Perspective Spring 2014 by University Liggett School

Perspective The M a ga zine fo r Univ er sit y L igget t Sc h ool Spr ing 2 0 1 4

Detroit doers

celebrating alumni, students & faculty who are shaping the city

SAVE THE DATE!

HEA D O F SC HO O L Joseph P. Healey, Ph.D. O FFIC E O F A DVA NC EM EN T ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR ADVANCEMENT Kelley Hamilton ASSISTANT HEAD OF ADVANCEMENT Cressie Boggs ADVANCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS & SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER Katie Durno

ALUMNI W E E K E N D MAY 15 -1 7 , 2 0 1 4

CAMPAIGN PROJECT MANAGER Genevieve Valiot ADVANCEMENT COORDINATOR Trisha Shapiro PER SPEC TIV E – SPR ING 2 014 DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Michelle Franzen Martin GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lee Ann Gusmano

UN IVERSITY L IGGETT SCHOO L 1045 Cook Road Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236-2509 Tel 313.884.4444 www.uls.org University Liggett School is Michigan’s oldest, co-educational, pre-K through grade 12, independent day school. University Liggett School does not unlawfully discriminate against any person on the basis of religion, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability or any other protected class as provided by applicable law.

After what seemed the longest winter in living memory in Michigan, it looks like spring may actually arrive. With spring come our annual reunion events. We are looking forward to seeing many of you on campus for one or another or all of the festivities. We are hoping that the boy’s baseball team can repeat its State Championship season again this year.

‘We have a strong and growing connection to the city.’

The theme of this issue is

Detroit. For seven years now I have been making the case that the school’s destiny is linked to that of the city. In the last few years despite all the headlines about bankruptcy we have

seen remarkable and positive growth around us. We have a strong and growing connection to the city and our students are actively engaged in the city, its history, its issues and its possibilities.

I hope many of you will come by the school. We are about to begin a major

capital project which involves rebuilding completely all of our fields on Cook Road. We envision that will take about a year and then we will begin construction of a major new athletic complex on Cook Road.

You will hear more about these initiatives as our plans firm up and we begin

planning a capital campaign to finance all of this.

We have seen seven years of steady and strong growth in the school and we

are confident that we can continue that progress and assure the school’s long-term health and growth.

Please do not be strangers. Come home – the door is always open.

Sincerely, Joseph P. Healey, Ph.D.

P ERSP ECTIVE Spr in g 2014 | 1

Detroit doers

contents

PERSPECTIV E The Magazi ne for U ni v er s i t y L i gget t School | Sp ring 2014

perspective: parent

class notes

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5 16

a familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for giving back

3 19 21 22 24 42

around campus perspective: office of advancement perspective: office of alumni relations

on the town

perspective: student

historic traditions

Around Campus

astronaut spends the day at school

NASA Astronaut and U.S Naval

Chris Cassidy’s

Commander Christopher J. Cassidy

cousin. Trey

visited University Liggett School in

Cassidy worked

April for a full day of activities that

with NASA to

ranged from working with students

arrange the visit,

on space-related projects to sharing

which includes a

his personal experiences in space.

special partnership

His visit concluded with a special

with the Michigan

community lecture.

Science Center.

During the day, Cassidy met with Liggett students at several

Chris Cassidy

assemblies and classroom visits that applied Cassidy’s space

was selected by

knowledge to what students are learning in class. He met with

NASA in May

third-graders, who showed him what they “packed” to go

2004. During his

into space with him, and did a science experiment with fifth-

NASA career,

graders. Cassidy also visited classes in the Middle and Upper

he completed

schools to apply his experiences to their studies — for example,

six spacewalks,

charting the distance to the moon in math classes, and examining

totaling 31 hours,

the effects of zero gravity on the body in science classes.

14 minutes and

accumulated 182 days in space. He also spent 10 years as a U.S.

“His visit raised some interesting questions for students

to explore,” says Trey Cassidy, Head of the Upper School and

Third-graders present NASA Astronaut Chris Cassidy with moon drawings.

Navy SEAL.

GO KNIGHTS!

Liggett girls hockey wins state championship The Liggett girls hockey team defeated Cranbrook 4-3 in overtime during the March 10 game to win the state championship.

athletic director receives top honor University Liggett Athletic Director

of only 14 administrators statewide who were honored by the

Michelle Hicks has been named

MIAAA at its annual mid-winter conference in March.

Regional Athletic Director of the

Year by the Michigan Interscholastic

extraordinary records and seasons. This year, the girls varsity

Under her direction, the Liggett teams have had

Athletic Directors Association.

hockey team won the state championship and the girls

basketball team was crowned regional champs and made it to

Hicks has been with Liggett for 27 years — the last 10

of which she has been the school’s athletic director. She is one

the state semi-finals. P ERSP ECTIVE Spr in g 2014 | 3

Liggett student earns prestigious award

from these writers

University Liggett School senior Mostafa Shanta of Detroit has

he says.

been named a 2013 QuestBridge Scholar and will attend Yale

University on a full-ride scholarship.

Jamett, Director of

College Guidance:

The QuestBridge program matches high-achieving,

who were giving these nuggets of wisdom,” Says Elizabeth

lower-income students with 35 of the top-ranked colleges and

“Those of us who

universities in the country. This year, nearly 13,000 students

work with Mostafa

applied and fewer than 5,000 were named finalists; only a few

fully expect that he

hundred were actually matched with a college or university of

will become a scholar

their choice.

of the highest order. There is no question that he has the talent

and instinct to contribute to scholarly dialogue in the most

“I didn’t like the odds,” Mostafa says. “And the wait from

the application in August to the decision was frightening. I put

meaningful way.”

Yale down as one of the schools I was interested in, but I never

expected I would get it. I’m still trying to take it all in.”

is that teachers here trained me on how to write good essays

about myself,” he says. “And I have to really thank Mrs.

Mostafa came to the United States from Bangladesh as a

“I think part of the reason QuestBridge and Yale chose me

young child. He entered Liggett in the eighth grade, coming

Jamett, who helped me through the process.

from Hamtramck Academy. He was awarded a Liggett

Merit Scholarship to attend Liggett’s Upper School where he

who wrote my letters of recommendation know me as a

developed a passion for international studies, which he plans

student and could give a fuller picture of me for the people

to pursue at Yale.

making the decision.”

At Liggett, Mostafa is a member of the Quiz Bowl and

“That’s one of the great things about Liggett. The teachers

Mostafa is the second QuestBridge Scholar from Liggett in

Debate teams, participated in the Interfaith Club and the

two years. Last year, Aaron Robertson of Detroit, also a Liggett

Robotics team.

Merit Scholar, received the honor. He is attending Princeton.

In addition, 2009 Liggett graduate Janaya Gripper received

He credits former Liggett teacher David Thompson as a

major influence. “He introduced me to a lot of authors who

the prestigious scholarship and attended the University

wrote about things I was interested in and I learned so much

of Chicago.

students give back to community

January by participating in a school-wide day of service.

University Liggett School students from K-12th grade

celebrated the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in

lunch packages stuffed by Upper School students. Faculty,

Lower and Middle School students decorated bags for

administrators and parents also volunteered their time preparing lunches, toiletry care packages and scarves for the non-profit organization Heart to Hart. Upper School students have developed a close partnership with Heart to Hart, raising money for the organization throughout the year.

Heart to Hart, based in Detroit, provides food, clothing and

toiletries to the homeless and those in need in metro Detroit.

Walter P. Reuther Library

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Around Campus

10th-graders navigate Detroit borders and boundaries

10th-graders explore Detroit and its boundaries.

photographs and literature. “The question about borders lends

By Shernaz Minwalla, Associate Dean of Faculty and

itself to different ways of looking at it,” says Isaiah Hines

Director of the Academic Research Program

Bailey. “Our group started out stating that race creates borders,

The Academic Research Program develops the necessary

but then Molly [Murphy] noted that religion also determines

skills, resources and knowledge for students to perform an

where a family might live. So, we came up with labels that

independent project with the clear goal of contributing to

define socio-economic status, way of life, level of crime, and

an ongoing scholarly discourse. Across four years of study,

friendships: money, neighborhoods, jobs, and education.”

students learn what scholarly research is and how it functions

in educational conversations. They practice the research process

or boundary to a panel. Liggett’s Associate Dean of Faculty,

in their coursework and acquire a broad spectrum of credible

Bart Bronk, says he liked that the students had to grapple

sources to tap during problem-solving. They create outcomes

with difficult questions posed by the panel, which provided

and share their results with peers and the community. Students

historical and political contexts for further explorations

graduate with a project they initiated and completed over the

to consider. Brett Abdelnour compared this experience to

course of four years.

September’s, when students were asked to identify Detroit’s

three most important icons or institutions. “This time I

Students in the 10th grade practice the research and writing

Groups presented their ideas on the most important border

protocol across the curriculum as part of ongoing sessions

understood the expectations so I chose to be more engaged

devoted to pragmatic topics situated in the landscape of

and I found the question to be more interesting,” he says.

Detroit. Moving beyond the classroom, students immerse themselves in local and contemporary situations, experiencing an environment ripe for investigation. Interactions with the arts, natural resources, city government, ethnic neighborhoods and other Detroit features train students to apply the skills and processes they possess.

The sophomore class began its second session of the

Liggett named ‘Best in Business’ University Liggett School has been named “Best in Business” by WJR-AM radio and Huntington National Bank as part of the bank’s spotlight on organizations that are redefining business practices in the community.

Academic Research Program in January. Students also

participated in an activity to provide them with strategies for

that tells the school’s entrepreneurial success story. The

viewing artifacts as primary sources when conducting historical

Best in Business series features the insight behind the

research. “It was a great day,” says Jack Ninivaggi. “I learned

innovations, services and civic activism that make Liggett

a lot.” Rita Sidhu also appreciated the Motor City exhibit. “It

and other companies and organizations regional leaders.

showed a lot of the history of a part of Detroit we know and

take great pride in,” Sidhu says.

talks about Liggett’s forward-focused curriculum: “It’s

a fascinating education model called the Curriculum for

The next day, the 10th-graders returned to the area to

examine the borders and boundaries in and around Detroit and the advantages and challenges of these demarcations. Using a protocol designed to include time to read, collaborate, reflect and summarize, students looked at maps, stats, articles,

Liggett was featured on the radio and via a podcast

In the podcast, Mike Fezzey of Huntington Bank

Understanding, and it puts students at the center of their learning. This is how University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe is shaping tomorrow’s leaders today.”

P ERSP ECTIVE Spr in g 2014 | 5

Detroit Doers

shaping a new Detroit Councilwoman Raquel Castañeda-López

will be the first to tell you that she was not looking to get into politics. She was not considering a campaign for Detroit’s City Council last summer, and she didn’t take her neighbors all that seriously when they first encouraged her to run. In fact, she didn’t start campaigning until after turning in her petition signatures to appear on the ballot — signatures she collected a mere week before the ballot deadline.

How then does Castañeda-López find herself

on Detroit City Council today? It’s simple: Her community needed her. She had a social responsibility. And her Southwest Detroit neighbors believed in her long before she believed in herself.

“More and more community members and

neighbors said I should think about it,” CastañedaLópez remembers. “We didn’t have anyone to represent the whole community. A mentor of my sister’s at Alternatives for Girls said that she felt the true power [of Detroit] is the people, and she thought I felt the same. She said we needed someone to represent the community and I was the person to do it.”

That conversation and continuing encouragement

from friends, colleagues and neighbors convinced Castañeda-López that she was ready to run.

A graduate of University Liggett School’s class of

1999, Castañeda-López is a first-generation college graduate, receiving an undergraduate degree from University of Montana and a master’s degree in social # | ul s . org

work from the University of Michigan.

included door-to-door canvassing

many supporters and friends. Castañeda-

As a community organizer for more than

and phone calling. She canvassed her

López took 56 percent of the votes and

10 years, Castañeda-López is deeply

neighborhood twice, personally meeting

won the District 6 seat. She is now the

rooted in her neighborhood’s mission

with voters and sharing her thoughts on

first Latina councilwoman in Detroit

to revitalize. She’s on the board of Clark

the area and sharing her plans to make

history.

Park and volunteers as a soccer coach for

city government more accessible to the

Think Detroit PAL, an organization that

average resident.

natural strengths as an advocate for

Today, Castañeda-López finds her

Jason Loudermilk Photography

Castañeda-

social justice a perfect complement to

López says the

her new role. “I’m a fun, silly person

outreach allowed

and I’m pretty honest and direct,” she

her to connect

says. “People told me I would have to

with many

approach the job negatively, and I’m

people including

down for the struggle and protesting,

Liggett friends,

but negativity is not my approach.

classmates and

So much of [the job] is listening to

teachers she had

people and learning to help people

not seen in years.

communicate with each other.”

“Alumni friends

[from Liggett]

her ear to the community on a wide-

reconnected with

spread level by creating a mobile

Castañeda-López plans to offer

‘ Negativity is not my approach.’

strives to provide safe, challenging and

me and were

fun after-school experiences for Detroit’s

excited to hear

youth. She also serves on the Hispanic

I was running,”

Latino Commission of Michigan, and ran

she says.

state Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s campaign in

Another

2008. Her commitment to the people and

unexpected

places in her district and her impressive

reunion came when Upper School

office that will continually travel to

community organizing experience made

teacher David Backhurst reached out

different parts of her district. She

Castañeda-López a fresh and exciting

to Castañeda-López. In school, she had

hopes it will get her out in front of

candidate for the area.

been Backhurst’s soccer team manager,

her constituents on a regular basis,

and she had him for advisory. Now some

removing the stigma that government

was a big victory for Castañeda-López,

15 years later, Backhurst reached out and

is inaccessible for the common citizen.

and she had an immediate impact on

offered to bring his urban studies class

District 6 and its people. “I kept hearing

to the campaign office to volunteer. One

by access to information and resources,”

that young people and people who didn’t

Saturday, students learned about the

she says. “I hope traveling from

usually vote were excited to hear I was

campaign process by making calls and

neighborhood to neighborhood creates a

running,” she says. “The campaign was

knocking on doors at the Castañeda-

sense of community. Many people think

an empowering experience.”

López campaign office.

government is boring, corrupt and not

for them. The truck will be awesome. I

Finding her way on the campaign trail

Castañeda-López coordinated

The momentum of the campaign

“I am promoting civic engagement

her campaign effort from an office in

made election night an electrifying

hope it will help humanize government

Mexicantown. Her campaign strategies

culmination of the hard work of so

and city services.” P ERSP ECTIVE Spr in g 2014 | 7

From her 1999 University Liggett School yearbook: “I love ya, Southwest Detroit!” she wrote.

‘ I realized the importance of sharing my story.’

In addition to her mobile office,

candidate for the council at the start of

her visit to Liggett emphasized the

Castañeda-López is working to build

her campaign. Recently, she and fellow

importance of being open-minded. She

coalitions throughout her district.

councilmember Andre Spivey came

encouraged students to push themselves

She describes the coalitions as safety

to University Liggett School to speak

outside of their comfort zone because

squads and groups at a micro-level of

with Upper School students about

peers do not always realize the impact

government that will help her address

their positions on the council. It was

their words or actions can have on a

larger city issues on the ground in her

bittersweet for Castañeda-López, who

classmate.

district. The coalitions will meet monthly

had not been back to the school since

and will work collaboratively to train

graduation in 1999.

my story,” Castañeda-López says. She

and strengthen each neighborhood’s

received a huge round of applause from

initiatives such as neighborhood watch

time in school was sometimes difficult.

Upper School students, and Castañeda-

and community programming.

“Freshman year, I had Mr. Tidwell for

López was touched when students

On a larger scale, Castañeda-López

She shared with the students that her

“I realized the importance of sharing

English and he helped me with my

approached her afterward to thank her

is assessing how her district should

writing after school and at lunch,”

for being honest and open about the

participate long-term in development

she says. “Instructors like Ms. Jackson

good and bad experiences she had at

projects and mixed income property

allowed me to read authors that were not

Liggett. It was a true and real picture of

opportunities. She wants to work on

mainstream. I wasn’t a fan of literature,

her thoughts and feelings as a student.

demolition projects smartly and aims to

but I appreciated the different exposure

consider how any new projects will relate

to areas like African-American literature

any other way.

to the overall mission of revitalizing the

and Native American literature.”

entire city. It’s an ambitious pursuit that

she hopes will promote lasting benefits

well for college, but Castañeda-López

alum making an impact on

for Detroit residents.

also stressed that she often struggled as

Detroit’s future. This issue is

a minority student at Liggett. Sometimes

dedicated to Castañeda-López

issues, Castañeda-López continues to

dealing with prejudice from peers during

and other Detroit Doers — people

give back to her community in many of

her school experience, Castañeda-López’s

who are making a difference both

the same ways that made her a popular

message to current students during

in the city and close to home.

Beyond the daily business of city

8 | ul s . org

These experiences prepared her very

Castañeda-López would not have it

Castañeda-López isn’t the only

Detroit Doers

hub & spoke

wheeling around Detroit By Sheila Chaps, Head of the Lower School One of the academic project themes this year in the Lower School has been a study of Detroit and its surrounding communities. “Hub and Spoke — Wheeling Around Detroit” has been our signature topic.

The title stems from the Augustus Woodward design for the city with its avenues or

“spokes” fanning out from downtown Detroit to neighboring settlements and a developing metropolis. Thinking about city planning and layouts in mapmaking from the outset was of interest to all as we examined the “then and now” images of the growing city.

All Lower School classes have been researching the rich

heritage and history of the Detroit area with investigations in cultures, industry, economics, health care, geography, environment, art, music and sports. Students have brought in pictures of themselves in the many locations their families have visited in the area, and every class has focused on specific aspects as they apply in appropriate developmental and curricular ways. In part, it unifies a continuum of learning and increases connectivity across grade levels.

Project learning in the Lower School is characterized by

access and organization of information through three essential Second-graders come face-to-face with a polar bear at the Detroit Zoo.

questions or phases:

1. Prior knowledge. What do I already know or think I

know about a topic?

2. Research. What do I wonder or want to know about a topic?

3. Evidence of understanding. What have I learned about

a topic?

Beginning in our preschool classes, children explored the

concept of a city using this approach. What constitutes a city and what are the differences between cities, suburbs and rural PPERSP # ERSPECTIVE ECTIVE Spr Sprin ingg 2014 2014 | | 9

areas? Through research with books, videos and on the Internet, they learned about neighborhoods, businesses and community helpers, they made maps and they built cities out of blocks and cut out buildings to form a city collage.

Kindergartners ventured out by bus

to tour city streets, view the Detroit skyline and learn about the architecture of buildings in Detroit. They visited Eastern Market and the Renaissance Center, where they examined the glass sculpture by world famous artist Danny Lane. They returned to the classroom to create silhouettes of cityscapes and recreated a model in cellophane of the glass exhibit they saw.

First-graders and their Upper School

Senior Buddies traveled together to the Gleaners center to learn about the services and mission of the food bank and to actively help make a difference for families in need. This was a part of our community service thrust.

In the fall, this class went to the

Belle Isle Nature Zoo to investigate aquatic life as a complement to their project study on Michigan turtles. While â&#x20AC;&#x153;wheeling around Detroitâ&#x20AC;? and taking in city sites, they also noted the panorama of the city shoreline, contrasting neighborhoods, urban graphics and the array of multi-storied buildings that characterize Detroit.

As part of their science study of

crystals, first-graders discovered the economic and geological significance of Detroit-area salt mines. These students have also been doing experiments relating to surfaces. Class discussions have centered on the types of road

potholes or roads without.

going on a hay ride, visiting chicken

surfaces in Detroit and how that affects

coops, using old-fashioned hand water

the motion of our vehicles. They have

on fall crops and harvest time, looked

pumps, running through a corn maze,

also considered the impact of weather

at the rural communities and their

and learning from informational talks

and what happens this time of year

impact on regional life as they studied

about the crops was instructional and

to our roads. They are exploring

the farming industries in metro Detroit.

fun. Students are grateful to the Liggett

which has more friction â&#x20AC;&#x201D; roads with

Picking apples at the Blake orchards,

Slanek family for hosting the classes at

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Our second-graders, with a focus

their farmland home near Richmond. Mr.

Ford” theme in this 150th anniversary

Hospital and Hutzel Women’s Hospital.

Grucz (Grandpa Farmer Bob) provided

year. Motor City life and the automotive

Liggett’s director of medical services,

a tour and demonstration of all the big

impact on the economic growth of

Dr. Renita Clark, invited the speakers to

machinery, equipment and silos that are

the area were of keen interest to the

share their experience in the health care

used in planting, harvesting and storing

children as they researched the life of this

field. They discussed their educational

corn. The class produced a wonderful

legendary inventor and the origins of the

path to careers in this area, their many

electronic record with voice threads and

assembly line. Both classes visited the

responsibilities and their pride in

digital photos telling of this experience.

Ford Rouge Factory Tour to further their

Detroit. Their persistent and inspiring

The second-grade class also visited the

learning about this important historical

message was always to believe that you

Detroit Zoo’s Circle of Life attraction

waymark and its impact on our culture.

can achieve what you dream of doing

during their Polar Land project study.

Fifth-graders, during their unit on

when you really work for it. Dr. Clark

In science they have been involved

the French-Canadian trappers known as

also presented a video overview of the

with light investigations and have been

the “Voyageurs,” studied what Detroit

histories of the hospitals and medical

looked like at the time they would have

schools in the Detroit area, illustrating a

traversed our local essential waterways.

“then and now” look at the facilities. The

Students visited Oakwoods Metro Park

children were especially interested in the

and experienced the life of the historic

horse-drawn ambulances!

“Voyageurs” as they journeyed by canoe

(which, by the way, would hold cargo

and computer media centers have been

equal to the weight of a Hummer) and

generating materials, Libguides, Internet

considered the labors of those legendary

sites, print resources and other materials

traders. Recognizing the crucial role

for student research with displays of

Detroit played in the civil rights

books about Detroit and its people and

researching Detroit lighthouses. They

movement, fifth-graders also visited the

businesses. Other Detroit initiatives

read “Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie”

Historic Underground Railroad Living

included class trips to the Detroit

about their importance.

Museum and took part in a reenactment

Symphony Orchestra, the Hitsville

experience in its “Flight to Freedom”

Motown Museum, school performances

also researched the importance of

tour. On another note, the class also

at the Masonic Temple and field

agriculture lands in the Detroit area and

researched the history of the area’s

excursions to the Detroit Institute of Arts,

made a study of Michigan barns. The

ribbon farms and discovered current

Greenfield Village, and Arab American

investigation included a field trip to one

initiatives in city farming as they toured

National Museum. Certainly our beloved

of Michigan’s oldest barns, and another

the Ford Rouge plant and learned about

sports teams, playing fields, and arenas

visit to a home site being built by a barn

the plant’s unique “green” roof.

have been the center of much experience

expert using vintage barn woods and

and discussion among us. The whole

older traditional methods of construction.

Detroit and its history, Lower School

thematic study has raised true awareness,

This class also focused on immigration,

students in grades 1-5 were treated to a

pride, and interest in Detroit, its rich

world religions, a diversity of cultures

presentation on “Health, Healing, and

history, and the ongoing importance it

and the influences of these on people

Helping” with guest speakers Denise

plays in our region and our world. It has

settling in Detroit. They have hosted

Brooks-Williams, president and CEO

paved the way for future investigation

representative guest speakers from the

of Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital; Dr.

of opportunities for involvement and

Freedom House refuge support center.

Scott Henry, a cardiothoracic surgeon

participation in the life of this vital city.

at the Detroit Medical Center; and

Our young third-grade scholars

In collaboration with second-graders

As part of our ongoing study about

as Project Learning Pals, fourth-grade

a video message from Dr. Reginald

students concentrated on a “Henry

Eadie, president of Harper University

To be sure, our Lower School library

P ERSP ECTIVE Spr ing 2014 | 11

‘the road to success isn’t

a straight line’

“DETROIT HAS STARTED ITS REVITALIZATION. THE OPPORTUNITY IS NOW, AND THIS AREA IS GROWING AND GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY.” This is the reason alumnus Daniel Ngoyi sought a career in Detroit. A native of the area, Ngoyi became a student at Liggett in the third grade and then studied business management at Wayne State University. As a student at Wayne State, Ngoyi says he didn’t see a lot of activity in Detroit his first few years of school, but as he neared graduation

Daniel Ngoyi: “I love interacting with the people that make a difference for our company, and will potentially impact people’s lives in a positive way.”

in 2012, he saw so much great investment by

I love interacting with the people that make a difference

entrepreneurs, small businesses and large companies. This has

for our company, and will potentially impact people’s lives

instilled a strong love of Detroit in him and he wants to be a

in a positive way,” he explains. Quicken Loans has made a

part of what he considers a “unique opportunity” to shape the

significant investment by housing its company in Detroit and

future of the city.

bringing professionals downtown to live, work and give back

to the community.

Ngoyi’s passion for Detroit is one of the reasons that first

attracted him to a job at Quicken Loans, where he currently

works as a recruiter. “I get to interact each day with top

involvement in local neighborhoods,” says Ngoyi, who has

financial professionals from around the state and country.

been a part of Quicken teams that have volunteered downtown

12 | ul s . org

“The biggest reason I am so satisfied at Quicken is its

Detroit Doers

Recently, Daniel Ngoyi joined University Liggett School for its first Career Day networking event on campus. The event featured 10 in a variety of ways from cleaning up

alumni from various professional

city streets to working with Osborne and

backgrounds who networked with

Cody high school students on interview

the senior class. The alumni were

and resume training.

seated at different tables, and

student groups of seven or eight

Several times a year students in the

program are invited to the Quicken

rotated in a round-robin format from

Loans offices at Campus Martius to learn

table to table, asking questions

these professional skills and observe

of our alumni about their career

what working in a financial field is really

experiences. Questions about the

like. Beyond the professional training,

particulars of each industry, means to

Ngoyi says that he enjoys mentoring the

a career path and a variety of other

students on a personal level, drawing on

topics made for lively conversation.

lessons he learned as a student at Liggett.

“Teachers like Dr. Emery and Mr. Hartley

his experiences at Quicken Loans

did a great job of coaching me,” he says.

and his unconventional path to the

“They let you fall and make mistakes,

company, studying various things at

but helped you when you really needed

Wayne State University, including

it. Dr. Emery taught me that the road to

psychology and psychiatry, before

success isn’t a straight line, and being a

realizing he had an interest in

good person will take you far in life.”

business. The students had a great

time speaking with Ngoyi and the

These are lessons that Ngoyi says

Ngoyi spoke with students about

he now shares with students, and this

other alumni, and the event is now

personal interaction with people every

planned to be an annual program.

day is what makes him happy at his job.

“Why do I stay in Detroit? You can go

to a big city like Chicago and be a part of what has already been built, or you can stay here and be an innovator and a pioneer,” he says.

P ERSP ECTIVE Spr ing 2014 | 13

Save the Date! Make plans to attend our annual fall fundraiser: Liggett Knight 2014 Friday, November 14

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The Detroit Athletic Club 6-10 p.m. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Live, Silent and “Fishbowl” auctions. Sit-down dinner. For sponsorship opportunities and donation information, contact Katie Durno at kdurno@uls.org or telephone 313.884.4444, Ext. 414. Proceeds from Liggett Knight will go toward things like technology and academic initiatives, building improvements, athletic equipment and more. Your support is vital to the school and much appreciated by everyone at Liggett. Thank You!

14 | ul s . org

Perspective: Parent

embracing Liggett

By Stacey Hall,

Liggett parent of

grade. When your child who has struggled to find a strong fit in

Todd ’19, Peighton

an educational environment comes to you with such excitement

’25, and Morgan ’26

and vigor for his school, it lets you know that you have made a

Our family moved

great choice. I have watched his confidence grow not only in the

In 2013, we brought our son Todd over to Liggett for 7th

to Grosse Pointe in 2009 from Bloomfield Township. We have

classroom, but also in his social interactions with his classmates.

three children: Todd ’19, Peighton ’25 and Morgan ’26. My

He has finally found a group of friends who truly care about

husband and I both attended public schools, and one of our

him as a person. He is creating relationships that will definitely

reasons for moving to Grosse Pointe was because of the great

last a lifetime.

public education in the area. That year, Todd began third

grade at the local public school, and we began our search for

I am so glad that it did. The families at Liggett have embraced

a preschool as Peighton would be enrolling in fall 2010. We

our family and we have embraced them. My husband and I

looked at many different programs in the area. Once we walked

have been rewarded with incredible relationships with not

into Liggett and felt the culture of the community that lies

only other Liggett parents, but faculty members as well. I

within, we knew right away that Peighton would be a student

have personally volunteered more hours than I can remember,

there. The open learning environment that allows the students

working on countless art projects and classroom projects with the

to choose the subject matter was a revelation that we found

children. The last few years I served as chairperson for the Lower

extremely appealing.

School Art Projects for the Liggett Knight annual auction. My

husband currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the school.

In 2011, we enrolled Morgan without hesitation. The team

Our experience with a private school has surprised me, and

that works in the preschool helps you every day to understand

the potential that your child possesses, and they work tirelessly

together to reach the common goals of enriching the lives of

to draw out their greatest abilities.

everyone’s children.

It is inspiring to see the entire community at Liggett work

P ERSP ECTIVE Spr ing 2014 | 15

a family’s passion for giving back DR. CLYDE WU HAS ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT WITH

Liggett in ways big and small.

PASSION, A PERSON CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING.

“No matter where you go, if you put your heart into something,

position his father held from 1980-86. David Wu and his wife,

you will be successful,” says Dr. Wu, whose numerous

Bernadine — both doctors — send their two children (senior

contributions to Liggett are a testament to the passion and

Nicholas and freshman Maddie) to Liggett, and both students

commitment that he and his wife, Helen, have for the school.

also have made their unique contributions to the school.

They, along with their family, are ambassadors for Liggett

Dr. David Wu, ’83, is on the school’s Board of Trustees — a

Inspired by his dad’s involvement with the debate team

in numerous ways — from generously sharing their time and

as a student (David was captain in the 1980s), Nicholas

talents to investing philanthropically in the school.

restarted the team that had been on hiatus for nearly a decade.

Maddie brings the same strong scholarship and well-rounded

Dr. Wu and Mrs. Wu, a classically trained pianist, came to

the United States for his education. Born in Hong Kong (she

leadership to Liggett. This year, as a freshman, she was honored

in Nanjing, China), he earned an undergraduate degree from

as one of two the MVPs on the cross-country team.

Johns Hopkins and a medical degree from Columbia University.

His career as a cardiopulmonary specialist brought the couple to

and school partners,” says Peter Gaines, Upper School Dean of

Detroit, where they raised two sons, Roger, ’82, and David, ’83.

Students. “They are present and supportive of their children

and the school, and they are generous with their time and

Each member of the Wu family has demonstrated personal

excellence and generosity, and each one has helped to transform 16 | ul s . org

“As parents, David and Bernadine are the best kind of home

supportive of the school in so many ways.”

has been shared for generations as well.

Dr. Clyde Wu and Helen Wu’s love of music and academics

can be seen in their support of the Lower School music and arts program — initiatives they believe not only help to develop musical talent and appreciation, but also benefit the whole child. That same belief inspired their deep support for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, whose Civic Youth Ensembles and Education Committee has introduced thousands of children to the joys of classical music.

At Liggett, they were responsible for the master class with

the world-renowned violinist Midori. “The Midori visit was a strong, important piece of the culture and education that students receive at Liggett,” he says. “It makes possible that our students be exposed to all walks of life and experiences.” Mrs. Wu and Dr. Clyde Wu

With their passion for excellence and achievement, and

their incredibly generous spirit, the Wu family has financially invested in Liggett for many years. And as the school continues

Dr. Clyde Wu says he always has stressed with his children

and grandchildren the importance of hard work.

to hold onto its strong traditions while investing in the future, their impact will be felt for generations.

“It’s important for children to learn discipline and

teamwork,” he says. “Whatever a child wants to do, parents need to be involved.”

Dr. David Wu says he and his family have worked hard and

feel strongly about giving back to the community.

“I feel fortunate to be able to give back as a physician, parent

and alum,” he says. “I want to be sure our kids see that if you work hard, you’ll do well in life, but that you also need to give back to the institutions and organizations that helped get you that far. My parents have given me the good fortune of going to Liggett, and because of that, I want to give back and serve the school and the community.”

His children feel the same way. Nicholas has been involved

in organizations such as FOCUS: Hope, and Maddie is interested in community service as well.

“Nicholas and Maddie feel fortunate to be able to attend

Liggett and see both my generation and my parents’ generation give back to the institution,” Dr. David Wu says.

Maddie Wu ‘17 and Nicholas Wu ‘14

The family gives back in myriad ways — from serving on

the board to working in the classroom. On the same day that

Dr. David Wu is meeting with the Board of Trustees, his father

Merit Scholarship program and build new athletic facilities that

might be at Liggett speaking with students who are studying

will ensure that Dr. Clyde and Helen Wu’s grandchildren – and

Chinese. And when Dr. Joseph Healey arrived to take his

perhaps their grandchildren’s children and grandchildren – will

current position as Head of School, Dr. Clyde and Helen Wu

benefit from a Liggett education.

showed him around the area — including where he could find

the best Chinese food in Detroit.

of-a-kind experiences,” Dr. Clyde Wu says. “I am personally

involved with the school and I support it because I believe in its

The Wu family’s passion for medicine has been passed

down over generations, just as the family’s passion for music

A recent $500,000 gift to the school will endow the Liggett

“Liggett offers unique, individualized attention and one-

bright future, and I hope other parents do, too.” P ERSP ECTIVE Spr ing 2014 | 17

IS YOUR CLASS UP TO THE CHALLENGE?

Contact Trisha Shapiro at tshapiro@uls.org or 313.884.4444, Ext. 411. Let the challenge begin!

# | ul s . org

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L I GG E T T

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Your class is having a reunion this year! Classes reuniting for Alumni Weekend 2014 will participate in a giving competition this year. The class with the highest percentage of participation in Annual Fund giving will be presented with the Class Cup at the AllAlumni Cocktail reception on May 17.

3 GPUS A S S O F ‘6 L C – S R E N 2 0 1 3 W IN

Reunion Giving Challenge Class Cup Award 2014

ALUMNI W E E K E N D MAY 15 -17, 2014

Perspective: Office of Advancement You see it in the hallways, in the classrooms, on the stage and on the field. There’s a dynamic sense of discovery at University Liggett School as we watch our students tackle academics, athletics and the arts. That sense of discovery is part of a tradition that began 135 years ago – and one that allows our students to not only grow as learners, but to grow as young people who go on to shape the lives of others.

Although there have been many changes throughout our history, Liggett has

remained an educational gem in the region. We are now at a time when we need to ensure that strong tradition will continue for the coming decades and into the next century and beyond.

To do this, we are investing in our campus infrastructure — from redesigning and

improving building facades and streetscapes to building a new gym/athletic center. The first phase of our plan is expected to begin in spring with the rebuilding of our athletic fields.

The athletics project certainly will be one of the most visible changes on campus,

and there’s much more to follow. In addition to rebuilding the eastern fields, which will create a new stadium field for football, lacrosse and soccer, we plan to redo the western fields. The eastern fields should be completed by fall 2014 and the

‘Liggett has remained an educational gem in the region.’

western fields finished by spring 2015. In addition to that, we plan to construct a new gymnasium/athletic complex that will serve as a campus center for the school in addition to providing state-of-the-art athletics facilities. The center should be completed by the 2016-17 school year.

The plan for Liggett’s future just isn’t about physical improvements, however.

It also focuses on building our endowment and growing our annual fund — both of which will allow us to provide students with the most exceptional teachers, technology and resources.

We will keep you up to date on the progress in upcoming issues of Perspective as

well as online and in our social media outlets.

Speaking of social media, I encourage you to visit our social media pages and

reconnect with us online. There is so much going on at Liggett, and our social media sites share much of it. It might be second-graders coming face to face with a polar bear at the zoo or Upper School students performing alumnus Aaron Robertson’s awardwinning play. These images and many others are the fabric of Liggett’s social media pages and the ways in which alumni and friends can stay connected to the school, no matter where they are in the world.

As Alumni Weekend draws near, I hope to see you on campus. If you can’t make it,

I hope you’ll reconnect with us online and share some of your best Liggett memories. In return, we’ll continue to keep you informed on what’s going on at Liggett and share the progress we’re making with our plan. And if you’re in the area, please feel free to stop by my office to say hello. I would enjoy the opportunity to show you first-hand the athletics field updates and all of the other great things and wonderful discoveries that are happening at our school. Best, Kelley Hamilton Associate Head of School for Advancement

P ERSP ECTIVE Spr ing 2014 | 19

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The Spring Raffle drawing will be held during the Alumni & Friends Cocktail Reception during Alumni Weekend on Saturday, May 17, from 5 -7 p.m. in the Manoogian Arts Wing at University Liggett School.

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# | ul s . org

on ue at Cany /springraffle ack Aven rg Woods. ald’s - M ww.uls.o se Pointe 25169 S McDon .4444, Ext. 414. w ad, Gros #R Ro EC ok e License 3.884 1045 Co tesy of ffl , 31 ur Ra ol ll I co ho ca M ts . Sc ts, t ke classroom Raffle tic hase ticke ity Ligget nts in the or to purc , 2014, at Univers de n io stu at d inform May 17 faculty an For more at 7 p.m., rams and be drawn year prog ticket will nated to current Winning sig de be ill w Proceeds

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It’s the Alumni Office’s favorite time of the year, Alumni Weekend! We are pleased

L I GG E T T Y T S SI

Perspective: Office of Alumni Relations

University School, Grosse Pointe Country Day School, Detroit University School and the Liggett School.

Each year the Alumni Board of Governors spends countless hours surveying our

archives for memorabilia to display during the weekend’s events. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on all of the schools that create our own University Liggett School. You can see from our crest the four schools that make us who we are today. Each individual piece of artwork on the crest is the logo of one of those predecessors. This issue of Perspective highlights each one.

The logo seen on the upper left of the crest is that of the Liggett School. The Liggett

School is the oldest of our predecessors, dating back to 1878. The school was founded

Welcome to Alumni Weekend 2014

by the Rev. James D. Liggett, who opened the school with his family. The Rev. Liggett was the principal, daughter Ella taught math, daughter Frances taught science and English, and daughter Jeannette directed the primary school and drawing classes. The school remained in Detroit until the 1960s when it built the Briarcliff campus. Several years later, in 1969-70, it combined with Grosse Pointe University School.

The logo in the upper right is that of Detroit University School or DUS. This school

was founded in 1899, and is the second oldest predecessor school. It was originally a school for boys. The school was first housed on Elmwood in Detroit, and later on Parkview Drive after a fire in the original building in 1916. The building on Parkview was an unusual one that featured cone-shaped towers, and thus was affectionately dubbed the Castle. As a result, the young charges were called the Knights, the mascot we still have today!

The lower left logo on the crest is that of Grosse Pointe Country Day School, or

CDS. This school opened in 1915 and was established as a co-ed institution to serve the growing population of the Grosse Pointes. At the time there were no private, primary or secondary schools in the Grosse Pointe area, so the need was great. The school was first housed temporarily in a white frame home at 301 Roosevelt and then moved to a building specially built on Grosse Pointe Boulevard.

Finally, the lower right logo, is that of Grosse Pointe University School, which was

founded when DUS and CDS combined in 1954. The new school, GPUS, was housed in our current building with an expansion designed by famed architect Minoru Yamasaki. The first year was a bumpy one as many aspects of the building were still in progress. Students ate lunch in the library, and there were no sidewalks. GPUS thrived, however, under the leadership of a new headmaster John Chandler, Jr. The school remained GPUS until it combined with the Liggett School in 1969-1970.

These four distinct schools finally blended together to make University Liggett

School in 1970. Today, we draw from the strengths of each of these previous institutions, and our Alumni Weekend, happening this year on May 15 – 17, is a time that we celebrate these schools and traditions with events for all alumni. Join us at Alumni Weekend by registering online for one or more of the weekend’s events at www.uls.org/alumni. We hope to see you there!

P ERSP ECTIVE Spr ing 2014 | 21

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on the town S

L I GG E T T Y IT

Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony

Career Day

New Canaan

22 | ul s . org

Upcoming Events: Liggett Knight 2014 November 14 at the Detroit Athletic Club

LIGGETT

Alumni Football Game

New York City

Alumni Hockey Game

P ERSP ECTIVE Spr ing 2014 | 23

thank you By J.T. Mestdagh ‘14

The teachers have always embraced my situation as well and

AS I THINK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES AT

never have I felt “different.”

UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL, IT SEEMS LIKE

MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN THESE 12 YEARS.

environment for me to learn academically, socially and

I started in Mrs. Dettlinger’s class for first grade, and I loved

athletically, and I have really enjoyed it all. I have always

school. I loved everything about it. I walked to school, brought

enjoyed people, but school has taught me to be an advocate for

my dog for “Show and Tell” and had a fun time through

myself and has encouraged me with my creative ideas.

elementary school. We all loved Mrs. Brown’s candy, didn’t we?

it has put me on has been one learning hill after another. If it

Even though I began as a first-grader at University Liggett

University Liggett School has been a spectacular

My dyslexia has caused me some hard times, but the path

School, I am not a lifer. I left for a short time to attend a school

weren’t for University Liggett School and the way they educate

in Denver, Colo., for my dyslexia and different learning style.

each child individually, I know I would not be graduating this

By the time I was a freshman, I returned to University Liggett

‘ I have never felt different because of my learning style.’

School ready and excited to attend high school with so many of my friends.

My high school years have been very interesting and

somewhat different from my peers in regard to my learning style and techniques I use to process information. Before I started my freshman year, Dr. Joe Healey recommended that I speak to Jay Trevorrow, a new faculty member that year. He was going to revamp our technology program as well as many other programs at school. Dr. Healey and I Skyped our first meeting with Mr. Trevorrow. He was in New York and we were at University Liggett School. We spoke of how my high school experience would keep evolving, and technology was going to play a huge part. You see, I use my computer for almost

June with a University Liggett

everything such as dictation and reading, and I am almost

School diploma nor would I

paperless.

be attending the college of my

choice and qualifying for the

In high school, my teachers have been very open to my

learning style and were able to make things so creative and fun

honors program.

to learn. I have been able to take pictures of SMART boards

to study later at home, use books on tape, use voice to text

who have played such

through Dragon Dictation, download text books and so much

important roles in my

more. I, along with so many other students, have enjoyed the

educational journey. Thank

learning assistants who were available for assistance if needed

you to Dr. Joe Healey for

on a daily basis or just once in a while. Teachers take the

believing in me and giving me

time before and after school to provide support and learning

the opportunity to succeed.

approaches, not just for me, but for any student who needs

And thank you, University

this and will advocate for themselves. This is what our school

Liggett School.

encourages. Also, I have found my peers to be so much help, and I have never felt different because of my learning style. 24 | ul s . org

Thank you to all of you

Perspective: Student

Ellene Bricolas ‘14 and J.T. Mestdagh ‘14

Newly renovated senior commons space in the Upper School hallway

As J.T. Mestdagh and Ellene Bricolas headed into their senior year, they knew they wanted to spend the year giving back to Liggett. “Each year, the senior class traditionally has done some kind of gift, and we wanted to do something big and useful, “J.T. says. He and Ellene discussed a lot of ideas, but in the end decided to push for a renovation of the senior commons space in the Upper School hallway. The space has long been a rite of passage — an area just for the seniors to spend a few moments of downtime each day between classes and at lunch. “The commons is an important space because it brings people together in a more communityoriented way and forges closer relationships,” Ellene explains. The pair wanted to celebrate the space by sprucing it up and making it more enjoyable for their current class and seniors to come. In the fall, J.T. and Ellene met with Assistant Head of Upper School Peter Gaines to pitch the idea. He loved the drive they had and gave the project the green light with the stipulation that they create a plan to work with the school on the appearance of the space, and then work diligently to come up with the funding. “We met with the Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations, Mr. Jon Neville, and discussed our ideas with him. We made a brochure about the ideas, and picked paint colors and furniture,” J.T. explains of the approval process. After the logistics were worked out, the commons were quietly updated over winter break with the help of J.T.’s parents, who covered the initial cost of the renovations before the fundraising began. “It was an exciting time after Christmas,” J.T. says. The seniors loved the new space, and having a tangible project to fund helped J.T. and Ellene with the next step of their project, fundraising. They started first by approaching their fellow students to raise the funds, and soon expanded their outreach to senior parents. J.T. called four or five parents each day after school to explain the project and ask for support. Ellene acted as their project secretary, keeping tabs on the goal and how much they have raised. Together, they have already raised several thousand dollars for the project, and they intend to continue raising money until the end of the year. In the end, the pair is so glad that they put their plan into action because it has already led to great things. “Everyone treats the commons so much better and really appreciates the space,”Ellene says. “We are happy to give back.” If you would like to help the senior class of 2014 reach their fundraising goal of $15,000 for the senior commons renovation, contact J.T. Mestdagh at jmestdagh@uls.net or Ellene Bricolas at ebricolas@uls.net. P ERSP ECTIVE Spr ing 2014 | 25

class notes 1938

Liggett Class Secretary: Jean Downer Hodges 429 Barclay Road Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236-2813 trhjdh@sbcglobal.net

1939

Liggett Class Secretary: Mary Louise Goodson Drennen 106 Merriweather Road Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236-3623 Josephine Karmazin ‘39 recently celebrated her 92nd birthday. The highlight of Josephine’s 92nd birthday celebration was talking on the phone to her Liggett classmate and life-long friend Mary Louise Drennen ‘39, who was also born on Feb. 9, 1922. The two women wished each other a happy birthday and reminisced about fond memories. Josephine is a resident of the Rivergate Terrace Nursing Home in Riverview, Michigan where she moved in 2012 from her hometown of Grosse Ile, Michigan.

1940

Liggett Class Secretary: Constance Haberkorn Nichols 176 Kendal Drive Kennett Square, PA 19348-2333 nichols17@verizon.net DUS Class Secretary: William Klingbeil 201 Woodbury Avenue Mt. Dora, FL 32757-2865

1941

Liggett Class Secretary: Jane Kilner Denny 125 E. Gilman Street Madison, WI 53703-1407 Hawkhill@comcast.net

1942

DUS Class Secretary: Robert M. Tonge P.O. Box 357 Waterville, ME 04903-0357

1943

CDS Class Secretary: Susanne M. Kemp Bartlett 262 Mount Vernon Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236-3437 sooze262@aol.com DUS Class Secretary: William Wilson 470 Cambridge Way Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304-3814 wwwilson2@aol.com

26 | ul s . org

Mary Louise Drennen ‘39

Elaine James ‘39

1944

tour through western Russian and Ukraine might be on hold. Meanwhile, let’s wish her successful recovery from the back surgery. I always count on hearing from Eileen Denner Prisbe. She noted that all of her close friends are gone, the last being Marilyn Nash Hill, who died Oct. 6, 2011. Eileen had had lunch with her not too long before that. Eileen still sounds like her serene self; she’s very happy that she moved 12 years ago to her condo in Tiburon, where she has a view of San Francisco bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Her daughter Sherry is nearby, and they often have lunch and go shopping together. She observed that she has been a widow for 30 years, wasn’t interested in marrying again and feels that she has a very happy and pleasant life. (And, she said she still weighs the same!). Francis Hannan Ryburn always sounds peppy, although she says her back hurts, and taking care of their property is a lot of work. The only animals now are the Chihuahua and a couple of feral cats. However, the herb garden is thriving, and the 30 geranium plants growing under solar panels are gorgeous. Franny says she’s lonely, as friends have died or moved away, but she also says that the townspeople, who were once standoffish, now greet her with hugs when she sees them, which is just about every day. Bill still plays clarinet, but he is also having regular shots for macular degeneration, which means a 130mile trip once a month or so. Their son Charlie is busy back in Birmingham, but he visits occasionally. Franny talks every week to Nancy Finn Coon and says she is pretty well, still in her house in Ann Arbor and very busy with children and grandchildren. Betty Eaton Thum says she is happy to be living in her retirement community, where there is lots to do, what with bridge, floor and water aerobics, line dancing and Zumba, but as usual she has been travelling. In November, she went to Hawaii to meet with her son, a lawyer, and his wife who live in Anchorage and she says it was a fun two weeks. She did say she might stay home now, as “travelling isn’t fun anymore.” Her two daughters visited her last fall as part of Mary’s tour promoting her book To Heaven and Back. Betsy lost her husband to leukemia two years ago and moved from her house in Darien to a planned community there. Two granddaughters also stopped on their way back to Middlebury, and all of Betty’s other grandchildren are busy with successful careers.

Liggett Class Secretary: Roberta Mackey Rigger 830 West 40th Street, At. 304 Baltimore, MD 21211-2125 rmrigger@aol.com Let us congratulate ourselves – we’ve made it to the 70th anniversary of our graduation from Liggett. Not surprisingly, our numbers are dwindling, and the number I am hearing from is dwindling even more. Some of you never respond, but some others whom I count on haven’t been heard from, and this is worrisome. The address list I got from the school is the same as mine, which is old, so maybe they have moved, though only one letter came back. Alice Crabb Brandon always responds, and she always sounds upbeat. She’s still living in Troy, the only one of the class left in the Detroit area. “Sixty years in the same house,” she writes, “but I don’t want to move yet.” She keeps busy with volunteer work, trips with the Village Women’s Club, and, yes, she still swims – three times a week. No trips out of the country since a wonderful cruise two years ago to the South Pacific, places like Tahiti and Bora Bora. However, she was just back from a reunion of family and friends in Fort Lauderdale, celebrating her “baby’s” 50th birthday. Alice went on the expedition to the Burns Avenue school and thought the place looked run down, but she enjoyed the luncheon at ULS afterwards. In a great email, Barbara Chidsey Felton reported that she was slowly recovering from a laminectomy, which hopefully will relieve her spinal stenosis and the leg weakness it causes. Before that there was a pacemaker replacement, a broken hip last year and before that eye lens repair, and she hopes “this is the end of hospitals.” She still takes care of her two-acre farm, although it now is mostly pasture and a few fruit trees, plus a house that is “probably toolarge,” though “much better than rehab or a nursing home,” but she isn’t too sure how much longer she can manage. Great memories, though, of years when we lost touch with her: Istanbul, three years working in Ankara, then an offer of a State Department job in Saigon, which didn’t appeal much to her. A spell in New York City, back to the West, married (which ended) and then much more travelling, mainly in the Middle East, which she observes “has made events in that part of the world especially fascinating.” As this is written, a projected

Class Notes

Josephine Karmazin ‘39 Roberta Mackey Rigger and Bob are comfortably ensconced in our retirement home in Baltimore. We are both functioning well mentally, if a little forgetful, and Bob is in terrific shape. Nobody who sees him can believe that he is 92. I am getting around with a walker, and I’m also having monthly shots for macular degeneration, but we have a very pleasant life with plenty to do and nice friends. Because Roland Park Plance is very close to Johns Hopkins and cultural events downtown it attracts a lot of retired academics and doctors and generally interesting and livewire people. I am an editor of our little literary magazine for residents who like to write, and their contributions are fascinating. Son James gets here from Colorado Springs about once a year, and Bills comes up from Virginia every few weeks. We are way behind the curve: our oldest grandchild, Kimberly is just graduating from high school and anxiously awaiting news of college admissions. The school list tells me that Gloria VuiciSmith and Grace Wasum Stewart have died. So what our other classmates, Joan Lawson Arnos, Betty Roehm Cornwell, Nancy Reid Forsyth, and Helen Grinnell? If anyone has news of them, please do let me know. It was so nice to hear from those who wrote and called. We should try to keep in touch. CDS Class Secretary: Lydia Kerr Lee 1030 Arbor Lane, Apt. 103 Northfield, IL 60093-3356 Class Correspondent - Lydia Kerr Lee: Can you believe it?!! Our 70th anniversary reunion is this May! I talked with Winnie White Tootle, Helen Livingstone Bogle and Margie McKean Nickell and they were amused and had not really been aware of it. They all sounded marvelous! Winnie is in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, with daughter, Kathy nearby. Helen is in St. Clair Shores, MI — both happily in retirement homes. Margie and husband, Ken, had hoped to go to Texas for Easter with son, Thornton, and family, but Margie isn’t quite well enough to travel that far from Davidson, NC. The only news of M. Elaine Wallace Turner is her move to Old Tappan, NJ. We all loved Country Day School - Margie said “wonderful memories of happy days!” Enjoy remembering!

1945

DUS Class Secretary: Albert M. Mackey, Jr. 276 LaSalle Place Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236-3107 amm276las@aol.com

and two Opperthauser, ages 5-24. I just spent four days with my daughter and two 12 year old grandsons at Disney World. I am still recovering – the walk is killer. I have no news of anyone else, and unfortunately we have lost so many. Guess that goes with the fact that May will be our 65th!

1946

1950

1947

1951

Liggett Class Secretary: Betsy Stanton 805 Edgewood Avenue Rochester, NY 14618-4823 bstanton@rochester.rr.com

CDS Class Secretary: Shirley Jerome McKee 9820 Oakhurst Holly, MI 48442-8610

1948

Liggett Class Secretary: Norah Moncrieff Williams 502 Glen Arbor Lane Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236-1506 JackandNorah@wowway.com

DUS Class Secretary: William J. Cudlip II 284 McKinley Avenue Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236-3460 cudlipwj@hotmail.com

Liggett Class Secretary: Barbara Allen Esler 43422 W. Oaks Drive #322 Novi, MI 48377-3300 CDS Class Secretary: Jane Ottaway Dow 191 Ridge Road Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236-3554 janeodow@gmail.com

CDS Class Secretary: Constance Woodall Fisher 1485 Kingswood Terrace

DUS Class Secretary: Edmund R. Sutherland 216 Ridge Road Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236-3538

1949

1952

Liggett Class Secretary: Ann Bolton Opperthauser 41140 Fox Run Road #610 Novi, MI 48377-4845 From Ann Bolton Opperthauser: I am writing this from Florida, and thankful to have escaped the winter that never ends. Am also grateful for Christmas cards because they keep me in touch with out-of-towners. Beth Smilansky Neman, the world traveller, went to Uzbekistan last fall. She sent me pictures of the “exquisite architecture.” Carol Serenberg Greenaway wrote that she and Bob celebrated their 49th anniversary in July. In October, she had a knee replacement and is now free of pain. Edith Werback Rydman and I usually talk for an hour or so on our birthdays. Her one son lives in Farmington where Edith also lives, her other son is in California and her daughter is in France. Mary Johnson Adams had a terrible fall last October, broke her hip, surgery, rehab and still not doing so well when I talked to her in January. When I am in Michigan, I see Dorothy Singelyn Nelson and Phyllis Childs Walker a few times. Dorothy’s son still battles with his health. Her other son’s children, Dorothy’s only grandchildren, live in Pensacola and she goes to see them as often as possible. Phyllis still has her three daughters scattered – Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Boston. They were all together at Christmas. As for me, my children are all in Michigan, one in Traverse City and the rest in Detroit suburbs. I have nine Dodge grandchildren

Liggett Class Secretary: Kay Jordan Phillips 14421 N. Ibsen Drive, Apt. A Fountain Hills, AZ 85268-2102

1954

Liggett Class Secretary: Valerie Oppenheim Hart 6849 S Clayton Street Mount Dora, FL 32757-7024 vhartcook@comcast.net

1955

Liggett Class Secretary: Gael Webster McFarland 212 20th Avenue Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785-3840 gaelstan@gmail.com GPUS Secretary: Jane Weaver Reuther 81 Lewiston Road Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236 jnb7@comcast.net One little news bite for GPUS Class 1955: Our gourmet cook, Joan LeGro Bushnell, is working on another cookbook which will be titled Game On! A book of Hunters’ Game recipes. It should completed by September. Last Fall Joan’s book, “GOBBLE IT UP! (A Rafter of Leftover Turkey So Tasty You May Want To Cook Another Turkey!),” was released and was on sale at Farms Market and Village Food Market. It is available through Amazon. Joan has sold her home in California and will be spending her time between Grosse Pointe and Grand Bend, Canada where her son, David, and his family live.

P ERSP ECTIVE Spr ing 2014 | 27

Wendy Krag ‘57 GPUS and husband Bill

Mary Pardee Maxwell ‘58 LIG and her dogs

Julie Pearce ‘57 GPUS in Lake Forest, CA

1956

at son Peter’s home above the Arctic Circle in Norway, and met my brand new granddaughter. Dana (Bunny) Wormer Riley says there is “No new news, just happy and healthy days and feeling very blessed.” Sally Bedrosian: Greetings from the Sunshine State. Life has been great and I am busy with many different projects including knitting, jewelry, and attending many arts performances. That is what I love about St. Petersburg; there are so many options and venues. Stage and concert performances abound. Weekends are filled with touring the new exhibits, testing out the new restaurants, and enjoying the HD Live at the Met offerings. Mother, 103, had a minor stroke in January. However, she came out of it pretty well. A little loss of memory and handwriting doesn’t seem to affect her interest in the goings-on at her residence. I will get my “Michigan” fix in April and May when I drive to Traverse City to house sit my cousins’ place. My best wishes to my former classmates and hope everyone has a great summer. My new email is: sallybedrosian@gmail.com - let me hear from some of you gals.

so I am now cat-less. I rescued a dog, Bichon/poodle mix and was told he is 2 and housebroken. Mary Moore: I am fine, busy with the League of Women Voters, lobbying the Washington State legislature on issues of energy and climate change, and otherwise staying amused and involved. In March I am flying down to Tucson for a week’s visit with Mary Pardee Maxwell. Julie Pearce will fly over to join us for a long weekend. It should be fun! Julie Pearce: Mary Yeager Moore and I were going to be spending a few days with Mary Pardee Maxwell toward the end of March in Tucson, and would be taking in another of the glass artist Dale Chihuly’s exhibits in Phoenix. I’m teaching five courses this semester at two community colleges, and it’s a really full schedule. I love teaching for both the students I work with and the material I keep learning — it is so stimulating. I have been redoing my garden in mostly California native plants. It’s something I wanted to do anyway for the sake of the wildlife--bees, butterflies, birds and other creatures. But it’s also increasingly necessary since we are in such a drought. We garden all year round out here, and the planting time for natives is November through February. Stu Piggins: Polly and I continue to reside in San Jose, CA, and are still operating our private investigative business, Harder & Associates, in Los Altos, CA. We recently completed a background investigation for a friend of Julie Pearce, a classmate of ours, who also resides in California. Our daughter Annie works for the law firm of Mayer-Brown in Chicago and competed in the Chicago Marathon this past October. We were there to cheer her on and spend a few days. On one of our prior visits to Chicago, we had dinner with Lucy and Jim Barnes. Our son, Ted, resides in San Jose and is a server at an Austrian restaurant in Campbell, CA. He continues with his education at DeAnza College in Cupertino. Last but not least, Skip Johnson and I always call each other on our birthdays in May and December. We have been boyhood friends since the 1950s! In 2012, Polly and I vacationed in Kauai. We plan to re-visit that beautiful paradise again this year. Mason Ferry says, “I continue to be involved in volunteering at a few non-profits,

Liggett Class Secretary: Joanne Streit Stewart 5 Debeaufain Drive Bluffton, SC 29909-2500 danawsa@sc.rr.com GPUS Class Secretaries: Lylas Good Mogk, MD 1000 Yorkshire Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230-1432 lmogk@aol.com George Jerome 40 Edgemere Road Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236-3709 ggjsr@aol.com

1957

Liggett Class Secretary: Diane Bedford Svenonius 736 Silver Spring Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910-4661 dbsvenonius@msn.com Clare Hartwick Connor: Life is Sarasota was very busy this winter with more people moving here. More homes are being built and traffic is heavy. We have been lucky with the Florida weather. Daughter Lynne and grandkids Katie and Louise got down for almost a week of beautiful sun in February. We are planning a trip to London with both Lynne and her son Jeff’s families this summer to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. I had a nice visit with Nini Lofstrom after her cruise. She looks great and is enjoying her travels. We also see Lynn Marcus White who has lived in Sarasota for many years. Sandy Jenkins Eldridge: We just returned from Deer Valley and a family ski vacation with both daughters, spouses and grandchildren. My sister, Mercilee Jenkins ‘64 just had another staging of her play, “The Spirit of Detroit” in Detroit. Saw Kathy Perry for lunch last spring and learned of her many adventures in the service. Enjoy book clubs, financial investment group and P.E.O. Julia Lathrop Scandrett writes “Family all flourishing; I’m creaky and slow moving — as I suspect many of us are. Love to all, and may spring be on the way!” Diane Bedford Svenonius: I’ve been volunteering with Smithsonian Gardens for the past couple of years, and working in some other mostly gardening-related organizations. I had a dark but merry Nordic Christmas

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GPUS Class Secretary: Wendy Krag gigipab@comcast.net Wendy Colby Krag: Bill and I are enjoying some time in Sarasota Florida as winter in Michigan has been breaking records and freezing almost all the Great Lakes. The good news is that the Great Lakes will definitely rise this summer. I had a great phone conversation with Patsy Joy Darmon when she was in Michigan last summer. She still lives in Geneva Switzerland. Judy Hefferan Rollinson stopped by for a visit while she was in Grosse Pointe last summer. Our five grandchildren are growing rapidly. Our son Brace and his family live in Far Hills NJ. Brace and Kristen have two sons, Will age 15 and Gardner age 12 and a daughter Kay age 9. Our daughter Wendy O’Neil and her husband Tom live in Stockbridge Mass and have a son, Charlie, age 14, and Lilah, age 9. Li Jacobson Miller: There are now five great-grandchildren and one more on the way. We’re all still waiting for my 75th birthday swimming party; kids come and go. Maybe before too long we’ll all be together again. Tonto was put down shortly after Christmas,

Class Notes

Photo taken by Diane Finkel Hubert ‘58 LIG

Linda Roth ‘58 LIG and husband Ellis

pursuing a few hobbies, and looking forward to the end of this long winter.”

Linda W. Roth: This was the year of the knee. After seven years of nursing that left knee, after canceling a blue chip trip to China where walking would have been a problem, after not doing this or that, I decided it was time to end the coddling. After an orthoscopy showed all bones were healthy, I had just lost cartilage and was “walking bone on bone,” I became a candidate for a new procedure called a MAKOplasty, a relatively new, robotic, partial replacement with a shorter recovery period. I went for it and got my life back. So much for cowardice. It was painful, lots of time spent in physical therapy, but I am an old goat persistent when it comes to cycling, swimming, power walking and dancing to the Eagles in front of my easel. Twelve weeks after surgery, we went to Mexico. We love Cancun and this was our 20th year. Just three and a half hours away, it’s got the weather, the chaises, the palm trees and the most gorgeous beaches. No all-inclusives for us. We split our time between the JW Marriott and the Ritz Carlton. We love the service. We love all the couples we’ve met over the years, most of them from England and Germany as well as New York, Chicago, Florida, and Texas. Cancun happens to have the best warm weather close enough to Europe. I would have figured Ibiza, but what do I know? You travel. You talk to people. You learn. Next on the trip list is Seattle to see middle son’s new home. Then to visit third son in California to see what he and his have been up to. I am totally thrilled that my knee is again my knee so hanging out with the grandkids will be no problem. I am also thrilled that in April I will be though with the third and last treatment for breast cancer. I have had enough of those aromatase inhibitors; they were the pits. My five years on the pill are up and I am expecting the painful side effects to get lost. Ellis and I will also be celebrating our 54th wedding anniversary in April. When we vote, I will vote we will stick it out to the very end. With my knee in top shape, I am painting a lot and concentrating on portraiture with oils. Having given them up decades ago, I had to relearn the skills. I am enjoying the journey very much. Still not a maven, I entered two, acrylic still life paintings in the Michigan Fine Art Competition. I don’t expect to be accepted, but my entry did throw my hat in the ring. Included are pictures of Ellis and Me in Cancun and my first night after knee replacement. http://drawing-of-the-day. blogspot.com

Martha Sanford: Well last year I said, “no news was good news.” This year I have different news: email: msanford9@gmail.com, Address: 102 Furman Ave. # 35 Asheville NC., and a new condition called “neuropathy.” The Mayo Clinic has good information about this illness. After being Miss Independent since about age 3, now I’m Miss Dependent age 73. I am not taking any meds for my condition nor do I have pain. Sometimes discomfort in my feet at night. I had wonderful, funny PT and OT in my home (6 months on and off). I have met my goal. I can walk outdoors with my zippy walker all by myself as of 5 days ago. Also I’m increasing B -12 even eating white meats and fish. Weird after not doing that for decades. Well, I used to walk by myself (sans walker), dance and drive my car. I know I circle around in the stages of grief and loss for the last 8 months. I’d like to add happy news. My son Peter MacMillan and his band; the band is excited about entering the music scene (especially in Seattle). His son just turned 5 and Michael ‘s sons are 12 (yikes) and 10. I’m a year older and keeping on by keeping on. Be well, Martha Allison Friedman: My Trip to AZ was good. With the awful winter we’ve had here in Michigan, it was wonderful to see the desert flowers blooming and walk in the evening with 65 degree temps. and mild breezes. It was great to see Wendy again; she is doing better and we had some nice time together. I also had a great time helping Nancy Nahabedian Elby ‘62 with her exhibit of vintage turquoise and silver jewelry for sale at the Heard Museum Guild’s Native American Indian Market in Phoenix over the weekend of Feb 28-March 2. Also wanted to mention that Mary Warren Eick accepted my friend request on Facebook which I’m glad about because there is the greatest picture of her in a wig from the early days. She looks so pretty and the pic is great in recalling those long-gone days. Donna Sisk Carl: We went on our usual Caribbean cruise for three weeks, getting away from some of the snow and ice this winter. Even though I am from Michigan, winter is not my favorite time so we always plan a cruise to some warm weather places (next year will be South America for 32 days). Always a blessing to travel and always good to get back home. Our next trip won’t be until Sept/October, a Viking River Cruise for 18 days all through France.

1958

Liggett Class Secretary: Lois Dickinson Hutchison 135 Cochise Drive Sedona, AZ 86351-7928 hutchlovl@earthlink.net GPUS Class Secretary: Suzie Sisman Decker 77 Muskoka Road Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236-3009 suziesis@aol.com Birgit Hopkes: Another year older as of February 29 (take your pick, February 28th or March 1st) and I’m feeling my age. 2013 seemed to be the year for issues to surface with three of our four adult children with currently good outcomes and our continued prayers that the bad stuff is over. One of our grandsons became engaged last week but as he is in his third year of medical school at MSU. I doubt if any great-grandchildren are forthcoming for quite a while. Houston has been a bit more wintery these past few months though nothing remotely like the North. We did have icicles on our hibiscus! I don’t think that either Hank or I even have overcoats anymore. Martha Friedricks-Glass: Nothing new to report. On looking backwards…. My husband’s Alzheimer’s has gotten worse; but he is still quite cheerful. I am still working full time and am lucky to be so busy. People of all ages are eager to have a little “slice of the apple” and are getting into bidding wars on many of the good properties. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough good properties. Going forward…. In June, I am taking my daughter, sonin-law and two grandchildren to Israel and Petra (Jordan) for two weeks. I visited them in Nashville last weekend; and we are having so much fun going over the itinerary and the map. Have spoken with Wendy Blair a few times over the last few months; and it was heartening to hear her regaining strength. Alison Friedman has been the best of a friend, going out to Arizona and helping Wendy. It is horribly cold in New York; and it was a terrible winter. Spring will be very welcome.

P ERSP ECTIVE Spr ing 2014 | 29

The next few months are busy with “grandchildren events” — this year we have a grandson’s wedding in Michigan (April) with a reception in Wisconsin (but in July); a granddaughter graduating from University of Indianapolis late April/early May; a granddaughter graduating from high school in mid-May down in Tennessee; a grandson graduating high school early June in Indiana. Susie Kreis Champine: Yes, all is well with us. For some reason I’ve been putting this chore on the back burner — probably because I really have no news. Had a horrible winter, snow and ice keep up locked in the house for many days at a time but it was sure better than being back in Minnesota. Been busy buying a new car and figuring out how things work on it. It’s tough for old folks to learn new things! Got involved with National Quilt Day, every year our library has 100 + come to hear speakers, see demos, buy from vendors and have lunch. I’m making a few door prizes and helping do whatever that day. Then we’re off to Florida to visit my sister. May takes us to Minnesota for grandson’s graduation from college. That’s all I can think of at the moment. Mary Warren Eick: I really don’t have any more news. We are pretty boring! We were in FL for 3 weeks and plan no other trips until we go back to Canada in May. Our children and grandchildren are getting older and I am not! Our daughter, Jennifer, has gotten the final galleys back on her novel and it will be published in April, finally. She is more than excited. I could give you all sorts of news about the family, but the Liggett community really isn’t interested. I am glad you are enjoying AZ. I finally got Allison as a friend on FB and told her we need a 1958 class reunion in AZ. What do you think? So glad you are committed to being class secretary. Keep up the good work! Sandy Roney-Hays: I do see Allison. She just returned from a visit to Wendy. AND she is doing some beautiful beading! I’ve been the beneficiary of her talent...wearing some beads that receive comments almost every time I wear them! I did see Marilyn for a short time when she and Tom were here for Aunt Renee’s 95th birthday! She hasn’t changed a lot; still ready to cause a little trouble for fun! Sam and I are still teaching and active at Schoolcraft College. Just getting ready for the Annual Global Roundtables program. The title this year is, “Who is Your Digital Self?” We are hoping to have about 400 people attend this largely student-led and planned program. We learned a lot from the students during the planning stage! We’re trying to identify better ways to use social media in education and to help students create positive professional identities. We are also working with a new Civil Rights Action Group at school. The focus has been largely on gender issues and identities. Another prof involved is a transgender woman who is just a ball of fire. Over the past few months, she has led four major programs that have brought many students together to listen and share in the most positive ways about gender prompted by films and lectures. I am still on round-the-clock oxygen, so

30 | ul s . org

Gwenny (Bennett) and Jim Gugino ‘60

Gordie Riewe ‘60 LIG and Natalie Deloe

I ask myself periodically about the benefits of retiring, but have decided for now that it is worth dragging the equipment around. I can charge the portable oxygen almost everywhere, including the car lighter, so it leaves us fairly free to move. Sam has been great about helping me carry things, and the students have learned to laugh at my oxygen “leash” when I get messed up in it. Am still doing programs at American House, and occasionally other places, for the older crowd. The decorated oxygen has been a surprise blessing for doing programs with seniors who also learn to laugh at themselves when they see me huffing and puffing with the goofy oxygen backpack. Keith was kind to give us the new address and email information for Martha Sanford. Diane Finkel Hubert: On my daily morning walk. It has been an exceptional winter in northern Michigan. Not since the 80s has this much snow fallen. I, for one, love it! I wish I had known in my younger self how much I like winter and walking in it! It certainly isn’t for everyone. Most of the people I grew up with either live or winter in much warmer climes. We were planning to take my 11 yr. old grandson and his parents sailing in the BVI’s in April but Richard has to have hip replacement surgery. He thought he could wait until mid-May so we could do this trip, come home and launch our boat, but his hip is getting worse fast so now the surgery is in 2 weeks and I am trying to reschedule purchased airfare and charter for December. We are hopeful that everything will have a good outcome. In August, I am joining a friend from kindergarten along with my grandson and her two granddaughters [all within a year of age] to cruise from Seattle to Juneau and back. In addition to Juneau we stop at Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria. We’ve planned some fun excursions and hope to make some unforgettable memories for the kids. That’s my update. I hope to read that everyone is well and prospering, and enjoying winter wherever you are. Love to all, Diane Lois Dickinson Hutchison: We are still working at our Massage and Healing clinic in Sedona, AZ. I have a Facebook page for it: Afterglow Massage and Healing. We really love the work and the people we meet. I’m still playing tennis and taking daily walks with our dog, Charcoal, a black lab. Sedona has gotten a little warmer, like the rest of the planet, and the allergies are fierce, but

it’s the home we’ve been in longest, and we love the life we have here. We are off to California next week to see old friends and visit the LA Country Museum of Art. It’s one of my favorite places. We will also travel to La Jolla, CA, to celebrate my half-sister’s 92nd birthday. I’ve spent a lot of time with her since we have been living in the western states. Hopefully sometime in June we will meet up with some friends from Michigan in West Yellowstone. I belong to a book club also. If anyone out there has some good reads that they would like to share, please pass them along. Thank you all for your input. Lois Wendy Martin Blair: Wendy’s Back on Caring Bridge: http://www.caringbridge.org/ visit/wendyblair. Unfortunately, my cancer is active again and the lesions and tumors are growing again. As some of you know, I came close to packing it in this last January when I was in the hospital. Fortunately I survived the nay-sayers predictions (hospital doctors) and I am back home and putting myself back together again these last couple of months. During my hospital stay, I also celebrated my 30th wedding anniversary (not how I expected to celebrate). I am on hospice/palliative care and looking at possible experimental treatments. I asked Adam to start this caring bridge back up so that you all will be updated. Marilyn Wood Holleran: I am very happy in retirement! I didn’t realize how tired I was after teaching 7-8th grade English for 35 years. Tom and I flew to Detroit in February for my Aunt Renee’s 95th birthday. Although it was dreadfully cold, it was great to see my aunt and cousins. We stayed in Ann Arbor visiting friends and enjoyed seeing U of M where our Patrick went to school. Sandy (Loynd) joined the festivities and brought great gifts to my aunt! She is still such a dear friend. Patrick retired two years ago from the Air Force and is now selling real estate in Colorado Springs. Our precious granddaughter, Finley, is 8 and enjoying all of her many activities. We will be visiting them in May. I hope everyone is well. I love reading the UL publication. Lots of hugs, Marilyn wolverine924gp@gmail.com Carol Nagel Lantz: Larry and I are in Florida for the month of March visiting my son and grandchildren and other Michigan friends. We were happy to leave the Michigan winter weather behind. The grandkids are growing too fast; they are 9 and 11 now. Larry had chemo before they left so he is using the time in Florida to

Class Notes

Robin Wrigley, Tom Molesky, Les Wrigley ‘70 GPUS, Alice Wrigley Baetz ‘64 LIG and Anne Wrigley Molesky ‘60 LIG

Cynthia (Osgood) ‘62 LIG, Nick O’Hare and family

rest and recuperate. I still enjoy playing tennis and am looking forward to getting back on the courts. We will head back to Michigan on April 1.

one month after Kevin passed. Rika has since remarried, to a great fellow, Yuji. Yuji is a wonderful father to Kai. I am a secretary of The Lemon Bay Bowling League, here in Englewood, FL. I have been doing this for 12 years now and am in the process of putting our annual bowling banquet together, April 7th. I started taking Spanish lessons a few weeks ago! We had two Spanish speaking guests, this past summer, up in Ohio. Somehow I “pulled Spanish words out of my brain” from 1958-59. I need to develop a few more brain cells… as I am having too many “senior moments” lately, and studying Spanish will help. I will always remember Senorita Guadalupe Morales, our Spanish teacher at Liggett. I really liked her so much. Earl just had cataract surgery on his right eye. The surgery went well, and he can see much better now. Natalie and Gordie Riewe stopped by Englewood for a too short visit. They had been over on the east coast of Florida, attending a car auction, and visiting Anne and Tom Molesky. We were lucky to see Natalie and Gordie this past summer in Ohio. We to see each other at least once a year. Sue Capalan Roseman, who lives in Atlanta, GA, and I email each other often, and have a long talk once a year. I had a great visit with my sister, Sharon Litsky ’63 LIG and her husband John Sampson out in San Francisco, CA this past summer. We always have a great time together. I often wonder how my other Liggett classmates are doing. So now that I finally wrote, maybe some of you will write too. I am not on Facebook, but you can email me. Dell. rubin3@verizon.net Karin Ryding and Victor Litwinski: Karin and Victor enjoyed having Victor’s family visit them in the summer. They truly had fun visiting the many sites in the Washington, D.C., area. Karin’s home in Michigan has been up for sale since last fall and remains on the market through the summer. As far as book publishing, another book was published in October 2013 and Karin is working on another book which should be completed in two years. Our 55th reunion will be in 2015; Karin definitely plans on attending! Ingrid Sandecki: Ingrid had just returned from a few days up in the Traverse City area. She said 95% of the Great Lakes are still frozen. Fortunately, she is no longer having health problems. Inspired by Miss Ogden, she is still teaching. At Christmas time she took a

1959

GPUS Class Secretary: Robin Duke Harris Russell 2 Flagler Drive Rye, NY 10580-1848 rdhr@mindspring.com

1960

Liggett Class Secretary: Anne Wrigley Molesky 6649 Hawaiian Avenue Boynton Beach, FL 33437 561-413-3744 248-225-8922 tomjmolesky@gmail.com Gwenny Bennet and Jim Gugino: Their Christmas card tells it all! They are so much enjoying their new home in Arizona! Natalie DeLoe and Gordie Riewe: They were our first guests to visit our new home – we celebrated from 10 a.m. to until after dinner. They were at an antique collectors car auction in Ft. Lauderdale from January 3 - 5, 2014. They had a 1935 red Cadillac (all weather Phaeton meticulous concourse restoration on excellent original low mileage California car). Goldie said, “it went fast!” Dell Litsky Rubin and Earl Smithern: Hello, Liggett School classmates! I have been meaning to write, but somehow, “life” always got in the way, and it never got done. Most of us will be having a 72nd birthday this year! Where have the years flown to? I don’t feel any different, but the mirror says otherwise. Ha! Earl and I are snowbirds. And live in Englewood, Florida, just 30 miles south of Sarasota, on the Gulf Coast. We love it there. We spend our summers in the Port Clinton area of Ohio. My daughter, Karolyn, was married this past spring to a wonderful fellow. Matt is a police officer in Northbrook, IL. Her son Rudy is now 22 years old, and just flew to Australia and will finish college there. My son, Ken, is married to Leslie, and they have two wonderful children, Lucy, 13 years old and Peter, 12 years old. They live in Highland Park, IL. My son, Kevin, passed away ten years ago from pancreatic cancer. My daughter-inlaw, Rika, gave birth to their only child, Kai,

Viking river cruise on the Danube. The ports of call were Germany, Hungary and Austria. There were 150 people, a 400-foot long vessel and three decks. She said it was wonderful! Bonnie Wilson Tolman and Jim Skoryank: Bonnie continues watching her grandchildren while her daughter goes to work. Therefore, she will not be coming to Reunion Weekend this year. The winter has been very harsh. The snow plowing of the county roads has been done three or four times daily. Jim likes to plow the driveway out to the county road so he has been very busy. Our 55th class will be in 2015; Bonnie plans on attending! Anne Wrigley and Tom Molesky: Tom and I are returning to Michigan for Reunion Weekend which will be Thursday, May 15-17, 2014. It will be very exciting since it will be my sister Alice Wrigley Baetz’s ’64 LIG 50th reunion! Alice came down to Florida February 20-25, and Les and Robin Wrigley came from California on February 21-25. We celebrated my 72nd birthday on February 22. What a celebration we had. Our cousins Charles and Ann Rutherford who live in Boca Raton, Florida joined us! We went to Charlie’s Crab for brunch, visited Bethesda-by-the-sea, Worth Avenue, The Breakers, all which are in Palm Beach, then we went to Marriott Ocean Pointe in Palm Beach Shores. Tom and I both feel that it was the right decision to move permanently to Florida – Valenta Isles is a tropical paradise! GPUS Class Secretary: Alice Gage Schultes 511 Lakeland Grosse Pointe, MI 48230-1268 aliceg@comcast.net

1961

GPUS Class Secretary: Marion Polizzi Shanle 21 North Duval Road Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236-1108

1962

Cynthia Osgoode and Nick O’Hare: Cynthia and Anne Molesky ’60 LIG had a great conversation on the phone. Cynthia finally decided to retire. She and Nick spent two months in Europe (which included two cruises while there)! Her father turned 98 on February 7th – all the family was there to celebrate! Unfortunately, Milton passed away March 7, 2014. GPUS Class Secretary: Susan Adams White 11 East Bay Blvd. Spring, TX 77380-2997 suwhite11@aol.com Susan White: As most of us begin our 70th year, I am happy to report that lots of classmates have been in touch with each other and are really enjoying hearing about what we all have been doing! For my part, I am going with, “70 is the new 50!”

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First of all, I just heard from Judy Lomax… ”Here is an update for GPUS news. Patty Walbridge Albrandt and I are thinking of an African trip for September as all our friends have loved the experience. Anyone else want to join us, Susan? Right now, I am repainting a large kitchen and cleaning all of the cabinets of crystal, silver and multiple china sets that I haven’t used in years as we do not entertain in the same way. Thank you, League Shop and Sign of the Mermaid! Editing and having empty spaces in cabinets feels good, clean, organized, and responsible and dare I say it, necessary for the next trip. Anyone else thinking – “who would have thought it could happen to me and here it is?” Simplicity, financial security, good health and loving friends are the joys in life at this stage. I thought our reunion was great although there were several people I didn’t get a chance to talk to. Who would have thought we would lose Steve Parks so soon? How sad he was such an interesting and sweet guy. Love, Judy I know that Judy went on a trip to Singapore and Sydney this year! Nothing is slowing her down for sure! Patty Walbridge Ahlbrandt was with Judy last year on a trip to Asia- China, Vietnam and Thailand. Patty also wrote “My friend Dick and I had a wonderful visit to the Galapagos Islands in September. Trying to make a dent in the life list of places I want to visit while I can still feed myself! Heading to Yosemite to take in the waterfalls this spring. I feel content with my life at almost-seventy and am fortunate that I can still do most anything I set my mind to. Lots of yoga helps!” Patty also welcomed Graham who is her daughter Julie’s second son. Congratulations to all! Harrop Miller and his wife have moved up 85 years from a 1928 house to a 2013 home. His new address is 2326 Innisbrook Drive, Abilene, Texas 79606. He is going to be celebrating his 70th in Buffalo Gap, Texas, with friends and relatives coming in from Boston, New Haven, New York, Fenton, Chicago and St. Louis! What a great way to enter this decade! He also is going to be in Houston for the start of MS (Multiple Sclerosis) 150 ride from Houston to Austin. Hoping to see him for lunch! Bob Davis wrote, “We live in Grand Ledge, Michigan which is a little west of Lansing where we have been the last 19 years. I retired in 2003 as director of a state agency, Michigan Rehabilitation Services and my wife Mona and I started our own business doing substance abuse treatment, drug testing (for the State Bar Association among others) and domestic violence work. We are trying to cut back, but still find the work exciting and the prospect of a “full” retirement rather boring. Besides work our time is spent babysitting four grandchildren (pure joy) and attempting to get away as much as possible to Lake Michigan in the summer and the Keys in the winter. Our son Rob lives in Chicago and is VP at an International Advertising Agency and our daughter Betsy works with us doing

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substance abuse counseling with juveniles. We enjoyed the 50th reunion and look forward to another. Bob Brooke Harrington says that he has retired from working as an emergency medical technician (EMT) for the Cushing Rescue Squad after just under three years of service. Well done Brooke and more time to travel! Bliss Clark has had lunch with Teddy Edwards in a charming bistro in New York City. “He is the ultimate wordsmith and it is beyond stimulating being with him.” She also said that the snow is a lot prettier in Currier and Ives print than it is in her driveway! Funny, and what a winter, right? Bliss also is lucky enough to be going to the world flower show in Dublin in June. Fantastic for sure! Paul Sheridan says that he really doesn’t have anything new to say, but that they are enjoying the weather in South Florida. If anyone comes to the West Palm Beach area, please call. Be careful what you wish for Paul! With winter like this we will be calling! Anne Birgbauer Wood is down in Boca Grande, Florida and they had a “fab” wedding there in November for daughter Carrie ’93 with lots of friends and family. All the kids will be visiting in March and Peter ’97 will be returning from Myanmar in April. Anne also mentioned that she is reaching that magical age where she is trying hard not to rock and drool! Can’t imagine that happening, but love the sense of humor! Was glad to hear from Lynn Gorey Carpenter. “I just came back from Florida where Steven, Carrie and four grandchildren celebrated my big 70th birthday! I can hardly believe it! I had a great time at Anne and Bruce Birgbauer’s ’60 GPUS daughter’s wedding in November in Boca Grande. Back to reality with lots of volunteer activities and still time for lunch or dinner with friends. Time for this winter to be over!” Lynn Carpenter Had a note from Carol Johnson Carlson and she said that her mother Ann Barrett Johnson just turned 92! Lots of time left and she is just as sharp as we remember her! Judy and I visited her and had such fun remembering lots of great times! Carol says, “After all these years, I would love to say that I’ve been in the Congo helping lepers. But mother Theresa I am not. My career was in education. I variously worked as an elementary school teacher in Michigan, consultant in Ohio, school psychologist in Ohio, and as a department head in the Guidance and Child Study Center at a resource center in New York. My last position was as a liaison between two county school systems and a children’s psychiatric hospital in Florida. It seems that whenever I needed a change, I went back to graduate school. In Michigan I got an MED. Then following my divorce in 1974 in Ohio, I went to Kent University. There, I got two degrees in order to be a school psychologist. While working, I spent three years part-time at the Gestalt Institute for a certificate in Systems Analysis of non-profit

Human Services Systems. I don’t know what that means either. Then at the tender age of “about-to-be-40,” I met my future husband in Sweden. Our first encounter was the successful rescue of herself from the pool bathroom where our tour was staying. We celebrated my 40th at Tivoli Gardens, firecrackers and all. Our first home was in New York and from there we pursued retirement in Sarasota, FL. Sadly, Paul died suddenly in 2003. These days, I am often at home with my Westie or at my mother’s retirement community. She just turned 92, but doesn’t recommend it. This year I’m looking forward to a visit from my grandson, Alex, who is unbelievably turning 20! Wishing you all well, Carol P.S. Does anyone want to join me in the Reduce Memory Loss campaign? Tessie Hill Hawkin sent a note and said that after the unexpected death of her husband last year she has been going along in slow motion keeping up swimming, walking, Pilates, a gym fitness class and as many friends as possible. Her home is in Australia and is in a magnificent location. She does miss her family and friends, of course, and sees them when she comes to the States. Sounds like you are doing well Tessie and everyone in G.P. would love to see you if you ever get back! Bicky Bicknell Kellner and her husband George took Tom and I to dinner in New York and we had a really wonderful evening. She is going to be in Aspen in March and then to Budapest in April for their annual trip to interview the contending finalists for the “Kellner Scholarship.” “This is something we’ve been doing since communism fell in Hungary in 1991. We now have over 100 “Kellner Scholars” who have spent a year studying at an American college. Pretty cool, but the interview process is exhausting and it takes an emotional toll to disappoint the losers, they are all so qualified!” On a very sad note Bickey and Alesia ’66 GPUS lost their sister Mary Beth ’64 GPUS on December 17, 2013. They were both with her, but unfortunately she passed away prematurely. We are all so sorry to hear the news. I know that you were shocked as well to hear that Steve Parks passed away too. Thank goodness that we had the opportunity to see him at the reunion. Also, just learned that Jim Davis died on December 9, 2013 from liver cancer. His obituary is in the Chicago Tribune. His wife Beau said he died peacefully with all his family there. “It was a very beautiful moment.” Our sympathy goes out to them all. Hope everyone has a great spring and summer and I will definitely look forward to hearing from you for the next round of Perspective! Thanks for all of your sharing, safe travels! Love, Susan

Class Notes

1963

Liggett Class Secretary: Sharon Litsky 2000 California Street #402 San Francisco, CA 94109-4302 sharonlitsky@sbcglobal.net Gail Sake Niskar 30030 High Valley Road Farmington Hills, MI 48331-2143 galeml@aol.com Joan Willens Abraham says “I was lucky enough to stumble into my own little nirvana at this stage of my life on the west coast of Michigan, 90 miles from Chicago on Lake Michigan. I live in a very rural area on the lake which is filled with ex-pats, mostly from Chicago. Being a part of this community is a gift every day, even with the wicked weather. I am involved with the local high school students here teaching social media strategies, and it is so cool to be a part of how students are learning today in our connected universe. After being in the fashion and new media industries for 20 years in New York I still miss the energy and the challenge of working there, but I’m having more fun now and couldn’t be much happier.” Susan Heavner Becker states that “Mike and I count our blessings as we have a life we love in the mountains of North Carolina, good health and loving family and friends. We have enjoyed traveling this year, gardening, various volunteer activities and of course our pets. Come visit anytime.” Gloria Shenkman Cohen adds that she loves spending winter in LA. Both my children and grandchildren live here and it is great being involved in their lives. There are endless museums, concerts, live theater to enjoy. I see Ellen (Kuschinski Castleman) often and Sharon Litsky came to visit for a day. It was so much fun. We forgot we were not kids anymore! Still traveling. Went to Paris, my favorite. Then toured Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro. Great destinations. Hope everyone is healthy and happy. Let me know if anyone comes to LA. I will be here til April then back to Michigan.” Marijane Lazar Einstein has had some health challenges. We all send her our best wishes to let her know we are thinking about her. Renate Schmidt Latimer reports that “Hiking in Newfoundland in August is a great way to escape the NYC summer heat. And nothing beats theater in Vienna in the fall. Off to Motown this week to celebrate my mother’s 89th birthday.” Sharon Litsky flew down to LA for a fun-filled day in February. Ellen (Kuschinski Castleman) and Gloria (Shenkman Cohen) picked me up at the airport. We went to an area called Venice and enjoyed the shops and galleries. Had lunch and dinner and in between spent a ton of time laughing, talking about the old days and catching up on what is going on in our lives today. Traveling is so pleasant when all you have is your purse and

no luggage. Hoping to do it again. Meanwhile I continue my heavy involvement with various community volunteer endeavors, this year adding being Chair of the Bay Area Arthritis Auxiliary Walk Team whose Walk takes place in May in Golden Gate Park. John says I never really “retired” since I’m putting in as many hours with volunteer work as I did when I held down a paying job. And I still do have a paying job if you count the one-hour a week I teach a low-impact aerobics class for seniors at the JCC. I continue to enjoy the grandkids when they come to visit and also find time to enjoy the Metropolitan Club, a private women’s club in San Francisco founded in 1915. The wonderful women there as well as the physical building itself remind me of our Liggett School on Burns Avenue. Connie Wineman Jacob shares that she has had “A busy fall with work and moving my kids into a new home. They did an exceptional job with lots of details and well thought out. Lots of discussions but Dana and I prevailed. She is an interior designer and me as the art consultant with walls and lighting. Great experience but only once. I am in close touch with Gail (Sake Nikar) who has been amazing and is now back in Florida and keeps a smile on her face always. She has wonderful support from her family. I was so excited to speak with Marijane (Lazar Einstein) yesterday and it was like home. I told her all about our reunion and she laughed and giggled just like we did last summer. She was so happy to hear all about everyone and did not realize we spent the whole week-end together. She really would have loved being there. My very best to everyone and thank you again for our reunion. Gail and I talk about it all the time. Gail Sake Nikar has been dealing with some health issues. But she reports she has escaped from the nasty Detroit winter to Florida where she is enjoying the warm weather and relaxing under a beach umbrella. Suzanne Kogut Phillips tells us “It is March and Tom and I will be spending the month in Florida, enjoying the warm weather, sunshine and beach walking, especially enjoyable this year since I am recovering from major surgery in mid-January. Our daughter, Lisa, and our son, John and his family will be joining us. We’re all looking forward to playing with our 2½ yrs. old granddaughter in the pool and building sand castles with her. Hopefully, by the time we return home the endless snow and bitter cold will be over and done with and spring won’t be too far away.” Sally Ross Riley adds that “We have a lot going on. Sold our Marco Island condo in less than two days and are now looking at houses. The choices are many so we just have to find the right configuration for us. Our closing date is 5/31/2014 so we are moving quickly. Son Greg and wife Marcy are expecting their second child in April. That will make a total of 15 grandchildren. The oldest is 29 so there is a wide range of ages. They live from Seattle to Chicago. Several are out of school and working and others in college and the youngest in preschool. Planning an August

trip to Bar Harbor, Maine. We will be renting a house for two weeks and hope friends will join us for at least part of the time. Wishing everyone well.” Joan Caplan Simon contributes that “I’m still busy with traveling, visiting children and grandchildren in Los Angeles and trying to improve my bridge. Yoga continues to be an important part of my life. Jack and I enjoy walks in the Foothills and watching good movies. Next month, work in the Garden begins, but the drought will be a challenge. I’m mostly retired from interior design work, but will help former clients if needed.” KO SCHOLARSHIP FUND! Connie Wineman Jacob tipped me off that a Katherine Ogden Scholarship Fund has been established by the school as a tribute to the dedication and commitment shared by Miss Ogden in her 35 years of service (1928-1964) to the children and families of the Liggett School. The fund awards a legacy scholarship to a qualifying student who is the child or grandchild of a University Liggett School graduate. The fund gives one scholarship of $1,200 a year for three years of middle school (6th, 7th, and 8th grades). Recipients of this scholarship are selected by the Admissions Office. For questions about the fund or to make a gift to KO’s fund, contact Cressie Boggs, Assistant Head of Advancement at cboggs@uls.org. Song Trivia: Do any of our classmates remember this song from Sing Out 1963 to the tune of the Kingston Trio’s Gué Gué? Here it is: Students, teacher too, this be your dear school. Ivy covered walls, token of Liggett School. She will help you, She will teach you, Hail thee, of Liggett School. Thru your guiding hand, ladies we will be, And when this day comes, our thanks be to thee. May you help us, May you teach us As we may learn thru thee. Now we sing to you, and we praise your name, In all things you do, widespread be your fame. You have helped us, You have taught us, We thank you, oh Liggett School

1964

Liggett Class Secretary: Karolyn A. Krieghoff Sewell 2046 Camino de los Robles Menlo Park, CA 94025-5917 ksewell7@comcast.net J.J. L’Heureux’s penguin photography is being displayed at the Lafayette Science Museum in Lafayette, LA, through May 18, 2014. GPUS Class Secretary: William B. Canfield III 5307 Falmouth Road Bethesda, MD 20816-2916 canfieldwilliam@gmail.com

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David McCoy ‘77 and Michael Cobane ‘77

1980 ice hockey state champions Tom Dow ‘83 and Bill Scarfone ‘83 with 2014 ice hockey state champions and daughters Ania Dow ‘14 and Grace Scarfone ‘16.

1965

Rev. Meredith B. Jackson 500 Deepwoods Drive Valley Grande, AL 36701-0404 jaypbsig@sprintmail.com

Liggett Class Secretary: Eugenie Corey Wagner 604 Cressfield Lane Ann Arbor, MI 48103-3105 eugeniewagner@gmail.com

1966

Liggett Class Secretary: Dr. Susan Stuckey Thoms 4937 Fairway Ridge Circle West Bloomfield, MI 48323-3321 sthoms@umich.edu Nadine Hertz: Hi! My new last name is Zonder. Mike and I were married at Temple Beth El on Sep. 28, 2013, with our children and grandchildren walking down the aisle. Devin, my grandson, walked me down! It was a beautiful ceremony, and fun being surrounded by so many friends and family! Hope all is well with you. XO Candy Reed: I hope this finds all of you well and doing great! At some point I hope we get spring. The only news I have is that we lost two of our kids (greyhounds – retired racers), and then, proceeded to get two more not so good racers. That is why we were able to get them. They are only two years old. Chole is a spook and her color is a blue fawn. She is getting there and loves to play in the snow (see, she is nuts!). Creeper is a very dark brindle. He truly lives up to his name. Both bring joy, laughter and aggravation, as all kids do.

1967

Liggett Class Secretary: Jani DuCharme Gunsaulus 74 Essex Road Ipswich, MA 01938-2548 Janniguns2@gmail.com

1968

Liggett Class Secretary: Joni Welch Hollinger 229 South Quincy Street Hinsdale, IL 60521-3949 tfvinc@aol.com

1969

GPUS Class Secretary: Bettye Bee Friedberg Reis 37 W. 72nd Street, Apt. 11B New York, NY 10023-3488 bbreis@nyc.rr.com

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Members and friends of the GPUS Class of 1969 met in Prescott, Arizona, for their first mini-class reunion during July 2013. Five graduate members of the class: Tika JacksonGoldston, Meredith Jackson, Susan Drown, Ellie ter Haar and Nickey Sawyer along with their spouses and Paget Dackman and spouse attended a three day gathering in the hill country of Arizona. They toured Prescott, Jerome and Sedona; enjoyed the Prescott Indian Art Market; took in the ambiance of the Sedona vortexes; and viewed the charred mountainside of the Prescott National Forest. Everyone had a wonderful time and they are looking forward to the next mini reunion. This was the class’ first annual mini reunion. Future mini reunions are being planned for New Orleans, LA, Washington, D.C., Northern California and New Zealand. Be on the lookout for information on the 2014 mini reunion, it will be a time to remember!

1970

Liggett Class Secretary: Renee R. McDuffee 480 Lodge Drive Detroit, MI 48214 renee.mcduffee@36thdistrictcourt.org GPUS Class Secretary: Pricilla Mead 461 South York Street Denver, CO 80209-2724 ulsclass1970@gmail.com I listened to an old Judy Collins album (yes - vinyl) the other day and reflected upon our years at Liggett, especially when hearing the tune “where has the time gone.” We are so blessed to still be in touch with each other although we have lost touch with several ladies. We are already in the talking stages and hope to reunion in May of 2015 at Kathi Carroll Wicklund’s home (and Doug’s home too!) in Naples, FL. We were at their first Naples home 10 years ago and look forward to staying at their new Naples home. What happens in Naples stays in Naples. Speaking of the Wicklund family, their sons have relocated from New York to TX and MO, a little closer to FL. Dody DiSanto has hit the triple play - her business with

husband Charles is 10 years young (the center in Washington, DC), their daughter Francesca graduated from U of Maryland and is touring southeast Asia and Dody has been asked to write a chapter about her teacher Jacques LeCoq. Per Wikipedia, “LeCoq (12/15/19211/19/1999) was born in Paris, was a French actor, mime and acting instructor. He is most famous for his methods on physical theatre, movement and mime that he taught at the school he founded in Paris, L’Ecole Internationale de Theatre from 1956 -1999.” Dody was under his tutelage in the 1970s, post Liggett. And speaking of talent, I had the opportunity to see Mercilee Lee Jenkins ’64 LIG at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on Sat. March 1, 2014. She was in Detroit to see her play “Spirit of Detroit” performed by students of the University of MI, Lee’s alma mater. It was a great production which has also been performed in New York and Ann Arbor. Lee has lived in San Francisco for many years and keeps in touch with her Liggett classmates. Then there is reason to celebrate Shelley Hermann Kane’s successful knee replacements (yes, both knees!) which have allowed her to return to an active lifestyle. And speaking of legs, thanks to all of you who cheered me on as my husband Kevin recovered from his fall which caused both quadriceps muscles to rupture. It was our first Christmas at our home in Harbor Springs - fortunately, the orthopedic surgeon was able to perform a successful surgery and Kevin is back at work after a two month recovery- but won’t be jumping rope for a while. Karen Smith has a new artistic love in her life - pottery, having sculpted and painted throughout her career as a teacher. Vicky Heller ‘72 wrote of her love of pottery too so maybe they can do a show together! Vicky is in Boston and Karen is in Orlando - sounds like a road trip! Several of us are experiencing the travails of being the daughters of aging parents but our closeness encourages us to continue our caregiving in the best way we can, recalling our parents devotion to us over the years, the greatest of which was affording us the opportunity to attend Liggett. Love and hugs to all, Renee

1971

Class Secretary: Shanda Rumble 851 Westchester Way Birmingham, MI 48009-2917 shanshome@yahoo.com When I pulled out my old yearbook and found that the pages were yellowed and brittle, I recognized that paper ages so much faster than friendship. Then I realized that I just looked yellow and brittle. Friendships are ageless. Here are a few thoughts from your classmates. Steve Tait writes: Well, after 17 years together Dave Cook and I made it legal in December. We are off this week to Peru for three weeks to explore the Amazon, Machu

Piccho, and Lake Titicaca, a place that intrigued me since I learned about it in Mr. Kimber’s classroom. John Chapman contributes: So, I thought I would share that in late October my wife and I hosted a number of classmates, along with their spouses and a number of local friends at our house in Harvard, Mass. The event started as an attempt to get Eric Shreeman to come out and jointly celebrate our fall birthdays, which are 3 days apart. It turned out that Eric couldn’t make it, but by then, on the sheer rumor that Eric might be traveling to the East Coast, we had commitments from other people, so we had a joint 60th birthday party from the class of ‘71 and anyone else who felt like being that old. The attendees from the class were Jennie Dossin, Chris Hughes, Janet Keydal Lawson, Kirk Renaud, Ilene Rosin and George Silvas. The event started with my wife, Ilene and Jennie’s husband David going for a swim in a rather frigid pond behind our house and continued in an outDryrageous fashion late into the evening, meaning well past 9 p.m., wild sexagenarians that we were. So, that’s the news from here. Kirk adds: A party was held for John Chapman’s 65th birthday. That’s not a typo. It was definitely 65th (you will remember that he “could not learn good”...) Jenny, George, Ilene, Chris, Janet and I were there for a lobster dinner. Did Jenny and Ilene have too much to drink again? Well, I am too much a gentleman to mention that they did. Did Ilene actually fall into the pond at one point? Again, my gentleman status prevents me from telling that she did....Your Amigo, Kirk Please send your e-mail address if you have had any revisions or difficulty with class mail.

1972

Class Secretary: Kevin Granger 943 Hidden Lane Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236-1522 mikevric@comcast.net

1973

Class Secretary: Anne K. Galyean 160 South Beach Road Hobe Sounds, FL 33455 dragonannie@gmail.com

1974

Class Secretary: Sara Hendrie Sessions 900 Sunningdale Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236-1670 sessions9@comcast.net

1976

Rev. Carol Gregg Stratton 1148 North Lawn Park Alma, MI 48801-2108 greggandstratton@gmail.com

Cindy Paul Dreyfuss ‘87 and family

Bobby Jewett ‘87 and a 150lb Tarpon

1977

1987

David McCoy and Michael Cobane, class of 1977, enjoyed another great tailgate at U of M. See the photo of them having fun!

1979

Class Secretary: Catherine Sphire Shell 185 Ridge Road Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236-3554 cshell185@comcast.net

1980

Class Secretary: Roxane Lie 25131 SW Gage Rd. Wilsonville, Oregon 97070 rml2vizsla2002@yahoo.com

1982

Michael Ottaway 252 Cloverly Road Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236-3304 Michael_Ottaway@ml.com

1983

Tom Dow and Bill Scarfone celebrated the 2014 Liggett girls ice hockey team’s state championship victory this year. The team includes both of their daughters, Ania Dow ’14 and Grace Scarfone ’16. 34 years ago Tom and Bill were on the Liggett boys ice hockey team during the 1980 state championship win! Included is a picture of two generations of Liggett state champions!

1984

Class Secretary: Lawrence Paolucci 1898 Kenmore Drive Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236-1982 lpaolucci@wcpc.us

1985

Class Secretary: Andra Hirt Starshak 414 Woodland Court Glenview, IL 60025-3462 astarkshak@comcast.net

Class Secretary: Eva Dodds 6196 Eastmoor Rd. Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301-1440 evamdodds@aol.com Having spent the winter freezing in Michigan, it was great to receive sunny and smiling photos from our classmates! Cindy (Paul) Dreyfuss writes: “Sunny Naples is waiting for visitors!! Attached is a photo of us in front of our newly built house. Peter is entering his 15th year with Arthrex as the Engineering Manager of Shoulder and Upper Extremity products. I am newly “retired” after spending the last 6 years leading the board of our local Little League. Volunteering with teaching and basic school support and teaching my friends small boat handling. We are deep into kids’ sports with Andrew playing baseball, Sam sailing and Kate with soccer. I secretly wish for some winter weather, although my family in Michigan will curse me for admitting that! Give us a shout if you are in Naples! Cindy. dreyfuss@gmail.com” Bobby Jewett moved to Boca Grande, FL five years ago and changed careers from motorsports marketing/advertising (15yrs) to real estate. Currently, working with Gulf Coast International Properties - Boca Grande. Check out the picture of Bobby and the 150 pound Tarpon he caught two years ago! Danne Bullok Johnson and her family spent two weeks in London this fall. Danne was teaching a class on Securities Litigation. She said that the food was “shockingly amazing.” This summer they will travel to China for a 5-6 week teaching and touring experience. Danne included a photo of her beautiful family. David Schilling’s family picture is also included in this issue after being mentioned in the last Perspective. Our class has especially good-looking families don’t you think? Please keep in touch! evamdodds@aol.com

1988

Class Secretary: Joy Brzuchowski Nichols 2688 Amberley Drive Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301-2655 umpilots@aol.com

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Danne Bullock Johnson ‘87 and family

David Schilling ‘87 and family

Mitch McCabe ‘89

1989

A native of the Detroit suburbs, Mitch McCabe started running around with one camera or another in her early teens. Her films have received several awards and screened at hundreds of festivals, venues, and have been broadcast by HBO, PBS and Showtime. Her recently completed documentary YOUTH KNOWS NO PAIN, made with HBO Documentary Films (and supported by VCCA in 2003) premiered at Lincoln Center in April 2009 and began airing on HBO in the fall of 2009 after touring the festival circuit. The film was nominated for a WGA writing award and played at the prestigious International Documentary Film Association Festival in Amsterdam, among others, and was curated as Lincoln Center’s most popular films of 2009. Her first film, PLAYING THE PART screened at Sundance Film Festival, New Directors/ New Films, and won an Academy Award in the Student category, The New York Times calling it “enthralling” and Film Comment naming it One of the Year’s Top 10 Short Films. Her short films SEPTEMBER 5:10PM (1999) and HIGHWAY 403, MILE 39 (2004) were both nominated for Student Academy Awards and premiered at the New York Film Festival. In 2003, McCabe wrote and directed the narrative featurette THIS CORROSION which won a Princess Grace Award. In 2007 her short film TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. McCabe received her BA from Harvard College and her MFA in film directing from NYU. She has taught film at Ramapo College and lectured at Montana State University, New York University, University of Iowa, Harvard College, Hunter College, Vassar and Lafayette. She lives and works in Los Angeles and New York.

1991

Class Secretaries: Dike Ajiri 3031 Old Glenview Road Wilmette, IL 60091-2908 dajiri@yahoo.com Michelle (“Mitch”) McCabe: After graduating from Harvard in 1994 with a B.A. in documentary film, Michelle has produced and directed dozens of films that have screened around the world, including Sundance Film Festival, New York Film Festival, and Museum of Modern Art, her short films winning one Academy Award and two other nominations. In 2004 Michelle received her MFA from New York University’s Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, her thesis feature film This Corrosion winning a Princess Grace Award. In 2009 her documentary feature film about plastic surgery, Youth Knows No Pain, premiered on HBO, screened at Silverdocs, IDFA in Amsterdam and was nominated for a WGA writing award. McCabe was a nominee for a Rockefeller Foundation award and has been awarded grants and artists fellowships by The MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, the Jerome Foundation, the Djerassi Foundation, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. In addition to teaching across the country, over the last several years she split her time between New York and Los Angeles to work as a TV producer on various docu-series, including ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” TNT’s “APB with Troy Dunn” and other shows for Bravo, HBO, Showtime, Lifetime, Style, Spike and the Oprah Winfrey Network. Currently she is in production on a new documentary about mental health treatment, “Make Me Normal,” produced by Antidote Films and Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte, who produced Oscar-nominees “The Kids Are All Right,” and “Dirty Wars,” as well as “Thirteen” and “Polanski: Wanted and Desired.” As of April, 2014, McCabe and her producing team will be re-locating the production of the film to Detroit, where she will be living and working full-time with Detroit-based crew.

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1990

Class Secretaries: Brooke Hohmeyer Kemler Hohenstaufenstr 36 Apartment no. 20 71696 Moeglingen Germany brookemler@hotmail.com Dr. Sreedhar “Steve” Samudrala 9143 Concord Hunt Circle Brentwood, TN 37027-8762 DrSam@AFDclinics.com

Class Secretaries: Natasha Moulton-Levy 5400 Bucksaw Court Columbia, MD 21044-5717 teklaml@aol.com Samina Qureshi 2016 Norwood Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236-1746 Saminaq1@yahoo.com

1992

Class Secretaries: Lila LaHood 1624 Vallejo Street, Apt. 2 San Francisco, CA 94123-5115 lilalahood@gmail.com Anne Hildebrandt Tranchida 521 Lakeland Grosse Pointe, MI 48230 arh1214@aol.com David ‘92 and Beth ’93 Niccolini have been living in the Annapolis, MD area now for a decade with their daughter Lauren (10) and their son John (7). Beth is extremely active in the children’s school, where she sits on the Athletic Association Board and coaches both girls’ field hockey and girls’ lacrosse. Last year, David was appointed to the board of the international security firm TorchStone Page. The company is headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area, with offices in New York, London, Dubai, Prague, Cyprus, West Bank & Gaza, and Kabul. If ULS friends are in the D.C./Baltimore/Annapolis area, the Niccolini’s would welcome a call.

1993

Class Secretary: Carrie Birgbauer 42 Morton Avenue, #13 NYC, NY 10014 cbirgbauer@me.com

1994

Class Secretary: Peter Brown 5605 Trousdale Drive Brentwood, TN 37027-4308

Class Notes

2008

Class Secretaries: Maria Russo mariarusso90@comcast.net Laura Hicks laura.hicks10@gmail.com

2009 Reba Torongo, Marg Barnes, Jan Abdenour and Sally Ziegler.

Mark ‘10 LIG and Carl Ghafari ‘11 LIG

1996

2005

Class Secretaries: Jennifer Silverton 445 West Baraga Avenue, #4 Marquette, MI 49855-4558 jsilvers@nmu.edu Rachel Calderon 3208 Silva Street Lakewood, CA 90712-3014

1997

Class Secretary: Peter Birgbauer 124 East 85th, Apartment 5F New York City, NY 10028 pbirgbauer@gmail.com

Class Secretaries: Caitlin Costello 800 Cadieux Road Grosse Pointe, MI 48230-1232 caitlinbcostello@gmail.com Kimberly M. Dickinson 240 Brown Street Providence, RI 02906-1527 Kimberly_Dickinson@brown.edu

Class Secretary: Brandon Celestin 1126 Berkshire Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230-1341 Brandon.celestin@gmail.com

Matthew Smith was awarded the 2014 Individual Artist Fellowship grant by the State of Delaware Division of the Arts in the music solo artist category. He plans on using the grant to increase marketing and awareness of classical guitar in the state and will be performing a series of collaborative solo and chamber music concerts throughout the year. Rohan Policherla will be graduating in May from the Wayne State University School of Medicine as part of combined MedStart program. He will be continuing his training at The Detroit Medical Center as a surgical resident. Kimberly Dickinson will be graduating in May from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University as part of the combined Program in Liberal Medical Education. In addition to her medical degree, she will be receiving a Master’s in Public Health, also from Brown University. She will be continuing her training at the Harriet Lane Program in Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University.

2004

2006

2000

Class Secretary: Celeste Hubbard 636 S Cochran Avenue, Apt. 205 Los Angeles, CA 90036-4036

2001

Class Secretary: Christal Phillips christalphillips@gmail.com

2003

Class Secretaries: Rachel Costello 126 East Pointe Lane, Apt. B23 East Lansing, MI 48823-1984 rachelncostello@gm.com Carly Croskey 180 Country Club Drive Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236-2902 cacroskey@gmail.com Meghan Doletzky 1365 Pinellas Road Belleair, FL 33756-1061

Class Secretary: Bianca Aviolo 4884 Kensington Detroit, MI 48224 Bianca@thesecondguess.com Akshay Verma: I will be moving from Ann Arbor to East Lansing to attend Michigan State’s College of Veterinary Medicine this August. I am graduating with an honors Bachelor of Science degree from U of M where I wrote a thesis called, “Bulldog Nose Job: The Death of the Biological Dog in American Culture and Why Veterinarians Should Care.” It explored the genetic disorders that result from purebred dog breeding and the cultural forces that perpetuate the practice despite significant scientific and welfare concerns.

2010

Class Secretary: Mary Grech marygrech22@gmail.com Mark ‘10 and Carl ‘11 Ghafari play at Kalamazoo College and Eric Ewing ‘13 plays for Olivet College. The alumni on each team played against each other on January 11, 2014. Kalamazoo College senior guard Mark Ghafari ‘10 has been named to the 201314 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)/Capital One Academic All-America First Team.

2012

Class Secretary: Katherine Parthnum parthumk@msu.edu

Class Secretary: Alyssa Bronikowski 1221 N. Dearborn #211N Chicago, IL 60610-8376 Alyssa.bronikowski@gmail.com

2007

Class Secretaries: Catherine Watson Catherine.V.Watson@gmail.com Sabra Morman Sabramorman@yahoo.com

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Class Notes: Focus

Ariana Castillo ‘13: This spring break instead of lying in bed for a week while watching Netflix and enjoying Girl Scout cookies, I decided to participate in an alternative spring break trip. During my break I traveled with 10 other University of Michigan students to downtown Detroit to volunteer with three different organizations, Cass Community Social Services, KICK, and the Ruth Ellis Center. Cass Community Social Services provides warm houses, a place to sleep, watch TV, eat, and also employment for the homeless or less fortunate. Cass was generous and provided a place for us to stay and provide some of our meals. My group worked with Cass in the mornings and helped separate paper to be shredded, prepare meals, and paint an apartment. On our first day when we helped separate and shred paper we were taken into a brightly painted green warehouse. Upon entering, the color choice of the building began to make sense. Inside the warehouse was a “green gym,” which had treadmills, elliptical and various other machines that would help power the warehouse when used. In addition to the green gym, Cass had other green projects including recycling paper and making mud mats and flip flops from recycled tires found on the streets of Detroit. Aside from the bright green color of the warehouse, another sight of the warehouse that resonates with me is a sign hanging above an entryway that read “FIGHTING POVERTY, CREATING OPPORTUNITY,” which I believe truly embodies what Cass is all about. While preparing meals I was able to see how hard Cass workers work to provide for their community and how much they care for them. Another experience that demonstrated this was painting apartments Cass was preparing to house women and their children and other people who may need a place to stay. Cass tries hard to provide for their community in any way possible, whether it with food, a place to stay, a job, education, or clothing. KICK is an agency for lesbian, gay, biattractional, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) African Americans and works to help implement LGBTQ affirming programs, services, projects, and social events. At this agency we helped prepare their offices for future events and made over 200 phone calls to organizations promoting an event KICK is having at the end of this month for the Affordable Care Act. The people at KICK were very welcoming and grateful for our help. The third organization my peers and I volunteered at was the Ruth Ellis Center in

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Detroit doer

Highland Park, Michigan. When we first arrived we were greeted with smiles and given an orientation on defining gender, sexuality, and the many subcategories of these topics. The Ruth Ellis Center made sure to teach us that people are identified on a spectrum of characteristics. The Ruth Ellis Center had a joyous ambiance, from the brightly painted walls, to the open atmosphere, and the smiles every employee held on their face. The Ruth Ellis Center not only houses homeless LGBTQ youth, but also provides for youth in many other ways such as holding talk sessions, supplying toiletries and clothing, providing meals, a place to study, and many other services. We learned that the Ruth Ellis Center had just received a donation fundraised by the band, Fun. This money will be used for renovations, including a health center specializing in LGBTQ people. Being at the Ruth Ellis Center was inspirational and made me happy to be surrounded by people not afraid to express themselves and to be proud of who they are. Aside from volunteering at three different awesome organizations my peers and I were able to explore Detroit. Detroit often holds a negative stigma due to poverty or violence. Although these do exist in the city, we were able to experience Detroit on a positive level. We went ice skating at Campus Martius, drove by the Heidlberg Project, ate in Mexican Town and enjoyed tres leches cake, ate at Good Girls go to Paris Crepes, explored Midtown, and ate in Greek town. My alternative spring break experience opened my eyes to Detroit in all its aspects. I was able to create bonds with people I never would have met on campus and I learned lending a helping hand not only improves the life of others but also my life as well.

Artwork submitted by Ariana Castillo ‘13

2013

Class Secretary: Armaity Minwalla arminwal@umich.edu Haleigh Ristovski is attending the University of Detroit Mercy as a student-athlete on the Women’s Basketball team. She is in a 5 year Business BS/MBA program and is also a part of the honors college. As an athlete, she spent a great deal of time traveling for games which took her to far and fun places, including a Thanksgiving tournament in Florida and games in New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ohio. In one of her first college games, she was even able to play against her own sister in a family battle. Haleigh was named to the athletic honor roll for the 2013-14 school year and made the Dean’s List of the business college. She is currently starting to get ready for the next basketball season in hopes of contending for a Horizon League Championship. Armaity Minwalla is loving her experience at the University of Michigan. She is part of the Health Science Scholars Program (HSSP) which allows her to learn more about health and healthcare professions with job shadowing opportunities and guest lecture series. She is currently in the Social Identity and Awareness Committee within HSSP, where she plans events and dialogues regarding social justice. She is currently working on events and dialogues regarding women’s issues to commemorate Women’s History Month. She is also a member of the South Asian Awareness Network which discusses social justice issues in South Asia and issues that South Asian-Americans face. The organization recently organized the most well-attended conference in its history with over 300 attending. Armaity is extremely excited about a new student organization she and a small group of women have created called “Lean In at The University of Michigan.” Based on the philosophy of Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In at UofM is dedicated to encouraging women and other marginalized groups to find their voices and speak up in academic and occupational settings. In addition to the social justicerelated student organizations, Armaity also wanted to make sure that music remained a constant part of her life. She is a member of the Women’s Glee Club, a touring University Choir. The group recently performed at the Central Division American Choral Directors Association Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio and is currently in the planning stages for an international tour to Brazil next summer. Within the Glee Club, Armaity is an active member of the Alumni Relations Committee. Looking forward, Armaity is very excited to continue working on her current projects and becoming more involved in the community. She will apply to be a mentor for incoming freshmen in the South Asian Awareness Network, and has been selected to be a Peer Advisor for HSSP freshmen next year. Armaity definitely feels like The University of Michigan is the right place and is very happy

Class Notes with all the friends she has made and the opportunities she has been given. Andrew Amine is working full time in downtown Detroit with The Work. After deciding in the fall that he would be better suited learning outside the classroom, he left school to enter the professional world. Since then, he has traveled to Copenhagen, New York City, Milwaukee, Miami, Las Vegas, and other locations for commercial shoots of varying size. It is thanks to his senior project last year that Andrew finds himself behind the lens creating content that has been aired during SNL, as well as a viral video for The Walking Dead that has garnered over four million views to date. Taniesha Williams has taken up an active role in several areas of the Vanderbilt community. One of her most rewarding activities has been tutoring children throughout the Nashville area. Last semester, she tutored and mentored elementary schoolaged students at a local homeless shelter with the Vanderbilt After School Project. Now, she tutors local high school students every week in English and Math. Taniesha has also become a member of various cultural organizations such as Rhythm and Roots, an organization that uses drama and dance pieces as a creative outlet for social change. She is also a member of Voices of Praise, a religious group comprised of five ministries: step, dance, choir, spoken word, and mime. Taniesha is a choir member and a praise dancer. Her largest and most recent project

in memoriam Josephine McLean Wunsch ’32 LIG, 99, passed away Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, in her home at the Village at Duxbury, Mass., following a short illness. “Jo,” as she was known to family and friends, was born Feb. 3, 1914, in Detroit and attended the University of Michigan where she was Women’s Editor for The Michigan Daily. Following graduation, she worked for the Detroit Free Press. In 1940, she married Edward S. Wunsch, a Detroit attorney. She left her job to raise three children, but continued to write short stories and non-fiction for magazines and newspapers. She also wrote 11 books; 10 of which were written for teens and several were translated into other languages, including Japanese. She founded a writer’s group in Grosse Pointe, and was a member of the Detroit Women Writers (now Detroit Working Writers). She was often asked to speak at schools, libraries and conferences on writing. Mrs. Wunsch was an athlete. She played tennis and golf, sailed and skied. She was asked to join the Detroit Women’s District Golf Association and she remained a member for a number of years. She also played duplicate bridge in tournaments and had nearly won sufficient points to become a Life Master when

has been serving on the executive board for MOSAIC Weekend, Vanderbilt’s multicultural recruitment program for admitted students. This program is geared towards bringing a more diverse student body to Vanderbilt’s campus and Taniesha’s primary role, among being involved with the prospective students in most of the activities, was as a co-chair for the annual showcase of diverse organizations called Live VU. Overall, Taniesha experiences at Vanderbilt this year have allowed her to get involved in programs and organizations that she’s very excited about continuing next fall. Robert Babcock has been hired as the season Assistant Master Electrician at the Hope Summer Repertory Theatre in Holland, Michigan. Julia Kaiser is attending the American University of Paris in Paris, France as a communications major with a minor in French and potentially theatre, and traveling around europe in her free time. Former University Liggett School 2012-13 student body President, Victoria Chochla, has been thoroughly enjoying her freshmen year at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. Victoria, along with Class of 2017 classmates Armaity Minwalla and Connor Borrego, was accepted into the Health Sciences Scholars Program (HSSP), a living and learning community on campus. As part of the scholars program, Victoria observed four professionals in the medical field: reconstructive breast surgeon, Dr. Adeyiza Momoh, Director and Section Chief of the Pediatric Critical

Care Department at St. John Hospital and Medical Center, Dr. Alina Witkowski, Chief of Neonatology at St. John Macomb Hospital, Dr. Deepak G, Patel, and pain management specialist, Dr. Razmig A. Haladijan. Throughout her observations, Victoria has developed a strong interest in brain and cognitive science, neurosurgery, specifically pediatric neurosurgery, and maternal/fetal medicine. Her medical interests change almost as rapidly as the Michigan weather! In addition to studying hard and exploring the rewarding field of medicine, Victoria has become an avid Michigan sport aficionado! She enjoys spending football Saturdays at the Big House and weekend nights at Yost Ice Arena or the Crisler Center basking in the Wolverine’s latest victory, especially all triumphs over Ohio State University! She is also heavily involved in the University of Michigan’s Polish Student Association (UMPSA). She is currently the club’s Social Chair and spent the majority of her winter semester fundraising for the club’s annual Wolverine Ball. At the Association’s March elections, Victoria was elected secretary and is looking forward to carrying out her secretarial duties next year as a sophomore. This summer, she will be staying in Ann Arbor to take Spring classes while conducting research and volunteering at the U of M Hospital. In July, she will travel to Poland to hold her annual tennis clinic in the lovely town of Nowy Sa¸cz. Go Blue and Go Knights!

her husband became ill and she quit bridge to care for him. She was a member and officer of the Junior League of Detroit and Tau Beta. At 90, Mrs. Wunsch moved to Massachusetts to be close to a daughter. There she enjoyed life in a senior residence, attending the theater, playing bridge and making many new friends. She was predeceased by her husband, sister and brother. She is survived by her three children, Katherine “Kay” Remsen and sonin-law, Donald Remsen, of Palo Alto, Calif., Elizabeth “Betsy” Gordon and son-in-law, Ralph Gordon, of Norwell, Massachusetts, and Edward Wunsch and daughter-in-law, Vivian Wunsch, of Boulder, Colorado, as well as eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held Tuesday, January 14, at Christ Church Grosse Pointe. Donations may be made to the Detroit Working Writers, Box 82395, Rochester, MI 48308. Ralph Wilson Jr., ‘36 DUS, died March 25, 2014. He was 95. Mr. Wilson has left a lasting impact on professional football, and his charitable efforts have been felt from Buffalo to southeast Michigan and University Liggett School. One of the original founders of the American Football League, he was the longtime owner of the Buffalo Bills, a team he founded in 1959 and the only team ever to make four consecutive Super Bowl appearances.

Described both as “the voice of reason” and the “conscience of the NFL,” Mr. Wilson once called his career in professional football “a grand ride for me.” He continued on that grand ride until the time of his death. Although he stepped aside as president of the team in December 2012, there was rarely a day when he didn’t check in with his administrative team. His dedication to the Buffalo Bills and professional football has been evident throughout his career, and in 2009, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mr. Wilson’s generosity to University Liggett has supported scholarships, annual campaigns and helped to restore the tennis facilities. In 2010, University Liggett recognized Mr. Wilson with its Distinguished Service Award. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and their two daughters, Christy and Edith. He was predeceased by his daughter, Linda Bogdan. Jane Gruenewald ‘37 LIG passed away on July 5, 2013. William Clay Ford ‘42 DUS, died March 9, 2014. He was 88. Mr. Ford leaves a legacy both for his contributions to Ford Motor Co. and for his ownership of the Detroit Lions football team. For many years, he and his family have provided generous support and leadership in helping to advance the mission of University Liggett School.

P ERSP ECTIVE Spr ing 2014 | 39

Mr. Ford spent 57 years with the automaker that bears his family’s name, and during that time he led the design of iconic vehicles such as the Continental Mark II, the successor vehicle to the original Lincoln Continental that was developed under the direction of his father, Edsel Ford. He remained on Ford’s board of directors until 1995, helped guide the company through the economic downturn in 2008 and remained committed to Ford and the greater community until his death. He also was known for his longtime ownership of the Detroit Lions, a team that he brought back to the city of Detroit by building Ford Field in the early 2000s. He also had a key role in bringing the Super Bowl to the city in 2006. In addition to his generous giving history with our school, Mr. Ford was on the Board of Trustees from 1953-1959. Mr. Ford is survived by his wife, Martha, who was a Trustee at the school from 19651978, and their four children, Martha Morse, Sheila Hamp, Elizabeth Kontulis and Bill Ford Jr., all of whom attended University Liggett School. Stephen M. Stackpole ’43 DUS, 88, a lifelong resident of Grosse Pointe, conservationist and philanthropist, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2014. Mr. Stackpole found beauty in a leafless tree and enjoyed cloudy days as much as sunny ones. He dreamed of a world where energy came from the sun and everyone had enough of whatever it was they needed. He donated generously to support many organizations with his favorite success story being the return of the osprey and bald eagle to Michigan. He loved dinosaurs and steam locomotives. Mr. Stackpole was well versed in classic literature, grammar, ancient history and nature. He enjoyed discussing the history of aviation, Mickey Mouse, and Audrey Hepburn, sometimes all in a 10-minute conversation. He was predeceased by his parents, Stephen T. and Annette (nee Shelden) Stackpole and is survived by his cousins, extended family members and caregivers. A funeral service was held Monday, Feb. 17, at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church. Donations can may be made to the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 32 Lakeshore, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236; Pro-Musica of Detroit, 3711 Woodward, Detroit 48201; Detroit Historical Society, 5401 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202; or the Audubon Starr Ranch Sanctuary, 100 Bell Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679. James Lynch Touscany ’47 DUS passed away on Jan. 31, 2013, at his home in Marathon, Florida.

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Karla Behr Standish ’52 CDS

Mary Elizabeth Bicknell ’64 GPUS

Longtime resident of Grosse Pointe and later of Naples, Fla., Julia “Julie” Blossom Whitney ’48 LIG died Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014. She was 83. She was born July 11, 1930, in Detroit, to Phillip (“Flip”) Moss Blossom and Grace Gillespie Blossom. She graduated from the Liggett School and received her college degree from Finch College in New York. In her career as a graphic artist for J. Walter Thompson and Campbell-Ewald, she was considered a female pioneer in the advertising world. She continued her career in marketing for the Liggett School and its successor, University Liggett School. Upon her marriage to Charles Robert Whitney in the fall of 1971, she was thrilled to inherit an immediate family in Marcia, Chuck, Jane and Tracy Whitney. During her life in Grosse Pointe, Mrs. Whitney dedicated her time and talents as an artist and writer, volunteering for many years for Tau Beta Association. She photographed, wrote and helped publish the association’s paper, the “Black and White.” She was also a longtime member of the Junior League of Detroit and the Society of Mayflower Descendants. Later, she and her husband moved to Florida where they resided for many years, but continued spending summers in Grosse Pointe to be close to family and friends. Mrs. Whitney also loved spending time at the family cottage in Mitchell’s Bay, Ontario, Canada, where one of her favorite pastimes was bass fishing in the bay. Her family and many friends said they appreciated her warmth, love of life, gift of laughter and her ability to face all aspects of life with dignity. Mrs. Whitney is survived by her loving sister, Mary Ann Bourke Connolly (Robert); stepchildren, Marcia Lockwood Whitney ’64 GPUS, Charles Robert Whitney Jr. ’68 GPUS (Gina Baubie), Jane Whitney Gage ‘70 (Jen Bradford) and Tracy Whitney Howe ‘73; nephew, Scott Atkins; niece, Julie Atkins Tzobanakis and step-niece, Bethine Standart Whitney ’67 GPUS.

She also is survived by nine step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband. The family thanks the caregivers who supplied care and comfort to Mrs. Whitney during her illness. A memorial service was held Saturday, Feb. 22, at A.H. Peters Funeral Home. Donations may be made to the Tau Beta Association, 84 Vendome, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, 48236 or Great Lakes Caring Hospice, 23885 Denton Street, Suite A, Clinton Township, MI 48036. Share a memory at ahpeters.com. Robert P Scherer, Jr. ’51 DUS was born January 17, 1933 and died Oct. 4, 2012, at home in Atlanta, GA after a very brief battle with lung cancer. Mr. Scherer lived in Atlanta during the winter. But his passion was his beautiful extensive wooden boat collection which was kept at his home in Charlevoix, Michigan where he spent each summer. Mr. Scherer attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL until he was drafted into the Army during the Korean Conflict. He later attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1960 at age 27, Mr. Scherer became the President of R. P. Scherer Corporation after the death of his father, who invented the soft gel pharmaceutical capsule machine. Bob built the company and eventually took it public. In 1979 Bob separated the subsidiary companies from R P Scherer and relocated them to Atlanta, GA. A holding company called Scherer Healthcare was formed consisting through the years of as many as 27 separated companies. Bob retired after the sale of the final business in 2003. Mr. Scherer is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Claudia, his cherished sister-in-law, Jane Dinnen and brother-in-law James Dinnen of Atlanta, GA, his nieces Claudia Reynolds Dinnen of Greenville, SC and Leslie Coonrod Dinnen of Chicago, IL. He leaves behind his sisters Josephine Beardslee of Grosse Pointe, MI and Karla Scherer of Chicago, IL and brother John Scherer also of Grosse Pointe, MI. His children Robert Scherer, Leslie Scherer Reeves, Steven Scherer and Mark Scherer reside in Colorado and California. A memorial

Class Notes

Jeffrey Holbrook Wardwell ’73 service was held for Mr. Scherer on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012 at H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill, Atlanta, GA. Grosse Pointe Country Day School alumna Karla Behr Standish ’52 CDS died on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, in Shoreline, Washington, with family at her side. Karla was born Jan. 12, 1934, the only child of Ethel Marion Clark Behr and Karl Gustav Behr. She was one of 12 graduates of Country Day, where she was chosen as May Queen her senior year. She attended Bennett Junior College in Millbrook, N.Y., and graduated with an associate’s degree in 1954. She married James Darrow Standish III ’48 DUS in December 1954; he predeceased her in 1995 after 40 years of marriage. Karla is remembered by classmate Jean Bahr Waltrip as being a talented creative writer, contributing to Country Day’s literary magazines and newspaper. “She was fun to be with,” says Jean. “She was like a firefly, a light in your life that you wouldn’t want to be without.” Karla had an affinity for all animals and great compassion for anyone in need. She was a devoted mother and friend and a loving grandmother. She was active in the Tau Beta Association, the Junior League of Detroit and Christ Church Detroit. Interment will be at the Pointe Aux Barques Township Cemetery this summer. Mrs. Standish is survived by her children, Dana ’74 of Seattle; Clark ’76 of Grosse Pointe Farms; Craig, of Wayzata, Minn.; and Karla D., of Chicago as well as 10 grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society at gpaas.org. Louis D. Hurr ’52 DUS died Jan. 4, 2014 in Santa Barbara, Calif. hospital from complications of surgery. Lou lived life large. After graduation from Trinity College in 1956, he pursued a successful career in banking in New York and Santa Fe, New Mexico. While in Santa Fe he continued his lifelong love of entertaining others at unique events and parties. He was able to buy, remodel and decorate a spectacular old Santa Fe estate which included an aviary. This project launched his eventual

career change in decorating, design and collecting antiques and objects for beautiful surroundings. He also entertained frequently. Eventually, he sold this estate to John Connelly, former Governor of Texas. Lou met and became friends with several successful artists and Hollywood figures in Santa Fe including Georgia O’Keefe. He purchased a travel agency from Vivian Vance and her husband and organized unique and adventurous international tours. On one of his European trips he threw a birthday party for himself at the iconic Harry’s Bar in Venice. Lou also lived briefly in Aspen, Colorado; Belfast, Maine; and in New Canaan, Connecticut exercising his talents as a collector/designer. He lived his final 15 years in Montecito, California, not far from his lifelong DUS friend, Peter Stalker. He was the godfather of Peter’s son, Peter Stalker III. Lou was predeceased by his parents, Paul and Hannah Hurr. He is survived by a cousin, Katherine Thilman (Carl) of Arlington, Texas., and longtime friend and business partner, Richard K. Maher. Robert Wills Nester ’57 GPUS of Potomac, MD, passed away August 28, 2013, surrounded by family at home. He was the beloved husband of 40 years of Mary Anne Nester, the dear father of Anne Rachel Nester (Spencer Hamblen) and Claire Harriet Wills Nester (Justin Hall) and the grandfather of Gregory Hall and Thomas Hall. He is also survived by his sister, Virginia Janicki of Bellevue, WA, by his three sisters-in-law and four brothers-in-law, and by his two nieces and four nephews. A native of Detroit, Mr. Nester was the son of Virginia Wills Chauvin and Robert John Nester and the grandson of automotive pioneer C. Harold Wills. He graduated from Deerfield Academy and Yale University, then served as an Air Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1966. He settled in the Washington, DC area, working as a consultant and later as a real estate agent, and serving on numerous civic boards in Arlington. For decades, he advocated for the accessibility rights of persons with disabilities. An accomplished jazz pianist with wideranging interests in science, history, and the arts, he loved a lively conversation. His warmth and sense of humor were irresistible. Mr. Nester was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit on August 31. Bob enjoyed his years at GPUS, and he stayed in touch with the school and with his classmates. Carol Susan Frank ’64 LIG age 67, of Bingham Farms, died Feb. 17, 2014. An elegant lady in jeans and T-shirt, survived by her loving husband Jerome (Jerry) Frank, her sons, Dr. Jay (Lisa) Homburger, Richard (Heather) Homburger, Mathew Frank, Lauren (Jared) Gell, her mother Estelle Robinson, brother James Robinson, grandchildren

Hayden, Hudson and Charles Homburger and Theodore Gell. Carol was born in Detroit and graduated from the Liggett School, the University of Michigan with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree and additional studies at the Universities of Minnesota and Missouri. She had a long career as a bookkeeper and tutor and known as the “math goddess” to her many students. She was a kind and a mother to all she knew. Mary Elizabeth Bicknell ’64 GPUS passed away on Dec. 17, 2013 in Kingston, NY, after a long illness. Her sisters, Alesia Bicknell ’66 GPUS and Martha Bicknell Kellner ’62 GPUS were by her side. Jeffrey Holbrook Wardwell ’73 peacefully passed away on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, surrounded by his loved ones, two days short of his 59th birthday, in Carlsbad, California. Jeffrey was born to Alice and Jake Wardwell at Bon Secour Hospital Grosse Pointe, Mich. on Feb. 8, 1955. Jeffrey graduated with the class of 1973, University Liggett School, where he met and made life-long friendships with many of his classmates. He was a 1977 Albion College graduate, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and earned his degree in business. Jeffrey loved and lived a big life. His booming laugh and infectious fun personality could light up any room. He had a passion for cars, his many friends and most of all his family. His proudest accomplishments were his sons, Jonathan Jack and Winston Wardwell. Jeffrey joined Ford Motor Company in its Denver Sales Office in the 1970s. Subsequently, he moved to California and worked for a few successful Ford Dealerships, becoming General Manager at Kearny Mesa Ford in San Diego. Jeffrey is survived by his wife of 17 years Debby Wardwell, sons Jonathan Jack and Winston, sisters Thumper Haggarty ’61 GPUS (George ’59 GPUS), Suzie Prescott ’63 GPUS (Bill), brothers, Butch Wardwell (Chris) and Jonathan Wardwell ‘77 (Cyrenia). He was predeceased in death by his parents Alice and Jake Wardwell. A memorial service for Jeffrey took place at his home on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014. Contributions in Jeffrey’s name can be made to University Liggett School’s Hockey Program at: 1045 Cook Road, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, 48236. Contributions can also be made online at www.uls.org/jhw. William Touscany ’74, beloved husband of Geri Touscany and dear father of Henry Nicholson Touscany ‘19, died suddenly on Jan. 16, 2014, at age 57. Bill is survived by his beloved wife and son, and sisters Christine (Ken Baranski), Lorelle Howe (William), Jean (William Kuebler), and Elaine (partner John Monahan). A funeral was held on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. Christ Church Grosse Pointe.

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historic traditions

a look at the traditions of University Liggett School’s predecessor schools

TH E L I G G ETT SCH O O L May Day was a longstanding tradition of the Liggett School, and one of the biggest highlights of the year for students. Each year, a senior girl was elected by her peers to serve as the May Day queen. The queen was attended by a court that included students from younger grades. This was one of the many annual traditions of the Liggett School that alumnae frequently recall including the Ring Ceremony, Thanksgiving play, Christmas tableaux, the Liggett Fair, Sing Out competition and a host of other ceremonies and dinners.

1950

DE TROIT U NI VERSITY SCH OOL DUS is known for its rich athletic history in many sports, but in particular, the school saw great success in football. Football really became DUS’s claim to fame in 1906 when E.L. Knickerbocker became the school’s athletic director. Knickerbocker learned of the new football technique, the forward pass, during a conference at Harvard, and stressed the pass in his coaching. This unorthodox play led to several undefeated seasons over the next few years, and even an unbelievable 106 to 0 point game, in which the Knights beat East Bay City High School in 1908.

1906

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G ROSS E P OINTE COUNTRY D AY SC HOOL Grosse Pointe Country Day School’s legacy is very intertwined with the arts. Students were encouraged to express themselves through music and daily dance class after school. Each year the talents of Country Day students were displayed during a

GET G I L Y T T I S S

spring musical that was often performed outdoors amid the lush blooms that

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In University Liggett School history book, Century, Grosse Pointe University School is described as innovative and a school constantly searching for academic excellence. The school emphasized “personal integrity, community involvement and creativity” as tenants of a GPUS education. This vision for the

1930

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G ROSS E P OINTE UNIVER SITY SCH O O L

adorned the grounds of the school.

students of GPUS led to a robust and well-rounded environment that included successful athletic teams, a multitude of extra-curricular activities, and a tradition of academic success. The Cum Laude Society was one of several academic honors awarded to students at GPUS, and this tradition lives on today. Each year juniors of University Liggett School continue to be inducted into the society based on academic merit.

1965

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Liggett Summer Programs 2014

re u t n e v d a r e Your summ Liggett! begins at At Liggettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer camps, grades Pre-K through 10 make friends and memories that last a lifetime.

Day Camp Sports Camps Outdoor Adventure Camp Academic Academy Major League All-Sports Camp

Information & registration: uls.org/summerprograms 44 | ul s . org

University Liggett School 2013-14 Board of Trustees

ALUMNI W E E K E N D M AY 15 - 1 7 , 2 0 1 4

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Thursday, May 15, 6 p.m., at University Liggett School Distinguished Alumni Award Ceremony William Shelden Jr. ’68 GPUS

Friday, May 16, at the Country Club of Detroit 8 a.m. Men’s Golf Outing & Lunch at the Turn Non-member Fee $125; $25 for club members plus club rules and fees apply. 11:30 a.m. Ladies Luncheon $35 with open bar

Saturday, May 17, at University Liggett School University Liggett School Tours Main Entrance Lobby 10 – 11:30 a.m. Alumnae Lacrosse Game Athletic Fields 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 5 – 7 p.m. Alumni Cocktail Reception Manoogian Arts Wing $25 with cash bar. Includes school tour, Spring Raffle drawing, Alumni Giving Awards & Class Cup presentation 7 – 9 p.m. Class Reunion Dinners $75 per person

Connie Ahee Elizabeth D. Black ’77, Treasurer Gloria Butler Miller William R. Chapin Shauna Ryder Diggs, M.D. James A. Fitzgerald ’56 GPUS, Secretary Henry Ford III ‘98 Louana E. Ghafari Jason Patrick Hall Atanas Ilitch Gretchen Knoell Lila M. LaHood ‘92 Lindsay S. Moroun Lisa Cracchiolo Peracchio ‘78 Scott A. Reilly Thomas R. Robinson ‘80 Ernestine L. Sanders A. Paul Schaap, Ph.D. Joseph J. Shannon III Lawrence A. Simon, Vice President Jeffrey Smith John W. Stroh III ‘78, President Elizabeth C. Sullivan Beth Van Elslander Wood ‘89 David M. Wu, M.D. ‘83 William H. Yates III Honorary Trustees Cynthia Ford Ruth R. Glancy ‘58 William W. Shelden, Jr. ’68 GPUS

Alumni Board of Governors 2013-14 Alice Wrigley Baetz ’64 LIG Carrie Birgbauer ‘93 Elizabeth Renick Bracher ‘87 Stacy Miller Buhler ‘82 Katy Campbell ‘91 William Canfield ’64 GPUS Ellen Renick Durand ‘79 Craig Durno ‘84 Michael Fozo ‘87 Page Heenan ‘82 Thomas Henry ’61 GPUS Latia Howard ‘03 Amy McDonnell MacKethan ‘82 Abigail McIntyre ‘91 Booth Platt ‘96 Samina Qureshi ‘91 Jane Weaver Reuther ’55 GPUS Robin Harris Russell ’59 GPUS Catherine Sphire Shell ‘79 Pahl Zinn ‘87 Beth Van Elslander Wood ‘89 Anne Hildebrandt Tranchida ‘92

Honoring classes with reunion milestones. Including classes ending in “4” and “9.” P ERSP ECTIVE Spr in g 2014 | #

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #2439 Detroit, Michigan

UNIVE R SI T Y LI G G E T T S CHO O L 1045 Cook Road, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236-2509

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