Homecoming 2019

50th+ Reunion and 1748 Society Luncheon

Over 80 guests attended the luncheon, held at the DuPont Country Club, honoring alumni celebrating 50+ reunions and thanking members of our 1748 Society, which recognizes planned gifts. This celebration of the Classes of 1969, 1964, 1959, 1954, and 1949 was attended by alumni from around the country. One guest even traveled from Copenhagen!

Guests were welcomed by Head of School Ken Aldridge and Alumni Board Clerk Matt Lang ’08. In his address, Ken highlighted historic events and pop culture in 1969, the class celebrating its 50th reunion. He mentioned the space race and Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon; Nixon’s inauguration, the rise of protests and student uprisings; Western films; Motown music; and Woodstock, to name a few. He talked about life at WFS in 1969 and said, “You were citizens of the world. Through scholarship, discussion, questioning, reflection, and activism, you were doing what Friends students have always done: changing your immediate world and preparing to enter the larger one.”

The featured speakers from the 50th reunion class were Bruce Baganz ’69 and Peter Isakoff ’69. Both expressed gratitude for their Friends School education, acknowledging the people–the faculty/staff and their peers–who made their positive experiences possible, as well as the strong foundation of academics and values that were provided. Peter said:

A few words to express my appreciation for all Friends School has meant to me over the past 63 years.

Although I most definitely did not realize it during the 13 years I spent here–youth is wasted on the young–I have come to appreciate the tremendous foundation Friends School provided for my later education at Columbia College and Law School and my entire legal career. Not only did it teach fundamental skills and work habits, but did it in a way that opened our minds and curiosity.

I have also come to appreciate the genuineness and decency of the people who taught us, and those we went to school with.

And for me, Friends School provided the most important thing in my life, my marriage eight years ago to our classmate, Jill Pryor. I could not be more grateful.

Jill and I are looking forward to a wonderful weekend with all of our classmates who are able to be here today.

Thank you.

Bruce also spoke about the strong foundation provided by WFS and said, “WFS guided us in education and values. Our class has excelled in career and life

choices: law, science, the academy, the arts, teaching, banking, business, medicine, and raising families. This WFS foundation of core abilities to organize, analyze, write and communicate permitted some to materially redirect interests at various times in our lives.” Bruce recounted how several classmates, including himself, pursued one career, only to change their mind later on, and pursue another profession. He acknowledged the special bond his classmates shared, noting that more than a dozen of the Class of 1969 started together in kindergarten, and he also dedicated a moment of silence to those in their class who have passed away. Bruce closed his remarks by remembering the exceptional faculty that made an impact on the Class of 1969, paying special tribute to Ambrose Short, Sally Longstreth, Ralph Guest, Ted Savery, Violet Richman, Bob Tattersall, and Art Hill. Bruce has a PhD in geology, and his interest in this subject was sparked by Art. He went on to give a special thank you to Art Hill saying, “I don’t want to miss the opportunity to express my gratitude: Mr. Hill, thank you for what you did to stimulate this interest in me. To others in our class – please do not miss the opportunity to express thanks when you can.”

Above: Back Row, Rob Sultzer ’69, Robby Robinson ’69, Bruce Baganz ’69, Jill Pryor Isakoff ’69, Dave Stoddard ’69, Peter Isakoff ’69, Pete Close ’69. Seated, Anne Cooch ’69, David Lauter ’69, Karl Engelmann ’69 .

OPPOSITE PAGE: Top, Bruce Baganz ’69.

Middle, Peter Isakoff ’69.

Bottom, Janice Engelmann, Karl Engelmann ’69, Robby Robinson ’69, David Lauter ’69, Martha Stoddard, David Stoddard ’69, Peter Isakoff ’69, Jill Pryor Isakoff ’69.

ALUMNI FIELD HOCKEY AND SOCCER GAMES

For the third year in a row, Friday evening kicked off with two DOXPQLJDPHVˉHOGKRFNH\DQG soccer. Thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers, both contests were a success again. We are grateful to Alice Zino ’78, Mandy Bartoshesky ’93, Mark Keiper ’82, and Chris Lee ’82 for encouraging their teammates to join them back RQWKHˉHOG

Field Hockey Players Mandy Bartoshesky ’93 Stephanie Bonnes ’04 Colleen Farrell ’04 Abby Hughes-Strange ’04 Cara LoFaro ’04 Kelly O’Donnell ’93 Trelly Vergara Shaikh ’89 Sarah Singleton Turick ’96 Elena Veale ’14

Soccer Players John Aleman ’84 Rob Brand ’89 Jack Coons ’18 Michael Dalton ’05 Julian deOliveira ’12 Wes Dinsel ’89 Brent Feldmann ’94 JC Finizio, parent Mark Gressle ’68 Jamie Harper ’14 Chris Lee ’82 Michael Longwill ’82 Stephen Malone ’84 Liam O’Donnell, parent Max Pickles ’18 Jarrett Rademaker ’96 Lindsay Rademaker Reinhold ’94 Mike Smith ’97 Scott Smith ’89

True Blue/All Alumni Reunion and Awards Reception

6 Head of School Ken Aldridge, Janet Martin Yabroff ’64, Peter Kelemen ’74, Jeff Palmer ’04, and Alumni Board Clerk Matt Lang ’08.

Our reception on Friday evening of Homecoming weekend was attended by more than 115 friends and featured entertainment by the WFS Jazz Band, led by Chris Verry. This annual event honors our True Blue donors (who have given to the School for 10 or more consecutive years) and our reunioning alumni; a major highlight of the evening is the presentation of the Alumni Awards. In opening the awards program, Ken Aldridge acknowledged the many True Blue donors and alumni in attendance. He expressed gratitude for Friends alumni representing Quaker values in their everyday lives, wherever they may be. Before introducing each alumni award recipient, he mentioned that the award winners “... stand as examples of what distinguishes Friends School graduates: integrity, a commitment to excellence with a responsibility to the common good, and an active valuing of peace and social justice.”

Peter Kelemen ’74 Distinguished Alumnus Award Peter Kelemen is an Earth and Environmental Sciences professor at Columbia University. He has recently worked with a team of scientists to see whether or not a natural scrubbing process can be used to remove greenhouse gases from the Earth’s atmosphere. His research was featured in an April 2018 New York Times article, “How Oman’s Rocks Could Save the Planet.” The article explains that Peter and his team are studying how these rocks remove planet-warming CO 2 from the air and turn it into stone. Peter is an accomplished geoscientist, professor, and researcher, and his work has become increasingly important in resolving global climate change.

Ken introduced Peter by saying, “For most people, the phrase ‘off the beaten path’ is metaphorical, but in Peter Kelemen’s journey to becoming an Earth and Environmental Sciences professor at Columbia University, it was very often literal.” Peter showed an interest in the outdoors from a young age. As a middle school student at Friends, on

the advice of English teacher Phil Fitzpatrick, Peter, and a few friends, spent two weeks of completely unsupported wilderness travel by canoe in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota and southern Canada. Then, in upper school, Peter became a Student Conservation Association volunteer, working on a trail crew in North Cascades National Park, a trip he credits with setting his life’s course. During his remarks, Peter reflected positively on both these experiences and credited his teachers at WFS with encouraging him to pursue both trips. He also remembered the importance of meeting for worship, and Rick Reynolds’ Peace and Social Justice class in the spring of his senior year, during the Vietnam War.

At Dartmouth, Peter swerved from the beaten path, again and again, taking quarters off from school to climb in Peru and Colorado, and after graduating with a degree in Earth Science, he joined a consulting company some friends had started that specialized in “extreme terrain mineral exploration,” work he continued to do–disappearing into the wilderness periodically–throughout his doctoral program at the University of Washington.

Again and again, Peter chose to abandon the straight and direct path for the wilder, steeper, more winding one, a process he describes as following “exciting opportunities as they presented themselves, with some effort to make sure that the experiences [he] gained from these adventures was cumulative rather than random.” When asked for a quote to summarize his remarks, Peter said, “...I would have liked to share some thoughts about the future, how people may rise to the challenge of climate change and the energy transition, even while addressing many longdeferred social problems, but as I began to compose a talk focusing on my gratitude for my Friends experience, I realized there just wasn’t going to be sufficient time left for other topics. So … thank you, Friends School. Now, let’s focus on the future!”

Janet Martin Yabroff ’64 Outstanding Service Award Janet Yabroff credits her experiences at WFS with shaping her as a person and inspiring her to pursue a career in education. As Ken said in his remarks, “The 1964 Friends School yearbook describes Janet Martin as organized and artistic, with a love of children, a devotion to community, and an air of implacable calm. So it is perhaps not surprising that Janet Martin Yabroff has dedicated most of her adult life to education, specifically to Quaker education.” She worked as a teacher, administrator, and consultant and specialized in early childhood education. Janet was a faculty member in the WFS lower school for several years. Two of her children, McKenzie Jones ’97 and Amanda Jones ’02, attended WFS as well. She is an engaged volunteer and generous supporter of WFS, as well as several other organizations in the area including Cab Calloway School and St. Michael’s School. Janet is also a minister and has a Stephanie Bonnes ’04, Jeff Palmer ’04, Colleen Farrell ’04, Abby Hughes-Strange ’04, an Joe Hartnett ’04

passion for working directly with people in need, and to help them in a variety of ways. She is a loyal supporter of WFS–a True Blue donor and member of the 1748 Society–and we are grateful for all she does for our community and the greater Wilmington area.

Upon accepting her award, Janet expressed her immense gratitude for being at WFS for “13 wonderful years!” She credits the School with providing a foundation for her to pursue her interests as a musician, artist, pastor, and volunteer, and is especially grateful for the opportunity to help restart the endowment fund at Cab Calloway School for the Arts. She closed her remarks with, “I hope to keep ‘shakin it!’ for many years to come!”

Jeffrey Palmer ’04 Young Alumnus of the Year Jeffrey Palmer is currently an assistant district attorney for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit. Jeff’s work focuses on prosecuting sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence. Prior to becoming an ADA, Jeff served Biddy Jenkins’51

in the Marine Corps for eight years, advocating for survivors of sexual assault as a prosecutor and later with the Victims Legal Counsel Organization. In his introduction, Ken said, “Jeff’s legal knowledge and his acute sense of justice are matched with an equally strong compassion for victims.” Determined that the Marine Corps should live up to its credo of “taking care of our own,” he prosecuted over 50 sexual assault cases. After leaving active duty, Jeff was recruited to return to the Victims Legal Counsel Organization in the Marine Corps Reserve. Ken closed his introduction by saying, “We are grateful for Jeffrey’s tenacity, skill, and empathy in pursuing justice and in empowering victims.”

The 24th Annual Smith McMillan 5K Run & Walk

Wilmington Friends School kicked off Homecoming festivities on Saturday morning with the 24th annual Smith McMillan Memorial 5K, held in memory of Jonathan Bacon Smith ’83 and Wendy Smith McMillan ’77. It was a beautiful morning, and more than $12,000 was raised to benefit the Financial Aid Endowment at Friends. A tremendous thank you to all our sponsors and participants, and a special thank you to our co-chairs, Katy Connolly and Amanda Singleton Hay ’95, as well as race director, Jon Clifton ’80. This event would not be possible without their support and our wonderful SM5K Committee.

Thank you to our generous planning committee and donors

Aldridge Family Anderson Family Bilek Family Chapman Family Connolly Family Forester Family Arteaga-Lopenza/ Gardner Family Gatti Family Handling Family Hay Family Hollingsworth Family Kelley Family Knight Family Legum Family Townsend-Raber Family Turick Family :)6%XVLQHVV2IˉFH

2019 division winners Overall Male: Thomas Connelly ’14 Overall Female: Aubrey Nisbet ’23 Top Male Alumni: Thomas Connelly ’14 Top Female Alumni: Meredith Erskine ’13 Top Male Staff: Cav Salvadori ’13 Top Female Staff: Rebecca Zug

6WXGHQWDJHWRSˉQLVKHUV Male 8 and under - Miguel-Angel Gardner ’29, Harrison Powers ’29, Taj Amobi ’32 Male 9-10 - Jake Maheshwari ’27, Nash Maheshwari ’27, Ninaad Vidwans ’27 )HPDOH6RˉD'DWWDQLȠ Male 11-12 - Nathan Bell ’26, Dylan MacBride ’27, Cooper Strauss ’26 Female 11-12 - Daniela Cristanetti-Walker ’26 Male 13-14 - Matthew Morrison ’25, Carter Fenimore ’25, Sameer Vidwans ’23 Female 13-14 - Keeleigh Doss ’24, Ellie Driscoll ’25, Avery Elliott ’24 0DOH.\OH1LVEHWȠ0D[/HIˊHUȠ+HQU\:LHPDQȠ Female 15-16 - Caroline Vanderloo ’22, Rebecca Hartwick ’23 Male 17-19 - Connor Nisbet ’19, Harry Anderson ’20, Mike McKenzie Jr. ’19 Female 17-19 Aine Grubb ’21, Hannah Blackwell ’20, Remy Stewart ’20

Alpine and Rafetto Orthodontics Baby’s Coffee Brew HaHa Connolly Gallagher Dalton Trial and Appellate Counsel Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists EDiS Edward Jones The Flying Locksmiths Giant Incyte Jamie Nicholls & Fran Biondi ’83 Jon Clifton ’80 Long and Foster Mandy Miles Nowland Associates, Inc. PNC Service Unlimited, Inc. Sir Speedy Talleyville Fire Company The Connolly Family The Kelley Family USATF Voith & Mactavish Architects