambert was a tremendous shock. She will be sorely missed. She was the glue that seemed to hold us all together. Sister Jeremy’s passing was another blow. She taught us algebra and geometry. Perhaps that explains my love for working with numbers. When I was so homesick at Santa Catalina, she had just the right consoling touch. Mary Cano: I spent a month in England, primarily in London, and saw marvelous art exhibitions and even went to the Wyndham theater to see Eileen Atkins and Jonathan Pryce in The Height of the Storm Carole Lusignan Buttner: We are getting a tad bit older back here in Connecticut but are happily situated with our wonderful residents here at Essex Meadows. Ironically, our world has become larger with the formation of so many new caring, interesting relationships. We have frequent visits with our family; everyone together for a beautiful

Christmas. Grandchildren range from 25- to 9-years-old. Last April, Murray and I rented a charming cottage in Carmel Valley. We visited Santa Catalina, Gretchen Mueller Burke ’83 and the wonderful Meg Bradley, head of school. Sitting quietly in our chapel with Murray was such a special transcendent moment. Denise LeBlanc Hellier: Art and writers festivals, bridge, French, and book group helps keep me engaged with the world and keeps the cells charged! Spending time with friends is very important and I rely on them to keep me “in check.” I still love exchanging ideas, jokes, and lots of laughs, along with trying to figure out how to cope with the crazy people running our world! The gym and walking and tai chi helps me continue my love of travel and new adventures. This year I spent time in Sri Lanka with local friends. We were there during their New Year and I had the privilege of meeting lots of family members. I did a “killer hike” in Maine in September while visiting my daughter Dorinda and her family in Darien. This year will see me exploring part of Japan on a 10-day walk along the Nakasendo Way in March and then back to Provence in June for another 10-day walk. Who knows what is around the corner...

58

The Class of 1958 is without a class correspondent. Please contact Shannon Gaughf ’08, Alumnae Relations Coordinator, to volunteer to serve your class in this meaningful way.

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

59

Bobbie O’Connell Munson bobbiemunson@sbcglobal.net

The Class of ’59 celebrated their 60th Anniversary this year at our reunion at Santa Catalina! Rene May Lawler has already been on three trips in one year: Costa Rica; the Canadian Maritimes, with her sister; and a Mississippi cruise with golf friends. She is still playing golf, tennis, and pickleball and has just begun yoga. She needs to talk to Lila Desmond French, who is living a similar life of active sports. Lila is still in Palm Desert and another very active sportswoman. And then we have our dear Hansi de Petra Rigney who has run 109 marathons. I just learned from her that her dad was a world class race walker in Italy, and, it was he who taught her to race walk, and introduced her to competing on a race course. She says her years at Santa Catalina gave her a love for sports. She, her husband, and children all skied

Distinguished Alumna Bobbie O’Connell Munson ’59 at Reunion with her family: Reagan, Sandy, Erica, Kaila (a Summer at Santa Catalina camper), Christian, Savannah (family friend), and Andrea Munson ’03

each winter when they lived in Berlin. Marilyn Brown Wykoff and her husband, Vic, are the most well-travelled couple in the class. She says, “Our life seems to be visiting and traveling with grandkids, staying in Carmel and San Francisco, and enjoying our ranch life in Clements. We live along the Mokelumne River. Seeing huge turkey groupings, our four resident deer, quail coveys and coyotes, our abundance of fruit trees, and tending to our vegetable and flower gardens keep us busy. One fun highlight of the year was Vic and I going by ourselves to Disney World. We had a blast!” Lynne Wildman Chapman has survived the magnificent wedding of her daughter Ashley in Bermuda at The Coral Beach Club. Didi Dwyer Schreiber is in her new retirement community, and actively involved in social and volunteer groups. Through her church, she has continued in several outreach ministries, caring for the homebound, ill, and dying in board and care facilities. She is involved in the housing of 22 men in her church program that were homeless and on the street. Her children, their husbands, and the grandchildren are all well. One granddaughter is local in Santa Clara County and is a CPA. Both of her daughters are in education. It was great to hear from Margaret Rosenberg Duflock , who is still living at her ranch with her family. There are now 12 grandchildren—six boys and six girls! (You sure do learn a lot about breeding when you live on a ranch!) She is in great health and volunteers and is involved with the ranch. Julie “Hutch” Hutcheson returned to Monterey from Texas for Reunion. We all miss her since she moved back to Texas. She has finally settled after the big

move and is building a new life in her old home town. France De Sugny Bark was great help to Kathleen Maillard Rende and me in notifying classmates about our reunion. As she stated, “This was a gift—a gift of loyalty and lasting friendships.” So true, after all of these years, we are all realizing how much our time at Santa Catalina has rewarded us with pure joy and special friends. France and Dennis are living in Portola Valley and loving it. They go to France twice a year to take care of business they have there. She has three sons and two grandchildren. Chrissie McCormick Merrill keeps busy in the City with her many pals and her dachshund, Alice. Marie-Therese “M.T.” Poniatowski Maigret had a great family reunion at Christmas with family and two weeks of nonstop cooking. One of her grandsons is in Paris, while one granddaughter is in Spain and another in a French university. The rest are young and in Belgium. Betty Blak Okie sold her home of 47 years and travelled all summer to Hong Kong and Bali. Patty Falk Feeley sent a beautiful photo of her lovely home and garden. She is slowing down, like me, and using a cane. But that does not stop her from gardening. She will be having hip surgery soon. Kristan Jacobson O’Neill has just finished building a new home at a lake above Fresno, where they summered for many years. They love the mountain but are giving up that magnificent Cliff May home they have lived in for 44 years. She says, “We are so happy here and grateful to be healthy enough to make this big change.” She is very involved in the Sierra Historical Museum there. She and Ed still travel. Barclay Braden finally finished her book. Prepare yourself—she is about to change all of our lifestyles. She has done years of research, and finally concluded with an entirely new approach to learning and mental expansion in her book, Faith at Hand: Finding My Way To Depth Journaling. It is so fantastic that Barclay has created a new vision in creating a

learning approach. Debby McCann and Tim have a blended family of two boys (39, 38) and a girl (30). She works in community activities, and has been very active in helping with alumnae activities. Her six sisters are all well, but they did lose their brother, who was the seventh sibling. Kathy Mailliard Rende and her wonderful husband, Gian, have been such a help to me in putting the alums together. They spent a great deal of time in Tahoe this year with the grandchildren to escape the horrible smoke from the summer fires in Northern California. I was very sorry to receive the email from Teresa Annotti Rogers saying she would not be able to join us for Reunion. She lost her husband, Phil, in March of last year, and she is still staying out of the center of things, recovering from his loss. We will miss her and keep her in our prayers. Christy Belvail Baguio has gone through so much in the way of health this year, but she is a fighter and is doing very well. She sounds great and is helping me find classmates. I have had several wonderful calls with Louise “Weezie” Grant Garland. Our last call was about our very “clear” memories of being roommates our first day at Santa Catalina. In spite of our senility in these waning years, we can still remember one of the best bath powder fights ever held in the freshman dorm. It is amazing we were allowed to graduate! As the last on the list, I (Bobbie O’Connell Munson) have had both a wonderful and terrifying year. Life with my grandkids is always the best. All of them have graduated or are graduating from college. All have done some extensive traveling, so I live vicariously through emails and photos. It has been wonderful but my youngest son Mike was hit in a crosswalk in Los Angeles in October and we are still waiting for the doctors at UCLA to try to glue him back together. It is very hard to see him suffer so all these months, but we are grateful he is alive. It has certainly taught us the value of family and friends.

60

Marilyn Ramos Ospina maospina305@hotmail.com Karen Swanson Crummey kcrum1@sbcglobal.net

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

61 Penelope Corey Arango pcarango@bellsouth.net

It is with great sadness that I let you know that Sandi Domich McCauley died this last May. Some of you may have already heard this news, but I was not aware of it until just recently when a friend mentioned it to me. Sandi had been battling cancer for a while and she died of complications at Marin General Hospital with her family at her side. When I talked to Bill, he relayed to me that they had a memorial service in Sacramento and it was attended by about 250 people. They had established a yoga studio and practice in Sacramento many years ago and have a wonderful community of friends and family there. They had been married more than 50 years. Sandi came to one of my “open studios” and looked so beautiful in a red kimono with her usual gorgeous hair flowing. I remember her being the “stylist and hair consultant” for many of us in high school! She had an easy laugh and great spirit about her. She will be greatly missed. Penelope Corey Arango: My life is fascinating to say the least (I converted to Catholicism in 1983 to marry my soulmate in the Catholic Church). I go to daily Mass; a medical support group at 9:30 a.m.; work out at L.A. Fitness at 11:00 a.m.; attend University of Miami classes at noon; see my clients in the afternoon in my office; SSL, ESL, and arango book publishing; and on Saturdays, I volunteer in oncology at the Baptist Hospital from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.! Meeting fascinating people and attending a book club where I live on a 30-acre lake, with tennis courts and a swimming pool round out my life. At 75, I feel 40! I just wanted to share with you that one of the greatest gifts I received for my 75th birthday, was that Archbishop Wenski of Miami asked all the priests of the city’s Catholic churches to choose two people that they feel represent the spiritual ministries of their parish. Unbeknownst to me, I was very surprised and grateful that Monsignor Marin chose myself as one of the two representatives for St. Augustine Church and Catholic Student Center of the

The Class of 1959 at Reunion 2019

University of Miami. I feel so honored that I was chosen. The Archdiocese of Miami celebrated its Diamond Jubilee on October 7. We were given a gold cross and certificate by Archbishop Wenski. Judi Musto Hachman: All is well in Stockton, CA, with a group of active old people who drink a lot of coffee. We are counting our blessings and watching out for each other’s health. Tim and I went to visit the English kiddies in October and took the family to northern Spain, the Pyrenees, and Barcelona. It was an amazingly beautiful area with lots of history. And we even managed to spend a day in Lourdes! Since it was late in the year, there were very few people around. We came home in late October, cleaned up the house and my desk, and then I went off to have an ankle replacement! I’ve been lying around the house ever since. Actually I can walk independently and all is well, but I love my slave running all over for me.

Kathy Ryan Foy: Can you believe we are 75? I hope life has had more ups than downs for you! I have moved after 30 years in Connecticut to Hawaii to join my son and grandson (11) at their request. Five weeks after arriving to total upheaval, the volcano erupted! We live five minutes from it! We were truly blessed as we were spared. The eruptions lasted every day for five months, and 3,000 people were homeless. Several lost their homes and jobs. The town has suffered tremendously. It is a beautiful island and the culture is fascinating. I have become a much more empathetic and compassionate person through this experience. The tremendous devastation caused by fires in California is heartbreaking! I hope you were spared. I look forward to a new year with optimism for us all. If you are on the Big Island, please contact me! Sara Fargo: After becoming a certified yoga and pranayama instructor in March 2018, with additional training in accessible yoga, I have been teaching hatha, chair, and restorative yoga. I am also focused on archiving my life! In other words, I’m sorting, tossing, and archiving all photographs, papers, and journals into chronological order, then scanning to make sense of it, with an eye toward writing about it—memoirs for the Fargo family! I’m coming across random old photos from Santa Catalina from 1956–1961. I find working on the Class of 1961 Endowment fulfilling and the fact that the cash part of our endowment will go toward a young boarding student who will benefit from our scholarship for the 2019 fall semester is quite an uplifting feeling. For the big 75, aside from celebrating for a month or two with friends, a highlight was my trip to Albuquerque, NM, to the Ayurvedic Institute to partake in Dr. Vasant Lad’s workshop on pranayama. After attending the celebration of life for Margaret Brackenridge Dalis and seeing Terry Lowe Hall, Mary-Allen Macneil, Leigh Curran, and Laurie Washburn Boone Hogen, I experienced, as did others who were there, that our connections and friendships are even more precious now! I went to see the incredible and not-to-be-missed play Body

Beautiful by Leigh Curran. I also had a surprise visit from Lissa Gahagan Nicolaus for a quick lunch; Pat Flynn zoomed through—and we did not stop talking; and then a short phone call with Kathy Ryan Foy Leigh Curran: I continue to enjoy writing and performing. My new play, Body Beautiful , was accepted into FemFest, a reading series here in L.A. for plays by and/or about women. It came to life on January 26 at the Fountain Theatre. It’s about love, aging, loyalty, and gender confusion. I’ve been developing it through readings in L.A. and N.Y.C. Sara Fargo came to the very first reading in February 2018—I was so appreciative of her enthusiasm and support! I’ve also been very active politically by working with a group dedicated to turning two districts outside of L.A. from red to blue and happily we succeeded. Now on to helping our candidates get re-elected in 2020 and to fighting gerrymandering. So life is just the way I like it—full!

62

Mary Bitterman mbitterman@osherfoundation.org

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

63

DiDi Ditz Stauffer dditzs45@gmail.com Sally Rorick-Orlando rolando@cox.net

DiDi Ditz Stauffer: In March 2018, our class celebrated our 55th reunion. Trish Scott Williams and I were roommates, just like old times. I was in Bear Valley, CA, for the 50th Anniversary Music Festival in early August and then moved on to Silver Lake, near Kirkwood ski area, for Pacific Family Camp weekend. In the fall, I celebrated my birthday in Aptos with family for a few days and then went to Yosemite with my sister, Lorri Ditz McCarthy ’67, for a Society of California Pioneers weekend. Overall, I saw quite a bit of California and loved every inch of it. We are so blessed to have such a gorgeous state. For Christmas, my children and I visited Connecticut and New York City. I finally saw the majestic Statue of Liberty and we visited the World Trade Center. What an amazing job was done in the museum and to rebuild the WTC. Wishing all my classmates good health and happiness!

Frances Frawley Swanson: I am currently living in the D.C. area and am working on a book for children on the life of Paul Cuffee, who was a very successful African-American entrepreneur in Colonial

America. Sally Rorick-Orlando: I am continuing with my spiritual direction practice, and facilitating some “ageing to sageing” small groups. High point of the year was the family trip to Flathead Lake Lodge with my niece; our great nephews; my daughter, Julia; and my brother, Dave! We rode horses, sailed on the lake, fished, hiked, and ate wonderful meals out under the trees! Another high point was going to Phoenix for the “Celebrate Your Life” conference with Julia, where we heard some of our favorite speakers. My son, Matthew, is very busy with his Forlorn Hope label, plus now he is handling all aspects of the Rorick Heritage Winery. His grandfather is smiling down on that endeavor! Blessings to you all, and see you for our 60th reunion! Melody Rodriguez Stewart: My husband is in a nursing home for dementia, but my children and grandchildren are all well. Vicki McCallum Waddell: Last year was a tremendous challenge but it was one of those years that ended on a high! I am grateful to the radiation department at Marin General for their loving care. Although a bit scary in the beginning, I came away with a clean bill of health. I am grateful that Ed’s total knee surgery was successful. My sister is much improved and is now happily walking the white sands of Carmel once again. Finally, after many years of trying, I sold my home in Clovis. Now that we’re all healthy and happy again, I’m looking forward to traveling to Utah to see Zion and Bryce with my son, Harrigan, in April and then taking a cruise on the Holland America with Ed to enjoy the changing of the colors in Canada and New England in October. Love to all my fellow classmates. Judy Haig Hansen: I retired for a second time last year after working for a large healthcare system in New Mexico as the executive director of talent development. Although retired, I do coach a few leaders as needed. It’s really fun without any of the stress of full-time work. We bought a fixer-upper in Santa Fe and have settled into the community and love it. Our fixing up was completed just in time for Christmas. At the local community college, I’ve been studying art and Neal has been pursuing writing. We’re both enjoying free skiing based on our “advanced age” We’re 30 minutes from the ski resort. We spend the summer in the northwest at our cabin enjoying visits from our children and grandchildren and keeping in touch with our longtime friends. Danielle Varlay Heilala: Hello from Brighton, MI, where I am going on my sixth year of marriage to my husband, Dave. This year, I am again feeling gratitude for our health and wellbeing, and that of my lovely stepdaughter, my two sons, and three grandchildren. A highlight of our year has been the acquisition of two long-haired, miniature Dachshund puppies, Norman and Mason. We spent a lovely summer cruising the back roads and lake country of Michigan with our classic car club, with whom we took a week-long trip through the Upper Peninsula exploring copper mines, World War II museums, and Fort Wilkins, which was

occupied by the U.S. Army in 1844 in order to maintain peace between the copper miners and the Ojibwas Indians. Our last, full day was spent on Mackinac Island, a phenomenal spot to visit. I belong to a writer’s club, have learned to play a card game called Euchre, and have finally submitted my personal memoir to an agent in Connecticut. Next goal is the publication of some children’s stories for which I feel I am well prepared to write after 20 years of preschool teaching. Suzy Gazlay: My highs and lows all relate to a stroke four years ago. Dealing with the after effects is both a challenge and an adventure, depending upon my state of mind. The lows include missing the things that used to be my very active, independent life—and working hard to regain skills, only to suffer a setback. The highs far outweigh the lows. They include wonderful visits from 1963 friends; gratitude that although my body no longer works very well, my cognitive function is intact; and, most of all, the conviction and assurance that God has this in hand. As I’m sure you have found in your medical challenges, He does not leave us or forsake us, even though the circumstances are difficult. I appreciate your prayers. Ghislaine de Give: In July, I will be completing a two-year art diploma, which combined the study of art history since 1800, painting, and specialist endeavours like etching. It was rewarding and gave me a purpose more fulfilling than doing a job well for a company. My volunteer work this year has had me heavily involved in creating the survey for my college reunion at Radcliffe/Harvard and pro bono coaching of young people in their career search. Most joyous of all are my two grandsons, Arlo (2 1/2) and Rafferty (12 months), who I see frequently as well as their parents, Amory and Toshky, and my other son, Gervase. Despite often yearning to be back in the States, I am blessed with a close and happy family. I took until this past October to get back into shape and of sound mind after falling down my stairs in 2017. More dramatic than desperate, this experience has made me very careful, with good effect. My house is on the market and I will look for a place to live on one level with no stairs. In the meantime, I spend a part of every day discarding my collection of papers, books, and clothes. Until I leave, however, I have a large house with place for visitors if you come to London. Mary Malcolm Ford: Just enjoying friends and my dogs. Simple life, but as stress-free as I can make it. I enjoy reading about the adventures of others and have a great deal of admiration for the energy they seem to have. Pat Coonan Hackett: Last year was full of surprises for us—bad and good, in that order. In February, I slipped on ice in front of my house and shattered my right shoulder. Surgery to repair my bones took place later that month, and this was followed by a lot of reading and sitting around waiting to start physical therapy. I was amazed and grateful for all the love, support, and encouragement I received during that time from family and friends, far and

near; I am sure that good and healing thoughts and prayers travel through some magical network! In July, our San Francisco daughter, Jen, announced that she was moving back to Massachusetts with her family and would now be only a one-hour drive away. We see them regularly and it is very different from my twice-a-year visits to San Francisco. Since then, my life has resumed a somewhat normal pattern. I am still tutoring at the local community college and ushering at a refurbished Worcester theater. John and I plan to pick up some traveling that we had to miss last year due to my injury and are looking forward to whatever comes next. We have learned to be flexible in these uncertain times. Mary-Ellen Bowlin Briel: I had wonderful visits with Jansie Stephens Farris, as well as Kathleen Hynes and Pat Daugherty Shallenberger. Thank God for Facebook, where other loyals appear, allowing us to hear news from time to time. As a retired English teacher, after several years of winter volunteering stints in Asia and India, I began working in 2016 with an amazing NGO in Athens called The Melissa Network. I now go over for two or three months at a time, teaching English to a beautiful, ever-changing group of young women, refugees from Middle Eastern countries. I’ve fallen in love with my work, as well as with the country and people of Greece. Come visit, if you’re in the area! J’Amy Maroney Brown: As you may know, Montecito was besieged by fire and flood in January 2018. I escaped untouched by either catastrophe, but I did get a good dusting of ash and soot. I finally got back to my decontaminated house in mid-October 2018, but decided I could no longer manage my mother’s decorative arts collection from potential peril. So, my daughter, Jeanne Brown Brollier ’91, came to my rescue and departed with 19,000 pounds of antiques and impressionist paintings—which she took to Charleston and delivered in the midst of Hurricane Florence. Fortunately, the freight was delivered undamaged, but some of the paintings had been cut from their frame in transit! The de-acquisitioning is freeing and I learned I loved the spartan living of a hotel. Don’t be surprised to see me on the move in the next year as my sojourn just might include a visit to some of my old pals from the Class of ’63! Lynn Gates: My vet daughter in Long Beach, CA, is expecting her second child in April, and my younger daughter is helping run a new environmentally conscious startup in N.Y.C. I am still working and my retired husband day trades stocks from the couch. I still play tennis and squash and love to cook.

Christine Chambers: The low point happens daily when I pick up The New York Times and get reminded of the national and global nightmare we’re living in. The high point happens almost daily when I drive up to Mendocino, past an inspiring section of the wild north coast. I am also happy that my 87-year-old sociologist husband still writes about six hours a day, and that he’s still the perfect man for me. Jansie Farris Stephens: The high point was a family trip to Vail, CO, with our four kids and nine grandkids. We were all together for a week to hike, bike, raft, and hang out at the pool. (My kids would not allow me to bike because they were afraid I would fall and break something else!) Fun times! The low point was when I fell and broke my other hip, so now I have two hip replacements! I am bionic—and boy, do I set buzzers off at the airport!

64

Antoinette Ziegler Hubbard joyfuleclectic@icloud.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

65

Pat Allen Sparacino pat.sparacino@gmail.com

Hilda Herrera Adler: Like most of us, our greatest enjoyment is our grandchildren. I have three grandsons and the youngest is 17 months. I still travel to Guatemala three times a year for business and to visit family. I continue to stay

The Class of 1964 at Reunion 2019

physically active, especially winter sports and skiing. Bonnie Bray: I’ve lived in Portland, OR, since 1967. My daughter, Rachel, is close by and my daughter, Erin, is in Seattle with her husband, Dmitry, and their daughter, Sasha (13). Their son (18) attends Reed in Portland. I keep busy with gardening, walking, quilting, reading, camping, traveling, and neighborhood and human rights volunteering. Dick and I have done some traveling: a 14-day cruise up the northwest and Alaska coast from Seattle (gorgeous scenery and wildlife); two glorious weeks camping in the redwoods of Northern CA, and another week driving up the coast of Oregon; a three-day camping trip to Ft. Stevens State Park, Astoria (where we got to hear an elk herd bugling and whistling for about 10 minutes—an amazing and magical experience). In the past year, I’ve seen Sue Durney Mickelson for lunch, had phone visits with Cathleen Clancy Wells and Molly Helm Lynch, and emails with Ann Seamster. I wish it were easier to visit in person with all our classmates. Carol Carnazzo Brown: My husband, Ron, and I have been living in Sun City, Lincoln Hills, CA, for four years, and we love our retirement community! Ron is still commuting to his law office in Sacramento and I continue volunteering at St. Joseph Marello Catholic Church, exercising at the gym, and spending quality time with family and friends. I also do a little publicity and marketing work for a few outreach organizations in Placer County, mostly in the fundraising arena. We traveled to Europe in May and to the Holy Land in November (where Ron and I renewed our wedding vows at Cana). Best of all, our daughter, Meredith, and Logan Frazer married in October after a six-year courtship. Tammy Dougherty: I still work at my consulting business. I design curriculum materials

and coursework for various organizations and school districts. And I enjoy my two grandsons, Alex and Peter, and their parents who live nearby, so I get to have fun with them often. Bettie Hutcheson Carrell: M. F. Flynn made her annual Thanksgiving visit to us at our ranch. As usual, it was a complete pleasure to have her with us. She plays games with my grandchildren until the cows come in—thus freeing my hands for other tasks! Michele Clark : Wow, it seems like yesterday that we were filling out college applications and here we are, retired and moving with friends to the next developmental stage. I am still teaching two classes a year at the University of Nevada. I am also actively working on a couple of committees and boards: for affordable housing (Nevada Hand) and for a teaching organization (team-based learning collaborative). I am also participating with my church in helping immigrants relocate to family homes. I am healthy, as is my family, and I am very happy to have fewer responsibilities. Life is good!

Susan Corey: After the loss of my beloved Jules, I found myself living in a house that was too big and with too many things. Time for downsizing. I found a beautiful two bedroom condo with a patio that backs onto our south coast botanic gardens. Our home sold way over asking in four days! The Realtor—me!—was very excited. So my new life has begun. I have huge support from my family that includes Penelope Corey Arrango ’61, Eugenie Schlueter ’68, and Melina Eversole Montoya ’79. Beginning my 30th year as a Weight Watchers coach (now called WW) and 11th year as a Re/ Max Realtor. Julia Anderson Frankel: Russell, my husband and an excellent golfer, and I have had a second home in Pebble Beach for about 20 years—to escape the Houston heat in the summers and still play golf on a regular basis. Over the years, I took up knitting to pass the time on the Monterey Peninsula, but sadly Knitting by the Sea in Carmel closed a couple of years ago. I may go back to needlepoint, but the local shop also closed. I now need to drive almost to San Jose to get supplies. If beginners need guidance or directions I can happily help. Kathy Toy Grandemange: We had a lovely road trip to Oregon in May. We stayed at beautiful Crater Lake, saw a play in Ashland, and stopped to see the amazing Spruce Goose airplane outside Portland. We had a very nice visit with Bonnie Bray at her beautiful home in Portland. She is a wonderful gardener! We then drove down the Oregon coast—not to be missed! Thre was gorgeous scenery all the way. We also spent a lot of time with our daughters and grandkids, who live in the Bay Area. Lola Hogan: I am still working and don’t see retirement in the near future. I am still in the insurance claims business dealing with major injuries and the ensuing litigation and living in the lovely Pacific Grove, CA. Grandkids are in L.A. so we see them more often now. One is a high school junior and the other is in seventh grade. It’s scary how fast the time goes. We celebrated our 31st anniversary this year. Peggy Hudson: I’m still living in Lake San

Marcos, CA, where I moved in 2011. I live in a 55+ community, which I really like. I have two horses to ride now that my mare’s baby is three and is in training in dressage. He is looking very promising, and I hope to start showing him later this year. My mare is going strong and gives me great exercise three times a week. Since I also have two dogs that need daily walks, I have been accumulating lots of step awards on my Fitbit! Evie Lindemann: My son and daughter-in-law left California! Now, it’s only a two-hour flight from Connecticut to North Carolina, so I’m pleased about that. I really love being “Grammie.” This past December, I traveled to Goa on the west coast of India, getting ayurvedic treatments each day. Pretty heavenly to experience rich, dark herbal oils on the body given by two masseuses. It was sunny and tropical, too. I’ll also be going on pilgrimage to Meher Baba’s Center. I’ll be doing some art therapy work while I’m there at an Indian orphanage with kids who are 8-14 years old. It’s very meaningful to me, and this year a New Haven art shop sent me on my way with nearly $200 of art supplies, confirming my belief that there is still goodness in the world. I continue my work as an associate professor in a graduate program of art therapy and my printmaking art form. M. F. Flynn and I are in very regular contact. Caroline Lord Mackenzie: Life in “da 808” is excellent. Family and friends continue to visit and it is fun to share “Hawaiian aloha.” I stay busy as the president of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers in Hawaii. Maisie de Sugny MacDonald: I’m grateful to have good health and a wonderful, loving family! Looking forward to our 55th reunion. Mary Randall Peterson: John, my husband of 36 years, died in 2015 from a degenerative brain disease. We had moved from Fresno to Santa Cruz for our retirement. We have four children and three grandkids. My interests include duplicate bridge, gardening, UCSC lifelong learner classes, Netflix, politics, daily walks along the coast of the Monterey Bay, and frequent social gatherings with many lifelong friends who have also retired to Santa Cruz. There is a nice community of Santa Catalinans in my area, including Jane Bronner Hummert ’64, Traci Bliss ’66, Anne Woolf Franson ’69, Nancy Woolf ’70, and Sarah Clark Woolf ’89. I enjoyed a wonderful tour of the British Isles in 2017 and visited Costa Rica and the Panama Canal in 2018 with my old friend and bridge partner, Nancy Driscoll, who happens to be one of Sister Isabel’s nieces. Wendy Wilson Snell: In July, we returned to California for our first visit in 10 years to attend a wedding. It was a week filled with visits with old friends and nostalgic places. Totally out of the blue, I had a heartfelt reconciliation with my older brother. In September, we decided to buy a new house in a new town, Fuquay-Varina, NC, closer to kids and grandkids and we moved in November. It was definitely not the right time of year to put our house on the market but the new house was too good to pass up. At the moment, we

Evie Lindemann ’65 with two of her grandchildren

still own two houses. Pat Allen Sparacino: We are so proud of Peter, our son, who is a hardworking and successful musician in N.Y.C.; Danielle, his partner of eight years; and Fia (4), our one and only granddaughter. We wish we all lived closer. I encourage our class to keep in touch, plan to attend our 55th reunion in 2020, and support Santa Catalina in any way you can. Even though the campus and curriculum have changed a lot since we were students there, it is a vibrant and progressive campus that holds true to its catholic and Catholic identities. Ann Hodges Strickland: Jim and I have been married more than 50 years. We are enjoying our granddaughters, Chanele (16) and Paris (13); we are planning a summer cruise to Alaska with them. We are a little older, a little slower, but doing great health-wise. I have cut back a bit on my client base, but still stay active in the tax preparation/ bookkeeping business. Mallory Vail Weymann: Conrad and I still live in our house of 40 years in Darien, CT. We are blessed with eight grandchildren ranging in age from 9 years to 4 months. Vail and Shiv have three kids; Alex and David have three kids; Josie and Jack have two; and Andrew is engaged to be married. I spend my time with our grandchildren who live in Darien, CT, Albany, NY, and Chicago; walk with a group of women each day; play golf; and belong to a wonderful book group.

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Lorri Ditz McCarthy lorditz@yahoo.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

Ann

67Kuchins kuchinsa@yahoo.com Anne Neill anneneill@yahoo.com

Vicki MacLean Gourlay: I have a few thoughts to impart upon our 52nd anniversary. Seeing as the question has been posed, I had a little time to reflect on turning 70. There seems to be a certain urgency to get things done, as one never knows how much time one has left. But for sure, being with the ones I love is top of the list. Going to visit places I have wanted to see would be next. Having outlived my parents, sister, two husbands, and many friends much younger than me, I find myself quite suddenly being the “old” one, an idea I’m not so familiar with. Most importantly, I hope to stay healthy and remain engaged in my volunteer work and managing a stable full of horses. I continue to ride and compete, see lots of my children and grandchildren. We were in South America for Christmas to climb Huayana Picchu, swim with sea turtles and sea lions, and visit the Galapagos. Cathy Quarre Alexander: For the Alexanders, it has been a year of many challenges. My dear Scott has had a tough time, but at this time holding his own. I now visit the kids mostly in Seattle and I am included in beach and skiing get-togethers in our condos in Vail. The five grandchildren are terrific to Scottie, and they are so kind and loving. Their perspective has been a constant learning experience for me and has given me strength. Our son, John, and his wife, Kristie, are amazing, while Sara and her husband, Mark, are always there for me. How did I get so lucky? Love to you all. Rose Teichert Grimm: I have had a very difficult but also very blessed year. In February, I was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer. I have been treated in the UCLA system, with surgery and six rounds of chemotherapy. It has gone incredibly well, and since August I have been in remission, feeling fine, and finally getting my hair back! Mary Sweetland Laver and Sister Mary Kiely have come for special visits and it’s been so wonderful to see them. Danny and I went to Paris and Lourdes in October to celebrate the end of treatment and to give thanks. I am on a clinical trial now, hoping to forestall a recurrence, and would be grateful for prayers. Sue Lloyd: My hubby, Glenn, and I continue on in the little Florida beach town of St. Augustine where my immigrant paternal grandparents settled in the Roaring Twenties. Florida is far from perfect but St. Augustine’s beach and music scenes do compensate. I send my love and best wishes to my forever friends. Cece Morken Gadda: All three of our kids and their families moved this year, so on a whim we went

looking, too. We have now downsized into a 90-year-old English cottage-style home on a pretty tree-lined street in Boise. Sorting and packing up 33 years of life was exhausting, but it’s done. We also have a guest cottage, so any class members who want a free place to stay in Boise are welcome!

Chris Von Drachenfels: My grandkids and their parents are great. I am blessed with a wonderful life, pretty good health, great memories, a religion of kindness, and a desire to do no harm. I lost my beloved Peaches, my blonde pit bull, in September 2017; she was 15. It still surprises me that 15 months later a picture of her can take my breath away in grief. I continue to bond with Zoe, my 8-year-old dog, and my cat, a boy Maine Coon mix, Pretty Boy. This year, he was diagnosed with asthma, eye disease that took his right eye, and now a heart murmur. Boy, did he find the right mom to rescue him! I am quite happy with both four-leggeds on my bed at night. I continue to work for the family business, residential rentals in Monterey. We have been divesting ourselves of California assets, reinvesting in Spokane. It’s booming here! But because I don’t really like bookkeeping but do love new pets, I’ve added a few. So I am the new mom to six bunnies: BlackBerry, Jimmy Bonds, Opal, Rosemary, Drago, and Wave—the grandkids named them. They will move out of my garage into their permanent colony digs this spring. Yolanda Scaccia Manuel: Time flies by, doesn’t it? I’m still working for the Archdiocese of San Francisco at St. Catherine of Siena School in Burlingame. The children keep me on my toes, reminding me how fortunate I am to be part of their lives. My twin grandsons are fifth-graders and my granddaughter is a seventh-grader, so music lessons, choir, club volleyball, school talent shows, and class projects keep us busy. My daughter, Noel, is the controller at the Jewish high school in San Francisco and my son, Nicholas, is the St. Catherine Parish Supervisor. And last but not least, my husband, Chris, is looking forward to a cruise we’re planning to Scandinavia, Russia, and Germany in June. I don’t see many Santa Catalina alums except for Janet Miller Abbott ’71 and her family at our parish activities. It’s a pleasure to share Santa Catalina news with her; St. Catherine seems to be watching over us as we experience each day’s little surprises. Renata Engler: While reflecting on what to send in for class notes, I realized what I really wanted to do is share my gratitude for the many blessings amid the storms of life that I have been graced with. Among those treasures is the camaraderie and fellowship shared with this remarkable group of women that give me hope for the future of our human race. You all are such a blessing and I pray that this year may bless each of you and your families and loved ones with peace, joy, and the eternal healing. Love is the only reality that endures when all else falls away. Life is not easy, especially for so many in our troubled world, and yet it is so amazing and beautiful with no limits to our ability to learn and grow in the

Mary Randall Peterson ’65 with her family

spirit. My year has been one of intensified caregiving for my husband and supporting friends and colleagues facing losses and stressful life changes. I still work part-time with flexibility but it sometimes overwhelms me. During my own struggles, I continue to find soulmates through books that echo my perceptions and comfort me. The daily meditations from Richard Rohr and his books are treasures that I would recommend. Marianne Williamson, her now 20-year-old book, Healing the Soul of America , and her daily meditations are also jewels that challenge and expand horizons. All her books are available in audible form with the author reading them beautifully—real prose poetry in many parts. And most recently, the poem “Manifesto of the Brave and Brokenhearted” from Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown. Melinda Bowman Manlin: In short, 2018 was full of blessings! My daughter, Kathryn ’98 LS, married Hunter Brown and had a baby boy, Lucas Oliver. Part of the immeasurable joy for me is that I was with them for her labor and delivery and am now able to join Hunter’s mom in taking care of Lucas. While still working part-time in the law office, I’ll be looking for some writing jobs. A year of editing the St. Mary’s-by-the-Sea e-newsletter was good practice! My son, David (32), still loves living in beautiful Bend, OR. My sister, Barbara Bowman ’66, lost her husband three years ago and is grateful for all the support she received. She continues to work in the library of Redwood Day School, and her children, Jonathan and Rebecca, are doing well. Carolyn Layton GarnerReagan: Last year was a mix of both deep sadness and great happiness for me as is the case as we all near 70! My husband, Michael, has had some serious medical problems but has rallied each time for us to take two cruises this past year. The first trip was from Montreal to Boston, culminating in a wonderful lunch with Joan Seamster and her husband and daughter. I think our husbands might still be talking about ships and the Navy if we hadn’t needed to move on for the rest of our trip, which included driving to Hyde Park, Cooperstown, and Niagara Falls! Our second cruise was a Christmas cruise along the Mexican Riviera with my daughter, Caryn, her husband, Mike, and our precious grandsons, Logan (4.5) and Henry (2.5), and Caryn’s stepmother, Gerti. Michael and I spend a lot of happy times helping with the boys. I continue to help coordinate the lay visitation ministry at All Saints Episcopal Church here in Pasadena. We are hoping the stars align for our next cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Lisbon in late March, culminating in a trip to Berlin to see Michael’s daughter and husband who relocated to Germany last year. Ann Kuchins: When I look at my financial portfolio, I often think that maybe I should still be out there earning a paycheck. But then I think of all the things that I am doing in retirement and reassure myself that I made the right choice to try new things while I am healthy

in mind and body. My biggest thrill was my 14-day Red Cross deployment to the Camp Fire in Butte County. What an amazing feat to implement a major disaster operation at the spur of the moment under challenging circumstances! The operation is still going on with the help of a steady stream of volunteers from all over the country who come and go over two or more weeks at a time. In the shelters, you are inspired by the resilience of people with few resources, who have had previous life challenges but are still thankful for what they have, and even though they have lost so much, feel that they are still better off than others. I even amazed myself that I could actually sleep fairly decently in a room with 75-115 people on an army-type cot with a symphony of snoring. What did I learn? Be flexible, try to get to yes, and that there are truly remarkable, selfless, giving people who do this work time and time again, norovirus and all. Mary Whitney Kenney: Fortunately, the year has been good to us. We have no major news to report. Our guide dog puppy, Greta, went in for training at the end of October. We are keeping fingers crossed that she makes it as a guide dog for the blind. We raised her for 18 months before she went in for training. Her training lasts about six months, and if she succeeds, she will end up with a blind person and be a working dog. Katy Lewis: Decades ago, I remember starting my first job after my MBA as a consultant at McKinsey. I vividly remember reading an edition of Psychology Today, which featured an article titled something like “Top Stressful Life Events.” Well, my past 18 months have hit all the high points on that list. Right after our reunion, in May 2017, I joined my 94-year-old mother and family in Washington,

Ahoy, mates! Members of the Class of 1967, from front to back: Louise Vessey Edwards, Joanne Bosche Ehrlich, Joan Seamster, Anne Neill, Wynn Woodward

D.C. to celebrate the Georgetown graduation of my youngest daughter, Katherine. I took a brief trip to Brazil on business, only to return in June to learn that my mother suddenly died. Over the next six months, besides settling my mother’s affairs and selling her house in D.C., my oldest daughter, Claire, married in July and my middle daughter, Rosemary, gave birth to Theo, my first grandchild. Rosemary and her husband, Stephen, also live in the Bay Area, where Rosemary uses her MBA to handle operations for the fintech company

Upstart. After my mother was finally laid to rest with my father at Arlington in November 2017, we all happily welcomed 2018 over New Year’s in Santa Cruz and settled into our various fulltime jobs and routines, only to have my husband, Steve (68), die suddenly from a brain hemorrhage over Labor Day. Shocked and devastated, somehow my daughters and I seem to be surviving, managing the complications caused by his sudden death on top of our full-time jobs while also dealing with grief. (I am still working full-time doing admission consulting for top MBA programs.) Despite this whirlwind of events, all in all, I feel very blessed—no one can reach this age unscathed, and I feel fortunate that I have had wonderful people in my life. I look forward to new life and a wonderful new year. Wishing you the same!

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Eugenie Schlueter emschl@sbcglobal.net Daphne Macneil daphnemacneil@yahoo.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

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The Class of 1969 is without a class correspondent. Please contact Shannon Gaughf ’08, Alumnae Relations Coordinator, to volunteer to serve your class in this meaningful way.

Marna Sweeney Haley is enjoying retirement and the grandkids, and splitting time between Durango, CO, and Sun City, AZ. Terry Whitney Baganz is still gainfully employed at BHP. She survived a massive layoff where 50 percent of the workforce in Houston was made redundant. Through all of the turmoil, she continued to work on the geology and tectonics of offshore Eastern Canada in preparation for a petroleum bid round. The team was excited when BHP outbid others and was awarded two exploration blocks.

Aside from work, she continues to enjoy golf, needle pointing, and spending time between her two homes in Houston and Washington, D.C. Sandra Donnell continues on an even keel with an expanding family (granddaughter born in February 2018); volunteer work with educational and environmental concerns; tending their Sonoma property; and trying to keep flexible to maximize the good years in the future. She shares, “How rewarding to have passed those formative years with such a class of wonderful women. I know my life was impacted by the experience and each of you. Here is to our futures and all good years ahead.”

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Marie Cantin

rapideye1@aol.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

71

DeDe Rogers

dede.rogers@comcast.net

Patty Lee Schminke patricia.schminke@gmail.com

Kate McInerny: I began the new year by visiting the Santa Catalina campus in January. I met the

Assistant Head of School John Aime; the Chair of World Languages Melissa Sheets; and Shannon Gaughf ’08, Alumnae Relations Coordinator. It was a sparkling, sunny, clear day and the campus was primed for returning students and a curious, nostalgic alum. Candy Keller Dormer: Don and I are splitting time between Pebble Beach, Sacramento, and Colusa. My son and I have taken over the family rice farm in Colusa and I’m also helping my mom. She will be 93 this year. Keeps me busy and on the road. Linda PerelliMinetti Weber: This past year has been busy with working part-time at Pottery Barn (I love my design clients!) and knitting baby blankets for Christ Child Society layettes. Michael and I have been traveling back and forth to Pasadena to visit our daughter, Tricia Weber ’01, who welcomed her son, Cruz Marco Ortega, in mid-December. Our son James is happy as a systems administrator in Monterey and Ryan is finishing school this year. Michael and I are enjoying life in Monterey, and I look forward to resuming my volunteer work with the aquarium and Peace of Mind Dog Rescue when time allows. Cri Cri Solak-Eastin: Enjoying retirement and the new adventure of bi-coastal living with the purchase of a second home in Charlotte, NC. It’s a beautiful, growing city with great restaurants and heartfelt Southern hospitality. I am also closer to my daughter and son-in-law and my other daughter who loves Houston. Trips to New Zealand and Italy round out plans for 2019. Feel so blessed! Ann Carter: Now that we’ve firmly secured our senior discounts and signed up for Medicare, we can truly go wild. For us, that has been off-loading the big house for an apartment in the hip West End neighborhood of Portland; paring down possessions due to size limitations (although that was slightly derailed by the opportunity to upgrade with my mother’s peaceful passing in March 2018); and thinking constantly about fun

travel destinations while we can still cavort. Sara Lawrence Thom: Not much is new with me. I’m still enjoying my Ojai life, being politically active as our local and global needs for activism are great. My boys are busy: one in New Zealand and one in Brooklyn; both are politically active. May 2019 bring more love to this world. Katherine Blair Rible: Justin and I left home in October for a cruise. We started in Honolulu, then went on to Tahiti, Fiji, the Samoas, all around New Zealand, and then circumnavigated Australia with stops in Papua New Guinea, Komodo, and Bali. We returned home in January. We met the brother and sister-in-law of Peggy Hawkins Widelock ’62 on the ship! Small world. Leslie Fancher Rodman: My life is the same—golf, volunteering, and travel. Let me know if you are ever coming through San Luis Obispo. I would love to get together with you. See you at our next reunion in 2021! Patty Lee Schminke: We are now both retired since Bob retired in December and looking forward to even more camping, hiking, and skiing. We had a first family Christmas without my mom in Belize. It was great with my brother and sister, Jill Lee ’76, and their families, even though I was on crutches with a broken leg! I’m still playing duplicate bridge and volunteering at the senior center.

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Suzanne Scoville suzanne.scoville@gmail.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

73

Barbara Smith O’Brien beob2110@gmail.com

The Class of ’73 celebrated our 45th in March 2018. Cyndy Nadai won the distance award, as she came all the way from Australia! Our reunion was a reminder of how special the friendships we began 48 years ago still are. Suki Bryan, the host of our 65th birthday celebration, sends a reminder: Please mark your calendars for our Napa 65th birthday reunion on Memorial Weekend 2020! Hope to see you there! All is good and loved seeing so many of you at our reunion. Diane Hull Gansauer: I backpacked at least 300 miles on the Continental Divide Trail in New Mexico (the Gila River Wilderness was spectacular), Colorado, and the southern end of Wyoming. I look forward to hiking with my daughter, Grete, and brother, Mike, this summer. I’ve also completed my master’s in theology from an interfaith seminary and was ordained. I continue

The Class of 1969 at Reunion 2019

to enjoy my job as director of the celebrant services for Dignity Funeral Homes in Denver, and officiating weddings through my small business. Debbie Humm-Bremser: In a Bremser exodus from the Peninsula, we’ve retired to the Gold Country in the Sierra Foothills where we have four seasons. Patrick, our oldest, is back in Kauai while Michael, now 34, is at UCSB finishing the bachelor’s degree he started at 18. Colleen stayed put. Joe moved to Helsinki to marry his beautiful Finn. The last wedding is this summer, but no reproductions for me to spoil yet. Husband Tom is hiking the Camino in Spain and I’m getting shorter one limb at a time. Marianne Cleary Santizo: I am still living in Berkeley and working as a clinical nurse specialist in child psychiatry. The community agency where I work focuses on families with disability. My daughter graduated from high school in June and is now attending Portland State University, so the nest is empty! I’m taking some time to breathe and figure out what the next chapter of my life will look like. Just got back from a circus retreat in Mexico, so maybe join the circus? Ann Sewell Thomson: I have a new home in Houston and a grandson. Anne Cochran Frischkorn: Houston friends and family are moving around. My daughter has been living with us after Hurricane Harvey and she has just now found a small West University home to move into with her son (3). I have a new grandson and we are putting our home up for sale that we built. Our next adventure is going to hunt on horseback at our friend’s plantation with hunting dogs in Alabama. It is cold in the early morning there but fun. I hope to come back to Carmel soon and take another art class in painting with Suki Bryan and see my friends Stella Blackwell Casillas, Mary Biaggi McEachern, Ann Finnegan, and many others again before our next reunion at Suki’s in Napa. Lucy Butler: I am working on a documentary on reporters in Vietnam with my roommate from Stanford. I went

to a trunk show for Amelia Brown, the daughter of Teresa Barger, and purchased some of her very spectacular clothes. I am in touch with Bobbie Bon Lundstrom, Susan Work Ward, and Justine Schmidt Bloomingdale via phone and text, and Justine and I have lunch together one day a month. Robin Kohler Stieber and I text—she is a great support system! My dad is going strong at 91! The two of us had dinner with Teresa in Washington, D.C., in April. Cyndy Nadai: I was delighted that two classmates made it to Sydney this year. Basia Belza and her husband, Martin, came in September and Teresa Barger in October. Tina Greene: I became grandmother to Allie Michelle, whose parents were married in August at a beautiful venue in Natches, WA. All of her grandparents were there to celebrate, as were 12 members of my family! I returned home at the end of August to discover that the joint space in both hips was “obliterated.” At last, there was a way to move beyond the pain that had been limiting my mobility and my sleep for far too long. I got my new left hip on Christmas Eve. When I write this, it’s now about three weeks post-op. I am starting to take steps unsupported by my walker and hope to move to a cane or be walking on my own by the end of next week. Leigh Mahone Hoburg: I am a furloughed federal employee, and this is helping test the retirement waters. There is much anxiety and everyone I know who is furloughed just wants to get back to work. I will be interested in how my agency will fare when the hurricane season hits—if this lasts that long. Other than that, Paul and I are fine. I am trying zumba and kickboxing and look forward to my niece’s wedding next year. If I get out of this furlough, I want to plan a trip to England and Scotland. Ann Drendel-Haas: I have been trying to get my daughter out to India to finish her last college semester at Christ University in Bangalore (study abroad). Travel nightmare on the West Coast and snow shoveling for family and my dad, has me going a million miles in multiple directions. Lost my mom in July and it has been rough. I saw her every day and she was such a big part of my life. Juanita de Sanz also lost her mom about a month ago. But the good news is that my son passed the California Bar and is now enjoying his first big job working in L.A. My dad (95) keeps me inspired and enlightened every day. I enjoy being a mediator at the Neighborhood Mediation Center working as a volunteer for justice courts in Reno and Sparks. It keeps me humble and grateful for all my blessings. Barbara Smith O’Brien: We are calling 2018 our annus horribilis. We lost my sister, Debby Smith Roberts ’70, and as anyone who has lost a sibling would agree, there are no words to describe the sorrow. Debby’s dearest friend,

Alice Grau Smith ’70, made the funeral, which was a wonderful testimony to the love people felt for Debby, an incredibly compassionate vet. The attendees, over 450 of them, spilled out of the church and gymnasium into the parking lot, bringing some comfort to family. Here’s to a better 2019. And finally, from Basia Belza: In an effort to end our sitting epidemic, I invite you to stand up while you are reading this news! With the help of friends who are native Polish speakers and the completion of a boatload of paperwork, my siblings and I applied for and recently received confirmation of our Polish citizenship. We, as well as my dad, are thrilled. On the work front, I was recently appointed to serve as director of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging at the University of Washington. I continue to relish conducting research in healthy aging and teaching graduate nursing students, and was excited to travel this year to Germany and China for workrelated business.

74 Sally Fay calgal75@aol.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

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Deanna “Dede” Duoos Davis deanna.davis@yahoo.com

Frances Hartwell: I’m busy gearing up to look for a new job. After 20 years of working with the same gentleman as a personal assistant, it’s time for a change. He passed away last November. I’m looking forward to new opportunities. Enjoying life in Berkeley, enjoying redecorating my home (recently re-plastered, repainted, and re-did the wooden floors). Enjoying the rain, too! As everybody around here says, we need it. Elizabeth Leach: I am still in Portland and enjoy moments playing the piano with my granddaughter, Evelyn. I enjoy being married to Bert and we have a busy life together. My daughter, Gwendolyn, is the managing director of the gallery, which will celebrate 40 years in 2021. Life feels like it is moving fast, so cherishing every moment is important! Look forward to seeing everyone at our reunion next year! Joan Artz: Katy MooreKozachik often visits Carmel and we’ve hiked, painted, and went to Happy Feet—Katy is fun to hang out with. Katy Moore-Kozachik : My husband and I are now both retired and I am enjoying that. I just carved out a place in our small house to do artwork and have learned to bake my

Cyndy Nadai ’73 and Teresa Barger ’73 in Sydney

own bread from scratch. I wish everyone well and good health! Lori Fitler Nugent: Life is going well in Sarasota, FL, at 61. Our two boys are close, so we see them often and that is what it is all about. I love my job as an event planner, most of the time. We have three cats and they shower us constantly with “gifts” alive and not so much. It is always wonderful to read about my friends from long ago and far away. Christie Wills Price: I retired last year and am now back in the classroom full-time. I guess I couldn’t give up spending my days with children. The best thing that has happened to our family has been the birth of our granddaughter (1 1/2). Love to all our Santa Catalina friends! Annette Leach Alcocer: I continue to work at Santa Catalina as the bookstore manager and I truly enjoy my job. Our son, Andy, is in Special Operations for the Army. He was deployed last year to Colombia and now just left for Suriname. Our daughter has two sons, Andrew and Matthew, and lives close by in Pleasanton, so that is lots of fun. My husband and I are planning a trip to Kauai in February! Lesley Miller Anderson: I joined the grandma club this year! My daughter, Ashley Anderson Avilla ’07, had a baby boy in March, and my son and his wife are now due in June! Blessings for the New Year. Stella Sinner Lauerman: Our news this year is sad. My mom, who worked at Santa Catalina for 17 years, passed away in November after a battle with kidney cancer. We had her celebration of life at school in December, and it was so meaningful and lovely to have it there. We are grateful to Sister Claire and everyone who helped to make that possible. In other news, our oldest daughter, Mary Claire, is doing great as an occupational therapist; our second daughter, Emily ’06, is getting her master’s in library science, and Mike is also doing well in his day program and activities. My husband, Dave,

continues his commute to San Jose as a workers’ comp judge. I am self-employed with my interpreting work and as a parent educator, and it is working out well at this stage in my life. Love to all the Catalina classmates. Sarah Colmery Preston: Sadly, I am in the middle of planning my husband’s memorial. He died on Thanksgiving of early onset Alzheimer’s. The last five years were tragic but now we are celebrating his wonderful humanity. My daughter, Hallie, has three children: Henry (3 ½), and identical twin daughters, Annie and Sallie (21 months), so that is a lot of joy right there. Still working at Cate and living in Carpinteria. Lisa Barry: I am alive and well. I am enjoying my semi-retirement and likely caught up on sleep about now! Katherine Oven: I’m still hard at work in water resources engineering and living in San Jose but planning to transition (hopefully) to an active and healthy retirement. I’m over the moon for my two young granddaughters: Sydney (3 ½), and Andi Kate (8 months)! From across the pond, Diana Oliver Bartley: It was heartbreaking to watch and read from the other side of the world about the truly dreadful fires and mudslides in California. My heart went out to all of you who were affected. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I still love living in London and appreciate being in such a fabulous city. I was rowing this morning on the Thames and despite the gray skies, it was lovely being on the water in convivial company. I’m still enjoying being a learning support tutor. We now have a royal pupil, which has meant a small army of security men on duty; being Canadian, I suppose I am considered low-risk? Family summer holidays are still spent in Canada, primarily on Salt Spring Island where our son, Edward (28), is currently working. Rosie (26) is with Barclay’s Bank in London and has just bought a flat with

her boyfriend—luckily, not very far from where we live. We’re invited over for meals so long as we bring Maggie, our Jack Russell. Cheers to you all, and as always, please get in touch if you are in London as I’d love to see you. Cecily Marble Hintzen: This year was a busy one. In January, with our Aussie friends, we embarked on a long journey to eastern California, introducing them to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and Death Valley. Later, in June we visited them in Sydney for week. After that, we spent seven days in the Cook Islands. Then, in October, my mother-in-law and I traveled to Panama to traverse the canal. Needless to say, all this travel set us back a bit, so 2019 will be a quiet year! My favorite times are those spent with my granddaughter and her parents who are expecting their second child in August. Mostly, I feel very blessed to have reached this stage in life and to have reconnected with my Santa Catalina family. I play WWF regularly with Elizabeth Patton Boyens! Christine Blom Gomez: Joan Artz , Katy Moore-Kozachik , and I rented a fun, little house right at the fork to Cayucos/Cambria. It was a blast! Went boogie boarding and watched movies, touristed around, and painted. At night, all the deer would walk by and the tarantula, Ralph, would sit by the front door! I got a new dog. She’s so wonderful. I’m hoping for a fun 2019, filled with lots of visits and a great reunion in 2020. Elizabeth Walker Rudinica: After a very hard and trying 2018 dealing with my son, I am looking forward to better, happier days ahead. I have taken abstract classes and am loving them! Painting has truly given me an escape and makes me happy. If anyone is interested in checking my pieces, I am on Instagram @lizrudinica. Best to all of you! Florine Clark : My stepson, and the nephew of Sarah Bryant , is a chef at the Greenbriar Inn in Boulder. My stepdaughter, and the niece of Sarah, builds custom cabinetry, is a nanny to eight children, and designs theatre sets and props for a local company, also in Boulder. I think it would be fair to say that Sarah Bryant and I are very proud of both of them. I took a wonderful job mediating and arbitrating with a company called JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services), which helps me support my

Clark ’75 with her horse, Ladd

The Class of 1974 at Reunion 2019

Florine

considerable horse habit. It is a ton of fun. Speaking of horses, every year in early June, my friend Christy and I take folks to a 20,000-acre ranch in Craig, CO, to ride, eat, drink, laugh, and generally have fun. Anybody interested should contact me at fleeclark@gmail.com! Speaking of Sarah Bryant , she writes: It’s been a jam-packed holiday season, which culminated in the 60th birthday extravaganza of my brother, Stephen, and his wife, Leslie. He decided he wanted to celebrate with family and friends with a ski week in Sun Valley, ID, where we spent many wonderful seasons as a flock of kids let loose in the environment. It was glorious fun. Participants were our mum; our brother, Mathew; Florine Clark ; and many other family friends. Skiing was fantastic, and it was delightful to see my brother coolly tackling the slopes just like our dad. Last year was a great success. After two and a half years, my little refugee family’s situation sorted itself out, and they were able to move forward in their lives and into their own place. It has been and continues to be a wonderful adventure that enriches the lives of our little village. So many people of disparate faiths and origins came together to help take care of these wonderful people. In between, there were art projects in Mexico and Hawaii. Now, I’m at the airport on my way to India. This year is promising to be full of travel! Adelaide Tietje Crosby: As for news here on the Central Coast, we are good. Spent summer visiting Balboa Island and saw Elizabeth Walker Rudinica. It was so hot that they put in an air conditioner and we lived by the pool or water. Don’t know about climate changes, but last year was definitely the warmest on record. Also, I was fortunate to celebrate Liz’s birthday in Hawaii at her beautiful home. While taking a break from golf in the Happy Shack, a man came in. Liz asked, “Are you Michael Dell?” Yes, it was him, and he stayed to talk with us for some time—always fun to travel with Liz! Looking forward to 2020 and visiting classmates. Maria Theresa “Mayate” de Yturbe de Galvez shared some very sad news: Last year, Veronica Lebrija

died from cancer, and we are very sad. Me and my family, everybody is well. If you ever come to Mexico call me! Mollie Drake: My mom passed away two years ago. I miss her daily. Keep enjoying all the time you get with your mother! Let me know if you get back to CA any time soon. Meggan Laxalt Mackey: Even though I thought I was headed toward retirement, I am now fully in re-wirement, but busier than ever! I have been fortunate that my little design and publication business, Studio M, is doing so well. This year, I designed several books for spectacular authors, edited a few, and designed/wrote interpretive signs for outdoor trails, exhibits, and museums. I was also fortunate that the University of Nevada’s Center for Basque Studies published my new book, Lekuak: The Basque Places of Boise, Idaho. Sales have been great for the university; this book is academic and it solely benefits university presses and Basque cultural institutions (not me financially), which is awesome. I am still adjunct faculty at Boise State University, mostly teaching a few Basque workshops. Daughter, Erin, is thriving in Portland, OR, and my husband, Dennis, is enjoying time with all our dogs in the great outdoors; he actually retired! If any of you are coming through or near Boise, please look me up. I’d love to see you! And lastly, more news of an historical nature, Dryden Branson Bordin shared this: My family decided to sell their beloved Rancho Canada De La Segunda, which the family has owned since the late 1800s. My husband, Craig, and I worked with the Big Sur Land Trust and other entities to donate a portion of the sale to the Monterey Parks Department. Protecting the land and preserving it for future generations was my family’s way of showing tribute to my great-grandfather, who found his way to the Carmel area as a young immigrant from Ireland. The park, which is part of the expansive Palo Corona Regional Park, is now open to the public and offers an incredible walk through what used to be a golf course and has now returned to the land’s natural state, with the Carmel River running through it. While you are there, be sure to stop by the interpretive center to see the gorgeous rendering of an artichoke, a painting done and donated by Joan Artz —just like the ones my family grew on the property years ago. Also, for fun, take a peak in the ballroom on site that still hosts parties such as our high school class prom that was held there. As for me, Deanna Duoos Davis: I’m back in Montana now. The snow, the friendly people, the charming little ski town of Whitefish is just my cup of tea. The boys are doing great. Rhys is now director of ops for NightOut. com, an innovative ticketing platform where you can find events, tickets, artists, and nightlife in major cities across the U.S. Beau is back in school again and majoring in civil engineering. The rest of the family is doing great. See you all at our 45th class reunion in 2020!

76 Margaret Ganz

itstartsat50@hotmail.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

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Julie Power Pantiskas

juliepantiskas@gmail.com

This is a year of many milestones, from 40th wedding anniversaries to turning 60 years old. Andrea Kingsley gets the award for a phenomenal way to celebrate 60 years of life: My two boys and I jumped from a plane. I would do it again! I haven’t been able to travel to Cuba for my nonprofit since May 2017 but I hope things improve, and I’m looking forward to 2020. Jane Saunders Johnston: I recently celebrated my 40th wedding anniversary to Rupert, and also celebrated my 60th birthday. We became grandparents when our son became a father. Nicola Latham Jones: I live in Ladner, BC, in Canada with my husband, Colin. I am working as a part-time administrative assistant and my husband is working as a financial security advisor. We hope to be able to travel a bit more in the years ahead. Both of our daughters have moved out of the house and are living in Vancouver, which is close by so they come home for dinner frequently. Our eldest, Adrienne (27), is a CPA and our youngest, Christina (25), works in marketing and advertising for Zeemac, which leases cars to other companies. My parents were evacuated five times from the fires in Santa Barbara. Luckily, their home was OK but the hills above them burned, which has meant evacuating every time rain occurs. It’s hard on them since they are 85 years old. Lastly, I’ve taken up Pickle Ball by playing three times a week and I’m helping at the soup kitchen for the homeless. Lorena Farias de la Garza: I am still living in Monterrey, Mexico, but spending more time at our second home at Akumal, Riviera, Maya. My husband of 34 years has retired so we have more free time. This past March, our second son was married and had a wonderful celebration. I also enjoy spending time with my grandson and playing lots of golf.

Camilla Woodward La Mer: I am still living in the mountains above Boulder and will be turning 60 years old in April. This past year, I retired from my psychotherapy practice so I could spend more time in Tucson with my two granddaughters (3, 4). I am continuing with my artwork, sewing owls, and writing. I love my life in the mountains. We have lots of wild turkeys, some foxes, occasional bears, and cougars. I love hearing from all of you!

Elizabeth Lungren Bloom: I sold my house

Elizabeth Leach ’75 with her granddaughter, Evelyn

after 29 years in Castaic, CA, and moved to Las Vegas, NV, which was overwhelming. Luckily, my son, John-Robert (J.R.), and friends helped me make the move. J.R. now lives closer to me and celebrated 20 years of being cancer-free. He excelled in school, including high school, college at University of Nebraska, and Nebraska Law School. Currently, he works as the government coordinator for the Sands Corporation, which owns the Venetian and Palazzo. My sister, Tricia Lungren Partridge ’74, moved to Healdsburg, CA. She has three children and two are married, and we’re excited about the recent third grandchild.

Stephanie Leach Decker: My son, Michael, married his college sweetheart last summer in Denver and I have just one more year in my MFA creative writing program. My husband and I enjoy living in Reno with the wild horses nearby. Ellen Barbieri Rollins: My husband and I retired a few years ago and are living in Sonoma County. I enjoy living close to my family with Leslie Barbieri Rea ’74 only 12 miles away and her sister, Julia Barbieri Mitchell ’82, 35 miles from her. I feel very lucky to be back in Northern California. From snowy Cleveland, OH, Dorothy Hodges Pona: I just started as a substitute nurse and classroom aide for special needs students. My niece is a special needs preschool teacher, and my daughter is studying early childhood and planning on getting her master’s in special needs. This new job allows me to set my own hours and it is much easier than being a CNS in pediatric oncology. None of my children are married but I have two little dogs that I pretend are my grandchildren! Corinne Renshaw: I am trying to declutter and pare down my crafts. (For those of you who haven’t kept up with Corinne, she creates amazing cross stitch pictures and is an avid quilter.) I quietly turned 60 years old and would love to catch up with anyone passing through Utah or Nevada.

Amy Callery Davidson: My husband, Rob, and I have been living in the same house for 36 years in South Pasadena. All of our boys have moved back to the Los Angeles area and we enjoy getting together with them and our daughter-in-law. I am teaching fourth grade at Poly School in Pasadena. I love being around all the enthusiasm and joy of 10-year-olds. One of the girls in my class is exactly 50 years younger than me! Lastly, Julie Power Pantiskas: I continue to stay busy by serving on the boards of American Women for International Understanding, Hospitaller Foundation, and American Bone Health, and as committee chair for Pasadena Angels, giving speeches monthly; judging at various national entrepreneurial competitions (e.g. National CleanTech Finalist); regularly judging at USC’s School of Business and School of Engineering entrepreneurial startup competitions; and mentoring students and professors weekly at USC’s School of Engineering Start-Up Garage. Since I don’t have enough to keep me busy, I am in the process of acquiring a small well-known Los Angeles brand. Last year, Gary and I made a day trip to Napa Valley to

celebrate a friend’s 40th birthday who was visiting from India. Of course, who did we run into at BV Winery, but none other than Dagmar Sullivan It’s always wonderful to catch up with fellow classmates even if it’s brief. Gary and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary in December. We are looking forward to the December 2019 wedding of our oldest daughter, Lauren.

Seattle, Tova Wiley Hornung: I visited Thailand for a month in February and found Yuwadee Chawawatnapong. I dined with Yuwadee and her husband in Bangkok. Suzanne Bozzo Schlegel: My update comes from New Rochelle, NY. It was great to meet up with Catherine “Cass” Slaughter Antle and Cece Rosendin Robinson during the last couple of years in California. I’m very proud of my children: Andrew (USC ’16), living and working in L.A.; Lucy (Villanova ’17) living and working in New York; and Nicholas (USC ’19). (Our condolences to Suzie on the recent loss of her father.)

78Elizabeth Stelow liz@dinunzio.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

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Deirdre Smith dsmith7123@sbcglobal.net

Anne-Marie Saxton-Tedeschi: Though I originally hail from Vancouver, I have been living in Switzerland since 1979. I write from Geneva, but Chiara (26) is living in London and Alessia (20) is in Switzerland. Chiara studied diamonds and precious/semi-precious stones at Gemology Institute of America in New York City and went on to work with Graff Diamonds at their headquarters in London. Alessia graduated from the International School of Geneva, where the International Baccalaureate originated. Alessia attended Santa Catalina’s summer camp several years ago and I enjoyed my visit with Sister Claire and Sister Christine. My daughter loved her month at the camp and I loved having the chance to return under those fun circumstances. From

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Dana DePuy Morgan danamorgan@mac.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

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Lil McDonald Manthoulis maria.manthoulis@gmail.com Monica Stewart Baker moniker1963@aol.com

Paula Tunstall Barker: I still love Fort Collins, CO, after 15 years. I have three young adult children: one is in Alaska with Trout Unlimited; one is a junior at University of Northern Colorado studying hospitality and recreational management;

The Class of 1979 at Reunion 2019

and one is a senior in high school, admitted to CU Denver in the fall for music business and songwriting—after she takes on the role of Belle in Beauty and the Beast. I have been married for 28 years and I have planned to start a new adventure in the New Year. As I wrote this, I had gotten as far as submitting my resignation for January 31. Next stop is perhaps hospice nursing.

82Mindy Malisoff Baggett mbaggett@cox.net

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

83 Kellen Flanigan kellen@kellenflanigan.com

Ibi Janko Murphy: My husband, John, and I can’t believe that we just went to a parent meeting in preparation for transitioning into middle school—meaning our son, George, will be a sixthgrader next year. It seems like just yesterday that he was in my little carrying pouch during our 30th. Now, he’s the big kid among resident families here and enjoys so much still playing with and looking after all the littler ones. So we are very grateful for the community here and I continue to also be very grateful for the rich and full life of teaching religion to K-grade 4 and helping with leadership and service. Loved seeing everyone last year and think we all look better than ever! Blessings to all. Cathy Biddy Bennett: We are continuing to enjoy life in Orange County. My son, Patrick (14), will be a high school freshman next year and is involved in rowing, and Elizabeth (13) has caught the theater bug and sings commercial music. Elizabeth did Summer at Santa Catalina last summer and loved it—she was a Check. I launched my second start-up in 2017. I import vintage Catholic pilgrimage medals (médailles pèlerinage) from France: Lourdes, Sacré-Cœur, Miraculous Medals. It’s named for the brilliant blue color of the medals: Trésor Bleu (tresorbleu.com). Love the alumnae orders for communion necklaces, “something blue,” and other gifts of faith—thank you! I missed the last reunion but looking forward to seeing everyone in 2023. Sarah Adams: I enjoyed a 2018 reunion in the northern Italian Alps with European cousins and our immediate family. The occasion was celebrating my parents’ significant birthdays and their 55th wedding anniversary at a favorite spot. Our five-weeklong tour from Tuscany to the Baltic Sea was an epic introduction of our ancestral lands for my daughters, Scarlet (12) and Ellery (10). I sold my beloved home of many years at Mono Lake in the eastern Sierras but it’s still available to rent

(monolakeranch.com). Praying for world peace and healthier, humanitarian acceptance along our borders and within the United States of America.

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Victoria Manassero Maat junebugjump@icloud.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

85

Krysia Belza

Hope Hennessy: This year marks 18 years in southeastern New Mexico for me. My boys are 19 and 12 now. Lucas graduated high school in May 2018, and was recruited by several colleges to play football. He signed with Western New Mexico and has been enjoying campus life, playing the game he loves at the next level, and is adapting well to the challenges of being far from home. Mason is in middle school and thankfully, his sweet, easy-going nature remains intact—thus far. This year will also mark my 12th year with CASA of Lea County, where I serve as the community liaison and for the past nine years, also as the canine handler. My first canine partner, Cooper, passed in December 2016 and I am now working with Phillip, a beautiful black labrador. Phillip and I work in court with children who are in the legal system due to abuse and neglect and children who have been victims and/or witnesses of violent crimes. We also work with children who are incarcerated in juvenile detention. I am super proud of both of these programs. My

plan is to continue to do this work until Mason graduates from high school and then pick up stakes and move somewhere where there is water. The oilfield has been good to my family but I am ready for a change! I look forward to our 35th. I haven’t been to Reunion since our 10th due to work and sports obligations for the boys, but I fully intend to be there next year!

Ginny Hu Chien: I still live in Taipei and am the founder of Artrue, a company that manages artists including Makoto Fujimura and Philip Mantofa. Artrue also runs two spaces for art exhibitions and cultural gatherings; one in Taipei, which is the capital of Taiwan, and one in Tainan, which is in the south. Eldest son, Justin, graduated from USC School of Dramatic Arts and is a professional actor based in Los Angeles. Second son, Darren, is an accounting major at USC, and my third son is a business major. Daughter, Christen, is in sixth grade in Taipei. She is an avid slime maker, which keeps her finger muscles strong for her harp and piano lessons. Carl has been with JP Morgan for the past 17 years and still frequently travels around Asia. Sending love and blessings to all my Catalina sisters! Lisa Logan-Baravalle: My daughter, Morgan, is in her second year at Trinity. She has decided to minor in Chinese, but has not yet declared a major, though she’s leaning toward a double in urban studies and political science. She interned last year with the Hartford Parks Department. She also pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma, which amuses me to no end, but I do understand her desire to have a group of women to call her own. Cameron is a junior at Kent. He is a tri-varsity athlete: soccer, squash, and crew. He is also a gifted artist but refuses to acknowledge his talent, much to my endless frustration. We have been busy at de.MO branding and design. We work endlessly but I am fortunate it is work I love. It is amazing it has already been a year since we lost Casey. My thoughts have been with her daughter and the rest of her family. Karen Condon Patton:

The Class of 1984 at Reunion 2019

It’s been a wild ride, but I’m happy to report so many wonderful changes over this past year. I was remarried on the feast of the Epiphany in 2018 to Douglas Patton at my family’s ranch house in Carmel Valley. We were joined by my kids, Sarah and Ethan, as well as Doug’s twin daughters, Ana and Katy. They are all within five years of one another, and get along famously. Also present was my sister, Colleen Condon Marquez ’80, and Marina Lipelis, who kindly drove my Aunt Pat (94) from San Jose to the ceremony. I’m sure my mom was there in spirit, as I felt her hand in all of this. Doug and I spent our first year of marriage traveling, remodeling our mid-century home in Phoenix, and adopting a sweet golden retriever puppy, Jackson. My psychotherapy practice is going well, and after 27 years, I am increasingly humbled by the depth and soulfulness of the work I witness every day. For my next adventure this spring—yoga teacher training! I hope to deepen my personal practice, as well as integrate yoga into the treatment of PTSD for clients. I do not plan to “go gently.” Trish Ledger Tucker: The family and I had a busy 2018. I celebrated my 16th year with the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority with a promotion to manager of air service development and community engagement. It is a fun and rewarding job, recruiting airlines and working with our local partners in Reno-Sparks and at Lake Tahoe to promote air service to the region. Tyson (26) joined his sister at McQueen High School as an assistant coach for the freshman football team. He plans to pursue a coaching position at a D-1 school after finishing his studies later this year. Hailey is a senior and enjoying every minute of it, including being nominated for homecoming queen this past fall. When not working on her studies, Hailey participates in her high school drama department shows and coaches tumbling to young, aspiring cheerleaders. Matt continues his work as the assistant GM at Cabela’s and keeps the household running when I am traveling for work. When given a break from our hectic schedules, we take opportunities to enjoy trips to see family back in Monterey and in Texas. Looking forward to the 2020 reunion and catching up there! Celia Shelton Rogers: We’ve been living in Denver for more than four years now. Steve and I are still really loving Colorado, especially the skiing and the hiking. (Not sure if people know this but we moved to Denver so that Steve could open a Shelton Capital Management office here, although he still has the S.F. office and one in CT, as well). For the past three years, I’ve been working as a college and career counselor at Access Opportunity. (Access Opportunity invests in high-potential, low-income students, from high school through college, so that they can have impactful careers and lead change in the lives of individuals and communities.) Our son, Matthew (24), is living in Stamford, CT, where he works at a hedge fund. Our daughter, Shelton, is a senior at Georgetown with plans to move to N.Y.C. this summer and work in finance. Sarah is a freshman at Wake Forest University. Krisi Raymond: Our family enjoyed a couple of big adventures in 2018! During spring break in April we self-supported a

four-day mountain bike trip with friends on the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park! Sunny days, starry nights, amazing views always and quality family time! Henrik (15), Alice (13), and I followed that up with a 200+ mile hike on the John Muir Trail from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney! We spent 17 nights in the great outdoors with only one resupply (heavy packs), survived countless thunder storms and hail, played lots of cards, and summited Mt. Whitney with smiles on our faces! Krysia Belza from Idaho: During our spring break of junior year in 1984, a group of our classmates and families made their way to Sun Valley, ID, for a ski vacation. Kirsten Ritzau hosted a number of the gals at her home, and our trip was documented by my dad in fantastic Super 8 format, scored by classic ’80s tunes, and titled Santa Catalina Schussboomers And thus, the Schussboomers were born. Well, in January we got the band back together! Jamie Buffington Browne, Krisi Raymond, Trina Rowe Audley, Celia Shelton Rogers, Kari McDermott , and Hélène de Baubigny all made their way back to Sun Valley to join Kirsten Ritzau and me for a long weekend in the snow. Karen Greer Goss was unable to make it but was sorely missed by all of us. And our newest recruit, Carolyn Kimble Larsen, earned her stripes beyond measure as the newest Schussboomer. Suffice it to say, what happens in Sun Valley, stays in Sun Valley! Mark your calendars for March 2020, ladies, our 35th reunion quickly approaches!

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Katharine Folger Yeager yeagerkbf@gmail.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

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Susan Smith Nixon snixon@starbucks.com

Sarah Wagner Johnson: I moved to Falmouth, MA, about three years ago with my husband, Justin, and daughter, Livia. Justin works at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and I’m keeping busy as the director of the Cahoon Museum of American Art. Livia will be going into high school

next year—can’t believe how the time is flying by! We would love to have visitors if anyone is on Cape Cod. Shannon McClennahan Mozes: My husband and I had Hans and Lora Farnstrom (former faculty) over for dinner a couple of months ago. They just retired from teaching at my son’s school. We have two children, Maddie (grade 7) and Mitchell (grade 4). I teach spin classes three times a week and asked Alexandria Miller a few months ago for her music recommendations! Sending love to all of you. Sylvia Estrada Hellmund: We have been living in Vail, CO, since August of 2017. We decided to take a break from Miami and the hectic city life. Living in the mountains has been an outstanding experience for the whole family. The kids have been able to get involved in winter sports and have become expert skiers. Natasha has taken up ice skating and has had many competitions in Colorado. They are both loving the Vail Mountain School and have made many good friends. Mountain life, fresh air, healthy living, what else can we ask for? However, our adventure must come to an end, and I think we will be going back to Miami at the end of this summer. These past two years have been a gift to us and our kids!

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Jennifer Pratt

curgie615@earthlink.net

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

Class of 1985 Schussboomers: Kari McDermott, Trina Rowe Audley, Hélène de Baubigny, Kirsten Ritzau, Krysia Belza, Carolyn Kimble Larsen, Jamie Buffington Browne, Celia Shelton Rogers, and Krisi Raymond

Elizabeth Maher Perdum elizabethpurdum@hotmail.com

Teri Carnes Lonergan: I married Andrew Lonergan in 2009 and had twins, Declan and Finn, in 2012. My boys are in a Catholic school and loving it. We’re in Portland, OR, and happy as ever. Heidi Cohen Cook : We’re all moved in to Grand Rapids, MI. I received a promotion with my company and handle the East Coast. My daughter transferred as a sophomore to Michigan State University and is really happy. My son, Jack, is finishing his last year of middle school and getting ready to be a freshman at the same high school my husband attended. I’m adjusting to the cold, but really enjoying this new adventure.

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Augustina Stevens augustinastevens@icloud.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

91

Amy Bacon Clausing amyclausing@me.com

The Class of 1991 sends its deepest regards to anyone afflicted by the California fires this past year. Our classmate, Rose Guardino Divine, and her family are all from Paradise. It was heartbreaking to see the devastation that the wildfires caused. You are in our hearts and prayers. In the past year, several of us have been able to get together, but not nearly enough. In October, Amy Bacon Clausing, Cammie Calcagno Newell, Amanda Hennigan Mansour, and Alison Morey Garrett all gathered in Southern California for a girls’ weekend away. Around New Year’s, Amy Bacon Clausing, Cammie Calcagno Newell, Amanda Hennigan Mansour, and Monica Duflock were able to pull off an impromptu get together in Santa Barbara. It was made extra special because we had our families with us so everyone got to hang out. Alison Morey Garrett lost her beloved father and dear friend of Santa Catalina, Robert W. Morey. Amy Bacon Clausing, Hillary Meek , Monica Duflock , and Ninive Clements Calegari ’89 attended the funeral services, as did several other members of the Santa

Catalina community, including Sister Claire, Sister Christine, Peter Folger, Laura Knoop Pfaff ’72, and other former trustees of Santa Catalina. We send our love and deepest sympathies to the Morey family. Amy Bacon Clausing: I live with my husband, Paul, son, PJ (9), and two dogs in San Mateo, CA. PJ is in fourth grade. I am currently working for a tech company, GetFeedback. I run events for the company and spend a lot of time traveling to events so I really appreciate the downtime at home in between event seasons. Hillary Meek : My daughter, Holden, and I live in the Sacramento area. Holden is a few months away from finishing up her freshman year at St. Francis. Jeanne Brown Brollier: I still live in Charleston, SC, and enjoy raising my three sons, who are growing up so fast. I still play tennis four-five times a week, and love it! My family went on a few trips, one being a Disney cruise, which was a lot of fun. Maria Esther Juarez: All is good! I still live in Mazatlán, right across the street from Ale Leon Letamendi. My older children, Emilia (21) and Fernando (18), are living and attending college in Mexico City. My youngest, Diego (13), is home with us and loves being the favorite. For the past two years, we have been hosting alumnae families from Mazatlán for the alumnae luncheon and this year the luncheon will take place in June with Dr. John Murphy attending. I love staying in touch with everyone and anything Catalina related. My daughter will be home for the summer so her friends will also attend the lunch! Marita Quint Bruni: I’m happy to share that Jeannie Clancy was married in August at Cavallo Point, and I had the honor of being in her wedding and serving as Matron of Honor. My daughter, Addison (9), was the flower girl, and my son, Mason (6), was a ring bearer. Mason made sure to show everyone his sweet dance moves at the reception. I, my husband, Dave, and our kids joined friends for an amazing week on the Big Island after Christmas. Addison and Mason had a great time playing with

their friends, checking out turtles and swimming in the ocean. I ate too many macadamia nuts and drank my fair share of mai tais. All in all, it was a very relaxing week for all of us. Monica Duflock : Me and my three boys are all doing well. Carter is in his freshman year at Branson. Colby is in seventh grade and Conrad is in fifth grade. They are doing well and staying busy with a full schedule of soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. I am still competing in the reined cow horse events with two of my mares. I won the pro limited hackamore classic this past fall at the Snaffle Bit Futurity in Fort Worth. I’m back there once or twice a month and having a blast! We recently moved into a new house, just down the street from our old one and are about to embark on another remodeling project. We are all looking forward to and dreading it at the same time!

92

Amy Paulsen apindc@yahoo.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

93

Galen Johnson galen.a.johnson@gmail.com

Sarah Folger Kilmain: I am sad to share that in October of 2018, Fernanda Leon Patron passed away. She was diagnosed with cancer about two months prior and it was very aggressive. Olga Diaz-Brown made it there just in time to say goodbye and she brought some Catalina cheer

The Class of 1989 at Reunion 2019

and love. She leaves behind her son, Emilio (18). Miranda Maison LeKander: In May 2018, I was appointed deputy commissioner of the Legal Division at the California Department of Business Oversight by Governor Jerry Brown. I led a statewide division of 40 attorneys and legal staff that support the state’s securities, banking, and financial services industry. I love the challenge of my job. I just ran (at a very leisurely pace) my 10th marathon in December. And being the mother of three small children is the most challenging and meaningful of all. Anyhow, the smoky skies over Sacramento from the tragic Camp Fire, and the sad news from Mazatlan, has made me extra grateful. My family is safe and healthy—we are blessed. Hannah Eade: Kenny and I moved to Tucson. He’s in fifth grade. My sister, Katherine Eade, is in Detroit now, and we met up over the holidays at the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix.

94

Heather Wasser Tobacco heatherwasser@hotmail.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

95

Catie Ryan Balagtas catieryan@gmail.com

Michelle Bachand: I am living in Scottsdale, AZ, and just had my second son, Nicolas William, in August. His big brother, Billy (3 1/2), adores him. Chrissy Barnett Miller: I, my husband, Kevin, and our two daughters, Mai (6) and Aya (3),

are still living overseas in Okinawa, Japan, where we’ve been for more than three years, and love it. Our daughters are learning to speak Japanese, which is part of their heritage. While my husband is a civil engineer for the U.S. Navy, I am the marketing manager for the U.S. Army base on Okinawa. The family has traveled all over Asia and will go to Bali this summer, and we anticipate returning to the U.S. in 2020. Lourdes Cadena: I live in Mexicali, my hometown, with two of my three children: Ana Lourdes (18), who is studying international business administration, and Alejandro (13). My second daughter, Maria Regina, is a sophomore at Santa Catalina and she loves it there! The Catalina experience as a boarding school has only gotten better. I really enjoy the opportunity of being a Catalina mom! I also want to remind you all that I live only two hours away from San Diego, so give me a call if you’re nearby. Suzanne Clark : I continue to be passionate about building mass movements to address growing economic inequality and curtailment of basic rights. Over the last few years, I’ve organized caregivers together in union to win $15/hr minimum wages and pensions so they can live and retire with dignity. When I’m not fighting for racial and economic justice, I’m spending time with my husband, friends, and family—traveling, exploring, and appreciating nature, culture, food, and drink! Gretchen Carter Christensen: We expanded our family to four children: Carter (8), John (6), Sophia (4), and William (18 mo.). I have been busy overseeing our children’s education at home. Last fall, we traveled to Washington, D.C., and then to

Virginia for a family reunion. We enjoy our life in the Pacific Northwest and ask you to please stop by if you are ever in the area! Jennifer Cryan: I was recently promoted and am now the Timber Stand Improvement Coordinator with the U.S. Forest Service. I coordinate the fuels reductions in the Lake Tahoe Basin and manage my internal crew as well as all the contracts tied to thousands of acres worth of government-contracted work. I have found this to be a rewarding position in light of the catastrophic fires in California. On a fun note, I went to Japan on a two-week snowboarding trip in January. Olivia Wright Darzell-Karp: I am doing well in Sacramento and still working as a Realtor. Our daughter is headed to middle school in the fall, and growing up way too fast, so we recently adopted a fluffy corgi as our second “child,” which has been great except for the extreme shedding! Our year is looking like it will be filled with travel, when I’m not running around showing houses! Lloyd Dollar: I am living in Portland and raising my two kids, Liam (7) and Avery (2). I try to enjoy and soak up all these early childhood moments. We love family trips and are planning to go to Disneyland and Mexico in 2019. I am substitute teaching and have recently applied to graduate school, hoping to become a high school English teacher. Chelsea Shofner Dow: I have been enjoying life in Colorado for the past nine years with my family—having fun camping, skiing, and finding adventure. After taking a hiatus from teaching for several years, I started my own business in 2018 selling my art. It’s been an adventurous pursuit and I’m grateful for taking the leap of faith despite my hesitation. I have discovered a love of custom artwork and find it to be a fulfilling way to send my art into the world while having the flexibility to raise four kids. Nicole Heyermann: I, my husband, and our twin sons (2) recently relocated from London

The Class of 1994 at Reunion 2019

It’s all smiles for members of the Class of 1991: Amanda Hennigan Mansour, Cammie Calcagno Newell, Monica Duflock, and Amy Bacon Clausing

to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, to work for Aramco and are enjoying our new Persian Gulf adventure. Simone Sachs Hubbard: I’m 41, which might sound young to the Class of ’53 and old to the Class of ’19. In this middle-age I have more patience for my parents and less for my government. I am more forgiving but also more outraged. I’m grateful and I’m afraid. I’m a wife, a mother, a woman, and a human. I struggle every day to define what each of those might mean for me, my family, and the world. Danielle Huthart: I am based in N.Y.C. doing brand consulting and art direction with a focus on wellness. I recently became a certified integrative nutrition health coach and also co-founded and launched a healthy, organic sports drink named HALO Sport, halosport.com. Leah Kinsella: I am happily teaching meditation, yoga and Pilates in Miami, where I am actively involved in the community and lead a fun retreat to my homeland of Ireland in the summer. After living in San Francisco for 14 years, Vanessa Lehr Winter writes: I am enjoying a “quieter life” in San Carlos, where I moved three years ago. Life is still busy, as I run communications for a small patent company in Palo Alto and raise two littles, Lauren (3) and Collin (1). I enjoy seeing classmates Teal Bates Taylor and Elizabeth Lloyd Rovetta, and staying in touch with Kelly Ewen Schindler. I hope everyone is doing well! Elizabeth Lloyd Rovetta: I have been in Mexico City for the last year running my fintech company, OJO7 (www.ojo7.com), focusing on consumer finance in Latin America. I see Annie Carillo and sometimes Melissa Trouyet . I go back and forth to my house in San Francisco and encourage all of you to visit me in either city. Catie Ryan: I wed Charlie Versoza Balagtas in N.J. in September 2018. We will exchange vows again in the company of his family in the Philippines this May. I have been avidly training in kung fu and am writing a manuscript on the nexus of architecture, neuroscience, and nature. This fall, I saw Dian Krishna Elias in Singapore, and in N.Y.C., I attended a Drag Queen Story Hour, where Airlie Anderson Ryan ’96 read her own children’s books. Katy Siquig: I graduated from vet school at UC Davis in 2010 and worked as a small animal veterinarian near Sacramento for eight years. I now live in Davis again, and am pursuing a graduate program in epidemiology with the goal of working more in disease surveillance and emerging infectious diseases. I enjoy hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, and travel. I have been to Ladakh, India, several times and really enjoyed the Tibetan influence and high mountain landscape there. Caroline Barkan Wilkinson: My husband (of 19 years) and I still live in San Francisco with our three kids: Parker (14), Drew (12), and Sophia (9), plus two dogs, a bunny, and a fish! It has been

a busier than usual year applying for high schools for our oldest. Life is chaotic but good and flying by way too fast! Dian Krishna Elias: I have to thank my Catalinans who have shared their time and love during the most trying ordeal of my life. I continue on this journey through which I have found my strength in laughter with fellow Catalinans; learned that it is important to not just survive, but to thrive; that grief is only a part of one’s story; and that a day’s work involves both living in the moment for my children and filling it with meaning. Writing, practicing the Japanese martial art Kendo, and strong friendships have been powerful allies on my journey. I am grateful for all and everything in between, and am looking forward to seeing everyone at our 2020 reunion.

96 Jenny Noble

jnoble78@hotmail.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

97

Jasmin Reate jlreate@gmail.com

I just love to gather all of our classmates’ updates and to hear how well everyone is doing. As for me (Jasmin Reate): I continue to galavant across the country and throughout the globe while Los Angeles is my home base. My professional organizing business (Jasmin Reate Consulting) is rapidly growing, and I’m so grateful that it often brings me back to the Monterey Peninsula. I am in touch with so many alumnae, and it just makes me so happy. Jennifer Patton Wundrow: I am thriving in San Francisco! My high school

sweetheart, Dave, and I have two wonderful children and love life in Marin County. I am the co-owner of an interior design firm called The Nest Design Company, based out of Ross, CA. We have been featured in the San Francisco Design Showcase! Jenny McClendon Schaible: Last summer, Jasmin and I danced the night away at the wedding of Kirstin Keresey Ducommun ’96. She married the sweetest and funniest man, Duke, and it was so much fun celebrating with Jessica Farr ’96 and Katie Foy Harvard ’96, too! Kirstin splits her time between Healdsburg and Las Vegas. Angel Cabral Osborn: I am shooting season four of Life in Pieces, the CBS comedy in which I co-star alongside Colin Hanks. I’m also starring in Undone, the first animated series on Amazon (from the creators of Bojack Horseman), which premieres in September. So be sure to tune in! I also have a recurring role on Grace and Frankie on Netflix and am one of the new brand ambassadors for Meaningful Beauty, Cindy Crawford’s skincare line. My husband, Jason, and I just moved to Studio City, and we live there with our baby girl, Adelaide Grace (16 months), and our cute pup, Oscar. Taryn Butorac Kartes: My husband, Drew, and I relocated to Southern California with our two children, Mackenzie (9) and Cameron (6). We are enjoying our first full year living in Orange County and its suburban life since moving from San Francisco last year. We are enjoying the sunshine! Sarah Forsythe Grant: My high school sweetheart, and I are still living in Reno with our four beautiful boys: Teson (13), Previn (11), Sebastian (8), and Ryker (7). My photography business is doing well, and I am so thankful that I get to do what I love! In January, we went to Chile for a week for mission work, and this month, I will be traveling to Israel with my mom where we’ll celebrate her 70th birthday! I am fully embracing the next year and leaving my thirties with great gratitude and heading into my forties with lots to look forward to.

Minta Ershaghi Spencer: I am living in Palos Verdes

Gretchen Carter Christensen ’95 and her family

Twin daughters of Sally Botts Drescher ’97

with my husband and three boys: Dean (11), Darius (8), and Derrick (5), who are in sixth, third, and kindergarten. My boys play basketball year round and they love to swim, surf, skate, and snowboard. Between their activities, I spend time volunteering at their school, performing harp and piano locally, and baking. I send my best, hoping you are all doing well and are in good health! I will be celebrating both my 40th birthday and 18th wedding anniversary in April and feel very blessed to have my wonderful family and amazing friends in my life. Stephanie Melo DaSilva: I was so surprised last spring to be awarded Monterey County’s KION Classroom Makeover Award! It was an exciting moment that left me a bit stunned and speechless with the cameras and large check! I have been teaching for 18 years and never expected to have such recognition. Currently, I am a secondgrade teacher at San Carlos School in Monterey, where my three children attend: Olivia (grade 6), Zachary (grade 4), and Charlie (grade 1). Sarah McClendon: I am the new general manager of the Saint Paul Athletic Club after a big move to the Midwest. We now live in Hudson, WI, closer to the family of my wife, Melanie. Hazel (3) and Violet (1.5) love the snow and the lakes! Morgan Rogers McMillan: I rounded out my brood in July 2018 with the birth of my third baby, Wesley Rogers, in July 2018. Wes joins his two older siblings, Else (5) and Herbie (3), and has so far continued the trend toward chubby and happy!

Sally Botts Drescher: My husband, Scott, and I welcomed twin girls into the world in December. The sweet girls are named Francis Finn and Margo Fox. Everyone is happy and healthy! I have my hands full with the twins as well as our other three children: Lola (10), Luke (15), and Evan (17).

Stacey Robbins Jordan: My husband, David, and I are happy to announce that we look forward to welcoming a baby boy to the family in April 2019. Older brothers, Dylan (5) and Riley (3), are excited for his arrival.

98

Natalia Woodhall Chappelow

nataliawoodhall@yahoo.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

99

Laura Stenovec

laurastenovec@gmail.com

Ariana Ebrahimian: In September 2018, I married Connor Keese at the Rosary Chapel where he had proposed a year earlier. We were surrounded by friends and family, including my

sister and Matron of Honor, Elena Ebrahimian ’04, Gina Anderson, and Frances Verga-Lagier Cook. Our reception was held at Tehama Golf Club, and then we honeymooned in Greece and Italy. It was a magical day and we’re still glowing as we settle into married life in Scotts Valley, CA. Marissa Anshutz Hermer: We’ve been living in Pacific Palisades for two years now (having moved from London) and we are now all settled in. Max (7), Jake (4), and Sadie (2) are all thriving and we’ve added a Bernadoodle, Rocket, to the mix. We’ve opened a restaurant in our neighborhood, The Draycott, and hope to open a couple more in L.A. before the year is done. Justine Carroll Campbell did some artwork in our restaurant which is so lovely and beautiful, so if anyone is in L.A., you have to come see it! Trish Nugent Lingamfelter: My family welcomed a new son, Ames, in August 2017. He is a sweet shadow to big brother, Wells. I’m still in the travel marketing business, and one PR client is Pebble Beach Resorts, which makes for a fun regular reminder of our Catalina days. Kate Maurer: I was married in August in Pacific Grove to Jeremy Wilke. I was so happy that Lysbet Verlenden was able to celebrate the happy day with me. We are still living in Livermore and I’m in my eighth year teaching high school math in the area. Damaris Colhoun: We welcomed Rudolph “Rudy” Craig Noren in December. My husband, Trevor Noren, Rudy, and I split our time between Brooklyn, N.Y. and Idaho. Lili Romero-Riddell: I was married to my longtime boyfriend, Martin Riddell, in July 2016, and after a year and a half of suffering from infertility, we finally got pregnant and had our first baby, Itzel Alba Riddell in July 2018. Brynn Hatton just happened to be in town and got a chance to visit me and the baby and bring some much appreciated breakfast tacos! A new baby is blessing enough, but I also became an aunt again nine days before Itzel was born! My sister, Kaija-Leena Romero ’01, had a daughter,

Leonora Marisol, in July 2018 also! Leonora joins her older brother, Diego (2). As for me (Laura Stenovec), I celebrated my five-year anniversary with Beautycounter in October. I continue to enjoy work and will be forever grateful to Catalina for the connection! My favorite hobby is visiting Catalina classmates! By the time this goes to print, I will have just returned home from three weeks in Asia visiting Angelina Yao, Claudia de la Fuente, and Emma Hinsdale Pickering. I’m fortunate to spend a lot of time in Los Angeles for work, and just last week saw Marissa Anshutz Hermer, Justine Carroll Campbell, and Amy McCormick Vokey. In November, I was in N.Y.C. with Damaris Colhoun and Sarah Gallagher Parker. I try to see my Denver Catalina girls as much as possible (Ani Silversprings Okun and Sarah Maguire Duffy), and last July, Ani and I went to San Miguel with Natalie Burke and Lindsay McDonald Stalowy to see Adrienne Partridge. I cannot imagine my life (or my social calendar) without having all of you in my life!

The Class of 1999 at Reunion 2019

Kate Maurer ’99 and Lysbet Verlenden ’99 at Kate’s wedding

Sheila

00Callahan White sheilacallahan@gmail.com Amy Franson franson.amy@gmail.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

Kai

01Romero kai.romero@gmail.com

Elizabeth Kidney: I’m enjoying my job as the regional trainer for staff in N.Y./N.J. within InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and being a foster mom to three kids (3 months old; a 3-year-old who I am in process of adopting; and a 15-year-old who just joined us before Christmas). It’s been a wild ride but so fulfilling and meaningful! Laura David Ellefson: My husband, Tom, and I moved back to Santa Rosa and bought a house in the spring of 2017. Then I bought a dental practice in August 2017 with my dental school classmate and friend. We bought the practice together from my family dentist and mentor after working with him as associates. As it happens, we’re now an all-female team. I love living and working back in my hometown. We were safe from the fires, but the city has already changed since then as more people are moving out of the area. I also just had a son! Andrew David Ellefson was born in December 2018 and is happy

and healthy with a voracious appetite—just like his mom. Other fun facts: I’ve learned how to scuba dive and went to Fiji in 2016 to dive and have fun with family. I’ve also been to Cape Town and ate ostrich—it’s delicious! Natalie Hall: I’m living in London with my partner, Richard, where we’re renovating an old house (more The Money Pit than Escape to the Country). In 2017, I opened a production company, and we’re currently mounting the U.K. premieres of a Brooklynbased variety show, and developing a 360 audio opera. I’ve also been producing a lab where we’re building a real-time holographic scanning rig for live performance. I see Catalina girls all the time: Anne Hilby and I went sailing in Greece last summer and I’m always lucky when Brogiin Keeton-Nagin stops through town! Miss you all! Brennen Belogorsky: On the exciting front, I’m graduating in May 2019 with my MFA in creative writing. On the tragic front, my mom passed away last May. It’s been a crazy year. Kai Romero: I have been working as a hospice medical director at Hospice by the Bay in San Francisco, and as an ER physician at Kaiser in San Francisco as well. Both are really interesting and satisfying jobs in very different ways. I’m planning on continuing my three-month cycles of weight loss and regain, with a six-month holding period between cycles during which I convince myself that I can probably, no definitely, trust myself to act like a grownup around refined sugar. Reader, I cannot. Miss you guys!

02

Sasha Irving

sasha.irving@gmail.com

Olivia Nilsson olivianilsson@gmail.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

03

The Class of 2003 is without a class correspondent. Please contact Shannon Gaughf ’08, Alumnae Relations Coordinator, to volunteer to serve your class in this meaningful way.

Gabriella Asmus Raila: In August 2018, my husband and I welcomed our first son, Ethan Reed Raila, to the world. We’ve been busy adjusting to life as a family of three, and have loved introducing him to Catalina friends and family.

04

Katie Fruzynski katie.fruzynski@gmail.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

05

Madeline Callander madeline.callander@gmail.com Lyndsay Peden McAmis mcamislc@gmail.com

Jessica Hightower Joshi: My husband, Mike, and I live in the Bay Area with our beautiful daughter, Sophie (almost 1!), and our sweet black lab, Fenway. I am in the middle of a radiology residency at UCSF and have committed to stay at UCSF for an interventional radiology fellowship. We are so grateful to have spent time in Boston, Philadelphia, Nashville, and New York, but we are very happy to be back in CA, close to family! Ali Wasserman Wood: We moved to Kyoto, Japan, at the beginning of 2018 for my husband’s work. I’m still with my same company remotely in San Francisco and we were married in June of 2018. Katharine Simmons: My husband and I currently live in Albuquerque, NM. I finished my M.A. in special education a few years ago and have enjoyed teaching students with severe disabilities. I am taking this year off from teaching to stay home with my two boys, KC (3) and Nate (8 months). I am also working toward an applied behavior analysis certification at the University of New Mexico. Cece Fourchy Quinn: I was able to host a gathering for Fresno alumnae along with Sarah Clark Woolf ’89 in November and it was so lovely to connect with other Catalina grads in our area. Other than that, I’ve become a member of The La Feliza Guild, fundraising on behalf of Valley Children’s Hospital. Casey Sedlack : I have been living and ranching full time in Crowheart, WY, since 2015 with my husband, Tyler. Our son, Levi, will be 2 this May and we are looking forward to bringing our second son into the world at the end of January. Ranch life has proven to have a steep learning curve and has been quite an adventure. Beyond that, I truly enjoy being a stay-at-home mom and have remained committed to nonprofit work and education while figuring out the cattle business. Kristen Clark Kolumbic: My husband, George, and I gave birth in August to our first child, Amelia! We are so excited to be her parents and can’t wait to watch her grow! We are currently living in Huntington Beach, CA, but will be moving later this year to Washington, D.C., for a while for my husband’s work. I still love my work as a medical social worker and hope

Brogiin Keeton-Nagin ’01 and her family

to earn my clinical license later this year. All in all, the adventure continues. Eliza Hussman Gaines: My husband and I welcomed a baby boy, Hamilton. He joins big brother, Holden, and big sister, Mary Helen. Olivia Hussman Ramsey: Joe and I welcomed our second child, Anna Katherine, in March and have loved seeing Wright (2) as a big brother. I’m continuing to serve on the board at ACCESS, a special education school, and just finished working on fundraisers for The Children’s Hospitial and for Our House, a homeless shelter here in Little Rock. Eliza Hussman Gaines and I are now stylists for Lela Rose’s new clothing line, Pearl. Anna Russell: My husband, John, and I welcomed our first child, Eliza Jane RussellGalante, in September.

06

Lauren Kristich

lekristich@gmail.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

07

Natalie Kocekian nkocek@gmail.com

Hope to be seeing more friendly faces in the Bay Area now that there are so many of us living in or near San Francisco: Natalie Kocekian, Katie McNeil, Madeline Aiello, Kathryn Balestreri Dolmans, Jennifer Williams, Alex Taddeucci,

and Courtney Mazzei ! I (Natalie Kocekian) have been living in San Francisco for five years now and recently started working at Google X in Mountain View. Meredith Evans: I accepted a new role at Patagonia HQ and moved to Santa Barbara, CA. I was also engaged in June! Kelley Trapp: I wed André Gary in September at the Santa Catalina Rosary Chapel with Madeline Aiello, Natalie Kocekian, Alex Taddeucci, and Kathryn Balestreri Dolmans by my side. Samantha Wai, Ellen Billingsley Schwartz ’06, and Amber Clarke ’08 also shared this special day with me! My new husband and I also bought our first home in Los Angeles and rescued a puppy from the Monterey SPCA. Her looks and feline tendencies more closely resemble our beloved mascot, the cougar! Ashley Anderson Avilla: We grew our family by one and I’m still an FSQA manager at Dole. Shanae Fuentes: I have been living in New York for almost three years now working for a nonprofit company that puts on over 50 races throughout the year, including the TCS New York City Marathon, which is the largest in the world with over 52,000 runners from all over the world. I am an executive assistant to the senior vice president of events and I also manage quite a few of our events every year. I am looking forward to a promotion to event manager in April. Courtney Mazzei: I have been living in Oakland for the past five years and am now the associate director of advancement at Bentley School in the East Bay. Last May I married my best friend and love, Anna, in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Hope to see you all soon! Lisa Mulligan: I have been working as a community-based protection manager in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. It is now the largest refugee camp in the world—surpassing one million Rohingya. In the camps, I work with a team to help empower refugees to be peacebuilders in their own

communities, training them in various protection topics. Sabrina Brett: I have been living remotely for almost two years. In 2018, I trekked the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal; hiked in Kyrgyzstan; traversed the Kamnik-Savnija and the Julian Alps in Slovenia; camped in New Zealand for three months; road tripped across Montenegro, Albania, and Romania; lived in Istanbul; and attended wine festivals in Bulgaria and Austria. Additionally, I maintain a travel blog, moonhoneytravel.com, where I post all of my travel itineraries, guides, and travel tips. A special congrats to Alex Taddeucci, Amanda Darnell, and Raquel Zaragoza who were engaged in 2018! Wishing you all a happy and healthy year ahead! 08

Shannon Gaughf slgaughf@gmail.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue! 09

Mary Bolt mar.e.bolt@gmail.com Megan McCaffrey mccaffrey.mf@gmail.com

The Class of 2004 at Reunion 2019

Ashley Anderson Avilla ’07 with her family

Maeko Bradshaw maeko.bradshaw@gmail.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue! 11

Kelsey Player kelsey.player93@gmail.com

Kelsey Riordan kelseyriordan11@aol.com

Kelsey Riordan: I’m currently living in the beautiful city of Portland and crossing the bridge every day to work in Vancouver, WA, at All God’s Children International. I’m so excited that within the last two years of working with AGCI, I have been blessed to work both on the human resources side and directly with our orphan care initiatives. I love that I can help build sustainable change in communities around the world by empowering children to become the next generation of leaders! I feel blessed to have found such a path! Taylor Griffon: I’m starting my fourth year in San Diego and loving it more and more each day! I work for Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) and do urban planning and design for Naval Base Point Loma! Kelsey Player and Rae Gregory visited me in San Diego this summer and we had so much fun hanging at the beach, seeing Vance Joy in concert, and meeting up for brunch with Kelly McDonald. My old roomie, Kyra Morrissey, visited in January and we went

to see a podcast recording together and spent time catching up! I became the San Diego alumnae chapter chair this year and recently made the Class of 2011 a TBT Instagram full of funny pictures and birthday announcements! Can’t wait for our next reunion in 2021! Kelsey Player: I am in my fourth year working in the admission office for our wonderful alma mater as the associate director of admission. I have really enjoyed sharing what makes Catalina so special with prospective students and their families. I was lucky enough to travel around California and western states on admission recruitment trips attending admission events and alumnae gatherings. I loved meeting Catalina alums from all classes on my travels! I also had the opportunity to chaperone the senior rafting trip for the second year in a row with the lovely Katie Adams ’09. One of the highlights of my year was becoming a co-owner with my parents to an adorable westie named Henley.

Rae Gregory: After three years working in the Catalina admission office and as a member of the resident faculty, I decided to pursue my teaching career in San Francisco. In addition to my New York teaching credentials, I earned my California

teaching credentials. I moved to the City in August, and I am currently an elementary teacher at Stratford School. Last summer, Kelsey Player and I vacationed in San Diego and we got to visit with Taylor Griffon and Kelly McDonald. I am fortunate to catch up with Kyra Morrissey when she comes down to Carmel. Kelsey and I also went to her hometown, Sun Valley, ID, for New Year’s. I often see Kelsey Green in the City, too!

Kristina Flathers: I work in corporate strategy at a tech company in Chicago and happily joined Santa Catalina’s Alumnae Association Council last year. I also serve on the junior board of a wonderful organization called Aid for Women, which as the name suggests, provides material, emotional, and spiritual support for single mothers and other women in tough situations. Busy as always, but I’d have it no other way. Hope you all are doing well, blessings! Christina Quisno: Another exciting year in the books! I have completed my three-and-a half-year finance rotational program with Nestlé and have recently accepted a position with the sales finance team based in Arlington, VA. I was fortunate to travel this past year to visit family and fellow Catalina colleagues and look forward to this coming year!

Hana Mohsin: I work for Markon Cooperative, and being surrounded by produce all of my life has made me thankful for everything that goes into the farm-to-table process. I am lucky to work in the produce industry and am proud to tell people how being a part of a company such as Markon makes an impact. Clementine Yost: I have started working as a podcast producer for HeadGum, a podcast network! I produce the podcast What The Tuck, a RuPaul’s Drag Race recap podcast hosted by comedians Joel Kim Booster and Nicole Byer. I adopted a little chihuahua mutt named Francisco and am living in Los Angeles. Whenever I visit my parents in Carmel, I make sure to see Hana Mohsin, Annie Bowlsby, and Jackie Kern

The Class of 2009 at Reunion 2019

Hana Mohsin ’11 and Kristine Cosgrove ’06 in Greece

Rae Gregory ’11, Taylor Griffon ’11, and Kelsey Player ’11 in San Diego

Katharine Garcia katharine.garcia8@yahoo.com Chloe Dott aquabubble87@gmail.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

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Caitlin Dullanty caitlindullanty@gmail.com

Annie Haueter anniehaueter@gmail.com

Abbey Austin: I recently moved from Santa Barbara to San Francisco. I was working in product development for UGG in Santa Barbara and was offered a position in product development for Goorin Brothers. Mallory Meeks: I’m currently living in New York. This last year, I completed 180 hours of training and became a teacher at The Class by Taryn Toomey, a cathartic movement practice that uses intensity in the body to engage the mind. I am also going into my third year teaching Pure Barre, a ballet-inspired fitness class. Paisley Piasecki: I moved to New York to attend New York Law School in fall 2017 and had a great first year. In Summer 2018, I interned at ABC News through the Disney Professional Internships program, fulfilling my dream of working with The Walt Disney Company. I am now in my second year of law school, participating in activities such as the NYLS Law Review and serving as the co-president of the Media, Entertainment, and Fashion Law Association. I will be a summer associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in Summer 2019.

15Julia Clark julicclark09@gmail.com Mackenzie Fisher kenzieayn7@gmail.com

doing education and outreach. I just got back from a month in Uganda doing water quality and public health research.

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14Kylie Moses

kyliemoses14@gmail.com

Emma Russell emmarussell@yahoo.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

Maddy Fisher: I interned at a nonprofit consulting firm this past summer in Chicago and am looking forward to graduating from Northwestern this spring! Julia Clark : I interned for The Gap, Inc. this past summer in San Francisco and am excited to be graduating from Emory University in the spring. I will be joining The Gap, Inc. full time after graduating in their rotational management program. Kari Hamwey: I graduated from Pace University in New York in December and just started my first full-time job as the theatre operations assistant for Jujamcyn Theaters. Jujamcyn owns five Broadway theaters that currently house Book of Mormon , Kinky Boots, Hadestown , Frozen , and Mean Girls Tamara Attia: I am finishing up my fourth year at UC Irvine with a major in international studies. I will be doing a fifth year in a one-year master’s program in political science, philosophy, and economics. Outside of school, I have been pursuing entrepreneurship and am building passive income to never have to trade my time for money. Eventually, I hope to start a nonprofit organization and will radically change the world through humanitarian and service work. Leslie Gobel: I am finishing up my last year at USD and am interning at San Diego River Park Foundation

Lucy Stowe lucystowe@me.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

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Annarose Hunt annarosyrosy@gmail.com

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Sylvan Free sylvanfree@gmail.com

We publish notes for each class once a year—oddnumbered class years in the spring and even-numbered in the fall. Look for your class notes in the fall issue!

The Class of 2014 at Reunion 2019

COMMUNITY TRANSITIONS

Alumnae

Marriages

Karen Condon ’85 to Douglas Patton

Catie Ryan ’95 to Charlie Balagtas

Kirstin Keresey ’96 to Duke Ducommun

Kate Maurer ’99 to Jeremy Wilke

Catherine Belanger ’04 to Tyler Toffoli

Ariel Robertson ’06 to Brian Donnelly

Allison Armstrong ’06 to Ty Brandt

Michelle Chiu ’07 to Wayne Chen

Lexi Dauernheim ’07 to Seth Lynch

Maria DiGiovanni ’08 to Jordan Couch

Anastasia Calciano ’08 to William Thomas

Nicole Dovolis ’10 to Robbie Kasper

Cathleen Bettiga ’10 to Nolan Simons

Jasmyn Domingues ’11 to David Corley

Births and Adoptions

Meaghan Looram Mulcahy ’91, son Ronan

Michelle Bachand ’95, son Nicolas Angel Cabral Osborn ’97, daughter Adelaide Morgan Rogers McMillan ’97, son Wesley Sally Botts Drescher ’97, daughters Francis and Margo

Sofia Pablos ’98, daughter Estela

Eloise Harper Connolly ’98, son George Damaris Colhoun ’99, son Rudy

Lili Romero-Riddell ’99, daughter Itzel Cate Craft ’99, daughter Ursula

Cameron Phleger ’00, son Tripp

Tricia Weber ’01, son Cruz

Brogiin Keeton ’01, son Albright

Laura David Ellefson ’01, son Andrew Katie Carnazzo Larsen ’02, daughter Sadie Gabriella Asmus Raila ’03, son Ethan Charlotte Hwang ’04, daughter Keila Kristen Clark Kolumbic ’05, daughter Amelia Eliza Hussman Gaines ’05, son Hamilton Olivia Hussman Ramsey ’05, daughter Anna Katherine

Anna Russell ’05, daughter Eliza Jessica Hightower Joshi ’05, daughter Sophie Emily Robertson ’06, daughter Avery Ashley Anderson Avilla ’07, son Curren

In Memory

The family of Laurie Angel McGuinness ’53

The family of Sarah Coleman Cecconi ’54

The family of Sister Lois Silva ’54

The family of Susan Nevin Sjordahl ’56

Teresa Annotti Rogers ’59 on the death of her husband

The family of Sandra Domich McCauley ’61

The family of Mary McCommons Bemesderfer ’65

Barbara Bowman ’67 on the death of her husband Ann Carter ’71 on the death of her mother Kathleen Sullivan ’71 on the death of her mother

The family of Edith Andrews Tobin ’72 Ann Drendel-Haas ’73 on the death of her mother Juanita de Sanz ’73 on the death of her mother

Tricia Gardiner McKnight ’73 and Tenise Gardiner Kyger ’78 on the death of their brother

Sarah Colmery Preston ’75 on the death of her husband

Stella Sinner Lauerman ’75 on the death of her mother

The family of Veronica Lebrija ’75

Jane Goodrich Snowden ’76 on the death of her father

The family of Julie Craig Navarra ’76

Maria Pope ’83 and Molly Pope ’87 on the death of their father

Gretchen Mueller Burke ’83 and Ingrid Mueller Angier ’87 on the death of their father

Jennifer Morey Sutter ’88 and Ali Morey Garrett ’91 on the death of their father

The family of Fernanda Leon Patron ’93

Laura Mulloy Ault ’94 on the death of her mother

Jessica Knight-Graham ’00 on the death of her husband

Brennen Belogorsky ’01 on the death of her mother

Anastasia Calciano ’08 on the death of her father

Onnolee Keland ’08 and Candace Bartholomay ’86 LS on the death of their mother

Emily Hunter ’13 and Alison Hunter ’03 LS on the death of their mother

Former Faculty

In Memory

Our love and prayers to:

The family of Sister Jeremy Carmody The family of Leonor Sinner

Faculty & Staff

Births

Susanna Wilcox and Peter Meyers, son Owen Jessica and Chris Bangham, daughter Harper

Items in Transitions reflect communications received between October 2 , 2018 and April 15, 2019.

Gaby Asmus Raila ’03 with her family