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t h e a lu m n a e & co m m u n it y mag az i n e of k ath e ri n e d e lmar b u rk e s ch oo l
THIRD GRADE ART Japanese family crests made by Burke’s third graders
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WINTER 2013-14
BE N ICIA GANTN E R ’84
Scaffolding + Sky (2010) at the San Jose Museum of Art
B E N I C I A ’ S S I T E - S P E C I F I C I N S TA L L AT I O N , called Scaffolding + Sky (2010),
is on display at the San Jose Museum of Art. Her artwork surrounds the elevator on the Museum’s second floor skybridge. The whimsical scene is made of vinyl that Benicia cut by hand and by computer. • The vinyl landscapes are saturated with color and filled with both abstract and recognizable natural forms. She has said of her work: “These imagined spaces are like flashes of a dream, or déjà vu—both familiar and alien, shaped by the specificity of my own observations of the natural world and the drive to conjure new spaces to explore.” • Benecia received a degree in studio art and religion from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine and an MFA in printmaking from the Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Her work has been featured in exhibitions at the Oakland Museum of California and the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery. • To view more of her work, visit www.beniciagantner.com.
In This Issue ay
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Opening Shots....................... Snapshots from Burke’s A Word From Michele.......... Message from Head of School
t h e a lu m n a e & co m m u n it y mag az i n e of k ath e ri n e d e lmar b u rk e s ch o o l
Burke’s mission is to educate, encourage and empower girls. Our school combines academic excellence with an appreciation for childhood so that students thrive as learners, develop
Buzz At Burke’s .................... Fall 2013 - Winter 2014 Events and Happenings at Burke’s Graduation............................. Classes of 2009 and 2013 Destinations Pansy Day .............................. Alumnae Luncheon..............
a strong sense of self, contribute to community, and fulfill their potential, now and throughout life.
KayDeeBee is produced by Burke’s Development and Communications Office
Distinguished Alumna......... Nancy Bibbero Cherney ’70 Class Notes............................. Alumnae Class Notes and In Memoriam Back in the Day..................... From the Archives Supporting Burke’s............... Ways You Can Give To Burke’s
selena shadle
Director of Development selena@kdbs.org john galayda
Director of Communications john@kdbs.org
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conor ryan tung
Alumnae Relations & Special Events Manager conor@kdbs.org jenny hogg
Annual Fund and Database Manager jenny.h@kdbs.org
design by owl in a tree www.owlinatree.com
on the cover In conjunction with their language arts unit on personal identity, third graders studied symbols and logos across cultures last year. Specifically, they examined the art of the Japanese Mons, which are Japanese family crests. In art teacher Yara Herman’s classroom, each student created her own Mon using a natural symbol or a motif, repeated multiple times in a circular pattern to create a unique design. Students transferred their patterns onto silk hoops and learned the art of silk painting.
SNAKE ANTS AT A PICNIC The Lower School Picnic was held on September 20, 2013 on the school’s front lawn. The picnic tradition ended with the all-inclusive “Snake Dance,” which requires everyone to form a giant snake slithering around the lawn. The dance is done once each participant has walked by every other person. To view more images, visit bit.ly/kdb-winter13-picnic.
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OPENING SHOTS
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DIG, SET, SPIKE! Members of the Varsity Gold Fir Volleyball Team play a set against Lycée Francais on November 5, 2013. For a recap of the Fall 2013 Athletics season at Burke’s, visit page 13.
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OPENING SHOTS
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Robot Menagerie Students work on a robotics project in the Makery Up workshop this past fall. The Makery, a play off of “bakery,” is equipped with two labs that are not restricted to certain grade levels, but are used in relation to the nature of the projects the girls are working on. “Makery Down” (bottom floor workshop) is more media based, while “Makery Up” (top floor workshop) is more construction/building based. Visit www.burkes21st.org for the latest Makery news.
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OPENING SHOTS
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A Day at the Opera Sixth graders take a bow following a mini-opera performance in the gym with members of the San Francisco Opera Guild on November 5. The “Opera à la Carte” performance featured a 45-minute adaptation of Gioachino Rossini’s comic opera The Barber of Seville. Several Burke’s girls had speaking roles in the opera.
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OPENING SHOTS
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HEAD OF SCHOOL
GREETINGS FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL
Michele Williams Dear Burke’s Community, Burke’s is a place where learning is fun, and I am reminded of that every morning when I see our girls skipping down the driveway on their way into school. In classrooms, smiles and laughter are abundant and plenty, along with the spontaneous wonder and delightful curiosity that our talented teachers bring out in every child. And then, there are the high-fives—that triumphant gesture of accomplishment— that follow the small victories of the day here: a completed project in our Makery workshop, a scored basket in the gymnasium or a proud bow on stage to a standing ovation at the end of a school play. As you read through the following pages, you will discover that a great deal has happened on campus since our last issue was published. You’ll also learn about the many achievements of our alumnae—proof of the boundless possibilities that come from a Burke’s education. In closing, I am elated that our community is embarking on the planning and execution of a new strategic plan—a vital step in providing a 21st century education. For any school to flourish for 106 years, its mission and vision must transcend the short-lived trends that that are inevitably encountered over the span of 11 decades. Burke’s has thrived for the last century because the work we do is transformational in girls’ lives. Through educating, encouraging and empowering girls, we are each so lucky to be a part of an institution whose work is driven by that simple, yet powerful, mission. Sincerely,
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BUZZ BURKE’S E V E N T S A N D G AT H E R I N G S • FA L L 2 0 1 3
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Lower School Picnic sept. 20, 2013
The Lower School Picnic was held on the school’s front lawn. The picnic tradition ended with the all-inclusive “Snake Dance,” which requires everyone to form a giant snake slithering around the lawn. View more picnic photos at bit. ly/kdb-winter13picnic. PHOTOS 7-10
First Day of School sept. 3, 2013
A foggy September 3 morning kicked off the 106th school year at Burke’s. Head of School Michele Williams and Lower School Head Alice Moore greeted families outside the school gates after students took first day photos in front of the school sign on California Street. View more first day photos at bit.ly/kdbwinter13-firstday. PHOTOS 6, 8
S.F. Shakespeare Festival
Family Festival Oct. 19, 2013
Oct. 17, 2013
The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival’s “Shakespeare on Tour” Troupe performed an abridged version of Julius Caesar for Upper School students in the school’s Gym. Several Burke’s girls were chosen from the crowd to participate. View more performance photos at bit.ly/kdbwinter13-shakespeare. PHOTO 9
Parents, students, alumnae, faculty, staff and members of our local community celebrated Burke’s during the 82nd annual Family Festival, themed “Past, Present and Future.” Thank you to Festival co-chairs Dodie Sutro Crawford and Stephanie Bailey, and all who volunteered their time and talents, to make this event a success. View more Festival photos at bit.ly/festivalphotos2013 • Images from the family portrait booth can be found at bit. ly/burkes-portraits. PHOTOS 5, 11-15, 18, 19, 24
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Food Pantry at Richmond District Neighborhood Center Multiple Dates
Each Thursday, RDNC provides food for more than 300 Richmond District households through a farmer’s market approach in an inner courtyard. Once a month, throughout the school year, one Burke’s grade hosts a food pantry distribution at the Center. PHOTOS 20, 26
On the Playing Fields Volleyball
Cross Country
After a very successful regular season, all five of Burke’s league teams qualified for playoffs. The Varsity Green, Varsity Gold Willow and JV Gold teams earned top seeds in their respective championship tournaments, while the JV Green and Varsity Gold Fir teams earned second seeds in their playoffs. In SFAL quarterfinal action at Burke’s, the Varsity Gold Fir team defeated Lycée Francais, JV Gold defeated SF School and Varsity Gold Willow defeated SF School. The three teams advanced to the semifinals hosted at Burke’s.
Led by coaches Whitney Marsh and Susan Deemer, the cross country team capped off a successful season with an impressive showing at the SFAL Championship meet at the Polo Grounds. In the fifth/sixth grade division race, Burke’s girls claimed the top four spots and dominated the field with a total of five runners in the top ten leading to a team title in the SFAL. In the seventh and eighth grade division race, Burke’s had only five runners competing, but they all finished in the top 25, including a second place finish. Overall, Burke’s finished in second place in the team standings, just five points behind SF Friends. The Burke’s team competed in the BAIAL championship meet at Lindley Meadow on October 28 and finished third overall as a team, just points behind second place-Hamlin.
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Halloween Parade Oct. 31, 2013
From devils to angels, and princesses to pirates, Burke’s girls (and not to mention our faculty and staff) truly displayed their creativity and spirit! View more Halloween photos at bit.ly/kdbwinter13-halloween. PHOTO 4, 19, 22
San Francisco Opera Comes to Burke’s Nov. 5, 2013
Sixth graders joined members of the San Francisco Opera Guild during a mini-opera performance in the gym. The “Opera à la Carte” performance featured a 45-minute adaptation of Gioachino Rossini’s comic opera The Barber of Seville. Several Burke’s girls had speaking roles in the opera. PHOTO 23
Blend Dinner Nov. 12, 2013
The Parents’ Association and the Faculty/Staff Inclusivity and Community Building Committees hosted an all-school family potluck event to celebrate the incredible diversity within our school. Building unity through our diversity, this BLEND event was a great opportunity for members of the Burke’s community to get to know one another over food and conversation. View more dinner photos at bit.ly/ kdb-winter13-blend.
Burke’s Gives Back Family Work Day Nov. 17, 2013
Over 80 Burke’s community members worked side-by-side to prepare an overgrown lot adjacent to the Richmond District Neighborhood Center (RDNC) to receive a community garden. View more work photos at bit.ly/kdb-winter13workday. PHOTO 1-2
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Third Grade Play
Book Drive
Element Day
Dec. 5, 2013
Dec. 13, 2013
Dec. 16, 2013
The Third Grade performed an original play called The Dreamer’s Dream, written by teacher Nancy Gold. It is the story of a girl, Winnie, who is a litterbug and how she learns to maintain and protect the environment by changing her “evil waste.” A video of the performance can be viewed at bit.ly/kdbwinter13-grade3play.
Burke’s community came together to support the school’s first Annual “Share a Favorite” Book Drive. Each student brought a beloved book to donate to a peer participant in the Richmond District Neighborhood Center’s need-based after school programs. In all, 930 books were donated, which was nearly double the initial goal.
In its 15th year, Element Day at Burke’s featured the seventh graders dressed in full costume as an element from the periodic table. The girls prepared homemade costumes from reclaimed and recycled materials that reflected 15+ properties of their element. These properties included, but were not limited to, electron configuration, reactivity, material science, classification as metal, nonmetal, or metalloid, and many unusual, and often unknown, uses! View photos at bit.ly/kdb-winter13-element.
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Lower School Holiday Sing Dec. 19, 2013
Holiday Sing is both a prepared and spontaneous, participatory event where all attendees are invited to sing along, Ms. Mandlestein and the fourth graders chose a seasonal mix of old favorites and new tunes celebrating the diversity of holiday traditions in our community. View more concert photos at bit.ly/kdb-winter13holidaysing. A video can be viewed at bit.ly/kdbwinter13-holidaysing-vid. PHOTO 27
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G R A D U AT I O N
On June 13, 2013, Burke’s graduated its 106th class. Forty-six proud young women received their diplomas during a ceremony in the gymnasium. Below are high school and college destinations of Burke’s alumnae from 2009 and 2013. Congratulations!
GRADUATION C E L E B R AT I O N
CLASS OF 2013 HIGH SCHOOL DESTINATIONS
• The Bay School (3) • The Branson School • Cate School • Convent of the Sacred Heart (5) • Deerfield Academy • Drew School (2) • Groton School (2) • Hotchkiss School • International High School (3) • Lick-Wilmerding High School (4) • Marin Academy (3) • Midland School • Redwood High School • Ruth Asawa School of the Arts • St. Ignatius College Prep (6) • St. Paul’s School • Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep • Stevenson School • Taft School • Thacher School • University High School (3) • The Urban School (2) • The Webb School
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CLASS OF 2009 COLLEGE DESTINATIONS
• Barnard College (2) • Bucknell University (2) • California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo • Emerson College • Emory University • George Washington University • Kent State University • Loyola Marymount University • Middlebury College (2) • New York University (2) • Northeastern University (2) • Pitzer College (2) • Scripps College • Stanford University • Trinity College • Tufts University • Tulane University • University of British Columbia • University of California, Berkeley (2) • University of California, Los Angeles (3) • University of New Hampshire • University of Oregon (2) • University of Puget Sound • University of San Francisco • University of Southern California (5) • University of Vermont • Yale University (3)
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TRADITIONS
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PANSY DAY THE SCHOOL FLOWER HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE PANSY, SYMBOL OF REMEMBRANCE AND THOUGHT.
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n June 12, 2013, members of the graduating class of 2013 were ceremoniously showered with the petals of pansies as they walked in pairs into the library. The annual ritual concluded a beautiful and emotional day on campus where awards were given to graduating eighth graders and rising fifth graders were welcomed into the Upper School. Distinguished alumna Nancy Bibbero Cherney ’70 reflected on her own experiences as a Burke’s girl more than 40 years ago and left eighth graders with the following message: “You are special and being a Burke’s girl is truly an honor; explore lots of interests and find your passion; and last, but not least, be compassionate and determined.” Following Nancy were a myriad of speeches and stories from the class of 2013, including a “history” of the class by Blyth Engel. Like
every year, the event ended with Burke’s siblings of the class of 2013 sprinkling pansy petals on the graduating class as they exited through the library. Pansy Day is one of the most revered traditions at Burke’s, dating back to 1926. The ceremony was created for the purpose of presenting school awards, so that graduation would involve no differentiation among students. The school flower has always been the pansy, symbol of remembrance and thought. The pansy got its name from the French word pensée, meaning “thought.” It was named this because the flower resembles a human face. Also, it is said to nod forward as if it is in deep thought.
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CLASS OF 2013 PANSY DAY AWARDS
Jada Newkirk May Hickey Award This is awarded to a girl who, by vote of the eighth grade class, has demonstrated the most care and concern for the younger students in the school.
Amethyst Baumgartner Patricia Swanson Franklin Writing Award Established in 1999 by friends and classmates of Patricia Franklin Swanson ’66, this award is presented to Burke’s students with outstanding talents in and love of writing.
Sophie Carpenter Julie Song Award Established in 1998, this award recognizes the eighth grader whose kindness, good humor and generosity of spirit make every day a better one for all around her.
Beatrice Gee Visual Arts Sara-Margret Heckadon Performing Arts Sarah Babcock Award Established in 1992 in honor of alumna Sarah Babcock, this award commemorates Sarah’s spirit and her love of photography and the arts.
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Kathryn Newbold Head’s Award This honor goes to an eighth grade student for her generosity of spirit, appreciation of others and strength of leadership.
Eleni Carwin & Clara Daikh Head’s Cup Awarded to an eighth grade student who demonstrates seriousness of purpose, devotion to excellence and citizenship.
Nancy Bibbero Cherney ’70 Distinguished Alumna Award This award is given each year to an alumna who embodies the values at the heart of the school’s mission to educate, encourage and empower girls. The recipient exemplifies a life of learning, service to community, individuality and the ability to make a difference in the world.
Georgia Carey Kathryn Newbold Outstanding Athlete Award The Burke’s Outstanding Athlete award honors an athlete who has played three varsity sports in her eighth grade year and has demonstrated excellent skills in all of her endeavors.
Annie HOCkin KATiE STOVELL Georgia Malan Award Named in honor of Burke’s long-time Lower School Head, this is given to fourth grade students who best exemplify the qualities of high personal standards, good nature, selflessness and kindness to all.
ALUMNAE LUNCH
Alumnae Luncheon
2013
MO R E T H A N 1 5 0 A LUMN A E from 39 classes ranging from 1936 through 2002 attended
Alumnae Luncheon 2013 in April. In attendance at the event, which was hosted at the Metropolitan Club in San Francisco, were six members from the class of 1943 celebrating their 70th reunion; 14 attendees from the class of 1988, celebrating their 25th Reunion; and eight attendees from the class of 1963, celebrating their 50th reunion. Additionally, 20 current and former faculty and staff members attended the luncheon.
Class of ’43 From left: Ginny Boyd Williams, Pat Marcus Trocme. Harriett Hills Stinson, Lucy Harrison Campbell, Shirley Fagan Banks
Class of ’89 Back row, from left: Erica Howson Fortescue, Gabrielle Kivitz, Lisa Congdon, Bella Shen Garnett. Front row, from left: Corinne Rocca , Alicia Engstrom, Frances Stark
Class of ’88 wrapping a maypole From left: Susan Peirce Thompson, Holly Johnson Williamson, Betina Suessmann Baumgarten, Monique Rocca, Rachel Skiffer, June Kitagawa Sakamoto, Principal Michele Williams, Judith Hanna
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scenes from the alumnae luncheon 1. Gabrielle Kivitz ’89 2. Class of ’85 From left: Aimee Fowler Carlson, Jenny Kempenich, Jennifer Bunshoft Pergher
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3. Class of ’63 From left: Ronda Calef, Victoria Campion Raggett, Margaret Heatley Kappler, Victoria Knapp Beard, Kathe Nielsen Hardy 4. From left: Kristina Best James ’90, Aimee Fowler Carlson ’85, Head of School Michele Williams, Anne-Marie Fowler ’82, Amy Hall McNamara ’82 5. Class of ’88 Back row, from left: Jenner Benton, Renee Sharp, Holly Johnson Williamson, Leila Marcucci, Elizabeth Faris. Front row, from left: Monique Rocca, Cristina Tinio, June Kitagawa Sakamoto, Rachel Skiffer
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6. From left: Burke’s Director of Development Selena Shadle, Virginia Michael Ellis ’58, Constance Crowley Peabody ’36 7. Former and Current Faculty and Staff From left: Elizabeth Coleman, Deborah Dent-Samake, Helen Wiley, Kathryn Johnston, Cince Pringle, Cynthia Whitsell, Toni Wagner, Mary Swope, Nancy Clark, Michele Williams, Erica Scattergood, Linda Gore 8. Class of ’85 From left: Jennifer Bunshoft Pergher, Vendela Vida, Marianna Stark, Jenny Kempenich, Summer Laurie 9. Class of ’78 Back row, from left: Jessica Parish Galloway, Laura Funsten Cornish, Kathy Wright, Louisa Moore Consagra. Front row, from left: Brooke Berry Dunton, Robin Hauser Reynolds, Holly Ann Johnson, Helen Hyun 10. From left: Monique Rocca ’88, June Kitagawa Sakamoto ’88
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DISTINCTIONS
2013 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA AWARD
Nancy Bibbero Cherney ’70
The Katherine Delmar Burke School Distinguished Alumna Award is given each year to an alumna who embodies the values at the heart of the school’s mission to educate, encourage and empower girls. The recipient exemplifies a life of learning, service to community, individuality and the ability to make a difference in the world. The awardees are nominated from the alumnae community and voted on by the Alumnae Board.
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ancy is the Founder and Executive Director of the College Dream Team Program in Marin County. The Program helps lowincome students prepare for, apply to, attend and graduate from college. Born and raised in San Francisco, Nancy graduated from Burke’s in 1970. After graduating from UC Berkeley and with the dream of becoming a lawyer, Nancy earned her JD and LLM from Golden Gate University. From there she practiced corporate and finance law for more than 20 years in San Francisco and Marin County. After a successful career as a lawyer, Nancy decided to make a career change: She returned to UC Berkeley and received her certificate in College and Career Planning. Nancy put her certification training to
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good use as a volunteer at San Rafael High School, the high school with the largest low-income population in Marin County and lowest four-year college attendance rate. After realizing that not only the academic inequities but also the lack of social and college admissions resources were leading factors in the low four-year college attendance rates, Nancy started the College Dream Team Program in 2005. To date, Nancy and the College Dream team have helped more than 150 low-income, first generation students gain acceptance to four-year colleges and has provided college and career guidance to over 900 students. Now in its seventh year, the College Dream Team Program continues to thrive as a nonprofit and provide much-needed support to underserved communities in Marin County.
Left: Nancy Bibbero Cherney receiving Burke’s 2013 Distinguished Alumna Award Below: Nancy’s yearbook photo from 1970
The following is an excerpt from Nancy Bibbero Cherney’s speech when she accepted the Distinguished Alumna Award. “Because I was blessed with a great Burke’s education that prepared and encouraged me to pursue a college degree, I wanted to inspire hope in low-income youth to achieve college degrees. Our Program gives these students the comprehensive college admissions guidance they need to achieve a college degree. We have helped over 1,000 low-income students to attend college. Many of them are now graduating. They come back to mentor our current newcomers to the Program. Education helps to eradicate poverty. We are changing our students’ lives for the better and they are turning around to help their families and communities. I place a high value on service to the community in ways that make a difference in the world. I give credit to Burke’s for helping to foster that value in me. Many College Dream Team families are Spanish speaking and I credit my Burke’s Spanish teacher Senora Frances Arietta whenever I use the Spanish I learned at Burke’s to speak to Spanish speaking parents. Earlier in my life I used my Spanish as a Spanish Legal Interpreter for Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation—Thank you Senora and thank you Burke’s! In 1968 Assistant Head of School Betsy Kellman had a big impact on my life. When I was a sophomore at Burke’s, she encouraged me to think of my dream job. That is when I chose to be a lawyer. Betsy mentored me and now I mentor College Dream Team students. I was privileged to practice law in the corporate sector for over 20 years reaching the position of Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of a New York Stock Exchange listed company that helped build schools and hospitals. After retiring from the law, I went to UC Berkeley again (Burke’s and lifelong learning were at play in my life!) and now I am certified as a college and career advisor. I use many Burke’s lessons in this current line of work. I love to learn new things. Burke’s helped to instill that value in me. Joan Ashley, my seventh grade World History teacher, enhanced my enjoyment of studying history and how a place’s past has informed its present. When I travel, I always study the history of the places I am visiting. Thanks Burke’s! I love to explore the world and I had the blessing of traveling to Elsinore Castle in Denmark with Lynne Day, my Burke’s classmate. We spoke of Myna Hughes, our ninth grade English teacher at Burke’s. Miss Hughes taught us many Shakespearian passages and lessons. I still use them today! I could retell many other Burke’s memories from Baby Day to Pansy Day to grammar lessons to cuffs and collars and on and on, but I will spare you. Suffice to say Burke’s has had a positive impact on all of us here today including me and for that I am very grateful. Thank you for this wonderful award.”
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Burke’s
Educate, Encourage and Empower Girls
“Katherine Delmar Burke School played a very significant role in shaping who I am. From my friendships to my varied interests, from my sense of self to my sense of purpose, I know that Burke’s provided a solid foundation for me and for many generations of girls. That is the reason it means so much to me to continuously support the school. I want to ensure that girls now and in the future continue to have similar opportunities to grow and learn.” - Diana Wild ’66
Support Burke’s Annual Fund Our community’s support of the Annual Fund is not only meaningful, but also critical to the longevity of Burke’s being an exemplary school for current and future generations of girls.
Challenge Grant One of our biggest goals this year is to significantly increase our alumnae donor participation. A solid alumnae participation rate speaks volumes to the community of our belief in the quality of
education at Burke’s. To inspire fellow alumnae to give back to Burke’s, an anonymous alumna has generously offered a challenge grant. Through this wonderful gift, new and increased gifts from alumnae will be matched dollar for dollar, effectively offering all alumnae the opportunity to double the amount of their gift. In addition, you may want to consider making a gift in honor or in memory of a favorite teacher or classmate.
www.kdbs.org/give
CLASS NOTES
ALUMNAE UPDATES
BURKE’S ALUMNAE BOARD 2013-14 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Gabrielle Kivitz ’89 President June Kitagawa Sakamoto ’88 Vice President, Governance Katy Congdon Williams ’96 Vice President, Special Events Aimee Fowler Carlson ’85 Vice President, Special Events Clara Abecassis ’92 Secretary Members
Julia Baron ’01 Readie Callahan ’97 Jesse Chamberlin ’01 Lisa Congdon ’89 Alicia Engstrom ’89 Bella Shen Garnett ’89 Max Boyer Glynn ’94 Jennifer Haas ’92 Sophie Middlebrook Hayward ’90
Dear Alumnae, For those of you who I have not had the chance to meet yet, I would like to introduce myself as the new Alumnae Relations and Event Manager. I arrived in July and have been enjoying getting to know my new colleagues and the campus. While I am still new, I can already tell that Burke’s is a special community and I feel very fortunate to be a part of it. I really look forward to getting to know all of you and to keeping you up to date on Burke’s! Please feel free to stop by to say hello if you are on campus or just drop me a line! Regards, Conor Ryan Tung (conor@kdbs.org) Alumnae Relations and Special Events Manager
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CLASS NOTES Class of
1943
HARRIETT STINSON writes: “Five of us met for lunch Friday July 26, 2013 to celebrate Barbara (Bobbie) Scofield Davidson’s induction into the Northern California Women’s Tennis Hall of Fame. Besides Bobbie, Ginny Boyd Williams, Shirley Fagan Banks, Lucy Harrison Campbell, and Harriett Hills Stinson were present for lunch.”
Class of
1949
Barbara Fenger Cummings
reports that she has five grandchildren and one great granddaughter. She went on safari in Tanzania this year. Class of
1952
Cynthia (Tia) Pinney Garvey writes: “This year, I’ve
enjoyed several trips around California, Washington and Arizona, visiting family and friends and attending college and high school graduations of three of my six grandchildren. A trip to Scottsdale included a visit with classmate Ann von Geldern . Thanks to Jean Doolittle Henry for organizing a lunch during her annual stay in the Bay Area. It was fun to catch up with everyone.” Carole Jefferson Ehrhardt writes: “Frank and
I are doing well. However, we
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Alumnae Updates From Burke’s
closed Douglas Ranch Camp after its 88th summer in 2012. We had a wonderful summer with the best staff possible and campers both learning new skills and having fun. While it is sad to close, I was lucky to have a grandmother, Grace Douglas, as my mentor. We gave many generations skills they can use for their lifetime. Letters keep arriving, with parents who were campers, planning to teach the skills we taught at camp. Thus, our years of dedication continue. I hope to write a book with memories of camp, using the photos from 1925 to the present along with a collection of letters.”
CLASS OF 1966: Andrea Solari (left) and Gailie Hopf
Class of
1956
Bambi Escamilla S chwartz
and Sally Griffin Gallagher both had granddaughters graduate from Burke’s in the class of 2013. Sally’s granddaughter is Audrey Towle and Bambi’s is Eva Smith. Susan Rothmann Seeley
reports that she is “still working part-time at the University of San Francisco. Busy with children and grandchildren, volunteer work and lots of travel.”
Mary Saxe ’66 (left) with hostess Patty Dinner Class of
1960
Susan Cookson Fesus
reports that she had double knee replacement in October and is doing very well. Class of
Class of
1959
1966
See photos this page.
Ann Rasmussen Spencer
reports that she and her husband are enjoying their 41st year in Bellevue, Washington. All of their children and grandchildren live in Denver, CO.
Class of
1970
Nancy Bibbero Cherney
writes: “We are happy that our
daughter, Liza, received her MBA from Boston College in May and she now works at Credit Suisse in San Francisco. Class of
1973
Andrea Alban’s debut novel Anya’s War was named an American Library Association honor book and shortlisted for China’s Panda Award. The teen novel is loosely based on her Jewish father’s childhood in Shanghai.
Mariana Schwartz ’77e with daughters Stella Smith ’16, Ana Clare Smith ’07 and Eva Smith ’13 at Pansy Day and is currently screening at film festivals around the US.” Class of
1982
See photos. The debut novel of Andrea Alban ’73, Anya’s War Class of
1976
Susan L. Kelley married William F. De Grado on September 28, 2013.
Class of
1984
Jennifer Pitts reports that she and her husband, Sankar, had their second child, Nicholas, in October 2012.
Class of
Class of
1977e
Mariana Schwartz writes: My family celebrated my daughter’s (Eva Smith ’13) graduation from Burke’s this past June.
Class of
1978e Robin Hauser Reynolds
writes: “I have recently finished producing and directing a documentary film, Running for Jim, about University High School coach, Jim Tracy, who has fatal Lou Gehrig’s disease. The film premiered in Moscow and NYC,
1988
Susan Peirce Thompson
reports that her “roots in Rochester, NY continue to deepen.” She received tenure in the Psychology Department at Monroe Community College two years ago, and promotion to Associate Professor last year. She and David celebrated 14 years of marriage this past June. Her twins, Alexis and Zoe, start kindergarten this fall, happy, healthy, and fully caught up, a merciful miracle given they were born weighing less than 1.5 pounds each just five years ago. Her third daughter, Maya, conjures rainbows and sunshine
CLASS OF 1982 From left: Alexandra Bellis Kromelow, Margi Bogart Power, Amy Hall McNamara, Claire Myers Mulcahy, Lisa Stewart McKnight
and turns two this September. Susan flew back to Burke’s for her class’s 25th reunion last spring, and is still “floating on the love and good vibes” shared with her “amazing, kind, accomplished, and gracious classmates. See you for the 30th!” Katie Hultquist writes: “My wife Laura and I welcomed our third child, Willa Margaret Cox-Hultquist, on May 16th. She joins big brother and sister Nicholas and Aurora. Everyone is happy and healthy and we’d love to see more Burke’s visitors in Seattle. Fellow ’88 classmates Renee Sharp and Elizabeth Faris visited last spring!” KayDeeBee
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Leila Marcucci writes: “I’m in the process of finishing a buy-out of my business partner and will be the sole owner of my business, Bay Area Bird Hospital, at the end of the year. We are a veterinary hospital that caters to birds, rabbits, rodents and reptiles and are located in the Outer Sunset in San Francisco. Just this year I became a specialist: a Board Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in Avian Practice.” Carrie Muh writes: “My husband and I had our third child, Max, in April. His four-year-old sister, Olivia, and two-year-old brother, Ian, are already as in love with him as we are. For the past two years, we’ve been living in Durham, NC where I’m a pediatric neurosurgeon at Duke and my husband owns a computer software company. We’re busy but loving it.” June Kitagawa Sakamoto
writes: “After five years staying at home to raise my two boys, I went back to work as Assistant Dean of the University of California Hastings College of the Law in charge of LLM admissions and admissions/administration of our Master of Studies in Law program. Also, it was wonderful seeing 18 of my Class of ’88 sisters at our 25th reunion in May. I can’t wait for our 30th!” Class of
1989
Gabrielle Kivitz writes: “I have been actively engaged in philanthropic activities that support public education reform
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Claire Myers Mulcahy ’82 (left) and Jen Fetner at the Mountain Lake Park park in San Francisco
Burke’s Alumnae and Parents Help Restore Local SF Park Three years ago, Claire Myers Mulcahy ’82 joined forces with Richmond District neighbors Jen Fetner (Greylin Booth, class of 2021) and Kate Green to partner with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department to renovate Mountain Lake Park Playground. Claire grew up close to the playground and currently lives nearby with her two young boys. The new playground is specially designed (by BCJ Architects, with the help of Jen Fetner) to challenge children of all ages and ability levels; its innovative design concept features never-before-seen on the West coast play structures and play areas dedicated to both the younger and older child. The new playground, which will be paid for through a combination of private support and funds from the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks bond, will be safer and more fun for all. Claire and her partners were also keen to showcase the fascinating natural and historical context of Mountain Lake in this playground design. Recognized as the birthplace of San Francisco, the freshwater Mountain Lake is where Anza ended his long journey from Mexico and named the city “Yerba Buena” in homage to the beautiful reeds that still grow around the Lake. Anza’s party laid plans for the Presidio and Mission Dolores while camped at Mountain Lake, which is also home to many other plants and animals currently being restored and re-introduced to the habitat by the Presidio Trust. Burke’s students can come learn about the history (cultural and natural) at the site while enjoying the new playground, set to open in 2015. Meanwhile, the nearby Meadow (near 11th Avenue and Lake Street) will continue to host many sporting activities for Burke’s girls, who can witness the construction of the playground and Lake restoration knowing these projects represent the continuation of our city’s enduring history with the help of Burke’s graduates! Other Burke’s alumnae assisting Friends of Mountain Lake Park Playground are: Amy Hall McNamara ’82, who serves the FMLPP Honorary Committee with her wealth of experience gained from renovating Presidio Heights Playground; Lisa Bransten ’80, is involved in the project as a neighbor and in her role as Director of Partnerships at the Recreation and Parks Department; Sarah Bacon ’86, who is also a neighbor and writes the Richmond Blog. Please visit www.fmlpp.org to learn more about Friends of Mountain Lake Park Playground.
and medical research. In May, I traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate on Capitol Hill for increased government funding for cancer research and to urge Congress to pass legislation that ensures affordable access to lifesaving cancer treatments.” Class of
Carrie Muh’88 with her family
Edie Rindal sent in her photo of a Class of 1984 mini-reunion.
1992
Monique Phillips-Pflager
writes that she is “thrilled for the new school year to start. Cecilia Ann will be entering Burke’s second grade this fall. We were happy to spend time with Clara Abecassis and her family at the Spring Ice Cream Social for new kindergarten families. Piper Rose is continuing at the Marin JCC preschool, where we frequently run into Betina Baumgarten (Sussman) and her beautiful children. Monique continues to do wildlife rehabilitation work for Wildcare Terwilliger Center of Marin and is currently fostering baby raccoons.” Cary Cronholm Rose
reports that she is the Associate Artistic Director of Tides Theater in downtown Union Square. She and her husband live in Noe Valley with their daughter, Cassidy, 4, and son, Ellsworth, 1. Class of
1993
Anita Pedersen writes: “I am living in Phoenix, AZ with my partner and two cats. I work as a Lecturer at Arizona State University in the Psychology Department. I recently went on a lovely trip to Hawaii, where I got engaged!”
Class oF
Jennifer Pitts ’84 with husband Sankar and children Nicholas and Lucia
Susan Peirce Thompson ’88 with her family
1996
Stina Skewes-COX writes: “After six years with San Francisco’s KayDeeBee
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Congresswoman, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, I relocated to Brooklyn in January to serve as freshman Congressman Hakeem Jeffries’ District Director. On recent trips back to San Francisco, I was able to celebrate the nuptials of Misha Villa-Popescu , meet Josephine Liu Lochbaum ’s baby son, Noah, and stop by Tara McGann Friedman ’s recently opened business Local Motion Physical Therapy on California and Polk St.
Katie Hultquist ’88 with her family
Rachel Katzman is in the Hague in the Netherlands working as a lawyer for the Registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
Class of
1997
See photo. Class of
1998
Gabrielle Kivitz ’89 with Senator Dianne Feinstein
Alice Galvin Chambers
writes: “This past June, I had my first baby, Penelope Jane Chambers, with my husband, Angus Chambers. She was born in San Francisco on June 30. Class of
1999
Jennie Callan and Maddie Brown were two recipients of
the 2012-2013 Female Athlete of the Year award at University High. Both graduated in May. Jennie is running at Yale University and Maddie is playing Club Lacrosse and Tennis at Emory University. Stina Skewes-Cox ’96 with Speaker Nancy Pelosi
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CLASS OF 1997 From left: Readie Callahan, Elizabeth Tomei, Danielle Fisher, Zoe Duskin, Lauren Markham, Kate Lazarus posed for a photo at Zoe’s wedding on October 6, 2012.
Alice Galvin Chambers ’98 is pictured with husband Angus and daughter Penelope Jane, who was born on June 30.
CLASS OF 2009 Maddie Brown (left) and Jennie Callan were two recipients of the Female Athlete of the Year award at University High School last year.
Class of
2008
Alyson Wong writes: “I interned for the program Breakthrough Collaborative at the Sacramento affiliate site over the summer (Breakthrough Sacramento) and had a wonderful experience.”
Class of
2009
See photo. Class of
Graduates from 2012 visit with Rebekah Wolman during a visit to campus this past spring.
2012
See photo. KayDeeBee
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IN MEMORIAM Alison Thomson Crist ’33 Published in the San Francisco Chronicle on April 8, 2013 A native San Franciscan, Alison passed away in Rossmoor, Walnut Creek. She graduated from 12 years of Katherine Delmar Burke’s School and then from UC Berkeley where she was a Kappa. Alison lost her wonderful husband, George, in 1985 and then their home in the 1991 Oakland Hills fire. She never lost her pluck or sense of humor, both of which are legion to everyone she knew or met. A “True Blue” and 1937 Alumni Class Secretary, she once shared a Trader Vic’s Bloody Mary with Oski in a favorite Big Game Reunion photo. Alison is survived by three children: George Jr., Elizabeth Noel (Don), Robert (Susie); five grandchildren: Courtney Loveday (Lance), Scott, Cyndi, Jenny, Michael (Paige); three great grandchildren and a fourth “in the hopper.” She also leaves her devoted brother, H. Sedgefield Thomson (Sally), and his family. Her family is grateful to Salve Cabais and Yasmin Franco for loving care and Hospice of the East Bay for their support. As Alison requested no service, the family asks that you toast her memory with a Scotch or a smile.
Marie Dorette von der Lieth Frick ’37 Published in the San Francisco Chronicle on May 5, 2013 At rest April 16, 2013. Marie was born in San Francisco on October 16, 1920 to Dr. Harold and Eza von der Lieth. Beloved wife of the late Walter P. Frick for 55 years; loving mother of Tim Frick and Alexandra Frick Escher; adored grandmother of Cassandra Edwards (Jeff ) and Christopher Escher; great grandmother of Georgia Edwards; predeceased by her brother, Robert H. von der Lieth. Marie was a third generation life long resident of
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San Francisco and graduated from Katherine Delmar Burke School, receiving an Associate of Arts Degree from the University of California, Berkeley, Class of 1941, where she was a member of the Alpha Phi Sorority. Marie was a strong, intelligent woman whose vibrant spirit and humor shined to the end and her family is comforted by the many memories of love, laughter and joy she brought to all who knew and loved her over the course of her 92 years. Marie will be greatly missed and her memory will sustain those she has left behind. A special thanks to the San Francisco Towers nursing staff who cared for and assisted Marie during the final months of her life.
Aline Meyer Berl ’40
Aline passed away peacefully at her home in San Francisco, surrounded by her children: Douglas, Cathryn and Susan on February 6, 2013. Aline was a third-generation San Franciscan. She attended Alamo, Katherine Delmar Burke School and Flintridge Academy. She worked as an assistant personnel manager at Ransohoffs Department Store. During WWII, she enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and was honorably discharged in 1946. She served in Glenview, Illinois, Indiana and Barbers Point, Oahu, Hawaii. She married the love of her life, Warren Berl, in 1948. Her love, support and encouragement were the strength behind such an accomplished man. Aline’s volunteer accomplishments spanned over 35 years at CPMC. Her peers stated, “It is a great honor to work with you.” Her friends said, “She was a devoted friend to many.” Aline’s love and dedication to family, friends and volunteerism was an inspiration to all who came in contact with her. She will be remembered for her quick wit and kind heart. She will be missed by all whose lives she touched. Her family would like to give special thanks for the care and devotion shown by Dr. James Davis, Francine, Virginia and Delsa her wonderful caregivers, Hospice by the Bay, Philippe and the staff at 1070. Aline is survived by her devoted children: Douglas and Jane Berl, Cathy and Peter Deutsch and Susan Berl;
her adoring grandchildren: Elizabeth, Michael, Natalie (Brian), Marion, Aleen, Jason, Shelby and Haley. There was no public service, however donations in her memory may be made to the National MS Society, Northern California Chapter, 1700 Owens Street, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94158 or Institute on Aging (IOA) 3330 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94118.
Elizabeth Ann Christian ’40
We sadly report the passing of Elizabeth Ann Christian.
Marisa Traina Hahn ’43 Published in the San Francisco Chronicle on June 16, 2013 Internationally known, gracious San Francisco socialite Marisa Traina Hahn died peacefully at her home in Wolfsburg, Germany on June 9, 2013 after an illness of several years. Born in San Francisco on October 22, 1926, a graduate of Katherine Delmar Burke’s School, she attended the University of California at Berkeley, and graduated in 1947. She then studied languages in Geneva, becoming fluent in German, Italian, French, Spanish and Russian, and did graduate studies at the Sorbonne in Paris, where she received a Masters Degree in 1952. She then worked for IBM International, and pursued a career in Public Relations in New York, where she met and married Dr. Carl Hahn in 1960. Dr. Hahn was the head of Volkswagen of America at the time, bringing the beetle to Americans’ hearts. They moved to Germany in 1964, where Mrs. Hahn made the transition from career woman to devoted mother of four, and consummate corporate wife during her husband’s stellar rise to Global CEO of the Volkswagen Group (including Audi), during his remarkable 39 year career with the company. (He is Chairman Emeritus of Audi today). At her husband’s side, Marisa Hahn became an internationally known figure as elegant and sophisticated hostess, entertaining heads of state, the crowned heads of Europe, leaders in the arts (they founded the museum of modern art in
Wolfsburg), and the leading industrialists in their Wolfsburg home. Their home became a much desired stopping place for the powerful, influential, and well known, and Marisa became world famous for her brilliance, kindness, warmth, generosity and wit. She matched her husband’s success with her inimitable charm, while bringing up their children, running their home, and travelling the world at her husband’s side as Volkswagen’s ambassadress par excellence and America’s unofficial ambassadress to Germany, respected and admired by all. She was the perfect counterpart and helpmate for his impressive career. Exceptional linguist, talented pianist (she inherited her love of opera from her parents the late John and Lea Traina), corporate wife, mother, she excelled at all things, and made everyone feel at home in their world, just as she was at home anywhere in the world. Marisa Traina Hahn was the sister of the late John Traina, Jr., of San Francisco, and she is survived by her husband, Dr. Carl Hahn of Wolfsburg, Germany, her children, Carl Alexander Hahn of Bergamo, Italy, Pia Marocco of London, Peter Hahn of Berlin, and Christopher Hahn of Potomac, MD. She is also survived by her daughters-in-law Vanessa Hahn, Maria Grazia Hahn and Anna-Kathrin Heitz, nine grandchildren, eight nephews and nieces, and two sisters-in-law, Dede Buchanan Wilsey of San Francisco, and Danielle Steel, of San Francisco and Paris. Marisa will be long remembered and forever missed by all who knew her. Services were held on June 17 at the Christopherus Church in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Barbara Goldman Aaron ’49
Barbara died peacefully at home in San Francisco, CA on September 7, 2013, after a brief battle with lung cancer. She was 81 years old. Barbara was born and raised in San Francisco, and came east to attend Bryn Mawr College. In 1955, she married Pittsburgh attorney Marcus Aaron, and after a brief sojourn in Manhattan, KS, while he completed his army service, moved to Pittsburgh where she was an active and loyal member of the community for over 47 years, until returning to San Francisco KayDeeBee
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IN MEMORIAM in their retirement years to be near family. Barbara served the Pittsburgh community in many capacities over the years. She was a member and Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Ellis School. She also served on the Board of Children’s Hospital for many years, and the John F. Heinz History Center. She was also active in the United Jewish Federation. She was among the founders of the Bryn MawrVassar bookstore in Pittsburgh that raised scholarship funds for the two colleges through the sale of used books. She was the volunteer manager of the store for 25 years. She had a special and enduring relationship with Bryn Mawr College, serving as President of the Alumnae Association, as a Trustee, and a Trustee Emerita of the College. She was a passionate reader and eclectic collector of books. An adventurous traveler, Barbara and her husband visited places near and far, including many remote places around the world. Barbara shared her enthusiasm, curiosity, and generosity across generations and communities, and with a wide circle of loving family members and friends. A woman with a keen eye for detail, and a love of good stories, Barbara will be missed by her husband of 58 years, Marcus Aaron; her daughters, Susan Aaron (Steve Sherman), Judy Penner (George), Barbara Aaron Rosston (Greg); grandchildren, Isaac and Marina Sherman, Kate and Oliver Penner, Sarah and Peter Rosston; her sister, Mary Ann Aronson, all of California; and many loving members of the extended family. See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ postgazette/obituary.aspx?pid=166961107#sthash. WvAuCzNz.dpuf.
Lanette Lee Smith ’58 Published in the San Francisco Chronicle on February 21, 2013 Lanette Smith died on February 6, 2013 at her home overlooking Ruedi Reservoir in Basalt, Colorado. Lanette was born on June 25, 1941 in Rochester, Minnesota to Dr. Robert and Elizabeth Smith. She grew up in San Francisco and graduated from Katherine Delmar Burke School in 1958. She attended Stanford University where she graduated in 1962. Lanette lived in Colorado for more than 35 years and was an important member of the Aspen and Basalt communities. She was the kind of person who would drop everything to listen to or help her friends, and she was greatly loved by all who knew her. An accomplished writer, she penned
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and published travel articles for major magazines. Lanette had incredible enthusiasm for life and the outdoors. She started hiking in Jackson, WY during college and never stopped. She loved to run, ski, and water ski. She was passionate about preserving the land of the West and was always eager to protest slights against the land and its animals. She participated in many wilderness preservation organizations. Lanette leaves behind her partner of 30 years, Steve Hilbert. She also leaves behind her sister and her brotherin-law, Libby and Bruce Hutchinson; her nephews, Derek Hutchinson and Dougal Hutchinson, and Derek’s wife, Shannon; her grand-nephew and grandnieces Dougal, Zinnia, Haley, and Dylan Hutchinson. More than 200 friends joined in the celebration of Lanette’s life on February 13 in Aspen. There were many reminiscences, good music, and lots of love shared by all. Lanette’s family suggests donations in Lanette’s memory to the Glen Canyon Institute.
Erica Clifton Drewes ’62 Published in the San Francisco Chronicle on August 4, 2013 Erica Clifton Drewes (aka. Ceci, CE, Two, Mac), 68, a fifth-generation San Franciscan, passed away on July 21, 2013, from natural causes. Erica was born March 10, 1945, in Washington, DC, to Judge Robert Drewes and Caroline Clifton Drewes. She is survived by her brothers, Robert and Stephen; her sister-in-law, Gail; her nieces, Genevieve, Caitlin, and Jillian; nephew, Bartholomew; their spouses and children; and, her many old and dear friends. Erica was a proud San Francisco native, an accomplished artist, and a passionate liberal activist. She spent her childhood in Presidio Heights, cavorting through the city and climbing every summer the mountains of the Sierras. She attended Katherine Delmar Burke’s School and then UC Berkeley
where she received a BA, and later an MFA, in Fine Art. She continued to study art and architecture at the Accademia di Belle Arte, in Rome, and at Harvard University. She received a second MA in Film from San Francisco State. Her pride and joy was the East Bay Community Arts Project Inc., a non-profit visual and performing arts school for juvenile prisoners, which she founded in 1974. Erica was a multifaceted artist who used any and every medium to create beauty. She sewed exquisite clothes for her nieces and nephew (and in turn their children), sketched treasured valentines, painted on clothing, built sculptures and bookcases, and restored chairs, teddy bears, windows, and cabins. Every letter or postcard she mailed was a little piece of art full of love, and warmth, personalized with her notes of good humor. Every tool she wielded left a broken something in near mint condition. A true “flower child,” Erica loved a good argument about politics, culture, art, and literature. She compulsively read The New Yorker, The New York Times, and the SF Examiner, and was an avid independent moviegoer. Every morning, for more than thirty-five years, she swam in the bay as a member of The Dolphin Club, which, after her death, flew its flag at half-mast in her honor. Donations in Erica’s name can be made to Planned Parenthood.
Suzanna Ashmore Nelson ’04
Suzanna Ashmore Nelson was born July 13, 1990 in San Francisco, California and passed on to loving Angels on March 28, 2013. Suzanna is survived by her father, Flint Nelson; her mother, Lolly Schiffman; her stepmother, Judy Nelson; and her aunt, Meredith Landy. Suzanna attended the Katherine Delmar Burke School in San Francisco and San Marcos High School in North San Diego County, graduating with honors. She graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas in May of 2012, where she earned a BA in Journalism and a minor in Business. Suzanna was an avid equestrian, winning a world championship in the American Paint Horse Association and earning Varsity letters on the Baylor University Equestrian Team. Suzanna pursued a career in marketing and loved art history, fashion and graphic design, but her many friends and family members were the center of her life. She will be deeply missed by every life she touched in the 22 years she spent with us. See more at: http://www. legacy.com/obituaries/UTSanDiego/obituary.aspx? pid=164053147#sthash.8sptCMD5.dpuf.
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FROM THE ARCHIVES
Back in the Day A Tradition of Service at Burke’s is Traced Back to the First World War
WITH A REEMERGENCE of service-based activities at Burke’s through the recently founded Burke’s Gives Back service program at the school, it’s important to note that service at Burke’s can be traced back to the school’s infancy during World War I. During the First World War, Burke’s girls volunteered in the American Red Cross. According to school records in 1918, the girls—through “fairs, entertainments and subscriptions”—raised $11,200 for various relief efforts. Students created 21,635 surgical dressings, “only 15 of which were returned as defective.” In letters to her students, Principal Katherine Delmar Burke stressed the importance of service. In the spring of 1917, just as the United States entered the War, Katherine Delmar Burke wrote the following to her students: “It is of service I would speak to you today. In the blessed spirit of giving, lies the greatest strength in the human soul. To give of the best in us royally, completely, is a rare privilege indeed, and the greatest service, remember this—is not always done in the midst of alarms, nor on the battlefields of the world. It is often given in the quiet round of daily life, in the sacrifice of opportunity, in the charity of silence, in the unselfishness of love, in compliance to duty and in courage and patience under the shadow of disappointment and defeat!” A year later, in a letter to the class of 1918, she wrote, “You have been trained in the ways of service—daily have you prayed for strength and peace. Through it and for it you, the younger generation of our nation, bring the only hope of peace that is left in this tragedy of all times; therefore, the urgent need of earnest purpose, of sincere endeavor, of continued effort, of a patience and a courage and a fortitude born of a great crisis and strengthened from on High.”
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Katherine Delmar Burke wrote to her students, “You have been trained in the ways of service.�
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“The life-long benefits of my education at the Katherine Delmar Burke School inspired me to include my alma mater in my estate planning. With the Development Office’s help, I was able to craft an endowment fund that has deep personal meaning for me as it honors the memory of my parents. I hope my gift will benefit generations of Burke’s girls to come.” -Pauline Watts ’66
Burke’s
Educate, Encourage and Empower Girls
Barbara Burke Legacy Society
Planned Giving At Katherine Delmar Burke School Burke’s is the sum of every girl who has passed through its gates. For 106 years, the school has educated generations of girls, with much thanks to the generosity of women and families who have chosen to support the school through a planned gift. They have offered a new generation of Burke’s girls the same opportunities they enjoyed, and helped create confident, resilient, global citizens. How do you make a planned gift to Burke’s? There are many ways to support Burke’s that may also include tax-advantages for you and your family. The simplest way is to leave the school in your will: 1. Ask your lawyer to make simple adjustments to your will or estate plan. 2. Call Burke’s Development Office to let them know. 3. You are now a member of the Barbara Burke Legacy Society. For more information about making a bequest or other type of planned gift, please contact Selena Shadle at (415) 666-3204 or selena@kdbs.org. You may also visit our Planned Giving website at www.kdbs.org/plannedgiving.
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S U P P O RT I N G BURKE’S
WAYS YOU CAN
Give to Burke’s Cash, Check or Credit Card Gifts of cash, typically payable by check, and credit card gifts are tax deductible and provide immediate funds to the school. The easiest way to give is online at www.kdbs.org/give. You can also send a check to: Katherine Delmar Burke School Development Office 7070 California Street San Francisco, CA 94121
Matching Gifts Many companies offer their employees the opportunity to double or, in some cases, triple their gifts to certain programs or organizations by matching them. Please check with your employer about their Matching Gift Program.
Securities and Property Gifts of stocks, other securities or property have two significant advantages to the donor: they are tax deductible for the full fair market value of the gift when it is made, and the donor does not pay capital gains on the appreciated value of the stock or property. Contact the Development Office for more information on making a gift of securities or property.
Planned Giving
Each of these gifts can result in substantial tax savings for the donor. Please consult the Development Office or your tax advisor for more information. Please notify the Development Office if you have made a deferred or planned gift to Burke’s so that you will be included in The Barbara Burke Legacy Society.
Other Deferred Gifts It is possible to make gifts of property that may allow income tax benefits for the donor during his or her lifetime, may be used during the lifetime of the donor, and which would revert to Burke’s, with possible estate tax savings. Institutions can achieve stability and growth through planned giving. Contact your tax advisor for specific advice that relates to your particular circumstances.
Gifts in Kind Burke’s welcomes donations such as classroom supplies, athletic equipment and other items related to the educational program, as well as donations of auction items to the annual Dinner Auction. Gift value is determined by the donor through appraisal or a record of purchase. Please contact the Development Office if you would like to make a gift in kind.
The Barbara Burke Legacy Society honors alumnae, past parents, grandparents, current parents and friends who have remembered Burke’s by bequest in their estate plans or who have made a life income gift or other type of planned gift. You can become a member by:
For more information about making a gift of any type, please contact Selena Shadle, Director of Development, at 415-666-3204 or selena@kdbs.org.
• placing Burke’s in your will
To make a gift online, please visit www.kdbs.org/give.
• making Burke’s the beneficiary of a retirement account • making a gift of a life insurance policy (a gift of life insurance can result in tax savings and can be made through an existing or a new life insurance policy) • establishing a charitable trust • making a gift of real estate or other tangible property
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7070 California Street San Francisco CA 94121
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