Altamont School 35th Anniversary Magazine by The Altamont School

Ha mes ❖ Different ❖ Independent ❖ Hill ❖ Knight ❖ Gold ❖ White ❖ Friendship ❖ Project week ❖ Intellectual curiosit y ❖ Monthly reading ❖ Palmer ❖ Roast Pig Feast ❖ A mbition ❖ Honor ❖ Captain Johnson ❖ Basil M. Parks ❖ Mulke y ❖ Gage ❖ College trip ❖ Honor code ❖ Gaine y ❖ Ordway ❖ Mullins ❖ Green ❖ Caldwell ❖ Kinne y ❖ Orange bowl ❖ Lower parking lot ❖ “Barbarian” ❖ H2SO4 ❖ Poetry festival ❖ Demosthenes ❖ Point off ❖ Field ❖ Latin convention ❖ Senior privileges ❖ Legacy ❖ Odysse y ❖ 8 year club ❖ Malabar ❖ Wiygul ❖ Whiteside ❖ Springs rivalry ❖ The cannon ❖ Icing the hill ❖ Faulkner ❖ Fab Four ❖ May Day ❖ Homecoming ❖ Lance and Boar ❖ Knight ’s Day ❖ Awards Day ❖ Haver ❖ Merger ❖ Headmaster’s Assembly ❖ Rushton Cup ❖ Brooke Hill Cup ❖ BUS ❖ Brooke Hill ❖ Alta mont ❖ Altissimus ❖ Equestria ❖ Brooklet ❖ Canterbury Tales ❖ Track ❖ Cross country ❖ Soccer ❖ Family ❖ Great students ❖ Elite ❖ Scholar athlete ❖ Art ❖ Renaissance ❖ Light on the hill ❖ Giotto ❖ A merica in the 20th ❖ Chupa-chups ❖ Santa claus assembly ❖ Ne wcomers’ part y ❖ Activities ❖ Mr. A ❖ Chili supper ❖ Breakfast for lunch ❖ The lounge ❖ Senior breakfast ❖ Grandparents day ❖ Help sessions ❖ Language ❖ Senior predictions ❖ Tradition ❖ Success ❖ Family ❖ Active ❖ Knights ❖ Montclair ❖ Marhsall ❖ Best ❖ Gross-Out Day ❖ Pride ❖ Southern Lit trip ❖ The field ❖ Tennis courts ❖ Modern art ❖ Lower school ❖ Upper school ❖ Literature ❖ The Waste Land ❖ Vocabulary ❖ Beowulf ❖ Chaucer ❖ FAC ❖ French convention ❖ Spanish convention ❖ Senior relay ❖ Moby Dick ❖ Caedmon’s hymn ❖ Mada me ❖ Smallwood ❖ Communit y ❖ Integrit y ❖ Scholarship ❖ Basketball ❖ State records ❖ Flower day ❖ Mr. K ❖ Attentive ❖ Lively ❖ Timeless ❖ Artistic ❖ Motivating ❖ Diversit y

Truth Knowledge Honor

Thirty-fifth Anniversary

e l e b r a t i n g

u cc e ss

Contents

Editorial Committee

Katherine Simmons Berdy ’91 Thomas Goldsmith ’94 Margaret Whiteside ’99 Sarah W. Whiteside Design

Jensen Design Studio www.jensendesignstudio.com Publisher

The Altamont School P.O. Box 131429 Birmingham, AL 32513 Director of Alumni Relations

Margaret Whiteside ’99

4 10 12 14 15 16 46 Thank You School News

There’s just something about Altamont

Altamont Gala and Auction

Alums in UAB Medical School

For Kathryn and Kyser Miree, Leadership is All in the Family

Alumni News

Grandparents Day at Altamont

The Altamont School admits students of any race, color, creed, gender, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions practices, and athletic and other schooladministered programs.

Honor Roll of Donors

A Letter from the head of school

D e ar A ltam o nt F am i l y, What a pleasure it is for me to write this letter to accompany our 2009-2010 Annual Giving Report and our 35th Altamont anniversary commemorative Alumni Magazine! In addition to thanking you for your generous support which made it possible for us to reach our Annual Fund goal, this letter also gives me the opportunity to share with you some of the spectacular successes of our students and faculty during the past school year. Under the enthusiastic and creative leadership of Susan Driggers and Margaret Whiteside, our 2010 Gala raised a total of $154,517, including $48,300 for a new mini-bus. With your help the Annual Fund reached its goal of $400,000. Along with the members of the Board of Trustees, the participation of our faculty and staff was 100%--a notable and heart-warming achievement. Parent participation reached an all-time high of 57%, and we are especially grateful to our parents for their commitment to the education that we provide for their children. Our remarkable successes and accomplishments in academics, extracurricular activities, arts, and athletics were nothing short of phenomenal. These examples of excellence and achievement show the diverse skills, talents, and interests of our New Renaissance students and faculty. And please remember that behind every student accomplishment there is a teacher inspiring and guiding. ❖ Under the guidance of Cameron Gaede, Director of College Counseling, our seniors accepted offers of admissions at an impressive array of colleges, including three at Stanford. A record twenty-two students were admitted on early decision applications. ❖ We are honored to announce the formation of the C. Kyser Miree Ethical Leadership Center. Under the direction of Carl Parke, this center will honor

Kyser’s (’05) memory and his examples of ethical leadership. ❖ For the ninth time in twelve years, the Birmingham Kiwanis Club awarded the Small Schools All-Sports Trophy to Altamont. ❖ For the first time in school history, the Boys Varsity Tennis Team won the state championship. ❖ Over 70% of students taking Advanced Placement Exams scored a five or a four. ❖ Legendary teacher of Spanish, Sra. Francina Benejam, was honored with a reception in February to mark the institution of the Francina Benejam Award for Excellence in Middle School Spanish. Many of Francina’s former colleagues and students joined other friends for the celebration. ❖ Dean Ally Leonard and veteran teacher Christie Parke have spearheaded the formation of the Middle School Leadership Program (LEAD). Fifteen seventh and eighth grade students were selected for the inaugural year of the program which will help students learn and develop the characteristics of good leaders. ❖ Eight students accompanied Kurt Kristensen to Kenya for community service work and environmental studies in the Shompole Conservation Area. ❖ Houston Cook and Cathy Sloss Crenshaw were honored as the 2010 Distinguished Alumni. After addressing students in an assembly, friends gathered at an evening reception in their honor. ❖ We hosted popular Alumni Happy Hours in New York and Washington, DC, with plans for one in the San Francisco area in October. ❖ Juniors Rakesh Goli and Pranav Krishnan placed first and second respectively in Alabama on the U.S. National Level Chemistry Olympiad Exam.

❖ Freshman Paul Styslinger was one of only 1500 students worldwide selected to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair. ❖ Photography students received local, regional, and national acclaim in various competitions. In the River of Words competition, four students—Adrianne Calloway, Emily Poole, Ali Whittemore, and Cece Pless—were invited to attend the awards ceremony at Washington’s Library of Congress. In the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition, six students—Stewart Adams, Laure Bender, Emory Cox, Tyra Davis, Emily Polhill, and Addison Pollard—were invited to receive their medals at a ceremony at Carnegie Hall. ❖ Parker Hartline’s poem “Tom Foolery” placed third in Alabama’s Big Read Poetry Contest. Also in conjunction with the Big Read, Martha Summey directed a talented cast of Middle School students in a production of Tom Sawyer. Several members of the cast took the show on the road to other schools and to the Birmingham Public Library. ❖ Temple Price’s linoleum block print was displayed at the state’s Visual Arts Show. ❖ To great acclaim and excitement Chris Thomas’s A History of Birmingham University School was published. In addition to a book signing event, Chris also spoke to the students about the legacy of this important school. ❖ In soccer, Addison Powell, Kathryn Holladay, Karmen Gaines, Marianne Williams, Simon Basilico, Petersen Bolvig, and Jackson Morrow were recognized on the post-season teams. ❖ Students continued to excel and to win top awards in the national contests in French, Latin, and Spanish.

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Our remarkable successes and accomplishments in academic, extracurricular, arts, and athletics were nothing short of phenomenal.

❖ Both Middle and Upper School students won numerous awards in mathematics and science competitions. ❖ To full audiences theater students presented The Good Doctor, Harvey, and Nunsense. ❖ The long-standing tradition of the Poetry Festival continued this year with Sarah Polhill winning the Middle School and Mia Tankersley the Upper School. ❖ Librarian Mary Martin was selected to participate in a summer NEH workshop entitled, “Building America: Minnesota’s Iron Range, U.S. Industrialization, and the Creation of a World Power.” ❖ Five students earned the right to attend the National Forensics Tournament— Shawn Tuteja, Sasha Arijanto, Thor Christianson, David Quinlan, and Gates Porter. ❖ Altamont alumnus and chair of the history department, Chris Thomas, was awarded the Barton Hill Head Chair, which honors the memory of Barton and recognizes academic excellence and superior teaching qualities. Other endowed chair holders include Jeanne Classé, the Hugh Kaul Teaching Chair; Jim Palmer, the Margaret Matthews Gage Teaching Chair; and Jimmy Wiygul, the Birmingham University School Teaching Chair. ❖ Under the guidance of Buck Crowe, the Middle School Scholars Bowl team of Elizabeth Anne Brown, Andy Vahle,

Will Pannell, Harlin Brown, Alok Deshane, and Patrick O’Neal won second place at the national competition in New Orleans. ❖ At the annual meeting of the Alabama Association of Teachers of French, Jeanne Classé was awarded the title of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques. Originally established by Napoleon, this order recognizes distinguished educators who have contributed significantly to the promotion of French language and culture. ❖ Nearly 200 guests attended the annual reading of “A Christmas Memory.” Noted writer and alumnus Daniel Wallace ’77 served as narrator with sixth grader Clint Isom, Martha Summey, and Jim Palmer ’70 reading different parts. ❖ Bunnie Tent, Emerita Chair of the Department of Mathematics, presented a lecture and book-signing to mark the release of her latest book, Leonhard Euler and the Bernoullis. ❖ Fall Project Week 2009 focused on service in our community. At an opening assembly, Stephen Black reminded students that they are privileged to attend one of the best schools in the nation and the best in Alabama and challenged them to invest themselves in the privilege and obligation of service.

❖ Seniors Sasha Arijanto, Sarah Paul, Addison Powell, and Jameson Ware were named National Merit Finalists; Brian Kariuki was named a National Achievement winner. ❖ Trudy Loop was one of two teachers nationwide awarded an Excellence in Teaching Award by the American Psychological Association’s Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools. And those are just a small sampling of a very busy, successful year. We are passionate and committed to the education we offer to our students. Your loyal support allows us to continue the tradition of excellence in all areas of school life, and we all benefit on a daily basis from your generosity. You affect every student, every class, every teacher as you support us through your gifts of time, talent, and resources. I invite you to visit us at any time and hope that you will join us on December 5 as we continue the tradition of “A Christmas Memory,” dedicated to the memory of our friend and mentor, Martin Hames. With deep gratitude,

Sarah Whiteside

❖ The 2009 Linn-Henley-National Honor Society Lecture Series brought Dr. Graham Boettcher to campus, where he spoke to packed audiences about the Birmingham Museum of Art’s exhibit Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

School News

The Altamont School Board of Trustees 2009-2010

Front row, left to right: Karen Carroll, Terry Stalker, Gillian Goodrich, Brantley Fry, Sarah Whiteside, Maureen Frye, Dominique van de Stadt, Helen Shores Lee, Margaret Livingston, Carolyn Ratliff. Back row, left to right: Jimmie Harvey, Bruce Denson, Tom Angelillo, Brooks Taylor, Robert Pless, Jarry Taylor, John Williamson, John Williams, Houston Cook, Deak Rushton. Not pictured: Shirley Kahn, Jim Barton, Dixon Brooke, Theresa Bruno, Vasu Goli, Johnny Johns, and David Silverstein. Robert Pless, President Shirley Salloway Kahn, Vice President Bruce Denson, Treasurer Terry Stalker, Secretary

Thank you for giving Thanks to our alumni, families, teachers, trustees, and friends who participated in the 2009-2010 Annual Fund campaign. You helped us meet our goal of $400,000! Your gift directly impacts the daily lives of Altamont’s students and teachers by supporting the people and programs that help Altamont. The contribution of the Annual Fund to Altamont’s budget is critical, making possible the extraordinary learning environment at Altamont. The Annual Fund is a yearly campaign to raise money for operating expenses which begins each year on July 1 and ends June 30. Every gift is important and helps Altamont maintain solid financial footing. Thank you to the charter members of the Parents Council for the Annual Fund. These women helped raise $146,495.77 and increased parent participation in the Annual Fund 10% to 57%, an all-time high. Shown here are Michele Thomas (12th grade), Sarah Whiteside, Cathy Harvey (5th), Maibeth Porter (11th), Roslyn Mannon (6th), Susan Livingston (10th), and Annual Fund Director Margaret Whiteside. Not shown are Dominique Linchet (8th), Romy Albin (9th), Penney Hartline (7th), and Liz Selden (12th.)

Sarah Whiteside Celebrates Third Year as Altamont Head of School By Thomas Goldsmith The 2010-2011 school year marks Sarah Whiteside’s third as Head of School. As she and the faculty and staff of Altamont continue to prepare students for the challenges of the future, it is important to reflect on the successes of the past. When asked what accomplishments she is most proud of from her first three years as Head of School, she responded with the following: • The establishment of the C. Kyser Miree Ethical Leadership Center • The College Counseling Program • Recognition of accomplishments of students and faculty, both locally and nationally • The steps Altamont has made to provide the best possible experience for our students in academics, arts, and athletics while supporting our own mission • 2009 Fall Project Week’s focus on service • Dedication of Lily Field

In November, 2007, the Altamont School Board of Trustees made a unanimous decision to invite Sarah Whiteside to become the fourth person, and first woman, to lead Altamont. “Sarah Whiteside’s unique blend of experience, dedication, skills, and devotion to Altamont has helped the school remain as one of the best college preparatory schools in the region,” said Houston Cook, past president of the Altamont Board of Trustees and a 1983 graduate of the school. “The Board is confident about Altamont’s future under Sarah Whiteside’s leadership,” added Dr. Peter Bunting, chair of the Search Committee. “I love my job,” said Whiteside. “I am dedicated to reaching inward to our students, parents, faculty, and friends while reaching outward to the community to share our tradition of Truth, Knowledge, and Honor.”

School News

College Choices

Congratulations Class of 2010 I am so proud of the Class of 2010. These motivated 54 students knew what they wanted, set their sights, and navigated the admission cycle with composure and confidence. While the list of schools they will be attending is indeed impressive, these scholars, artists, and athletes are so much more than a name brand school. Part of Altamont’s mission is “to improve the fabric of society by graduating compassionate, well-educated individuals capable of independent thinking and innovative ideas.” As these graduates venture across the country, they are following their passions and talents. Whether they be in the classroom or on the athletic field, in the studio or the lab, this group is poised to make their marks and improve the world. Cameron Gaede, Director of College Counseling

Sasha Arijanto Elias Awad Will Barclay Simon Basilico Nick Bennati Petersen Bolvig Locke Brown Mary Paty Bryant Thor Christianson Clayton Clark James Cunningham Nkele Davis Alex Elston Christian Feldman Tom Fox Jason Genereux Jeremy Gibbs Ryan Hartley Mary Reagan Harvey Luke Hays Erin Hoffman Kathryn Holladay Winston Joe Dixon Johns Bryan Kariuki Maggie King Margaret Lacey Sarah Letcher Drew Lux Mason Margotta Ashlon McGee Palmer Miller Jackson Morrow Emily Ness Sarah Paul Jamie Pollard Addison Powell Anna Quinlan Kyle Raburn Lillie Ratliff Ford Rushton Rachel Satterwhite Dru Selden Genie Smith Quincey Somerville Mia Tankersley Charlie Taylor Drayton Thomas Jared Varden Bishop Varnell Phillip Wall Jameson Ware Olivia Watts Marianne Williams Jack Williamson Eva Yancey

Stanford University Vanderbilt University Case Western Reserve University Stanford University Auburn University Vanderbilt University Claremont McKenna College Vanderbilt University University of Alabama at Birmingham College of Charleston Auburn University Washington University in St. Louis University of Alabama College of Charleston Lehigh University University of Alabama Mississippi State University Auburn University Carleton College University of Alabama Warren Wilson College Auburn University Stanford University Brown University Vanderbilt University University of Virginia University of Colorado at Boulder University of Alabama University of Alabama University of Pittsburgh University of Alabama at Birmingham Colgate University Emory University Carleton College University of Virginia Sewanee: The University of the South Boston College Sarah Lawrence College University of Alabama University of Georgia Sewanee: The University of the South Birmingham-Southern College Kenyon College University of Alabama Auburn University Harvard University University of Alabama Rice University University of Alabama Washington University in St. Louis Davidson College Oberlin College Boston University College of Charleston Colorado College Warren Wilson College

Bryant and Basilico receive Altamont’s highest student honors Mary Paty Bryant received the 2010 Brooke Hill Cup from 1996 recipient Danielle WattletonAnderson, who cited Mary Paty’s “infectious personality which endears her to her classmates, her teachers, and the entire student body. She is a member of the eight year club; she is a character on both the stage and in real life; she has been a member of the volleyball team for six years. She is a leader in the school and as captain of the Gold team this year led them to victory. She was the recipient of the Debardelaben Neal Award for the most outstanding 8th grader, as well as the Smiley Award and the Allene Benners Martin Cup. She will begin her college career at Vanderbilt in the fall.” Valedictorian Simon Basilico earned double honors at graduation as he accepted the 2010 Rushton Cup from 1990 recipient Chris Thomas. “It is truly rare is to encounter a young man whose academic and extracurricular successes are not simply commendable, but truly exceptional. Not only has he compiled one of the most impressive scholastic records in the entire history of the Altamont School, he has also proven himself to be among the most dedicated and gifted athletes to ever wear the white and gold. And his honor is beyond reproach. He is, in short, the very embodiment of what the Rushton Cup represents.”

Altamont accreditation renewed The Altamont School has renewed its accredited membership in the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). To earn this accreditation, Altamont complied with quality standards, was evaluated by an outside group of peer professionals, and implemented a school plan focused on strategic improvement and student performance. Leading the school-wide effort to renew accreditation were teachers J.P. Hemingway, Pattie Bank, and Trudy Loop. In today’s world of accountability in schooling, accreditation serves as a critical component of a school’s demonstrated effectiveness and ability to provide successful schooling for children. A school that is able to achieve accreditation demonstrates a commitment to a process that requires the school to meet a set of rigorous, research-based standards; to engage in a program of continuous school improvement; and to demonstrate quality assurance to its stakeholders through self-evaluation and peer review. The accreditation team commended Altamont on the following achievements: • The strong sense of ‘community’ and ‘family’ that exists within the school. • The positive, caring, healthy relationship and respect found between teachers and students in every aspect of the school. • The exemplary leadership, wisdom, and vision by the Head of School during changing and challenging economic and educational times.

• The continued focus on the school’s mission and the commitment to programs and plans that serve the mission. • The continued development of the Honor Code and its emphasis on character education. • The priority of the leaders for building character in the individual student leaders. • The diversity of the student body. • The school’s commitment of resources, personnel, and vision for the use and need of technology in its educational mission. • The development of the parent association and the school’s recognition of the importance of the organization. • The school’s diversity of course and extracurricular offerings available for students. • The opportunity for all students to participate in multiple activities and educational experiences, while learning to balance their academic expectations. • The school’s development of interdisciplinary courses of instruction focusing on communications and cooperation. • The leadership demonstrated by the steering committee in the development of addressing the SAIS standards, development of the strategic plan, and coordination of the peer visiting team. • The transparent communication, expectations, results, and vision by all stakeholders in the development of the self-study.

School News

My Years at Alta mont

Faculty News Thomas Goldsmith was awarded the Lynn Clark Creative Writing Teaching Grant.

Mia Tankersley ’10

Trudy Loop, Altamont’s psychology teacher, was selected along with a teacher from Wisconsin for the American Psychological Association’s Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) prestigious national Excellence in Teaching Award.

can still remember lying in my bed on the eve of my first day of school at Altamont, confiding in my Dad, “What if I don’t make any friends? What if I’m not smart enough?” Eight years later, I find myself about to graduate from a place I now see as a second home. Summarizing what transpired between that distant evening and this particularly significant month of May is no easy task, but I will try to do it justice. To begin, there was a lot of reading. Three books a month to be exact. We made it all the way from The Phantom Tollbooth to Don Quixote, from To Kill a Mockingbird to The Sound and the Fury, from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn to King Lear. I took pride in the fact that I had conquered War and Peace this past summer, only to discover that two of my classmates had accomplished the same feat. Reading is an integral part of every student’s education here and prepares us for the copious amount of literature that awaits us in college. And I simply cannot accurately depict The Altamont School without discussing honor. As an incoming student, the large signs posted in every classroom that display our Honor Code are hard to miss. Although the signs themselves have been updated in the last eight years, the message remains the same. One can see the echoes of “I will not lie, I will not cheat, I will not steal” in the halls as students are permitted to roam freely during a daily 30 minute break called “Activities,” in the classrooms as teachers feel safe stepping out during a test, in the auditorium during the annual Honor Assembly in which a distinguished speaker discusses its importance, and in the faces of our student-elected Honor Court members who proudly enforce it. But it wasn’t all serious. There have been countless acts of silliness along the way. Like seeing our favorite Olympian, Coach Mulkey, hold up the five Olympic rings during the faculty rendition of the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” Or watching a student solve a Rubik’s cube in less than two minutes for the talent show. Or swelling with pride as we looked at our 1,400 lb. Trojan Bunny that the senior boys constructed for the Monty Python and the Holy Grail-themed Thanksgiving banquet (a.k.a. Roundtable). Every graduating class leaves with their own quirky mental souvenirs. And by golly, there was art. One of the highlights of my year was walking around the campus with my Art History class, analyzing each and every painting and sculpture and labeling its movement. German Expressionism, Synthetic Cubism, Pop, Fauvism, Impressionism… it’s all there. I feel like being surrounded by all of that art for all of these years must have made us a little bit smarter, as though we were perpetually listening to classical music without realizing it. We traveled together, getting to know ourselves out of the context of “the hill.” Our annual Fall Project Week, in which the school organizes trips for various age groups, brought us everywhere from a local campsite, to Paris, to Turkey, to college campuses across the country. As an Altamont Ambassador, I give tours to prospective students and parents. Typically, they last about 45 minutes. But I can honestly say that I could easily run for two hours if given the chance. This is because this school has become so richly embedded with happy memories for me that I am hard-pressed to find a nook or cranny that doesn’t hold some special meaning, or a classroom that isn’t occupied by a faculty member that I adore. So if I could talk to myself on that evening eight years ago, I would say, “Not only will you be smart enough, but you will get into the college of your dreams. And you will make friends as soon as you enter the locker hall. So cheer up, work hard, and soak it all in because it will be over before you know it.”

Laura Anne OttavianiChacon received the 2010 Edna Earle Mullins Award for outstanding teaching.

Jeanne Classé (above) was awarded the title of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques at the annual meeting of the Alabama Association Foreign Language Teachers (AAFLT.) Originally established by Napoleon, this order recognizes distinguished educators who have contributed significantly to promoting French language and culture.

Phil Mulkey retired from full-time coaching, but will remain as track coach emeritus. Congratulations to Jim Palmer and Jocelyn Bradley who were married on June 12, 2010. Christie Parke (below) received the 2010 Trustees Leadership Award for her efforts to refocus Project Week into a week a service for the community.

Congratulations to Altamont photography teacher Marygray Hunter who was chosen as a Dana Foundation Fellow for the winter arts specialist course offered by the Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts in Education. Former Spanish teacher Francina Benejam (below) was honored at a reception for family and friends on February 19, 2010 at Altamont. The event celebrated the creation of the award in her honor for the most outstanding middle school Spanish student.

Congratulations to Peter Rosborough, who has been appointed the new Recording Secretary for the AAFLT. He also presented a session at the AAFLT’s annual conference, entitled “Le petit Nicolas—a Gold Mine for the Intermediate French Class.”

Bunnie Tent, former chair of the Altamont mathematics department, has published her third book about a famous mathematician. Her latest offering, Leonhard Euler and the Bernoullis, was introduced to the Altamont family at a book signing on Tuesday, November 10th. Mrs. Tent has also written biographies on Carl Friedrich Gauss and Emmy Noether. Sarah Whiteside was named to UAB President’s Leadership Cabinet by Dr. Carol Garrison. New teachers include Daniel Siegel ’98 as choir director; Jesse Sawyer, who will teach Latin; Adam Frye ’05, who will teach science; Anna Kamplain ’94, who will teach history; Mandarin teacher Alice Yen; and Brian Johnsen, who will teach Physics and Engineering.

Thomas awarded Barton Hill Head Teaching Chair The Board of Trustees awarded the Barton Hill Head Teaching Chair to Chris Thomas. The Chair, which is awarded for a five-year renewable term, pays tribute to the academic excellence and superior teaching qualities of a full-time teacher, who through his or her work in the classroom portrays to students the enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity that defined Barton Head. Recognizing that inspired and inspiring teachers have a lasting influence on their students, it is the hope of the Head family that Mr. Thomas will use the annual stipend for personal and academic enrichment. Other outstanding teachers holding chairs are Jeanne Classé - Hugh Kaul Teaching Chair, Jimmy Wiygul - the Birmingham University School Teaching Chair, and Jim Palmer the Margaret Matthews Gage Teaching Chair.

Note: Mia Tankersely will begin her college career at Harvard in the fall.

C e l e b r at i n g S u c c e s s

T h e r e ’s J u s t S o m e t h i n g A b o u t

Altamont

By David Treadwell

were blessed with savvy parents, natives of Ghana who moved to the U.S. in the late 1970’s. “My parents, both physicians, valued education,” says Bobo, “and they made sure that my brother and I set a good example.”

Alex McInturff first conceived of his San Francisco-Yosemite venture at the end of his senior year at Stanford. The Earth Systems major then went on to earn his M.S. in Earth Systems at Stanford, focusing on a description and analysis of this extraordinary experience. He learned two important lessons. “First, if you have a vision, you can find support to realize that vision. And second, hiking is a unique way to explore the world in an increasingly digital world.”

Good example, indeed! At Altamont, Bobo was SGA President, a member of the National Honor Society, the Science Club, and the French Club, played violin in the orchestra, ran track, and played tennis.

The trek also impacted the wider world through stories in the Los Angeles Times, the San Jose Mercury News, and the web publication of Audubon magazine.

By David Treadwell

For me, the end of the walk is as much a beginning as an end. The world of the walk may be at an end, and in a way that is disappointing—in Muir’s words, the days of the walk were some of the “largest days of my life.” But so many ideas and questions were generated, so much new perspective required—the brightness of the trip, from beginning to end, will last. I hope I can generate the same kind of “lastness” through my own efforts.

Written in the blog of Alex McInturff ’04 (Stanford ’08) as he neared the end of a six-week trek from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park, retracing the steps of John Muir, legendary 19th-century visionary and environmentalist.

Alex’s superb record at Altamont presaged a bright future at Stanford and beyond: President of the National Honor Society; earned highest awards for science and classical studies; played cello in the advanced orchestra; participated in the Scholars Bowl Team; ran cross country; and played soccer. Alex epitomizes what Altamont terms, “The Renaissance Student,” a person with multiple interests who’s driven by a love of learning and a desire to make a difference. “Altamont teachers give students respect and attention,” Alex explains. “They’re genuinely interested in answering your questions and stoking your enthusiasms.” In the future, Alex hopes to blaze new trails as he tries, he says, “to figure out what’s best for the land, the people, and the other things that live on the land, while not being entrenched in the traditional ways of doing things.” Bobo Blankson ’97 (Harvard ’01), another superb Renaissance student, followed a familial trailblazer to Altamont: his brother Kwamena ’92. The brothers

Bobo’s fine record was topped off when he was named to the All-Academic Team for USA Today. The paper noted Bobo’s fascinating senior science project. After observing that his grandmother never had dental problems although she only used a chewing stick on her teeth—no toothbrush or toothpaste—he decided to study dental health among Africans who also used the chewing stick. “Altamont sets the bar very high,” says Bobo. “The School expects you to be someone and do something. You’re supposed to succeed.” After Altamont, Bobo continued down the success path, attending Harvard (“awesome, challenging, many lifelong friends”) and then Yale Medical School (“challenging, fellow students had done some great things”). To fulfill the obligation incurred with his Air Force ROTC scholarship, Bobo is currently putting his skills to work for two military hospitals in San Antonio, Texas, while savoring life with his wife Amy and young daughter Christiana. Bobo’s definition of “success” belies his blue-chip pedigree. “For me, success isn’t about earning fancy diplomas. Rather, success means being a good person of faith, compassion and love; seeking the truth in relationships or science; always searching, always growing.” In thinking about Altamont, Anna Johns ’05 (Wellesley ’09) says, “I liked the quirky approach; you could pursue lots of different things and there was always someone there to help you find your way.” Anna found her way in many areas. As a junior, for example, her Altamont

team placed fourth in the world in the microbiology division at the Intel International Science Fair in Portland, Oregon. As a senior, she was delighted to “explore my artistic side” by taking three different art courses. In addition to being the class valedictorian, Anna received the School’s highest honor for French, for studio art, and for art history and, oh yes, she gained recognition for her poetry. Not surprisingly, Anna went on to excel at Wellesley College, where she earned magna cum laude honors. As a senior, she was recognized as Wellesley’s top student in American History. Her senior paper assessed the various ways that different movements have manipulated for their own ends the images of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, 1950’s Cold War spies. That study resulted in an invitation to present at an international Cold War conference in Helsinki, Finland. Alice Hummer, the Editor of the Wellesley College alumni magazine who employed Anna as a “student assistant,” recalls the moment vividly. “On a lark, she had submitted her thesis to an academic conference in Finland, and she had just heard she would be presenting it to the gathering of scholars in the fall.” Today Anna, who defines “success” as “doing your best at any given moment,” will begin a two-year commitment to Teach For America in San Antonio, Texas, as a middle school science teacher. Alex McInturff, Bobo Blankson, and Anna Johns each exemplify the impact of an Altamont education, but they could more fairly be termed “representative” than “exceptional.” Hundreds of graduates could have been selected for this article, each with an extraordinary success story, each with compelling views on the difference Altamont made in their lives. Generations of Altamont students have experienced at Altamont, Muir’s words again, the “largest days of their lives.” In the process, they’ve absorbed lasting lessons: find and develop your passion; explore what school—and life—have to offer; always do your absolute best; and strive to improve not just yourself but the world around you. There’s just something about Altamont, then, something which creates a “lastness,” an impact wherever our graduates go to make their way in the world.

Kelly and Robert Aland join Sarah and Penny Whiteside to welcome guests to the 2010 Gala.

At the Altamont Gala and Auction on March 27, 2010, Head of School Sarah Whiteside celebrated the school’s 35th anniversary by honoring its two legacy schools— Birmingham University School and the Brooke Hill School.

March 27, 2010

The biennial fundraiser, chaired by Robert and Kelly Aland, began with cocktails in the Hames Gallery, which was decorated with memorabilia from the founding schools. Robert Robinson ’94 created photo composites of the recipients of the schools’ highest student honors - the Rushton Cup and Brooke Hill Cup. Alumni of B.U.S. and Brooke Hill also were pleased to see the return of two long-missing signs which graced the entrances to their schools. An exciting part of the evening was the presentation of A History of Birmingham University School, by Altamont history department chair and alumnus Chris Thomas ’90, which was designed and produced by Scott Fuller ’69, another alumnus. Sandra Lynn ’78 and Wilhelmine Williams transformed the student center into a creative silent auction, with unique and “only at Altamont” items. Guests took advantage of many of the “Buy It Now” prices, giving them time to enjoy the party. Introduced this year was the interactive game “Grape Expectations,” organized by Gene Price, who coordinated the donation of 75 bottles of wine. Guests bought tickets and spun the game wheel to see what level of wine they could choose from the artful display. Cheers were heard when great bottles were unwrapped and sighs escaped when bottles of lesser quality were revealed. Guests enjoyed a film by Arthur Crenshaw ’99 about the joining of the two schools and the continuation of the founding ideals at Altamont, which was written by best-selling author Daniel Wallace ’77 and narrated by Michael Rediker ’99.

Charles Yeates and Seth Poole of International Wines. The live auction was led by charming auctioneer David Reynolds from San Francisco. Highlights included vacations at private villas on St. Barths and in Cuernavaca, Mexico; trips to the mountains and beaches; gourmet dinner with Sarah and Penny Whiteside; a Porsche Driving Experience; Alabama-Auburn football package with Warren St. John ’87; guided hunting tours; six months of home cooking; wine collections; jewelry from Wallace-Burke; a painting experience with Carolyn Goldsmith; a literary evening with Jim Palmer ’70; a portrait by Caroline Keith Kidd; a year of cleaning from The Maids; and a top-of-the-hill parking place at Altamont. Absentee bidding was introduced to this year’s Gala, organized by Altamont alumna and former Sotheby’s employee Margaret Whiteside ’99. Revenue from the evening topped $200,000, with $48,300 in less than ten minutes during the Fund-A-Need for new school buses. Guests at the event included trustees Gail and Robert Pless, Sarah and Bruce Denson, Margaret Livingston, Susan and David Silverstein, Janet and Jarry Taylor, Sheri and Houston Cook, Anne and Jim Barton, Shirley and Donald Kahn, Carolyn and Will Ratliff, Theresa and James Bruno, Helen and Bob Lee, Cathy and Jimmie Harvey, Regina and John Williamson, Dominique van de Stadt and Octavio Pajaro, and Brantley Fry. Also seen at the event were Altamont parents Jennifer and Mark Styslinger, Liz and William Edwards, Catherine and Tom Brinkley, Maibeth Porter and Bob Eckinger, Cyndy and Keith Cantley, Susan and Jim Livingston, Ann and Troy Haas, Anna Maria and Dan Taylor, Ging and Dick McGlaughlin, Beth and Scott Adams, Penney and Roger Hartline, Winnie and Paul Vahle, Donna and Chris Christie, Karen and Phil Carroll, Cynthia Lamar-Hart and Mark Hart, Krista and Richard Niedermeier, Virginia and John Hornsby, Ashley and Colin Luke, Dominique Linchet and Jay Bender, Paula Rookis and Seth Poole, Roslyn and Peter Mannon, Patsy Aiken, Caroline Bolvig, Joanna and

Paul Ware, Nancy and Ray Watts, Jayne Ness, Allyson and Larry Butts, Michele and Neil Thomas, Ruth and Will Varnell, Romy Albin and Leon Dure, Diana and John Hablitz, Ellen and Hugh Holladay, and Terry and Ben Hayley, along with parents of alumni Ellen and Curtis Williams, Theresa and Rick Johanson, Kathy and Tom Scarritt, Yin and Stan Ingram, Susan and Morgan Eiland, Jean and Bill Shanks, Hendrika and Jim Snow, Mary Jim and Michael Quillen, Kitty Urquhart, and Betty Alby. Alumni showing their support included Catherine and Bill Cabaniss, Katie and Jim Lasker, Mimi and Bill Tynes, Lula Skowronek, Kelly and William Tynes, Claire and Frank Tynes, Steve and Cay Alby, Heather Arceneaux, Katherine Berdy, Susan and Wyatt Haskell, Lanier and Hugo Isom, Lynn Joseph, Milton Bresler, Sandra and Charly Lynn, Pauline and John Scott, Lesley and Barry McRae, Betsy and Arthur Henley, Lynn and Bill Hairston, Susanna Davis, Margaret and Jimmy Wiygul, Ashley Alford, Abby Rogers, Angela Comfort, Jocelyn and Jim Palmer, Leigh Sloss-Corra, Chris Nicholson, Catherine and Buck Crowe, Ian Philips, Arthur Crenshaw, Elizabeth Coleman, Mike Callahan, Roy Green and Robby Ballard. Current and former teachers and staff supporting the event included Jeanné Classe, Marygray Hunter, Barry Bearden, Pattie Bank, Ally Leonard, Peggy Dupuy, Amber and David McKowen, Susan Driggers, Carole Dasher, and Nelson Brown, who was responsible for returning the B.U.S. sign to the school. The evening was sponsored by the Altamont Alumni Association; Altamont Parents Association; the 1968 B.U.S. Mile Relay Team in honor of Coach Phil Mulkey; the James A. Livingston family honoring Margaret Livingston; Susan and David Silverstein and Dell and Brunson White in memory of Martin Hames; Gillian and Mike Goodrich and Brooke Hill Alumnae, honoring Brooke Hill teachers; Kelly and Lee Styslinger, honoring Altamont teachers.

Sybil Sylvester ’69 and Katie Lasker ’76 transformed the Cabaniss Fine Arts Center into a beautiful vision in gold and white with help from a tireless group of volunteers. Cyndy Cantley organized the elegant seated dinner by B&A on Fifth with wines selected by Penny Whiteside and provided by 12

From the Hill to the Hospital: Alums in UAB Medical School By Mia Tankersley ’10

For Kathryn and Kyser Miree, Leadership is All in the Family By Lanier Scott Isom ’83

Other alumni in UAB medical school: Jeremy Drake ’03 Ellie Killian ’04 Anjali Kumbla ’03 Spencer Magargal ’03 Eric Sparks ’03 Alumni in college who are pre-admitted to medical school:

Sitting down with Shalini Vaid ’06 (UAB) the five exceptional Altamont Rahul Goli ’07 Josna Haritha’05, Jonny Kentros ’05, Carolyn Kezar ’04, graduates who just completed (University of Pennsylvania) Nirmal Choradia ’05, and Pallavi Kumbla ’05 returned to Altamont Abhi Haritha ’07 (UAB) their first year of UAB School to talk about their first year of UAB School of Medicine. Varun Krishnan ’08 of Medicine, it is clear that (Northwestern University) these are not people fixated on numbers. For example, 2.9, the percentage that they constitute of their entire class. Or a music major at Colgate, switched gears to medical research, and 12%, the UAB medical school acceptance rate. When asked if then eventually decided to pursue medicine. they were pleased with their MCAT scores, one simply responded, However, this smorgasbord of experiences all started in the “Well, it got me in.” same place. Altamont. And although it has been about half a Indeed, for Nirmal Choradia, Josna Haritha, Jonny Kentros, Carolyn decade since they left these hallowed and art-laden walls, there are Kezar, and Pallavi Kumbla, the focus has always been on their love pieces of their Alma Mater which they still carry with them. Work of learning and science. And although they are all the children of ethic, a higher tolerance for a heavy course load, writing skills, and doctors, nurses, engineers, or researchers, they each followed very the ability to synthesize material were all cited. Choradia mentioned different, often branching paths before deciding on medicine. thinking back to AP Biology with Dr. Y. “I don’t know how I sat Haritha had her vocational epiphany when she journeyed to India through that class but looking back, that class was actually really as a sophomore at Altamont. Her grandfather runs a free clinic helpful.” Haritha went on to say, “Altamont created a good basis right next door to his house, and simply sitting and observing the from the beginning.” interactions with patients helped her realize that she would “like As for what lies ahead, all five of the alumni have exciting internto spend the rest of [her] life doing something just like that.” ships planned for the summer. Haritha will be doing hands-on work Kumbla had her “This is what I want to do” moment while at a clinic on the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania for six weeks. shadowing a plastic surgeon as an undergraduate at University of Kezar received a scholarship to do anesthesia research, with which South Alabama. “When I saw that first surgery and I was up close she will be creating a much-needed model for a rare disorder known and personal it was just like, ‘This is amazing!’” She went on to as interstitial cystitis. Kumbla will be aiding her mentor who just describe the wonder of witnessing a follow-up with a patient and how received a grant for orthopedic research concerning blood vessel appreciative they can be of a seemingly simple and minute change. growth. Choradia will be working with a team to build a website for a But they didn’t all have such climactic realizations. Choradia biotech company, while Kentros plans on performing neural research claims it was rather a “series of moments” that led him to medical related to memory, comparing patients with and without Alzheimer’s. school. “It kind of kept escalating until I thought, ‘Well I can either Although they may have, as Kumbla put it, “kind of lofty” go and do research which I’m terrible at or I can go into medicine.’” aspirations, the group seems to have found a way to lead balanced Others started out interested in completely unrelated fields of lives. Case in point, Jonny Kentros came into the interview with study. After shadowing in a hospital the summer after his freshman battle wounds from a passionate game of kickball. So happily, this year at the University of Alabama, Kentros decided that business seriously talented group of alumni doesn’t seem to be keeping or law would be far too boring by comparison. And Kezar began as things too serious.

they don’t feel they have a forum. I had the pleasure You have to listen and take action. of talking to Kathryn Miree, Board You diffuse discord by listening. But Chair for 2005-2006 and her son you can’t please everyone. You will Kyser, president of the senior class fail if you try.” As a result of Miree’s this past school year, the day before belief people need a legitimate Kyser left for Vanderbilt. A student avenue to articulate their concerns leader at Altamont, Kyser will surely in a constructive manner, Miree continue the family tradition as he founded the Altamont Parents’ navigates new waters in Nashville. The C. Kyser Miree Ethical Leadership Association. Miree says parents Certainly, his mother Kathryn, Center has been established with need to lead by example. “It’s instrumental in starting the Altamont gifts made in Kyser’s memory. all about children taking and Parents’ Association and writing the As students learn and develop managing responsibility. Give them strategic plan to chart Altamont’s ethical leadership skills in both local responsibility and let them exercise path for the next three years, has and global settings, they will carry it. Hold them accountable for their been a powerful role model. on a legacy begun by Kyser during grades and behavior.” “Good leaders listen, clarify and his years at Altamont. Miree points out Altamont’s act,” Miree says. A simple enough curriculum is fashioned to give formula to follow in theory, but try students such responsibility with spending hours on the telephone or traditions like the Honor Code, Honor Court and general expecgathered together at a retreat listening to people’s stories— tations. “Altamont places responsibility on the kids. As officers, parents, alums, students and faculty—and then sift through they are given duties and a budget and expected to perform.” the multi-layered narratives of a relatively young institution As head of the senior class, one of Kyser’s responsibilities celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this year. was organizing the annual Roundtable Feast. Not an easy task In 1975, when Brooke Hill and B.U.S. merged, the school to motivate forty-six seniors. had 285 students. Today Altamont has 427 students. Just What did he learn? “To be more assertive,” he says. He also one of the numerous changes occurring over the past three learned being respected is essential to successfully engaging decades. Of course, change is inevitable. Today, two years after people in a project. Martin Hames’ passing, the school moves forward under new Contemplating whether a leader is born or made, Miree leadership. For any institution transitioning into a new era, it reflects, “People either want to lead or not. Frankly, we all lead can be a daunting challenge for the leaders embarking on every day, but those who seek leadership are born. Kyser is such a journey. a born leader because he doesn’t hesitate to jump in and get When steering the course of a large institution with a things done. He sees the pieces of the puzzle, can see what multitude of diverse opinions, a leader must be able to listen, needs to be done and does it.” state the issues and act as a mechanism for resolution Miree Clearly, he learned by his mother’s example. believes. “Most of the time when people are complaining, * reprinted from 2005 Altamont Magazine

alumni News

D e ar F e ll o w A lumn i ,

“...this school has become so richly embedded with happy memories for me that I am hard-pressed to find a nook or cranny that doesn’t hold some special meaning, or a classroom that isn’t occupied by a faculty member that I adore.”

Around Labor Day each year when Altamont springs into action, I find my mind wandering back to my own time at Altamont. Thoughts of favorite teachers, hard-fought sporting contests and lifelong friendships invariably generate a smile. Such an exercise is hardly unique to me; each of us fortunate enough to have called B.U.S., Brooke Hill or Altamont home finds these same cherished memories popping into his or her head to this day.

❖ Please support the Annual Fund. Your gifts help pay for Altamont’s amazing learning experience.

As you fondly recall your own experience at Altamont, B.U.S. or Brooke Hill, I urge you to give back to your alma mater by offering your support in a variety of ways during the year. There are many opportunities for you to become involved with the School and make a difference:

❖ Come just for a visit. Tour the School and have lunch with students and faculty. Last but not least,

❖ Come to Alumni events. We have many events designed just for alumni such as Homecoming Friday, December 3; the reading of “A Christmas Memory” Sunday, December 5; the Alumni Holiday Party Friday, December 17; and Alumni Weekend Friday, June 3.

Warm Regards,

Michael G. Rediker ’99 President, Altamont Alumni Association

❖ Be an advocate for Altamont. Tell your friends and prospective parents about all of the good things happening at our School.

The Altamont Alumni Board 2009-2010

Mia Tankersley ’10

Front row, left to right: Carolyn Satterfield, Leigh Sloss-Corra, Sandra Lynn, Katherine Berdy, Brantley Fry, Sarah Whiteside, Heather Arceneaux, Linda Holman. Back row, left to right: Lisa Beck, Hube Dodd, Beth Flowers, Jay Pigford, Brian Boehm, Robert Robinson, Warren Kinney. Honorary Members: Brantley Fry ’91, President Betty Caldwell Michael Rediker ’99, Vice President Ralph Patton Heather Alby Arceneaux ’87, Treasurer Carolyn Smallwood Katherine Simmons Berdy ’91, Secretary Ann Robinson Vrocher ’67 Sarah Whiteside Penny Whiteside Members: Ashley Davenport Alford ’95 Lisa Moore Beck ’86 Brian Boehm ’98 16

Finally, the Alumni Association is your representative and channel through which to make your voice heard. If you have any thoughts, concerns or questions regarding alumni matters, or you would just like to start reconnecting with Altamont, please do not hesitate to contact me at (205) 870-9485.

Betsy Branscomb ’70 Susanna St. John Davis ’90 Hube Dodd ’91 Beth Donovan Flowers ’95 Annemarie Hoover Gray ’88 Penney Parker Hartline ’80 Kevin Harnsberry ’99 Sam Haskell ’96 Liz Hawley Hodges ’70 Linda Diethelm Holman ’71 Lynn N. Joseph ’61 Warren Kinney, III ’95 Katie Baker Lasker ’76 Sandra Allen Lynn ’78 Susan Gilman McAlister ’76 Hampton McFadden, Jr. ’80 Barry McRae ’77 George H. Moreno ’84 William H. Morrow ’89 Biddy Ager Osbun ’65 Elizabeth Featheringill Pharo ’96 Ian Philips ’02 Jay Pigford ’89 Robert R. Pless ’82 Robert Robinson ’94 Carolyn Green Satterfield ’60 Will Satterfield ’98 Leigh Sloss-Corra ’76 Chris Thomas ’90 17

Alumni Highlights for 2009-2010

alumni News

Cheers! Alums in the New York area met for drinks at Vig 27 on October 15, 2009.

A Christmas Memory

Go Lou!

Alumni and faculty celebrated the holidays at the annual Christmas party at Altamont.

Altamont turns out to cheer for Louis Dale ’05 as the Cornell basketball team played the University of Alabama on November 14, 2009.

Performing the traditional reading of Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” on December 6, 2009, was Daniel Wallace ’77, with help from Martha Summey, Jim Palmer ’70, and Clint Isom ’16.

Kyser Miree Memorial Ultimate Frisbee Game

Alumni Highlights for 2009-2010

alumni News

Gold vs. White Alumni Soccer Match

Distinguished Alumni Celebration

Alumni Weekend

The White team continued its winning streak with a 6-1victory over the hard-fighting Gold team.

Class of 1970 celebrates 40th reunion

All of the members of the class of 1970 returned for their reunion April 30-May 2, 2010. Anne and Jim Barton hosted the Friday night party at their home.

A special cake commemorated the reunion.

Alumni Art Show and Cocktail Reception

The party continued through the weekend with a lake party and brunch on Sunday.

alumni News

Cathy Sloss Crenshaw and Houston Cook 2010 Distinguished Alumni

History of B.U.S. published Thirty-five years have passed since Birmingham University School and Brooke Hill School merged to form The Altamont School. Despite the passage of years, the earliest roots of Altamont, namely those of B.U.S. and Brooke Hill, remain constant and steadfast. “Pro Virili Parte,” the motto under which many of the greatest minds and men of Birmingham were nourished and inspired, continues to be the lifeblood of Altamont. In honor and appreciation of the great tradition of B.U.S., we are proud to present A History of Birmingham University School, written by Chris Thomas, an Altamont alumnus from the class of 1990 and Head of Altamont’s History Department. A fitting tribute to the teachers, students, and others who transformed B.U.S. from an institution into a beloved school, this book has been both a work of passion and joy. As Sarah Whiteside wrote in the book’s preface, “The history of Birmingham is inextricably linked with the history of B.U.S., for it was through the classes of that school that the city’s leaders were educated and trained, holding fast to the ideals of scholarship, character, and service. Legends of the inspiring teachers, such as the venerable Captain Johnson, endure today whenever B.U.S. alumni gather to talk about their school and their experiences. It is fitting that similar legends of the remarkable teachers of Brooke Hill and Altamont are part of that same tradition. For it is the students and teachers who make an institution into a school.” Through the stories and lessons presented in these pages, the mission and standards of B.U.S. will continue to thrive at Altamont.

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Signature Or place your order online: Visit www.altamontschool.org/waystogive/onlinegivingform.aspx (please indicate you are ordering A History of B.U.S. in the comments field.) For more information contact Margaret Whiteside (205) 874-3502 or mwhiteside@altamontschool.org. Mail to:

Margaret Whiteside The Altamont School P.O Box 131429 Birmingham, Alabama 35213

On March 10, 2010, Cathy Sloss Crenshaw ’71 and Houston Cook ’83 were inducted into the Society of Distinguished Alumni by incoming Alumni Board president Michael Rediker ’99. These two dedicated alumni were chosen from an impressive slate of nominees for their significant contributions to Altamont or the Birmingham community. Crenshaw and Cook spoke to a student assembly during the day and celebrated at a cocktail reception at the Folk Art Gallery at the Young and Vann building downtown.

Brooke Hill nurtured strong moral compass based on community for Cathy Crenshaw

Honor Code and traditions build strong foundation for Houston Cook

By Mia Tankersley ’10

When distinguished alumna Cathy Crenshaw was a young girl looking out onto a scenic landscape in Ireland, it was the moment she first realized that “there is magic and wonder in the world.” And it’s that same ineffable “special something” that she found during her time at Brooke Hill. Although it was difficult to put her finger on what precisely made it such an extraordinary place, she finally concluded, “I think it just all comes back to the teachers. They really provide the flame.”

Distinguished alumnus Houston Cook has experienced that wonderful, surreal phenomenon of seeing his alma mater through the eyes of his child, now a rising eighth grader. Undeniably, the institution he graduated from and Altamont today are two markedly different places. The scale and design of the building, breadth of the math and science department, quality of athletics, and intensity of school spirit have all grown and improved according to Cook.

According to Crenshaw, the school has only gotten better in recent years. The flexibility of the curriculum, increased support from alumni, greater emphasis on the arts, and Sarah Whiteside’s guidance has truly “raised the bar.” She believes her former classmates to be the women leading this city today. However, she herself provides the most vivid example of such a strong community leader. Crenshaw has tirelessly dedicated her efforts to creating a more walk-able urban landscape, serves as president of Sloss Real Estate Company, been named Birmingham Business Journal’s “Woman of the Year” in 2002, and taken courses at Harvard University through the prestigious Loeb Fellowship. Looking back, Crenshaw believes that Brooke Hill helped her, as well as other graduates, achieve so much by endowing her with self-confidence and “a strong moral compass built on community.” As our chat together wound down, she paid her alma mater the highest compliment there is: “I would go back.”

However, there are several core truths about the school that have not changed since now Senior Vice President of Regions Bank wandered those hallowed halls. The Honor Code and traditions continue to provide a strong foundation, as do veteran faculty members like Jeanne Classé, Jimmy Wiygul, and Sarah Whiteside. Students continue to “chart their own paths… with sort of odd mixes of skills that they put together. So you get somebody that does track and debate and they’re a science geek.” And chart his own path Cook did. After attending Georgetown as an undergraduate he went on to Harvard Business School. As for how his high school experience equipped him for such formidable intellectual and life challenges, Cook says his greatest tool has been “the ability to write. I mean, it’s amazing how it’s becoming a lost art.” He considers Altamont’s approach to supporting or opposing a thesis statement “essentially communication 101.” And so, Cook looks on with great joy as his son is just beginning to become familiar with the many wonders that Altamont has to offer.

alumni News

Gallery of Distinguished Alumni Caryl P. Privett ’66: 2009 Distinguished Alumna Excerpts from the address to students at the Distinguished Alumni assembly on April 17, 2009 It is truly an honor to appear before the students of The Altamont School as a Distinguished Alumna. Brooke Hill School for Girls came to this hilltop 50 years ago, and I came to school here that fall. The campus that I came to in 1959 was a lot smaller. The only parking places were the ones up here on top...and that was enough for all of the faculty and the very few Upper School girls who had cars. The library was less than half the size it is now, the western end of the basement of the main building was not finished, and this Fine Arts Center was our gym and auditorium. One of Brooke Hill’s institutions that I truly appreciate is the honor code. When I left Brooke Hill and went to a public high school, I was appalled at the cheating that took place. One of the reasons I applied to Vanderbilt University was its strong honor code. I was again shocked when I got to New York University School of Law and found no honor code. I believed then, as I do now, that anyone preparing for a profession such as law should be subject to an honor code. As a judge, I am addressed as “Your Honor,” and an invitation to me would read “The Honorable Caryl Penney Privett.” I learned the meaning of the word “honor” in these halls. I have to say I loved being in an all girls school. I was smart during a time when girls were taught that boys didn’t like smart girls. But while I was here, it was okay to be smart. I believe that times have changed for the better for females of all ages. I grew up

in a time when there weren’t many female role models for someone like me, a very smart girl who wanted to be something other than a housewife and mother. Brooke Hill, with our female faculty and headmistress, offered me the opportunity of seeing women in leadership positions. I especially remember Miss Ordway, the headmistress for the first three years I was here. She was elegant, intelligent, and in charge of the whole school. As someone who grew up to become a woman-incharge, I am very appreciative of that early perspective. There were so many other Brooke Hill teachers who made a difference in my life. I fondly remember Mrs. Gainey who taught us speech. She insisted that we remember the invisible string that holds us up straight when we speak in public. I’ve had a number of occasions to practice what she taught. Mrs. Petesch taught 6th grade history. She made the ancient and medieval world come alive, and my love for the Middle Ages dates from her class. Many things have changed for the better since Brooke Hill and B.U.S. became history, and Altamont emerged. You students have the benefit of being a wonderfully diverse student body. While those of us who attended Brooke Hill as members of the Class of 1966 were socially and financially privileged, as those terms were defined at that time, you students of Altamont are even more privileged. You are privileged to attend a school that recognizes no limitations of gender, race, religion or national origin. The academic offerings of this school are excellent, and the multitude of extracurricular activities in which you can participate are pretty amazing when compared to the little that Brooke Hill offered. But one thing has not changed, I hope. The friendships you are making here, both with your classmates and your teachers, will last a lifetime. The ones I made on this campus have. It is a wonderful legacy of being a student here.

F. Dixon Brooke, Jr. ’66: Distinguished Alumnus 2009 Excerpts from the address to students at the Distinguished Alumni assembly on April 17, 2009 It is a distinct honor for me to receive this recognition, and I am most appreciative. Thank you. My interest in Altamont runs deep: • My father attended Birmingham University School for boys (B.U.S.) in the early 30’s. • Both of my sisters graduated from Brooke Hill School for Girls. • My wife Dell graduated from Brooke Hill in 1966, served on Altamont’s Board of Trustees and was named Distinguished Alumna in ’99 • Our son, Nelson, attended Altamont from 7th grade through graduation in ’97. • Numerous nieces and nephews graduated from Altamont. Over the years I have been attracted to the uniqueness and special character of Altamont and have been pleased to have the opportunity to work with many fine people at different levels in the school on initiatives that were aimed at making Altamont a better place. Let me give you some perspective on life at B.U.S. during the timeline of ’60/’61 – ’62/’63. I hit the six-acre campus in September 1960 at the age of 12. The 7th grade had two sections of 35 students. Mr. Bill Harper was our class head, taught history and PE, and coached the basketball team and football teams I played on. I saw a lot of Mr. Harper! B.U.S. at that time encompassed grades 5-12, had a student body of 182 and a total faculty/staff of 21. The maximum in a class for instruction was 18. We had Mr. Bob Morring who dished

out discipline with the use of a hard round wooden stick (perhaps hickory) that he would rap over your knuckles if you got out of line. The upper school (9th-12th) had 59 students. With these numbers it would seem hard to field a football team yet B.U.S. had a varsity football team with 25 players and two team managers. There really is no comparison in terms of the facilities and resources available to you today. You guys are really lucky. B.U.S. was considered by most who didn’t know any better to be a small pip squeak of a school. Consequently, other teams had a tendency to overlook us. This often proved to be an advantage. I remember one instance of a highly heralded basketball team coming to visit (at least they thought they were really good). We quietly lay in wait and handed them a 50 – 0 defeat. They left quite humiliated and angry. I prefer not to discuss my academic achievements while at B.U.S. because they were not stellar. I learned the importance of applying myself academically later on. I was more interested in sports. I played football, basketball and golf. Then Coach Phil Mulkey showed up on campus in the fall of ’61. I was in awe. I learned to like track & field. Mind you, this was not optional but became core curriculum in physical education, and everyone participated in P.E. Like everyone, I learned to pole vault, high jump, throw the javelin, discus, and hammer, to shot put, run relays, sprint varying distances, triple jump, broad jump and run the hurdles (including the high ones), and participated in distance running, including cross country. It was mostly a lot of fun and kept us all in good physical shape. It also gave us confidence. And I thank Coach Mulkey for that. Overall, my experiences at B.U.S. taught me some valuable lessons. Being the underdog, it was important to be well prepared. This took hard work and discipline and when coupled with the intangibles of desire, determination, heart, motivation and shear will, we oftentimes overcame great odds. I have found that this is true in many real world situations. Believing in yourself and never giving up gives you an important edge.

In closing I would like to encourage you to keep three things in mind with your personal conduct: 1) Stay humble—no matter how good, or smart, you think you are you should remember that there is someone else out there in our great big world that is likely better and smarter. Arrogance steels others to teach you a lesson so why stir folks up—keep your cool and let them underestimate you, and what a surprise they will find in return. 2) Be prepared. 3) Be achievement oriented—whatever you choose to do be determined to make a difference and to be the best you can be and you will be a winner. Catherine Caldwell Cabaniss ’57: Distinguished Alumna 2008 Excerpts from the address to students at the Distinguished Alumni assembly on March 27, 2008 It is an honor to be here with you today at the Altamont Assembly to speak about my learning experience which for me has been a lifelong journey. You are fortunate to begin your studies in a school where learning is “cool.” Truly, I feel that more than ever before the pursuit of learning is important. Technology has flooded us with information from all directions—whether it is from the internet, TV, or publications. It is more than I can handle. I have to decide where to focus my time. We are under pressure to learn about people in distant countries whose lives, nevertheless, affect ours—how they think, what they value, and why they do what they do. You and I owe it to ourselves to be informed. I did not grow up wanting to be an artist. In fact, my school did not have an art teacher as you have Linda Mason and certainly did not have art on the walls throughout the school. My grandmother tried to save

me by taking me down to the Birmingham Museum of Art which at that time was in the City Hall. But I was hopeless! At different times in my early life, I wanted to be a teacher, a nurse, a mother, a dancer, and an ice skater. Being the oldest of four children, I was fortunate that my father’s top priority was to give his children the best possible education. He had gone into business for himself with the father of one of my classmates, Mary Russell Haynes. I know it was a sacrifice for my parents when they decided to send me to Brooke Hill. I also know I did not at the time appreciate the sacrifice. But I do now! Many of the members of my family attended Brooke Hill including my sisters Joan Cabaniss Harrison and Jean Caldwell, as well as my two sisters-in-law. My brother, Charles Caldwell attended Birmingham University School. My daughter Frances Cabaniss Johnson and my niece Hoodie Caldwell attended Altamont. Of course, one of the advantages of attending Brooke Hill were the small classes and the chance to interact with our teachers—Latin with Mrs. Hallie Porter Shook—amo, amas, amat. French with Madame Pignarre. English with Mrs. Jane Mims who was outstanding and guided me along the way. My vision was very limited when I entered Sweet Briar College in terms of associations and exposure to travel. The first time I ever realized the importance of travel—other than a vacation—was when Russia’s President Gorbachev brought Mrs. Gorbachev to New York City to shop. When he saw the quality of life in the U.S., he realized his country was crumbling. Soon after came the downfall of communism and the fall of the Berlin Wall—events I never thought would happen in my lifetime. At Sweet Briar, my world opened up and I met girls from all over the country and had the opportunity of studying under first-rate professors. My first interest in art was stimulated at Sweet Briar in the history of art survey course taught by Dr. Eileen Barton. My second major exposure to art came after graduating from college and applying for a job in New York City. This was at a time

alumni News

when women worked as secretaries and I worked for two men at J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency who had the Ford Motors account. Working in New York was a turning point in my life, and again, the exposure to diverse people and ideas was very stimulating. I had for the first time the chance to explore the fabulous museums and galleries in New York and this became a major pursuit for the next year.

pursue. I encourage you to take advantage of looking at art. I hope that when you pass by the paintings and sculpture here at Altamont, you will take the time to look at them closely. Looking at art will develop your eye—and I don’t mean looking at it on the internet, but looking at the object itself.

One year later, I married my husband, William (Bill) Cabaniss, and we moved immediately to Germany where he was stationed for the next two years with the U.S. Army. Being in Europe for the first time, I was fortunate to have the chance to absorb the European culture and, as no one spoke English in the town where we lived, I studied German in order to communicate. When we returned to Birmingham at the end of his tour, I became involved as a volunteer in the art community. But the idea that I could make art was not on my radar screen.

Altamont has much to be proud of in the accomplishments of its alumni. I recently heard three of them speak here in Birmingham—Diane McWhorter who won the Pulitzer Prize in literature for her book, Carry Me Home—a documentation of the last years of the Civil Rights movement; Warren St. John, a New York Times writer and author; and most recently Nelson Brooke, who is the Black Warrior Riverkeeper. There is a stream of social consciousness running through their work which we all realize is needed in our world today.

You must realize that your life will take unexpected twists and turns and mine did that at age 39. I realized that if I were to survive the death of our eleven-year-old son in an automobile accident, I would have to change my lifestyle. At the suggestion of my good friend Carolyn Wade, we entered the art program at UAB. Painting and drawing were so absorbing that I stayed for five years. I was very fortunate to study under Professor Edith Frohock and Professor John Dillon and to receive their ideas and observations. So in 1985, I received my Bachelor of Arts. One thing I am convinced of is that if you want to be in the art field, the most important asset is your commitment. Although you may not end up doing what you envisioned, eventually you will find your way. I also believe that everyone has creativity in them but it has to be unlocked or released. Whatever career or profession you decide to pursue, always try to be creative. I have found that one of the most difficult things is to change the way you are living—to change old habits and develop new solutions. You are at an enviable position in your life now as you have so many options to

You will enhance your ability to make artistic decisions for the rest of your life.

I would like to end with a quote from Jara Maserova, a respected Senator in Parliament in the Czech Republic, who was known for her commitment to freedom and her opposition to the communist regime in her country. In a commencement speech to the students of her alma mater, Senator Maserova said, and I say to you, “The world can be changed for the better and it’s up to you. Do not give up.” Thank you very much for this chance to share my thoughts with you. Lee “Pete” McGriff ’34: Distinguished Alumnus 2008 Lee “Pete” McGriff was named the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus posthumously. His daughter, Jane McGriff accepted the award in his memory at the ceremony on March 27, 2008.

Excerpts from the address to students at the Distinguished Alumni assembly on March 27, 2008 It is such a pleasure to accept this award for my Dad—Lee McGriff. The award, of course, was not intended to be post mortem and I’m so glad that my dad knew that he had received this great honor. Last fall, when Carolyn Satterfield called and told him that he had been chosen as one of Altamont’s Distinguished Alumni, he jokingly suggested that she might want to have the ceremony moved up a bit if she expected him to attend!...but he was truly delighted. There were few things that Lee McGriff, or “Pete,” or actually “Daddy Pete,” as most people called him, valued more than education. He considered a good education one of the rare gifts that someone could give you and that no one could take away from you. Daddy Pete treasured his years at Birmingham University School as well as his later years at Baylor and Sewanee. This is where he made so many of his life-long friends, and this is where he found the passion for learning which he never lost. His office— which he still went to everyday at 87—is a testament to this. Not only are the walls lined with hundreds of books, but he continued to order learning tapes on subjects that caught his interest from physics to philosophy. Daddy Pete’s commitment to education and his desire to give back led him over the years to establish several scholarship programs. His pleasure in being able to make an education possible for a deserving student was almost tangible. Walker Percy said, “You can make straight As and still flunk life.” Well, Daddy Pete probably did make straight As, but he definitely did not flunk life. Whatever he did he did well—with integrity, with purpose, and almost always with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Whether flying as a fighter pilot in World War II, or raising a family, or running an insurance agency, or serving as Mountain Brook’s mayor, or on the state ethics committee…in all these things he did his best.

One of my favorite sympathy cards was from an old Brooke Hill classmate who wrote, “What a heartache to lose one of God’s most adorable men ever created! Besides being hysterically funny, he had a gift of making you feel really special.” Daddy Pete did have a gift for making you feel special and for making you believe in yourself. If he were here today, I think he would challenge you to not just endure your school years, but to roll up your sleeves and put your heart into them. To treasure your friends and teachers, and this precious gift of time you have right now. Thank you for honoring him with this award. Susan Nabers Haskell ’62: Distinguished Alumna 2007 By Allison Harvey When one “Googles” Susan Nabers Haskell, Altamont’s 2007 Distinguished Alumna, one will find a who’s who of local involvement. She has served on the boards of numerous charitable organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way, the Women’s Fund, and The Cahaba River Society to name a few. But what Google doesn’t report is how she loves for her grandson to fall asleep in her arms, that one of her little sisters from Big Brothers Big Sisters lives with her, or that she reuses Ziploc bags and Styrofoam cups as a way of preserving the environment. In other words, Susan Haskell is the real deal, a hands-on woman with strong beliefs and commitments. When I asked Mrs. Haskell about how she is rewarded for all of her community service, she humbly stated that there is an element of “privilege and freedom” in volunteer work because “you get to choose what you want to do.” Mrs. Haskell has chosen to be the big sister for two little sisters, and has introduced them to a wide

range of experiences, including ice skating, blueberry picking, the theatre, the circus, and even spending the night at First Light Women’s Shelter. Furthermore, she takes environmental conservation seriously, choosing to drive a hybrid car and buying local products (so that these goods won’t have to be shipped anywhere on a carbonemitting truck). She perfectly embodies the motto of “practice what you preach.”

Dr. Bradley is the former Chief of Surgery at St. Vincent’s Hospital and is a wellrespected community leader. He attributes his success as a physician and leader to the “great start” he received at the Birmingham University School. He credits a particularly solid foundation in math, and although he had to walk a mile each way to and from B.U.S., he says it was worth it to attend such a school.

Mrs. Haskell, a Brooke Hill alumna, also chose to send her three sons to Altamont because the school values academics and because at Altamont, students are nurtured so that “anyone can be a star.” She also speaks highly of Altamont’s faculty and appreciates that teachers engage with their students and get to know them as individuals.

As a student advisor, I asked Dr. Bradley what advice he can offer faculty who counsel Altamont’s aspiring physicians. “Tell your students not to just concentrate on science,” he declared, “and broaden your education.” He mentioned the importance of studying English and history, but particularly emphasized coursework in philosophy and logic, skill sets that prepare students to approach complex problems from a variety of angles. Dr. Bradley also believes that students should be wellrounded and have other passions besides medicine, like art or music, something he wishes he had developed himself.

After hearing her strongly-stated beliefs on Altamont’s needs, I asked her to discuss her priorities for education today. “Teaching core subject matter and teaching young people how to think critically,” was her response. Then, she followed with a comment that warmed my English-teacher heart: “And that means that schools have to keep teaching the classics.” I wholeheartedly agree. Dr. Merrill N. Bradley ’45: Distinguished Alumnus 2007 By Allison Harvey The first word that comes to mind when describing Dr. Merrill Bradley, Altamont’s 2007 Distinguished Alumnus, is “modesty.” To give you a glimpse of just how modest he is, at the end of our conversation he said, “I think I interviewed you more than you interviewed me.” And he was right; his self-deprecating manner and interest in others steered the conversation away from his notable accomplishments.

Dr. Bradley’s educational views are straightforward and practical. He values reading, writing, and arithmetic as basics to a solid education, even noting that it would probably do us good to “get rid of calculators for a while,” he laughingly explained, “because if you don’t understand what button you’re pushing, it doesn’t matter.” Dr. Bradley also believes that “a good grounding in patriotism is paramount” for today’s youth. In closing, Dr. Bradley charged Altamont’s graduating students to “remember your teachers, be appreciative of what you’ve received, and keep up with your friends.” Good advice.

alumni News

Class Notes Please tell us what you are doing. Send alumni news and updates to alumninews@ altamontschool.org. You can also contact Margaret Whiteside at mwhiteside@ altamontschool.org or call (205) 874-3502. Brooke Hill Class Agents At Large: Mary Holcomb Scott caesarmhs@gmail.com or Terry Taylor Hamilton msterrytennis@yahoo.com Birmingham University School Class Agents At Large: Position available. Contact Margaret Whiteside mwhiteside@altamontschool.org

1956 Donelson Adams is an avid triathlete at the age of 70. Susan Barber recently coordinated runners from Italy and Belgium who participated in the New York Marathon. She has joined Brownell Motivation in their new incentive division.

1957 Rebecca Deramus Bray is a collector for the University of North Carolina Herbarium. The herbarium has more than 100 of Rebecca’s specimens catalogued and stored in their database. Rebecca is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University. Catherine Cabaniss was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Birmingham- Southern College.

1958 Adele Bibb Colvin has two children’s books in print with Pelican Publishing Company and a third to be released in soon. Available now are The Donkey’s Tale and The Donkey’s Easter Tale. These two books have just come out as audio books on one CD with narration by Suzanne Mann, mother of Altamont Food 28

Services Director, Jennifer Grissom, and mother-in-law of Leeth Grissom ’86. The original music is sung and played by Andy Meginniss and Shaun Pezant. The Donkey of Tarsus will be the last book of this trilogy in which a family of donkeys recounts the entire life of Jesus and the life of Paul through the first missionary journey. All are beautifully illustrated by Peytie Carmichael, mother of Andy Strickland ’79 and Winnie Strickland Vahle ’84. Anyone who is interested in finding out more can visit Adele’s website: www.thedonkeystale.com. Adele and her husband have seven grandchildren all of whom live in Birmingham.

Jean Garner Stead and her husband Ed have completed their fourth book on business and sustainability, entitled Management for a Small Planet: Third Edition. Dr. Christopher Kelly recently welcomed his son Dr. Steve Kelly ’94 to the Southside Ophthalmology practice founded by his father in 1955. Chris practices general ophthalmology with an emphasis on anterior segment procedures and has served as Chief of Staff at the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital where he is currently on staff. He is also on staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital.

1972

1975

1980

Bill Murray won the world championship for the Decathalon in the 55 years and older category.

Abby Smith Kropp is a French teacher at Battleground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee.

Class Agent: Position is open. Please contact Margaret Whiteside at mwhiteside@altamontschool.org

1973

1976

Deborah Ross Clark and her husband, Robert, live in Winston-Salem with their children Ross, Wes, and Kathryn.

Class Agent: Mike McCraney – mmcraney@raypoynor.com

The Brooke Hill Class of 1973 gathered on October 24, 2009, at Mae Samford Robertson’s home.

1969

1977

Pauline Ireland participated in the World-Pro Am Dance Championship where she placed fourth in the over-50 category for rhythm dancing. She has competed in Las Vegas, Miami, and Birmingham.

Class Agent: Position is open. Please contact Margaret Whiteside at mwhiteside@altamontschool.org

1962 Tom Krebs was named to a senior post with the Congressional commission investigating the near collapse of the U.S. financial system. He began work in Washington in November 2009. Krebs, the former head of the Alabama Securities Commission, was named assistant director and deputy general counsel of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. He is a senior litigator at Birmingham’s Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker law firm.

The Brooke Hill Class of 1969 celebrated their 40th reunion May 8-10, 2009, with a full weekend of activities, including a brunch at Altamont. Mike Epsman retired from the practice of petroleum geology. He and his wife spend their time between Tuscaloosa and Gulf Shores.

1970

1966 Amanda Neel Davis received her PhD in Education with an emphasis in mathematics from the University of Louisville in 2005. Amanda currently teaches in the mathematics department of St. Mary of the Woods College. Her husband, Lant, is the pastor of Central Presbyterian Church in Terre Haute, Indiana. Elizabeth Thurlow lives and teaches in Asheville, North Carolina. She was a nominee for the 2006 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

1967 Carl Adams III and Mims Hauser Adams ’69 are proud grandparents of John Clarke Gentle, son of John and Shelley Adams Gentle ’95. John Clarke was born July 9, 2009.

Kay Weilenmann owns Today’s Window Fashions in Midlothian, Virginia. She offers in-home consultation for custom made, high-end window treatments professionally installed at a generous discount.

Several members of the Brooke Hill class of 1970 gathered in Newnan, Georgia. Shown left to right are Jane Hicks, Cheryl Comfort, and Claudia Boykin.

1971 Camille Bowman has moved to Virginia to work for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. She is the Architectural Historian for the Tidewater Region Preservation Office. Cathy Sloss Crenshaw was named the 2010 Distinguished Alumna for The Altamont School.

Back row – L to R Joanne Boyd, Bevelle White Puffer, Debbie Ross Clark, Jean Hipp, Mae Samford Robertson Middle Row – L to R Marietta Caldwell Williams, Amy Smith Scott, Vicky McClinton, Janaruth Ford, Debbie McBride Matthews Front Row – L to R Bibi Shannon Owens, Connie Cain Conwell, Anne Palmer, Liz Miller Alosi, Kate Stockham

Bill Nolan practices elder law and estate planning in Birmingham. He is married to Frances Ross Nolan, who practices family law with Judy Crittenden in Mountain Brook.

1974 Laura Beard Hayden and her husband Dale have moved back to Alabama and now reside in Montgomery after living all over the United States. She has two grown children: Kathryn who is married and lives in Colorado, and Scott, who is completing his degree at her alma mater, the University of Alabama. Laura’s latest novel, Red White & Blue in the “America the Beautiful” political suspense series, came out in March of 2009. Her current project is a ghost-writing collaboration with a Hollywood celebrity to create a paranormal novel series. A member of Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Novelists, Inc, and the Alabama Writers Forum, Laura also owns Author, Author!, an online bookstore located at www.author-author.net. To contact Laura, visit her website at http://suspense.net or email her at suspense@suspense.net. David Morrow is the Chief Security and Privacy Officer at Electron Data Systems in Plano, Texas.

Marcus Collier was commissioned to produce a piece of furniture that will be placed in the Emil Bach House, a Frank Lloyd Wright National Residence in Chicago. The commission is a three piece walnut tansu desk. View pictures of the final piece at www.marcuswoodworking.com. Sharp Gillespy has started a beach resort management company called Platinum Property Management. They manage properties between Rosemary Beach and Destin. www.ppmgt.net. Daniel Wallace and Rebecca Gilman ’82 were featured in the 11th Annual Alabama Writers Symposium in Monroeville, Alabama, in May 2008.

1978 Class Agent: Position is open. Please contact Margaret Whiteside at mwhiteside@altamontschool.org Sarah Partridge is a jazz singer and actress living in New Jersey. She was recently praised in the New York Times for her jazz performance at the Algonquin in New York City.

1979 Class Agent: Position is open. Please contact Margaret Whiteside at mwhiteside@altamontschool.org Diane Owen lives and works in the D.C. area where she is an economist in the Competition Policy Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.

1981 Class Agent: Position is open. Please contact Margaret Whiteside at mwhiteside@altamontschool.org Robert “Reb” Baker is a registered interior designer and President of Aunt Kay’s Dressing in Birmingham. Jamie Collins is an associate with Turner Batson Architects in Birmingham. Jamie’s wife, Stephanie Naman, published her first book, Bar Code. Deborah Hiett married Australian entrepreneur Matthew Valenti, founder of eZoetic. com, in April 2008. Currently Deborah is a screenwriter and actress living in Los Angeles, CA, and has recently been seen on Prison Break, Boston Legal, and Desperate Housewives. Check out her website at www.debhiett.com.

1982 Class Agent: Tellis Shoemaker tellis@dorothymcdaniel.com Rebecca Gilman’s new play, The Crowd You’re in With, directed by Amy Glazer, premiered to excellent reviews recently in San Francisco. In 2008, Gilman was selected as a finalist for the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award for this play. Her adaptation of Carson McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, directed by Tony Award winning director Doug Hughes, played a limited engagement on Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop. Robert Pless was named one of the “Twenty Rising Stars in Birmingham Banking and Finance” in the Birmingham Business Journal. After spending 18 years working at Compass Bank and then Regions, he is creating and structuring ServisFirst Bank’s Wealth Management Department. Robert is currently the president of the Altamont Board of Trustees.

1983 Class Agent: Frank Tynes – ftynes@bellsouth.net Kyle Clark has been working in television news for 16 years. He is currently running the video editing department for newscasts and special programs for NBC13. Prior to TV news, he tried his hand in Hollywood film production but realized that the Southeast had just as much, if not more, to offer. 29

alumni News

Robert P. Collins was published in the October 2006 issue of the Alabama Review. His piece, “A Swiss Traveler in the Creek Nation: The Diary of Lukas Vischer, March, 1824,” is the first English translation of an important primary source of Creek Indian history. Paul Giles received his Master of Science in the Management of Information Technology at the University of Virginia in 2005. Paul works as a Senior Program Manager for Stanley Associates in Alexandria, Virginia. Greg Pharo is the Global Director of Research and Analysis for Digital Printing at Kodak in Atlanta.

Huey McDaniel was inducted as a Fellow to the American College of Surgeons. Huey is currently working at the University of Mississippi Medical Center as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery.

1986 Class Agent: Lisa Moore Beck – lbeck@thebeckagency.com

1987 Class Agent: Heather Alby Arceneaux – heathal2@aol.com

Class Agent: Jennifer Merritt Hansen – jhansen8@carolina.rr.com

1988

Laurie Dasher is President and CEO of Dasher Technologies, Watsonville and San Jose, California. She purchased her father’s company, the long-respected Ted Dasher Inc. of Birmingham, which is now also part of Dasher Technologies, a platinum level Hewlett-Packard Channel Partner. Laurie and her husband John Vigliecca, an engineer and general manager in the company, recently enjoyed a one-on-one meeting by invitation only with Mark Hurd, President and CEO of Hewlett-Packard. Laurie has a degree in International Business from Auburn University, Class of ’89. Laurie and John are the parents of Jared and Alex. Jennifer Merritt Hansen graduated from Trinity College with a BA in Political Science. She cleaned big houses on Cape Cod as a Merry Maid, worked with developmentally disabled and autistic adults, was a juvenile probation officer at Family Court in Birmingham, and now is a “never-stay-at-home mom.” She lives in Gastonia, North Carolina, with her three children Stewart, Abby, and Sarah. Abby has Cystic Fibrosis, and Jennifer works hard to keep her healthy and to raise money for the CF Foundation.

Francie Likis was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. She was awarded the 2009 Kitty Ernst Award, one of the most prestigious honors of the American College of NurseMidwives. A colleague stated: “Francie’s energy and enthusiasm are clearly evident in her day-to-day work,” said the presenter at the awards ceremony. “In just nine years, her contributions to midwifery have been noted and applauded by her peers, including her work on an award-winning text, Women’s Gynecologic Health, and authorship of several journal articles and book chapters.”

Class Agent: Jeep Hillhouse – jeep@tiuw.com

1984

Steve Alby was named an owner in the architectural firm of Gresham Smith and Partners in Birmingham.

1985

1990 Class Agents: Ashley Scott Kane ashleyscottkane@yahoo.com Joe French jsmx7@aol.com

Class Agent: Duncan Hulsey – hulsey@blankenshipandseay.com Blaine Brownell is a design architect with NBBJ in Seattle and recently returned from a year in Tokyo on a research Fullbright Fellowship to study Japanese architecture and design. He is now a Visiting Professor of Design and Sustainability in the architecture school at the University of Michigan. Blaine was featured in a July 13, 2008, New York Times Spotlight article entitled “In Search of Better (and Greener) Building Blocks.” Blaine and his wife, Heather, have two sons, Davis and Miles. Thomas Crawford is an Associate Professor of Physics at the University of South Carolina. David Fleenor married Laura Jeanne McPherson on May 31, 2008, in Birmingham. Altamont alumni who attended the wedding included David’s brother Robert Fleenor ’87, Brian O’Keefe ’88, and Will Barnard ’87. Hernando Moreno married Brooke Lindsey Wetherington on May 31, 2008, in Sarasota, FL. The couple lives in Valdosta, GA, where Hernando practices Internal Medicine. Carol Dearing Motley has a new business which opened in October 2009 in Asheville, North Carolina, called Bury Me Naturally: Down to Earth Burial Products. Carol, along with two other Asheville entrepreneurs, dubbed the “green reapers” by their supporters, say most people haven’t thought about how to make the process earthfriendly. They consider themselves part

of a national movement that had its first groundswell in California, calling for earthfriendly coffins, caskets, shrouds, and other products, and a return to traditional ways of tending the dead. www.ncnaturalburial.com. Charles Robinson recently joined Carruthers Real Estate Company. Warren and Nicole St. John welcomed daughter Serena Jackson on April 2, 2009. Warren commented, “so far, she is living up to her name.” Warren presented the keynote address at the Alabama Humanities Foundation awards luncheon which honored Dr. William C. Carter as the 2009 Humanities Award recipient. St. John presented a discussion utilizing thoughts from two of his books— Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Road Trip into the Heart of Fan Mania and Outcasts United—and how their unique tales of football and soccer reflect on our culture and relate to the humanities as a whole.

1989 Class Agent: Jon Van Wezel – vanwezel@me.com Priscilla Fowler married Kier Breitenfeld on April 21, 2007, in Birmingham, AL. Priscilla is a board certified ophthalmologist practicing in Destin, FL.

Stewart Davenport graduated from Princeton in 1994 and then, according to him, “fell into an unchanging time loop for about a decade.” He went to Yale for graduate school in history. In 2002, he got a job at Pepperdine University in Malibu, and in 2005, met Mary, the love of his life. In 2008, they married, he received tenure, and he had his first book published in the spring. “Sometimes it takes 35 years, but then everything kind of comes together.” Mary Nabers Doyle is a pediatrician in Birmingham. She graduated from Washington & Lee University and UAB School of Medicine, and completed her residency at Children’s Hospital. She has been in practice in Homewood for almost seven years. Her husband Scott is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. They have two daughters, Maggie and Mary Jim.

Joe French splits his time between Houston and Austin, Texas, where he works in a real estate investment business he began four years ago. He also has a furniture business, www.joefrenchfurniture.com. Travis Jackson is living in Rock Hill, SC, and is employed with Schaeffler Group Corporation where he is the OEM Sales Representative for the eastern portion of both South Carolina and North Carolina. He is going back to school for a Mechanical Engineering Associates Degree. Trey Kamplain lives and works as a radiologist in Philadelphia. Trey and his wife Mary have two daughters, Sophie and Livia, and a son, Ellis. Ashley Scott Kane and her husband John live in Decatur, GA, with their son Frederick, where Ashley teaches legal writing at the Emory School of Law. Michele Dentiste Moskos graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Tulsa in December of 1994. In 1998, she earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tulsa at night while working as the Market Research Manager for Purolator. In 1999, she married Bill and moved to Lubbock, Texas, where he has a radiology practice. Upon relocating to Lubbock, she accepted a position as the Marketing Director for the Division of Outreach & Distance Education at Texas Tech University. As the Marketing Director, she oversees all marketing activities for the university’s outreach and distance education programs. Michele and Bill have a daughter named Leighanna.

Burton Dunn married Jennifer Boerner in May 2006. Among Burton’s groomsmen were Trey Kamplain ’90, Glenn Kinstler ’90, and Chris Thomas ’90. Burton is an attorney in Birmingham and is a new member of the Altamont Alumni Board. Burton and Jen have a son, William.

Nathan Riddle and his wife Lori live in New York City. Nathan works for an environmental planning and engineering consulting firm and Lori is an architect. Nathan received his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt in 1994 and later went on to complete an MA in history from the University of Alabama. Nathan and Lori have a daughter named Lucy.

Jennifer Greene Forbes graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with a BFA in graphic design and a minor in business. She received a degree in advertising art direction from The Portfolio Center in Atlanta. Her husband Tom has degrees from BSC (math) and Georgia Tech (EE—computer architecture). Jennifer currently does freelance ad work from home and raises her two children, Cole and Eleanor.

Audrey Schuetz graduated from Davidson College in 1994 with a degree in French literature, followed by medical school at Emory. She is now in New York City, working at Cornell as a pathologist, specifically in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory. She went to Zambia in the summer of 2007 as a laboratory consultant. Audrey’s husband works in IT banking software, and according to Audrey, “plays a really mean guitar.”

Derek Snow lives in Northport, Alabama where he owns a photography business. Check it out at www.dereksnow.com. Chris Thomas, chair of the history department at Altamont, has been teaching at Altamont for over 10 years. He recently completed work on The History of Birmingham University School, which was published in early 2010. Chris, Mollie, and Maddy welcomed Aidan Kelly Thomas to the family on October 13, 2009. William Tynes was promoted to Senior Project Manager at Golden & Associates Construction.

1991 Class Agent: Ashley Hamilton Rougeou eahr2@yahoo.com Victoria Argumedo married Nicholas Gordon on January 6, 2007, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Victoria is an immigration attorney in San Francisco, California. Katherine Allen Culp lives in Savannah, Georgia, where she earned a BFA in architecture from Savannah College of Art and Design. She is currently restoring her 1853 home. Hube Dodd is a partner at Jaffe, Strickland, Drennan and Dodd, P.C. in Birmingham. Hube married Sandy Slade last summer. They are awaiting the birth of their first child in the fall of 2010. Rhonda Reinhardt is living in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, with her husband Paul Saunders and their daughter Olivia. Thomas Walker accepted a position as Associate Director of the University of Denver’s Center for Multicultural Excellence.

1992 Class Agent: Jeffrey Jones jbjones@bcbsal.org Rhett Lyerly married Susan Simpson on April 22, 2006, at Washington and Lee University.

alumni News

Allison Brownell Tirres finished her dissertation in history at Harvard University. She joined the faculty of the School of Law at DePaul University in Chicago where her husband Chris is a member of the religion faculty. Allison, Chris, and their two children Eloisa and Mateo, live in Evanston, Illinois. Joanna T. Neilson received a PhD in history from Florida State University, where her father performed her hooding ceremony. She is Assistant Professor of History at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Rick Waters spent several years working for the National Security Council in the White House as the Director of Israel, Palestinian, Egyptian, and Jordanian Affairs. In 2008, he began language training in Arabic in preparation for his next assignment in Jerusalem. Amy Whitaker is busy promoting her book Museum Legs: Fatigue and Hope in the Face of Art, which was published in the fall of 2009.

1993 Class Agent: Audrey Yearout Dupont adupont@maynardcooper.com Trevor Batts completed a Masters degree in System Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla. He works for the Boeing Company where he is the information systems and networking leader engineer for the systems integration lab supporting SBInet, the big technology fence program for the US Customs and Border Protection. Trevor and his wife Kamilla are in Huntsville with their two children, Anne Lise and Gabriel Sebastian. Duncan Vinson married Joanne Wilkinson on August 13, 2005, in Wickford, Rhode Island. Duncan has a PhD in Ethnomusicology from Brown University and teaches music and humanities at Suffolk University in Boston and Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts.

Penn Whiteside was awarded a summer research grant while writing his dissertation at Purdue, where he is earning a PhD in German Language and Literature. The Lessing Yearbook has published one of his book reviews, and his wife, Sabine Klein, received a PhD in American Studies in August 2008 and she now teaches American Studies at the University of Maine Farmington. Their first child, Heinrich Edwin Whiteside, was born May 7, 2009. Proud grandparents are Sarah and Penny Whiteside.

1994 Class Agent: Liz McGahey Holley – holleyliz@hotmail.com Steve Kelly recently returned to Birmingham from Memphis and joined his father Dr. Christopher Kelly ’67 at the Southside Ophthalmology practice founded by his grandfather in 1955. Steve completed his ophthalmology residency at the Hamilton Eye Institute of the University of Tennessee in Memphis and was also actively involved in research projects at UAB, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, and at the University of Tennessee. Gabriella Cooper Leever and her husband Maarten have moved to Durham, North Carolina, where Gabriella is a student in the Nurse Anesthesia program at Duke University. Melanie Lyerly married Kenneth Evan Riley on May 3, 2008, in Birmingham. Robert Robinson is managing Donald Real Estate. Robert and Katie Robinson welcomed Robert Louis Robinson III to the family in December of 2006 and Rushton Grace Robinson in July of 2009. Gil Rogers married Martha Lee on February 25, 2006, in Newnan, Georgia. On the weekends, he does improv comedy at the Village Theatre in downtown Atlanta. Fred Schonenberg lives in New York City where he has been named East Coast Sales Director for Zoom Media and Marketing.

1995 Class Agent: Warren Kinney kinneyrw@hotmail.com Alonso Alvarez is a fourth year urology resident at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. His wife Sejal is Chief Resident in Pediatrics at Miami Children’s Hospital. They have a son named Nicholas. Matthew Boehm married Leslie Lantrip in June of 2007. He is working on his PhD in English Literature at the University of South Carolina. Their son, Jack Halligan Boehm, was born July 14, 2008. Beth Donovan Flowers joined Brownell Travel, working with Meg McGriff North ’68 as a Leisure Sales Advisor. She, Ron, and son Billy welcomed Virginia Jeanne (Jenna) to the family on February 24, 2009. Shelley Adams Gentle joined VentureNet, LLC as Web Application Developer. She and husband John welcomed their son John Clark Gentle on July 9, 2009. Hardy Johnson is Vice President of Compass Bank’s Wealth Management Group in Birmingham. Warren Kinney and Lee Marriott Wilbanks were married on May 6, 2006. Their daughter, Anne Frances, was born November 13, 2008. Proud grandfather is former physics teacher, Warren Kinney. Brent Wilson married Sara Elizabeth McCarty on July 5, 2008, in Birmingham. Brent received his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law in 2004 where his focus was International Law. He is currently employed with Jemison Demsey Metals in Birmingham.

1996 Class Agent: Sam Haskell shaskell@sterneagee.com Lucia Alvarez lives in Knoxville where she is a resident in Veterinary Internal Medicine at the University of Tennessee.

Ginny Bunting Crescenzi and her husband John have three daughters: Sofie, Willa, and Grace, born in November 2009. Sam Haskell married Fontaine Marcoux on July 29, 2006, in Washington, D.C. Sam is Vice President at Sterne, Agee, and Leach, Inc. Their first child, Marion Reeves, was born on February 8, 2008, and they are expecting their second child in November, 2010. Jennifer Jones married Brian Rushing on November 7, 2009. She is working as a manager in the Healthcare & Life Sciences practice for Deloitte Consulting based out of Atlanta. Jeremy Royal, Wendy’s Heisman trophy winner for 1995, celebrates with another Alabama Heisman Trophy winner at the announcement of the 2010 recipient University of Alabama’s Mark Ingram. Jeremy and Dayna Brooke Harmelin were married in December 2008. Dayna is a law professor at Cumberland Law School. Jeremy graduated from Emory Medical School in 2005 and is in his fourth year (out of five) of radiology residency at UAB. They live in Edgewood with their son, Jacob. Suzanne Samford Tatum now lives in Statesboro, Georgia, where she works in Marketing and Public Relations for Georgia Southern University. She and Bryant Tatum were married on September 27, 2008.

1997 Class Agent: Sim Johnson simeonjohnson@msn.com Bobo and Amy Blankson’s daughter Christiana Adwoa Lartey Blankson was born on April 30, 2007. Nelson Brooke is the Alabama Rivers Alliance’s 2010 River Hero of the Year Award. As the Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Nelson patrols and photographs the Black Warrior River and its tributaries, looks for pollution, advocates compliance with environmental laws, and educates the public about the beauty of the river and threats to it. In the past year, The Black Warrior Riverkeeper Association, led by Altamont classmate, David Whiteside ’97, settled a lawsuit against the Birmingham airport for erosion and sediment controls. It also advocated for conservation restrictions on the land along Locust Fork, the final step in a two-decade long fight to stop the Birmingham Water Works from damming this one wild and free-flowing river. In 2007 the Alabama Environmental Council, Alabama’s oldest environmental organization, named Black Warrior Riverkeeper the Conservation Organization of the Year. Check them out at www.blackwarriorriver.org. Jennifer Mason is teaching English to French adults and children in businesses around Beauvais and Paris. She and her husband welcomed Mathilda Melwenn Sanquer-Mason to the family in Beauvais, France. Proud grandmother is Linda Mason, Altamont’s art teacher.

After years working with such noted chefs as Frank Stitt and Chris Hastings, Mauricio Papapietro opened his own restaurant, Brick & Tin, in downtown Birmingham. In a recent article in The Birmingham News, Mauricio said, “Something that has become really important throughout this whole process was creating a place that was as unique to Birmingham as possible, and something that’s driven by the history of the area and of the building.” Alex Nading is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Department of Anthropology. He recently spent 18 months researching in Nicaragua. Jigar Patel completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of TexasSouthwestern/Parkland Hospital. He married Deepali Patel on November 24, 2007, in New Jersey. They now make their home in Atlanta where Jigar is an emergency medicine physician and Deepali is a pharmacist. Pettus and Tamelia Strong were married on November 17, 2007, in Opelika, Alabama. Altamont alums attending the wedding were Michael Alexander ’97, Nii-Amar Amamoo ’97, Kevin Harnsberry ’99, and Nick Walton ’02. Their daughter Cayden was born on May 27, 2009.

1998 Class Agent: Kat Drennen Segars katharinedrennen@gmail.com Allene Arnold lives in NYC where she is a cook at Bobby Flay’s restaurant, Bar Americain. Petronella Lugemwa left Pepsi in Atlanta, after launching Pepsi Vanilla locally, to pursue an MBA at the Kellogg School of Management. Petronella spent four months in Capetown, South Africa, as part of her MBA program in marketing. Alistair Meadows married Johanna Goldstein in June of 2009. They live in New York City, where Alistair works for Goldman Sachs. Mollie Page married Kirk MeGettigan on June 23, 2007, in Los Angeles. Mollie is currently working at The Westridge School for Girls in Pasadena, CA. Evelyn Teal Perry married Christian Terceros in Birmingham on May 5, 2007. Teal is currently teaching at Cochabamba Cooperative School in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

alumni News

Supriya Reddy, a PhD student at UAB, works as Program Coordinator in the Division of Preventive Medicine. She was noted in the spring 2007 issue of UAB’s Public Health magazine for her work on DriveStraight, a student alcohol abuse awareness program. Donald Robinson graduated from HampdenSydney with five degrees in four years— Physics, Computer Science, Managerial Economics, Theoretical Mathematics, and Applied Mathematics. He earned his masters in Statistics in the spring of 2006 and received his PhD in the fall of 2007 in Systems Information Engineering. Donald is a systems engineer with Northrup-Grumann. He and Katherine Anne Stewart Parnell married in October of 2006. They welcomed their first child, Elizabeth-Anne Donald Robinson, born on May 26, 2010. Kat Drennen Segars and her husband Blake live in Atlanta, where Blake is getting his masters in Architecture at Georgia Tech. Their daughter, Mallie Ireland Segars, was born July 20, 2009. Mallie is named for her grandmother Mallie Moughon Ireland, (Brooke Hill 1972.) Stefanie Snider graduated with an MBA from Georgetown University. She plans to pursue a marketing career in Silicon Valley. John Swindal married Megan Gremelspacher on August 23, 2008, in Granby, Connecticut. John graduated from Cumberland School of Law in May 2007 with his JD and MBA and is currently working at Masonry Arts; he and Megan live in Birmingham. Altamont alums in the wedding party were Brian Boehm ’98, John Kinney ’97, James Sears ’98, and Jacob Swindal ’02.

1999 Class Agent: Daniel Jones dwjones@uab.edu Hannah Boyd works in personal injury protection at Infinity Insurance in Birmingham. Jessica Wasserman Hall and her husband Randall welcomed their daughter Whitney Sloane in October 2009.

Chris Nicholson graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law and has joined Birmingham firm White Arnold & Dowd PC as an associate. Marliese Thomas received a Master of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alabama in May 2007. She now works at Auburn University. Barrett Wingard married Taylor Mann on June 2, 2007, in Birmingham. Barrett graduated from Auburn University with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in May 2007.

2000 Class Agent: Jamie Rediker jrediker@gmail.com Alice Bonner is a Production Assistant for Facts on File, a reference book publisher in New York City. Buck ’00 and Catherine Philips Crowe ’99 are leading busy lives. Buck is teaching Latin and Greek at Altamont. Catherine is attending The University of Alabama School of Law. Buck traveled with UAB scientist Sarah Parcak as they search for archeological ruins in Egypt using satellite imaging technology. Anne Donaldson performs with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra as a violinist. She is the co-founder of the new Suzuki Talent Education Program of Birmingham (STEP, stepbirmingham.com), which offers private instruction in violin and cello to children ages three and up. Abby Dupuy and Keith Rogers were married on October 10, 2009. The reception was at Altamont. Members of the wedding party included alumnae Alice Bonner ’00 and Monica Nelson Fischer ’00. Abby and Keith live in Birmingham. Amber Ford Photography

Bayley Fowler and John Mays were married in a private ceremony in San Francisco, California, on August 10, 2009. Bayley graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004. She graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in May 2009. John graduated from Columbia University in 2004 and is in law school at Emory University. Ryne Hazzard is a certified wine buff. As the import manager for Potomac Selections, a wine import and wholesale company, based in Maryland, he has the enviable task of traveling to France and Italy twice a year to select wines from premium wineries for his clients. When he travels to the Loire Valley for an annual wine conference, he’s tasting 70-100 wines a day- spitting of course! One hazard of his job is his teeth and lips are constantly stained purple. Annah Kelley graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South in 2004 with a BA in Spanish (Minors in Anthropology and Religion) and studied abroad in Cuba. She earned her Masters of Arts in International Administration degree (with a focus in nonprofits) from the University of Miami in 2007. She is now living in Montgomery where she works for the Southern Poverty Law Center as a web content producer. Colin LeCroy graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in May 2009. The next week he married Prisca Shrewsbury from Tulsa, Oklahoma. In August they moved to Dallas, where Prisca began working for a firm and Colin began a clerkship for the Honorable Sidney Fitzwater, Chief Judge of the Northern District of Texas. May Lugemwa is pursuing a career in film production. May currently lives in Los Angeles, California, and works for Sony. Monica Nelson Fischer graduated from Cumberland School of Law, Samford University in May 2007. She is currently working at Johnston Barton Proctor & Rose in their care department. Monica married Kurt Fischer on May 24, 2008.

Wrisley Magargal Whitlock married Andy Whitlock (from a small town near Cambridge, England) in September 2009 in Beacon, New York. Wrisley and Andy live in London where they both work in communications/ marketing. Thomas Rains married Jennifer Angi Kim on August 4th, 2007 at Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Shilpa Reddy is attending medical school at UAB on a prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation graduate scholarship. Experiencing different facets of health care and community service helped Reddy choose medicine as a career. She hopes to make an impact through the School of Medicine as a volunteer Spanish translator with Equal Access Birmingham and Cahaba Valley Health Care, which provides free health services to uninsured or underserved patients. Jamie Rediker and Ginny Paynter were married June 6, 2009, before a small gathering of friends and family at the Putney Chapel in Stratford, Connecticut. They now live and

work in Birmingham. Celebrating Jamie Rediker’s wedding were Altamont alumni Michael Rediker ’99, his fiancée Julie Johnson, Thomas Rains ’00, Shelton Wright ’00, Murray Bibb ’00, Buck Crowe ’00, Lamar Ager ’00, Beau Whatley ’00, Anne Tylicki ’00, Catherine Phillips Crowe ’99, and Will Nading ’00.

2001 Class Agent: Will Grant will.grant.iv@gmail.com John W. Cole graduated third in his class on May 17, 2009, from Boston University School of Law with an LLM in Banking and Financial Law. He is now working in Washington, D.C., for the House Committee on Financial Services. Krista Dewitt graduated from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham in May of 2008 and joined the law firm of Huie, Fernambucq, and Stewart in Birmingham. Patrick Frye is attending graduate school for Medical Administration at Xavier in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Emily Loop married Brent Shepherd on March 24, 2007, in Birmingham, AL. Amanda Hagood ’01, Kate Neal Harrison ’01, Annie Green Howard ’01, Stephanie Maze Drake ’01, and Sara Scarritt ’01 were among Emily’s bridesmaids. Emily’s brothers Mike ’09 and Matthew Loop ’06 were among Brent’s groomsmen. In November 2008, Emily and Brent welcomed their daughter Amy Grace.

onboard targeting algorithms for the new manned Orion crew vehicle. Sara was awarded a three-year Cockrell School of Engineering fellowship. She has completed the coursework for her PhD in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas and is working on her dissertation. This summer, Sara is interning at the Johnson Space Center in Houston where she is working on guidance navigation targeting algorithms.

Stephanie Maze and Jeremy Drake ’03 were married on June 9, 2007, in Negril, Jamaica. Stephanie is pursuing a Master of Science in bio-statistics at UAB and researches obesity-related diseases and diabetes risk factors.

Austin Senseman is Academic Coordinator for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions in Birmingham.

Rachel Meadows graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where she studied political science and French. Rachel currently lives in Philadelphia and is working for the Eisenhower Fellowships as a program assistant. Caroline Satterfield was proposed to by Jason McClain on a trip to Paris. The wedding is set for September 25, 2010, in Birmingham. Jason is a graduate of the US Naval Academy where he completed his 9-year obligation, during which he served as a Marine Corps aviator. Caroline completed her doctorate in physical therapy at Marymount University in Washington, D.C. and passed her boards in December. Caroline and Jason spent five months in South America for Spanish language immersion and service learning. Her parents Carolyn ’60 and Bill Satterfield joined them to tour the Galapagos Islands and Quito. Sara Scarritt completed her masters in aerospace engineering at Washington University at St. Louis in 2007. She worked for the Air Force Research Lab as part of their Space Scholars program. She accepted a funded research assistantship working on autonomous

Conly Short married Michael John Poolos on June 21, 2008, in Birmingham. The couple resides in Memphis. Mary Turnipseed received a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University in May 2006, and she is currently working as a Structural Engineer in San Francisco, California. She and Joseph Lemberg were married September 6, 2008, in Birmingham. Edith Turnipseed ’06 served as Mary’s Maid of Honor and Wiley Turnipseed ’99 served as a groomsman. Hannah Wharton graduated from Connecticut College in May 2005 with a BA in architectural studies and a minor in art. Molly Wharton graduated from the University of Southern California in May 2005 with a BS in mechanical engineering. Molly currently lives in Houston and works as a petroleum engineer for Energy Corporation of America.

2002 Class Agent: Position is open. Please contact Margaret Whiteside at mwhiteside@altamontschool.org Rhiannon Deierhoi recently returned from La Rochelle, France, where she worked in the French language program for high school students of the Overland summer programs. Maurine Evans was chosen to deliver the student address at her commencement ceremony at Trinity University. She has completed her first year of law school at the Cumberland School of Law. Andy Foust is a quantitative risk analyst with Morgan Keegan in Memphis, Tennessee.

alumni News

Laura Herndon graduated cum laude from Wake Forest with a major in History (the Margaret Gage award was wellserved.) Laura then graduated in 2009 from Cumberland School of Law and is now employed as an attorney in Atlanta for Fain, Major and Brennan LLC. Adrienne Lagman graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from George Washington University in May 2006. She returned in June from a fantastic year teaching English at a university near Shanghai. She is currently enrolled in a Masters Program in Anthropology with a concentration in International Development at the George Washington University and works part time at the law firm of Williams & Connolly, LLP. Ian Philips is pursuing a Masters of Counseling degree at UAB, with hopes of going into private practice, specializing in creative therapy for adolescents and young adults. He married Meg Culp in August of 2008. Meg received her law degree from Cumberland in the summer of 2009. Ian and Meg opened the Tabletop Curiosity Shop specializing in antiques, collectibles, art, and etc. Visit them at www.thetabletopcuriosityshop.com. Laura Samford spent time abroad following her graduation from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. She volunteered in an African orphanage and also lived in a small village in Japan where she taught children about life in America and helped them with their English through the JET program. Her next stop is Colorado where she will be a personal chef at an organic farm.

2003 Class Agent: Robby Ballard robby.ballard@gmail.com Morgan Barnes graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in accounting. Chris Davis married Julia Trechsel on June 28, 2008. Altamont alumni who were part of the wedding party included Reed Davis ’00, Ila Hughes Broyles ’03, Jack Gray ’03 and Andrew Trechsel ’09. Chris and Julia live in New Orleans.

Connolly, then joined Google. After two years of working in Google’s legal department in California, he is moving to Williamsburg, VA to begin law school at William and Mary College. He has a fellowship with the school’s Center for Legal and Court Technology, where he will promote the Center’s various projects online. Jonathan Tucker and Beth Rocca were married on June 19, 2008. Jonathan opened Rusty’s BBQ in Leeds and continues to provide catering services through his ever-growing company, JT Catering.

Carolyn Kezar graduated from Emory with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Music. She recently completed her first year of medical school at UAB. Ellie Killian is in her third year of medical school at UAB. She recently celebrated passing Part I of the national boards. Stan Mackin received his second lieutenant commission in the United States Marine Corps. He received the promotion after completing Officer Candidate School in Virginia and graduating from Auburn University in May of 2008.

Jeremy Drake received the Conference USA Commisioner’s Academic Medal for the 2005-2006. Jeremy graduated from UAB in May 2007 with a degree in biology and chemistry and is in medical school at UAB.

Meggie Weinheimer is working as a model for Elite Model Management in New York. Meggie has modeled in the Armani couture show and graced the cover of the Japanese edition of Elle.

Jack Gray graduated from Washington and Lee University in June 2007 with a BA in Spanish. He is working for Teach for America, teaching Spanish in Atlanta at Carver High School for the Arts.

2004 Class Agent: Position is open. Please contact Margaret Whiteside at mwhiteside@altamontschool.org

Raymond Mailhot graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in May of 2008 with a double major in Biology and Spanish and minors in Biophysics and Applied Linguistics. He won the $5,000 Kaldi’s Social Change Grant established to aid students in the development of sustainable community projects in and around St. Louis and used the grant to help educate the Hispanic community on the dangers of diabetes.

Ila Hughes married James Broyles on September 15, 2007, in Birmingham. She and James are living in Washington, D.C.

Amanda Boyd is a post production assistant for the television series “Mad Men” in Los Angeles.

Elaine McGlaughlin graduated in 2008 from Pomona College with a degree in Spanish. She earned the graduation prize in Spanish.

Andrew Loftin graduated in May 2007 from Georgetown University with a B.A. in Political Science and is currently working for Merrill Lynch in New York City.

Sarah Herndon graduated from Appalachian State University 2009, with majors in Anthropology and Spanish. While at ASU, Sarah was also an officer on the Equestrian Team. She is currently attending graduate school in Asheville, North Carolina, studying to teach middle school science. She has spent her recent summers as a Wrangler leading trail rides through the mountains of Colorado and North Carolina.

Andrew Murray graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a BS in Business Administration with majors in Finance and Operations and Supply Management and a minor in Psychology.

John Morcos graduated from Auburn University with a degree in finance. Mary Katherine Stump graduated from Georgetown University in May 2007 with a degree in culture and politics. While in college, Mary Katherine was the producer for The Situation with Tucker Carlson on MSNBC. Mary Katherine is back in Washington, D.C., with her fiancée Paul Quinlan. Their wedding is planned for October 30, 2010.

Jarred Taylor (above) graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in political science and French from Davidson College in 2007. He worked in Washington, D.C., as a legal assistant for Williams &

Richard Johanson graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill in 2010 with a degree in political science and minors in German and entrepreneurship. He is currently working in Washington, D.C., with IBM as a business consultant on a project with the Department of Interior.

Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Also, a photomicrograph that Pallavi took is featured on the cover of the journal. Pallavi also published a book of poetry, Paper Words and Paper Hearts.

Charles Osbun and wife Alexis are the proud parents of two daughters. Sophia Louise, born on April 15, 2008, and Delia Josephine, born on September 16, 2009. Cally Robertson graduated from Barnard College in 2008 and is now living in Los Angeles. She works at an art gallery and also helps catalog the work of Sam Francis in preparation for a retrospective exhibit. Cally also models and was featured in the spring 2010 Urban Outfitters LookBook.

2005 Class Agent: Position is open. Please contact Margaret Whiteside at mwhiteside@altamontschool.org Nirmal Choradia recently completed his first year of medical school at UAB.

Harry Miree is continuing his studies at the Berklee School of Music. This past spring he had the pleasure of playing drums for James Taylor in a concert at Berklee. Adam Frye graduated from the University of Michigan in 2009. Sharing the moment are his brother Patrick ’01, and parents Maureen (a science teacher at Altamont) and Tim Frye. Adam teaches science at Altamont. Josna Haritha graduated from UAB summa cum laude in 2008 with a major in Biology and minors in Spanish and Chemistry. She completed her Masters in Health Behavior at the UAB School of Public Health. She is in her second year at the UAB School of Medicine. Josna delivered the 2010 Eighth Grade Commencement address. Elias Hendricks graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in vocal performance. While at SMU, Elias sang the role of Crab Man with The Dallas Opera in their production of Porgy and Bess, Aeneas in the SMU Opera Company’s production of Dido and Aeneas, and Ralph in Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta, H.M.S. Pinafore. In August 2008, Elias performed Romeo in the International Opera of Philadelphia’s production of Romeo e Giulietta in Umbria, Italy (the home of the original Romeo). After a year in New York, Elias moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment business. Anna Johns has begun a two-year commitment with Teach for America, working in San Antonio, Texas, as a middle school science teacher.

John Scott Vowell graduated from HampdenSydney College in May 2009 and is a staff assistant to Congressman Artur Davis in Washington, D.C.. According to John Scott, “I hope everything is well on the hill. I certainly could have never could have made it to this hill without the knowledge I gained on that hill. Altamont will always be home for me.” William Wentowski completed a six week Japanese immersion course at International Christian University in Tokyo.

2006 Class Agent: Edith Turnipseed turnipsedith@aol.com Louis Dale led the Cornell Big Red to the one of the most successful seasons in Ivy League history with its first appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16. Playing point guard, Louis led an impressive offensive attack against two of the nation’s best defenses. Cornell, a No. 12 seed, neutralized the No. 5 Temple Owls, handing them a 78-65 defeat. Louis and Cornell dismantled No. 4 Wisconsin, 87-69. In both games, Louis led the team in scoring and was among the leaders in assists and minutes played. Louis will begin his professional basketball career this fall in Germany, playing for BG Göttingen. John Ricketts received a Campus-Wide Honors Week Award. During Honors Week, the University of Alabama recognizes outstanding students and faculty. John was also selected as a winner of the 2010 Alumni Outstanding Senior Award.

Pallavi Kumbla’s article, entitled “Enhanced Myofibroblastic Differentiation and Survival in Thy-1 (-) Lung Fibroblasts,” was published in the February 2007 issue of The American

alumni News

Trey Kennedy graduated from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, and studied the Great Books curriculum. He was the captain of the foil fencing team and earned his St. John’s athletic jacket. He also won the Dean’s Prize for his music essay on Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus, which was awarded during graduation ceremonies.

Sarah Boyd transferred from Vanderbilt to the University of Alabama, where she is studying chemical engineering. Caroline Holman earned the United States Pony Club C-3 national rating in Lexington, Kentucky. She attends Sewanee: The University of the South, where she majors in Chemistry and Religion and competes on the varsity equestrian team.

Sarah Kezar graduated from UVA with a major in biomedical engineering. John Killian, a recent graduate of the University of Alabama with degrees in mathematics and economics, received a Dean’s Award of Merit, which is presented each year to seniors in the College of Arts and Sciences who have distinguished themselves by their academic accomplishments, exceptional scholarly engagement, and outstanding service to others. John was also selected as a Distinguished Undergraduate Scholar, which recognizes students who have excelled academically and have earned all A and A+ grades. For the next two years, John will be working with Teach for America, teaching math at Chalmette High School in St. Bernard Parish in New Orleans. Lauren Parks graduated from the University of Virginia in May of 2010. She is taking a gap year before she begins medical school. Tommy Scarritt graduated from Georgetown University in May of 2010 with a degree in History. While at Georgetown, he trained as an EMT with the Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service (GERMS) and became interested in medicine. He will begin medical school this fall at the University of South Alabama, where he was awarded one of the prestigious Dean’s Scholarships.

Nick Simonetti graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in Areospace Engineering. He is employed with Boeing in St. Louis. He is currently working on Boeing’s Information Systems Career Foundation program, which is the first of several rotations in a two-year training program. Wilson Taylor graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and was accepted into the Navy’s nuclear surface warfare service option. To qualify for the program, Wilson endured additional testing and interviews at the US Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. Two of the interviews were technical, in which Wilson had to work through a series of physics, calculus, and chemistry problems out loud, in front of a Navy nuclear officer. The process continued with an interview with a four-star admiral who is in charge of all the US nuclear programs. He is stationed in San Diego on the USS Makin Island. Wilson was selected by the Alabama United States Naval Academy Alumni Association as the most outstanding midshipman from Alabama for 2010.

2007 Class Agent: Laura McCraney lgmccraney@bama.ua.edu Maggie Bailey was named by the Department of Modern Languages and Classics as an Outstanding French Major at the University of Alabama.

Evan Miller was awarded the Susan Colvin Prize, the University of Alabama’s top prize in the College of Communications and Information Sciences. Hannah Ware took a break from her studies in the Classics and Religion at the University of Pennsylvania, spending part of her junior year in Greece.

2008 Class Agent: Position is open. Please contact Margaret Whiteside at mwhiteside@altamontschool.org Omari Ho-Sang continues her love of drama at Tuskegee University where she serves as a script writer peer mentor for the for TU’s production of “The Chronicles of Up From Slavery.”

2009 Class Agent: Position is open. Please contact Margaret Whiteside at mwhiteside@altamontschool.org

Return of Alumni Theater

Mateo Forero completed his first year at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Prior to beginning college, he completed an internship in the School of Political Science and International Relations at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia.

Berdy ’91, the Altamont Alumni Theater made its triumphant return

Cody Smith was inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta, a national honor society for freshmen at the University of Alabama.

Thanks to the efforts of Hube Dodd ’91, Ian Philips ’02, and Katherine July 18-20, 2008, with a production of The Nerd by Larry Shue. All performances were in honor of Betty Caldwell, the longtime Altamont teacher and theatrical director whose talents and dedication shaped several generations of Altamont theater enthusiasts. Directed by Edward Miller and cast with some of Altamont’s finest acting alums, this wacky comedy was a delight to audiences. Cast members included Elisabeth “Tut’ Tutwiler ’03, Robby Ballard ’03, Cash Langdon ’14, Anne

RaiNesha Miller finished her freshman at Bowdoin College where she was recently seen in a production of The Vagina Monologues. She was also chosen to serve on the Bowdoin Judicial Court, a real honor as over 40 people from her class applied.

Epstein ’05, Evan Miller ’08, and Alex Kahn ’08.

Philip Pratt earned honors during the fall semester at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY.

manager. Cast included Elisabeth “Tut” Tutwiler ’03, Anne Epstein

Sewanee first year goalkeeper Britt Williams was named Tiger of the Week and SCAC Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for her play the weekend of September 25-27, 2009. “She was more the reason for our perfect defensive weekend than any other player,” said head coach Patrick Johnston.

Mike McCraney ’76, Dallas Henderson ’09, Daniel Seigel ’98, and

The second production of Alumni Theater was July 17-19, 2009, with Ian Philips ’02 directing Neil Simon’s Proposals with Hube Dodd ’91 as producer and Rhiannon Deierhoi ’02 as assistant director and stage ’05, Omari Ho-Sang ’08, Robby Ballard ’03, Sarah Price ’09, Evan Miller ’08. Alums associated with Alumni Theater took a hiatus in 2010, but Alumni Theater will return in 2011!

Mark your Calendar: September 26: Alumni Happy Hour - Los Angeles

Keene McRae is living in Los Angeles where he is attending UCLA. In addition, he is working at Fox Studios in the Features Post Production department and modeling for the LA Agency.

October 21: Alumni Happy Hour - New York City October 25: Alumni Happy Hour - San Francisco December 3: Homecoming December 5: A Christmas Memory December 17: Alumni Holiday Party June 3: Alumni Weekend & Alumni Art Show July 15-17: Alumni Theater

alumni News

Welcome New Altamont Babies The Altamont family is growing, as evidenced by all the new Altamont babies. Please let us know when you have a new addition to your family and we’ll send you an Altamont teddy bear with your child’s name stitched on the back of the sweater. Email Margaret Whiteside with your baby news and photos: mwhiteside@altamontschool.org. Carrie (Comer) ’89 and Ben Alsop A son, Joseph Edward Alsop, October, 2007 Alonso ’95 and Sejal Alvarez A son, Nicolas Alvarez, born January 26, 2007 Joshua ’91 and Bebe (McNeil) Barnard ’91 A son, William Pace Barnard, born December 6, 2006 Trevor ’93 and Kamilla Batts A son, Gabriel Sebastian Batts, born August 15, 2006 Katherine (Simmons) ’91 and Christopher Berdy A daughter, Margarette Elizabeth Berdy, born May 31, 2006 Kwamena ’92 and Mary Blankson A daughter, Mary Amma Blankson, born January 18, 2007 Bobo ’97 and Amy Blankson A daughter, Christiana Adwoa Lartey Blankson, born April 30, 2007 Matt ’95 and Leslie Boehm A son, Jack Halligan Boehm, born July 14, 2008 Murray (Nading) ’95 and Marc Bromstad A son, Marc Edward Bromstad, Jr., born December 15, 2006 A son, Hill Waller Bromstad, born February 18, 2009 Bret ’93 and Shannon (Nolan) ’96 Connor A son, James Nolan Connor, born July 14, 2009 Ginny (Bunting) ’96 and John Crescenzi A daughter, Sofie Elisabeth Crescenzi, born November 18, 2005 A daughter, Willa Allen Crescenzi, born June 15, 2008 A daughter, Angiolina Grace Crescenzi, born November 14, 2009

Mary (Nabers) ’90 and Scott Doyle ’90 A daughter, Mary James “Mary Jim” Doyle, born October 3, 2006

Sam ’95 and Fontaine Haskell A daughter, Marion Reeves Haskell, born February 8, 2008

Burton ’90 and Jennifer Dunn A son, William Lane Dunn, born November 14, 2006

Liz (McGahey) ’94 and Tom Holley A son, Thomas McGahey “Mac” Holley, born October 4, 2006 A son, Parker “Park” Rane Holley, born October 10, 2008

Audrey (Yearout) ’93 and Steve Dupont A son, Alister James Dupont, born July 20, 2006 Beth (Donovan) ’95 and Ron Flowers A daughter, Virginia Jeanne (Jenna) Flowers, born February 24, 2009 Marie (Dielen) ’93 and Art Freeman ’91 A daughter, Madeleine Marie Freeman, born June 11, 2007 William ’86 and Liesel French A son, Edward William French, born April 1, 2006

Jamey ’89 and Dany Hollingsworth A daughter, Heidi Dale Hollingsworth, born October 1, 2007 Lisa (Bunting) ’94 and Harrison Howard A daughter, Virginia Louise “Ginnylu” Howard, born November 22, 2006 A daughter, Daisy Carlisle Howard, born January 11, 2008

John and Shelley (Adams) Gentle ’95 A son, John Clarke Gentle, born July 9, 2009

Travis ’90 and Melissa Jackson A daughter, Annslee Caroline Jackson, born February 1, 2007

Michael ’89 and Kana Goldsmith A daughter, Sara Margaret Goldsmith, born March 14, 2005

Jess and Daniel Jones ’90 A daughter, Annie Wilson Jones, born May 28, 2009

Annemarie (Hoover) ’88 and Piatt Gray Twin boys, Thomas Paine Gray and Andrew Holman Gray, born April 23, 2008

Kim Keller ’84 A daughter, Mason Armor Keller, born May 30, 2005 joined the family on August 2, 2006

Jessica (Wasserman) ’99 and Randy Hall A daughter, Whitney Sloane Hall, born October 16, 2009

Warren ’95 and Lee Marriott Kinney A daughter, Anne Frances Kinney, born November 13, 2008

Diane (Hunter) ’88 and Kevin Harvey Twins, Andrew Lamar Harvey and Amanda Leigh Harvey, born March 7, 2005

Kate (Hegel) ’99 and Baxter Lee A son, Garrett Hairston Lee, born June 6, 2008

Henry ’92 and Katherine Haskell A daughter, Sarah Porter Haskell, born June 15, 2005 A son, Crawford Etheredge Haskell, born May 1, 2007

Trent (Stephens) ’92 and Stratton Lloyd A daughter, Waters Lee Lloyd, born August 3, 2006 Matthew ’87 and Lori Lyons A son, Oliver Clayton Lyons, born April 15, 2008

Rachael (Royal) ’93 and Matthew McDonald A daughter, Nadia Elaine McDonald, born July 11, 2008

Emily (Loop) ’01 and Brent Shepherd A daughter, Amy Grace Shepherd, born November 14, 2008

Griffin ’92 and J.J. McGahey A son, Henry Griffin McGahey, born April 21, 2008

Katherine (Freeman) ’92 and Tim Sherry A daughter, Natalie Grace Sherry, born June 16, 2007

Warner ’87 and Amy McGowin A daughter, Sealy McGowin, born June 20, 2006 Donald ’98 and Katherine Robinson A daughter, Elizabeth-Anne Donald Robinson, born May 26, 2010 Jennifer Mason ’97 and Laurent Sanquer A daughter, Mathilda Sanquer-Mason, born September 1, 2008 Charles ’04 and Alexis Osbun A daughter, Sophia Louise Osbun, born April 15, 2008 A daughter, Delia Josephine Osbun, born September 16, 2009 Sarah (Scruggs) ’96 and Gregg Olson A son, Palmer James Olson, born July 21, 2009 Elizabeth (Featheringill) ’96 and Andrew Pharo ’93 A son, William “Billy” Featheringill Pharo, born December 6, 2007 A daughter, Margaret “Meme” Burgess Pharo, born May 28, 2009 Jay ’96 and Kristen Porter A son, Joseph Wallace Porter, born July 19, 2007 Jessica (Campbell) ’93 and Steve Reed A daughter, Zella Frances Campbell Reed, born September 26, 2007 Robert ’94 and Katherine Robinson A son, Robert Louis Robinson, III, born December 29, 2006 A daughter, Rushton Grace Robinson, born July 31, 2009 Rhonda (Reinhardt) ’91 and Paul Saunders A daughter, Olivia Ellis Saunders, born December 19, 2006

Hendrik Snow ’87 and Amy Hunter Twin sons, Henry Mikals Snow and Lukas Hunter Snow, born January 30, 2006

Amy Grace Shepherd

Chris and Aidan Thomas

Garrett & Kate Lee

Mallie Segars

Marion Haskell

Serena St. John

Warren St. John ’87 and Nicole Maurer A daughter, Serena Jackson St. John, born April 2, 2009 Nathan ’90 and Lori Riddle A daughter, Lucy Riddle, born August 26, 2007 Lucy (French) ’98 and Stephen Spann Twin daughters, Mary Beverly Spann and Laura Elizabeth Spann, born April 17, 2007 Pettus ’97 and Tamelia Strong A daughter, Cayden Alaina Strong, born May 27, 2009 Chris ’90 and Molly Thomas A son, Aidan Kelly Thomas, born October 13, 2009 Chance ’89 and Missy Turner A son, Gentry Chance “Cash” Turner, Jr., born November 2, 2007 William ’90 and Kelley Tynes A son, David Covington Tynes, born December 28, 2006

Grace Crescenzi

Hardwick ’88 and Carrie Walthall A son, John Bailey “Jack” Walthall, born October 12, 2006 Penn Whiteside ’93 and Sabine Klein A son, Heinrich Edwin Whiteside, born May 7, 2009 Jeff ’89 and Alexi Whitaker A son, John “Jack” Nicholas Whitaker, II, born July 25, 2009

Kat (Drennen) ’98 and Blake Segars A daughter, Mallie Ireland Segars, born July 20, 2009

alumni News

Remembering Lily rushton Mia Tankersley ’10

beloved member of The Altamont family, Lily Rushton, passed away November 1, 2009. But more importantly, she lived. She led a charmed academic life, comprised of her valiant portrayal of Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker, her impressive athletic record as a varsity soccer player and a cross country runner, her involvement in The Service Club and the Environmental Club, her award-winning photography, her love of Latin, and her eagerness to learn. However, Lily’s most enduring legacy at The Altamont School is perhaps the impact she had on those around her. Maya Angelou put it best when she said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” According to Lily’s advisor and Altamont’s Head of School, Sarah Whiteside, “She just had that charisma about her.” It is no wonder then that the first thing that comes to mind when people hear the name Lily Rushton is her smile. “Ask anyone who didn’t know her what they thought of her,” says friend Cece Pless, “and they’ll say, ‘Well I didn’t know her, but she was always smiling.’ She had a really great smile.” According to her closest friends, her illness never dominated their relationships. “When she came to Altamont, it didn’t matter. We didn’t think about how it would end or when,” says friend Julia Murray. According to Sarah Eckinger, “When I think back, that’s not the first thing that crosses my mind. It’s not like, ‘Lily, my friend who has cancer’ It’s just… ‘Lily!’” the three say in unison. “It’s more like, ‘Lily who’s really good at soccer and who’s really goofy. And so pretty too. Like a model,’” says Pless.

Lily’s love of the outdoors is evident as she and classmates shoot the rapids of the Nantahala River on a Fall Project Week trip.

In the classroom, she would always come prepared, and was one of the first to volunteer. In fact, in Mr. Palmer’s English class, Lily would occasionally receive so many reading roles that she would end up conversing with herself, much to her classmates’ delight. In speech class, she is remembered for having stomped around and made sound effects as Pless read aloud Where the Wild Things Are, her favorite book. One of her favorite subjects was Latin, and Mrs. Whiteside recalls from her time teaching Lily in the 8th grade that, “When she was absent, it was obvious that an important part of the class was missing.”

When she wasn’t studying, Lily could be found playing hangman or a fierce game Egyptian Rat Screw. But mostly, she was on the soccer field. Lily would practice with Coach Gibson constantly, even when it wasn’t soccer season. After having sat down with those that knew her best, I began to develop a very distinct portrait of who Lily was in my mind. This was a girl who loved to laugh, who had a special skill for finding split-ends, who would smile when she did well on a difficult test and discreetly put it away, who would eagerly await the daily lunch menu and had a fondness for assorted chips, who would fearlessly interact with upperclassmen as a 5th grader, and who included those who were left out. According to Mrs. Whiteside, “She was quick to notice if someone was being left out, whether it was in class or talking in the hall, and she had a very quiet way of bringing them into the conversation so that no one really noticed it. But if you were an onlooker you could see what she was doing.” Only a few days after her passing, The Altamont School remembered Lily by wearing bandanas. Seeing the entire community willingly cover their heads was incredibly moving. Says Murray, “When everyone showed up, it made me happy to see how many people she reached out to, how many people were going through the same thing.” And indeed, this was a loss that was, and still is, felt deeply by everyone in the Altamont community. We remember Lily Rushton with great affection and feel privileged to have been a part of her life.

In Memoriam Ann Schuler Aird ’54, of Birmingham, passed away on October 5, 2009. She graduated from Brooke Hill School and Mount Vernon Junior College. Letitia Christian Arant ’53, sister of Adele Arant Stockham and Fairlie Arant Maginnes ’53, died September 22, 2006. She was the direct descendent and namesake of Letitia Christian Tyler, wife of U.S. President John Tyler. She held a position in the Center for Advanced Medical Studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and was a committed member of St. Mary’s-on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church. James C. Barton, father of James C. Barton, Jr. ’70 and grandfather of Jessie Kate Barton ’04, died April 17, 2006. His passion for life is exemplified by a long and distinguished career spent fighting for First Amendment rights and environmental protection. Mr. Barton was president of the Birmingham Bar Association from 1979-1980, honored as its Outstanding Lawyer of the Year in 2002, Deputy Attorney General for the State of Alabama in the 1970’s, founding member of the Cahaba Chapter of the Sierra Club, and was a member of numerous other law, environmental, and charitable groups throughout the state. His love for and devotion to his family lay at the center of his being. Sarah Rebecca (Becky) Beaird ’73, age 53, a resident of Decatur, Georgia, died February 3, 2009. She was raised in Mountain Brook, graduated from Brooke Hill, and attended Stephens College and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She had a love of reading, science, and art, and will be truly missed by her friends and family. She is the sister of Nancy Beaird, wife of Ricky Bromberg ’78. James Sturgeon Christie, father of Chris Christie, grandfather to Sturgeon ’07, Rachel ’09, and Sarah Christie ’12. A Birmingham businessman for many years, Mr. Christie was known to many youngsters as “Coach” for his involvement with youth sports. He was honored by the Shades Valley YMCA for his outstanding work promoting and organizing football, basketball, and other youth sports at area elementary schools. Charles Elmore “Chick” Colvin III and Ann Lynn Glasscock Colvin, parents of Susan Colvin and grandparents of Beau ’00 and Alec ’05 Whatley, died in April of 2007 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Ann Lynn and Chick were married for 50 years, and lived full and gifted lives. Isabel Anderson Comer ’65 passed away on September 13, 2009. She is the sister of Donald Comer, Jr. and aunt to Carrie Comer Alsop ’89. In addition to attending Brooke Hill School, Ms. Comer attended Foxcroft Girls School in Virginia and was a graduate of New York University, with a degree in History.

On March 9, 2010, the Altamont family gathered to celebrate Lily Rushton’s life and legacy. The Altamont soccer field is now Lily Field. Future improvements to Lily Field, including a permanent sign, are possible through the generosity of our donors.

Kenneth Latimer Rule Daniel, father of Coleman Daniel, II ’60, died on July 1, 2008. Mr. Daniel was a member of the Alabama State Engineering Hall of Fame and the Alabama State Academy of Honor. He joined the American Cast Iron Pipe Company (ACIPCO) in 1936 and, except for military service during World War II; Mr. Daniel worked there until his retirement as President in 1978. Mr. Daniel joined the US Army one week prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor and quickly rose in rank to Lt. Col. and was named Ordnance Officer of the 3rd Army by General George S. Patton for the drive across Europe. Mr. Daniel served as President of the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Mercy Hospital Board, Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, member of the Salvation Army National Advisory Council, Co-Chairman of the United Way, Advisory Council member of the Boy Scouts of America, and Director of the Jefferson Shelby County Lung Association. Martha Stone Cobb Daniel, mother of Bill Daniel ’60, died December 1, 2006. She held an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities at Birmingham Southern and was Chairman of the Board of Daniel Foundation of Alabama. Matthew Dasher ’01, son of Ted and Carole Dasher, brother of Laurie Dasher Vigliecca ’84, and Ted Dasher ’82, died on October 11, 2006. He attended Advent Episcopal School, The Altamont School, and Auburn University. His mother, Carole, served at Brooke Hill and Altamont as a valued French teacher for 15 years. Matthew loved cars, his cats, his parrot Shadow, his Labrador Retriever Holly, and Auburn football. He shared a special bond with his cousin, Sonya Meyers. Just before becoming ill, Matthew expressed that he had come to realize that nothing was more important to him than his family and friends. Mary Dana Dillard ’71 died November 1, 2006, after a courageous three year battle with cancer. She received a Presidential Grant to Judson College and was a member of Chi Delta Phi National Honorary Literary Fraternity. Howard Hube Dodd, father of Howard Hube Dodd, Jr. ’91, died April 17, 2006. He was former Vice President of Hilb, Rogal, and Hamilton and a member of the Mountain Brook Baptist Church. Beverley White Dunn died May 21, 2009. She was the mother of Mary Dunn French ’59 and Lucy Dunn McCain ’66 and grandmother of Will French ’86, Joe French ’90, and Lucy French Spann ’98. Mrs. Dunn was the past state president of the Colonial Dames of America, past president of the Junior League of Birmingham, and past president of Little Garden Club. She was on the boards of Children’s Hospital and Gateway. She was a member of the Linley-Heflin Unit and for many years was an active member of the American Horticultural Society.

Arthur Bowman Durkee, Jr. ’76, a lifelong resident of Birmingham, died June 1, 2009. He was a graduate of The Altamont School and of Rhodes College, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, and he served in the United States Air Force. He was a member of St. Mary’s on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church and the Mountain Brook Country Club. He was an owner of the B&A Warehouse. He is survived by his wife, Alice Wilkerson Durkee, and his sons, John Dixon Durkee ’11, and Bowman deSieyes Durkee ’15; his aunt, Louise Agee Wrinkle ’48 and his uncle, John Newton Wrinkle, and cousins Margaret Wrinkle ’81 and Anne Wrinkle Veenstra ’79. Gage Bush Englund ’49, former principal dancer and ballet mistress of the American Ballet Theater, died of cancer on January 12, 2009, at her home on the upper west side of Manhattan. She was known as a versatile interpreter of classical and contemporary works during her performing career. In her later years, Ms. Englund became increasingly known as a trainer of young dancers. An honorary member of the American Ballet Theater’s board of directors, Ms. Englund helped establish the American Ballet Theater’s Summer Intensive program at the University of Alabama, the first training institute to be offered by ABT at a university and outside New York. Joseph McConnell Farley ’44, age 82 and a lifelong resident of Birmingham, passed away peacefully on May 24, 2010. Mr. Farley was a devoted member of the Cathedral Church of the Advent, where had had served both as Senior Warden and in numerous other leadership capacities during his life of undying faith. He is survived by his sons Joseph M. Farley, Jr. (Ginny) and Thomas G. Farley (Carol); his daughter Mary Lynne Morris (John); and five grandchildren. Mr. Farley was educated at the Birmingham University School and Birmingham-Southern College and obtained a mechanical engineering degree from Princeton University. He pursued graduate work at the University of Alabama and obtained a law degree from Harvard University. He served his country in the United States Navy during the early 1950’s. His legal career began at the Birmingham firm of Blakey and Bouldin, now known as Balch & Bingham, where he devoted his practice to corporate and utility law. In 1965 he joined the Alabama Power Company, becoming its President in 1969. He left that position in 1989 and served as the first Chairman and CEO of Southern Nuclear Operating Company. Following his retirement in 1992, he resumed his association with Balch & Bingham where he was of counsel until his death. Mr. Farley had long and rewarding associations with a large number of civic, corporate and educational boards and charities. His service with Tuskegee University and the Alabama Children’s Hospital Foundation spanned decades. In 2005, he was named Altamont’s Distinguished Alumnus.

Altamont family wore bandanas on November 3, 2009, in memory of Lily.

alumni News

Ellen Pratt Wilkerson Given ’46, a lifelong resident of Birmingham, died on June 9, 2009. Mrs. Given was the mother-in-law of Jennifer Robertson Given ’69 and grandmother of J.P. Given Hemingway ’91, Melissa Given McNeil ’97, and Christian Given ’06. Mrs. Given graduated from Sweet Briar College in Lynchburg, Virginia. She was President of the Birmingham Debutante Club and was presented at The Redstone Ball and The Black and White Ball. She was actively involved in her community serving in the Junior League of Birmingham, the Linly Heflin Unit, and as a volunteer at University Hospital. Jane Laroque Slaughter Hardenbergh, died on September 14, 2009. She was the grandmother of Altamont students Phillip ’10 and Lawrence Wall ’11. Mrs. Hardenbergh was a scholar, musician, needlework artist, wife, mother, servant, and friend. She received degrees from Westhampton College, University of Richmond, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and University of Colorado, Boulder. She served on the music faculty of Blue Mountain College and Howard College (later Samford University.) She was the designer for the Aeolian-Skinner organ in Samford’s Reid Chapel and the Holtkamp organ in Samford’s Buchanan Hall. Jane Ware Kirkland Hawley, died November 2, 2009. She was the wife of the late Dr. William Lawrence Hawley and is survived by four children, including Elizabeth Hawley Hodges ’70. Mrs. Hawley graduated from Huntingdon College with a major in art. She did graduate work at the University of Colorado and returned to Huntingdon as the head of the Art department. A long-standing member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, she served as president of the Women of the Church and director of Vacation Bible School and various guild activities. She was active in the women’s auxiliary of the Jefferson County Medical Society, the Birmingham Art Association, and the Birmingham Museum of Art, where she served as a docent. She also took great pleasure in her long association with the Village Painters in Mountain Brook. John Hudson Holcomb, Jr., age 94, passed away on August 24, 2009. Mr. Holcomb is survived by four children: Barbara Holcomb Walker ’59, Susan Holcomb Acker ’61, Mary Holcomb Scott ’66, and John Holcomb ’69, and his grandchildren Ashley Scott Kane ’90 and John Scott III ’95. Mr. Holcomb earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. During World War II, he became manager of the Merck Stonewall Plant in Elkton, Virginia, which was a major producer of drugs which were strategic to The War effort and which were of great value to world health and the medical community. In 1948, Mr. Holcomb and his family returned to Birmingham where he joined his father John Hudson Holcomb, Sr. in business at the Britling Cafeteria Co., where he eventually became President. Long a leader in the civic and business community of Birmingham, Mr. Holcomb was credited with having brought valuable insight and energy for the success of many projects

associated with The Brooke Hill School where he served as president of the Board of Trustees the year the school moved to the location of Altamont. Sterling Edwards Kreider, son of Matthew S. Kreider ’72 and Bet Pless Kreider Dillard, and nephew of Robert ’82 and Gail Pless died September 17, 2006. Sterling was a National Merit Finalist at Mt. Brook High School and attended Washington University in St. Louis. An avid outdoorsman and lover of the wild, he and his fiancée, Jana Jones, through-hiked the Appalachian Trail, 2179 miles from Maine to Georgia. Lucile Cabaniss “Del” Krueger ’49 died April 24, 2007. She was an active supporter of the United Way, the Birmingham Museum of Art, and the Junior League of Birmingham. Mrs. Krueger was also a charter member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. James C. Lee Jr., the businessman who turned Buffalo Rock Co. into a force in the bottling industry and played an active role in Birmingham’s business community, died February 28, 2009. The former chief executive of Buffalo Rock was 89 years old. He was the father of Jimmy Lee ’66. Mr. Lee steered Buffalo Rock for decades after taking the helm of the family owned company in the early 1950s. He linked the company’s fortunes with Pepsi Cola and later added brands including Dr. Pepper and Seven-Up. He served in leadership roles in organizations ranging from the Metropolitan Development Board and the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce to the Birmingham-Southern College Board of Trustees and the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation. Christopher Scott Lower died September 27, 2009. He is the son of Linn Lee Lower and Dana Sprague Lower ’70. Born on December 15, 1983, Chris grew up in Birmingham, attended Shades Valley High School, and graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Business. At the time of his death, he was a third generation member of his family’s business, Lower Brothers Tennis Court Construction. Chris was an adventuresome spirit who loved music and the outdoors. Chris was a thoughtful and caring young man with a warm sense of humor and a sparkling good nature. Frank Elwood Lindstrom, III ’82 died September 27, 2008, surrounded by family and friends. Frank was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, and the beach. Carolyn Smith Lynch, former director of the Brooke Hill School and Altamont choirs, died on December 26, 2008. She was 85 years old. Mrs. Lynch was a graduate of Shorter College in Rome, Georgia, and was the music director at The Brooke Hill School for 20 years. Survivors include her husband George, daughter, Emily Lynch Plummer ’78 and sons David Lynch ’71 and Steve Lynch. David Lynch said of his mother, “I know Mom opened the hearts and minds of any student who sang in her choirs to the awesome beauty of good music and made lasting impressions on them.”

Mrs. Martha Exum Minor, mother of John William Minor III ’63 and Robert Exum Minor ’67, died January 2, 2007. She was a member of Mountain Brook Baptist Church and the Junior League of Birmingham. Christopher Kyser Miree ’05, died on April 17, 2010. He is the son of Kathryn and Ben Miree and brother of Harry Miree ’07. Kyser graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University in 2009 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Kyser was president of the Pi Tau Sigma mechanical engineering society, vice president of the Vanderbilt Aerospace Club, and president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. While at Altamont, he served as president of the senior class, played varsity baseball, ran cross country track, and was active in many student organizations. Following his graduation from college, Kyser moved to Mobile to work with Chevron Corporation. Kyser was an avid hunter and loved to hike, ski, fish, and take on all outdoor challenges. Not only was Kyser a natural leader, he was a great friend who brought joy to his family, friends, and all he met. Gail Bridges Morton ’54 died October 3, 2006. She was a founding member of the Pi Beta Phi chapter at Auburn University, a member and one time president of the Women’s Committee of the Alabama Symphony, a member of the Service Guild of Birmingham, and a founder of the Mountain Brook Girls Softball League. The Gail Bridges Morton Lectureship in Surgical Pulmonary Diseases was established in her memory. Edna Earle Mullins died June 6, 2007. She received her BA from Montevallo University, her MA from the University of Alabama and participated in advanced graduate study at the University of Chicago and Yale University. Ms. Mullins served as Headmistress of The Brooke Hill School from 1962 until its merger with B.U.S. in 1975. She was a dedicated student, teacher, and administrator who gave so much to the institution that would become Altamont. Jane Holley Neal ’77 passed away January 6, 2010. Jane grew up in Mountain Brook and graduated from Altamont in 1977, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and the varsity volleyball and basketball teams. She graduated from BirminghamSouthern College with a BA in History and then did graduate work in the history department at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. She taught at Shelton State Community College. She was a gifted teacher, whether she was teaching college students or a child with learning difficulties. She was a book-a-day reader, an avid gardener with a particular fondness for roses, and an animal enthusiast. She is survived by her husband, Steven M. Neal; sister, Nancy Capicik ’65 (Paul) of Birmingham; brothers, Warren Holley (Sonya), Howard Holley (Robin) of Tuscaloosa, and Dan Gross (Lois) of Anchorage. John “Jack” O’Brien, Jr., husband of Adrienne Lange Burroughs O’Brien ’51, died on July 4, 2008, after an extended illness. The couple shared a love of life, travel, golf, and family.

John David Oddo ’00 died September 9, 2006. He was a young man with a genuine love of and gift for learning. He graduated with honors from both Altamont and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “He lived his life with a kind of love and courage that few people can claim, and that no one who knew him will ever forget. And I believe that if we live on with the kind of strength and love and courage John David lived with, we will be honoring his memory.” – Amanda Hagood ’01 Lily Price Rushton ’11 died at home on All Saints Day, November 1, 2009. She is the daughter of Gail and Deak Rushton, sister to Virginia ’09 and Ford ’10, and granddaughter to LaVonna and Billy Rushton ’46. Lily was an active member of the Altamont community, as a beloved member of the Class of 2011, a varsity soccer player, and a friend to all. Lily served on the YouthServe Youth Action Council and was a member of St. Mary’son-the-Highlands Episcopal Church. Mary Ruth Stevens Sevier, grandmother of Hoodie Caldwell ’01 and mother-in-law of Charles Caldwell III ’64, died March 3, 2007. She was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, the Junior League of Birmingham, and the Elyton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Margaret Ann Johnston Shaw ’69, mother of Elizabeth Ann (Beth) ’95 and Jerolyn Louise (Jenny) Shaw ’93, died July 27, 2007. Ann graduated from Brooke Hill and The University of Alabama at Birmingham, then moved to Beaufort, South Carolina, where she lived for twelve years and established Saint Helena Episcopal Church’s bookstore. She also helped establish the first ladies golf association at Bray Island Plantation, S.C. Vladimir Shilkrot ’98 died July 24, 2008. Vlad was a loving husband to his wife Bessie Lane Shilkrot and devoted father to his daughter Sara Kaitlyn and son Zev. Barbara Ingalls Shook ’56, stepmother of Adele Shook Merck ’74, died September 26, 2008, after a courageous battle with cancer. She chaired the Barbara Ingalls Shook Foundation which supported her philanthropic endeavors and was a member of Reagan’s National Cancer Board, the recipient of the Memorial-Sloan Kettering 1986 Woman of the Year award, and a founder of Challenge Aspen, which supported athletic activities for the handicapped. Warren Jackson St. John, Sr., father of Warren St. John, Jr. ’87, Susanna St. John Davis ’90, and Mary Claire St. John Butler ’88, died February 1, 2007. He was awarded the highest commendation possible by the Secretary of the Air Force for his service as a navigator during the Vietnam War. He later opened the first Morgan Keegan office in Birmingham and then his own investment company with Raymond James and Associates. Mr. St. John was a long time supporter of Altamont, serving on the board from 1986 to 1991.

George Peach Taylor, father of Altamont trustee Jarry Taylor and grandfather to Jarred Taylor ’03 and Wilson Taylor ’06, died on December 10, 2008, after a brief illness. He was a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College and was the 1971 Alumnus of the Year. He earned his law degree from the Alabama School of Law and worked for what would become the law firm of Dominick, Fletcher, Taylor, and Yielding. From 19651970 the Taylor family was in the Peace Corps where George and his wife Mary Leta were active in the community life of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Africa; Alexandria, Virginia; and Georgetown, Guyana. In 1973, the Taylor family moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where Mr. Taylor served on the faculty of the University of Alabama Law School until his retirement in 1989. Mary Leta English Taylor, mother of Altamont trustee Jarry Taylor and grandmother of Jarred Taylor ’03 and Wilson Taylor ’06, passed away on September 16, 2008, after a valiant twenty-month fight against pancreatic cancer. Following the family’s time in the Peace Corps to her retirement in 1991, Mrs. Taylor worked with the University of Alabama’s College of Community Health Sciences, where she served as Coordinator of Student Affairs. Frances Williams Vowell, mother of Judge John Scott Vowell (husband of Dr. Cameron McDonald Vowell ’64) and grandmother of John Scott Vowell, Jr. ’05, died May 23, 2007. She graduated from Auburn University in 1934. She was a third and fourth grade teacher in Auburn, Jacksonville, and Anniston. She also served as president of the Lee County Humane Society. Joan Pedigo Wallace, a lifelong resident of Birmingham, Alabama, died on September 21, 2009, surrounded by her children. She was 77 years old. She is survived by her four children, including Daniel Wallace ’77 and Barrie Wallace ’79. She was cherished by her friends and family, who miss her free and generous spirit and who remember her as a unique and beautiful woman, full of warmth, charm, and charisma. She loved living in the Magic City, and she loved her dear circle of friends. She loved traveling, sailing, the beach and the mountains, books, art, Willie Nelson, and the Dalai Lama. She remained proud of her active part in the civil rights movement, and was overjoyed to live to see the culmination of that work when Barack Obama was elected president. Mary Alice Batson Ward, the mother of Sarah Ward Whiteside and grandmother of Penn Whiteside ’93 and Margaret Whiteside ’99, died March 29, 2010. Mrs. Ward, the eldest of five children, was born July 27, 1917, in Pender Country, North Carolina. After graduating from Campbell College and Meredith College, she taught high school English in Holly Springs, NC. On June 29, 1940, she married Frank Pelouze Ward, MD, of Lumberton, NC, whom she had met as a summer school student at Wake Forest College. Following Dr. Ward’s internship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, the

couple moved to Lumberton to raise their four children. “Doctor Frank,” as he was called by his devoted patients, served thousands of patients in southeastern NC until his death in 1972. In addition to running a very busy household, Mary Alice served twenty years on the Lumberton City School Board and was active in the First Baptist Church, DAR, and many clubs, including garden, book, and investment. She was honored in 1962 at Lumberton’s Woman of the Year. Mildred Bernard Watson died August 28, 2007. She was a cum laude graduate of Randolph-Macon Women’s College and received a master’s degree in Latin from the University of North Carolina. Mrs. Watson served as headmistress of Brooke Hill from 1947 until 1951. She then went on to edit and publish two newspapers, the Shades Valley Sun and the East End News. She served two terms as president of Valley Christian Church’s Women’s Christian Fellowship, as well as traveling to China and Africa to support the church’s outreach programs. She also served two terms as president of Chapter B of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a philanthropic educational organization founded in 1869 that now has over 250,000 members in the United States and Canada. She compiled her extensive personal correspondences in a memoir entitled Vita Abundatior (An Abundant Life), and co-authored with her husband George H. Watson History of the Christian Churches in the Alabama Area, published in 1965. Frances Varner Wiygul died at her home on May 5, 2010, after an extended illness. Frances was a devoted wife and mother who gave fully of herself to her husband, children, and many charitable organizations. She is survived by her son, Jimmy Wiygul ’70 and his wife, Margaret; daughter, Sue Wiygul Martin and her husband Jim. She is also survived by her two grandchildren, Harrison Alexander Wiygul and Margaret Eleanor Wiygul ’12. Born May 7, 1922, Frances was graduated from Fairfield High School, attended Southern Methodist University, and was graduated from Birmingham Southern College. Following college, Frances wrote a column for the Birmingham News called “Betty Birmingham” and was on the staff of the radio station, WSGN. Following her marriage to Charles Harrison Wiygul in 1948, Frances devoted herself to creating a warm and loving home for her family. The Wiygul home became a meeting place for children of the neighborhood who were always welcomed. Frances’s charitable interests included The Children’s Aid Society and the Pan-Hellenic Council, both of which she served as chairman of the Board. She also served as president of the local PTA. She was a long time member of St. Mary’s-on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church. Along with her husband, Harrison, Frances was a key member of the Garden Unit and the Needlepoint Guild of St. Mary’s. She was a member of The Country Club of Birmingham, The Amaranth Club, and the Daughters of the American Revolution.