Senior
Jameson
Stirring
As they head out to college, career, and beyond, we celebrate the Class of 2024 and their final days as students at Casa de Piedra.
TAs I reach the end of each school year, I often find myself reflecting on the notion that our school in its current form—the collection of people engaged in a shared endeavor for a finite period of time— exists only for that year, from August to June, its parts as unique and unreplicable as a fingerprint. Counter to our camping philosophy of “leave no trace,” the 20 dozen or so individuals who come together on our campus to constitute our community for that year leave a lasting and meaningful impact on our school, our campus, and each other—both literally and figuratively.
The one-of-a-kind combination of individuals who graced our classrooms, dorms, barns, trails, stages, and fields this year have shared a one-of-a-kind experience. They’ve seen each other at their best and at their worst, kept each other up late at night in deep conversation, celebrated victories together, and stood side-by-side watching a technicolor sunset over the beautiful Ojai valley. They helped each other cinch a saddle or tie a tie, sat together in the dining hall, lived next to each other in the dorm, and walked together on the trails. But above all, they’ve—we've—given each other a place to lean when we needed one.
This year, we called on that “place to lean,” both here on campus and throughout our broadly dispersed but mission-unified community, in a way nobody—child or adult—should have to as we faced together the unimaginable loss of a student. Support and care
has come in many forms and extended throughout our community via emails, texts, hugs, and unexpected gestures from students, parents, past parents, faculty and staff, former faculty and staff, alumni, and so many other sources. Every individual impacted by this tragedy has drawn on the strength around them, from those who are also grieving and from those who have more distance.
For those emails, texts, hugs, and gestures—I thank you. They propelled us forward into the healing salve of nature on our spring EDTs, the camaraderie of end-of-year gatherings, and the graduation of the Class of 2024, a remarkable group of resilient and compassionate young people who have modeled the best of community for us all.
As you read through the pages of this magazine, I hope you too will see and feel the best of this community. This year’s impressive Senior Exhibitions, the growth of our debate program, and the renovation of the Gymkhana Field—a space that connects every current and former Thacher student to their shared experience here—are just a few examples of the many ways that
A welcome home banner made by current parents greets students and faculty home from spring EDTs.
your care and support of this community continue to impact and inspire future generations of Toads.
Thank you for all that you do—in good times and bad—and for forming part of the eternal, expansive, and essential community of this school. I hope this summer brings you time for rest and reflection with your loved ones and I look forward to seeing you on campus again soon.
In Community,
Jeff Hooper Head of School
At Thacher, intentionality, genuine connection, and joy take center stage, and our social media shares a glimpse into our days spent together at Casa de Piedra. Follow along, like, and share to spread the word!
@thethacherschool (Main School Account)
@thachercdep (Alumni Account)
This year’s winter musical was the Tony award-winning show RENT, performed dynamically by a talented troupe of student performers. Both shows attracted big crowds and earned rave reviews.
For this year’s MLK Symposium, we spent the day reflecting on the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s vision of multiracial democracy and belonging for all. Our keynote speakers were Aimee Allison, founder of She the People, and Dr. David Kyuman Kim, visiting scholar at UC Berkeley and author. Additionally, affinity groups, faculty, and community members put together exceptional workshops to share with peers and colleagues centering solidarity and inter-community organizing.
Excited to share their newfound knowledge of salsa basics and how to lead and follow in partnerwork, students invited faculty and staff to join them in the learning process for a fun community lesson.
From the winter musical and a day of classes to a practice gymkhana and home baseball game, close to 300 grandparents and special friends visited campus to share in a bit of the magic and joy of living and learning at Casa de Piedra.
The 2024 Thacher Day brought more than 150 alumni and friends back to campus to hit the trails—on foot and horseback, shoot trap, and talk with fellow Toads and friends from throughout the years.
The Thacher Chamber Singers traveled to South Africa over spring break for an epic concert tour and music and cultural exchange. Their ten-day trip included time in Cape Town and Johannesburg, game drives, guided tours, visits to historic sites, and lots and lots of beautiful music.
Among the spring blooms this year came an extra exciting arrival—a new foal at the barns! Little GoGo was born in March to mama Pepto, and the two have been settling well into life together and among their many friends.
Always a fun night of entertainment and energy, the extended Thacher community— students, faculty, staff, and parents— gathered and performed in the Milligan Center for the annual Toad Music Fest.
The Thacher community got an exclusive first-look at an upcoming documentary made by Martha Gregory CdeP 2006 profiling Deirdre Griffith CdeP 2006 and her incredible story of competing in (and winning!) the Mongol Derby in 2022. The heartfelt story was strengthened by the long-standing friendship between the two Thacher graduates. The pair screened the documentary, followed by a presentation from Deirdre about her experience preparing for and competing in the world’s longest horse race. Martha also conducted a workshop on filmmaking for students, sharing her process and what it’s like to work as a filmmaker.
Poet, musician, playwright, and threeterm Poet Laureate of the United States Joy Harjo visited Thacher earlier this year, treating us to music, poetry, and stories from her life during our Head’s Invite and visit with student musicians and riders.
It was an incredible honor to welcome Joseph Alexander to the Thacher campus this spring. Mr. Alexander was born in Poland in 1922 and is a survivor of the Holocaust. Beginning at age 16, he was imprisoned in 12 different concentration camps and lost all of his immediate family. During his time on campus, Mr. Alexander met with members of the Jewish Student Union, joined us for community dinner, and shared his story at a Head’s Invite talk.
Marine biologist, policy expert, and writer Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson joined us for a talk at the nexus of science, policy, and communication, focused on climate solutions. She is co-founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab, co-founder of the climate initiative The All We Can Save Project, and co-creator of the podcast How to Save a Planet
John Muir Laws visited classrooms, led walks, and shared his passions for connecting people to nature through art and science. Mr. Laws is a preeminent scholar of natural history, a vibrant educator, accomplished artist, and cultivator of curiosity. As we prepared to head off on our spring Extra-Day Trips, his visit was a timely and powerful reminder of the restoration and healing that being in nature and in close community with others brings.
A half-court, buzzer-beating shot from Kaili Chu ’25 proved to be a galvanizing moment for a young team scraping and fighting for their big chance at their second playoff appearance in as many years. Looking at the faces of Thacher’s basketball team, pictured here, it’s hard not to share in that joy. Seniors Kennedy Moore, Nil Egbo, Grace Zhong, Margaret Zhang, and Lexie Goodyear consistently answered the call and played their hearts out. Rising seniors Shiraz Rothschild and Chu will look to improve on this year’s 11-7 record and hopefully make the playoffs for a third year in a row.
Coach Edgar Arceo credits the varsity team’s inspiring season with an “unforgiving attacking force and solid defense” as they finished with four shutouts (with first-time goalie Leigh Harned ’25) and a ratio of outscoring opponents 3 to 1 on the season. Fostering the team’s camaraderie was team breakfast on game days, Ted Lasso and cider nights at the Arceos’, and stopping for Chipotle after an away game. There are lots of accolades to account for, including finishing second in the Tri-Valley League with an overall record of 8-4-2 and a “glorious victory” over Cate at home. First team All-League honors go to sophomores Annikka Zhou and Georgia Browning, and junior captains Maddie Lee and Catherine Feira. Second team honors go to 9th graders Lola Clemens and Mia Gaona, with Honorable Mentions for sophomores Arden Brailer, Lila Creasy, and junior Julia Bressie Catherine Feira was also named Offensive Player of the Year by the Tri-Valley League for the second year in a row.
Thacher boys' basketball had a terrific season, tying for 1st in the Frontier League at 6-2, and finishing 11-7, overall. The squad returned to the CIF playoffs after a oneyear hiatus, having made the playoffs every year from 2007-2022.
Coach Carney's "least experienced team" in his 20 years leading Thacher's varsity was generally underestimated by their opponents throughout the season. Thus, Thacher's scrappy play, great chemistry, and clutch individual efforts allowed them to squeak out several victories, including two in overtime. Leadership from captains Angus Harris '25 and Nicolas Peyromaure de Bord ’25, as well as lone senior Deacon Johnson, and deep commitment to improving their play from sophomores Aidan Lee and Spencer Jacobson all contributed to the mix. Additionally, junior Sam Lust was named team MVP by his peers for his consistently outstanding play. It should also be noted that Brady Vondriska ’25 tied the single-season record for charges taken set by Owen Dexter Meldrum CdeP 2020. With eleven players returning next year, the Toads are gearing up for a big season.
“This, by far, has been one of the best soccer teams at Thacher that I've seen,” Coach Luis Jungo immediately offered when asked about the previous season. Finishing with a league record of 6-0-1, with only one goal against and half of Thacher’s goals scored by 9th graders, it’s easy to agree with his sentiments.
Rising team leaders include juniors Charlie Parkes, Lance Jin-Ngo, Jayden Lee, Serapion Fernandez, and Jackson Harr. They all have big shoes to fill as the team graduates nine seniors: Peter Robinson, Graham Rogers, Gage Grimes, Jared Amaya, Darius Lamport, Darragh Mahoney, Armen Kazazean, Jay Jiang, and Augie Thorne
A last-minute goal by senior Julia James against Dos Pueblos at home squeaked Thacher’s girls’ lacrosse team into their first playoff appearance in five years. It also served as a major catalyst for camaraderie and good cheer around campus for the team, a group celebrating many important milestones this year. Head Coach Anne Gregory CdeP 2015 credits the leadership of seniors Brianna Bell, Maria Galgon, Lexie Goodyear, Julia James, Francesca Pelosi, Evelyn Stoen, and Margaret Zhang for helping shape juniors Maddie Lee, Linn Wallmark, Caiden Bang, and Sophia Brant as they rise up to take their spots next year. Notable milestones include Goodyear’s 100th career goal and topping the Channel League scoring stats with 63 goals this season. Additionally Lee dominated the midfield with 43 ground ball pickups, and 13 goals on the season.
“It was a great season, and we sometimes had upwards of 40 athletes when the 9th graders [were with us],” reflected Coach Sarah DelVecchio. After a season that witnessed two new school records and 13 individual and team League Championships (see sidebar), “great” is just one adjective to use for this squad. Strong leadership from seniors Diego Escalante, Arinze Okigbo, Sarah Sonenshine, and Taylor Gudebski helped guide and mentor the younger athletes.
Battling their way to a victorious CIF Division 3 playoff against Nordhoff was an especially sweet milestone considering Thacher’s tennis team did not have a single senior on the roster this season. Instead, juniors Mateo Nix, Serapion Fernandez, Brecon Bridger, Angus Harris, and Sophomore Austin Du rose to the challenge and fostered incredible team cohesiveness and spirit. The future is looking strong with Declan Reenan and Paolo McCarrey, the team’s two 9th graders. Sophomores Austin Du and Jake Lim made strong contributions on the doubles court this past season. Having a strong core of seniors next year should set Thacher up for another playoff run in the spring of 2025.
Coach Tim Sullivan summed it up perfectly in his season wrap-up at a school assembly in May: “We talk a lot about Second Scoreboard, and this team is a perfect embodiment of those values. So when a team is faced with such a daunting task of suiting up and playing a tough game when they can predict the outcome (we only won one game) there’s an inward focus that we relied upon to buoy our spirits.” Senior captains Augie Thorne, Ian Housden, Harry Morfit, and Justin Park all exemplified the mentorship and poise towards their younger teammates, and provided incredible leadership and focus to the team. Notable accolades include sophomores William Laird and Craig Watkins named Most Improved Players; Team Spirit belongs to Lance Jin-Ngo ’25; and Jackson Slaughter ’26 earned the Unsung Hero title. Look to juniors Andy Dachs, Jin-Ngo, Pierce Kelly, and Dyon Thompson to step up into captain roles next season.
Thacher began the season 8-0, reached the top spot in the CIF-SS Division 7 poll, and made the playoffs for the second straight year, leaving a decade-long absence fading away in the rearview mirror.
Standout performances this season belong to senior captains Peter Robinson and Ben Billings, as they provided steady leadership and outstanding defense on the left side of the infield. Fellow senior Zander Schatzberg played a key role in the middle of the lineup in his first season playing baseball at Thacher. Billings, Sam Lust ’25 , and Henry Molfino '25 earned first team all-league recognition. Juniors Brady Vondriska and Cole Mason were named second team all-league, and Miles Maxwell ’25 received honorable mention.
Next year's team will have a deep and talented senior class led by Lust, Molfino, Vondriska, Maxwell, and Mason. Thacher's leading four pitchers and starting catcher will all return.
Thacher’s newest competitive sport may have struggled in the win column this season, but they made up for it with spirit and teamwork. Their lone victory came against Santa Clara, and it came down to the 9th grade pairing of Annabel Billings and Elle Feira who won their match and guaranteed a Thacher victory, and their first league win in two years. Graduating seniors Olivia Thomas, Nil Egbo, Elizabeth Dominguez, Alexis Martinez, and Ellena Reposa are recognized with helping to build the program, and will surely be missed next season.
TWO SCHOOL RECORDS WERE BROKEN:
Seniors Arinze Okigbo in the 200m with 22.20 seconds, and Tevarion Jackson with 38'11" in the shot put.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FRONTIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS:
Lola Clemens ’27 in the 100m
Taylor Gudebski CdeP 2024 in the mile and 800m
Sarah Sonenshine CdeP 2024 in the 2 mile
9th graders Lola Clemens, Mia Gaona, Lu Rodriguez, and Erin Lacy in the 4x100m
Gudebski, Sonenshine, Chloe Hamilton ’26, and Annikka Zhou ’26 in the 4x400m
Mateo Escalante '26 in the 3200m
Matthew Daum ’26 in the 1 mile
Jett Mortensen ’27 in the long jump
Sebastian Carr ’26 in the high jump and 300m hurdles
Carlos Ochoa ’25 in the 800m Tevarion Jackson CdeP 2024 in the shot put
Jackson Hancock ’26 in the 400m
Ochoa, M. Escalante, Jackson, and Lucas de Clercq ’26 in the 4x400m
30 YEARS AGO, THACHER LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM THAT WOULD CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF ITS STUDENTS’ LEARNING AND BECOME A HALLMARK OF OUR GRADUATES’ EXPERIENCE.
The Senior Exhibition program has long been a unique component of a Thacher education and continues to serve as the culminating academic experience for every Thacher student and a signature part of Thacher’s overall program.
Much like the projects themselves, the program began with a question: how can we create an even more impactful educational experience for our graduates that inspires curiosity, passion, and self-directed learning as they prepare to embark upon the next chapter in their lives?
It was from there that the Senior Exhibition program was born. While the details have evolved slightly over the years, the general concept is the same: Every senior at Thacher chooses a focus area, hones in on an essential question, and conducts research over several months. Each April, the campus comes alive with intellectual energy during the Senior Ex Weekend where each student delivers a 30-minute presentation on their topic. A hallmark of the Thacher spring term, this weekend provides an opportunity for the community to engage in collective learning and to recognize the members of the senior class for their contributions to the academic 'greatest good.’
“The Senior Exhibition program centers around the idea of celebrating scholarship and honoring our seniors as they step into the role of teachers,” said Dr. Seth Boyd, chair of the English department and director of the Senior Ex program. “We dedicate these few days to the presentations as a way of highlighting the seniors' passions, empowering them to share what they have learned, and allowing them to educate us all on topics that matter to them.”
The Senior Ex program defines many of the skills Thacher’s classes are designed to foster and by all accounts, the program has exceeded expectations in terms of the learning outcomes, both for the seniors themselves and for the broader Thacher community.
In order to prepare students to successfully meet the expectations of the program, sophomores and juniors are taught how to navigate scholarly databases, take notes in the Cornell Method, compose annotated bibliographies, structure clear and effective arguments, and synthesize complex material. By the time seniors are asked to execute their individualized research plan, they have mastered the foundational skills to manage the task. The strong relationships that students build with faculty and staff throughout their four years becomes an asset when students collaborate with the mentors who serve as research and presentation advisors. Furthermore, all students—both those in other grades and the seniors when they’re not presenting themselves—attend their
OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBERFEBRUARY MARCH
It starts with a question. How can we both enjoy and conserve a particular ecosystem? What is the lasting legacy of my favorite artist? Topics are specific and dig deep into the world they are aiming to explore.
From there, students dig into a phase of extensive research, collecting the data and information they need to formulate, and back up, their thesis. More than just collecting facts, students apply thoughtful and well-reasoned analysis to their work.
One-on-one sessions with a faculty research advisor with expertise or experience in the student’s proposed topic are woven throughout the ongoing research process to give students the opportunity to get advice and discuss ideas as they go along.
After dedicating their winter-term English classes to Senior Ex research, seniors are busy finalizing annotated bibliographies and crafting a research distillation that encapsulates all of their work and serves as the foundation of the final presentation.
APRIL
Armed with tips and tricks on building an effective and welldesigned presentation from Head of School Jeff Hooper and Director of Communications Carly Rodriguez, seniors polish up their projects and work with their presentation advisor to get their presentation just right. During one busy weekend, the Thacher community attends presentations on an exciting range of topics—the culmination (and celebration!) of months of hard work and intellectual exploration.
fellow Toads’ talks, learning about the topics at hand while also seeing a model for the development of their own presentation and public speaking skills.
“After several years of watching the seniors present, it was so exciting to finally be up there myself,” said Lila Rodriguez CdeP 2024, whose research delved into social media and the ways in which oversharing presents ethical, legal, and familial challenges. “I learned so much along the way from my research and presentation advisors, and feel well prepared to tackle other research projects and presentations in the future.”
In the past two years, the School has refined the way it supports students through their research process. Seniors are now assigned a faculty research advisor with expertise or experience in the student’s proposed topic. These pairings give the students a thought partner who promotes deeper engagement with the scholarly conversation. And this year, for the first time, an entire term has been dedicated to Senior Ex within the English department.
“In addition to providing our seniors with more time to work on their projects, devoting the full trimesterlong English class to the program allows teachers to introduce, monitor, and assess the research skills that students must employ throughout the process,” said Boyd. ”Because of the class, students manage time more effectively, engage with sources more thoroughly, and receive consistent feedback that clarifies expectations. They also read with more purpose and depth, and utilize a greater number of scholarly sources. As a result, the final presentations this year were incredibly nuanced and informed, indicating the skill and confidence the students will carry when they go to college.”
I learned so much along the way from my research and presentation advisors, and feel well prepared to tackle other research projects and presentations in the future.”
— LILA RODRIGUEZ CDEP 2024
The Senior Exhibition program centers around the idea of celebrating scholarship and honoring our seniors as they step into the role of teachers.”
- DR. SETH BOYD Chair of the English department/Director of the Senior Ex program
• Ableton Live and Modern Music Production
• Tech in Medicine: The Past, Present, and Future
• Should Restoration of Apex Predators be a Priority of Today's Conservation Efforts?
• The Blues: The Backbone to Your Favorite Music
• American Perceptions of Wilderness: Who Spends Time in the Backcountry, and Why?
• A New Revolution: How Artificial Intelligence is Shaping the Future of Geopolitics
• Making it to the Home Straight: The Key to Distance Running and Training
• Where Does the Future of Cancer Treatment Lie?
• Revolutionary Runways: The Rebels Who Are Shattering Fashion's Facade of Inclusivity
• A Democracy at Threat: America's Nonvoting Problem and Potential Solutions
• How Do You Create Choreography? A Demonstration and Dance Showcase
• Unraveling the Illusion of Free Will: A Study on Determinism, Consciousness, and Autonomy
• Super Bowl Advertising: The Real Reason You Are Still Watching
• Great White Sharks: Understanding the Interplay of White Sharks, Humans, and Ecosystem Health
• Culture in a Cup: How Fermentation Has Shaped Communities, Societies, and Our Lives
• Tim Burton Films: Authenticity in a World of Conformity
• A Search for Extraterrestrial Life: Are We Really Alone?
• Come to the Dark Side: The Adverse Impacts of Light Pollution
The Thacher School 19
By Angus Harris '25
During a time of increasing division across our country, including on high school and college campuses, Thacher’s Sir Winston Churchill Debate Society is skilling-up students in their pursuit of productive, respectful conversations.
Since last year, the debate society has revived an old tradition on campus, hosting regular student-led debates on complex topics with the goal of celebrating civil and engaged political discourse on campus.
Participation in the debate society is demanding—the club holds to an intense practice schedule in the lead-up to oncampus debates—but the team has tried to make debate fun and accessible to everyone and welcomes beginners from all grades across campus to learn the art of debate.
“The debate society is much like the Thacher community; it has been welcoming, challenging, and fun,” noted ninth grader Sylvie Thorne '27 from Los Angeles. Participating in a Thacher debate is an experience every student at the School should have. It requires work, dedication, and collaborating with peers outside of one’s grade or social circle.”
Newer members have been supported by the leadership of the team’s captains—Augie Thorne CdeP 2024, Margot Edwards ’25, and Angus Harris ’25, who Debate Society Faculty Advisor Jake Conway credits with the camaraderie among debaters as well as the growth of the team.
“The debate society is much like the Thacher community: it has been welcoming, challenging, and fun."
"When I think about the success of the debate program, I think first and foremost of the three debate captains, whose tremendous achievements are a testament to the care and hard work that they have put into creating a series of exciting and meaningful debate events this year,” said Conway. “These captains have really developed the team by cultivating interest in the art of speech and debate among other students on campus, especially younger students who they have tirelessly encouraged, coached, and mentored. The debate society now boasts more than a dozen students as members! It brings me so much joy to think about what these captains have done, and I have immense gratitude for their dedication and courage. They are fearless.”
The success of the club has not come without its challenges, however. Debating sensitive topics freely and openly can be difficult, and the club has to strike the right balance between supporting free expression from students and creating a welcoming environment on campus. Thacher’s debate society is hoping to be a model of respectful and inclusive discourse. Dr. Russell Spinney, chair of the history department, thinks that the value of debate is that it can help students practice civil disagreement. According to Spinney, debate helps us open our minds to different ways of seeing things.
“There's value in having a chance to debate big ideas or challenges that we face, and that can sometimes help us see different sides to things,” said Spinney.
Conway agrees. “I can’t think of anything more vital to high schools and universities right now than helping students learn how to have conversations with each other. Debate is such a valuable tool for education because it teaches students to learn how to think, not just what to think. It pushes students to see issues from multiple perspectives.”
Conway has also seen firsthand how debate can bring people together. “By providing students with a venue to disagree in civil and respectful ways, debate also helps to build community. When I have to sit across from you at a table and debate you, I’m reminded that you are another person just like me who has ideas, opinions, and feelings about the world that I have to take into account. When done right, debate is a very human thing, and it can provide us a way forward during these especially divided times where other forms of dissent cannot.”
Earlier this spring, the student-run club shared the stage with the debate team from its longstanding rival, The Cate School, where debate is also growing in popularity. The resolution: “The United States is a force for good in the world.” Students from both schools are excited that the rivalry between Thacher and Cate is expanding beyond the sports field.
“By building a bridge between the two schools, we aim to foster the growth of debate at Cate, inspired by Thacher's campus-wide enthusiasm for the program,” said Andrew P. ’26, one of Cate’s debate captains.
Thacher Captain Angus Harris ’25 is hopeful that this first Thacher-Cate debate leads to more opportunities for friendly debate competition. “The revival of a tradition between these two schools is among us.”
JAMESON GYMKHANA FIELD RENOVATION ENHANCES
SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF A CHERISHED CAMPUS
Thacher is a school rooted in meaningful traditions. Community dinner, the Banquet Song, Open House, and EDTs are just a few of the ties that bind generations of Toads together in the shared experience of living and learning at Casa de Piedra. But for many graduates, there is one that stands out among the rest for the unique way it shaped them and their Thacher experience, and that’s Big Gymkhana.
Since the early 1900s, Thacher has been observing this central tradition, drawing hundreds of current Thacher families, alumni, and visitors to the School every spring for Big Gymkhana, the competitive culmination of the year’s hard work. All ninth graders and many upperclassmen further hone their skills and test and deepen their horse-and-rider partnerships as they compete in a variety of races, from barrel and pole racing to the highly coveted silver dollar pickup. Led by their instructors and seasons upperclassmen riders, the ninth graders vie for points on one of three teams (blue, green, or orange) for the ultimate Big Gymkhana victory. It’s a high-energy day, with eager horses ready to run and students excited to showcase their hardwon skills for their family and friends.
In 2022 however, heavy winter and early spring rains dampened that excitement. Ojai recorded nearly 37 inches of rain by March 2023, 180% of—more than double— the normal amount for that point in the water year. The last time more rain had hit Ojai was in 2005. With not much time for the Jameson Gymkhana Field to dry in between rains, combined with a number of late April and early May storms, the 2023
Gymkhana weekend quickly earned the name “Swimkhana” and relegated riders to compete no faster than at a walk or trot. While it was still a day of fun, competition, and memory-making, the slower pace and missing silver dollar pickup certainly impacted the energy of the day.
But like the resilient riders who learn to see every setback as an opportunity for learning and growth, the Thacher community also saw an opportunity to come together to improve upon a space that has meant so much to so many for more than a century. The School, Board of Trustees, Architecture Review Committee, and Horse Advisory Committee moved quickly on renovation plans. The Thacher community rallied in support of the project, with the help of dedicated donors including many parents of the Class of 2024 who designated a portion of their Senior Parent Gift to the project.
While the primary objective of the renovation was to address the flooding issues plaguing the area, the School also seized the opportunity to improve safety and accessibility. Bulk drainage improvements were undertaken to mitigate flooding risks and new fencing was added to fully enclose the Gymkhana arena. Previously unfenced sides, which posed hazards such as runaway horses, have now been effectively addressed. With the installation of fencing and the presence of hydrants, the Gymkhana arena is now a secure location capable of accommodating the evacuation of the entire
herd if needed. Concrete swales were constructed to channel water downhill, preventing it from pooling in the field and contributing to flooding issues. Expanded grandstand seating, better walkways, and path enhancements now ensure improved access and safety for all. Additionally, new footing was installed, along with modest landscape improvements, to enhance sustainability and overall aesthetics.
Remarkably, these improvements were completed before Big Gymkhana Weekend 2024, and riders made their grand entry onto the new field this May. During lunch, Head of School Jeff Hooper branded the new wooden plaque that will hang at the entrance to the field for generations to come while Director of the Horse Program Trinity Seely Cdep 1999 shared its symbolism.
“To a cowboy, a brand represents a symbol of values, commitment, and relationships. The hard work and endurance put forth in the day-to-day act of tending livestock and living by the cowboy code have a way of forming an indescribable bond among those who are working together,” said Seely. “For years, the Thacher horse program has stood as a symbol of hard work and
unity, preserving these vital characteristics through the day-to-day task of caring for and working with a horse. With this branding we are not only rededicating the Jameson Field, but also our commitment to community and stewardship and the cowboy—to honor, fairness, kindness, and truth. May we always ‘ride for the brand’ as we strive to live the lessons learned through the horse program and continue to preserve, perpetuate, and promote these core values.”
To a cowboy, a brand represents a symbol of values, commitment, and relationships. The hardwork and endurance put forth in the day-to-day act of tending livestock and living by the cowboy code has a way of forming an indescribable bond among those who are working together.”
— TRINITY SEELY Director of the Horse Program
This spring’s Extra-Day Trips took groups far and wide across the state of California as students and teachers enjoyed the healing power of nature.
Here are a some of the beautiful images they captured along the way.
The night before graduation, the Class of 2024 gathered with their families and friends to eat, dance, and celebrate the end of their time as Thacher students.
Amherst College
Barnard College
Bates College
Bowdoin College
Brown University
Bucknell University
California Polytechnic State
University - San Luis Obispo
Chapman University
Claremont McKenna College
Colby College
Colorado College
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Dickinson College
Oxford College of Emory University
Harvard University
Howard University
Lewis & Clark College
Middlebury College
Montana State University
New York University
Northwestern University
Occidental College
Pomona College
Princeton University
Rhodes College
Santa Clara University
Scripps College
Skidmore College
Stanford University
The George Washington University
The University of Chicago
Trinity College
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of California - Irvine
University of California - Los Angeles
University of California - San Diego
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania
University of Southern California
University of St Andrews
University of Washington
Wesleyan University
Williams College
Together, we hosted 23 regional gatherings with 646 attendees and made lasting memories and connections. We loved every minute of catching up with alumni and other community members, and can’t wait to see what this next year brings. If you are interested in hosting or volunteering for an event, reach out to events@thacher.org.
The San Francisco All-Community Event in December was a hit. Alumni, current parents, parents of alumni, and Thacher faculty and staff came together to enjoy one another’s company at this annual event.
Grace Callander CdeP 2016, Brisha Howe CdeP 2013, Apollo Kaneko CdeP 2015, Thacher Science Teacher Dr. Chris Vyhnal (Nolan ’17, Katie ’21, Jack ’25), Declan Kelly CdeP 2015, Marshall Fisher CdeP 2015, and Manny Aruho CdeP 2015.
Alumni, current Thacher parents, and parents of alumni gathered in Boston for community and connection.
AUSTIN, TX
We had the best time at our inaugural ToadX event. Huge thank you to our speakers— Sydney Linden CdeP 2010, Shawheen Keyani CdeP 2010, Janeen Braham (Kingsley ’25), and Thacher faculty Dr. Sarah DelVecchio (Alden ’17, Caroline ’19, Ellis ’22) and Dr. Russell Spinney—for sharing their expertise with our Los Angeles community.
Sydney Linden CdeP 2010 is a Southern California documentary filmmaker who shared some of her recent projects, including clips of a recent film she worked on in Taft, CA. As she shared her unique path to becoming a documentarian, Sydney reminded the audience about the power of storytelling, voice, and perspective.
Shawheen Keyani CdeP 2010 spoke about living in Tehran, moving to the U.S., and creating a career in film, art, and music. Shawheen encouraged everyone to pursue personal creative projects, whether working in a creative field or not, and treated the audience to some snapshots of thoughtful and silly photography projects with friends.
Ana Palacios CdeP 2023, Sophie Chung CdeP 2022, Head of School Jeff Hooper, James Eklund CdeP 2022, and Anna-Liisa Eklund CdeP 2019.
NEW YORK, NY
We loved seeing so many community members connect at the NYC Networking Event. Thank you to our panelists–Claire Shaw CdeP 2007, Sarah Shaikh CdeP 2003, Glenn Shapiro (Ned ’25), Preston Brailer CdeP 2019, Dermond Thomas CdeP 1994 (Olivia ’24), and moderator Rhea Wong CdeP 1997–for sharing their knowledge in their respective careers. Dozens of alumni, parents, and parents of alumni came ready to make connections!
Awele Okigbo CdeP 1993 (Arinze ’24, Ama ’25) and David Miller CdeP 1993 enjoyed the community event in Washington, D.C. hosted by Helen and Brendan Bechtel CdeP 1999.
The Thacher network is full of possibilities in a variety of fields. We want to help you access professional support, meet mentees and mentors, find internships and jobs, and more. Reach out to alumni@thacher.org to learn more.
We also hosted our first LGBTQ+ alumni event in NYC this year. We look forward to hosting more events for our LGBTQ+ community members and supporting connections between alumni who identify in this community.
If you are interested in attending a future LGBTQ+ event, please reach out to alumni@thacher.org.
We had a blast reconnecting with our Graduates of the Last Decade across the country this spring! Nothing makes us happier than hanging out with GOLD alumni and seeing what they are up to post-Thacher.
Claremont dinner in February to kick off GOLD Month. Reyna Kleemeier CdeP 2021, Amya Bolden CdeP 2020, Toby Arculli CdeP 2020, Mateo Thacher CdeP 2020, Caroline Eastburn CdeP 2016, Ali Bennett CdeP 2023, Maxine Tamas CdeP 2021, Colin Kirkpatrick CdeP 2019, Trevor Carson CdeP 2022, Ethan Zhang CdeP 2022, Dash Chaiyasen CdeP 2022, Ellis DelVecchio CdeP 2022, Alyssa Ruiz CdeP 2022.
Chicago GOLD alumni gathering hosted by Malena Solin CdeP 2020. Will Harding CdeP 2020, Cyrus Leung CdeP 2022, Malena Solin CdeP 2020, Trevor Duggins Jr. CdeP 2019, and Ashley Ashiku CdeP 2023.
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
Colorado Springs GOLD gathering. Paul Ammons CdeP 2014, Mariah Davis CdeP 2023, Claire Brokaw CdeP 2020, Jake Arculli CdeP 2020, Javi ZunigaGross CdeP 2023, Emily Hidalgo CdeP 2018, Kyle Smith CdeP 2019, Fiona McLaughlin CdeP 2019, Kyle Sun CdeP 2020, Luke Letscher CdeP 2020, and Luca Pieretti CdeP 2020.
Bay Area GOLD gathering in Berkeley. Erin Slichter CdeP 2017, Natasha Brown CdeP 2017, Anna-Liisa Eklund CdeP 2019, Piper Stacey CdeP 2019, Alejandro Wilcox CdeP 2019, Director of Alumni Relations
Scott Cooper, Laura Kirkland CdeP 2015, Emily Su CdeP 2015, Phoebe Killea CdeP 2015, Liam Pigott CdeP 2023, Jaime Osuna CdeP 2017.
Boston GOLD alumni gathering hosted by Dylan Jin-Ngo CdeP 2022 and Julian Tinmouth CdeP 2023. Keira Yin CdeP 2022, Julian Tinmouth CdeP 2023, Annie Langan CdeP 2018, Béa Pierrepont CdeP 2018, Skye Harbison CdeP 2022, Dylan Jin-Ngo CdeP 2022, and Kuma McCraw CdeP 2022.
NYC GOLD alumni always pack the house with smiles and a good time! A huge thanks to Tucker Bennett CdeP 2016, Nevin Bernet CdeP 2016, and Eric Oregel CdeP 2017 for organizing a fun evening in the East Village.
We welcomed more than 460 guests back to the Thacher campus to celebrate the Reunion of CdePs ending in 4s and 9s. We had alumni from the Class of 2019 all the way back to the Class of 1949 in attendance. We are thankful for our amazing Reunion Committee members from each class who worked alongside the Alumni and Development Office to bring their Reunion to life. We can’t wait to see you all again in five years!
Our tadpoles experienced the beauty of the
WE DANCED
WE PLAYED
The Honeytones, then and now…
Pictured in both these classic and current photos are CdeP 1974 classmates Peter James, David
In honor of their 50th reunion, the Class of 1974 Honeytones re-formed for a command performance at their Friday class luncheon. In days of yore, the Honeytones were a select vocal group cherry-picked from the Thacher Glee Club. Under the skilled baton of professor C. Michael Ehrhardt, the group sang the type of warm, sentimental tunes favored by college glee clubs and barbershop quartets. The concert repertoire was a hit amongst attending alums, including the notorious song, co-penned by C. Michael Ehrhardt and Peggy Thacher, called “Horses and Manure.” The group also sang an elegiac piece at the all-class memorial service on Sunday.
1962 The West Coast contingent of CdeP 1962 had a fine mini-reunion in Calistoga last fall (2023). Hosted entirely by Cathy and DAVE MARSTEN at their hillside vineyard and the local eatery, Sam’s Social Club, their fellow celebrants (WEB RICE, SANDY LARSEN and Mary Lou, Margaret and ED LEWIS, and DON PORTER) resolved to reprise the gathering whenever “our most generous hosts agree to it.”
SANDY LARSEN shared that he and Mary Lou enjoyed two weeks hiking in Oregon and Washington. Then, “we had a fun hiking trip in Glacier National Park (Montana) earlier this summer. Highly recommended for all who have not been there: magnificent lakes, rivers, and mountains in the 9,000 and 10,000 foot range.” Sadly, we have since learned of Sandy's passing.
1968 TRAV NEWTON wrote in to share a “Vaya con Dios” to the late Thacher faculty member, Ana María Catalan. “DAN MCGILVRAY, BRAD MACNEIL, GREG BARD and I studied
Spanish with Ana María Catalan. She was beautiful, graceful, and with her noble dignity, rose above our youthful impertinence. We regret not having an opportunity to tell her how much we admired her, and send our condolences to our beloved teacher Edgardo and their children RODRIGO CATALAN 1983 and Lorena.”
1969* JAMES NEWTON HOWARD will be performing his recent album “Night After Night” with M. Night Shyamalan and The Philadelphia Orchestra this September 20, 2024. The brilliant Jean-Yves Thibaudet will be on piano and Gil Shaham on violin. We wish you all a beautiful night.
NEAL HOWE found another alum in Portugal and shared, “ERIC SWEET 1963, and his unforgettable family, closing down Chez Lapin in Porto, Portugal. Food and champagne were consumed. Fun was had. Truly, the most impressive 15-year-old (Lara) I’ve ever met or even heard about in the front.”
1985 JOHN STACEY shares, “We were literally halfway around the world, on the speck that is Mafia Island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Tanzania, scuba diving during the last few days of 2023, when we met almost the only other American, CLINTON HENDERSON 2008 He is teaching in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, doing backflips and making music. Three generations of Toad Divers.” Picture from left to right - CLINTON HENDERSON 2008, HOLLAND STACEY 2021, JOHN STACEY and PIPER STACEY 2019
1990 WINSLOW BURLESON embarked on a camping trip not too familiar to those we do at Thacher. Winslow spent the night 20 feet underwater at Biosphere 2 inside a tent called the Ocean Space Habitat that he co-invented. The tent is designed to allow scientists the ability to do research underwater longer and is lightweight to allow for deployment anywhere.
1995 Looking for a miniseries to catch this upcoming weekend? Check out The Signal on Netflix with SEUMAS SARGENT playing Jake Mitchell.
1998 KELLEY COLLIER JANES will be the replacement for Dr. Jon Swift while he is on sabbatical this coming school year. We look forward to benefiting from her extensive physics and astronomy teaching experience.
2012 IAN BEARDEN got married and invited a whole knot of Toads to his wedding. Pictured left to right MARSHALL GIFFORD , MATT WYCKOFF , IAN BEARDEN , GAREN FABIAN , EMMA PATTERSON , SARAH HANCOCK , PAIGE BOWIE , DEREK STUTZ , and JOE BELL
LAUREN BUTLER married Steve Macey last September in Park City, Utah surrounded by friends, family, and of course a group of Thacher friends. In attendance were 2012 classmates
PATRICK
COUGHRAN, ANOUK ACKERMAN,
GIOVANNA GRIGSBY-ROCCA, EMMA PATTERSON, CHRISTOPHER YIH, EMILY JORDAN, GAREN FABIAN, and PAIGE BOWIE
2013 BRITTANY HOLDEN ran the Boston Marathon! Brittany was a three-sport athlete at Thacher and a member of the girls’ cross country team that won the state championship in 2012. Most recently, she returned to Thacher to help coach girls’ lacrosse two years ago.
DIANA LEWIS CALLAHAN 1984 (Connor ’18 and Will ’22) was another Toad who ran the Boston Marathon this year!
2016 Check out the television thriller Wilderness on Prime Video with our very own MORGANA VAN PEEBLES playing Ash.
2019* PIPER STACEY and JESSE VANNEWKIRK DID succeed in summiting Kilimanjaro (WOOT!), in a blizzard that stopped briefly enough for the photo below.
ABBY ROMO has been designated a Terman Scholar at Stanford University for her outstanding performance in their engineering program. An aspect of the award invites the recipient to name a pre-college educator who has been of greatest influence, and Abby named Thacher faculty member Kurt Meyer. Huge congratulations to Abby and the incredible work she has accomplished while at Stanford.
2020 HADRIEN TANG spent part of this past year on exchange in New Zealand and enjoyed the holidays with Thacher best friends
TOBY ARCULLI and JAKE ARCULLI
2022 SOPHIE CHUNG is studying economics and data science at UC Berkeley and is involved in a few business clubs on campus. Last semester, she served as the Director of Finance of one club, Business Review at Berkeley, and went through the recruiting process for consulting clubs. Congrats, Sophie!
LILA POTTER started a job at the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Lila shared, “Right now, I’m working on the Science Panel for the Congo Basin. SPCB is a panel of scientists that are amassing scientific knowledge on the ecological state of the Congo River Basin Forest and will present the results at COP30. The goal is to help policymakers make decisions that are conducive to sustainable development in the region. I also directly support the Vice President of the organization. I hope to one day work to solve the global food crisis!”
2021 BROOKE LEMONS is keeping busy at USC. She served as Vice President of Panhellenic and is involved in a national mentorship organization called Women and Youth Supporting Each Other. Brooke is also a member of The National Society of Leadership and Success and continues to dance in college, pursuing a minor in dance through the Kaufman School of Dance.
DASH CHAIYASEN has been training Muay Thai. Last summer, he participated in an amateur tournament where he finished with two wins and one loss. He's hoping to compete again sometime this summer in Los Angeles.
2023 EVA WENDEL is currently on a gap year where she spent the first semester around Europe, Japan, and Thailand, and then went to Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden where she had an internship.
Reid W. Dennis passed away peacefully on March 14, 2024. Reid was born in San Francisco When he lost his father at a young age, his grandfather became central to his life. They shared a fascination with trains and cars and really, any machine that moved. Through his mother, Reid found delight in Yosemite and Lake Tahoe.
Reid thrived at Thacher, competing in several varsity sports over his years, participating in the Glee Club, debate, Pack and Spur, and earning B-camper merits. After Thacher, he enlisted in the Navy, serving as a LORAN operator. Upon return, Reid attended Stanford University where he majored in electrical engineering and went on to get an MBA.
After graduation, he invested his savings in privately held Ampex, which grew more than 50 times in value over the years. He kept his day job, managing funds for Fireman's Fund and American Express, while making venture investments on the side with a small group of like-minded people. In 1974, he founded Institutional Venture Associates and then founded Institutional Venture Partners in 1980.
He was an adventurer, loving flying, driving, and boating. He logged 9,000 hours in Cessna piston aircraft and jets and Grumman amphibians. In 1972, he flew a twin Cessna prop plane to Kuwait to meet with investors. In 1997, they flew their Grumman Albatross with a crew to document Linda Finch's global circumnavigation in a Lockheed Electra, duplicating Amelia Earhart's flight. Its progress and completion was followed by children in classrooms for educational purposes.
He and his wife Peggy built a cutting-edge solar home in Sun Valley in the 1980s. They also shared a passion for opera and Reid served on the San Francisco Opera board for 37 years, including 14 crucial years as chairman during the years of rebuilding after the Loma Prieta earthquake.
Reid is survived by his wife of 76 years, Peggy, and their four children, Suki, Harry, Reid Jr. CdeP 1967 and Don CdeP 1974, 11 grandchildren, including Owen Dennis CdeP 2007 and Brenton Sullivan CdeP 2003, and 17 great-grandchildren.
We recently learned the news of the passing of Arthur “Morgan” Brown III CdeP 1946.
Born in 1927 in Hilo, HI, Morgan was raised on Keauhou Ranch where his father worked until moving the family to Waimea in 1937 where they established the A Lazy B Ranch and raised Angus cattle.
Morgan was at Thacher for his first three years of high school and then in 1945, he was drafted and honorably discharged in 1947. Morgan then returned to Hawaiʻi Island and earnestly began his ranching career.
In 1954, Morgan’s father passed on and Morgan returned home to run A Lazy B Ranch, which was running primarily Angus cattle in Waimea pastures. Morgan recognized the value of heterosis and crossbreeding and became one of the first ranches to import Charolais cattle. Morgan was an active member of HCA and served as the transportation chair for the Bull Sale.
He partnered with University of Hawai'i's beef specialist and the animal science curriculum, hosting workshops in animal breeding, horsemanship, and cattle production. Morgan also had a passion for roping horses, cow horses and race horses. He was a charter member of the Hawai'i Saddle Club that started the Honoka‘a Rodeo and was a founder of the Hawai'i Quarter Horse Association. Always a fan of youth development, Morgan was a supporter of the Hawai'i County 4-H Livestock Club and mentored many youth over the years.
When Morgan’s mother passed away in 1985, it allowed him the chance to relocate to the Mainland and pursue his love of cattle and horses. The A Lazy B lives on in Catheys Valley where Morgan and his family raised Beefmaster and commercial beef cattle and showed Paint and Quarter Horses.
Dr. Tom K. Scott CdeP 1950 passed peacefully March 25, 2024 in North Carolina. Tom was born in St. Louis and was raised in East Hampton. He attended Thacher for his first two years of high school.
He attended Pomona College, where he earned an AB in botany in 1954. He later received an MA and PhD in biological sciences at
Stanford, which launched his career in academia and beyond. He would become one of the world’s leading experts in his field of plant physiology.
Tom did postdoctoral work at Princeton, then went to Oberlin College as an assistant and associate professor from 1963-67. In 1969, he moved his family to Chapel Hill, where he remained for the rest of his career at the University of North Carolina, ultimately becoming the chair of the Botany Department.
In 1994, he began work as NASA’s director of space biology, publishing his findings in books, including Plant Regulation and World Agriculture (1979); The Functions of Hormones from the Level of the Cell to the Whole Plant (1984); Plant Gravitational and Space Research (1984, with T.W. Halstead).
After retiring from UNC in 2001, he became a member of the National Audubon Society, serving on the board and volunteering at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. He was also a hospice care volunteer.
He loved the outdoors and was quite an athlete. He played in a faculty ice hockey league during his years at Oberlin and was part of decades-long doubles tennis groups at the Chapel Hill Tennis Club and The Farm, UNC’s faculty club. He also became a skilled potter while in Chapel Hill.
Tom is survived by his wife Margaret; former wife Hattie Warner, and their children David, Steve, John, and Cynny; grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
We recently learned of the passing of Guy Richard Lusignan CdeP 1953 on February 25, 2022. He was born January 2, 1936, in San Francisco to Dr. Harry & Aeneid Lusignan.
Guy was remembered as being full of energy, doing things such as walking 200 miles in a week and wading through manzanita for five hours. He was the orange Gymkhana team captain, a B-camper his first year, and an A-camper by his second year. His love of the outdoors was evident in his Thacher time with a high focus on camping, horses, and Pack and Spur.
Guy met his wife, Josephine, at the University of Washington and they married July 17, 1957. They moved to Shelton in 1968 due to his transfer as a forester from the Simpson Everett office to Shelton. He started his own consultant forestry business in 1972. He then spent the next 28 years in forestry
before retiring in 2000. Guy was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church. He spent many hours participating in everything from youth group hikes and bible studies to church repairs, church activities, building sets and acting in plays, and much more. Guy was an accomplished woodworker and made many heirlooms for his family. Guy was also an avid gardener, continuing to work in his garden once the kids had all moved out, and giving the extra harvest to the local food bank.
Guy was preceded in death by his parents and oldest son, Eric. He is survived by his wife Josephine, his son Peter, daughter Jann, and Mollie; grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Guy is also survived by his brother Bruce Lusignan CdeP 1954, numerous nieces, and a nephew.
Philip Leffingwell Spalding, born May 17, 1939 in New York City, passed away peacefully in Los Angeles on the morning of July 30, 2023.
Raised on a ranch in Tucson, AZ, Philip attended Thacher from 1953-57. An avid tennis player, Phil played all four years on the tennis team which won the CIF championships his sophomore year. He continued his education at Yale, receiving a BA in political science and participating as a member of the swim team. Philip's sense of duty and patriotism was evident in his service as a U.S. Naval Officer, where he served as Lieutenant on the USS Cayuga stationed in Guam.
Philip transitioned into the creative world as a screenwriter and documentary filmmaker. His acclaimed films capturing cattle-herding in Arizona and Dixieland Jazz in New Orleans, Bellota, A Story of Roundup and 'Til the Butcher Cuts Him Down , reflected his empathetic nature, care for community and the environment, and long-standing interest in what he opined as “Lost Americana.”
An avid photographer and tennis player, Philip also pursued real estate professionally in Los Angeles. As a proud member of BAFTA, he was a strong supporter of the cinematic arts and had a love for classical music.
Philip cared deeply about family, friends, and community. He was very close with his wife and sons, and stayed in frequent touch with a group of close friends made throughout his life. Philip maintained a daily Buddhist meditation practice, emphasizing the cultivation of loving-kindness.
Philip is survived by his loving wife Ann, sons Seth and Matthew, grandchildren Luke, Catherine, and Eve Spalding CdeP 2020, half brothers Oliver and Lamar, nephew Michael Voevodsky CdeP 1982, grandnieces Mia Voevodsky CdeP 2014 and Paule Voevodsky CdeP 2012, and a host of extended family and friends who will miss him greatly.
Philip leaves an enduring legacy as a deeply kind man whose lifelong priority was to attend to the well-being of others. He will live on always in our hearts as a noble soul and a true gentleman.
Jeffrey H. Frank CdeP 1964 passed on October 25 after a yearlong battle with gastric and liver cancer.
Although Jeff transferred to Thacher as a junior, he quickly bought into Thacher’s unique culture. He would frequently share fond memories of his classmates as well as his favorite teachers, Fred Lamb and Marvin Shagam. While at Thacher, Jeff was an avid athlete, playing on both the varsity soccer and varsity basketball (captain) teams. After graduation, Jeff matriculated at the University of California, Berkeley, where he remained good friends and fraternity brothers with fellow Thacher grads, Pete Goodwin CdeP 1962 and Don Porter Jr. CdeP 1962. He was quick to credit his Thacher soccer training in making the varsity soccer team at Cal. Athletics were always a big part of Jeff’s life; he was a frequent marathoner and distance cyclist, as well as an accomplished rock climber.
Jeff was also an enthusiastic animal lover and environmentalist. Anyone who ever visited his house would be treated to the most recent crop of dogs that he and his wife, Ann, had lovingly rescued. Over 20 years ago, they formed The Gracie Foundation which donates annually to more than a dozen animal rescue groups.
Jeff was born and raised in Portland, OR. He met his wife, Ann Wall, more than 40 years ago, and they were self-proclaimed soulmates. Jeff had a long career at Merrill Lynch in Portland, after which he and Ann retired to Santa Barbara, CA.
Some of the many environmental and animalrelated causes and organizations that Jeff was active in included the Environmental Defense Center, Save the Redwoods League, the High Desert Museum, the Oregon Natural Desert Association, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Jeff is survived by his wife Ann and brother Michael Frank CdeP 1974.
Somyos “Mui” Nimmanahaeminda CdeP 1969 passed away on March 17th, 2024. He was born and spent most of his life in Chiang Mai. He was extremely focused on improving the life of others. For example, the family donated land and helped start the University in Chiang Mai. Mui carried on that tradition by supporting the School for the Deaf, being on the board of a local high school (which he attended), and being head of the Thailand National Kayak team.
A friend of Mui’s parents was a Pan Am pilot. He, the pilot, was either a Thacher graduate or knew about Thacher and recommended Thacher to Mui. Mui attended Thacher for only his senior year, and that was the start of so many friendships between Mui and members of CdeP 1969.
After graduation, Mui went to Georgetown University in D.C. and stayed in touch with Thacher families. After Georgetown, Mui returned to Thailand. He then went to business school in the Philippines. There, he met his future wife, Victoria, and settled in Chiang Mai.
Mui was the head of the family business, Anusarun, an equipment company. One of the innovative products they created was a mechanized rototiller, adapted to small-scale rice farming. Mui and his father wanted to create machinery that fit the local needs of various activities.
Mui and Victoria founded Royal Thai Orchids. The company developed a unique process to make real flowers into jewelry. Mui and Victoria were one of the first employers in Northern Thailand to pay their workers a living wage and to provide benefits.
In addition to Anusarun and Royal Thai Orchids, Mui managed the family’s real estate business. Throughout all, he and Victoria were dedicated to improving the lives of their employees and communities.
Mui and Victoria have two wonderful children, Mickey and Ricky (their anglicized names), of whom they are very proud.
The Thacher community lost a cherished member of the Class of 2024 on May 6 of this year with the tragic passing of Wyatt Harrison Mathis. Born on June 14, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Wyatt was a lover of music, animals, language, snow sports, technology, and service. His middle school years were spent planting the seeds of passions he would come to further hone at Thacher, where his creative intellect found new avenues of expression and where he shared his kind heart and curiosity with those around him.
An accomplished euphoniumist, Wyatt took something as universally human as music and made it his own. He went on to apply that same musicality—along with his intellectual rigor and curiosity—to the study of language, spending his junior year abroad in France. He is remembered by his classmates and teachers there as an incredible, bright, and promising young man who always arrived early to school. A highlight of his time in France was a euphonium performance at the Rennes Conservatoire attended by his host family and friends.
In late-night philosophical discussions, thoughtful essays, or studying the cosmos, when sitting across the chessboard from a teacher or classmate at Open House, tacking up at the barns in 9th grade, or playing with the jazz ensemble on the sidelines and on the stage— Wyatt’s presence was felt in all corners of Casa de Piedra. He will forever be an irreplaceable and deeply beloved member of the Class of 2024.
RaeAnn Sines
Long time faculty member and friend of the School RaeAnn Sines passed away peacefully at her home in Georgetown, Texas, on December 18, 2023, at age 66. Raised in Ballwin, Missouri, and a graduate of Parkway West High School and University of Iowa, RaeAnn taught for several years at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, PA, before arriving at Thacher in 1988. Over her thirteen year career at Thacher, RaeAnn distinguished herself as a thorough, committed, and talented science teacher, who cared very much about her students’ progress in the classroom. Additionally, she was an avid outdoorswoman, creating and leading ambitious Extra-Day Trips, which often included spontaneous scientific study along the trail. She coached both softball and basketball at Thacher as well and is remembered as an enthusiastic, encouraging coach and a conscientious advisor. One colleague summed it up by describing RaeAnn as a “rare individual” and a “highly independent, brilliant woman.” Over her time in the Thacher community, RaeAnn was known for her expert poker playing, with Texas Hold ‘em topping the list as her favorite, as well as for her love of dogs, with her faithful pup Teddy most often trailing her around campus. Finally, many recall her wry sense of humor, which included lighthearted pranks with her colleagues, like flipping just one of Fred Coleman’s multitude of sharpened pencils upside down in the cup on his desk.
The Matt Balano Memorial Fund was established by donors to honor Matt's dedication to all students, and especially those in need of the most support. Income from this fund will cover books, riding and camping equipment, travel stipends for school breaks and family weekends, mental health services, college visit support, and more for individual students with the highest demonstrated need. Regarding his dad's fund, Marcus Balano CdeP 2021 shares, "He was always motivated to make a positive impact on his students in the best way he could. Whether that meant giving a helping hand with homework, sitting down to just talk with a student, or taking a group of students out for a night off campus, he seemed to always be thinking about ways to make their scholastic experience simpler and more enjoyable. I know he is smiling down on all of us knowing the legacy he worked tirelessly to achieve will live on."
To learn more, or to contribute to this fund, please contact Sara Billings in Alumni and Development.
The year was 1988, and Bo and Julie Manson—married ten years at that point—had been living in Marion, Massachusetts where Bo taught English and coached sailing and lacrosse at Tabor Academy, a boarding school on the southeastern shore of the state. Their sons Jeff and Tyler were five and seven respectively, and their daughter Kylie was two. They were happily engaged in their lives and feeling more settled and connected to a community than ever. And then fate intervened.
Fortunately for all of us in the Thacher community who have known, worked with, learned from, or climbed alongside Bo, a discarded letter of interest from a small boarding school in Ojai, California—initially meant for a colleague who did not want to relocate that far west— made its way into Bo’s hands.
As Bo shared in a 2017 TOAD Talk titled “Serendipity,” “The rest, as they say, is my history—my life for the past twenty-nine years and the reason why my fourth child was born in Ojai, California, why my four children are all Thacher graduates, why one of them is married to his Thacher classmate and sweetheart, and why I’ve been surrounded, for the past three decades, by such remarkable colleagues and remarkable students. Why, in short, I’ve lived a blessed life.”
Perhaps the best way to encapsulate Bo’s work as an educator is to say that he was a true craftsman
It is difficult to reflect on Bo’s contributions to the Thacher community and not consider ourselves to be the blessed ones. Over the past 36 years, Bo has discovered a way to blend his vocation and his avocations, bringing his love of woodworking, rock climbing, and camping into his work at Thacher. Drawing on his professional experiences as a boat builder in San Diego, California, and Melbourne, Australia, Bo has expertly instructed students in the design and construction of fine, heirloom-quality furniture. In addition, he introduced generations of Thacher students to the demands and rewards of rock climbing. “Whether we summit or retreat,” Bo says, “we always feel tremendous satisfaction in knowing that we have challenged ourselves, worked together as a dedicated, supportive group, and returned to campus safely.”
During his time at Thacher, Bo also held the role of Casa Dorm Head, and Elizabeth Bowman, Thacher’s Library Director from 1992-2006 recalls that one of most meaningful and enduring lessons she gained from Bo stems from the talk that he would give to the residents of Casa on the night before the first day of classes.
Bo would say, “Our Casa community begins today and will end once the academic year ends. We have a chance, we get to decide how we will be as a community, together, each one of us.”
“To me, this was the best of Thacher made manifest, honoring each person’s capacity (even if they didn’t know they had it yet!), both inspiring and realistic, too,” said Bowman. “Through the years, I would learn that this intentional community building was what even very early alumni shared with me was the most important takeaway of their experience.”
While Bo’s extraordinary emotional intelligence has made him a brilliant educator, it’s also allowed him to be something equally important: a wonderful collaborator. This is most obvious in his incredible partnership with John Bueti in the woodshop, and is a sentiment shared by all who have had the joyful and rewarding opportunity to work with Bo. Thacher English teacher and climbing co-coach Mel Berner also marveled at how much she learned from him, not just as a climber, but as a teacher, partner, and human.
“I’ve learned about how to be a better version of myself and a positive influence on the world, and I’ve watched Bo have the same impact on each student who climbs at Thacher,” said Berner. “Bo has passed years of wisdom, perspective, and experiences along to new generations of climbers in meaningful ways, sharing his passion for climbing and love of time spent together outdoors… With humility, honesty, and compassion, Bo embodies the Thacher climbing philosophy in his grace, spirit of adventure, camaraderie, the embrace of physical and mental challenge, safety, and a love for the simple act of moving over stone.”
Anyone who knows Bo knows that the most important fact of his innumerable accomplishments at Thacher is that he did it all in partnership with his wife Julie. Together they managed to navigate the complexities of boarding school and family life with immense grace and kindness while raising four wonderful children—Jeff CdeP 1998, Tyler CdeP 2001, Kylie CdeP 2003 and Madi CdeP 2009—in the process. So it was only fitting that, in early June, as the sun set over the Ojai Valley and the faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the school year and one another, the whole family was present to participate in this special farewell for Bo. Amidst the laughter and tears, stories and song, Head of School Jeff Hooper had the daunting task of encapsulating all that Bo has meant to this school and this community.
“Perhaps the best way to encapsulate Bo’s work as an educator is to say that he was a true craftsman,” said Hooper. “He shaped people and wood with tremendous sensitivity and care, with an uncommonly perceptive eye and deft touch to bring to light their inherent but sometimes hidden potential, with patience and gentleness that never wavered, with the kind of perspective, perspicacity, and persistence that leads one to complete a difficult climb only after dozens and dozens of attempts. The students who came under his care felt deeply the respect inherent in being held to high standards by a trusted mentor and the warmth and confidence that comes with knowing that that mentor believes in them and is invested in their success. Bo knows great teaching intuitively, and he modeled it seemingly everywhere during his long and impactful tenure…”
The Thacher School
5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, CA 93023
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE P A I D OXNARD, CA
PERMIT NO. 1215
Advanced Bio students conduct a bee survey by the School's solar array, where an extensive hydroseeding project took place last November, helping to establish California native pollinator plants to increase habitats for monarch butterflies and other insects.
