Healing From Within

Robert Friesen ’71 and Bob Vickers ’71 celebrate Bobby’s birthday in Chicago.

David Holzman ’71 and his dog, Natalie, running along the beach on Cape Cod.

although I do miss the day-today partnering with executives to address strategic and innovation challenges and may seek a project or two in the future. Seriously, think about my look from sophomore year. Was the first thought in your head, “He’s going to love working with the leaders of corporate America?” Our 50th reunion of ‘71 + Friends will most certainly be delayed for a year. Class members overwhelmingly opted for an in-person event and I am not foolish enough to try to reverse the tide.

David Holzman ’71: My two favorite personal essays got published this year. Google “Heeding her invitation six decades later,” a story about my mother and me, and “’60s summer Peugeot 404,” which is my version of “A La Recherche du Temps Perdue” (in search of lost time), the 404 being my madeleine that brings back the year in France. Besides that, I wrote a lot about HIV, COVID-19, microbiology, and pain medicine, and other medically related stuff for various clients, including Harvard Medical School. My dog, Natalie, a border collie, and I have probably run around 800-900 miles this year, mostly in Beaver Brook Reservation, but some on the Cape this fall. And I’ve had fun interacting with classmates on Facebook and a little bit via zoom. I’m hoping I will see you in person for our 50th in 2021.

Ssanyu Birigwa ’95 is an indigenous bone healer, Ugandan shaman, and narratologist. She describes her work as an endeavor to “bring in the intersectionality of how our stories are embedded into the ways in which we show up in life, and how is it that we can attune to these narratives that live in our bones, and in our bodies.”

As the CSW community and so many around the world find themselves burdened with elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and tension, we asked Ssanyu to share strategies for slowing down and making space.

Set Intentions

Ignite a daily practice that’s going to propel you forward into the day with a positive attitude. One way to do that is to set an intention. Your intention could be to be kinder to yourself, to be a better listener, to rest when you feel tired, or not to judge yourself or others. “We’re all energy,” says Ssanyu. “There’s energy around us, we are energy, it propels that into the world. The universe can’t help but to conspire to make that intention be what it is.”

Remember to Breathe

Take a deep breath in and exhale out. Bring your hands to your heart and feel your heartbeat, your aliveness. Concentrating on your breathing will allow you to slow down.

Practice Gratitude

Develop a regular routine for acknowledging all that is good in your life. Keep a dedicated journal by your bed and write down five to ten things you are grateful for. It can be simple, Ssanyu says — I’m grateful my refrigerator works; I’m grateful that I have clean water to drink; I’m grateful I can walk.

Show Up for Yourself and Commit

“I’m East African. We drink coffee, I like my coffee,” says Ssanyu. “But if I can commit to making my coffee every day, why can’t I commit to just making an intention?” As you seek to integrate self-care into your life, allow yourself to start small, and be consistent. As habits form, and you begin to feel the benefits, you can then start to expand your practice.

Learn more about Ssanyu’s work and practice at www.letgoandletlove.com and follow her on Instagram at @ssanyubonehealer.

Andy Ruina ’71: Andy was featured in Ithaca Times in July 2020. The article touched on Andy’s history in Ithaca and the many ways he and his family give back to the community. In repsonse to the pandemic, one of Andy’s social justice projects, The Bryant Avenue Sewing Group, made over 4,000 face masks for healthcare workers and migrant farm workers in the area.

Jane Ira Bloom ’72: I participated in an online fundraiser in July 2020 called, “Live From Our Living Rooms Creative Summit & Fundraiser” for musicians in need.

Lissa Castillo ’73: Greetings, all. I am living in Northampton now, in Western Massachusetts. I set out to seek my fortune for the second time nearly ten years ago. The first time, back in 1977, I was in an on again/off again relationship with Michael Coffey, traveling (sometimes together) back and forth across the country for several years. I/we lived in Madison, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle. (In SLC and Seattle I/we lived with Yda Smith ’73 briefly). I had the idea to make papier mache masks for my living, which proved impractical, so I took various temp jobs in factories, restaurants, cafeterias and whatever other opportunities came my way. Mostly food service. In 1980 we had our first child, and our wandering days were over; or, at least limited to Eastern Massachusetts. Our firstborn child, Vernon, grew up and joined the circus; in 1987 we had George, who grew up and headed to Hollywood to do stand-up comedy, and in 1991 we had William, who grew up and headed off to the woods, (the Appalachian Trail, and others). So when the kids got all grown, I set out for my second round of autonomous pursuits (augmented by day-jobs), and I’m trying to crank up my craft-making operations, and make more art again. Michael is doing his own thing, growing vegetables and maintaining trails on conservation land in Central Massachusetts (and good luck to him). I am sharing a living space with my very first best friend, Erinn Ervin (her older brother, Stephen Ervin ’69, went to CSW). Erinn and I were practically inseparable from toddlerhood ’til puberty, and are together again after menopause. Currently, my day-job is dishwasher and prep cook at Belly of the Beast, www.bellyofthebeastma.com, a small, unique restaurant in downtown Northampton. Belly has been here for almost four years, vigorously striving to run a no-waste kitchen. Butchering whole animals in-house, making our own bacon, ham, pastrami and sausage (also known as a great restaurant for vegans). We try to utilize every bit of vegetables, animals, and other food ingredients, source sustainable products, and recycle or compost as much of our waste as we can. Currently, due to the pandemic, all the food is served via take-out or delivery. The sales dropped to an unsustainable level, but an exciting collaborative venture has breathed new hope: a group of indigenous chefs, seed savers, and knowledge keepers: www.icollectiveinc. org. It’s lovely to work with new personnel, new menus, and cooking techniques. The I-Collective members have traveled to Northampton from Seattle, Michigan, New Mexico, and Oaxaca. The Oaxacan Mixteco chef, a founding member of the I-Collective, has lived locally for many years; all other cooks who traveled from afar underwent stringent testing and quarantining before physically entering our workspace. I am making the tortillas for Taco Sundays, a skill I learned from my grandmother at an early age. It is a full-time job for the day, 300+ tortillas in 5 hours of service, but they are so very fresh and tasty, superior to the alternative (commercially made) version. Belly of the Beast is applying for (more) PPP loans and grants, and the I-Collective has had a GoFund-Me campaign to help out, but the collaboration ended at the start of 2021. It remains to be seen if Belly will be forced to shutter their doors due to the pandemic. We hope the grants come through (please, let your congresspeople know that more funding should go to the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation Small Business Grant Program! As it is, only 9% of the overwhelming number of applicants will receive much needed funds). It is hard enough to create a successful eatery in the best of times, and these are not those. But enough about my employers. In general I feel lucky to have good health, loving family, and to maintain connections with many CSW friends and acquaintances through social media. I’m enjoying making art, and look forward to increasing my connections with other creative people. My latest series of work is: “Fully functional art masks” and pandemic puppets. You can see some of my artwork at www.facebook.com/ Lyssamasks. Good health and fortune to all reading this!

Lissa Castillo ’73 working with collegues at Belly of the Beast and two friends modeling her papier-mâché masks.

William “Billy” Rising ’79:

After living overseas in American Samoa, Guam, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia for the past 33 years, Billy has repatriated to the U.S. He is now living with his wife, Celeste, in Alexandria, Virginia, and working in international relations for FreeportMcMoRan Inc. He continues to be in regular contact with

Nevin Shalit ’79, Frank Araby ’79, Karen Ascheim Wysopal ’80, Edith Lockhart

DiFrancesco ’81, and Kevin Redmond ’81, and would love to reconnect with others!

1980s

Lelia Elliston ’80: From the Weston Town Crier newspaper: Elliston Farm on South Avenue has a noble history. Bill Elliston, a Children’s Hospital orthopedic surgeon, and his wife Harriet Elliston ’22, an anthropologist, loved farming and gardening and purchased the property at 263 South Ave. in 1937. They received peonies as gifts from patients and then

Lelia Elliston ’80 and her roadside farm stand.

Isabel Balseiro ‘81’s new book, The Passport That Does Not Pass Ports. Recent books by Dashka Slater ’81.

more peonies from Weston friends. Later, a director of the Arnold Arboretum gave peonies to the Ellistons, so peonies soon became a hallmark of Elliston Farm, where bouquets were for sale out front on South Avenue. It’s worth noting the Ellistons were active in supporting the Roxbury Weston program, a precursor to Weston’s METCO. Lelia Elliston moved to Weston in 1985 to help Harriet after Bill’s death. She has found the property a labor of love that she now shares with her life partner, Suzanne Hecker, a social worker. Lelia’s day job is business analyst at State Street Corporation. Out on the street an upright umbrella is a signal to passersby that flowers are for sale and sometimes herbs, potted plants, and extra vegetables. Lelia says sales at the stand are by the honor system, with some people now paying through Venmo, a phone app. The Facebook page is “Elliston Farm.” Customers often leave notes that Lelia and Suzanne treasure, notes that now are under magnets on their refrigerator.

Isabel Balseiro ’81: Isabel recently published a new book, The Passport That Does Not Pass Ports: African Literature of Travel in the Twenty-First Century, edited by Isabel and Zachariah Rapola (Michigan State UP, Fall 2020). Dashka Slater ’81: What a strange year it’s been! I had a busy year of travel planned with two books released in 2020 (The Book of Fatal Errors, a middle grade fantasy novel, and A Book for Escargot, the standalone sequel to my picture book, Escargot), but 2020 had other plans. Instead, I’ve been at home busily working on new books and hoping next year will allow me to promote them. Ways of staying sane include texting through the weirdness with Karen Wysopal ’80, Edith Lockhart DiFrancesco ’81, and Kevin Redmond ’81, and fighting the sense of the walls closing in by swimming in San Francisco Bay. This is my first winter as an open water swimmer and I’m completely obsessed. The pandemic has brought many of us former pool swimmers into the wild and we have our own lively cult as we endlessly discuss such topics as “acceptable levels of hypothermia” and “seals: how close is too close?” I hope everyone is well!

Angus Kerr ’81: Greetings to all! I hope this finds you safe and happy. After 30 years as a special education teacher in Harlem and Washington Heights, NYC, I retired September 5, 2019. I was blessed, avoiding the COVID pandemic in schools that took so many of us. My wife, Tomoko, is still designing for Coach and we live between NYC and Newport, Rhode Island. However, with the pandemic, I am in Rhode Island studying Tai Chi. I miss you all and think of you often.

Ray Tamaddon ’81: I have discovered recently that all I need to practice law from anywhere on the planet — including making court appearances, taking depositions, and participating in meetings — is a reliable WiFi. My daughter completed her first college semester 400 miles away from her college town in her bedroom. In light of all this, I would love a remote Class of 1981 reunion!

Seth Jacobs ‘82’s new book. Rebecca Parkhill ’85 and Metrowest Womens Fund co-founder Rachel Sagan.

Koh Kozuru ’21 at the piano with Joan Gitlow Tina D’Elia ’87’s critically acclaimed show “Overlooked Latinas.”

Seth Jacobs ’82: My fourth book, Rogue Diplomats: The Proud Tradition of Disobedience in American Foreign Policy, was just published by Cambridge University Press. The reviews thus far have been great!

Rebecca Parkhill ’85: I recently started a new social venture that supports women and girls from low incomes in Metrowest Boston. We focus on education, safety from violence, and girls, our next generation. So far we’ve given out grants of over $43,000 in the community. Our website is www.metrowestwomensfund. com. I’d love to hear from any CSW alumni/ae who are interested in supporting this work. Thank you!

Jeff Hayes ’86 and Niho

Kozuru ’86: Niho and I brought Koh Kozuru ’21, who is a CSW student since 2019, with his family to meet Joan Gitlow and her husband, Ben, in Wellfleet in 2008. Ben was an engineer who worked on parts for the Space Shuttle, and plays fascinating improvisational piano. He encouraged Koh to improvise instead of play the song he had been practicing. Koh is five-years-old here (see photo) and was quite accomplished already.

Tina D’Elia ’87: Tina recently received a great review in the San Francisco Chronicle of her solo show “Overlooked Latinas” presented by Theatre Rhinoceros: “When Tina D’Elia performed her solo show Overlooked Latinas at Brava Theater Center last year, the piece thrummed with potential. She showed a flair for farce; an ability to define character with gesture — a grimace, say, or sashay — and a strong social conscience. Part of the mission of her play, and the TV-pilotwithin-her-play, is to give trailblazing Latina movie stars — Dolores del Rio, Rosaura Revueltas and Lupe Velez, among others — their due. So it’s galvanizing to see the piece return, this time under the auspices of Theatre Rhinoceros, one of the most prolific producers of pandemic-era digital theater. Somehow, the company — which bills itself as the world’s longest-running LGBTQ theater — has already produced 33 online shows this year. Overlooked Latinas has been updated for a web presentation, among other revisions.”

1990s

Simi Ravven ’95: I recently started a position as Chief Medical Officer at Howard Center, a social service and mental health services agency in Burlington, Vermont. I started my term as president of the Vermont Medical Society in November and worked with the medical society to focus on physician activism and health equity for the annual meeting. I continue to serve on the faculty at Yale School of Medicine in the Division of Law & Psychiatry, working with forensic psychiatry trainees. I live in Putney, Vermont, with my husband, Tim, and daughters, Lucy (9), and Yael (5), who both love art and ice skating. Would love to see them at CSW when they are older!

Erica Hruby ’96 has been named editorial director at Leonardo/The International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology. For more than three years, she has managed development of Leonardo/ ISAST’s academic, peerreviewed print periodicals, Leonardo Journal and Leonardo Music Journal, published by MIT Press. In her new role she will build on her 20 years of publishing experience to expand Leonardo/ ISAST’s dissemination in not only print but in multimedia and experimental publications.

Rebecca R. Levy ’97: Rebecca was awarded Art Educator of the Year at the annual Arts Awards hosted by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville. Rebecca sits on the faculty at Florida State College at Jacksonville, where she serves as Director & Professor of Dance.

Through this role, she reaches a number of students through dance and somatics classes. She brings a number of guest artists every year, including the 2020 artist-in-residence, Cleo Parker Robinson. In Partnership with Jacksonville University and Episcopal School of Jacksonville, Cleo restaged her historic work, Check Cashing Day, and brought her Ensemble Company to perform alongside the students. Rebecca also recently earned a “40 Under 40” award from The Jacksonville Business Journal, and was named Outstanding Faculty of the Year in 2016. She was awarded a 2019 Individual Artist Grant by Community First Bank, and a 2020 Community Foundation of Northeast Florida Art Ventures Grant for her new work investigating mental illness, to premiere in 2021. Rebecca is a registered Certified Yoga Instructor, a certified Pilates instructor and dabbles in aerial acrobatics.

Peter Macquart-Moulin ’98:

Thank you to CSW for the adorable Gryphon onesie they sent in January 2019! I think it may be a little small for my son now (see photo), but I have a daughter on the way so am very pleased that she will have some use for it. Mattie Eisenberg ’99: Hello, everybody. I always love hearing what others are up to and finally got over the hurdle to share myself. In the spring of 2020, I moved to Bend, Oregon. My private practice, Spruce, through which I offer mind body therapy and private meditation instruction went virtual, and I am now seeing people without the limitation of physical distance, which is quite rewarding. The shift to virtual sessions provided this wonderful dissolving of the curtain between the therapy office and the world outside it. I am grateful to the pandemic in that it forced me to overcome fears around shifting how I practiced and be reminded of the ingenuity that is available within loss. I’d be humbled if anyone wanted to take a look at my work and pass on the info to anyone that may be interested. I’d love to connect with anyone else in the healing industry too! www.destianationspruce.com.

2000s

Robin Gordon-Leavitt ’01:

My daughter Rokeya was born in September and has been a joyful presence during this difficult period. I’m living with her and my wife, Sharmeen, in Brooklyn, where I work as a public defender.

Al Halpert-Hanson ’03:

I’m currently in my second year of rabbinical school at Hebrew College in Newton, Massachuetts. However, during COVID times, I have relocated to my beloved Western Massachusetts, where I’ve been farming for the last three seasons. I’m working on a few projects right now centering trans and/or queer identified Jews — specifically a new moon group for Trans Jews and also a Queer Jewish Farmer group with the organization Jewish Farmer Network. I just co-held a Sukkes/ Harvest-time gathering for trans Jews in Western Connecticut and am excited to continue building and growing this kind of community and space. Reach out if you’re interested in being a part of or supporting! Austin Eddy ’05: I recently opened an exhibition of new paintings in Amsterdam at the Althuis Hofland Fine Arts gallery. The paintings derive from a series of drawings made during a recent peek of the pandemic in New York City. The title of the exhibition “Birds at Night” — a variation on the 19th century poem “Birds In The Night” by Paul Verlaine — describes in a poetic manner how I felt the stillness, wonder, and romance of nighttime gave hope and light to the dark matter of daytime reality. This new series of works show a mere introspective view of the moments between dusk and dawn. Symbolizing nocturnes, or odes to the night, longing for better days ahead. Like a bird awaiting the moment to spread its wings and fly away from its cage.

JOIN US FOR REUNION! APRIL 30 – MAY 2, 2021

This year we will host a full weekend of activities in the virtual world. Celebrating this year’s milestone years: 1946, 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016. As always, alumni/ae from all years are welcome! www.csw.org/reunion2021

Sienna Evans ’06 with daughter Juniper and Grandpa Tom.

Artwok by Andy Li ’07.

Sienna Evans ’06: I gave birth to Juniper Anne Evans-Young at 9:27 a.m. on September 19, 2020, just one day after we moved into our new house in Dedham. She weighed 8lbs 4oz and she’s perfect, despite being born in the middle of the pandemic. Grandpa Tom, after quarantining and double negative test results, finally got to see her!

Andy Li ’07: In December 2020, SAMSON X LAMONTAGNE, a collaboration for NADA MIAMI with LaMontagne Gallery, featured Andy’s work. Samson’s mission is to promote the work of emerging, established, and under-recognized artists concentrating on exhibitions of local, national, and international artists.

Molly Weinberg ’07: From giffordhealthcare.org: Molly Weinberg has joined the Behavioral Health team at Gifford Healthcare in Randolph, Vermont. Weinberg, whose clients range in age from four to the elderly, brings a rich background in the arts that she draws from to provide expressive arts therapy. She uses drama, music, art, poetry, and movement to help clients process emotions, express themselves, and increase confidence and self-esteem. “I really bring a sense of play and humor, love to make people laugh, and engage beyond

IN MEMORIUM

Martha Bixler ’44 Bill Driscoll ’46 Lestra Carpe’-Benello ’46 Mathias Striar Hernandez ’20 Mary Ann Marcus ’48 Ann Miller ’51 Rachel Nussbaum Wichert ’91 Frances Powers ’64 Rick Richards ’52 Ann Robbins ’61 Becca Schmill ’20 Tom Sullivan ’70 Gerard Swope ’52

the usual talk therapy,” said Weinberg, who was drawn to a career in counseling after experiencing firsthand how the arts benefitted her during challenging times. “For some people, sometimes it’s difficult to express with words. Through storytelling, role-play, improvisation, and using the voice and body, they can come to a deeper understanding of themselves and their goals and dreams.” Weinberg’s other clinical interests include mindfulness-based stress reduction, chronic illness and mental health, body image, and family therapy.

2010s

Josh Glass ’15: Between October 2018 and October 2020 I co-founded a foundation in Maastricht, The Netherlands, called The Treehouse. The Treehouse is a social coffeehouse, holy-hideout, and event space supporting emotional integrity, strong community, and light-heartedness. We were nominated with three others out of 500 applicants for a 2019 Sustainable Tuesday Social Innovation Award at the Dutch Parliament.

Jess Jaena ’15: This past year I graduated from New York University with my master’s in social work! Then. a few weeks ago, I passed my LMSW exam and am a licensed social worker.

Marcel Santiago ’17: Marcel recently joined CSW Dance Department Chair Nailah Randall-Bellinger’s “Contemporary Movement” class to offer a master workshop on crafting dance. Marcel discovered his love for concert dance while he was a student at CSW. Since graduating in 2017, he has gone on to pursue a dance career. Now a senior at University of the Arts in Philadelphia (BFA candidate 2021), Marcel has performed and studied in Paris and Spain, as well as various cities throughout the U.S. In 2019, Marcel served as Nailah’s assistant choreographer for the Broadway musical Ragtime, presented at the Wheelock Family Theater. A well-versed dancer, Marcel uses modern, contemporary, as well as traditional Puerto Rican movements to craft his choreography.

Phoebe Einzig-Roth ’18: In 2018, Phoebe was turned away from the voting polls. Poll workers claimed she was not born in the United States, despite the fact that she produced three types of identification proving otherwise. Her story of voter suppression has been shared through several media outlets, including The New York Times Magazine and the flim Suppressed: The Fight to Vote.

2020s

Charlie von Peterffy ’20:

I am currently attending Emerson College as a media studies major. I plan to narrow down my field later on by becoming either a major in screenplay or directorial skills, but I am unsure of what major these positions fall under or when I will switch.

This past year, the Class of 2020 suffered the heartbreaking loss of two classmates. Notes from their families to the CSW community are shared below.

Rebecca Mann Schmill

’20 was a beautiful and caring person with a gift for making those around her feel loved and appreciated. Her passion for life and vibrant spirit were hallmarks of her personality. She was funny, adventurous, and determined, and had a smile that lit up a room. We are grateful for each moment we had with her, and while her passing at such a young age leaves a void in our hearts, we will forever carry with us the memories of her kind and loving nature. Becca had an innate sense of equity and fairness that led her to become involved in issues of social justice. Four years ago, Becca traveled to Opatoro, Honduras, as part of a medical brigade led by Community Health Partnership-Honduras (CHPH), an organization founded by friends of our family. This experience had a profound effect on her understanding of the world and her passion for helping others. CHPH has created a fund in Becca’s memory that is already being used to provide access to life-changing surgeries for children and adults in Honduras. Becca’s memory can be honored through a donation to this fund either online at www.chp-honduras.org or by phone at (508) 237-1384.

Mathias Javier Striar

Hernández ’20 had a smile and energy that lit up the room, and he brightened our lives. Mathias knew he was deeply loved. He loved deeply right back. Mathias was curious and engaged by the many strands of his identity: the Salvadoran, Norwegian and Jewish. Racism, xenophobia, discrimination, inequality, and insensitivity pained Mathias. He identified these unfortunate elements as soon as he saw them and they affected him deeply, especially when they were directed towards people who were defenseless. Mathias worked diligently and consistently to overcome his illness, most intensively over the past two years. He was aware and saddened that other adolescents battled similar challenges, and he was grateful that he was able to receive adequate mental health treatment. He wrote his college essay about his desire to pursue a career that would help address the crisis in adolescent mental illness. We were in awe of how hard he tried every possible avenue and approach to improve both his physical health and his mental health. Mathias was especially proud of his parents’ work within the immigrant community, particularly with undocumented students and their families. He communicated this from a very early age, and his conviction deepened over time. If you would like to give in memory of Mathias’s life, KIND (Kids In Need of Defense) is doing invaluable work in this area.