special centennial edition
spring 2017
special centennial edition
31
13 preparing f o r to d a y
st u d e n t s p ot l i g h t lu k a p i e r c e
33
f a c u lt y s p ot l i g h t kim mechling
35
a lu m n a e s p ot l i g h t martha kearney
25 e m p ow e r e d i n the moment
from the head of school
2
campus news 5 noted and quoted
11
reunion 37 pen pals 39 alumnae events 41 class notes 43 milestones 61
Robin Newham Head of School Diana C. Hurd, M.B.A. Director of Marketing & Communications Jennifer Boughner Director of Development & More Power to Her Campaign Director Elizabeth SUCCOP Altman ’70 Director of Alumnae Affairs
ON THE COVER In honor of Ellis’ long history, current students sport vintage Ellis uniforms to celebrate the Centennial year. Back row (L to R): Tegan Poerio, Class of 2021; Maya Ginter-Frankovitch, Class of 2018; Jessica Jones, Class of 2017; Sydné Ballengee, Class of 2019; Shivani Nangia, Class of 2022. Front row (L to R): Sydney Curd, Class of 2027; Selin Geylani, Class of 2025; Charly Bernstein, Class of 2023; Lucy Larsen, Class of 2024. Please forward address changes to: The Ellis School , Development Office, 6425 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206 • 412-661-6796 • alumnae@theellisschool.org
FROM THE H E A D O F S CH O O L As I reflect on the Ellis Centennial season, I am reminded of the difference Ellis has made in the lives of thousands of girls, and I appreciate those over time who have dedicated their careers to this wonderful school. A world-class education for girls was modestly initiated
School, the transition to a new Head of School comes
by Miss Sara Frazer Ellis in 1916 and grew to become
at a perfect time in Ellis’ evolution. Macon’s heart for
the vibrant and forward-thinking school that Ellis is
Ellis is what makes her the perfect choice to lead us into
today. The fabulous Centennial Gala on October 15, 2016
a second century of providing excellence in education.
honored our Centennial Laureates who represent all of
I am confident that her leadership will take us into
the many women who have journeyed through the halls
this next century with sustainability and innovation
of Ellis over the last one hundred years. Past, present,
in mind—always keeping Ellis on the forefront of
and future coalesced at the Gala, and we all felt the
experiential, innovative learning catered to girls—as we
abiding love and respect that is shared for Ellis—by and
prepare, empower, and inspire the next generation of
for its students, alumnae, employees, families, trustees,
female leaders.
and friends. We celebrated the spirit of Sara Frazer Ellis and the spirit of Ellis’ future, those who have dedicated
As a new chapter for Ellis begins, there is so much
their careers and hearts to Ellis girls, and those whose
we can accomplish through our collaborative efforts.
foresight and commitment to their daughters’ education
Although my official tenure at the school comes to a
has created and sustained The Ellis School and our
close, my time and talents are woven into the fabric of
mission over the past century.
Ellis. I proudly join the distinguished list of past Heads of School and Ellis educators, and celebrate with each of
With these achievements comes accountability to
you the optimism for the next one hundred years of all-
the future. Today, The Ellis School is poised for a new
girls education at The Ellis School.
century of preparing, empowering, and inspiring each and every girl through an excellent education in an
More Power to Her,
all-girls environment. As we welcome our next leader, Macon Paine Finley, as the fifteenth Head of The Ellis
Robin O. Newham Head of School
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 2
Dear Friends, It is hard to overstate the contribution Robin Newham has made to The Ellis School. Her service encompasses the better part of four decades. Her influence on the Ellis community spans generations. In Robin’s role as teacher and as administrator, she has inspired, mentored, and led students, teachers, administrators, and alumnae with grace, wisdom, and humor. As Head of School, Robin has provided determined and creative leadership that has transformed the School. During her tenure as Head of School, Ellis has balanced its budget, increased enrollment, built a first-class athletic field, and made critical hires that have contributed to significant improvements in teaching and learning. Robin’s legacy of achievement is matched only by her commitment to our students, whose best interests, growth, and development have informed all of her decisions. Reassuring a nervous first grader, encouraging a budding Middle School science student, advising a sophomore artist, and mentoring a new teacher—Robin embraced all of these roles. This caring attitude was part of her vision of the school she knew Ellis to be. She embodies the School motto, Esse Quam Videri: “To be, rather than to seem”. We wish her happiness and relaxation as she begins a new chapter. She has our gratitude, admiration, and love. More Power to Her!
Courtney Muse Chair, The Ellis School Board of Trustees
CAMPUS NEWS AWARDS
STEAM POWERED GIRLS
PENNSYLVANIA JUNIOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
The STEAM Powered Girls finished their 2016–2017 FIRST LEGO
Twelve Ellis students were awarded either first or second place
League season at the Western PA Grand Championships at La Roche
at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) Regional
College. Impressed by their design and programming presentations,
Competition held at Duquesne University. Several students won
the judges awarded them special recognition in both categories! The
additional special awards of merit as well. PJAS is a statewide
girls overall season was particularly impressive as they recorded the
organization that promotes and encourages science and mathematics
second-highest score in their division for 2016–2017.
research and analysis among junior and senior high school students.
DISNEY DREAMERS
SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS
Hand-picked from thousands of applicants, Lauren
The Ellis School continues to have a
Jasper, Class of 2019, was accepted into the tenth
strong showing at the Scholastic Art &
annual Disney Dreamers Academy. The Disney
Writing Awards, winning a total of 98
Dreamers Academy is a four-day event at Walt
awards among 68 different students!
Disney World in Orlando that gives high school
Annual outstanding Scholastic Art &
students a jump-start on making their dreams come
Writing Award showings are a testament
true. Lauren worked toward her goal of becoming
to Ellis students’ creative talents, hard
an architect at Disney Dreamers where she attended
work, and dedication in the studio, and
workshops, heard from keynote speakers, and worked
a nod to Ellis’ incredible Visual Arts
with industry experts to get one step closer to
faculty. The 16 Ellis Gold Key winners are
achieving her dream.
automatically entered into the National Judging competition in New York City.
5 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Spring 2017
VISITORS
BODIOGRAPHY
JONATHAN AUXIER
CHARLES ALTMAN
The Bodiography Contemporary Ballet
New York Times best-selling author,
Charles Altman, former Performing Arts
company performed for Lower School
Jonathan Auxier, visited Ellis for a special
faculty member, school archivist, and Ellis
students and highlighted the importance
assembly for Middle and Upper School
parent and grandparent, spoke to Lower
of body positivity, self-care, and wellness
students. Auxier graduated from Carnegie
School students about the history of the
through dance. Bodiography places
Mellon University with an M.F.A. in
The Ellis School. To celebrate the
special focus on healthy, athletic, and
Dramatic Writing and is the author of
Centennial, Altman walked students
non-stereotypical ballet bodies and
young adult literature Peter Nimble and
through 100 years of all-girls education at
performs inspiring dances in classic ballet
His Fantastic Eyes, bestseller The Night
Ellis and highlighted memorable school
technique to bring the beauty of dance to
Gardener, and his newest novel Sophie
moments, changes, and accolades.
all forms and audiences.
Quire and the Last Storyguard.
SERVICE LEARNING
GUILD COOKS DINNER AT EAST END COOPERATIVE MINISTRIES
GRADE 1 FUNDRAISER FOR GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK
The Upper School Guild, along with Upper School History Teacher,
First grade students teamed up with the Greater Pittsburgh
Rick Malmstrom, partnered with East End Cooperative Ministries
Community Food Bank to raise money for the Kids Campaign to End
(EECM) to cook and serve dinner to local men’s shelter residents.
Hunger and fight food insecurity in the local community. Students
EECM provides everything from a warm meal and a place to sleep, to
went above and beyond their initial goal of $500 and raised $1,800,
educational and prevention programs for locals in need.
totaling 9,000 meals for local families!
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 6
ATHLETICS
VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY
MIDDLE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
MIDDLE SCHOOL FIELD HOCKEY A TEAM
MIDDLE SCHOOL FIELD HOCKEY B TEAM Defending champions, the Ellis Varsity Field Hockey team, earned a 3-1 victory over Shady Side Academy in the WPIAL Class 1A championship game on Tuesday, November 1. This is the third title in a row for the team and their seventh overall. Cross Country standout and team MVP, Louise Finnstrom, Class of 2019, represented Ellis at the PIAA State Cross Country meet and was named a SportsTown Feature Athlete
VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY
VARSITY SOCCER
7 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Spring 2017
for her excellence in long-distance running.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER
UPPER SCHOOL CREW
VARSITY TENNIS
PERFORMING ARTS
SEUSSICAL
SEUSSICAL
ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE Ellis students shined bright under the lights this past fall as they took on dramatic and comedic plays and lively, full-hearted musicals. The Lower School stepped into the world of Dr. Seuss with their performance of the musical, Seussical Jr. In the Middle School, students showed there’s no stopping the beat with their performance of the operetta, Footloose. The Upper School took center stage for their performance of the play, An Enemy of the People.
FOOTLOOSE
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 8
EVENTS
CULTURE JAM
HOUR OF CODE
HANDMADE ARCADE
In November 2016, over 300 Pittsburgh-
Almost 400 Ellis students participated in
Ellis faculty and students ran a family
area high school students gathered
Computer Science Education Week’s Hour
drop-in activity station at Pittsburgh’s
for Culture Jam, The Ellis School’s
of Code. Lower School faculty integrated
largest independent craft fair, Handmade
student-led, annual diversity conference.
step-by-step coding activities into their
Arcade. Middle and Upper School student
The conference is designed to inspire
classroom and emphasized problem solving
volunteers participated in ‘Hands-on
discussion around diversity-related issues
and creative thinking skills. Middle and
Handmade’ to demonstrate their digital
that are relevant in high schools, the region,
Upper School students used the JavaScript
fabrication skills for more than 9,000
and the global community. The theme of
programming language to “Code the News”
attendees at the event. Volunteers helped
Culture Jam 2016 was Unity Starts With
with graphics, headlines, and video effects.
attendees use the vinyl cutter to create
YOU, arguing that change cannot happen
individual pieces, like a dog, bike, or person,
if everyone waits for the next person to act.
to place on the Pittsburgh skyline which was
Throughout the day, students celebrated
then added to a large banner to celebrate
diversity, promoted empathy, and discussed
the City of Pittsburgh’s Bicentennial and
social justice in student-led workshops.
The Ellis School’s Centennial. This unique opportunity showcased Ellis students by empowering them to participate in their community as artists beyond the classroom.
GOOGLE GEEK STREET FAIR In October 2016, The Ellis School joined other community partners for the first-ever Pittsburgh Google Geek Street Fair. The Fair is an interactive event that inspired students to pursue careers in STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math. Ellis students interacted with attendees by leading the way in STEM-based educational activities like tinkering with catalyst kits, testing Sharpie solubility, and vinyl cutting. The street fair showcased Ellis as a tech-savvy hub in the local space as students showed off their technology and maker skills.
9 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Spring 2017
YOU can make these opportunities possible Now is the time to invest in the next generation of Ellis girls. Your support provides rich and wide-ranging opportunities for every student at Ellis. The Ellis Fund is made up of hundreds of unrestricted gifts and helps offset yearly operating expenses. A gift to the Ellis Fund ensures that we can continue to prepare, empower, and inspire each and every girl through an excellent education in an all-girls environment. Make your gift today at www.theellisschool.org/give
NOTED
and
QUOTED
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: CATE SAUER, CLASS OF 2023 had her drawing
University of Virginia: HOLLAND BANSE ’06 was awarded a $20,000
featured on the 2016 Make-A-Wish holiday
fellowship to study effective learning
card. Cate’s artwork symbolized her wish that
environments for Latino English-language
people find the best in each other.
learner students.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: LOUISE FINNSTROM, CLASS OF 2019 was
MIT Technology Review: JEAN YANG ’04 was named to the prestigious
named SportsTown’s featured athlete for her
“INNOVATORS UNDER 35” list by MIT
excellence in cross country running and ran
Technology Review. Yang was recognized
in the PIAA State Cross country meet.
for her work on a programming model that bakes security into applications.
PR Web: LUCY FATO ’84 was appointed Managing Director, Head of the Americas
New Pittsburgh Courier: JESSICA RUFFIN ’00 was honored as one of
and Global General Counsel at Nardello
the region’s most distinguished African
& Co. Fato was named one of Ethisphere
American women at the New Pittsburgh
Magazine’s “2015 Attorneys Who Matter” for
Courier’s Women of Excellence Luncheon.
her dedication to furthering corporate ethics,
This honor recognizes African American
and will oversee work for clients throughout
women who have made an impact in their
North and South America.
career and/or community.
Pittsburgh Business Times: DEBORAH ROSEN FIDEL ’84 was
Pittsburgh Magazine: NGANI NDIMBIE ’05 made Pittsburgh Magazine’s
named the first full-time executive director
2016 “40 Under 40 List” for her work with
at Yes, You Can Dance! Fidel brings more
Traffic21, a multidisciplinary research
than two decades of public sector and
initiative of Carnegie Mellon University
nonprofit experience to the organization,
that finds solutions for and ideas to
which is dedicated to transforming lives
improve transportation in Pittsburgh.
through the power of dance.
ATHENA Awards: BAYH SULLIVAN ’02 was nominated for the 2016 ATHENA Young Professional Award. This yearly award recognizes talented female professionals and empowers women in business to pursue leadership opportunities and strive for excellence. Since returning to Ellis in the summer of 2014 as Director of Enrollment Management, Sullivan has worked tirelessly and enthusiastically to support Ellis’ recruitment, retention, and financial aid efforts, and she is a valued member of our community.
11 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Spring 2017
Virginia Yaruss, Ellis Parent “I am so grateful that our girls grew up in a place that values diversity and learns from many cultures!”
“Thank YOU to The Ellis School for making me who I am.” Sami Schopper ’08
Chrissie de la Garza ’98 “I am prouder than ever to be an Ellis girl. Thank you for everything!”
Tara McElfresh, Ellis Parent “It has been such a joy to watch my daughter’s love of learning grow at Ellis. She comes home everyday eager to tell me what she’s learning and her excitement is palpable. Our family is very grateful to be a part of the Ellis community!”
Peggy Mathieson Conver ’73 “If you have a daughter and you live in the Pittsburgh area, you owe it to her to send her to Ellis. She’ll learn and believe in her soul that she can do anything and then she’ll head into the world and do it!”
Christa Brown, Ellis Parent “The Ellis School provides a well rounded, academic education for my daughters. The teachers work to meet each student’s individual needs. It is a wonderful learning environment.”
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 12
Preparing for Today: One Hundred Years of Ellis History The courage of Sara Frazer Ellis’ original vision prepared The Ellis School for one hundred years of growth. The history of Miss Ellis’ School and its ensuing expansion spans many generations, telling the story of the social, economic, and political conditions of the region. 13 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Spring 2017
The Ellis School property at Fifth and Negley
Ellis was a driving force in preparing female community and business leaders, and despite a century’s worth of change in academic ideology and attitudes towards women, The Ellis School has remained committed to all-girls education with over 3,000 girls graduating since the doors opened in 1916. Ellis has retained many of its traditions over the past century, and has revitalized many to stay relevant. As we stand at the doorway to a new century, the innovative curriculum, all-girls environment, and inspiring network of Ellis alumnae are deeply needed—as much today as they were 100 years ago, four years before women had the right to vote. In homage to all of the girls who have journeyed through the halls of Ellis—prize winners, entrepreneurs, scientists, athletes, artists—Ellis celebrates the past and future of all-girls education in Pittsburgh.
MISS SARA FRAZER ELLIS: 1916–1941 Miss Sara Frazer Ellis taught in Pittsburgh schools for several years during the turn of the century, and as a college-educated woman, was dismayed by the typical course of study for girls. When the Pennsylvania College for Women—now Chatham University— stopped offering college preparatory courses, Miss Ellis founded the Ellis Preparatory School in 1916 at 4860 Ellsworth Avenue. She proposed to offer the daughters of Pittsburgh families an education that would prepare them to meet the demanding standards of Eastern women’s colleges—such as her alma mater, Bryn Mawr College. Miss Ellis asserted that the “aim of the Ellis School is to prepare a girl to take her place as a responsible, open-minded, and clear thinking citizen.” She had 41 students and two other teachers
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 14
“In Miss Ellis’ day, the headmistress would decide the college to which each graduate would matriculate. Today, Ellis seniors apply to an average of 7.2 colleges and universities, and are accepted to schools as close to home as University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon, and Chatham, as distant as the University of Edinburgh and University of St. Andrews, and as renowned as Stanford, Harvard, Yale, MIT, and Dartmouth.”
Sara Frazer Ellis
The first graduating class in 1921
besides herself. Her vision of rigorous academic preparation for girls resulted in challenging courses that included chemistry, physics, history, Latin, French, mathematics, and art history. In the late 1920s, Miss Ellis made a series of bold leadership moves to fortify the school’s reputation and future in light of the America’s growing economic uncertainty. In 1929, she purchased the home adjacent to 4860 Ellsworth Avenue to expand classrooms and add space for a growing student body. And in a decision which many consider to be her most forward-thinking, a few weeks after the Wall Street Crash of October 1929, Miss Ellis incorporated the school under a nonprofit charter and sold it to a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees as The Ellis School. These sound decisions prepared the School to weather the hardships of the Great Depression.
GROWTH AND EXPANSION: 1941–1966 On the eve of World War II, Ellis celebrated its first quarter
Robin Newham Head of School
century. By 1941, Ellis’ enrollment had grown to more than 200 students, taught by a faculty of 27. Miss Ellis had planned from the beginning to retire after 25 years of leadership, and trustees selected Harriet S. Sheldon, another Bryn Mawr College alumna, to succeed her. Miss Ellis retired at a time when Ellis was thriving despite the effects of World War II. Ellis students and families were deeply involved in world events, as many Pittsburghers were serving in the military. At Ellis, two Friday assemblies a month were devoted
15 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Spring 2017
Looking over plans for the Middle School in 1957
to current events, including student presentations and open
The smaller, newer Arbuthnot House was slated for the Lower
discussions on the daily news. Students knitted and rolled bandages
School which would be extended from kindergarten to grade 4. The
for soldiers; welcomed home Pearl Harbor heroes; and paraded in
older building on the property would be torn down and replaced
1943 as part of the Schools-at-War Jeep Campaign, one of many
by a new building to house the Middle and Upper Schools. The
promotional campaigns during World War II to sell war bonds.
Arbuthnot House had the intimacy and familiarity in design
In 1944, British born and educated Miss Marjorie Tilley became Headmistress at Ellis. Miss Tilley continued the tradition of excellence in academics with strong extracurricular activities, but she and the Trustees were well aware that the Ellsworth Avenue
of the “old” school, while the new construction was an exciting opportunity for cutting-edge classrooms, an art studio, cafeteria, gymnasium, and auditorium. Thanks to the leadership and community support, the building
buildings could not contain all of the students. In 1947, the Board
had a groundbreaking on May 26, 1958, which Miss Ellis attended.
of Trustees purchased the property of the late Dr. and Mrs. Ogden
Lower School students moved into their quarters in late 1958,
Edwards—an entire city block bound by Fifth, Negley, Kentucky,
having walked hand-in-hand from the Edwards campus.
and Ivy streets. Ellis girls in the 1950s were exploring and challenging norms,
The burgeoning Civil Rights movement and a brand-new school expanded the Ellis vision even further. In 1958, Ellis hosted its
and many new extracurricular clubs were formed. Miss Tilley
first American Field Service exchange student, Ariane Hoesslin of
encouraged these, and involved Ellis in citywide projects that
Austria, thus starting a tradition of exchange students that would
included other schools. Students participated in science fairs, a
see Ellis students study abroad, as well. Between 1958 and 1974,
geography project with city and county schools, and a students’
Ellis hosted nine guest students from Europe, Africa, Australia,
forum on world affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.
and South America. With Ellis alumnae all over the world, in 1961
Dr. Marion Hope Hamilton, an English teacher from Wellesley College, took the reigns in 1955. An energetic woman, Dr. Hamilton stressed in her introduction to the handbook that the values
the Board of Trustees established an Alumnae Office to assist the Alumnae Association. In 1962, Miss Ellis passed away and the School looked ahead
of responsibility, tolerance, open-mindedness, and meaningful
to the administration of Mrs. Helen Mason Moore, who became
connections to other cultures were key to the Ellis experience. Dr.
Headmistress that same year. According to former performing arts
Hamilton and the Board made Ellis growth a priority, and in 1957
teacher, Charles Altman, and retired Upper School Director and
announced the purchase of the Arbuthnot property adjacent to
former Acting Head of School, Judith (Judy) COHEN Callomon
Mellon Park—Ellis’ current location today.
’54, much of the credit for Ellis’ stability in the unrest of the 1960s can be attributed to Mrs. Moore. Judy says, “she was an amazing
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 16
Ellis students explore robots in the 1980s
woman, besides being the smartest human being I have ever
Ellis girls have always focused on math and science
A sense of community and purpose carried Ellis through the
met.” Her progressive innovations included defining the positions
following turbulent years. Judy recalls the 1968 riots in Pittsburgh
of Department Heads and consulting with them on important
when Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.
academic policies, encouraging seniors to participate in real-world
“When Martin Luther King, Jr. died, the city went up in smoke and
learning through independent study and senior projects, bringing
I taught in a room that looked down Fifth Avenue. The girls in class
in outside speakers for weekly assemblies, and opening the School’s
were saying, ‘that doesn’t sound like regular traffic.’ I pulled the
facilities to the community.
curtains open and there were trucks from Hunt Armory going down Fifth Avenue with men wearing helmets and carrying guns.” But
CHANGING ROLES FOR WOMEN: 1966–1991
turbulent times were to continue. Elizabeth “Liz” SUCCOP Altman ’70, recalls, “at my graduation in 1970, some of my classmates wore black armbands. We were protesting the war in Vietnam and the
The gold cover of the 1966 edition of The Ellis Newsletter heralded the fiftieth anniversary of The Ellis School. An article about The Ellis Girl written with light humor, states, “perhaps
Kent State massacre.” That same year, the Board of Trustees, responding to what Mrs. Moore called “the tidal wave of coeducation which had swept
her manners are lamentably ungenteel, but she is racing to keep up with the dictates of a demanding generation. She should be a nervous wreck, but she’s as capable and necessary as the president of a steel company, and while the girls in 1916 optimistically faced the future in their class motto of ‘The best is yet to be,’ today’s Ellis girls seem to feel the best is now.” Indeed, the National Organization for Women (NOW) was formed that same year, inspired by the failure of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to enforce Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of gender. Mrs. Moore said that Ellis was “sending our graduates out into a far more complex and difficult world than that of their parents. […It is] an era of scientific and social revolution.”
17 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Spring 2017
Miss Ellis asserted that the “aim of the Ellis School is to prepare a girl to take her place as a responsible, open-minded, and clear thinking citizen.”
The Arts remain a cornerstone of education at Ellis
over the colleges,” decided to look into its advisability for Ellis. In 1971, Miss Janet Jacobs succeeded Helen Moore as Head of School and in the fall of 1972, after considerable research, much discussion, and exchanges with Shady Side Academy about a merger, the Board of Trustees decided that Ellis would best meet its goals by remaining an all-girls school. Judy recalled the announcement in an oft-repeated story about Ellis. “Barbara Aaron, who was our first female chair of the Board of Trustees, came out and said ‘we’ve called you here tonight to make an announcement that Ellis has been offered a merger with Shady Side Academy, and we need for you all to know that we are not going to merge with Shady Side…we will continue to be who we are and who we have been.’ The minute she said that, students started beating on the backs of the seats. There were over three-hundred girls in there, the whole place shook! Everyone was thrilled— students, parents, and teachers were all thrilled. There wasn’t any question about how everyone felt.” Miss Jacobs had been a Fulbright exchange teacher in England
“Ellis is a unique educational institution that creates a one-ofa-kind environment for girls. Ellis students take action, problem-solve, and are committed to making the world better. At this historic moment, I am very proud to lead this wonderful school that has provided a world-class education for girls in the Pittsburgh region since the day Miss Sara Frazer Ellis first opened the doors one hundred years ago.”
and had considerable experience traveling and studying abroad.
Robin Newham
She wanted to develop that spirit at Ellis, and in 1974, announced
Head of School
May mini-courses for the Upper School. It was the first program of its kind in Pittsburgh, offering more than fifty academic and nonacademic courses. Courses ranged widely: self-defense, upholstery and furniture refinishing, embryology, auto mechanics, and a trip to Florence, Italy for a survey of art. Mini-courses, still a hallmark of the Upper School experience, extend students’ awareness of their interests, skills, and abilities.
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 18
To
100 Years of Ellis Girls
HER VOICE
will always be heard.
HER INDIVIDUALISM will always be respected.
HER TALENTS
will always be nurtured.
HER DREAMS
will always be celebrated.
HER SPIRIT
will never be stifled.
Upper School dedication in 2000
Miss Jacobs also turned her attention to an ambitious tenyear development plan to address burgeoning infrastructure and technological needs. This resulted in an expanded library, a new science wing, additional Middle School facilities, a mini-gym, remodeled fine arts rooms, and new playgrounds. One of the most significant achievements of the period was the construction of a new Lower School building. Dedicated in 1988, the Alice S. Beckwith Building featured its own science lab, music room, and gymnasium.
Upper School dedication in 2000
author, Mary Pipher to address standing-room-only crowds. In 1994, Upper School faculty again made improvements to the academic program to reflect the changing times by adding four new courses that included Twentieth-Century International History, Environmental Science, Instrumental Music, and AP Studio Art and in the mid 90s the Ellis uniform underwent a fashion update. A committee of parents and Ellis administrators worked together to come up with a new official uniform, moving from the old tunics to plaid kilts and green shaker sweaters or blazers. While the school
LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD: 1991–2016
colors remained green and white, for the first time, Ellis students could be seen in new plaid kilts, shorts, and even rugby and polo shirts in red, blue, green, and black.
As Ellis turned 75 in 1991, many new programs and offerings reflected the changing needs of Ellis families. To satisfy the need for reliable, trustworthy, and competent after-school childcare, Ellis began offering after-school programs for students. As women joined the workforce in droves and began working longer hours, Ellis families knew their daughters were in a safe environment while still engaged in intellectual and social stimulation after the school day ended. Students also dove into computer science for the first time when Ellis was chosen to participate in a project of the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center. Ellis girls used one of the most powerful general scientific computers in the world to learn about science in 1991. In 1992, a search committee selected Ms. Rebecca T. Upham as Head of School. Her administration brought in visiting speakers such as columnist and writer, Anna Quindlen; astronaut, Sally Ride; researcher, Carol Gilligan; First Lady of Egypt, Jehan Sadat; and
21 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Spring 2017
Ms. Upham’s administration also oversaw the construction of the Hillman Family Building, a new Alumnae Hall, and athletic facilities. The Hillman Family Building opened in 2000, and in 2001 the new Alumnae Hall and regulation-sized Janet’s Gym were completed. In 2001, Ellis alumna, beloved history teacher, and Director of the Upper School, Judy COHEN Calllomon ‘54 took over as Acting Head of School for the 2001–2002 school year. Judy remembers 9/11 in vivid detail, and recalled that her reaction was similar to when Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot—her immediate goal during the crisis was to facilitate an environment of safety, security, and community at Ellis. “We had parents showing up at school to pick up their daughters and I told those parents that their daughters needed to stay in school and needed to know that Ellis was a safe space for them.” 9/11 changed the nation, and the world, forever— and affected The Ellis School deeply. Charles says, “we created
Athletic Field dedication in 2014
safety plans and escape plans immediately at the School.” Judy is
the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; and in honoring remarks from
lauded for her leadership during this challenging time.
Congressman Mike Doyle in the Congressional Record of the 112th
Upon completion of a national search, Dr. Mary H. Grant began her
Congress, First Session. Another robotics team called The Girls FIRST—half of whose members
tenure as Head of School in 2002.
were Ellis students, as well—won
The 2000s brought about a flurry of new programs and changes at Ellis. In 2003, the Honor Society in World Languages was launched; in 2004 the first school nurse and a school counselor joined Ellis; in 2005 the Diversity Committee adopted a new name: Ellisians for an Inclusive Community. And finally, 2007 was a big year for the Ellis Lower School as the first pre-kindergarten class joined the Ellis community.
“The Ellis School opened 100 years ago on Ellsworth Avenue with 41 students and a handful of teachers. Today, Ellis has almost 400 students and 63 talented faculty members.”
challenging coursework in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); school communications moved to digital platforms; and faculty began using learning-management software for their classes and homework assignments. As the School’s STEM offerings grew, recognition of Ellis girls’ achievements and contributions grew locally and nationally. The Girls of Steel Robotics Team, half of whom were Ellis students, was featured on ABC News’ Tech This Out!; in an article in
and was featured in an article by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. STEAM Powered Girls, the Ellis Middle School robotics team, was awarded second place at the Sara Heinz House Regional contest in 2012, which earned them a spot in the Western PA First Lego League Grand Championship. of School in December 2013. Under
Randol Benedict served as Head of Mrs. Benedict’s leadership, Ellis implemented more dynamic and
FIRST Robotics competition
Robin Newham was named Head
Dr. Grant retired in 2008 and A. School from 2009 to 2013. Under
the Rookie All-Star award at the
Mrs. Newham’s leadership, Ellis launched a new strategic plan and branding campaign. The Ellis School’s academic program continued to improve as new, innovative teaching methods were adopted. Stanford University’s Institute of Design recognized Ellis as one of the leading K–12 design thinking programs in the country in 2013, one of fewer than 50 schools in the country on the list. In 2014, a state-of-the-art, regulation-sized athletic field which was permanently lined for soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse was unveiled. From the days of Ellis girls playing sports on the front
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 22
The Ellis School celebrates 100 years
lawn and in the entryway of the original Ellsworth house, to games
Mrs. Newham officially announced her retirement plans in
at Hunt Armory and the YMCA, Ellis’s thriving athletic community
2016 after 36 years of service to the School and Macon Finley will
finally had facilities that matched their abilities and aspirations. At
become the fifteenth Head of School in Ellis’ one hundred year
the ribbon cutting ceremony, Robin said, “we’re not just leveling the
history beginning on July 1, 2017.
playing field—we are offering girls the opportunity to practice, play, and compete on one of the finest playing fields in the region.”
The Ellis School has always provided an excellent education to girls, and it always will. As we enter the next century of all-girls education, The Ellis School is devoted to advancing the institution
THE NEXT CENTURY: 2016 AND BEYOND
and sustaining a tradition of success. Guided by expert faculty, Ellis girls are uniquely equipped with the confidence and authority to be well prepared, personally empowered, and intellectually
Much has changed during the last one hundred years and Ellis
inspired to succeed in school and in life. Supported within a diverse
is no exception, but what has remained constant throughout the
community and by an enduring alumnae network of talented and
decades is the School’s commitment to preparing, empowering,
successful women, every Ellis girl develops the skills and sense of
and inspiring each and every girl through an excellent education
self that will propel her ongoing success as a lifelong learner.
in an all-girls environment. Liz says, “we recently came close, but we still haven’t seen America’s first female president. At Ellis, we’ve been preparing young women to become president since 1916. Looking ahead, I certainly think it is possible for Madame President to be an Ellis girl.”
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For the next one hundred years and beyond, Ellis will continue to leverage excellence to create subsequent generations of confident, competent, female change-makers. “Ellis has been ahead of the game since the beginning and we are just waiting for the rest of the world to catch up,” Liz adds with a smile.
CONNECT & COMMUNICATE
Receive updates on upcoming alumnae events, follow current campus news, and get a behind-the-scenes peek into student life when you follow The Ellis School on social media!
“In 1959, Ellis moved to its current location on Fifth Avenue, and the most recent expansion occurred with the completion of our beautiful regulation-sized athletic field in 2014. Miss Ellis would be so pleased with The Ellis School of today.�
We are posting, tweeting, and instagramming all things Ellis to keep our growing community network in the know. Connect and communicate as we share and celebrate Ellis across all social channels. @TheEllisSchool #EllisGirls #MorePowerToHer
Robin Newham, Head of School
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 24
EMPOWERED IN THE MOMENT
O
R A B T E I NG L E C R E D D N YEA U H E RS N
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A year-long celebration of The Ellis School’s Centennial culminated with a gala on October 15, 2016. Additionally, there were numerous events throughout the year that brought together students, friends, parents, and alumnae in innovative and exciting ways to celebrate this historic occasion in Ellis’ one hundred year history.
Selin Geylani, Class of 2025
These events are courtesy of the many individuals in the Ellis community who are committed to creating a place where girls are valued. Ellis is grateful to the More Power to Her committee, the Advancement Team, and the many faculty and staff for their dedication and hard work. A very special thank you to the sponsors who provided support throughout the year—with special gratitude to UPMC Health Plan and the Nimick Forbesway Foundation.
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 26
KICKOFF CELEBRATION
On Wednesday, January 13, 2016, The Ellis School officially kicked off its Centennial year celebrations with a ceremony where City of Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, and Councilman Dan Gilman, presented the School with multiple proclamations in honor of the one hundred year anniversary. On January 19, 2016, Head of School, Robin Newham visited City County building in downtown Pittsburgh to accept a proclamation declaring the day as “Ellis School Anniversary Day”.
BILL GODFREY
In February 2016, visiting artist, Bill Godfrey, created and directed a two-phase special installation project to celebrate and commemorate The Ellis School’s Centennial. Godfrey, a resident of Western Pennsylvania, is renowned for his large-scale banners and mobiles in public spaces. He specializes in creating interactive children’s activities such as fabric fishing ponds, butterfly trees, spinning art wheels, fantasy animal murals, and walk-through mazes. Godfrey had girls split up into “family groups” where they were given strips of fabric stenciled with the Ellis leaf and the number 100. Family groups in The Ellis School are comprised of mixed age girls and include even the youngest learners. Older students guided younger students as they filled in the shapes with paint, providing a bonding and mentoring experience for all girls and creating a true community project in the tradition of Ellis sisterhood. Godfrey collected the painted strips during a mini-course in May. Entitled “Sewing Up the Centennial: Installation Project with Bill Godfrey”, Upper School students joined him to cut, sew, and construct the pieces. Students used their creativity and design skills in the selection and decoration of pieces that were then bound into leaf forms by wrapping the fabric around metal frames. The final piece is now a permanent installation in Alumnae Hall, suspended from the ceiling to look like floating leaves beautifully lit by the natural lighting emanating from the skylight.
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100TH DAY OF SCHOOL
On February 18, 2016, Ellis Lower School students celebrated one hundred days of school as well as one hundred years of The Ellis School. Students celebrated along with Head of School, Robin Newham, at a special birthday party for Ellis that featured cupcakes, decorations, and fun. By making time for social interaction during the school day, Lower School girls learn that joyfulness and appreciation of one another are fundamental to our School community.
SATURDAY LIGHT BRIGADE
Throughout the 2016 spring semester, a course entitled “The Centennial Laureate Interview Project” was held in partnership with Saturday Light Brigade Studios at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. The Saturday Light Brigade (SLB) is a public radio show that uses radio and audio to encourage, amplify, share, and archive the ideas, stories, and feelings of children, youth, and families. Students interviewed the thirteen Ellis Centennial Laureates live, over the phone, or via Skype video conferencing in order to ask questions and document the Laureates’ stories. The end
LAUREATE CELEBRATION CEREMONY
product was a permanent audio installation of these stories at Ellis in honor of the Centennial. The final installation can be found in the stained glass hallway outside of Alumnae Hall and Janet’s Gym.
Reunion weekend began on Friday, October 14, 2016 with a Celebration Assembly in the morning for the thirteen inaugural Centennial Laureates. Assembly attendees included Ellis alumnae, Middle and Upper School students, and special guests. The Ellis Centennial Laureates were chosen to represent distinguished alumnae across the globe who have taken the confidence and talents cultivated through their Ellis education to make deep and lasting footprints in the world. Each laureate is an alumna of The Ellis School, a groundbreaker, and a leader in one or more fields: politics, the arts, science, medicine, technology, research, nonprofit, or business. And, in true Ellis spirit, they are leaders in their communities. For each Laureate, Ellis was a foundation and a launchpad for success.
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 28
Jean DAVIS Falk ‘56 and I attended the Ellis Centennial Gala at Carnegie Music Hall in October. The event was completely elegant and glorious, it could have been a Mellon event! The fact that it was mostly alumnae from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s didn’t dim our joy. The evening, program, and magazine—it was all so wonderful! HYDIE RIAL HOUSTON ’56
LAUREATE PANEL DISCUSSION
After a Centennial luncheon, girls in grades 7 through 12 attended a special panel discussion moderated by Ellis graduate and Director of Enrollment Management, Bayh SULLIVAN ’02. Ten of the thirteen Laureates were in attendance to share their inspirations, challenges, and wisdom. The Laureates’ stories and insights set a powerful tone for the rest of the weekend’s events. Emerging from the panel were themes of risk, confidence, sexism, grit, lifelong learning, determination, and girl power.
I had the good fortune to be passing through Pittsburgh at the time of the Centennial celebration and was able to attend the Friday morning event at the School with the students where they celebrated the Centennial Laureates. It was great to be part of the energy in the auditorium, and also to see the current facilities! SUSAN HIGINBOTHAM HOLCOMBE ’58
CENTENNIAL GALA
On Saturday, October 15, 2016, the Ellis Centennial Gala was hosted by Sally Wiggin from WTAE-TV and featured a multimedia presentation and a memorable performance by the Ellis Glee Club. The inauguration of the Laureates was a moving tribute to the women and to The Ellis School’s legacy. Each Centennial Laureate was introduced against a backdrop that showed a photo of the Laureate taken while they were at Ellis, juxtaposed with a current photo. The thirteen Centennial Laureates were then bestowed with medals by current Ellis students. After the ceremony, alumnae, parents, teachers, trustees, and friends of the School mingled with one another in the Grand Hall, feasting on dinner and desserts and dancing to live music. Robin Newham, Head of School, called the weekend’s events “a demonstration of our vibrant school community and a fine moment for our School.”
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Ellis did a phenomenal job for its 100th Anniversary Gala. GEZ EBERT ’62
Ellis Glee Club
Ellis Tiger and Allyson Larkin (parent)
I was back in Pittsburgh last October for the Ellis Centennial— it was a lovely affair and very nicely done. KARLA VAN HORN MIHM ’84
Class of 2006: Anna SHABALOV, Fonda CHEN, Katie RULLO, Courtney MYHRUM Watts, Paulette CUTRUZZULA
Albertha Graham and Kezia ELLISON ’01
Centennial Co-Chairs: Andrew R. Watson, Ritu Thamman, Blythe JONES Lyons’73, and Richard Reed
My fiancé Craig and I will be married in Pittsburgh, so we’ve been making lots of trips back and forth. One was for the Ellis Centennial Gala, which was so much fun—great to see Ms. Upham, Mrs. Callomon, and Mrs. Newham again! COURTNEY SYSKOWSKI ’00
Class of 2001: Cristine DAVIS, Kezia ELLISON, Laureate Shira TOEPLITZ Center, Heather GREEN Skurek, and Whitney PATROSS
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 30
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
LUKA PIERCE Luka Pierce, Class of 2017, travels to India for Summer Leadership Program
Whether it’s learning the value of leadership skills and gaining
Luka had the opportunity to explore and travel to four Indian
a global perspective, or finding a new love for Indian food, Ellis
states—Delhi, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. There she
senior, Luka Pierce, gained more than just a stamp on her passport
saw the sights, including the Taj Mahal; participated in workshops;
when she traveled to India this past summer.
offered insights in debates and reflections; and met with specialists,
Luka found out about The Experiment in International Living summer abroad program from her Ellis college counselor and was intrigued by the fact that it was fully-funded and focused
activists, and physicians to better understand the community and culture of public health in the region. The highlight of the trip was her twelve-day homestay with an
on an area of personal interest: public health. After completing
Indian family in Satoli, a village in the foothills of the Himalayas.
an extensive application process and participating in a Skype
Living with a local Indian family showed Luka another side to life in
interview, Luka was granted one of the fifteen spots in the
India, one she did not quite expect.
exclusive six-week program. Luka’s mother, Zoe Guy, says, “Ellis enabled Luka to participate in
“My host family wasn’t really that different from my family here. They weren’t quite as traditional as other families and spoke
the program by giving her the information and providing her with
English well, so I was surprised there were not as many cultural
the confidence to pursue this opportunity to the end. Ellis has clearly
differences,” says Luka.
provided her with more than just a solid academic foundation.” The program agenda included intensive leadership training
Her entire host family worked for Aarohi, a public health program that focuses on rural Uttarakhand’s women and children.
sessions and outings in Washington D.C., followed by four weeks
Aarohi provides healthcare and education in the villages, and works
in India, and a return-trip to the School of International Training in
to sustain the livelihood of the community. Luka was able to apply
southern Vermont for a debrief and project planning session.
what she learned in Ellis’ Global Leadership by Design course
“When we got to D.C., I realized it was a very thorough program which really piqued my interest and made me more excited for India. We went to the United Nations and U.S. Peace Institute, met
during her first-person experience with Aarohi, which opened her eyes and mind to the state of health in Northern India. After returning from India, Luka debriefed with other students
with lobbyists, and prepared with lengthy leadership workshops.
in Vermont to reflect on her experiences and brainstorm around
There was a wide range of people there, and I didn’t feel any
her senior project. Luka is in the midst of completing her senior
barriers between myself and anyone I met,” says Luka.
project and she knows her summer abroad experience prepared her for the challenge.
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“My attitude has changed since coming back from India. I’m more self-confident and I’m not wasting time doubting myself. The program gave me a bigger perspective of how large the world is, how many people are out there. It gave me a more positive global outlook, it made me realize I can inherently trust new people, even if they’re different from me.” Luka brought more than a fresh mindset and leadership skills home from India—she also brought home a love for Indian food. She’s been making jeera rice with cumin and dahl when she can. From learning a bit of conversational Hindu and becoming enamored with the regional food, Luka dove head first into this prestigious program which prepared her not only for her senior project, but for life after Ellis. “Learning to take initiative and not being afraid to do so is probably the biggest thing I learned from the program. If I hadn’t taken a chance on applying,I would have never had this awesome opportunity. I really gained perspective in positivity. I learned through project planning workshops that things aren’t always going
“The program gave me a bigger perspective of how large the world is, how many people are out there. It gave me a more positive global outlook, it made me realize I can inherently trust new people, even if they’re different from me.”
to be perfect or follow a certain path—but that’s okay. I would love to study abroad again and return to India someday.”
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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
KIM MECHLING Lower School Science Teacher and Technology Integration Coordinator
Kim Mechling keeps the Lower School on the forefront of innovation in her role as the Lower School Technology Integration Coordinator. Whether she’s searching for new math-based apps for students in grade 4, or teaching students in grade 1 how to create iMovie reflections on recent required reading—Kim’s dedication to her students and their success is infectious. Her primary focus in this new role is to integrate technology seamlessly into lessons so students can understand new concepts and develop new twenty-first century skills. By enriching the curriculum with technology, she is equipping each student with the tools they need to comprehend, learn, and problem solve in today’s world. “My main goal is to expose students to opportunities and
retention, technology in the classroom increases the fun factor. “My students are excited about technology because they’re learning new skills. They’re learning how to use the tools that they see older girls and adults using. We’re showing them that these devices can be used in a variety of ways—it opens the door for them. They’re exploring new things in a hands-on fashion. Here at Ellis, they can create things they dream up, write about them, and reimagine them,” says Kim. From starting the Innovation Station makerspace in the Lower School, to using Hummingbird Robotics Kits, Kim is making STEM integration exciting and fun for young girls. She’s giving the Lower School faculty the tools they need to think outside the box, and turn traditional teaching methods on their heads. Lucky for Ellis, her
technology so they will possess the resources they need to excel in
innovative approach to integrating technology doesn’t just happen
school and life. I want them to be excited about and comfortable
in the traditional classroom setting either.
with technology. I want this inclusive learning environment to impact them positively so they have the confidence to speak up and say to a teacher or employer—I think I know a better way to do that,” says Kim. Kim’s focus on STEM—science, technology, engineering, and
This year Kim was inspired to start Ellis’ own Mini-Maker Fair after attending Google’s Geek Street Fair with grade 4 students. At Ellis’ faire, girls attended teacher-led workshops on podcasting, green screens, and vinyl cutting. From there, she started working with Director of Educational Technology, Tim Howard, on a Lower
math—education introduces cutting-edge teaching methods
School Podcast. New this year, the podcast gives Ellis girls a
and trends into the Lower School classrooms and beyond. She
chance to host, draft scripts, explore topics of interest, and provide
acknowledges that some students learn differently, and that
informative, educational information to parents, other students, and
further advances in technology can boost understanding so girls
faculty. These tie-ins to the technology and science programs in the
can continue to make gains in science and technology related
Lower School create an interdisciplinary approach where students
fields. Not only does the integration improve comprehension and
learn across disciplines to further comprehension and enhance
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understanding. By weaving STEM into every classroom, students
troubleshoot via new ways of learning. Kim’s dedication to STEM
are naturally interested and motivated to learn more about science,
success in the Lower School ensures our girls are prepared to
technology, engineering, and math. Kim’s future goals include
advance to the next grade with confidence.
growing the iPad pilot program, expanding the Mini-Maker Faire, and continuing to introduce new programs and applications. “Technology facilitates storytelling. And at Ellis, everybody wants to be involved. Everyone here is along for the ride. If students are struggling—faculty members notice and make a change. You don’t go unnoticed at a school like this. Ellis educators are willing to try new things without question when they might not always know the answers. We want to develop in that sense and learn new things. Together we can mix things up, try something new, and make it fun for students,” says Kim. Kim’s role in the Lower School bridges the gap between traditional textbook learning and modern methodology, so
“My main goal is to expose students to opportunities and technology so they will possess the resources they need to excel in school and life.”
students can apply lessons via real-life applications that are innovative and fun. Whether it’s avatars that bolster public speaking skills or stop motion apps that enrich students grasp of the food chain, technology in the classroom serves as a developmental research tool that enriches the Lower School curriculum. Students learn to problem solve, think critically, and
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 34
ALUMNAE SPOTLIGHT
MARTHA KEARNEY Martha KEARNEY visits Ellis all the way from Suffolk, England
BBC journalist and broadcaster Martha KEARNEY visited the
of steel. One girl appeared in a gigantic Campbells soup tin which
Ellis campus on November 3, 2016. The main presenter of BBC
I remember being amazed by. We visited a steel plant, the Heinz
Radio 4’s lunchtime news program The World at One, Kearney
factory and a bakery. I was also baffled by Valentine’s Day because
was in Pittsburgh to work on a piece about the 2016 presidential
in the United Kingdom only adults exchange cards and they are
election. She was particularly interested in exploring the region’s
always very romantic.”
diverse constituencies, “I wanted to see how the presidential race was playing out in western Pennsylvania. It was very interesting to go to a Hillary Clinton rally in Pittsburgh, but then to visit smaller towns where a number of people were supporting Donald Trump.” Born in Dublin, Ireland, Kearney grew up in an academic
Kearney was struck by the familiarity of the energy on campus that she recalled from fifty years ago. Kearney said, “There seemed to be the same warm friendly atmosphere that I recall so well from Ellis with groups of excited chatting girls everywhere […] I was pleased to see that some of the buildings were the same as
environment; her father, the historian Hugh Kearney, taught first at
I remember. In particular, it was great to stand on the stage and
Sussex and later at University of Edinburgh. Kearney came to Ellis
remember the production of Noye’s Fludde by Benjamin Britten in
when her father was on sabbatical at the University of Pittsburgh. In
which I had a small non-singing role as the sun.”
an interview by Jonathan Sale for The Independent, she recalled the welcoming environment and superb academics: “I remember being terrified of arithmetic and fractions. [… but Ellis] was a lovely school with imaginative teaching. On my last day there, I was sent on an errand and when I came back there was a large cake and presents, on my desk.” The Ellis School’s warm and welcoming environment felt
Joining a long tradition of Ellis students who have used their gifts for great artistic and social achievements, Kearney was nominated for a BAFTA award for her coverage of the Northern Ireland Peace Process in 1998. She was nominated, along with Jenni Murray, for 2004 TRIC radio presenter of the year, and won a Sony bronze award for a program on child poverty. Kearney is also an example of the Ellis legacy of lifelong learners with diverse interests
like an embracing home for the new girl from Dublin. Kearney
that include the environment. Kearney developed a passion for
remembers, “I was made to feel so welcome by all of the girls in
bees, after being married in a cottage named “Beehive.” She became
my class. I remember visiting their homes for birthday parties
a beekeeper and presented The Wonder of Bees on BBC Radio 4
where the presents were much more lavish than I was used to back
about the worldwide disappearance of bees in 2014. Her love of
home! I can also remember building a miniature log cabin and a
reading has continued as well; she has chaired and judged many
school play in which I played a Bessemer burner—it was the story
writing competitions, including the women-only Orange Prize for
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ELLIS SPOTLIGHT SERIES #HearHerRoar
From the 1967 Ellis School Yearbook - Class of 1976 Back row (L to R): D. Doskalakis, E. Cutter, P. Hazlett, D. Robinson, J. Hackney. Front row (L to R): G. Vansant, S. Aaron, M. Kearney, M.S. Bruce, L. Bruce, L. Lubic.
Fiction and the Man Booker prize. In 2015, she presented The Secret World of Lewis Carroll on BBC Radio 2. Martha Kearney’s daily broadcast can be heard and downloaded online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio.
Are you an activist passionate about a cause? An artist working on your latest masterpiece? A doctor making a difference? The Ellis School wants to hear from YOU! The Ellis Marketing and Communications Office is looking for enthusiastic alumnae to feature in our new Spotlight Series. We want to support the sisterhood and sing the praises of the 3,000 strong, empowered women in our alumnae network. We know that Ellis
“I remember being terrified of arithmetic and fractions. [… but Ellis] was a lovely school with imaginative teaching.”
girls grow into courageous, successful women who are leading the way in the workplace, at home, and in the greater community and we are committed to celebrating and sharing your success! Help us tell the Ellis story! If you are interested in participating, please contact Molly Petrilli, Marketing and Communications Manager, at petrillim@theellisschool.org.
Spring Spring 2017 2017 ELLIS ELLIS MAGAZINE MAGAZINE || 36 36
REUNION
2016
The 2016 Centennial Reunion Weekend during October 14–16, 2016, not only marked one hundred years of history, but was also history-making—drawing a record number of alumnae to the weekend’s events. The weekend included a Laureate Celebration Assembly and Panel Discussion for students, a Centennial luncheon, and a sold-out Centennial Gala at the Carnegie Music Hall. The Class of 1966 celebrated their 50th reunion as part of the festivities. Excitement had been building all year, as plans for the Centennial celebration unfolded. The Saturday night Gala, held at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland, crackled with Ellis pride and energy, as 425 people shared in celebrating a century of all-girls education and many alumnae could be found celebrating and dancing late into the night.
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1 50th Reunion Luncheon at Anne FRANKS’ house - Front Row: (L to R) Roberta WEISSMAN Samuels, Lou KOTLER Levine. Back Row: (L to R) Abbie CROW Rich, Anne FRANKS, Sheila McCREERY Griffin, Susie GELLATLY Robinson, Susie BARTHOLOMEW Manecke, Peggy ELKUS, and Danielle ANDERSON. 2 Sara Frazer Ellis Relatives, Sally E. Kay, The Ellis Tiger, Robin Newham, Head of School, and Ann E. Dzuna 3 Margot COPELAND Pyle ’52 with Anne ALTER ’83 4 Susan HIGINBOTHAM Holcombe ’58 with Holly BRENT Thyen ’87
5 Margot COPELAND Pyle ’52 and Sally de VOU ’52 6 Former Faculty – Nancy Clifton and Madeleine Homayoonfar 7 Ellis parent, Kristin Kalson, Audrey HILLMAN Fisher ’67, and Peggy MATHIESON Conver ’73 8 Lauren Laschon, Head of the Upper School, and Former Head of School, Mary H. Grant 9 Michelle HERWALD ’64 with Susan STEVICK ’64 10 Christine HEITZENRODER Quillian ’91 with her daughter, Catherine (10) Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 38
CLASS OF 1966 CONNECTS WITH ELLIS PEN PALS
The Class of 1966 graduated during a particularly tumultuous time in American history. A burgeoning Civil Rights movement and rapidly changing gender roles affected politics as well as popular culture. The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” went to the top of the music charts; New York City transit workers went on strike for twelve days, shutting down the subway system; and President Johnson announced that the United States would stay in South Vietnam until the communist aggression ended. It was an era of scientific and social revolution. Head of School at the time, Helen Moore, is credited by many for
with former students. As Robin Newham said, “having our current students interact with their predecessors is both an honor and a gift.” One such interaction, between Abbie CROW Rich ’66 and Ellie Mahoney, Class of 2025, was particularly special due to its depth of connection and “meeting of the minds”. It all began with a third grade pen pal assignment. Each spring, students in grade 3 write letters to the 50th reunion class to invite them to the upcoming reunion weekend in the fall. Students ask questions of their pen pals about Ellis life when the alumnae were students: What lunches did they eat in the dining hall? What uniforms did they wear? What classes or teachers do they remember most vividly? The alumnae then have the summer to reply and make arrangements for the reunion. The assignment is an exciting part of the curriculum, as it combines a letter writing
keeping the Ellis campus a safe environment within which students
unit with living history. Having a pen pal teaches girls the value
could reflect on these changes and find their voice. Mrs. Moore
of personal connection through the handwritten letter in an age
created department heads and consulted with them on important
where technology has become the preferred form of communication.
academic policies; empowered seniors to become involved with their
Students compare their cursive to the cursive of the alumnae, and
changing communities by learning through independent study and
reflect on the ways that education has changed over the past fifty
senior projects; and opened the school’s facilities to the community—
years. It is a terrific opportunity for students to imagine what their
including a summer program for children from low-income families
lives might have been, had they gone to Ellis in the 1960s. The
through Head Start. School leadership and faculty were committed to
alumnae return handwritten letters with stories from their childhood:
the continuity of vision for a superior all-girls education, and worked
how they hated wearing saddle shoes, or that every Friday they had a
together to provide forums for free expression that inspired Ellis
uniform check. The shared stories are a reminder that women across
traditions to evolve. At commencement in 1966, a fifty-year tradition
generations experience similar feelings and concerns. Students
was broken when two outstanding students were chosen as speakers. No wonder, then, that the Class of ’66 produced women who went on to lead richly diverse lives and careers. Four classmates were “Lifers”—having started Ellis in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, or grade 1. Five graduates became teachers, inspired by their love of learning and their superior Ellis education. Four became artists, their talent and love of the arts nurtured by Ellis faculty. Yet another wrote the lyrics for the current Ellis School Alma Mater. Ellis then, as now, encouraged entrepreneurship and independence; one alumna runs a coffee farm in Panama, and another owns a retail business. And Ellis then, as now, encouraged service and community involvement; the Class of ’66 includes two
This is part of the beauty of The Ellis School legacy: every girl who passes through the doors becomes connected to the larger Ellis sisterhood...
psychologists, two attorneys, two nurses, one alumna who works with therapy dogs, and one who worked with female prisoners. And their hearts still belong to Ellis: since 1986, 36 members of the Class have donated more than $35,000 to the School. The Centennial Reunion Weekend brought record numbers of alumnae to campus and encouraged current students to mingle
39 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Spring 2017
envision women who are their grandmother’s age as young girls, creating a close connection with Ellis alumnae and providing an additional opportunity to interact with positive female role models.
In the letters to alumnae, girls write about their contemporary Ellis
This is part of the beauty of The Ellis School legacy: Every girl
education, including their favorite subjects. Alumnae often share
who passes through the doors becomes connected to the larger
that their favorite subjects were English and world languages; while
Ellis sisterhood that began over one hundred years ago and is
current students mention math and science—reflecting a shift in
positioned to continue for generations to come. The friendships,
culture as Ellis breaks down barriers and encourages girls to enter
challenges, and passions of Ellis girls have shaped what Ellis is
historically male-dominated fields. The letters from Ellis girls serves as a live thread of connection for alumnae to their alma mater. Alumnae read about the ways in which Ellis’ priorities and focus have evolved—and what has stayed the same. Because many of the women have grandchildren close in age to the students, they can hear those young voices in the letters, which gives their pen pal relationship even more meaning. Then, during reunion weekend, the pen pals meet each other in person. Throughout the fall term, as students receive return letters, they read them aloud at the beginning of class each day to their classmates. According to Fourth Grade Teacher, Jessica Nolan, Ellie Mahoney read her letter to the class and made a serious impact on all who listened. “Ellie is hilarious and loves to write,” says Ms. Nolan. “She has a very sweet demeanor and is very inclusive of everyone. She is a good observer and listener, very curious, and has a gift for showing her personality through her writing.” The entire audience was
Abbie CROW Rich ’66 with Ellie Mahoney
impressed by Ellie’s letter and the warm response from her pen pal. In their letters to one another, Abbie and Ellie compared 1966 to 2016: what a dollar can buy, what games they play, what foods they eat. Both writers’ personalities shone through and the assignment created a wonderful connection between the two as they could not wait to finally meet one another. Like Ellie and Abbie, pen pal relationships have the opportunity to grow beyond the assignment. Susie GELLATLY Robinson ’66 wrote a letter almost every week to fourth grader Zoi Sledge, and brought a special snack in for the class the day of their Lower School musical performance, which she also attended. When the students and alumnae finally meet in person, it is abundantly clear to Ellis faculty how eagerly alumnae women come in, and how reluctant they are to leave. “Faculty always worry about filling the hour, but then it flies by and I have to pull alumnae out the door to
today and what it will be in the future. That is why alumnae are so vital to Ellis. Regional and on-campus alumnae events throughout the the year, eNewsletters, and in-person visits allow crossgenerational friendships to grow. More importantly, Ellis students see women of vision, wisdom, and courage as role models for what their futures might hold. The pen pal tradition is one of the many ways Ellis students and alumnae share joyful appreciation of one another, connecting hearts and minds. Altman expresses this theme beautifully, “watching the two classes interact is so moving. The girls clamor to show their pen pals their projects, the books they’re reading, their math problems. In an instant, current students get glimpses into their own futures while school time memories rush back for alumnae. It is the circle of life right before us.”
get them to the next activity,” says Altman, laughing.
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ALUMNAE EVENTS The 2016–2017 school year was packed full of regional alumnae events as Head of School, Robin Newham toured the country and met up with Ellis alumnae in various major cities. Check the ellis website at www.theellisschool.org to see when we will next be coming to a city near you!
WASHINGTON D.C. november 30, 2016 | home of linda denney wagner ’72
Front Row: (L to R) Carly REED ’02, Meta POOL Phillips ’72, Host, Blythe JONES Lyons ’73, and Robin Newham. Back Row: (L to R) Linda DENNEY Wagner ’72, Host, Steven Wagner, Jed Lyons, and Jen Boughner.
Front Row: (L to R) Carly REED ’02, Lowrie EBBERT Reiter ’70, Lissie HUNSIKER ’69, Susanne SWIHART Albright ’61, Meta POOL Phillips ’72, Host, Liz DAVIS Bennett ’77, and Sara Jane Pacque-Margolis ’77. Back Row: (L to R) Linda DENNEY Wagner ’72, Host, Sarah HARDESTY Bray ’68, Robin Newham, Sally FOWLER ’64, Jen Boughner, Mary CLAY ’76, Cathy CRANE Frankel ‘82, Markie HUNSIKER ’67, Blythe JONES Lyons ’73, Jed Lyons, Molly LAUFMAN Hemphill ’65, Peggy LAMPL Elkind ’73, Nancy STECK Slade ‘62, and Steven Wagner.
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17 WASHINGTON D.C. december 1, 2016 | office of bp plc
SAVE THE DATE Upcoming Alumnae Events
September 22, 2017 Ellis Pirates Night PNC Park Purchase tickets: www.pirates.com/ellisschool October 6–7, 2017 Reunion Weekend Head of School, Robin Newham, Jordan ZAPPALA ’99, Emma GILMORE Kieran ’96, and, Sasha SUTHERLAND Nunes ’96.
October 7, 2017 Dream Big 2017: An Annual Event to Benefit the Ellis Fund October 12, 2017 Chicago, Illinois December 2017 New York City, New York
Elizabeth HEALY ‘07, Holly BENSUR ’11, and Kirsten SPITTEL ’07.
February 2018 Florida March 2018 California May 2018 Boston, Massachusetts
Head of School, Robin Newham, Shanan GUINN ’93, Host, and Jen Boughner, Director of
Check www.theellisschool.org/alumnae for additional events and udpates.
Development | More Power to Her Campaign Director.
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 42
CLASS NOTES Submit Class Notes Online The Office of Alumnae Affairs wants to hear from you and share your news with your fellow Ellisians! Have you recently gotten a promotion? Won an award? Started a business? Gotten married or had a child? Ellis Magazine's online Class Notes form makes it easy for you to share your news and keep in touch with your classmates. Online Class Notes must come directly from the graduate who has news to report. Notes are edited to fit available space. Log on at www.theellisschool.org/classnotes today.
Class of ’42 A Class Correspondent is needed! Would you like to correspond with your classmates? Please volunteer to keep your class connected by contacting the Development Office at 412-661-6796 or alumnae@theellisschool.org. Clara HUNTER: Not much new in my life. I have finally recovered from my very extensive abdominal surgery in March and back to the care of my one floor condo. Doing a set of reading and knitting baptismal shawls for the church and playing occasional cards with my good local friends. My only hardship is planning transport to store and doctors, etc. since I stopped driving. I think it was a smart move, but hard to give up your independence. My best to any of my classmates around!
Class of ’44 Ruth SHAFFER Loughney-Mook 2052 Valley Road Bedford, PA 15522 Ruth SHAFFER Loughney-Mook: Greetings from the Class of ’44! Obviously we are still moving. I’ve had a lot of fun with visits from my family… birthday parties, etc. and I’ve been going to see them. One grandson, Brad Bailey, came up with his mother, my daughter, Ellen Loughney, his wife, Heidi, and their three kids. They are from South Carolina. I also spend a lot of time with my son, Patrick Loughney and his family. Right now I’m working on a comic book with a local artist as the illustrator. Hopefully it will be out in a year or two. Cathy HAYS Curry: Well, I am still among the living and able to do most everything. I volunteer at the art gallery of Tohono Chul in Tuscan. It was named one of the world’s great botanical gardens by Travel and Leisure Magazine. Close to home and easy to drive to— my grandson, Paul Dudley Curry, is presently in ranger school and hoping to graduate this month; then home on leave.
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Constance “Fifi” BROWN Berkley: I am still living in Bethesda, MD with my poodles. One granddaughter has a fine job with a television network; the younger is working and studying for a bachelor’s degree in Pittsburgh. Not too active as I’m 90 now! Nancy LARGE Bartholomew: My first yearbook as a Freshman at Ellis was the 25th Anniversary of the School and Miss Ellis was still the headmistress. It was her last year and I am very grateful that I got to know her. She was quite a lady. Seventy-five years later Ellis still has a special place in my heart.As for family news, I will leave that up to my daughter, Susan BARTHOLOMEW Manecke ’66, whose daughter received an Emmy award for her TV show in Columbus Ohio. She takes after her mother—the apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree! On my husband’s side of the family, his great niece, Maya DiRado, won four medals for swimming in the Rio 2016 Olympics, 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze!Who remembers “Dauntless and gay we march along....?” or “Through the hours of work and pleasure.....? I am very happy to see the old logo in its proper place again! Here’s to another century of Ellis.
Class of ’52 Margot COPELAND Pyle moopyle@comcast.net Becky BYERLY: It seems in my later life things don’t usually get done when they are supposed to. But… my three wonderful grandchildren live relatively (get it?) close to me and we communicate by text messages now and then. Two of them are Pitt graduates working in the ‘Burgh, and the third, Julie, is a senior there. All three have chosen the chemistry field. I am able to get out fairly often, and I am part of a knitting group, a church group, and take part in some “nature study” at Beechwood Farms, the Audubon Center. I do some photography, and gardening when the weather is right. I still have fondness for Ellis—even the days
when we walked over to the Hunt Armory in our bunny suits for basketball when we had no gym attached to the school. (Ellsworth Avenue Days). That was a character builder! Best regards to all.
“I still have fondness for Ellis— even the days when we walked over to the Hunt Armory in our bunny suits for basketball when we had no gym attached to the school. (Ellsworth Avenue Days). That was a character builder! Best regards to all.” Becky BYERLY ’52
Class of ’54 Betsey BOSHELL Potter Betsey.potter@att.net Betsey BEESON Owens: Jess died the 22nd of September, after one and a half years of fighting Parkinson’s and a stroke. I miss him so much but life goes on. I got a new kitty named Teagie and what a whirlwind she is. She is into baskets, cupboards, under my feet and keeps me laughing. We all get to be 80 this year and my, does the time fly! I keep busy with 34 years at The Audubon Society of Western PA and play a lot of bridge. My health is good and I try to exercise daily. Sallie McKEE Warden: Of course, my biggest life-changing event was Susan’s death. She lived quite near us in Philadelphia and we saw a lot of each other. Otherwise, all is well and we do love being in a city again. We are in walking distance of every place we want to get to. I read a lot, was in a writing group for a while and may try to get back to that. With the big 80th birthday coming up I find that I
use my time a bit differently—as I please—and as dear Jimmy, who likes the same things I do, pleases. We’re going to Chicago for my birthday to be with our two sons and their lovely wives and our two grandchildren—I’ve said NO PRESENTS. We love Chicago—what a fabulous city with the Art Institute. We went to London in May—partly to say goodbye to old friends who were so good to us when we lived there. It was a perfect trip, even the weather was wonderful. We do have many happy memories—e.g., Susan and Ann REYNOLDS Urban visiting us in Johannesburg. Barbara SCHEETZ Todd: My whole family, all 16 of us, gathered at Lake Como, Italy to celebrate my 80th. We had a fabulous villa right on the lake and had perfect weather. Hard to believe we are all celebrating that big number. Bill and I are still in Alaska. He turned 85 and we celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary. I am surprised that we have reached four score birthdays—do you wonder as I do where the time went? It is true: the days often go slowly but the years pass too quickly. I know many of us are suffering from illnesses, memory loss, and grief and perhaps a combination of all three. I pray you all have family and friends to support you. Thanks to those who stay in touch. May God bless you and yours.
Mondays, we pick the three up at their different schools. They do their homework at our house, and have time to become friends. I fix dinner, we eat together, then the parents come to collect them. It’s a great time! Duane and I play bridge often, even starting to get some Master points. We celebrated our anniversary in Vancouver this summer. Time is flying, but we’re still having fun. Nina BAYARD Cornell: My daughters came to visit, Nina from California, Lydia from Michigan. We went up to Toronto for the Van Gogh exhibit, the second one in ? years. Doesn’t matter a bit—always something new to notice. Our Buffalo Art Gallery is expanding. A donor has given tons of money. Only hope the expansion blends with the old portion. This year and last my family has diminished, as my brother and sister have died. Hard to digest. No more phone calls to catch up on news. I’m filled with sadness. But, we have an addition to the family, a great-grandson in California who is, needless to say, cute as a button. Hydie RIAL Houston: Jean DAVIS Falk and I attended the Ellis Centennial Gala at Carnegie Museum’s Music Hall in October. It was totally elegant and glorious. Could have been a Mellon event! That most of the
special reunion day this 100th Anniversary Year of Ellis. Marcie WATERMAN Love: An annus horribilis (Hello, Mrs. Hogg) year—my daughter Anne’s husband was in ICU then a recovery facility for two months, we almost lost him twice. My beloved niece Molly succumbed to pancreatic cancer; and to top it off, the election! I went into mourning for weeks. I have rented a house in Curacao for a month to start 2017 there with family and friends. Really looking forward to it. At the end of January, I’ll go to Pittsburgh to hear ‘my’ awardee present to the Upper School about her trip to Nepal! Take care!
Jordyn Tomlin, Class of 2017, was the 2016 awardee of the Marcie Waterman Love Fund which allows an Ellis student to travel to a developing country each summer.
Sally RIAL Phelps sallyphelps@aol.com
Alice GEALY Morigi 952 Ackerman Avenue Syracuse, NY 13210-3034
Liz VAUX Packard: I am still vertical, taking nourishment, and spending a lot of time with grandchildren. We have Cousins’ Day every Monday. The kids are so scheduled they don’t have time to get to know one another, so, on
Hydie RIAL Houston ’56
Class of ’58
Class of ’56
Augusta LEE Parrington: In early July, Tom’s Stanford roommate died and we traveled to Southern California where Tom gave the eulogy. Then later in July, Tom’s sister Mary, her husband, son Daniel and his wife died when the small plane Daniel was piloting crashed at our local airport. Gregory and Chelsea came down for the memorial services, and are taking part of their Sabbatical year to help with the clearing out of Mary’s home. Of course, we are thrilled to have them nearby. All wasn’t grim, though. We took a long anticipated trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks this fall. Tom did an excellent job in planning the whole thing. We feel we have seen both parks thoroughly. Over New Year’s we will all get together at a ranch outside Santa Barbara—quite a trick to find a place with something to interest each of the various ages.
“Ellis, the only remaining independent all-girls’ school in Pittsburgh is very successful today—new athletic field, new younger female trustees, and doing it”
Ellis Friends: Michelle GIRTS ’70, Kathy McMORRAN Murray ’70, Alice GEALY Morigi ’56, Michelle’s cousin, and Elizabeth SUCCOP Altman ’70.
alumnae were ‘80s, ‘90s 2000s didn’t dim our joy. The evening, program, magazine, too wonderful. Ellis, the only remaining independent all-girls’ school in Pittsburgh is very successful today—new athletic field, new younger female trustees, and doing it! In July we enjoyed seeing my cousin, Michelle GIRTS ’70, in Pittsburgh, where we met her classmates Kathy McMORRAN Murray ’70 and Elizabeth SUCCOP Altman ’70 at the memorial gatherings Michelle held in honor of her mother, my mother’s younger sister, whom we’d lost in January. I was a flower girl in Aunt M A’s wedding in 1942, Michelle had been a bridesmaid in our wedding in ’67—the last time Francis had seen her—and I’d attended her wedding in ’92. But we’d not seen each other since then, living at opposite sides of the country as we do. Thus, we did our own very
Nancy McQUILLAN Bolanis: My exciting news of the moment is that I am going as a guest of a friend to the tree lighting at the White House. We will have a tour of the White House on Friday. I am especially excited to see the Obamas in their last year there. Who knows what DT may bring! I keep busy doing Silver Sneakers exercise class, Osher classes at CMU, and delivering Meals on Wheels. Walking and reading are also essential to keep the body and mind functioning! Peter and I will be celebrating our fiftieth wedding anniversary next year and are planning a cruise. We have five grandsons ages four to eleven who provide a lot of joy and energy to our lives. Terri McKEE Tumlin: For us, this has been a relatively quiet year. We did travel to California to visit friends and family spread over much of the state. Our tour started in Yosemite in the cold and ended up on the beach near San Diego with our two grandchildren—Jack (5) and Ivy (2). A third grandchild is due in March so another trip to California is in the cards for next year. I continue my work with Selby Gardens and the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota as a volunteer photographer.
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Sally RIAL Phelps: My news for 2016 includes a trip to Normandy Beach with my son, Tony Leonard, and his family. We started in London with a 50th birthday party for Sarah James, my oldest. We continued to Normandy to relive WWII, and ended in Paris. Dick offers this trip to each of our children when one of their children graduates from high school. It was a wonderful experience for all of us. This past October, Dick had a hip replacement, and is doing fantastically well. I am the day nurse, and the driver. Challenging at first, but we are now in a fun routine.
This month I am involved in preparing an archeology lecture on Cahokia in southern Illinois. John and I continue to live the Florida lifestyle with plenty of golf and tennis. Connie TITZEL Rusconi: It was good to hear all the news of Ellis. I would like to go to Ellis now! I would also like to send my granddaughter there, but sadly she is based in Paris and not Pittsburgh. Our news for 2016: Natale had an operation last January to replace the aortic valve. It was a big deal, but he recovered very well and went on to host his 90th birthday celebration in April, when friends and family from all over came together to toast him. Our grandson Pierre is now studying at the US Marine Military Academy in southern Texas and loving it. I took him to Pittsburgh for a brief holiday and was happy to catch up with Nancy McQUILLAN Bolanis. He and I both loved the ‘Burgh, so we hope to return soon. Margo CONDERMAN Arnold: I had a stroke May 5, 2015 and then a silent heart attack and severe case of pneumonia last April. Doug has been playing “Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy.” I’m doing great, as you can see from the photograph I sent in. There are a gazillion more on my Facebook page.
Margo CONDERMAN Arnold ’58 and Doug Arnold at the Capital Cotillion Ball.
Edith LIEM Sul: We are planning to go to France this March as we are retired and have more time to travel. Last March Youngjo and I went on a package tour of Spain and enjoyed it immensely, the architecture, history, food, and people. It is interesting that a Muslim mosque became a Jewish synagogue and then a Catholic Church just by putting a cross on the altar. Anyway the diverse peoples coexisted in Spain for a long time.We have been carefully nurturing our health issues since I was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm in March 2015, and Youngjo had a stent placed in August 2015. He endured a regimen of cardiac rehab and got back to the golf course in September 2015. He has been part of the Lexington C OA Senior Golf group with some members in their 80’s. It is mainly male but women are being accepted. Must be about 40 members by now. I have been walking our son’s chihuahua/min
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Edith LIEM Sul and Younglin Liem Sul, in Barcelona, Spain, April 2016.
pin mix for exercise on the bike path nearby. Our daughter is bringing her new pup home for Thanksgiving, a Border Collie, along with her older spaniel mix. Looking forward to walking the dogs. They have been well trained in obedience and agility. Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday. Ariane HOESSLIN Condellis: Due to the new chapter in our lives, we have not been traveling, but enjoy Greece, i.e. Athens. We were particularly happy to watch President Obama on his visit—he spoke to the hearts of all Greeks, who for the past years have been battered by negative news and were thrilled to be reminded by someone so universally respected (at least in Europe) that there are good things that can and must be said. Keep well, all of you who read this, with love. Susan HIGINBOTHAM Holcombe: I had the good fortune to be passing through Pittsburgh at the time of the Centennial and was able to attend the Friday morning event at the school and with the students, which announced the Centennial laureates. It was great to be part of the energy in the auditorium, and also to see the current facilities. How different from our years! News? Fighting off the creakiness of the joints that threatens as one ages; that means yoga and exercise. Arthur and I debate downsizing and moving from a three story house with basement to a one story condominium. Meanwhile we have been sorting through thousands and thousands of slides from years of living overseas—hoping to save our children the task of deciding what to do with them. Modern technology may allow us to produce a book with the most memorable slides. I am retired and Arthur is slowly closing his non-profit. We traveled with friends this past year to Eastern Turkey, Georgia and Armenia and were introduced to a history and politics (plus food) that were new to us. More adventures ahead, I hope.
Sally RIAL Phelps and her husband, Dick Phelps, on the coast of Maine, Summer 2016.
Class of ’60 Cynthia SCOTT Amerman cynthiaamerman@gmail.com Nancy GILLIES: Myself and my Rust cousins were featured in the fall 2016 Ellis Magazine. Take a look at pages 80–82 “Six Women, Three Generations, Seventy Years: A Family’s Roots Grow Deeper.” Pat HAMILTON: I live just five minutes down the road from Kay EBBERT Bissell now that Kay has moved. Kay joins me and classmates Susie HAAS Prentiss, Missy MARKS Unkovic, and Kate WATSON MacVean when we occasionally get together for lunch. I went to Spain in April with some friends from her Spanish conversation class at Pitt Osher. I am enjoying immensely the ‘Olli’ classes they offer. I also traveled to California twice this year and had my annual reunion with April EILER Pinney and lunch at T Greens restaurant. I love that place! Nearly every spring during my annual Sonoma wine-tasting, Bay Area visiting trip I get to see April. I feel as Missy MARKS Unkovic does, that it continually amazes me how much I have in common with the people I went to school with as a very young child! Cynthia SCOTT Amerman: In early October, Peter and I traveled through Aix-en-Provence, France with his sister Emily and husband Jim on our way to Tuscany. The four of us had a lovely dinner with Kathleen MURPHY Lambert at her gorgeous house outside the city of Aix. This kind of mini-reunion feeds body and
soul. Thank you again, Kathleen. Some of you may already know that Sally WATERMAN Woodroofe’s younger daughter Molly died in July of pancreatic cancer at age 40. Molly was a star soccer player at Yale and a beloved teacher at the Spence School in New York City.
Marty VOGT Snyder: Skip and I took our grandson to London—it was an absolute delight to see that city through his eyes. We are living in Vero Beach, but still spend time in Wilmington and the Poconos. I loved hearing from you - best wishes to all and many thanks.
Wendy MYERS Heinz: My grandson Chase is now in his first year at Kenyon College in Ohio. Our Swedish granddaughter Sofia (4) and her parents will join us along with our Virginia kids on Hilton Head in April. Afterwards, we will take our Swedish granddaughter to Disney World. It will be Easter week—we must be nuts! We will need body armor!
Class of ’64
Lynne PARKHILL Feely: I have finally completely retired from engineering (and moonlighting) jobs—enough is enough! Now when someone asks me what I ‘do’, I simply say ‘as little as possible—and not much of that!’ Kay ROCK Boyd: Due for a second back surgery, and it’s too soon to tell how it’s healing. We’ve not been anywhere this year, just furniture stores looking for the perfect chair or perfect bed! My daughter Betsy and her kids came a few weeks ago, and Rob and family were here for Thanksgiving. In fact, we were 14 at dinner, and I didn’t do a thing! Everyone brought something. Bob brined and cooked the turkey; daughter Katy made stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy. I feel a little de trop…. Anyway, we’ve rented a condo in Scottsdale in mid-January. Jennifer RODMAN Dawson Purdom: One of the benefits of my back surgery in February was a tracker, similar to a FitBit, because the only physical therapy was to walk. I’m still doing most of that walking and am much better off for it. I LOVE BEING RETIRED! In October, my three granddaughters loved swimming at the Purdom’s timeshare in Nuevo Vallarta in Mexico—twins Amelie and Genevieve are just learning. All three girls go to a French school in California, where my daughter Katherine lives. Older sister Marielle (second grade) now speaks fluent French. The second week, we had Nancy [Jennifer’s sister], another Catherine, this one is our former pastor who married Phil and me, a wonderful gal who thinks of herself as the third Rodman sister, and Alex, Phil’s daughter. It was quite a harem for Phil and we didn’t volunteer unless asked— in the pool or wherever in the resort—that we were from Utah…. Earlier, in June, Phil and I took a river cruise from Prague to Vienna. We did every activity, sometimes walking for three hours, much on cobblestones. One day I climbed 111 steps up to a palace. That was worth a newspaper headline! I hope someday you will get to glide through the Wachau Valley on a summer day. It’s one of the most peaceful places on earth.
This summer the Class of ‘62 had a mini reunion for Pittsburgh area alumna. Front row: Barbara LIPSITZ Katch, Peggy SLOAN Runnette, Kathy ROSEN Hurwitz, Susie SCHUMACHER Morris, and Candy McCRADY Rost. Back Row (L to R): Harriet DAVIDSON Baum, Laurie BATCHELOR Culbertson, Bunny MUNTER Kerr, and Susie SCHAEFER Pettler.
Class of ’62
Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard susan.s.leonard@gmail.com Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard: Eileen HALPERN Lane, Punky SCHAEFER Roger, Mimi HERWALD, Susan STEVICK, Laurie LONGENECKER, Margie GARVIN Snyder, Marty ABRAMS Broderick, Lynda GELLATLY Jamison, and I attended the Gala Centennial Celebration. The next morning, we were joined by Patty SPEAR Lemer and Linda TRENT as they celebrated their collective 70th birthday and 52nd reunion. Congratulations to Eileen HALPERN
Diana DICKEY Joss sunlightbasin@gmail.com Gez EBBERT: I have loved the four years as chair of the Colonial Dames which I have revitalized. I am also a member of the Women’s Committee at the Carnegie Museum of Art and am in charge of one of the Christmas trees and on the “Pizzazz” committee for the Garden Club of America. Ellis did a phenomenal job for its 100th Anniversary Gala. Kathie HANNAH Walker: My whole family gathered together for Christmas, including sister, Annette HANNAH Dunkelman ‘65, and her family. Rob and I love Delray and Beaumaris with trips planned to the Riviera and the Adriatic this year. Candy McCRADY Rost: Bob and I are having great fun with our mini longhaired Dachshund, Otto, who is full of fun and mischief. Barbara SCHMIDT Wickwire: Emerson and I spent another wonderful fall in Florence. Our two three-year-old grand boys are a delight and visit their grandparents in Maine and Boca Grande.
Class of ’64 at the Gala: (L to R) Marty ABRAMS Broderick, Punky SCHAEFER Rogér, Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard, Margaret GARVIN Snyder, Centennial Laureate: Eileen HALPERN Lane, Mimi HERWALD, Laurie LONGENECKER, Lynda GELLATLY Jamison, and Susan STEVICK.
Lane for being an Ellis Laureate for her work in advocacy! And for publishing Her Deeds Sing Her Praises. Mimi ANDERSON Kamp: I travel with students and young friends, often to the high mountains in search of medicinal polypores, and to the desert with entomology folks. My oldest daughter, Mica, is a pilot and mother to one-year-old Eli Gabriel. With husband Matt,
Margot SUTTON McConnel: Mike and I have had a fabulous time sailing to the Virgin Islands in May, the outer islands of Ireland and Scotland, and a rafting trip with sons and grandsons on the Salmon River in Idaho. This February, we will travel to Australia and New Zealand planned by ALL DIRECTIONS, run by Susan DICKEY Gilmore ’65 and Pam PROPST Campbell ’65. Holly SWAN Wright: Chris and I were in Naples, FL seeing Marny MORRIS Krause and Doug. They love summers in Jackson, hiking in the Grand Teton National Park and the Chianti country of Italy every fall.
Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard ’64, Susan STEVICK ’64, Centennial Laureate: Eileen HALPERN Lane ’64, Laurie LONGENECKER ’64, and Mimi HERWALD ’64.
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they live in New Mexico. Second daughter, Seri, is in Tucson with husband, Jake, expecting a baby girl in February. Third daughter, Julia, is marrying in August. Darryl FERGUSON Bloom: I am looking forward to a new grandchild, my younger daughter’s first. I am holding on to compassion, a search for justice, and nurturing love and laughter day by day as we enter these uncertain times. Stephanie WILDS Blackhurst: After living for nearly 20 years in Brazil, we are happily back between NYC and FL. I turn 70 next year; son, Brooks, turns 30, and daughter, Adrienne, will be 33.
everything from sixth grade antics, teachers, gym classes and the (in)famous “fruit roll” in the Middle School hall to oxfords, assemblies, parties and the indelible spray painting of the brick wall in Alumnae Hall (even Alumnae Hall is now just a memory!). We chucked over old photos and yearbooks and delighted in remembering our shared experiences at 6425 Fifth Avenue “back in the day!” If you were unable to attend, I’m sure we included you in spirit as we recounted so many stories. We shared old photos, pored through yearbooks and caught up with each other’s current lives. What a special day!
Laurie LONGENECKER: Selling fabulous posters of Pittsburgh. They are available on my website, www.longenecker.com. Maggie STECK Jarboe: I am now retired and filling time with garden clubs and the library board. Looking forward to traveling when husband, Mert, recovers from a back operation. Marlene TRIAIRE Guieu: I am now grand-mère to 5 beautiful youngsters. Daughter Ariane had a girl, Estelle, who joins her twin brothers, Clement and Augustin. Son Julien has two, Didi and Leo. Marlene continues to paint scarves and pictures on silk. And I am now filling the time left by going part time by becoming President-Elect of The Society of Woman Geographers, an international group of women involved in geography and allied fields. My underwater photography of the reefs and care for the environment got me involved.
Roberta WEISSMAN Samuels ’66 with her artwork displayed at Montpezat de Quercy Expo July 2016 “De Mon Point de Vue” at the Office de Tourisme.
Class of ’74 Sally CONEY Price Sallyprice10@gmail.com
Susan GILBERT Tabor ‘70 with Anne Gibb. Miss Gibb taught English in the Middle School for the 1963–1964 school year.
Class of ’66 Susan BARTHOLOMEW Manecke Susanmanecke@gmail.com Susan BARTHOLOMEW Manecke: What an amazing trip down memory lane shared by ten from our class! Sheila McCREERY Griffin and Anne FRANKS hosted a beautiful luncheon at Anne’s house where we reminisced about
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Meg PROPST Bernard: For my 60th birthday, I took my daughter Allie to Paris in May—a first for both of us. We stayed at a great Airbnb in the Marais, and walked everywhere. We had side trips to Versailles and Normandy; visited museums and cultural sites; and the food was so fresh and extraordinary that I dreaded shopping at Giant Eagle when I got home. Sadly, my mother passed away peacefully at the age of 99 shortly after she returned from the trip. In August, I started a new job at Chatham University as the Senior Director of Corporate, Foundation and Government Relations. It was quite a year! Midge GOLDSMITH Palley: I spent time with Carey SCHACH North in Florence for her 60th birthday. We both had been on the Ellis Art History trip with Lu Wenneker in 1974 so it was quite a nostalgic trip. My husband Simon and I are still living in London where I work in the arts and education. Serving as Chair of the Tate Patrons and involved in a variety of arts education programs for teens and young
Midge GOLDSMITH Palley ’74 at Thanksgiving with her husband Simon and their 3 boys.
adults. My three sons are all in the U.S. (one with Google in NYC, one at Wharton for his MBA, and one in his third year at Penn) and my mother is now in the Weinberg Terrace care home in Pittsburgh. On top of family connections, I’m on the Trustee Committee of Education for MoMA NYC and involved with Wellesley and its Davis Museum, so I have lots of reasons for frequent trips to the U.S. Paula DREIBELBIS Jackson: My husband, Tom, and I are on the go and enjoying life in retirement to the fullest…fulfilling bucket lists, visiting family including three kids and four grandkids, and rekindling friendships from times past. In 2016, travels included a western U.S. road-trip and two European trips timed with our youngest daughter’s junior year abroad at the The Kodály Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary. When not on the road, we are in Madison, Ohio with winters in Englewood, Florida where our “weekly to-do list” includes boating, fishing and golf. I have stayed in touch with Jane MALTER O’Neill and her husband Pat, including visits in both Florida and up North. Ann SCULLY Nelson: My daughter Emily is getting married in 2017 and Emily and I spent Christmas in Pittsburgh with my mother, Eleanor FOSTER Scully ’48—three generations of girls! My husband Kent and I will be on Sanibel Island most of the winter and encourage any Ellis classmates in the area to check in. Betsy DAVIS Banks: My husband Bill and I are back in Chicago—after a few years in Houston—and are enjoying the city and retirement. I am involved in a 6 year mentoring program with a first generation college-bound student named Whitney. The relationship started in junior and senior years in the Evanston Scholars program and will continue through Whitney’s graduation from the University of Southern California. I believe “education is the greatest gift we can give our children”—a tribute to my work with Brittany and our Ellis experiences. To celebrate my 60th, Bill and I enjoyed a marvelous three-week trip to Greece in September. Bill lived there 40 years ago and we returned to some of his old haunts. Classmates, look me
Paula DREIBELBIS Jackson ’74 with her husband Tom and daughter Amy in Hungary.
up if you find yourselves in Chicago. Sally CONEY Price: 2016 was the year of the 60th birthday for most of the Class of ’74 so, HAPPY BIRTHDAY classmates! Let’s consider this year’s class notes a birthday gift to us all. As for me, I will always remember 2016 as the year of hurricane Matthew. It was a category 1 or 2—no one is quite sure which—when it roared through coastal South Carolina where I live. We were blessed to have no injuries and most of the homes and other structures in our neighborhood did fine. But the place was impassable for days with hundreds of trees down including many of the spectacular moss-draped live oaks that define the Low Country landscape. Two months after the storm, FEMA trucks are still working to remove the piles of felled trees that line the streets. But nature rebuilds and I am very happy here. I am still running my consulting business from the house and my children—one in Alexandria, VA and the other in Brooklyn, NY—both love visiting here. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2017…and HAPPY 60th to the stragglers like me who will be celebrating in 2017.
Sally CONEY Price ’74 with her children, Courtney and Gordon, on top of Castle Rock in the Adriondacks.
Class of ’76 Nancy McALLISTER avalon18258@att.net Nancy McALLISTER: Happily, the SE Florida weather is slightly beginning to cool. The
tree is up and sparkling in anticipation of my children’s arrival. Michael from Pittsburgh, a town he loves living and working in, Samantha from Singapore, and Andrew from Spain. My international children have opened up our family world to lots of exciting travel. I’ll travel for my fourth summer visit to Singapore. SE Asia is a fascinating part of the world, and two favorite places, are Singapore which is architecturally, culturally, and religiously diverse along with being the safest place on the planet, and Sri Lanka, which is a beautiful country that takes days to travel from region to region. The people of Sri Lanka are warm and curious, and their love of family and community was so evident as we traveled through the villages.
Gretchen MERTZ Cowell ’76 and her family in New Hampshire.
Gretchen MERTZ Cowell: I have been working as a paralegal at White and Williams in Philadelphia for 21 years and been in the same house for 20 years and I’m finally settled down. It hasn’t been all monotony though, the house has altered, almost doubled in size, thanks to my husband (I give myself credit too for putting up with the construction over several years). Children seem to give some rhythm to life. They are both at college now. Andy should finish soon and then we’ll be facing new challenges. I’ve enjoyed being an empty-nester, belonging to various groups, having time to read and work on various projects. My Mom still lives in Pittsburgh, and she’s involved in the OSHER program at Pitt along with travel and group involvement. We celebrated Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh running in the Turkey Trot and ice skating at PPG. Holly HEBDITCH: After getting an MBA from CMU, I spent 30 years in a high tech firm in Pittsburgh. In preparation for my “retirement” I went to Princeton with the intention of getting a PhD and doing research into my twilight years. In the midst of my laborious studies I decided I needed to be out in the world, rather than spending ALL my time in the library. I then changed academic pursuits and decided to obtain an MDiv/MSW dual degree. To practically support these academic studies,
I established a nonprofit, Children’s Choice, USA, which provides mentoring relationships for at-risk children in the Greater Trenton Area. CC-USA’s outreach plans are to ultimately expand back to Pittsburgh, the city that has my heart. If all goes well, the “second act” of my life will be far more exhilarating and purposeful than the first one. Kathy DAVIS Guay: I moved from the Boston area to Indiana (a job transfer for her husband) two years ago. We built a house that we love—facing west with beautiful sunsets each night. I am working as a counselor/teacher at a private school for students with learning differences (as well as high functioning Autism, ADHD, and anxiety). It is a challenging and rewarding job. Our oldest son is engaged (wedding next summer) and living in Maine. He is a software engineer for an environmental organization. Our other son began his second year in a Ph.D. program for Political Science at Duke University in NC. He loves the program and is working towards becoming a college professor. While I did not make it to our 40th reunion, I was at the 30th and loved reconnecting with my Ellis friends. Those were wonderful years for me. Chrissy BALDWIN Williams: My plans to attend the reunion fell through as my brother Dan passed away unexpectedly. Such are the days of our lives...I am the youngest of six and I have already said see you again in heaven to three of them. But I still feel blessed in so many ways. Better to have loved for sure! When I was young I wished time away, “I wish I was 16...18...21…” and then I’ve spent the second half of my life wishing it would slow down! My mom was right (surprise!) Don’t wish your life away! After 33 years in California, we moved to Charlotte, NC. But our daughter Liz was in college at Whitworth University in Spokane, WA. She graduated in May with a major in English and Spanish and a minor in Latin American Studies. She lived in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua her sophomore year and will be going back in December to live and work in
Where is Everyone? Debbie LYNCH McManus ’76 and Sallie Belle DAVIS ’76 at their 40th Reunion!
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Nicaragua with the Jesuit Corp for two years. We are in the process of retiring and will be moving to Mississippi; my husband’s home town area, about an hour from the gulf and New Orleans, in the next eighteen months. We have a home on a quiet lake in a small town (small as in still waiting for internet in the back of our development). But the lake is stocked and the fishing is good! One very nice thing about being back on the east coast is being close to family in PA, MD, MS, LA, and TX. Now that we have great nieces and nephews it is really special. We hope to get back to PA this spring. I would love to connect with classmates sometime. The last reunion I went to was the 15th in 1991. Again, that time thing! It flies!
Chrissy BALDWIN Williams ’76 with her husband Seth at their daughter Liz’s graduation from Whitworth University in Spokane, WA.
Jeanne HACKNEY Kingsland: Living in Pittsburgh with my family. I suffered a severe wrist break and am healing and hopefully will be up and running soon.
Class of ’78 Andrea McCLUNG Davison Adavison41@aol.com Andrea McCLUNG Davison: Well it is that time of the year again to reconnect. It is always wonderful hearing from everyone. I understand how difficult it is especially around to the holidays so I am appreciative to those who can find the time to share information. I am coming up on my 27th year with NOVA Chemicals in February as Sr. Environmental Engineer. Where has the time gone? It seems that the discussions focus on retirement now. I see the younger generation of engineers coming in and moving up. I find myself reading a lot of Kerry Hannon’s material on job’s after 50. Thanks to social media we are able to stay in touch. Since the last time I wrote, Tony and I are proud grandparents. Those who are on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn with me already know this. Elijah is Evan’s son who turned two years old in August. He is our Facebook baby and bundle of joy. He spends a lot of time with Grandma and Pap Pap and wears us out too.
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I wonder a lot how we did it and understand why my mom was always glad to send my kids home. Tony is doing well and is still doing Home Improvement work. Angelica, my oldest daughter, is in New York but will soon be back on tour in February. She is the medical staff, Athletic Trainer, for the new musical “Body Guard”. If you like musicals, look out for it in your area during 2017. Jasmine is our Cali girl and living her dream. We hope to be able to finally connect with Judy Aaron Penner the next time we are in California visiting. We are looking forward to the Holidays and wish everyone a joyous and blessed holiday with family and friends. Blair EDDY DeVan: I am still in Charleston W V and still in banking...My dad suggested none of us follow his lead but I have been in it for 35 years. Still juggling two homes and Mike and I enjoy grand kids and one great grandchild. Lost mom in January last year but have been able to stay in touch with classmates through Longwood as a lot of our parents transitioned to an easier lifestyle there. Love seeing our class posting in Facebook as I see why we are the FUN class!! Take Care and Happy Holiday!! Lori BOLDEN Sandidge: Hello to all, I am happy to say that I am in my 20th year with the Pittsburgh Public Schools as a Physical Therapist taking care of all of the wonderful children with special needs! My husband and I talk frequently about downsizing but I just don’t know how to do it…we have accumulated much too much to think of a “Tiny House” (just kidding) but maybe a small ranch style house. Garrett, our oldest is a pharmacy manager at Rite Aid on Banksville Road; graduated from Duquesne in 2014; and we are proudly helping him to update an old house that he has purchased. Avery will be graduating from North Carolina A&T University on Saturday December 10th. Any leads or connections for an entry level computer science position... please let me know! Sydney, our youngest is a “Buckeye” and we love visiting her in Columbus at The Ohio State! She will be completing her 3rd year in 2017! We have had a very exciting time with family events. I have to say two of my personal highlights in 2016 was meeting with my Ellis friends in Maine, see picture, and taking a trip to Aruba with my Mom, Garrett, and Greg and the third is yet to come.... Graduation in North Carolina! Kerry HANNON: All is swell with me. I have had fun keeping up with Ellis classmates on Facebook from Didi to Lisa, Marcy and Margo, among others. I now have 10 books published and am busy revising and updating Great Jobs for Everyone 50+: Finding Work That Keeps You Happy and Healthy ... And Pays the Bills. It will be published by Wiley mid-2017. I spend a good
bit of my time on the road from San Francisco to Missoula, MT to St. Petersburg, FL delivering keynote speeches and reaching out to my peeps, mostly workers over 50, who are looking for their encore career, or help finding work. I bring a message of hope and action. My other audience is women. I’m passionate about empowering women of all ages to become more confident about managing their money and their financial lives. I’m also forever tapping away at my MacBook Pro as a columnist for The New York Times, PBS Next Avenue, Forbes, AARP and others. For rest and renewal, I head to our cottage near the Shenandoah National Park. It’s about an hour and forty minutes from our home in DC. I’m still riding and showing horses, my passion. My husband is a documentary producer and editor which keeps him rolling. My mom is 87 and living in Pittsburgh, but
Lori BOLDEN Sandidge ’78 and her personal lobster in Maine last summer.
Class of ‘78 mini-reunion trip to Maine: Lori BOLDEN Sandidge, Didi WITHEROW Dean, Sandra JONES Boissonniere, Susan MacGREGOR Shaw, Carlin WEIDLEIN Fravel, Jill HURITE Doyle, and Andrea McCLUNG Davison.
she spends months at a time visiting me and my sister. And both of my brothers are living in Pittsburgh, so I get back from time to time. Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t end this note by saying that no matter where I am, when someone asks me about my educational background, I always tell them that Ellis was the key for me. It’s where I learned to study, and I learned to be confident, and I learned determination. It was the most enriching four years, and I’m forever grateful to have had the opportunity to be a student there during my middle school years. What a great class we had and wonderful supportive teachers.
minutes away! Life is very good, and wishing the same to all my Ellis friends.
Class of 1979 – Front Row: Jean THOMPSON Bird, Annamaria FATO, Meg HARDON. Back Row: Sharon McCLAY Stewart, Liz MITINGER Locke, Peggy CRANE Vaughan and Barbara AARON Rosston ’80.
Class of ’80 Mary Van BUSKIRK mcvb1@comcast.net
Merritt HOLLAND Spier: Still working as the Executive Director of The A L S Association Western P A Chapter which keeps me very busy. It is a hard, emotional, and often sad job, but it does come with great rewards knowing that we are helping people with ALS live out their days more comfortably and with more independence. My husband Dave works for Dollar Bank creating and managing their online banking products. We live in Wexford, PA and spend many weekends and summer vacations at Chautauqua, New York. We have two Labrador retrievers who keep us active and “on the run.” We are looking forward to a long cruise this Christmas which will take us to Costa Rica, Aruba and the Panama Canal.
Mary Van BUSKIRK: Hello fellow classmates from 1980! We did not hear from too many people! I hope all are well and that you are getting ready for another packed and healthy year ahead!
Class of ’82 Sarah PETTENGILL Hart sarahphart@earthlink.net
Noah (20), Art, Lisa URAM Dickter ’80, and Adam Dickter (22).
Mother and Daughters: Mary VAN BUSKIRK ’80, Amy Van Buskirk, Former Faculty, Nancy CONEY Forhan ’80, and Rita Coney, whose husband Joe Coney was a member of the Ellis Board of Trustees.
Liz GERMAIN: I am still at the law firm of Alston & Bird as their Regional Director of Administration managing their DC and NY offices. Still living in Alexandria, VA and traveling to NYC every month (love AMTRAK!) I see my sister Katie GERMAIN Lowry ’85 regularly; so blessed that she lives just 5
2nd annual mother/daughter road trip. This year was Pine Needles Golf Resort in Southern Pines, NC. and Sheila KERNAGHAN Germain ’56 and Liz GERMAIN ’80.
Sisters, Kim LANDAY Kader ’80 and Leslie LANDAY Levine James ’77 at Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame summer.
Lisa URAM Dickter: We are all doing well. Adam will be graduating as a Neuroscience major from CMU in May. Noah has been enjoying his sophomore year at Ohio University studying Political Science and Pre-Law. I just can’t believe how the time is passing. I continue to love working in the Career & Professional Development Center at Carnegie mellon University as the Senior Associate Director and I am in my 19th year, working as a Career Consultant with the Engineering students. Art and I are enjoying this empty nester thing! The house is quiet, but we now have lots of time to relax and do our own thing…walks in Hartwood Acres, bike rides around the city, and even taking ballroom dance and tai chi classes. We are having fun. Hi to everyone in the Class of ’80! Take care, Lisa Kim LANDAY Kader: After 24 years, Abe and I are officially empty nesters or as our friends say “open nesters.” Our nest is growing as our oldest son, Michael, has recently announced his engagement to his college sweetheart, Rachel Rosenfeld. Recently we attended the wedding of attended the wedding of Gillian, the daughter of Lauren WOLK Calig ‘83, with my sister, Leslie Landay James, in Cleveland, Ohio. Enjoyed a trip to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Jane LOVE McGraw: We are all good here! Our Janie graduated from Wake Forest University in May and is now working at Discovery Communications in New York City and loves it! We all watch Shark Week now! Ha! Our second daughter, Libby, is a junior at Georgetown University and she plays lacrosse for them and loves it! Our youngest, Virginia, just started as a freshman at Wake Forest as well and so we are technically empty nesters! Jay retired in January so we have been having a great time traveling and spending more time with our girls.
Class of ’84 Lucy FATO wolk@yahoo.com Lucy FATO: Hi everyone! This was a big year for those of us who turned 50!! I hope you all celebrated this milestone in whatever way made you happy! I took a full year off from working and I must say it was fabulous! Many trips and many celebrations throughout the year. A highlight for me was spending a spa weekend at Miraval in Arizona with a few girlfriends, including Carrie LEVINE Schiff ’83. In mid-October of 2016 it was back to reality and I started a new job at a global private investigations firm called Nardello & Co. I’m in a dual business and legal role as Managing Director, Head of the Americas and General Counsel. A big change for me after 25 years of solely practicing law, but I’ve loved every minute so far. It’s a great firm with terrific people and I’m really enjoying
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them all again in January in St. Thomas. Tiger Power is strong.
having an operational and revenue generating role. My two daughters are growing up fast. Malibu turned 6 in July and Valentina will be 5 in February. I’d love to hear from many more classmates next year, so feel free to reach out any time during the year. And, send photos!! Best wishes to everyone for a fantastic 2017!
Sarah MULLINS: Hello from Brooklyn, I hope that everyone is doing well.
Jackson Mihm, Karla VAN HORN Mihm ’84, friend Corina Caminos and her son Andrew Geraghty. Jackson and Andrew were members of last year’s state champion soccer team from Ransom Everglades School.
Lucy FATO ‘84 celebrating her 50th birthday in East Hampton, NY with Annamaria FATO ‘79, Lucia SNYDERMAN (a sophomore at Ellis), Lucy’s husband Matthew Detmer, daughters Malibu (6) and Valentina (4), and dog Zira (9).
I also had the chance to spend time with Maureen BRANNIGAN Jordan a couple of times this past year and that was super fun. Maureen has become quite the photographer and somehow managed to persuade me to dress up as Mama Bear as she photographed my two girls as Goldilocks and Alice in Wonderland! I’m not sure there is any other person in the world I would have done that for and, no, there is no photo included in these class notes! Tierney RYAN Beizer: Still in the bay area, living on the Peninsula south of San Francisco. This year my middle son, Luke, headed off to Syracuse University to give the cold weather a try. My oldest son is a sophomore at UC Boulder and youngest son is a sophomore in high school. For my 50th, we celebrated with my college roommates in Miami. As luck would have it Karla VAN HORN Mihm was close by in Key Biscayne with her husband Jeff and two boys. Karla gave me a tour of her neighborhood (in a golf cart as that is the preferred method of transportation). Karla looks amazing, fit as ever from playing tennis and swimming. We had not seen each other in about 15 years, but that time disappeared as soon as we reconnected. The power of an Ellis friendship. Karla VAN HORN Mihm: I was back in Pittsburgh last October for the Ellis Centennial—it was a lovely affair and very nicely done. I was able to visit with Mrs. Callomon and other teachers and students.The weather was gorgeous and the ‘Burgh looked great! The only bad thing was the Steelers lost to the Dolphins and Karla I to take a lot of grief
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when I got home to Miami! I am still recruiting, and still married to Jeff! My son, Jackson, is a freshman at Tufts and, Wesley, is a junior in high school.
Class of ’88 Kristen SIEFERS Savely kasiefers@gmail.com Julie ALBRIGHT: 2016 has been our best year ever: my husband, Art Gola, and I adopted our daughter, who was born on Leap Day. She’s the greatest joy of our lives. We live in Pittsburgh, where I’m still running The Writing Studio, which is now in its 17th year of providing tutoring, editing, and writing services. I’m also working on my own fiction and nonfiction projects. We had a fun dinner with Jane CALDWELL Wallace and her husband a few months ago, and I had the pleasure hanging out with Jenny BERSCHLING when she was in town this year. It was a real thrill to dress our baby girl in a beautiful sweater handmade by Jenny, who was my accomplice in cutting Ellis assemblies and sneaking into the studio to make art whenever we could. We’re both still making art, all these years later! Nonie MUSE Shore: Still in LA (Topanga to be exact) but this past June I got to see one of my oldest friends, Kristen SIEFERS, get married. It was fabulous! And both the wedding and the shower weekends were the best Ellis reunions ever! And I’m going to get to see
“I think I speak for all of us when I say that Ellis truly is a special place and we were again reminded of those bonds that formed so long ago (a few as early as kindergarten). I feel so blessed to have these amazing friends…now and forever.” Kristen SIEFERS Savely ’88
Kristen SIEFERS Savely: I was very thankful this past June to have many of my Tiger Sisters at my wedding to Jay Savely. Jay and I were married in Newport, RI on the most perfect day of the summer, seriously. We lucked out all around! The Ellis girls in attendance were Nonie MUSE Shore, Emily NEIMAN O’Connor, Jamea CATALANO Campbell, Christine LeCLERE Hilliard, Merritt COLAIZZI, Brooke RUFFIN Lovett, Jen EVANS Wilson, and my mother, Margot ARNOLD Feldstein ’64. What was so incredible was being able to spend time again with a good sized group of friends from Ellis. It really felt like a mini reunion and I think some of the other guests were amazed at just how “tight” we have stayed over all these years. And, some of us (Nonie) live on the West Coast! I think I speak for all of us when I say that Ellis truly is a special place and we were again reminded of those bonds that formed so long ago (a few as early as kindergarten). I feel so blessed to have these amazing friends…… now and forever. Love you guys!
Class of ’90 Alissa MANCUSO Poole alissampoole@verizon.net Tammy YONAS Williams: After finishing my BS in Nursing, I accepted a new job as a transplant case manager with CIGNA. I am working toward my MSN: Family Nurse Practitioner degree and staying busy with three kids in high school. Leslie BYERS Tarlo: I started a new job as a transplant coordinator at the UPMC Starzl Transplantation Institute. I care for kidneytransplant patients after their hospital discharge. It’s such a rewarding experience and a completely different avenue for me. At home, staying busy with husband Rich, stepdaughter, Maddie, two beagles and an ornery orange cat of indeterminate age. Eden BADERTSCHER: Living in Amherst, NH where I work with EDC confronting racial equity issues in mathematics. After a prophylactic mastectomy last year, I have returned full force to focusing on my own health. I teach yoga and barre. I ride horses regularly (Catie and I are going to Ireland this summer to ride), and I am actively throwing on my wheel and now have a kiln to fire what I make, which is one of many things from my time at Ellis that I still draw on today. Delta-marie CELLI: I’m in my ninth year working as a VP for JP Morgan Chase
Class of ’92
managing seven applications in Digital Services. Last year was full of national and international travel for sporting clays competitions and included winning a bronze in Ladies at the National Championships, a silver in Ladies at the Ohio State Championship and my first state shoot title at the PA State Ladies Sporting Clays Championship.
Marni McCHESNEY Mohr marnimohr@gmail.com
Jo LANG Kim ’90 with her husband George and their kids Jordan (12), Jonah (10) and Jude (6).
the same health system. Our kids are now 12, 10 and 6, and we enjoy getting outdoors and being active together as a family as much as possible.
Kristen BELTZ Ornato ’90 with her husband Gino and Gino (4) and Ellen (8) at Epcot.
Kristen BELZ Ornato: I am enjoying my work at KidsVoice helping current and former foster youth and providing support to kids who have none. I see Alyssa BURRELL Cowan ’94 quite a bit as well as Cate RICKARD Axtman ’89. Kristen, Gino, Ellen (8) and Gino (4) were in Disney World when Hurricane Matthew hit last fall, which made for added adventures returning to Pittsburgh. Thank you to all the Ellis friends who offered a place to stay along the way. Wendy YODER Beach: I have lived in the DC area for more than 20 years with Brian and my daughters, Carmella (10) and Zoe (6). I work as Director, Brand Marketing for Choice Hotels and enjoy visiting Ellis alum on my travels. I can’t even believe we’re turning 45 this year… time flies! Allison COBB Hussey: I had a whirlwind October and survived Hurricane Matthew with flying colors. Eye of the hurricane was five miles off our coast, but it could have been much worse. George is in fifth grade and Charlotte is in second. Last fall, my family rescued a puppy who is a good addition to our two dachshunds. I continue to operate my real estate business in Hilton Head and would love to catch up with classmates who are visiting the area. Jo LANG Kim: Currently the director of the Perinatal Depression Program at NorthShore University HealthSystem in the Chicago, IL suburbs and remains active on the board of a local non-profit, Beyond the Baby Blues. My husband, George, works as a nephrologist for
Stephanie GRANDJACQUES:I have been in LA for almost six years, and am working part time on residential projects in LA and San Francisco. I am spending the rest with my two-year-old! Darra BISHOP: I got engaged this year with plans to marry near the end of 2017, and am the proud (but tired) owner of two West Highland Terrier puppies. This year I have seen the opening of my first (albeit) small, restaurant project, the excitement of which has me eager to pursue more design work in boutique hospitality. I am also serving as the president of The American Society of Interior Designers, Los Angeles Chapter. Darra has a masters in interior architecture and is principal of two interior design firms—one residential and one commercial, operating in and around Los Angeles. Courtney RATNER Grote: Living in Seattle and working for Amazon. Willow is in seventh grade, and Sam is in fourth. Corinna BURNS: I continue to juggle many jobs in support of my creative life. I’ve been focusing more on creating my own work and have been developing a solo performance piece that I’m hoping will be tourable by next fall. My first essay was published in the spring 2016 issue of the literary magazine, Hotel Amerika.
Marni McCHESNEY Mohr: It is always wonderful to hear from my fellow Ellisians. Life for me in Atlanta is filled with lots of activities, fun, and adventures. We’ve had some fun travels as a family this past year and I especially loved taking Sam (11) and Etta (8) to San Francisco earlier this year and thought leaving our not even two-year old at home was a great idea! When I’m not running around after my three kids, I’ve been enjoying the challenge of chairing a nonprofit board this year. Last but not least, my son Sam and I had a fantastic quick trip to Pittsburgh recently and loved going to Heinz Field to watch the Steelers. I especially loved taking him through the Ellis hallways too. What memories!
Sam (11) and Marni McCHESNEY Mohr ‘92 back in Pittsburgh for a Steelers game!
Kelly BREEN Hunt: Life is busy with three boys. My eldest, Sebastian, is 14 and towers over me and high school is around the corner which I can hardly believe. He is fond of telling me that he will be driving in two years, and voting in four. I’m thankful to have a “little one” to cuddle...Ryland is six and, after a reluctant start (he really enjoyed summer vacation!!), is enjoying first grade. Xander is 11...he is the best middle brother around, keeping everyone sane! I will be attending the Women’s March on Washington in January and hope that many of our fellow Ellis Alums will be there too!
Alissa MANCUSO Poole: I’m continuing to write for a couple freelance clients and build my other communications skills through PTA positions at the elementary and middle schools for Kelly (10) and Ryan (13). I took my Girl Scout troop camping this year, which was a gigantic leap out of my comfort zone. The girls loved it so we’ll be making our second trip this spring. Thanks to all who sent news! Kelly BREEN Hunt ’92 making her statement!
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great-great-grandfather, E.V. Babcock was a former mayor of Pittsburgh (1918–1922). It was great to be back in the ‘burgh and I got a chance to drive by Ellis too! Roberta SENATORE: My husband Tim and I took a fantastic trip to Rome last May, and I thought it was very cool that they found a shop
Sisters: Alissa MANCUSO Poole ’90 Erin MANCUSO Smith ’93 at Lake Norman, NC.
Kirby HARBECK Rosplock: All is well from Florida. My daughters, Quincy and Sydney are now 6 and 9—in 1st and 4th grades and thriving. We now live in Palm Beach Gardens with our dog, Chloe, and cat, Peapod. I work with my husband John at our consulting business called Tamarind Partners that helps family offices from around the globe. My first book, The Complete Family Office Handbook (2014) has been translated into Chinese this past year and I had a chance to meet with some of the wealthiest tycoons in China and Hong Kong last spring. I am working to finish another book, The Complete Direct Investing Handbook (forthcoming), which should be out next year. I continue to be an editor for the Family Firm Institute Practitioner Journal and teach a family governance course for the FFI GEN program. I also speak about 30-40 times a year all across the US and internationally with affluent families and wealth advisors. We came back to Pittsburgh this past summer to march in the Bicentennial Parade to honor 200 years of Pittsburgh mayors. Sydney and Quincy got to march with their grandmother, Jean BABCOCK Harbeck ’59, and their great aunts, Dorothy BABCOCK Sheahan ’62, and Courtney BABCOCK Borntraeger ’70, as their
Victoria BERDNIK-Atkinson ’92 with her husband and their cat, Gracie.
Jaime LEVINE ’92 and Roberta SENATORE ’92
there with our family name! Danielle GOLDMAN Dorfman: I still find it hard to believe that 2017 will be my 20th year living in Southern California. I love living so close to the ocean, working from home doing what I love, and being so involved in my kids’ lives. My kids are still happy to see me in their classrooms, so, I continue to volunteer as a “Hands On Art” docent, teaching various art lessons to the middle and elementary schoolers throughout the year. Work continues to keep me on my toes, especially when doing PR for Samsung! The occasional red carpet is always a good excuse to get me out of my home office, and I do enjoy when I get to travel a bit for client work. Speaking of travel, I got to see Marni MCCHESNEY Mohr a few times this year and I love being able to see what other fellow Ellis alumni are up to, thanks to social media. Rachel BELL Robards: I would like to congratulate Sara Sutton Fell on the amazing award given to her from Ellis! I just moved to Manhattan Beach, California in Los Angeles and love it. Sarah MIDDLETON Gaffney: In Richmond, VA—I accepted a promotion as the Assistant Director of Pharmacy at a 559 bed facility within the same hospital system. The move has been great for my family as I surprisingly find myself with less work than my previous position and hence, more free time! In September, we surprised the kids with a trip to Disney World and it was incredible. (I highly recommendtheHalloweenparty!)Lookingforward to our 25th reunion next year and hope to catch up with everyone!
Dorothy BABCOCK Sheahan ’62, Sydney Rosplock (9), Jean BABCOCK Harbeck ’59, Courtney BABCOCK Borntraeger ’70, Kirby HARBECK Rosplock ’92, and Quincy Rosplock (6) all in Pittsburgh for the Bicentennial.
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Victoria BERDNIK-Atkinson: Just celebrated my two-year wedding anniversary in November. Last year my husband and I renewed our vows on the beach in Puerto Rico. We both love the beach and recently sold our
house in Robinson to downsize and prepare to move permanently to South Florida in 2017! We are in the area for now and love using the Montour Trail as much as possible. If we’re not on the Trail, you can find us hiking, biking, kayaking, or in the gym. Also on nice days, you can find us cruising on our Harley Davidson Super Glide. With our love of the beach, we set a new record this year for our shell collecting. We make many things with our shells. From the Florida Keys, we shipped home 56 lbs. of shells. This year, we shipped 101 lbs. of shells home from Sanibel and Captiva Islands that included over 600 conch shells. We had so much fun diving for ALL our shells! We are still busy working on our business ventures and Beach Body. We are excited about our dream becoming reality and moving south and our cat, Gracie Grace, a rescue from the Animal Rescue League, to officially become a Florida cat! Carrie LERBERG Work: I’m still living in Pittsburgh and involved in the elementary school PTO and the local soccer club. My oldest, Zachary, just became a teenager, which can’t be true since I am still 30, right? My younger two, Dylan (11) and Tyler (6) both play hockey and soccer. Every weekend at the soccer field we bump into a number of Ellis alumnae, and Tyler plays on the same hockey team as Dana BERGER Dinh’s son! Tina SCHWEITZER Hahn: Life is going well for me in Pittsburgh. Jackson just turned 14, which somehow doesn’t seem possible! Navigating the early teen years has been challenging at times, but mostly it’s been
“I spent time with Carey SCHACH North in Florence for her 60th birthday. We both had been on the Ellis Art History trip with Lu Wenneker in 1974 so it was quite a nostalgic trip.” Midge GOLDSMITH Palley ’74
a lot of fun. In October, I took on a new role as Director of Quality, Safety and Value at Allegheny Health Network. This position allows me to continue doing what I love to do—working with primary care providers and care teams to improve care delivery, patient experience, and health outcomes. Jennifer CARTER: Life is the same only with a kid who’s growing physically and intellectually by leaps and bounds...and I love trying to keep up with her.
hobby, scuba diving! Our most recent trip was to Bonaire, which was amazing! Melissa POLACHEK Filipovic: I have been busy, too, with my three-year-old, Will, who just started a Montessori program five mornings a week this year. Our family’s been enjoying some travelling to the Bay Area, Myrtle Beach, and Stone Harbor. I enjoyed a girls’ trip back to Malibu with some college friends for a joint celebration for our 40th birthdays. I’m still actively volunteering with animal rescues.
Class of ’94 Melissa POLACHEK Filipovic m.polachek@gmail.com Allison FROMM: I’m enjoying working at PNC, and my husband and I are happy to be raising my 3-year-old son in Pittsburgh. Work and family don’t leave a lot of time for hobbies, but I am hoping to teach my son to ski soon, which will allow me to get back on the slopes. And we manage to have some fun walks/hikes the rest of the year. It is always fun to see other Ellis girls around town! Alyssa BURRELL Cowan: Still working at PA’s Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network as a Legal Trainer. My husband, David, is still very busy with patients in Butler. In early summer, we took a trip to France with college friends to celebrate my 40th, hard to believe! Annie and Liam are loving school. Liam just finished a fun soccer season and both kids are participating in Irish Dance. Annie has also joined the JCC Sailfish swim team.
Kieran was kind enough to host us one evening for dinner in her beautiful new home in the Mexican War Streets of Pittsburgh for our 20th reunion weekend last October. Keisha CARTER Ku, Erin LEMON, Leslie ROBINSON, Andrea SEED Spear, Windy WEDLAKE Neff, Sasha SUTHERLAND Nuñes, Marissa VICCARO Earnest, Steph LUNSFORD Panach, and I were all in attendance. Sadly, Amy WOLF and Alison BLOCK Bonn were hoping to join us but were unable to make it. We did lots of laughing and reminiscing about our years at Ellis, which was great. I also saw Danielle BRADLEY and Beth SLABY that weekend at the centennial gala and they are both doing well. I’m still living happily in Philadelphia and I am looking forward, as always, to hearing how everyone is doing the
Melissa POLACHEK ’94 and her son, Will (3) from the photo booth of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.
Thank you to Alyssa and Allison for sharing updates on their lives.
Class of ’96 Kate GRIFFIN Borgstrom katie.arrott@gmail.com Kate GRIFFIN Borgstrom: I’m happy to report that many members of the Class of ’96 were able to catch up with each other in-person this past fall instead of via email. Emma GILMORE
Windy WEDLAKE Neff ’96 and her family in front of the America Falls in Niagra.
next time around! Windy WEDLAKE Neff: Teaching Interior Design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online and will be teaching at Chatham in the spring. I’m also vice president of my sons’ PTA and enjoy being involved with what they’re doing at school. Emma GILMORE Kieran: My consulting business is going well and my husband, Dave, is enjoying teaching at Washington and Jefferson College.
Class of ’98 Kate POLACHECK Ciarimboli kpolachek@gmail.com Emily HOWSON Broadbent ’94 with her daughter, Cora (3), son, Carter, and husband, Jay.
Alex SINGER McKim: All is well with everyone, boys are growing and keeping us busy. Emily HOWSON Broadbent: I am currently a stay at home mom to my almost threeyear-old daughter, Cora. My son, Carter, is a sophomore at Allegheny College, majoring in History. My husband Jay and I love to travel to warm destinations to practice our favorite
Kate POLACHEK Ciarimboli: It has been a fun-filled year enjoying life as a family of five. This year marks two glorious weddings that were attended by many classmates! Class of 1996 – Their 20th Reunion: Front Row: Kate GRIFFIN Borgstrom, Andrea SEED Spear, Emma GILMORE Kieran, Leslie ROBINSON. Back Row: Keisha CARTER Ku, Windy WEDLAKE Neff, Erin LEMON, Sasha SUTHERLAND Nuñes and Marissa VICCARO Earnest.
Abby WILSON: I got married to Patrick Niederriter on Sept 17th amidst a crazy rainstorm on Lake Erie. There were a number of Ellis ‘98 guests at wedding weekend including Rachel EKSTROM, Lindsay PATROSS, Melissa BRAMOWITZ, and the exuberant spirit of Annie SEAMANS, but I want to give a special shout out to the two tigers in my bridal
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Class of ’00 Courtney SYSKOWSKI csyskowski@ccac.edu Courtney SYSKOWSKI: I am still in Chicago, working with graduate students at Northwestern University, and currently planning our July 2017 wedding! My fiancé Craig and I will be married in Pittsburgh, so we’ve been making lots of trips back and forth. One was for the Ellis Centennial Gala, which was so much fun—great to see Ms. Upham, Mrs. Callomon, and Mrs. Newham again!Best wishes to everyone for a happy and healthy 2017! Annabel (4), Nick, Kate POLACHEK Ciarimboli ’98 holding Rudyard (1) and Juliette (6).
party, featured in the photo: Emily ASKIN and Emily ERSTLING—AND our art director/floral magician Moira MCGINLEY. Rachel EKSTROM: I attended Abby WILSON’s wedding and it was WONDERFUL! Emily ASKIN: I got married to an amazing guy. Moira MCGINLEY, Abby WILSON, Lindsay PATROSS, and Breen Masciotra traveled to Mexico for the wedding celebration. Monica ORTENZIO: I have continued to progress my career at USAA where I work in the data analytics space responsible for the personalization of all customer interactions with the company. In my spare time, I have traveled extensively with my husband, Ross. My most recent vacation took me to Disney World for Halloween where I dressed up as Pinocchio and Ross was Gepetto.
Marcela Bohm Velez, proud mother and grandmother, Nicole VELEZ ’00, Oliver Templeton, her son, and Carolina VELEZ ’06 celebrating Easter 2016 in Pittsburgh at the Longue Vue Country Club.
Nicole VELEZ: I moved back to Pittsburgh with my husband Alec Templeton in fall 2014. We have two boys, Oliver (21 months) and Sebastian (3 months). We are living in Shadyside and it’s been great to be near family. I work at Allegheny General Hospital and do Mohs surgery for skin cancer.
The new gal will join sisters Elsie (4.5) and Kiley (2.5).
Lauren THIMONS Kellogg ’00 with her daughter, Charley, and son, Wyatt.
Lauren THIMONS Kellogg: We are doing great in Texas, going on 8 years living here, this is my fifth year teaching middle school art, last year we won the Jr Beta Club Recycled Art National and State Competition! My kids are growing up way too fast! (Charley is 5, Wyatt is 3 and Porter is 8!) They all rodeo and ride horses and love raising our chickens and doing anything outside. My husband is an A&P Jet Mechanic for Gulf Stream at the Love Field Airport, in his free time he breaks and trains barrel horses for our children and I to compete on. We currently have 4 ponies, 3 quarter ponies and 2 quarter horses, so we stay pretty busy but we love it! Especially spending family time together riding horses, rodeoing and raising our other farm animals. Life is good! Even the simple farm life! Julia KILPATRICK: I am living in the Bronx, and we are enjoying the bureaucracy of NYC kindergarten admissions with my son, Doyle!
Katy SWARTZ Kurd: I am still living outside of New York City, working part time and being a mom the rest of the time. We are expecting our third child, another girl, around New Year’s!
Angela MILLER ’00 and Doyle, the son of Julia KILPATRICK ’00, learning to swim.
Courtney SYSKOWSKI ’00 and fiancé, Craig, at a summer wedding.
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Melissa RAIMONDO Morris ’00 and her daughter, Hadley.
Julie TROMPETER Taub: I will celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary in August with my husband, Dan Taub, a hedge fund attorney. I live in Rye Brook, New York with my threeyear-old twin sons, Ben and Eli.
Linda CENDES Hosler ’02 with her husband Ty and their new born daughter Cassandra.
Class of ’04 Lorrie KIGER lorraine.kiger@gmail.com Lorrie KIGER: I’m in my final year of my pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and plan to start a career in primary care after I graduate. I also have some exciting news of my own. My husband Brett and I welcomed our daughter Genevieve into our family on September 28, 2016. She weighed in at 8 lbs. 1 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. Hopefully she will be an Ellis girl someday! Yana CHUDNOVSKY Warshafsky: Mike and I are so excited to be parents of the coolest little guy around! Max was born on February 5, 2016, weighing 9 lbs. 14 oz. and measuring 21.75 inches. I went back to work and am still with the attorney general’s office. I also continue to teach piano and work with some pretty terrific students. A lot to juggle, but I’m loving it!
Lily STOFMAN Gibon ’04 with her husband Cyrus and their new born son, Ezra Michael on September 29, 2016
born!) He’s our little munchkin! Jean YANG: I moved back to Pittsburgh in August after twelve (!) years of living in Boston. I’m living in Shadyside and working at Carnegie Mellon University, where I am an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department. It’s been a busy fall, but I’m excited to be back and to catch up with people!
Farial AWAN ‘04, Katie GRUNST ‘04, Lorrie KIGER ‘04, and Kate ROBB ‘04 at Katie Grunst’s wedding in Dallas, TX.
Class of ’06 Molly ONUFER mollyonufer@gmail.com
Husband Mike with Yana CHUDNOVSKY Warshafsky ’04, and their new son Max.
Lily STOFFMAN Gibon: Cyrus and I welcomed a little one, Ezra Michael Girson, into the world! He was born on September 29, 2016 at 3:18 a.m. weighing 7 lbs. 8 oz. and 22 inches long. (This was 10 hours after Lorrie’s Nevie was
Molly ONUFER: I moved back to Pittsburgh in December 2014 and am currently working for the Office of Community Affairs for the City of Pittsburgh. Being back in Pittsburgh has been a blast and I’ve been lucky to get to catch up with classmates from all over the country—especially at exciting events like Jane SCHMIDLAPP’s wedding in October 2015! Carolina VELEZ: After graduating from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in May 2014, I had a brief stint at a commercial litigation firm in midtown Manhattan but for the past year and a half have been happily working at Microsoft in New York as a facilitator of dialogue between our customers and the sales team to prevent
Members of the Class of 2006 - Julia HUMPHREY, Caitlin KRUMAN, Britnai NUNLEY, Meikaela ZWIERYNSKI, Carolina VELEZ, Kate MASON, Molly ONUFER and Alex MILLER at Jane SCHMIDLAPP’s wedding reception.
litigation—combining my legal background with mediation skill set. In my spare time, I do pro-bono mediations with the New York Peace Institute (divorce, civil, criminal, and small claims), and have been working with KIND, an organization that represents undocumented minors in deportation proceedings. On a more personal note, I spend a lot of time visiting Pittsburgh as am utterly obsessed with my sister’s, Dr. Nicole Velez ‘00, two son’s Oliver and Sebastián. Ashley MALLON: I am very happy to report that I have finished my bachelor’s degree in nursing at Simmons College in Boston! I am very excited to get a job where I can incorporate my knowledge of Spanish to help patients get the best care possible. I am also thrilled to announce that I am engaged to the woman of my dreams and, while a date is still yet to be picked, I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with Addie Ansell! Mara TSUDIS: I’m living in Pasadena, California and have started a new job doing construction management. It’s crazy busy but I still have found time to sing with a cover band on the side. If anyone is ever in SoCal, I’d love to see you! Whitney TROMPETER: I will complete my three-year pediatric training program at Hartford Children’s Hospital on June 24, 2017.
Class of ’08 Sandra HARTKOPF sandra.hartkopf@gmail.com Kylie BOOKWALTER: I am in my third and final year of law school at the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law. I live in Philadelphia with my boyfriend and am looking to start a job here after graduation. Killian HAWK: I live with my wife, Liz Fairfax, and close friend, Patrick McMICHAEL ’09, in Baltimore, Maryland. I spends my days writing
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Omicron Delta Kappa Senior of the Year award, the highest award given to a graduating senior. I was proud to work on the campaign of democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and returned to Ellis to assist with fundraising for the school’s 100th anniversary. I plan to attend law school in fall of 2017.
short fiction and working in an adult novelties store as a sex educator. I am dedicated to helping the nearby LGBT community and making the world a gayer place. Sandra HARTKOPF: Working at the Skoll Global Threats Fund where I manage the office and support a team working to end pandemics in our lifetime. In my spare time, I enjoy exploring California including visiting my sister, Sophia HARTKOPF ’02, in Sacramento. After work, I volunteer as a College Coach at ScholarMatch. Currently living in San Francisco with my boyfriend, Will. Molly SCHNEIDER: I am happily living in Mt. Washington with my adopted cat and soon-to-be husband. I can sometimes be found taking the bus to work at University of Pittsburgh, but am more likely to be found still rowing and coaching on the Allegheny river. Sunaina RUSTAGI: Currently living in Pittsburgh and working for a medical device company where I focus on wearable defibrillators. I am on track to visit 30 countries by 30!
Caroline KELLEY ’10 paddleboarding with her corgi, Thor.
Amber CHAUDHRY: Currently in my last year of the Master’s in Public Health program at the University of Pittsburgh before I begin my J.D. program in the fall. I’m enjoying being back in Pittsburgh and working with the Allegheny County Health Department and the Health Policy Institute to reduce health inequities within Allegheny County. I’m reminded of the skillset that Ellis has given me every day in my fight for social justice and eliminating health inequities. Molly SOFFIETTI: I graduated with my Master’s in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University in 2016. I am currently employed as an Architectural Historian for a cultural resource management firm in Frederick, MD.
Sarah RUTHERFORD ‘08 celebrating 15 years of friendship with Kate WALSH ‘08.
Class of ’10 Molly SOFFIETTI mollysoffietti@gmail.com Caroline KELLEY: Living in Los Angeles, CA with my beautiful corgi, Thor, where I make sure to attend every Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates away event in the LA area. I recently finished my Master’s in Sports Management and hopefully will have an awesome job before this is printed. I also spend time coaching field hockey at the Harvard Westlake School. I love every moment of being a dog mom and look forward to visiting home as often as possible to see all of my Ellis friends.
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Seema SAUL: I moved from Pittsburgh to Boston, had an appendectomy shortly thereafter, represented eastern Massachusetts at a coveted two-week Clubhouse Training held at Fountain House in New York City, and celebrated my one-year work anniversary as an employment counselor at a social and vocational rehabilitation for adults with mental illnesses. Furthermore, I moved into a lovely one-bedroom apartment with my boyfriend of 1.5 years. Although I am a resident of Newton, I continue to long for my beloved ‘burgh! Emmie ROSENBERG: Currently working as Graduation Coach in the Salem, MA Public Schools with AmeriCorps and United Way. I have coached rowing at Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, Thayer Academy, Harvard Recreational Athletics, and Brandeis University. When not working, I am a competitive coxswain for a local Master’s rowing club.
Class of ’12 Eleanora KALOYEROPOULOU kaloyeropoulou@gmail.com Eleanora KALOYEROPOULOU: I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with the
Marina LORENZINI: After continuing to study Arabic in Amman, Jordan during the summer 2015, I received a job offer from Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco. Al Akhawayn University is the top university in the country and follows the American Liberal Arts system with classes taught in English. I work as an Assistant to the Office of the President on internal and external communication. I also lead a weekly English Conversation Group (mandatory and integrated into the curriculum) and Study Hours for students in the English Language Program, motivated scholars doing intensive English to prepare themselves for a degree program. I am also continuing to take Arabic classes at the University. Maria MONGELLUZZO: I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh this past May where I double majored in Environmental Studies and Anthropology, and received a certificate in Public and Professional Writing. In the fall, I returned to Ellis as as a writing intern in the marketing department. I recently accepted a position as an AmeriCorps VISTA, where I will complete my year of service in Pittsburgh as the Resource Development V ISTA at the Millvale Community Library. I look forward to traveling in the future and exploring different graduate school opportunities.
Eleanora KALOYEROPOULOU ’12, Maddie GALLAGHER ’12, Maria MONGELLUZZO ’12, and Mallory THOMAS ’12.
Sophia ROSENFELD: Graduated from the University of Chicago, where I majored in sociology and minored in cinema & media studies. Though I miss Pittsburgh, I decided to stay in Chicago after graduation and now work in marketing research. Mallory THOMAS: In the spring of 2016, I spent four months studying abroad in Mongolia, where I studied language, culture, and public
Jennifer ODLE ’12 with Matthew Maddamma, and daughter Eleanor Maddamma (who will be a big sister in May!)
health. There I split time between the capital city of Ulaanbaatar and Bayankhongor with a nomadic host family. With the nomadic family, I helped herd goats, sheep, horses, and yak. I will graduate from the University of Pittsburgh in spring of 2017 and plan to pursue a career in public health. Emilia WHITMER: Graduated last May from Colorado College with a BA in Film and Media and a minor in Anthropology. This winter I will continue west to California to work as a ski instructor at Mammoth Mountain. I look forward to the chance to live in and explore the beautiful Sierra Mountains. Priyanka AMIRNENI: Graduated from UC Berkeley where I triple majored in Molecular & Cell Biology, History of Art and Astrophysics. I currently live and work in San Francisco, and hope to attend graduate school in Fall 2018.
Class of ’14 Eliza Jimenez ejimenez@bates.edu Margo BIROL: This summer, I spent nine weeks taking classes at the London School of Economics. While at LSE, I studied Marketing, Strategy, and Bargaining & Negotiation. In between classes and exams, my friends and I would take day trips around England, as well as long weekends in Europe. The overall experience of witnessing Brexit first hand is one I will never forget! Dani BRODERICK: I am a junior Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Pittsburgh, seeking to obtain the engineering program’s Product Realization Certificate. I am also finishing my second rotation at Mine Safety Appliances as an engineering co-op with the Quality Engineering team at the
Cranberry Plant and corporate headquarters. The summer after freshman year, I received a research grant to travel to Panama City, Panama with the head of the University of Pittsburgh’s freshmen engineering program, Dr. Daniel Budny. While in Panama, I worked to map out a clean water system in a local impoverished village, modeled the system in CAD software, and presented the project to the mayor of Panama City and other city officials. I am also the Vice President of Philanthropy for the University of Pittsburgh Panhellenic Conference (which is the governing body of all Pitt’s sororities) as well at the Vice President of Programming for Phi Sigma Rho, a national sorority for women in engineering and engineering technology majors. Eleni CONTIS: After completing my foundation year at Rhode Island School of Design, I declared architecture as my major course of study. This past spring, I took a semester off from my studies to focus on ceramics and poetry. Today, I am a part-time student at Carnegie Mellon University, exploring the subjects of environment, climate, and energy, and continue to build my poetry portfolio. I’m set to return to Providence this coming January to continue pursuing a Bachelors of Architecture. Abby COX: I am preparing to spend the second semester of my junior year studying abroad in Granada, Spain, where I will continue working towards a Spanish minor. I am majoring in English at Haverford College, and have been developing my writing skills as a peer tutor in the Writing Center. Outside of class, I am involved in Haverford’s freshman orientation program, and continue to search for opportunities to engage with the community in Philadelphia. I hope to work with a social justice or advocacy organization in Philadelphia when I return from Spain. Naoka GUNAWARDENA: I am in my third year at Yale University studying mechanical engineering. I pass the time by singing in an a cappella group, hosting a radio show with some friends on Friday nights, and working as a Design Aide at Yale’s innovative makerspace. I have been exploring the medical device design world through an internship last summer and a project based course at school. I’m looking forward to more opportunities to continue learning about medical technologies that have a lasting impact on patient’s lives. Eliza JIMENEZ: Currently finishing up the fall semester as a junior at Bates College and will be spending next semester studying abroad in Amman, Jordan, where I will be taking courses in political development and Arabic. Following the semester in Amman,
I will conduct ethnographic research at an integrated Israeli-Palestinian school. I anticipate travelling and working in the region or in Europe for the summer. At Bates, I’m studying Politics and Education and work as a peer tutor in the Writing Center, a tour guide coordinator in the Office of Admissions, and work on a research project with an Education professor to explore Somali newcomers’ educational and community experiences in Lewiston, Maine. I spent this past summer in Washington, D.C. as an intern with J Street, a pro-peace, political advocacy group. Charley MYERS: I am finishing up my first semester abroad in Rome where I study Latin and Art History at the Trinity College Rome campus and travel to different cities and countries about Europe. I am returning to Kenyon College for the Spring semester, where I play for the Varsity lacrosse team. For the summer, I am looking for an internship in Pittsburgh or Charlotte, North Carolina.
“...that time disappeared as soon as we reconnected. The power of an Ellis friendship.” Tierney RYAN Beizer ’84
Class of ’16 Olivia MUSE museo@bc.edu Leila REINES: When I saw a guy running around outside the Cornell club fair with a saxophone strapped to each arm, knee length socks covered in monkeys, and a cape with the words “FREE HUGS” written in huge letters on the back, I knew that the members Big Red Marching Band were my people. Going to Ellis and being one of few percussionists, it was amazing to get to see an entire drumline perform. I was assigned to cymbals and had never felt cooler in my life. We would spend
Leila REINES ’16 playing the cymbals with the Cornell Big Red Marching Band.
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late nights at the field marching, practicing our music for the Shrek Show, 80’s show, and Semester in Spain show, and focusing very hard to get ready for the next football game (by focusing, I mean the rest of the band would practice while the drumline would try and bounce lacrosse balls off of the drums and cymbals until we got yelled at). The band traveled and got to march through Columbia, Brown, Harvard, and even got to play at a Buffalo Bills game! The semester I’ve spent with these guys is amazing, and I really can’t wait for next year.
Emily WOLFE ’16 at her ballroom dancing rehearsal. Kayla KING ’16 on her college trip to the Big Apple.
Disney and Broadway shows. I played the part of the Director and had two solos which were Cabaret from the musical Cabaret and Can You Feel the Love Tonight from the Lion King. Also, I had a monologue.
Madison WARE ’16 one of the newest Duquesne Dukettes – dance team.
Madison WARE: Since beginning college at Duquesne, I have joined numerous clubs including Ebony Women: Women for Social Change, Black Student Union (BSU), Students Against Sexual Violence (SASV), Colleges Against Cancer, and the Pre-Vet and Animal Enthusiast Club. My proudest accomplishment has been making the Duquesne Dukettes Dance Team. As a member of the team, I perform at all home football games and both women’s and men’s basketball games. Recently I have had the opportunity to participate in the WPXI holiday parade and also perform in Mark Milovats’: Christmas in America show. Overall, being an active member of the Duquesne community has allowed me meet great people and make a difference on campus!
Emily WOLFE: So far I have joined the parkour club, Panther Parkour, the ballroom club, Pitt Ballroom, and the radio station, WPTS here on Pitt’s campus. Parkour has been learning a lot of new tricks which are very fun, I went to a ballroom competition and that was exciting, and I am now co-assistant to the assistant director for the TraffCon staff on the radio (I’m in charge of all the station’s PSAs and KTs). I have also continued to volunteer at the food bank and Phipps and am still practicing karate at USA Professional Karate as a first degree black belt. Isabel BROOKE: I have an assistantship with the vice president of academic affairs at Ithaca College. In this role, I do preliminary research for bills and other projects, takes notes, and attend meetings. In this capacity, I am learning about both the structure of Ithaca’s Student Governance Council (equivalent of SGA at most schools) and Ithaca College as a whole. It’s fascinating to learn about the structure of the school, and all the issues and problems that go unseen by many students. I love having a role in making changes and improvements
Kayla KING: On Saturday December 3rd, Pitt-Johnstown took students to NYC to explore the city. Because of the rural atmosphere of Johnstown, this is the most popular trip of the year and needed three buses (the most buses they have ever taken) to transport all of the students in attendance. I really enjoyed going on this trip because I got to shop, eat great food, and be with my friends. Abby THORNTON: I was in Chatham’s production of “What If Life Were More Like Theater?” a cabaret featuring songs from
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Abby THORNTON ’16, left, singing one of her first solos, Can You Hear the Love Tonight at Chatham University.
to my school. I’m also involved with the student newspaper on campus, The Ithacan. As a member of the design staff, I work on infographics, news layouts, and ads for each week’s edition. I’m also a Leadership Scholar on campus. As such, I attend leadership development sessions and volunteer each semester. For this program, earlier in the semester I attended a lecture by IC alum Col. Michael J. Hertzendorf. He structured his lecture by presenting the army’s definition of leadership, and contrasting it with his own. This lecture gave me the opportunity to develop my own definition of leadership. Olivia MUSE: I am in my freshmen year at Boston College. I’ve joined the Women’s Club Rugby Team which won the Eastern Conference as well as travelled to Vassar College to compete in the National Tournament. After winning in the quarterfinals from Northeastern University, Boston College lost to UConn in the semi-finals. The team ended as being ranked #14 in the United States. GiGi NIESON: I can say that I am perfectly happy with my life here at Pratt and in Brooklyn. At first I was a little skeptical about the structure and the overall feeling of being at an art and design college. People are much more relaxed and fluid with their time than at Ellis. It is a whole different learning system. I have three six-hour studio classes and my other three classes are no less than an hour and a half. And instead of doing a problem set, writing papers, and studying for tests, you are basically churning out five or so art works each week. However, this certain learning system is appealing to me more and more. It feels great to be making art all the time, you truly feel connected to your work and the materials you are using. I’m not doing any personal work because I just don’t have the time. My personal work is very conceptual and takes a long time to develop, even before creation, which takes even longer. I haven’t changed into the let’s paint/sketch artist yet. I simply don’t have time to create well developed project ideas, and execute
Boston College Women’s Rugby Team with Olivia MUSE ’16. They placed 14th in Division I.
them. That is what the summer is for. As for student activities, I’m doing a lot and enjoying all of them. Right now I am the Freshman Liaison in our school’s student government, a member of the sculpture club, the student representative of our residence hall, a member of the environmental advocacy group, and a member of NYPIRG, a political research group. What is really great about doing these clubs, is my connection to many of the upperclassmen who have been super helpful in informing me about certain majors. I am still undecided although leaning towards three, industrial design, sculpture, or critical and visual studies (more philosophy/ history based). Samantha SYME: During my first semester of college at Barnard, I joined a number of clubs. The primary club I joined was the McIntosh Activities Council Leadership Initiative (MLI). It’s a club that is part of the bigger Activities Council and is made up of only first-years. We helped plan campus-wide events and maintain Barnard traditions. For example, we
“Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t end this note by saying that no matter where I am, when someone asks me about my educational background, I always tell them that Ellis was the key for me. It’s where I learned to study, and I learned to be confident, and I learned determination. It was the most enriching four years, and I’m forever grateful to have had the opportunity to be a student there... What a great class we had and wonderful supportive teachers.” Kerry HANNON ’78
plan the “Big Sub” event, which is a 700-foot sub [sandwich] on campus for everyone to enjoy, and Midnight Breakfast, which occurs right before finals. We also plan Spirit Week in the spring and I will be part of the Network Committee that reaches out to alumnae. I am also part of the publicity team for the Varsity Show, which is the biggest performance on campus each year. It’s a play/musical that’s a satire of the school, and has included famous alumni like Kate McKinnon and Brandon Victor Dixon (the current lead in Hamilton).
CONNECT WITH US
Talia LESHKO: In my first semester of college, I joined Tufts University’s branch of Jumpstart,
Talia LESHKO ’16 modeling her Jumpstart t-shirt.
a national early education organization that trains Corps members to serve preschool children in low-income areas. Jumpstart’s mission is to provide children with foundational language and literacy skills so that they enter kindergarten prepared to succeed – working towards closing the achievement gap before it is too late. I have always found joy in working with young children in the past so I wanted to pursue this passion while at Tufts. In addition, Jumpstart allows me to explore and give back to the community I will be a part of for the next four years. I also feel a personal connection and responsibility to Jumpstart’s mission to improve language and literacy skills from a young age because I have dyslexia and know first-hand how potentially detrimental poor literacy can be to one’s future academic success. I have already performed over one hundred hours of service at the local Head Start preschool in Medford, MA and I look forward to completing a total of three hundred hours of service by the end of the academic year.
@TheEllisSchool #EllisGirls #MorePowerToHer Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 60 Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 60
MILESTONES Nonie MUSE Shore ’88, Emily NEIMAN O’Connor ’88, Jamea CATALANO Campbell ’88, Christine LeCLERE Hilliard ’88, Merritt COLAIZZI ’88, Brooke RUFFIN Lovett ’88, Jen EVANS Wilson ’88, the bride, Kristen SIEFERS Savely ’88 and her mother, Margot ARNOLD Feldstein ’64.
The newlyweds: Emily ASKIN Roberts ’98 and her husband.
Lorrie KIGER ’04 with her husband, Brett Andrews and their new born, Genevieve Kiger Andrews in September 2016.
Julie ALBRIGHT ’88 and her brand new baby girl, Honoré Gola.
Abby WILSON’s ’98 wedding along the shore of Lake Erie.
61 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Spring 2017
Marriages Kristen SIEFERS ’88 married Jay Savely on June 18, 2016 Abby WILSON ’98 married Patrick Niederriter on September 17, 2016 Francine COSTA Snyder ’02 married Sebastian Brooke on January 7, 2017 Abby PERER ’05 married Brendan Dunuwila on December 31, 2016 Sarah CHESTER ’06 married Matt Hansell on December 11, 2016 Heather ACUFF ’09 married John Blakeney on October 22, 2016
New Arrivals Rachel SMERD ’91 had a son, Judah Otto Shuster, on October 17, 2016 Anne COLVIN Bolton ’98 had a daughter, Cameron Elizabeth Bolton, on May 10, 2016 Jocelyn RICASA ’99 had a daughter, Josephine Anne Legradi, on February 8, 2016 Linda CENDES Hosler ’02 had a daughter, Cassandra Louise Hosler, on November 20, 2016 Molly GUYER Hall ’03 had a daughter, Finley Marie Hall, on November 11, 2016 Lily STOFMAN Gibon ’04 had a son, Ezra Michael Girson, on September 29, 2016 Lorrie KIGER ’04 had a daughter, Genevieve Kiger Andrews, on September 28, 2016 Yana CHUDNOVSKY Warshafsky ’04 had a son, Max Warshafsky, on February 5, 2016 Jessica BOPP Dawson ’05 had a daughter, Keira Noelle Dawson, on April 8, 2016 Ashley SNYDER Richards ’06 had twin sons, Austin and Hudson Richards, on January 18, 2016
In Memoriam
Save THE Date Please join us for Reunion 2017! October 6–7, 2017 Celebrating class years ending in 2 and 7 Reunion Weekend Events: • Meet new Head of School Macon Finley • Alumnae Professional Panel • Campus Tours • Class Photos • Grade 4 Student Pen Pals • Individual Class Parties • Field Hockey Game • Dream Big 2017: Ellis in Wonderland
www.theellisschool.org/reunion
Jane GERWIG Strouss ’36 died on August 17, 2016 Sara SPURLOCK Williams ’40 died on November 9, 2016 Virginia BERDAN Randolph ’48 died on February 16, 2015 Elizabeth FOSTER Blair ’50 died on August 11, 2016 Margaret McCORMICK Reynolds ’50 died on October 4, 2016 Mary Jo IKELER Scott ’61 died on May 27, 2016 Cathy McCONNON ’63 died on December 27, 2016 Margaret ELLER Page ’63 died on August 20, 2016 Elizabeth JONES Trygar ’66 died on November 11, 2016 Noreen O’LEARY ’75 died on October 1, 2016
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 62
A LIFETIME AT ELLIS: Director of Alumnae
Affairs, Elizabeth SUCCOP Altman ’70 to Retire Elizabeth “Liz” SUCCOP Altman ’70 has been many things to
Director of Alumnae Affairs ten years ago. During her tenure in
Ellis—daughter of an alumna, student, faculty wife, parent, staff
the Development Office, Liz has planned countless alumnae events
member, and grandparent. As Director of Alumnae Affairs, Liz has
and reunions, sent words of congratulations and condolence,
seen Ellis from more angles than possibly any other alumna, but
and provided invaluable insights and recommendations to Ellis
now is the time for her career chapter to close as she announces
staff. She has had the opportunity to connect and link alumnae
her retirement this July.
from her generation, her daughter’s generation, and now her
Liz’s Ellis legacy reaches back to 1935 when her grandmother, Jean Thompson Eddy, was on the Board of Trustees and stretches
granddaughters’ generation. “It’s been my absolute honor to work with Liz. She’s made me
to 2017 as her granddaughters now dress in Ellis plaid as students
laugh, cry, believe in myself, laugh at myself, question myself—
in the Lower School. Part of the inaugural first grade class
sometimes all in one day. I love her like she is part of my family and
in Arbuthnot House, Liz has seen
even though I will miss her like crazy
Ellis through every twist, turn,
everyday, I am so happy she can retire
Head of School, and facility update
and enjoy life in her pajamas,” said
since 1958.
Kris Arnoni, Development and Donor
A graduate of the class of 1970, Liz thought her Ellis days were behind
Relations Manager. Diana Hurd, Director of Marketing
her after donning the signature
and Communications adds, “Liz is
white hat at commencement. But
a true mentor. Her Ellis education
Ellis has proven to be a pillar of
clearly made a lasting impact on her
her life and her family’s ever since.
and she executes the idea of women
Her husband, Charles, taught at the
helping other women in everything
School for 32 years. Her daughter,
that she does. Her caring nature and
Sarah ALTMAN Bumsted ’95 was
fun attitude make it easy for younger
an Ellis lifer who now has two
employees to come to her looking for
daughters, Kit, Class of 2029, and
the insight of a seasoned veteran and
Annie, Class of 2027, at Ellis. Liz has really only been away from
thoughtful friend. She is a true gem and we look forward to seeing
the School for 11 years, from 1970 to 1981, to attend Washington &
her friendly face on campus as an Ellis grandparent in the future.”
Jefferson College, get married, and have her daughter—and as it turns out, she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’ve been here for 60 years in one way or the other. The
Upon her retirement in July, Liz will have been at Ellis, in some capacity, for most of her life. And while her professional era is coming to an end, her role as an Ellis grandparent is only beginning. Liz
celebration of girlhood at Ellis is one of the reasons we sent our own
is sure to be a staple at events, performances, and games as she
daughter here. We wanted her to hold onto her childhood and know
supports and cheers on her grandchildren for years to come. But first
that school is full of excitement and joy. Ellis has given me and my
thing’s first, upon her retirement—Liz plans to take a long and well-
family a wonderful sense of community. Ellis is home—it means so
deserved vacation away from the comforts of Arbuthnot House.
much to me,” says Liz. Liz’s various roles at Ellis meant the depth and breadth of her alumnae network was unparalleled when she started her job as
63 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Spring 2017
Ellis wishes you all the best, Liz, and we thank you for your lifelong dedication to The Ellis School!
More power to her Thank you, Ellis, for educating and empowering amazing girls who grow up to be even more amazing women. Your graduates have made the world a better place.
— UPMC Health Plan salutes The Ellis School.
www.upmchealthplan.com
Spring 2017 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 64
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www.theellisschool.org @TheEllisSchool #EllisGirls #MorePowerToHer
#HearHerRoar Back row (L to R): Bette FINEGOLD Parks ’69, Stephanie KATZ Melker ’68, Deborah HEATH-Bailey ’68. Front row (L to R): Deborah BRAND McCarthy ’68, Lois AAVEDESIAN Re ’69, Priscilla ABRAMS Hays ’69.