Class Notes

1964

Bayard Breeding sends good cheer from Colorado. He shares that the state has begun to realize water is a dwindling resource, presenting a recurring challenge. Amid all this, he’s deciding whether to facilitate another course on food issues in the Fall.

1967

Despite the fact that it was not necessarily a special reunion year for the Class of 1967, members returned to campus in celebration of Randy Parten. Honored for his leadership, dedication and generosity to St. Stephen’s, Randy is the recipient of the 2023 Founders Award for Distinguished Service Award. Read more about Randy on page 33.

Randy and Mike Parten ’69 were joined by Daryl Tanner, Jack O’Quin and Karen O’Quin, Blackie Jones, Norie Clarke and Alan Davis, Ellen Justice, Jamie Stirling and Gwen Steph ’71. The group enjoyed being together along with former English faculty Dr. Lawrence Becker. He shared his latest film, “Fierce Love and Art” with the gang.

Vickie Gasche did not make it back for Reunion due to a misunderstanding between her and her horse, in which the horse won and she ended up with a broken wrist and jaw.

Larry Weeks talked to us through several emails but did not attend in person. Larry spent his recent years as an Episcopal priest in Portland, Maine and is now retired in Phoenix. He is hoping to visit Texas this summer.

Tito Hines was another absentee. He is now retired — as retired as a priest ever gets — and is moving back to his home in North Carolina after his most recent gig in Lexington, Kentucky. He promises to return to Texas for Bishop Hines Day next October at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin.

Blackie Jones is still in Baytown but is looking for greener pastures elsewhere.

Jamie Stirling is not retired, doing a tile job every month, gardening weekly and continuing his Chippendale dancing. Jamie and Gwen have been together for 25+ years despite Chippendale dancing.

Renn Rhodes and Do Garcia had their own St. Stephen’s reunion on reunion weekend in Positano, Italy.

Jemmie Clark recently lost her husband of 47 years. She recalls, “We met on Tuesday. He asked me out Friday for dinner and dancing.” At the bar, after dancing, he proposed to her and presented her with an engagement ring on Monday. They were married on November 7, 1975. She lives in southern Utah.

Steve McKee is retired and living in Austin.

Daryl Tanner and Mike Parten ’69 were the force behind getting so many from the class of 1967 to Reunion Weekend this year. Since Daryl’s house burned down in Fredericksburg, she is spending her time in Corpus Christi and on the road traveling to Ireland and other destinations. Daryl, Monty and Bambi Carter are planning a trip to Morocco and a fall trip along Route 66 from outside Las Vegas to Amarillo. She would also like to go to Japan and would welcome anyone’s advice as to such travel.

Jack O’Quin is long retired and spending his time playing music and herding grandchildren in Austin. Jack and Karen hosted a really nice party for the class on Saturday night of Reunion Weekend.

Bill Phillips, aka Chilly Willy (CW), and Liz would have come to the reunion but were on the way to Fiji on a long-awaited trip. CW is retired from law practice and living in Carbondale, CO, traveling and doing recreational nerd stuff (according to Liz).

Ellen Justice and Eric are looking forward to their annual visit to France this summer. Eric is chairman of the St. David’s building committee and is overseeing the complete restoration of Austin’s flagship Episcopal church to its 19th-century glory. Randy Parten can’t wait to see it!

1969

Jane Dryden Louis signed on for a second term as Secretary of the Spartan Alumni Association.

1970

Following two years of service as the Alumni Co-Chair of the Annual Fund, Hank Ewert assumes the role of Alumni Faculty Representative on the Spartan Alumni Association Board, where he will engage former faculty members to strengthen the connection to the Spartan Alumni Community.

1971

Kathryn Miller Anderson was honored at the annual Leadership Lunch with the Spartan Alumni Leadership Award. Kathryn was honored for her years of service to St. Stephen's as Trustee, Class Representative of the Class of 1971 and co-moderator of the St. Stephen's Alumni Facebook group. See page 33 to learn more about Kathryn.

Patrice Cruz shares that St. Stephen’s has served to shape the trajectory of much of her life since her time on The Hill. She is glad that it also continues to mean so much to others.

On May 18 at the Senior Dinner and Recognition Night, the inaugural Rudolph H. Green ’71 Award was presented. The award honors a senior art student who has shown personal growth and who looks for ways to improve their craft while also pushing intellectual boundaries of visual expression.

The award honors active alumnus Rudy Green for his leadership and dedication to art and artists since the 1980s when he began his own journey of learning about and collecting art. Through years of researching and collecting, he has met artists from around the world and has focused his efforts on art and materials from Africa and the African Diaspora. Rudy and his wife, Joyce Christian, are at the forefront of expanding opportunities for artists through their affiliation with the Art Galleries at Black Studies at the University of Texas, which dedicated its principal exhibition space, the ChristianGreen Gallery, in their honor. (Image 1)

Following two years of service as the Alumni Co-Chair of the Annual Fund, Claire McKay becomes the Parent of Alumni Representative on the Spartan Alumni Association Board this coming year.

1973

Kevin Crawford planned a successful reunion for the Class of 1973! Congratulations to all of our alums celebrating 50 years.

1976

Last Fall, Dr. David Wilcox donated a lovely bound and boxed catalogue of the artwork of his late brother, John Wilcox ’73, to Becker Library. A documentary on John's life and legacy, titled “John Wilcox: The Relinquishment of Time” can be viewed on the website: johnwilcoxart.com.

1981

Sean Gorman writes from Houston that he’s honored to have been admitted to the partnership of one of the truly elite global law firms, White & Case LLP. The trajectory and success of the Houston office of White & Case have been incredible, and he’s excited to be expanding the firm's Texas offerings into commercial litigation.

John Bernard sends greetings from Mexico City after relocating there for work. His company tasked him with evaluating the possibility of opening an office in the country’s capital city. Together with his wife, the Bernards have been living in CDMX since October 2021.

1985

In March, Jennifer Stayton contributed as a panelist to the Spartans Engage career panel on journalism. Jennifer is the seasoned Host of Morning Edition on KUT 90.5. After serving on the Board of Trustees for the past six years, Jennifer will assume the role of Executive Chair this summer.

1986

Miranda Grieder shares that her son, William “Liam” Cochran ’23, graduated from St. Stephen’s on May 21. She and her husband, David Cochran, are thrilled! (Image 2)

1987

Amy Bieberdorf will join the Spartan Alumni Board this year and serve as the Co-Chair for Spartans Engage alongside Paul Byars ’07

After serving as Reunion Co-Chair on the Spartan Alumni Board for the past 3 years, Alice Nazro Nezzer will shift to being the Chair of Alumni Recognition this coming year.

1988

The Class of 1988 celebrated 35 years during Reunion Weekend. Class Representative Mark Rowe planned a fun evening for his class on the Friday evening of Reunion Weekend.

1989

Patricia Henna Rowe concludes her final year as President of the Spartan Alumni Association and will shift to the role of Past President this next year.

1990

During Reunion Weekend, Ann-Tyler Chote Konradi received the inaugural Spartan Impact Award for her remarkable work with refugees from Ukraine. See page 33 to learn more.

1993

Ben Hoke and Davis Baldwin are coordinating the celebration for the Class of 1993 30-year reunion. Members of the Class will celebrate the weekend of Sept. 29. Davis currently serves on the St. Stephen's Board of Trustees.

1994

CORRECTION: In the last edition of the Spartan Magazine, it was stated that Anne Spear is a professor at LSU when her current appointment is as an instructor.

1995

Ben Chan will continue his service on the Spartan Alumni Association Board as Regional Representative for Washington, D.C. If you have recently moved to D.C., please update your address at bit.ly/SpartanAddressUpdate

1996

Shannon Powers will become the next President of the Spartan Alumni Association Board this summer. This comes after serving as the Reunion Co-Chair for the past three years. (Image 3)

1998

Jimmy Su returned to campus in April and visited with former teachers Frank Mikan and Troy Lanier.

1999

T.J. Brown and Katherine Bailey Brown ’05 will serve as Alumni Co-Chairs of the Annual Fund for 2023-24.

Recently Michael Ybarra ’98, current St. Stephen’s Trustee, visited Eric Camp and his wife Karla in Frankfurt, Germany, where the couple is currently living. Michael was in town teaching a business law course. They shared a wonderful German meal of schnitzel and spent hours reminiscing about their time on The Hill. (Image 4)

2000

Classmates Emily Meador, Brooklie Benson Gonzales, Sara Levy Sherizen, Valerie Herd Parker and MaryWommack Barton Tatum are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Sarah’s first baby. Perhaps her baby will be a member of the class of 2041! (Image 5)

2001

Meagan Butler writes that practicing mindfulness for ten years changed her brain, prompting her to realize her life’s mission was to change the mental health landscape for youth. She’s an LPC/Senior Therapist with Ensemble Therapy in Austin, specializing in supporting LGBTQ+ teens. In her spare time, she volunteers with the

Uvalde Love project, a group that is working to create a mosaic tile mural alongside the survivors from Robb Elementary. She also works as the clinical research lead for a mental health startup app for teens called LUCERO where she contributed to the content creation. LUCERO is available for download now, and you might even hear Megan leading guided meditations! Beyond professional endeavors, she still regularly hangs out with Lillie Furman Henson, Katharine “Kitty” Bayer and Estelle Giles McKenna. Together, they find themselves doing things St. Stephen’s kids do when they grow up — harnessing creativity and curiosity to forge a wonderful life! Last fall, Megan married Jason Flowers, and they reside in North Central Austin. She says she’s “living the dream” and sends love to the Class of 2001!

Matthew Reimer was the featured Chapel Speaker on National Day of Silence in April. He shared his perspective on the power of choosing to use influence for good. Matthew is a Ph.D. student in the Department of American Studies at George Washington University and co-author of the 2019 publication “We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation.”

2002

Matt Miller served as a panelist on the Spartans Engage panel on Engineering and Technology in April. Matt joined Annie Coaty (girlfriend of Andrew Rowe ’16) and Tim Wilschetz, parent of alum. The session for juniors and seniors was moderated by Troy Lanier. Matthew currently serves as Vice President of Product at Liongard. (Image 6)

2004

After serving the Spartan Alumni Association Board for 6+ years, Mallory Boyle ends her term on the Spartan Alumni Association Board. Mallory has worn a number of hats during her time on the Board, and most recently, she served as the Regional Alumni Representative for Texas.

Mallory also joined up with Louise McNutt Brazitis '07 to play in The Big Pickle pickleball tournament this spring at Dreamland in Dripping Springs, benefiting Friends of The Children. They advanced to the quarterfinals and had a ball! (Image 7)

2006

Wande Olabisi and Joe Nayigiziki caught up with Chris Breckwoldt ’86 while visiting campus in April. (Image 8)

2007

In the fall of 2022, Louise McNutt Brazitis joined Roxan Coffman Properties as a residential real estate agent. As a fifth-generation Austinite, she is well-positioned to help you or anyone you may know looking to buy or sell a home in the Austin area. Outside of real estate, she is excited to be on campus coaching field hockey. Louise will transition from the Chair of Alumni Recognition to the Co-Chair of Reunion alongside Liza Ayres ’14 in the coming year.

Paul Byars has signed on for another term on the Spartan Alumni Association Board. Paul will continue working on Spartans Engage as Alumni Co-Chair.

In March, Lisa Collins Shaddock returned to campus to participate as a panelist in the Spartans Engage career panel on Journalism with Jennifer Stayton ’85 and parent of alumni and trustee, Evan Smith. Lisa is currently a writer with PaperCity and based in Dallas. (Image 9)

2008

Amanda Kushner will join the Spartan Alumni Association Board this next year and serve as the new Regional Representative – Dallas.

2010

In December, former head of school Bob Kirkpatrick and his wife Sue attended the marriage celebration of Jake O’Hare and his now wife, Alejandra, in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. (Images 10 & 11)

2011

Mikey Lopez has just entered his 11th year as a professional soccer player. He is currently a central midfielder for Birmingham Legion FC. After having surgery earlier this year, he looks forward to getting back on the field. To learn more about Mikey go to page 34.

Chloe Sharples returned to campus in May for the Spring Theatre Focus performance titled SHIPS Throughout the 2022-23 school year, she served as a guest teacher and director for the show. A full article detailing the specifics of SHIPS and Sharples’s connection to it was published in the Winter 2023 Spartan.

2013

Kofi Asante continues to serve as Vice-President of Strategy & Business Development of Elroy Air. This spring he was interviewed by the CBS affiliate in San Francisco on the importance of building a diverse team and how it can lead to product innovation.

After serving the Spartan alumni community for over six years, James Carter’s term on the Spartan Alumni Association Board is coming to an end. James most recently served as Regional Representative for the New York City area where he made the annual gathering of Spartans in the area a new tradition.

James also successfully completed and defended his dissertation this spring at Columbia University, making him the newly minted Dr. James Carter. This fall James will move to Ithaca, New York and join the faculty at Cornell University as Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Hayley Garber Copland shares that she and her husband started a small specialty cut-flower and veggie farm called Angel Valley Farm. Their main focus is flowers — they offer subscriptions, supply for local florists and even make custom arrangements. Currently, one local restaurant sources their veggies for fresh produce, and they are working on partnering with more!

2014

Hallie Ayres lives in Brooklyn, where she works as Assistant Director of an arts organization called e-flux. She was recently appointed to the curatorial team of the 14th Shanghai Biennial, slated to open in November 2023.

Following a three-year term serving as the Chair of Alumni Communication and Social Media on the Spartan Alumni Association Board, Liza Ayres will shift roles this fall, assuming the position of Co-Chair of Reunion alongside Louise McNutt Brazitis ’07

Jason Haugen returned to campus to serve as St. Stephen's Assistant Tennis Coach. In a recent tournament, the girls' team was awarded a plaque for winning the most matches at the Hyde Park Invitational Girls Tennis Tournament. (Image 12)

Madeline Renbarger is in her second year working as a tech reporter in New York City for Insider (formerly Business Insider) where she covers startups and venture capital.

Cosmo Wei will finish his MBA at Columbia University in May. He also volunteers for the Chinese Taipei Lacrosse Association, which he co-founded in 2013, as a development officer for international and U.S. affairs. The team is in preparation for the upcoming San Diego World Cup and potentially the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

2015

Qi (Jerry) Hua is doing sales for a door manufacturing company just outside of Baltimore. He recently got his own office and invites any alum to stop by for a cup of tea!

2016

Phoebe Ayres reports that her family started a production company called 4 Girls Film Productions in December of 2021. The family, Liza ’14, Hallie ’14, Phoebe, Miranda ’18, George and Heatherly had an amazing time creating their first short film, “The Doorman” — George wrote the script, Heatherly was the "set mom" and ran catering, Hallie co-produced and edited it, Phoebe co-produced and acted, and Liza and Miranda coordinated our Austin screening and homemade limoncello deliveries for donors of the project. It was truly a family affair, one that has paid off in three film festival acceptances so far, and through our joy in hearing the laughter the film sparks.

Currently 4 Girls Film Productions is back with its second short film project, “Delivery.” The film is a drama that speaks to the nuances of family dynamics, experiences of loss and reconnection and the lifelong bond between parents and children. Phoebe wrote the script, and the film is set in Hudson, New York where Heatherly and George now reside. To learn more check out @4girlsfilmproductions on Instagram. (Image 13)

Andrew Rowe and his girlfriend, Annie Coaty, joined Elizabeth Rowe ’19, Mark Rowe ’88, Patricia Rowe ’89, Elizabeth Henna ’87, Rosanne Pollard ’64, Louis Henna

’64 and Marci Henna at graduation on May 21 to celebrate new alum, Matthew Rowe ’23. (Image 14)

2017

In May, Anna Hartzell served on the Spartans Engage panel on graduate school and pre-professional programs. She shared her experience in applying to medical school with juniors and seniors. She was joined on the panel by current parents, Steve Scott, Nakia Scott, M.D. and Remi Ratliff. The session was moderated by parent of alumni and former faculty member Clay Nichols.

2018

Miranda Ayres has been selected to serve as an English teacher in Japan through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program for the 2023-24 year.

Congratulations to Madeline Casas '18. Madeline is a 2023-24 recipient of a Fulbright grant. She will analyze the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation using novel denoising techniques while taking courses in the master’s program in fundamental physics at l’École normale supérieure in Paris. Each year, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards grants to more than 1,900 U.S. students, artists and early career professionals who pursue special projects.

After returning to The Hill as a faculty member, Henry Colangelo will move into the International Office to serve as the incoming International Office Assistant this fall.

Maria Duarte moved to Rochester, Minnesota, to work at the Mayo Clinic as a cardiovascular surgical transplant ICU nurse.

Franklin Lassandro returned to The Hill and served as an assistant football coach during the 2022 season.

Cat Orman is currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer of Flyby Robotics. Cat was recently featured in an article on AZCentral.com. The company chose Arizona to launch its first drone delivery system.

Yutong "Angela" Yang will move to Hong Kong in August after she completes her master's degree in financial economics at Columbia Business School in May. She will work for Bank of America as a corporate banking analyst.

2019

In May, Callie Cho delivered the Commencement Address at Swarthmore College. Callie graduated with a major in neuroscience and a minor in English, and this summer she will intern at the Center for Cetacean Research and Conservation in the Cook Islands. The Center investigates all species of whales but focuses on the humpback whale population that travels through the South Pacific. (Image 15)

Last Fall, Mary Orms served as Upper School cheerleading coach.

Lucy Schmidt was selected by the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program to teach English in Japan for the 2023-24 year.

St. Stephen’s Trustee and Parent of Alumni, Evan Smith, grabbed a picture of friends and classmates, Zach Routh, Will Dure, Wyatt Smith and David Lucid (Image 16)

In her final collegiate race, Elizabeth Rowe ’19 competed at the 2023 NCAA Division III Women’s Rowing Championship on May 26-27 in Pennsauken, New Jersey. Elizabeth will spend next year teaching in Spain before heading to law school.

2022

First-year student at Texas A&M, Henri Bariselle, received the 2023 Outstanding Freshman Award of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. (Image 17)

Alan Tran stopped by earlier this Spring to see Sarah Todd. Alan just completed his first year at UC Davis. (Image 18)

Osmond “Philip” Breland, Jr. ’61 passed away on May 6, 2023. Following graduation from Austin High School, he earned a degree from St. Edward’s University while simultaneously serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. Philip spent much of his career working in commercial lending and investment banking, and in retirement, he remained active in investment and philanthropic circles. Philip loved animals and travel, and his loyalty and candid advice will be missed by his family and friends.

Suzy Spence Burnett ’58 passed away on December 18, 2022 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. She attended Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and Central Virginia Community College. Suzy spent her career in the medical field serving patients at Lynchburg General Hospital. In 1980, she earned a degree in Christian counseling and volunteered at numerous organizations providing counseling to both children and adults. Her friends and family will miss Suzy’s wit, compassion, fervent generosity and spirit of service.

Dr. Terrel Joiner Cartwright, Jr. ’64 passed away on April 4, 2023. He held degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Hawaii. He conducted postdoctoral studies at Baylor College of Medicine and became director of Electron Microscopy at Baylor. Joiner loved his entire family and adored spending time with his dog, Jumper. He was passionate about social justice, equality and conservation. Joiner will be dearly missed by his wife, siblings and extended family.

Ethan Cooper ’18 passed away on April 7, 2023. Always sporting an infectious smile, Ethan will be remembered for being compassionate, humble, loyal and courageous. His curiosity and witty intellect, coupled with his sense of humor, contributed to his short but accomplished life. Ethan was extremely creative and loved music. He began playing the cello at age eight and went on to create electronic music. Ethan made everyone around him feel seen and loved, exactly as they were.

The Hon. Joseph “Jay” Gibson, III ’68 passed away on March 24, 2023. After graduating from Kermit High School, Jay earned degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Southern Methodist University. Jay was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1978 and served the 73rd District until 1985. Jay was appointed District Court Judge in the 70th District in 1992. Jay will long be remembered for his tremendous sense of humor and genuine kindness.

Jessica Green ’04 passed away on May 31, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer. A graduate of Bennington College in Vermont, Jess was the visionary behind The Cabbage School in North Carolina. Her revolutionary spirit and tireless efforts to understand and love herself touched the lives of those around her. Jess skillfully intertwined the world, uniting people through gatherings and shared transformative moments. Her husband, daughter and her entire family will miss Jess dearly.

Phil Hadley passed away on December 7, 2022. Phil taught Spanish at St. Stephens from 1968 until 1983. He served as the chair of the modern language department beginning in the 1970s and also coached, served in the residential program and was a member of the discipline committee too. Phil earned his Ph.D. in history from the University of Texas at Austin. Phil was a dedicated educator and was viewed as a strong, thoughtful leader among faculty members.

Ann Oppenheimer Hamilton ’54 passed away on November 28, 2022. Ann held degrees from Wellesley College, London School of Economics and Georgetown Law School. She was dedicated to serving the disenfranchised in her career and volunteer work, having supported the Peace Corps, the War on Poverty, the Budget Bureau, the World Bank and Planned Parenthood in her lifetime. Ann was also devoted to her family and friends, and her life of inspiring impact will long be remembered.

Terry Moor ’61 passed away on March 17, 2023. He held degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University; he also served in the Peace Corps. Terry had a successful career in architecture prior to becoming Department Head and Dean of the Department of Architecture at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Terry’s family and friends will remember his passion for creating sustainable spaces and the joy and loving support he brought to all he knew.

Sue Ellen Peterson ’64 passed away on July 18, 2015 after a 16-year battle with breast and bone cancer. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s from the University of Texas at Austin. She worked for both the Perry-Castañeda Library at UT Austin and the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library in Kerrville prior to retirement. A beloved member of her family, Sue will be missed by her siblings, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Mike Petry ’71 passed away on December 4, 2022. Mike received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. He loved to play guitar and had a passion for baking. Mike often baked bread for many of the houseless people in Dallas; and, during Reunion Weekend a couple of years ago, Mike sent his St. Stephen’s classmates homemade bread. Mike will be missed by many in the Class of 1971 and beyond.

Kathrine L. Roland passed away on April 14, 2023. A long-standing member of the dining hall team at St. Stephen’s, Kathrine was a generous woman who believed in taking care of everybody she encountered. She approached her work with the same attitude, taking care of the St. Stephen’s community daily until her retirement in 1992. Kathrine’s loving spirit is still remembered fondly by those on The Hill who had the privilege of encountering her.

Dr. Danny Strain ’70 passed away on May 3, 2023. Danny earned degrees from the University of Michigan and Louisiana State University School of Medicine. He spent his career working in medicine in Louisiana. Danny was an avid traveler in his younger days. His passion for Louisiana aquatic and reptilian life led him to be an expert in the care of tortoises, turtles and snakes. He will be missed by countless friends and family members.

Bob Turpin ’57 passed away on December 25, 2022. Bob attended the University of Texas at Austin and was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Nothing meant more to Bob than his family and friends. He found a deep sense of purpose in prison ministry, visiting inmates regularly and providing spiritual guidance through written correspondence. Bob will be missed for his sense of humor and the genuine love he showed to family and friends.

Jim Vance ’69 passed away on October 5, 2020. He earned his bachelor’s in engineering from Rice University. Jim went on to work for the city of Austin and for Barton-Aschman Associates as an engineering consultant. Jim loved the American West, particularly the Grand Canyon. He attempted to visit the National Park annually with good friends. Jim will be missed by his sister, family and many in the St. Stephen’s community.