UHS Journal Fall 2012 NOAR

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FALL 2012

UHS JOURNAL

A MAGAZINE FOR UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL FAMILIES, ALUMNI, AND FRIENDS

the annual report issue

THE ANNUAL REPORT ISSUE

UHS JOURNAL Annual Report Issue, Fall 2012 CONTENTS 1   Letter from the Head of School 2   Commencement 2012: Make Good Choices by Holly Johnson ’82 | Director of Alumni Relations 5   College Admission & Matriculation: 2012

CONTRIBUTORS Editor Alissa Kinney Editorial Board Lindsay Criswell Tricia Foster

6    UHS Googlers by Holly Johnson ’82 | Director of Alumni Relations

Kate Gorrissen

9    Spotlight on Summerbridge by Alissa Kinney | Director of Communications

Lisa Lindenbaum ’97

10    Take a Bow: A UHS Tribute to Lorna Strand compiled by Holly Johnson ’82 | Director of Alumni Relations 12    New Faces at University: 2012–2013 by Nasif Iskander | Dean of Faculty 14    Introducing Our New Trustees compiled by Grant Winfrey ’84

Holly Johnson ’82

Photography  Anne Gamrin Pantelick ’85 Parents Sports Boosters Robin Hauser Reynolds UHS Communications Design  Shelby Designs

16    Alumni Association News by Holly Johnson ’82 | Director of Alumni Relations

Printing

17    Class Notes compiled by Holly Johnson ’82 | Director of Alumni Relations

University High School Vol. XXIII, No. 2

23    In Memoriam Special Memorial for Christiane Neuville  by Jon Reider  |  Director of College Counseling

Annual Report 25    Board Chair Letter 26    Parents Association Letter 27    Alumni Association Letter 28    Board Treasurer Letter 29    Fundraising 30    Gifts Listing 52    Volunteer Thank Yous 55    Ways of Giving to UHS

56    Congratulations and Good Luck!

Cover Photo: Robin Hauser Reynolds.

Burns & Associates Fine Printing

University High School welcomes students of demonstrated motivation and ability to engage in an education that fosters responsibility and the spirited pursuit of knowledge. We are a school where adults believe in the promise of every student, and together we work to build and sustain a community of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and talents. UHS challenges each individual to live a life of integrity, inquiry, and purpose larger than the self. San Francisco University High School admits and welcomes students of any race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies admission policies, employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school administered programs.

FALL 2012

Dear Friends, A new school year has begun.

responsible for these wonderful results. I want to state on behalf

I am sitting writing this letter

of all of us who teach and support the outstanding students

September day. Outside my

support. Every school year, dozens of you from every part

in my office on a sunny, late

windows, which many of you know overlook the Upper

Campus courtyard, there

who attend this school that we deeply, deeply appreciate your

of this community step forward to volunteer and work the

thousands of hours needed to make these two undertakings a success. In particular, a few parents volunteer to shoulder

are at least 200 students

an even greater load by chairing the Annual Fund and the

Club Day. This is an event

(Will ’13) tirelessly led the 2011–2012 Annual Fund to its

table in the courtyard so that

dedication were the parent volunteers who ran the 2012 Deco-

participating in the Annual

where each club sets up a the club presidents can inform and recruit students to join.

Decorator Showcase. Stacey Case (JD ’13) and Dan Carroll

record-setting performance. Demonstrating equally tireless

rator Showcase, led by Co-Chairs Sandra Eggers (Hilary ’08 and

It is fairly noisy, but in a good way. There is also the aroma

AJ ’12) and Sue Cunningham (Matt Wojciechowski ’11 and Sara

sounding a bit sentimental, it is because I am very much aware

ers and thank them not only for their hard work, but also their

of hot dogs being grilled, courtesy of the Food Club. If I am that everything I do at UHS this year, I do for the last time.

My tenure as head is coming to an end, and therefore my every

experience at this exceptional school has a bittersweet quality

to it. This proved especially true at Convocation, where Ernesto

Padro-Campos delivered a moving speech to a rapt audience.

You can read Ernesto’s speech in its entirety on our website’s portal pages.

Wojciechowski ’13). I want to publicly acknowledge these leadgenerosity and graciousness of spirit. The Parents Association,

ably led by Denise Lee (Sammy ’12) and her executive committee, supported these and other efforts with a tremendous vol-

unteer force, contributing significantly to the life of the school.

From providing faculty treats to organizing dances, the loyalty

and dedication of our parent body is unsurpassed. I would

also like to acknowledge and thank the Board of Trustees for its quiet leadership in all of its endeavors. They humbly and

Putting my feelings to the side, I am pleased to report that as

generously serve the school.

extremely prudent stewardship of the Board of Trustees, and

I look forward to telling you more in the next edition of

professionals in the Business Office, the health of the school’s

embarked upon this year, the new Mentoring Program. In closing,

following pages will give greater detail, I would like to provide

good position, as strong or stronger than it has ever been.

a result of the extraordinary generosity of our community, the the outstanding management of the school’s resources by the

finances continues to be quite robust. While the reports in the

a couple of highlights. The Board of Trustees adopts an operating budget for the next school year a full six months before the

budget is to go into effect. Making projections about how much

the Journal about one of the cutting-edge initiatives we have

I would like to assure everyone that UHS is in a remarkably My successor will find a school that is stable, healthy, and

looking to the future with enthusiasm and optimism. I wish

to once again thank each and every one of you for your

certain sources of revenue such as the Annual Fund and the

generous support.

requires a certain leap of faith. Remarkably, in the 37-year history

Best regards,

Decorator Showcase will raise, while not exactly a guessing game,

of the school there have been only three years when those projections have not been borne out.

This year the Annual Fund not only exceeded our goal, it

set a new record of $1,153,305! The San Francisco Decorator

Showcase also had another very good year, exceeding $500,000

Mike Diamonti

Head of School

in proceeds for the tenth year in a row. It is customary to

use this letter as an opportunity to thank all those who are

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COMMENCEMENT 2012:

Make Good Choices

BY HOLLY JOHNSON ’82  |  DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Amid the traditional pomp and circumstance of Commencement, the Class of 2012 received words of

wisdom from the head of school, as well as from their elected faculty and student speakers. This year, each of the speakers touched on the theme of how each graduate should be aware of the choices they have in their lives. They can choose to be quirky, as Erin Reid ’12 would have them be; remain true

to themselves, as Will Danforth ’12 advised; or find happiness by using their talents to create good, as Head of School Mike Diamonti encouraged.

Mike’s opening address delved right into the meaty topic of

whether today’s private school students are given adequate

preparation for life—or if they are being indulged to their own

detriment. Mike cited contemporary author Naomi Wolf, saying that “Wolf believes that US competitiveness and innovation

are being put at risk because students in private schools are

something good. I will leave you with this question: Will you create with reverence and integrity, or will you create with neglect and irresponsibility?” While Mike posed these heady questions, leaving the graduates

with a lot to think about, the class speakers took a lighthearted

being coddled and not learning important skills like strategy,

approach with their life lessons. In her typically humorous

patience, critical thinking, resilience, and resourcefulness.”

fashion, Erin Reid ’12 recalled many of the goofy things that

This could not be further from the truth at UHS, he said.

as freshmen, they had thrown themselves into the school

“Just to be certain you know where we stand and what this faculty has been trying to do for the past four years, let me be clear. We have been striving to impart to you a curriculum that represents the best

her class will be remembered for. She reminded the class how,

and “embraced each other as a class.” But that was only the beginning, as she explained:

“And in the following three years, the Class of 2012 has proven itself

of what various cultures have learned over time in the struggle to

to be the greatest senior class in the history of humankind. How did

answer the most important questions of our existence. Questions like:

we do this, you ask? Well, we were weird. We had the courage to do

Why is there something instead of nothing? What do we mean by a

things that no class has ever done before, at the risk of looking like

moral life? What is the source of hate? Can we learn to be creative?

total idiots. And sometimes, possibly most of the times, we did look

Why does attitude matter? What is the importance of wonder,

like total idiots. We danced on stage in banana suits, we sang gibberish

surprise, and joy? Furthermore, how do you achieve excellence?

songs about angel hands, we free-styled, we performed a four-minute

Around what ultimate purpose should your life revolve? Are you

song that consisted solely of silence, we ate fancy dinners in elevators,

capable of heroic self-sacrifice or is life just a series of accomplish-

we flash mobbed, we made friendships with a man inside of a paint-

ments with no deeper meaning?”

ing, and a lot more that really just doesn’t make sense. But because we set the precedent that being weird is okay, and even celebrated,

Armed with this preparation, UHS graduates are capable of

choosing to live a life of integrity, and Mike challenged them to do so:

“I know that I’m supposed to tell you to aspire to great things and right what is wrong in the world. But really, please don’t use your prodigious talents to mess things up. Too many smart people are doing that already. You are smart and motivated and creative. Everyone will tell you that you can change the world. They are right, but remember that “changing the world” also can include things

we were all able to put ourselves out there and develop into more confident, well-rounded people.” In his comical address, Will Danforth ’12 also encouraged his

classmates to remind themselves of their own individuality.

After describing his childhood obsession with eating only Chicken McNuggets, he told his class:

“And so Class of 2012, you are graduating. And my challenge for each one of you is to find your own McNuggets. And what do I

like skirting financial regulations and selling unhealthy foods to

mean by that? I mean finding small things in the world that you do

increasingly obese children. The challenge for each of you is to create

simply because you are ‘loving it’ and nothing more. It could be a

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UNIVERSITY   HIGH   SCHOOL

FALL 2012

Members of the Class of 2012 wait to go on stage at Commencement.

You are smart and motivated and creative.

expect. “In our own life stories, we’re far from omniscient

Everyone will tell you that you can change

explained. But Jesse, reflecting on one of his favorite authors,

the world. They are right, but remember that “changing the world” also can include things like skirting financial regulations and selling unhealthy foods to increasingly obese children. The challenge for each of you is to create something good. – Mike Diamonti guilty pleasure like stamp collecting, musical theater, or model trains. Dance dares or epic movies. Badminton or bowling, literary magazines, and maybe even ceramic mugs. Or it could also be could be a more noble endeavor like creating a photography program or tutoring at Summerbridge. Hanging out at KEEN, making U-CAN videos, being a mentor, or even speaking out against social injustice in the form of spoken word.”

narrators, and sometimes we don’t even steer the plot,” he

Grace Paley, and her story “A Conversation with My Father,”

wanted graduates to accept, and celebrate, the unknown:

“I suppose that’s my lesson plan today—none of us knows for certain where we go next. And no matter how often people inform us of this truism in such venues as, for instance, graduation speeches, none of us really knows what it means until we experience it for ourselves. Some things we can plan for, and some we can’t. Some things we deserve, if we’re lucky, and some we don’t. Some things we resolve, and some we just keep dealing with. It’s the chutzpah to look life in the face with the kind of emotional health Paley cultivated—the realism to understand that every person faces obstacles; the generosity to celebrate your own oddities; the guts to say ‘stop’ when you need to write your own ending; the curiosity never to pass up a chance to learn something.” Jesse’s lesson concluded with a wish: “So I wish for you the strength and courage to make mistakes, to meet

Speaking for the faculty, Jesse Berrett offered heartfelt advice

challenges with humor and self-knowledge and acceptance of your

and his own road to accepting that life is not always what you

not least with yourself, to let you talk it through.”

as he opened up about his son’s autism spectrum diagnosis

own frailties and strange joy; and some good, honest relationships,

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comm e n c e m e n t 2 0 1 2 c o nti nu ed...

After Jesse’s final words, the ceremony progressed to the

granting of diplomas, but not before Phil Halperin, chair of the UHS Board of Trustees and father of Sara Ruth Halperin ’12, invited the class to begin a new tradition, that of thanking

their teachers for their education. A hearty round of applause

ensued and the class moved closer to becoming graduates.

( above

left) Foreign Language Chair Roselyne Pilaar congratulates Jonah Newman ‘12, as he makes his way down “The UHS Gauntlet.” ( above right) From left to right: Board of Trustees Chair Phil Halperin, Academic Dean Kate Garrett, and Dean of Students Alex Lockett sing the UHS school song with the Class of 2012. (bottom) The Class of 2012 throw their caps in the air in celebration.

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UNIVERSITY   HIGH   SCHOOL

FALL 2012

College Admission & Matriculation: 2012 Numbers in parentheses indicate enrollment as of July 31, 2012.

college

admitted

(1)

admitted

American University

4

Humboldt State University

1

Amherst College

1

Johns Hopkins University

5

Bard College

2

Kenyon College

3

Barnard College

2

Knox College

2

Barry University

1

(1)

Lafayette College

1

Bates College

4

Lawrence University

1

(2)

(1)

admitted

Tufts University

8

(3)

Tulane University

4

(1)

U.C. Berkeley

15   ( 6)

U.C. Davis

20   ( 5)

U.C. Los Angeles

3

U.C. Merced

5 6

Beloit College

1

Lehigh University

1

U.C. Riverside

Boston College

8

Lewis & Clark College

4

U.C. San Diego

15   ( 1)

Boston University

9

Loyola Marymount University

2

U.C. Santa Barbara

20

Bowdoin College

4

Brandeis University

4

(2)

Loyola University New Orleans

4

U.C. Santa Cruz

14

Macalester College

2

University of Aberdeen

1

University of Alberta

1

Brown University

4

Manhattanville College

1

Bryn Mawr College

1

McGill University

2

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

1

Middlebury College

11   ( 3)

Cal State, Chico

1

Cal State, East Bay

2

Cal State, Los Angeles

1

Carleton College

3

Carnegie Mellon University

2

(2)

(1)

(1) (1)

Morehouse College

2

Mount Holyoke College

1

New York University

(1)

University of Arizona

2

University of British Columbia

1

University of Chicago

2

University of Colorado, Boulder

5

10   ( 1)

University of Connecticut

1

Northeastern University

3

Northwestern University

5

(1)

University of Edinburgh

1

(1)

University of Leeds

1

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

2

(1)

University of Michigan

5

Chapman University

4

(2)

Oberlin College

7

Claremont McKenna College

2

(2)

Occidental College

7

Oxford College of Emory University

2

University of Nevada, Reno

1

(2)

Pace University, New York City

1

University of New Hampshire

1 1

Clark University

1

Colby College

7

Colgate University

11   ( 3)

Pacific University

1

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Colorado College

2

Pennsylvania State University

1

University of Oregon

1

Columbia University

5

Pitzer College

1

University of Pennsylvania

2

(3)

Connecticut College

5

(1)

Pomona College

2

Cornell University

4

(3)

Princeton University

3

(2)

University of Puget Sound

1

University of Redlands

1 1

(1)

Dartmouth College

3   (1)

Quest University Canada

1

University of Rochester

Dean College

1

Reed College

8

University of San Francisco

4

Dickinson College

1

Rice University

1

University of Southern California

10   ( 3)

Drew University

2

Saint Mary’s College of California

1

University of St. Andrews

1

Drexel University

2

San Francisco State University

5

University of the Pacific

1

Duke University

4

San Jose State University

1

Eckerd College

1

(1)

Santa Clara University

5

Emory University

2

Sarah Lawrence College

Fordham University

1

School of the Museum of Fine Arts

Franklin and Marshall College

3

Scripps College

3

Georgetown College

1

Seattle University

2

Gettysburg College

1

Seton Hill University

Gonzaga University

1

Simmons College

Grinnell College

1

Hamilton College

4

(1)

Harvard University

5

(4)

Harvey Mudd College

(1)

University of Toronto

1

University of Virginia

1

2

University of Washington

3

1

University of Wisconsin, Madison

1

(1)

Vanderbilt University

1

(1)

Vassar College

3

1

Washington University in St. Louis

8

1

Wellesley College

2   (2)

Skidmore College

4

Wesleyan University

5

(1)

Sonoma State University

1

Western Washington University

2

(1)

Spelman College

1

Whitman College

7

(2)

2

St. Olaf College

1

Whittier College

3

(1)

Haverford College

1

Stanford University

7

Willamette University

4

(2)

Hendrix College

1

Suffolk University

1

Williams College

1

Xavier University

1

Yale University

1

Hiram College

1

Swarthmore College

3

Howard University

2

Syracuse University

1

(1)

(6) (2)

FALL   JOURNAL   2012

(1) (1) (3)

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THE ANNUAL REPORT ISSUE

UHS GOOGLErs Anthony Levandowski ’98 talks about working on the cutting edge at Google. BY HOLLY JOHNSON ’82  |  DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

After selling three separate businesses to Google Inc., Anthony Levandowski ’98 joined the Mountain View-based company

himself in 2007. He signed on to launch Google’s Street View

product after having developed his own start-up that collected

and processed images. Soon after, he says, “we launched it on all seven continents.”

Street View aligns images taken by cameras mounted on

cars with Google’s maps, effectively creating Google’s own navigational data set, Anthony explains. As a member of Google X Labs, where he works with Google co-founder

Sergey Brin, Anthony collaborates on the most cutting-edge

projects, such as the driverless car and Google glasses, the

start 20 projects before one turns out and no one will hold it

against you,” he explained. “Then you just prove that your idea works and adds value to society.”

After graduating from UHS in 1998, Anthony went on

to receive a BS and MS in Engineering at UC Berkeley.

He appreciates his UHS education because “it was about building the drive into you as opposed to building the

instructions.” Today he’s excited about meeting other UHS

alums on the Google campus because of the shared experience.

And chances are, he will—there are at least a dozen Red Devils at Google today!

augmented reality glasses.

While still quite

a few years from

commercial application, the driver-

less cars developed by Google have

travelled hundreds

of thousands of

What do UHS Googlers do every day? How did they get there? What advice do they have for UHS

students and fellow alums who might want to pursue a career at a hot company like Google? Here are seven mini-profiles of

UHS alumni with Google on their résumés!

miles without

Anthony Levandowski ’98 with one of Google’s self-driving cars.

human input—

jesse eisenhardt ’97

accidents while

Google Title Cinematographer (seven years)

and without

under computer control. Like many new technologies, the

robotic car stuff began as a fun project. “It started as an idea

for pizza delivery,” Anthony says. But the engineers observed that there was a real need in society for the driverless car.

“We thought we could have software drive better than people.” Laser scanners on the roof of the car, along with radar and

cameras, allow the computer to perceive the world in 3D.

The cars have been road-tested both in the Nevada deserts

and around the Bay Area, including all of the Bay Area bridges. Florida and Nevada have already passed state legislation

permitting vehicles without drivers to operate in those states. Usefulness is one of the driving factors in the kinds of projects

Anthony wants to work on. “What made Street View work well

was not always about innovation,” he said, “but understanding how to make it work and be meaningful to people.” One of the

things that he likes about working at Google is the opportunity to be creative and work with other creative people. “You can

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UNIVERSITY   HIGH   SCHOOL

MFA (Film Production) University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts BA Duke University

“I work as a contractor at Google’s production studio, which creates videos for both external purposes (YouTube) and internal viewing. My job as cinematographer is to collaborate with the director to make his or her creative ideas into a reality onscreen, using camera and lighting choices to tell the story. For instance, I would start with storyboarding during pre-production, which helps guide the decisions I make on set during the physical shoot, including camera placement, lens choice, and lighting style. Finally, I finish the process with color grading in post-production, using computer tools to refine the look of the video.” “Working with computers at a relatively young age helped steer me towards this profession. A digital cinema camera

J esse E isenhardt ’ 9 7

FALL 2012

is essentially a specialized computer with a light sensor and a lens. They are logical and beautiful machines that can capture (and distort) reality and translate that into emotional images. Google is a place that feeds Jesse Eisenhardt ’97 filming on on innovation, so San Francisco Bay. experimenting with state-of-the-art filmmaking tools to tell stories about the way technology affects our lives is incredibly exciting to me.” “You don’t have to be a software engineer to work at a tech company. I collaborate with a huge variety of professionals at Google… Computer innovators, entrepreneurs, lawyers, chefs, event planners, fitness instructors, and even massage therapists. Everyone I know takes pride in working here, whether or not they actually have a direct hand in creating the popular products for which Google is known.”

M i ch a e l gor elik ’03 Google Title* Financial Analyst (over five years) BS (Finance) University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business

“I am a finance business partner to sales management across our key markets in the Americas, providing realtime revenue analytics, ad hoc pricing and compensation analyses, and project management expertise for revenue reporting solutions.” “Internships (during college) in corporate and financial services firms, as well as a keen interest in consumer web technologies and digital media [helped me get into this field].”

Michael Gorelik ’03 at a sales conference last year.

“[To do well,] demonstrate genuine interest in the space by keeping up with news and current trends; the industry changes so fast that being able to show you’re on top of new technologies/services gives you a considerable advantage.”

* Michael took a new position at Google in August as Business Manager, Americas Video Solutions.

Elliot Gree nwald ’03 Google Title Manager (over five years) BA (History) University of Pennsylvania

“I currently manage the Google Apps Very Small Business team. My team is responsible for acquiring new small business customers and helping them transition their email to the Cloud. We work closely with our product and marketing teams to improve the online sales experience.”

Tali Jang ’04 Google Title Associate Product Marketing Manager, Google+ (four years) BA (Mass Communications) UC Berkeley

“I manage strategy and operations for global Google+ marketing, working cross-functionally with product, brand, and community partnerships marketing teams. I have also worked on the legal/public policy, executive communications, and product marketing teams.” “While there are a number of contributing factors from my education and work experience that have been instrumental to where I am today, one factor worth emphasizing is investing in relationships with people. Work in groups and collaborate with a variety of partners. Take on leadership roles to develop skills in managing others. Get to know the people around you, enjoy working with them, and learn something from them every day. Invest in a mentor who can coach you through areas in need of development and enhance your strengths. Strive to have your accomplishments speak for themselves, but having others champion your skills andwork can provide exponential value in helping you accomplish your goals, or in this case getting a job at Google.” Tali Jang ’04 met David Beckham when he came to campus to do a Google+ Hangout.

“The tech space is constantly innovating, looking for new ideas (the next Google!), and hiring passionately curious people. There are many smart, capable people in this world, but if you are truly enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and passionate about tech—or any industry for that matter—you can go far.”

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uh s g o o g l e r s c o n t i nu ed...

Google Title San Francisco Bay Area Field Marketing Lead (six months) BA (Political Science) Trinity College

“I manage a local field marketing team whose primary objectives are to build positive relationships in our community and have fun every day. We help corporations, nonprofits, and small businesses use Google+ and other products to improve their reach and daily operations.” “While working at Octagon Marketing North America, I spent a majority of my tenure supporting the Sprint client-team. I coordinated 200 events that demonstrated the benefits of the client’s technology, often focusing on how it can be used as a solution to a company’s business needs. I was fortunate enough to partner with Google Wallet on a project, making my experience in instructional technology and familiarity with the brand valuable when looking for a new job. Now, as a field marketing representative for Google, I serve as an available resource within the community for all-that-is Google. My team’s primary responsibility is to empower leaders of local organizations through education, as they learn how Google products can improve their day-to-day operations.” Michael left Google this summer for a similar job at a startup being run by other Google alumni. “It was an incredible experience that engulfs you in a network of great minds/ people,” he says about working at Google.

M a ry S h en O’Ca r r ol l ’9 4 Google Title Head of Legal Operations (four years) BS (Business Administration) Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley

“I focus on improving the operational efficiency of our Global Legal Department through the establishment of internal processes, financial management, outside counsel/vendor management, IT and knowledge management initiatives, and training/professional development programs.” “Early in my career, I moved around a lot, trying to figure out what I wanted to do or what I was passionate about. In doing so, I developed a broad base of skill sets from being exposed to different types of companies and industries that serendipitously served as a great foundation for a career in operations. When I first entered the field of legal

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UNIVERSITY   HIGH   SCHOOL

MARY SHEN O’CARROLL ’94

M i c h a e l La u ’06

operations, I was worried about being pigeon-holed into such a specific niche. Years later, I realized that becoming a specialist was the best career move I ever made. Google is always transforming itself, which brings different surprises and challenges each year. I’m always saying that it would be nice if things would slow down once in a while, but really the fact that we’ve always got our foot slammed down on the accelerator is what keeps it fun.” “How about a piece of general advice that my mother gave me when I first entered the work force? She said: ‘Always remember two things. 1) Be Proactive. If you have to be asked to do something, it’s too late. 2) Get Things Done. Get things done right… the first time, on time, and with little direction.’ If you can master these, you’ll do well in any industry.”

gideon wald ’06 Google Title Associate Product Manager (two years) AB (Computer Science) Harvard University

“I work with our designers to decide how new features should look, feel, and behave. I also help the engineering team decide on how they should be implemented, and make sure that nothing is getting in their way. During launches and releases, I manage the coordination between all of the different teams involved and make sure that everything goes smoothly, including communications with the outside world.” “My Computer Science background has been very important, but even without it, I could have done a very similar job (although probably not at Google). Otherwise, it’s mostly about staying curious about how things work and being a perfectionist about how they could work better.” “Take an intro programming course! Even just one helps a ton. I know CS seems really intimidating, but it’s really not, especially for the first 6–12 months’ worth of classes. Even if you have no intention of actually becoming a programmer, it’s totally worth having some basic familiarity with how things work, and it’ll give you a foundation for teaching yourself things you need to know later on in life.”

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Spotlight on Summerbridge The power in believing. BY alissa kinney  |  Director of Communications

In planning Summerbridge Visitors’ Day 2012, program directors Samuel Beltran and Deundra Hundon,

along with the dedicated Summerbridge Committee, wanted to inspire this year’s Summerbridge

students—as well as the rest of the UHS community. Building around the event’s central theme—

“I Believe”—the crew designed a morning of enthusiastic celebration surrounding the educational opportunities that programs like Summerbridge can provide. Special keynote speaker Chuck Collins, president and

Along with such a successful Visitors’ Day, Summerbridge

of Sara ’93 and Julia ’97), kicked off Visitors’ Day to a packed

significantly, Summerbridge underwent an academic overhaul

CEO of the YMCA of San Francisco (and past UHS parent

house in the UHS Theater, detailing his own belief in the im-

portance of each and every child’s determination and ability

to achieve his or her educational goals. As he wrapped up

his remarks, Chuck revealed Summerbridge’s newly minted

has enjoyed marked growth throughout 2012. Perhaps most

this year, with wide-ranging improvements made to both the

curricular and co-curricular programs, including a new set of curriculum guides in all subject areas, created to increase

“I Believe” board, roughly three feet long and filled with colorful cards displaying the thoughtfully stated beliefs of every member of the Summerbridge community. Among the viewpoints outlined by Summerbridge students, teachers, and supporters:

That

“I will be somebody someday”

That

“You never stop learning”

That

“School should be like Summerbridge”

And that

“My students will succeed!”

Following Chuck’s moving talk and the unveiling of the

Special keynote speaker Chuck Collins, the president and CEO of the YMCA of San Francisco.

“I Believe” board, Summerbridge students, along with their instructors, performed a series of spoken word readings,

skits, and dance routines to the delight of the audience.

academic rigor. Additionally, new partnerships were forged

with Bay Area groups such as Leah’s Pantry, a nutrition

advocacy organization that fosters healthy eating practices in young people, and the Bay Area Urban Debate League,

in order to develop our Summerbridge students’public

speaking and debate skills.

Questions about Summerbridge or how you can help our program

continue to move forward? Please contact Deundra Hundon at deundra.hundon@sfuhs.org.

Summerbridge students listen intently to keynote speaker Chuck Collins.

FALL   JOURNAL   2012

9

THE ANNUAL REPORT ISSUE

take a bow:

a UHS Tribute to Lorna Strand

Theater Instructor from 1983–2012 COMPILED BY HOLLY JOHNSON ’82  |  DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

Lorna Strand retired this summer after 29 years of teaching and directing theater at UHS. Countless

alumni and colleagues were transformed by Lorna’s time at University, and she will be greatly missed! Anyone introduced to Lorna Strand for the first time notes

her warmth, energy, and “aloha” spirit. Lorna always put her

students first, giving them her total support, acknowledgement,

and critique, ultimately allowing them to create and express in

ways that they themselves couldn’t have imagined. Outside of

her work onstage, Lorna was instrumental in the growth of our

CSL Program, reviving the tradition of City Day and creating

spaces and events that brought the school together.

In particular, the UHS Arts Program owes much to Lorna.

For nearly 30 years, she helped to shape our Arts curriculum

she was a generous mentor and role model. From her warm

support to studies on the brain and creativity to her lifelong

advocacy and love for the arts, she inspired us to do our

very best.

Lorna has made a lasting impact on the lives of her students

and colleagues—she will be missed. She personified the mission statement even before the school adopted one, exhibiting

“a life of integrity, inquiry, and purpose larger than the self.” – from Lorna’s colleagues in the Art Department

and develop our graduation requirements. For the Arts faculty,

Lorna Strand looks on as her actors complete a series of exercises on the UHS stage in the Spring of 2012.

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UNIVERSITY   HIGH   SCHOOL

FALL 2012

From Lorna’s Theater Students: LINDSAY DUNCKEL ’84 shows

The Miracle Worker, Pippin, To Bobolink for Her Spirit I was at an all-day Saturday rehearsal for The Miracle Worker. Lorna and I had planned to go to some thrift stores after rehearsal to look for costume pieces. “Let’s take your car— where did you park?” She asked me. I looked at her like a deer in the headlights. “What?” She asked me. “Um, I just got my driver’s license yesterday and you want me to drive?” “Oh, Lindsay, I’m sure you’re a fine driver,” she said as she hustled me off. That story says it all—Lorna grew my confidence a thousand-fold, just by believing in me and thereby showing me how to believe in myself. She transformed my high school experience.

SHERMAN GRIFFIN ’89 shows

Cabaret, The Wiz, Mikado, Barefoot in the Park Lorna was an inspiration, a shoulder to lean on, a perfectionist, and a fun person to be around.

JEFF FLEISHHACKER ’95 shows

The Rimers of Eldritch, Anything Goes, That Scoundrel Scapin, Camelot, A Streetcar Named Desire, Sweet Charity, The Tempest, The Boys from Syracuse That final week before opening night, we’d have a full dress rehearsal, and at the end Lorna would just tear into us. The “sloppy, sloppy, sloppy” speech was a favorite of mine. In my senior year, these tirades seemed to stop. I asked Lorna about it, and she claimed that she had moved past it as a motivating technique. But for the sake of the UHS theater students who came after me, I hope those diatribes came back. Learning how to take a good dressing down is an important life lesson.

PAISLEY KNUDSEN SCHADE ’90 shows

Dracula, The Wiz, South Pacific She encouraged me to scream at the top of my lungs (Dracula) and roller skate around the campus while blowing bubbles (The Wiz). We couldn’t help but have dramatic range.

JONATHAN SPRING ’99 shows

Romeo and Juliet, The Music Man, The Fantasticks, Pippin, Pirates of Penzance, Kiss Me Kate Putting up musicals and plays with Lorna was one of my favorite experiences at UHS. She made us work hard, but earning one of her smiles or her unmistakable laugh made it all worthwhile.

KEVIN FUGARO ’06

MELISSA HOLMAN KURSKY ’99 shows

Pippin, House of Frankenstein, Pirates of Penzance, Kiss Me Kate With 13 years of acting experience since graduating from UHS, Lorna remains one of the best directors I’ve ever had. She brought tremendous support and enthusiasm to all of her students while constantly pushing us to be better—better actors, better singers, better people.

ARON CANTER ’10

shows

West Side Story, Crazy for You, Can Can, Blood Wedding, Macbeth My first memory of Lorna is wonderfully strange. I walked into the theater after soccer practice, caked in mud, and looked up to see her shouting out directions, surrounded by 20 or so barefoot students who were humming, stretching, tumbling, twitching, and talking to themselves. All that was missing was Jack Nicholson and Chief. From that moment, I knew I needed to be a part of whatever it was she was doing. In the four years that followed, I grew to know my earliest mentor and my greatest teacher. Now, I am sitting backstage at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in between entrances, trying to describe my gratitude for her.

shows

The Wiz, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Pippin, Our Town, Anything Goes, Romeo and Juliet I was a difficult teenager. I was angry and felt entitled to something more—I felt I deserved great quality around me. Lorna, from the day I met her, inspired quality in me, which over four years became a deep respect. Lorna had a significant impact on my growth and life.

If you would like to submit your own memory or tribute for Lorna, please email Holly at holly.johnson@sfuhs.org.

FALL   JOURNAL   2012

11

THE ANNUAL REPORT ISSUE

New Faces at University: 2012 – 2013 BY nasif Iskander  |  Dean of Faculty

We are pleased to welcome Rachel Barrow to the role of

he has also been a professional director and playwright, and

for nine years in Australia, the UK, and the US, and has held

work. Steve has a BA from the University of California at Irvine

learning specialist at UHS. Rachel has worked in schools

positions as a special education teacher (grades 4–12), a learning specialist (grades 8–12), a lead teacher for at-risk youth (grades 8–12), and a student support specialist (12th grade). She has

has received numerous awards and critical acclaim for that

and a Master’s in Education from the University of California at Los Angeles.

also taught ninth-grade German. Most recently, she was at the

Jasmine Hsu has joined the Foreign Language Department,

elementary school teacher for mixed-age classrooms in grades

in Political Science, with a minor in English, from the National

Special Education and a BA in Psychology from the University

teacher for 10 years, teaching English as a foreign language in

from the University of South Queensland, and a BS in Behavioral

from Yinghua Academy, a charter school in Minneapolis, where

Westland School in Los Angeles, where she was an associate

where she is teaching Chinese Language. Jasmine earned a BA

two through five. Rachel is from Australia and has a BEd in

Chengchi University in Taiwan. She has been a classroom

of Queensland, a Graduate Diploma in Psychological Studies

Taiwan and Chinese in the US. She comes to us most recently

Science from Queensland University of Technology.

she taught Mandarin Chinese, while also serving as both the

Lindsay Criswell is the newest member of our Development

coordinator for their summer camp.

Office, filling the position of development associate. Lindsay

school’s assessment coordinator and the assistant program

comes to us from NARAL Pro-Choice California, where she

We are also looking forward to the work that Susannah Martin

has also worked at the San Diego Natural History Museum,

the winter play. Susannah is an award-winning director, teacher,

Lindsay has a BA in Urban Studies and Planning with a minor

companies and organizations throughout the Bay Area. She is

Diego, and she spent a year studying abroad at the University

a guest lecturer at UC Davis and St. Mary’s College. Susannah

was the office manager and development coordinator. She

(not pictured) will do with our theater students as she directs

Junior Achievement of San Diego, and UCSD Business Services.

and theater-maker, who has worked for a wide variety of theater

in English Literature from the University of California in San

currently an adjunct faculty member at Los Medanos College and

of Glasgow.

has taught for the last 11 summers at the California Shakespeare

We are excited to bring Steve Haskell to our Theater Program,

students as a teacher and director. Susannah received a BFA in

where he will direct the fall play and teach our Advanced

Projects class. Steve has been a classroom teacher for 17 years,

teaching English at the Westmark School in Southern California

Theater, where she has worked primarily with high school-aged Theater from New York University and an MFA in Directing from the University of California at Davis.

and, most recently, English and Theater at the French-American International School in San Francisco. Throughout this time

Rachel Barrow

12

Lindsay Criswell

UNIVERSITY   HIGH   SCHOOL

Steve Haskell

Jasmine Hsu

FALL 2012

Byron Philhour

Ellis Reid ’08

Meredith Whitehouse

The Science Department is thrilled that Byron Philhour

Chuck Witschorik

Meredith Whitehouse has joined our English Department,

has joined UHS, where he is teaching Physics and Astronomy.

and is currently teaching English II and African-American

years, including positions at City College of San Francisco;

at the Millbrook School in New York, the summer program at

He has taught at the college and high school levels for 11

San Francisco State University; and, for the last nine years,

at Saint Ignatius College Prep. At SI, Byron taught all levels

of Physics, Astronomy, Engineering, and AP Computer Science, and he served as the Science Department chair for the last five years. During his tenure at SI, Byron was revered for the high quality of his teaching and his innovative classroom work.

Byron has an AB in Physics from the University of California at Berkeley, and he earned a PhD in Physics from the California

Institute of Technology for his work on the study of the cosmic microwave background.

Our 2012–2013 alumni teaching fellow is Ellis Reid ’08. Ellis has just completed a BA in Political Science, with a minor in

Philosophy, from Stanford University, where he was a member of the Ethics in Society Honors Program. While in college,

Ellis spent one summer as a research assistant in the Stanford Psychology Department, but his most formative summer

experiences were the last two spent teaching and serving

as an intern supervisor at Next Generation Scholars, a high school summer academy in San Rafael. While still in high

school, he spent every summer as a camp counselor at Beyond Borders, a summer enrichment program for elementary-age children. His experiences as a counselor and a summer

program teacher, along with the experience of his own high

school education, have fueled Ellis’s deep interest in educational

Literature. Meredith began teaching in 2004, and she has taught Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut, and most recently, at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Day School in San Mateo. She has taught English at the high school level, humanities at the middle

school level, and has served as a dormitory supervisor in a

number of settings. In addition, she has worked as a science writer and is completing her first novel. Meredith has a BA

in English and Creative Writing, with a minor in Psychology, from Barnard College, and a MALS in Humanities from Wesleyan University.

Chuck Witschorik is the newest addition to our History Department, and he is teaching History I and AP US

History this fall. Most of Chuck’s prior teaching has been at

the college level, first as a graduate student instructor at UC

Berkeley and more recently as an adjunct professor at California State University East Bay, where he offered courses on the

history of Latin America. Chuck’s first career, however, took

place during the three years he was an associate pastor, a role that included mentoring bilingual young adults and teaching

a religious education course to middle school students. Chuck has a BA from the University of Notre Dame in History and

Spanish, an Master of Divinity from the University of Notre

Dame, and an MA and a PhD in History from the University of California at Berkeley.

equity, around which he plans to build the next stages of his

career. While at UHS, Ellis will be studying the work of UHS master teachers, teaching part-time, and working for the Summerbridge Program.

FALL   JOURNAL   2012

13

THE ANNUAL REPORT ISSUE

Introducing Our New Trustees compiled by Grant Winfrey ’84

Setareh Farsio

William R. Hearst III

Setareh Farsio is the president of the UHS Parents Association

William R. Hearst III became

to the United States with her family in 1974 and settled in

Corporation in 1979. In 2003,

for 2012–2013. An Iranian-American citizen, she immigrated

Saratoga, California. After attending Saratoga High School,

she went on to study at San Jose State University and received a BA in Interior Design and Child Development.

She has been an active parent volunteer and

leader, for nine years at

Cathedral School for Boys and now in her fourth

year at UHS, supporting

academics, sports, the arts, and philanthropy. Her

business experience spans

over 30 years and includes

working with her husband to establish a construction

and development company specializing in custom

homes and townhomes

in the Bay Area, as well as the formation of her own interior design company. With the advancement of technology, they

went on to create an online computer supply business, Alan CompuTech International, now in its 18th year. In 2011, she founded iMom, a one-to-one computer consulting service.

Additionally, she is actively involved in service projects within the Persian community. For the past seven years she has served

as the United States Division Treasurer of Kahrizak the Charity Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting the elderly and disabled children within Iran. As a special project for

Kahrizak within the US, she provides web design and marketing expertise for a newly established assisted living center in Santa Clara.

Setareh and her husband, Ali Mozaffari, reside in San Francisco with their son, Alan ’13.

a director of The Hearst

he was named president

of The Hearst Foundation.

Today, he remains an active

director with both The Hearst Corporation and The Hearst Foundation, in addition to sitting on the boards of

ForaTV, Carnegie Institution of Washington, and the

San Francisco Film Society. In 1995, Will joined the

venture capital firm of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers as a

managing partner. Since 2006, he has continued his work with KPCB as an affiliated partner. From 1984 until 1995, Will was editor and publisher of the San Francisco Examiner. He is a

1972 graduate of Harvard University, holding an AB degree in

Mathematics. Will lives in San Francisco with his family, including daughter Eliza ‘14.

Bill Madison Bill Madison is attorney and president at Jones Hall. For over 30 years, he has represented California public agencies and nonprofit organizations as bond counsel on tax-exempt

financings of traditional governmental and nonprofit projects.

Bill is married and has three children; the youngest, Avery, is in

the UHS Class of 2014. He has served on the Hamlin Board as

treasurer, Finance Committee chair, and a member of the Head Search Committee. He continues to serve on Hamlin’s Audit and Investment

Committees as a

non-board member. He received his BA from St. Michael’s College, Loyola

University Rome

Center and his JD from Fordham Law School.

14

UNIVERSITY   HIGH   SCHOOL

FALL 2012

mentored many students, residents, and junior faculty in

Catherine Walcott Catherine Walcott is WestEd’s

chief development officer. She is responsible for creating and implementing the agency’s comprehensive business development plan and

strategic initiatives, leading

their research endeavors at UCSF. Yvonne served on the San Francisco Day School (SFDS) Board for six years. She also serves on the Bay Area Women’s and Children’s Center

Advisory Board.

Yvonne and her husband Howard Chung live in San Francisco with their three daughters: Maddy ‘15, Lindsey, and Clara.

the development of major proposals, strengthening

relationships with funders,

and building new partnerships.

Cathryn Schember In addition to

Catherine previously directed

our new trustees,

WestEd’s Fast Response

we are thrilled to

Applied R&D Unit, which

introduce our new

provides evidence-based information and unbiased analyses

Board chair, Ms.

about current educational issues and trends to policymakers

Cathryn Schember.

and practitioners served by the Regional Educational Laboratory

We know that with

West (REL West) and nationally. Prior to joining WestEd, she

her at the helm,

was a senior policy advisor for the U.S. Department of Educa-

University is headed

tion, where she developed legislative proposals and policy

for great things.

guidelines related to school reform, particularly standards and assessment issues. Catherine is married with two children in

Cathryn Schember

elementary school and preschool. She is a board member of Flex Public Schools and the Russian Hill Preschool. She received a BA in Psychology from Stanford University and an MA in Public Policy from Harvard University.

serves as chair of the

UHS Board of Trustees, and co-chair of the UHS Head of School Search Committee. A native of California’s Central Valley, Cathryn earned her undergraduate

degree at Harvard University. Subsequently, she served

Yvonne Wu Dr. Yvonne Wu is a child

neurologist and epidemiologist

with expertise in newborn brain disorders. She is a professor of

Neurology and Pediatrics at the University of California, San

Francisco (UCSF). She received a BS from Yale University, MD

from Harvard Medical School,

and MPH in Epidemiology from UC Berkeley. After completing her Pediatrics and Neurology residencies at UCSF, she has

devoted her research efforts to

improving neurologic health in

babies. Yvonne’s clinical practice is within the Child Neurology Division at UCSF, where she served many years as the child

as administrator of both academic and alumni affairs at UCLA Medical School, Harvard Business School, and

Stanford Law School. Currently, Cathryn is the manager

of board relations and development at The Center for the Next Generation, a strategic communications nonprofit working to shape the national dialogue around two critical challenges facing America’s next generation:

improving lives for children and families and advancing a sustainable energy future. A nonpartisan organization, the Center generates original strategies that advance

these goals through research, policy development, and strategic communications.

Cathryn and her husband, Chris, have four children:

Michael ’06, Anna ’08, John ’12, and Kate ’15. Over the

past 20 years, Cathryn has been active in various nonprofit organizations and independent schools in San

Francisco Bay Area, including service as chair of The Hamlin School Board of Trustees.

neurology residency director. She serves on the editorial board of academic journals in the field of child neurology and chairs the Advisory Board of the Thrasher Research Fund. She has

FALL   JOURNAL   2012

15

THE ANNUAL REPORT ISSUE

Alumni Association News BY HOLLY JOHNSON ’82  |  DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

In today’s busy world, UHS graduates can count on their

Alumni Association to be a one-stop shop for staying connected, feeding their intellectual curiosity, career networking, and just having fun. Ably led by Allyson Peracca ’99, who is entering

her second year as alumni president and member of the UHS

Board of Trustees, the association has a full schedule of activities

If you have an idea for an event or activity, please contact

Holly Johnson ’82, director of alumni relations, by email at

holly.johnson@sfuhs.org or phone: (415) 447. 3116. If you have

not been receiving alumni e-newsletters or invitations, please

confirm that we have your most up-to-date contact information.

for this new school year. Diana Ziola ’99 is again chairing the

Alumni Fundraising Committee, and there is a dedicated group of alumni who help make our events so successful and a great time for all involved.

While many academic, artistic, athletic,

professional, and

social events have

already been sched-

uled, there is always room for alumni to organize events or

activities based on

interests or geography. Last fall, a group of alumni organized a gathering for young alums in New York, for example, and

(left) Tom Brigham ’82’s band played for the Reunion crowd. (top) Reunion volunteers are the key to our success. (bottom) Members of the Class of 2012 gather for the first annual Summer BBQ.

a group of alums make a point to meet in San Francisco every Thanksgiving morning to play soccer together.

ALUMNi calendar 2012–2013

December

February

April

Please check the website at www.sfuhs.org/alumni for updated and new information.

20  //    6:00–9:00 p.m.

Holiday Reunion

1  //    6:30 p.m.

17  //    6:30 p.m.

TBD

May

October 16  //    10:45 a.m.

Alumni Speaker Series— Anthony Levandowski ’98 24  //    6:30 p.m.

Alumni Annual Fund Meeting

November 14  //    6:00 p.m.

Alumni Seminar with Michael Holt—Moby-Dick 22  //    9:30 a.m.

Turkey Kick-About Alumni Soccer Game Kimball Field

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UNIVERSITY   HIGH   SCHOOL

22  //    1:00–5:00 p.m.

Alumni Games— Volleyball and Basketball 27  //    6:00 p.m.

Alumni Badminton Game

January 10  //    5:00 p.m.

Art Opening— Stephany Howard ’06 11

UHS vs. LWHS Basketball at Oracle Arena 30  //    6:30 p.m.

Alumni Council Winter Meeting and Networking Event

Performing Arts Alumni and Alumni Families Reception before Winter Play Alumni Seminar— Western Civilization

March 1  //    5:00 p.m.

Art Opening— William Crabtree 4

Alumni Teaching Fellowship Applications Due 22

Alumni Teaching Fellowship Decision TBD

Alumni Happy Hour

Alumni Council Spring Meeting

17  //    5:00–7:00 p.m.

Alumni Night at Showcase 18  //    6:00–9:00 p.m.

Reunion Night for Classes Ending in ’3 and ’8 31  //    10:00 a.m.

Commencement

June 5  //    6:30 p.m.

Alumni Council Summer Meeting

FALL 2012

Class Notes compiled BY HOLLY JOHNSON ’82  |  DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

These class notes include information submitted through September 14, 2012. Please submit your news by email to uhsalumni@sfuhs.org or by post. Photographs are welcome and will be returned upon request. Digital images should be of high resolution for printing. Thank you for keeping in touch! Remember that the UHS Alumni Office is here to help you network with other alumni and keep in touch with old friends. The password-protected online directory can be reached by logging in at www.sfuhs.org/alumni (click on the “Log In” button at the top of the page).      1978      The Class of 1978 will celebrate its 35 reunion on May 18, 2013! We still need mailing addresses for Joanne De Vries, Gerry Gendlin, Michael Goldman, Susan Henderson, Michael Milan, Mary Miller, Nina Yhap Mulderrig, Charles Sankowich, and Angela Toran. Please contact the Alumni Office at uhsalumni@sfuhs.org if you can help. th

Mark Kushner ’79 noticed that Brooke Wentz was the music supervisor for the powerful documentary The Bully Project, which came out last spring. Brooke is the founder of The Rights Workshop, a music supervision, licensing, and creative clearance firm in San Francisco. Michael Solomon, a writer and documentary film producer in New York, is the author of Now It’s Funny: How I Survived Cancer, Divorce and Other Looming Disasters.      1980      Laura Kirkpatrick Dibb writes that she and her family live in Algeria. She and her husband have two daughters: Nura (11) and Ayah (seven). Laura is the general manager of the Hopeland Education Group, which includes a language institute and a private school (pre-school through middle school) in Algeria.      1981      Sandra Bodovitz Feder’s book Daisy’s Perfect Word was published by Kids Can Press in March 2012, about a small girl named Daisy who loves words. It’s an early chapter book for children aged seven through ten, the first in a four-part series. Sandra writes: “It’s been a lot of fun sharing Daisy’s love of words with young readers everywhere.” Sandra lives in Burlingame with her husband, Dan, and three daughters.      1982      A great turnout for the 30th reunion last May brought Michael Ager, Christian Belz, Ruth Berkowitz, Stefano Bini, Steve Bissinger, Natasha Leof Boas, Ed Brakeman, Tom Brigham, Louisa Moore Consagra, Laura Funsten Cornish,

Sandra Bodovitz Feder ’81 wrote Daisy’s Perfect Word.

The photobooth was a popular attraction at Reunion—here are Kathy Wright, Renee Goddard, Jenny Rosenthal Hitchings, and Cindy Litke Hacker from the Class of 1982.

Janice Daniel, Colby Devitt, Paul Dunn, Levon Eldemir, Ben Field, Peter Fields, Andrea Fono, Renee Goddard, Ashley Mace Grimm, Cindy Litke Hacker, Jenny Rosenthal Hitchings, Steven Honig, Helen Hyun, Sung Min Ihm, Holly Johnson, Pete Kramlich, Arik Levinson, Wendy Hutton Little, Josh Maremont, Jennifer Mechem, Dinorah Meyer, Peter Negulescu, Caroline Papas, Suky Patton, Diane Rosenblum, Leland Rosenblum, Jeff Winkel, Carla Fenton Witt, Kathy Wright, Helene Zindarsian, and Abigail Zoger to campus or other Reunion events. Following the example of the Class of 1981, ’82 grads compiled extensive Reunion notes, resulting in a ten-page document. If you’d like a copy of the full notes, contact the Alumni Office; the following is the significantly abbreviated version: Ruth Berkowitz and family are back from a two-year sailing adventure, now anchored on land, living in Portland and Hood River, OR, where Ruth is a writer, mediator, mother/chauffeur, and proponent of saving our oceans. Stefano Bini and family live in San Francisco, and he is an orthopedic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland. He loves teaching, windsurfing, cooking, and photography. Natasha Leof Boas is a curator, writer, and professor of contemporary art and theory in San Francisco and lives with her family in Mill Valley. She enjoys staying in touch with Caitlin McCaffrey, Erin Wilson, and David Leiber. Elizabeth Carmen missed the reunion because she and her family were hiking in England and Scotland. She home-schools her two children and still fences—with Rob Spivack.

FALL   JOURNAL   2012

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THE ANNUAL REPORT ISSUE

cl as s n o t e s c o n t i n u ed...

Alison Cook-Sather is a professor in the Education Department at Bryn Mawr and is also a visiting professor at the University of Cambridge in England. Alison and her family live outside of Philadelphia, PA. Laura Funsten Cornish lives in Portola Valley with her family and takes every opportunity to hike, ski, and run the trails. Kim Shansby Currell reminds the class that although she was voted “Most Likely to Live in Suburbia,” she and her family have a very rural address in New Hampshire. There they enjoy 30 acres with a waterfall, wild turkeys, deer, woodchucks, loons, bears, and the occasional moose. She is a group meeting consultant and a Zumba instructor.

Pete Kramlich loves living in the Denver, CO, area with his daughter, playing soccer and working in high-tech sales. Arik Levinson and family live in Georgetown, DC, where he is an economics professor and pick-up basketball addict. Wendy Hutton Little, who left UHS after junior year, is back in touch. She trained as a nurse and now lives in Olympia, WA, with her husband and their pets. Dinorah Meyer is a career counselor at UC Berkeley and in private practice. She lives in San Francisco with her family. Kyra Minninger is a psychologist and soon-to-be-psychoanalyst who lives in San Francisco with her family.

Jackson Dunckel and family live in New York City, where he is an investment banker who coaches lacrosse and writes poetry. Andrea Fono and her husband are busy artists with many projects, including fijireads.org, which collects books for Fijian libraries. Andrea continues to pursue “peace building and conflict resolution through the arts,” and is attending a summer graduate program in Switzerland toward that end. Haleh Ghanizadeh lives in Connecticut with her family and practices adult and forensic psychiatry, also working to improve psychiatric treatment of juveniles in New York State’s juvenile justice system. Renee Goddard lives in Fairfax, CA, with her family, where she is the Zero Waste coordinator for the town. The GoddardTcherepanov family returned home two years ago after a yearlong trip around the world. Cindy Litke Hacker lives in Missoula, MT, with her family and helps run a property management business, but still occasionally volunteers as a dentist. Jenny Rosenthal Hitchings lives in Sacramento with her family, where she has taken up coaching after reaching nearly Olympian heights in marathon racing. Roger Hochschild and family live in Winnetka, IL, outside of Chicago, where he works in banking. Mike Inman lives in San Francisco where he “rescues animals, makes music, donates to liberal charities, and generally tries to place (or find) order in the universe.” Holly Johnson and family live in Alameda, from where she travels to her fantastic job at UHS and looks for a practical way to make the commute by swimming. Barbara Keys lives in Melbourne, Australia, where she is a historian at the University of Melbourne. She and her family will be in Cambridge, MA, this fall, while she is on sabbatical.

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UNIVERSITY   HIGH   SCHOOL

Dinorah Meyer ’82’s son, George Meyer.

Leslie Talmadge lives in Cambridge, MA, with her family. She is a freelance journalist, tutor, and competitive swimmer.

Carla Fenton Witt lives with her family in Denver, CO, where she is a family practice physician and high-ranking triathlete. Kathy Wright lives in Santa Fe, NM, where she works for the ski patrol and as a buyer for a wholesale jewelry company. Helene Zindarsian and family live in San Rafael, where she continues her singing and recording career.      1983      We hope that you will join your class for your 30th Reunion on May 18, 2013! In the meantime, please help us find mailing addresses for Stephen Night and Lorenzo Krakowsky. Thank you in advance!      1985      Nina Lenzer Evison reports from Bronxville, NY, that for her family, summer means camp and her 11-year-old son, Oliver, headed for Maine while ten-year-old Annabel headed for New Hampshire, leaving Theo (seven) at home with mom and dad.      1987      The 25th Reunion Class turned out in great force last May, including: Todd Barringer, Ted Bartlett, Warren Beales, Caitlin Blue, Lucy Boas, Alicia Chazen, Elizabeth Brakeman de Bord, Jonathan Dreyfous, Amy Flynn, Molly Stadum Garhart, Sean Gorman, Mary Daniel Hobson, Nina Lewallen Hufford, Ben Humphreys, Jennifer Kaufman, Christina Kramlich, Duncan Lyon, Andrew Mackenzie, Stash Maleski, Mare Kalin Manangan, Vivian Strohl McHenry, Julia Hunt

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Robert Sperling reports that he and his wife, Kristen, were excited to share news of their son, Zachary, who turned one on May 21. Duncan Lyon says he’s enjoying biking with his two daughters every day to The Carey School in San Mateo, where he is the head of school. (top) Victoria Shonfeld Rotenstreich, Ben Humphreys, and Caitlin Blue at the ’87 Reunion. (middle) Diane Schroeder, PE teacher and coach, with Katie Hobin Porter and Molly Stadum Garhart from the Class of 1987. (bottom) Ronda Calef, former Spanish instructor, with her Class of 1987 students Josh Weinstein, Steve Shea, and Warren Beales.

Nielsen, Katie Hobin Porter, Michael Ross, Victoria Shonfeld Rotenstreich, Steve Shea, Robert Sperling, Todd Traina, Joshua Weinstein, and Kent Winfrey. Elizabeth Brakeman de Bord writes that she and her family, including husband, Christophe de Bord ’85, Chloé (13), Julien (11), Camille (11), Patrick (six) and Sunny (brown labradoodle), moved back to San Francisco after nearly 20 years of living in Massachusetts. Christophe now teaches French at UHS, and all the children attend the French American Bilingual School. “I am currently focusing on the family after teaching Spanish for many years.” Molly Stadum Garhart writes: “We moved back to the city from Marin last year and are thrilled to be back, living in the Presidio. Avery and Chase are in the third and first grades, respectively, at Hamlin, my alma mater. Last November I started my own law practice, an IP prosecution boutique focusing on trademark and copyright law. I love it and welcome any new clients!” As the SFSU chapter president of the California Faculty Association, Wei Ming Dariotis has been busy organizing the faculty for a strike vote over the increasing privatization of public higher education at the CSU system. She is also in the final stages of editing a special issue of an online journal on mixed heritage Asian American literature. Katie Hobin Porter writes: “I live in Mill Valley with my husband, Jim, and two daughters—Isabel (eight) and Grace (five). I have worked at the San Francisco Attorney’s Office for nearly 14 years, and currently am assigned as General Counsel to the San Francisco Police Department.”

1988      Can you believe it’s been 25 years? Come celebrate with your class on May 18, 2013. Make sure Elizabeth Czerner, Tamber Dinwiddie-Marin Gordon, Jody Kaban, Nicholas Mamakos, Graham Norris, Christian Ristow, Becky Schane, Geary Sellers, and Rachael Weinstein Taylor get their invitations by contacting the Alumni Office at uhsalumni@sfuhs.org if you have their mailing addresses.      1989      Debra Schafer Hakman writes: “I am living in Larkspur with my husband, Kevin, and three kids: Josh (eight), Tyler (five), and Sydney (three). The kids all attend Marin Montessori School, where I am heading up the Parent Association this year and keeping busy being a full-time mom.” Paul Haas reports that his second daughter, Lumi Siegerin Haas, was born on September 27, 2011. He was in town over the summer with his group, Sympho, which performed in both San Francisco and Geyserville.      1990      Agape Looper Adams is enjoying life back in Jamaica and loves entertaining UHS visitors like Monique Morris and family. Meanwhile, Monique, winner of a fellowship from George Soros’s Open Monique Morris ’90 visited Agape Society Foundation for her Looper Adams ’90 in Jamaica. work on the overrepresentation of black girls in the juvenile justice system, reported that Lisa Riordan-Seville ’02 is a fellow grantee! Lisa and another journalist will examine the nation’s evolving probation systems, including the rising demand for supervision and efforts to cut criminal justice costs in local jurisdictions. Cynthia Hernon Coffman writes: “Still living in Idaho, but coming home as much as I can and making sure my four kids love San Francisco as much as I do. I will be running my third Boston Marathon in April.”      1991      Rozz Nash-Coulon and her husband, Neil, welcomed identical twin daughters Charli and Codi on December 28, 2011, in New York. Rozz writes: “It’s been a pretty crazy train but somehow

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they’ve managed to be really easy, chill babies that actually SLEEP! I feel kind of lucky. And, they’ve been exercising their acting chops—an HBO movie with Christopher Plummer when they were four months and, most recently, a big Hollywood film with Alexander Skarsgaard. All in all it’s been pretty fun. I’m fully back to work running two separate performing arts programs for youth.”

1993      Join your class in celebrating 20 years since graduation on May 18, 2013. If you have contact information for Morgan BenowitzFrederick, Amy Berezin, Geoffrey Dryan, Abraham Fong, Peter Ginsburg, David Guttman, James Kingsbury, Cheryl Lever, Natalia Peschiera, Hisashi Tokinoya, or John Whooley, please contact the Alumni Office at uhsalumni@sfuhs.org.

Rozz Nash-Coulon ’91 with twins Charli and Codi.

1992

(top left) Hadley Hudson and Leslie Walker Calkin at the ’92 Reunion. (top right) A group from the Class of 1992 at the Reunion in May. (bottom) Samantha Weaver ’92, June Kitagawa Sakamoto ’92, and Emily Wilson ’92 came to hear Joe DiPrisco, former UHS English instructor, read from his new book on campus.

What do Heather Barrett, Betina Suessman Baumgarten, Leslie Walker Calkin, Theresa Evenson, Alex Freemon, Lindsey Hayes Kroeger, Audrey Benison Hemesath, Hadley Hudson, Cory Jacobs, Susan Levison, April Marks, Yvette Milne, Jennifer Mobley, Alyssa Mudd, Deb Huret Op den Kamp, June Sakamoto, John-Austin Saviano, George Vargas, Samantha Weaver, Richard Welch, Emily Wilson, and Rachel Young have in common? They attended the 20th Reunion celebrations last May. Jennifer Mobley and her husband, Bill Bloomfield, created Mobley Bloomfield, an architecture and interior design studio motivated by creating beautiful and timeless spaces clients love. They live and work in the Potrero Hill area of San Francisco, and Jennifer says she continues to draw and paint for inspiration, a passion honed at UHS and always encouraged by her UHS art teachers: Prudy Kohler, Rachel Baldocchi, and Bill Laven.

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Letty Brown married Jan Novak on June 9, 2012, in her family’s backyard in Bolinas. Her sister Clementine ’03 was the maid of honor, and her brother Hayden ’98 was the master of ceremonies. Ashley Mevi Kneafsey and her husband, Kevin, recently welcomed baby Luke. Scott Richardson moved to Washington, DC, where he works for Booz Allen Hamilton as a consultant.

(left) Letty Brown ’93, at her wedding, with classmates Corinne Rocca, Alicia Engstrom, Beth Goya-Morris, Ashley Mevi Kneafsey, and Erica Howson Fortescue. (right) Ashley Mevi Kneafsey ’93’s son, Luke.

1994      Canby Cohen reports that she and her husband, Shane Anderies, had another baby boy last year—Nicholas Anderies was born on June 10, 2011. Mezzo Soprano Silvie Jensen has a full schedule of performances this fall in and around New York City. She was in Italy for a month this summer, thanks to a grant from the Sorel Organization, which sent her to study and perform with the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program in Tuscany. Alexis Gallagher reports: “I’m living in London, with my wife, Ringae Nuek. Last September we had a baby girl, Kallisto, and our son, Odysseus, just turned three. I love London, but on some rainy nights I can hear San Francisco calling me back. Currently, I split my time between software development (iOS and

Canby Cohen ’94 with her family, including new baby Nicholas Anderies.

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finance), scientific research, performance comedy, and defending the unlikely privilege of this arrangement.”      1996

1999      Tauba Auerbach’s art was featured in a recent show at the New York Museum of Modern Art. Ecstatic Alphabets/Heaps of Language was about the relationship between art and language. Tauba’s work was displayed prominently and was even used as in publicity materials, such as street banners. Melissa Holman married Paul Kursky in Sonoma in August. Diana Ziola, Sophie Saviano, and Anne Braveman were bridesmaids. Jonathan Spring and Mike Zussman ’98 were also in attendance.

Bey Brenman, son of Leslie Manace Brenman ’96.

Crissy Wong Lee ’96’s baby, Tyler.

Leslie Manace Brenman and Bobby Brenman welcomed baby boy Bey Gerard Brenman on August 12, 2012. Crissy Wong Lee and Josh Lee announced the arrival of Tyler Michael Lee on February 1, 2012.      1997      Joe Brilliant, Austin Brizendine, Irene Bryant, Kathryn Ching, Justin Colsky, Emily Dellas, Haregu Gaime, Gregory Gomes, Rachel Herbert, Lisa Lindenbaum, Lily Rivo, Juliette Decker Rodenbeck, Christopher Sheldon, Jessica Stiles, Suniqua Thomas, Elana Rubenstein Weinberg, and Eric Wong attended the 15th Reunion celebration at UHS on May 19.

Rachel Herbert and Emily Dellas at the ’97 Reunion.

Sara Galvin Biroschak reports that “Lucy Maeve Biroschak arrived on December 18, weighing in at 9.6 lbs.! My husband, Ben Biroschak, is from Ohio, and we met in college and then again five years later when we were both stationed in Germany.”

Margaret Timbrell moved her shop, Bath Sense, to 412 Presidio Avenue at Sacramento Street. She promises all UHS alums, students, and staff a 10% discount.      1998      Save the date for your 15th Reunion on May 18, 2013! Do you know how to get in touch with David Dean, Alan Hicks, Mireille Hyde, Emily Isaacs, Jibril Jackson, Jessie Oswald, Kirk Roland, Yuriko Say, Regina Sloan, Robert Stephens, Benjamin Stoner-Duncan, or Will Veatch? If so, please let the Alumni Office know at uhsalumni@sfuhs.org. Thanks!

Allyson Peracca and her husband, Michael Strohl, welcomed daughter Caroline Bradley Strohl on August 9, 2012. Caroline attended her first Alumni Council meeting in September when mom resumed her presidential duties. Ben Sloan married Angie Guild on July 21, 2012, in Healdsburg, CA.

(left) Tauba Auerbach ’99’s art filled the streets of New York during a group exhibition she was featured in at he Museum of Modern Art. (right) Alumni Association President Allyson Peracca ’99 with baby Caroline Strohl at an Alumni Council meeting.

2001      Bryan Wong is beginning an MBA at UC Berkeley.      2002      Alex Casnocha, Richard Douglass, Nick Fram, Hanna Hart, Daniel Kilduff, Sandra Leung, Molly Miller, Shaheen Munir-McHill, Julia Shalen, Hayden Simmons, Ontario Smith, Adam Staley, and Will Trichon celebrated ten years since their graduation at the UHS Reunion on May 19.

Most of the ’02 attendees were able to squish into the photobooth at Reunion.

Daniel Kilduff writes that “after five years in Washington, DC, I moved to Chicago for graduate school in the Fall of 2011. I’m currently doing a JD/MBA at Northwestern, where I’m continuing my legal, finance, and innovation work regarding energy issues.”      2003      Michelle Engmann writes that she received a Master’s in Global Politics from the London School of Economics, and is now working in Washington, DC, for an international

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development nonprofit that supports democracy and governance programs in Africa. Elliot Greenwald has been working at Google for five years (see page 7), but is now moving to Palo Alto to pursue an MBA at Stanford University. Rachel Kornfield won’t receive her tenth Reunion invitation unless someone gives her mailing address to the Alumni Office by emailing uhsalumni@sfuhs.org. Don’t let Rachel miss out!

Sarah Grandin and her husband, Olivier Pecquenard, are moving to Massachusetts while Sarah pursues a PhD in Art History at Harvard University. Sarah and Olivier met while cooking at Taillevent in Paris and were married in 2009. Christianne Wa is a spirited member of the USC Keck School of Medicine Class of 2014 and was profiled in the school’s summer magazine for her commitment to community welfare, school spirit, and academic medicine.      2007

Jackie Richards reports: “I’m happy in grad school at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and teaching yoga on the side. Check out my website: yogauntoyou.com.”

Isabel Rittenberg, Maya De La RosaCohen, Morgan Harvey, and their friend, Molly, at the ’07 Reunion.

2004      After working in China, Japan, and Hawaii, Yuki Lin is now working for the campaign to re-elect President Obama. Based in San Francisco, Yuki’s work includes traveling in advance of the president to set up campaign events. Alexandra Wilson-Elizondo is currently in Philadelphia, PA, where she works in the fixed-income trading sector.      2005      George Watsky’s first national tour culminated with a sold-out show at Slim’s at the end of July. George and his band enterGeorge Watsky ’05 played to a sold-out tained with songs and crowd at Slim’s in July, 2012. poems, delighting an enthusiastic crowd that included dozens of UHS alums. Hollis Wong-Wear was named one of Seattle’s up-and-coming poets by the International Examiner, a pan-Asian magazine in the Pacific Northwest. They quoted Hollis as saying: “Poetry is a complete act of social justice, because it’s audacious and not commercial.”      2006      Former UHS Dean of Faculty Bill Bullard was happily surprised to see Kevin Fugaro in a recent performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Maya De La Rosa-Cohen, Morgan Harvey, and Isabel Rittenberg enjoyed the UHS Reunions in May. Chuk Nwadibia is in Paris finishing his Master’s degree in Public Affairs at Sciences Po. He’s rooming with Austin Tyler ’06, who is finishing a Master’s in Finance, also at Sciences Po.      2008      We hope to see you back at school for your fifth Reunion on May 18, 2013! Natasha Bach was also working on the campaign to re-elect President Obama after graduating from McGill University last spring, but has now relocated to New York City, where she works for Business Insider, an online publication. Evie Danforth has an internship at the White House. Ellis Reid is the new alumni teaching fellow at UHS. Sarah Rosenberg-Wohl is moving to London to work on her Master’s degree in Public Health on a Fulbright Scholarship. Anna Schember spent the summer as an intern at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art in Rockport.      2011

Kevin Fugaro’s ’06 Playbill program from Romeo and Juliet at the 2012 Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Kyle Richards ’13, Sebastian Piombo ’11, and Eitan Neidich ’06 in the Bernstein Lab at UCSF.

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Sebastian Piombo worked in a lab at UCSF this summer and was surprised to find out the other lab workers were also UHS-ers. Sebastian, Eitan Neidich ’06 and Kyle Richards ’13 were doing research in cardiac and skeletal muscle development and regeneration.

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in memoriam We acknowledge the loss of the following members and friends of the UHS community and extend our deepest sympathy to their families and friends.

William Blaskower, grandfather of Adrienne McKannay ’92, Sarah McKannay Tate ’90, Nick Jocelyn ’88, and Matt Jocelyn ’00, April 23, 2012.

Frederic Freund, father of Ellen Freund ‘85 and Leslie Freund ‘81, July 9, 2012.

James Halow, father of James Halow ’94

and Michael Halow ’95, March 18, 2012.

Yvonne Malabed, mother of Kati Malabed ’83

and Patrice Malabed Willig ’78, August 11, 2012.

Milton Marks III ’77, brother of Caro Marks ’76 and son of Founding Trustee Carolene Marks, August 9, 2012.

Christiane Neuville, founding faculty, August 8, 2012.

Jacqueline Reed, mother of Jacob Zarefsky ’14, June 2, 2012. Margaret Rocchia, mother of Pamela King ’79

and Jennifer King Nielsen ’76, April 17, 2012.

Carolyn Talmadge,

mother of Leslie Talmadge ’82, May 30, 2012.

Suzanne Wildenradt, mother of Annika Wildenradt ’13 and Natalie Wildenradt ’11, July 8, 2012.

Lois June Mayfield Wilson,

mother of Erin Cressida Wilson ’82, May 22, 2012.

Obituaries in this issue include notices received in the Alumni Office by September 12, 2012. Please let us know if you would like a relative to be remembered in the UHS Journal.

Jennifer King Nielsen ’76,

sister of Pamela King ’79, April 15, 2012.

Remembering Christiane Neuville BY Jon Reider  |  Director of College Counseling

A senior member of the UHS faculty recently told me that

the current era of informality in which students address all

adults in the school by their first names is a fairly recent

practice. Christiane Neuville, he assured me, was always

“Madame Neuville” to her students, and I believe him.

Christiane’s dignity, stylish dress, and graceful accented

English were the epitome of French decorum. Her manner

deterred any thought of excessive equality, yet her students

also felt entirely comfortable with her, and her office buzzed

with their questions and her thoughtful responses.

both her deep knowledge of their individuality and her

As University’s founding director of college counseling,

sensitivity to the needs of college admission officers for

much of the credit for establishing the reputation of the

professionalism, advocacy, and kindness.

college admission for UHS students during her years of

She was beloved as a college counselor, colleague, and friend,

a title she held for more than 20 years, Christiane deserves school on the national college scene. The stellar record of

service testifies eloquently to this. For much of her long

tenure, Christiane also served as the Junior Class dean.

honesty and clarity. She struck that elusive balance between

and she will be sorely missed.

Her insightful letters on behalf of her students demonstrated

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