LREI News 2022-2023

FEATURED ARTICLES

Letter from the Director

LREI MISSION STATEMENT

A leader in progressive education since 1921, LREI teaches children to be independent thinkers who work together to solve complex problems. Students graduate from our diverse community as active participants in our democratic society, with the creativity, integrity, and courage to bring meaningful change to the world.

Approved by the Board of Trustees, October 6, 2014

Celebrating the Class of 2022

Centennial Celebrations: Our Community in its 100th Year

In Memoriam

IN THIS ISSUE

Letter from the Director

Centennial Celebrations: Our Community in its 100th Year

LREI in the World: Alumni Spotlights

LREI in the World: Alumni Spotlights Class

COVER ART

Celebrating the Class of 2022

Where in the World Are Our Alumni?

MAGAZINE DESIGN

Emmie and Stella (LREI Fourth Graders)

Letter from the Director

Dear LREI Community,

One minute you are a student at LREI, and the next, mere moments later, you are an alum, diploma still in hand, ink barely dry; you are now part of a very large and distinguished group, those people who have spent two or more years at Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School.

What do you carry out into the world from your time at LREI? With what tools are you equipped? I think our founder would have offered the following list:

• You have developed a toolkit filled, bursting at the seams, with finely honed skills and content area knowledge, ready to be put to use.

• You have spent your time at LREI thinking about the connections between the classroom and your world, and, more than that, making those connections in person.

• You have dedicated yourself to treating all people with dignity and respect and believing their truths as equal to your own.

• You have practiced being both a leader and a participant.

As always, the annual LREI News will feature a number of LREI alumni, often those who graduated from our school a lifetime ago. This edition will share the stories of LREI’s younger alumni, those who have graduated within the past 15 years, out in the world finding their way. Whether in the classroom or outside of it, our alumni are bringing “meaningful change to the world” — lugging their LREI tool box with them, with the confidence that thousands of LREI alumni stand beside them — they are finding their way and making lives better with every step.

I invite you to read their stories, or, at least, their first chapter.

Sincerely,

Phil Kassen, P’18, ’22 Director

Our alumni are bringing meaningful change to the world.

Centennial Celebrations: Our Community in its 100th Year

Buddy Traditions

Big/Little Buddy activities are some of LREI’s most loved traditions. Throughout the year, buddy pairs and classes across divisions get to know each other. Together they learn, share, and explore the school’s community and history. Some favorite buddy activities include those on Founder’s Day and Field Day, when students play games and eat ice cream in celebration of the LREI community!

Centennial Shindig

The Centennial Shindig was a wonderful and much-anticipated return to in-person gatherings. Thanks to the incredible generosity and hard work of current and past parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends, we hosted over 500 people at the

Edison Ballroom and raised more than $500,000 to support LREI’s progressive program — a record for the school. It was a spectacular evening with positive vibes in abundance.

Special thanks to the Centennial Shindig co-chairs Cyndi Cueto P’21, ’24, ’28, Tanisha Hill P’24, Anh-Van Nguyen P’27, ’29, Jennifer Sagum Moss P’29, ’31, ’33, and Ian Patrick ’03, the entire Centennial Shindig Committee. We are also grateful to our MCs Anne Marie Denson P’32, ’35 and Charlie Homet P’25.

Thank you to our amazing community for your unending commitment and support of the school and for setting us up for an incredible second century.

Alumni Reunion

Reunion 2022 began with lunch on the roof of 40 Charlton. Alumni and current high school students connected about what is happening at LREI today and what the school was like in the past.

Alumni, current families, students, and faculty attended a discussion with Nick Heller ’07 (Michael Patrick Achievement Award recipient), who shared his work as @NewYorkNico.

Current faculty members Ann Carroll and Michel de Konkoly Thege P’08, ’10 performed a reenactment of Randolph Smith's Testimony on “Subversive Influence in the Educational Process,” which initially took place at the hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary of the United States Senate in September 1952.

Robert Romero, Nick Heller, and Jonathan Ned Katz, pictured here, received awards from the Alumni Association. Robert and Virgilio Romero, and the entire maintenance team, were honored for their extraordinary work keeping the school running over the past few decades, particularly during the pandemic! Virgilio was the superintendent of buildings for 30 years, and Robert has been at LREI for 33 years and is the current head of maintenance.

Jonathan Ned Katz '56 was the 2022 Distinguished Alumnus, and gave a talk entitled “Little and Red: Coming of Age in Greenwich Village (1938-1956)”. In his talk, he recalled his parents, teachers, and life at the Little Red School House during a repressive era in history.

The weekend concluded with the 6th Annual Alumni Giving Challenge. Thank you for helping us surpass our goal by raising 107 alumni gifts and over $100,000 in alumni donations this year! We are so grateful to our alumni for their generous support and for joining us at Reunion 2022.

Centennial Street Fair

As part of our Centennial Celebration, the Street Fair returned to Charlton Street, bigger and better than ever! The entire LREI community attended, including both past and present families. Special thanks to the planning committee led by Maren Berthelsen P’22, ’24, Kelsey Collins Nair P’31, ’35,

Liz Kurtzman P’17, Sophia Lo P’29, Janet Masamitsu P’28, and Natalie Sanz ’00, P’31 ’33, and to our many volunteers. Families enjoyed arts and crafts activities, performances by current students, rides, games, and street food.

Celebrating the Class of 2022

In the weeks leading up to graduation, the Class of 2022 celebrated their time at LREI through various school traditions shared with fellow LREI students, buddy classes, family, friends, faculty, and staff.

On June 15, the LREI community gathered at the Skirball Center to celebrate the graduating Class of 2022. LREI’s Jazz Ensemble played the processional as graduates entered the space. The ceremony included performances by the Elisabeth Irwin Singers, the LREI Senior Band, and LREI Class of 2022 Singers. Rhyus Goldman ’22 and Margaret MacGillivray ’22 were the student speakers. The ceremony concluded with the traditional granting of diplomas as Senior Class Dean Adele de Biasi Pelz read the names of each student. Congratulations, Class of 2022 — we are proud to call you the newest members of LREI’s Alumni Association!

This important rite of passage for both graduates and their families coincided with the conclusion of LREI's Centennial Celebration. It offers us an opportunity to reflect on the relevance, now more than ever, of LREI's mission to challenge students to find innovative solutions that bring meaningful change to the world.

CLASS OF 2022 COLLEGE MATRICULATION LIST

Allegheny College

Amherst College

Bard College

Bates College

Brown University (2)

Cornell University

Emory University (2)

Georgetown University

Hamilton College (2)

Haverford College

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Lafayette College

Loyola Marymount University (2)

Morehouse College

New York University (2)

Northeastern University

Northwestern University

Oberlin College (3)

The Oberlin Conservatory of Music

Ohio State University

Pepperdine University

Pitzer College (4)

As we have been celebrating all year, when Elisabeth Irwin designed her brand of progressive education, she put the students at the center. If LREI’s students were not so willing, so inquisitive, so eager to participate and to learn, none of what we do would work. I am, we are, so glad that the students we have in all three divisions are such amazing partners.

DIRECTOR PHIL KASSEN

Savannah College of Art and Design

Scripps College

Skidmore College (2)

Smith College (3)

Stanford University

Syracuse University (3)

Tulane University

University of CaliforniaLos Angeles

University of Chicago (2)

University of Colorado at Boulder (2)

University of MichiganAnn Arbor

University of Notre Dame

University of Oregon

University of Pennsylvania

University of Southern California (2)

University of Vermont

Vassar College

Wesleyan University (3)

Williams College

BOARD CHAIR JIM HARRIS

Alumni Map: Where

2

Iceland

1

Scotland

2

Ireland

2

England

15

3,776

United States

9

United Kingdom

5

France

California

273 2,458

3

Switzerland

2

Canada New York

Portugal

2

Mexico

3

Spain

Netherlands

1 1

Honduras

1 1 1

Barbados

1

Germany

Republic of Panama

Dominican Republic

3 1

Italy

7

Austria

Israel

Are They Now?

Sweden

1

China

You can find fellow LREI community members all over the world! This map was made from contact info updates and survey replies.

2

Japan

Our information is only as current as your updates. Please continue to update us and encourage your friends to do the same. It's our hope that as we continue to update this map, we can continue to support alumni connecting all over the world.

South Korea

Taiwan

2 1 1 Australia

LREI in the World: Alumni Spotlights

Alma Bremond ‘14 & David Siklos ‘14

live in Reykjavik, Iceland, where they are the hospitality directors and CEOs of Local 101. Alma studied political science at Barnard College of Columbia University and David studied urban studies and real estate at the University of Pennsylvania. They recently took over one of Iceland’s oldest hotels and are excited to continue hosting guests and renovating in the months ahead.

Ever since we were 17, we’ve said that this is what we wanted to do, and now we finally created the opportunity for ourselves to actually do it. We worked in different areas of hospitality in both New York and Paris. David worked in firms specializing in architecture, specifically residential and tourism project development. During college, Alma worked in fields including news, entertainment, retail, and hospitality. After receiving her master’s degree in entrepreneurship at HEC Paris, France, Alma created her own company providing WIFI solutions for tourism residences.

With the Covid shutdown, it felt like we were treading water. We knew that we needed a fresh start and a bigger challenge where we could touch the product and make a difference on day one. From there, we met people until we found a partner willing to give it a go with us. Alma is half Icelandic and lived in Iceland before joining LREI for seventh grade. And David, well, he is clearly down for the adventure! We took over one of Iceland’s oldest hotels from the ‘60s. It was in very poor shape but in a great location. Our budget was extremely limited, so we quickly emptied the space and replaced everything we could, improved the lighting, and repainted. Doing everything ourselves, we opened just three weeks after receiving the keys! Guests started flowing in — Icelandic summers are quite something — and the plan was to keep operating until the inevitable renovation of the building started in February 2023. We worked with Icelandic architects to reimagine the space, which will feature new, upgraded amenities and a small F&B offering. The hotel will close in the coming months while under construction and reopen this June (fingers crossed)!

One of the many great aspects of working in hospitality is how “in the now” it is. It can be very rewarding to receive immediate feedback. In hospitality, you’re working in the sphere of experiences, so the now is everything. Your client is in front of you, and this moment right here is the experience — that is the peak of your product, meaning you always have to be on and give your very best performance. When a client walks through that door, it is their vacation, and everything around them matters, the smell, lighting, music, aura, the welcome they receive, and so on. This means that you have to always be extra aware and always on your toes. Pro tip: when looking to book a hotel, try calling or emailing the hotel and book directly. You’ll get a better price and probably better service. Also, travel should be a time for adventure and risk-taking. Why fly across the globe to stay in a Marriott? Nothing against Marriott, but you wouldn’t eat Domino’s in Napoli.

We have already had two guests with random links to LREI; it is a very small world, as they say! Operating a hotel, especially in a city like Reykjavik, feels like opening your doors to the world. We have people coming from four corners of the globe, all with different stories, cultures, and needs. LREI felt a lot like that, a place that was welcoming to everyone and where we were taught to be upstanding citizens of the world. I think that has helped us a lot; no matter who our guests are, we can find a connection, and we can empathize.

There is something quite special about the people who choose to travel to Iceland out of all places. They come for nature and wellness and to reconnect, and we could not be happier than to host people on such a wholesome trip.

Because of the context of the hospitality market in Iceland. Iceland was practically unknown 15 years ago until the 2008 financial crisis and the world-disrupting eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajökull, which finally made people aware of the existence of this moon-like island. From 2010 onward, a tourism boom began. Iceland went from having 1 million tourists in its history prior to 2010 to over 2 million per year ever since. That is a major change for a population of just over 350,000.

In many ways, Iceland represents the future for us, whether it be socially with some of the world’s most forward-looking policies or environmentally with 100% of electricity and hot water coming from renewable sources. This is why we wanted to start what is the beginning of what we hope will be a long journey of hospitality projects here.

Nick Heller ‘07

studied film at Emerson College and is known for his work as @NewYorkNico. He is a filmmaker, journalist, and documentarian and has been called the “Unofficial Talent Scout of NYC.” He is an LREI Lifer and was honored by LREI’s Alumni Association as the 2022 recipient of the Michael Patrick Achievement Award.

How did you start working in documentary filmmaking? Being at LREI really got me interested in filmmaking. I took my first film class in high school with Chris Reed, who was very harsh and very strict but also very nurturing. He made me really captivated by film. We would break down scenes, and he would teach us things about filmmaking that you ordinarily wouldn't think about at a young age. At that point, I knew I wanted to get into filmmaking. I didn't know if that was making music videos or movies or commercials, but I knew that's what I wanted to do. Then as an undergrad, I started working with narrative films and became interested in music videos. After graduating, that's when I introduced myself to documentary filmmaking. It kind of fell into my lap because I was in the park and saw this New York character who I had seen throughout school and used it as an opportunity to go talk to him. We ended up walking around the city together. Then I had the idea to make a short "day-in-the-life" documentary on him, which turned into a web series where I profiled New York City street characters, celebrities, whatever you want to call them. So that was my first dive into documentary filmmaking.

Tell us a little about the journey from writing stories in narrative work to shaping and collecting stories in your documentary work.

My work has always been very character-driven. I like working with existing people, places, and things. When I realized that I could make a documentary on this real person and this real city that I’m very familiar with, I think that’s what set me on the path of continuing to do more character-based documentary work.

I brought my work over to Instagram out of necessity because I was doing this documentary stuff on YouTube at first — it was a longer form shot on “real” cameras, and it just wasn’t getting the engagement that I had hoped for. A few years after I started to build a following, I came back to longer form, shooting four different 10–15 minute documentaries about characters that I would feature on my Instagram page as well. I really like doing both. I like the immediacy of Instagram; I can shoot and upload something immediately without being too precious about it and have people react in real time. But then I also like being able to spend more time on something and be more thoughtful with it.

What do some of your favorite projects and collaborations have in common?

It sounds corny, but I just love making all parties happy — the person that I’m documenting, the audience, and myself. A good example is Henry from the Army & Navy Bag Store. Whenever we do a video together, it benefits everybody; everybody wins. Henry wins because he’s just the sweetest guy in the world and genuinely gets so excited. It helps his business because everyone is meeting this lovely human being through their phone screens, and they want to shop at his store to support him. Then the audience gets something out of it, and I get personal satisfaction. So that’s always the best feeling. I think that’s why I’ll gravitate toward certain people; hopefully, every time we do a video together, it just makes everyone so happy. That’s kind of the throughline through the different collaborations – making people happy, spreading positivity. There’s a lot of negativity in the world, so I intentionally try to keep it light.

That’s kind of the throughline through the different collaborations — making people happy, spreading positivity.

NICK HELLER ’07

Sadie Stern ‘17

is an eighth grade ELA teacher working at LION Charter School in the South Bronx. She is an LREI lifer and received her undergraduate degree from Brown University.

How did you first become interested in working in education?

I volunteered with the GO Project on Saturday mornings throughout high school and continued tutoring students at the local elementary school while studying at Brown University. I was also involved in a research project on pandemic learning loss in my senior year. When considering what I wanted to do after I graduated from college, I felt strongly about giving back to New York City and about the power of education. Attending LREI was a life-altering opportunity for me, and I wanted to be part of that impactful experience for other young people.

What’s something you would like to change about your work or field?

The lack of integration between social-emotional learning and content learning. Nurturing student character and emotional well-being is just as important to their education as ensuring they are proficient readers, writers, scientists, mathematicians, etc.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the LREI community about the work you’re doing now?

I am also one of the middle school girls basketball coaches. This is the first time the school has had a middle school girls basketball team in over five years. Playing basketball had such a positive impact on my high school and college experiences, I played all through my time at LREI and then on the traveling club team at Brown. I wanted my students to have the opportunity to fall in love with the game as well. Beyond developing physical strength and coordination, basketball bolsters community and self-esteem, teaches teamwork and leadership, and provides an outlet to process difficult feelings. Already, I’ve seen a difference in my students and my relationships with them on and off the court.

What’s something particularly exciting about your job at this time?

I was excited to discover that teaching is so much more than conveying information. Teaching is like a performance; there is a script but also room for improvisation. Teachers constantly have to respond to their audience (the students) and adjust accordingly. No two days are the same in the classroom.

Attending LREI was a lifealtering opportunity for me, and I wanted to be part of that impactful experience for other young people.

SADIE STERN ’17

Monét Thibou ‘13

is a union stage manager based in New York City. She works on Broadway, TV shows, and live events. In the past year, Monét has worked on shows including "Mr. Saturday Night," "Hamilton" (LA tour), "Morning Sun," "The Wrong Man," "Clueless the Musical," "Shucked" (workshop), and "Lempicka" (workshop). She was recently stage managing "Death of a Salesman" on Broadway. Monét joined the LREI community in the tenth grade and attended Sarah Lawrence College.

How did you first become interested in working in entertainment?

I first became interested in stage management during my senior year at Sarah Lawrence College. I was asked to stage manage an underclassman’s directing workshop and immediately fell in love with the job. It’s the perfect blend of all the artistic parts of theater. I first entered the field by becoming an usher and greeter for Signature Theater. I later applied for a stage management fellowship at The New Group, a different company that I got to know through Signature Theater because they were producing shows in that same space.

What’s something particularly exciting about your job at this time?

The exciting thing about stage management is that with live theater, anything can happen. New discoveries are always being made amongst the actors on stage and backstage with the crew.

Recently, I’ve found myself wanting to explore new careers on the business side of theater, TV, and film, as opposed to just working backstage. A big thank you to the theater and photography programs at LREI. These classes really shaped me technically and helped me become part of the kind of art that I admire. Those experiences continue to inspire me to branch out into different art fields.

A big thank you to the theater and photography programs at LREI. These classes really shaped me technically and helped me become part of the kind of art that I admire.

MONÉT THIBOU ’13

Emilio Picayo ‘16

is an LREI Lifer. He double majored in applied mathematics and theatre arts and performance studies at Brown University. Emilio works as a senior associate consultant at Bain Consulting. Through Bain, he recently did a five-month externship in portfolio operations and optimization at a new music industry startup focused on master rights acquisitions of catalog tracks.

I started working at Bain Consulting out of undergrad and am currently on a five-month “externship” at a music startup. Through Bain’s externship program, I can use the skills from my consulting work to explore other fields and companies. LREI and Brown are places that value flexibility and the ability to pursue multiple different passions; both are aspects I wanted to find in a job. In consulting, you change projects fairly frequently, which means exploring a lot of different industries and varied methods of problem-solving. For my externship, I decided to work with a music startup for a few reasons. I liked the size of the company because it’s small, growing, and in some ways, the exact opposite of the big consulting firm. I’m excited to see what it looks like to build a company from the ground up.

It’s been really cool to see how connected both the music industry and consulting are to current events and how much both shift in conversation with the news. At LREI, current events were always part of the curriculum of every class. In some ways, this has helped me problem-solve at work in relation to current events in ways I didn’t expect would be part of my job.

Consulting is an interesting industry because there's currently a wave of organizations that are trying to redefine their business strategies, and they often look to consulting firms to help. There’s a wave of organizations that are trying to redefine their business strategies, and they often look to consulting firms to help. The music industry is in a really interesting time too. I’m working at a company that’s involved in buying the rights to songs directly from artists, one song at a time. The structure is an alternative to traditional record label deals and is built to optimize streaming opportunities. This gives middletier independent artists the opportunity to sell their songs individually, which are then marketed on streaming platforms. I’m a huge music fan but wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about the industry, so I wasn’t aware of just how much a company like this might shape the way artists share their work and how we listen to music.

Whether I continue to work in consulting or in music, I’m eager to figure out how to have more of an impact on companies and people I care about, companies and artists doing work I believe in. Bain does a great job of allocating resources to things like pro-bono consulting for nonprofits, but I think there’s always more that can be done. This music startup is working to help artists finance their songs in new ways so that artists have more decision-making power. The idea of potentially helping shape the way artists monetize their songs is really fascinating to me, and I would love to see this company change the way the music industry functions.

At LREI, current events were always part of the curriculum of every class.

In some ways, this has helped me problem-solve at work in relation to current events in ways I didn’t expect would be part of my job.

EMILIO PICAYO ’16

Zazu Swistel ‘09

describes herself as an ambiguous transdisciplinary artist, designer, and activist — a native New Yorker and a lurking criticism in the cultural and built environment. Zazu joined LREI in high school. She received a master’s in architecture from the University of Virginia after attending Oberlin College for undergrad. Zazu is currently living and working in New York City.

From what’s known as New York City, I sit in my apartment and subverb a communication style and I write this spotlight in prose

BECAUSE

LREI taught me to do so. An illustrative example from my memory:

When I was 14, my English teachers, Jane and Ileana, put forth a course of action. They said, “You may write an essay or explicate Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye through a piece of conceptual art.”

ENSUE

an image of a teenager riding the subway to Charlton St clutching a two-foot sculpture of contorted blue eyes growing from a terracotta pot filled with dirt and clay bodies.

This option of art over an essay for a teenager with dyslexia equaled entry to Oberlin College equaled a degree in Art and Architectural History equaled a Masters of Architecture from the University of Virginia.

And then,

In the daytime, I began work as an architect.

My first job building towers.

ENSUE

disillusion, disillusion, disillusion

Commodified, cheap and toxic building materials

Energy-sucking demolition Uncontrolled development

Gentrification 60-80 hour work weeks Low pay Sexual

harassment Racism Ecological destruction Construction worker deaths Zero policy Too much policy Dishonesty No intellect No art

But step back

This world is full of unscrupulous systems.

So for almost two years my coworkers and I systemed quietly then very loudly

The New York Times titled their December 2021 article: “ARCHITECTS ARE THE LATEST WHITE COLLAR WORKERS TO CONFRONT BOSSES”

Though our unionization ultimately failed We struck a match in our profession.

I still work in environments. I still daytime as an architect.

But at night, I retreat back to the field of art.

The feminist and non-binary gallery,

AIR in Brooklyn last May presented a first solo exhibition: In a Vulgar Language: When Your Childhood Wasn’t Invited

It featured a selection of my commissioned waxy pastel “portraits” that

UNAPOLOGETICALLY reimagined the architecture of the interviewee memories

The goal

At night and at day

Transform psycho-architectural melancholia into new.

References:

zazuswistel.com

nytimes.com/2021/12/21/business/architects-white-collar-union.html airgallery.org/exhibitions/in-a-vulgar-language

Diandra Adu-Kyei ‘15

graduated pre-med from Amherst College and is currently at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is studying to be a neurosurgeon.

I’ve been saying that I wanted to be a neurosurgeon since I was 11 years old. It was a joke that came from wanting to pick “the best” profession for a seventh grade project. Once I started looking into it, I began to wonder, “Well, why not?” I learned there are not a lot of female neurosurgeons, not a lot of black female neurosurgeons, and you need people in the field who look like you because research shows that patients do better that way. You don’t hear a lot of kids say they want to be neurosurgeons, so people always questioned me about it. Because of that, I got to question why I was interested in the field each step of the way. Now that I’m in med school, I still plan to be a neurosurgeon, even though I don’t know yet what my specialty will be within neurosurgery. Maybe something to do with kids, but I’m asking myself, "Who do I really want to help as a physician?"

I first got to really experience what this career might be like for me through an apprenticeship with a neurosurgeon, working alongside him at his private practice. After graduating from LREI, I returned as a counselor for Summers at LREI, and a family that knew my interest connected me to this neurosurgeon they knew. Through this work, I got to assist with research and scrub in on procedures, all as an undergrad. I was really interested to see how active this doctor was in his patients' care and his focus on holistic patient health. I experienced creative problem-solving with patients in ways that are different from working in a big hospital. I could see the extent of what is possible, both in my own career and in patient care. It wasn’t an eye-opener because I was aware of these differences, but it was definitely an eye-widener, and the experience expanded my idea of what is possible.

I just finished my first semester at Meharry Medical College, an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) in Nashville, Tennessee. I’m seven semesters away from being a doctor! One of the things that drew me to Meharry was their motto, "Worship of God Through Service to Mankind." They’re one of the only (if not the only) med schools that have any mention of religion in their language or ideology. I’m not necessarily hugely religious, but I was interested in this because I remember growing up seeing a lot of ways that medicine and religion were in conflict for patients. Because the conversation between medicine and religion is part of Meharry’s identity, I think it’s making me more able to communicate with patients of all different religious beliefs and medical experiences. They’re really big on community service and on educating primarily Black people. Because it’s an HBCU, I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about learning primarily from people who don’t look like me. The school’s focus on helping the community, serving the community, and also being part of a community where I could make connections based on lived experiences and not feel ostracized as a whole are all aspects I was drawn to.

Now that I’m here, I continue to be inspired by this community and the ways of connecting meaningfully. Already, I’ve researched and presented for doctors and faculty I hope to work with more in the future. In one class, I gave a presentation on concussions to the chief medical officer of the NFL. I thought, “How do I tell a guy who works to stop concussions in football players how to stop concussions?” It’s definitely widening my eyes to what is possible.

I experienced creative problem-solving with patients in ways that are different from working in a big hospital.

DIANDRA ADU-KYEI ’15

Alex Daley ‘15

works in tech, specifically in financial software. He previously worked as a software engineer at Robinhood (a retail stock trading platform) and recently left to join a newly founded startup. Alex is now a “founding engineer,” which means he’s the first (currently only) engineer at the company. He graduated from Northwestern University in 2019, where he studied computer engineering. Alex lives in Brooklyn and says a few LREI classmates also live in the neighborhood, which has been a lot of fun!

How did you first become interested in the tech field?

I first became interested in software engineering at LREI, specifically through the robotics team and various X-blocks. I taught an X-block on web development during my junior and senior years and launched a research weather balloon with some classmates while I was a student. In college, I pursued research in robotics. However, I wanted to live in New York after graduation and couldn’t find many opportunities in that field, which led me to financial software.

What’s something particularly exciting about your job at this time?

It’s an exciting time to be at a very early-stage company. Since graduation, I have been at larger companies and thought I would value the stability they offered, but I found myself wanting a more interesting challenge. There is a lot of talk of recession and layoffs, but a lot of the most exciting companies we have today were founded during the last recession. I’m definitely excited to see where this opportunity goes.

What’s something you would like to change about your work or field?

I wish more software engineers were focused on building products that solve real problems. Almost every industry has challenges that could be alleviated with better technology, but too many engineers are focused on trying to make a lot of money very quickly by building solutions for problems that don’t exist. Some of the hottest areas (NFTs and cryptocurrency come to mind) have turned out to be mostly hype and have not delivered a lot of real value. I think some of that hype has died down recently, so I am hopeful for the future.

I wish more software engineers were focused on building products that solve real problems.

ALEX DALEY ’15

Deion Desir ‘12

studied earth and oceanographic science at Bowdoin College, with a minor in music and Africana studies. He received his master's degree and teaching certification from the American Museum of Natural History. Deion teaches earth science and computer science to high school students at Eagle Academy, an all-boys school in Brownsville, New York.

I grew up in Brooklyn, so I’ve always encountered a sort of mysticism with nature. At Bowdoin College, I really got to explore life outside of an urban environment, and I try to bring that back into my city classroom. Both Bowdoin College and LREI were very focused on experiential learning. At Bowdoin College, they would wake us up at 5 a.m. to go out on the boats and be in the environments we were studying in our geology and Earth science courses. I originally wanted to be a chemist because of Sarvjit’s class, but the first science class I got into in college was geology. It was really hard, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it, and eventually ended up majoring in it.

A lot of what we do in my classroom is connected to my LREI experience. I like to start class with something called a “Do Now,” where I give students one article, and they all respond to it on a live document so they can annotate and see how classmates are responding to the news. I pick a current event, even if it sometimes seems to have nothing to do with my class so that we start the day by engaging in discussion together. There’s a lot of doom and gloom in the media right now, but I try to remind students that we’ve been able to make big changes in a limited amount of time and if change can be made quickly in one direction (positive or negative) we can make it quickly in the other direction as well. I connect them to as many positive pieces of climate and environmental news as possible. Even directing their attention to small things around them, encouraging them to notice things like more trees being planted in the neighborhood and more electric cars on the streets. I try to help them break down the information to understand why these things are happening and to help tackle the feeling of being overwhelmed by headlines.

We take an annual trip to the Museum of Natural History, and because of my time studying there, I’m able to give them a tour that includes things that other guides might not know. I’m still a research scientist there and with Jackie Faherty, who is an astrophysicist and science communicator. During Covid, we started working together to create 3D visualizations of astronomy. She’s looking at it from an astronomy standpoint, and I’m looking at it from a tech and education standpoint. I bring that work into the classroom and also bring what I learn in the classroom about working as an educator to my work as a research scientist.

This is my sixth year teaching at Eagle Academy, and I try to tell my students that learning isn’t so much about grades. I want to see that they’re engaging with the skills they’re learning. The focus is on self-betterment as a student. Increasing skills is the most important thing, and grades usually reflect that. I love seeing them practice applying new skills to the ideas and problems they encounter in the world around them.

A lot of what we do in my classroom is connected to my LREI experience.

DEION DESIR ’12

Ana De La Cruz ‘10

lives in Washington DC, where she is a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department. She attended Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service for undergrad before receiving a graduate degree from Columbia University as a Pickering Fellow. Ana is currently assigned to the Syria desk.

How did you become involved in this field?

I knew that I wanted to work in this field when I was in school and learned about the Srebrenica Massacre. My first question was, “Why did no one stop this?” That’s when I discovered that I wanted to work in conflict prevention. Fast forward to high school at LREI, and Tom Murphy (my favorite teacher in the whole world) knew I was interested in international relations, and I can’t recall if it was Tom or Phil or both, but they introduced me to Ambassador Gadsden ‘66 (alum and former trustee). He told me about the Pickering Fellowship program for students interested in joining the State Department. This all happened in Mark’s classroom on the first floor — I remember it so vividly. I eventually applied and was accepted to the fellowship, and that’s where my journey with the State Department began. When you join the State Department, you do A100 (which is an intro course to being a diplomat), and at the end of it, there’s a swearing-in ceremony where you take the oath in front of your family and friends. I invited Ambassador Gadsden, and he was there along with some folks from the Pickering Fellowship, as well as my friends and family.

What are the biggest differences between your job when being stationed internationally and being stationed in the US? My first assignment was in Jordan, and after that I was in Abu Dhabi. Now I’m an officer on the Syria Desk and have been in this post since 2021. Normally when you’re stationed overseas you’re stationed at an embassy and assigned a particular section there. For example, in Abu Dhabi, I was working on political issues. My job overseas is to liaise with the local government on issues of whatever department I’m assigned to, report back to Washington, and advise the foreign policy establishment from that perspective. Normally when you’re in Washington as a desk officer, you’re supporting the bilateral relationship between the two embassies (one in the host country and one in DC). Because we don’t have an embassy in Syria and there is no Syrian embassy in Washington, my job is to do the DC side of things while also effectively functioning as our embassy in Syria. It’s a great mix of both worlds because I get to do the typical work of a reporting officer abroad in the host country while also doing all the coordination from the DC side. For my next assignment, I’ll be working for a Crisis Management Service (CMS). We have an operations center at the State Department, and the CMS section is the office responsible for tracking, monitoring, and responding to crises around the world. When a crisis occurs, they’re the office that sends up the responding task force, and also the office working on pre-crisis planning; things like tracking events that could become crises and planning responses. It’s interesting because often you work on a bilateral level (connecting two corresponding embassies), or a multilateral level (if you work at the United Nations), but this is an opportunity to work on macro, regional, and international level.

How has the way you gather news shifted while working at the State Department?

When you’re on the ground and trying to obtain information, you have your contacts in different fields so they can give you a sense of what’s happening before it even happens or “breaks” in the news. Obtaining the news from people on the ground has always been a part of this. But the way it’s changed most recently is through social media. Oftentimes people look to intel or press to get a sense of what’s happening in real time. Now, so much of what happens in the Middle East (during the crisis moments I’ve been abroad for), is posted about live on social media platforms. One of the first things I do in the morning is check my list of trusted accounts which includes researchers, CSOs, and NGOs in both English and Arabic. It requires diligence in knowing your sources, and it’s definitely changed how I look at the news.

What’s something people don’t know about the State Department?

Sometimes it’s very difficult for people to understand what this particular agency does. Some students don’t even know that this career is an option for them. I didn’t know it was an option for me until I connected with Ambassador Gadsden ‘66. I would love to help share information about what a career at the State Department can look like and the many different paths available within the department. Please feel free to use me as a resource for students interested in international relations, especially those who are curious and don’t know what a career in this field might look like.

Ana De La Cruz '10 and Ambassador Gadsden '66

Class Notes

Margaret Colt Domini ’40 writes, “I am in assisted living (Youville) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. My daughter lives three blocks away. My life has been very full and happy, three children, a rewarding job (teacher), a happy marriage, four grandchildren, and six greats, all girls! There were seven of us Colts, and all went to Little Red for at least a few years. We all remember it fondly.”

Henry Rose ’47 writes, “We in the Class of ’47 are all turning 93 now, and a few of us are still surviving and in touch, including Jane Roland Martin, Joe Colt, Phyllis Botner Davies, Ann Rosenthal Oliver, Olga Landeck Rothschild (her mother was our music teacher at LR), Joan Studer Levine (her father was principal after Irwin died), and Heather Akselrod Rodin. Our class "president" was Olga "KK" Karlovna Heisler, but I've lost touch with her for several years. We visited Emily Baruch Kirby several times, including her island in Winnipesaukee. I am in touch with most classmates I know of who remain with us.”

Bob Belenky ’49 writes, “My personal/professional memoirs are soon to be published — hopefully to cheers, references to LREI in the early chapters. Emphasis is on my compelling, possibly useful career in child psychology that was much influenced by and thus well within the spirit, if not the letter, of progressive education.”

Stephen Diamond ’49 writes, “I have not been able to reduce my life to a few sentences.”

Karl Enselberg, MD ’50 is a retired physician. He is living in Florida, is 90 years old, and has been retired from medicine for 20 years. He writes, “LREI has always been important to me.”

Robert Melik Finkle ’54 was an LREI lifer; he was interviewed by Elisabeth Irwin herself and given a full scholarship to Little Red at the age of four. Now 86 years old, he is still a working architect, has lived in Vermont since 1962, and is extremely active and healthy.

Carter Bancroft ’54 has been retired for seven years. He and his wife, Brooke, enjoy traveling, spending time with their two sons, Josh and Devon, and being together and with friends. He also enjoys teaching scientific mysteries (both quantum mechanics and consciousness) and genetic engineering, etc., in the Stony Brook University OLLI program. Carter belongs to a men’s group (for 12 years+), is part of a book club, continues to play sports (tennis and softball, learning pickleball), and participates in acting classes.

Astrid Beigel ’54

writes, “I have little to update since last year but always like to read notes from classmates and others. I have enjoyed 68 years since graduation from LREI and a career in behavioral health with a focus on program design, management, and evaluation. I retired four years ago but continue to serve on behavioral health committees. Life in Los Angeles is back to pre-Covid and allows great activities. I am fortunate to have good friends, including one of my LREI classmates, Annette Hidary ’54.

Stephen A. Fisher, MD ’54

was saddened to learn of his classmate Peter Feldman’s passing. Stephen writes of his classmate, “Peter went all the way through Little Red and EI and was much appreciated for handling his alumni class newsletter (which has recently been taken up by Robert Finkle ’54). He went on to become a widely successful theater director in many cities and countries, including New York, the UK, Europe, and especially Canada. He also taught drama in many locations, including at the university level, starting with Columbia and ending as a longtime professor at Brock University in St. Catherines, Ontario, where he lived with his wife, Nina.”

Yvonne Korshak Ruben ’54 has had an academic career, and her novel “Pericles and Aspasia” was recently published. Set in classical Athens, the story is of Pericles (the founding visionary of democracy) and Aspasia (one of the most influential women of antiquity), who find love against the odds. “Through their story, I've tried to bring to life the arts, history, and politics of the world's first great democracy. I like to think I've succeeded — please let me know!”

Hope Niman Prosky ’57 and Nancy Rubin Mikelsons ’57 were deeply saddened by the passing of their friend and classmate Beth Dolan Drezner ’57. They remember Beth fondly.

Michael Saltz ’57 has published his memoir, “The Winding Road: My Journey Through Life and the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour,” which includes a chapter about his time at EI. His long career as a senior producer at the NewsHour garnered an Emmy and two Peabody awards, among others.

Stephen Wandner ’58

wrote an article titled "Equity in Unemployment Insurance Benefit Access" was published in the American Economic Association Papers and Proceedings. The Upjohn Institute's press is reviewing his book manuscript. Stephen and his wife are enjoying spending time with their two children living nearby in the Washington, D.C., area. They are not traveling, so they can only Zoom with children and grandsons in Berkeley and Boulder.

Roberta Wallitt ’59 is self-publishing a book through Amazon titled “From Classroom Teacher to Co-Conspirator: A Journey of Transformation.” The book focuses on her experiences in Ithaca and credits her Little Red experiences as critical to everything that followed.

Penny Hays ’60

writes, “After a varied work history in social work, as well as TV and computer consulting, I ended up at Time Inc., doing Photo Research in the Time Inc. Picture Collection. I retired in 2007 after 18 years and love living at the end of Long Island. I have fond memories of dancing the polka with classmate Giulio Maestro ’60 as 10-years-olds.”

Donald S. Coburn ’57 is living in New Jersey. He is a former mayor of Livingston, Essex County prosecutor, trial and appellate Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, and selectman in Monterey, MA.

Peter B. Smith ’57 writes, “Graduation day in 1957 now seems like ancient history, though where the time went, I have no idea. Since then, I graduated from Cornell (BS), New York University (MA), and the University of Vermont with a Ph.D. in wildlife ecology, after which I taught for over 40 years. To my surprise, Green Mountain College closed its doors for good after almost 200 years, shortly after I retired there. No connection that I am aware of. Along the way, my wife Stephanie and I had a daughter (science teacher) and a son (a biologist with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife). We now have two granddaughters, and all live around the village of Belmont, VT.

Steve Salzmt ’60

writes, “I turned 80 this year. Quite traumatic; becoming an octogenarian. I’m still active, and my wife and I travel as much as we can.”

Kathie Amatniek ’61, known for decades in the feminist movement as Kathie Sarachild, received one of this year's Clara Lemlich "I've Got Something to Say" Awards, sponsored by the organization Labor Arts.

Paul Golden ’62 writes, “Ellen and I have been living in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, for the past five and a half years. Happily, I get back to New York to visit family, friends, and classmates. In recent years, we've traveled to Havana, Cuba, Machu Picchu, Peru, and Provence, France. We regularly visit Santa Fe, New Mexico, where we have a home.”

John Robbins ’62 writes, “I am mostly retired after 30+ years as a professor of medicine at the University of CA Davis. My wife (of 59+ years) and I spend part of the year in Sacramento and part in Lyon, France. Our daughter is in Sydney, Australia, so we also spend time there when Covid permits.”

Paul Goldsmith ’63 is currently making a short film for the museum on Monhegan Island, where he spends his summers. The rest of the year, he lives north of Los Angeles, not far from his four daughters and two grandchildren.

Tom Nussbaum ’63 graduated from Hamilton College and George Washington University Law School before moving to Colorado in 1970. His wife is a law school classmate and a trial attorney in Denver. Tom has been active in environmental, social, and political causes and campaigns in Colorado. This includes stints as legislative liaison and ombudsman in Governor Richard Lamm’s administration and as campaign manager for the successful election/reelection of Denver Mayor Federico Pena (in addition to serving as his chief of staff).

Judy Smith ’64

published a book on mothering in later life, titled “Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children through Conflict and Change.” You can purchase it on Amazon or another online bookstore, and please leave a review if you see the usefulness of the book.

Betty Gruber ’64

relocated to Houston, Texas. She writes, “If you find yourself in this neck of the woods, please reach out via email or text.”

Steve Nussdorf ’66 writes, “Still going and keeping the dream alive. Best to all.”

Elizabeth Lindenfeld ’69 writes, “My husband and I are now grandparents to Calliope Sierra, born January 19, 2022, and are expecting a second grandchild, a boy, due June 2023. I am still singing and am President of the Board of Directors for Pacific Coast Chorale, San Diego, California.”

Linda Rubenstein Coleman ’69 writes, “We just celebrated our 50th anniversary with our three daughters, two sons-in-law, and three grandchildren. We continue to love living in Vermont. Get in touch If you come to Burlington.”

Ross Jacobson ’71 retired in New Orleans and is loving it. He is spending time visiting seven grandchildren around the country. They are living in New York, Washington, D.C., and Big Sur, California. He loves hearing from his LREI classmates.

Kate Dundes Shattan ’73 remains a New York City resident and is still practicing architecture with her business partner of 35+ years. She is still married to her husband of 32 years. Kate looks forward to seeing her classmates at their 50th reunion!

Alan Klugman ’74 writes, “After two years of Covid restrictions, I threw caution to the wind and traveled to Copenhagen to spend some time with my brother and his family. My wife and I are enjoying the arrival of our third grandchild, who lives five minutes down the road.”

Wendy (Whelan) Vega ’68 writes, “I worked in TV sound for 30 years on both coasts. Then automation hit, so I am now a cat sitter. I live in Westchester with pets. I was married, didn't take to it. No kids.”

Marc Abrams ’75 is still working at the Oregon Department of Justice. He spent the last two years defending the governor's Covid regulations and representing the legislature in its various battles.

Eytan Mirsky ’79

recently put out his eighth album of original music, "Lord, Have Mirsky!"

Rosa Silver ’82 is based in Portland, Oregon, and continues to travel. She will be in New York City more when her eldest son transfers to New York University. Rosa is becoming certified as a facilitator of Byron Katie’s Helpline for The Work. She continues to volunteer with Portland Art Museum and various community radio stations and to DJ on Mixcloud and at local venues. Rosa is writing a memoir and has a painting residency in Italy.

Victoria Shestack Aronoff ’84 writes, “I live in Maplewood, New Jersey, with my two grouchy teen kids and two bulbous guinea pigs. I am a development director for a small nonprofit and recently started a greeting card business that showcases my limited ability to draw animals wearing clothes. I'm so happy to still be friends with some of my LRSH classmates!”

Nabil Ayers ’89 writes, “I attended fifth grade (Zora Brown's class), and it still stands out as one of the best years of my childhood. My mother and I moved to Salt Lake City the next year (my name was Nabil Braufman then). I just published my memoir, ‘My Life in the Sunshine.’ There's a short section where I talk about Little Red, and how important and wonderful it was. Amazingly, the first excerpt appeared in Rolling Stone, and the editor-in-chief is Noah Schactman ’89, who was also in my fifth grade LRSH class and is the ‘Noah’ I talk about in the chapter. It's a small world, indeed.”

Ama Birch ’95

completed her fifth book, “Spirit,” published by Belladonna*. You can purchase it from the Belladonna* website

Naomi Raquel Enright ’96 writes, “I was a guest for LREI’s Book Week, where I had the opportunity to read from my book, ‘Strength of Soul,’ and my essay, ‘The Hidden Curriculum.’ It was surreal and incredible to speak on the very stage I had performed on and graduated from more than 20 years earlier. I loved returning and am proud to be an LREI alum.”

Tim Jones-Yelvington ’00 writes, “My most recent book, a story collection called ‘Don't Make Me Do Something We'll Both Regret,’ loosely themed around queer evil, was released this summer and is available from Texas Review Press.”

Allison Lebar ’01 has a new son (a future Little Red student). Allison is a teacher trainer at a Bronx public school.

Eduardo “Ricky” Salcedo ’07 writes, “After graduation, I served in the military with a tour to Afghanistan. Coming out of there, I decided to go back to school to develop my skills as an automotive technician. I am currently an instructor at an automotive college in Queens, New York.”

Steven Susaña-Castillo ’12 moved to San Francisco. He is excited about this next chapter and exploring the west coast.

Maya Peart ’12 is an assistant audio editor at C5, an Oscar-winning post-production sound studio in NYC. Maya has over 60 film credits and has worked on critically acclaimed projects, including Lin Manuel's directorial debut, “Tick tick boom!,” “Jeen-yuhs” (the three-part docuseries charting Kanye West's career), and “Immigration Nation” (a Netflix docuseries about immigration in the United States).

Rene Servisi ’13 writes, “Antonio Valle was my favorite teacher in high school; he taught me my first words of Castellano. I fell in love with the world he gave us peaks into through our classes — the music, the culture, the history. Now almost ten years later, I have been living in Madrid for five years and am working in production for contemporary art, curating and making works for museum exhibitions around the world. A lot of this is thanks to my Spanish teacher Antonio.”

Amalia Jaimes-Lukes ’17 is the farm education co-coordinator at Red Hook Farms in Brooklyn, a youth-centered urban agriculture and food justice program operating one of Brooklyn’s largest farms.

Julia Noonan ’17

moved to Madrid, where she is teaching English to fifth and sixth grade students. After working her fourth summer at Farm & Wilderness Camps in Vermont, Julia shared, “I started off as a swim teacher, and now I am waterfront director at one of the camps! It is gratifying to be a positive role model and watching many of these campers grow up over the years.”

Zoey Arongino ’18 is attending New York University’s Silver School of Social Work to pursue a master's degree.

Jonathan M. Ziebarth ’20 created the Ziebarth Center for Innovation, a nonprofit dedicated to creating access and pathways for underserved urban youth to lead successful, self-sufficient, prosperous, and happy lives. This includes a new partnership with The I Have a Dream Foundation of New Jersey to run a pilot program.

Ruby Hutchins ’21 spent the summer working at the Dutchess County SPCA, caring for and supporting medical care for over 200 cats and kittens. In the fall, she began her sophomore year at Kenyon College, where she plays on the women's basketball team.

Johnny Cook ’22 works at Goizueta Investment Management Group.

THE ELISABETH IRWIN HERITAGE SOCIETY

Please consider joining the Elisabeth Irwin Heritage Society with a planned gift to LREI. For more information, please contact Jenny Weil, Director of Advancement, at jweil@ lrei.org or at 212.477.5320

Remembering Larry Kaplan P’99, P‘04, GP’26, GP’30

Beloved community member and Honorary Alumnus Larry Kaplan P’99, P’04, GP’26, GP’30 passed away after a relatively short illness. He was at home with his family, to whom we offer our deepest condolences.

We all have our memories of Larry. Maybe yours are from PE class, a game you created, or a particularly thrilling game of Doctor Dodge. Maybe he convinced you to play intramural basketball or you were on one of the teams he coached to an ISAL championship. Were you in the comic book club? Did you love playing Simon Says during a middle school overnight? Did you set a record that is in the famous "middle school archives"? These were all Larry's creations. Maybe you looked forward to the alumni vs. varsity basketball game or the annual Spirit Game. Again, Larry Kaplan originals.

Maybe Larry was just a welcoming and friendly face in homeroom, kind to all, interested in each of us, generous to a fault, assuming and fostering the best in every person he met. For all of this, we are grateful for Larry's warmth, his many years of commitment to the school, and his genuine and endless humanity.

We also remember Larry as a dad to Brandon ’99, Alicia ’04, and Alex, stepdad of four, grandparent to Harley ’26, and Sal ’30, and Lucas and Heath, who were not LREI students, and, of course, husband to his amazing wife, Cynthia.

We are grateful for Larry's warmth, his many years of commitment to the school, and his genuine and endless humanity.

Larry Kaplan Memorial Gathering & Reception will take place on Friday, June 2, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the PAC @ 40 Charlton St.

Robert Rosenthal ’80 Remembers

Grace Cohen

I met Grace on the first day of the Eights. Before the day had even begun, I broke a wooden shuttle from a weaver’s loom in her classroom. Grace took me directly to the woodshop and told Leo that all of my playground periods and free time would be spent there until I’d made a new shuttle. As she left me, in her best affectless and chilling tone, Grace said: “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you. So far, I’m not impressed.” In the many years since, I liked to call her attention to our meeting. “What kind of thing is that to say to an 8-year-old?” I would ask. “Well,” she would answer, “Look at how nicely things worked out.”

Grace was our teacher when we were eight. That was more than a half-century ago for my classmates and me — about a quarter of the way through the generations of Eights who had the good fortune to share their third grade with her. Her classroom was a universe, with a map painted on the floor and a solar system suspended from the ceiling. There were spinning wheels, looms, animals in cages, plants, hot plates cooking, science experiments, musical instruments, mobiles, globes, abacuses, model wigwams, art supplies, and boxes filled with parts from long-forgotten displays, games, and toys. At the center of that universe was Grace, who encouraged us to broaden our perspectives and to put our imaginations into action. With a voice rarely raised, and an eyebrow that often was, Grace made us work. She inspired us to ask questions and to find answers, to stand up for ourselves and to support each other; to “speed the slow, remind the eager; help the weak and guide the strong,” she quoted.

Grace was excited by all that we would discover for the first time — each of us, every year, for decades. I visited her fairly often over the years and was struck by how she could be as excited about her students in the year she retired as I remembered her being when I was in her class. And they were as engaged then, as we were so long before. Whatever she was doing for all those years, it didn’t get old. And neither did she. When she retired from Little Red, Grace went off to teach in China for a year, reporting on her life there by email (overcoming her initial resistance to that form of communication). The accounts of her life away were engaging, informative, and funny. And today, half a world away, there is surely a group of young adults who would share every sentiment expressed here. Grace’s universe was expansive.

Grace was a teacher, a colleague, a mentor, a friend for so much of our lives. She loved to laugh. She loved to make other people laugh. She was quick with a joke (though not with a punchline). She could be critical, and she was not easy to impress, but her approval was worth the effort. Grace listened. She remembered (easily sharing so many memories about so many of us whom she knew through the years). She appreciated the way things were, and she had hope for the way things could be. She didn’t compromise, but she adapted and evolved and moved with the times. She created and nurtured communities around her. She cared. We miss her already. But, as she would say to us, “Look at how nicely things worked out.”

A memorial for Grace Cohen will take place on September 30, 2023. More details will be emailed this summer.

High School Co-Principal Allison Isbell P’22, ’25, ’28 Remembers Sarah Katz ’19

In the fall, we learned of the sudden passing of Sarah Katz ’19. As a faculty, we were devastated by the loss of an incredibly ambitious, accomplished, and vibrant graduate of LREI. During her years at the High School, Sarah engaged in each of her courses with a commitment to learning. Outside of class, she led the school in initiatives that were personal to her — namely, leading efforts to help her peers become certified in CPR. Sarah’s passion and commitment to community health extended beyond the school building as well. From 2011 on, she served as Red Cap Ambassador with the American Heart Association, teaching CPR in other high schools and underserved communities. Sarah was motivated to help others who, like her, lived with congenital heart disorders. She was relentless in her advocacy for life-saving measures like CPR for all and AED placements in public spaces.

As our student, Sarah’s passion for learning, her inquisitive nature, and her infectious smile brought so much into our classrooms. We have so many memories of Sarah — as a writer, thinker, debater. She was a crucial member of the junior trip team that traveled to El Paso, Texas, to study immigration and border policy. Sarah spoke Spanish fluently and was an immense resource when helping families who had crossed the border get much-needed supplies.

Sarah put her all into everything she did during her years at LREI. From moments like her role in "The Laramie Project" to pouring her immense writing skills into an article about Nicholas Cleves ’12 (our alum who died in the West Side Highway attack), Sarah took on every single project with energy and heart, setting a high bar for herself in every endeavor.

This is the Sarah that we remember.

LREI remembers former trustees Victor Navasky ’50 and George Rosenfeld. We remember Victor Navasky ’50 as a journalist, professor, academic, and author of Naming Names, a book about the Blacklisting era in Hollywood. For 27 years, he was an influential leader of The Nation, one of the country’s oldest publications, as both an editor and publisher. We remember George Rosenfeld for his dedicated leadership and long time service on the LREI Board of Trustees during a pivotal time in the school's history. George also led the board at the Odyssey House where he helped to save the lives of thousands of vulnerable men, women and children suffering from substance abuse and mental health disorders. We offer our condolences to George's wife, Nancy, a long-time LREI French teacher, and his children

Julia ’88 and Jesse ’92. LREI is grateful for these former trustees' contributions to the Board and our community.

After graduation from LREI, Sarah began her studies at The University of Pennsylvania, where she planned to study law. During her first year at Penn, Sarah worked as a research assistant at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she introduced a bill to Pennsylvania state legislators advocating that all Pennsylvania schools become certified “heart-safe” spaces. She returned to campus this semester eager to begin working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a health communications intern.

Sarah’s younger sister, Dana ’21, is a beloved graduate as well, and the faculty has kept Dana in heart and mind as she has grieved the loss of her sister. The Katz sisters are a beautiful reflection of their parents, Michael and Jill, and embody the values of ethical engagement and excellence they instilled in them.

IN MEMORIAM

Aaron Brill ’45

Alexander “Sandy”

Drescher ’47

Peter Blos ’47

Aline “Bunny” Mayer

Drescher ’48

Paul Rosenberg ’48

Victor Navasky ’50

Richard Udell ’50

Ezra Shahn ’51

Edith Cannon ’51

Michael Carlin ’51

Pat Colt ’51

Peter Feldman ’54

Donald Slotkin ’54

Beth Dolan Drezner ’57

Elisabeth Reiter ’58

Carl Samrock ’59

David Sarlin ’61

Kathy Boudin ’61

Kate Hays ’61

Gail Levy Pool ’64

Bob Sarlin ’64

Leif (Preminger)

Johnson ’93

George Rosenfeld

P’88, ’92 (former Board Chair)

Jason Forde ’97

Rocco Basile

P’23, ’26

Scott Schimmel

P’18 P’21

Steven B. Schnall

P’21 ’24

Sarah Katz ’19

Larry Kaplan (Honorary Alum)

P’99, P’04, GP’26, GP’30

Grace Cohen (Honorary Alum)

P’79

A memorial for Sarah Katz will take place on Thursday, June 1, at 5:30 p.m. Location and additional details will be shared via email.

Alumni Events 2023

For our current calendar of Alumni Council meetings and alumni events, please visit our website: lrei.org/our-community/alumni

Follow us on social media for alumni updates and event details:

Facebook @LREIAlumni

Instagram @LREIAlums

Please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@lrei.org if you would like to help with planning and outreach for Reunion 2023, or if you’d like to learn more about any of the following:

• AOC - Alumni Color Affinity Group

• Alumni LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group

• Alumni Archives Committee

• Alumni Families Committee

• Alumni Council Committee for Alumni Working in Education

If you have a different alumni affinity group or council committee you would like to help create, please contact us so we can work together!

StoryLab is our ongoing oral history project.

Want to add a memory to our StoryLab archive?

Email alumni@lrei.org to arrange a remote recording session!

Ryann Imperioli P’33 Director of Annual Giving

Elisabeth Ingwersen Mendez Alumni and Special Events Manager

Jorge Marrón Director of Digital Content Kate Peck Advancement Services Manager

Violeta Picayo ’09 Alumni Relations Associate

Jenny Weil P’24, ’28 Director of Advancement