Connections - Alumnae Supplement - Spring 2023

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ACADEMY CONNECTIONS ALUMNAE SUPPLEMENT EDITORS Jen Malone Jocelyn Sherman-Avidan ’96 Geralyn Staab Megan Tyre ’88 DESIGN Eric Barrow PHOTOGRAPHY Kristina Bumphrey Jen Malone Geralyn Staab Andrew Henderson Archived and submitted photos GREENWICH ACADEMY ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION 2022-2023 Pamela Pagnani ’76, President Andrea de Cholnoky ’74, Vice President Marianne Cholnoky Kay ’75, Annual Fund Chair Graci Lockhart Djuranovic ’99, Governance Chair Suzanne Eberson Adams ’59 Janice Reese Baird ’58 BK Young Bates ’65 Caitlin Buckley ’13 Emily Wilson Burns ’87 Katherine Muhlfeld Burton-Morgan ’04 Suzanne Sammis Cabot ’87 Alanna Hynes DeGisi ’01 Dotsie Edwards Doran ’58 Missey LaBov Dweck ’89 Casey Bahrenburg Forbes ’93 Samantha Berenblum Hellauer ’13 Heather Dennis Gillespie ’88 Elise Hillman Green ’81 Karen Grund ’80 Tangley Lloyd ’62 Camilla Love McGraw ’95 Brooks Adams Melly ’77 Corinne James Menacho ’93 Ceci Halpern Morgan ’59 KC Morse ’11 Andra Winokur Newman ’95 Pam Christensen Olney ’81 Rosa Ortiz ’02 Joy Rendahl ’67 Lili Rosenkranz ’11 Caroline Simmons ’04 Christina Fox Tilt ’05 Vicky Redmond Williams ’94 Mallory Hughes Woodruff ’04 Martha “Muffin” Ramsing Zoubek ’62 IN THIS ISSUE 4-9 Fall and Winter Alumnae Events 12-30 Class notes 16 Milestones 30 In Memoriam
GREENWICH

Dear Fellow Alums,

I am delighted to introduce you to this bonus edition of GA Connections, a supplement dedicated entirely to sharing alumnae news and keeping alums connected to each other and to Greenwich Academy. These pages are filled with your updates, achievements, and life moments – big and small.

Alums are at the core of every educational institution. Our accomplishments and what we choose to do with our lives play an important role in defining GA. We are doctors and lawyers, artists and athletes, educators and businesspeople, volunteers and community leaders, and everything in between. Today’s GA girls see those who have gone before them and set their own goals accordingly. Whether you’ve been on campus recently or not, this is the time to return to Greenwich Academy. The campus has been magnificently transformed in recent years, but at its core, GA remains dedicated to its motto, Toward the Building of Character. As alumnae, we should feel great pride in all that has been accomplished at GA and in the way the education that we all experienced at different times continues to grow and flourish. Reunion Weekend this year will be the perfect time to come back, as we celebrate Molly King and honor her 19 years as Head of School. The evening of Saturday, April 29 is open to all alumnae and past parents, and I hope you’ll join me there for what promises to be a memorable and festive evening.

Sincerely,

SPRING 2023

WOMEN IN FINANCE

This fall, GA women (alums and parents) working in finance gathered at Silver Lake Partners’ gorgeous offices in Hudson Yards for our firstever Women in Finance gathering. Hosted by GA dad and former Trustee Joe Osnoss P’28, this Career Resource Center-sponsored event was a terrific opportunity for women working in this field to connect, collaborate, network, and inspire.

4 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS EVENTS
Whitney Elmlinger ’17, Arden Orwicz ’17, and Katherine Du ’17 Donna Byrnes P’05, Director of the Career Resource Center, addresses the group Donna Byrnes P ’05, Lauren Amicucci ’06, Charlotte Malloch ’07, and Christie Klauberg ’07 Caroline McQuiston ’14, Katrina Kraus ’15, Sasha Fritts ’14, Jacqueline Moran ’19, Cate Candland Clancy ’03, and sister Camille Candland ’11 Alexandra Zarrilli Bazarewski ’01, Ana Arsov P’24, ’28, Hayden Furey Stuhr ’10

GREENWICH SOCIAL

In October, local alumnae of all ages gathered at the home of Brooks Adams Melly ’77 to catch up and enjoy an evening together.

GA Board Chair Andra Winokur Newman ’95, P’28, ’32 and Head of School Molly King shared campus updates and GA news. A wonderful time was had by all!

EVENTS SPRING 2023 5
Grace Krasnerman ’11, Caroline Connor McNally ’09, and Leigh Worcester Carpenter ’77 GAAAB member Christina Fox Tilt ’05, Mariella Soussou Krowka ’03, and Simone Pasquini ’87 GAAAB member Suzanne Eberson Adams ’59 and event host and GAAAB member Brooks Adams Melly ’77 Emily Baraf Varod ’01, GAAAB Governance Chair Graci Lockhart Djuranovic ’99, P’34, and Giannina Biala ’99 GA Alumnae Association Board Vice President Andrea de Cholnoky ’74 and GAAAB member Emily Wilson Burns ’87 Head of School Molly King speaking with Maggie Reville and Phoebe Jacoby from the Class of 2018 Associate Director of Alumnae Jocelyn Sherman Avidan ’96, P’29, ’34, Trustee Board Chair Andra Winokur Newman ’95, P’28, ’32, Lindley Tilghman Pless ’95, and Shannon Law Otte ’96, P ’31

NYC HOLIDAY PARTY

A perennial favorite, the GA and Brunswick Holiday Party was back in full force after a two-year hiatus!

The Yale Club was buzzing with conversation when over 150 alumni from the two schools celebrated the holiday season together in December. Always a festive and fun event, it felt extra special this year!

6 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS CLASS NOTES
Head of School Molly King, Director of Advancement Amy O’Reilly Rizzi ’91, P’27, LS faculty member Beth Barr ’87, P’23, ’27, and Jamie Butler BWK ’87, P’26 Class of 2018 mates Ciara Santry and Annabelle Raine GA Alumnae Association Board President Pam Pagnani ’76, Anne Gillespie Murdock ’82, Nicole Kaufman Piper ’82 Isabelle Weiss ’18, Allison Lindemeyer ’18, Emma Osman ’18, Grace Zhao ’18, and Ally Staab ’15 Director of Alumnae Megan Tyre ’88, P’18, ’22, Nick Ruppel BWK ’11, and Lucy Williams ’11 Class of 2013 mates Caitlin Schram, Camilla Vik, Isabel Koehler, Veronica Riera, Katie Scannell, Georgia Williams, Sydney Burnett, Annabelle Galef Caroline Dunn ’16, Chris Gendell BWK ’16, Alex Gibbons BWK ’16, Catherine Cowin ’16, and Johnny Rose BWK ’16 Class of 2018 mates Haley Anderson, Katie McClymont, Caroline Hughes, and Sofi Viola
EVENTS

GAAAB LUNCHEON

A record number of current and former GA Alumnae Association Board members, as well as Alumnae Trustees, joined Molly King for her traditional Holiday Luncheon. The highlight?

Group I students joined us to sing songs they had prepared for the Lower School Holiday Concert, a beloved tradition at this favorite event.

MUMMING

at the GAAAB luncheon, unique items handmade for the annual Craft Fair by GA Middle Schoolers adorn the center of the luncheon tables. Every guest gets to take home an item, such as homemade scented soaps, candles, jewelry, or beautiful ornament.

Alumnae, current GA families, and students of all ages enjoyed an evening version of the Mumming Ceremony. The program opened with a History of Mumming, read to the audience by three seniors, and continued on with singing of carols, including the traditional alumnae carol “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” The program concluded with “O Holy Night” sung by the juniors and “Silent Night” sung by the seniors, both songs supported by the Madrigals, and the unveiling of the tableau. A lively reception followed in the Arts Atrium.

SPRING 2023 7 CLASS NOTES
Fay Van Riper Burger ’49 and Janice Reese Baird ’58 Mallory Hughes Woodruff ’04, GAAAB President Pam Pagnani ’76, Ellen O’Toole Hoeffel ’81, and Director of Advancement Amy O’Reilly Rizzi ’91, P’27 Lindley Tilghman Pless ’95, Trustee Board Chair Andra Winokur Newman ’95 P’28 ’32, GAAAB President Pam Pagnani ’76, GAAAB Governance Chair Graci Lockhart Djuranovic ’99, P’34, Trustee Alex Steel Scott ’00, P’34, ’36, and GAAAB Advisory Board member Layla Jafar Lisiewski ’02 Mumming 2023 finale Members of the Class of 2023 with Molly King The traditional tableau
EVENTS
attheGAAAB

BOSTON ALUMNAE EVENT

In January, alumnae from the Boston area came together for a reception and celebration at The ’Quin House. Head of School Molly King shared GA news and updates, and alums spanning many decades connected over shared experiences and common interests. It was a perfect evening!

8 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS CLASS NOTES
Class of 2016 mates Sarah Morris and Oluchi Ihionu Class of 2018 mates Kathryn Wright and Alex Sala Molly King with Joan Sturgis Parsons ’76 Class of 2022 mates Emily Greenhaw, Sachi Laumas, and Aiyanna Ojukwu Allison Neviera ’20, Grace von Oiste ’20, Heidi Jacobson ’20, and Liz Walker ’06 Gretchen Sloan Larkin ’86, Jocelyn Sherman Avidan ’96, P ’29, ’34, Annie Weinberg ’06, Liz Walker ’06, Jaime Tyre Kim ’94, Molly King, and Megan Tyre ’88, P’18, ’22 Boston area alumnae at The ’Quin, January 2023 Class of 2006 mates Liz Walker and Annie Weinberg Layne Kiratsous ’21, Luci de la Sierra ’22, Amelia Jackson ’22, and Morgan Kärst ’21
EVENTS 8 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS

GA/BWK PADDLE PARTY

Nearly 40 GA and Brunswick alumni came ready to play at our

The Field Club was the perfect backdrop for nearly 40 alums to catch up courtside. Seasoned players and newbies alike got in on the action, and everyone had a wonderful time.

SPRING 2023 9 CLASS NOTES
Paddle players warming up by the fire GA and Brunswick alumni enjoying an evening of paddle and camaraderie at the Field Club, February 2023 Stevi Petrelli ’07, Lindsay Casson Brosens ’06, Charlotte Steel Schwartz ’05 Shannon Law Otte ’96, Megan Tyre ’88, Lindsay Casson Brosens ’06, Jon Ryckman BWK ’88, Amy O’Reilly Rizzi ’91
EVENTS
Greg Shenkman BWK ’99 and Alexandra Steel Scott ’00
SPRING 2023 9

REUNION 2023

SATURDAY APRIL 29

FRIDAY APRIL 28

Charter Day Assembly

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Front Lawn

BBQ Lunch

12:00 – 1:00 PM

Outside of Ruth West Campbell Hall

Charter Day Carnival

12:30 – 1:30 PM

Lower School parking lot and

Lower/Middle School Courtyard

Fun and games for lower school aged children, run by GA Middle and Upper Schoolers

Reunion Class Tea

4:30 – 5:30 PM

Arts Atrium

A reunion class tea and recognition of our Ruth West Campbell Bequest Society members

Off-Campus Class Parties

Tours available by request. Come to Reunion Headquarters.

Arts

50th Reunion Brunch with Molly King

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

ClassAtrium of 1973 and above are welcome to join Molly King for the traditional brunch honoring the 50th reunion class.

Alumnae Family BBQ 12:00 – 2:00 PM Lawn in front of Ruth West Campbell Hall Bring the whole family to this classic barbecue with games and activities for children of all ages.

Tours

12:00 & 1:00 PM Meet at Reunion Headquarters

1:30 – 2:30 PM

One on One with the Distinguished Alum

7:00 PM

Young Assembly Hall Conversation with Stephanie Benedetto ’98, entrepreneur co-founder of Queen of Raw Reunion Dinner and Celebration Party

6:00 – 7:00 PM Cocktails

Dinner & Program

Schedule is subject to change.

Please visit greenwichacademy.org/reunion for the most current information and to RSVP.

12 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS
Class of 1965 mates Angie Wormser, Shelly Gilmore Bell, Laurie Cameron, and Cathy Walker Hopkins at Cathy’s beach house, August 2022 ’65

Brown shares, “It is surprising to be so old and simultaneously so young as we plow along with grace and spark! There are days when I feel as if I’m studying for a final exam for which I may not have covered the correct material. My father’s genes have kept me in good health—no medications and many local activities. I will always love our class and learned so much from everyone and wonder if I would have survived the current large classes. Wishing all my classmates the best.”

From Pat Weaver Knoll: “I have some exciting news to share! My singer/songwriter granddaughter, Ryn Weaver, wrote a song called ‘Honeybee’ which is about her grandparents—me and my late husband Ron and our high drama romance … I was engaged when I met Ron, and gave back the ring. The song is about that and our life. She called me Ron’s honeybee! The musical group Head and the Heart recorded it, and it is currently playing in the movie About Fate on Amazon Prime—a romantic comedy that honors the song in a special way!”

Gayle Blakeslee reports, “Life chugs along and then all of a sudden!

Two weeks ago, I tripped and fractured my pelvis. Thank goodness we moved into our wonderful retirement community. Natalie moved to nursing care for dementia last spring.”

Elaine De Witt Tournesac sends

this news: “The past year following Jean’s death has been very difficult for me as you can understand. Good friends and family have been a tremendous support. My health is fine. I read a lot; I walk and exercise every day. I volunteer at a nearby hospital visiting patients, bringing them communion, and praying with them if they wish. Much love to all!”

Phyllis Carlson Freeman says, “It’s hard to believe that Don and I have been on the Cape for over 27 years. Lots of involvement early on, but our activities have slowed due to my macular degeneration and Don’s bad back and hip. We do not need a weatherman to tell us when a storm is approaching! I can’t see very far and Don can’t walk very far, so we are a good team. We are blessed to have each other. Lots of love from us vintage, maturing folk!” Kay Hall Gluck reports, “I’m enjoying senior life in Wilton after several years in London where my daughter and her family live. Maybe a Class of 1955 Reunion soon?”

1958 Wilda Harrison Gallagher and her husband, Shaun Johnston, have closed their Rosendale business. They are enjoying a view of the Empire State Trail and saying “good-bye” to utility bills at their new home, “One Zero Place,” https://zeroplace.com/.

Wilda donated her candle-making lab to the Mount Academy in Ulster Park, NY, where she acts as a volunteer instructor in candle-making for arts faculty and senior students.

1960

Vicky Clarke Linville writes, “All is well here in Weston, VT. We feel lucky every single day that we live here. Jim and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary this October. We are both active and healthy, skiing, gardening, bicycling, hiking, and fly fishing. Our Labradors kept us laughing all through the pandemic. Our two boys have so far produced three grandchildren who are the light of our lives: ages 8, 4, and almost 1. We are still playing the steel drums (The Blue Flames Steel Band) and raising money for charity.”

1963 Nancy Hathaway Healy shares, “I am happy to be alive as I have had some real challenges in the last five years. I retired from real estate as I did not have the mobility to climb all those stairs. I do so miss my working life and loved Sotheby’s. I am better now and still have my brain and knowledge of my vocation. My boys, Andy and Steve, are well and are brokers in my old office. I have two wonderful granddaughters: Darcy (15) and Addie (almost 14). I miss you all

SPRING 2023 13 CLASS NOTES 1955
SUBMIT A NOTE Keep the news coming and make sure to check the alumnae website for more updates at: greenwichacademy.org/alumnae. SEND IN YOUR SNAPS Have a shot you want to share? Submit your 4"x6" photo or digital image (resolution of at least 300dpi) with accompanying caption to alumnae@greenwichacademy.org. THANK YOU, CLASS CAPTAINS! We are grateful to our Class Captains for your hard work and for keeping us connected to your classmates. ’58 Class of 1958 mates Lucia Lochner Petrie and Anne Stambaugh Satterthwaite at Anne’s apartment in NYC after a lovely lunch with Lucia’s husband, Pete, June 2022

and will see those that come to our 60th Reunion in April. Let me know if you will be coming as I can plan a dinner if we decide we need it.”

Dana Stambaugh Semeraro reports, “Our son Ken finally married last June, after a two-year Covid postponement! He is an attorney with a law firm in CT, and Jennifer is an artist, heading the art department of a magnet high school near Hartford, so we still get to see them frequently. I was able last September to go with my sister, Anne Stambaugh Satterthwaite ’58, on our twice-postponed trip to explore Northern England, concentrating on Yorkshire and the Lake District of Cumbria. My husband and I took an easy (tour-organized, the only way I could seduce him to travel these days!) trip up the West Coast from Monterey through Sonoma, Yosemite, and Sacramento to San Francisco. It certainly felt good to be out and about more than we have been the last two years— but we’re also very happy sequestered at home with our books and Zoom book groups and other meetings, which is the way we’re spending most of the winter. My sister and I plan to be at Reunion in April. I do hope some of you will be there, too!”

1965 Leigh Grant shares, “I am pleased to announce that my historical novel on adventure, masking and disguise, and romance in 15th-century Venice and the Balkans, Mask of Dreams, has been published and is available on Amazon. Kindle is coming as well as availability in bookstores. This work has been quite an odyssey for me as well as a fascinating examination of the Mediterranean

14 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS CLASS NOTES
’59 ABOVE: Ceci Halpern Morgan ’59 and her husband, Bob Morgan, at Bob’s Yale Class of 1958 Mini Reunion in Cleveland, September 2022 RIGHT: Ceci with her grandsons, Connor Young (left) and Jack Young (right), children of Ceci’s daughter, Laura Robinson Young ’82 ’60 Winks Floyd-Jones ’60 and her family on her 80th birthday ’63 Dana Stambaugh Semeraro ’63’s son, Ken, and his wife, Jennifer, on their wedding day, June 2022 ’59 Class of 1966 mates get together for teatime in Carefree, Arizona, summer 2022—Sandy Waterman Keller, Lucy Mitchell, Joanie Gordon McCord, and Katty Skaarup Parker ’66

world when America was just beginning to appear on the world map.”

1966

Class Captain Lucy Mitchell gathered the following news: Our beloved Jill Aszling died on January 5, 2023, from complications associated with diabetes mellitus that she developed at age 12. Her parents enrolled her at Greenwich Academy when she was 14, in part because a nurse would be on hand at all times who was aware of her condition. Judi Hill remembers being aware of Jill’s blood sugar level, but for the most part she did not let her condition slow her down. She was wickedly funny, enthusiastic, and so smart. She graduated from Skidmore College in 1971 with an English degree. In 1976 she became the registrar at the Cornell University Johnson Art Museum, where she was introduced to Bill Shek, who was a student at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The couple married in 1982 and moved to Arlington, MA. Jill became a registrar at the List Visual Art Center at MIT, where she worked for nearly 20 years. In 1988, because her kidneys were failing, she received an experimental kidney-pancreas transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital. Those organs worked for 35 years, thanks not only to the efforts of Jill’s doctors but also because of Jill’s indomitable spirit and determination and her fabulous husband and twin sisters, Kristin and Gretchen, and their daughters and nine great-nephews. She was a master knitter, crocheter, and seamstress. For our 50th Reunion, she brought us all crocheted hearts. Our class hopes to have a private celebration of her amazing life in September in Vermont. As I gather the notes from all my classmates, I am quick to thank my blessings for still being able to swim four times a week, go to the gym, and do yoga every day. Last September, Jane Fisher Carlson and I had lunch with Jill and Bill at the Colonial Inn in Concord. Such a delight, and now a

very treasured memory. It’s remarkable that my grandson Gavin, now a sophomore at University High School, where his mom, Leiba Schuneman, is math department chair, towers over both his parents. He has thrown himself into a role-playing card game called Magic. He is also excelling at school and learning to drive. His younger brother, Sawyer, is also excelling academically and is becoming proficient on the violin as well as the piano. These adolescent years can be so tricky, but they seem to be navigating them well. Doug is still doing a bit of pottery, mostly orders from friends. Pel is staying true to her motto, “Stay calm and carry on.” Three other friends and I have started a little 501(C)(3) called Friends of Catalina Trails. Our focus is to lure more folks out to the mountains to help maintain the trails. We are all in our 70s and want to see the work continue. I also volunteer once a week at a Community Food Bank kitchen, portioning out senior meals. It has become another outlet for me to share baked goods with the other volunteers and staff. As my GA yearbook claimed, “always found baking cookies.”

In September, Jane Fisher Carlson

had reverse shoulder replacement surgery to repair a shredded rotator cuff. Although she’s working hard to restore her arm’s range of motion, she notes that the term “the long haul” has taken on new meaning. She is still busy with duties as chair of Weston’s Zoning Board, where providing affordable housing continues to be a difficult subject. Daughter Caroline has a new publisher, Candlewick Press, to whom she sold her sixth book, Wicked Marigold, due to be published in the spring of 2024. Son Jonathan has a new position as vice president of marketing at Bevi, “the bubbly, bottomless water dispenser for offices and commercial spaces.” Last summer, Chris had the fabulous opportunity to serve as a marshal at the PGA’s U.S. Open at The Country Club in nearby Brookline. Chris and Jane have loved being with their kids and grandkids (6-year-old Nora and 3-year-old Owen in Pittsburgh, and 2-year-old Willa in Needham, MA) in places as varied as Florida’s Gulf Coast, New Hampshire’s White Mountains, and most recently in Weston over the holidays.

Polly Bullen Georgiou sums up this year by saying, “It’s hard to get starry-eyed … friends no longer with us and those in failing health occupy my thoughts. On Christmas Day we had four grandkids (ages 9, 6, 5, and 2) tear up the house. Heartwarming and exhausting by turns. George and I are settling into retirement mode and enjoying fairly good health. I am enjoying my role as chief cook and bottle washer; George hits the gym daily and seems to like running around after various indoor and outdoor machines. Cuba, the Havanese, at age 14 sleeps in the sunny window and eats treats. Here’s wishing all our GA sisters and your families a healthy and happy 2023.”

Nathalie Durbin Heydet just dropped a quick note to say she and Ray are back in Bradenton, FL, for four months. “All healthy and active.”

Lyn Fidao Fleischhacker is making up for lost time, which translates into

SPRING 2023 15 CLASS NOTES
Merri Ann Messenger ’66’s great-grandchildren: Miles, Knox, Max, and Gabby ’66

Milestones

WEDDINGS

Samantha Klein ’03

Kenneth Secco

July 29, 2022

Jessica Straus ’03

Daniel Fuchs

November 6, 2021

Molly Byrnes ’05

Chris Randall

October 15, 2022

Elizabeth Beitler ’08

Gaelan Mcqueen

July 16, 2022

Sarah Benjamin ’08

Alexander Phillips

October 25, 2022

Jennifer Jermain ’08

Michael MacLaverty

June 11, 2021

Lilly Fast ’10

Peter Sullivan

June 25, 2022

Daisy Carter ’11

Ryan Stadulis

September 10, 2022

Kirsten Schnackenberg ’11

Taylor Harrington

August 27, 2022

NEW ARRIVALS

Ally Pergamo Kalamaras ’96

Niko Leonedas

July 5, 2022

Candace Corley Vaccarella ’98

Lilana Olive

June 22, 2022

Megan Harris Wickline ’00

Ruth Anita

November 30, 2022

Virginia Adair McCarthy ’02

Campbell Adair

October 6, 2022

Jessie duPont McDonald ’02

Callum William

August 6, 2022

Emily Adler Boren ’03

Minna Hulett

July 6, 2022

Jessica Straus Fuchs ’03

Theodore “Teddy” Jared

December 3, 2022

Adele Lewis Gleacher ’03

Serena Lawrence

May 7, 2022

Rebecca Allen Johnson ’03

Ira Lee

October 2022

Allison Henze Coléon ’04

Andreas Philippe Raymond

June 3, 2022

Aliya Boyer ’13

Nick Grimes

December 30, 2022

Avery Carmichael ’13

Ethan Galiette

October 1, 2022

Maria Guzman ’13

Sean Levy

October 22, 2022

Victoria Hannover ’13

George Law

November 5, 2022

Galen Hughes ’13

Sebastian Grimberg

September 24, 2022

Taylor Ohman ’13

Ismail Ghodbane

September 3, 2022

Natalie Reynolds ’13

Cary Wasserman

November 5, 2022

Eva Rosencrans ’13

Scott Casher

June 25, 2022

trips abroad. New Zealand was her favorite to date. “Wonderful, beautiful country—incredibly scenic! The people are amazing, too! I’d return in a minute if I weren’t fearful about driving on the other side of the road! I have several trips planned for 2023. Two involve Peru whose political issues are spurring demonstrations, so we’ll see how that goes! In February I traveled to South and Central America visiting Lima and Ecuador, through the Panama Canal (a bucket list item for me), on to Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize, and Mexico, ending the cruise in Miami. In April, I have a trip scheduled with Lindblad and National Geographic to Galapagos and Machu Picchu (again with Peru). In June, I’ll visit the Outer Banks for our usual twoweek adventure. In October, I’m doing a cruise of the Mediterranean, which begins and ends in Barcelona and goes along the coast of Spain, France, Monaco, and Italy.”

Ian. David and Kate with their kids, Hugh and Margot, flew in from DC. Alex and Arianne were there with their daughter Robyn and Anne’s daughter Kate. Last summer they all went to Santa Fe. The adults took turns with Covid. “Luckily no children got sick.”

Alexandra Erdman Ely ’04

Willian Brewster

April 29, 2022

Emma Mittelstadt McKinstry ’05

Katharine Carnegie

August 24, 2022

Mary Clare Snediker ’05

Knight Shiloh Williams

July 9, 2022

Kaitlin Sennatt ’06

Lily Sennatt Zhao

August 16, 2022

Olivia Hardinge Weiss ’07

Charlotte Claire

February 4, 2023

Gabriella Gentil Hickson ’08

Sebastian Gentil

November 1, 2022

Natasha Kingshott Burrell ’09

Quinn Davies

November 23, 2022

Olivia Santoro Schweppe ’09

Vivienne Eloise

July 20, 2022

Kristen Berczuk Humphrey ’10

Charlotte Jane “Charlie”

October 10, 2022

Haley Fuller Zendejas ’10

Logan Lynn Fuller

November 30, 2022

Joanie Gordon McCord is back in Salome, AZ, for the winter with occasional forays to Buckeye for shopping and Scottsdale to visit old friends who have a house on the fifth green of some country club. I was lucky enough to be able to spend a night there last spring while she was house-sitting. We surprised ourselves by staying up past midnight gabbing. She spent New Year’s there dining on Maine lobster, shrimp and brie, and high tea at the English Rose Tea Room. We’re planning on meeting there next week with Katty Skaarup Parker and Sandy Waterman Keller. Joanie has plans to go to Europe in September. In response to telling Anne Hughes Kieve how much my grandsons adore their mom, she said that “one of the joys of having sons is that they always adore their mom.” They are still in their house in San Francisco. She desperately hopes to move to an apartment. Most of her family was there for Christmas, including her sister Ruthie and brother

Hopefully Laura Pearsall has not floated away from Petaluma on some atmospheric river, as if fire and earthquakes weren’t enough to worry about. Son John Morgan spent a couple of nights with her last summer while he was recording. “He and Sarah and Penny have bought a great house in Bethlehem, PA. Sarah will do occasional shows with Mark Morris, but for the most part, she has a teaching job at the performing high school in town where she and John Morgan first met. Penny is busy at a preschool, and they are expecting a baby brother in April. I had a combo Chanukah/Christmas celebration in San Francisco with Noah, Kris, and the kids. Clementine is a teen now and working hard at figure skating; she has her first solo performance in February. Aloysius is a brilliant kid with more projects every day.” Sue Porter Beffel says she misses large group activities like dancing and singing, but still avoids most crowds to keep daughter Amanda and grandson Owen healthy. Nonetheless, she hosted family for Christmas this year. Luckily, the contractor finally reinstalled the floor and new dishwasher that had flooded the kitchen and basement, two days before her brother Tom and his wife Nancy arrived from VT. Holiday activities included a guided tour of the Air and Space Museum out by Dulles Airport that enthralled Tom, given their dad’s involvement with rockets and satellites. A day later her nephews David and Ian landed from CO, with David’s wife Aishuarya. As soon as they arrived, they had lunch with six cousins they hadn’t seen in years. She enjoyed a

16 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS CLASS NOTES

quiet New Year’s at her friend Doug’s house, sitting by the fire on a foggy day. Wendie Force walked off an unmarked blind curb and shattered her kneecap. She was at Stamford Hospital for a well visit, no less. She said it was the most painful thing she had ever experienced. Surgery was performed at Greenwich Hospital to wire the kneecap back together, then months of PT and surgery again to remove the wire. She has filed a lawsuit with Stamford Hospital and has a very strong case. Because she also has arthritis in that knee, she may eventually need to have her knee replaced. “Getting old gracefully is definitely for the young at heart. You must keep moving or you lose it. It has been a few years of ongoing body part mishaps. I am finally feeling much better and have started back at Greenwich Hospital on a limited basis as a Healing Touch energy healer,

working with patients. My wonderful, amazing son Jordan really helped me through my recovery. He loves to cook, so I was well fed. He received his master’s in computer science and engineering this past August from UConn, landed a great programming job, and bought a condo in Stamford. We made our yearly trip to Middlebury, VT, for Thanksgiving and enjoyed being with family. My cousin, Peter, who was a chef at Middlebury College, raised 11 turkeys on the family farm; needless to say, the meal was amazing. I will be making my yearly trip to the Cape for the Fourth of July week and hope to be able to start traveling abroad soon.” This time last year Judi Hill “could barely walk and was having such nerve spasms I couldn’t function. I had spinal surgery at the end of January. I had fallen in October and managed to wrap a piece of my L2

MHK IN NC

L3 disc around all the nerve endings of my left leg. It took longer to recover than I thought. By end of summer, I was back in my kayak.” Judi says she is “attempting to adjust to being 75½. Surgery has slowed me down a bit, according to some friends. At this age, it’s work smarter not harder. It’s so hard at this age because your brain still says you can do anything and your body says, ‘I don’t think so!’ I am learning to slow down. I have had to. I went back east to see my brother who is suffering from dementia and to see family members. A very difficult trip and a great one. My nephew arranged a VRBO in Vermont for three nights for all of us. I hit the height of leaf peeping. I got to put a heart rock from my favorite beach here on Katharine Hepburn’s grave in Hartford. She has always been my hero. I am retired from hospice, although I find myself occasionally walking this journey with dear friends. I am blessed to have the knowledge and still know the resources to bring in. Get them on hospice when they are ready, and then I can just be a friend and let that team do their work.”

Merri Ann Messenger writes, “It has been an eventful year for our family. Adrian, our oldest grandson, who is in the USCG, left California with his wife, Liz, and our four great-grandchildren, Knox, Gabby, Max, and Miles, and is now stationed in Chattanooga, TN, on the Tennessee River. They bought a home in Ringgold, GA, and absolutely

SPRING 2023 17 CLASS NOTES
Head of School Molly King met up with GA alumnae at Duke and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. LEFT: Amanda Ball ’10 and Kaia Close ’21 RIGHT: Molly King, Jaden Sacks ’22, and Amanda Ball ’10
’67
Melanie Roome Miller ’67’s family at her daughter Margaret Miller’s wedding. Margaret and Charlie Geitz were married at the Adirondack League Club in Old Forge, NY. Melanie’s four daughters, their husbands, and her five grandchildren were in attendance, as well as sisters Gabrielle Roome Stevens ’66 and Didi Roome ’75.

love it there. For Adrian, not having to go out to sea for months at a time was his reason for choosing this assignment. Luke, our youngest grandson, and his significant other, Brielle, bought a new home in Brookdale, CA, and continues as a fitness trainer in Santa Cruz. Our daughter, Ghislaine, has a wonderful opportunity for her ‘OM Soul’ Super Food Cookies, Maple Pecan Health Bars, and one other health bar to be sold nationwide this year. We are thrilled for her! Rick and I are celebrating our 24-year anniversary in March. Rick is making his health his hobby after a scare last December. He’s at the gym every day, and the other days when weather permits skiing up in Tahoe. I’m continuing with teaching meditation classes and counseling. I’m Israeli dancing four days a week and sing with a choir. We are trying to make it to Washington, DC, sometime this year to visit all the museums and more.” In reaction to Jill’s death, Mary Spilman Cassady writes, “I’m grateful for the gift of loving companions on this journey.” This year, her daughter Sara and Terrence decided to get married after 16 years and three sons. “It was a private ceremony performed by our pastor, with a weekend at a resort with just them, us, and the children, and it couldn’t have been lovelier. So joyful! My son’s family is going through all kinds of difficult transitions at the moment, but we are grateful to be in touch with them all. He and his two oldest sons spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us. I’m looking at 2023 as a journey that will hold discovery and growth with treasured companions.”

From Vicki Van Rensselaer: “I’ve been holding Zoom gatherings of my mother’s side of the family once a year during the past three years, and we’ve been having a wonderful time catching up with one another. Members of the family are now living in seven states and two Canadian provinces. I’ve also been holding Zoom discussion sessions for people who are interested in educating themselves about racism. In 2023, we’ll be discussing the contents of the books White Fragility: Why It’s Hard for White People to Talk About Racism

by

and So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma

Gay Roome Stevens writes: “We’re still on the low down, and are still ‘Novid,’ perhaps as a result. But hearing of the health woes and deaths of loved ones and old friends spurs one to rally for the sweet moments we still have, and turning 75 seems enough of an impetus to take on some plans. Thus, Bill and I will journey to Argentina and Chile in March and Jordan/Egypt in late November. Bill’s 75th passed unheralded during lockdown so we’ll re-up a joint celebration this year—along with everyone else in the country. In between Patagonia and Egypt, Bill thinks he’ll replace a knee. I continue to volunteer for the Little Falls Village, a concept that started in Boston where neighbors and volunteers help elders stay independent and in their homes by driving them to appointments and helping

with errands and chores. I also spend way more time than has paid off practicing piano and taking weekly lessons. I’m embarking on my fifth year and can only say progress is humbling and modest, which sounds like something Miss Zierleyn would have encouraged in me; prayed for in fact. I have also undertaken attempts to learn español via an app called Duolingo. See comments re piano. Miss and care about you.”

Nancy Roper Potts wrote: “In September, Rives had a ‘revision’ of his 2001 knee replacement when it began to feel wobbly and unsteady. All was going great, when three weeks post-surgery, he slipped on our deck and fell heel to butt on his bad knee, which not only messed up his recent surgery, but also tore his quadriceps in two places and ripped it off the kneecap. That required another more extensive surgery and six weeks in a

18 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS CLASS NOTES
’68
’70
Diane Lovejoy de Vietien ’70 (third from left) with her two children (far left) and classmates Linda McCullough, Berrin Ergul Snyder, Emily Ford Cox, and Emily’s husband John attending the funeral of Diane’s father, John Lovejoy, who passed away in January 2022 Shannon Hack Burns ’68 with her family

hip-to-ankle cast, which he only recently had taken off, to be replaced by a hinged brace for another six weeks or so. No flying, no driving, etc., so I’m the chauffeur and enforcer, trying to keep him from doing too much before the doctors give him the OK to move forward. He’s not an easy patient, but we’re beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We drove from CT to VA, where we stayed for a few days, then drove to SC where we spent two days at a fabulous family wedding, and then drove to Florida where we had house guests arriving two days after we got there. All is going well in our family, and everyone is healthy. Son Allen and his wife Emily are still in Big Sky, MT, with their two sons, Rives (5½) and Tagg (3½), and daughter Lottie (2). Son Walker is still in CT doing his hydroponic farming, working for a maritime consortium, and doing competitive sailing. Landon is still involved in doing legal work for various boatyards and is co-leading a healing and deliverance ministry in her church.”

From Katty Skaarup Parker, “Rusty and I are enjoying complete retirement. He’s busier than ever, active on a number of boards, and has an office in central Greenwich where he can keep track of everything and I’m out of his hair. I have a car seat anchored permanently in my backseat and a Frozen CD in the player on my dashboard. I get infinite joy driving the oldest of our three granddaughters to or from school every day. Currently they are 4, 2½, and 10 months, and we think they are the most beautiful girls in the world. How lucky are we that Frank and Katie live only three minutes away from us?! James, still a bachelor, just bought a house across the street. I’m wondering if the benefit will be more for him or for us. John, the oldest, has also moved back to Greenwich, so all three are just a few minutes away. Who’d have thought it, but I love it. We are still heavily into FUR: cats, dogs, and two horses for Rusty. I gave up riding and took up golf since it’s closer to the ground. My Border Collie, Cooper, is retired from agility, but perhaps James, with his new home, and I will share a young prospect in the near future. Cooper and I

both miss it. We have lost dear friends this year, but cherish their memories, and are blessed with those still around us.”

to Newton. There were many nonHooke destinations: Churchill’s War Rooms, lunch at the Seven Stars Pub (one of the oldest pubs in London), the Museum of the Mary Rose, St. Tiggywinkles, Highclere Castle. On the Isle of Wight, we visited Carisbrooke Castle. We visited Bletchley Park where Alan Turing broke the Nazi enigma code during WWII. Messages were transferred from other parts of the country to Bletchley Park by women motorcyclists and then deciphered by women.”

Shannon Hack Burns shares, “Our daughter, Brett, and her husband moved from LA to Palm Beach last year and had a beautiful baby girl, Bellamy Marie, in October. We have three delightful grandchildren in New Canaan, but it is wonderful to have one so close. Brett went back to work early to spread out her maternity leave, so she has been bringing Bellamy up to Sailfish about once a week. Brett gets time at the gym and pool while I play with Bellamy, and we take long walks on the beach.”

1970 From Class Captain

Isbrandtsen: “Cheers from not so warm and sunny Fort Lauderdale on a 46° Christmas Day! This may seem pretty toasty to those in the parts of the US that hit negative digits, but, hey ... it’s all relative!”

1968

Class Captain Marilyn Makepeace reports, “After being Covid canceled twice, Anne and I finally went to the UK in August. Anne was doing research for her book on Robert Hooke and his rival, Isaac Newton. We visited life places for both men. While at Westminster Abbey, Anne connected with a friend who is a rector there to see some Newton and Hooke-related sites. He told us to follow him while he hung up his robes and gave us an unexpected, behindthe-scenes glimpse of the Jerusalem Chamber. At Cambridge University, Anne arranged a private tour of the Wren Library where she had the opportunity to see Isaac Newton’s personal library and a letter from Hooke

Mette Riis reports, “It was quite a year! Started off with a hip replacement which was a great success. Seven months later, as Covid-19 travel restrictions finally abated, I flew to Spain and walked the Camino de Santiago Portuguese. What a memorable adventure meeting people from all over the world and from all walks of life! Jerry, my partner, and I continue to enjoy all Colorado has to offer and also travel to our home in Guilford, CT, part time where my sisters and their families live. Lots to be grateful for!”

Sally Johnson says, “Welcome, classmates, to our seventh decade! Despite Covid and much anxiety about whether it would really happen, I celebrated my 70th by taking our sons, their wives, and

SPRING 2023 19 CLASS NOTES
’70 ’70 Mette Riis ’70 on the coast of Finisterre, Spain, on the Camino de Santiago Portuguese coastal route Kathy Fogarty Isbrandtsen ’70 on Christmas Day 2022

our two ‘grands’ to Virgin Gorda, BVI, for a week in June. My mom used to treat our boys and us to trips to VG when our sons were our grands’ ages! Such a wonderful trip! Max (7) and Evelyn (5) were troupers swimming. They took to snorkeling easily and were thrilled to see fishes and corals. That was the true highlight of my year. Conversely, 2022 was a year of great grief as well. My older sister, Linda, died unexpectedly while on vacation in Mexico in February. Three of her four children were expecting babies in the spring, which was a great joy to Linda. Younger sister Carol ‘Skilty’ Johnson ’72 and I visited the new babies and parents in July and hope to stay involved great aunties. Other than these two big events, life continues along. Happy to be retired; still leading a brain injury support group via Zoom now for the last three years. I also keep running and even returned to the Boston Women’s 10k last October after not doing so due to Covid. Hoping for some more travels outside the US … fingers crossed. How many of us got Covid, I wonder? I did, though fortunately it was a very mild case, back in May. I hope the rest of my classmates have either avoided getting it or only had mild cases. Looking forward to a reunion via Zoom in the spring!”

1971 Class Captain Ann von Gal says, “Most of our class is embracing a new decade. The number may be hard to imagine, but our attitude of living life to the fullest is certainly keeping us ageless. I am busy with my graphic design company. My second career as a permanent makeup and medical tattoo artist is celebrating its 13th year. And I recently opened a second studio location in San Diego. Many of the von Gals (almost 100) gathered in June 2022 at our cousin’s farm in Burlington, VT, for a fabulous reunion. Louie and I will be toasting our 42nd anniversary this August. September we will be fly fishing in Mammoth. I love having Madeleine Slack Szabo as my neighbor and an active member of my walking group. We are both looking forward to seeing Deborah

Willard LaBerge, Mary Tietz Wheeler, and Ginny Gold-Adams in March.”

Madeleine Slack Szabo reports, “California lifestyle and retirement have been wonderful. I am able to see Ann von Gal more regularly; she lives

10 minutes from me. She and I especially enjoy visits from CT classmate Deborah Willard LaBerge who vacations in California every year.”

Deborah Willard LaBerge reports, “Jon and I celebrated our 40th wedding

20 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS CLASS NOTES
Pamme Devenney ’71 and her husband Don holding their granddaughter Hermina “Mina” Grove Peppers, born August 2022 Mimi Efinger Hay ’71 in Denver with son Aaron and daughter Erica with her family/Mimi visiting the famous “Meow Wolf” interactive art installation, which she reports is “fabulous!” Deborah Willard LaBerge ’71 (center) with son Peter and husband Jon in Hawaii, June 2022 Lisa Katzman ’71 sends greetings from Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort ’71 ’71
’71 ’71 ’71 ’71
Ann von Gal ’71 and husband Louie on a fly-fishing trip, September 2022

anniversary with a wonderful family trip to Hawaii with our son Peter in June (a week each in Kauai, Oahu, and Maui).

Amazing sunsets, climbing Diamond Head, touring the McBryde and Allerton botanical gardens and Pearl Harbor, eating at Mama’s Fish House in Maui, and seeing the massive sea turtles are just a few of our special memories. In March, we spent two delightful weeks in Palm Desert, during which we held a GA mini reunion. It was great to see Pamme

“I continue serving as volunteer coordinator at Coffee for Good, a retail coffee shop in Greenwich which is a training platform for young adults with special needs. Coffee for Good ended its first year of operations with a small surplus, was selected as the Best Coffee Shop in Greenwich by Moffly Media,

and was recognized by the Connecticut Restaurant Association with a 2022 Community Impact Leader Award. It’s a family affair as my husband Jon is chair of the board. We have a number of GA students on our Coffee for Good Teen Board, and the shop is a favorite place for students to hang out!”

Pamme Devenney shares, “The brightest moment in 2022 for us was the birth of our granddaughter, Hermina ‘Mina’ Grove Peppers, on August 3 to our daughter Tess and her husband Brian. All are doing amazingly well, and Don and I and big sister Bea couldn’t be happier! With three of our four children living in the Bay Area, we get to spoil our five grandchildren all the time!”

Mimi Bergen Matthews writes, “Hi all! It’s been a while since you’ve heard from me. All is well, and after a long haul at home I am getting out and about. I did go back to South Africa—got in and out before Covid closures and had a great two weeks with friends. Went to Portugal in June 2022 for sightseeing and cooking classes outside Porto. Late August I was in Seattle, Victoria, and Vancouver. I flew to Newport to look at property and spent time with Linda Brown Salvatore I went to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, and India for the month of December. Had Chinese Christmas lunch in New Delhi—quite the experience! It was nice to be back out on the road again!”

1972

Marilyn Peek Juan gathered the following:

Christine Brodeur MacClellan reports, “Enjoyed Zooming with you all at Leslie’s for the 50th Reunion. I hosted the 50th Reunion in October for my classmates of the school where I did graduate. Where does time go? The holidays were good, and Donald and I are going to Florida in February. This will be our first big trip since Covid!”

Pamela Veith-Payton shares, “Terry and I had a wonderful holiday season with our grandkids, Harrison (7) and Ellery (4). We also had a little getaway on American Cruise Lines up the East Coast. So nice to travel again. We also had some shorter trips to Kennebunkport and Newport.

SPRING 2023 21 CLASS NOTES
ABOVE: The von Gal family reunion in Burlington, VT, June 2022 RIGHT: Class of 1971 mates Deborah Willard LaBerge, Mary Tietz Wheeler, Pamme Devenney, and Ginny GoldAdams in Palm Desert, March 2022 BELOW: Madeleine Slack Szabo, Ann von Gal and Deborah Willard LaBerge, March 2022 ’71 ’71 ’71 Devenney, Mary Tietz Wheeler, and Ginny Gold-Adams. The following day Ann von Gal and Madeleine Slack Szabo joined us for brunch in Palm Springs.

Trying to keep the body going on a daily five-mile walk with my neighbors. Happy 2023 to all, and all good things.”

Susan Hood Kueffner says, “Happy New Year to all! We’re looking forward to many things in 2023—playtimes with our granddaughters, Sophie (6) and Molly (4), a new children’s chapter book called Harboring Hope about the Danish Resistance during WWII coming out in March from HarperCollins, doing author school visits, a trip to Africa that was originally scheduled pre-Covid, sailing to Maine, and seeing as many friends and family members as possible. Wishing everyone health and happiness!”

Pam Hotz Breves reports, “2022 was a busy year for me and my family. The weekend of the Reunion I was in Maryland hosting my daughter’s bridal shower—it was great fun. I didn’t even have a second to FaceTime you all like I promised. Nicole and Allen got married on June 12 here in Newport, RI, in what Nicole describes as ‘timeless seaside elegance.’ The wedding was even featured in Newport Life Magazine. It really was one of the best days of my life (and hers!). In July, Jason and Elly and the grands, Tim and Caroline, visited for a week of summer camp fun. Tim took off every day on a boat exploring Narragansett Bay, and Caroline enjoyed the nature and beach at the Norman Bird Sanctuary. This past fall I moved! After many years of renting a beautiful historic house in Newport, I bought a condo in Middletown, next town over. It’s a great complex and the condo is large, on one floor, and has a pool, tennis court, bocce court, and clubhouse. I am even closer to the beach! I am still active in the community serving as board chair for the Newport Community School, and we recently moved our Adult Learning Center into a downtown Newport location, a long-fulfilled dream. The icing on the cake was a visit from Senator Reed bearing a check for support of our programs. In my spare time, I enjoy sailing, dock parties, race committee, and general ‘messing around in boats’ at the Newport Yacht Club. I am looking forward to what 2023 will bring— just going along on this ride called Life!”

22 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS CLASS NOTES
’75 Helen Cutting Fitzgerald and Alixe Reed Mattingly in Palm Beach, February 2021 Heather Dickey Schneeberger, Susie Pivirotto Kern, Kathy Mitchell Williams, Marianne “Chop” Cholnoky Kay, Stacy Stacom Ossorio, Big Sky, Montana, September 2022 Tangley Lloyd ’62 and Heather Dickey Schneeberger ’75 at an event in Hyannis Port, summer 2022. Heather and Tangley lived across the street from each other in Greenwich but didn’t cross paths until later in life through the wonderful GA alumnae network!
’72 ’75 ’75 ’75
Lisa Cholnoky ’79, Helen Cutting Fitzgerald ’75, and Marianne “Chop” Cholnoky Kay ’75, Palm Beach, April 2022 The Class of 1972 can really light up a room! Elizabeth Bucknall Petty, Leslie Wyman Cooper, Betsy Van Vliet Oztemel, Anne Hotchkiss’s dear friend Bayard, Olivia Holt, and Kathy Malloy Morsey Reed 2021 is itz ho 02 Li L F Fi C 2 20
Class of 1975 mates were able to get together throughout 2022!

Laura Gribbin reports, “The past year brought two life-changing events: I retired at the end of April after 24 years at the University of North Carolina Press, and two months later my mother, who had been failing, passed away. She was 96, and I am thankful that for most of her life she was in remarkably good health,

with a mind to match. My former job was replaced by two new ones, managing my mother’s estate and beginning the gargantuan task of restoring the family farm in western Massachusetts, which is where I spent last fall and early winter. Jennifer Kramer and new husband Paul Keating (married October 1 with

John and Leslie Wyman Cooper as witnesses!) drove down from Montpelier for Thanksgiving. And Liz Nolan drove up from Florida just in time to experience the first winter blizzard of the season. This year I’m looking forward to my ‘real’ retirement, roughly translated as establishing a daily schedule (I’ve been mostly winging it until now) and spending time with those who mean the most to me.” There have been lots of changes for Olivia Holt in 2022. She is looking for a new job adventure; her daughter, Ali, sold her house and is looking to buy another home; and Olivia’s grandson, Jackson, turned 8 years old this year. Olivia also had the opportunity to go to Vinalhaven, ME, to spend the summer with her mom, which is something that she has not been able to do since high school.

Carol “Skilty” Johnson shares, “Our Reunion was a real highlight for me this past year. It was a delight to catch up with old friends, to walk the beach at Tod’s, to check out Mindy’s exhibit, and to share many thoughts and appreciations for Anne. Thank you to those who pulled it all together for the rest of us. Other highlights were spending a week with our grandson Calvin (4) for a grandparent beach vacation in Wellfleet, getting in lots of sailing on Lake Champlain on our almost 50-year-old sailboat, and many other visits with friends and family.” As for me, Marilyn, I’m with Skilty! Our 50th Reunion was one of the true high spots, particularly after the heartbreaking loss of Anne Hotchkiss on April 10, 2021, followed by Nancy Duenweg Schaffer, who passed on October 6. Perhaps this is why we had such a wonderful turnout, and why I, myself, especially enjoyed our Friday kick-off dinner where each of us shared and reflected on our lives at GA and the lifelong friendships that ensued.

1978

Class Captain Lee Barney gathered the following news:

Betsy Murdock Kirk shares, “I have had a big year! Ken and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary and we also became grandparents! Kate and JD welcomed a precious

SPRING 2023 23 CLASS NOTES
’81 ’78 ’78 ’79 Betsy Murdock Kirk ’78 holding her granddaughter, Ellia Nancy Rieger ’79 with her husband, Armand, on safari, September 2022 Pam Christensen Olney ’81 and Alesia Ix Klein ’81 with their families skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland, December 2022 Hoddy Klein, Rob Klein, Courtney Klein, Peter Klein, Becca (Rob Klein’s fiancée), Alesia, Chris Klein, Alexis Olney ’15, Emma Olney ’13, Pam, Chip Olney Karen Stauffer Murphy ’78 hosted a delightful mini reunion for classmates who gathered for dinner at the Field Club in February! Lesley Woodberry Robinson, Nora Maloney, Lee Barney, Alison More Davies, Hilary Lea, Helen Ix FitzPatrick, Allyson Pagnani Martin, Karen, Pam Newman Pooley, Margie Walker Hauer, Jackie Wetenhall, Sarah Morton Goldman, Nina Hasner Yoder

little girl named Ellia Brynn Holt. She was a preemie but is doing great! We are spending the holidays with them. Danny and Alyssa are doing fine also.”

Nina Yonkman Donnelly reports, “I am splitting my time between Guilford, CT, where my husband and I have a home, and Greenwich where my mother and sister, Margriet Yonkman McGowan ’76, live. My son Willem is 26 and lives in NYC. I am a jewelry designer and am active on the Guilford Art Center board for eight years. I hope you are well. It is nice to get a glimpse of you and some of the other GA girls on Facebook. I have wonderful memories of the time I spent there.”

1979

Class Captain Susie Davis gathered the following news:

Sheila McLeod Tonder has moved from Minnesota to Beverly Hills, FL. She spent January in Antigua, and says she has a Labrador that weighs more than she does!

Cathy Levy writes from Tuckahoe, NY: “I spent a week in Paris during Thanksgiving. I enjoyed visiting museums, walking around, and eating delicious food. I also got to speak French all the time. I started studying French in second grade at GA and continued through college. I now take classes at FASNY. I continue to enjoy my position as director of development at The Osborn Foundation in Rye.”

Wende Biggs Ractliffe writes, “I am the proud grandmother of a FrenchBritish-American grandson, 11 months. I spend my time between France and CT. I am still promoting my documentary, which came out in 2020, called Medicating Normal, and is available on Amazon and many other streaming platforms. Looking back on our school days at GA, I think we were lucky to have grown up in a simpler time.”

Kate Bowman Kimball says, “Greetings from Belmont, MA, but not for long!

I’ve bought a house in Watertown, MA, that needs a complete renovation. This project is keeping me busy and distracted. My daughter Kasey (36)

and I live together while she is finishing up her PhD from Boston College. It is a total joy for me. Reconnecting with Amy Novatt has also been wonderful. Still working full time and staying active with tennis, biking, walking, and friends. Here is to hoping for a more peaceful 2023.”

Catherine Sullivan McLaughlin writes from Newtown Square, PA, “All is well with me and my family. Our youngest is a junior in high school, and we hosted the pre-party for the holiday formal. It keeps my husband John and me young. All the kids were home and we had a fun Christmas. We spent time in PA and ME. My parents joined us for Christmas Day. I was really busy with

my baking business this December. I wish everyone a happy New Year filled with much happiness and good health.”

Sabrina Horn writes, “I finished the semester at Emerson and had 21 college seniors and juniors in my class, Real Leadership for Real Success. It was a terrific experience and I plan to do more of it, perhaps a little closer to home, in the New York area next fall.”

Hillary Spizzirri McAtee shares, “All is well with me. Work is still exciting and keeps me busy. I continue to go on great hikes. I hiked Mt. Katahdin in Maine with my son last summer. Two of our kids are out of college and working. One in NYC and the other in DC. Our youngest is a sophomore at University of Richmond. We plan to ski in France after Christmas. I am now the slowest skier in our family, but I love the sport and I’m grateful to still be skiing.” Nancy Rieger writes from New Jersey, “I love being a grandmother. The little ones are so much fun and are almost 20 months old now. They are miniature human beings with distinct personalities and preferences. They are also starting to form words, although many of these ‘words’ are still sounds.

24 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS CLASS NOTES
’84
’86 ABOVE: Laura Noonan Ford ’83, Reed von Gal Donahue 83, and Laura’s daughter, Mikayla, at a restaurant in the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City, January 2023. Reed and her husband, Mike, moved to Mexico City from Massachusetts in July 2022.
LEFT: Elizabeth Roessler Lombardo ’88, Julie Hughes O’Connor ’86, and Maria McCord ’84 at a private event at Gucci in Chicago where Maria works as a luxury retail advisor, October 2022

My husband Armand and I went to Africa for the first time, to Botswana, in early September. We had such an amazing time on safari that we plan to return to Africa again.” Nancy’s sister and parents (her mother is Nancy Graves Rieger ’57) moved from Greenwich to Naples, FL. Nancy says, “My parents were definitely ready for year-round warm weather.”

As for me, Susie Davis, I can’t believe Molly King’s last year as head of GA is almost over. In her 19 years at GA, she introduced so many amazing programs. Under her leadership, only 3% of GA students left GA (mostly because the parents moved). I remember in my day, practically half the class left to go to boarding school or Greenwich High School. I’m still slackjawed over this difference. I love the job as GA archivist, and as per usual, I continue to travel to remote destinations. This year it’s Bhutan!

1982

Maura Landers Riva shares, “After a long career in real estate development in South Florida and then taking some time off, I have changed channels and am now working as the Palm Beach director for Hope for Depression Research Foundation. HDRF is the leading nonprofit organization focused solely on advanced depression research into new and better treatments for the illness. Currently, HDRF has a potential new class of medication in pilot clinical trials at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Columbia University, and Stanford University with our task force neuroscientists. We have several fundraising events in season, culminating with the Fifth Annual Palm Beach Race of Hope 5K Walk & Run on Feb. 18 (in the summer we have the Race of Hope in Southampton and the Annual Luncheon at The Plaza in November). Come join us if you are in Palm Beach this season. I ran into Sandra Lewis Orth ’84 a couple of years ago at a GA cocktail party at the Everglades Club. Would love to connect with GA friends in the area.”

SPRING 2023 25 CLASS NOTES
’94 ’94 ’95 ’90 ABOVE: Lola Elmo ’94 and her fiancé, Cesare Perrino RIGHT: Jaime Tyre Kim ’94’s kids, Mia (17) and Miles (14) in Florida, December 2022 Class of 1990 mates Jocelyn Wadsworth Dimsey, Eileen Gerster Kennedy, Kathryn Barr Dixon, Kim Flaster, Kara Nelson Baekey, and Katie Davis Middleton at the celebration of the life of Don Barr at The Stanwich Club, October 2022 Class of 1995 mates Lindsay Hayes Hurty, Lindsay Clauss Sheehy, Karena Bullock Bailey, Brooks Orrick Eleck, Catherine Polisi Jones, Tamsin Drummond-Hay Trail, Camilla Love McGraw, Andra Winokur Newman, and Marisa Noel Brown at the celebration of the life of Bob Love, November 2022

1990

Martina Faulkner has written a new book, 50 and F*ck It! Turning 50 is a milestone for many women, one that often involves phrases like “fit by 50” or “50 and fabulous,” which have their roots in societal expectations of women. Through humor, thoughtful anecdotes, and the wisdom she has gained from years of experience, Martina shares insights into how letting go of the noise and embracing yourself can result in a happier, healthier, and more enjoyable life.

1995

The sky gained a star on November 10 when Robert Lee Love passed away. Bob was the beloved father of Camilla Love McGraw and the super fan of so many Greenwich Academy girls. Bob was a man who loved his town, his community, and his family. He was a huge supporter of Camilla and all her friends, and could often be found on the sidelines cheering on athletes or clipping newspaper articles to share with the girls. We know that Bob felt the warmth when so many gathered to celebrate his life on November 16.

1999

Suzanne Méjean Pinney reports, “On Saturday, July 23, 2022, I had the extreme honor to take home two LA Emmy Awards for the Artbound series I produced and edited on California Graphic Design 1960s – Present. The episode on Corita Kent, ‘The Pop Art Nun,’ won for Best Arts Programming, and my team and I won Best Informational Series for all five episodes. I am beyond honored to accept this award from the Television Academy and to be part of a fiercely talented team at KCET / PBS SoCal that is dedicated to creating compelling content that not only enlightens

26 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS CLASS NOTES
’97 ’99 ’97 ’99 GA alumnae Hagar Hajjar Chemali ’99, Carina Towse ’97, WJI board member Katie Gregory Newman ’97, WJI founder Kate Flatley Burns ’97, Grace Rauh ’97, Caroline Samponaro ’97 and Kristin Thomas-Senior ’97 at the at the Women’s Justice Initiative’s 10th anniversary celebration, November 2022. ABOVE: Lindsey Russell ’97 stopped by the NESSA Girls Championship (Herreshoff Trophy) in May to cheer on niece Honour Lane Russell ’23 and her GA Sailing teammates.
celebrate 16. on esign i d ABO ’997 s G Girl Gi s (H (He M Ma Ho o ’23 3 tea a LE E m ma S Sa Sap B Baabc
LEFT: Class of 1997 mates Sam Melton Saputo and Rebecca Babcock in 2022 ’97 Suzanne Méjean Pinney ’99 with Amanda Marie Pinedo backstage after winning the Informational Series Emmy for KCET’s Graphic Design (Artbound) during the 74th Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards at the Television Academy Plaza, July 2022, in North Hollywood, California GA community members Mary Lee Kiernan P’11, ’13 and President and CEO of the Greenwich YWCA; Molly King, Head of School; Graci Lockhart Djuranovic ’99, P’34, and Amy O’Reilly Rizzi ’91, P’27, GA’s Director of Advancement, at the YWCA Women Who Inspire Awards where Molly and Graci were both honored, November 2022

and educates but brings communities together by telling the stories that matter. KCET and PBS SoCal combined for a total of seven LA Emmy wins Saturday night, winning seven of the 10 categories in which we were nominated! Additionally, this marked the sixth year in a row that the station has received the most LA Emmy Awards of any station.” Graci Lockhart Djuranovic was an honoree at the 2022 YWCA Greenwich Women Who Inspire Awards for her volunteer work with several local nonprofit organizations in the Greenwich community.

2000

In November 2022, Kimberly Betz Kearns released her riveting memoir about her journey to sobriety, On the Edge of Shattered: A Mother’s Experience Discovering Freedom Through Sobriety Kimberly shares, “It is the story of my descent into alcohol addiction—a harrowing and sometimes heartbreaking chronicle of habitual blackouts and unremembered nights—and my triumphant emergence into the light of recovery. By taking readers through traumatic stories of my past, I weave in the challenges I faced with alcohol from childhood through motherhood. I ultimately find myself on a journey of joyful self-discovery. You can buy the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or anywhere books are sold.”

2002

Virginia Adair McCarthy shares, “Campbell Adair McCarthy was born on October 6, 2022, joining big brothers Mason (5) and Parker (2). My husband, Andrew, got a new job in San Francisco, so we moved west to Mill Valley, CA, at the end of summer 2022. We’re missing Boston and our friends and family so much, but enjoying this new adventure with our gaggle of small dudes. If you’re in SF or Marin, come say hi!”

2005

Emma Mittelstadt McKinstry and her husband, Coley, welcomed their third

SPRING 2023 27 CLASS NOTES
’99 ’97 ’00 ’00 ABOVE: Class of 1997 mates Kate Flatley Burns, Sam Melton Saputo, Rebecca Babcock, Katie Iorio, Amanda Winklevoss on a Group IX camping trip circa 1994 RIGHT: Ebony Murphy Root ’00 and Emily Fiorentino ’17 at an event called Feminist Camp, sponsored by Soapbox Inc., the world’s largest feminist speakers’ bureau where Ebony helped moderate a conversation with Gloria Steinem in December 2022. Ebony invited Emily to attend as her guest—Emily connected with Ebony through GA’s Career Resource Center. Kimberly Betz Kearns ’00 with her family TOP: A great group from the GA and Brunswick Classes of 1999 at Riverside Yacht Club during a summer cocktail evening hosted by Adriane and Kip Graham BWK ’99, P’35, July 2022 Brett Harriss, Tim Riemer, Sam Hall, Kip Graham, George Hubbard, Graci Lockhart Djuranovic, Greg Shenkman and Hagar Hajjar Chemali

child, Katharine Carnegie McKinstry, on August 24, 2022. Older brothers Mitt (5) and Jack (3) are thrilled with the family’s newest addition.

2006

Rachel Caplan is living in Philadelphia with her husband, Jonah, their daughter, Maya, born August 18, 2021, and their Australian cattle dog mix, Batman. She is practicing general neurology at Temple and is looking forward to starting a fellowship in neuromuscular medicine in Boston this summer.

2013

Avery Carmichael Galiette reports, “Ethan Galiette and I were married on October 1, 2022—we were surrounded by many of our Greenwich Academy friends including my classmates and bridesmaids: Caroline Powers, Grace Evans, Emma Olney, Samantha Berenblum Hellauer, Sydney Burnett, and Cailtin James. My maids of honor were my sisters, ’15 and Whitney Carmichael ’21; our officiant was my brother, Ryan Carmichael BWK ’17; and Grace Carmichael, my littlest sister, was our flower girl—she’s a student at The Cowan Center!”

2018

The 8clas red for in Central

Class of 2018 mourns the untimely passing of classmate Jane Watson in September. Within days of hearing the news of this unimaginable loss, classmates gathered for a silent vigil in Central Park and the family received mourners on campus in Molly King’s office. In November, hundreds of Greenwich

28 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS CLASS NOTES
’02 ’03 ’03 ’05 ’03 Virginia Adair McCarthy ’02 with her family Emily Adler Boren ’03 and her mother, Anne Adler, holding baby Minna, born in July 2022 Rebecca Allen Johnson ’03’s children—Barbara (4), holding baby brother Ira, born in October 2022 ABOVE: Adele Lewis Gleacher ’03 holding her daughter, Serena, born in May 2022 Emma Mittelstadt McKinstry ’05’s daughter, Katharine, with big brothers Mitt (5) and Jack (3), August 2022 Haley

Academy community members, friends, and family came together to support the Watsons at a beautiful celebration of Jane’s life in Massey Theater. Speakers included Sydney Heath, family members, and classmates from Columbia University. Sydney and Mairead Kilgallon also designed and produced a book of photos and remembrances for the Watson family – classmates, friends, and former faculty members all submitted their notes and photos of Jane. To upload a memory, reflection, and/or image and watch a recording of the Celebration of Life, visit: https://www.kudoboard.com/ boards/k68tRf0i/janelanierwatson

2022

Helena ServinDeMarrais has been awarded the National Award in Healthcare and Science from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, which was set up by the White House in 1980. (Out of 30,000 applications, she was the one national awardee.)

SPRING 2023 29 CLASS NOTES
’05 ’05 ’06 ’09 ’10 ’13 ’13 ABOVE: Molly Byrnes Randall ’05 and her husband, Chris, on their wedding day, October 2022 RIGHT: GA friends Molly Byrnes Randall ’05, Radhika Jones ’90, Donna Byrnes P’05, and Beth Bacon Blaber ’77 connected in Weekapaug, RI, summer 2022 LEFT: Rachel Caplan ’06’s daughter, Maya, born in August 2021, at their home in Philadelphia MIDDLE: Karin Carnegie Shetty ’09’s daughter, Larsen Mara Shetty, born in December 2022 RIGHT: Haley Fuller Zendejas ’10’s daughter, Logan, born in November 2022 Aliya Boyer ’13 and her husband, Nick Grimes, on their wedding day, December 2022 Avery Carmichael Galiette ’13 with her sister, Grace, who was her flower girl on her wedding day, October 2022

’13

IN MEMORIAM

ALUMNAE

Katherine Hwoschinsky Rose ’39

July 29, 2022

Gertrude Achelis Scherman ’41

December 13, 2022

Errisinola Ginesi Burnett ’48

September 23, 2022

Cornelia Goebel Bronson ’49

December 5, 2021

FAMILY & FRIENDS

’20

GA alumnae and families connecting at the Columbia vs. Princeton field hockey game, November 2022: Katherine Schulze P’18, ’20 and GA’s Director of Technology; Grace Schulze ’20, who plays for Princeton; Head of School Molly King; Maya Walker ’20, who plays for Columbia; Becky Walker P’20, ’26 and Head of Middle School, and Bobby Walker, Jr. P’20, ’26, Assistant Head for Student and Community Life. Maya and Grace were co-captains of the varsity field hockey team in their junior and senior years at Greenwich Academy!

Edvardine Joseph ’21 (center) with the Mayor of Norwalk, Harry Riling, and his wife, Lucia Riling, who made a special appearance at the first annual Let’s Start with the Youth Talent Show sponsored by the International Student Aid Association (ISAA), September 2022. Edvardine is the founder of ISAA, which she modeled after the Haitian Education Initiative (HEI), where Edvardine is a board member. HEI supports Haitian-led initiatives that enable impoverished children to attend school by providing funds for learning materials and all related necessities.

’22 ’22

Sara “Sally” Curry Challender ’63

July 11, 2022

Bonnie Blakely Schmidt ’65

June 18, 2022

Jennifer Gill “Jill” Aszling ’66

January 5, 2023

Patricia Landwehr Corr ’66

January 29, 2023

Banks Tolson Adams Jr., father of Brooks Adams Melly ’77 and Wendy Adams Montgomery ’78, February 10, 2023

Robert B. Appleyard, brother of Jane Appleyard Roel ’70, July 3, 2022

Joan Asrican, mother of Nina Asrican Rue ’77 and Patricia Asrican ’80 and a Trustee, 1974-1975, November 2, 2022

Donald Barr, father of Beth Barr ’87 and Kathryn Barr Dixon ’90 and grandfather of Sofia Fernandez ’23 and Pilar Fernandez ’27, July 9, 2022

James Guyer Brooks, Jr., husband of Mimi Mason Brooks ’62, September 2, 2022

Constance Morse Burke, mother of Nancy Burke Tunney ’77 and grandmother of Leigh Tunney Johnson ’07, August 28, 2022

Margaret “Sally” Casey, Mothers Board (GAPA) President 19801981, Trustee 1981-1989, mother of Sarah Casey Forbes ’86, Ellen Casey Boyd ’90, and Craig “Alec” Casey BWK ’84, grandmother of Hannah Casey ’16 and Phoebe Casey ’18, and namesake of the Sally Casey Community Service Award, January 16, 2023

Helen Maitland Corroon, mother of Andree Corroon ’80 and grandmother of Harper Robinson ’14, November 2022

Helen Nesbitt Danehower, mother of Laura Danehower Whyte ’85, October 26, 2022

Deryck Duncalf, father of Tamara Duncalf Dunaway ’99 and Sharon Duncalf ’02, February 14, 2023

James Edward Egan, husband of Mary Lee Eastman Egan ’58, August 27, 2022

John Carnochan Farr, husband of Sandy Poole Farr ’58, December 3, 2021

Jane Gribbin, mother of Laura Gribbin ’72, Susan Gribbin ’76, and Mary Gribbin ’80, June 30, 2022

Abby Minot Gross, mother of Cynthia “C.C.” Gross Politano ’62, February 3, 2023

Eleanor Rutledge Holt, mother of Olivia Holt ’72, Susan Holt ’74, and Eliza Holt ’78, January 15, 2023

Benjamin Lambert Liang, brother of Kate Liang ’07 and Maggie Liang ’10, February 4, 2023

Robert Lee Love, father of Camilla Love McGraw ’95, November 10, 2022

Margaret “Margot” Buttimer-Vaughan, mother of Caroline Vaughan ’12, July 30, 2022

Donna Lou Weltz, mother of Jennifer Weltz ’87 and Suzanne Weltz Hinlicky ’92, October 27, 2022

Linda Wilson, faculty member 2000-2004, December 13, 2022

30 GREENWICH ACADEMY CONNECTIONS CLASS NOTES
’21
GA friends at Avery Carmichael Galiette ’13’s wedding, October 2022: Sydney Burnett ’13, Lucy Burnett ’16, Hannah Keohane ’13, Samantha Berenblum Hellauer ’13, Caroline Powers ’13, Avery, Caitlin James ’13, Grace Evans ’13, Chloe Polikoff ’13, Pam Christensen Olney ’81 Helena Servin-DeMarrais ’22 at the Kennedy Center in DC to receive the National Award in Healthcare and Science from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, December 2022 Class of 2022 mates Ava Butz, Jordan Pittignano, Cameron Brower, Lucy Burdett, and Emily Greenhaw at Chelsea Piers, cheering their former teammates on to a 6–1 win over GCDS, January 2022
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